Atari's Godzilla Unleashed

Atari, one of the world's most recognized brands and a third-party video game publisher, today announced that development on Godzilla Unleashed, a long- running publishing franchise and the ultimate giant monsters fighting game, is complete. Godzilla Unleashed for the Wii and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and Godzilla Unleashed: Double Smash for Nintendo DS are scheduled for release this holiday season.

Featuring the legendary Godzilla and at least 20 of some of the most renowned monsters of all time, Godzilla Unleashed is an epic fighting game on a giant scale. In an attempt to save the planet earth from total mayhem and destruction, gamers must cause some damage of their own by fighting with or against other giant monsters.

"We are excited to bring Godzilla Unleashed, the next installment of a beloved franchise, to so many great platforms," said Keehwan Her, Producer, Atari, Inc. "Each platform offers a unique line-up of monsters and gameplay innovations. The Wii version presents a new story mode and robust motion-based controls; the PlayStation 2 system includes a story mode along with a slightly different monster roster and the Nintendo DS version features two-player cooperative gameplay with side-scrolling action that takes advantage of both screens for dual action gameplay."

Godzilla Unleashed provides an environment perfect for stopping this worldwide obliteration with nine urban arenas, interactive 3D cityscapes, big destructible buildings, soaring skyscrapers and towering alien formations. Featuring an innovative non-linear storyline which allows players to influence how the story unfolds through their choices within battles, and a flexible multiplayer mode which supports up to four players for the ultimate city- crushing monster extravaganza, Godzilla Unleashed is a must-have this holiday season.

For more information on Godzilla Unleashed, Atari and its entire product line-up please visit www.atari.com.

Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 website

Ubisoft kicks off the countdown to the release of Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 with the launch of the game’s official website. The website will be THE place to catch up with the Rabbids and enter their wacky universe.

The official trailer for the Nintendo DS version can be downloaded at the Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 website: http://www.raymanravingrabbids2.com

Developed by Ubisoft’s Paris Studio, Rayman Ravinds Rabbids 2 will launch worldwide on the Wii home entertainment system from Nintendo and the Nintendo DS on November, 16th 2007.

About Rayman Raving Rabbids 2
The mischievous bunnies are back in a hilarious sequel that is guaranteed to be even crazier and funnier than the first – and with even more wacky games!
They've invaded the world of Rayman®, and now the insane Rabbids have a new objective: invade planet Earth! They have established their base at a shopping mall and begun training for their nastiest scheme yet. As part of this training, the Rabbids must carry out several missions around the globe to help them in an attempt to dominate the world. The Rabbids will also try to study human behavior by mimicking everything we do…but in the Rabbid sort of way, with no logic…of course. Back to battle the Rabbids and stop the invasion is Rayman, who will infiltrate the Rabbids by disguising himself as one of them.

Have a horrific Halloween with Clive Barker's Jericho

Trick out and ghoul-up your PC this Halloween as Codemasters treats gamers to a monstrous collection of Clive Barker's Jericho desktop wallpapers featuring gruesome creatures from the recently released supernatural shooter. Four foul monster wallpapers are now available to download from www.codemasters.com/jericho in Community > Wallpapers.

Inspired by Barker's fiction, the detailed illustrations depict four of the game's most iconic and fearsome fiends, including the gorged and bloody bulk of the Roman Governor Cassus Vicus, hung from his chains as he rips open his stomach in readiness to unleash a jet of blood and toxic entrails.

Other wallpapers feature Arnold Leach, the demonic winged leader of the Brotherhood of the Dark Rapture, the axe-fused Exploding Cultist and Vicus' own gladiatorial beast, the Blind Behemoth. Each wallpaper design is available in 1024 x 768, 1280 x 1024 and 1600 x1200 resolutions.

Launched last week, Clive Barker's Jericho is a spectacular blast from the master mythmaker's cannon of nightmares. Mingling the darkest elements of his creative works with an ambitious, age-spanning story, the squad-based FPS gameplay takes players on a journey through hellish locations and slices of time combating gruesome and twisted enemies.

As this Halloween's must-play title, Clive Barker's Jericho is now available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows. To download the new desktop wallpapers, videos and the Games for Windows playable demo, visit the game's official website at www.codemasters.com/jericho.

DRAGON BALL Z BUDOKAI TENKAICHI 3 PLAYSTATION 2 COLLECTOR'S EDITION

Exclusive Content Accompanies the Ultimate DBZ Fighting Experience

Atari today announced the forthcoming PlayStation 2 Collector’s Edition of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 containing great exclusive content. Developed by NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. / Spike, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 for PlayStation 2 is scheduled for European release on 9 November in both standard and Collector’s editions.

Available in a specially designed retail box, the Collector’s Edition contains the game, plus an exclusive digital art book and giant wall poster. The 50-page art book includes imagery from the development team detailing how the game’s characters and environments were created, plus a personal message from the team at Spike. The poster features a dazzling array of DBZ characters, making the Collector’s Edition something no fan should be without.

Improving upon last year’s hit 3D fighting experience, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 offers more than 150 playable characters, more than 30 battle stages, and upgraded shading techniques providing enhanced and devastating effects. The exclusive ‘Disc Fusion System’ featured in the PlayStation 2 version of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 lets players insert either Budokai Tenkaichi 1 or Budokai Tenkaichi 2 into the console to unlock brand new gameplay modes. Each game in the series will provide a different and exciting new gameplay mode.

The immensely popular Dragon Ball Z series is the gold standard of anime-based video games, with more than 25 different games and over 10 million units sold since May 2002.

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 for PlayStation 2 is scheduled for release on 9 November. Featuring online play for the first time in a DBZ game, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 for Wii is scheduled for European release in January 2008. For more information on Dragon Ball Z video games, please visit www.dbz-videogames.com.

Spyro the Dragon Puffs His Way Back onto Mobile Phones

Vivendi Games Mobile, a division of Vivendi Games, today announced the launch of The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night for mobile phones, the latest title in the multi-million unit selling Spyro franchise. The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night is now available on mobile phones throughout Europe and will be available in November in North America.

The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night gives players the chance to guide the famous purple dragon through 13 new graphically stunning levels which have been specially adapted for mobile phones. Spyro’s mission is to collect the four elemental powers that will halt the resurrection of the Dark Master. As Spyro’s powers are gradually unlocked, players will uncover the mysteries of the bizarre universe and the many enemies that populate it.

“Eternal Night picks up where the last game, A New Beginning, left off with an exciting new quest, gameplay and rich graphics,” said Paul Maglione, president of Vivendi Games Mobile. “Fans of the adored purple dragon and anyone looking for a new adventure will be in for quite a treat as Spyro has an arsenal of new advanced powers to defeat the enemy bosses.”
The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night was recently awarded the Best Mobile Video Game Award at the second annual Video Game Festival in Montreuil, France.
The Spyro video game franchise to date has sold more than 15 million units globally and continues to be a big hit among both mobile and traditional console gamers. Sierra Entertainment will launch The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night game for console and handheld in mid-October.

About Vivendi Games Mobile
Vivendi Games Mobile (http://www.vgmobile.com/), a division of Vivendi Games, creates and publishes quality titles for the mobile games market. The division runs a global business, with its headquarters, operations and an internal development team in Paris, a US-based team in Los Angeles and its Centerscore studio in San Mateo, California. The company publishes games based on original IP, popular entertainment licenses and classic Sierra Entertainment IP, which are distributed by more than 90 operators and dozens of Web portals in 60 countries around the world.

Viva Piñata: Party Animals for Xbox 360 out 16th November

"Viva Piñata: Party Animals" features tricks and treats for everyone; new social party game takes place on the Piñata Island set in an episode of the critically-acclaimed animated television series

Microsoft Game Studios and Krome Studios present the latest party gaming extravaganza developed exclusively for Xbox 360. Arriving in stores on 16th November, “Viva Piñata: Party Animals” is a social party game for gamers aged six and up that is set inside an episode of the critically acclaimed 4Kids TV™ Viva Piñata animated series. Regardless of whether you are young or just young at heart, “Viva Piñata: Party Animals” is a real treat for gamers of all ages.

In the game, players star as their favourite candy-filled Piñata from the popular Saturday morning animated series including Franklin Fizzlybear, Hudson Horstachio, Paulie Pretztail, Fergy Fudgehog, and more as they compete for fame and fortune in more than 50 distinct mini-games and races across Piñata Island. “Viva Piñata: Party Animals” features Xbox LIVE and local multi-player contests, like Burps Ahoy!, where colourful Piñatas send burp fuelled sailboats across Lake Piñata! Nothing gets a hungry Piñata’s candiosity up like a sweet, yummy caramel apple! Players bob their way through Caramel Apple Gobble taking big bites out of the fruit, chewing it up as fast as they can to be the first one done. Or they can squeal with delight as they tackle Blown Away – a game of hot potato unlike any other – where they trick their pals into being the one left holding an exploding jack o’ lantern.

Plus, gamers will love taking on the persona of several new characters in the Piñata line-up who are ready to get their game on:

Meet Hailey Horstachio: There’s only one way to describe Piñata Island’s newest Spanish sensation, and that’s “Muy Caliente!” No other Piñata combines style, glamour, and spice quite like Hailey Horstachio. Always seen at the right party with the right Piñata at the right time, Hailey’s already established herself as a super-chic fashion icon who sets the trend every time she steps out on the scene. She’s also a great athlete, and believes winning the competition will launch her star into the stratosphere, while also reminding another certain Horstachio that there’s a new horsey on the block.

Meet Petunia Pretztail: Petunia may appear soft-spoken and well-mannered, but buried beneath that quiet exterior is a karate-chopping, kung-fu-fighting thrill seeker. Since arriving on Piñata Island from the Land of the Rising Sun, Petunia’s daredevil-may-care antics have made quite an impression, good and bad. Some, like Paulie, find her aggressive streak a little intimidating, while others, like BFF Hailey Horstachio, appreciate her live-in-the-moment attitude towards life. Ultra-competitive and always up for a new challenge, Petunia can’t wait to test her skills in the competition, score a big victory, and hopefully score some one-on-one time with a certain brainy Pretztail.

“Viva Piñata: Party Animals” is designed especially with friends and family in mind. Gamers of all ages can gather around the living room or connect from afar, with up to four gamers playing simultaneously over Xbox LIVE or split screen. “Viva Piñata: Party Animals” is the perfect game for parents looking for new ways to connect with their kids or friends just looking to share a few laughs. Pushing the advanced capabilities of the Xbox 360, “Viva Piñata: Party Animals” brings the colorful world of Piñata Island to life in way that’ll ensure that fans have a blast whether they’re playing for a few hours or just a few minutes.

Made exclusively for Xbox 360, “Viva Piñata: Party Animals” is available in stores from 16th November at £39.99.

The Perfect Accessory for Viva Piñata: Party Animals Fans

If you’re shopping for the festive season your favourite little elf will love the new Xbox 360 Wireless Controllers in pink and blue. Adding a splash of colour to the holiday season for an estimated retail price of £32.99, the whole family can enjoy Xbox 360 with these bright additions to the “chill” and black Xbox 360 Wireless Controllers.

The pink and blue Xbox 360 Wireless Controllers will make a great gift for newer gamers. Delivering high-performance wireless gaming, the Xbox 360 Wireless Controllers feature all of the convenience and flexibility of the originals with a unique twist of personality. Now every member of the family can have a favourite colour controller to match their favourite animal from “Viva Piñata: Party Animals.”

Resident Evil 4 on Wii sells a million

Ultimate in convergence: casting actors for video games

There will soon come a day when creating a video game will be not much different than filming a movie. Two games currently in development illustrate the fine line that divides the two processes -- and the actors who were cast for the games, rehearsed for them, and then acted in their "filming" can surely attest to their similarities.

Brand new technologies contributed to the creation of both games: Sony's "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune" -- expected to be released on Nov. 20 for the PlayStation 3 -- utilizes a state-of-the-art motion-capture process to give the illusion of life-like animated characters, while the martial arts fighters in Creative Edge Studios' "Warriors of Elysia" don't just seem real, they are real. For possibly the first time, live actors were filmed and their nonanimated images placed in 3-D environments and made available for gamers to manipulate in real-time with whatever punches and kicks they choose. "Warriors" for the PC had been scheduled for year-end release but may be postponed until early 2008.

Sony and Creative Edge both claim that they are creating better games that benefit from being more lifelike because they capture human emotion. It remains to be seen whether gamers will agree when they vote with their pocketbooks.

Sony's Santa Monica, Calif.-based Naughty Dog studio is known primarily for more stylized, cartoon-like games like "Crash Bandicoot" and the Jak and Daxter series. But Amy Hennig says that the launch of her new franchise, which is based on the classic pulp action-adventure serials of the '30s, demands a more realistic look.

Hennig's role would be that of "producer" at another game studio but, at Naughty Dog, her title is "game director," since, as she explains, her company has moved slowly toward more of a film model. It is a nod toward how game-making is become increasingly like movie-making, she agrees.

More from: Hollywood reporter

“Manhunt 2:” Most Violent Game Yet?

Just in time for Halloween comes one of the scariest video games ever seen.

The objective: a mental patient tries to escape from a bizarre insane asylum using everything from a sickle to rip out a character’s skull to a club to attack a police officer, CBS News science and technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg reports.

As Scott Steinberg, a video game reviewer and author, demonstrated for CBS News, the experience is even more intense when it's played on Nintendo’s Wii, which gets players to act out the violence.

“We’re going to lure them into the open and then chop them up,” Steinberg explained while playing.

"The Wii has motion-sensing controls, and therefore to stab you're gonna mimic a stabbing motion, to swing a sledgehammer or a shovel you would do the same. Unfortunately it's probably not something you would want to have your kids get much practice on," Steinberg said.

That has parents' groups outraged, worried it will be played by teens and younger children.

"It is some of the most horrific, senselessly violent stuff you've ever seen," James Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, said.

CBS News invited Dr. Christopher Lucas, a child psychiatrist at New York University, to watch the game being played.

Sieberg asked him if this is a cause for worry for parents.

“I think we don't know at the moment, but I think this is the sort of game that is most likely to have an effect,” he said. “Games that actually have players act out things in a physical way, are more likely to have one.”

Researchers have not found a direct scientific link between playing violent video games and carrying out those acts in real life. But some studies have shown children who play certain video games become more aggressive and could become desensitized to violence.

The entertainment software rating board has rated "Manhunt 2" "M" for “mature,” meaning no one under 17 should be allowed to play or buy it. It’s made by the same company - Rockstar Games - that created the controversial and popular “Grand Theft Auto” titles.

What surprised industy watchers is that Nintendo, maker of the Wii, has allowed "Manhunt 2" to be played on its system. Nintendo has been known for its kid-friendly games, but now it will have an edgier reputation that may be good for business.

In a statement, Nintendo told CBS News: “Just as with movies, television, and books, different video games appeal to - and are appropriate for - different audiences."

Sieberg took "Manhunt 2" to a local gaming center and let three 20-something-year-old gamers get their hands on it. They enjoy playing, but even these hard-core gamers recoiled at the violent imagery.

“The game looks like they made it like this just to make it controversial, just to bring something up, because there's no reason for the amount of, the level of violence in the game,” said Jackie Waldman.

“This definitely takes the cake as probably the most violent thing I’ve played,” another player, Chris DeMaida, said.

Source: CBS

Nintendo surpasses Sony in video game sales

The success of the Wii shows its impact on the video game market: Market research firm iSuppli believes that Nintendo game sales in the third quarter kept increasing at a record pace and passed the mighty Sony.

While video game sales for the DS have been outpacing sales for competing platforms consistently, Wii software sales have been approached half a billion dollars in the third quarter ($461.8 million). Combined with DS sales of $777.7 million, game sales for the two Nintendo platforms came in at $1.24 billion in Q3, ahead of the $1.0 billion that is estimated to have been generated by Sony’s PS3, PS2 and PSP as well as the $317.8 million by the Xbox and Xbox 360.

Wii software sales were up from 295.5 million in Q2, $250.4 million in Q1 and $353.5 million in Q4 2006. iSuppli estimates that Wii software sales will slightly exceed $1.0 billion in the Christmas quarter. Total Nintendo video game sales are estimated to come in at $2.15 billion in Q4 2007 and $2.37 billion in Q4 2008.

“Nintendo is likely to maintain its lead in this area, as it expects by the end of 2007 to ship about 200 additional titles, adding to the more than 150 games already released, many from outside publishers,” said David Carnevale, vice president of multimedia content and distribution at iSuppli, in a prepared statement. “Company software sales should be further boosted by the addition of a new flagship title for the Wii, dubbed Wii Fit, which encourages players to engage in full-body exercises using Wii Balance Boards, performing activities including yoga, push-ups, aerobics and stretching.”

Carnevale also expects the DS to keep on ticking, with its software revenue reaching $1.2 billion by the fourth quarter of 2008, rising at an average growth rate of 12.6% from $333.2 million in the first quarter of 2006.

The analyst believes that especially the Wii’s mass market appeal is what makes the platform successful. In contrast, both the Xbox 360 and PS3 have a more limited reach, as the Microsoft platform is aimed at more serious gamers, with cutting-edge titles like Halo 3. The complaint about the PS3 remains its high price, which, according to iSuppli, is driving game developers away from Sony. “Because Sony was slow to reduce the price of the PlayStation 3 and to produce compelling games, third- party game publishers are flocking to other platforms. If the PlayStation 3 can’t promote more game sales, developers may begin to feel working with Nintendo outweighs the benefits of working with Sony,” iSuppli wrote in its press release.

Source: TG

Rockstar Announces Manhunt 2

Stealth-horror game arrives at retail in time for Halloween

Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, is proud to announce that Manhunt 2 for the Wii home video game system from Nintendo, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, and PSP (PlayStation Portable) system is now available at North American retail stores.

"Manhunt 2 has gone through much to reach this day," said Sam Houser, Founder and Executive Producer of Rockstar Games. "We are very excited that fans will finally get a chance to experience the magnificent horror experience we've crafted with Manhunt 2."

The sequel to the critically acclaimed, best-selling franchise, Manhunt 2 is a dark and disturbing psychological story revolving around the sinister events of a secretive research project called The Pickman Project.

Plunging into the depths of human psychosis, terror and paranoia, the twisted plot and brutal gameplay conspire to create the most atmospheric gaming experience ever, with GamesRadar.com stating, "Manhunt 2 looks to be a deeply, horrifyingly unsettling experience, and we mean that as the highest possible compliment."

Manhunt 2 for the Wii, PlayStation 2 system, and PSP system is rated "M" for Mature.

For more information please visit http://www.rockstargames.com/manhunt2/.

COMMAND & CONQUER 3 - KANE'S WRATH

Expansion Pack in Award-winning Series to Include Natasha Henstridge and Carl Lumbly in Live Action Video Sequences

Electronic Arts today announced that Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath, the expansion pack to the critically-acclaimed and fan favorite, Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars, will feature Natasha Henstridge (Species trilogy) and Carl Lumbly (‘Alias’) in its all-new, high-definition, live action video sequences. Henstridge and Lumbly will be joined by veteran Command & Conquer actor Joe Kucan, who originated the role of Kane, the megalomaniacal leader of the Brotherhood of Nod. All three actors are at the epicentre of the Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath story which will span 20 years – from the rebirth of the Brotherhood after the Second Tiberium War through the dramatic events of the Third Tiberium War and beyond.

“Natasha and Carl are a perfect fit for the live-action video sequences that will bring our epic story to life,” said Mike Verdu, General Manager of EALA and Executive Producer on Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath. “We had great success with the cast and story for Command & Conquer 3, and I’m very excited to be working with such talented actors on the expansion pack. We’re doing something really unique with the campaign this time around – and I think fans will be thrilled to see how the story unfolds.”

Live action cinematics have become one of the hallmarks of the Command & Conquer series dating back to the original Command & Conquer in 1995. In addition to the trademark live action videos and multi-decade campaign, Kane’s Wrath introduces six new sub-factions and a wealth of new units, structures, and powers to the armies of the Global Defense Initiative, the Brotherhood of Nod, and the enigmatic alien Scrin.

The Xbox 360 version of Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath will debut a revolutionary new radial interface designed specifically for console gamers. Taking RTS controls to a whole new level, players will utilize the command stick to build, deploy, and attack.

Developed at EALA, Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath will ship in Spring 2008 for Windows PC and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system. This product is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information about Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath or the Command & Conquer series, please visit www.electronicarts.co.uk/commandandconquer.

About Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars
Command & Conquer, the groundbreaking series that put the Real-time Strategy (RTS) genre on the map, returned in full force in 2007 with Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars™. The next chapter took the popular series back to its roots in the Tiberium Universe and featured the fast, fluid gameplay that Command & Conquer is known for and a gripping story that was told through live action video sequences featuring major Hollywood talent. Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars is available for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system and PC and are rated “T” (Teen) by the ESRB and 16+ by PEGI and the USK. For more information about Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars or the Command & Conquer series, please visit the official site at www.electronicarts.co.uk/commandandconquer.

2K Sports Unveils More New Features in College Hoops 2K8

PlayVision and Play Designer unveiled as innovative new features

2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, announced more exciting new features for College Hoops 2K8, the No1 selling college basketball game last year and the No1 rated college basketball game five years running.

New to this year's edition of the 2K Sports' College Hoops series is PlayVision, allowing gamers to execute every play on the court to perfection. PlayVision draws out each play step-by-step, detailing where on the court to pass, move, and watch for a screen. Each step of the play is illustrated with a different graphic, making plays easy to execute with accuracy and precision. PlayVision also works when playing with two or more people on the same team by indicating where the gamers need to set up their players to execute the play.

"Among many other exciting new features this year, we focused on making plays easier to execute while also adding the ability to create your own types of plays. PlayVision and Play Designer work hand-in-hand to allow gamers to learn the fundamental movements of basketball plays and in turn enable users to get a much more realistic college basketball experience," said Greg Thomas, President of Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio.

With the all new Play Designer, gamers can create their own plays from beginning to end and customize their playbook. Gamers can determine where their players begin a play, tell each player what to do using numerous moves, and then bring in various types of defenses to test their plays against. Once created in Play Designer, any play can be executed during a game and seen on the court with PlayVision.

College Hoops 2K8, the best selling college basketball video game this past year* and best rated college basketball game for five years running**, returns this year with the deepest feature enhancements in the history of the franchise, advanced next generation visuals and countless new animations to deliver the most innovative and authentic college basketball video game experience to date.

College Hoops 2K8 will be available this fall for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system.

For more information, log onto http://www.2ksports.com.

FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Ring of Fates

Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces that FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Ring of Fates will be released across all PAL territories in spring 2008 exclusively on the Nintendo DS system.

FINAL FANTASY CRSTAL CHRONICLES: Ring of Fates has been designed to be the most accessible FINAL FANTASY ever. The unique action-based gameplay offers exciting 3D levels, exploration and puzzle solving, with a control system that allows you to engage enemies on your terms and without any random encounters.

The best part of this exciting adventure is that up to four friends can team-up and co-operate with Nintendo DS Wireless Communication. Like all great heroes, you’ll want to look good during the action and there are hundreds of different items and costume combinations to make your character unique.

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, “With a strong focus on action and exploration FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Ring of Fates offers an exciting, fast-paced adventure. If you’ve never played a FINAL FANTASY game before, Ring of Fates is the perfect introduction and offers even more fun when played with friends.”

About FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Ring of Fates

Story

The Great Crystal protects the land from the malefic glow of the blood red moon.

Twins are born to this land, endowed with a shared, mystical power.

Their peaceful life is suddenly changed with the rise of the blood red moon.

All fates are etched into the crystal.

Features

• Unique action-based gameplay – with 3D levels, exploration and puzzle solving

• Action-based control system lets you experience the adventure your way

• Experience exhilarating real-time battles with intuitive controls

• Gorgeous 3D graphics and an emotional audio score creates a beautiful world to explore

• Co-operate with up to four players to explore via Nintendo DS Wireless Communication

• Realise the tale of two heroic yet innocent twins in a unique story of fate, adventure and fraternal love.

• Hundreds of different item and costume combinations add to the fun. Changes to costume and equipment are directly visible on your character in the game

• Trade with friends using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection functions

• Additional content over the original Japanese version, with four new quests

• Can be played in English, French, German and Spanish. The multiplayer mode allows friends to play together regardless of their selected language.

NARUTO Wii From TOMY

The best fighting game yet for the Wii - NARUTO: Clash of Ninja Revolution

The focus of a huge NARUTO Launch Event, Saturday, October 27, at the Nintendo World Store in New York's Rockefeller Center. The Nintendo World Store was filled with gaming stations, collectible card game areas and the inaugural professional Ramen Noodle Eating Contest featuring some of the world's most renowned competitive eating athletes in an event sanctioned by Major League Eating (MLE).

Also featured during the NARUTO Launch Event was the introduction of NARUTO™: Path of the Ninja for the Nintendo DS™ along with game tournaments for prizes, a costumed NARUTO character, free give-away items and much more!

The winner of the Ramen Noodle Eating Contest was Tim "Eater X" Janus, ranked #4 in the world of professional eaters, who ate more than 10 pounds of noodles in 10 minutes.

NARUTO: Clash of Ninja Revolution for the Wii home video game system and NARUTO: Path of the Ninja for the Nintendo DS are now available at retail outlets. For additional information on NARUTO: Clash of Ninja Revolution and NARUTO: Path of the Ninja, visit http://www.NarutoNintendoGames.com.

History Of Video Games

Fall exhibit hosted by Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's Economic Adventure Gallery

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Economic Adventure Gallery is hosting an engaging, interactive exhibit on the history of video games this fall. “Video Games Evolve: A Brief History from Spacewar! to MMORPGs” examines the video-game industry’s roots, which are firmly planted in New England. The exhibit, which is free, runs though January.

“This is a wonderful exhibit not only for video game lovers, but for anyone who wants to know how science, technology, and art come together to form an industry,” said Dr. Peter Raad, Executive Director of The Guildhall at SMU.

The gaming revolution began across the Charles River at MIT, where the first non-commercial interactive video game, “Spacewar!”, was born in 1962. About a decade later, Magnavox released the first commercial video-game console, “Odyssey,” which was created by New Hampshire resident Ralph Baer. In addition to enjoying a “Spacewar!” simulation, visitors can examine an enlarged reproduction of Baer’s prototype notes, as well as an early Odyssey console.

If guests are interested in a more hands-on experience, they can play classic 1980 arcade games like “Donkey Kong,” “Ms. Pac Man,” “Frogger” or “Space Invaders.” In addition to being able to play these games for free, visitors can admire the sleek fiberglass console of “Computer Space,” an early 1970s arcade game.

The exhibit also offers a look at the evolution of the home-gaming console, a timeline of video-game history, and an in-depth look at the motion-capture process (a key animation tool in modern video-game production). The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University, a leading education center for digital-game development, loaned several three-dimensional sculptures of creatures that were used to develop animations.

In addition to examining the past, the exhibit also offers an enticing look at modern-day games, including “Star Wars Galaxies,” the “Immune Attack” educational game, the virtual reality of “Second Life,” and massive, multi-player online role-playing games (MMORPGs) like “World of Warcraft.”

The exhibit is part of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Economic Adventure, an interactive educational designed to teach middle- and high-school students how New England’s improved living standards are reliant upon innovation, which leads to advances in productivity. The exhibit is open from Monday through Friday, from 1:00-4:00pm.

Codemasters triumphant at Golden Joystick Awards

Codemasters named 'Developer of the Year'– The Lord of the Rings Online scoops 'PC Game of the Year 2007'

Codemasters, the developer and publisher of world-class video games, was victorious at the 25th annual Golden Joystick Awards winning both the ‘UK Developer of the Year 2007 Award’ and the ‘PC Game of the Year 2007 Award’ for The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™, developed by Turbine, Inc. and published and operated in Europe by Codemasters Online.

The Golden Joystick Awards are the UK’s longest running and most popular video game awards and, in this 25th anniversary year, saw nearly 750,000 votes cast by readers of Future Publishing’s leading video game magazines and websites. The prestigious event took place at the Hilton Hotel on London’s Park Lane on Friday.

In being named ‘UK Developer of the Year’, Codemasters is the first to be honoured with the award. The category, introduced just this year, praises and recognises the best home-grown creative talent and saw 51 companies competing for nomination.

Codemasters, whose Warwickshire-based central studios are responsible for titles including Colin McRae: DiRT™, Brian Lara International Cricket™ and the Race Driver™ series, beat competitors including Rockstar North, Lionhead, Rare, and Bizarre Creations to the award. Codemasters was also the only 3rd Party games publisher in the final nominations announced during the event for the ‘Publisher of the Year’ award, alongside Microsoft and Nintendo.

“To be recognised and rewarded as a creative team is a great achievement and the fact that this award was voted for by hundreds of thousands of gamers has made everyone at Codemasters immensely proud,” said Gavin Cheshire, Vice President, Codemasters Studios.

“Game development has been a part of Codemasters for almost as long as the publishing arm has been operating and our titles have a quality and consistency that many other developers and publishers envy. We’re overjoyed in winning the award for our achievements to date and, be assured, we have many exciting concepts for the future.”

In addition to the ‘UK Developer of the Year’ award, Codemasters also celebrated winning the much coveted Golden Joystick for ‘PC Game of the Year 2007’ for The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™, which it publishes and operates in Europe in association with the title’s developer, Turbine, Inc.

The highly acclaimed massively-multiplayer online role-playing game beat out a stellar list of nominees, including World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade, Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars and S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow of Chernobyl, cementing its place as one of the premier gaming experiences on the PC. The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar was also nominated in the Soundtrack of the Year, Nuts All-Nighter Award, Online Game of the Year and Ultimate Game of the Year categories as well.

“Codemasters Online is delighted to receive such a prominent award and would like to thank all the dedicated players who voted for The Lord of the Rings Online at this year’s Golden Joystick Awards,” commented David Solari, Vice President and General Manager of Codemasters Online.

“The nature of the award is particularly important to us because it’s voted by the players and we feel extremely privileged to receive PC Game of the Year for The Lord of the Rings Online.”

Mutant Storm Empire - Xbox LIVE Arcade This Week

"Mutant Storm Empire" launches Wednesday — plus a number of other titles are coming up

You may be too old to go trick-or-treating, but you’re never too old to game. October has been a month of fun treats on Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360, and there’s plenty to get excited about in the coming weeks. Here’s a sneak peek at this week’s freaky title, as well as several additional games that are coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade in the next few weeks.

Just in time for Halloween, “” is packed with sci-fi action as players crush gangs of robots, smash swarms of UFOs and demolish massive enemy bosses. “Mutant Storm Empire,” the latest shooter from PomPom games and the sequel to “Mutant Storm Reloaded,” features 16 unique levels spread over four richly detailed and varied worlds. The game offers a seamless experience where players move from room to room without having to enter a loading screen, in addition to offline co-op and multiplayer LIVE support for two people.

In the coming weeks, look out for the following titles:

· “N+”(Slick Entertainment and Metanet Software) – Play as an acrobatic ninja in this addictive action-puzzle platformer. N+ features inadvertently homicidal robots, stylish graphics, a level editor and intense multiplayer awesomeness.

· “Screwjumper!” (THQ) – Players take the plunge in “Screwjumper!” and free-fall into the depths of the chaotic underworld as a Screwjumper, driving aliens back to their home world by destroying their precious mining equipment.

· “SHREK-N-ROLL™” (Activision) – Gamers join “Shrek,” “Fiona,” “Donkey,” “Puss in Boots” and 20 other twisted fairy tale friends in this hilarious puzzle game designed for ogres of all ages.

· “SpongeBob SquarePants: Underpants Slam™” (Nickelodeon and THQ) – In this quick and fun game, players search the kitchen of the Krusty Krab, the Flying Dutchman’s ship and the Armoury of Atlantis for 99 pairs of underpants.

· “Switchball” (Sierra Online) – Based on real-world physics, “Switchball” is an intricate puzzle game set in a stunning 3-D world where players control an ever-changing ball along a narrow, winding course suspended in midair.

· “Undertow” (Chair Entertainment Group) – This fast-paced action-shooter sends gamers underwater as they battle up to 16 players for control of the oceans! Players race to upgrade their units as they engage in non-stop conquest-style battles through multiple levels of combat action with some of the most stunning graphics ever seen in an Xbox LIVE Arcade title.

· “Word Puzzle” (InterServ International) – The classic pen-and-paper word search game is brought to a new level of excitement on Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360, complete with combos, high-score achievements and the ability to compete against others online.

More than 100 games will be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade by the end of the year, including dozens of original intellectual properties and classic titles updated for this generation. Specific game information surrounding each title will be available on http://www.xbox.com/games/livearcade in the coming weeks.

Panzer Tactics DS - Video

The last in the series of "Producer in a Box" videos gives an impression of the comprehensive multi-player modes

Whether Hot Seat, LAN or Wi-Fi – the comprehensive multi-player modes in Panzer Tactics DS, the first authentic turn-based Second World War strategy game for the Nintendo DS, allow up to four strategists to pit their skills against one another and show their qualities as officer and commander. Starting today, Sproing project manager Johanna Schober gives prospective commanders a look at what possibilities the various multi-player modes have to offer, and how customizable settings guarantee each and every strategy fan the maximum in gaming fun. Panzer Tactics DS players can look forward to hours of excitement and gripping duels on the Nintendo DS starting in early December in Europe.

The video is available for download immediately at www.panzertactics.com!

Story

1939: The world stands on the brink of one of the greatest armed conflicts in the history of mankind: the Second World War. Players assume command of the most powerful armies of the time: The German Wehrmacht, the Soviet Army or the Allied Forces. Experience the demanding strategic level of the conflict n three historically-based campaigns for the first time ever on a handheld platform.


Features

Three exciting single-player campaigns on the side of the German Wehrmacht, the Soviet Army or the Allied Forces

30 nerve-wracking, historical missions, including undercover missions behind enemy lines

Over 150 different marine, land and air units as well as 20 different special attacks

30 heroic officers who provide their units additional motivation

Exceptional depth of play and complex computer opponent behaviour make the game playable again and again

Multi-player mode for up to 4 players on 10 different multi-player maps (LAN, Nintendo Wi-Fi-Connection, Hot Seat mode)

Online ranking table

Playable using Nintendo DS Touchpen, buttons or a combination of both

Optional bonus mission goals to unlock additional missions and tactical optimizations

Wide variety of combat animations for all units and a wide range of special effects for explosion and weather depiction

MTV Games and Harmonix Unveil Set List for Rock Band

Video Game to Feature 58 Tracks Including Songs from Mega Rock Artists Rolling Stones, Metallica, The Police, The Clash, Foo Fighters, Radiohead and More

Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a division of Viacom’s MTV Networks, along with distribution partner Electronic Arts, announced today the final song list for its highly anticipated music videogame Rock Band™. Featuring the most master recordings of any music game ever by the world’s biggest rock artists, Rock Band includes 58 tracks and spans every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic rock to heavy metal and punk. With multiple instruments and an impressive selection of online and offline game modes to choose from to play as a band or individually, Rock Band offers players an infinite number of ways to play each song and live out their ultimate rock and roll fantasies.

“Our goal with Rock Band was to give players the chance to experience an amazing cross section of music from the last four decades, and our final list of tracks includes everything from emerging bands to iconic artists,“ stated Paul DeGooyer, MTV’s Senior Vice President of Home Entertainment, Music and Games. “The overwhelmingly positive response from artists, music publishers and record labels made the final selection process challenging, but extremely exciting. As a result, 51 out of 58 of the final selections are based on original masters, giving fans an unprecedented way to get closer to the music they love.”

Eric Brosius, Harmonix audio lead stated, “Now that the disc track list is locked and Rock Band is being prepped for manufacture, we are working with our music partners to set an exciting download schedule, both for launch and beyond. Through DLC, players will have the ability to take a deeper dive into the music of the artists featured on the Rock Band disc, or further explore different genres of rock or additional bands if they choose.”


Rock Band Set List:
In addition to the 45 tracks listed below, Rock Band will also feature 13 songs ranging from a variety of established bands to up-and-coming independent artists that can be unlocked as you play through the game.

1960s
Rolling Stones "Gimme Shelter"

1970s
Aerosmith “Train Kept a Rollin’”*
The Who "Won't Get Fooled Again"
Boston “Foreplay/Long Time”
Mountain "Mississippi Queen"*
The Police “Next to You”
David Bowie "Suffragette City"
Black Sabbath "Paranoid"*
Blue Oyster Cult "Don't Fear the Reaper"
The Ramones "Blitzkrieg Bop"
Deep Purple "Highway Star"
KISS "Detroit Rock City"
Molly Hatchet “Flirtin’ With Disaster”
The Outlaws “Green Grass & High Tides”*
Sweet “Ballroom Blitz”*

1980s
Rush "Tom Sawyer"*
Bon Jovi "Wanted Dead or Alive"
The Clash "Should I Stay or Should I Go"
Faith No More "Epic"
R.E.M. “Orange Crush”
Iron Maiden “Run to the Hills”*

1990s
Foo Fighters "Learn to Fly"
Metallica "Enter Sandman"
Nirvana "In Bloom"
Stone Temple Pilots "Vasoline"
Weezer "Say It Ain't So"
Smashing Pumpkins "Cherub Rock"
Radiohead "Creep"
Beastie Boys "Sabotage"
Hole "Celebrity Skin"
Garbage "I Think I'm Paranoid"
Soundgarden "Black Hole Sun"

2000s
The Hives "Main Offender"
Queens of the Stone Age "Go With the Flow"
The Strokes "Reptilia"
Jet "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"
OK Go "Here It Goes Again"
Nine Inch Nails "The Hand That Feeds"
Pixies "Wave of Mutilation"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Maps"
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Dani California"
Coheed & Cambria “Welcome Home”
Fallout Boy “Dead on Arrival”
The Killers “When You Were Young”
New Pornographers “Electric Version”
Indicates a cover song, all others songs are original master recordings

Rock Band is a new platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music like never before, challenging users to master the lead/bass guitar, drums, and vocals as solo artists or cooperatively as part of their own band.


Rock Band is slated for release for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and PLAYSTATION 2 computer entertainment system in the first quarter of 2008 in Europe.

Rock Band is rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, mild suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

EA will serve as the exclusive distribution and marketing partner for Rock Band, managing distribution for the game in US, Europe and Australia.

For more information on Rock Band and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com.

Super Mario Galaxy backup edition

Link to Game video
We already heard about ripped copies of Super Mario Galaxy making it onto the 'net, and now some silly person is showing off his Super Mario Galaxy backup running on his consumer Wii.

The video maker goes out of his way to show that this copied disc is actually playing, even stopping to eject the copy to show its effect on the game. We get it - it works!

He's still not as cool as the GameStop employees that we've talked to who just took the kiosk copy of the game home and played it to their hearts' content. Even cooler are the people who will actually wait a few weeks to purchase a real copy to add this fine game to their collections.

And guess what, backup guy -- I saw your Mii, and I'm

Link to Game video

Simpsons Game Producer Takes Shots at Rockstar

Rockstar was pretty ticked to discover that The Simpsons Game parodies Grand Theft Auto; as EA's Matt Selman puts it, when Rockstar saw the Grand Theft Scratchy poster, they "spazzed out like little babies."

In an episode of Game Head, Selman explains that the idea that it was pretty absurd for Rockstar to worry that anyone would actually confuse the fake game of Grand Theft Scratchy with the real Grand Theft Auto:

We couldn't get our game out in time, so we're afraid that the gamers — who are not morons — are going to get confused by an Itchy and Scratchy poster of Grand Theft Scratchy - they're going to think that's the same thing as Grand Theft Auto.

Selman is actually a big fan of the GTA series, saying "I'll be the first person in line to play Grand Theft Auto 4...in five years when it comes out." Oh, burn.

Source: WIRED Blog

The Simpsons games review

The Simpsons Game: Strategy/ action game (Electronic Arts for Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PS2. $39.99 to $59.99. ESRB Rating: Teen.)

Are you ready for the Super Happy Fun Fun?
We're referring, of course, to the 22nd episode of the eighth season of "The Simpsons," where Homer discovers that he looks exactly like the mascot for the Japanese-made dishwasher detergent Mr. Sparkle. That and dozens of other obscure references to the television show are buried in the Simpsons Game, which features an unusual amount of cooperation between the creative heads of "The Simpsons" and the publishers of the video game at Electronic Arts.

If only the game play matched the wittiness of the writing, this might be a classic. Yet, even with its simple action sequences and a few frustrating game play mechanics, the latest game based on "The Simpsons" is an unexpected treat for fans of the show, filled with inside jokes from the "Simpsons" universe and some entertaining satire of the video game industry.

Previous "Simpsons" titles, like most video games based on licensed characters from television and movies, were stunningly unimaginative. The Simpsons Hit & Run on PlayStation 2, for example, was just a simplified version of the arcade classic Crazy Taxi, with maybe a couple hours of work from each of the show's voice actors. It was the type of consumer rip-off (usually orchestrated by Krusty) that the writers from "The Simpsons" might make fun of in an episode of the show.

Somewhere in the past few years, the creative force behind the franchise got tired of simply cashing royalty checks for their video games and tried to make a good one. The Simpsons Game gets quality contributions from several of the show's better writers. And while many TV and movie actors deliver vocal performances like someone has a gun to their head, Harry Shearer, Hank Azaria and the other "Simpsons" regulars clearly worked hard to make the game sound like the TV show.

The plot combines familiar "Simpsons" situations, including clips directly from the show, with new material - much of it skewering video games. The Comic Book Guy, for example, points out each of the game's cliches. ("The double jump. How original.") References to the Grand Theft Auto spoof Grand Theft Scratchy are also still in the game, even though Rockstar reportedly influenced Electronic Arts to change the name in a promotional video to Mob Rules.

The satirical elements are the best part of the Simpsons Game, which succeeds on the strength of its parody skills. On the Xbox 360, at least, the graphics in the game are just as good as the TV show's animation, creating a seamless experience. Just walking around Springfield and bumping into other characters will yield a few lines ("Mmmm. Calories," Homer says, as he enters the Land of Chocolate) that are bound to make you smile.
The action in the game is incredibly simple, with each character having the ability to run, jump and execute a couple of special moves. Bart has a slingshot and Marge operates a megaphone that has offensive capabilities. Homer has burping power, the ability to turn into a Metroid Prime-style ball weapon and a couple of other skills that reveal themselves later in the game.
It's a strange format, because the simple puzzles and repetitive tasks seem designed for the 8-year-old Sonic the Hedgehog crowd, and yet the Simpsons Game more than earns its Teen rating with some off-color jokes and penchant for funny, over-the-top violence.

The game is also restricted by nausea-inducing camera controls, which constantly change but are rarely very effective. For such a simple game - the instruction booklet for the Simpsons Game is six pages - making the characters move the way you want them to is much too complicated.

Still, that's a relatively tiny problem in a game that more than makes up for its shortcomings with "Simpsons"-style mob violence, Homer-related gluttony, Krusty the Clown-themed product safety violations and other assorted tasteless brilliance. Let the Super Happy Fun Fun begin.

Source: SFGate

Orange box deactivations

Developer defends right to territorial control

Consumers based in the US who bought Orange Box product keys from an online retailer in Thailand are having their copies of the game deactivated.

Orange Box developer and Steam operator Valve issued a statement late last week defending its behaviour. "Valve uses Steam for territory control to make sure products authorised for use in certain territories are not being distributed and used outside of those territories," the company said.

"In this case, a Thai website was selling retail box product keys for Thailand to people outside of Thailand. Since those keys are only for use in Thailand, people who purchased product keys from the Thai website are not able to use those product keys in other territories."

Consumers who have since bought a new domestic copy of the game but could still not get the new Orange Box to work, have been told to contact Steam directly.

"Some of these users have subsequently purchased a legal copy after realising the issue and were having difficulty removing the illegitimate keys from their Steam accounts," the statement continues. "Anyone having this problem should contact Steam Support to have the Thai key removed from their Steam account."

Hellgate: London video game Music Interview

Flagship Studios' Hellgate: London takes place in the near future, only a few decades from now. The famed city lies in ruins, desolated by demons that simply and almost effortlessly swept aside humanity's armies. Even the most highly advanced, top secret biological and nuclear weapons have failed to slow their rampage. Reeling from the ferocious assault, the survivors have taken refuge in what's left of the Underground. Their last hope lies with three mysterious factions.

Templars have trained diligently in martial disciplines and holy magic to prepare for the conflict their predecessors foresaw centuries ago. Cabalists study the dark arts and combine them with knowledge from the peripheries of science, seeking to use the fiends' own powers against them. Hunters are former military operatives with access to ranged arms that very few others even knew existed, except perhaps in theory.

Sascha Dikiciyan, Cris Velasco

The action RPG will ship later this week, so we're only days away from taking on these diverse roles, heading out to stalk the invaders, and battling desperately to save our race from extinction. As we do so, we can look to the game's music for some additional inspiration. It's the result of a collaboration involving two accomplished composers, the team of Cris Velasco and Sascha Dikiciyan.

Their combined credits in the industry, both together and individually, are numerous and impressive, so when we learned they had been given this assignment, our expectations were naturally high. With their latest title about to be unveiled, it seemed a very fitting time to examine their contribution. Fortunately for us, the pair proved receptive when we came along with our usual plethora of questions. The result was this interesting and highly informative interview.

This game was just a perfect match for us. I really saw the opportunity to create something non-typical for Hellgate. Flagship gave us all the freedom we needed.

More from: RPG Vault

Nvidia Unleashes GeForce 8800 GT

Gamers wanting an uber cool gaming experience this festive season have now got an affordable option.

Nvidia has launched the GeForce 8800 GT, the latest addition to its GeForce 8 Series of graphics processing units (GPUs)

GeForce 8800 GT offers a hyper-reactive, intensely robust gaming experience for the latest, next generation DirectX 10 games, such as Crysis, Hellgate: London, and Gears of War, as well as full support for current DirectX 9 games, according to Nvidia.

When the GeForce 8 Series was first introduced, gamers demanded a product with 64 stream processors and 256-bit memory interface to deliver more performance at an affordable price.

Nvidia has now responded to the demand with its GeForce 8800 GT featuring 112 stream processors, fast 256-bit memory interface, and second-generation PureVideo HD technology.

In addition to 112 stream processors, each individually clocked at 1.5GHz, plus a 256-bit memory interface running at 900MHz, the GeForce 8800 GT is designed for the new PCI Express 2.0 bus standard, and is backwards-compatible with the original PCI Express standard.

Nvidia claims the GeForce 8800GT combines the best in gaming with the best in HD. It features a second-generation video processing engine to deliver high-quality playback of HD DVD and Blu-ray movies on PCs.

According to the company, the new programmable video processing engine takes on all of the high definition H.264 video decoding, freeing the CPU to perform other tasks, as also reduces power consumption, heat, and noise.

The Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT is available for Rs 14,900 plus taxes.

Crytek's Crysis Goes Gold, In Stores November 16

Hardware upgrade enthusiasts start your wallets -- Crysis, arguably the most anticipated PC first-person action game to come along in years, just went gold today, according to Electronic Arts and German-based developer Crytek. 1UP popped the news this evening, pointing to November 16 as the magic day you'll be able to officially buy a game so power-greedy it had to be time-warped back from a future where PCs can actually run it.

"We are extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish with Crysis," said Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli. "We wanted to push the boundaries both visually and with open-ended, non-linear gameplay and we believe the end result delivers that vision."

Oh happy day, Crysis at the locked (but for you, unlocked!) highest detail settings runs like a dream on my DirectX 9 Windows XP "take-a-hike-Windows-Vista-ain't-gonna-miss-ya-dee-ex-10" PC.

What's he talking about? XP vs. Vista. Have the latter and you can run Crysis full bore; have the former and you can only crank the visual throttle up to three-quarter, tops.

Unless of course you simply copy and paste a few lines of text in a handful of game directory CFG files, at which point the ostensibly DX10-only 'very high' special effects for water, shadows, shaders, textures and more can be yours, sweetened by Windows XP's superior performance.

What's it do?

Turns out Crysis isn't as DX10-y as some might have you believe by making the 'very high' detail settings unusable unless you're running Vista. Crysis on XP is out of the gate locked at 'high', a significant visual downgrade from 'very high' in all instances.

While fiddling with the text file parameters for Crysis' configuration settings, someone figured out that by placing the 'very high' settings under 'high', the game not only (mis)reads them, they actually render. Sun rays, depth of field, advanced physics, particles, and volumetric effects -- all available, and apparently not DX10 effects. What's more, Crysis under XP runs dramatically (~10fps) faster on my system, setting for setting, be it 'low', 'medium', or 'high'.

"As good" looking on XP and faster? What's up with that?

The cynic will argue Crytek cordoned 'very high' off from XP users arbitrarily and merely to help Microsoft promote Vista. Look at Shadowrun, they'll say, a Vista-exclusive game that was shown to run identically under Windows XP.

The idealist will probably argue that there's still a DX10 component not parsing in the above tweak, i.e. Crysis on XP using 'very high' settings is still in some capacity (notable or no) at least technically inferior to Crysis under Vista. Cache logs suggests Shader 4.0 calls, which is a hardwired DX10-exclusive.

In any event, the truth is that Crysis does look appreciably better with the above tweaks running under XP, and there's no way Crytek or Microsoft are going to be able to pretend that it doesn't. But publicly ignore? Probably.

Let's just hope the powers that be don't "break" the tweak in the final version which just went gold and should hit store shelves Friday November 16.

Pokemon Seat Cushion for Classroom Sitting

There is it, the pre-order Pokémon seat cushion.

Today, Mini-Bash took it to school. When he got back home, he told us that no other kids had a yellow Diamond & Pearl cushion, but that one other kid had a blue one. The rest?

They apparently had Pooh Bear and Anpanman ones, which Mini-Bash once again confirmed are "for babies." Gotta pre-order, kiddos!

From: Kotaku

Phantom Hourglass tops Euro charts

Number one seller in Germany and Spain

Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass has entered the charts in Spain and Germany at number one on the first week of release.

In Germany the DS title just manages to outsell EA and Valve's The Orange Box package, which enters at number two.

As a publisher Nintendo has four of the top ten titles in the region, with both Dr Kawashima games continuing to sell well, along with Pokemon Diamond.

Over in Spain, Electronic Arts FIFA 08 is hogging the top ten, with the PlayStation 2 version at two, the PS3 version at four and the PSP title at nine.

The top ten best-selling games in Germany and Spain follow:

Germany

1. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)

2. The Orange Box (PC)

3. FIFA 08 (PS2)

4. The Settlers (PC)

5. More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima (DS)

6. Naruto Ultimate Ninja 2 (PS2)

7. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)

8. Pokemon Diamond (DS)

9. FIFA 08 (PC)

10. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (PC)

Spain

1. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)

2. FIFA 08 (PS2)

3. Project Gotham Racing 4 (Xbox 360)

4. FIFA 08 (PS3)

5. WWE Smackdown! Vs. RAW 2007 (PS2)

6. More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima (DS)

7. My Sims (DS)

8. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)

9. FIFA 08 (PSP)

10. Pokemon Diamond (DS)

All data supplied by Media Control Gfk International.

Manhunt 2 online due to Loophole

A legal loophole could allow the banned computer game Manhunt 2 to be released online, it has been reported.

The controversial game, developed by Edinburgh-based company Rockstar, was refused a rating and effectively banned in the UK by film censors for the "overly bleak tone and casual encouragement of unnecessary and casual sadism".

The 1984 Video Recordings Act, however, covers only physical products, as it was written with video cassettes in mind, and so experts believe a legal grey area exists which could be exploited by the company.

A download is not a physical product, and it has been suggested the game could therefore be released as a download for consoles such as the Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii, both of which already have online stores for owners to download games.

The company has not said whether this is an avenue it is likely to explore, and is currently still waiting on an appeal against the film censors' decision, in the hope that the game can be released for general sale.

A censored version of the game is set to be released in America on Wednesday.

Xfire To Host Exclusive Live Chat With Flagship Studios

On Halloween Day, Catch Up with the Creators of the Highly-Anticipated Hellgate: London

WHAT: Xfire - the 8 million strong gaming community – today announced that they will host an exclusive live chat with Flagship Studios on Halloween day, in honor of the launch of the highly-anticipated Hellgate: London.

Log on to Xfire.com to sign up for the chance to talk to some of the brilliant minds behind this new release.

Hellgate: London will feature Xfire’s peer-to-peer communication system to give gamers the ability to chat with fellow gamers without needing to manage a standalone voice server. Additionally, online game players will be able to log in to Xfire from within the game, enabling them to easily add their friends and other Hellgate: London gamers into an Xfire voice chat room where they can chat as they play.

WHO: Bill Roper, CEO Flagship Studios
Aletheia Simonson, Art Producer
Bill Manegold, Game Programmer
Amir Ebrahimi, Graphics Programmer
Guy Somberg, Audio and Gameplay Programmer
The Xfire Community

WHY: "We are thrilled that a phenomenal title like Hellgate: London is exclusively utilizing the Xfire In-Game Voice Chat feature, and we welcome the game’s creators on their launch day to Xfire," said Xfire CEO Adam Boyden. “This exciting live online chat will give users the opportunity to discuss the title's finer points, classes, mechanics and what went into making this amazing game."

WHEN: Flagship Studios Live Chat premieres Wednesday, October 31st at 10.00pmGMT/11.00pmCET

WHERE: Via Xfire, http://www.xfire.com/cms/xf_hellgate/

Wii-kly Update: Three more Classic Games

This Halloween, you needn't leave your own living room to encounter spooky spirits and creepy creatures from mysterious otherworlds. The Wii Shop Channel is celebrating the year's most frightfully fun holiday by offering a mix of eerie games that'll keep players' spines tingling. Mash with monsters in a classic Castlevania sequel, tangle with supernatural samurai or battle as a powerful magician-you're bound to discover cool tricks and visual treats no matter which titles you choose. Happy Hallo-Wii!

Today Nintendo adds three new classic games to the popular Wii video game system's Wii Shop Channel. The games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

Castlevania® II Simon's Quest (NES®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): In this one-player adventure, you'll take on the role of Simon Belmont once again and duel to the death with Count Dracula. Grab your legendary whip, Vampire Killer, and roam freely through Transylvania on a quest to find the count's missing body parts-these are the key to breaking an evil curse. This quest won't be easy, though, for you must battle hideous fiends who stalk the land. In addition to the intense action and tight control the Castlevania series is known for, this sequel also introduced several unique game-play elements into the fold. Build experience the longer you play, buy weapons and items from merchants, or talk with villagers to get clues (some of which are false). Watch as day turns to night and then back again. Take a deep breath, steady your nerves, and help Simon end his curse and defeat the count once and for all.

SAMURAI-GHOST™ (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Animated Blood and Violence, 600 Wii Points): This action platformer features a samurai ghost from the depths of the underworld. In a past war, Kagekiyo managed to defeat the shogun Yoritomo and his clan. However, their evil spirits were not completely destroyed, and now, in the world known as Dark Side, they seek the time of their rebirth. In order to shatter those ambitions, Kagekiyo must make his way across seven zones and head for "The Heart of the Darkside" where Yoritomo lies in wait. Use spirit weapons to power up your sword, or other items, such as candles to recover health, and defeat the endless hordes of enemies. Each zone is not only protected by a boss but also includes demons as well as real samurai from 12th-century Japan. Get ready for some intense one-on-one combat action.

MAGICIAN LORD (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen - Blood and Fantasy Violence, 900 Wii Points): Released in 1990 and regarded as one of the NEOGEO's earliest signature games, this side-scrolling platformer mixes action with the mystical world of fantasy. A magician named Elta, last descendant of the famed Magician Lord, takes on an epic adventure to save the world from the evil Gul-Agieze. Elta must battle through eight stages, collecting the eight tomes of power that are key to defeating Gul-Agieze and his evil plans. By obtaining orbs in one of three colors (elements) that appear during the game, Elta's offensive powers and jumping abilities can be strengthened. The effect varies considerably depending on the combination of elements, though, and Elta can transform into six different forms: Waterman, Dragon Warrior, Shinobi, Samurai, Raijin or Poseidon. Can you help Elta to become the new Magician Lord?

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Blue Dragon download update

Since the game’s release, “Blue Dragon” has been enchanting RPG fans with its classic story of adventure and excitement. As many have successfully completed the retail story arc of the game, Microsoft Games Studios, wanted to be sure everyone was aware of the multiple downloadable content packages available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

Package one (Hard Mod) released in late September, making several new game modes available to further enhance the “Blue Dragon” experience. Friday 26th October marked the release of pack two, “6 Treasures.” This download expands gameplay with items such as the “Way of Thieves” which allows Shu and his companions to steal rare items possessed by enemy creatures during battle. This is just one of six exciting items that are available with the new DLC package (available for 200 Microsoft Points). Feel free to check out the content and post your impressions at your earliest convenience.

Also, keep your eyes peeled for the third DLC pack – “Shuffled Dungeon” which will be made available on 16th November for 400 Microsoft Points.

PlayStation 2 Seventh Anniversary 120 Million Consoles Sold

Platform Momentum Continues Heading Into 2008 with the Release of More Than 160 Software Titles and a New, Limited Edition Hardware Model

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today celebrates the seven-year anniversary of its PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. Since its release in North America on October 26, 2000, more than 120 million hardware units and more than a billion units of PlayStation 2 software have sold worldwide, making it the best-selling gaming platform ever released. While other game systems have vanished from the market, PlayStation 2 continues to exhibit strong momentum, a testament to the design and technology at the core of the product and demonstrating SCEA’s commitment to a 10-year product lifecycle.

“While today’s anniversary celebrates PlayStation 2’s past, we’re very excited for its future,” said Jack Tretton, President and Chief Executive Officer for SCEA. “We look forward to the platform’s continued growth and expect to sell approximately 12 million units worldwide by the end of March, leading us to anticipate that PlayStation 2’s lifecycle will exceed that of the original PlayStation. Never before has an in-home game system experienced this type of worldwide success on such a long-lasting scale.”

Since its inception, PlayStation 2 has had a tremendous impact on the industry, helping to establish the DVD format as well as giving gamers some of the most popular software titles in video game history, spanning all genres. Currently there are nearly 1,500 titles in PlayStation 2’s software library and this number will continue to grow with more than 160 new games expected in North America throughout the holidays and by the end of March 2008 including Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, High School Musical: Sing It, Madden NFL 08, Manhunt 2, NBA ’08, Rock Band, and Buzz™.

SCEA is also bringing a whole new look to PlayStation 2 this holiday with the release of a limited edition Ceramic White PlayStation 2 bundled with SingStar™ Pop and two high-quality USB microphones. The new PlayStation 2 bundle will be available in North America in early November for a suggested retail price of US $149.99/C$149.99 and features the same, ultra-sleek design and functions of the current PlayStation 2 including access to the large catalog of PlayStation 2 and PlayStation software titles as well as DVD and CD playback, digital surround sound, two memory card slots and an integrated Ethernet port for network gaming.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Fact Sheet

“Ninja Gaiden 2” makes its long-awaited debut on Xbox 360 as the blockbuster action-packed sequel to “Ninja Gaiden.”

“Ninja Gaiden 2” features a new and improved game engine, developed from the ground up exclusively for Microsoft and Xbox 360 by Team Ninja and legendary game developer Tomonobu Itagaki, creator of the famed “Dead or Alive” franchise.

In “Ninja Gaiden 2,” gamers must guide Ryu Hayabusa on a mission to avenge his clan and prevent the destruction of the human race. Armed with an assortment of ninja weaponry, players must help Ryu skillfully maneuver through a world fraught with peril and danger. “Ninja Gaiden 2” will feature an all-new gameplay engine, a new auto-health regeneration system, levels, adventures, enemies and thrilling combat with an extensive assortment of ninja weaponry, representing a true evolution of the highly popular franchise.

• Exhilarating ninja action. Assuming the role of a ninja warrior, players will experience an all-new combat system that requires skill and mastery of their full arsenal of weapons, including Obliteration Techniques that allow players to quickly and stylishly finish off an opponent. In addition to the variety of brutal new primary weapons and enhanced versions of previous favorites, “Ninja Gaiden® 2” will feature unique acrobatic combat and attacks used not only by Ryu Hayabusa but also by his formidable enemies.

• Easy to play but hard to master. The new auto-healing system in “Ninja Gaiden® 2,” featuring semi-permanent damage restored at save points, is the natural evolution of the franchise’s distinctive gameplay and introduces a new twist to managing health. With a newly implemented auto-healing functionality and save-point system, as well as an extensive story mode and multiple difficulty levels available from the start of the game, the gameplay of “Ninja Gaiden® 2” will be both accessible to more casual players and challenging to even the most demanding gamers.

• Massive content and engrossing story. The themes of revenge and friendship in “Ninja Gaiden 2” give rise to a series of dramatic events to create a truly compelling story. From Tokyo to New York and to the netherworld, the story will lead players through a lengthy, action-packed story mode as they skillfully maneuver Ryu Hayabusa through a demonized world fraught with peril and danger. In addition to the single-player campaign, players can upload Karma scores to Xbox LIVE leaderboards and participate in an all-new Master Ninja Tournament.

• Realistic graphics in next-generation gaming. Built from the ground up from Team Ninja’s in-house gaming engine for the next-generation Xbox 360 platform, “Ninja Gaiden 2” represents the best in amazing visuals, responsive control and thrilling combat with an extensive assortment of ninja weaponry.

The information contained in this fact sheet relates to a prerelease product that may be substantially modified before its first commercial release. Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the product when first commercially released. This fact sheet is provided for informational purposes only, and Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the fact sheet or the information contained in it.

Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox Live are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Ultimate Board Game Collection

Empire Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings, today announced it has signed an agreement with Valcon Games LLC to publish and distribute in Europe and all PAL territories the Ultimate Board Game Collection, a compendium of classic board and table top games for the PlayStation 2, PSP (PlayStation Portable) and Wii.

Containing 20 of the most recognisable and popular board and table top games played by families around the world (see list below), Ultimate Board Game Collection is already a huge hit in the US, having sold almost half a million copies to date.

"We are excited to work with Empire to bring these classic titles to the European market,” said Glenn Halseth, CEO of Valcon Games. “Given Empire’s direct marketing distribution network across Europe, we’re confident they can reproduce the phenomenal success we've enjoyed in North America."

Parents are often concerned about video games full of violence, but they can rest assured that the Ultimate Board Game Collection is full of good, clean family fun that everyone will enjoy. Each of the games will be fully customisable to suit any player’s tastes with different rule sets, environments, piece types and sound tracks. Also, every game will also have specific goals and award trophies to players who master them.

Ian Higgins, CEO Empire Interactive said, “We’re delighted to bring this collection of classic board and table games to European households. Publishing on a range of formats gives us an opportunity to fulfill the sales potential and family wide appeal of these timeless games and the Wii console provides the perfect demographic for our first launch on this platform.”

Clive Kabatznik, CEO of Silverstar Holdings, added, “Ultimate Board Game Collection is our first Wii release and another milestone in our plan to maximize product potential across all game formats and leverage the power of Empire’s unique European distribution network. This is also a significant move for us into the casual game market and the Ultimate Board Game Collection is a fantastic title to lead this initiative.”

Key Features

24 Classic board game style games, PSP, (20 on PS2).

Enhanced physical gesturing and unique game play via the hand held wireless controller on Wii (12 games).

Customise each game by selecting different rules, environments, piece type and sound tracks.

Play against the CPU or up to 6 other players.

User selectable sound track; chose from 4 different styles.

CPU opponent has multiple difficulty levels.

Includes 100 different Jigsaw pictures.

Each game has a trophy that can be unlocked by completing a specific goal. Can you unlock all twenty trophies?

Suitable for players of all ages.

Games Include:

Chess

Quatro

Checkers

Enigma

Backgammon

Reversi

Snakes & Ladders

Parcheesi

Dice

Dominoes

Go

Chinese Checkers

Word Cubes

Mahjong Solitaire

Anagrams

Concentration

3D Tic-Tac-Toe

Mancala

Jigsaws

Ultimate Board Game Collection will be released Q1 2008.