mcvuk.com

Platform holder says Xbox Live complements retail – as digital-only product emerges

Microsoft has told MCV that it sees downloadable content and Xbox Live as a ‘complementary’ addition to boxed product – and that it doesn’t see the packaged goods business declining.

However other standout companies have pointed to 2009’s explosion of download-only new releases – which cut out retail altogether.

Speaking in MCV’s investigation into the digital download sector, UK head of Xbox, Neil Thompson said:

“People often ask me, ‘Will Halo X be download only?’ But I don’t see the packaged goods business declining. What I do see is the growth of the download and digital content market – but it is complementary to boxed content and services. Wherever we can, we make sure retail is part of the Xbox Live ecosystem.”

And as companies such as EA and Warner Bros begin to release download only product – most notably the latter’s Watchmen movie tie-in – others in the industry have predicted that 2009 will be the year that exclusive digital delivery of full games finally takes off.
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Koch

IGN Entertainment owns PC digital games service Direct2Drive. The firm’s head of marketing in the UK Rich Keen added:

“We are beginning to see the emergence of digital only products, especially within the core PC category. A recent example is Red Alert 3: Uprising, which capitalised on the established online community that surrounds the Command & Conquer franchise and their openness towards digital distribution to ensure success.”

For the first time ever Konami releases a SAW trailer, so far looking good.

Watch the video because it is hilarious. Wait until he gets to the hustler diet. Just check it out if you haven’t. It was on MTV2 awhile ago, and somebody got them all and made a nice video of them. The dude is funny to listen to. Ghostface will always be one of my favorites. Sure he is not the best, but no matter what he always does something hot every year, and does not stay silent. Anyway, the video is nice and you will learn something.

Jackie Earle Haley is the new Freddy Krueger.

The actor will star as the iconic screen villain in New Line’s redo of “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” taking over the role that was played by Robert Englund.

The original “Nightmare,” released in 1984, helped establish New Line and spawned a slew of movies. Krueger is a serial child killer murdered by angry parents who returns to terrorize teens in their dreams.

Krueger’s burned face, his razor glove and his red-and-green sweater became instantly recognizable images as well as popular Halloween costumes.

Samuel Bayer is directing the relaunch, which was written by Wesley Strick. The pic starts lensing May 5 in Chicago.

Platinum Dunes’ Andrew Form and Brad Fuller are producing. John Rickard is co-producing. Richard Brener, Walter Hamada and Dave Neustadter are overseeing for New Line.

The role would cap a whirlwind couple of years for Haley, who made a splash in the 1970s as a child star in movies like “The Bad News Bears” then faded in the early 1990s. He left the business, and wound up working odd jobs in Texas.

Haley burst back on the scene in 2006 playing a pedophile in Todd Field’s “Little Children,” and also appeared in “Semi-Pro” with Will Ferrell, both for New Line, and indie drama “Winged Creature.” He was praised for his portrayal of Rorschach in the recent “Watchmen” and next appears in Martin Scorsese’s “Shutter Island.”

The actor had been one of several actors on the shortlist to play the part. But scheduling issues almost scotched the deal. Haley, repped by CAA and Leslie Allan-Rice Management, is also working on TV series “Human Target,” which led to conflicting dates.

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My thoughts
This game looks like it is destined to the path of the recent Hulk game and Iron Man game. Rushed out so it comes out around when the movie is out. Big mistake. They should take their time and make a better game, especially since we all know G.I. Joe, and most of use grew up with him. If the game sucks, then fanboys are going to be in an uproar, and they already seem to be pretty pissed. I hope they do not ruin G.I. Joe with this game. Still hoping that even though the game is not looking amazing, maybe it will play amazing. Online Co-Op, online multiplayer, long story, secret unlockables, etc. They will probably do all of that, but they better perfect it.

yahoo

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – A gunman entered an immigration services center in downtown Binghamton on Friday, shot at least four people and took as many as 41 hostage, according to media reports.

Mayor Matthew Ryan told the Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin that there was a hostage situation involving a gunman with a high-powered rifle.

The condition of the victims wasn’t immediately clear. A Binghamton police dispatcher who spoke to The Associated Press wouldn’t confirm a number of people shot or injured.

The newspaper reported 41 hostages in the building of the American Civic Association and said apartments were being evacuated.

Emergency dispatchers were in contact with some people inside by phone, WBNG-TV reported. The gunman might still be in the building, the newspaper reported.

Four people were removed from the building on stretchers and taken to hospitals, and 10 more ambulances were called, the newspaper reported. The Binghamton SWAT team responded.

Linda Miller, a spokeswoman at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton, confirmed that a student from Binghamton University was being treated at the emergency room. Miller said she didn’t know the nature of the injuries.

“We’re on full alert anticipating we’re going to get additional casualties,” Miller said.

The area is a commercial stretch on the west side of the Chenango River. Police have locked down a nearby high school and advised local business owners to stay inside.

People escaped to the basement of the building and more than a dozen people hid in a closet, WBNG reported.

The American Civic Association describes itself as helping immigrants and refugees with counseling, resettlement, citizenship, family reunification and translators.

It also intervenes with emergencies, including fighting, hunger and homelessness, according to information from the association’s Web site.

After putting a lot of effort towards MK vs. DC Universe and selling over 1.8 million units, Midway has finally  announced that the team is already hard at work on another game.

“Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe was the answer of numerous hours of hard work by many people, and seeing the game outshine the million-seller level makes it worth all the effort,” quoted Boon.

Boon also said that “We’re already solid at work on our next version of Mortal Kombat, and looking forward to reveal more facts in the near future.”

But there is only one problem, will the next Mortal Kombat sell? People want to see much more action for the next Mortal Kombat game.

If Midway wants to succeed then they will need to work hard for their next Mortal Kombat game, such as seeing more characters in the game, bringing back conquest, make the game gore again, and overall we want the game to be mature again.

If not then I don’t think Mortal Kombat 9 will be a seller, and there might be a chance that Midway might go bankrupt, and may need to borrow some loans.

But for the game’s sake I hope they dont go bankrupt. I hope Midway does succeed with the next Mortal Kombat game and sell a lot of copies. They just need to improve the small things and work hard on the game.