Tag Archives: variety

Steve Jobs forecasts the future of film

Posted on by

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is a man who’s known for forward-looking (and often controversial) opinions. For the most part, those have centered around the computing world, but that the ongoing “D: All Things Digital” conference, he had a few thoughts about what might be coming for the film industry. 

“I … think you’ll be able to watch a first run movie before it hits theaters… if you want to spend a bunch of money,” he told the crowd in a question and answer session (according to onsite reporting from Engadget).

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

SOE, LucasArts team to launch ‘Clone Wars’ virtual world

Posted on by

The Cartoon Network has seen a lot of success with its animated series “The Clone Wars”. Now Sony Online Entertainment (“EverQuest,” “Free Realms”) and LucasArts are teaming up to bring the pivotal tale of the Star Wars Universe to the virtual world.

The two companies will create a free-to-play, persistent world, dubbed “Star Wars: Clone War Adventures,” that’s scheduled to launch this fall. The game will be targeted at a younger audience and will launch online and in retail stores this fall. It will be a PC exclusive game.

Read more at Variety’s The Cut Scene blog

Two months… 2 million iPads sold

Posted on by

If there was any lingering doubt, Apple has a hit on its hands with the iPad. In just 60 days, the company has sold 2 million of the devices. To put that in comparison, it took the iPhone 74 days to sell just 1 million units.

That count could have been even higher had it not been for some retail shortages. Whereas the iPhone was limited to the tech early adopter crowd, the iPad has been a hit with the broad population – enticing mainstream users at an unheard of rate.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

Video games gaining more time

Posted on by

Core gamers are the lifeblood of the video game industry, buying more titles and playing more frequently than anyone else. They are the film world’s equivalent of the equivalent of the film world’s superfan, who visits the cinema multiple times each weekend. According to a study from the NPD Group, which also tracks retail sales of videogames, “extreme” gamers spend 48.5 hours per week playing games, while repping 4% of the total gamers in the U.S.

On the whole, U.S. gamers spend 13 hours per week playing games — 42 minutes more than last year. That’s still considerably less than the average American’s TV viewing habits, which clock in at 35 hours per week, according to Nielsen. But games are gaining.

Read more in Daily Variety

How dedicated is the core gamer?

Posted on by

The term “core” gamer gets thrown around a lot in this industry. It’s an easy way to describe the enthusiast audience, but statistically differentiating an avid fan of games from a regular enthusiast has been a bit trickier. Now, a newly released study from the NPD Group is shedding more light on the term. 

According to the organization, which tracks retail sales of video games, ‘extreme’ gamers (their buzzword for core) spend 48.5 hours per week playing games. (Yup. More than two consecutive days per week.) The ‘core’ audience, it says, represents 4 percent of the total gamers in the U.S.

Read more at Variety’s The Cut Scene blog

Lost finale sets BitTorrent record

Posted on by

The “Lost” finale may not have set a ratings record, but pirates absolutely loved it.

TorrentFreak, a news site that covers the file sharing industry, reports the May 23 finale has broken all previous download records – with nearly 1 million people downloading the concluding chapters of the show in less than one day.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

Fox to air ‘Red Dead Redemption’ film

Posted on by

Machinima (films that are made from the graphics engines and assets of video games) isn’t exactly a household word in most of America. And, despite its critical acclaim and strong sales, “Red Dead Redemption” probably isn’t either. 

That’s not stopping Fox from taking a gamble with the new title from Take Two Interactive Software and the makers of the “Grand Theft Auto” franchise. On Saturday May 29, the network will air a 30 minute short film made from the game at midnight.

Read more at Variety’s The Cut Scene blog

Bach, Allard out at Microsoft

Posted on by

Two of the most visible faces in Microsoft’s entertainment and devices division are leaving the company. Microsoft today announced the departure of president Robbie Bach and chief experience officer J Allard. 

Bach is retiring after 22 years with the company effective this fall. He has headed the entertainment and devices division since its inception five years ago and is a regular presence at major Microsoft press events. Allard, the driving force behind the Xbox and Zune media player, is leaving, but will remain as an advisor to CEO Steve Ballmer.

Read more at Variety’s The Cut Scene blog

Or, read an extended version (with deeper analysis) at Daily Variety

Sony taking the Killzone franchise into 3D

Posted on by

It’s not news that Sony is leading the charge among consoles when it comes to3D, but until today the company hadn’t committed any of its titles to the technology. But with word that “Killzone 3” would offer stereoscopic 3D support, the gloves are off. 

The game, which will pick up where last year’s “Killzone 2” left off, will also reportedly boast substantially bigger levels, jetpacks and other new weapons.

Read more at Variety’s The Cut Scene

The last hurrah of ‘Lost’ – video games?

Posted on by

While the fates of Jack, Sawyer, Hurley, et al were sealed in last night’s finale to “Lost,” the show may have one more trick up its sleeve.

“Rock Band” will reportedly add the biggest songs from the show’s soundtrack to its collection of downloadable titles later this week – giving you the chance to play both Driveshaft’s “You All Everybody” and Geronimo Jackon’s “Dharma Lady”. The songs are expected to come from the Rock Band Network, meaning Xbox 360 will get them first (and perhaps exclusively).

Read more at Variety’s The Cut Scene