An Airbag Saved His Life

"In a fast German car,
I'm amazed that I survived,
an airbag saved my life"

Radiohead, Airbag

Okay, it wasn't a German car. It was Italian. A $1.2 million Ferrari Enzo, to be exact. But still, those are lyrics to live by if you're Steffan Eriksson, the disgraced former CEO of the now-defunct handheld game console maker Gizmondo. Eriksson, 44, was found at the scene of a spectacular car crash on California's Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu last Tuesday morning that actually split the Ferrari in half (see TG Daily story). According to various reports, Malibu authorities say the Ferrari was racing another vehicle, a SLR Mercedes, at speeds of up to 160 Mph when the car went airborne and struck a power pole. Eriksson, who was legally drunk at the time but claimed to be only a passenger - another unidentified man allegedly drove the car and fled the scene after the crash - somehow emerged from the crash alive with a few scrapes and bruises. I may have to look into getting an Enzo myself if you can pull some crazy stunt like that and walk away. Actually, check that - Enzo's aren't allowed in California because they don't meet emissions standards. However, that's the least of Eriksson's concerns, considering Gizmondo, a subsidiary of Tiger Telematics, was in the process of being liquidated last week. And if that wasn't enough, a Swedish newspaper last October claimed Eriksson was also known as "Fat Steffy," a twice-convicted criminal who had ties to the Swedish Uppsala Mafia. Terrifying. If someone told me "Fat Steffy from Uppsala's coming for you!" I'd immediately think that I was at a high school dance being stalked by an overweight girl with braces. That said, I'll be entering the Witness Protection Program until this blows over (more on Gizmondo).

Riddick, Don't Lose That Number

"We could stay inside and play games, I don't know
And you could have a change of heart"

Steely Dan, Rikki Don't Lose That Number

As far as the original Xbox is concerned, I can find no better game than The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (I have never cared for Halo - if I want to run around and shoot snickering midgets dressed like clowns, I'll go to a carnival). So when I read last week that Vin Diesel, who played Riddick in the films "Pitch Black" (freakin' awesome) and "The Chronicles of Riddick" (not so good sequel) as well as the voice in "Butcher Bay," was getting together with Midway to produce another game, I was enthused. I had hoped for another Riddick title, but apparently Diesel is doing something entirely new: he'll produce and star in a new action movie called "The Wheelman" and also simultaneously develop a game title based on the forthcoming movie. No details have been released yet on the game or the movie, but it sounds intriguing considering simultaneous development hasn't really lived up to expectations in the past. Midway says the project will be a groundbreaking model for the industry, which is great, but I'd really love to see another chapter for Riddick in the near future.