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Echo Fox co-owner sues team partners over fraud claims
The tumult at Echo Fox isn't subsiding any time soon. The esports team's co-owner Rick Fox has sued business partners Amit Raizada and Stratton Sclavos over allegations of both fraud as well as defamation stemming from the earlier racism claims. According to Fox, Raizada and Sclavos illegally profited off his name. Raizada supposedly misused Echo Fox's venture capital funds to both reward Sclavos for raising money and give himself both a $350,000 salary and cover the lease of his $20,000 per month Beverly Hills home. They also made it possible to oust general partners through a shareholder vote (albeit a supermajority) instead of a court order, which led to Rick Fox getting the boot in an August vote that will see him depart October 21st.
How Jace Hall ruined the latest PlanetSide 2 trailer
Some guys have all the luck. While at the Sony Online Entertainment office, the video-game-focused internet reality series The Jace Hall Show was tasked with creating a trailer for the upcoming MMOFPS PlanetSide 2. SOE President John Smedley himself requested a Saving Private Ryan-esque feel for a serious portrayal of the epic battle players will experience. The result, however, was not quite what was expected. Check out the final product (including Matt Higby's impressive acting debut) in the humorous video after the cut. The PS2 trailer adventure begins at the 2:20 mark. [Source: SOE press release]
Jace Hall is out for Blood, asks fans what they want in a remake
Jace Hall, founder and former CEO of Monolith Productions, is looking to bring back 1997's original gore-fest of a game, Blood. Hall brings the idea up on The Postmortem, a Blood fan forum, gauging interest and asking for wish lists in a potential Blood remake."To be clear, I am thinking of bringing the ORIGINAL Blood game back as it was, with functionality alterations/enhancements that are similar but superior to ZDAEMON's," Hall writes. "I would also make it work on all platforms, and not just PC."Hall has all of the legal rights and issues "handled" and will get support from anyone with a legal investment in Blood, he says. Hall will be the one footing the bill the new game as well: "One thing to also know is that if I go ahead and attempt to bring Blood back, I will be the one actually paying the bill. It is certainly going to cost money to do this, and I will not likely be getting my money back. It will be all for the fun of it. Just something to know."Hall has reservations about releasing the source code for Blood, writing, "Part of what I'm hoping to achieve with this potential project is a game that really allows people to build measurable value in their cummulative game accomplishments." The conversation is on-going at The Postmortem if you'd like to share your blood-soaked dream list with Hall himself.
The Game Archaeologist and the NeverEnding Quest: The highlights
To many veteran MMO players, the opening horns of EverQuest's score are enough to trigger vivid memories, violent hallucinations, and an unstoppable desire to leap through the computer screen to return to Norrath. It all depends, of course, on which MMO you first cut your teeth, and while many gamers would claim titles like World of Warcraft as their first, there is a large contingent who will confess that EQ was their first MMO lover. In fact, before WoW came on the scene in 2004, EverQuest was the gold standard of MMOs for a half-decade -- it was insanely popular, perfectly addictive, and absolutely revolutionary. It was a giant that roamed the virtual lands of those days, a giant that continues to forge new grounds well over a decade from its inception. It was 1995 when John Smedley realized the potential for online gaming and roped in Brad McQuaid and Steve Clover to start putting together an online RPG for SOE. What began as a small project ballooned into a crazy endeavor as the growing team created a monster RPG the likes the world had never seen before -- a game that would forever shape the MMO genre. This month, the Game Archaeologist is going after one of the biggest treasures of recorded history as we unearth the secrets to EverQuest's popularity, legacy, and longevity. The first step on our journey is to look at some of the highlights that made EQ what it is today.
Jace Hall tackles media coverage of WoW addiction
Jace Hall is well-known for his comedy videos, but apparently he can also be a pretty serious dude when he wants to be. In a recent blog entry, the internet funnyman talks about a recent piece on "internet addiction" by CNN personality Campbell Brown. Addiction is a tough topic, and WoW is an easy sell as a scapegoat. Like any activity you love, if you feel passionately about it, you should fight for its proper representation. Jace certainly is. His stance on addiction: "It is my opinion that human beings are capable of creating destructive relationships and associations with almost anything. Seeking pleasure and avoiding pain is a fundamental trait of the human condition. This trait can occasionally direct people toward the use of escapism. Sometimes this can be a necessary mode of survival and very healthy – other times is can lead to counterproductive personal and social behavior. What that means is that, YES, someone can get so involved in watching movies, or reading books, or tweaking their myspace page, or surfing, or playing games, or swimming or drinking, or using drugs, or having sex, or ANYTHING THAT THEY FIND USEFUL TO ESCAPE WITH, that they actually begin to ignore other important aspects of their lives and it becomes a real problem." Hall laments that news organizations and personalities seem eager to paint activities they're unfamiliar with or don't understand, like WoW, as unique and dangerous forces in addiction then countless other activities. Among those with addictive personalities or social difficulties, any activity can become addictive, and this particular report, he says, is pure fear-mongering "based ultimately on conjecture." My personal opinion on these matters is that it's difficult to pin "WoW addiction" on any particular source, and that usually, like Jace says in his article, there are circumstances that extend far outside of the game that can cause these problems.
15 Minutes of Fame: Jace Hall Show producer Todd Roy
15 Minutes of Fame is WoW.com's look at World of Warcraft personalities of all shapes and sizes -- from the renowned to the relatively anonymous, from the remarkable to the player next door. Tip us off to players you'd like to hear more about. Behind every successful star stands a savvy, creative, inspired producer. In the case of TV and video game producer Jace Hall (The Jace Hall Show), that producer is Todd Roy. Todd pretty much epitomizes today's casual yet completely gung-ho WoW player -- only he does it from a perspective that includes rubbing elbows with some of the most well known figures in gaming and geekdom today. We talked to Todd about finding time for WoW while working a Hollywood-paced schedule, cracking up over Stan Lee's infectious laugh and whether or not Olivia Munn really is that hot in person ... All after the break.
Jace Hall raps in music video 'I Play W.O.W."
Work Warning: While there's no nudity in this video, there's certainly a great deal of scenes featuring scantily clad dancers. (And maybe a dancer or two that we'd all really appreciate being a bit more cladded.) Jace Hall has managed to level up the genre of Belf Rap videos with his musical creation, I Play W.O.W. (Although, he does admit to playing a blood elf paladin.) The four minute video contains about four dozen common references that all of us WoW fanatics should be able to identify with, right down to no one understanding our MMO obsession. Hopefully not too many of us can empathize with Mr. Hall's mom, though. The song is actually incredibly catchy, and I'm almost a little ashamed to admit I'm going to have it stuck in my head for a while. Jace Hall does a great impression of both the stereotypical angry rapper, while still immediately fading into that excited, giddy gamer who's excited to be around his fellows. The slight send up of Felicia Day was a little funny, my favorite part was the guy cruising around in the orc mask. This video has certainly made me put Jace Hall on my YouTube subscription.
Jace Hall Show offers brief look at unannounced Warner Bros. shooter
And when we say "brief look," we mean "barely a glimpse's worth." It's, like, a half-glimpse -- almost a peek. But, we digress. In the sixth episode of its third season, The Jace Hall Show toured Jace's old stomping grounds: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The publisher currently has an unannounced FPS in the works and Hall was allowed to show approximately five seconds of the game. You can check it out around the 15-minute mark in the video past the break. [Via Big Download]
Diablo 3's female Monk designs revealed on The Jace Hall Show
In a recent segment on The Jace Hall Show, the typically secretive Blizzard dev team gave the towering host/television producer/Monolith founder a sneak peek at some of the concept art for the female iteration of Diablo 3's Monk class. While she doesn't embody what we normally imagine when we think of devout martial arts experts, she looks supremely badass. You can check out a few screengrabs from the clip on fan site BlizzPlanet, or simply watch the video posted after the jump (the segment starts at the 6:44 mark). [Via VG247]
Evercracked! looks back at EverQuest history
Everyone has their own lists of what games have been the most important in the grand scheme of the industry, but it's pretty impossible to argue that EverQuest doesn't deserve a spot near the top of the list. While time hasn't seen the classic game and its sequel remain the 900-pound-gorilla of the industry, it still holds a place near and dear to many people's hearts. More to the point, the impact it had on MMOs as a whole is undeniable. That's why the new Evercracked! video series running on IGN should bring a nice dose of joy, nostalgia, and general good feelings to a number of people. Hosted by Jace Hall, the series is slated to include interviews with veteran players and designers, behind-the-scenes footage, and a general collection of trivia and recollections. The first episode is now available, with new episodes going live every week until December 10th, so really, what's keeping you? The game has inspired countless people into the genre, including the original sources of the industry's current big success story. Even if you're just looking for historical purposes, it's likely to contain some amusement. And if you got your start in the genre with EverQuest, well, that's all the better.
Jace Hall says goodbye to Duke Nukem Forever, hello to new footage
Jace Hall, Monolith Productions founder turned web show host and TV/film producer, has gone back through his archives to dig up a minute-and-a-half of previously unseen Duke Nukem Forever gameplay footage. Hall first offered a glimpse at the game in action last June on Crackle.com's aptly-titled Jace Hall Show. The new clip, found at the 7:37 mark of the show's latest episode, features an uncharacteristically silent Duke killing enemies whilst dodging giant, rolling boulders. (And, unfortunately for our friends up North, isn't viewable in Canada.) Now that Hall has bid DNF a fond semi-farewell (after all, it could return!) he can focus his attention on ABC's upcoming reimagining of V, on which he serves as executive producer.
"EverCracked! The Phenomenon of EverQuest" to debut at SOE Fan Faire
We don't doubt that many of our readers first got their feet wet in the world of MMOs with EverQuest, a game that gave rise to addictions so severe that it was often referred to as "EverCrack" by its loyal fans. It's these folks (this blogger amongst them) that will likely get the most enjoyment out of a new documentary called EverCracked! The Phenomenom of EverQuest that is set to debut at SOE Fan Faire 2009 later this month.The documentary is hosted by Jason "Jace" Hall (of the Jace Hall Show) and features interviews not only with some of the main brains behind the game, but also with another very important group of people -- the players. We aren't sure yet when those who aren't visiting Fan Faire will be able to see it, but for now, check after the break for a preview trailer.
Jace Hall Show Season 2 now on Xbox Live and Crackle
If you enjoyed the irreverent gaming industry news coverage featured in the first season of The Jace Hall Show, you might want to check out the second season premiere, now available on Xbox Live and Crackle. For the uninitiated, Jason "Jace" Hall is a television, film and video game producer (he founded Monolith Productions). His weekly ten-minute program features interviews with nerd culture icons and game developers, and frequent narration from acclaimed television actor Gary Graham. Yeah, it's pretty strange.If none of that sounds up your alley, know this: Jace's program was one of the first sources of new footage from Duke Nukem Forever. If you're keeping a watchful eye for further proof of the Duke's existence, tuning in to The Jace Hall Show might just be your best bet.
New video of 38 studios' Copernicus tantalizes, teases
The other day we mentioned that Curt Schilling - baseball-player-turned-MMO-backer - would be making an appearance on the Jace Hall show. The episode is now live, and if you're so inclined the episode does indeed contain some brief moments of footage captured in the 38 Studios offices. That said, it's pretty short, and doesn't 'show' anything per se. The few money shots have been snipped out of the episodes footage by the folks over at 38Watch, a Copernicus / 38 Studios fansite. They have some still images clipped from the show which give us a little taste of some of the concept artists in action. One image appears to be that of a rolling wheat field, while others show a night-time cityscape of blues and purples. You can check out the full episode of the show with Schilling's appearance below the cut.
Sneak peak at 38 Studios and Curt Schilling's "Copernicus" this Thursday
From Crackle: Next Time on The Jace Hall Show! The code behind 38 Studios' "Copernicus" will start to unravel this Thursday on the Jace Hall Show. Red Sox Ace, Curt Schilling will be making an appearance and a glimpse from the top-secret fantasy MMOG "Copernicus." is due for a debut. For those that don't know Curt Schilling is a passionate MMOG player, casting his first roots in EverQuest over five years ago. Schilling started 38 Studios to focus on a main passion and create MMOGs with amazing talent as his baseball career winds down. The eclectic and veteran talented crew over at 38 Studios have been hard at work for over a year now on the super-secret title which utilizes the BigWorld and Unreal technologies.If you are a fan of MMOG discussion, Curt Schilling is an active poster on the FohGuild forums. Be sure to check out Schilling's post history for thoughts relating to his philosophy on MMOG design.[Via Kotaku]
You can actually watch Duke Nukem Forever on Jace Hall Show
So, let's just get this out of the way: We sort of dig former Monolith boss Jace Hall's new show. Well, more specifically, we dig Jace Hall, but we could do without some of the trappings of overproduction that surround him. But Jace? He's aces. See for yourself right after the break.Moving on, we think we speak for the whole internet when we say "OMG WE TOTALLY JUST SAW DUKE NUKEM FOREVER." More shocking? The 30 seconds or so we see in the video (it starts at about 4:15) actually looks pretty decent, even though we'll be the first to admit that watching a game via shaky cam over a bald dude's shoulder isn't the most optimal way to judge this sort of thing. So, it's been 26 years in development, what do you guys think of it?
First footage of Duke Nukem Forever
The very first episode of The Jace Hall Show is now live, and it includes the impossible: footage of Duke Nukem Forever. The segment with 3D Realms begins at 2:33, and we can honestly say that we appreciate host Jace Hall for asking the team "What the f*uck is taking so long?" The real fun, however, begins at 4:18, when we actually get a tiny glimpse of the game in action. Fans of Duke Nukem 3D will notice plenty of things from the original game, including some of the classic weapons. Specifically, there is footage of the shrink ray including the ever important moment when Duke crushes his recently debigulated foe. Hall concludes by saying, "I saw it. They have been working. It's not a myth. You're going to be pleased."Let's hope so.Update: Find the (autoplaying) video after the break. Sorry 'bout that.
