GameSpot is reporting that Midway Games posted another loss this quarter, but that there may be some "light at the end of the tunnel". From the article:

Beleaguered game publisher Midway today released financial figures for the first half of 2004. The company lost $25.7 million over the six month period ending June 30, losing $10.7 million in the April-June period. Expecting to release only three games in the next six months, Midway predicts that overall losses for 2004 to be $20 million, $2 million more than it had previously stated.

The news is not all bad, however. Today's numbers show a marked improvement over last year, when Midway lost $65.3 million during the first half. Furthermore, sales were also up this year, rising $16.6 million to $67.4 million during the first half. During the second quarter, the company released three rather well received games, MLB SlugFest: Loaded, NBA Ballers, and Psi-Ops, which helped support sales during the period.

There may be light at the end of the tunnel for Midway-- at least next year. What was once the company's big game for the holiday season will instead add its sales to 2005's financial figures. The Xbox and PlayStation 2 shooter Area 51 has been pushed back to early 2005, where Midway hopes there will be "much more attention in a launch period with comparatively less crowding." Midway will use the time to "add extra features and improve gameplay," Zucker said.

Given that the company also acquired the publishing rights for three new Unreal games, including Unreal Championship 2, due February 2005, the first quarter of next year does not look so bleak to Midway execs and investors.

While no mention was made of Mortal Kombat: Deception, it's safe to say the game is on schedule and will also help Midway's revenues. As this story develops, we'll report on it here.

To read the story in its entirety, click here.

Our thanks to forum/chat member ShingoEX for the heads-up on this news story!

UPDATE (by M4C): In related news, GameSpot has announced that Midway has been chosen by Epic Games to publish the future Unreal titles, both for consoles and PC. This will certainly give Midway's financial report a needed shot in the arm, but could it also mean that Midway is interested in bringing other titles to the PC? Specifically one with the initials MK? Only the future will tell ... To read the full story, click HERE.

Official X-Box Magazine's September issue has reached subscribers, and it includes a look at bios for several characters from Mortal Kombat: Deception, including Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Mileena, Baraka, Raiden, and newcomers Shujinko and Darrius! The newly revealed character bios follow:

• Darrius: Leader of the Resistance in the Realm of Order, Darrius lives a life in the shadows. His ambition is to overthrow the oppressive regime that strangles freedom. To some he is a hero... but to others he is nothing more than a terrorist.
• Shujinko: Long before Liu Kang had won the Mortal Kombat tournament in Earthrealm, Shujinko had begun his quest to retrieve the Kamidogu for the Elder Gods. His journey took him to many realms where he met many experienced warriors.
• Scorpion: In his haste to confront his nemesis, Quan Chi, he was ambushed by two Oni and cast into a powerful soulnado. He would have been torn apart by the souls trapped there had he not escaped into the Void. In this place, he first set eyes on the fabled Elder Gods.
• Sub-Zero: While still in Outworld, the Lin Kuei Grand Master, Sub-Zero, discovers the secret of his true heritage - the source of his mastery over cold temperatures. This discovery will aid him in the fight to destroy the Dragon King's vile and bloodthirsty Tarkatan hordes.
• Baraka: Baraka's Tarkatan race is a mutated hybrid of Netherealm and Outworld species. A loyal warrior, Baraka faithfully serves his new master, the Dragon King, by preoccupying Outworld opposition with his Tarkatan hordes, the backbone of the Dragon King's terrifying army.

The article also features images of Darrius and Shujinko; Darrius is a bald man with sunglasses, wearing a sleeveless leather tunic, while Shujinko is an old man with white robes and long white hair, reminiscent of Pai Mei from the movie Kill Bill. As always, due to copyright issues we are unable to provide scans of the article. However, this issue will soon be on newsstands near you (if it isn't already), so be sure and pick up your copy today!

Our thanks to forum member CMETH for the heads-up on this news story!

GameSpot has released a new video featuring a preview of Mortal Kombat: Deception, which will be released in October. From the site:

In light of the staggering amount of stuff that Midway is packing into Deception, we're pleased to bring you this comprehensive tour of the game, narrated by Mortal Kombat series cocreator Ed Boon himself. In this nearly 10-minute-long video, you'll get the full rundown on Deception's involved adventure game, which will see you taking a young, untrained warrior at the age of 13 all the way to his ascendance as a skilled fighting master at age 60. You'll also get a dose of the competitive puzzle and chesslike modes that help to round out Deception's diverse gameplay.

To download the video you must be a member of GameSpot Complete, however you can read the article and stream the video for free by clicking here.

GameSpot has updated their coverage of Midway's Mortal Kombat: Deception with six screenshots! While five of them are the same as in IGN's recent post (mentioned here), they have added another image of Sub-Zero battling Noob Saibot!

To see the images on GameSpot's website, click here.

Our thanks to forum user sub-zeromasta for the heads-up on this news story!

Our sources within Midway Games have decided to provide a real treat for the fans: five new desktop wallpapers based on their upcoming fighting game, Mortal Kombat: Deception!

To access the wallpapers, click on the thumbnail image. To set them as your wallpaper in Windows/IE, right click on the image and choose "Set as Background". For Mac, save the image to your hard disk, and then right click the desktop and choose "Change Desktop Background".

Our sincerest thanks to our sources within Midway for giving out these wallpapers for the fans!