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The News In Brief: Natal on PC, Madden vs. Michigan, Dana White Talks Mess

Catch up quick on the EA/MMA thing, plus that silly story about Madden overcharging players a billion dollars, South Park XBLA, and more.


I think Peter Moore could take him. 
I think Peter Moore could take him. 
OK, let's blast through a few quick stories that have been swirling around this week.

Over the weekend, UFC 100 happened. I can only assume that means it's the 100th UFC pay-per-view event. UFC president Dana White took the opportunity at a weigh-in and in some other locations to sort of crap all over EA's upcoming entry into the mixed-martial arts arena with hot quotes like...

"EA Sports never gave a [EXPLETIVE] about this sport. Now they do? Yeah, right."

Sweet. MMA Junkie has some choice quotes from the UFC boss about how he apparently tried to do a deal with EA over a year ago, but that EA wasn't interested. Now he's a bit hurt over the whole thing and, while he was at it, he confirmed the other rumors about UFC blacklisting fighters that do business with EA. Here's another look at the same story with quotes from the weigh-in.

Let's stick with EA for a bit here...

GamePolitics has one story with some economist from the University of Michigan, who claims that the deal that EA made NFL to exclusively publish licensed football games has cost Madden buyers "as much as $926 million." Seriously. Like a billion dollars? Just because Madden is the only NFL game in town? That on its own sounds sort of crazy. This theory was put forth as part of a class-action lawsuit stating that EA used its exclusive arrangement to eliminate 2K's competitive products. EA went in and found a respectful way to essentially say "that's completely crazy." Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter tended to agree in this follow-up story. Here's a quote from what he had to add:

I rarely read anything that gets me so incensed... They may have some odd estimates I'm not aware of, but based on what you printed, they should be embarrassed. You can quote me.

Michael Pachter, star of Pachter! The Musical. 
Michael Pachter, star of Pachter! The Musical. 
That's just Pachter being Pachter, y'all. Classic.

And in our final quick story for today, Bill Gates said stuff! Man, that guy used to say stuff all the time. Or, at least, he used to say stuff that is relevant to my interests all the time. So perhaps he's in rare form today, as he's talking about Project Natal's non-gaming applications. Specifically, he's telling CNET that he sees plenty of office applications for the crazy camera motion thing that's primarily being developed for the Xbox 360. So... will we be able to move and resize windows by waving our hands in front of our PCs? Sure, why not?

And finally, Destructoid is reporting that the announced-and-forgotten South Park game for Xbox Live Arcade will be shown at the San Diego Comic-Con, which is happening later this month. There hasn't been any real facts out there about the game, but I seem to remember hearing something about it being some sort of real-time strategy game. But that was a while ago, so there's plenty of room for me to be completely wrong about that.
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jeff

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Edited By jeff

I think Peter Moore could take him. 
I think Peter Moore could take him. 
OK, let's blast through a few quick stories that have been swirling around this week.

Over the weekend, UFC 100 happened. I can only assume that means it's the 100th UFC pay-per-view event. UFC president Dana White took the opportunity at a weigh-in and in some other locations to sort of crap all over EA's upcoming entry into the mixed-martial arts arena with hot quotes like...

"EA Sports never gave a [EXPLETIVE] about this sport. Now they do? Yeah, right."

Sweet. MMA Junkie has some choice quotes from the UFC boss about how he apparently tried to do a deal with EA over a year ago, but that EA wasn't interested. Now he's a bit hurt over the whole thing and, while he was at it, he confirmed the other rumors about UFC blacklisting fighters that do business with EA. Here's another look at the same story with quotes from the weigh-in.

Let's stick with EA for a bit here...

GamePolitics has one story with some economist from the University of Michigan, who claims that the deal that EA made NFL to exclusively publish licensed football games has cost Madden buyers "as much as $926 million." Seriously. Like a billion dollars? Just because Madden is the only NFL game in town? That on its own sounds sort of crazy. This theory was put forth as part of a class-action lawsuit stating that EA used its exclusive arrangement to eliminate 2K's competitive products. EA went in and found a respectful way to essentially say "that's completely crazy." Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter tended to agree in this follow-up story. Here's a quote from what he had to add:

I rarely read anything that gets me so incensed... They may have some odd estimates I'm not aware of, but based on what you printed, they should be embarrassed. You can quote me.

Michael Pachter, star of Pachter! The Musical. 
Michael Pachter, star of Pachter! The Musical. 
That's just Pachter being Pachter, y'all. Classic.

And in our final quick story for today, Bill Gates said stuff! Man, that guy used to say stuff all the time. Or, at least, he used to say stuff that is relevant to my interests all the time. So perhaps he's in rare form today, as he's talking about Project Natal's non-gaming applications. Specifically, he's telling CNET that he sees plenty of office applications for the crazy camera motion thing that's primarily being developed for the Xbox 360. So... will we be able to move and resize windows by waving our hands in front of our PCs? Sure, why not?

And finally, Destructoid is reporting that the announced-and-forgotten South Park game for Xbox Live Arcade will be shown at the San Diego Comic-Con, which is happening later this month. There hasn't been any real facts out there about the game, but I seem to remember hearing something about it being some sort of real-time strategy game. But that was a while ago, so there's plenty of room for me to be completely wrong about that.
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Bigandtasty

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Edited By Bigandtasty

I look forward to Pachter! The Musical.

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Hitchenson

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Edited By Hitchenson

Huh, my last comment deleted the text I write in it? That's odd.

Anyway, I'm wondering how a South Park game can be pulled off without being really shitty, soon we'll see it seems.
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Zabant

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Edited By Zabant

What did patcher do to gain such a standing in the industry?

Everyone talk like he is a financial genius but i don't think he has ever been right once...

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bluerei

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Edited By bluerei

I completely agree with Dana White. I also agreed with that vicious knockout by Hendo against Bisping.

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linfosoma

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Edited By linfosoma
@Hitchenson:
You´ve never played any of the other 5000 games that were released before? They were all incredibly shitty games.

Oh, and I would pay for a demonstration of a bunch of office dudes  waving their arms like idiots to try the new office-Natal, now with more incompatibility issues!
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JJOR64

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Play WoW with Natal?  I'm there.

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Hitchenson

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Edited By Hitchenson
@linfosoma: I have not. I imagine this will be a shitty game though... just don't see how it would work.
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mordukai

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Edited By mordukai
Pachter! The Musical will include number like:

- Predictions in the Mist.
- Gone off the Deep End
- Analyzing Schmenalyzing.
- I Get Paid for This Shit.
- Usually  I'm Wrong (But will never admit it)
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RHCPfan24

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Edited By RHCPfan24

Eww...another South Park game. That will work wonders.

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Claude

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Edited By Claude

Natal and the workforce, we're watching you.

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lacke

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Edited By lacke
Pachter is usually right though. At least from an Econ textbook point of view. You have to differentiate what he thinks personally and what he thinks professionally though (if that makes any sense).
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FreeTWOGame

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Edited By FreeTWOGame

As much a drama queen Dana White can be. This is the guy who put mixed Martial Arts on the map. Before cable wouldn't show it, because it was thought to be too barbaric. Now thanks to corperate sponships, regulation, and PR handling it's a legitimate sport in the United States.

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Death_Burnout

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Edited By Death_Burnout

He continues to remind me of Disturbed's David Draiman in that picture.

Also, is the Pach Back now? i think so!

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Kolonel_Kool

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Edited By Kolonel_Kool

I remember the disappearance of South Park.  If they make this like a Monkey Island, or Sam and Max, I'll be happy with it.  That's the only way I can see South Park being a good game.  Like most, I'll download the trial before I buy it. 
I'll still argue that ESPN NFL 2K5 is the best football game ever made.  I will never buy another Madden game after playing that masterpiece.  You were able to watch SportsCenter between weeks!  EA has the better hockey game right now, though.

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LaszloKovacs

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Pachter will not tolerate bullshit.

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Axion

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Edited By Axion

Natal office applications? Probably would have made more sense to release it as a PC product instead of a gaming peripheral...

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MordeaniisChaos

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Edited By MordeaniisChaos
@Axion said:
" Natal office applications? Probably would have made more sense to release it as a PC product instead of a gaming peripheral... "
New technology like this? No, trust me, the game industry is the best way to introduce tech like this, because the industry is probably the most capable of proving it, and helping it develop.
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Oni

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I think Michael Pachter is a great personality and, from what I can tell, a pretty good analyst. It's cool/weird that he gets so much press, it's probably due to him being such a charismatic person who gets people talking.

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digital_sin

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Edited By digital_sin

Maybe?.... NEVER!

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Touch OS is outdated already?  Sweet!  Bring on the flailing.

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MeatSim

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Edited By MeatSim

Yea classic Pachter.

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Edited By Death_Unicorn

South Park game... Yes!

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Media_Master

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Edited By Media_Master

South Park game sounds out there

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sdauz

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Edited By sdauz

kick some ass pachter

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phlegms

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Peter Moore could most definitely take that dude.

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Edited By Reverseface

Pachter CLACKING AFEW ROUNDS OFF CLACK CLACK

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Althalus

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Dana White is a douche bag.

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Edited By MrKlorox
Nice about Natal on Windows. I was worried gamers would have to hack/develop some drivers for it. And they still may need to, knowing how bad MS controller drivers suck.

@Kolonel_Kool said:
" I remember the disappearance of South Park.  If they make this like a Monkey Island, or Sam and Max, I'll be happy with it.  That's the only way I can see South Park being a good game. "
Agreed. I've been saying this since Beavis & Butthead in Virtual Stupidity came out a long-ass time ago on PC. It is the only real way to make a game feel like an existing show.
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Edited By Dr_Feelgood38

I stopped caring about Natal the day after it was announced. It looked cool but then I thought, meh, it will probably be too much of a hindrance until they really get the tech perfect. I'll start getting more excited when it gets close to release but whatever.I think something in the office like a Minority Report type application is just what it needs.

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Edited By mattysen

I DID NOT FORGET ABOUT THE SOUTH PARK GAME!!! But who am I kinding it is anything worth a flying turd since the one on the old' N64 was one of the worst games of all time..