Both trade mags are back this week and MCV lead with the story that although sales through 1999 reached new heights, discounting means the actual value of the UK games industry only rose by some 0.04 per cent (not including hardware). MCV also report that Codemasters are hunting third-party software. The Britsoft company are looking for PlayStation2, Dreamcast, PC and Game Boy Advance projects, as well as almost complete PlayStation titles. We wish whoever's got the task of hunting down unsigned AAA titles the best of British because our very own Andy Smith used to try to do that for the Codies and it's a thankless task!

As we've mentioned the Game Boy Advance, MCV report that the machine could be reaching our shores a lot earlier than we expected. THE Games' boss of distribution Dick Francis is credited with saying the machine could be here as early as October with a price of only £90.

New-look trade alternative CTW report that it's been a great end of year for hardware, though, with hundreds of thousands of new consoles sold. CTW also report that Acclaim are blaming their fivefold drop in first-quarter pre-tax profits on release date delays. The Amiga has also been given space in the organ thanks to the news that Gateway sold the brand to a company called Amino and a distributor for software has been found. Oxford-based CS&E are guaranteeing next day delivery across Europe for all their Amiga software products. Groovy, eh? But surely, surely, it's just been too long since the Amiga had any kind of credence? It could never make a comeback, could it? Your thoughts to the usual address...