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Proposed Swiss game ban detailed, won't target all violent games
Until very recently, there had been a massive void in our knowledge about the violent game-banning bill which was recently ratified by Switzerland's National Council. With language stating it would outlaw the sale of games featuring "cruel acts of violence against humans and human-like creatures for in-game success," we feared it would constitute a ban on, like, everything. Fortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case -- Swiss politician Evi Allemann recently explained in an interview with Swiss news site 20 Minutes (via GamePolitics) that the bill would only affect around 12 "individual games" with extremely graphic content, such as Manhunt and Mortal Kombat. Allemann commented that PEGI is "not enough," stating that Switzerland or even Europe needs its own body for video game ratings. Apparently, not everyone agrees -- the 20 Minutes article includes a link to a petition against the bill, as well as its adjoining measure which would outlaw the sale of PEGI 16 or 18 games to minors. We'd like to remind these petitioners that Swiss 16-year-olds can legally drink beer, so hey, let's not get greedy.
Rumored third Mortal Kombat movie hits legal snag
Just when our hopes for a third Mortal Kombat film were at their highest, a new legal battle has to come and crush them into the dirt. According to The Wrap, the new film -- a recently rumored reboot from Warner Bros -- has run into legal troubles. It seems that Threshold Entertainment has taken Warner Bros to court, claiming that it had a licensing agreement with Midway before the company was acquired by Warner Bros. Threshold, which worked with Midway on the first two Mortal Kombat films, claims the two companies extended their agreement in 2006 to make a third film, and states further that this agreement was upheld by a bankruptcy court after Midway's acquisition. Now, the company is suing Warner Bros. on the grounds that it "failed to work with Threshold in the development and production of the third 'Mortal Kombat' film." Potential damages are to be specified later. Whatever the damages may be, it's hard to imagine they could be any more damaging than releasing a third Mortal Kombat film. [Via GamePro]
Rumor: Warner Bros. working on Mortal Kombat film reboot
According to horror film news site Bloody Disgusting, anonymous sources have revealed that Warner Bros. Pictures is currently looking to reboot its recently purchased, long dormant Mortal Kombat film franchise. "But Joystiq," you might be asking, "why has the Mortal Kombat film franchise been long dormant?" Our dear, naive readers: This is why the Mortal Kombat film franchise has been long dormant. If you've got friends at the WB, you should consider forwarding them that little slice of cinematic history. Bloody Disgusting reports that Oren Uziel, a new screenwriter who penned a yet-to-be-produced murder mystery titled Shimmer Lake, is being considered to write the film. Now, we've never met Uziel, but we hope he heeds our advice: Take the job. We guarantee it will be the easiest writing gig you'll ever have.
Job listing claims Next Mortal Kombat will 'revolutionize online play'
The pieces of the puzzle that is the next Mortal Kombat continue to come together. WB Games Chicago (formerly Midway's Chicago studio, a.k.a. the MK team) has put out a help wanted sign for programmers looking to "revolutionize online play" with the series' next installment. The posting mentions that WB is "looking to position Mortal Kombat as the 'gold standard' for network play," and that whoever lands the job will "push the boundaries of what is possible with online interaction," including "brand-new features that will revolutionize online play." Pretty big words. We're not exactly sure how WB will go about turning the online fighting game experience on its ear, but we'd love to hear your ideas in comments. [Via TRMK]
Warner Bros. highlights Mortal Kombat, Spy Hunter IPs in Midway acquisition
After snatching up Midway and dumping some of its execs, Warner Bros. looks like it's finally starting to get somewhere with its acquisition. There's a new guy heading up what is now WB Games Chicago and, according to Develop, Warner Bros. has confirmed that Mortal Kombat and Spy Hunter are now part of its forthcoming plans.Acquiring these Midway properties gives Warner Bros. opportunities not only for new games (or re-releases of old ones), but also projects "adapted for film or TV, leveraged for consumer products, or licensed to third parties." While we wouldn't mind seeing someone take a stab at a new Mortal Kombat game, we desperately hope Warner Bros. doesn't go for a new movie. The world does not deserve any more of this.
Mortal Kombat team sheds Midway skin for 'WB Games Chicago'
Picked up by Warner Bros. in the auctioning off of Midway Games' assets, the development studio behind the Mortal Kombat franchise has seemingly been re-branded by its new corporate overlords. Superannuation spotted the info in the LinkedIn profile of Connie Gabelein, a human resources employee currently with Warner Bros. and formerly with Midway (and apparently never part of the management that was recently let go from the failed publisher). Ms. Gabelein lists her position as a "recruiter/HR generalist for the WB Game family of studios, which includes Monolith Productions, Surreal Software, Snowblind Studios and WB Games Chicago."Furthermore, former Midway CTO/now "head of WB Games Chicago" Michael Weilbacher's LinkedIn profile seems to corroborate our suspicions. We've contacted Warner Bros. and Midway for comment and will update this post with more information as we get it. Source 1 - SuperannuationSource 2 - LinkedIn Profile of Connie GabeleinSource 3 - LinkedIn Profile of Michael Weilbacher
The NBA rejected this Mortal Kombat-themed NBA Jam court for some reason
Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon continues to tweet about rarities from the MK archives, this time a Kombat-themed court intended for one of Acclaim's NBA Jam or NBA Hangtime games. "The spine held up the backboard," Boon explained. "The skull was the hoop and the flesh head was the basketball. Would've been fun!"In the following tweet, Boon offers the reason that this disgusting court didn't make it into the game. Unsurprisingly, despite the cachet the Mortal Kombat series had, the NBA declined to allow a basketball court made of human body parts into a game with its name on it.This court works pretty well as a shorthand for the ridiculousness of the Mortal Kombat series' emphasis on outrageous, nonsensical gore. See the full image, including the hoop and ball graphics, after the break.[Via GameSetWatch]
Amid Midway / Warner Bros. transition, Midway name up in the air
Various outlets reported this morning that, based on the Twitter accounts of a few Midway employees, the company name will be dissolved in the acquisition of Midway by Warner Bros. Midway's Geoff Mogilner told us this morning that those reports are simply unfounded. "The name and the mark are owned by Warner Bros. and it is up to them to figure out the branding strategy," Mogilner said to Joystiq. In the midst of buying and selling various Midway properties, basic things like the company name can easily be swept under the rug and forgotten about while people talk about intellectual properties and trademarks.According to Mogilner, when WB officially acquired Midway in an auction last month, it not only bought various IP (Mortal Kombat, Spy Hunter, etc.) but also the branding. "They [WB] bought the assets and the trademark and all the copyrights and the logo and all that ... to say the name is dead, it's silly but, ya know, it's premature -- the company Midway Games, Inc. still exists," Mogilner told us. He is, of course, speaking about the remaining studios still owned by Midway -- Midway Newcastle and San Diego among them -- who he says are still up for auction, "At this point, as long as they're open, we can still get bids. We're actively trying to figure out that situation. We were required (and it was prudent) to give notice to the people at those studios." We've contacted Warner Bros. for comment on whether or not it will continue using the Midway name on future ex-Midway products and have yet to hear back as of publishing.Update: Warner Bros. has responded to our request for comment with, well, no comment. We asked the company if it will be using the Midway name going forward on ex-Midway products, to which WB officially responded, "We [WB] are not yet commenting on Midway." That's all (for now), folks![Via Big Download] [Image]
Mortal Kombat film producer files suit against Midway
With Midway reportedly looking to sell off its Mortal Kombat assets, one concerned party hopes to peer underneath the tent the beleaguered publisher has pitched inside the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and settle the sticky issue of intellectual property ownership. Film producer Lawrence Kasanoff and his company, Threshold Entertainment, have filed a suit in the hopes of eliciting judgment "declaring the existence and scope of its licenses, interests and intellectual property rights in Mortal Kombat-related intellectual property." In other words: "Hey, isn't that some of my stuff in this garage sale?"It is the suit's assertion that the Mortal Kombat franchise is "far more a creation of Threshold and Kasanoff than of Midway," with Threshold's film adaptations and TV shows allegedly signifying more creative input than that of Midway, which was "almost entirely limited to the videogames." That's right! Bet you didn't know that Mortal Kombat was a "videogame" before it became an award-winning film franchise!Threshold backs up its claims by pointing out the "minimal back-story and mythology" provided by the games, as well as the "flat, cookie-cutter characters" it had to use as a basis for its derivative works. Indeed, anybody who's seen "Mortal Kombat: Annihilation" is sure to agree that the 78 characters in that rich, compelling film -- including the cyborg and the lizard guy -- were so much more fleshed out right until they all died or something.[Via GamePolitics]Source -- Complaint (warning: PDF)
Mortal Kombat's Goro, actual size
On screen, Mortal Kombat's top-knotted, four-armed Goro was a menacing, scary figure, towering over our hapless Sub-Zeros and Raidens. This vintage picture from Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon's Twitter, reveals that, in real life, Goro was just a li'l guy.Of course, we knew the stop-motion model for the character wouldn't be fully human-sized, because that would be a ridiculous expense and effort for absolutely no payoff. But we're still delighted to see the actual sculpture used in the game, in all its diminutive glory. We also like how "homemade" the studio looks -- actual Mortal Kombat images were lit by a desk lamp taped to a cookie tin taped to some other stuff.[Via Giant Bomb]
Ed Boon: Next Mortal Kombat to be rated 'M'
If the uncharacteristic lack of over-the-top gore in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe was an issue for you, series co-creator Ed Boon has some good news for you. Now (very clearly) heading up development of the ninth MK game, the designer has been tweeting about its content, recently saying that, "People want an M-rated MK....dammit we will give them an M-rated MK."Boon also addressed a tweet he received asking what it would take to make an AO-rated MK, saying, "I dont know where the line is to make MK an AO rated game. But we definitely dont want to kross it." "KROSS" it? Oh Ed, you krazy klown. That never gets old![Via IndustryGamers]
The rest of Midway is up for auction
Apparently, struggling publisher Midway has more than just Warner Bros. bidding on its remaining assets. After last week's announcement of WB's $33 million dollar offer to acquire the lion's share of Midway's properties, Midway released a statement today detailing the process and, in so many words, is allowing for larger bids. "Midway recently announced a stalking horse asset purchase agreement, which is expected to receive court approval, subject to higher or better bids, in a hearing on June 2, 2009," reads the statement. Additionally, all remaining assets owned by Midway are available for bidding as well -- including the TNA Wrestling franchise not included in the WB bid -- until the court-supervised auction takes place on June 29th.Midway's Geoff Mogilner told Joystiq this afternoon that today's release "doesn't change that agreement [with WB]" and either side will suffer financial penalties for backing out. He also noted that the acquisition has no effect on the development teams employed by Midway as "people aren't assets." Yet, Geoff. Yet. Seriously though, he told us that any bidder wishing to acquire development teams would have to engage in a "separate acquisition" and any winning bidder on Midway's assets won't take on any of the massive debt the company is currently weighed down by. He also noted that the recipient(s) of the money from this auction have yet to be decided. Standing in line for a payout are a laundry list of creditors along with mystery man Mark Thomas.
Rumor: Warner Bros. hooked on Midway bait
Just a week after casting itself into uncertain waters, Midway has reportedly gotten a bite -- er, been bitten by Warner Bros. Interactive. Now comes the hard part: reeling in the deal. After losing Eidos to Square Enix, Warner's got a grumbling in its tummy for cheap chow, and for a proposed $30 million, Midway is a relatively inexpensive meal for the big fish to swallow. Still, much of Midway is simply indigestible. An anonymous source tells MCV, "Warner is pretty confident that they will get Midway ... They look ready to put the money on the table." Whether that money is the full $30 million or just a portion of the asking price (for specific IPs like Mortal Kombat, etc.) is allegedly keeping the deal on the line. Will it snap? Oh, the suspense!
You too could own Midway's assets for $30 million
If you're looking to buy a video game company, you could do a lot worse than Midway. Think of it, for just $30 million you could own company assets like the Mortal Kombat franchise ... and ... oh! This Is Vegas! That's sure to ... have Achievement points and Trophies. Plus, you'll be helping a band of Midway employees partake in a no-larger-than $600,000 pool of bonuses, according to Midway's revised key employee incentive plan or "KEIP."If you'll remember, the last form of this KEIP set aside $3.755 million to 29 of its employees if they managed to sell Wheelman and Mortal Kombat. Clearly, it's still a work in progress.
Midway's money almost all the way gone
A US bankruptcy court document filed by Midway owner Mark Thomas (whoever that is!) reveals some dire information about the publisher that helps us understand how the mysterious Thomas was able to acquire the company for $100,000.According to GamePolitics' summary of the document, "Midway will run out of cash in late June," having "operated at a loss for most of the last decade. In addition, the publisher "overstated the value of the Mortal Kombat franchise." CitiGroup attempted, and failed, to find a buyer for Midway, which meant that Thomas had little or no competition. All of this information is just what hasn't been redacted in the document. We assume that the redacted portions deal with the fact that Sinistar is real and that Midway has been exhausting its cash reserves to mine Sinisite in order to make Sinibombs.
Rumor: Three companies looking to purchase Midway
The sharks are circling! According to a rumor at Kotaku, Midway could get bought by one of three different companies. Like the belle of the ball, Midway is being closely examined by each of these potential suitors, who are evaluating the company's potential and examining IPs. These three companies are supposedly Ubisoft, Warner Bros., and a private Chicago investor, all of whom could receive a bounty of IPs upon acquisition of ... oh, who are we kidding? They just want the rights to San Francisco Rush.The rumor also states that Warner Bros. is the most likely candidate, with a representative having already made the trek to Midway for a visit.
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.
Midway would like to keep Mortal Kombat, talks happening
While Midway has offered up the sale of Mortal Kombat in its continued fight for survival, the troubled publisher's confidence in the franchise isn't quite as shaken as may be believed. Company spokesperson Geoff Mogilner recently told MTV Multiplayer that while shedding the visceral brawler "could happen," selling off Mortal Kombat is "not something that we as a company are going for."Even so, Mogilner admitted that there is "definitely interest" from other publishers regarding Mortal Kombat, and that "conversations" are happening, though he wouldn't talk specifics. Still, the corporate spokesperson did estimate that the Mortal Kombat franchise as a whole is responsible for an impressive $1.5 billion, which given Midway's current financial upheaval would certainly come in handy right about now.
[Insert new headline about Midway losing money here]
[From the Joystiq accounting department: In an effort to conserve funds in these tough times, we've cobbled together this story about Midway losing money from fragments of other stories about Midway losing money, with a minimum of editing and the small bit of news bolded. Thank you for your patience during these trying times.]As pillars continue to topple all around Midway, the company has begun to search for new ways to [1] plan for survival in its continuing struggle to keep its head above water [2]. But for every small chance at redemption Midway Games finds, there seems to be another piece of bad news hiding around the corner. The latest nugget of news is that [3] budgets estimate that between February 9 and May 4, Midway will spend $12,392,598, an approximately 75% depletion of its reserves.Midway owner ... relatively unknown Mark Thomas [4] says "Midway is hemorrhaging cash at an alarming rate," though we're sure the words he was really looking for were complicated and terrifying [5]. When things are going south as quickly as they have gone for Midway, you take your victories where you can [6], they have already shipped 1.8 million copies of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe! [7]
Report: Midway trying to salvage Ed Boon's promised $1 million bonus
As pillars continue to topple all around Midway, the company has begun to search for new ways to stay relevant, reaching out to one of the last remaining assets left in the struggling publisher's corner. Despite reportedly offering up company darling Mortal Kombat for sale, The Cut Scene reports that Midway hopes to keep series co-creator Ed Boon around -- at least for a while longer -- by continuing to pay bonuses for his role in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe and an unannounced series entry in 2009's fourth quarter.Midway has apparently asked bankruptcy court for approval to pay the designer some $900,000 for sales of last year's comic book crossover. Another $105,000 is promised for other MK franchise revenue to Boon, whom Midway describes as "critical to maximizing the value of one of the Debtors' primary assets." The report suggests that keeping Boon around makes Mortal Kombat more attractive to potential suitors, assuming that he tags along if a company happens to open up its wallet. Still, critical or not, paying out bonuses seems like a tall order to fill for an outfit that's up to its eyeballs in debt.
