Videogame developer Nekki (@Nekki_com) and franchise-building media company Story Kitchen have announced a partnership to adapt gun fu action videogame, SPINE (@playspine), into a live-action feature film.
SPINE is a single-player, story-rich action game where the player takes on the role of rebellious street artist Redline, accompanied by her sentient combat implant, Spine. Players join them as they challenge the autocratic AI regime of Tensor Corporation while learning to trust each other.
The game follows the story of adventurous street artist, Redline, who is accompanied by her sentient combat implant, SPINE. Players and film audiences will join them as they challenge an autocratic AI regime and its goons at the Tensor Corporation to rescue her brother while learning to trust each other. SPINE is a cinematic story of rebellion, survival and gun fu action which explores the risks and benefits of AI in an immersive cyberpunk world.
Nekki is a leading developer and publisher in the gaming industry, known for creating Shadow Fight series and the proprietary animation software Cascadeur, which powers the cinematic action of SPINE.
Story Kitchen is a dynamic media company passionate about universe building and franchise architecture, specializing in the adaptation of videogames and other ‘non-traditional’ IP into film and television, founded by Sonic the Hedgehog Producer and dj2 Entertainment Founder, Dmitri M. Johnson, and former APA Agent/Partner, Mike Goldberg, with veteran Production and Development Executives, Timothy I. Stevenson and Dan Jevon.
SPINEis currently scheduled to release on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC in late 2025. Nekki plans to develop SPINE as a cross-media franchise, including downloadable content after release, comic books, a board game, and merchandise.
Checkpoint (@CheckpointMZine) and SEGA (@SEGA) have joined forces to create innovative educational games that aim to enhance the learning experience for teachers and students. The games are designed to make subjects more engaging and enjoyable, as well as more effective and memorable. According to a survey, more than 90% of students who participated in lessons that used video games as a key component, reported that the games helped them to have more fun and learn better.
The principles behind these teaching methods have arrived in classrooms courtesy of Checkpoint, a video-game inspired education platform that, according to this new study, is responsible for genuine and marked improvements. Both in the way pupils are engaging with the teachers — and their implementation of the National Curriculum.
Partnering with SEGA for this study, Checkpoint designs, writes, and curates teaching materials that tap into gaming culture. From Sonic the Hedgehog to Planet Zoo, Checkpoint is helping teachers educate their students through the lens of gaming. These learning materials were welcomed by any school that used them.
“We wanted to see whether our approach actually had the benefits we intended,” said Checkpoint’s founder and editor-in-chief Tamer Asfahani. “So we approached the educational experts at Brunel University London to design an independent study to evaluate the extent to which key stage 2 children engaged with our learning materials.”
Brunel’s Professor Kate Hoskins led a team of experts from the university’s Department of Education, who worked with five teachers at four London schools to trial learning materials for a science lesson that’s part of the National Curriculum. The aim of the lesson was for the students – aged 7 to 11 – to learn how animals are classified into different species and groups based on various characteristics, and to practice doing this themselves. Instead of categorizing normal animals, the students were tasked with organizing Sonic and his fellow SEGA characters into the correct groups.
Interviews and questionnaires found that the lesson was “overwhelmingly positive”, with teachers praising the engagement of children who they knew struggled in a more traditional learning environment. “The link to children’s game culture enabled participation across otherwise marginalized groups,” said Professor Hoskins. “Including minority ethnic, SEND” — those with special educational needs and disabilities — “and low socioeconomic status children.”
Checkpoint is thrilled with the findings and is continuing to develop its gaming-inspired learning modules, which are completely free of charge, on their website and are looking forward to working with more schools and improving childrens’ education with the vehicle of video games.
Games industry charity SpecialEffect and Solving Kids’ Cancer UK announce a new annual fundraising and awareness event called British Racing Greats, taking place this year on Thursday, 1 June, at Donington Park Circuit. British Racing Greats, working in partnership with Supercar Driver, whose team are renowned for their annual Secret Meet at Donington, is a first of its kind track event, celebrating the greatest racing games ever made.
Racing studios and games companies across the UK are already confirmed to participate, including Sumo Group, Playground Games, Electronic Arts, SEGA, Codemasters, Lucid Games, NaturalMotion, Hutch, Escape Technology, Stainless Games, Criterion, Motorsport Games and many more. Every significant racing franchise developed in the UK over the last 30 years will be celebrated and represented. Each of the pit-lane garages will be adorned with memorabilia, merchandise and real world cars from the greatest games of our generation, including Need for Speed, Forza, SEGA Rally, OutRun, Colin McRae Rally, Sonic Racing, CSR Racing, Rebel Racing, Top Drives, and Formula 1.
Racing game inspired cars will take to the Donington track for parades and demonstrations throughout the day. There will also be time dedicated for guests and sponsors to drive their own cars on track. Passenger laps will be offered from celebrity drivers and manufacturers will also have their latest supercars on display and available to test drive on track. Expect to see everything from Formula 1, Rally, Hypercars, Touring, GT and Nascar represented. Maybe even the Batmobile and other surprises. British Racing Greats will be hosted by Jodie Kidd and Ben Collins (aka The Stig) and is supported by headline sponsors and partners across the industry. It expects to raise much needed funds for both charities, while also giving its guests and sponsors the most memorable and unique day imaginable.
Worlds are colliding in Sonic the Hedgehog’s newest high-speed adventure! In search of the missing Chaos emeralds, Sonic becomes stranded on an ancient island teeming with unusual creatures. Battle hordes of powerful enemies as you explore a breathtaking world of action, adventure, and mystery. Accelerate to new heights and experience the thrill of high-velocity, open-zone platforming freedom as you race across the five massive Starfall Islands. Jump into adventure, wield the power of the Ancients, and fight to stop these new mysterious foes. Welcome to the evolution of Sonic games!
Sonic Frontiers launches November 8th on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Switch and PC. The game is available to pre-order today on the Xbox Store for $59.99.
SEGA announced that Sonic Originsis set to release digitally on Sonic’s birthday, June 23, 2022, on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, the Nintendo Switch and PC.
Sonic Origins is an all-new multi-game collection reintroducing the fan-favourite 2D Sonic titles that were originally released on the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive platform - Sonic The Hedgehog 1, 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles and Sonic CD, digitally remastered for current generation platforms.
Developed by SEGA, Sonic Origins delivers the legendary, non-stop Sonic action found in the original games, while providing a fresh twist with remastered visuals, added features, new content and modes and more. Sonic fans can pre-order Sonic Origins and get access to exclusive pre-order incentives.
Sonic Origins - Digital Pre-Order Bonus
100 Medallion Bonus
Mirror Mode Unlocked
Letter Box (Mega Drive Pattern)
Sonic Origins- Digital Standard - £32.99
Main Game
Sonic Origins - Digital Deluxe - £36.99
Main Game
Difficult Missions Added
Letter Box
Characters in Main Menu
Island Camera on Main Menu
Character Animation in Music Playback
Exclusive Tracks from Mega Drive Titles
Sonic Origins - Premium & Classic Sound Packs - £2.99
Exclusive Tracks from Mega Drive Titles
To accompany the news, SEGA has debuted a new trailer providing fans with a look into what’s to come this summer. Take a trip down memory lane and experience the beginnings of Sonic in the all-new trailer for Sonic Origins.
In Sonic Origins, players will join Sonic, Tails and Knuckles to race at lightning speeds across remastered versions of iconic levels like the Green Hill Zone and Chemical Plant Zone, for a classic supersonic experience modernized for current generation platforms. Players can switch between the Classic or Anniversary Modes to spin through loop-de-loops and score rings on a mission to save the world from the evil Dr. Eggman. With Sonic Origins, Sonic fans new and returning can celebrate the classic Sonic games that built the legendary franchise into what it is today. With new remastered visuals, characters, game modes, game zones and more, Sonic Origins brings the best of the original Sonic titles to the modern day.
Game Features:
Classic Mode
Go old school with the Classic Mode and experience the multi-game collection of legacy Sonic games in their retro form with classic challenges. This mode features the original game presentation and will play in the classic finite live and game over style.
Anniversary Mode
The Anniversary Mode provides a full screen display and offers players an infinite number of lives to keep the fun going without any game overs.
Missions, Medallions and Museum
Put your skills to the test and earn medallions by competing for various missions throughout the games. Players can spend medallions to unlock new content from the vault, try the Special Stage and more.
Better Than Ever
Reset, reloaded and remastered — Sonic Origins is playable on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, the Nintendo Switch family of systems and PC with an all-new visual presentation, animation and enhancements for the current generation. Experience the excitement as Sonic, Tails and Knuckles.
Sonic Origins is set to release digitally on Sonic’s birthday, June 23, 2022, on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC.
SEGA (@SEGA) announced today that the company will delist the digital versions of the stand-alone titles that will be featured in the upcoming game, Sonic Origins on May 20, 2022.
This will include Sonic the Hedgehog 1, 2, Sonic 3 & Knuckles and Sonic CD. There are a couple of exceptions - Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2 will remain available via SEGA AGES on the Nintendo Switch and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 will still be playable via Sega Genesis on Nintendo Switch Online +.
Sega's upcoming Sonic compilation featuring Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic & Knuckles, and Sonic CD, will be available for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Switch and PC on June 23, 2022.
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