MySims Kingdom, the next experience in the MySims series

Create Your Story Of Adventure To Make The Kingdom Great

The Sims, an Electronic Arts Label, today announced first details for MySims Kingdom, the next experience from the creators of MySims. Launching exclusively on the Wii and Nintendo DS platforms, MySims Kingdom sets you on a story of adventure, discovery and exploration to help King Roland and his subjects revitalize the Kingdom. Launching globally in autumn 2008, MySims Kingdom for the Wii and Nintendo DS puts the creativity in your hands to make the Kingdom something to behold!

MySims Kingdom for the Wii
King Roland needs your help to make the Kingdom a better place. Throughout this tale to bring the Kingdom back to its former glory, you must help new and old friends alike, discover new lands and build to the limit of your imagination.

Your MySims Kingdom experience begins in The Capital, the majestic land at the center of your story-telling. Check out the Castle, explore this first land and begin to meet your first set of new friends, including King Roland, Princess Butter, and the Wizard Marlon. Find out more of what awaits you here and then get in your boat to sail to many more lands on the horizon!

Throughout your journey new characters, lands, and clever new contraptions will be revealed. Construct and do everything from tending your pigs to finding treasure chests. Newly-added building options will help you accomplish the tasks you’re challenged with along the way, including building broken bridges. In true MySims fashion, everything is customizable, allowing every creation within your world to have a signature look.

There is a lot more to discover in regions beyond The Capital, so stay tuned for more characters, contraptions and lands that are yet to be revealed!

MySims Kingdom for Nintendo DS
Take the Kingdom with you! MySims Kingdom on Nintendo DS adds a new chapter to the saga, challenging you to help the King thwart the plans of evil in a far flung corner of the Kingdom. Many new activities and mini-games are included to help you persuade the King that your island is the ultimate royal destination.

“MySims has been met with such enthusiasm by players and families everywhere, we are excited to make MySims its own franchise within The Sims Label,” said Rod Humble, Head of Studio for The Sims Label. “MySims Kingdom has players helping King Roland and his subjects make the MySims world a better place by completing rewarding quests, building houses, bridges or even making contraptions powered by electricity or water. And MySims Kingdom on Nintendo DS, adds many new activities such as kayaking, ski jumping, populating the town zoo and many others!”

Since its launch in September 2007, MySims quickly rose to global success and is loved by players everywhere, having sold 2.8 million copies worldwide to date. The second installment in the franchise, MySims Kingdom, will hit retail shelves across North America, Europe and Asia in Fall of 2008. For more information on MySims, please visit www.mysims.com.

Get ready to embark on your own story-telling journey of discovery and exploration in MySims Kingdom this fall.


Product Specifications
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Electronic Arts Redwood Shores
Platform: Wii/Nintendo DS
Ship Date: Worldwide: Fall 2008
Category: Simulation/Strategy

Grand Theft Auto 4 raises classic GTA Prices on Xbox & PS2

"Buying all three older Grand Theft Auto games released on Xbox would cost $76 now instead of $64 in March, an 18% increase. Buying the same Playstation 2 GTA games would cost $33 now and were $30 in March, which is an 11% increase."

read more | digg story

5 v 5 Clan ladder on online games Call of Duty 4 for the Xbox 360

Consolegaming.eu today announced that it would be teaming up with leading computer technology provider Turtle Beach to launch a 5 v 5 Clan ladder on one of the most popular online games at the moment: Call of Duty 4 for the Xbox 360.

The ladder will last 2 months with the top 8 teams moving forward into the play-off finals battling it out for some of the best prizes ConsoleGaming.eu have ever offered.

The winning clan will net themselves 750 Euros and 5x Turtle Beach X3 Wireless Headsets worth approximately 90 Euros each whereas the runners-up will net themselves 350 Euros and 5x Turtle Beach X1 Headsets worth approximately 50 Euros each.

In addition to these two main prizes, there will also be a competition to find the MVP (More information can be found on the ConsoleGaming.eu website). The MVP will bag themselves 125 Euros.

The sign-ups start now and the ladder will begin on the 16th June 2008.
Further details can be found on www.consolegaming.eu.

Opening new doors for developers on Nintendo Wii

WiiWare Arrives In Europe

The opportunity to create the next groundbreaking video game for Wii has well and truly arrived for developers as WiiWare hits Europe. Launching on 20th May 2008, developers, no matter how big or small, will be able to create exciting new downloadable game’s to be sold through the Wii Shop Channel. Changing the way developers create Wii games and players access them, WiiWare will make it possible for smaller, creative titles to take centre stage. Developers will be able to see their big ideas step into reality, without risk or the need for a big budget.

With WiiWare games the possibilities are endless. Only limited by the imaginations of the developers, expect to see a raft of new, fresh and original games head to Wii from an entire range of genres. Utilising the Wii’s unique control methods from the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to potentially the Wii Board and Wii Wheel, developers have the freedom to create the game of their dreams in an affordable way, with low entry barriers and flexible criteria in front of them. Such is the opportunity that, already developers who have never created or published games for Nintendo are working on a host of potential ideas.

Laurent Fischer, Managing Director of Marketing & PR of Nintendo of Europe comments, ‘We are excited by the positive response we have received from third party developers to the announcement of WiiWare. We hope that this opportunity and the inspiration to produce original and exciting games will allow developers of all sizes to bring new concepts, genres and game play experiences to Wii. Opening this creative door will also provide Wii users access to a huge choice of games that they can easily download and enjoy.’

Easy to access and simple to use, WiiWare games will be available to download directly onto Wii from the Wii Shop Channel from 500 Wii Points. To date, a vast array of exciting and creative new projects are already in the pipeline, ensuring fresh concepts and content will frequently become available for all to enjoy. Players themselves will also become central to the creative process as their download choices and genre selection will become instrumental in helping developers determine future projects.

From 20th May onwards a whole host of brand new creative games from developers across Europe and the rest of the globe become available, including:

· Dr. Mario & Germ Buster from Nintendo

· FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King from Japanese developer SQUARE ENIX

· Lost Winds from UK developer Frontier

· Pirates: The Key of Dreams from Dutch developer Oxygen Interactive Ltd

· Pop from Australian developer Nnooo

· Star Soldier R from Japanese developer HUDSON SOFT

· Toki Tori from Dutch developer Two Tribes B.V.

· TV Show King from French developer Gameloft

With so much creative freedom on offer to developers there is sure to be something for everyone on WiiWare. Keep checking www.Wii.com and the Nintendo Channel (launching on 30th May 2008 on Wii) for all the latest WiiWare news and releases.


WiiWare: Launch Window Games Information:

Title: Dr. Mario & Germ Buster
Developer: Nintendo
Number Of Players: 1 – 4 players
Genre: Puzzle
Controllers Used: Wii Remote
PEGI Rating: 3+
Additional Information: Supports Miis, WiiConnect24, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

Game Overview

The all-time puzzle classic returns for the Wii generation, featuring online gameplay and a new Germ Buster mode! Destroy all the viruses trapped in the bottle by dropping and slotting capsules to create lines of matching colours. The more viruses you clear, the faster the capsules drop.

In Dr. Mario, challenge the computer in 1 Player mode, go head-to-head with a friend in 2 Player mode, or prove your skills against the world via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. You can also send a demo version of the game to a friend (within your region) using WiiConnect24.

In Germ Buster (based on the relaxation game in More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima), up to four players can use their Wii Remotes to grab, spin and slot capsules as your Miis try to keep the nasty bugs at bay. Who thought that catching germs could be so much fun?

Title: FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King
Developer: SQUARE ENIX
Number Of Players: 1 player
Genre: Simulation
Controllers Used: Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Classic Controller, GameCube Controller
PEGI Rating: 7+

Gritty strategy RPG Zoids Assault for Xbox 360

Atlus U.S.A., Inc., hailed as publisher of the month by "Hulking War-Machine Weekly," today announced Zoids Assault, a gritty militaristic strategy RPG featuring enormous beasts of steel, exclusively for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Zoids Assault further demonstrates Atlus' commitment to Xbox 360 system and the strategy RPG genre, joining Operation Darkness and Spectral Force 3 in a stacked 2008 lineup.

Manage a team of elite war machines through a campaign of intense military conflicts. Advanced upgrade and customization options combine with challenging objective-based gameplay to offer a fresh new strategy RPG and a daring new vision of the long-running Zoids universe. Commanders, start your engines (of war)!

Zoids Assault is currently scheduled for release on August 26.

Guitar Hero 4 Drum Kit Has Cymbals

Activision's bid to compete with Rock Band's drum kit will include two cymbal pads as part of the peripheral...

Guitar Hero IV will definitely feature a drum kit peripheral and, in a bid to outdo Harmonix's peripheral, Activision has added a couple of cymbals to the setup. However, there will only be three pads on the kit compared to Rock Band's four.

The news comes from scans on internet forums of the latest Game Informer, which pretty much confirms yesterday's rumours. The scans clearly show a bass drum pedal, three pressure sensitive pads, and two cymbal pads on the Guitar Hero IV drum kit.

This compares with a bass drum pedal, four pressure sensitive pads, but no cymbals on Rock Band's drum kit. In another similarity to Rock Band, GH4 will also feature vocals as an instrument when it's released later this year.

The GI scans also confirm the Create a Song feature that was detailed in the earlier rumours. This will allow gamers to create their own songs on GH4 and upload as many as five for others to rate. With good ratings, players will eventually be able to upload 10 or more tracks to the service.

Source: TVG

Rumor: Konami Already Hinting at Metal Gear Solid 5?

Tuesday's Metal Gear Solid 4 press event in Tokyo's Roppongi Hills concluded with an audio clip of a phone conversation between franchise foe Revolver Ocelot and an unknown character, with only Ocelot's side of the conversation presented in the clip (with subtitles shown on the screen). Could they already be hinting at the next iteration of MGS?

read more | digg story

PC game Pro Cycling Manager - Tour De France gets in gear

EXPERIENCE ACCURATE RECREATION OF THE WORLD OF COMPETITIVE CYCLING

Ascaron, 93Games and Cyanide are pleased to announce the release of 5 new screenshots for Pro Cycling Manager – Tour de France 2008, the newest version of the popular racing management series for PC and PSP due out in June.



Pro Cycling Manager – Tour de France 2008 is the most complete recreation of professional cycling yet. The game features the most advanced rider AI yet, highly detailed rider models, animations, environments, lighting and track racing events. Challenge your team’s racing skills on cycle speedway, Keirin and elimination as you tackle a new type of management challenge.


The new management aspects of the game include an entirely new stamina system and highly realistic progression curve for each rider, testing the depth of your training competence. A complete skills editor and a new young talent recruiting system allow would-be managers to modify their cyclists and create the perfect winning team.

The PSP version of Pro Cycling – Tour de France 2008, has been specially designed to make use of the unique features of the Sony PSP. Players can choose from one of the 18 official teams and all-star players to participate in an accurately recreated model of the Tour de France 2008. The new edition includes the option to challenge others in multiplayer mode via LAN or via the PSP WiFi features.

Bullseye for Touch Darts game on Nintendo DS

Nintendo DS game, Touch Darts, will be released in North America in June of 2008.

“This is not just your ordinary dart video game; Touch Darts really takes advantage of Nintendo DS’s unique touch screen and allows players to accurately simulate throwing darts with a simple flick of the stylus,” says Mark Johnson, producer at Agetec. “The developer, Full Fat, made sure to fine tune the controls so that even the most hardcore dart fanatic is happy with this game. It’s quite an achievement.”

Touch Darts comes with four classic dart modes: tournament, challenge, quickplay, and multiplayer. Quickplay and multiplayer mode gives up to four players the chance to square off on the board via single cartridge. Tournament mode includes four different levels of difficulty ranking from Rookie to Expert.

“This game will make you feel as if you were really in your living room, at your friend’s house, in the pub, or in a tournament tossing darts,” continues Mark Johnson. “Another great feature in Touch Darts is the challenge mode, which takes traditional dart tossing and puts a whole new spin on it. Challenge mode consists of ten mini games and includes the classics like Killer, Round the Clock, and 1001, but also includes all new games like Speed Darts. In Speed Darts, players must score a certain amount of points in a given period of time. Challenge mode is a lot of fun and is something even seasoned darts players will find fresh.”

Motion-Sensitive Technology from Sony Ericsson Brings New Challenges to Mobile Gamers

New Motion-Sensitive Technology from Sony Ericsson Brings New Challenges to Mobile Gamers

At the JavaOne 2008 Conference, Glu Mobile, a leading global publisher of mobile games, announced its upcoming original title, Get Cookin’, will utilize motion-sensitive technology available on new Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (“Sony Ericsson”) handsets. The use of this technology challenges players to use a combination of physical gestures as well as button presses to create sophisticated cuisines, bringing an entirely new ingredient to mobile games.

Get Cookin’ is a new title from Glu launching in July 2008 across all major carriers worldwide. Get Cookin’ challenges players to create delicious cuisine by perfecting a wide variety of cooking methods, ingredients, seasonings and recipes. Gamers with the Sony Ericsson W910i, debuted earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, will utilize motion-specific techniques to complete enticing meals in order to rise to the top of their profession.

“Sony Ericsson’s motion sensor technology allows us to incorporate more authentic, true to life challenges in Get Cookin’ and introduce an entirely new dimension to mobile games,” said Jill Braff, senior vice president of global publishing, Glu. “The use of this technology gives developers a way to deepen the gameplay and gives players a truly fun game that incorporates all new ways to play.”

The built-in accelerometer in the Sony Ericsson W910i is used to control game functions such as flipping a steak on the grill by utilizing its sensitivity to allow for a more intense and physical gaming experience. Get Cookin’ will utilize the JSR 256 API motion sensor found inside the W910i and several other new Sony Ericsson devices.

LEGO Indiana Jones download the demo now

Finally, LucasArts has released a PC demo for the highly anticipated LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures, and I for one am downloading it right now.

LEGO Indiana Jones - The Original Adventures takes the fun and creative construction of LEGO and combines it with the wits, daring and non-stop action from the original cinematic adventures “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”.



To top it off, 1Up has posted some fun screens for it today, and to view them just hit the thumbnails below. The game is expected to be released on June 3rd for the PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, DS, Xbox-360 and Wii.



Source: FileFront

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Playing Mario Kart on Nintendo Wii using a guitar...

Since Mario Kart came out for the Wii, I haven’t seen a single extra wheel controller in the stores. Sure you can play the old-fashioned way using a Wiimote and Nunchuck, but what’s the fun in that? We decided that it would be much cooler to play Mario Kart using the Guitar Hero controller for Wii that was laying around.



Watch the video here on YouTube

Source: There Goes Dave

Sony Working on PlayStation 3 Firmware Update to Fix Grand Theft Auto IV

Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV) has suffered through some freezing issues on the PlayStation 3, and Rockstar Games has done what it can to create a patch to fix the problem. However, Sony itself is apparently now stepping up to the plate to look into the problem, and it may end up creating an all-new firmware update for the PS3 to remedy the situation.
According to 2K Games, publisher of GTA IV and the parent company of GTA IV developer Rockstar Games, the problem with GTA IV freezing PS3 consoles boils down to certain hardware found only in the launch versions of the PlayStation 3 console.

The Xbox 360 has had more than its fair share of launch-unit errors (red ring of death, anyone?), but this would be one of the few issues we've heard about regarding PS3 launch units.

At any rate, 2K Games has begun sending out the following notification to PS3 owners who have had trouble running GTA IV:

Hello
There is an issue with the launch edition of the PS3 and this game, the game was checked over and passed as 100% compatible with the current version of the PS3, of course the earlier version has custom chips which mean that it is a very different animal from the current PS3 on sale.

Sony are aware of this difference and are looking into producing a new firmware just for the earlier version of the PS3.

Source: Daily Game

Nintendo Australia confirms Super Smash Bros Brawl for June 26th

Nintendo Australia has 100% locked in June 26th as the release date for Super Smash Bros Brawl in Australia. Get ready to Brawl in Australian English as Brawl is an action packed fighting game that includes more moves, more levels, online battles, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, a variety of control options, a host of playable characters, and even an adventure mode that’s a full game in itself! We promise this is the last time we make a snide comment about the Brawl release date...... maybe.

LET THE BRAWLS BEGIN

Australia, 14 May, 2008

Nintendo will release the highly anticipated Super Smash Bros. Brawl 26 June 2008. The first Super Smash Bros. for Wii™ is an action packed fighting game that includes more moves, more levels, online battles, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, a variety of control options, a host of playable characters, and even an adventure mode that’s a full game in itself!

Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a game play experience where characters from around the Nintendo universe meet up in Nintendo locales to battle it out. Choose from a number of iconic and new characters including Mario, everyone’s favourite plumber; Meta Knight, the sword-wielding nemesis of Kirby; Pit, the angelic archer from Kid Icarus; Zero Suit Samus, the powerful Metroid series heroine; Sonic the Hedgehog from SEGA, and Solid Snake the solider from Konami’s Metal Gear series, among a host of others.

Jump and brawl your way through the Nintendo themed stages; pit up to four players against one another in a brawl to see who is the last one standing. Thanks to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection you can brawl with friends or strangers, share photos, swap replays, team up for challenging mini-games, and send custom made stages or screenshots to friends.

The adventure mode ‘The Subspace Emissary’ is a new mode for brawlers where you fight your way through enemy packed side-scrolling levels. Meet up with other characters, take on bosses, or even play two player cooperative. In this mode the world of Smash Bros. is invaded by the Ancient Minister and his army of creatures. The Ancient Minister is turning characters into trophies to harness their power, and eventually all the characters must work together to defeat the invading creatures. The Subspace Emissary is a fully-fledged game of its own!

Customise your Super Smash Bros. Brawl experience as you select your favourite Nintendo music to brawl to, and choose the control scheme that suits you best. Control options include the Wii Remote alone, Wii Remote with Nunchuk, Classic Controller or Nintendo GameCube controller, giving brawlers an endless amount of ways to play.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl is an encyclopedia of Nintendo’s video game history; it’s a brawling, battling adventure that retains all the familiar features of the series, whilst bringing a variety of extensive new elements, ensuring infinite replayability.

The previous instalment in the series, Super Smash Bros. Melee is the best-selling game of all time for Nintendo GameCube with 7.41 million copies sold worldwide.

Source: Vooks

The next super-charged generation of brawling rumbles onto the Wii with Super Smash Bros. Brawl hitting the shelves in Europe, on the 27 June 2008.

Enki Bilal's Graphic Novels becomes a game with Nikopol - Secrets of the Immortals

The stories and art of famed graphic novelist and filmmaker Enki Bilal adapted for an immersive, richly detailed adventure game for the PC

Got Game Entertainment today announced a North American publishing deal for “Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals” (PC), adapted from the famed “Nikopol Trilogy” graphic novel series, and major film release “Immortal”, by Enki Bilal. “Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals” is a visually striking, richly detailed point and click adventure game developed by Benoît Sokal’s White Birds Productions. The game immerses players in a futuristic Paris and the tale of a son’s search for his father and ultimate journey into the perilous world of political intrigue. As Nikopol, players must use cunning and puzzle-solving logic to thwart a dark conspiracy. “Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals” is scheduled for release in August 2008 and will retail for $29.99 (USD).

“Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals” opens in the Paris of 2023, now ruled by a power-hungry dictator, a place where the fascist rich and the abandoned poor are separated by both a literal and figurative wall. As we join our hero Nikopol, the son of an astronaut frozen in space decades ago, we find that a floating pyramid inhabited by Egyptian Gods hovers above the city. As one of their leaders plots to take control of Paris and its people, word reaches Nikopol that his father may be alive and hidden in the city's underground, a possible pawn in a looming battle. In the search for his father, Nikopol's journey finds him entangled in political intrigue, caught between two worlds, one of anarchy and one of immortality.

Microsoft Game Studios Unveils Gears of War 2 Gameplay

Viva Piñata - Trouble in Paradise Set to Burst Onto Store Shelves This Fall

Microsoft Game Studios and industry luminaries from the world’s top development studios will be on hand to show off the latest features of the year’s most in-demand titles; present will be Epic Games’ Cliff Bleszinski, Lionhead’s Peter Molyneux, TECMO/Team NINJA’s Tomonobu Itagaki and Silicon Knights’ Denis Dyack. This year, the visage of Marcus Fenix joins the likes of Ryu Hayabusa, Banjo, vivacious piñatas, cybernetic gods and a hero with a loyal dog sidekick in the all-star 2008 MGS line-up that promises to make Xbox 360 the console of choice for players everywhere.

Attendees of the MGS San Francisco showcase event will witness the first extended taste of Gears of War 2, the sequel to the blockbuster third-person tactical action game that sold nearly 5 million units. Epic Games Design Director, Cliff Bleszinski, will demonstrate dramatic new gameplay elements and stunning visual effects in a campaign sequence from early in the game – where Marcus Fenix and COG forces engage in pulse-pounding firefights between two Derrick transports, fend off vicious Reaver fly-by attacks and rabid Brumaks – all in the same rollercoaster ride of a level. As the most anticipated Xbox 360 exclusive title of the 2008 holiday season, Gears of War 2 offers an unforgettable gameplay experience that blends a gripping story with visceral combat on a grand scale.

MGS will also crack open Viva Piñata - Trouble in Paradise, set to appear on store shelves this September. Developed by the creative masterminds at Rare, this sequel to the colourful, sleeper hit builds upon the gameplay of the original and adds innovative twists to the mix. In an effort to help Piñata Central rebuild their computer database of piñatas, players will send piñatas at full candiosity to parties all around the world while using their creativity and imagination to attract, capture, protect, train and manage more than 100 newly discovered and existing piñata species. An exciting, new Just for Fun setting makes getting into the game fast and easy. For the first time, players will be able to collaborate together on a garden through a rich co-op experience, connect and play with others online via Xbox LIVE as well as instantly introduce new piñata species to their garden through an innovative new feature utilizing the Xbox LIVE Vision Camera.

MGS will also pull back the curtain on another beloved franchise with the triumphant return of Banjo, one of Rare’s most successful characters, in Banjo-Kazooie - Nuts & Bolts. Defying the laws of nature, a bear, a bird and a backpack team up to embark on another incredible adventure this November. MGS is breaking the rules of traditional platformer games by putting the power to invent new abilities for Banjo directly into the players’ hands. By using their ingenuity to build imaginative vehicles that can be combined with infinite variations, gamers help Banjo successfully complete missions through multiple terrains. Through exploration, discovering hidden secrets and solving puzzles to win rewards, players will continually find increasing ways to customize and improve their contraptions, creating an unprecedented level of user-generated content and emergent play for a 3-D adventure game.

These instantly recognizable franchises join the enviable company of Fable 2, Too Human and Ninja Gaiden II from Team NINJA/TECMO, making Xbox 360 the home of the best blockbuster game experiences this year.

Other news and features of 2008 Xbox 360 blockbusters:

Fable 2 - The wait is almost over for the sequel to THE biggest action role-playing game in Xbox history. Swords, guns and now the newly unveiled magical power round out the combat in this action RPG from acclaimed developer Peter Molyneux and Lionhead Studios. Players will have even more choices to continuously shape who their characters become in a world 10 times the size of the iconic Xbox game. “Fable 2” introduces a host of exciting new features for gamers, including a first-of-its-kind Xbox LIVE Arcade experience, and a genre-stretching multiplayer experience, allowing gamers easily play “Fable 2” with friends and family side-by-side from the comfort of a living room couch. Players can immerse themselves in this vibrant world that only Lionhead and Molyneux could create, beginning this holiday.

Too Human - Today, MGS and Silicon Knights will confirm that the wait is almost over - “Too Human” will be available on August 19 in North America and August 29 in Europe. “Too Human” is an epic, highly anticipated action game with integrated RPG elements and features a rich storyline with deep character development, both hallmarks of Silicon Knights’ legendary tradition of video game development. Additionally, Silicon Knights is showcasing for the first time, the title’s online cooperative play via Xbox LIVE; allowing gamers to experience “Too Human” with friends in a multiplayer setting.



Ninja Gaiden II - Team NINJA/TEMCO will reveal today that gamers can get a head start on expanding and customizing their “Ninja Gaiden II” experience with the release of Gamerpics and Themes, available as PDLC on Xbox LIVE beginning today. The Gamerpics packs include five new images each, at 100 points per pack; and the Themes, which focus on heroes and bosses, are 150 points per pack. Soon gamers everywhere will follow Ryu Hayabusa’s entire blood-drenched mission – through cities like Venice, New York and Tokyo – to avenge his clan and prevent the destruction of the human race. “Ninja Gaiden II” slashes its way onto store shelves on June 3 in North America and June 6 in Europe. Additional “Ninja Gaiden II” PDLC will be available for download on May 20, with subsequent releases throughout the summer.

Penny Arcade Adventures - On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One on Xbox LIVE Arcade provides a first-of-its-kind RPG-Adventure experience based on the popular Web comic. The creative collaboration between Penny Arcade creators Mike 'Gabe' Krahulik and Jerry 'Tycho' Holkins, legendary game designer Ron Gilbert and producers at Hothead Games results in a 100-percent authentic Penny Arcade experience that pushes bizarre characters, outrageous combat and adult humor to the precipice of darkness. “Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One” will be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade May 21, 2008.

Microsoft Game Studios is the home to many of the industry’s biggest franchises and continues to set the bar for top-quality entertainment experiences for players of all types. Characters from the game universes of “Gears of War,” “Fable,” “Banjo-Kazooie,” and “Viva Piñata” have enthralled gamers young and old all over the world. In 2007, MGS made history with some of the biggest video game launches ever, including Halo 3,” “PGR4” and “Mass Effect.”

With games often among the highest rated in their class by critics, Microsoft Game Studios delivers the best and most complete game experiences exclusively on Xbox 360, fuelled by the passion of 10 million gamers worldwide playing on Xbox LIVE.

This is just the beginning of what promises to be another landmark year for games on Xbox 360. Stay tuned for more announcements in the coming months.

Banjo-Kazooie - Nuts & Bolts Microsoft Xbox 360 - Fact Sheet

Title: “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts”
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Rare Ltd.
Format: DVD for the Xbox 360 video game system
ESRB Rating: E-10 rating pending
Availability: Holiday 2008

Product Overview:

Famed game developer Rare Ltd. is reviving one of its most beloved and successful franchises exclusively on Xbox 360 with the third installment of the “Banjo-Kazooie” series. “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” embraces new and old fans alike, as the famous bear and bird duo return in stunning high definition for a unique adventure of epic proportions. The Lord of the Games (aka LOG) is tired of the petty squabbling between Banjo and the evil witch Gruntilda (aka Grunty) over the years, and has arranged a showdown to decide the rightful owner of Spiral Mountain. Claiming to have created every video game ever made, LOG has built the game worlds in which the contest’s challenges take place. Banjo must complete LOG’s challenges to win, while Grunty tries to stop him using every method her devious mind can muster.

Throughout their adventure, players create their own abilities by building vehicles for Banjo to pilot over land, water and air. Vehicle parts, which range from simple devices such as engines and wheels to more unusual equipment such as springs and egg guns, are earned and collected throughout the game. Players use their imagination to combine parts in any order to create whatever vehicle they choose. LOG’s challenges have one goal, but players’ choice of vehicle and tactics will determine how they get there. By exploring worlds and solving puzzles, players both young and old will be rewarded with more advanced and diverse vehicle parts in their quest to defeat Grunty once and for all.

With the power of Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE, “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” brings an entirely new experience to the console and takes the franchise to a whole new level of enjoyment. High-definition graphics, user-created content and online gameplay are just three of the many advances people of all ages and skill levels will discover as they embark on their adventure.


Features:

• Top features include the following:
  


• An adventure that starts with your imagination. If you can imagine it, you can build it in the Mumbo’s Motors easy-to-use workshop. Then put your creation to the test as you take on Grunty in your quest for Spiral Mountain. Unlike other games, where the player progressively picks up new skills or abilities at points pre-determined by the game’s creator, “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” puts the power of improving Banjo’s abilities into the hands of the players as they build vehicles that allow Banjo to progress through the game. Vehicle parts include a wide variety of body panels, engines, wheels, wings, propellers, fuel and weapons, plus many more weird and wonderful gadgets such as floaters, Mumbo Bombos and the versatile sticky ball, from which players can design and create anything from a simple object-carrying truck to a space-age flying saucer. Once you’ve designed your creation, give it the finishing touch by painting it and choosing a suitable name before Banjo jumps in and pilots it into action.
  


• Customizable experience. With more than 100 contraption parts and unlimited combinations possible, no two players will have the same experience in “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.” By exploring the vast game worlds, discovering hidden secrets and solving puzzles to win rewards, players continually find more and more ways to customize and improve their contraptions, creating an unprecedented level of user-generated content for a 3-D platform adventure game.
  


• Fun right out of the box. Don’t worry if you aren’t the world’s greatest inventor or want to skip the workshop and get straight to the action, because “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” comes with a fully loaded experience right out of the box. Pre-built vehicles are included so players can jump right in and get started, with many more contraptions available for purchase throughout the adventure using the in-game currency system of musical notes.
  


• Engaging storyline and entertaining characters. Two of Rare’s most beloved characters have returned from retirement, making their debut on Xbox 360. To win the deed to their homeland and prevent the evil witch Gruntilda from developing it into tower blocks and malls, Banjo and his best friend Kazooie battle over land, sea and air against their longtime rival. Familiar faces such as Mumbo Jumbo, Bottles, Captain Blubber and the Jinjos are also back to lend a hand, along with an equally colorful cast of new friends and foes. Look out for Trophy Thomas, Piddles, Lord of the Games and Grunty’s mechanically menacing army of Gruntbots.
  


• Enjoy alone or with friends. “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts” offers complete single-player and multiplayer experiences. You can play through the adventure alone in the single-player campaign, or play with friends in competitive or cooperative challenges on your own or in teams.
  


• Fun for everyone. Xbox 360 is the home to the best entertainment experiences for everyone. With “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts,” Xbox 360 continues to build its impressive lineup of content that appeals to people of all ages and types.
  

Viva Piñata - Trouble in Paradise Microsoft Xbox 360 - Fact Sheet

Title: “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise”
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Rare Ltd.
Format: DVD for the Xbox 360 video game system
ESRB Rating: Rating pending (all ages)
Availability: September 2008

Product Overview: The original Rare Ltd. team behind “Viva Piñata” has reunited to bring gamers “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise,” the newest piñata adventure that invites gamers to return to magical Piñata Island. Unfortunately, not all is well on the island, as Professor Pester along with his gang of Ruffians have wiped out Piñata Central’s computer records, which poses a threat to parties everywhere. To help Piñata Central, players must gradually rebuild the computer database by sending piñatas at full candiosity to parties all around the world. While thwarting Professor Pester’s evil plot, players still build and maintain piñata gardens — using their creativity and imagination to attract, trap, protect, train and manage more than 100 different piñata species.

Available exclusively on Xbox 360, “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise” reinvigorates a colorful and engaging gaming experience on the Xbox 360 platform. Now with full cooperative and online gameplay modes, the “Viva Piñata” franchise opens its doors even wider with a new game that provides hours of fun for gamers of all ages, fans of the animated series and animal lovers alike.

Features: Top game features include the following:

• Social. The world of Piñata Island is an inviting and rewarding place to be. Family members and friend now can share in the joy of creating a garden by simply plugging in an extra controller. The second player has access to all tools, actions and activities, but he or she also can collect magic by helping. Player two can spend magic by tinkering items, healing a sick piñata or filling a piñata candiosity meter. It’s a new way to play.
  


• Customizable. “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise” allows players’ imaginations to run wild by providing them with expansive freedom and choice.
• Your garden. “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise” also offers a vast level of customization within your main garden. Now, along with planting grass, trees and flowers, and digging ponds and lakes, players can place sand and snow in their garden to make exotic species of piñata feel more at home. Players also can choose to enhance their garden with themed object packs — make your garden into a space center, a pirate cove or a haunted graveyard. Buy objects to change the weather, or new toys for your piñata to play with. You have total freedom to create any kind of paradise you want!
  


• Your piñatas. Thirty-two new species of piñata can run, crawl, fly and swim into your garden in “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise.” Large, small, fierce and cute, the new piñatas will join all your favorites for thriving activity throughout your garden. Among these new species are sour piñatas that will infiltrate and wreak havoc in the garden. In “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise,” players can choose to either tame sours, or feed them candy to keep them sweet.
  


• Piñata Vision. A never-before-seen feature called Piñata Vision allows players to plug in an Xbox LIVE Vision camera and interact with the game through the use of printed cards that feature a unique barcode. With Piñata Vision, gamers can simply flash a piñata card up to the Vision camera, and the content will drop directly into the game.*
  


• Accessible. “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise” reinvigorates the franchise with additional game modes and features that make it even more accessible to players of all ages and skill levels.
  


• Just for Fun Mode. Designed for beginner players, kids and those just looking to explore Piñata Island, this mode allows players to jump into the garden and interact with the unique piñata world. In this mode the difficulty has been turned down and the fun has been turned up. Sour piñatas stay away, resident piñatas remain healthy, weeds don’t plague your garden and you have an infinite chocolate coin bank account, allowing you to turn your garden into a veritable utopia of colorful creatures.
  


• Standard Mode. Presenting a challenge for experienced piñata gardeners and dedicated gamers, the Standard gameplay mode provides a more tricky option, where players must keep a watchful eye on their garden. Sour piñatas, feuding species, weeds, illness and limited money call for you to exercise problem solving and creativity to build and maintain an environment where piñatas can flourish and grow.
  


• Player Guide System. Replacing the traditional tutorial, the optional Player Guide System directs players through a series of loose goals to help them master the fundamental aspects of “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise.”
  


• Show Off. Using the new photo mode in “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise,” you can snap, print and upload pictures of your unique garden or customized piñatas showing them off to your friends. You also can photograph your piñata and turn it into a piñata card, share it with your friends so they scan it and put it into their own garden using the Xbox LIVE Vision camera.
  


• Piñata and character interaction. All your residents are now capable of performing dazzling tricks, which you can teach them using the new trick stick tool. Watch as piñatas play together, perch on each other and interact in new ways to make them more appealing.
  


• Spontaneous. “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise” is a constantly changing world where anything can and does happen. Rivalries, injuries, illness and fights — if you turn your back, who knows what your piñatas will do?
  


• It’s happening outside. Pester knows where your garden is, and he’s got a few nasty tricks up his sleeve to make piñata life difficult. Foil his plans by sending your piñata around the world to save parties everywhere. Also, you must deal with new, untamed sour piñatas with bad attitudes and more troublesome Ruffians who will try to spoil your creation.
  


• It’s happening inside. Pester will try to block piñatas from ever reaching your garden, but you can break the blockades and teach him who is in charge on Piñata Island. However, don’t underestimate Pester — he’s likely to make some personal appearances to attempt to put you in your place.
  

Penny Arcade Adventures - On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness - Fact Sheet

Format: Xbox LIVE Arcade
Download: Windows, Macintosh, Linux
Publisher: Hothead Games
Developer: Hothead Games
Release Date: May 21, 2008
Category: RPG-Adventure
ESRB Rating: M for Mature
Website: www.rainslick.com

On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness is an RPG-Adventure game set in the comic-book-meets-pulp-horror-meets-H.P. Lovecraft deranged 1920s universe of New Arcadia, delivering mature and compelling entertainment to gamers via accessible episodic delivery. The creative collaboration between Penny Arcade creators Mike ‘Gabe’ Krahulik and Jerry ‘Tycho’ Holkins, legendary game designer Ron Gilbert and veteran producers Hothead Games results in a 100% authentic Penny Arcade experience that pushes bizarre characters, outrageous combat, and adult humor to the precipices of darkness.

Players join Gabe and Tycho, the crime-solving team of the Startling Developments Detective Agency, to combat savage enemies and solve mysteries hidden deep in the sinister heart of New Arcadia. The ominous 1920s landscape features distinct artwork and characters designed exclusively by Krahulik and brought to life by the Hothead team.

On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 2008 Hothead Games, Inc. Penny Arcade, the Penny Arcade logo, and the Penny Arcade Adventures logo are trademarks of Penny Arcade, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Hothead, the Hothead Games logo, and the On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness logo are trademarks of Hothead Games, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All Rights Reserved. All other trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners.



Episodic Game Play

Each episode of On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness brings the Startling Developments detective team closer to discovering the sinister and bizarre mystery of New Arcadia, and truly takes advantage of the episodic genre by integrating features like

• The ability to carry over character, stats, abilities, inventory and look across all episodes
• A complete experience available in 5-10 hours of game play per episode
• A price point of $19.95 (or 1600 Microsoft points), offering tremendous value that fits into the modern gamer’s busy schedule
• Pick-up-and-play capabilities from any episode, allowing players enjoyment without the need to play previous instalments

Key Game Features

• Create-a-Player System lets you design and develop your own character, seeing it come to life in 3D and in the comic-style 2D cut scenes
• Dynamic turn-based combat system, over-the-top animations, and team-up moves during enemy battles
• Classic adventure game play combines with RPG elements to unravel the game’s mysteries and puzzles
• Authentic Penny Arcade story and dialogue written exclusively by Jerry Holkins
• Includes Gabe, Tycho, Annarchy,  and many other favorite Penny Arcade characters, plus new characters designed by Mike Krahulik

Velvet Assassin coming to Xbox 360 and Windows PC

Beautifully Realized Stealth-Action For Gamers

Gamecock Media Group today announced that ‘Velvet Assassin’ will be available on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows-based PC when it releases in fall 2008. Developed by Replay Studios, Velvet Assassin is a stealth-action game set in World War II and is inspired by real-life British secret agent Violette Szabo.

“This is a project we’ve been incredibly excited about from the start,” said Sascha Jungnickel, Creative Director at Replay Studios. “Velvet Assassin is going to be an amazing experience both in its visual style and gameplay, it will be awesome to get it to such a massive audience.”

Players assume the role of Violette Summer and head deep behind enemy lines with no support or official backing from the British Government. Violette risks her life fighting to defeat the German war machine one stealth mission at a time. Velvet Assassin combines lush, surreal visuals and a ground-breaking stealth combat system to deliver a gaming experience which is truly the first of its kind.

Rappelz extension unveils its two new Unique Creatures

The upcoming Rappelz extension “Epic V : Dragonc Age” for the free MMORPG Rappelz unveils some informations on its two new unique creatures: the White Dragon and the Cerberus.

Coming from ancient legends of the world of Rappelz, the White Dragon and the Cerberus are the two first creatures of the “Unique” type. Even rarer than the Centaure and the Angel, these two new creatures can be found in new zones and donjons of the Epic V. As all other creatures, they gain experience and level as normal characters, and change their appearance at level 50 and 100. They also have their own skill tree and can be controlled independently, making them a perfect companion for the adventurers.

The White Dragon is a majestic legendary creature coming from an ancient age and whose eggs have been conserved in the Veiled Island. The young dragons are hard to tame because they refuse to obey to one unique master and prefer freedom, but the rare adventurers who will be able to tame one of them will have access to the terrible powers of the Dragons…

The Cerberus is a terrifying three-headed dog defending the Dragon’s Lair. Powerful guardian, this legendary dog still is an animal, and the youngest Cerberus can feel as soft as puppies. But be careful, because once they are covered with an iron armor, the elder Cerberus are powerful war machines…

Just Flight add Vulcan to PC Flight Simulator X

Label: Just Flight
Developer: PSS / Just Flight
Genre: Flight Simulation
Release: 23rd May 2008
Price: £19.99 / €29.95 / $39.99

The mighty Vulcan is back in Flight Simulator X

RAF Vulcan has now been updated and is available now to download from Just Flight’s website. A DVD-ROM version with a new printed manual will be released on 23rd May and is available now to pre-order. As well as FSX compatibility, RAF Vulcan has been updated to make it compatible with Windows Vista and (with some minor limitations outlined below) the Flight Simulator SP2 service pack and Acceleration expansion

Existing owners of the Just Flight FS2004 version of RAF Vulcan can purchase a downloadable upgrade to FSX/Windows XP compatibility for £4.99 from www.justflight.com.



The Avro Vulcan’s beautiful lines and distinctive shape make it an icon of cold-war aviation. The Vulcan first flew in 1952, entered RAF service in 1957 and the final Vulcan flight was back in 1993. Thankfully, the last of these milestones has changed - Vulcan XH558 is airborne again, courtesy of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant and the tireless work of its dedicated fans.

Now updated for FSX compatibility, RAF Vulcan includes a faithful model from acclaimed developers PSS of XH558 as it appears currently, an additional eight all-new liveries from some of the aircraft involved in the Falklands conflict of 1982, and some of the preserved aircraft in the UK.

Fully licensed by the Royal Air Force, RAF Vulcan contains a total of eighteen examples in different Squadron liveries and with different model variations, including the 2K air-to-air refuelling tanker variant and those carrying the Blue Steel British nuclear cruise missile, the Shrike anti-radar missile as used in the Falklands, and the ‘project cancelled’ Skybolt missiles. The FS2004 version also includes scenery of RAF Cottesmore.

Just Flight’s Wolfgang Schwarz, who co-ordinated the FSX update, remarked: “We have responded to the huge demand from our customers and done what we think is an excellent job of upgrading RAF Vulcan for FSX. We have added eight new aircraft and given the whole package a complete tune-up. However, a couple of minor features from FS2004 have not been carried over to FSX. These are the one-button ‘quick start’ function and autopilot, which only operate in FS2004.”

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
Microsoft Flight Simulator X or 2004 – Windows Vista or XP, Acceleration or SP2 compatible

MINIMUM HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
PC with 2.0GHz (3.0 for FSX), 512Mb RAM (1.0Gb for FSX), graphics card with 128Mb (or higher) video memory, DVD-ROM drive, Hard disk space 2.0Gb



About Just Flight

Just Flight, part of the Mastertronic Group, is the world's leading flight simulation specialist, publishing a wide variety of digital aviation products. Their range comprises a multitude of different titles, including stand alone flight simulations as well as add-ons for Microsoft’s multi-million selling Flight Simulator and Combat Flight Simulator. Just Flight also has Just Trains, a specialist label devoted to stand alone train simulators as well as add-ons for the ever-popular Microsoft Train Simulator.

A British company, based in Huntingdon, Just Flight has been established for over twelve years. It prides itself on quality, value and customer service, which it backs up with a unique money-back guarantee on all its products.