Adam was right, Halo 2 is golden (and pirated), and guilds invade gaming

Note: My apologies for the previous incomplete posting of this blog. Blame Blogger's poor usability. Or maybe blame user error. Let's just call it "premature posting" and never speak of it again.

Somewhere, an HR Generalist's ears are burning ...

1. Midway Acquires Austin Inevitable Entertainment
   
2. Halo 2 goes gold, allegedly pirated and available now.
   
3. The Microsoft hype machine trying to ruin Halo 2 for Adam
   
4. Halo 2 soundtrack details
   
5. Mortal Kombat: Deception ships million+ units
   
6. Game updates
   
7. Games Adam isn't likely to own, part 1
   
8. A sad day for Adam
   
9. First PC designed around an XBox
   
10. Logitech offers cordless XBox Live headset
    
11. Bad Mojo is back!
    
12. Game company lead named CEO of the Year
    
13. Sony ships million-plus Playstations
    
14. Dreamcast-on-a-chip
    
15. WGA forms New Media Group
    
16. New Releases
    

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NEWS:
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1. Midway Acquires Austin Inevitable Entertainment
   
   
   
   • The circle is complete. As closure to my blathering from back in April, Midway Games finally made it's purchase of Austin-based Inevitable Entertainment official. Inevitable is currently working on Area 51 for the publisher -- check out the dated (but solid) demo in the November issue of The Official XBox Magazine.
     
   • For an all-stock transaction of 218,421 Midway common shares (plus 152,824 restricted shares for "key Inevitable employees"), Inevitable will be renamed Midway Studios – Austin.
     
   
   
2. Halo 2 goes gold, allegedly pirated and available now.
   
   
   
   • Microsoft announced Monday that the arguably most anticipated sequel ever has gone gold, and will be beginning it's million+ initial production run shortly.
     
   • Wednesday night, 27 days before its release date, the complete PAL/French version of the game (though lacking XBox Live support) is allegedly available on the Internet, and making the Peer-to-Peer network rounds. Microsoft acknowledged the piracy, and I hope they and Interpol find and sock the pirates and any downloaders with the up to $100K-per-copyright-infringement fine. Those bastards.
     
   
   
3. The Microsoft hype machine trying to ruin Halo 2 for Adam
   
   
   
   • I've said it before -- I don't want to know about the story for Halo 2 until I'm actually playing through it. I'm one of those guys that doesn't like my games, movies, or comic books ruined by spoilers. If my news coverage to suffers, well, bite me. Unfortunately, the Hype Machine is trying to bypass by defenses.
     
   • The November issue of XBox Nation magazine is wrapped in black foil, emblazoned with an image of the Master Chief. The packaging touts "Details of the single-player story inside!" No, I'm not going to buy the issue, and no, I don't want you to tell me about it if you do.
     
   • Meanwhile, over at TeamXBox.com, they're running a story about a new upcoming (and spoiler-filled) Halo 2 cinematic. Nope, not gonna read that one either. Nope, not gonna watch the trailer.
     
   • Then, while walking through a local GameStop last night, I run into a full-on display of the Halo 2 action figures -- not what I wanted to see (though I gotta say, the Brute looks farkin' awesome, and is the first figure that looks like a deal at the $14.99 MSRP).
     
   
   
4. Halo 2 soundtrack details
   
   
   
   • Here's the official song list for the Halo 2: Original Soundtrack Volume One, scheduled to release the same day as the game:
     
     
     
     1. Halo Theme Mjolner Mix
        
     
     
     2. Blow Me Away-Performed By Breaking Benjamin
        
     
     
     3. Peril
        
     
     
     4. Ghosts Of Reach
        
     
     
     5. Follow (1st Movement of the Odyssey)-Performed By Incubus
        
     
     
     6. Heretic, Hero
        
     
     
     7. Flawed Legacy
        
     
     
     8. Impend
        
     
     
     9. Never Surrender
        
     
     
     10. Ancient Machine
         
     
     
     11. 2nd Movement of the Odyssey-Performed By Incubus
         
     
     
     12. In Amber Clad
         
     
     
     13. The Last Spartan
         
     
     
     14. Orbit of Glass
         
     
     
     15. 3rd Movement of the Odyssey-Performed By Incubus
         
     
     
     16. Heavy Price Paid
         
     
     
     17. Earth City
         
     
     
     18. High Charity
         
     
     
     19. 4th Movement of the Odyssey-Performed By Incubus
         
     
     
     20. Remembrance
         
     
     
     21. Connected-Performed By Hoobastank
         
     
     
     
     
   
   
5. Mortal Kombat: Deception ships million+ units
   
   
   
   • The latest offering from Midway Games fighting gore-fest has become the company's fastest-selling game.
     
   
   
6. Game updates
   
   
   
   • Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams (THQ) -- The sequel to the middlingly reviewed, but million-unit-plus selling platformer is now available in stores.
     
   • BloodRayne 2 (Terminal Velocity/Majesco Games) -- The sexy, double-X chromosome video game equivalent to Wesley Snipes has made it to stores in time for Halloween.
     
   • Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue (Krome Studios/Electronic Arts Games) -- The sequel to the Aussie-heroed platformer has shipped to retailers, and should see store shelves this weekend.
     
   • Syberia II (Microids/XS Games) -- The sequel to the well-received (and absolutely gorgeous) adventure game has been on the PC since March, and is now available on XBox for the new-game bargain price of $19.99 (a virtual necessity to encourage the genre on console platforms).
     
   • Midway ships Arcade Treasures 2 (Midway Games) -- The second volume in the re-release of Midway's classic libraries is now available for $19.99, but lacks the original Mortal Kombat initially announced as part of the collection. That game has been bundled with the special edition of the new Mortal Kombat: Deception.
     
   • The Bard's Tale (InXile Entertainment) -- The creator-owned (Brian Fargo) remake of the cult classic, rated T for Teen (for morally ambiguous, witty, non-linear game play), has gone gold, and is set to ship the week of October 25.
     
   • Forza Motorsport (Microsoft Game Studios) -- Following the recent industry spate of holiday delays, Microsoft has announced a delay of the release of its super realistic racer until February of next year.
     
   
   
7. Games Adam isn't likely to own, part 1
   
   
   
   • No, I'm not talking The Guy Game (the Austin-based Top-Heavy Studios' recent interact "Girls Gone Wild" offering isn't exactly on my wish list). The November issue of The Official XBox Magazine includes one of their better discs in a while. On it (among other things) are a video for Dead or Alive Ultimate and a playable demo of BloodRayne 2.
     
   • DOAU looks absolutely gorgeous and butter smooth, but methinks the thong- and bikini-clad fighters are likely to keep the game out of my house. Sigh. The only saving grace is that pretty much the entire fighting crew of fighters have full-body jeans and tees equivalents, and DOA Extreme Beach Volleyball costumes are probably unlockable anyway. And I suck at fighting games, so I'm not likely to unlock them. Ever. I swear ...
     
   • The BloodRayne 2 demo is surprisingly playable and entertaining, but the mix of buckets o' blood, 30-plus creative finishing moves (decapitations, etc.), and a well-animated leather lead make this less than fam-friendly fare. If you play the demo, walk Rayne up to a wall (this brings the camera in close), then whip her around to face the camera. Watch her ... uh ... eyes. Ah, those conscientious physics programmers ...
     
   
   
8. A sad day for Adam
   
   
   
   • Despite being one of the faithful who pre-ordered their copy of Halo 2, was planning to pick it up at the EB Games midnight release party, and was taking November 9 off from work (seriously), I may be prevented from playing my game-o-dreams until the weekend. The toy job has rearranged business travel, and I'll now be speaking to the Big Boss in Latte Land Nov. 9-10, rather handing the Covenant their asses.
     
   • Be looking for the news story about the senior credit card employee who carried his XBox to CA, and was arrested for splicing into the hotel A/V system (those TVs don't inputs).
     
   
   
9. First PC designed around an XBox
   
   
   
   • VoodooPC announced the launch of Voodoo VIBE, "a Central Home Theater and Entertainment PC", built around the XBox (you can use or own or purchase a VoodooPC-branded one for $120. Running the just-released Microsoft Windows XP Media Center 2005, two TV tuner VIBE and arguably the first XBox Media Center Xtender, VoodooPC has launched the ultimate media center PC/XBox pairing currently on the market -- at ~$3,300 for the base unit.
     
   • http://www.voodoopc.com/systems/vibe.aspx
     
   
   
10. Logitech offers cordless XBox Live headset
    
    
    
    • Scheduled for this fall, with an MSRP of $79.99, the 2.4 GHz is officially licensed (and branded) by Microsoft, and though pricey, is a good alternative for folk not wanting to new wireless controllers shipping this month and next that finally support the standard XBox Live communicator.
      
    • foneGEAR also recently announced the foneGEAR Cord Free is available for XBox and XBox Live. Though cheaper (MSRP: $39.99), and using slick "near field" magnetic communication, foneGEAR is neglecting to mention the range for the device is only 4-6 feet.
      
    
    
11. Bad Mojo is back!
    
    
    
    • Though not likely for XBox, I couldn't pass this news tidbit by. Originally released in 1996, Bad Mojo was an awesome game with photorealistic graphics, slick video sequences, and an interesting premise (the protagonist was force to solve puzzles and stay alive after being transformed into a cockroach).
      
    • Got Game Entertainment announced they'll be updating the game to run on current PC/Mac hardware/software, and adding new features.
      
    
    
12. Game company lead named CEO of the Year
    
    
    
    • Smart CEO Magazine has named Jeffery L. Briggs, founder/president/CEO of Firaxis Games, the magazine’s award for "CEO of the Year" last week. Firaxis has developed 9 titles (within 8 years).
      
    • "Firaxis is a company that sits squarely within the center of influence in the fastest growing sector of the US entertainment industry ... Much of the credit goes to Jeff Briggs, who has built the company around a way of life, instead of simply building their lives around the company."
      
    • Briggs has already earned Ernst and Young’s "Software Entrepreneur of the Year for 2003". Firaxis is currently producing Sid Meier’s Pirates!, which is set for release in November.
      
    
    
13. Sony ships million-plus Playstations
    
    
    
    • Sony announced that as of Tuesday it has sold 100 million units of its first console worldwide -- and this only from numbers from the top 3 of it's 120 distribution countries. This is in the addition to the 70 million Playstation 2 units sold in under 4 years.
      
    
    
14. Dreamcast-on-a-chip
    
    
    
    • Renesas Technology (a Japanese semiconductor manufacturer) plan to put Sega’s Dreamcast console onto a single core microchip. With a 64-bit interface to memory, the chip will actually turn out faster than the Dreamcast. Since Sega's not involved in th project, this is likely a technology demo to interest current console manufacturers. A very impressive technology demo.
      
    
    
15. WGA forms New Media Group
    
    
    
    • With Writers Guild of America writers contributing to marquee video games titles like James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, Enter the Matrix, and The Chronicles of Riddick, it was only a matter of time before the guild got active in gaming.
      
    • The WGA, West has announced the formation of a New Media Writers Caucus. The caucus can use the WGA's special contracts for new media work, Caucus members can earn health/pension benefits, and (potentially) full membership.
      
    
    
16. New Releases
    
    
    
    • Week of 10/10/2004
      
      
      
      • BloodRayne 2 (Action)
        
      • FIFA Soccer 2005 (Sports)
        
      • Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders (Strategy)
        
      • Midway Arcade Treasures 2 (Classic)
        
      • Tak 2: The Staff of Dreams (Platformer)
        
      • Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 2: Bush Rescue (Platformer)
        
      
      
    • Week of 10/17/2004
      
      
      
      • Men of Valor (FPS)
        
      • Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors (Action)
        
      • Outlaw Golf 2 (Sports)
        
      • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus (Action)
        
      
      
    • Week of 10/24/2004
      
      
      
      • Bicycle Casino (Puzzle)
        
      • Chessmaster (Action)
        
      • Dead or Alive Ultimate (Fighting)
        
      • The Incredibles (Action)
        
      • Monster Garage (Driving)
        
      • OutRun2 (Driving)
        
      • Scaler (Platformer)
        
      • SpongeBob SquarePants: The Movie (Platformer)
        
      
      
    • Week of 10/31/2004
      
      
      
      • The Bard's Tale (RPG)
        
      • Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2005 Adventures (Sports)
        
      • Godzilla: Save the Earth (Action)
        
      • High Rollers Casino (Puzzle)
        
      • IHRA Professional Drag Racing 2005 (Driving)
        
      • The Lord of the Rings, The Third Age (RPG)
        
      • Pinball Hall of Fame (Puzzle)
        
      • Sonic Mega Collection Plus (Platformer)
        
      • Spikeout Battle Street (Brawler)
        
      • Spyro: A Hero's Tail (Platformer)
        
      • Xbox Live Arcade (Multiple)