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Thursday, April 30, 2009

Massive support planned for release of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite on PSP

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
Capcom a leading worldwide developer and publisher of videogames, has today announced that it will be working in partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) to support the release of the upcoming Monster Hunter Freedom Unite game for PSP (PlayStation Portable).

The game which is scheduled for release on the 26th June will be heavily backed by a multi-million promotional campaign throughout PAL territories.

“We are looking forward to working closely with Capcom to promote Monster Hunter Freedom Unite,” commented David Reeves, President SCEE. “With the combined efforts of both companies we want to emulate the success that the title has had in Japan.”

Key to the huge success of the Monster Hunter series in Japan has been the social aspect of multiplayer hunts. Across PAL territories gamers will be able to sample the phenomenon of Monster Hunter before the games release with the launch of the demo available to download on PlayStation Network. The demo will feature three quests to prepare players for the arrival of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite in which you can choose to play alone with the aid of your feline companion or in a team of up to four players to get a real taste of the social gaming side of Monster Hunter that’s taken Japan by storm.

Retail initiatives include an exclusive PSP hardware bundle which contains a specially designed Monster Hunter branded PSP skin and pouch along with a copy of the game.

Michael Pattison, Senior Marketing Director of Capcom Europe stated “Working closely with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe to promote the latest title in the Monster Hunter franchise allows Capcom access to all of Sony’s promotional channels, including Playstation websites, community pages and Playstation Home. A series of events and print and on-line advertising will support a heavy weight TV advertising program. The support of Sony on this title is a clear indication that Monster Hunter can be successful across the West.”

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 features all-new tournament challenge mode and Nintendo Wii exclusive disc Golf feature

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10Rewrite many of golf’s most dramatic moments in Tournament Challenge; an all-new character progression mode in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10. Experience historic situations over various seasons, including Tiger’s clutch birdie that featured the amazing putt on the 18th green to win last year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, only this time you determine the outcome.

Get an intimate account of specific moments as introduced by Tiger Woods, as he provides his personal insight and strategy to his real-life approach. The Tournament Challenge mode is available on Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii and PSP versions of the game.

Exclusive to Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 on the Wii, Disc Golf allows fans to trade in their golf clubs for a new way to play all championship courses featured in the game. Imagine trying to take on the famous island green on hole 17 at TPC Sawgrass with a disc! Featuring support with the Nintendo Wii MotionPlus accessory, Disc Golf brings the family-fun sport into your living room.

City of Heroes Issue 15: Anniversary Announced

City of Heroes Free update
NCsoft is celebrating the fifth anniversary of City of Heroes - the first and longest-running comic book-inspired MMO game. Developed by the recently-renamed Paragon Studios, the team took the opportunity to officially announce that the development is underway for the next content update for the series - aptly named Issue 15: Anniversary.

Issue 14: Architect, released earlier this month, marked the first time MMO players have been given the opportunity to create and share their own custom missions and story arcs. Now, just weeks after Issue 14’s release, players have already created and uploaded more than 120,000 user-generated story arcs. With the upcoming Issue 15: Anniversary, Paragon Studios will bring fans a host of new features and content including much greater options and more usability for the Mission Architect game system. From new mission options for both Villains and Heroes, to new costumes and faces, Issue 15: Anniversary further builds on the innovation and customisation of the Mission Architect tool.

Former players wishing to commemorate this special date can take part in a reactivation opportunity from April 28, 2009 at until Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. GMT. During this reactivation event all expired retail and trial accounts that are in good standing can access the live servers. In addition, the community can participate in a variety of five-year anniversary events, including a T-shirt logo design contest, and a City of Heroes video homage contest. For more information on our anniversary celebrations, go to http://eu.cityofheroes.com/en/news/

During the past five years, the City of Heroes series has been praised by the press with more than 22 “Game of the Year” and “Editor's Choice” awards in its first year of launch. Press accolades for City of Heroes include Computer Gaming World's “2004 MMORPG Game of the Year” award, and most recently Massively's “Most Improved Game of 2008” award. In addition, the highly praised City of Villains expansion pack received MMORPG's “2005 Game of the Year” award.

EA Reveals The Sims 3 Full Online Feature Set

EA Reveals The Sims 3 Full Online Feature SetElectronic Arts announce the robust online and community offerings to The Sims 3 PC and Mac game, the highly-anticipated flagship game from the best-selling PC franchise The Sims. In addition to the town included in the game, a second town, Riverview will be available for download from The Sims 3 product website at launch.


TheSims3.com also will allow players to create and share their own movies, manage their online content and purchase additional in-game content. The game is set to launch worldwide on the PC, Mac, iPhone, iPod touch and mobile devices starting June 2, 2009.

“With such a vibrant and active community as The Sims has, we wanted to build even further on the already immense offline experience, by offering players additional functionality, content and tools available online through the game,” said Ben Bell, Executive Producer of The Sims 3. “One example of the many online tools we’ve added to the game is the Create a Movie tool. Within the game, players can easily set up the camera angle they want, capture in-game footage, play director and producer and then post their movies online to show off to the world.”

Key Online Elements Include:
* The Sims 3 Store: Included with purchase of the game is $10 worth of SimPoints, which players receive when they first register their game online at TheSims3.com. They can use their SimPoints towards downloading exclusive in-game items from The Sims 3 Store to customize their game. For additional items, players can purchase bundles of 500, 1000 and 2000 SimPoints in $USD, EUR, GBP and other major international currencies using a variety of payment methods including international and national credit cards, PayPal, and EA cash cards (in North America only). Whether it’s the must-have new outfit or the latest style of plaid furniture, players have the opportunity to further customize and populate their Sims world with additional items.
* Game Launcher: The Game Launcher is the key entry point for players into TheSims3.com community. This hub page connects players to both the Store and the Exchange, and provides them with news and information about game updates. Players can keep track of their downloads, uploads, installs, game updates and their media portfolio that includes the videos and photos they can capture while playing the game. The Game Launcher also alerts players to new content in the store, localized game and store promotions along with relevant updates to the Store and cool new content from the community.
* TheSims3.com Site: With the launch of the game on June 2, the marketing website at TheSims3.com will be replaced with the full community and product site for the game. The site will not only connect players, encourage new ways to be creative in the game, and offer personally relevant information for each user, it also will serve as the hub site where players can share their content with other members, and embed them on social networking sites and blogs.
* Key Site Features:
- The Exchange: Building off of The Sims 2 Exchange’s success of more than 100M downloads, The Sims 3 Exchange highlights featured items, most popular downloads, powerful search and browse capabilities, along with giving players the ability to see what other players are recommending.
- Create a Movie and Create a Story: New easily accessible tools inspire creativity and allow players to create movies and stories and then show them off or share them with friends. Players can show off their Movies with the Create a Movie Tool by embedding them on external sites or with an email link back to their Movie on TheSims3.com.
- My Page and My Studio: The Sims 3 product site will allow players to maintain their profile pages on their My Page section as well as offering them the new My Studio section to manage all their creations – Movies, Stories, Exchange objects. My Page is also a blog space where players can post news, customize it with a personal avatar, track favorites and more. Users can make friends with other The Sims 3 players and share their content across a number of social network sites.

For more information about The Sims 3, go to www.TheSims3.com. The Sims 3 was developed by The Sims Studio. The Sims 3 will be available for purchase at retail and online through digital distribution starting June 2 at http://eastore.ea.com/store/ea/ContentTheme/pbPage.the_sims3/ThemeID.718200.

* INTERNET CONNECTION required. See product pack or digital distribution rules for details.

Lineage II Celebrates Five-Year Anniversary with Largest Content Expansion to Date

Lineage II Celebrates Five Year AnniversaryNCsoft, the world’s premier publisher and developer of massively multiplayer online games, commemorates five years of Lineage II service in its western territories with the launch of Gracia Final, the latest free expansion to the legendary Lineage II franchise. Gracia Final, the third part of the Gracia expansion series, brings Lineage II fans a whole new continent and refined player-versus-player (PvP) combat.

Other highlights of the Gracia Final expansion include more clan features, territory wars, new items, and new skill effects.

Players can log into Lineage II right now and experience the chaotic lands of Gracia, an entire new continent ready for exploration. To venture into Gracia, characters fly on airships available at the Gludio airship wharf. Characters who would rather reach the continent using their own devices can use the new aerial transformation skills Aurabird Falcon, Aurabird Owl, and the Kamael’s special Final Flying Form. While on the continent of Gracia, explorers can journey through war-torn lands filled with mysterious creatures and adventure in nearly 60 new quests.

The Gracia Final expansion also brings in Territory Battles, where any player, even those not belonging to a clan, can participate in epic-scale conflict and reap rewards from the local Territory Manager. Territory Battles provide a “capture the flag”-style PvP experience that rewards dominating clans with castle-related skills and additional revenue. In addition, the Gracia Final expansion introduces three-versus-three PvP arena battles at the Olympiad for the first time, and enables clans to earn additional abilities and membership.

“We are thrilled to celebrate five years of Lineage II live service with such a large content expansion,” said Sam Han, North American producer for NCsoft West. “This represents the largest content expansion for Lineage II to date, and we plan to keep them coming. We appreciate our loyal players, who have provided us with memorable experiences over the past five years. I encourage gamers ready for a change to join us in the new, accessible, rich world of Lineage II.”

In addition to the expansive new content Gracia Final provides, Lineage II players can celebrate the fifth anniversary with an in-game event that runs now through May 5th. During this event, creatures in the lands of Aden and Gracia drop special items engraved with certain letters and numbers. Players get rewards for acquiring the letters to spell “Gracia,” “Lineage II,” and “5 Years.” More details can be found at http://www.lineage2.com/archive/2009/04/5th_anniversary.html.

Lineage II is known as the gaming market’s premier PvP online roleplaying game, with a customer reach of more than 19 million worldwide. The game is rated T for Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

Battlestations - Pacific Demo Available To Download Now On Xbox Live

Battlestations Pacific Demo Available To Download
The official demo for Battlestations: Pacific, the immense sequel to the critically acclaimed Battlestations: Midway, is now available through Xbox Live, Games for Window Live, Gamespot.com, IGN.com and Steam.

Published by Eidos, Inc. and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and developed by Eidos Game Studios, Battlestations: Pacific completes the entire Pacific War with two massive single-player campaigns, the historically based US campaign and a historically possible Japanese campaign. Players will experience one war through two epic sagas to be a part of history or change it. Commanding the US Fleet, players relive the grandest and most critical naval battles of the Pacific War and for the first time, as the Japanese, players lead the IJN Fleet to a completely different ending to the war.

No other game delivers the challenge of an RTS with the rush of real-time WWII flight and naval warfare. Players need intelligence and expertise to plan their moves in order to remain one step ahead of the opponent while commanding both strategy and action to turn the tide of war.

The Battlestations: Pacific demo features:
• In-game tutorials
• One action-packed mission (Divine Winds of Leyte) from the US campaign
• Two multiplayer modes (Island Capture and Siege) that can be played in “Skirmish Mode,” a new mode which allows players to tackle multiplayer maps against AI-controlled enemy

To download the Xbox 360 demo directly from the Xbox Live Marketplace, please click on the link below:
http://marketplace.xbox.com/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80253438802?cid=BSP852

The Games for Windows Demo is available at numerous download sites including IGN Direct2Drive, and Valve Steam.

Twice the size of the original, the sequel includes 28 major battles, 100 units including 21 new units, five new innovative multi-player modes, all new island capture, kamikaze attacks, and an improved easy-to-use interface. Battlestations: Pacific will be available on May 12, 2009 in the US and on May 15, 2009 in Europe on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC.

BOOM BLOX Bash Party Nintendo Wii

BOOM BLOX Bash Party Nintendo Wii
EA is excited to announce that the anticipated BOOM BLOX Bash Party game for Nintendo Wii will ship on May 19, 2009. BOOM BLOX Bash Party promises to be one of the hottest Nintendo Wii games for this summer, taking players from the depths of the sea to outer space and beyond!

Check the game’s four new worlds as well as the game’s enhanced Create Mode!

My Friends video game for the Nintendo DS - Create your own world of friends with My Friends this Summer!

My Friends video game for the Nintendo DSCreate your very own 3D character and then go and explore your new Friends World. Explore for gifts, snacks and surprises; unlock secrets and play mini-games. You can make new friends in the game with cool outfits and keep them happy by playing mini-games with them and giving them gifts!

The happier your friends are, the more games, clothes, accessories and hairstyles you can unlock… you can even unlock new locations to go and explore and play games in! You can share gifts and friends with other Nintendo DS owners and also chat with up to three of them via DS Wireless Communications.

This summer, let My Friends take you to a whole new world of fun & games!

Make Friends, Play Games, Have Fun with My Friends, available for Nintendo DS in June 2009.

Need for Speed Undercover Unveils Challenge Series and Boss Car Content Packs

 Need for Speed Undercover Challenge Series
Black Box, a studio of Electronic Arts, announce two new content packs for Need for Speed Undercover. The Challenge Series is free and features 60 events across two new game modes including the opportunity to earn up to three new cars. The premium Boss Car pack will give players access to Undercover’s specially customized boss vehicles for $5.00 (400 MS points).

The Challenge Series and Boss Car packs are available now on the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and coming soon on the Xbox 360 videogame system from Microsoft and the PC. This new content reflects an ongoing commitment of post-launch support to Need for Speed fans.

Challenge Series:

* Highway Wars is the ultimate fusion of Undercover’s signature Highway Battles with the adrenaline fueled competition of sprint racing. In this mode, players will race at top speeds through traffic filled highways against three AI opponents in a winner take all battle to the finish line.
* Highway Checkpoint forces the player to push their car to the limit as they weave through traffic in an attempt to make it to the next checkpoint before time expires.
* Players can also earn three new vehicles as they complete the Challenge Series. Each vehicle is available for use in career or online and has been specifically tuned to compete against the top cars in the game.
o Battle Machine Mazda RX-7 will be awarded upon completion of the first 30 events.
o Speed Machine Porsche 911 GT2 with matte black paint and custom gold liveries will be awarded after completing all 60 of the Challenge Series events.
o Dominator Corvette Z06 is for players that dominate a minimum of 31 events.

Boss Car Pack

This premium car pack gives players access to the entire fleet of boss cars featured in Undercover. These high performance machines are tuned for maximum performance in their appropriate tiers enabling players to compete against the fastest cars in each tier of Undercover.

* Carmen's Shelby GT500
* Chase’s BMW M6
* Chau Wu’s Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG
* G-Mac’s Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4
* Hector’s Nissan 370Z
* Nickel’s Dodge Viper SRT10
* Rose’s Porsche 911 GT2
* Zack’s Volkswagen Scirocco

Activision Unveils New Guitar Hero On Tour - Modern Hits Character


Introducing Calista Valenz, an all-new character joining the Guitar Hero rocking ranks

Activision Publishing unveiled Calista Valenz - an all-new character that will debut in Guitar Hero On Tour - Modern Hits this summer.

Calista Valenz is tough as nails and sweet like candy, with a smile that can melt any man’s heart. Her motto is, “Fake it until you make it,” and she has a habit of telling strangers today is her birthday. Calista once volunteered to spend a week in jail for charity and was put behind bars on a Monday, got bored, and somehow escaped that Tuesday. She spent a month running from the law, even though no one was looking, and hid out at a night club. The rocker pretended to be a lead guitarist, and during her first show, a record promoter told her she was a no talent hack. She smacked him upside the head with a sausage and dumped spaghetti down his pants, all with a smile. He stood up and immediately signed her to a lifetime contract.

Handheld guitar gods can now choose how they raise-up their band from the underground music scene to worldwide rock stardom in Guitar Hero® On Tour: 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 On Tour: 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. Fret board fanatics can once again unleash their inner rock stars anytime, anywhere as they hone their shredding skills and jam to face-melting modern rock tracks from the last five years in Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits.

Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits is developed by Vicarious Visions and will be available exclusively for Nintendo DS this summer.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

NeoSteam gamigo Opens the Beta to All!


gamigo, one of Europe’s leading massively multiplayer online games publishers is happy to announce the start the open beta for the free to play Steampunk-MMORPG NeoSteam. After selected players were blown away by the closed beta, everyone can now join the epic battle between the mystical Elerd Kingdom and the technophile Republic of Rogwel. Players can register absolutely free at http://neosteam.gamigo.com/, download the game and start playing immediately.

The Struggle for NeoSteam

NeoSteam offers a high-quality, cool 3D fantasy world full of challenging quests and thrilling PvP-battles. It is set in an alternate reality where electricity was never invented and NeoSteam powers everything. Alas, the supply of NeoSteam is finite, dragging the two major powers to an inevitable war. Battles rage between the Kingdom of Elerd and Republic of Rogwel over Rope Isle – the last available source of NeoSteam. Rope Isle is the key to your nation’s future!

NeoSteam can be used to power a wide range of terrifying weaponry – from accurate muskets to steampunk battleaxes. Once players have learnt the secret of NeoSteam, they will be able to take on all comers with weaponry they themselves have constructed! NeoSteam masters can build mighty vehicles and ride across the vast and varied landscape of the NeoSteam world – so long as the player doesn’t run into trouble...

Unique Steampunk setting

NeoSteam combines the best of the MMORPG world – community elements, individual character development and legendary battles – with a unique steampunk aesthetic. “After such positive feedback during the closed beta, we’re excited to offer this game to a wider audience”, says Kerstin Bock, product manager for NeoSteam. “We’re looking forward to see how players take advantage of the unparalleled freedom and opportunities that the NeoSteam universe affords them...”

NeoSteam’s official website is http://neosteam.gamigo.com/, from which players can sign up and play – all for free!

NeoSteam offers players an all new experience that combines a highly detailed fantasy-environment with interesting steampunk machinery. The player can choose between four different character classes and join one of two Realms that fight for supremacy on the continent of Rope Isle. The Kingdom of Elerd, which represents a classical fantasy empire with magical spellcasters, is looking for new adventurers, while the Republic of Rogwel is preparing for battle as well. The Republic relies mainly on technical finesse, which is reflected in their advanced steam engines. NeoSteam, which is used to operate these powerful machines, is soon to become the most important resource in the epic struggle.

For players, NeoSteam is not only an exciting and extensive fantasy MMORPG, but offers them many unseen possibilities, thanks to the unique setting. Besides classical battles against monsters and other players, NeoSteam offers adventurers the chance, to build their own steam engines and create their own fighting vehicles.

Features:

• Free 3D Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG)
• Innovative Fantasy-Steampunk Setting
• Five Races and Four Unique Classes
• Players Create Their Own Steam Engines and Mounts
• Many Player versus Player Arenas
• Epic Realm versus Realm Battles
• Free to Play – No Need to Buy, No Monthly Fees

Frogster casts the net


So that Bounty Bay Online seafarers no longer have to fish in muddy waters, publisher Frogster offers a special item bundle right now in the online shop. With the fishing bundle reduced by around 30% players will receive at the special price of 299 shop points some useful items for fishing in Frogster’s nautical online world. The enclosed fisheries pass gives players access for a period of 24 hours to an instanced ocean territory on the free-to-play servers, where inexhaustible fishing grounds await. While a deep sea fishing rod lets players fish not only in coastal waters, but also on the high sea, the bait which is also included, attracts shoals of fish, making for a plentiful catch. The fishing bundle is available at the special price in the shop up until Wednesday, May 6th. It’s ready and waiting via the following link: https://shop.bountybayonline.com/index.php?lang=en.

In January 2009 Frogster deployed the colony expansion as the second large add-on for the community. Along with new boss opponents and continuing quest series in the high-level area, strong guilds can now occupy their own colonies in the Bounty Bay Online game world. The 33 colony areas were taken up within just a few days. In the meantime the colony founders are vigorously building up powerful trading and military bases. There is a trailer for the colony add-on available on the official website:
http://www.bountybayonline.com/en/videos,id8,bounty_bay_online_colony_trailer.html.

The software client is available as a free download: http://www.bountybayonline.com/en/articles,id12,0,downloads_en.html.

Players can decide on either the free-to-play option or the subscription version when setting up their game access.

Blockdot Launches Game For Universal Pictures' Upcoming Comedy - Adventure Land Of The Lost!


Right place, wrong time, awesome adventure!

Dallas-based Blockdot has launched “Land of the Lost: Crystal Adventure,” a free (yes, free!) Apple iPhone game that’s based on the super-scaled comedy-adventure Land of the Lost, starring Will Ferrell — and coming to a theater near you on June 5.

In this exciting game, Dr. Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) is trapped inside a Sleestak temple — and he’s gonna be PERMANENTLY STEWED without your help!

• Guide Rick Marshall through the temple by pushing blocks, building bridges over pits, and navigating around obstacles — all while avoiding the Sleestaks!

• Collect the small crystals during the journey — they’ll help you drive your name further up the scoreboard.

• Reach the crystal table and you’ll take Rick Marshall to the next level of the Sleestak temple!

After completing a few levels, give your brain a break and watch clips of the movie or check out photos of the spectacular sites you’ll find in the Land of the Lost.

Start your adventure now! Download the game for free at the Apple iTunes store: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=312352650&mt=8&uo=6

MumboJumbo Continues Samantha Swift Adventure in New Chapter


Leading casual game developer MumboJumbo today launched Samantha Swift and the Golden Touch, the follow-up to the hit casual adventure Samantha Swift and the Hidden Roses of Athena. The advenure-style game takes heroine Samantha on a quest to uncover the secrets surrounding the Golden Touch of King Midas through hidden-object game-play, puzzles and a story that spans the globe.

"We're excited to give fans the second chapter in the Samantha Swift story," said Matt Lichtenwalter, vice president of product development of MumboJumbo. "In Sam's new adventure, more of her character is revealed, and the player is able to discover more about the larger mystery at play in the franchise."

In Samantha Swift and the Golden Touch, Ms. Swift's new benefactor asks her to track down Alexander the Great's Scroll of Wealth and tells her she can collect other finds along the way for The Museum of Secrets Lost. But the offer is too good to be true, and soon the fearless archeologist finds herself in a race to unravel ancient secrets surrounding the mysterious blessing and curse of King Midas and his golden touch. The engrossing story is set against a backdrop of brilliantly rendered artwork and highly-polished game-play.

"Players responded so well to Samantha's first adventure, and they were immediately asking us for more," said Lichtenwalter. "In The Golden Touch, players will find interactive hidden-object levels and a number of really clever puzzles to solve along the way."

Samantha Swift and the Golden Touch is available for digital download at leading casual gaming portals, and it will make its retail debut in June. To learn more about Samantha Swift, you can visit her MySpace page, find her on Facebook, or go to www.mumbojumbo.com.

Make Friends, Race Karts, Battle Foes And Raise Pets In Free Realms - Available Now!


Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) today announced that the free, family-friendly online video game Free Realms is now available for everyone to play at www.FreeRealms.com. Free Realms is a whimsical virtual world, loaded with fun for gamers of all ages. Whether you want to race karts, raise a pet, explore mystical forests or chat with friends, in Free Realms, you can do it all.

“We’ve designed Free Realms to be a fun, safe place for gamers of all ages to play online and are excited to finally open the doors to our adventure-packed world,” said Andy Sites, senior producer, Sony Online Entertainment. “Free Realms is free to play and truly lets you do what you want, when you want. Every member of the family will find something fun to do in Free Realms!”

In Free Realms, players can customize their characters and play a wide variety of minigames in a safe, online environment, packed with stunning visuals, distinctive environments, and social networking capabilities. Players are free to do or be anything: Become a ninja, cook a yummy meal, battle goblins, set out on epic quests or connect with friends through a safe, social networking page. The Free Realms Trading Card Game is a full-featured trading card game playable both digitally within the Free Realms online game and through a physical game available wherever you buy trading cards!

Free Realms offers a variety of features, including:
  • Free Gameplay: Free Realms is free to play; however, additional content can be accessed through a Membership or micro-transactions.
  • Rich Character Creation: With thousands of customizations and combinations, you can blend fantasy and reality to create your perfect avatar.
  • Be Whoever You Want: Characters aren’t locked into classes or jobs – you can be a ninja one minute and a race kart driver the next.
  • Kid Safe: Free Realms is designed with kids’ safety in mind and has pre-canned chat, reporting, filters and Parental Controls that allow for the customization of security options, for younger players.
  • Something for Everyone: Players can take care of pets, sort mail, race go-karts, battle goblins or cook meals for their friends.
  • Vibrant, Deep Environment: Adventurous gamers can spend hours exploring towns, bustling cities, beaches, forests, snowy mountaintops and more.
  • Connect with Friends: Whether you’re meeting up with old friends or finding new ones, Free Realms allows players to stay connected through its social networking page. Just log in, see what your friends have been up to, click their avatars and join them in Free Realms.
  • Everyone Can Access: Free Realms is designed to run on nearly all PCs. The game will stream to your PC as you play, so Free Realms will not take up a lot of memory and will download quickly.
  • Trading Card Game: The Free Realms Trading Card Game will let players pit fun characters like dragons and goblins against one another in fun, fast-paced combat. Half the game is collecting new cards so you are armed with the best lineup of attacks and defenses to prove your might in online tournaments.
Station Access subscribers will receive a Free Realms Membership with their all-in-one subscription. Free Realms is rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and up with content descriptors of Crude Humor and Fantasy Violence. To play Free Realms, visit: http://www.FreeRealms.com.

Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce Available Now


Koei, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, today announced that Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce for PSP (PlayStation Portable) system is available at retailers starting today. Gamers can find Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce, this year’s hottest multi-player experience, at: Amazon.com, Best Buy, EBCanada, f.y.e., Game Crazy, GameFly, GameStop, and Target.

Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce delivers the newest and most revolutionary combat system to the franchise, with never-before-seen aerial fighting techniques, the ability to wield secondary weapons, and most of all the incredible “Fury” that transforms each fighter into a supernatural warrior.

Consumers can get a peek at all of the furious action by downloading a free demo and trailer today, from PlayStation Network.

Utopia Kingdoms has now arrived!


Jolt Online Gaming proudly announces the release of Utopia Kingdoms, the successor to the legendary Utopia online game. In Utopia Kingdoms, players compete within the Utopia universe to establish and expand their kingdoms across the land. Choose from a range of races including Dark Elves, Avians, Trolls and many others. Battle, trade and scheme with your fellow rulers to control your world in this Massively Multiplayer Casual Online Game, playable in any Internet browser.

“Everyone here is extremely excited to unleash Utopia Kingdoms onto the Internet”, “said Dylan Collins, CEO of Jolt Online Gaming. “It looks incredible and is guaranteed to keep you away from that Swine Flu epidemic. Why go out and risk certain death when you could just log on to www.utopiakingdoms.com and play in the legendary Utopia universe from your Internet browser?”

You can play Utopia Kingdoms for free in any Internet browser on PC, Mac or any other operating system. There’s nothing to download and there are thousands of players already there. Why not join in and see how well you would rule?

Jolt Online Gaming is one of the leading browser games publishers in the world with millions of players across its titles. More information can be found at www.joltonline.com and www.twitter.com/joltonline

Sony Online Entertainment Reveals Doomsday in DC Universe Online


Doomsday, the cursed Kryptonian creature, was bred to embody hate and rage. His sole reason for living is to extinguish all other life, including the citizens of Metropolis and their beloved hero, Superman.

Born on the planet Krypton during a time when only the strongest creatures could survive, Doomsday was the result of a rapid natural selection process bred to hate all life. Doomsday’s body is covered with vicious bony spurs that can render even Superman’s skin. His endurance makes him almost impossible to kill. He is the epitome of villainous power and strength. With the ability to regenerate after every battle, Doomsday becomes bigger and stronger; therefore no opponent of his has ever defeated him twice.

Don’t think that Doomsday is a mindless creature destroying everything in his path just because he hates all living things. He can think and reason, which makes him a valuable weapon to anyone seeking to manipulate and control his rampages of mayhem and destruction. But who could possibly want to do such a thing? That’s right: Lex Luthor is obsessed with capturing Doomsday to turn him into the ultimate minion for Luthor’s destructive plans.

The story of when Doomsday attacked Metropolis is a tragic one. During Doomsday’s rampage, an epic battle erupted on the streets of Metropolis where neither Superman nor Doomsday would back down. Superman knew Doomsday’s rage would fuel the fight driving the battle on as Superman continued to weaken, incurring severe wounds which began to drain his stamina. In the end, the two combatants attacked each other simultaneously with a fatal blow, leaving both lifeless in front of The Daily Planet Building – perfectly situated for a cover story that would shatter the world.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Batman: Arkham Asylum website is now live!


The official website and community hub for DC Comics’ Batman: Arkham Asylum - the forthcoming action-adventure game developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Eidos, Inc. and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment in North America has officially launched! You can visit the page at the following URL: http://www.batmanarkhamasylum.com/.

Over the coming months BatmanArkhamAsylum.com will be the main resource for all the latest news and information on the game; including the new screenshots, videos and announcements, along with features and insider content such as developer blogs, interviews, podcasts and more.

The site will also serve as the primary hub for the Batman: Arkham Asylum Community, housing the official game forums - where you can speak directly to the team working on the game, enter competitions, and stay up-to-date with all community news and activity.

Based on the core Batman license, Batman: Arkham Asylum takes the Dark Knight on his greatest challenge yet when he becomes trapped with all of his most dangerous villains inside the insane asylum of Gotham City - Arkham Asylum! With amazing graphics and a moody, immersive setting, Batman: Arkham Asylum exposes players to a unique, dark and atmospheric adventure that takes them to the depths of Arkham Asylum – Gotham City's psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane. Gamers will move in the shadows, instigate fear amongst their enemies, and confront The Joker and Gotham City's most notorious villains, who have taken over the asylum.

Be sure to check the game’s new website regularly for updates. You won’t want to miss out!

For more information, please visit: http://www.batmanarkhamasylum.com/

Navis Lamia, the expansion for Rappelz will offer brand new creatures to tame from May 2009


With just a month to go before the Navis Lamia expansion hits the world of Rappelz, the free Fantasy MMORPG, the gPotato team are proud to release the first new information about what is coming player’s way. First up, there will be three brand new creatures introduced into the game which players can tame and train up to be the ultimate fighting mounts.

The wolf starts off as an unimpressive pup, ready to be trained by his master. Full of energy, his attacks start off with bites and pulls, but as he gets older and wiser, he becomes stronger and wiser. Soon he will be able to stand on his find feet and attack combatants with strong swipes of his strong paws. As he evolves over time, his teeth and mane will change until finally he will get a suit of feathers, like all mythical creatures.

Harpy’s appear humanlike, but with a difference. Their upper body is that of a woman, with the lower body of a bird covered in feathers. With its huge wings and a longbow, Harpy’s are beautiful but threatening figures. The shade of their feathers and the size of the bow they can carry will change and improve as they get more experienced.

Eimus are group hunters, coming from a pride dominated by a strong hierarchy. They like to decorate themselves with ornaments to make them stand out and are a very powerful ally if you need an axe and shield backing you up. As an Eimus evolves, their fur will change colour, their mane will evolve and their armour will become stronger. At full strength, Eimus's sport up to six horns to make them intimidating foes.

Try taming these creatures by finding the right cards and defeating them in battle, and they will loyally accompany you on your adventures. Navis Lamia is an update to the free to play fantasy MMORPG Rappelz, published in French and German on the www.gpotato.eu gaming portal.

Acclaimed 'Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima' coming to PC users with 'Games for Laptop' and PC Release


Namco Bandai Games Europe S.A.S today announced the forthcoming launch of Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima, the latest game from the popular brain training series supervised by prominent Japanese neuroscientist Dr. Kawashima. Filled with all-time favourites intended to stimulate different parts of the brain and keep minds active, Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima will be available on PC DVD-rom and ‘Games For Laptop’ mini-DVD at retailers in Europe and PAL regions from 29 May 2009, and will also be available for digital download at the Atari store by visiting www.atari-store.eu.

The development of Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima was supervised by Dr. Kawashima, the renowned Japanese neuroscientist whose revolutionary brain training technique was made popular through the acclaimed Brain Training series on Nintendo DS and mobile phones. Dr. Kawashima’s belief is that our brains, just like our bodies, need regular exercise to stay active and healthy.

In today’s busy society, it is important to spare a few moments every day to give our brains a workout and fight against the natural decline of their abilities. Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima for PC and ‘Games for Laptop’ lets busy people who spend the majority of their day in front of computers enjoy a mental workout when travelling, during a break at work or on the sofa at home. Now there is no excuse for not keeping our minds in great shape!

Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima consists of 36 quick mini exercises divided into three colour-coded categories to train the three main lobes of the brain – frontal, parietal and temporal – through simple arithmetic, memory games and puzzles. The highly intuitive games are played using the mouse to point and click or simple keystrokes. Progress can easily be tracked by viewing the results charts, and can be shared on the official website at www.brainexercise.eu for worldwide ranking.

Dr. Kawashima, the ‘brains’ behind the best-selling and influential Brain Training series on Nintendo DS and mobile phones, oversaw the development of Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima. NAMCO BANDAI Games now broadens the appeal of the acclaimed series by bringing Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima to anyone who spends time in front of a computer with the new ‘Games for Laptop’ mini-DVD format ideal for laptop use on the move. Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima will be available on PC DVD-Rom and ‘Games for Laptop’ mini-DVD at retailers in Europe and PAL regions from 29 May 2009, and for digital download by visiting the Atari store at www.atari-store.eu.

Ubisoft Week at GamersGate


Special Promotion Offers as Much as 50% Off of Select Titles

GamersGate, the leading digital distribution platform for PC games, today announced a special promotion for nineteen Ubisoft titles. The games are discounted up to 50% off. The promotion ends Sunday May 3rd, 2009.

The following games are 50% off:
Assassins Creed
Beyond Good & Evil
Blazing Angels
Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII
Brothers in Arms Hells Highway
Brothers in Arms Road to Hill 30
Far Cry
Far Cry 2
IL-2 Sturmovik 1946
Prince of Persia
Shaun White Snowboarding
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
Tom Clancy's End War

The following games are 25% off:
Far Cry 2 Fortune Pack
Grey's Anatomy
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.
World in Conflict: Soviet Assault
World in Conflict: Complete Edition
To find out more about GamersGate, please visit www.gamersgate.com.

Hysteria Hospital: Emergency Ward: Learn the moves & get the hang of the Crazy Gadgets!


The first day as head nurse – what are you supposed to do with all these gadgets?!? It’s important that you make a good impression and get the emergency ward running smoothly. Your challenge it to get as many satisfied patients processed and out of the hospital as healthy and happy as you possibly can – so you’d better know your stuff!

Machines & Equipment

Waiting Room
Try not to keep your patients waiting - cure them quickly to keep them happy and healthy. Juggle them around to stop anyone exploding with rage!

Triage
Always wondered what Triage meant? Nows your chance to find out – here’s your first chance to get the diagnosis right. Remember, the quicker you are the happier and healthier the patient!

X-Ray
It might look like an electric shock – but seriously, it is an x-ray! Patients may need to lie down for a while afterwards.

CAT scans

Get the problem out of the bag with a CAT scan; find out about breaks and fractures to ensure you make the correct referral. No animals are harmed in the process.

Stress treatment
This might not be the most conventional stress relief treatment, though maybe its a bit more fun! This robot cow behaves like a mad and enraged bull and so makes the patient forget the cause of their stress…

Can you keep the emergency ward efficient and keep the patients happy and healthy? Can you treat 15 different medical conditions using a vast variety of cutting-edge equipment ….Can you handle the pressure?

Hysteria Hospital: Emergency Ward is set for release on Wii, Nintendo DS and PC in May 2009.

Campfu video game surpasses 100,000 Players Worldwide

Rebel Monkey, a Manhattan-based entertainment company best known for CampFu, a browser-based Casual Massively Multiplayer Online (Casual MMO) community, today announced that the site has reached in excess of 100,000 registered players since its late February 2009 launch, demonstrating swift growth and market traction. CampFu users come from 110 countries worldwide, spending on average over 60 minutes playing games and socializing on the site.

The CampFu community gets to engage with a variety of online activities and features, including real-time multiplayer games, a virtual CampGround, chat, hundreds of virtual goods, and fashion-forward avatars that are persistent both in-game and in-world. In CampFu's free-to-play eco-friendly environment, it’s the real-time co-op games set it apart – offering players new levels of online gameplay collaboration, enabling the natural formation of teams and alliances that carry over into the CampGround.

"CampFu is a fun and fresh online hang-out that is different from anything else out on the market,” said Margaret Wallace, CEO of Rebel Monkey. "Players have really responded to the look of our avatars and that you can actually use your avatars inside of the games in real-time – unlike a lot of online multiplayer sites out there where avatars are usually relegated to the sidelines.”

Still several weeks shy of its first 100 days as a live service, CampFu has attracted an incredible range of players including teens, online gamers and people who enjoy social networking and being a part of online communities. With an estimated 231 million casual gamers worldwide and an expected 180 million registered users of virtual worlds such as Club Penguin or Habbo Hotel, Rebel Monkey stands at the nexus of several exciting market trends.

CampFu is powered by the company’s Monkey Wrench multiplayer gaming platform. Claiming to own the real-time co-op gaming space, “if you want to play as a group with your avatars inside of a real-time casual gaming environment, you are really only going to find that at CampFu,” adds Rebel Monkey CCO, Nick Fortugno. “Expect more kinds of real-time co-op games to come – exploring deeper levels of team play and collaboration.”

To commemorate this 100,000 user milestone, Rebel Monkey will be launching new parts of the CampFu CampGround and a full site re-design this week. More co-op games, social networking features and ways to customize your avatar and cabin are coming later this spring. To explore CampFu, visit www.CampFu.com.

Calling All Petrol Heads - 5,000 Beta Testers Wanted!


If you've got a PC and fancy yourself as the next Lewis Hamilton then you could be just the person to join the Beta test for iOpener's new live play technology; "Opener Enabled". The revolutionary software will give petrol heads everywhere the opportunity to be among the first to race in real-time against professional drivers!

iOpener is looking for 5,000 of the world's best race gamers to put its technology through rigorous testing in mid-June 2009 prior to public launch later this year. To register for your chance to be selected for virtual pole position visit www.real-timeracing.com

Andy Lurling CEO of iOpener Media said, "We know that gamers and race enthusiasts have been waiting to be able to race against professional drivers in real time. It's actually a very complicated thing to do but we've cracked it. Now we're ready to put the technology in the hands of some of the best race gamers to see what they can do with it."

iOpener Media's patented technology works via an 'Orange Box' placed inside a racing car which then feeds the telemetry and GPS data to gamers via internet with out lag. Gamers will be able to join games and test their driving skills in 1-on-1 and 1-to-many during a live race.

Behold the might of the arcane arts in Elven Legacy


Today Swedish wizards of strategy Paradox Interactive, aims to cast a potent spell of enchantment upon you. From across the lands of Eiola, an explosive new trailer has been summoned to demonstrate the might of the arcane arts. This deadly power holds the key to victory, as the war continues to reclaim the lost – Elven Legacy.

Magic. It is a power without equal. Available to each of the warring races. This ancient energy can be manipulated by warriors and champions alike. Yet only the most sage of priests and sorcerers can master its greatest secrets. Manifesting itself in one of three ways, magic can take the form of a myriad of powerful spells. It can also be bound to mystic objects called Artifacts. Some lie strewn across the land, hidden in secret lairs. Others can be found in the possession of conquered foes. Magic can also be granted as innate talents called 'Perks', to warrior regiments, as they level up in experience.
Behold the manifestation of ultimate power, by clicking here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQWsnpLx-00

More destructive than the largest war-machines, magic can strike down a mass of enemies in one fatal blow. Yet it can possess a subtle touch, curing the wounds of an injured champion or mage. Magic can also be used to augment the protective and offensive capabilities of your troops. Making the weakest warriors a force to be reckoned with. In some cases, magic can terrify the opposition into paralysis, removing their effectiveness in battle. While some spells enable spectral beings to be conjured into existence, to fight on the side of the caster.

Magic is truly a force to be reckoned with. It possesses the ability to alter the balance of power on any battlefield, granting victory to those who can successfully yield its potency. Yet care must be taken with its use. For by its very nature magic can only be discharged a finite number of times, before requiring the need to be restored. This can only be performed after each battle is decided. So use it wisely!
The Elven Legacy demo was recently released and allows players to play the tutorial along with one mission from the Campaign mode.

The demo can be downloaded from the following location;
http://www.elven-legacy.com/index.php/downloads/demo/

Elven Legacy is available from retailers everywhere, along with all good digital download outlets for a suggested retail price of €29.99.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Nintendo Download: Poker, Planes and Platform Games Fuel Players' Ambition


The table is set for card-flipping fun with this week's release of Clubhouse Games Express: Card Classics on Nintendo DSiWare, while the new Paper Airplane Chase packs portable challenges for fans of airborne action. WiiWare users will find Cocoto Platform Jumper, a wildly imaginative new platformer populated by mysterious creatures. Last but not least, Nobunaga's Ambition, a classic strategy game from the Super NES system era, finds its way to the Virtual Console.

As an added bonus to help celebrate the recent launch of the new Nintendo DSi system, Club Nintendo members now will be able to earn coins for registering, linking and providing feedback about their Nintendo DSi systems. They also will be able to earn coins for providing feedback about Nintendo DSiWare titles, which will be automatically registered on their Club Nintendo account when they link their Nintendo DSi Shop to their Club Nintendo account.

Nintendo DSiWare


Clubhouse Games Express: Card Classics (Nintendo, 1-8 players, Rated T for Teen - Simulated Gambling, 500 Nintendo DSi Points): Clubhouse Games comes to Nintendo DSiWare with a collection of five fun card games in Clubhouse Games Express: Card Classics. Play familiar favorites like Blackjack and Five Card Draw, or test your ability in the fast-paced Last Card, Last Card Plus and President. DS Download Play allows players to host as many as seven friends.

Paper Airplane Chase (Nintendo, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 200 Nintendo DSi Points): In Paper Airplane Chase, glide your virtual paper plane through an increasingly tricky slalom course. Take it slow in Endless mode or zip through several Time Attack courses. The two-player Race mode allows friends to race each other using a single Nintendo DSi system.

WiiWare

Cocoto Platform Jumper (Neko Entertainment, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Cartoon Violence, 700 Wii Points™): A long time ago in a faraway land, strange little creatures lived in the depths of Abyss. Cocoto, his little devil friends and the mysterious Fairy protect the secret of the magma — the source of their power — in a magic cauldron. Meanwhile, Zaron, the god of lightning who lusts after this force, is up to something. He can count on the rulers of the other kingdoms that Cocoto must cross. The tragic kidnapping of Shiny, Baggy and Neuro has left Cocoto alone to watch over the cauldron. Refusing to leave his friends, he will set out to find them with Fairy.

Virtual Console

Nobunaga's Ambition (Super NES, 1-8 players, Rated E for Everyone - Violent References, 800 Wii Points): Nobunaga's Ambition is a game set in Japan's Warring States period, a turbulent age when feudal warlords battled for control of the country. As the ruler of a fief, the player chooses his or her own path to conquest: Will you wage war on your neighbors or rely on diplomacy? Use economic sanctions or send ninja assassins? Use all of your ingenuity and resources to unite Japan under your banner.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

Ultimate Soccer Boss Public Launch for North America

MMOABC, a leading massively-multiplayer online (MMO) portal and social network, is proud to announce the public North American launch for Ultimate Soccer Boss, an MMO Sports Manager Game powered by Digenetics, Inc. Ultimate Soccer Boss (USB) is the first ever free-to-play soccer manager browser game powered by Digenetics' patented adaptive evolutionary learning technology which enables players' traits to evolve. Players can sign up and create their own unique club at www.ultimatesoccerboss.com starting on April 27th.

Unlike other sports manager games, Ultimate Soccer Boss will feature players that actually evolve their skills over time based on variables such as numbers of plays, training matches, and overall management of the club, thus resulting in a truly unique game play.

“The closed and open beta events were a major milestone and success for all partners involved in Ultimate Soccer Boss,” said MMOABC Founder and CEO Andy Tong. “Many critical features have been refined since open beta and we believe that thousands of both current and new managers will enjoy these updated features.”

Ultimate Soccer Boss updates include payment options, evolving player traits, tactics, game flow, shop items, commerce system, and stadium upgrades. Future game upgrades will include game play animation, game flow overlay, player evolution charts, club statistics, game music, and updated friendship invitation system to perfect the Ultimate Soccer Boss experience.

Visualise your dream home with Grand Designs 3D at Grand Designs Live!


The Grand Designs 3D team will be at the Grand Designs Live show demonstrating their new state of the art home design software on stand B3. The Grand Designs Live show will be at Excel London from the 25th April to the 4th May. Both the public & press will have the opportunity to meet and discuss the software with the design team.

The Grand Designs 3D software range was released in October at the Birmingham NEC Grand Designs Live show. Since being released the software has consistently received high review scores from the press, with PC Advisor awarding Grand Designs 3D Renovation & Interiors their prestigious Gold Award.

Grand Designs 3D software is for anyone inspired by Grand Designs and who wishes to communicate their own design ideas. Grand Designs 3D allows users to bring their ideas to life before seeking professional advice, whether making changes to existing homes or contemplating a self build project. The software range consists of three products: Grand Designs 3D Kitchen & Bathroom (£24.46), Renovation & Interior (£48.92) and Self Build & Development (£195.73).

The user can complete their design step by step, planning with 2D drawing tools before breathing life into their project by visualising their ideas in 3D. A database of fixtures and fittings allows each project to be furnished and decorated with rendered images demonstrating the effects of texturing, lighting and even shadows. Finally, a 3D walk through feature allows each project to be examined in close-up detail and provides a genuine impression of moving in to the finished home or room.

The software includes some content from the Grand Designs TV programme, such as 2D interior and exterior plans from TV projects and 3D models. You can even base your ideas on your favourite Grand Design from the show. The larger programs will also allow users to export industry standard drawings, in formats used by professional architects and planning authorities.

To complement the software there is a support site www.3Darchitect.co.uk, which will enable users to download additional content .

The Grand Designs 3D home designer software range will run on Windows XP/Vista.

Bethesda Softworks and Del Rey Books announce novels based on the Elder Scrolls Video Game Series

Bethesda Softworks, a ZeniMax Media company, and Del Rey, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing Group, are pleased to announce that Del Rey Books will publish two novels based on Bethesda Softworks’ award-winning, high-fantasy video game series, The Elder Scrolls. The best-selling game series is known for giving the player the ability to choose how their story will play out and unfold, and for the incredible amount of lore and depth found in these rich game worlds.

Penned by New York Times bestselling author Greg Keyes, the novels will be all-new, original stories based in The Elder Scrolls universe. The first novel – The Infernal City – is set to be published in Fall 2009. Among Keyes’ prior works are the Age of Unreason tetrology (for which he won the prestigious "Le Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire" award), and three New York Times bestselling Star Wars novels in the New Jedi Order series.

“We’ve been big fans of Greg’s work for a long time, and we’re thrilled he agreed to bring his talents to The Elder Scrolls,” said Pete Hines, vice president of public relations and marketing for Bethesda Softworks. “We see these books as a natural extension of the franchise and think fans will love the stories and characters Greg has created.”

The Infernal City is set after the events of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the latest game in the video game series, and finds the citizens of Tamriel once again facing an uncertain future. Floating high above the land is a strange and mysterious city that is casting a horrifying shadow – wherever it falls, people die and rise again as undead. It is up to an unlikely duo – a seventeen-year-old girl named Annaig and the Emperor’s young son, Prince Attrebus – to rescue the kingdom from doom. Annaig and Attrebus’ quest will take them through the Elder Scrolls universe and their adventure is sure to add to the series’ already magnificent mythology.

For more information on Bethesda Softworks, visit www.bethsoft.com.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 hits XBox Live and Playstation Network!


With the resurgence of fighting games within the past year, and fans of the genre being treated to titles like Street Fighter IV, King of Fighters XII, Soul Calibur IV and soon to be Tekken 6, just to name a few, many will be pleased to know the wait is almost over for the re-release of classic brawler Marvel vs. Capcom 2!Players new to the series won't be disappointed with the game's incredible 56 character cast, and with plenty of teams and assist-types to learn, there's loads to offer both beginner's and experienced players alike. For anyone looking for a fun multiplayer experience, or for die-hard fighting game fans looking to expand their collection, this is one to look out for!

Visit the countdown site here: www.tu4ar.com

Spot the Difference game Dreams released on iTunes Appstore by nascent publisher Playora


Playora Ltd, the new online and smartphone publishing entity formed by Matt Spall and his team is pleased to announce the iPhone/iTouch launch of its recent online release Dreams.

Originally launched under the DifferenceGames.com banner as a flash and download game and generating over 12 million plays, Dreams is Playora’s second iPhone/iTouch release.

Stunning artwork and simple, but engrossing gameplay make for a wonderfully relaxing experience as the player follows bored schoolgirl Emily escaping into the magical world of Dreams.Use of the iPhone pinch-zoom system allows the player to zoom in and out of two simultaneous images and touch to highlight the differences in the scenes.

The game selects six random differences from up to 15 in each scene ensuring that each time the game is played a new set of differences is chosen, making for a deeper, more replayable experience.

"Dreams is a stunningly beautiful game and we’re really pleased to be able to extend the property outside of its online and download origins on DifferenceGames.com", said Matt Spall, General Manager of Playora.

Links to the free 'Lite' version of Dreams with three sample scenes and the full version can be found at;
http://www.differencegames.com/index.jsp?id=iphone_dreams

To see the original release of the game, or for more information see http://www.differencegames.com
Follow updates and releases of new difference games at http://twitter.com/differencegames

The Dares rock Free Realms with It's Your World Theme Song

game image
The kid-friendly online video game Free Realms is getting an extra shot of attitude from Southern California trio The Dares, who perform the game’s explosive theme song, “It’s Your World.”“To record the theme song for a video game with as much buzz as Free Realms is epic!,” said Ben Peterson, lead singer of The Dares. “Not only does this song fit in with our sound, but it also gets across the feeling that in Free Realms you can do what you want, when you want.”

The Dares,(www.thedares.com) initially consisting of twins Ben and Matt Peterson, have been writing, recording and performing together for the majority of their lives, and were recently signed to Jive Records. Ben and Matt originally formed the band in their home state of Vermont when they were just eight years old. The band’s songwriting prowess and ace showmanship landed them gigs ranging from all-ages shows to the 2002 Winter Olympics Torch Event in Burlington, VT where they rocked an audience of 10,000. In 2003, the Peterson family moved to California, and Martin Lascano joined the band. Since then, The Dares have won “Best Band” at the Long Beach Battle of Bands, been nominated for two Orange County Music Awards and have made a name for themselves at famous Hollywood clubs such as The Viper Room and Key Club.




The track was conceived and composed exclusively for the Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) game by Robbie Nevil and Matthew Gerrard. Nevil burst on to the music scene with his international smash hit, "C'est La Vie,” while Gerrard composed mega-hits such as Kelly Clarkson’s number one song, “Breakaway”. Since 2006, Robbie and Matthew have teamed up to co-write and produce many of the biggest “tween” anthems including, “The Best of Both Worlds”, the Hannah Montana theme song. Together they are responsible for many of the key songs from the High School Musical (HSM) series including the showstopper, “I Don’t Dance” from HSM II.

Free Realms brings to life a whimsical virtual world where gamers can explore, compete, raise pets and socialize. This exciting game is a new way for PC gamers to connect online in a safe, family-friendly environment. Free Realms offers a wide variety of gameplay, including exploration, combat, race kart driving, pet raising, minigames and social networking.

True Games announces closed Beta launch date for Warrior Epic!


True Games, an international publisher of multi-player online games has announced the closed beta launch date of its upcoming title Warrior Epic. The closed beta for the game will launch this Thursday, April 30. Registration for the closed beta has begun, but a few spots are still open on the game's website www.warriorepic.com so those interested in joining can register now.If selected to join the closed beta, players will receive a beta-key via the e-mail address they provided.

"We are excited to finally showcase all the updated features, cool content and all the polish that has gone into the development of Warrior Epic," said Peter Cesario, Director of New Business and Product Development. "We are eager to see how our beta community will fair through all of the exciting content we are offering in the beta and we look forward to hearing their feedback as we gear up for the official launch."

The Warrior Epic team has been hard at work making improvements to all aspects of the game since last year when a small group of players got a sneak peek at an early version. Major updates include a dramatically improved user experience as well as many new powerful and devastating abilities that have been added to the skill trees of all base and sub character classes. Additionally, much of the end game content has been implemented with new bosses, quests, campaigns and items suitable for higher level characters.

Developed by Austin based studio Possibility Space, Warrior Epic is an online, action role-playing game set in an original fantasy universe.

In the game, players will assume command of a Warrior Hall from which they manage their characters' adventures. They can recruit from a wide array of Warrior Classes, each with its own style of play. The Classes and the Hall itself can be upgraded visually as well as functionally.

Players adventure together in multiplayer campaigns, adventure mode, solo quests and PVP.

For more information, or to snag one of the few spots left for the beta, visit www.warriorepic.com.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon top japanese video game chart

pokemon mystery dungeon DS gamePokemon Fushigi no Dungeon top japanese video game
In third place was Mario & Luigi RPG 3, with Monster Hunter Portable 2G (PSP the Best) in fourth and Hitman Reborn in fifth.
Fantasy Golf Pangya Portable took sixth place followed by Pro Yakyuu Famista DS 2009 and Musou Orochi Z in seventh and eighth respectively.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna Portable was ninth, followed by the aforementioned Deca Sports 2.

In total the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable platforms boasted four titles apiece, with the Wii and PlayStation 3 taking one each. Just 276,000 units of software were sold by the top ten games in total.

The full top ten is as follows:

1. Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon (DS): 142,000
2. BASARA Battle Heroes (PSP): 28,000
3. Mario & Luigi RPG (DS): 19,000
4. Monster Hunter Portable 2G (PSP the Best) (PSP): 18,000
5. Hitman Reborn (DS): 17,000
6. Fantasy Golf Pangya Portable (PSP): 13,000
7. Pro Yakyuu Famista DS 2009 (DS): 11,000
8. Musou Orochi Z (PS3): 10,000
9. Mobile Suit Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna Portable (PSP): 9000
10. Deca Sports 2 (Wii): 9000

The Saboteur PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC video game Exclusive video and Fact Sheet

The Saboteur game boxPandemic Studios invites you to experience the ultimate open-world action/adventure—as The Saboteur. Fight, climb, and race your way through a uniquely stylized version of Nazi-occupied France, and hunt down your sworn enemies who have taken everything from you. Enter the seedy underground world of a saboteur living in 1940s Paris, where the women are sexy, the missions are epic, and the revenge is satisfying.



Play as Sean Devlin, a street-tough Irish racing mechanic seeking personal redemption in the first open-world action game set in Nazi-occupied Europe. Now, it's time for payback—with the help of the French Resistance, British intelligence, an arsenal of weaponry, and your own street smarts and brawn, you must exact revenge on those who aimed to destroy your life. Motivated by retribution and armed with tactics of sabotage, blow up zeppelins, derail trains, implode bridges, destroy armored tanks, and level enemy facilities in the name of vengeance.


Key Features

  • Live the resistance in an open-world Paris – Fight and sabotage your way through a stylized open-world 1940s Paris – from the top of the Eiffel Tower, to the riverbanks of the Seine, the cathedral of Notre Dame or the prestigious Champs-Élysées.
  • Be the Saboteur –Use a broad range of weapons and explosives to perform your blockbuster sabotage as you single-handedly hunt-down your enemies to dismantle and destroy the Nazi occupation.
  • Quiet In, Loud Out – Use gameplay systems like Climbing, Sneaking, and Stealth Kills to infiltrate the Nazi occupation to perform acts of Sabotage Once you've blown your target to pieces, leverage the intuitive cover system and assortment of weapons to blast your way to freedom.
  • Vertical World – This version of Paris was designed to leverage the unique abilities of The Saboteur. Being a Saboteur is all about surprise attacks and Paris' rooftops are the perfect path for your secret operations.
  • Will to Fight – The Saboteur introduces a innovative new feature that is both an iconic visual style, and a compelling gameplay element. See and feel Paris change around you as you progress through the game. Go from a dark and oppressed black and white policed state, to a bright and inspired world where the citizens fight back..
  • Hijack any vehicle - From high performance racecars to military vehicles, as the Saboteur, you can drive any vehicle that comes along to escape your pursuers.
  • Microsoft refund for overcharge on Xbox Live bills plus a bonus...

    nintendo vip logo
    Dear Xbox LIVE Gold Member:

    We launched Deal of the Week program on Feb 23rd, 2009 as an added benefit to your Gold membership and we are very excited to see the overwhelming response we have received from our loyal users such as you.

    As a result of the increased transactions we know that you experienced an intermittent Xbox LIVE issue, which resulted in you being charged full price of 1200 points for the ‘Braid' deal instead of the discounted price of 800 points. We sincerely wish to apologize for the
    technical glitch and would like to take this moment to thank you for your patience and understanding as our team worked around the clock to fix this problem.

    We will not only be crediting back the 400 points that were overcharged, but also be crediting an extra 100 points as a token of our appreciation and as a thank you for your loyalty during this period. You will see a credit of 500 points in your account in the coming weeks.

    Xbox LIVE VIP post on Gamezplay here...

    1 v 100 video game free download on Xbox LIVE

    1 v 100 free download1 v 100 was a game show that aired on NBC in 2007 and 2008 that was hosted by Bob Saget. The show featured a contestant (the 1) competing against "The Mob" (the 100) in a series of multiple choice trivia questions. If the 1 outlasted the 100, they would walk away with $1,000,000. The show aired it's last episode on February 22, 2008 and was canceled that November.

    That was a problem for Microsoft, as a few months earlier they had announced that an Xbox Live Arcade version of 1 vs 100 would is in the works.

    Well, after a few delays, and with 1 vs 100 still canceled, Microsoft is finally ready to release the XBLA version. And best of all, it will be free for Xbox Live Gold members.

    The game will allow players to compete as part of the 100 person mob with a Live host every time. Real life prizes will also be given out to the best players and to those that compete the most. Sure beats Achievements (but it'll likely have those too).
    Source: Gamingtarget