WipEout HD game designer interview for Sony PlayStation 3

WipEout HD

Interviewee: Colin Berry – Lead Designer

About the team

1. How many people do you have working on WipEout HD?

We started with a very small team in spring 2007 of around 6 people. We are now up to around 25 or 30 to ensure the final code delivers all the great media feedback we’ve had so far following E3 and the Leipzig Games Convention.

2. Is there anyone who’s worked on all the WipEout games since the start of the franchise?

There are a couple of people yes, an Artist (Darren Douglas) and a Producer (Paul Tweedle) who started out by QA’ing the first WipEout!

3. What do you think makes the WipEout team so special?

There is a good team spirit; we all help each other out as much as possible. Also there are lots of people on the team who are fans of the series so there is a high level of care and attention to detail and it helps having talented designers, artists and coders on the game.

4. What was the one thing the team wanted to change/or introduce most for WipEout HD?

We wanted to provide a good solid online experience for a television based WipEout game. We see online play as a big feature in HD. Also 60 frames per second full 1080p was a day one priority. We also wanted to make it a great addition to PLAYSTATION Store by offering it as a downloadable title.

About WipEout HD

1. How long has it taken to make WipEout a full HD game for PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3)?

We started work on the artwork around about February 2007 and the code around April, so just under a year.

2. Would it be fair to consider HD as a port? Apart from 1080p visuals and 60 frames per second animations, what makes it different to Pure and Pulse?

Firstly people should not underestimate the changes that 60 frames per second and 1080p visuals make to the game. Sure the environments are taken from the PSP versions initially but so much work has gone into hi-resing them up, every building model, and every texture. The game looks so much richer. All the ships are new hi-res models with hi-res texturing and improved lighting too, so the visual changes are dramatically enhanced. The game also has a sleeker new HD front end, the handling model has been refined to fit the Sixaxis controller also the collision system has been improved. Then of course there is online multiplayer which fair enough appears in WipEout Pulse but it is great fun. Playing WipEout against other people on a big TV, it is a lot of fun. In some terms its easy to say ‘it is a port’ but that is something of a disservice, the game has had an overhaul and a freshen up in many little ways which combined give it a strong identity and make it a solid game in its own right. We certainly don’t regard it as a port. Then of course there is downloadable content, which depending on what we settle on, can further push the WipEout HD experience. We are hoping the initial release of HD will be a starting point. We really feel that WipEout HD will be a great addition to PLAYSTATION Store.

3. Do you think full HD has brought about a big change in the game?

I am proud of Pure and Pulse and what we have achieved with them, and WipEout Pulse is a damn good PSP game and experience, it is featured packed and will not disappoint. HD though offers something different, it offers the WipEout experience on a big screen for the first time in a long time, it looks awesome, it plays nice and feels smooth. It is a different experience for people who have maybe forgotten what WipEout on a big screen is like. And of course, 1080p visuals and 60 frames-per-second clearly combined with online play clearly make a big difference on a TV screen.

4. Tell us a bit about the game – is it for established fans or new owners of PS3?

Hopefully WipEout HD will satisfy the core WipEout fans and also be accessible to people who maybe have not played any of the series before. WipEout has always been seen as a hard game, a gamers’ game and that is something we have to cater for and so we have to have a blisteringly frightening speed class within the game and hard competitive AI opponents. But we also want to attract new players and appeal to people who maybe have not tried a futuristic racing game before who are used to their racing games involving cars. As such we have introduced 3 difficulty levels to accompany the 4 speed classes in the game, thus people can start at a beginners’ level if they are new to the game, or start straight off on the hard difficulty if they are a long time fan of the series.

5. Can you tell us about some of the additional downloadable content that’s going to be available?

We are still deciding exactly what downloadable content we will release for HD, but hopefully we will be releasing additional tracks which could include a mixture of old tracks and brand new ones. Additional ships and music are also on the list of downloadable content we hope to release. We are also looking into releasing an extra game mode or two via downloadable content, but the exact extent and feasibility of this, we are still looking into. So for the time being, nothing concrete, but plenty of options are available to us.

6. WipEout is renowned for its music – can you tell us about what’s in store for HD?

The initial release of HD will contain 9 music tracks from WipEout Pulse, including tracks from Kraftwerk, Mason, DJ Fresh and Stanton Warriors. All the music is going to be mixed in 5.1 surround as are the sound effects.

7. You can use the SIXAXIS controller – where will you use it because we think steering at 100s of mph will be pretty difficult?

We are currently looking into this, we have a few ideas but we also share the concern of how useful full Sixaxis motion control will be at the highest speeds. There are however several ways we are looking into implementing it, it could end up linked into the weapon functionality or the ship pitch control it doesn’t necessarily have to link to the direct steering control of the ship.

8. Are you satisfied with the levels of online gameplay for the HD version?

As a designer I am never satisfied with anything I always want more, more features, more time, more everything concerning each and every aspect of the game. We are still working hard on the online side of WipEout HD and it is progressing well. The online gameplay is good and due to the plug-in modular system of design and code we can expand the feature set of the game through downloads, meaning that the initial online experience on launch can be added to over time to further enrich the experience.

9. After such a distinguished history, where does a franchise like WipEout go from here?

For the time being we are continuing to work hard on WipEout HD and supporting it through additional content. Beyond that, there is not much more to add at the moment, although on a personal level I think online functionality should play a large part in as many games as possible these days where feasible.

Miscellaneous

1. Who holds the fastest lap record on any track in the office?

That is most likely to be Karl Jones, one of the designers. He is pretty much established as the best player, although one of the programmers, Martin Linklater would argue otherwise, and recently I have been close to catching up too

2. If you could add one more weapon to the game, what would it be?

Well after Pure, we wanted the cannon back and so we added it. I’m not sure there is one off the top of my head. The weapons are integral to the game and the balance of the game and we consider them heavily. I guess in future I’d like us to maybe look at some sort of battering-ram / snow plough type effect but this would more likely be additional functionality for the Auto-Pilot as opposed a new weapon.

3. Is there a track you’ve always wanted to have on a WipEout game that you haven’t been able to get?

I guess that is music track…. We have tended to be very lucky with music in that we tend to get the people we want. People we have approached have been keen to provide us with work. Getting Kraftwerk was especially pleasing based on their history and body of work. From a purely personal point of view, there is a track on the Spawn soundtrack called No Remorse, it is Slayer featuring Atari Teenage Riot. I think a remix of that would be great, but it is purely my personal choice.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge Of The Warlords Now Ciderized For Mac

Critically Acclaimed Videogame Puzzle Quest: Challenge Of The Warlords Now Ciderized For Mac By TransGaming

TransGaming, a leading developer of portability technologies for the electronic entertainment industry, continues to expand the Mac gaming market by announcing that the award-winning video game Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords™ is now available on Mac. TransGaming has obtained exclusive rights to the Mac release of Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords from D3Publisher of America, Inc. The game is available immediately to Mac gamers for purchase and download online.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords offers a compelling twist on conventional gaming, allowing players to spend just a few casual minutes with the game or dedicate hours of game play at a time to their puzzles-and-role-playing experience. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is a critically acclaimed video game that artfully blends match-three puzzle game play with strategy, character-building elements and a persistent storyline. This combination of game play elements created an appealing new video game genre that entices casual and hardcore gamers alike, making it fun for the whole family.

"The partnership established by TransGaming to bring Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords to Mac consumers is another example of TransGaming's leadership in the gaming industry and how we are bringing some of the greatest and most compelling content to Mac gamers. Puzzle Quest is sure to delight the Mac audience and we are also excited about several new initiatives this Spring that will continue to change the landscape of Mac gaming and make it easier then ever for Mac consumers to enjoy the games they love," commented Vikas Gupta, CEO & President of TransGaming Technologies.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords was originally created by Infinite Interactive Pty. Ltd. and published by D3Publisher of America, Inc. The game has been enabled on Mac using TransGaming’s Cider Portability Engine, and is being published by TransGaming for digital release. TransGaming’s Cider Portability Engine acts as a "wrapper" around the game software, enabling it to run seamlessly on Intel-based Macs. TransGaming is working with the industry’s best to bring award-winning franchises, like Puzzle Quest to the growing Mac market.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords has received numerous accolades acknowledging the excellence of the game. These include the prestigious Best Downloadable Game at the 11th annual Interactive Achievement Awards, a Spike TV nomination for Best Handheld Game of 2007, a Best Puzzle Game of E3 2007 Award from IGN.com, and the esteemed iParenting Media Excellent Product Award for 2007.

The Mac version of Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is available for purchase and download at www.gametreeonline.com.

EVERQUEST CELEBRATES NINE YEARS OF ONLINE GAMING ADVENTURES

EVERQUEST CELEBRATES NINE YEARS OF ONLINE GAMING ADVENTURES

Ground Breaking Online PC Game Continues to Deliver Exciting Game Play Experience

Sony Online Entertainment is proud to celebrate the ninth anniversary of the launch of the ground-breaking MMORPG, EverQuest this weekend. After its launch in 1999, EverQuest would prove to be a monumental entertainment property, spawning more than a dozen expansion packs, numerous cross-platform game properties and introducing millions of players to the virtual world of Norrath.

“It’s a great feeling to know that after nearly a decade, and fourteen expansions, EverQuest still resonates so positively with people all over the world,” said Clint Worley, Producer, Sony Online Entertainment. “Alongside its flourishing community, the in game world is still going strong and changing daily, further proving EverQuest is a living and breathing virtual world that will stay active into the foreseeable future.”

In honor of the ninth anniversary, EverQuest is hosting a variety of in game and fabled events throughout the year, the first of which are connected to the Planes of Power. On March 16th, a scavenger hunt will start with the NPC Garin Tvalish in Plane of Tranquility in which Garin will give players a clue book and a bag. Players will then get to figure out which items from the Planes of Power expansion those clues refer to, and combine them together in the bag to receive an in game reward. Also kicking off March 16th is a month-long in game event linked to the divinities and servants of the Planes of Power. Players will also notice that the might has increased for their favorites, such as the Thunder Giant Hreidar Lynhiilig and Rallos Zek the Warlord, allowing them to challenge the current player base. The gods have also been updated with commensurate loot to properly reward adventurers who are willing to take them on.

For more information about anniversary events and special downloadable items, such as the EverQuest timeline poster, or to jump back into EverQuest log onto www.station.com.

SAMURAI WARRIORS 2 XTREME LEGENDS REACHES GOLD

SAMURAI WARRIORS 2 XTREME LEGENDS REACHES GOLD STATUS

Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends Introduces New Characters, Scenarios and Game Mode

KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, today announced that Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends has reached gold status and will be available throughout North America beginning the week of March 18, 2008 for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.

The Samurai Warriors are back with a vengeance! This latest installment features six legendary samurai- each with their own storyline and powerful new weapons. With the introduction of Mercenary mode, the redesigned battlefields of “Okehazama” and “Shikoku”, and new charge attacks, fans now have even more reasons to come back and join the fight.

About Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends
Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends (SW2XL) introduces six new playable characters to the series, including Toshiie Maeda, Gracia, Motochika Chosokabe, Katsuie Shibata, Kojiro Sasaki, and Yoshimoto Imagawa.

In the new Mercenary mode, players will get the chance to hire other samurai to fight alongside them.

SW2XL can be “remixed” with Samurai Warriors 2 (SW2) to add new Xtreme Legends features to SW2 (sold separately). With the Remix feature, players can use the characters from SW2 in SW2XL. Players can also play SW2’s Story mode, Survival mode and Sugoroku modes using SW2XL’s new characters. The Remix feature also increases character growth level maximums from 50 to 70, adds new charge attacks and adds a 5th weapon level to each of the original Samurai Warriors 2 characters.

SW2XL for Xbox 360® requires the original Samurai Warriors 2 game disc (sold separately), and will be available exclusively on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for 2400 Microsoft Points.

SW2XL for the PlayStation 2 can be played with or without the original Samurai Warriors 2 game disc. Consumers can find SW2XL for PlayStation 2 at the following retailers: Amazon.com, Best Buy, Game Crazy, GameStop, Gamefly, EB Games, and Wal-Mart.

Grand Thieft Auto IV to sell 9 million units, ship 6 million in first week

But title masks poor Take-Two portfolio, says Wedbush

With the highly-anticipated title Grand Theft Auto IV due for release late next month, Wedbush Morgan has said that it expects the game to sell over nine million units during the fiscal year, and that Take-Two is likely to ship six million of those in the first week of sale.

The analyst predicts the game will be responsible for around USD 450 million of Take-Two's expected USD USD 1.073 billion publishing revenue this year, generating USD 135 million of the company's operating profit.

But the expected success of the title does not compensate for the poor portfolio of titles for 2008 and 2009, says Wedbush's Michael Pachter, as Take-Two fails to produce timely sequels to its popular franchises, and delays key releases.

"As we look at Take-Two's line-up, we see GTA IV, and several games that look much like Take-Two games from past years," commented Pachter.

"We are fans of Midnight Club, but question the decision to delay the game's launch into the competitive Burnout and Need for Speed window as ill-advised. We also note that the Q4 2008 launch of Midnight Club will mark three and-a-half years between versions of the game, highlighting Take-Two’s failure to "sequelise" its key franchises on a regular basis."

Pachter pointed out that of Take-Two's touted franchises, the last Max Payne game was released in late 2003, Red Dead Revolver in May 2004 and Mafia in January 2004.

"Unless management surprises us, sequels to these key franchises will require five or more years of development," he said, noting that Max Payne 2 isn't due for release until 2009.

The analyst also remains unimpressed with other titles already announced by Take-Two, including Top Spin 3, Don King Presents: Prizefighter and Carnival Games: Mini Golf. "These games appear to us like the Manhunt, BIGS, All-Pro Football, Ghost Rider and Fantastic Four games of last year, when the company generated a net operating loss of more than USD 100 million," he said.

On the subject of the EA's proposal to acquire Take-Two, Pachter expects a resolution before the publisher's AGM on April 10, possibly even before the end of the month.

"We expect that in order to save face, Take-Two management will withdraw its demand that any discussions wait until after the launch of GTA IV, and we think that management will engage in discussions with EA," he said.

"We think that EA prefers to complete a friendly deal, and think that it is possible that Take-Two management can convince EA of the extent to which EA may have undervalued Take-Two shares, and believe that as a conciliatory gesture, EA management may be prepared to increase its likely USD 26 offer to somewhere close to USD 27."

"Again, we think investors will jump at the offer," he concluded.

Source: Games Industry

Grand Thieft Auto IV to sell 9 million units, ship 6m in first week

Nintendo Speeds Into Spring With Mario Kart Wii

Nintendo Speeds Into Spring With Mario Kart Wii

Hotly Anticipated Racing Game Includes Innovative Wii Wheel

This year, the typical signs of spring will be accompanied by the sweet sound of revving engines and the sight of lightning-fast shells whizzing around every corner. Mario Kart Wii is zooming toward its launch in the United States on April 27. The game comes with the intuitive Wii Wheel™, which makes it easy for novices to compete against veterans, so no one is left in the dust. And with a broadband hookup to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, players can compete with up to 11 other drivers from around the world for racing dominance.

"Mario Kart Wii transforms one of our most popular franchises into a race that every member of the family can join," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Driving with the Wii Wheel could not be more natural, and this is one place where speeding is encouraged."

Mario Kart Wii will include 16 new courses and 16 classic courses from previous Mario Kart games. For the first time ever, players have the option of racing with either karts or motorbikes. Players can also hit the road as their personalized Mii™ caricatures in addition to the handful of classic Nintendo characters found in the game. True to the series, the game features tons of racing, plenty of power-ups and oodles of objects for players to use to slow down other drivers. And 10 battle arenas will keep players busy between trips around the circuit.

The easy-to-use Wii Wheel will also be sold as a separate accessory, giving every driver in the household a chance to get behind his or her own wheel. And if veteran Mario Kart fans are afraid of getting smoked by rookie drivers using the Wii Wheel, they can rest assured that Nintendo has them covered. Mario Kart Wii supports four different control options: Wii Remote™ with or without the Wii Wheel, Wii Remote and Nunchuk™ controller combo, Classic Controller and even the Nintendo GameCube™ controller. So there's bound to be a configuration that fits everyone's style.

Mario Kart Wii launches with a new channel added to the Wii Menu to enhance game play: The Mario Kart Wii Channel. This new channel builds on the huge online community of Wii owners and lets players compete in tournaments, check worldwide rankings, see when their friends are playing and download ghost data.

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com. For more information about Mario Kart Wii, visit MarioKart.com.

Sushi Mania mobile cellphone game released

Hands-On Mobile 'Rolls' Out Sushi Mania Across the Globe

Sushi Mania launches as part of Hands-On Mobile's 'Best of Korea' program.

Hands-On Mobile™, the world's leading developer of connected games and applications, announces the launch of Sushi Mania on all US and European carriers. Sushi Mania comes to the US and Europe as part of Hands-On Mobile's 'Best of Korea' program, which has brought titles like Heroes Lore: Wind of Soltia to mobile gamers and offers them the chance to experience the very best titles from one of the world's most advanced mobile gaming markets.

Sushi Mania takes players on an adventure through 20 game worlds, packed with moving obstacles, tasty treats and hungry enemies. The player selects from 12 different cute sushi characters, each with their own skill and ability, and then rolls their piece of sushi around the levels, leading them on a mission to track down missing ingredients, and, ultimately, the missing sushi chef. The three-button control system is designed to be simple and intuitive for players, while allowing them the freedom to do high jumps, break blocks, navigate collapsing walkways and teleport.

"Sushi Mania is a perfect example of why we established the 'Best of Korea' program. This combination of bite-sized, fun game play and cute characters will appeal to a wide audience; it is a great mobile game and is receiving rave reviews," said Michael Temkin, CTO and EVP of Operations, Hands-On Mobile. "We are looking forward to bringing more hit games from Korea to Europe and the US."

Sushi Mania has already received a string of accolades with The UK's Guardian Games Blog saying "If you've already played the Sonic mobile conversions, or just want a candy cute little platformer for a few hours of retro-tinged fun, download Sushi Mania as soon as you can." Other reviews include 90/100 from Project NeXt, 81/100 from Mobile Game FAQ's and an 8/10 silver award from Pocket Gamer, which stated: "Sushi Mania is a feature-rich and interesting package that's well worth a round of chopstick-clacking applause."

The sushi's world has a distinct and strong graphical design that ensures it will appeal to all mobile users, but not everything is quite so friendly. It is the player's task to avoid the deadly menaces that loiter around the landscape; hungry for the sushi ingredients the player needs to collect. The player can also gather coins as they travel, which unlock more levels and special features including six mini-games designed to offer players a bite-sized snack they can return to.

Gems Quest PC game - Sixty levels of gem-matching puzzling fun

Enjoy the Spirit of Adventure with Gems Quest!

Sulus Games announces the immediate availability of Gems Quest, a perfect mix of an enjoyable arcade game and exciting adventure. It provides players with an ultimate opportunity to enjoy 60 levels with compelling tasks to complete.

The game includes an innovative match 3 arcade mechanics. Gems Quest defines itself as a well-developed game with high-quality graphics and eye-pleasing special effects. The rules of the game are totally easy to learn, so you do not need to be a skilled match 3 player to get accustomed to the game mechanics. High-quality 3D episodes telling the story of the main hero are presented in a comic strip manner.

Since the very launch of the game the fleeting spirit of adventure will capture your thoughts and take you to a faraway country deep into the jungle. You will learn the story of young girl Sasha. In the book of legends she finds out that there is a cure of all illnesses: a very rare red flower. She needs it very much. So, gathering all her braveness she decides to take a trip to deep jungle forests, the only place on earth where the rare flower is said to grow. We are meeting Sasha the moment her doggy, finds a marking on the ground that signifies an ancient temple. She quickly throws all reasons aside and ventures off to investigate.

Gems Quest has 60 professionally designed arcade levels. The objective is to move blocks with arrows by clicking on them to make matches. You can match three or more blocks. The gold you receive with a match fills the plate in totem's hands. When the plate is full, the level is complete. Gems are moved indirectly by moving adjacent arrows. The direction of an arrow changes upon collision with the wall. The game also includes a new kind of Power Ups, helping you to collect more gold or break up obstacles.

Pricing and Availability

Gems Quest runs under 98\Me\2000\XP\Vista and costs $19.99 (USD) for a single-user license. Licensed customers are entitled to enjoy the game without any time limitations. Additional information on Gems Quest with its download version limited to 60 minutes of game play is available from www.sulusgames.com.

ELSPA Disappointed in British Budget 2008

Commenting on today’s budget statement, Paul Jackson, Director General, Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) said;

‘We are disappointed that the Chancellor missed the opportunity today to offer French style tax breaks to UK developers. However, positive discussions continue with the Treasury and we are hopeful of persuading them of the economic argument to support our case in due course.’

Australia Zoo Animal Links for PC video game released Friday

JoWooD Productions resents Australia Zoo Animal Links

On sale 14th March 2008.

JoWooD Productions are pleased to announce that Friday 14th March will be releasing Australia Zoo Animal Links for PC and will be priced at £9.99 SRP. Australia Zoo Animal Links is a race against the clock to stop the Australia Zoo animals from becoming Extinct! Challenge your mind by advancing through 20 levels of gameplay, each one harder than the next.

With 3 different game modes Animal Links increases the fun factor and gives you advanced replayability to keep you wanting more!

Australia Zoo Animal Links also allows you to unlock animals around the map that are found at Australia Zoo. Each animal once unlocked will give you information and pictures to educate you on that particular animal.

Features

• 3 levels of difficulty each with unique gameplay
  
• 20 exciting levels to unlock
  
• Unlock levels to learn about Australia Zoo’s Animals
  
• Hours of fun and exciting gameplay
  
• Release: March 14th 2008
  

Microsoft games console XBox 360 price reduction in Europe

The Microsoft Xbox 360 will become a lot more attractive in Europe as of March 14, when all hardware prices will drop at least £39.99.

The basic Arcade unit will fall to £159.99 from £199.99 and the Premium version will ship for £199.99 instead of £259.99. Gamers who need the extra storage will be able to pick up the Elite package for £259.99 instead of the previous, steep £299.99.

The cuts make the Arcade option the cheapest home console on the continent, and Microsoft notes that £159.99 "is the price point where a console's audience begins to expand."

Microsoft also says that the 360 is the top selling console in Europe, Africa and the Middle East (presumably collectively) by owning 42 percent of the market so far as "life-to-date revenue." (The 360, remember, had a significant head start on the Wii and PS3).

Source: Video game media

The company also points out that 360 gamers are larger software consumers than fans of any other system, with the average owner boasting a seven game collection, instead of less than 4 for the PlayStation 3 and Wii.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 Legacy Edition For Microsoft Xbox 360

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 Legacy Edition For Xbox 360 In EMEA Territories in April 2008


Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announced that it would release a special Legacy Edition for Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2, the follow up to the massively popular squad-based action franchise, and next generation smash hit of 2006.

This exciting new Legacy Edition will include the original game, and an additional disk containing all the GRAW 2 downloadable packs available on Xbox Live to date! It includes:

- 32 additional maps, a combination of new maps and best of maps!

- New exciting game modes and a large variety of exclusive ground-breaking missions

- Exclusive additional weapons that enrich the tactical possibilities in Single Player

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter ® 2 Legacy Edition is scheduled for release on the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in April 2008 and will be available in stores at Mid-Price.

For more information about Ubisoft, please visit www.ghostrecon.com or www.ubi.com.

Nintendo announce details of Mario Kart Wii

Nintendo has officially announced that the latest in its seminal Mario Kart series, Mario Kart Wii, will be released on April 27th in North America, with its own exclusive Wii channel, Mii and online support, and the Wii Wheel peripheral.

First announced at E3 of 2007, Nintendo says the game will include online support via the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection for multiplayer races of up to 12 players. The game will include 16 new and 16 classic courses, motorbike as well as Kart races, and Mii support for personalized drivers, and will support a number of controller configurations, including the Classic Controller and GameCube controller.

Nintendo has also announced the addition of a new Wii channel to accompany the launch of the game -- the aptly titled Mario Kart Wii Channel. In it, Nintendo will track and support the online community of players with tournaments, worldwide rankings, online friends lists, and downloadable ghost data.

Said marketing executive VP Cammie Dunaway, "Mario Kart Wii transforms one of our most popular franchises into a race that every member of the family can join. Driving with the Wii Wheel could not be more natural, and this is one place where speeding is encouraged."

Source: Gamasutra

XIII Century PC game Death or Glory now live on GamersGate

Exclusive digital worldwide premiere

XIII Century: Death or Glory now live on GamersGate

Leading PC digital distribution platform GamersGate and 1C Company announced today the exclusive digital worldwide premiere of eagerly awaited XIII Century: Death or Glory.

"This game has been referred to as having enough battles to choke a general and we are thrilled to be able to offer it to gamers worldwide weeks before it is scheduled to reach any other distribution channels, said Theodore Bergquist, CEO GamersGate.

XIII Century: Death or Glory is an RTS game that immerses players in the Middle Ages. This is a world of noble knights and ruthless nomads, a world of courageous deeds and internal wars.

As one of the famous military leaders of the 13th Century, gamers are able to test their steel against the neighboring nations and carve their names into history.

The game is developed by Unicorn Games Studio and published worldwide by 1C Company. You can find more information about the game at http://xiiicentury.1cpublishing.eu.

Larry Bond's Harpoon – Commander's Edition Update released

A New Larry Bond's Harpoon – Commander's Edition Update Puts to Sea!

Tons of new features and improvements, heading at flank speed to Harpoon fans everywhere

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and Advanced Gaming Systems (www.advancedgaming.biz) are excited to announce the first update for their popular naval warfare simulator, Larry Bond’s Harpoon – Commander’s Edition. The major new update brings many new features and plenty of gameplay improvements.

Highlights of the new v2008.024 include a BattleSet builder so users can create their own Harpoon Classic BattleSets covering nearly any part of the planet, major surface gun modeling improvements, countless game database changes including the adoption of more platform photos, CPU use optimization, support for higher resolutions in the scenario editor, and much more!

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “The Commander’s Edition team at Advanced Gaming Systems have been hard at work since the release of Harpoon – Commander’s Edition and have made some great progress to further enhance this classic and realistic game system. Fans of naval warfare strategy now have even more reasons to try out Harpoon – Commander’s Edition.”

Larry Bond’s Harpoon – Commander’s Edition is the latest addition to the longstanding naval warfare simulation series that has earned awards and accolades from naval strategy fans and military personnel alike. Like its predecessors, Harpoon – Commander’s Edition allows players to assume the role of a fleet commander, making the same type of decisions he has to make, using the same type and quality of information he might expect to get in wartime. This is naval warfare strategy and simulation at its very best – addicting and wholly realistic!

As players take to the seas and command a huge variety of ships in an equally as varied choice of theaters and historical conflicts, naval simulation realists and strategy fans alike will revel in the depth and richness of Larry Bond's Harpoon – Commander’s Edition. Experience realistic gameplay with all new features, art, and more! Choosing from an accurate and editable database of platforms, weapons, and sensors, players can fight one of 269 provided scenarios covering the height of the Cold War to Pirates in Malaysia, or use the provided editors to create their own.

Get more information on Harpoon – Commander’s Edition from its official Matrix Games webpage. This update is comprehensive and will bring the game up to version 2008.024.

Please note: This update is quite large at 278 MB because of the battleset and art additions.

SAGA MMORTS Video Game Releases Free Version - free to play

SAGA Releases Free Version

SAGA, a new Massive-Multiplayer Online Real-Time Strategy (MMORTS) game from Silverlode Interactive today announced the launch of their free-to-play version.

Silverlode Interactive has released a free version of SAGA on schedule, as promised.

The free version of SAGA will allow players to access the game without purchase and without credit card, in the same realms on the same servers with the paying SAGA players. Certain features will be locked, but otherwise players are welcome to join their friends online and participate in online massive strategy warfare without shelling out a penny.

Thousands of players are queued up and waiting for the free version to get a look at SAGA before purchasing, and will be admitted online to join the thousands of players who already have the fully registered version.

Some features are locked, such as the online auction house, official rated battles, and the ability to create and join guilds, but otherwise the free client is identical to the full version. The free version will even allow players to do cooperative party quests alongside the full version players, a feature which is unique to SAGA as an RTS with MMO-style strategy questing.

“We needed to protect the in-game market and other inter-player relations from being flooded with input from free-to-play accounts, but otherwise we have tried to maintain as much of the SAGA experience as possible in the free version,” says Kynan Griffin, Content Manager and Producer at Silverlode.

Free accounts may be upgraded to the full version for $19.95. Upgrading the account unlocks all the features disabled in the free version, and does not reset a player’s nations, troops or remove any of the items acquired through questing.

The game trailer can be viewed at http://www.gametrailers.com/player/31166.html

Sign up to play SAGA now at www.playsaga.com.

Virgin PLAY to release videogame for Imira Entertainment's Lola & Virginia

Virgin PLAY adquires the rights to produce and distribute the videogame for Imira Entertainment´s Lola & Virginia

Virgin PLAY and Imira Entertainment have recently signed a contract in which the Spanish videogame distributor and editor obtain the rights to produce and distribute the Lola & Virginia licensed videogame. The game is being developed for the Nintendo DS platform, and will be available fall 2008.

Lola & Virginia is an internationally known license, shown in over 90 countries around the world. The videogame will also be available worldwide by Virgin PLAY and its affiliates.

The series is about Lola, a 12 year old girl who lives in your regular neighbourhood, has to take care of her 2 bratty little brothers, dress with hand-me-down and second-hand clothing and put up with her friends who are a bit on the nutty side. However, she takes it all in stride, feels like the Queen of the hill, that is, until Virginia comes along. Virginia has everything that Lola doesn’t, looks, brains, boys, money and parents who let her do whatever she wants. Envy is a bad thing and the relationship between the two girls quickly develops into a series of strategies, alliances and competitions. Lola is a good girl, but she´s no angel!

The videogame will be in line with the original series and the player will have to help Lola in overcoming Virginia.

Developed for girls between 8 and 12 years old and mirrors the same traits that are portrayed in the series and that are of interest in this age group: fashion, being the most popular girl in school and getting the cute kid in class to like you.

Mar Gaya, International merchandising, publishing & DVD of Imira Entertainment, comments: “We are happy to have closed this worldwide deal with Virgin PLAY. With the Nintendo DS platform, the LOLA & VIRGINIA series will have several licenses adapted to new technologies thanks to the high definition and easy adaptation of the license for videogames, mobile phones and the like.”

Paco Encinas, General Director of Virgin PLAY, adds “Its great to count on Imira Entertainment for this joint project. We have put a lot of hard work and hopes into it and are sure that it will be a great success and open doors to new projects with Imira in the future. ”

The series Lola & Virginia is currently aired in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Mid-East. For information on TV channels and show times: www.lolavirginia.com.

The Kart n' Crazy Open Beta PC game launched Free to Play.

The Kart n' Crazy Open Beta has just been launched.

All drivers to the starting line!

Kart n’ Crazy, Goa.com’s online racing game, commences its open beta phase from the 11th March onwards. Everyone can take part in the online races behind the wheel of the craziest karts going.

The first phase of the closed beta has brought together many European drivers who were able to test the different racing cars and world circuits of Kart n’ Crazy.

It’s in this screwball environment that you can lose yourself on the wacky tracks and compete against 16 other players. Tornadoes, icebergs and funky mushrooms spruce up these fantastic game tracks where all of your challengers are armed to the teeth! Master your driving techniques and use the many different items at your disposal to help you win. You can also develop your character and racing car; blast off into six completely different environments and have 16 tracks to choose from. The revised beta will offer many new tracks and is free to play, so remember to drive crazy!

Kart n’ Crazy is a game developed by the Korean Windysoft studio.

For more information go to: http://www.goa.com/#/kartncrazy

2K Play Expands Carnival Games with Carnival Games for Nintendo DS and Carnival Games Mini-Golf Exclusive

Step Right Up! 2K Play Expands Its Carnival Games Franchise With Carnival Games For Nintendo DS And Carnival Games: Mini-Golf Exclusive

Original Wii Version of Carnival Games Ships More Than One Million Copies

2K Play, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, today announced two new titles as a part of its brand extension strategy for its highly popular Carnival Games series. The new titles include Carnival Games for Nintendo DS, which is scheduled to ship this summer, and Carnival Games: Mini-Golf, an all-new game exclusive to the Wii home video game system, which will debut this fall. 2K Play is also announcing that its flagship Carnival Games title has reached a milestone of shipping more than one million units worldwide, while remaining a top-selling game with a number 5 ranking on the January 2008 NPD Wii chart.

"The success of Carnival Games is proof that the casual game market continues to grow," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "We are actively working to expand the 2K Play label and are committed to producing fun, quality games for the mass market with the Carnival Games franchise paving the way."

"The consumer response to Carnival Games has been extraordinary," said Steve Lux, vice president of business development for 2K Play. "The game resonates with every demographic and the feedback we have received from moms, dads, kids and grandparents shows Carnival Games as one of the drivers of family game time. Our new games build on the strength of the first title and will promote this growing trend."

Carnival Games for DS brings the fun of the original to the world's best-selling portable system during the summer vacation and travel season. Each game is designed from the ground up to take full advantage of the DS control mechanism. A frenzied combination of tapping, blowing, speaking and stylus maneuvering brings the now famous midway to life. Favorites such as Alley Ball, Frog Leap and Dunk Tank are complemented with fresh games including RC Raceway and Clown Hammer.

This fall, the all-new Carnival Games: Mini-Golf comes exclusively to Wii. Featuring Carnival Bob™ and characters made popular in the original, Carnival Games: Mini-Golf is home to larger-than-life, theme park style miniature golf courses. Whether back in time to the land of dinosaurs, keeping order in the Wild West or searching for treasure on an island full of pirates, the game combines traditional miniature golf fare with action-oriented game play utilizing the unique capabilities of the Wii Remote™. It is designed for four players and can best be described as "a hole in fun."

"We work hand-in-hand with Nintendo on the design of our Carnival Games titles to make sure they deliver the best-possible gaming experience for their consoles," said Harley Howe and Patrick Wilkinson, studio heads of 2K Play's Cat Daddy Games. "These new titles in our growing Carnival Games franchise are fun, have true-to-life physics and deliver on the promise of the original: you can almost smell the cotton candy."

For more information, log onto www.2kgames.com/2kplay.