Capcom sales up, operating income down

Osaka-based Capcom has released its latest set of financials for its fiscal third quarter, ending December 31, 2007. Net sales were up 4.8 percent over the same period last year to 51.7 billion yen (approx $485 million), although operating income was down 8.2 percent to 6 billion yen ($56 million). Ordinary income also decreased 15.3 percent to 6.5 million yen ($61 million), along with net income, which was down 17.8 percent to 3.6 million yen.

The company singled out Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles for the Wii as driving strong sales, particularly in the US and Europe, and Monster Hunter Freedom 2 as being a top seller in Japan. Capcom also commented that preorders and sales of Devil May Cry 4 and Monster Hunter Freedom 2G "showed healthy growth." Conversely, We Love Golf! and Mega Man Star Force 2 only saw "sluggish" sales.

On the arcade side of things, operations and games sales business were "weak," and there was a technical issue with arcade game Donkey Kong Banana Kingdom, which saw the game not do so well.

As a result of these numbers, Capcom raised its forecast for net sales for the full financial year of 2007 to 82 billion yen ($770 million), up 4.6 percent on the forecast made in November. It also raised its forecast for operating income to 12 billion yen ($113 million), a rise of 15 percent.