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‘Destiny’ The Next Game From Halo Creators, Says Source
Bungie’s follow-up to the Halo series is a massively multiplayer online first-person shooter, according to a source claiming to have knowledge of the game’s development. That sci-fi shooter is currently named Destiny, he says, Bungie’s original post-Halo franchise. That source also claims to be a recently terminated contractor, part of a group of an estimated…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 17, 2011 -
Rest In Peace, Bizarre Creations
On Friday, February 18, the studio behind video game greats like Project Gotham Racing and Geometry Wars will close its doors forever. The Activision-owned studio has no buyer and its most recent game, James Bond 007: Blood Stone, will be its last. As already announced by Activision, Bizarre Creations will end its 15-year-long life as…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 14, 2011 -
This Is The Video Game Reinvention Of Toys, Or So The People Behind Call of Duty Hope
The next big thing in action figures is “interaction figures.” That’s the pitch we heard today during a showcase event in New York City for a revival of the video game hero Spyro the Dragon as part of a band of toys that interact with video games. Spyro will be one of at least 30…
By Stephen Totilo Published February 11, 2011 -
Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure Brings Toys And Video Games Together
What if you could pick up a toy at Toys “R” Us, bring it home, and then upload it into a video game as a playable character? That’s the concept behind Activision’s Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure. It’s a new Spyro game, but Spyro the Dragon is just one of many characters Activision is bringing to life…
By Mike Fahey Published February 11, 2011 -
DJ Hero, Guitar Hero Downloads Dry Up
Publisher Activision is getting out of the Hero business. That means no new DJ Hero and Guitar Hero games (at least for 2011), but it also means no new downloadable songs for the games it has already released. The official “Guitar Hero Franchise Update FAQ” breaks the bad—but not wholly unexpected—news that after the release…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 10, 2011 -
The Creators Of Guitar Hero ‘Sad To Hear’ Of Its Demise
Even though their biggest competitor in the rhythm video game genre is now essentially dead, the people who started the Guitar Hero franchise say they were saddened to hear that Activision had put the seminal music game to sleep. Harmonix Music Systems, who created the original Guitar Hero, call the discontinuation of Guitar Hero and…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 10, 2011 -
Some Strange New Video Game Toys Are Coming
Tetris The Card Game. It exists. I plan to see it this weekend. I plan to see lots of great (and maybe) silly toys, because I’ll be at Toy Fair a multi-day expo in New York City. The biggest video-game-related toy coming out of the event may be whatever mystery toy/game/who-knows that Activision boss Bobby…
By Stephen Totilo Published February 10, 2011 -
Activision Blizzard Loses An Ancient European Court Appeal
In 2009, the EU let Nintendo (slightly) off the hook when it reduced the company’s fine for engaging in price-fixing during the 1990’s. Well, Activision asked for a similar reduction in its fine (same case), and has been denied
By Luke Plunkett Published February 10, 2011 -
Call Of Duty For China Is Free To Play
The people who publish Call of Duty have been talking about their plans to bring more players into the online multiplayer fold, specifically targeting Asian players. Today, Activision finally divulged some details on its Chinese Call of Duty plans. Activision plans to follow the model made successful by countless MMOs and first-person shooters targeted at…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 9, 2011 -
Tony Hawk, Music Games Get The Year Off At Activision
There will be no skateboarding games, no music games coming from Tony Hawk and Guitar Hero publisher Activision in 2011. That means no DJ Hero 3 to play and no Tony Hawk games to stand on this year. And, oh yeah, no Guitar Hero games
By Michael McWhertor Published February 9, 2011 -
Mystery Game Studio Called Beachhead Will Improve Our Call Of Duty
What is Beachhead? It’s the name of a new game studio we just heard about today. Bobby Kotick, the man in charge of Call of Duty publisher Activision dropped it during a phone call today. All we know about Beachhead is that Kotick promises that the team is making an “innovative new digital platform” and…
By Stephen Totilo Published February 9, 2011 -
Activision Just Killed Guitar Hero And True Crime
Publisher Activision has just added a few more games and maybe one more development studio to its kill count. A now partially confirmed report says that the mega-publisher has axed the Guitar Hero franchise, killed its True Crime reboot and fired much of Freestyle Games. Update: Activision confirms that Guitar Hero and True Crime: Hong…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 9, 2011 -
Veteran’s Group Warns Of The Post-Traumatic Stress Dangers Of Call Of Duty
Hundreds of thousands of U.S. war veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder brought on by their experiences on the front lines. According to Stay Strong Nation, games like Call of Duty: Black Ops can bring those experiences rushing back. Stay Strong Nation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping U.S. war veterans cope with post-traumatic…
By Mike Fahey Published February 9, 2011 -
Duty Calls Is A Quick And Brutal Stab At Call Of Duty
Look away, Call of Duty fans. Bulletstorm’s Duty Calls parody game viciously sums up the Call of Duty experience in one painfully funny four-minute experience complete with boring briefings, bloody screens, and the obligatory slow-motion shoot-out. Watch us play it. If you plan on downloading and playing Duty Calls, don’t watch this video. It’s a…
By Mike Fahey Published February 2, 2011 -
Are Angry Fans Really Ruining Video Games?
Josh Olin, Community Manager at Call of Duty: Black Ops developers Treyarch, thinks that “pundits” and “angry entitled fans” are ruining creativity in video games. They’re not. In an interview with NowGamer, Olin – who admittedly must wade knee-deep through stupid questions from assholes as part of his job – says the following: Personally, as…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 2, 2011 -
Over 60 Billion Dead In The Battle of Call of Duty: Black Ops
Since its launch in November, Treyarch’s Call of Duty: Black Ops has racked up more than 5 billion headshots, downed more than a billion aircraft and killed virtual soldiers to the tune of nine times the world’s population. That’s about 62 billion and change, based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s world population clock Activision hit…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 1, 2011 -
Classic PC Games Site Will Return — With Activision’s Authorization
Though the front of Sarien.net still says the site hosting classic Sierra PC games has gone dark, its owner, Martin Kool, says that it’s secured permission from Activision and will “become an authorized game portal with a bright future.” Sarien.net had operated without attracting attention since 2009, hosting Space Quest, Police Quest, King’s Quest and…
By Owen Good Published January 29, 2011 -
Old Sierra Games Host Gets C&D From Activision
Sarien.net is formerly the site where you could play, for free, classic Sierra games, such as Police Quest, in your browser. We say “formerly” because Activision owns that stuff now, and its lawyer-mans sent them a letter. “Well folks, that’s that. It was a blast,” reads the site’s front page. “So long and thanks for…
By Owen Good Published January 28, 2011 -
Game Artist Don Barnes Fatally Stabbed In Attempt To Stop Fight
Donald Barnes Jr., a video game artist formerly of EA Sports and Activision and the father of two children, was fatally stabbed earlier this week in Oak Park, California. According to police, Don Barnes was assaulted after attempting to intervene in a fight between a man and woman outside of his apartment. Police have arrested…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 28, 2011
