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"Gizmondo" via PRAEst76
After being released from American prisons in early 2008, Eriksson ran into legal trouble again upon re-entering Sweden. Talking to The Local, his lawyer's initial response to the verdict was, "This is unacceptable, but we must sit down and discuss how we should proceed." We're tentatively suggesting, "Get Eriksson away from cars, money, and other people," but that's just us.
[Via Eurogamer]
Gizmondo man goes back to jail, does not pass go (again), does not collect $200 (again) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Stefan Eriksson, head of Gizmondo (the failed handheld gaming company who couldn't even plagiarize our name correctly), was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison for robbery, attempted blackmail and making illegal threats (which threats are legal?).
Eriksson, whose story reaches Mark Sanford levels of ridiculous, is famous for crashing a rare Ferrari, escaping at least one prison sentence, possibly having a movie made about him, leading some sort of mafia in Sweden in the 1990s and making a product nobody ever wanted, ever. Referred to in his native Sweden as "Fat Stefan," because he's fat, Eriksson will serve 18 months in prison for his multitude of mafia and gadget-related crimes. Eriksson is a hilarious dirtbag the likes of which we rarely see in the tech world and he'll be missed, at least theoretically, maybe. [The Local via Engadget, photo credit AP]
That's Swedish for "the slammer." Bo Eriksson, lesser known for his role heading the failed portable called Gizmondo, more known for bizarre behavior including wrecked cars and arson threats, is headed there.
According to the translation from a Swedish radio Web site, Eriksson is looking at 1.5 years in the pen. Some of the charges against him were dismissed, but enough stuck to make a judge seize his passport to keep him from fleeing while the sentence is affirmed. Gizmondo's history as a short-lived $400 handheld, which crashed in its parent company's bankruptcy, has the added ignominy of being overshadowed by the man who killed it - Eriksson - whose wrecking of an illegally imported Ferrari Enzo back in 2006 is far more interesting than any of the 10 titles released for the platform.
Of course, Eriksson is such a charming rogue there's been discussion of his story, and Gizmondo's, heading to the big screen after a Wired piece on the fiasco was optioned. Prosecutors aren't calling the verdict a complete success, but Eriksson thinks the 18 months are "very strict," and his lawyer-mans is mum on word of an appeal.
Prison for Eriksson [Sveriges Radio P4 Uppland, via Engadget]
But, we digress. The men who want to turn this sad tale into a sad tale starring more beautiful people for the silver screen are writer-director Craig Zobel and producer Beau Flynn. These two have optioned Wired's "Gizmondo's Spectacular Crack-up," which was written by Randall Sullivan and chronicles the events that led up to that infamous crash. Flynn's production company Contrafilm will handle most of the heavy lifting.
When you think about it, though, is this really movie theater entertainment? Wouldn't this be a good cautionary tale for an after school special or that Intervention show?
[Via Engadget]
Read - Film gets optioned
Read - The original Wired article
Two guys want to make a Gizmondo movie originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 May 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Tiger Telematics' spectacularly failed Gizmondo portable game machine may be the most exciting industry misfires of all time. Someone thinks it's potentially exciting enough to be brought to the silver screen.
Of course, one of the most interesting characters attached to the drama that was the Gizmondo is Swedish businessman Bo Stefan Eriksson. He's probably best known for destroying a Ferrari Enzo, one that was illegally imported, worth one million dollars. But he's also known for blowing through $300 million in Gizmondo capital with his hardware launching cohorts, being arrested on grand theft auto charges, and having an alleged organized crime past.
The Hollywood Reporter writes that writer-director Craig Zobel and producer Beau Flynn have optioned Eriksson and Gizmondo's story, hoping to put the tale of the failed handheld in front of a lens. They've optioned the 2006 Wired story "Gizmondo's Spectacular Crack-up" for a potential movie.
Yes, that's potential. Just because the rights to that Wired piece have been optioned doesn't mean that a movie will ultimately be made about Eriksson and crew.
Still, it could make for very interesting cinema, if done right. And that means not showing any Gizmondo in-game footage during the film.
Con man's story a real 'Crack-up' [The Hollywood Reporter via Gizmodo] [Image Credit]
Wired's story on Gizmondo, the gadget company fronted by Swedish con artist Bo Stefan Eriksson, has been optioned to be made into a film.
I just want to know, is Eriksson getting paid for his life rights? Because I'd hate to think he's making a dime after the shit he pulled.
The original article starts out with the famous crash which brought attention to Eriksson, eventually ending his ring of lies:
THE BUMP IN THE ROAD that ended Bo Stefan Eriksson's fantastic ride is practically invisible. From 10 feet away, all you can see is the ragged edge of a tar-seamed crack in an otherwise smooth sheet of pavement. Only the location is impressive - a sweet stretch of straightaway on California's Pacific Coast Highway near El Pescador state beach, just past the eucalyptus-shaded mansions of the Malibu hills. On that patch of broken asphalt, there's barely enough lip to stub a toe. Of course, when you hit it at close to 200 miles per hour, as police say Eriksson did in the predawn light last February 21, while behind the wheel of a 660-horsepower Ferrari Enzo, consequences magnify.The Enzo has less than 6 inches of ground clearance, and at that speed, it took only a slight scrape under the front bumper to launch the vehicle. The airborne Ferrari landed in a skid that in a blink became a sidelong drift. Tires shredding, the car bounced over the shoulder onto a grassy slope wet with dew. All Eriksson could do was hold on as the slithering, swiveling Enzo again achieved liftoff, then slammed broadside into a wooden power pole.
Gizmondo's story, one of massive fraud, mob ties and wrecked Ferraris, would make a fine film, but being optioned is far from a guarantee that the movie will ever get made. I hope it does, if only so that some good can come of the whole debacle. And so that more people can confuse Gizmodo with Gizmondo. I love that!* [Hollywood Reporter via Robert Capps, editor of the story who looks like a supertrooper]
*Not really.
Filed under: Portable
The video game world has been rocked
by the news that one of the true giants of the industry has filed for bankruptcy protection in the UK, their homeland.
At least that's the way Tiger Telematics would prefer the headline to read; in fact it reads something closer to this:
comically ugly video game console hemorrhages money, almost kills
company.The bankruptcy filing surfaced today in an explanation to the SEC regarding plans for their US operations. While Gizmondo Europe "made a reduction in payroll of approximately 50% of monthly staff costs during the week prior to the court application," operations elsewhere continue unabated. "The action does not affect any other subsidiary of the Company including its United States operations and sales under Gizmondo USA Inc."
Does this mean the tens of fans clamoring for the widescreen version will be disappointed?
[Via Engadget]
Tough times for Tiger Telematics; filing for bankruptcy in UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jan 2006 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Action
According to OMG Nintendo, Minoru Nakai, director and producer on Dead Rising: Chop Til You Drop, describes the upcoming Wii port as "a very different game" than the Xbox 360 original, with a Resident Evil 4-style camera that "stays fairly tight behind Frank." Apparently this makes snapping pics, erotic or otherwise, of the undead not work so well.
We hope Frank doesn't feel too naked without his trusty 35mm, though it looks like the photojournalist has that situation well in hand.
[Via N4G]
Why there's no photography in Dead Rising Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Sony PSP
"Clearly, being a quiet time of year, many, what we thought to be credible websites, are making up stories about PSP2, and how it allows you to teleport across the globe, travel through time, and will be powered by the horns of baby rhinoceroses," Sony explained. "Hopefully, you can sense a mild tone of sarcasm, which should hopefully indicate how 'on the money' IGN are. Needless to say, we don't comment on rumour or speculation, but this is nonsense."
We don't know who to feel embarrassed for right now, but it's certainly going to be awkward if IGN is right.
Source - Rumor: PSP2 coming soon. (IGN)
Source - PSP 2 Rumors are "nonsense." (MCV)
Sony dismisses IGN's PSP2 rumors, disses IGN originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
