Category: Games

See for yourself whether THE GETAWAY succeeds in blurring the line between movies and video games as this highly anticipated 3D action game for PlayStation2 is now available in the U.S. Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's Team Soho, THE GETAWAY fuses interactive gaming and cinematic films into one medium, providing players with a one-of-a-kind interactive entertainment experience.

Activision, Inc. and DreamWorks SKG have entered into a strategic multi-year, multi-property publishing agreement that grants Activision the exclusive interactive rights to publish games based on DreamWorks' three upcoming CG-animated feature films: SHARKSLAYER, MADAGASCAR and OVER THE HEDGE. Under the terms of the agreement, Activision has acquired the rights to develop and publish games for the console, hand-held and PC platforms.

THQ Wireless, a subsidiary of video game publisher THQ Inc., has partnered with Konami Mobile & Online for the release of several wireless games through the NTT DoCoMo network. Initially, five wireless games, including WWE MOBILE MADNESS, MLBPA HOMERUN CONTEST, SOCCER, BOWLING and ROTOBALL, will be available to download through DoCoMo's i-mode service, with new games and other content posted on the Website every month. In all, fifteen games are scheduled for release by May 2003.

The Walt Disney Internet Group has entered into content arrangements with two European telecommunication companies to bring Disney Mobile branded wireless content to Italian and French consumers for the first time. As part of the agreement, TIM will be the first distributor in Italy for a range of Disney's wireless content including ring tones, logos, screensavers, wallpapers, picture messages and games, and Bouygues Telecom will bring branded wireless content to French consumers, beginning with ring tones and graphics.

On December 19, 2002 the National Institute on Media and the Family released their Seventh Annual MediaWise Video Game Report Card and gave the gaming industry a failing grade for the first time in the seven-year history of the report. The report provides a snapshot of the interactive gaming industry with a focus on issues related to child welfare. Areas of special concern include growing levels of video game addiction; inaccuracy of ratings; parental lack of awareness regarding content; and the failure of many retailers to restrict children from "M" for mature-rated games.

Lara Croft may be walking a red carpet next to PacMan, as video game stars are about to get their first awards ceremony. U.S. cable network The New TNN, a unit of the MTV Network's division of Viacom Inc., has announced plans to host an awards show honoring the creators and stars of the best video games. Airing exclusively on The New TNN, the Video Game Awards is scheduled to debut in the latter part of 2003, with a two-hour telecast. The show is the brainchild of and executive produced by Albie Hecht, president of film and television entertainment for The New TNN.

Sweden-based McMullin Animated Productions has launched its official Website, which details the range of services the company offers as well as information about the founders and samples of their work. After working on animated feature films and television series for companies including Hahn Film AG and Fred Wolf Films, Conor and Stina McMullin launched their own company in August 2001. McMullin specializes in timing direction for animated productions.