Digital
Media FX News Archives
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Monday
- November 12, 2001
- Xbox Launches on Thursday
- Harry Potter Has
Smashing Sneak Peek in UK
- Release Charts: Animated,
Anime, and FX DVDs
- News Link of the Day
- Walking With Beasts Blurs Facts with Fiction
Xbox
Launches on Thursday
(by digitalmediafx.com) Microsoft's official entry into the
video game console business takes place this Thursday, November
15, with the launch of Xbox. Over 1 million units are expected
to be shipped and sold between now and New Years Day.
"Enthusiasm
for Xbox is really taking off," says Wayne Yodzio, vice president
of Toys 'R' Us. "Microsoft is delivering what it takes to
make this a great holiday season for us - namely a great lineup
of Xbox games, a rapid replenishment plan that will keep our shelves
filled with Xbox systems every week, and quantities for the holiday
season that will translate the excitement about Xbox into strong
sales."
One of the
anticipated games that will be on store shelves for the Xbox this
week is Shrek. The game tries to capture the irreverent
humor from the movie while allowing players to explore new worlds
with Shrek characters. The video game was created by Digital Illusion
Canada and is distributed by TDK.
"Developing
this impressive video game based on a blockbuster such as Shrek
and having a top-line video game available for Microsoft's Xbox
launch plans really demonstrates the talent and capabilities of
TDK Mediactive," says Michael G. Gardner, CFA, Managing Director
and Head of Capital Markets at Wedbush Morgan Securities. "TDK
Mediactive, the development team, and DreamWorks have created
a fun and unique game with broad market appeal. We believe Shrek
will be a top-selling title for the Xbox."
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Harry Potter
Has Smashing Sneak Peek in UK
(by digitalmediafx.com) There was a sneak peek of Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in UK theaters over the weekend
as the Saturday night preview smashed all past preview records
by bringing in an estimated $5 million for one showing at 480
theaters. It easily skyrocketed past the sneak peek record for
the UK that had been held by The Phantom Menace over a
two-day sneak peek period before it was released in theaters.
The sneak
peek is expected to be a small taste of what this coming weekend
will be like when the movie opens nationally and in the UK. Pre-ticket
sales have been the highest ever for any movie as the FX-heavy
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is set to open in
a record number of theaters and on a record number of screens
this Friday. Early reviews are very positive.

Click
here if you missed the Harry Potter pictures from yesterday's
Digital Media FX Update.
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Release
Charts: Animated, Anime, and FX DVDs
(by digitalmediafx.com) Here are new animated, FX, and anime
DVDs hitting store shelves tomorrow.
Tomb
Raider (2001 - FX)
Dragon
Ball Z - Frieza - Eleventh Hour (anime)
Legend
of the Dragon Kings - Under Fire (anime)
Osmosis
Jones (2001 - animation)
If you haven't
yet ordered the Snow White DVD (availability will be limited),
click
here.
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News Link
of the Day - Walking With Beasts Blurs Facts with Fiction
According to The Observer:
"...Yet
many scenes have infuriated academics who believe Walking with
Beasts contains dangerous distortions. 'We are turning science
into a sort feeder industry for Jurassic Park,' said British palaeontologist
Professor Michael Coates, now based at Chicago University. 'We
are trivialising it and making claims for which there is no evidence.'..."
Click
here for the full story.
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