Earl Weaver Baseball video game coming to iPhone and iPod Touch

Earl Weaver Baseball, the heavyweight of baseball simulations in the late 1980s and one of the titles that helped create EA Sports, is being ported to the iPhone by its original programmer.

Full post and video on Kotaku here...

No more support for original Xbox from March 2nd say Microsoft

Message on Official Microsoft Xbox support website lets users know that support will stop on Monday March 2nd 2009.

Statement on website...

On March 2, 2009, service repairs for Original Xbox video game systems for which the Warranty has expired will no longer be available. Any other technical support, documents, and content, however, will continue to be available to all our customers. Although Microsoft is ending repair services for the Original Xbox, an upgrade program and support will be maintained for Original Xbox consoles that are still under Warranty.

Support documents, content, and services available online

On March 2, 2009, technical support documents and content will be available online. Our Web sites will host a wealth of previous and new how-to, troubleshooting, and configuration content that has been revised and updated to meet our customer needs and current support model.

If you have an original Xbox console that is in Warranty that requires a repair, you will be able to submit an exchange request for an upgrade to Xbox 360 online.

Content and online repair services are available through the Xbox Support Web site.

10 Scariest video games ever - Silent Hill 2, Condemned, Project Zero, Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil, Siren, FEAR, Sanitarium, Dead Space & Doom 3,

Whether you’re a “lights off, headphones on, come get some-shouting” hard-as-nails type or more of the “hear-the-spooky-voice-on-the-title-screen-and-scream-until-the-police-arrive” variety, it’s time to grab a spare pair of pants and take a look at the top 10 scariest video games thus far (beware: contains mild spoilers and scary words…)

Read the post, if you dare, here on Know Your Money...

Midnight Club - Los Angeles South Central Download - March 12th

The Midnight Club: Los Angeles – South Central downloadable content will be available on March 12th for both the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and for PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.

South Central offers more streets to race in with the free South Central Map Expansion which expands Midnight Club: Los Angeles by one third, adding four new neighborhoods to make up the iconic district of South Central. The South Central Premium Upgrade is the total South Central experience for Midnight Club: Los Angeles delivering 9 new vehicles, 26 new races, 12 new battle maps, 10 new delivery missions, over 100 new red light races, new vinyl packs, new parts, new music and more all for the cost of $9.99.

The free South Central Map Expansion will ensure that every racer with either Xbox 360 or PLAYSTATION 3 copies of the game can race online against players that have the South Central Premium Upgrade.

The South Central Map Expansion features:

• Map expansion by one third
• Four new neighborhoods
• Price: FREE for both Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3

The South Central Premium Upgrade features:

• Nine new vehicles:
• Luxury: 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG "Black" SUV: 2008 Range Rover Supercharged, 2008 Range Rover Sport Super Charged Lowrider: 1955 Chevy Bel Air, 1963 Buick Riviera, 1964 Chevy Impala, 1965 Chevy Malibu Muscle: 1970 Chevy Chevelle, 1966 Pontiac GTO
• 26 new races
• 12 new battle maps
• 10 new delivery missions
• 100+ new red light races
• New rims
• New body kits for each new car
• New vinyl pre-sets
• Hydraulics/Airbags unlocked on all new cars
• New music
• Price: $9.99 for PLAYSTATION 3 and 800 MS points for Xbox 360

More car packs are also set to come soon, stay tuned to the official site for more details, including the debut trailer.

Midnight Club - Los Angeles Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 customisation video

Midnight Club Los Angeles customisation video - customise every aspect of your vehicle... 

Video game trailers on gamezplay.org YouTube channel gameboyuk

New video game trailers from gamezplay.org today my channel is Number 8 most viewed - thanks

* Blood Bowl - Wood Elves v Chaos screenshots video game trailer
* Lost Planet 2 on Xbox 360 HD video game trailer
* Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 screenshots - Nintendo Wii video game
* Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 video game on Nintendo Wii
* Dead Rising Chop Till You Drop Web video number 3 - Nintendo Wii


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Lost Planet 2 on Xbox 360 HD video game trailer

Capcom announce Lost Planet 2 is being developed for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, following an exclusive announcement on Xbox LIVE that happened Monday, February 23. Lost Planet : Extreme Condition, the landmark third-person shooter that debuted on Xbox 360, went on to sell over 2.2 million units worldwide after its release. This next riveting instalment will offer deeper insight into the world of E.D.N III and the uncertain fate of future mankind.

Lost Planet 2 picks up 10 years since the events of the original adventure and the landscape has evolved dramatically. With the success of terraforming activities, the planet’s ice has begun to melt, giving way to lush tropical jungles and other new environments. The story has advanced beyond Wayne Holden as players will now follow the exploits of their own customized snow pirates on their quest to seize control of E.D.N III. Players will move their heroes through different stories creating a truly unique and interactive experience. With this concept, gamers will have the opportunity to engage in the story in a more dynamic way as plot threads evolve from various perspectives.

The strongest features from the first game will return in Lost Planet 2 making fans feel right at home. In addition to the anchor actions that made the gameplay in Lost Planet a true 3-D experience, Lost Planet 2 allows gamers to gain tactical advantage with a wide variety of new actions. The game will also contain a new addition to the enormous Akrids which were a fan-favourite in the first Lost Planet.

Capcom has spent a considerable amount of time reviewing community feedback and incorporating it into Lost Planet 2 creating a game that both new and returning fans to the series will love. The game takes advantage of Capcom’s most highly advanced software development tool, the MT Framework 2. This is the first game to make use of the new technology that builds on the advancements made in the original MT Framework.

Beyond the deep single player mode, Lost Planet 2 is loaded with one the most extensive multiplayer campaign seen in a shooter to date. The intense and action packed campaign mode comes with the ability to form teams of up to 4 players online to clear mission objectives with friends.

BattleFantasia - A Fighting Game of RPG-Sized Proportions! Xbox 360

Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment products, announced that Battle Fantasia will be battling its way onto Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Watch me screenshots video on YouTube here... please subscribe

“Battle Fantasia’s helps bring the fighting genre to the mainstream with its RPG-style appeal,” said Frank “Bo” deWindt II, Project Lead, Aksys Games. “If the fighting aspects don’t hook you, the quirky characters and their stories will.”
Battle Fantasia Prologue

There was once a time when the world was engulfed in darkness. Mankind fought six battles to save their world, but lost every single one. All hope was lost for humanity and many turned to praying to God. But, one day, the darkness was finally driven back by the swords of four heroes.

Light returned to the world, and with it came peace and serenity. The world was then divided into two major countries: The Magic Kingdom and the Steam Empire. The people prospered like never before…

But in recent months, strange things have begun to happen. Rumors spread among the people that the darkness was returning…

However, fate has once again brought together warriors from all over the world. Some fight in the relentless pursuit of justice. Some fight due to their conviction and faith.

As the battle looms near, an epic tale of new heroes begins to unfold…

Battle Fantasia Key Features:

Gorgeous Cel-shaded Graphics

Experience Battle Fantasia’s amazing art and graphics as you play through the game!

Exclusive Console Story Mode

Play through each character’s main scenario in “Story Mode”, or discover hidden sub-scenarios to truly immerse yourself in the universe of Battle Fantasia!

Exciting Online Play

Fight against opponents from far and wide or view your overall online rankings via Xbox LIVE

Feel the Burn of “Heat Up” and the Sting of “GACHI”

Master the Battle Fantasia exclusive battle mechanics of “Heat Up” mode, “GACHI Match”, and “GACHI Drive” to keep your opponents on their toes!

Find Every Unlockable!

With over 80 unlockable illustrations in “Gallery Mode” and various Xbox Achievements, you’ll find yourself playing for hours on end!

EA to focus on fewer, better games in 2009...

The boss of Electronic Arts admitted a poor performance in 2008. Not enough gamers wanted to buy our games - John Pleasants told Forbes magazine.

Franchises like Dead Space and Mirror's Edge sales were disappointing.

EA have reduced by 20% the number of titles it is working on. The company will continue to cut costs (but not in marketing) this year.

Dead Space 2 is already confirmed - let's hope this makes a lot of dosh and EA can continue to provide great games.

Source: Forbes

iPhone - Metal Gear Solid, Bioshock, Prey, GTA and Quake coming soon...

You can raise dogz, run chocolate shopz, race kartz and match, erm, threez until your thumbs are worn down to the knuckle, but sometimes the casual experience is just no match for gunning down something slimy or finally collecting that orc repellant armour you've quested so hard for.

Having claimed so much play time from gamers and late nights from developers, the iPhone is starting to stretch its legs in what is affectionately known as the hardcore space. We've already had Brothers In Arms: Hour of Heroes, Kroll and Hero of Sparta.

Rumours about a premium section on the App Store and Digital Chocolate's Trip Hawkins getting nervous about the whole thing are certainly telling signs too.

There's a trend on the way people, or at least that's what we're predicting using our arcane knowledge of all things pocket gaming and, of course, our giant brains.

Some imminent hardcore iPhone games are confirmed and promoted, while others are still loitering in the forest of rumour. Here are six games we variously know or suspect are on the way.

Read the full post here on Pocket Gamer...

Blood Bowl - Wood Elves v Chaos on Xbox 360, PC, Nintendo DS and PSP

Cyanide and Focus Home Interactive are pleased to reveal this exclusive set of new screenshots taken from Blood Bowl, the video game adapted from Games Workshop's famous board game.

Watch my screenshots video here... please subscribe

The imaginary forerunner of football, Blood Bowl is an ultra violent team sport based on the Warhammer world. It lets players compose a team of Orcs, Elves, Humans, Dwarves and many others fantasy creatures before jumping into the bloodiest arenas. The sport game is both strategic and violent. It requires tactics, a certain amount of game-sense and a lot of self-confidence.

Now we can reveal the two last races in the game. After the Orcs and Humans, Dwarfs and Lizardmen, Goblins and Skaven, today is the day for the Wood Elves and Chaos to show themselves and compete on the blood soaked field!

Wood Elf teams are very elegant and value fair play in their game. They are a very specialized team with distinctive positions for each player role. ‘Fragile and agile’, Wood Elves give priority to evasive tactics in order to avoid confrontation and score without using any violence. But don't underestimate them when on the attack, Wood Elves won't hesitate to fight back if they have to; Wardancers especially know how to stop stubborn opponents. Last but not least, Wood Elves can count on valuable help from Treemen. Their awesome strength and sturdiness are seriously difficult to match, fortunately for everyone else, Treemen have a bad Habit of Taking Root in the middle of the field during the game!

The Chaos team uses a totally different playing style to that of the Wood Elves. They have no concept whatsoever of fair play and don't care very much about the ball either! At least, not if someone is still standing on the other team. To sum up their game philosophy, let's say that some Chaos teams consider the number of injuries inflicted is far more important than number of touchdowns scored.
Their team is composed of Chaos Warriors, Beastmen and Minotaurs. Corrupted by the power of the Chaos Gods, they are bestowed great strength and excel at the physical contact game, often trying to eliminate every adversary before scoring. When they face opponents that are more resistant than expected, Chaos teams line up wild Minotaurs whose bestiality would make any other team shudder. However, be careful, Minotaurs are only honorary Blood Bowl "players"; they are highly unpredictable and seldom follow their coach's orders.

Both teams are waiting for you to play in highly contested games in 2009.

Blood Bowl is currently in development and will come out on PC, Xbox 360 and on Nintendo DS and PSP handheld systems.

Virtual Skipper 5 - FREE PC demo download

Considered to be the ultimate in nautical simulations, Virtual Skipper is back with a new edition which will delight all sailing fans.

With Virtual Skipper 5, players will be able to take part in thrilling regattas aboard world-class boats on a sea surging with realism in single- and multiplayer games.

Players can skipper four types of boat, each behaving differently, on an ultra-realistic sea, which has been modelled and animated to perfection. In addition to the water courses at Valencia, Trapani, Marseille and Malmö, official sites of the America’s Cup, the game includes 10 other famous competitive sailing locations.

An editor will also enable you to create and incorporate your own water courses and regattas and you will therefore have a host of different maps to guarantee renewed and continued gameplay fun in the Internet multiplayer games.


Features:

• 3D regatta simulation: the ultimate in computer sailing simulations.

• At any level, enjoy the game to its fullest with the four game modes suitable for beginners or seasoned navigators (arcade, tactical, simulation and “no rules”).

• A vast single player game with the highlight of a campaign dedicated to the America’s Cup.

• Skipper four types of boats: the Class ACC, the Trimaran Open 60, the Offshore Racer or even the Melges 24.

• Navigate the 14 legendary water courses, including Valencia, Marseille, Trapani and Malmö, official sites of the America’s Cup. Discover the prime locations for competitive sailing such as San Francisco, Sydney, Porto Cervo, Auckland, Vancouver, the Isle of Wight, Quiberon and even Qingdao. We have the exotic in store for you with the Bay of Rio and the mouth of Vesuvius!

• Including the famous Nadeo editors: Water course editor and MediaTracker (cameras, text and graphics).

• Multiplayer game (LAN and Internet), with world player rankings on the Internet.

Download the FREE PC demo here...

Sherlock Holmes - The Awakened FREE PC demo download

This 502 Mb demo contains roughly one hour of gameplay and gives players a chance to learn what it's like to be the great detective Sherlock Holmes and his able assistant, Doctor Watson.

The demo will immerse players in a shadowy world, where all is not as it seems, and followers of the dark cult of Cthulhu are working behind the scenes to an unknown but sinister end.

Players will be challenged to investigate crime scenes, interview witnesses, search for clues and use a broad set of tools to examine them.

The greatest detective, in the darkest of adventures

Since its release in 2007, Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened has attracted a huge worldwide audience, earning high marks from reviewers and consumers alike. Regarded by many as one of the best uses of a license (earning GameSpot's "Best Use of a License" award in 2007) – The Awakened is one of the key titles in the adventure genre is the past several years.

While keeping the traditional Point & Click game play, 'The Awakened' was deeply reworked to provide gamers the ability to switch between 1st and 3rd-person view mode. Players are now able to freely choose which view mode they want to use to lead their investigation at best.

The game, based on an excellent scenario, plunges the player into the heart of a terrifying investigation. Sherlock Holmes, assisted by the loyal Doctor Watson, investigates strange disappearances which seem related to the activity of a secret sect. The adventure begins in London, in the renowned Baker Street, taking us then to investigate a disturbing psychiatric hospital near Bale, Switzerland, then on to Louisiana and finally to Scotland.

Features:

• Join Sherlock Holmes in the most risky adventure of his career.

• An original confrontation between the universe of Sherlock Holmes and the myth of Cthulhu, for a fight between the rational and the supernatural.

• Sumptuous graphics, biting dialogue, disturbing characters and an excellent sound track make for incredible and apocalyptic turn of the century atmospheres.

• Use of the latest real time 3D technologies for total immersion in gripping ambiances.

• Become in turns the famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend Doctor Watson.

• Interact with more than 60 characters in 5 disturbing universes.

• Use and combine more than 50 objects, and discover hundreds of clues and documents to carry out the investigation to its final outcome.

• Two view modes - the original 1st - person mode along with the new 3rd - persone mode, which brings a fresh new perspective to the game

• A new help Bar which allows players in the 3rd-person mode to instantly discover all the available actions on the screen

• An updated help system that offers gamers step-by-step solutions to the game's puzzles.

• Improved graphics which features new lighting, HD effects, shaders, shadows and new animations.

Download the FREE Pc demo here...

Pro Cycling Manager FREE playable PC demo download

This 760 MB demo puts players at the head of the Euskaltel team as they race to win the 16th stage of the Tour de France 2008: Cuneo – Jausiers.

In the demo, your team is beginning its last week of competition before the grand final on the Champs-Élysées, but you still haven’t won any stages yet, and your sponsors are beginning to put some pressure on you to see their colours on the podium.

Through this 157.4 km mountain stage, you’ll need to display all your talents as a Director of Sports to finally get the victory you need.

Download the demo here...

Dracula - Origin - FREE download PC demo

The release of the English playable demo for the latest adventure game from Frogwares studio.

In the demo, you will be drawn into the first pages of an enthralling story, unwind the first knots of an evil plan and immerse yourself in the disquieting and bewitching atmosphere surrounding the Prince of Darkness in this great adventure game.

Dracula: Origin is the new adventure game from Frogwares studio, the team that developed the famous Sherlock Holmes series for PC. Having successfully tackled the myth of Cthulhu in Sherlock Holmes - The Awakened, Frogwares is once again venturing into a disturbing and fantastic universe, the world of the Prince of Darkness, in an adventure which combines romanticism, mystery and horror.

Young, charming and devout, Dracula was once an ardent defender of Christendom but lost his faith in God when he is abandoned by his one true love after she marries. Count Dracula then makes a pact with the Prince of Darkness, and becomes a vampire with an insatiable thirst for blood and vengeance, cursed to eternal damnation.

In the game, you play the role of Professor Van Helsing, the celebrated vampire hunter, on the hunt for Dracula, while Dracula himself is on a quest for a mysterious manuscript which will give him the power to raise the dead.

Your goal is to prevent Dracula from finding and using this manuscript, and also to kill him, in order to liberate the souls of all those who have had the misfortune to cross his path.

Using conventional Point & Click gameplay, Dracula: Origin is a superb adventure supported by impeccable graphics and a rich storyline, which takes you to London, Egypt, Austria, and of course, to Transylvania, in the famous home of the great vampire. With a subtle combination of 2D environments and animated 3D characters, the game faithfully reproduces the world imagined by the celebrated author Bram Stoker, with all its associated motifs (horror, love, blood, crucifixes, stakes, garlic, etc.), in a disturbing, finely-realized and absorbing Gothic atmosphere.

Features:

• An unrelenting pursuit of one of the most terrifying figures from fantasy literature.

• Confrontation between two antithetical heroes: Van Helsing, the restrained scientist and spiritual hero, and the young and high-spirited Dracula, whose inhumanity matches his malevolence.

• Superb graphics, combining 2D environments and 3D characters.

• A deep storyline, focusing on Van Helsing's quest to kills the king of all vampires, and Dracula's quest to find the manuscript to raise the dead.

• Interaction with over 40 characters. Use and combination of over 150 objects associated with the vampire-themed storyline (stake, statue, garlic, mirror, etc.).

• A romantic, bloody and violent Gothic ambiance which is true to the original world created by Bram Stoker, providing total immersion into the adventure.

• Help system that shows the interactive possibilities (objects and actions) to help players in need.

Download the free PC demo here... (606Mb)

Turn an old iMac into a iDreamcast in these (not so) simple steps...

Got an old iMac lying around? 

Why not remove the insides load a 15" LCD screen and an iDreamcast and play your fav games...

More pictures and instructions here...

Ceville PC video game out now

Point & click adventure Ceville hits the shops!

In Ceville – the humorous and engrossing point and click adventure from Kalypso Media - you assume the role of tiny tyrant Ceville.

When he's not puzzling his way through the world of Faeryanis, he's guaranteed to be found holding hilarious conversations with one of the more than 30 different inhabitants of his former realm.

Later in the game Ceville is joined by two other characters which the player also controls, either one after the other or as a team. With the logical combination or use of objects players won't be able to stop grinning or laughing out loud as they puzzle their way through an epic story of the eternal war between "Evil" and... "really, really terribly Evil"!

Ceville is out now for a recommended retail price of £29.99.

Family Pirate Party video game on Nintendo Wii

Get Ready To Plunder Like No Other!

Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment software, is pleased to announce Family Pirate Party exclusively for WiiWare!

Developed by ARC SYSTEM WORKS, creators of the Guilty Gear series and Family Glide Hockey, players of all ages will finally be able to battle their family members in an all or nothing family board game!

Family Pirate Party has players controlling our beloved family through several unique pirate-themed virtual board game. Players will traverse to multiple island spots on the board and plunder their riches and defend their spot against newcomers.

Go head-to-head with your buddies in hilariously exciting minigames!

“The "Family" series of games was created to offer simple-yet-fun alternatives to classic games that are appropriate for gamers of all ages,” said Bo deWindt, Project Lead, Aksys Games. “FAMILY PIRATE PARTY is a unique twist on the classic digital party game and promises hours of family friendly fun.”

Key Features:

• Get In The Fun With The Whole Family!
Enjoy 1-4 player board game fun, with any combination of players or CPU opponents!

• Maximize your Bootay!
Find and collect Help Cards to increase your gold, or use them to give you an advantage!

• Plunder Ye Island!
Play through three maps of varying difficulty which include Beginner's Island, Freezing Winter Land, and Fluffy Cloud Land!

• Keep the party going with add-on content!
Use your Wii Points and download new maps and new costumes pack for the whole family!

Family Pirate Party has been rated “E10+” by the ESRB.

Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete NEW Trailer

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children COMPLETE. Watch the trailer for Advent Children Complete! A trial version set which includes a demo for Final Fantasy XIII as well as a bundle which includes a "Cloud Black" Limited Edition Playstation 3 and the Trial

PlayStation Store update - this weeks offerings... (UK)

Demos

Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X - FREE demo post here

DLC

High Velocity Bowling - Dwayne Pack (£0.79)
High Velocity Bowling - Candy Pack (£0.79)
High Velocity Bowling - Trick Shots Pack Two (free)
The Lord of the Rings: Conquest - All-New Content Pack (£6.29)
Skate 2 - San Van Classic Pack (£3.19)
Street Fighter IV - Brawler Pack (£3.19)
Buzz - Quiz of the Year 2008 (£3.99)

Trailers

Lumines Supernova
Prince of Persia Epilogue
echochrome Master Maze Makers
Burnout Paradise - The Ultimate Bundle
FIFA 09 Ultimate Team Intro
Disgaea 3 - Absence of Justice

Themes

Loco Roco
Rock Band
Guitar Hero - World Tour

Top 50 video games of all time - Guinness World Records

See if you agree with Guinness World Records top 50 games of all time...

1. Super Mario Kart
2. Tetris 
   
3. Grand Theft Auto 
   
4. Super Mario World 
   
5. Zelda Ocarina of Time 
   
6. Halo 
   
7. Resident Evil IV 
   
8. Final Fantasy XII 
   
9. Street Fighter II 
   
10. GoldenEye 
    
11. Super Mario 64 
    
12. Tomb Raider 
    
13. Metal Gear Solid 
    
14. Call of Duty 4 
    
15. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 
    
16. GTA San Andreas 
    
17. Super Mario Bros 
    
18. Zelda: A Link to the Past 
    
19. Gran Turismo 
    
20. Final Fantasy VII 
    
21. Pro Evolution Soccer 4 
    
22. The Orange Box 
    
23. Lego Star Wars Complete Saga 
    
24. Tekken 2 
    
25. Wii Sports 
    
26. Pokemon Red/Blue 
    
27. Guitar Hero 
    
28. Project Gotham Racing 4 
    
29. Super Mario Galaxy 
    
30. Resident Evil 
    
31. Ico 
    
32. Chrono Trigger 
    
33. Gunstar Heroes 
    
34. Soul Calibur 
    
35. Advance Wars
    
36. Ridge Racer 
    
37. Super Metroid 
    
38. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night 
    
39. GTA Vice City 
    
40. BioShock 
    
41. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 
    
42. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening 
    
43. God of War 
    
44. Sega Rally Championship 
    
45. Starfox 64 
    
46. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion 
    
47. WarioWare Inc 
    
48. Saturn Bomberman 
    
49. Crash Bandicoot 
    
50. Outrun 2

Sony want GTA back on PSP as Chinatown heads for Nintendo DS

Grand Theft Auto - Chinatown Wars is heading for Nintendo DS but why not PSP?

GTA was once a top selling PSP series but what of the future?

"That's a tremendous franchise for PlayStation in general. We've had two that are the top two sellers on PSP right now. So, there's definitely continued conversations with Rockstar on all their brands. That's nothing that's left the PlayStation family," Koller told MTV Multiplayer.

Watch the video game trailer on yesterday's post...

Concerns have been raised as to the target age of games on the DS compared to PSP and if Rockstar have picked the wrong platform - only sales will tell.

Chinatown Wars is released on Nintendo DS on March 17th.

PlayStation 3 laptop possible as Sony merger divisions...

Could we see a laptop that plays PlayStation 3 games from Sony?

Sony have announced it's laptop division will join its gaming business in a company shake-up.

Second - Its consumer products group including its television, digital imaging, home audio and video businesses. Hiroshi Yoshioka, currently executive vice president of Sony and president of its TV business group, will become its first president.

A third cross-divisional group – the common software and technology team – which will be charged with ensuring compatibility between the two new division's products.

Any game can be played through a web browser - including Gears of War

Instant Action's vice president claims that any game can be played through a web browser, including Gears of War.

Instant Action recently unveiled its new technology platform, which utilises a proprietary plugin to render games at full speed from a web browser.

The technology performs in a similar manner to some already released MMOs, including the upcoming Free Realms, but Instant Action claims that any 3D game can be played on any web browser with their latest technology.

When asked whether Epic's hit Xbox 360 game Gears of War could be played via a web browser, Instant Action's vice president Brett Seyler told Gigaom.com that with Microsoft's approval, the company could convert the game for web-based play within "two to three weeks, max."

The company is apparently in talks with most video game publishers, with deals to be announced by the end of the year. Whether publishers will jump on board remains to be seen, but with the increased popularity of Steam and the like, they might see the virtues of selling games without the need for a huge PC install: Instant Action's technology only requires the download and installation of a 150kb plug-in.

Source: Gamezine

Instant Action website...

Astonishing - Empire - Total War video game review

PC Gamer gives top honours to Creative Assembly's "strategy masterwork"

PC Gamer UK has published an exciting, gushing review of The Creative Assembly's latest RTS, Empire: Total War.

According to PCG the new instalment is "astonishing. A strategy masterwork." Well worth the 94% and rare 'Must Buy' badge they've dished out, then.

"This is the grandest, most spectacular work of strategy gaming on the PC," the mag gushes. "If you've not tackled a Total War game before, or assume that they're not for you, I challenge you to play Empire and not be impressed, or even fundamentally changed by the experience.

"There had been rumblings about Total War being simplified for the US market, especially with its introductory mini-campaign 'The Road to Independence'," the review continues. But "The Creative Assembly do not seem to have shirked their responsibility, or ever stepped back from including more features, or more detail," it says. "Empire is the opposite of dumbed down.

"While it feels familiar, Empire manages to deliver more nuance on the campaign map than ever before. What's most immediately obvious is the effect of international trade.

"The sheer weight of ideas produced by the Creative Assembly team is in evidence. The battlefields are vastly more detailed than ever before, especially around towns, with the smaller scale details now coming into effect in the form of battlefield defences, use of buildings by troops, and accurate cover. Battles play out more convincingly than in previous games. There's still some errant unit activity, but I've seen little evidence of units sitting around waiting to be killed, or getting lost entirely. Not perfect, perhaps, but certainly more robust.

As if RTS nuts weren't excited enough already. And by the sounds of this, non-RTS fans should be too.

Total War is out next Friday, March 4. Full review in PC Gamer, on sale NOW!

Source: CVG

Crown of Glory - Emperor's Edition Now Available!

Wage total war across Europe and build an empire in Crown of Glory: Emperor's Edition!

Matrix Games and Western Civilization Software are thrilled to announce that Crown of Glory: Emperor’s Edition, the highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed Crown of Glory, is now available for immediate download! Combining strategy and tactics in one design, Crown of Glory: Emperor's Edition offers gamers an opportunity to test their strength in an age of legends.

The original Crown of Glory won a series of accolades, including the Charles S. Roberts award for best Pre-20th Century Wargame, the War-Historical Group’s Wargame of the Year 2005, 8/10 from IGN and 9+/10 from Wargamer.com. Crown of Glory: Emperor’s Edition is a major step up from the original in nearly every area, with new detailed Naval Combat, a streamlined economic system, a much stronger AI, beautiful new strategic map, new scenarios and significant interface improvements, just to name a few!

To mark the release of Crown of Glory: Emperor’s Edition, three of the tutorial videos included with the game are now available to give gamers a feel for the addicting gameplay and in-depth game system headed their way! The topics of the three tutorials are The Basics, Land Combat, and Naval Combat. Be sure to check them out on YouTube or download a higher quality version from our website.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “Crown of Glory: Emperor’s Edition is a very worthy sequel to the original classic. The new features, improvements and additional scenarios as well as engrossing strategic and tactical play make this an experience that Napoleonic fans should not miss. Anyone with an interest in the Napoleonic period as well as fans of beautifully designed strategy game should give this game a look!”

The initial release is download-only, with options for boxed copies with printed manuals planned to be available next week. Customers who would like a boxed copy and printed manual should wait for those options to show up in the Matrix Games Online Store before purchasing. Also, customers who already own the original Crown of Glory are entitled to a $10 Discount Coupon off the price of Crown of Glory: Emperor’s Edition. This discount coupon can be retrieved by following the links on the product and store pages.

Glory is Fleeting, Obscurity is Forever...

Two centuries ago, Europe was in the midst of one of the most gripping periods in human history. It was an era that saw cobblers become princes and emperors become exiles, an age of legendary diplomats and brilliant tacticians. Listen to the roll of the drum, the call of the bugle, and see the banners unfurled above the divisions and corps. Wide-eyed recruits march next to battle-scarred veterans, sabers clatter alongside the bags of grapeshot, the wheels of hundreds of caissons rattle, as generals plan and diplomats plot, and all of Europe grasps with desperate hands for… The Crown Of Glory.

This new Emperor’s Edition is a sequel to the acclaimed Crown of Glory and improves on the original in every area, immersing the player in the epic events of the Napoleonic era. A beautiful strategic map with more than 200 provinces covers all of Europe and North Africa, with scenarios and campaigns from 1792 up to 1820. Stronger AI, a streamlined interface and a new simplified economic model to allow players to focus on the aspects of the game they most enjoy. Players take the role of one of the crowned potentates of any of the eight Major powers as well as having the option to play as a minor power such as Poland, Denmark or Portugal.

A turn-based structure allows you to play at your own pace, deciding on the military, diplomatic, economic and social paths of your nation, including treaties, trade routes and levying and supplying military units. While your armies march across a worldwide map with monthly turns, detailed land and naval battles allow you to play at a smaller scale, where your brigades, divisions and ships can be commanded with historical tactics. All battles can be resolved quickly or fought out on a detailed battlefield map.

Each unit has its purpose on the battlefield, with such diverse troops as Jagers, Cossacks, Janissaries and Horse Artillery all modeled for individual strength and morale ratings and each beautifully rendered and animated. Similarly, ships ranging from Frigates to massive First Rate Ships of the Line clash on the seas in battles ranging from skirmishes to decisive fleet engagements, all modeled in great realistic detail.

The eight major powers (France, Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia, Turkey, Spain, and Sweden) and over ninety computer-controlled minor nations are modeled in rich historical detail. Every effort has been made to bring you as thorough a simulation of the Napoleonic Era as is possible, from the dockyards of Lisbon to the frozen wastes of Holy Mother Russia.

Historical leaders, special abilities, fleets, upgrades, reinforcements, colonialism, guard units and over 100 historical events, give Crown Of Glory: Emperor's Edition a unique and engrossing style. Combining strategy and tactics in one design, Crown Of Glory: Emperor's Edition offers you an opportunity to test your strength in an age of legends.

Emperor's Edition Improvements:

• New strategic map including a network of roads connecting provinces
• 70 new movement areas on the strategic map
• New “Simple Economy” mode for players who want to concentrate on military / diplomacy
• 6 new minor powers
• 101 new historical events such as “Reign of Terror,” “Janissary Revolt,” and “Assassination of Paul I”
• Map zooms in and out smoothly on strategic and detailed combat levels
• Nations gain Experience and Naval Experience and use these to purchase national upgrades, advanced units, and special training for units
• Improved orders of battle in all scenarios with historical names for hundreds of divisions and ships
• New scenarios for 1803 and 1812
• New scenarios that allow Portugal, Bavaria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Poland to be player-controlled
• Changes to strategic A.I. to create more historical decisions for certain nations
• New “Path of Napoleon” victory condition in which player must try to accomplish all of Napoleon’s goals
• New rules for inflation and mobilization limits to better model wartime effects on the economy and to limit army sizes to historical levels
• New rules for march attrition
• New interface screens for strategic overview, unit and province lists
• Ability to fight detailed battles at division or brigade level
• New system of in-game help
• New music and sound effects

Get more information on Crown of Glory: Emperor’s Edition from its official product page and be sure to watch or download the new tutorial videos!

Men of War, Cryostasis and NecroVisioN video games release

505 Games release the long-anticipated 1C game triumvirate of Men of War, Cryostasis and NecroVisioN. Covering the major aspects of the PC gaming market, the three games take you from the trenches of the First World War (and the hell beneath them), to the roving skirmishes of World War II and finally to the frozen wastes of the Arctic in the late 1960s. You’ll battle vampires and the undead, control entire armies, and even have flashbacks into the mind of a cow.

All three games are available in all good high street shops, or from online retailers, and have a recommended retail price of £29.99.

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.

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. 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 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 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.