DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker on the DS

Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces that DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker will be released across all PAL territories in early 2008 exclusively on the Nintendo DS system.

Have you got what it takes to fight to the top with a team of the meanest monsters? DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker provides the ultimate monster-hunting challenge with over 200 marauding monsters to collect and battle. Train your team to be the best by mastering countless spells, abilities, and more that will help them crush rival beasts. You can also synthesise amazing new monsters that can develop rare new abilities.

DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker is not just about battling though. Explore a colourful 3D world full of treasures and surprises; and meet a colourful cast of quirky characters that can help you with your trip to the top. There’s fun to be had in multiplayer and online use too. Challenge your friends and their monster teams with DS Wireless Communication, or compete against players from around the world in the Wildcard World Cup, via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, “After the great success of DRAGON QUEST since we introduced the series to Europe, I am extremely happy that we are now giving fans a chance to enjoy DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker on the Nintendo DS. This is another stylish entry in the DRAGON QUEST series that will bring many hours of enjoyment to anybody that plays it.”

DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker

Story

Welcome to Green Bays, a cluster of mysterious islands that sparkle like jewels in the shimmering ocean! But travellers beware!

The islands are not as peaceful as they seem, for they teem with a multitude of monsters both great and small. Green Bays is also home to the famous Monster Scout Challenge. This renowned contest, held once every few years, determines who will be crowned the world’s greatest scout. The challenge is organised by the Monster Scout Organisation, whose headquarters are located on Domus Isle, which lies at the centre of the archipelago.

Now a new challenge is about to begin, and the crème de la crème of the scouting world are converging on the islands…
It is time for you to begin your quest to become the greatest monster scout in Green Bays, and in history!

Features

• Collect over 200 monsters to create the ultimate team

• Train your monster squad to be the strongest by mastering countless spells, abilities, and more. The combinations are almost endless

• Synthesise amazing new species of monsters that inherit the best abilities of their parents and perhaps some rare new skills too

• Battle other teams of monsters to see who is the best

• Explore a stunning 3D world filled with monsters, treasures and surprises. Graphics use the same techniques as seen in DRAGON QUEST: The Journey of the Cursed King

• Challenge friends and their monster teams via DS Wireless Communication

• Compare your team and compete against players globally in the Wildcard World Cup, available via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

• The DRAGON QUEST “big three” – comprising series creator Yuji Horii, legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama, and renowned composer Koichi Sugiyama – come together once again to create an unforgettable gaming experience

Virtua Fighter 5 Demo available

SEGA Europe Ltd. today announced that Virtua Fighter 5, the highly-anticipated arcade fighting game for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, has gone gold. Virtua Fighter 5 for the Xbox 360 will feature an online versus mode at launch and is scheduled to ship across Europe October 26th, 2007.

The Xbox 360 version of Virtua Fighter 5 is based on the latest arcade version update and features both analogue stick and D-pad control, as well as vibration support. The game also includes an improved Quest mode featuring more CPU rivals, items, and emblems for character customisation. The DOJO mode has added features including leaderboards, training move settings, improved throw escape training, and the option to change your opponent’s position and recovery type.

Also, the VF5 demo is now available on marketplace.
The Virtua Fighter 5 demo allows players partial access to both VS. mode, where two players can battle it out (offline), and also to Arcade mode for spectacular single player action. Both modes feature Akira, Sarah, El Blaze and Eileen as playable characters and the demo has three playable stages – “Arena” (El Blaze’s stage), “Deep Mountain” (Lei-Fei’s stage) and “Island” (Jeffrey’s stage).

For more information on Virtua Fighter 5 please visit http://virtuafighter5.sega-europe.com/en/.

Electronic Arts buys two Video Game Studios

Seeking to fill gaps in its product lineup, the video game publisher Electronic Arts said Thursday that it would acquire two software studios from Elevation Partners in a deal worth $860 million, the largest in its history.

The studios, BioWare Corporation and Pandemic Studios, are known for their action, adventure and role-playing games. Elevation owns their parent, VG Holding.

Electronic Arts, the world’s No. 1 video game publisher, is known for blockbusters like the Sims and Madden NFL, but it has at times had less than 10 percent of the lucrative market for role-playing, action and adventure games.

Under the terms of the deal, Electronic Arts will pay VG stockholders up to $620 million in cash and issue as much as $155 million in equity to some of the company’s employees. The shares will be subject to certain time- and performance-restricted vesting criteria.

E.A., which is based in Redwood City, will also assume about $50 million in outstanding VG stock options and has agreed to lend VG up to $35 million until the deal closes.

Company officials declined to elaborate on the financial terms.

Before this deal, E.A.’s largest acquisition was its $680 million purchase of the mobile game publisher Jamdat Mobile in 2006.

BioWare and Pandemic have a total of 10 games under development and together employ about 800 people in Los Angeles and Austin, Tex., as well as in Canada and Australia.

Microsoft is planning to publish BioWare’s Mass Effect game next month, and the studio is in the early stages of developing a multiplayer online game, E.A. said. Pandemic is planning to release Mercenaries 2: World in Flames and Saboteur.

Source: NY Times

THQ Teams Up with American Girl to Create Video Games That Celebrate Girls

THQ announced that it has entered into an agreement with American Girl, a division of Mattel, Inc., for rights to publish video games based on the company’s line of popular dolls and books. Published by THQ’s ValuSoft division, the first in the series of American Girl games is based on the newest American Girl character Julie Albright, a fun-loving girl growing up in San Francisco in the 1970s. The game, entitled Julie Saves the Eagles, is for Windows PC and has shipped to retailers throughout North America. The company plans to release two additional titles in the American Girl series: Julie Finds A Way for the Nintendo DS and a game based on the yet-to-be-announced 2008 Girl of the Year™ character for Windows PC, which are scheduled for release later this fall and in early 2008 respectively.

Julie Saves the Eagles for Windows PC gives players the opportunity to join Julie as she embarks on more than 24 adventures to save a family of endangered bald eagles. Following the book series, players will follow Julie’s journey throughout the San Francisco area on a quest to raise money and public awareness in order to release a pair of majestic bald eagles and their eaglet back into the wild. Julie Saves the Eagles also features hints from Julie’s mom, special diary entries, factual information about bald eagles and conversations with Julie’s family, friends and acquaintances.

The Nintendo DS game, Julie Finds A Way, offers more than 20 exciting and challenging mini-games as Julie explores San Francisco and follows the storyline of four of the new Julie books. Players will interact with Julie’s friends and family, dress her in groovy 1970s outfits, train her rabbit, Nutmeg, for the San Francisco Rabbit Show and more. Additionally, girls can engage in local multiplayer for up to two players.

For more information about Julie Saves the Eagles, Julie Finds A Way and the rest of THQ and ValuSoft’s lineup of games, please visit www.thq.com and www.valusoft.com.

Atari buys Spark developers

Teams with Gamecock for Legendary: The Box

Atari is teaming up with publisher Gamecock to bring first-person shooter Legendary: The Box to PAL territories.

Developed by Call of Duty: Finest Hour studio Spark Unlimited, the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 title is due for release next summer.

"Gamecock have already established themselves as a serious new force to be reckoned with in video games, and we’re proud and excited to be entering into this agreement with them to co-publish such an original and excellent quality product as Legendary: The Box," offered Mathias Hautefort, executive VP of publishing and production for Atari.

"The agreement marks another positive step forward for Atari in bringing original and high quality interactive entertainment to the market."

Sony paid £16 million for Evolution Studios

Chief exec Martin Kenwright gets £12m

Sony's acquisition of MotorStorm developer Evolution Studios and its PSP satellite Bigbig Studios cost the company £16 million (EUR 22.9m / USD 32.6m).

According to a report by the Liverpool Daily Post, chief executive and co-founder Martin Kenwright held a 75 per cent stake in the company, netting him GBP 12 million from the sale. Ian Hetherington, chairman and co-founder, held most of the rest of the shares.

The MotorStorm developer was snapped up by Sony last month, after the racing studio delivered one of the most critically acclaimed and best-selling titles for the PlayStation 3.

At the time, Michael Denny, vice president of SCE Worldwide Studios told GamesIndustry.biz, "We've enjoyed a highly productive and commercially successful relationship with Evolution and now there's a great opportunity in bringing them into part of the family to share further in terms of technology, production methodology and creative goals to make the experiences that these teams are creating even better."

Evolution was established in 1999, but co-founders Kenwright and Hetherington decided to leave the business following the acquisition.

Evolution is currently working a disc-based sequel to MotorStorm as well as further downloadable content, while Bigbig Studios is putting the finishing touches to Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice for the PSP.

Source: Games Industry

World In Conflict Conquers Worldwide PC Sales Charts

Award-Winning Action-Strategy Gameplay Draws Fans of First-Person Shooters, RPGs, Action Games; New Fans Drive Game to Top PC Position on Charts Worldwide

Sierra Entertainment is proud to announce that World in Conflict™ - the game unanimously chosen as the Best Strategy Game of E3 2007 and winner of countless "Editor's Choice" awards, debuted at the top of the worldwide PC sales charts in the game's first week at retail. The game hit #1 on PC in North America, Germany, and Australia and was among the top 3-sellers on PC in most other territories worldwide.

The critically acclaimed action-strategy game created by Massive Entertainment, a Sierra Entertainment internal studio, is currently available in North America in both Standard and Collector's Edition versions for a suggested retail price of $49.99 and $59.99 respectively.

"Sierra Entertainment is extremely proud that the World in Conflict video game is realizing the level of success that can be expected from a game of such high quality," said Martin Tremblay, president of worldwide studios, Sierra Entertainment. "We see the World in Conflict audience continually expanding as PC players read the stunning reviews, hear about the game from their friends or try the multiplayer demo, and in turn, discover what this new 'action-strategy' gameplay is all about."

The World in Conflict game is currently the highest-rated real-time strategy game of the year, according to information gathered by GameRankings.com. Reviews from around the world hail the game's intense action-packed gameplay and cross-genre appeal as refreshing, exciting and the future of strategy gaming. IGN PC called the game "An RTS for the shooter generation" and "…an action junky's dream," awarding World in Conflict a 9.3 out of 10. GameSpot gave the game a 9.5 out of 10, saying "World in Conflict is a thrilling, spectacular strategy game."

"World in Conflict is one of the hottest-selling PC games today as it appeals to fans of many genres, from first-person-shooter to RPG to sim," said Bob McKenzie, senior vice president of merchandising for GameStop Corp, the world's largest video game and entertainment software retailer. "The game's innovative action-focused gameplay, amazingly fun multiplayer modes, and next-generation graphics have drawn in new fans the world over."

"The amazing success of the World in Conflict game launch is directly reflective of the outstanding support offered by Sierra's worldwide retail partners during a highly competitive launch window," said Pascal Brochier, president of Global Retail, Vivendi Games. "These partners recognized the strength and quality of the game and have committed strong support through the upcoming Holiday season. World in Conflict is a game with incredible longevity, one that will be supported and promoted by the blossoming communities - such as competitive multiplayer groups and amateur map makers and mod developers - who are already building around the strength of the game."

About World in Conflict
The World in Conflictt game asks the terrifying question, what if the Cold War didn't end? The award-winning game represents the next-generation of strategy titles, pitting Cold War-era superpowers against one another with completely destructible 3D battlefields and blistering visuals using DX10 technology. The World in Conflict game features an innovative gameplay mechanism that removes traditional resource-gathering and base-building in favor of non-stop combat, tactical decisions and FPS-like intense action. The game also features a deep single-player campaign that showcases Hollywood-quality storytelling of the Cold War gone hot.

Features in the World in Conflict game include:

Action-Focused Gameplay: World in Conflict gameplay focuses on tactical combat to create a game that is fast and hard-hitting - much like an FPS - by removing traditional base-building and resource gathering in favor of instant warfare and by doing so, creating a new category of PC games: Action-Strategy

Dramatic Single-Player Campaign: The World in Conflict single-player mode offers a deep and emotional storyline created by renowned author and cold war authority, Larry Bond; players strap on the combat boots of a young field commander featuring Hollywood voice-over talent and a thrilling personal journey through World War III

Accessibility: The World in Conflict FPS-like control scheme and 360-degree camera make its action-strategy gameplay exciting for hardcore strategy fans as well as accessible to fans of other genres - strategy fans will love the World in Conflict experience. For gamers who have never played strategy before, the World in Conflict game is the game to try

Deep Multiplayer With "Next-Gen" Features: The World in Conflict game supports up to 16 players for head-to-head and team-based battles in Domination, Tug-of-War and Assault modes; online play features built-in Voice-over IP (VoIP), support for clan management, competitive ladders, online tournaments, chat rooms, friends lists and more

Real World Super-Powered Warfare: Unleash the authentic military arsenals of the great superpowers including tanks, planes, trucks, troops and helicopters from the USA, Soviet Union and NATO; as well as massive tactical attacks such as carpet bombings, long-range artillery, napalm and nuclear weapons

Player Roles: Innovative in the strategy genre, players choose to engage the enemy as Infantry, Armor, Support, or Air specialists; multiplayer teams need to master each role and their cooperative elements for maximum effectiveness

Bleeding-Edge Graphics: The latest version of Massive's proprietary Masstech™ engine uses DX10 technology, with advanced lighting, particle and physics effects, and allows for a full 360-degree range of camera control

Complete Destructibility: As the battle rages, the world environment pays the price as every object - houses, trees and more - crumble under the force of war

Scalability: While pushing the bleeding edge, Massive's proprietary Masstech engine also scales down to accommodate a wide range of PC specifications - if you've played a modern PC game within the last two years, you'll be able to play the World in Conflict game

The World in Conflict Collector's Edition includes limited edition extras for hardcore fans and Cold War enthusiasts, including an authentic piece of the Berlin Wall, a bonus DVD from The History Channel®, behind the scenes videos and special packaging.

The World in Conflict game is now available at retail stores in North America for the personal computer with a suggested retail price of $49.99 for Standard Edition and $59.99 for the Collector's Edition. For more information on World in Conflict, please visit www.worldinconflict.com.

Nintendo DS - Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

The signature Call of Duty chaos of battle is coming to Nintendo DS for the first time in a modern day first-person action experience packed with intense sights, sounds and gameplay. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for the Nintendo DS delivers an arsenal of modern weaponry, arming gamers with precision controls and touch screen capabilities for battle across the world’s most dangerous hotspots. In an unfolding story that parallels the epic, high-octane PC and next generation console Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the Nintendo DS title enlists players as U.S. and coalition forces against a rogue enemy, where the action rages from land to the skies in all-out combat that threatens the world.

KEY FEATURES:

• Nintendo DS Touch Screen and Stylus – Intuitive stylus-based movement controls allows unique ways to construct explosive devices, disarm traps, and perform hand-to-hand combat.

• Diversity of Gameplay – Delivering a variety of combat, the title takes players from the soldier to the satellite with multiple scenarios. Gamers will experience mobilization as they fast-rope from tactical helicopters, engage hostile forces from an aerial gunship, and experience the ferocity of building to building fighting.

• Instant Action – Featuring the signature Call of Duty epic combat and intensity, the Nintendo DS title delivers an Instant Action mode allowing players to quickly access previously completed missions.

• Multiplayer Support – Leveraging wireless local area network (WLAN) for ad-hoc connectivity, up to four players quickly ease into the visceral action of modern warfare combat.

Publisher: Activision Publishing, Inc.
Developer: n-Space
Release Date: Fall 2007
Platform: Nintendo DS
Suggested Retail Price: TBD
ESRB Rating: TBD

Enemy Territory: Quake Wars Now Available For Digital Download At IGN

Award-Winning, Highly-Anticipated Multiplayer Shooter Available Immediately via Digital Download

Direct2Drive, IGN Entertainment’s digital retail store, today announced that id Software’s Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars, is now available for worldwide digital download via Direct2Drive (http://www.direct2drive.com).

Developed by Splash Damage and published by Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars offers the ultimate in objective-based multiplayer action, either online or offline with computer controlled players. Up to 24 gamers can play online, electing to play as the human Global Defense Force (GDF) or alien Strogg in one of five unique character classes. Employing an arsenal of weapons, vehicles and deployable armaments, players engage in an action-packed test of skill and coordinated teamwork through a series of combat objectives. Persistent character growth and achievements reward gamers for teamwork, while clearly defined mission and class objectives guide new players to meaningful contributions on the battlefield.

“Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars is a perfect fit for digital distribution with the experience of the online game maximized with a fast connection,” said id Software CEO, Todd Hollenshead. “IGN and Direct2Drive make for an awesome partnership because they are fans of multiplayer internet gaming just like we are at id and they know what it takes to deliver what customers expect and demand.”

Since launching in October 2004, Direct2Drive has allowed gamers to conveniently purchase and download the latest premium games from the world’s top publishers.

“Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars is a highly-acclaimed title that we are excited to add to our expansive library and make immediately available to consumers worldwide,” said Jamie Berger, SVP Consumer Products & Technology for IGN Entertainment. “Direct2Drive is committed to offering the broadest library of AAA digital titles that can be found anywhere online”.

Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars for Windows PC is rated “T” by the ESRB and carries a suggested retail price of $49.99.

Wii Chills Out With Intercooler

Nyko Announces Intercooler For Wii Has Shipped To Retailers

Nyko Technologies, a premier peripherals manufacturer, announced today that it has shipped the Intercooler for Wii to retailers nationwide, giving Wii gamers the ultimate solution for keeping their innovative console running under optimal conditions.

The Intercooler for Wii is the perfect accessory for Wii gamers looking to keep their consoles running in the best possible environment. The Intercooler dramatically increases the rate of hot air flowing out of the vents, resulting in a console that runs at considerably lower temperatures. The Intercooler for Wii clips easily onto the back of the Wii, meaning there is no complicated installation or modification necessary. This patented design also leaves all of the inputs on the back of the console free and easily accessible. For image conscience gamers, the Intercooler for Wii comes in a décor that matches the aesthetic of the Wii itself and can be used when the console is in a horizontal or vertical position.

"The release of the Intercooler for Wii marks Nyko's third Intercooler product for this current generation of consoles," said Chris Arbogast, marketing manager at Nyko Technologies. "Due to popular demand from consumers who were impressed with the original intercooler models for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 we created the Intercooler for Wii which we feel will be as equally praised for its ability to keep the Wii running at appropriate temperature levels."

The Intercooler for Wii is now available at retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $14.99 and on Nyko's online store at www.nyko.com/intercoolerwii.