2008 is a new year for all - even in the games industry. It seems Midway also joined in the New Year's corporate shakeups of other gaming corporate notables, including Activision Blizzard, all which began flowing in since last November. Long time serving Chairman of the Board, Kenneth D. Cron, finally stepped down from his seat at Midway and was immediately replaced by vice chair Shari Redstone. More at the full story.

 

Given that the 2007 Online Game Development Conference (OGDC) is just a few more days away, we'll be updating the previously reported speaker list with a fresh new 8-pack. This latest announcement includes the presence of industry bigwigs like GameSpy director Todd Northcutt, as well as PopCap Games business development director James Gwertzman. Here's the full list:

• JJ Richards - GM, Xbox Live, Microsoft
• Charles Merrin - Vice President, RealArcade, RealNetworks, Inc.
• Brett Close - President & CEO, 38 Studios
• Todd Northcutt - Director, GameSpy Technology, GameSpy / IGN Entertainment
• Tom DuBois - Producer, Global Online Studio, Electronic Arts
• James Gwertzman - Director of Business Development, PopCap Games
• Victor Wachter - Online Community Relations Manager, Cryptic Studios
• Craig T. Dalrymple - Community Relations Manager, EverQuest II, Sony Online Entertainment
  

Also confirmed to be arriving at the event are groups like IBM, Nvidia, Electronic Arts, Microsoft Game Studios, Cartoon Network, K2 Network, Multiverse, DigiPen, Pearl Research, Fox Interactive Media, Gas Powered Games, Midway Studios, WildTangent, High Voltage Software, Flagship Studios, and Ensemble Studios.

Keep posted in case more information on additional speakers is announced, as this year's OGDC goes down this May 10 to 11, at at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle.

Are you true to John Woo? You know the type of movie genre we're talking about: White dove-filled gun ballets where the hero never runs out of bullets, doesn't need to reload, and is more accurate with a pair of Berettas than a single Desert Eagle. Well, if you're the kind of person who loves those types of movies, you may want to give this contest a try.

Midway Games and Fox Interactive will be sponsoring a "True to John Woo" short film competition beginning April 30. In it, participants are asked to make their own two minute and thirty second video that pays homage to John Woo films of past and present. The winner will take home US$ 25,000, a trip for two to Midway's Chicago studios to meet developers and tape an interview with Spike TV and premiere your short film on one of their shows, an Amp'd mobile phone with six months service, your very own "Hard Boiled" movie poster autographed by John Woo himself, and a copy of Stranglehold.

Of course, they didn't mention if it was for the 360 or the PS3, but compared to everything else you'll be getting, you can probably afford to get yourself a second console, right?

In any case, below are the criteria for judging. You'd best get on the offensive and start making movies because the contest ends on June 25. In the meantime, you're going to have to visit their MySpace page because the 10 best entries will be previewed and voted on there. Good luck!

Criteria for judging:

• Overall Quality - 40% - includes cinematography, editing, sound, image quality, and technical production.
• Strength of John Woo Homage - 40% - includes extent of homage, quality of homage, and use of Woo signature techniques.
• Creativity - 20% - includes screenplay, acting, and overall impression.