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Watchmen: The End is Nigh hitting 360 and PC March 4, PSN March 5
We've known for a while now that the release of the downloadable, episodic brawler Watchmen: The End is Nigh would coincide with the March 6 release date of the slow-mo film adaptation of the same name, but for the sake of certain specificity (say that five times fast), Warner Bros. just clarified the launch date of the game. Xbox 360 (and PC) users can find it in their usual Wednesday offerings on March 4, while PSN users can can pick it up on Thursday, March 5. They're cutting it awfully close to the film's opening night, but we doubt anyone will have much trouble blowing through the game's two-hour-long campaign in time for a midnight screening. %Gallery-44353%
The End is Nigh: Impressions of Watchmen
Click to embiggen. Watchmen is regarded by many to be one of the greatest graphic novels of all time. For years, fans have been able to put Alan Moore's creation on a pedestal, and many are afraid that Zack Snyder's upcoming film adaptation can only disappoint. In conjunction with the movie's release is a video game tie-in, which should be cause for more concern, considering the poor quality of most licensed video games. In theory, Watchmen: The End is Nigh, should be able to overcome the typical woes of movie-game development due to its distribution method. As a downloadable game, it doesn't need to offer the depth expected out of a retail box. However, it's clear that The End is Nigh simply isn't ambitious enough to do the franchise justice. Although much emphasis has been placed on the game's expansion of the franchise's canon, the core game experience simply isn't very satisfying. It can be summed up in just three words: beat-em-up. %Gallery-44353%
Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic Blu-ray disc includes early movie teaser
Can't wait to see Watchmen when it comes out March 6? Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic is set to hit shelves on DVD and Blu-ray three days earlier and will include a sneak peek of the "Prison Break" scene from the motion picture. C'mon, after obsessively reading and re-reading the graphic novel and watching and re-watching every trailer you're going to let a mere $34.99 MSRP keep you from a high quality early preview of the movie? That the Motion Comic is included on the disc is probably just an added bonus to some.
Watchmen game will be 'canon' with graphic novel
Worried about how The End is Nigh will fit into the Watchmen universe? A lot of assurances are already well known: Watchmen illustrator Gibbons is consulting on the art style and original editor Len Wein is the writer of the episodic game series. However, what is most comforting is the inadvertent involvement of reclusive creator Alan Moore. According to Gibbons, in an interview with EuroGamer, the two did a Watchmen module for Mayfair Games' DC Heroes tabletop roleplaying series. Moore helped write bits of it, which details the backstory from 1966, and has in the past endorsed it as canon. The second page of the interview is quite spoilerific, with Gibbons talking about the film's (and subsequently the book's) ending, so consider yourself warned. The first episode of End is Nigh is expected this March, which we're hoping is still near the film's release.
Trophies: Watchmen
The legendary graphic novel is coming to PlayStation Network as a downloadable game -- a short one at that, too. View Trophy List | Visit Trophy Portal
VGA 2008: See Dante's Inferno, Watchmen, Terminator Salvation and more
True to our word, we've returned with the second string of Video Game Award 2008 videos -- the "B" squad, if you will. It's not that these clips aren't exciting, they're just ... less so. Right after the break check out Dante's Inferno, Watchmen, Terminator Salvation, Mafia II and Fight Night Round 4. So, what's the verdict? Do these clips have you pumped for 2009? Or are you holding out judgment until you can see a little more gameplay and fewer cinematics?
Spike VGA Trailersplosion: Kratos, Drake, Watchmen, Brutal Legend & Dante's Inferno
So you missed the Spike VGAs. You didn't miss much. Only the first footage of Uncharted 2, God of War III, Brutal Legend, Watchmen and Dante's Inferno (from the team behind Dead Space, don'tcha know). We've got your back, though. After the break you can watch all of the trailers from the show without having to sit through any of that boring "awards" stuff (GTA IV for GOTY? Really?) We're having trouble deciding which of these trailers is our favorite. Realistically it's probably Uncharted 2, because we love us some Nathan Drake. Then again, we have demon nuns, Kratos wielding massive gloves, Rorschach beating up bad guys and another interesting looking new IP from the Dead Space team. What's there not to like? 2009's looking great.
Video shows Zack Snyder's in-Home Watchmen intro
Watchmen is coming Home tomorrow. We've reported on the trailer being shown in the European movie theater in the closed beta and this will be expanding out to the open beta when it's released tomorrow. Marketing firm PPC have a video on their website showing the movie theater kitted out with Watchmen posters, along with the central TV screen being taken up by an exclusive introduction by Zack Snyder. Check out the video above. While this Watchmen content was revealed in the SCEE Home open beta press release, it hasn't been mentioned even in passing by those on the other side of the pond. Clearly this, along with the upcoming Doomsday Clocks and statues for your apartment, not to mention the cast and filmmaker Q&A, will be only available for European Homers. Don't forget to check out our media day report for more info on upcoming Home content.
Who watches the Watchmen? You do - in Home
Home version 1.00 is a great improvement, as we've now said several times since its release yesterday, but there's still a distinct problem regarding a lack of content. For example, the European movie theater has ten screens, but only three are actually showing anything. Despite that, it's still worth visiting if only to check out the latest Watchmen trailer. Film marketing company PPC (Picture Production Company) has been the first to jump on the Home bandwagon with this early closed beta trailer release. We're promised that this isn't the last we'll hear from Watchmen in Home, and that there will be an announcement about "some very exciting movie related activity next month." Home has a broad scope for marketing potential, what with costumes, interactive objects and full environments all being possible. Hopefully we'll see Watchmen related content in all of these categories. We're very much looking forward to hearing what PPC have in store for Home.
Watchmen: The End Is Nigh revealed
The latest issue of EGM has revealed an upcoming Watchmen game, to be released around the same time as the movie in 2009. Subtitled The End Is Nigh, the Watchmen game will be episodic and downloadable via the PlayStation Network. The game will be a prequel to the movie, though there are currently few details regarding how it will actually play. 1Up promises that Watchmen fans needn't be worried about the franchise being treated badly. Several advisors for The End Is Nigh have worked on the original graphic novel, such as artist Dave Gibbons and Editor Len Wein. Sadly Alan Moore himself is nowhere to be seen. The game will flesh out the backstory of the comics a little more. There's a lot to play with so we're intrigued to see more details once they're finally released.
December EGM gives first look at Watchmen: The End is Nigh [Update]
Fans of Alan Moore's groundbreaking graphic novel, Watchmen, are probably either eagerly anticipating the book's upcoming film adaptation -- or, in true comic book snob fashion, dreading its release. Unfortunately for them, their excitement/dread may be multiplied by the upcoming video game adaptation of the book -- thankfully, the December issue of EGM will break the relative silence on Deadline Games' ludological prequel to the novel, now titled Watchmen: The End is Nigh. Though none of the December issue's exclusive details are leaked in a recent teaser on 1UP, an early reaction from EGM editor-in-chief James Mielke is provided to ease concerns that the prequel won't follow Watchmen canon -- according to "The Milkman", who recently traveled to Deadline's studio in Denmark, the game is incredibly faithful to the book. We'll remain cautiously optimistic until we can get more details when the next issue of EGM hits newsstands later this month. Update: Revised to reflect previous coverage.
Watchmen episodes are a prequel to film, novel
The two-episode Watchmen series that was announced yesterday will be a prequel, according to a preview from 1UP. You can choose to play as either Nite Owl or Rorschach, with the other controlled by AI or via split-screen co-op, in the time before masked heroes were outlawed. The third-person action games take place exclusively at night is set to be M-rated. While they brought on some heavy-hitters for the story -- notably Wolverine creator Len Wein and Watchmen illustrator Dave Gibbons -- we're always hesitant when someone other than the original author tries to expand a story. Still, an M-rated series with visuals reportedly "worthy of being a now-generation game" and Rorschach's infamous makeshift flamethrower? We remain cautiously optimistic. Watchmen episodes will be released around the same time as the film (March 6, 2009).
Watchmen based games to go episodic
Let's go off-topic for a moment. Watchmen is probably one of the greatest graphic novels ever created and the film looks totally rad. From director Zack Snyder, the guy who directed the film adaptation of Frank Miller's 300, and partially penned by David Hayter, of Metal Gear fame, it looks like it's going to be one helluva flick. The problem with creating a great movie is that, inevitably, someone will want to create a game based on it. Variety is reporting that Watchmen is no exception to this rule but the game based on the film (based on the graphic novel) is taking a different approach. Warner Bros. has announced it will release two downloadable episodic games on Xbox Live, PC and PSN to coincide with the theatrical and DVD releases of the film. Developed by Deadline Games, which is currently working on Faith and a .45, we don't know much about the content of the games but we hope a smaller game will work out better than licensed titles of the past. We also hope for world peace and an end to fanboy flame wars -- guess how that's going so far? [via Joystiq]
Watchmen becomes two-part episodic PSN game
Any graphic novel nerd will hold a special place for Alan Moore's Watchmen. In addition to the upcoming movie (trailer, above), there will be a coinciding licensed game. Watchmen will be released as a two-part episodic title on XBLA, PSN and PC. The first part will release in tandem with the theatrical release, while the second will release in time for the DVD/Blu-ray release. This should, hopefully, give developers more time to work on a quality title. "We don't want a low-quality console game that will get lost at retail," said WBIE senior veep of production and development Samantha Ryan. "A downloadable game allows us to deliver the experience that fans expect." The Watchmen games are expected to be rated M. [Via Joystiq]
Watchmen getting episodic games on PC, PS3, 360
Watchmen is just full of surprises. We would have never thought anyone could make a competent movie of the epic graphic novel but, if the trailer is any indication, Zack Snyder may be doing just that. We also would have doubted that the book could be made into game form, but it seems Warner Bros. is surprising us once again. The company will release two downloadable episodic games on PC, Xbox Live and PSN, to coincide with the theatrical and DVD releases of the film. All we know is we can expect Nite Owl and Rorschach in an action title developed by Deadline Games, which is currently crafting Faith and a .45. We actually think making shorter games to hit deadlines is a smart way to break the terrible licensed games cycle. But of course, if they're short and terrible ...
NCsoft Europe continue charity work at UK Comics Expo
As they've done previously, the NCsoft Europe team spent the past weekend at the Bristol, UK Comics Expo, where they once more teamed up with the Draw the World Together artists to help raise £1,666 (over $3k American) for charity. The event was as successful as past events have been, and there's a Flickr group filled with sketches for your perusal.Moving forward, NC Euro has also just announced that they'll do it up again at the upcoming UK Games Expo on May 31st and June 1st. Not only will the DtWT artists be in attendance, but they'll also be selling copies of the Draw the World Together Sketchbook, which contains artwork of the CoX heroes and villains, and features a unique cover by Dave Gibbons, the artist of Watchmen! For just £5, it's a steal! Not ... not literally, of course ... unless you're trying to get beat up by Ms. Liberty, which, come to think of it, wouldn't be a bad way to go ...[Thanks, Stephen!]
Upcoming MMO movies (and why they'll suck)
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/Upcoming_MMO_movies_and_why_they_ll_suck'; Dorothy Parker once said "The only 'ism' Hollywood believes in is plagiarism." While not technically plagiarism, the practice of mining popular properties of other media is a time-honored mainstay of Hollywood's. Why invent a new franchise when you can adapt one that already exists? Well, if we're talking about translating videogames to cinema, there are at least 3 reasons against that we can think of right away: Street Fighter: The Movie, Double Dragon, and Doom. Oh, and the entire body of work of Uwe Boll.With such a history of failure, why does Hollywood keep banking on videogames as good sources of material? Because it's always desperate for the next big hit, and adaptation is seen as being easier than originality, even though by now it's apparent that it's not quite as simple as it seems. An even better question is: why exactly don't these translations work? What is it about games that makes for poor films? Let's see if we can answer this question and assess the potential success/failure of some upcoming MMO movies.
