Yearly Archives: 2020
Ex-Bungie Exec Says Activision Deal Was ‘Bad From the Start’, Destiny Nearly Went to Microsoft
Ex-Bungie board member and composer Marty O'Donnell has given his take on the Destiny deal Bungie had with Activision - which lasted from 2010 to 2019 - calling it "bad from the start."
In an interview with Halo Youtuber HiddenXperia, O'Donnell explained that he was part of the board of directors who made the initial decision back in 2010, but that it wasn't "a marriage made in heaven."
"We knew it was a risk right from the get-go, and then it turned out to be exactly as we thought it was going to be," O'Donnell explained. "Everybody who no longer works for Bungie is gonna say, 'Yeah, it was bad from the start.'" He added that those still at Bungie who say that the partnership worked are being "political". "That's BS," he explains. "There are so many scripted answers out there that I hear."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/01/10/bungie-splits-with-activision-will-keep-destiny-rights"]
Later in the interview O'Donnell shares an anecdote about a dinner with Activision executives before the partnership deal had been signed. During the dinner, O'Donnell says he was talking to the Activision CFO about a saying, "Be nice to the goose," (with Bungie being the goose laying golden eggs for Activision). According to O'Donnell, the CFO told him that he liked the analogy, "but sometimes there's nothing like a good Foie Gras" (the controversial food made by force-feeding geese before slaughter). "I get a chill even telling that story," says O'Donnell, "the red flag went off!"
Bungie split from Activision in January 2019 after a nearly ten-year partnership that produced Destiny and Destiny 2, allowing Bungie to retain full publishing rights for the franchise. O'Donnell himself was fired without cause from Bungie in 2014, and successfully sued the company for damages. In the interview, he puts that firing down to his problems with Activision's control over the Destiny IP: "The reason why we went with Activision was not just the money, but it was because as part of the contract, they didn't own the IP," something that O'Donnell explains was non-negotiable after the developer's famous separation from Microsoft.
He claims that, despite the terms of that agreement, Activision was allowed to mould the IP due to the actions of Bungie leadership. "Activision not only didn't have the legal right to mess with the IP, but the only way they would be prevented from messing with the IP is if all the leadership at Bungie said you can't mess with the IP. And that's not what happened. And that's why they fired me," O'Donnell told HiddenXperia.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/08/21/destiny-2-launch-trailer"]
Interestingly, O'Donnell adds that other publishers, including Microsoft, were in the running to partner with Bungie during this process, but none of them would allow Bungie to retain the IP as Activision did. In fact, O'Donnell mentioned that Bungie "almost went back to Microsoft" after becoming independent in 2007.
In other Bungie news, the studio's new IP will apparently be "comedic" and feature "whimsical characters" according to a job listing.
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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Babu Frik’s Tech Was Inspired by the Game Boy
Star Wars concept artist Matthew Savage has shared a design sketch of Babu Frik's workshop for The Rise of Skywalker, which reveals a piece of technology inspired by the Nintendo Game Boy.
Savage shared the concept art on Instagram alongside two further images of Babu Frik's "hack terminal" device, as he teased how this particular set-piece was "possibly inspired by a Nintendo Game Boy."
The design of the computer prop appears to draw some real-world inspiration from the classic version of the Nintendo Game Boy, with its grey, softly-rounded rectangular unit, green-coloured screen, dark grey keys, adjustable side dial controls, and two red lights that seemingly mirror the magenta game buttons on the handheld console.
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Interestingly, this isn't the only Easter egg hidden within the droidsmith's cluttered workshop; some familiar Droids were spotted in the background of the Anzellan's cramped maze of tools and parts, including the head of a 2-1B medical Droid from The Empire Strikes Back and a decommissioned B1 Battle Droid from the Star Wars Prequels.
In fact, the final film in the Skywalker saga was jam-packed with Easter eggs, callbacks and references to earlier entries in the long-spanning series -- as well as a number of notable celebrity cameos. For more on those hidden gems, check out our favourite Rise of Skywalker callbacks, references, and nods to classic Star Wars movies, characters, and themes.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/08/whats-next-for-star-wars-after-the-rise-of-skywalker"]
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Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Babu Frik’s Tech Was Inspired by the Game Boy
Star Wars concept artist Matthew Savage has shared a design sketch of Babu Frik's workshop for The Rise of Skywalker, which reveals a piece of technology inspired by the Nintendo Game Boy.
Savage shared the concept art on Instagram alongside two further images of Babu Frik's "hack terminal" device, as he teased how this particular set-piece was "possibly inspired by a Nintendo Game Boy."
The design of the computer prop appears to draw some real-world inspiration from the classic version of the Nintendo Game Boy, with its grey, softly-rounded rectangular unit, green-coloured screen, dark grey keys, adjustable side dial controls, and two red lights that seemingly mirror the magenta game buttons on the handheld console.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=star-wars-40-pieces-of-obscure-trivia&captions=true"]
Interestingly, this isn't the only Easter egg hidden within the droidsmith's cluttered workshop; some familiar Droids were spotted in the background of the Anzellan's cramped maze of tools and parts, including the head of a 2-1B medical Droid from The Empire Strikes Back and a decommissioned B1 Battle Droid from the Star Wars Prequels.
In fact, the final film in the Skywalker saga was jam-packed with Easter eggs, callbacks and references to earlier entries in the long-spanning series -- as well as a number of notable celebrity cameos. For more on those hidden gems, check out our favourite Rise of Skywalker callbacks, references, and nods to classic Star Wars movies, characters, and themes.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/08/whats-next-for-star-wars-after-the-rise-of-skywalker"]
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Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.
Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus Plays His Own Song In The Last Of Us 2
Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus has covered one of his own songs, Dammit using the simulated in-game guitar in The Last Of Us 2.
While streaming the game on Twitch, Hoppus spent time in the Valiant Bookstore noodling on one of the acoustic guitars Ellie can tinker with throughout the course of the game, and saw him cover Dammit, one of the most popular singles from Blink 182’s 1997 album Dude Ranch.
Hoppus manages to copy the four-chord structure from the strong by strumming on the DualShock’s touchpad, using the right stick to switch between the different chords in time with the tune. He also has a little sing-song to accompany his strumming (though he does need to ask the Twitch chat for the rest of the lyrics at one point).
As part of a merch drop to accompany the launch of the game, Sony collaborated with guitar company Taylor to create a set of custom instruments, including one that replicates Ellie’s in-game guitar and another that features Ellie’s tattoo as a motif.
The proper replica will run you $2,300, but bear in mind that that’s not so distant from the regular price range for Taylor guitars of this kind. For more on The Last Of Us 2, check out our guide to every collectable in the game.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/the-last-of-us-part-2-review"]
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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus Plays His Own Song In The Last Of Us 2
Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus has covered one of his own songs, Dammit using the simulated in-game guitar in The Last Of Us 2.
While streaming the game on Twitch, Hoppus spent time in the Valiant Bookstore noodling on one of the acoustic guitars Ellie can tinker with throughout the course of the game, and saw him cover Dammit, one of the most popular singles from Blink 182’s 1997 album Dude Ranch.
Hoppus manages to copy the four-chord structure from the strong by strumming on the DualShock’s touchpad, using the right stick to switch between the different chords in time with the tune. He also has a little sing-song to accompany his strumming (though he does need to ask the Twitch chat for the rest of the lyrics at one point).
As part of a merch drop to accompany the launch of the game, Sony collaborated with guitar company Taylor to create a set of custom instruments, including one that replicates Ellie’s in-game guitar and another that features Ellie’s tattoo as a motif.
The proper replica will run you $2,300, but bear in mind that that’s not so distant from the regular price range for Taylor guitars of this kind. For more on The Last Of Us 2, check out our guide to every collectable in the game.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/12/the-last-of-us-part-2-review"]
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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
Mad Max: Charlize Theron on ‘Heartbreaking’ Recasting of Furiosa
While Mad Max: Fury Road is getting a prequel, Charlize Theron won't be reprising her role as the heroic Imperator Furiosa. And Theron has now spoken about how she feels handing the reins to another actress.
Theron revealed her conflicted feelings about the prequel during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, where she describes allowing another actress to take up the mantle of Furiosa as "a little heartbreaking."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/26/furiosa-the-new-mutants-anya-taylor-joy-reportedly-up-for-mad-max-spin-off"]
“It’s a tough one to swallow. Listen, I fully respect George [Miller], if not more so in the aftermath of making Fury Road with him. He’s a master, and I wish him nothing but the best," Theron told THR. “Yeah, it’s a little heartbreaking, for sure. I really love that character, and I’m so grateful that I had a small part in creating her. She will forever be someone I think of and reflect on fondly. Obviously, I would love to see that story continue, and if he feels like he has to go about it this way, then I trust him in that manner. We get so hung up on the smaller details that we forget the thing that we emotionally tap into has nothing to do with that minute thing that we’re focusing on.”
As we learned back in March, Miller is currently casting the prequel with the intent of shooting in 2021. New Mutants star Anya Taylor-Joy is rumored to be a frontrunner for the role of a younger Furiosa.
Miller has been planning a Furiosa prequel for several years at this point, first hinting at the idea mere months after the release of Fury Road.
"She's a pretty compelling character so it'd be great to tell her story," Miller told Entertainment Weekly in 2016. "Her backstory is pretty interesting, we only allude to it in this movie. This movie is on the run, people don't have much time for recreational talk. You have a sense of her having gone through stuff, that's what the movie is trying to do. You know, you're trying to put a lot of iceberg under the tip, I like saying."
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The good news is that Theron continues to appear in other big-budget action movies. She's next appearing in Netflix's comic book adaptation The Old Guard, which debuts on the streamer on Friday, July 10. You can check out IGN's advance review of The Old Guard for more on the new movie.
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Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
Mad Max: Charlize Theron on ‘Heartbreaking’ Recasting of Furiosa
While Mad Max: Fury Road is getting a prequel, Charlize Theron won't be reprising her role as the heroic Imperator Furiosa. And Theron has now spoken about how she feels handing the reins to another actress.
Theron revealed her conflicted feelings about the prequel during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, where she describes allowing another actress to take up the mantle of Furiosa as "a little heartbreaking."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/26/furiosa-the-new-mutants-anya-taylor-joy-reportedly-up-for-mad-max-spin-off"]
“It’s a tough one to swallow. Listen, I fully respect George [Miller], if not more so in the aftermath of making Fury Road with him. He’s a master, and I wish him nothing but the best," Theron told THR. “Yeah, it’s a little heartbreaking, for sure. I really love that character, and I’m so grateful that I had a small part in creating her. She will forever be someone I think of and reflect on fondly. Obviously, I would love to see that story continue, and if he feels like he has to go about it this way, then I trust him in that manner. We get so hung up on the smaller details that we forget the thing that we emotionally tap into has nothing to do with that minute thing that we’re focusing on.”
As we learned back in March, Miller is currently casting the prequel with the intent of shooting in 2021. New Mutants star Anya Taylor-Joy is rumored to be a frontrunner for the role of a younger Furiosa.
Miller has been planning a Furiosa prequel for several years at this point, first hinting at the idea mere months after the release of Fury Road.
"She's a pretty compelling character so it'd be great to tell her story," Miller told Entertainment Weekly in 2016. "Her backstory is pretty interesting, we only allude to it in this movie. This movie is on the run, people don't have much time for recreational talk. You have a sense of her having gone through stuff, that's what the movie is trying to do. You know, you're trying to put a lot of iceberg under the tip, I like saying."
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-25-best-sci-fi-movies&captions=true"]
The good news is that Theron continues to appear in other big-budget action movies. She's next appearing in Netflix's comic book adaptation The Old Guard, which debuts on the streamer on Friday, July 10. You can check out IGN's advance review of The Old Guard for more on the new movie.
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Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
IGN Nominated for 3 L.A. Press Club SoCal Journalism Awards
IGN is pleased to announce that three of its writers are among the nominees for the L.A. Press Club's 62nd Annual Southern California Journalism Awards.
Reporter Matt Kim was nominated in the category of Online: Entertainment News (Music/Performers) for his November 2019 piece "Blizzcon Protesters Share Why They're Fighting For Free Speech at Blizzard's Big Event." Written in the wake of Blizzard's decision to punish Hearthstone player Ng Wai "Blitzchung" Chung following his public support of the Hong Kong protests, the piece explores how many Blizzcon attendees sought to protest Blizzard's decision and raise awareness of the situation in Hong Kong.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-blizzard-china-controversy-explained&captions=true"]
Senior editor/producer Joshua Yehl was nominated in the category of Entertainment Commentary (Film/TV) for his December 2019 essay "How I Learned to Grieve and Heal Through Star Wars." Inspired by the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and its inclusion of the franchise's first on-screen, same-sex kiss, Yehl offers a personal account of how that Star Wars milestone helped him process the grief surrounding the death of his friend Drew Leinonen, who was among those killed at the 2016 shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
Freelance writer Siddhant Adlakha was nominated in the "Criticism of TV" category for his series of reviews of HBO's Watchmen. Adlakha scored the eighth episode of Watchmen a 10, writing "Watchmen’s penultimate episode is a thermodynamic miracle. An expertly crafted piece of television that positions us in past and present simultaneously, while exploring what makes Dr. Manhattan human — and therefore, what makes the rest of us. A story of doomed romance, of sacrifice, and of what it feels like to remember falling in love."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/16/watchmen-season-finale-review-what-to-watch"]
The full list of award nominees was released on Monday. The winners will be revealed during an online ceremony on August 29.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
IGN Nominated for 3 L.A. Press Club SoCal Journalism Awards
IGN is pleased to announce that three of its writers are among the nominees for the L.A. Press Club's 62nd Annual Southern California Journalism Awards.
Reporter Matt Kim was nominated in the category of Online: Entertainment News (Music/Performers) for his November 2019 piece "Blizzcon Protesters Share Why They're Fighting For Free Speech at Blizzard's Big Event." Written in the wake of Blizzard's decision to punish Hearthstone player Ng Wai "Blitzchung" Chung following his public support of the Hong Kong protests, the piece explores how many Blizzcon attendees sought to protest Blizzard's decision and raise awareness of the situation in Hong Kong.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-blizzard-china-controversy-explained&captions=true"]
Editor/producer Joshua Yehl was nominated in the category of Entertainment Commentary (Film/TV) for his December 2019 essay "How I Learned to Grieve and Heal Through Star Wars." Inspired by the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and its inclusion of the franchise's first on-screen, same-sex kiss, Yehl offers a personal account of how that Star Wars milestone helped him process the grief surrounding the death of his friend Drew Leinonen, who was among those killed at the 2016 shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
Freelance writer Siddhant Adlakha was nominated in the "Criticism of TV" category for his series of reviews of HBO's Watchmen. Adlakha scored the eighth episode of Watchmen a 10, writing "Watchmen’s penultimate episode is a thermodynamic miracle. An expertly crafted piece of television that positions us in past and present simultaneously, while exploring what makes Dr. Manhattan human — and therefore, what makes the rest of us. A story of doomed romance, of sacrifice, and of what it feels like to remember falling in love."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/16/watchmen-season-finale-review-what-to-watch"]
The full list of award nominees was released on Monday. The winners will be revealed during an online ceremony on August 29.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
Watch What We Do in the Shadows With the TV Series Cast – WFH Theater
Here at IGN, we're always looking for new ways to bring our community together to embrace what we're most passionate about. That's why we launched Watch From Home Theater, a weekly live show where we unite some of your favorite IGN personalities and special celebrity guests to watch some of our favorite films and shows together.
This Tuesday, July 7 at 11 a.m. PT, we're watching the What We Do in the Shadows TV show with the full main cast! Based on the movie of the same name, the What We Do in the Shadows series follows the undead but never unexciting lives of a group of four vampires living together in Staten Island. Our special guests include Matt Berry (Laszlo Cravensworth), Natasia Demetriou (Nadja), Kayvan Novak (Nandor the Relentless), Harvey Guillen (Guillermo De la Cruz) and Mark Proksh (Colin Robinson). There have been two seasons of What We Do in the Shadows and a third is on the way.
For this installment of WFH Theather, we’ll be watching two episodes of the show -- "Ghosts" and "Brain Scramblies."
IGN won't be able to show the episodes in the live stream watch-along, so if you want the full WFH Theater experience, sync up the show on your devices and watch with us when we press "play" together! The episodes can be watched on Hulu. If you don't already have a Hulu subscription, the service is currently offering a 14-day free trial for new users.
Watch From Home Theater isn’t just a show or an opportunity to watch a movie or television series; it’s a hangout with passionate people who share one thing in common -- their love of film and TV. Each week, we'll invite our viewers to join in the conversation using our WFH Theater Discord channel to chat with our host as well as our celebrity guests. With running commentaries that range from insightful to silly, each viewing will take on a life of its own based on what we’re watching.
Check out highlights from our previous episodes of WFH Theater below!