Movies-DVDs
Ripped right from the pages of Variety: Universal Studios has signed a deal to turn last year's hit BioShock into a film. This has been hinted at for a while but this is the first time we've gotten actual confirmation. Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski has been tapped to direct and John Logan, who penned The Aviator has been tapped to write the script.
Take 2's Strauss Zelnick is cutting quite the deal that will ensure that BioShock gets made and doesn't get axed like the doomed Halo movie. Ken Levine is also currently being consulted although it is unsure whether he will have a hand in the final product. I truly pray that he does and that BioShock turns out to be just as fine a film as it was a game. I will be on the edge of my seat to see what they do with this one and crossing my fingers that it doesn't turn out to be another Blood Rayne... or another Resident Evil... or another Silent Hill... or another (fill in the blank)
Gore Verbinski to direct 'Bioshock' [Variety.com]
While this isn't exactly game related I figured that many of you out there have PS3s and as such, this would be of interest to you (I'm looking at you Spazgadget!). Amazon is having a huge Blu-ray sale to celebrate the format winning the big war. The deal is, you buy two Blu-Ray Discs and get a third for FREE. The great part of this is, you're not stuck with a crappy selection of titles to choose from. Just on the first page there's some great stuff like Blade Runner, Pan's Labyrinth, Run, Lola Run, 300 and The Fifth Element.
This deal goes through April 18th so you have ten days to do your shopping. If you are interested in participating in the sale, please use the link below to take you to the sale page. Not only will you be getting some great Blu-Ray discs, but you'll be helping out GayGamer as well since we get a little kick back every time you order something from our Amazon store. Good luck and happy Blu-Ray hunting!
Order your Blu-Ray discs here! [Amazon]
That's right, the PS3 firmware 2.20 update is coming out before the end of March and will be bringing Blu-Ray 2.0 out of the closet. This update is very heavy on improving one's movie watching experience for the system. Out of all the updates, the one that has me jumping for joy the most is "Resume Play." That allows you to watch BD/DVDs from the point you left off even after removing the disc. That was definitely a major annoyance when stopping a DVD and turning the system off.
Of course, the other big update is Blu-Ray 2.0 Here are some of the updates possible (depending on the title) that you can look forward to with BD-Live:
- A variety of downloadable content, including bonus scenes, shorts, trailers, subtitles, ringtones that can be sent to mobile phones, images, and more.
- Interactive movie-based games can pit players who are sitting in the same room, or are across the world and online, against each other.
There is one minor catch to Blu-Ray Profile 2.0. You will need an internet connection and at least 1GB of local storage to take advantage of it. Other updates include allowing PSP owners to copy their music and photo playlists form the PS3 for some audio/visual action on the go. There are plenty of other features to be had. You can read up on those after the jump while I go to the lobby to get myself a snack.
Capcom have announced the main cast for the upcoming Street Fighter film adaptation. You may remember a while back when we told you Kristin Kruek would be playing Chun-Li. Now we have names attached to Balrog, M. Bison, Vega and Charlie Nash. So far, the cast consists of the following thespians:
- Chun-Li: Kristin Kreuk. Plays the role of Lana Lang in the WB television series Smallville .
- Balrog: Michael Clarke Duncan. The Island (2005), Sin City (2005), Daredevil (2003), The Scorpion King (2002), Planet of the Apes (2001), See Spot Run (2001), The Whole Nine Yards (2000), The Green Mile (1999), Breakfast of Champions (1999), Armageddon (1998)
- M. Bison: Neal McDonough. The Hitcher (2007), Flags of Our Fathers (2006), The Guardian (2006), Timeline (2003), MinorityReport (2002), Band of Brothers (2001)
- Vega: Taboo. Member of popular R&B music group Black Eyed Peas and recipient of three Grammy Awards.
- Charlie Nash: Chris Klein. We Were Soldiers (2002), American Pie (1999)
We'll have to play the waiting game to see how this mix of cast members work out together in the finished product. Is there anyone you think who would be better suited for these roles? Let us know in the comments.
WalMart shoppers, if you've picked up Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, or four other Sony catalog DVDs the past few weeks, you may have gotten a copy of the film that already includes a PSP/PS3/PC version on the disc. Since all PS3s and the majority of PCs can already play DVDs, the only really notable part of this story is the inclusion of PSP formatted file. The other four movies currently available are Blood & Chocolate, Bobby Z, The Contractor, and Wind Chill, with a few others coming soon. Right now, the versions with the extra files are available only at WalMart stores.
Lexine Wong, Sony senior executive VP of worldwide marketing, explains why certain movies were chosen for the test.
There are space requirements to include files, so we're choosing titles that don't feature a lot of bonus features [in order to fit copies]. Also, we're choosing titles that would resonate with customers that like PSP, with [action] titles like Diamond Dogs and Hero Wanted.
Obviously Sony thinks PSP owners have pretty awful taste. The files require owners to register online before they will play, and then the files will expire "within three to six months" after purchase, although Sony may extend the date at any point. Thanks? Anyway, this is a move to prevent people from copying their own DVDs onto their PSPs, iPhones, or wristwatches, and honestly, it seems like a lame way to do it.
Unlike the Blu Ray/PSP plan that Sony revealed at this years CES, most people already own all the equipment they need to convert DVDs into PSP movies, if not the software or the know-how. This is just adding an unnecessary and annoying level of DRM to the mix. So nice try Sony. If you really want me to shop at WalMart, you're going to have to try harder than that.
Sony tests digital copies on DVD releases [Video Business]
[via: PSP Fanboy]
Website MCV received some figures from the Entertainment Retailers' Association showing that video games brought in more revenues than music in the United Kingdom. Here are the cold hard numbers:
2007:
Video/DVD: £2,164m
Games: £1,719m
Music: £1,417m
Total: £5,300m
EvilAvatar points out that the gaming figures experienced a 20% increase from last year. That would indicate that video games may overtake video/DVD in the very near future. Now, one thing to keep in mind as I back track just a tiny bit, the music figures do not include digital downloads. ...but somehow, I don't think it would make a huge difference. What do you think about it all? Do you believe this may hold true in the United States and other countries/regions as well? What about market penetration?
It's official: games revenues overtake music at retail [MCV UK]
[via EvilAvatar]
As expected, Microsoft made an announcement that they will no longer manufacture the HD-DVD player for the Xbox 360. Microsoft added that they will, however, continue standard product and warranty support for the device. The company believes the device's discontinuation will not have an effect on their position in the market or on the Xbox 360 platform. It was a short announcement and that is about all that was said.
I'm sure there will be more price drops on the horizon. Are any of you going to jump on board? If you do, don't forget your floaties.
From over at Homotron: As if HD-DVD needed any more nails in their coffin, word from tipsters at Kotaku and Gamestop employees is that Gamestop will stop taking HD-DVD material starting today:
We've been tipped off by a number of GameStop employees that, commencing [today], the company will no longer be accepting HD-DVD gear for trade-in. That means you won't be able to trade in your HD-DVD movies, and more importantly, you won't be able to get anything for that soon-to-be-useless 360 HD-DVD player, either. Sorry.
For those of you that were planning on getting some cash back on your HD-DVD player to build your new Blu-ray library: you'll now have to go to Ebay.
HD-DVD Deathwatch: GameStop Edition [Kotaku]
From over at Homotron: As rumoured earlier, Toshiba, the architects behind HD-DVD and technology owner, has just put out a press release proclaiming they are indeed ceasing production on all HD-DVD products:
TOKYO--Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has undertaken a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD and has decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. This decision has been made following recent major changes in the market. Toshiba will continue, however, to provide full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.
That's means it's official folks: the fat lady has sung. HD-DVD is no more.
The press release showed up today just after market close in Tokyo. Hit the jump for the full release.
Toshiba Announces Discontinuation of HD DVD Businesses [Toshiba]
If you've been keeping tabs on the format wars, you are probably already aware that HD-DVD has taken several hard hits. Most recently, Netflix and Best Buy announced they would be dropping the HD-DVD market segment, only to be followed in turn by Wal-Mart. I was just yesterday pondering exactly how many nails in HD-DVD's coffin before it has been declared dead.
Well, apparently there are only a scant few days left in the life of HD-DVD as Reuters is reporting this morning, Toshiba will in a short time be conceding defeat to Sony and their Blu-ray format. They will be losing hundreds of millions of dollars as they scrap production of both HD-DVD players and recorders.
I sit and stare sadly at my HD-DVD player and copies of Alpha Dog, Children of Men and King Kong. I know I picked you up for only $119, but I still can't help but feel the burn. So what lies ahead for me and my shunned format? I guess it's either time to hit eBay and sell it all off or hit the stores and buy up every last HD-DVD movie that interests you. While there is nothing to stop someone from enjoying what movies are available on the format, I can't help but feeling like buying more HD-DVDs is just wasting money. At least one good thing will come from all of this. I shouldn't be hearing Michael Bay bitching about format wars anymore.
For those of our readers who opted to go the HD-DVD route, do you plan to hang on to your player and movies or will you shed your now-outdated hardware and consider "the Blu-ray?"
Toshiba to give up on HD-DVD, end format war [Reuters]
One by one, retailers have been ditching the HD-DVD format in favor of Blu-Ray. Now Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has decided to go Blu-Ray exclusive. This comes just days after Netflix announced their Blu-Ray exclusivity.
In a statement from the official Wal-Mart blog, Check Out,
"by June Wal-Mart will only be carrying Blu-ray movies and hardware machines, and of course standard def movies, DVD players, and up convert players. Not sure of the short term pricing plans, but history tells us that as more people move to a new technology prices typically go down."
So does this mean we will be seeing $150 Blu-Ray players in a year? Probably not, but one can dream. Wal-Mart going Blu-Ray can guarantee the slow death of the HD-DVD format. If you can listen closely you can hear the collective death rattle. /cough... wheeze
Thanks Saeton for the tip! He's on the PSN, btw.
World's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, going Blu-ray [PS3 Fanboy]
Drive another nail in the coffin of the HD-DVD format, because Netflix is going Blu-ray exclusive. For their high definition selection, they will only be stocking Blu-ray from now on and will be phasing out their HD-DVD selection by the end of the year. The decision comes in the wake of many major studios going Blu-ray exclusive from Disney to Time Warner. Now that Blockbuster and Netflix will only be carrying Blu-ray, it's going to be really difficult to find a place that has HD-DVD to rent.
The HD wars have been watched closely by the gaming community for the HD capabilities of Xbox 360 and PS3. My question to our faithful readers is, 'Has anyone been burned by the wars?' If so, what are you going to do now?
Netflix picks Blu-ray, good luck renting an HD DVD soon [Engadget]
And girls who like girls who like rumble packs!
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