The Cut Scene - Video Game Blog by Variety on Variety.com

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padding:0; float:right; color:#444;} .link a {color:#444;} </style> </head> <body> <div id="mainContainer"> <div class="adcontainer"><span class="noindex"> </div> <div id="mainbody"> <div id="globalheader"> <div id="varietylogo"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.variety.com/" title="variety.com - Home of Entertainment news, movie reviews, awards, festivals, celebrity photos, industry events">variety.com</a></div> <div id="globalinfo"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.variety.com/">Home</a>  |  <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">DateTime();</script>  |  Text size: <a href="javascript:decreaseFontSize()" id="decrease">a<sup>-</sup></a> <a href="javascript:increaseFontSize()" id="increase">A<sup>+</sup></a> </div> <div id="globalNavSearch"> <ul id="globalnavMenu"> <a href="/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/subscribe.asp?screen=li1">Log In</a>    <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=talkback">Variety Discussions</a>    <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=slanguage">Glossary</a> <br/> <div id="globalSearch"><form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.variety.com/search/siteall" method="get" name="SearchForm" id="SearchForm" hspace="0"> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">  </script> <input id="SearchText" type="text" name="q" size="43" class="searchtextinputNew" value="Search variety.com" hspace="0"/> <input type="image" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917im_/http://www.variety.com/graphics/variety/Search_red.gif" value="search" height="23" width="70" style="vertical-align:bottom;"> <input id="SortBy" type="hidden" name="s" value="relevance"> </form> </div> </ul> </div> <div class="clear"></div> </div>  <script language="JavaScript">  </script> <noscript> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/variety.dart/;sz=993x47;ord=' + randomnumber + '" target="_blank"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917im_/http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/variety.dart/;sz=993x47;ord=' + randomnumber + '" border="0" width="993" height="47"></a> </noscript>  </span> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917js_/http://www2.variety.com/includes/TopnavMenus.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">tabDropdown();</script> <style> #stripadcontainer { height:48px; display:block; background-color:#fff; } div#stripad{ position:absolute; top:208px; left:1px; padding:0; line-height:0.1em; } </style> <div id="contentcontainer1"> <div id="contentcontainer2"> <div id="leftmiddlecontainer"> <div id="contentheader"> </div>  <div id="leftcolumn"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917im_/http://www.variety.com/graphics/blogs/headers2008/thecutscene.jpg" border="0"></a>  <div class="entry" id="entry-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5b74068970b"> <h3 class="entry-header"> <span class="date-header"><span class="smalldate"> October </span><br> 2 </span> <span class="title"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/10/its-like-spore-but-with-dragons.html"> It’s like Spore, but with dragons… </a></span> </h3> </mtweblogpostifshow> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-body"> <p class="MsoNormal">“Spore” might not have turned out to be the game some people were expecting it to be, but Electronic Arts definitely learned one big marketing lesson from it. Releasing a character creator well in advance of a title is a great way to build buzz.<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5b74022970b-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Dragon age" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5b74022970b" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917im_/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5b74022970b-320wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;"/></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hoping to see lightning strike twice, the company plans to do the same thing for Bioware’s upcoming action-RPG “Dragon Age: Origin”. The PC exclusive character creator will be out Oct. 13. It will allow fans of the company and those curious about the game to put together a character they can use in the game once its launches in November.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It will, if nothing else, let players get straight into “Dragon Age”. (Too many RPGs lose player’s interests by the sometimes-long set-up process of creating a character when they’re ready to start playing.)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“<span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">The Dragon Age: Origins Character Creator will allow you to create numerous different characters before launch and experiment with the different classes, races, and create multiple faces for the 6 Origin stories and save them to your hard drive for safe keeping until the game is released,” said community coordinator Chris Priestly in the </span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://daforums.bioware.com/viewtopic.html?topic=696540&forum=135">game’s official forums</a><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Launching simultaneously with the character creator will be a social community site for the game, which will let people show off their in-game avatars.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">A similar approach with “Spore” resulted in over 1 million critters generated before the game launched. No one’s expecting near that sort of reaction with “Dragon Age”. The game has a much narrower target audience – but it might be a good way for EA to get a sense on how accurate its estimates for the game will be. </span></span></p> </div>  </div> <p class="entry-footer"> <span class="footer-left" style="float:left"> <span class="post-footers">Posted at 03:37 PM in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/electronic_arts/">Electronic Arts</a> </span> <span class="separator">|</span> <a class="permalink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/10/its-like-spore-but-with-dragons.html">Permalink</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/10/its-like-spore-but-with-dragons.html#comments"> Comments ( 0 )</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/10/its-like-spore-but-with-dragons.html#trackback"> TrackBack ( 0 )</a> </span> <span class="link" id="sharethis" style="vertical-align:top;position:relative; z-index:1;">  <script type="text/javascript"> var share_url = "https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/10/its-like-spore-but-with-dragons.html?ref=sharethis"; SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title:"It’s like Spore, but with dragons…", summary:"It’s like Spore, but with dragons…", url:share_url, icon: 'https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://path.to/icon' }, {button:true} ); </script> </span> </p> </div> <div class="entry" id="entry-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5b535f4970b"> <h3 class="entry-header"> <span class="date-header"><span class="smalldate"> October </span><br> 2 </span> <span class="title"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/10/spore-headed-to-the-big-screen.html"> Spore headed to the big screen </a></span> </h3> </mtweblogpostifshow> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-body"> <p class="MsoNormal">A quick note for those of you who don’t read the daily edition of Variety cover to cover. My colleague Marc Graser breaks work that Twentieth Century Fox has teamed with Electronic Arts to turn “Spore” into a computer-animated film. “Ice Age’s” Chris Wedge will direct.<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a60bfce2970c-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Spore" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a60bfce2970c selected" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917im_/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a60bfce2970c-120pi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Spore"/></a> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">EA Entertainment's Patrick O'Brien and Lucy Bradshaw, VP of Maxis Studios, will serve as executive producers. Will Wright’s name is nowhere to be seen, though.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Read more about it <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118009454.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2563">here</a>.</p> </div>  </div> <p class="entry-footer"> <span class="footer-left" style="float:left"> <span class="post-footers">Posted at 06:45 AM in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/electronic_arts/">Electronic Arts</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/gamestomovies/">games-to-movies</a> </span> <span class="separator">|</span> <a class="permalink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/10/spore-headed-to-the-big-screen.html">Permalink</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/10/spore-headed-to-the-big-screen.html#comments"> Comments ( 0 )</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/10/spore-headed-to-the-big-screen.html#trackback"> TrackBack ( 0 )</a> </span> <span class="link" id="sharethis" style="vertical-align:top;position:relative; z-index:1;">  <script type="text/javascript"> var share_url = "https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/10/spore-headed-to-the-big-screen.html?ref=sharethis"; SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title:"Spore headed to the big screen", summary:"Spore headed to the big screen", url:share_url, icon: 'https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://path.to/icon' }, {button:true} ); </script> </span> </p> </div> <div class="entry" id="entry-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5ad6961970b"> <h3 class="entry-header"> <span class="date-header"><span class="smalldate"> September </span><br> 30 </span> <span class="title"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/fox-gets-serious-about-video-games.html"> Fox gets serious about video games </a></span> </h3> </mtweblogpostifshow> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-body"> <p class="MsoNormal">Twentieth Century Fox has had its toe in the video game waters for some time now, but it appears the company is getting ready to dive in. The studio has named Andre Emerson as vice president of video game production.</p><p class="asset asset-image"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5ad68f1970b-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Twentieth-century-fox" class="at-xid-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5ad68f1970b " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917im_/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5ad68f1970b-320wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;"/></a> </p> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Emerson is a former Vivendi Games exec producer who was behind the 50 Cent gaming franchise as well as the recently released “Wet”. He’s also the creator of the “Dead to Rights” franchise. At Fox, he’ll oversee the production of game projects based on the company’s significant TV and film library.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Fox has a slew of gamer friendly properties, including “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Family Guy” and the “Alien” and “Predator” franchises. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the company did have a publishing arm, but never managed to make a dent in the lead traditional publishers held, despite some fan favorite games. It reverted to a license only model in 1993. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Bringing aboard a veteran game maker like Emerson might signal a change in direction for the company. And if Fox is willing to invest some money in its games division, it could well turn out to be a significant player in the industry.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It won’t be without competition from another film company, though. While there are plenty of games based on Fox properties, the studio lags far behind Warner Bros. in the video game space.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Starting in 2004, Warner made a significant commitment to the space, acquiring developer Monolith Productions (and taking stakes in other game makers over the following years). Earlier this year, Warner bought the major assets of Midway Games, including the Mortal Kombat franchise and had a major hit with “Batman: Arkham Asylum”.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Disney, also, is actively building up its gaming division, most recently bringing on Alex Seropian, founder of Bungie Studios (creators of the “Halo” franchise) to to oversee creative development across its in-house video game development teams.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Media companies have increasingly shown an interest in the gaming space this year. Many analysts have speculated a studio might acquire an existing game publisher, but more and more, those studios are discovering it’s easier – and much less expensive – to cherry pick key talent and focus on their own existing intellectual properties. </p> </div>  </div> <p class="entry-footer"> <span class="footer-left" style="float:left"> <span class="post-footers">Posted at 08:18 AM in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/media_companies/">media companies</a> </span> <span class="separator">|</span> <a class="permalink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/fox-gets-serious-about-video-games.html">Permalink</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/fox-gets-serious-about-video-games.html#comments"> Comments ( 5 )</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/fox-gets-serious-about-video-games.html#trackback"> TrackBack ( 0 )</a> </span> <span class="link" id="sharethis" style="vertical-align:top;position:relative; z-index:1;">  <script type="text/javascript"> var share_url = "https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/fox-gets-serious-about-video-games.html?ref=sharethis"; SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title:"Fox gets serious about video games", summary:"Fox gets serious about video games", url:share_url, icon: 'https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://path.to/icon' }, {button:true} ); </script> </span> </p> </div> <div class="entry" id="entry-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5a4a651970b"> <h3 class="entry-header"> <span class="date-header"><span class="smalldate"> September </span><br> 28 </span> <span class="title"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/console-price-wars-the-2010-edition.html"> Console price wars – the 2010 edition </a></span> </h3> </mtweblogpostifshow> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-body"> <p class="MsoNormal">Now that all three of the console manufacturers have cut prices, you might be tempted to think we won’t see additional reductions for a while. That’s far from certain, though.<p class="asset asset-image"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5a4a5cb970b-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Ps3-360" class="at-xid-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5a4a5cb970b " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917im_/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5a4a5cb970b-320pi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Ps3-360"/></a> </p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Microsoft has already shown some flexibility on its pricing with a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/microsoft-cuts-prices-again-kinda.html">$50 rebate</a> on any Xbox 360 Elite purchase before Oct. 5. And one key industry analyst thinks that could be a test balloon for upcoming cuts, sooner than anyone was expecting. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Michael Pachter, managing director of equity research at Wedbush Morgan Securities, predicts we’ll see more price shifting around the Xbox 360 as early as January – possibly February, depending on how successful the holiday season is.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pachter believes Microsoft will cut the price of the Xbox 360 Elite with a 120 GB hard drive to $249 early next year, as it introduces an upgraded Elite version with a 250 GB hard drive for $299.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That pricing, he says, should continue until holiday 2010 – when Microsoft will dump the Arcade version of the system (which does not have a hard drive) and reduce the price of the system with a 120 GB hard drive to $199.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“With that, you’ve got a really great $200 console,” he says. “That’s a huge advantage over Sony.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It’s speculative, of course, but Pachter has a pretty good track record. And keep in mind that Microsoft will be aggressively attempting to push Project Natal into people’s lives by late next year.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The bigger question is if this does happen as he predicts, can Sony afford to further reduce the price of the PS3? And, even if it can, will it? Two substantial price cuts in one year for the system could shorten its life cycle, something Sony would like to extend for as long as possible.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> </div>  </div> <p class="entry-footer"> <span class="footer-left" style="float:left"> <span class="post-footers">Posted at 08:35 AM in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/microsoft/">Microsoft</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/nintendo/">Nintendo</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/sony/">Sony</a> </span> <span class="separator">|</span> <a class="permalink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/console-price-wars-the-2010-edition.html">Permalink</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/console-price-wars-the-2010-edition.html#comments"> Comments ( 1 )</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/console-price-wars-the-2010-edition.html#trackback"> TrackBack ( 0 )</a> </span> <span class="link" id="sharethis" style="vertical-align:top;position:relative; z-index:1;">  <script type="text/javascript"> var share_url = "https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/console-price-wars-the-2010-edition.html?ref=sharethis"; SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title:"Console price wars – the 2010 edition", summary:"Console price wars – the 2010 edition", url:share_url, icon: 'https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://path.to/icon' }, {button:true} ); </script> </span> </p> </div> <div class="entry" id="entry-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a593de99970b"> <h3 class="entry-header"> <span class="date-header"><span class="smalldate"> September </span><br> 23 </span> <span class="title"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/and-then-there-were-three-wii-price-cut-to-199.html"> And then there were three… Wii price cut to $199 </a></span> </h3> </mtweblogpostifshow> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-body"> <p class="MsoNormal">The worst kept secret in the gaming industry (well, this week, at least) is finally official: Nintendo has cut the price of the Wii by $50 to $199.</p><p class="asset asset-image"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a593de3a970b-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Wii" class="at-xid-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a593de3a970b selected " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917im_/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a593de3a970b-320pi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Wii"/></a> </p> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The cut will be effective Sept. 27, as was hinted at in the plethora of leaked retail flyers over the past week or two.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The move by Nintendo, of course, follows price cuts by Sony and Microsoft and means that all three consoles should see a hardware sales bump in the short term – whether it’s enough to pull the industry out of its slump, though, is a bigger question.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You have to give Nintendo credit for being able to hold its launch price for almost three years, but this action is likely a little overdue. Certainly, the 3.5-day delay before implementing the price cuts is a baffling one. The company gains nothing by putting a “coming soon! Lower prices!” sign on its hardware – and risks angering consumers who will see the headlines and expect the lower prices immediately.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Nintendo has been the dominant leader in hardware sales throughout this generation. The introduction of a slimline PS3, which is expected to be a hot item during the holidays, is a threat to the Wii’s sales leadership this holiday season.</p><p class="MsoNormal">How popular is the new model? Sony has sold - and that is sold, not shipped - 1 million units in just three weeks. </p><p class="MsoNormal">By dropping the Wii's price $50, though, Nintendo should be able to stay in the running for the best seller crown in the next round of NPD numbers. </p> </div>  </div> <p class="entry-footer"> <span class="footer-left" style="float:left"> <span class="post-footers">Posted at 07:28 PM in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/nintendo_wii/">Nintendo Wii</a> </span> <span class="separator">|</span> <a class="permalink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/and-then-there-were-three-wii-price-cut-to-199.html">Permalink</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/and-then-there-were-three-wii-price-cut-to-199.html#comments"> Comments ( 4 )</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/and-then-there-were-three-wii-price-cut-to-199.html#trackback"> TrackBack ( 0 )</a> </span> <span class="link" id="sharethis" style="vertical-align:top;position:relative; z-index:1;">  <script type="text/javascript"> var share_url = "https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/and-then-there-were-three-wii-price-cut-to-199.html?ref=sharethis"; SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title:"And then there were three… Wii price cut to $199", summary:"And then there were three… Wii price cut to $199", url:share_url, icon: 'https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://path.to/icon' }, {button:true} ); </script> </span> </p> </div> <div class="entry" id="entry-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5ea7547970c"> <h3 class="entry-header"> <span class="date-header"><span class="smalldate"> September </span><br> 23 </span> <span class="title"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/super-mario-bros-wii-gets-a-date.html"> Super Mario Bros. Wii gets a date </a></span> </h3> </mtweblogpostifshow> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-body"> <p class="MsoNormal">Amid all the hubbub over Nintendo’s decision to cut the Wii’s price, there was one piece of news that might be overlooked in the announcement.</p><p class="asset asset-image"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5ea747e970c-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Mario" border="0" class="at-xid-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5ea747e970c " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917im_/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5ea747e970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Mario"/></a> </p> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“New Super Mario Bros. Wii” now has a ship date – and will hit store shelves Nov. 15.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The game is, arguably, the company’s biggest holiday release (with Wii Fit Plus – shipping Oct. 4 a close second). It’s a reworking of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NEWS) classic, but will allow up to four players to play simultaneously. </p><p class="MsoNormal">That makes it a potential smash for families - the console's sweet spot. </p> </div>  </div> <p class="entry-footer"> <span class="footer-left" style="float:left"> <span class="post-footers">Posted at 07:25 PM in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/nintendo_wii/">Nintendo Wii</a> </span> <span class="separator">|</span> <a class="permalink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/super-mario-bros-wii-gets-a-date.html">Permalink</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/super-mario-bros-wii-gets-a-date.html#comments"> Comments ( 3 )</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/super-mario-bros-wii-gets-a-date.html#trackback"> TrackBack ( 0 )</a> </span> <span class="link" id="sharethis" style="vertical-align:top;position:relative; z-index:1;">  <script type="text/javascript"> var share_url = "https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/super-mario-bros-wii-gets-a-date.html?ref=sharethis"; SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title:"Super Mario Bros. Wii gets a date", summary:"Super Mario Bros. Wii gets a date", url:share_url, icon: 'https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://path.to/icon' }, {button:true} ); </script> </span> </p> </div> <div class="entry" id="entry-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a58d85ec970b"> <h3 class="entry-header"> <span class="date-header"><span class="smalldate"> September </span><br> 22 </span> <span class="title"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/microsoft-cuts-prices-again-kinda.html"> Microsoft cuts prices again – kinda </a></span> </h3> </mtweblogpostifshow> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-body"> <p class="MsoNormal">While we’re all waiting on Nintendo to make the Wii price cut (to $199) official, Microsoft has struck again.</p><p class="asset asset-image"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a58d8434970b-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Xbox_360_elite" class="at-xid-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a58d8434970b " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917im_/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a58d8434970b-320wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;"/></a> </p> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Less than a month after the company <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/08/surprise-microsoft-cuts-xbox-360-prices.html">lowered the price</a> of the Xbox 360 Elite, it's now offering a $50 rebate to anyone who buys that system between now and Oct. 5. That, effectively, brings the price of the top-tier Elite down to $250 – an incredible bargain (and, temporarily, less than the revamped PS3).</p><p class="MsoNormal">The rebate form is a bit hard to find. It can be located <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/360eliterebate/default.htm">here</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Why the move? Hard to say, but it could be an indication that last month’s price cut for the Elite isn’t moving models as fast as the company had hoped. It could also be a test balloon for yet another price cut on the system, perhaps early next year when the industry will be flooded with highly anticipated titles.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If nothing else, Microsoft is once again managing to divert the media spotlight to its console, just as a competitor is trying to make an impact with its own price reduction. </p> </div>  </div> <p class="entry-footer"> <span class="footer-left" style="float:left"> <span class="post-footers">Posted at 09:16 AM in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/microsoft/">Microsoft</a> </span> <span class="separator">|</span> <a class="permalink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/microsoft-cuts-prices-again-kinda.html">Permalink</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/microsoft-cuts-prices-again-kinda.html#comments"> Comments ( 1 )</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/microsoft-cuts-prices-again-kinda.html#trackback"> TrackBack ( 0 )</a> </span> <span class="link" id="sharethis" style="vertical-align:top;position:relative; z-index:1;">  <script type="text/javascript"> var share_url = "https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/microsoft-cuts-prices-again-kinda.html?ref=sharethis"; SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title:"Microsoft cuts prices again – kinda", summary:"Microsoft cuts prices again – kinda", url:share_url, icon: 'https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://path.to/icon' }, {button:true} ); </script> </span> </p> </div> <div class="entry" id="entry-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5de52dc970c"> <h3 class="entry-header"> <span class="date-header"><span class="smalldate"> September </span><br> 21 </span> <span class="title"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/on-the-whole-cobainguitar-hero-thing.html"> On the whole Cobain-Guitar Hero thing... </a></span> </h3> </mtweblogpostifshow> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-body"> <p><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-UuAoEW5MbI&hl=en&fs=1&"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"/><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="385" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917oe_/http://www.youtube.com/v/-UuAoEW5MbI&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640"/></object></p><p>You might have heard that Kurt Cobain's estate and the makers of "Guitar Hero" are at odds. You might even have heard of the lawsuit threats - but if you don't play the game, you might not know why Courtney Love is spending hours on Twitter denigrating the game and why Nirvana's surviving members are asking that the Cobain likeness be 're-locked'. </p><div><br/><div>I wrote a more in-depth piece looking at the controversy for the most recent weekly edition of Variety, detailing the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118008837.html?categoryid=2525&cs=1">debate over likeness rights</a>, but sometimes pictures are more effective than words. Check out the YouTube compilation of some of the songs Cobain sings in the game to see what the fuss is about - and why the game could make future stars more hesitant to license their images for video games. </div><br/><div><em>(Note: The video's name was selected by the user who uploaded the video to YouTube and constitutes no editorial opinion of Variety or The Cut Scene.)</em></div></div> </div>  </div> <p class="entry-footer"> <span class="footer-left" style="float:left"> <span class="post-footers">Posted at 08:44 AM in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/activision/">Activision</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/guitar_hero_rock_band/">Guitar Hero / Rock Band</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/music/">Music</a> </span> <span class="separator">|</span> <a class="permalink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/on-the-whole-cobainguitar-hero-thing.html">Permalink</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/on-the-whole-cobainguitar-hero-thing.html#comments"> Comments ( 3 )</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/on-the-whole-cobainguitar-hero-thing.html#trackback"> TrackBack ( 0 )</a> </span> <span class="link" id="sharethis" style="vertical-align:top;position:relative; z-index:1;">  <script type="text/javascript"> var share_url = "https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/on-the-whole-cobainguitar-hero-thing.html?ref=sharethis"; SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title:"On the whole Cobain-Guitar Hero thing...", summary:"On the whole Cobain-Guitar Hero thing...", url:share_url, icon: 'https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://path.to/icon' }, {button:true} ); </script> </span> </p> </div> <div class="entry" id="entry-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a580bdd8970b"> <h3 class="entry-header"> <span class="date-header"><span class="smalldate"> September </span><br> 18 </span> <span class="title"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/dell-hp-getting-behind-3d-gaming.html"> Dell, HP getting behind 3D gaming? </a></span> </h3> </mtweblogpostifshow> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-body"> <p class="MsoNormal">You may have heard about the push for 3D TV that’s looming, but now it appears computer makers are getting in on the game as well.<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5d7377e970c-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Geforce_3d_vision" class="at-xid-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5d7377e970c" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917im_/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5d7377e970c-320wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;"/></a> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090918PB205.html">Digitimes </a>reports that Dell and Hewlett-Packard have both placed orders for 3D laptops with Wistron, a Taiwanese company that specializes in the field.</p><p class="MsoNormal">That’s about all the details that are available right now, but it’s a safe bet the machines will use nVidia’s GeForce 3D Vision graphics card. AMD hasn’t shown a lot of interest in the field so far.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The problem with 3D in the computing field is the same as it is in the television field. There is not, at present, any compelling content available for the system, so potential buyers have no real reason to pay a premium for the technology. (We’ll leave the issue of having to wear glasses to experience the 3D effect aside for now.)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There’s a larger issue, though, of whether gamers (who, conceivably, would be the target market for these machines) have any sort of interest in stereoscopic 3D, regardless of whether there’s content. The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118008669.html?categoryid=1009&cs=1">answer might not be too encouraging</a> to PC makers.</p> </div>  </div> <p class="entry-footer"> <span class="footer-left" style="float:left"> <span class="post-footers">Posted at 11:18 AM </span> <span class="separator">|</span> <a class="permalink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/dell-hp-getting-behind-3d-gaming.html">Permalink</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/dell-hp-getting-behind-3d-gaming.html#comments"> Comments ( 1 )</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/dell-hp-getting-behind-3d-gaming.html#trackback"> TrackBack ( 0 )</a> </span> <span class="link" id="sharethis" style="vertical-align:top;position:relative; z-index:1;">  <script type="text/javascript"> var share_url = "https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/dell-hp-getting-behind-3d-gaming.html?ref=sharethis"; SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title:"Dell, HP getting behind 3D gaming?", summary:"Dell, HP getting behind 3D gaming?", url:share_url, icon: 'https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://path.to/icon' }, {button:true} ); </script> </span> </p> </div> <div class="entry" id="entry-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a5d14975970c"> <h3 class="entry-header"> <span class="date-header"><span class="smalldate"> September </span><br> 17 </span> <span class="title"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/heres-a-freebie-you-can-get-behind.html"> Here’s a freebie you can get behind! </a></span> </h3> </mtweblogpostifshow> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="entry-body"> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">In honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day this Saturday (9/19), Telltale Games is making the complete first episode of Tales of Monkey Island free from 4:01pm PT Friday through midnight Saturday.<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a57ac6f3970b-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Monkey-island" class="at-xid-6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a57ac6f3970b " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917im_/http://weblogs.variety.com/.a/6a00d8341bfc7553ef0120a57ac6f3970b-320wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;"/></a> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Head to <span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;color:black"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.playlikeapirate.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#2A5DB0">http://www.playlikeapirate.com</span></a></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;color:black"> for your free copy.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span class="apple-converted-space">If you haven’t experienced Monkey Island yet, well… shame on you. And here’s your chance to ditch that badge of shame. The adventure game is a new take on one of the industry’s classic titles.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText"><span>Meanwhile, t</span><span>he company and LucasARRts (sorry) is offering 50 percent off the iPhone and iPod touch version of The Secret of</span><span> </span><em><span>Monkey Island</span></em><span>: Special Edition via Apple’s App Store and 50 percent off The Secret of</span><span> </span><em><span>Monkey Island</span></em><span>: Special Edition on Steam and Direct2Drive, the two leading PC digital distribution systems.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Not so coincidentally, Telltale will release the game’s third chapter on Sept. 29. </p><p></p> </div>  </div> <p class="entry-footer"> <span class="footer-left" style="float:left"> <span class="post-footers">Posted at 01:22 PM in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/lucasarts/">LucasArts</a> </span> <span class="separator">|</span> <a class="permalink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/heres-a-freebie-you-can-get-behind.html">Permalink</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/heres-a-freebie-you-can-get-behind.html#comments"> Comments ( 0 )</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/heres-a-freebie-you-can-get-behind.html#trackback"> TrackBack ( 0 )</a> </span> <span class="link" id="sharethis" style="vertical-align:top;position:relative; z-index:1;">  <script type="text/javascript"> var share_url = "https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/heres-a-freebie-you-can-get-behind.html?ref=sharethis"; SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title:"Here’s a freebie you can get behind!", summary:"Here’s a freebie you can get behind!", url:share_url, icon: 'https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://path.to/icon' }, {button:true} ); </script> </span> </p> </div> <div class="pager-bottom pager-entries pager content-nav"> <div class="pager-inner"> <span class="pager-right"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/page/2/"><span class="pager-label">Next</span> <span class="chevron">»</span></a> </span> </div> </div> <br clear="all"/> <div id="more"> </div> </div>  <div id="middlecolumn"> </div>  <div id="contentfooter"> </div>  </div>  <div id="rightcolumn"> <style> .module img { border:none; margin-right: 10px; vertical-align: bottom; } .module-header a{ border-bottom: none; 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href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/downloadable_games_content/"> downloadable games / content </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/ds/"> DS </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/e_for_all/"> E for All </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/e3/"> E3 </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/eidos/"> Eidos </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/electronic_arts/"> Electronic Arts </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/film/"> Film </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/game_developers_conference/"> Game Developers Conference </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/game_preview/"> game preview </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/gamecock/"> GameCock </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/games/"> Games </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/gamestomovies/"> games-to-movies </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/gamestotv/"> games-to-TV </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/gametap/"> GameTap </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/glitch_in_the_system/"> Glitch in the System </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/grand_theft_auto/"> grand theft auto </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/guest_post/"> guest post </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/guitar_hero_rock_band/"> Guitar Hero / Rock Band </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/halo/"> halo </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/hi_def_dvds/"> Hi Def DVDs </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/hollywood_talent/"> Hollywood talent </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/independent_games/"> independent games </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/iphone/"> iPhone </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/konami/"> Konami </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/labor_unions/"> labor unions </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/legendary/"> Legendary </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/lucasarts/"> LucasArts </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/majesco/"> Majesco </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/marketing/"> marketing </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/media_companies/"> media companies </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/microsoft/"> Microsoft </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/midway/"> Midway </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/mmo/"> MMO </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/mobile/"> mobile </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/movie_studios/"> movie studios </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/moviebased_games/"> movie-based games </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/mtv/"> MTV </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/music/"> Music </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/namco-bandai/"> Namco Bandai </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/nintendo/"> Nintendo </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/nintendo_wii/"> Nintendo Wii </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/onlive/"> onlive </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/parties/"> parties </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/pc_games/"> PC Games </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/penny_arcade_expo/"> Penny Arcade Expo </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/personal/"> personal </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/playstation_3/"> Playstation 3 </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/politics/"> politics </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/pop_culture/"> pop culture </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/pretentious_stuff/"> pretentious stuff </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/retailers/"> retailers </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/reviews/"> reviews </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/rockstar/"> rockstar </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/sales_data/"> sales data </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/schwag_giveaway/"> schwag giveaway </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/sega/"> Sega </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/sony/"> Sony </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/sony_online/"> Sony Online </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/sports/"> Sports </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/square_enix/"> Square Enix </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/take_two/"> Take Two </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/television/"> Television </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/thq/"> THQ </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/top_ten_of_2008/"> Top Ten of 2008 </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/trailers/"> trailers </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/tvtovideogame/"> TV-to-videogame </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/ubisoft/"> Ubisoft </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/valve/"> Valve </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/video_downloads/"> video downloads </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/video_game_press/"> video game press </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/videogames_impact_report/"> videogames impact report </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/vivendi_games/"> Vivendi Games </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/warner_bros/"> Warner Bros. </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/web_videogames/"> Web videogames </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/world_of_warcraft/"> World of Warcraft </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/xbox_360/"> Xbox 360 </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="module-archives module"> <h2 class="module-header"> Recent Posts </h2> <div class="module-content"> <ul class="module-list"> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/10/its-like-spore-but-with-dragons.html"> It’s like Spore, but with dragons… </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/10/spore-headed-to-the-big-screen.html"> Spore headed to the big screen </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/fox-gets-serious-about-video-games.html"> Fox gets serious about video games </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/console-price-wars-the-2010-edition.html"> Console price wars – the 2010 edition </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/and-then-there-were-three-wii-price-cut-to-199.html"> And then there were three… Wii price cut to $199 </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/super-mario-bros-wii-gets-a-date.html"> Super Mario Bros. Wii gets a date </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/microsoft-cuts-prices-again-kinda.html"> Microsoft cuts prices again – kinda </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/on-the-whole-cobainguitar-hero-thing.html"> On the whole Cobain-Guitar Hero thing... </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/dell-hp-getting-behind-3d-gaming.html"> Dell, HP getting behind 3D gaming? </a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/09/heres-a-freebie-you-can-get-behind.html"> Here’s a freebie you can get behind! </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="module-recent-comments module"> <h2 class="module-header"> Recent Comments </h2> <div class="module-content"> <ul class="module-list"> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917js_/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/services/recent-comments.js"></script> </ul> </div> </div>  <div class="module-typelist module"> <h2 class="module-header">Video Game Links</h2> <div class="module-content"> <ul class="module-list"> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="Your home for PC video games PS2 Xbox 360 PSP DS GBA PS3 WII cheats previews reviews boards blogs" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.1up.com/">1UP</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.brainygamer.com/">Brainy Gamer</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="Hardcore Gamer Community :: Video Games PC PlayStation 2 Xbox 360 Wii PS3 GameCube PSP DS GBA PS2 PlayStation 3" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.destructoid.com/">Destructoid</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.fidgit.com/">Fidgit</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="The Art & Business of Making Games" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://gamasutra.com/">Gamasutra</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.gamepolitics.com/">GamePolitics</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.gamesetwatch.com/">GameSetWatch</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.gamespot.com/news">GameSpot News</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://insultswordfighting.blogspot.com/">Insult Swordfighting</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.joystiq.com/">Joystiq</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="The Gamer’s Guide" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.kotaku.com/">Kotaku</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.metacritic.com/games/">Metacritic Games</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="MTV Multiplayer" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/">MTV Multiplayer</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://savetherobot.wordpress.com/">Save the Robot</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://sexyvideogameland.blogspot.com/">Sexy Videogameland</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/">The Escapist</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://versusclucluland.blogspot.com/">Versus CluClu Land</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="module-calendar module"> <h2 class="module-header"> October 2009 </h2> <div class="module-content"> <table summary="Monthly calendar with links to each day's posts "> <tr> <th>Sun</th> <th>Mon</th> <th>Tue</th> <th>Wed</th> <th>Thu</th> <th>Fri</th> <th>Sat</th> </tr> <tr> <td>  </td> <td>  </td> <td>  </td> <td>  </td> <td> 1 </td> <td> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/10/its-like-spore-but-with-dragons.html"> 2 </a> </td> <td> 3 </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 4 </td> <td> 5 </td> <td> 6 </td> <td> 7 </td> <td> 8 </td> <td> 9 </td> <td> 10 </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 11 </td> <td> 12 </td> <td> 13 </td> <td> 14 </td> <td> 15 </td> <td> 16 </td> <td> 17 </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 18 </td> <td> 19 </td> <td> 20 </td> <td> 21 </td> <td> 22 </td> <td> 23 </td> <td> 24 </td> </tr> <tr> <td> 25 </td> <td> 26 </td> <td> 27 </td> <td> 28 </td> <td> 29 </td> <td> 30 </td> <td> 31 </td> </tr> </table> </div> </div> <div class="module-typelist module"> <h2 class="module-header">Variety's Blogs</h2> <div class="module-content"> <ul class="module-list"> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.armyarcherd.com/">Army Archerd</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/bfdealmemo/">BFDealmemo</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="Brian Lowry, TV blogger" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/bltv">BLTv</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="Cynthia Littleton On the Air surveys the news, oddities, major players and rising stars of the small-screen scene." href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/">Cynthia Littleton: On The Air</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/technotainment/">Technotainment</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/">The Cut Scene</a></li> <li class="module-list-item"><a title="The intersection of entertainment and politics." href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917/http://www.wilshireandwashington.com/">Wilshire & Washington</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <span class="noindex"> <center><div id="advertisement">-- Advertisement --</div> <div id="skyscraper">  <script language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20091004173917js_/http://www.variety.com/graphics/blogs/ads/160x600.js" type="text/javascript"></script>  </div> </center> </span> <br> </div>  </div>  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