About two months ago, we started researching how Wizards of the Coast handles release days for its its various distribution channels.

This is a sidebar article to our coverage of how Wizards of the Coast handles release dates for its two main product categories and various distribution channels.

According to Marvel's most recent quarterly financials, Marvel's publishing inventory reached $1.2 million at cost as of September 30. This is over four times its inventory at the end of 2000.

GAMA has launched an online game store locator service, which provides a way for consumers to locate stores carrying games based on store name, city, state, or zip code.

Marvel released its Q3 report last week, and its publishing and toy results continued to improve vs. Q2, although licensing was somewhat weaker.

McFarlane Toys has just inked an agreement with the National Basketball Association to create a line of McFarlane's Sports Picks that will feature NBA basketball stars.

Marvel's no reprint policy was on retailers' minds again this week with the news that Amazing Spider-man #36, which is selling very rapidly coast-to-coast, will not be reprinted as a stand-alone issue but will instead by re-issued as part of a Marvel Must-Have book in December.

Game distributor Zocchi Distribution, Inc. is closing its doors 'in the next few weeks,' according to General Manager Jim O'Neal.

In response to ICv2's question about Marvel's Walmart program at the Marvel press conference today, Marvel President Bill Jemas revealed that at least six million Ultimate Spider-Man #1 's are already in print.

The retailer response to our coverage of Marvel's Wal-Mart program has been strong, and is still coming in.