FANTASY WARS - video game update

PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR DEADLY BATTLES AND VICIOUS TERRITORIAL STRUGGLE

Tensions ripple throughout the land of Eolia as human and orc armies prepare to clash in a ferocious battle for precious territory. Unresolved internal struggles have erupted into an unavoidable war of impending death and destruction.

Monstrous orc leader, Ugraum Grableg, paces his kingdom, roaring at Besargar to organise the orc army into the strongest and deadliest force in the land. The orcs show no fear as they sharpen their weapons, practice their battle formations, and prepare to tear humans limb from limb, satisfying their taste for flesh.

In Derenhalle, brave Derrick Pfeil summons his gallant human troops for what will be the war to end all wars. As they polish their armour and hone their carefully chosen weapons, wagers are placed on which blade will spill the most orc blood. The courageous and noble humans are more than ready to confront the terrifying enemy that awaits them. What the humans lack in physical size and strength, Pfeil knows they will make up in cunning and speed.

The clatter of armour, the clash or swords, and the spine tingling war cries echo throughout the land of Eolia. Battle is about to commence.

Take cover.

Fantasy Wars is a turn based battle strategy game for PC from Ascaron Entertainment. Undertake campaigns and missions as either the humans or orcs (later unlocking the elf army). Complete set objectives to claim victory in your mission and defeat the opposing enemy. The faster you complete your goals, the higher your skill in commanding an army.

www.fantasywars-thegame.com

Fast facts:

Publisher: Ascaron Entertainment / Nobilis

Web: www.Ascaron.com

Developer: Ino’Co / 1C

Release date: February 2008

PEGI: 12+

Format: PC

Genre: Turn-based Strategy

Race Driver: GRID rom the creators of Video games - Colin McRae: DiRT and Race Driver

Race Driver: GRIDTM confirmed as official title for intense new racing experience coming mid 2008 from the creators of Colin McRae: DiRTTM and Race DriverTM series.

Codemasters® today announced Race Driver: GRID™ as the full and official title for the game introduced under the working title of Race Driver One. Race Driver: GRID is the new racing experience from Codemasters Studios, creators of Colin McRae: DiRT™ and the Race Driver™ series, and is set to deliver a step-change in the racing genre.

Coming mid 2008, Race Driver: GRID is set to capture every moment from the starting grid to the chequered flag and concentrate those moments into an intense and dramatic race experience. Race Driver: GRID is being developed for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows®.

"Race Driver: GRID is all about the race." said Gavin Raeburn, Executive Producer at Codemasters Studios. "The next iteration of our DiRT engine combined with a decade of experience in developing driving games enables us to put the player at the centre of the action like never before. Damage, packed grids, intelligent opposition and unprecedented race day atmosphere will combine to deliver an experience like no other.

Says Ralph Fulton, Chief Game Designer. "GRID focuses on everything that happens between the start grid and the chequered flag: the drama, the rivalries, the aggression and the crashes. This is not a game about collecting cars or spending all of your time in the front-end tuning suspension settings or designing liveries. We want to make racing exciting again."

Race Driver: GRID will take players to beautifully realised and dramatic race locations over three continents to compete in an unprecedented variety of racing events. Packed with the most powerful race cars – new and classic, circuit and drift – players will compete to conquer the most prestigious official race tracks and championships and then go beyond to compete in challenging city-based competitions, through to road events and urban street races.

In Europe, race gamers will compete on the greatest official tracks in prestige Marques including Aston Martin, Koenigsegg and Pagani.

Iconic cities across the U.S. – including San Francisco, Washington DC and Detroit and each with their own atmosphere and events – play hosts to diverse street races. Here, high-performance V8 muscle cars set the pace in aggressive closely fought pack competitions.

In the Far East, Japanese racing culture sets the tone where night races, including Drift racing, take drivers through neon illuminated cities and to outlying mountain roads. There is also the opportunity to compete in races that operate on the fringes of legality in the back streets and industrial areas of Yokohama.

Race Driver: GRID is coming mid 2008 for the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Games for Windows. To register for future driver briefings and get a place on the grid, be sure to visit www.codemasters.co.uk/grid

Astraware additional mobile game smartphone support

Astraware, currently participating in the UIQ Fast Track event in Budapest, is excited to announce support for an additional mobile software platform.

In the first quarter of 2008 a selection of Astraware's own games and popular licensed titles will be released for the Symbian UIQ platform.

"The whole Astraware team is excited to be supporting such a progressive and media-rich platform," said John Phillips, Astraware's Vice President of Business Development. "UIQ continues to improve the user experience with every release of their platform, and we are sure that our games will engage the user as much as the UIQ platform engages developers."

Astraware has been working on adding Symbian to its list of supported platforms for some time and now has several games in the pipeline. Using their expertise in touchscreen and non-touchscreen control methods, Astraware's games will support both touchscreen UIQ devices like the Sony Ericsson P1i and non-touchscreen handsets such as Motorola's highly acclaimed multimedia phone, the Z8.

"Astraware’s portfolio of quality games and applications is impressive, and we are happy to see them porting more and more great titles to the UIQ platform," commented Naresh Chouhan, Head of Developer Programs at UIQ Technology. "This will broaden UIQ phone users’ choice of add-on software, of course, but it will also lead the way for other mobile software companies to see and grasp the opportunities in UIQ."

For more information about Astraware and their games, visit their website at http://www.astraware.com.

Alienware And Intel Launch Hyperblast online video game

Alienware and Intel, providers of cutting-edge gaming technology and hardware have collaborated to bring you Hyperblast – a scintillating, sc-fi themed web game. Hyperblast lets players race and blast their way through a virtual, 3-D space track to win some stunning prizes.

Featuring a weekly draw for exclusive Hyperblast t-shirts, players who push it to the limit and complete the final track will also be eligible to enter the grand prize draw to win a fully loaded Alienware Area-51® m9750 extreme gaming notebook with Intel Core 2 Duo processor worth £2,000!

Check it out at http://www.hyperblastgame.com

ABOUT HYPERBLAST!

Hyperblast provides three different futuristic tracks on which players must race against tenacious AI drones. Tactically the player may avoid enemy drones for an optimum lap time or use one of several power-ups available to destroy the opposition for bonus points.

Progressive tracks become even more challenging but fortunately the player can upgrade with Intel multi-core technology to become more powerful and destructive – necessary for competitive high scores – just like real life!


MULTIPLAYER HYPERBLAST!

Find out who’s top dog in the office. League functionality is built into the game enabling groups of friends or colleagues to compete against each other in their own private Hyperblast league.

IMPORTANT FACTS
Qualifying for the Quad Core track unlocks weekly prize draw of 20 Hyperblast t-shirts.
Completing the Extreme Edition track unlocks the Alienware Area-51 m9750 notebook grand prize draw.
Multiplayer league functionality.
Cutting-edge 3-D Flash web game
http://www.hyperblastgame.com

THE NITTY GRITTY

Hyperblast requires Adobe Flash 9 and is compatible with all major web browsers. Due to the 3D graphics the game is more processor intensive than many web games and runs best on an Intel Core 2 family processor. The competition is open to residents of European Union member states, Norway and Switzerland. The grand prize draw will be held on 29th February 2008. Entrants must provide email details to enter prize draws and winners will be notified via email. Further communications are on a strict opt-in basis.

Full terms and conditions are available here:

http://www.hyperblastgame.com/terms.php?lang=en

Build-A-Bear Workshop and Bratz Ponyz 2 video Game Factory 2008 Nintendo DS releases

Two hot new kids properties announced for 2008 on Nintendo DS!

The Game Factory today announced two hot new titles to kick off their 2008 European line-up. The Build-A-Bear Workshop game will release in the UK in March, followed by the pan-European release of Bratz Ponyz 2™ in the summer. Both games will be available for the Nintendo DS.

Bratz Ponyz 2™ follows the huge global success of the original game. Based around the glamorous, glitter filled world of the hippest horses around, the game will feature enhanced simulation aspects of gameplay, and utilize the wireless function of the Nintendo DS.

The Build-A-Bear Workshop game will give young gamers the chance to virtually personalise a furry friend of their liking, living in its very own Cub Condo®. Players will name, brush and care for their furry friend, buy virtual clothes and accessories, and unlock mini games. Building on the success of the 300+ Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, The Game Factory will give gamers a chance to fully interact with their furry friend just like a Guest in the real-world stores.

In the Build-A-Bear Workshop game, gamers will be able to –

• Choose, stuff, stitch, dress, name and play with their beary own 3D furry friend


• Pick from over 100 outfits and accessories


• Trade outfits, pictures and play games wirelessly with other DS gamers


• Play 4 themed mini games


• Explore 5 play areas packed with cool activities


• Win virtual money to buy additional accessories and clothes


• Enjoy fully rendered 3D graphics


• Use touch screen and microphone capabilities

The Build-A-Bear Workshop game will release on Nintendo DS in the UK Easter 2008.

Bratz Ponyz 2™ will be released on Nintendo DS across Europe in Summer 2008.

Xbox 360 Greatest video games Release Schedule Ever

2007 offers Xbox 360 owners the greatest range of games yet

2007 will be a year to remember for Xbox 360 players – a packed release schedule offers a wide range of incredible titles including exclusive, genre-defining games such as Blue Dragon (Microsoft Game Studios - MGS), Project Gotham Racing 4 (MGS), Naruto Rise of a Ninja (Ubisoft), Viva Piñata: Party Animals (MGS), Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (Namco Bandai Games) and Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action (MGS), not to mention some of the highest scoring games of all time in the form of BioShock (2K Games), Mass Effect (MGS), The Orange Box (EA) and the legendary Halo 3 (MGS), all of which have already been released or are set to arrive before the end of the year.

From the end of summer to the festive period, Xbox 360 boasts over 60 new releases contributing to a portfolio of over 300 high-definition titles.

Two of the most epic adventures of the year arrived in August in Blue Dragon and BioShock. Role-playing game Blue Dragon casts players as Shu, a young boy, who with a party of four must battle the evil that has invaded their world, controlling phantom shadow creatures ranging from Minotaur, to phoenix and of course, dragon.

BioShock is a “genetically-enhanced” first person shooter that lets players do things never before possible in the genre, in the unique art deco world of Rapture, an underwater utopia torn apart by civil war.

September and October were the hottest months since records began seeing the release of the epic Halo 3 and the turbocharged Project Gotham Racing 4.

Halo 3, the third and final chapter in the “Halo trilogy” smashed day-one entertainment sales records when it launched in September with players finally getting the chance to take Master Chief™ into his most crucial battle yet.

October saw Project Gotham Racing 4 return with another garage-full of the world’s most iconic cars. A brand new dynamic weather system makes for an even more exhilarating experience.

Football fans are enjoying a season of highlights on Xbox 360 with the release of FIFA 08 at the end of September and Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 at the end of October.

FIFA 08 brings you closer to the action than ever before with new Pro Skills moves that increase user-control by enabling you to combine tricks and skill moves together to recreate signature moves from the real-world superstars, the new Be A Pro: Offline Training mode, and even greater depths of authenticity, while Konami’s latest edition to the multi-million-selling Pro Evolution Soccer series returns as PES 2008, boasting a proprietary AI system, all new moves and set pieces - and even more realism than ever. PES 2008’s rosters of licensed players enjoy a wide range of flicks, nutmegs, and set-pieces, while the less savoury elements of the game appear in the form of shirt-pulling, ugly fouls and diving.

November offers something for everyone. Mass Effect, the science-fiction action-role playing game offers a whole galaxy full of difficult decisions to make as players lead an elite team to bring down a rogue agent.

Sociable fun is also on the cards - both Viva Piñata: Party Animals and Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action offer their own unique blend of party play – Viva Piñata: Party Animals putting the colourful piñatas into a succession of addictive mini games and Scene It? offering a host of movie-related trivia to answer.

Naruto Rise of a Ninja kick flips into November featuring the perfect blend of adventure, platforming and fighting and enables fans of the show to challenge fellow gamers on Xbox LIVE®.

Finally, top guns will fulfil their aviation dreams in Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, thrusting players into the heat of realistic air combat.

The review scores garnered by many of these titles have been astounding, confirming the excellence of the Xbox 360 line up. Halo 3’s score of 94 at Metacritic and 93 at Gamerankings makes it the perfect conclusion to the Halo trilogy, arriving just weeks after BioShock which wowed critics, scoring 96 and 95 at Metacritic and Gamerankings respectively.

Just when review scores looked like they couldn’t get any higher The Orange Box arrived - five innovative games from Valve®, creators of the blockbuster Half-Life franchise, in one action-packed box - scoring an astonishing 96 point average at both Metacritic and Gamerankings. Finally, Mass Effect is the most recent Xbox 360 release to garner 90+ review averages claiming 93 at both sites and rounding off simply the greatest portfolio of video games ever seen. *

These unprecedented scores demonstrate exactly why Xbox 360 continues to hold the record for highest games attach rate across the globe, at 6.3 games sold per console. With life-to-date sales of 13.4 million consoles worldwide this represents incredible software sales.

BioShock, Blue Dragon, Project Gotham Racing 4, Naruto Rise of a Ninja, Viva Piñata: Party Animals, Mass Effect, Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action, FIFA 08, PES 2008, Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, The Orange Box and Halo 3 spearhead the unparalleled selection of Xbox 360 titles that players will be able to enjoy this year.

“This year’s line up of titles on Xbox 360 is without doubt the strongest I have seen, offering incredible Microsoft-published titles such as Blue Dragon, PGR 4, Viva Piñata Party Animals, Mass Effect, Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action and Halo 3, and incredible exclusives from our partners such as BioShock, Naruto Rise of a Ninja and Ace Combat 6. It’s an amazing year for Xbox 360 players,” said Michael Newey, Group Product Marketing Manager, Microsoft.

*Score averages correct as of 21/11/07

1 on 1 Counter Strike video game tournament

Sennheiser QCUP at Dreamhack

QPAD, Sennheiser, Samsung and XFX are proud to present the Sennheiser QCUP at Dreamhack winter between 29 November to 1 December. All visitors at Dreamhack will have the chance to compete on the legendary 1on1 QTOUR Championship stage, visited by some of the best gamers in the world. Sennheiser QCUP is and open tournament and will decide who’s the best aimer at Dreamhack winter 2007.

Sennheiser QCUP
Sennheiser QCUP is a 1 on 1 Counter Strike aim tournament with 160 players participating in 3 qualifiers. The 3 qualifiers will resolve into eight players for the grand final at saturday playing a single elimination bracket best out of 3 rounds and first to 10 wins the round.(with a 2 points difference) The matches will be played on aim_qpad_2007 tournament map, same as we used in the famous QTOUR Championship.

Great prizes
The Sennheiser QCUP champion will leave Dreamhack with 500 euro in cash, Sennheisers new headset PC 350, XFX 8800GTS 320MB Fatal1ty graphic card, Samsung 22” widescreen LCD screen and products from partners and QPAD.

Sennheiser QCUP Schedule:

Thursday 29/11
64 player qualifier. Signup and matches starts at 12:00
Nr 1, 2 and 3 will go to the grand final

Friday 30/11
64 player qualifier. Signup and matches starts 12:00
Nr 1, 2 and 3 will go to the grand final

Saturday 1/12
32 player qualifier. Signups and matches starts 12:00
Nr 1 and 2 will go to the grand final that starts at 18:00

The Sennheiser QCUP grand finals will be played at saturday 1 of december starting at 18:00 inside the QPAD/Sennheiser booth. Signups to the pre-qualifiers will take place 10 minutes before the start of the qualifiers each day!

Who is the best individual aimer at Dreamhack winter 2007? Stay tuned... That's what we are going to find out!

Dreamhack
The Sennheiser QCUP will take place at Dreamhack in Jönköping, Sweden. DreamHack is the world's largest LAN-party, demoparty and computer festival! Last winter Dreamhack checked in 10,638 people!! DreamHack is focused on everything you can do with computers: a lot of gaming and communication. Programming, designing, music composing and whatever you can imagine! They organize a lot of large game tournaments.

Strategy First releases a video game vodcast with Panzer Killer's game Designer!

Strategy First presents a new vodcast featuring Panzer Killer's game Designer Pepe Moreno & Former Red Sox Pitcher Bill 'The Spaceman' Lee.

Software game publisher Strategy First, Inc. a subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings, presents a new Vodcast featuring an interview with Pepe Moreno, designer of the newly released tank action game Panzer Killer, as well as part 7 of the Bill Lee interview.

Join SFI as we continue our profile on one of Baseball’s most outspoken and revered players: Bill ‘The Spaceman’ Lee as he outlines his views as both a participant and a viewer. Just to be a little controversial we ask the All-Star pitcher his views on the Designated Hitter. Also, don’t miss designer Pepe Moreno talk about the new fast paced visually impressive title from Digital Fusion, Panzer Killer. .

“Pepe Moreno has been part of some of the biggest pop culture projects in the last 20 years. Bill Lee is a person that the longer you talk to him, the smarter you become. ”said Strategy First’s Business Development Manager, Emmanuel Wall.

You can view this month’s VodCast production at: http://www.strategyfirst.com/en/downloads/vodcast/

Online video games charitable game free download game

Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, Legacy Interactive and Animax Entertainment today launched The Tuttles Madcap Misadventures: Starlight Charity Challenge (http://www.tuttlesfamilygame.com), a casual platformer style downloadable videogame that pairs having a good time with doing good. Actors William Shatner, Bob Saget, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ashley Tisdale, Dominic Scott Kay, Dave Thomas and Dave Coulier contributed their voices to the animated game. Supporters can try the game at http://www.tuttlesfamilygame.com and purchase it for $19.99 with $15 of that amount going to Starlight to brighten the lives of seriously ill children and their families.

"When you think of charity 'signature events,' it's usually races, walks and golf tournaments. Starlight wanted to do something innovative that reflects how people are having fun today. We learned that there are more than 85 million casual gamers in the US, a growing number of whom are women, 40 years and older. That's why we chose to design a national fundraising initiative around a casual videogame the whole family can play," said Patricia Evans, Vice President, Development, Starlight. "The Tuttles Madcap Misadventures gives anyone with Internet access the chance to have fun at home supporting our cause, without the typical barriers to supporting a traditional event, such as location, ticket price and hectic family schedules."
The Tuttles Madcap Misadventures is a hilarious arcade adventure game about a thoroughly modern family trying to bond on a road trip to see the Alamo. Bob Saget voices father Barry, Jamie Lee Curtis is mother Barbara, Ashley Tisdale plays teen daughter Jess, and Dominic Scott Kay voices young son Zach. Other characters include Dave Thomas as The Australian, Dave Coulier as The Islander and William Shatner as the voice of the souped-up mini van that transports the family.

The family-friendly game features:

• An original comedic script and characters designed by Emmy Award-winning Animax Entertainment


• 40 engaging levels of side-scrolling action


• The ability to play as each of the four individual Tuttle family members, all with their own unique gameplay experiences


• Six lushly rendered environments from desert to undersea


• Flash-animated comic book style cut scenes and vignettes


• More than 300 lines of dialogue featuring the voice-over talents of some of Hollywood's biggest names

The Tuttles Madcap Misadventures marks a return engagement for Dave Thomas and Starlight. In addition to being a well-known actor, writer and director, he's also creative director and co-founder of Animax Entertainment, which has a long history of working with Starlight. Animax developed the award-winning "Coping with Chemo" webisode series for the organization, and most recently helped redesign its online social network for seriously ill teens called Starbright World.

Starlight partnered with Legacy Interactive on the game's development and publishing. Legacy is contributing 75% of its proceeds from the game back to Starlight. The game is now available for download at http://www.tuttlesfamilygame.com (where it can also be purchased as a gift) and on multiple online gaming portals for a suggested retail price of U.S. $19.99. The per unit donation amount will vary based on individual distributor agreements. Additional information and press assets are available at http://www.tuttlesfamilygame.com.

Chessmaster Live video game released on Xbox Live

Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announced that it is releasing Chessmaster LIVE on the Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

"Bringing the Chessmaster series to Xbox LIVE Arcade makes the game accessible to a whole new audience," said Peter Helm, business development associate at Ubisoft. "Chessmaster LIVE is not only a comprehensive chess program, but it is also one that has expanded beyond the traditional game to include exciting features for fans, both old and new."

Chessmaster LIVE will feature:
Hundreds of AI opponents to play in ELO-ranked matches
Voice-chat and LIVE Vision capabilities for head-to-head matches
New 3D chess sets inspired by luxury board designer, House of Staunton
Five original chess variants, including the all-new Message Chess option, which will allow players to engage in a match over the course of days, weeks or even months

Chessmaster LIVE will be available for download in January 2008.

Ubisoft will also be publishing Chessmaster for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, scheduled for a worldwide release in Spring 2008.

Flashpoint Germany Update

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and On Target Simulations are happy to announce the release of a new update for Flashpoint Germany. This latest update comes with a handful of changes which include an improvement to browsing unit waypoints and a fixed memory leak in Windows Vista.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “This update illustrates our continuing support for released titles and our commitment to Vista compatibility for the future. Thanks to the efforts of the dedicated Flashpoint Germany team, gamers will be able to continue enjoying this game for years to come on the new Vista operating system.”

Rob Crandall of On Target Simulations added “This update is short but sweet and we’re more than happy to continue improving our product as gamers continue to enjoy Flashpoint Germany.”

Flashpoint Germany is a powder keg of a game, set in one of the most dangerous periods of the Cold War. The historical fall of the Berlin Wall, which heralded the fall of Communism throughout Europe, does not happen. Instead, the Soviet Union, knowing that collapse is on the horizon, decides to seek a military solution to their internal problems. The invasion of Western Europe by huge Soviet and Warsaw Pact armies threatens to overwhelm the desperate NATO forces that deploy to stem the tide. Will you choose to lead Mother Russia’s men and material to a victory that will see the Hammer and Sickle raised over the Rhine? Or will you take the grim task of commanding the small but capable NATO forces, looking to extract a high toll from the onrushing invaders? Regardless of outcome, this most likely will be the war to end all wars!

Get more information on Flashpoint Germany from its official Matrix Games webpage. This update is comprehensive and will bring Flashpoint Germany up to version 1.13.

ABOUT MATRIX GAMES
Matrix Games produces, markets and publishes historical wargames as well as other computer gaming products. Since 2000, Matrix Games has published over three dozen titles and several award-winning games, including War in the Pacific, Conquest of the Aegean, Gary Grigsby's World At War: A World Divided, Crown of Glory, Battles In Normandy, Harpoon 3 Advanced Naval Warfare, Starshatter: The Gathering Storm and The Operational Art of War III. Matrix Games is based in Staten Island, New York. For more information, visit the Matrix Games website at www.matrixgames.com.

Monster Ball: a new video game by Legless Lizard Games - free demos

Indie games developer Legless Lizard Games has just released Monster Ball, a new 3D arcade game for the PC. But is this yet another entry in a classic game type that has been around since the early 80's? Nope - it's an entirely new gameplay concept.

Monster Ball is a "snooker-em-up" - a challenging, brain-teasing and somewhat surreal action game with innovative and multi-layered gameplay. It's sort of like pool... but with monsters.

Monster Ball features colourful and attractive 3D graphics, over 150 waves of enemies to defeat, cunningly designed special achievements to aim for, and an adjustable difficulty level to suit all levels of player skill. Players can even save replays of their games.

Monster Ball is family-friendly, but that doesn't mean it's coated in saccharine. Monster Ball can be enjoyed by gaming fiends of all ages. What's more, the game is structured so that persistence will always bring progress - but to truly master the game, a player must become both skillful and adept at thinking on their feet.

A free demo of Monster Ball is available from the game's home page:

http://www.monsterballgame.com

There's a gameplay video there too, so the game can be seen in action right away.

Command new ships and crew of the release of pirates at Ocean's Edge video game simulator

Pirates at Ocean’s Edge™ is the latest expansion for Sony Online Entertainment’s Pirates Constructible Strategy Game™ Online created at the SOE Denver studio. Featuring new islands, seafaring monsters, and fathomless whirlpools, strategy players will skillfully navigate their ships to the Ocean’s Edge, where they will be tempted by uncharted territory, mounds of gold and thrilling adventures, all while fighting possible destruction and surprise!

• Uncover more than 100 new ships, such as the USS Constitution and the HMS Victoria and over 90 new crew members including Davy Jones and the Crimson Angel, as well as an excess of treasures for players to acquire and command
• Explore the enigmatic Skull Island or traverse one of the many other new and mysterious islands along the horizon
• Sail out into the deep blue sea - but watch out for the ferocious Titans, Giant Sharks, Sea Dragons or deadly whirlpools. You'd best be careful of what lurks out on the waters!
• Claim the sturdy Catamaran and swift Windcatcher ships for yourself and sail your way to victory, gold and glory

WHEN:
Pirates at Ocean’s Edge is scheduled to launch on Wednesday, November 28, 2007

WHERE:
www.piratescsgonline.com www.station.com

About Pirates Constructible Strategy Game Online
The Pirates Constructible Strategy Game (CSG) Online is a digital version of the successful and critically-acclaimed WizKids tabletop game, in which players use die-cut cards to build sloops, galleons and frigates, plundering the high seas in search of treasure. This online version is enhanced with cool visual effects, and players can build and customize fleets, explore islands and raid their fellow online buccaneers for their booty. The game also features real-time communication online, so players can trade treasure and ships to round out their collections

Atari video Games Arriving on Microsoft Xbox LIVE

Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe Available Now

Atari today announced that Asteroids® and Asteroids Deluxe® is now available on Xbox Live® Arcade, with three more beloved Atari Classics coming soon. With Asteroids® and Asteroids Deluxe®, Battlezone®, Tempest™ and Warlords®, Atari will deliver the same gaming sights, sounds and action as the original, as well as a new evolved version of games featuring enhanced graphics, sounds and special effects.

Atari and developer Stainless are giving gamers the best of both worlds with the Atari Classic and Evolved games; nostalgic fun with the original Classics and new gaming experiences with the Evolved versions featuring contemporary graphics and music, plus Achievements to unlock and the chance to boost their Gamerscores.

Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe offers gamers the chance to rotate, thrust, flip, fire and launch into hyperspace as oncoming asteroids are blasted to smithereens just like in the 1979 original. The evolved version features the same frenetic gameplay with updated, beautifully rendered, high definition graphics.

Following this Christmas season will be Tempest, Battlezone, and Warlords. Maintaining the spirit of the original’s linear geometric rendering by using vector graphics, the evolved version of the cult-classic Tempest features a graphics overhaul. Using skill and an arsenal of weapons, gamers must clear a web of enemies before time runs out and advance to the next stage.

The classic Battlezone has received a serious overhaul and added exciting new multiplayer modes. Players can use the Xbox Live Camera to watch live video of their opponents. Combine these features with new special effects for weapon firing, impacts and explosions and Battlezone becomes one killer classic.

The multiplayer Warlords pits king versus king to resurrect the competitive spirit of arcade games from years gone by. Up to four players can join the action with Xbox Live Camera support and take control of their own castle, allowing for a variety of single- or multiplayer experiences.

Gamers can recall their old-school arcade skills in Emulation mode and experience these treasured games in all their historical glory. Mature trigger fingers can play the evolved versions of the same titles and experience the same core gameplay. Gamers of all levels can test their gaming prowess out with three different settings – Easy, Medium and Hard. For those who need a refresher on Classic Atari games, time-limited trial modes are available for all titles. These Atari Classics on Xbox LIVE Arcade support all Xbox 360 high definition resolutions up to 1080p as well as full-screen anti-aliasing and digital surround sound. Players can make the most of the Xbox LIVE service with leader boards and 12 achievements.

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

Nyko Takes Aim With Perfect Shot and Internet Connect for Wii

Ergonomic Gun Grip and USB Network Adapter To Enhance Wii Gaming Experience

Nyko Technologies®, a premier peripherals manufacturer, today announced the Perfect Shot and Net Connect-two new products for the Nintendo Wii.

Nyko's Perfect Shot is the ideal complement to blaster/shooting games on the Wii, allowing players to experience more tactile control and accuracy during intense gaming sessions. The Perfect Shot holds the Wii remote with a secure locking system and allows players to hit the remote's B button using a tactile trigger mechanism. The lightweight and ergonomic design allows for extended use with less strain in the arm and hand. The Perfect Shot can also be used in conjunction with other peripherals by utilizing a pass-through port. This allows players to attach a Nunchuck or Classic Controller to the unit, providing more compatibility with other titles.

For gamers looking for an easy-to-use method to connect the Wii to a non-wireless Internet connection, the Nyko Net Connect is the solution. The Net Connect provides a high-speed Internet connection for the Wii, requiring only a Cat5 Ethernet cable and an existing Internet connection. With no complex setup codes or installation software, players can get their Wii online by plugging the device in to one of the Wii's USB ports and attaching it to their home network. Once online, the players can take full advantage of the Wii's unique online offerings, including the Opera Browser, WiiConnect24, Mii Parade, and all other online gameplay features for Wii video games.

"The Perfect Shot and Net Connect demonstrate Nyko's commitment to providing gamers with the most useful gaming accessories on the market," said Chris Arbogast, Marketing Manager for Nyko. "Whether you're looking for pinpoint accuracy in your favorite shooting games or a hassle-free solution for getting your Wii online, we're confident that both of our new products will fit your gaming needs."

The Perfect Shot and Net Connect will be available early in December at retailers nationwide and Nyko's online store for $14.99 and $24.99, respectively.

'Rat Race' Funnyman Hopes PlayStation 3's First Sitcom Video Game Fills Comedy Void

There are no jokes about black albino people in the upcoming PlayStation 3 sitcom video game "Rat Race."

This fact was confirmed by MTV News yesterday during an interview with comedian Victor Varnado, head writer of "Rat Race" and veteran stand-up comic, who has kicked off some of his televised routines making jokes about the fact that he is a black albino.

"We don't have any black albino characters in the game, so they would seem like a--holes if they made jokes about it," he said during an interview to promote his involvement in the bold new game.

Varnado is doing voice work for three characters — and screeching the role of a monkey — as well as serving as head writer and voice-acting director for Super-Ego Games' "Rat Race," a workplace video game comedy in the vein of "The Office," which will be rolled out as a series of downloadable, playable episodes on the PS3 this winter.

A press release touting Varnado's involvement mentions his connection to TV shows such as "Saturday Night Live," "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," "Flight of the Conchords" and "My Name Is Earl." (Watch one of his routines on his MySpace page.)

But in his interview with MTV News, Varnado flashed some other credentials that suit him well for his jobs on the upcoming game. "I've had a lot of experience with games that were meant to be funny," he said. "Anytime I can find a game that has a particularly unusual sense of humor, I play it." He said the text adventure "Loom" was an early comedy-game favorite. Other old adventure games stood out. More recently, he found the cutesy PSP game "Loco Roco." Also handy: "When I was in high school, I used to make video games — mostly stupid. I made a maze game where a blob would chase you down a maze. I tried to make a 3-D game; I could never get it to work."

So if he knows games as a player and an amateur programmer, surely he must know the problem: There aren't many comedy games these days. There used to be more, a slew of joke-filled adventures such as "The Secret of Monkey Island" and "Grim Fandango." In Varnado's view, some of the very things that games have gotten better at — visuals and interactivity — have lessened the need for developers to keep players engaged with humor. Those adventure games were popular in their day, but technology improved. "As soon as they got to the point where graphics got better, games got less funny," he said. Better gameplay also removed any outright need for a game to be funny. "If you looked at early games, they had very few game mechanics. Look at [1983's interactive cartoon/game] 'Dragon's Lair.' Not many gameplay mechanics, but it's great to look at and the comedy is funny."

"Rat Race" is an attempt to solve all this, taking a somewhat different path from the last significant game comedy attempt, the revived "Sam & Max" series, which just started a second season of downloadable PC point-and-click adventures. Super-Ego Games President Greg Easley recently told the Web site PS3Fanboy.com that his company's game will incorporate some traditional game mechanics, including stealth and shooting sequences.

"I can tell you that the jokes that work best in the gameplay are usually the more cerebral stuff," he said, referring to puns and wordplay and stuff that feels clever. By cerebral, he doesn't mean dry. Offering an example of his own style of cerebral comedy, he recounts the following gag from his stand-up: "I say, 'I'm a black albino, ladies. You know what I'm talking about: all the benefits of being black without the disappointed looks from your parents.' See, that joke, in order to make it funny, you have to put the last piece in it yourself." In "Rat Race" gameplay, some of this kind of thing will be appearing in dialogue-driven mini-games that include hundreds of possible lines that may be heard depending on how the player performs a gameplay task.

In the games non-interactive cut-scenes, however, he promises "wilder and zanier stuff." Some of that material seemed to have been released to the Web in October when four apparent trailers for the game, featuring zany non-interactive workplace scenes and ending in title cards promoting the game, appeared on GameTrailers.com. And for the most part, those "Rat Race" clips were ... trashed. "It's a game where you tell bad jokes?" one commenter wrote.

"Here's what really happened," said Varnado, who followed the reaction. "Some of the stuff that was leaked onto GameTrailers was some of the stuff meant for internal use, not something that was a finished product that would go out." He said some of the material was created to test the game's technology and didn't represent the finished product. "That isn't our best foot forward," he said. Only the video about the roach-bait commercial had gone through the proper approval process. And that one, he said, got the most positive response. "We'll make sure that what we put out next is something we've gone over and that we're proud of."

Varnado is confident that bad jokes will be weeded out well before gamers experience them. "Rule number one: It has to serve the game. Rule two: It has to be funny. Rule three: It has to be in character." And any joke that only gets laughed at by the person who wrote it won't be making the cut.

The first episode of "Rat Race," which will be "based around a Japanese toy that has to be redone for an American market because the toy is a little over-the-top violent," is set for release this winter via the PS3's PlayStation Network download service.

Source: MTV

VIDEO GAME REVIEWS

After selling almost 200 million games over more than two decades and generating untold billions of US dollars in revenue for Nintendo of Japan, Mario is back with two new games. Super Mario Galaxy, released this month for Nintendo's Wii console, is the first major new Mario game in five years. Also, Mario shares top billing with his longtime rival Sonic the Hedgehog in a separate new game, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games.

Mario has always starred in games for everyone. So to test whether it could still appeal to an overeducated, media-saturated audience, I assembled a panel of non-gaming yuppies in their 30s at my house last weekend, put the Wii controls in their hands and sat back to check the reaction.

Judging by the hours of giggles, chortles and guffaws, Mario still has the goods and that incessant tug to play just five more minutes.

The reaction in my living room and elsewhere around the world indicates that Super Mario Galaxy is more than a worthy successor to the franchise's considerable legacy of smiles. It is being widely hailed as the best game yet for the Wii and is drawing plaudits from gamers and magazines alike.

Super Mario is generally a single-player game, but in a nice innovation, a second player can jump in and use a Wii remote to control a separate cursor on the screen that can stun enemies, pick up treasure and otherwise assist the main user controlling Mario. The game's whole feel is so finely tuned, so infectiously enjoyable, that it's understandable why Shigeru Miyamoto, Mario's creator, has been one of the most famous game designers in the world for decades.

My panel of non-experts had a lot of fun with the game's Olympic "events" (up to four can play at one time), especially the trampoline, but that game still is not receiving the praise being lavished on Super Mario Galaxy.

Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa is another new game in an old series. How does it stack up?

The thing to understand is that playing a "massively multiplayer" online game, or MMO, is a commitment of money and time. MMO players routinely spend hundreds or even thousands of hours on their favorite games over many years. All of that time is an investment in building up the powers and abilities of one's virtual identity, not to mention the fun of adventuring with friends. For all that, players generally spend around US$15 a month.

Tabula Rasa is certainly a lot of fun, and it looks great. In an online gaming market deluged with dragons and elves, its fast-paced science-fiction combat is a refreshing change of pace. There are aliens descending all over the place and firefights stretching over gorgeously rendered landscapes.

Graphically, the game seems to take a page from Starship Troopers, with its bright colors and varied foes.

The big question is whether the game has enough depth to keep players coming back for months or years without devolving into a mindless repetition of "see alien, shoot gun, repeat."

Garriott and the rest of his team at NCsoft have been candid in saying that they are trying to appeal mostly to a broad base of casual gamers rather than to the smaller cadre of hard-core players who might spend 30 hours a week or more on a game.

More than four years after its debut, Eve Online is only now hitting its stride as one of the most interesting games in the world.

Eve takes place in a fictional galaxy in a far future, where humanity has splintered into four competing factions, the theocratic Amarr, the militaristic Caldari, the liberal Gallente and the rebel Minmatar. Players choose a side and find their own path.

At a stage when most games have long since stagnated, Eve continues to grow, recently passing 200,000 subscribers. CCP is planning a major graphics overhaul scheduled for Wednesday.

In many ways, Eve is like the real world. All 200,000 of Eve's players exist in one huge virtual galaxy spanning thousands of solar systems. About 40 percent of Eve's players are European, another 40 percent are North American and about 20 percent are from other continents. They all share one polyglot community around the clock, and at any moment tens of thousands of users are logged on.

More important, the economy and politics of Eve are almost entirely driven by the players themselves.

The most compelling aspect of Eve is that once players control a region of virtual space, they bear the responsibility of policing it, setting taxes, establishing diplomatic relations with neighboring groups and waging battles to protect their territory or take more. In most online games, the advanced content involves getting together with a few dozen friends to battle computer-controlled dragons and demons. In Eve, major battles involve hundreds of players fighting in starships in vast Star Wars-like firefights.

Source: Taipeit Times

Rise of the Video Game: Discovery Channel Special

Here in the US the Discovery channel has been running a fascinating documentary series about the rise (and fall) of the video game world.

On the first documentary it is shown how many ICONS of the video world were born
in the first wave of the video game boom (70's early 80's) and how thanks to limited resources, creativity was king (PacMan,Defender, Asteroids, Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, The Atari 2600, Pong )

...until the inevitable take over by the corporate world.
Creators were fired from the companies they created, an a more business mentality took over the whole industry.

After this there was a period of market over kill that drove quality to the ground.
And a lot creators and developers (the one who brought the boom in the first place) where left on the street.

One infamous example shiining example of games of this era is "ET the game" .
12 million copies of the games were produced at a time that ONLY 10 million users of the Atari 2600 existed. And to make matter worst the game was REALLY BAD.
So bad that most of them ended up used as landfill in New Mexico (true story) .
The result of this fiasco, and more like it, was the first video game market crash of the 80's.

For more information check out their site:
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/video-game/video-game.html

Confirmed: Video Games Rentals Hurt Sales

A new report by Magid Associates confirms what many already know -- that video game rentals (as is the case with any type of rental) significantly hinder sales.

Less than 10 percent of renters go on to purchase a play tested game says Game Daily. That same group only buys a tenth of the games they rent, however.

That's a sizable number considering that almost 40 percent of weekly console gamers report renting at least one game in the last year.

Teenagers, with limited or no disposable income, represent almost 30 percent of game renters even though they make up only 12 percent of the total gamer population.

"More often than not consumers tell us they don't buy a rental game because it was not very good or it is too short," says analyst Mike Vorhaus. "Rental play does not lead to significant purchases of those rented games."

Assassin's Creed video game- Review

Review from Star-Telegraph

For years, Assassin's Creed has been shrouded in secrecy, with Ubisoft giving the media only the briefest glimpses of the game, and teasing it with information.

Rule No. 1: Do not tease members of the media. (Trust me, we were all teased plenty as children.)

After a few lackluster showings, including a buggy demo during Microsoft's E3 press conference in July, the Assassin's Creed backlash officially began. Suddenly, the game went from being one of the most promising triple-A titles of the year to being voted "The Game We're Most Worried About" by the staff at Electronic Gaming Monthly.

The game's big secret -- and if you've been following it closely, then you've probably already figured it out -- is that you're not actually a cowl-wearing assassin in 1191 Jerusalem. You're a humble modern-day bartender.

You read that right -- a bartender.

But apparently one of your ancestors was indeed a cowl-wearing assassin in 1191. The sci-fi premise of the game is that the memories of our ancestors are actually stored in our DNA. And a pair of scientists, for reasons that eventually become clear to you, are holding you against your will, and forcing you to relive those ancestral memories.

The story isn't the only aspect of Assassin's Creed that feels complex.

During your memory sequences -- ostensibly flashbacks -- the control scheme also is complex. In fact, it's complex enough to merit not one but two nearly identical tutorials in the first hour of gameplay. No doubt you'll spend some time pressing the wrong buttons before you get the hang of them.

You play the game as Altair, the aforementioned cowl-wearing assassin. Think of him as a kind of Old World Batman. Your mission is to track down and assassinate various crime lords, politicians and all-around bad guys. You're not a welcome presence in the cities; if the street-roaming guards spot you, they'll take chase. So, like Batman, you'll spend much of the game lurking on rooftops, peering down at the action below, tracking your marks and finding the right moments to strike.

You pickpocket targets, eavesdrop on conversations or trail targets into back alleys, wait for them to be alone, then beat a confession out of them.

Sound complicated? Oh, it is. Indeed, there's a pretty substantial hump to get over in the first few hours of the game.

It's difficult to see the appeal of Assassin's Creed in the first hour or two of gameplay. It's not an easy game to like. It's heady. It's mature. It's complicated. The game's world -- three massive cities spread over hundreds of virtual miles -- feels too vast, too overwhelming.

To its credit, Assassin's Creed feels decidedly adult. In fact, it's one of the most adult games, in theme and content, the 30-or-so-year-old medium has ever seen. It made me realize how few games display this degree of maturity. We could certainly use more of them.

I admire Assassin's Creed for its scale and scope, for its terrific writing, for its supremely gorgeous look, and for its ambitions, for what it attempts to do.

I only wish that I enjoyed playing it more.

Nintendo admits Wii video game system shortages are a "missed opportunity"

There's no supply conspiracy, says Nintendo boss

Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has admitted that the shortage of Wii units at retail is a missed opportunity for the company.

And he dismissed the conspiracy theory that Nintendo is holding back stock to drive demand, saying such a move would be counterintuitive to the audience it is trying to sell to.

"At this point we are literally trying to catch up with demand," said Fils-Aime, in an interview with news.com.

"There is no secret plan to store Wiis in a warehouse to spur demand. The company, after all, is trying to reach out to women and 40 and 50-year olds who aren't avid gamers."

"They aren't going to sleep outside of a store overnight or visit a retailer five or six times. It is literally a missed opportunity," he said.

Although the Wii is being snatched up just as fast as Nintendo can supply units to retail – with HMV last week telling GamesIndustry.biz that the console is selling out within minutes – it hasn't stopped the company from clocking up massive sales numbers.

During the Thanksgiving period last week, Nintendo sold over 350,000 Wiis in the US.

Nintendo DS video games player sales smash Game Boy Advance record

Nintendo of America enjoys record-breaking week

Nintendo of America has set a new sales record by selling more products during the Thanksgiving week than at any other time in the company's history.

During the period November 18 to November 24, over 653,000 DS units were sold, smashing the previous record of 600,000 Game Boy Advance consoles sold in 2005.

A further 350,000 Wii home systems were also snapped up by Christmas shoppers, along with "millions of games and accessories".

"As shoppers look for ways to maximize their limited holiday spending money, they turn to gifts that can be used by the entire family," commented George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications.

"Wii and Nintendo DS offer something for every member of the family. They're the most fun video game experiences at the most affordable price."