All
  • All
  • Products
  • Articles
  • Videos
  • Galleries
  • Conversations
  • Social

Activision

No Doubt Sues Activision Over Band Hero Avatars and Songs
Video games

No Doubt Suing Activision For Splitting Up the Band

Although Band Hero was just released with a star-studded lineup yesterday, and there's already word of legal trouble.
by

Although Band Hero was just released with a star-studded lineup yesterday, and there's already word of legal trouble. No Doubt has filed suit against Activision, the maker of Band Hero, for using their likeness for songs they didn't record, as well as splitting up the band in different scenes which weren't approved. No Doubt's band manager Jim Guerinot explains:

The band [members] are bitterly disappointed that their name and likeness was taken and used without their permission. They agreed to play three No Doubt songs as a band. Activision then went and put them in 62 other songs and broke the band up [and] never even asked.

I don't know about you, but I'm a little surprised that a band as popular as No Doubt would be complaining about being "split-up" virtually and having their characters performing other tunes. It sounds a little like the other lawsuit Activision was involved in earlier this year over Kurt Cobain's avatar. What's your take on this news?

Taylor Swift Makes Appearance in Activision's Band Hero
Video games

Taylor Swift Joins the Band . . . Band Hero, That Is

If you just can't get enough music games in your life (what, like Rock Band, Guitar Hero and all those DJ games weren't enough?), then make room for Band Hero.
by

If you just can't get enough music games in your life (what, like Rock Band, Guitar Hero and all those DJ games weren't enough?), then make room for Band Hero. Activision's answer to all those other hero games ups the ante by including a motion captured country superstar, complete with three hit songs (along with a few other pop favorites) to rock out to. Taylor Swift makes a cameo in the latest band-centric game to hit the market, and she wasn't just emulated in Band Hero, she was duplicated. Taylor spent hours in a motion capture stage to get her performance just right so you can play along as if you were on stage next to her.

Taylor Swift Makes Appearance in Activision's Band Hero 2009-08-04 13:51:37

Check out the labor intensive process of capturing Taylor's movements for the game, and look for Band Hero to hit the shelves just in time for the holiday shopping rush this November.

Jessica Alba Talks About Being A Video Game Character
celebrity gadgets

Jessica Alba Talks About Being A Video Game Character

Her past as Dark Angel and current role as Sue Storm from the Fantastic Four movie and video game makes Jessica Alba a TV, movie and video game star.
by

Her past as Dark Angel and current role as Sue Storm from the Fantastic Four movie and video game makes Jessica Alba a TV, movie and video game star. Of course the recent return to her role as Sue Storm for Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, meant more body scans and geeky gaming meetings for the movie's video game. Word is Jessica worked closely with Activision, the creators of the game, to make it more realistic and hopes to become even more involved with the gaming industry.

She recently gave Yahoo's Celebrity Bytes the low down about her love of games, what she thinks of the industry, how she thinks the Wii can help kids combat obesity and what it feels like to see your body and face translated via a gaming console. Here's more:

  • What role do you see video games playing today in Hollywood?
    I think games play an important role in movies. It's all entertainment. It's all fantasy, and it's a way for people to connect to the movie by living vicariously through the characters in the video game. It's a great role-playing experience. I've had a go or two at 007 and there's a part of me that likes to pretend that I'm James Bond.
  • What do you think of what they can do with video games today?
    The graphics are insane. They're so real. I grew up playing Bomberman and Pac-Man and Super Mario Brothers and Zelda, where you had just this little guy who could barely walk and the music was like doot... doot... doot. And the way they walked was so stiff and robotic. And now the game characters look like people moving around. It's a similar technology to what we use in Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer. We now know how to make films that are completely animated and computer-generated, and convincingly real.
  • Have you seen yourself in the video games you've worked on in the past?
    I have seen myself in video games, like in Dark Angel or the first Fantastic Four game. It's weird. It doesn't seem like me, but it is. It's totally weird. It's like having an action figure. It's super cool, but it's like, there's no way this is real. You know they do body scans and everything to make the game characters look as much like you as they can. It's completely cool and bizarre.

    • View 5 Photos ›

    What does Alba think about the Wii? read more