Empire of Sports football first massively connected multisport 3D PC video game

Empire of Sports, the first virtual world entirely dedicated to sport, and NOMIS, the revolutionary football boot designer and manufacturer, have announced their partnership. NOMIS, whose design marks arguably the biggest progression in football boot innovation for decades, will soon be able to demonstrate the amazing performances of its boots to Empire of Sports’ players.

The first massively connected multisport 3D game, Empire of Sports is offering players a chance to practice through their avatars – their 3D representation in the virtual world – a wide range of sports that includes tennis, skiing, basketball, and of course football. As a unique place for many players to meet from all over the world, Empire of Sports also provides them with the perfect platform for competitions, where physical development and team practice are important, but also the best possible equipment, to ensure victories to their avatars and their team.

As a revolutionary football boot designer eager to show the world the qualities of its amazing design, NOMIS is a perfect match for the virtual world of Empire of Sports: through the forthcoming events that will be organized in partnership with NOMIS, Empire of Sports’ players will be able to win real NOMIS shoes, and their avatars will soon be able to buy virtual NOMIS shoes inside the game, to enhance their in-game football performances.

Alexis Galley, CEO of Empire of Sports, said: “We are delighted to welcome NOMIS as a new partner in Empire of Sports. Football is one of the most popular sports not only in the real world, but also in our virtual one, and NOMIS has the technical edge to bring much added value to our football players. We know that many people are willing to improve their football skills and we hope they enjoy this new partnership.”

Simon Skirrow, founder and CEO of NOMIS, said: “We are very happy to enter such a promising virtual world as Empire of Sports, and have our name next to prestigious partners like FC Barcelona. We believe our range of football boots are the most technically advanced and best performance enhancers on the market, and we trust Empire of Sports will demonstrate those qualities to a wider audience. We are very happy with the success met by the first competition that has just started within the community, and we can’t wait to the next steps of our partnership.”

If you are keen to start practicing virtual football and be ready to enter the next NOMIS event or try soon the first virtual NOMIS boots within Empire of Sports, all you need to do is download the game client from www.empireofsports.com (900 Mo), register and start playing for free!

Empire of Sports is currently in the Prologue phase: this phase allows the game to expand progressively, with the help and feedback of its vast community of online players.

Grand Theft Auto episode from Liberty City logo released

Use the search option to find more GTA posts on gamezplay

Win Your Very Own Copy of BRAINPIPE! video game

BRAINPIPE: A Plunge to Unhumanity is a game that not only will explode your eyeballs like a decompression chamber because of its amazingly cool visuals, but it also tickles your ears with some of the most hypnotic sounds to emanate from your computer speakers. The audio is a wonderful soundscape that won both the 2009 IGF Excellence in Audio award and an Ernie for the best in-game audio, and with that in mind what better way to honor the game but with a musical contest?

Shrapnel Games and game forum PwnEm.com have teamed up to allow two lucky winners to win their very own copy of the full retail version of Digital Eel's alien mind control device cleverly disguised as a computer game, BRAINPIPE: A Plunge to Unhumanity. The contest runs until August 22nd and is open to registered users of PwnEm.com, and since registration is quick and painless there's no reason not to sign up and take a chance on the contest.

The contest is very easy to participate in. Simply join the BRAINPIPE contest thread at PwnEm.com and either state a song that describes the game or a song that describes how you feel when you play the game. It doesn't matter if it's Rachmaninoff, Warbringer, or Elvis Costello, it's all about how the music and game tie together for YOU (although anyone posting something from Attack Attack! may be mocked).

Full details of the contest can be found on the PwnEM.com site.

BRAINPIPE: A Plunge to Unhumanity is the latest game from Digital Eel and is published by Shrapnel Games. Available as a download for only $14.95 for either PCs or Macs (or free to the contest winners), BRAINPIPE is one button journey through the darkest-and yet most colorful-regions of the mind.

Players dash through tunnels of wildly cascading colors, racing to collect glyphs while avoiding the dangers within, all for the ultimate goal of both the high score and ascension to another existence. BRAINPIPE: A Plunge to Unhumanity is playable in short sessions, making it perfect for either the quick breakaway or for multiple subsequent plays.

"The experience provided by this game can best be described as "Zen-like". It is impossible to worry about one's job, spouse, mortgage or other obligations when playing BRAINPIPE. The player is not driven by a competitive need to earn a high score, or even by curiosity about what the next level will be like. Instead, the player is transported into an abstract world that is enjoyable in its own right. The result is that a few minutes of playing BRAINPIPE have the same effect as a well-needed nap or an energizing piece of good news."

So says Raven Lebeau, and we agree. BRAINPIPE is an energizing piece of good news for you. Take a break from playing all those violent murder simulators and enjoy some good old fashioned gameplay by unleashing your inner tie-dyed hippie. Check out more information on the game or download the demo to experience a taste for yourself.
For more great games of the independent persuasion point your browser to www.shrapnelgames.com for our full catalog of award winning titles, along with freeware to download and an active community to join. Celebrating a decade in business, Shrapnel Games recent releases include War Plan Pacific, Battle Group Commander: Episode One, along with BRAINPIPE: A Plunge to Unhumanity. Look for the board game Eat Electric Death! to ship this quarter.

BOH video game now runs on Linux with latest update

BOH continues to improve and now it even runs natively on Linux!

Specifically, this update:

* makes the game run natively on Linux (requires an x86 CPU, SDL 1.2 and SDL_mixer-1.2);
* avoids the restart of the whole program upon theme change (very useful when playing in full screen, as the monitor does not need to re-sync);
* adds themes randomization options;
* adds the "USE ENHANCED WEAPONS" option (makes killing enemies easier);
* slows down the blinking of the automapper direction indicator;
* adds video mode suggestions;
* fixes a minor bug in the zoom selection handling (in rare cases it could cause an illegal memory access);
* fixes bad centering at 4x zoom (a couple of parentheses were missing);
* links the AmigaOS version to the latest SDL;
* links the Windows version to a fresh build of the custom framework (by mistake an outdated framework had been used with the consequence that, on some machines, input handling was partially broken);
* includes some graphical retouches to the themes "castle" and "warm";
* adds synopses to the phases of the mission "tougher and tougher";
* updates and improves the user's manual;
* improves some translations;
* applies some other changes.


BOH owners can enjoy the update by downloading it for free from the DOWNLOADS page of the official website at www.bohthegame.com.

The demos available on the same page have been updated to reflect the changes.

About BOH:

BOH is an original, retro-flavoured game of exploration and action.
You move in claustrophobic, traps-packed, mind-boggling battlefields searching for the Evil Masters, who throw countless enemies at you until you discover and face them in the final battle. Although your quests are made slightly less hard by the bonuses and power-ups scattered all around, carrying out the missions demands lots of concentration and quick reflexes.
With BOH the fun never ends: new missions can be added anytime and you can even create your own! And, as if that was not enough, you can also customize entirely its audio-visual aspect!
BOH has been created with lots of passion and care to offer, with its oldschool style, a fascinatingly different videogaming experience.

To learn more about BOH, please surf to the official website at www.bohthegame.com.

World Cyber Games (WCG) Grand Final kicks-off in Chengdu, China in 100 days

With just under 100 days remaining until the World Cyber Games (WCG) Grand Final kicks-off in Chengdu, China, the WCG has announced key dates leading up to the showcase event for the world's largest and most inclusive international computer and videogame festival. This year, over 700 of the world's top eSports players from more than 70 countries are expected to represent their countries and battle it out for honor and glory at the Grand Final, known as the Olympics of gaming.

The road to the exciting and intensely competitive five-day journey that will determine the best eSports players in the world kicks into high gear as all participating Grand Final countries conduct their National Final. Included amongst them will be TEAM USA, who won the overall tournament in 2007 and finished third last year. The U.S. will determine its team for the 12 official WCG titles at the National Finals held in conjunction with the New York Anime Festival on September 25-27. Anyone who wants to participate in the USA WCG National Final this year still has time to qualify by visiting www.WCG.com/USA to register for the WCG Online Tournaments to qualify for your shot at TEAM USA.

Fans can follow all of the action for the U.S. National Final, and all other National Finals, by logging onto www.WCG.com. Additionally, if they log on in September, they can watch live as the WCG unveils the group drawings. During the live event, fans can find out the match-ups for the Grand Final.

In October, online press registration will be open during October for all media interested in attending the event. Media members can save time by obtaining their press pass on-site directly during the event, guaranteeing admission to all WCG 2009 Grand Final events.

Here comes the HERO!

Come and meet the heroes!

See you in Chengdu!

WipEout HD Fury PlayStation 3 update Increases the content of your current game with 4 new tracks, 13 new ship models and 3 new game modes

WipEout HD Fury is an expansion pack for WipEout HD, Sony Liverpool's blisteringly fast-paced anti-gravift craft racer in which you use a mixture of speed and weaponry to compete against other racers across some funky, futuristic-looking tracks. Available exclusively as a downloadable title from the PlayStation Store, HD Fury offers a wealth of new content, which is reflected in its lofty £7.99 price tag and 700MB file size.

‘Fury’ is an appropriate word to use in the expansion’s title. The menu interface has had a makeover that reflects the game's title, with the clean white and blue menu of WipEout HD making way for a fierce looking red design that gives the expansion a unique look. New audio tracks have also been added which incorporate the ‘Fury’ theme well by throwing into to the mix some bouncing techno beats that replace the likes of Kratwerk’s hypnotic ambient sounds from Wipeout HD.

HD Fury boasts four new tracks, all of which are playable in reverse, and 13 new ship models, alongside online play and 13 new trophies to unlock. The biggest entry however is the three new game modes, including Eliminator, Zone Battle, and Detonator, plus an 80 event Fury campaign mode.

The Fury campaign offers the bulk of the new content, incorporating all of the new game modes. In the weapon-enabled Eliminator mode, the focus is heavily placed on destruction as you zip around the tracks until a player reaches a set score. Zone Battle makes use of boosting pads and as you attempt to be the first player to reach set zones. And finally, Detonator plays like an on-rails shooter where you need to score points by destroying the mines that have been strewn along the track, while attempting to take out the bomb on each stage to earn additional points.

Just like the original WipEout HD, the new content in HD Fury is displayed in 1080p resolution and runs at a silky smooth 60fps.

Call of Duty - World at War free iphone offers the latest news and stats

Marking a first for the Call of Duty franchise and its millions of dedicated fans, Activision Publishing, Inc. and Call of Duty - World at War developer Treyarch, will launch the first iPhone application as a companion for the blockbuster game today via iTunes- for free. The Call of Duty: World at War Companion allows fans who own iPhones to remotely access important news and updates from the palm of their hand.Additionally, players with linked accounts on www.CoDWaW.com (for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system from Sony) will be able to see key stats from the game. The application will support unique registered player accounts for Call of Duty: World at War fans by providing:

* Stat-Tracking: Check your rank on key stats like K/D ratio, win/lose record and more.
* Performance Tracking: Gain quick access to all of your weapon usage.
* Link with Friends: Monitor online activity, and the stats of friends with linked accounts on www.CoDWaW.com to compare progress.
* News: Access the latest news/blogs, Treyarch’s community Twitter feed (Twitter: JD_2020), as well as the latest on new maps, double XP weekends and contests.


The Call of Duty: World at War iPhone application also will be supported via a robust website (www.CoDWaW.com) providing a wide range of statistics and information for the site’s 1.75 million registered members. Members can easily link their web accounts to their in-game statistics and view live multiplayer-based leaderboards and compete against other players for prizes in private community tournaments. In addition, the site offers daily tips and exclusive information via the Community Blog and provides global statistics allowing players to see how they rank against others worldwide.

According to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk, Call of Duty: World at War has sold more than 11 million units to date worldwide across all platforms. Additionally, Treyarch’s first two downloadable map packs have surpassed more than four million paid downloads on both Xbox LIVE and the PlayStation Network (combined), with a third map pack on the way this August.

Call of Duty: World at War is rated “M” (Mature) by the ESRB for Intense Violence, Strong Language, Blood and Gore.

Reel Fishing - Angler's Dream - Most Realistic Fishing Experience on the Nintendo Wii Yet!

Natsume announce that Reel Fishing: Angler's Dream has gone to gold master and will launch for the Nintendo Wii this month. The Reel Fishing franchise is known for setting itself apart from the competition by delivering the most true-to-life fishing experience.

"We can't wait for people to get their hands on Reel Fishing: Angler's Dream this month," said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. "It offers a fun and challenging fishing experience for novice fishermen and master anglers alike!"

Reel Fishing: Angler's Dream features picturesque environments, soothing environmental sounds, and a realistic fishing engine where fish flee, dive, and jump just like they would in real life! Players will travel to pristine lakes, raging rivers, and tropical oceans filled with the biggest fish around. With a variety of realistic stages, tons of fresh and salt water fish, and over 100 pieces of tackle to unlock, Reel Fishing: Angler's Dream has something to offer every angler! Players can raise their catches in aquariums, then release them back into the wild for an even bigger challenge! Players can also test their fishing skills against family and friends in the 2-4 player Versus Mode!

No matter whether players are casual anglers or seasoned veterans, Reel Fishing: Angler's Dream offers tons of fishing fun! It's the closest you can get to the real thing without putting on your waders!

GearGrinder action arcade racing video game packshot and new screenshots

Headup Games, a recently founded and independently financed publishing company for core PC titles located near Cologne in Germany reveals the final pack shot and new screen shots for GearGrinder, a bone crashing action/arcade racing-game, to be released September 17th 2009.

Buckle up and enjoy fully motorized mayhem with GearGrinder, the new incarnation of an underrepresented genre of arcade racing action. Take full control of your powerful truck, mounted with the most devastating weapons available, malicious mines and more nifty gadgets, and complete over 45 versatile and thrilling missions, leaving a trail of devastation wherever you go. Need something extra? Just transform your vehicle from combat to racing mode, deploy your jet engine and smile at your opponents while they watch your rear light disappear in the distance.
With destructible race environments ranging from shabby industrial circuits and cramped city tracks to the most gorgeous countryside, multiplayer modes for up to 8 players (LAN) and a thrilling story about a lot of money, hunger for power, corruption and friendship, GearGrinder will trigger the surge of adrenalin every man needs at regular intervals…

GearGrinder is scheduled for release September 17th 2009.

Hollywood Veteran Screenwriter Chris Morgan Joins Red Eagle Games as Story Director for Games Based on The Wheel of Time Series

Red Eagle Games announced today that film industry veteran Chris Morgan has been engaged by Red Eagle Games as Story Director for the company's forthcoming video games derived from the rich assortment of characters and storylines from Robert Jordan's beloved fantasy book series, The Wheel of Time.

Based in Los Angeles, Morgan has worked in the film industry for nearly a decade. His films have grossed nearly one billion dollars in worldwide box-office receipts. Morgan's screenwriting credits include Cellular, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Wanted and Fast and Furious. In addition to his involvement with Red Eagle Games, Morgan is currently working on the big-screen adaptation of video game Gears of War, the next installment in the Fast and Furious franchise, and samurai action movie 47 Ronin.

In addition, Morgan will be joining veteran Electronic Arts Executive Tom Frisina; Barry Hirsch, a leader in the field of entertainment law; entertainment consumer products marketing and branding expert Peter Dang; Keith Boesky, founder and principal of video game consultancy Boesky & Company; and IBM Serious Games Program Manager Phaedra Boinodiris on the Red Eagle Games Advisory Council. Red Eagle Games has carefully assembled the Council to complement and support the Red Eagle Games management team's skills and backgrounds, and the council members represent decades of experience in new media, entertainment and technology.

"As a massive fan of The Wheel of Time series, and a lifelong gamer, I jumped at the chance to be part of the Red Eagle Games team," Morgan said. "The world that Robert Jordan created is so rich, the characters and storylines so varied and inventive, that I feel like a kid in a candy store. It's really a dream opportunity for me."

Along with the Universal Pictures feature film, to be produced by Red Eagle Entertainment executives Rick Selvage and Larry Mondragon, a line of stand-alone Wheel of Time games is in the works for all major videogame platforms, including consoles, personal computers, handheld systems and wireless devices, to be distributed by Electronic Arts. In addition, Red Eagle Games intends to launch and operate a massively multiplayer online role-playing game encompassing the themes, characters and world of The Wheel of Time novels.

The details of Jordan's meticulously crafted series have captivated readers since 1990, when The Eye of the World, the first book in the series, was published. Eleven additional books, including one prequel, have since been added to the series and have consistently appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List with the last four of his novels in the series debuting at No. 1. Jordan passed away in 2007 at the age of 58, but his publisher, Tor Books, recently announced that a final trilogy of novels will bring his epic series to its long-awaited climax. The next installment in the series, entitled The Gathering Storm, is expected to be published in November of 2009 by Tor Books. This novel is being finished by fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson using notes, audio recordings and draft materials left with Jordan's wife and editor, Harriet Rigney.

Jordan's wildly popular books have been translated into 24 languages, and have sold about 44 million copies worldwide. According to Tor Books, the publisher of The Wheel of Time novels, there are about 65,000 The Wheel of Time fan Web sites as a part of a vast global on-line fan community.

About Red Eagle Games
Based in Southern California, Red Eagle Games is a new video game studio initially undertaking the transformation of Jordan's literary masterpiece "The Wheel of Time" into high-quality interactive gaming products for the personal computer, game consoles, mobile and wireless devices, and online play. Red Eagle Games was founded by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rick Selvage and Chief Operating Officer Larry Mondragon, who are also producing a live-action motion picture for Universal Pictures based upon The Wheel of Time.

Section 8 PC Beta Blasting into Europe from August 10 sign up now

SouthPeak Games is pleased to announce the European PC beta for its upcoming sci-fi shooter Section 8 will launch on August 10. Wannabe recruits for the 8th Armoured Infantry can register their interest at www.joinsection8.com before preparing themselves to burn into multi player matches from 15,000 ft above the battlefield.

The draft process for the beta has limited spaces, so those who want to take part in huge multiplayer matches – thanks to the game’s dedicated servers – should sign up as soon as possible. The recently re-launched JoinSection8.com also contains vital intel about the game and is the place to stay active within the Section 8 community.

Developed by TimeGate Studios and heading to PC and the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft this September, Section 8 evolves many of the tried-and-tested elements of multi player shooters. Players can burn into the map anywhere they want, change their character’s stats with in-depth customisation options, alter the flow of multi player matches by completing dynamic missions and even call in their own vehicles or weapons turrets.

NewU Fitness First Personal Trainer video game on Nintendo Wii

NewU Fitness First Personal Trainer isn’t just about fitness; it also contains a comprehensive, user friendly healthy eating program designed by the nutritional experts of well known TV show and book range You Are What You Eat.

Interest in wellness and nutrition is ever growing and today more than ever as people lead busier lives; it’s even more important to eat well. NewU Fitness First Personal Trainer considers well-being as a perfect balance between physical exercise and a healthy eating, the latter having been designed by the experts at You Are What You Eat.

NewU Fitness First Personal Trainer has 138 recipes, which equates to 20 weeks of different meals. These customised nutrition plans, combined with the right amount of exercise, can lead you to a better and happier lifestyle. NewU Fitness First Personal Trainer even caters for those with special nutritional requirements. For example if you are a vegetarian then in the profile set up, simply unselect the meat groups.

For each of the five meals (breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner & desert) you can choose from two different options and upon selecting one of them you will then have displayed all the ingredients and preparation steps. You can even set the meal selections for the entire week.
Moreover, setting again your profile in the NewU website, you can have access to the recipes and to other useful functions connected with your nutritional plan.

“Creating NewU Fitness First Personal Trainer we have thought about an easy and fair approach, instead of a demeaning or an un-motivating one. You won’t be asked for your weight or size and you will never find references to calories but you will have the guidelines to take control of your eating and enjoy the rewards of a healthier and happier life” says Carina Norris, journalist, MSc (Dist) Public Health Nutrition and contributor for the best seller You Are What You Eat.

Carina has provided her experience on nutrition and healthy lifestyle to create customized nutritional plans which added to a suitable exercise plan may lead to a real benefit and stimulate a newer and more positive way of life.

Ultimate video game for friends and family – Squeeballs Party out October 2009

Revolutionary game for all the family - Squeeballs Party – will launch in October 2009 for the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and Apple App Store.

The Squeeballs are 12 small, cuddly toy characters that are manufactured on a remote and secret island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. As part of the requirements, before they can be sold to children around the world, Squeeballs must be fully put to the test…to the point of destruction! You can blow up, cook, slice, bat, bowl, shoot and skim the Squeeballs through over 170 mini-game challenges.

“Squeeballs Party is unlike any other game out there,” said Harry Holmwood, VP, Software Development and Publishing of PDP Ltd. “The graphics and visual elements are incredibly realistic, and controlling the game through motion control really puts users at the heart of the action. Squeeballs Party will keep friends and family entertained throughout Christmas!”

On the Wii, Squeeballs Party can be played in head-to-head challenges with two players or in party mode for up to four competitors. On the Nintendo DS, players can choose to play on their own, or compete head-to-head against others with another Nintendo DS. The Nintendo DS game will also come bundled with an exclusive stylus, making the gameplay more interactive and engaging.

As an added bonus for Christmas, the Nintendo Wii games will come bundled with a soft plush Squeeballs toy featuring the most popular characters in the game.

Pricing

Nintendo Wii: RRP of £29.99
Nintendo DS: RRP of £24.99 (bundled with character stylus)
Apple App Store: TBC

The games will be available nationwide in October 2009 from all major retailers.

WHEELSPIN Futuristic Racing Game Developed by UK-Based Awesome Play Boosts Onto Nintendo Wii

ZeniMax to publish WHEELSPIN a futuristic racing game developed by Archer Maclean’s studio, Awesome Play, for Nintendo Wii. Due out in autumn 2009, WHEELSPIN is a high-energy racing, high-impact game spread across a wide range of inter-planetary tracks and features three engaging modes as well as robust multiplayer options.

Whether you play in Solo, Race, or Battle Mode, you will find yourself racing around unpredictable race tracks at exhilarating speeds of up to 650kph! While Solo mode challenges you to beat times to unlock stages, discover short cuts, and find secret spanners dotted throughout the levels, Race mode throws you into a frenzied race against seven other cars across tracks that twist, turn, and launch cars through the stratosphere. Battle mode is an all out test of aggression versus mobility as you use an arsenal of weapons at your disposal in an all-against-all battle.

WHEELSPIN also features impressive split-screen multiplayer Race and Battle modes that allows for up to eight players to compete concurrently. The game supports a combination of Nintendo Wii Remote, Classic Controllers, Nunchuk, Nintendo GameCube controllers, and force feedback racing wheels.

“WHEELSPIN is a frantically fast-paced game which pushes the Nintendo Wii to its maximum capabilities. With nothing but your own reactions and the tilt of the Nintendo Nintendo Wii Remote between you and victory, this game is a truly thrilling experience”, said Sean Brennan, Managing Director, ZeniMax Europe Ltd. “Archer Maclean and Awesome Play have delivered a great game which we believe gamers will relish the chance to get to grips with. WHEELSPIN makes great use of the controllers supported by the Nintendo Wii and players will find that there’s the perfect control set up for their individual gaming styles”.

"WHEELSPIN was designed exclusively for the Nintendo Wii - with the intention of pushing the hardware further than any other Nintendo Wii racing game to date. You have to see the graphics moving to believe its coming out of a Nintendo Wii - the visuals rush past smoothly at 60 FPS all in widescreen 480P mode", said Archer Maclean, Managing Director of Awesome Play. "We are very pleased to be working with Sean and his team at Bethesda, many of whom have been involved with my previous titles going back 20 years".

WHEELSPIN will be released for Nintendo Wii across Europe in autumn 2009.

Galaxy Online video game to get 3D Projector Support, and new Audio

When it comes to graphics and audio in Galaxy Online (http://go.igg.com), good just isn’t good enough. The development team has been working hard to improve the graphical and audio effects in the game. In fact, players can look forward to new background music and 3D projector support in the future.

Recently, the Galaxy Online dev team has been running demonstrations featuring more diverse audio effects, including new background music. Soon players will be able to evaluate them and offer feedback on what they’d like to hear in the game. The team will take players’ suggestions into account when deciding on the final audio improvements.

The big news from the graphics side of the development team is that they’re now working with ViewSonic’s latest PJD-series video projectors to improve Galaxy Online’s graphics. If the idea of immersing yourself in an all-out space battle with an affordable hi-res projector sounds intense, wait until you see it with your own 3D-spectacled eyes. When these astonishing new graphics and kicking new sounds finally go live, Galaxy Online will take you out of your chair and into a universe of fun.

Deca Sports Nintendo Wii video game price cut in US price drops to under $20

To commemorate the ongoing popularity of DECA SPORTS and the upcoming release of DECA SPORTS 2, Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm of HUDSON SOFT, has lowered the game’s retail price from $29.99 to $19.99. With 2 million units shipped to date, gamers around the world have been enjoying the fun and exciting games in DECA SPORTS for Nintendo Wii.

“We’re so grateful to the millions of gamers who have enjoyed DECA SPORTS in the past year,” said Dai Kudo, Director of Consumer Products at Hudson Entertainment. “By reducing the price, we are inviting all Wii players to experience the diverse games in DECA SPORTS and get pumped for 10 more exciting games coming soon in DECA SPORTS 2.”

DECA SPORTS offers 10 complete sporting events that get players active in the living room while providing entertainment for hours. With activities such as Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Supercross, Kart Racing, Basketball and Snowboard Cross, as well as atypical sports games such as Badminton, Figure Skating, Curling and Archery, DECA SPORTS offers more than the average sports game. Designed with intuitive controls for the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk, DECA SPORTS also includes advanced gameplay options for power spikes, curls and mid air tricks. Each sport supports both single player and multiplayer modes with up to 4 players and in several events, co-op on the same team. The Locker Room feature even allows players to keep track of their medals and trophies. DECA SPORTS has been rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB.

Tornado Outbreak new action adventure game launching soon on Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game

Characters include Zephyr, the unlikely hero, Nimbus, the squad leader and the sinister boss Omegaton

Konami revealed new details and character descriptions from Tornado Outbreak, the new action adventure game launching this fall on Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.





Harness the power of a raging tornado as you tear through open environments, chewing up the landscape and spitting out everything in your path. Tornado Outbreaks revolutionary new game mechanic puts some of the Earth's most powerful elements in your hands. The characters you will play and do battle with include:

Zephyr: Zephyr, leader of the Wind Warriors, possesses the power of wind and the ability to transform himself into a raging, column of air that can level anything in his path. He worked to create atmosphere on lifeless planets but a chance meeting with a strange being named Omegaton changed the game. Zephyr's mission dictates that he helps those in need but meeting this purposefully deceptive anti-hero will challenge all that he knows. His strength, wits and abilities will be put to the test as a cosmic battle for supremacy lands on Earth. No one is safe.

Nimbus: Once the fearless leader of the Wind Warriors, he is now the wise leader second in command. Nimbus stands strong beside his protégé Zephyr passing on the knowledge and abilities he's learned over the years. Nimbus also possesses an innate ability for mechanical know how which is invaluable to the existence of his team. His ability to calibrate and decipher the L.O.A.D STARR which provides cloud cover on Earth and allows his sidekick Zephyr to possess his destructive abilities are vital to their mission.

Wind Warriors: They are the unnamed, fearless and elite squad that stands proudly behind their leaders Nimbus and Zephyr. The Wind Warriors sole purpose is to lend support to whatever mission the leaders deem necessary. Later in the story the Wind Warriors become an integral tool in the ultimate defeat and destruction of their earthbound nemesis Omegaton. Without the Wind Warriors Zephyr and Nimbus would be nearly defenseless.

Water Whirls: Zephyr born from wind, calls upon all forces of nature to accomplish his Earthly duties. Seemingly delicate to the point of being fragile, Water Whirls are calm, tranquil creatures. The Water Whirls donate their ability to traverse large areas quickly and smash objects like a tidal wave. Only through the Elemental forces working together is there any hope of capturing the Fire Fliers and restoring balance to save the Earth.

Fire Fliers: Wreaking havoc on two worlds might make the Fire Fliers seem evil by nature but maybe they're just misunderstood. They are mischievous little buggers with no capacity to understand the consequences of their actions. To them the incursion of Earth is nothing more than an endless game of hide and seek, but their actions on Earth cause more chaos and challenges for our unlikely hero than he'd hope for. Fire Fliers posses important powers which is why Zephyr needs to find them, collect them and ultimately destroy them.

Omegaton: Once the greatest hero of his universe, until his enemies joined forces and exiled him to another universe. Omegaton has been slowly dying after being stripped of his orbs of power and without them his fate is sealed to a cosmic grave. Dispersed somewhere on Earth, the Wind Warriors lead by Zephyr have been tasked to help find his sources of power through Omegaton's deceptive coercion. The story will reveal that all that's known about Omegaton may not be true and his mission is not what it seems.

Developed by Loose Cannon Studios, Tornado Outbreak lands September 15th 2009 for Wii, Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3

Need for Speed Nitro video game trailer - on Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS

Customise your car, take corners at 150 mph, and own your opponents. Need for Speed Nitro delivers the fun and exhilaration of high-speed racing with deep and challenging gamezplay, where racing skills are not the only way to victory. Master advanced techniques such as building up boost by taking risks on the road, then use it at the right moment to take the lead. But don’t forget about the cops, who will do everything they can to disrupt the race. However you choose to race, never count on victory until you’ve crossed the finish line.

FEATURES

Impose Your Style—When you’re in first place, the walls of the city become covered with your graphic style. Now everyone knows that you’re the one leading the pack.

Pick Your Ride—The style and spirit of the game are rooted in car culture, with 30 classic and modern licensed cars including muscles, exotics, tuners, and more. Plus, race on 15 tracks featuring traffic, jumps, canyons, and events.

Battle to the Finish Line—Increase other racers’ heat levels to sick the cops on them, manage car damage to maintain maximum speed, and build up nitro with skilled driving to take the lead. The race is never over until you cross the finish line!

Extreme Customization—Trick out your car’s appearance using an incredibly deep yet intuitive customization system unlike anything seen on the Nintendo Wii. Never before in a Need for Speed game have you had this much control over the look of your ride.

Coop World Tour Campaign—Take part in illegal street races across five cities to unlock new cars, parts, tracks, and challenges. Up to three players can also join you to play cooperatively.

Nitro-Charged Multiplayer—Up to four players can take part in intense races across nine race modes: Race, Team Race, Own It!, Eliminator, Traffic Run, Drag Race, Speed Cameras Challenge, Drift Challenge, and Time Attack Challenge.

Expect to be playing NITRO in Fall 2009. It will be available on Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo DS.

Rage of the Gladiator video game announced for Nintendo WiiWare

Rage of the Gladiator, a bold and innovative video game for the WiiWare service for the Nintendo Wii.

Rage of the Gladiator is a fantasy fighting game. You control a gladiator, fighting for your life in an arena. Armed with your magical warhammer and a trusty shield, you must defeat fantastic bosses including a Chimera, Beholder, and a Dragon. The game is set in first-person perspective.

“Rage of the Gladiator is a series of epic boss-battles,” said Ed Roman, CEO of Ghostfire Games. “There are no ‘fodder’ enemies – its all bosses, which we find to be the most fun part of games!”

In Rage of the Gladiator, each boss has unique abilities and powers that you need to pay close attention to. Exploit the weakness of each enemy by jumping, dodging, or shield blocking with the proper timing and agility. Then unleash your rage by brutally pounding your enemy with your warhammer and bashing them with your shield, and you will triumph.

Features of the game include:

• Insane “finishing moves.” You have 14 finishing moves that destroy your opponent in over-the-top cutscenes:
o Leap to the skies, then plunge your warhammer into the ground, creating a pillar of fire that burns your enemy to a crisp.
o Transform into a hulking colossus 10 times the size of your opponent, pounding him into the ground.
o Darken the skies with a solar eclipse, sending a beam of light to fry your enemy.
• Customize your character. As you defeat bosses, you earn skill points. You can apply those skill points to one of three skill trees: Offense, Defense, and Magic. This gives you new powers. It also provides great replay value since you can replay through the game with different skill tree decisions.
• Fantastic 3D-graphics. Fully rendered and realistic, you do combat in a fully lit 3D arena. This polish level is rare for a downloadable title.
• Extremely realistic animations. When you attack bosses, the impacts and hits feel “real.” Each boss has been painstakingly animated to react properly to each of your attacks.
• Outstanding replay value. Once you’ve beaten the first 10 bosses, you must face them again in Challenge Mode, which is a completely new experience – the bosses are more difficult with new powers. There are 21 total battles.
• Epic soundtrack. The music has been designed to be exciting and memorable, and really gets your blood pumping.

“Rage of the Gladiator is a monumental undertaking.” said Mr. Roman. “It has content comparable to a full $50 store title, yet has a budget title price. We’ve tried to make a game that blows the lid off what people expect from WiiWare.”

The game is slated to be released later this year.

What is Rage of the Gladiator?
Rage of the Gladiator is a fantasy-based fighting game. You play the role of Gracius, battling for his life in the arena.
Your equipment consists of a magical war-hammer and a trusty shield. Wait for the right moment, then dodge, jump, or block your enemy’s attacks. Next, unleash your rage by brutally pounding your enemy with your war-hammer and bashing them with your shield. Each opponent has a unique style and pattern that you need to pay close attention to. Learn to exploit the weakness of each enemy with the proper timing and agility, and you will triumph.

When is the game coming out?
While it’s impossible to provide an exact release date, we expect Fall 2009.

What platform is the game available on?
Rage of the Gladiator will be exclusively available on WiiWare, the downloadable game service for the Nintendo Wii.

How much does Rage of the Gladiator cost?
The price is still to be determined as it is set by Nintendo.

How do I purchase Rage of the Gladiator?
You can’t buy this game in stores - its only available as a download onto the Wii. To do this, first make sure your Wii is connected to the Internet via the wireless Internet device built-into the Wii (you need a Wireless router or Wireless hub for this to work). Then navigate to the Wii Shop Channel. Rage of the Gladiator is available in the WiiWare section of the Wii Shop Channel.

How much replay value is in the game?
We have spent a lot of time focusing on building value into Rage of the Gladiator.

There are 11 unique bosses. Each boss has its own behavior and patterns that will take some time to understand and conquer.

Once you’ve beaten the first 10 bosses, you must face them all again in Challenge Mode. In this mode, the bosses gain new powers and are much more difficult. Challenge Mode is essentially a completely new experience when playing the game. The final boss is only unlocked at the end of Challenge Mode. This results in a total of 21 battles in the game. In addition, there are 3 tech-trees for you to explore, and so replay value also comes from exploring different builds of your character.

How large is the download?
Rage of the Gladiator fits into 40MB.

How are you able to fit all that content into 40MB?

We’ve learned a lot since we made our first game, Helix. Through compression, clever programming, and taking advantage of some cool tricks on the Wii, we have managed to include voice acting, 4 unique music tracks, and full lush 3d graphics with vivid animations.

How does the combat system work?

Rage of the Gladiator is a game of avoiding attacks, and then executing a well-timed series of hits. Some boss attacks require precise timing to avoid, and others require that you avoid the attack in the right way (dodging left, dodging right, jumping, blocking, or counterattacking).

How does the skill tree work?
The skill-tree allows you to customize your character. These skills grant you new combos, as well as make your character more powerful. Each time you defeat an enemy, you gain additional skill-tree points.

There are three paths you can choose, each one having different rewards along the way:

Offense: Focuses on hitting harder, gaining critical strikes, leeching health from opponents, and conjuring firey pillars and meteors.

Defense: Focuses on taking less damage, improved blocking, the ability to heal yourself in combat, and the ability to resurrect from death.

Magic: Focuses on generating more energy to perform combos, channeling electricity into opponents, and summoning the wrath of incredible forces such as lightning and tornados.

At the bottom of each skill-tree, there are very powerful combo finishers. For example, the Magic tree has the ability to transform you into a hulking colossus. You must heavily invest in one skill-tree to gain access to these superpowers.

How do combos work?
The combo system in this game is a way for you to unleash devastating power against your enemy, using your stored energy to cast spells and perform complicated physical attacks.

Early on, you may learn how to leap into the skies and plunge your warhammer into the ground, creating a pillar of fire that burns your enemy to a crisp. As you progress you may learn more deadly combos, such as conjuring an ancient tornado to lay the ground asunder.

However, this is just the starting point. Prove your worth in the arena and you will earn devastating finishers such as a savage lightning storm or a fiery meteor.

To perform a combo, you need to have the minimum amount of energy in your meter. You earn energy when you connect with your hits, and lose energy when you get hit. More powerful combos require more energy, and some combos even take all of your energy in one shot!

You unlock the combos via the skill tree.

Is there a multi-player mode?
Rage of the Gladiator is a single-player only experience. We decided in advance that we wanted to focus on making the most enjoyable single player experience possible, rather than making a game that was just OK at both single and multiplayer.

*About Rage of the Gladiator*

Rage of the Gladiator is a fantasy-based fighting game. You play the role of Gracius, battling for his life in the arena against 11 unique enemies.

Your equipment consists of a magical war-hammer and a trusty shield. Wait for the right moment, then dodge, jump, or block your enemy's attacks. Next, unleash your rage by brutally pounding your enemy with your war-hammer and bashing them with your shield.

Each opponent has a unique style and pattern that you need to pay close attention to. Learn to exploit the weakness of each enemy with the proper timing and agility, and you will triumph.

As you advance past each battle, you will gain access to devastating combos. Early on, you may learn how to leap into the skies and plunge your war-hammer into the ground, creating a pillar of fire that burns your enemy to a crisp. As you progress you may learn more deadly combos, such as conjuring an ancient tornado to lay the ground asunder.

*Story*

This is the story of a land distant from your own. A beautiful land filled with lush rivers, rolling hills, and majestic mountains. We humans live in this land, and we are constantly at war with each other, striving for conquest.
But unlike your world, in this land we are not the only dominant creatures. Our land is also a savage land, teeming with mystical creatures such as dragons, beholders, and demons.

This is the story of the greatest of all the human cities, the majestic city of Avalance. Avalance is awe-inspiring in its scale and prosperity, and its ruler has been my father, King Marius.

Marius has always been a strong liege, protecting his people from the outsider humans and foul beasts that stalk us in the dark of night. However, not all is well in Avalance.
Over the last few weeks, darkness has descended on us, and we may not be able to escape it. I am Gracius, noble prince of Avalance, and this tale is my story.

This is a story of betrayal, greed, and power. This is the tale of how I was forced to fight against my will, a fight for my very life.

This is the tale of how I fought for my life in the arena.