The Simpsons
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Video: The Simpsons are looking good
Officially revealed yesterday, The Simpsons game from Electronic Arts looks to be shaping up nicely. A handful of videos of the game have popped up across the internet (the ones in this post courtesy of GameVideos). The gameplay looks more or less like standard 3rd person action fare, complete with double jumps, super powers, and gliding. Whether or not that's a good thing remains to be seen. However, one thing we know for sure is that the game looks great. The Simpsons uses cel shading to give the characters a cartoonish look. What makes The Simpsons more interesting is that EA has employed a technique that flattens the characters from whatever angle they are being viewed. This helps retain the 2D nature of the show itself. In action, it looks great. Truth be told, short of The Simpsons arcade game, there has never been so faithful a rendition of the actual show. Another video is posted after the break.
The limited-edition Simpsons Xbox 360
Just in case black isn't your thing, Microsoft is making 100 limited-edition Simpsons-themed Xbox 360 Pro consoles available at a series of "special events and promotions" (which we're sure you'll be hearing about in the future) in advance of the long-time-coming Simpsons Movie, making its way to theaters on July 27. Winners will have to wait several months before playing EA's just announced (and rather promising) Simpsons game on the console, which isn't due until the fall, but it's not based on the movie anyhow ... and you call this brand synergy?
Microsoft unveils limited edition Simpsons-themed Xbox 360
It may have taken forever for The Simpsons to reach the big screen, but it looks like Fox isn't wasting any time turning products yellow to tie-in with the movie, following up its Simpons-branded Samsung cellphone with a Homer-fied Xbox 360. Obsessive collectors could be in for a hard time tracking one of these down, however, as Microsoft's only producing 100 units to be given out at a series of special events and promotions. While they've gone all out with the branding, Microsoft has skimped on the console itself a bit, using the 20GB Xbox 360 Pro instead of the Elite. From the looks of it, you also won't be getting EA's just-announced Simpsons game with it, which, for a change, isn't actually based on the movie.[Via Reg Hardware, thanks Ajv2809]
EA announces The Simpsons for every console known to Man
Using the license for the first time since acquiring it in late 2005, Electronic Arts has announced plans to bring The Simpsons to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, DS, PS2, and PSP. The title was announced at a party celebrating the show's 400th episode. The game will feature 16 levels designed as separate episodes, each with their own unique title animation, setting and story. The Simpsons family are cognizant that they are in a video game and use that to justify giving themselves special powers. The game's intention is to serve as satire for pop culture and the video game industry. Shown at the event were posters mocking other franchises: Bartman Begins, Medal of Homer, NeverQuest and Grand Theft Scratchy: Blood Island. It is unclear if any of these jokes were just for the party or if they will make it into the final game. A build of the game was briefly shown at the event (note the Xbox 360 next to the screen in the images). GameSpot has impressions from the demonstration. The Simpsons is planned for a release this fall. %Gallery-3045% [Via Pro-G]
Simpsons details emerge, not a movie tie-in
New details about the Electronic Arts Simpsons game emerged today. First and foremost, the entire Simpson family (save Maggie) will be playable in the upcoming game. The premise of the game is amusing: a few minutes into the game, the Simpson family discovers that they're trapped in a video game. With this newfound knowledge, they devise appropriate powers for themselves. This premise is being used to lampoon the game industry itself, which seems appropriate for the Simpsons. The game is divided into several "episodes" each telling an original story (penned by the show's actual writers). Each level will be played by two members of the Simpson family. Players will be able to switch between the two at any time, or a second player can join in for co-op play.Perhaps the biggest tidbit of all: the game isn't tied in with The Simpsons Movie. In fact, the new game is scheduled to come out this fall, long after the movie premieres. Dare we dream that a good Simpsons game is on the way?[Via Evil Avatar]
The Simpsons Game coming from Electronic Arts
Sources both very close to the Joystiq vest and in the family point to the fact that Electronic Arts is working on The Simpsons Game, probably to be published in conjunction with The Simpsons Movie this summer. While the move isn't unexpected, it does prove that marketing departments are just getting lazy. Soon you'll be able to buy The Simpsons T-Shirt, and eat The Simpsons Breakfast Cereal. Let's just hope this game doesn't suck. There hasn't really been a Simpsons game that has blown our socks off, or even made us shout "D'oh!" However if game hasn't officially been announced yet, and the movie is being released this July, then signs point to a game that'll be rushing to bargain bins at your favorite retail outlet. Add to that the fact that it's being developed for everyone platform under the sun (we wouldn't be surprised if they had a version in the works for ATM wait screens), and it's the shotgun approach -- everybody gets a little something. However, our very own source tells us that when he was interviewed at Electronic Arts, part of the process was to watch Simpsons Skateboarding on the PS2 and list everything that was wrong with it. Apparently he filled an entire sheet, so maybe we shouldn't be so quick to judge.
The Simpsons coming to 360
LiveGamer's dpcough came across another game that otherwise hasn't yet been announced. EBGames has a listing for Simpsons: The Game, which also says the ship date is 11/1/07, which will probably be around the same time as the DVD for The Simpsons Movie, which will hit theatres sometime this summer. The alleged developer and publisher for the game is EA. So given the track record of console Simpsons titles, could this be good news? Hopefully they'll pull a TMNT, and have a little surprise waiting for us in XBLA around the same time as the retail release.[Via LiveGamer]
Today's most therapeutic video: Simpsons 'GTA Parody'
Maybe if Doctor Melfi tried this with Tony Soprano, he could've worked out his anger issues without that near-death experience. Nothing soothes the angry nerves of the savage beast like a few rounds of a GTA-like game. Of course, you need to be careful you don't carry it over into the real world. Whenever we play GTA for hours (days) and then finally get in a car, it is so tempting not just fly off a ramp and bypass traffic. No idea what system they're gaming on either ... just check out all the buttons on Bart's controller. It's like the red-headed stepchild of the Dreamcast that never came to fruition and only exists as some ideas doodled on a napkin at a Japanese karaoke bar somewhere.
The Simpsons presents Death Kill City II
Maybe the writers of The Simpsons are PSP fanboys like us, angered by the impending release of the PS2 version of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. The once-PSP exclusive is moving to the home console, and The Simpsons takes a shot at it through the parody game Death Kill City II: Death Kill Stories. As Siliconera reports, the goal of the game seems quite fun: "You have destroyed all human life on Earth. Level one complete."
Widget Watch: Simpsons Movie Countdown
This one's for you Simpsons fans. The Simpsons Movie is coming to a theater near you on July 27, 2007. What better way to pass the time between now and then, than to stare at this Simpsons Movie Countdown widget! Unfortunately, it doesn't countdown minutes, hours and seconds - only days. Handy, nonetheless. 227 days to go!
D'oh! Simpsons Movie trailer on XBLM
The Simpsons may have jumped the shark so long ago that the shark has long since died of natural causes, but that isn't stopping Matt Groening and Co. from creating the long awaited movie. Our close and oh so personal friend, Major Nelson, informs X360F that a trailer for the Simpsons movie is now available on Marketplace. It is available in every region except France, but, as groundskeeper Willy would say, the French are nothing but a bunch of "cheese eating surrender monkeys" anyway. (Seriously, I love France. Paris is a lovely place and it's actually given me some posts in the last few days. If you've got a problem with the phrase "cheese eating surrender monkeys," I suggest you take it up with Matt Groening.)
Death-by-iPod on the Simpsons
Did you catch The Simpsons on Fox last night? Grandpa Simpson decided that he had had enough of life, and sought out a doctor that would perform an assisted suicide for him. Once the arrangements had been made, Grandpa was wheeled into the execution room and connected to the diePOD, which was the device that would get the job done (while simultaneously providing the soundtrack). As grandpa lay on the table, awaiting the inevitable, the diePOD played "Instant Death" by Megadeath.Now that's satire, folks.Screen capture by Rex Hammock
Eat Up Martha
Of all the snarky Apple references in pop culture, my all time favorite is this brief clip from The Simpsons. During a school assembly, Kearney tells his buddy, "...take a memo on your Newton: Beat up Martin." He scribbles away only to see the Newton's handwriting recognition interpret his memo as "Eat up Martha."A few years ago, a number of plastic Simpsons characters were issued, and the Kearney character actually shipped with a tiny Newton with "Eat up Martha" on the screen. I have one in my office.Update: Here is a picture of the Kearney toy.
