Tag: ‘maverick’
Former Forza Horizon leaders open ‘AAA’ studio Maverick Games
Yet more video game veterans are forming a new studio after leaving an industry heavyweight. Key leaders from Forza Horizon creator Playground Games have established Maverick Games, a Leamington Spak, UK development house devoted to ‘AAA’ titles. Gamesindustry.biznotes the studio is headed by former Horizon creative director Mike Brown, while executive producer Tom Butcher, technical chief Matt Craven, content director Gareth Harwood and audio lead Fraser Strachan.
The 10-person team’s art director is Ben Penrose, who most recently worked at Vampire the Masquerade: Blood Hunt developer Sharkmob but also has experience at Playground. Former EA experience director Elly Marshall is in charge of experience and interface development. Sega and Sumo veteran Harinder Sangha is the operations chief.
Maverick hasn’t shared much about its first project, but does say it will be an open-world title for consoles and PCs. Brown suggests the game will be a response to how people entertain themselves in the modern era — think subscription services and TikTok. That means games that are continuously involving without being repetitive, Brown explains.
As with similar launches, Maverick is hoping to veer away from ‘safe’ projects. Brown tells GI.biz he wants to encourage “creative risks,” but also wants to keep out “toxic” egos that can damage the team. Sangha hopes the company can help improve diversity in the game industry. This is about shaking up the existing formula which, while reliable, doesn’t allow for much variety.
Brown and Sangha stressed that they left their respective former employers on good terms. However, they and Maverick are part of a broader trend of high-profile game devs going independent after dealing with creative frustration (or simply boredom) at major studios. Simply speaking, big-name brands can’t assume their top talent will stick around.
Forza Horizon directors unite to form new AAA development studio Maverick Games
Former Playground Games directors have formed a new game development studio, Maverick Games, and are developing a new, premium open-world game for consoles and PC.
Maverick’s founding team is led by Mike Brown, the former creative director at Playground Games. Brown will maintain the position at the new company and the studio head title.
Joining Brown from Playground Games are Tom Butcher as executive producer, Matt Craven as CTO, Gareth Harwood as content director, and Fraser Strachan as audio director.
Top Gun: Maverick star reveals what Tom Cruise is really like on set & whether a sequel is in development
TOM Cruise is being backed to win an Oscar for his smash hit Top Gun: Maverick.
The action movie legend, 60, should get an Academy Award for bringing audiences back to the cinema after the pandemic, according to his friend and co-star Jay Ellis.
Tom Cruise is being backed by a former co-star to win an Oscar for Top Gun: Maverick[/caption]
Actor Jay Ellis (right) who starred in the movie gushed over working with the legendary actor[/caption]
Cruise played a key role in not selling the movie to streaming services, and was rewarded with a massive $1.4 billion during its cinematic release[/caption]
Ellis, who played Lt. Reuben “Payback” Fitch, believes Cruise is the last great movie star and should be rewarded for his commitment to the film industry.
Cruise’s decision to stand firm despite pressure and not sell Top Gun: Maverick to streaming networks paid after the blockbuster banked $1.4 billion during its cinematic release.
Cruise has been nominated three times for an Oscar but has never landed the big prize.
Asked whether he deserves to be honored this time around, Ellis, 41, said: “Absolutely he helped the business.
“As the movie was pushed because of the pandemic, he would reach out to us and say ‘This movie has been to be in theaters. The viewing experience of this movie is going to make people love going to theaters and love film again.’
“And he was right.
“It was a gamble considering what was going on in this world.
“It was a gamble that paid off in an absolutely amazing way. It helped the world feel ready to go back to theaters.
“And we were grateful for every single person who spent every dime to go see this movie.
“It’s a testament to him and his commitment to his craft, the power of film that he brought people together again.”
Ellis says even if Cruise doesn’t earn a nomination for Best Actor, the Academy should hand him a special honor for his achievements.
He said: “Tom is unique. He has done it all. I think people sleep on Tom.
“But people should know that he is the last great movie star.
“What people forget is that his body of work is very vast.
“He has done every genre; there is character, plot, action, everything – and he succeeded.
“His ability to not only organically perform and use the camera while organically performing on camera is a masterclass.
“There are not a lot of folks out there, none that can do it in the way he does.
“He is the nicest, most genuine and just giving open guy.”
Nominations for the Academy Awards will be announced January 24.
Ellis says Paramount Pictures has asked Cruise for a sequel to the film already.
However, Cruise is staying tightlipped on his plans.
He explained: “I don’t know. There is a lot of people in that cast to get back to do another one. But I would be there in a heartbeat if they do it
“It’s been an absolutely amazing ride.”
Cruise is enjoying more success and adding tens of millions of dollars to his bank balance as Top Gun: Maverick is scoring huge ratings on Paramount+.
The film landed on the streaming platform on December 22 and quickly surpassed Sonic the Hedgehog’s previous premiere weekend viewership record by 60%.
Cruise earned Best Actor nominations but failed to win with his performances in Born on the Fourth of July in 1990 and Jerry Maguire in 1997.
He missed out on a Best Supporting Actor award in 2000 for Magnolia.
Watch the terrifying animated short that inspired Top Gun: Maverick
To one-up the original’s aerial stunts, the Maverick team turned to the unreal
Top Gun: Maverick gets its real-life match in the dramatic thriller Devotion
The true story of America’s first Black Navy aviator comes ready-made for Maverick’s big year
1. Azhar Murtuza – Born Maverick
Company: Born Maverick Website: http://www.beingbornmaverick.com/ Business: Born Maverick is a group of ventures set to change the dynamics of the…
The post 1. Azhar Murtuza – Born Maverick appeared first on TechRound.
1. Azhar Murtuza – Born Maverick
Company: Born Maverick Website: http://www.beingbornmaverick.com/ Business: Born Maverick is a group of ventures set to change the dynamics of the…
The post 1. Azhar Murtuza – Born Maverick appeared first on TechRound.
Microsoft Flight Sim boss confirms more crossover content like Halo’s Pelican and Top Gun Maverick
One of the most surprising announcements in the world of gaming this year was June’s reveal that the Pelican, the iconic troop carrier vehicle from the Halo series, was being added to Microsoft Flight Simulator. The reason for the surprise is in the name – it’s a simulator, and the Pelican doesn’t really exist.
In a wide-ranging chat with Microsoft Flight Simulator boss Jorg Neumann, VG247 decided to check in on how, six months later, the unprecedented move to add the Dropship 77 Troop Carrier aka the D77-TC, aka the ‘Pelican’, has been received by the fanbase. The answer is perhaps just as surprising – it hasn’t just been well-received, but so well received that the Flight Sim team will offer similar content in the future.
The Halo tie-in wasn’t this new version of Flight Simulator’s first crossover of course – with the huge Game Pass success first featuring an add-on pack to celebrate the release of Top Gun Maverick in theaters. In many ways, it’s with Top Gun that this story begins.
Top Gun: Maverick, Nope, and every other new movie you can watch at home this weekend
You can finally watch the year’s biggest box office hit at home