WRAL Tech Wire

 Epic confirms working with well-known producer on 'Gears' movie

A spokesperson for Cary-based Epic tells WRALTechWire that the videogame company is in fact working with a big-name producer in another attempt to take "Gears of War" to movie screens.

"Gears" may still someday be a movie

 'Gears of War' may finally go to big screen if new deal works out

After years of talks and a deal that fell through with the "Lord of the Rings' director, Cary-based Epic Games may be nearing a deal with Hollywood for a feature film about "Gears of War." And the producer is a big name, says Hollywood's Variety.

A Gears movie coming at last?

 If ex-Epic creative guru Cliff Bleszinki starts a video game studio, it will be in NC

"This is the south and some people have concerns about the south, but this isn't your grandfather's rebel flag south," says former Epic Games creative executive Cliff Bleszinski. "This is the new south and ... I believe it's going to evolve into ultimately a burgeoning video game hub."

Cliff Bleszinski

 Former Epic Games exec Rod Fergusson on move again

TechWireGamer: Rod Fergusson, a former producer at Epic Games who left last year to join Irrational Games, has quit that company and is looking for another opportunity.

 Epic Games expands empire with growing Unreal engine business

The Cary-based game development company continues to flex its growing muscles in the video game industry beyond the "Gears of War" franchise with continued refinements and more uses for the Unreal game development engine.

Unreal powers BioShock Infinite

 Under new owner, Escapist aims to be a bigger 'mouth' for gamers

Durham-based The Escapist, which touts itself as the "mouthpiece of the gaming generation." aims to make its web site and entertainment offerings even bigger under the ownership of Alloy Digital.

The Escapist - "mouthpiece for the gaming generation"

 Writing the tale: Getting the back story on new Gears

Writer Rob Auten takes WRALTechWire inside the new "Gears of War: Judgment," which launches Tuesday. Epic Games turned to new writers for the fourth title in its $1 billion franchise, and one of them tells his side of the "Judgment" story.

"Baird" in new Gears

 Going into battle with new 'Gears of War: Judgment'

Epic Games is pushing the single player experience forward with "Gears of War: Judgment," a prequel set 15 years before the original game. The latest title in the $1 billion franchise for the Cary-based company hits stores March 19. WRALTechWire gets an inside look.

New "Gears" coming in March

 Former Epic Games president ends advisory role with company

Tech Wire Gamer: Michael Capps announces on his Facebook page that he is parting all company ties with Epic Games where he had served as president.

Mike Capps - with a huge guardian warrior

 Launch video touts 'blood, gore' - New Gears of War nears

Tech Wire Gamer: Epic Games and Microsoft unleashed the launch video trailer for the new "Gears of War" title that goes on sale March 19. Viewers and players beware: "Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language" ahead.

 Video games might offer emotional benefit to seniors, NCSU study says

Tech Wire Gamer: Video games might have a new, untapped demographic - the elderly. Research from North Carolina State University finds that older adults who played video games reported higher levels of emotional well-being.

Elderly benefit from gaming

 Epic Games co-founder, wife invest in Carolina Hurricanes

Tech Wire Gamer: Mark Rein, co-founder and vice president of Cary-based Epic Games, and his wife, Tara Rein, and Chuck Hammel, president and owner of PITT OHIO, a Pittsburgh-based trucking company, are among the new investors in the NHL Carolina Hurricanes.

 Epic Games shares spotlight at new PlayStation unveiling

Tech Wire Gamer: Epic Games generated some media attention itself in New York on Wednesday night at the unveiling of the new Sony PlayStation. The Cary-based videogame firm demonstrated how its new game development engine will perform on the forthcoming system.

Unreal 4 power demoed in New York

 Solar firm Semprius cracks MIT '50 Disruptive Companies' list

MIT, the titan of technology, shines a bright light of recognition on Semprius for a second straight year. This time, the Durham-based solar tech firm earns a spot on MIT's "50 Disruptive Companies" list. ABB, Novartis and IBM also crack the list.

Semprius' solar panel technology

 Epic showcases 'guts' of forthcoming 'Gears: Judgment'

Tech Wire Gamer: With the launch of the new Gears of War title just a month away, Epic Games and publisher Microsoft unveil a new video trailer they say showcases "bone-crushing action."

 As new PlayStation nears, videogame industry sales still suffer

Tech Wire Gamer: Sales of video games, related hardware and software increased in January - but only because of a five-week sales period. Plus: Sony looks to regain its edge with new PlayStation this week.

 Raleigh startup Bitmonster capitalizing on mobile game explosion

Tech Wire Gamer: Six veterans of Epic Games who left to form their own venture are focusing on the rapidly growing mobile market. But co-founder Lee Perry says competition is intense. "It's scary," he admits.

An interior shot from "Lili"

 Epic lands big deal for new game engine; video game sales plunge

Tech Wire Gamer: NCSOFT, one of the biggest developers of massively multiplayer online games, licenses the new Unreal 4 development engine from Epic. Plus: Video game sales plunged 9.4 percent in 2012.

 Epic Games shuts Baltimore studio, delays Infinity Blades sequel

Tech Wire Gamer: The task of rebuilding a game company in Baltimore turned out to be an impossible task for Epic Games. On Friday, the company said it was closing Impossible Studios.

Impossible Studios

 New PlayStation console likely to be unveiled Feb. 20

Tech Wire Gamer: All those millions of videogame players worldwide longing for a new PlayStation console are likely to get their wish soon as Sony schedules a press event for Feb. 20.