From Siliconera:
4mm Games came on the scene this year with Rockstar co-founders Jamie King and Gary Forman at the helm. Def Jam Rapstar, a hip-hop rapping game with video sharing features, will be the first title from the New York based studio.
How did a brand new studio get the funding to develop a game and pick up the Def Jam license, which juggernaut Electronic Arts previously held? I spoke with Nick Perrett, CEO of 4mm Games, to find out.
Why did you want to join 4mm?
Nick Perrett, CEO: One of the things I was most interested in before I came on board 4mm is there was this concept of the developer getting funding that would allow them to retain control of their IP (intellectual property) for a lot longer than they would normally do. They would have the freedom to choose who their publishing partner would be rather than 'I'm going to run out of money next month, I need to go with this guy.'
How did you get funding to start the studio?
The company we're working is CEA Autumn, it's a new fund. CEA is actually a media investment bank in New York and they have like forty funds and a billion dollars under management. They do everything from mobile to mainstream publishing and they didn't have any presence in games.
Their basis in entering it is it's one of the best areas of entertainment to make money. Really, we have a great relationship with them and it's slate oriented. It's like film financing where you get a slate of films. We're being funded for a slate of games.
GameDynamo - "Looks like Konami and Autumn Games are due in court. City National Bank claims that the two companies defrauded the bank of funds totaling $14 million dollars related to the development of Def Jam Rapstar. According to City National, the two companies lied to the bank to secure Autumn a line of credit, claiming that revenue from sales for the karaoke title would cover the loans."
they also lied to us about Silent Hill HD Collection being everything like the originals. Shit, I take them to court too.
That game did not sell at all. Ouch...I still have 18 copies sitting around at work.
I wish they would've made a new Def Jam fighting game like Fight For New York. Now that would've sold! That's what happens when you try to follow trends.
Eurogamer:
The developers responsible for 2010 music title Def Jam Rapstar are being sued by record label EMI for allegedly failing to clear the rights to tracks featured in the game.
hahahaha that's rich you would think all that stuff would be taken care of um I don't know before it launched lol
Contracts with music companies can be very detailed & difficult. Depending on the songs used, the music label may have rights to the song, but don't issue royalties to that artist anymore. & to deepen the situation, that artist can then request $, for the usage of the song. Not to mention the multiple artists that may be involved. Things like that would cost the music label $.
"& they don't want that,-Nooooo!"
(Jay-Z_Takeover)
But it could just be a case of "no, you can't use that song".
However;
Damn! 54 tracks? I thought maybe a handful or so.
That's heist.
June 23 marks the spot when Def Jam Rapstar, Lockwood Publishing, and more make their way into your home. Your Playstation Home that is.
Now I can show off my (absolutely no) musical talent to all my (soon to be non existent) friends!
I deleted Home awhile ago to make room on my ps3. I think Home is completely boring and has long ass load times.