Stars popping up virtually like flowers in the spring, or weeds:
- The hottest spot for star-gazing these days? Try the cyberspace gaming realm. Virtual versions of stars such as Christina Aguilera, Method Man and Alex Trebek are popping up in video games, and it looks like a lot more digi-stars are headed there.
Just last week, Justin Timberlake met with gaming industry insiders for the first serious step toward video-game options, including using his digital image in a game.
….Also in the mix:
* Celebs in the neighborhood. Aguilera and Avril Lavigne are the newest guests knocking at the door in the new The Sims Superstar games. Jon Bon Jovi is being developed for an upcoming Sims character. Freddie Prinze Jr. and Trebek are in the discussion phase.
* Casting for video games. Martial-arts actor Jet Li went to Sony to develop a game around him called Rise to Honor. ”I was curious,” he says. ”I always thought this may be the future of entertainment.”
French actor Jean Reno (The Professional) will be in the fighting game Onimusha 3, and Shannon Elizabeth is the first actress to be signed as an original Bond babe exclusively for the gaming world in James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing.
* Rockers dive in. Members of Insane Clown Posse appear as playable characters in a version of Backyard Wrestling due later this year. Method Man, DMX and Ludacris are among rappers who jump in the wrestling ring in Def Jam Vendetta. [USA Today]
Also mentioned: the average age of a video game player is now 28. Don’t you people have anything better to do? (kidding, sort of)