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Kung Fu Panda Had The Best Video Game Animation Of 2008. Conversation Over.
Kung Fu Panda? Says who? Says the International Animated Film Society, that’s who. The video game based on Dreamworks Animation’s movie of the same name just scored an Annie, beating out Dead Space and Wall·E. The 36th Annual Annie Awards threw down this past weekend, honoring the best that animated things have to offer, whether…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 2, 2009 -
Ludlum Rep Says Jason Bourne In The Hands Of “Grown Ups Now”
Seems Robert Ludlum’s estate was no fan of Vivendi’s The Bourne Conspiracy. Keith Boesky, who represents the interests of Robert Ludlum, says of the new deal with Electronic Arts, “We’re dealing with grown ups now.” Ludlum Entertainment and EA announced earlier today that they had signed a deal to develop games based on the late…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 2, 2009 -
Activision Boss Confirms Existence Of DJ Hero
If Activision’s filing of the trademark for DJ Hero and real-life DJ Paul Oakenfold’s verbal approval of the rhythm game wasn’t ample evidence of the still-unannounced project, hearing it straight from Activision’s boss should be. CEO Bobby Kotick matter-of-factly spoke of the game, rumored to be handled by Activision’s recently acquired FreeStyleGames and detailed first…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 30, 2009 -
Guitar Hero World Tour Finds Oasis Today
Guitar Hero World Tour owners thirsty for new content can drink in Oasis’ latest, as Activision has made Dig Out Your Soul available as downloadable content. What can you look forward to? In addition to the Oasis tracks already released for World Tour, fake rockers can now jam to “The Turning,” “I’m Outta Time,” “(Get…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 29, 2009 -
World Tour’s February DLC Gives You Wings
Activision has dropped details on their February lineup of downloadable content for Guitar Hero: World Tour, with a selection of slightly newer tunes followed by some decidedly older favorites. Incubus, The Shins, and Ryan Adams kick the month off on February 12th with an acoustic track pack featuring “Drive”, “New Slang”, and Ryans’ version of…
By Mike Fahey Published January 27, 2009 -
Guitar Hero Metallica: There Will Be No Cliff Burton
The upcoming Guitar Hero: Metallica will feature the band’s four current members. And just those four. Those hoping for a digital reincarnation of deceased former bassist Cliff Burton need to stop hoping. Speaking with MTV, the game’s lead designer Alan Flores responded to a question about Burton’s inclusion with: I think I can definitely say…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 27, 2009 -
World Tour Outsells Rock Band 2
News flash. The NPD Group have compiled the all-format sales of 2008’s biggest music titles, Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band 2, and found that the Activision franchise was the winner. Combined sales of GHWT were 3.4 million. Combined sales of Rock Band 2? 1.7 million. That’s a convenient 2:1 ratio. Why/how did this…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 26, 2009 -
Here, The Full Guitar Hero: Metallica Tracklist
We don’t need ESRB leaks. Metallica themselves have gone one better and released the full, complete tracklist for the upcoming Guitar Hero: Metallica on the band’s website. And it’s a good one. You’ll find most of the band’s older classics represented (“One”, “Master of Puppets”, “For Whom The Bell Tolls”, etc), and should also find…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 23, 2009 -
More Guitar Hero: Metallica Tracks Revealed By ESRB
The slow drip of song reveals from Guitar Hero: Metallica continues, thanks not to Activision or the media, but the ESRB. We’ll know the full tracklisting next week, reportedly, but here are three more songs. According to the ESRB’s description, Guitar Hero: Metallica features some potentially objectionable lyrics. Specifically in Social Distortion’s “Mommy’s Little Monster,”…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 23, 2009 -
Forbes Writer Stands By Calling Rock Band A “Shameless Knockoff” Of Guitar Hero
Earlier this week, Forbes writer Peter C. Beller made a tit of himself when he swallowed some Activision PR and reprinted it in his article on Bobby Kotick. Today, surprisingly, he stands by it. To recap, in the original piece, Beller called Rock Band a “shameless knockoff” of Guitar Hero, seemingly oblivious of the fact…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 23, 2009 -
Monsters Vs. Aliens – The Trailer Of The Game Of The Movie
Activision has released a trailer for their movie tie-in with the upcoming Dreamworks Animation 3D feature film Monsters vs. Aliens, and it actually doesn’t look half bad. Sure, it’s a movie tie-in, but lately Activision’s movie tie-ins have managed to be somewhat enjoyable. Kung-Fu Panda in particular was a game I could actually play all…
By Mike Fahey Published January 21, 2009 -
Bobby Kotick Hits The Cover Of Forbes, Does Not Worry
Activision boss Bobby “What, Me Worry?” Kotick is hot stuff right now, and in Bobby’s world, it doesn’t get much hotter than appearing on the cover of Forbes, wielding a plastic guitar like a battleaxe. Backing up that cover pic is, of course, a lengthy article on the man. Profiling the rise and rise of…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 19, 2009 -
Preorder GH Metallica, Get A Second Foot Pedal
Guitar Hero Metallica’s not exactly what the marketing department team calls a hard sell. But for those still umming and aahhing about it? GameStop are breaking out the freebies. Anyone preordering the title from the mega chain will receive a free foot pedal. Handy because the game supports two feet pedals! Handy because you’ll also…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 19, 2009 -
Chicago Wants A “Horn Hero,” Apparently
Pop-rock-jazz outfit Chicago doesn’t want anyone, especially Activision, to encroach on the soon-to-be-burgeoning trumpet, sax, and trombone video game scene. Therefore, Chicago has protected “Horn Hero” to prevent anyone else from making said video game. Sorry Harmonix, but the four decade old band has filed trademarks with the US Patent and Trademark Office for a…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 16, 2009 -
Guitar Hero: Metallica Dated For North America
Metallica’s own Guitar Hero game will be riding the lightning on its way to retail shelves on March 29 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, according to the band’s official site. The second-class consoles, Wii and PlayStation 2, will get their own versions of Guitar Hero: Metallica, but not until Spring, which translates to…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 15, 2009 -
Guitar Hero Metallica Sort Of Dated For Europe
Guitar Hero Metallica still doesn’t have a firm release date in the US (though rumours suggest March). Doesn’t have one in Europe, either, but it does have a firm release month. And that month is May, Activision confirmed to Eurogamer yesterday. A two-month wait for PAL users seems a bit much, but then, with Kyuss,…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 15, 2009 -
New Game Informer Reveals Activision’s Singularity
The February issue of Game Informer drops a “world exclusive” on us, Activision and Raven Software’s Singularity. What is it? A sci-fi shooter, if you can possibly believe that. According to the magazine’s teaser, Singularity “features mind-bending gameplay that not only has the player jumping through time, but using it as a weapon.” You get…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 13, 2009 -
Here is Your X-Men Origins Wolverine in 3D
Who needs screen shots when you have 3D SCREENSHOTS! X-Men Origins: Wolverine, is apparently so cool it can’t fit into just two Ds, so Activision dropped this interactive screenshot on us. Super-cool 3D effect aside, this really doesn’t give me much to see in the way of the game.
By Brian Crecente Published January 12, 2009 -
Guitar Hero III Becomes Highest-Grossing Game Ever
Guitar Hero’s big business. Multiple versions, multiple consoles, it’s a big hit. But are you prepared for just how big a hit it is, or for how important it is to publishers Activision? Well, according to Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith, Guitar Hero III has become the first single game in the history of the…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 12, 2009 -
X-Men Origins: Wolverine Site Launches
Invitations to “slash it up!” on the freshly-launched X-Men Origins: Wolverine site make me distinctly uncomfortable. That’s probably because I associate the word “slash” with the tender love expressed between two men in fanfiction written by thirteen-year-old girls. Not with the beloved Canadian X-Man who’s getting his own movie and accompanying game later this year.…
By AJ Glasser Published January 9, 2009