EA Signs Deals with Verizon and Sprint
Electronic Arts has announced deals with Verizon Wireless and Sprint that will bring EAs blockbuster games to Verizon Wireless Get It Now customers and Sprint PCS Vision handsets.
Electronic Arts has announced deals with Verizon Wireless and Sprint that will bring EAs blockbuster games to Verizon Wireless Get It Now customers and Sprint PCS Vision handsets.
Entertainment Rights (ER) has signed a deal to make HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE the first-ever classic animated series to be released in Universal Media Disc (UMD) format in the U.S. This follows ERs agreement with U.S. HE-MAN DVD partner, BCI Eclipse (a Navarre Corp. Co.) for the U.S. PlayStation Portable (PSP) rights to HE-MAN. The first two HE-MAN titles will be released on UMD video in August 2005.
Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) signed a deal to market and distribute in, Empire Interactives multi-platform destructive racing game FLATOUT 2 in North America.
FLATOUT 2, one of Empires key frontline titles, builds on the success of also distributed in North America by VU Games.
Nickelodeon will offer full length series via the Internet for the first time as it launches TurboNick, a broadband video platform available on Nick.com. TurboNick will feature up to 20 hours of new programming every week and includes advertising. In its soft launch phase that commenced July 1, 2005, TurboNick has garnering more than 1.25 million streams and will officially launch with a full advertising and promotional campaign on July 17.
Super X Studios is partnering with U.K-based Digital Jesters to bring its long-anticipated game, WILD EARTH, to market worldwide on PC CD-ROM for the upcoming holiday season.
Tigar Hare Studios has completed a :60 3D-animated theatrical trailer for Microsofts PROJECT GOTHAM RACING III Xbox 360 game. The HDRI photoreal trailer dramatically exemplifies the games slogan, Life Begins at 170, as it introduces three high-end race cars from the game, the Ferrari F430, the Lamborghini Murcielago and the Saleen S7, as they streak in furious competition through the streets of Gotham.
Alien tripods are set to invade your phone with the release of WAR OF THE WORLDS, the mobile game, from Gameloft. The exclusive agreement with Viacom Consumer Products Inc. enables Gameloft to develop, publish and distribute the wireless game version of the highly anticipated War of the Worlds movie directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Cruise.
Activision Inc.'s FANTASTIC 4 videogame is now available in retail stores nationwide. Based on Twentieth Century Fox's highly anticipated FANTASTIC 4 feature film, the team-based action adventure game lets players take on the role of Marvel superheroes, Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/The Human Torch and Ben Grimm/The Thing to overcome the evil Doctor Doom.
A new site has launched on the Net called Urbaniacs.com, which allows Net surfers to create, train and enhance their own funky superheroes. Urbaniacs are a group of silly superheroes that fans get to create by combining different body parts together to form their own Urbaniac. By picking a different head, torso and legs, members increase their might, mojo, defense and health. Different combinations also give the new Urbaniacs a mix of powers such as Boogie Finger, Ice Scream and Tribal Storm.
Nickelodeon introduces an offering of paid downloadable games for kids on Nick.com and Nickjr.com with the re-launch of Nick Arcade (www.nickarcade.com/) on July 1. To introduce the gaming platform, Nick Online has partnered with industry leaders Big Fish Games and TryMedia.
"Nick Arcade provides a unique platform of rich game experiences for our audience that they can download and own," said Mike Skagerlind, svp/gm, Nickelodeon Online. "With the combined expertise of Big Fish Games and TryMedia, Nickelodeon will move to the forefront of this arena."
TOM Online, a leading wireless Internet company in China, will be the sole wireless and the premier Internet distribution partner for Warner Bros. Online (WBOL) in China.
TOM Online Inc. and WBOL formed a strategic partnership that includes the launch of the first official Warner Bros. Studios site in China, (http://ent.tom.com/warnerbros.html). Part of the popular TOM Online portal, www.tom.com, the site is the first to deliver official studio content to Chinese fans via the Internet and wireless platforms.
Sony Online Ent. Inc., and Warner Bros. Interactive Ent. announced exclusive long-term licensing agreements allowing SOE to develop a DC Comics massively multiplayer online game for PC and next generation consoles, as well as the acquisition of THE MATRIX ONLINE game by SOE.
From co-publishers Electronic Arts and Warner Bros. Interactive Ent., the BATMAN BEGINS videogame has hit retail shelves nationwide for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance. The game, based on the Warner Bros. Pictures film BATMAN BEGINS and DC Comics' legendary character, is rated "T for Teen."
Perhaps the just released ER: THE VIDEO GAME (May 31, 2005) is the prescription for TV vieiwers of the medical drama going through summer re-run withdrawal.
The ER game for PC combines the best of the popular strategy/role-playing genre with the top-rated television franchise, ER. Players of the game will get to interact with their favorite stars in dramatic and engaging storylines reminiscent of the TV show. The ER videogame features voices and likenesses of trademark cast members, including Noah Wyle, Mekhi Phifer and Sherry Stringfield.
DreamWorks Animation's MADAGASCAR THE GAME from Activision Inc. has hit stores in time for the May 27 release of MADAGASCAR. Based on the highly anticipated CG feature, MADAGASCAR THE GAME lets players discover their true animal instincts when an adventurous journey lands them on the remote island of Madagascar. Gamers must master each animal's individual survival skills in order to tackle obstacles and foes in scenarios from the movie and beyond.
The five leading actors from the upcoming Fantastic 4 film(Twentieth Century Fox and Marvel Studios) -- based on the Marvel comicbook series -- will also perform their roles in Activision Inc.'s upcoming FANTASTIC 4 videogame. Jessica Alba (DARK ANGEL, SIN CITY), Emmy award-winner Michael Chiklis (THE SHIELD), Chris Evans (THE PERFECT SCORE, CELLULAR), Ioan Gruffudd (KING ARTHUR) and Julian McMahon (CHARMED, NIP/TUCK) will portray Sue Storm, The Invisible Woman; Ben Grimm, The Thing; Johnny Storm, The Human Torch; Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic and Victor Von Doom, Dr. Doom, respectively.
At a press conference held in Los Angeles, California, today (May 17, 2005), Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) revealed the outline of its PlayStation 3 (PS3) computer entertainment system, incorporating the world's most advanced Cell processor with super computer like power. Preparations are under way for launch of PS3 and new generation software in the spring of 2006. Prototypes of PS3 will also be showcased at E3, the world's largest interactive entertainment exhibition held in Los Angeles, from May 18-20.
At E3 2005 in Los Angeles, Microsoft Corp. announced it will release a free software update to Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 that will enable customers to take advantage of the Media Center Extender technologies built into Xbox 360 gaming systems to access and enjoy digital entertainment anywhere in the home. Every Xbox 360 will have Media Center Extender functionality built in and available out of the box.
Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) leads its multi-platform product lineup for E3 with Blizzard Entertainment's STARCRAFT: GHOST, a tactical-action console game set in Blizzard's epic STARCRAFT universe. VUs booth (1200) is located in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Leading game developer and publisher Midway will be using 3ds Max 7.5 to bring new levels of dimensionality and artistic quality to its next generation of game titles.
Midway has been a 3ds Max software customer for years, creating scores of successful game titles, including AREA 51 and the upcoming MORTAL KOMBAT: SHAOLIN MONKS and BLITZ: THE LEAGUE, out of its Chicago, San Diego, Austin and Los Angeles studios. The decision to advance its use of 3ds Max software comes as the company wraps up an intensive review of tools to drive future development.
Namco Hometek has secured the gaming rights to CURIOUS GEORGE from Universal Studios Consumer Products Group, according to HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
The game titles will be associated with Universal Pictures and Imagine Ent.'s animated feature film, based on the books by H. A. and Margret Rey. Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Jon Shapiro and David Kirschner produced the film, which will arrive in theaters Feb. 10, 2006.
Majesco Ent. Co. talked its way into a deal to develop a videogame based on TAXI DRIVER, the classic Martin Scorsese-directed film from Columbia Pictures, now commemorating the 30th anniversary of the historic motion picture.
Papaya Studio is developing TAXI DRIVER into a game, via a licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Consumer Products (SPCP), and is scheduled to ship in spring 2006.
Zingy has announced an exclusive mobile publishing agreement with G-Unit, a leading urban brand founded by award-winning hip hop artist, 50 Cent. Under the agreement, Zingy will release a series of games based on members of the G-Unit crew, including 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck and Tony Yayo.
Zingy is the exclusive distributor of 50 Cent voice ringtones, ringback tones, voicemail greetings, wallpapers and video ringtones. This extension of the partnership between the two entities will now include an array of 2D and 3D G-Unit mobile videogames.
Majesco Ent. Co. and Tiger Hill Ent., an entertainment production company co-founded by director John Woo that produces both videogames and feature films, announced, DEMONIK a next-generation, third person action game franchise with acclaimed writer/director Clive Barker. The agreement furthers Majesco's expansion into developing new intellectual properties and underscores the company's commitment to partner with Hollywood's top creative talent.
Nickelodeon, the top entertainment brand for kids, and Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless service provider in the U.S., jointly announced the launch of Nick Mobile today, (May 5, 2005) to bring Nickelodeon video content to Verizon Wireless' V CAST wireless phones. Music videos from DORA THE EXPLORER, BLUE'S CLUES, THE BACKYARDIGANS and LAZYTOWN will be the first available content on Nick Mobile, with Nickelodeon TV programming scheduled to roll out this summer.