Archive for the 'Mesa' Category
October 18th, 2009, 3:23 pm by Jayson Peters
 Production of Warner Bros.’ Green Lantern has pulled up stakes from Australia, part of an overall decision by the movie studio to reassess its overseas filming operations, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The reason is the power of green — or the lack thereof. As the falling U.S. dollar continues its slide, the once-sound financial strategy to film Down Under has become more expensive. George Lucas took production of his Star Wars prequels to the then-new Fox Studios Australia in Sydney. In 1998, it was a bargain.
With a live-action Star Wars television series on the way, the land of koalas and kangaroos has been floated as a possible base of operations for that lucrative venture — but these days even Lucas isn’t so sure. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Business • Comics • Mesa • Movies • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Star Wars • Australia • DC • Green Lantern • Lucasfilm | Post a Comment »
October 2nd, 2009, 1:54 am by Jayson Peters
Mesa-based Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment and its founder and principal owner are named as defendants in a lawsuit filed by investors who claim he took and used company funds.
Gary Whiting’s company was granted a license by MGM in 2006 to develop an online roleplaying game based on the Stargate film and TV series. Those efforts stalled as the game’s financial backing came into question, but one executive expressed optimism as recently as Aug. 31.
 The suit also names as a defendant Mmoguls, another company owned by Whiting. Mmoguls is described in the court documents as “an incentivized gaming network marketing company through which customers would pay to play online computer games and have the opportunity to create a network through which a customer could be paid by encouraging others to sign up with Mmoguls, Inc.”
If that looks and sounds like it’s too good to be true, you’re not alone. How does MGM feel about their brand’s involvement with such a business model … especially with a brand-new TV series, Stargate Universe, launching TODAY on Syfy, and no lucrative video game to go with it? Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Business • Gaming • Mesa • RPGs • Stargate • Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment • lawsuit • Stargate Worlds | 1 Comment »
September 6th, 2009, 10:08 pm by Jayson Peters
The Yellow Brick Road never looked so yellow and bricky.
The film adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz is turning 70, and to celebrate the occasion a remastered, high-def version has been prepared for a national theater tour. Turner Classic Movies host and film historian Robert Osborne recorded an introduction for the movie, which will be screened Sept. 23 at several Valley theaters. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Blu-ray • DVDs • Events • Mesa • Movies • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Scottsdale • L. Frank Baum • Phoenix • The Wizard of Oz | Post a Comment »
August 31st, 2009, 4:27 pm by Jayson Peters
Mesa-based Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment seems to be seeing better days. The developer of the online roleplaying game Stargate Worlds has reportedly secured the funding it needs to finish work on the project, which is based on a hit movie and TV series, and is on its way to repaying its vendors and employees.
Cheyenne Mountain exec Shane Hensley told MMORPG.com:
 “Things are actually very good here right now. We received some funding commitments that will provide financing over time and allow us to move forward with development and start catching up on our past due financial obligations, including some back payroll that we paid last week.”
In mid-August, the company’s statements took a more pessimistic tone, with CEO Tim Jenson telling the official Stargate Worlds online forum that his company has not managed to secure funding for the online roleplaying game. A report that surfaced in July suggested that if funding wasn’t secured by Aug.1, MGM Studios would pull the license that allows Cheyenne and its publisher, FireSky, to produce content based on the Stargate properties. So far, there is no official word that such a move is imminent.
Posted in: Business • Gaming • Mesa • PC • RPGs • Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment • FireSky • Stargate Worlds | 1 Comment »
August 27th, 2009, 10:28 am by Jayson Peters
The Arizona Ghostbusters will drop by the Mesa Bookmans 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
No, the store isn’t haunted (that I know of). The local costuming fan club and volunteer organization is on a mission to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original Ghostbusters movie while raising awareness of a Step Out to Fight Diabetes walk.
 Arizona Ghostbusters
Posted in: Events • Mesa • Arizona Ghostbusters • Bookmans • Health | Post a Comment »
August 3rd, 2009, 4:48 pm by Jayson Peters
After years of selling people’s unwanted stuff, Bookmans Entertainment Exchange is adding something new. Literally.
 Photo: Bookmans Flickr page The Arizona chain of used bookstores is now offering factory-sealed video games for the Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS at all six of its locations.
Titles mentioned in the announcement include Little Big Planet, Ghostbusters and Lego Battles, but that’s just a sampling. They’ll still have plenty of used inventory to choose from, if you’re looking for a deal.
Bookmans offers trade credit and cash for in-demand books, games, movies, music and collectibles.
They have Valley stores at Country Club Drive and Southern Avenue in Mesa and Northern and 19th avenues in Phoenix, plus three locations in Tucson and one in Flagstaff.
The Mesa store is undergoing a renovation (see photo) that will include a cafe when it’s done, but remains open for business during construction.
Posted in: Business • Gaming • Mesa • Nintendo • PlayStation 3 • Xbox 360 • Bookmans • Phoenix | 1 Comment »
June 15th, 2009, 2:34 pm by Jayson Peters
This Saturday, June 20, is Free RPG Day, and gamers across the globe will be able to grab brand-new material for a variety of pen-and-paper roleplaying games — no overstock, retail-priced or dead product here. The goal is to get gamers inspired to play a new RPG, which can create sales through local game stores.
In the Valley, Gamer’s Inn in Mesa is listed as a participating retailer.
Sponsors include Wizards of the Coast, which contributed a Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition adventure module and Dungeon Tile; Paizo, which contributed a D&D 3rd Edition-compatible Pathfinder Bonus Bestiary (pictured); and Q-Workshop, which contributed unique gold dice. Many others are involved, and you can see what their contributions are at the Free RPG Day Sponsors page.
Posted in: D&D • Free stuff • Gaming • Mesa • RPGs • Dungeons & Dragons • Paizo • WotC | Post a Comment »
May 12th, 2009, 2:42 pm by Chris "KeL" Adams
 Long-time comic scribe Mark Waid will be signing from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 13th at Atomic Comics’ Mesa location, 1120 S. Country Club Drive. Waid has done lengthy runs on high-profile books for both DC and Marvel comics on such titles as The Flash, Fantastic Four, Superman and Captain America. He is perhaps best known for his collaboration with Alex Ross in Kingdom Come, the dystopic future tale of the DC Universe overrun by power-mad superheros and villians.
Waid is currently writing Irredeemable for Boom Studios. He’s been a pretty nice guy when I’ve met him in the past, so if you’ve got the chance, go down, say hello and get a book signed.
Posted in: Comics • Events • Mesa | Post a Comment »
May 6th, 2009, 12:01 am by Jayson Peters
 The original cast and creators of Mystery Science Theater 3000 will reunite 8 p.m. May 22 and 23 at the Mesa Arts Center for Cinematic Titanic, a live touring show that retains the format of the popular underground spoof show but ditches the robots (pictured with creator Joel Hodgson).
The Friday night show will mock East Meets Watts, while Saturday’s offering is Danger on Tiki Island. Both will be in the arts center’s Piper Theatre. Tickets cost $48 and are available from CinematicTitanic.com (click on “CT Live”).
The original cast includes Hodgson, Trace Bealieu, Frank Coniff, Mary Jo Pehl, and J. Elvis Weinstein.
Posted in: Events • Mesa • Movies • Sci-Fi & Fantasy | 1 Comment »
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