AtomFilms, Spike TV and Lucasfilm have joined forces to launch the "Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge." The trio unveiled details today (March 14, 2007) at the Challenge's website www.starwars.atomfilms.com and issued an immediate call for submissions. Challenge award recipients will be unveiled online, on-air on Spike TV and at the Star Wars Celebration IV fan event in Los Angeles, May 24-28.
For the March "Press Start" column, Peter "The Rizk" Rizkalla reviews four PSP games, Syphon Filter, Lumines II, Tekken: Dark Resurrection and Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.
Autodesk Inc. has licensed HumanIK middleware to Electronic Arts. Autodesk HumanIK is a customized development library that enables animated game characters to interact more realistically with digital environments. Dynamically and accurately porting animation data from the authoring environment into the game engine gives developers increased flexibility in animating the game with more realistic, realtime results.
ReelTime Rentals will provide movies from Lionsgate for rental by streaming download on the ReelTime.com website.
ReelTime customers may point, click and watch blockbuster and critically acclaimed Lionsgate films, like SAW III, EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, CRANK, THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, DR. T AND THE WOMEN, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM and more than 200 other titles. The end user may access full screen DVD-quality video, without buffering or distortion.
Eyetronics provided 3D scanning for the new science-fiction action and RPG game MASS EFFECT. Created by BioWare, the commercially and critically acclaimed developer of JADE EMPIRE and STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC, the hotly anticipated MASS EFFECT, an Xbox 360 title, promises to deliver an immersive, story-driven gameplay experience with stunning cinematic impact, advanced virtual acting and realtime tactical combat.
Epic Games reveals that it will be demonstrating the latest Unreal Engine 3 features at GDC 2007 in closed door presentations, as well as having its usual multiple speaker sessions, dedicated space in the Career Pavilion (CP 1502), special press sessions for the industry's media and a pre-GDC seminar for Unreal Engine 3 licensees.
Silver*Ware Prods. Inc. is brining its first animated series WIND & FIRE to HelloWorld.com this spring. The 3D CG series has an anime influence.
Electronic Arts has shipped THE SIMS 2 SEASONS as a PC expansion pack building on the celebrated THE SIMS 2 experience that allows players to create and control virtual characters throughout their lives while determining the outcome of their relationships and choosing their destiny. Because each season unfolds differently, players are guaranteed a fresh experience year after year.
NewTek Inc. announced that LightWave 3D was the 3D centerpiece in the production of an initiative by the British Library to make a number of selections from its collection available to the public that may not be able to visit it's halls via the Internet. Dubbed Turning the Pages 2.0, this project has already made a number of priceless works available to the web-browsing public, including a personal notebook of sketches named the Codex Leicester by Leonardo da Vinci purchased by Bill Gates in 1994 for $31 million.
NaturalMotion announced a partnership with publishing label Rockstar Games Inc. to integrate NaturalMotion's euphoria engine into upcoming next-gen Rockstar titles.
Based on NaturalMotion's DMS technology, euphoria uses the processing power of PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 to simulate the human body and motor nervous system, thus creating fully interactive game characters that act differently every time. With euphoria, games move away from canned animation, toward a much richer, life-like experience that is unique to the player.
Comedy Central will premiere the first of six episodes of WEB SHOWS, a new on-air half-hour late-night series featuring all original broadband programming from comedycentral.com and AtomFilms on March 5, 2007, at 2:00 am with encores on Thursday nights at 2:00 am.
This is Comedy Central's first on-air collaboration with AtomFilms, which are both are divisions of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom.
As the highly-anticipated follow-up to the Amp'd Mobile original animated series and new Comedy Central series, LIL' BUSH, Amp'd Mobile announced the launch of its newest made-for-mobile animated series, LIL' HOLLYWOOD. The parody series will follow the pint-sized adventures of Hollywood's hottest celebrities as they try to get through their day-to-day lives, which we all know is no small task.
The SCI FI Channel is teaming up with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Comics to create a co-branded multimedia partnership called SCI FI/Virgin Comics.
SCI FI/Virgin Comics will develop fresh properties that integrate the unique spirit and vitality of both brands. Original concepts will be considered across all mediums from publishing, film and television to digital and gaming. Five new comicbook titles will serve as a jumping off point.
A 10-minute Flash-animated promotional webisode, UP LATE WITH STEWIE & BRIAN, will stream free on MySpace in a talk show parody Feb. 25, 2007, at 8:00 pm. From the Quahog Community Center, its UP LATE WITH STEWIE & BRIAN, features host Stewie Griffin and his martini-swilling sidekick Brian, an all-star FAMILY GUY band and a special appearance by celebrity guest Rob Corddry, plugging his new FOX comedy series, THE WINNER.
Cartoon Network New Media has created CallToons, a new mobile application integrating smart technology with entertainment, enabling CN characters to take over a mobile phone. Using patent pending technology, CallToons creates an unparalleled user experience that replaces ordinary mobile phone functions (such as ringtones and wallpapers) with an entertainment platform provided by the users favorite character. At launch, CallToons will feature characters from Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, and will be offered as separate services for each brand.
Time Inc. and Brightcove, an Internet TV pioneer, announced a corporate-wide partnership that will enable Time Inc. to launch ad-supported Internet video channels on its websites.
By adopting the Brightcove Internet TV service on a corporate-wide basis, Time Inc.'s popular brands will be able to reach users with its award-winning editorial content and create compelling broadband experiences through video and multimedia distribution.
Coming on the heels of an appearance on the NBC primetime game show, DEAL OR NO DEAL, on Monday night (Feb.12, 2007), Kabillion, the new multiplatform, kids' program service, has introduced a series of new BOBBY'S WORLD-themed Valentine's Day e-greetings featuring the popular animated Bobby character.
Crave Ent. announced the follow up to the popular street racing series, TOKYO XTREME RACER DRIFT 2 for the PlayStation 2.
With the mysterious disappearance of the reigning champion, the tournament crown is suddenly up for grabs. Players race in the picturesque mountains of Japan - Hakone, Niko, Haruna and Akagi - all faithfully recreated using the most advanced laser techniques to maintain every tight twist and hazardous turn. Gamers can enter their car in sanctioned races held during the day for money and enter at night to defeat your bitter rivals.
In this month's "Press Start," Peter Rizkalla reviews Gears Of War, Warioware: Smooth Moves, Okami and Elite Beat Agents and find out which titles have a shot at winning big at the upcoming GDC Awards.
Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. announced new titles and additional details for its 2007 lineup. This year's roster will boast the latest versions of legendary franchises such as WINNING ELEVEN as well as the company's first next generation music title, DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION UNIVERSE for Xbox 360 as well as DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION HOTTEST PARTY for Wii. For handheld systems, new titles include: CASTLEVANIA: THE DRACULA X CHRONICLES for the PSP and TIME ACE for the Nintendo DS.
Sulake Corp., parent company of HABBO, has made February 2007 Teen Online Safety Awareness Month for North America. HABBO will also feature various safety awareness programs on its international sites, which are featured in 29 countries. As part of the effort, HABBO will include special promotions, information sources and interactive activities highlighting online safety awareness.
A new YouTube Channel for MEET THE ROBINSONS has launched with the latest trailers and clips, including a new TV spot for the film that is debuting during this Sunday's Super Bowl. Fans can check back often, as this channel will be updated regularly with the latest videos for the film. The MEET THE ROBINSONS' YouTube Channel is located at youtube.com/meettherobinsons and the official MEET THE ROBINSONS movie site is www.meettherobinsons.com.
Anheuser-Busch's new online entertainment network, Bud.TV, has greenlit an animated sci-fi series called AFTERWORLD, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Stan Rogow Prods., who produces Disney Channel's LIZZIE MCGUIRE and Discovery Kids' DARCY'S WILD LIFE, will produce.
The CG series of 130 two-minute episodes will take place on Earth after 99% of the population strangely vanishes and technology has become inoperable. An interactive website, Afterworld.TV, will allow viewers to learn more about the story.
Showtime Networks and Broadband Libraries have formed a joint venture, On Broadband Networks, a turnkey, fully integrated, private label broadband game service for cable modem and DSL high-speed access providers. The service is scheduled to launch the second quarter of 2007.
With homes with high-speed broadband connections at an all time high of 50 million households and the game market generating revenues of $9 billion and growing, On Broadband is poised to help cable and telecom companies easily tap into this market segment.
Eidos Interactive Ltd., part of SCi Entertainment Group Plc (SEG), released BATTLESTATIONS: MIDWAY, the large-scale Pacific war videogame, in North America. The game will be available on the Xbox 360 and Windows.
