Tivo’s March court victory over EchoStar may be short-lived. 
A U.S. Appeals Court has granted the parent company of Dish Network a rehearing on the battle over the long patent dispute between the companies. Tivo says it has a patent on the “time-warping” technology in DVRs, allowing viewers to watch one show while recording another.
Sales of video game software and hardware plummeted in April, shocking industry observers who were expecting the numbers to be slightly positive or, worst case, down just slightly. That could mean a rough Friday for video game stocks.
(AP)
On the whole, sales were off 26 percent to $766 million, with software sales (the most closely followed of the numbers) plunging 22 percent to $398.5 million, according to NPD Group, which tracks video game sales. Because April 2009 had relatively light sales (and thus, an easy comparable) industry insiders and investors were hoping to at least tow the line.
Here’s some unwelcome – and unexpected – news. 
Video game sales in April took it on the chin, falling 26 percent compared to 2009 to $766 million. That’s roughly five times worse than the most pessimistic analysts were expecting and the fourth-worst year-over-year decline in the industry’s history.
Software sales, according to NPD Group, were down plunging 22 percent to $398.5 million, while hardware fell 37 percent to just $249.3 million.
When privately held Valve Software 
launched its Steam digital distribution platform in 2004, basically selling computer games over the Internet, it was an enormous bet for the company.
Expensive and untested, the service was something new in the gaming world and served a dual function.
Another broadcast outlet is adding a 3D 
channel – and this one’s big.
Comcast has announced it will have ESPN 3D up and on the air in time for this year’s World Cup. It’s the first true cable company to carry the channel, although DirecTV will do so as well.
We’re about a month out from E3 – the annual trade show of the video game industry – but a few trends are already taking shape.
There’s motion control, of course, with the roll out of Microsoft’s Project Natal and more details on Sony’s Move controller. But the most surprising theme is turning out to be 3D.
The Africa Channel, a five-year old cable channel that showcases Africa-centric and originated programming, is expanding its footprint. 
The cabler has announced plans to launch a high definition version of the network on Aug. 1 that will be carried in “select” markets. It’s a big step for a small channel – but one that could expand its audience.
In the video game world, there is no more direct line 
to the enthusiast audience than GameStop.
The retailer, which has more than 6,200 stores nationwide, is a gathering spot for players, who flock there when big games are released. It has withstood numerous attempts by big box stores to encroach on the most profitable parts of its business model.
“FarmVille” seems an unlikely competitor to games 
like “Grand Theft Auto” and “Modern Warfare 2,” but start counting the number of regular players, and the unassuming Facebook game might surprise you.
More than 32 million people tend their virtual crops each day, and the game has a total user base of 80 million. That’s roughly seven times the number of people who play the online smash “World of Warcraft.”
Chris Morris: Journalist 