When you've got a business going, it's a wise idea to keep track of your cashflow. THQ has been doing precisely that. In fact, the company has recently reported the fourth quarter results of the fiscal year, which ended last March 31, 2008. More financial statistics in the full article after the jump.

Here's another movie turned video game from Luxoflux and Activision: Kung Fu Panda (PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and DS). Play the role of Po the Panda as he trains with five of the best Kung Fu masters in China to fulfill his destiny of becoming the Dragon Warrior. You can read more about the game in our full article after the jump.

Activision recently raised its forecasts for the fiscal year, raising its estimate by more than US$ 200 million which prompted Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter to give his own prediction.

Although Pachter predicted earlier that it will win over Rock Band, he adds now that when Rock Band is released, Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock will decline a little in sales. More in the full article.

Activision's fiscal 2008 Q2 report is in, and the results are very encouraging. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PC) is bringing the house down as it earns over US$ 100 million in its first week to seal its reputation as one of gaming's most successful launches ever. Activision is definitely on a roll and has openly predicted that Q3 2007 just might yield income of about US$ 1 billion. Want to know the full financial details? Read more, then.

See the full story after the jump!

Sales data from Home Media Research has Blu-ray outselling rival format HD-DVD by almost 2 to 1 in the first nine months of the year. This according to reports from Reuters.

Blu-ray reportedly posted total U.S. sales of 2.6 million units from January 1 until September 30. HD-DVD, on the other hand, had a total of 1.4 million discs sold. Earlier this month, we reported that Blu-ray also posted a 4 to 1 lead over HD-DVD in Europe.

Analysts expect a different scenario in the fourth quarter, however. In-Stat analyst Gerry Kaufhold believes that newly-released HD-DVD titles with new Web-enabled features such as Paramount's Transformers will revitalize the HD-DVD camp in the fourth quarter.

Adams Media Research president Tom Adams also pointed towards Paramount and DreamWorks' 18-month HD-DVD exclusivity as a factor that "very much strengthens HD-DVD's hand in the fourth quarter". Adams, however, believes that Blu-ray will still take the lead for the year overall.

Microsoft is kicking it in high gear in delivering content for the young and the young-at-heart as they release new games and downloadable TV programs for the Xbox Live. Microsoft has teamed up with Nickelodeon, Warner Bros., and DreamWorks to offer new content.

Starting today, Xbox Live will be offering 50 episodes of classic Looney Tunes cartoons as well as episodes from three popular Nickelodeon's TEENick shows: The Backyardigans, Blue's Clues, and iCarly. The entire season of Blue's Clues is available and new episodes of iCarly will be available right after they air on the network.

Two new games have also been added to the list of Xbox Live games. Straight from his pineapple house comes SpongeBob in his very own game, SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam. Also arriving is Shrek in his new game, SHREK-N-ROLL. The games, along with 200 other casual game titles for Live will be available for download soon.

To further entice consumers to ride on the HD-DVD bandwagon, Microsoft announced today a major partnership with leading movie studios paving the way to five free movies movies to anyone who will purchase the Xbox 360 HD-DVD player. The price for the add-on is currently at 114.99 GBP (US$ 235.49).

The said deal is only applicable in UK and the film studios involved include Warner Brothers, Universal, Dreamworks, and Paramount. Microsoft UK Head of Gaming and Entertainment Stephen McGill had this to say:

The HD-DVD player for Xbox 360 gives customers a high quality and affordable way to enjoy state-of-the-art HD-DVD movies. We're delighted to enable everyone to enjoy the technology to the full and offer some fantastic movie releases, completely free.

To get the free movies, all you have to do is send in a form containing the barcode of your purchase, the freebies will then be delivered after 28 working days. In case you are interested, we listed down the movies being offered in the deal. Also, you can get the mentioned form via the Read link below.

• Serenity
• The Chronicles of Riddick
• Hulk
• Children of Men
• The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
• Troy
• Full Metal Jacket
• Corpse Bride
• The Prestige
• Swordfish
• Black Rain
• Dreamgirls
• Word Trade Center

As we all know Paramount and Dreamworks has decided to jump (exclusively) into the HD-DVD wagon, and it looks like it's not an isolated case. There's a noticeable outcropping of HD-DVD releases of movies supposed to be exclusive to Blu-ray, and some of them are even from Sony Pictures.

Among many other titles, Underworld: Evolution as well as XXX from Sony Pictures have been spotted under the HD-DVD banner. As for movies from other Blu-ray exclusive studios, Disney's Reign of Fire and The Prestige was also found with the HD-DVD logo printed over their titles.

The strangest thing? There seems to be HD-DVD movies from almost every Blu-ray exclusive studios.

Why is it so? Audioholics supposes that the high cost of producing Blu-ray discs is causing the studios to jump into the HD-DVD wagon from time to time. The fact that HD-DVD is region-free may also be another reason as well.

Is this any indication of a huge development in the format wars? Do check this space often to find out.

The Blu-ray Disc Association U.S. has released an official statement in response to the move made by Paramount Pictures and Dreamworks Animations to join the rival HD-DVD camp a few days ago.

Andy Parsons, the Blu-ray Disc Association's US president said that the announcement made by the two giant entertainment firms was untimely, considering the momentum enjoyed by their format.

"Blu-ray title sales continue to outpace HD-DVD sales by nearly a 2 to 1 margin, and major retailers have expressed a strong preference for Blu-ray," comments Parsons.

The Blu-ray Association chief adds, "Moreover, the price delta between HD DVD and Blu-ray players has been greatly reduced in the past few months," and he pointed out that this is a trend that's bound to go on until issues regarding the cost of Blu-ray technology disappear.

"Under these circumstances, we can only imagine what could have enticed Paramount to walk away from a format that is clearly selling significantly more software than the HD DVD format," concludes Parsons.

Paramount and DreamWorks recent decision to release their movies exclusively on the HD DVD format renewed the format war. The announcement even had Michael Bay steamed up.

The unexpected move, as the New York Times reveals, may have more to it than meets the eye though. According to Times, two unnamed Viacom executives revealed that the two studios together will be getting US$ 150 million in financial incentives.

The financial incentives will consist of revenues that will come from cash and promotional guarantees. Microsoft, one of the lead supporters for the HD DVD format, commented however, that they "provided no financial incentives to Paramount or DreamWorks whatsoever."

One interesting detail from the terms of exclusivity deal with the format may suggest that this blow to Blu-ray is only temporary: Paramount will only be HD DVD exclusive for 18 months. Only time will tell whether the format war will see its conclusion or whether the recent development just delayed the outcome.