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Todays Press Releases PC Games: Runes of Magic Frogster today announced that the commercial launch of Runes of Magic has exceeded all expectations. The online role playing game was able to add considerably to its registered users: nearly 700,000 players have registered to enter the fantasy world of Taborea worldwide. Runes of Magic launched commercially on 19 March. To handle the rush of players, the Runes of Magic team added one additional European server to the line-up. This means that right now there are already nine game worlds up and running in German and English languages. On the most frequented servers, character creation for new players has been capped until further notice. Only already existing avatars can log on to ‘Laoch’ and ‘Aotacht’. Should any other servers reach their full load, additional server capacity is on hand to guarantee trouble-free gaming enjoyment for the fans. Runes of Magic – a world full of wizardry and adventure Runes of Magic was commercially released on 19th March. During a successful open beta the population soar to over 650,000 players. All interested players can continue to download the fantasy online role playing game for free at www.runesofmagic.com and following a short registration process, can plunge into the game world. With an extensive range of features Runes of Magic prepares to redefine the standard of free to play massively online role playing games. Runes of Magic conveys an absorbing story through more than 1.000 quests embedded in an atmospheric fantasy world. Players can choose between six main classes and combined with a secondary class they present 30 individual combinations of character classes over all. All characters possess unique skills with impressive combo attacks and can use mounts like war horses and more. A particularly attractive feature for guilds and players is the possibility to arrange their own virtual homes with individual furnishing. Thanks to an extensive crafting and reputation system, thrilling PvP, as well as demanding dungeons and boss-monsters, no wishes remain unsatisfied. The Taiwanese developer Runewaker has developed Runes of Magic according to western MMO standards within a time frame of three years. The studio will provide new challenges for players every four to five months with free add-ons and updates. MMO fans can find more information, pictures and videos on the official website www.runesofmagic.com. Features - Free to play: no monthly fees, free download - Extensive dual class system (six primary and secondary classes) - Versatile spell- and attack-combinations - Enthralling background story - More than 1.000 quests and quest series on launch - No zone boundaries thanks to seamless architecture - Dungeons: Instanced and tile based as well as persistent - Individually developable skills and spells - Armour sets with special bonuses - Dynamic item system with hundreds of runes for upgrading - Optional PvP system with arena battles and guild wars - Ranking system with player-ranking lists - Multitude of unique mounts - Epic crafting system with the chance to improve existing items - Personalization of player houses through individual furnishing - Reputation system - Customisable user interface with the option to use Add-Ons - Map and radar system to find dealers, resources and quests easily - In-game auction houses for trading items - Teleport-Runes for instant travel - Mouse and keyboard controls for movement - Regular updates with new content - Guild castles in special zones - Cross-server fights in three-server-battle in development Additionally: As it did last year, Frogster is once again participating in the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco running from 23rd-27th March 2009. The Berlin based publisher will be presenting in the German pavilion on stand no. 5428 in the North Hall of the Moscone Center along with its new US subsidiary Frogster America Inc. Notably it will be Frogster’s successful MMO title Runes of Magic which will be taking centre stage in the company’s conference activities. As its first title, the American subsidiary has launched the first chapter of the fantasy MMOG called ‘Rise of the Demon Lord’ simultaneously with Europe yesterday. Together with the executive board of the Frogster holding, the senior company management of Frogster Online Gaming and the complete US Team, also will be available for discussions and interviews together with John and Tony Tang, the CEO and Lead Developers from Runewalker Entertainment, the developers of Runes of Magic. The Frogster team will be providing insights into the numerous features of the online game world to media representatives. - Hawker Heroes Assembled in one package for the first time, Hawker Heroes offers you the chance to fly four of the most iconic aircraft ever to take to the skies. First flown in 1931, the Hawker Fury set the template for all fighter aircraft that would follow. The first fighter aircraft to exceed 200 MPH in level flight, the Fury held the world in awe with its incredible handling. With a climb rate in excess of 2400ft per minute and manoeuvrability that was the scourge of enemy aircraft, the Hawker Fury defined a standard in military aviation. The Hawker Hurricane was the hero of the Battle of Britain, changing the course of World War 2 by being responsible for more enemy kills than any other aircraft. Beloved by her pilots and feared by her adversaries, to this day many believe that the Hurricane is the finest fighter aircraft ever built. With our breathtakingly realistic simulation, now is your chance to confirm that assessment. Whilst the Hurricane was rolling off the production line, Sir Sydney Camm and the Hawker Company were already planning the replacement aircraft, the Hawker Typhoon. The Typhoon quickly became one of the most formidable ground attack aircraft of the war years. By the end of World War 2, the RAF were operating 18 Typhoon squadrons equipped with deadly rockets. Pressed into service on D-Day to turn back the tide of armour on the Normandy beaches, the Typhoon was instrumental in the liberation of Europe The Hawker Tempest entered service in 1944. Developed by Hawker to have incredible performance characteristics, the Tempest had outstanding acceleration with excellent climb and dive performance. Its introduction was fortuitous, being one of the few aircraft able to intercept and shoot down the V1 flying bomb. Sortie after sortie was flown to keep the rocket powered marauder at bay. Each aircraft has been painstakingly recreated to offer the ultimate in simulation. Accompanied by adrenalin charged missions for Flight Simulator X, would-be fighter aces can relive the Hawker experience where the best pilots truly became heroes! - Elven Legacy Paradox Interactive today announced that development of Elven Legacy, the upcoming Fantasy Strategy Wargame for the PC developed by Russian studio Ino-CO, has been completed and has gone Gold. Elven Legacy sends players on an epic quest aimed to restore the former glory of the Elven race. With a thrilling non-linear storyline and tools that allow players to create their own missions and campaigns and share them in multiplayer mode, Elven Legacy will provide hours of exciting game play for strategy fans. Elven Legacy is scheduled for retail release in April 2009 and will be published worldwide by Paradox Interactive and will also be available on all leading digital download portals for a suggested retail price of $29.99 / €29.99. - 2029 Online Five hundred 2029 Online Alpha Keys have been given away already, but there are still many players are willing to test out this cool new game. So, 2029 team decide to release another 300 Alpha keys now. If you have not scored a key yet, here is your chance. Jam over to the Alpha keys distribution page to snag one up! - Challenge Cup Infinity-Gaming are pleased to announce the launch of their new “Challenge Cup” competition for all Counterstrike 1.6 fans in the UK, sponsored by Microsoft Visual Studio Team System. Over the course of April and May 2009, Infinity-Gaming will be hosting an online tournament with £3000 of cold hard cash on offer to the top 3 teams. They will also be presenting a showmatch between the tournament champions and Trademark Gamers, one of the UK’s leading eSports teams, with the winner of this spectacle earning an additional £250. As part of the wider Microsoft Visual Studio ‘Team System’ campaign this tournament will provide developers and gamers the opportunity to showcase their playing skills to the world thanks to the broadcast partnership with gaming specialists QuadV. The wider developer and gaming community will also have the opportunity to get involved and demonstrate their cinematic skills through the “MVS Ultimate Game Movie Awards” where users will be encouraged to submit their own cinematic movies with in-game footage of themselves or their peers in action. More details of the MVS UGMAs will be announced shortly. Tournament Dates: - Sign-up process goes live on the Challenge Cup dedicated microsite (Friday March 20th) - Sign-up process closes, groups and fixtures announced, games begin (Week beginning Apr 6th) - Group Phase ends, Play-offs begin (Week beginning May 11th) - Grand Final (May 28th) - Tournament Champion showmatch against Trademark Gamers (June 4th) - Parabellum GamersFirst, a service of K2 Network and one of today's most popular free2play online game destinations, announces Parabellum, a brand new Free2Play massive multiplayer online First persons Shooter, set to invade San Francisco’s Game Developers Conference (GDC). Parabellum combines the best elements of FPS (First Person Shooter) and MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online) games to create an extremely unique and fully customizable gaming experience. Parabellum introduces the first interactive non-linear multiplayer campaigns in addition to an advanced character & weapon development system and realistic and engaging game-play. “Parabellum will set the standard of what to expect from Free2Play games,” said David Demers, Associate Producer of Parabellum. “Bringing quality Triple-A titles to the Free-to-Play market raises the bar for all and sets GamersFirst apart from the rest.” Set in a world in a not too distant future, the privatization of global military forces has created highly profitable opportunities for ex-soldiers, mercenaries and adventurers. Gamers must choose their alignments carefully to survive. You must join forces with one of the two foremost covert reconnaissance organizations in the world. The CTF; an organization avowed to keeping anarchy at bay, or the Syndicate; a legion of bloodthirsty rebels bent on destruction and chaos. Each of them are solicited by the C.I.N. a Global Mercenary Network that provides contract missions to each of these factions who vie against one another with the fate of the World as the ultimate prize. “GamersFirst is a pioneer and market leader of the free-to-play model in Europe and North America.” Says Frank Trigub, Director/Founding Partner, Acony Games. “We are happy to have such an ideal partner in GamersFirst for Parabellum.” - Football Superstars Football Superstars, the world’s first virtual football world, is currently adding a wide range of extra gaming features to their existing MMO football experience. Having listened to a wide range of gamers and gaming journalists, CyberSports’ Creative Director Steve Marshall, with the help of Monumental Games, is looking to add to and implement a number of new gaming features in the coming months. Steve Marshall, Creative Director commented “With the help of our hugely supportive and growing community we have moved forward in leaps and bounds, which has not only allowed us to take Football Superstars from the concept I had in 2006 to a virtual reality, but also has allowed our players to have a very real impact on what we have always hoped would be the community’s game as much as our own. Football Superstars has always been viewed as a service to our player base and we continually strive to improve the service in what is a one of a kind product, where players can for the first time play real football with real people internationally, whilst enjoying the trappings of superstardom in a full virtual world.” NEW FEATURES Player Managed Club system: Own your own club and manage REAL players Play 3, 5, 7 or 11 aside football with offside, foul and card system where making space and marking your opponent are critical to team success New fame system. Are you a Local Hero or a National Star? Improved Keeper AI, the holes have been filled, can you beat the keeper? Defender awards have been significantly increased which means strikers will need to be more aware of space and position or stand to lose the ball Three new clothing designers released, stand out from the crowd in Bownz, Avralan or Devine outfits Sheffield FC, the worlds first Football Club goes virtual! Visit the hallowed grounds of Sheffield FC and even grab a refreshing orange juice at the Coach and Horses! 11 aside matches opened up in the 3rd division. No more struggling to get into the 2nd division, challenge the best of the FS club world earlier. In Football Superstars, players re-create themselves online as a footballer and then have free reign in a state of the art interactive virtual world. Players can play their way from 3-a-side up to full 11-a-side matches, gaining new attributes and skills in order to specialise in their chosen playing position. Away from the pitch players can socialise in restaurants, bars and clubs and visit virtual stores where they can buy equipment and clothes. Players can train in gyms and on training pitches to enhance their skills or flirt with the paparazzi in a bid to boost their fame and status and gain access to the most exclusive clubs and venues. Phil Booker, CyberSports Head of Sales and Marketing, said: “With nearly 300,000 pre-launch registrations for Football Superstars, these new features are going to give us a massive assist in the great work we are doing in converting that base into active players. We already know from our forums and our search engine activity that the introduction of Player Managed Clubs is the most eagerly anticipated feature we have introduced to date. We are now confident that all of these new developments will help us push on to reach our target of 150,000 active playing accounts by the end of May 09, setting some firm foundations for a great MMO”. - Sho Online Sho players get compensation for resetting of War Fame ranking with new War System update. Seoul, Korea – March 20, 2009 – Lizard Interactive announced that they decided to give out cash points to players of Sho Online, free-to-play Oriental Fantasy MMORPG, who have participated in a war since December of 2008 as a compensation for War Fame reset. New War System adopted a regular rest of War Fame, accumulating points earned by participating in wars. Without regular War Fame reset, new players would have no chance to be ranked. All players who have participated in a war received 100 cash points and top 50 ranking players received compensation from 500 to 4,000 cash points. War Fame gained at war does not just prove that a player is a great warrior, but it allows players to obtain exclusive unique items and use them after certain points are accumulated. War Fame points will reset every three months which makes possible for all players to have a new goal of becoming high rankers and get these exclusive items they have been drooled on for a long time. - Mevo & The Groovriders Red Rocket Games, a new game developer focused on creating original digital casual entertainment with a fun retro game feel, today announced that its debut game, Mevo & The Groovriders, is available for download on Valve’s Steam, a leading platform for the delivery and management of PC games and digital content with over 15 million accounts worldwide. MEVO is a synchronized music/rhythm platform game for the casual PC game market. The Steam version of Mevo & The Groovriders also includes the “Left 4 Dead” characters Bill, Louis, Francis, Zoey, and the Hunter from Valve’s hit game. Mevo & The Groovriders can be downloaded on Steam’s website or at www.MevoWorld.com. In the game, MEVO, the main character, has to reunite his band, the Grooveriders, bring ‘FUNK’ back to the universe and defeat the enemy SILENCE. To move MEVO through the game’s five beautifully crafted worlds (Ocean, Jungle, Desert, Space and Wormhole), players must tap 2 keys to the rhythm of the game’s music as it is played and displayed in the game with arrows. All tracks are original, produced in-house with live musicians, and feature a unique and playful retro-funky style that varies from organic to electronic tracks. As the game progresses, the beat sequences become more complex, evolving from basic single beats to rapid beats, combinations, sequences and long-hold sustains with breaks. By successfully completing the levels, players can access new areas and songs, or be rewarded with in-game items, such as avatar pieces that are needed to activate power-ups. Power-ups include slow mo, shield up, “perfect boost” scoring, and autopilot. No matter what skill level, players are rewarded with avatars, dance packs and badges to help progress through the game. Even though the game is accessible and easy to play for all levels of players, advanced players will be challenged with the game’s multiple layers of game play, including hidden levels, power-ups, badges and dance packs. “Mevo & The Groovriders offers all levels of players from adults to kids a fun experience that incorporates great music, beautiful art and very accessible yet challenging gameplay,” said Jung Suh, CEO of Red Rocket Games. “We know that all gamers from hardcore to casual will appreciate the customizable experience and great replayability that offers them a new experience each time they play.” Other Key MEVO Features: •Personalization - Players can personalize their MEVO with 17 body sets, 23 headsets and 6 dance sets, including customized avatars and costumes, such as Ninjas, British Dandy, Reindeers, Pumpkins, and more. Some avatar pieces/sets even have additional power-ups associated with them, such as score multipliers or invincibility. •Great replayability - Players can replay the game with many variables, including trying to acquire different badges, achieving perfect play through, experiencing all of the alternate endings, or finding all the power-ups, avatars and dance packs throughout the levels. The game will also be updated directly through patches, unlike other casual games. - For Liberty! Updated Matrix Games and Hussar Games are pleased to announce the release of a new update for their turn-based American Revolutionary War game, For Liberty! This comprehensive update will bring the game to version 1.82 and includes some minor bug fixes, improved AI during sieges, and some balance changes on the American map like a reduction in supply and influence. Additionally, realistic mode now has 25% reduced supply. - Theatre of War 2 Battlefront Press Release 19 March 2009 -- The full english language Game Manual for Theatre of War 2: Africa 1943 is now available online! If you have any questions after playing the demo, this is probably the first place you should check for key combos, commands, and tactics! (By the way, the full version of the game additionally comes with separate Map Editor, Mission Editor and Multiplayer Manuals.) PS3: Unreal Tournament 3 Midway and Epic Games Today announced that the Playstation 3 version of the Titan Pack for Unreal Tournament 3 is now available for download free through the PlayStation Network. This massive download includes: New Maps - 11 new multiplayer maps for Deathmatch, Capture the Flag (CTF), Vehicle CTF and Warfare modes, plus eight maps from the first UT3 bonus pack and Xbox 360 version of the game. New Gameplay - Two new gameplay modes make their debut in the Titan Pack: Greed, a "tug of war" styled kill points fight, and Betrayal, a cutthroat style of combat where alliances can turn on a dime. New Units - The X-Ray Field deployable can be used to waste enemies, while the Link Station can be deployed to keep your vehicles in fighting shape. The new Stealthbender vehicle renders itself invisible for surprise attacks, and comes with a Link Station, X-Ray Field, Spidermine traps and a powerful EMP mine. The Eradicator Cannon and Stinger are deployable turret units allowing players to rain death on their enemies and protect their bases during combat. Titan Mutator - This mutator turns you into the dreaded Titan, a 15-foot tall destructive juggernaut possessing all effects from game power-ups at once. Morph into the thundering Behemoth, a 10-meter tall demon of devastation, to deal a temporary yet deadly blow to enemies. New Characters - Nova and Kana are two new merchants of death joining the multiplayer mayhem. PS3 Trophy Support Integrated Mod Browser DS: Happy Bakery Following its launch announcement last week, Gamebridge announces its first European game release and confirms two further products for 2009. The first game title to be released by bold new publisher Gamebridge will also be the first in its HAPPY series - Happy Bakery, exclusively for Nintendo DS™. Happy Bakery is a great cooking simulation game aimed at the very youngest of Nintendo DS gamers to try their hand at baking some of their favourite breads and cakes, without messing up the kitchen. The game gives players the chance to simulate making and baking 40 types of bread and cakes whilst meeting a range of colourful characters that bring an element of adventure as the player attempts to collect all the Bread Fairies. Fully utilising the Nintendo DS stylus, Happy Bakery is a light-hearted introduction to cooking games for three to five-year-olds and enables the player to experience the feeling of kneading flour into dough, mixing, shaping, rolling and cutting it. “There is a proven market for this genre of product and at this price point we feel we can hit the ground running with the right proposition for retailers and consumers as our first release” enthused Logan Gunasingham, product manager. Rising Star Games head of brand Simon Alty confirmed “Clearly this game enters a market space that has seen phenomenal results. Further, its release and marketing partnership with RSG adds credence to our current campaign ‘The Home of Japanese Games’". Along with Happy Bakery, Gamebridge will also be publishing two further titles for Nintendo DS during 2009. The highly acclaimed Moon will be landing on European shores in June and a new officially licensed Hello Kitty product, Happy Party with Hello Kitty & Friends, will arrive in September. More information on these two titles will follow in April 2009. Happy Bakery will be available in all PAL territories from May 29th 2009 and has an S.R.P. of £19.99/€29.99. Wii Games: Cate West - The Vanishing Files Gamenauts, Inc. is proud to announce the upcoming release of the enhanced version of its hit game, Cate West - The Vanishing Files™, on the Nintendo Wii™ based on a new partnership with Destineer and Magellan Interactive. Released on the PC gaming portals in 2008, Cate West has become one of the big hits in the popular hidden objects genre, thanks to the its high production values, engaging storyline and gameplay innovations. Players assume the role of Cate, an author with pre-cognitive abilities, as she tries to solve a series of cases dubbed The Vanishing Files. She soon discovers a connection between these cases and the death of her father, and how it all ties to the biblical story of the Three Magi. Published by Destineer, the Nintendo Wii version of the game offers brand new features such as the ability to play with multiple players, clearing dust and cobwebs to find evidences and zoom-in functionality "We are very thrilled to introduce Cate West to the Wii players," says Stanley Adrianus, CEO of Gamenauts. "Cate West is our flagship franchise and the team at Destineer and Magellan has done an absolutely wonderful job in translating the game to the Wii platform. They've taken great care in maintaining the core elements of the original game while adding new innovative touches as well." Cate West - The Vanishing Files for the Nintendo Wii will be available for purchase starting March 24, 2009. Multi-Platform Games: Rock Band Harmonix and MTV Games announced today that Ten, the 1991 album that introduced the world to Pearl Jam, will be released in its entirety for download in the Rock Band® Music Store day-in-date with its re-release in stores nationwide, March 24, 2009. Ten reached #2 on the Billboard 200 chart, sold more than 12 million copies and became one of the cultural touchstones of the 1990s. Songs such as “Alive,” “Black,” “Even Flow” and“Jeremy” became staples of rock radio, and still make frequent appearances on the band’s ever-changing concert setlists. The Rock Band Music Store will feature eleven songs from the original Ten album including the hidden track "Master/Slave.” With the song “Alive” from Ten already featured on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack the DLC album includes the following tracks: Tracks: Once; Even Flow; Why Go; Black; Jeremy; Oceans; Porch; Garden; Deep; Release; Master/Slave (All tracks are original master recordings) Release Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360®) Thursday, March 26, 2009 (PlayStation®Store) - Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - Signed Copy! Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars on DS and Wii has now been released. To celebrate launch Gamestation York on Saturday will be giving everyone the opportunity to get their copy signed by Charles Cecil, founder of Revolution Software and designer of the Broken Sword series. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet the man behind one of the greatest adventure series created of all time. Meet Charles Cecil at Gamestation York 5 Church Street, York, YO1 8BG Saturday 21st March at 10am For anyone who can’t make it to York don’t forget you can still pick up a copy from your local Gamestation or online - The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena Atari, one of the world’s most recognized video game publishers, today announced that development is complete on the latest gripping installment from the Riddick franchise, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. Developed by the acclaimed team at Starbreeze Studios in conjunction with Tigon Studios and Universal Pictures, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena features a brand new 11 hour chapter in the Riddick saga with six intense online multiplayer game modes including the unique and thrilling Pitch Black mode. In addition to the full Assault on Dark Athena campaign, the disc includes a stunning HD remastering of celebrated title The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay. The game is scheduled for launch on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft ($59.99), PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system ($59.99) and Windows PC ($49.99) on April 7 in North America and April 24 worldwide. In the latest installment the player takes the role of Riddick, as played by Vin Diesel, using stealth and action to overcome the merciless crew of the predatory Merc-ship Dark Athena which awaits its prey in the dark reaches of space. Cheating death through a series of spectacular battles and events, Riddick will fight for his life amid a storm of malevolence and horror. The Chronicles of Riddick series of games takes the player deeper into the universe of Universal Pictures' films The Chronicles of Riddick and cult classic Pitch Black, which first introduced Vin Diesel as enigmatic anti-hero Riddick. Starbreeze Studios has created an exciting and original multiplayer component in The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. The game features six multiplayer modes, including the original and inventive Pitch Black mode and intense Butcher Bay Riot. Unlike traditional MP modes, Pitch Black features a nerve-wracking stealth hunt through the darkness. A six player mode on all maps, five players take the role of Mercenaries trying to hunt down and kill Riddick across levels swathed in darkness, with only weapon-mounted flashlights to see by. Butcher Bay Riot presents a fast paced three team mode, in which 12 players split into teams of Guards, Prisoners and Mercenaries fight over a power cell. Playable demos for both Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION®3 are currently available for download. Featuring the Athena Main Decks level, the demo showcases the evocative art style and breadth of the gameplay contained in the game, including brutal melee combat, nerve-rattling stealth, and high-powered gunplay. Among other gameplay elements, the demo also lets players try one of the game’s unique features, controlling a Drone, while classic Riddick cut-scenes bring the harsh Riddick universe into sharp focus. Featuring a tense and brutal new adventure, a high-definition re-work of the classic Escape from Butcher Bay campaign and exhilarating multiplayer gameplay, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena launches worldwide in April 2009. - Guitar Hero Metallica Gamers itching to get a taste of Guitar Hero® Metallica® in advance of the game’s release need not wait any longer as Activision Publishing Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced that the demo will be available today for free download on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. In the demo, virtual rock stars across the globe can shred, drum and wail to Metallica’s explosive hits “Sad But True” and “Seek And Destroy,” as well as “No Excuses” from Alice In Chains and “Stone Cold Crazy” from Queen, both hand-picked by Metallica as featured guest acts in the game. Set in The Forum venue, highlighting the new in-the-round stage designs and custom camera angles, players can begin honing their skills in single-player and band Quickplay, head-to-head, Face-Off, Pro Face-Off and Battle gameplay modes. - Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust Leisure Suit Larry® Box Office Bust is an innuendo-filled third-person comedic adventure game about a guy looking for love in all the wrong places. Lampooning the glitz, glamour and gorgeous women of Hollywood, Larry’s set to run riot on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and PC when the game is published on March 27th with a S.R.P. of £19.99 on the Funsta label. Laden with illustrious voice talent to provide the laughs, gamers can now catch video interviews with Jay Mohr (Simpsons, Family Guy, West Wing, Scrubs) who voices Larry Loveage and Carmen Electra (Starsky & Hutch) who plays Ginger Vitus; both videos are now available to view and download from www.leisuresuitlarrygame.com. Other Games News: Ultimate Game Card Survey Results PlaySpan, the leader in monetization solutions for online games, virtual worlds, and social networks, today announced several key findings in a new consumer insights survey from users of its Ultimate Game Card (UGC) payment option. The Ultimate Game Card™ is a stored value card that supports more than 300 multiplayer games and virtual worlds, with current availability in more than 21,000 retail stores in the U.S. and Canada, as well as thousands of locations worldwide. “The Ultimate Game Card enables many of our young gamers who don’t have credit cards to purchase premium items in War Rock and Knight Online,” said Joshua Hong, CEO of GamersFirst, also known as K2 Network. “In fact, the Ultimate Game Card has proved complementary to our own retail cards because it provides access to additional retail channels previously unavailable to us.” According to the survey of two thousand five hundred and eighty-two (2,582) consumers: The vast majority, more than 75%, said they log in more than two hours a day in virtual worlds or playing video games. 20.9% received the card from a friend, parents or relatives. The remaining majority bought the card as a ‘gift’ for themselves. 51.9% of users polled said they had already recommended UGC to a friend and 29% recommended it to more than ten friends demonstrating the viral growth of gaming. 48% of were between the ages of 14-18, the key age demographic of game cards. 35.8% had purchased over four cards since the availability of the product. 80% were likely to buy the Ultimate game card again. “The retail game card market has very little data for the industry and our objective with the survey is to shed some light on this fast growing market sector,” said Karl Mehta, CEO of PlaySpan. “As the leader in retail game cards we’re planning to share more data over the months ahead.” - MMORPG ADVENTUREQUEST WORLDS' "Un-Live" Event draws 32,000 players online; Event posting extended one week Over 32,000 online gamers participated in Artix Entertainment’s MMORPG AdventureQuest Worlds’ “Un-Live Event” held on Friday the 13th. The company’s first ever live event starred musical guest Voltaire, who Artix CEO Adam Bohn describes as a “gypsy pirate Goth musician.” Voltaire is best known for songs including “Brains” and “Land of the Dead” in the Cartoon Network show The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. The “un-live” event, so described because of the cast of “un-live” pirate characters, was a five-act adventure with all new art, voice acting, music, cut-scenes, boss monsters, tons of new items for both upgraded and free players, and the introduction of AdventureQuest Worlds’ first war meter. “The response was so overwhelming that we have decided to continue running the event for one more week,” said Bohn. “Visit www.aqworlds.com and watch in ‘re-run’ mode.” AdventureQuest Worlds, which launched in mid-October, has captured the interest of over five million players so far, and they are opening their free accounts at the rate of 200,000 per week. Artix, a small, Florida-based family-owned studio that offers three other RPG titles AdventureQuest, MechQuest, and DragonFable, has enjoyed a high success rate in the past five years with over 75 million accounts created for their games. Players can visit www.AQ.com, www.mechquest.com, and www.battleon.com to sign up for an account and play online for free. No downloads required.
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