Daily Wrap-Up 5.07.08
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 6:01 PM
Here's what went down today in the world of videogames, popular culture and technology.
- Good news, PlayStation 3 brothers and sisters: A patch for your version of Grand Theft Auto IV should be available today.
- Nintendo launched The Nintendo Channel for the Wii last night.
- We have pics of Lego Batman... Two-Face, baby.
- Boom Blox, the puzzle game out now for the Wii, has mightily impress X-Play. Check out the review.
- Common will co-star alongside Christian Bale in Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins for Halcyon Pictures.
- RIAA spoke about net neutrality today.
- id Software announced that production has begun on Doom 4, and they may want you to work on it.
- We take a look at the Alienware Area-51 m15x Laptop.
- While being interviewed by CNBC, Take-Two honcho Strauss Zelnick was asked about glitches in Grand Theft Auto IV. There are none, he says.
- Grand Theft Auto IV is the most played game on Xbox Live for the first week of its release!
- The Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property (PRO IP) Act was just passed under suspension of House rules by the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Bioware plans to add some pretty massive piracy protection to the PC version of Mass Effect.
--Read More--
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TAGS: Daily Wrap-Up, Videos
Sessler's Soapbox: Blox Party!
Posted by Jonathan Hunt - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:51 PM
Enough with the GTA. Adam has moved on.
In this week's Sessler's Soapbox, Adam talks about the one game that's made him put want to put Liberty City aside in favor of the lighter side of life. That game is Boom Blox for the Nintendo Wii, and The Sess has some things he'd like to say about it.
What do you think? Are GTA IV and Boom Blox equals in very different ways? Can a Wii game really be so engaging? Check out the video and let us know what you think.
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TAGS: G4, Sessler's Soapbox, Videogames
X-Play Gaming Update 05.07.08
Posted by Jonathan Hunt - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:10 PM
Today, Morgan brings you the latest gaming news, including more on GTA IV and Mirror's Edge.
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TAGS: G4, PC Gaming, PlayStation 3
Colbert Wins Webby Award
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 4:12 PM
 Stephen Colbert has won a special achievement Webby award for his contributions to the internets. What contributions, you may ask? What about the Greenscreen Challenge, which not only brought excellent humor and commentary to the show, online and off, but also caused a well-publicized feud with The Decemberists?
Colbert is also being feted for his announcement of his intentions to run for President, and Google bombing the internet with keywords that make him the top hit when "Greatest Living American" is searched for. It also doesn't hurt that he will likely attend the ceremony and publicize it on The Colbert Report.
Congratulations, Greatest Living American!
Webby Awards.com: 12th Annual Webby Special Achievement Award Winners
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TAGS: Internets Culture
'Crash Bandicoot' Trailer Is Live
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 3:02 PM
We're looking forward to the return of the great Crash Bandicoot in Mind Over Mutant. This platformer will be out on the PS2, 360, DS, PSP, and Wii.
Here's a trailer:
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TAGS: PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Wii
EA Will Be At E3
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:59 PM
EA has reiterated that they will be at E3, holding a press conference on Monday, July 14 at 3 p.m. PT at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles.
We'll tell you all about what they say after they say it.
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TAGS: Videogames
Olivia's Complex Column
Posted by stephen pryze - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:44 PM
Our very own Olivia Munn will have a recurring column in Complex Magazine beginning in the June/July issue. For her first column she will lend her nose to test out which male deodorants have the power to attract women. Here is a short clip from her smell test and to see more of Olivia check out Complex Magazine.
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TAGS: Videos
'GTA IV' DLC Probable For PS3
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:40 PM
According to Sony Europe chief David Reeves, we'll probably get some downloadable content for the PlayStation 3 version of Grand Theft Auto IV.
Here's the exchange with videogamer.com:
VideoGamer.com: I wanted to ask you about Microsoft and the DLC secured for GTA 4. Is it damaging to Sony and PlayStation that there is no DLC for GTA 4 on PS3?
DR: Well I think you probably will see it, it's just that a deal obviously was struck between Microsoft and Take 2 to do that. And if that's what they want to do, I think that's the last shot they have.
--Read More--
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TAGS: Grand Theft Auto IV, PlayStation 3, Videogames
Sprint Teams Up with Clearwire on WiMax
Posted by Brian Leahy - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:11 PM
 Sprint, still intent of delivering WiMax mobile broadband, is teaming up with Clearwire for a $14.55 billion business venture.
The new company will retain Clearwire's name, but will focus on delivering a WiMax network. Both companies have been chasing WiMax independently.
Other companies are investing in the new venture including Time Warner, Comcast*, Intel, Google, and Bright House Networks.
They hope to roll out a WiMax network by 2010.
Wired: Clearwire, Sprint Nextel to form $14.55B wireless company
(*Disclosure: G4 is owned by Comcast)
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TAGS: Internets Culture, Tech
Zur Scoring 'Fallout 3'
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 2:00 PM
First off, we were wrong. Back in March, we posited the possibility that Jeremy Soule was composing the soundtrack to Fallout 3. Not so: This morning, Bethesda announced that Inon Zur will be doing the Fallout 3 music.
Zur who made music for Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal, the animated TV show Escaflowne, and Interplay's 2001 release of Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of the Steel, was chosen for his ability to create "epic sweeping scores and lonely ambient music that highlight dramatic battles across the desolate wastelands."
"Fallout 3 is one of the most engaging and demanding projects I've scored," said Inon Zur. "It was very rewarding to put all my creative energy into supporting Bethesda's vision for the game. I'm very proud of the outcome, and look forward to sharing the music with the players."
Fallout 3 is scheduled to drop onto the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 this fall.
Source
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TAGS: Music, PC Gaming, PlayStation 3
'Spirit' Coming For Christmas
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 1:47 PM
 Frank Miller's newest film, based on the Will Eisner comic The Spirit, will be getting an early opening at the box office, coming just in time for Christmas Day, 2008. The movie, which will star Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson, has been heavily anticipated since being announced, and the studio, Lionsgate, feels like it will do well at the box office, hence the move.
In the meantime, here in Los Angeles, billboards for The Spirit have been showing up all over town. The movie is expected to be pretty effects-heavy, but the early footage looks pretty decent. Also, The Spirit is a great, beloved old comic, so people are going to be psyched to see it.
THR.com: 'Spirit' moves up release
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TAGS: Comics, Movies
No One Likes 'Speed Racer'
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 11:56 AM
 Speed Racer isn't doing so well in the tracking for this coming weekend, which means that far fewer people have it on their "must-see" list than they originally anticipated, and that's not good news for the Wachowskis, who could dearly use a hit after the misery of the second two Matrix movies.
After the big opening weekend that Iron Man had, certainly the pump was primed for another summer blockbuster, but it's looking like Speed won't make any more than $25 million, which isn't good news for a film that cost a lot of money to make and has some fairly significant stars in it. What's up? Are you planning on seeing it? Or seeing Iron Man again?
THR.com: 'Speed Racer' tracking unimpressively
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TAGS: Movies
In Body Wi-Fi Could Warn Doctors of Problems
Posted by Brian Leahy - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 11:47 AM
 Wi-fi devices implanted in a human body could be used to warn doctors in the event of a health emergency, but the concept raises questions.
The device could, using Bluetooth, sense a problem in a person like a heart attack or diabetic complication and contact a doctor through a base station in the patient's home.
It would also be a great way for the robots to remotely shut down some hearts. Faster medical response is great, but at what cost?
TimesOnline: New wi-fi devices warn doctors of heart attacks
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TAGS: Prostate Health, Robot Uprising, Tech
'Uncharted' Movie Coming Your Way?
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 11:36 AM
It seems that Naughty Dog have optioned the rights to Uncharted: Drake's Fortune to a company by the name of Atlas Entertainment for the purpose of making it into a movie. Atlas Entertainment is the production entity responsible for making Twelve Monkeys and Three Kings, so it's not some rinky-dink organization.
We kinda dig the idea of the Uncharted movie. Think about it, it'll be kind of like a Raiders of the Lost Ark or Romancing the Stone kind of adventure film. That could certainly be fun to watch. In any event, it'll be a real miracle if it ever actually gets made, so we'll keep you posted.
Kotaku.com: Are We Going To Get An Uncharted Movie?
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TAGS: Movies, Videogames
'Fight Night 4' Announced
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 11:18 AM
EA Sports has announced that Fight Night Round 4 is in development at EA Canada in Vancouver.the game promises the "most realistic 'in the ring' experience to date, featuring some of the greatest boxers in history fighting in their prime."
You know what that means? That means I'll be able to finally fight that damn Mike Tyson again! He be-deviled me in Mike Tyson's Punch-Out long ago, and now that he's washed up, I'll murder-ize him.
“The EA SPORTS Fight Night franchise has always been synonymous with quality and innovation that raised the bar for the sports videogame genre”, said Kevin Wilkinson, Executive Producer, EA SPORTS. “EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 3 was a platform defining game as the industry transitioned to next generation consoles. EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 will change how boxing games are played and measured in the future.”
Click the cut for the full press release.
--Read More--
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TAGS: PlayStation 3, Videogames, Xbox 360
Nuggets From The Net
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 11:11 AM
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TAGS: Nuggets From The Nets
NVIDIA Hates PC Pirates
Posted by Brian Leahy - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 11:08 AM
 PC game piracy is a big deal. Bigger than console piracy because there is no modification of hardware required. NVIDIA isn't taking too kindly to the practice and foresees even more copy protection for the future.
We've already seen BioWare's plan for protection on Mass Effect, but Taylor believes we're heading for "more digital authentication, and we're going to see more of an approach that says that PC games aren't products - they're a service."
This didn't quite work for Hellgate: London, which offered a monthly-fee supported set of extra features for paying customers. It didn't help that the game wasn't that good, but PC gamers just aren't used to paying for things that aren't MMOs.
Taylor doesn't believe pirating games is something anyone can justify.
--Read More--
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TAGS: PC Gaming, Tech, Videogames
'Haze' Demo to Drop May 8
Posted by Ty Colfax - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 10:54 AM
May 8 will see the dropping of a Haze demo on the PlayStation Network (if you're in Europe, it's already up there.) It will be fully playable and feature a sampling of the single-player campaign narrative, but also includes an up to 4 player online co-op mode.
If you're unfamiliar with Haze, it's about a marine who gets hopped up on organic drugs and murders people. From the press release: "a bright and high-octane environment, where explosions are huge and delightful, and deaths are fleeting and meaningless, it’s the only place on earth where you can blow a stranger’s head off with a jolly smile on your face."
Haze is set to release May 23 in the US of A.
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TAGS: PlayStation 3, Videogames, Videos
Spielberg Gets Old, Anti Violent Games
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 10:40 AM
 Steven Spielberg has become a crotchety old man. The evidence? In the wake of his new game, Boom Blox, Spielberg says that he's a gamer, but that violent and racy games "scare him," and that he's trying to make games that will allow the whole family to play together.
Sure, that's fine. Who wouldn't love to be a 12-year-old kid playing videogames with their parents? Look, the issue isn't whether or not these games are violent or should be kept out of the house. The issue is that I don't need the man who made Jaws and Poltergeist getting all old on me and telling me that he's scared of games. Gimme a break.
USATODAY.com: Spielberg switches direction to family video games
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TAGS: Videogames
Neil Diamond To Rock MySpace
Posted by Frank Meyer - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 10:32 AM
 Why on earth is Neil Diamond performing a free show at New York City's The Bitter End tonight as part of the MySpace Music "Secret Shows" series?
I mean, there’s nothing wrong with the man or his music, but is the youthful MySpace audience really the right venue for his particular brand of…er, adulty music?
Well, maybe it is…his new album, Home Before Dark, is his second collaboration with always-hip producer Rick Rubin….
And MySpace Music has organized over 100 Secret Shows with “cool” artists like Rilo Kiley, Franz Ferdinand and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs…
--Read More--
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TAGS: Internets Culture, Music
Amazon Goes Out-Of-Print
Posted by Frank Meyer - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 10:23 AM
Amazon announced today that they will issue hundreds of out-of-print albums originally released through SONY BMG and EMI on CD through CreateSpace Disc on Demand. Formerly out-of-print albums like Earthquake Weather by Joe Strummer, Hatari Soundtrack by Henry Mancini and Motorcade of Generosity by Cake as well as albums from the legendary Blue Note catalog will now available to Amazon customers. The new CDs will be manufactured on-demand and shipped when customers place an order.
In addition to reviving out-of-print music titles, record labels and content providers are also using CreateSpace "Disc on Demand" to exclusively release new titles on Amazon.com, including the next title in the popular KCRW Sounds Eclectic series and the Wind-up Records soundtrack to the ESPN program World's Strongest Man. Many labels, including, Rhino Records, Wind-up Records, Vanguard Records and Naxos, are using Disc on Demand to offer their wide selection of music albums on-demand to millions of Amazon.com customers.
That’s great! Now I can finally get the N.I.T.R.O. album on CD!!!!
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TAGS: Internets Culture, Music
'GTA' Sells a Lot
Posted by Ty Colfax - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 10:17 AM
On their unstoppable journey to break videogame and entertainment records, Rockstar has announced that they've sold 6 million copies equaling $500 million worth of Grand Theft Auto IV money.
Take Two stock has responded with an upward trend and will no doubt continue to rise above what Electronic Arts can offer for their takeover bid. Looks like we'll have an EA-free GTA for a while, but for how long?
shacknews.com: Grand Theft Auto 4 Has $500 Million First Week
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TAGS: Grand Theft Auto IV, PlayStation 3, Products
Around The Net 5.07.08
Posted by Eugene Morton - Wednesday, May 07, 2008 10:14 AM
We went to a comedy club not long ago and it was a big pain. The comedians were funny, but we had to drive around for fifteen minutes to find parking. Plus it was crowded and some chick spilled her drink on us. Why go through all of that? Get your funny right here.
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