Sesame Workshop has made it much easier for kids around the world to have a playdate with Elmo and Big Birds cousins from around the world via the new International section of its Website (www.seaameworkshop.org) featuring a multi-lingual game and information on co-productions of the award winning SESAME STREET.
Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) will ship the new THUNDERBIRDS for Game Boy Advance to retail stores in the U. S. Aug. 4, 2004. The handheld game is based upon Universal Pictures' and Working Title Films' live-action feature film, THUNDERBIRDS.
Directed by Jonathan Frakes (STAR TREK: INSURRECTION, STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT, CLOCKSTOPPERS), the film adaptation of the classic 1960s TV series stars Bill Paxton and Sir Ben Kingsley and is scheduled for release July 30, 2004.
Those who would like to play with the pretty Halle Berry version of CATWOMAN from Warner Bros. Pictures theatrical can get their paws on the new videogame from Electronic Arts available in stores now for PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance and PC CD-ROM.
Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Bros. Online have started the Round One showdown for the second season of Cartoon Monsoon www.cartoonmonsoon.com, an online development tool that brings together seasoned animation experts, emerging talent and fans. The site pits creative animators against each other in an online competition.
This animation showcase was created to expose undiscovered talent to top development execs at Warner Bros. Animation, to hopefully lead to their first big break in the business.
If you dont have email, watch TV or read a newspaper, then you probably havent encountered by now the hilarious animated political parody at JibJab.com, thats equally insulting to President George W. Bush and the Democratic challenger, Sen. John F. Kerry. You can catch the creators, brothers Gregg and Evan Spiridellis interviewed about it on THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, tonight, July 26 at 11:30 pm on NBC.
Well its not like talking on visaphones as they did in the Hanna-Barbera cartoon THE JETSONS, Cartoon Network, the broadcaster of many HB favorites has gone futuristic, launching the CN channel on three-inch UTMS videophones in Italy.
Turner Broadcasting System Inc. signed its first mobile TV agreement with mobile operator "3" Italy to distribute Cartoon Network to the operator's videophone subscribers, enabling users to watch a daily block of CN programming on their videophones.
Website Renderosity has launched its new Animation Outlet, a new area where animators can post their work. In support of this new area, Renderosity has designed three new hosting packages and a larger File Locker designed to fit animators bandwidth needs. The new services can be found on the Member's Options drop down menu by clicking on "My Services." Members may host their own animations, or have Renderosity do it for you.
id Software and Activision Inc. have announced that the highly anticipated DOOM 3 for the PC will begin shipping to retail stores worldwide the week of Aug. 2, 2004.
Nickelodeon launched two new Websites today, July 14, 2004, as part of the Dot Kids Act, established in 2002 to ensure safe spaces on the Internet for children under 13. The new site for kids, www.nick.kids.us/ and for parents and preschoolers, www.nickjr.kids.us/, have been created by the network as extensions of www.nick.com/ and www.nickjr.com/, respectively, as additional safe places for kids and preschoolers to play on the Internet.
Activision's North American Publishing unit has shipped more than two million units of its SPIDER-MAN 2 videogame timed to the theatrical release of the feature film. The game lets players experience what it's like to be Spider-Man as they web sling from buildings, dive from rooftops to the streets and scale the heights of Manhattan. Players will be able to engage in various missions inspired by the action of the film. The game is available for PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance and PC.
Samsung has unveiled a uniquely designed 3D Game Phone that uses the company's established clamshell design that includes a joystick. The game phone (SCH-V450), which comes installed with three games, such as ZIOGOLF (golf game) and METALION (shooting game), allows users to get a full 3D mobile gaming experience heard through dual speakers.
Codemasters has shipped its innovative realtime strategy game, SOLDIERS: HEROES OF WORLD WAR II, to North American retail outlets. Developed by Ukrainian company Best Way, SOLDIERS is now available exclusively for PC/CD-ROM.
Twentieth Century Fox and Adobe Systems have teamed to create an interactive, 3D experience for Fox's I, ROBOT Website (www.irobotmovie.com) -- the first motion picture Website to utilize Adobe's Atmosphere technology. The site allows visitors to create and build their own robot, selecting its body parts, color, texture and gender. Visitors can also issue commands that demonstrate the robots mobility and agility. In addition, the site allows visitors to interact with the robots inside the world of I, ROBOT.
Spite Your Face Productions Ltd. presents its new film SPIDER-MAN: THE PERIL OF DOC OCK, which will debut exclusively on http://movies.yahoo.com and http://yahooligans.yahoo.com July 2-6, 2004. The short, featuring animated LEGO toys, is an action-packed, comical take on the SPIDER-MAN movies, commissioned by Sony Pictures, Marvel Studios and The LEGO Group to tie in with the feature release of SPIDER-MAN 2.
Movielink will now offer STAR BLAZERS and Yamato Films anime classics through a deal with Voyager Ent. STAR BLAZERS' "Quest for Iscandar," episodes 1-17, are available now for download. Additional titles coming soon include THE COMET EMPIRE, THE BOLAR WARS, SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO, FAREWELL TO SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: IN THE NAME OF LOVE, SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO: THE NEW VOYAGE, BE FOREVER YAMATO and FINAL YAMATO. Movielink and Voyager Ent. will launch co-marketing campaigns and promotions to highlight the titles available.
Beginning June 25, 2004, contestants can register on the SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW site (www.SkyCaptain.com) to register and download the AIR COMBAT CHALLENGE, courtesy of Paramount Pictures and Blitz DS Games. The free, downloadable game, based on SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW (to be released Sept. 17), puts players in the cockpit as members of aviator Joseph Sullivan's (Sky Captain, played by Jude Law) Flying Legion. Players will take control of their own fast and agile P-40 Warhawks to defend the world against the mysterious Totenkopf and his mechanical monsters.
Pilots will have five weeks to perfect their skills and on Aug. 2, the AIR COMBAT CHALLENGE tournament begins. The three-week contest will pit contestants against one another for a chance to win an all-inclusive trip to the London premiere of SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW in October.
Spectra Animation, a subsidiary of LÉquipe Spectra, has launched its Internet site, which can be accessed at www.spectra-animation.ca, featuring info on the company, its history, creations and development projects, plus the latest news on its activities.
Acclaim Ent. has unleashed the ultimate wrestling game SHOWDOWN: LEGENDS OF WRESTLING for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Developed by Acclaim Studios Austin, the game was designed in conjunction with professional wrestling experts and features 73 of the greatest wrestlers in history, including Hulk Hogan, Sting, Andre the Giant, Ultimate Warrior, Randy "Macho Man" Savage, Bret "Hitman" Hart, Diamond Dallas Page, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Eddie Guerrero and "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes.
Atari Inc. has announced that it has shipped 2.5 million units of its highly anticipated DRIV3R to retails outlets worldwide. Since DRIV3R hit store shelves on June 21, 2004 in the U.S. and June 22 in Europe and Australia, consumer demand has been extremely strong.
"Our worldwide shipment is right in line with our plan for DRIV3R," said Bruno Bonnell, chairman/ceo of Atari. "The global DRIVER fan base is as robust and passionate as ever, as indicated by retail reaction in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, France and other key territories."
Building on the idea behind the wildly popular SIMS' series, Aspyr Media is shipping SPACE COLONY for the Mac, which was developed by Trihedron LLC. SPACE COLONY adds a new dimension to people simulation and building strategy games.
The player must create a successful space colony by harvesting space resources and fend off manic aliens, as well as baby-sit a team of outer space misfits.
Vivendi Universal Games has announced that ROBOTS is currently in development by Eurocom Entertainment Software for a first quarter 2005 launch to coincide with the theatrical release of the Blue Sky-produced ROBOTS film. The game will be on the PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC. Based upon Twentieth Century Fox's CG animated feature film releasing on March 11, 2005 -- directed by Academy Award-winner Chris Wedge -- the game will place players in the role of the film's hero Rodney Copperbottom.
Prague, Czech Republic-based Cenega Publishing has signed a deal with Altar Interactive to publish the forthcoming PC-CD ROM title, UFO: AFTERSHOCK, due to release in Q3 2005.
Atari Inc. will release TEST DRIVE: EVE OF DESTRUCTION in fall 2004 for Xbox, in addition to the previously announced version of the game, which will be available for the PlayStation2 in September. Developed by Monster Games, TEST DRIVE: EVE OF DESTRUCTION captures the raw, unfettered thrill of no-rules competition and is based on real-life extreme racing events.
Movielink has acquired the rights to carry all 52 episodes of the classic SPEED RACER animated television series from Speed Racer Enterprises. The episodes offered on Movielink will be packaged together and rented as 1 1/2 to two-hour segments. Current titles available include: "The Great Plan," "Challenge of the Masked Racer," "The Secret Engine," "Race Against the Mammoth Car," "The Most Dangerous Race" and "Race for Revenge." Movielink will promote its anime offerings through promotional campaigns, e-mail advertising and on its Website.
Rochester's Animatus Studio has completed work on its latest short, SU AND MO: LOST IN ANIMATION, a Flash animated, SOUTH PARK-style story that parodies the festival circuit. The short tells the story of Su and Mo, the world's only lap-dancing wrestler/animators. Dancing at ClubHippendale's has finally provided the boys enough money to fund their independent film. After a turbulent production period, they journey to their native Japan for a premiere screening at the Tokyo Jokio film festival.
