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I like Rite Aid! ;oD
A good successor to Scratch The Ultimate DJ would be Scratch The Ultimate VJ (Video DJing), imho.
Good marketing lessons for Scratch The Ultimate DJ, IMO.
"One, it has little or no marketing. And two, the content is not for everyone."
Hopefully Scratch will accomplish both! ;oD
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Turnout meager for Grand Rapids screening of 'Chaos Experiment'
To put it bluntly, "The Chaos Experiment" has limited appeal.
The thriller/horror film, starring Val Kilmer and shot in Grand Rapids last fall, debuted on two local screens Friday. Celebration North, which shows the movie three times a day, sold 150 tickets over the weekend, and Celebration Rivertown, showing it five times a day, sold 75 tickets.
"There are two issues with the movie," said Ron Van Timmeren, vice president of programming for Loeks Theatres, which owns the Celebration chain. "One, it has little or no marketing. And two, the content of the movie is not for everyone."
The R-rated "Chaos," in which Kilmer plays a mentally disturbed professor who locks six people in a steam room, features scenes of nudity and bloody violence -- enough that horror-movie magazine Fangoria recently published a feature on the film.
"The big draw is seeing Grand Rapids on the big screen and local people being involved in the production, but it doesn't appeal to general audiences," Van Timmeren said.
"Chaos" will be shown at the two theaters through Thursday and will run for a week at Celebration Cinema Lansing starting Friday. It is tentatively slated for a June release on DVD by Genius Products.
Source: http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/05/turnout_meager_for_grand_rapid.html
LA Games Conference 2009 report
Michael Rubinelli, SVP, Game Development, Genius Products
Q: What’s beyond Rock Band as far as innovation goes?
Michael: What we are seeing is an evolution of thinking of the publishers and artists. They are thinking about how to extend talent to all genres. We have artificial intelligence that grades the interactive experience of the person, and the music, in the framework of a game. That is fun and interesting.
Q: How does one present new opportunities to the music publishers
Michael: [When we approached the publishers] we knew that their default response would be NO. The concepts of remix, mash-ups were dirty words to their ears. Therefore, we told them exactly what we were going to do, and how we were going to do it. Then we showed them a real demo. Something they could touch with their hands. When the publishing executives saw the actual products, they said: “Now we get it.”
Q: What element do you need to make a music game successful in the future?
Michael: The future of gaming has to be exploratory and expressive, but it also has to have rigidity, which can propel the user experience forward. Historically, in gaming, once you have a hit, everybody seems to follow, and then the genre dies. We desperately need innovation to keep this industry growing.
Source: http://www.newmediabc.com/news.php?news=la_games_conference_2009_report
Scratch The Ultimate DJ, and the scratch controller would make the greatest Audio / Video multimedia playback and gaming device on the market.
Genius Products recently released the dvd details and artwork from the upcoming May 19, 2009 release of “Fanboys” by director Kyle Newman and starring Dan Fogler, Kristen Bell, Jay Baruchel, Sam Huntington, Seth Rogen, William Shatner, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes and Danny Trejo.
Synopsis:
Get ready for the comedy adventure that’s “smart, funny, and tailor-made for the inner-Jedi in all of us” (Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com). In 1998, four childhood buddies with a shared love of all things Star Wars reunite for one final, hilarious odyssey. Their insane plan: a cross-country road trip to storm George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch and steal a copy of Episode I before it’s released. With the police, a crew of angry Trekkies, and a crazy pimp hot on their trail, what could possibly go wrong? Featuring Dan Fogler (Balls of Fury), Jay Baruchel (Tropic Thunder), and Kristen Bell (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), plus a slew of hysterical surprise cameos, “the Force IS strong with this one!” (Brian Gallagher, MovieWeb)
PRODUCT INFO:
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 90
Languages: English
Screen Format: WS
US Rating: PG-13- Rated PG-13 for pervasive crude and sexual material, language and drug content.
DVD Special Features:
- Deleted Scenes
- Commentary with the Cast & Crew
- Disturbances in the Force: A Series of Webisodes
- The Truth about Fanboys
- Star Wars Parallel
- 4 Fanboys & 1 Fangirl
- The Choreography
- The Ultimate Fanboy Contest Winner
Source: http://www.shockya.com/news/2009/05/10/fanboys-dvd-artwork-and-details/
Same to you, thanks! ;o)
A DLC "Download-able Content" delivery model would make a wonderful marketing platform for Scratch The Ultimate DJ. Genius can offer a free demo download version of the game for internet-enabled game consoles. This would serve as an effective marketing push to the consumer. The consumer would require the full version of Scratch The Ultimate DJ game and the Genius / Numark controller for the ultimate scratch "experience",
Game Consoles, Television, Portable Wireless Devices, Internet, and Radio would all make excellent marketing platforms for the games target market of Hip Hop and RnB fams. Consumers with HTPC "Home Theater PC", and party / bar scenes would also be a good target market for Scratch.
IMHO.
Since there are rumors of a television show centered around music based gameplay, such as Guitar Hero or Rock Band, I wonder if Genius Products also has future plans for a world DJ championship / hip-hop DJ battle television show based upon Scratch The Ultimate DJ. I hope Genius Products also has future plans for a PC based version of Scratch The Ultimate DJ once the console based games have been released. I have to say, I am quite impressed with the recently published pictures of the Numark controller, and I am equally exited about the upcoming release of Scratch The Ultimate DJ!
Picture of Scratch: The Ultimate DJ controller released!
Publisher Genius Products has a marketing shot from earlier in the year, which you can see above (for the 360 version). They note that there may have been some slight changes since, but this is more or less what we're getting.
They says that Scratch isn't fooling around: "Its got a "free-spinning, touch-sensitive turntable wheel", five coloured buttons and a small crossfader, all on a functional, if somewhat drab, hunk of grey plastic put together by (or at least licensed by) real turntable manufacturers Numark." Nice.
Apparently, Genius has revealed some of Scratch's tracklist as well, which "unlike Activision's messy attempts at covering every genre's bases (at the risk of spreading itself too thin), is targeting a more specific audience: hip-hop and RnB fans."
There are 8 songs named so far, out of what are supposed to be 60 in total, featuring a mix of both licensed music and covers. Those revealed are:
Flashing Lights – Kanye West
Let's Get It Started – The Black Eyed Peas
Peter Piper – Run DMC
Hot in Herre - Nelly
Milkshake – Kelis
Friends – Whodini
Party Like A Rockstar – Shop Boyz
Don't Sweat the Technique – Eric B. and Rakim
The whole package? $100, which seems fairly reasonable, given the price of games and the addition of what sounds like a pretty good turntable.
Source: http://ps3.kombo.com/article.php?artid=9949
"The Court found that Scratch has established a material breach of its Developer Agreement by 7 Studios and ordered that 7 Studios must turnover to Scratch all source code to the game engine and all other Developer’s Pre-Existing Tools and Technology."
Not only does Genius now have the Source code to enable them to complete Scratch The Ultimate DJ, but they now have all of 7 Studios pre-existing game development tools and technology. I see substantial value in the game development tools and technology, and these tools and technology will enable Genius to further integrate with the video gaming industry, IMO.
Judge Orders 7 Studios to Give Scratch DJ the Source Code
Judge Grants Preliminary Injunction Against Activision’s New Subsidiary; Ruling Enables Scratch to Retrieve All Work Product and Source Code and Complete Its Game and Prepare for Launch
Also Confirms “Wall off” Order on Activision’s New Subsidiary
Genius Products, LLC (“Genius”) and Numark Industries LLC (“Numark”), announced today that the Los Angeles County Superior Court (“the Court”) has granted it a preliminary injunction in its lawsuit against Activision Publishing, Inc., a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI) (“Activision”), and California 7 Studios (“7 Studios”) and former owner and president, Lewis Peterson.
The judge, following his issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order in favor of Scratch, on May 7, 2009 further granted a preliminary injunction against Activision’s subsidiary, 7 Studios, and ordered the turnover of all Work Product associated with Scratch – The Ultimate DJ game (“Scratch”), including all source code, work-in-progress and all Developer’s Pre-Existing Tool and Technology, including the source code to 7 Studio’s game engine. The Judge further confirmed in his injunction order that both 7 Studios and its new parent company Activision continue to be “walled off” from disclosing any aspect of the Scratch game or technology with each other or with any third party. The Court’s actions on May 7, 2009 dealt with the final materials relating to the game’s development that the defendant was still withholding, including the source code to 7 Studios’ game engine and other Developer’s Pre-Existing Tools and Technology.
Activision bought financially distressed 7 Studios, which was a contract “work for hire” developer for Scratch – The Ultimate DJ game, after Scratch refused to sell Scratch - The Ultimate DJ to Activision in March. Thereafter, 7 Studios, under Activision’s control, refused to turn over the Scratch game code and attempted to prevent Scratch from obtaining the source code for the game engine. The Court found that Scratch has established a material breach of its Developer Agreement by 7 Studios and ordered that 7 Studios must turnover to Scratch all source code to the game engine and all other Developer’s Pre-Existing Tools and Technology.
Jack O’Donnell, Manager of Scratch and Chief Executive Officer of Numark, stated, “We are very excited to finish Scratch – The Ultimate DJ. We hope that this clear victory ends the delay tactics employed by the defendants to date to stop our game from being completed and brought to market. We will continue to vigorously pursue our damages case against Activision, 7 Studios and Peterson resulting from their actions to delay and take over the Scratch game. With the injunction order, we will also now be able to move forward to complete and launch our much anticipated Scratch game.”
About Genius Products
Genius Products, Inc. (GNPR.PK) is the owner of Genius Products, LLC, a leading independent home-entertainment distribution company that produces licenses and distributes a valuable library of motion pictures, television programming, family, lifestyle and trend entertainment on DVD and other emerging platforms through its expansive network of retailers throughout the U.S.
About Numark Industries
Numark Industries is the global leader of professional DJ and audio equipment, and is known for providing progressive breakthrough technology. Since 1971, Numark has designed and delivered hundreds of innovative DJ products, resulting in numerous music industry "firsts”. Today, the company is at the forefront of the digital DJ revolution, and is recognized for creating the best hardware controllers for professional and semi-professional DJ software in the industry. The team at Numark, under its Ion Audio division, has also enjoyed success in developing music gaming peripherals, having produced and distributed the award-winning Drum Rocker, the Premium Drum Set Controller for the Rock Band music game franchise. For more information, visit www.numark.com; images are available at http://www.numark.com/media.
Source: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090508005183&newsLang=en
1.9 cents
Original Godzilla Stomps onto Blu-ray in September by Classic Media and Genius Products.
Independent studio Classic Media enters the high-definition arena with its digitally-remastered release of the original 1954 Japanese big-monster classic 'Gojira' (also known as 'Godzilla, King of the Monsters') on Blu-ray on September 22, distributed by Genius Products.
The disc will include both the original Japanese version and the heavily-edited US version, for which the distributors worked actor Raymond Burr in the movie, by using doubles and new footage to make it look like Burr was interacting with the Japanese cast.
Extras for this release include:
Audio commentary by Godzilla experts Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski
'The Making of the Godzilla Suit' and 'Godzilla: Story Development' featurettes
Theatrical trailers
Source: http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2666
We’re also hosting a panel for filmmakers on Friday morning, May 15, called, “Filmmakers: Finance, Distribution, Production—Bringing Your Vision to Realization,” featuring panel moderator Steve Bannon, chairman of Genius Products, the largest DVD distribution company in the world.
Source: http://www.moviemaker.com/festivals/article/gi_film_festival_military_movies_20090505/
Ouch! Glad I never bought into this mess. GLTYA
Genius Products has announced Sea Beast (Maneater Series) which stars Corin Nemec, and Miriam McDonald. The Paul Ziller directed horror will be available on DVD on June 30th, and should retail at around $14.95. The film will be presented in anamorphic widescreen, along with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track.
Synopsis
In the fishing village of Cedar Bay, terror lies within the water. And now it has surfaced in search of something more substantial to devour than marine life: human flesh. A captain and a sea biologist must wage a terrifying battle against the deadly creatures in order to save mankind from total extinction.
Source: http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/sea-beast.html
Genius Products' Scratch: The Ultimate DJ might come with a very cool bonus. According to a tweet from producer Quincy Jones III (at least, we think it's really QDIII -- the account is linked from his Myspace account), the turntable controller used for the game will have extra functionality beyond the game.
QDIII's tweet: "The scratch video game also has a real mp3 turn table with a functional fader, just like the real thing... will keep you posted on updates."
If this turns out to be used for Scratch, it will mean that the fake musical instrument for the game is also a real musical instrument -- no modding required. We can't help but wonder, with all the lawsuits happening, if Activision is daring enough to "spontaneously" have the same idea for DJ Hero.
Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/06/rumor-scratch-the-ultimate-dj-to-use-mp3-turntable/
Elmo & Abby's Birthday Fun comes to DVD
June 2, 2009 from Sesame Street and Genius Products.
It s Dorothy s birthday on Sesame Street! Elmo is excited to celebrate his little fish s birthday and he has planned a big birthday party. Abby wants to help, but she has never been to a Sesame Street birthday party only Fairy Tale birthday parties! Elmo teaches Abby all about pinning the tail on a donkey, playing the piñata game, and opening presents.
Then Abby magically takes Elmo on an adventure to Fairytaleland, where they celebrate in a fairytale birthday and play fairytale games! Join Elmo and Abby as they learn about the many ways that birthdays are celebrated. With a big flowered hat, a gigantic cake and a bunch of birthday wishes, Elmo learns the true meaning of a birthday wish!
This magical title also features a new "Birthday Dance" song and music video as well as the episode Elmo's World Birthdays
Source: http://www.amazon.com/Elmo-Abbys-Birthday-Sesame-Street/dp/B001UDS4BI
The World’s Coolest Cucumber Returns
In Big Idea’s Newest Adventure:
VEGGIETALES®: MINNESOTA CUKE AND THE SEARCH FOR NOAH’S UMBRELLA
DVD Launch Supported by Extensive “Back to School” Campaign, Including Advertising, Promotions, Live Events, Christian Retail Initiatives
Grab your lasso and fedora! This August, Big Idea will release its second action-packed Minnesota Cuke adventure on DVD, VeggieTales®: Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah’s Umbrella, A Lesson in Confidence. Supported by a comprehensive marketing, promotional and advertising campaign across TV, print, radio, online and in-theater, Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah’s Umbrella debuts August 1st in the Christian market (CBA) through Word Distribution ($14.99 SRP) and August 4th in the general market through Genius Products ($14.93 SRP), timed for the back-to-school season.
Inspired by the beloved Bible story of Noah’s ark, the new VeggieTales DVD is the eagerly anticipated sequel to the highly successful Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson’s Hairbrush, released Direct-to-Video in 2005.
“VeggieTales fans love Minnesota Cuke, and we are excited to bring him back for an all-new adventure,” said Greg Fritz, SVP of Sales and Marketing, Big Idea. “Our partnerships with LifeTouch Portrait Studios, CURE International and Chuck E. Cheese’s, as well as our comprehensive media plan, will help us reach millions of kids with a timely lesson in confidence as families are preparing for the new school season.”
Advertising, Radio and Online Support
A high-profile Christian and general market radio advertising and promotional campaign will run on top-tier stations in July and August. Indoor spots will be broadcast on closed-circuit TV in more than 1,000 quick service restaurants, including McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Arby’s. TV promos will run on broadcast and cable networks in VeggieTales’ 10 top markets during August. Print ads will run in select parenting and family publications, including Faith & Family, Focus on the Family, Purpose Driven Connection and MomSense. Big Idea will also advertise and run extensive promotions on key family-friendly websites.
Promotional Partners
LifeTouch Portrait Studios: Say...cucumber! LifeTouch Portrait Studios will support the release of Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah’s Umbrella with a “fresh” national promotion at 730 retail locations this August. As part of the program, LifeTouch will include brand advertising inserts and coupons in portrait packages, provide customers with VeggieTales stickers, and play a special DVD preview of Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah’s Umbrella on their waiting area TV monitors. Chuck E. Cheese’s: The music video for VeggieTales’ latest silly song, “Sippy Cup,” written by celebrated Christian recording artist, director and producer Steve Taylor, will play in the family restaurant’s 529 locations for a three-month period, beginning in August.
Live Events
Timed to the DVD release, Big Idea has coordinated a bushel full of VeggieTales-themed events for families to enjoy. This summer, more than 35 movie theater screening events for Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah’s Umbrella will be held across the country on August 1st sponsored by CURE International. Local market radio stations will promote the screening and release of the new DVD with on-air contests to win tickets to the events. Key event cities include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis, Seattle, Tampa, and more.
Furthermore, in-store premiere events at more than 500 Christian retailers will take place on August 1st. Big Idea will also host more than 1,500 “Family Fun Nights” at churches nationwide where special DVD screenings will be held.
Additionally, churches may choose to host a Church Communication Network (CCN) Satellite Delivery Premiere Event. During the months of July and August, Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah’s Umbrella will be available for broadcast to more than 2,000 CCN network member churches.
CBA Exclusive – Free Gift with Purchase!
A Free Gift with Purchase premium will also be available exclusively to all CBA retailers on street date. Consumers who buy the new DVD will receive a Minnesota Cuke Kids Umbrella sporting the show title and characters while supplies last. The offer will be promoted on “coming soon” posters and retail floor displays, which will hold the DVDs and gifts.
DVD Synopsis
Minnesota Cuke is on the search for Noah’s famous ark when he learns of a mysterious and powerful umbrella – and a clever villain who wants it for his own schemes. Will Minnesota have the confidence to face the challenges and keep searching – or will all hopes of finding the ark be washed away for good?
Bonus Features:
Directors’ Audio Commentary Art Gallery
Sing Along with Larry
How to Draw Minnesota Cuke
How to Draw Julia
Discussion Guide
VeggieTales: Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah’s Umbrella
Not Rated-50 minutes-Color-5.1 Surround Sound-English & Spanish Subtitles-Close-Captioned
DVD UPC Code: 820413114091 $14.99 SRP
About CURE International and Big Idea Partnership
Founded in 1996, CURE International is the largest non-profit provider of pediatric specialty surgical care in the developing world, transforming the lives of disabled children and their families through medical and spiritual healing. To date, it has performed more than 54,000 surgeries and treated over 800,000 patients. Big Idea recently partnered in the grand opening of CURE International’s Children’s Hospital of Honduras -- the country’s first and only hospital that specializes in pediatric orthopedics. The goal of this on-going ministry partnership is to share God’s love with disabled children and their families as they receive much needed care. More information may be found at www.helpcurenow.org/veggie.
About Big Idea, Inc.
Big Idea, Inc. is the leading faith-based studio and producer of children’s and family programming, characters and brands. Since 1993, Big Idea’s best-selling animated series VeggieTalesÒ has sold 52+ million videos, 13 million books and more than 7 million CDs. VeggieTalesÒ and Big Idea’s newest property, 3-2-1 Penguins!Ò, are in their third season as top-rated series on NBC Saturday mornings, Telemundo and ION TV via the quboÒ children’s programming block. The studio's two theatrical releases, Jonah-A VeggieTales MovieÒ (2002), and Universal Pictures' and Big Idea's The Pirates Who Don’t Do AnythingÔ-A VeggieTales MovieÒ (2008), are distinguished among the top ten most successful faith-based films of all time. Big Idea also maintains an extensive presence in publishing, licensing and live entertainment arenas. For more information on Big Idea, visit: www.bigidea.com.
Source: http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2009/05/04.VEGGIETALES%20MINNESOTA%20CUKE%20AND%20THE%20SEARCH%20FOR%20NOAHS%20UMBRELLA.asp
I agree! However I believe you will have to be really lucky to get a large order filled for under $30 a share. Those who hold it also know of the unbelievable opportunity and are wise not to sell. The future indeed looks bright for Genius!
I believe Scratch will debut at all major retailers mid to late summer. I am expecting Genius Products to release a PR / development update on Scratch now that Bottlerocket Entertainment is on board.
Scratch is planned for Sony Playstation 3 PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii gaming systems. I believe DLC (Downloadable Content) of future addons and 'battle packs' are planned, adding to the revenue stream and also providing a longer product life cycle for Scratch The Ultimate DJ.
As far as the WWE video games are concerned, it would seem a logical progression to me. Undoubtedly, Genius has other video games and future integration strategies between the movie and video gaming industries as both industries share similar distribution and packaging challenges. The integration between the movie and video gaming industries is what makes Genius stand out from the crowd.
Hasbro (Gi-Joe, Transformers, Pokemon, etc) and Discovery Communications (Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, TLC) recently announced a joint venture to create television network dedicated to high-quality children’s and Family entertainment and educational content (DVD / Blu Ray) / Video Games). As Genius handles the distribution for Discovery Kids, I see Genius also benefiting from this partnership.
The Jim Hensen Company, Espn, and Nascar are also possible video game sources for Genius, in my opinion.
GLTY!
Simply put, sales of music-based games have peaked. Activision's "Guitar Hero World Tour" and MTV Games' "Rock Band 2" sold considerably fewer units than the previous installments of both franchises. The plateau comes at a time when overall game sales in March fell 17% from the same time last year, on the heels of a 2.7% dip in February. That's not to say that music-oriented titles won't keep generating significant revenue, but it does highlight the need to expand to other genres and attract new fans.
The "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" franchises are driven primarily by rock, specifically classic rock. To date, expansions of either franchise have focused on their existing audience, with music that takes advantage of the games' plastic guitar and drum controllers. The "Guitar Hero" games dedicated to Aerosmith and Metallica are variations of the same theme, as is the Beatles game that Harmonix is preparing for release in September.
By contrast, "DJ Hero" and "Scratch" will focus on electronica and, most important, hip-hop. Activision hasn't yet revealed what songs will be included in "DJ Hero," but "Scratch" will have about 60 licensed tracks from the likes of Kanye West, the Black Eyed Peas and Run-D.M.C. The Beastie Boys' Mix Master Mike serves as a creative consultant to the game and is adding his own content as well.
"It's a really important category, and they want to figure out how to exploit it among people who are into the [music-game] thing," says Wedbush Morgan gaming analyst Michael Pachter. "My guess is a big chunk of the interest in 'DJ Hero,' probably disproportionate to the population, is African-American."
African-Americans are considered a particularly underserved demographic for videogames, despite research showing that African-American youth spend more time playing videogames than their white peers. Pachter also believes the new games will attract younger players than "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" have.
According to market research from Activision's Red Octane subsidiary, which oversees "Guitar Hero," more than half of consumers expressing interest in buying "DJ Hero" don't own any "Guitar Hero" titles, suggesting that the focus on new music may bear fruit.
Taken as a whole, it's understandable that Activision wanted to have this particular market to itself, or at least come to market first. But don't expect either "DJ Hero" or "Scratch" to immediately generate a spike in music-game sales. Pachter projects that Activision will have only 500,000 to 1 million units available for the fall launch of "DJ Hero." If it sells out, there could be a few months of delays as the company ramps up production in the new year.
As for the lawsuit, it's probably not the last. The music-game genre has proved to be a magnet for litigation, with Gibson Guitars and Konami both targeting the "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero" franchises.
"It's less related to the genre and more related to the success they've had," Pachter says. "The more successful the business, the more it's going to attract people making claims against one another."
Source: http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/dj-hero-vs-scratch-as-music-game-makers-1003968846.story
Interractive Video Game Released by Genius and Genco
“Scratch:The Ultimate DJ” is the latest video game released by Genius Products, Inc. in partnership with Genco Interactive. Genco Interactive is a subsidiary of Genco Media, which together with 7 Studios and QD3 developed this interactive video game which allows players to manipulate music tracks in real-time and choose from a large variety of DJ personalities as the player progresses from the simple garage DJ to “scratch-master” of the coolest nightclubs.
Alan Quasha, the Chairman of Genco Media and President of Quadrant Management remarked that Genco is “focused on providing content creators the means to fund the development of a range of entertainment related products, including video games," and that “Scratch presents a great opportunity to work with some of the most talented people in the Hip Hop music industry and bring an exciting new game to market."
Genco Media LLC, an entertainment-based company announced together with Genius Products, Inc., a leading home-entertainment distribution company, that they have entered into an agreement whereby Genius Products, LLC will have the exclusive rights for the distribution of certain content acquired by Genco Media.
Alan Quasha, President of Quadrant Management and Chairman of Genco Media, said, "Genco Media is focused on adding to its library of entertainment properties through the acquisition and funding of valuable films, music and video games. Our goal is to provide content creators the means to fund the development of a range of exciting entertainment related products." Quasha explained that partnering with Genius Products would mean that Genco Media "will be able to more effectively bring products to market and expand the reach of artists' work."
Source: http://alanquasha.blogspot.com/2009/04/interractive-video-game-released-by.html
The following is an Interview with Alan G. Quasha, Founder and President, Quadrant Management, Inc. discussing a variety of business and more personal issues of interest.
Alan Quasha has served as a Director of Compagnie Financière Richemont SA since 1988 and was CEO of North American Resources Limited, a joint venture between Richemont SA and the Quasha family, between 1988 and 1998. He is also Chairman of publicly traded, independent oil and gas company HKN, Inc., Chairman of asset management firm Carret Asset Management Group, Chairman of investment bank Brean Murray, Carret & Co., LLC, which specializes in Chinese and small-cap companies, Founding Principal of global private equity fund Vanterra Capital, and Chairman of the Brain Trauma Foundation. He is a past Chairman of the Visiting Committee of Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, past Director of American Express Funds, and a former Governor of the American Stock Exchange. Quasha holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, a master of law degree from New York University Law School, and a doctorate of law from Harvard Law School.
Company Brief
Founded in 1988 and based in New York, Quadrant Management, Inc. is a principal alternative investment management firm focused on U.S. and emerging markets. Along with its affiliates, the firm has in excess of $3 billion in assets under management, with offices in the United States, China, India, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
You and Quadrant have been in the restructuring business for many years, which now must be very popular with companies seeking to navigate these difficult times. What’s your process?
We’re principals, rather than advisers or consultants, in restructuring situations. We restructure companies with ownership in mind because the process often requires making fundamental changes to the business model and laying out a strategy for where the business can go. When we started doing it 30 years ago, there was no money in restructuring as an agent, so you pretty much had to do it as a principal.
Restructurings tend to be required in times of change, particularly when there’s economic adversity, so we’re very active. We recently took control of Genius Products, a leading entertainment distribution company formerly owned by Bob and Harvey Weinstein. I refer to it as the leader in “non-Blockbuster titles,” which means it handles most mediums of entertainment. Genius is already very strong in the movie and DVD business and we’re moving it into the music and game business because we can utilize the same distribution channel.
At the same time, we’ve been actively involved on behalf of Reinet Investments S.C.A., a public investment company with $3 billion in capital, in a transaction to acquire Lehman Brothers’ private equity operation. As you can imagine, this has been a very complicated transaction with lots of cooks, and lots of twists and turns, but we’re used to messy situations. In fact, that’s the major reason we prevailed over several other interested parties. Quadrant has a history of working through similar issues and trying to figure out how to create win-win situations, and we were able to put that experience to work again in this case.
You’re on the boards of some of the blue chip companies not only of the United States, but of the world. How did you get to be so successful at such a young age, and how do you stay looking so young?
When I was at Harvard, I played on the squash and tennis teams, and squash is a game that will keep you in shape. Fortunately, when I was there, I was on three national championship teams, which meant that we played and competed at a high level. It kept me fit for a long time and hopefully had some impact on my health.
I’ve been doing restructurings for 30 years. It’s hard to believe we started in 1979, when I was 29 years old. After graduating from Harvard, I was fortunate enough to go to Harvard Law School and Business School together, through a joint program, and when I finished, I began practicing law. My personality is proactive, so while I loved the law firm I was with, I was entrepreneurial and decided to start my own firm. After going out on my own, I did one of the very first leveraged buyouts: I figured out a way to take a company private with essentially no capital. Then came the hard part: after the deal, we had to make the company work. I commuted every week from New York to Canton, Ohio – not exactly a direct route – and spent more than one weekend snowed in at a little motel. But it was a very interesting experience, and I learned that there are a whole lot of things you can do to change even traditional businesses to make them more efficient and competitive, against incredible adversity, and turn them into leading companies.
You started out with very little and today you’re an extremely wealthy individual, with a large group of companies. Yet your name has always been the shadow behind the mountain. You never like publicity; your name is not on the masthead. You’re the quiet giant maneuvering behind the scenes. Why is that? Is that better for business?
I’m very shy, and I’m certainly publicity shy. I’ve never felt that getting yourself out in the public was a good thing. I personally enjoy working with companies, fixing companies, and growing companies, and to me, it’s the getting-your-hands-dirty part of this that I really like – not the “glitter.” Obviously, profit and loss is very measured. I worry a lot when you can’t measure what you’re doing. If you can’t measure something, you don’t know its results. So for example, it always worries me when governments decide they’re going to spend a lot of money without tools to measure how effective it’s going to be.
Ultimately, we like the game, we like measuring things, we like working very hard to make things work, we like building companies, we like making companies that are going to succeed, and the publicity side of things has not been particularly important to us. A lot of times, almost by definition, when you’re trying to fix something, you’d prefer to do it in a private environment rather than a public environment. It’s a lot easier to make the necessary changes. We’re looking at business models that are effectively able to generate cash now but also to generate cash in the future. We’re making decisions that are more easily made outside of the public glare. Then when it’s done, everything is fine. And since my job is to work myself out of a job as quickly as possible, I’d prefer the new CEO take the credit.
You operate on a worldwide basis, and you’re highly respected for your knowledge. What advice would you give to others around the world? Is there something you know that everybody else doesn’t know? Where are we in this crisis? Are we going to come out of it? What are your predictions?
Of course we’re going to come out of it. I’m an optimist. I’m a big believer in human ingenuity. I don’t think anybody should ever sell human ingenuity short. The problem is letting human ingenuity rise to the top. But there’s no question that human ingenuity will defeat all the problems we have; we just have to put our minds to it. So the question isn’t whether we’ll come out of it; it’s when we’ll come out of it, and how to do that as quickly and efficiently as possible.
I’m a big believer in the private sector. I’m a big believer in smaller operations rather than larger companies. I think money should, and can, be spent much more efficiently with smaller operations rather than larger ones. I don’t like to see failure rewarded. I think a lot of people made a lot of big mistakes, and a lot of those people are in large companies, and large companies have not generated substantial employment. In fact, large companies have been net axers of people. This country, and many other countries, have used microfinance very effectively. One example is India, where they’ve shown that if you give people tools, a little money, and let them function, they will generate jobs. The United States has been a big generator of jobs, but it has all been done by entrepreneurs and smaller companies. So I would rather see money put to use by people who are closest to the situation. Too many people underestimate the power and the ability of people to make decisions for themselves. But the United States is still the most entrepreneurial country in the world, and it still has a system where ingenuity can thrive. The rules are set up for that, so as long as that remains, the United States will come out of this – and come out of this probably better than many people think.
Are you planning to slow down any time in the near future?
No, they will probably have to cart me away. I love what I do, and if I’m lucky enough to keep doing what I’m doing, I’ll do it for a long, long time.
Most people as successful as you, at some stage in their careers, think about what they’re going to do to give back to society. You have done a great deal of giving back, but nobody knows about it.
Again, it’s consistent with our philosophy about working with organizations that aren’t necessarily well known, but have a huge personal impact. When he was younger, one of my sons went into a coma because he had what is called a traumatic brain injury, or TBI. Through that experience, I learned a lot about TBI and became involved with the Brain Trauma Foundation. I understood the enormous impact that TBI could have on families, both emotional and financial. I was asked to chair the Brain Trauma Foundation and this great organization has made tremendous changes to how TBI is treated throughout the United States and the world.
The experience has taught me lessons that I’d love other organizations to learn. One is that you don’t necessarily need to be a large organization to make something happen. In today’s world, creating virtual organizations makes a lot of sense. We come up with the overall framework and collaborate with the best neurosurgeons and brain researchers in the world. We go out and lead efforts and then we look for major problems. Our approach to medicine is that processes should be evidence-based, so that practices and procedures work. Ultimately, we came up with evidence-based guidelines, which have now been adopted by all the surgeons who operate, as well as the authorities.
George Soros supported an empirical study we were able to do in Eastern Europe that showed that, by adopting these guidelines, you’d save the lives of about half the people who had TBI. To us, the only acceptable outcome is a good outcome, which is when somebody can go back and work and lead a very healthy life, which has happened with my son. That has been very meaningful to me, and we’re very proud of the impact we’ve had.
Do you get involved in politics at all?
Not by choice. I have backed friends who have run for office, but I don’t know that I’m particularly adept at compromises or dealing with politics. But I do think it’s very important that people with a lot of talent go into politics. I’m sorry that it’s very hard for people who have successful business careers to enter politics, without having enormous strains put on their families.
You seem to have discovered the way to relax and to be at ease. It doesn’t seem like there’s very much that gets you angry or jumping up and down. Is this part of your personality?
I juggled a lot of stuff when I was younger, and I found that hard. So I started meditating when I was very young. I have found that, for me, meditation is a very good tool to help you be at peace with yourself on a regular basis, and be able to juggle a lot of things without getting too excited or letting the bad or good things that happen every day change the way you feel about yourself or the people around you. Instead of getting excited about mistakes, I recognize that making mistakes – whether they’re made by me or somebody else who works in our organization – is a fact of life. And mistakes are a very important part of learning. You just hope you don’t make the same mistakes over and over again. So I don’t get upset or angry. That’s not to say I don’t sometimes internally get quite upset about specific things that I wish were going differently. But jumping up and down, or letting that impulse get the best of you, seems pretty silly. We’re going to make mistakes, and we’re going to end up doing things we wish we didn’t do, and I’m fairly laid back about it.
What advice would you give to young people who are looking to answer that age-old question that we’ve all had to answer at one time or another: what am I going to be when I grow up? With all the criticism these days of business, government, etc., what advice would you give to enthuse them and excite them?
I always feel that people should, first of all, know their own strengths and weaknesses, and then try to couple that with something they’re passionate about. Now, it’s not good if you’re passionate about something you’re terrible at, because that’s probably not going to work. But hopefully you can find something you’re passionate about that you have a natural inclination for, and if you can combine those two things, then I think it’s a very powerful formula for success.
One of the good things that will probably emerge from the current financial crisis is that people are going to look at material success, and what’s important in life, in a different way. I think that’s very positive. There are a whole lot of people who are doing some really fantastic things that I see time and time again. They’re not doing it because it’s the most financially rewarding thing to do, but their lives are fantastic. So I think young people should, first of all, do something they’re passionate about. If it happens to bring enormous wealth to them, great; if it doesn’t, that’s also great. At the end of the day, and particularly as you get older, time is an increasingly valuable commodity, and so doing something you really like to do is a great way to fill the time you have. I feel that we’re moving to a world where time is more relevant than money. People should probably spend more time thinking about how they want to spend their time, rather than how they might make the most amount of money. If they actually thought about that, it might change some of their decisions.
Source: http://alanquasha.blogspot.com/2009/04/making-companies-work.html
More Upcoming Genius Products DVD / Blu Ray Releases
WWE: The Great American Bash 2009
Release Date: 07/28/2009
Jon & Kate Plus Ei8ht: Season 4, Volume 2 - The Big Move
Release Date: 07/21/2009
Empress And The Warriors, An
Release Date: 07/21/2009
WWE: Allied Powers: The World's Greatest Tag Teams (3-Disc)
Release Date: 07/14/2009
Color Of Magic, The
Release Date: 07/14/2009
WWE: Extreme Rules 2009
Release Date: 07/07/2009
Sesame Street: Bedtime With Elmo
Release Date: 07/07/2009
Source: http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?ic=96_0&ref=&tab_value=1162_All&search_query=genius+products&search_constraint=4096&search_sort=6
As Sales Slow, Music Game-Makers Turn To Hip-Hop And Electronica For Growth
Just how important is the upcoming "DJ Hero" game to Activision Blizzard?
So important that the videogame publisher tried to buy a rival game that was scheduled for release before "DJ Hero" hit stores. When that failed, Activision acquired the game's developer in hopes of stalling the process.
At least that's the claim made in a recently resolved lawsuit against Activision by Genius Products, the publisher of "Scratch—The Ultimate DJ." In March, a Los Angeles County superior court judge ordered Activision to return to Genius the "Scratch" source code, which Activision had acquired earlier this year after buying 7 Digital, the company that was developing "Scratch" for Genius.
Until this drama unfolded, "Scratch" was merely a footnote in the music-game market. Genius Products is a DVD distribution company that's never been involved in making a videogame before, and only a handful of press outlets have mentioned the pending "Scratch" game. Activision, meanwhile, has racked up more than $2 billion in sales from its "Guitar Hero" franchise alone and is one of the largest videogame publishers in the world.
But the David vs. Goliath tale drummed up all kinds of attention for the smaller game's expected June release, which may have been what Genius Products intended all along. And the fact that Activision would walk into this mess speaks volumes about how crucial "DJ Hero" is to music gaming.
Source: http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i3744fbefe2a504e9c0d3d0544ab8c955
If anyone has a billboard account, please go here and also please kindly copy us on the full story which includes the "underserved" demographic Activision is targeting, sales projections for "DJ Hero" and more: http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/magazine/upfront/e3i63dc53a7d1ec558bf89f8f4abf3ea5e9
Thanks!
Blockbuster signs deals for indie exclusives
Blockbuster has been quietly but aggressively adding rental title exclusives to its shelves.
A number of indie films, including Screen Media’s Personal Effects and Battle in Seattle and E1 Entertainment’s Baby on Board, are popping up within exclusive 30-day windows at Blockbuster before their wider release at other retailers.
Personal Effects is currently available only at Blockbuster until its May 12 larger retail bow. Baby on Board is expected on Blockbuster shelves this month before its wide June 2 release. Battle in Seattle was at Blockbuster in February before launching wide on March 10.
Some rival retailers, including members of the National Entertainment Buying Group, have expressed concern over not having the same ability to offer customers such films at the same time as Blockbuster.
However, in several instances, the Blockbuster exclusive was arranged outside of distributors’ control. For example, Screen Media lacked the rights to deliver Battle in Seattle and Personal Effects to its retail partners until Blockbuster’s 30-day exclusive on the title ended. In these two cases, the films’ producers struck separate deals with Blockbuster for their exclusive roll-out at the chain. Screen Media then negotiated with the producers, Redwood Palm and Insight Films, respectively, to distribute the titles to other retailers.
There can be monetary upside for indie producers to carve out Blockbuster exclusives, sources say. Producers can earn low-to-mid six-figures by selling their projects for a 30-day window, then also benefit financially from the films’ distribution to the retail world at large.
Blockbuster wins with the opportunity to market content none of its competitors have for a month-long period. The chain already has long-term exclusive arrangements with IFC and The Weinstein Co. IFC titles can only be bought and/or rented at Blockbuster for 30 days before their bow elsewhere. Distributor Genius Products delivers TWC titles to Blockbuster only in the rental channel, but offers the titles to all sell-through retail accounts.
“We’ve said our mission is to offer products and services our customers can’t find anywhere else,” Blockbuster spokesman Randy Hargrove said. “These films along with our agreement with IFC for the exclusive U.S. rental rights for IFC Entertainment’s titles are examples. We will continue to look for opportunities to offer exclusive products to our customers, which can help differentiate Blockbuster from the competition.”
Blockbuster has become more active in scoring exclusives over the last two or three years. The chain has become a regular fixture on the film festival circuit, vying with other suppliers to secure rights to projects.
Still, regardless of how Blockbuster is granted the exclusive, the situation can be frustrating for rival stores.
“Especially if a store is competing head to head” with Blockbuster, said Todd Zaganiacz, president of the NEBG, “and they have the title and you don’t. It’s just more confusion for the consumer. Most people walk into a store and want to obtain what they want to obtain, and they don’t want to have to play scavenger hunt to find it.”
Source: http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6655782.html
Gil Bellows (TV’s “Ally McBeal”), Golden Globe® nominee Judd Nelson (The Breakfast Club), Golden Globe® and Emmy®-nominee Isabella Rossellini (Blue Velvet, Death Becomes Her) and Maxim Roy (A Woman Hunted) star in the sci-fi thriller Infected, debuting on DVD May 19 from Genius Products and RHI Entertainment.
Ben (Bellows) and Lisa (Roy), disgruntled reporters for The Boston Daily, are looking for stories to match their ambitions. They find the story of a lifetime when the mayor is assassinated—not by a crazed gun nut, but by a terrified man desperate to stop an alien invasion of “infectious” proportions. Starting in the highest echelon of government, the infection is quickly spreading. To stop it, Ben and Lisa must infiltrate its terrifying source, hunted every step of the way—like humans. Infected will be available on DVD for $14.95 SRP
Infected was directed by Adam Weissman and is a production of RHI Entertainment. Francois Sylvestre produced with Robert Halmi Sr., Robert Halmi Jr., and Michael Prupas serving as executive producers.
Source: http://insomniacentertainment.com/2009/04/30/isabella-rossellini-gets-infected-may-19/
Ouch, glad I waited on the sidelines of this one. Is ETFC going to retest March lows?
Genius Products distributes DVD and Blu-Ray content for Discovery Communications / Discovery Kids. This might have some positive impact on Genius Products, IMO.
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Hasbro and Discovery Communications Announce Joint Venture to Create Television Network Dedicated to High-Quality Children’s and Family Entertainment and Educational Content
-- Multi-Platform Initiative Planned to Premiere in Late 2010; TV Network to Reach Approximately 60 Million Nielsen Households in the U.S. Served by Discovery Kids Channel --
-- Joint Media Call with Hasbro CEO and Discovery CEO at 8:15 AM Eastern Today; Hasbro Investor Call with Hasbro CEO and Hasbro CFO & COO at 8:45 AM Eastern Today; See Dial-in and Webcast Details at End of Release --
PAWTUCKET, R.I. & SILVER SPRING, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS) and Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) today announced an agreement to form a 50/50 joint venture, including a television network and website, dedicated to high-quality children’s and family entertainment and educational programming built around some of the most well-known and beloved brands in the world. As part of the transaction, the joint venture also will receive a minority interest in the U.S. version of Hasbro.com.
Both the network and the venture’s online component will feature content from Hasbro’s rich portfolio of entertainment and educational properties built over the past 90 years, including original programming for animation, game shows, and live-action series and specials. New programming will be based on brands such as ROMPER ROOM, TRIVIAL PURSUIT, SCRABBLE, CRANIUM, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, GAME OF LIFE, TONKA and TRANSFORMERS, among many others. The TV network and online presence also will include content from Discovery’s extensive library of award-winning children’s educational programming, such as BINDI THE JUNGLE GIRL, ENDURANCE, TUTENSTEIN, HI-5, FLIGHT 29 DOWN and PEEP AND THE BIG WIDE WORLD, as well as programming from third-party producers.
“Hasbro continues to evolve as a company with an unwavering vision of reimagining the potential of our incredible portfolio of brands well beyond traditional toys and games,” said Brian Goldner, Hasbro’s President and CEO. “Today, consumers are embracing our powerful brands through unique and immersive entertainment and educational experiences in a number of areas, including movies and new digital platforms.
“We believe the time is right for Hasbro to take the next step into television through our partnership with Discovery Communications,” continued Goldner. “David Zaslav and his talented team have the experience, track record and ambition necessary to make this joint venture a long-term success as we build this network. We look forward to creating fun, stimulating and educational content that will allow us to deliver all-new brand experiences to the young and ‘young at heart’ – anywhere and anytime they want.”
“This joint venture reinforces Discovery’s strategy to develop strong brands, maximize the potential of our extensive distribution in the U.S. and work with the highest quality content partners to create long-term value,” said David Zaslav, President and CEO of Discovery Communications. “Brian Goldner and the dynamic management team at Hasbro have a long track record of developing well-respected quality brands that entertain and encourage creative play. The combined assets of both partners provide a compelling platform for building a trusted children’s destination that engages and enlightens a thirsty and growing audience.”
At the closing of the transaction, Hasbro will purchase a 50% stake in the venture, which will hold the assets related to Discovery Kids Network in the U.S., for which Discovery Communications will receive $300 million. The joint venture’s rebranded network is expected to debut in late 2010 reaching approximately 60 million Nielsen households in the U.S. with programming geared to boys and girls 14 years of age and under. The joint venture also will participate in merchandising opportunities associated with on-air content. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions including satisfaction of all requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
Each company will have equal representation on a board of directors that will oversee a management team responsible for programming, scheduling and operations. The search for a President and General Manager for the network will begin immediately. Discovery Communications will handle advertising sales services, distribution, origination and other operational requirements for the proposed venture, while Hasbro will provide studio-produced programming.
Hasbro will also make a separate investment to establish a creative team that will allow Hasbro to create and produce the consumer-driven content children and families have come to expect from Hasbro’s unmatched brands. Creative work will start in the next few months beginning with early stage development for properties including ROMPER ROOM, TONKA, G.I. JOE, TRANSFORMERS and MY LITTLE PONY. The creative team will have the capability to produce animated, live-action, and game show programming as well as content designed for digital and mobile extensions.
Programming on the network will be designed to entertain and educate, echoing the popularity and appeal of Hasbro’s portfolio of brands and Discovery’s long-standing commitment to life-long learning with the goal of making our emerging networks more valuable to affiliates and more compelling for viewers. In the tradition of Discovery Kids, this will include a number of daily hours voluntarily devoted to educational/informative content.
The network will continue to operate as Discovery Kids until the debut of the to-be-named channel and new programming slate. Discovery Communications will retain the Discovery Kids brand for, among other things, its international networks and its licensing and merchandising business.
Launched in 1996, Discovery Kids Channel has won multiple Daytime Emmys and Parents’ Choice Awards for its series and specials. Discovery Kids programming helps children satisfy their curiosity about a full range of science, adventure, exploration and natural history topics through documentaries, reality shows, scripted dramas and animated stories.
Hasbro was advised by The William Morris Agency (WMA), John Fogelman of WMA and Bank of America/Merrill Lynch & Co. in connection with this transaction.
Discovery was advised by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.
Conference Call and Webcast Details
At 8:15 a.m. Eastern today, Hasbro President and CEO Brian Goldner and Discovery Communications President and CEO David Zaslav will host a conference call for media to discuss the new joint venture. To access the conference call, in the U.S. dial 1-800-573-4842, or outside of the U.S. dial 1-617-224-4327, and use the following passcode: 59518157. A live webcast and replay of the call also will be available on Discovery Communications’ website at www.discoverycommunications.com and Hasbro's website at www.hasbro.com.
At 8:45 a.m. Eastern today, Hasbro President and CEO Brian Goldner and Hasbro Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer David Hargreaves will host a conference call for Hasbro investors to further discuss the new joint venture. Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav and Discovery CFO Brad Singer also will join the call. To access the Hasbro investor conference call, in the U.S. dial 800-768-6544, or outside of the U.S. dial 785-830-7990. A live webcast of the call will be available on Hasbro’s website at http://investor.hasbro.com and click on the webcast microphone. The replay will be available on Hasbro’s web site approximately 2 hours following completion of the call.
About Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time products and services with a rich portfolio of brands and entertainment properties that provides some of the highest quality and most recognizable play and recreational experiences in the world. As a brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com. (C) 2009 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world’s number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
Source: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090430005586&newsLang=en
Scratch The Ultimate DJ will fly off the store shelves! Look how popular Guitar Hero / Rock Band was! I believe Scratch will sell just as well, if not better! We are in for a wild ride with GNPR! My advice is to accumulate and hold! Booyah!
Jim Cramer on Mad Money's Lightning Round today said to sell Activision. I say booyah to Genius Products!
Activision now owns 7 Studios, so obviously Activision is behind the counter suit. Counter suits are not uncommon in civil proceedings. In this instance, the counter suit is just an attempt to "save face" by 7 Studios / Activision. At any rate, the counter suit is chicken feed compared to what Genius is seeking, and will be awarded by a Jury. I find it funny how the fact Activision bought 7 Studios was left out of the counter suit. The counter suit is just another example of the improper actions of Activision, and If anything, backs Genius's claim of undue influence / harm on the part of Activision / 7 Studios, IMO.
Genius said that Scratch The Ultimate DJ will be released before DJ Hero, so my guess is we will see it on store shelves sometime this mid to late summer. The Bottlerocket Entertainment homepage http://www.bottlerocket.com/ is impressive, and I feel their development team is a good fit for Scratch The Ultimate DJ, GLTY!
Bottlerocket to take over development of Scratch: The Ultimate DJ!
Now that it has gotten the game's source code back from its courtroom nemesis 7 Studios, Genius Products is tapping a new developer to complete production on "Scratch: the Ultimate DJ": Bottlerocket Entertainment.
Several sources close to the project confirmed the news.
Source: http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2009/04/bottlerocket-to-take-over-development-of-scratch-the-ultimate-dj.html
The Battle for the Future Begins On DVD May 19 From The Weinstein Company and Genius Products
Action, sci-fi, and fantasy come together in explosive fashion when OUTLANDER comes to DVD May 19 from Genius Products and The Weinstein Company. In a story described by reviewers as "Beowulf meets Predator" (Boston Herald), a spacecraft crash lands in ancient Norway, bringing with it a bloodthirsty alien beast. As the creature ravages the Viking world, one soldier, the only surviving member of his clan, attempts to form an alliance with two warring Viking tribes, combining advanced technology with Iron Age weaponry to hunt the beast before it can destroy them all.
From the producer of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, this "sci-mythic" epic stars Jim Caviezel (Déjà Vu, The Passion of the Christ), Sophia Myles (Underworld, Underworld: Evolution), Golden Globe winner Ron Perlman (Hellboy films, Blade II) and John Hurt (Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull). Fast-paced, daring, and imaginative, OUTLANDER is "visually spectacular" (Chicago Daily Herald). In the words of Detroit News, "Honestly: Best. Movie. Ever." The OUTLANDER DVD will be loaded with special features and available for the suggested retail price of $19.97.
Synopsis:
Jim Caviezel stars in this action-packed, sci-fi adventure about an extra-terrestrial who crash lands on Earth in the time of Vikings. Caught between rival warrior tribes, the stranger soon realizes he's brought a stowaway: a hellish, fire-breathing monster who's now feeding on unsuspecting villagers. After proving his worth to his captors, the traveler joins the valiant hunt to kill the bloodthirsty creature. Featuring Ron Perlman and John Hurt as opposing kings, Outlander fuses stunning special effects, fast-paced action, and a unique period setting to explosive effect.
Bonus Materials:
Deleted Scenes
Commentary by Writer/Director Howard McCain, Writer Dirk Blackman, and Producer Chris Roberts and John Schimmel
Visual Effects Tests
Animatics
Production Design Galleries
Basics:
Price: $19.97
Street Date: May 19, 2009
MPAA Rating: R
Run Time: 115 minutes
Languages: English
Dolby 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH and Spanish
Closed Captioned
Source: http://hkfilmnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/vikings-take-on-terrifying-new-enemy-in.html
The Weinstein Company and Genius Products are hoping to teach horror fans a thing or two about revenge when “Martyrs” rolls out in straight-to-DVD format April 28.
The film tells the story of a woman’s quest to exact revenge on the people who tormented and tortured her as a child.
Written and directed by Pascal Laugier of “House of Voices” and the upcoming “Hellraiser” remake fame, the story begins when 10-year-old Lucie (French actress Mylene Jampanoi) is found wandering the streets battered and bloody. Police investigators learn the girl has spent most of her life held hostage in an abandoned slaughterhouse. While no signs of sexual abuse are present, police discover the captures did much worse to the child.
Fast forward 15 years and Lucie is finally in a position to make her captors pay.
“Martyrs” comes out April 28 with a suggested retail price of $19.97. The DVD contains special features including the trailer, teaser trailer and the “Chroniques Organic: The Making of Martyrs.”
The film was screened at several major festivals, including Cannes, the Toronto International Film Festival and Screamfest LA. It received a Best Film nomination at the 2008 Catalonia International Film Festival.
Source: http://www.rabiddoll.com/node/794
A failed Chapter 11 is likely to morph into a Chapter 7 liquidation, just like Circuit City, IMO.
Crossing Over on DVD June 9, 2009 from The Weinstein Company and Genius Products
Starring:
Harrison Ford
Sean Penn
Ray Liotta
Ashley Judd
Summer Bishil
Cliff Curtis
Alice Eve
Alice Braga
Melody Khazae
Merik Tadros
Marshall Manesh
Justin Chon
Director: Wayne Kramer
Genre: Drama
Synopsis:
Immigrants from around the world enter Los Angeles every day, with hopeful visions of a better life, but little notion of what that life may cost. Their desperate scenarios test the humanity of immigration enforcement officers. In Crossing Over, writer-director Wayne Kramer explores the allure of the American dream, and the reality that immigrants find – and create -- in 21st century L.A.
Kramer's intersecting stories, both cathartic and tragic, are brought to life by an international ensemble.
Source: http://videoeta.com/movie/102734
The Reader (Blu-ray Disc)
Domestic Box-Office Total
$34,159,000
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Bruno Ganz, Kate Winslet, David Kross, Lena Olin
Director: Stephen Daldry
Studio: Genius Products
Rating: R
Genre: Romance / Drama
Release Date: April 28, 2009
Running Time: 2 hrs. 4 mins.
SYNOPSIS:
From Stephen Daldry, the Academy Award nominated director of THE HOURS and based on the award-winning novel, THE READER is a mesmerizing story of love and secrets, horror and compassion, set against the landscape of post-war Germany. When he falls ill on his way home from school, 15 year-old Michael Berg is rescued by Hanna (Kate Winslet), a woman twice his age. The two begin an unexpected and passionate affair only for Hanna to suddenly and inexplicably disappear. Eight years later, Michael, now a young law student observing Nazi war trials, meets his former lover again, under very different circumstances. Hanna is on trial for a hideous crime, and as she refuses to defend herself, Michael gradually realizes his boyhood love may be guarding a secret she considers to be more shameful than murder. THE READER is a deeply moving, suggestive and ultimately hopeful story that speaks straight to the heart.
SPECIAL FEATURES
· Deleted scenes
· "Adapting A Timeless Masterpiece: Making The Reader" featurette
· "A Conversation with David Kross And Stephen Daldry" featurette
· "Kate Winslet On The Art Of Aging Hanna Schmitz" featurette
· "A New Voice: A Look At Composer Nico Muhly" featurette
· "Coming To Grips With The Past: Production Designer Brigitte Broch" featurette
The power to forgive. The strength to love.
Source: http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/dvd/reader-blu-ray-disc/
Nope, seems to me they are selling off all of the good assets. I went with GNPR instead ;oD GLTY