games

Rovio, the company behind hit mobile game “Angry Birds,” is set to release a new game ahead of the debut of “The Angry Bird Movie.” The game, “Angry Birds Action,” isn’t simply a tie-in with the movie but rather a marketing tool that cleverly harnesses the franchise’s line of merchandise for an extensive augmented-reality promotion — to let fans virtually …

The alien world of James Cameron’s “Avatar” will be turned into a massively multiplayer mobile strategy game, under a pact between Lightstorm Entertainment and 20th Century Fox with game developer Kabam. The new game, set to debut ahead of “Avatar 2” (currently slated for 2018 release) will combine the characters and environments from the film franchise with new gameplay features. …

SAG-AFTRA is asking the state of California to investigate the videogame industry for allegedly allowing unsafe practices that damage performers’ vocal chords. The union, in a letter posted on its web site, has asked the California Occupational Health and Safety Administration to probe industry practices and create vocal safety standards. “Increasing numbers of voiceover actors are reporting that they are …

Norman Reedus can’t escape death. “The Walking Dead” actor is set to star in famed game designer Hideo Kojima’s upcoming video game “Death Stranding.” The trailer for the new game debuted at Sony’s E3 press conference on Monday, and in typical Kojima fashion, raised more questions than answers. It’s still unclear what platforms “Death Stranding” will be released on, though …

Mobile game developer SGN has changed its name to Jam City and announced plans to launch a casual game based on the “Peanuts” franchise. The L.A.-based company, whose game titles include “Cookie Jam,” “Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff” and “Marvel Avengers Academy,” acquired mobile-game rights to “Peanuts” from Peanuts Worldwide LLC, a joint venture owned 80% by Iconix Brand Group and 20% by members …

Turner and WME|IMG’s upcoming venture into competitive gaming, ELeague, has announced a multi-year agreement with streaming giant Twitch. Beginning May 24, the day ELeague begins, fans will be able to watch live streaming coverage. Said coverage will be six games per day every Tuesday and Wednesday and a pair of best-of-three matches on Thursday during the six-week regular season. Additionally, …

A mobile multiplayer strategy game based on Robert Kirkman’s “The Walking Dead” comics — not the cable TV show — is now available to swarm over your smartphone. “The Walking Dead: March To War,” from games developer Disruptor Beam, adopts the visual style of the Kirkman comics from Skybound Entertainment. The role-playing game is set in the futuristic ruins of Washington, …

Jimmy Buffett has turned his 1977 hit tune “Margaritaville” into a multifaceted business empire that encompasses restaurants, hotels and casinos, and merchandise. Now the crooner-turned-entrepreneur’s company is looking to further extend his chilled-out, tropically resonant brand into new avenues of media and entertainment, starting with a casual  mobile game slated to launch this summer. Margaritaville Enterprises, aiming to delight Buffett buffs, is creating the …

To date, only the roughly 17,000 Twitch Partners — the most popular video-game broadcasters on the site — have been able to monetize their channels. Now the Amazon-owned video service is launching a new revenue-sharing program open to all of Twitch’s 2.2 million total unique monthly broadcasters, as long as they have even a very tiny audience. The move comes …

“Futurama,” the critically lauded sci-fi spoof from Matt Groening that aired on TV for seven seasons, will be turned into a brand-new mobile game in collaboration with the many of the show’s original writers, cast and animators. “Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow” will feature original content from creator and executive producer Groening, executive producer David X. Cohen, and much of the team …