Vivendi Profit Beats Estimates, Aided by Games Unit has financial reporting for Vivendi SA, where profits are up thanks to better than expected performance from Activision Blizzard. Word is: "Adjusted net income, or profit excluding one-time gains or charges, fell to 2.59 billion euros ($3.53 billion) from 2.74 billion euros in 2008, the Paris-based company said in an e- mailed statement today. Analysts had predicted profit at 2.46 billion euros, the average of 20 estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Revenue rose 6.9 percent to 27.13 billion euros, while adjusted profit per share slid 8.3 percent."

Also, Computer and Video Games notes something interesting in the company's financial filings, as they explain they have taken steps to prevent becoming embroiled in any "Hot Coffee" scandals due to hidden content in their games, saying: "We have implemented preventive measures designed to reduce the possibility of objectionable undisclosed content from appearing in the video games we publish." They add: "Nonetheless, these preventive measures are subject to human error, circumvention, overriding, and reasonable resource constraints. If a video game we publish is found to contain undisclosed content, we could be subject to any of these consequences and our reputation could be harmed, which could have a negative impact on our operating results and financial condition, and our business and financial performance could be significantly harmed."