Give it time.  And don't forget Bloodrayne also got a Playboy spread (pardon the pun).

EDIT: TWO MOVIES!?! I hope at least one of them was a porno.

Cruel, and beneath me, but I thought you guys would like it.

MCV

Report reckons Activision won’t green light games with female leading characters

Publisher Activision has denied allegations that it has a sexist development agenda that forbids the use of female lead characters in its titles.

The claims come from a speculative report on Gamasutra that cites a number of unnamed sources. “Games with female leads don't sell,” it reads. “At least that's what Activision believes.

“In 2007, we're told the publisher even went so far as to change the protagonist in a new concept – the project that would become True Crime 3 – from a female to a male, on the rationale that the female wouldn't move software units. According to our research, the only titles published by Activision since 2005 that feature female leads are licenses, like Barbie and Dora.”

Specifically, the site claims that in the early stages of its development True Crime was in fact pitched by Treyarch under an entirely different guise. Called Black Lotus, it featured an Asian female assassin modelled on actress Lucy Liu.

It’s claimed that in the end “Activision killed it, saying they don't do female characters because they don't sell – Activision gave us specific direction to lose the chick”.

Another source adds: “If Activision does not see a female lead in the top five games that year, they will not have a female lead. And the people that don't want a female lead will look at games like Wet and Bayonetta and use them as 'statistics' to 'prove' that female leads don't move mass units.”

Activision, however, has strongly denied the accusations, telling Gamasutra in an official statement: “Activision respects the creative vision of its development teams. The company does not have a policy of telling its studios what game content they can develop, nor has the company told any of its studios that they cannot develop games with female lead characters.

“With respect to True Crime: Hong Kong, Activision did not mandate the gender of the lead character. Like all other game and media companies, Activision uses market research in order to better understand what gamers are looking for.”

Updating now.

So there is this topic on GAF asking if 3rd parties are essentially done with the Wii.

Thoughts?

I think they are, I fully expect 2011 to be the last year for the wii  (coinciding with the traditional 5 year life cycle) and that a new console will be announced or launched at the end of 2011, in at least one territory.

There is some decent-ish 3rd party content on the way like Sonic Colours, Conduit 2, Epic Mickey, Goldeneye, COD Black Ops, NBA Jam, DQ10, Ghost Recon, Driver etc.

But in terms of exclusives using the benefits of the system I don't see much happening. Nintendo are the ones who are coming up with the goods. I have a feeling that Retro's other projects will be for the Wii Too.

Agnates said:

gamingeek said:

So there is this topic on GAF asking if 3rd parties are essentially done with the Wii.

Done with what? Not supporting it? Cos if they mean done with support, when did they begin with it? The situation's been the same since day 1, no AAA production to speak of and just the occasional low budget effort from smaller studios. That's how it was, and will be. MH3 and DQX being the only exceptions.

Yeah, pretty much. It's always been token support.  

I guess they mean in terms of support beyond say 3rd quarter of 2011.

Ubisoft have started trying to get as many multiformat games on Wii as possible, Prince of Persia, Ghost Recon, Driver etc. Capcom has finally made the MT framework wii compatible which means they might try and do some cheap ports to the system.

Has anyone else noticed that Nintendo has done 2D Mario, 2D Metroid and now 2D Donkey Kong?

It would be like Capcom doing home console - 2D Ghouls and Ghosts, 2D Strider, 2D Final Fight, all as proper retail releases.

Do you think that other companies should follow their lead and do a 2D revival of their past classics? What games would you like to see re-made in this style?

I'd go for a 2D Castle of Illusion.

Dvader said:

I finished DKC2 and the last 2 worlds were fantastic. Epic parrot race was epic. I still think the game can be more annoying than fun at times, but yeah its a great game.

Game sucks, game sucks, game sucks *plays it* It's great!