UPN's new comedy, GAME OVER, network primetime's first-ever CGI-animated series, will debut tonight March 10, 2004 at 8:00 pm, which follows the far-from-ordinary suburban Smashenburn family living in an alternate videogame universe comprised of off-beat characters, action heroes, monsters and cartoon characters inspired by popular videogames.
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) announced the winners for the 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, which were held at Rain in the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, March 4, 2004.
NXN Software, a leading supplier of asset management solutions for creative teams, announced increased market momentum in Asia for NXN alienbrain Studio. New NXN customers in 2003 included game developers such as NCSoft, Hanbitsoft and DR-Interactive in Korea, and CAVIA, Namco, Sonic Team, Think and Feel, Grandprix and Tose in Japan.
Maxis chief designer and co-founder Will Wright, creator of THE SIMS, will kick off a new "Legends of the Game Industry" Speaker Series being hosted by The Art Institute of California - San Francisco (www.aicasf.aii.edu). The free event will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at 1170 Market Street (at 8th). He will share his motivation and inspiration in creating the SIMS franchise, along with new developments and sequels.
The International Game Developers Assoc. (IGDA) announced the six gaming professionals receiving special honors at the 4th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards for contributions invaluable to the evolution of interactive entertainment. The founders of PopCap Games will receive the IGDA's newest honor, the Maverick award; game music pioneer Masaya Matsuura will receive the First Penguin award; and BioWare CEOs Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk will be acknowledged for Community Contribution.
Not content with his theatrical 3D experiment, Robert Rodriguez has fine-tuned SPY KIDS 3-D - GAME OVER for DVD (Walt Disney Home Video, $29.99), which streets on Feb. 24, 2004, making it even more dynamic in the home theater. Thanks to James Cameron's revolutionary 3D camera that he developed for GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS and his upcoming feature, Rodriguez was able to utilize more 3D effects than he originally intended.
German firm Boll KG, lead by producer/director Uwe Boll, has picked up the rights to bring another game, FAR CRY, to the big screen, reported HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The company adapted HOUSE OF THE DEAD in 2003 and is in post-production on ALONE IN THE DARK with BLOODRAYNE and HUNTER: THE RECKONING in development for 2005. FAR CRY is a first person shooter game from Germany's Crytek. The picture is budgeted at $25 million and should start filming next year in a tropical setting. Michael Roesch and Peter Scheerer, who adapted ALONE, will write the script.
On Feb. 14, 2004, Website www.JETIX.tv and TV networks ABC Family and Toon Disney will simultaneously launch "Jetix Cards Live!," the world's first trading card game that is played concurrently on TV and online. Web surfers and TV watchers will have the opportunity each weekend during the channels' new Jetix action/adventure line-up to play. The online trading card game, with skill levels designed for a range of ages, was developed by the New Media and Technology team at ABC Cable Networks Group.
Sims Creator To Speak At "Legends Of The Game Industry" SeriesSan Francisco, California, USAFebruary 25, 2004
Cartoon Network will air a 90-minute special to introduce the new series, DUEL MASTERS, on Feb. 27, 2004 at 5:30 pm. The series will then air Saturdays at 7:00 pm, starting March 13, during Cartoon Network's Saturday action/adventure programming block. CN acquired the series from Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro Inc.
America Online launched FIRECHILD, a 3D online action game built exclusively for the RED service, AOL's new service created just for teens. Created by Sarbakan, FIRECHILD is a console-quality, story-driven online game that can be played using the AOL for Broadband service.
This event is designed for students and professionals looking to get into the game industry as well as existing industry insiders looking for new opportunities. The comprehensive program will provide an overview of the industry, identify technology trends and requirements as well as the qualifications and skill-sets that are in demand. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with industry insiders, including top recruiter Mary-Margaret.com, hiring managers from local game companies as well as network and meet with industry veterans.
The Game Initiative will be holding a mini-conference for students and professionals who are eager to enter the gaming industry. The event is designed for artists, programmers and designers. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with industry insiders, including top recruiter Mary-Margaret.com, hiring managers as well as industry vets.
UPN's new comedy, GAME OVER, network prime time's first-ever CGI-animated series, will debut March 10 (8:00-8:30 pm ET/PT).
Second Life Game Developers CompetitionWorld Wide WebJune 14, 2004Deadline: March 8, 2004
Marvel is getting more aggressive in the videogame business, appointing Ames Kirshen to the new position of manager of game development. Kirshen, with more than six years of experience in the production and management of videogame projects, will lead a small group to oversee the development of all licensed videogames based on Marvel characters, including the creative content, along with other members of Marvel's Publishing division.
Nokia and Electronic Arts (EA) announced that THE SIMS: BUSTIN' OUT is in development for the N-Gage game deck. THE SIMS fans will be able to create their own characters and take them anywhere, while on the move and interacting with the mobile community. THE SIMS: BUSTIN' OUT on the N-Gage platform will have exclusive objects, as well as unique "mini games" where players can earn extra Simoleons.
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts presents an interactive multimedia exhibition that explores the history and influence of computer game culture and the relationship between interactive computer games and contemporary art. "Bang the Machine: Computer Gaming Art and Artifacts" is produced in partnership with the How They Got Game Project of the Stanford Humanities Laboratory, which will concurrently present the exhibit, "Fictional Worlds, Virtual Experiences: Storytelling and Computer Games," at the Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University.
Pixologic's ZBrush 1.5 software received GAME DEVELOPER magazine's sixth annual Front Line Award for Excellence and Innovation in Tools for Game Development. Selected by a panel of industry-leading game developers, ZBrush 1.5 receives this award in the art category based on criteria such as utility, innovation, value and ease of use.
Nokia is at work on ASHEN, its third self-published title for the N-Gage mobile game deck, available in the first half of 2004. ASHEN is a 3D gothic horror themed, first person shooter that pits mobile gamers against a host of horrors. In addition to exciting single player action, up to four people can play in death match mode via Bluetooth wireless technology.
ASHEN is being developed by Torus Games, a leading game developer based in Melbourne, Australia.
Over the last year, with more sophisticated vfx and direct movie tie-ins, video games upped the eye candy and game play quotient.
Infinium Labs, Inc., formerly Global Business Resources Inc., has completed the acquisition of Infinium Labs Operating Corp., and in the mix now owns Phantom Game Service. The Phantom Game Service is a next-generation gaming system that supports games on-demand, game rentals, game demos, seamless upgrades and patch management.
Activision Inc.'s WAKEBOARDING UNLEASHED FEATURING SHAUN MURRAY on PC and Macintosh has been shipped by Aspyr Media Inc. and is available at retailers across the U.S. The game was licensed from Activision, and conversions were completed by Beenox Inc.
The Independent Games Festival has announced the finalists in the sixth annual Independent Games Festival (IGF) Competition, which will exhibit their games the Game Developers Conference March 24-26, 2004 in San Jose, California. Selected by a panel of game industry professionals, game development teams will compete for more than $40,000 in cash prizes, double the payout from previous years.
The 10 games selected for the "Open" category are (in alphabetical order):ACMI by Selectparks (Richmond, Victoria, Australia)
Aladdin Systems Inc. recently shipped GAME ON! FAMILY PACK, volume 1, a collection of six popular titles including TONY HAWK'S PRO SKATER 3 and REALMYST, valued at over $120 for only $49.99.
" GAME ON! FAMILY PACK is an outstanding assortment of games for the whole family," said David Polzine, product manager. "This collection brings Mac users top-rated games at a great price and will bring their families hours of enjoyment."
GAME ON! FAMILY PACK includes the following fully registered products:
