Source: ShackNews.com

Quake Live, formerly known as Quake Zero, has found an advertising sponsor. IGA Worldwide is now signed on to be the exclusive ad broker for id Software’s upcoming web based Quake 3 rebirth.

“IGA understands game developers and game players which makes them the perfect partner for Quake Live,” commented Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software.

Quake Live will be a free-to-play version of Quake 3, with the intent of being easy to pick up and play, much like other upcoming titles such as Battlefield Heroes from EA and the GarageGames TRIBES spiritual successor Fallen Empires: Legion.

The PR continues: “Created by id Software as an all-new way to deliver the excitement and energy of first-person multiplayer action to a broader audience than ever before, QUAKE LIVE offers game players of all skill levels a totally free and easily accessible multiplayer gaming experience and community through a single website at quakelive.com.

“Every element of the experience, including friends lists and communication, sponsored events and tournaments, matchmaking, stats tracking, and even the game itself is accessed and delivered free of charge through the web browser.”

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Source: Scifi.com

Warner Brothers has set a May 22, 2009, release date for McG’s Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, starring Christian Bale, Variety reported.

That date, the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend, coincides with the opening of 20th Century Fox’s Ben Stiller sequel Night at the Museum II: Escape From the Smithsonian.

Warner will distribute the fourth Terminator movie in North America through a deal with Halcyon Co., which owns all franchise rights to the series.

The last film in the franchise, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, debuted in 2003 and grossed $150.4 million domestically.

T4 begins production in New Mexico for two months on May 5.

The storyline is being kept under tight wraps, but the plot is the first part of a planned three-picture arc that begins after Skynet has destroyed much of humanity in a nuclear holocaust. A group of survivors led by John Connor (Bale) struggles to stop the machines. Sam Worthington (Avatar) is in talks to star as well.

Meanwhile, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group has acquired international distribution rights for Terminator Salvation from Halcyon, Variety reported.

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Source: Scifi.com

Director Peter Segal told SCI FI Wire that the recently settled writers’ strike delayed his proposed Shazam! movie, but that it’s still in active development.

“I think it’ll still happen,” Segal (Get Smart) said in a group interview at WonderCon in San Francisco over the weekend. “Though timing is going to be a key issue now, because, whereas before, normally we’d be working on a script while we’re in post-production [on Get Smart], so that hopefully when we’re done with post-production, we’re ready to go into preproduction [on the next project]. But now we’re sort of out of sync, so, unfortunately, I’ll have to spend more time with my family.” (That last comment was a joke.)

But Segal said he didn’t want to rush the script for the movie, based on the venerable DC Comics Captain Marvel franchise. Segal also confirmed that the movie’s tentative title is now Billy Batson and the Legend of Shazam.

“You don’t really want to rush something like Shazam,” Segal said. “I mean, it’s going to be a huge movie. I mean, huge in scope and in price. And so you want to make sure you have a solid script and really pay attention to the casting and all the preproduction that goes into that. So, you know, I think when it’s right, it’ll be made.”

Segal’s upcoming Get Smart, based on the hit 1960s satirical spy series, opens June 20.

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Source: Scifi.com

Jon Favreau, director of Iron Man, confirmed that his film will include winks to other Marvel superhero franchises as Marvel, now operating as its own independent film studio, builds toward a proposed Avengers film that will encompass several heroes.

“Yeah, definitely, definitely,” Favreau said in an interview at WonderCon in San Francisco on Feb. 23, where he unveiled new footage from his upcoming movie, which stars Robert Downey Jr.

Favreau added: “I don’t want to blow anything, and also I don’t honestly know where it’s all going to land. I know that there are sort things that have been discussed and tried and talked about. I know at the end of the day on the Horizon is The Avengers, and the idea is to have chapters of all of the characters that would contribute to being The Avengers. … Hopefully, we’re all going toward The Avengers.”

Internet reports from such sites as Ain’t It Cool News have run rumors that various Marvel characters will appear in Iron Man and the upcoming Marvel-produced The Incredible Hulk, such as Nick Fury, the general of S.H.I.E.L.D., who would lead the Avengers (and is rumored to be played by Samuel L. Jackson).

Favreau wouldn’t confirm the Fury/Jackson cameo in Iron Man. “I’m not going to talk about who’s in what, but for the fans, there’s definitely enough to keep you leaning forward and paying attention and stuff,” he said. “And your girlfriend’s not going to know what you’re so interested in in certain scenes. It’s just going to fly by for certain people. But I think we threw enough breadcrumbs around to reward you for giving a s–t.”

Favreau said that he’s about to check into George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch in nearby Marin County to work on the movie’s sound mix, visual effects and scoring. “But the film is essentially locked,” he said. “So it’s about getting [and] making sure we hold a high standard for the visuals and then just get the spectacular Skywalker sound.” Ramin Djamadi, an associate of Pirates of the Caribbean composer Hans Zimmer, is scoring the movie, with guitar tracks by Rage Against the Machine member Tom Morello, Favreau added. Iron Man opens May 2.

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