The gaming industry shook itself out of its post-E3 bender in a big way this week. After the business coasted through last week, company earnings were reported, more execs slung mud, and some major games gave up some new bits of information.

　　It was all about the Yen-jamins over in Japan, where Square Enix, Nintendo, and Capcom all opened their wallets for the public to see. All three posted profits, with Nintendo making the most mochi, taking in nearly $873 million despite lower sales. Square Enix was helped out by sales of Kingdom Hearts II and Final Fantasy XII, starting off the new fiscal year $150.5 million richer. Capcom was more modest, pocketing $62 million thanks largely to Resident Evil 4 for the PlayStation 2.

　　Nintendo can use some of the extra change to pay off its recently promoted executives. Tatsumi Kimishima moved up from president of Nintendo of America to the new role of CEO and chairman of the board. Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo's outspoken marketing guru and subject of many Photoshops, takes the seat vacated by Kimishima and will oversee the company's daily operations, as well as fill his previous duties as VP of marketing and sales.

　　Speaking of company executives, many weren't short on words this week as some bragged, some weren't impressed, and some simply shrugged off the competition. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe CEO David Reeves boasted, "We have built up a certain brand equity...that the first million [consumers] are going to buy [the PlayStation 3]...even if it didn't have games." Microsoft chairman Bill Gates was unimpressed with the motion-sensing capabilities of the controllers on the PS3 and Wii, saying, "People aren't that good at totally standing still...there's a lot to be learned about these controllers." And last, but not least, Nintendo's chief game designer Shigeru Miyamoto responded to Sony's motion-sensitive controller with: "We've gotten used to others copying what we do--and we're having a lot of fun with it."

　　As for games, fans of Master Chief and haters of the Covenant were pleased to know that Halo 3's multiplayer mode was already going through daily playtests. Sure, but is it just wireframe models running around boring backdrops? "I'm told a lot of the textures and decorator objects are just placeholders at the moment," wrote Bungie's Frankie O'Conner. "Could have fooled me."

　　The weekly major license picked up these past seven days was made by Ubisoft, which announced that Lost was headed to a console near you. Lost follows fellow ABC show Desperate Housewives to the gaming world, with the rights to According to Jim still ripe for the picking.

　　Valve opened up and revealed that the first chapter of Half-Life 2 episodic content went gold and would be available on the first of next month. The company also said that the second episode would be ready before the end of the year, and that a third episode, the last in a trilogy, is in the works.

　　MONDAY

　　Analysts see upside as consoles near release

　　Halo 3 MP testing under way

　　Retail Radar: Spore DS, Half-Life 2 for PS3 and Xbox 360, Wii Pilotwings, and Duck Hunt?

　　Ubisoft getting Lost in 2007

　　New breed of Nintendogs coming to Europe

　　TUESDAY

　　Helium may have put Windows in 360s

　　Activision plays with Barbies

　　IEMA + VSDA = EMA

　　Tennessee game bill withdrawn

　　ESA supports Maryland gaming law

　　WEDNESDAY

　　Oklahoma gaming bill moves forward

　　Game critics narrow down Best of E3

　　Kingdom Hearts II, FFXII propel Square profits

　　Half-Life 2: Episode One gold, Two dated, Three announced

　　Miyamoto hints at Wii character personalization

　　THURSDAY

　　Gates unmoved by motion-sensing controllers

　　360 dashboard update detailed

　　Nintendo: Wii less than $250

　　Venezuelan government takes issue with Mercenaries 2

　　NPD: $1.4 billion of PC gaming in 2005

　　FRIDAY

　　Infinium Labs to become Phantom Entertainment?

　　Neverwinter Nights gets Infinite Dungeons

　　Gay mag "Hot" for Link

　　Star Fox DS gets new name

　　RE4 and Nintendogs win design awards

　　RUMORS OF THE WEEK

　　Apple (finally) getting its game on?

　　Wii-mote to be karaoke Wii-mic ... and Wii-phone?

　　Sony pwning preowned PS3 games?

　　SiN Episodes unspooling on Xbox 360 and PS3? Eidos rubbishes next-gen Fear Effect reports

　　RELEASES

　　Shippin' Out May 22-26: Heroes of M&M V, Table Tennis

　　CHARTS

　　US Console charts: May 14-20

　　Japan game charts: May 8-14

　　UK game charts: May 13-20

　　US PC Game Charts: May 7-13