NaturalMotion Joins Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 Integrated Partners Program

NaturalMotion Ltd. and Epic Games, Inc. today announced a licensing agreement to incorporate morpheme, the industry's first graphically authorable animation engine for PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360 and PC, into Epic's Unreal Engine 3 (UE3), the most popular game engine for cross-platform game development. Under the terms of the agreement, NaturalMotion will join Epic's prestigious Integrated Partners Program (IPP), and its technology will be immediately available to any publishers or developers licensing UE3.

morpheme builds on the existing UE3 character system by offering unique features for constructing very complex animation setups. Its external tool, morpheme: connect, enables developers to preview and modify elements in real time through the strategic application of state machines and blend trees. Like other components of UE3, morpheme's existing animation nodes can be extended to provide game-specific functions. Future feature sets developed by NaturalMotion will be incorporated into UE3 per the partnership.

"Unreal Engine 3 is already an inspired game design platform, offering much of the bleeding edge technology that developers need," said Torsten Reil, CEO of NaturalMotion. "By adding morpheme to Epic's suite, more studios will be able to take advantage of NaturalMotion's pioneering animation technology, allowing for a whole new generation of games with astonishingly realistic characters and animations."

"We aim to provide our licensees with the very best solutions in game development, and we are pleased to offer integration with NaturalMotion's highly refined animation middleware through this partnership," said Dr. Michael Capps, president of Epic Games. "Enhancing UE3 in this manner will save our licensees time, and help them stay focused on optimizing their games. NaturalMotion offers outstanding animation technology, and we welcome them to the Integrated Partners Program."

Epic Games' Integrated Partners Program (IPP) establishes a formal business relationship with exceptional companies making cross-platform technologies which integrate with, and are complementary to, UE3. Under the IPP, Epic provides continuous UE3 source code access and full technical support to IPP members. Companies who join the IPP agree to provide a high level of technical support for UE3 licensees through Epic's established support channels, keep their implementations up-to-date with the latest engine versions, and collaborate with Epic on potential promotional and co-marketing efforts.

"With morpheme, the implementation of character animations within the game can finally be driven by our animators instead of our engineers," said Stephen Palmer, VP of Product Development at Gearbox Software. "The brilliant folks at NaturalMotion have recognized that artists need to have more control of this fundamentally artistic process, and have created a world-class animation system and tool-chain to support that concept."

About NaturalMotion
NaturalMotion Ltd. is the first company to create 3D character animation software based on Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS), a technology that utilizes Adaptive Behaviours and artificial intelligence to simulate the human nervous system. Based on Oxford University research on the control of body movements, NaturalMotion's euphoria synthesizes 3D character animation in real time on PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360 and PC, thus creating unique game moments and previously unachievable interactivity. NaturalMotion's other DMS product, endorphin, creates off-line animation an order of magnitude faster than traditional techniques, and is widely used in the film and games industries, with customers such as Sony, Giant Killer Robots, The Mill, Capcom, Namco and Konami. NaturalMotion's third product, morpheme, is the industry's first graphically authorable animation engine designed to give animators full control over the look of their animations in-game.

For further information, please visit NaturalMotion's website www.naturalmotion.com, or join the 80,000 endorphin LE users at community.naturalmotion.com.

About Unreal Engine 3

The award-winning Unreal Engine is known for its cutting-edge graphics and best-of-breed toolset. Unreal Engine 3 maintains those features while adding massive world support, multi-processor support, next-generation console optimizations, and one of the most mature tool pipelines in the industry. Unreal Engine 3's new toolset is designed specifically to accelerate developers' productivity for ultra-complex, next-generation content. Additional information on Unreal Engine can be obtained through the Unreal Technology Web site at www.unrealtechnology.com.

About Epic Games

Epic Games, Inc., based in Cary, NC and established in 1991, develops cutting-edge games and cross-platform game engine technology. The company has created multiple million-selling, award-winning titles in its Unreal series, recently shipping Unreal Tournament 3 for PC and PLAYSTATION 3. Epic's breakthrough game, Gears of War, sold over 4 million copies and was awarded overall Game of the Year for 2006 by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, Game Developers Choice Awards, GameSpot, GamePro and many others. Epic is also responsible for the Unreal Engine, which is the underlying technology for a wide range of games including the Game Critics Awards' Best Console Game and Spike TV's 2007 RPG of the Year Mass Effect by BioWare, and the 2007 BAFTA Best Game and Spike TV Game of the Year BioShock by 2K Games. Epic's Unreal Engine 3 is the current holder, and three-time consecutive winner, of Game Developer magazine's Front Line award for Best Game Engine. Epic was also recognized as 2006 Studio of the Year by Spike TV, Developer of the Year by Official Xbox Magazine and 2007 Large Company of the Year by the North Carolina Technology Association. Additional information about Epic can be obtained through the Epic Games Web site at www.epicgames.com.

Bring Stranger to Your Desktop with New Wallpaper

cdv Software Entertainment USA and Fireglow Publishing are pleased to release a new desktop wallpaper for Stranger, the upcoming action-RPG developed by Fireglow. Stranger, set to begin shipping to North American retail stores on March 3, is a blend of traditional real-time strategy and role-playing elements, set in a rich fantasy world populated by more than a hundred unique monster types. Players will take control of three heroes and enjoy a single-player campaign lasting more than 30 hours, while also being able to take their game online in eight-person Internet multiplayer matches.

The new wallpaper can be downloaded from:

http://www.cdvus.com

For more information about Stranger, visit the official Web site at http://stranger-game.com.

Atlus Wages Interstellar Tactical War With R-Type Command For PlayStation Portable

Atlus U.S.A., Inc. today announced that R-Type Command, a bold new turn-based strategy entry in the long-celebrated series of side-scrolling shooters, is coming exclusively to the PlayStation Portable. R-Type Command hits store shelves May 6th with an MSRP of $39.99.

For more on R-Type Command, please visit the official website: http://www.atlus.com/r-type/

About R-Type Command

In a desperate war against the mysterious alien race known as the Bydo, humanity sends wave after wave of fighters into Bydo space - none of which are ever heard from again. Mankind's main hope now resides with a lone commander, sent to lead a small armada on a perilous mission into the heart of the Bydo Empire. Low on fuel and forced to scavenge resources and equipment from his surroundings, the commander must use all his cunning and wits if he hopes to succeed, let alone make it home alive.

Key Features:

- R-Type reborn - The highly acclaimed franchise moves into the strategy genre with exciting tactical gameplay!
- Control the Bydo forces - For the first time in the series, take command of the Bydo forces as they launch their assault on Earth!
- Intense strategy gameplay - With nearly 100 different units at your disposal, it's up to you to choose the best fleet for battle. Upgrade your existing units or purchase new ones!
- Head-to-head local multiplayer - With the PSP wireless communication feature, play against a friend in Wireless Ad Hoc mode for a one-on-one strategy battle!

R-Type Command has been rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) with Animated Blood and Mild Fantasy Violence by the ESRB.

Metaboli signs new content partnership with THQ, strengthening its position as Europe's leading game download platform.

The digital download market received a massive boost today from the announcement that Metaboli, Europe’s leading PC games Download platform, signs a European content deal with THQ.

Metaboli will launch a series of key THQ new releases, including forthcoming Frontlines: Fuel of War and Warhammer 40,000 Soulstorm, and a range of high profile back catalogue titles such as Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights , S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl and Company of Heroes. The titles will be available via the purchase-based, Download to Own service and subscription-based, Games on Demand and promoted through Metaboli’s own sites and across their extensive and growing partnership network. The Metaboli network extends to more than fifty white label partners across Europe, including major ISPs, e-commerce retailers and gaming portals.

Pierre Forest, Metaboli’s VP Content commented “This major deal is indicative of the strength that Metaboli has within this market. We are delighted to partner with THQ and look forward to growing the company’s market penetration through new online distribution channels’

‘The momentum for games on demand and download to own continues to accelerate and the support of THQ and other major publishers will contribute to another year of significant growth for Metaboli’. Charlie Barrett, THQ European Market Development Director commented “We look forward to working with Metaboli and take THQ Market share forward in the PC Electronic Download category”

About Metaboli

Metaboli is the European leader in the digital distribution of PC video Games. Metaboli offers both subscription packs to games catalogues (Subscription Games on Demand on www.metaboli.com) and the single game purchase form a vast catalogue of titles (Buy and Download on www.gamesplanet.com). Gamers can either access a large catalogue of games (126 to 272 titles dependant on the country) as much as they want during their subscription, or buy a game on the web and download it straight to their PC. These offers are available on the Metaboli Web platforms as well as through the sites of its European partners. Metaboli is the only digital content distributor present on all of Europe’s four largest Internet Service Providers (ISP). With distribution agreements with the most renowned video games publishers, Metaboli offers the most complete content offer available in Europe, regularly enriched with new titles. Pioneer in the digital distribution of video games, Metaboli has experienced annual growth of over 100% since 2004.

Shadowgrounds Survivor Demo Now Available

Meridian4 (http://www.meridian4.com) and Frozenbyte today announced that the single-player demo of Shadowgrounds Survivor, the acclaimed horror-themed action game, is now available wherever the Internet exists. The 590 MB demo features 2 campaign mode levels and 1 survivor mode level to give players a taste of the gruesome action in Frozenbyte’s spin-off/sequel to their cult hit, Shadowgrounds.

In Shadowgrounds Survivor, gamers are dropped on Jupiter’s Ganymede moon as one of three surviving humans in the midst of an all-out alien onslaught. It’s up to them to take up arms and blast through legions of alien scum to save their own lives and humanity itself, increasing their skills and weapons through the game’s RPG-like character-upgrade system. The mighty Mech and devastating Sentry Gun will help players mow through hundreds of bloodthirsty extraterrestrials in the campaign or the all-new Survivor mode.

The Shadowgrounds Survivor demo can be downloaded at the following sites:

FileFront - http://files.filefront.com/Shadowgrounds+Survivor+Demo/;9620721;/fileinfo.html

FileShack - http://www.fileshack.com/file.x/11780/Shadowgrounds+Survivor+Demo

Gamers Hell - http://www.gamershell.com/download_23192.shtml

GameZone - http://downloads.gamezone.com/demos/d21272.html

GameSpot - http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/shadowgroundssurvivor/download_6185805.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newlyadded&tag=newlyadded;title;1

WorthPlaying - http://www.worthdownloading.com/game.php?gid=2845

Meridian4 - http://www.meridian4.com/games/Shadowgrounds2/demo.html

Visit the official Shadowgrounds Survivor website at www.shadowgroundssurvivor.com.

For more information about Meridian4 and its products, visit http://www.meridian4.com.

For more information about Frozenbyte, visit http://www.frozenbyte.com.

Jamie Bell Revealed As Voice of 'Griffin' In New Jumper Video Game

Jumper: Griffin’s Story is the exciting new video game from Brash Entertainment that is based off the film Jumper, the eagerly anticipated science fiction-action-thriller from Twentieth Century Fox and Regency Enterprises. Adding film authenticity to the player’s experience, Brash Entertainment has confirmed that the role of ‘Griffin’ in the game is voiced by Jamie Bell, who also plays ‘Griffin’ in the Jumper film.

Jumper: Griffin’s Story extends the film’s storyline, following ‘Griffin’, a battle-hardened Jumper determined to avenge the death of his parents at the hands of the Paladins. As ‘Griffin’ player’s will have the ability to experience the character first hand as he battles through exotic locales around the world, on a quest to find his parent’s killer.

“It’s flattering that someone has seen my character and wanted to make it into a video game,” Jamie said about his participation. “Griffin is a unique character and I think if people respond to the movie they’ll love the game.”

Jamie Bell is best known for his role as ‘Billy Elliot’ in the film of the same name, a role that won him a Best Actor award at the 2001 British Academy Awards (BAFTAs). Since then, Jaime has gone on to play instrumental roles in such films as Nicholas Nickleby (2002), King Kong (2005), Flags of Our Fathers (2006), and most recently as ‘Griffin’ in Jumper.

Jumper: Griffin’s Story will be available for the Playstation 2 computer entertainment system, the Wii video game system from Nintendo, and XBOX 360. The game is available tomorrow February 12, 2008 at North American retailers, and will be followed by the theatrical release on February 14, 2008. This game is rated ‘T’ for Teen by the ESRB. For more information about the movie please visit http://www.jumperthemovie.com/, and for more information about the game please visit http://www.jumpermoviegame.com

Nintendo Hosts Three Panels At Game Developers Conference 2008

Three key platform developers for recent and upcoming Nintendo products, Takao Sawano, Takashi Aoyama, and Masahiro Sakurai, will speak to GDC 2008 attendees about the company's most recent developmental Wii™ product achievements including Wii Fit™, WiiWare™ and Super Smash Bros.® Brawl.

Takao Sawano, the producer for the Wii Balance Board™ development team, will address attendees about the development of Wii Fit on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 4 pm. Attendees will learn how Sawano's team created an unprecedented new game controller, the Wii Balance Board, and how Wii Fit, which recently launched in Japan, is already turning family living rooms into private fitness clubs.

On Friday, Feb. 22 at 9 am, Takashi Aoyama will tell the development story of the Wii console's internal hardware programming, which includes a diverse array of built-in entertainment and informational channels for everyone in the household such as the News Channel, the Everybody Votes Channel and the Check Mii Out Channel. Aoyama will also discuss how his team tackled some unprecedented hurdles for Wii, including the most recent challenge of introducing WiiWare.

Also on Friday at 10:30 am, Masahiro Sakurai will present how he approached the task of advancing the legacy of the Super Smash Bros. Brawl franchise by providing a unique Wii experience and by leveraging popular characters and game worlds from the history of Nintendo, as well as other publishers.

For more information about Nintendo, please visit www.Nintendo.com.

GamersGate enters digital distribution partnership with Kalypso Media

GamersGate announced today that Kalypso Media is the latest publisher to join the network of high profile publishers choosing to distribute their games on GamersGate.

Following the success of titles like Jack Keane, Kalypso Media is preparing to release the highly anticipated city building strategy title Imperium Romanum as well as the mystery adventure Agon: The Lost Sword of Toledo.

Kalypso Media is a recognized publisher that continues to bring interesting titles to the gaming community and we are thrilled to be able to offer several of their much awaited releases on GamersGate, said Theodore Bergquist, CEO for GamersGate.

Simon Hellwig, Managing Director of Kalypso Media Group comments: "We are glad to continue our great relationship with GamersGate by launching our stunning and long awaited title IMPERIUM ROMANUM and the exciting adventure "AGON: The Lost Sword of Toledo" on this platform perfectly matching the needs of making such products successful."

Titles Imperium Romanum and Agon: the Lost Sword of Toledo are scheduled for release on the 22nd of February in most European countries. In North America, Imperium Romanum will be released in retail on March the 4th, 2008.

To find out more about Imperium Romanum, please go to www.imperium-game.com

To find out more about Agon: The Lost Sword of Toledo, please go to www.kalypsomedia.com

Impulse and Impact from PhaseSpace capture every gesture at Game developers conference

PhaseSpace, the price and performance leader in optical motion capture, announced today a new desktop motion capture product - the IMPACT, to be shown for the first time ever at the Game Developer's Conference (GDC) 2008. It will also be showing real time character animation inside the Epic Unreal Engine driven in real time. Demonstrations will take place in booth 6633 at GDC 2008 in San Francisco, February 20-22.

The IMPACT solution allows head tracking, as well as hands, fingers and gestures at an artist's desk without requiring a capture stage. This real time desktop solution was designed to free the artist from doing hand and finger motions by keyframes. At $5,000, the IMPACT system provides 3D input with sub millimeter resolution for VR and AR with better speed and resolution than any system on the market.

PhaseSpace CEO Tracy McSheery said, "Our IMPACT desktop motion capture solution is based on numerous requests from customers who wanted to do head tracking or hands and gestures at their desk, without the space and complexity of a full motion capture system. The IMPACT system now allows the animator to have a solution at their desk that scales with the same software and technology as the full studio solution."

PhaseSpace's IMPULSE motion capture system will be shown with characters from Zombie Inc. being driven in real time in the Epic Unreal Engine during the show as well. Mark Long, President of Zombie Studios said, "Our artists are thrilled to have their own PhaseSpace system in house and get to try on their own characters, bringing them to life in real time. I'm happy that we aren't spending time and money cleaning up data, instead we can be creating characters and action that make our games great."

The PhaseSpace Impulse motion capture system uses active LED markers producing a unique ID for each marker. At 3 times the speed and 3 times the resolution of other systems, the Impulse system displays motion data in real time and is in use with NASA, the armed forces and major research institutions. It is also one third the price of older technologies allowing an 8 camera, 3,600 x 3,600 resolution tracking system to be sold for under $50,000.

The Bible Vs Video Games

Recently, there has been much debate, on both sides of the Atlantic, about the content of video games. Cooper Lawrence's totally misinformed attack on Mass Effect on Fox News, Kevin McCullough being equally misinformed on Townhall.com, Janice Turner of The Times thinks that games are "crack cocaine of the brain" and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has blamed them for knife crime. Even Hillary Clinton has had a go.

What all these critics have in common is that they do not play video games so they don't have the faintest idea what they are talking about, they are as relevant as blind cinema critics.

Now Bruce Everiss, author of the respected and widely read game industry blog Bruceongames.com, has written an article that puts the whole issue into perspective. Entitled The Bible Vs Video Games it compares the content of the Bible, a book which children are encouraged to read, with the content of video games. Would you want your child playing a video game that featured harlots 48 times? Because that is exactly what the Bible does.

Bruce Everiss explains: "Video games are just another form of media like books, film and music. It is the content that matters and it is irrefutable that games have far less sex and violence than books or television. Yet, amazingly, books and television have no age ratings whilst video games do".