Sales of DVD-ROM games through the first 10 months of 1998 barely moved the revenue needle, tallying a skimpy $1.5m at retail in the US markets, equaling about 33.7k units sold, according to PC Data.

Publishers are keeping an eye on the format, and in particular the installed base of DVD-ROM drives, estimated by market research firm Infotech to reach 6.5m by year-end 1998, and 28m worldwide by year-end 1999. But they are not rushing to support the format. Publishers, by and large, say they are making production and platform support decisions based on the three ascendant platforms (PlayStation, N64 and PC CD-ROM), while keeping their powder dry on Dreamcast.

Even though almost 33% of Electronic Arts [ERTS] PC products require multiple CD-ROMs, the costs for mastering and pressing DVD-ROMs still don’t add up to a compelling reason to swap formats, says EA’s CTO Scott Cronce.

EA published Wing Commander IV on DVD-ROM two years ago, and the title is currently available via the company’s Web site, but EA is not currently developing other DVD-ROM titles. Activision [ATVI] shipped Zork Grand Inquisitor on DVD to retail on Nov. 23, a move based on the title’s rich&√Ǭ£45;-and existing&√Ǭ£45;-media assets, says SVP of North American Marketing Eric Johnson.

(c) PC Data