THQ Announces World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars Triple H and Shawn Michaels on the WWE Smackdown v Raw 2009

THQ Inc. and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. today announced that World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars Triple H and Shawn Michaels will be featured on the cover of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009. The accolade marks an unprecedented fifth time that fan-favorite Triple H has appeared on a cover for the leading fighting videogame franchise, while storied veteran Michaels will make his cover debut.

“Triple H and Shawn Michaels have made headlines over the years when they unite as the infamous ‘D-Generation X’ tag team in WWE programming,” said Cory Ledesma, senior creative manager, THQ. “We selected them for the cover as a means to celebrate the unprecedented level of tag team functionality we will deliver in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009. Our tag team matches will allow players to experience the true task of working together, and our new Road to WrestleMania Mode will feature the franchise's first co-op tag team storyline."

About WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 upholds the franchise’s commitment to delivering the definitive videogame simulation of live WWE programming. The Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, PlayStation 2 system and PSP system versions of the game will unleash a brand new tag team experience, allowing players to build momentum and attributes, eliminate opponents with high impact double teams and finishers, as well as get the “hot tag” for the win. The franchise’s renowned creation system offers a brand new Create-A-Finisher option, while a new Road to WrestleMania Mode paves the way to WWE’s biggest event of the year and lets players experience co-op storylines for the first time. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 also extends the virtual WWE gameplay experience with robust online capabilities, including the highly anticipated debut of downloadable content.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 for Wii builds upon its inaugural offering by significantly expanding its match type options, giving players more ways to enjoy the platform’s unique pick-up-and-play experience. The game also takes full combat sports entertainment to the next level by giving players more Superstar control with interactive entrances and victory scenes. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 for Wii will also include a wide variety of new weapons, the debut of online gameplay and much more.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 for Nintendo DS returns with new gameplay controls that utilize the stylus and D-pad to deliver a compelling handheld fighting game experience. The redesigned Season Mode takes a role-playing approach, allowing players to interact with Superstars, upgrade their abilities and complete missions on a quest toward legendary goals. In addition, a larger Superstar roster, new match types and the inclusion of Create-A-Superstar will provide players with a variety of intriguing options to enhance gameplay.

More information about WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 can be found at www.smackdownvsraw.com and www.thq.com.

Bungie Day

Bungie celebrates fans and rewards players with a new free multiplayer map, gamer pics, dashboard theme, and Legendary Map Pack price drop

July 7, or 7/7, has long been heralded as “Bungie Day” among “Halo” players and fans of the renowned developer. This year, Bungie is celebrating this day with the release of new multiplayer map Cold Storage, as well as new gamer pics and a Bungie Day Xbox 360 dashboard theme, all for free on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The “Halo 3” Legendary Map Pack will also drop in price to 600 Microsoft points in honor of the occasion.

The tradition of Bungie Day was born in part due to the significance the number 7 has played in all of Bungie’s games over the years, including the “Halo” series (7 Halo rings, Master Chief is Spartan 117, etc.), and each year the developer makes a point to use this date to treat fans to something special – usually new content, a free download or other surprise.

This year marks the best “Bungie Day” yet, as eight million plus “Halo 3” players can now download Cold Storage, a free new multiplayer map inspired by the original map Chill Out found in “Halo: Combat Evolved.” The Cold Storage facility was once a vibrant, active research center on Installation 05. An accidental contamination resulted in an unforeseen outbreak, which compromised the Forerunner center. Now, emptied and silent, watched only by a local caretaker, the abandoned structure serves as a reminder of how something as powerful as science is ultimately beholden to nature.

In addition to the new map, players will be able to download 7 exclusive new gamerpics and a Bungie Day dashboard theme for free on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Fans will need to be sure they download these on 7/7, because they will be available for one day only.

MIDWAY AND EPIC GAMES ANNOUNCE THE AWARD-WINNING UNREAL TOURNAMENT 3 FOR XBOX 360 IS NOW AVAILABLE

Midway Games Ltd., a subsidiary of Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer, and world-renowned developer Epic Games, today announced Unreal Tournament 3, for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, is now available in Europe, with several new features including split screen, five exclusive maps and two all-new characters, as well as all previously released downloadable content. Rated +18 by PEGI, Unreal Tournament 3 is available for a suggested retail price of £39.99 / €59.95 in Europe. Unreal Tournament 3, the award-winning first-person-shooter, has already shipped more than 1 million units for Windows PC and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.

Xbox 360 owners will get an exclusive video preview of Gears of War 2, the eagerly anticipated sequel to the 4.7 million unit-selling blockbuster third-person action game, included on the Unreal Tournament 3 disc. The exclusive video content will include never-before-seen footage of the game’s multiplayer modes featuring new maps, new modes, new weapons and new gameplay elements. The video is narrated by Epic Games’ design director, Cliff Bleszinski, and Gears of War senior producer, Rod Fergusson.

“We are extremely excited to put the fast-paced, frenetic gameplay of Unreal Tournament 3 in the hands of Xbox 360 owners,” said Leonie Manshanden, European Marketing Director, Midway Games Ltd. “The exclusive maps, new characters, two-player split screen support and exclusive Gears of War 2 multiplayer video make Unreal Tournament 3 the must-have video game for Xbox 360 this summer.”

“Searing-hot first-person shooter action comes to Xbox 360 this summer with Unreal Tournament 3,” said Mark Rein, vice president of Epic Games. “With a bevy of new and exclusive content, Xbox 360 owners can now get their frag on by choosing to play online with friends over Xbox LIVE or against our amazing AI ‘bots.’”

Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise Release Date and New Details Revealed

Roarios and Tigermisus and Fizzlybears, OH MY! Microsoft today announced that “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise” will be released and on store shelves by 5th September.

With more than 30 additional new piñata species, expanded co-op options and multiple gameplay modes, “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise” offers limitless fun for every animal-lover in the family.

Piñata Island has gotten bigger too! Now players can explore wild areas outside of the garden where they will need to bait and retrieve exotic piñata species who won’t venture into the garden on their own.

Put on your mittens and snow shoes as you brave the cold of the Pinartic where you’ll find piñatas that prefer cooler temperatures and the occasional blizzard, like Pengums and Polollybears. Or you can shed the layers and head to the sands of the Dessert Desert, where Camellos and Jameleons bask in the arid sun.

All of these new exotic piñatas will not venture into your garden willingly, so you’ll need to bait and retrieve them yourself. But you can make them feel at home right away by adding patches of snow or sand to your garden, similar to how you add grass and water.

Available exclusively on Xbox 360, “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise” reinvigorates a colourful and engaging gaming experience. Now with full cooperative gameplay modes and various approachable difficulty settings, the “Viva Piñata” franchise opens its doors even wider with a new game that provides hours of fun for gamers of all ages, fans of the animated series and animal lovers alike.

RAVEN SQUAD TO BREAK THE RTS MOLD ON XBOX 360 AND WINDOWS PC THIS FALL

SouthPeak Games today announced that it will distribute Raven Squad: Operation Hidden Dagger for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC this Autumn. Published by Evolved Games, Raven Squad is set in the near future. The game is a unique blending of real-time strategy and first-person shooter genres.

Developed by Atomic Motion, Raven Squad puts players in control of two groups of mercenary squads who crash land behind enemy lines in the Amazonian jungles. It will require tactical planning and a liberal amount of brute force to escape to safety. Each of the eight squad members possesses distinctive skills and weaponry that the player will have to use wisely to progress through the game's story driven objectives. Raven Squad sets itself apart by allowing players to switch freely between real-time strategy and first-person shooter gameplay. Only by mastering both of these modes of play, and becoming adept at switching between the two, will players make it out of the jungle alive.

"Raven Squad combines two extremely popular genres into a single robust experience where either gameplay mode could stand on its own merits," said Melanie Mroz, CEO of SouthPeak Games. "Atomic Motion is creating something that's visually compelling and building new boundaries in what a military title can accomplish. Fans of both RTS and FPS games are going to love it, as will anyone who enjoys intense, action titles."

To find out more about Raven Squad please visit www.southpeakgames.eu

An Innovator in Online Game Rentals Expands

With the availability of the internet for virtually any consumer purchase, the options have become virtually limitless for delivery to a person’s home of almost any item that they choose. WhyBuyGames.co.uk started offering the ability to rent video games in 2005, and has quickly become the UK’s leader in games rental subscription services. Now offering Blu-Ray DVD’s, their selections and services have become even better.

“WhyBuyGames.co.uk was started by gamers, for gamers, aiming to provide the highest quality customer service, at the most affordable prices to consumers within the UK. We have become the UK’s leader in games subscription services, offering to all consumers excellent customer service with the ability to rent video games online at affordable prices,” says one of the company’s founders.

The ability to rent video games online is appealing to many gamers as they are able to try a variety of video games without the expense of purchasing them, or the risk of purchasing them only to find that they do not like them. WhyBuyGames.co.uk offers gamers the ability to rent Xbox 360 games, PlayStation 3 games and Nintendo WII games, three of the most popular video gaming choices available on the consumer market today. Nintendo DS games, PlayStation 2 games and PlayStation PSP games are also available, making their online video selection the largest in the entire UK.

For any rental gaming need, this company offers the solution. For just a nominal fee of £9.49 per month, gamers have the ability to rent video games from the site on an unlimited basis and the process is quite simple. The consumer is then provided with an innovative website, quality customer service and able to choose the video games or Blu-Ray dvd’s.

The games or Blu-Ray films are selected by the gamers online, they are shipped in a pre-paid envelope to the consumer’s home, they can return them at their leisure without the worry of late fees and they simply return the game in the pre-paid envelope so that they can receive another one within 1-2 business days. The process is as easy as that! The service resembles in concept to several international movie services, appealing to anyone who has the desire and wish to rent many video games on an affordable budget.

The WhyBuyGames.co.uk video games rental service offers anyone the ability to try the newest video games at an affordable price.

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Leap, Sneak and Evade Your Way to Safety as the World's Most Elusive Ninja in "N+," An Innovative Platformer Launching on Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednes

Become a gold-thirsty ninja battling homicidal robots with “N+” as it lands on Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday 20th February at 09.00.

In the enhanced version of the original game “N,” players take on the persona of a ninja who must use agile acrobatic actions to battle robots in the futuristic world of “N+.” Play as a lone ninja or destroy the robots with a friend in Cooperative, Survival or Race modes using local or Internet co-op via Xbox LIVE. “N+” boasts 2-D Ragdoll physics with incredibly styled next-generation graphics for an intense visual experience. With unlimited lives, over 300 levels to master and a built-in level editor for when you crave more, the gold-searching and robot-smashing adventures are seemingly endless!

Where can I get this game from?
N+ is available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E10+ by the ESRB.

More information is available at:
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/n/nplusxboxlivearcade

BioShock, Metroid Prime 3 Shoot to top

This week's top rental charts from U.S. game rental company GameFly, representing the most requested games for the week ending September 1st, highlight both to-be-released and already released games in a unique demand-specific chart.

In its second week of release, BioShock maintains its dominance over the charts in the top position for the fifth straight week, while Midway's soon-to-be-released action/adventure title Stranglehold holds steady from the previous week at number two. Medal of Honor: Airborne took third place, and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, which slipped to fifth position last week after two weeks in fourth place, regained the number four spot this week, with Halo 3 bringing up fifth place, displacing last week's third position holder Blue Dragon to sixth.

What follows is a breakdown of the top titles requested by GameFly subscribers across each of the major platforms:

Xbox 360

1. BioShock (Take Two), 2. Stranglehold (Midway), 3. Medal of Honor: Airborne (EA), 4. Halo 3 (Microsoft), 5. Blue Dragon (Microsoft)

BioShock is still not budging from the top spot, while Stranglehold climbs from fourth position into second. EA's Medal of Honor: Airborne comes in third, nudging Madden NFL '08 out of the top 5 this week, making room for the Microsoft duo of Halo 3 and Blue Dragon; the latter shifts from second to fifth position this week.

Nintendo Wii

1. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Nintendo), 2. Carnival Games (Globalstar), 3. Mario Strikers Charged (Nintendo), 4. Brunswick Pro Bowling (Crave), 5. Tiger Woods PGA Tour '08 (EA)

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption maintained the top spot among Nintendo Wii requests for the third week, while Carnival Games and Mario Strikers Charged swapped places for second and third since last week. Brunswick Pro Bowling holds steady in fourth place, while Tiger Woods PGA Tour '08 edges out Mario Party '08 to take the fifth spot.

PlayStation 3

1. Warhawk (Sony), 2. Lair (Sony), 3. Heavenly Sword (Sony), 4. DiRT (Codemasters), 5. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 (Ubisoft)

PS3 game requests this week saw Lair and Warhawk trade places in the first and second spots since last week. Heavenly Sword sticks in the third position, while DiRT and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 also made a trade with the fourth and fifth slots since last week.

PlayStation 2

1. Stuntman: Ignition (THQ), 2. Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles (Namco), 3. God of War II (Sony), 4. Madden NFL '08 (EA), 5. Wild Arms 5 {Xseed Games)

Wild Arms 5 in fifth position is the only title new to the top 5 PS2 requests this week as Persona 3 drops off; the other four play musical chairs, with Stuntman: Ignition climbing from second into the top spot as the previous week's number one, Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles slipped a bit into second place. God of War II moved up from fifth spot into third, and Madden NFL '08 keeps the fourth spot.

Xbox

1. Halo 2 (Microsoft), 2. Madden NFL '08 (EA), 3. Ninja Gaiden Black (Tecmo), 4. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (LucasArts), 5. Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (LucasArts)

Doubtlessly anticipating the long-awaited impending release of Halo 3, the second installment of the Halo trilogy maintained the top spot again over the previous week. The first installment, however, did not retain its fifth-position slot, as the only other movement on the Xbox charts was Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy taking the place of the original Halo in fifth.

GameCube

1. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (Nintendo), 2. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Nintendo), 3. Super Smash Bros. Melee (Nintendo), 4. Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition (Nintendo), 5.Mario Party 7

The top five GameCube requests this week were a solid block of Nintendo mainstays, with Metroid Prime 2: Echoes rising into first place, likely representing a surge of interest following the very recent release of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. It previously occupied the third position, into which it now bumps Super Smash Bros. Melee, as Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess keeps the second spot again this week. The Zelda: Collector's Edition enters the top 5 in fourth position, while Mario Party 7 stays in fifth again this week.

Nintendo DS

1. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Nintendo), 2. Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon (Natsume), 3. Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day (Nintendo), 4. Worms 2: Open Warfare (THQ), 5. Heroes of Mana (Square Enix)

Though it's not releasing until October 1, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass edged out Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon for the top position this week, climbing from its spot in third last week. Brain Age 2 slipped from second to third position, while Worms 2: Open Warfare replaced Disney's High School Musical: Makin' the Cut in fourth position. Classic RPG Heroes of Mana held steady in the fifth spot.


Game Boy Advance

1. Pokemon: Emerald (Nintendo), 2. Pokemon: Sapphire (Nintendo), 3. Pokemon: Ruby (Nintendo), 4. Pokemon: Fire Red(Nintendo), 5. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team (Nintendo).

This week saw the GBA requests once again dominated by Pokemon titles, though with the exception of Emerald retaining the number 1 spot, there's been some movement. Pokemon: Sapphire advances from third position into second, while Pokemon: Ruby takes the third spot after spending last week at number five. Pokemon: Fire Red slips down from second into fourth place, knocking off last week's number four, Leaf Green. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team enters the top 5 in the fifth spot. There seems to be no sign of Pokemon dominance letting go of the GBA anytime soon.

PlayStation Portable

1. Monster Hunter Freedom 2 (Capcom), 2. Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes (Namco), 3. Jeanne D'Arc (Sony), 4. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 (Ubisoft), 5. Dead Head Fred (D3P)

Jeanne D'Arc continues its downward slide; after falling from first to second place last week, it slips slightly into the third spot this week. Meanwhile, Capcom's Monster Hunter Freedom 2 climbs up into the top spot, nudging Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes into second. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 holds on at number four again this week, while Dead Head Fred replaces Dragoneer's Aria in the fifth spot.

Heavy discounting hits Xbox 360 Core unit

Online retailer chops £50 off RRP

Retailers are beginning to cut a large chunk off the price of the Xbox 360 Core unit, with one online store knocking £50 off the recommended retail price.




Play.com has slashed the price of the console by a quarter, selling the machine for £149.99 instead of the RRP of £199.99.

The move follows retail chain Makro's decision to sell the Xbox 360 Premium unit for £199.99, effectively reducing it to the same price as Core units.

Microsoft has given no indication that an official price cut is on the way, yet the retail community in Europe is happy to discount the hardware, despite healthy sales.

Rival online store Amazon.co.uk has also reduced the price of the Core Xbox 360, to £189.99. It also currently sells the pink Sony PSP - a sales success last Christmas - for £109.99, £40 below the RRP.

Microsoft reveals 10 new Arcade titles for 360

Retro favourites and board games lined up for download

Microsoft has revealed ten new titles for the Xbox Live Arcade service, all of which are due this year.

The Behemoth's popular side-scrolling title Alien Hominid HD, Sierra Online's 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures, Band of Bugs from NinjaBee and Konami's Castlevania: Symphony of the Night are all due for release over the coming months.

Also joining the service is Big Huge Games' Catan, Eets: Chowdown from Klei Entertainment, MumboJumbo's Luxor 2, Midway's Paperboy and Root Beer Tapper and Team 17's Worms.

Downloads on the Xbox Live Arcade service have surpassed 20 million games, with Microsoft promising more content throughout 2007.

TOM CLANCY'S SPLINTER CELL DOUBLE AGENT

Mathieu Hector, PS3 producer at Ubisoft Annecy

1. What are the main changes between the Xbox 360 version of SCDA and the PS3 version? Both for the single player and the multiplayer.

The PlayStation 3 version of SCDA is based on the Next-Gen design of the game, which has already been released on Xbox 360 and PC. However, this version features significant improvements and exclusive content.

The Multiplayer features an additional new spy character (a spy girl), 2 extra maps based on completely new environments and a new set of coop. challenges.

Moreover, the additional time allowed us to increase the polish of both parts of the game.

Overall, the improved accessibility, the multiplayer exclusive content and the motion sensor support are the advantages that make the PS3 version the ultimate version of Splinter Cell: Double Agent.


PS3 Questions and Answers

2. Is SCDA using the Sixaxis feature that makes PlayStation 3 unique?

The SIXAXIS sensor has been implemented in both part of the game as well.

In the Single Player mode, we were free to experiment various designs for the motion sensor implementation. It is used from time to time to operate various gadgets like picking doors or hacking security systems, or for Sam’s special moves like swimming or paragliding.

In the Multiplayer mode, the player controls the Drone with the tilt function.

We implemented the SIXAXIS control when it was fun to play or adding value to the game play experience.

3. What was the big reason to implement a hot female multiplayer skin?

Having a female playable character in the game is something we wanted to have since we started working on Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow!

On Double Agent, this idea was still present, but we didn’t have the chance to implement it on time for the first versions. Therefore, when we started working on the PS3 specific content, the spy girl was on top of our list.

We really liked the idea because it really embraces the fact that the spy should be cat-like, very nimble. And for players like me, it’s always more pleasant to follow the acrobatics of a female character, supple and elegant, than those of a born-to-kill-guy!

4. And last, but not least, the PlayStation network has a different setup than Microsofts Xbox Live. Can we expect the same fluid play on Ubisoft’s own servers?

The title uses a network middleware solution already successfully used on PC and PS2. The PlayStation Network Platform provides all the required services to match the Xbox live quality. The online part of the game has been on beta test since November 2006 on PS3 and we are 100% confident to provide a quality online experience.

5. Is there anything else you would like to share with gamers about SCDA for PS3?

Yes, we are very happy with the multiplayer’s extra content we developed specifically for the PS3 version. Rather than just more of the same, the NSA training centre and Kinshasa multiplayer maps are really different than the original multiplayer maps. Those maps have been produced with Ubisoft Milan, Italy, the studio which previously worked on the PS2 Multiplayer maps and we hope the PS3 players will enjoy playing them just as much as we did.

Hour Of Victory Approaches; Midway Announces A New World-War II Experience Exclusively For Xbox 360

Midway Games a leading interactive entertainment industry publisher and developer, today announced that Hour of Victory™, a new cinematic, first person shooter experience set in World War II, is currently in development exclusively for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and is expected to be available this summer.

Built using the powerful Unreal Engine 3.0, Hour of Victory combines authentic details from historic World War II battles and adds in frenetic and cinematic gameplay. Gamers are able to play each level in the style they choose, whether as a covert operative, specializing in stealth and sabotage; a British commando proficient in the guns-blazing frontal assault; or an Army ranger who excels in sniping and demolitions. Players will also be able to take control of any vehicle on the battlefield as they sharpen their skills to impact the key battles from the European and North African Theaters.


First Person Shooter Places Gamers In Pivotal Role As One of Three Expert Operatives in Cinematic Battles Across Europe and North Africa

“Hour of Victory is an entirely new World War II experience designed exclusively for the Xbox 360 that will place players in a pivotal role during key battles using the gameplay style they choose,” said Matt Booty, senior vice president, worldwide studios, Midway. “Using the powerful Unreal Engine 3.0 we’re able to create exciting, cinematic moments that allow players to feel like a hero, not just another cog in the war machine.”

About Hour of Victory
Hour of Victory, scheduled to be available exclusively for Xbox 360 in Summer 2007, allows you to play a key role in the pivotal and cinematic battles from the European and North African theaters of World War II, using the skills and gameplay style you choose. Built with Unreal Engine 3.0, Hour of Victory allows you to sneak into enemy territory as a covert operative, storm the gates as a British commando, or snipe from afar as an Army ranger – each character’s unique attributes will be needed for the fulfillment of the overall objective. Only with all these skill working closely together will you be able to say that you helped define the Hour of Victory.

3 New Lumines Live! Downloads Next Week

Only on Xbox Live Arcade - Special Prices

Good things come in threes, and next week’s Arcade Wednesday release is no exception to that rule. Three new packages of Lumines Live! content will be available for download on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360™ beginning Wednesday, 24th January at 09.00 GMT. Two of the add-on packs will be available at special promotional prices, and one of them will be free to Xbox Box Live Gold Members for a limited time!

In case you’ve been living under a rock, “Lumines Live!” combines puzzles, music and video entertainment to create an addictively-fun gameplay experience that looks and sounds as good as it plays. Play several different single player modes, battle friends online over Xbox Live, create your own skins playlist in the all-new Skin Edit Mode, and experience new ways to play via exclusive downloadable content to enhance and extend the gameplay experience.

Here’s what will be available to download for Lumines Live!:

Heavenly Star Skin
Cost: For a limited time only, free for Xbox Live Gold members from 24th January – 21st February, 2007.
(Price after 21st February 2007: 150 MS Points)
Performed by a new group called Genki Rockets and produced by Q Entertainment’s own Tetsuya Mizuguchi, the song's catchy and uplifting tune combined with equally striking video has caught the attention of many gamers and was recently nominated Best Song at the 2006 Spike TV Video Game Awards. Gamers can enjoy the music video in stunning HD and 5.1 surround sound as they play their way through the falling blocks.



VS CPU Pack
Cost: For a limited time only, 100 MS Points starting 24th January – 21st February 2007. (Price after 21st February 2007: 300 MS Points)
Show off your skills by challenging the CPU. This new game pack also includes a stylish skin and character designs that match the theme of each of the stages. A special bonus skin is waiting for you at the very end of the challenge.



Puzzle/Mission Pack
Cost: For a limited time only, 100 MS Points starting 24th January – 21st February 2007. (Price after 21st February 2007: 300 MS Points)
“Lumines Live!” is not just about dropping blocks. In Puzzle Mode, you must try to create a certain shape by using the blocks. In Mission Mode, you will be given a mission to clear all blocks within a specified amount of moves. With an additional 90 puzzles to solve and 40 missions to clear, you won’t want to miss this Pack. (The first 10 puzzles and missions are included in the Standard Edition; by purchasing the Pack, the total number is 100 puzzles and 50 missions)

A round-up of all of the latest Gamez news

THQ has signed an agreement with the Ultimate Fighting Championship to create a series of games, with the deal lasting until 2011. The publisher has the rights to produce games for all consoles, PC and handheld systems.

Lego Star Wars developer TT Games and publisher Eidos will release Bionicle Heroes for the Wii this Easter. The title is the first Lego Bionicle release for Nintendo's new home console.

Capcom has revealed the recently released Lost Planet: Extreme Condition has shipped one million units worldwide. The Xbox 360 title is the second to reach the target, following Dead Rising's success earlier in the year.

Ubisoft plans to target the younger gaming market with the release of Cosmic Family on the Wii. The point and click interactive adventure is due for release mid-2007.




Two titles from Koei will miss the launch of the PlayStation 3 in Europe. Bladestorm and Fatal Inertia are now scheduled for release this summer.

Namco Bandai will be bringing the DS title QuickSpot to North America. The game is due for release in the spring, and is an updated take on 'spot the difference' puzzles, utilising the DS touch screen and multiplayer features.

The publisher has also lined up Tamagotchi Party On! for the Wii, also due for release in the spring.

Atari will release War Front: Turning Point in the UK this March. The game is an alternative reality RTS for the PC, from developer 10tacle Studios.

Electronic Arts is to release a new line of story driven games in The Sims franchise. The first, The Sims Life Stories is due this spring, with Pet Stories and Castaway Stories due by the end of the year.

Nintendo DS title Mario Vs Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis is due for release across Europe on March 9.

Post-Christmas blues as next-gen consoles suffer drop in sales

Next-generation consoles have suffered a slow week of sales in Japan, with the PlayStation 3 recording its worst figures since release.

The PS3 sold 25,531 units for the week ending January 14.

Nintendo Wii sales were estimated at 93,708 units, the second worst week since it sold just over 85,000 units immediately after launch.



The news wasn't impressive for Microsoft either, with the Xbox 360 managing just over 9,000 units sold in the same period.

Sony recently announced it has shipped over a million units of the PS3 to Japanese retailers.

Looking at sales data for software, Wii Sports is the number one title in the region, selling over 61,000 units. Resistance: Fall of Man is the highest ranking PS3 title in the charts at number 40, while there are no Xbox 360 games in the top fifty at all.

Sega Rally (PC PS3 X360)

First three screenshots...

Halo 3 beta boosts Crackdown pre-orders by 25 per cent

Retail has noted a surge of interest in free-roaming action game Crackdown, since the announcement that the game disc will include a beta key to the multiplayer testing of Bungie's highly-anticipated shooter Halo 3.

Specialist chain GAME says that pre-orders for Crackdown have risen by 25 per cent since Microsoft unveiled the initiative.



"Halo 3 is one of the most highly anticipated Xbox 360 titles for 2007 and our customers are hungry to get hold of it," commented, MD of GAME Group's online business.

"Halo 3 beta is a great way for gamers to actually influence the making of the game and will ensure the production of a truly amazing game," he added.

Crackdown, from developer Realtime Worlds, is due for release February 23 in Europe. Copies of the game which include the Halo 3 beta key will be housed in specially marked packaging.

EA and Bizarre reveal new Live Arcade title

Boom Boom Rocket to be EA's first title on Xbox 360 download service

Electronic Arts has revealed its first title for the Xbox 360's Live Arcade service - a game developed by Project Gotham team Bizarre Creations and conceived by Pogo.com.

Boom Boom Rocket is a rhythm action title due for release in Spring this year, and marks EA's first entry into the growing on-demand download service for consoles.
Project Gotham from same developers


"As one of the worldwide leaders in game publishing, EA has long recognised the power of on-demand, online entertainment," said Chris Early, product unit manager for Xbox Live Arcade.

"We're honoured that EA has chosen Xbox Live Arcade as the platform for their first-ever downloadable game for console game players and are excited to make Boom Boom Rocket available to the millions of Xbox Live Arcade players around the world."

Developer Bizarre Creations has already enjoyed success in the download market with Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, a fan favourite and one of the first titles available on Xbox Live Arcade.

"Boom Boom Rocket is an addictive and original challenge for all types of gamer, and we're enjoying working with EA to create this unique Xbox Live Arcade experience," said Martyn Chudley, MD of Bizarre Creations.

"Our teams love both working and playing on Xbox Live Arcade, and we're looking forward to releasing another innovative title on this platform with Boom Boom Rocket."

Battlestations - Midway Europe out 9th February

Eidos Interactive, one of the world’s leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, today confirms that the highly anticipated Battlestations: Midway will be released on 9th February, 2007 on Xbox 360 and PC.

Battlestations: Midway brings to life the epic naval battles of World War II from Pearl Harbour to the Battle of Midway itself. Featuring an innovative blend of action and real-time strategy gameplay, players can instantly switch between every vehicle under their command throughout the course of any battle.

“Battlestations: Midway has definitely been worth the wait. It will offer players a genuinely new gameplay experience in the single player campaign and the online multiplayer will give PC and 360 gamers something totally unique to sink their teeth into” said Matt Russell, Brand Manager.



The single player mode features 11 large-scale campaigns with 12 bonus challenge missions, while the online multi-player combat offers an entirely new online battle experience with head-to-head and co-operative style gameplay with battles boasting over 100 units.

2007 marks the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Midway, the single most decisive naval battle in US history, which served as a turning point of World War II.

Battlestations Midway will be released on 9th February on Xbox 360 and PC.

AX360 GAMING HEADPHONES

TRITTON introduces the Audio Xtreme 360 (AX360), one of the industry’s first high performance Dolby Digital and Pro Logic certified digital gaming headset for Xbox, Xbox 360, PS2, PC and DVD players. The AX360 provides true 5.1 digital, 360-degree surround sound with a removable microphone.

The AX360 connects to the gaming console optical port to deliver optimum Dolby certified 2.1 and 5.1 digital sound separation. For a radical and extreme gaming experience, the unit features eight strategically placed speakers, four in each ear cup. The external 5.1 audio controller amplifies each individual speaker to completely engulf users into the game. The AX360 gives total control with inline adjustments for front, side, rear, and subwoofer to customize the users own audio experience. The integrated rumble effect will blow your mind, giving you a more realistic and immersed game play.

With the AX360, gamers can hear when enemies are sneaking up behind them, the roar of engines as they pass the competition, bullets flying from side to side and explosions emitting from all directions over the battlefield. With the removable microphone that is XBOX Live compatible, gamers can communicate with other gamers directly from the headset. The AX360 sound box can support two headsets to share in the chaos. (Secondary headsets sold separately.) Connect to a PC via an optical port or 5.1 analog inputs through the G9 adapter provided. The AX360 is not only the perfect gaming headset, it is also ideal for enjoying DVD movies in crystal clear 5.1 Dolby Digital certified sound .