FIRST LOOK: Where The Wild Things Are: The Video Game...

How did THIS slip through the cracks?

So it appears as though, not only will Warner Brothers be in full marketing swing come pre Wild Things October, but along with a novel and a soundtrack, there will also be a video game adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are. The first photo was released about a month ago, and while in class this afternoon, scouring the web (particularly the Playlist), I discovered THIS little diddy of a photo.

Here's the scoop straight from the aforementioned Playlist:

Well, the video game is naturally hitting in October as well and here's your first look (via GameInformer). Warner announced today that the game will also be available via Wii, PS3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS, but didn't set a specific street date yet.

What do you do in the game? "players assume the role of Max and can explore the island of the Wild Things, journey across its dangerous terrain, overcome obstacles and battle creatures," says GamePlanet. Sounds a little run-of-the-mill, but then again, we're not gamers.

Now, you may be thinking that this is a bit lame, but to me, this could be a really great game. It's basically an adventure movie, so really, adapting this to the video game, along with having the story be inspired directly from both the book and the brilliant looking film, has me excited. Sure, it is a game based on a film, but personally, this will not only look great, as the first photo does, but will have the same whimsical charm and creepy feel of the Spike Jonze film.

What do YOU think?

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NEWS: Antichrist...The Video Game...

This would be under a WTF category, but I'm actually quite intrigued.

Coming out of Cannes this year, there was no film that was more talked about amongst cinefiles, and in many cases, news outlets, than Lar Von Trier's Antichrist. However, it's not only going to be getting a slow (if by slow you mean probably to two theatres stateside, if that many) release in the coming weeks, it's also going to be getting the film to video game adaptation deal. A post on the video game message board NeoGAF, which leads to a Politiken.dk article (Google translation) announcing its development.

Stated in the above article, writer of Hitman (the game), Morten Iversen will be developing the project, with the help of Zeitguyz (his newly formed company), and Zentropa Eden Games. Trier will have final approval of the design and final outcome.

Here is how /Film described the project:

Eden, as the game will be called, will be a first-person thriller/adventure game that invites players to confront their fears. Willem Dafoe will reportedly reprise his role in voice-over, though the game will not replicate the film, picking up afterward instead. (Not having seen Antichrist, I can’t surmise what that means for Dafoe’s performance.) Iversen says the experience will be “strong and very personal,” “controversial” and that it “…must be your own personal hell - a bit like a nightmare version of ‘Myst’.” First one to help I.D. exactly what ‘Myst’ he means there (the Cirque de Soleil show? seems weird) gets a no-prize. Iversen evidently was interviewed on Danish radio this week; if you heard that broadcast and have more details, let us know

The film sounds insanely interesting, and Von Trier is wan to not only push the envelope but sort of abuse his audience, most of the time for no real intellectual gain. He's not my favorite director ever, but he does have his own distinct style, something that I think is perfect for a world like Myst. The game, while having you confront your fears, will allegedly allow the computer (it's a PC only title) to take in news stories from the real world, and somehow include them into gameplay. It's an ambitious title for a very ambitious film. Hopefully this will break the "shitty game from a movie" formula that has befalled cinema in the past.

Here's the films premise...

A grieving couple retreats to their cabin in the woods, hoping to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse.

That's all that anyone going into the film should know, because honestly, after reading a few spoilers, the movie is the epitome of an "f'ed up" movie. If you would like to read the FULL premise, click here.

Go see something good!

NEWS: Cameron Talks Avatar...At Least The Videogame...

So today was the official start of E3, and alongside the hoopla over the horribly timed Project Natal for XBox360, the first trailer for Star Wars: The Old Republic, and the announcement that Metal Gear Solid will be making it's way to the afforementioned 360, there was one huge piece of news, that also swept over to the film world.

During Ubisoft's showcase, director James Cameron made an appearance to primarily talk Avatar, the videogame, but also drop some hints as to what we can expect from the film itself. I had a chance to check out the showcase live during G4's broadcast, but the geniuses over at /Film actually wrote down his key points:

- Ubisoft acquired a graphic design company named Hybride, which is creating over 100 of the CGI shots for the film.

- Cameron said that the film takes place in the 22nd century, on a large Earth-like moon called Pandora, with rain forests, 1000-foot tall trees, and many different types of critters. He described the Na’vi as 10 feet tall and striped like tigers.


- Weta provided Ubisoft with all the assets , models, and animations used in the movie. Cameron says that the game will have its own creatures, weapons and settings, some of which was designed by Ubisoft, and some of which were created specifically for the game only by Weta. Cameron says that he even incorporated assets that Ubisoft created for the game into the movie. because he liked the designs so much.

- The game tells a story that parallels the film, so you could play the whole game without spoiling the movie.

- The player can choose to be either human of Na’vi, and the who the bad guy is depends on which side you choose to play as.

- Cameron said that most video games based on movie properties kinda suck, and that he hopes revolutionize the model of movie to video game adaptations.

- “This film is way beyond anything I’ve ever done before, which is why its taken four years to date, and we have seven months to go,” said Cameron. “The live-action portion was filmed with cameras that took us 9 years to develop.”

- Ubisoft has been working on the game for over two and a half years.

- It will be the first major stereoscopic video game title developed in 3D from the ground up.

- Ubisoft also announced that they will be working with Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson on a video game version of the upcoming Tintin movies.

- No footage was shown during the press conference, but a demo will be available to press at E3.

- Cameron said that playing the new demo was the first time he’s ever been scared while playing a video game.

/Film reader Person Mcdude adds:

- He said that the air on Pandora isnt breathable by humans, so they genetically engineered a hybrid human/naavi, hence the name “avatar”.
the hybrids are able to control robots by “jacking” their nervous system into the robots. while jacked in, the individual is in a comatose state, but their consciousness is able to move the robot as if it were an extension of his/her body.

- One of the overriding themes of the movie is learning to view things from another perspective. Cameron hinted at a showdown between the mechanized, technologically reliant humans vs. the natural, more primal, almost tribal like Na’avi. The main character, a human (worthington?) becomes increasingly sympathetic towards the Na’vi and must choose sides at the end. he sounded very excited and said this was a huge, amazing fight scene.

Awesome, awesome and awesome. I only wish that they would have shown some footage of not only the videogame, but the film itself. Sort of like a movie based videogame tv spot. Something. Instead, we get to see the look and feel of the film, or what we all think could be the look of the film, via these three screenshots (thanks to Ubi.com)...





Go see something good!

TRAILER: Star Wars: The Old Republic First Cinematic Trailer...

I'm a big nerd, so of course, when E3 rolls around, I kind of get into a videogame coma. Give me two two liters of Mtn. Dew, a laptop, and G4, and you have what can be called the ultimate slouch fest. Well, it all pays off when I get to post things like this awesome trailer for the upcoming MMORPG, Star Wars: The Old Republic. No, it's not game footage, but it IS from Bioware, so it's pretty damn close. THIS is easily the best thing out of the Star Wars Universe in years, and is better than Episodes 1-3, Clone Wars, and any of the horrible games, at least since Knights Of The Old Republic, which I still love to this day. See it for yourself below!



Go see something good!