KISS Parties with GOD

Gathering of Developers invited Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, from the '80s rock band KISS, as well as a number of people from the gaming industry to the game's San Francisco launch party at the Phoenix Hotel's BackFlip last night. Upon seeing the throng expectantly waiting to meet them, Simmons and Stanley, fully decked out in their trademark makeup and costumes, were rushed by security into a hotel room just off the BackFlip's courtyard. While a few select individuals were permitted in to hang with the band, much of the crowd spent a good part of the evening trying to catch a furtive look at Simmons and Stanley.

The event was primarily to celebrate the release of KISS: Psycho Circus - Nightmare Child, a first-person shooter based on the world of Todd McFarlane's KISS comic book series, but it also served to preview a number of the Gathering's games. Five PC games were being shown: Rune, the Norse-themed melee action game; Rustin Parr, the Blair Witch action-adventure built on the Nocturne engine; 4x4 Evolution, the off-road SUV driving game; Heavy Metal F.A.K.K. 2, the soon to be released third-person shooter; and of course KISS: Psycho Circus. Gathering's Dreamcast versions of 4x4 Evolution, KISS: Psycho Circus, and Railroad Tycoon II were also on the scene. (For more information on these games, click on the hyperlinks above.)

GameSpot Live was on hand to film the event. You can check out the band's appearance in the three minute movie posted below, which also includes footage from the upcoming GOD games.