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Ubisoft picks up Heroes Over Europe for worldwide release
The fate of Heroes over Europe was in question when the agreement between publisher Red Mile and developer Transmission Games dissipated, due to an unfortunate lack of money on Red Mile's part.Ubisoft is now the hero of every prospective Heroes of Europe player, having just announced that it will publish the World War II flight simulator on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. The Heroes Over the Pacific sequel, which features online play for up to 16 players, is currently scheduled for a worldwide release this September. You can check out new screens, only one of which includes a blimp, in our gallery.%Gallery-67282%
Red Mile CEO steps down, ex-pres takes top spot
In these trying economic times, we've spent more time than we'd like writing up story after story about layoffs and business (or lack thereof) -- this is a site about video games, right? Fortunately for us, today's tale revolves around the ol' corporate musical chairs routine rather than a bunch of folks getting canned, as former Red Mile Entertainment CEO Chester Aldridge steps down from his position and (now former) Red Mile president Simon Price steps in. According to an SEC filing made in late March, not only is the company losing Mr. Aldridge but also Kenny Cheung from its board of directors. Mr. Cheung founded and currently owns Tiger Paw Capital, a venture capital firm that invested $1 million into the ailing company recently -- though we hear that's about $9 million short. Can we stop contextualizing corporate reshufflings now?[Via GamesIndustry.biz]
Red Mile sinking: Sin City, Heroes Over Europe release in question
With cash short and options shorter, publisher Red Mile is in danger of going out of business, leaving both the video game adaptation of Sin City and Heroes of Europe to tread water. Red Mile inked a co-publishing deal with Atari in mid-2008 for Heroes Over Europe, something it expected to net the struggling company "minimum guaranteed payments" and back-end royalties to help keep it afloat. However, the checks stopped arriving on February 11 as Atari pulled its hand out of Red Mile's wallet, ending its publishing agreement for reasons unknown. Without any income, and means to pay Heroes Over Europe developer Transmission Games, it's not surprising that the devs walked away as well when Red Mile failed to pay the studio some $281,000. Red Mile is currently considering going after Atari for "compensatory damages," but time is running short and it's likely the company could simply run out of cash before any settlement is reached. The publisher has around $341,000 left in its coffers, which it estimates will run dry at the end of March. The company predicts that it needs an additional $10,000,000 to keep its doors open another 2-3 years, leaving the eventual release of Heroes Over Europe and Sin City in question. However, given that Red Mile has continually posted losses totaling more than $35 million since it was formed in 2004, we doubt many banks will be opening up their vaults for the company any time soon.
Sin City game changes devs, still coming
Red Mile's interactive adaptation of Frank Miller's landmark, hard boiled graphic novel(s), Sin City, has a new-ish developer. The title was originally being handled – presumably with those special gloves used for working with razor wire – by Transmission Games, the same outfit producing Heroes Over Europe for Red Mile. Both games have 2009 release dates.The publisher, who is working with Atari to get its games onto shelves, tells GameSpot that work on Sin City: The Game was handed to another developer "quite some time ago." Said developer's identity is unknown, but we do know that Frank Miller practically hand-picked his old pal (and The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay writer) Flint Dille to "spearhead the design, scriptwriting, story generation, and overall production" of the game, which will – unsurprisingly – utilize Unreal Engine 3. Also, the color red. Lots of it.(And no, the new developer isn't Platinum Games, despite MadWorld's more-than-vague resemblance to Sin City.)
Bury the Shovelware: Jackass the Game
Licenses can be lethal. But as in all facets of life, prejudice shouldn't rule our thoughts. Every title should be given a fair chance. And yes, the same ought to apply to a game based on a television program in which Johnny Knoxville artificially inseminates a cow. To be honest, I was really hoping to be pleasantly surprised by this game. While Jackass was never the Jeopardy! of its time, it has swiped at least a chuckle or two from nearly all who bear witness to its inane displays of consenting human mutilation. This kind of brainless nihilism could easily lend itself to an arcade-style video game: small challenges with cheap thrills. Maybe Sensory Sweep could deliver a unique collage of pain and amusement. Perhaps it could be a truly unique experience, going against the grain of nearly every other game in history and rewarding the player for injury and humiliation, not sustainment or style: the true anti-parkour. But I might be expecting too much from something titled Jackass the Game. Yes folks, you guessed it ... we've got shovelware. %Gallery-11123%
Sin City game every other year starting 2009
From the people who brought us such hits as Jackass: The Game now are bringing another piece of pop culture to the realm of video games. Currently in development at Transmission Games is a game based on the Sin City graphic novels, (not the movie) that is currently due for release at the tail end of next year. Licensing the comics instead of the movie is both a wise and foolish move for the company, as the comics have much more story and depth, however they lack the actors or recognition that could make the game a big hit; so all in all it's a bit of a gamble. The IP has a lot of potential, but all that could mean is a more spectacular failure if the game isn't of the utmost quality. And with only six months of development behind it, it's impossible to tell if the devs will make good on that potential. The most interesting bit of news from the announcement is that the publisher foresees a continuing bi-yearly series out of the property, despite not even being out of pre-production for the first game. You can be sure we'll keep an eye on this one as it goes forward.
Red Mile restructuring continues, appoints new president
Just weeks after bringing on Maxis vet Jeff Braun, developer Red Mile has announced the appointment of a new company president, elevating industry consultant Simon Price to the company's throne. According to Red Mile, the move is part of a larger restructuring effort to "streamline costs" and "increase focus," corporate jargon that usually means some employees will be given their walking papers. Company CFO Ben Zadik already resigned as part of the effort on March 1, but plans to help in a consulting role for the next couple of months.Price, who has worked as a consultant for the company since it was founded in 2004, replaces former EA Canada president Glenn Wong, who stepped down at the end of February. According to Red Mile, Price has helped the company "in its efforts to identify and secure rights to key franchise titles," which given the company's recently released (and abysmal) Jackass and the upcoming (and hopefully good) Sin City, we figure the new exec is batting about .500.
Maxis founder joins Red Mile, goes from SimCity to Sin City
Jeff Braun, who started Maxis in 1987 with Will Wright and co-created SimCity, is now a "strategic adviser" for Sin City developer Red Mile. Braun will work with Red Mile president Glenn Wong to make the best use of the Sin City license and turn the company best known for GripShift and, oy vey, Jackass: The Game into something better.Braun believes the big challenge for Red Mile is to run with Sin City and make it a triple-A title so that the company can become a top-tier publisher. Wonder if that means we should still expect an early '09 release? Working with Glenn Wong, who was a former president at EA Canada, Braun believes the company can achieve its goals. Hopefully this means Red Mile is going to put some serious work into Sin City and it'll be a licensed game we can eagerly anticipate.
Friday Video: Jackassery
We just didn't have high hopes for Jackass: The Game, and it turns out we were right. That's a relief. But just in case you're not convinced, we thought we'd point out not only IGN's review, but also some of their video footage from the title, which is both ugly and ridiculous. The weekly video spotlight can't always be about goodness and light, after all, or you'd never appreciate your time here. So go ahead -- suffer through. We'll be here for you.As for the video? It may or may not be located after the jump. It works about as well as the game itself does, and if it's not showing up, you can go check it out at IGN directly.%Gallery-11123%
Sin City gets sinfully noir in 2009
It isn't much, but developer Red Mile did tell MCV that its game adaptation of Frank Miller's Sin City is expected in early 2009. Beyond that the only other thing we know about the game is that it runs on the Unreal Engine 3, which we know is absolutely thrilling to be aware of. With an early '09 release attached to it now, hopefully we'll start getting some information soon -- a couple screenshots would be nice.
WRUP: Don't be that jackass edition
Looking over this week's releases, we're left with nothing new that we want to play. Sure, there's Jackass: The Game, but we ask that you not be that guy or girl. Seriously, don't do it to yourself and don't cause your friends great shame when word gets out that you voluntarily signed up for such an experience. Hey, here's an idea: go through one of your older games again, instead!What will you be playing this weekend?%Gallery-11123%
Red Mile licenses Unreal Engine for Sin City
Today, Red Mile Entertainment announced that for its Sin City video game adaptation they've licensed the graphical powerhouse Unreal Engine 3 from Epic Games. Red Mile's choice of an engine is solid and we don't think anyone is willing to debate the use of the Unreal Engine 3 with Sin City. Hell, it even sounds good. Hopefully Red Mile's rather slim game development pedigree (Jackass: The Game, Heroes of the Pacific and GripShift) doesn't instantly force this "movie game" into the clearance bin, because we think Sin City lends itself to the gaming realm rather well. Here's to you Red Mile, do Sin City good, do the Unreal Engine good and don't screw this up.[Thanks, DjDATZ]
Red Mile licenses Unreal Engine 3 for Sin City game
Red Mile Entertainment's game to kill for, Sin City, is set to be powered by the increasingly pervasive Unreal Engine 3. The developer announced today that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Gears of War monger Epic Games, with president and COO Glenn Wong describing the technology as a "perfect fit for our Sin City video games." Said games are to be based upon Frank Miller's popular series of Sin City graphic novels, which recently served as basis for a successful 2005 film (confusingly titled "Sin City").Not much is known about the initial game at this stage, save for the fact that it'll be overseen by Escape from Butcher Bay writer, Flint Dille. Oh, and that it'll be powered by Unreal Engine 3. We should probably write a news post about that.
Jackass: The Game is as painful as the show
At DS Fanboy, we like to advocate the idea that any task can be made into a game. Given the right goals and rules, any real-world (or other) activity can be an enjoyable game -- consider the example of Brain Age, which consists of normally boring tasks with timers and scores applied to make a game-like experience. For that matter, Cooking Mama starts with the idea of simulating the steps involved with cooking, and derives minigames from those steps. Designing a game around activities not normally associated with games is an interesting way of stimulating creativity, and adding some novelty to the medium.It is for this reason that we don't really have an issue with the premise of Jackass: The Game. Our problem lies with the execution. Sure, we haven't played it, but we already know from the screens (and based on the fact that it's a licensed Jackass game) that Jackass: The Game won't be an avant-garde experiment in game design. It's just a game about hurting yourself in a shopping cart or whatever. One with no consistent visual style, for that matter, which is a bad sign. Some games are in 2D, some are in 3D. Maybe that's the experimental part.%Gallery-11123% [Via GoNintendo]
Sin City game gets a ho-hum developer
Did you enjoy the game Gripshift for the PSP, more recently ported onto the Playstation Network? How about Jackass: The Game? If those titles absolutely blew your mind, then you might want to sit down before you hear about developer Red Mile Entertainment's next ambitious project: the Sin City video game. Yes, that's right. The hit movie that really gave comic book fans something to cheer about (aside from the totally awesome League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, we jest) is getting a video game adaptation at last. Forget about EA, Ubisoft, Capcom ... whoever. It's Red Mile, baby.If you're already sulking in disappointment, don't worry too much yet. Frank Miller himself has stepped up to assist Red Mile Entertainment with the script and probably some other collaboratory features. No, collaboratory isn't a word, but we just made it one. It sounds like it should be a word anyway. Anyhow, Miller released this promising statement: "The Red Mile team has impressed me with its dedication to creating Sin City video games that will remain true to Sin City as I've always seen it." Aww, come on Frank, don't be so hard on Sin City. It's good. We're kidding again. We'll keep tabs on how the game progresses -- who knows, maybe it'll be Red Mile's ticket into the "upper tier" of developers.
Sin City becomes a game to kill for
Red Mile Entertainment, creators of GripShift, Equestrian Challenge, and, err, the upcoming Jackass game, has announced a multi-year license agreement to develop and publish games based on Frank Miller's Sin City. It won't be the first time the neo noir series finds itself as the inspiration for another entertainment medium -- the graphic novels spawned a successful film adaptation in 2005, with plans for a sequel already in the works.Red Mile's CEO, Chester Aldridge, notes that the developer is "enthusiastic about working with Frank Miller to create a franchise that is worthy of this great property." He reckons Sin City will make for an outstanding game due to its "crime noir settings, richly detailed characters, hyper-real action sequences, and engaging stories," or just about everything you've never seen in a Red Mile game. Let's give them a chance, though -- Frank Miller certainly is when he describes the transition to games as "very exciting." He goes on to praise the Red Mile team for its dedication in "creating Sin City video games that will remain true to Sin City as I've always seen it." So, full of shadows and dollar signs, then?
