Duality ZF dual play 2D shooter video game on Xbox 360

Duality ZF is upcoming dual play 2D shooter (shoot'em up / shmup) for the Xbox 360. Release date - Summer 2009. Price: 400 Microsoft Points.

Duality Innovation: Duality ZF introduces a few innovative duality features:
DUAL-SL, a weapon system with spread and laser features. It morphs from spread to laser and back via trigger controls.
DUAL PLAY allows you to control two players at once. Its an underground concept born in Japanese arcades by expert gamers. DUAL PLAY offers double the firepower. It suits newcomers in easy modes and allows experts to challenge extended expert modes.
DUAL-HL, a prototype weapon system in development; may not make launch date.





Firsts:
Duality ZF is the first video game to support DUAL PLAY natively.*
Duality ZF is the first 2D shooter (shoot'em up, shmup) video game to support eight independently controlled fighters simultaneously.


Game Modes (NEW):
Duality ZF features multiple games modes:

HOME
ARCADE
BULLET HELL
SURVIVAL
SCORE RUSH
BOSS RUSH
HOME is the regular game. ARCADE is what Duality ZF would have been had it been an arcade. It is more exciting, more intense, and more difficult. If you are a hardcore "shmup" fan, ARCADE was born for you, but will be enjoyed by all.

Each game mode has online scoreboards.

Gameplay:
Duality ZF has high-action, intense, quick-reflex gameplay.

Simplicity:
Duality ZF has simple gameplay. Move and shoot. No bombs that blow up everything on the screen. No powerups that power you down or switch weapons against your wishes, only powerups that improve your 32-stage spread/laser weapon. Move and shoot. That's it. Playing is about skill of missing enemy bullets with skill of shooting enemies down. There are no complex controls or weapons to master. Move and shoot.

Weapons and Powerups:
Duality ZF features two massively upgradeable weapons in one: a dual spread/laser weapon that can be switched to spread or laser, or various hybrids, at will. It has 32 stages. If you can stay alive long to experience the maximum firepower, it shoots 65 individual bullets per shot, all calculated independently of one another. With a maximum of four shots onscreen at once, that's 260 individual bullets per fighter, for more than 2,000 individually calculated bullets onscreen at once with eight fighters.

The powerups have an artificial intelligence system that lures them to the players most in need, to always promote a balance of power. These are guidelines only, and do not need to be followed. Upon final death, the remaining powerups you would have had, had you had an extra life, spit out to all remaining fighters and friends. The final fighter left standing will have be boosted in powerups to help battle out the remaining fight on its own. (Also read the "revival" section.)

Revival:
Lost fighters and friends are revived at the beginning of each stage, so when you are the last fighter standing, try to beat the stage and kill the end boss to bring everyone back.

Control:
The Duality ZF fighter has the maximum and most responsive control possible. It is extremely agile and powerful. When you die, it is your fault, not because of poor controls or a slow fighter. We challenge you with challenging stages, not with an inferior fighter with inferior controls, to realize your true 2D shooter potential.

Release Date (NEW):
Summer 2009 in Xbox LIVE Community Games (XBLCG), available to all Xbox LIVE users in the New Xbox Experience (NXE).

Philosophy:
Duality ZF is a 2D shooter made by 2D shooter fans. It is the 2D shooter that we have always wanted to play. It gives us great pleasure to realize this goal and (soon) share our dream with other 2D shooter fans around the world.

Scoring System (NEW):
Duality ZF's scoring system matches how much you dominate the game. It is the most fair scoring system possible. It cannot be exploited by tricky means. The more you dominate the game, the higher your score. Kill everything as fast as possible. Kick the game's ass to get the highest score.

The scoring system awards points proportional to the enemy strength and attack. The same formula is used everywhere in the game, across difficulty modes and even across game modes. If the enemy is twice as hard to kill, you get twice the points. The scoring system does not "care" about the difficulty mode or the game mode, only how tough the enemies are.

There is no maximum score or scoring caps. If it were possible to kill an enemy one million times faster, you would get one million times the points.

Online Scoreboards (NEW):
Xbox LIVE Community Games does not permit us leaderboards, yet. However...
Duality ZF uses a clever peer-to-peer score sharing system to implement online scoreboards, but peer-to-peer only works with Xbox LIVE Gold subscriptions. We highly recommend subscribing to Xbox LIVE Gold to fully appreciate Duality ZF's scoreboards.

Soundtrack (NEW):
Duality ZF features a beautiful Imphenzia soundtrack, strong in club, trance, goa, and dance music. It is a perfect unity to our hyper action gameplay. Imphenzia tracks have exceeded one million downloads. The Duality ZF Soundtrack will be made available for purchase and download on www.imphenzia.com upon release.

More here...

CITIES XL Each player gets a profile page to make their very own

There’s more to Cities XL than ‘just’ a game, there’s also an extensive website at the center of which is your page. Your Profile page is your personal space on the Cities XL website; it reflects you, your activities, your friends, and as part of the Planet Offer, your cities of course.

Solo players?... Not that alone!
The Cities XL website and many other community websites demonstrated how devoted city builder fans are, so we decided that it would be great if we could continue to support this community after the release of the game. Therefore, every Cities XL player, including Solo players, will have his/her own profile page on the Cities XL website.

This page is first and foremost designed to identify you and differentiate yourself from other players. So when you'll create your Avatar with the Avatar Studio to visit your cities, it will be automatically uploaded to your page as well as each time you’ll modify it. Right below you’ll find a dedicated space to write a short text that describes you, your mood of the day, or simply express what you are currently doing in the game…

You will then be part of the Cities XL community and a community is no use if you don't communicate with other players. You’ll then be free to create your own friends network as you would do with any other Social Network website such as Facebook or Myspace.This friends list will help you find their profile page easily to read what's happening to them in the game and contact them via private messages.

...And if you want, there's more!
So, now you know that we will be offering a profile page to every Cities XL player even for Solo players. Now, Solo players will have their cities hosted on their own computer, in their harddrive while players that subscribe to the Planet Offer will have their cities in our servers to ensure all the visit, trade and other MMO features.

Therefore, players who will subscribe to the Planet Offer will have some other information and features available on their profile page: it will be your permanent link to the game.

It allows you not only to take part in the community’s life, along with the Solo players, but also to play even when you are not in front of the PC on which you installed the game. If you are part of the Planet Offer, whether you are on holidays, in a cybercafe or at work, you can join the community and act on your cities in a matter of minutes.

You will be informed in real time of everything that is happening around your game. That way, if one of the contracts signed with your friends somehow becomes invalid because one of the cities involved is unable to provide the required resources, you will be notified right away and will be able to react directly from your profile page. For instance by contacting your friend and having him solve the situation , or by obtaining another contract from another city to make up for the lack of resources.

With this page we wanted to give players a full set of information and tools that will allow them to interact with their cities and with other players from anywhere and at any time.

Whether you have to stay in contact with your friends, manage your Blueprints and Megastructures, manage your contracts or publish your City Journal, the web site will be your daily friend in the Cities XL community.

We will soon talk in detail about all these functionalities in an upcoming blog entry. Until then, we invite you to share your comments and suggestions with us.

iCarly video game on Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS

Activision and Nickelodeon announce a global partnership where the two companies will create an all-new videogame based on the number-one live-action kids' television show iCarly. Releasing internationally this Fall, the videogame will bring the interactive elements from the series to Wii and Nintendo DS for the first time.

"iCarly is a groundbreaking show that encourages viewers to contribute content of their own," said David Oxford, Activision Publishing. "This game is a natural extension of that creativity, and allows players to interact with the characters they know and love through a variety of different ways, any time they like."

"In order to make a property as huge and irreverent as iCarly into a videogame, we tapped into the interactive model of the show itself," said Steve Youngwood, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. "iCarly's entire premise is to allow kids and tweens to actively participate in their entertainment experience, and Activision is doing a phenomenal job in recreating that for Wii and Nintendo DS systems."

In the iCarly videogame, the possibilities are truly endless as players help Carly, Sam, Freddie and the other characters from the hit TV series craft all-new webisodes of the show in an original storyline designed specifically for the game. Fun and frenetic mini-games, presented as show skits, capture the creativity of the series, and allow players to work with the characters through new adventures. The innovative iCreate mode provides opportunities for gamers to add their own touches to the webisodes by swapping out props, characters, color schemes, audio, intros, outros and more. Up to four players can either compete or cooperate together on Wii to complete the skits and earn Web-Cred, which can then be used to purchase new items, props, accessories and locations from in-game websites.

Nickelodeon's iCarly, a web show within a show, is the number-one live-action program on all of broadcast and basic cable television with kids and tweens, and the top kid-targeted live action series on basic cable with total viewers. It averages nearly 26 million total viewers each week (source: Nielsen Media Research). The show's companion website www.iCarly.com recently boasted its best month ever in March among total visits, visitors and page views (source: comScore Media Metrix March 2009).

Shot Online to host 2009 United Cup USA v The European Union

Popular Free-to-Play MMO Golf Simulation to Host the World Class Golf Competition - Preliminaries Begin Today May 13th

Gamescampus.com (run by OnNet USA), announced today that it will launch the 2009 United Cup, a global scale tournament between the USA and European Union in its game, Shot Online. The preliminary tournament will take place today, May 13 through Tuesday, May 19th and will be held in the game's Hela course.

The finals for the tournament will be held on May 21st at the game's Rufus Arena. Shot Online can be downloaded and played for free at http://shotonline.gamescampus.com/index.asp. There is a fee of 200,000 NG to enter the tournament. Prizes will be awarded to the top ten players and will include special equipment, clothing sets and campus credits.

"The United Cup has become our most popular event because our US and European players love to battle each other for the win," said Eliot Kim, Community Manager of Shot Online. "Shot Online has a tremendous following across the globe and we are looking forward to a great turnout, as always, for the tournament this year."

About the 2009 United Cup

Any player (beginner, amateur, semi pro or pro) can participate in the 2009 United Cup. Players are allowed to participate in the tournament with only one character (the highest level character per account) and can participate in this tournament up to eight times. The best score submitted will be the player's final score.

In the tournament, players will be asked whether they are from United States or the European Union and then will be matched against players from their own region. Players also have the option to choose to represent either the United States or the European Union if they have a preference.

The top ten players from the USA and European Union will play in the United Cup Finals on May 21st at Shot Online's Rufus Arena for special prizes. Winners will each be awarded prizes including a set of United Cup clothing, a repairable United Cup driver and 5,000 campus credits.

LITTLEST PET SHOP Game for the Wii and Nintendo DS Offers Girls New Pets, New Adventures and New Stylized Graphics in a Fun Party Atmosphere

Electronic Arts announce that a big LITTLEST PET SHOP-style party is in-the-works for 2009 with the release of LITTLEST PET SHOP FRIENDS on the Wii and Nintendo DS. The new game will center on party preparations as girls and their favourite pets get ready to celebrate. LITTLEST PET SHOP FRIENDS will be brimming with new elements that girls love, from an all-new, adorable collection of pets and their pet best-friends, to a large array of customisable accessories, fun mini-games, and a deep story with all new adventures set in a vibrant world that features delightful new graphics.

Hot on the heels of EA’s successful LITTLEST PET SHOP releases in 2008, this latest game will also offer cooperative play as girls play together side-by-side.

“Girls are going to have a blast playing LITTLEST PET SHOP FRIENDS because it is all about hanging out with their best friends as they share pet collections, discover new towns, and play mini-games together,” said Chip Lange, General Manager of EA’s Hasbro Division. “Our first wave of LITTLEST PET SHOP games performed exceptionally well and we have every confidence that LITTLEST PET SHOP FRIENDS will take the franchise to the next level with regard to exciting new exploration, game play and ways to socially connect with friends.”

“EA continues to create new and innovative ways for girls to engage with LITTLEST PET SHOP, the #1 mini doll brand,” said Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro, Inc. “LITTLEST PET SHOP FRIENDS blends the brand’s appeal of collecting new pets with unique digital play and age-appropriate social interaction, setting up the ultimate party environment for LITTLEST PET SHOP fans.”

Both platforms of LITTLEST PET SHOP FRIENDS will feature 16 new cute pets such as a peacock, Great Dane and lady bug. The Nintendo DS versions will also offer exclusive pets in each of the three games: LITTLEST PET SHOP CITY FRIENDS, LITTLEST PET SHOP COUNTRY FRIENDS and LITTLEST PET SHOP BEACH FRIENDS. Every pet has a bigger personality and special traits that help players navigate through the game and each pet has a best-friend who supplies the additional skills necessary to accomplish fun tasks or adventures. These engaging game elements help players to advance through the story and get a paw step closer to the big celebration.

Inspired by its tremendously popular toy brand counterpart, LITTLEST PET SHOP FRIENDS allows girls to take their favourite pets on quirky, fun quests such as delivering party invitations, serving up cake and ice cream and gathering party decorations, all in preparation for the biggest LITTLEST PET SHOP party ever. LITTLEST PET SHOP FRIENDS offers a few surprises such as an exciting mystery guest who flutters about, ready to make an appearance at the party, plus new unique gifts players can give to their pets.

In development at the EA Salt Lake Studio, the LITTLEST PET SHOP FRIENDS games will launch in later this year.

Last Release of Dragonica video game closed Beta Keys

Alltern8 competition provides final opportunity

gPotato Europe recently announced that Dragonica, the new free arcade-style 3D side-scrolling MMORPG, entered into closed beta testing from 13th to 22nd May. With available keys on high demand Alltern8 were lucky enough to secure the very last 40 keys for our members.

For those that did not pre-register or were not chosen by the lottery system on the official website, now is the chance to get your hands on the final release of beta keys by going to the Alltern8 website www.alltern8.com and entering the Dragonica competition. The competition will be drawn over the next 2 days and those lucky enough to win will be able to redeem their key for immediate access to download the game from the www.gpotato.eu game portal.

Dragonica uses only the keyboard for precise combos and accessible combat. As you train your character from one of the starting classes to stronger versions, you will gain access to more powerful weapons and train up a wide variety of hilarious skills to develop your own fighting style. It also includes a fast-paced arcade-style ten player multiplayer mode, party support for up to four players, a couple system granting additional powers to pairs of players, and all the guild, trade, communication and quest fun that players expect from a top MMORPG.

There are plenty of great prizes up for grabs, so if you want to start off June’s Open Beta in style, entering the CBT events is the best way to earn some unique items to make you stand out. The Dragonica team will be “meeting and greeting” players at the start to welcome and help them into the game. After the festivities die down you will be getting straight into the action with combo competitions, challenges to beat the games bosses, PvP tournaments and lots more.

The Closed Beta Test only runs for the next ten days so if you missed out visit our competition page on our dedicated MMO area for your last chance to enter the world of Dragonica.

Ship Simulator Professional wins Serious Games Award 2009

VSTEP's simulator was nominated by a professional jury and voted winner of the prestigious Best Serious Game 2009 award by public vote at the 4th Apply Serious Games & Virtual Worlds conference in London.

The award was handed out to VSTEP by the honorable Lord David Puttnam during the conference award ceremony on May 7th in London. VSTEP is proud to be awarded this prestigious prize and would like to thank the jury and user community for its support. The award is an acknowledgement of VSTEP's succesful strive towards quality and innovation and a confirmation of its prominent position in the European Serious Games industry.

Another gamezplay.org post on the subject here...

WonderKing new MMO video game information

NDOORS Interactive today officially announced their newest title, WonderKing. Planned for release in the second half of 2009, WonderKing is an unconventional MMORPG from the developer Ryu & Soft that is designed for gamers of all skill level. The beta is scheduled to launch early this summer.

“With the success of Atlantica Online and Luminary: Rise of the GoonZu in the US, we feel the market is eager for a variety of MMO games,” said Peter Kang, CEO of NDOORS Interactive. “WonderKing’s introduction to the North American market will offer a truly encapsulating experience for gamers of every taste and preference.”
WonderKing is a 2D, side-scrolling MMORPG that takes players on an adventurous journey with story-by-story quests, much like a fantasy novel. Along the way, players will travel from beautiful beaches to murky marshlands and frigid snowfields as they battle to save the world. Don’t let the lack of a third dimension fool you, as this game is a highly developed MMORPG, including features such as:

• Home Town System: Players can personally decorate a private room where they can rest and store items and trophies.

• Pet System: Adorable, loyal AI animals will aid in hunting, item collecting, and other tasks.

• Class Change: The game allows players to focus their character’s abilities and change between classes to learn powerful techniques (mage, swordsman, thief, and scout).
• Mounts and Vehicles: Get moving with a variety of vehicles to ride and animals to mount, providing boosts to attack and defense.
• Castle Battles: Engage in PvP battles using siege warfare across castles.
• Crafting and Cooking: Weapons, food, and potions can be made to give players an edge in battle.
Designed for gamers of all ages, WonderKing is set in a vibrantly colorful world and features some of the most uniquely creative character designs and gorgeous graphics in any game. As with all of NDOORS’ titles, the game is 100% free-to-play.

Search for the Next Live - Action Duke Nukem Expands

Three-City Tour Evolves Into Massive Online Hunt

Got a little Duke in ya'? Well, we want to see it! Starting today Deep Silver, Inc. and Apogee Software, LLC announced that due to popular demand, their search for the next live-action Duke Nukem actor has evolved from a three-city tour into a massive online audition open to anyone willing to take on the challenge.

Fans can do just about whatever they want to demonstrate why they should be the next Duke Nukem. Their performance will be judged by a panel of Duke Experts, including some of Duke's creators. The Experts will combine all entries from all over the United States and will then narrow it down to a lucky few. The judges will then make their decision and the winner will be announced.

The winner will get to travel around the world representing Deep Silver and Apogee Software, LLC as the new "official" Duke Nukem...and they'll get paid to do it! They will be the new face of the the Duke Nukem Trilogy and get to interact with the world like no other iconic videogame character ever has.

"We are opening the floodgates on the search for the next live-action Duke Nukem. Before we were reaching out to the fans with a three-city nationwide search, but due to the high demand we have chosen to expand our search to allow every Duke fan a chance to submit their entry, said Chad McNeil, marketing manager for Deep Silver, Inc. "We want to see your best Duke Nukem, so get ready to kick ass and chew some bubblegum because this is going to be one of the craziest promotions the videogame industry has seen for a long time!"

For those who cannot upload their auditions online, but still wish to participate in the Search for Duke will be allowed to submit their entries by mail on a DVD, VHS tape or video file on USB drive (not returnable) or burned to a CD-R.

Deep Silver and Apogee are calling on all Duke fans to step up and compete to be The Next Duke Nukem. If you think that you have what it takes, or know someone who does, head on over to www.dukeisback.com for more information, as well as contest rules.

The Duke Nukem Trilogy is comprised of three episodes: Critical Mass, Chain Reaction, and Proving Grounds, and will be released sequentially beginning in 2009 for Nintendo DS and PSP (PlayStation Portable) system. More information is available at Apogee's recently relaunched site, www.apogeesoftware.com

East India Company PC video game Developer Diary Launches

Developer Nitro Games Gives Fans a Hands-On Look at the Upcoming PC Titles Features and Game Play

Paradox Interactive today announced the release of the first video developer diary for the upcoming PC title East India Company. This first entry is part of an ongoing series to be released bi-weekly on GameSpot during the time leading up to the games launch.

In the video developer diaries, lead designer Kim Soares of Nitro Games will give viewers a glimpse of East India Companys extensive features and share insights from the development process.

The first episode of the East India Company developer dairy is an overview of the game. In the entry, Soares explains how players will use battles and trade management to rule nations from Europe to the Far East. He also reveals the three primary view points available in the game: strategic level, which provides an overview of the world map, port level, which displays the seaport for a particular destination and tactical level, which shows a sea level view of naval battles.

Explaining Nitro Games motivation behind creating the video developer diary, Soares said,
“The East India Company community is growing rapidly and the thing we hear the most is show us in-game material. These videos were created as a response to that request, giving players a good overview of the different aspects of East India Company by showing them how things work in the game.”

To watch the first video developer diary for East India Company, please visit:
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/eastindiacompany/video/6209550/

East India Company scheduled for release in Q3 2009 and will be published worldwide by Paradox Interactive. The PC title will be available for digital download on leading digital distribution platforms.

About East India Company
East India Company is a naval war strategy game based on the 18th century East India Companies. Players will attempt to build the world’s most powerful trading empire in a breathtaking cinematic environment. Offering both single and multiplayer modes, players will fight, manage and rule nations from Europe to the Far East using a wide array of ship classes. The game will feature fierce naval battles and direct command of individual ships.

Aliens in the Attic coming to a Video Game Console in July 2009

Playlogic and Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising to release the action-adventure game based on the soon-to-be released film. Playlogic Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox announce that Aliens in the Attic, the family friendly, action–adventure video game based on the Twentieth Century Fox movie, will be available in retail stores across Europe, starting July — in advance of the film’s release across European territories.

The new game will be available for the Wii system, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.

The Aliens in the Attic video game will follow the storyline of the adventure-comedy film about a group of kids on a family vacation who must stave off an attack by knee-high alien invaders with world-conquering ambitions; all while trying to keep their parents from finding out! The video game will offer players two different gameplay perspectives depending upon which video game platform players choose.

“Aliens in the Attic provides endless hours of fun for the whole family,” said Rogier Smit, executive vice president for Playlogic. “Fox has created a movie full of heart-pumping action, thrills, comedy and good old fashion entertainment and we’ve translated those features right into the gameplay.”

Aliens in the Attic for DS puts players in the shoes of the movie’s main characters; Tom, Hannah and their cousin Jake. Players will use the children’s abilities – Hanna’s jump skill, Tom’s engineering skills and Jake’s weapon knowledge – to rid the planet, and the upstairs, from the nasty invaders. This action packed version of the game features multiple levels within each beautifully designed gameplay area and is loaded with boss fights, tons of puzzle elements and a variety of weapons to choose from including grenades and a customizable gun.

Aliens in the Attic for Wii, PS2 and PC gives players a whole new way to experience the storyline by allowing them to assume the identity of one of four different alien explorers whose mission it is to take over the summer home, and possibly the world! This version of the game features 15 exciting levels that are carried out in four different locations. Plus, players can switch between characters on the fly for fast-paced action!

“Aliens in the Attic is a great summer family film and provides a storyline that is perfect for gaming,” said Gary Rosenfeld, Senior Vice President, New Media for Fox Licensing. “Playlogic has created a game that will extend the film experience for gamers of all ages.”

Aliens in the Attic the movie, co-scripted by one of the writers of Madagascar and the Academy Award-winning Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbits, is an adventure/comedy about kids on a family vacation who must fight off an attack by knee-high alien invaders with world-destroying ambitions—while the youngsters' parents remain clueless about the battle.

1942 - Joint Strike and Wolf of the Battlefield - Commando 3 Soundtracks Now Available on iTunes

Two action-packed soundtracks from the GEM Impact team available on iTunes as of April 14, 2009

GEM Impact, Inc. announced today that the soundtracks for both 1942: Joint Strike and Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 were released today on the iTunes music store by Sumthing Else Music Works.

Developed by Backbone Entertainment and published by Capcom Entertainment, the two retro remakes paid homage to their original franchises not only through their intense action-oriented gameplay, but also through their memorable and in some cases retro soundtracks.

The 1942: Joint Strike Original Soundtrack and Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 Original Game Soundtrack each feature over thirty minutes of original music that spans a variety of styles, from hybrid electronic/orchestral tracks to upbeat orchestral takes on classic themes from the NES. The scores also stand out as successful collaborations between composers in Japan and Western developers.

“Just when I was thought that fans of these games would never get the opportunity to hear the music outside of the gameplay experience, an official release finally became possible,” comments Hibino, CEO and composer at GEM Impact. “It was an honor to have had the opportunity to collaborate with such a talented team of developers in the United States on these classic Japanese franchises, and we feel we were successful in bridging the gap between Japan in the United States to create two excellent games with fitting soundtracks and a worldwide appeal.”

The 1942: Joint Strike Original Soundtrack is currently available on the iTunes music store for $7.92 USD while the World of the Battlefield: Commando 3 Original Game Soundtrack is available for $6.93 USD.

Free trial download Crystal Defenders Vanguard Storm on iPod Touch and iPhone

The latest iPhone/iPod touch game, CRYSTAL DEFENDERS VANGUARD STORM, is now available for download in 77 countries worldwide via App Store. The second original title in the CRYSTAL DEFENDERS series, VANGUARD STORM marks the return of exciting handheld “defensive simulation” to the iPhone/iPod touch.

To protect their armies’ crystals from the ever-advancing monster hordes, players must master the simple, yet innovative new control system made possible by the iPhone/iPod touch’s hands-on interface.

About CRYSTAL DEFENDERS VANGUARD STORM
Platform iPhone/iPod touch
Genre Defensive Simulation
Release Date May 13, 2009
Price iPhone/iPod touch €3.99/£2.99 available worldwide via App Store
*The free trial version, CRYSTAL DEFENDERS VANGUARD STORM Lite, is also available for download

In VANGUARD STORM, players must scramble to strategically position units into various formations in order to prevent encroaching monster hordes from breaking through the front lines and stealing the army's crystals. This high-paced defensive simulation (tower defence) game employs a real-time turn system in which reading the battlefield and determining optimal locations for each allied unit before the turn counter is spent are crucial for victory.

As with CRYSTAL DEFENDERS, VANGUARD STORM also features jobs from the popular FINAL FANTASY TACTICS A2 - Grimoire of the Rift. Whether engaging in a concentrated attack or a gradual, widespread assault, players must constantly adjust battle formations in order to best take advantage of their units' individual abilities. In addition to jobs geared towards offensive manoeuvres, there are also jobs which support or enhance other units. White Mages can restore an injured ally's HP, while Bishops can increase a nearby unit's attack power.

Finally, the monsters of VANGUARD STORM come in all different shapes and sizes. Some tread upon the ground, while others attack from the skies. Some even have resistances to certain types of attacks. To ensure victory, players must recognize these traits and then adjust battle formations accordingly; pitting melee-oriented jobs such as Soldiers against monsters that resist magick, or Archers against aerial enemies.

The Agency video game on PS3 and PC Fact Sheet

The Agency is a fast-paced, action shooter set in an online persistent worldóa modern setting of bullets, bomb blasts, and betrayal. Live the life of an elite agent in a world of superspies and rugged mercenaries, who use both high technology and low tactics to accomplish their missions and goals. Featuring cooperative and competitive play, The Agency is designed to provide instant action and long-term strategy for all fans of espionage, intrigue, and explosive gameplay on the PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) and PC.

Live the Life of an Elite Agent: The Agency requires spy world skills in combat, stealth, and style. Players jet around the globe to exotic locales picking up intel, forming networks and taking out criminal masterminds for a multitude of unique missions with numerous goals. With gameplay ranging from sneaky infiltration to all out firefight assaults, there's something for every aspiring agent.

Fun Now, No Waiting: The Agency blends the action of shooter gameplay with the persistence of an online virtual world. At any point, PS3 or PC players can jump right in and frag opponents in head-to-head combat or advance the ranks in a rich story packed with exciting missions.

Mercenary or Spy - the Choice is Yours: Operate as a slick super spy or a gritty mercenary, administering arms deals, executing assassinations, managing espionage, counter intelligence, and more. Collect the right weaponry, gadgets, gear, attire and aliases to gain access to numerous locales and influence over the people within them.

Put Operatives to work: Operatives are collectible non-player characters who provide the goods and services players desire, and the in-mission support to keep them alive. Operatives work 24/7 to help players concentrate on the mission at hand. Trade them with friends or sell them to the highest bidder.

Build Your Own Agency: As players advance through the ranks of their faction, they'll also begin building their own Agencies. Players increase their power even further by creating Joint Agencies with others.

Title: The Agency
Genre: Online Action Shooter
Platform: PLAYSTATION 3 and PC
Rating: RP

Blending and Layering - the Art of Sound Design in zOMG video game

dSonic gives a behind-the-scenes look at the sound design methods they applied to Gaia's Interactive's hybrid monsters in zOMG!.

dSonic gave a behind-the-scenes look at the sound design for Gaia Interactive's MMORPG, zOMG!. After finishing work on 2K's award winning Bioshock, dSonic's sound design team turned its attention to zOMG!. The game's creatures are hybrids of living and non-living objects and dSonic co-founder, Kemal Amarasingham, revealed some of the methods behind blending the two.

Amarasingham explained, "The most difficult aspect of sound design is finding the right base sounds for each creature, so that when they're all processed and layered, they blend well and sound natural. Blending was particularly important for us while working on zOMG! because of the hybrid nature of the monsters." To get the effect of a creature sounding mechanical-real, as opposed to just mechanical, dSonic's sound designers adopted leading edge techniques like morphing and convolution.

Kemal Amarasingham used the sound design for the Mosquito Clock as an example of his team's work in the game and said that when players hear this monster in attack mode, they will hear five different sounds combined to make up the movement sequence: 1) a clank sound for the mechanical body, 2) a buzzing sound reminiscent of mosquito wings flapping, 3) a clock mechanism winding up and down as the antennas go around, 4) the ding of an alarm clock when the antenna arms strike twelve o?clock, and 5) a sonic wave (the attack itself).

The Mosquito Clock is but one of 36 monsters and characters in the zOMG! world. Amarasingham added "We strived for originality and to bring out the story in the sound of every creature in the game. We hope that by doing so we have added to the richness and the depth of zOMG!"

The Dracula Files, a new hidden object adventure game

Casual games developer and publisher eGames announce the ongoing development of The Dracula Files, a new hidden object adventure game franchise pitting a new generation of vampire hunters against the resurrected lord of the undead. With an anticipated launch in late summer 2009, versions of the first installment of The Dracula Files are currently planned for PC, Nintendo DS, and Wii.

“We are extremely pleased with the level of enthusiasm our publishing and portal partners have expressed for The Dracula Files since introducing early versions of the game at the Game Developers Conference,” said eGames VP Sales and Marketing Rich Siporin. “We look forward to sharing the game’s progress with casual game fans everywhere through our social media campaign.”

As part of The Dracula Files launch campaign, popular casual game review site Gamezebo.com will host a bi-weekly developer blog beginning this week. Additional updates on the game will be provided on The Dracula Files Twitter page at www.twitter.com/draculafiles and Facebook page.

With the reemergence of the bloodthirsty count after 100 years, The Dracula Files finds the descendants of the Harker and Van Helsing families banding together once more to contest the lord of the vampires. Spanning the globe in search of cursed objects and holy relics, the reluctant heroes will face werewolves, vampires, poltergeists, and more in their quest to return Dracula to the grave forever.

“We are excited to introduce a unique spin on the Dracula legend to casual game and vampire enthusiasts everywhere,” said eGames Product Manager and designer Greg Zesinger. “Through the ongoing developer diary on Gamezebo, Twitter, and Facebook pages, we look forward to interacting with our fans and introducing them to the diabolical Vladimir Draco. We recommend gamers start sharpening their stakes and gathering garlic now, because Draco and his minions will soon be on the prowl.”

Star Trek D-A-C video game on Xbox LIVE for download

Paramount, Bad Robot, CBS and Naked Sky announce that Star Trek - D-A-C is now available for download on Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Inspired by the new “Star Trek” film now playing in theatres worldwide, Star Trek: D-A-C is a fast-paced, top-down space shooter where players take the captain’s chair and engage in intense online multi-player or co-op battles. Players will choose between Romulan and Federation Starships including the all-new U.S.S. Enterprise.

“Fans of the new ‘Star Trek’ film can now experience the excitement that made the movie a worldwide sensation in their own living rooms through fierce Star Trek: D-A-C multiplayer battles,” said Tom Lesinski, President of Paramount Digital Entertainment. “Rather than retelling the story of the blockbuster film, Star Trek: D-A-C lets gamers boldly go into deep space on Xbox LIVE Arcade and seize their own intergalactic triumphs.“

Star Trek: D-A-C allows fans to directly control a variety of ships and pitch battles between Starfleet and the Romulan Empire. Up to 12 players can compete in thrilling multiplayer team combat. Star Trek: D-A-C features three game play modes: Single player, online multiplayer and online co-op. For each mode, there are three different game types: Team Deathmatch, Assault and Conquest. Players can choose from three ship types for each faction, including the new U.S.S. Enterprise featured in the “Star Trek” film. Each ship – the powerful Flagship, the nimble Fighter and the devastating Bomber – offers its own unique capabilities for players to master and manipulate as they fight for victory. Star Trek: D-A-C also incorporates music and signature sounds taken directly from the new “Star Trek” film.

City Racer Nintendo DS racing video game Fact File

Candella Systems Ltd and Rega Interactive are pleased to announce City Racer DS, a pure arcade racing game for the Nintendo DS.

The game is set in real-world cities and locations in North America, Europe and Africa such as...

• London
• San Francisco
• Washington D.C
• Berlin
• Paris
• Rome
• Cairo

Armed with an array of stylish and powerful cars, players can whiz past famous real-world monuments such as the Tower Bridge, London Eye, Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, the Gherkin, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.
While competing in single player Quick Race, Time Trial or City Racer DS Championship modes, players can marvel at the awe inspiring beauty of the White House, Capitol Hill, the Giza pyramids, the Sphinx, the Brandenburg Gate, the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the St. Peter's Basilica. The game also features local and internet multiplayer.

The salient features of City Racer DS include:

• 10 different cars with varying speed and handling
• 7 different real-world cities and locations in North America, Europe and Africa
• Quick Race, Time Trial and Championship single player modes
• Local and internet multiplayer
• Single cartridge dual player multiplayer
• Contemporary music sound track

Magician's Quest Mysterious Times RPG for Nintendo DS

Become the greatest magician of all time by solving mysteries and travelling through an epic adventure in the most immersive simulation game on Nintendo DS Konami reveale a trailer and details from the upcoming real-time adventure title Magician's Quest Mysterious Times for Nintendo DS. Magician's Quest Mysterious Times is a unique combination of adventure and simulation RPG. Players are tasked with attending classes at Magic Academy while learning the mysteries of magic and the art of casting spells while building relationships with other students.

As players attend classes, they'll be immersed in a living, breathing world where time progresses as it does in the real world, and each week, player's skills are put to the test in a new magical adventure. Using their spell casting abilities and unique interactions with other characters and their surroundings, players are confronted with puzzles and adventures that will challenge their skill.

Magician's Quest Mysterious Times contains over 50 mysterious events and introduces a variety of unique characters. These events and characters will challenge you as a magician both in your spell casting abilities and by figuring out the challenge through a series of correct responses and actions. Below are a few event examples and a few advanced tips on how players can solve them:

Sphinx: Journey to Magic Academy where you'll be met by the Sphinx. There he will ask you a question which you must answer correctly. Upon answering the question correctly or not, the Sphinx will move to a different location where you'll have to find him. Once you find him, you can cast a spell to make it rain which requires you have aquamarine in your possession. The Sphinx moves again. Find him and cast the rainbow spell which requires you have turquoise in your possession. The Sphinx moves again. Find him and cast the spell to make it rain flowers, which requires you to have the marguerite flower in your possession. This will complete the challenge.

Death: Head down to the Post Office where you'll need to speak with Thom, the post office worker to trigger the event. Once you do, Death will appear. Death is there to take Thom's soul and your job is to save it. Death will play a song called "That's Soul". You then need to go into town and buy the CD that has that song on it, return and give it to Death in exchange for Thom's soul. This will complete the challenge.

Martian: Mysterious Time begins and you'll be thrust into an environment where you'll be greeted by a Martian. He'll speak in his mystery language which you'll need to figure out to answer his questions. When he asks you his second question, answer "no". Once you do so you'll need to hand him the Flower of Skull which you must have in your possession. This will complete the challenge.

Dragon: Walk all the way to the back of the cave where you meet the dragon. He's stuck in the cave because he can't fly. After he speaks, go to the spell casting screen and select the "greeting" icon. Then he'll ask you to give him 3 kinds of medicine which require 3 different items: Freaky Frog Fat, Ancient Dragon Scale and Mandragona Root. You'll need to watch him for some time to make sure he's okay. After the last of the medicine the dragon will thank you which will complete the challenge.

Nessie: Nessie lives deep in the cave, after he speaks go to the spell casting screen and select the "greeting" icon. Nessie will retreat back into the lake and you'll have to leave the cave. Enter again and Nessie reappears, asking you if you've brought him an item. You'll need to give Nessie a fish 4 times, after which, Nessie will thank you. Next, Nessie will demand a song and you'll have to whistle until Nessie thanks you and says goodbye. This will complete the challenge.

Hasbro Family Game Night Vol 2 - Sequel to Award-Winning Video Game Expanding Collection of Family Favourite Games and Fun

MR. POTATO HEAD is once again stepping up to the microphone as the M.C. of Fun to rally families and friends together to play a new lineup of Hasbro-inspired games in HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT VOLUME 2. The video game, currently in development for the Wii and Nintendo DS, is slated to launch this year. HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT VOLUME 2 follows the release of the original HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT, which launched in November 2008 and received several accolades including a Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award as well as an “All-Star” Award from Toy Wishes Magazine.

HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT VOLUME 2 for the Wii will include five popular games: OPERATION, JENGA, BOP-IT, PICTUREKA, and CONNECT 4X4. Each game will offer an Original Mode reflecting traditional board game play and Advanced Modes, including the all-new “Hasbro Family Game Show” which shifts players into party mode with MR. POTATO HEAD as the master of ceremonies. Players will feel as if they’ve been transported to a live television game show studio complete with an audience, a spinning “Challenge Wheel” and the opportunity to win big virtual prizes. In addition to providing new and exciting ways to play, the Wii version will allow fans to completely customize MR. POTATO HEAD, pick new themes, and obtain new trophies to add to their collection.

“HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT VOLUME 2 delivers an exciting new lineup of classic and refreshed Hasbro games designed to bring families and friends together for quality, memorable experiences,” said Chip Lange, General Manager of EA’s Hasbro Division. “We’ve created incredibly innovative ways to play fan favourites like OPERATION and JENGA, and added features such as a competitive but fun “Game Show” mode and the ability to customise MR. POTATO HEAD making this game a ‘must-have’ for all ages this year.”

Arriving for the first time on the Nintendo DS, this version is designed for portable fun on-the-go and features a mix of new and favourite games from the previously released HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT on the console. Games will include CONNECT 4, BATTLESHIP, SORRY! Sliders, OPERATION and BOP-IT. Each will offer both original and new ways to play as well as wireless support for multi-player competition.

“EA continues to do a tremendous job of re-imagining and deepening the gameplay experience of Hasbro games across video game platforms,” said Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro. “HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT VOLUME 2 will be a great blend of classic, refreshed and new games that will serve as a great reason to invite family and friends over for an evening of fun.”

HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT VOLUME 2 is being developed at EA Bright Light and will be available in 2009.

A stranded tribe needs help Virtual Villagers - A New Home on Nintendo DS

Virtual Villagers - A New Home for Nintendo DS. This colourful, real-time life simulation will be published in Q3 2009. Virtual Villagers: A New Home takes players to a beautiful tropical island where they are tasked with helping a tribe of stranded villagers to survive and discover the island’s many secrets. Surprising events, challenging puzzles, and fun-to-play mini games all await players eager to take up the task.

When a volcano destroys their former home, a band of survivors find themselves washed up on the shores of the beautiful Isola Island. Luckily, their new homeland appears peaceful and fertile. The stranded villagers are able to find berries, fish are plentiful in the nearby ocean, and building materials are available for the villagers to construct their first huts. Until the player assigns tasks, the villagers wander around the island, just playing tag or chatting, and just like real people, the Virtual Villagers will become sad or sick if not given enough attention. However, the player can help by putting the villagers in touch with their friends. They are able to heal and cheer each other up. Good tempered villagers can even fall in love and have babies, helping the tribe to prosper.

Players can customize their Virtual Villagers in many different ways. New names can be assigned and colourful clothes and accessories including exotic flowers and other collectible items, can be changed to suit the player’s current mood. Players also will help guide their villagers in their occupations, determining what role they will play on the island.

Life on the island never stands still. Due to a persistent game world, time continues to move forward even if the Nintendo DS is closed or turned off. When returning to the game, players can always look forward to a surprise such as the villagers celebrating the anniversary of their arrival, finding various messages in the bottles that wash ashore, or discovering a new mini game has been unlocked. Dozens of unexpected events will occur.

Virtual Villagers provides easy-to-play fun through discovering the island and taking care for its inhabitants – complicated micro-management isn’t needed. Virtual Villagers: A New Home is dedicated to younger simulation fans and casual gamers alike. This Nintendo DS title is also for gamers on the go who only have short periods of time to play.

“keen games and dtp entertainment have done an exceptional job bringing this Virtual Villagers title to Nintendo DS”, says Arthur Humphrey, Founder of Last Day of Work, the team that created the successful Virtual Villagers series for PC. “This game is a natural fit for the system and we are confident and excited to debut our Virtual Villagers franchise on this platform.” Virtual Villagers – A New Home is developed by keen games in Frankfurt/Germany, based on a license from Big Fish Games.

Wolfenstein video game music by Bill Brown

Activision and id Software announced that Wolfenstein is set to feature an original score by award-winning composer, Bill Brown. Brown’s work has been featured in numerous feature films and television shows with credits, including: “Ali,” “Any Given Sunday,” “CSI: NY” and “Finding Forrester.” He previously also scored id’s hit Return to Castle Wolfenstein.

“Bill was the natural choice to create a soundtrack that emphasises the fast-paced action of Wolfenstein while enhancing the overall mood during key moments and getting players fully immersed in the adventure,” says Kevin Cloud, executive producer at id Software. “Bill crafted the perfect soundtrack when we previously worked together on Return to Castle Wolfenstein and his experience and passion for the franchise will once again allow him to deliver an incredible score that draws the player deeper into the Wolfenstein universe.”

Wolfenstein is scheduled for release later this year on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC and is not yet rated.

Bomb Disposal Expert video game now available on Xbox Live

Evolution Dreams Studio is proud to release their new game Bomb Disposal Expert on Xbox Live Community Games at an incredible price, only 200 Microsoft Points.

You are a Bomb Disposal Expert in training. Hold your nerve while you exercise your memory and rhythm, following the light sequences. Hurry up or the bomb will explode! Play with up to eight friends (only one pad needed) in a crazy multiplayer mode. And if you start to think it's easy to defuse a bomb, try the special modes: mirror, clockwise and counterclockwise... and think again!!

Feel like a member of a federal agency and play through the Career mode with 20 bombs to defuse, the Arcade mode with Time Attack and Unlimited options, and score rankings, a multiplayer mode up to 8 players (only one controller is necessary), with 15 Awards to unlock and a practice mode with all the settings to play with. And all this for only 200 Microsoft Points.

The prestigious website IGN.com, in a feature published on May 1, picked Bomb Disposal Expert as one of the best games on Xbox Live Community Games.

Visit the official website and enjoy the flash minigame: www.bombdisposalexpert.com
Get more info and download the demo from the Xbox 360 Marketplace: www.bombdisposalexpert.com/xbox/

World of Tunes video game now on Apple App Store

Com2uS announce that World of Tunes is now available on the Apple App Store. World of Tunes is an easy-to-learn iPhone and iPod touch game for all ages, where players must help the Tuneys, passive creatures who value peace, love and harmony, defend themselves from the evil Robotica, who are bent on destroying music.

The only way to beat the Silence Overlord, of course, is through music-and it's up to players to keep the rhythm and save the Tuneys.

World of Tunes features addictive gameplay that fully utilizes the innovative Multi-Touch user interface of the devices and includes great music and stunning graphics. Each of the 10 colorful stages, playable at three difficulty levels and in four different modes, features a puzzle background that is revealed as players successfully keep the beat.

World of Tunes is available for $4.99 from Apple's App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/

EA Opens Applications for Ultima Online - Stygian Abyss Beta Test

Mythic Entertainment, an Electronic Arts studio, announce that it is now accepting applications for the Ultima Online - Stygian Abyss closed beta test at http://www.uoherald.com/beta. Beta testers for Stygian Abyss, the upcoming expansion to one of the longest-running MMORPGs in history, will have the chance to experience the playable Gargoyle race before anyone else.

The closed beta, set to begin later this month, has a limited number of available spots for eligible applicants. Closed beta testers must be current Ultima Online subscribers and will be selected based on computer system specs, previous testing experience, community involvement and other criteria.

To apply for the closed beta, please visit http://www.uoherald.com/beta.

Ultima Online: Stygian Abyss expansion requires the original Ultima Online game to play and will be available in the Summer of 2009 via digital distribution only. To find out more information about the Gargoyle race, skills and lands, please visit the Ultima Online: Stygian Abyss website: http://www.uoherald.com/stygianabyss

Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Shania Twain and More Join the Rock Band Platform July 21, 2009

Harmonix and MTV Games along with distribution partner Electronic Arts announce plans for a July 21, 2009 North American release of Rock Band Country Track Pack for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment systems, and Wii system from Nintendo.

“Rock Band loves country music too, and these tracks are among the most fun to play of any we've released to date,” said Paul DeGooyer, Senior Vice President of Electronic Games & Music for MTV Networks Music Group. “We’ve received a ton of requests from fans to bring more country to the game, and our artist partners responded. We're very excited to be able to offer this set, featuring some of the greatest songs ever recorded.”

Rock Band Country Track Pack is a standalone software product that allows owners of Rock Band andRock Band 2 to keep the party going with 21 songs from an outstanding mix of country artists, including Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Shania Twain, Rascal Flatts and the legendary Kenny Rogers. Many of the tracks will be exclusive to the Rock Band Country Track Pack disc for a limited time before joining the Rock Band Music Store as downloadable content. Additional artists and songs from the track list will be announced in the coming months.

In addition, Rock Band Country Track Pack, like all Rock Band software, is compatible with all Rock Band instrument controllers, as well as most Guitar Hero and other current third party video game instrument controllers. Fans who buy the Rock Band Country Track Pack for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system can play directly from the disc or download the songs onto their consoles’ hard drives through a free offer with Xbox LIVE online entertainment network or the PlayStation Network. Once downloaded, the songs will automatically appear in the player’s custom Rock Band library and can be integrated into setlists and played in all game modes. With more than 660 tracks available in the Rock Band music catalogue and regular releases of downloadable content every week, Rock Band Country Track Pack is yet another way music-lovers can continue to expand and customize their music libraries.

First Confirmed Songs for ROCK BAND COUNTRY TRACK PACK:

Artist Song Title
1. Alan Jackson Good Time
2. Brooks & Dunn Hillbilly Deluxe
3. Dierks Bentley Free & Easy (Down the Road I Go)
4. Dixie Chicks Sin Wagon
5. Drive-By Truckers 3 Dimes Down
6. Jason Aldean She’s Country
7. Kenny Chesney She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy
8. Kenny Rogers The Gambler
9. Lucinda Williams Can’t Let Go
10. Martina McBride This One’s For the Girls
11. Rascal Flatts Me and My Gang
12. Shania Twain Any Man of Mine
13. Steve Earle Satellite Radio

Price: $29.99 MSRP

The Rock Band franchise is the ultimate platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music like never before. The game challenges players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune – all while learning to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals. Featuring the most master recordings of any music game ever by the world’s biggest rock artists, the Rock Band music catalogue includes tracks that span every genre of rock, ranging from alternative and classic rock, to heavy metal and punk.

Rock Band™ Country Track Pack™ is rated “E10+” for Everyone 10+ with a descriptor of Lyrics by the ESRB.

Rock Band and Rock Band 2 are currently available for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation 2 systems and Wii.

The Chronicles of Spellborn - All about Demon Chests, and how they'll put hairs on yours

Demon Chests

What is is and how it works! A mysterious treasure of unknown origins has been uncovered!
Located in the basement of the Enclave Palace on the shard of Quarterstone, the Chamber of Cowardice awakens from its slumber. Champions entering the Chamber recognize fallen Maulites and a statue representing one of the Eight Demons.

The statue is lurched over a chest: a treasure chest — a Demon Chest! What kind of wealth and fortune is contained within a chest displayed in such a manner? Who placed it there and why? Should it be approached with caution, with greed or maybe a bit of both?

Its origin unknown, there should be details about the Chest somewhere. A book or scroll on a dusty forgotten shelf perhaps? Maybe in some of the ancient and warped stories passed down within the older bloodlines; deemed to be mere bedtime fairytales, they may be closer to the truth than anyone might expect.

The Chest’s build quality is clearly impeccable and its contents are sealed behind three unbreakable locks. They may look similar from a distance, but studying them up close might help in determining the origin or whereabouts of the appropriate keys.

The Demon Chest of Cowardice

This the first of the Demon Chests uncovered by the Enclave. It can be found in the basement of the Enclave Palace in the Oracle District of Quarterstone.

Every day, the Chamber to this chest will be accessible for a limited time only. The Chamber opens up in the evening (based on local Universe time) and remains available until the Universe restarts on the following day. The Chamber will also close after the chest has been looted; remaining players will be placed outside of it.

The hallways to the Chamber are not enabled for PvP and allow access to the Chamber from multiple sides. Inside the Chamber, however, High House PvP is activated after a 5 second timer.

Keys

The Demon Chest contains three locks, each with their own associated keys:
The Key of Cowardice
This one key is unique to the Demon Chest and can only drop from a limited selection of opponents in the game world. It will unlock one specific lock on the Demon Chest.
Faction Keys
The other two locks are bound to factions. For Demon Chest of Cowardice, Urvhail and Brotherhood of the Glaive have a chance of carrying these keys around. These faction-keys are not exclusive for use with the Demon Chest, but will be used to access faction related content in the near future.

Player looting

All keys can be looted from player inventories! This means that in a PvP situation, the player who deals the killing blow will receive all the keys currently in possession of the victim. Keys can be looted by other players for an infinite amount of times and can also be traded between players in a more civilized fashion.

Please note that there are no visual indicators to show whether a player carries a key or how many! Happy looting!

Spellborn Chests

PDC world championship darts game - friends and family tournament

PDC World Championship Darts 2009 on Nintendo Wii gives you the opportunity to play darts with your family & friends without leaving any holes in the lounge wall. In the game’s Tournament Mode you can play with up to eight friends challenging each other for the top spot in the PDC Order of Merit, playing as one of 18 Pro Players or as your own custom character.

If you fancy yourself as a bit of an expert, try out the Practice Board with reduced bed sizes and see how close you are to hitting the doubles and becoming a professional.

But if the pressure of the worldwide tournament venues and crowds is too much, then retire to the cosy environment of the well trodden local and play one of the thirteen classic Party Games with the family.

PDC Darts 2009 is now accessible for all the family, whatever ability and whatever age. Both young & old can individually select a dart weight suitable to their throwing power or for a level playing field, change the assist level to influence throwing sensitivity and match their abilities.

PDC World Championship Darts 2009 on Nintendo DS and Wii is available in all stores on 29th May 2009.

Playing features:
• 3 assist modes ranging from Off to Maximum
• Various dart weights, flights & barrels to counter balance the sensitivity of your throw providing settings suitable for all the family.
• 13 x fun, fast party games for the family including all the classics - Killer, Around the Clock, Knockout, Shanghai, Fives and more.
• Play practice darts in the pub with 2 – 4 mates before becoming a Pro.

Dawn of Magic 2 PC video game

Kalypso Media have today announced that they will be publishing the sequel to the highly successful action role-playing game Dawn of Magic. In Dawn of Magic 2 players will again have to save the world from the dreaded Legions of the Shadows.

The sequel is set 10 years after Dawn of Magic. The fragile balance between the forces on Earth has disintegrated. The evil forces won’t leave Earth without a desperate struggle even after the death of the monstrous immortal Modo.

Time is pressing and you have little time to carry out your mission. Use your magical skills and the power of hard steel to defend yourself and save Earth. Are you ready to prevent an invasion by the Legions of Shadows? If so you must start another hazardous journey to the labyrinths of The Other World in Dawn of Magic 2?

Key features

- Comprehensive Action-Role-Playing
- Balanced wizardry system based on 12 schools of magic
- More than 100 spells that can be combined
- Dynamic combat mode using combos, skills and magic
- Dozens of different elaborated characters and monsters
- Advanced NPC system
- Multiple hazardous adventures and fascinating quests
- Atmospheric sounds, speech and music themes

Dawn of Magic 2 will be released this summer for a RRP of £29.99.

NEVES WiiWare Egyptian puzzle video game

Attention puzzle fans: prepare to be playfully perplexed as YUKE’S Company of America today launches the official website and gameplay trailer for NEVES Plus, the upcoming addition to Nintendo’s WiiWare game service.

Developed by Akinai Games, NEVES Plus features more than 500 mind-bending tangram challenges. The original single-player NEVES experience has been enhanced and expanded, exploding with new silhouettes, a variety of single and multiplayer modes and an engaging Egyptian theme. Gameplay in NEVES Plus is deceptively simple – using just 7 “Lucky” stones, or puzzle pieces, which players must move, flip and rotate to fill on-screen silhouettes.

The new NEVES Plus video trailer provides a sneak peak at the addictively entertaining challenges ahead, including Wii gameplay mechanics and multiplayer modes in NEVES Plus. You can now find full game details and the official NEVES Plus trailer on the Web at www.NEVESPlus.com.

NEVES Plus will be available in soon, downloadable through Nintendo’s WiiWare™ game service. Rated “E” for “Everyone” by the ESRB, NEVES Plus is appropriate and fun for gamers of all ages.

Peggle video game now on the iPhone

PopCap Games, the leading developer and publisher of casual games, today announced the launch of Peggle for the iPhone and iPod touch. The game is available now for US $4.99 from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch, or at www.itunes.com/appstore/. One of the most critically acclaimed “casual” video games of recent years, Peggle has been downloaded nearly 50 million times and appeals to gamers of all shapes and sizes.

“Our new adaptation of Peggle for iPhone and iPod touch was truly a labor of love,” stated Andrew Stein, director of mobile business development at PopCap. “We spent huge amounts of time specifically optimizing this version of one of our favorite games to one of the world’s coolest devices, so that it was just right.”

Combining elements of pinball and pachinko, Peggle players fire a metallic silver ball from the top of the screen, relying on gravity to propel the ball downwards while it ricochets off unique arrangements of orange and blue pegs. The goal is to clear all the orange pegs from the screen, while earning as many points as possible, before running out of balls. A moving bucket at the bottom of the screen offers free balls, while green power-up pegs unlock special abilities via ten unique and memorable Peggle Masters who guide players through dozens of levels of gameplay challenges. Power-ups include explosive area-clearing blasts, lobster claws that serve as pinball-like flippers and “fireballs” that cut through all pegs in their path.

Exclusive to the iPhone and iPod touch versions of Peggle, the game boasts a host of specifically optimized features. These include a special ‘zoom’ feature for extra-accurate aiming, new types of style shots, a special aiming wheel for precision control, a new trophy system, and an enhanced UI to take advantage of the Touch and iPhone’s intuitive touch interface.

Since its first introduction in March 2007, the Peggle series has been downloaded more than 45 million times on the Web, and garnered more than a dozen awards from leading industry associations and trade journals. The game is now available for PC, Mac, Web, video iPod, iPod Touch, iPhone, 650 models of mobile feature phones and smartphones, Nintendo DS and Xbox Live Arcade.

Sacred 2 - Fallen Angel in stores for the Xbox 360

cdv and Ascaron Entertainment are pleased to announce that Sacred 2: Fallen Angel for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft has shipped to North American retailers. For a list of some of the retail outlets that are carrying the game, please visit - http://www.cdvusa.com/pages/buy-sacred2.

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is a hack-and-slash action-RPG with a rich story that takes place in a gigantic seamless world. This world contains massive dungeons, treacherous opponents and hundreds of challenging quests. Intelligent enemies, which adapt in number and difficulty based on player progress, challenge gamers in heroic single- and multiplayer battles for up four players on next-generation consoles.

Bejeweled Twist now available on PC CD-ROM

The most popular casual game franchise of the 21st century is back, and you’ve never seen it like this before! Focus Multimedia, the UK’s leading publisher of PC value and casual games, is pleased to announce the release of Bejeweled Twist at UK retail.

Bejeweled Twist is another product of Focus Multimedia’s successful partnership with PopCap Games, the leading developer and publisher of casual games. To date, 15 PopCap titles have now been launched in the UK and Ireland by Focus.

Adding a “twist” to Bejeweled’s tale, the new game mechanic is fresh and exciting, while still retaining all of the features which have made the casual game franchise one of the best-loved of all time.

The challenging new style of gameplay removes the barriers of traditional match-3 games. Instead of swapping adjacent jewels to make a match, players rotate an entire 2x2 block of gems clockwise in an effort to create a line of three or more gems of the same type.

Also, it’s no longer necessary to make a match with every move – instead gems can be freely rotated anywhere on the board. This allows for greater liberty of movement and adds a more strategic element to the game. Players can now plan combinations, cascades and chains in advance, making the resulting explosions and high scores much more rewarding.

Bejeweled Twist has four modes of play. Classic and Zen modes are available from the beginning and the others are unlocked as you progress through the game:
• Classic: Classic features Bomb gems that tick down to a deadly detonation. You need to clear them before they hit zero or it's game over!
• Zen: You literally can't lose in this free-form mode. Explore dozens of alien worlds as you hone your gem-matching skills without the pressure of obstacles or time.
• Blitz: You have just five minutes to get the best score you can.
• Challenge: Designed for the serious problem-solver, Challenge mode offers a dozen separate puzzle worlds, each with seven levels of difficulty and a final infinite stage.

With endless rewards, constant surprises and all-new elements, the latest incarnation of the classic puzzle game will impress existing fans of the franchise and also entice new players to boost the ranks of over 350 million worldwide.

So if you’re looking for a chance to shine, grab your copy of Bejeweled Twist today! But beware, you’ll be rotating gems until the wee hours, muttering “Just five more minutes…”

Bejeweled Twist joins Focus Multimedia’s Essential range of great value PC games and software. Every Focus Essential title has the suggested retail price of just £9.78 including VAT.