Live-Action/CGI Sonic the Hedgehog Film Being Made
Last January, a Sonic the Hedgehog fan film was released by independent filmmaker Eddie Lebron that featured a hybrid of live-action and CGI elements. Like all fan films, however, the short got a mixed reception thanks to some spotty editing and sound mixing. Nevertheless, it was a valiant effort to show what a Sonic the Hedgehog feature-length film could look like, albeit on a significantly lower budget than expected from a larger studio. Unrelated to this week's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), as far as I can tell at least, is news that a proper Sonic the Hedgehog film is being produced by Sony.
Hollywood producer Neal Moritz, known for the Fast & Furious franchise amongst other Sony properties, is heading the project with Japanese film production company Marza Animation Planet for a live-action/CGI hybrid film starring the blue hedgehog. Evan Susser and Van Robichaux, alumni of the Upright Citizens Brigade comedy troupe, are writing the script. There's no other word on the film outside of Dr. Eggman's role as the main antagonist of the film.
As a life-long Sonic the Hedgehog fan, I'm obviously thrilled to see what can come of a proper Hollywood adaptation. However, there's a good chance that the plot will resemble something more along the lines of the video game series, which isn't well-known for having an interesting narrative. If Sega and Sony wanted to do this right, they'd reap stories from the successful line of Archie comics, which recently reached the 260 issue mark.
We'll have more on the Sonic the Hedgehog film as more information becomes available.
[via The Hollywood Reporter]
Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg directing Sega vs. Nintendo film
Growing up as a gamer during the '90s meant the Sega Genesis and Nintendo/Super Nintendo were my first introductions to video games. With the NES as my very first console, I wanted a Super Nintendo for Christmas one year. As fate would have it, Santa delivered not a gray-colored box, but a sleek, sexy black one: the Sega Genesis. Since then, my best friend Sonic the Hedgehog and I have sped through the next few generations of gaming, where I ultimately took my talents to Sony's PlayStation offerings. The rest, as they say, is history.
The '90s gaming scene was cutthroat, with Sega and Nintendo at the forefront of the so-called "console wars." As the infamous Sega ad read, "Genesis does what Nintendon't," which encapsulates what the entire first round of console wars was like, with Sega threatening to overtake Nintendo from their spot atop the gaming industry. Author Blake Harris will be publishing a book this summer focusing on Sega and Nintendo's rivalry entitled Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defined a Generation.
Interestingly enough, the project has been greenlit for a film adaptation directed and written by none other than Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (This is the End, Superbad). The direction of the film will be entirely in the duo's hands, so expect some type of comedic tone to it. It'd be interesting to see who they get for the film, and exactly how the rivalry will be depicted. As long as Sonic is represented in the best light, that's all that I care about.
[via /Film]
Grand Theft Auto V From A Combat Photographer's Perspective
Images by cy_sperling
When it comes to the topic of video game violence, a majority of it is directed towards the Grand Theft Auto series. When you mention Grand Theft Auto, there are certain images that pop up in your mind, and one Redditor has taken it upon himself to document what he sees as a digital combat photographer. Redditor cy_sperling wanders the streets of Los Santos in passive mode to document all of the action and chaos within the game. His character sports a getup that consists of a black Media jacket and helmet, oftentimes driving a WEZL News van to pull up to a scene.
It's a pretty interesting idea and use of the platform, so check out a few of the photos that have unfolded on the streets of Los Santos.
[Via GTAV War Correspondent]
3 million Xbox Ones, 4.2 million PlayStation 4s sold in 2013
Monday, Microsoft announced that the Xbox One sold 3 million units across 13 different countries in 2013. That's 3 million units in fiveweeks. Astounding number, isn't it? After all, that extra million is on top of the 2 million Xbox Ones the company sold in the console's first eight days. Quite an accomplishment, no?
However, just as Sony was wont to do in 2013, demonstrated by their E3 debut of the system in which Sony not only undercut the Xbox One's price point, but also poked fun at Microsoft's DRM policy, they swept the rug from under Microsoft and stole some of their thunder. At Sony's CES keynote yesterday, the company announced that it sold 4.2 million PS4s in the final six weeks of 2013.
In case you're wondering, Nintendo has sold 3.92 million Wii Us as of October 2013 since its launch in November 2012. They just can't catch a break, can they?
With both the PS4 and Xbox One yet to launch in Japan, as I noted recently, expect that number to increase exponentially during the first quarter of 2014. If you're a visual person, IGN has a few bar graphs comparing the PS4, Xbox One, and Wii U against one another, as well as lifetime and launch sales of the PS3, 360, and Wii.
[via IGN]
PlayStation Now to stream old PlayStation games to PS4, PS Vita
When Sony bought Gakai back in the summer of 2011, it was always assumed that they would use the cloud service to stream PS3 games for the upcoming PlayStation 4. Today, the Japanese company confirmed their plans with their announcement of PlayStation Now. Currently, PS3 games are confirmed to be a part of the service, allowing PS4 owners to stream PS3 games to the PS3, PS4, PS Vita, and select Bravia TVs with additional devices planned for the future. PS2 and PS1 games are also rumored to be available through PlayStation Now, although the official press release hasn't addressed their availability. A beta run for the service is set to begin at the end of the month with a roll out scheduled for the summer.
There are no details as to how the service will function, but Sony has noted that a subscription plan is in the works for gamers to choose from an assortment of games, as well as the ability to stream individual titles. There's no word on whether or not gamers who already own copies of the game will have access to them or have to pay a fee (much like the PS3 to PS4 upgrade service). One thing's for sure: it won't be long before us PS4 owners can get rid of our PS3s collecting dust.
[via PlayStation Blog]
Nintendo forced to pay percentage of future 3DS sales to another company
Nintendo fits into weirdly into the video game spectrum. On the one hand, their first-party titles (Zelda, Super Mario Bros., etc.) perform critically well to solid sales; on the other, the dwindling third-party support hasn't helped bring the company's latest console, Wii U, to the forefront of next generation gaming as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. However, while the Wii U continues to underperform and underwhelm, the company's hardware side has been consistently salvaged thanks to amazing sales of the Nintendo 3DS.
As of October 2013, close to 35 million units have been shipped worldwide with no real signs of slowing down. Unfortunately, a percentage of future 3DS sales will go towards another company thanks to a patent claim. Kotaku states that Tomita's patented camera technology that creates 3D images from the system's cameras. Nintendo will be forced to pay 1.82% of every unit sold to Tomita going forward. It's a small percentage, but considering the current MSRP for the 3DS is at $190 and the growth of future 3DS sales, that price will add up.
[via Kotaku]
[Video] Make Exercising Fun With The Goji Play
With the holiday season upon us, it's easy to just overindulge in all the good food and treats that we forget that there's this thing called exercise. After a length of absences, it can be kind of difficult to get motivated to get back into the routine of things, and that's what Goji Play wants to change. It's a lot easier to stay on the couch and play video games, and with the Goji Play, you can turn your workouts into a video game.
Essentially, the Goji Play is a pair of controllers that lets you play via wireless sensors that monitors your activity while you work out. With an accompanying iPad app, it turns your once boring cardio machine into a video game. Check out the video below. For more information on the Goji Play, head on over to Blue Goji here.
[youtube id="gq0xYMjA_24" mode="normal" align="center"]
[Via BlueGoji]
PlayStation 4 outsold Xbox One in November
The official numbers are in, and it appears that the PlayStation 4 has outsold the Xbox One in North America last month. After more than a resounding 1 million units were sold in its first 24 hours, the PS4 ended up selling 2.1 million consoles last month across North America, Europe, and some Asian countries. Its highly successful launch netted Sony the largest console launch in history. On the same note, the PS4 was also the go-to console for software as the majority of November's top-selling games were for the system.
However, while the PS4 sold the most consoles last month, Microsoft's Xbox One was the fastest selling console in history, selling its 2 million units in eight days across the world, 900K of those units in North America. With a huge release in the Middle East this week, staggered releases across Asia over the next few weeks, and a final huge release in Japan in February, the PlayStation 4 is due for yet another big upswing in sales.
Which side have you chosen for this generation of gaming?
[via Engadget]