Touting feature-film quality computer animation, Blur Studio has produced a CG cinematic for one of this years most anticipated games, THQs WARHAMMER 40,000: DAWN OF WAR. The thrilling, two-minute film, included with the game CD, introduces players to WARHAMMERS dark, futuristic fantasy universe through an intense, tactical battle between legions of alien warriors.
Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), announced that multiplayer online gaming sequel EVERQUEST II is scheduled to simultaneously ship to North American and European retail stores on Nov. 8, 2004. EVERQUEST II is the highly anticipated follow-up to EVERQUEST, the most successful and longest-running 3D MMO role-playing game in North America.
Buena Vista Interactive has shipped its much-anticipated action adventure game, TRON 2.0: KILLER APP, for Game Boy Advance to North American retail outlets. The title will also ship for the Xbox in early November 2004.
"TRON 2.0 for Game Boy Advance is loaded with game play options, from first- and third-person combat to multiplayer action and perfect renditions of the classic TRON arcade games," said Bob Picunko, director of product marketing for Buena Vista Games. "TRON 2.0 is certain to satisfy both action adventure players and fans of the franchise."
Ubisoft and Universal Studios Consumer Products Group announced plans to release an interactive game based on Universal Pictures upcoming KING KONG, directed by Peter Jackson. The game will be available worldwide on all platforms at the beginning of the holiday season in conjunction with the Dec. 14, 2005 theatrical release of the movie.
Thanks to a new strategic alliance between Softimage and gaming middleware provider Criterion Software, developers using Criterion's RenderWare solutions now have access to a suite of plug-ins and import/export tools designed to facilitate the integration of sophisticated 3D content created in SOFTIMAGE|XSI.
HIGHLANDER rights holder Davis Panzer Prods. has signed a deal to turn the immortal franchise into a videogame, reports VARIETY. In a multiple title agreement, British publisher Sci Games will begin work on the first game set for mid-2006 release. The videogame will have a different storyline than the forthcoming live-action film and the anime feature slated for 2006. Producers Peter Davis and Bill Panzer plan to get top talent from the five films and TV series to help develop the game. Stars Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul will provide their voices and likeness.
The Art Institute of Portland is offering a new Bachelor of Science degree program in Visual & Game Programming to help give students the skills they need to stand out in these growing fields.
Scheduled to launch on Oct. 7, 2004, at the start of fall quarter, the Visual & Game Programming curriculum begins with courses in foundation art and general studies, building in a strong foundation in mathematics and science as well as design courses. After a few quarters, students may focus on one of two tracks: technical directing or toward programming.
Fans of the #1 PC game of all time, THE SIMS, have begun lining up for the release of the highly anticipated sequel THE SIMS 2. And now the wait is over. Electronic Arts has shipped to retailers under the EA GAMES brand the hot title. The award-winning THE SIMS 2 was developed by EA's Maxis studio. THE SIMS game and its expansion packs have sold more than 36 million units worldwide.
Activision Value Publishing has announced that it has teamed with game developer WXP and paintball legend Greg Hastings to create the first-ever paintball game for a major videogame console -- GREG HASTINGS' TOURNAMENT PAINTBALL for the Xbox. This single and multiplayer game combines the strategy and teamwork of a sports title with the view of a first-person action game. The game will be available this fall and is currently rated "RP" by the ESRB.
The Game Initiative will host the Women's Game Conference (WGC), a new conference focusing on women in the computer and videogame industry. The conference will focus on a variety of women's topics in the computer and videogame industry including examining career paths for women in the industry and issues related to working in the industry as women as well as how women are portrayed in games and women and girls as consumers of games.
The Austin Game Initiative (AGI) is hosting its second annual LivePitch, an industry matchmaking initiative that provides opportunities for game developers to meet with and pitch their PC, console, Internet or mobile game to the world's leading game publishers. If selected by one or more publishers, developers receive 30 minutes to demo their game one-on-one with each interested publisher in a private meeting room at the Austin Game Conference. For more information, visit www.LivePitch.com or e-mail publishers@livepitch.com.
Prague, Czech Republic-based Cenega Publishing has announced the launch of the official EL MATADOR game site at www.elmatador-game.com. The Website will feature news, screenshots, artwork, renders and various downloads.
With launching this Website, we want to allow gamers their first sneak preview of EL MATADORs visual game experience, exciting storyline, and recently updated game developments, said Richard Moravec, international marketing manager.
The Game Initiative will host the "How To Break Into Video Game Industry: Conference and Resume Workshop" the day before the Austin Game Conference and the Women's Game Conference. The Breakin conference is designed for students and professionals eager to get a job in the computer and videogame industry.
Electronic Arts a world-leading interactive entertainment company and A&M Records plan to have world renowned, multi-platinum selling musical group The Black Eyed Peas provide and produce the soundtrack to the videogame and their likenesses as characters for the highly anticipated THE URBZ: SIMS IN THE CITY videogame. In an ambitious collaboration across the two industries, the game will include exclusive versions of nine tracks from the upcoming Black Eyed Peas' album "Monkey Business" due out this fall.
Atari is to developing DRAGONSHARD, a realtime strategy game based on the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS universe created by Wizards of the Coast. Under license from Hasbro Inc., DRAGONSHARD will be the first game set in the exciting new D&D(R) campaign setting, EBERRON, a cinematic and war-torn world of action, adventure and intrigue where fantasy meets magical technology.
DRAGONSHARD is scheduled to be available for PC in spring 2005.
The BIG C - the BAWLS Independent Game CompetitionPark City, Utah, USAJanuary 21 - 28, 2005Deadline: November 14, 2004
The San Francisco Chapter of International Game Developers Association will host a "Breaking Into the Game Industry" panel discussion at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco. This event is free and open to those interested in pursuing careers in the videogame development field, particularly students and newbies. The event will include networking opportunities before and after the discussion, which will be moderated Marc Sherrod of The Art Institute.
The PC version of Got Game Entertainments ALIDA is available now at retail stores across North America. The Mac version of the game was released earlier this year. The game was created by Australian musician and artist Cos Russo, who combined his love of music, art and games to create a total sensory experience of clever and thought-provoking puzzles, story and lush graphics, backed by an entrancing original music score. In this atmospheric first person 3D graphical adventure game, players must solve the mystery surrounding a missing musician.
Paramount Pictures has announced details for the SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW Air Combat Challenge" tournament, a three-week contest that began on Aug. 23, 2004. Playing the free downloadable game FLYING LEGION AIR COMBAT CHALLENGE, contestants will vie against one another for a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to the London premiere of SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW, opening in theaters nationwide Sept. 17, 2004.
Mac gamers can now get in on the SPIDER-MAN 2 fun as thanks to Aspyr Media, Inc. now shipping SPIDER-MAN 2: THE GAME, FOR MACINTOSH. Licensed by Activision, SPIDER-MAN 2: THE GAME, FOR MACINTOSH was developed by Ryan C. Gordon, who has previously worked with Aspyr Media on SHREK 2: THE GAME.
Pixar Animation Studios and THQ Inc. announced an exclusive multi-property publishing agreement granting THQ the interactive rights to four upcoming Pixar animated feature films.
Howard Shore, the world-renowned film composer who composed the scores for THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, will compose game music for Webzen Inc.s next in-house developed game, SUN: SOUL OF THE ULTIMATE NATION. The massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) will be first introduced in early 2005 and launched later in the year. The original SUN soundtrack will be distributed for sale globally.
Blockdot, a Dallas-based game developer, has released its newest game, WHITE HOUSE JOUST. The game is available as a free download at www.kewlbox.com. Players can play as President George Bush or Senator John Kerry.
"The game is bi-partisan," says Dan Ferguson, creative director at Kewlbox.com. "It doesn't matter which side of the political fence you are on. We poke fun at everyone equally. Millions of people play our games every day at work, and this gives us an opportunity to tell them that after goofing off, go vote. Our system is hanging chad error free!"
New Line Cinema has obtained the feature film rights for the role-playing game VAMPIRE: THE REQUIEM from White Wolf Publishing, reports VARIETY. Adam Fields is set to produce the film, which the studio hopes will launch a franchise. Luke Ryan and Magnus Kim will shepherd the film for the studio.
The game's world follows the night-to-night life of modern vampires. The game will be published Aug. 30 and is a follow-up to 1991's VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE, which was turned into an Activision videogame and the 1996 FOX TV series KINDRED: THE EMBRACED.
Samsung has unveiled a uniquely designed 3D Game Phone that uses the company's established clamshell design that includes a joystick. The game phone (SCH-V450), which comes installed with three games, such as ZIOGOLF (golf game) and METALION (shooting game), allows users to get a full 3D mobile gaming experience heard through dual speakers.
