Bad games are everywhere. In fact, they seem to be more abundant in recent years than ever before. As the video game medium has increased in popularity, so have the number of releases and with that, obviously the number of bad titles. Still, what exactly makes a bad title?
Is it under funding? Is it a lack of development talent? Is it simply a bad idea from the ground up? Yes, sometimes to each and often to all three. Still, that doesn’t explain how even the most well funded and best development teams can make a bad game out of what sounded like a surefire hit idea. (more…)
As video games becomes bigger business in the world of media, so do the films based upon them and centering around the culture of gaming. Three new film projects are making news for gamers.
First, is the new Max Payne film. Based off the two game series, the film starts Mark Wahlberg (The Departed) and is directed by John Moore (Behind Enemy Lines). The movie is currently slated for release in 2009. Above you will see one of the first pictures of Wahlberg on the set, apparently in costume. It isn’t much to look at, and the film itself seems like even less of a big deal. Is anyone really clamoring for a Max Payne film after all these years? Click the image for a larger version. (more…)
This isn’t so much shocking news, except for how long it has taken. With the HD-DVD format now dead and Xbox Live Arcade taking off, Microsoft needed a way for gamers to download more high definition movies and arcade games. That way may be arriving soon in the form of a new 60GB hard drive for their standard Xbox 360 model.
To be technical, the USA is not quite in a recession yet. However, many indicators show it a time of economic down turn, even if it does not technically fit the definition of a recession. What’s the most important question during these tough economic times? How will this affect video game sales?
The short answer, at least from those within the industry, is very little. They believe the game industry to be equivalent to the film industry, which traditionally suffers very little during bad economic times. Chalk this up to people wanting to be entertained during even the roughest economic situations in order to forget their problems. People flocked to theatres during the Great Depression for this very reason. (more…)
Fans of the documentary The King of Kong will tell you that it was not only one of the best documentaries of last year, but one of the best films period. Viewers became so engrossed in the story that it has led many to want to follow the continuing storyline as it develops. Don’t count on a sequel, though, as director Seth Gordon says film villain Billy Mitchell is none too pleased with the finished film.
Among other things that Gordon reveals to The Age, he states that Mitchell feels like the film portrays him unfairly. Apparently Mitchell has been contacting journalists covering the film wanting to give his own perspective on the events chronicled in the film. That doesn’t sound at all like the conniving control freak portrayed in the movie, does it? (more…)
Say what you will about the Wii, but it makes for a splashy demonstration. That’s especially true of Wii Sports on a mammoth screen on the Oscars before millions of people around the world. Clever product placement, or clever comic genius? You can decide that, but there’s nary a gamer alive who doesn’t wish they could play the Wii on such a setup. You know, minus the millions of people watching their every mistake.
Variety reports that more of the Street Fighter remake cast is coming together. Actually, it should be noted this is not exactly a remake as much as a relaunch of the potential franchise. The announced cast includes Michael Clarke Duncan, Kristen Kreuk and Chris Klein. Yes, those are crickets you hear.
Fourteen years ago the idea of a Street Fighter film sounded like a good idea. The game was wildly popular in arcades and the core cast was widely known by gamers. Fourteen years later is a lifetime in gaming. Many younger gamers don’t even know the characters or their stories anymore. The heyday of fighting games has long passed. Studio executives would be better off making a Guitar Hero game, if popularity was their only concern.
So, why make another Street Fighter movie? In many ways it and Mortal Kombat (also getting a new film) are perfect for the transition to the big screen. They’re notable by name, if not story. They are basically excuses to produce cheap action films with a built-in audience for the opening weekend. Action films don’t exactly sell like they did twenty years ago, at least not on the name of an actor alone. You either need a gimmick (see Crank), or you need a known property (see the rash of comic book films). (more…)
Plenty of films get adapted into video games, but yet there are some that manage to slip through the cracks. They might not all be blockbusters at the box office, but they’d all make for interesting games. For once, let’s take films and make unique new gaming experiences out of them.
Sudden Death Much can be said of the films of Jean-Claude Van Damme, and much of that negative. However, it’s hard to deny that during the 90s he made some very enjoyable action films, including this one. The marketing pitch had to be “Die Hard in a hockey arena” and it shows. Van Damme spends much of the film in brutal one on one fight scenes and crawling around hiding from terrorists. Somehow though, if one can turn their brain off for a bit, it works at being entertaining.
Electronic Arts should snap this one up now while also snapping up exclusive rights to the NHL. Then, brand this game with the official NHL license and watch the money pour in. Sure, the NHL might not like being linked with a terrorist filled action game, but they’d love the scene where Van Damme suits up and heads on the ice. It’s a perfect match for EA Sports’ hockey game engine. One caveat, this game could not be made without voiceover work from Powers Boothe reprising his character. In fact, every game could be improved with voice work from Powers Boothe. (more…)
Just in time for your Oscar party, Sony has announced Buzz!: The Hollywood Quiz for the Playstation 2. Following up on the success of it’s successor, The Hollywood quiz looks to help the PS2 cash in on the current trend of casual gaming with over 5,000 questions and three new modes of play it looks like those nifty new controllers will be put to use for quite a while.
There are plenty of nods to Hollywood including characters from Creature of the Black Lagoon, an Arnold/Stallone look alike, a pirate, and even the presentation is reminiscent of the Oscars with a red carpet and a Oscar-esque statue in the shape of the game’s host.
Scheduled for a March 11th release, The Hollywood Quiz doesn’t seem to be straying from the same formula that worked for the other titles in the Buzz! series by keeping the same modes from the other games like Final Countdown and Top rank but they are including three new modes called True or False, Hollywood Stars, and Rollover. (more…)
This isn’t so much shocking news, except for how long it has taken. With the HD-DVD format now dead and 
To be technical, the USA is not quite in a recession yet. However, many indicators show it a time of economic down turn, even if it does not technically fit the definition of a recession. What’s the most important question during these tough economic times? How 
Fans of the documentary 
Variety reports that more of the 
Much can be said of the films of Jean-Claude Van Damme, and much of that negative. However, it’s hard to deny that during the 90s he made some very enjoyable action films, including this one. The marketing pitch had to be “Die Hard in a hockey arena” and it shows. Van Damme spends much of the film in brutal one on one fight scenes and crawling around hiding from terrorists. Somehow though, if one can turn their brain off for a bit, it works at being entertaining.
Just in time for your Oscar party, 
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