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NIMF Closing At Year's End

2009-11-20T20:00:00Z

The National Institute on Media and the Family will be shutting down at the end of 2009. NIMF, known for its annual Video Game Report Card, will be closing because of a lack of funding. Fairview Health Services, which supported NIMF annually with $750,000, could no longer meet its commitment thanks to economic woes.

President and founder Dr. David Walsh vowed to soldier on despite the organization's closing:

The current challenging economic environment accelerated those discussions making this the right time to begin transitioning the programs to other organizations who share our mission and values. I look forward to transitioning the Institute's programs to worthy organizations that I am confident will continue to educate parents and caregivers on our rapidly changing digital culture.

And in a blog post:

We've accomplished a lot of amazing things in the last thirteen years. And in that same amount of time there has been unprecedented technological innovation and an ever-increasing number of screens in young people's lives, making the Institute's mission just as relevant today as when we started. So while this chapter of the Institute's work is coming to a close, I am excited to transition the Institute's programs to organizations that will continue to foster the same important conversations and bring relevant solutions to parents.

NIMF's most recent Report Card gave high marks to the industry for education and enforcement of video game ratings - save an "incomplete" for Parental Involvement.

NIMF to Close at Year End [GamePolitics]

Video: Leaked Footage Of The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings

2009-11-19T23:58:23Z

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings may not exactly be the most anticipated sequel in the development pipeline, but this leaked footage - smuggled out of Russia's IGROMIR game expo - shows quite a bit of gameplay for a 45-degree angle pocket-shot.

A boss monster around the 4:00 mark is particularly cool-looking for the requisite tentacle boss, without which any game is apparently incomplete (I'm looking at you, Wii Music).

But developer CD Projekt RED seemed none too pleased that footage of the still-unannounced sequel escaped the conference. Said CDP CEO Adam Kiciński:

"Unfortunately, I have to confirm that the video which appeared a few days ago on the Internet is indeed a presentation of The Witcher 2. It's a video of a demonstration of the game during the so-called business days of the IGROMIR game expo in Russia."
"It was a closed demonstration for business partners, representatives of the biggest trade chains and a handful of chosen journalists - one of many such demonstrations CD Projekt RED has been doing in various countries. Unfortunately, despite a declared ban on filming and photography at all such events, someone managed to shoot a video at IGROMIR. Just like last time, we will not comment on that. Simultaneously, we can assure you that all confirmed information will be revealed soon after the game is officially announced."

Snap! Embrace the free press, fella. Or, for the paranoid, pretend to reject the free press while silently reveling in the success of your feigned leak. Whichever fits.

The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings Leaked Video; CDP Comments [VE3D]

BioShock 2 Special Edition Details Announced

2009-11-19T20:00:00Z

Today we learned the details of the BioShock 2 Special Edition, which forgoes the awesome Big Daddy figure for something a little more mature (and potentially less exciting). For the suggested price of $99.99 for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, or $89.99 for the PC version, this single-production run Special Edition offers music and art to the BioShock 2 connoisseur, including two orchestral scores - one of which is vinyl - and plenty of pretty visuals.

The SE contains:

Vinyl 180g LP with BioShock orchestral score

Audio CD with BioShock 2 orchestral score

Three vintage Rapture advertisement posters (rolled)

BioShock 2 Art Book, 164 pages and hardcover

BioShock 2 game

And while you might not be psyched to wait until February 9, 2010 to drop a hundy for this rarefied collection, at least we'll have a distraction from the most depressing month ever. And a five-day lead on Valentine's Day!

Get Yer Red Hot Brutal Legend Tees

2009-11-18T20:00:00Z

Fashion designer Mishka has made some very cool Brutal Legend t shirts that you can snag for free if you win the giveaway contests at Metal Insider, Metal Sucks and Metal Injection - alongside the grand prize, a 17" Eddie Riggs statue, should that also tickle your metal fancy.

Contest entry is pretty basic - sign up for a comment account and answer a simple question, which is different at each site. Neato.

Brütal Legend Tees For the Metal Faithful [GameLife]

MW2: To Russia With Love, Sorta

2009-11-17T20:01:39Z

Amid rumors that the Russian government had recalled all console versions of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, yesterday had us all thinking the Cold War would suddenly reignite over a mess of controversial pixels and that now-infamous airport scene.

Today Activision laid those fears to rest, telling IncGamers that the reports are untrue:

"Reports that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has been banned in Russia are erroneous. Activision only released a PC version of the game in Russia which went on sale on Tuesday, Nov. 10."

Now, as one commenter pointed out, there is a world of difference between voluntarily withholding a game from market and allowing it to face a potential ban. But with Activision's laser-focus on the bottom line and its lust for pretty, pretty money, all that comes to mind is a quote from my good personal friend Young MC: "There's one more girl you won't be getting."

Meanwhile, I wonder how much Activision stands to lose in revenue from the lack of Russian console sales of the game, or if they never seriously expected Russian console revenue in the first place. No rubles? Hey, bust a move.

Activision: MW2 Russian Recall "Erroneous" [IncGamers]

Be An Animation Superhero In SOE's DCUO Animation Contest

2009-11-17T00:00:00Z

Sony Online Entertainment is offering fans, gamers and animators the chance to have their work featured in DC: Universe Online with the DC Universe Online Animation Contest on Facebook.

SOE and Mass Animation have introduced the 2.0 version of the Mass Animation Facebook application and will be launching the contest on December 7, 2009:

All the tools that animators will need to collaborate on this project, including a special edition of Autodesk Maya 3D Animation software, storyboards, designs and fully-rigged 3-D models will be provided to contest entrants and accessed through the Mass Animation application on the DCUO Facebook fan page. Participating animators will upload their contest submissions back to the application for viewing, voting and sharing with their friends. New to the contest this year will be the Mass Animation iPhone app, which gives people a new way to view and vote on submissions. Qualified contest winners will receive cash or other prizes. Each week, voters and a panel of judges will help determine what shots qualify as the "best" and will be eligible for voter prizes.

Meanwhile, if animation isn't your bag, you can check out Mass Animation's first project, the Romeo and Juliet-inspired Live Music, due for theatrical release on November 20, 2009.

More info on the DCUO contest after the jump.

]]> Sony Online Entertainment Joins Forces With Mass Animation To Launch The DC Universe™ Online Animation Contest On Facebook®

Artists Invited to Collaborate In Animating Heroes and Villains for the DC Universe Online Game and Trailer

LOS ANGELES, Calif. November 16, 2009 - Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) and Mass Animation today announced the DC Universe™ Online (DCUO) Animation Contest. The DCUO Animation Contest is version 2.0 of the acclaimed Mass Animation Facebook® application and will give DC Comics fans, gamers and animators a chance to animate heroes and villains from the DC Universe Online game currently in development by Sony Online Entertainment, and to collaborate in creating a CGI trailer and in-game character animations. The DCUO/Mass Animation contest is scheduled to launch on December 7, 2009.

"The DCUO/Mass Animation contest takes a part of the game out of the development studio and puts it in the hands of fans, an empowering opportunity for our community," said John Smedley, president of SOE. "Players will have a chance through qualified contest submissions to be involved with the game's development at a deeper level than ever before by animating actions for in-game heroes and villains."

All the tools that animators will need to collaborate on this project, including a special edition of Autodesk Maya 3D Animation software, storyboards, designs and fully-rigged 3-D models will be provided to contest entrants and accessed through the Mass Animation application on the DCUO Facebook fan page. Participating animators will upload their contest submissions back to the application for viewing, voting and sharing with their friends. New to the contest this year will be the Mass Animation iPhone app, which gives people a new way to view and vote on submissions. Qualified contest winners will receive cash or other prizes. Each week, voters and a panel of judges will help determine what shots qualify as the "best" and will be eligible for voter prizes.

"This new project really gives us the opportunity to expand Mass Animation into the online game sector, where gamers have already been creating in-game customized assets for some time," said Yair Landau, founder of Mass Animation. "In 2.0, we are opening the animation process to traditional animators as well as gamers and inviting artists to animate some of the coolest most classic characters on the planet such as Superman, Batman, The Joker and Wonder Woman. By opening up the contest to gamers and involving them in asset creation, there will be a real sense of connection to the game before it even launches."

Mass Animation's first collaborative animation project, Live Music, is scheduled for theatrical release on November 20th with "Planet 51." Inspired by Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" and early CGI films, the story follows Riff, a rock 'n' roll guitar, falls in love to the wrong song but ends up with Vanessa, the classical violin of his dreams. A global story told through the universal language of music, the instruments are brought to life through original compositions and familiar rock tunes played principally by legendary guitarist Steve Vai as Riff and acclaimed violinist Ann Marie Calhoun as Vanessa. 51 animators from 17 different countries collaborated in the making of this unique and wonderful film which introduced Mass Animation to the world.

# # #

Gay Kiwi Censor Catches Heat For MW2

2009-11-16T20:35:00Z

Here's a confluence of gayness, government, and video games that you don't see every day: an openly gay official in New Zealand has been the butt of some personal attacks for allowing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to be sold in the country.

New Zealand's Chief Censor, Bill Hastings, also an openly gay man, was targeted by right-winged radio host and mayor of Wanganui, NZ, Michael Laws, who seemed more interested in Hastings' sexual orientation than his ten-year tenure as Chief Censor, or the decision to allow MW2 into the country:

"I know the gay guy we've got at the moment who is the Chief Censor Bill Hastings is a liberal sort of guy."

"I don't care if he lets gay sex through because, well, that's what he enjoys watching in a darkened room somewhere and thinks everybody else of his ilk should be able to do so as well."

Lest you think Laws isn't on par with our own right-wing radio jackholes, last month the radio host stirred controversy with his Malthusian proposal that the poor of New Zealand be given money for surrendering themselves for sterilization.

Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2 [GamePolitics]

WOW's First Microtransactions Perilously Cute

2009-11-10T20:00:00Z

Don't get me wrong. There's no way I would shell out $10 for what is, admittedly, the cutest lil kitten-esque lichling I've ever seen. But Blizzard has made its microtransactiony debut with the first in-game items available for real-world cash: the equally adorable Pandaren Monk and Lil KT, a Tiny Toons version of megabaddie Kel'Thuzad.

Both cost $10 and don't offer any advantage in-game - they're just pets. The Pandaren returns bows from other players, while Lil' KT randomly freezes "critters" and laughs at dudes you kill.

In a true-to-cannon but also kind-of-dick move, half the purchase of the Pandaren Monk will be donated to the Make-a-Wish foundation, but all of the proceeds from Lil' KT go directly to Blizzard because Kel'Thuzad is evil. That's taking it a little literally there, Blizzard.

So, there's where your friendly neighborhood WoW addict's paycheck will be going this week. Me? I'm just wondering when they'll add a playable Monk class to the game. Hiii-ya!

Christian Games + Wal-Mart + Texas = "X"

2009-11-05T20:00:00Z

...Where "X" is whatever image pops into your head at the thought of Texans going crazy at Wal-Mart for Christian-themed video games. Me? I go to my "happy place" and only see puppies. With chainsaws. Who want to kill me and keep me from finding a good man to marry.

But "happy place" or no, 100 Wal-Mart stores in Texas have participated in a "pilot release" experiment for Christian-themed game developer Left Behind Games, and sales have been unprecedented: in two weeks the company has sold 25% of its inventory in and around Houston and Dallas.

CEO Try Lyndon prophesied further success for the faith-based gaming industry:

At the rate Wal-Mart inventory is moving, they will be out of games before Christmas, unless they reorder. With seven weeks remaining, and accelerated sales expected as we near the holidays, we believe test results will be favorable leading to a broader national market for Christian based PC games.

The Left Behind games are based on the controversial convert or die books set at the End of Days, during which all remaining humans must choose to fight on the side of good or evil. In-game, evil includes secularists and rock music, both of which can tempt your Christian soldiers to the dark side if they don't pray hard enough. I'm not sure if gays crop up as villains in any of the games, but there's always hope for more sequels, right?

Left Behind: Eternal Forces was also sent to active-duty members of the US military by an official arm of the Defense Department.

Is the mothership here yet? I'm scared.

Not Many Christian Games Left Behind in Wal-Mart [GamePolitics]

Grenade Spam Or Not, MW2 Sets Pre-Order Record

2009-11-05T00:00:00Z

One thing's for certain, Infinity Ward's Fight Against Grenade Spam video may have hurt feelings, but it didn't hurt pre-order sales. GameStop executive Tony Bartel announced that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has broken the record for most copies pre-ordered at GameStop:

"By all indicators, we anticipate Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will be the biggest entertainment launch of all time... As of today, the number of pre-order reservations we've taken for the game is the highest for any title we've ever sold in our 6,200 store network."

Activision's devoted campaign to sell the game also has 2,600 Walmart stores holding midnight launches, while the people at Amazon have been ordered to search for the most Call of Duty-est town in America and the $5,000 charity contribution which that title will earn the "lucky" town. (The list is a little scary.)

UK sales are also expected to break records, notably GTA IV's record of 926,000 copies sold in one week. With 500,000 UK preorders, the projected first week UK sales of 1.7 million copies doesn't seem too far-fetched.

For what it's worth, MW2 has been getting plenty of flack for non-gay-related controversies, like one scene that has an undercover CIA officer perform terrorist atrocities at an airport:

"The way that the plot is likely being handled comes across with a lot of the wrong messages, and shows a poor method of thinking when it comes to the sensitivity of the issue."

What does this mean? Sales trump sensitivity any day.

'Modern Warfare 2' invades Game Hunters [GameHunters]

Watch Out 1971, It's REO Speedwagon: The Videogame!

2009-11-04T20:00:00Z

This is the End of Days, friends.

REO Speedwagon (that's a band, kids) and developer Merscom are releasing... a hidden object adventure game... called Find Your Own Way Home... for the PC and Mac... starring a hip Hollywood reporter named Ruby... on assignment with the band... who has to locate the band's missing leader.

No, that isn't just a chill - that's the Dark One's own touch on your spine, and it heralds the end of the freaking world. In case the picture isn't speaking for itself:

In Find Your Own Way Home, the player takes the role of Ruby, a hip Hollywood reporter for the entertainment television program, Entertainment Now. For the past few weeks, Ruby has been on assignment with the legendary rock band, REO Speedwagon. On the day the game takes place, the band is releasing their new CD at a star-studded album release party. Ruby is on assignment for Entertainment Now, and as her busy day is unfolding, as she prepares for the nightly broadcast and launch party, Kevin Cronin, the band's leader, goes missing. The player has the chance to be the hero by tracking down clues to locate the missing star, and getting everyone to the party on time.

Just in case you were wondering, and I feel certain that you were, the game will use several instrumental tracks from the band's music, including previously unreleased recordings. No full songs though - can't have you distracted from finding that "Old Boot" by the chorus of a power ballad like "Can't Stop Loving You." A song the meaning of which, I can't help but prophecy, won't be a problem for this game.

New REO Speedwagon PC Game [VE3D]

Warhammer Removes Time Limit From Free Trial

2009-11-02T20:00:00Z

The latest newsletter from Mythic announces that commitment-phobic and/or thrifty gamers will be able to enjoy the 10 day free trial of Warhammer Online for more than ten days - indefinitely, in fact.

No, this doesn't mean you'll get to play the whole game for free, but you'll have unlimited free access to the starting areas, AKA Tier 1 areas, AKA the new streamlines "New User Journey" being introduced in the 1.3.2 Path of Conquest update.

The New User Journey places all new players in their respective Empire or Chaos starting area regardless of race, offers a new voiceover to explain the major gameplay concepts, and revises content and quest flow for the starting areas. New players will also be auto-guilded in "new player guilds," which should lubricate things socially.

Never enough of that, is there?

Canadian Judge Takes Boy's Wii Over Bail Money

2009-10-30T19:00:00Z

A 12-year old Canadian lad was ordered to give up his Wii as bail after repeated run-ins with the law and infractions that include smashing school windows, pool cue head-beatings and punching classmates.

So Judge Marvin Garfinkle allowed the kid to go free as long as he keeps his court appearances and adheres to other release conditions like living with his meemaw - but the judge claimed the boy's prized Wii as bail.

The lil rascal's lawyer, Serena Puranen, insists that her colicky client isn't a bad egg, he's just "repeatedly finds himself in the middle of sticky situations."

"I know it doesn't look good," Serena Puranen said. "I've never seen him enraged, I've never seen him upset. He's a 12-year-old who is generally quite scared."

Listen, if some funny-named Canadian judge took away a game system every time I found myself in the middle of a sticky situation, I'd be playing Gears of Coconuts with my bestie Wilson the volleyball. Then again, this could be a wake-up to Nintendo to further reduce the price of the Wii: when your system becomes collateral for nefarious criminals like the Winnipeg Bandit here, you've gotta rethink your value strategy.

Wii Bails Out Felonious Juvenile [GamePolitics]

Atlus: Demon's Souls Gets Even Harder For Halloween

2009-10-29T23:00:00Z

I've got to hand it to Atlus USA, they've been sending out some of the funniest press releases this side of Tinycorp's weekly "Reasons To Be Glad Your Loved One Is Dead" mailings.

Apparently, hella hard Demon's Souls is going to get hella harder on All Hallow's Eve, and Atlus is warning all you heroes of Boletaria that the Old One's power will grow that night:

"Early reports from the Kingdom of Boletaria indicate that the Old One's power grows," announced Aram Jabbari, Manager of PR and Sales for Atlus, shuffling awkwardly under the weight of his full set of fluted armor. "We've discovered that the nefarious Demon will seek to descend the land in pure blackness on All Hallow's Eve. His minions will be more powerful, but the rewards for those who seek to challenge them will be greater as well. We don't know how long this dark tendency will last, but we do advise those prone to controller-into-LCD syndrome to proceed carefully." Jabbari then cackled as he quickly put a Thief's ring on his finger and disappeared.

The quick and dirty of tweaking the world tendency is that you'll have lower health while your foes have more health and attack power - but the loot will be better.

So if you're like me and are intimidated by challenging gameplay, maybe play a little Flower this Halloween instead. Or if you're TOTALLY HARDCORE, you know, go do that.

Slideshow: Epic Mickey

2009-10-29T19:00:00Z

While it isn't exactly gameplay, and it certainly isn't annotated, this debut slideshow of Epic Mickey takes a baby step in the direction of curiosity-satisfaction. It does contain a few of the annotated screenshots - or similar ones - although it sheds no light on why the "Bunny Kids" look just like the Rabbids.

We do get a closer look at Mickey's, um, rival, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, immortalized in cartoon stained glass. I would totally be a bad guy if it meant sexy pictures of me in stained glass. Wouldn't you?