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Category: Interactive

Software Headline News

Videogame Sales Hold Steady High In 2003

Retail sales of U.S. videogames, which includes portable and console hardware, software and accessories, remained largely unchanged over the previous year's record-breaking performance, according to a leading marketing information provider, the NPD Group. The console industry saw sales figures fall 2.7% to $10 billion in 2003, compared to $10.3 billion in 2002.

Game Headline News

Nokia & EA Team for 'The Sims Bustin' Out' on N-Gage Mobile Game Deck

Nokia and Electronic Arts (EA) announced that THE SIMS: BUSTIN' OUT is in development for the N-Gage game deck. THE SIMS fans will be able to create their own characters and take them anywhere, while on the move and interacting with the mobile community. THE SIMS: BUSTIN' OUT on the N-Gage platform will have exclusive objects, as well as unique "mini games" where players can earn extra Simoleons.

Game Headline News

Nokia Makes Ashen For N-Gage Mobile Game Deck

Nokia is at work on ASHEN, its third self-published title for the N-Gage mobile game deck, available in the first half of 2004. ASHEN is a 3D gothic horror themed, first person shooter that pits mobile gamers against a host of horrors. In addition to exciting single player action, up to four people can play in death match mode via Bluetooth wireless technology.

ASHEN is being developed by Torus Games, a leading game developer based in Melbourne, Australia.

Online Headline News

Disney's Toontown Online Expands

Disney Online has launched the Sellbot Cog Headquarters (HQ), an advanced play area in TOONTOWN, the award-winning, multiplayer 3D online game for kids and families. TOONTOWN, an online world where the Toons (players) live, is under siege by the Cogs, a bungling group of robots, who are trying to take over by turning it into a dark metropolis of skyscrapers and businesses.

Software Headline News

Max Payne 2 Comes To Playstation2

Rockstar Games, the publishing division of Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., has shipped MAX PAYNE 2: THE FALL OF MAX PAYNE for PlayStation2 to retail stores throughout North America and has also shipped an Xbox version as well to European retailers.

MAX PAYNE 2: THE FALL OF MAX PAYNE is a stylish, urban, film-noir love story of a hard-boiled cop in New York Citys grimy underground with nothing to lose and a mysterious femme fatale who holds the answers to all his burning questions.

Animation Headline News

North American Shorts Film Streams On The Net

Raider Prods. and Purple Globe Communications (www.purpleglobe.com) have partnered to bring NORTH AMERICA'S BEST INDEPENDENT ANIMATED SHORTS (NABIAS), the first feature film to be screened on Internet in full screen streaming DVD quality using Matrix Stream technology.

Interactive Headline News

Atari Commissions DRIV3R Short Film

In what Atari calls a "convergence first" between Hollywood and the interactive entertainment company, the videogame publisher announced it has retained Ridley Scott Associates (RSA) the commercial production company owned and run by legendary filmmakers Ridley and Tony Scott to produce an original three-minute live-action film inspired by the upcoming game, DRIV3R. The film short, which is the first of its kind in the videogame industry, is titled, RUN THE GAUNTLET, and will be the core component of both the DRIV3R Website, www.DRIV3R.com, and an extensive marketing and advertising campaign for DRIV3R being launched globally by Atari, beginning in late January.

RSA, the producers of several of the original series of short films on BMWFilms.com, is in post-production on RUN THE GAUNTLET, written and directed by RSA's Sean Mullens, and inspired by the characters, plot and action of DRIV3R. The third installment in the DRIVER franchise, DRIV3R casts players once again as the original Wheelman undercover cop Tanner who must infiltrate a global cartheft ring in an action-packed adventure that features Hollywood-caliber production values and a gripping, narrative storyline.

Dreamworks Headline News

Activision Game For Shrek 2; Terminates TDK Deal

Activision has signed agreement with DreamWorks for videogame rights to the upcoming feature film SHREK 2. Activision has terminated its previously announced co-publishing and co-development agreement with TDK Mediactive following Take-Two Interactive Software's acquisition of TDK.

Game Headline News

Aspyr Media Ships Wakeboarding Unleashed Featuring Shaun Murray

Activision Inc.'s WAKEBOARDING UNLEASHED FEATURING SHAUN MURRAY on PC and Macintosh has been shipped by Aspyr Media Inc. and is available at retailers across the U.S. The game was licensed from Activision, and conversions were completed by Beenox Inc.

Headline News

Gary Coleman Snatches Postal Babes for Videogame

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, December 18, 2003 at 12:00am

Running With Scissors has released its new game, POSTAL 2: SHARE THE PAIN, featuring the likeness of actor and former California gubernatorial candidate Gary Coleman. In SNATCH" one of the many multi-player options available in the new release, players control Coleman as he grabs scantily clad Postal Babes, toss them over his shoulder and run around with them like a version of capture the flag. Coleman also appears as a special player-character in the "Deathmatch" option of P2: STP.

Anime Headline News

Toon Radio Acquires Anime in the Limelight

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, December 18, 2003 at 12:00am

Toon Radio LLC has acquired the broadcast rights to the syndicated anime radio program ANIME IN THE LIMELIGHT for its Internet broadcast. Produced by Limelight Media, ANIME IN THE LIMELIGHT is a 30- to 60-minute show that features uncut anime music tracks by the original artists in Japanese language, with English introductions, background histories, news and Japanese pop culture information. The show launched on the Internet in 1997 and airs on KUMU AM 1500 (AniMe 1500) and Fresno California Webcaster Japan-a-Radio (www.japanaradio.com).

Game Headline News

Aladdin Releases Game On! Family Pack

Aladdin Systems Inc. recently shipped GAME ON! FAMILY PACK, volume 1, a collection of six popular titles including TONY HAWK'S PRO SKATER 3 and REALMYST, valued at over $120 for only $49.99.

" GAME ON! FAMILY PACK is an outstanding assortment of games for the whole family," said David Polzine, product manager. "This collection brings Mac users top-rated games at a great price and will bring their families hours of enjoyment."

GAME ON! FAMILY PACK includes the following fully registered products:

Game Headline News

Ubisoft's New Prince of Persia Game Utilizes Benefits of 3ds max

PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME from Ubisoft, poised to become one of the hot computer games of the holiday season, was created with Discreet's 3ds max professional animation, modeling and rendering software. Available now for all game platforms, PRINCE OF PERSIA offers impressive graphics, polished game play mechanics and level of design.

Game Headline News

Namco Hometek Is Game For The Holidays

This holiday season, Namco Hometek Inc. offers a varied lineup of new videogame releases, from the number one fighting game available to romping platformer adventures to classic arcade favorites for every major gaming platform. Namco's lineup includes SOULCALIBUR II, R: RACING EVOLUTION, SPAWN: ARMAGEDDON, KILL.SWITCH, TIME CRISIS 3, I-NINJA and PAC-MAN VS.

College Headline News

Macho Man Savage Wrestles His Way into Webtoon College University

Mike and Andy Parker will be premiering the first episode of the second season of their Webtoon COLLEGE UNIVERSITY, which will guest star pro-wrestling legend Macho Man Randy Savage. The pop culture spoof follows the misadventures of two college friends attending College University, the first university to allow the attendance of humans and primates. The series is animated solely by Mike Parker using Flash and MX.

Games Headline News

Sarbakan Welds Weird Online Games for VRAK TV

Sarbakan has wrapped up two new online games for VRAK TV, a specialized Canadian channel operated by Astral Media Inc. The two games star Celestin, a bearded fairy in charge of a garage. In the first game, the players will make their way to Celestin's garage and answer trivia questions before they can build a racing jalopy from vintage bits and parts. The second title will have players test their new vehicles in a danger-filled racing derby.

Game Headline News

Atari Ships Dragon Ball Z: Taiketsu

Atari has shipped DRAGON BALL Z: TAIKETSU for the Game Boy Advance featuring 15 DBZ fighters, including, for the first time in the U.S., the legendary super Saiyan, Broly.

"DRAGON BALL Z is the consummate tale of good versus evil, and nothing depicts that tension better than Atari's newest DBZ fighting game, Dragon Ball Z: Taiketsu," said Nancy MacIntyre, vp of marketing for Atari.

Headline News

Nyko Re-Launches Website With Online Contest

Nyko Technologies will re-launch its Website, www.nyko.com, with an online contest "Online Gamer's Ultimate Fantasy." Running through Jan. 25, 2004, the contest has three levels of participation: fans can simply enter to win; sign up friends and family for additional points; or, play Nyko's mini-game AIR FLO BLAST for increased chances to win. Nyko will give the Grand Prize winner of the contest its flagship product, the Wireless Net Extender, which puts broadband Internet securely in any room of the house, without cables or programming.

Media Headline News

Ziff Davis Media Launches Gaming Industry Newsletter

Ziff Davis Media Inc. has announced the launch of GAMING INDUSTRY NEWS (GIN), a monthly newsletter and a weekly e-mail, with an integrated online component (www.gamingindustrynews.com). GAMING INDUSTRY NEWS will feature up-to-date news, inside analysis, business and technology trends, opinions and commentary on the business of electronic videogames. GIN will be part of Ziff Davis Media's Game Group, based in San Francisco, California.

Creature Headline News

New Creature Comforts Shop Now Open

By Rick DeMott | Thursday, November 20, 2003 at 12:00am

The CREATURE COMFORTS TV series Website (www.creaturecomforts.tv) has opened a new store. Customers can buy goodies including the making of book, DVD or video, plush toys, beanies, mugs, key rings, calendars and more. Also available in the new AardMarket is WALLACE AND GROMIT merchandise and 2004 calendars.

Game Headline News

Pileated Pictures Rocks Tha House with Online Adventure Game

Pileated Pictures, the digital studio located in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, has released Cash Money's ROCK THA HOUSE, an online adventure game created for Universal Records and the hip-hop label, Cash Money Records. The Flash-animated ROCK THA HOUSE represents the latest and most ambitious collaboration between the three companies, having already produced a number of 2D and 3D game projects.

Online Headline News

Sony Online Delivers EverQuest Online Adventures: Frontiers

EVERQUEST ONLINE ADVENTURES: FRONTIERS, developed exclusively for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, was released by Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE) to North American retail stores on Nov. 18, 2003.

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