The two main trade papers are heavy on the industry news this week. CTW (The Entertainment Computer Trade Weekly) fill their front page with the news that Squaresoft (Final Fantasy series) have signed a new European distribution agreement with SVG for their forthcoming PlayStation games. The agreement covers this year and next year. Another distributor story hits the headlines as Planet Distribution have been acquired by French peripheral manufacturers and distributors Big Ben Interactive SA (doesn't sound very French to us). However, the most interesting games-related news on CTW's front page concerns the rumour that Microsoft will be unveiling the X-Box at next month's Game Developers' Conference in San Jose (we know the way there). Apparently, Mr Gates will have the honour of making the announcement about the machine and its future alongside Peter Molyneux (Black & White).

MCV (The Market for Home Computing and Videogames) also dedicate their front page to industry stories this week, and they too have the Squaresoft story and the Planet story. Also taking up space on their cover is the news that fledgling publishers PBH have gone to the wall and that new developers Evolution (with former DID boss Martin Kenwright) are rumoured to have signed a deal with Sony, who will publish their first title, a driving game for PlayStation2. An interesting story caught our eyes inside the paper too: Channel 4 have recruited ELSPA to assist them in a forthcoming Dispatches programme that's dedicated to the issue of violence in computer games. Oh Lord help us all.