UK games chart: Football is the flavour of the week

A number of seasoned games stage a recovery in this week's ELSPA UK games chart. Multi-format football titles such as FIFA 2005, Pro Evolution Soccer 4 and Football Manager 2005 lead the way, but there is no knocking Need For Speed: Underground 2 and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas from the top of the pile. EA Sport's FIFA 2005 (pictured) is still the top football title, up to three from four, followed by Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 4, up to six from eight, and Sega's Football Manager 2005, up to nine from fifteen. ...more

And also today (12-July-2001), for the record...

Here, in brief, are some of the day's other stories. Photo Album 5.0 The freeware for organising your photos into electronic albums has been updated. ...more

Microsoft explains its decision to back HD DVD

Microsoft has explained its decision to back the HD DVD format for high-definition optical discs rather than the rival Blu-ray specification. Jordi Ribas, Microsoft's director of technology strategy for Windows Digital Media told Tom's Hardware Guide that the company's previous neutrality had been abandoned because Blu-ray failed to meet six key criteria. 'A year and a half ago, both format organisations had very similar goals, and to some extent, the story of Blu-ray was actually very powerful,' he said. ...more

Virgin Mobile to launch TV to mobile service

Richard Branson's Virgin Mobile has won the race to offer TV on mobile phones throughout the UK. The company has secured a head start in offering the BT Movio broadcast service on what it calls a 'limited exclusive basis' to its customers later this year. The new digital broadcast service will allow Virgin Mobile customers access to a range of digital TV content and 350 DAB digital radio stations nationwide broadcasting twenty-four hours a day. ...more

Apple iPod Eminem advert hit by copy-cat claims

A US footwear manufacturer has asked Apple to withdraw its latest iPod television advertisement featuring Eminem. Lugz alleges that the advert bears a striking resemblance to its 2002 ad that similarly featured black silhouettes on a red, orange and yellow background with a hip hop soundtrack. AdWeek reports that Lugz has issued a cease and desist order to Apple and its advertising agency TBWA\Chiat\Day. ...more