Category: Games

Animators Lee Lanier and Jeffrey Dates have teamed on the animated short film entitled DAY OFF THE DEAD and have launched the official Website (www.DayOffTheDead.com). The site will detail the film's creation. DAY OFF THE DEAD features computer graphics and follows the humorous day-to-day adventures of souls as they struggle to get through the Afterlife. Lee Lanier is the award-winning animator and director behind MIRROR and MILLENNIUM BUG. Lee served as senior animator on ANTZ and SHREK. He is the founder of the animation firm BeezleBug Bit.

Discreet and Microsoft have signed a second licensing agreement to create, publish and distribute Discreet gmax game packs in another title. The role-playing game DUNGEON SIEGE, developed by Gas Powered Games, is the next confirmed Microsoft game to include support for gmax software. The title is scheduled for delivery in 2002. gmax will allow users to create and modify their game content for unique and extended experiences. "This is the support that mod makers have been waiting for!

The Sydney design and animation studio, alkamy has launched phase 2 of its Website, which includes 8 new works in the interactive section. Netizens can also catch new shorts featuring Dr. Leechfingers, who is the star of a series of short films alkamy has in development. Check it all out at www.alkamy.com Professional British cartoonist/animator Bill Greenhead was launched the new Flash toon CAPTAIN POINTY at his site www.billgreenhead.demon.co.uk Augenblick Studios' DRUNKY can be seen on CampChaos.com.

Scandinavian computer game developer UDS has signed a deal with German publisher CDV to develop CORE, a new game for Microsoft's Xbox. The order is the largest in the company's history. CORE is a zany action adventure game where players control a team of four characters, all inside a giant robot suit, on a strange journey to save New York. The game is expected to be released worldwide during 2003. The title will be developed by UDS' studio in Gothenburg, western Sweden.

Sesame Workshop and Encore Software have signed an exclusive, five-year deal to publish Sesame Workshop-owned gaming titles worldwide. Under the agreement, Encore Software will market, promote and distribute Sesame Workshop's SESAME STREET for PC and console platforms, and DRAGON TALES for PC. This year, new Sesame Workshop PC CD-ROMs will include two ELMO'S WORLD titles and two collections featuring SESAME STREET characters. In addition, DRAGON TALES: DRAGON LAND FESTIVAL and new SESAME STREET toddler and preschool titles will debut later this year.

Activision has been awarded the worldwide gaming rights to develop, publish and distribute interactive games based on Steven Spielberg's upcoming sci-fi film MINORITY REPORT. The deal with Fox Interactive and Dreamworks is for five years and covers all current and next generation consoles, the PC and handheld platforms. "MINORITY REPORT lends itself well to a wide variety of gameplay elements with intense futuristic storylines and gripping action-packed sequences," states Ron Doornink, president and COO, Activision, Inc.

A brief compilation of some recent short films and Webisodes. The Web series, LEGENDARY, begins as each character is drawn into a tale of a prophecy by a mysterious young woman. Despite their inhibitions, they find what they see difficult to disbelieve, although their skepticism may not be entirely unfounded. LEGENDARY can be found at www.legendaryonline.com. New chapters are added twice weekly. MK ULTRA 3, a new Flash series at skritch.net, follows the exploits of three young CIA agents as they battle international espionage and new mind control methods.

Universal Studios and Mondo Media have teamed on a multi-level ad campaign in support of AMERICAN PIE 2. The campaign consists of a blend of advertising and original content in a new advertising package called the Mondo Side Show. Ads will run on Mondo Web-syndicated Flash animation Mondo Mini Shows such as THUGS ON FILM, GARY THE RAT and ELMO AARDVARK OUTER SPACE DETECTIVE. Commercial content will include an interactive game, a viral marketing component, a commercial and mini Website.

Cartoon Network and America Online are teaming up to offer AOL subscribers an advance look at SAMURAI JACK, which premieres on Cartoon Network August 10. As part of the promotion, AOL members will get a sneak peek at the series premiere and a sweepstakes offering a trip to Japan. Subscribers will also get an advance look at first-edition action figures, play an online game, see rare behind-the scenes character model sheets and get background information about ancient Samurai traditions. The series is the story of a great warrior transported to the distant future by the evil wizard named Aku.

Vans Inc., the leading worldwide brand for Core Sports, has announced that Microsoft's Xbox will be a title sponsor of the Vans Triple Crown Series. The Series features athletes competing in three championship events in each of the following sports: skateboarding, wakeboarding, surfing, snowboarding, BMX and freestyle motocross. Xbox titled events include: the Xbox Pro of Freestyle Motocross, the Xbox World Championships of Skateboarding and the Xbox Pipeline Masters of Surfing, as well as ongoing sponsorship of the overall Vans Triple Crown Series.

Discreet has signed a licensing agreement with Microsoft Corp. to create, publish and distribute gmax game packs for multiple Microsoft game titles. The first confirmed title is MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2002: PROFESSIONAL EDITION, which is set for delivery in the third quarter of this year. With gmax and the FLIGHT SIMULATOR game pack loaded, users can import game content aircraft, buildings, trees and other 3D objects and customize those objects.

CartoonNetwork.com has announced that the second quarter 2001 was its busiest quarter ever. Time spent on the site increased by almost ten minutes, peaking at a record 44 minutes 42 seconds in June. Cartoon Network attributed this rise to Cartoon Orbit, the Website's online trading community for kids; its Web Premiere Toons; and Toonami: Reactor, a 12-week broadband test, which featured on-demand anime content. The Website set a monthly record in June, attracting 3,102,000 unique users, a 100% increase from the previous year.