VGN for 4/15/05

Friday, 15 April 2005

VGN:

Video game news:

U.N. Video Game Encourages Kids to Feed, Not Kill
Thu Apr 14,10:26 AM ET Technology - Reuters

ROME (Reuters) - The jungle territory that hides lurking rebel forces makes it look like a shoot-em-up adventure, but in this video game -- from the U.N.'s food aid agency -- the aim is to feed the masses rather than blow them away
The U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) hopes the game "Food Force," in which players direct aid workers trying to help the poor, will teach children about the problems of feeding the hungry, especially those trapped in war zones.

Microsoft and MTV Hang Out
Thu Apr 14, 2:59 PM ET Business - Motley Fool

By Steven Mallas
If Bill Gates wants to promote Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT - News) next Xbox, who's he gonna call? That's right, Viacom's (NYSE: VIA - News) MTV. (If you shouted Ghostbusters, you might want to lay off the '80s for a while.)
According to a press release, the music-video channel has been given the ring by Mr. Softy. In what amounts to a 30-minute infomercial, a program titled MTV Presents: The Next Generation Xbox Revealed will be broadcast around the globe on May 12 and May 13.

Video Game Advertising Seen Above $1 Billion by 2010
Thu Apr 14, 2:25 PM ET Entertainment - Reuters Industry

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Advertising within video games, a hot new field for marketers, will likely surge eightfold to more than $1 billion in the next five years as companies court consumers who have cut back on television viewing, according to industry estimates released on Thursday.
Mitch Davis, chief executive of video game ad network Massive Inc., said video game advertising was expected to top $1 billion in the United States by 2010, and approach $2.5 billion worldwide

May 17th to the 20th. PS3 to be unveiled. Nintendo Revolution and the new GameBoy rumored as well. Xbox 360 or whatever they will call it will be already revealed on MTV.

Games may be losing their voice

Online trade magazine reports negotiations between SAG and game publishers to renew voice-acting contract "could go either way."
Actors looking to pick up an easy paycheck have been lending their voices to games for a long time now. More recently, game publishers have been landing A-list thespians to do voice-work for their products, adding a bit of celebrity to their marketing and establishing the business as a major player in the entertainment industry.
Several forthcoming games have recently signed on professional talent, and the list isn't just from bit players anymore. To name just a few, Academy-Award winner Charlize Theron will lend her voice to Majesco's Aeon Flux, David Duchovny and Marilyn Manson voice-act original characters for Midway's upcoming Area 51, and Sean Connery will do some Bond-speak for EA's recently announced From Russia With Love. Actors are even voicing from beyond the grave--the late Marlon Brando will join James Caan and Robert Duvall in Electronic Arts' digital version of The Godfather.

However, the vocal marriage between actors and games may be silenced. According to online trade Web site Variety.com (registration required), the contract between the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists with game publishers expires tomorrow.

Apparently, it's not just a simple case of adding a zero to the contract and continuing with the process. Because the use of top-tier actors and SAG members in games is relatively new, the gaming industry has little experience negotiating deals with outside agencies and hasn't formed any collective bargaining agreement or representative organization to deal with such issues.

WEBSITE ONLY
Xbox 360 Roundup

14/04/2005
By: Jon Wilcox

The buzz surrounding the impending MTV unveiling of Xbox 360 starts to build with news, news, and more news...

In a flurry of activity, various reports from across the web have today been reporting certain aspects of Microsoft’s next-generation console, which is increasingly likely to be called Xbox360 (despite certain reservations at such a moniker).

Forbes alleges that three million units will be shipped in Q4 2005 world-wide, with analysts suggesting a price tag of between $249 and $299 when the console goes on sale sometime between October and November 2005. Dates confirmed to TVG thus far suggest the end of November is the time to keep an eye out for.

Meanwhile, Eurogamer are reporting that they have obtained details of the 360 from an anonymous source that reveals the machine will be capable of freestanding as well as confirming earlier rumours that it will be concave and, “…hollows in at the middle, like it's ‘sucking in its cheeks’…” It may also transpire that the console will be white, although Eurogamer’s source said that, “…It's impossible to tell from the documents.” The same source also reported that the logo for the 360 is a, “…simple, round nexus with "Xbox 360" written inside it.”

What I've been playing:

Doom 3--Thanks Cybertron!

Voodoo Vince

Splinter Cell Chaos Theory

Psychonauts!!

Con Corner:

Jacon this weekend!

The Wasabi Animusical
Friday @ 8:00 PM in Main Events
Take 56 costumes, 22 anime, 19 performers, 10 songs, and put it all into one show. The Wasabi Animusical is an amalgamation of anime, manga, video games, AMV elements, cosplay, dancing, comedy, and show tunes. This Broadway-style show is guaranteed to be of the most unique and entertaining events you will see this year at any anime convention. One show only... and it's not to be missed.

Yipes!

Meet Travis! Someone photoshop a light saber in his head!

posted by: Gary1059 at 07:40 | link | comments (5) |

Comments:

#1 15 April 2005 - 08:57

How much like the real U.N. is the "Food Force" game? I wonder if players get bonus points for accepting bribes and raping the locals.

UN agency creates world hunger game

Anonymous

#2 22 April 2005 - 21:30

I'd hate to see "real" cop games then.:) Oh! Then we could have an election game where everyone lies and steals votes, then blames the other guy! Wait...I play games to escape real life.