Wheelman
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Netflix's ‘Wheelman’ film is a claustrophobic driving thriller
'Man and his car' films occasionally become genre classics, like Bullitt, Drive and Baby Driver, but even farther-ranging flicks like Death Proof and Speed use vehicles as brilliant settings for novel drama. Judging by the trailer that just dropped, Netflix's original film Wheelman fits this niche like (excuse me) a glove: A driver's next job sends him down a chaotic path that puts his loved ones in danger, threatened by a manipulative person on the other end of the phone.
Warner Bros. trademark transfer of Midway begins
According to recently filed trademarks, the transfer of Midway's various game licenses to Warner Bros. Interactive has begun. Supererogatory spotted the first group of games that have been approved by the US Patent and Trademark Office -- including Robotron 2084, Defender, Joust and Wheelman, among others -- and asserted that the rest have yet to go through. With the possible re-branding of the ex-Midway Mortal Kombat team to WB Games Chicago and dissolution of Midway's executive ranks a few weeks ago, it appears as though the dismantling of Midway Games as it once was is nearly complete. We'll always have NBA Jam, right Midway?
Bionic Commando, Wheelman, more drop to $20 in GameStop sale
GameStop is having a sale on a number of games; some of them flops that have plummeted from $60 to $20. Highlights include: Guitar Hero: World Tour (Band Kit) - $90 [360/Wii] Bionic Commando - $20 [PS3/360] Wheelman - $20 [PS3/360] Tom Clancy's HAWX - $20 [PS3/360] Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - $20 [PS3/360] Prince of Persia - $20 [PS3/360] Tom Clancy's EndWar - $20 [PS3/360] Cooking Mama: World Kitchen - $20 [Wii] House of the Dead 2 and 3 Returns - $20 [Wii] GameStop's summer sale runs from now until August 2. Check out all the goods here.
Midway studios not acquired by WB to shut down within 60 days
It appears as though recent reports were incorrect, as Midway confirmed to Joystiq this morning that the studios not picked up by Warner Bros. in the acquisition bid have 60 days until they're out of work. From Midway Newcastle (Wheelman, Necessary Force) to Midway San Diego (TNA) and various "old sports titles" (Blitz, NBA Ballers) in between, anyone looking to pick up the remaining studios has roughly two months to do so."We had a court hearing yesterday and the end result of that is the sale was approved and the closing will occur within the next 10 days," a Midway representative told us, continuing, "Since we didn't get any bids for the San Diego assets, we actually gave the employees a required 60-day warning." According to the US Department of Labor, employees of 100 or more person companies must be warned 60 days prior to being let go due to "plant closure" (or studio closure, in this case). Midway remains positive on the San Diego studio, saying, "For now those employees are continuing to work and it's still entirely possible that a bidder could come in and acquire the San Diego assets." When asked what would happen to the TNA license if the studio did go under, Midway was unsure. Maybe THQ and its fancy new business plan can help a brotha out?
Wheelman movie incoming: Vin to star, John Singleton to direct
A man like John Singleton needs no introduction, especially around the leaky decks of the Joystiq oil tanker. Every week, we usually enjoy a movie to break up the monotony of teh blawging. Almost always, that movie is Baby Boy. Now, the directorial genius of Mr. Singleton is being applied to a film version of Vin Diesel's gaming, uh ... triumph, Wheelman. And not only that, but Vin Diesel will also star, Variety reports.The film -- titled simply The Wheelman -- currently has a script and is being put into production by Paramount. The movie will focus on "an expert driver (Diesel) who comes out of retirement to protect a woman from his past." This will be a nice opportunity for Diesel and Singleton to work together, considering Singleton directed 2 Fast 2 Furious, the movie sequel that Diesel opted out of.[Via BD]
Wheelman fuels up with premium DLC on 360 today, PS3 May 7
Midway's Ubisoft's middle-of-the-road Vin Diesel action vehicle, Wheelman, gets its first (only?) round of DLC on Xbox 360 today in the form of six new "Street Showdown" missions. Two "packs" are available: a 400 ($5) collection of five "premium" races and a free pack of ... one race. (Ah yes, the budget-friendly "1-pack.")We know you're excited, PS3 owners, but you'll have to wait until the regularly scheduled PlayStation Store update on Thursday, May 7 to pick up the DLC equivalent of a pine tree air freshener for $4.99. Which, as it so happens, is about the price of two gallons of gas in most states. Just sayin'.%Gallery-51619%
Joystiq interview: Ian Stevens, Tigon Studios' head of game production
Ian Stevens has a lot on his plate. Between launching two games this month in Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena and Wheelman and working on Vin Diesel's dream game (not to mention two games still in the concept stage named Melkor and Perrone), we think this gentleman could really use a vacation. Busy as he is, he was nice enough to take time out of his schedule last week to speak with us about a few things. Number one on the agenda: What is it exactly that Tigon Studios does? If Starbreeze developed Riddick and Midway Newcastle developed Wheelman, where does Tigon fit into this mess? His answer just might shock you! [Disclaimer: Ian Steven's answer will likely not actually shock you, but you may find it interesting. So there's that.]%Gallery-38368%
Feds and creditors decry Midway's 'key employee incentive plan'
Like flies to honey, Midway can't seem to stop attracting controversy as it attempts to stay afloat during its "planned" bankruptcy phase. This time around, the besieged developer is coming under fire from its creditors and the government committee overseeing its bankruptcy proceedings for planning to dish out $3.755 million to 29 of its employees as part of a "key employee incentive plan."According to The Cut Scene, the bonuses were set up to reward the select employees (five of which are supposedly Midway executives) should they manage to sell the Wheelman and Mortal Kombat franchises. The feds and creditors took issue with these goals -- when the "incentive plan" was submitted, Wheelman had already been sold to Ubisoft. The incensed parties also took issue with attaching incentives to the sale of Mortal Kombat -- a duty mandated by Midway's "obligations under the Bankruptcy Code."There are other troublesome points in the plan, such as the fairly high amount of cash it would dispense -- cash that the owed creditors would like to see in their own coffers. Midway will reportedly file an updated (and likely less lucrative) version of the "incentive plan" before its public bankruptcy hearing tomorrow morning.Update: The revised "key incentive plan" was submitted by Midway last night and alters the previous plan in a few key ways. Midway CEO Matt Booty has been subtracted from the equation, leaving four out of 28 potential employees receiving bonuses, and of those 28, the bonus will be based on the amount of money various properties are sold at. The sale of the Wheelman property will no longer be considered as part of the bonus requirements and the Mortal Kombat franchise will only count if "all of its assets" are sold along with it. To read more about what has changed, check out The Cut Scene.
Thanks to Vin Diesel, Dark Athena has multiplayer
At least that's what Mr. Diesel, owner of Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena co-developer Tigon Studios, told G4TV's X-Play this week. When asked if his studio's upcoming remake of 2004's Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay will feature online multiplayer, he had this to say: "Big props to the whole team working on this because we were well into production in the game and I begged for some multiplayer component on this and everyone rose to the occasion and created something really compelling."And we must say, between the recently released Riddick demo on Xbox Live and Diesel's starring role in Wheelman, the actor turned development studio owner has been making quite a name for himself in the video game industry. Now all we need is a Vin Diesel/50 Cent mashup full of ulaks and exploding ramps. We can dream, can't we?%Gallery-38368%
Vin Diesel reveals his dream game, Barca BC
Like all red-blooded Americans, we love Vin Diesel games like Wheelman, which stars the big guy as a lead character who's half-car, half-man, but all hero. (We think that's what it's about, we haven't been following that closely.) We know that Vin wants bigger things though, and he's finally talking about them. Or, more specifically, it.The Dies (as he insists we call him) told Destructoid he has been working for three years on Barca BC, a "massively multiplayer online game where you create an avatar that lives in the reality of Hannibal Barca, the Punic Wars and life in 200 B.C." Yes, it sounds awesome (especially if all the avatars are Vin Diesel with different haircuts, clothing, genders, etc.) but Vin says it's still a few years out. Oh, the future, will you never get here?
Demo-rama: Wanted, Wheelman, Legends of Wrestlemania
Usually, we use that header as a cute way of making a story out of two demos you wouldn't necessarily care about on their own. But today, we literally have a feast of free gaming, a carnaval pour les thumbs, if you will. Wanted: Weapons of Fate, Wheelman and Legends of Wrestlemania samples have all landed on Xbox Live and (we're assuming) will be headed to PSN later in the day.As noteworthy as the gaming cornucopia is, we feel like we have to point out the truly historic thing about this post. With the release of the Chronicles of Riddick demo yesterday, this marks the first time that two demos for two separate Vin Diesel games have been released within 24 hours of each other. May we suggest laminating your monitor and putting it in your memory box? You know, for the grandkids.Update: As requested by Jonman:Download -- WheelmanDownload -- Legends of WrestlemaniaDownload -- Wanted: Weapons of Fate[Thanks, Doug]
Pontiac G8 still in Wheelman despite brand's dire outlook
MTV Multiplayer has pointed out that, although GM's Pontiac line is slowly bleeding out as a casualty of the US economic downturn, Midway's Ubisoft's upcoming Vin Diesel vehicle, Wheelman, will still feature one of its rides: the Pontiac G8. Oh, and there's also a Saturn -- well, the Opel Astra -- in it, evidently. Saturn is no more. (Though last we checked the planet was still there.)At this point, you're probably asking yourself, "Where's the news?" Funny you should ask. It's doubtful that Wheelman will be the last game to feature a Pontiac. Heck, there are all shapes and sizes of racing sims coming out in the next few months, some or all of which will probably feature the GM-owned brand. And lest we forget Transformers: Rise of the Fallen: The Game. (Autobots only wear GM.) It would have been more newsworthy -- not to mention quite cruel -- if Ubisoft announced it was yanking both cars from the game and keeping whatever money Midway was paid to advertise include them.
Wheelman dev calls PS3 a 'pain in the ass,' Xbox a 'dumb PC'
Did you know that some developers consider the PS3 difficult to develop for? You can add the Wheelman team at Midway Newcastle to that list, following candid comments by the game's executive producer.Appearing on the This Xbox Life podcast, Shaun Himmerick was questioned on developing for 360 and PS3, to which he responded, "The politically incorrect answer is that the PS3 is a huge pain in the ass. Anyone making a game, if you're going to make it for both, just lead on the PS3 because if it works on the PS3, it'll work on 360.""We had to play catch up on the PS3 because of the memory constraints and how it renders -- how it processes is just different. And it's harder on the PS3," Himmerick continued. "The Xbox is just like a dumb PC, which is great because it's easier to build a game on a PC." Somehow, we don't think Vin Diesel would appreciate anyone whining about making his game. In fact, if he'd listened to said podcast, he'd probably be on his way to Newcastle right now to give them something to really cry about ... and maybe the latest PS3 SDK.[Via D+PAD]
Wheelman, Crackdown designers join Ruffian Games
It's fully a month on and we're still no closer to discovering just what newly founded Ruffian Games is up to than we were when it first broke ground. The fledgling company was first announced in January, formed by team members having worked on such titles and franchises as Fable 2, Grand Theft Auto and Crackdown. Now a pair of new faces have joined the Scotland-based studio's eclectic cast, including Steve Iannetta, former lead world designer on Wheelman for Midway Newcastle. Iannetta was also a designer on Crackdown alongside Ed Campbell, who also joined the company. With so much former Crackdown talent on Ruffian Games' payroll (most everyone at the company had at least some part in the game's development), the smell of open worlds and explosions coming out of the Ruffian's kitchen is unmistakable.
Trophies: Wheelman
Vin Diesel stars in this movie-to-game adaptation. There are tons of Trophies here for the Wheelman to try and collect. View Trophy List | Visit Trophy Portal
Ubisoft officially publishing Wheelman
And it's officially official, folks: Ubisoft is publishing the previously Midway-held title, Wheelman. Ubisoft's Jaime Borasi confirmed to us this morning, "Yes, the deal with Midway has been finalized and we'll be shipping to retail on March 24th." In case you had forgotten, Wheelman is the third-person shooter/action-driving game coming to Xbox 360/PS3/PC starring everyone's favorite street racer, Vin Diesel.The deal comes in the wake of Midway's recent filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy (that's the protection kind, not the liquidation kind) and a slew of rumors surrounding the sale of Midway by majority stockholder Sumner Redstone to mystery man Mark Thomas. Will Midway continue selling off its intellectual properties to stay afloat? Will that next Mortal Kombat game already in production soldier on? It remains to be seen. We've put in word to Midway for comment.UPDATE: Ubisoft and Midway are calling the publishing deal a "strategic relationship", saying, "Ubisoft will handle sales, marketing, and distribution of the title in North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Austria, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Midway will continue to direct the development of the title and retains all future rights to the franchise and will sell the title in all other European territories." Looks like Midway's not out of the loop on Wheelman after all.
Rumor: Ubisoft picks up Midway's 'Wheelman'
Employing a wheelman, especially one of Vin Diesel caliber, can get kinda pricey. Think about it: an ordinary personal driver is a luxury reserved for the Richies of the rich -- imagine what one who sees in pitch black, morphs into an iron giant, and walks around calling himself "Triple X" and still seems sorta cool would cost. Actually, never mind, you don't have to imagine it. According to a new rumor, only a profitable game publisher can afford that kind of wheelman -- indeed, The Wheelman. While both Ubisoft and Midway have declined to comment on a insider's report that The Wheelman has been acquired by Ubisoft from Midway (in the wake of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing), the possibility remains strong (see this GameFly listing). The report -- again, still a rumor at this time -- does not speculate on what, if any changes Ubisoft would make to the game, which is actually a "groundbreaking action-entertainment property"" with a feature film tie-in supposedly hitting theaters some time this year. It is expected, however, that Ubisoft would further delay The Wheelman's currently scheduled March 2009 release, in turn, potentially affecting the movie's production. Heck, Ubisoft could possibly cut ties with the Diesel altogether and to turn the game into an ordinary Driver.%Gallery-20884%Source - Rumor: Midway's Wheelman Is Now Ubisoft's Wheelman [Kotaku]Source - Ubisoft refuses to comment on Wheelman acquisition [GI.biz]
Wheelman delayed, demo due before release
Midway's gasoline-guzzling Vin Diesel vehicle, Wheelman, has been delayed, thus becoming the victim of insufferable motor-related phrases like "it stalled," "it swerved" and the somewhat esoteric "it pulled a Mika Hakkinen." Regardless, the information being conveyed here is that Midway has pushed Wheelman's release back to March 20th, but has also promised to release a demo on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 sometime before then. Assuming the company's still around.A PC demo for the cinematic drive-em-up is also planned, though Midway couldn't say whether it would hit hard drives before the game cars ships.
Wheelman gets a date and demo confirmation
Making good on their promise of a Q1 2009 release, Midway just announced that Wheelman will be releasing to retail on March 20th. Vin Diesel included. We also learn that a game demo will be releasing to the Xbox Live Marketplace sometime before the game's retail release in hopes of winning gamers over with its over the top Wheelman action. Personally, just having Vin Diesel's likeness in the game sold us. Pre-order purchased.
Time extension: Midway gets extra month to pay off debts
Midway has picked up a time bonus, turning back the clock somewhat on its 50-day fast track to financial doom. The troubled Mortal Kombat publisher has negotiated some breathing room for itself, extending the deadline to pay back half of its crushing $150 million in debt by another month until February 19. Of course, this still leaves $75 million to fork over to investors in a couple weeks, though Midway notes that it is currently "in discussions" to push back the repayment of this debt as well. When things are going south as quickly as they have gone for Midway, you take your victories where you can, though unless Midway expects next month's Diesel-fueled Wheelman to drive to the front door with a bag of cash, we wouldn't stop looking under the rug for loose change just yet.[Via Variety]
