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Thursday, 12 March 2009 |
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PC Games: Empire of Sports Empire of Sports, the first massively connected multisport 3D game, today takes a new step in becoming the first worldwide event platform dedicated to sports, by partnering with Prince, a global leader in performance racquet sports equipment. More than just a game, Empire of Sports is a sports platform designed to echo the major real life sports events around the world, and provide all sports fans with an extended space to share and live their passion. Thanks to the valuable input from the ever growing community, Empire of Sports just keeps getting better - especially with the constant addition of new sports, clubs, sportsmen, competitions, events, and sports brands. Prince’s partnership with Empire of Sports further enhances the games’ credentials. Prince racquets are played at all levels and the racquet choice of such superstars as Maria Sharapova, Gael Monfils, Mike and Bob Bryan and Jelena Jankovic. Likewise, Empire of Sports’ players can choose to use a virtual Prince racquet in order to boost the in-game performance of their avatar. Empire of Sports is taking this opportunity to launch the permanent events program for players of Empire of Sports to put their skills to the test with both virtual and real prizes up for grabs. Entry to all online tournaments and events can be made at any time - except during the finals which are held every Saturday. Depending on the type of event, Saturday’s winners will be rewarded with virtual items to boost their avatar’s performances, or real life prizes. Each week the winner of the Prince Tennis Tournament will receive a real Prince “O3 Speedport Blue” tennis racquet! This racquet will give the players additional playing benefits such as more speed and power in order to improve their tennis game in the real world. Alexis Galley, Empire of Sports’ CEO, declares: “We’re very proud to be partnering with Prince. Their tradition in designing innovative racquet technologies perfectly fits our gameplay. It’s a precious addition to the life of our sporting world.” Susi Capell, Marketing Manager Prince Sports EMEA, said: “We’re very excited to be part of such an ambitious project as Empire of Sports. The game provides a unique experience for sports fans and helps us to communicate to various target groups - the gaming- and tennis community who will be equally attracted to this outstanding online gaming experience.” Empire of Sports is currently in the Prologue phase: this phase allows Empire of Sports to expand progressively, with the help and feedback of a vast community. If you are interested in entering one of the Empire of Sports tournaments and fancy your chances of winning one of many exciting prizes, all you need to do is download the game client, register and start playing! - Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Mythic Entertainment has sounded the Call to Arms and is calling on seasoned veterans to re-enlist and return to the ongoing Realm War in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR). Experienced fighters in North America and Asia Pacific who re-activate their game accounts will receive an Emperor’s welcome, complete with all the rested experience they’ve accumulated while absent, a special quest chain with exciting in-game rewards, and 10 free days of game time to discover why WAR is even better than ever! Returning players will discover a plethora of updates and changes waiting for them, including: • The recently added Knight of the Blazing Sun and Black Guard tank careers • New easy, medium, and hard PQs designed for different group sizes and skill levels • Increased experience gain in Tiers 3 and 4 • New Influence rewards earned in Open RvR • A new Domination system to determine Tier 4 zone control • Frequent, fun and rewarding live events • New and improved Guild rewards • Improvements to overall performance and server stability • Official WAR Forums As if that weren’t enough, the head bashin' Orc Choppa and the oath-sworn Dwarf Slayer are entering the fray as playable careers. The time has never been better to step back into the Age of Reckoning and re-join the WAR! To learn more about the Call to Arms Re-Enlistment Campaign, click this link - World in Conflict: Soviet Assault GamersGate today announced that World in Conflict: Soviet Assault is now available for sale as part of its constantly expanding digital catalog. Published by Ubisoft, World in Conflict: Soviet Assault will be available for 19.99. World in Conflict: Soviet Assault presents a chillingly authentic Cold War scenario where the Berlin Wall never fell. Created by Cold War authority and best-selling author Larry Bond, the story begins in 1989 as the Soviets, fearing certain collapse, boldly advance into Europe. NATO responds in force only to be met on a second front - a full-fledged invasion of the American homeland. Players take on the role of field commander, leading the era's most powerful military machines in the campaign to retake America's cities and suburbs. The RTS gameplay features completely destructible 3D battlefields, aggressive team-based multiplayer action and a focus on fast, hard-hitting battles. Wii Games: Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced its plans for a big comeback of its multi-million-selling franchise, Resident Evil® to the Wii™ video game system this year. Resident Evil®: The Darkside Chronicles, the sequel to the highly successful Wii title Resident Evil®: The Umbrella Chronicles, is in development exclusively for the Wii and is set to hit North American retailers this winter. Capcom also introduced its plans for a new Resident Evil “Classics” line, which will bring the critically acclaimed Nintendo GameCube™ classics, Resident Evil® and Resident Evil® Zero exclusively to the Wii, allowing a whole new audience to experience the world of Resident Evil. iPhone and iPod Touch Games: Topple 2 ngmoco, creator and publisher of games exclusively for iPhone and iPod touch, today announced it is proud to bring Topple 2™ to the Apple App Store. The content-packed sequel to ngmoco’s wildly popular Topple™, which attracted more than 3 million downloads, Topple 2 adds four new game modes and incorporates innovative online multiplayer capabilities. “ngmoco is excited to add Topple 2 to the company’s award winning lineup of games on the Apple App Store,” said Neil Young, CEO and Founder of ngmoco. “Following the amazing success of Topple, we are proud to take Topple 2 to the next level, integrating new and innovative gameplay features for iPhone and iPod touch users everywhere.” Building on the fast-paced gameplay mechanics introduced in Topple, the innovative Multi-Touch user interface and accelerometer technologies of the iPhone and iPod touch challenges users to balance and stack fun, playful Topple blocks without tipping over. In Topple 2, players take on all-new challenges and new game modes, experiencing over 30 different levels and six brand new Topple worlds. Upside-down mode inverts gravity for a topsy-turvy play experience while Balance mode weighs two towers against each other. Power Tower mode challenges players to construct a power line using conductive blocks, and Rescue mode integrates tower building skills to save the precious golden egg. Armed with all new skill sets, Topple 2 introduces two unique ways for fans to play and enjoy the game with their friends. Players can go head-to-head in a real-time multiplayer “stack attack” over WiFi. Or, if a player is on the go, they can simply send “ghost” play-through requests for friends to accept challenges at their leisure. With free play versions of all game modes and the ability to challenge and play with friends, Topple 2 will delight players of all ages time and time again. Topple 2 is available for an introductory price of $2.99 from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch. - Space Bikers Chillingo Ltd, Europe’s premier iPhone publisher has partnered with independent mobile development studio Mobirate to launch “Space Bikers” – a 3D Platform Bike Simulation Game for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Space Bikers uses an advanced physics engine to explore the notion of elastic motorcycles. In this action packed game, the player resumes the role of crash landed Space Bikers where the mission is to bike through obstacles whilst solving puzzles to collect parts for their damaged spacecraft. The game features detailed 3D levels, built-in mini-games and advanced rag-doll physics. Space Bikers is priced at an introductory price of USD0.99 and currently available worldwide in the Apple App Store. Xbox Games: Play Call Of Duty with Vernon Kay Microsoft® today revealed that Vernon Kay, one of the hottest Radio, TV and DJ personalities of the moment, will be recruiting all available Xbox LIVE fans from across the UK for a unique Game with Fame event on Call of Duty: World at War®. During this “Vernon Kay Presents: Game with Fame”, Vernon will be joined on the night by a very special guest to play alongside him. As well as showing the world his mean skills with a controller in his hands, the Game with Fame is celebrating the upcoming launch of Vernon’s new website (complete with custom Xbox Avatar). Vernon will be dropping in behind enemy lines on Wednesday March 18th at 7.00pm GMT. To be in with a chance to join Vernon online for this unique event, players simply need to email their details to the address below, also telling Vernon why they want to play with him. Lucky gamers who are successful in applying will be emailed all the details they need to take part in the event. How to take part Simply email the following information to
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• Name • Age • Gamertag Terms and conditions apply. For more information on this please log on to http://www.xbox.com/en-GB Browser/Flash Games: Keep-A-Head Newly independent casual game publisher Gimme5games.com is pleased to announce the launch of its User Generated Content system, Gwizz, and the online re-launch of the mobile game classic Keep-A-Head. In Keep-A-Head you control two explorers afflicted with the ‘twofer’ curse, a malevolent spell that leaves their bodies intact, but sharing just the one head! Collect voodoo totem heads in 50 puzzling levels. Avoid head-stealing monkeys, bouncing shrunken heads, flesh eating plants, zombies and deadly lava flows to undo the curse! But it doesn’t stop there – if 50 levels of head swapping action weren’t enough, Gimme5games has also launched Gwizz, a substantial extension to the gimme5games.com site that allows users to build, prove and release their own levels for other users to play. Keep-A-Head is the first outing of Gwizz with many more games planned for the system. “Gimme5games.com has been pushing its social elements forward with Hi5’s, Gimmes (virtual currency) and Stickees (achievements), Gwizz represents another substantial leap for the site and gives the users even more control of the content, we’re very pleased with it indeed” offered General Manager, Matt Spall. Matt Spall will be representing Gimme5games at the “Flash Gaming Summit” in San Francisco later this month. Multi-Platform Games and Other News: Battlestations: Pacific Eidos Interactive, creator of some of the world’s leading videogame properties, today announced that Battlestations: Pacific™ is set to release in North America on May 12th and May 15th across Europe and Australia. Sequel to the No. 1-selling Battlestations: Midway™, Battlestations: Pacific™ takes the critically-acclaimed action/strategy gameplay to the next level. Expanding upon the intense, strategic combat of the first title, players can take to the skies and seas through two massive, action-packed campaigns across 28 missions, featuring some of the most decisive naval battles in history. An historically accurate US campaign puts players in command of the US Navy’s Pacific fleet through the Battles of Guadalcanal and on to Iwo Jima, Okinawa and victory. For the first time, Battlestations offers players a chance to rewrite history, playing through a Japanese campaign as the Imperial Japanese Navy from Pearl Harbor and on through Asia, Australia and beyond, expanding its empire throughout the Pacific rim. Battlestations: Pacific™ takes the battle online with a massively enhanced multiplayer experience, offering five new and innovative co-op and team-based modes for up to eight players. ‘Siege’ and ‘Duel’ offer an all-out action experience, allowing players to control a selection of war machines as each side battles to turn the tide of war; joining forces for ‘Competitive’, players compete side-by-side against the opposing AI forces; ‘Escort’ allows for a mix of action and strategy, with players escorting or attacking a key naval unit as it heads to its destination; and ‘Island Capture’ offers a compelling strategic experience, with players not only battling for supremacy of the seas, but capturing and controlling the island archipelago. “With over 100 authentic air, sea and undersea units, a compelling mix of action and strategy and an extensive multiplayer game, Battlestations: Pacific™ lets players participate in the Pacific conflict like no other game before it,” said Lee Singleton, General Manager of Eidos Game Studios. “With direct control over fighters, bombers, kamikaze planes, destroyers, aircraft carriers, submarines and many more, including powerful prototype units, they will experience a level of immersion that truly brings the conflict to life.” Battlestations: Pacific™ is rated PEGI 12+ and ESRB Teen and is set for release on Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games for Windows® - LIVE. - Star Wars Trading Card Game For the first time ever, Star Wars Galaxies™ Trading Card Game players can add the most ruthless bounty hunters in the galaxy to their collections, providing a brand-new dimension of strategy to the game. With today’s launch, Galactic Hunters, the second expansion in the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game from LucasArts and Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), comes 10 new bounty hunter-themed scenarios, which have been built specifically for both light and dark side players, as well as new keyword abilities and instantaneous in-game stat bonuses. Galactic Hunters adds 180 new playable cards, each with original Star Wars™ themed artwork, and all-new loot for use in-game: • The most feared scum and villainy in the galaxy – Players can add a host of powerful, iconic bounty hunters to their card collections, including Boba Fett, IG-88, Bossk, Zuckuss and 4-LOM. • Bounty hunter-inspired loot cards – More than 20 new bounty hunter-inspired loot cards will be available and are redeemable for virtual items in the Star Wars Galaxies massively multiplayer online game (MMO) *, including the Armored Bantha Mount, the Zam Wesell Airspeeder, plus the first-ever loot collection reward, the Merr-Sonn JT-12 jetpack! The Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game marks the first ever trading card game of its kind offered exclusively online. Available to both current and former Star Wars Galaxies subscribers, the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game provides players with an entirely new gameplay experience by combining the challenge of a trading card game with the adventures and community of an MMO. Players can build their own virtual decks to fight in the story mode, and participate in epic one-on-one matches, cooperative heroic encounters, regular sprints and official tournaments. In addition, all Star Wars Galaxies subscribers with current, valid, paid accounts in good standing are eligible to automatically receive five digital trading card booster packs each month included with their paid Star Wars Galaxies subscription at no additional cost, providing a simple way to build their decks quickly and easily. Anyone wishing to try the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game can do so at no charge by downloading a trial that includes limited access to a tutorial and practice games with the provided virtual starter card deck. The Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game may also be accessed from inside Star Wars Galaxies and is available to trial players as part of the Star Wars Galaxies 14-day trial. This trial, offered at no charge for up to two consecutive weeks, also includes all of the content of the base game, Star Wars Galaxies™ An Empire Divided™ and its first expansion, Star Wars Galaxies™ Jump to Lightspeed™. Available by download from www.StarWarsGalaxies.com, the 14-day trial gives players a chance to become part of the Star Wars galaxy, and meet and fight with or against their favorite Star Wars characters as they explore this massive online universe, filled with thousands of other Star Wars fans. - Games Convention Online From 31 July to 2 August 2009, the Leipziger Messe will be presenting the GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE - the first separate platform in Europe for what is now the most dynamic market in the game industry: browser, client and mobile games. The GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE will be accompanied by an international Dialogue Conference, scheduled from 31 July to 1 August as part of the Business Center in Leipzig. The media research institute at Hamburg University, the Hans-Bredow-Institut für Medienforschung, is the specialist cooperation partner and in consultation with the Leipziger Messe, the institute will be preparing the two-day conference programme. The shared aim is to facilitate fruitful exchange of experiences, findings and perspectives between the industry, scientific research and social protagonists. Silvana Kürschner, strategy director, Games Convention Global, explains the concept for the new event: "With the Dialogue Conference, we give the European gaming industry the opportunity for the first time to talk to one another about the characteristics of online business. For its topics, we refer to market experiences in Asia and North America. Cooperation with the Hans-Bredow-Institut gives us in addition a partner who combines practical competence wtih scientific know-how." - Resident Evil 5 Tired of working together with other players in Resident Evil™ 5? Ready to show your co-op partner exactly what you think of their gaming abilities? Capcom is pleased to announce that a new multiplayer mode for the soon-to-be blockbuster, Resident Evil 5, will be released post-launch as paid digital content via Xbox LIVE and PlayStation Network. The new mode, called ‘Versus,’ adds a deadly twist to Resident Evil 5’s multiplayer, pitting players against each other in a contest of survival, a marked departure from the central co-operative nature of the game. Versus allows up to four players to match wits in online battles across two very different game types. Slayer’s Rule is a point-based game that challenges players to kill Majinis. In Survivor’s Rule, players hunt the most dangerous game, each other! Players can begin the hunt as Chris, Sheva or other secret characters, and choose from either one-on-one or two-versus-two team matches for either of the two gameplay styles. Versus will be available on Xbox LIVE and the PlayStation Network a few weeks after Resident Evil 5 is available. Versus will be available for 400 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE or $4.99 on the PlayStation Network. Versus mode requires the Resident Evil game software in order to be played. A broadband internet connection is required.
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Wednesday, 11 March 2009 |
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PC Games: Three Donkeys, an independent game developer and publisher, announced today that Spectromancer™, a new turn-based online fantasy card game co-designed by Magic: The Gathering’s Richard Garfield and Alexey Stankevich, is now available at Steam for $9.95. Three Donkeys also announced that it is working on an expansion pack for Spectromancer, with an anticipated release date of April 2009. Spectromancer allows players to participate in a magical duel against other mages by strategically summoning creatures and casting spells in either single-player or online multi-player modes. - Game Power 7 has announced that March 16th is the starting date of the commercial service of the first published MMO game in the Middle East and North Africa: Rappelz. Despite the gamers’ unawareness about the concept of MMO games in the region, the game has been doubling its player numbers on monthly bases since it was first released November 25th, 2008. Game Power 7, a Dubai-based online games publisher, promised gamers in the Middle East and North Africa to bring them the best Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG). Moreover the games would be completely translated, culturalized, serviced and operated within the region. - Gametribe.com, the premier destination for Free-to-Play games is offering brand new contents to the DOMO fans on March 11th. Two Poetry tale quests are now available! Travel for love through Eversun and Collington and you will be given a fabulous necklace. Also, a brand new goodie bag and new items are out now: • A Special Mecha goodie bag will be available until April 8th, giving players the chance to get a Mecha Armor, Helmet or Jetpack in crimson, yellow or green. These items can be permanent or 15-days • New costumes Bodice and Gladiator • New accessories PuPu Headphone and Blue Sunglasses The new update will be available to players after the weekly Wednesday maintenance window on March 11th. - Kalypso Media have today released a patch for their classic city building game GRAND AGES: ROME. - Racing to the finish line takes on added excitement when competitors trigger destruction on the track to take out their opponents. Disney Interactive Studios today announced Split/Second, an intense action racing game set within the world of a hyper-competitive reality television show. Competitors vie to be the first across the finish line in a made-for-TV city built for destruction, with the ultimate goal of becoming the season champion. Developed by Black Rock Studio, Split/Second is scheduled to be released in early 2010 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Windows-based PC. Competitors in Split/Second don’t just collide with other vehicles to knock them from the track - they can also trigger explosive events that drastically alter the dynamics of the race. Players must use strategy and pinpoint timing to derail opponents, tactically alter the track or create entirely new routes. “Split/Second elevates action racing to a new level by enabling players to strategically take out their opponents by dynamically altering the course in real time,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “Split/Second further showcases Black Rock Studio’s ability to innovate and deliver a compelling experience that has wide appeal beyond the traditional racing genre.” “We’re creating huge memorable moments on par with the biggest blockbuster action films,” said Nick Baynes, game director, Black Rock Studio. “Action racing has captured the imagination of video game fans worldwide and we’re going to redefine that experience with Split/Second.” Black Rock Studio is the development studio behind the critically acclaimed 2008 action sports game, PURE. PURE won numerous awards, including the Game Critics Award for Best Racing Game of E3 2008, and was named among the top 10 video games of 2008 by Entertainment Weekly. Formerly Climax Racing, Black Rock Studio is a development studio of Disney Interactive Studios and is based in Brighton, England. For more information about Split/Second, go to http://www.splitsecondvideogame.com/. PSP Games: KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, today announced that after an overwhelmingly successful release in Japan, DYNASTY WARRIORS®: Strikeforce is now ready to take on North America. The multi-million selling Dynasty Warriors® series has long been renowned for pitting a lone warrior against an army of thousands. The upcoming and highly-anticipated action game reinvents the Dynasty Warriors brand of action into this year’s hottest multi-player experience on the PSP system. DYNASTY WARRIORS: Strikeforce will be available at retailers beginning the week of April 28, 2009. Consumers can pre-order the game now at Amazon, Game Crazy, GameFly, and GameStop. It is a game unlike any other in the series. For the first time, up to four friends can join together to form a “Strikeforce.” As a team, players will travel to different towns, embark on quests, and use coordinated assaults to conquer heavily-armed fortresses and colossal beasts. End of level bosses await intrepid heroes with a multitude of guises and deadly attacks while enemies spread throughout each stage possess much greater levels of intelligence and more powerful attacks. So now more than ever it’s imperative that players work together as a team and find ways to overcome the challenges and obstacles that stand between them and victory. New “Fury” transformations give characters even greater supernatural abilities and attacks, including lightning fast speed and the ability to fly. Warriors can now take to the skies and face off against their foes in spectacular aerial combat. Later this year, KOEI will offer new content for DYNASTY WARRIORS: Strikeforce. Additional quests will be available free-of-charge, exclusively through the PlayStation®Store. DYNASTY WARRIORS: Strikeforce is developed by Omega Force and is for 1 to 4 players. Multi-player play is via ad-hoc mode only. This game is rated “T” (Teen- Violence) by the ESRB. For more information, visit this link. Wii Games: Nintendo released Metroid Prime for the Wii last month. For those of you who have nostalgic memories of this classic game take a look at Chris Kohler's comments on Game|Life - 3G Studios, Inc. responded to reports that Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2009 has sold over 500,000 units and is an NPD Top Seller. Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2009 continues to set records as it has since its release. The game was the first celebrity workout title to ship on the Nintendo WiiTM and has proven to have opened the door for additional workout and health based games to enter the market going forward. 3G was also the first independent developer to ship a title which incorporated the use of the Wii Balance BoardTM. 3G Studios helped redefine what it takes to have a successful game by targeting a new audience. “We never set out to make a hardcore video game. We focused on creating an interactive training session with arguably the best-known fitness trainer on the planet. We want people to sweat and have fun doing it,” said James Kosta, CEO of 3G Studios, Inc. He continued, “Jillian is fantastic to work with. We had a blast trying to keep up with her.” Mobile Games: Relive, rewrite and redefine classic moments from the first 15 years of WrestleMania, as the multi-platform release WWE Legends of WrestleMania comes to mobile! Each year WWE Superstars enter the ring in the most successful, longest-running sports-entertainment event in the world, WrestleMania. Step onto the grandest stage of them all as one of 10 legendary WWE Superstars, utilize the unique finishing moves of your WWE Legend and antagonize your opponent with classic taunts in exhibition mode, or customize your own character and take on the greats in career mode. Browser Games: Leading European MMOG Publisher gamigo is happy to announce the official open beta phase start of the science-fiction 3D browser MMOG Pirate Galaxy. Every player who registers now on http://www.pirategalaxy.com can start playing for free immediately. Intense Spaceaction in the Browser In Pirate Galaxy the player becomes a courageous space-pirate, who has the mission to defend the weakened human colonies against the vicious MANTIS. To do so, there is no need for a client installation; Pirate Galaxy is easily playable in the browser, without having to take any cutbacks regarding the High Res 3D graphics. Pirate Galaxy introduces a new era of browser-games and offers a fantastic Science-Fiction-Online-World to the gamers. The game can be played via a client-program, or directly in a web-browser from almost any PC. In both cases players are able to navigate their spaceships through a high-resolution 3D-ambience. Features: • detailed 3D-Graphic within the browser • exciting real-time-fights in PVE and PVP-Modes • spaceships can be adjusted individually • motivating role-playing-elements • a huge game universe with hundreds of planets and innumerable quests • easy and simple navigation • comprehensible user interface • free to play – no payments, no monthly fees Multi-Platform Games and other news: Showcasing FUEL’s powerful weather effects, which include snowstorms, thunderstorms and tornados, Codemasters® today launched the ‘Extreme Weather’ FUEL gameplay video, now available to view and download from www.fuel-game.com. Coming this May, FUEL will deliver a stunning racing sandbox that covers over 5,000 square miles (14,000+ km²) to create the ultimate go anywhere, on and off-road, racing environment. Set in an alternate present, FUEL will take players across diverse terrain. From the snow-capped Mount Rainier to the arid desert of Nevada and the Utah salt-plains, this wildly diverse environment, devastated by the effects of accelerated global warming, is bought to life with a full day and night cycle and dynamic weather systems. The new video demonstrates the game-changing effect of just some of the game’s extreme weather: lightning strikes illuminate the sky, torrential rain destroys surface grip and blizzards create treacherous racing conditions. The video culminates with the awesome destructive power of the tornado, as an immense twister obliterates homes and throws a truck into the path of racers as they battle against each other and the elements. FUEL’s huge landscape, mapped using satellite data from the United States, is the perfect setting for action-packed, chaotic races as gamers embark on a career mode containing over 70 events and hundreds of additional challenges. Complementing this expansive offline world, the FUEL experience is further extended online as up to 16 players go head-to-head or explore the entire map in free roam. With over 70 on and off-road, two and four-wheeled vehicles to master, FUEL is set to revolutionise open world multi-terrain racing when it launches this May for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and Games For Windows® LIVE. - 2K Games is happy to announce today the success of Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution in the Best Strategy Game category at yesterday’s 2009 GAME British Academy Video Games Awards ceremony in London. Producer Barry Caudill from Civilization Revolution developer Firaxis was present to accept the award. This achievement is testament to years of dedicated effort at Firaxis and 2K, and demonstrates that classic strategy gaming is as relevant today as it ever was – if not more so. The latest current-gen console incarnation of the traditionally PC-based Civilization series, Civilization Revolution beat off stiff competition from other noted strategy titles, including Advance Wars: Dark Conflict and Command And Conquer: Red Alert 3. - SEGA® Corporation today announced an exclusive partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the official licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to develop Vancouver 2010™ - the Official Video Game of the Olympic Winter Games. The game is being developed by Eurocom Entertainment Software for PC, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. Vancouver 2010™ is an authentic simulation of a host of events from the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, focusing on the adrenalin rush that comes from the extreme speed of winter sports. Including the all new challenge mode, it will allow players to immerse themselves in the world’s greatest sporting event like never before. www.olympicvideogames.com/ - Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces that the tower defence simulation game CRYSTAL DEFENDERS™ previously released for the iPod® and iPhone® 3G/iPod touch, is now available worldwide for download via Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. In addition, a major version update for the iPhone 3G/iPod touch versions is currently in development and is scheduled for release in the following weeks. Featuring jobs and locations from the popular FINAL FANTASY TACTICS® series, CRYSTAL DEFENDERS requires players to strategically deploy units to fend off encroaching enemy hordes and prevent them from stealing their party's crystals. The Xbox LIVE Arcade version includes several improvements to the interface and a new design optimized for consoles. A worldwide ranking system allows players to upload their scores to leaderboards and see how they stack up against other players around the globe. These and other new features are sure to increase excitement and enhance replayability. John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, “CRYSTAL DEFENDERS is a great new addition to Xbox LIVE Arcade. It’s simple to understand and easy to pick-up and play, but there is a great depth to the game and an addictive quality that make it ideal for the platform. I hope that many people experience and enjoy it.” - This year marks the 10th anniversary of Sony Online Entertainment’s longest running MMO, EverQuest (EQ). In celebration of EQ’s milestone, Beckett Massive Online Gamer (MOG) will be including two exclusive in-game items in Issue 18 (on sale this week). The items include an EverQuest Aqua Goblin Familiar and an EverQuest II Nagafen at Rest golden dragon statue. • The EQ Aqua Goblin is a totem to one of the unnamed gods that will grant you complete obedience from one of their ilk in the form of an aqua goblin familiar. • With the EQII Nagafen at Rest, you’ll be able to grace your guild hall or home with a detailed golden statue of the ancient dragon Nagafen perched atop a stone pedestal. In addition to the two free in-game items in MOG 18, gamers can read about a special tribute to EverQuest that includes interviews with three top EQ designers, plus helpful Class and Dungeon Guides for EQII. As a special offer for all new subscribers, the first 1,000 people to subscribe online will be emailed both in-game item codes. To claim this unique offer, subscribe here - SouthPeak Interactive Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: SOPK; SOPKU; SOPKW; SOPKZ) is today announcing that a duo of mighty mushroom games are coming to Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ this March. Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars on Wii and Rise of the Fungi on Nintendo DS, offer gamers a unique and compelling platform adventure, from the perspective of a tiny hero with a big mission. To get a behind-the-scenes look at how these fantastic titles were made, SouthPeak is releasing a series of developer diaries that showcase different elements from the game; including music, combat and gameplay. Over the coming days, new diaries will be released on the Internet, so mushroom maniacs should stay glued to their computer screens for more details. In Mushroom Men: Rise of the Fungi players choose from three classes of ‘shrooms - Heavy, Sage or Scout – each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Players then take up makeshift weapons to battle in defense of the peaceful Bolete and technological Morel societies. Set in a 2.5D side-scrolling action-platformer, the story takes on a perspective of three-inch tall mushrooms in a vast human landscape. Your journey will take you through the early stages of the mushroom world, as these tribes set up communities, build homes and craft weapons to defend the life they’ve so recently received. Step through mushroom history as these societies battle for their place and to save their kind from the war-like Lepiotas and Amanitas mushrooms. Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars takes a slightly different direction. Picking up after the Rise of the Fungi story concludes, players end up under the mushroom cap of PAX, an outcast mushroom trying to find his place in society. Set in a third-person action-platformer, PAX learns he’s different for a very good reason, uncovering new talents he never knew he had. Using the Wii Remote™ motion controls, players have PAX running, jumping, gliding and spore-powering his way through level after level of everyday scenarios from a three-inch perspective. Join him in his quest to help the Bolete and Morel tribes repel the attacks of the Lepiota and Amanita armies, all the while discovering what his role is in this wild new world. |
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Tuesday, 10 March 2009 |
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PC Games: From today players will be able to have their own castles in the fantasy world of Taborea. Frogster is activating the long-awaited ‘Guild Castles’ feature on the live servers of Runes of Magic that will give guilds the opportunity to move and furnish their personal guild accommodation. The next step for the Berlin publisher is to enable the guild wars function. The aim: to destroy the throne of an opposing guild. However, building a castle isn’t going to be so easy: The guild must first of all climb to level seven and must have its community coffers well stocked with ore, wood and gold. Should guilds fulfil these conditions, they will then have access to an individual fortress located in an instanced part of the game world. This will then make a range of opportunities open to the guild. For one, the guild castle will contain a central bank for its members and also the players themselves will be able to decide with what kind of furniture they wish to furnish their castle. Whether carpets, chests, tables or cupboards, everything is – as it is already in player’s houses – freely movable. As a crowning, yet sinfully expensive element, guilds can even acquire a throne for their castle. Guilds can, however, also acquire practical functions in exchange for resources: upgrades such as gates or teleporters will not only shorten journey times, they will also be useful tactical elements in the planned guild wars. - Burda:ic, a publisher of online games worldwide, today announced that free-to-play MMO Fantasy Tennis will be available to North and South American gamers beginning March 12 with the launch of Fantasy Tennis Season 2. The fantastic and colorful sports RPG pits player against player as they level up their characters and take to the courts with a variety of powerful strikes and spells. Aspiring virtual athletes will need both quick reflexes and sharp thinking to win, because even the easiest lob can be difficult to return from the middle of a meteor storm. Season 2 features a number of updates from the original Fantasy Tennis, such as improved opponent AI, new clothing sets, and a freshly-updated user interface. Equally significant is the all-new Heroic System which raises the level cap from 50 to 60. Those extra levels could make a big difference in the soon-to-be-added Guild Warfare, as there’s sure to be a lot of competition for ownership of the league castles! - True Games Interactive, an international publisher of multi-player online games, today revealed the full details and a video showcasing the unique features of the "Spirit System" in its upcoming MMORPG, Warrior Epic. Warrior Epic's "Spirit System" is a unique gameplay feature where the death of a character can actually be the beginning of a whole new strategy in the game. The "Spirit System" offers a player the chance to revive their fallen warrior and use them in a number of different ways to advance through the game. - Battlefront.com and 1C Company are excited to announce the official release date for the upcoming tactical World War II title Theatre of War 2: Africa 1943. The game will be available worldwide on April 24 2009, in a simultaneous release by 1C Company in Eastern and Central Europe and by www.battlefront.com for the rest of the world. The game will cost $45.00 USD and will be available both as digital download and physical copy (DVD with printed manual). Pre-orders will be opened later this month. An English-language demo with a all new original mission (different from the Russian language demo) will be released shortly as well. Theatre of War 2 covers the events of 1943 during the operations in Tunisia. Players will have the option to lead the German Afrika Korps of Rommel in their last full-scale attack or be at the head of the opposing English and American armies, led by Montgomery and Eisenhower, during 15 missions in three campaigns. The game presents more than 40 types of different vehicles, new types of units, improved graphics and sound, a new advanced visual system that considers even tiny tactical details such as observation angle or smoke screens, ombatinside buildings and hand-to-hand fighting, a brand new interface, improved soldier AI and a detailed infantry damage system. Special attention is being devoted to multiplayer and user created missions. - Mezmer Games today announced the April release of Stalin vs. Martians, developed by an alliance of three independent studios: Black Wing Foundation, Dreamlore and N-Game. Stalin vs. Martians, as the name suggests, is a game both absolutely ridiculous and over-the-top. Fun and accessible, it takes a simple arcade-like approach to the genre of real-time strategy. The player controls the Red Army as it defends Earth from the Martian Invasion of 1942, the highly classified military operation which even today remains a closely guarded state secret. Stalin himself conducts the mission briefings, and later even becomes a playable unit. The bold leader is duly serious even as he faces the most ridiculous threat the world has ever known. The game itself is far from standard RTS fare; this is not a realistic and deeply strategic war simulation, but a straightforward, fun and light-hearted arcade-style game complete with power-ups falling from conquered foes in the form of bright shiny coins. Check out the trailer. More info here - Mythic Entertainment today announced that it is expanding the Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR) Recruit-A-Friend program in North America and Asia Pacific to now provide exciting in-game rewards for dedicated recruiters on both sides of the ongoing Realm War. The new item rewards bolster the 30 days of free play time already rewarded to players every time they bring a friend and family member into the Realm vs. Realm fray. Anyone who recruits two new subscribers will receive an exclusive pet – the Imperial Hunting Hound for Order players, or the Warlord’s Fell Hound for Destruction players. Those who recruit four new subscribers will be granted a powerful new in-game item, either the Rod of Service or the Collar of Servitude, which increases experience and renown earned by 5% for all group members. In addition, these pocket items allow a player to temporarily raise a fellow realm-mate’s level to give them a fighting chance against more powerful foes. Xbox Games: Eidos Interactive today announced the release of the second downloadable content pack for Tomb Raider: Underworld for Xbox 360. Exclusive to Xbox Live, Tomb Raider: Underworld – Lara’s Shadow allows gamers to experience Lara’s universe from an entirely new perspective: that of the Doppelganger. With faster movement, shadow powers and a melee attack that decimates enemies with devastating accuracy and speed, the Doppelganger will open up all new gameplay mechanics, areas and puzzles which wouldn’t be possible while playing as Lara Croft. Tomb Raider: Underworld – Lara’s Shadow is available now for 800 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live Marketplace. Various: Mind Candy (developers of the online game for kids, http://www.moshimonsters.com) today announced the launch of a new global competition inviting young artists to design their very own Moshling, (a collectable pet monster) for the chance to have it brought to life within the Moshi Monsters game. The lucky winner will also get the opportunity for their creation to feature in the upcoming exhibition “Monsters Inked” @ Idea Generation gallery from April 8th – May 4th. Winners will get to see their creations displayed alongside other great artists including new work by Monsterism Island creator Pete Fowler, and a world-first display of 20 illustrations by Flanimals artist Rob Steen from the much-loved Ricky Gervais book. Michael Smith, CEO of Mind Candy commented: “It’s a great competition for children of all ages to get involved in. Monsters Inked is a huge exhibition featuring world-renowned illustrators, and one lucky winner will have the chance to showcase their monster alongside these artists. Not only that but they’ll get their creation turned into a Moshi Monsters character that millions of children around the whole world can adopt.” One overall winner, and 24 runners-up, will have their work framed and displayed at the Idea Generation Gallery for the duration of the Monsters Inked exhibition. The competition is open to all players of Moshi Monsters, and to sign-up for free visit http://www.moshimonsters.com. Entries will be judged by a panel of top illustrators and must be received by the deadline of March 23rd. For more details on how to enter this competition visit this link - Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today that Little League® World Series Baseball 2009, the sequel to 2008's acclaimed hit baseball game, will be released this June for WiiTM and Nintendo DSTM. The title is a natural progression for the franchise, offering Little Leaguers and their families more features and refined, accessible gameplay. "We are very proud of the warm reception our first Little League baseball video game received last year," said David Oxford, Activision Publishing. "Little League® World Series Baseball 2009 aims to broaden the franchise's appeal even wider, giving experienced gamers a sense of depth and to feel more challenged while still making it easy for parents or grandparents to pick up and play!" - Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announced today that SPIL GAMES will host an exclusive Patapon™ 2 mini-game across many of their online game portals for one week only from March 9th to March 16th 2009. This official flash mini-game is fully playable on both PC and Macs, showcasing the musical fun and inventive gameplay of the newly released Patapon™ 2 – Out now on PSP™ (PlayStation® Portable). The Patapon 2 mini-game, developed by Kerb to promote the launch of Patapon 2, allows you to try your hand at banging out beats to command your tiny tribesman with the rhythm of your drum. Patapon 2 is the follow-up to the hugely popular Patapon™, a fun-filled adventure that combines unique gameplay with rhythm and music, requiring you to create cool drumming combos and lead your tribe to victory. There’s plenty of musical fun to be had – whether you want to play with your mates or enter a cool music carnival! With its funky rhythms, cool graphics, and a brand-new team mode, it’s a title you’ll want to get your hands on when it arrives this March. Test out your drumming skills with the Patapon 2 mini-game – it goes online at http://www.agame.com from March 9th to March 16th 2009. You can also visit the Patapon 2 site |
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Monday, 09 March 2009 |
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PC Games: PlayXpert, provider of next-generation in-game community management tools for all PC and MMO gamers, and leading LAN center organization iGames (www.igames.org) today announced a partnership aiming to provide the PlayXpert overlay platform to iGames members with specialty widgets engineered to enhance game play at LAN centers. “From the beginning, we built PlayXpert for the online player. Working with iGames and its member LAN centers takes advantage of the key features we’ve built into the product from day one,” said Charles Manning, CEO of PlayXpert. “Players can securely log into their PlayXpert account from home or from any participating LAN center and their settings and configurations will follow them. This means that players can bring their important communication tools, community connections, and key content access tools with them where ever they play by simply logging into PlayXpert.” “We are focused on working with leading technology partners to provide turnkey solutions to LAN centers and to deliver an optimized game playing experience to our players,” said Mark Nielsen, Executive Director of iGames. “The PlayXpert team is providing a great tool for online gamers that will prove an asset to our LAN centers. We are excited to help PlayXpert market this in-game platform to our members.” Combining the PlayXpert in-game overlay platform with its extensible widget architecture, PlayXpert is poised to be a standard overlay system for players by bringing together the tools that players use – and overlaying them into the games that they play. - Online game publisher, Gamescampus.com (www.gamescampus.com, run by OnNet USA), announced today that it is offering players of its popular Free-to-play TPS (Third Person Shooter), MangaFighter http://mangafighter.gamescampus.com, a chance to break down the barriers between paying and non-paying players. For a limited time, non-paying players will have the opportunity to earn "Don" (in-game credit) through in-game achievements and purchase all functional items in the game's item mall. Players will not have to spend a single penny of real money and will have access to items usually only available to paying players, putting everyone on a level playing field. Now through the end of March, players of MangaFighter can earn Don, the game's currency, by playing matches. The higher the person ranks at the end of each match, the more Don that person will receive. With the Don they earn, non-paying players can now purchase Guns, Melee Weapons, Throwing Weapons, Launcher Weapons and Skill Cards which were all previously accessible only to paying players. - Lizard Interactive is proud to announce that Closed Beta Test of Land of Magic has successfully ended without major bugs or system errors to be found. Thanks to grand support of active testers, Lizard interactive has selected 2 awards winners for remitting bug reports and achieving high levels testing variety of contents. Land of Magic will start Open Beta on March 12, 2009. Land of Magic, developed by Penguri Entertainment based in Korea, is a classic 2D massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) with unique story of an ancient battle which took place between God and Dragon. Fast level up system, easy control of interface and balanced game skills among different classes were praised by CBT users. - Game Music Inc., a newly formed game music studio combining the intimacy of a boutique with the depth of talent of the largest firm, has been tapped by X Points Studio to provide music and sound design for Not Being There, an experimental action-RPG Mod based on the Neverwinter Nights 2 engine tentatively slated for release in August 2009. "Game Music Inc. has consistently exceeded my expectations with the highest caliber of professionalism, quality of work, and commitment,” said Alexander Horn, Lead Designer, X Points Studios. “The music is perfect, the turnaround ridiculously fast, and communication goes above and beyond. You get the sense that these guys not only are obsessed with perfection in what they do, but care about the audience, community, and game as a whole." - Oh No! More Invaders From Space was released today on the Archive Games distribution platform. The game, created by indie team developer Lodgia, is a retro remake of the classic arcade hit enhanced with many new features. Graphically, Lodgia added many effects within the confines of the low resolution available. The gameplay follows the basics of the original, but adds many twists. The game introduces power ups, extra weapons, online highscores, new music, and even... cattle? For enthusiasts, the game is arcade cabinet friendly. For more information about Oh No! More Invaders From Space, or to download the free full game, please follow this link Wii Games: Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are: WiiWare Gradius ReBirth (Konami, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Blast your way through levels filled with alien spaceships and otherworldly creatures in this retro side-scrolling shooter. Pick your weapons carefully and upgrade them to create a devastating arsenal of space-aged weapons that will aid you in your challenging mission. Players can post their high scores to worldwide leader boards via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection and see where they rank against all the other Gradius ReBirth players. Test your skills with Gradius ReBirth and see if you have what it takes to beat this action-packed arcade shooter. Virtual Console Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars™ (SEGA MASTER SYSTEM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Comic Mischief, Crude Humor, 500 Wii Points): In this platformer from the 1980s, help Alex Kidd in a race against time to find the 12 missing zodiac signs hidden in six challenging levels-including toyland, the robot factory and an outer-space level-all complete with crazy enemies. - Lace up your sneakers and get ready to hit the pavement as Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: COOL), an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, announces Go Play City Sports for Wii™. The latest title in Majesco’s recently announced Go Play line of motion-based video games for the whole family, Go Play City Sports recreates the experience of playing sports in a vast urban playground where manhole covers double as home plate. The all-new sports compilation allows players to compete against the best neighborhood athletes in six classic games, including stickball, kickball, handball, rooftop hockey, shootout soccer and jump rope. Go Play City Sports takes full advantage of the Wii’s capabilities in order to bring these timeless games from the streets to the living room. Players use the intuitive movements of the Wii Remote™ to rule the courts and stake their claim as king of the block. However, just like on the real street, they must dodge obstacles like manhole covers, fire hydrants and parked cars as they try to earn trophies and unlock items such as new courts and equipment. The game supports up to four players in both head-to-head or team-based games, while single player mode allows gamers to fully explore the expansive urban environment. With fully customizable characters and Wii Balance Board™ support, Go Play City Sports is a fun, competitive game for players both young and old! Developed by Digital Embryo, Go Play City Sports for Wii is expected to release this fall. For additional information about Majesco’s exciting line of products, click here Xbox Games: PopCap Games, the leading developer and publisher of casual video games, today announced this week’s launch of its hugely popular game Peggle™ on the Xbox LIVE® Arcade (XBLA) online service of Microsoft’s Xbox 360® video game console. Featured as XBLA’s “Game of the Week,” Peggle will be available for download in all Xbox LIVE regions this Wednesday, March 11 for 800 Microsoft points. Peggle for Xbox LIVE Arcade delivers a number of new and exclusive features to the Xbox 360 gamer, including the first-ever online multiplayer Peggle experience with Peg Party mode, where up to four players can compete simultaneously over Xbox LIVE. The game also features local and Xbox LIVE 2-player Duel mode, downloadable content support, achievements, rich online leaderboards, HD graphics, and more. Peggle has been optimized for the XBLA platform, works flawlessly with the Xbox controllers, and looks dazzling in high definition. Among the game’s features are: • A deep single-player experience, featuring 55 levels of ball-bouncing madness, 10 unlockable Peggle Masters, 75 Challenge mode levels, Quick Play Mode and more • Two different multiplayer modes, letting the gamer experience Peggle competitively online for the first time ever (TrueSkill™ ranked or player match) • 2-player Duel Mode, playable locally or over Xbox LIVE • 4-player Peg Party Mode, playable over Xbox LIVE • Rich online leaderboards, spanning single player and multiplayer modes • View instant replays of the highest scoring shots to learn a thing or two from true Peggle masters • 12 Xbox LIVE Achievements • Downloadable content support • 720p HD graphics and surround sound • Brand new animated backdrops set the mood for your favorite character • Compelling trial experience featuring Adventure, Quick Play and Challenge Modes, allowing players to try out 3 of the 10 available Peggle Masters DS Games: Moto Racer DS is the adrenaline pumping new motorbike racing game for the Nintendo DS from Nobilis and Ascaron Entertainment, due for release on 3rd April 2009. Players can compete in four thrilling race modes, using the unique Stylus Precision Handling (SPH) to control speed, manoeuvring and perform impressive tricks. The intuitive and effective SPH allows players to experience the excitement of racing from a different perspective. The stylus can be used for rapid acceleration, measured braking, crazy jumps and extreme stunts. For those who prefer the traditional method of racing, the D-pad can also be used to tear around the various circuits at lightening speed. In the Freestyle arena, daredevil tricks including Nack Nack, Superman and Kiss of Death can be expertly carried out using the SPH. This innovative control method can be used to perfect landings and thrusts on the Super Cross tracks, such as Hula Whoops, Mud Arena and Sky Runner. The SPH will assist in executing sharp manoeuvres in Traffic mode, enabling players to dodge the oncoming vehicles that hurtle towards them. Racers can also achieve mind blowing acceleration through the beautiful environments of Granite Valley, Eternal Sunset and Gasworth Castle on the Grand Prix circuits. Moto Racer DS features a unique online Worldwide Ranking System for comparing scores with others from around the world. Players can register and create a rider profile, entering their Moto Racer DS code that can be found after completing a time trial race. www.motoracer-thegame.com/en/worldwide-ranking/ - iPhone and iPod Touch Games: Version 2.0 of Realtech VR iPhone and iPod touch 3D Mixed Martial Art and Boxing game 'Realtech Iron Fist Boxing' is now available on the iTunes AppStore. "This version is the long awaited update, after 2 months since the public beta it includes the much requested training mode, featuring 10 different opponents (2 new ones since the first version!) with 2 variations of each (so 20 characters). The update also contains improved AI and animation, new moves, new music, new characters, new backgrounds, vibration support, faster game resume and improved controls and user interface, and an online leader board to determine who is the world champion of the Realtech Iron Fist Boxing Tournament. These changes work together to provide an enjoyable fighting experience!" Iron Fist Boxing 2.0 has been submitted to the iTunes App Store and will be available shortly. The game will be available at the low price of 0.99$ for 48h only! Various: The GAME British Academy Video Games Awards will take place on Tuesday 10 March at the London Hilton on Park Lane and will recognise the very best in artistic, creative and technical innovation in video games. Hosted by Dara O’Briain, the selection of presenters currently confirmed to present awards include: Jonathan Ross, Charlie Brooker, Jeremy Edwards, Kirsty Gallagher, Konnie Huq, Mark Foster, Noel Clarke, Alex Zane, Ralf Little, Caroline Flack and Danny Wallace. This year the BAFTA website is providing a unique perspective on the Awards with backstage interviews with all the winners. Clips of all the nominated games and all the latest images from the night’s events will also be free to view online from 11 March at www.bafta.org - The 3rd Annual ELAN Awards are pleased to announce that Activision Publishing, Inc., a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products has agreed to become an Event Partner for the upcoming global show that awards excellence in video games, animation and visual effects. "Activision is proud to partner with the ELAN Awards as it expands into a global competition celebrating the great accomplishments in digital entertainment this past year," said Steve Ackrich, Head of Production at Activision Publishing. More on the ELAN Awards here. - Slitherine is once again at the forefront of the struggle to merge entertainment and education by joining this inaugural event of Game-Based Learning, as sponsors and keynote speakers. Independent publisher Slitherine has a long history of developing and publishing history-based products, combining cultural and educational values and is proud to be present to support the conference at its opening event. The conference will also be an opportunity to introduce to the press and educators, the videogame adaptation of the bestselling book series Horrible Histories™, written by Terry Deary and illustrated by Martin Brown. The series is present in 37 countries, has been translated into 31 languages and has sold well over 20 million copies worldwide. The game, Horrible Histories™ Ruthless Romans, will release across Europe in May this year on the Nintendo Wii™, Nintendo DS™ and PC platforms. Slitherine’s Marketing Director, Marco Minoli, said: “Being present at an important event such as Game-Based Learning is a source of great pride for us. We strive to release products with a heart to entertain and a soul to educate and it is great to see that, as the years go by, more and more people and organizations recognize the importance of this mission”. He also added: “The Horrible Histories™ title is our first production for a target audience of youngsters and it has been the most intriguing and challenging project we have put together. We are very proud of the final result’. The conference is organized by Learning Without Frontiers, their founder Graham Brown-Martin, said: "the traditional assumption has been that learning and video games designed for entertainment don't mix and this might certainly be true if the entertainment is not truly compelling or the learning is passive and dull but in getting these elements right, by ensuring there is a great game that pulls you into its unique universe in a way that only videogames can to a world that is factually correct provides a seamless blend between fun, engagement and powerful learning. We're delighted that Slitherine are supporting this event and excited to hear from Terry Deary as he makes this important transition to the videogame world which is, after all, a part of so many young learners’ lives". The event will see the extraordinary presence of Terry Deary, who will be speaking about the importance of entertainment in education and how he seamlessly blended these two key elements within his many books. Terry Deary said : “I see no difference between entertainment and learning. If you try to “teach” somebody without making it fun then the young people will not learn very efficiently – schools have been boring children to sleep for a hundred years. But if you try to “entertain” them with something pointless then they will soon grow bored. Computer games are the perfect chance to entertain AND educate. They are the future and will be there long after schools (and teachers) have crumbled to dust” The Conference takes place at The Brewery, London EC1 on Thursday 19th March and Friday 20th March. - Tiga has submitted a formal complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority about the Campaign4Life print advertisement. The advertisement, which is supported by Cancer Research, the British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK, depicts a young boy holding a PlayStation controller beneath the words “Risk an early death. Just do nothing.” Richard Wilson, CEO of Tiga, said: “This advert is absurd and insulting in equal measure. To imply that playing a video game leads to a premature rendezvous with the Grim Reaper is a non-sequitur of colossal proportions. Alcohol and drug abuse, smoking, obesity and involvement in violent crime are forms of behaviour that risk an early death. “In contrast, many video games are mentally stimulating, potentially educational and social and some involve physical exercise. ‘Brain Training’, ‘Wii Fit’ games or ‘Civilisation’, ‘Singstar’ and ‘Buzz’ are cases in point. “This advert is offensive to the 30,000 people who work in the UK’s video games industry, particularly the 10,000 who work in games development. Game developers are typically intelligent, very qualified and creative individuals who work to produce high quality games for people’s entertainment. They are not in the business of driving people to an early grave. “With nearly a quarter of men and women and almost a fifth of 2 to 5 year olds in England obese we clearly need to encourage a more active lifestyle and healthy diet. It should be possible to achieve this objective without misrepresenting a creative industry of 30,000 people.” - Furious Gamer Radio is filling a unique niche for the gaming community as the world’s premier distribution network dedicated to audio content related to video games. The radio network is accessible on the Internet at www.furiousgamer.com for free, and now on the iPhone by downloading an iPhone application. The network features 10 different shows spanning several genres including gaming news, humor, interviews and in-depth story pieces. The network will also be adding some new shows which will only be available on Furious Gamer Radio. Shows currently on Furious Gamer Radio include: Major Nelson Radio, iPGN Unleashed – iPhone Games Network, Playstation Nation, PC Gamer, Uncle Gamer Radio, 360 Nation, Gamertag Radio, In-Game Chat , Game Snitch Radio, and The Post Game Report. - On Friday 20 March 2009 80 budding videogame design and development students from all over the UK will relocate to the University of Derby’s cutting edge Computer Games Lab for X48 – a two-day intensive development session dedicated to gaming. Using Microsoft’s XNA Game Studio 3.0, X48 will offer the student teams an unprecedented opportunity to be mentored by and have their work reviewed by computer giant Microsoft and UK broadcaster Channel 4 – key sponsors of the two-day game camp produced by Pixel-Lab. The event will be themed to challenge the students to develop games that look beyond the traditional puzzle or first person shooter in a bid to create new conversations around gaming and attract the attention of new audiences. And to ensure the teams do not prepare in advance, they will not be given the theme for their game prototypes until the opening session on Friday morning. More info here |
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Friday, 06 March 2009 |
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PC Games: Frogster today revealed the evil super villain from Runes of Magic’s first chapter: Rise of the Demon Lord’. The new in-game trailer tells the story of the Demon Lord’s dark powers as he unleashes a wave of chaos and destruction upon Taborea. Runes of Magic is scheduled for a full launch on March 19th. The game’s opening chapter marks the beginning of a struggle against a new deadly enemy. To coincide with the full launch of March 19th, Frogster will release a huge content update including new tasks, a further epic quest series, three new instanced locations – including ‘Kalin Shrine’, as well as new elite skills. The new in-game trailer is available as of now on the official website here http://www.runesofmagic.com/en/videos,id9,rise_of_the_demon_lord.html - Kalypso Media released GRAND AGES: ROME in the UK for a recommended retail price of 29,99 pounds today. GRAND AGES: ROME is the sequel to the highly successful strategy game “Imperium Romanum”. www.grandages.com - Wicked Interactive Ltd.(www.wickedinteractiveltd.com), a leading North American video game publisher, has released the second official trailer for its much anticipated MMORPG, Priston Tale 2: The Second Enigma. The trailer depicts the invigorating action and feel of the sequel to the popular Priston Tale. The trailer highlights the epic in-game environments, showing off the combat and electrifying action-oriented gameplay. More information about the game can be found at http://pt2.subagames.com/. - Paradox Interactive today debuted the official website for Elven Legacy, the upcoming fantasy strategy game developed by 1C:Ino-Co. The site features in-depth profiles on the heroes of Elven Legacy, including Lord Sagittel and Gylven, and descriptions of the wide variety of battle units available to players. The online galleries include new concept art, screenshots, videos, in-game clips and wallpaper. The site also features the Elven Legacy developer diaries written by lead game designer Max Bodrikov of Ino-Co. Fans can also keep informed on the latest updates about Elven Legacy by visiting the news section and subscribing to the RSS feed. To experience the Elven Legacy website, please visit: http://www.elven-legacy.com - Midway and Epic Games are bringing more of a good thing to first-person shooter and Unreal Tournament fans as the Titan Pack for Unreal Tournament 3 is now available to download for Steam clients and Windows PC gamers. This massive free 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 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. - MixMaster is a free play monster battle MMORPG. There are over 350 monsters in MixMasters and players will aim to get the strongest posible monster by MIXING 2monsters. Fight other players to become the best MixMaster in the world!! MixMaster Game Procedure 1. Fight Monsters Firstly, you must fight monsters and become a master that monsters can be proud to serve. You must show them who are boss is, for them to follow you. Attacking with love and care may increase the chances of monsters becoming your Hench! 2. Train Monsters In defeat, these monsters may choose to be servered by you. This is where the real journey begins. All monsters have unique, clan group, attribute, gender and elemental group. Some monsters grow early, some blossom later. No monsters are the same in MixMaster. Train them to strengthen your party. 3. Mix Monsters The true fun of MixMaster lies in Mixing monsters. You can mix 2 different monsters to create a totally new stronger monster. With over 350 Monsters, there are plenty of monsters to mix. With incredible number of Mix Formulae, it is up to you to find out the unknown mystery formula! 4. Make Friends Best thing about online RPG is that you can maximize your enjoyment by sharing the experience with friends from all around the world. Worldwide Mixmaster is played by over 5million people. You can enjoy the game while making new friends! 5. Fight with/against Friends With newly made friends, you can go around killing monster, and even better is fight other MixMasters. There is a Team Battle called The Siege Affair every week, which heats up to choose the best MixMaster to rule the Capital City of magirita. Before installing MixMaster, please check your PC systems capabilities against the recommanded requirements listed below , to make sure that the game will run smoothly on your computer: Minimum System Requirements: CPU : Pentium 3 - 500mhz or faster. Memory : 128MB or more. Hard Disk Space : 1GB or more. Video Card : 8MB or More, Direct X 8.1 support. DirectX : DirectX 8.1b or later version. Audio : Direct sound support. Network Speed : 56kbps/ ADSL/ CABLE Recommended System Requirements: CPU : Pentium 3 - 700mhz or faster. Memory : 256MB or more. Hard Disk Space : 1GB or more. Video Card : 8MB or More, Direct X 8.1 support. DirectX : DirectX 8.1b or later version. Audio : Direct sound support. Network Speed : ADSL/ CABLE Game Website http://www.mixmaster.com.au/ - Sho Online, Lizard Interactive’s free to play MMORPG, will be releasing a new War System powered by ultimate weapons series called “Treasure Weapons” coming March 12. There will be some changes made to current War System and a new dungeon will be available for the winning side of the dynasty. Updated system will let victorious dynasty to receive 5% increase in money drops from monsters. For consecutive victories, money drops will increase by 5% for a total of up to 20% shoonline.neofun.com - Thinking Studios and Slam Dunk Studios are proud to announce the highly anticipated release of the full version of their PC game Raycatcher (mentioned in a previous news edition). Raycatcher is available today on Stardock’s Impulse platform. “Raycatcher is a perfect fit for Impulse and we’re proud to be a part of it.” You can find the game on Impulse at www.impulsedriven.com/raycatcher - 505 Games and Bohemia Interactive announce the release of a new video update to military simulator project ARMA II. This latest Intel has been declassified for immediate analysis at http://www.arma2.com - Following the launch of the single player demo, the multiplayer demo for Atari’s forthcoming real-time strategy title Codename Panzers: Cold War is now available for free download via the game’s official website at www.codenamepanzerscoldwar.com. - Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and Strategy 3 Tactics are thrilled to announce the release of the 4.50.07b comprehensive update for Close Combat – Wacht am Rhein. This new update includes a sizeable amount of graphical improvements and tweaks to units and maps, a few AI improvements in both the tactical and strategic portions of the game, and a variety of bug fixes. Update: CloseCombatWachtamRhein-UpdateCompDR-v4507bDR.zip - Mythic Entertainment™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) studio, today announced that a new ten-day free trial is now available for the critically-acclaimed fantasy MMORPG, Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning® (WAR). Potential recruits to the armies of WAR are invited to spend ten action-packed days hunting Squigs, stomping Stunties, exploring massive capital cities, and battling opposing players in thrilling Realm vs. Realm™ combat. Players that sign up for the 10-day free trial are eligible to participate in the current Bitter Rivals live event to unlock the soon-to-be-released Orc Choppa and Dwarf Slayer careers for head start play. To download the 10-day free trial, visit http://www.warhammeronline.com/trial. Xbox Games: Today Midway and Ubisoft announce that an official Wheelman demo will be available worldwide for download exclusively on the Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network beginning March 5, 2009 at 6 a.m. PST. The Wheelman demo will be available for download on the PlayStation®Network on March 12 www.wheelmangame.com
PS3 Games: Oxfordshire based Audiomotion Studios, Europe’s leading Motion Capture specialist and service provider has been responsible for providing all of the Mocap data for one of SONY’s biggest releases for the first quarter of 2009, Killzone 2 FPS for PlayStation3. The game has gone straight in at No1 knocking Halo Wars off the top spot and has become one of the fastest selling Sony games of all time. Working closely with the world famous Dutch based development studio and SONY owned Guerilla Games, Audiomotion worked on the hugely anticipated Killzone 2 for a period of four years delivering over 5000 in-game animations and utilizing Full Performance Capture for all of the cutscenes. - Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has announced that SCENE EXPANSION – the latest downloadable content for its Metal Gear Online title for PLAYSTATION®3 – is scheduled for release on March 17th in Europe priced 7.99 Euro. Metal Gear Online fans will be able to pre-purchase the SCENE EXPANSION from March 10th. Those who pre-order will receive an exclusive ‘Cardboard Box Man’ head gear for use in the game. The new expansion pack can be purchased from the game’s built-in MGO Shop. Wii Games: NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe announced today that Klonoa will be available in Europe for Wii in 2009. Klonoa’s long-awaited return offers vibrant graphics, motion control and new secrets to discover in this update to the series’ debut adventure. Highly revered as one of the best platform games of the past 10 years, Klonoa will ignite Wii owners’ imaginations with addictive gameplay, exciting stages and a memorable story www.namcobandaigames.com DS Games: Handheld guitar gods can now choose how they raise-up their band from the underground music scene to worldwide rock stardom in Guitar Hero® Modern Hits. Featuring a set list comprised of more than 25 master tracks from influential artists including Coldplay, Fall Out Boy and Weezer, Guitar Hero Modern Hits expands on the innovative Guitar Hero gameplay on the Nintendo DS by introducing an all-new Fan Request system that challenges players to jam like never before. www.activision.com - SouthPeak Interactive Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: SOPK; SOPKU; SOPKW; SOPKZ) is pleased to announce that its unique Nintendo DS™ shoot-‘em-up Big Bang Mini will be available across Europe today. What’s more to commemorate the release, developer Arkedo Studio is officially releasing the game’s award-winning soundtrack for everyone to enjoy. In Big Bang Mini, your objective is to destroy wave upon wave of enemies, which in turn lights up the night sky with bursts of colorful fireworks. Use the stylus to dodge enemy fire and debris while collecting stars. Specifically designed with the Nintendo DS Touch Screen in mind, Big Bang Mini packs a challenge that any casual or hardcore shooter fan will enjoy. www.bigbangmini.com Various: A raid at a detached house in Surrey, UK has resulted in the largest seizure of its kind in the UK in the fight against illegal game copying devices. A web-based business was alleged to be importing and selling Nintendo DS™ copying devices worldwide via the internet. Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) knew something was wrong when large consignments of the illegal game copying devices started showing up at airports across the UK. These were seized and HMRC alerted IP investigators from ELSPA (the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association). ELSPA’s anti-piracy team worked with Surrey Trading Standards culminating in the Surrey raid where they discovered thousands of game copying devices which allegedly infringe both the Trade Marks Act 1994 and Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988. The items have been seized and sent for forensic examination by ELSPA. At the house investigators discovered a fully operational ‘production line’ along with a fully detailed trading history for the business. Records found at the property revealed evidence of trading worth £hundreds of thousands. A simultaneous raid at a second business premises was carried out by the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames Trading Standards, but the premises were found to be empty. The maximum penalty upon conviction for offences under the Trade Marks Act is an unlimited fine and/or up to 10 years imprisonment. - The Life of a Crash Impact Dummy is never easy, one minute you’re bored, the next you're flung into the greatest adventure of your life, with cool equipment, dangerous monsters and enemies out to get you. Need an Adventure? You're in the right place… About CID The Dummy: A star is born and he's made to last. CID The Dummy makes his debut in Oxygen Games’ all-new action platformer. CID The Dummy is sure to grab you with its enjoyable, fun gameplay, featuring a totally original character with charisma and lots of moves. CID has many different fighting styles with which to battle enemies, from unarmed combat to weapons like the Bazooka that can freeze, hit and burn. CID The Dummy will be released on Wii™, Playstation®2, PSP®System, and PC. - FISHLABS Entertainment GmbH, leading developer and publisher of high-quality 3D mobile games, have been given the Silver Award by Juniper Research for their innovation in the field of mobile games. The Hamburg-based company has hit the jackpot again in the past year. According to MobileGamesDB, FISHLABS was the best developer and publisher of 2008, with an unbelievable rating of 9/10 points on average, followed by Gameloft, which received an average evaluation of 8/10. Equivalently, Pocket Gamer ranked the 3D racing game Rally Master Pro™ in first place and Snowboard Hero™ in third place on the list of the best mobile games in the world. www.fishlabs.net - Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of videogames, announced today that renowned UK artist Dave White, whose previous work includes commissions for Nike and Coca Cola, has produced a one-off ink drawing to celebrate the launch of Street Fighter IV that has an estimated value of between £7,000 and £10,000. Measuring 5ft x 4ft, Dave White’s huge rendition of Ryu (the main character in the Street Fighter series) was inspired by Dave’s love for Street Fighter and videogaming culture in general. Check it out yourselves http://flickr.com/photos/ramboando/3333152888/sizes/l/ - The Nordic Game tradition of bringing Japanese games stars to Europe continues. The organisers of Nordic Game 2009 proudly announce that Keiji Inafune, Capcom and Goichi Suda, Grasshopper Manufacture (aka Suda 51) will both give talks at the conference. “Having Keiji Inafune and Goichi Suda join Nordic Game this year highlights the strong and growing relationship between the Japanese and Nordic games communities” said Tom Felices, executive director of the event, “and will offer attendees a unique opportunity to meet two of the most exciting game creators today” www.nordicgame.com - Edge, Future’s globally respected videogames brand, celebrates the 200th issue of the print edition in style with the world’s first split run of no less than 200 covers. Celebrating videogame culture through the ages, Edge 200’s covers feature all-time icons like Zelda’s Link, Halo’s Master Chief, Mario and Sonic rubbing shoulders with legends of yesteryear such as Dizzy, Q-Bert and Dirk the Daring. Only 200 editions of each of the 199 different designs will be printed, with the 200th design, custom-produced for Edge by LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule, delivered exclusively to subscribers www.edge-online.com - The readers of Beckett Massive Online Gamer recently voted for their favorite games of 2008. There were seven MMO categories in which gamers got the chance to vote. They included: Best New MMO Release, Best MMO, Best Fantasy MMO, Best Sci-Fi/Historical MMO, Best Expansion/Addition, Best MMO Trailer and Most Anticipated MMO. With over 25,000 votes cast, there were several closes races, while a few games just dominated their categories. And the winners are… Best New MMO Release of 2008 - Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Best MMO of 2008 - EVE Online Best Fantasy MMO of 2008 - World of Warcraft Best Sci-Fi/Historical MMO of 2008 - EVE Online Best Expansion/Addition of 2008 - World of Warcraft Best MMO Trailer of 2008 - World of Warcraft Most Anticipated MMO - Star Wars: The Old Republic A big thanks to the readers who voted on their favorite games and congratulations to the companies that won an award. For the complete story on the winners and the runners-up, pick up a copy of Beckett Massive Online Gamer issue 18, on sale nationwide beginning March 11, 2009 http://www.beckett.com/beckettMOG/default.osi - The ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) was out in full force at CeBIT 2009, showcasing a stellar cast of the most innovative and exciting gaming products and peripherals. Staying true to their promise of delivering the best available technology for uncompromising performance, the ROG was able to enthrall gamers with all-rounded gaming solutions that included: blazingly-fast desktops, "icy-cool" thermal coolers, powerful gaming notebooks and much more www.asus.com - Bplus, independent software developer, today releases Part 3 of the exclusive Bplus Soundtrack. This update includes more than 12 minutes of some of the most loved and wanted tunes from both PLÄTTCHEN - twist 'n' paint and Niki - Rock 'n' Ball. Arranged with much love, they are available now together with Part 1 and Part 2 for you to download completely free of charge in high quality mp3 format. The next parts of the Bplus Soundtrack will be released in the future. Direct Forums link: http://www.bplus.at/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=41 Tracklist: Niki - Rock 'n' Ball: Niki RnB - Menu World 3.mp3 Niki RnB - World 3.mp3 PLÄTTCHEN - twist 'n' paint: PLATTCHEN - Fruity Smile Fantasy.mp3 PLATTCHEN - Cuddly World Fantasy.mp3 PLATTCHEN - Memory Fantasy.mp3 Download Bplus-Soundtrack Part 3 - Teaser image: http://www.bplus.at/PICs/BplusSoundtrackPart3BIG.jpg |
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Thursday, 05 March 2009 |
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PC Games: ACE Team, an independent video game developer based in Santiago, Chile, today announced that it will include a new Survival Game Mode with a friends ranking system in its upcoming release of Zeno Clash. Zeno Clash is a PC-based action/fighting game set in a punk fantasy world. ACE Team will distribute Zeno Clash via Steam and Direct2Drive this Spring for a value price of $20.00 USD. The developer is also currently working to secure a retail publisher. In addition, ACE Team has also launched a new blog for Zeno Clash where it will introduce new information about the game each week leading up to the game's launch. The first blog installment reveals never-before-seen information about the game's environments. To read the latest installment visit http://blogs.aceteam.cl/zenoclash/. www.zenoclash.com - Reakktor Media GmbH today announced the launch of its new official Black Prophecy web site. Kirk Lenke, CEO of Reakktor Media GmbH, said, “With the launch of the new official website we have reached another important milestone in the development of our recent project. The new website offers the latest breaking news, screenshots and concept arts of our next-generation Space Action MMOG "Black Prophecy" and is definitely worth a visit.” Official Black Prophecy website: http://www.blackprophecy-game.com - EYA Interactive Co. Ltd. (EYA Interactive), one of the world’s premier multimedia entertainment service providers, announced today that Titan Online, its free-to-play, massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG), will enter into limited public beta on March 19, 2009. Slated for release this spring, users can get a taste for this martial arts fantasy by logging in at http://titan.eyagames.com. An epic title based on traditional Asian culture, Titan Online is a fusion MMORPG that boasts a unique combination of martial arts and robots that takes place in a spectacular fantasy world. Titan Online is based upon the Korean best-selling novel, “Mo Siang.” Set in ancient China, players will experience historic Chinese locales, meet influential figures from various dynasties, experience mysterious aspects of various ancient Asian cultures, all while trying to save the martial arts world by engaging in intense real-time battles. - The gPotato.eu team is glad to announce the official release of the inline skating MMORPG Street Gears. With over 50 000 players participating during the open beta-test phase, everyone can now download the game for free at the www.gpotato.eu gaming portal. With Street Gears going live, players can discover a bunch of new features, including new races, a new playable character, and lots of other surprises. Street Gears is a free-to-play inline skating game where players can become “riders” fond of freedom and extreme experiences. The city of Park Town has tons of activities for all riders of all levels, such as speed-based races on lots of different tracks, team tournaments, and the possibility to show-off by doing impressive tricks and stunts. From today, all players can enjoy these features, and try the brand new ones that come with the official release of Street Gears. http://de.sg.gpotato.eu/ - Among the five clans of Zu Online (http://zu.igg.com/ ), the Swordsmen are the best damage dealers. Master Swordsmen wield the most powerful spells. Magic that can cause a lot of damage to a single target. Also, their spells cool down fast and can be cast instantly. Because of this, Swordsmen can level faster than of the other clans. To slay monsters quickly, Swordsmen need to spend almost all their talent points on the “Cohesion” branch. First Row Spend 10 talent points on “Lethality” until it increases the critical strike damage bonus by 14%. This may be one of the most practical talents of Swordsmen. Second Row Spend 10 points on “Disabling Sword” to increase the Garrote chance of Flying Sword, God Sword and Multi Sword Strike spells by up to 11%. “Subtle Strike” will not help slay monsters faster, so it can be left out for now. Third Row Spend 1 point on “Store Spirit”. Then you can use this talent when you have enough vigor, which will really help slay monsters. The other talents on this row will not help accelerate monster slaying, so they can be ignored for now. However, we still need to spend more talent points on this talent branch in order to activate the talents on the fourth row. So spend 9 talent points on “Flying Sword Strike”. Fourth Row Spend 10 talent points on “Mortal Strikes” to increase the Critical Strike chance of Air Explosion, Fury of the Universe and Swirling Wing Spells by up to 16%. “Soul Shaking” reduces the movement speed and attack speed of a single target, so it can be ignored for now. Fifth Row As for the talents in the fifth row, “Malice” is first on the list, so pump it up until it increases the chance of Critical Strike by 15%. This is another one of the most practical talents of the Swordsmen. “Disabling Shot” is almost useless when fighting against a crowd of monsters, so it can be ignored for now as well. Sixth Row Spend 10 talent points on “Extended Blast” to increase the area of effect of Air Explosion, Fury of the Universe and Swirling Swords spells by 80%. This talent is very helpful, especially for fighting against monsters while away from the keyboard. When you have enough talent points to spend on the talents above, you should be around Level 207. At this level, you should be a veteran, and with the power you’ve gathered, it’s time to start mastering PvP, if you haven’t already. It’s all up to you. Remember that, to level fast, Swordsmen must use a Bolus of Rapidity to increase their experience gained. Also, before fighting AFK, Swordsmen should use Soul Power and make sure they have enough Soul Herbs left in their backpack. For more information on Zu Online, please visit http://zu.igg.com - As the design of the Cursed Palace counts down to completion, Wonderland Online (http://wl.igg.com) players can get ready to enter the palace of mystery and danger. The land is composed of 12 palaces, each of which is protected by one powerful fighter and 4 assisting guards. The Cursed Palace was inspired by constellations, so palaces are named after 12 zodiacs (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces). The first 3 palaces would be easily conquered, but as you step for the next level, the danger is growing. At first sight, those guardians might appear to be unbeatable. However, once their weakness is discovered, the task will be much easier. If you are super intelligent and absolutely fearless, you might have some luck to pass 12 palaces with rich awards. After that you will face the ultimate challenge in your lifetime. In the final round, Athena will lead her four strongest knights to fight tooth and nail to defend her last territory. Only the bravest warriors with incredible brainpower have hope of defeating them. - When The Path is released through Steam, Direct2Drive and Tale of Tales' own website on March 18th 2009, it will cost 9.99 US Dollars. This is considerably less than other PC games of a comparable scope and budget. The Path is Tale of Tales' first experiment with commercial games publishing. An experiment involving the creation of a new type of game experience for a new type of player. In search of a new kind of economy, where authors and players support each other without outside interference. It sounds like a naive ideal but it is certainly a dream they share with many independent game creators. Sales of The Path will determine the future of Tale of Tales. And as such, the future of a type of exploration of the medium that not many developers are involved in. The Path is a contemporary interpretation of the ancient tale of Little Red Ridinghood. It features six sisters -Robin, Rose, Ginger, Ruby, Carmen and Scarlet- who are sent, one by one, to their grandmother's house on an errand. Grandmother lives on the other side of a path that is flanked by a dense forest, equally foreboding as it is inviting. Will the girls obey their mother's explicit command of staying on the path? Or will they stray and meet their doom? Do they really have a choice? - Cronous (cronous.neofun.com), a popular MMORPG developed and published by Lizard Interactive, is ready for new game update,” Extraction System”. “Extraction System”, planned for update on the 19th March, is a brand new system developed for Cronous users. Players can now extract Zircon dusts and crystals from unwanted items they have by using Zircon Hammer. Unique types of seals can be created using dusts and crystals together with few other required materials and these unique seals, when used on weapons, will enhance the characters ability of Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Stamina, and/or All Abilities. DS Games: JoWooD Productions is happy to report, that the revitalization for Lifesigns - Hospital Affairs succeeded! After a few months away sick, the game is now ready and will hit the European stores on March 27th 2009. “Lifesigns Hospital Affairs is one of the most anticipated releases for our console lineup in 2009 not just for JoWooD Productions, but for the international press and gamers as well. Because of the shifted release, we were able to put much more effort into a perfect localization and quality assurance to guarantee a good gaming experience for players.” explains Richard Haderer, Product Manager JoWooD Productions. Lifesigns – Hospital Affairs is the ultimative Soap for Nintendo DS™. It’s your chance to slip on the scrubs and become a real live doctor! LifeSigns – Hospital Affairs is an original, exciting and portable adventure game for the Nintendo DS that allows you to experience what it’s like to be a top doctor in one of the best hospitals around. You can already sneak a peek at the screenshots, trailers and even perform a surgery on the official website www.lifesigns-game.com
Wii Games: Fancy being a top darts player? Or would you prefer to match yourself up against the Pros? In this year’s PDC World Championship Darts 2009 game on Wii, you can do both! Either create your own male or female characters with your very own barrel weights, flights, darts shirts and walk-ins or choose to move up the rankings by playing as (or against) one of 18 professional PDC players. Will you play as ex-postman and five times World Championship winner, Raymond ‘The Man’ Van Barneveld or compete using the unique dart throwing style of Phil “The Power” Taylor, the sporting legend who has notched up an incredible 14 World Championship wins? Left handed but not left out? The full list now includes 2 left handed players, James “the Gladiator” “009” Wade & Alan “the Saint” Tabern, who are new to the game – so no need to feel others have the unfair advantage! http://www.dartsvideogame.com/
DS Games: Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has announced its first Yu-Gi-Oh!™ title for 2009, in the form of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Stardust Accelerator – World Championship 2009 for Nintendo DS scheduled for release in 2nd Quarter 2009. The first game based on the new Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s TV show, the DS game allows up to four players to compete within two distinctly different ways. The ‘Story Mode’ lets single players explore the world of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s world and meet its all-new dueling stars in a series of thrilling card games. Secondly, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Stardust Accelerator – World Championship 2009 will act as the basis for 2009’s Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship, and boasts an enhanced dueling system, larger card images and more cards than ever before – with 2500 in total. Both game modes feature new characters and settings from the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s show, with Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Stardust Accelerator – World Championship 2009 acting as the definitive simulation of the Trading Card Game for Nintendo DS. The game world is brought to vivid life with all new 3D character images, while the 2500 cards span Booster and Structure Decks from the Trading Card Game, allowing users to assemble powerful decks from the cards available. As has become traditional, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Stardust Accelerator – World Championship 2009 will also be released with three official Trading Cards inside the box. iPhone Games: iRunner tests your pace, skill and determination of your body, mind and FINGERS … that’s right! Give your fingers an extremely good stretch because you’re going to find yourself breaking pain barriers and world records when you take on the world in 4 different events! There are different monthly prizes available http://www.irunneriphonegame.com/viewprizes.php Get it from here
Mobile Games: Beware of androids equipped with bombs and military weaponry! Bomberman Dojo and Military Madness, two new mobile games from Hudson Entertainment, the North and South American publishing arm of HUDSON SOFT, are coming soon to Android Market. Opened in October 2008, Android Market offers free and priced applications for the open standard mobile device platform developed by the Open Handset Alliance. To ignite their entry into the development of priced applications for Android Market, Hudson Entertainment created new mobile versions of their classic Bomberman and Military Madness titles. http://www.hudsonent.com/
Various: The Scottish Government has pledged sponsorship of £60,000 allowing two international teams to join the Dare to be Digital computer game design competition at the University of Abertay Dundee. This new sponsorship will bring two teams from India and China to the Dare hothouse at Abertay University where they will spend ten weeks alongside another 13 teams of student developers and artists from across the UK. The teams will work in real-world studio style conditions with a stipend, putting together prototype computer games which will then be showcased to the public and industry representatives during the Edinburgh Festival season in August. Most importantly, the teams will receive mentoring support from some of the best games development studios in the UK during their time at Abertay. www.daretobedigital.com - Microsoft’s second annual ‘Play Smart, Play Safe’ study finds that the majority of UK parents view video games positively. 61% state that games are a great social experience, 52% feel video games bring their families together and 80% see gaming as a vital component in a balanced blend of modern and traditional entertainment. The study uncovers the differing views of parents and children when it comes to attitudes to safe gaming, and reveals that while parental awareness of children’s gaming safety is high, understanding and implementation of parental controls is more limited, though growing. Since last year’s report there has been a significant rise in the percentage of parents who claim to be familiar with parental control tools. 73% of UK parents are aware of parental controls on game consoles, operating systems to control their child’s access and age and content ratings on games themselves, an increase of 13% on last year’s study where only 60% of parents claimed to be sufficiently informed in this area. 94% of UK parents feel personally responsible for checking the age rating of the games that their children play, reflecting similar levels of awareness to traditional forms of entertainment such as film, television and music, with 90% of parents monitoring consumption of these established entertainment channels. Go to http://www.xbox.com/playsmartplaysafe for more information. - CBS Interactive today announced that GameSpot UK (http://www.gamespot.co.uk) has increased its audience by more than 28% in 2008, confirming the website as the UK video gamers’ favourite source for information, community and entertainment. The independent audit was carried out by ABC Electronic in December 2008 and shows a significant increase in monthly unique users from just over 3.5 million in 2007 to more than 4.5 million in 2008. “Video gaming is now one of the UK’s favourite pastimes with an all time high of 82 million games purchased in 2008, and this is reflected in GameSpot UK’s growth", said Geoff Inns, UK Product Director of Games, Entertainment and Video at CBS Interactive. “We are delighted to re-confirm our number one spot among UK video gaming sites.” - iZ3D Inc., designer, developer and pioneer of advanced stereoscopic 3D visualization systems, will have its 2D/3D gaming monitors showcased in the Gainward Stand this week at the CeBit tradeshow in Hanover, Germany in Hall 27, Stand E47. iZ3D brand monitors are top of the line 2D monitors the entire family can use for everyday applications. Then, with the push of a button, users can put on a pair of 3D-glasses and enjoy their favorite off the shelf games in stunning 3D. http://www.iz3d.com/ - Organizers of the Independent Games Festival (IGF) have launched the IGF Audience Award voting website. Visitors can download and play 15 of the Main Competition finalist games and vote for their favorite independent game. Online voting will continue through March 20th, and the winner will be awarded the $2,500 prize at the IGF awards ceremony on the same evening that the voting closes, along with the winners of a total of $50,000 in prizes as part of the IGF Main and Student Competitions. The full list of finalist games for download and voting is available at http://www.igf.com/audience.php. In addition to digital download, all finalist games will be playable at the IGF Pavilion, March 25-27, on the Game Developers Conference (GDC) Expo floor. Finalists were chosen from a record 226 entries and represent the growth of the independent games movement with innovative games of excellent quality, across various platforms. GDC, Think Services Game Group’s annual conference dedicated to the art, science and business of games, takes place Mar. 23-27, 2009 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. The games with eligible demos or full versions on PC, XBLA, XNA Community Games or PSN are: Retro/Grade, Dyson, Brainpipe, The Maw, IncrediBots, Osmos, Musaic Box, Cortex Command, CarneyVale Showtime, Coil, The Graveyard, PixelJunk Eden, Mightier, You Have To Burn The Rope, and Between. |
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Wednesday, 04 March 2009 |
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PC Games: Following the success of its predecessors, Gobliiins 4 continues the hilarious story of the three wacky characters Tchoup, Perlius and Stucco. Typical for goblins, they are not especially bright, and each is capable of one - and only one - type of behaviour. It's up to the player to bring their unique skills together in creative ways in order to progress through the game. Introducing Tchoup! Tchoup used to be a nimble, able-bodied kid who enjoyed exploring the world around him, always searching for creative ways to combine unusual objects such as rattles and hairdressers or three-legged stools and streetlights. The latter experiment brought him to the police station where our inquisitive child was confronted with a magnifying glass. This awe-inspiring experience left him speechless for months. Eventually, he decided to make investigation his career of choice. Tchoup is an active member of the Historic Preservation Society and is never seen without the traditional goblin folk costume, although some people say he wears it to hide a sprouting bald spot underneath the obligatory red cap. Not only is Tchoup a skilled private investigator, he is also the only one of the three goblins who can take items and keep them in his pockets. To open his pocket and see all the junk he has collected so far, select the adorable kleptomaniac and right-click at any place of the screen. Gobliiins 4 will be released on 27th March 2009 for a recommended retail price of £19.99. Gobliiins 4 was developed by Société Pollene and is published by Kalypso Media and Snowberry Connection. - Sanrio Digital (http://www.sanriodigital.com) and Level Up! Games (http://www.levelupgames.ph), the Philippines’ first and leading online games publisher, today announced a distribution agreement to launch Hello Kitty Online in the Philippines. Hello Kitty Online is the eagerly anticipated official massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) of the Hello Kitty universe. Under the terms of agreement, Level Up! will publish and operate an English-language version of Hello Kitty Online in the Philippines. Hello Kitty Online is the official MMORPG based on the popular Sanrio characters. The game, currently in its beta stage, will launch in 2009 on a free-to-play model with optional premium upgrades. Players will explore and experience magnificent adventures in the magical and cute world of Sanrio Land as they interact with other players and more than a hundred Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty, Badtz-Maru, Cinnamoroll, and many others. Hello Kitty Online is one of the few MMORPG titles to target a female gaming audience. Aside from redefining traditional MMO gaming with the inclusion of integrated social media services, Hello Kitty Online seeks to make playing more worthwhile by connecting the virtual world with real charity events. Recently, the beta in-game event called “Food for Friends” asked players to craft and donate virtual items; the event generated hundreds of thousand of submissions and raised USD 12,000 for UNICEF (www.unicef.org) and the Asian Youth Orchestra (www.asianyouthorchestra.com). http://www.hellokittyonline.com/ - Alawar Entertainment, a leading international publisher of casual games, today announced the release of "The Enchanting Islands." The new match-three adventure combines the best qualities of a fairy tale with a simple city simulation. In "The Enchanting Islands," a young lady attempts to free five magic islands from the curse of an evil witch, who has turned the once lush and verdant realms into barren wastelands. To accomplish this important task, the player must collect the alchemic ingredients needed to return life to these formerly beautiful places. Between levels, the player can exchange the ingredients for upgrades, giving rise to meadows bursting with color, blossoming sakura trees and towering oaks. Each improvement will increase the population of the islands and have a renewing effect on the environment. The goal of each level is to collect a certain amount of resources within a limited amount of time. Players must create matches of three or more identical elements to fill their reserves, earn bonuses and win boss battles in which matched ingredients fall on the head of the invading monster. http://www.alawar.com/game/the-enchanting-islands/ - Mythic Entertainment today announced the start of Bitter Rivals, the first in-game event marking the start of the new Call to Arms live expansion for its award-winning MMORPG, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR). Bitter Rivals, which takes place from March 3rd to March 10th, gives players a chance to earn valuable in-game rewards and unlock the new Dwarf Slayer and Orc Choppa careers for head start play. The live event includes the new Twisting Tower, an exclusive Realm vs. Realm Scenario which will only be available during Bitter Rivals. The scenario, which takes place in a ruined Chaos temple above a perilous vortex in the Chaos Wastes, pits Order against Destruction as they battle for control of the temple while avoiding the purging fires of a vengeful god. Bitter Rivals marks the start of the massive Call to Arms live expansion that will continue over the next few months with additional live events and new in-game content. The Call to Arms culminates with the launch of the Land of the Dead, a massive new dungeon zone set in the deserts of the Tomb Kings. To further spread the Call to Arms far and wide, Mythic has launched the official WAR forums at http://www.warhammeronline.com/forums/. Open to members of the community, the official WAR forums are a place where players can congregate to find information about the game, provide feedback, interact with the development team, talk RvR strategy and celebrate their love of WAR. For more information about the Bitter Rivals live event and the launch of the official WAR Forums, visit http://www.warhammeronline.com. iPhone and iPod Touch Games: Volkswagon presented the new Polo to the public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show on 3rd March and invites users to a virtual test drive on the iPhone and iPod Touch with Volkswagen Polo Challenge, the 3D racing game from FISHLABS, and will be available for download free of charge in the Apple AppStore beginning mid-March. VW Polo Challenge provides pure racing game fun with the new Polo on eight detailed, animated tracks for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The difficulty increases with every course and only those who drive a best time will be rewarded with a new track. The realistic 4-point driving physics and the innovative controls – steering is done by tilting the iPhone or iPod Touch – are impressive, and the Hamburg-based newcomer band Feinkost from the Volkswagen Sound Foundation provide a cool score. - Brand new iPhone developer Bulkypix is proud to announce the imminent launch of its debut title on the App Store, Hysteria Project. The game is the first ever live action interactive series, which follows in the tradition of classic horror/survival movies such as Friday the 13th, The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield – only this time, you’re the one being hunted. “Lots of games have attempted to blend film with gameplay before, but we never really felt as though it’d been fully achieved,” says Bulkypix CEO Vincent Dondaine. “With Hysteria Project, we wanted to create an experience that was as immersive and gripping as any good horror movie, but allowed people to make decisions that quite literally affected the character’s life. What’s great about the horror genre is the powerful emotional effect it has on the audience – it forces the viewer to take part in the onscreen events, and we’re simply taking that concept to the next level.” Hysteria Project blurs the distinction between audience and player. Viewed from a first person perspective, users awaken in an old cabin, bound and confused. Escaping into the woods, they find themselves stalked by a mysterious and shadowy axe-wielding figure, and it takes a careful eye for detail and fast reactions to stay one step ahead of the mute killer. A completely unique and powerful experience, Hysteria Project uses the multimedia and interactive strengths of the iPhone platform like no other game or movie. The pilot episode of Hysteria Project contains 30 – 40 minutes of playable footage for the low price of $1.99, and will be available from the App Store imminently. Wii Games: Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: COOL), an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, today announced a boy and his blob for WiiTM. a boy and his blob first appeared on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and won numerous awards shortly after its debut in 1989. Developed by WayForward, acclaimed developers of Contra 4 and Shantae, the rebirth of this classic title expands upon the original platform adventure. Featuring groundbreaking hand drawn and painted animation technology, the all-new presentation provides a polished, cinematic feel. http://www.majescoentertainment.com/ PSP Games: A mission unlike any other beckons if, Krosso, the greatest empire of the future is to be saved. In a galaxy far away, a sinister mission awaits in No Gravity -The Plague of Mind. In a distant future, spread across thousands of colonies, the empire is under attack from a mysterious, unknown sickness affecting people’s minds. Fast-paced and full of action, you’ll need true nerve and skill to successfully manoeuvre your way through a total of 31 hazardous missions. Choose your character and one of six customisable ships – each equipped with an impressive array of weapons from lasers to ion blasters, and you are ready to meet your destiny. http://www.anozor.com/nogravity.php - On March 2nd Ubisoft announced that Tenchu®: Shadow Assassins will launch in April for PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system in EMEA territories. The original creators of the best-selling Tenchu series, Acquire, returns to deliver the true look and gameplay to Tenchu: Shadow Assassins. Master the deadly skills of a ninja using the full functionality of the PSP system. Tenchu: Shadow Assassins is rated 16+ by PEGI. Master the art of death on the PSP playing as Rikimaru and Ayame, elite ninjas who must use their lethal skills to keep the peace in feudal Japan. The accuracy of the PSP system’s control buttons lets players battle enemies quickly and attack them with katanas, throwing stars, smoke bombs and more. Expect to find the original Tenchu villain Onikage wreak havoc through dangerous territories. http://www.tenchu4game.com/ Xbox Games: Players can get a taste of life as the galaxy’s most notorious criminal, Riddick, with the playable demo of The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena available now for download on Xbox Live®. Featuring the Athena Main Decks level, the demo showcases the evocative art style and breadth of gameplay contained in The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, 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. The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena will ship for Xbox 360®, PLAYSTATION®3 and PC on April 7 in North America and April 24 in Europe. The PS3 demo will be available on PLAYSTATION® Network in March - RACE Pro recreates a breathtaking reality giving players the ultimate racing simulation experience so that nothing gets closer to the action and thrill of professional car racing. RACE Pro provides unrivalled realism and deep immersion into the racing world through ultra realistic car models and official FIA championships and tracks. Developed by renowned award-winning game developer SimBin, a leading creator of PC racing simulators, RACE Pro is scheduled to speed into stores in January 2009 exclusively for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. For details about the car classes follow this link http://videogames.atari.com/racepro/#/uk/home/ - Bumble.bz, an independent game developer, today announces an international (Poly-Nation!) gaming contest to kick off the release of Bumble.bz's Bored Meeting to the Xbox Live community. Groups and individuals in the US, Canada, and UK can enter Bored Meeting themed videos posted to YouTube, MSN Video, and GameTrailers.com into a Bumble.bz contest with prizes including official commemorative Bumble.bz bees, Xbox 360 accessories, and inclusion in the in-game Bored Meeting credits. Judging will take place on April 15, 2009 (income tax due date in the US - let gaming relieve some tax stress!). Prizes, rules, and details on the official contest website: http://www.bumble.bz/hive/contest Mobile Games: Guitar Hero® World Tour Mobile keeps on rocking with expanded availability of the best-selling mobile phone game for handsets now running on the Android open-source software platform. The game from Hands-On Mobile, Inc., the world's leading developer of connected games and applications and Activision Publishing, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), is available on all major U.S. mobile phone platforms and has exceeded 500,000 downloads since its launch in November 2008. "We know Android device users are hungry for new games and applications and Guitar Hero World Tour Mobile is a perfect download to please any rock star in training," said David McCaman, Head of Marketing, Hands-On Mobile. "We have worked hard to make sure that Guitar Hero World Tour Mobile for Android is true to the franchise with some of the coolest features yet and we know fans of the game everywhere will be thrilled with this latest version." http://www.guitarheromobile.com/ Mac Games: Aeria Games, a publisher of Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG), announced today the official support of Mac users through a partnership with CodeWeavers. The first Mac-compatible title is the highly-acclaimed Japanese-import MMOG, Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online. By installing the CrossOver Games product on Tiger or Leopard operating systems, players can now enjoy Aeria Games' PC titles on their Mac. "As the Mac market share grows, it becomes more important for Aeria to offer its titles to Mac users. The folks at CodeWeavers have the strongest product available for seamless PC gameplay on the Mac, so we're extremely pleased that they've agreed to our work with our titles," declares Spencer Chi, Producer for Aeria Games. For a limited time, Aeria Games is offering up to $40 worth of free in-game items for players who purchase a license for CrossOver Games. Licenses for CrossOver Games and other CodeWeavers products can be purchased from their website at http://www.codeweavers.com. Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online is a full-featured MMORPG game, and like all of Aeria Games titles, is free-to-play. The official site with promotion details and the downloadable game installer can be found at http://megaten.aeriagames.com/playnow. Various: This month, gamers will again be able to expand their virtual set lists with over a dozen new downloadable tracks for Activision Publishing, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Guitar Hero® World Tour. With over 37 million songs downloaded for the franchise to date, Guitar Hero® fans will soon be able to experience more awesome music – from the likes of English rock ‘n’ roll icons Queen, guitar legend Jimi Hendrix, a host of European superstars and more – which will join the more than 550 songs rocking the Guitar Hero catalog already. On March 5th, Guitar Hero World Tour’s global music library will continue to grow with three additional tracks from some of Europe’s greatest bands. The third European Track Pack, which includes the hit song “Break It Out” by Italian pop punk band Vanilla Sky and “In the Shadows” by one of Finland’s most successful bands, The Rasmus, will also contain “C'est Comme Ça” the top single from French pop rock duo Les Rita Mitsouko’s 1986 album The No Comprendo. Guitar Hero World Tour is now available for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, the Wii home video game system from Nintendo and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The game is rated 12+ by the BBFC. For more information on Guitar Hero World Tour, please visit worldtour.guitarhero.com - Together, Ubisoft and Microsoft France launch “YouUp”, the first entertainment platform for webcams. The free beta version of “YouUp” is available today on Windows Live Messenger for anyone with a webcam. Ubisoft Montpellier, the studio that created Rayman® and Rayman Raving Rabbids® among others, spent two years on the development of “YouUp,” which is the fruit of extensive research into video game technology. “YouUp” will allow users to revitalize their video chat and video messages, finally using their webcam as a fun and interesting communication accessory. Now, anyone with a webcam coupled with ”YouUp” will be able to dress up their conversations with 3D costumes and special effects, surprising their friends on Messenger, or to create personalized films at the click of a button, while chatting live. “YouUp” puts Biometrics (face recognition technology) and Augmented Reality in the hands of the user, allowing everyone to insert virtual objects into their video in a realistic way. http://www.ilovemessenger.fr/YouUp - CipSoft continues its effort to eliminate all cheaters from Tibia. After a first wave at the beginning of February, CipSoft now banned another 5163 accounts for the use of unofficial software. “Cheating is a nuisance for any multiplayer online game.” says Florian Eckert, responsible Product Manager at CipSoft. “For Tibia it is exceptionally annoying as its community has grown for over 12 years and during that time established a well balanced equilibrium.” Eckert continues. “We cannot and we will not tolerate any unfair interference to this.” The use of unofficial software - generally referred to as ‘cheating’ - gives players an unfair advantage over others by automating tricky tasks or even controlling the whole character in game. Identifying players who use such programs can be a hard task as the used software is designed to imitate natural behaviour. CipSoft relies on a home made tool in order to identify the users of unofficial software automatically. “We are 100% confident about the accuracy of our tool.” says Matthias Rudy, Lead Programmer at CipSoft. “We now know exactly who is cheating, how they are cheating and when they are cheating.” Rudy reveals. Once identified, cheaters have to face severe consequences. Depending on their ‘criminal record’ some of the cheaters are only excluded from the game for a certain period of time. The accounts of more intractable cheaters will be deleted completely. When asked about CipSoft’s future plans and policy concerning cheating, Eckert admits “We’ve already pulled the trigger once, now we’ve pulled it a second time. It seems like we start to get the hang on it.” Tibia is one of the oldest MMORPGs worldwide. Online since 1997, it currently has a subscriber base comprising 120,000 players - JoWooD Productions’ adventure titles claim the top of the casual gaming charts in France and Germany. In cooperation with Big Fish Games™, the Austrian Publisher now also presents the popular Agatha Christie games online via Big Fish Games (www.bigfishgames.de). The first title to claim a Top 10 spot on the German download charts was "Murder on the Orient Express“, taking the lead in the category "Great Adventures.“ The second Agatha Christie title, "And Then There Were None“ is close behind with a ranking among the Top 3 Adventure Games both in Germany and France. Since Safecracker is available on Bigfish Games, it also came up for top ranks in France and Germany. Both Agatha Cristie – And Then There Were None and Safecracker can be purchased at (www.bigfishgames.de) for $19.99 (U.S.) or as little as $6.99 with the Big Fish Game Club. - Calling all aspiring developers! Think you have what it takes to create the next must-have Spore app or widget? Show off your master skills by entering the Spore API Contest! Utilize the extensive content in Sporepedia to create your app from scratch, or download the source code from one of the sample apps (http://www.spore.com/comm/samples) to develop the ultimate Spore app. Whether it's a display of your own creations, a visualization of current Most Popular New creations or a scenic diorama of Sporecast creations, your only limit is your imagination! For some inspiration, check out the gallery (http://www.spore.com/comm/developer/gallery/) for some cool applications created by the Maxis team with the Spore API, including a creature battle, aquarium, and a buddy browser! http://www.spore.com/comm/contests/ How to Submit: • To enter, e-mail a link to your application to:
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• All original applications created using the Spore API will be accepted, and you can enter as many applications as you'd like! • The deadline to submit your app is April 6th, 2009 Prizes: Grand Prize: NVIDIA graphics card First runner up: Copy of Spore game and Spore Galactic Adventures Second runner up: Copy of Spore Galactic Adventures |
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