POP CULTURE: GUITAR HERO TO UNLEASH REALITY SHOW & CONCERT SOON

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE INSANELY POPULAR VIDEO GAME FRANCHISE ‘GUITAR HERO’ COULDN’T POSSIBLY ROCK OUT ANY MORE, THEY GO & DEVELOP A REALITY SHOW & A CONCERT. LOL. I MUST SAY THAT THIS IS A SAAVY MOVE, & I’M SURE IT WILL PROVE LUCRATIVE FOR EVERY ONE INVOLVED. I WISH I WERE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. LOL. I’LL GET MINE THOUGH. NO WORRIES. IN THE MEANTIME, IN BETWEEEN TIME, CHECK OUT THE DETAILS & LEAVE A COMMENT. ENJOY

'Guitar Hero' Reality Show, Concert Tour In The Works

Paul Bond, The Hollywood Reporter

The worldwide hit video game "Guitar Hero" could become a reality TV show and/or a real-life concert tour, people familiar with the discussions said Thursday.

"Hero" is from Activision Blizzard, a leading video game publisher that is looking to turn some of its games into TV and film properties.

Activision's cross-platform interests don't end at "Hero" either; discussions are under way to turn the "World of Warcraft" and "Call of Duty" video games into movies.

"They are being talked about for the big screen," said one person with knowledge of the details.

Legendary Pictures actually picked up the film rights to "Warcraft" about three years ago but hasn't moved much on the project since then. It's Web site still calls it a "future production."

Legendary has co-produced with Warner Bros. a string of hits that include "The Dark Knight" and "300."

In an interview prior to Thursday's quarterly earnings conference call, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick wouldn't comment on the status of a "Warcraft" movie or speculation that "Duty" would also become a film. But asked about the "Hero" franchise he did say, "It might make for a good TV show or a good concert tour."

"Hero" and "Duty" in the first quarter were two of the Top 5 best-selling franchises across all video game platforms in Europe and the U.S. "World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King" was the top PC game, in terms of revenue, in the U.S.

Kotick added that video games, especially family-friendly "Hero," are "capturing leisure time away from TV and film. Not that readers of The Hollywood Reporter want to hear that."

Evidence that Kotick might be correct was in the company's financial report on Thursday. Activision Blizzard said first-quarter revenue more than tripled to $981 million as net income swelled to $189 million from $43 million in the year-ago quarter.

Comparisons with last year are an inaccurate measure of success because Activision hadn't yet been merged with Vivendi Games and renamed Activision Blizzard a year ago. More reflective of the company's momentum is that it beat expectations in the first quarter and it raised its full-year revenue guidance by $100 million to $4.3 billion.

"We have growth and we're making money. That's better than others can say," Kotick said.

Activision Blizzard this year will release several new "Guitar Hero" games including "DJ Hero," which includes a turntable controller along with hip-hop, Motown and other dance music, and "Band Hero," which caters to younger players and features top-40 hits. There's also a "Guitar Hero: Van Halen" and a "Guitar Hero: Smash Hits" coming soon.

Find this article at:

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/guitar-hero-reality-show-concert-tour-in-1003971140.story

POP CULTURE: WOLVERINE ORIGINS VIDEO GAME IN STORES

HEADS UP ALL GAMERS & WOLVERINE/X-MEN FANS, YOUR DREAMS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, WELL AT LEAST THAT PARTICULAR DREAM. SO NOW YOU CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE; MAYBE A BDAY PARTY WHERE HUGH JACKMAN & THE REST OF THE GANG SHOWS UP. LOL. BACK TO THE STORY, ENJOY.

The game allows players to harness Wolverine's brute strength, regenerative mutant abilities, and indestructible adamantium claws.

SANTA MONICA, CA—The X-Men's fiercest hero digs his claws into retail stores globally with the release of the "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" video game from Activision Publishing, Inc. and Marvel. Developed by critically acclaimed studio Raven Software, the game allows players to harness Wolverine's brute strength, regenerative mutant abilities, and indestructible adamantium claws as they battle powerful forces and uncover the mysteries behind his origin. Inspired by the feature film from Twentieth Century Fox released in theaters everywhere on the same date, the "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" video game also features the voices of some of the film's leading men: Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), Liev Schreiber (Sabretooth) and will.i.am (John Wraith).

"'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' features the most authentic Wolverine experience ever in a video game," said Rob Kostich, vice president of global brand management, Activision Publishing, Inc. "The game captures the uncaged nature of Wolverine and allows players to uncover an incredible storyline that will appeal to comic book and gaming enthusiasts, as well as fans of the action-packed feature film."

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine" is an epic action-adventure game featuring a true-to-character Wolverine gameplay experience that takes gamers through and beyond the movie's storyline. Set in a variety of vivid real-world locales, the title challenges players to hone their animal instinct as they uncover hidden dangers, hunt and defeat enemies, and take on seemingly insurmountable situations while discovering the truth about Wolverine's tragic past. With razor-sharp adamantium claws unsheathed, the future X-Man enacts lightning-quick combat, evasive maneuvers, in-depth combo attacks, and an array of brutal finishing moves. Wolverine doesn't just deliver massive damage, either - he also takes it, thanks to his mutant regenerative power that heals him in real time right before the player's eyes.

Developed by Raven Studios, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine Uncaged Edition" is available on Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION®3 and Games for Windows. Also available now are unique versions of the "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" video game, developed by Amaze and rated "T" (for Teen) by the ESRB, on PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and Wii™ home video game system, and E10+ on the Nintendo DS™.

"X-Men Origins: Wolverine," rated PG-13, is the first chapter in the X-Men motion picture saga. The film unites Wolverine with several other legends of the X-Men universe, in an epic revolution that pits the mutants against powerful forces determined to eliminate them

SOURCE: POPTOWER.COM