Round-Up: BF2 Demo Hacked, Diesel As 47, Annoying Frog Wants Game

Today's round-up includes news on Electronic Arts' issues with hacked Battlefield 2 servers, information on Vin Diesel's latest game-related movie project, and a delightful opportunity for fans of the Crazy Frog, as well as the latest product news and job postings. - Electronic Arts has apparently begun blacklisting server IPs found to be tweaking the Battlefield 2 demo beyond its intended capabilities. The offending servers have eliminated the time limit built into the demo version of EA's online combat sequel, as well as the restriction that locked away some weapons reserved for the final retail game. Though the modifications are simple alterations to unencrypted configuration files, the changes violate the license agreement server operators sign as part of the installation process. EA did not comment on whether the blacklisted servers would be reinstated once the retail game is on shelves. - Variety is reporting that Vin Diesel is attached to a film version of Io Interactive's Hitman franchise. Diesel would play Agent 47, the silent assassin of the title, who stages elaborate contracts on behalf of his controllers, the Agency. Also attached to the project are producers Chuck Gordon and Adrian Askarieh. No writer or director has yet has come on board the production. Hitman: Blood Money, the fourth game in the series, is scheduled to come out for PC, PS2, and Xbox in the fall. - Wallaroo Licensing has a new, marketable character it would like to see star in a game: the Crazy Frog, also known as The Annoying Thing. The CG frog, primarily known for an irritating ringtone noise he produces, as well as a number 1 U.K. music single based on the sound, is being shopped around to game development studios in hopes of having the amphibian star in his own game title. "After ruling the mobile world and becoming a pop star, the game world is the next logical step for this congenial hero," explained Stefan Heinemann, Wallaroo's Licensing Director. - Also updated today: product news including ScanSoft's announcement of the VoCon Speech SDK, and Annosoft's release of the Lipsync SDK 3.0, as well as the latest job news from companies including Datascope Recruitment, Digital Drama Studios, Harmonix Music Systems, Planet Moon Studios, Rockstar North, Secret Level, Slingo, and THQ.