Malibu-based JAKKS Pacific Inc. has entered into a worldwide licensing agreement with Marvel Enterprises to market and distribute TV games products based on the SPIDER-MAN property. TV Games is an innovative new game concept that allows users to play the SPIDER-MAN game on any television set with the use of a dedicated character based hand-held device that only requires batteries.
Limelight Media announced that ANIME IN THE LIMELIGHT (AITL), the popular Japanese animation music show produced in Honolulu, Hawaii, officially resumed one-hour broadcasts February 7, 2004. The shows expansion was the result of AITLs new contract with Buffalo, New York-based Toon Radio (www.toonradio.net).
America Online launched FIRECHILD, a 3D online action game built exclusively for the RED service, AOL's new service created just for teens. Created by Sarbakan, FIRECHILD is a console-quality, story-driven online game that can be played using the AOL for Broadband service.
SEGA of America, Inc. will partner with Sony Pictures Consumer Products to bring Tezuka Productions' legendary Japanese comic ASTRO BOY to life on PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance. ASTRO BOY, created by Osamu Tezuka in 1951, is one of the most recognized characters in Japanese animation and premiered in the U.S. recently as a brand-new animated series on Kids' WB!
SEGA of America has begun shipping SONIC HEROES for Xbox and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment systems. This is the first original SONIC THE HEDGEHOG console game in three years and the first appearance for the character on Xbox and PlayStation 2. SONIC HEROES for Nintendo GameCube was released on January 6, 2004.
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.
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.
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.
Over the last year, with more sophisticated vfx and direct movie tie-ins, video games upped the eye candy and game play quotient.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SPYHUNTER 2, a high-speed, mission-based, action/combat racing game from Midway Games is available for PlayStation and Xbox, backed by a mutli-million dollar marketing campaign. The original game, SPYHUNTER, has sold 1.6 million units worldwide.
Want to find out of a game will play on your PC and if its appropriate for your family or friends? Then check out Futuremarks Windows XP Game Advisor that has been launched by Microsoft on the Windows XP Website.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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:
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.
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.
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.
The Everquest realm continues with the release of Sony Online Entertainments fantasy Real-Time Strategy game, LORDS OF EVERQUEST, now at U.S. and Canadian retail stores at a suggested retail price of $49.99.
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.
