Category Archives: News and Industry Happenings

Bethesda, Take-Two Strike Elder Scrolls Deal

Bethesda Softworks LLC, a ZeniMax Media company, today announced it has signed a co-publishing agreement with Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) covering North American and European distribution of its highly anticipated game, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the sequel to the best-selling and critically acclaimed The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Bethesda Softworks will maintain control over development of Oblivion and continues to own all rights to the Elder Scrolls franchise. Commenting on the new arrangement, Vlatko Andonov, President of Bethesda Softworks, said, "We are very excited to be able to enhance our own publishing capabilities through this partnership with … Continue reading Bethesda, Take-Two Strike Elder Scrolls Deal

Agatha Christie Novels To Become Games

The Adventure Company, a leading publisher of PC adventure games, today announced And Then There Were None as the first title in a series of games based on the books from legendary mystery author, Agatha Christie. AWE Games has been signed to recreate the rich storyline and characters from this best-selling novel. In the classic story And Then There Were None, 10 people, each with something to hide and something to fear, are invited to a lonely mansion on Shipwreck Island by a host who, surprisingly, fails to appear. On the island, they are cut off from everything but each … Continue reading Agatha Christie Novels To Become Games

Seattle Game Companies Hiring

Twelve 12 game companies are participating in the "Seattle Video Game Industry Job Conference and Resume Workshop" taking place in the Seattle suburb of Shoreline, Washington on February 12, 2005 at the Shoreline Center. Speaker include individuals from Mobliss, Surreal, Microsoft, Microsoft Xbox, DigiPen (USA) Corporation, Monolith Productions, Sprout Games, Sony Online Entertainment, TKO Software, Gas Powered Games, Oberon-Media, Zango Games and Valve Software. Microsoft alone has 125 game development positions open. Surreal Software and Mobliss also looking for new talent. These companies and others are recruiting in force in Seattle on February 12th. Professionals and students interested in a … Continue reading Seattle Game Companies Hiring

The Godfather Game In The Works

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) and Viacom Consumer Products today announced a videogame based on The Godfather fiction is under development and will put gamers at the center of the action in one of history's most revered masterpieces. The book by Mario Puzo and classic film by Paramount Pictures serve as inspiration for the game as gamers will join the Corleone family and earn respect through loyalty and fear as they rise through the ranks to become Don in a living 1945-1955 New York. The game is scheduled for release in fall 2005 under the EA GAMES brand for the Xbox videogame … Continue reading The Godfather Game In The Works

Ghost Recon Heads to GameCube

Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announced today that Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 for the Nintendo GameCube will be available in Spring 2005. Developed by Ubisoft's Shanghai studio, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 lets players embody Captain Scott Mitchell, leader of the elite Ghost Recon Special Forces team, in a crucial mission to defuse a dangerous situation in North Korea in 2007. To fully immerse gamers in the chaos of the war of tomorrow, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 delivers a killer Lone Wolf single-player mode based on prototypical soldier-of-the-future combat equipment currently being developed by … Continue reading Ghost Recon Heads to GameCube

NYKO Upgrades Drivers

The Air Flo(TM) EX controller for PC/Mac, boasting the patented Air Flo technology, is now available from Nyko Technologies. The upgraded product and driver software emulates keyboard and mouse functions, making the new controller fully compatible with all computer game titles, even those not designed for use with gamepads. All PC Air Flo EX owners – current and new – will be able to download the latest drivers directly from Nyko at http://www.nyko.com/nyko/products/?i=33. Like its predecessor, the new and improved Air Flo EX ends problematic sweaty palms by blowing fresh air through the handgrips – giving gamers ultimate comfort while … Continue reading NYKO Upgrades Drivers

ComputerTime Helps Set PC Limits

Desperate housewives and nannies are all frustrated by kids who waste too much time in front of the computer. Left to their own devices, kids will sit at a computer for hours on end instant messaging, browsing the Internet, and playing games. With school breaks arriving soon, many teens and pre-teens will be at home all day, while Mom and Dad are at work. Undoubtedly, they will spend a good portion of their days clicking and typing in a trance in front of the family PC. SoftwareTime offers a solution for parents to control the amount of time, and when, … Continue reading ComputerTime Helps Set PC Limits

NCSoft Fighting Hackers In Lineage II

In an effort to block cheaters from entering its massively multiplayer online game, Lineage II, NCsoft integrated the anti-hacking software, nProtect GameGuard into the Lineage II client late last week. For Lineage II players this should be a welcome relief, as GameGuard will cut down on the number of automated bot farmers that plague players. Bot farmers are automated programs designed to access game clients and run a character in the game that collects loot, usually for personal gain for its designer. The bots often will inhabit an area of the game where monsters frequently spawn in order to kill … Continue reading NCSoft Fighting Hackers In Lineage II

Trip Hawkins Makes Hall Of Fame

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), the professional organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of interactive arts, announced today that Trip Hawkins will be awarded the AIAS Hall of Fame Award, joining an elite group of interactive entertainment industry legends. Hawkins will be given the award at the 8th Annual Interactive Achievements Awards ceremony, being held at the Green Valley Ranch Resort in Las Vegas on February 1, the second evening of the 2005 D.I.C.E. Summit. "Trip Hawkins is one of the interactive entertainment industry's true pioneers, with credentials that are unparalleled," said Joseph Olin, President of … Continue reading Trip Hawkins Makes Hall Of Fame

Jade Empire To Ship April 14

Microsoft Game Studios today announced the release date for BioWare's upcoming martial arts masterpiece, Jade Empire. The epic action-RPG game, exclusively for Xbox, is set in a world inspired by the myths and legends of ancient China and will leap into stores across North America starting on April 14, with worldwide distribution occurring shortly thereafter. Microsoft Game Studios also confirmed that it will release a Limited Edition of Jade Empire that will feature a bonus character, a bonus fighting style and a behind-the-scenes "making of " video feature on DVD produced by G4 – video game television. The bonus character, … Continue reading Jade Empire To Ship April 14