Tagged With: Game

Austin Game Conference's LivePitch 2004Austin, Texas, USASeptember 9-10, 2004Deadline: August 15, 2004

Walt Disney Internet Group announced the launch of its critically acclaimed Disney's Toontown Online (www.disney.co.uk/toontown) in the U.K. The award-winning downloadable massively multiplayer 3D online game first launched in the U.S. in June 2003 and hit the Japanese market earlier this year.

Atari and Zombie Inc. have announced the completion of development on SHADOW OPS: RED MERCURY, the highly anticipated action game for the Xbox. In the game, players control Frank Hayden, a special forces operative hand picked to track down and destroy the stolen "Red Mercury," a secret substance that threatens the world with nuclear annihilation. The title is expected to be available in North America on June 15, 2004 and in Europe on June 18.

Activision Inc. has announced that, through a licensing agreement with Spider-Man Merchandising (a 50/50 limited partnership comprised of Marvel Enterprises Inc. and Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc.), the company will develop and publish videogames based on the 2007 feature film SPIDER-MAN 3. Activision is currently developing console and PC games based on SPIDER-MAN 2 that are scheduled for release in North America timed to the film's launch on June 30, 2004.

The Art Institute of California San Francisco (http://www.aicasf.aii.edu) has announced a new scholarship program designed for videogame industry professionals interested in furthering their education. The school is offering special scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to individuals who are or have worked in the game industry. Scholarships must be applied for tuition in the school's Game Art & Design (Bachelor of Science) or Visual & Game Programming (Bachelor of Science) degree programs.

Buena Vista Games has announced that it is developing a videogame based on Walt Disney Pictures' first fully animated 3D feature film, CHICKEN LITTLE and live-action epic CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. The games will be published by Disney Interactive for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, handheld and PC platforms. The first CHICKEN LITTLE title is slated for debut in summer 2005 to coincide with the release of the film in theaters. The first NARNIA game will hits shelves in fall 2005.

In a unique move showing the increased fan following for videogame stories, Square Enix has announced that it will release a DVD sequel to its 1997 hit game, FINAL FANTASY VII, reports VARIETY. The CGI animated feature, FINAL FANTASY VII ADVENT CHILDREN, will continue the story of the game, which sold more than 9 million units worldwide. No release date has been set. The first move into film for this popular gaming franchise was the 2001 photoreal feature FINAL FANTASY, which was a disaster at the box office.