Latest news with #DavidGibson
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The joy of railways is shared by millions
Although a not a full-on Thomas the Tank Engine fan, I have for 65 years been an out-there and unashamed enthusiast for anything running on rails ('Thomas the Tank Engine clung to me like a disease': the film about the choo-choo's global grownup superfans, 22 July). My wife and I sometimes do front-of-house at a heritage railway and can confirm the attraction of railways for those with autism, particularly young people. There is a predictability about railways, timetables, signals and all the other paraphernalia that is very attractive. Also, there is endless scope for studying minutiae and collecting odd bits of information. Numbers and names on the engines, liveries (colours of trains to you), performance records and endless other statistics. And, as honoured by Brannon Carty's film, discussed in your article, you don't have to be a loner if you don't want to: there are millions of others to share your passion. The study of Thomas's creator, the Anglican cleric Wilbert Awdry, is recreated at the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Tywyn: a small collection of theological texts on one side, a joyful collection of railway books on the other, with a model railway spread across his desk. Wonderful!Rev David GibsonNewark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
British and Irish Lions set for debut at iconic 100,000-seat ‘greatest stadium on earth' first used nearly 200 years ago
THE BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS are set for a historic encounter in one of the world's most esteemed venues. The Lions will face Australia in their second test - after winning the first on Saturday in Brisbane - at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground. 5 The British and Irish Lions are set for a historic match Credit: David Gibson/Fotosport/Shutterstock 5 The British and Irish Lions will compete at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 5 The British and Irish Lions will face Australia in the second Test Credit: Morgan Hancock/Action Plus/Shutterstock 5 The British and Irish Lions won the first Test Credit:5 The Melbourne Cricket Ground will hold a capacity of 100,000 Credit: CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images And the big match is expected to be watched by a staggering capacity of 100,000. The legendary stadium, which opened way back in 1853, has hosted a series of sporting events in the past. That includes Aussie Rules, football, rugby league and of course cricket. And now it will host a British and Irish Lions Test match for the first time on Saturday. Read More on Rugby The crowd is expected to surpass the 84,000 that attended the Lions' deciders against Australia in Sydney back in 2001 and 2013. The Wallabies' stars are counting down the hours until they get to step on the "Mecca of sport". Rob Valetini told the And Harry Potter added: "It is a Mecca of sport in my eyes." Most read in Rugby Union This comes after cricket legend Damien Fleming dubbed the ground as the "greatest sporting stadium in the world". Despite the fact Melbourne isn't known for rugby union, the locals love sport and the G so much that officials are confident both teams will enjoy a stunning atmosphere. Andy Farrell wants end to social media 'nonsense' after son Owen's Lions call The exact number of Lions fans attending the game is hard to pinpoint due to expats living Down Under. But it is estimated that more than 30,000 will make the long trip.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
British and Irish Lions set for debut at iconic 100,000-seat ‘greatest stadium on earth' first used nearly 200 years ago
The British and Irish Lions are set for a very special atmosphere GROUND UP British and Irish Lions set for debut at iconic 100,000-seat 'greatest stadium on earth' first used nearly 200 years ago THE BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS are set for a historic encounter in one of the world's most esteemed venues. The Lions will face Australia in their second test - after winning the first on Saturday in Brisbane - at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground. 5 The British and Irish Lions are set for a historic match Credit: David Gibson/Fotosport/Shutterstock 5 The British and Irish Lions will compete at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 5 The British and Irish Lions will face Australia in the second Test Credit: Morgan Hancock/Action Plus/Shutterstock 5 The British and Irish Lions won the first Test Credit:5 The Melbourne Cricket Ground will hold a capacity of 100,000 Credit: CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images And the big match is expected to be watched by a staggering capacity of 100,000. The legendary stadium, which opened way back in 1853, has hosted a series of sporting events in the past. That includes Aussie Rules, football, rugby league and of course cricket. And now it will host a British and Irish Lions Test match for the first time on Saturday. The crowd is expected to surpass the 84,000 that attended the Lions' deciders against Australia in Sydney back in 2001 and 2013. The Wallabies' stars are counting down the hours until they get to step on the "Mecca of sport". Rob Valetini told the BBC: "It's going to be really awesome for me. And Harry Potter added: "It is a Mecca of sport in my eyes." This comes after cricket legend Damien Fleming dubbed the ground as the "greatest sporting stadium in the world". Despite the fact Melbourne isn't known for rugby union, the locals love sport and the G so much that officials are confident both teams will enjoy a stunning atmosphere. Andy Farrell wants end to social media 'nonsense' after son Owen's Lions call The exact number of Lions fans attending the game is hard to pinpoint due to expats living Down Under. But it is estimated that more than 30,000 will make the long trip.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
Nintendo Leaks Switch 2 Sales Figures Then Clarifies It Was An 'Error'
The Nintendo Switch 2 was definitely a sales powerhouse; however, a recent data leak from Nintendo seemed to suggest the system did even better than we initially thought. In a post by My Nintendo News, the Nintendo Switch 2 had apparently sold over 5 million units worldwide, which would have been a pretty substantial jump since the 3.5 million worldwide sales reported by the company within its first four days. The site claimed that the sales were led by the Americas with 1.8 million units, followed by Japan with 1.47 million, Europe with 1.18 million, and other regions at 0.55 million units. However, Nintendo was quick to clarify this 'leak,' as industry analyst David Gibson reached out to the Mario Makers on Twitter to ask about the data. According to him, Nintendo's response was, 'It appears that test data prepared for a website update was unintentionally made publicly accessible.' They went on to say, 'temporarily visible data was for testing purposes only, and is not accurate, and not related to any sales result or projection of Switch 2.' Despite these updates, the forecast for Nintendo Switch 2 sales remains optimistic, with Gibson himself projecting Switch 2 sales to reach approximately 5.4 million when results are officially announced on August 1st, 2025. This would be in line with the original Switch, which sold 2.74 million units worldwide within its first month of release, and reported 7.63 million by the end of September 30th, 2017. Despite criticisms of the cost of not just the system itself, but both Mario Kart World and upcoming Switch 2 games, excitement for the console remains high, due in large part to its solid hardware and Nintendo's strong brand value. If recent rumours of a Nintendo Direct manage to be true, a slate of new games dedicated to the Switch 2 may further incentivize a purchase.
Express Tribune
11-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Nintendo Switch 2 sales hit 3.5 million in 4 days as demand overwhelms U.S. and Japan retailers
Switch 2 comes equipped with 256 GB of internal storage—eight times the capacity of the original Switch—along with the ability to add more storage via microSD Express cards. PHOTO: YAHOO NEWS Nintendo has reported record-breaking early sales for its new Switch 2 console, with over 3.5 million units sold in just four days following its June 5 launch. The strong debut has led to stock shortages at major U.S. retailers including Walmart, GameStop, Target, and Best Buy, according to their online platforms. While Nintendo has set a sales goal of 15 million units by the end of its fiscal year in March 2026, some analysts believe this target underestimates ongoing demand. Serkan Toto, CEO of gaming consultancy Kantan Games, told CNBC that all indicators pointed to high interest before launch, and he expects additional sales records to be broken in the coming months. David Gibson of MST Financial echoed this, projecting 20 million units sold within the first year. The Switch 2, Nintendo's first major hardware release in eight years, features several key upgrades over its predecessor, including a larger screen, improved processing power, and a new GameChat2 function that enables voice and video chat. It retails in the U.S. for $449, making it the company's most expensive console to date. Despite Nintendo's efforts to prepare sufficient inventory for launch, demand has outpaced supply—especially in Japan. Company President Shuntaro Furukawa revealed that more than 2.2 million people in Japan registered for a lottery to purchase the console on launch day. While shortages are more severe in Japan, Toto noted that global availability appears better managed compared to the 2017 launch of the original Switch. Further complicating supply and pricing are ongoing U.S. trade tariffs, which have already impacted Nintendo's preorder strategy. In April, the company delayed U.S. preorders while it assessed tariff impacts. Gibson suggested that resolving these issues could eventually lead to lower U.S. prices.
