Relax, Play and improve your mind with Challenge Me - Brain Puzzles on Nintendo DS

Oxygen Games introduces the first in a new range of games designed to relax and stimulate your mind; Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles!

Relax, Play and improve your mind. Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles, with its extended gameplay and variety of features, gives you the chance to test yourself while having fun. Guaranteed to stimulate and surprise with hours of gameplay to keep you entertained, Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles is a relaxing and entertaining way to keep your mind challenged and stimulated.

Incorporating two number based games, Sudoku & Picture Logic, Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles will not only bring you hours of fun and relaxation, they may also improve your mental skills.

Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles Sudoku is a challenging and entertaining version of the well loved Sudoku game. 500 different Sudoku challenges are available, providing hours of fun and lots of opportunities to exercise your mind. Anyone used to paper based versions of Sudoku will have no problem picking up the rules as they are identical in the game. The Nintendo DS controls are easy & intuitive to use, allowing new users of the Nintendo DS to quickly feel at home. For newcomers to Sudoku, Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles offers many features which will help beginners to get started and quickly master these challenging and fun puzzles.

The rules of Sudoku are simple, to succeed you must place the numbers 1-9 in a 9x9 grid, with each number only appearing once in each row, column & each 3x3 mini grid. Start at a stroll on the easy setting before aiming for Olympic gold on the hard setting! Sudoku will keep you entertained whether it’s for just 5 minutes on the bus or 5 hours relaxing at home.

In the ‘Challenge Me!’ mode you can test yourself on 30 puzzles against the clock. When you have finished a report will let you know whether all that mind exercising is making you smarter!

Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles – Relax, Play and Improve Your Mind!

Hi to all the staff at Flash-Fire, especially CC, have fun and I'll try and get the email address fixed

Harvest Moon - Frantic Farming on Nintendo DS this May

Natsume announce that it will be publishing Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming for the Nintendo DS this spring.

The company also released the first screenshots and gameplay details. The game is scheduled to hit retail this May.

Something strange is happening on Sunny Island! Crops are popping up everywhere and growing out of control!

If something isn't done soon, the once-tranquil island will be buried in an avalanche of vegetables! It's up to the players to solve the mystery of this produce predicament as they try to tame the crops and gather as many vegetables as they can!

"Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming is an all-new action-puzzle game set in the world of Harvest Moon," said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. "With exciting gameplay modes, unlockable music and art, and a deep story mode with multiple selectable characters, it's no puzzle why we think it will be a big hit with Harvest Moon and puzzle game fans alike!"

Set in the world of the recent DS hit Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness, Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming continues the tale of the island and its residents. Players can choose from 12 playable characters, each with their own unique story! See how the mystery unfolds from each character's perspective, and who they meet along the way!

The game features a variety of modes including Story Mode, the brain-teasing Mission Mode, and the action-puzzle excitement of Score Attack and Free Play Modes. Players can test their farming skills against their friends and family in multiplayer. Players can also unlock character art, music, and some special surprises in their Collection Room.

Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming will ship to retail this May.

Street Fighter and Resident Evil Visa Creditcards with rewards - now available

Capcom Presents the Game Industry's First Branded Visa Card With Trendsetting "Experiential" Rewards Program

Capcom announce a game industry trendsetting program to allow Capcom community members to show their fan spirit with a unique Capcom Unity Visa prepaid card. Capcom is the first video game company in North America to offer a co-branded Visa rewards card program specifically designed for gamers. The Capcom Unity Visa card program is now available for immediate online enrollment at http://www.capcom-unity-card.com.

This is not a credit card, but an innovative user-funded prepaid card that works anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, earning a precedent-setting series of cash back, points on Capcom’s community website Capcom-Unity.com, accelerated rewards from select retail and merchandise partners, discounts and exclusive access. Most importantly, Capcom’s enthusiastic fan base will be able to pay for dinner, get money from an ATM or buy games with a Visa card featuring some of the most recognizable video game characters on the planet, from games such as Street Fighter IV and Resident Evil 5.

“The Capcom Unity Visa is a truly unique program, a first in the video game industry” said Mark Beaumont, chief operating officer and head of Capcom consumer software publishing in the Americas and Europe. “Not only are we connecting our consumers with their favorite brands in an innovative way, but we’re also giving them an expansive rewards program that will let them participate in the Capcom community at a greater level.”

The Capcom Unity Visa prepaid card represents a true fiscal alternative for Capcom fans, allowing them to pick from several Capcom-themed prepaid card designs – including initial designs featuring art and images from Resident Evil 5, Street Fighter IV and Bionic Commando, with more designs to be offered regularly in the future – and control how much money is available on their prepaid card through easy and efficient online account access. Since this is not a credit card, almost everyone in North America over the age of 13 can qualify, with absolutely no impact to their credit history. Purchases are protected by Visa’s Zero Liability Policy , and funds deposited on the card are fully FDIC-insured.

The card is issued by Prepaid Solutions USA, a service of West Suburban Bank in the western suburbs of Chicago. “Working together, Capcom and West Suburban Bank have been able to create a truly innovative loyalty program that combines cash back and online rewards with experiential rewards that go far beyond the norm”, said Daniel P. Grotto, President of Prepaid Solutions USA at West Suburban Bank. “We very are excited to be a part of the launch of the Capcom Unity Visa card program. It will provide a safe and easy way for cardholders to pay for purchases wherever Visa is accepted. "

Unity members can go to any of thousands of Visa ReadyLink locations, transfer money online from their bank accounts directly to their Capcom Unity Visa card, set up regular transfers from their accounts or even establish direct deposit from their employers. The Capcom Unity Visa card can be used to pay bills electronically, as well as instantly pay other Capcom Unity Visa card holders. The Capcom Unity Visa card allows Capcom fans the freedom to access their cash where and when they need it, protecting themselves from bank overdraft fees while allowing them to pay with the card anywhere that Visa is accepted There are no paper statements generated or checks to be printed or paper check registers; users can choose to receive updates and alerts via email or text messages and all transactions are digitally recorded for the cardholder automatically, and can be viewed online.

The Capcom Unity Visa card will reward cardholders in three different ways: earning points on Capcom-Unity.com, earning cash back from online or signature-based purchases and earning accelerated rewards through the online “Capcom rewards mall.” For every dollar cardholders deposit on the Capcom Unity Visa card they will earn 5 Capcom Unity points which can be used in a number of different ways on the community website, including the new Auctions and Raffle features. Capcom Unity Visa cardholders will also earn one-half percent of cash back from all signature purchases – the cardholder then has the option to either redeposit the cash onto the card for additional use or purchase discounted gift cards from retail partners at the online rewards mall. Those same purchases will also qualify for accelerated rewards ranging from 0.5% to 20% from over 750 retailers, including iTunes, BestBuy.com, Target.com and many more.

Capcom is developing a larger suite of rewards for Capcom Unity card holders above and beyond the standard incentives. Not only will Unity members be earning points on Capcom Unity with every purchase, but Unity card holders will find a new level of access to all things Capcom opening to them. Unity card holders may be able to “jump the line” at Capcom events or gatherings, gain access to Beta tests for new Capcom or other “experiential” rewards that extend beyond the online space, such as being written into a Capcom game or comic book or possibly even being an extra in a Capcom movie. Using the Capcom Unity Visa at Capcom’s own e-store will also save players 15% on their purchase, which means real savings on the games they were planning on buying.

For more information about the Capcom Unity Visa prepaid card program, visit http://www.capcom-unity-card.com

Ceville - Profile of a Tyrant! PC video game

Kalypso Media today release the profile of the diminutive but evil tyrant Ceville, the star of Kalypso Media’s upcoming point & click adventure Ceville.

Name: Ceville
Age: 48
Profession: Professional Tyrant
Hobbies: Torture, abusing the peasants.

Ceville enjoyed a carefree youth as the son of the renown tyrant Ceville Senior. Nothing gave young Ceville more pleasure than spending his days building torture chambers with his wooden blocks and throwing his dolls into prison. Whenever these pursuits began to pall he amused himself by maltreating the staff with his little pranks, much to his father's delight. A chip off the old block…

Precocious, little Ceville was soon attending seminars such as "Tyranny The Fun And Easy Way" and "A True Reign Of Evil In Just 24 Hours" in preparation for his future career as dictator. It was at this point that he conceived his theory of "Ceville Justice", also known as the Ceville Decision. In this form of justice both sides of a disagreement are punished equally. Twice as much fun for Ceville!

One fine day, as young Ceville was in the process of locking the cat Kitty into the cellar for a few days of punishment, news reached him of his father's totally unexplained disappearance. Since that fateful day Ceville has ruled Faeryanis with an iron fist, where he delights in thinking up new ways of abusing his innocent subjects.

Soon the dynamic young dictator was overworked cooking up evil plans and was forced to hire a helper, Basilius. Soon Basilius was seldom far from Ceville's side, providing him with tips in his role as the wise advisor. As is the usual lot with tyrant’s assistants everywhere, he too was treated poorly.

However, one fine day, as Ceville sat high upon his throne and exercised his widely feared Ceville Justice as he had done so many times before ...

Ceville will be published in the UK by Kalypso Media on the 27th of February at a retail price of £29.99.

Virtual Frontiers - Daniel Boone and the Hunters of Kentucky demo download now

Demo of First Person Historic Adventure Now Available on HuntersofKentucky.com

HunersofKentucky.com has today released the first official demo for their upcoming first person adventure Virtual Frontiers: Daniel Boone and the Hunters of Kentucky. The demo, which is freely available from the game’s website, encompasses the first few levels of the forthcoming adventure and introduces players to the fascinating world of the early American frontier. From hunting to surviving in the wilderness, Virtual Frontiers aims to bring the early West to life for players all across the world.

Combining traditional 3D gaming with education and historical awareness, Virtual Frontiers offers players a unique way to learn about the men and women who helped to settle the early American frontier and the Native American tribes who fought to defend their homelands. Just as “The Oregon Trail” taught a broad audience about emigration to the far west, Virtual Frontiers looks to illustrate the settling of the trans-Appalachian west by combining history and 3D gaming. Virtual Frontiers: Daniel Boone and the Hunters of Kentucky is aimed at those aged 15 and over and will be released as a free download (through huntersofkentucky.com) in March 2009.

To celebrate the release of the demo version of the game, an official development blog has also launched with plans for a forum to be launched in the coming weeks ahead of the full game’s release date. For more information on the game, including versions suitable for magazine cover discs please visit the official website. The demo version of Virtual Frontiers is online now and can be downloaded from the game’s official website at HuntersofKentucky.com

Drakensang - The River Of Time Prequel to award-winning RPG The Dark Eye: Drakensang

Radon Labs is working on a prequel to the award winning title: The Dark Eye: Drakensang, which has won the “best German RPG 2008” award at the German Developer Awards. Drakensang: The River Of Time is going to tell a new story within the Drakensang universe. The prequel is scheduled to be released on the PC early 2010.

“Fans of Drakensang and RPGs get exactly what they want: A new story in the embosomed Drakensang universe, bringing as much innovations as tried and true game elements”, describes Bernd Beyreuther, Creative Director at Radon Labs, Drakensang: The River Of Time.

“We continue the success story of Drakensang. The Dark Eye players can look forward to another precise realization of their favorite RPG system. Those players who will experience The Dark Eye for the first time won’t miss a thing and can just start right into the fascinating medieval RPG fantasy scenario of Drakensang: The River Of Time”, Markus Windelen, COO of publisher dtp entertainment, adds.

dtp entertainment will soon be releasing more information on Drakensang: The River Of Time.

Valkyrie Profile - Covenant of the Plume out in Europe in April

Square Enix announces that VALKYRIE PROFILE - Covenant of the Plume will be released in Europe and across PAL territories on 3rd April 2009, exclusively on the Nintendo DS handheld system.

VALKYRIE PROFILE: Covenant of the Plume is the next installment in this unique series of titles created by leading RPG developer tri-Ace. For the first time on the Nintendo DS, VALKYRIE PROFILE: Covenant of the Plume, follows the story of the young soldier Wylfred, who seeks revenge against the valkyries since Lenneth took his father’s life. Now he waits for an opportunity to strike back just as the future of Midgard is about to be decided in battle once again.

VALKYRIE PROFILE: Covenant of the Plume pushes the limits of the Nintendo DS to its limits in terms of production and game-play whilst delivering an amazing strategic RPG gaming experience. With an innovative tactical battle system, multiple game chapters and game endings, the future of Wylfred and Midgard is truly in the hands of the player.

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, “We are very pleased to bringing VALKYRIE PROFILE: Covenant of the Plume to Europe. This new installment of the critically acclaimed VALKYRIE PROFILE series is perfectly suitable for portable gaming and we hope fans will enjoy its tactical gameplay and another engaging story.”

For more information about VALKYRIE PROFILE: Covenant of the Plume, please visit the official website at www.valkyrieprofilegame.com

About VALKYRIE PROFILE: Covenant of the Plume

Story

The protagonist is a young soldier, Wylfred, who harbours a hatred for the Valkyries, especially Lenneth Valkyrie, who used his father as an Einherjar when he was ten years old. To seek revenge against the gods, he accepted power from Hel, the Queen of Niflheim, in the form of a black magic feather. In Midgard, however, the two princes of the Kingdom of Artolia are enthralled in a battle for succession to the throne, with neighbouring nations Villnore and Crell Monferaigne monitoring the situation, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

Features

• The Feather of Goddess – This is a vital key to how the story progresses and immensely powerful in battle situations. A hugely powerful artifact that causes mass effects to not only battles but the story line also.
• Multi-story system – An in-depth multi-story system in defining chapters. The outcome and direction of the story can change dramatically by your individual actions and choices in gunplay and in battle!
• Battle system – Further evolution of the battle system in the VP series!
The battle system is now seen via the quarter view, allowing more in-depth attacks and combos combined with dynamic finishing moves and dazzling spells!
• Mutual Assistance system – This system allows allied characters to spontaneously join the battle, enabling you to surround your enemies and attack with maximum effect!
• Active Formation – Upon entering battle the “Active Formation” is formed allowing valuable bonuses for executed set-up formations.
• Audio / Visual experience – Breath taking graphics and effects that push the technical limits of the Nintendo DS.
• Epic cinematic cut scenes and events that create and set the scene and direction of the gameplay and story line

Circulate challenging puzzle video game for iPhone and iPod Touch

Based on the original best seller Circulate Mobile, lemonQUEST has made a new version has been specially adapted for Apple´s cutting edge technology. The iPhone/ iPod Touch.

Flip, turn and twist yourself out of gravity defying challenges, this isn´t your average ‘collect and pop the dots’ game.

Circulate for iPhone / iPod Touch is a challenging new puzzle game that will have you defying gravity to collect and eliminate the different spheres and will have you doing everything except turn yourself upside down to succeed!
This new topsy turvy puzzle game will have you addicted in no time: over 100 levels in puzzle mode, 10 different sphere types, intense and colorful graphics, there’s just so much to do!

Circulate for iPhone/ iPod Touch is the most innovative game created to date in its genre.

Enjoy this exciting and easy to play game that will offer players hours of entertainment.

• Great graphics and visual effects
• Intuitive and simple controls and numerous levels with various difficulty options
• A game for users of all ages and abilities
• A fascinating and addictive game

Check it out on:

Available as of today, Circulate can be purchased here...

Invincible Tiger - The Legend of Han Tao kung-fu fighting downloadable brought to you by Blitz Arcade

Leading developer Blitz Arcade announced its collaboration with NAMCO BANDAI Games on Invincible Tiger - The Legend of Han Tao for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network.

An original concept by Blitz Arcade Animator Ollie Clarke, Invincible Tiger -: The Legend of Han Tao follows the eponymous hero as he fights to reclaim the Star of Destiny from the Evil Overlord. Along the way he battles the Overlord’s evil throngs, which include standard grunts and the added dimension of the undead.

Luckily, Han Tao has the moves to combat his enemies. Using intense combos, well-timed blocks and a lot of skill, players can unlock the potential of his power and decimate the evil ones.

Ollie Clarke – also Project Manager for Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao – said: “I wanted to make a game that played like the martial arts games and movies I loved when I was growing up, and that's something we stuck to from creation through to development. It’s a fluid fighting game, easy to play but difficult to master! Games should be fun, so we've thrown in loads of tongue-in-cheek humour for fans of the genre. Hopefully gamers will have as much fun playing Invincible Tiger as we had making it!”

Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao features a number of different modes for single and multiplayer action.

• Team up with a partner and take on the Evil Overlord’s diabolical army through Story Mode Co-op.
• Battle through each level, dealing with increasing difficulty and a shared Zen-meter.
• Learn ace combat techniques in the single player game and use them beat your enemies into the dust.
• Experience Endurance Mode where you’ll face an endless stream of enemies under a time limit.
• Post your scores online for bragging rights.

Legendary Cars Arrive in Paradise City on Thursday

Tired of driving around Burnount Paradise City in the cars and bikes? You need only to wait another two days to get some additional choices - Criterion will be releasing the Burnout Paradise Legendary Cars Download Content this Thursday on both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. PC owners unfortunately don't get in on the action just yet - they'll have to wait until March.

The four cars come at a price, however - $2 (160 points) each, with the exception of the Jansen 88 Special the DeLorean above costs $4. You can buy them all in a bundle and you'll save yourself a few bucks with the discounted price tag of $8.

People will be sure to complain about the pricing, but keep in mind just how much Criterion has given away for free since the game was released last January.

Sea Journey 1.0 - Fight Hot Sea Battles in a Fancy Match3 Game

DivoGames company presents Sea Journey v1.0, an exclusive game that goes beyond traditional notion of casual games! Sea Journey invites you to the fascinating world of watery waste, fresh breeze and hot sea battles. If you are discontent with ordinary casual games, if you want something more exciting, challenging and full of profound meaning, Sea Journey is just the game for you. Match3 games have never been so thrilling and absorbing.

You play as a young captain of a merchant ship. Your father was a pirate, but he disappeared many years ago, and you do not know anything about him. You carry on your trade and yearn after adventures, but one day strange things begin to happen The ship is attacked by pirates! Thanks to your prudence several cannons have been mounted on your ship. You win the battle and get a mysterious talisman. Besides, there is a letter addressed to the pirate captain. A certain old corsair asks him to come to the island and get an important task. That is the beginning of your breathtaking adventures! Your crew sets black sails and heads for the island pretending to be pirates. From now on you take the path of battles, mysteries and dangers of Sea Journey.

The gameplay of Sea Journey is quite original, combining traditional match3 with tactical tasks. The playing area is divided into two parts: a match3 field and a visual sea battle above it. As you put matching items in a line, they blow up and affect the course of the battle or give you some profit. For example, a line of cannon balls lets you have a cannon-shot at the enemy; wheels increase the maneuvering ability of your ship in the battle, thus reducing the enemy's shooting accuracy; various gems designate special features, five for each type of ships; coins let you buy new ships, and scrolls give you extra experience for ship upgrade. You and your enemy have 3 moves every turn, but if you match 4 or 5 items, you get extra moves. Sea Journey requires not only moving items, but also working out a tactical plan. However, you can get useful tips that help to choose what matches are the most beneficial.

The battle is depicted in detail and looks very spectacular due to advanced graphics. Epic music and solemn choir along with real-life sound effects makes the action immensely impressive. The battles are set in various places, so you can enjoy lots of magnificent views such as storms, sunsets, volcanoes and harbors. There are 4 types of ships: trader, pirate, guard and phantom; each type has its peculiar characteristics. When you get more than one ship, it is up to you to decide which one is more suitable for a certain mission. All in all there are 50 levels in Sea Journey, and as you upgrade your ships and improve their capabilities, your adventures get more dangerous and difficult. Besides fighting with other ships, you can attack enemy forts. By the way, besides the main action, you can enjoy seven fabulous mini-games, which also bring you a good round sum. The last level is set in volcanic orifice: after getting through the raging fire and incredible nervous tension, you!
will find out something really precious.

Features:

- Addictive Match 3 Gameplay
- Challenging plot
- Advanced graphics
- Spectacular sea battles
- Amazing power-ups
- 7 fabulous mini-games
- Adventurous atmosphere

Pricing and Availability
Sea Journey 1.0 runs under Windows 98/2000/XP/Vista. A single-user license costs $19.95. Further information on the product, as well as the free trial version is available here.

Celebrate the first anniversary of Rappelz, the free-to-play MMORPG with an exceptional content update and the chance to win tons of unique items from

The fantasy world of the Rappelz MMORPG is full of new features this month to celebrate its first anniversary between February 17th and March 17th. The gPotato Europe team has a whole range of new community events and additional content for the occasion. Adventurers of all levels can expect some major surprises and will receive many exciting rewards! Players will also be invited to express their creativity by participating in a video contest.
Starting on February 17th, players can discover this exceptional update. We will welcome a new creature in the world of Rappelz: The Carbuncle. This intriguing creature grants amazing powers to allow its owner to earn more drops from monsters, giving players a much greater chance to find lots of interesting treasures. This update will also include new items, providing various improvements to the characters via the mysterious Bear Dungeon. Also, new visual effects and bonuses have been added, allowing players to improve the characteristics of their weapons and granting a beautiful halo.

From the 17th to the 24th February, the event “It’s raining pets!” will also be running. To celebrate the first Rappelz anniversary, all the monsters will have an increased chance to drop cool loot items for adventurers and their pets. These include many items to increase the characteristics of your pets, taming cards or even creature cards to be collected. There are also many other objects that are more rare and unique, such as the highly sought-after looting pets such as the Arcadia or the Armored Crab.

Finally, from the 17th February to the 17th March, a big video event will give players the chance to express their creativity by featuring their characters in the world of Rappelz. The winners will win exceptional prizes, including a significant amount of gPotato points, a set of complete equipment for their character or a permanent mount to cross more quickly the Rappelz lands.

Microsoft offers free biker bundle clothes, accessories for The Lost and Damned launch

Microsoft is pulling out all the stops to promote today's launch of Grand Theft Auto's downloadable content pack, The Lost and Damned. While you're waiting for the 1.78 GB download to finish, you'll find a slew of freebies and upcoming promotional events on Xbox Live, including a custom biker bundle for your avatar.


Female avatars can choose from a leather biker jacket or punk tee top (think the anarchy symbol with an x) with arm warmers, leopard-print leggings, black 60's zipper boots, feather earrings, a skull wristband and biker gloves.

Full story here...

Grand Theft Auto IV - The Lost and the Damned download now on Xbox 360

Today, Xbox 360 owners can download Grand Theft Auto IV - The Lost and the Damned.

For 1600 Microsoft Points, they can download The Lost and Damned, featuring a new main character a new plot that merges with the main storyline of Grand Theft Auto IV - new missions offer an entirely fresh way to explore Liberty City with new multiplayer modes, weapons and vehicles; and additional music.

The new story revolves around Johnny, a veteran member of The Lost, a notorious biker gang. Johnny has been creating business opportunities for The Lost in Liberty City, but his first loyalty must be to the patch he wears on his back and to Billy Grey, the club’s President. However, when Billy returns from rehab hell-bent on bloodshed and debauchery, Johnny finds himself in the middle of a vicious turf war with rival gangs for control of a city torn apart by violence and corruption. Can the brotherhood survive?

Only one way to find out, get downloading! "The Lost and Damned" is the first of two exclusive episodes for Xbox 360.

Warner backs Square Enix bid for Eidos

Hollywood studio, and 20 per cent Eidos stakeholder, will vote in favour of publisher acquisition

Warner has thrown its weight behind Square Enix's bid to buy UK publisher Eidos.

The news comes following the announcement last week that Square had made an offer to buy the ailing Britsoft firm.

Time Warner owns a 20 per cent stake in Eidos, and although it was often seen as one of the frontrunners alongside Squre to buy the publisher, it would have had to accept the bid or place a higher bid itself.

But this morning Warner and Square Enix announced that the former has 'irrevocably' agreed to support the Japanese publisher's plans to takeover Eidos.

MCV predicted last year that the firm was a surprise contender to buy Eidos - other spectators regularly put EA and Ubisot in the frame.

Square Enix, through its dealings with the management and now Time Warner, has the backing of shareholders responsible for 35 per cent of Eidos stock.

The firm's board is to vote on the final acquisition at the end of March, but with so much momentum behind the buy already - and Eidos management's pledge to fully back the acquisition - it seems unlikely they will vote against it.

Square's bid last week was estimated at around £84m - around 129 per cent Eidos' market value.

The current bid could still fall through, should Square Enix fail to post the scheme details for its planned takeover of Eidos or a third party step forward to make an alternative bid. Both are unlikely at this stage - Eidos has been courting various buyers on and off over the last year.

Eidos products cover a raft of genres with Western appeal, something Square Enix has been vocally seeking for the past two years. Its slate of studios and IP would complement Square’s activity and plug the gaps in its line-up.

Source: MCV

Naruto Shippuden - Ultimate Ninja 4 Coming to Europe in May 2009

The First NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Video Game is Coming to Europe in May 2009 with Intense One-on-one Combat, Biggest Ever Roster of Ninjas, and New Game Modes

NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe today announced NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja 4, the first video game based on the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime series.Featuring the series’ trademark one-on-one ninja battles, the game debuts a number of new and exciting characters as well as several new modes of play for the most comprehensive NARUTO video game experience ever.

Set two and a half years after Naruto left the Hidden Leaf Village to undergo a strict training regiment with his mentor Jiraiya, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN : Ultimate Ninja 4 lets players experience this exciting new storyline for the first time. Returning to help save his rival Sasuke from the evil Orochimaru, Naruto is reunited with all his old friends, only to find that a mysterious organization known as Akatsuki now poses an even more ominous threat to the Village.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN : Ultimate Ninja 4 features several unique game modes that offer different play experiences as players immerse themselves in the world of ninja. The new Master Mode combines role-playing and action platforming elements, telling the story of how Naruto came to return to the Hidden Leaf Village after his training with Jiraiya. Players can collect items in this mode to unlock characters in Free Battle Mode, featuring the series’ trademark one-on-one ninja battles for one or two players. Packed with new NARUTO SHIPPUDEN characters such as Deidara, Sasori and Chiyo as well as updated versions of fan favorites such as Gaara, Kakashi and Sakura, the game features 52 total playable characters to take into battle.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN : Ultimate Ninja 4 will be the first video game based on NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, giving players their first look at how Naruto’s world has changed in the two and a half years since he left his friends to refine his ninja training. Featuring the biggest roster of playable characters ever in the Ultimate Ninja franchise and a variety of new and engaging game modes, it’s everything Naruto fans need to immerse themselves in the characters and storyline of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN.

Developed by CyberConnect2, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN : Ultimate Ninja 4 is slated for release on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system this May 2009.

Street Fighter Savant To Set New Guinness World Record

London Hosts World Record Attempt On Feb 20th To Celebrate The Return Of The Greatest Fighting Game Of All Time – Big Prizes To Be Won!

Capcom announce that UK’s premier Street Fighter player Zak Bennet will attempt to break into the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition with a new world record for most consecutive wins on Street Fighter IV, in conjunction with the game’s launch on Friday 20th February.

The attempt will take place in the HMV store on Oxford Street in London at noon. Official Guinness World Records representatives will be present to adjudicate the feat, which – if successful – will be shortlisted for inclusion in next year’s Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the first person to defeat Zak Bennet will be awarded a monster top-of-the-range 48” TV and home cinema surround sound system.

Street Fighter IV brings the legendary fighting series back to its roots by taking the beloved fighting moves and techniques of the original Street Fighter™ II and infusing them with Capcom’s latest advancements in next generation technology to create a truly extraordinary experience that will re-introduce the world to the time-honored art of virtual martial arts.

The number of minimum consecutive wins that Bennet needs to achieve in Friday’s attempt in order to set the new Guinness World Records is ten, and the win streak cannot exceed four hours of play.

Street Fighter IV is set for release on February 20th on PS3 and Xbox 360.

Wii Fiy fights to keep F.E.A.R. 2 of top of UK video games chart

All formats
Week ending 14 February 2009
1 Wii Fit NINTENDO
2 F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
3 Mystery Case Files - MillionHeir NINTENDO
4 Call of Duty - World at War ACTIVISION
5 FIFA 09 EA SPORTS
6 Mario Kart Wii NINTENDO
7 Wii Play NINTENDO
8 My Fitness Coach GAMES FOR EVERYONE
9 PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE CURIOUS VILLAGE NINTENDO
10 MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES SEGA
11 LEFT 4 DEAD EA GAMES
12 GUITAR HERO: WORLD TOUR REDOCTANE
13 BEN 10: ALIEN FORCE D3P
14 GRAND THEFT AUTO IV ROCKSTAR
15 THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD: OVERKILL SEGA
16 DR KAWASHIMA'S BRAIN TRAINING NINTENDO
17 CARNIVAL: FUNFAIR GAMES 2KPLAY
18 NEED FOR SPEED: UNDERCOVER EA GAMES
19 LEGO BATMAN: THE VIDEOGAME WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
20 TOMB RAIDER: UNDERWORLD EIDOS

Wendy's Wellness - Improve Your Management Skills, Run Your Business free trial version Mac and PC

Sugar Games, the creator of such popular casual games as Rainbow Web and Rainbow Web 2, announces the release of Wendy's Wellness - a new time management game. Developing your own chain of 10 fancy wellness centers will bring out your hidden management talents. Take a closer look at the fabulous world of health and wellness!

The story is set in a big bustling city, which does not have any wellness centers, so the citizens have no special place that would help them relax after a hectic workday and keep fit. You play as Wendy, who decides to start her own chain of wellness centers, and her uncle, a professional trainer, gives her help and useful advice. At first you have to deal with basic equipment and to do all the work yourself - but as the chain of centers grows and the number of customers increases, Wendy's wellness centers become well-equipped, glamorous and popular with the citizens. You need to use all your management skills to cope with the great number of customers and to hit the objectives of each level. But your hard work will be rewarded by the customers' gratitude and, of course, by their tips.

Wendy's wellness center is visited by different types of customers: football players, cheerleaders, ballet dancers, gymnasts, businessmen, fatties and flirty girls. Above all customers there are icons denoting what they want: warming-up, treadmill exercises, taking a bath, body massage, doing yoga or tanning. Of course, there is a line, and the customers are waiting for you to serve them. Some of them are more patient, others are less. The patience is shown as hearts above a customer's head, which disappear one by one as she (or he) loses his patience. When there are no hearts left, the customer leaves without paying; so you should be attentive to impatient customers and serve them quickly and properly. You can also buy a mini-bar with drinks and aroma oil that makes your customers more patient and calm.

You see, running a wellness center is quite challenging, but you are not alone in the face of difficulties! A coach, a masseuse and a tanning assistant will be of great help, if you have enough money to hire them. There are 30 possible equipment upgrades that let you reduce the service time and increase the capacity of your wellness centers. As Wendy gains experience, you can use it to gain special personal upgrades and bonuses (higher speed, extra tips, extra hearts, treadmill bonus etc.). Learn, practice and achieve success!

The game environment is peaceful and pleasant: unobtrusive relaxing music, vivid and cheerful colors, optional volume of sounds. The interface is intuitive and simple, so this game is a good variant either for adults or for children. There are 10 centers and 50 levels, 5 levels for each location. Besides the main action, you will definitely enjoy VIP-training -12 additional mini-games, which give extra opportunity to earn some money.

Features:

- 50 challenging levels and 10 fancy centers
- 12 VIP training mini-games
- 6 Wendy's skills to develop
- 30 equipment upgrades to purchase and 3 employees to hire
- Relaxing music and pleasant game environment

Pricing and Availability

Wendy's Wellness runs under Windows 98/ME/2000/2003/XP and Windows Vista. Wendy's Wellness for Mac runs under Mac OS X 10.3 or better. A single-user license costs $19.95. Further information on the product, as well as the free trial version is available at http://sugargames.com/wendys-wellness/

Men of War PC video game demo download

A single-player demo for World War II strategy title Men of War is now available to download from www.incgamers.com, and will be available on www.menofwargame.com from 10.00 CET on the 19th February 2009. It gives a first taste of the epic campaign ahead of the game’s PC release on 27th February.

The demo features the entire opening stage of the Russian campaign, which sees a small unit from the Red Army taking on the might of the Germans. This initial mission helps players to get to grips with the controls before culminating in a tightly fought battle between a Russian tank and a convoy of German vehicles.

There’s also an opportunity to try out Men of War’s “direct control” feature during the demo. This enables you to manoeuvre units using the directional keys, rather than pointing and clicking. You can get behind the controls of a tank to smash through obstacles, crush soldiers under your tracks and fire armour-piercing shells at enemy placements.

Men of War takes place across the globe during the height of World War II and features four different armies – Russia, America, Germany and the other Allies - each with their own unique units, vehicles and missions. From the Russian missions starring two student comrades innocent to the horrors of war, players are soon catapulted into massive battles with dozens of units under their command.

Men of War will be released exclusively on PC in Europe by 505 Games, under the 1C label, on February 27th. To download the demo, just visit the Men of War website – www.menofwargame.com – and click on the ‘downloads’ section

The free-to-play MMORPG Fly for Fun opens its 8th European server!

FlyFF: Fly for Fun is a free-to play MMORPG featuring a “manga-ish” atmosphere. It’s French and German versions are operated by Gala Networks Europe Ltd on the FlyFF: Fly for Fun gaming portal. Available in Europe for over two years, the game has proven a hit with players and we are proud to announce the opening of the games eighth European server. This server will be designed to accommodate ever more French adventurers and its name, Destinée, was chosen by the community.

As the first game on the FlyFF: Fly for Fun portal, Flyff was launched in January 2007 in German and French markets and quickly became successful in both languages. Using the game’s fantastic world, the gPotato team has encouraged lots of participation by players with regular and numerous activities such as the Clockworks Battle and Shade’s Challenge. The Flyff community now contains nearly 600,000 French and German players, and this growth has led us to launch an 8th European server to accomodate our growing number of French players.

To keep the community involved in creating this new universe, the gPotato team asked the Flyff players to vote for the name of their new server. After one week of debate, players cast their votes and have decided on the name of the new Flyff world: Destinée. This brand new server will open its doors today when gameplay resumes after a special maintenance.

FlyFF: Fly for Fun is a free-to play MMORPG featuring a “manga-ish” atmosphere and operated in its French and German versions by Gala Networks Europe Ltd. Become an adventurer and discover the world of Madrigal, flying above hordes of monsters and resolving intriguing mysteries. On more than 120 levels, FlyFF offers players a diverse and thrilling adventure, allowing them to fly freely on a brush or a magical snowboard! For more information, please visit the official FlyFF website at the following address: FlyFF: Fly for Fun.

Swords & Soldiers WiiWare video game

2D Side-Scrolling Action with Real-Time Strategy in Genre-Bending Debut

Debut title for WiiWare, Swords & Soldiers. New features such as historical inaccuracy (yes we said that), uncompromising style, some random stuff, and Morefun have been added to the game.

“WiiWare is the perfect platform for a Ronimo game, which we hope becomes something people expect to be unique in style, and most importantly, really fun,” said Fabian Akker, president of Romino Games. “We want to make games that the entire family can play, wants to play, and actually plays. Swords & Soldiers is one of those game that we hope really takes off and finds its audience.”

About Swords & Soldiers
Swords & Soldiers is the first side-scrolling strategy game on the Wii, allowing for accessible and deep gameplay, a clear overview of the battlefield, and most importantly, for our artists to show off their beard-drawing skills. Players can choose from three powerful and unique factions as they let loose their armies and cast awesome spells to destroy the enemies’ castle. Swords & Soldiers is developed and published by Ronimo games and features:

- Strategic Depth - Even though dishing out commands is easy as pie, that doesn't mean you can just click buttons and expect to walk all over the enemy. Choosing the right guy for the job and zapping the proper enemy at the right time is what this game is all about. So put on your thinking cap and get to strategizin'.

- Style - Thinking up new strategies is hard. But luckily you won't have to look at some wooden blocks or plastic tokens while doing it. A fresh style, full of character greets you when playing Swords & Soldiers. You'll traverse lush jungles and sun-soaked deserts while you humiliate your opponents.

- Modes Galore - We tried our best to squeeze every last drop of gameplay from our mechanics in all kinds of modes. To start you out, we have 10 level campaigns for each of the three factions. These start out easy to teach you the basics, but they build up to some seriously epic final conflicts. Then there are the skirmish modes, in which you can crush human or AI in customizable battles. And, to top it all off, there are three distinct challenge modes which twist specific parts of the gameplay into crazy high-score based time devourers.

- Historical Inaccuracy - We've done plenty of research into the historic background of the three factions. And then we threw all of it out of the window, but made up some entertaining bits which seemed sort of more fun. Finally, we added some other totally irrelevant funny bits about hot sauce and bolted them on for maximum absurdity.

- Easy Wiimote Controls - Everything in Swords & Soldiers is done using the pointer functionality of the innovative Wii Remote. Just click on the icons at the top to select the unit or spell you want to use against your enemies. In fact, playing Swords & Soldiers only requires one hand. So that leaves the other hand free for petting your cat while laughing maniacally.

- Morefun - Created in a lab by Dutch researchers, Morefun™ is Ronimo’s patent pending version of fun that makes games interesting and enjoyable to play. Imagine playing a game, that at the same time is actually fun. Powerful stuff.

- Achievements - Yes.

Video game Free Gold SwagVault Guild Sponsorship Program

As the pioneer of MMOG secondary market, SwagVault has been devoting to helping our valued customers maximize their gaming experience.

Now we are glad to launch another amazing incentive plan to all of you: “SwagVault World of WarCraft Guild Sponsorship Program”

The details of the guild sponsorship are as follows:

Guild Size Gold Reward
50-100 Members 1000G /month
101-150 Members 2000G/month
151-300 Members 5000G/month
301-450 Members 10000G/ month
More than 450 Members 15000G/month

More here...

This sponsorship program will last for 3 months. Any guild with interest can write an application and the first 100 qualified applicants will get free gold from us. First Comes, First Served!

MyAlganon PC game Community goes Beta

In anticipation of its massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) Alganon, Quest Online releases MyAlganon.com

Online Gamers want enhanced community features. While it seems everyone has joined wide-scale communities such as MySpace and Facebook, most agree that those communities don't cater well enough to any specific niche.

Populated with add-ins and advertisements, the experience is less than exceptional. How does one curtail the noise and create a gaming community that appeals specifically to the online gamer?

It seems that one company has developed a solution.

Quest Online, LLC has created its own MMOG Community System that will directly integrate with its upcoming MMOG, Alganon. "Enhancing the online community experience has been one of our goals from the start," explains Quest Online's President David Allen. "After a significant amount of research, we knew we needed to come up with a place that was media-rich and engaging for today's avid gamer. We established a commitment to meet the needs of our target market. As a result, we have created the MyAlganon system to serve as the gateway for the upcoming release of Alganon, due later this year."

To help meet the requirements of the upcoming Alganon Beta, Quest Online is launching MyAlganon.com into the gaming community, enabling them to sign up and gain deep insight into Alganon, as well as establish dialog with the growing community of gamers.

The MyAlganon community website offers:

• Early signup for Alganon and access to the Beta phase of Alganon.
• Player profiling and networking that enables players to build up social activities outside the game and stay connected with friends.
• User-generated content through blogging, news, articles, guides and more that can serve as an important source of information for any MMO gamer.
• Content such as previews, reviews, interviews and videos developed by our editorial staff and the community, all of which is intended to guide players through the world of Alganon.

Creating a MyAlganon account is free!

Visit http://www.MyAlganon.com

The MyAlganon.com Community features: Guilds, Blogs, Pictures, Videos, Groups, and more, all appealing to the diverse set of communication and media elements that gamers seek. Additionally, one of the more compelling reasons to join is connectivity to our development team - as an avid gamer, your feedback counts! Future enhancements include direct ties into the Library, Auction, and Study systems of a player's characters.

The Forbidden Kingdom arrives in World of Kung Fu

VestGame Entertainment is excited to announce the addition of new Kung Fu suites to the Item Mall in its free game “World of Kung Fu”. This series of suites is inspired from the movie “Forbidden Kingdom” acted by Jet Lee and Jackie Chan.

Watch video on following page.

These new Kung Fu Suits separately enable players to “cosplay” characters in the legend of Forbidden Kingdom. They are Lu Yan, Mo Seng, Golden Sparrow, and Jason, who represent justice and peace; White Witch and Jade Emperor, who obviously represent dark power.

Players can pick out their favorite ones related to different characters and dress them. These fashion suites will not only make players look totally different, but also significantly enhance their attributes, which is much better than any other fashion clothes sold in Item Mall before. They will be of great help in battle.

Amount of these special fashion dresses are all limited. Only a few players will be lucky enough to grab a permanent one. Besides, players can choose which side they want to join, the evil side or the holy side. And they can also choose what sensation they want to own, vengeance or justice.

Labyrinthica - The quest of lima alpha demo version 0.33B2

"Labyrinthica - The quest of lima" version 0.33B2 by Pompi Pompi Entertainment is a new indie game alpha demo, released to the public.

Pompi Pompi Entertainment is working on a new game, featuring a unique gameplay and control scheme, called "Labyrinthica: The quest of lima"(Laby). Laby is still under development, but a demo (version 0.33B2) with 10 playable levels is already available for the public. The release of this demo is intended to make the public know Laby and give feedback and suggestions that might influence design decisions.

Laby plays as an action game from 3rd person view, with orthogonal 3D cel shaded graphics. The player use the keyboard and mouse or a game pad to control the main character, lima. Lima can move in 8 directions and aim freely to any direction. The primary attack is a face to face, melee combat attack.

The melee attack is the primary ability to defeat the enemies. But a limited stock of potions is available for use in combat. Potions can be either drank or thrown. Some potions are harmful, and some beneficial. With the random potion color system, the player will have to discover what each potion do, every new game.

An additional important combat item is the shield. A shield can protect from projectiles, and it might even deflect them and make them harmful to the enemy monsters. The shield only protects the front side of the character, therefore aiming it is an important part of defending during combat.

A direct download of Laby demo, is available here...

Ahoy, Mateys! Pop-Up Pirate! Sets Sail onto WiiWare

Tomy Europe's Swashbuckling Game is Barrels of Interactive Fun for the Entire Family

Tomy Europe has announced its first computer game, Pop-Up Pirate!, is now available for digital download on WiiWare. The addictive Pop-Up Pirate! WiiWare game is played with motion controlled swords and features multiplayer thrills for the ultimate pirate party.

Pop-Up Pirate! for WiiWare is based on Tomy’s classic toy game, enjoyed for years by children and adults alike. Launched in Japan in the 1970s, and shortly after to the rest of the world, it is now one of the oldest and most recognisable games on the market selling in excess of 10 million units worldwide.

In Pop-Up Pirate! WiiWare players become swashbuckling swordsmen who take turns thrusting their sabers into a barrel that holds their black-bearded Captain captive. Players must take care and choose their holes wisely, as one wrong move will send him flying The game features various adventures including “Pop-Up Party” mode, where up to four pirates take turns at poking holes in the barrel and “Pop-Up Logic” mode, where a single shipmate competes in a race against time to find the bad holes before the time runs out. As an added bonus, players can unlock a unique mode which allows them to play the entire game using their own Mii in the barrel.


Pop-Up Pirate! is the first computer game published by Tomy Europe. The company is planning to launch more high quality and family-friendly computer game titles into the European markets based on Tomy’s extensive properties and resources.

Robert Mann, CEO, Tomy Europe comments. “Pop-Up Pirate! is an iconic game which has earned millions of fans around the world and, as such, is the ideal title to launch Tomy Europe as a publisher of computer games titles. The WiiWare version is a feature-rich interactive title which builds upon the existing game with more game play options and a family-focused multiplayer mode. The new Pop-Up Pirate! game is bound to be a hit with pirates of all ages who want to challenge a ‘matey’ to a game of swashbuckling fun.”

Meet the five families of Grand Ages - Rome

Kalypso Media today release details of the five Roman families featured in their upcoming Roman epic, GRAND AGES: ROME. GRAND AGES: ROME is the sequel to Kalypso Media’s city building strategy game Imperium Romanum, a top 10 European hit title. Previous players of Imperium Romanum will not be disappointed with GRAND AGES: ROME’s massively updated graphics, more complex combat and a wealth of new features to please new and old fans alike. GRAND AGES: ROME gives the player the opportunity to rule the greatest empire the world had ever known. Is there an Emperor within you?

The character you choose to play can belong to one of five families. Your choice of family is important to your future strategy, as like in life, families have character traits which lead to both strengths and weaknesses.

The Five Families

The Aemilii are born soldiers, not afraid to resort to unpopular actions in time of crisis. Their iron resolve and decisiveness brought them the recognition and loyalty of the militant Equites. Cold-blooded and merciless, the Aemilii always find a way out.
Motto: The end justifies the means

The Valerii are skillful merchants and control the largest trade network in the Republic. While their contacts are hard to trace through time, a well-placed bribe and favors from distant connections are the main tools for achieving their goals.
Motto: Throw enough money at a problem and it will go away

The Lucii are crafters and workers and have the reputation for being able to produce large quantities of any commodity in the shortest time. Their taskmasters make excellent use of slave workforce, often basing major enterprises on slave labor. The abundance of goods and slaves allows the house to accomplish even the hardest of projects with ease.
Motto: Work hard, seize the rewards

Sophisticated and refined, the Flavii are the ideal young nobles often aspired to. Lavish lifestyle, strong connections, and devotion to knowledge describe the family quite well. Some prominent family members have taken keen interests in philosophy and history, which has caused many famed scholars to regard the Flavii as their patrons.
Motto: Knowledge is power

Holding vast amounts of fertile land, the Julii have helped solve Rome’s problems with starvation on several occasions. But the real power of the family is their ability to bend the plebs to their needs. As a rule, a member of the Julii will accomplish his goals with the support of the crowd, cheered by the common people while doing so.
Motto: Bread and circuses

The developers of Grand Ages: Rome are Haemimont Games.

PSOne classics Sheep, Spin Jam PSP FlatOut Head On, Ultimate Board Games, Pipe Mania, Off Road and Kazook on PlayStation Network

Empire Interactive have added a number of video games titles to PlayStation Network...

PSOne classics Sheep and Spin Jam along with PSP titles FlatOut Head On, Ultimate Board Games Collection, Pipe Mania, Off Road and Kazook are available to download now in the following territories:

– UK
– Australia
– Czech Republic
– Denmark
– Finland
– Greece
– New Zealand
– Norway
– Poland
– Russia
– Saudi Arabia
– South Africa
– Sweden

Priston Tale 2 is now Full Open Beta!

Key To Play is proud to announce that Priston Tale 2 is now in Full Open Beta. Players no longer require a tester key to access the game.

This beta is now featuring 14 classes, 11 zones, 5 crafting professions, 2 races, the possibility to customise your gear, a unique community system, the best of the Unreal Engine and many more possibilities.

On the Key To Play side, the game is now available in 4 languages (English, French, German and Spanish) and the websites are also localised.

The Tempskron and the Morion are now waiting for heavy reinforcements to fight off Midranda, the Demon God.

There will be NO character deletion at the end of the full open beta!

PRISTON TALE 2

The developing team from Yedang, creator of the online videogame Priston Tale, awarded at length, brings us its sequel entitled Priston Tale 2: The Second Enigma. An MMORPG that improves drastically the artistic quality thanks to Epic Games and its Unreal Engine. Key To Play is bringing this title to Europe.

The Demon God Midranda is back to life and this forces people in Priston to pin all their hopes on a rumour coming from far-away lands. The existence of a weapon, the only weapon capable of destroying the demon and its dark army: the Second Enigma. Its searching will be crucial for the heroes who try to challenge Midranda and its armies. Tempskron, Morion and Sopphetios, each race with their skills and wisdom, will join in an arduous journey, where victory is the only option.