The gaming world was recently greeted by the news of Eidos signing a beneficial deal with Time Warner, but it looks like there were some dire consequences: according to some insider sources, Eidos has laid off its PR, marketing and sales departments in what seems to be in exchange to Time Warner's financial assistance. Read more about it in the full article.

It seems like SCi Entertainment is finally getting into the role of the reluctant "father", ready to give away his daughter (i.e. Lara Croft) at the altar. It was confirmed recently that SCi will be entertaining the possibility of opening a major business investment in the near future to help get the company back on track. You can read a statement released by the company explaining this move in our full article.

Keeping up with the SCi Entertainment takeover bid? Well, if you put money on Time Warner, then this update might make you re-think your wager: it seems that NBC is putting forward big money to be the king of the hill, in terms of being considered as the top buyer. Just how big, you ask? Try a hundred million greenbacks. Enough money to choke a mammal of colossal proportions. Check out the details in the full article.

Following the news about SCi Entertainment being open for a takeover bid so far? Well, it seems that someone has finally been able to snap up the firm that brought us the famous Lara Croft, as media giant  Warner Bros. is reportedly gearing up to make an announcement about a recent acquisition they'll be making in Europe. All the details after the jump.

The adventure isn't over for our favorite tomb raider, Lara Croft. Neither is it over for her creator, SCi Entertainment. Takeover talks for the publisher have surfaced once again, and certain companies are once again being eyed as Lara's suitors. Details in the full article.

Will the lawsuits never end? Apple manages to entangle itself once again in another lawsuit, this time filed by Klausner Technologies over the iPhone's Visual Voicemail feature. Details in the full article.

Despite receiving awards here and there, Apple has had many problems with its newest baby iPhone that includes hacking and lawsuits from various business entities around the world.

We got word today that Apple and partner AT&T was recently sued by Klausner Technologies with the latter claiming that the two infringe on its patent over Visual Voicemail service being offered to iPhone users. The full story after the jump!

It looks like Lara Croft won't be getting a new daddy any time soon. Contrary to prior reports that Ubisoft will be vying for SCi Entertainment, the company who owns the rights to one of the video gaming world's most popular female characters, it was announced by a spokesman that "Ubisoft has no intention of making an offer for SCI-Eidos."

Although Ubisoft won't be bidding for any shares to SCi Entertainment, SCi has been considering a number of potential buyers whose identities they were not willing to reveal just yet.

It looks like anybody who's interested in owning the hand of the fair Miss Croft won't find it cheap either. Analysts have reported that SCi management, led by Chief Executive Jane Cavanagh, will not accept anything less than 500 pence (around US$ 10) a share and could lead to something as high as GBP 300 million (US$ 600 million).

The three biggest bidders previously reported were Time Warner, Ubisoft, and an unnamed Chinese company. Ubisoft, however, explained that SCi's valutation did not fit with Ubisoft's "profitability criteria." In other words, the game for SCi's bid was just a little to rich for its blood.

Ubisoft's spokesman explained it further saying "we are looking at other opportunities for external and internal growth which can create more potential value for shareholders."

Over the past year, more than US$ 1 billion have been pumped into 35 virtual worlds companies by venture capital, technology and media firms. This information comes from Virtual World Management, a leading media company that tracks the virtual worlds industry.

The biggest chunk of the US$1 billion came from Disney's acquisition of Club Penguin, an online game from New Horizon Interactive where kids take control of cartoon penguin avatars to waddle around, play minigames and chat with their friends. This acquisition cost Disney US$ 700 million.

Intel's US$ 110-million acquisition of 3D virtual worlds graphics technology company Havok made up the second-biggest part of the figure. A total of US$ 196.8 million came from investments in 33 different companies. Investors included Intel, Redpoint ventures, Disney, CBS and Time Warner.

Here's an update on Lara Croft's rather sensitive position as the company that owns the franchise, SCi Entertainment, is up for grabs. While offers are primarily done behind closed doors, it's known that Ubisoft has made a bid for the company, as well as Time Warner. A third party, unnamed Chinese company, has also expressed interest.

Times Online supposes that the presence of three companies interested in the franchise, two of them major players, may result in a bidding game, which is no small thing considering that that the company's stock has risen significantly since its announcing its interest in being open to being taken over by third parties.

Currently, the company is estimated to be worth GBP 300 million (US$ 606 million), with Time Warner holding 10% of its shares. Another player, Electronic Arts, may also be expressing interest in SCi Entertainment, but whether it will participate in the bidding game is doubtful since it is the largest shareholder in Ubisoft.