Media Man News

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Media Man News: Gaming, Politics, Hulk Hogan, WWE, Marvel Entertainment, Crown Limited, Crown Macau, Shane Warne, Gene Simmons, by Greg Tingle - 4th October 2011

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Scoop: Hulk Hogan TNA retirement announcement may be real says insiders; Sting angle suggests part "work" YouTube link

Hulk Hogan slashes the price of his Florida mansion by a whopping $16 million...

He is said to be worth a staggering $32 million.

But former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan is so keen to add to his millions that he is slashing the price of his Florida mansion by $16m in a bid to sell it as fast as possible.
The 58-year-old muscle man just reduced the price of the huge home to just $8.85m - the fourth reduction in price since the home was originally listed back in 2006 at $25m.

And it seems he's not above using his celebrity status to help unload the 17,000sq ft Mediterranean-style mansion, which has five bedrooms and 8 bathrooms, and sits on the scenic Gulf of Mexico, in Clearwater.

The description on Realtor.com reads: 'Located on an exclusive tree lined street in the residential Town of Belleair, this exquisite residence is owned by television personality Hulk Hogan.'

The two story home, which was built in 1996, features a gym and spa, five-car garage and a pool with a two-tier waterfall.

The Tudor style property also boasts vaulted beamed ceilings and dark hardwood or tiled floor throughout as well as expansive living areas and lush gardens.

Hulk, whose real name is Terry Bollea, originally lived in the home with his ex-wife Linda, who filed for divorce from the star in November 2007.

The couple, along with their two children, Nick, 21, and Brooke, 23, filmed their reality show 'Hogan Knows Best' in the home.

Meanwhile, Hogan is currently getting slammed by mini wrestler Steve Richardson - aka 'Puppet the Psycho Dwarf' for allegedly ripping off his TV idea.

Steve, who is behind the little-person wrestling programme 'Half-Pint Brawlers' says that he's considering suing the Hulk for copying his venture.

Hulk's latest TV idea is also a dwarf-fighting show - Hulk Hogan's Micro Championship Wrestling (MCW) and Steve says it's just not fair.

"I have no ill feelings toward Hogan, but loads of his wrestlers are the guys I fired," The 42-year-old said. "They're using all the ideas everything I came up with. There's no individuality. They're following the same concepts. It's a violation of intellectual property rights," fumed the 4'4" strongman.

MCW owner Johnny Greene says Steve is flipping out over nothing: "We had this idea first, but they rushed to the network to get their show on the air first, figuring whoever got on the air first would capture the audience," he said.

"But their show sucked. They were doing midgets and 'Jackass,' and ours is a real wrestling show." Holding no punches Greene added: "Puppet's just trying to jump on the bandwagon because their business is dying."

Half Pint Brawlers, Inc was started 15 years ago but they have been having trouble holding down a TV series.

A spokesperson for Hogan declined to comment.


How Hulk Hogan blew his millions: Cars, houses, holidays...

Hulk Hogan blew "hundreds of millions" of dollars on palatial homes and fast cars.

The wrestling legend - real name Terry Bollea - admitted he wasted the vast sums of money he earned during his years in the WWE and WCW and is living in a rented home after slashing US$16 million (NZ$21m) off the price of his Florida mansion in order to get a quick sale.

The WWE Hall of Fame inductee told Good Morning America: "There were houses being bought, and cars being bought, and vacations for family members. There was eight, nine, $10 million, $11 million going out, so it got way off."

Despite his financial troubles, Hulk seemingly announced his retirement from professional wrestling on TNA TV show Impact Wrestling, claiming he wanted to break the news to his fans first because they always stuck by him through the major difficulties in his life, including a divorce from wife Linda in 2007.

However, speculation is rife his retirement is a 'work' - part of a wrestling storyline - and he will step inside the squared circle again against Sting at upcoming pay-per-view Bound For Glory.

Meanwhile, Hulk has run into trouble after attempting to boost his finances with his latest venture, a reality TV show on US network TruTV featuring miniature wrestlers, after midget competitor Steve Richardson - aka 'Puppet the Psycho Dwarf' - accused him of stealing his idea.

He said: "I have no ill feelings toward Hogan, but loads of his wrestlers are the guys I fired. They're using all the ideas everything I came up with. There's no individuality. They're following the same concepts. It's a violation of intellectual property rights."

MCW wrestling owner Johnny Greene said: "We had this idea first, but they rushed to Spike TV to get their show on the air first, figuring whoever got on the air first would capture the audience.

"But their show sucked. They were doing midgets and Jackass, and ours is a real wrestling show. Puppet's just trying to jump on the bandwagon because their business is dying."


NRL Football Broadcast Attack On Slot Machine Reform Came From 'Up Top'...

A respected NRL commentator has admitted that ostensibly off-the-cuff remarks during a rugby league final attacking proposed poker machine reforms were provided to him by Channel Nine management.

The admission by Ray Warren, one of Australia's most famous sports commentators and a former gambler, emerge as the two independent politicians backing the pokie reforms lodge a formal complaint with the broadcaster over the remarks, which they say break the law.

Warren and fellow commentator Phil Gould have been criticised for statements made just after half-time in the preliminary final between Manly and Brisbane on September 23. ''The proposed mandatory pre-commitment that they've put forward is a rubbish policy. It won't work,'' Gould said.

"It won't solve the problem they say they're going to target, and it will do irreparable damage to the hospitality industry. It won't work and it will hurt." Click here for the full story via The Sydney Morning Herald


Shane, Liz confirm engagement on Twitter...

Shane Warne and Liz Hurley are to marry after the former cricketer proposed to the British actress and model during a trip to Scotland.

Warne proposed to Hurley, who became famous as actor Hugh Grant's long-time girlfriend, after a romantic dinner on Friday at an exclusive hotel in St Andrews, on Scotland's east coast, where the bowler was taking part in a golf tournament.

"Thanks for all your congratulations," they said on their Twitter pages, attaching a photograph of themselves about to go to dinner in St Andrews.

Spin legend Warne, 42, got down on one knee and popped the question in front of other diners and when Hurley agreed the couple were given a standing ovation, The Mail on Sunday and The Sunday Telegraph newspapers reported.

Pictures showed the couple smiling as they walked arm in arm across a golf course on Saturday, with Hurley, 46, wearing a large sapphire and diamond engagement ring.

They were greeted by shouts of congratulations from well-wishers as the pro-amateur Alfred Dunhill Links Championship got under way, the Mail said.

The couple first met at an English race meeting in July last year and have since been spotted together regularly.

When she met Warne, Hurley was still married to Indian businessman Arun Nayar but the couple divorced in December.

Warne has dramatically lost weight since starting to date Hurley and new pictures of the noticeably slimmer star caused astonishment when they emerged in August.

His romances have sparked almost as much media attention as his performances on the pitch and his energetic love life is widely thought to have cost him the Australian captaincy.

Hurley and actor Hugh Grant were one of Britain's leading celebrity couples in the 1990s but separated in 2000.


Gene Simmons marries former Playmate...

Rocker Gene Simmons and his longtime girlfriend, erotic actress and former Playboy model Shannon Tweed, have tied the knot.

Publicist Dawn Miller offered her congratulations to "the new married couple" on Facebook.

Simmons and Tweed, 54, have been a couple for years. Their engagement announcement last month surprised many fans. Tweed was Playboy's Playmate of the Year in 1982.

People magazine reported the couple exchanged vows they wrote themselves.

The magazine said about 400 guests attended the Saturday evening ceremony outside a Beverly Hills hotel.

The 62-year-old Kiss bassist and the 54-year-old Tweed have two children.

The new season of the reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels premieres in America this week.


IGT Reaches Agreement with Aristocrat to Settle Patent Litigation...

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 3, 2011

International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) announced today that it has settled its patent litigation with Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL). IGT and Aristocrat have cross-licensed each other to their patents and they will have the right to offer all the products which were the subject matter of the litigations subject to certain royalty obligations. This settlement ends all present patent litigation between IGT and Aristocrat and their subsidiaries.

"IGT is pleased that we were able to reach an agreement with Aristocrat and put these disputes behind us," said Robert G. Melendres, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary at IGT. "This settlement confirms and reinforces the importance of intellectual property to IGT and this industry."

Two of the settled lawsuits were pending in the United States. In 2006, Aristocrat sued IGT in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on patents related to multi-level progressives such as Aristocrat's HYPERLINK and IGT's FORT KNOX products. In 2010, IGT sued Aristocrat in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on patents related to the authentication of software in slot machines. The other lawsuit was pending in Australia. In 2010, Aristocrat sued IGT AU in the Federal Court of Australia, New South Wales District Registry, on an Australian patent related to a side bet feature on slot machines.

About IGT

International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) is a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of gaming machines and systems products, as well as online and mobile gaming solutions for regulated markets.


Australia could cash-in on casino tourism...

Australia’s concerns on gambling are turning us into a “nanny state’, according to Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) chief executive John Lee who said embracing casinos could assist the industry.

Mr Lee explained Aussies need to drop the outdated view that casinos are just for gambling because it does not represent the fact that they are used for more than just their gaming facilities, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

TTF’s head continued that properties such as the Crown in Melbourne are popular for more than just their pokie machines, with “spas, dining, bars – a while plethora of things people can do”.
With a Euromonitor International survey ranking Crown Casino as the highest Australian attraction and seventeenth most popular worldwide, Mr Lee said Australia should not have to apologise for developing properties that attract international tourists.

"In terms of inbound tourism, the biggest forward market is the Chinese market and they enjoy their food and enjoy a bet - we shouldn't have to apologise for developing the right sort of product to accommodate that," he explained to the newspaper.

Mr Lee was concerned for the long term restrictions of the proposed law that allows gamblers to notify the venue of a maximum loss before playing.

Earlier this year Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson concurred with Mr Lee’s ideas, arguing that casino tourism “is real”.

''Unfortunately, this is a fact of life - high-roller tourism is big-yield tourism,” Mr Ferguson said.

Topping Euromonitor’s list of worldwide attractions was the Great Wall of China followed by Walt Disney World.


Comic Book Movies, Games Et Al...

Be it movies, comics or games, we think that Marvel Entertainment leads the pack, followed by DC Comics, with Dark Horse Comics getting a third, based on the positive news leaks and insider tip offs we've been getting.

As Marvel living legend Stan Lee would say, Excelsior!

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Paramount Pictures announces restructuring

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Paramount is reorganizing its home entertainment and licensing divisions and placing them under one roof, the studio announced on Tuesday.

The studio is creating a single organization based at its headquarters in Los Angeles, called Home Media Distribution, which will oversee its home entertainment, digital licensing and television licensing activities worldwide.

As things shift away from physical discs to become more digital, more and more media companies are breaking down silos that had previously operated independently.

Paramount's parent company Viacom has worked aggressively to reformat its corporate structure in the wake of these distribution changes. Just weeks ago, Viacom reorganized its licensing and merchandising division, with longtime consumer product chief Leigh Anne Brodsky exiting the company.

Dennis Maguire, formerly president, worldwide home entertainment, has been promoted to president, worldwide home media distribution, reporting to Vice Chairman Rob Moore.

Thomas Lesinski, president of Paramount Digital Entertainment, is out and the division he oversaw will be folded into other arms of the studio.

"Our hope is that this new configuration will allow us to be more flexible and to best capitalize on all opportunities across the breadth of the studio," Paramount Chairman Brad Grey wrote in an internal memo announcing the changes.

In addition, Paramount will centralize global theatrical management oversight in Los Angeles. Marketing and sales functions currently performed locally in territories worldwide will remain unchanged, the studio said.

Josh Greenstein and Megan Colligan will be promoted. Greenstein, who has served as co-president of Domestic Marketing, has been named chief marketing officer for the studio, overseeing all marketing efforts through all distribution channels for the studio worldwide.

Colligan, who also served as co-president of Domestic Marketing, is also expanding her role and has been promoted to President, Domestic Marketing & Distribution. She will now oversee all domestic theatrical distribution and marketing for the studio.

Greenstein and Colligan will continue to report to Moore. Colligan will also report to Greenstein on marketing. Hal Richardson, currently president, Worldwide Television Distribution, will take on the role of president, Home Media Distribution, reporting to Maguire.

Don Harris, who has served as executive vice president of Sales, is being promoted to president, Domestic Theatrical Distribution, and will assume Jim Tharp's day-to-day responsibilities, reporting to Colligan.

Tharp, who is the existing president, Domestic Theatrical Distribution, will retire as of June 2012.

Paramount Digital Entertainment (PDE) will now be folded into other divisions of the studio. Amy Powell, Executive Vice President, Interactive Entertainment, will add the creation of content for digital and online games to her current responsibilities.

LeeAnne Stables, executive vice president, Worldwide Marketing Partnerships, will assume responsibility for licensing of traditional video games. Both Powell and Stables will continue to report to Colligan.

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Virgin Gaming: Call of Duty Elite 'not a threat'

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The Battlefield 3 Worldwide Conquest Tournament helps EA compete with Call of Duty Elite, Activision’s social service which also includes a competitive gaming element with prizes up for grabs, according to Virgin Gaming.

“We don’t view Elite as a threat,” Virgin co-founder Zachary Zeldin told the press.

“We view it as one of the top industry leaders taking notice of what Virgin Gaming is doing and trying to implement it themselves. Which is great. We wish them nothing but success. I wouldn’t be surprised if Activision was a part of Virgin Gaming next year.

"We are very excited to see how Elite is going to do and how the community is going to receive it, are they going to view it as too hardcore? Or too expensive? It is going to be trial and error for Activision in the first year and I am excited to see it.”

The company says it has hit the jackpot with its official $1.6m Battlefield 3 gaming tournament.

The online competitive games specialist claims its EA deal has opened doors for them, helping the outfit score major clients such as 2K Games, THQ and Codemasters.

The company will give away some £2.6m in prizes to its members over the next 12 months. And it promised that its service can help sell DLC and keep developers’ games out of the pre-owned bins.

“When a company like EA trusts you with their $1bn IP, people see that and say ‘If EA is willing to do this then they must know something we don’t,’” said Virgin Gaming co-founder Zachary Zeldin.

“We have been teaching developers about how we can be beneficial to their game, how we are going to keep users engaged in their product more, how we can roll out DLC for them and help sell more of this extra content, or how we can keep their games out of the second-hand shelves for six months longer.

“If Battlefield has a map pack that EA wants to release, we can run a $50,000 or a $100,000 tournament specific to that map pack. So now they have to buy that map pack.

“We are helping that community evolve.”

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Monday, October 03, 2011

Wilkie to complain over Ch 9 pokie comments - 3rd October 2011

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Independent MP Andrew Wilkie says he and Senator Nick Xenophon will lodge a formal complaint over Channel Nine's airing of comments on poker machine laws.

The move came ahead of Sunday afternoon's NRL grand final, which featured big-screen advertisements labelling the pokies reforms un-Australian.

Channel Nine reportedly said there would be no editorialising during Sunday's television commentary, unlike last weekend when commentators Ray Warren and Phil Gould discussed Mr Wilkie's proposed mandatory pre-commitment reforms during the station's coverage of an NRL semi-final.

Mr Wilkie says it was passed off as commentary when it sounded more like political advertising.

He told Sky News a letter of complaint would be sent to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) tomorrow.

He said while Channel Nine and the NRL were entitled to campaign against the changes, there were clear rules governing political advertising on TV.

"If someone is going to effectively make a political advertisement, then there are issues that it has to be identified as such and authorised," he said.

"People need to make quite clear what their interests are in this matter.

"When you have commentators who have clear links to rugby league clubs and hence a clear interest in the financial performance of those clubs, they should make that quite clear, otherwise they are at risk of deceiving their audience.

"In this case there is a prima facie case that Channel Nine and the commentators are in breach of the existing legislation."

'Un-Australian'

The Nine Network reportedly confirmed there would be no editorialising on gambling reform in Sunday's NRL grand final broadcast.

But News Limited said league legend Steve Mortimer would feature in big-screen advertisements to tell the 82,000-strong crowd that the reforms are un-Australian and will hurt the football code.

Finance minister Penny Wong says the Government will not bow to such pressure.

"I think we've got to keep focused, and [remember] what's important and what's right," she told Channel 10.

Mr Wilkie also renewed his threat to pull support for the Federal Government if his plan to tackle problem gambling is not passed by May next year.

"There's no theatre here, no grand strategy playing out. I have reached an agreement with the prime minister, she is only the prime minister because she agreed to it," he said.

Under the reforms, pokie machines will be reprogrammed to cap losses at $120 an hour rather than $1,200 an hour, but lower-intensity machines will not require any form of pre-commitment.

Mr Wilkie said he was not prepared to negotiate further on the plan.

"There's no flexibility at all, there must be mandatory pre-commitment fit to all high intensity pokie machines," he said.

He said he remained confident his proposed changes would be successful, and expects it to be law by May next year.

"I actually remain very very optimistic, I think it is most likely that these reforms will be realised. I think it is very unlikely, in fact it's now reached the stage of almost inconceivable that I will have to withdraw my support [for the Government], as everyone knows is the bottom line," he said.

Grand final ads

Meanwhile, Lobby group GetUp! was to air a commercial during Sunday's NRL grand final in support of the Gillard Government's pokie reforms.

GetUp! national director Simon Sheikh said the advertisements were aimed at countering the big spend and misinformation campaign by Clubs Australia.

"They're trying to walk both sides of the street, saying that reform will ruin the revenue they receive from problem gamblers, while at the same time saying that reform won't reduce problem gambling," he said in a statement.

Mr Sheik said a problem gambler can lose $1,200 in one hour on high-intensity machines and 40 per cent of pokie losses come from problem gamblers.

"Without reform, pokie machines enable a social problem that can ruin individuals, families, businesses and marriages," Mr Sheikh said.

"Clubs give back just 2.7 per cent of profits in community contributions and for most, this is less than what they spend advertising their pokie palaces," he said.

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Saturday, October 01, 2011

Australian Pokie Wars: Abbott VS Wilkie, by Greg Tingle - 1st October 2011

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The Coalition's decision to oppose slot machine reform has made "independent" Andrew Wilkie even more gun ho in pushing the law for change even if it comes to bringing down the unpopular Gillard Government.

"I will not budge on mandatory pre-commitment on high intensity poker machines," he said.

It goes something like this...

Prime Minister Julia Gillard promised to introduce curbs on problem gamblers in return for his support of the minority Labor Government. He has set the budget in May as the deadline for the delivery of the promise, either by voluntary agreement by the states and territories or by overriding federal legislation.

The Federal Government is trying to work out how to implement the mandatory pre-commitment technology, with the states and territories unlikely to agree on firm action by Wilkie's deadline.

The tech would basically force poker machine players to register before playing and to use a card to choose how much they wanted to gamble in one session. It's understood some punters will find loopholes around the mousetrap, such is their desire to play.

Some Labor MPs are disturbed by the aggressive campaign being waged by clubs...a key Labour support area...against mandatory restrictions on problem gambling.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott advised this week the Coalition would vote against the legislation if the Government decided to bring it to Parliament.

Although independent Tony Windsor has concerns about the move, Wilkie believes the legislation would be successful.

"I think the numbers are there in the Parliament for this to pass into law but I have obviously made it the Government's challenge to out and get those numbers," he said.

Wilkie is super determined to act if the legislation hasn't been approved, even though this would result in mayhem, something Labour is used to by now, and would not actually achieve poker-machine reform.

"The next morning I'd call a press conference and tear up my agreement with the Prime Minister," he said. "If I was Opposition Leader, I'd probably move very quickly to bring on a no confidence motion in the Government on its inability to deliver poker machine reform, which, on the fact of it, I'd probably support.

"Mind you, the new Opposition could then turn around and bring on a no confidence motion in Tony Abbott on poker machine reform and I'd have to support that as well, because he is not going to help me out there. But the Government has made things a bit simpler for me, because the Labor Party now has a worse policy than the Coalition on irregular immigration. I assume Tony Abbott would race to an election ... I reckon he'd go out to Government House that day and say the situation is unstable."

Wilkie predicted the Coalition would win an election held next year in those circumstances.

"I don't think the Labor fortunes are going to turn around for some time yet," he said.

What party are you going to gamble on? Make your vote count.

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Pokie decision remains under wraps - 30th September 2011

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A decision has been made on the biggest application for poker machines in the state's history, but it is not being made public yet.

Yesterday, Wagga Wagga developer Charles Morton said he did not expect all 284 poker machine licences that he sought would be approved for the proposed $30 million redevelopment of the South Wagga Bowling Club.

The chairman of the NSW Liquor, Gaming and Racing Authority board, Chris Sidoti, told media the board met last night.

He says a ruling has been made and all of the reasons will be announced in a published decision to be announced as as soon as possible, but definitely by the end of October.

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Friday, September 30, 2011

Marvel Entertainment Movie And Gaming News, by Greg Tingle - 30th September 2011

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Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment's PartyCasino Tipped To Get More Hollywood And Marvel Themed Slot Games...

PartyCasino.com the world's biggest and most trusted online gambling company, is tipped to soon be getting more Marvel Comics and Hollywood themed slot games. Will it be Captain America, Blade, Andre The Giant, Knight Rider or all of the above? Stay tuned to find out!

Marvel looking for Avengers game partner...

The Avengers movie-based game that was in the works at THQ may not be happening now, but Marvel Comics tells us its gaming plans are far from over, and something big and positive is just around the corner.

"The rights for a video game based on Marvel's Avengers IP have reverted back to Marvel," a Marvel spokesperson told the press. We also heard something about "The company is in early stages of exploring potential publishing and licensing opportunities."

Should the partnership turn into reality, it would mark the Avengers' first gaming project since 1996's rarely seen Data East arcade fighter Avengers: Galactic Storm. Data East also handled the supergroup's best-known gaming excursion, the 1991 arcade beat-'em-up Captain America and the Avengers, which received a number of console ports in the following years.

The Avengers characters have featured in quite a few games over the decades. Upcoming Avengers film...Captain America, Thor, Hulk, and Iron Man...have all starred in their own feature films and accompanying game adaptations over the years.

The Avengers movie will feature a star-studded cast including Robert Downey, Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, and Samuel L. Jackson. Insiders tip it may be the superhero themed movie of the year and takings are expected to be beyond both Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger.


Activision Releases New X-Men Game...

Activision Blizzard Inc. recently announced the release of X-Men Destiny at retail stores. The title is available on Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox 360, Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo’s Wii and DS gaming systems. X-Men Destiny’s console version has been developed by Silicon Knights while Other Ocean studio has developed the DS version.

Based on characters created by Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a division of The Walt Disney Company (DIS), the new role-playing action game (RPG) introduces three new characters in the epic battle between X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants. Gamers can choose from the three new mutants- Grant Alexander, Aimi Yoshida and Adrian Luca, to fight alongside and against some of the greatest X-Men characters, such as Magneto, Cyclops, Wolverine and Gambit.

For the first time in the history of the franchisee, X-Men Destiny features a unique story telling mode, where the three new characters have a story and can make personal choices that will decide their own destiny, adding a new dimension to the game. Popular Hollywood stars have lent their voices to the three new characters, which is an added attraction of the game.

X-Men Destiny also features a new upgrade system, which allows gamers to enhance their mutant skills by mixing and matching X-Genes and abilities from various X-Men and Brotherhood characters.

X-Men has been one of the most popular franchisees published by Activision. The company has a history of publishing successful franchises based on iconic characters such as Spiderman, The Hulk, Shrek, Tony Hawk and many others. The company recently announced the release of the James Bond game GoldenEye 007: Reloaded and GoldenEye 007: Reloaded Double 'O' Edition.

We think the new games will drive Activision’s top-line growth going forward. We also believe that X-Men Destiny will provide a competitive edge against peers like Electronic Arts Inc.

Activision currently focuses on the digital channel, which helped drive revenues in the last quarter. This is an encouraging trend, since digitized games tend to yield higher margins and are also more likely to grow at a faster rate than packaged versions.

However, Activision continues to face tough competition from Electronic Arts Inc. and Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.

Activision also does not have a presence in the social and mobile gaming platforms, where Electronic Arts has made strategic acquisitions and partnerships. This could impact its competitive position over the long term.

Further, the gloomy macro environment in North America and weak video game results over the last 12 months compel us to remain on the sidelines.

We offer a Neutral recommendation on Activision over the long term (for the next 3 to 6 months). Activision boasts of a strong product pipeline for the upcoming holiday season, which will boost its top-line going forward. This is the reason for the #2 Rank on the shares, which implies a Buy rating in the short term.


Thor Slot Game; Super Hero Jackpot And More...

Marvel Entertainment via PartyCasino.com and Media Man present the Thor slot game. Don't just read the comics and watch the movies, play the games!

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Media Man News Blog: Pop culture flashback

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Hollywood And AussieWood Celebrity News, Wrestling, WWE Et Al - 13th March 2012

Hollywood And AussieWood Movie And Celebrity News

'Ocean's Eleven' voted greatest ever remake, Hollywood Celebrity News, Pro Wrestling Connection

Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis arm wrestle

Wrestling Legend "Rowdy" Roddy Piper In Fancypants Movie


The Four Horsemen Including Ric Flair To Be Inducted Into WWE Hall Of Fame 2012; Jim Ross Tweets

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Continues His Journey Towards WrestleMania Match With John Cena

What the Media has said about wrestling over the years






Thursday, September 29, 2011

Hilton Hotel Sydney Marble Bar Turns 118 - 29th September 2011

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You've probably heard of it, and we think about half of Sydney has likely been there at least once in its glorious history. We're talking about the famous Marble Bar of course.

It's nestled away and underground the even more famous Hilton Sydney. The Marble Bar is a groovy music and arts themed hangout right in the centre of 'Sin City' Sydney. It’s a funky, cool and sexy place to enjoy live artists in luxurious surroundings and you must check out the bar of course, offering up a world class selection of wines, cocktails and beers from across the globe.

Marble Bar could be considered an ideal venue to chill with friends and associates, as well as make new ones - business, pleasure or both.

It was originally constructed in 1893. History buffs will be interested to learn that's older than the Sydney Harbour Bridge (1932) and Sydney Opera House (1973).

The joint has been a huge hit with both young and old over the decades, and that's sure to be the case looking into the future.

It's also proved to be popular with both celebrities - the beautiful people, as well as Joe and Jane Doe. Ok, you want celebrities names so try this one for size...Liza Minnelli, George Benson, Wyclef Jean, Kelly Rowland, Mischa Barton, Ewan McGregor, Adam Lambert, Kate Ceberano and Slash have all partied amongst its breathtaking and original marble features.

Music lovers will be wrapt to hear that iconic Australian band Cold Chisel announced their comeback tour at Marble Bar just last month. Now get this, that's the scene of their 1979 record album cover 'Breakfast at Sweethearts' which was famously photographed at the bar of the moment.

The 118 year old Heritage-listed drinking spot and entertainment hub is amazing. You have to touch up the bar and fittings to truly appreciate the quality, much like a fine women (or man).

We understand that the original George Adams Bar, named after its builder, was constructed costing a whopping 32,000 pounds.

The bar was relocated from Tattersall’s in 1973 and Hilton Sydney’s original architect J.H. Bryant took on the role of Marble Bar historian, even facilitating numerous articles on the colourful history of the bar.

In the following decades the Marble Bar enjoyed the patronage of visitors from around Australia, and around the world, and eventually the gloss started to come off (but there's a happy ending, so stay with us).

As the Hilton Sydney underwent its own renovation, Marble Bar stayed hidden away, waiting for its time to one again shine.

It was a massive job to get the venue back to its former glory, but in 2005 the job was done.

Hilton Hotel - Marble Bar marketing blurb (and a few insiders) tell us its a 15th Century Italian Renaissance influence of the Marble Bar including 35 different varieties of Italian, Belgian and African marble, plus stained glass doors and ceilings, ornate carved bars of mahogany and a gallery of 14 Julian Ashton paintings valued at an estimated $1.6 million AUD.

We're pleased to report that it was a delightful 118th Birthday Party for the Marble Bar. The vibe was assuredly cool, sexy and funky with live music from G3 featuring Glenn Cunningham.

Happy Birthday Marble Bar, and may you enjoy at least another 118 years of the best.

Where Is It?: Marble Bar, Hilton Hotel Sydney, Basement level, 488 George Street, Sydney

*photography by Eva Rinaldi Photography

Websites

Hilton Hotel Sydney

Marble Bar

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

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Crown Casino Intellectual Property News Update, by Greg Tingle - 29th September 2011

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Crown Stops U.K. Trademark Application After Crown Bingo Objects...

Crown Limited's Crown Casino unit has apparently abandoned its recent attempt to register its trademark in the U.K. following objections from the U.K.’s Crown Bingo, popular gaming title EGaming Review reported.

The Australian company, the largest gaming and casino operator in the southern hemisphere, sought to register the mark for "the provision of gaming and casino services over a global computer network".

Crown Bingo, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, advised it would continue to oppose any attempt by the Australian company to use its brand in the United Kingdom.

"We’ve spent many millions on building the Crown brand in the U.K. and we don’t see why Crown Casino should benefit from that," Ian Erskine, Crown Bingo’s operations director told media.

Speculation remains as to whether James Packer's Crown Casino will have another crack at the IP in the UK, but rest assured we will be following up in a manner you have grown a custom to.

What's left to say but "May the best Crown win"!

*the writer owns shares in Crown Limited

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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

PartyCasino VS Virgin Casino iGaming War Continues

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PartyCasino.com - Accepts Canadian, Australian and New Zealand players. PartyCasino new players get up to $3000 sign up bonus. Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment is the world's largest and most succesful igaming company.

VirginCasino.com - No US, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand players. £100 sign up bonus. Virgin Games is part of Richard Branson's Virgin Enterprises Limited.

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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

IGT brings Manhattan glamour to Gaming at the Australasian Gaming Expo

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SYDNEY - August 22, 2011 - International Game Technology (IGT) will launch one of the widest ranges of games and systems to suit any size venue at this year's Australasian Gaming Expo (AGE) on Aug. 21-23, 2011. The stand will be sprinkled with fabulous Manhattan glamour, to tie in with IGT's Australian launch of the world famous Sex And The City® game. This blockbuster game has broken performance records in the US and had players queuing up to play. IGT's Sex And The City® slots demonstrate that gaming is just as much about entertainment as it is about winning.

The celebrated HBO® TV series inspired the creation of this low denomination game that appeals to existing players and, more importantly, new players across numerous demographics. It features a mix of extreme playability with four highly original bonus features, four jackpots and iconic music and video clips from the show. And it doesn't just appeal to female players, IGT's player research in the US showed that over 30 percent of players were male, which was attributed to the high brand appeal of the game. Venues can use this research in their patron marketing to attract new players, change perceptions and boost their profile with this famous brand on their gaming floor.

Also included with the package is strongly branded signage which, for two machine banks, includes an overhead sign featuring the iconic characters from the series.

"Sex and the City is extremely popular in Australia so we are very excited to bring the branded game to this very important market," explains James Costos, VP Licensing and Retail at HBO. "It is certainly the crown jewel of our merchandising program as we continue to expand our overall licensing strategy for the brand in this territory."

Other stand out products for clubs visiting the show will include strongly branded games with Asian appeal and a good level of volatility. Imperial Lion™ uses IGT's Multiway™ play and lets players choose the number of free games, the associated multiplier and a strong range of RTPs. Red Lions™ features two lines for one credit plus stacked substitutes during the ten free games as well as a good range of RTPs.

One of IGT's most famous and top performing theme banks, Gold Fever, is back in five… five cents that is. Gold Fever® now has four new games, all of which are available in five cent denominations as opposed to only one and two cent denominations in the previous versions of this popular game.

IGT also will be running free business presentations in its on-stand theatre , with industry experts speaking on a range of topics including gaming floor design, pre-commitment and food and beverage management. Details are available at IGT's website: www.igt.com.au/AGE11

About IGT

International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) is a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of gaming machines and systems products, as well as online and mobile gaming solutions for regulated markets. More information about IGT is available at www.IGT.com, or follow IGT on Twitter at @IGTNews or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IGT.

Sex And The City® - Official HBO Licensed Product, Series Title, Video Clips and Photographs © 2011 Home Box Office, trademarks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. All other trademarks are owned by IGT (Australia) Pty. Limited or its related entities. All information is subject to change without notice. Game type availability is subject to jurisdictional approval.

Who You Gonna Call For IGT's Ghostbusters(TM) Slots? MGM Resorts International(TM) Properties

Partnership Gives MGM Resorts a 30-Day First-to-Market Exclusive

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX

Ghost-tracking Psycho Kinetic Energy meters will be going crazy at MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) properties when the frighteningly fun Ghostbusters(TM) Slots come to The Strip as part of a 30-day, exclusive first-to-market partnership with International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT). The Ghostbusters(TM) Slots featuring Slimer, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and the hilarious Ghostbusters team was launched throughout the MGM Resorts' Las Vegas properties Monday, Sept. 19.

Debuting on IGT's new Center Stage Duo(TM) model, the game features the mischievous and lovable character Slimer teasing, mocking and awarding players with antics, multipliers and credits as he leads them through the game. A vivid 55-inch overhead LCD screen and chest-pumping MEGAfx Surround Chairs will send players' adrenaline racing during spectacular bonus rounds including:

Ballroom Busters Pick Bonus: Holdin! Smokin! Ready! Players are awarded five proton shots to blow up the ballroom to find ghosts.

Stay Puft Free Games Feature: Marshmallows fall from the sky, stick to symbols and turn them wild during this sweet feature.

Are You Psychic? Bonus: Guess the correct card to win credits and advance to the next round!
Paranormal Pick Bonus: Five levels of Paranormal Pick Bonuses allow players to select from phantasm clouds for a chance to win the progressive jackpot.

"Based on the blockbuster film franchise from Sony Pictures, the memorable characters, a catchy song and many unforgettable scenes have made Ghostbusters a pop culture mainstay, and I think we've captured the fun of the brand in the Ghostbusters Slots," said Eric Tom, executive vice president, North America Sales and Global Operations. "Players will be thrilled by the constant action and our graphic and sound technology will make for a ghoulishly good time."

Sherri Gilligan, senior vice president of marketing for MGM Resorts International, said, "Our guests deserve to have an amazing experience each time they arrive at one of our properties and the Ghostbusters Slots will add to that overall experience. The partnership with IGT allows us to create new opportunities for our guests and this is another example of an exclusive game we will feature on the casino floors throughout our company during the festive Halloween season."

To help kick off the Ghostbusters(TM) Slots fun, MGM Resorts and IGT will launch a sweepstakes featuring a grand prize VIP trip to Las Vegas.

About MGM Resorts International

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a peerless portfolio of destination resort brands, including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. In addition to its 51% interest in MGM China Holdings and the MGM Macau, the Company has significant holdings in gaming, hospitality and entertainment, owns and operates 15 properties located in Nevada, Mississippi and Michigan, and has 50% investments in three other properties in Nevada and Illinois. One of those investments is CityCenter, an unprecedented urban resort destination on the Las Vegas Strip featuring its centerpiece ARIA Resort & Casino. Leveraging MGM Resorts' unmatched amenities, the M life loyalty program delivers one-of-a-kind experiences, insider privileges and personalized rewards for guests at the Company's renowned properties nationwide. Through its hospitality management subsidiary, the Company holds a growing number of development and management agreements for casino and non-casino resort projects around the world. MGM Resorts International supports responsible gaming and has implemented the American Gaming Association's Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming at its gaming properties. The Company has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions for its industry-leading Diversity Initiative, its community philanthropy programs and the Company's commitment to sustainable development and operations. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's Web site at www.mgmresorts.com.

About IGT

International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) is a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of gaming machines and systems products, as well as online and mobile gaming solutions for regulated markets. More information about IGT is available at www.IGT.com or follow IGT on Twitter at @IGTNews or Facebook at www.facebook.com/IGT.

Ghostbusters: TM & ©2011 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

SOURCE IGT; MGM Resorts International

PartyCasino Rewards Early Birds Via Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment

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PartyCasino is rewarding early birds all week in an Early Bird promotion which started at 00:00 Eastern Time today (Monday 26 September) and ends at 23:59 Eastern Time on Friday 30 September. We stress the times because the Early Bird promotion will be giving out cash prizes to the first 20 players who earn themselves 600 points on any given day, so choosing when to play is quite important. For readers in the UK, Eastern Time is five hours behind GMT, so it could be argued that online casino players here have an advantage when it comes to being ‘early birds’ in the Eastern Time zone.

The featured game categories in the Early Bird promotion are slots and jackpot slots (such as Marvel Hero Jackpot slots and The Godfather), and you can choose to play whatever titles you wish from those categories. The idea is that you play the games in the usual way (keeping your fingers crossed that you win yourself a jackpot, of course!) and as you do so you will earn points according to your wagering activity. If you are one of the first 20 players to earn 600 points on the day in question (a day obviously runs from 00:00 to 23:59 ET) then you will win $200!

If you are a Palladium VIP member at PartyCasino then you can participate in your own Early Bird promotion which will award cash prizes to 10 players each day. The same game categories are featured (slots and jackpot slots) but in this case you will need to be one of the first 10 players to earn 6,000 points on a given day to win a cash prize of $500.

To participate in the Early Bird promotion you should visit the PartyCasino website, navigate to the Early Bird page and Opt In. Once you have opted in you can get straight down to playing your favourite slots and jackpot slots games to try and win yourself an Early Bird cash prize even if you don’t win a fortune on the slots themselves.

With so much prize money up for grabs we think the promotion will bring out the punter in you, and may event help you get out of bed a touch earlier than usual.

New players get up to $3000 sign up bonus.

Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment is the company behind PartyCasino. They have been in business over 10 years and are listed on the London Stock Exchange.

PartyCasino has achieved numerous awards and commendations including the Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month' award.

Check out PartyCasino today to find out more and good luck!

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War Of The Worlds Comes To Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment; War of the Worlds game - Coming This Fall!

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An adventure of a lifetime is waiting for players at PartyCasino with the launch of a brand new “War of the Worlds” themed game, based on Spielberg’s 2005 Hollywood blockbuster. This five reel 100-line slot will put you right in the centre of the action for as little as 1p per line and will give you a chance to win a massive jackpot of up to £250,000!

The most attractive feature of this slot is the great bonus round that players have access to by getting three bonus symbols anywhere on the reel. Winning the round will give players a chance to win up to 500 times their total stake and, for some, could be a good reason to make “War of the Worlds” a regular stop.

From outstanding graphics to a larger-than-life bonus round, it is clear that this game was designed with absolute precision, giving the player a superb game play experience that will keep you wanting more.

New players get up to $3000 sign up bonus via Media Man.

Enter the casino wars with 'War Of The Worlds', Media Man and Casino News Media.

War of the Worlds game - Coming This Fall!

The War of the Worlds Is a dark and breathtaking new vision of the classic H.G. Wells novel, retold as a videogame, narrated by the acclaimed actor, Patrick Stewart. The game follows the exploits of an unknown everyman struggling to escape the Martian invasion of 1950s London and rescue his family. Forced to think through insurmountable odds, players will outsmart an army of alien tripods, spidersbots and drones as they make their way through a landscape of total devastation.

Gamespot says “War of the Worlds is perfectly written and spoken.”

IGN declares “War of the Worlds is out of this world.”

A WORLD APART - Massive levels and dozens of different areas rife with Martian Tripods, mechanical spiders, drones, blood-harvesting ‘red weeds’, and lethal ‘black smoke’. Humans flee in terror and players must think their way through the ultimate journey of mankind’s survival.

SURVIVING THE EXTINCTION - As a survivor of the Martian attack, voiceover from Patrick Stewart’s character tells the tale of how he survived mankind’s near-extinction event, serving both as a way of fleshing out the world around players AND as a useful hint mechanism.

AN UNIMAGINABLE ENEMY - Players must avoid the unruly Martian invaders and stay aware of their surroundings. Players should be mindful of the alien heat beams, one zap could mean the beginning of the end of humankind’s survival.

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Monday, September 26, 2011

The Hunter Sydney Australia Movie Premiere - 26th September 2011

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Our hunt is just about over for the Australian premiere of 'The Hunter'.

Sydney might not be home to the Tasmanian Devil, but it's hard to argue with the choice of Dendy Opera Quays being the venue for tonight's Aussie premiere.

Willem Dafoe was most generous in his time with Australian press.

Defoe portrays a mercenary on the trail of the now extinct Tasmanian Tiger.

"It's true," Dafoe concedes in his instantly recognisable, gravelly voice over the phone from his home in Rome. "And that's not a bad thing."

The actor was wrapt to play the lead part of Martin in The Hunter, based on Julia Leigh's acclaimed novel of the same title.

The rising star actor told our friends at News Limited "First of all I didn't know it was freezing. But the fact that we were going to shoot in Tasmania was very important. Clearly you had this very good story set against this epic backdrop and that appealed to me not only for the adventure personally but it's also nice to find a movie that can do the things movies do best, something that television can't do for example.

"I liked the fact that it was the central character with a slow transformation and that you got to spend a lot of time with him in the bush."

"The landscape is very tough and the weather is very tough but it really rooted what we were doing. One day it would be beautiful and sunny and the next day it would be snowing and freezing cold. And button grass - unless you have walked through a field of button grass you have no idea how difficult it is."

Dafoe advised he loves to travel the world to make motion pictures, thinking that exposure to different locations and new things helps makes actors "reconsider your condition and the condition of the world". He loved that Tasmania was so faraway from the movies business and was as "a magical place to film".

"You can really concentrate on what you are doing and the further you get away from the world, then that becomes the only world," he says. "Because it is so far away from everything it has a special charm."

The Hunter also stars Frances O'Connor and Sam Neill, with whom Dafoe has worked before.

Be sure to watch out for the ongoing struggle between loggers and tree huggers.

Dafoe has worked with some huge names in the modern era of movie making. Try on for size David Lynch (Wild At Heart), Martin Scorsese (The Last Temptation of Christ), Oliver Stone (Platoon) and Sam Raimi (Spider-Man). The Hunter was directed by Daniel Nettheim, in his first feature, but Dafoe says he enjoyed the opportunity to lend his considerable expertise.

"Let's face it," he says, "Martin Scorsese and David Lynch had to start somewhere. Also you are afforded a sense of collaboration. It's always difficult to adapt a very strong piece of literature and since you spend so much time with this character it was important to really suit him to me.

"So there was lots of back and forth and working to make it a good fit. After I met Daniel I knew he was very bright and knew he was very open to working with me in that way."

Tasmania may be home for his current flick, but next stop is Mars for the rising star, thanks to Disney. Dafoe will play Tars Tarkas, a six-limbed, green Martian warrior.

For now, its apparent that Dafoe has found his place in the motion picture universe, and insiders tip he is an actor expected to go a long way, with his name up for some Hollywood awards later this year.

The Hunter opens Australia on Thursday.

Websites

The Hunter
http://www.thehuntermovie.com

Dendy Opera Quays
http://www.dendy.com.au/Page/Dendy-Opera-Quays-Location

NIX Co
http://www.nixco.com.au

Cast

Willem Dafoe - Martin David
Sam Neill - Jack Mindy
Frances O’Connor - Lucy Armstrong
Sullivan Stapleton
Dan Wyllie
Callan Mulvey
Jacek Koman
Morgana Davies - Sass Armstrong
John Brumpton - Publican
Maia Thomas - Shakti
Jamie Timony - Free
Dan Spielman - Simon
Finn Woodlock - Bike Armstrong

Director: Daniel Nettheim
Writers: Julia Leigh (novel), Wain Fimeri (original adaptation)

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Hugh Jackman denies breaking wrestler's jaw - 26th September 2011

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Hugh Jackman admits that he punched a professional wrestler with all of his might - but disputes claims that he broke his jaw.

The Australian actor attended a WWE wrestling match on September 19 to promote his upcoming boxing film Real Steel. A guest of honour, Jackman was able to hang out in wrestler Zack Ryder's corner while the tournament took place.

At one point during the fight, Jackman travelled over to Dolph Ziggler's corner, Ryder's opponent. Jackman and Ziggler exchanged words and Ziggler received a clean punch to the jaw by the actor quickly thereafter.

"I hit him," Jackman told Entertainment Weekly.

"[Dolph] said, 'Hit me as hard as you can.' So I hit him pretty hard. And you can see it in my eyes. I watched [the clip] again, and you can see me going 'Uh oh' a little. I'm acting like, 'Yeah!' but I'm really like, 'S***, I kinda really clocked him in the jaw'."

Jackman insists that he didn't mean to clock Ziggler with so much force. Ziggler tweeted soon after the incident with claims that Jackman put a hairline fracture in his jaw.

"It was scripted that I would go for that punch," Jackman explained.

"But just before we went on, Dolph was yelling at me, 'You hit me man! Just f***ing hit me!' During rehearsal I said, 'I'd like to do it, but I've spent 20 years pulling punches, trying not to hit. Trying to make it look real, but not really hit.'

"He said, 'There's no way. There's cameras everywhere, there's crowd everywhere, there's no way we can 'whiff it', as they call it'."

Jackman is convinced that Ziggler may be embellishing the extent of his injury a little bit.

"The next day I read he really broke his jaw and I wasn't surprised - but I don't think he did," Jackman said.

"He's prone to exaggeration - which is why I hit him! Nah, just kidding!"

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Kate Winslet's "Sexy" Fling With Richard Branson's Nephew

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Rocknroll new romance for Kate Winslet!

The Oscar winning actress, 35, is dating Richard Branson's nephew Ned Abel Smith -- a.k.a. Ned Rocknroll -- a source confirms to Us Weekly.

The duo arrived together at last Tuesday's memorial service for Ted Branson (Richard Branson's father) at the Royal Geographical Society in London. The Daily Mail reports that Ned, 33, legally changed his name to "Ned Rocknroll" several years back, and recently separated from his wife Eliza, the daughter of a British viscount.

"Ned is really happy with Kate," the source tells Us, adding that the couple are currently spending a romantic weekend in the English countryside. Mildred Pierce star Winslet is "mature and has it all together," the source explains. "[Ned] feels he can learn so much from her. It's sexy -- a boy toy situation!"

An old friend of the Branson family, Winslet was famously a guest on Richard Branson's private Necker Island in late August when the house she was staying in caught fire; Winslet ended up carrying Eve, Branson's elderly mother, out of the burning building.

Winslet wasn't a solo visitor during her momentous Necker Island stay. In addition to her kids Mia, 10, and Joe, 7, the star's fellow guest was Louis Dowler, her on-and-off model beau.

No word yet on exactly when Winslet and Dowler parted ways.

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Sunday, September 25, 2011

Schwarzenegger's 'unbelievably true' memoir - 23rd September 2011

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Arnold Schwarzenegger is writing a memoir about his rise to fame and unlikely transition from Austrian-born champion bodybuilder to Hollywood action star to California governor, his publisher said on Thursday.

Schwarzenegger, 64, who in May announced his separation from wife Maria Shriver after admitting to fathering a child out of wedlock, is "chronicling his embodiment of the American Dream" in his second autobiography, publisher Simon & Schuster said.

The memoir, titled Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story, was acquired by Simon & Schuster after Schwarzenegger began working on the book last year. It will be released in October, 2012.

Named after his 1990 film Total Recall near the pinnacle of his movie career, the book will return to Schwarzenegger's roots where he started lifting weights as a teenager in a small Austrian village before winning Mr. Universe titles and moving to the United States at the age of 21.

Schwarzenegger will discuss his time spent in Venice Beach, California training in Gold's gym and winning the Mr. Olympia title seven times before overcoming a thick accent to establish himself as a star in films like 1982's Conan The Barbarian.

The book will chronicle his transition from movie tough guy, the Terminator, to an entrepreneur with businesses such as Planet Hollywood to politics where as California governor he was affectionately dubbed the Governator and attempted to champion environmental policies.

But four months after he left office, Schwarzenegger said in May that he was halting discussions for a new Terminator movie and all other Hollywood projects in order to focus on personal matters after admitting he fathered a secret child 13 years ago with his family's housekeeper.
He was then ridiculed in the media, some outlets called him the Sperminator, and Shriver, a member of the Kennedy dynasty, filed for a divorce in July to end their 25-year marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.

The couple has four children together, including teenage son Christopher who suffered a serious surfing accident later in July.

Schwarzenegger has since planned to shoot action roles in movies Last Stand and The Expendables 2.

A spokeswoman for Simon & Schuster would not comment on whether the book would discuss his divorce and sex scandal. The book will be published in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. German rights have been sold to Hoffmann und Campe and Dutch rights to A.W. Bruna.

"Nobody has a life story even close to his. To go from poor immigrant to world class athlete to the biggest movie star in the world to governor of California is an incredible journey," Jonathan Karp, publisher of Simon & Schuster, said in a statement.

Schwarzenegger's first book, The Education of a Bodybuilder, has never been out of print since its release in 1977, Simon & Schuster said.




Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone

Another new recruit for The Expendables 2...

Shooting on The Expendables 2 starts in a couple of weeks time.

The cast and crew are set to fly off to Eastern Europe.

Earlier this week, the cast list grew again, with the addition of Liam Hemsworth to the film. We understand that Taylor Lautner had turned it down.

Definitely joining the movie, though, is Scott Adkins.

Adkins is ranks in his martial arts, and amongst his film credits are Undisputed II, Undisputed III, The Bourne Ultimatum, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and The Pink Panther. Amongst his television credits count Holby City and EastEnders.

Adkins joins a cast that includes Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, Jean Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris and Terry Crews. And The Expendables 2 arrives next August.

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WWE Internet Championship In Works; Zack Ryder Pushed By Top Brass And Hugh Jackman - 23rd September 2011

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WWE's Zack Ryder is maintaining his rage to see an official WWE Internet Championship come to pass. Woo Woo Woo.

Contracted pro wrestler Dolph Ziggler tweeted that his mandible was fractured after the actor hit him this past Monday Night Raw, but some insiders say it was all an elaborate stunt. Wouldn't be the first time would it.

Aussie actor Hugh Jackman made a special appearance on Monday night's WWE Raw to promote his upcoming boxing film Real Steel, and got a little more than he bargained for, such is life in and around the WWE.

The actor, who has played beefed-up character Wolverine in Marvel's X-Men films since 2000, got into a been with notorious heel wrestler Dolph Ziggler, who insulted Jackman by calling him the wrong superhero name: Batman.

While this back-and-forth was surely staged, as WWE match-ups are, when Jackman delivered the planned punch, it may have achieved extra impact.

"MRI scheduled for 1 pm.....possible fractured jaw #thanksBatman," Ziggler wrote from his HEELZiggler Twitter account Tuesday. He later seemed to confirm the injury, following up with, "hairline mandibular fracture" tweet.

But, some are claiming that the entire injury is a hoax. TMZ reports that sources close to the wrestler say the entire thing was made up, but that the WWE wasn't in on Ziggler's joke.

Whatever the case, we here at Media Man love it. Keep it up.

Rumours remain that the likes of Mick Foley, Hulk Hogan and another former NWO member will soon return to WWE rings.

We can also confirm the return of the late, great, Andre The Giant this year (but in an online slot game - not in a wrestling ring). Ric Flair may also be following suit, and Kevin Nash is also understood to be keen to further explore online gaming opportunities. Don't change your dial.

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Clubs back NRL-AFL pokies campaign - 25th September 2011

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The clubs industry is backing rugby league and the AFL's alliance to campaign against the federal government's poker machine reforms.

The NRL and the AFL are planning to run television advertisements against mandatory pre-commitment during Grand Final week.

Clubs Australia executive director Anthony Ball said he welcomed the decision of the two rival codes to speak out against the technology being demanded by independent MP Andrew Wilkie.

"Millions of Australians are AFL and rugby league fans," he said in a statement.

"By backing Andrew Wilkie's demand for mandatory pre-commitment, the federal government is directly attacking the ability of clubs across the country to support AFL and rugby league teams."

Mr Ball said no sporting club would escape the "massive financial hit" of the mandatory pre-commitment regime, which Mr Wilkie wants implemented by 2014.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou and individual club presidents are meeting on Monday to map out campaign strategies.

New Ltd reports Mr Demetriou has held talks with Families Minister Jenny Macklin, who would have carriage of the pokies legislation, along with Sports Minister Mark Arbib and Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten.

It added that 25 Labor MPs had threatened to vote against the plan in Caucus.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has described mandatory pre-commitment as a "footy tax".

Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) president Ged Kearney said the government should be allowed to implement its pokies reforms.

She said although Clubs Australia was arguing there could be job losses, the harmful effects of problem gambling on peoples' lives should not be downplayed.

"I think let the reforms be implemented, monitor them closely and see what happens," she said.

"I'm sure we can help workers and businesses from an adverse impact as we go along."

Ms Kearney said the policy allowing people to set their own gambling limits was sensible.

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