The UpStream (Page 523)

The staff here at PLuGHiTz Live! Radio has been following the events in this love circle between Apple, AT&T and Google for a while now. Since we were at Florida's Animation Supercon last weekend here's a short recap of what's been going on.

It all started with Apple "denying" the Google Voice application but Apple denies denying the app saying that it's still undergoing the review process because it duplicates features already available on the iPhone, which has been continuing for months now. So Google and Apple got the FCC involved to hopefully reach a conclusion. Well, while the tattle tailing and name calling was being mediated by the FCC the plot began to thicken. AT&T wasn't as innocent in all of this as everyone might think. They don't like the Google Voice app for a variety of reasons. Mostly they think Google Voice has an unfair competitive advantage over their services because Google Voice can block numbers and services like adult chat lines and conference calling services that generate high connection fees driving up traditional phone carriers costs. They are not able to block these services due to new regulations set in place by the FCC in 2007 stating that customers have the right to call whoever they want whenever they want. In light of all this AT&T wrote a letter to the FCC asking them to investigate Google Voice and that brings us to where we left off.

Do you remember how terrible the last Spider-Man movie was? Of course you do. We ALL do. After the movie, my hopes were that I would never encounter any of the content of that film again. Well, my hopes and dreams have been crushed because Columbia/Sony is working on a Venom solo movie.

The theory of a Venom film isn't terrible in itself. Venom is a pretty badass character, after all. However, the Venom that Sony setup in the last film was not so much. Still not enough to completely ruin the film, however. Here is the part that should guarentee a semi-unwatchable film. Variety reports:

In April, Will Wright (creator of the Sims games, such as Sim City) surprised the industry when he announced he was leaving EA Maxis, a company he had worked for seemingly since the dawn of time. After his departure, he started a new company, Stupid Fun Club. As Will is known to do, he gave no indication about what he was up to.

Lucky for us, he gave an interview to VentureBeat in which he said he is working on three projects, a couple of which are games.

Britain has finally done it. They have completely lost their minds. Launching soon will be a new Internet-based game in which you watch people remotely and report crimes. For every suspected crime reported, you will earn one point. For every legitimate crime reported, you will earn three points. For really good tips, there could be cash prizes of up to 1000 euros.

Now, this certainly sounds like a terrible videogame, doesn't it? Well, good news - it's not a videogame. This will be a 100% real online game. The government has taken the concept of Alternate Reality Games and gone one step farther. The actual basis of the game is that you will have access to the country's infrastructure of traffic and city cams and you are encouraged to snitch on your fellow citizens. Clearly the British don't have the expression "no snitching."

If you missed anything from Animation SuperCon, you can get your fill right here. From the opening cereminies to interviews with some of the biggest voice actors in the business like Billy West (Futurama's Fry), Phil LaMarr (Futurama's Hermes Conrad), John DiMaggio (Futurama's Bender) and Rob Paulsen (Pinky of Pinky and the Brain).

Check it out after the break!

Hey guys. Don't forget that PLuGHiTz Live! will be at Florida's Animation SuperCon this weekend. If you're planning on being there, come see us at our booth in the podcasters' area and meet the voices you hear on the show!

If you're not able to make it to the show, keep checking out our convention coverage all weekend, where you can see interviews with some of the biggest names in gaming, comics and of course animation, including the cast of Futurama!

We'll also be broadcasting the radio show live from the convention center Sunday night at PM, so check that out, too!