Author Archives: Chris Morris

Women’s Impact Report: Jade Raymond: From ‘Creed’ to control

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Four years ago, Jade Raymond was a new employee at Ubisoft producing a new game the gaming world hadn’t heard of. That title — “Assassin’s Creed” — turned into the publisher’s biggest franchise. And her oversight of it resulted in Raymond being tapped to run the company’s new Toronto studio — a heavily financed unit that will be responsible for some of Ubisoft’s biggest titles in the years to come.

She initially turned down the promotion. Approached by the company as she was about to go on maternity leave, Raymond was still enjoying her job as executive producer of the “Assassin’s Creed” franchise. It meant supervising not just the game but brand-related projects including books, comics, a Web film series and more. And that work had resulted in worldwide sales of 9 million copies of the $60 game. She was doing similar work on other unannounced projects for the company in Montreal as well.

Read more at Daily Variety

App review: WordsWorth

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Not since Bookworm has a word puzzle game been this engrossing. WordsWorth is less cartoony than the PopCap Games classic, but offers more diversity and (seemingly) a deeper vocabulary. Single player is fun, but the ability to play competitively with other players — via WiFi, Bluetooth, or 99 Games’ own online community — adds another layer of fun.

Read more at Common Sense Media


App review: Maya Pyramid

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On paper, Maya Pyramid sounds like a so-so premise. Match cards up to add to 11, revealing other cards and then repeat. In actuality, it’s a nail-biting good time. The game is fast-paced and exciting and younger players won’t realize they’re building strong math skills in the process. It’s a wonderful example of the “easy to grasp, difficult to master” philosophy that makes for a good game. With a variety of levels and fun, but unnecessary, bonuses (like the game’s background reflecting what time it is when you play), Maya Pyramid is a satisfying time waster that is well worth the money.

Read more at Common Sense Media

Women’s Impact Report: Darla K. Anderson: Made big play with ‘Toy’

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When you’ve produced the biggest-grossing film of 2010 to date, you earn a little R&R.

Darla K. Anderson chose to take that in Kauai, her favorite of the Hawaiian isles, after “Toy Story 3,” which has grossed north of $1 billion worldwide. Batteries recharged, she’s now deciding what her next project will be at Pixar — and toward the top of that list is sweet revenge.

Read more at Daily Variety

Openfilm names first winner, changes rules for indie filmmaking contest

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Openfilm.com, a Website dedicated to offering independent filmmakers a chance to get its foot in the door, has found its first winner. 

“Help,” a short by Val Lauren, has taken the top prize – which earns the director $50,000 in cash and $200,000 in financing. The film tells the story of a man on a desperate mission to save his dying mother’s life.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

Anthony Zuiker merges worlds

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Anthony Zuiker is introducing two of his children to each other.

The creator and executive producer of “CSI” plans to incorporate the villain from his “Level 26” book series into a special episode of “CSI” — the first step in a cross-platform experiment that brings the producer’s interests closer together.

Read more at Daily Variety

3D gaming won’t hit stores until 2011

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Despite indications it was right around the corner, 3D handheld gaming won’t hit store shelves until next year.

Nintendo announced Wednesday that its 3DS portable system, which lets owners play videogames in stereoscopic 3D without the need for special glasses, will go on sale in Japan next February — and will hit U.S. and European stores in March.

Read more at Daily Variety

CSI creator’s plans for a digital empire

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Anthony Zuiker will always be known as the creator of “CSI,” but he’s also the author of the “Level 26” thriller series. Now he’s bringing the two worlds together. 

On the Oct. 14 episode of “CSI,” the forensic investigators will square off against Sqweegel – the “forensic proof” serial killer from Zuiker’s books. Ann Margaret guest stars in the episode.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

As new motion controls arrive, will the Wii become obsolete?

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For the past four years, Nintendo has the market to itself when it comes to motion control gaming. That’s finally coming to an end – and it has some people wondering about how the company will fare moving forward.

In mid-September, Sony launched PlayStation Move, a motion sensor that mimics – and, in some ways, improves upon – the Wii remote. Come November, Microsoft will join the fight with Kinect, a camera-based system that eliminates the need for controllers altogether.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Nintendo to Roll Out 3D Gaming System Next Year

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Nintendo’s jump into the 3D gaming world won’t happen until 2011.

The video game company on Wednesday announced that its 3DS portable system, which lets owners play games in stereoscopic 3D without the need for special glasses, will go on sale in Japan next February — and will hit U.S. and European stores in March.

Read more at CNBC.com