Monster Madness - Grave Danger Challenge modes on PlayStation 3

INTRODUCING: CHALLENGE MODES

White Water Swanning - Unlockable Costume: French Maid Jennifer
Swans are big, stupid birds. A blonde riding a rental swan is an equally strange combination. Take your blonde and her novelty rental boat out for a ride on the white water rapids. Make fastest time while riding through the gold markers to make top score. Be careful though since these rental boats are susceptible to hitting rocks and other obstacles.

UFO Shooter - Unlockable Costume: Cowboy Zack
Fly the unfriendly skies in your very own UFO! Stolen directly from the alien invaders of Planet X, your trusty flying saucer is a state of the art kick-butt machine. Maneuver through enemy fire and set your plasma guns to destroy as you plow through the ranks of Planet X, and even take on the Prince of Darkness himself.

Slice N’ Dice - Unlockable Costume: Secret Service Zack
How to make a Super Zack; 1) Give him mushrooms 2) Throw him down a drain pipe 3) make him run through this training course. Teach Zack to jump and duck like his favorite video game plumber as he attempts to prove that he is a video game hero. Avoid the amputation of your legs, or head by learning to time your jumps just right. Master this training course and you too will be rescuing princesses and jump punch floating blocks of bricks in no time.

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Around the World in 80 Flights Microsoft Flight Simulator FS 2004 / FSX Add-on

Around the world in 80 flights! 

Circumnavigate the globe, heading east from the historic Farnborough airfield in the UK, on an epic 80-leg journey around the world. Fly over the Alps and Pyrenees before facing the challenge of the mighty Himalayan range. Explore the Far East and Australia. Blaze a trail from the frozen north, to tropical Africa. Conquer the lonely Pacific, leapfrogging across a series of islands as you make your way to the United States. Make landfall and catch your breath before flying over some of the most stunning scenery in the world as you head across the vast expanse of the USA to the Caribbean before venturing on a transatlantic crossing back to Farnborough.

Each of the 80 flight legs can be flown as individual or consecutive missions and are comprehensively detailed, with a flight plan, pilots notes, full briefing and a guide to many of the wonders of the world that pass beneath your wings. From man made wonders such as the Great Pyramids and the Golden Gate Bridge, to natural wonders such as Mount Kilimanjaro, the Sahara Desert, the Indonesian Archipelago and the Grand Canyon, the entire route has been carefully chosen to showcase the breathtaking beauty of the planet.



Around the World Features

• The entire trip is a little over 400 hours flying time
  
• The trip covers nearly 35000 miles!
  
• Over 112 countries are either visited or flown over!
  
• The longest flight is nearly 3000 miles from Honolulu to San Francisco
  
• The shortest flight is 55 miles from Helsinki to Talinn, Estonia, crossing the Baltic
  
• The northernmost point of the trip is Sondre Stromfjord in Greenland whilst the southernmost point is Darwin, Australia
  
• Complete the entire trip around the globe in a stunning recreation of the 1937 Lockheed  Electra 10E, under licence from Lockheed Martin INC, and you will have truly earned the special circumnavigators’ certificate awarded to master aviators!
  

Tomb Raider - Underworld Beneath the surface video game trailer

Mythology has always played a significant part of each successive Tomb Raider game and in this, the latest Tomb Raider: Underworld trailer (Beneath The Surface), Cinematics Director, Toby Gard, and Creative Director, Eric Lindstrom, reveal the story behind Lara Croft’s latest adventure.

Lindstrom explains how it took a significant amount of time to figure out what the mythology of the game should be and the visual style given all the places Lara travels to – from the Hindu culture in Thailand and Mayan culture in Mexico to the unifying Norse thread that leads her to all these locations. In pursuing her own goal of recovering Thor’s Hammer, she risks putting the whole world in danger...

Watch Lara Croft Tomb Raider - Underworld video game trailer Beneath the surface movie here...

Other Lara Croft Tomb Raider posts here...

PS3 and Wii gamers rush to play Warrior Quest online RPG

Mikomi announces that free-to-play online RPG Warrior Quest attracts more PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii players than on PC.

In just two weeks - Warrior Quest free-to-play online RPG, has seen its console audience grow to surpass its already substantial PC and Mac following.

Lead by PlayStation 3 gamers, players have been logging on to Warrior Quest in record numbers, far surpassing the number of players accessing the game from home video game consoles in any preceding month. Following closely behind PlayStation 3 gamers, Warrior Quest has also developed a strong audience among Nintendo Wii owners who, like PS3 gamers, can access Warrior Quest through their systems internet browser.

Warrior Quest is a charming RPG designed for casual and expanded audiences that revolves around card collection and turn based battles. Online leader boards allow gamers to submit their scores and see where they stand in the game’s worldwide rankings. The game is free-to-play with premium content due for release in the coming months to further expand the gaming experience.

In addition to Warrior Quest, Mikomi’s other online RPG, The Half Broken Crown - The Broken Kingdoms, has also seen its console player-base explode in the past two weeks and, like Warrior Quest, it too now sees more players accessing it through their home video game consoles than either PC or Mac. The Half Broken Crown - The Broken Kingdoms is a point and click adventure game with live cross-platform chat facilities that allow gamers to communicate and share hints and tips together, across PC, Mac and home console platforms. This game also has PlayStation Portable (PSP) and Nintendo DS (with Browser) editions available for play.

A special edition re-release of The Half Broken Crown - The Broken Kingdoms is due later this year.

Trusting video games players pays off for Sins of a Solar Empire makers

Sins of a Solar Empire has become a financial success selling discs and digital copies without any copy protection. Stardock, the publishers, revealed how much of a success with half a million units sold including 100,000 digital downloads. For an independent, non-franchise game with a budget of only $1,000,000, it's a runaway success.

Stardock chief Brad Wardell attributed the success of Sins of a Solar Empire to the low system requirements, the game runs well on a budget systems, thanks to decisions made during the development process. "You make those kinds of design decisions, and you greatly increase the number of people who can play your game," he said. "You lose out on some piddly super-mega effect, but you get those units. The results come in sales." - Brad said.

Sins of a Solar Empire falls into the definition of a hardcore game. Even short games take several hours to complete, and longer games with multiple players can reach over ten hours. But its success highlights one of the strengths shared by casual games that make them so appealing to a wide audience.

You don't have to worry about detail settings, graphics cards, what version of DirectX you're running, or anything like that - you just install Sins of a Solar Empire and play it!

Game developers can certainly stand to learn something from this philosophy.

Söldner-X - Himmelsstürmer video game for the PlayStation 3

More details of the upcoming video game Söldner-X - Himmelsstürmer for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system have been announced.


The PlayStation 3 version contains lots of additional new features not found in the original 2007 PC version release, including audio and visual improvements, updated game play, trophies support and much more.


Söldner-X - Himmelsstürmer is anticipated to be released on the PlayStation Network in North America in October 2008, with other territories expected to follow shortly after.

New features:

• Visual improvements including y-scrolling, new background animations, newly added effects and more
• Contains new enemies, including newly crafted standard foes and larger sub boss battles
• Additional boss battle and berserker mode background music (seven brand new tracks in total!)
• New sound effects added for an enhanced gaming experience
• Rebalanced game play with an easier default difficulty
• Rebalanced high score system, including new victory screens
• DualShock 3 and optional SixAxis support
• Trophies support

Further key features:

• 12 stages of beautiful parallax graphics and animations, staged across 4 fantastic world/space settings
• High definition graphics in up to 1080p
• Beautiful weather effects (such as rain, fog and lightning)
• Classic design, yet state-of-the-art shooter technology
• Unique upgrade weapon system with five standard weapon types
• Never before seen tactical elements such as chaining, effectiveness system, 'berserker' mode and more
• Plenty of hidden bonus features
• More than 20 extras (with both positive and negative effects!)
• Addictive collection quests
• Over-the-top boss fights
• Features a superb soundtrack and sound effects
• Up to fix modes of difficulty
• Easy to learn, yet tough to master
• Online high score ranking

About Söldner-X - Himmelsstürmer -
Set in the distant future, the game is a fast and furious shoot 'em up with state-of-the-art graphics, driving soundtrack and classic fun gamezplay sprinkled with fresh innovations. In the storyline, planet Earth's resistance aims to stop a deadly infection consuming both life forms and technology alike, oddly having to rely on an antihero mercenary and bounty hunter to pilot a mighty prototype star fighter. His goal - To fight his way to the virus' origin, save civilization and earn cash to boot!

Farmyard Party video game - featuring the Olympigs on Nintendo Wii

Farmyard Party – featuring the Olympigs.

Farmyard Party - Featuring the Olympigs brings farmyard fun to the Nintendo Wii. The game has eight Olympig events which are divided into four categories: all-round, speed, power, and skill. Game modes include a marathon challenge, party modes themed around event styles, single event fun and some hilarious bonus games.

The game play revolves around using a combination of the Nintendo Wii Remote and Nintendo Nunchuk in various ways to complete each event. The events require a combination of speed, timing and more than a little sweat! Alongside the challenges of beating the game records and those of your friends, there are a number of new characters, bonus games and a development gallery for players to unlock.

Based on the cornerstones of sportsmanship and competitiveness of the fun and crazy games, Farmyard Party is an ideal choice for family friendly fun in the New Year. Farmyard Party: Featuring the Olympigs provides an entertaining multiplayer experience (4 player mode), with colourful graphics and physically demanding gameplay.


Available for North America, Europe, Asia
Genre: Sports / Party
No. of players: Up to 4 players
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Publisher: Data Design Interactive

Combat Mission Shock Force PC video game - new video

With the release of the first Module for Combat Mission Shock Force - Marines - we're happy to release a new set of four hot new in-game action videos today from the latest build (a final candidate build in fact)!

Handgrenades! This short in-game video shows the improved TacAI logic of soldiers engaging enemy troops independently, even during movement.

Ridge - a short in-game video highlighting the new ridge behavior: notice how the US Marines on top of the ridge are lined up against it and not spread out through the entire action spot.

T-90's - in-game footage of Syrian T-90 tanks assaulting, supported by some Mechanized Infantry.

Town Assault - in-game footage of US Marines infantry assaulting an enemy held town and running into some Syrian tanks. Both Action and Command Phases are shown, including the new "action spot highlight" feature.

Combat Mission Shock Force Marines videos page here...

Exodus from the Earth PC video game new screenshots

Exodus from the Earth - upcoming shooter will keep players guessing up until the final step with its intriguing and unpredictable storyline. Exodus from the Earth will be available for PC September 30th, 2008.

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About Exodus from the Earth -
Mankind assumed it would take five billion years until the earth began to die. In reality, it is 2016, and the planet earth is living its last twenty years. The Sun has begun to grow, burning everything around it and turning Earth into a lifeless nightmare. Mankind must adapt to extraterrestrial conditions or find an Earth-like planet where humans can live.

Updated Linux 3.20 Patch For Dominions 3 - The Awakening

Network Bug Slain With +5 Vorpal Coding!

When it comes to computer gaming you test and test the code but even then you can still roll a critical fumble. Near the end of August Illwinter Game Design and Shrapnel Games released a new patch for the multi-award winning fantasy strategy title, Dominions 3: The Awakening, bringing the retail version up to 3.20. Unfortunately in the time since its release a network bug has been identified on systems using 64-bit Linux for the operating system. Once identified the bug was quickly cornered, made to feel really bad through a series of lectures critical of its self image, and ultimately destroyed in a spectacular display of ones and zeroes.

If you play Dominions 3 - The Awakening and you use 64-bit Linux (and ONLY Linux, Windows and Mac users DO NOT have to download a new patch) please download the 3.20b patch at the following location:
www.shrapnelgames.com/Illwinter/DOM3/DOM3_page.html

Now while Windows and Mac users don't need to download an updated patch if you missed the patch the first time around now is the time to grab it. The 3.20 patch is aimed at giving modders even more flexibility, along with adding a couple things for folks who enjoy megagames of Dominions 3 - The Awakening.

Highlights of the patch include:

• Occasional crash during host fixed.
• Move order validation improved.
• Battle enchantments expired when caster retreats from battleground.
• New switch: -nocheatdet.
• Nation mods properly recognized when starting network games.
• Increased maximum number of maps allowed in the map folder.
• New weapon modding commands: #dt_small, #dt_large, #dt_raise, #dt_magic, #dt_constuctonly, #dt_demononly, #mrnegates, #mrnegateseasily, #mind.
• Weapon modding: Range -1 = strength as range, -2 = str/2, etc.
• Increased modding limits for maximum number of monsters and descriptions.
• Monster modding: #cold and #heat takes an area variable.
• New monster modding commands: #watershape, #landshape, #forestshape, #plainshape, #unique, #stormimmune, #startaff, #bloodvengeance, #stonebeing, #leper, #beckon.
• LA Atlantis uw recruitment improved.
• LA Atlantis hero.
• Modding: Fixed problem with disappearing magic abilities when enabling many mods.
• Increased maximum number of messages (for huge games).
• Increased maximum number of commanders and units (for huge games).

Included in the patch are also two manuals for anyone with a desire to tinker with the game: an all new, map making manual and an updated mod maker manual. Both manuals succinctly cover all the important facets you need to craft your own maps and make your own mods. Both of these reference works, written by both the game developers and community leader Esko Halttunen, are invaluable tools that will open up new worlds for your Dominions 3: The Awakening experience.

Windows and Mac users who missed the patch can find it at the same location as given above. Just look for the "Downloads" section on the official game page.

Cut Price Rock Band Instrument Edition on Microsoft Xbox 360

Rock Band Set to Ship for the PLAYSTATION 3, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii in UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria and Luxembourg.

Rock Band continues its European invasion as Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV, along with distribution partner Electronic Arts, today announced a European price cut for the Rock Band Instrument Edition on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

In addition, Rock Band for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment systems and NintemndoWii will ship to retail and will be available in the UK the week of September 8th, in France the week of September 15th, in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria and Luxembourg the week of September 22nd and in Spain the week commencing September 29th. The Instrument Edition of Rock Band will retail for €139.99 in Europe and £109.99 in the United Kingdom for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system, PlayStation 2 system and Nintendo Wii.

Rock Band is an all-new platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music. The game challenges players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune, mastering lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals. With more master recordings than any other music game, Rock Band features some of the world’s biggest rock artists and spans every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic rock to heavy metal and punk.

In addition to the 58 tracks from the North American release, Rock Band will feature nine additional tracks including:

• Blur “Beetlebum” (English)*
• Oasis “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” (English)
• Tokio Hotel “Monsoon” (English)
• Muse “Hysteria” (English)
• Les Wampas “Manu Chao” (French)
• Playmo “New Wave” (French)
• Die Toten Hosen “Hier Kommt Alex” (German)
• Juli “Perfekte Welle” (German)
• H-Block X “Countdown to Insanity” (German)
(*cover song)

In addition, Rock Band’s unprecedented library of more than 200 songs available for purchase and download to date in North America is now available in Europe for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and PlayStation 3 system. All new Rock Band downloadable content will be available simultaneously in the US and Europe on a weekly basis. For a complete list of Rock Band songs available for purchase to date, please go to http://www.rockband.com/dlc.

The King of Fighters '98 video game Ultimate Match for the PlayStation 2 - PS2

The King of All Fighting Games Coming in January 2009

Ignition a UTV Enterprise, a worldwide publisher and developer of videogames, in conjunction with SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION, announced today that The King of Fighters ’98 Ultimate Match for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system will be shipping to retailers across North America come January 2009.



The King of Fighters franchise is considered one of the last great arcade 3-on-3 fighters. The series groups together fighters from many of SNK’s other hit games – like Art of Fighting, Fatal Fury and Ikari Warriors – into three-person teams to battle in a high-action martial arts tournament.

By mixing characters from different teams, players can create an unstoppable force of various styles and abilities.

The King of Fighters ’98 Ultimate Match, priced at $19.99 (M.S.R.P.), brings gamers an updated version of “The King of Fighters ‘98,” previously only seen in arcades, to North America for the very first time. The King of Fighters ’98 Ultimate Match contains a grand total of 64 characters, 9 of which are new to the Ultimate Match version, showcasing the most characters ever included in a 2D fighting game!

Enhanced The King of Fighters ’98 Ultimate Match Game Features Include:

• “Ultimate Mode”: Along with the features of Extra and Advanced Modes, gamers will find the newly added Ultimate Mode which allows players to choose any kind of movement, evasion action, and power gauge.

• New Characters: A total of 9 new characters including Eiji Kisaragi from KOF ’95, Kasumi Todoh, Geese Howard, Mr. Big, Wolfgang Krauser and Goenitz from KOF ’96 as well as Orochi Iori, Orochi Leona and Orochi from KOF ’97!
Players will also find newly added characters like the King, Blue Mary, Ryuji Yamazaki, and Geese Howard to expand combat options.

• New Additions and Alterations to Graphics: Openings and Character Select screens have been redesigned.

• Includes the original NEOGEO version of The King of Fighters ’98