PRESS RELEASE — Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) has announced that Need for Speed™ ProStreet will hit stores in North America on October 31 and across Europe on November 1, 2007. In Need for Speed ProStreet, you have to build the ultimate battle machine, take it to multi-disciplinary showdowns and pit your skills and reputation against the world’s best street racers. This is your chance to prove that you have what it takes to be crowned the next street king.
“The Need for Speed franchise has always been on the cutting edge of car culture,” said Executive Producer, Larry LaPierre. “Street racing is getting more organized and Need for Speed ProStreet is our interpretation of where we anticipate the culture to be in three to five years. We’re delivering on the ultimate proving ground, bringing you out of your neighborhood back alleys and on to the world stage. This is a next-gen game, packed with the raw intensity and visceral aggression that defines street racing at the highest level.”
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The legal settlement between Manhunt 2 publisher Take-Two Interactive and attorney Jack Thompson continues to become ever more strained.
GamePolitics has an article up about the problems beginning between Jack Thompson and Take-Two Interactive post their legal settlement:
In June GamePolitics reported on the first sign of cracks in the April agreement between the parties (see: Take Two-Thompson Settlement Crumbling?). The relationship hasn’t gotten any smoother in the interim.
An e-mail exchange between the anti-game activist and Gena Feist, T2’s VP and Associate General Counsel, shows that Thompson was warned that the software publisher believed he was violating the terms of settlement. Thompson characterized Take Two’s e-mails as “threats”, writing:
Take-Two is threatening me because of the exercise of my rights, under our settlement agreement, to criticize the company’s practices…
For its part, Take Two declined to comment.
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Andrew Bub, the Gamer Dad, gave a statement on the politics of video games at the recent Penny Arcade Expo. As reported by The Stranger:
Continuing the Expo’s call-to-arms mentality, Andrew “GamerDad” Bub held court at the Politics In Gaming panel. Certainly, this was preaching to the choir at its finest, though his points were meant for an audience less hardcore than this one.
Bub encouraged the crowd to do their part against lawmakers who badmouth the games industry: “Put aside the controller. Hell, it’s wireless nowadays. Get out, educate yourself and vote.”
He also pointed to the ECA, a lobby working to end the recent wave of anti-games legislation. Granted, he also was adamant, citing the First Amendment, that “no law will ever be passed that bans games,” so…why bother? Perhaps the point isn’t about the laws but about the reputation. Having been interviewed for a TV station’s PAX coverage, Bub tuned in last night to find… no interview quotes about the changing face of gaming.
“They’re reaching out to the old crowd that still watches late-night news,” Bub says. “With those people, [to change the industry’s reputation,] you have to be earnest…”
Andrew Bub has more news about his Penny Arcade EXpo experience at Gamer Dad.
In a recent statement last Friday, Fordam Professor Paul Levinson (Pictured Right) had some words of his own to say directed towards 2008 presidential contendor Hilary Clinton regarding her views on government regulation of the video game industry.
Hillary Clinton is no friend of video gaming. In fact… she proudly introduced the Family Entertainment Protection Act in November, 2005… this law if enacted would have exacted [large fines on retailers]
Fortunately, it was not enacted… Hillary, unfortunately, comes by her disregard for the First Amendment through her husband. Bill Clinton signed the Communications Decency Act into law in 1996… Fortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court struck that one down.
…Bill Clinton and his circumlocutions fortunately can no longer threaten the First Amendment. But Hillary’s now running for President… a wise assumption would be that her election as President would bring to our nation steep fines, forced community service, and even jail time for forms of communication clearly protected under the First Amendment.
We all want to protect our children. Trampling on the Constitution is not the way to do it. We can do better than run scared with the likes of Jack Thompson, and the flawed studies he cites.