Forgot to mention this yesterday but the EBGames.com listing for Shiny's PC/console The Matrix game now has several low res screenshots, which don't look too hot I'm afraid. Thanks HomeLAN Fed.

Monolith sends word that they are looking to hire two new animators. These animators would be working on the Matrix Online game that Monolith is currently working on.

Infogrames has issued a press release on Shiny's Matrix game, which is now called Enter The Matrix. Besides the name, it is also revealed that the game is no longer a PC/Xbox exclusive. Instead it will be a cross-platform release with a GameCube and PS2 port as well. The current release date is May of 2003, when the next Matrix movie is released. A video trailer will be shown at E3.

wunderbred sent along this little blurb that was spotted on Cinema Confidential, Just a bit about the Matrix: Reloaded game which will apparently be including movie footage within the game. Lets all hope it isnt one of those FMV: Adventure! titles. "Well, we’re shooting two and three and we’re also shooting a video game that has movie footage in it, a video movie. So, we’re doing three projects at the same time and it’s hectic."

The 3D Realms website has word of a Max Payne pre-order mailing list. 3DR will be taking pre-orders for Max Payne very soon, and if you sign up for the mailing list you'll be among the first to get the chance to pre-order. The first 50,000 pre-orders will receive a free Max Payne mouse pad with the game.

Well isn't this just a bummer. According to PC.IGN, The Matrix game in development at Shiny will be exclusive on the Xbox for 6 months first. Not only that but apparently the Xbox version will have all kinds of special features that the other versions of the game won't have. According to Xbox.IGN (thanks MSXbox) those features include

... using actual Woo Ping choreography, the actual actors providing voices to the characters, and more music tracks from the film's composer in addition to more vehicles, weapons, and video. Also, Interplay will be spending $500,000 to develop online features for the game that will only be available to Xbox owners.

Now why is it coming to the Xbox first with all those extra features? Of course, money. Microsoft is lending $5 million to Interplay, due to be repaid through royalties once the game goes on sale. It's also mentioned the game is supposed to come out within 3 months after release of The Matrix 2 movie.

Word from the guys at EvilAvatar is that they heard from a reliable source that Monolith is working on a massive multiplayer game based on The Matrix. A while ago it was announced that Shiny Entertainment had scored the rights to working on a single player game based on The Matrix, I wonder just how interesting a MMORPG game using LithTech in Matrix land could be. I couldnt get anyone to confirm or deny this stuff myself but I'll go out on a limb and trust that EvilAvatar is right on this one. :)

update: I got this email from Dan Miller of Monolith, it's a flat denial so we can be sure they arent working on it.

Nay. Monolith has their hands busy with other projects. We aren't working on a Matrix title.

I would also like to take this opportunity to share a picture of CliffyB!

Want to work on Shiny's The Matrix? They are looking for several people to add to the project. The positions to be filled: 3D Art Guru, Cineractive Sequence Artist, Cineractive Tool Programmer, Designer, Producer and Script/Gameplay Programmers.

PS2.IGN has a couple of quotes from David Perry of Shiny Entertainment. Dave mentions what kind of work relationship they have with the Wachowski brothers, and why this will go the way of Goldeneye instead of the way of really bad movie-based games. There is no real info on what kind of game this will be, but it will be strongly related to The Matrix 2.

This is going to be a big project. It's probably the most kick-ass project in the industry right now. I am personally excited to be working with these guys (Larry and Andy Wachowski) and I am truly impressed with their strong interest and passion in making a high-quality game. I'm working directly with them, I mean, we have complete and utter access to the making of the movie. We have total access to everything. You can go ahead and guess what you want as to what that entails, but this is not a little game. It's huge. I haven't been this titillated or involved in a game since Earthworm Jim, which was the last game I actually worked on. On The Matrix, I'm the lead designer on the project."

If for some reason you didn't trust Variety and The Matrix game story (heh) here is the official press release from Interplay which says exactly what we already knew, but now its official or something.

Variety is reporting that Interplay has finally secured the videogame license to The Matrix (thanks Stomped). Shiny Entertainment will be developing one of these titles, which will be a 3rd person action/adventure game

It's expected that the first videogame will be a third-person 3-D action/adventure game for the PlayStation 2 platform that will tie in to the plots of the "Matrix" sequels, the first of which is slated for theatrical release next year.

The vidgame also is expected to be released on PC and next-generation console systems, with the game's engine a combination of technologies used in Shiny's "Messiah" and "Sacrifice" PC games.

Originally we already ran a story on this in March last year, but it was unconfirmed at the time.

Another movie related rumor item here. Thanks Blue. According to ActionAce, the Matrix 2 licensed has been snatched up by Shiny. I actually have some very reliable info on this and I'm pretty sure the story is true. The game is supposed to come out the same time as the Matrix sequel and will be overseen by Larry and Andy Wachowski.