Dear Brash Entertainment Proprietors:

I am writing to you to formally express my interest in acquiring the name “Brash Entertainment” and to propose a transaction in which I would acquire the exclusive, perpetual rights to the “Brash Entertainment” moniker for $300 in cash and, in accordance with the advice of my financial adviser, a dozen cookies from a bakery of your choice (value up to $25).

This proposed nomenclatural transfer would infuse some much-needed liquidity to pay off mounting debts you are facing. Based on the recent sale of the majority of likewise financially addled Midway Games for $100,000, my calculations show that this offer provides a delicious premium of more than 50% on the fair market value of about $200.

To sidestep the imminent corrosion of value, I believe the quick conclusion of this transaction is in the best interest of the both of us. Hesitance will prove disastrous for the both of us in today’s troubled economy and presents a serious obstacle to our respective future business endeavors.

I also believe that the proposed entitlement exchange would eventually create additional value the name would not acquire otherwise with my plan to create a Brash Entertainment that combines the best in independent film properties with the best talent in independent gaming that targets an audience thus far untargeted by gaming companies.

The initial lineup would include game versions of Academy Award-nominated drama Half-Nelson, cult horror flick Stay Alive, mind-bending thriller π, heist comedy Bottle Rocket, and crime drama Hard Eight—and these titles would be distributed through cheap, accessible download services. The low cost of licenses combined with the low cost of entry and low development cost would create a high margin opportunity.

Considerable time and resources have been put forth in developing this offer, and I have personally approved its disclosure. My offer is not contingent on any financing requirement. I have completed a thorough review of Brash’s prior and once-future output and am prepared to progress immediately on a transaction with no impediment to either party. Given recent reportage that indicates a dearth of professional activity, I feel it is fully reasonable to expect a reply by the close of this business week on Friday, December 4, 2008.

Sincerely,

Alex Litel
Extraordinary Professional

[Alex Litel can be reached at alexlitel@gmail.com and occasionally found at alexlitel.blogspot.com. He does sympathize with developers and publishing staff affected by the Brash situation, so don't start.]

Japanese hardware sales, Nov. 17 - Nov. 23: Unwise purchases edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PC version of GTA IV to include SecuROM, no install limit originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Ask Massively: Requiem for a Clean Slate

Ask Massively: Requiem for a Clean Slate originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dear Media Partner,

For several years, a new generation of Wii and Nintendo DS games have adorned themselves with a new logo, in discrete grey.

In various publications the former logo, with red lettering, can still be seen. In the event that you have not already done so, we would like to sincerely ask you to now only use the current, gray Nintendo logo.

Yours sincerely, The team from Nintendo & Popular PR.

• Nintendo underwear collection

Dear Media Partner,

Your friendly Nintendo PR team.

Big deal? Do you guys care about a logo change? Thanks to Monodi for the heads up!

Link

It’s always nice to meet someone in the entertainment industry with a real reverence for the games, comics and the assorted geekery I hold near and dear to my heart — and former 20th Century Fox exec (and occasional comics writer) Jeff Katz is exactly that sort of person.

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Katz, who returned from the set of the upcoming “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” film just a few months ago, and get a few details about the upcoming “Wolverine” game based on the film — as well as how he mixes business with pleasure when it comes to gaming.

“A couple of the Fox execs, myself and a couple of the principals involved [in 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine'], we’re all gamers,” said Katz. “So when it came to the ‘Wolverine’ movie game, it was like, ‘Let’s do the coolest possible version of an X-Men game.’”

Katz was quick to add that since departing Fox for an as-yet-unnamed venture, he hasn’t seen much of the game, which will be published by Activision — but what he has seen of it has kept with the darker tone of the film.

“Even the game itself, from everything I’ve seen and been told about it, is going to be slightly harder-edged than the X-Men games that have come before — which fits the tone of the movie,” explained Katz, adding that he believes the plan is to release the game in all of the major platforms, with the Wii version receiving a few family-friendly tweaks.

Given the game’s multiplatform availability, I had to ask Katz (who also served as an exec for game-savvy studio New Line Cinema prior to Fox) what platform he expected to play it on. His response was as close to instantaneous as you can get — and shed some light on the very-appropriate way in which plans for one of the gaming world’s most-anticipated films were set in motion.

“I do business on Xbox Live. When I was at New Line, I put the ‘Gears of War‘ deal together for the movie over Xbox Live,” said Katz. “It’s been good to me, so I’m loyal to it.”

Pressed for a bit more behind-the-scenes info on the “Gears of War” movie deal, Katz said his gaming experience made the movie appeal of “Gears” one of the most obvious options in his eight-plus years at the studio.

“As a gamer, you just knew what ‘Gears of War’ was going to be,” said Katz. “It was a no-brainer.”

Thanks to Rick for the guest-post. See more of his comics-based-movies blogging at MTV’s Splash Page blog.

Today, I was finally able to accomplish a life goal: meeting our oft-venerated and oft-vilified Reviews Editor, Sir James Xavier Sterling III, Esq. (I may be getting his full name wrong). Sunday, November 23, 2008, will go down as a banner day for this great nation, as Sir Sterling has honored the country we hold so dear by deciding to grace us with his presence -- he’s making the United States of America his new permanent home.

Before Mr. Sterling ventured off into the wild blue yonder (aka the South), a few members of Dtoid New York -- myself, power-glove, and Zen Albatross -- were allowed an audience with His Eminence, and it was a life-changing experience. My shell of an existence has been unduly enriched by this encounter, and I shall never forget it as long as I live. We all were in awe of his greatness...and his monocle. I mean, look at the photo above (graciously provided by power-glove): I was hardly able to manage a decent smile because I was so star-struck!

As for events that have the comparative significance of insects relieving themselves, the editors played some games this week. Hit the jump to read all about it, and check out the gallery for a (blurry) picture that includes power-glove!