Gamertell

Everyone who follows 1up and it’s impressive stable of podcasts (and the 1up show) is surely mourning the loss of Jeff Green - former Editor-in-Chief of Games For Windows Magazine and overall awesome games journalist. Green had been with the company 17 years, and he states in his farewell blog post that the closing of the magazine (which occurred a few months ago) was a major factor in his decision to leave.

He’s actually going on to a better place, however, as he’ll be joining EA to work on The Sims brand - and surely his talents will be well harnessed there. I know I’ll miss his brand of good-natured snark on the GFW Radio podcast. It’s sad to see so many long-time staffers go (in the last year alone, several of the better-established editors, including Dan Hsu and Crispin Boyer, have left the building) - anyone feel like taking bets on who’s next? In any event, best of luck to Mr. Green.

Read [1Up]

Steam has a very good deal for anyone itching for id action this weekend. 1up is reporting that all id software will be 50% this weekend - including the amazing id super pack, which includes everything from early titles to Doom 3. That’s 22 mostly great games (ok, Hexen kind of sucks, but everything else is pretty hot) for $34.99, and certainly the bargain of the week.

The only big game not included in the special is Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, which is still sitting at $29.99. Still, anyone looking for serious bang for their buck would be crazy not to jump on this offer - after all, we can all use a little Doom in our lives.

Site [Steam Powered] Read [1up]

The gaming community breathed a sigh of relief when we all found out that the hot-looking Ghostbusters game was still in the works (and not canned due to the Activision-Blizzard merger). Now, fans of wacky ‘80s comedy and the supernatural can get excited all over again, as ICV2 has just announced that a new Ghostbusters film is in the works.

The new flick bears a script penned by The Office co-executive producers Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky, a good sign. Details beyond that are scant, but rest assured that the involvement of original GB actors Harold Ramis, Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray and Ernie Hudson in the upcoming game is a good sign. Just remember guys - don’t cross the streams!

Read [ICV2]

Title: Video Games Live: Volume One
Price: $16.98 ($0.99 per song download)
Release Date: July 22, 2008
Publisher: EMI Records Ltd. (Angel Records)
Pros: An excellent collections of impressive performances. Often well-orchestrated collections and homages to game music with an honest air of respectability that even non-gamers can appreciate. The name implies there will be a Volume Two.
Cons: A few segments are a bit slow and some of the instrumentation plainly mimics or masks the vocals.
Overall Score: Two thumbs up; 91/100; A-; * * * * out of five.

No matter where you fall in the games as art spectrum there’s no denying that plenty of artistic efforts are put into many games’ production. Case in point is the Video Games Live tour which offers orchestral performances of video game music that would be difficult for any music snob to scoff at.

The CD (and digital download) release of Video Games Live: Volume One offers selected studio and live performances featuring the Slovak Symphony Orchestra, Crouch End Festival Chorus and various soloists as conducted by Jack Wall.

Click through for a track-by-track review…

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Check out the gallery: Video Games Live: Volume One CD art

If all that excitement over the recent Watchman trailer wasn’t enough for you, consider the legal drama over the film’s right to exist. Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox are locked in what could be a very bloody battle with the film (directed by Zack Snyder and set to release on March 6, 2009) at stake. Here’s the gist, minus the legal jargon: Fox is trying to get an injunction to bar the release of the flick, and Warner Bros. position is that they have no (legal) leg to stand on with their argument.

There’s a long history here, where Fox first sought rights to make a film out of the property, then abandoned the project. Sour grapes much? Maybe, but the movie business is about as cutthroat as it gets. ICV2 is reporting on the ongoing feud, which they speculate may end in a deal with Fox to get a share of the sure-to-be-huge profits. After all, everyone and their dog was excited by the trailer, and comic book movies are huge right now (box office gold, anyone?).

Read [ICV2 ]

Have you ever finished a great run of a song on Guitar Hero and thought “man, that would make a great movie!”? No? Well, Brett Ratner, the director of such films as Rush Hour and Red Dragon did, and he was happy to tell MTV that he would “love” to make a film based on the musically inclined franchise. As for his GH street cred, well, Joystiq reported that the famed director actually came up with the name for Guitar Hero: World Tour, whatever that’s worth.

Ok, I think there might be a way to make a cool movie out of this - maybe a sort of tongue-in-cheek satire about a no-name band’s rise to fame. As long as audience members are allowed to participate in the musical portions of the movie (Rocky Horror Picture Show style) it might be fun. Otherwise, in the words of Tony Soprano… Fuggetaboutit.

Read [Joystiq]

I recently saw an American Express Business card print ad in the September 2008 issue of Wired magazine (pp. 46-47) that is a bit derogatory towards gamers.

The two-page ad has, on one page, the image of a credit card with Galaxian/Space Invaders style imagery on it with the words “I own the high score” in all caps above it. The name on the credit card is Erin Ehnerd of Double E Bakery. On the facing page is the image of a gold American Express Business card for Ellin Lavar of Lavar Hair Designs that reads “I own my own business” above it. Under the card image is a paragraph that begins, “If you own your business, own the card that says so.”

The implication here is, of course, that letting people know you play videogames is a sure way to lose business (especially if you own a bakery?). Also notice that AmEx also included…

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If you’ve been following Important Importables for a while, you might have noticed that I like to touch on not only games but game-related imports as well (or at least things from Japan that might interest gamers). Today’s column is one of those days.

Due to coverage of titles like Tokimeki Memorial: Girl’s Side 2nd Season, Otometeki Koi Kakumei Love Revo DS!! and Duel Love, Important Importables has acquired a few otome fan readers (fans of dating/life sims for women). I figured today’s column would be a good chance to highlight an anime episode that they’d enjoy - Ouran High School Host Club episode 4, “The Invasion of the Female Manager.” it has a hilarious storyline involving a devoted female otome fan, a club filled with otome stereotype guys and a series that is going to appear on DVD in the US in the coming months…

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Let’s say there’s a game that you really want to buy on launch day but there are too many factors getting in your way (gas prices, work, weather, hordes of people, etc.). You used to be out of luck if a game was guaranteed to sell out and you weren’t camping out in the line until midnight.

Amazon.com feels your pain and phobias and is offering Release-Date Delivery service on select pre-ordered games.

Release-Date Delivery is currently being offered for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Tiger Woods PGA Tour ‘09, Fable 2 and…

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Yeah, I got to see the BatPod and the BatCopter only a few weeks apart. In Ohio (USA), even. What’s the deal with that? The planets must be in some strange alignment.

The helicopter is sans bat wings but it has been painstakingly restored to its original condition so the owner could make a small fortune giving people the opportunity to sit in it for 2-3 minutes. Paying customers would be ready at the gate and, as soon as the copter landed, rushed over to get seated while the previous passengers rushed out. With such a quick turnaround it was about…

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Check out the gallery: BatCopter at 2008 Ohio State Fair