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Monday, August 31, 2009

Bounty Bay Online expansion Beyond the Horizon with South America and six new cities

pirate standing with sword in front of houseThe largest ever expansion for Bounty Bay Online is set to launch in the fourth quarter of 2009 under the name of ‘Beyond the Horizon’. Right from first glance the add-on will integrate a significant geographical expansion of the historical explorer and sailor world. With South America, experienced players will receive a completely new continent as a destination for their voyages of exploration.

Six new port cities ranging across the western coasts of South and North America serve as focus points for a vibrant trade with the new world. For the first time ocean adventurers will have the opportunity to sail right around the whole world in ‘Beyond the Horizon’ using the Cape Horn route.

Passing by the village-like ‘Magellan Supply Station’ on the tip of South America, players will be able to arrive at San Diego. Those who venture further up north will discover the Mayan capital of Salinas to be an important hub of the expansion. The tropical metropolis represents the showplace for a high level quest line which leads player groups past snakes, Maya guardians and other dangerous creatures in a jungle-draped Mayan instance with some valuable treasures. Following Salinas players reach the scenic Cruz in Middle America as well as San Francisco, the first glamorous and sophisticated city on America’s west coast – each city featuring its own trading port. In the far north players who aren’t too shy of the cold can discover the snowy Seward and its off-shore icebergs on the Alaskan coast.

Frogster is going to publish the expansion ‘Beyond the Horizon’ with its many new features in both German and English language versions. A little later French players of Bounty Bay Online will also be able to check out the new content, such as five new character classes, the active pet system, new instances, new PvP arenas and tournaments, new ranking system and new mini-games. In keeping with its predecessors, ‘Beyond the Horizon’ will be available free of charge.

About Bounty Bay Online
With Bounty Bay Online players enter the Age of Discoveries from the 15th to the 17th century. MMO fans are able to choose an online career as a merchant, sailor, fisherman, pirate or adventurer and make their fortune at land and on the seven seas. Alone or with a guild of players, many adventures and gripping quests lie on their way. Thousands of ancient discoveries on all continents like the pyramids of Gizah or the Chinese Wall are waiting to be explored. After exciting PvP combat at land and on the seas, strong guilds can take control of colonies and cities and decide upon their destiny. Bounty Bay Online features a unique trade system based on supply and demand. In April 2008 Frogster has started a free-to-play server with an integrated item shop as an alternative to the subscription model, so that new sailors can now roam the Seven Seas without any fixed costs. More information is available on www.bountybayonline.com.

Features

• Hundreds of authentic ship models
• Land and sea combat
• More than 60 realistic towns and harbours.
• Guilds can conquer towns and decide upon their taxes and tariffs
• Free add-on „Storm Island“ with new items, new features and new regions included
• Free Colony Add-on released in January 2009

East India Company - Pirate Bay video game contest and New Patch - DLC

pirate ship sailing on the seaParadox Interactive and Nitro Games has launched an all-new contest to reward players of the popular DLC East India Company: Pirate Bay. Based on the naval strategy title's in-game reward system (which offers points to sea dwellers as they progress in the game and climb up its ladder system), the two week event will call on players to challenge themselves to gain as many points as possible in the Pirate Bay campaign.

At the end of these two weeks, the top three players who have managed to gather the most pirate points and top the ladder will receive a $100 Gift Certificate on GamersGate for any Paradox titles released on the platform prior to September 13.

The contest will start on Monday August 31st at 3pm CET/9am EST and end on September 13 at 6pm CET/12 noon EST.

In order to be eligible to compete in the contest, players must download Pirate Bay Patch 1 (1.06). To access the patch, press the "Check for Updates" button on the in-game "Options" menu.

To view current contest standings and for other information related to East India Company, please visit www.eic-game.com.

In East India Company, players will enjoy building the World’s most powerful trading empire and engaging in vigorous battles in both single player and multiplayer modes, all within a breathtaking cinematic game environment.
Players will fight, manage and rule nations from Europe to the Far East with eight nationalities to choose from: British, Dutch, French, Danish, Portuguese, Swedish, Spanish and Holy Roman Empire.
Starting modestly, you will build your fleet, establish connections to far away countries, and keep the rivaling nations at bay. Choose from a wide array of ship classes, including a variety of transport and military vessels. Create diverse fleets and assign each of them specific trading routes. Control and upgrade well situated ports as you form your strategy for domination.
Conflicts and wars are inevitable. When hostile fleets engage each other, the spectacular naval battles are fought from a real-time tactical level. Devastating broadsides are fired with a deafening roar and cannon balls tear through enemy ships and their crew. For greater tactical depth, command your ship and give independent orders to each of your fleets. Fight against the other European powers to create a trading empire that will rule above all others in this groundbreaking strategy war game!
Features

- Spectacular cinematic and epic naval battles.
-Two Command Modes: Give orders to all your ships in RTS mode or take the helm of a single ship in Direct Command-mode.
- Unique combination of war and trading.
- State of the art diplomacy AI.
- Eight playable nations: England, France, Holland, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Spain
and the Holy Roman Empire.
- Over 10 realistic ship types; from small sloops and cutters to the East Indiaman and warships.
- Realistic yet fast-paced naval combat
- Hire fleet commanders who will gain new skills and increase the abilities of your fleets
- Take over ports and protect your shipping routes to create the largest trading empire.


Multiplayer (Internet or LAN)
• Supports up to 8 simultaneous players.
• Player statistics tracked on the EIC game server.
• Several game modes for with single and team approach.
• Raise your ranking by thwarting your opponents.
• Head-to-head missions are a true test of strategic skill.

System requirements

* Windows XP
* 1,6 GHz Intel Pentium processor or equivalent AMD Athlon processor
* 1 GB (2 GB recommended for Windows Vista)
* 128 MB DirectX 9.0c compatible or better video card with pixelshader 2.0
* 4X PC DVD-ROM
* DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
* Available Hard Disk Space: Approx. 6 GB
* DirectX: 9.0c
* Other: 3-button Mouse, Keyboard and Speakers.
Internet connection for multiplayer.

Shattered Horizon PC video game - Fact Sheet

Shattered Horizon PC video game space men floating around space stationShattered Horizon is a multi player first-person shooter with unique freedom of movement and realistic zero gravity combat.




Design principles

* The real space setting of Shattered Horizon offers gameplay, tactics and freedom of movement that cannot be found in any other shooter.
* Simple and intuitive controls let you take full advantage of the distinctive zero gravity environment.
* A sci-fi game you can believe in. Shattered Horizon uses real-world technology and physics as the basis for a fun and accessible game.
* Astonishing visuals combined with functional art design immerse you in the cold reality of combat in space.

Game Description

25 Word Limit
Shattered Horizon is a multiplayer first-person shooter game with unique freedom of movement and realistic zero gravity combat.

50 Word Limit
Shattered Horizon is a multiplayer first-person shooter where players fight in zero gravity surrounded by rocky debris
from a huge explosion on the Moon. With simple and intuitive controls players have complete freedom of movement
to create gameplay and tactics impossible in games constrained by gravity.

100 Word Limit
Shattered Horizon is a multiplayer first-person shooter where players fight in zero gravity surrounded by the broken remains of orbital infrastructure and billions of tons of rocky debris thrown into orbit by a huge explosion on the Moon. With simple and intuitive controls players have complete freedom of movement, making full use of the distinctive environment to control the battle. Shattered Horizon rewards players with gameplay and tactics impossible in games constrained by gravity.
Stunning lighting effects and zero gravity physics give the look and feel of real space, bringing to life an extraordinary and epic vision of the future.

Background Story

25 Word Limit
When a catastrophic accident on the Moon fills near-Earth space with debris, the survivors must fight or face deathin the cold of space.

50 Word Limit
Man is back on the Moon but greed soon leads to a catastrophic accident, when an explosion fills near-Earth space with debris. Survivors on the Moon are forced into conflict with those trapped on the battered International Space Station. Control of limited supplies means the difference between survival and death.

100 Word Limit
Man is back on the Moon and the companies that took him there are reaping huge profits. Their greed soon leads to the largest mining accident in history, when an explosion throws billions of tons of rocky debris into near-Earth space. Fragments of the Moon settle around the Earth and become known as the Arc. With Earth surrounded by debris there's little chance of rescue or return. Survivors on the Moon are forced into conflict with those trapped on the battered International Space Station. Control of the Arc means the difference between survival and death in the cold of space.

Shattered Horizon beta
In late August a limited number of gamers will be taking part in a technical beta for Shattered Horizon. At Gamescom, Futuremark Games Studio revealed the first details of what gamers could expect.

Moondust
Moondust is an oxygen-rich fragment of Moon rock where MMC miners have set up a mining facility. This is a risky venture, as the Arc's rotation brings it right under the ISA's nose. The MMC has little choice: with most of Moon's oxygen farms destroyed, they are literally fighting for air. Moondust is designed to be accessible to new players. It features a lot of indoor spaces, corridors and caverns. There are man-made structures which give a natural sense of “up” even though there’s no gravity. Combat tends to be close range and sudden.

Flipside
The remains of Hadley Science Station now orbit the Moon. The station contains stockpiles of high-purity nuclear fuel that could sustain the conflict for years. Determined to cut the MMC's fuel supply, the ISA launches a mission to confiscate the supplies or destroy them. In Flipside players fight on both sides of a broken disc of Moon rock, moving between the two through cracks and fractures in the level. As players move from one side to the other, up becomes down. Teams must control both sides to win.

ISS
A meteoroid impact has severed the International Space Station nearly in two. MMC troops seize the opportunity to raid the crippled and understaffed station. A skeleton crew of ISA astronauts must hold out against the attack. ISS is the most open of the three beta levels. The long axis of the station provides clear direction for the players. In this level players can make full use of zero gravity resulting in fast paced tactical play.

Players
The beta will support 32 players simultaneously.

Game Modes

Battle
In Battle two teams compete to capture control points and dominate the map. Teams must defend their own control points while attacking the enemy’s.

Assault
Assault is a turn-based control point capture game. Teams take turns attacking and defending. Control points cannot be recaptured by the defending team once lost. The attacking team must capture all control points in order to win the round.

Skirmish
Skirmish is a team deathmatch game mode. At the end of the round, the final score determines the winning team.

Weapons
In space it is impractical for an astronaut to have a large amount of weapons and equipment. With too much gear something is bound to float away. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvUhFwNxEqU
For that reason each player in Shattered Horizon carries a single multifunctional assault rifle. Using this weapon, the player is equipped for every type of combat scenario: up-close melee attacks, medium range fire fights and accurate long range combat.

Tactical Grenades
Grenades are fired with the rifle’s under-slung launcher. In zero gravity, grenades have special properties: they fly straight and true, with no drop to limit the range. Players can also ricochet grenades off surfaces to attack beyond their line of sight.

All the grenades in Shattered Horizon are non-lethal. Rather than provide cheap one-shot kills, they are designed to support team tactics and enhance the zero gravity experience.

ICE
The ICE grenade releases a fine cloud of water particles which flash freeze in the vacuum of space. The ice crystals block both sight and radar. This grenade can be used to provide cover, block lines of sight or disorient enemies caught in the cloud.

EMP
The EMP grenade disables an astronaut’s suit electronics. When a player is caught in an EMP blast their HUD crashes, taking away their radar and audio simulation. Their rocket pack also becomes less responsive, inhibiting movement until the suit’s OS reboots.

MPR
The MPR grenade’s blast pushes away astronauts and floating objects. Players can use the MPR grenade to dislodge defenders from their cover, or protect themselves from charging enemies by knocking them back.


Genre
Multiplayer first-person shooter
Tactical shooter (gameplay involves teams capturing control points)
Science fiction shooter (set in near-Earth space 40 years from now)

Platforms
Windows Vista, Windows 7 - DirectX 10 graphics card required

Developer
Futuremark Games Studio

Game Engine and Technology
In-house DirectX10 engine using PhysX and optimized for multi-core PCs.
Shattered Horizon carries the NVIDIA “The Way It’s Meant To Be Played” seal.

Rating
The game has not yet been rated by ESRB, PEGI or other rating bodies.

Release date
Ready for release holiday 2009 (dependent on this summer’s technical beta)

Rapala we love fish the first fishing game made specially for the Nintendo Wii

fish jumping with hook in mouthA Whole New Species of Fishing Game!

Activision announce a brand new entry in its Rapala fishing franchise, Rapala - We Fish for Nintendo Wii. Slated for release on September 29, Rapala: We Fish is the first fishing title developed specifically for Nintendo Wii, featuring over-the-top fun and action-packed fishing.

The game is packaged with the Rapala fishing rod and reel peripheral, letting players cast it, crank it and set the hook!

“We’ve partnered with Rapala to develop a new type of fishing game that focuses on arcade style family fun for the Wii™,” said David Oxford, Activision Publishing. “Combining responsive controls with an action-packed, humorous direction, we have created a fishing game that’s unlike anything out there.”

Rapala: We Fish takes a “pick up and play”, comical approach to fishing. Featuring five different game modes, including co-op tournaments, 4 player split-screen and multiplayer modes, players can choose from five hilarious characters or play as their favorite Mii™. Players travel to eight locations around the world and compete in 24 tournament events. Battle over 50 wacky fish species, including enormous Legendary Lunkers, with the Rapala rod and reel peripheral for side-splitting fun!

In a unique twist, the fish themselves feature zany personalities and hilarious facial expressions that will make players chuckle as they race each other to be the first to catch them. Winning a tournament requires more than just fishing – you must race your boat in arcade-style competitions with power-ups and turbo speed boosts. But hurry - if a competitor knocks the fish out of your boat before you get to the safe harbor, you lose your prized catch!

“We love Activision’s fresh, colorful approach to Rapala: We Fish,” said Kelly Brockpahler, Rapala. “It doesn’t matter if you are a fisherman in real life, this game lets players of all ages and abilities have a ‘laugh out loud’ good time!”

Tale of Tales release first glimpse of heroine in upcoming title Fatale

salome dancing girlBeheading of John the Baptist

Three months into production, Tale of Tales are ready to show the first visuals of their upcoming release, tentatively entitled "Fatale".

The pictures display Salome, the biblical princess who demanded the head of John the Baptist as a reward for dancing for King Herod.

Undisclosed so far, Salome was designed, modelled and textured for the project by leading game artist Takayoshi Sato, of Silent Hill fame.

"We've always admired Mr Sato's work," admit "Fatale" designers Auriea Harvey and Michael Samyn. "In fact, if it wasn't for his masterful work in Silent Hill 1 and 2, we would probably never have started making videogames. Takayoshi Sato designs characters the way a novelist describes them or a sculptor carves them: their personality is expressed in their appearance and they are covered with very recognizable details.

He does not design superheroes or puppets, but real people, people you want to know, people you want to be close to. The style we are aiming for with "Fatale" is more naturalistic than anything we have made so far. But we want to retain the magical quality and openness to interpretation that is characteristic of our work. Takayoshi is one of the few designers in the world capable of pulling this off. We asked him. And he said yes. We couldn't be happier!"

The character of Salome is complex because "Fatale" is designed to evoke all possible interpretations of her legend simultaneously. Salome is at once the mighty princess who mercilessly seduces men to their downfall and an innocent child on the brink of womanhood who is manipulated by the grown-ups that surround her. But she is also just a girl, a teenager who falls in love with the wrong man at the wrong time. She gets a first taste of the sweetness and the bitterness that we all know so well. And then there's the Salome created by Oscar Wilde: a mad woman, lurking in the shadows of our souls, a selfish, passionate, wilful creature who will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

Sato's Salome is all of these women. She's not a classic beauty. But very pretty nonetheless. She doesn't wear lot of clothing after having danced away her veils. But her nakedness feels natural in the cool night breeze. The abundance of jewellery on her body is at once arrogant and innocent. She's attractive but there is nothing obscene about her. Her sensuality is that of a virgin. Her skin is telling us that our touch will corrupt her. She challenges us. She confuses us.

Takayoshi Sato joins the ranks of previous Tale of Tales collaborators Laura Raines Smith (animation), Gerry De Mol (music), Jarboe and Kris Force (music, voice and sound) and contemporary dancer Elénore Valere Lachky who reinterpreted the Dance of the Seven Veils especially for "Fatale".

Tale of Tales is a small independent studio based in Belgium, founded by new media artists Auriea Harvey and Michael Samyn. Other projects include "The Endless Forest", "The Graveyard" and "The Path". Production of "Fatale" is supported by Flanders Audiovisual Fund and Villanella.
"Fatale" is scheduled to be released on October 5th 2009.

Card set 5 arrives for Alteil - 60 all new cards new file types and abilities!

pc card game girl on cardSet 5 is here! An all new card set expansion based around theme Files.

New cards make all kinds of theme Files possible using cards from previous sets, while new File types can be created just with Set 5 Cards!

The battle for the Holy Realm reaches a new level with the arrival of smarter command model Magic Dolls, who cut through the enemy forces.

Then the army of the Shrine Knights arrive, rallying to the cause of Folrart. Caught in between, Rivera realizes her destiny of the Beast King and releases her true power! But the great battle shakes the walls of the Holy Realm shrine, awakening something beyond the gate. The final gate guardian appears in a nimbus of light that envelops the battlefield. Will anything remain when the smoke clears?

• 60 new cards! 15 in each Sphere of influence, including new Characters, Units and Grimoires!
• Set 5 Packs and Set 5 Boxes are available in the Shop, at the same price as Set 1, 2, 3 and 4 Packs and Boxes.
• Set 5 Cards are available in the Card Lottery.
• Set 5 Cards are available in Treasure Battles, and for Level Up Cards.
• Enough cards to play all new file types with only set 5 cards! Help each other out with Shrine Knights, exploit your troops with Magic Doll Command Units, control the field with Ice magic and live forever with the Undead!
• New Status abilities let you break the rules, with skill effects that were not possible in earlier sets!
• Bestow Traits on your allies, gain extra Skills when Counters are triggered, and enjoy immunity to Grimores and Soul Skills!
• Classic play styles get new options, with more ways to change Battletime, get bonuses for Grimoires used, and more options for Solar Kingdom, Mermaids and Crest.
• Art by Rei (Code Geass Manga), Masaki Hirooka (Culdcept Saga, Sonic and the Secret Rings), Kazuno Yuikawa (Aquarian Age, Ragnarok Online), and many more!

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Launches Assault on Penny Arcade Expo 2009 Sep 4th – 6th free trial link

warhammer onlineMythic Entertainment, will be descending upon Penny Arcade Expo 2009 from September 4th – 6th to meet fans and showcase the latest and greatest new content and updates to WAR. Located at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in Seattle, Washington, the event will provide the opportunity for local players to hang out in the WAR Lounge and speak with members of the development team about WAR’s one year anniversary and the latest and deadliest Live Event players have ever seen: The Wild Hunt!

Where: Washington State Convention & Trade Center
Seattle, WA 98101-2350
EA / Mythic Booth No 332

When: Friday, September 4th – Sunday, September 6th

Don’t miss Mythic Entertainment’s Executive Producer, Jeff Hickman, discussing Game Design 101 during his Penny Arcade Expo panel session on Friday, September 4th from 10:30am - 11:30am in the Unicorn Theatre. Joined by other industry vets, Jeff and the panel will re-examine the basics of game design and explore what it means to design in today’s videogame industry.

Fans who visit the Warhammer Online booth will walk away with a limited-edition Empire Cherub t-shirt (while supplies last), exciting WAR giveaways, and valuable in-game items:

• Razored Skinning Knife – Sharp as a harlot’s tongue and twice as dangerous.
• Shroud of Imrathepis - Linens taken from the burial shroud of Prince Imrathepis, protecting its owner from harm by regenerating minor wounds and injuries.
• Chompin’ Teef - Exclusive Steel Jaw customization option for Orc Choppas.
• Snorri's Spikes - Exclusive Spike Mohawk customization option for Dwarf Slayers.

For more information about Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning at Penny Arcade Expo 2009, visit http://herald.warhammeronline.com/eventcalendar/.

Based on the popular tabletop war game from Games Workshop, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning features revolutionary Realm vs. Realm conflict that will provide players with an engaging battleground for years to come. Available now for PC, WAR will be available on Mac in the fall of 2009. WAR is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB. For more information about the game and to download the 10-day free trial, visit www.warhammeronline.com.

Record of Agarest War video game arrives on PlayStation Network soon

 Record of Agarest War girl in stockings a suspender standing in front of mirrorAksys Games, announce the first epic SRPG for PlayStation Network, Record of Agarest War. In this game developed by Compiled Heart, RED Entertainment, and Idea Factory, SRPG fanatics will finally be able to play a game worthy of the genre. Sporting over one hundred hours of gameplay, Record of Agarest War invites players into a gorgeous, expansive world of hope and despair. Players will wage war against the evil forces of darkness, take a bride - actually, several brides - and extend their lineage through five generations!

"This is one of those titles where morbid curiosity really hits you once see some screenshots," states Michael Manzanares, Associate Producer, Aksys Games.
"Instead of being nothing but cheesecake, Record of Agarest War turns out to have some length and girth to it. Color us surprised."

Record of Agarest War Prologue
In the void before time flowed and space existed, the twelve gods were. Gods of light and darkness, they came together to create the world of Agarest, a perfect and divine paradise. The gods created life, bringing forth animals and plants by the thousands-among them the intelligent races, such as elves and humans.

But even paradise cannot last forever, and in time, war darkened the skies of Agarest. Not a simple war between mortals, easily ended by divine intervention, but a war that split the gods themselves. Armies such as the world had never seen before, and would never see again, clashed in the skies of Agarest, across its surface, and even in the caverns that wound their way through its interior.

As is the way in war, many died on both sides, gods and mortals alike, and the war left Agarest broken, blackened, and dead. The gods wept for their paradise, and in a final act of creation, sacrificed themselves to bring life back to its charred and twisted surface.

That was many thousands of years ago, and although the gods are long dead, the withering darkness that began and fueled their war is not. Imprisoned for millennia, its bonds have begun to weaken, and as they do, a shadow once again spreads across the surface of the world.

Born into this world perched unknowingly on the brink of the apocalypse, a young man by the name of Leonhardt and his descendants are the last, best hope for Agarest. Their journey will span generations and continents as they strive to once again bring peace to their beleaguered world, even as the cost of their own souls.

Record of Agarest War Key Features:

• Soul Breed System
Tired of just living through one lifetime in typical RPG titles? Then witness the Soul Breed system! Choose a bride at the end of your adventure and give birth to the hero of the next generation!

• Collaborative Attacks!
Position your forces on the battlefield and wait for the right moment to string together massive combo attacks using multiple party members-both in melee and at range!

• Epic SRPG with Ginormous Game Time!
Record of Agarest War spans over 100 hours of gameplay, not including side/bonus missions!

• Link Gauge System
The fate of Agarest is in your hands as the Link Gauge tracks your actions and alters the future world based on how you play! Will you get the blonde girl or the red-head?! YOU JUST DON'T KNOW!

Record of Agarest War has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

Oscar De La Hoya and Klitschko Brothers download for Fight Night Round 4 video game

donaire in boxing ringDonaire
Electronic Arts announce that its first downloadable boxer pack for Fight Night Round 4 is now available on the PLAYSTATION Network and Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Featuring Oscar De La Hoya, Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko, and alternate versions of George Foreman and James Toney, the downloadable boxer pack retails for 400 Microsoft points and $4.99 on Xbox LIVE Marketplace and the PLAYSTATION Network, respectively.



Named the Game Critic Awards “Best Sports Game of E3 2009” and having sold over a million units in its first month*, Fight Night Round 4 has been winning over reviewers and fans since its release on June 23rd.

In addition to the boxer pack, EA SPORTS™ announced that a free downloadable game update that enables players to use the face buttons on the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 controllers to throw punches is also available now. A new demo featuring the button controls will be available to all Xbox LIVE and the PLAYSTATION Network users by early September. The 10 round demo will feature Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton as playable boxers.

Designed with a revolutionary physics-based gamezplay engine, Fight Night Round 4 replicates the sweet science to an unprecedented degree of realism. Witness gloves grazing off an opponent as he dodges at the last second, or watch as a vicious uppercut rips through the block of a boxer who turtles for too long. With realistic physics, no fight is ever the same in Fight Night Round 4

Fight Night Round 4 is currently available for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 video game system from Microsoft. This game has been rated T for Teen by the ESRB, and 16+ by PEGI.

Rock Band latest - Talking heads, Tom Petty, Billy Idol, Franz Ferdinand, and Fleetwood Mac tracks added Guns N' Roses

talking heads group add content to rock band game headshotHarmonix and MTV Games announce that a five pack of songs from new wave rockers Talking Heads, as well as singles from Avenged Sevenfold, The Jam, Oasis and Rage Against the Machine will be available in the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content next week for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.
Additional tracks from Tom Petty, Billy Idol, Fleetwood Mac and Judas Priest will be available in the Nintendo Wii Rock Band Music Store bringing the number of downloadable tracks for Wii to 647, and tracks from Guns N’ Roses and Franz Ferdinand will be available for download for Rock Band Unplugged on PSP (PlayStation Portable) system.

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 System
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Talking Heads add an additional five downloadable tracks to Rock Band, joining the already available “Psycho Killer.” The five-pack spans a good deal of Talking Heads’ career, including “Take Me to the River” from the band’s second album, More Songs About Buildings and Food; “Crosseyed & Painless” and “Once in a Lifetime” from the band’s fourth studio album, Remain in Light; “Girlfriend is Better” from the band’s fifth album, Speaking in Tongues; and “And She Was” from the band’s sixth album, Little Creatures. Additionally, singles from Avenged Sevenfold, The Jam, Oasis and Rage Against the Machine will be available in the Rock Band Music Store next week.

Tracks available on Xbox 360 (Sept. 1) and PLAYSTATION 3 system (Sept. 3):

• Avenged Sevenfold – “Bat Country”
• The Jam – “A Town Called Malice”
• The Jam – “Going Underground”
• Oasis – “Supersonic” (Live)
• Rage Against the Machine – “Guerilla Radio”
• Talking Heads – “And She Was”
• Talking Heads – “Crosseyed & Painless”
• Talking Heads – “Girlfriend is Better”
• Talking Heads – “Once in a Lifetime”
• Talking Heads – “Take Me to the River”

(All tracks are original master recordings)

These tracks will be available for purchase as Talking Heads Pack 01 and as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system.

Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$8.49 USD, £5.25 UK, €6.59 EU (680 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for Talking Heads Pack 01

Wii Additions
American rocker Tom Petty breaks onto Rock Band for Wii next week with two of his biggest solo hits, “I Won’t Back Down” and “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” both from his 5x platinum 1989 album, Full Moon Fever. This was Petty’s first solo album, after parting with The Heartbreakers; it reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Classic rockers Fleetwood Mac and English rocker Billy Idol return to Rock Band, as well as Australian rockers Jet with, “She’s a Genius,” from the band’s new album, Shaka Rock, which hit shelves Aug. 25. Back-catalog tracks from Judas Priest and The Pretenders will also be available in the Wii Rock Band Music Store next week. These tracks come from the catalog of Rock Band music already released to owners of Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system. With the addition of these tracks, there are now more than 647 tracks in the Wii Rock Band Music Store.

Additional tracks available for Wii (Aug. 25):

• Billy Idol – “Mony Mony”
• Billy Idol – “Rebel Yell”
• Fleetwood Mac – “Don’t Stop”
• Fleetwood Mac – “World Turning”
• Jet – “She’s a Genius”
• Tom Petty – “I Won’t Back Down”
• Tom Petty – “Runnin’ Down a Dream”
• Bare Naked Ladies – “Hanukkah Blessings” *
• Billy Squier – “Christmas is the Time” *
• Judas Priest – “(Take These) Chains”
• Judas Priest – “Bloodstone”
• Judas Priest – “Devil’s Child”
• Judas Priest – “Fever”
• Judas Priest – “Pain & Pleasure”
• Judas Priest – “Riding on the Wind”
• Judas Priest – “Screaming for Vengeance”
• Judas Priest – “The Hellion/Electric Eye”
• Judas Priest – “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’”
• Nikko – “Break My Heart” *
• Nikko – “Don’t Tell Me” *
• Pretenders – “Blue Christmas” *
• Pretenders – “Precious”

Price: $2.00 USD (200 Wii Points) per track
*Denotes $1.00 (100 Wii Points) per track

Rock Band Unplugged Tracks for PSP®System

Rock Band Unplugged fans will enjoy the addition of Franz Ferdinand’s “Lucid Dreams” and Guns N’ Roses’ “Riad N’ The Bedouins” to the 35 tracks already available via the Rock Band Unplugged in-game music store for the PSP system.

Tracks available for Rock Band Unplugged (Sept. 3):

• Franz Ferdinand – “Lucid Dreams”
• Guns N’ Roses – “Riad N’ The Bedouins”

Price: $1.99, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU per track on the PSP system.

Namie Amuro stars in video game for McDonalds ad in Japan

Namie Amuro headbutting hereself for mcdonalds commercialJpop queen Namie Amuro has joined a host of other stars to help sell McDonald's 'big mouth' burger with her latest TV commercial.

She headbutts herself in real life then continues the fight in the video game scene.



With short skirt high kicks and low cut tops the ad is sure to appeal to Japanese young males. Namie Amuro, from Okinawa is one of Japan's top female singers with a top ten single ever year for almost 15 years.

Watch the making of the video here...

She performs Don't Wanna Cry here...


Sunday, August 30, 2009

Video of Mass Effect 2 full game play demo

blue head in mass effect 2 video game trailerHere's the full Mass Effect 2 demo footage Bioware showed to the public at GamesCom 2009.
Note: This video is recorded with a camcorder.

Second recall for PlayStation 3 Game of the Year - LittleBigPlanet

little big planet video game on PSPAfter having to be patched due to offensive Islamic themes showing up in the launch version of the game, the game was also recalled due to the offensive themes. Well, with LittleBigPlanet: Game of the Year Edition shipping to retailers on September 8th, many retailers were told to pack up their LittleBigPlanet copies and send them back.

Today, GameStop received an internal memo telling managers to load up their copies of LittleBigPlanet for a recall. Why you ask? It seems that the Game of the Year Edition of LittleBigPlanet will be using the same sale sku as the original title, and they'll only be offering the GOTY edition here on out. Whether other retailers are also recalling the title hasn’t been confirmed, but doing a quick search online will show retailers like BestBuy are still selling the game online, while GameStop/EBGames currently lists the game as 'Currently Not Available Online'.

Aion video game open beta starts on September 6-13th

aion video game girl screenshotWithin the next four weeks, we will treat European and North American gamers to two opportunities to jump into the world of Aion and explore Atreia as Asmodian or Elyos characters ahead of its release in Europe on 25th September and North America 22th September.



Aion's Open Beta Test featuring version 1.5 will take place 6-13th September and will include numerous Western enhancements, including improvements to Aion's innovative character customization with a host of Western styles, as well as new zones, instances, skills, quests and continued game balancing and improvements. Open Beta will retain a level cap for both Elyos and Asmodians characters at 30 allowing players to focus on getting to the same level so they can explore the lands of Atreia together, as well as the Abyss.



Players who have pre-ordered Aion will be treated to a Pre-Select and a two-day Headstart period giving them the opportunity to explore, organize and progress through the game prior to the official launch. Pre-Select will take place on 18th September, while Aion's Headstart will begin 20th September. Players can still participate in the Aion's Pre-Select and Headstart programs by pre-ordering the game through several participating online and brick-and-mortar retailers.



Remember to update your Aion game password if your Aion account was created prior to July 29, 2009.

200 billion ISKs embezzled in EVE online causing run on the digital vaults

EVE OnlineEVE Online's largest player-controlled virtual bank, Ebank, just can't seem to catch a break these days.

A few months after it was revealed that the company had been defrauded of a staggering amount of virtual cash, it turns out that the institution's digital vaults are far more barren than many realized, leading to an in-game freezing of accounts for any individual or organization that happened to have invested any InterStellar Kredits (ISK) with the bank.

Early this summer, it came to light that a veteran EVE player (known only as 'Ricdic') had embezzled — and then sold in the real world — over 200 billion ISK from Ebank, causing a run on the virtual financial institution.

However, this was just the beginning of the problems for the player-owned bank. Recently-installed Ebank Chairman Ray McCormack admitted that the bank had been mismanaged, and rules, safeguards, and controls were not enforced. As a result, it's been revealed that Ebank is 380 billion ISK poorer thanks to a number of defaulted loans.

Because of the aforementioned mismanagement, it apparently took the bank's new officers a while to figure out just how far in the red their institution is."

Karos online video game Fact Sheet free-to-play MMORPG

karos gladiator yielding swordKaros Online is a new free-to-play MMORPG set in the torn fantasy world of Asmara. Players take the role of a hero engaged in an epic war to defeat the forces of Malyx, God of Darkness, who seek to free their captured lord and conquer Asmara.



Through questing, guild clashes and mass PvP, players fight for control of the world’s vital energy source, Fletta, with the ultimate goal of becoming the mythical Karos warrior who brings glory to the side of Light.

Karos Online is being developed by Galaxy Gate lead developers of Laghaim and Last Chaos, and will be published in Europe by NHN Corporation in 4Q 2009.



  • Breathtaking 3D graphics and combat action effects
  • Unique Fletta progression system that complements traditional leveling
  • Exciting dynamic dungeons
  • Small client size (700MB) and low minimum PC requirements
  • Keyboard and mouse control options
  • Client in English
  • German and Turkish Client to be supported
    Characters
  • Five different playable races
  • Nine original classes with four sub-classes each,
  • A total of 36 specialised class options
    PvE
  • Beautiful landscapes to explore
  • Ticket-based system for dungeon access -- advance to harder challenges as you prove yourself worthy
  • Two types of thrilling dynamic dungeons:
    - Mazes: walls move and shift to affect the party’s path - no party size limit!
    PvP
  • Guild rivalries: kill your enemies on sight!
  • Territory/resource control wars
    Fletta progression system
  • Gather Fletta energy as you fight enemies
  • Collect Fletta shards that can be used to increase attributes, give buffs,
    buy resources and enchant items
  • Craft beautiful Fletta weapons and armour that grow more powerful as
    your character levels up
    Economy
  • Well-developed crafting, fishing and mining systems
  • Consignment system for storage; increase capacity as needed
    Platform
  • PC
    System Requirements
  • Minimum: Windows XP / Pentium IV 1.4 GHz, 512 MB RAM, GeForce MX
    5600, DirectX 9.0c, 3GB HDD
  • Recommended: Windows XP, Pentium IV 1.8GHz, 1024MB RAM, Geforce
    FX 6200, DirectX 9.0c, 3GB HDD
    Closed Beta:
  • Phase 1: 21-23 August
  • More phases to come
  • ESA top five P2P game piracy countries - Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Poland - 45 milllion notices issued

    The Entertainment Software Association has released this year's fiscal report, putting out their numbers to level the finger at new targets.

    Following up on last year's published report, this one has a whole bunch of new numbers to ponder.

    The top five P2P game piracy countries this year are: Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and Poland. The ESA's anti-piracy program notes, 'Chief among this year's actions were five separate law enforcement raids against game pirates in California, resulting in the seizure of several thousand games and dozens of modded consoles, and the arrests of five individuals.'

    But don't worry, they've expanded to other countries. 'The ESA sent takedown notices to ISPs covering more than 45 million instances of infringement of member company games in more than 100 countries worldwide.'

    Source: Slashdot - read full post here...

    Pay what you want for Championship Manager video game 'sold for a penny' as first time that a pay-what- you-want model has been tried with videogames

    championship manager box artFans of the popular football video game Championship Manager will be able to choose how much to pay for the new version of the title.
    Developer Eidos is offering a download of the game from a penny, along with a £2.50 transaction fee.
    It is the first time that a pay-what- you-want model has been tried with video games, said the developer.

    UK rock band Radiohead used a similar sales strategy in 2007 with its album In Rainbows.

    A survey found that nearly two-thirds of downloaders paid nothing for the album.

    The new game will be available to download until 10 September, when the price will rise to £29.99.

    Additional content for the game will be sold throughout the year, costing £5 for six updates.

    "This is the first time an initiative like this has ever been tried in the videogames market," said Roy Meredith of Eidos.

    Source: BBC

    Section 8 video game release dates announced - Xbox 360 and PC

    section 8 pc video game HD trailer screenshotSouthPeak Interactive announce Section 8 will be in stores on September 1 for Xbox 360, and September 4 for PC in North America. In UK/Asia Pacific shelves for both Xbox 360 and PC on September 11, the rest of Europe will get the game September 18.

    Developed by TimeGate Studios, Section 8 is an intense first-person shooter that gives players strategic control over the battlefield, employing tactical assets and on-demand vehicle deliveries to dynamically alter the flow of combat.



    Set at the crossroads of a growing insurrection among its colonies, Earth dispatches the elite 8th Armored Infantry to turn the tide. Utilizing advanced powered armor suits, these brave volunteers are the only ones crazy enough to smash through enemy defenses and drop directly into the battlefield from 15,000 feet, earning them the nickname.

    Kevin McKidd, Keith David and More Join Cast of Modern Warfare 2 video game

    snow scene soldiers on ski mobiles being chased through forest by helicopterSome good news for you Modern Warfare warriors out there, as it looks like some real talent are lending their voices to the upcoming Modern Warfare 2.

    Glenn Morshower from "TransFormers: Revenge of the Fallen," Turns out, it was the aptly-named General Morshower.

    Performing duties also go to Keith David ("They Live" and "The Thing," plus Halo 3, Mass Effect, and plenty more), Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan), and Scots actor Kevin McKidd ("Grey's Anatomy" and Lucius Vorenus from HBO's "Rome") plays captain 'Soap' McTavish. Rounding out this lot will be one Craig Fairbrass, who voiced Gaz in the first Modern Warfare, aka Call of Duty 4. He didn't finish out the game in the best of shape, making his return more interesting.

    So, a nice, well-rounded cast, I'd say. You know, I used to be more in-touch with who was who in voice acting. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll just be sitting over in the corner, pondering at exactly what point I lost touch with reality.

    Modern Warfare 2 has taken a lot of criticism over it's price - in the UK it's £10 more expensive than other console games.

    Kevin McKidd also did voice work for Rockstar in Grand Theft auto - Vice City.

    United Nations urge Japan to ban pornographic video games and cartoons featuring rape, gang rape, stalking and the sexual molestation of and girls

    japan rapelay video game hand about to fondle girls breastThe United Nations’ Committee on the Elimination of Against Women issued a lengthy list of its observations on Japan’s sixth periodic report on sexual discrimination on August 7. In section 35 of the report on the status of 1979’s Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the committee welcomed the increased prison times under Japan’s Act Banning Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.

    However, it expressed concern “at the normalization of sexual violence in the State party as reflected by the prevalence of pornographic video games and cartoons featuring rape, gang rape, stalking and the sexual molestation of and girls.” It also noted that the current child pornography laws do not cover virtual child pornography — material such as some manga, anime, and software that explicitly depict fictional children.

    The committee then strongly urged Japan “to ban the sale of video games or cartoons involving rape and sexual violence against women which normalize and promote sexual violence against women and girls.” It further recommends that this issue be covered in the revised act.

    While the bill on the act’s revision was introduced in the Japanese parliament last year, the government decided to study the issue of virtual child pornography for three years.

    Three years?? That’s a lot of ’studying’…

    Earlier this year, it was discovered that Amazon was selling a Japanese game called Rape Lay. Cara Kulwicki describes the game this way on The Curvature:

    The entire objective of the game is to rape women with varying levels of violence — sometimes stalking them first, sometimes using gang rape scenarios, and sometimes forcing them into abortions afterward.

    Kulwicki sums up the insidious harms of making a game of rape:

    The premise of the game reinforces the idea of rape as okay and not a big deal. It reinforces the idea that women exist for the sexual pleasure and abuse of men.


    Source: Feminist Peace Network

    Saturday, August 29, 2009

    How to take apart the new Sony PlayStation 3 slim - in pictures - checkout that 17 blade fan!

    playstation 3 slim taken apart with all the bits laid outTake a look inside Sony's new flagship console the PlayStation 3 slim.

    iFix it have done all the work so why not pop on over to their site to see all the details...Check the links below for more Playstation stories on gamezplay.org

    Cute ain't pretty - Little King's Story video game on Nintendo Wii

    little king story with king and loads more people from the Wii video game marching towards youThe most common complaint you will hear about Little King's Story has nothing to do with the game itself. The game's biggest problem, and the reason it will be overlooked by most gamers, is that it looks like a cutesy kids' game.

    Its marketing would seem to confirm this impression: a colorful 2-page spread in Nintendo Power (but nothing in, say, Edge Magazine); a flash-based children's book-style website (with background audio of cheering kids); and the game's cartoonish box art - all apparently go out of their way to discourage so-called serious gamers from taking the LKS plunge.



    If you have two normal people standing there, and one of them says 'I KILL YOU!' and stabs the other one, that's just sad. But if you have two little anime-cartoon cute guys, and one of them says [high-pitched voice] 'I KILL YOU!' and stabs the other one, it's serious, but it's really funny. It's the opposite of real people in games doing corny, goofy things... we have little goofy guys doing very serious things.[1]
    Yoshiro Kimura, producer/director of Little King's Story

    Read the full post here...

    Muse frontman Matt Bellamy to star in Guitar Hero 5 video game - with plug in baby video

    matt bellamy of muse on stage performing with guitar in video gameThe multi-talented Matt Bellamy will bring his trademark falsetto and intense guitar shredding to the virtual stage as an in-game playable rocker in this autumn’s highly-anticipated Guitar Hero 5. In addition to his likeness, the frontman of UK alternative band Muse is bringing one of the band’s most popular singles, “Plug in Baby,” to the massive 85 song on-disc set list. Bellamy joins Johnny Cash, Carlos Santana and Shirley Manson as part of the all-star lineup of in-game artists set to appear as playable characters in Guitar Hero 5.



    This September, living room legends will rock any way they want in Guitar Hero 5. The entire set list is at players’ finger tips from the start, featuring genre-defining hits from more than 80 of the biggest rock artists and bands of all time, including The Rolling Stones, The White Stripes, Kings of Leon, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Vampire Weekend, plus more than 25 artists from a variety of music genres that will be making their music video game debut. Players take complete control as Guitar Hero 5 allows gamers to personalise and customise how they experience music by being able to play with any in-game instrument combination - multiple vocalists, guitarists, bassists and drummers, in any game mode. With the game’s all-new Party Play Mode, getting the band back together has never been easier. Players can now jump in or drop out of gameplay seamlessly, without interrupting their jam session. Elevating the Guitar Hero® series to new heights with unmatched social gameplay, an enhanced style, new in-game artists and more rock legends, Guitar Hero 5 features new surprises and challenges that will fire up long-time fret board fanatics and create a new generation of addicts.

    Scheduled to hit store shelves during September, Guitar Hero 5 is rated 12+ by PEGI, and will be released for the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2. For more information about Guitar Hero 5, please visit gh5.guitarhero.com.

    Fans can visit muse.mu to get the latest news on Matt Bellamy and Muse, or to take advantage of an exclusive pre-order offer for the release of the band's upcoming album The Resistance, which hits stores in the Uk on September 14.

    SimFlyer Series X Service Release 3.101


    SimFlyer has just released SR3.101 for the Series X GNS-SX. The release is FREE to all customers that have a valid version of the Series X products installed.

    This update includes a few nav-data changes and prepares the gauges for the next version release, which will include a custom WASS database. This (3.101) is a critical update for those planning to upgrade to the next version. The update can be downloaded here and works with software purchased at any of the online download shops.

    Kurt Cobain to Make His Video Game Debut This September in Guitar Hero 5 Nivana album Never mind tracks Smells Like Teen Spirit & Lithium - with video

    Kurt Cobain guitar hero playing guitar on stage in the video gameIn-Game Model of Former Lead Singer and Guitarist of Nirvana to Perform Two Hit Singles from the Ten-Times Platinum Album Never mind in Guitar Hero 5.

    Remembered as one of the most iconic artists in the history of alternative rock, Kurt Cobain's enduring legacy continues with his video game debut as one of five exclusive in-game artists in Guitar Hero 5.



    The former lead singer and guitarist of Nirvana will be featured as a playable character, performing two of the band's hit singles from their 1991 genre-defining album Nevermind: "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and a special, previously unreleased live recording of "Lithium." The band's breakthrough hit and one of the greatest rock songs of all time, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" helped define the 1990s and will speak to a whole new generation in Guitar Hero 5.

    "Kurt Cobain is one of the most recognizable frontmen in rock 'n' roll history and it's an honor to have two of Nirvana's masterpieces included in Guitar Hero 5," said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Activision. "This is the first time the original recording of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' has ever been licensed in an entertainment property and we're thrilled to offer Guitar Hero fans exclusive access to the unreleased live version of 'Lithium.'"

    Guitar Hero 5 features the strongest, most varied set list to date comprised of master tracks from more than 80 of the hottest bands of today and the biggest classic acts; including Kings of Leon, The Rolling Stones, The White Stripes, Santana, Vampire Weekend, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, plus more than 25 artists from a variety of music genres that will be making their music video game debut. Among the first-time-ever features of Guitar Hero 5 are: Party Play, where players can jump in or drop out of gameplay seamlessly; RockFest, a comprehensive competitive experience available featuring five new head-to-head modes playable online or in your living room; and the ability to play the entire set-list from the first time the game is turned on.

    Guitar Hero 5 refines the player experience, enhances the art style and redesigns core features such as GH Music Studio, making it the most accessible, fun-to-play and authentic experience for seasoned music gamers as well as first-time players. New innovations such as Band Moments, where bands are rewarded for hitting special note streams together and song challenges where gamers are tasked to play through a song a specific way, add a new competitive layer of excitement and accomplishment to the music rhythm genre.

    Published by Activision, Guitar Hero 5 is being developed by Neversoft Entertainment for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, and by Vicarious Visions for the Nintendo Wii system from Nintendo. Budcat is developing Guitar Hero 5 for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. The game is rated "T" for "Teen" by the ESRB.

    Trine video game original soundtrack out now! Download main theme free link

    trine video game cover free download trackFinnish music composer and producer Ari Pulkkinen is proud to announce that the long-awaited and highly acclaimed original soundtrack for the game Trine is now available as a digital download at www.aritunes.com.

    “The soundtrack to Trine is my best work so far, and I have no doubt that everybody will enjoy the soundtrack immensely. It has also been a special work for me because my father passed away in the beginning of this year, and his memory lives on in the music,” says Ari Pulkkinen and continued: “I've started to expand my horizons and I have set up AriTunes, where people can go and buy the Trine OST and follow my latest news and new project announcements.”

    Download the main theme of Trine for free

    The 20-track Trine soundtrack is available now at the AriTunes website at http://www.aritunes.com/, featuring two exclusive bonus tracks. The main theme is freely downloadable on the website.

    Trine is a fantasy action game developed by Finnish game developer Frozenbyte and published by Nobilis. Trine is out now on PC in Europe and soon in North America with a PlayStation Network release coming soon. Ari Pulkkinen is famous for his work on the Shadowgrounds series and Super Stardust HD.

    Microsoft investigating Xbox LIVE accounts that show activity related to Halo 3 ODST prior to its official release date

    Halo 3 - ODST ViDoc Desperate Measures video gameMicrosoft is set to take action against those who play Halo 3: ODST prior to its official release date.

    "We're investigating a very small breach in our distribution process around the early delivery of 'Halo 3: ODST' units," said a Microsoft spokesperson, speaking to Kotaku about some French gamers who already have a copy of the game in their hands. Reportedly, at least one store in France has begun selling the highly-anticipated game already.

    "We are also investigating Xbox LIVE accounts that show activity related to 'Halo 3: ODST' and will take action against those we believe have procured copies of the game illegitimately. We have nothing further to share at this time."

    The spokesperson declined to comment on the exact actions that will be taken, or on whether or not Microsoft considers a copy of the game bought in stores to be an illegitimate means of acquiring the game, which isn't due out until 22 September.

    The company also declined to comment on a statement that - according to halo.bungie.org - was made yesterday by Microsoft France, stating that players will be banned from LIVE for playing ODST early.

    Looks like you might have to wait, then, if you want to keep your LIVE access intact. On the plus side, we've got a lovely big preview of the game for you, as well as interview.

    UPDATE: Xbox LIVE's head of policy and enforcement Stephen Toulouse has stated via Twitter that "[Microsoft] will not be banning legitimate customers from Xbox LIVE who play early," adding in a later Tweet "However, if you have Halo ODST achievements and haven't played the game, prepare for a gamerscore reset."



    Those lucky enough to legally procure a copy of the game seem to be safe, then.

    Little Big Planet introduce Water to the video game - with video

    A teaser trailer for Little Big Planet (PlayStation 3 video game) has been released showing the Water update for the first time.
    more videos on my YouTube channel Gameboyuk

    UK - Asda and Sainsbury sell Nintendo Wii cheap - below £150 big discount...

    nintendo wii consoleAsda and Sainsbury’s lower Nintendo’s consoles to under £150

    UK supermarkets Sainsbury and Asda have slashed the price of Nintendo Wii to below £150.
    Asda is selling the Nintendo Wii Nunchuk and Wii Sports for £145 in store, Sainsbury’s is selling the Nintendo Wii Nunchuk and Wii Sports for £149.97 - Sainsbury’s offer is also online.

    This bank holiday weekend is set to be a lucrative weekend for the hardware market, following PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 price drops. This Nintendo Wii promotion is certain to benefit the video game market even further.

    Zavvi also offer the Xbox 360 Elite, Bioshock and a HDMI cable for £179.95 this weekend.

    Navy Field Resurrection of the Steel Fleet MMOTS video game update ships news for veterans and beginners!

    battleship being attacked by Japanese planes with explosions in the sea around shipThe update of August will bring some experiences for veterans as well as for the growing number of beginners!

    New players will be happy! The seed credits and points are doubled from now on. This will give rookies a good chance to join the growing number of Navy Field fans for some addictive naval warfare. Fairly enough, credits, points and level to start trading are increased as well.


    Navy Field features now a new chat function which will help even new gamers immediately.

    Regarding the request of the veterans for more huge vessels, Navy Field features now new premium aircraft carriers for each country.

    Naval battles are getting more exiting; the number of participating battle ships have been increase.

    New events will take place:
    Party weekend, on August, 29th and August 30th! Party at Navy Field means in fact, experience points, credits and points will be increased at 30%, for this period only.

    It’s the Small Ship War again! On September 18th to September 20th battle cruisers and destroyers will fight the same way as at the highly successful BB3 Team Cup.

    Turtle Ship Event announced! No fighting pets in place, but powerful and well armed Korean ships, made of wood. The fun will be held at the special event rooms.

    About Navy Field:
    Navy Field is a massively multiplayer online tactics simulation game based on World War II naval warfare, published by eFusion MMOG GmbH. Navy Field is a free-2-play MMOG, available in English and German language.


    Batman Arkham Asylum Awarded a Guinness World Record for Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever

    Batman Arkham Asylum the winners with their awardsToday the highly anticipated Batman Arkham Asylum game has been awarded a Guinness World Record for the ‘Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever’.

    Batman: Arkham Asylum, out today in the United Kingdom, has been given top scores across the board from National newspapers and specialist game reviewers. The game has broken the Guinness World Record in this category by achieving the highest average score of 91.67 from reviews around the world.

    Developed by Rocksteady Studios and based on DC Comics’ Batman license, Batman: Arkham Asylum offers players diverse gameplay that pushes the envelope for action, adventure and superhero games and exposes players to a unique, dark and atmospheric adventure taking them to the depths of Arkham Asylum.

    Gaz Deaves from Guinness World Records states, “We are so pleased to be awarding Batman: Arkham Asylum a Guinness World Record. It is a fantastic new game and due to the reaction of gaming experts we believe it has a well deserved place in the Guinness World Records book.”

    In Batman: Arkham Asylum, BATMAN finds himself trapped inside the confines of Gotham’s psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane, ARKHAM ASYLUM. THE JOKER has set a trap for the DARK KNIGHT and has conspired with the deranged inmates to eliminate BATMAN once and for all. Adding to the authenticity of the game are veteran animated Batman voice talents Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy, who reprise their roles as The Joker and Batman respectively.

    Batman: Arkham Asylum features an original story by Paul Dini, Batman writer and five-time Emmy Award winner whose credits include Lost and Batman: The Animated Series. Gamers will move in the shadows, instill fear amongst their enemies and confront The Joker and Gotham City's most notorious villains, including HARLEY QUINN, BANE, KILLER CROC, POISON IVY and SCARECROW, who have taken over the asylum.

    Batman: Arkham Asylum is rated “BBFC 15” and available for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation 3 Computer Entertainment System for the suggested retail price of £49.99. It will also be available for Games for Windows LIVE at retail outlets for the suggested retail price of £34.99 on September 18, 2009.

    King of Fighters XII gets UK video game release date

    The King of Fighters online video game trailerSNK has revealed the UK release date for its upcoming beat-em-up King Of Fighters XII.

    The new title, which utilises a hand-drawn art style, is due to be released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on September 25.



    The latest instalment in the long-running series will feature 22 characters, with new members Elisabeth and Mature joining favourites such as Terry Bogard and Iori Yagami.

    In addition to the console exclusive characters, the game will include online battle modes and voice chat.

    PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 3 slim to get BBC Television support with version 3 software update

    bbc logoSony Entertainment has announced that PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 3 slim will support BBC iPlayer from September onwards through its PlayStation Network. you can watch the last seven days programs in High definition. This service is only expected to be available in the UK at present.

    The PlayStation will also come equipped with new movie streaming service.

    Sony will also be reducing the price of the latest PlayStation 3 slim to £249.99 in the UK.

    The latest PlayStation 3 will support movie rental and download and Sony has signed agreements with movie studies like 20th Century Fox and Paramount to support this.

    Commenting on this, Sony Computer Entertainment president and chief executive Andrew House said: "This is no longer just for hardcore gamers, but for everyone. We believe that everyone enjoys entertainment differently and should have the choice as to what entertainment they consume and exactly how they consume it. PlayStation is the gateway to that entertainment."

    Friday, August 28, 2009

    Transformers Revenge of the fallen video game New Characters, Maps and More Have Arrived

    Transformers 2 - Revenge of the FallenMegan Fox to Challenge Fans Online Using the New Content on Xbox LIVE

    New Characters, Maps and More Have Arrived for Fans of the Original TRANSFORMERS Animated Television Series and Recent Blockbuster Films.



    The battle for earth rages on as Activision Publishing, Inc announced today that the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Character and Map Pack Plus is available now for download on Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. The massive content pack will include eleven playable characters, three all-new maps for online multiplayer game modes, and a brand new “Expert” difficulty setting for the single player campaigns.

    Megan Fox, one of Hollywood’s most sought after young actresses and star of both the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie and video game, will be on Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network on Saturday, 29th August at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time to challenge fans in multiplayer matches using the new content.

    Fans of the original TRANSFORMERS television series can take a trip down memory lane, as new characters include “Generation One” versions of OPTIMUS PRIME, MEGATRON, STARSCREAM and SUNSTORM, while fans of the blockbuster movies will be excited by the additions of SOUNDWAVE, SIDESWIPE, JAZZ and JETFIRE. In addition, new skins are available for fan-favourite characters including Stealth Colours BUMBLEBEE, “Generation One” Colours RATCHET and “Generation One” Colours SIDESWIPE. All characters can be used in both the single player campaign and multiplayer modes, with the exception of JETFIRE, who is only available in multiplayer.

    Additionally, three new multiplayer maps extend the diverse set of battlefields on which players can battle with or against their friends. Courtyard is set on the U.S. east coast, where players battle in a metropolitan setting surrounded by open skies and tall skyscrapers. Hillside takes players to the urban backdrop of Cairo, where players will fight in the war-torn streets and alleyways of a ruined cityscape. Sandstorm transports players to yet another section of Cairo, populated with low buildings and wide-open regions perfect for instantaneous, frenetic action.

    For players who have mastered the single-player campaigns, the new “Expert” difficulty mode tests players’ skills with more difficult enemies and a whole new set of time challenges, along with corresponding leaderboards. This exciting downloadable content pack also features new Xbox 360 Achievements and PLAYSTATION 3 Trophies.

    The Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Character and Map Pack Plus is currently available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 800 Microsoft Points and in the PlayStation Store for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system for £7.99.

    Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is rated PG by the BBFC; the Windows PC version was developed by Beenox Studios and is also rated PG; the distinct Wii and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system versions were developed by Krome Studios and are rated PG; two unique AUTOBOT and DECEPTICON-specific Nintendo DS versions were developed by Vicarious Visions and are rated PEGI 7+; the PSP system version was developed by Savage Entertainment and is rated PG by the BBFC.

    Dungeon Party - A Noisy New Character Arrives to this video game!

    king in castleCyanide Studios and Focus Home Interactive are pleased to introduce a new character in the crazy world of Dungeon Party!

    The happy threesome - the Wizard, the Thief and the Executioner - welcome a new companion today. Ushered in with all his fans cheering, the Bard joins our crazy team of treasure hunters with his musical instrument and his beautiful voice.

    As good news always comes in twos - the game also introduces a new Guild system, finally allowing lonely players to find friendly treasure hunters that are a perfect match!

    Dungeon Party is an online, free-to-play game based on team play. In a totally crazy heroic-fantasy universe, groups of Heroes battle in teams of five in dungeons filled with lethal traps and horrible monsters... all in a quest to win the valuable treasures hidden inside… before the other team does!

    In Dungeon Party, you create your characters and customize them via a huge variety of costumes and items. Styles are numerous and varied! Each player can equip their character with various potions, traps and other items, before throwing themselves into battle against the opposite teams.

    Carefully choose spells and skills during the matches to adapt to the opposite teams’ strategies and to help your team the most.

    In order to add some spice to the game, dungeons are also filled with numerous lethal traps and creatures haunting the place. They will make absolutely no distinction between the teams that are trying to grab the treasure chest, and will protect it zealously.

    So make your way to the treasures thanks to the help of your teammates, fight-off the opposing teams and get out of the dungeon being victorious – and rich! Spend the money earned in the Online Shop to acquire new items, which will give you that little boost you may need to get the edge in your future matches!

    Many options will be soon available, including a level editor that will let you create an infinity of personal dungeons to share with your friends and the entire Dungeon Party's community!

    There are plenty of teams of Heroes waiting right now for you and ready to fight for the treasure, so join Dungeon Party right now for fun and delirious battles!