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Bio-Rumor and Industry Quick Hits |
by Chad
3/8/2003 |
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Microsoft Acquiring Bioware?
There is a major rumor floating around right now that Microsoft is going to, or has already agreed to, purchase Canadian developer Bioware, makers of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Sources state that Microsoft agreed to purchase the developer as early as last December, but legal proceedings have held up the completion of the deal, possibly related to the completion of SW:KOTOR for LucasArts. It is also possible that a deal was imminent, but negotiations have gotten off track with further details to hash out. A source inside Microsoft told Computer and Video Games that a press release was drafted last December and was ready to roll until the current delays tripped the acquisition up. In addition to SW:KOTOR, Bioware is currently working on a still secret title for the Xbox.
If this acquisition goes through, it could immediately boost the RPG titles available on Xbox. Anyone else out there who would love to see Neverwinter Nights on their Xbox?
Xbox for PC Still Coming this Summer
With the recent announcement by Bungie that Halo 2 has been delayed until Q1 2004, many were worried that the Halo PC project would also be delayed. Bungie has confirmed that this is not the case. The PC project is still on track to be released this summer, maybe even packed full of some extra goodies for the PC people. Gearbox, know for such hits as Counter-Strike: Condition Zero and Opposing Force, is doing the rework for the PC. According to Randy Pitchford, President of Gearbox Software, they intend to “add enhancements that exploit the multiplayer capabilities that PCs are known for.”
Reservoir Dogs and Futurama in Development for the Xbox
A couple of modern day cult classics (if there is such a thing) will be making their way onto your Xbox soon. Reservoir Dogs is being developed by SCi Games. It will be adapted from the hit movie by Quentin Tarantino and promises to be faithful to the tone of the film.
"SCi has considerable experience in developing successful computer games based on strong movie plots, such as The Italian Job and The Great Escape." Said Jane Cavanagh, Chief Executive of SCI. "Reservoir Dogs has a remarkable following within the gaming community. The whole company relishes this exciting opportunity."
You will be able to play the game as any of the six colors who are central to the movie, and well as a few key policemen. In addition to the requisite shootouts and car chases, SCi is planning on adding a multiplayer deathmatch feature, where I, as Mr. Blond, will incessantly utter “Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?”
Also on its way to the console is a game based on the FOX cartoon Futurama. The drunken robot Bender and the rest of the gang are in development, also by SCi Games. The game will be a third person title with players able to complete the game as the aforementioned Bender, Fry, Dr. Zoidberg or Leela. The arch-nemesis in the game will be that dastardly character “Mom”. A quick plot summary tells us that Mom buys Express Deliveries (where Bender, et al) work. After acquiring Express Deliveries, she owns 51% of Earth. She wants to now enslave the planet and conquer the universe. Fighting, shoot-outs and a number of challenges face you as you locate your fellow employees and thwart Mom’s evil plan. This game promises to be full of the wit that made the cartoon fun to watch, and Matt Groening, creator of Futurama and The Simpsons, has been hired as a consultant. In addition, the original cast will be providing the voices of their respective characters.
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ChadX365 Says
Bioware would be a huge acquistion for Microsoft, with their proven track record of RPG titles. I'll keep you posted on the ongoing developments of this story.
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kzar
Heckler
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yeah
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RaistlinN16
X365 Member
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how many companies is microsoft supposedly buying here. I am tired of hearing rumors about them maybe buying, @!*% it was vivendi then sega and now this.
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riot
X365 Member
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I hear ya raistlin! What is up with these rumors!? They get my hopes up, and then they just get dropped and i´m bummed. I want Vividendi sooo bad! Bioware would be really nice too! Xbox really needs some RPG´s! But i hope one of these dam rumors is true now that the SEGA buyout has been confirmed false.
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Grampa Game
X365 Member
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M$ should bide their time,..If they go out slinging cash around willy-nilly,.without thoughtfully spelling out the terms and getting agreement on the binding conditions of the purchase,...then microsoft is no better that the drunken sailor who passes out at a bordello and wakes up with his wallet missing(and nobody knows nothin´or speaks english). a big business like M$ has to establish exactly what kind of value they will be getting for their investment. (and exactly how the value is to be extracted)
They would not have made out as well as they did with their recent "monopoly case",(with the feds) if they didn´t have a legal/marketing research department as large as the NFL>(and a wallet to match)
last year when the economy was on a down turn, a message on the Microsoft site advertised that they were hiring 1000 employees for various "research". Microsoft has many enemies and competitors, a trend has begun where business are beginning to dump windows for cheaper or no-cost operating systems like Linus, (along with other competing operating system developers leading the charge). This is eroding M$ windows profits and M$ knows that windows will not forever be the golden cash cow. M$ is committed to the Xbox because it is forging inroads into new avenues of profitability thru the home electronic/entertainment industry. And make no Mistake, Sony is targeting the same sector of business. The essence of the "console war" goes far beyond video games. Its about who will ultimately rule the multi billion dollar home entertainment industry, which will be nearly 100% on-line within the next decade. (dont believe me??, start checking out the business news, M$ and Sony are mentioned quite frequently.)
Let Bill handle his business.
Please forgive the extra long rant(peace)
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Grampa Game
X365 Member
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I´m curious to see how Reservoir Dogs turns out,..While the movie had some intense action sequences, it was all of the smack talking that made it a cult favorite., (thats what really made it unique)..that will definitely have to be apart of the game.(Heck,.. they might as well do Pulp Fiction while there at it, they could make it a 2 disc set,..and what about Fargo?)
and I wonder if there will be a point system for how many cops ears you slice off or bonuses for backstabbing the other members of your crew???
finally,.. will the graphics be able to capture the weirdness of Steve Buscme´s face.(steve really knows how to play a shady character)
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snkfan33
Heckler
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Reservoir Dogs, great movie, but Reservoir Dogs the game, I smell POOP! Not to mention they said SCI the guys behind the steaming pile known as The GetAway are working on it, thats a bad sign already, expect a total GTA rip off with the Reservoir Dogs music and characters and tons of crappy cinema scenes with crappy voice acting,,I am so tired of these crap games that are being pumped out, COOKIE CUTTER VIOLENCE, insert guns, insert graphic cut scenes, insert foul language, blah blah blah, GTA was ok, Vice was more of the same crap, Max Payne, good but did you actually play it through more than once? True Crime is on the way too,, blah blah blah, Dead to Rights, more crap, people already talking about GTA 4 blah blah, ok Corporate America we get the picture, you love shoving all of this over hyped ultra violent $h!t down our throat but enough is enough, we want substance, not violence in a can, this is so old already PEACE!!!
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Grampa Game
X365 Member
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I´m feelin´ ya SnkFan33, very descriptive... IN addition to what you said,.. the potential crap(ple)ness factor of the game could be compounded if SCI can´t get the original actors to do the voicework (or suitible sound/alikes). Sort of like the singing group "The Temptation" from the 70´s, all of the original mbrs of the 5 member group are gone except the Bass Singer, they still sound good but its not the same. If SCI is to Capture the Essence of the movie,..they will really need to apply themselves. maybe they learned something from "The Getaway".
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TFC’s:Men Hunter
X365 Member
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This is some good stuff "Chad".Good news man..
-->OnlyOn[x]365<--
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caddysittinon20s
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i just wanna be pink!! steve buscemi kicks ass!! lol.
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Badass
Heckler
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Check teamxbox.com, Bioware have put on record that they aren´t going to be bought by Billy Reboot and co.
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Dorky
X365 Member
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Yea, check Bioware´s site.
The CEO (God bless Alberta) sounds like he´ll never go to Microsoft. Why should they? They make awesome games that sell even in the piracy-riddled PC gaming world.
If I don´t hear from Bungie about a multiplayer Halo for this year, I´m gonna trade in my Xbox halo for the multiplayer PC version.
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gatekeeper
X365 Member
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WAR CRAFT 3 DAM THATS GOING TO BEE SWEET!!!
GOOD JOB UNCLE BILL KEEP THEM COMEIN!!!
"WOW BIOWARE" 2003
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first
Heckler
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I know this is totally unrelated but what happened to gamerX
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