Main Web Site : http://www.kuju.com

____________________________________________________________________

Shares in Issue : 15.67 million

Main Shareholders;

Jonathan Newth, Dir (20.70% holding)
Ian Baverstock , Dir (20.70% holding)
Laxey Partners: (13.4% holding)
Singer & Friedlander: (5% holding)
Command Fund: (4.5% holding)
Dominic Wheatley, Cmn (1.70% holding)
____________________________________________________________________

EA/KUJU ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC RAIL PARTNERSHIP
Development of a new Rail Simulation coming in 2006 courtesy of EA and Kuju...

Electronic Arts and Kuju Entertainment have today announced a partnership to develop a new Rail Simulation game, which is provisionally entitled Rail Simulator. Set for a 2006 release on PC, the game is set to take in rail routes throughout the UK and Germany as players experience steam, diesel, and electric locomotives along their ideal train journeys.
Kuju previously developed Microsoft Train Simulator, which eventually had over 40 expansion packs built for it by third-party companies, and went on to sell over one million copies.
Managing Director, Kuju Entertainment Jonathan Newth said,"Our previous release showed the massive and sustainable appetite for train simulator games with add-ons still being released regularly. EA's enthusiastic involvement and powerful distribution will allow us to bring the next generation of train games to the mass market. RAIL SIMULATOR* will be based on an entirely new game engine, providing new levels of immersion and allowing enthusiasts to get even closer to the experience of driving their favourite locomotives."
Paul Jackson, Managing Director Northern Region, Electronic Arts, said, "We're proud to support a pioneer in simulator games in bringing a totally new title to market. RAIL SIMULATOR* will offer stunning 3D graphics and a totally realistic experience. Players will be able to enjoy a wide range of train environments; from the drama and romance of steam to the sheer power and sophistication of the latest high-speed locomotives."
Although the financial terms of the deal have been held back by the two companies, one question does remain will the game include EA Trax?

http://www.totalvideogames.com/news/EA/Kuju_Announce_Strategic_Rail_Partnership_7948_4882_0.htm

It has been rumoured a lot this year that Kuju Wireless has been doing extremely well and it looks like their games are liked in Russia. There was also talk of a bid coming in for the Wireless side of Kuju earlier in the year.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/By-2006-Russia-will-be-the-largest-mobile-communication-market-in-Europa-3703.shtml

No problems on the G.R. game City of the Dead.

Hip Interactive Europe will also remain the publisher of forthcoming titles George A. Romero's City of the Dead, Ghost Wars and Call of Cthulhu: Destiny's End, which were assumed to be in danger yesterday with the collapse of the Canadian arm of Hip Interactive.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=5907

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=6015

July 25, 2005

Kuju Tries Alternative Funding For Rail Simulator
UK-based Battalion Wars developer Kuju Entertainment has announced that development for its upcoming Rail Simulator will be financed by Fund4Games, a game industry project management and project finance company, while being published by software giant Electronic Arts through its EA Partners arm.

This is a particularly interesting announcement because Fund4Games, a third-party funding entity for the UK games industry, will apparently handle much of the project development costs, while EA Partners will publish and distribute the title, a distinctly different arrangement to the majority of titles that are both funded and published/distributed by a single publisher.

Kuju Entertainments Managing Director Jonathan Newth commented that working with Fund4Games allows a structure of IP ownership and commercial interaction with the Rail Simulator community which would be difficult to achieve through a more traditional two party structure. The publisher model is still very important but its no longer the only option.

From Hardman July Monthly Update;

KUJU
Kuju recently announced a new contract with Electronic Arts for a railway
simulation game for 2006. We regard this as excellent news. EA is a massive and
highly regarded publisher, and train simulation has always been one of Kujus
strengths since it developed Microsoft Train Simulator, which sold over a million units.
Results for the year to March 2005 should be due some time in the next month.

Results now due any day soon and should be a return to profits and a very positive outlook.

And we could hear more on any deals or tie ups with EA. Kuju being a target for EA would not be surprising.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/r/?page=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/news/news_story.php(que)id=122529

INTERVIEW: CITY OF THE DEAD 29th July 2005

A mark up today so this could be the start of the action.

http://www.cheatcc.com/gc/rev/battalionwars.html

Kuju PLC
05 August 2005

For embargoed release at 7a.m.

Kuju plc ('Kuju')

Re Contract

Kuju Announces New Contract Signing with Ubisoft Entertainment S.A.

Kuju, one of Europe's leading independent game developers, today announces that
it has recently agreed a new funded development project with Ubisoft
Entertainment S.A. The work will be undertaken at Kuju's Surrey studio.

Further details of the project will be announced in due course.

For further information please contact:

Jonathan Newth, Managing Director

Tel: 01483 414 344

END

From UK-Analyst.com;

Kuju saw its shares climb 1p to 19.5p after it said had agreed a new funded development project with Ubisoft Entertainment. Meanwhile, the company also announced alongside Ernst & Young , in its capacity as court-appointed interim receiver of Hip Interactive Inc, that they were working together to find alternative publishing outlets for the arcade zombie title game previously known as 'George A Romero Presents: City of the Dead'. Several interested parties in the game have already noted their interest.

Thread for the more intelligent.

https://www.moneyam.com/InvestorsRoom/posts.php?tid=8461#lastread

Thank you for the link driver.

Looking more deeply into the recent Electronic Arts contract and Rail Simulator it looks like Kuju have pulled off a very good idea by this new product belonging to them. A lot of people made a lot of money from the original Rail Sim done for Microsoft with add ons and extras for years after the original was released (and the original sold over 1 million copies). Now it looks like Kuju have opened a door for very strong revenue growth with this deal via Fund4Games. They are doing well with good contract news and wireless is rumoured to be having very strong growth which should cause the 2006 forecast to be revised up but now with this deal on the Rail Sim there is ever more reason and need to upgrade them. Extracts from site below;

Abstract:
Kuju have just updated their site with some new information about how Rail Simulator is being funded.

Richard Rogerson at Kuju sent us the following quote:

Before starting on Rail Simulator, Kuju wanted to have two key elements in place first, we wanted a major distribution partner and we have the best in EA. However, we also wanted a degree of involvement and control above that normally achieved in a publisher / developer relationship. The F4G funding has allowed that; Rail Simulator is Kujus simulation. So its down to us and we are striving to meet the communitys expectations! In addition, because the F4G model leaves the ownership with Kuju, we can plan for a long running franchise that (we think) the community will support.
Richard Rogerson
Executive Producer

http://www.uktrainsim.com/index2.php?form_news=readreport&form_report=764&CUTHERE=9fbecf92d405a98f60d5054f2df67cbe


Fund4Games to finance Kuju's Rail Simulator.
Surrey UK, July 22nd, 2005 Fare Deal!

Fund4Games to finance Kujus Rail Simulator*

Kuju Entertainment (AIM:KUJ) today disclosed that the development of their recently announced PC title Rail Simulator* is being created in conjunction with Fund4Games, the videogame industrys leading project finance and management company.
Rail Simulator follows on from Kuju Entertainments previously developed Microsoft Train Simulator, which sold over a million copies worldwide and inspired third-party companies to develop over 40 expansion packs.

Jonathan Newth, Managing Director of Kuju Entertainment commented, Our industry is constantly changing and throwing up new challenges in all areas; in order to remain competitive, publishers and developers have to be open to new ways of doing business. The decision to use 3rd party finance as a part of the production of Rail Simulator allows a structure of IP ownership and commercial interaction with the Rail Simulator community which would be difficult to achieve through more a traditional two party structure. He continued, The publisher model is still very important but its no longer the only option, particularly for titles like Rail Simulator.

Tim Gatland, Chief Executive of Fund4Games added, We believe that the F4G financing model provides major benefits to both developers and publishers, creating a new model for the production and launch of videogames. We are delighted to be working with Kuju & EAP on this exciting project. We recognise Kuju's proven capability in developing train simulation games and we believe that together with EAP they will create a world-class product.

Rail Simulator will offer the opportunity for players to take charge of steam, diesel and electric trains on real routes in the UK and Germany. Challenging and fun gameplay will even enable players to design their own ideal journey routes. Rail Simulator will become the gold standard rail simulation title and will fully support the creation of add-on third party content in a similar fashion to the earlier Microsoft Train Simulator.

For further information please contact: Alison Beasley, Lincoln Beasley PR
T: +44(0) 1608 645756 E: Alison@lincolnbeasley.co.uk
Rail Simulator is to be released in Europe in 2006 and is to be distributed and marketed by Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS). www.ea.com

* Rail Simulator working title

http://www.railsimulator.com/press_release_fund4games.htm

Hello Papal I did put this on my watch list when you first flagged it up but thought it a bit risky.
I feel now could well be the time to join you in this.
I don`t suppose there is any news on Universe ?
DB66

DB66 nothing new on UNG at the moment just waiting for results in early Sept, Kuju results should be this week.

Very little risk at KUJ, its been around 16p to 18p throughout the restructuring years and now its just started to move up as the contract news flows and also results are due this month, and should be a return to profits with very positive outlook.

As the rumour is of strong performance from Kuju Wireless, part of Kuju PLC, here is some information on where the wireless side of things is moving.

Mobile games more valuable than porn

And music on the rise too...
By Jo Best
Published: Monday 25 July 2005

The market for mobile content is set to be worth $42.8bn by the end of the decade, with kids' content earning the operators billions more than adults'.
According to analyst house Informa Telecoms and Media, of the $42.8bn which mobile content will bring in, mobile gaming will be worth $11.2bn, with 15 per cent of people downloading and playing a game on their handset by 2010.
The exclusively adult preserves of porn and gambling, however, will generate considerably less.
Adult entertainment will bring in a mere $2.3bn by 2010, the analysts predict. But even this comparatively meagre sum is not guaranteed unless pornographers and mobile operators can negotiate the legislative labyrinth and convince the authorities they can ensure adult content is not accessed by minors.
Gambling will net a comparatively healthy $7.6bn but will also find itself dodging the slings and arrows of the lawmakers if it is to succeed. In addition the gaming industry must make sure it's seen to be adopting the right attitude to preventing gambling addiction.

Link to full article

PRESS RELEASE: New version of Exit Games Neutron 2.5 connects mobile Java and Brew-subscribers worldwide

Press release supplied by Games Press 10:58 16/08/2005

Press Release

The latest version 2.5 of the leading Exit Games Neutron mobile multiplayer service introduces lots of new functionalities and will be making its public debut at this year's Games Convention Developer Conference 2005, taking place from August 16 18 in Leipzig. Exit Games Neutron 2.5 is the world's first cross-carrier mobile multiplayer service based on the open OMA (Open Mobile Alliance) Games Services standard. Providing all necessary functionalities for creating award winning mobile multiplayer and connected applications in one integrated service, the innovative multiplayer solution is already internationally widespread through sales partners such as Vodafone, T-Mobile and Sony Ericsson.

The new version 2.5 comes up with a public multiplayer extension for Qualcomm's Brew environment connecting both Java and Brew subscribers worldwide. After a successful launch with Java carriers in Europe, USA and Asia, this further enhancement now enables Exit Games to also serve the whole US-market as well greater parts of Asia with its multiplayer service.

Furthermore, Exit Games Neutron 2.5 incorporates several new and improved features for game play, community and communications, such as:

- server-to client information channels for in-game news or advertising

- multi-language event management

- "Tell-a-friend" function which facilitates the spread of viral marketing campaigns from mobile phone to mobile phone

- management of complex tournament functions.

The latter will be exclusively used to power the international tournaments of the World Cyber Games mobile, the world's most important mobile gaming tournament.

For the game developer's convenience Exit Games has also further enhanced the offer of customized Game Servers for

- trading card games

- asynchronous multiplayer games and

- persistent worlds' games.

"Being connected to numerous Java and Brew operators in Europe, USA and Asia, Exit Games Neutron 2.5 is the leading mobile multiplayer solution in terms of connectivity. It reaches about 300 million mobile users worldwide, 150 million of which are connected to operator billing." explains Christof Wegmann, CTO of Exit Games. "In addition, the use of Exit Games Neutron has been simplified and further adapted to individual requirements, thus maximising ease of use for developers," he adds.

For more information, please consult Exit Games at the Games Convention:

GC Business Center, Hall 2, booth F50.

Seite 2 / 2

About Exit Games

Exit Games is a leading service provider for connected mobile entertainment software. Its core product Exit Games Neutron is a managed multiplayer platform, connecting mobile users all over the world. The open-standard solution is based on the OMA Games Services industry standard, co-developed by Exit Games. Clients of Exit Games include leading developers, publishers and mobile communications companies like Com2uS, Kuju Wireless, Vodafone, T-Mobile, Orange, Sony Ericsson and Siemens. Exit Games was founded in 2003 on venture capital funding and maintains branches in Hamburg, Germany and San Francisco, CA /USA.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/press_release.php?aid=10816

Leading Asian operator SingTel offers new Multiplayer

Hamburg and San Francisco, CA August 19, 2005 Mobile multiplayer games are the trend this year and the leading multiplayer technology and service provider, Exit Games, connects gamers all over the world over. Exit Games Neutron multiplayer service allows mobile phone users to play against each other via GPRS and UMTS regardless of the type of mobile phone and network they are using. Exit Games today announced that Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel), Asia's leading telecommunications provider with over 1.55 million subscribers in Singapore and more than 71 million mobile subscribers regionally, will be enlarging its portfolio of multiplayer games with products based on Exit Games Neutron.

After the successful launch of various multiplayer games in Europe and the USA, Exit Games can thus extend the regional coverage and enable gamers to play together on three of the world's continents.


About Exit Games

Exit Games is a leading service provider for connected mobile entertainment software. Its core product Exit Games Neutron is a managed multiplayer platform, connecting mobile users all over the world. The open-standard solution is based on the OMA Games Services industry standard, co-developed by Exit Games. Clients of Exit Games include leading developers, publishers and mobile communications companies like Com2uS, Kuju Wireless, Vodafone, T-Mobile, Orange, Sony Ericsson and Siemens. Exit Games was founded in 2003 on venture capital funding and maintains branches in Hamburg, Germany and San Francisco, CA /USA.


http://www.gamesindustry.biz/news.php?aid=10941

http://cube.ign.com/articles/646/646959p1.html