Digital
Media FX News Archives
Friday
- October 12, 2001
- Xbox Alliance with Sega
- 4Kids and Nintendo
Strike New Agreement
- Buy $300 in Food, Get Two
"Free" Monsters, Inc. Tickets
- News Link of the Day
- The Magic of Manga
Xbox
Alliance with Sega
(by digitalmediafx.com) Microsoft and Sega have struck an
alliance that will see most of Sega's popular games, like Shenmue
and Phantasy Star Online, created exclusively for Xbox in North
America. The announcement comes just a few days after Sony
invested heavily in Square. Sega will still create
other lesser-known games for other systems.
"By bringing
Shenmue II and Phantasy Star Online to Xbox, we are bringing Sega's
renowned franchises to even more gamers worldwide," said
Peter Moore, president and COO, Sega of America. "We expect
that both titles will be killer apps on Xbox and that the technical
capabilities of the platform will surely bring both games to new
levels in terms of graphics and experience."
While most
video game consoles first premiere in Japan, Xbox will hit U.S.
shores first on November 15, then Japan in February 2002.
Sega also
announced that Jet Set Radio Future will be released for the Xbox
in "early 2002."
"Grand
Royal kept below the mainstream radar by pushing the boundaries
of underground music in the same fashion that Sega challenges
the conventions of the videogame industry," said Mike Fischer,
group director of marketing, Sega of America. "This compilation
might mark the end of an era for the label, but its engaging unorthodox
approach to hip hop, rock and electronic music provides the blueprint
for the next era in videogame soundtracks."
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4Kids and
Nintendo Strike New Agreement
(by digitalmediafx.com) 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. has announced
that it signed a long-term agreement expiring December 31, 2005
with Nintendo of America Inc. to serve as the exclusive merchandise
licensing agent for Nintendo game systems (Nintendo GameCube,
Game Boy Advance), Nintendo Classic characters (Super Mario Bros.,
Donkey Kong etc.) and certain new Nintendo characters (Pikmin
etc.) throughout the world excluding Japan.
The new agreement
also gives 4Kids the exclusive right to license live action and
animated television rights, home video rights and theatrical motion
picture rights to Nintendo Classic properties, and certain new
Nintendo properties. 4Kids also gains the right to produce, by
itself or with partners, television series and other productions
based on such Nintendo properties. The new agreement replaces
the previous year-to-year agreement between Nintendo and 4Kids
and does not affect Pokemon, which is covered by separate agreements
between 4Kids and The Pokemon Company.
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Buy $300
in Food, Get Two "Free" Monsters, Inc. Tickets
(by digitalmediafx.com) From October 3 through October 30,
2001, Ralphs customers who accumulate $300 in grocery purchases
using their Ralphs Club Card will earn two free tickets to Monsters,
Inc.. The film opens Friday, November 2 in theaters nationwide.
The free tickets may be used at any theater showing Monsters,
Inc. from November 2 to November 18, 2001. Shoppers may also use
their Senior Rewards Card to earn the free tickets.
In a rather
unprofessional twist, the tickets given to those who spend $300
must be used either during matinee showings of Monsters, Inc.
or for children. The tickets won't get an adult into a non-matinee
showing of Pixar's latest animated production.
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News Link
of the Day - The Magic of Manga
According to The Guardian:
"When
Titanic broke the box office record in Japan in 1998, few in the
west would have heard of the previous holder. It was Princess
Mononoke, the most improbable smash hit imaginable - an animated,
complex eco-fable set in the 16th century. True, the film features
talking animals, but there any similarity with Disney or DreamWorks
productions ends. The beasts here are fearsome forest gods, aggrieved
at man's destruction and hell-bent on revenge..."
Click
here for the full story.
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