Bus Driver fun addictive video game simulator out now

Bus Driver is now available for sale in retail stores and for digital download.

"I'm pleased that this type of game can get wide spread distribution. Bus Driver is a fun, addictive title that is fun to play for all ages." said Andy Sher, CEO at Meridian4.

Bus Driver is currently available in most retail stores, including GameStop and online channels, including Direct2Drive. The game is rated E by the ESRB and carries a suggested retail price of $29.99. For more information on the game or to purchase online, visit www.meridian4.com and click on the Featured game.



About Bus Driver

In Bus Driver, your job is to transport passengers around an attractive and realistic city. You must drive to a timetable on a planned route, while obeying traffic rules, and taking care not to upset or injure your passengers. This makes Bus Driver unlike any other driving game - the experience of driving a bus is very different from blazing through a racing circuit.

• 12 buses to drive - detailed models inspired by real-world buses, including London's double-decker bus, America's school bus, Europe's low floor buses and many more
• 30 routes arranged into 5 tiers with increasing difficulty
• Multiple duties, such as driving a school bus, transporting tourists, sight-seeing tours and even the transportation of prisoners
• High replay value based on sophisticated system of traffic rules and game-play related bonuses.
• Large city to drive in, with several districts of varying styles: modern, old-town, suburb, airport, harbor and more with day/night cycles and realistic weather conditions.
• Living roads with intelligent traffic controlled by AI system
• Non-violent, easy to pick up gameplay, suitable for all ages.

Source: IGN

Aces of the Galaxy now on Xbox Live Arcade and PC

Stunning and Hectic Space Action Shooter Now Available

Sierra Online, a division of Vivendi Games, has released Aces of the Galaxy, a high octane, retro-arcade 3D space shooter for Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and for PC via download. Aces of the Galaxy thrusts players into the midst of an epic kill or be killed space battle. Set in stunning, fast-moving environments the chaotic, take-on-all comers action redefines the old-school shooter.

“Players will love how fast and frantic the action gets and the fantastic visuals will really set the game apart from the pack.” said Nicole Perez, vice president of marketing, Sierra Online. “The overall intensity of Aces of the Galaxy, including some wild multiplayer action offer players some of the best arcade-style gameplay on Xbox LIVE Arcade.”

In the Aces of the Galaxy game, players quickly navigate vast, colourful space environments while blasting through onslaughts of enemy ships, dodging asteroids and other terrestrial hazards, avoiding too many damaging hits to their space ship in a frenetic fight for survival. Players take control of the powerful gun turret on an AI-driven spaceship, utilising the reticule and a fast trigger finger to vaporise wave after wave of enemies. The game features dramatic and strategic effects, including an intense bullet-time feature that slows down the oncoming hordes of enemy ships and dazzling warp zones that propel players through space at the speed of light.

Aces of the Galaxy features many different levels and multiple crossroads that enable players to choose among branching paths, providing a choice of experiences while progressing through the game. Players can take on a mass of enemies in a single-player game or team up with a buddy in the co-operative multiplayer mode both online and off.

The Aces of the Galaxy game is rated E10+ and is available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 800 Microsoft points. For more information visit Acesofthegalaxy.com. The game is also available for PC via download at Acesofthegalaxy.com

RooGoo - available now on Xbox Live arcade - Free Demo

Fuel Your Puzzle Craze While Saving the World in this Action-Packed Story-Driven Brainteaser

New puzzle sensation Roogoo is now available for download on Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. As the last remaining Roogoo, your mission is to collect meteors by rotating platforms in this extremely addictive, original, fast-paced puzzler.

"Everyone I have seen play Roogoo doesn't want to put it down," said Melanie Mroz, CEO of Southpeak Games. "Its colorful palette, simple control scheme and intense 3D puzzle gameplay make it one of those rare pick-up-and-play titles that anybody can play. It's tremendously fun and all the while conveys a compelling tale."

In the game, players must turn platforms in order to align falling blocks with the correct shapes. However, with every level you conquer comes a new set of obstacles even more treacherous than the last. New shapes will appear along with other challenges like evil Meemoos blocking platforms, shapes traveling up rather than down, and even more fun and exciting trials.

Developed by SpiderMonk Entertainment, Roogoo features five creative worlds, loaded with over 45 frenzied puzzles. Play four-player co-op in Party Play and finish levels jointly with friends, or compete against each other head to head over Xbox LIVE in Race mode. Race to correctly pair blocks and shapes to get combos while filling up your combo bar to attack your opponent's platforms with hungry Meemoos. Every mistake you make will add damage to your health bar; receive enough damage and your opponent will be victorious.

Roogoo has a free demo available now, and the full game can be purchased for 800 Microsoft points.

For more visit www.southpeakgames.eu.

Japan gets a new, Red Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2)

Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, a division of Sony Computer Entertainment responsible for business operations in Japan, announced today that it would introduce PlayStation 2 in a new color “Cinnabar Red” (SCPH-90000 CR), on Thursday, July 3, 2008.

read more | digg story

Amazing GTA4 Stunt Compilation

By far the best GTA4 Stunt Video yet, amazing planning and orchestration with great music and clean editing.

read more | digg story

Racing Team Manager PC video game out in July

Racing Team Manager will be released in the UK in July. The first racing manager for PC in six years and developed with former Formula 1 drivers and racing experts, Racing Team Manager will be on sale in the UK in early July, just in time for the Silverstone Grand Prix.

Take control of a team, or establish a racing team of your own. Excel in clever negotiations with drivers, suppliers, and sponsors. Participate in the research and development of new cutting-edge technology, and create an ideal setup. As the boss of the team, you get to decide on the right strategy and manage the success of your drivers on racing weekends. You keep an overview during training, qualification, and actual races. Every tenth of a second counts – and you're the boss!

Features:

• Extensive management simulation for racing enthusiasts
• Take over an existing team, or establish your own racing team
• Construct your own cars from 16 different components
• Get involved and give instructions in the ongoing race
• Multiplayer mode for up to 2 players via LAN or internet
• 17 racetracks, more than 170 drivers and 370 other team members
• Editor for adapting driver and team properties

Racing Team Manager will retail at £19.99 in early July 2008 and will be published by Kalypso Media.

Doubling the places available in 4v4 Gears of War Summer Tournament

ConsoleGaming.eu Announces increase in amount of spaces on GoW Tournament

Consolegaming.eu announced that due to popular demand it would be doubling the amount of spaces available for its 4v4 Gears of War Summer Tournament. Within a few hours all of the original 32 spaces available had been filled with more clans still wanting to climb in on the action so the decision was made to extend the amount of positions open to 64 Clans.

On the 3rd of June ConsoleGaming.eu announced that it would be teaming up with CD, DVD and video games retailer, "CDWOW.com" to launch a 4v4 Gears of War Summer tournament for the Xbox 360.

The tournament will last approximately one month and it will allow the first 64 clans to sign-up, a chance to compete for prizes courtesy of CDWOW.com.

The winning clan will receive vouchers worth £33.99 each, to be spent on CDWOW.com on any item of their choice.

The sign-ups to the tournament have already started with places going fast.

Sony PlayStation 3 as a Dynamic In-Game Ad Platform

The introduction of dynamic in-game advertising on PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3). Marketers interested in placing advertisements in games for PS3 or publishers with available in-game space for advertisements are able to engage through advertisement distribution partners, with IGA Worldwide selected as PS3’s first partner. This partnership will serve to bolster the already rapidly growing worldwide in-game advertising industry, which is expected to grow 1,150 percent to $971.3 million between 2006 and 2011 according to the Yankee Group.

“The PS3 platform is primed to leverage the high growth potential of the in-game advertising market,” said Phil Rosenberg, Senior Vice President, SCEA. “Ads that are organic to the environment not only benefit developers and advertisers, but also create a richer experience for gamers.”

“PLAYSTATION 3 is undoubtedly the prime opportunity for the in-game advertising industry,” said Justin Townsend, CEO, IGA Worldwide. “Through this partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment, IGA can provide advertisers with a large and valuable global user base of 16-35 year old consumers with disposable income. With our standardized awareness-building advertising formats being delivered directly into people’s living rooms while they play, there are great opportunities for advertisers looking to engage through an entertainment medium outside of the traditional TV spot.”

PS3 provides advertisers with a direct avenue to reach the highly targeted, sought after gaming demographic, and has sold more than 12.5M units worldwide. DFC Intelligence forecasts that sales for the current generation of game systems will pass the 180 million mark by 2011, therefore, reiterating the potential for the in-game advertising market.

Backtrack and virtual training center featured in Madden NFL 09

EA SPORTS BackTrack and the Virtual Training Center Play Key Role in the First Sports Game That Adapts to You

Within the 85 plus new features and enhancements in Madden NFL 09, EA SPORTS BackTrack and the Virtual Training Center allow the gamer to have a unique gameplay experience each time they load up the game. Both Madden NFL veterans and casual gamers new to the franchise can utilize these two features to be competitive in Madden NFL 09 and also improve their overall football knowledge, regardless of their initial skill level.

The Virtual Training Center is a new interactive tutorial mode, set in a holographic environment that aims at teaching gamers fundamental concepts about football strategy and how to use the controls in quick, fun and stylized drills. After players complete these drills, a Madden IQ score is given, and their “My Skills” difficulty settings are automatically set based on their strengths and weaknesses. Throughout their Madden NFL career, the all-new Adaptive Difficulty Engine will continually tailor the difficulty settings as the gamers’ Madden IQ score evolves.

EA SPORTS BackTrack is a new replay learning tool imbedded within the game that dissects plays and shows the player what they should have done in certain circumstances. When a mistake is made, Cris Collinsworth will breakdown where the user went wrong and what they could have done better. For advanced players, EA SPORTS BackTrack will give more technical information such as the play calls that were made and the success rates of the play.

Madden NFL 09 marks the 20th anniversary of one of the best-selling and most critically-acclaimed videogame franchises of all time, and the game will feature adaptable gameplay tailored to every type of gamer, online enhancements and a broadcast style presentation delivering an authentic NFL experience. Madden NFL 09 will be available in stores across North America on August 12.

The graphical enhancements of Madden NFL 09 are extremely impressive and bring the emotion of NFL football to life. Madden NFL 09 features amazing detail to stadiums, weather effects, player models and a whole host of other elements.

Madden NFL 09 will be available for the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game systems from Microsoft, PlayStation 2 and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment systems, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP (PlayStationPortable) handheld entertainment system and is rated E by the ESRB.

Attached are two videos showcasing EA SPORTS BackTrack and Virtual Trainer as well as some screenshots. These assets can be downloaded from the FTP site (instructions below).

For more information, please visit www.madden09.com.

Dokapon Kingdom - The Friendship-Destroying RPG Game on Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 2

Have Friendships? Let Atlus Ruin Them With Party RPG Dokapon Kingdom

The Friendship-Destroying Game for Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 2

Dokapon Kingdom, an addictive new multi player RPG for Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. The King of Dokapon has offered you his throne; all he asks for in return is that you dispose of an invading horde of thieving monsters. Trouble is - you’re not the only one he asked. Contend with up to three friends as you navigate play fields littered with challenges, monsters to defeat, and rare secrets to unlock. Warning: Relationship counselling not included.

Dokapon Kingdom is currently scheduled for release on October 14th, 2008.

Visit the official Dokapon Kingdom website: http://www.atlus.com/dokapon

Key Features

• Innovative board game-RPG crossover – Tired of shallow gameplay in party games? The genre gets retooled in this exuberant mix of role playing and board games! Encounter zany characters, collect rare items, and explore a fascinating kingdom on your quest to vanquish monsters, gather treasure, and level up!
• The friendship-destroying game – Turn the heat up on your rivalries! Take on up to three other soon-to-be-ex-friends in the race for Princess Penny and the crown. Battle, steal, deface – playing dirty is the name of the game – through a variety of locales and challenges. After your friendships are broken, the game is just as much fun to play alone.
• Never the same game twice – Tons of battles, magic spells, mini-games, and multiple play modes add up to endless re-playability!
• Easy, intuitive, and effective combat system – This is no boring game of hack-and-slash. Players covertly choose their actions in an intuitive battle interface that guarantees every fight will surprise.

Bionic Commando - Fact Sheet

Bionic Commando - Fact Sheet

Arm yourself! The 20 year wait is over as Bionic Commando swings back into action on Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and PC this autumn. The first true sequel to the classic 1988 Nintendo Entertainment System original, Bionic Commando sees the return of the bionically-enhanced Nathan "R.A.D." Spencer. Time has not been kind to Spencer: Five years after his heroic defeat of the Imperials, he has been betrayed by the government he swore to serve, imprisoned for crimes he didn't commit, and sentenced to death.

On the very day of Spencer's execution, terrorists detonate a massive experimental weapon in Ascension City, unleashing an intense earthquake that has turned the city into rubble and wiped out its population. With the terrain in ruins and the city's air defense grid now in the control of a massive terrorist force whose goal remains unclear, the FSA have only one option left - a behind-the-lines assault.

It’s the perfect job for a Bionic Commando.

Bionic Commando transposes the much loved swing-and-shoot gameplay of the 8-bit original onto a stunning 3D environment of towering buildings, suspended roadways and monorails, deep canyons and sheer rock faces, which are traversed using swinging, scaling, climbing and wall-walking techniques.

NEWS JUST IN VIA THE COMMUNICATOR . . .
Alongside its compelling single player campaign, Bionic Commando will include a fully-fledged multiplayer mode which will be the first online multiplayer game to truly feature an advanced wire mechanic to swing from platform to platform while pursuing your opponents. Players will need to utilize all the skills honed in single player such as Zip Kick, Death from Above and Adrenaline attacks to show the true power of a Bionic Commando. Naturally the game will feature group match-making and in depth stat tracking.

Features:

Use the bionic arm to swing between towering skyscrapers at breathtaking speed, hook onto distant objects, zip up on hanging girders and choose your own route through the game


Gameplay that moves through horizontal and vertical environments - a 3D game that truly uses all three dimensions Full multiplayer mode with rich stat-tracking to check whether you’re a true commando or a lowly private


Use the power of the bionic arm - and of next-gen physics - to realistically throw massive objects, pummel opponents, whip enemies into the air, or pull the landscape apart


Arm yourself with a variety of weapons worthy of a Bionic Commando


Starring Mike Patton, the former lead singer of Faith No More, as the voice of Nathan Spencer


Developed by Swedish studio GRIN, developers of the highly acclaimed Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter series for PC

Dark Void - Fact Sheet

Dark Void - Fact Sheet

Dark Void is a new sci-fi action-adventure game that combines an adrenaline-fuelled blend of aerial and on-foot combat set in a parallel universe called “The Void”. Players will take on the role of Will; a pilot dropped into incredible circumstances while on a routine air cargo flight crashes in the Bermuda triangle leading him to be trapped in the Void. This unlikely hero soon finds himself swept into a desperate struggle for survival at the head of a group called The Survivors. Trapped in the Void, these resistance fighters are battling to hold off a mysterious alien race that plans to threaten Earth.

Dark Void’s unique combination of in-air and on-ground combat creates a thrilling new gameplay dynamic to the third-person shooter experience. Taking 3D action to a whole new level, Dark Void’s vertical combat system allows players to dangle from thousand foot drops as they take cover and drop enemies from above and below, bringing a whole new sense of vulnerability and thrill to the player. Defying gravity in vertical combat is only half the battle as, over time, Will is upgraded to a powerful rocket pack which allows for fierce in-air combat as gamers are able to fly through the void at unparallel speeds shooting down anything that gets in their path. Blasting away at massive bosses has never been this much fun as Dark Void offers a unique grip system made up of a variety of grip-based mini-games including skyjacking UFOs mid-flight.

Sci-Fi Action-Adventure combines aerial and on-foot combat for unparallel 3D third-person shooter experience


Gravity-defying vertical combat system where moving up is the only way to bring your enemies down


Unique grip system that allows the players to scale walls jumping from surface to surface or hijack UFO’s while in mid-air


Explosive hover and rocket pack and special in-air moves allow players to fly with reckless abandon while performing hair-raising stunts


The Void- a mind-bending parallel world where an evil alien race called, “The Watchers” are waiting…


Mysterious thought-provoking storyline based on conspiracy theory and strange phenomenon


Main character, Will, is a regular pilot turned unlikely superhero in a wild ride to save humanity

Neopets Puzzle Adventure - Fact Sheet

The world of Neopets is coming to Nintendo platforms and the PC! Capcom has teamed up with Infinite Interactive, the developers that brought gamers the Puzzle Quest games, and Nickleodeon to bring this engaging virtual world to the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PC with Neopets Puzzle Adventure. Set to launch on these three systems this holiday season, Neopets Puzzle Adventure is like the classic game of Reversi and Go with a unique Neopets spin and combined with many fun mini-games. For the first time, Neopets fans will be able to earn secret codes in the DS, Wii or PC game that they can redeem on Neopets.com for exclusive virtual items and accessories!

Appealing to both casual gamers and Neopets fans, Neopets Puzzle Adventure is the only multi-platform puzzle adventure game based on the popular virtual community. For the Neopets fan, Neopets Puzzle Adventure is a must-have game with its intuitive “pick up and play” gameplay, new never-before-seen areas in the Neopets universe to explore and the opportunity to redeem codes for exclusive virtual items at Neopets.com.

The game board itself resembles a chess board, while the gameplay takes the principles of Reversi and Go, and adds new twists that take the adventure to unexpected levels. The goal is to turn all of the chips on the board to your Neopet’s color.

Neopets.com is a global community with an active virtual economy based on caring and rasing virtual pets, collecting Neopoints, and taking part in daily and weekly creativity contests, discussion boards, quests and thousands of virtual items. It’s called the “stickiest site on the web,” with it’s Tweener audience spending an average of three hours per week on the website. With an in-depth and exciting storyline based on the world of Neopets, and an entire virtual world to explore, Neopets Puzzle Adventure is the ultimate puzzle-adventure game for players everywhere.

Neopets Puzzle Adventure will generate codes that can be redeemed for unique items on the Neopets.com website


Choose and customize one of 12 Neopets to be your central character in the story


Travel through three Lands of Neopia as you experience an epic story with more than 150 quests in the single-player game


“Co-operative” and “Head-to-Head” multiplayer matches


Collect 150 “PetPets” for extra abilities and earn 30 special Awards for completing missions


Collect over 300 items, recipes and treasures, many of which can be equipped on your pet to provide useful bonuses

Spyborgs - Fact Sheet

Spyborgs Fact Sheet

Your favorite Saturday morning cartoon explodes to life in Spyborgs! A new, action title exclusively for the Nintendo Wii, Spyborgs allows players to take on the identities of a diverse team of five bionic superspies in a fight to save the world from a group of dastardly super villains. Wii gamers will be saving the day when Spyborgs launches in Spring 2009.

The first title developed by Bionic Games, a newly-formed development team comprised of former Insomniac Games and High Impact developers (known for their work on hugely popular franchises Ratchet and Clank and Resistance: Fall of Man), Spyborgs is a unique action-adventure game set in a stylish world that resembles your favourite Saturday morning cartoon. Engaging players in team-based challenges designed to utilize 2-player co-op play, Spyborgs takes the theme of “team” to a whole new level of fun. In Single-player mode the “team” theme continues as players jump from one member of the superspies’ team to the next, rapidly tackling different challenges designed around each character’s unique abilities. Fast, addictive gameplay, unique controls offered by the Wii remote, and a humorous storyline that refuses to take itself too seriously, Spyborgs will provide players with a dynamic and fresh gaming experience like no other.

Players jump between the identities of a team of five bionic superspies to combat a rogue squad of wacky, dysfunctional super villains.

• Your favorite Saturday morning cartoon come to life: tone, visuals and quick episodic themed gameplay reminiscent of your favorite cartoons growing up!
  
• Each character has a unique power to match their superspy skills, such as heavy firepower, bladed weapons, acrobatic skateboarding skills, pure robotic destruction and more!
  
• Created by Bionic Games, a hot new development team made up of former Insomniac and High Impact developers known for their work on hugely popular franchises like Ratchet and Clank and Resistance: Fall of Man.
  
• Teamwork is one of the key elements of the game: this team of misfits seem like an unlikely group by themselves, but when thrown together and topped off with a few bionic enhancements they become the ultimate superspy dream-team, set to save the world!
  
• Designed for either single player action or 2-player co-op play, Spyborgs takes the theme of team outside the game and into your living room.
  
• Playable wild and wacky “commercials” are transformed into mini-games that bring humour and additional fun to the fast-paced gameplay.
  

Resident Evil 5 - Fact Sheet

Resident Evil 5 Fact Sheet

The biohazard threat has not ended: Just when it seemed that the menace of Resident Evil had been destroyed, along comes a new terror to send shivers down player’s spines. Chris Redfield, returning Resident Evil hero, has followed the path of the evil literally around the globe. 

After joining a new organization, Chris heads to Africa where the latest bioterrorism threat is literally transforming the people and animals of the city into mindless, maddened creatures. Chris must take on the challenge of discovering the truth behind this evil plot. In Resident Evil 5, Capcom will teach players to fear the daylight as much as they have feared shadow in previous games.

Co-producer and series veterans Jun Takeuchi (Lost Planet) and Masachicka Kawata (Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles) unleashes an unprecedented level of fear for the next generation in Resident Evil 5, the sequel to one of the highest-rated videogames in history, according to Metacritic.com and Gamerankings.com. Promising to revolutionize the series by delivering an unbelievable level of detail, realism and control, Resident Evil 5 is certain to bring new fans to the series. New technology developed specifically for the game, as well as incredible changes to both the gameplay and world of Resident Evil will make this a must-have game for gamers across the globe.

The latest in the Resident Evil series, which has sold over 34 million units since the original game was released in 1996, as well as spawned a multi-million dollar trilogy of films from Sony Pictures. 

Resident Evil 5 will revolutionize the Resident Evil series, just as Resident Evil 4 did.

Chris Redfield, protagonist of the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil: Code Veronica, returns


New environments and a diverse assortment of locations


New enemies bring new challenges: speed and intelligence make adversaries as dangerous singly as they are in groups.


An arsenal of weapons at the players command to keep the evil at bay, including knives, pistols, machine guns, sniper rifles and more.


Lighting effects provide a new level of suspense in both harsh light and deepest shadow


True high definition gaming on multiple game platforms, using an advanced version of Capcom’s proprietary game engine, MT Framework, which powered the next-gen, million-plus hit titles Devil May Cry 4, Lost Planet and Dead Rising.