Monthly Archives: January 2013

Did Grand Theft Auto creators threaten ‘Shawshank’ writer?

Posted on by

Hollywood la-noire-vs-hollywoodand the video game industry usually have a fairly cordial relationship. Studios need game publishers to put out licensed products for their tentpole films, and game makers are often eager to expand the universe that directors create on screen.

This week, though, there was a fracture in that relationship, as Rockstar Games, creators of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, and Frank Darabont, screenwriter of films like “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Green Mile” and developer of AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” bickered publicly about an upcoming project, each with a different version of the story.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Scenes from the Porn Convention Red Carpet

Posted on by

While AVN Red Carpetsocial media has had a dramatic impact on all forms of entertainment, the effect on the porn industry has been especially notable.

Perhaps because of the nature of their business – and what they do for a living – porn stars have always been a larger-than-life fantasy figures to fans. Historically, they were inaccessible except for annual trade shows. And the common wisdom was that mystique helped build their star status.

Today, though, stars jostle for the most Twitter followers – regularly communicating with them and promoting their upcoming appearances and films. It’s a new era for porn – so, as they walked the Red Carpet at this year’s AVN Awards (adult entertainment’s equivalent of the Oscars), we asked some of its biggest stars about their thoughts on the impact of social media on their careers – and the industry.

Read more at CNBC.com

THQ assets sold off, company shuts down

Posted on by

THQ thq-logohas shut its doors.

A bankruptcy auction marked the formal end of the company that was once the industry’s third largest publisher, divvying up its pieces among bidders like Vikings after a raid. Several companies bought THQ’s franchises and developers for total of about $72 million.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Primed for a Wii-peat

Posted on by

The GameQWii U didn’t exactly light the world on fire when it made its grand debut at 2011’s E3 gaming expo. A year later, it still didn’t have the gaming faithful quivering in their fanboy boots. But now that the system is widely available, that old Nintendo magic could be brewing once again.

In the system’s first six days, Nintendo sold 400,000 units to eager consumers, who lined up early to grab a system – and eBay sellers were commanding a 40 percent premium for a Wii U. If all of this sounds familiar, it should: It’s reminiscent of the madness we saw when the original Wii went on sale in 2006.

Read more in Issue 3 of GameQ

DejaQ – Devil May Cry

Posted on by

If GameQit weren’t for Dante and Trish, we might never have met Kratos.

When Devil My Cry debuted in 2001, it didn’t just start a new franchise for Capcom, it introduced a new genre to the video game industry. Blending frenetic combat with stylish moves and a smooth play mechanic, it opened the doors for titles like God of War, Bayonetta and the modern incarnation of Ninja Gaiden.

Read more in Issue 3 of GameQ

MMO devs will lose the fight against content churn, says SOE’s Smedley

Posted on by

Sony smedleyOnline Entertainment has become largely pseudonymous with the free-to-play movement, offering triple-A titles like PlanetSide 2 for no cost from day one, and converting legacy games like EverQuest to the model.

It’s fairly seamless these days, but when Smedley and his team decided to embrace free-to-play, it was a big leap of faith.

Read more at Gamasutra

THQ split-up complete as competitors take pieces

Posted on by

THQ, saints_row_2once the third-largest publisher in the videogame industry, is no more.

A bankruptcy auction, concluded Wednesday, has broken up the company into pieces and sold them to competitors, along with its key videogame titles and licenses, dashing executives’ hopes that it could remain intact with the help of a corporate white knight.

Read more at Daily Variety

With THQ’s demise, plenty of questions remain

Posted on by

The thqblackfat lady has sung at THQ. After years of near misses, the company that was at one time the industry’s third largest publisher is being sold for parts.

THQ has a lot of haters in the game world, with plenty of people pointing fingers of blame at the company’s management, expansion philosophy and business methods. But any time a publisher is forced to close its doors – especially when it has titles on the near horizon that seem to have so much potential – it’s sad.

Read more at Gamasutra

New Mario, Zelda games coming to Wii U in 2013

Posted on by

The wind-waker-wiiu-top630Wii U has taken some heat from critics post-launch. The system is slow, they say. There haven’t been any new games. Where’s Zelda?

Nintendo met those accusations head-on Wednesday in the company’s latest Nintendo Direct online press conference, unveiling a collection of new games and enhancements that would cheer even the most skeptical fan. Before the year is out, Wii U owners can expect a double dose of Mario, Yoshi’s return to the spotlight and a high-definition take on a classic Zelda game.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

While studies loom, vidgame biz can use some sensitivity training

Posted on by

The violence-digital-editionnation and its politicians are desperately seeking an answer for a horrific event that no sane mind can grasp. And that’s leading to calls for studies. Unfortunately, some parties are announcing the results they’re hoping to find before they’ve done any research.

In the days after the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook school shooting, Sen. Jay Rockefeller said, “Recent court decisions demonstrate that some people still do not get it. They believe that violent video games are no more dangerous to young minds than classic literature or Saturday morning cartoons. Parents, pediatricians and psychologists know better.”

Read more at Daily Variety