Nerdy News

Welcome to Rapture. Or should I say Hollywood?

Take-Two Interactive is coming together with Universal Studios to develop the highly-successful and awesomely creepy video game "BioShock" into a feature film. Pirates of the Caribbean's Gore Verbinksi will be directing and producing. John Logan of Gladiator and Sweeney Todd fame is in talks to write the script. No other details have been given at this time.

Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K Games, said, "BioShock fans appreciate the depth and complexity of the game, and our partnership with Gore Verbinski will introduce the world of Rapture to an even wider audience. In addition to his impressive body of work, Gore is an avid video gamer and true fan of BioShock. That was extremely important to us in deciding to move forward with this project."

A sequel to the game, BioShock 2, is set to be release in late 2009.

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In other video game news, there's a new "LEGO Batman" trailer online. I know I say this a lot but, it's ridiculously adorable. Especially the little strut they gave Catwoman. But, no Poison Ivy?

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How would you like to attend an Unexpected Party? Peter Jackson and Guillermo Del Toro are inviting you to a live internet chat about The Hobbit. This is similar to what Jackson did before production started on The Lord of the Rings.

"So this is how it will work: we ask all fans with an interest in The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings to send one question to this website. As us anything! Guillermo and I will select and answer the 20 most common questions, so that we can both attempt to address the key issues as best we can," Jackson said in a statement.

The answers will be given during a one hour live web chat hosted by Weta. The chats will start May 1st and continue through May 10th. The date and time of the live chat depends on what part of the world you live in so check the site for details. Besides the chosen 20 questions, Jackson and Del Toro are willing to take additional questions live and chat about the project. They are suggesting it's a good idea to register in advance.

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There is some sad news to report. Illustrator, and one of the founders of Mad Magazine, Will Elder passed away yesterday morning at the age of 86. Journalista! was the first to give word and soon The New York Observer and others followed.

After leaving Mad, he and Harvey Kurtzman worked on an Archie Comics parody "Goodman Beaver Goes Playboy!" Though it resulted in a lawsuit by Archie Comics it garnered the attention of the original playboy, Hugh Hefner. The result was Elder's other famous work with Kurtzman, "Little Annie Fanny," which was published in playboy from 1962 - 1988 and in 2001 was published in trade paperbacks by Dark Horse Comics.

Grand Theft America

Holy crap. "Grant Theft Auto IV" made half a billion dollars in it's first week. Yes, I said half a BILLION!

And you thought the $300 million "Halo 3" made in it's first week was impressive. Take-Two Interactive dropped the bomb this morning, GTA 4 sold over 6 million units globally, making it the most lucrative launch in interactive entertainment history. Almost half the total was sold on it's release date. Granted, GTA 4 was released for XBOX 360 and Playstation 3, while Halo 3 was only on XBOX 360, but still. I'm sure it didn't hurt that they sold a $90 special edition either. Though why my boyfriend, or anyone else for that matter, needs a fake safety deposit box I'll never know (and don't wanna know).

"Rockstar's goal is to make each new title in the Grand Theft Auto franchise even better than those that preceded it, and Grand Theft Auto IV is a smashing success on that score," said Ben Feder CEO of Take-Two. Smashing success? Is that the best he can come up with? They're probably gargling with liquid gold right now. 

There had been talk that the release of GTA 4 would hurt Iron Man's box office numbers. Obviously that wasn't the case. Personally I think that's a ridiculous argument. I think people who play video games are coherent enough (contrary to popular belief) to realize taking two hours out of their day to see a good movie is OK. The game will still be there when they get back. Video game sales only hurt the box office when there are crappy movies out.

$500 million dollars. It's hard to even comprehend that amount. Last years Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association only made around $63 million. And that's from fundraising done all throughout the year! I'd like to challenge each and every one who bought GTA 4 to give $60 to MDA this year as well (I may be a touch biased having MD myself). Once they've got $500 million, next year you can all give to another charity.

I guess it's true what they say, crime does pay.