Quote:Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has told a German financial magazine that he remains interested in buying Nintendo, stating that "if Hiroshi Yamauchi phones me, I will pick up at once."
Gates told WirtschaftsWoche magazine that he would immediately make an offer for the company if Yamauchi, who remains the largest shareholder in the firm despite retiring from his position as president over two years ago, indicated willingness to sell.
However, his comments seem to be largely in the realms of wishful thinking, as Yamauchi retains a keen interest in the running of the company, which has been in his family for over a century, and is highly unlikely to consider a sale to the American software giant.
Indeed, Yamauchi rebuffed an offer from Microsoft only a few years ago, just after the firm decided to enter the console market with the Xbox. The final decision to develop its own console operation is believed to have been taken only after attempts to buy both Nintendo and Sega failed.
The fact that Gates is still keen on acquiring Nintendo can be seen as a statement of his respect for the Japanese company, which remains the most profitable business in the games industry, but is unlikely to lead to any business deal - with the two companies, whose US headquarters are only a stones throw away from each other in Redmond, Washington, set to continue battling for second place in the current generation of console hardware.
File this under "Not going to happen EVER.", which I do believe is famous last words, but whatever.
What does Yamuachi have to say about this?
Yamauchi: *yells incoherently in Japanese while bashing his fists against his desk and making slashing gestures*
Translator: Mr. Yamauchi respectfully declines your offer.
Quote:Obsidian developing Neverwinter Nights 2
Atari and BioWare tap the KOTOR II developers to create the next version of the popular D&D RPG.
For a company that is barely a year old, Obsidian Entertainment is awfully busy. In May, the fledgling studio inked a deal to develop the sequel to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, BioWare's award-winning Xbox and role-playing game. Today, Obsidian announced it is taking the reigns of another of BioWare's flagship RPG series, Neverwinter Nights. As with its predecessor, Neverwinter Nights 2 will be published by Atari, with BioWare providing its Aurora Toolset and creative consulting.
In a statement, Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart expressed his gratitude at taking over the venerated franchise. “BioWare and Atari created an immense community of players attracted by both the immersion of an interactive gaming experience and the ability to create their own pen-and-paper-styled modules. Neverwinter Nights changed the very nature of role-playing games,” he said. Atari executive producer John Hight was also excited, saying, “Feargus and his team at Obsidian Entertainment are the best people on the planet to take up where BioWare left off and bring this great game to new level."
Veteran RPG fans will also be excited by the Neverwinter Nights 2 deal, since it reunites the parties behind some of the most celebrated RPG series. As president of Interplay's Black Isle Studios, Urquhart oversaw the publishing of the BioWare-developed Baldur’s Gate and Baldur's Gate 2 series, as well as the first console version of the game, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance. He also developed the Icewind Dale franchise, which was based on the Baldur's Gate engine. Urquhart also worked on the celebrated postapocalyptic RPG Fallout and its sequel before leaving Black Isle last year and forming Obsidian with several luminaries from the studio.
Obsidian is already at work on Neverwinter Nights 2, which, like its forebear, will be set in the Dungeons & Dragons: Forgotten Realms universe. (Obsidian is also hiring for several positions for its "upcoming RPG products," presumably NWN2). So far, the game is (naturally) set for release for the PC, but Atari reps said a next-generation console version is a possibility. Unfortunately, gamers won't be playing it any time soon; Neverwinter Nights 2's release date has been set for 2006.
Quote:SINGAPORE (Reuters) - George Lucas, creator of blockbuster films such as "Star Wars" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark", has announced plans to bring his creative empire to Singapore in the first overseas foray by his entertainment group.
Lucasfilm is setting up a venture with Singapore's government to produce digital animation for films, TV, and video games -- its first government collaboration and reflecting the growing popularity of animation in Hollywood and Asian films.
Some of the highest-grossing films in recent years -- from "Shrek 2" to "Finding Nemo" -- have been based on computer-generated animation. In Asia, the genre is led by Japanese anime, a style born out of Japan's love affair with comic books.
Lucasfilm aims to blend those genres -- Western animation and Japanese-style anime -- at the new Asian studio, Lucasfilm Animation Singapore, which is 75-percent owned by Lucasfilm Ltd. The remainder is held by a Singapore state-led consortium.
The Hollywood studio's arrival comes as Singapore is embracing creativity to sustain its economy. Arts now form a cornerstone of government policy -- a radical shift in nation known for its strict censorship and tight social controls.
"We look to Lucasfilm as a queen bee of sorts to help develop our industry," Teo Ming Kian, the chairman of Singapore's Economic Development Board, told a news conference on Tuesday.
"As an investor, we look to very good returns from this investment but we see far more strategic returns to Singapore."
The Asian animation unit, which is looking to hire about 300 people in Singapore, will focus on production work while the design and script-writing will continue to be done in its Marin County, California headquarters.
In Hollywood, competition for digital animation is growing.
DreamWorks SKG, which created the "Shrek" series, plans to spin off its animation studio to raise $650 million (358 million pounds). Other rivals include Pixar Animation Studios Inc., whose films include "Toy Story" and "Finding Nemo", and Walt Disney.
But a Singapore office could lead to Asian collaborations. Japanese game makers Koei and Genki will set up game development studios in Singapore by the end of the year, a Singapore government official said.
Under a "Media 21" policy rolled out last year, Singapore plans to double the size of its media, design and arts industries to contribute to 3 percent of its $93 billion economy by 2012.
Micheline Chau, chief operating officer of Lucasfilm, said Singapore was picked ahead of many competing Asian countries because of its strong intellectual property rules.
"What was very important to us was the commitment to protect intellectual property rights since we are a content producer." Under the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement that took effect in January, the wealthy city-state's intellectual property laws were harmonised with those of the United States.
The government said last month it had set aside about S$200 million over five years to develop Singapore into a "vibrant Asian creative hub".
In December, Singapore earmarked S$100 million to develop documentaries and films, with a goal to produce up to five low-budget films a year. A new city neighbourhood designed for media companies, dubbed "Fusionpolis", is now being built.
*crosses fingers* Animated Star Wars movies...animated Star Wars movies...animated Star Wars movies
Quote:Quebec Wal-Mart may become unionized
Last Updated Mon, 02 Aug 2004 21:24:57 EDT
SAGUENAY, QUE. - A Wal-Mart store in Quebec could become the first unionized store in the retail chain following a decision by the Quebec Labour Relations Board.
On Monday, the Board accredited the United Food and Commercial Workers Union to represent workers at the store in Jonquiere.
There are no unionized Wal-Mart stores. But some meat workers at a Wal-Mart in Texas have joined the United Food And Commercial Workers.
"We are reviewing the decision," Andrew Pelletier, spokesman for Wal-Mart Canada, told the Associated Press. "There was no vote held in the store. This appeared to be an automatic certification, and employees were not given the opportunity to vote on the issue on unionization in a democratically held election, which is of enormous concern."
Written by CBC News Online staff
I read another article in the paper today about a Wal-Mart in Saskatchewan that was doing the same thing, and they had enough signatures on their petition to begin union hearings and hold a vote. The Wal-Mart in Saskatchewan in an area where support for unions is extremely high, it's in the town that was at the heart of the workers movement in Saskatchewan wich led the the election of the first socialist government in North America. In addition Saskatchewan labour laws are very union freindly and make setting up a union very easy in comparison to other jurisdictions in North America.
A Wal-Mart in Manitoba recently voted somthing like 51% against unionizing and 49% in favour.
When Wal-Mart moved into Canada by taking over the Wolco chain(basically a Canadian version of Wal-Mart) there were only 2 stores that didn't remain open. One in Lethbrige, Alberta because it was downtown, and the other in Trail, British Columbia. Wal-Mart provided no explanation as to why they closed the one in Trail, but it happened to be the only Wolco that was unionized.
I think unionization would be a good thing, but I was wondering what other peoples opion on this was, especially Weltal's since he has an insiders perspective.
Quote:1. PlayStation 2 41,525 1,540,357
2. Game Boy Advance SP 35,988 1,507,481
3. GameCube 9,778 417,081
4. Game Boy Advance 2,362 162,883
5. Xbox 238 18,703
6. Swan Crystal 76 6,230
7. PSOne 70 12,530
Japanese hardware charts thanks to Media Create.
Paper Mario RPG sees a good first week sales, entering in at number one and selling twice the amount of the title below it, certainly encouraging sales.
No. Title Publisher
1. NEW Paper Mario RPG
Gamecube- 159,400
Nintendo
2. NEW Tenchu Kurenai
PS2- 75,800
From Software
3. V Powerful Pro Baseball 11
PS2- 55,800
Konami
4. NEW Boktai 2: Solar Gameboy Django
GBA- 37,800
Konami
5. NEW Naruto RPG: Uketsugareshi Hi no Ishi
GBA- 32,000
Tomy
6. NEW Taiko no Tetsujin: 4th Generation
PS2- 30,983
Namco
7. NEW Full Metal Alchemist: Sonata of Memories
GBA- 30,851
Bandai
8. NEW Gradius V
PS2- 30,821
Konami
9. V Jissen Pachislot Hisshouhou Hokutonoken
PS2- 20,346
Sammy
10. NEW Dragon Ball Z: Legacy of Goku II International
GBA- 19,349
Banpresto
Quote:Nintendo of Japan has updated their website with a massive listing of plenty of titles in development for the DS. Here goes:
New RPG (GameArts)
Living High Killing Low (Genki)
Shutokou Battle / Tokyo Xtreme Racing (Genki)
Goemon (Konami)
Vandal Hearts (Konami)
Survival Kids (Konami)
Boktai (Konami)
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball series (Konami)
Castlevania (Konami)
Winning Eleven series (Konami)
Jissen Pachislot Hisshouhou Hokutonoken (Sammy)
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles New Work (Square Enix)
Seiken Densetsu (Secret of Mana) New Work (Square Enix)
Dragon Quest Monsters New Work (Square Enix)
Slime Mori Mori Dragon Quest New Work (Square Enix)
Sonic Dice (Sega)
Rakugaki Kingdom Series (Taito)
Puzzle Bobble Series (Taito)
Mysterious Dungeons (Chun Soft)
Action Game (D3 Publisher)
Monster Farm Latest Work (Tecmo)
Team Ninja New Work (Tecmo)
Naruto (Tomy)
Zoids (Tomy)
New RPG (Namco)
New Mr. Driller (Namco)
Tengai Makyou Series (Hudson)
Nintendogs (Nintendo)
One Piece (Bandai)
Meteos (Bandai)
Dragon Ball Z (Banpresto)
Harvest Moon DS (Marvelous)
River King series (Marvelous)
Original RPG (Marvelous)
Wrestling (Yukes)
Chobi Island 3 (Rocket Company)
Not only does this reveal Square-Enix's full line of titles, but it confirms that Nintendo's Nintendogs will indeed be a full game. As well, Konami will be bringing us Goemon, which was oddly absent from the Game Boy Advance after all this time. As you can see, dozens of other top notch software is on the way as well. Stay tuned. (wj <http://www.nintendojo.com/staff/view_item.php?1036346134>)
Holy crap, a new RPG from GameArts, a new Goemon game (PLEASE let it be a port or sequel to the first N64 game!), a new Castlevania (hopefully 2D), a new Seiken Densetsu (I guess we now know which system the new SD is landing on! Woo!), Harvest Moon DS (better have online support!!), and a crapload of support from Square! YES!!!
Posted by: Fittisize - 1st August 2004, 3:20 PM - Forum: Ramble City
- No Replies
Any Michael Crichton fans here? This is great news...he was due to come out with a new book pretty soon. I can't wait.
Quote:HARPERCOLLINS ANNOUNCES THE PUBLICATION OF
MICHAEL CRICHTON’S STATE OF FEAR
One-Day Laydown of December 7th
Around the World in the English Language
New York, NY (July 27, 2004) – HarperCollins Publishers today announced the publication of State of Fear, the new blockbuster novel by #1 bestselling author Michael Crichton. The one-day laydown is December 7, 2004. This is Crichton’s first novel since The New York Times #1 bestseller Prey, which was released in November 2002. State of Fear will be published in hardcover, audio, large print and e-book formats simultaneously around the world in the English language. The announced first printing is 2 million copies.
HarperCollins is one of the leading English-language publishers in the world and is a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NCP, NCPDP). Headquartered in New York, the company has publishing groups in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australasia. Its publishing groups include the HarperCollins General Books Group, HarperCollins Children’s Books Group, Zondervan, HarperCollins UK, HarperCollins Canada, HarperCollins Australia/New Zealand and HarperCollins India.
