Joystiq

Kate Edwards named IGDA's new executive director

Mike Schramm — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 04:00:00 EST

Gordon Bellamy stepped down as the director of the Interational Game Developers' Association last July, and the organization has finally named his successor. Kate Edwards will serve as the group's new executive director, after being an IGDA member for 16 years, and founding and chairing the IGDA's Localization Special Interest Group.

Global cultural strategy is Edwards' specialty: She worked for Microsoft as a geopolitical strategist in the '90s, and more recently worked at her own company, Englobe, since 2005. In addition to her other experience with the IGDA, Edwards also helped co-organize the Game Developers' Conference Localization Summit. The IGDA's chairman, Dustin Clingman, says he hopes Edwards will use her talents to help the group "lay a foundation for ongoing international growth."

Kate Edwards named IGDA's new executive director originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

God of War: Ascension, Power Stone, and paying allegiance to the gods

Mike Schramm — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:30:00 EST

When asked about how he and the team at Sony Santa Monica are bringing multiplayer into the God of War series with God of War: Ascension, game director Todd Papy digs deep for inspiration. The single-player side of the game is obviously an influence, he says, as multiplayer side of the game attempts to enhance the always cinematic world of Kratos with a new character called the Avatar.

But then things get a little nuts. "You can look at Allegiance levels," says Papy, referring to the mode's customization choices defined by the four gods Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, and Ares, "and you can look at Diablo and Call of Duty and other games that have skill trees that you basically level up.

"And then you can look at Power Stone," says Papy, "as far as that old school melee feel to it." Yes. That's the one. Playing God of War: Ascension's renamed "Favor of the Gods" mode, and running around with up to eight other players flipping switches, executing combos, and earning favor points does feel a whole lot like the Dreamcast classic. In a strange way, to be honest. But a good one nevertheless.

Gallery: God of War: Ascension (Multiplayer)

Continue reading God of War: Ascension, Power Stone, and paying allegiance to the gods

God of War: Ascension, Power Stone, and paying allegiance to the gods originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Deus Ex: Human Revolution movie picks up 'Sinister' director Derrickson

Jessica Conditt — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:30:00 EST

Scott Derrickson, the director of Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, will direct and write the screenplay for the Deus Ex: Human Revolution movie, coming from CBS Films. Derrickson is partnering with Sinister co-writer C. Robert Cargill on the Deus Ex screenplay.

"Deus Ex is a phenomenal cyberpunk game with soul and intelligence," Derrickson says. "By combining amazing action and tension with big, philosophical ideas, Deus Ex is smart, ballsy, and will make one hell of a movie. Cargill and I can't wait to bring it to the big screen."

Eventually, we can all look forward to Derrickson's deep, tense, ballsy action flick based on Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Our augmentations are tingling in anticipation.

Continue reading Deus Ex: Human Revolution movie picks up 'Sinister' director Derrickson

Deus Ex: Human Revolution movie picks up 'Sinister' director Derrickson originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sam Raimi set to direct World of Warcraft movie (Update: It's official!)

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:31:00 EST

Update: Blizzard just confirmed the story with a swift press release! Raimi's set to direct, and Charles Roven (producer of The Dark Knight) is set to produce. According to the presser, "the film will fall under Legendary Pictures' co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros." We certainly hope they've got deep pockets -- we imagine a World of Warcraft movie won't end up being a low-budget project. Original post is below.

We know our stuff about video game news, but when it comes to film scoops, we usually bow to the expertise of Ain't It Cool News' Harry Knowles. Imagine our delight when we read a recent report from the heavily bearded entertainment reporter claiming that Evil Dead and Spider-Man creator Sam Raimi would helm a film adaptation of World of Warcraft. According to Knowles, confirmation of this story will be hitting Hollywood trade publications later this week or next.

Where is this magical, magical news coming from? We have no idea -- but Knowles seems fairly certain. With Comic-Con just around the corner, and Blizzcon just around the corner that's behind that first corner, we're sure to hear more details soon -- if Knowles' report is accurate.

[Via WoW.com]

Sam Raimi set to direct World of Warcraft movie (Update: It's official!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Uwe Boll confirms 'Boll vs. Bay' brawl, Michael Bay denies accepting Boll's challenge

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 03 May 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture

Those who were wishing to actually witness a few rounds of fisticuffs between crummy filmmaker Uwe Boll and occasionally crummy filmmaker Michael Bay (following Boll's challenge last weekend) have certainly ridden a rollercoaster of excitement and disappointment these past few days. We admit, we got pretty pumped after viewing the above video, a supposed confirmation that Bay had accepted Boll's terms, and that the two would meet in the ring -- unfortunately, this directorial showdown isn't in the cards (much to Boll's chagrin, we're sure).

An administrator on Michael Bay's official forums recently talked to the blockbuster poster boy (currently doing post-production work for "The Horsemen") who denied accepting Boll's challenge, and claimed he'd never spoken directly with Boll in the first place. We can't help but wonder -- is this another publicity stunt for the antagonized franchise-wrecker in light of the May 23 U.S. release for "Postal", or has Uwe finally lost his damn mind? Little from Column A, little from Column B.

[Thanks, Fernando]

Uwe Boll confirms 'Boll vs. Bay' brawl, Michael Bay denies accepting Boll's challenge originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 May 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

One million signatures to keep Uwe Boll directing

Kyle Orland — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Hacks

We feel kind of dirty giving any sort of attention to the cancerous boil on film directing that is Uwe Boll, but when the guy is acting this freaking weird we just can't help ourselves. Boll has followed up his offer to stop directing if an online petition against him reached 1,000,000 signatures with a heavily-accented YouTube video that manages to insult Eli Roth, Michael Bay, George Clooney and practically all of Hollywood as "fucking retards" that don't understand that Boll is "the only genius in the whole fucking business."

While Tinseltown insults are all well and good, what really interested us was Boll's call for a "pro Boll petition" to counteract the anti-Boll forces. Boll said he "expect[s] a million votes, Pro Boll," and he's already well on his way, with a whopping 72 signatures so far on the Pro-Boll petition set up by FilmDrunk.com. That's a far cry from the 137,644 that have signed the anti-Boll petition as of this writing, but maybe it takes "the only genius in the whole fucking business" to understand the vagaries of the math involved.

Watch the video and read a transcript of Boll's rant after the break.

Continue reading One million signatures to keep Uwe Boll directing

One million signatures to keep Uwe Boll directing originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

John Woo directing Ninja Gold film in conjunction with Warren Spector's game

James Ransom-Wiley — Tue, 29 May 2007 11:14:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Action, Adventure, Business

John Woo will direct and produce the film-half of Ninja Gold, a multiformat project co-created with celebrated game creator Warren Spector. According to Woo's production partner Terrence Chang, the concept is based on ongoing factual accounts of the Yakuza and Russian mob stealing gold from South Africa. "The idea actually started with John Woo," Spector told Reuters, "He wanted to do something involving traditional ninjas in a modern-day setting, and the idea just resonated with me."

The two components, the game and film, will be developed somewhat independently, while retaining similar elements that will provide a narrative link. In a departure from the norm, neither will be entirely based on the other -- think: convergence, like, totally. Though Spector has been credited as an executive producer of the film, he implied that Woo will be commanding the movie with little help from the game developers. Chang added that the film will be more reality-based (so no signature-Woo bullet ballets?), borrowing lightly from the fantastic elements of the game. Chang hopes that a script can be completed soon, so that production can begin next year. No timetable has been given for the game's development.

As for Woo's other game-related project, Stranglehold, Chang suggested that a film adaptation was a strong possibility. "We would definitely bring Stranglehold to the big screen," Chang said. "We would like game titles to have all kinds of possibility. Having a movie made from them is certainly a major consideration for deciding on a title."

John Woo directing Ninja Gold film in conjunction with Warren Spector's game originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2007 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spielberg working on Wii game with EA

Jason Wishnov — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 16:35:00 EST

Filed under: News

EA and Steven Spielberg had recently announced a collaboration to publish three games with authoritative control from the directing superstar. Recently, ~~after Spielberg got totally owned in Wii Tennis~~ after seeing the success and potential of the Wii platform, one of these three was announced to be Nintendo-bound.

EA Los Angeles Veep Neil Young revealed in a recent interview that one of the projects, produced by Lou Castle, is coming to the Wii and is "very exciting and interesting". This could not even theoretically be a more generic statement, but this is E.T.-phone-home-guy we're talking about, here. Also, the article mentioned that Spielberg actually spends several hours a week actually going to the production studios and working directly with the staff, as opposed to simply signing a few papers and being done with it. Hopefully, this is cinematic gaming done right.

Spielberg working on Wii game with EA originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Mar 2007 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Chicago signing for Uematsu, Aki, & Roth tonight

Dan Choi — Fri, 26 May 2006 14:40:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 2, Retro, RPGs, Rhythm, Business

Are you in Chicago tonight for the big PLAY! concert tomorrow, but weren't willing to shell out $125 for the VIP meet-and-greet at the event? Well, you might be in luck (even if you're not attending), as a few famous folks from the concert will be on hand to sign autographs in Chicago proper for free tonight.

From 7 to 9 PM (presumably Central time) at the Tower Records store on 2301 N. Clark St., Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu, bilingual songstress Angela Aki (who wrote and sang the theme song for FFXII), and Principal Conductor and Music Director of PLAY! Arnie Roth will be signing autographs to promote the world-tour premiere of 'PLAY! A Video Game Symphony' and the CD for More Friends - Music from FINAL FANTASY.

While this blogger is sadly occupied with prior engagements tonight, gamers in the area are more than welcome to mob that Tower Records and cause the store's employees much consternation and bewilderment. If you don't have any imported CDs to sign, however, don't fret: the store's web site claims to have "some awesome Japanese imports available for you to purchase and have autographed at the event." Not only that, Angela Aki will be performing live as well. Score! Anybody wanna tell us how this evening turns out when it's all sung and done?

[Via The Daily Northwestern; image culled from Angela Aki's blog, Nobuo Uematsu's Squenix profile, and Arnie Roth's 2005 interview with IGN]

See also:

Official page for Tower Clark Street (with details on the signing)
Ticketmaster site for the PLAY! concert debut tomorrow
Sonic and Chrono composers to join PLAY! in Chicago

Chicago signing for Uematsu, Aki, & Roth tonight originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 May 2006 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments