Category: Video Games

Hitman IS going to be R-Rated

Hitman the Movie

The rumour mills worked overtime yesterday, to bring in some phoney news about the Hitman movie being watered down for a PG-13 release. Looks like it was all lies. We’ve got news (or rather, confirmation) that Hitman is heading straight for an R-rating and will not compromise on gore, violence and all that stuff.

Director Xavier Gens is still on the project and is apparently confused as to why the rumours wanted him out of the project. Thank the lord for this news. I was under the impression that just once they make a good video game-movie and blam, they censor it out. Let’s hope we’re getting all that blood and gore we wanted.

A day of woe: EA buys Bioware, Pandemic

Mass Effect screenshot

’tis truly a sad day in the gaming industry. Two of our most loved game developers, Bioware and Pandemic have been bought by the corporate giant that is EA. Well, I don’t need to list EA’s evils before you, but let’s just say that they are a large corporation, and Microsoft and Sony are also large corporations.

Bioware is one of the most popular and trusted game developers in the industry, standing by the likes of Valve, Epic, Bungie and so on. Their forté was RPGs and not just any RPGs, but really good ones. Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, Baldur’s Gate series, and for God’s sake, Mass Effect, all of them are from Bioware. With EA’s acquisition, we may just be looking at a writhing death for any more awesome titles like these.

Also, Bioware is working on a top-secret MMORPG project for release somewhere in the future. EA is now going to get all the cash. EA’s CFO Warren Jensen stated bluntly: “”In fiscal 2009 and 2010, we expect the BioWare and Pandemic properties to deliver revenue in excess of $300 million annually.” That made me chuckle. Halo 3 brought in that much in a week. But it does make you wonder: Is the Bioware/EA acquisition headed for a model similar to the Bungie/Microsoft one?

Pandemic Studios is famous for its Mercenaries and Star Wars: Battlefront lines of games. They also created Destroy All Humans! and its sequel, two fun games that went unnoticed. Again, all their base now belongs to EA. They have no chance to survive, make their time.

The total deal has cost EA $860 million, which is more than a hole in the pocket. Regardless, it could be possible that EA is not only trying to diversify its portfolio, but gain a substantial lead over its competitors. Besides, Pandemic is known for its LucasArts games (Mercenaries, Battlefront) and one of Bioware’s finest is also an LA title (Knights of the Old Republic). Is EA trying to humiliate LA? Is LA going to strike back? Are both LA and EA fronts of an organization planning to take over the gaming industry? God, I hope so.

Toshiba: HD-DVD sells more than Blu-ray, more laughing at Sony

Toshiba HD-DVD

One of technology’s more heated battles is between the HD-DVD and Blu-ray storage formats, a rivalry comparable to Windows/Linux/Mac, UT/Quake 3 and Sony/Microsoft. The latest strike has been made, and Toshiba reports that HD-DVD is in the lead!

HD-DVD players began to outsell Blu-ray ones since about mid-September, according to NPD sales figures. Jodi Sally, Toshiba VP for marketing of digital A/V products said that year to date, according to NPD figures, HD DVD players command 53% of sales; Blu-ray players, 44%; dual format players, 3%. The lead may sound marginal, but it may just herald a dark future for Blu-ray.

Sony managed to woo many customers to their camp of evil when they released a cheaper version of Blu-ray players, and attained a status of absolute win. Sally says that the victory was short-lived and that HD-DVD still dominates the scene. Sony can be seen crying in that corner again, like last week (or the week before).

And as for the PC, Toshiba expects 5 million HD-DVD drives to be sold in the fiscal year 2008.  With this, they seek to compete further against the atrocities of Sony’s Blu-ray. What is Toshiba’s master plan?

Toshiba believes more people are buying PC HD DVD drives with the pure intention to watch high-def movies than people who are buying the PS3. Sources have estimated that just 20% of PS3 owners have played movies on the machine.

Where will war turn next? Will Blu-ray strike back? Will Toshiba merge with Sony to form the Imperial Japanese Electronics corporations and attack American shores? We can only hope wait.

[Via Video Business]

Super Smash Bros Brawl Delayed

Super Smash Bros Melee

It appears that Nintendo has delayed the Japanese release of the upcoming Super Smash Bros Brawl. What was supposed to be released this year is now To Be Determined! Nintendo has said that the game won’t be released until sometime after January 28, 2008.

What kind of impact will this have on the other territory debuts of Super Smash Bros Brawl, no one exactly knows. It’s possible that Nintendo will push the American version to a release date of 2008 as well.

My guess is that Nintendo is focusing on the American version first and foremost. Nintendo may need the extra man power from the other versions to focus in on the American version. Considering that Super Smash Bros Brawl took off in the States and is what convinced people to buy a Gamecube, Nintendo needs Super Smash Bros Brawl in its Holiday 07 lineup.

But as of right now everything is up in the air.

Sonic in Super Smash Bros Brawl

It’s about time Sonic the Hedgehog receives a decent game! Ever since the demise of the Dreamcast is seems like his games are on the utter-crap rictor scale. Thankfully Nintendo is coming in to save the day and is bringing Sonic the Hedgehog into Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Let the fanboy celebration begin!

From the looks of the new SSBB trailer, Sonic is going to be a kick-ass character as he was always meant to be!

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