by Rainier on May 5, 2005 @ 12:40 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Marie Sylla, Director of Government Relations & Counsel made a statement, "We are pleased that the California House Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media did vote out A.B. 450, the Yee bill which prohibits the sale of certain types of video games. It is evident that most of the committee members recognized the obvious flaw with the legislation - that it is wholly unconstitutional. However by no means do we consider this vote against Yee's bill a win for the industry, as it is likely that Assemblyman Yee will push for reconsideration on his bill. Retailers are making their best efforts to ensure that their stores are complying with their policy of carding for 'Mature' rated games and would like to be given the same opportunity as the movie theater owners and music retailers."
by Judy on May 4, 2005 @ 10:20 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Video Games Live features music from some of the biggest video games performed by top orchestras and choirs across the country combined with video footage, lasers, lights and live action to create an explosive and unique entertainment experience. The national tour launches this summer at the world famous Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on July 6.
by Rainier on April 25, 2005 @ 4:51 p.m. PDT | Filed under
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According to NPD Group, total U.S. sales of video game hardware, software and accessories rose 23 percent in the first quarter of 2005 to more than $2.2 billion The sharp increase was mainly due to the launch of PSP and NDS handhelds, and software wise the best selling product was Sony's PS2 title Gran Turismo 4, with 1.1 million copies sold. The $10 billion U.S. video game industry is keeps steady in comparison with the domestic movie box office sales.
by Judy on April 18, 2005 @ 10:51 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Video game sales rose 32 percent in the United States in March, analysts said on Friday, noting Sony's top-selling "Gran Turismo 4" racing game as well as an improved supply of console hardware.
by Rainier on April 16, 2005 @ 3:49 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
As a follow-up to our SAG vs. publishers article from earlier this week, representatives of the Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and a group of video game publishers have agreed to extend the current interactive agreements to May 13, 2005. Discussions on successor interactive agreements are continuing. A press blackout remains in effect (thanks Blues). By extending the previous agreement, which expired last Friday, an immediate strike was avoided.
by Rainier on April 14, 2005 @ 1:23 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
A contract between video game developers and unionized actors lending their voices to video games is set to expire on Friday, and no new contract has been agreed upon, leaving open the possibility of actors on strike. The Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA are in negotiations with a group of major videogame publishers, all of which have come to rely on union talent for increasingly cinematic videogames. Since videogame revenue rivals that of the box office, SAG wants a piece of the pie, and a strike could affect actors such as Clint Eastwood, Vin Diesel, or even Marlon Brando in EA's The Godfather. Read the
full article over at Variety...
by Rainier on April 8, 2005 @ 6:16 p.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Fox News is reporting that Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola is not happy with Paramount and EA regarding the upcoming video game based on his Mafia trilogy. In an interview that will air coming Sunday 11 AM EDT on AMC's 'Sunday Morning ShootOut, Coppola says "I had absolutely nothing to do with the game and I disapprove, I think it's a misuse of film." Coppola does not like the way the characters are being portrayed and the game ends up being nothing but a shootout. To top it all off Coppola claims he never gave, nor was asked, permission to make a video game out of the movie(
thanks VE3D.com).
by Judy on March 22, 2005 @ 11:59 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
JoWooD and WorthPlaying are offering Stargate fans (male or female) the opportunity to appear in the upcoming
Stargate SG-1: The Alliance video game and be immortalized as a supporting character.
Stargate SG-1: The Alliance will be an action-based game playable in the first- or third- person perspective. The game uses a heavily modified and graphically enhanced Unreal 2.5 engine, and fans of the series will immediately recognize certain areas from the TV show. Head on over to our freshly-launched
World of StarGate fan site to enter!
by Rainier on March 22, 2005 @ 12:44 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
The National Basketball Association on Tuesday signed long-term video game licensing deals with not one, but no less than five publishers, bucking the recent trend of sports leagues making exclusive arrangements with a single company. Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive, Midway Games, Sony Corp and Atari Inc., all current NBA partners, signed new deals with the league.
by Rainier on March 21, 2005 @ 11:37 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Niko Partners today announced that the videogame market in China is experiencing rapid growth, particularly in the online games segment. According to a new report released by the company, online games revenue is forecast to reach $2.0 billion by 2009. Additionally, China had 28.8 million gamers in 2004 and Niko Partners projects that number to grow to 55.5 million gamers by 2009.
by Judy on March 11, 2005 @ 2:59 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
U.S. sales of video games rose 13 percent in February, analysts said today, driven by the release of the hotly anticipated driving game Gran Turismo 4 and continued strength of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
by Judy on Feb. 24, 2005 @ 2:01 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Clint Eastwood is bringing the Dirty Harry franchise to video games and will lend his voice and likeness to reprise his internationally famous role of Inspector Harry Callahan. Additionally, Eastwood will consult on key creative aspects of the game design.
by Judy on Feb. 15, 2005 @ 1:41 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
"The newly proposed violent video game legislation in California smacks of me-too politics in a vain effort for local politicians to garner some perceived moral high ground when clearly there is none to be had. Assemblyman Yee knows well that the IEMA member companies have just recently implemented nation-wide carding policies in an effort to inhibit the sale of M-rated games to minors, rendering redundant pieces of legislation wholly unnecessary and a frivolous and irresponsible waste of taxpayer resources. The bottom line on this matter is that retailers have made the public commitment to partner with parents, and quite frankly you simply cannot legislate sound parenting. We again welcome responsible parties interested in making a tangible difference on the issue to work with us, rather than pursue a legislative course proven unconstitutional time and again."
by Judy on Feb. 8, 2005 @ 9:16 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Ubisoft announced today that it has signed a licensing agreement with DIC Entertainment, a leading children's entertainment company, to create videogames based on the new Trollz. The new Trollz are a stylish group of teen friends that grow up in a spectacular world of gnomes, ogres, dragons and magic. The exclusive, worldwide agreement includes interactive games based on the tween entertainment and lifestyle property for all existing game formats.
by Judy on Jan. 26, 2005 @ 1:45 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
Computer and video game software sales set a new record in 2004, reaching $7.3 billion, according to final data compiled by the NPD Group. Halo 2, one of the best-selling titles of 2004, took in more revenue in its first day of sales than any movie has ever taken in its opening day. In addition, Nintendo sold over 1 million units of its new handheld game system, Nintendo DS, in North America by the end of 2004, a mark that took Apple's iPod 19 months to achieve.
by Judy on Jan. 18, 2005 @ 11:40 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
According to The NPD Group Annual 2004 U.S. retail sales of video games, which includes portable and console hardware, software and accessories, saw sales of over $9.9 billion -- a decline of less than one percent when compared to $10 billion in Annual 2003. However, while dollar sales were down slightly, total industry unit sales were up 4 percent over the same period last year.
by Judy on Jan. 14, 2005 @ 10:01 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
Reuters is reporting that U.S. video game sales rose 8 percent in 2004, despite a drop in sales in December due to widespread hardware (PS2/Xbox) shortages, analysts said on Friday. The Xbox outsold the PS2 slightly in the month, analysts said, but both consoles sold fewer units than they did in December 2003
by Judy on Dec. 14, 2004 @ 10:46 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
Winners in 24 categories were announced tonight during the telecast of Spike TV "Video Game Awards 2004." Rockstar Games' "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" was the big winner of the second annual awards, taking home four "Vector Monkey" trophies. Read more for details and all award winners...
by Judy on Dec. 6, 2004 @ 7:40 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Multiple Video Game Awards 2004 nominee (Need for Speed: Underground 2), actress, covergirl and host Brooke Burke will telecast LIVE from the red carpet at Spike TV Video Game Awards 2004 pre-show festivities on Tuesday, December 14 (8:30 – 9:00 PM, ET). The pre-show immediately precedes the LIVE presentation of Spike TV’s Video Game Awards 2004 hosted by Snoop Dogg from 9:00-11:00 PM, ET.
by Judy on Dec. 1, 2004 @ 2:11 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Cutting through the ambiguity of the current industry-run ratings, Current Attractions has begun an objective and quantitative reporting on the Profanity, Sex, and Violence in today's hottest video game releases. With Current Attractions use of the proprietary PSVratings technology, parents will know exactly what to expect before they purchase video games containing potentially objectionable material for their children.
by Judy on Nov. 16, 2004 @ 7:40 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Spike TV today announced the categories, nominees and several performances scheduled for the 2nd annual Video Game Awards. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Halo 2 and Half-Life 2 top this year's nominees list with five nominations each.
by Judy on Sept. 15, 2004 @ 1:14 a.m. PDT | Filed under
News
Hip hop impresario and avid gamer Snoop Dogg brings the party to Spike TV as host of its second annual Video Game Awards to be telecast LIVE on Tuesday, December 14 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET) from Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, CA.
by Rainier on Jan. 23, 2004 @ 10:16 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has signed an agreement with Digimask Ltd, the company behind the games technology that enables you to create real-life 3-D heads, that will literally change the face of video gaming forever. This summer use your Eye-Toy camera to stick yer ugly mug onto PS2 cameras. Read more for details ..
by Rainier on Jan. 20, 2004 @ 9:59 a.m. PST | Filed under
News
Who says video games are a waste of time? Certainly not those who will be competing for thousands of dollars in this year's V Games (www.thevgames.com), sponsored by Ziff Davis Media Group and EB Games. From March to October of 2004, 30 cities will host qualifying rounds of the 2004 V Games, the first ever live-action, console and PC based video game tournament. An estimated 30,000 people will compete in eight top video games nation-wide.
by Rainier on Jan. 17, 2004 @ 10:03 p.m. PST | Filed under
News
Cash prizes have been promised for top high-scores achieved during the course of the new year 2004. And the money is coming straight out of Robert Mruczek's own pocket - nearly $3,000 dollars in bounties. Mruczek, who is most well known as Twin Galaxies' Chief Referee, says: "I want to prime the pump and get players tackling old world records that have not been beat in some time. I think its good for the hobby."