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Tuesday, August 05, 2008

ChartWeekly UK video games chart 2 August


All formats

Week ending 2 August 2008

1 SOULCALIBUR IV NAMCO BANDAI GAMES 
2 WII FIT NINTENDO
3 MARIO KART WII NINTENDO
4 WALL-E PLAY THQ
5 BIG BEACH SPORTS PLAY THQ
6 GUITAR HERO: ON TOUR REDOCTANE
7 WII PLAY NINTENDO
8 MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES SEGA
9 DR KAWASHIMA'S BRAIN TRAINING NINTENDO
10 LEGO INDIANA JONES: ORIGINAL ADVENTURES LUCASARTS
11 GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK REDOCTANE
12 KUNG FU PANDA ACTIVISION
13 SUPER SMASH BROS: BRAWL NINTENDO
14 CARNIVAL: FUNFAIR GAMES 2KPLAY
15 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION
16 BATTLEFIELD: BAD COMPANY EA GAMES
17 SPORTS PARTY PLAY ZONE
18 MORE BRAIN TRAINING FROM DR KAWASHIMA NINTENDO
19 FIFA 08 EA SPORTS
20 BEIJING 2008 SEGA

Mortal Kombat v DC Universe - Additional Characters on Roster Confirmed!

Today, Midway announced the release of an all-new gameplay FIGHT video for the highly anticipated Mortal Kombat v DC Universe videogame. Along with the FIGHT video, four additional characters have been confirmed for the famous roster including The Joker, Kitana, Jax and Green Lantern.

This latest, in-depth video showcases the innovative fighting mechanics found in Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, including Klose Kombat, an up-close brutal fighting mechanic that shows progressive damage on each fighter and Freefall Kombat, giving players the ability to engage in kombat as they fall from one arena down to the next. Both of these fighting mechanics along with Test Your Might and character-specific signature moves, including Batman's Batarang and Scorpion's spear.


About Mortal Kombat v DC Universe
For the first time ever Scorpion, Sub-Zero and the Mortal Kombat warriors battle with Batman, Superman and other popular DC Universe Super Heroes. Choose your side and challenge your opponents with a new fighting system including Freefall Kombat and Klose Kombat along with dynamic multi-tiered environments. Plus, pick your favorite character from MK or DCU and pursue a fighting adventure in the new single player mode with an intertwined storyline and two unique perspectives.

Aion - The Tower of Eternity - Fact Sheet

Aion - The Tower of Eternity
A mighty Celestial War has torn the once peaceful world of Atreia apart at the seams. In the wake of this catastrophic ba le, just a few will ascend into divinity and save their people from total annihilation.

A Class of Your Own
Choose from four unique character classes, gain experience and advance in one of two specialised classes. Your decisions will determine your path through Atreia, make them wisely…
Explore the Unknown
Discover the inside of a world broken in two, where the only thing that connects either side is an unstable and perilous ri known as the Abyss. Choose between two divine factions, the Asmodian or the Elyos, and save your people from an ancient evil that threatens to destroy everything in its path.

A New Breed of Combat
Battle for control of valuable strongholds and artefacts within the Abyss, a hotly contested ba le eld resting between the upper and lower halves of Atreia. Plan and execute raids against rival factions, earn special ranks and rewards through victory, and prepare for unexpected a acks by the Balaur, an ancient race freed from imprisonment within the Abyss.

Scout
Incredible agility and speedy attacks make this class a formidable adversary
Warrior
Highly skilled in close combat, utilising their immense physical strength and prowess to smash through enemy ranks
Mage
Masters of magic and capable of dealing astonishing damage over great distances
Priest
Specialists in healing magic and long-range spells to help allies and hinder the enemy

Fight and Flight
Engage in a spectacular and evolving combat system utilising combos, skill chains, counter-attacks and spectacular aerial combat. Group with friends or fly solo in the Abyss, where a acks can come from any direction. Experience the thrill of combat like never before!

The Power of Creation
Totally customise your character through an incredibly in-depth character creation tool, advanced cra ing systems and detailed item customisation. Take individuality to a new level with the innovative Stigma system, allowing characters to utilise and combine skills and abilities not normally available to that p particular character’s class.

Gemma Atkinson in Red Alert 3, appearing at M Festival


Multiplay, organisers of M Festival - the UK's largest electronic games festival - are pleased to announce that Gemma Atkinson will be meeting fans and promoting her role in EA's upcoming Red Alert 3. Gemma will be at the M Festival from the afternoon of Friday 8th August.

Former Hollyoaks star and I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! survivor Gemma Atkinson has been unveiled as the latest star who will be appearing in Command & Conquer Red Alert 3, the highly anticipated continuation of the real-time strategy videogame.

Making her videogame acting debut, Gemma, 23, will play Lt Eva McKenna, a character familiar to fans of Command & Conquer Red Alert 2. A military officer with a sexy twinkle in her eye and a British stiff upper lip, Eva is a communications officer for the Allied coalition in their fight against the Soviet and Rising Sun superpowers.

The game, which takes place in an alternate timeline and imagines what would have happened if time travel had been used by both Albert Einstein and the Soviet Union, features an epic global confrontation with you at the controls of your chosen faction.

Gemma said: "I'm a gamer and the chance to act in one of the best loved videogames was an opportunity I was really keen to explore – especially as Eva is such a strong female character. The worlds of gaming and film are getting ever closer and as an actress I wanted to explore this exciting new area of drama, broaden my acting skills and continue the active, outgoing side of my personality that I showed in I’m A Celebrity…”

Gemma was in Hollyoaks for five years as troubled teenager Lisa Hunter. She later appeared in ITV’s primetime show Soapstar Superstar and last year she bravely stepped into the Aussie jungle to battle in the bush tucker challenges in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.

She has a role in forthcoming Brit flick Boogie Woogie alongside Jamie Winston, Christopher Lee and Heather Graham, which hits cinemas nationwide in August 2008.

Read this week’s Zoo magazine for a full interview with Gemma and to see her stunning new photoshoot in the guise of her Red Alert 3 character, Lt Eva McKenna.

About Multiplay:

Multiplay are organisers of the UK’s largest video games festival, the i-Series. Established in 1997 they have over ten years of experience in organising LAN parties and have seen tens of thousands of gamers attend the events.

Complimenting their events Multiplay are also Europe’s largest online games service provider, offering server hosting for the best multiplayer games of the day. Their self-owned and operated network infrastructure connects the UK with mainland Europe, providing the fastest connections to their servers.

Aion - The Tower of Eternity - video game


NCsoft Europe, the world’s leading publisher and developer of online computer games, has today revealed the official fact sheet for Aion: The Tower of Eternity – its visually stunning massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), where you ascend to divinity and fight in a celestial war.

In Aion you’ll wield divine powers to bring deliverance to your people and restore balance to a world shattered by cataclysm. Prepare yourself for power and privilege in an epic online adventure you'll take with thousands of other players and spread your wings to claim your rightful place among the immortal legions of Atreia!

Activision to release Track Pack for Guitar Hero III - Legends of Rock

Guitar Hero III - Legends of Rock. The three-song Interscope Track Pack will let gamers further expand and customise their Guitar Hero playlists and experience a variety of new tunes on August 7.

The pack will include the heavy, pained lyrics of Flyleaf’s "Tina," the heartfelt track "Carcinogen Crush" from hardcore-punk turned goth band, AFI, as well as a remix of Marilyn Manson’s grinding, fast-paced "Putting Holes In Happiness" by Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

The Interscope Track Pack, originally offered to purchasers of the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock soundtrack CD, will be available on August 7 for download on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION Store for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock offers the ultimate rock experience with new wireless guitars, freshly added content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer modes allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true rock status as they riff through a star-studded soundtrack including master tracks by legendary artists such as Aerosmith, Guns 'N' Roses, The Rolling Stones, Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine and Pearl Jam, as well as original songs by guitar icons Slash and Tom Morello. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is now available and is rated 12+ by PEGI and 12 by the BBFC. For more information visit http://community.guitarhero.com.

Shark Boy Attacks TNA iMPACT! Video Game


Today, Midway confirmed another of the remaining unannounced wrestlers for TNA iMPACT!, the highly anticipated video game based off the fastest growing professional wrestling brand in the world and its flagship program TNA iMPACT!. Fan favorite Shark Boy, who hails from the Deep Blue Sea, was officially announced today.

To date, Midway has announced 19 wrestlers who will be featured in the game. Six more TNA superstars will be unveiled in the coming weeks. Here is a list of the confirmed roster.

Abyss
AJ Styles
Alex Shelley
Booker T
Chris Sabin
Christian Cage
Homicide
Rhino
Sting
Shark Boy Eric Young
Hernandez
Jay Lethal
Kurt Angle
Christopher Daniels
Samoa Joe
Jeff Jarrett
Scott Steiner
Tomko


Developed by Midway LA, TNA iMPACT! is scheduled to ship this September for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 2.

For more information on TNA iMPACT! and/or other Midway products, please visit the Midway Asset site:

Midway Asset Site:
www.midwayeuro-press.com

Mortal Kombat v DC Universe: Additional Characters on Roster Confirmed!


Today, Midway announced the release of an all-new gameplay FIGHT video for the highly anticipated Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe videogame. Along with the FIGHT video, four additional characters have been confirmed for the famous roster including The Joker, Kitana, Jax and Green Lantern.


This latest, in-depth video showcases the innovative fighting mechanics found in Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, including Klose Kombat, an up-close brutal fighting mechanic that shows progressive damage on each fighter and Freefall Kombat, giving players the ability to engage in kombat as they fall from one arena down to the next. Both of these fighting mechanics along with Test Your Might and character-specific signature moves, including Batman's Batarang and Scorpion's spear.

About Mortal Kombat v DC Universe

For the first time ever Scorpion, Sub-Zero and the Mortal Kombat warriors battle with Batman, Superman and other popular DC Universe Super Heroes. Choose your side and challenge your opponents with a new fighting system including Freefall Kombat and Klose Kombat along with dynamic multi-tiered environments. Plus, pick your favorite character from MK or DCU and pursue a fighting adventure in the new single player mode with an intertwined storyline and two unique perspectives.

Manipulate time in Braid, coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday!


Named Best Xbox LIVE Arcade Game and Best Overall Puzzle Game by IGN at E3 2008, “Braid,” is coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 9 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PDT).

From acclaimed independent developer Jonathan Blow, “Braid” is an artful puzzle-platformer where challenging, yet accessible puzzles are solved by manipulating time. From your house in the city, journey to a series of worlds solving puzzles that will help you rescue an abducted princess. Time behaves differently in each world, and every puzzle shows you something different about the world. The time behaviors include rewinding, independent time streams, time that is tied to space, parallel realities, time dilation, and perhaps more.

Developed by Number None, Inc., and published by Microsoft, “Braid” will be available for 1200 Microsoft Points worldwide and is rated E 10+ for Everyone over the age of 10 by the ESRB.

For more details on “Braid” please visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/b/braidxboxlivearcade/.

Splashing Summer Event at MapleStory Europe


Get into the summer action: MapleStory Europe wants its Maplers to enjoy the sunny season with special collectible items that cannot be bought, but only collected from slain monsters, like Trixter , Bubbling, Lazy Buffy and many more.

Maplers should not be fooled by how cute these cunning little beasts look and smile, but keep their great goal in mind: collecting the special summer items they randomly drop on top of the usual items after having lost the battle.

These items, including surfboards and differently colored tubes, can only be collected during this special season – so happy hunting to Maplers to get into their summer cool. In addition to getting special summer items, Maplers can also get new accessories and weapons in the Cash Shop. For more information, please check MapleStory Europe’s website at

http://www.mapleeurope.com

Guitar Hero - On Tour player road show in the UK


Rock out in a city near you with Guitar Hero

Guitar Hero games sampling road show this summer for Guitar Hero franchise - Guitar Hero On Tour. The road show will visit busy seaside locations and city centres across the country, coinciding with the start of the school holidays. The aims of the tour are to create as much excitement and energy for this new dimension of portable game play as possible, as well us unearthing the UK’s hidden rock stars!

After the huge success of the previous Guitar Hero games, Activision were keen to promote the launch of Guitar Hero On Tour, Their first ever outing on the Nintendo DS, featuring the unique Guitar Grip Peripheral.

Key to Guitar Hero On Tour is the new found portability given to the product on the DS which Activision wanted to capitalise on. The road show took the form of a rock fashioned promotional team whizzing around cities and towns on Guitar Hero On Tour branded Yamaha scooters, allowing them to demonstrate the game to many more consumers in a greater variety of locations than a fixed site alone would have allowed.

After sampling Guitar Hero On Tour for the DS people are invited back to our large mobile performance stage located in prominent positions in each city where they can trial the full sized Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Aerosmith editions. Potential axe kings from Sunderland to Southend get the chance to challenge friends and family to live guitar battles in front of crowds of the public, the challenges are relayed live to spectators via large LCD screens integrated within the design of the stage. For the stage itself, Sublime have customised a fully functioning festival rig resplendent with state of the art lighting truss and the essential wall of legendry Marshall Amplifiers for the full rock effect.

Andy Martin Head of Experiential Marketing at Sublime comments “it’s great to be working on another Activision project, Guitar Hero on Tour is a truly revolutionary product. We first demonstrated the game at T4 on the beach and the response from consumers trialling the Guitar Grip peripheral was staggering; Being able to play their favourite game on the move has indicated the wide appeal this new incarnation of the game has to offer.”

Battlefield Bad Company free Conquest mode download



On August 7th, Battlefield: Bad Company players worldwide will get to experience the intense rush as they tackle online play in a whole new way with Conquest mode that will be released as a free download for the PLAYSTATION 3 and Xbox 360.



Made famous by Battlefield 1942, Conquest mode pits players against each other in a fast paced battle to eliminate the opposing team’s tickets. Players deplete their opponent’s tickets by one point per kill and can cause their opponents tickets to spiral downwards by capturing control points. Four maps that are currently available for online play in Gold Rush mode will be available to conquer with Conquest mode.



Battlefield: Bad Company is available on the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system. Developed by Sweden-based developer DICE, www.dice.se, the game is rated “T” by the ESRB and “16+” by PEGI.

Project Lore - A New Online World of Warcraft Show


iZ3D monitors team up with Daily Online Video Show and Website Featuring Gaming Guru, Alex Albrecht

Project Lore offers premium-quality multimedia World of Warcraft game guides, a daily video show and blog. As a part of the daily video show, viewers can look forward to seeing gaming and tech guru Alex Albrecht in action while he and four buddies share tips and information for the millions who have developed a cult-like obsession with the game World of Warcraft. Project Lore is partnered with ZAM Network for distribution across Thottbot, Wowhead, and Allakhazam. Visit http://www.projectlore.com.

“We are happy to have iZ3D and its popular 3D monitors as a sponsor,” said Kory Klem, Project Lore’s General Manager “With the use of iZ3D monitor our viewers have the extra perk in exploring World of Warcraft in stereoscopic 3D with us.”


"iZ3D is a pioneer in 3D gaming. We are pleased to be a sponsor of Project Lore, a pioneer in online game support. This innovative online show and blog is a coming trend for the video game community. Our 3D monitors add an extra dimension of immersion into the World of Warcraft game and provide users the opportunity to experience the rich 3D graphics that this popular off the shelf game has to offer,” remarked Thomas Striegler, CEO of iZ3D, LLC.

iZ3D monitors feature significant competitive and technical advantages over other 3D display systems. Gamers that want to immerse themselves into spectacular game graphics will appreciate playing in stereoscopic 3D. Graphic artists have embraced the iZ3D monitor as an essential tool for 3D design. It is difficult to create images in 3D while viewing the design on a flat 2D screen. 3D movie buffs can now bring the thrill of watching a 3D movie home.

The company developed this unique technology to create an adjustable 3D environment without causing eyestrain, spatial disorientation, or headaches. In 3D mode, viewers can see bright, sharp 3D images and video simply by wearing any iZ3D passive polarized glasses. Existing PC’s equipped with a dual-output video card easily powers the unit. Specifications include: 1680 x 1050 resolution; up to 170-degree 3D viewing angle; 5ms response time; 700:1 contrast ratio; and 16.7-million colors.

Splashing Summer Event at MapleStory Europe


Get into the summer action: MapleStory Europe wants its Maplers to enjoy the sunny season with special collectible items that cannot be bought, but only collected from slain monsters, like Trixter , Bubbling , Lazy Buffy and many more.



Maplers should not be fooled by how cute these cunning little beasts look and smile, but keep their great goal in mind: collecting the special summer items they randomly drop on top of the usual items after having lost the battle. These items, including surfboards and differently colored tubes, can only be collected during this special season – so happy hunting to Maplers to get into their summer cool.



In addition to getting special summer items, Maplers can also get new accessories and weapons in the Cash Shop. For more information, please check MapleStory Europe’s website at
www.mapleeurope.com

Ten most important games you've never heard of

Former EDGE editor, Margaret Robertson, reveals 2007's ten most important games you've never heard of at this year's Edinburgh Interactive Festival.

Respected industry consultant and former editor of EDGE magazine, Margaret Robertson, today revealed she will be speaking at Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008 to praise ten of the most important games of last year that many people won’t be familiar with.

Entitled: ‘Need To Know: The Ten Most Important Games Of The Last Year You’ve Never Heard Of’, Robertson, who regularly contributes to BBC Online’s Technology section, will speak on Monday 11th August between 13:45 - 14:15 before an invited audience of industry delegates and press at Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

The last twelve months have been dominated with talk of BioShock, GTA IV and Wii Fit, but Robertson questions whether they are really the most significant games of the year. Have they done the most to change the rules, and to establish the trends which will shape the industry in the years to come?

Robertson said: “While big-hitting titles such as these grab the headlines, the games whose personnel, means of production, target audience, chosen platform, gameplay innovations, visual style, business models or marketing approach are rather more revolutionary can easily get overlooked. So, if you've ever wished you'd spotted Portal back when it was still Narbacular Drop, this session will steer you through the robot-building, wing-walking, child-rearing, music-battling games that will change the industry in 2009.”

About Margaret Robertson:
A historian by training, Margaret Robertson has written for many specialist magazines, mainstream publications like FHM, Seed and the BBC, and four years wrote for, and ultimately edited, Edge, the world's most respected videogame magazine. She also part of the team behind the GameCity festival, and serves as a juror for IndieCade, the Independent Game Festival and Dare to be Digital. Now, as a consultant, she advises companies like EA, Sony and Channel 4 on game design and industry trends.

About Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008
Now celebrating its sixth year, the Edinburgh Interactive Festival is powered up to showcase the continued popularity, growth and influence of video games. And this year, the Interactive Festival is more synchronised with the world famous Edinburgh Festival than ever, appealing to the press, public and professionals from film, television and interactive media backgrounds alike, offering a bigger event for delegates, more consumer focusing – an overall spectacle for all.

New to Interactive Festival 2008 will be Features, Exhibition and Recruitment areas specifically tailored to cater for the public - allowing them access to the latest games and job opportunities in games.

As ever, the three-day Interactive Festival wouldn’t be complete without the cornerstones of conferences, keynotes, panel sessions, debates, games screenings and even more people than ever jostling to get through the doors.

Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008
Edinburgh International Conference Centre
150 Morrison Street, Edinburgh EH3 8EE
UK

Sunday 10th August
Game Screenings
Dare ProtoPlay
Public games area and retail site

Monday 11th August
EIF Conference
Game Screenings
Dare ProtoPlay
Public games area and retail site
Conference Networking event

Tuesday 12th August
EIF Conference
Game Screenings
Dare ProtoPlay
Public games area and retail site
Digital Interactive Symposium

Edinburgh Interactive Festival will also play host to the Digital Interactive Symposium, the games event aimed at academics and games industry professionals. It takes place on the afternoon of Tuesday 12th August.