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  • Disney Buys Lucasfilm For $4 Billion Dollars. New Star Wars In 2015.

    So this bit of insanity just happened.

    It is being reported that Disney has bought Lucasfilm lock, stock and barrel from George Lucas for the cool sum of 4.05 billion dollars. And that is not the biggest news.

    Disney has announced that a brand new Star Wars movie is in development.

    Yeah stew on that for a second.

    Star Wars: Episode 7 will be looking to release during the summer of 2015. Which with The Avengers 2 and Justice League may officially make it the biggest summer movie season in history.

    Here is the press release in case the reality of this has not set in yet.

    Continuing its strategy of delivering exceptional creative content to audiences around the world, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) has agreed to acquire Lucasfilm Ltd. in a stock and cash transaction. Lucasfilm is 100% owned by Lucasfilm Chairman and Founder, George Lucas.

    Under the terms of the agreement and based on the closing price of Disney stock on October 26, 2012, the transaction value is $4.05 billion, with Disney paying approximately half of the consideration in cash and issuing approximately 40 million shares at closing. The final consideration will be subject to customary post-closing balance sheet adjustments.

    “Lucasfilm reflects the extraordinary passion, vision, and storytelling of its founder, George Lucas,” said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “This transaction combines a world-class portfolio of content including Star Wars, one of the greatest family entertainment franchises of all time, with Disney’s unique and unparalleled creativity across multiple platforms, businesses, and markets to generate sustained growth and drive significant long-term value.”

    “For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next,” said George Lucas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lucasfilm. “It’s now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers. I’ve always believed that Star Wars could live beyond me, and I thought it was important to set up the transition during my lifetime. I’m confident that with Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy, and having a new home within the Disney organization, Star Wars will certainly live on and flourish for many generations to come. Disney’s reach and experience give Lucasfilm the opportunity to blaze new trails in film, television, interactive media, theme parks, live entertainment, and consumer products.”

    Under the deal, Disney will acquire ownership of Lucasfilm, a leader in entertainment, innovation and technology, including its massively popular and “evergreen” Star Wars franchise and its operating businesses in live action film production, consumer products, animation, visual effects, and audio post production. Disney will also acquire the substantial portfolio of cutting-edge entertainment technologies that have kept audiences enthralled for many years. Lucasfilm, headquartered in San Francisco, operates under the names Lucasfilm Ltd., LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound, and the present intent is for Lucasfilm employees to remain in their current locations.

    Kathleen Kennedy, current Co-Chairman of Lucasfilm, will become President of Lucasfilm, reporting to Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn. Additionally she will serve as the brand manager for Star Wars, working directly with Disney’s global lines of business to build, further integrate, and maximize the value of this global franchise. Ms. Kennedy will serve as executive producer on new Star Wars feature films, with George Lucas serving as creative consultant. Star Wars Episode 7 is targeted for release in 2015, with more feature films expected to continue the Star Wars saga and grow the franchise well into the future.

    The acquisition combines two highly compatible family entertainment brands, and strengthens the long-standing beneficial relationship between them that already includes successful integration of Star Wars content into Disney theme parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Tokyo.

    Driven by a tremendously talented creative team, Lucasfilm’s legendary Star Wars franchise has flourished for more than 35 years, and offers a virtually limitless universe of characters and stories to drive continued feature film releases and franchise growth over the long term. Star Wars resonates with consumers around the world and creates extensive opportunities for Disney to deliver the content across its diverse portfolio of businesses including movies, television, consumer products, games and theme parks. Star Wars feature films have earned a total of $4.4 billion in global box to date, and continued global demand has made Star Wars one of the world’s top product brands, and Lucasfilm a leading product licensor in the United States in 2011. The franchise provides a sustainable source of high quality, branded content with global appeal and is well suited for new business models including digital platforms, putting the acquisition in strong alignment with Disney’s strategic priorities for continued long-term growth.

    The Lucasfilm acquisition follows Disney’s very successful acquisitions of Pixar and Marvel, which demonstrated the company’s unique ability to fully develop and expand the financial potential of high quality creative content with compelling characters and storytelling through the application of innovative technology and multiplatform distribution on a truly global basis to create maximum value. Adding Lucasfilm to Disney’s portfolio of world class brands significantly enhances the company’s ability to serve consumers with a broad variety of the world’s highest-quality content and to create additional long-term value for our shareholders.

    The Boards of Directors of Disney and Lucasfilm have approved the transaction, which is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, certain non-United States merger control regulations, and other customary closing conditions. The agreement has been approved by the sole shareholder of Lucasfilm

     

  • Halo 4 Spartan Ops Season One Trailer Is Here.

    Keep Your Halo 4 Experience Going With Your Friends.

    One of the unique things that 343 Industries is doing with the upcoming release of Halo 4 is the Spartan Ops co-op gameplay. After the main story of Halo 4 is over you will be able to go through a new storyline with your friends that will be released as episodic content every week.

    Season One of Spartan Ops will consist of ten episodes consisting of five missions each episode for completely free to everyone that has Halo 4 sitting in there console. So not only are you getting the main campaign with Master Chief as well as the never ending multiplayer but now you will have 50 free co-op missions to go through after your first playthrough is done.

    Check out the first trailer for Season one of Spartan Ops here.

  • Grand Theft Auto 5 Release Confirmed.

    Rockstar’s Next GTA Title Takes On A Crowded Spring.

    The early 2013 game landscape just got a lot more crowded with Rockstar’s official announcement today that Grand Theft Auto 5 would be released in the spring.

    This is certainly huge news for game fans that have been waiting almost five years for the followup to the popular game series. Almost certainly other game companies are waiting for a solid release date to see if any adjustments need to be made to their own game releases.

    There are a host of big name games releasing early next year like Tomb Raider, Gears of War and The Last of Us but almost any game should avoid being released on or near GTA’s release because they are among the biggest you see in gaming.

    Rockstar has said that they will open the floodgates on Grand Theft Auto 5 starting next month and that pre-orders on the game begin November 5th.

  • Take It Home Tuesday. October 30, 2012.

    Hitchcock, Satan’s Child And Will Ferrell?

    [amazon_link id=”B008MPQ0G8″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Rosemary’s Baby[/amazon_link]

    One of the greatest horror/thriller movies of all time makes its way to Blu-Ray just in time for Halloween. The slow build and tension is what makes this movie so special and is something that is sorely lacking with today’s “horror” films. Take the time to watch and appreciate this classic if you haven’t yet.

    [amazon_link id=”B008DCAG9M” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection[/amazon_link]

    The definitive collection of one of the greatest directors of all time. 15 movies including Psycho, North by Northwest, Rear Window, The Birds and more. Each film comes with its own set of special features including alternate endings and production diaries.

    [amazon_link id=”B009CW55XY” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Campaign[/amazon_link]

    Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis team up for this comedy about an incumbent congressman who runs against a less than likely candidate in North Carolina. I saw the movie in theaters and while it is not as memorable as Talladega Nights, Anchorman or The Hangover it has a few moments and is worth a rent.

    [amazon_link id=”B009GYS73S” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Chuck: The Complete Series[/amazon_link]

    I never finished watching Chuck’s run. I am only two seasons in but I will get there eventually. I give props to NBC for letting the series finish out its five season run considering the show never garnered good ratings. Sometimes network do listen to fans. If you haven’t watch Chuck you are in for as treat and could do a lot worse on TV today.

     

     

  • Dead Island: Riptide Release Date Announced

    Get Ready For More Zombie Action Next Spring.

    Developer Deep Silver has announced today that the sequel to the best selling game Dead Island will release on April 23, 2013.

    Dead Island: Riptide will have two special editions available at launch. The Pre-Order Edition is available to pre-order now (hence the name) and will give players a new set of mods for their weapons. The specific mods have not been announced yet. The second special is the Special Retailers Edition which will have a special character skin and packshot. It will be available at only certain retailers which have not been named yet.

    Sounds like Deep Silver is making available to all players what every game does now and calling it special editions. What do you think?

  • New Game Releases. October 30, 2012.

    Assassin’s Creed and WWE Lead The Biggest Week Of The Year (So Far).

     

    [amazon_link id=”B0050SYLRK” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Assassin’s Creed 3[/amazon_link] (360, PS3) $59.99

    Besides Halo 4 this is arguably the biggest release of the year. Every bit of the game has wowed anyone that has seen it and the anticipation has been at a fever pitch for months. Finally moving out of the Ezio era and bringing the American Revolution to the forefront looks like it will really pay off for the franchise.

    [amazon_link id=”B0085L2T0A” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]WWE 13[/amazon_link] (360, PS3, Wii) $49.99-59.99

    Last year’s game saw a complete change in the control scheme and physics engine so how do you possibly keep it fresh? By celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Attitude Era with its own storyline set as well as having Attitude Era stars on the roster. Don’t like your WWE programming PG? THQ may have the answer by looking to the past.

    [amazon_link id=”B0050SWTAQ” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Need For Speed: Most Wanted[/amazon_link] (360, PS3, PC, Vita) $39.99-59.99

    My favorite racing series of all time is Burnout. So when it was announced that the guys at Criterion would be releasing the next Need For Speed game you can imagine my excitement. The real wonder of this release is how they managed to fit the entire game, as in every mode, into the Vita. Nice job Criterion.

    [amazon_link id=”B0088MVOUC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Lego Lord of the Rings[/amazon_link] (360, PS3, Wii, PC, Vita, 3DS, DS) $29.99-49.99

    Lego Batman 2 was released earlier this year to good reviews as well as being the first Lego game to feature voice acting. Now Lego Lord of the Rings is here and features actual dialogue from all three movies as well as Lego’s own unique humor mixed in. Co-op play are back as with any Lego game as well as tons of hidden goodies and unlockable characters.

    [amazon_link id=”B007BJNR6C” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Assassin’s Creed 3: Liberation[/amazon_link] (Vita) $39.99

    This Vita only adventure follows a new assassin, Aveline, as she tries to decipher a Templar plan in New Orleans during the years of the American Revolution. I still have to wonder why they would release the game on the same day as Assassin’s Creed 3. Most people won’t have the money for both and releasing apart from the main game may actually sell a few Vita’s. Sony….that is all.

    Next week is a bit lighter on the releases with everyone getting out of the way of Master Chief’s return. That’s right, it’s finally time for Halo 4.

    Happy gaming!!!!

     

     

     

     

  • Robert Downey Jr. Has A ‘Surprise’ In New Call Of Duty Commercial.

    Black Ops 2 Brings Iron Man In For New Ad.

    You have to hand it to the folks at Activision. Call of Duty is the biggest game on the planet and doesn’t need big marketing but the company still makes some great commercials for it.

    The new commercial titled ‘Surprise’ is standard Call of Duty fair much like past ads that featured Kobe Bryant, Jimmy Kimmel and Jonah Hill but they go even larger this year with the brilliant Robert Downey Jr. going bigger and better as he normally does.

    Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think.

    Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 releases on November 13th.

    http://youtu.be/4wIZp_E2CxQ

  • G4 Cancels X-Play And Attack Of The Show

    Shows Canned In Wake Of Networks Re-Branding.

    Sad news today that G4 has cancelled both Attack of the Show and X-Play with the network changing brands next year from a tech channel to a more GQ-inspired men’s channel. Cause apparently men don’t play video games.

    Both shows will have farewell runs with the final episodes airing in December with old hosts returning and best-of content being shown.

    X-Play started in 2003 and has aired more than 1,300 episodes. Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb hosted the show for the majority of the time until Sessler left G4 earlier this year. Attack of the Show began in 2005 as a replacement for the show The Screen Savers. The show had its own share of hosts come and go with Kevin Pereira being the mainstay before he left to work in production earlier this year.

    We here will miss both shows greatly as they were a big part of geek culture for almost a decade.

     

  • Gamestop Kids Set To Open 80 Stores For The Holidays

    Video game retailer Gamestop is opening up 80 stores nationwide that will focus on E-rated games as well as toys and collectibles in an attempt to garner a greater portion of the market from stores like Toys R Us. The stores will be open for the holidays only with the first one opening up today in Grapevine, TX.

    Parents will be greeted with all E-rated games and all of the popular franchises that focus towards kids such as: Angry Birds, Star Wars, Skylanders and Lego. You can check the company website to see if a Gamestop Kids is opening near you.

  • Greatest Thing Ever- 10/26/12

    Tom Hanks Slam Poetry Says It All.

    To help promote his new movie, Cloud Atlas , Tom Hanks went on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and did something that should live on forever.

    The star performed a bit of slam poetry but that is not the weirdest part of this article. The fact that he focused on the sitcom Full House for his hilarious bit just goes to show why he is a national treasure.

    Well this and that rocking ‘stache he is sporting.