Nintendo of America have announced that first-quarter Game Boy sales are up 250 per cent on the same period last year. These figures were undoubtedly boosted by the release of Game Boy Color, as well as the Pokemon craze that is currently sweeping across America. "Game Boy is the most successful videogame system in history and currently dominates 99 per cent of the handheld market, with more than 70 million systems in people's hands around the world," said Peter Main, Nintendo’s executive vice president of sales and marketing. "Since the Game Boy Color debut in US stores last November, we’ve already sold more than two million units. Worldwide, our parent company, have shipped more than eight million Game Boy Color units since its release". Is it merely a coincidence that if Peter Main were French he would be called Pierre Hand?

Good news was reported in the Future Gamer Chat Forum this week, as 'S8N' revealed he had been in touch with Channel 4. He discovered that a brand new games programme is on its way this summer, called Bytes. It will be given a 'late-ish' slot, which indicates that it may be aimed at the more mature gamer. Channel 4 currently want viewers’ suggestions and ideas on the format of the programme, so drop by their website and let them know what you want to see. Also this week 'Lock' was upset at the news that the Mickey Mouse licence had been snapped up by Nintendo (with Rare producing the software). 'Will Nintendo ever rid itself of its immature image?' he cried (throwing his rattle out of his pram in the process). 'Kev' sprang to the defence of the big 'N', claiming that many of the N64 games out today (and coming soon) are for the older, more mature gamer, and that the 'childish' tag of the machine is long gone. The 'chipping' of PlayStations also created some interesting debate this week. Does it promote piracy, as some feel, or does it simply give us European gamers, sick of high pricing and late releases, a 'backdoor' into getting the latest software today, and not in six months time when it is old hat? So then, an interesting week ahead as we wait with baited breath to see what joys E3 will bring to the gaming community. No doubt everyone will have plenty to say regarding the new software on display, so why not drop into the Forum and let us know what you think? Remember that it's not what you say, it's whom you say it to that counts.

The winners of the V-Rally competition (FG25) are as follows:
smartts@esatclear.ie,
Marcus.Turner@nissan.co.uk,
graham@tsurani.purplenet.co.uk,
gophur@lineone.net,
roger.barnell@net.ntl.com
Each of these lucky blighters will receive a copy of V-Rally Multiplayer Championship Edition for the PC. The answer to the question was 'Virtual'. Best incorrect entries include 'Very' and 'Virile'.

Check out the Future Gamer website for all the latest demos and patches, as well as hints & tips for all your favourite games. Demo of the week (or year!) has to be Quake 3 Arena, get it now and prepare to be blown away. The hottest patch this week is the Pain add-on for Quake, which gives you a load of new weapons and monsters. Recent additions to the hints & tips database include Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 on PlayStation and on PC, Lode Runner 3-D for the N64 and Blue Stinger on the Dreamcast.