In the wake of E3

Gen Con expands gaming focus, moves into LA Convention Center digs; Austin Game Conference to host largest show yet next month.

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpot

Posted Aug 10, 2006 1:42 pm PT

The Electronic Entertainment Expo is downsizing, but it appears that other conferences are getting bigger. The 2006 Austin Game Conference will have more exhibitors and sponsors than ever before, while the Indianapolis Gen Con hobby game convention is increasing its focus on video games and relocating its satellite Gen Con So Cal show to better accommodate the gaming industry.

The Austin Game Conference organizers today said they have tallied a record 100 exhibitors and sponsors for the show, which will take place September 6-8 in the Austin Convention Center. This year's show, the first to be stretched out over three days, will also feature more than 100 speakers. The Casual Games Conference, Game Writers Conference, and Game Audio Conference will take place during the same span of time and share space in the convention center.

Also this week, Gen Con organizers announced that their hobby game conventions will step in to fill the void left by E3--literally. Gen Con So Cal 2006 is set for November 16-19 in Anaheim, California, but starting next year, the show is moving into the Los Angeles Convention Center, longtime home of E3.

"This move will better serve the entertainment industry, so prevalent in the gaming industry and more importantly make Gen Con more accessible to consumers who wish to see the latest and greatest in all things gaming," the company said in a statement.

As for its main show, the Indianapolis, Indiana-based Gen Con Indy, the 2006 edition of which kicks off today and runs through Sunday, it too is expanding. The company will add an extra 43,000 square feet of space for the 2007 show "in order to better accommodate the video game business..."

Halo the Musical? Nope...

By Borys Kit and Tatiana Siegel Thu Aug 10, 1:06 AM ET

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Commercials and music video director Neill Blomkamp will make his feature debut on "Halo," the big-screen adaptation of the video game series.

The games follow Master Chief and his companion Cortana as they try to save the galaxy from alien forces called the Flood. Halo refers to an artificial ringworld that actually is a weapon capable of destroying the galaxy. Alex Garland ("28 Days Later") wrote the screenplay.

The South African native is known for commercials that feature robots and a dose of urban grittiness. His eye-popping commercial for Citroen, which featured a car that transformed into a hip-hop-dancing robot, won three Clio Awards. He also directed "Alive in Joburg," a documentary-style short about space aliens trying to live in the slums of Johannesburg.

The film's executive producer

Peter Jackson saw some of Blomkamp's work and flew him to New Zealand for a meeting. Jackson's Weta effects shop is providing creatures, miniatures and visual effects for the production.

Universal will distribute domestically, and Fox will handle foreign territories. The movie is eyeing a 2008 release.

Squeenix console?

Yoichi Wada speaks to Japanese financial site about his company's possible hardware plans...

Posted: 10:54 on 08 Aug 2006

By: Jon Wilcox

Speaking to the online financial publication Nikkei Business Online, Square Enix and Taito CEO Yoichi Wada has suggested that his company plans to enter the hardware market - in one shape or another.

In the interview, which has subsequently been translated by US-based Gamespot, Wada-san commented: "This is one of the reasons Square Enix will collaborate with Taito, a company that produces physical hardware..In our talks with Taito, ideas for an actual physical product have come up. In any case, we will be releasing some 'thing.' It's interesting in that it's not the sort of thing you expect from Square Enix."

With Taito focusing in the past on arcade machines, it would seem that likely that Square-Enix would enter into that area of hardware - the idea that they'd 'do a Microsoft' and enter the home console market is pretty much unthinkable thanks to the vast costs involved.

PS3 struggling

By Justin Mann, TechSpot.com

Published: August 10, 2006, 4:13 PM EST

Despite the increased pressure from Microsoft to come out with something amazing, Sony is still fumbling a bit with the PS3. Lately, two additional titles planned for the PS3 have been cancelled. The titles, "Dark RPG" and "Black Blade" were both being developed by FROM Software. Given that FROM wasn't willing to comment on the cancellation, it probably was something bitter between Sony and them. This is in addition to other cancellations Sony has seen recently, leaving some a bit disheartened about the PS3 release. Even if your console is the best thing since sliced bread, without games nobody will bother. I for one hope Sony can still get a good library of great games ready for it, because I am not willing to put down a large chunk of money for something with a microscopic game selection. To their credit, they have well over 100 titles planned.

The two games in question were for the Japanese release, and initially announced in 2005. FROM Software is also developing Armored Core 4, a mech sim game.

Ubi Confirms Prince of Persia Wii Rumours

After online speculation, Ubisoft confirms that the time-twisting Persian Prince will be heading for Wii...

Posted: 12:15 on 08 Aug 2006

By: Jon Wilcox

Following the release of the third part in the Sands of Time trilogy, The Two Thrones, earlier in 2006, speculation as to when the Prince of Persia would make a return to console has continued - most recently with online whispers that the franchise would be heading to Wii.

Though not forming part of the launch line-up for Nintendo's next-gen console, Ubisoft has today confirmed to US entertainment publication IGN that the rumours were true: Prince of Persia will be coming to Wii at some point in the future.

In the statement, a Ubisoft representative said, "I can confirm that a game based on the popular Prince of Persia franchise is one of many titles Ubisoft has in development for Nintendo's Wii. At this time we cannot provide an official date for the game or any additional information about it."

HD on 360 on the cheap

By Derek Sooman, TechSpot.com

Published: August 10, 2006, 5:07 AM EST

Microsoft has promised that the HD DVD solution to be made available for the Xbox 360, due for release later this year, will be the cheapest HD DVD Player on the market.

The company recently demonstrated the HD DVD player for the Xbox 360 at the DVD Forum event in Los Angeles, and although an exact price has yet to be made known, many are expecting a price point somewhere in the region of $200, which is very reasonable indeed. However, Microsoft's director of global marketing, Albert Penello, has said that the company has as yet not finalized the price of the HD DVD player internally.

"Here's the truth, we're still thinking about it. Here's what I can tell you for sure, it's going to be the cheapest HD-DVD player you can buy... without a doubt, when it comes out," said Penello. "Everybody is very enthusiastic with the direction we're going. There are still a few surprises left. I don't want to spill the beans yet, but I think people are going to think it's a great value."

The cheapest HD DVD players on the market currently cost in the region of $400 to $500. However, since the Xbox 360 itself will be handling a lot of the work involved in the necessary processing, the Microsoft player will be substantially cheaper.

What I've Been Playing:

Chromehounds

Brain Age

Dead Rising!!!

Anime News:

Speed Racer!!!

Wachowski's "Speed Racer" Ready

Posted: Monday August 7th 2006 12:12am

Source: Production Weekly

Author: Garth Franklin

The Wachowski siblings proposed live-action adaptation of Japanese anime classic "Speed Racer" is now on the starting line awaiting the greenlight at Warner Bros. reports Production Weekly.

The production has set up shop on the Burbank lot, taking over the offices that were home to Bryan Singer's now defunct "Logan's Run" remake. The move comes two years after the film was first proposed by actor Vince Vaughn who confirmed last month he still remains committed to the project.

The film would see Vaughn play Racer X, the long-lost but protective brother of the title character who is a young driver that travels from race to race with his family.

Con Corner:

Screamfest!!

October 13-15 at the Wyndam Orlando Resort, home of AFO!!