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Microsoft Studios hires UK celeb Jonathan Ross as executive producer
British chat show host Jonathan Ross is the unexpected newest member of Microsoft's Xbox team, bringing his "unparalleled understanding for audience trends" to UK studios like Lionhead, Lift London, Rare, and Soho Productions, according to a press release. Ross, one of British TV's most famous faces across the last two decades, isn't as peripheral to gaming as he may seem. While the 52-year-old Londoner is maybe best known in gaming circles for spilling the beans on Fable 3, he's also regarded for having an avid interest in the medium - I chatted with him at this year's BAFTA awards where he talked very knowledgeably about the nominees. Also, his production company collaborated on iOS and Android game Catcha Catcha Aliens, in which he had a hand with the design. That said, it's not clear how Ross will specifically aid the Xbox team. At a London event Eurogamer attended this week, Microsoft corporate VP Phil Harrison said his company hired the celeb to help "change our thinking." Meanwhile, Life London head Lee Schuneman said, "Microsoft Studios is focused on creating the best in class cross-media entertainment, with Lift London specifically looking at creating IP across multiple channels. Jonathan will be a huge asset for us as he really knows how to connect to mass audiences with an impressive understanding for audience tastes and trends." The questions remains: Who will Sony and Nintendo hire to compete with Ross? What could Oprah bring to the PlayStation 4, or Ellen to the Wii U? Answers on a postcard, please.
Jonathan Ross teases 'unexpected revivals' for 3DS event [update]
No matter where his career goes, Jonathan Ross will likely always be best known to many gamers as "the guy who spilled the beans about Fable 3." The UK TV host will be hosting a European Nintendo 3DS event on Wednesday, and may have just outed a few more tidbits. In a Twitter back and forth (detailed by IGN) Ross told a fan hoping for a new Metroid game, "I think you're going to be pleased," before adding, "A few other faves coming as well - plus a few unexpected revivals!!" [Update: 3DS Buzz has cleared up a little confusion with a new Tweet from Ross who clarified that he wasn't referencing a new Metroid game.] With the event so close, we'll avoid speculating, but you can bet we'd be madly refreshing Joystiq around 9 a.m. EST Wednesday (when a similar DS even is being held in the US) if ... you know, we didn't have to write it.
Vin Diesel plays WoW. Probably.
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/Vin_Diesel_in_awe_about_Wrath_of_the_Lich_King'; Reader Nick tipped us to this one -- Fast and Furious actor Vin Diesel had a guest appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, where he alludes to playing World of Warcraft. While he plays coy about any details about the character(s) he plays, an interesting part comes when popular British host Ross reveals that his wife plays a green, Spectral Tiger-riding Level 80 character. Diesel gets up to shake Ross' hand at the mention of this, and proceeds to some helium-induced hilarity.It shouldn't be a huge surprise that Diesel actually plays that game, considering that he's known to be a hardcore gamer and even wrote the foreword to the D&D 30th Anniversary retrospective coffee table book. In fact, he leads the discussion from D&D to World of Warcraft by saying that games nowadays are MMOs. This should corroborate what baseball player Curt Schilling has mentioned in a past interview about Diesel playing WoW. It would've been interesting to learn his class and faction (rumors say his character's name is Dish), but I guess players will just have to find that out another day. Maybe if he talks over vent, his Iron Giant voice should give him away...
