Rush Hour and X-Men: The Last Stand director Brett Ratner hopes that, one day, he can make a film based on Guitar Hero.

"I would love to do a Guitar Hero movie, if [owner] Activision would ever let me," the director told MTV. I'm trying to convince them, but why would you have a movie screw up such a huge franchise?"

"Not that I would make a bad movie," he added. "It could be about a kid from a small town who dreams of being a rock star and he wins the Guitar Hero competition. One of these dreams-[come-true] kind of concepts."

Currenly slated to direct the film adaptation of Sony's God of War series, Ratner is no stranger to video games, especially Guitar Hero. His consultancy firm was responsible for Guitar Hero product placement in several music videos, and he claims to have come up with the name for Guitar Hero World Tour, the next entry in the music game series.

"They said, 'come up with a name,'" he boasted. "I didit became Guitar Hero World Tour."

A television series based off Traveller's Tales' upcoming action game LEGO Batman is currently in production, beginning with a one-off short about 20 minutes in length.

While Warner Bros.-owned developer Traveller's Tales will have no direct involvement in the show, which is being handled by a separate studio in the United States, the series will utilize the same technology and assets that power the block-busting game.

"I think it's a 20-minute cartoon," game producer Rich Earl told GamesIndustry.biz. "I'm personally quite intrigued to see how it comes out. LEGO, every time they've had a new brand out, they've done some CGI stuff as well, but I think this will be quite different."

Earlier in the year, Traveler's Tales teased that it was planning a LEGO TV show based off its work, which includes LEGO Star Wars and LEGO Indiana Jones.

The LEGO Batman game is slated to hit PC, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP in September, with the studio presently at work on LEGO renditions of other, unspecified Warner Bros. properties.

A new game based off the adventures of Indiana Jones is headed to Nintendo DS and PSP, according to a listing from European game rating board PEGI.

Listed as Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, the action game is reported to be published by Activision, with no other details available.

LucasArts, the license holder for Star Wars and Indiana Jones games, is known to have an as-yet-untitled Indiana Jones title in development for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of LucasArts' upcoming action game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed were developed internally, while the PS2, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP editions were outsourced to external studios.

Given that precedent, it is possible that the Staff of Kings listing is indicative of a similar multi-platform treatment for the upcoming Indiana Jones game, though no evidence is currently available to support or deny that speculation.

The use of Grand Theft Auto as a scapegoat isn't going anywhere, says law professor Ashley Lipson. The trick is worth too much money.

"A good defense lawyer will blame everyone in sight, except of course the client. When he or she runs out of people to blame, it's time to look around for objects. What could be better than a popular videogame?" Lipson reasoned to the Palm Beach Post.

James Waller, a practicing defense attorney--and gamer--admits to using the tactic. "Portraying your client as the victim of outside forces (be they child abuse, coercion by peers, or an ultra-violent video game industry) humanizes the client and shifts the culpability," he said.

As a gamer, Waller is put in a strange situation by using the ... Read more

Reversing the trend of the paltry past few weeks, this week is packed to the brim with new RPGs, sports games, and even some educational SAT preparation software.

Hit up the full list, or if you're looking for a particular system, feel free to skip right to the PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP sections. Should you want to check out any past release lists, scope out our handy archive.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 will be in stores on Tuesday, August 26. Barring any unforeseen delays, the rest of this week's games should be at North American retailers by Wednesday, August 27.

... Read more

Earlier this week, Sony announced that it would be releasing a new PSP model with a "wider color gamut and anti-reflection technology."

Now, Japanese publication Famitsu has provided the comparison to the left, which compares the new PSP-3000 (bottom) to the PSP-2000 model (top) that arrived last fall.

Sporting a built-in microphone as well, the new PSP arrives worldwide in October.

It will arrive in North America on October 14 as part of the $199 Ratchet & Clank Entertainment Pack bundle, which includes a copy of High Impact's platformer Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, a download code for SCE Japan's puzzler echochrome, a copy of the National Treasure 2 film, and a 1GB Memory Stick.

Now available from the Xbox Live Marketplace in all Live regions is a demo for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. A 905mb download, the demo includes a tutorial for using the Force Grip power, and a level set in a TIE Fighter construction facility.

The demo is also slated for release through the PlayStation Network soon. The retail version of LucasArts' action-adventure game where you play a secret apprentice of Darth Vader will be released September 16 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2, PSP, and Nintendo DS.

Sony Computer Entertainment has just unveiled its third redesign of the PSP hardware, labeled the PSP-3000, ComputerAndVideoGames reports.

Due out this fall, the new model boasts an "enhanced LCD screen" that features "a wider color gamut and anti-reflection technology" along with a built-in microphone.

The new hardware will hit North America on October 14 in the new Ratchet & Clank Entertainment Pack bundle, which is priced at $199. Included in the package is High Impact's Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, a download code for SCE Japan's puzzle echochrome, a copy of the National Treasure 2 film, and a 1GB Memory Stick.

The current model of the PSP--the PSP-2000, often referred to as the PSP Slim--currently sells for $170 in the United States and hovers around 199 Euros in Europe.

Electronic Arts unveiled its most recent entry to the Need for Speed franchise during a recent event, dropping a bunch of Undercover media in the process.

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In what seems like a return to the Most Wanted formula, Need for Speed: Undercover takes place in the open world of a fictional Tri-City Bay Area. Players will take on the role of an undercover cop hired by a federal agency to infiltrate a crime syndicate, and tasked with busting crime bosses of increasing difficulty.

Back are all the cop chases and highway pursuits that made Most Wanted... Read more

Though it's been obvious that the upcoming Quantum of Solace video game features the likeness of current James Bond actor Daniel Craig, Activision today confirmed Craig will voice Bond in the game as well.

Joining him will be Dame Judi Dench as M, French actor Mathieu Amalric as the villain Dominic Greene and Ukrainian actress Olga Kurylenko as Bond's squeeze Camille. Featuring first and third person perspectives, Quantum of Solace will be released for PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and Nintendo DS this November.

Electronic Arts' oft-extended deadline for its hostile takeover of Grand Theft Auto owner Take-Two Interactive Software will expire today, the companies have confirmed.

With the takeover threat no longer looming, EA will sign a confidentiality agreement that will provide it with the "in-depth management presentation" that Take-Two is using in the "formal process to evaluate strategic alternatives" it mentioned back in March.

The owner of multiple successful properties, including Grand Theft Auto, Max Payne, Civilization and BioShock, Take-Two was first presented with EA's unsolicited $2 billion buyout offer in February. It declined the offer, prompting EA to pursue a hostile takeover.

"We are continuing to consider all alternatives that will maximize value to our stockholders," noted Take-Two CEO Ben Feder. "We are engaged in discussions with other parties as part of a formal process to generate greater value and will act quickly to assist EA in moving expeditiously through our process."

Below are letters exchanged between EA CEO John Riccitiello and Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick, which further explain the decisions... Read more

Looks like we're still feeling the lingering effects of Madden fever. Fortunately, Too Human brings a fresh new flavor with its cybernetic take on action-RPGs and Norse mythology.

Hit up the full list for this week's lineup, or skip right to the PC, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and PSP sections. Should you want to check out any past release lists, scope out our handy archive.

Barring any unforeseen delays, most of this week's games should be at North American retailers by Wednesday, August 20.

... Read more

Electronic Arts today revealed Need for Speed Undercover, with PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP editions of the racer slated to hit North America on November 18 and Europe on November 21.

The latest entry in the Black Box-developed racing series "takes the franchise back to its roots and re-introduces break-neck cop chases, the world's hottest cars and spectacular highway battles," according to EA.

"Big-budget live-action sequences" that feature "box office sensation" and "international movie star" Maggie Q (Mission Impossible III, Live Free or Die Hard) will further the game's plot, with Ms. Q playing the "seductive handler" Federal Agent Chase Linh.

EA CEO John Riccitiello had previously expressed his belief that EA was "torturing a very talented group of people" through 12-month Need for Speed development cycles, with Undercover said to fix that issue.

"I'm confident that Undercover is a much better game than Pro Street, and I expect that from this point forward they will do a lot better," he explained

The Xbox 360 edition of NCAA Football and the Nintendo DS hardware led console sales at US retailers across July, sales-tracking firm NPD Group revealed today.

According to NPD, July's best-selling console games in the U.S. were:

1. NCAA Football 09 (EA Tiburon, Xbox 360) - 397,600
2. Wii Fit (Nintendo, Wii) - 369,600
3. Guitar Hero: On Tour (Vicarious Visions, NDS) - 309,700
4. Wii Play (Nintendo, Wii) - 284,000
5. NCAA Football 09 (EA Tiburon, PS3) - 242,500
6. Soul Calibur IV (Project Soul, Xbox 360) - 218,900
7. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo, Wii) - 174,500
8. Rock Band Special Edition (Harmonix and Pi Studios, Wii) - 165,800
9. Soul Calibur IV (Project Soul, PS3) - 155,800
10. Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution (Firaxis Games, Xbox 360) - 147,600

Meanwhile, July hardware sales in the United States were as follows:

1. Nintendo DS - 608,400 units
2. Wii - 555,000 units
3. PlayStation 3 - 224,900 units
4. PSP - 221,700 units
5. Xbox 360 - 204,800 units
6. PlayStation 2 - 155,500 units

The gaming industry amassed some $1.19 billion in revenue during the month of July, marking a 28% jump over last month and a 35% year-over-year increase... Read more

New listings and technical documents for a revised version of Sony's PSP handheld have appeared on the FCC's website, according to a Gizmodo report.

Going by the accompanying illustrations, the newest revision—model number PSP-3000—appears virtually indistinguishable from the most recently released version of the PSP hardware, the Slim and Lite PSP-2000.

The PSP-3000 hardware still makes use of the system's proprietary UMD media, and incorporates 802.11b Wi-Fi functionality similar to previous hardware iterations.

During a roundtable discussion at this year's E3, Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Jack Tretton stated that further hardware revisions would be aimed at securing the device and lowering manufacturing costs. Any substantial changes in the PSP-3000 will likely be internal, focused on preventing would-be pirates from cracking the oft-exploited handheld.

Sony has yet to make an official announcement for the hardware, but will likely reveal more information in the near future.

PCs are used for gaming more than any console and PlayStation 3 owners are more likely to have multiple consoles, according to the results of the Games Segmentation 2008 report from sales tracking and research firm The NPD Group.

In addition to stating that PlayStation 3 owners are most likely to have other "next-generation" consoles than Wii and Xbox 360 owners, NPD claimed that only 10% of PS2 owners have a PS3. In the realm of portables, 45% of PSP owners have a Nintendo DS, but only 21% of DS owners have a PSP.

Despite the broad declarations, NPD did not provide specific figures for console and PC playtime. Likewise, an exact breakdown showing the ownership patterns of those that have multiple "next-generation" consoles was absent from the release.

Using information gathered back in January and February, the report... Read more

If you've got a fever and the only cure is more Madden NFL 09, then this is your week.

To see everything that's coming out, hit up the full list, or skip right to the PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP sections. Should you want to check out any past release lists, scope out our handy archive.

Thanks to the magic of street dates, Madden NFL 09 will be available from most North American retailers on Tuesday, August 12, while everything else should arrive by Wednesday, August 13.

... Read more

LEGO Batman and LEGO Star Wars developer Traveller's Tales is planning to produce more LEGO titles based on properties controlled by parent corporation Warner Bros. as well as an upcoming children's television series, the developer has revealed.

As the studio's latest effort LEGO Batman nears its September release on virtually every major platform, Traveller's Tales president Jon Burton told Variety that the company has "gotten started doing some LEGO games [based on Warner properties]."

Properties controlled by the studio's parent include such candidates as Superman and Harry Potter, among others. As for the future, Burton noted that the company may create a children's television show in the future, utilizing technology originally... Read more

Mass Effect (PC, 360) developer BioWare is examining the possibility of further updates to its space-age RPG following the release of the first downloadable content pack earlier this year, studio president Greg Zeschuk revealed.

"We said it was a trilogy so there's some stuff happening," Zeschuk told MTV Multiplayer. "We're also looking at some other post-release content... You know how we are. We're always very circumspect until we can go 'Aha! There it is!'"

The executive added, "With everything we build now, we want to have this long-term relationship with the customer and always have something for them to try. So we're definitely looking at that for Mass Effect."

The company is currently at work on Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (NDS) in collaboration with Sega, but BioWare's Nintendo DS development may not end there. Sonic Chronicles lead designer Miles Holmes stated that the studio is... Read more

Said to be the world's third-largest music company, Warner Music Group has expressed frustration in its view that that music-centered games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero don't pay enough for licensed songs.

"The amount being paid to the music industry, even though their games are entirely dependent on the content we own and control, is far too small," Warner Music chief executive Edgar Bronfman told Reuters, though he did not list specific amounts.

Several Warner artists have appeared in Rock Band and Guitar Hero, such as Avenged Sevenfold and DragonForce, with Warner label Roadrunner noting a sales bump in DragonForce albums after the band was exposed to a wider audience in Guitar Hero III.

Other artists that fall under the Warner Music Group umbrella include Led Zeppelin, The B-52's, Green Day, Depeche Mode, Paris Hilton, Red Hot Chili Peppers... Read more