[X360, X720] Vancouver studio building 'Microsoft's next big entertainment franchise'

[X360, X720] Vancouver studio building 'Microsoft's next big entertainment franchise'

One thing Microsoft has been sorely lacking in recent years (along with the rest of the industry) is some major new IPs to complement its stable of exclusive franchises like Forza, Fable, Halo, and Gears of War. As we look forward to the next generation however, it seems Microsoft is looking to add at least one new major franchise to the list. Microsoft Studios Vancouver, which has been re-branded as Black Tusk Studios as it looks to rapidly expand on its 55-person development team, has been given a green light from Microsoft to build "Microsoft's next big entertainment franchise".

“We’re not working on an existing franchise, we’re looking to build the next Halo here in Vancouver, for example, which is really exciting," studio manager Mike Crump told the Vancouver Sun. "We are building something from the ground up.”

Employees at the studio already have an average of 12 years experience working on triple-A games, and it shouldn't be hard to find other talented developers since other Vancouver-based studios Rockstar Vancouver (Bully, Max Payne 3) and Radical Entertainment (Prototype) were shut down earlier this year.

Written by: Mike Glubish

User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)

View the original article here

Majesco Entertainment Turns Up The Heat In Zumba® Fitness 2 w/ Hit Music From Chart Topping Artists

Sequel to Best-Selling Dance Fitness Video Game to Feature Popular Dance Tracks from Pitbull, Former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger and Yolanda Be Cool & DCup

EDISON, N.J. – August 11th, 2011 – Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: COOL), an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, along with Zumba Fitness® LLC, today revealed that Zumba® Fitness 2, sequel to the best-selling dance fitness video game, features tracks from chart-topping artists Pitbull, Interscope Records artist Nicole Scherzinger and Yolanda Be Cool & DCup.  This marks the first time commercial artist tracks will appear in a Zumba® Fitness game and complements the full range of contagious tracks created by Zumba Fitness.

“These talented artists are played across the globe because their songs make people want to get up and dance,” said Lisa Roth, Lead Producer, Majesco Entertainment. “We’re excited to pair our exclusive soundtrack with hot new choreography that will kick-start the workout and amp up the fun for millions of Zumba video game fans.”

Zumba® Fitness 2 features the hit track “Pause” from international music sensation and Sony Music recording artist Pitbull, whose blended music is a favorite among the Zumba® Fitness community.  Additional Zumba® Fitness 2 tracks announced today include an exclusive Zumba remix of “Poison,” the dance hit from former lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, Nicole Scherzinger, and club favorite “We No Speak Americano” by Yolanda Be Cool & DCup, which has sold more than 1 million copies in the U.S. alone.

The original Zumba® Fitness game is the best-selling fitness game in North America this year and has sold 3 million copies worldwide.  The sequel,Zumba® Fitness 2, features more than 30 new sizzling dance tracks from the Zumba® program, many created by Grammy-winning producers.  The latest title gets players moving with Zumba creator Beto and international celebrity instructors Tanya Beardsley and Gina Grant as they guide players through exhilarating choreography that spans 20 different international dance styles.  For the first time, players can customize their own class with their favorite routines, follow their improvement through an all new Progress tracker and track calories burned.  Whether playing in Single Song, Full Class or Zumba Party modes that support up to 4 dancers, players will have a blast with this unique dance fitness experience that shapes, tones and transforms their bodies and makes them forget they’re even exercising.

Zumba® Fitness 2 is coming to Wii™ this November and will be released on a second platform in early 2012. For additional information about Zumba® Fitness 2 and Majesco’s exciting line of products, please visit www.majescoentertainment.com.

###

About The Zumba Program®
Zumba Fitness is the largest dance-fitness company in the world known for the Zumba® program, a blend of contagious and easy-to-follow choreographies set to upbeat international rhythms. Coined the “fitness-party,” Zumba® classes provide an effective total-body workout, which tones and sculpts while burning fat. In 2011, Zumba Fitness celebrates 10 years of changing lives as more than 12 million devotees attend weekly Zumba classes across 125 countries in 110,000 locations. In addition to the original Zumba program, there are now four specialty programs: the Zumba Gold® program, a modified version for active older adults; the Zumba® Toning program featuring lightweight, maraca-like Zumba® Toning Sticks; the Aqua Zumba® program, the ultimate “pool party” workout; and the Zumbatomic® program, kid-friendly Zumba routines. For at-home fitness, the brand offers the Zumba® Fitness Total Body Transformation DVD Set and the cutting-edge Zumba® Fitness Exhilarate™ DVD collection; both feature original Zumba® fitness music created by award-winning producers. In 2010, the Zumba® Fitness Video Game was released on multiple platforms. The brand also offers its colorful and expressive multiseasonal Zumbawear™ collection. With every new project Zumba Fitness undertakes, the mission remains the same – to make instructors successful. For more information or to find a live class, visit  zumba.com, and find us on Facebook and Twitter. For approved photography, email  pr@zumba.com.

About Majesco Entertainment Company
Majesco Entertainment Company is a leading developer and publisher of video games for the mass market.  Building on more than 20 years of operating history, the company is focused on developing and publishing a wide range of casual and family oriented video games on all leading console and handheld platforms as well as online, social networks and mobile devices.  Product highlights include Zumba® Fitness, Cooking Mama™, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and Hulk Hogan’s Main Event.  The company’s shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol: COOL.   Majesco is headquartered in Edison, NJ with offices in San Francisco, CA, Bristol, UK, and a social games development studio in Foxboro, MA.  More info can be found online at www.majescoentertainment.com or on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/majesco.

Tweet

Majesco Announces Zumba 2 for Wii and ‘Another-to-be Announced Platform’

Majesco, Jillian Michaels – New Fitness Ultimatums for Wii

‘Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2009 for Wii

MAJESCO ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR NINTENDO 3DS™ WITH TWO NEW GAMES: ‘PET ZOMBIES IN 3D’ AND ‘FACE KART: PHOTO FINISH’

We Sing Down Under – Releasing outside of Australia

View the original article here

Majesco Entertainment Announces ‘Nano Assault’ for Nintendo 3DS

MAJESCO ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES ‘NANO ASSAULTTM’ FOR NINTENDO 3DS™

Dynamic Shooter Set in a Cellular World Features Unique Aesthetic

EDISON, N.J., April 14, 2011 – Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: COOL), an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, announced today Nano Assault™ for the Nintendo 3DS™ system is in development for an expected release this fall. Developed by Shin’en, this fast-paced shooter leaps off the screen with stunning 3D graphics that resemble electron microscope imagery. It’s within this dangerous microscopic world that players will navigate a Nanite ship through a cellular system, maneuvering through alien cell clusters, fighting off infections, and analyzing and destroying the virus’ core to ultimately save humanity.

“Nano Assault’s inspired visual style looks fantastic and is perfectly suited for 3D,” said Jesse Sutton, Chief Executive Officer, Majesco Entertainment. “The game is a fresh approach to the classic shooter, featuring a unique theme, solid depth of play and tight controls. I think this game is going to surprise a lot of people.”

In Nano AssaultTM, players blast their way through 32 twisted cell stages and dark worlds with rugged landscapes that adjust in difficulty based on the player’s skill level. Prepare to battle and defeat extreme nemeses including the Black Nucleus, Hyper Blobs and Spore Plants using powerful beams, energetic bombs and other unlockable assault weapons.  To ensure successful missions, players can clone and respawn themselves to continue the journey anytime.  Special features include Missions Mode, an unlockable arcade style cell stage where players must beat the clock by destroying the most enemies, and Hall of Fame, a bragging rights leaderboard where players can publish and compare high level scores with friends. Additionally, players will be able to use the StreetPass™ feature to trade unlocked content.

Nano AssaultTM for Nintendo 3DS is expected to release this fall.   For additional information about Majesco’s exciting products, please visit www.majescoentertainment.com.

About Majesco Entertainment Company

Majesco Entertainment Company is a provider of video games for the mass market.  Building on more than 20 years of operating history, the company is focused on developing and publishing a wide range of casual and family oriented video games on Kinect for Xbox 360®, PlayStation®Move motion controller, WiiTM, Nintendo 3DSTM and Nintendo DSTM, Facebook® Platform, mobile and other leading platforms. Product highlights includeCooking MamaTM, TETRIS® Party Deluxe and Zumba Fitness®. The company’s shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol: COOL.  Majesco is headquartered in Edison, NJ and has an international office in Bristol, UK. More info can be found online at www.majescoentertainment.com or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/majesco.

Tweet

Majesco, Jillian Michaels – New Fitness Ultimatums for Wii

Majesco Announces “Monster Tale” for Nintendo DS Has Shipped

MAJESCO ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR NINTENDO 3DS™ WITH TWO NEW GAMES: ‘PET ZOMBIES IN 3D’ AND ‘FACE KART: PHOTO FINISH’

Majesco Brings Ghostwire To The DSi Next Year + Trailer

Cooking Mama ships half a million units

View the original article here