The Select and Start News Report: 07.14.08
Posted by Vincent Chiucchi on 07.14.2008
Konami suing Harmonix over Rock Band, Thompson's disbarment could be forever, Activision Blizzard is finally official, new videos on Soul Calibur 4 and MK vs. DC, and more.
Welcome to the Select and Start News Report, where I believe I an entitled to a 1-UP, because this report is number ONE HUNDRED. It's amazing how it been about two years since I wrote for this site, mostly because I'm still not fired after all this time. I must be doing something right. But anyways, thank you to the 411 staffers and to you the readers.
Big News
[credit: GameSpot, Destructoid, The Escapist, GameDaily, Joystiq, Gamasutra, GamePolitics]
It seems weird to start off the news report with the Lawsuit of the Week, but this was one of the biggest news story of the week (which probably shows how slow of a week it's been). Harmonix, who have made it to top of the music genre by creating Guitar Hero and Rock Band, is getting sued by the company that used to enjoy that spot so well in the 90's, Konami. Konami's lawsuit claims that Rock Band violates a series of US Patents registered in 2002 and 2003 relating to "simulated musical instruments" and "musical rhythm-matching game." Konami is seeking a cash judgment against Harmonix, as well as an order preventing Harmonix and its owner Viacom from using its inventions and technology in the Rock Band games.
Harominx responded with this statement: "Konami's actions are extremely surprising. Unfortunately, successful products such as Rock Band can often become targets for baseless litigation. We have substantial defenses to this claim and intend to vigorously defend it."
Hey, Konami? I know you made the first real drum and guitar based games, but maybe if you actually released these games in America, this move wouldn't be seen as an act of jealousy against a company that has surpassed you. I mean you release countless versions of DDR, but how come we never saw Guitar Freaks or Beatmania? You especially could've of imported them when Guitar Hero and Rock Band were becoming the two games nearly everybody was talking about. I'm pretty sure they would see some success considering it was coming from the people who made Dance Dance Revolution. Instead you decide to make your own version of a band game (Rock Revolution) and are suing Harmonix and MTV Games to make sure they're forced to cease production. Not even Activision tried to stoop that low.
Some are wondering why they aren't suing or plan to sue Activision, and the reason might be that, according to Gamasutra, the two companies had some patent agreements that can be seen in the loading screen of Guitar Hero III.
In yet ANOTHER Lawsuit of the Week, Nintendo is now getting sued over the touch screen interface of the Nintendo DS. John R. Martin of Illonois alleges that he patented touch screen and pointing device gaming technology in August 2005. The Nintendo DS came out in November 2004. In all likelihood, Martin will lose this lawsuit, but then again, Nintendo had to pay $21 million to a company that apparently doesn't exist according to enGadget.
DAVA TUNIS: THOMPSON'S WORST NIGHTMARE [credit: GameSpot, GamePolitics, The Escapist]
As reported many times before, Thompson is looking at a ten year disbarment by the Florida Bar for all the stupid things he's done over the years. However, Judge Dava Tunis, the judge who had recommended to the Florida Supreme Court that Thompson be found guilty on 27 of 31 counts of professional misconduct, is asking for a permanent disbarment rather then the ten years the Florida Bar suggests along with no opportunity to apply for reinstatement. She also wants Thompson to pay the court $43,675 in "disciplinary costs," including $23,538 to pay for transcripts used to outline 27 violations of five Florida Bar rules. Thompson's fate will be decided in September.
A permanent disbarment? I would say that's kind of harsh, but then again, it's Jack Thompson we're talking about. As good as Thompson being permanently banned would be, I don't think that's going to happen unless he does something really stupid from now until September. So actually, based on his actions over the years, that's probably a stronger possibility then I realize. I still think he's going to get the ten year ban though.
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD IS OFFICIAL; PLANS TO BUY TAKE-TWO AS WELL? [credit: GameSpot, GameDaily, Gamasutra]
After holding a shareholders meeting last week where 92% of all shareholders approved, Activision and Vivendi have officially merged into Activision Blizzard, now the most valued game company in the world. Under the terms of the deal, Vivendi will receive about 295.3 million newly issued shares of Activision common stock. Vivendi will also purchase around 62.9 million newly issued shares of Activision common stock at a price of $27.50 per share for a total of approximately $1.7 billion in cash. This means that Vivendi will control a 52 percent ownership stake in the newly formed Activision Blizzard.
So what's next for the new company? According to analysts, it could be the acquisition of the company EA's been desperately trying to buy out for months, Take-Two. Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey says that while Activision Blizzard is likely not to buy out Take-Two, they will look at the company just to mess with their rival EA. Speaking of EA and Take-Two, the latest news on that merger is FTC now has until August 21st to conclude its anti-trust examination. So until then, EA will not attempt to buyout the company for $2 billion at $25.74 per share, which Take-Two constantly says is undermining the value of the company.
Hooray! I can finally take a break from constantly reporting about these companies. I haven't felt this good since people stopped suing over stock options.
In the final bits of Activision Blizzard news, the company is considering lauching a digital music store similar to iTunes to be used along with it's Guitar Hero franchise. The company is also considering making more acquisitions to make themselves a multimedia conglomerate like Disney and Time Warner. Hopefully they don't try to acquire AOL.
Tidbit News
-Okay, apparently Mega Man 9 IS coming to Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. Expect this to change by the time I upload this. [credit: Kotaku]
-After months of rumors, it's finally happened: Xbox 360 is getting a price drop and a new SKU. The 20GB will now retail for $299 and will now be discontinued, and the 60GB will retail for the original price of $349. [credit: Kotaku]
-Apple recently released the iPhone 3G with over 500 new apps. Over 160 of them are new games, most of them available for free. Over 100 free games? Holy crap! Maybe they WILL put a dent in the Nintendo DS's 70 million+ market! Sony, I hate to break it to you, but the PSP is officially dead. It's just no match for the incredible power of the iPhone. [credit: GameDaily, Gamasutra]
-Remember how companies started to leave the ESA ever since Activision Blizzard did it? According to Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, the reason they did that was they needed time off for they merger. As for if they'll come back to the ESA, they'll consider it. Which I'm thinking means no. [credit: GameDaily]
-Midway announced they are making a sequel to Blitz: The League. Blitz: The League II the game will feature football legend Lawrence Taylor along with a story by ESPN Playmakers writer Peter Egan. Expect it to arrive in Fall 2008 for PS3 and Xbox 360. [credit: GameDaily]
-EMI Classics and Video Games Live announced that they will be collaborating on a CD. Titled Video Games Live: Volume One, the album will feature songs from Kingdom Hearts, Tetris, Castlevania among many others. The CD has been compiled by Video Games Live co-creators Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall with performances by the Slovak National Orchestra, The Crouch End Festivaal Chorus and Martin "The Video Game Pianist" Leung. [credit: GameDaily]
-Square Enix has recently released an iPod strategy RPG called Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes. The game looks similar to FF Tactics, only the soldiers are created by songs on your iPod, and apparently listening to your songs often will make them more powerful. It costs $4.99 and works on iPod nano with video, iPod classic and fifth generation iPods. [credit: GameDaily, Gamasutra]
-Last week Sony released the v2.40 update for the PS3, only to take it down due to a few people suffering problems. The problem seems to have immediately fixed as Sony released v2.41, and so far no complaints have come out of it. Glad to see Sony solved this problem very quickly. [credit: Gamasutra, GameDaily, CVG]
-After having sold 2.8 million copies worldwide on the Wii and DS, EA is bringing Mysim to the PC. Aside from new characters and items, the big difference with the PC version is that it'll have online neighborhoods. [credit: Gamasutra, GameDaily]
-Activision has announced Wee 1st, a new brand highlighting its games developed specifically for the Wii. The first titles to be launched under this new brand will be Little League World Series 2008, Rapala Fishing Frenzy and Dancing with the Stars: Get Your Dance On, all launching in Fall 2008. In other words, more worthless shit on a console with too much of it as it is. [credit: GameDaily, Gamasutra]
-Ever dream of playing songs from Led Zeppelin in your favorite music rhythm game? Well unless it's AudioSurf, you'll have to keep dreaming. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and his bandmates are uncomfortable with lending out their master tracks, saying it's not about the money. Maybe they're strictly enforcing that "NO STAIRWAY" rule. [credit: Evil Avatar, 1UP]
-Because they don't have an 18+ style rating for video games, the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification has refused classification to Fallout 3, causing the game to be banned down under unless modified. [credit: Gamasutra, GameDaily]
-The Massachusetts state legislature is considering tax incentives for video game companies. Companies could claim a tax credit for up to 20% building cost for creating a facility devoted to video gaming creation, assuming the company invests at least $500,000. [credit: GameDaily]
-ConsumerQuest announced today the results of a survey, which showed in part that 66% of parents of three- to 11-year-olds believed that playing with educational video games gives their child an educational advantage. The survey also showed that there was a 22% decline in negative parental reactions towards video games from parents of children six to eleven years old. [credit: GameDaily]
Gaming Calendar
July 15-17 - E3 Media & Business Summit to be held
July 22nd:
-Final Fantasy IV DS
-Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns (DS)
July 29th - Soul Calibur IV (PS3, X360)
July 2008 - Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People (WII, PC)
August 1st - EA Land (PC, formerly The Sims Online) will close down
August 25th - Mario Super Sluggers (Wii)
August 26th - Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice (PS3)
August 2008 - Tales of Vesperia (Xbox 360)
Summer 2008 - Air Traffic Chaos (DS)
September 2nd - Infinite Undiscovery (Xbox 360)
September 5th - FaceBreaker (X360, PS3)
September 7th - Spore (PC)
September 16th - Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen (DS)
September 22nd - Sim City Creator (Wii, DS)
September 23rd:
-Disgaea DS
-Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure (DS)
September 29th:
-Kirby Super Star Ultra (DS)
-Wario Land: Shake It! (Wii)
September 2008:
-TNA iMPACT (Multi)
-Rock Band 2 (Xbox 360)
October 2008:
-LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
-Bioshock ported to the PS3
-Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 (Xbox 360, PC)
October 3-5 - E for All 2008 to be held
October 9-13 - The Tokyo Game Show 2008 to be held
November 4th - Left 4 Dead (PC, X360)
November 2008 - Gears of War 2 (X360)
Fall 2008:
-Resistance: Fall of Man 2 (PS3)
-MySims Kingdom (DS, Wii)
A moment with Vodge
Vodge, my Spore creature and unofficial mascot, was so happy that I reached my 100th news report he started dancing:
Videos of the Day
The Star Wars stage in Soul Calibur 4:
New MK vs. DC trailer, featuring some new characters and...fatalities?!
Super Chuck Norris Bros.:
Despite writing 100 news reports, these guys still probably write better than me.
