Indiana Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson has ruled in favor of games publisher Electronic Arts in a case against the estate of American gangster and bank robber John Dillinger. The suit was filed by EA in response to threats of litigation from the Dillinger estate for using the “Dillinger” name for a machinegun in the Godfather games.
According to Magnus-Stinson, the Dillinger estate has no claim to exclusive publicity rights over the Dillinger name via the right-of-publicity statute, since the infamous gangster passed away before that law was passed. EA's case rested on a precedent ruling that the same exception applied to the name “Marilyn Monroe.”
Magnus-Stinson commented that Dillinger's association with the Thompson (or “Tommy Gun”), after which the Dillinger in EA's game was modeled, had been cemented in popular culture over the years...
Notorious bank robber John Dillinger was gunned down by FBI agents in 1934, but his fame lives on. And that is causing some problems for game publisher Electronic Arts. EA has filed suit in federal court in San Francisco, requesting that a U.S. District Court judge grant them the okay to use the name Dillinger in association with a pair of virtual machine guns depicted in its Godfather games. The Dillinger Tommy Gun appears in the original Godfather game, while the Modern Dillinger is featured in The Godfather II. The publisher has taken the unusual step because the owner of Indiana-based Dillinger LLC, reportedly the grandson of the famous gangster's half-sister, lays claim to all things Dillinger, including his name and likeness.
Mike Hartnett on Tawkn.com writes: Home has just been updated with a plethora of new content and we've got the lowdown for you!
Godfather II includes a bonus trailer on the game disc but it's not for some upcoming EA game - it's for Dead Space, the survival horror game released last fall. Why put an old trailer on your game disc and bypass an opportunity to promote a new product? Well, there's a few reasons.
GrE writes, In advance of Electronic Arts' release of The Godfather II, a promotional package for the game has arrived leaving many reporters ready to kick ass and smoke some stogies. That's right, this press pack has a real cigar, matches, a pair of dice, length of wire and brass knuckles. EA really went for the authentic feel with this box, giving promotions everything they need to off someone.
New video game releases for week of 4/5/09: (subject to change) PLAYSTATION 3: The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (pre-order bonus: exclusive Tracker Star Multiplayer Map) The Godfather II (pre-order bonus: Tommy Cipolla character) Walt Disney Pictures Presents Hannah Montana The Movie Xbox 360: Ninja Blade (pre-order bonus: Ninja Blade Premium Theme) The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (pre-order bonus: exclusive Tracker Star Multiplayer Map) The Godfather II (pre-order bonus: Tommy Cipolla character) Walt Disney Pictures Presents Hannah Montana The Movie Wii: Gravity Party Pigs Farmyard Games Samurai Shodown Anthology Walt Disney Pictures Presents Hannah Montana The Movie DS & DSi: Nintendo DSi Console - Matte Black Nintendo DSi Console - Matte Blue Crazy Chicken - Star Karts Gravity Rhythm Heaven (save $10 when purchased with DSi) Walt Disney Pictures Presents Hannah Montana The Movie PSP: Dragonball Evolution Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus Hammerin' Hero
GamersDigest writes; Electronic Arts and Paramount Digital Entertainment today announced that The Godfather II videogame will be releasing premium upgrade packs to provide players with level-four weapons, an additional crew member equipped with four unique specialties, and two new multiplayer maps that will make their family stronger as they fight to become the most powerful mob syndicate in America.
Here's the Euro releases for this week, the big release for this week is the Nintendo DSi. Expect these to fly off the shelves like hot cakes as all Nintendo products usually do. Other Highlights included the Godfather II and Wanted: Weapons of Fate.
The Godfather 2 - New HD Trailer and Screenshots Also new info on the multiplayer mode.
Following EA's earlier announcement that the Don Control mode will be available in the Godfather II's multiplayer game, the publisher has released new shots showing the mode in action.
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