The HBO schedule for Order of the Phoenix is now online, and the fifth film in the Potter series is set to begin in high-definition on June 22nd at 9 PM EST. The Making Of special, which originally aired back in November, will start airing again on the June 19th.
Do you enjoy gangs of tiny, spider-like robot insectoids swarming all over your house, car, or personage? If you answered "yes," you're going to love what BAE Systems is cooking up.
The company recently received an infusion of $38 million from the US Army Research Lab to fund the Micro Autonomous Systems and Technology (MAST) consortium; a team of scientists and researchers hell-bent on developing an "autonomous, multifunctional collection of miniature intelligence-gathering robots that can operate in places too inaccessible or dangerous for humans."
Sure, that description (and accompanying photos, straight from BAE) does give you the impression that whoever came up with this really liked Minority Report, but won't it make you feel safer at night knowing a swarm of metallic spiders are looking out for you? No? Huh, weird.
Terry Kenney's Dragon Power Station prototype works by harnessing the kinetic energy of trucks passing over plates buried in the road and turning that energy into electricity. The system he's got set up now in the Port of Oakland, with 2,500 trucks passing over it in a day, is enough to power 1,750 homes. It's a very interesting concept that can be extended to busier streets, harnessing a little bit of the energy that would otherwise be lost.
It's not all free energy, however, as these trucks slow down ever-so-slightly as they depress the plates in the road. TreeHugger supposes that this would be even better for the times when you actually do want to slow down, like going down a hill, where they could load up on these plates and slow down cars enough to not have to ride the brakes the whole way. Sounds good to us.
Even Google Maps is getting in on GTA IV fever, making an online version of the map that came with the game. In a way, it's much better than the paper map because you can click on and off different points of interests (missions, restaurants, safe houses, gun shops) and know where you're going. What with Google mapping out the ocean, an imaginary world isn't that much of a stretch. Are we the only ones here that wishes they were playing GTA IV instead of working?
See the Liberty City Grand Theft Auto map from IGN here
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone originally appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list back in December of 1998. The impact of Potter's popularity led the NYT to creating two new lists so other titles could make the list other than Jo's stories.
Now, almost ten years later, the May 11th edition of The Sunday New York Times will be free of any Potter novel. Check out the NYT's Book Blog for more.
Once JK Rowling's Potter Encyclopedia is released, we're sure Potter will make a comeback. Thanks to Pruneau for the tip!
As revealed in ITV's JK Rowling Documentary which aired back in December, May 2nd, 1998 was the day Harry finally defeated Lord Voldemort within Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
A couple of visitors have asked us to post this wonderful anniversary. And why not? The Battle of Hogwarts within Deathly Hallows was one of the coolest scenes ever created by Jo. It held what we've been waiting to witness since closing Sorcerer's Stone. And who can forget Molly Weasley's infamous line to Bellatrix Lestrange: "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"?
So here's to Harry and his triumphant win against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Leave your thanks to Harry and Jo in the comments, and ask yourself: Do Wizards have a name for this anniversary?
Today is the day that all fans of Nottingham Forest Can rejoice and that finally after 3 years in the 3rd tier of English football we are now promoted and back, for anyone who doesnt know Nottingham Forest are 2 time Euro Cup Winners (back to back) and in the late 70s were the worlds best football team under Brian Clough.
Todays win over Yeovil and the beating of Doncaster by Cheltenham gave Notts Forest the first signs of getting their rightful place back among the top teams of England and Europe.
Oh Spam, my how you have grown! Thirty years ago, on this day, you came into the world as a little misguided e-mail sent by an equipment engineer over Arpanet to promote a new line of computers. You were quickly shot down by other Arpanet users who called it an "insult... to have an obvious commercial message sent out over a research network." Yet, at some point in time, people stopped protesting you loudly enough. Now you comprise 80 percent to 95 percent of all e-mail sent, your crafty trojans and pesky viruses have infected millions of computers, and you've cost IT departments nearly $200 billion to combat you.
THQ and Marvel Enter into Exclusive Licensing Agreement for Games Based on Marvel's Super Hero Squad
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) announced today that they have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement to create video games based on the burgeoning, kid-friendly Marvel Super Hero Squad franchise. Pursuant to the multi-year agreement, THQ has obtained the exclusive, worldwide rights to publish content for all current and next-generation consoles, handheld systems, as well as Windows PC. The initial Marvel Super Hero Squad game is scheduled for release in fall 2009.
The agreement fits perfectly in both THQ's and Marvel's growth strategies. For THQ, the addition of the Marvel brand further strengthens its position as the pre-eminent creator and publisher of kids video games. For Marvel, the relationship with THQ provides a premier interactive entertainment partner for its important Marvel Super Hero Squad franchise, which is designed to be an engaging introduction into the Marvel Universe for young kids.
"Marvel is one of the true crown jewels in the entertainment industry and we are thrilled at the prospect of both building the Marvel Super Hero Squad brand and further developing our relationship with Marvel," said Brian Farrell, president and CEO, THQ. "We are dedicated to expanding our unmatched success story in the kids space and this agreement with Marvel is an excellent complement to our portfolio."
Simon Phillips, President, Marvel International and Head of Worldwide Animation and Video Games, added, "Licensing of the Marvel Super Hero Squad brand is a priority for Marvel, as we see it as a great entry point for kids to experience our renowned characters. We are making a strong commitment to the brand across toys, television and other media and consumer product channels and developing Marvel Super Hero Squad as a video game will play an important role in the development of this brand. The platform is an incredibly powerful medium that enables kids to experience the excitement of our franchises, as well as extend our characters and storylines. With THQ, we are confident we have a partner with a best in class pedigree of building and extending licensed kid-friendly brands in the interactive space."
An all-new Marvel brand, Marvel Super Hero Squad features an exciting, super-stylized look of the greatest Marvel Super Heroes, serving to expand the traditional Marvel audience to a core 4-10 year-old audience. Fun and humor are waiting around every corner in Marvel Super Hero Squad where popular characters including Iron-Man, Hulk, Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine, Thor, The Fantastic Four, and many more are thrust into adventures in a single caricatured Super Hero City. Along the way, they will have to thwart the plans of popular Marvel villains Doctor Doom, Magneto, Iron Monger, Loki, the Abomination and countless other infamous baddies.
Marvel is launching a major multi-media campaign for the brand. Marvel Animation is currently in production on an animated television series that is expected to debut on air in 2009. Additionally, Marvel Comics is now featuring Marvel Super Hero Squad comic strips within several of its all ages books and will be introducing a dedicated Marvel Super Hero Squad comic book series in fall 2008. Marvel has already secured deals with Hasbro as master toy partner, Disguise/Cesar for dress-up and Mega Bloks for construction toys and continues to seek deals with industry leading partners to develop merchandise based on the unique look of the Marvel Super Hero Squad propert
Videogame retailers as a whole have shown vast improvement in their efforts to restrict sales of mature-rated games to minors, according to a recent study by the Federal Trade Commission.
The FTC sent undercover shoppers to specialty retailers, discount stores and electronics stores to test clerks' adherence to Entertainment Software Ratings Board restrictions on the sale of M-rated games to consumers under the age of 17. According to the results of the test, 20 percent of mystery shoppers aged 13-16 were able to buy M-rated games. That's down from 42 percent in 2006 and from 82 percent in 2000 when the study was first launched.
"Video game retailers have clearly stepped up their efforts to enforce their store policies, and they deserve recognition for these outstanding results," said ESRB president Patricia Vance in a statement. "We commend and applaud retailers for their strong support of the ESRB ratings, and will continue working with them to help ensure that these levels of compliance are sustained if not further increased."
According to the FTC, sales of videogames to minors were far less frequent than sales of mature-rated DVDs, CDs labeled as explicit and tickets to R-rated movies. Discount and electronics stores often had varying responses to underage requests to buy different media. Best Buy, for example, rejected 80% of underage buyers of video games but turned away underage shoppers for PAL (parental advisory label) music only 47% of the time, R-rated movie DVDs only 38% of the time, and unrated movie DVDs only 17% of the time.
The FTC found that, of all the retailers it tested, GameStop performed best, turning away 94% of underage videogame shoppers trying to buy M-rated games.
Atari Inc., a subsidiary of Infogrames, has had its securities delisted from the Nasdaq Global Market, suspending trading in the company's shares.
The company has announced it plans to request a review of the delisting, which could result in Atari's stock being traded on the Nasdaq again but will not immediately see the suspension end.
Atari Inc. now expects to be quoted on the Pink Sheets, which allow for the continued trading of securities of delisted companies. The company's common stock could be traded under the symbol "ATAR" or "ATAR.PK".
As previously announced, Atari failed to maintain the market value of its shares at USD 15 million or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days prior to March 20, 2008.
Entertainment retailer HMV has revealed that group sales for the year ended April 26 2008 have risen by 10.3 per cent.
For the the last sixteen weeks of the financial year sales were up 11.9 per cent, with like-for-like growth of 10.1 per cent.
The Group said it expects pre-tax profits for the full financial year to be at the upper end of GBP 146 – GBP 158 million.
The company is in the first year of its three-year strategy to revitalise the business, which involves a bigger commitment to online sales and to the videogames market.
“As we complete the first full year of our three-year turnaround plan, we are ahead of where we expected to be,” commented chief executive Simon Fox.
“We have made good progress driving forward our strategic initiatives to increase efficiency, revitalise our core business and establish new channels to market.
“We still have much to do, but I am confident that the Group is well positioned for the next phase of our transformation.”
After the successful signing of a License Agreement with SEGA Japan (SEGA) for the design and production of several on-line multi-player digital games with DNY BVI Limited, [HQ: British Virgin Islands], a subsidiary of DYNASTY GAMING (OTCBB: DNYFF) (TSX-V: DNY) [HQ: Montreal, Canada] (Company), the Company is pleased to announce that the first of its licensed SEGA online games is undergoing a closed testing process with the Company's China partner, Beijing Baiyouhuitong Net Technology Co. Ltd. [HQ: Beijing] (Partners).
Interviewed in Beijing, Company CEO Albert Barbusci stated that, "This represents the final step in the process to launch the first of our licensed 'China Suite' of SEGA games; a massively multi-player online roll-playing game (MMORPG) to be known as 'Sanguko Seisen' (Saga of the Three Kingdoms). Testing will continue throughout May to ensure that the new SEGA game meets all specifications for mainstream commercial operation in Mainland China."
SEGA, one of the most internationally recognized names in world-class, digital gaming products and software, worked in close collaboration with Dynasty Gaming and Partners to create "Sanguko Seisen." Adapted from a popular Japanese street game, SEGA seamlessly transposed unique elements of traditional Chinese culture, fashion and style in designing a fast-paced, exhilarating game of challenges and skills. Using the latest, state-of-the-art digital gaming technologies, the final product will engage Chinese players in a game of personalized roll-playing that stimulates strategic thinking. Designed to give players the opportunity to achieve personal goals as well as sharpen tactical manoeuvring and focus, players attain ever greater strengths in a game that is never the same twice. The realistic imagery and dynamic characters give the player a true sense of being in a real-world setting of ever-changing scenarios that will maintain player interest and guarantee longevity for succeeding generations. "Sanguko Seisen" also promises to secure a loyal following of SEGA game enthusiasts in China; hungry to see subsequent games in the SEGA "China Series."
"This is an exciting milestone in the company's goal to establish the dominant software design, operation and distribution networks within Mainland China, and join in congratulating SEGA and our China-based Partner in the fulfillment of this extraordinary goal," said Dynasty Gaming CEO, Albert Barbusci.
... is on Malcolm's mind after being freed from his stony statue. Sadly he is unable to plan his revenge on his own, so give him a helping hand in The Legend of Kyrandia: Book Three: Malcolm's Revenge. It will be damn fun for you and him!
Procedure for playing is as always: Grab your copy of The Legend of Kyrandia: Book Three: Malcolm's Revenge and a daily build of ScummVM. Also we ask you, our fellow users, to report any bugs you run across to our bug tracker. Make sure you got all required datafiles before you report a bug though. For further information, check out the bug submission guidelines. We also ask for screenshots, which should be reported to our patch tracker. For further information about this, check out the screenshot guidelines.
A tumultuous transitional phase for SEGA-Sammy's core Pachinko business has attributed to an operating loss for the Japanese giant in the fiscal year ended March 31st 2008.
Net sales for the year ended at 458.98 billion yen (£2.32 billion) compared to 528.24 billion yen (£2.62 billion) in the year ended March 31st 2007. As a result the company posted an operating loss of 5.83 billion yen (£28.92 million) for the fiscal year in contrast to an operating profit of 76.53 billion yen (£386.47 million) in the previous year, resulting in a net loss of 52.47 billion yen (£264.97 million) compared to a net income of 43.46 billion yen (£215.62 million) in the year ended March 31st 2007.
Despite a decrease in the Japanese market, SEGA-Sammy's consumer business posted a decrease in net sales from 103.85 billion yen (£524.44 million) to 91.23 billion yen (£452.61 million), resulting in an operating loss of 9.81 billion yen (£49.54 million) compared to an operating income of 132 million yen (£654,883) in the previous year.
As a result of focusing on its core business, SEGA confirmed that it has dropped plans to develop a new amusement centre in Yokohama's Minato Mirai 21 district. The company also confirmed that it has dissolved SEGA Amusements Singapore and SEGA Korea Ltd as a means to reviewing its operations.
Continuing uncertainty surrounding the Pachinko parlour business suggests the Japanese company will face a difficult year, but suggests continuing synergy with Ginza Corporation and Taiyo Elec Co will assist in the changeable market. The company suggests it will generate revenue in the consumer business by selling licensed film titles overseas and focus on a revision of its Japanese line-up.
For the year ended March 31st 2009, SEGA-Sammy predicts net sales to reach 470 billion yen (£2.37 billion), representing a 2.4% year-on-year increase, operating income to return back to profit of 15 billion yen (£75.75 million), with a resulting net income of 5 billion yen (£25.25 million).
At 36 years of age i have one "illness" that reduces my summer months to one of despair, not only does the summer bring out all the idiots, yes those who when the suns out act like a bunch of prats, but also the suffering of the triple whammy of Tree Pollen, Grass Pollen and General Dust in the air.
As a gardener by day and if i may say so one of the countrys best (part of a small team to win awards for the last 17 years) i struggle every summer with the fight against hay fever, at the moment i have tried every brand in an effort to beat it but like a prat i walked through a meadow with long grass tonight and ended up paying by one of my worst sneezing fits for a while and then spending 2 hours breathing into a tshirt so as to stop any pollen getting to me and calming down my throat.
So to all Hay Fever suffereers worldwide i for one know your pain, and if anyone has or knows of a tablet thats extremely effective then please post away
Sales and operating income for Sony Corporation fell in its home territory of Japan, and also in North America, for the financial year ending March 31, 2008.
But that was offset by growth elsewhere, including a rise of 14 per cent in Europe, and 19.3 per cent in other territories - leading to an overall increase 6.9 per cent, and making Europe the company's biggest market in terms of its entire portfolio of products.
The numbers for Japan fell by 3.4 per cent to JPY 2.06 trillion (USD 19.6 billion), while North America showed a reduction of 0.5 per cent to JPY 2.22 trillion (USD 21.1 billion).
Meanwhile Europe's total sales and operating income rose to JPY 2.33 trillion (USD 22.1 billion), while the rest of the world saw numbers jump to JPY 2.27 trillion (USD 21.6 billion).
The numbers include sales of consumer electronics and videogames, as well as income from its other divisions, including Sony Pictures. Specific numbers for the PlayStation business by region were not disclosed.
A few days ago we got in touch with Hamilton Hodell, the agency that represents Shirley Henderson, who plays Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films. It has been confirmed to us that the character hasn't made it into Half-Blood Prince.
SEGA has signed a multi-game publishing deal with PlatinumGames, the studio set up by ex-Capcom developers Shinji Mikami, Hideki Kamiya and Atsushi Inaba.
If those names are familiar, it's because you've played Resident Evil, Devil May Cry or Okami, for which the three Japanese men respectively were key figures.
Three games are being announced today, with one more - directed by Mikami - also in the works. The three games are called Bayonetta, Infinite Line and MadWorld, and are being produced by Atsushi Inaba.
Bayonetta is due out on PS3 and Xbox 360 and is being directed by Devil May Cry creator Hideki Kamiya. It's been described by our correspondent as a "stylish action game" with "a witch battling angels". Apparently she has guns on her feet. Try and make out what's going on in this Bayonetta trailer gallery.
Infinite Line, meanwhile, puts you in the role of a starship captain, customising your ship and crew. It's in development at NudeMaker - an external team, but close colleagues of Platinum, previously responsible for Clock Tower and Steel Battalion among others for old bosses Capcom.
We're told that the third game, MadWorld, has "black and white Sin City graphics, with red blood", is "ultra ultra violent" and has "fatality moves like shoving a post through someone's head" with "a chainsaw on your right arm". It's being directed by Shigeru Nishikawa, who previously worked on Resident Evil 4. Check out the MadWorld screenshot gallery to see how it's shaping up.
Until recently, PlatinumGames had been known as "Seeds", but the developers decided to change the name after they got their heads round what they wanted to do.
CBS will pay $1.8 billion in cash to become the proud parent of CNet and its spawn GameSpot in a deal that's expected to close in the third quarter pending shareholder and regulatory approval. The acquisition values the company at $11.50 per share, a 45% premium over CNet's closing stock price on Wednesday, reports the Associated Press. Sheesh! Well, CBS, you've just been robbed "welcome to the internets" ... but as The Washington Post puts it, you've certainly got your work cut out for you not to become known as "CNet Buy Sunk."
For the past few weeks now, rumors have been circulating around the web that the Half-Blood Prince teaser trailer would be released with Prince Caspian tomorrow.
Warner Brothers never passed official word along, and today MuggleNet visitor Christine informed us that the Prince Caspian reel delivered to a movie theater she works for definitely does not include the trailer.
Additionally, this new picture of Harry was sent in by Potterish and Oclumencia, likely from Half-Blood Prince (what Harry is wearing can be compared to this picture). It depicts Harry looking into some sort of drawer. Any ideas? Leave 'em in the comments!
Just found a preview of the new Bourne Conspiracy game. Looks awesome, and sound as though it plays just like the films (if you see what I mean ) Check it out: http://www.gamersdailynews.com/artic...y-Preview.html
Was looking forward to this anyway. Really can't wait now! Don't know when the US release date is though.
A while ago i was asked about creating subsites of DCEmu and maybe the odd discussion forum to go with them of different languages, most likely Spanish, French, German, Chinese and even Japanese. of course being english and crap at other languages i wouldnt get involved but it would be interesting to have a Homebrew news site posting in different languages to the main dcemu sites.
Today I decided to pay S&T’s Job site a visit, until recently the page was left completely empty. Today when I checked however I saw they were indeed hiring, but not for game developers, instead all the job listing’s were for web based development.
Sr Software Development Engineer
Web Development Engineer
Sr Software Development Engineer in Test
Software Development Engineer in Test
Contract - Flash Game Developer\
At first I didn’t look much into it, until I noticed all job page’s had the following similar lines in them:
If your fu is strong, we want you to bring your hands-on lead-level developer skills to perform all development related tasks in developing a Web based management platform for an exciting new connected toy and Web gaming experience.
This is going to be filed in the Rumour section’s for now, the page’s also say C++ knowledge is needed, this could also mean “real” game development.
Last week we told you about several new photos that have surfaced online from Order of the Phoenix.
Now, one more cool photo has appeared via Oclumencia. It's Lucius Malfoy sitting at home looking quite relaxed with a drink and two dogs at his feet. Tipsters noted that this shot appeared in the Hidden Secrets of Harry Potter special this past summer. Thanks to Oclumencia and everyone who e-mailed for the tip!
MuggleNet visitor Christine, who works at a movie theater and checked their copy of the new Indiana Jones, informs us that there is no Half-Blood Prince trailer attached. We weren't expecting the trailer to come this Friday, but it's definitely worth noting.
Once we hear about the Half-Blood Prince teaser trailer's official release, we'll let you know!
Emma Watson's official website has been updated to tell her fans Half-Blood Prince principal filming is now complete! The site also says they'll be posting trailers and photos that include Emma once WB releases them.
John Hurt, who had a fantastic portrayal of wandmaker Ollivander in Sorcerer's Stone, recently spoke with The Sun, who asked him about returning for any more Potter films:
Having played Mr Ollivander in the first film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s, it seems he may be returning for the final instalment, which has been split into two for the cinema.
“I didn’t spend a lot of time on the Harry Potter film but I might be spending more time there next time,” he smiled. “We’ll see.”
Ollivander of course does play a role in Deathly Hallows. We'll update you when we hear more, although casting and script writing is probably very early in the planning stages.
John Hurt, who had a fantastic portrayal of wandmaker Ollivander in Sorcerer's Stone, recently spoke with The Sun, who asked him about returning for any more Potter films:
Having played Mr Ollivander in the first film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s, it seems he may be returning for the final instalment, which has been split into two for the cinema.
“I didn’t spend a lot of time on the Harry Potter film but I might be spending more time there next time,” he smiled. “We’ll see.”
Ollivander of course does play a role in Deathly Hallows. We'll update you when we hear more, although casting and script writing is probably very early in the planning stages.
Hey all just a few changes to tell you about, ill keep it in here for a week and move the post to the DCEmu Blog.
First off the RSS Newsposters have been retired, personally i thought they were great but so many didnt so a win for the complainers.
2ndly Snipr told me of a new image verification system to try and stop those annoying spam posts, yeah we are all fed up of con artists selling through emails, i mean who actually falls for crap like that.
3rdly Im thinking of moving the chatroom to a Java friendly server maybe irc freenode or another decent server, one which has nickserv/chanserv would be great. Anyone with ideas please post in the comments.
4th - Im not sure if it could be implemented but a King of DCEmu with regards to online games would be great a clan site of sorts if you will with maybe tournys to decide a champ for each game, ill have to discuss with staff anyone willing to take up such a project
Its always interesting to find out what the developers and coders who give us the toys we have played with over the years. Basically what system excites you the most to create homebrew for, either at this time or one in the future ?
I expect that Pandora, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 to be somewhere in the plans, although no Homebrew exists for 3 of the consoles at this time.
This is the solid-state drive that we've been waiting for: a full 256GB, which Samsung says is "the world's fastest and largest capacity 2.5-inch, MLC-based SSD with SATA II Interface." Sick sequential read and sequential write speeds of 200 and 160 MBps, respectively, put it in the same speed range of more nimble single-level cell SSDs (single vs. multi-level explained). Available in Sept. with mass production starting by "year end" (yay cheaperness), and Sammy says we'll see a 1.8-inch version by then too.
Even if we won SourceForge's Community Choice Awards 2007 in the game section, ScummVM is not basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs.
New games are continuously being worked on, and compatibility for supported ones is being constantly improved. In short, our team is going to sweat its way through the upcoming summer.
We know you think we deserve to win without a fight, but let's do things by the book. So please, help now with the nomination phase and cast your vote for 'Best Project for Gamers' (requires registration at SourceForge).
SEGA of America today announced that it has extended its relationship with Epic Games by signing a new Unreal Engine 3 licensing deal for an unannounced, cross-platform game. SEGA entered into its original licensing agreement to develop multiple titles with Unreal Engine 3 in May 2007. Details of the project in development will be released at a later date.
"The great capabilities of Unreal Engine 3 make it possible for our developers to deliver incredible gaming experiences," said Dave Cobb, Vice President of Development for SEGA of America, Inc. "Unreal Engine 3 provides superior power and flexibility enabling SEGA to bring original and exciting next-generation multi-platform titles."
"SEGA has cultivated some of the world's most treasured game franchises, and we are thrilled that they have decided to make more games with Unreal Engine 3," said Mark Rein, vice president of Epic Games. "Epic is committed to supporting SEGA with exceptional tools and technologies so it may continue to build upon its successes."
Developers and publishers around the world have licensed Unreal Engine 3 for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Since Epic has shipped its internal titles across all supported platforms, the engine's content pipeline and technical capabilities have achieved unprecedented levels of maturity and accessibility. These advancements, combined with the continual incorporation of top quality middleware libraries via Epic's prestigious Integrated Partners Program, present Unreal Engine 3 as a superior offering for cross-platform game development.
Through this licensing agreement, SEGA will be able to take advantage of Unreal Engine 3's latest technological enhancements, including dynamic ambient occlusion, destructible environments, an advanced crowd system and much more.
Armed police raided a Manchester man's living room after they mistook his plastic Lara Croft mannequin for a gunman.
Computer shop owner David Williams, 42, had taken the dummy home to flog it on eBay (naughty, naughty!) but little did he know, his cheeky dealings would soon land him with a gun in his face.
Father-of-two Mr Williams had phoned the old bill after receiving nuisance phone calls from the local hoodies. Unknown to him, officers arrived and called for armed backup after spotting Lara's silhouette in the window.
Quickly the street was cordoned off and a team of armed officers burst through Mr Williams's back door.
"It would have been laughable if it hadn't been so terrifying," the battered shop owner said. "One of the police held a gun and yelled, 'Where's the weapon, where's the weapon?'
"I didn't have a clue what was going on, I assumed they'd got the wrong house. I couldn't believe it when I realised they'd mistaken a Lara Croft dummy for someone with a gun."
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said Williams failed to answer his front door. "They believed they saw a silhouette of a person pointing what appeared to be a firearm inside the house," she said.
"Officers then went into the house and found a mannequin holding a toy weapon." Police followed "correct procedure", she said.
Instead of feeling a bit embarrassed and apologetic, as you would do, police then chucked Mr. Williams in a cell for 13 hours and charged him with an expected firearms offence (and why not add tomb robbing as well?). That's your tax money at work, there, people.
He's now on bail and speaking to lawyers about possible wrongful arrest claims. Good thing he didn't take the Marcus Fenix dummy home...
Hi all, for a long time the few admins here have struggled with the sheer amount of work and tons of damn spammers selling nokia phones etc that i hope non of you ever buy or those muppets selling gold for the warcraft game, plus we also have real lifes, drinking er late night stuff and more drinking oh and work too as well as newsposting etc :P
But anyway its my honour to tell you that Bluecrab, Mark30001 and Quzar are all now admins and fully deserved too.
Yesterday we told you about the 800-word Harry Potter prequel that JK Rowing was writing for charity. Today, new details have emerged!
First, Jo updated her official website this morning with news that the plot takes place 3 years before Harry is born. She also revealed her intentions in writing it:
Although I did feel a bit like a relapsing addict as I sat down to write - the words poured from my pen with frightening ease - I am NOT working on a prequel. Indeed, I've written that clearly at the bottom of the card itself. I just thought that this was the best way to make money for two extremely worthwhile charities.
Second, an article by The Guardian reveals that the story will include a plot around the Marauders - specifically James and Sirius.
A post to follow this one will include information we've received from Waterstone's, including a high res pic of the final line.
) Check it out: 
