MS confirms Xbox plan

Microsoft has confirmed its forecast for shipments of Xbox 360 video game consoles and said its ability to convert occasional online gamers into console users would be key to growth, reports Houston Chronicle.

Peter Moore, VP of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, which oversees Xbox, reiterated the company's expectation that Xbox 360 shipments would reach 10 million by the end of 2006, and between 13 million and 15 million by the end of its 2007 fiscal year.

The software company's fiscal year ends on 30 June 2007.

Microsoft is spending close to $500 million on its deal with Novell to promote SuSE Linux and shut Red Hat out of Windows accounts, reports The Register.

Microsoft is to pay Novell $240 million for 350 000 subscription coupons of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, to be released in annual batches of 70 000, according to a Novell regulatory filing.

Coupons can be redeemed from Novell for single- or multi-year subscriptions, upgrades and technical support. $240 million is roughly a quarter's revenue for Novell.

The Buena Vista Games (BVG) group hopes to enchant millions of Nintendo owners with exclusive Disney games for years to come, reports Australia's ITWire.

BVG is set to open a new software division called Fall Line Studio, to make exclusive Disney titles for the Nintendo Wii and both portable DS models.

Its new team will design games based on existing Disney characters and create new intellectual property.