Puittin' On The Ritz...

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Bruckheimer Incubates With MTV...

MTV Games, a division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks has announced an exclusive deal with motion picture/television producer Jerry Bruckheimer to develop and create new and original video games, marking his first official foray into the gaming world.

As part of this agreement, Bruckheimer will build a 'game incubation studio' with MTV Games, where a team will deliver new game concepts and intellectual property.

"Video games represent a new and innovative medium for what we've always tried to do, which is to tell great stories," said Bruckheimer.

"But this medium is unique in that it gives the player control over how those stories unfold".

Execs from both MTV Games and Bruckheimer's gaming studio will work together on all phases of development, from concept to platform, as well as production, distribution and marketing elements, with the potential that some of game concepts migrating to other media including film/TV.

MTV Networks will support the venture across its broadcast and digital platforms including CMT, MTV, Spike and VH1.

Gaming is a focal point of MTV Networks' overall vertical entertainment strategy of 'super-serving' its audiences with experiences across multiple platforms.

Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Television have won six Oscars, 16 Emmys, five Grammys and four Golden Globes...

Natural "Bourne" Killers...

"Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy" will be released Summer 2008 from Sierra Entertainment and developer High Moon Studios:

"...You are the perfect weapon. You are Jason Bourne. Robert Ludlum's best-selling spy novels and blockbuster film adaptations have thrilled millions. Now become Ludlum's most famous spy Jason Bourne, going deeper than ever into his world of espionage and conspiracy. A signature Jason Bourne video game experience is born in an original title fusing the viscous tension and depth of the novels with the aggressive style and frenetic action of the films.

Become Jason Bourne, a 30 million dollar weapon on the loose, in action-packed original missions and sequences inspired by The Bourne Identity. Go deeper into the Bourne mythos than ever before, experiencing Bourne as both ruthless agent and wanted assassin on the run from his own agency. Move from firefights to fistfights in sequences that seamlessly blend shooting with hand-to-hand combat. Employ signature Bourne techniques to weaponize, improvise, always survive -- pull off heart-pounding escapes, memorable fight moves, acrobatic gun play, and devastating takedowns..."

Sneak Peek "Aliens Vs Predator- Requiem"

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Ghostbusters Goes Ballroom Blitz...

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Buffy Preps For "American McGee's Alice"...

Universal Pictures and Collision Entertainment are prepping production on the film "Alice", based on the 2000 video game "American McGee's Alice".

The horror fantasy film will shoot in Langley, BC starring actress Sarah Michelle "Buffy" Gellar as 'Alice'.

Story begins after Alice's second adventure, "Through the Looking Glass", when she loses her parents, becomes catatonic and institutionalized in 'Rutledge Asylum'.

Years later, she is summoned by the 'White Rabbit' to come back to 'Wonderland', now under the despotic rule of the 'Red Queen'.

Director is Marcus Nispel, from a script by Erich and Jon Hober, based on author Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass".

Producers are Scott Faye and Julie Yorn.

"Alice' is set for a July 2008 release...

Alien Sex Creates A "Mass Effect"...

Singapore has banned Microsoft's "Mass Effect" video game for a scene showing a human woman and 'alien' woman, "kissing and caressing each other".

"Mass Effect" was banned by Singapore's Media Development Authority.

It is the first Microsoft video game to be banned in the city-state.

Singapore previously banned Sony's "God Of War 2" for nudity and unlisted Top Cow's "The Darkness" for excessive violence and religiously offensive expletives...

Nate Dog!

Saturday night I lined out this fun cover up tattoo. Check out the old Betty Paige piece (actually the second tattoo I ever did!) that won't be there much longer.

Gans Fights For "Onimusha"...

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As studios ramp up production slates before the contract for the Screen Actors Guild expires July 1, 2008, director Christophe "Brotherhood Of The Wolf" Gans will adapt Capcom video game "Onimusha' as a feature, with an April 2008 start.

The game debuted in 2001 on PlayStation 2 with 4 sequels produced, including "Onimusha: Dawn Of Dreams", released in 2006.

"Onimusha" the film will be set in feudal Japan, 1582, as warlord 'Nobunaga' is ambushed by ninjas, led by the samurai 'Samanosuke'. Nobunaga commits 'seppuku' but two sorcerers reanimate his corpse with half-human insect larvae. Resurrected Nobunaga plans his revenge, by ordering the capture of two women.

When 'Britta', daughter of a Dutch merchant is abducted on board a ship by warriors, her tutor 'Jacob' pursues the captors. 'Princess Yuki' is also kidnapped by part-spider ninjas. Meanwhile Jacob discovers in the 'Cave of Elders', a magical sword and learns of a ceremony at 'Inabayama Castle' intended to blot out the sun.

Invading the castle, the team of Samanosuke and Jacob find their women dressed as 'Moon Princess' and 'Daughter of the Sun', ready to be wed to Nobunaga.

The two warriors attack the insectoid hordes, but Samanosuke falls.

Then in a 'mystical' encounter, he is given an option to survive and fight, but at a heavy cost...

No Payne, No Gain...

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20th Century Fox is ramping up their production slate, before next summer's anticipated strike by the Screen Actors Guild, on the heels of the current Writers Guild of America strike that started today.

In the wake of greenlights for "X-Files 2" and "The Day The Earth Stood Still", video game adaptation "Max Payne" is also headed for the big screen.

The original "Max Payne" game focused on anti-hero 'Max Payne', an undercover DEA agent in New York City, strung-out over the destruction of his family by a group of junkies.

When an undercover meeting goes bad, Max gets mixed up in the middle of a turf war, becomes a suspect in a crime he didn’t commit, then takes the law into his own hands...

"Elan" Awards Show Feb 15, 2008...

"As the movie industry goes to Hollywood for its Oscars, so will the world of video gaming and animation come to Canada for their 'Elans'," said Holly Carinci, Founder, Producer of the Canadian Awards for the Electronic and Animated Arts (CAEAA), as she announced the 2nd Annual Awards Show for the Video Gaming/Animation industries will take place February 15th, 2008, at The Centre in Vancouver for the Performing Arts.

Extending the Elan’s qualifying year to December 31st, the 2nd Annual Elan Awards will accept submissions for productions/games made publicly available (student’s work need not be publicly available, only completed) from July 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007.

All submissions for the 2nd Annual Elan Awards are due Friday, December 21st. This extension will allow the participation of upcoming games including "Halo 3", "Crysis", "Guitar Hero III", "Need for Speed ProStreet", "Super Mario Galaxy" and "BioShock" to qualify.

Official Hotelier of the Elans is the Sutton Place Hotel, Vancouver.

The CAEAA and their Event Partners Electronic Arts (EA), Autodesk, N-GAGE by NOKIA, Ernst & Young and the British Columbia Provincial Government will host the event, backed by supporters Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang LLP, Annex Pro, Foundation 9/Backbone Entertainment, Radical Entertainment, Next Level Games, Studio B Productions, Mercury Filmworks, Action Pants, Atomic Robot Games, Blue Castle Games, Voicebox Productions, Western Imperial Magnetics, 90 Degree Software, David Kaye Productions, Raven Tales, Selkirk College, The Art Institute of Vancouver, Emily Carr Institute, Sheridan College, Vancouver Film School, School of Interactive Arts and Technology (SFU), University of Washington Department of Communications, BC Film, Vancouver Economic Development Commission, Tourism Vancouver, BC Innovation Council, Uniglobe Advance Travel, Elan statuette artist Dean Lauzé of D’Arts, FedEx, Paramount Limousines, Chloe Angus Designs, Moore’s Clothing for Men, Awards Auditing firm, Buckley Dodds & Assoc's.

HollywoodNorthReport, SneakPeek.Ca and BigGameHunter are delighted to continue our second year of coverage of this event...

LucasArts Gets Interactive With BioWare...

San Francisco-based LucasArts and Edmonton, Alberta's BioWare Corp. have entered into an agreement to create an 'interactive entertainment' product.

The product will be developed/published by BioWare and LucasArts "...and will push the boundaries of the gaming market..."

"LucasArts has a deep commitment to developing compelling stories and characters for the unique medium of interactive entertainment," said Jim Ward, president of LucasArts.

"Through our previous collaborations, we know that BioWare has an impressive ability to blend gripping stories with technological advancements..."

"BioWare's mission is to deliver the best story and character-driven games in the world," said Ray Muzyka, chief executive officer, BioWare Corp.

BioWare developed the LucasArts-published "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic" on Xbox and PC...

Capcom Animated Over "Resident Evil"...

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Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan and games maker Capcom will produce the 3-D, CG animated feature "Biohazard: Degeneration", based on the "Resident Evil" films and games.

Skedded for a 2008 release, the movie will be based on the creations of Shinji Mikami developed with Capcom for the Sony PlayStation.

Since its debut in 1996, "Resident Evil" games have sold more than 33 million units worldwide...

"3rd Space" Puts The Squeeze On Gamers...

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US surgeon Mark Ombrellaro has devised a way for video game players to 'feel' gun-shots, knife-wounds and body-slams, with a vest that uses air pressure and feedback from computer games to deliver pneumatic thumps.

The "3rd Space" vest will make its debut in November, launched with a new title for the first-person shooter game "Call of Duty".

"It was originally designed as a medical device," Ombrellaro said.

A "3rd Space" vest that mimics G-forces for flight games will be launched in 2008...

Tell Me Wii: Nintendo Worth $85 Billion...

Nintendo has announced it has surpassed a staggering $85 billion in market value, making it the world's most valuable entertainment company.

The company's stock price tripled in 2007 to $608 a share due to international sales of 'Wii', 'DS' gaming consoles and accompanying software.

Noted for "Super Mario" video games, the company also targets women and older adults, with 'brain training' and fitness software.

The upcoming Nintendo lineup includes "Super Mario Galaxy", "Wii Fit", "Super Smash Bros. Brawl", "Guitar Hero 3", "Manhunt 2," Capcom's "Resident Evil: Nintendo Chronicles" and a new game created by Steven Spielberg...

EA Plugs Into BioWare/Pandemic...

Electronic Arts (EA) has purchased indie developers BioWare and Pandemic Studios, from private equity firm Elevation Partners, for a reported $860 million.

Edmonton, Alberta-based BioWare, specializing in 'role-playing' games, made "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic" for LucasArts and will be releasing Microsoft's "Mass Effect" in November.

Los Angeles-based Pandemic focuses on 'action-adventure' games, producing LucasArts' "Star Wars Battlefront" with a deal to distribute "Mercenaries 2" through EA.

EA makes games based on "The Lord of the Rings", "Harry Potter" and the "Sims".

Intending to expand BioWare and Pandemic into mobile, EA expects the two developers to generate more than $300 million in each of their next two fiscal years.

New Line Shifts Into "Gears Of War"....

Screenwriter Stuart "Collateral" Beattie continues developing his script for New Line's film adaptation of the Microsoft/Epic video game "Gears of War", with Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey producing through their Temple Hill Productions.

Premise of the "Gears" movie, set on the planet 'Sera' will focus on the 'Locust' aliens and a group of elite soldiers led by 'Marcus Fennix'.

"It's an epic sci-fi war and an enormous film," said Beattie.

"Gears of War" the motion picture is targeted for a 2009 release.

Star Wars: The Streets of San Francisco...

Arad Searches For "EverQuest"...

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According to reports, Sony Pictures and producer Avi "Bratz" Arad will bring Sony Online Entertainment's 3-D multiplayer role-playing fantasy game "EverQuest" to the big screen.

Michael "300" Gordon will write the screenplay.

"EverQuest" is set in the world of 'Norrath', inhabited by 14 races including humans, ogres, elves and hybrids, with on-line players creating avatars to slay monsters, embark on quests or acquire treasure.

At Marvel Studios, Arad produced "Spider-Man", "Fantastic Four" and "Blade"...

The Heat Is On At Threewave Bar-B-Q...

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Sneak Peek's Michael Stevens @ Vidfest...

Wednesday evening it was a bike ride over to Homer Street and the Threewave Software Rooftop Patio party, sponsored by New Media BC & WIGI. Framed by the Vancouver skyline and fortified by Red Truck lager, animators, gamers and developers enjoyed grilled lamb, beef and chicken burgers.

Threewave is noted as a triple-A game studio, hiring local talent and providing content for Activision's "Castle Wolfenstein" and Lucas Arts "Jedi Academy"...

Robert Barrett, Blue Castle Games, Lynda Donnachie, Blue Castle, Patricia Elliott, Canadian Dept. of Foreign Affairs, International Trade

Nicole Benda, UBC Science Co-Op, Lisa Tiveron, Marsh Canada,

Mya Aubin, Threewave

photos: Michael Stevens

"Incredibles" Meet At "Vidfest" Partnering Forum...

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Sneak Peek's Michael Stevens @ Vidfest:

The "Vidfest" 'Partnering Forum' opened Tuesday, September 25 at the Van Centre with a keynote address from John Walker, producer of Disney/Pixar feature "The Incredibles".

Walker talked about workable methods to create successful partnerships with filmmakers and how to collaborate in digital entertainment .

Throughout the morning, exclusive networking sessions and one-on-one meetings were hatched by companies looking for the right business matches, distributors and development partners in all sectors of the industry.

The event was sponsored by BC Ministry of Economic Development, Vancouver Economic Development Commission, Canadian Heritage and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

A lunch was served at Elixir on Davie in Yaletown's Opus Hotel, offering Partnering Forum guests a juicy selection of B-B-Q chicken, wild cohoe salmon, steamed mussels, garlic greens and butternut squash, followed by sweet tarts, custard and bite-sized eclairs ....

The afternoon session at the Opus, sponsored by the Emily Carr Institute featured Joshua Davis, who demonstrated to the lap-top crowd the 'art' of using Macromedia Flash MX and ActionScript to build programs that design work, speed production and enhance skills of composition.

Following the seminar, in the Opus Lounge, KPMG sponsored the daily 'Happy Hour' from 5-7pm, inviting guests to 'chill, chat, and chew'.

At 7:30 PM, the Vibes Club on Davie led down a long red-light corridor to a decent room and bar where attendees kept shmoozing their wares over drinks and finger foods in the 'Mobile Mixer' party, sponsored by the Donat Group, creators of social networking technology...

Rochelle Grayson, COO Donat Group, Shylo Smith, IUGO games producer

"Sanctuary" Stakes Out "Vidfest"...

Sunday September 23, the "Vancouver International Digital Festival" aka 'Vidfest' @ the Vancouver International Film Centre on Seymour, held an afternoon screening of Canadian premiere "Infest Wisely", a 'low-fi' sci-fi movie in seven episodes. Creator Jim Munroe was on hand to introduce the picture.

In the evening guests were invited to attend a special theatrical screening, sponsored by BC Film of "Sanctuary", the big budget online 'webisode' series shot in HD. Creator Damian Kindler introduced the film.

Monday, September 24, the 'Creative Exchange Conference', offered all day 'micro sessions' for 'cutting edge' professionals, including 'Find Some Sanctuary', co-presented with the Vancouver International Film Festival.

The seminar took a look behind the scenes of "Sanctuary" with producer Kindler, actress/producer Amanda Tapping, director/producer Martin Wood and Richard Patterson, VFX Supervisor, Stage 3 Media Inc.

Later in the day Mark Verheiden, co-executive producer, writer of "Battlestar Galactica" delivered a keynote address to the crowd...

Gamers Blown Away by "Halo 3"

"Halo 3", the new Microsoft/Bungie video game is a first-person shooter that concludes the saga of Earth's war with alien race the 'Covenant'.

Players become super-soldier 'Master Chief', storming into jungle, grassland and alien installations for firefights accompanied by artificial intelligence-controlled cohorts.

Air cannons can shoot combatants over the terrain with new weapons including flamethrowers and spike grenades.

Vehicles include the Earth's Mongoose ATVs and the Covenant's buzzing, saw-blade choppers...