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Industry Quick Hits |
by Chad
2/20/2003 |
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Take-Two Entering New Territory
Take-Two Interactive, makers of the "Grand Theft Auto" series, is looking at diving into children’s games, wireless games and possibly movies, senior executives said on Thursday.
Take-Two's new chief executive, Jeff Lapin, told Reuters his goal was to build on the company's strength in action games for mature audiences while adding children's' properties, sports games and even a wireless component to the business.
"You can build kids and family properties from scratch, (but) it is very difficult," he said. Take-Two's president, Paul Eibeler, said the company already has movie deals in the works for its Duke Nukem and Max Payne. They are undecided about developing a movie based on Grand Theft Auto out of fear of damage to the title if the movie were to fail.
Expansion by Take-Two can only be good news for Xbox fans, as the company is looking to branch out and reach new audiences. Sony isn’t paying enough to have GTA exclusive forever…
Speaking of Movies Based on Games – Is a Halo movie coming?
The Hollywood Reporter has published a story linking top talent agencies and game properties. Three of the largest agencies in Hollywood (CAA, ICM and Endeavor) have recently formed video game departments with dedicated staffs to capitalize on the popularity of the games industry.
CAA got into business last year with Microsoft to turn its first-party PC and Xbox games into TV shows or movies, including the best-selling Xbox game "Halo," which CAA is shopping as a feature film. That's right, a Halo movie is already in the works, and if CAA can get a distributor to sign on, things will move rapidly.
CAA has already helped id Software get movie deals for Doom III with Warner Bros. and Return to Castle Wolfenstein with Sony.
The most exciting convergence of video games might be coming from Andy and Larry Wachowski, writer-directors of Warner Bros. The Matrix. A video game extension of the "Matrix" brand, "Enter the Matrix," was created by Shiny Entertainment, which worked with the Wachowski brothers and Warner Bros. to ensure that the movie's key talent was also involved in the game.
"This game, which introduces a parallel story to the films, is not a license for the movie, it's a collaboration with the movie makers," Shiny president Dave Perry said.
Games Industry Continues to Grow
NPDFunworld is reporting continued growth for the games industry. Hardware unit sales are up 28 percent over last year, and if you use only current hardware (Xbox, PS2, Gamecube and GBA), software sales dollars have also risen 28 percent.
U.S. sales of video game software rose 1 percent in January continuing the trend of strong sales gains. January is typically a slow month, and any growth is good growth.
The top 10 games for January was dominated by PS2 titles, but Xbox the strong debut of Dead or Alive: Beach Volleyball had it breaking into the top 10.
Prices also continue to decline, with the average price of games being $40 for the Xbox, $38 dollars for the PS2, and $39 for the Gamecube. Those prices reflect a 20 percent decline over last January’s averages.
Dave Mirra Sues Acclaim Over XXX
Apparently, Dave Mirra is pissed off at Acclaim. The pro biker is suing Acclaim for $20 million in damages, including damage to his now tarnished image.
"During the ongoing development of (XXX), but after obtaining Dave Mirra's approval of the initial concept, Acclaim changed the concept of the game to become more sexually explicit and pornographic, ultimately settling on nudity as a major selling point," the suit said.
The suit alleges that an agreement was signed on July 31, 2002 to remove Mirra's name and likeness from the game and promos. Dave says they didn’t do this, and the result was devastating…$20 million devastating.
"It's a baseless lawsuit and we're going to vigorously fight it," Acclaim spokesman Alan Lewis told Reuters.
Hopefully Mr. Mirra doesn’t win anything, because Acclaim can’t afford to fork over the cash to get him to shut up.
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ChadX365 Says
The gaming industy has surpassed Hollywood in total revenue, and it will only continue to grow as more and more people try to slip their hand into the cookie jar. I will continue to keep you posted on the latest financial trends.
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nommic
Heckler
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Halo movie? Probably be really shitty. Like all movies based on games are.
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nommic
Heckler
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oh yeah, I love this bit "@!*%" - hehehehe.
F*i*r*s*t
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Maverick
X365 Member
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Dave mirra, what a prick... where exactly was he in BMX XXX? oh yes, he was the tit....
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Talk to me Goose!
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caddysittinon20s
X365 Member
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20 mil is a lot of cash. i would understand if he sued for a lil less, but 20 million is a bit overboard dave.
a halo movie could kick a lot of ass, as long as someone like vin diesel isnt the master chief, i am cool. they should leave the master chief unknown, like they do in the game.
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Diluted-E
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20 is a bit much but still Acclaim can´t be let off... They broke agreements which could really hold some serious consequences to Dave Mirra... i mean from now on when people refer to him itll be "you know that biker dude... that was in in that porn game"... ahahahahah... actually i find that funny... Kudos to Acclaim screwin with him... but he honestly needs to win... just for less money...
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icantbelieveit
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please god no! don´t let some hollywood tool ruin halo! everyone knows that game/movie crossovers suck! but whats the go with take two? why don´t they hurry up and green light gta for xbox?
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mar636363
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come on, be more optimistic. the chance that a halo movie could become successful still exists...not all video game---> movie conversions have flopped. while you have your mario´s and final fantasies, there are also your resident evils. who knows, in the hands of a talented producer, halo might end up being bigger than harry potter.
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tendergroin
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Take Two does´t want to make a Grand Theft Auto movie because it will suck like Vice City. And who cares about Duke Payne anyway. A video game made into movie is a stupid idea.The majority of moviegoers could care less about it and Videogamers are always going to be disappointed. Not to mention most games are ripoffs of some movie released 10 to 20 years ago anyway. Also if i could sue Acclaim for 40 million i would, just to make up for the crap they release. Sorry about the rant but it´s Friday morning and i´m at work and totally pissed.
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hawksk8er1
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i think that its ok if dave sues Aclaim. I think it should be a tad bit less thought. 20 million is alot. but the game was known as Dave Mirra XXX when it was @!*% catching everyones eyes.
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fgdf
Heckler
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If the guy from fast and the furious makes a movie from a game it´ll really suck
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anyone
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A halo movie might not be that bad if like someone said they didn´t show the mc´s identity because I wouldn´t want to see Mel Gibson´s face in my head every time I play my favorite game. They would also have to do it with Starship Troopers type combat and no teen genre that ruined Spiderman.
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Grampa Game
X365 Member
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Dave was actually behind the game in the beginning, making comments about the @!*% ammendment and free speech, It wasnt untill after the @!*% trickling of the roiling negative backlash that eventually flooded the media that Dave disavowed all knowledge (and consent) of the full frontal nudity incorporated in the game. (he put on a nice show of moral indignation and righteous scorn)
Ha,..You thought Gramps didn´t notice huh Dave??.. Gramps sees all and still heres all (with the help of a hearing aid of course).
If a Halo movie is made,I´d like to see the makers use the CG process that created Final Fantasy. Halo´s story is tailor-made for that. (even though Final Fantasy bombed because of its Hokey-Doke storyline) The graphics were still amazing.
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Grampa Game
X365 Member
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Oh! I forgot!! use the music, that Halo movie must use the music!!! (it could be the f1rst CG flick to win an oscar), it couldn´t do any worse that Star Trek anyway.
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Dorky
X365 Member
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"Bigger than Harry Potter?" What loony imaginary world do you live in? The Potterheads are an amazing lunatic and loyal fanbase numbering in the upper tens of MILLIONS (if not a over 100 mill). Halo has what? about 5 million Xbox fans optimistically speaking. No contest.
As for the BMX XXX, there´s no way in hell he wouldn´t have known the direction this would´ve taken. Baseless accusation. I´m sure he thought it was cool at @!*% to "screw" the moralists out there. I´m sure he had input in the creative process. No developer ever wants to piss off the license they were given. So no, go to hell Dave Mirra as much as I don´t like Ack-lame. The concept stank from the beginning and Dave Mirra was just pissed it flopped so badly.
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caddysittinon20s
X365 Member
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yo gramps, i picked up the soundtrack to halo at gamestop for like 13 bucks. just dont tell your friends you bought it, but instead download it onto your xbox, and then play a game that supports custom sountracks, and watch them get all confused,haha. peace
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mstrbass_2000
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i think the @!*% mortal kombat movie was awesome !!!
resident evil movie wasn´t too bad either !!!
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Keith
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Mortal Kombat was a good movie, so was resident evil, If they have the right people working on Halo, it could turn out to be a good movie.
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LoSt-SoUL
Heckler
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Ahhhh Halo movie....NICE!
I´m currently reaaading the book (Fall of Reach), and was thinking how awesome a movie version would be, aslong as they pump plenty of money into it and get a decent prod/dir, and like someone said...no Vin Diesel, if they´re in the suit the whole time it wouldn´t matter too much.
These Game -> Movie conversions usually fair cause of lack of money, shitty actors and shitty dir/prod.
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--->TFC<---
Heckler
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Nice article Chad, even though I don´t fully agree with some of the CRAP being said....
-->[ONLY ON XBOX365]<--
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homer is king
Heckler
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PLEASE GOD..... Please let the fair courts of the good old USA award Dave Mirra whatever amount it would take to force Acclaim out of buisness.. I know up in heaven Acclaim is forbidden to sell their worthless crap to your heavenly angels but why oh why must we be subjected to the horror of Turok and crappy movie license after crappy movie license? I would be eternally grateful for this one little favor and if you see it in your heart please give cancer to whomever programmed Rambo for the NES. I still want my $50.00 back..
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evil elton john
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A HAlo movie should be CG and it Should begin at the fall of reach and go until th beggining of Halo2. But no ex
tra crap Just pure action . It should come out about a week before Halo2. I hope that its not like some crummy low budget power ranger movie. With some no name actor and rated pg
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prowler
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i think they could do a good job with halo. Just fdont spend too much time inthe library and the assualt
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Rhunox
X365 Member
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A Halo movie could be major awesome, and I saw someone say they just hoped Vin Diesel doesn´t play the MC, but I think he would fit the part pretty well; I would be more worried about having "THE ROCK" play the part. *shutters*
Dave Mirra sux.
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caddysittinon20s
X365 Member
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rhunox, obviously you didnt see the vin diesle movie XXX. haha, i usually dont hate on stuff, but that movie was crap. peace
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Cmdr Grunt
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Actually, Vin thought the movie and the game sucked. That said, he is starting his own game studio and will oversee it to make sure no sucky games come out, as he is an avid gamer himself, so he knows what he wants.
This is what I extrapolated from a press release a while ago.
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Grampa Game
X365 Member
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yo Caddysittinon20s,..were did you find the soundtrack? at a game store, a computer store, or a music shop??
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caddysittinon20s
X365 Member
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i found it in the gamestop located in the dayton mall. (dayton ohio)
D-A-Y-T-O-N
OHIO THE HOME OF THE RIMS
STOMPIN LIKE TIMS
THE CITY WITH NO FRIENDS
IT´S THE MIDWEST TIL THE END
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tfc
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lOl!
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