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Category: Interactive

Series Headline News

Bandai Launches Witch Hunter Robin Website

Bandai Entertainment has launched www.witchhunteronline.com to help promote the upcoming DVD release of Shukou Murases anime series, WITCH HUNTER ROBIN. The site will feature information about the characters, setting, production as well as news reports, background information, DVD release dates and trailers. An interactive Witch Hunting Experience is planned to go live at the end of August. 2003

Headline News

Activision Calls Lead Actors to Active Voice Duty in Game

To further immerse gamers into its gritty, first-person war-torn thriller CALL OF DUTY, Activision Inc. has enlisted Jason Statham and Giovanni Ribisi to provide their trademark voice talent in key roles. Additionally, writer/producer Michael Schiffer (CRIMSON TIDE, COLORS, LEAN OF ME, THE FOUR FEATHERS and THE PEACEMAKER) has added his touch to the game's action-filled script. CALL OF DUTY will be available in fall 2003 for the PC and is rated "RP" (Rating Pending) by the ESRB.

Media Headline News

STVDIO Media Animation Working for Wireless

Hong Kong toon house STVDIO Media Animation will develop original animated content and images for the burgeoning market of cellular telephones via an agreement with Crown Greetings. The animated content for MMS networks across the will be beamed to 3G mobile handsets in the Asia-Pacific region in fall 2003.

Games Headline News

Pileated Pictures Creates Flash Games Based on Between the Lions Character

Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts-based Pileated Pictures announced the release of GUS AND INKYS UNDERWATER ADVENTURES, a set of Flash games based on a character in PBS hit show, BETWEEN THE LIONS. The series of online educational tools was developed for the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) Get Ready to Read! program, promoting literacy and assessing skills among preschool children.

Disney Headline News

Disney Films Available for Download at Movielink

Buena Vista Pay Television has signed a pact with Movielink to allow viewers to download Walt Disney Co new releases and selected library titles. This landmark distribution deal encompasses films from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone, Miramax and Dimension. The first titles to be available at Movielink include the Academy Award Best Picture winner CHICAGO, GANGS OF NEW YORK, THE RECRUIT, 25TH HOUR, FRIDA and THE JUNGLE BOOK 2, MONSTERS, INC., THE ROOKIE and IN THE BEDROOM, among others.

Software Headline News

IDSA Changes Name

The association representing U.S. computer and video game software publishers, formerly the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), announced it has changed its name to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), effective immediately. The organizations Website has been changed from www.idsa.com to www.theesa.com.

Entertainment Headline News

Arc the Lad Spirits its Way to PlayStation2

ARC THE LAD: TWILIGHT OF THE SPIRITS expands onto PlayStation 2 in this Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. release with a new storyline, captivating motion capture cut scenes, an innovative battle system and more than 14 playable characters each with their own unique abilities and special combination attacks. With 60+ hours of role-playing gameplay, gamers can join brothers Darc and Kharg on their quest to capture the Spirit Stones and restore tranquility to an unstable world, that takes place thousands of years after the last installment in the series.

Headline News

Phantom Game Console to Appear at Gamers Expo

Infinium Labs will unveil new gaming console, Phantom, for the first time publicly at the first annual Ultimate Gamers Expo in August 15-17, 2003 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

"This show is the perfect venue and gives us the unique opportunity to show the system firsthand to over 100,000 gamers and industry insiders, said Tim Roberts, ceo of Infinium Labs.

Headline News

Official Daws Butler Website is Now Online!

The new official Daws Butler Website is online at www.Dawsbutler.com. Dedicated to the career of the late voice actor/teacher/writer, the site was completely redesigned by graphic artist Lorie Kellogg. Daws Butler was the voice behind some of the most beloved cartoon characters ever as well as a teacher and friend to a few generations of voice actors. He was the voice of Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss, Quick Draw McGraw and many more. Butler and Don Messick were the primary voice actors at Hanna-Barbera Studios from 1957 until Butler's death in 1988.

Headline News

Dr. Who Web Toon Gets Lead Voice

The BBC has announced that British thespian Richard E Grant (WITHNAIL & I, BRAM STOKERS DRACULA) has signed on to voice the role of Dr. Who in a new BBCi animated Web short. The DR. WHO Webisode is scheduled to be released in November in connection with the 40th anniversary of the 1960s cult TV series. Paul Cornell, a television writer on the British hospital drama CASUALTY, has penned the script.

Headline News

Games Get New Ratings and Labels

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), the trade group that rates videogames, has added four new content descriptions to the existing 26,with new bolder labels, to provide parents and other consumers with a new and unprecedented level of detail about game content. The rating system changes were developed in consultation with experts from both inside and outside the interactive entertainment software industry, including child development experts and family advocates.

Game Headline News

EA Gets Original Cast for James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing

The world's greatest secret agent returns in his fifth interactive adventure, JAMES BOND 007: EVERYTHING OR NOTHING, with Pierce Brosnan providing the voice of 007 under the EA GAMES brand. Joining Brosnan are Bond regulars John Cleese as "Q," Dame Judi Dench as "M" and Richard Kiel as the henchman Jaws. Willem Dafoe will voice Bond's new nemesis Nikolai Diavolo. Shannon Elizabeth joins the cast as new cyber Bond girl Serena St. Germaine and Heidi Klum is the malevolent Katya Nadanova.

Headline News

Bluth & Goldman to Create I-Ninja Videogame

Veteran feature animators Don Bluth and Gary Goldman (THE SECRET OF NIMH, TITAN, A.E.) have teamed up to create and direct the in-game cinematics for Namco's upcoming videogame, I-NINJA, a comic adventure starring a hero fully loaded with the most up to date weaponry. The game will be released by the end of 2003 on Sony's PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's GameCube consoles.

Studio Headline News

New Website Promotes HB Building Petition Drive

Digital artist/freelance writer Marian Rudnyk has completed a Website for the L.A. Conservancy (www.hannabarbera.org) to help save the old original 1963 Hanna-Barbera Studio buildings located at 3400 Cahuenga Blvd. in Los Angeles. The site features a history of the studio, photos of the buildings, art gallery, chat room, links to preservation and animation Websites and an online petition, encouraging interested fans and supporters to sign up as well as distribute petitions for more signatures.

Internet Headline News

The New Internet: The Next Big Thing?

The new Internet has gotten a lot of press in Europe and Asia, but is still relatively unknown in the United States. It was therefore a real stunner when John Osterholz, the director of architecture and interoperability for the Department of Defense (DoD), announced last week that the Pentagon would only buy networked products that conform to the new specification, starting in October of this year, and DoD hopes to be totally transitioned by 2008 that more than $30 billion of product and services per year.

Online Headline News

TNN Game to Start Adult Animated Cartoons

The New TNN, Americas first network for men, is offering a sneak-peak of its new adult-oriented animation block online with a trio of tailor-made online games in anticipation of the June 26, 2003 premiere of "The Strip," which features six new episodes of THE REN AND STIMPY ADULT PARTY CARTOON (10:00 pm) from original creator John Kricfalusi; GARY THE RAT (10:30 pm) starring the voice of Kelsey Grammer and STRIPPERELLA (11:00 pm) featuring the voice and animated persona of Pamela Anderson. These viral games will allow online visitors to experience the adventures of the crude, rude and erotic in THE REN AND STIMPY ADULT PARTY CARTOON: DUTCH OVEN, GARY THE RAT: THE GOLF GAME and STRIPPERELLA: POLE SHIMMY. TNN's virtual strip debuted online June 24, 2003 at www.thenewtnn.com/shows/animation and were produced by Warner Bros. Online.

Cartoon Headline News

Crazy Pete's Gets Fused

Casino of Doom's Flash-animated CRAZY PETE'S has been licensed for use as interstitial programming by the Fuse network. The cartoon started airing in May 2003 on the cable channel and is also featured on the Fuse's Website (www.fuse.tv) as part of its WTF series of "viral video" clips.

Animation Headline News

New Art Conservation Website

 

Need cel preservation and animation art market advice? Then check out Ron Barbagallo's newly launched Website, www.animationartconservation.com. As director of Animation Art Conservation, Barbagallo is one of the leading authorities on the materials used in the production of animation art. Barbagallo operates a conservation practice located near the animation studios in Toluca Lake, California, devoted to the ethical repair and preservation of classic animation art. His site is the first to have authorized use of copyrighted Disney images and displays category-by-category his efforts in animation art repair.

During his career, Barbagallo has repaired art work for Walt Disney Feature Animation, Warner Bros., Hanna-Barbera, United Productions of American (UPA), Christie's East, Linda Jones Enterprises, museums, galleries, private collectors worldwide and the personal collections of Stephen Ison and Roy E. Disney.

Atomic Headline News

Atomic Re-Generates its Website

Atomic Cartoons has retooled its original all Flash Website, www.atomiccartoons.com. "We figured it was time to update our already extremely successful Website, so we went for a total redo. I think it is a cleaner, easier to navigate site now," said Atomic ceo Trevor Bentley.

Game Headline News

Acclaim Signs Alias TV Cast for Series-Based Video Game Release

Illustrating the increasing convergence of Hollywood and interactive entertainment, Acclaim Entertainment, Inc. has signed the cast members of ABC television's critically-acclaimed series, ALIAS, to lend their voices in the series-based video game to launch in fall 2003. The cast members include Jennifer Garner, Michael Vartan, Victor Garber, Ron Rifkin, Carl Lumbly, Kevin Weisman and David Anders. The show's producer, J.J. Abrams, and writing team have been collaborating with Buena Vista Interactive and Acclaim's Cheltenham studio on the development of the ALIAS video game.

Kids Headline News

Kids' WB! Kicks Off Online Contests

Kids' WB! launched its new gaming site, Ribbit Arena, located at www.KidsWB.com on June 10, 2003. When kids log onto the site, they will be assigned to one of four teams where they can play a variety of exciting games and accumulate points for prizes they may download.

Digital Headline News

Charlie's Angels Game Available Online From Sony

Sony Pictures Digital Networks has made CHARLIE'S ANGELS: ANGEL X is available online via the film's official Website at www.sony.com/charliesangels, and through a series of premiere distribution partners. The game inspired by and promoting the motion picture CHARLIES ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE, which is set for release in theaters nationwide on June 27, 2003, gamers are charged with the mission of catching the Thin Man before his army of assassins destroys his secret lair.

Million Headline News

3DO Company Files for Bankruptcy

Days after announcing a turnaround plan and $10.5 million in new financial support, 3DO Company, the game developer/publisher STREET RACING SYNDICATE, filed a voluntary bankruptcy petition for relief under Chapter 11 on May 28, 2003. The Redwood City, California company will mange its properties and conduct business as "debtors-in-possession" subject to the supervision and orders of the Bankruptcy Court pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code.

Skills Headline News

Violent Video Games Found Good For Vision Skills

A study published in the scientific journal NATURE finds that the most violent games sharply improve visual attention skills. First-person shoot games, where one's virtual life is threatened, are the most effective in helping gamers identify objects in their peripheral vision, perceive numerous objects without having to count them, switch attention rapidly and track many items at once. Experienced players scored 30-50% better than nonplayers. Once more, the study found that the visual skills of non-gamers improved tremendously after just 10 hours of gameplay. While the number of subjects was small in the study, the effects were too large to be a result of chance, said Dr. Daphne Bavelier, an associate professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Rochester, who led the study.

Games Headline News

Court Lifts Ban on Selling Videogames to Minors

A three-judge panel of the U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals overruled June 3, 2003 a St. Louis County, Missouri law banning sales of violent videogames to minors. The court ruled that games are "analytically indistinguishable" from other kids of entertainment projected the by the First Amendment. The court said the games' interactivity does not make them different from books, music, movies or live performances. "If the First Amendment is versatile enough to 'shield painting of Jackson Pollock, music of Arnold Schoenberg or Jabberwocky version of Lewis Carroll' we see no reason why the pictures, graphic design, concept art, sounds, music, stories and narrative present n video games are not entitled to a similar protection," the court wrote.

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