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Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 to debut at MWC? Definitely, maybe.
We've all heard of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Galaxy Note... but the Galaxy Note 10.1? That's a new one to us. The pinch of salt you should take this with could rim the entire nation's margarita glasses for a year, but hints have come from more than one source now that Samsung has an up-sized styli-friendly slate in the works. The unconfirmed device was listed on the Samsung site, alongside the standard Note, Wave 3 and Wave Y as being highlighted at a developer event at MWC. We'd have ignored it and written it off as a typo if it wasn't for a listing at Backstage looking for "teen student" to use "his Galaxy Note 10.1." Intriguing, no? Even more suspicious, both the casting call and the developer day listing have been removed. Of course, it's entirely possible that both appearances of the Note 10.1 were simple typos but, we won't lie, we're really hoping a larger sized slate with an S Pen.Update: Samsung told us that it doesn't "comment on future product announcements." Looks like we'll have to wait.
Grand Theft Auto character listed in voice actor casting call
You don't have to look like this creepy guy -- you just have to sound like him. James Pedeaston (pictured), a recurring side character in the Grand Theft Auto universe, is listed among several other roles in a voice-over casting call posted on Actors Pages, which could be further evidence that production of Grand Theft Auto 5 is underway. Take-Two was initially named (as the production company) in the posting, according to Eurogamer, but reference to the GTA publisher has since been removed. Pedeaston was the host of "The Wild Traveler" radio show in GTA: San Andreas -- in which he openly recounted acts of pedophilia -- and, in GTA IV, he was "arrested by the Indonesian police after being suspected of child molesting in Bali, Indonesia," according to the GTA Wiki. The casting call describes Pedeaston as a "man-boy love activist who just got released from an Indonesian prison," suggesting that the role would be set in a time period following the events of GTA IV -- in other words, a role featured in the next GTA game. Additional first-name-only characters are listed in the job posting and sound generally befitting of a GTA game -- take "Samantha," for instance: "A young female obsessed with sex parties, always dreaming of being a Hollywood celebrity." The Actors Pages casting call follows a similar job posting on The Agency, for a project named "Rush" (assumed to be a codename and linked to Take-Two), which introduces more puzzle pieces that might fit together into a new GTA game set in Los Angeles -- or "Los Santos," as it's known in San Andreas. [Image source: GTA Wiki; credit: C-d-rom]
HP Palm Broadway, Manta and Topaz name-dropped in casting call
All the pieces, they're a-comin' together. If you'll recall, we spotted a smattering of HP Palm codenames in webOS 2.0 code early last month, and now, those very names are popping up elsewhere. Over at DirectCast, a couple of casting calls have emerged for HP Palm, with both of 'em seeking young, carefree hipsters with lovely hands. They're willing to pay a solid grand if you fit the profile, presumably to hold one of these impending devices on camera for some sort of advertisement. A PreCentral reader actually signed up, and then received some even more interesting information -- he was informed that the shoot will involve the HP Palm Broadway, Manta and Topaz. The Broadway was indeed one of the devices spotted in the aforementioned code, and while Manta wasn't there, "Mantaray" was. Topaz, of course, looks to be Palm's forthcoming tablet. This is all just expanded speculation for now, but if you were holding out hope for new HP Palm products, feel free to let your imagination run wild.
Work 20 unpaid hours for your chance to be a zombie in a PlayStation commercial!
Flickr: im.mick Here's yet another way of making your way into PlayStation history. Sony has a casting call out for an upcoming zombie game – most likely Dead Nation, from the makers of Super Stardust HD – and it's looking for twenty gamers to star as a zombie in an upcoming trailer shoot, to be filmed in San Francisco. Interested applicants must send their personal info, including a face pic, to zombies@playstation.sony.com. If selected, participants will be expected to work on set 10 hours per day on both May 15th and 16th wearing zombie make-up and costumes provided by SCEA. Unfortunately, you will "not be compensated" and "not all participants selected will be used." It sounds like a lot of work to us, but for some, this may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be immortalized in a PlayStation commercial. For more info, check out the PlayStation.Blog.
LA Noire characters revealed by mocap casting call
Rockstar's LA Noire has been shrouded in so much mystery that its very existence has been called into question. A recent casting call for actors not only confirms the game's continued development, but also reveals the many (if not all) characters to be featured in the game. The call asks for "STRONG ACTORS, able to handle LOTS OF dialog" for a cast of supporting characters, comprised mostly of detectives, police officers and the occasional crook. The casting call is looking for a face similar to actors Gary Cooper or Gregory Peck (pictured above) for the protagonist -- Cole Phelps. Co-stars and supporting roles, such as jazz singer Elsa Lichtmann, will only be required to perform for 10 days or less. However, the actor chosen to play Cole Phelps will work for three months, from November to January, to record his performance for the game. It's evident from the large roster of characters and the use of Hollywood actors that LA Noire is intended to be quite the cinematic game. However, with only three months of mocap, it still pales in comparison to the upcoming Heavy Rain -- which demanded nine months of motion capture work. [Via Superannuation; Image Source]
MTV True Life looking for gamer addicts
"Have video games totally taken over your life? Is your game play increasingly getting out of control? Have your friends or family confronted you about your gaming habit? How about your marriage or personal relationships – are they being affected? Is it difficult to balance work and gaming time? Do you sometimes skip doing homework or household responsibilities to play? Have you played video games as a way of escaping your problems? Has your game playing habit become so encompassing that you may need to go to rehab to kick it? If you can identify with any of the above, MTV wants to hear from you." -- Actual MTV casting call, in verbatim.While we agree video game addiction can be a problem, especially if it gets in the way of your social life, we doubt appearing on a MTV reality program is the best solution for shaking the habit. If you don't want your 15 minutes of fame, consider taking the Joystiq Two-Step Plan to Stop Playing Games™. Step one: buy Terminator Salvation. Step two: Play it. You'll learn to hate games in minutes! Pretty soon, you'll want to go outside and make friends -- all without the embarrassment of being on the same network as Tila Tequila. You can thank us later.[Via Siliconera]
Sega Japan casting 'hostess' models for next Yakuza title
Following on the fine Italian leather heels of yesterday's Yakuza sequel news comes word that Sega's scouting young Japanese women to "model" as the game's hostess club employees. The 5-10 finalists' likenesses will be used in-game, and the girls will take part in promotional events -- including a Tokyo Game Show appearance -- for the title.Adriasang reports that auditions will commence following the June 19 submissions deadline, leading up to a round of public web voting. The site also says that Yakuza series producer Toshihiro Nagoshi told Famitsu that casting will be held for "males and other age groups" at a later date. "Other age groups" being another way of saying "women who aren't 18-20, attractive and likely to make countless otaku drool."
Casting call looking for 'Punch-Out!!' lookalikes
Craigslist provides another bit of strange, gaming-related news, this time with EDP Casting sending out a casting call for Punch-Out!! lookalikes. The post is looking for New York natives to fill the boxing gloves of Piston Honda, King Hippo, Great Tiger and, of course, Little Mac. The listing doesn't specify what the casting call is for but we'd like to dream the entire classic NES title would be put to music and run on Broadway -- with the help of Andrew Lloyd Webber, of course. If you think you've got the chops to jump into Mac's pink sweatsuit, make sure to take note that EDP is looking for someone with "real fire" in their eyes. So, you really have to want the part ... or at least undergo some experimental surgery. [Via GoNintendo]
Gyllenhaal freezes time, becomes Prince of Persia
Just when you think Hollywood is getting hip to how game movies should be you're pushed down the well of reality. According to the Hollywood Reporter Jake Gyllenhaal, of Donne Darko fame, has been cast as the lead in Jerry Bruckheimer's produced adaptation of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. To be fair, that's not what we're scratching our heads at.In the announcement Gyllenhaal is said to be cast as Dastan, for the first time naming the Prince since he was imagined by Jordan Mechner in 1989. Joining Gyllenhaal is Gemma Arterton who plays Dastan's love interest--the beautiful Princess Tamina. Yeah, they changed that name too. We don't know why the changes are needed, but we're sure to find out soon.In the film Dastan and Tamina join forces to prevent an evil nobleman from stealing the Sands of Time, which, remainning true to the game it's based on, allows its wielder to reverse the flow of time.Directed by Mike Newell, no relation to Gabe, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is set to begin filming in Morocco this July.[via Big Download]
Reminder: Last day to get those apps in!
If you're thinking about trying to finagle a spot on the Nintendo Fanboy blogging squad, you better get going on your application -- today is the deadline! Turn your attention to our recent posts if you're not sure how to proceed, and get those samples together. After midnight Pacific time, we'll stop considering new applications.
Want to write for us? The deadline approaches!
If you saw our recent post requesting applications for new bloggers and you're planning to throw your name in the hat, get to it! We will cease taking applications Friday, March 14th at 11:59 P.M. Eastern time. Rather than rehashing everything we said before, we thought we'd take this time to offer up answers to the three most frequently asked questions:1. Can I write for only DS Fanboy or Wii Fanboy instead of writing for both?Sorry, half-fanboys -- we need someone who can write for both sites!2. Do you assign stories and material to your bloggers?For the most part, no. In order to succeed, you'll need to be pretty attuned to the news of the gaming world. There's no time to wait for someone to discover the news for you. However, this also means you get a chance to write about the things that interest you.3. Do I need to own a DS or a Wii in order to write for DS and Wii Fanboy?It's probably a good idea! After all, how can you be a fanboy if you don't own the hardware?For any other questions you may have, be sure to hit up the original post. It includes instructions on how to apply (and not following them is a bad idea), as well as answers to other questions you may have.
Attention all scribes: We're looking for bloggers [update]
[Update: As of Friday, March 14, we are no longer accepting applications. Hit us next time!]It's that time again, folks -- the DS and Wii Fanboy blogs are looking for new bloggers. If you can handle being beaten regularly, scrabbling for news, and oh, maybe being paid to write about video games, you just might be the kind of person we're looking for. We're specifically looking for someone who can commit to writing between 50 and 60 posts per month, spread between DS and Wii Fanboy. Not sure how much work that is? Take a peek at the average post on the blogs ... then multiply by 50. It's just that easy. For specific instructions on how to apply, check after the break -- and make sure you read everything. You will be tested.
MTV True Life: A WoW players casting call
Ever thought of yourself as a television star? Well, the time has come to put that dream into reality, or more specifically, into documentary. MTV True Life is looking for online gamers, specifically WoW players to showcase on an upcoming episode of the show. They are looking for people who have an interesting story to tell about how gaming fits into their lives. World of Warcraft really is a world-wide phenomenon, and its players are just as wide-spread, each of them unique. Are you perhaps a mother-of-five who raids Gruul's Lair on the weekends, or a construction worker that spends his nights as a gnome rogue? If you're at all interested in being on the show, submit a photo of yourself as well as a screenshot of your character when you email the lovely Shannon and tell her your story. They ask that you be (or appear to be) between the ages of 16 and 28, and that you include your name (not your character's name, although that might be nice to include), location and phone number in your email.
MTV wants Joystiqers who'll dish on camera
We received a request from a producer working with MTV titled, simply, "MTV Gamer show needs your stories!" His request: "MTV is doing a video game project and wants to hear your most memorable gaming moment. From victory to heartbreak or anything related to your passion, this is your chance to tell your ultimate trial and tribulation. Please email us a brief paragraph describing your most vivid gaming related experience. If chosen, you'll get a chance to tell it to our cameras! Please respond to mtvvideogame[AT]gmail.com. We are shooting on June 3rd and will get back to you immediately. *all submissions become property of MTV Networks, please respond only if you are available on June 3rd and can appear at MTV in Santa Monica, California."While it's no secret we're fans of some of MTV News' segments (like that designers roundtable), and even that Gears of War special wasn't that bad (except the forced Lamborghini scene ... ugh), we make no claims regarding the caliber of this production; however, we can authenticate the veracity of it, despite the dubious Gmail account. Got a hankering for television and a tendency to wax poetic about World 1-1? Drop 'em a line and tell em, "Large Marge Joystiq sent me." We're imagining a half hour of a Real World-esque video diary, but instead of a drunk girl talking about her dead grandmother, it'll be unkempt gamers talking about destructible environments. Do us proud!
Heavy Rain in the "Uncanny Valley" [update 1]
Clive Thompson over at collision detection has spotted a very bad example of the "Uncanny Valley" rearing its ugly head (literally) in the trailer for the upcoming PS3 game, Heavy Rain, the sequel to Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy. The theory of the "Uncanny Valley", realized by Japanese robotics engineer Masahiro Mori, states that people's attitudes towards robots (or in-game characters) will become negative at the point at which the model is regarded as "almost human". Characters that lie within the valley are technically realistic, but their subtle differences compared to real humans freak us out.This trailer well and truly scrapes the bottom of the valley: the poor lip animation, the glazed eyes and the lifeless skin combine to make the model look like a mash-up of Sofia Coppola and a deformed porcelain doll (ouch!). Now that console hardware is capable of near-CGI quality graphics, game developers and artists better watch their backs if they don't want to unintentionally scare their customers. As for designers of horror games, they can quite happily add another tool to their belt.[Via collision detection]Update: added an extra word that restored sense to the sentence (and to life, the universe and everything).
