Tag Archives: the godfather

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

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EA’s announced it is going to close more online servers for its games.

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China’s Ministry of Culture has banned websites that feature online mafia-styled games, due to its threat to Chinese culture and it being a “bad influence on the nation’s youth.”

The Ministry said that these social games “encourage people to deceive, loot and kill, and glorify gangster life. They are a bad influence on youngsters.”

Godfather, Jianghu (“Gangster Community”), and Guhuozai (“young and dangerous guys”) are games that hae so far been taken offline.

The government plans to dole out “severe punishment” if sites run, publish, or link to online games with a mafia theme.

No word on what the consequences will entail.

More over on Gamasutra.

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.

Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux’s has said his previous claim that games will produce a story “equivalent” to Godfather’s quality by 2016 is “wrong”.

“I think I was wrong about that Godfather line… I think we can surpass where the Godfather is,” he told VG247, speaking at GDC.

The exec expanded, saying gaming’s interactivity is the key to its potential story-telling greatness.

“Here’s the thing about games: you’re involved in them. And part of the stories that we tell, if we tell them in the right way, and we give you access to the right tools as you’re playing, you will feel engaged and involved in them in a way that you cannot feel engaged and involved with any film, or even book.”

Molyneux’s GDC session failed to produce a look at Lionhead’s next game, but the developer’s promised more on future plans at E3 in June.

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.

According to this Reuters story, author Mario Puzo’s son is suing Paramount over EA’s Godfather game because the Puzo estate didn’t receive any royalties from the release.

Paramount licensed the Godfather brand to EA to make the game. Anthony Puzo is claiming at least $1 million in damages for breach of contract.

“In material breach of the audio-visual products agreement, Paramount has failed and refused to pay the Puzo Estate the sums due it in respect of the Godfather game,” said Puzo’s court filing.

More through the link.