Autodesk and Electronic Arts have introduced a new project design workshop for Canada's first Masters for Digital Media (MDM) program at Great Northern Way Campus in Vancouver, British Columbia.

As part of the 20-month MDM program, the workshop will equip students with techniques to plan and manage digital media projects in their academic and professional careers.

Chuck Dages, who oversees Emerging Technology for Warner Bros., has been shifted from Technical Operations to Warner Bros. Home Ent. Group. He retains the title of EVP and continues to have oversight of Motion Picture Imaging (the studio's postproduction facility for film mastering, restoration and digital imaging for movies and television) and the Advanced Media Editorial department (which prepares feature films for distribution on airlines, cable networks and broadcast television).

ADV Films presents three new titles for Jan. 15, including volume two of VENUS VERSUS VIRUS, the third volume of XENOSAGA, and the massive GET BACKERS Seasons 1 & 2 Collection.

From veteran director Shinichiro Kimura (MABURAHO, BURN UP EXCESS) and the production team at Studio Hibari (NERIMA DAIKON BROTHERS) comes VENUS VERSUS VIRUS: EPIDEMIC, which first aired on Japanese television in Jan. 2007.

Vicon Ent.'s Los Angeles-based House of Moves has launched a new state-of-the art motion-capture studio at the University of Central Florida on the grounds of the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, UCF's graduate video-game development school. The 3,500-square-foot studio, one of the largest on the East Coast, is described by House of Moves executives as a "world-class facility" for industry professionals and academia.

SEGA Corp. announced an exclusive partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), exclusive licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to develop BEIJING 2008 - THE OFFICIAL VIDEO GAME OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES. The game is being developed by Eurocom Ent. Software for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the PC. Additionally, BEIJING 2008 -- THE OFFICIAL MOBILE PHONE GAME OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES is also in the works and will be available summer 2008.

THX Ltd., Neural Audio Corp. and Sierra Ent., a division of Vivendi Games, announced that PROTOTYPE, the first-person shooter (FPS) for next-gen gaming consoles and PCs, will be the first videogame to feature Neural-THX Surround. The Neural-THX Surround technology enabled Radical Ent., an internal development studio of Sierra, to extend the surround sound experience from 5.1 to 7.1. PROTOTYPE will go on sale in the U.S. in fall 2008.

THQ has announced plans to release the WALL*E videogame in conjunction with the film's eagerly awaited theatrical debut from Disney/Pixar in the summer of 2008. WALL*E is anticipated to launch across all major gaming systems including the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, Wii, Nintendo DS, Windows PC and Mac, as well as wireless devices.

Laurent Taieb has been promoted to VP, Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP), France as part of the company's strategic commitment to expand and further deepen its licensing and merchandising operations in the market. Taieb has managed NVCP's strategy in France since January 2006, including the direct oversight of DORA THE EXPLORER, which under his leadership became the fastest-growing toy license ever for Fisher Price and has spent the last 22 consecutive months as the territory's number-one licensed property.

Dwight Little, the director of ANACONDAS: THE HUNT FOR THE BLOOD ORCHID, will helm the screen adaptation of the Namco videogame TEKKEN, VARIETY reports. CSP's Steven Paul and Benedict Carver are the producers of the film, which is being funded by Crystal Sky Pictures.

Penned by Alan McElroy, the script follows a martial arts master who leads a rebellion against the oppressive Tekken Corp.

Filming will begin Feb. 4th in Shreveport, Louisiana.

MTV Games announced an exclusive deal with internationally renowned motion picture and television producer Jerry Bruckheimer to develop and create new and original videogames, marking the producer’s first official foray into the gaming world. As part of the agreement, Bruckheimer will build a game incubation studio with MTV Games, where a team of experienced videogame experts, artists and storytellers will seek out and deliver new game concepts and intellectual property.

Following a year-long inquiry, the European Commission has accepted a French proposal to grant tax credits specifically dedicated to videogame production. The measure, which could take effect as early as Jan. 1, 2008, signals the EC's recognition of videogames as a cultural industry.

Eyetronics provided 3D scanning for Midway's next-gen title STRANGLEHOLD, released this fall for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles. The game marks Midway's unique collaboration with Hong Kong movie legends, actor Chow Yun-Fat and director John Woo.

Tigar Hare Studios, founded by Michael Tigar and David Hare, has announced a series of recently completed high-profile projects, as well as two new growth directions for the full-service animation and fx studio.

Exodus Film Group announced a videogame deal with Interactive Game Group (I2G) and Legacy Interactive for a multi-platform game based on Exodus' CG-animated feature film IGOR. The game will be distributed on Nintendo DS and Wii, PC and wireless. Legacy Interactive will publish the IGOR game in North America and I2G is financing and coordinating the project on a worldwide basis. IGOR is a Weinstein Co. presentation being distributed in U.S. theaters by MGM on Oct. 24, 2008. The Weinstein Co. is handling international sales for the film.

Brash Ent. announced that the ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS videogame shipped to North American retailers. Timed to ship just 10 days before the theatrical release of the new live-action film ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS from Twentieth Century Fox, the videogame focuses on the Chipmunks' musical abilities through rhythm-based game play.

Activision Inc. and Vivendi today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to combine Vivendi Games -- which includes Blizzard Ent, creators of WORLD OF WARCRAFT -- with Activision, creating the world's largest pure-play online and console game publisher. The new company, Activision Blizzard, is expected to have approximately $3.8 billion in pro forma combined calendar 2007 revenues and the highest operating margins of any major third-party videogame publisher.

We close the month with more videogame coverage: Tom McLean reports on four hot cinematics: HALO 3, MASS EFFECT, HELLGATE: LONDON and TABULA RASA. Meanwhile, Paul Peszko explores the making of ASSASSIN'S CREED, Ubisoft's first next-gen game. Also, McLean uncovers CaféFX's inspired work on THE MIST.

Bill Desowitz
Editor

In the first week of the 2007 holiday shopping season, Nintendo of America has sold more Nintendo products than at any other time in its history. This includes more than 653,000 Nintendo DS systems, 350,000 Wii consoles and millions of games and accessories throughout the United States.

Nintendo DS set a new all-time sales record for Thanksgiving week, eclipsing the previous mark of 600,000 Game Boy Advance systems sold during the same period in the U.S. in 2005. Nintendo DS remains on track to be the top-selling videogame system of 2007.

New Line Cinema has acquired Ilion Animation Studios and Handmade Films Int'l's PLANET 51, launching a new push into animated feature distribution for the 40-year-old studio, according to THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

In a twist on the alien invasion flick, the inhabitants of Planet 51 are paranoid that aliens will invade. When astronaut Capt. Charles "Chuck" Baker arrives mayhem ensues and the Earthling must befriend a young Planet 51-ian to get back home.

Award-winning Frankfurt-based game developer Crytek GmbH is licensing its world-famous CryENGINE 2 to Germany's Hochschule Darmstadt. Beginning in the winter semester, Crytek not only will supply the software, but also will provide students with lectures on game concepts and game design, computer animation, and engine technology -- thus helping them develop innovative concepts for new games and realize them.