Nintendo forced to cough up

Well, things just seem to be getting better and better for Nintendo, who is already smarting after being told that Sony had won the console war, through sheer amount of units sold worldwide - with Microsoft and its Xbox coming a distant second (or

Well, things just seem to be getting better and better for Nintendo, who is already smarting after being told that Sony had won the console war, through sheer amount of units sold worldwide - with Microsoft and its Xbox coming a distant second (or is the war over, see Console War over?). Earlier this week, the maker of the GameCube and Game Boy was slammed with a 149 million Euro (AU$265,340,108 for those of us unable to convert currency instantly in our brains) fine after the company was found to have violated the European Union (EU) antitrust rules.

Also copping some Euro loving were seven companies involved in officially distributing Nintendo products, themselves required to pay an 18 million Euro (ahem, AU$32,054,509) fine for engaging in a "cartel-like arrangement".

The commision involved in handing down these judgements had been investigating Nintendo's activities since May 2000, after it had reason to believe the company had been trading unfairly and partitioning the single market in Europe during the 1990s.

Nintendo back then was determining how its products would be priced; consoles and software sold in Britain were up to 65% cheaper to those in Germany and the Netherlands. Nintendo was suspected of basically keeping prices high artificially. In normal circumstances, the market itself would determine prices, which should fall, not rise.

The fine is the fourth-largest ever to be imposed by the EU, and Nintendo believes it to be too harsh, and naturally, is appealing the decision.