11/20/08

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Legendary Battle of Echo Base in Star Wars Galaxies Chapter

New Hoth Encounter Lets Players Experience One of the Most Memorable Battles in Star Wars History.

Choose your side and prepare for battle -- the epic fight for Hoth is now yours to be waged! Sony Online Entertainment LLC and LucasArts today announced the latest addition to Star Wars Galaxies™, Chapter 11: The Battle of Echo Base, that brings the epic action and excitement from one of the most gripping fights in Star Wars history to fans and players in a way they’ve never experienced before.

This latest chapter in the Star Wars Galaxies saga lets players relive pivotal combat missions on behalf of either the Galactic Empire or the Rebel Alliance. The breathtaking heroic encounter adds vehicular combat, so players in groups of up to eight people can jump into the fray at Echo Base and take the controls of a Rebel snowspeeder or Imperial AT-ST.

The fight for both sides begins on the icy North Field, where the battle between the forces of good and evil are joined, and continues all the way to Evacuation Point, the site of the Alliance’s desperate, harrowing escape from the menacing Imperial ground assault.

About The Battle of Echo Base
After picking up the mission at the Adventurers’ Guildhall in Aurilia, players who have chosen a side in the Galactic Civil War will need to accomplish various objectives. Under the command of General Maximilian Veers, Imperial players must infiltrate Echo Base, taking out at many Rebels along the way as possible. Rebel players, led by General Carlist Rieekan, will need to evacuate Echo Base with as much manpower and material as can reasonably be preserved.

Feature Set:

• Multi-stage battle with exciting objective based-missions for both Imperial and Alliance players. • Exciting vehicular combat featuring iconic Star Wars vehicles including snowspeeders and AT-STs. • Massive gameplay area with endless replayability. • Appearances by major characters of the battle including Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and R2-D2.

About Star Wars Galaxies

Star Wars Galaxies, developed and published by LucasArts and Sony Online Entertainment, is one of the longest-running and most popular online experiences, bringing gamers of all ages and skill levels together in the ultimate Star Wars journey. Begin aboard the Millennium Falcon helping Han Solo and Chewbacca fend off the notorious Darth Vader. Along the way, join with Star Wars characters on missions that span the galaxy. Ally with the Rebels to fight against the Galactic Empire, or join forces with the dark side and crush the Rebel scum. Heroic adventurers can seek their fortune in space or on the ground as a bounty hunter, smuggler, Jedi or a host of other unique Star Wars professions.

From the Abyss is a hack n slash RPG for Nintendo DS

In the spirit of true video gaming for the Nintendo DS! In this parallel universe players will be able to explore the vast world of Rubenhaut through a unique world creation engine exclusively created for the game. In “From the abyss”, the player will fight huge monsters with swords, spells and special abilities! A fast paced & action packed game for gamers!

The game also features an intuitive control scheme, lavish artwork, and an engaging 2 player co-op battle system.

Key Features:

• Explore your own unique Abyss!
Every time you start a new journey the game will randomly generate a custom world for a unique experience each time!
• Customize your character!
Distribute skill points that will define your character’s powers and destiny. Will you go the way of the sword or be a powerful spell caster?
• Capture your enemy’s soul!
Steal the enemy’s techniques and use them to turn the tide in battle!
• Co-op Mode! 
Wirelessly connect with a friend and fight together to defeat the Demon Lord of the Abyss!

About the game

Genre: Hack ‘n slash
Platform: NDS
Publisher: Nobilis
Developer: Sonic Powered
Release date: Q1 2009
Official website: www.from-the-abyss.com

Prince of Persia promises tons of downloads

Ubisoft confirmed today that it plans to release Downloadable Content for its upcoming Prince of Persia video game post-launch. Full details and release date to be announced in the near future.

"Our intention is to do downloadable content that really offers a lot of value for the player - another experience." said Ben Mattes, Producer.

Ubisoft also released Prince of Persia’s fourth Developer’s Diary now available for immediate posting. In this new diary, the developers discuss their desire to merge imaginative, open-ended game play with a rich, overarching story through the use of networks of player-chosen paths, Elika’s magical abilities and the new on-demand dialogue which acts as both a useful hint system as well as additional narrative.

Finally, Ubisoft kicks off the countdown to the release of Prince of Persia with the launch of an unique website. Check it out now – www.princeofpersiagame.com

Prince of Persia is scheduled to release December 5, 2008 for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, and PC.

About Prince of Persia

Set in a land rooted in ancient Persian mythology, the Prince finds himself caught in an epic battle between the primal forces of light and darkness: the God of Light, Ormazd versus his brother Ahriman, the destructive God of Darkness. The Prince arrives just in time to witness the destruction of the legendary Tree of Life – an act which threatens to plunge the entire world into eternal darkness. Manifested in the form of the Corruption, a dark substance that physically contaminates the land and the skies, the Prince must partner with Elika, a deadly companion, to heal the world from the evil Corruption.

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has teams in 27 countries and distributes games in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2007-08 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated sales of 928 million euros. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

2008 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Based on Prince of Persia created by Jordan Mechner. Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Prince of Persia is a trademark of Jordan Mechner in the U.S. and/or other countries used under license by Ubisoft Entertainment.

Fishing Master World Tour Nintendo Wii video game

Fishing Master World Tour is a sequel to the popular Fishing Master which was released last holiday season.

Staying true to the first versions realistic controls, players use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, to battle fish as you would in real life. Pull the Wii Remote left and right as the fish fights you from the end of the line and adjust your drag to avoid breaking your line. Once you have your skills down, take on some friends with four-person multiplayer modes.

Watch the trailer on my YouTube channel here...

LittleBig Planet dissapoints in games charts

LittleBigPlanet only managed 4th place in the UK all format games chart and fell to 19th a week later. This can only disappoint Sony as the game received rave reviews and 100% scores from magazines and websites.

Sony put the 4th place down to the competition at this time of year with Christmas just around the corner.

Gears of War 2, FIFA 09 and Fallout 3 were all released the same week.

Sony hope that word of mouth will help sell the game coming up to Christmas but Sackboy may need a strong advertising campaign to help.

If you remember the game was delayed due to problems with the sooundtrack (see other gamezplay posts) and that didn't help.

Then lots of user generated levels were deleted due to copyright reasons, if ever a game got off to a shaky start then Sackboy's Little Big Planet was a great example.

Need for Speed Undercover out tomorrow in UK

Need for Speed Undercover, the latest version from Black Box’s blockbuster action driving franchise is out tomorrow. Need for Speed Undercover is the ultimate combination of stunning gamezplay and big-budget Hollywood-style live action movie segments.

Need for Speed Undercover has players racing through speedways, dodging cops and chasing rivals as they go deep undercover to take down an International crime syndicate. The new game heralds the return of high-intensity police chases and introduces the all-new ‘Heroic Driving Engine’ - a unique technology that generates incredible high-performance moves at 180 miles per hour during breathtaking highway battles.

Need for Speed Undercover is being developed by Black Box in Vancouver. The game will be available for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, and Nintendo Wii as well as the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS, PSP (PlayStation Portable) handheld entertainment system, PC and mobile.

Open beta of the Street Gears MMORPG launched in Europe

Street Gears is the new in-line skating MMORPG published by Gala Networks Europe Ltd on the game portal www.gpotato.eu. The open beta is now available and playable by everyone from the official website: http://sg.gpotato.eu. Like all the gPotato games, Street Gears is downloadable and playable online for free.

After two closed beta test phases which took place in September and October, the gPotato team would like to offer a special gift to the testers to thank them for their assistance: every tester of the first phase have received some gPotato points while the testers of the second phase will receive a special pair of skates.

Gala Networks Europe Ltd is proud to be the first publisher in the world to launch Street Gears in its open beta. The game servers will be open on November 20th, and the testing phase will last about one month after which the characters will not be deleted. Many events are already planned by the gPotato team during this last phase of testing and after the launch of the game.

Things On Wheels Xbox 360 video game screenshots

Comet: Faaaaast Class: Sport. This speed demon may be powerful but only has moderate handling which can cause you to steer into walls frequently. It's typically the Champion's choice.

Python: Slick Class: Sport. Python's high power and speed, coupled with its moderately high handling make it the easiest car to steer in its class. Don't worry. It doesn't bite

What's new with Xbox Experience?

The release of Microsoft's Xbox Exepience upgrade has received a mixed response from users.

The download includes a complete graphical revision and features like your own avatar, installing games to your hard drive and great focus on Xbox Live.

A cross between Sony's PS3 and Nintendo Wii interfaces the Xbox Experience offers the best of both worlds.

Microsoft have tried to make it easier to purchase content and to soften the edges of the old interface with this update

The Xbox 360 is now more of a portal than a dedicated gaming machine with music and movies to look forward to. with early consoles shipping with a 20gb hard drive users will be faced with limited downloads or paying for an upgrade. The later machines had up to 120gb drives which cost around $160 for the upgrade.

The NXE upgrade is 100mb alone!

X-Blades Beasts and Spells video game news

Through Strike: I learned this from an old monk. It's like Teleportation, except it combines that spell with a deadly blow. The Through Strike involves moving fast towards an opponent, piercing him through and through – then you find yourself behind your defeated opponent's back. (Requirements: Teleportation + Sparkling Sword)

Piercing Strike: The Piercing Strike isn't just effective against airborne enemies - I look good doing it! (Heh-heh!) The technique is more or less like a teleportation leap combined with a hard blow. I once saw something like it in a monastery, where monks were in combat training... but I want to perfect the Piercing Strike! (Requirements: Through Strike)

Monster Generator: Technomagical device which teleports all monsters within its range to the location of Ayumi. Equipped with a powerful defensive magic and vulnerable only to blades.

The Fire Elementali: The embodiment of Fire magic was born during the formation of the world, when the planet's surface boiled with volcanic activity. Those who are unlucky enough to meet a Fire Elementali should expect to die from extreme burns. As with all Elementalis, they're vulnerable to magic opposed to their own.

Rhiannon - Curse of the Four Branches two demos to download

Adventure gamers are in a for a real treat today, as leading video game publisher Lighthouse Interactive and developer Arberth Studios, released two playable demos for Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches (PC). Both demos give players a chance to experience the mystical Celtic atmosphere and peek into the world of a lonely teenage girl named Rhiannon. In Demo No 1, players play Chapter 1: Arrival, where they may explore the remote Welsh farmstead known as Ty Pryderi. In Demo No 2, players can have a go at Chapter 5: Boswell’s Office, an underground office located beneath Ty Pryderi. These demos highlight the engaging and unusual challenges unique to Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches.

Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches, a game based on the gripping tales of the Mabinogion, a collection of stories from medieval Welsh manuscripts, is deep rooted in Celtic mythology and follows the present day haunting of a lonely teenage girl named Rhiannon, as she unwillingly enters a world filled with supernatural phenomena, magic, and legend.

This highly acclaimed Mythological Adventure game for Windows is now available at retail outlets across the United Kingdom, including GAME, Amazon, Play.com, the Lighthouse Interactive European Web Shop, and via digital download at GamersGate.com. Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches is a must-have Adventure game you don’t want to miss this holiday season!

To download Demos No1 and No 2, visit: www.lighthouse-interactive.com or www.bastion.co.uk

Colin McRae Dirt 2 announced as tribute to the rally ace

Rally legend honoured as game takes inspiration from modern off-road events

Codemasters today announced that Colin McRae: DiRT 2, the sequel to the acclaimed best-selling off-road racer of 2007, is now in development at Codemasters Studios for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games For Windows LIVE with further editions for Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP (PlayStationPortable) system due for simultaneous release in 2009.

The announcement marks confirmation that the game will be headlined by Colin McRae, honouring the life of the rally legend. Colin McRae, who consulted on the series for over ten years, tragically died in a helicopter accident in September 2007. The decision to continue the famous series bearing his name was made jointly between the McRae family and Codemasters.

“Colin McRae was all about the speed, the excitement and the entertainment of rally driving. Even when we first worked with him over ten years ago, he captured a freedom and a spirit that enthralled rally fans.” said Gavin Raeburn, senior executive producer at Codemasters Studios. “Later his showmanship shone through in events such as the X-games, the Dakar Rally and the Race of Champions. He could do things with a car that no one else would and that’s where we’re taking the series with new events at the extreme edge of rally and autosport. It will be a great tribute to an incredible champion.”

Colin McRae: DiRT 2 will feature a roster of contemporary off-road events, taking players to the most diverse and challenging real-world environments. This World Tour will have players competing in aggressive multi-car and intense solo races at extraordinary new locations, from canyon racing and jungle trails to city stadium-based events.

“Rally has attracted new stars and a new style that makes it more vibrant and exciting than ever before; it’s right up there as a premium extreme sport, attracting fresh crowds and a new confident attitude,” said Raeburn.

“Colin McRae: DiRT 2 mirrors this new, exciting direction and, in a way, we’ll be throwing off some of the shackles and constraints that real-world rallying has to abide by. We’re pitching players against the most spectacular and dangerous environments in the real world.”

To be powered by the third generation of the EGO Engine’s award-winning racing game technology, Colin McRae: DiRT 2 will benefit from tuned-up car-handling physics system and new damage engine effects. It will also showcase a spectacular new level of visual fidelity, with cars and tracks twice as detailed as those seen in Race Driver: GRID.

Colin McRae: DiRT 2’s garage will house a best-in-class collection of officially licensed rally cars and off-road vehicles, specifically selected to deliver aggressive and fast paced racing. Covering seven vehicle classes, players will be given the keys to powerful vehicles right from the off. In Colin McRae: DiRT 2 the opening drive is the Group N Subaru; essentially making the ultimate car from the original game the starting point in the sequel and the rides just get even more impressive.

In addition to the World Tour, Colin McRae: DiRT 2 will come complete with full online functionality that will be core to the overall experience, with head-to-head competitive online play and new social features to engage the racing community. Prepare for mud, gravel, dust and dirt too in Colin McRae: DiRT 2, coming 2009.

Big Bang Mini video game

HONG KONG: Viewed from an aerial perspective of Hong Kong's nighttime skyline, the bright neon lights of the city create a futuristic setting for Level 1.

The skills you learned in the tutorial are all you need to progress through Level 1 and defeat the Chinese Statue boss. Watch for clouds that can block your shots.

Aim for the balloons that the enemies hang on to. The end boss has four forms, watch out for the homing bullets he fires.

Dynasty Warriors 6 video game in US stores

KOEI releases DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 for PlayStation 2 and Windows-based PC.

KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, today announced that DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system is available now at North American retailers including: Amazon, EBGames, Game Crazy, GameFly, GameStop, and Walmart. The popular Tactical Action game also makes its debut on Windows-based PC today exclusively through digital download for residents of North America and Brazil.

Featuring the full cast of playable characters from the original release, DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 for PlayStation 2 comes on a single disc, action-packed with platform-exclusive content including: 10 new scenarios, five additional stages, plus new “Musou” mode stories and weapons for popular characters Zhang He, Cao Pi, Ling Tong, Ma Chao, Taishi Ci and Yue Ying.

About DYNASTY WARRIORS 6
Selling over 18 million units combined worldwide, KOEI’s award-winning DYNASTY WARRIORS series and SAMURAI WARRIORS series of Tactical Action games have become a global phenomenon.

Based on the epic novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the genre-defining DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 depicts the massive battles ignited by the fall of the Han Dynasty when rebellious states moved to overthrow the Emperor of China.

DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 delivers the unparalleled exhilaration of single-handedly destroying thousands of soldiers on massive battlefields. Utilizing spectacular fighting techniques motion-captured from some of today’s leading stuntmen and stuntwomen in Asia, DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 immerses gamers in a truly cinematic martial arts adventure. The game’s lightning-fast fighting, intuitive combat system and breathtaking environments create a visceral gaming experience that pushes the limits of Tactical Action.

Developed by KOEI’s Omega Force, DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 was released earlier this year for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 is rated “T” (Teen – Violence) by the ESRB, and is for 1 to 2 players (offline). For additional information and PC system specifications, visit www.koei.com/dw6.

LostWinds Blows into Japan with Square Enix

Partnership brings Frontier's WiiWare hit to Asia.

Frontier Developments, one of Europe's leading independent game developers, is delighted to announce a partnership with Square Enix to publish Frontier's critically-acclaimed WiiWare title LostWinds in Japan and Asia.

"Square Enix is a very successful, development-led organization with a total commitment to quality," said David Braben, Frontier's Chairman and founder. "Frontier shares those same core ideals and we are very pleased to be doing business together. Square Enix's strength in Japan will give LostWinds the chance to shine there, as it has done elsewhere."

LostWinds topped the WiiWare charts in both the US and Europe upon launch of the new distribution system in May 2008. The game also gathered a host of high scoring reviews praising its deep, explorative gameplay and beautiful art style.

LostWinds picked up Develop Magazine's 'Best New IP' award in July 2008, a prestigious accolade voted on by Frontier's games industry peers.

LostWinds is an enchanting adventure bursting with new gameplay ideas that embrace the innovative controller of the Wii - it puts "the power of the wind in the palm of your hand".

For more information about the game visit: http://frontier.co.uk/games/lostwinds/

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Thursday, November 20, 2008