Cal Ripken's real baseball announces second tournament for 2008 season - home-run derby contest

Free MMO Sports Game Tournament to Involve Teams From Around The World Competing Head to Head

Cal Ripken's Real Baseball, the world's only massively multiplayer online sports game (MMOSG) for baseball, announced today they will host a Home-Run Derby Tournament scheduled to begin on June 2nd at 12:00 PM PST.
The Home-Run Derby Tournament is a revolving two-week competition, meaning a new winner will arise from the competition every two weeks.

In order to foster competition, each player will compete against players of his or her own skill level. Unlike most Free Agent Tournaments, formal registration for this event is not required. The only requirements to participate in this event are an active account and the ability to provide an accurate character profile with current contact and personal information.

Players may participate in the Home-Run Derby Tournament at any time of the day during the set time parameters established by Cal Ripken's Real Baseball. Home-Runs are not accumulated during the two week term. The player with the most home-runs at the end of ten outs, at the end of two weeks, will be declared the winner. Winners of the Home-Run Derby will earn a spot in Cal Ripken's Real Baseball Hall of Fame! The winners will have the option to place a photograph of him or her in the list of honorees.

"Cal Ripken's Real Baseball brings video gaming and baseball to a whole new level. Players can continue to enjoy the head to head competition with tournaments and other events we have to offer," said Andy Wang, founder and CEO of Netamin Communication Corporation.

Regarding the nature of a new tournament like this, Andy went on to mention that "it is a single player tournament, and players will not just experience winning or losing but learn about playing the game of baseball as well. It will help players to have better experience when they start to play with real people!"

Like baseball in real life, Real Baseball hosts different types of events throughout the year. These include tournaments, Homerun Derbies, and Rookie Challenges. Tournaments for Real Baseball are Level based tournaments and grouped into the following categories:

Minor, Major, All Star and MVP, are either single elimination or double elimination. Rookie Challenges are fun and educational, intended for new players, and are designed to get them ready for the big leagues and the tournaments.

About Real Baseball

In Real Baseball, baseball enthusiasts and gamers compete in 3D virtual stadiums. With stunning graphics and surround-sound audio reactions from the crowd, participants control customized characters for each position and compete together against other Real Baseball gamers.

Players use an avatar to bat, pitch, field, run, steal and perform any baseball action. Participants can practice, play pick-up games, join or found their own teams, compete against rival teams, play in specialized tournaments, and win league championships in post-season play. Gamers create their own characters and build their skill level (player stats) through successful play on the field against other real human players. Unlike current video games that aim to simulate professional sports, Real Baseball delivers a first-person perspective of a character, created and developed by the player, interacting online in real-time with teammates and opponents.

Enkord releases Gunrox beta

When was the last time you played a turn-based squad-oriented tactical combat game? Okay, but when was the last time you played a GOOD turn-based squad-oriented tactical combat game? We'd like to point you to the beta of an up-and-coming title from developer Enkord called Gunrox.

In it, you create a squad of soldiers and battle players around the world in head-to-head or cooperative skirmishes. Highlights include simple character customization, the acquisition of powerful weapons and useful skills, and a highly accessible battle system. Give it a play while it's free and have a hand in shaping the final product:

http://www.enkord.com/games/gunrox/

Finish the fight with the upcoming free veteran map pack for EA's army of two

Free Downloadable Content Features Two New Campaign Maps and Enhanced Versus Map

This year’s breakout 3rd person co-op shooter just got more intense! Players now have the chance to extend their ARMY OF TWO experience with two brand new co-op campaign maps and an enhanced multiplayer map that offers more opportunities to show that a two-man team can be unstoppable. The free Veteran Map Pack, sponsored by Pontiac, will be available on May 29 in North America and Europe on Xbox LIVE Marketplace and PLAYSTATION Store.



Players will experience an all-new map as they find themselves underground in a subway station in Kiev where they must find and destroy the central hub of a dangerous militia. The second map takes players back to SSC headquarters in Miami where they finally get the chance to take out Dalton, Rios and Salem’s ex-boss and the man responsible for framing them, in an intense boss fight where the glory of revenge is finally felt. The Veteran Map Pack features dynamic and interactive environments including destructible objects that were not available in the retail version. The action also continues online with two-on-two teams battling it out in the China Canal Lock map.

WiiWare add Dr. Mario - Family Table Tennis - Metal Slug - City Connection to Wii shopping channel

This week's Wii-kly Update pretty much covers the full spectrum. Maybe you'll want to blast away with an arsenal of old-school weapons. But then again, three-day weekends are a good time to relax. So maybe you'll take a wild road trip or settle in for some table tennis. And if you overdo it, we have a physician standing by.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

WiiWare

Dr. Mario Online Rx (Nintendo, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points):
The doctor is in! Mario takes a break from his adventuring ways and once again dons his stethoscope for a new generation of germ-battling mayhem. In addition to the classic mode of using vitamins to exterminate viruses, you'll find two battle modes and an online multiplayer mode where you can hone your skills against players from around the world. Feel like challenging a friend who doesn't have Dr. Mario Online Rx? Then the WiiWare-exclusive Friend Battle Demo is just what the doctor ordered. Or maybe you'd like some help taking on those nasty viruses? Try out Virus Buster, where four players can simultaneously move capsules simply by pointing at them with a Wii Remote™ controller. Any way you look at it, Dr. Mario Online Rx is a prescription for fun that everyone can enjoy.

Family Table Tennis (Aksys Games, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points):
It's time for some good old family fun, and what's more fun than table tennis? Just like a real family, choose your character from a cast of four, which includes Daddy, Mommy, Sarah and Billy. There are four table tennis-tastic stages where it doesn't matter if you're an indoors or outdoors table-tennis player. Pick your poison from a gymnasium, a forest park, a beach or even an amusement park. Choose from Single or Versus mode, or select a minigame to play. In Versus mode, you and a friend can play against each other to see who is the better table-tennis player. And if Single and Versus modes aren't enough, select between three minigames, which include Target Table Tennis, Thrilling Table Tennis and Matching Table Tennis. The appealing cell-shaded graphics and endearing music, on top of the super-fun game play, will have you and your family playing from morning till night. Get your paddles ready.

Virtual Console

City Connection (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone - Comic Mischief, Tobacco Reference, 500 Wii Points):
Based on the arcade hit, a young man born in California sets out to tour famous sites and cities around the world. As he drives the highways surrounding these locations, the road is painted white as proof of his visit. Only once all sections of the road have been painted will he move on to the next location in his world tour. Not surprisingly, the local police will chase the driver and do their best to stop him from completing his goal. In addition, cats roam the highways and spikes lie in wait for unsuspecting drivers. To combat these dangers, the driver's customized car can jump, fire cans of oil and collect balloons to warp to a new stage. It's the ultimate road trip.

Metal Slug (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen - Blood, Violence, 900 Wii Points):
Released in 1996 by SNK, Metal Slug is a side-scrolling military-action game. Players control Marco and Tarma, both members of the special-ops force Team Peregrine Falcon (commonly known as Team PF), and battle their way through stage after stage of intense action. The goal is to try to overthrow General Morden and win back the stolen weapon, the Metal Slug. Players must blast through waves of enemies and machines (while also jumping over any obstacles in the way) to advance through the stages. It's not as hopeless as it might sound, though—weapons such as heavy machine guns, shotguns, rocket launchers and flamethrowers, as well as the Metal Slug itself (which appears frequently in the game), will make the battle easier. Take on General Morden with a friend to lighten your load and ramp up the excitement even more.

Rockstar 08 to offer unsigned talent a chance to record an album

Organisers of the first annual rockstar competition supported by michael eavis, peter gabriel's real world studios and scouting for girls have made entering the competition a must for budding musical talent by also offering the opportunity to win a recording session to produce a debut album.

RockStar 08, the national live music competition to discover the UK brightest unsigned musical talent, today announced a staggering bonus for the winner of the competition – a further chance to win an additional two weeks to record a debut album in Real World Studios.

The competition, which is open to any unsigned band or artist, has already been dubbed a must enter competition for any budding musician, with the prize offering a live set at Glastonbury 2009 festival, and a live set at Michael Eavis’ own famed Pilton Party and a two day recording session at the world famous Real World Studios. But now organisers have upped the stakes by offering the winner of this competition the chance to also qualify for a further two week recording session to record a debut album.

Real World Studios boasts a line up of huge bands and artists who have recorded there, including Massive Attack, Goldfrapp, Manic Street Preachers, New Order, Paul Simon, Stereophonics and Robbie Williams.

Budding music stars and bands hoping for their big break need to visit the official website (www.rockstarbands.co.uk), download and complete the entry form and return it to the competition return address before June 19th 2008 to ensure their entry is received and ready to be judged.

RockStar 08 open to everyone, young old, groups or soloists, with the only stipulation being that any entrant must be unsigned and ready to lay everything on the line in the pursuit for ultimate victory.

Ninja Gaiden 2 Frame Rate Issues in the Final Build

CVG Staff have confirmed that the frame rate issues in NG2 were found in the final build of the PAL version.

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Win trips to New York - Paris with Alone in the Dark contest on Xbox 360 and Wii Consoles

Trips to New York or Paris, Xbox 360 and Wii Consoles, and Many More Prizes to be Won in Sizzling Hot Competition

Atari announced details of the ‘Keep the Fire Burning’ competition in the run-up to the launch of the action survival game Alone in the Dark scheduled for release across Europe on 20 June for Xbox 360™, PC, Wii and PlayStation®2. Top prizes include a week-long trip to New York or Paris, Xbox 360 and Wii consoles, and a host of exclusive Alone in the Dark goodies including original soundtrack CDs, t-shirts and Art Books. The ‘Keep the Fire Burning’ competition is now live on www.CentralDark.com and will run until 31 July 2008.

As the release of Alone in the Dark quickly approaches, anticipation for the game is literally heating up. Entrants to the ‘Keep the Fire Burning’ competition will need to create the largest group of friends for the chance of winning an inferno of prizes. Since fire will be both your best ally and your worst enemy in Alone in the Dark, knowing how to use it to your advantage is crucial. What better way to survive in the dark than with a constant source of light and a little help from your friends?

Use Edward Carnby’s fire to light your torch and pass on the flame to up to ten of your friends. The pressure is on to keep the torch alight as your friends only have 24 hours to pass the flame to ten friends of their own, and so on. To increase your chances of winning, a number code will be hidden somewhere on CentralDark.com each week which will allow you to invite two extra friends to your group. A little investigative work pays off as the largest group of friends with a lit torch will be able to retrace Edward Carnby’s steps in Central Park with a week-long trip to New York.

The competition is easy to enter: simply visit the homepage of Alone in the Dark’s official website www.CentralDark.com and click the ‘Keep the Fire Burning’ competition icon, or visit the competition page directly at www.CentralDark.com/keepthefireburning. Full details of the competition prizes are as follows:

• Winning group : 2 trips to New York or Paris and 3 Xbox 360 consoles in a draw between group members

• 2nd largest group : 1 trip to New York or Paris, 1 Xbox 360 console and 1 Wii console in a draw between group members
• 3rd largest group: 1 trip to New York or Paris and 1 Wii console in a draw between group members

• 4th to 10th largest groups: 40 original Alone in the Dark soundtrack CDs, 30 Alone in the Dark Art Books and 20 Alone in the Dark T-shirts in a draw between the groups’ members

• Creators of 40 largest groups will also receive an Alone in the Dark T-shirt

The ‘Keep the Fire Burning’ competition will also be available on Facebook in early June 2008 for even more chances of winning Alone in the Dark goodies.

Featuring a gripping story, design inspired by contemporary TV action dramas, and original gameplay based on real world rules physics, the action survival opus Alone in the Dark is scheduled for release on 20 June in Europe for Xbox 360, PC, Wii and PlayStation®2, with the PLAYSTATION 3 version following later in 2008.

Naruto clashes on the Wii again

We all knew it was coming, but ryne11 and sent an e-mail over (thanks!!) confirming Tomy is working on a sequel for Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution.

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The Evolution of Lara Croft [Pics]

The increase in Lara Croft's hotness is directly proportional to global warming...

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Supreme Ruler 2020 goes Gold

Supreme Ruler 2020 has gone Gold.

Developers BattleGoat Studios has produced an engaging geopolitical wargame set in a future full of global turmoil. Numerous improvements help surpass the original, to provide a game full of complexity and deeply engaging strategy.

"We've created a strategy game with unmatched scope and depth. We set our sights high - play the whole world, all at once, without limits on the numbers of units, facilities, or other elements. Zoom in to examine a single city, or zoom out to see the whole world. Trade, ally or battle with hundreds of real-world countries. It's all in there", says George Geczy, Lead Programmer and Co Founder of BattleGoat Studios.

In the year 2020, the world is fracturing along economic and political fault lines. War is commonplace. Borders shift on a daily basis, as rival militaries duel over dwindling resources. Your nation seeks a leader to rise above the chaos. The region needs a warrior, to wield an iron fist and smash aside the forces of anarchy. Our world demands a strong ruler, to restore order and return stability to a terrified population.

Can you become the Supreme Ruler?

Key features in Supreme Ruler 2020:

- Control any department within your government or delegate decisions to your Cabinet Ministers
- Sophisticated Military Strategic and Tactical Command System
- Select from hundreds of actual military vehicles to research, build, and deploy
- Choose conventional warfare or develop your nuclear weapons program
- Detailed Economic and Political Models
- Flexible Diplomatic Interface allowing sophisticated negotiations
- Play any one of over 250 Regions world-wide
- High Resolution Satellite imagery provided courtesy of NASA
- Single Player or Multi Player support
- Varied Game-play options include Regional Battles, Missions and Campaigns
- Next Generation AI
- Introducing BattleGoat's new Super Sandbox Mode for unlimited customization and replayability

Shigeru Miyamoto The Walt Disney Of Our Time

When Disney died in 1966, Mr. Miyamoto was a 14-year-old schoolteacher’s son living near Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital. An aspiring cartoonist, he adored the classic Disney characters. Shigeru Miyamoto, a man whose creative successes have spanned almost 30 years. From Donkey Kong, to Mario as well known as Mickey Mouse

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