Millionaire game novelty 'worn off'

THERE were more tough questions about the popularity of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? after computer games group Eidos said sales based on Chris Tarrant's TV quiz show had slumped alarmingly.

Eidos shipped two million of the games in England and Germany last year but sales this year could be as low as 1.2m despite the release of new editions and a launch in eight more European countries.

The downturn in sales follows a warning on Tuesday from media group Avesco that its earnings were suffering from a fall in Millionaire's popularity. Eidos chief executive Mike McGarvey believes Millionaire's 'novelty factor has worn off'.

He said group sales may fall short of targets this year but cost cuts should produce a substantial improvement in operating performance. Pre-tax losses in the six months to 30 September shrank to £27.4m from £82m with core operating losses narrowing 3% to £25.8m. Sales slipped 37% to £31m. Losses per share fell to 21.8p from 65.4p.