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Manhunt 2 wallpapers bring the violence to your desktop
If you happen to use your computer near someone who fancies themselves a Jack Thompson-alike, then boy have we got something for you: freakalicious Manhunt 2 wallpapers to dress up that desktop. There's nothing like a giant glaring eyeball of death to get you through the workday. Our spiffy new galleries balk at anything over 800px wide, so you'll have to hit the source for the bigger, better versions. To make up for it, we added some screenshots as well. Enjoy!%Gallery-3148%
Midnight Club Los Angeles races to Xbox 360
Rockstar has officially announced that Midnight Club: Los Angeles is headed to the Xbox 360 and PS3. The game is being developed by Rockstar San Diego, the group that originally developed the Midnight Club series. Midnight Club: Los Angeles promises to "push the boundaries and expectations of what a racing game can be." Exactly how Rockstar San Diego plans to do this isn't made clear. Still, Los Angeles will be the first Midnight Club title developed for new-gen systems, so expect a healthy dose of graphical polish. Also expect plenty of "street racing culture" and barely-dressed women. Midnight Club: Los Angeles should be available in early 2008.[Via Joystiq]
The Darkness demo slated for early June
A bulletin recently posted by the official MySpace page of the upcoming 2K title, The Darkness, has clarified several details about the new release. The juiciest of these tidbits is the revelation that a demo is slated to be released before the game hits store shelves. The bulletin notes that the demo won't be finished in time to make any magazine covers, so it will download only. Currently, the demo is scheduled to arrive approximately 3 weeks before the title debuts on June 25th, so it should be on Marketplace in the first week of June or so.Also mentioned in the bulletin, a new video has been created, though it has yet to escape the evil clutches of the "certain voluntarily regulatory agencies." We can't imagine what sort of agency would prevent the distribution of horrifyingly violent material, but then again we're to desensitized to judge anymore. The bulletin also reveals that those who pre-order the title from EB or GameStop get an exclusive 2K Sports Darkling that wields a baseball bat. Nice.Here's hoping the demo comes out sooner rather than later.[Thanks, Ben Furneaux]
Rockstar: 360 hindering GTAIV development
Speaking to the Official Playstation Magazine, Rockstar's creative vice president, Dan Houser, noted that the Xbox 360's lack of a guaranteed hard drive poses a challenge for the development of Grand Theft Auto IV. When asked directly about the issue, Houser agreed that the hard drive issue presented limitations. It should be noted, however, that Houser elaborated that both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 have their share of challenges. As Houser put it, "both have their own particular pleasures and pains." What exactly these pleasures and pains are is anyone's guess.For what it's worth, the version of Grand Theft Auto IV being shown to the press is running on an Xbox 360. Do with that what you will. [Via Digg]
Analysis determines publisher strengths in console war
While analyst predictions for the current round of the system wars vary greatly, most analysts agree that Sony will no longer enjoy the same level of market dominance it had in previous generations. If you'll grant that premise, what third party developers are in the best position to benefit from this shift in console fortunes?A pair of analysts at 2K Advisors (no relation to the developer) decided to try and figure out the answer to that question with a new metric called the Revenue Attach Rate (RAR). Basically, the RAR measures how much money a publisher makes on system software for each unit of that system currently in the marketplace. All other things being equal, publishers benefit most when systems that give them a high RAR do well, because those system sales translate to more revenue than other system sales.Based on previous generation RARs for the major publishers, the 2K analysts determined that EA and Take Two have the most to lose from increased market share for Nintendo in this generation. Both companies showed relatively weak RARs for the GameCube, which might explain why they have each been falling all over themselves to play nice with the big N in light of strong Wii sales. Activision would benefit most from a strong Microsoft performance, given their high Xbox RAR, while THQ's relatively balanced console portfolio makes them well suited to succeed no matter who wins the battle.The full report is a little technical, but it's full of lots of good data and analysis for anyone following the business side of the game industry.[Source: 2K Advisors]
Loads of new GTAIV details rounded up
With scans of the latest Game Informer hitting the net earlier today, our paymasters at Joystiq have uncovered lots of juicy details about Grand Theft Auto IV. There are so many details, in fact, that it would be impossible to enumerate them without the aid of a bulleted list. Lucky for everyone, we have such a function handy for just this kind of situation. Many of these bits were copied directly from Joystiq because we're lazy to preserve clarity. So, here we go.
Wii Warm Up: Take-Two's Nintendo priority
Take-Two Interactive has been in the news a lot lately. We've seen everything from trailers for GTA IV and the company's very public floundering, but it's the latest that's of particular note to Nintendo fans: Take-Two has stated, quite firmly, that they are committed to producing games for Nintendo.Great! Welcome aboard the good ship Nintendo, where we welcome third party developers. But what will you bring us? Chairman Strauss Zelnick keeps stressing Grand Theft Auto -- even to calling it the company's "James Bond," but will we see a GTA on the Wii? We want specifics! Manhunt 2 isn't enough. If we can't get an original new gen game of our own, what about a port of Rockstar's Table Tennis? That's one port we might not complain about. Anything else you'd like to see Take-Two turn out?
Take Two shareholders oust CEO
Did you catch the Take Two shareholders meeting yesterday? Don't worry if you missed it, the event turned out to be much less dramatic than we had hoped. However, it was not without some ruffled feathers, as now-former CEO Paul Eibeler was shown the door. Taking his place is Ben Feder, a former executive at News Corp, as acting CEO. Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities expresses disappointment that the new management is giving themselves a three- to six-month window. Also, Pachter said of Feder, "he appears to have no meaningful experience managing a large organization, nor does his resume suggest that he has any practical experience in the video game industry."Game Politics has a roundup of more opinions regarding this executive shuffle. Our take, however limited in scope, is that Eibeler was a beacon for bad news. His ousting can only spell an upward trend.
Take-Two board of directors gets carjacked
Following the revelation that Take-Two hadn't found a buyer, news arrives today via GamePolitics that Paul Eibeler, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, has been forced to step down. Take-Two's annual meeting took place yesterday and was quickly taken over by shareholders demanding that Eibeler step down. Strauss Zelnick, former CEO of BMG Entertainment has become the new Chairman of the Board. Ben Feder, coming from News Corp., is now acting CEO.While the change isn't likely to affect Take-Two's lineup of games, it should hopefully help the company shed its reputation for accounting problems and coffee that's just a little too hot. Then again, according to GP, it will take more than a few replacements to make things right. You can bet GTAIV will be watched like a hawk from both inside and outside Take-Two.
GTAIV trailer now on Marketplace
If you're the kind of person who prefers to watch trailers on a television, then you should be pleased to know that the GTAIV trailer is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. Whether the trailer is the most masterful or the most over-hyped thing ever created is up to you. Still, we have to say, Liberty City looks mighty pretty, especially in HD. Go download it and begin planning your domination of the Russian crime syndicate today!
GTAIV Trailer is Live 4 realz!
While the official page has worked for some of us here at Fanboy Towers, we have another alternative for you to check into. Xbox.com just added the HD trailer to the Game Detail page. After verifying your age you can check the quick teaser for Rockstar North's masterpiece. Taking place in New York Liberty City, we see a few of the more distinct locales found in Manhattan Liberty City as well as the Statue of Liberty. The narrator (whom we can only assume is the character you play) appears to have a Russian accent and is looking for a fresh start in the city that never sleeps. Graphically speaking, the lighting and character models look light years ahead of any previous GTA title and the score was very foreboding and somber, adding the perfect mood to the teaser. Simply put, we're stoked. What say you, fanboys?
Take-Two finds no buyers, to face shareholders Thursday
After postponing a shareholder meeting so as to court potential buyers, publisher Take-Two has announced that no deal has been made and the company will proceed with the shareholder meeting Thursday without any company interested in purchasing the controversy-laden publisher.How bad will the meeting be for Take Two? Game Politics predicts that several major stockholders are planning to revolt, CEO Paul Eibeler will be ousted from his position and "T2-hatin' shareholder Jack 'RICO' Thompson may gain access to the microphone and spew his particular brand of vitriol at Eibeler and Take Two management."Here's a plan: seeing as Thursday's event will be extremely entertaining, why not sell tickets to the event or broadcast the meeting, with advertising, on the internet? There's no perceivable way that the publisher will have an optimistic outcome, so they might as well monetize the entertaining disaster.
Take-Two saga continues: no buyers yet
It seems Take-Two just can't catch a break. After the golden towers of Take-Two were ransacked by angry shareholders demanding that CEO Paul Eibeler step down, Take-Two announced that it was postponing its annual meeting to come up with alternative solutions. Alternative solutions, in this case, means selling the company. TeamXbox has received word from Take-Two that the company is "unlikely to present alternative courses of action prior to the annual meeting on March 29th." In other words, it looks like Take-Two hasn't managed to find a buyer (not even Microsoft).Expect more Take-Two drama to unfold during the company's annual meeting this Thursday.
Grand Theft Auto IV's 30 minute infomercial
Last night the guys over at Gamertag Radio were channel surfing and ran across an interesting countdown clock on FX. It looked familiar, but was it really an ad for Grand Theft Auto IV? Yes indeed, it was an infomercial for GTA IV, but was lacking any real substance. Rockstar purchased a 30 minute spot on FX airing from 2:00AM EST to 2:30AM EST to show nothing more than a simple countdown clock (viewable above) complete with loud ticking sound. This is the same clock that appears on the official GTA IV website which is counting down to our first glimpse of the game. Let's just say this trailer better be something special Rockstar, because teasing us with a long and dull infomercial doesn't make us happy. Next week we'll see what you have to offer ... next week.
Rumorang: Microsoft not buying Take-Two
Quelling rumors that Microsoft is bidding on the ailing Take-Two, Shane Kim has confirmed to CNN that Microsoft has no such intention. According to the CNN article, taking over an independent publisher that creates games for multiple platforms would actually create a revenue loss, as all Take-Two's development would be shifted to the 360 alone. Said Kim, "We could never launch an acquisition bid at a third party publisher."As for parties that are interested in the company, speculation ranges from Ubisoft to Elevation Partners (of which U2's Bono is a member) to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. The article also suggests, as others have suggested in the past, that Take-Two may be sold in pieces, offering up divisions like 2K Sports and Rockstar Games instead of Take-Two being sold as a whole.[Via DCEmu]
Microsoft to buy Take-Two? [update 1]
Update: Looks like Microsoft's Shane Kim has officially quashed this rumor. Details here.On Monday, Take-Two announced that it was delaying its annual meeting as a result of major shareholders requesting that CEO Paul Eibeler step down. The company delayed the meeting in order to come up with alternative solutions, with the most likely alternative being to sell the company. A trustworthy source from Rockstar Vancouver has told WorthPlaying that Microsoft may have already put in a bid to purchase the company (or at least expressed interest in doing so). With Take-Two in tow, Microsoft would own Grand Theft Auto, one of the most successful franchises in the industry. While this is a rumor of the highest order, the possibility is certainly intriguing.Feel free to scream your jubilation, lamentation, or incredulity in the comments below.
Take Two mulling sale of company
The financial news from video game mega-publisher Take Two Interactive has run the gamut from bad to horrible over the past month or so. First there was a report from analyst Michael Pachter that suggested selling the company's stock. Then there was a disappointing earnings restatement and a shareholder coup that sought to overthrow CEO Paul Eibler. Now comes word that Take Two is considering selling the company to pacify the group of angry shareholders.Gamasutra is reporting that the Grand Theft Auto publisher has postponed its annual meeting from March 23 to March 29 to come up with alternative plans to present to the shareholders, which own a combined 46 percent of the company. One of the main alternatives mentioned in the official notice is "a possible sale of the Company." There's no guarantee such a sale will actually take place, but the fact that they're even considering it shows just how bad things are getting at Take Two HQ. Wall street seems to support the idea -- shares of the company were up 5.47 percent to $22 in early-morning trading.[Via Xbox360Fanboy]
Take-Two up for sale?
Take-Two, publisher of infamously violent games such as Grand Theft Auto 3 and Manhunt, has seen better days. Gamasutra reports that a group of Take-Two shareholders -- who own a combined 46% of the company -- wish to remove the current CEO, Paul Eibeler, and shake up the company's board of directors. Take-Two has postponed it's annual meeting from March 23rd to March 29th in order to review the shareholders' requests and come up with alternative solutions. Currently, the main "alternative" is an outright "sale of the Company."Take-Two recently posted a loss for 2006 and its future has been questioned for some time. Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities recently downgraded the company's stock and suggested that Take-Two could eventually be bought and sold in pieces, including its 2K Sports line. With the recent shareholder activity, that prediction could be coming true.Whether or not this could affect the development of GTAIV remains to be seen, though we're curious to see if Take-Two will now shy away from controversial titles, as its financial troubles began with the eruption of the Hot Coffee scandal.Take-Two stocks have already gone up as a result of the rumored sale.
Jack Thompson responds biblically to Take-Two
Last weekend we reported that Jack Thompson plans to sue Take-Two over concerns about the release of Manhunt 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV. A few days ago Take-Two countered saying that Thompson was simply bringing another nuisance suit to the courts. Thus, the circle of Jack Thompson life continues. We could attempt to ignore Jack Thompson the same way the Associated Press attempted to ignore Paris Hilton, but then we couldn't tell you about Jack's latest email to the press (full text after the break).Thompson begins by saying that he has been "praying" for Take-Two to sue him and that this "misstep would enable [him] to destroy Take-Two" and his "prayers are finally answered." He then goes on to quote scripture. He closes with, "Amen, and Praise be to God Almighty, maker of Heaven, Earth, and yes, the maker even video games." This is a whole new level for Jack Thompson. Get ready to experience Thompson v2.0.
Rumor: GTA IV to be in New York City?
While we're going to categorize this as a rumor until we get a better insight upon the release of the trailer for Grand Theft Auto IV on the 29th, it definitely is worth consideration. Apparently, word on the street is that GTA IV will be taking place in New York City and have NYC stylized music. When we first got wind of this, the first thing that popped into our heads was, "Uh, wasn't the Liberty City from Grand Theft Auto I, GTA III, San Andreas, and Liberty City Stories supposed to be at the very least an homage to New York City (with a hint of New Jersey)?" If you look at the map for Liberty City from GTA I (pictured above), it's even more apparent. Or this could be a completely new direction for Rockstar, where instead of doing fictional places that are inspired by real world locations, they cut the middle man as it were, and just use the actual city. Either way, we could see a return to Liberty City, or Rockstar's rendition of the real life counter part. Which would you rather play in?
