Number 25 - Volume 3/Issue 1 - Defunct Games

MOVIES
AND GAMES
Michael Bay’s visual
effects company,
Digital Domain, is
branching out to
game development,
according to the
LA Times. Digital
Domain will form
its own games unit
and is looking to
acquire a game firm
or two to develop a few titles over the next two
years. Michael Bay stays busy, as Jerry Bruckheimer
has selected him as director for the movie based
on Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,
currently set to be released Summer 2009.
Actor Liam Neeson (Schindler’s List) will lead the
voice-acting cast in Bethesda Softworks’ Fallout 3,
playing the role of the player’s father.
Staying on the movie side of things, Sony Online
Entertainment is developing a game based on the
Kung Fu Hustle film, combining the best elements of
classic fighting titles and adding character designs,
technology and humor from the movie.
SOMEONE IS ACTUALLY
BUYING VISTA!?
Having recently shipped
its Vista operating
system, Microsoft
brought in record
revenue across the
board. Its game division
posted a drop in revenue (from $1.2B to $929M) but also lost less money
($402M to $315M). Microsoft’s gaming guru Robbie Bach predicted that
the Xbox will become profitable in 2008. Expanding its gaming empire,
Microsoft will also establish a European office of Microsoft Game Studios.
DEPARTURES
The flag was at half-mast at Sony HQ
as the father of the PlayStation, Ken
Kutaragi, announced he will retire from
his executive position at SCEI effective
June 19, 2007.
Due to re-organization over at Atari, the
color of the day was pink, as 20% of its
employees got the slip.
CONTENT BY
CANCELLATIONS
There’s sad news for Metronome
fans, as Swedish developer Team
Tarsier revealed that it has put its
third-person adventure game on
hold and moved onto other projects.
Metronome was anticipated due to
its unique concept, allowing you to
record sounds and use them to fight
enemies, solve problems and confuse
citizens of your city.
Blitz Games has confirmed that
production on its survival-horror
game, Possession, has been halted.
Putting you on the other side of the
fence, Possession lets you control the
zombies and wreak havoc instead of
just cowering in the corner.
THQ revealed that the previously
announced Saints Row PS3 port was
canceled in favor of launching a fullon
sequel simultaneously on the Xbox
360 and PS3.
EA announced that Will Wright’s
larger-than-life title Spore won’t see
the light of day until early 2008.
Mixing some good news with the
bad, Eidos is bringing two of its
upcoming action titles, Kane &
Lynch and Crossfire, to the PS3, but
the launch for both titles has been
pushed back to late 2007 and early
2008, respectively.
ROLE PLAYING GAMES
COMING SOON
Both THQ and Sega have signed major development contracts
for next-gen RPG titles with big development studios. While
details are not available yet, Big Huge Games, known for
Rise of Nations, has teamed up with Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
designer Ken Rolston to work on its new project for THQ.
SEGA hooked up with Chris Taylor’s Gas Powered Games,
known for Total Annihilation, Dungeon Siege, and more
recently, Supreme Commander.
VISA CRUCIBLE
In cooperation with First
National Bank, Blizzard is
offering a World of Warcraft
Visa card, allowing you
to earn 1% credit toward
the $14.99 monthly WoW
subscription fee. This is
still a regular credit card,
so charges apply, and the
plastic will feature graphics
from the game.
10_NEWS HARDCORE GAMER MAGAZINE_VOLUME 3_ISSUE 1_CHICCITAWICCITA