SCi looks for Tomb Raider rally
Lara Croft was today tasked with firing SCi Entertainment back into the black as the computer games maker prepared to launch the latest instalment in the Tomb Raider franchise.
Fans will have their first chance to play Tomb Raider Legend when it hits stores in Europe next Friday followed by its debut in north America four days later.
Tomb Raider is the one of the most successful games in history, selling more than 28 million units and giving rise to two Hollywood films featuring Angelina Jolie. It was acquired by SCi when it bought rival Eidos in May.
SCi said the game was one of the key reasons why it expected to post full-year profits despite recording a £12.8m (€18.4m) loss in the six months to December 31. The figure compared with earnings of £6.6m (€9.5m) a year earlier.
In addition to Tomb Raider, the company will publish Urban Chaos, Hitman: Blood Money and a new version of Championship Manager in the second half.
Chief executive Jane Cavanagh said: “We are confident that the launch of eagerly-awaited titles such as Tomb Raider Legend and Hitman: Blood Money provides a firm base to our profitability for the full 2006 financial year.”
SCi, which recently ended takeover talks that had been going on since October, said revenues in the first half were greater than expected at £50.1m (€72m) but had not translated into profits.
That was because best-sellers such as Lego Star Wars, which has shifted more than 3.3 million units since its launch in April last year, were sold under a distribution agreement rather than published directly.
