"My understanding is that they will use the engine, the Maya files where the characters come to life, but they'll be creating animated... I think it's a 20-minute cartoon. I'm personally quite intrigued to see how it comes out. Lego, every time they've had a new brand out, they've done some CGI stuff as well, but I think this will be quite different."

This would be a perfect opportunity to bring Adam West back into the Batman fold, as I can't see Batman: The Animated Series lead Kevin Conroy's voice coming out of Lego Batman's little round head.

20-minute Lego Batman cartoon in works [GI.biz]

The collector's edition will include the complete edition of the game as listed above, along with exclusive tokens allowing players to choose three of eight in-game items, a 22" by 22" cloth map of the mines, a poster, The Lord of the Rings Art and Music Collection, Collector's Edition Starter Guide, and a gold-plated version of the one ring, complete with chain and pouch. A lovely haul, but be warned - wearing a replica of the one ring in a pouch around your neck makes it completely legal for people to punch you right in the face. It's true!

And what the hell? Here's the trailer.

TURBINE ANNOUNCES distribution Partnership with warner bros. INTERACTIVE entertainment For the LORD of the rings online™: mines of moria™

North American Product Lineup Unveiled

WESTWOOD, MA – July 31, 2008 - Turbine, Inc. announced today its partnership with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to distribute The Lord of the Rings Online™: Mines of Moria™ at retail in North America. As part of the announcement, Turbine unveiled its fall product lineup which includes two titles that will be available at retail, The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Complete Edition and The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Collector’s Edition, as well as a digital only title for existing subscribers, The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Digital Expansion.

“We are excited to self publish The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria and to partner with Warner Bros. to distribute the title at retail this fall,” said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. “Mines of Moria introduces breakthrough content and features including our Legendary Item system that will revolutionize the way players advance and customize their unique heroes.”

The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria expands the online world of Middle-earth™ to let players continue the ultimate interactive adventure in the largest and most dangerous online underground environment ever created. Players will be able to explore the ancient underground cities of the dwarves, battle epic characters in the depths, face off with the Watcher, be a part of the fateful release of Durin’s Bane and more. In addition to the Legendary Item system, The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria features groundbreaking dual height map technology that creates a seamless, vast, and epic environment that brings Moria to life like never before. The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria extends the challenge to new heights with two new classes, ten additional levels and hundreds of new quests.

“Turbine has an impressive track record of creating and publishing high quality massively multiplayer online games,” said John Quinn, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Operations, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “We look forward to working with Turbine and we will leverage our experience in distributing successful premium titles with the launch of The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria this fall.”

The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria - Fall 2008 Product Lineup:

Ø The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Complete Edition will include the original The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™ game (Volume I), all content updates released since launch, and The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria (Volume II). The Complete Edition will be available at retail stores nationwide and offers new players who wish to journey through the most complete and authentic recreation of Middle-earth the full, award-winning experience.

Ø The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Collector’s Edition will feature the content of the Complete Edition as well as compelling digital and physical items for collectors. Limited quantities of the Collector’s Edition will be available at retail outlets in a unique leather-bound book packaging and will include:

· 3 exclusive tokens that can be exchanged for the player’s choice of 8 different in-game items

· 22” x 22” premium quality cloth map of the Mines of Moria

· Special gold-plated ring complete with chain and pouch

· Mines of Moria poster

· The Lord of the Rings Online Art and Music Collection with the official Mines of Moria Soundtrack

· A full color Collector’s Edition Starter Guide

Ø The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria Digital Expansion is a digital upgrade that will allow existing subscribers to The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar to continue the ultimate interactive adventure into the vast, terrifying and unparalleled world beneath Middle-earth.

The Lord of the Rings Online is the ultimate interactive adventure. This award-winning massively multiplayer online role playing game delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places and monsters from the most beloved fantasy of all time. From the picturesque surroundings of the Shire to Moria, the most fearsome underground realm ever imagined, players will experience the world of Middle-earth as never before. For more information on The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria, please visit www.lotro.com/moria.

“We are very pleased with how Guinness World Records: The Videogame looks and plays, this new development reflects the versatility of our content and how it can be tailored for almost any medium and format,” said Sam Fay, Senior Vice President of Guinness World Records. “We are sure that the game is going to be a favourite amongst all aspiring record breakers!”

Players who achieve the highest scores could even see their name appear in the official Guinness World Records book, a dream I had as a child that has since been replaced with the desperate need to avoid shitty licensed mini-games quick-fire action challenges. Guinness World Records is slated for a Fall release.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games Announce Guinness World Records™: The Videogame

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Will Publish Game on Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ in Fall 2008

BURBANK, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games are teaming up with Guinness World Records to bring Guinness World Records: The Videogame to Wii and Nintendo DS in fall 2008.

Guinness World Records: The Videogame, developed by TT Games and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, will offer players of all ages the opportunity not only to observe and marvel at the most remarkable activities in the world, but actually to participate in them.

Guinness World Records: The Videogame is full of amazing world records, giving players the opportunity to become a real world record breaker! The game’s quick-fire action challenges can be played solo, in teams, or in competitive multi-player groups.

Accessible game mechanics enable anyone to grow the longest fingernails ever seen; to walk a tightrope across the Grand Canyon; or even eat a jumbo jet. But true skill and dedication will be required to compete at the highest level. The ultimate prize: you may see your name appear in the official Guinness World Records book!

“Guinness World Record lends itself wonderfully to an interactive experience for the whole family,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director of TT Games Publishing. “We’re excited at this opportunity to team up with such a well-loved institution to create a really fresh and fun game.”

“We are very pleased with how Guinness World Records: The Videogame looks and plays, this new development reflects the versatility of our content and how it can be tailored for almost any medium and format,” said Sam Fay, Senior Vice President of Guinness World Records. “We are sure that the game is going to be a favourite amongst all aspiring record breakers!”

Guinness World Records: The Videogame launches in Fall 2008.

Eidos' parent company announced earlier this year that it would be laying off 25% of its staff and killing fourteen projects, focusing on "cornerstone" titles like Tomb Raider, Hitman, Championship Manager and Deus Ex.

Layoffs at Eidos in Light of Warner Bros. Deal? [1UP]
Lara Croft creator SCi gets cash boost [Reuters]

Warner sister company New Line confirmed it will shift allegiance to Blu-ray only as well.

Warner's other companies which include HBO and BBC, still have not announced whether they will make the shift as well, but it seems unlikely that they would go the other way. But, time is of the essence for distributors it seems as Warner CEO Barry Meyer states:

"The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger."

One more nail in the HD DVD coffin?

Warner Bros. backs Blu-ray [Variety]

"Based on the timing of the Warner Home Video announcement today, we have decided to postpone our CES 2008 press conference scheduled for Sunday, January 6th at 8:30 p.m. in the Wynn Hotel. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

We are currently discussing the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD DVD partner companies and evaluating next steps. We believe the consumer continues to benefit from HD DVD's commitment to quality and affordability - a bar that is critical for the mainstream success of any format.

We'll continue to keep you updated on new developments around HD DVD."

Yeeeeesh. Not that I think the entire format war relies on the decisions of Warner's, but it is one of the largest movie distributors and their choice will serve to start swinging things in Blu-Ray's direction. If a few more prominent companies choose this same option, we could well see an end to the format wars in the not too distant future. Man, am I glad I bought that PS3 when I had the money.

CES HD DVD Event canceled due to Warner announcement [Wesleytech.com]

Days after announcing an agreement to purchase a 10% stake in SCi and distribute Eidos titles in the states, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announces another agreement, this time with the UK-based Codemasters. The agreement gives Warner the rights to manage the distribution, sales, and trade marketing of titles such as DIRT: Colin McRae Off-Road, the darkly comic Overlord, Clive Barker's Jericho, and many more over the next two years.

So that makes two UK game publishers using Warner Bros. as a distribution channel now, and I would hazard a guess that this isn't the last agreement like this that we will see from the entertainment giant. Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens says it best:

"Codemasters continues to strengthen its content and distribution, and as the reach of our product portfolio broadens to a global audience, there can be no more effective alliance than to have the world's largest entertainment corporation handling the line in the single largest market.

WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT TO OVERSEE CODEMASTERS' NORTH AMERICAN VIDEOGAME DISTRIBUTION

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Warner Home Video Will Implement Distribution for Upcoming Slate of Games in 2007 and 2008

Burbank, Calif., December 19, 2006 - Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group has entered into a videogame distribution agreement with Codemasters, Inc. for distribution and sales of its product slate in North America beginning in April 2007.

Within Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will work together with Warner Home Video in managing the distribution, sales and trade marketing of Codemasters' portfolio of videogames.

"This partnership allows the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group divisions to combine strengths to distribute Codemasters' games, which have global appeal, throughout North America," said Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. "Employing the expertise of our gaming division and our powerful home video distribution services, we will bring Codemasters' products to consumers within the ever-growing gaming marketplace."

"We greet this arrangement to work with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group with great enthusiasm," commented Rod Cousens, Chief Executive Officer, Codemasters Ltd. "Codemasters continues to strengthen its content and distribution, and as the reach of our product portfolio broadens to a global audience, there can be no more effective alliance than to have the world's largest entertainment corporation handling the line in the single largest market. The commitment of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group can only benefit the progress and scale of our future releases targeted at the North American consumer."

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group is scheduled to distribute Codemasters' videogame titles in North America from April 2007 through May 2008 Titles include: DIRT: Colin McRae Off-Road, Overlord, Clive Barker's Jericho, Turning Point: Fall of Liberty and more.

# # #

Warner Bros. Entertainment has announced that it will be investing in Eidos' parent company SCi Entertainment Group. The investment will represent 10.3 percent of the company's enlarged share capital. As part of the investment Warner Bros. has granted licenses to some pretty major properties to SCi, including Looney Tunes, The OC, and the comic book version of Batman, which means we can look forward to an all new bad Batman game soon! YAY!

"Investing in SCi further solidifies our commitment to the rapidly growing interactive and gaming space," said Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. "This deal is consistent with our core strategy of delivering high quality entertainment based on some of the world's best-loved brands for all formats and channels. We look forward to working with SCi to build games the fans of these brands will truly enjoy."

Full press release after the jump

WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT TO INVEST IN SCi ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, LEADING VIDEO GAMES PUBLISHER

WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT TO LICENSE KEY PROPERTIES FOR GAME DEVELOPMENT AND PRIMARY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES

Burbank, Calif., December 15, 2006 - Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. will make an investment in SCi Entertainment Group plc, ('SCi' Epic code: SEG) the parent company of publishing label Eidos Interactive Ltd, representing 10.3 percent of the company's enlarged share capital. Additionally, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and SCi have entered into an agreement for licensing and distribution of games based on select Warner Bros. Entertainment properties. The investment, licensing and distribution agreements are all pending SCi shareholder approval.

A part of the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) has granted the licenses to SCi for the comic book version of Batman, the Looney Tunes, select titles from the Hanna-Barbera catalog and television properties The OC, Loonatics Unleashed and Legion of Super Heroes.

In addition, Eidos and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group have entered into a primary distribution agreement under which Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group will provide warehousing, logistics, merchandising and media buying services in the United States to Eidos. Eidos will continue to run, through its US publishing office, all other aspects of its US operations including manufacturing, sales, marketing and PR.

"Investing in SCi further solidifies our commitment to the rapidly growing interactive and gaming space," said Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. "This deal is consistent with our core strategy of delivering high quality entertainment based on some of the world's best-loved brands for all formats and channels. We look forward to working with SCi to build games the fans of these brands will truly enjoy."

Jane Cavanagh, Chief Executive of SCi, said, "These agreements represent a further step in SCi's development as one of the world's leading publishers of interactive entertainment. The licensed properties extend and strengthen our product portfolio through globally recognized titles such as Batman, Looney Tunes including brands such as Bugs Bunny and the classic Hanna-Barbera catalogue including brands such as Tom and Jerry.

"The properties also include content with a broad demographic appeal. Significantly, the partnership with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group in the United States links us to the distribution network and buying power of one the world's largest media companies. The additional investment provides us with the firepower to accelerate growth initiatives such as increasing our development capacity and our new media and online strategies."

Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment has licensed the rights for selected intellectual properties to SCi. SCi's publishing label Eidos will develop videogames based on the properties. The licenses are:

Batman. The license enables Eidos to create games based the on comic book version of the DC Comics' renowned super hero.

Looney Tunes. Eidos will create games using the library of Looney Tunes characters, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Road Runner and Speedy Gonzales and more, for handheld platforms.

Hanna-Barbera catalog. Eidos will develop up to twelve games based on a number of individual characters in the classic Hanna-Barbera catalogue including Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones, Wacky Races, Yogi Bear and Huckleberry Hound.

The OC. The license is for the interactive rights to the long running global TV series The OC, based around the lives of teenagers in Orange County, California.

Other animated properties. Eidos has also signed license agreements relating to the children's animated TV programs, Loonatics Unleashed and Legion of Super Heroes.

# # #

Just when Sony's UMD format seemed to be dead as disco, Warner Bros. comes along and shows how it can be profitable. Warner Home Video originally announced discounted UMD movies, selling for 980 yen (US $8.50) a piece. However, the company decided to remove the limitation and hoped that would mean higher sales. They were right. Over ten times as many UMD movies have been moved since the permanent sale began. So far, titles include:

The Last Samurai, Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve, Enter the Dragon, Batman Begins, The Island, Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Black Diamond, The Goonies, Tom and Jerry, the Harry Potter movies and The Matrix trilogy.

I've always thought the idea that UMDs should be priced the same as DVDs to be, well, dumb. And, Warner is showing that there is a market for the format as long as the price is right. I'm totally going to pick up Enter the Dragon, Batman Begins and The Goonies. Here's hoping other companies follow suit. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [PSP Vault]