Pimp An Orc With Fantasy Wars

WIN THE LATEST PC GAMING PERIPHERALS FROM SAITEK AT www.PIMP-MY-ORC.com

Fantasy Wars is a turn based battle strategy game for PC from Ascaron Entertainment to be released in February 2008. To celebrate the launch we are offering you the chance to ‘pimp an Orc’ and win a copy of the Fantasy Wars game and the new CYBORG headset, CYBORG command unit and CYBORG mouse from Saitek, collectively worth nearly £200.

Simply go to www.pimp-my-orc.com, download the three Orc heads and get going! Start editing and uploading pictures of your friends and family, or have fun with some of your less favourite B list celebrities and pop stars.

Examples of Orcs already ‘pimped’ include an ‘Elvis Orc’ and a ‘Guns ‘n’ Roses Slash Orc’. Get in on the act and create Amy WineOrc, Pete DOrchety, Christiano RonaldOrc or anyone else you would like to give a mOrc-over.

Find everything you need to participate at www.pimp-my-orc.com.

Fantasy Wars

Fantasy Wars is a turn based battle strategy game for PC from Ascaron Entertainment

Take on campaigns or missions as either the Humans or Orcs, later unlocking the Elf and Dwarf armies. Complete set tasks to win your mission, defeating the opposing enemy. The faster you complete missions, the higher your score.

www.FantasyWars-thegame.com


Saitek Cyborg Range

The Saitek Cyborg range of PC gaming peripherals have been innovatively designed to suit the hardcore gamer’s needs. The headset has built in 5.1 surround sound, the command unit has over 144 programmable buttons and allows the user to easily switch between FPS, RPG and strategy games, while the Cyborg mouse is the ultimate in extreme gaming comfort as it expands or contracts to fit the palm of your hand.

www.Saitek.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

Alan Hansen's Sports Challenge video game for Nintendo Wii

Alan Hansen gives us his take on his own beautiful game

Northamptonshire, UK: Oxygen Games has been fortunate enough to get an interview with Mr Football himself, Alan Hansen, star of Alan Hansen’s Sports Challenge, for Playstation 2, PC and Wii.

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Oxygen Games: What made you decide to put your name and talents into a videogame?

Alan Hansen: I liked the concept and thought it would be quite a fun project to be involved with. And I was right!

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Oxygen Games: What has it been like working with Oxygen?

Alan Hansen: It’s been great – everyone is very professional but still retains a sense of fun. My involvement with this has been a lot easier than working on TV and radio; I was able to just go to the recording studio and do my stuff. Nobody yelling “Cut” every time I recorded a take! Shooting the promo ad was really fun too.

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Oxygen Games: What’s been the best/most fun aspect of making this game?

Alan Hansen: Several things really; working with Oxygen was great, as I mentioned earlier but also, being given a free hand in the voice-over.

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Oxygen Games: Would you consider doing more videogames in the future?

Alan Hansen: I might; really it would depend upon the project.

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Oxygen Games: How does voicing a game differ from television or radio work?

Alan Hansen: I can only speak from my own experience but I found it to be much less frenetic. Certainly there’s less pressure, and as I said before, there was no script. They let me do more or less what I liked.

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Oxygen Games: Which is your favourite part or feature of the game?

Alan Hansen: Being the kind of person that likes to exercise his brain, I’d have to say the questions. Although having said that, my caricature is pretty amusing!

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Oxygen Games: Would you recommend Alan Hansen’s Sports Challenge to your friends and family?

Alan Hansen: Of course! In fact, I may have to insist they play it this Christmas!

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Oxygen Games: Would you recommend it to strangers?! Why? What about it makes it so good?

Alan Hansen: Again, of course I would. What makes it good...apart from *my* involvement, you mean?! Let me see – well, I suppose the fact that you have to think on your feet, so to speak; you have to be quick off the mark if you want to win, and it’s really good fun. A bit like sport eh?

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Oxygen Games: Have you played Cheggers’ Party Quiz? If not, would you and do you think you’d be any good at it?

Alan Hansen: To be completely honest, I’m not really a games person, although obviously I *have* played this one. However, as I said before in another interview, it’s important to keep the mind as well as the body in shape – quiz games are great for this.

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Oxygen Games: Who’d do better – you playing Cheggers’ quiz or Cheggers playing yours?

Alan Hansen: I believe Keith Chegwin said that I’d fare much better playing his game than he would mine…I think it would be ungentlemanly of me to contradict him!

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Alan Hansen’s Sports Challenge (along with Cheggers' Party Quiz), for Playstation 2 & PC is in the shops now, with the Wii™ version released tomorrow, December 7th.

Another Shot Across Bows For Piracy As Market Trader Jailed

Eight months imprisonment given to rogue trader

A market trader who made a living selling illegally copied games worth thousands of pounds at a Wolverhampton market has been jailed for eight months.

Christopher Charles Jones, 40, of Century Court, Edlington, Doncaster was sentenced on Friday 30th November at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court to eight months imprisonment for having sold illegally copied games – most notably single discs containing 400 games for Sony’s PlayStation Portable (PSP) console, among others. The combined value of each individual PSP game on the disc has been estimated to be “in the thousands”, but Jones was selling each one for just £5.

Mr Jones was initially arrested following a raid executed by West Midlands Police and Wolverhapton City Council Trading Standards on 11th April 2006. He had been under surveillance for some time by ELSPA (the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association) investigators, who had been secretly filming his criminal activity and making test purchases.

During his first court appearance on Tuesday 27th November, Jones admitted 21 charges relating to copyright breaches after the raid at the North Computer market at Wolverhampton’s Dunstall Racecourse, before being charged and jailed for eight months on 30th November before a bench of three magistrates.

Peter Calvert, Wolverhampton City Council Trading Standards Manager, said: “This prosecution underlines the City Council’s commitment to fighting the scourge of counterfeiting. Selling fake items is designed to dupe innocent consumers, harm the livelihoods of honest businesses and line the pockets of the greedy. The City Council will continue to deal robustly with those involved in this trade in Wolverhampton.”

Michael Rawlinson, managing director of ELSPA commented: “It’s clear from the recent successes in bringing to justice those who think they can get away with illegally copying games and profiting from their sale that piracy and counterfeiting doesn’t pay. This case only goes to prove that through patience and diligence Trading Standards, local police and the anti-piracy investigators are making it harder than ever for criminals to operate.”

SouthPeak Edges the Twilight video game announced

SouthPeak Games has announced early details of its latest acquisition, an epic third-person action adventure called Edge of Twilight.

Developed by FUZZEYES, Edge of Twilight promises to deliver spectacular cinematic action and involved exploration when released for next-gen consoles and PC in 2009. This sees SouthPeak’s catalogue expand beyond releases for 2008, cementing the publisher’s plans for continued growth throughout the next 18 months.

“Edge of Twilight appealed to us because of its exquisitely original vision,” said Katie Morgan, Executive Vice President at SouthPeak Games. “We look forward to working with the talented team at FUZZYEYES on this incredibly ambitious title.”

Edge of Twilight is set in a post-apocalyptic dual universe where light and dark no longer co-exist, but are instead fractured into two separate planes of existence. With the player’s character, Lex, as the only ‘halfbreed’ left who can travel between the light and dark worlds, the scene is set for a truly vast adventure taking place within parallel realms, both rich enough to become living, breathing universes.

“Edge of Twilight has been our labour of love for some time now and we could not be more excited to partner with SouthPeak to bring it to market,” said Wei-Yao Lu, CEO of FUZZYEYES. “There is still so much to reveal about the game that we can’t wait to share more.”

Edge of Twilight will be released on next-gen consoles and PC in 2009.

Bounty Bay Online Free PC download

Game client for free now, and first add-on "Storm Island" released

Starting today, it’s even easier to become a world famous pirate, explore the seven seas and collect treasures beyond imagination in the award-winning MMORPG Bounty Bay Online. The game client – previously sold for 20 Pound Sterling or 30 Euros – now is completely free. It can be downloaded from the official website (www.BountyBayOnline.com) and it also includes a 10 days free trial period.

The change to a “free client” business model is a way to improve BBO game-play by offering a slick, easy way to get into the game. Players who already bought the boxed version of the game will be compensated with a free month playing time.

Also starting today, the first free add-on for Bounty Bay Online called “Storm Island” is available. This add-on will be included in the content update applied automatically when the players log in. It contains a new tropical island close to the North American coast. There, evil creatures wait guarding precious treasures.

Features of BBO – Storm Island:
- A large new island full of dangers and adventures for the most courageous players
- Level cap has been raised from 100 to 120, giving players the possibility to improve their characters skills even further
- 21 additional special abilities for fishing, stamina, sewing, shipbuilding, foundry and more
- New quests and new dungeons, made especially for groups of adventurers
- New enemies, monsters, weapons, armour and extras
- Brand new gem system, which allows players to upgrade their weapon and armour. Now you can upgrade your favourite items to match the new requirements

Bounty Bay Online puts gamers in the Age of Discovery, beginning in the early part of the 15th century. Gamers are able to build their own online destiny, whether they choose to be a merchant, adventurer, fisherman or pirate. Besides Europe, the continents of Africa, Asia and North America also wait to be explored by Bounty Bay players.
More info: www.BountyBayOnline.com

BBC Radio 4 - games design competition for students

2005 winners
Dare to be Digital Radio Stars set the scene for 2008

Dare to be Digital, the UK’s premier computer games design competition for students, will feature in a documentary on primetime BBC Radio 4 next Friday (14 December).

The University of Abertay Dundee, which organises the annual contest, confirmed today that “Game Academy”, a two-part documentary series revealing the challenges and achievements of the 60 students who took part in the 2007 competition, will be aired in prime morning slots on 14 and 21 December at 11am.

Indie documentary production company Wantok were commissioned by BBC Radio 4 to track the competition from start to finish, and spent more than 10 weeks shadowing the 12 teams competing in three host centres across the UK.

Part one of the documentary focuses on the host centre at Abertay in Dundee, which the producers describe as having “quietly become the Hollywood and Harvard of the UK games industry all rolled into one.” The programme will trace Dundee’s “incredible transition from jute and jam to digital dynamo”, and will feature a rare interview with David Jones, the Dundee genius behind global blockbusters like Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto.

Part two of the documentary looks at the tense round-the-clock work in the final weeks of the competition as the 12 teams prepared to show their games to the public in the Dare ProtoPlay event at the Edinburgh Festival, followed by the final ‘Dragon’s Den’ style judging by a panel of industry experts. The three winning teams are then followed as they prepare to compete for a BAFTA in late October.

Paul Durrant, Dare to be Digital Director, commented “We are delighted that the programme will be broadcast in such a prestigious slot following Women’s Hour and are certain it will open up the games industry to a whole new audience.”

Cooking Mama - A million copies served up around Europe

505 Games today raised a glass as the European sales of its celebrated Cooking Mama franchise surpassed one million units. Released initially on Nintendo DS and later for Wii, the series becomes 505 Games’ most successful title to date.

Since its September 2006 release, Mama has sliced, chopped and sautéed her way into the hearts of casual and hardcore gamers alike with her unique and easily accessible ‘hands-on’ gameplay. And with plans for the much-anticipated sequel to be released in 2008 in full motion, budding chefs keen to serve up seconds won’t have long to wait.

“These fantastic results vindicate the hard work and dedication from everyone at 505 that has gone into making this our most successful franchise to date,” commented Ian Howe, 505 Games’ Managing Director. “We’ve set ourselves a lofty target, but now we’re all keen to see how quickly we can get Cooking Mama 2 to one million!”

Cooking Mama is available in all good gaming outlets for DS and Wii. Cooking Mama 2 is currently scheduled for an early 2008 release.

EA'S FIFA STREET 3 TURNS GLOBAL FOOTBALL ICONS INTO ACTION HEROES FOR THE NINTENDO DS

Intuitive, New Touch Skills Control System Uses Stylus to Perform Over-the-Top Moves

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that FIFA Street 3 is in development for the Nintendo DS™. The newest iteration of the street football arcade series will debut on the Nintendo DS with a new look that turns the game’s global football icons into stylized action heroes. This game features an intuitive Touch Screen control system using the stylus that enables you to easily perform over-the-top trick moves, passes and shots. FIFA Street 3 is scheduled to ship to stores under the EA SPORTS BIG™ brand early next year, the same time the game becomes available on the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.
FIFA Street 3 creates a fast-paced and larger-than-life arcade football experience which places the game’s biggest stars in exotic locales around the world. Featuring the world’s best players representing 18 of the top international teams, each player has been rendered into a stylized caricature with heroic qualities.

With the all new FIFA Street 3 Touch Screen control scheme you can control all aspects of your team’s performance from passing and shooting to more advanced moves like juggling, headers and bicycle kicks. Use the stylus and simple button controls to seamlessly combine moves together between players to execute rewarding combos – providing you with tons of different ways to showcase your street skills. Fill up your Gamebreaker bar and trigger Touch Screen controlled team trick moments to increase your chances of scoring a goal.

FIFA Street 3 on the Nintendo DS features an exclusive mini-game called Kick Ups that will challenge you to keep the ball in the air and test your ball juggling skills.


Build your team around your favourite player in Street Challenge Mode, and then take them from Pretender to Legendary status by completing challenges, developing Team Chemistry, improving your Reputation and unlocking balls, kits and a few surprises. Take your team to the urban playgrounds of South America, the rooftops in Asia, the streets of Europe, or a special location in Africa exclusive to the Nintendo DS.

Take your football heroes to the streets and experience the revolution in street football. FIFA Street 3 is rated “E” for Everyone and 3+ by PEGI.

BEEzzz to the Honeypot with Latest Launch

Hands-On Mobile™, the world's leading developer of connected games and applications, today announces the launch of BEEzzz. Developed and published in partnership with XENDEX Gmbh, BEEzzz is an addictive action puzzle game in which your bee buzzes between different coloured flowers, building ever more spectacular flower chains. Quick wits and sharp moves such as the 'slingshot technique' enable the player to quickly navigate around the bee's lush world, pollinating as they go in their race against the clock and their own scores.

"Action-puzzle titles such as BEEzzz have an incredibly broad appeal we are delighted that we are providing such an exciting, cute and playable game on mobile,” said James Kaye, Director of Marketing EMEA for Hands-On Mobile. "We are also delighted that our partnership with XENDEX has become yet another example of Hands-On Mobile working with the cream of developer talent to bring the very best mobile content to users around the world."

The aim of the game is to build up your position within the hive. Players start the game as a worker drone, but with time, highly skilled players can become the Queen of the hive. Collecting combos from different coloured flowers multiplies the player's score and restores health levels. The game's expansive features include special 'Bee Candy' that can be discovered hidden within every level, as well as new areas that are unlocked as the player progresses.

"Developing BEEzzz in partnership with Hands-On Mobile has been incredibly enjoyable for everyone at XENDEX," said Michael Haberl, CEO of XENDEX. "We are very excited that this game will be enjoyed by mobile gamers around the world through Hands-On Mobile's extensive distribution channels and we look forward to the next opportunity we have to work together."

BEEzzz's accessible controls enable all types of players to pick up and play the game, making the task of beating previous high scores a challenging and enjoyable task. In addition to the easy gameplay the unique and vibrant graphics make BEEzzz instantly recognisable, easy to play and compelling. The addictive nature of BEEzzz should see players regularly dipping back into the game's environment of the flora, fauna and for another sweet taste of nectar.

Urban Rivals - 100 million games played!

Boostr, the developers of Urban Rivals, a massive online trading card game has announced over 100 million games have been played since the website launched in 2006.

This news follows a recent announcement in November that the Urban Rivals player base had reached over 1 million players.

Sebastien Flory, Boostr's CEO said; "It's been exciting to reach two huge milestones like this in quick succession. Over 300,000 games of Urban Rivals are played everyday, it's very compelling content".

Urban Rival's popularity has seen numbers snowball with up to 10,000 new players registering each day. The simple, yet absorbing game format of quick battles, masses of available opponents and innovative tools to manage your game characters has proven to be a successful formula.

Sebastien reflected on Urban Rivals growth, "We've developed a game that players really want to tell their friends about and the viral, wordof- mouth effect has been amazing. We have the same people to thank for this as the last announcement, our players and community.

Twisted Metal: Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition

FACT SHEET

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA)
Developer: Eat Sleep Play
Genre: Car Combat
Players: Single-player, 2-player Split-screen
Platform: PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system
Peripherals: DUALSHOCK 2 analog controller, memory card (8MB)
(for PlayStation 2)
Launch Date: TBA
Rating: “RP” for “Rating Pending”

BACKGROUND

Developed by Eat, Sleep, Play, a newly formed company founded by David Jaffe, a former creative director for SCEA’s Santa Monica Studios; and Scott Campbell, the founder of Incognito Entertainment, a dedicated development studio also under the SCEA Santa Monica Studios banner, Twisted Metal: Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition is set to crash onto the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system in Spring 2008.

Featuring enhanced graphics and key gameplay features from the popular PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) title, Twisted Metal™: Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition features four never before seen “Lost” levels that were built for the never-released Twisted Metal: Black® sequel, plus an all-new never before seen Twisted Metal™: Head- On level. Additionally, for the first time ever, fans will be able to take “Sweet Tooth” out of his ice cream truck and explore, on foot, an all new level filled with factoids about the Twisted Metal universe straight from the developers. Also, included with the game is an art booklet featuring never released concept art from the franchise.

Twisted Metal: Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition provides all the fast-paced vehicular combat and destruction that fans of the franchise have come to know and love. The latest installment in the multi-million selling franchise provides a variety of gameplay options, as gamers can go head-to-head or compete against the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deliver the devastation as they strap themselves into one of 14 lethal machines on wheels equipped with machine guns, turbo boosts and special attacks unique to each vehicle.

KEY FEATURES

Twisted Metal: Head-On
• Modes of Play
• Story Mode – Drivers choose their vehicle and progress through a series of arenas.
• Challenge – Drivers choose their vehicle, arena, AI controlled enemies, then go off to battle.
• Endurance – Drivers take on an endless onslaught of AI controlled opponents until the end.
• Players – Single-player or 2-player split-screen.
• Vehicles – Choose from different destructive vehicles. Each vehicle is armed with serious firepower, turbo boost and each with a unique devastating specialty attack.
• Vehicles: Roadkill, Shadow, Mr. Grimm, Sweet Tooth, Thumper, Spectre, Twister, Outlaw, Grasshopper, WartHog, Axel.
• Unlockable Vehicles: Mr. Slam, Crimson Fury, Hammerhead, Cousin Eddy, ATV, Dark Tooth, Tower Tooth.
• Environments / Battlegrounds – Unleash mayhem in a variety of different levels, including: Paris, Egypt, Tokyo, and Los Angeles, plus a bonus level, exclusive to the PS2 version.
• Weapons – Players can collect an arsenal of weaponry to deliver explosive attacks on opponent vehicles, including: homing, fire and power missiles, machine gun, ricochet disc, napalm, remote bomb and swarm missiles.
• Upgrade Power-Ups – Players can finish off opponents and collect Upgrade Power-Ups to enhance vehicle and weapon performance.

Twisted Metal: Lost
• Modes of Play
• Story Mode – Drivers choose their vehicle and progress through a series of arenas.
• Challenge – Drivers choose their vehicle, arena, AI controlled enemies, then go off to battle.
• Endurance – Drivers take on an endless onslaught of AI controlled opponents until the end.
• Players – Single-player or 2-player split-screen.
• Vehicles – Reminisce with classic characters and vehicles from the Twisted Metal: Black universe.
• Vehicles: Roadkill, Crazy 8, Mr. Grimm, Shadow, Brimstone, Axel, DarkSide, Outlaw,
Sweet Tooth, Yellow Jacket, Junkyard Dog, Spectre, Manslaughter, Warthog.
• Unlockable Vehicles: 12-pak (NEW), Gold Tooth (NEW).
• Environments / Battlegrounds – 4 exclusive never before played levels from Twisted Metal: Black.

Bonus Content
• “Sweet Tour” – Players can run around as Sweet Tooth and explore a new level on and foot and learn factoids about the Twisted Metal franchise straight from the developers.
• “Twisted Metal: The Dark Past” – Fans will be able to view a video documentary on the
Twisted Metal franchise.
• “Twisted Metal: The Lost Ending Movies” – Never before seen from the editing room floor, check out the ending movies that never made it into the final version of the original Twisted Metal.

Elf Bowling 7 1/7 for PC - Download game trial demo

Slide, Strike and Score Your Way to Christmas Bowling Fun!

If you’re looking for the ideal family-friendly stocking stuffer to include in holiday wish lists and gift guides this season, Elf Bowling 71/7– The Last Insult is just what you’ve been waiting for! Whether that someone special on Santa’s list has been naughty or nice, Elf Bowling 71/7 can bring all the fun of the holidays straight to your PC!

In this latest installment of the game that’s become a holiday staple, Santa needs help showing his wise-cracking elves what the true meaning of "strike" is! Players can compete in a crazy bowling game with the elves serving as the pins, while they provide their own special, colorful commentary.

Elf Bowling 71/7 is more mischievous and wackier than ever!

· Three unique bowling lanes: Pirate Ship, Ice Berg and Santa’s Workshop

· Play solo or against the computer-generated rival

· Power-ups to either enhance the game or sabotage an opponent’s

At only $9.99, Elf Bowling 71/7 is just the thing to get into the holiday spirit. Developed by NStorm and published by MumboJumbo, Elf Bowling 71/7 is now available across leading game sites worldwide.

For your review, please enjoy this enclosed trial version of Elf Bowling 71/7!

http://mumbojumbo.com/marketing/Elf_Bowling_7-v1_0.exe

Happy Bowl-a-Days!

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Teaslers - Pc game announced

House Walk Games reveals the dates of new title for PC – Teaslers

In this new smashing shoot-out game you are playing for Teasler Jr., defending your back yard from evil neighbor kids Butch and Lisa. Who will be the King of the Hill? Will you defend your territory and become a hero? Now its time to teach them a lesson! Teaslers’ Jr. brother, Mike will help with making Butch and Lisa show themselves from the bushes so that a terrifying weapon – The Pea Pipe could be used!

House Walk Games will release Teaslers before Christmas 2007 through its web site (www.Teaslers.com) and its own distribution network, however today players can pre-order the game from the web site and be the first to get hours of pure FUN!

As per well known “Try&Buy” model, Demo version will be freely downloadable and will be different from the full version in one way only – the round time will be decreased to 1 minute. For those who want the full scale action, a full version with 3 minutes round time is available at the price of $9,75. Both Demo and Full Version players will be able to publish their scores online, however full version owners will surely have an advantage of a longer game round.

Teaslers Game was developed using Flash technologies which means it would run on almost any PC, no matter what the operation system or computer performance is. Selected sound effects will add an extra fun-factor, as each item you can shoot to score has its own “You Got Me” sound. The game features over 50 interactive hidden items and characters so each new round would never be the same.

Strategy First Releases Download Patch 1.03 For Culpa Innata

Software Publisher Strategy First Inc., a subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings, Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSTR), released a new Patch for “Culpa Innata” today. The Culpa Innata patch version 1.03 will solve and/or improve the following in-game issues:

1-Several Vista stability issues solved
2-A rare puzzle bug was fixed.

Please note that Players’ saves will not be affected by this patch and can be installed at any point during gameplay.

The patch 1.03 can be downloaded directly from our website at:

http://www.strategyfirst.com/en/games/CulpaInnata/downloads/#Downloads579

Zero G controllers for Sony PlayStation 2

The Official Licensed Products "Zero G Wireless Controller" (29.99€ / 22,99£, RRP) and "Zero G Motion Controller" (24.99€ / 17,99£, RRP) for use with PlayStation 2 are readily available in stores all over Europe and the PAL territories. Both game pads are branded with the PlayStation logo and the packaging complies with the design guidelines of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

Information on and support for the new Zero G Controllers is given within the new product web page www.zero-g.eu

The unique motion sensitive "Motion Controller" introduces motion sensing technology to PlayStation 2: a 3D motion sensor provides for intuitive steering and movement, matching the functions of the left mini joystick. The sensor can be turned on and off, accommodating the player’s individual preferences. The official license grants for optimum software compatibility. The "Wireless Controller" with a turbo feature for all analogue buttons provides for up to 300 h wireless gaming experience within a range of 10 m. Both devices are equipped with switchable vibration effects.

Official website for Penumbra Black Plague

Paradox Interactive announced today the launch of the official website for horror adventure Penumbra: Black Plague. At http://www.paradoxplaza.com/penumbra, gamers will find everything they need to know about the dark psychological horror experience that had everybody talking about Penumbra earlier this year.

In addition to game info, the website will be continuously updated with news, screens, trailers and in-game videos. The publisher also promises to feature exclusive developer interviews, behind the scene information, contests and more.

Penumbra Black Plague is set for a worldwide release during Q1, 2008 and suggested retail price is $19,99/€19.99.

The psychological horror continues – how long can you keep your sanity…?

Independent prequel, Penumbra: Overture, is available on GamersGate and retails for $19,99/€19.99.

Namco Bandai games launches CULDCEPT SAGA demo on XBOX LIVE

Demo for Unique Trading Card and Board Game Hybrid Hits Xbox LIVE with Single and Multiplayer Modes

NAMCO BANDAI Games America announced today that a free Culdcept SAGA demo is now available for download on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Culdcept SAGA combines the luck and strategy of a board game with the depth of a trading card game to create a unique fusion of traditional turn-based play. The Xbox LIVE demo allows players to experience both the single and multiplayer portions of the game with two different gameplay modes.

In Culdcept SAGA, players move around a game board and attempt to claim ownership of land squares while battling enemy monsters. Players can customize their own unique decks, choosing from nearly 500 hand-illustrated cards with fearsome monsters, powerful spells and useful equipment. New cards can be unlocked by playing through the game’s single player and multiplayer modes, and players can also venture online with custom decks to participate in strategic clashes for up to four players on Xbox LIVE.

The newly released demo includes both single and multiplayer modes in which players can learn the rules of the game using several pre-made decks. The multiplayer portion of the demo allows up to four players to compete against one another on a single system, matching tactics and upgrading their minions in an addictive battle for territory.

Culdcept SAGA will launch for the Xbox 360 on February 5, 2008 for a suggested retail price of $39.99. For more information, please visit: www.namcobandaigames.com.

Activision video games Christmas Line-Up for Gamers

Activision, is making wishes come true this holiday season with games for kids of all ages and interests from the top brands in interactive entertainment including Call of Duty® 4: Modern WarfareTM and Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock to games based on such blockbuster movie hits as "TRANSFORMERS," Sony Pictures Entertainment's Columbia Pictures' and Marvel Studios' "Spider-Man 3," and DreamWorks Animation's "Bee MovieTM" and "Shrek the ThirdTM."

Titles Based on Top Brands in Interactive Entertainment:

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - The new action-thriller from the award-winning team at Infinity Ward, the creators of the Call of Duty® series, delivers the most intense and cinematic action experience ever. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare arms gamers with an arsenal of advanced and powerful modern day firepower and transports them to the most treacherous hotspots around the globe to take on a rogue enemy group threatening the world. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is available for the Xbox 360TM video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Windows® PC and is rated "M" for Mature.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock - Fire up the fretboard, crank up the amp and get ready to rock like never before. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock offers the ultimate rock experience with new wireless guitars, freshly added content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer modes allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true rock status as they riff through a star-studded soundtrack including master tracks by legendary artists such as Aerosmith, Guns 'N' Roses, The Rolling Stones, Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine and Pearl Jam, as well as original songs by guitar icons Slash and Tom Morello. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is now available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, WiiTM home video game system from Nintendo, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, and is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB.

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground - In the largest and deepest Tony Hawk game yet, gamers are now in total control of their skating destiny in Tony Hawk's Proving Ground. Set in the streets of Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., the title empowers players with the freedom to define their character, story and style based on the choices they make, the paths they select and the style of skating they want. Tony Hawk's Proving Ground is available for the Xbox 360TM video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, WiiTM, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the Nintendo DSTM and is rated "T" for Teen.

Enemy Territory: QUAKE WarsTM - Set within the expansive QUAKE universe in the year 2065, id Software's Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars offers the ultimate in objective-based multiplayer action, either online or offline with computer controlled players. Up to 24 gamers can play online, electing to play as the human GDF or alien Strogg in one of five unique character classes, and employ an arsenal of weapons, vehicles and deployable armaments for an action-packed test of skill and coordinated teamwork through a series of combat objectives. Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars is available for Windows PC and is rated "T" for Teen.

Titles Based on Blockbuster Movies:

Bee MovieTM Game - Based on DreamWorks Animation's hit movie from creator Jerry Seinfeld, Bee Movie Game allows players to race, chase, fly and blast their way through the adrenaline-fueled world from the feature film and beyond. As the witty and courageous Barry B. Benson, gamers are propelled on an exciting adventure to save the bee's right to produce honey. Bee Movie Game is available for the Xbox 360TM video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo WiiTM and DSTM and Games for Windows®. The game is rated "E" for Everyone.

Shrek the ThirdTM - In the Shrek the Third video game, players adventure as Shrek® and friends to save Far Far Away in a hilariously twisted fairy tale from the movie and beyond. Gamers assume the role of their favorite characters from the film - Shrek, Donkey, Puss-in-Boots, Fiona, Artie and Sleeping Beauty - and embark on an all-new adventure to save the land from the evil clutches of Prince Charming. Shrek the Third is available for the Xbox 360TM video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo WiiTM, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system and Windows® PC and is rated "E10+" for Everyone 10 and older. The Nintendo DSTM and Game Boy® Advance versions of the game are rated "E" for Everyone.

Shrek®: Ogres and DronkeysTM - Shrek: Ogres and Dronkeys gives handheld gamers the chance to train, play and explore with Shrek and Fiona's adorable triplets and Donkey and Dragon's playful offspring, the Dronkeys. Once ready, players use the mischievous youngsters' newly learned skills and talents to embark on an exciting journey of puzzle solving and mini-game mayhem throughout the hilarious world of Shrek. The game is available for the Nintendo DSTM and is rated "E" for Everyone.

Spider-ManTM 3 - Based on Sony Pictures Entertainment's Columbia Pictures' blockbuster feature film, Spider-Man 3 allows players to experience the actions of heroic red-suited Spider-Man and, for the first time ever, his darker, more mysterious black-suited persona. Set in a larger, dynamic, free-roaming New York City, the game gives players the freedom to choose their own gameplay experience through multiple movie-based and original storylines, fully integrated city missions and performance rewards including improved speed, combat maneuvers and agility. Spider-Man 3 is available for the Xbox 360TM video game system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Windows® PC, Nintendo WiiTM, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, and PSP® and is rated "T" for Teen. The Nintendo DSTM and Game Boy® Advance versions are rated "E10+" for Everyone 10 and older.

Spider-ManTM: Friend or Foe - Inspired by the Spider-Man film trilogy and the classic Spider-ManTM comics, Spider-Man: Friend or Foe was designed for younger Spider-Man fans and challenges them to defeat and then join forces with notorious movie nemeses including Doc Ock, Green Goblin, Venom and Sandman, as they embark on an epic quest to overcome a worldwide evil threat. Spider-Man: Friend or Foe is available for the Xbox 360TM video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo WiiTM, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DSTM, PSP® and Windows® PC and is rated "E10+" for Everyone 10 and older.

TRANSFORMERS: The Game - Based on Hasbro's TRANSFORMERS property and the blockbuster live-action feature film from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, TRANSFORMERS: The Game lets gamers control the outcome in the battle for Earth as they choose to protect it as AUTOBOTS or destroy it as DECEPTICONS. The game is available for the Xbox 360TM video game system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Nintendo WiiTM, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, and Windows® PC and is rated "T" for Teen. The Nintendo DSTM and PSP® games are rated "E10+" for Everyone 10 and older.

About Spider-Man Merchandising, L.P.

Spider-Man Merchandising, L.P. is a 50/50 limited partnership comprised of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and Sony Pictures Consumer Products, Inc. The partnership oversees all of the licensing and merchandising activities for the Columbia Pictures Spider-ManTM feature films as well as the Sony Pictures Television's animated series entitled "The Spectacular Spider-Man," all based on the Marvel characters.

New Official North American Web Site for AGEOD's American Civil War Launched

cdv Software Entertainment USA today launched the official North American Web site for AGEOD’s American Civil War: 1861-1865 – The Blue and the Gray, their upcoming American Civil War strategy game. The new site offers in-depth information about the game, developed by acclaimed designer Philippe Thibaut, along with screens, unit renders and more. For more information about the game, which features some of the most famous campaigns of the war, along with meticulously detailed units and the largest map created for a Civil War title, please visit the new official site at http://civilwar.cdvusa.com.

AGEOD’s American Civil War: 1861-1865 – The Blue and the Gray is a historical war game that places players at the head of the United States or the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Players take on the roles of military and political leaders trying to lead their factions to military, political or economic victory during five historic years that divided the nation. Players must organize their military forces, all while managing supply and morale as they plan actions over land, sea and by rail. The game consists of challenging scenarios, campaigns and grand campaigns, all played out on the largest American Civil War map ever created for a game. Strategy gaming fans will face a daunting challenge in this authentic title created by Philippe Thibaut, renowned designer of the award-winning Europa Universalis, Pax Romana and Birth of America.

Halo 3 developers to be interviewed LIVE by Eurogamer

Bungie Studios Production Director Jonty Barnes and Writing Lead Frank O'Connor are set to face questions from Eurogamer.net readers in the site's latest LiveText interview on December 7th.

The interview will begin at 3pm GMT.

Eurogamer LiveText interviews allow the site's readers to submit questions to interviewees through a moderator, with answers appearing live on the website without the need for page-refreshing.

Barnes and O'Connor are part of the team responsible for the multi-million-selling Xbox 360 exclusive Halo 3, and will be following in the footsteps of Lionhead Studios head Peter Molyneux – who faced questions for nearly two hours last Friday – and Naughty Dog co-president Evan Wells.

A transcript of the Peter Molyneux interview can be found at: http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=88581

"Eurogamer readers have really embraced the LiveText concept since Evan helped us introduce it last month," said Eurogamer Deputy Editor Tom Bramwell. "Not only does it give them the chance to speak directly to the people making the games they buy and cherish, but it allows them to direct the interviews down lines that formal press affairs tend to ignore. Last week we learnt much about Peter Molyneux that journalists have failed to uncover, and we hope the same will be true of Jonty and Frank, whose latest game is one of the defining releases of this year."

“I’m really looking forward to being grilled by Eurogamer readers on Friday. When I lived in the UK, it was one of my favorite gaming sites. It always had the reputation as being hard yet fair. I expect nothing less from its readers on Friday!" said Jonty Barnes, Bungie Production Head. Frank O’Connor, Bungie Writing Lead, added: “I have been studying European culture carefully since finding out about this interview and I believe that the authoritative piece on the continent and its people, National Lampoon’s European Vacation, will be an excellent preparation for me. I have no worries about the types of question these Aussies and Kiwis have planned for us.”

Hotel Giant and Jurassic Realm

GSP is pleased to announce the release of 2 new PC games in its White Label Reload range.

Hotel Giant

Your fortune is only a holiday season away!

Enter the challenging tourism industry and test your skills by building, designing and managing a top hotel in any of 23 exotic locations.

As guests go about their lives, you can follow them around and find out exactly what they like and dislike about your hotel. You can then use this information to improve your customers stay to earn more money.

Innovative gameplay, an intuitive interface, superbly detailed graphics and incredible depth combine superbly to make this a hugely enjoyable entertaining game.

• You will be required to build your hotel, manage your business and observe your guests to achieve success

• 23 international cities to establish yourself in including London and Sydney

• 19 vastly different hotels to manage providing huge variety to gameplay

• 8 completely configurable room styles to design and decorate including Guest Rooms, Restaurants, Bars and Libraries

• 3 different camera angles take you deep into the experience

• Over 400 interior décor items including lights, wallpaper and tables provide almost limitless design opportunities

• Ad campaigns, staff training, room pricing, etc. are all available to manage

Jurassic Realm

Explore a Prehistoric Land in search of long-lost Dinosaurs. A new and exciting blockbusting Dinosaur game. Journey to the prehistoric age in this new and exciting blockbusting puzzle game, and go in search of long-lost dinosaurs.

Advance through the levels destroying stone blocks, by collapsing pieces around them, capturing eggs and finding images of lost dinosaurs. With explosive power-ups and a
huge map allowing you to take different pathways, you’ll have hours of fun uncovering the legend of the dinosaurs.

Discover Jurassic Realm today!

• Over 150 different levels
• 19 ancient Dinosaurs to uncover
• 3 difficulty levels
• 2 gameplay modes
• Awesome power-ups
• Enhanced graphics and special effects

They have an SRP of £4.99 each and are available now from Amazon.co.uk, Play.com and from GSP’s secure on-line shop at www.gspsoftware.co.uk.

New PC game, Prison Tycoon 3

It would be criminal to miss out!

Prison Tycoon 3

Brick by brick and day by day – you’re the man!

Take the reigns of a privately run prison. You are responsible for the care, custody and control of individuals who have been arrested. Begin with a low security prison and build it up to a SuperMaz. From construction to daily operations, you must protect society while turning a profit.

Key features:

Country Club or Billy Club?
Manage security levels, food rations, recreation opportunities, and much more. How tough will you be?

Watch with an eagle eye!
NEW day and night gameplay allows you to monitor all activities 24/7. keep a look out for escapees, contraband and illegal activity.

Back on the chain gang
Assign prisoners work detail, from cleaning and maintenance work to back breaking manual labour.

Danger zone
Manage gangs and prisoner morale to avoid riots.

En Guard
Hire trust-worthy prison guards and arm them with weapons, riot shields and guard dogs to maintain peace and control, but keep your eye on your budget.

Throw away the key?
You determine whether to release your prisoners on parole or keep them locked down tight to protect society.

The Devil’s in the detail
From the guards you hire to the food you serve, every choice you make will ripple throughout the prison.

Contain the military’s worst offenders
It takes a unique skill set to control the worst this nation has to offer in NEW military prisons.

Prison Tycoon 3 has an SRP of £9.99 and is available now from Amazon.co.uk, Play.com and from GSP’s secure on-line shop at www.gspsoftware.co.uk.

Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory's thrilling multiplayer mode reveals who the real commanders are!

Leading video game publisher Fireglow Games ® today gives you insights into the great multiplayer part of Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory, the successor of famous Sudden Strike series games.

In this trailer you will see that the famous proverb "the best defence is offence" is not always right. Allied forces attack Germans in the beginning but German stands and then counterattack and capture an enemy strategic point.

You can download the trailer (30 Mb) here:
ftp://am2.fireglowgames.com/ss3/video/ss3_mp.avi
ftp://ftp.fireglowgames.com/ss3/video/ss3_mp.avi

More information about Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory can be found on the official site: www.suddenstrike.com

Blokus Portable: Steambot Championship

Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: COOL), an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, today announced Blokus Portable: Steambot Championship for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable). Developed by IREM Software Engineering Inc., Blokus Portable is based on the world-renowned Blokus board game that has earned 26 prestigious toy awards and ranks among the best of 2007 holiday board games lists. This fan and critic favourite now blends its outstanding strategic gameplay with the anime characters from the Steambot Chronicles series to create a unique portable title.

“With three million units sold and credit as the most acclaimed game of the century, the Blokus board game is clearly an international sensation,” said John Merchant, Marketing Manager, Majesco Europe. “Based on this incredibly successful property, Blokus Portable combines strategic gameplay with 16 player support to make it the perfect social puzzle game that’s easy to pick-up, yet hard to put down.”

The rules of Blokus are simple: Each player places his/her pieces on the board in turn, ensuring that pieces of the same color touch at one or more corners, but never along the sides. The objective is to strategize and place as many pieces as you can before your opponent/s beats you to it. Based on the same basic rules and intuitive gameplay that made the board game a success, Blokus Portable allows up to 16 people to play in ad hoc wireless mode, or up to three friends to play simultaneously using one Universal Media Disc (UMD™) in the ad hoc game sharing mode. Blokus Portable combines the original 4-player Blokus plus the 2-player Blokus Travel/Duo, while letting players customize their own character and unlock 18 additional characters from the Steambot Chronicles series.

Publisher: Majesco Entertainment
Developer: IREM
Platform: PSP
Genre: Puzzle

Overview:
The most celebrated game of the century is coming to your PSP! Since its introduction in 2000, the Blokus board game has sold 3 million games and become a classic in 35 countries. It has also earned 26 prestigious awards worldwide, including the Cannes International Toy Festival award, the Paris Toy Grand Prix and the Japan Boardgame prize. Now this fan and critic favorite blends its outstanding puzzle gameplay with the beloved characters from the Steambot Chronicles series. Simple to learn but difficult to master, Blokus Portable: Steambot Championship will have you hooked in no time!

Features:
• Based on the best-selling, award-winning board game phenomenon—Blokus!
• Each player places his/her pieces on the board in turn, ensuring that the pieces of the same color touch at one or more corners, but never along the sides. The objective is to strategize and conquer as much territory as you can before your opponent/s beats you to it.
• Combines the original 4 player Blokus and the 2-player Blokus Travel/Duo
• Unlock and play with 18 unique anime characters from the Steambot Chronicles series
• Earn “dollarinos” to customize your character’s name, gender and appearance (clothing, hat and hair style)
• Up to 16 players can link up wirelessly and compete against each other in ad hoc wireless mode
• Play up to 3 friends on your PSP with only one UMD using the ad hoc game sharing mode.
• Send your “electronic business card” to anyone you play against in wireless mode. Your business card contains your character name, icon, multiplayer win record and more!

Video Games tips on getting what you want...

Washington Post staff writer Mike Musgrove, author of the @play column, was online Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the top video game gifts for the holiday season.

Explore the video game database for two years of reviews from the Post's Weekend section.

Vienna, Va.: What is it with Wii shortages? I finally manage to snag a console after searching forever, and now I find that I can't get Guitar Hero 3 for Wii anywhere either! It really shouldn't be this hard, should it?

washingtonpost.com: Seasonal Refrain: Waiting on a Wii (The Post, Dec. 1)

Mike Musgrove: Vienna -- What did you do to get you hands on a Wii? I'm thinking about doing a story about people employing clever schemes to land a Wii this season, but I'm not hearing a lot of success stories. Anybody got a tale to share?

No, it shouldn't be this hard. And you're not the only person having a frustrating time of it.

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Arlington, Va.: Any Wii game suggestions for a family that has four kids, ranging in age from 8 to 16?

Mike Musgrove: I'd say Super Mario Galaxy is the hot, can't-go-too-wrong title. That and the Mario "olympics" game seem to appeal to young people stretching that age range and beyond.

I haven't played the latest "Rayman's Raving Rabbids" for the Wii yet but the last one was pretty good family-friendly stuff.

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Syracuse, N.Y.: Do you think that the Wii's success, along with the mediocre sales of the PS3, will cause this generation of consoles to last longer (consumers will not pay for ever-more-expensive machines)?

Mike Musgrove: It does seem like Sony overestimated the amount people would be willing to pay for a new game system. Not sure if this will cause the current generation to last longer, per se. Even since before the PS3 launched, Sony was defending the price of the PS3 on the grounds that the device has enough horsepower to be "future proof" for a long time to come. Meaning, they always wanted it to have a long lifespan.

But I would doubt that the makers of the next generation of game consoles, years away and whenever it comes, will try to reach for the consumers' pain threshold/budget limits as aggressively as Sony did with the $600-at-launch PS3. You know? Does this make sense, it was a little ramble-y......

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Mike Musgrove: By the way: Hello, and thanks for joining us.

I've played a bunch of this season's big new video games, though there are so many, I haven't gotten to play many in depth.

Main ones I'm playing, at the moment, are: Super Mario Brothers and Rock Band. Both games, you can pick up and get some fun out of within a few minutes' worth of time. which is nice...

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Detroit, Mich.: Anyone who buys a Wii for their kid is in no position to complain about mortgages, sending their children to college, etc.. The Wii has turned into a headache for those of us who would rather give a more affordable and educational gift to our children. (A headache in the sense that the child clamors for one because he or she has a friend with one.)

Mike Musgrove: Just putting this out there.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi. I'm not really a gamer, per se, but I have a Nintendo DS, for which I've mostly built up a collection of old Super Mario games. I also have Nintendogs. (Yes, I'm clearly female.) Any thoughts on other DS games I might enjoy? It's a neat little toy for long plane trips and such.

Mike Musgrove: Well, there are so many old Mario games, you could pretty much spend all your time on that.

Not sure what else to recommend specifically, though I would say one good, inexpensive source for trading and picking up the type of old games you sound interested in - is the site Goozex.com. (They're locally based, I did a story on them a while back.) Check it out...

Oh. And, you might want to get the new Zelda DS game.... that's probably about your speed.

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My Secret Wii Strategy: (I'm Vienna from earlier)

My secret strategy: first, don't tell the wife! Easier to ask forgiveness than permission. Second, sign up for one of the email/cellphone alert systems. I got my Wii from Amazon last week during the 5 minutes Amazon actually had them in stock (Friday right around noon).

I'm still looking for a good way of getting GH3 though...

Mike Musgrove: Good tip... just passing this along.

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Orange County, Calif.: Ha! My husband and I decided in October that our joint Christmas gift would be a Wii. We got it 2 weeks later ... a little early, but better than never. The way we did it was to check the Best Buy ad only early Sunday morning and then show up a few minutes before the opening time. It might be busier now, but there are websites that give techniques.

And now a question: We'd like to buy a fun game for the Wii that we can play together. Right now, we have Wii Play, Sports, and Metroid. Any suggestions? Mario Galaxy looks kinda fun.

Mike Musgrove: Another Wii-purchasing success story.

Mario Galaxy has some "cooperative" play option, meaning you could play together. I haven't tried it out. he Star Wars Lego games have excellent "co-op" play features, though I should say I haven't played it on the Wii system.

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Lenny, Oxon Hills, Md.: Hi Mike, I'm thinking of upgrading my gaming system to take advantage of some of the exciting new releases out today. What system do you like better, the Commodore 64 or the TRS-80?

Mike Musgrove: Thanks Lenny. They both run some version or other of BASIC, right? So I don't see how you can go wrong with either...

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Andy S., Silver Spring: Hi Mike, My shrink says video games are a good way to meet women. Can you recommend any online games that are popular with the ladies?

Mike Musgrove: Andy, you need a new shrink.

I'd recommend Singstar, a PlayStation 2 karaoke game. It's great fun. Both genders get into it. Not an online game, though. Anybody have any suggestions?

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Silver Spring, Md.: For me, finding a Wii was like finding a great girlfriend or something. I just had to stop stressing about it, and then I suddenly lucked into one at Target one day in July. It was the first and only time I'd ever actually seen them on shelves. No need to tear the hair out, and I think kids would be just as happy with a DS as a gift.

And really, this is both an amazing and frustrating time to be a gamer. I can't ever remember when as many great games all came out in such a short period of time. I'm currently loving Mass Effect and Rock Band, but expect to spend the next few months catching up on titles like Super Mario Galaxy and Uncharted. I actually look forward to the game shortage that usually hits in January and February!

Mike Musgrove: Interesting analogy...

I completely agree that there's an overload of good games out right now. Rock Band is huge. Mass Effect is like some gigantic, complex novel that I wish I had time to read, but I kinda don't have enough time to devote to it as I'd want to, to appreciate it most fully.

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Germantown, Md.: Saw your suggestions for Wii games for the poster with kids ranging from 8-16; what about for the younger set - 5-8? Our boys love the sports game that came with the console. I'd love to find something that is similarly easy to play.

Mike Musgrove: Well, my stepson in that younger age range likes to play a Wii game called Barnyard. Came out last year, with the movie, I think. The lad has had a chance to play just about every non-violent Wii game, and that's the main one that stuck. Not sure if he's representative, just passing that along.

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Arlington, Va.: I am a fan of the FPS, preferably one with both a good story and a good online experience. Should I get Bioshock, Call of Duty 4 or something else?

Mike Musgrove: If you're looking for story, I'd recommend Bioshock. But the game doesn't have an online element.

Call of Duty 4 is a blast to play in the same way Call of Duty 2 was (I skipped the third installment, so can't comment there), but the story you can pretty much ignore. On the other hand, if you want to play online, CoD4 would be a good choice.

So I guess you have to choose story or online, if you only have budget for one.

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Fairfax, Va.: OK, the Wii has plenty of great kids games. But I went and bought an Xbox 360, and the wife is saying its not great for the kid. Can you recommend some games that I can play with the kids or that they can play together that will keep their attention for more than a little while?

Mike Musgrove: The Star Wars Lego game... I've spent a large amount of time playing that with the stepson over the last year or so and we both enjoy it. The "Complete Saga" might be worth getting.

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Rockville, Md.: Wii success story - I purchased our Wii through E-Bay. I trolled the auctions for about a week, then jumped in. I paid about $50 over the retail price of $249, but it was worth doing. Did the auction back in July - not sure what they're going for now!

Mike Musgrove: last I looked, people are often asking around $600 for the thing, so I don't think you did too badly.

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Bethesda, Md.: I don't know if you've touted it before, but I would get a copy of Katamari for every "non-gamer gamer" I know, whether they have 360 or a PS2. The game is so goofy and addictive.

Mike Musgrove: Yes, I'd also recommend Loco Roco for the same reason, for anybody who owns a PSP. Unique, great artistic vision. Kinda like Katamari. But different...

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Seattle, had a Wii since release: My son and I lined up to buy one of the first Wii consoles - I would recommend Rayman's Raving Rabbids and Legend of Zelda, plus of course Mario Galaxy.

It's frequently easier to get a Wii at a store like Fred Meyer, Costco, Target, and toy stores than the game shops, IMHO.

I know they ramped up production, but it still feels like it's not enough to meet demand - any rumors of even more production of Wii consoles?

Mike Musgrove: Nintnedo says they ramped up production 3 times this year. They haven't indicated another ramp-up is in the works, but I wouldn't be surprised.

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Virginia: Why on earth didn't Rock Band come out for the Wii? Would you say Harmonix are "completely" clueless, or just "mostly" clueless?

Mike Musgrove: Not sure, there. Rock Band can take up a lot of USB ports. Is it possible they couldn't get it going on a Wii ? Somebody out there might have a better ansswer on this...?

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Potomac, Md.: I bought a Wii two weeks ago with very little trouble. My 11-year-old called all of the EBGames/Gamestops in the area, we found a Wii at their store in Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg, we drove there and bought it. The manager said he couldn't have us prepay or hold it, but that there were plenty there that day and to come on over....

Mike Musgrove: Some people just make it look easy.

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Steve, NJ: Hey Mike. Just a quick PS3 question. Would you suggest getting COD 4 right now or waiting for Haze? Thanks

Mike Musgrove: If you know the CoD games, I'd say the latest is more of the same, even though it's set in a more modern era. It's fun. Looks great.

But I have no idea whether Haze is worth waiting for, sorry.

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Coopersburg, Pa.: For the FPS fan looking for both good story and online play, Halo 3 is the answer (and you certainly cant go wrong with Bioshock or COD4).

Mike Musgrove: Good point... good point.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Mike, What's your take on Gamespot's firing of Jeff Gerstmann?

Mike Musgrove: This person is referring to a very recent big stink where a reviewer at a prominent game review site, Gamespot, was allegedly fired for being too negative about a game (Kane & Lynch) and angering the advertisers.

I think this incident undermines the credibility of the site among the type of game geek (like me) who pays attention to and remembers this kind of stuff. I'm not sure what percentage of people like us make up among Gamespot's target demographic, though... anybody out there have thoughts on this ?

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falls church: Hi Mike - Have you played Assasin's Creed? What are your thoughts?

Mike Musgrove: I've spent an hour or so playing it a week back. I was trying to play it yesterday and couldn't quite figure out what I was supposed to do. Since there are so many other great games out right now, I'm going to have to come back to it later down the road at some point. Any other time of year, it would probably be getting a lot more of my attention...

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Richmond, Va.: Hi, Mike, Not to sound terribly old-fashioned, but do you have any recommendations for PC games this season? I'm not a big shoot-em-up fan, and frankly the last games I really enjoyed were Oblivion and Sam&Max. Man, I miss Zork!

Mike Musgrove: The only PC game I've tried lately has been Crysis. It looks great so far, but it's really giving my PC a beating.

Maybe you'd get a kick out of buying the PC version of Orange Box and playing "Portal" ?

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Washington, D.C.: For a while Walmart had a Wii package for sale online. A bit pricey, but it included extra controllers and eight or nine games. Was able to get it that way just before Thanksgiving. Not sure if it is still available

Mike Musgrove: Passing this along...

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Fairlington, Va.: More of a comment, than a question. I received an xbox 360 for my birthday two weeks ago. I was very unsure if I wanted one, initially.

I have to say, I'm impressed. Halo 3 is fantastic and the slate of games that are appealing, Mass Effect and Bioshock included, is long and varied.

Hey, I even found Xbox Live Arcade a blast. The new Pac-Man championship edition? Totally addictive. Scoring achievement points, as you already noted in a recent column, is also addictive.

I can't recommend 360 enough.

washingtonpost.com: @play: The Points of It All

Mike Musgrove: Yeah, I'm impressed with the Xbox 360 overall and spend more time on it than the other consoles.

Try out the Xbox Live video download service, too, it's pretty good. I used it last night to download and watch the

South Park episode based around Guitar Hero. Funny stuff.

Then I played some more Rock Band, of course.... cracked the New Pornographers song in guitar career on "expert." woo hoo...

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I got a wii: Purchased it on ebay.

Brand new in the box with an 2 extra controllers and a free game. Bad news, paid double the list price.

Mike Musgrove: Double the price, eek.

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Paper Mario?: Hi Mike, As a big fan of the N64 version of Paper Mario, how was the Wii version? Once I get my hands on a console, I'm thinking about buying it, but Mario galaxy has gotten such great press too... Is it worth it to get both?

Mike Musgrove: I like Galaxy more than I liked Paper... that's just me. I'd get Galaxy first, maybe rent Paper Mario...

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Wii Hunting: I'm not sure if this is helpful to anyone else, but four of us in my office all were able to find Wiis in the last few weeks. Our local Game Stop told us what day and time they got their weekly shipment. We were each able to buy one shortly after the shipment came in (like within an hour of the shipment).

Mike Musgrove: Another tip to pass along...

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Jon A, Arlington, Va.: Wii = $250, old tech, hard to get. XBOX Arcade + $280, newest tech, easy to find - and offers more upgradeability (hard drive, HD player, network to your PC, etc).

Is the Wii controller that compelling? Seems like the XBOX would be a better choice. Will Wii run out of steam with PS3 sales surpassing Wii in Japan?

Mike Musgrove: Here's one opinion worth putting out there.

Jon, I'd say that the people who see, play and immediately want the Wii are often mainstream folks who don't know or care anything about HD players or whatever. They see the bottons on the Xbox controller and run in the opposite direction.

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Bethesda, Md.: I got a great deal on a killer Nvidia card, and put my PS3 money into that and more memory with cash left over. What PC games will make me not regret skipping the PS3?

Mike Musgrove: Crysis.

I can't think of any other new PC games that will exhaust your new PC quite as much. Gears of War just came out for PC, if you don't own an Xbox...

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Wii: Look for one when you are out of town. My friends in the Midwest are baffled when I tell them that it is still hard to find one here. I bought mine in DC after keeping track on the EB Games/Gamestop website.

Mike Musgrove: Another one. I've heard this too.

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about finding wii and guitar hero: I visited Gamefunsite.com the other day and saw several of each i think mainly bundled together? anyway FWIW

Mike Musgrove: passing this along...

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Fairfax, Va.: Xbox 360 vs. Playstation 3. Which is the better deal for cost, game selection, above average technical features.

Mike Musgrove: Well, I have both in my home and spend more tme on the XBox 360. It's a matter of game selection and preferring the Xbox's online functionality.

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Washington, D.C.: My boyfriend has both a Wii and, um, I think it's a PS3, anyway he's very into conquering the "medium" level of difficulty on the new Guitar Hero game which is great but if I hear "Hit me with your best shot" one more time, I'm going to find Pat Benatar and strangle her. Any gift suggestions that are quiet games?

Mike Musgrove: If it were an Xbox 360, it would be easy enough to scratch that disk... anyway, I'll warn Ms. Benatar.

I've been enjoying the fact that a lot of games (like Mass Effect) allow you to turn on subtitles so you can play late at night with the sound turned down.

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Mike Musgrove: And it's 2 o' clock.

Apologies to the folks who I didn't get to today.

Anybody want to drop me a line with a Wii success or frustration story -- or anything else-- drop me a line at musgrovem (at) washpost (dot) com.

Xbox Live: MikeShotgun.

Cheers,

Mike

Source: Washington Post