History Channel to use Video Game Content

The History Channel is turning to video games to re-create key battle scenes for a new World War II documentary.

Brothers in Arms: The Untold Stories of the 502nd, a pair of one-hour documentaries debuting Dec. 18 (in the USA), will feature video-game graphics from Gearbox Software's Brothers in Arms video-game franchise.

"A lot of the stock footage from D-Day has been seen over and over again, and there's very little footage, if any, from the paratroopers of the 502nd who went in during the early hours of the D-Day invasion," said Gregg Backer, executive producer of Foglight Entertainment, which created the documentaries.

The documentaries for the first time will also attempt to portray real World War II veterans as they appeared in the war.

Gearbox took photos of some of the World War II vets interviewed for the show, and re-created them in the game as they looked when they fought in Normandy as young men of 18 and 20 years of age.

The software company said it spent more than a year studying Army maps, photos and journals to create the virtual documentary.

"The emotional attachment to these soldiers is different when you see the places they're talking about in full 3-D and in living color," Backer said. "You feel like you're there in 1944 with them as they recount their heroics."

Actor Ron Livingston, who starred in Steven Spielberg's Band of Brothers miniseries on HBO, will serve as the host of the shows.

Retired Col. John Antal, Gearbox's historical director, said the Brothers in Arms games depict true historic battles on authentically re-created battlefields -- and it was the games' authenticity that was the major selling point for The History Channel.

He added that Brothers in Arms is also used by the U.S. Army to train soldiers at West Point Academy. Instructors use the games to train cadets in tactics, leadership and military history.

Antal said the recently released Earned in Blood game, which shipped in October, has a Skirmish mode that cadets are using to practice realistic head-to-head tactical combat.

It's not the first time the History Channel has turned to video games to dramatize documentaries. Decisive Battles, an original series focusing on key battles in ancient history, used graphics from The Creative Assembly's real-time strategy game, Rome: Total War.

XBox 360: Only In America!

Armed Robber Takes Two Xboxes
In a real-life display of video game violence, an armed robber held up a Stafford, Virginia Electronics Boutique store to get his hands on a pair of Xbox 360 game consoles. The perp made off with the boxes even as a line of die-hards waited patiently outside the store, and was later apprehended by police. As much as this seems like an extreme effort to own one of these hotly sought-after game systems, the robber might have made a substantial profit had he managed to list the systems on eBay. Fortunately, nobody was harmed in the incident.

Xbox 360 Selling for More Than Three Grand on eBay
If you thought US$699 was a lot to pay for a game console, you're not alone. But that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of people out there who are willing to pay a whole lot more. A quick browse on eBay shows that tons of folks are laying out serious cash to get their hands on a 360, with some auctions surpassing the US$3,000 mark. Not 21 hours after the console's midnight release, one auction closed with a final sale price of US$3,350.

99 Sleeps to go, only 99 sleeps...

Auckland, November 22, 2005 - It’s only 99 sleeps until New Zealanders can get their hands on the world’s most powerful games console, the Xbox 360.

Microsoft today announced that two versions of the console will go on sale from 12:01am on March 2nd, 2006. Consumers will be able to choose from the Xbox 360 at RRP$719.95* and the Xbox 360 Core System at RRP$549.95*.

“Amazingly realistic gaming experiences are now within our reach,” said David McLean, Regional Director, Entertainment and Devices Division, Microsoft Australia and New Zealand.

“Xbox 360 ushers in a whole new generation of gaming. Game characters and environments are just like the real world or as fantastic as the imagination can dream up. The New Zealand lounge room has not seen richer or more detailed games.”

Xbox 360 is the first console that lets gamers enjoy the freedom of wireless gaming, as standard. The Xbox 360 offer will include the console, 20GB hard drive, media remote, wireless controller, component high-definition cable and Ethernet cable. Xbox 360 Core System delivers the same powerful gaming as Xbox 360, but starts with the basics and lets you expand at your own pace. The Xbox Core system includes the console, composite AV cable and wired controller.

Both packages come with a complimentary Silver subscription to the world’s leading online gaming service Xbox Live, which provides gamers new ways to compete and hone their skills.

There are currently more than 200 games being developed for the Xbox 360, with 18 titles now launched in the United States and other markets. A full list of titles available on New Zealand launch will be available in 2006.

A wide range of Xbox 360 accessories will be available on launch. The current list includes:

· Wireless (RRP$89.95*) and wired (RRP$69.95*) controllers

· Play charge cable (RRP$39.95*)

· Rechargeable battery pack and cradle (RRP$59.95*)

· Battery pack (RRP$24.95*)

· 20Gb hard drive (RRP$189.95*)

· 64MB Memory unit (RRP$59.95*)

· Wireless networking adaptor (RRP$189.95*)

· VGA cable (RRP$59.95*)

· Advanced AV pack (RRP$44.95*)

· High Definition AV pack (RRP$59.95*)

· Headset (RRP$59.95*)

· Faceplate (RRP$34.95*)

· Universal Media Remote (RRP$59.95*)


Xbox 360 consoles, games and accessories will be available from leading retail outlets.

Hhhhmmmmm, better start saving hard!

Games Plus Suck

I don’t buy games very often, and when I do I make sure I get the best deal I can. I’ve discovered that GP Store normally has the best prices before postage. But EB (what is with THAT site??) will match their competitors price, so…

I normally look online, then go to EB and get if for the GP price, minus the postage. Trouble is on Saturday EB had sold out of Brothers In Arms: Earned In Blood, so I decided to try my luck at the new Games Plus store. They had heaps of copies of the game, but the price was $89.95 not the $82.95 advertised by GP. So I grabbed a copy of the game and took it up to the counter. I asked the guy if that was as low as they could go. He said that they’d already taken $10 of the recommended price. When I told him that GP had it for $82.95 he said that there was nothing he could do.

Nothing he could do? So this new gaming store, raised out of the ashes of Central Park doesn’t have the ability to be competitive? I wonder how long they will last?

So what was I to do? My wife wanted to go to The Warehouse, so I figured I could get it there, and fortunately they had one copy left, at a staggering $78.98!

Now I don’t like buying games at the Warehouse, in fact this was the first time, as I like to support the small specialist stores like EB who help bring gaming to the masses and keep the price lower.

So what’s the moral of this story? It has none; I just wanted to rant about how much Games Plus suck!

And to say what a friggen awesome game Brothers In Arms: Earned In Blood is. It’s a step up, nay, a friggen leap up from the original, especially in enemy AI and difficulty, but it’s just as much fun and just as addictive.

That’s all, end of rant.

X-Box | Heroes Of The Pacific

Like many World War II games released over the last couple of years, Heroes puts you right in the middle of the action from the get go. This time you’re at Pearl Harbour when the Jap’s attack, and it’s up to you to save the day (again).

All sound a little to familiar? Well not to worry, this isn’t your usual WWII shooter; it’s a combat flight ‘simulator.’ And don’t let the word simulator scare you, cause it’s not really, though it does have two settings, simulator and arcade.

Sitting on the runway in your plane as luck would have it, you get to take off and prevent the Jap’s from destroying too many planes, and then some!

Once you’ve helped save the day (well, not quite save the day, but you know what I mean) it’s off to another Pacific hotspot as the game unfolds through some 30 missions, taken from actual military actions in WWII.

Along the way you take part in all manor of air combat with a variety of planes and upgrades available.

Graphically the game is amazing, with clouds, smoke and exploding planes all around you.

The gameplay is easy to get into (even if you, like me, skip the training part!) but is challenging enough to keep you coming back to try and get that little bit further.

Heroes brings a new dimension and a whole heap of fun to the WWII genre.

DVD | The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy

I’ll be honest and say that I’ve never read the book, or anything to do with the book. I’m a complete idiot when it comes to everything about this cult classic, and I get the feeling that I’m now going to be misquoted as saying, “I’m a complete idiot” with out the context of the previous sentence. Oh well, that’s life, don’t panic.

Anyway, back to the movie, Guide is a rather quirky British comedy. The kind of comedy where you don’t laugh out loud, rather chuckle inside at the absurd nature of what’s going on, and the subtleties and such. In that, it’s going to depend a lot on your taste for humour weather or not you enjoy this movie.

I for one enjoyed it, and coming at it from a ‘complete idiot” point of view, didn’t know if it was true to the book, or an absolute abomination. And I don’t care. What I saw turned out to be a rather interesting road trip/love story.

And also a kind of parable.

You see, the main character, Arthur Dent is so totally unprepared for the end of the world; it’s only his friend (from above) that saves him at the last minute, still in his pyjamas no less. The crazy thing is that notice of the impending destruction had been posted eons ago, but no body ever took notice. It’s a similar situation we find ourselves in, from a spiritual point of view; we all know the end has to come soon (the average lifespan of human is 70 or 80 years) but most of us would rather sit around with a bag over our heads then do anything about it. A lot of Christians are just as bad, and they have no excuse, they’ve read the notice and are still wearing bags.

Any way, back to the movie. Guide is a wondrous, visually stunning and imaginative movie, that should be seen by everyone who never got round to reading the book, especially those who love British humour.

Movie quote: It won't affect me, I'm already a woman.

DVD | Coach Carter

MTV. Not exactly renown for making great movies, especially not inspirational movies. But take a true story about controversial basketball coach who made national news after he locked out his never-lost-a-game basketball team because their academic performance wasn’t up to scratch. Place in this story the ever so talented Samuel L Jackson, as Carter, and you have the makings of a fantastic movie.

Coach Carter didn’t have to be the coach, it was a passion of his, not just Basketball, but also believing in people and wanting so much more for them, and such is the theme of this movie:

We all have the ability to live extraordinary lives. But working against us fulfilling our potential is belief. We have to believe in our selves, and the people around us have to believe in us also. It’s about the hidden potential in each of us that society often quashes through subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) messages. And it’s about one man who was prepared to take a stand and effect change in his community.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

Your playing small does not serve the world; there is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure about you.

We were all meant to shine as children ... it is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same as we are liberated from our own fear. Our presence automatically liberates others.

Of course it’s flawed and predictable in places, but it warms the heart and make for a relaxing, feel good evening in front of the TV.

DVD | Top Gear: Revved Up

Top Gear has to be one of the most unnecessary shows on British TV, well, apart from coronation Street. I mean It’s a car show, but it doesn’t really give you any practical advice what so ever. And the amount of money they spend on a show with no purpose is astounding.

So why is it so popular? Because it’s damn hilarious. It’s pure entertainment. It’s fun.

Richard Hammond (yes, the short guy) fronts this DVD collection of some of the best and most requested clips from the latest series. Being an occasional watcher I was pleased to see plenty of stuff that I hadn’t seen before, but even the stuff I had seen before still had me in fits of laughter.

So weather you like cars or not, this is a DVD that’s gonna tickle your funny bone, if you have one, that is.

Movie Quote #2

"So this is how liberty dies - with thunderous applause."

What movie is the quote from...?

DVD | Revenge Of The Sith

The galaxy is weary after three long years of war. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi have become legendary heroes in their campaigns against the droid forces of the evil General Grievous. Anakin and his secret wife, Padme Amidala, have been separated for months, and he finally reunites with her to learn that she is pregnant. He is plagued by visions of her dying in childbirth, haunting images of a possible future. Anakin is determined to stop her from dying, no matter the cost. This leads Anakin down a dark path to commit terrible deeds. Obi-Wan Kenobi must face his former apprentice in a ferocious lightsaber duel on the firey world of Mustafar. Blah, blah, blah.

I used to be a Star Wars fan, and thought highly of George Lucas, but that was when I was younger, and Star Wars was a visionary movie. A ground breaking visual feast that set Hollywood ablaze. Lucas was pushing the boundaries of what could be done, and was inventing some of the best visual effects that have far reaching implications for today’s movies.

But then he decided to do the prequels. The world had moved on, but George hadn’t. Both episodes 1 & 2 were massive disappointments (to me anyway) but rumour was that he’d got it right with Episode 3: The Revenge Of The Sith.

Sadly the rumours were wrong. This was no better. Cardboard cut outs could act with more character than the small ensemble of actors in this movie. But you can’t blame the actors too much, it must be hard to try and act a scene when there is no scene. Nothing but green screen. Lucas’ over reliance on computers that so blighted the first two, now destroyed any hope of a decent final movie.

Sure the computer graphics are stunning. But they are all too perfect, and the inability of any actor to really be able to grasp the idea of acting on non-existent sets, with non-existent characters, destroys the story. I could go on but I won’t, it’s to easy to pick apart Lucas’ terrible decision to not use real sets or models.

And because it’s a sequel, the main fight scenes, the ones that should have had you on the edge of your seats, were about as exciting as watching paint dry. Sadly, knowing that both people in a duel to the death actual survive till the next movie kinda takes all the excitement away.

But it’s not all doom and gloom for the Sith. If nothing else, the movie answered all those nagging question we had about Darth, Luke and Co. And it showed in spectacular form how dangerous a mix power without character is. As the ever powerful Skywalker was lead astray by the subtle leading of the dark side, it was easy to see that a life grounded in Godly character is the only thing that’s going to keep the dark side at bay.

So basically, if you liked the first two, you’ll probably love Sith. If, Iike me you wish that Lucas had either left the franchise alone or given it to Peter Jackson, then you’ll hate it.

DVD | Batman Begins

Batman Begins is, as you’ve probably heard, the Batman Movie that the fans have been hanging out for. Well, I’m not fan, but compared to what has been done before, I’d say that this was the best, and could almost make me into a fan.

But for a comic book movie, it doesn’t really feel like a comic book movie. The real emphasis is on building the character of Bruce Wayne and his ascent into his alter ego Batman.

The movie starts off with Bruce as a little boy, falling into a well and waking up a cave of slumbering bats – it’s a defining moment in the movie, of which there are several. Another such moment is when bat-like characters in a play his Parents and himself are attending freak young Bruce. He convinces them to leave early, and its here that the defining tragedy occurs, a petty thief murders his parents.

Pretty soon we see Bruce as a man, bent on revenge, but it’s not until he finds a shadowy group of vigilantes who help him overcome his fear and train him to be a fighter for justice that he realises his true calling.

Along the way Bruce has to make many decisions, and it’s how he grows through these decisions that we see a man transformed from a vengeance is mine kind of guy to the honourable, lets do what’s right incarnation of Batman.

Batman Begins is a dark movie, set in the dark underworld of a city going to the dogs. Organised crime and conspiracy is rampant, and whilst Batman uses truth to bring light to the world, the movie it’s self is aided by some appropriately humours moments curtesy of the ever capable Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine. The funny thing is these two veterans seem more at ease in there roles that Christian Bale does in his. Maybe it’ just me, but sometimes when he’s playing the part of Batman, she’s not always that convincing. Maybe I’m too cynical, and it’s only a minor point.

Another minor point is that the movie ends about 5 minutes too late, and finishes on a very un-needed cheesy moment. That along with more time needed for focussing on his training are my only two gripes about this movie. But now I’m just being picky.

A fantastic movie, with some great themes, set on a very dark backdrop of despair.

Movie Quote #1

"That's not a knife. THIS is a knife."

What's the movie?

DVD | Rock School

This documentary revolves around failed rock star Paul Green and his after school music school. Not so much a place to learn music, but more a place to be forced into the rock genre through constant verbal abuse form self taught ‘teacher’ Green.

His approach to encouragement is akin to that of Idol’s Simon Cowell, but where as Cowell has some redeeming features (namely his charisma), Green has no redemption. His school borders on chronic child abuse.

So why bother with Rock School? Well, as a documentary it does a damn fine job of showing the life of Rock School, and the journey that the participants take. It shows that if you’re strong enough to take on Green, he’ll kick you out – for all he wants is to be worshipped – a kind of Peter Pan crossed with a Hitler-ish control freak mentality. He needs the kids more than they need him. They are his wellspring of eternal youth.

Wether intentionally or not, Director Don Argott manages to produce a fairly entertaining documentary that leaves you wanting to give Green a spoonful, not, make that a bucketful of his own medicine. You’ll have to assume that this is the way Green really is as no sane man would do all that just for the camera. You also have to wonder if his tactics really work, as yes, he gets them to play some of the (apparently) most difficult rock music in the world, but is he just creating copycats or nurturing real talent?

Disney to buy Pixar?

Pixar's split with Disney was very public, and now Pixar is going it’s own way… leaving the likes of Toy Story and The Incredibles in Disney's library.

But have they really split, or is there more to the story?. ABC, a subsidiary of Disney has recently been helping out Pixar's parent company Apple. ABC made episodes of "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" available for download via Apple's new iTunes video download service. Apple website MacDailyNews suggests that not only may the two giants be getting back together, but Disney may be on the verge of actually buying Pixar.

"Mr. Jobs would consider a sale at the right price." But at what price? The company's market value is $5.9 billion, but Disney already owns the Pixar movie catalogue, so it's not like that will be part of the deal.

It’s obvious that nothing will happen though, until after this weekend.

Why? Chicken Little opens this weekend. If it’s a hit, Disney will think that they don’t need Pixar, but if it flops, who knows?

The real question in many peoples minds is what would happen if Disney did buy Pixar? Would they do the wise thing and leave Pixar to do it’s thing, or will they quash the creative spirit of Hollywoods only film studio never to have a flop?

Is Disney better off without Pixar? I think not. Is Pixar better off without Disney? A resounding yes.

DVD | The Machinist

The Machinist is a real head-trip. It’s designed to keep you on edge, to keep you wondering, to keep you confused. From the use of lighting, to the music and the concentration camp survivor looking Christian Bale. It’s one of the best psychological thrillers of the year.

The problem with reviewing a movie like this, is that it’s so very easy to give too much away, so I will warn you that reading this before seeing the movie may give the ending away.

You’ve been warned!

The main character, Trevor Reznik is suffering from a bad spell of insomnia, and hasn’t slept for a year. He spends his time compulsively cleaning his apartment and his hands. His only human companionship outside of work is split between a prostitute who’s fallen in love with him, and an romantic relationship with a waitress at a 24hr café.

But it’s at work that things really start to go wrong, as he starts to hallucinate and see a co-worker that no one else can see. With his mind transfixed by this person his concentration lapses causing a horrific injury to one of his workmates. Things go from bad to worse as he starts doubting his own sanity.

Paranoia and conspiracy theories abound in his head, and it’s not until he starts to look inside that he starts to discover the truth.

In a brilliant conclusion to this finely crafted masterpiece, we realise that we’ve been looking at the ability of guilt to destroy a life, and the freedom that confession can bring. For a gritty and dark movie it’s redemptive look at the power of truth over darkness is amazing, and we end up understand exactly why facing up to our responsibilities and problems works much better than trying to hide things we’d rather didn’t exist.

Jobs Sells 1M Videos!

Steve Jobs and Apple have done it again! Proving that he still has the golden touch, Jobs announced that iTunes Music Store customers have purchased and downloaded more than one million videos since they debuted on October 12. Customers can choose from over 2,000 music videos, Pixar short films and hit TV shows for just $1.99. Top downloads include music videos from Michael Jackson, Fatboy Slim and Kanye West; Pixar’s “For the Birds” and “Boundin’”; and episodes of ABC’s hit TV shows “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives.”

“Selling one million videos in less than 20 days strongly suggests there is a market for legal video downloads,” said Jobs. “Our next challenge is to broaden our content offerings, so that customers can enjoy watching more videos on their computers and new iPods.”

Now, I really want an iPod. Donations can be made....