Crispy Gamer News

THQ has acquired the rights to publish 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand for the Xbox 360 and PS3. The sequel to the multi-million unit selling title 50 Cent: Bulletproof, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand was originally under the Vivendi Games banner until Activision bought the company and divested itself of the property - because (I assume) they felt that it would not be very profitable. This was an odd decision because the first game in the series sold millions of copies.

The new game feature the man himself and members of G-Unit who battle their way across two war-torn countries on a mission to collect payment from a crime cartel boss. Okay… Besides this silly back story, the game features run and gun shooter game play, brawler style combat, online co-op and eighteen exclusive new 50 Cent tracks. The game will also feature the voices and likenesses of 50 Cent and G-Unit’s Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and DJ Whoo Kid.

A release date is to be announced.

Stardock’s digital distribution network will soon offer new software from Capcom and Genie-soft. The company announced that its Impulse platform will offer new games from Capcom and application software from Genie-soft. Games from Capcom will include Plunder, MotoGP 2008, Flock, Neopets and Dark Void. Genie-soft’s first offerings will be Genie Backup Manager Home 8 and Genie Backup Manager Professional 8.

When Stardock launched the new platform in June it launched with products from its own line-up of games (Political Machine 2008, Galactic Civilizations 1 & 2) as well as software from Epic Games, THQ, AVG, Gas Powered Games, Hothead Games, Ironclad Games, Meridian4.

If you’d like to learn more about Impulse, check out www.impulsedriven.com.

D3 Publisher today promoted Yoji Takenaka to president and chief executive officer of North America and Europe and Hidetaka Tachibana to chief financial officer of North America. In these new roles, Takenaka will continue to direct all operations in North America and Europe, while Tachibana will continue to oversee key investor relationships and activities as well as strategic growth opportunities in North America.

Takenaka joined the company in 2004 as executive vice president and chief operations officer. Prior to joining D3P, Takenaka was the director of business development at THQ, where he led the expansion for the WWE brand. Prior to that he was vice president of business development at Intermetrics Studio/Looking Glass Studios.

Tachibana joined D3P in 2004. Prior to that, he has served as the director of store development and finances and was a board member at NetSquare Co, Ltd in Tokyo, Japan. He also served as the director of store development and design at Fed Ex Kinko’s Japan Co., Ltd where he formulated and executed company development projects.

cdv Software Entertainment AG has acquired a 75 percent majority share of cdv Madrics Media S.A.S., a recently founded firm, with options to acquire additional shares, the company announced today. This newly acquired firm will be responsible for the marketing and distribution of games, hardware and accessories for France and the Benelux.

cdv says that this acquisition gives them immediate access to another key European market, continuing its execution of strategic plans towards becoming a comprehensive, full-service distribution network for all of Europe and North America.