Games

News Pop! 11/30/06

By Eli Green
November 30, 2006 - 23:59

EA swallows another studio, plans for Wii development

Electronic Arts announced today that the development team at Headgate Studios, based in Utah, has officially joined EA. EA has partnered with Headgate going as far back as 2000, developing such franchises as Tiger Woods PGA Tour and Madden NFL. The team will remain in Utah, but work with oth er EA development teams in California and Florida. “The team at Headgate is a great fit with EA’s creative team. Their creative spirit and technical leadership have separated them from the pack,“ said Paul Lee, President of EA Studios. “Salt Lake City is a terrific place to make games – it’s a dynamic city with a vibrant creative community and a great quality of life. We are thrilled to have them join EA.” The plans for the new EA Salt Lake are to focus on developing games for the Wii.

Louisiana judge strikes down anti-video game law

Judge James Brady, Federal District Court, Baton Rouge, has ordered an injunction, effectively halting the implementation of a Louisiana statute that sought to ban the sale of violent video games to minors . This report comes direct from the ESA. Federal courts in nine cases in the past six years have now struck down or enjoined laws seeking to ban video game sales to minors. None have been upheld. “What makes Judge Brady's action unusual and remarkable is that he issued his ruling from the bench rather than through a written decision, a strong signal that he felt the State's arguments were so without merit that they didn't even require a detailed opinion beyond the Judge's August decision imposing the preliminary injunction. In his August ruling, the Judge emphasized the State's failure to take into consideration when passing this law the long line of previous cases holding that video games are protected speech. The ESA will immediately file to recover its legal fees from the State as it has successfully done elsewhere. 'In nine out of nine cases, federal courts have struck down these grandstanding efforts by politicians to ban video game sales to minors. It doesn't get clearer than that," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA, the trade group representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. "One hopes that enough is enough. Video games are like rock and roll: they're here to stay, and it's about time for elected officials to focus their energies, and taxpayer dollars, on truly productive and useful programs to educate parents to use the tools industry has made available -- from ESRB ratings to parental control technologies.' ” The press release continues on, talking about Judge Brady's decisions regarding video games and law earlier in the year. You can read the full press release on our site, here.

BVG sponsoring online video mixer contest

With the release of Lumines II not far behind u s, Buena Vista Games has decided to sponsor an online contest in which aspiring DJs can put their skills to work and create a new music track. The contest winner will head to Miami this spring for the ultimate Winter Music Conference experience and meet Junkie XL. Utilizing musical elements like loops, beats and other sound effects from the Junkie XL song “Breezer,” along with visual elements, including Lumines II gameplay footage and prerecorded footage of a dancer executing various moves, users can create their own remixes to share with friends and enter to win. Various tracks, including video, music, effects and moves can be mixed to create an original music video. Entrants also can share their new creations with friends online. All submissions must be in by December 31, 2006. Ten finalists will be selected and judged by Junkie XL, and the winner will receive a trip for two to Miami for the Winter Music Conference, a VIP experience with Junkie XL, hotel accommodations, round-trip airfare, car rental and $500 spending cash. The contest is only open to U.S. residents, but anyone can make their own track. To enter the Lumines II Video Mixer Contest, entrants will use the video mixer program at http://buenavistagames.go.com/lumines/mixer/ .

Jered Weaver new cover boy for MVP 07 NCAA Baseball

EA announced today that former Long Beach State University pitcher and Major League baseball Rookie of the Year finalist Jered Weaver will be the new cover boy for MVP 07 NCAA Baseball. MVP 07 NCAA Baseball will be joining EA's other NCAA franchises, NCAA Football and NCAA March Madness this coming February.

Last Updated: March 3, 2025 - 20:40