Spider-Man 3

CVG: CEO Bobby Kotick tells us what we've suspected for years...

When Activision Blizzard buys a development studio, it generally asks one simple question: Which one of our franchises can these guys work on? The publisher's business model is based entirely on brands that it exploits (sequelizes and spins off) on a regular basis. Once in a while a studio gets to make a new property, like Raven is doing with Singularity, but most of the time, they're working on a franchise. Infinity Ward has Modern Warfare, Neversoft took ownership of Guitar Hero, Vicarious Visions does Wii versions of Guitar Hero, etc. So after Activision merged with Vivendi Games last summer and its management took control of the new entity, you know CEO Bobby Kotick and his executive team had only one thought as they perused Vivendi's development studios: Which ones fit a need for one of our franchises?

You know the formula. A pure-hearted beauty falls into the evil grasp of some snarling, spitting, mustache-twirling megalomaniac. A noble hero, driven by honor, courage and - let's face it - hormones, rushes to her aid. A brief kiss ensues and, before you can say sequel, the hapless lady has stumbled into imminent danger all over again. Tale as old as time... classic "damsel in distress." Except sometimes, the damsel isn't worth the damn trouble.

The best selling games in units sold, across all platforms, for the year are as follows, with more year-to-date sales data available at the source. ¿ Halo 3 - 3,700,000 ¿ Madden NFL 08 - 3,200,000 ¿ Guitar Hero II - 2,800,00 ¿ Wii Play with Remote - 2,500,000 ¿ Pokemon Diamond - 2,100,000 ¿ Pokemon Pearl - 1,500,000 ¿ Spider-Man 3 - 1,400,000 ¿ Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock - 1,400,000

Ahead of Activision's financial results next week, Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey has commended short-term revenue prospects, but commented that emerging competition for some of [Activision's] core franchises, including Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk, may prove damaging for the company's long-term growth. Hickey stated for the short-term company prospects, We expect key fiscal Q208 and 2H08 game sales will come from Spiderman 3, Shrek 3, Transformers, Guitar Hero, Tony Hawk, Call of Duty 4 and Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. The Company's fiscal '08 game pipeline is exceedingly strong, and will likely generate record fiscal '08 operating performance.

Here are Blockbuster Video's top ten video game rentals for the week ending June 3, 2007. 1.Spider-Man 3 - PS2 2.Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End - PS2 3Shrek the 3rd - PS2 4.Spider-Man 3 - X360 5.Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End - X360 6.Crackdown - X360 7.Forza Motorsport 2 - X360 8.God of War 2 - PS2 9.Major League Baseball 2K7 - PS2 10.Major League Baseball 2K7 - X360

Is Spidey still hanging on at the top of the PS3 charts, or is there a new number one?

Austrailia is about to get web swinging come May 30.

Has Spider-Man 3 lept to the top of the charts or has Oblivion held on for another week as PS3 champ...

Issue 3 of P3Zine has an exclusive Colin McRae DiRT preview and developer interview feature, including the full interview in audio format. The magazine also includes previews of The Darkness, Stuntman Ignition and Dark Sector. It's available for free download.