Tag Archives: The Godfather II

The moment was inevitable: EA have quietly announced a new batch of online server shut-downs – and this time around they include games which had a paid Online Pass.

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EA has successfully defended its right to name in-game weapons after Depression-era gangster John Dillinger.

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Sales data released from the NPD Group shows that videogames with film tie-ins saw a dramatic sales decrease this year in the US.

According to an article in the L.A. Times, the downward slope for the top franchises for the year had varying factors leading to underwhelming retail performance.

• Activision and DreamWork’s Monsters vs. Aliens has sold just 161,000 units since March 2.

• The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, while critically acclaimed, sold around 100,000 units and the less than stellar performance can be blamed being bounced around during the Activision Vivendi merger.

• Disney’s Hannah Montana: The Movie sold just 65,000 units during it’s first three weeks. The article notes that “inexpensive video games aimed at girls, traditionally the foundation of Disney Interactive’s strategy, aren’t consistently hits.”

• Grin’s Wanted: Weapons of Fate has sold only 100,000 units since its launch on March 24 and NPD says that delaying the game for quality reasons, putting it being released much later than the film, had loads to do with the poor sales.

• The Godfather II has sold 241,000 units with the Xbox 360 version taking the fifth spot on the April top ten, but compared to the original game selling 4 million units worldwide, the figures are undesirable.

NPD says that movie tie-ins  have always been a reliable form of sales for publishers, and while Europe has also seen a decline in the sales for the niche, the firm’s unsure if this is a trend or just current market fluctuations.

Thanks, GI.biz.

EA has sent out a press kit for Godfather II to US journos, including a set of brass knuckles as a promo stunt. Hilariously, brass knuckles are a first-degree misdemeanor in many states.

When asked for comment, an EA rep told GamePolitics that hopefully the folks over there were enjoying the game/ EA wants the weapons back, and is even sending out a prepaid envelope just to make sure the offensive material is disposed of properly.

When pushed, the rep clammed: “I can’t discuss this any further.”

No word yet on whether or not EA could face charges for sending illegal contraband through the mail service.

Tomorrow, April 9, EA is launching its first PlayStation Home space in support of The Godfather II.

A Texas Hold ‘Em table’s implemented, allowing you and other Home members to hang out and gamble.

To further celebrate, a Celebrity Poker tournament will be held in-world on Thursday night.

No real celebrities will be present, however. Glitzy.

Loads more through the link.

EA’s confirmed details and prices for four premium DLC packs for Godfather II, all to release on Live and PSN on April 23.

Here’s what’s on offer:

• The Pentangeli Map Pack: Download for the all-new Cuba multiplayer map and the Junkyard multiplayer map ($6.75 / 540 points).
• Level 4 Weapons Bundle: Download this collection to receive the Modern Dillinger, the .700 Magnum Impact, the Herzstopper, the MG-S1 Sniper Wolfe, and the Street Sweeper ($4.00 / 320 points).
• Jack of All Trades: Download Jimmy Lira – the Jack of All Trades to have this character in your family. Jimmy Lira starts out with the arsonist, engineer, medic, and safecracker specialties and comes equipped with a level 2 machine gun – the MP38 ($4.00 / 320 points).
• The Corleone Bundle (All of the above): Download the multiplayer map pack, the level 4 Weapons Bundle, and the Jack of All Trades (Jimmy Lira) crew member ($10.00 / 800 points).

Get all the details after the link.

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EA’s announced new dates for The Godfather II, as you can see in this press release.

The game will ship on April 7 in the US and April 10 in Europe. It was originally planned for a February launch.

That’s it. Rambling quote about gangsters through the link.

The lawsuit between the estate of Mario Puzo and Paramount over 2006 action crime game The Godfather has been settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.

Puzo’s estate – the author passed away ten years ago – was trying to get Paramount to fork over $1 million in sales and rental revenue.

“We think it’s a terrific settlement,” said Bert Fields, the lawyer for the Puzo estate, Bert Fields. “This involved one of the most admired films of all time.”

Lots more through there.

Slated to be released February 24 for PC, PS3 and 360, The Godfather II will instead be hitting retail shelves sometime during the 2010 fiscal year.

EA stated during its Q3 conference call today that it wanted to release the game at a later date to build more excitement around the title.

No exact release date was given in the call.

After the break. Looks pretty good, to be fair. Some shooting, blowing things up, a bit of shouting and sitting around in Cuba. The board game stuff doesn’t look that shit either. Quids in. Take a look.

PC, PS3 and 360 next February.

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According to this Videogamer.com piece, The Godfather II contains between 15 and 25 hours of gameplay.

“First time we were down this path we felt like that was an objective of ours, to have 50 to 80 hours of gameplay,” said exec producer Hunter Smith.

“We ended up just making s$!t up so we could fill that model. Now I think our range for the player will be somewhere in the 15 to 25 hour experience.”

Kotaku, Joystiq and Eurogamer have all posted impressions of The Godfather II. Says Joystiq:

The Godfather II is indeed a blend of action and strategy gameplay. Taking some liberties with the plot of the famous film, Michael Corleone has appointed the player’s character as a fill-in Don. It’s in this role that they plot against other families – each with their own ambitions – in an effort to rule all of the rackets in Havana, Miami, and New York City.

Read. There’s nothing better to do. Game’s out next February.

They’re tiny, but real. On Pro-Gamers.fr. EA wasn’t lying about the board game elements. It’s there for all to see. Bet Puzo didn’t bank on this.

It’s out for PS3 and 360 in February.

EA put out a press release confirming Godfather II for a February release next year.

In short: “As The Don you control the family, sending some of your men on missions while heading off into action with others. The combination of strategic organized crime gameplay and brutal BlackHand action sets The Godfather II apart from other open-world games.

It’s out for 360 and PS3. A few details after the link.

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CVG’s posted the first real details of The Godfather II, by way of Brit mag Xbox World 360.

From the piece:

Described as “Scarface meets Total War”, the second game is said to be less of a GTA-clone and more of a sandbox game with RPG, RTS and erm, board game elements.

The action takes place across three 1960s-era cities (Miami, Havana and good old New York), and the once again focuses more on bullying depot bosses than driving boats and helicopters (of which there are none).

There are six characters in the game – bruiser, demolitions expert, arsonist, medic, safe cracker and engineer – each of which can have one of 12 personalities.

There’s lots more through the link. It’s out for release in the early part of next year, apparently.

Talking at a session with investors at the William Blair & Company’s 28th Annual Growth Stock Conference, EA CEO John Riccitiello said that EA’s Redwood Shores studio is at work on a sequel to The Godfather game.

“It’s a game that I think we’ll be talking a lot about this fall,” said Riccitiello.

“You can play this game both at the street level, much like a GTA-style game, but you can also play it top-down, almost like you’re in an RTS, controlling the strategy of the boroughs so you can see what’s going on.”

Riccitiello also added that EA’s Hunter Smith, who worked on two EA James Bond games will be executive producer on The Godfather II.

Thanks, Next-Gen.

By Mike Bowden