Lord of the Rings - Conquest video game review

How could a game that lets you take control of an Ent and knock down swaths of hapless Uruk-hai with your massive branch-arms end up being so unimpressive?

Lord of the Rings: Conquest, an action game built around the legendary battles of Middle-earth depicted in J.R.R Tolkien's books, should have worked well. In Tolkien's stories, warriors with unique abilities combine their talents to win massive battles; Conquest developer Pandemic made a name for itself with the Star Wars Battlefront series, action games that featured squads of different character classes that combined their abilities to win massive battles. The perfect marriage!

But the honeymoon ends quickly. Conquest's 16-player online battles can be fun, but they get repetitive in short order. And the single-player mode, in which you can re-enact the big scenes from the movies and then play an alternate story in which the forces of Sauron win the day, is a mess.

Lord of the Rings: Conquest is available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. We reviewed the PlayStation 3 version.
If you do buy Conquest, you'll probably want to start with the single-player campaign. It's brief -- it won't take you more than a few hours to blast through all 15 levels, although you can go in later at a higher difficulty level. Playing the solo mode is a good way to get acquainted with the game's four different character classes.

Full review on WIRED here...

Mirror's Edge download content on January 29th

The first batch of downloadable add-on content for DICE's Mirror's Edge finally has a release date, and, as promised in December, it's coming later this month.

The pack, which includes seven "all-new and totally redesigned Time Trial maps" crafted around a decidedly abstract theme, comes to the Xbox Live Marketplace, PlayStation Network and PC on January 29 for $10.

PlayStation 3 owners may remember last year's promise of a free, exclusive downloadable Mirror's Edge map that has since become a point of contention, with some sites reporting that the content secretly went multi platform.

We contacted EA for an official comment on the subject, and a representative from the publisher clearly stated that the downloadable extra is still slated to be a PlayStation 3 exclusive.

Sourec: WIRED blog

Resident Evil 5 Demo Premiers Exclusively on Xbox 360 Starting January 26

Xbox 360 gamers worldwide won’t have to wait until March 13, 2009 to get their hands on the highly-anticipated “Resident Evil 5.” The next installment of the landmark survival horror franchise from Capcom will take action to a new level with a two-level, playable demo available exclusively on Xbox 360 for one week beginning Monday, January 26.

In the demo, players will have a first glimpse of the fear they will never forget, as “Resident Evil 5” makes daylight just as terrifying as darkness. Additionally, a new exclusive high-definition trailer of the game, shown only at the past Tokyo Game Show in October of 2008, will be made available for download on the Xbox LIVE service on Friday, Jan. 16.

Fans will have the opportunity to experience “Resident Evil 5’s” revolutionary new features early, including two-player co-op with voice chat along with new characters, weapons and environments. The demo is set within two stages from the beginning of the game – Assembly Place and Shanty Town -- featuring plenty of co-operative action, shooting, hordes of bloodthirsty infected Majini enemies and a few puzzles to round out the action. The demo has three levels of co-op play: single-player with AI support, two-player split-screen on a single Xbox 360 and two-player across Xbox LIVE.

Xbox 360 gamers will also be first to take on the new enemies in battle, including an army of weapon-wielding infected Majini, the gigantic hooded Majini Executioner and even the dreaded Chainsaw Majini. Players can also choose between the classic “Resident Evil”-style controls or switch to the newer “Action” controls inspired by games like “Gears of War 2” and “Halo 3.”

In this hotly anticipated new title coming on March 13, Chris Redfield returns as the “Resident Evil” hero and heads to Africa where the latest bioterrorism threat is literally transforming the people and animals of the city into mindless, maddened creatures. Joining forces with a new partner, Sheva Alomar, the two must work together to discover the truth behind this evil plot. Utilizing the new co-op mode, players will be able to assume control of either Chris or Sheva and experience “Resident Evil” in new ways.

Penumbra Collection set to be released on PC

Paradox Interactive are proud to announce that February 2009 is a date for fans of innovative and terrifying horror games everywhere to be excited about, as the Penumbra Collection is set to be released on PC.

Comprising of the full games Penumbra: Overture and Penumbra: Black Plague along with the recent expansion Requiem, all developed by the acclaimed two man development team at Frictional Games, Penumbra Collection is the complete story of Philip Buchanan and his journey through terror and madness!

But let us go back to where the Penumbra tale began...

Penumbra Overture was originally released in March 2007, with critics hailing not only its fantastic storyline and sense of atmosphere, but also its innovative control scheme. Players interacted with the game world in a physically realistic manner - grabbing and moving objects, opening doors, climbing ladders, examining items - unprecedented in a horror title and therefore adding greatly to the immersion and the tension.

Penumbra Overture introduced players to Philip Buchanan who, following his mother’s death, receives a letter from his supposedly dead father, a man who left before he was even born, his reasons for doing so a mystery leaving Philip with many unanswered questions. The letter and those questions lead Philip to the arctic wastes of Greenland, to a location mentioned in his father’s ambiguous note and the beginning of our adventure as he begins to uncover disturbing facts about his past that not only affect himself, but all of mankind.

Commenting on the process of making Penumbra: Overture, Thomas Grip, Lead Programmer and Co-Founder at Frictional Games said, “Overture was the first Penumbra game and where it all began. In the game we aimed at giving the player a sense of isolation, claustrophobic horror and making it a desperate fight for survival. Overture binds together a lot of innovative ideas in an intense gaming environment.”

IGN commented that Penumbra: Overture had “...great, moments, disturbing imagery...” on the way to scoring it 7/10, with Gamespot adding that it was “...a great spookfest” in their 7.8/10 review. An 8/10 review score from Worth Playing was summed up by them describing the game as an “...original title that sets out with a specific goal and accomplishes it well.”

Gears of War 2 Xbox Live Co-Op Night

Co-Optimus.com , the web's prime source for breaking co-op gaming news and information, proudly welcomes members of Gears of War 2's development team at Epic Games to join this month's Xbox Live Co-Op Night.

This interactive gaming event is part of Co-Optimus.com's monthly co-op events only on Xbox Live . The crew from Co-Optimus will be playing the campaign in two player co-op mode as well as horde mode in five player co-op. As the Locust Horde approaches, Epic Games' team will dive in to help take them down.

Co-Optimus.com will be broadcasting the event live all night, which begins at 7:30PM EST on January 15th, via the Event page. To join in on the action use the game's built in match making tools or look for the following gamertags.

EpicDev1 (Epic)
EpicDev2 (Epic)
EpicDev3 (Epic)
BAPenguin (Co-Optimus)
pherbear (Co-Optimus)
DjinniMan (Co-Optimus)
co optimus (Co-Optimus)

This special event is a continuation of the monthly Xbox Live evenings presented by Co-Optimus.com. For more information, please visit the official event page on Co-Optimus . For more information on Xbox Live Co-Op Nights please visit the Xbox Community Page  on Xbox.com and for more information on Gears of War 2, visit the official homepage.

Dynasty Warriors - Gundam 2 video game returns with robots the size of mountains

Dynasty Warriors - Gundam 2 returns with robots the size of mountains and battles to make your eyes water.

European release of DYNASTY WARRIORS - GUNDAM 2 for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system will be on March 27, 2009.

With the Gundam phenomenon once again taking the gaming and anime worlds by storm in Japan this is the chance for European gamers to discover what all the fuss is about. A chance to take control of robots the size of tower blocks. A chance to unleash enough firepower to level entire cities. A chance to wade into battle against hundreds of armed to the teeth Mobile Suits. A chance to indulge in some of the most elaborate combos and incredible attack animations yet to feature in a Warriors game. And a chance to light up their TV screens with a spectacular feast of pyrotechnic mayhem as armies of giant robots clash in massed battles on a stupendous scale.



About DYNASTY WARRIORS: GUNDAM 2

DYNASTY WARRIORS: GUNDAM 2 combines the devastating power of the Mobile Suit, the rich legacy of the GUNDAM universe and the furious Tactical Action game play of the DYNASTY WARRIORS series. The game will thrust players into incredible battles against legions of enemy Mobile Suits on distant planetary surfaces and in the far reaches of outer space. For the first time, DYNASTY WARRIORS: GUNDAM 2 will let players engage in melee battles against colossal enemies such as the Psycho Gundam. The massive Psycho Gundam can quickly reconfigure their bodies into titanic mobile fortresses which can move with remarkable speed. However, highly-trained pilots can utilize their own Mobile Suit’s speed, agility, and of course firepower to defeat these deadly juggernauts.

DYNASTY WARRIORS: GUNDAM 2 will also include new stories featuring mecha from the latest Gundam anime, plus mecha from Char’s Counter Attack and more. With mecha parts collected throughout the course of the game, players will be able to adapt a Mobile Suit which can be piloted into combat.

Developed by KOEI’s award-winning Omega Force team, DYNASTY WARRIORS: GUNDAM 2 will also include online versus play.

Nintendo DS - My Pet Shop out February 27th

Square Enix, the publisher of Square Enix interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces the forthcoming TAITO game My Pet Shop, will be available exclusively for the Nintendo DS system from 27th February 2009, across all PAL territories.

My Pet Shop is the first game from Square Enix to have its primary audiences rooted in the pre-teens market, and also the company’s first game to heavily target girl gamers.

In My Pet Shop, players will set off on the animal adventure of a lifetime as they work to help run the best pet shop that Green Town has ever seen. With over 40 different animals, players will be able to find and care for adorable and sometimes unusual pets including dogs, cats, pigs, pandas and bears – all set in a beautifully crafted colourful world.

While My Pet Shop is genres away from the likes of traditional Square Enix releases such as FINAL FANTASY and DRAGON QUEST, the game is beautifully crafted by some of the biggest names in Japanese development, and in addition to the popular care and nurture gameplay seen in other games of this genre, My Pet Shop will also offer the player a chance to engage in a captivating storyline.

About My Pet Shop

Story

Welcome to the beautiful world of Green Town and to your very own pet shop. Following your move from the metropolis of Gold City, you’re now getting settled in your new home in Green Town, as the kid of the newly opened pet shop.

Your adventure begins on your first day in the shop, helping your mum to find pets for the residents of the town, and caring for the animals you find. The more you care for and play with the pets, the more attached to you they become, and as you continue to help out in the shop, you’ll be rewarded with money allowing you to buy accessories to make your pets the cutest in the whole town! Teach them tricks, look after them well, and you’ll soon be on your way to winning the town’s cute pet photo contest.

The people of Green Town will welcome you with open arms as you work to create the best pet shop ever!

Features

- Embark on the pet shop adventure of a lifetime: Where the player will become an important part of the community as they help to manage their very own pet shop

- Meet the cutest characters in a town where everyone loves to live: the familiar character styles of the inhabitants of Green Town, and the vibrant environments, shops and homes, create a place to stay, play and interact for hours

- Collect and care for loads of loveable and unusual pets: My Pet Shop offers over 40 types of animals with over 120 different variations available to find and nurture

- Work hard and get rewarded: The more the player works in the shop and cares for their pets, the more money they’ll receive to buy some of the 100+ fashion accessories available for their pets

- Enter pet contests and win prizes: Players get to showcase their hard work – the tricks they’ve taught pets and the fashion accessories they’ve bought – by taking part in the town’s photo and fitness contests

- Share your pets with mates using the DS Wireless Connection

Feels the Rhythm with We Rock - Drum King for Nintendo Wii

We Rock: Drum King, a brand new rhythm-action game for Nintendo Wii, which sees you becoming the drummer in a band that’s on the road to global stardom. It’s due to rock out across Europe in April 2009.

Unlike many rhythm games, to become a music legend in We Rock: Drum King you only require two Wii Remotes, rather than having to clutter your living room with potentially expensive instruments. The remotes become your virtual drumsticks as you beat your way through 30 awesome tunes, including Bloc Party’s Banquet and Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf.

You start on the road to fame by creating your drummer and then joining a band, before performing in a range of increasingly spectacular venues – until you’re crowned the greatest rock band in the world.

Developed exclusively for the Nintendo Wii by DEL, We Rock: Drum King takes full advantage of the innovative motion-sensing capabilities of the console. The game is played by moving the remotes as if you’re ‘air drumming’. Different drums – including snare, toms, hi-hat and bass – are simulated by waving the Wii Remotes while pressing a different button.






Wannabe drummers know exactly when and what drum to hit thanks to coloured indicators that scroll down the screen in time to the tune. The difficulty can be scaled too, so that beginners can pick-up-and-rock-out, whereas experienced beat masters can crank up the challenge to 11.

We Rock: Drum King will be released exclusively for Nintendo Wii in Europe in April 2009.

FEATURES:

• Wide range of drumming styles/music
  
• Ready to rock straight from the box – no need for costly peripherals
  
• Create your own avatar before hitting the road
  
• Single and multiplayer modes
  
• 30 awesome tracks from well known artists
  
• Difficulty scaled so beginners have fun but experts face a real rock challenge
  

Who wants to be a 'slumdog' millionaire iPhone video game

Capcom Mobile, a leading developer and publisher of mobile games, today announced the availability of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,” for the iPhone and iPod Touch on the Apple App Store. Based on the recent update to the iconic gameshow, "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” shakes-up the hot seat with new rules, new lifelines and faster gameplay.

Capitalizing on the platform's advanced technologies, "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” features new high-resolution art, authentic sounds and animations taken right from the show, as well as full motion video of Meredith Vieira as show host.

"This is the best looking Millionaire mobile game to date,” said Midori Yuasa, President, Capcom Interactive, Inc. "'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' for the iPhone and iPod touch has all the fantastic gameplay that made the series a household name, but with an all-new look that's sure to be the final answer in trivia.”

Like the hit show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,” challenges players to correctly answer 15 questions of progressive difficulty with the help of four lifelines - Ask the Audience, Phone a Friend and the newly added Double Dip and Ask the Expert. Ten actual "Experts” from the show provide answers to the mobile game's 900 questions. Players can now see the subject categories of all 15 questions in each game, adding a new layer of strategy to lifelines. Additionally, a game clock keeps the action fast and fun as contestants are able to bank unused time for the million-dollar question.

"Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” is available from Apple's App Store on iPhone and iPod Touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/

Freaky Creatures- the best of online multiplayer PC gaming, collectible action figures, virtual worlds and social networking

Abandon Interactive Entertainment today released new screenshots revealing player-created lairs as well as a turn-based battle system in the upcoming online creature building and battling game, Freaky Creatures. Hitting shelves in early 2009, Freaky Creatures combines the best of online multiplayer PC gaming, collectible action figures, virtual worlds and social networking.

In Freaky Creatures, players start with an empty lair they can fill and customize to house their Creature using an assortment of items including pillars, a radio, furniture and plants. Players can then invite their friends’ Creatures to socialize and explore in their own personalized lair. The screenshots reveal the multitude of decor a player can use to enhance and personalize their lair.



In preparing for battle, players can choose from a variety of parts and powers that work in unison with each other to increase their chances of winning battles. The screenshots show how the creatures use their various parts and powers to battle each other for points, experience and Creature Credits. Creature Credits can then be used to buy more parts, powers and objects for the creature’s lair.

The Freaky Creatures experience begins with a starter pack that includes 2 action figures and a 1GB reuseable flash drive. Once players have created their unique creature they can jump straight into battle or build a lair where they can care for their creature and invite friends over to hang out. They can also participate in the Freaky Creatures community, personalize their homepage, play mini-games, join tournaments, check leaderboards, trade items, read animated comics, enter contests, form teams and much more in the ever expanding Freaky Creatures Universe.  

Starter packs will be available in early 2009 for $19.99.

Chop Sushi puzzle game on iPhone and iPod Touch

Get caught up in sushi-matching mayhem with this innovative puzzler which is destined to become an iPhone classic!

Sink your teeth into hours and hours of match 3 puzzle action as you conquer over 40 unique and challenging levels. Use the device’s touch screen to literally pick up your chopsticks and swap sushi pieces over the vibrant game board, no need to be an expert - these utensils are easy to pick up and play!

Bring your appetite for adventure as you journey across the game’s 15 unique islands meeting new challengers and gathering secret recipes to use in puzzle battles. Create unique combinations, triggering insane combos including the awesome WASABI BOMB! and unleash their devastating effects on your opponents!

Features

• Exciting match 3 puzzle action with fresh anime style graphics and responsive touch screen controls
• Hours of fun and game-play
• Collect new recipes in Adventure mode to aid you through the game
• Create combo’s and trigger your collected recipes to devastate your opponent including the mighty WASABI BOMB!
• 3 unique modes of game-play:
• Adventure – Travel through the game’s massive world and encounter opponents in battle
• Quick Play - Re-play puzzle battles that you have unlocked in adventure
Mode
• Challenge - Match up all pieces on the game-board in a limited number of turns

Aurora Blade - Express System

The first and only Express Company has already been created in Aurora Blade (http://ab.igg.com) - players can find the company in the Daks of cities and towns. It has been very popular with many players because of its perfect service and, today, the Aurora Blade team from IGG is giving a brief introduction to the Express system for all players.

Except for bound equipment, players can mail items, equipment, food and others to their friends via the Express Company. The Express Company service in Aurora Blade covers 34 in-game maps and areas. No matter where you are, you can receive a letter from the company and then you can claim your package from any nearby Daks.

It's really convenient to mail items in Aurora Blade. You just need to talk to the appointed NPC and choose “Send a package”. Then fill out the package list including the consignee, the content, items and money you would like to mail. No matter what you would like to mail, it only costs you 10 Copper Coins. After finishing the package list, press “OK” to send the letter. After 10 minutes, your friends can pick-up the package.

Aurora Blade is the first browser-based 2D RPG brought to you by IGG and distinguishes itself as a simple yet exciting game with immersive storylines for players of all ages and skill levels.

Combat Arms Europe - Official launch set for NEXON Europe's anticipated Online First-Person-Shooter

Nexon Europe announce the official launch for its Online First-Person-Shooter, Combat Arms Europe.
The official launch, going live on Thursday, January 15th, seals the recent successful series of beta testing and delivers extensive updates of contents including new maps, game modes, weaponry and gears, and in-game Clan System.

The Clan System will start off with a month-long special event, challenging and revealing the most honorary clans at Combat Arms Europe with luring items to be won.

Add-ons of new battle zones will transport users to a deadly biochemical lab, crashed cargo plane on enemy territory and a remote desert town where they can further hone their fragging skills, and new game modes including Capture-The-Flag and Spy Hunt will provide players distinctive modes to show off their expertise and comradeship. Checking out all of these new features will reward users with a bonus supply of GP (Gear Points) on four consecutive weekends, as part of another special event starting from January 17th.


The foundation of Combat Arms, like all Nexon Games, is providing a distinct, social gaming experience in a free-to-play environment, and players can join the arms race for free by signing up at http://combatarms.nexoneu.com .

About Combat Arms:

Combat Arms is a fast-paced, multiplayer shooter, designed for non-stop action on the grounds of various battlefields where players are recruited to get engaged with their enemies in multiple game modes. While integrating the traditional attributes of the FPS genre, Combat Arms advances further by evolving striking features such as character customization as well as weapon modification system, enabling the players to adjust their weapons with attachments such as scopes, silencers and extended magazines. Additional eye-catching feature is the unique backpack system, which allows players to combine a set of multiple weapons from the extensive armory for a more sophisticated combat experience on the battlefield.

Combat Arms is easy to adapt for newcomers with handy control while providing deep gameplay mechanics to veteran gamers. In-game currencies and experience points are rewarded based on the number of victories and kills made, and when accumulated, it will help the players to rank up and to mount with new weapons and equipments, while having access to their actual performance stat anytime during the gameplay. Moreover, the extensive community features within the game actively support the clan system, where players can easily recruit, manage, and communicate with their clan members.

Cryostasis, NecroVisioN and Men of War PC video games

505 Games has announced that it is releasing icy survival horror Cryostasis, fast-paced monster FPS NecroVisioN and World War II strategy title Men of War under the 1C Company label on 20th February 2009 exclusively on PC.

CRYOSTASIS

Taking place in the Arctic Circle in 1981, players take on the role of Alexander Nesterov, a Russian meteorologist sent to investigate the final hours of the North Wind, an old nuclear ice-breaker shipwrecked in an icy grave.

The freezing cold has turned the inhabitants of the ship into freakish frozen monsters that will hunt down anything warm and destroy it. Thankfully, Alex possesses a unique ‘Mental Echo’ ability, which allows him to relive the final memories of the dead and change their actions in the past.

But, can Alex discover what happened on the North Wind or will he also become the latest victim of the terrible cold?

NECROVISION

NecroVisioN is a first-person horror shooter, which sees players taking on the role of American soldier Simon Bukner, who must fight his way through the bleak trenches of World War One and into the very jaws of Hell.

Dead soldiers are coming back to life with a lust for human flesh, a mad German scientist has created a giant robotic scorpion and an ancient war between vampires and demons is threatening to wipe out humanity.

Armed with his powerful Shadow Hand and demonic weapons, Bukner must battle to save himself... and the world.

MEN OF WAR

See World War Two from three different sides - Russian, Allied and German – as you command entire armies and plot your battle strategies across epic maps based on real-life locations.

Men of War takes place across the globe during the height of World War II and features three different campaigns, each with their own unique units, vehicles and missions. From the Russian missions starring two student comrades fresh to the horrors of war, players are soon catapulted into massive battles with dozens of units under their command.

In addition to the in-depth single player experience, Men of War also unleashes a range of multiplayer maps based on the main missions along with action-packed ‘capture the flag’ and ‘high-value cargo’ modes.

Bit Trip Beat Arcade style WiiWare video game

BIT.TRIP BEAT exclusively for WiiWare! Developed by Gaijin Games, BIT.TRIP BEAT marks the first adventure of Commander Video. Using the Wii Remote, players will test their twitch skills as they battle through a retro-esque universe, familiar to the old generation and yet reinvented for the new.

Everything comes from something. We were before we became. From life comes rhythm, and from rhythm comes life. We are beings of information. Everything is a conduit for learning. We communicate in bits and bytes. And we will return to something once we become nothing; after our BIT.TRIP is complete.

“BIT.TRIP BEAT is a crazy mix of 80s aesthetics and modern game design,” states Michael Manzanares, Producer of Aksys Games. “It's challenging, yet fair, and completely addicting."

“The Gaijin Games team wanted to make a game that used the tools of today to inspire the fun of yesterday. Our goal was to make a game that was as simple in gameplay as the games of the early 80s and equally as fun-even though gamers' tastes have changed over the years,” continues Alex Neuse, Designer of Gaijin Games. “And let's face it, sometimes a really good videogame is just awesome. We hope you enjoy BIT.TRIP BEAT.”

Key Features:

• Bring Back That Loving Feeling
BIT.TRIP BEAT brings back the classic arcade-style gameplay where getting the high score matters!

• Pixel Blocks For The Win
Keeping the arcade-style gameplay isn’t enough, BIT.TRIP BEAT sports a unique retro-inspired art style that will stimulate your senses.

• Old School Tunes
Who said old-school 8-bit music was out? BIT.TRIP BEAT bumps the latest chiptune music to keep the action fresh!

• Friends Can Play Too!
Can’t beat a level? No problem, BIT.TRIP BEAT allows 2 to 4 player co-op mode! But don’t think that makes it any easier…

Crazy Machines 2 - puzzle game add-ons

Viva Media has announced the launch of an all-new add-on for their wildly popular puzzle game, Crazy Machines 2. Now players can ratchet up the fun and tinker around with over 60 all-new levels! Featuring a dozen new elements, including a monster truck, electrostatic fields, fiber optic cables, a hot air balloon and so much more. Satisfy your brain’s puzzle craving with even more Crazy Machines 2! Don’t waste a minute – get back into the game!


Features:

• 60 new levels
• Two new background themes
• 9 new decorative elements such as lawn gnome and wheelbarrow
• 12 new elements including monster truck, lit, fiber optic cable, electrostatic fields, and hot air balloon

Requirements:

Must already own Crazy Machines 2
2 GHz Intel Pentium 4 or better MHz CPU, 512 MB RAM, DirectX 9.0 compliant card, DirectX compatible sound card, CD-ROM drive

KooKeys - Virtual World Enhanced with Several New Features - KooBank, KooKoliseum and Mt. Kooliminjaro

Several exciting updates to the KooKeys virtual world announced. 

In addition to the hundreds of mini-games, shop items and educational content already included in KooKeys, players will now have access to the following new features:
KooBank - Players will get a chance to learn about the world of finance with the KooBank. Players will be allowed to deposit their virtual currency into an interest bearing account increasing their responsibility meter and cash flow.

KooKoliseum - For the first time in all of KooLand, players will have the ability to challenge each other to multiplayer games in the KooKoliseum. These interactive games will allow children to compete in exciting new games to win KooKoins or other in-game prizes.
Kooliminjaro Neighborhood - Players have a new place to house their KooKeys in KooLand. Kooliminjaro, unlockable through a series of game play achievements, features snow-capped mountains, luxurious mountain chalets, and a snowy resort where the slopes are always open.

"The beauty of KooKeys is that the product keeps growing with exciting new content and innovative activities for children," said Alex Reece, 10VOX Entertainment partner. "After the initial plush toy purchase, the fun and game play value of KooKeys never ends. The team at 10VOX is committed to creating entertainment and educational content that can't be found with any other product in this category. We are planning additional updates throughout the year and look forward to the response from kids and parents."

KooKeys combines real-world plush toys with a fun and safe massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) for kids, tweens and teens. KooKeys is a secure online world filled with nonstop interactivity, gameplay and rewards - both entertaining and educational. The toys are available at specialty retailers for approximately $15.00 each, with no additional costs or monthly subscription fees, for endless online gaming fun.

Castle Crashers 'King Pack' download - New Characters, weapons, and magic

New Characters, weapons, and magic for 2008's most popular Xbox LIVE Arcade title

The Behemoth announced today that the “King Pack” downloadable content is now available for their hit game Castle Crashers, the most played Xbox LIVE Arcade title of 2008. The fearless leader of the four Knights has stepped into the fray, bringing with him another playable character, an adorable new animal orb, and shiny new weapons! The King’s magic is totally different from any other in the game, allowing players to heal themselves and others!

The “King Pack” includes:

Two New Characters! Open Faced Gray Knight and the King.
New Weapons! NG Lollipop, NG Gold Sword and the King’s Mace (equipped with the King).
New Animal Orb- Pelter, the Seal.
New Magic! King’s Healing (Gold Knife, Healing Magic and the Kingly Jump).

About Castle Crashers

As Xbox LIVE Arcade’s top hit of 2008, Castle Crashers has attracted a wide-ranging audience with its engaging art style, easy control system, and simple yet addictive game play. From seven-year-olds playing their first video game to hardcore older gamers looking to recapture the 2D arcade games of their youth, this game has something for everyone. Hack, slash, and smash your way to victory in this red-hot arcade adventure! Featuring hand-drawn characters, Castle Crashers delivers unique hi-res illustrated visuals like nothing you've ever seen before. Play with up to three friends locally or over Xbox LIVE to save your princess, defend your kingdom, and crash some castles with an arsenal of combos and magical attacks to choose from! Priced at 1200 Microsoft points, Castle Crashers boasts 20 levels, over 40 weapons, and 20 unlockable characters, making this one of the largest games available on Xbox LIVE Arcade.