tie-in posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Publishers: Movie tie-in games don't need critical acclaim

by Alexander Sliwinski { Feb 20th 2009 at 5:30PM }

While publishers may unleash the PR hounds over some games, apparently they aren't so concerned when it comes to movie tie-in titles. MCV spoke with several company representatives behind this year's movie-licensed cash-ins, revealing the opinion that megaplex titles are enjoyed by fans of the film and reviews don't really matter.

Activision Blizzard's head of marketing, David Tyler, notes that many licensed titles are targeted at kids, who really don't pay attention to scores. He believes success or failure depends on how fun a game is, and that game ratings are largely the concern of an older target audience. Meaning, if there was a movie tie-in game for The Bucket List, chances are, the publisher would make sure it's amazing.

Curses! D-pad revision is 'limited edition, promotional item'

by Xav de Matos { Aug 20th 2008 at 12:00PM }

It doesn't look like everyone should be jumping for joy about a revised Xbox 360 d-pad, yet. According to Microsoft the rumored directional pad revision is currently only slated as "a limited edition promotional item that is only available in Europe, Asia and Latin America while supplies last." Set for release on October 24, Eurogamer confirmed the "optimized" d-pad will be released in a bundle with Pro Evolution Soccer 2009. Also, the controller will be sickly green, as seen in the image above. While plans could change the bundle seems to be the only option for now. No word on a North American bundle, so for now sports fans should hope Pro Evo 09 is region-free.

[via Joystiq]

The Mummy unwrapped

by Phil Larsen { Jul 2nd 2008 at 5:00PM }

Who doesn't have dreams of Brendan Fraser looking all cool as the swarthy hero Rick O'Connell? Honestly, The Mummy movies are pretty fun, and the upcoming movie The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor should be equally righteous. Since the movie will be tops, there's no reason the associated game of the same name won't be just as good, right?

Well, swashbuckling journeys have a certain special place in the DS library, but we're not sure if TM:TOFTDE will be quite the same. It's an action-adventure spanning many locations around the world, culminating in a battle with a DS-ified Jet Li -- after all, he's the bad guy in the movies. Provided the control is smooth and combat responsive (not unlike the reasonably okay Pirates of the Caribbean game), we might just have an epic journey worthy of taking along on another epic journey of bus and train-like proportions.

Gallery: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

[Via press release]

Wii smashes PS2 software sales record

by Chris Greenhough { May 22nd 2008 at 2:00PM }

The folks in Nintendo's PR department, gawd bless 'em, have milked yet another statistic from the Wii's early success: according to the firm, approximately 50 million games were sold during the console's first 18 months on the market -- and that's not including Wii Sports or Virtual Console releases.

This, declared Nintendo of America's Cammie Dunaway, compared favorably to the PlayStation 2, which Nintendo claims sold only 42 million units in its opening 18 months, the Xbox 360 (around 30 million), the first Xbox (28 million), and the PlayStation 3 (20 million). No mention of the Dreamcast, we notice. Got something to hide, Nintendo? Okay, well probably not.

"While we appreciate the impact the Playstation 2 had on sales and the industry, perhaps we are even more impactful," remarked Dunaway.

Midway looks to Hollywood tie-ins in 2008

by Jason Dobson { Dec 27th 2007 at 10:00AM }

2007 was not exactly a banner year for Midway, with the company still doing its best Atari impression with its pocketbook alongside lowered financial forecasts, f*cked up development, and a string of delays. Like a good little soldier, however, the publisher has kept its eyes on the horizon, though we're inclined to chalk up its newly revealed plans to achieve financial security by investing in Hollywood tie-ins to too much holiday eggnog. Something tells us this was not what Pachter had in mind when he said Midway could be just one franchise away from financial freedom.

The company has already announced new NBA Ballers and Blitz games for the new year, and also plans to helm the video game prequel to the Vin Diesel flick Wheelman, though Midway CEO David Zucker describes the firm's 2008 strategy as one of "fewer, bigger, better" releases. Honestly, if we were Midway we'd take just one of those three and count ourselves lucky.

DS Daily: Stylus-plus

by Alisha Karabinus { Aug 2nd 2007 at 9:00AM }

Paddles, drum sticks -- and that's just lately. Who knows what the future could hold for special DS styli and controllers? That's where you come in, dear readers. What would you like to see? What ideas do you have? Share them with us ... we live to hear your weirdest and wildest notions, especially when it comes to offbeat DS fun.

DS Daily: Movie licenses

by Alisha Karabinus { Apr 2nd 2007 at 9:00AM }

It's no secret that most of the time, licensed games may not be ... how shall we say? Any good at all. But that's not a universal truth, as occasionally, a game based on a film shines through as strongly as any more original property. Some people have told us, for instance, that Cars DS is not a complete waste of a cartridge, especially for the younger and more casual gamers in our lives. But looking back, there are very few licensed games or game tie-ins that stand out. Perhaps the best of the lot was a stronghold of the N64, but the link to the movie was a little tenuous at times. Have any other licensed games rocked your socks over the years? What was so horrifically bad it made you want to kick things? We'd love to hear about it.

Sneak King trailer wins Nintendo hearts

by Ken Weeks { Nov 3rd 2006 at 5:00AM }

Self-admitted Nintendo Fanboy Nmaster64 threw this trailer up on YouTube because he says it inspired him to do what Gears of War could not -- get a 360. Creepy man. Sneak King, which -- despite appearances -- is not a sequel to Fight Night Round 3, serves up the fast food thrills later this month.

Xbox gets X-tra X-Men product placement

by Ken Weeks { May 30th 2006 at 2:00AM }

You didn't have to be a telepathic mutant to predict that X-men: The Official Game would be a half-assed, Hollywood cash-in, similar in artistic merit to the cinematic rush-job it seeks to cross-promote. Those who broke down and paid money to see Halle Berry void her Oscar over the weekend may have noticed that the under-developed power-sucking character was playing an Xbox 360 to pass the time in his cell. I couldn't tell what game, though thankfully it wasn't the current king of obnoxious in-game advertising, Fight Night Round 3. Hard to believe the suits who sold this film franchise down the river, then insulted us with a crappy game, would miss the opportunity for a rare tri-level Burger King product placement.