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Beyonce settles lawsuit with Gate Five over Starpower: Beyonce
Pop star Beyonce Knowles and development studio Gate Five have settled a years-long legal battle over a proposed game called Starpower: Beyonce. Gate Five's lawyer Peter Gallagher told the New York Post the two sides settled "amicably," though he added "I can't discuss the terms of the settlement, but it was resolved." The dispute started in 2011, when Beyonce was sued by Gate Five for an alleged "extortionate demand" for greater financial compensation (see: cash money) during a "crucial moment" in the production of Starpower: Beyonce. Beyonce tried to appeal the lawsuit several times over the past few years.
Shazam mention, blackout at Super Bowl drives mobile engagement
Velti is a firm that runs advertising on mobile platforms like iOS and Android, and they were paying close attention during last Sunday's Super Bowl game to how and when mobile users were on their phones. The company has released a few tidbits about mobile usage during the big showdown, and they reveal quite a bit about when we picked up our phones during the game. Velti says that while the Ravens may have won the game, Jack in the Box was the biggest win on the mobile side: The company's "Hot Mess" commercial (which featured a big plug for Shazam, who we spoke with about exactly this situation at CES) was the most active mobile engagement driver during the entire show. Viewers saw the bug, and immediately picked up their phones, presumably to either check out Shazam or use the app on the commercial spot (though it was only 30 seconds, so they had to hurry). Mobile engagement also spiked, says Velti, during the brief blackout delay that the stadium experienced. In that same vein, the halftime show was actually the point at which viewers were least engaged in their phones, suggesting that Beyonce's song and dance distracted them back away from the smaller screens. And the game itself distracted viewers from their phones as well -- the relatively boring first half had more mobile usage, while the second half of the game, when the 49ers staged a comeback against the Ravens, saw mobile usage drop. There's a lot of very interesting insight in there about exactly how mobile users make use of their second screen devices. The Jack in the Box / Shazam spike is no mistake, and we can likely expect to see even more moves like that in the future. Our mobile phones are nearly always with us these days, and other screens, including television, have lots of opportunities to use Apple's platforms for even more engagement.
Beyonce tries to escape Gate Five lawsuit again, fails again
Singer Beyonce has failed, once again, to get herself extricated from the impending lawsuit against her by developer Gate Five Studios. Gate Five claims Beyonce agreed to help make a video game called Superstar: Beyonce late last year, but then backed out of the deal, causing severe financial damage to the studio. Beyonce's lawyers attempted to get a summary judgment in April, claiming Gate Five hadn't pulled in the financing needed to make the game, but that attempt was denied.Now the appeal of that judgment has failed. This doesn't mean Beyonce's lost the case, but it does mean that it'll likely go to trial, where a jury will have to determine if Beyonce was within her contract to leave the project, or if she somehow broke the agreement. The main issue seems to be that Beyonce required a certain amount of financing to stay on board, which she says the studio didn't get. Gate Five has suggested that there was an agreement to get the money Beyonce's contract required very soon, and that she knew that deal was all set to take place.Beyonce, we're really happy for you, and we're going to let this finish and all, but Axel Rose had one of the best video game lawsuits of all time. One of the best video game lawsuits of all time!
Gate Five's lawsuit against Beyonce going to court
Manhattan judge Charles Ramos has ruled that Gate Five's lawsuit against Beyonce Knowles is sufficiently jelly prepared, and as such will be heading to court at some unspecified date in the future. Justice Ramos agreed with Gate Five's assertion that Beyonce did not give proper notice before backing out of the deal: "You continue to negotiate right up until the time you pull the plug," Ramos said as he addressed Beyonce's lawyers, according to the New York Post. "That is not going to work with me."As you'll recall, Gate Five's lawsuit purports that Beyonce was in breach of contract when she backed out of a deal to lend her likeness to Starpower: Beyonce, and that her departure from the project directly resulted in the firings of 70 employees. Beyonce's attorneys attest that Gate Five did not have funding in place for Starpower: Beyonce's development, but Gate Five maintains that Beyonce was aware of an impending agreement with unnamed financiers scheduled to take place on December 6, 2010 – just three days after Beyonce bounced.Gate Five's lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $100 million; $6.7 million in investment capitol and $100 million in hypothetical Starpower: Beyonce profits. Honestly, Gate Five should have known something was up when Beyonce didn't put a ring on it.
Beyonce sued for over $100M for ruining her own video game
International pop star Beyonce Knowles is being sued for over $100 million by developer Gate Five. TMZ has the documents [PDF link], which state the singer made an "extortionate demand" for more money during a "crucial moment" in the production of Starpower: Beyonce. Perhaps she couldn't resist the kind of dollars made by games like Halo (3), Halo (ODST), Halo (Reach). Gate Five claims it's entitled to the $6.7 million it invested and the $100 million in profits it believes it would have made. The company also claims it had to let 70 employees go a week before Christmas due to Knowles' action, and is seeking an injunction that would prevent Knowles from "commercially associating with any other video game" or using "confidential information" she received in connection with Gate Five. But, Beyonce needs to pay her credit card bills, her telephone bills, her automo-bills...
Found footage: Creating photorealistic portraits with a finger and an iPad
Artists are taking to the iPad like ducks to water. The device seems to be a natural tool for many artists to use, and the public is now starting to see the fruits of the relationship in the form of some startling and beautiful digital art. Kyle Lambert is a perfect example of an artist who has quickly adapted to the iPad as an art creation tool. The Cheshire, England based portrait artist recently spent six hours painting an astoundingly good portrait of performer Beyonce using an iPad, his finger, and the Brushes iPad app (US$7.99). Lambert makes time-lapse movies of his creation process, and it's fascinating to see the details of Beyonce's face emerge from the digital canvas in the movie above. We'd also like to see what other professional artists are accomplishing with the iPad, so if you have a work that was created on the iPad or iPhone, let us know by clicking or tapping that Send a Tip link at the top of the page. Thanks to Paul Kent for the tip!
Download Beyonce's clothes in Style Savvy!
Nintendo may not have liked it enough to put a ring on it, but the company appreciated Beyoncé enough to continue its relationship with her. Players of Style Savvy will soon be able to download five outfits from the Deréon line, created by the actress/singer/dancer/best-video-of-all-time maker and her mother, designer Tina Knowles. "Style Savvy is all about creativity and fashion, both of which are really important to me," says Beyoncé. "I love that I get to become a stylist and take over my own boutique, and it's so much fun to see some of my Deréon designs added to the mix." You thought it was all about the money, didn't you? You stupid idiot.
Beyonce expresses interest in fitness game, men everywhere pre-order
In a rather lengthy interview with Billboard, music megastar Beyoncé intimated that she'd like to create her own fitness game. She told the magazine that she "really" loves Wii Fit -- and her DS, of course -- but added that she'd like to see the game include dancing. Her own workouts are apparently much more enjoyable when they include dancing, rather than simply "running on a boring treadmill." Noting that "a lot of women would enjoy" a fitness game bearing her likeness, she didn't mention how much men would also enjoy a game in which Beyoncé dances. Is there a better motivation for us to get rid of these beer guts?
Beyonce is in Rhythm Heaven (ads), loves Guitar Hero
How do you market a very cute, but weird, musical microgame collection to the DS's "expanded" audience? For Rhythm Heaven's ad campaign, Nintendo has resorted immediately to plan B ... yonce. The singer is starring in a new TV commercial for the WarioWare team's upcoming game, and spoke to Entertainment Weekly's The Music Mix blog about the game, although the interview got away from Rhythm Heaven and into general gaming fairly quickly. "I have been having a great time," she said about playing Rhythm Heaven on-set. "I've been rehearsing for my [upcoming] tour in stilettos and uncomfortable corsets, learning all these arrangements. Today I was playing the game with my socks on, on the couch, and it was very relaxing!" Beyonce told EW that she likes "all the Wii games," and that Rhythm Heaven reminds her of a portable Guitar Hero, "which is great, because I don't want to carry around a big guitar!" Perhaps somebody handed her Guitar Hero: On Tour instead of Rhythm Heaven? %Gallery-27707%
Beyonc demands an Xbox before she'll fly
Celebrities are well-known for demanding all kinds of things. Sure, some things we understand, like a brandy glass filled with precisely 1,000 brown M&Ms. That makes sense. Some things don't make much sense. For example, pop star Beyoncé (Knowles) recently demanded a new private jet to be flown to the World Music Awards in Monaco. That was after she declined to fly in a private jet previously used by the likes of Elton John, Jennifer Lopez and Frank Sinatra. Thankfully, Beyoncé was smart enough to make one sensible request: she needed an Xbox on the plane as well. In fact, according to one source, "Staff were told to give her whatever she wanted - including an Xbox, PSP, Jacuzzi and a pizza."Our only question: Does Beyoncé have her own blinged-out Memory Unit, or did some poor assistant have to recover her gamertag onto the new console? Scratch that, our only question is actually this: What's Beyoncé's gamertag?[Via /gamer. Thanks Jonah F.]
Beyonce needs PSP on her flight
Divas are known for their demanding attitude, and Beyonce just proved that she's a diva. According to celeb gossip column Now, organizers have admitted some difficulty in flying Beyonce to an awards ceremony in Monaco, where she won Best International Female. Not only did she want a newer plane, but she demanded video games. "Staff were told to give her whatever she wanted - including an Xbox, PSP, Jacuzzi and a pizza."Honestly, if she's getting a jet to herself, a few extras like a PSP and a pizza don't sound like a very big deal. Too bad we "blogger types" don't get that kind of treatment when we fly Economy Class (certainly a step up from cargo!).[Via /gamer]
The B'Phone makes us feel glamorous
Okay, we'll admit, if Beyonce absolutely has to endorse a single model, this ain't a bad choice, seeing how the UpStage on which it's based is a music phone of the highest order -- particularly in the B'phone's rather flashy color combo. It's an acquired taste, but it actually looks alright. It's not for us, we're just sayin'.%Gallery-12659%
The B'Phone: Sprint, Samsung make Beyonce-themed UpStage a reality
Apparently not content to merely hire Beyonce to push the plain ol' UpStage, Sprint and Samsung have collaborated with the entertainment mogul to release the B'Phone, a dolled up version of the two-sided handset. Lucky buyers will be the recipients of a burgundy UpStage trimmed with gold accents -- we'll let you be the judge whether that's hotter than the all-black original -- along with exclusive Beyonce-themed content (naturally) and a rather fancy set of packaging materials. Aspiring Beyonces of tomorrow should be able to pick it up November 4 online and in Wal-Marts (yes, Wal-Marts) across the land.Read - Phone ScoopRead - Gearlog
Beyonce-themed cellphone to become a reality?
Nah, we don't seriously expect Beyoncé to offer up a handset with her name on it, but an interesting writeup that details just how important mobiles are becoming to the concert goer actually makes mention of it. Phones are being seen by marketers and promoters as a way to "establish connections that continue long after a fan leaves," and it was noted that a variety of artists have integrated mobiles into their shows by allowing fans to vote for songs, download ringtones, or send SMS messages to the band's website mid-show. Mathew Knowles, the manager (and father) of Beyoncé, however, said "he expected to use the thousands of phone numbers collected on her current tour to pitch a variety of products, including a Beyoncé-themed phone." 'Course, an armored Foxy Brown phone would likely sell better, no?[Via Textually]
Hands-on with Samsung Ultra Music: as lovely as Beyonce
CeBIT is where it's at for huge crowds and greasy smudged phones, but we have you covered with piles of wipes and early-morning access to Beyoncé's treasure. Samsung, it seems, has struck a deal with her that extends to TV commercials, concert tours, and other advertisements. The idea behind the SGH-F300 is to have one side dedicated to music and the other for calling and messaging. We have a feeling the phone screen may be a tad bit too small to be terribly useful but it does look Samsung-beautiful first hand. Flipping the phone over reveals a large square control for music, touted as the "Sweeping Touch UI" control system and of course the larger screen. As an added kindness, Samsung has also included Beyoncé's hit "Irreplaceable" pre-loaded on the device. No word on what the diva gets, but we assume a car load of cash and at least a free phone. Hands-on with Ultra Music
