ProHipHop: Hip Hop Marketing & Business News

Elf Yourself's Jason Zada on Football Resurrected

Adweek profiles Jason Zada who created:

"last summer's 'Football resurrected' campaign for 2K Sports' All Pro Football 2K8 video game. For it, Zada, 34, directed hip-hop legends for online, TV, print and outdoor content. 'I was a little white kid breakdancing in the early '80s and I got to shoot and direct Rakim and Chali 2NA,' says Zada, a huge hip-hop fan and avid gamer."

Zada seems to be best know for the Elf Yourself campaign for OfficeMax.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Biz News: DJ Z-Trip's Game Soundtrack

50 Cent's Blood on the Sand Video Game Trailer

Nah Right has the trailer for 50 Cent's Blood on the Sand video game.

Graphics & Links:
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand Due Next Fall

Afro Samurai Game to Feature RZA Soundtrack

A game for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 based on Afro Samurai will be released in the fall featuring a soundtrack by The RZA.

GameSpot has a preview.

Via Kotaku.

Related ProhipHop Coverage:
Afro Samurai Soundtrack Cover & Promo Plus RZA Interview

WuChess.com: RZA & ChessPark.com Join Forces

RZA announced on Saturday at the Mind Over Matter HHCF Chess and Grappling Exhibition that he's teaming with ChessPark.com to create WuChess.com.

No official launch date but you can sign up now on the site.

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand Due Next Fall

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand Wallpaper

Sierra Entertainment announced a fall release for 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, the videogame sequel to 50 Cent: Bulletproof, for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3.

Official Web Site:
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand

At MTV.com:
50 Cent Video Game Exclusive: 'Blood On The Sand' Details, First Images Revealed

Cool Kids' 88 on Major League Baseball 2K8 Soundtrack

The Cool Kids' single 88 will be included on the Major League Baseball 2K8 videogame soundtrack.

The placement comes through a deal between 2K Sports and Pitchfork Media in which Pitchfork picks half the tracks.

Though the Cool Kids won't be part of the 3rd Annual Pitchfork/Windish Agency SXSW event, this year including 2k Sports, they will be making multiple appearances at SXSW.

The Cool Kids are gonna be big but I guess "how big?" remains the question.  However far they go it's already been fun to watch.

Available from Amazon:
Major League Baseball 2K8 is due March 4th:
Xbox 360 ~ Playstation 2 ~ Nintendo Wii

Board Game by Hannes Isaksson: When Queens Was King

"'Action-shot' of the game in full swing. At the bottom you can see the Baisley Pond Park, and just above it the Baisley Projects which is controlled by Supreme and the Supreme Team."

Swedish artist Hannes Isaksson has created a really cool looking board game called When Queens Was King based on Ethan Brown's book Queens Reigns Supreme.

"Bodegas, guns, FBI and security teams."

For more great art check out his portraits of the characters in his African American Organized Crime set.

Via Ethan Brown.

[Photos Courtesy Hannes Isaksson]

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Ethan Brown on Investigative Hip Hop Journalism

Chuck D & Just Blaze Team for NBA Ballers: Chosen One

Chuck D: Studio Host & Announcer for the Chosen One Game Tournament

Chuck D and Just Blaze both have major roles in the videogame NBA Ballers: Chosen One due April 29th from Midway Games.

From the press release:

"Chuck D...will serve as announcer and studio-host for the Chosen One tournament, and also provide play-by-play commentary throughout the game."

"Just Blaze...will produce the entire instrumental score for NBA Ballers: Chosen One."

NBA Ballers: Chosen One Video Game

More from the press release:

"The Just Blaze-produced score for NBA Ballers: Chosen One marks a bold departure from the current norm in sports video game soundtracks. Instead of a random compilation of tracks from various artists, the soundtrack will instead interact with the gameplay, much like a cinematic score, and will be a noticeable change from the typical use of licensed music in games."

This sounds like a cool project for both these guys.  I think Chuck D would be a great sports announcer on tv, though speculations that he might be considered for the Def Jam presidency were obviously absurd given his consistent take on the music industry that regularly includes the term buzzards.

It will be interesting to check out what Just Blaze does with this project because he's clearly got much more depth beyond being the track star for which the general public knows him.

And I do miss that blog.

Kanye West & Beyonce Play Connect Four

Connect Four

I fully intend to do a roundup of Jay-Z rules Vegas coverage but, for the moment, I can't pass up posting a link to Kanye West's blog where he has cute pics of he and Beyonce playing Connect Four at the 40/40 Club!

That's one of the real strengths of celebrity blogging.  These pics are quick, off the cuff, intimate and unlike anything you'll pick up from Wire Image.

College Hoops 2K8 In-Game Soundtrack: Dilla/Doom/Guilty

College Hoops 2K8 from 2K Sports

Here's the in-game soundtrack listing for 2K Sports' video game College Hoops 2K8 due November 19th.

In-Game Soundtrack Listing:

Arabian Prince                  "Professor X Saga"
Bumblebeez                      "Black Dirt"
Deltron 3030                     "Positive Contact"
Dilated Peoples                 "Spit It Clearly"
E Reece                            "Just Move" (Bautista Remix)
Guilty Simpson                  "Make It Fast"
Heliocentrics                    "Joyride"
Hot Chip                           "My Piano" (Radio mix)
J Dilla & MF Doom f/Guilty Simpson    "MASH"
James Pants                      "You're Doing It"
Jurassic 5                          "Without A Doubt"
Liars                                 "Plaster Casts of Everything"
Oh No                               "Chump"
Panthers                           "Goblin City"
Percee P                           "Legendary Lyricist"
DJ Romanowski                 "Lord Of The Pants" (2-Cents Remix)
Ski Beats                           "Idea"
Strange Fruit Project          "Underclassmen"
Strange Fruit Project          "Thru Tha Lane"
The Black Lips                   "It Feels Alright"
The Kooks                         "Eddie's Gun"

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
NBA 2K8 Game & B-Ball Zombie War Album f/J Dilla Collabs

Promo Video for Hip-Hop Chess Federation f/Casual

Hip-Hop Chess Federation Promo Video Featuring Casual

Casual of the Hieroglyphics Crew drops a few bars and Adisa Banjoko breaks down who's coming to the next Hip-Hop Chess Federation event this Saturday October 13th at the SF Design Center in San Francisco.

There's some kind of belt action happening as you can tell from the video.

In related HHCF news, the Liquid Experience Group, makers of the Jimi Hendrix Liquid Experience Energy Drink, are cosponsors of the upcoming event.

Since these people all mean well, no snide comments will be allowed concerning the obvious parallels between the psychedelic preferences of Jimi Hendrix and those thizz-faced youngsters in the East Bay.

Official Site:
Hip-Hop Chess Federation
The Liquid Experience Group

Ludacris & Bill Gates Congratulate First Halo 3 Buyers

After waiting in line for more than 24 hours, Uchendu Nwachukwu, left, and Darnell Jefferson, right, react to receiving the first copies of the video game "Halo 3" from the game's hero, Master Chief, at Best Buy in Manhattan at midnight.

A bunch of people waited in line last night to get their precious Halo 3.  Darnell Jefferson is the kind of guy you want to get first.

Hip-hop artist Ludacris, center, is on hand to celebrate the launch of "Halo 3" for Xbox 360 with the game's hero, Master Chief, and Darnell Jefferson, right, one of the first recipients to receive the game at midnight tonight in New York.

Hip hop's been one aspect of promoting Halo 3 with a previous launch events in Atlanta featuring Big Boi and Lil Jon.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is on hand at the launch of Halo 3, the most anticipated video game in history, to present Halo 3 to the first fan in line, Ritesh David, at midnight.

[Photos & Captions Courtesy PRNewsFoto/MICROSOFT]

Available from Amazon:
Halo 3 for the XBox 360

NBA 2K8 Game & B-Ball Zombie War Album f/J Dilla Collabs

NBA 2K8 from 2K Sports

NBA 2K8's in-game soundtrack will:
feature original and exclusive tracks from the late legendary producer J Dilla (aka Jay Dee) with Common, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli and Madlib providing vocals...

The in-game soundtrack to NBA 2K8 introduces today's gamers to classic tracks from The Highlighters Band, Ernie and The Topnotes, Billy Ball & The Upsetters, and The Fabulous Jades. Rounding out the soundtrack are offerings from Quasimoto, Percee P, Run-DMC, Devo, Cut Chemist, Fishbone, Stone Roses and many more.

Peanut Butter Wolf Presents B-Ball Zombie War

What the game's official press release doesn't mention is that Stones Throw is also putting out a related album created by Peanut Butter Wolf:
B-Ball Zombie War features new collaborations by Talib Kweli, Q-Tip and MF DOOM over beats by J Dilla, as well as new tracks by Madlib, Guilty Simpson, Aloe Blacc, Koushik, MED and Guilty Simpson among others. New names are introduced, including Karriem Riggins and Madlib’s group Supreme Team.

The in-game soundtrack and the album have different content.  The press release has the game's track listing and Stones Throw has track listings, samples and related information such as tour dates [in progress] for B-Ball Zombie War.

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Promo Vid: Peanut Butter Wolf's B-Ball Zombie War

Available from Amazon October 2nd:
NBA 2K8
Peanut Butter Wolf Presents B-Ball Zombie War

Halo 3 Preview Party in Atlanta w/Lil Jon, Plus Big Boi

Konsole Kingz + Lil Jon + Halo 3 =

This weekend the Konsole Kingz hosted a Halo 3 Preview Party sponsored by Microsoft at Patchwerk Studio in Atlanta.  The game is slated for a September 25th release.

Photo Opp with Big Boi at Stankonia Studios

Big Boi got a visit at Stankonia Studios while celebs in attendance at the Preview Party at Patchwerk Studio included:
Lil Jon, E-40, Ying Yang Twins, Lil' Scrappy, Fabo of D4L, Bonecrusher, Bobby Valentino, Ike Dirty, Playaz Circle, Rasheeda and Khujo Goodie.

Kane & Khujo Enjoying Halo 3 at Patchwerk Studio

More pics and positivity from the Konsole Kingz.

The Xbox 360 VIP Halo 3 Kit

There are many good reasons to be a Friend of Bill's!

Halo 3 - The Game

Official Site:
Xbox.com: Halo 3 Central

Games: Master P & Seth Green "Play the Industry"

Master P and Seth Green are hooking up for a new game called Play the Industry that leverages the diverse range of activities related to hip hop business:
Master P's P Miller Enterprises is partnering on the development of an original hip-hop-themed role-playing game with Green and Matthew Senreich of Stoopid Monkey Prods. ("Robot Chicken") and ShadowMachine Films ("Moral Orel").  "Play the Industry" will enable gamers to enter a 3-D world and then work their way through up to stardom either as an athlete, power broker, hip-hop artist or other character.

Master P's newly responsible approach to hip hop seems to be paying off:
Master P was the one who approached ShadowMachine principals Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico with the game concept. Campodonico said they were immediately interested ..."Master P is at the forefront of so many new things, including putting new 'clean' albums that are not derogatory and don't have cursing and that sort of stuff," Campodonico said.

If successful there will be spinoffs:
The partners also are taking a broader long-term approach, noting that while the game is the first goal, they hope to migrate the "Industry" concept to multiple platforms, including a motion picture, reality television show and clothing line.

Play the Industry is still in the early planning stages and is expected in 2009.

Coverage of 2nd Hip-Hop Chess Federation Event

Casual & Balance Face Off

Nice coverage of the 2nd Hip-Hop Chess Federation event on the United States Chess Federation's site.

There is some video footage in preparation that includes a surprise RZA freestyle on the sidewalk.  Until that comes out you can get a sense of the overall scene in this video.

Update:
Eric K. Arnold covers the event for the San Francisco Chronicle.

[Photo by Eric K. Arnold]

RZA & Josh Waitzkin Added to Hip Hop Chess Event

Hip-Hop, Chess & Life Strategies: II

In a press release issued today, the Hip Hop Chess Federation announced that the Wu-Tang's RZA and Josh Waitzkin, the chess and tai chi master who inspired Searching for Bobby Fischer, will both appear at the upcoming Hip-Hop, Chess & Life Strategies: II Exhibition.  The exhibition occurs May 19th in San Francisco.

Peep the poster above for quite an array of hip hop notables scheduled to attend.  Among other sponsors, Ubisoft has donated a bunch of Chessmaster 10 video games for the kids.

I briefly spoke with Adisa Banjoko, cofounder of the Hip Hop Chess Federation, and he mentioned that he's being interviewed by a BBC reporter on his efforts connecting hip hop and chess.  That's what happens when you find that meaningful niche and represent.

Hate to sound mean but I'd really recommend that everyone involved with this project settle on a spelling of hip hop for consistency in presenting the title of the organization and the event.  Such details do make a difference when building a brand.

Official MySpace Site:
Hip Hop Chess Federation

PaRappa the Rapper Coming to Playstation Portable [N.A.]

PaRappa The Rapper for PSP [HK or Chinese Edition]

Let's all join together in celebration at the news that PaRappa The Rapper will be available in North America this July for the Playstation Portable.

Did you know De La Soul did a PaRappa commercial?

For more such tidbits, see Kotaku's PaRappa category.

Ecko Provides Fashions for FreeStyle Street Basketball

In a very interesting development for online gaming, Mark Ecko Enterprises brings multiple fashion lines into the online game FreeStyle Street Basketball that previews publicly April 19th.

Brands include *ecko unltd., Ecko Red, G-Unit Clothing, Avirex and Zoo York gear and they will be available offline so I guess the digital versions will follow the real world lines:

Gamers will have the ability to outfit their characters with branded collectible shirts, hoodies, jackets, button-ups, denim, warm up gear and a variety of other items. After the game launches this spring, new items will be released on a monthly basis to allow players to have the latest styles as they advance their street-ball skills on the virtual court. FreeStyle Street Basketball fans can also rock the hot styles from the game on the court as many items will also be available for sale at all Macy's and other select retail and specialty stores.

It's unclear whether or not the in-game items will be for sale or included with the subscription but individual sales seem most likely and make the most sense for creating a potentially endless revenue stream from digital intellectual property.  And isn't that the dream?

Official Site:
FreeStyle Street Basketball

Def Jam Icon Launches: Now Music is Your Weapon!

Def Jam Icon Videogame

The Def Jam Icon videogame launched this week with versions available for Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360.  This must be one of the most awesome ways to leverage a record label's roster with both characters and ingame music.  What's also quite interesting is the music is your weapon aspect which further integrates music into the experience.

Russell Simmons & Redman at Def Jam Icon Launch
(Photo Credit: Shareif Ziyadat)

Having all these artists in a videogame means that you can have launches all over the country representing the particular region.  Of course, the big party was in New York where the above picture of Russell and Redman breaking the rapper's code of always looking mean was taken.

Hey, check this out.  Over at SOHH they've got SOHH.com plastered on the pictures of Russell Simmons at the launch that 5WPR has been sending to the media.  Shouldn't that be "(Photo Credit: Shareif Ziyadat)"?

Most likely the good folks at SOHH are responding to the likelihood that the photos will get jacked and they can at least get some publicity out of it.  But jacking credits in response to jacking just don't seem right.

For an amusing response to the Def Jam Icon concept, check out Minyanville's historical reminder of the Def Jam Icon precursor American Folk Masters: Smackdown.

From The Vaults: Legend of Zelda Commercial

Commercial for Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past

The commercial's in Japanese with subtitles.  Here's more info on the game.

C-LO Board Game, Urban Gaming Report

BLING BLING 2002: The Takeover Part 1

Though the name already seems a bit dated, BLING BLING 2002: The Takeover Part 1 is a new boardgame based on the dice game C-lo or Cee-lo, which is the first in a series of games under the BLING BLING 2002 brand.

In a sense, it comes premarketed:
Geared to the urban youth market, the game capitalizes on the notoriety of C-LO, which has been played in music videos of such Hip Hop and R&B stars as Biggie Smalls, Jay Z, Nas, Cameron and many others.

Of course, the beauty of it is, all sorts of tough guys will big up the idea and all sorts of suburban kids will want in on the action if they find out about it.

"Oh, Buffy, this will be great for your Gnarls Barkley costume party!!!"

A "BLING BLING scratch off Lottery card" is in the works and the Gameologist Group offers an online Bling Bling 2002 slot machine.

Official site: 456 Productions

In related news, the Konsole Kingz have launched the Urban Gaming Report which can be found at their site.

2K Sports Sponsors Tribe Called Quest Reunion Tour

2K sports announced that:
A Tribe Called Quest [is] to headline the first leg of the 2nd Annual 2K Sports Bounce Tour in 15 cities. This marks A Tribe Called Quest's first tour in over half a decade. In addition to headlining the tour, an exclusive track from the group will appear on the upcoming 'Dan The Automator Presents 2K7' soundtrack with Phife Dawg appearing as a playable character.

Rhymefest will also be appearing on the tour that begins September 1st in Detroit.

Official Site:  2K Sports Bounce Tour
"2nd Annual Hip Hop and Sports Gaming Tour"

Related News:
Q-Tip and Rhymefest will appear in the 2006 AmsterJam Music Festival.

GameDaily BIZ Looks At The PSP White Controversy

 

GameDaily BIZ on the PSP White Is Coming campaign:

After all the controversies of the past several months, GameDaily BIZ isn't sure whether the ad companies Sony goes to are crazy... or crazy like a fox. These campaigns have gotten huge amounts of attention by outlets in both the mainstream and enthusiast press. Sony, quite literally, couldn't buy coverage like this. However, at the same time, often the controversies have been removed from the systems themselves, and with that separation there's little chance to benefit from the added notoriety. And one would think that after a certain amount of time, all the negative publicity would accumulate and eventually work against the company.

Background:
[PSP] White Is Coming! WTF!?!
Sony PlayStation Portable Ad Controversy Builds

Update:
Sony Pulls Dutch PSP Ad Deemed Racist By American Critics

Taking a Break From Hip Hop Nonsense with Katamari!

Here's a fun video ad for a Japanese game called Katamari that I don't know much about yet but will be finding out more from Kotaku's Katamari Damacy section.

Having spent too much of my life watching macho fools swagger around with guns (in videos), or make those silly hand gestures like they're miming a gun, I just dug the aesthetics of this ad.

Apparently the rolling thing that picks up other things is a katamari and the concept has made it's way into everyday life.

I know I should find out more about the game before posting but it's the katamari concept I dig.  Ok, that and the hallucinatory landscape.  They must grow good mushrooms in Japan!

Hmmm, perhaps this post is a preview of SocioPop.  You'll know one day.  As soon as I know.

Thanks, Kotaku!

The Streets Branded PSP Case Giveaway

Cool Hunting is giving away a PSP case branded by The Streets.  Now, I know I sometimes miss the obvious, but checking out The Streets website after reading the above post (though it was a very cool website) still didn't tell me for sure that we were discussing UK grime rapper Mike Skinner (since I didn't recognize the name of the single) until I clicked through to his MySpace page.  It made me realize how the MySpace format forces artists to clarify who they are in a manner that's easily graspable.

The Black Eyed Peas at Nintendo E3 Party

Joystiq gets into the limited attendance Nintendo Party at E3 (or got somebody to take some pictures).

The Black Eyed Peas were the musical guests:
Supposedly, BEP professed to being fans of the Nintendo game console. They were throwing out stuff about being fans of Duck Hunt, Metroid Prime and Zelda.

If this video stays posted and is working, apparently Will.i.am had something to say about a Zelda movie. I still haven't gotten my proper computer back from the shop, so I can't verify that.

One of the official E3 sites: Electronic Entertainment Expo

Dominoes, ESPN and the Pro Domino Association

The NY Times has a number of interesting articles, some of which I hope to discuss, including this piece about ESPN televising dominoes competitions featuring Latino competitors.

The topic made me wonder, what happened to the Professional Domino Association that was to kick off last October with a celebrity tournament slated to include Lil' Zane, Chris Reed (Kid of Kid 'N Play) and Kevin Black of Interscope Records?

Since most of what I know about dominoes comes from hip hop videos, the hip hop connection made a lot of sense to me.  Apparently the Professional Domino Association is continuing with an ongoing series of tournaments around the nation, though the site's main hip hop connection currently seems to be a PitBull energy drink sponsorship from the Hip Hop Beverage Corporation.

Play Music Exec With The Turnaround Game

I haven't test driven The Turnaround Game yet but anything "designed to interest high school and college students in an accounting career" has got to get some kind of recognition at ProHipHop!

The basic concept is that The Turnaround Game is designed to give you an opportunity to turn around the failing record company called Big Noizz. Apparently this process involves accounting skills in some way and is the latest initiative from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' Start Here Go Places campaign.

If anybody has time to check out The Turnaround Game, please leave comments below.

"Video Game Music Supervisor: Best Job Ever?"

Status Ain't Hood interviews "Activision's worldwide executive of music" Tim Riley about choosing music for the recently released True Crime: New York City which includes a variety of NY punk, hardcore and rap.

Riley describes how the music works:
The music will cue in certain areas, so when you're downtown you hear a little more of the punk and the rock and the hardcore, and when you're uptown it leans a little heavier on the hip-hop. And throughout the game there are record stores. . . You gain money as you play the game, and you can use this money in the record stores. Depending on what neighborhoods they're in, they sell a certain style of music.

Riley also explains why Biggie Smalls is not included:
The Notorious BIG is someone you would just assume would have to be in the game. But his camp, the people who deal with his catalogue right now, found the game too violent.

So how does one become a video game music supervisor? Tim Riley actually started in A&R at Geffen in 1991, worked his way around the biz and got into music supervision for action sports videos when the "record companies got a little bit weird, [and] people started looking at different things to do." By "a little bit weird" I assume he means much more corporate.

Spike TV Video Game Awards 2005

Spike TV celebrates their third annual video game awards show, Spike TV Video Game Awards 2005, on December 10. Samuel L. Jackson will host and appearances are expected from Missy Elliott, Snoop Dogg and Xzibit.

Of the hip hop related video games nominated for the Video Game Awards, 50 Cent's 50 Cent: Bulletproof seems to be in the lead with a range of nominations including Best Action Game, Best Cast and Best Soundtrack.

50 Cent got a nomination for Best Performance by a Human - Male while Eminem and Dr. Dre each got nominations for Best Supporting Male Performance for their work in 50 Cent: Bulletproof.

Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure also received multiple nominations for Best Supporting Male Performance (Diddy), Best Supporting Female Performance (Rosario Dawson) and Best Wireless Game.

Nominees for Best Original Song include
"Maybe We Crazy" by 50 Cent in 50 Cent: Bulletproof
"Lights and Sounds" by Yellowcard in Burnout Revenge
"When I Get Angry" by Spider Loc in Madden NFL 06
"Getting Up Anthem: Part I" by Talib Kweli and Rakim in Mark Ecko's
Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure

The awards will also recognize websites and blogs with nominations for Best Gaming Website going to 1UP.com, GameSpot and IGN.com and Best Gaming Blog to Kotaku, Joystiq and Slashdot Games.

GTA May Not Make It Back On Shelves

In the wake of the Grand Sex Auto controversy, not only have "retailers who represent 55 percent of the sales of Grand Theft Auto" pulled GTA: San Andreas, but Wal-Mart and Best Buy will evaluate the cleaned up version and may not restock it. So far no word on earlier versions of GTA, but this could be a way for some retailers to either strengthen an aura of responsibility or get out of the way of growing discontent with readily available violent video games.

That's cool, they'll be a good product line for my Hip Hop Gun Shop. And it seems to be boosting the GTA action on Ebay.

In related news, Adrants has pics of a rather large Grand Theft Auto billboard in Union Square (New York, it looks like).

Sex, Not Violence, Changes Grand Theft Auto Rating

Adfreak's David Kiefaber is already sick of the Grand Theft Auto controversy and he correctly points out that much of the content is already inappropriate for kids, though parents still buy them games rated Mature. However, due to sex scenes that somebody did apparently slip into the game and that some people can view using downloadable software, GTA: San Andreas's rating has been changed from Mature to Adults Only.

This change effectively removes Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas from major retail outlets like Walmart and Target and forces them to put out a new version with the hidden content removed. Take-Two Interactive, owners of the game's developer Rockstar Games, has "said that it was considering legal action against companies that help game players change the content."

Though removing the sexual content will get the game back into retail outlets with a Mature rating, since sex is bad but violence is ok, Take-Two will still take a financial beating and has "lowered its financial forecast for its year that ends in October. The company said it expected net sales for the year of $1.26 billion to $1.31 billion, down from an earlier forecast of $1.3 billion to $1.35 billion."

The "Grand Sex Auto" Controversy

In a move that's evoking memories of Tipper Gore, Senator Hillary Clinton has gone on the offensive against what are claimed to be hacker modifications that allow for sexually explicity activity within Grand Theft Auto. However, the Dutch creator of the downloadable code has said that it simply unlocks images embedded within the game. Apparently this controversy began back in June, so I guess the Times and Hillary [and me] are just catching up.

So far the best part seems to be the renaming of Grand Theft Auto, "Grand Sex Auto." It's a fun little controversy that will eventually be unraveled, whether it's a modification or something programmers put in for fun. I'm pressed for time, so if you run into information from gamers and/or programmers that seem to shed additional light, please post it in the comments section.

GameDAILY BIZ on the Best Game Writers

GameDAILY BIZ is a game industry website that I had somehow missed. They recently ran a piece on the Best Writers in the Business 2005 in which they single out who they consider the best writers in the "enthusiast press" with a brief blurb for each. It's a cool thing if you want to check out more resources on games, but it would be greatly improved by actual links to the writers' sites.

I found the article via B or not 2B one of my favorite of the B2B media blogs that generally focus on trade publishing on and offline. Blogger David Shaw writes:
"GameDailyBiz does a great job of covering the media that covers their market. The gaming world is generally served by enthusiast publications and websites which tend to also encompass the B2B segment--that is, there really aren't any successful trade magazines for gaming--the enthusiast publications fill this niche by serving retail buyers and game publishers as well."

Marc Ecko: Getting Up Game/Fest, Save The Rhinos, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer

Marc Ecko continues his extended publicity campaign for the September PS2 (plus PC and Xbox) debut of his graffiti game Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, dubbing it a combination of Style Wars and Star Wars.  Ecko's also organizing the Getting Up Festival (hey, same name as the game!) in Toronto in August.  The Festival will feature Kanye West, Ludacris, NAS, Lil Jon, Busta Rhymes, Swollen Members and Kardinal Offishall.

Ecko recently put together a successful Save the Rhinos benefit in Central Park that featured the Roots, De La Soul, Mos Def, MF Doom and the Boot Camp Clik and also helped organize an Ebay auction to support Fashion Targets Breast Cancer.

Hip Hop Games, Challenge Luda, Ecko's In-Game Writers

The Boston Globe has an overview with some history of hip hop games and it looks like you can read the first page without registering. I bet the other two pages are good too.

On Friday, a brief window of opportunity will exist to challenge Ludacris at Forza Motorsportä in an Xbox Live Game With Fame session.

Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure will include the art of 65 more or less famous graffiti writers as well as in-game lessons for the protagonist from Cope 2, FUTURA, OBEY: Shepard Fairey, Seen, Smith and T-kid. Both using art from real writers and lessons from big names are great ideas but I'm surprised that Shepard Fairey's involved since he's basically famous for wheat pasting massive numbers of posters all over the country featuring the likeness of wrestler Andre the Giant. I guess the dude knows how to leverage an imaginary brand.

Hip Hop Games and the Electronic Entertainment Expo

This year's coverage of last week's Electronic Entertainment Expo aka E3 hasn't really grabbed my attention but it has led me to some new sources of news, including Netjak, a group blog whose posts included a Worst of E3 2005 award to Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure and an encounter with the And 1 Crew.

Actually, I was hoping for more coverage of the upcoming Marc Ecko and 50 Cent games. But the best I've found so far of Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure is the pre-E3 coverage at IGN.com. A useful Business Week piece includes Ecko's game as an element of Atari's survival plan. Sadly, it seemed that the high point of coverage related to 50 Cent's Bulletproof ended up being the press release.

More general coverage with a business focus is available at GameDAILY BIZ and, since sex sells, the dyme factor can be pursued via the booth babe galleries at GameDAILY and 1UP.COM.

Other interesting features include an NPR roundtable that covers a variety of topics such as opportunities for black people in the games industry and a NY Times piece on the growing market for game peripherals.

In related news, last month the first Advertising in Games Forum was held in NYC and late last week Best Buy announced stricter id policies related to the sales of mature videogames.

Today's edition of Steve Hunt's Komply fashion column considers Marc Ecko's and 50 Cent's games in relationship to the response of hip hop consumers to t-shirt designs.

Sony's PSP Had Help from Kimora, Russell & Damon

The launch of Sony's PSP has been helped along by hip hop business people (sans artists). Recently, a fashion show called Pret a PSP featured "one of a kind" PSP accessories, including a "pure gold case with seven carats of yellow and black diamonds encrusted on the front and back" from "Baby Phat By Kimora Lee Simmons featuring Simmons Jewelry Company". I tell you, those joint ventures result in some long names

Apparently, "one of a kind" also means prototype, as the Simmons PSP case is now reportedly retailing at $35,000. The fashion show was part of an extensive campaign that included tv spots and print ads and turned standing in line into an event.

Various launch parties featured Russell Simmons and Stan Lathan, of Simmons Lathan Media Group, and Damon Dash with Carson Daly. Apparently Carson got booed extensively when introduced and responded with, "No go ahead. Soon you’ll be playing the Carson Daly game on your PSP. You can kill me as much as you want.” Engadget took the opportunity to ask Damon Dash about the Rocbox 2 but apparently squandered the moment.

GameSpot has a cool PSP Resource Center while Joystiq's coverage seems to be beating out Kotaku.

I had a PSP moment on one of San Francisco's Muni light rail cars when we were stopped beside one of the posters for the PSP. This kid that must have been no more than 8 was peering around various grownups to see the ad and then turning around to his sister to get her to verify that it was the PSP. I totally blew the moment but I would have loved to hear what the kid had to say cause he looked intensely focused without being overly excited. Honestly, I'd rather see a launch party with kids like that than Kimora, Russell or Damon.

Mobile Partner for Ecko Graffiti Game

Atari announced yesterday that Sorrent Inc. will create mobile content based on Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure. The mobile content will be released in September when the first version of the game becomes available.

Official site: Getting Up

Marc Ecko Addresses the Game Industry

An excellent report from IGN.com's Hilary Goldstein regarding Marc Ecko's opening presentation at DICE 2005 in which Ecko discusses how he thinks the game industry can move beyond hardcore gamers and bring in the masses. Ecko's career has been built on hip hop fashion and he is currently working on a graffiti game with Atari called Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure.

Goldstein includes a brief explanation of Ecko's five influential trends to consider:
Popstalgia
Instant Gratification
Marketing of the Apocalypse
Customization
Democratization of Design

It's well worth checking out his description of these concepts, even if you're not interested in games. Goldstein points out that Ecko is worth listening to because he's an outsider and said that about half the industry audience seemed to be visibly rejecting his statement while the other half was as "attentive" as anything he'd seen at the conference. Goldstein also rightfully points out that the bottom line will be execution. What he doesn't point out is that, if one looks at the history of outsiders who started in rap music and then went on to success in other areas, one sees entrepreneurs who understood how to take what an industry deemed to be a niche and mainstream it. They don't always succeed, but they sure don't go away just because of an initial failure.

GameSpy's Dave Kosak brings in a bit more about Ecko's background in his take on Ecko's presentation (I'm not faulting Goldstein, his piece is clear and focused). Regarding Ecko, Kosak says,
"He's used to being the outsider. When he was trying to sell his tee-shirts to chain stores, fashion industry executives rankled or told him he didn't know the business and didn't know what he was doing."

I've read so many variations on that story about people who now eat multiple lunches at the tables reserved for slow moving corporate execs, it's not even funny. Kosak says that the talk generated a lot of discussion among GameSpy editors and Goldstein described half the crowd as attentive, so it sounds like he will be listened to, at least for the moment, no matter how well his first game does.

Speaking of failures, because I'm running Mac OS with Internet Explorer, I'm greeted at the IGN.com site with a popup window that tells me that there are "known problems" with using the site while running this combination. Fine, thanks for telling me. I've made my choice. But don't pop up a window with the same statement every time I go to a new page. My browser is set