Free Ninja Gaiden 2 Magazine - Xbox 360 exclusive game as free download

Free Ninja Gaiden 2 Magazine

GamerZines.com produces one-off magazine dedicated to Xbox 360 exclusive game as free download

GamerZines.com, the portal for free digital magazines for gamers, today announced the immediate availability of the Ninja Gaiden 2 magazine. Produced by the same team that create the free monthly Xbox 360 magazine, 360Zine, the Ninja Gaiden 2 magazine offers a complete guide to the upcoming Xbox 360 title.

“Getting access to Ninja Gaiden 2 to produce this magazine meant that we could produce a unique guide that lifts the lid on the game that many Xbox 360 gamers can’t wait to play. Everyone wants to know how the sequel can improve on the Ninja Gaiden series, but all the signs are that NG2 is going to deliver in spades” says Editorial Director, Dan Hutchinson.

The magazine gives readers a quick history of Ninja Gaiden before diving into the in-depth tour of the new game, complete with hi-resolution screens, interactive elements and gameplay video all available directly on the magazine pages.

The issue also includes an exclusive competition to win an Xbox 360 signed by legendary producer Tomonobu Itagaki as well as details on how readers can keep up to date with Ninja Gaiden 2 details on the web and on their mobile phone.

All GamerZines.com magazines are professionally written and produced by a team of games journalists and publishers with decades of experience in the magazine industry. The portal offers free monthly magazines for various games platforms in interactive PDF format. All the magazines are enhanced with rich media and extensive video of the games in action.

Readers do not need to register to download the magazines, which are all completely free. All that is required to view the magazines is Adobe Reader version 6 or above on Windows or Mac, and a broadband internet connection.

Gamers can download the Ninja Gaiden 2 Special Edition now from http://www.gamerzines.com/

PLAYABLE DEMO RELEASED FOR OVERCLOCKED: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE

Lighthouse Interactive and dtp Entertainment today released a compelling playable demo for the psychological thriller adventure game, Overclocked: A History of Violence. Created by award-winning developer, House of Tales Entertainment, players will delve into the world of Overclocked to explore the deranged minds of three of the five patients admitted to the Staten Island Forensic Hospital. This highly anticipated adventure game on PC DVD-ROM was released in the UK on May 2 and is available in stores now.

Overclocked explores violence, an archetypical, yet actual condition of mankind. Players will become engrossed in a world where memories and illusions; dreams and reality; perpetrators and victims… collide. Overclocked: A History of Violence is Windows Vista compatible.

To download the demo or find out more about Overclocked: A History of Violence please visit: www.lighthouse-interactive.com

GAME SUMMARY

Set against the backdrop of a catastrophic thunderstorm raging over New York City, step into the world of Overclocked as former army psychiatrist, David McNamara. You are called to the Staten Island Forensic Hospital in New York City to consult on a case that requires your expertise in forensic psychiatry. Tasked with exploring the minds of five young men and women who were found scared, screaming, and without memory, you make alarming discoveries as you begin to cautiously probe the psyches of your young patients. Throughout the game, you will play as five other characters in this chilling interactive psycho thriller.

FEATURES

· Experience Overclocked from various perspectives as you play as six different characters throughout the game
· Explore 45 diverse locations
· Innovative storytelling techniques create a unique gameplay experience
· Meet and interact with a cast of intriguing characters, each with their own distinct personalities
· Characters come to life with fluid movements and realistic facial expressions created with EMotion™ FX 2 technology
· Cinematic cut-scenes designed using advanced camera techniques pioneered by feature films
· Exceptional visuals enhanced by shadow and shader effects, real-time atmospheric particle effects (rain, snow, lightening), and dynamic lighting
· Unique icon-based dialogue system

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

OS: Windows 2000 / XP / Vista
CPU: 1.3 GHz Intel Pentium or AMD Athlon processor
RAM: 512 MB (1 GB recommended for Windows Vista)
Video: DirectX 9-compliant video card Shader Model 1.1
PC DVD-ROM: 4x
Sound: DirectX 9 compliant sound card
Available Hard Disk Space: 5 GB
DirectX: 9.0c
Other: Mouse, Keyboard and Speakers

About dtp entertainment AG

dtp entertainment AG is Germany’s second biggest independent game publisher. With more than 80 employees at its Hamburg headquarters, the company is a market leader for adventure games and children’s software, publishing games for all interactive entertainment platforms worldwide.
www.dtp-ag.com

DeSean Jackson And Owen Schmitt As Cover Athletes For NCAA Football 09

Jackson Featured on PlayStation 2 Cover and Schmitt Graces PlayStation Portable Pack Front

EA has announced the final two cover athletes for NCAA Football 09, scheduled to hit stores across North America on July 15 from EA SPORTS. Former Cal wide receiver, DeSean Jackson, will be the cover athlete on PlayStation 2 while former West Virginia Mountaineer Owen Schmitt can be found on the cover of the PlayStation Portable version of the game.

In three seasons at Cal, Jackson ranks third all time in receiving yards (2,423) and third in receiving touchdowns (22). He was rated as the #1 receiver in the nation by The Sporting News and Rivals.com going into his junior campaign. Jackson was a first team All-Pac-10 selection and led the nation in average punt return yards (18.2) in his sophomore season. In the recently held NFL Draft, Jackson was selected in the second round (49th overall pick) by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Schmitt, a tough-minded fullback, finished his West Virginia Mountaineer career as one of the greatest players in school lore. In his career, Schmitt earned 21 career starts and carried the ball for 1,003 yards, a 6.3-yard average, during his Mountaineer career.

NCAA Football 09 on PlayStation 2 will feature authentic collegiate animations, an all-new Mascot Challenge and bring to life the atmosphere, pageantry and tradition of college football. The PlayStation Portable version will include arcade-influenced gameplay that throws you into the action faster than ever and brings out the fun and excitement of Big Play Saturdays. Both the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions of NCAA Football 09 will feature EA SPORTS Family Play, a fun and accessible game mode that has simplified game controls, playcalling system and playbooks.

Former Arkansas All-American Darren McFadden is the cover athlete for NCAA Football 09 on the Xbox 360 while Matt Ryan from Boston College is featured on the PLAYSTATION 3 pack front. Also, Sparty the Spartan from Michigan State University will grace the cover on the Nintendo Wii. For each of the platforms, NCAA Football 09 brings to life the fun and excitement of gameday Saturdays and captures the true emotion of the college football experience.

Xbox 360 Announced as Official Music Partner to Ibiza Rocks Hotel

Xbox 360 is today announced as the Official Music Partner to the Ibiza Rocks Hotel – a collaboration between two pioneers of entertainment which will see a campaign of unmissable music activity taking place on the White Isle throughout Summer 2008.

Some of the UK’s hottest bands and cutting edge DJ’s will play intimate sets at the hotel - the spin off to the hugely successful Ibiza Rocks with Sony Ericsson gig series which, for the first time ever, brought live music to the dance capital of the world. The Ibiza Rocks Hotel launches with a live gig from The Enemy on May 31st. As the Official Music Partner, Xbox will add to the hotel’s live music programme and will also see Xbox hosting ‘Xbox Weekenders’ with the hottest bands and DJ’s across the summer.

The news comes as Xbox gears up for a summer of music activity covering music festivals, exclusive gigs and special events to celebrate the fact that players can download cutting edge music (and movies) on Xbox LIVE.

Inside the new Ibiza Rocks Hotel, guests will enjoy the ‘Xbox Social’, the perfect place to experience the latest games, music and movies available on Xbox, complete with comfy couches, and quirky extras. Throughout the hotel, Xbox 360 kiosks will be on hand to play all the latest games, and for those who can’t make it out of their rooms after a particularly heavy night’s clubbing, there will also be a concierge service available where the Xbox team will set up complimentary consoles and games in guest’s rooms

On the top floor of the 368 room hotel will be the ‘Xbox Penthouse’ – a premium quality apartment complete with sunset balcony, where all the bands playing at Ibiza Rocks will stay during their time on the island. It will also be a safe haven for VIPs and celebrities throughout the course of the events, which are set to be highlights of the Ibiza summer calendar.

The Ibiza Rocks Hotel is San Antonio’s first destination concept hotel, fusing music and fashion with fresh ideas. Thanks to Ibiza Rocks, Indie was given its inaugural invite onto the island in 2005 and has since established itself as a European phenomenon. Ibiza Rocks has welcomed some of the best bands and cutting edge DJ’s to play intimate live sets under the stars, including Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs and Kasabian. This year, The Enemy, The Pigeon Detectives, The Wombats, The Fratellis, We Are Scientists, Reverend and the Makers, Soulwax/2ManyDJ’s and Pendulum are just a few of the bands playing headline slots at Ibiza Rocks from 17th June to 9th September.

Commenting on the partnership, Alex Weller, Xbox Brand Experience Manager said: “We’re delighted to be working with such a credible partner as Ibiza Rocks Hotel. We saw massive crossover in their audience with ours, and as we focus more on music and entertainment as a whole, it’s a perfect fit for us which will enable people to connect to the things they love most – music, gaming, and having fun.”

Andy McKay, Ibiza Rocks promoter said: “When Xbox approached us, we immediately saw the synergy. Along with being a natural fit and world class brand that truly enhances what we do, the Xbox activity taking place will really add value to our customers’ experience at the hotel. We’re looking forward to a great season.”

Hanabi Festival Returns To Virtual Console!

Second season of classic U.S. and Japanese games set for launch in Europe

Retro gamers everywhere rejoice! The celebrated ‘Hanabi Festival’ is back on Virtual Console, bringing with it another timeless selection of retro titles – previously released only in Japan or the United States – to Wii gamers across Europe. Available via the Wii Shop Channel, discovery is the name of the game as players can experience for the first time many highly entertaining and cult classics, all courtesy of SEGA and Hudson Soft.

Named after the Japanese holiday season renowned for its firework displays, the Hanabi Festival offers Wii owners across Europe the opportunity to experience first-hand a series of gaming greats never released in PAL regions. To kick-start this, the second Hanabi Festival, three high-energy action and puzzle titles are unleashed…

· GRADIUS II GOFER NO YABOU (Turbografx) – the acclaimed space shooter!

· Columns III: Revenge of Columns™ (SEGA MEGA DRIVE) – the jewel puzzle brain bender!

· Final Soldier (Turbografx) – the action-packed shoot ‘em up sequel!

And there are even more import games planned to launch as the Hanabi Festival continues in the coming weeks, including such diverse titles as Puyo Puyo 2 and Gley Lancer from SEGA, and Star Parodier and Cho Aniki from Hudson Soft – and more.

GRADIUS II GOFER NO YABOU returns you to the helm of the legendary Vic Viper to overcome a new offensive from the Bacterion Empire. Originally only available on the PC Engine (Turbografx) console in Japan, this horizontally scrolling shooter challenges players to conquer the Bacterion’s fleet and its new leader, Gofer. With a total of nine stages, this perfect port of the original boasts one of the longest adventures in the series and also features more trademark fast-paced music to accompany the intense action! GRADIUS II is available now for 900 Wii Points.

If you’d prefer to test your brain rather than your brawn, then the mental tenacity of puzzle fans everywhere will be pushed to the very limit in the compelling sequel Columns III: Revenge of Columns™. Released in the U.S. in 1994 for the SEGA MEGA DRIVE, Columns III offers a single-player or multi-player experience that expands upon the gameplay of the first two Columns titles by giving players extra attacks to spring on their opponents. As in the original Columns, jewels fall into a column bin where gamers have to twist and manipulate them to match three or more jewels in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line to prevent them from stacking up and reaching the top. In Columns III, special magical jewels are available that influence the game in numerous ways such as raising your opponent’s crush bar or lowering yours, adding an extra element of strategy to the game. Columns III: Revenge of Columns™ is available for 900 Wii Points.

The third Hanabi Festival title this week, Final Soldier, propels you to the 23rd century where you are Earth’s last line of defence against an unknown horde of alien invaders. Part of the celebrated ‘Star Soldier’ series, this action-packed vertical scrolling shooter puts you at the helm of a space fighter created by the finest scientists from across the globe. Armed to the teeth with an arsenal of weaponry you rise up against the enemy overwhelming them with lasers, flamethrowers and missiles, many of which can be upgraded to cause further devastation. Originally released for PC Engine (Turbografx) only in Japan, this Hudson Soft classic can now be yours for 700 Wii Points.

Hanabi Festival titles that were originally released in Japan contain only minimal Japanese text that will not affect players’ enjoyment. All new Hanabi Festival titles will remain on the Wii Shop Channel after the festival has ended. Titles from the previous Hanabi Festival in September 2007 (Sin And PunishmentÔ, Ninja GaidenÔ, Gradius IIIÔ, Ninja JaJaMaru-kun, and Mario’s Super PicrossÔ) are still available, except for the limited edition Super Mario Bros.: The Lost LevelsÔ.

And watch this space in the future, because the Hanabi Festival may return…

Virtual Console offers users the ultimate retro gaming experience. This week’s titles join the list of 209 classic titles already available for Virtual Console in Europe.

MTV Games, Harmonix and EA Announce - Rock Band Track Pack Volume 1 for WiiT and PlayStation 2

Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a division of MTV Networks, which is a division of Viacom, along with distribution partner Electronic Arts, today announced plans to release Rock Band Track Pack Volume 1 for the Wii home video game console from Nintendo and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. The 20-Track Pack features an electrifying mix of classic hits and current favorites, including songs by Boston, Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, and All American Rejects. The Rock Band Track Pack Volume 1 will be available on July 15th, 2008 for a MSRP of $29.99. Complete details are as follows:

Release date: Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Tracks:

• 30 Seconds to Mars The Kill
• All American Rejects Move Along
• Blink – 182 All the Small Things
• Boston More Than a Feeling
• David Bowie Moonage Daydream
• Faith No More We Care A Lot
• Grateful Dead Truckin’
• The Hives Die, All Right!
• KISS Calling Dr. Love
• Lynyrd Skynyrd Gimme’ Three Steps
• Nine Inch Nails March of the Pigs
• Oasis Live Forever
• Paramore Crushcrushcrush
• The Police Synchronicity II
• Queens of the Stone Age Little Sister
• Ramones Teenage Lobotomy
• Smashing Pumpkins Siva
• Stone Temple Pilots Interstate Love Song
• Weezer Buddy Holly
• Wolfmother Joker & the Thief

**All 20 tracks utilize original master recordings**
** All tracks are available as DLC on competing platforms**

Price: $29.99 MSRP

Rock Band is the ultimate platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music like never before. The game challenges players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune – all while learning to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals. Featuring the most master recordings of any music game ever by the world’s biggest rock artists, Rock Band includes tracks that span every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic rock, to heavy metal and punk. Rock Band has garnered over 40 awards this year including Game Critics Award: Best of Show E3 2007 and three awards at The 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards including Outstanding Innovation in Gaming, Family Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack.