June 25 wouldn't normally be a date to shout about. But heckers, if there isn't a whole raft of games due for release Friday. This week's MCV (The Market For Home Computing & Video Games) features a full front page advertisement for Driver, while the back cover is taken by the other drivesome heavyweight, V-Rally 2. Both hit the shelves on the same day and MCV devotes a page to the two, looking at ship out units, marketing spend and interview with a key player from both camps. Interestingly, a score card reveals that Driver has been reviewed everywhere, while V-Rally 2 had just four scores from 10 magazines. Why? Because Driver was delayed. And delayed. And delayed. Official UK PlayStation Magazine reviewed it four months ago! Whether it was a cynical 'delaying' process by GT in order to secure front covers over a number of months (it probably wasn't, truth be known) or not, Driver will almost certainly fly off the shelves.

MCV reports that EA, Eidos and Ubi Soft are battling for the right to publish Square's PC version of Final Fantasy VIII. Sony have already secured the rights to the PlayStation incarnation – surprise, eh? Eidos published the PC version of Final Fantasy VII and you'd expect them to be in pole position for the sequel. Anyway, it's not released until next year…

CTW leads with the news that Jack of All Games are close to securing the rights to distribute Sega's Dreamcast in the UK. Not that it will unduly concern your good selves. Of more interest is news that Nintendo have formed a joint venture with a company called Recruit to establish an online service for the N64 which will offer games, Internet access and email facilities from December. Which tends to suggest that 'The Dolphin' will have online capabilities when it emerges, too. But we knew that already, eh? The new company will also sell the 64DD add-on drive – the thing wot's supposed to have a built-in modem.