FIA World Rally Championship Mobile Game

Even While the Clock Ticks Away, It's Impossible to Ignore the Fierce 3D Graphics and Cinematic Camera Angles of WRC

I-play, the mobile entertainment company, is proud to announce that 'FIA World Rally Championship', the mobile game based on one of the most exciting spectator sports in the world, has been nominated for the 2007 International Mobile Gaming Excellence in 3D Award. The game, published by I-play, is developed by I-play's partner Firemint.

'FIA World Rally Championship' features 16 official WRC locations, players must master four challenging environments and road surfaces in both arcade and championship modes - all against the clock! The game also features cinematic camera angles; third person driving views; track hazards such as logs, boulders and crashed cars as well as the official WRC music and sound effects!

The IMGA Excellence in 3D Award winner will receive $5,000.00 U.S. cash, software licenses from Adobe, phones from Nokia and a guaranteed contract with an operator and a publisher to market the title. The IMGA will truly help to make mobile game developers' dreams a reality!

How Valve Software has repeatedly played with gaming’s rules

Valve may well have outdone itself. Inevitably, such a claim sounds a touch hyperbolic given the history of the company; over the last ten years, the people of Valve Software have created one of the most successful multiplayer games of all time in Counter-Strike, redefined excellence in the singleplayer shooter genre – first with the influential Half-Life, then again with its stunning sequel – and modernized the way games are delivered using Steam a digital distribution platform and community service.

Now, with the release of The Orange Box, Valve’s ambitions seem to be ascending in an exponential curve. Putting aside the exceptional quality of the games therein, the manner of its release epitomizes Valve’s tendency towards unique, and often brilliant, experimentation: The Orange Box is a compilation of five parts, bringing together the two previously released installments of Half-Life 2 and three entirely new prospects – all for the price of a single new release.

“We had these three projects under development – Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Team Fortress 2 and Portal – and they were all sort of converging,” explains Gabe Newell, Valve’s founder and leader, recalling the conversation which brought about their amalgamation into a single product.

“We were looking at this trying to figure out what to do. In the end we determined to stop thinking about it in terms of schedules and certification processes and start thinking from the point of view of a customer. What would they think about something like The Orange Box? I felt it’d be really exciting for them, and because that was an easy decision for a gamer, it became an easy decision for us to do that. If finding that compelling concept for your customers is the filter on your decisions, you’re almost never going to go wrong.”

This kind of agility and flexibility is a rare freedom, and for it to be directed with such audaciousness is rarer still. If this was not evidence in itself, it takes only a few hours at Valve’s Seattle offices to realize that the company is exceptionally idiosyncratic, even when placed alongside the frequently unorthodox working environments of other videogame virtuosos. Ask nearly anyone what their job title is, and they will take on a pensive expression before suggesting that they might be a designer.

“We don’t really do job titles,” says Jeep Barnett, one of Valve’s more recent acquisitions, plucked from university along with the rest of the team behind Portal. Later, Episode Two’s Gautum Babbar dismisses the idea that there is any one person behind the direction of the series. It’s a recurring theme; responsibilities are shared and positions are rarely set in stone, employees expected to straddle roles and make themselves useful in any way they can.

“I think my personal view is that we’re in the business of inventing things that haven’t existed before,” says Newell. “A lot of times, solutions fall between the cracks of existing role definitions. Is this an art problem? Is this a tech problem? Is this a design problem? Often the answer is all of the above, and you need people who are really comfortable spanning multiple disciplines.”

It’s a need Valve has clearly taken pains to fulfill, and it’s somewhat intimidating to discover that nearly everyone in the company seems to be a polymath. Newell picks a few examples off the top of his head: “Ken Birdwell, who wrote all the code in our animation system, also has a fine arts degree and has done a bunch of art shows – he just happens to write code really well. Our HR person is a professional actor who can do voices in our games. Chet Faliszek – he’s supposedly a writer, but he functions just as well in a role that is traditionally a producer’s role. But he just did it on his own – no one said he was getting promoted to a producer’s track – he just started being incredibly useful to everyone else on the Left 4 Dead team.”

Source: Next Generation

PS2 still strong in software sales

Commenting on this season's "console wars," Crave Entertainment COO Rob Dyer thinks it is great that there are multiple consoles on the market.

"In fact, we see it more of a four consoles, two handhelds market," Dyer said, including the PlayStation 2 in the software sales battle.

"Christmas will be very strong and we see PS2, Wii and the handhelds leading the way for us," he told GamesIndustry.biz.

Recent software sales support his observation. In August, the PS2 version of Madden 08 was the second highest selling game in the US, with Guitar Hero II and Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s for PS2 also making the charts.

The PlayStation 2 version of FIFA 08 is atop the charts in both Germany and Spain, outselling versions for the current generation of consoles.

With Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter forecasting September PS2 software sales in the US at USD 101 million, this puts the seven year-old console only slightly behind the forecast September sales for current generation software.

Responding to rumours of a lower-priced PS3 appearing in the US, Dyer said that the price of development, not the retail price of the console, is the gating issue for smaller publishers.

"Until there is an affordable and predictable middleware solution for the PS3, it will be tough for smaller publishers to get games into market for the next year or two," Dyer said.

Sonic joins super smash bros

PlayStation 3 sales up but DS still leads

Nintendo's DS was still the best-selling hardware system in the UK, followed by the Wii and then the PS3, with the Xbox 360 behind its home console rival.

Two new PS3 models were introduced to market last Wednesday. A 40GB model with less functions has gone on sale for GBP 299, and the 60GB model has been reduced to GBP 349, bundled with two free first-party games.

PS3 software has also enjoyed a resurgence, with Resistance: Fall of Man climbing the all-formats charts from 22 to eight, Heavenly Sword re-entering the top 40 at number 14, MotorStorm moving from 22 to 18, and Formula 1: Championship Edition also back in the official charts at number 24.

DREAM BIG WITH NiGHTS FOR THE Wii

SEGA of Europe Ltd. today announced that NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams for the Wii video game console will ship January 2008, in Europe. The title, a sequel to the critically-acclaimed hit NiGHTS, will allow players to take flight, unleash incredible airborne maneuvers, and explore seven magnificent worlds of imagination, dreams and nightmares. SEGA also unveiled plans to reawaken the Artificial Life (A-Life) feature in NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, which gives gamers the freedom to oversee and develop their own sandbox environment enabling them to capture, raise, and even combine the inhabitants from the world of Nightopia, and has confirmed that the game will feature a two-player mode and network support at launch.

Unlike any other game available today, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams will deliver the feeling of flight through the innovative Wii Remote™. Players will glide, spiral and loop through a variety of mystical dream worlds packed with action and adventure as they dive and blast through rings, gather orbs and come up against fantastic and unforgettable boss battles. Anchored by a storyline about courage, hope and inspiration, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams is an ideal game for the entire family.

“Finally developing a sequel for NiGHTS is a dream come true – for myself and, I hope, also for fans of the original game as well as people new to the game!” commented Takeshi Iizuka of SEGA Studio USA “NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams will be a unique game making good use of the great features Wii has to offer”.

NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams unfolds in Nightopia, the spectacular dream world of two young characters, Helen and Will. Struggling to overcome the every day challenges of growing up, these two 12-year-olds find their real life experiences spilling over into their dreams. As Helen and Will fall into a deep sleep, they are greeted by NiGHTS, a fantasy jester, who leads them to explore the rich and vibrant land of Nightopia. Along the way, NiGHTS helps the youngsters bravely face their fears by finding inventive ways to confront, outpace, and outwit foes - such as the villainous Nightmarens. Through the freedom of flight, execution of stunning acrobatic moves and tapping into special abilities that enable gamers to combat danger and restore peace to Nightopia.

Deal or No Deal comes to the PC

Can YOU beat The Banker?

Focus Multimedia and Mindscape today announced they are to launch the official Deal or No Deal PC game, giving fans the chance to play and personalise their favourite TV game show in the comfort of their own homes.

Hosted by Noel Edmonds, Endemol’s Deal or No Deal is one of the most popular programmes on TV, regularly taking contestants – along with millions of avid viewers - on an emotional white-knuckle ride. The award-winning game show has proven a major hit on Channel 4, achieving audiences of up to 4.5 million viewers and recently celebrating its 500th show.

Have you ever wondered how you would fare in the crazy chair? Well now it’s your chance to find out…will you make the right deal at the right time, or will you risk it all and walk away with nothing? Take the walk of wealth on your PC, as you and your friends and family compete to win a life-changing sum of money!
With game play identical to the TV show, each sealed box in the Deal or No Deal PC game contains a sum of money ranging from 1p to £250,000. It’s a mystery how much is in each box, but somehow players must eliminate the boxes containing the smaller amounts, keeping the larger amounts in play as long as possible. Both Noel and the other contestants urge players on to beat The Banker, but will they hold their nerves and win the jackpot? Or will they play safe and make a deal with The Banker?

Featuring a wealth of innovative features, the Deal or No Deal PC game gives fans the chance to play on their own, or with family and friends. For the first time on PC, players can even take on the role of The Banker and try to make contestants accept the lowest offer possible!

Another unique and exciting feature is the Forfeit Game, which allows players to choose their own prizes. Rather than the usual sums of money, you can try to win a week of pampering…or maybe you’ll end up doing the cleaning instead!

With 22 identical boxes and a quarter of a million pounds at stake, players will be desperate to have “just one more go” – especially as every player’s performance is recorded for posterity on the Deal or No Deal leaderboard!

The Deal or No Deal PC game has been developed by Mindscape and is published by Focus Multimedia.

Craig Johnson, Managing Director of Focus Multimedia, commented: “The Deal or No Deal PC game has all the nail-biting drama of the trail-blazing TV show. With the ability to compete against family and friends, and a fully rendered 3D Noel Edmonds as your host, the Deal or No Deal PC game is going to top of a lot of Christmas lists this festive season.”

The Deal or No Deal PC game will go on sale in October 2007. The suggested retail price is £14.99

All formats UK chart

1 FIFA 08 ELECTRONIC ARTS 1
2 PROJECT GOTHAM RACING 4 MICROSOFT
3 HALO 3 MICROSOFT
4 RATATOUILLE THQ
5 MYSIMS ELECTRONIC ARTS
6 TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 08 ELECTRONIC ARTS
7 JUICED 2: HOT IMPORT NIGHTS THQ
8 RESISTANCE: FALL OF MAN SONY COMPUTER ENT.
9 SKATE ELECTRONIC ARTS
10 HEAVENLY SWORD SONY COMPUTER ENT.
11 SEGA RALLY SEGA
12 FORZA MOTORSPORT 2 MICROSOFT
13 MOTORSTORM SONY COMPUTER ENT.
14 CRASH OF THE TITANS VIVENDI GAMES
15 TRANSFORMERS: THE GAME ACTIVISION
16 SUPER PAPER MARIO NINTENDO
17 RUGBY 08 ELECTRONIC ARTS
18 HARRY POTTER & THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX ELECTRONIC ARTS
19 FORMULA 1: CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION SONY COMPUTER ENT.
20 MARIO PARTY 8 NINTENDO

GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK UNRELEASED SONGS EXCLUSIVE TO XBOX 360

Music and videogames take the next step in the digital revolution with expansion songs included with a game's soundtrack CD for the first time. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Companion Pack (Interscope Records), to be released on October 23, 2007, features not only the key songs on Activision's Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock, available October 28, 2007, but also exclusive access to more gameplay with three previously unreleased expansion songs to play with Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock for Xbox 360.

Included in each Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Companion Pack is a unique code users may input at www.interscope.com/guitarherocode to receive a unique Xbox Live code. Users may then input the Xbox Live code into their Xbox 360 console when logged into Xbox Live, to download the expansion songs. Xbox Live codes are expected to be available when Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock launches on October 28.

The three expansion tracks are "Carcinogen Crush" from AFI (from an EP due in December), "Tina" from Flyleaf and a remix of Marilyn Manson's "Putting Holes In Happiness" by Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The latter two recordings also are heard on the soundtrack CD, along with AFI's "Miss Murder," Sonic Youth's "Kool Thing," Queens Of The Stone Age's "3's And 7's," Smashing Pumpkins' "Cherub Rock," Velvet Revolver's "Slither," Living Colour's "Cult Of Personality," Rise Against's "Prayer Of The Refugee," the Guitar Hero rendition of "Devil Went Down To Georgia" by Steve Ouimette and the game's intro by Slash, who is also a character in the game.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will include explosive new content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer game modes will also allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true legendary rock status. While continuing to retain all the key features from their prior legendary performances, fresh downloadable content will be offered on multiple platforms, and players can now shred to a killer set list from many of the most popular rock songs ever recorded.

For the first time ever, Guitar Hero fans will also be able to thrash and burn with new wireless guitar controllers available for each platform, including exclusive Gibson Guitar's Les Paul model for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii home video game system from Nintendo, and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. PlayStation 2 gamers will also get to shred on a new exclusive shape, Gibson's Kramer guitar, popularized by hard rockers and known for its body design, pickups, electronics and construction for furious finger fretting.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, published by RedOctane® and developed by Neversoft, is rated 'T' for Teen by the ESRB. For more information about the Guitar Hero franchise, please visit the dedicated community site: www.guitarhero.com.

About Gibson Guitar:

Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. Gibson's HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.'s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Maestro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Gibson Baldwin Music Education, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, Baldwin, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson's website at www.gibson.com

XBox controller for World of Warcraft on PC

SwitchBlade Software Available for Download from Xfire Provides Easy World of Warcraft Play Via Xbox 360 Controller

Blue Orb, Inc. today announced Switchblade, a software package designed to allow gamers to play Blizzard’s massively popular World of Warcraft using an Xbox 360 controller. SwitchBlade is available today for download for free exclusively from Xfire (www.xfire.com).

SwitchBlade is an easy-to-use application that brings a fully configured game controller interface to any PC game. Once SwitchBlade is installed, it provides a console gaming experience for the gamer looking for a new way to play popular PC games. The first game supported by SwitchBlade is World of Warcraft. Preconfigured key bindings map the Xbox 360 controller buttons to the most commonly used World of Warcraft controls.

In addition to its “plug and play” pre-configured options, SwitchBlade is a highly customizable application. Experienced World of Warcraft players get extensive opportunities to reconfigure button mappings to match their unique style of play.
“We all know that World of Warcraft is popular, but a lot of gamers are just hooked on the console controller experience,” said Aaron Levin, Blue Orb’s Vice President of Business Development. “With SwitchBlade, they can relax on the couch with a gamepad instead of hunching over a keyboard and mouse.”

“Partnering with Blue Orb enables us to offer a superior playing experience for Xfire users,” said Adam Boyden, Xfire’s General Manager. “We invite gamers to download the free SwitchBlade software from Xfire and experience a new way to play World of Warcraft.”

Future versions of SwitchBlade will include support for a wide range of PC games, and will provide support for additional types of game controllers.

SwitchBlade is available for free download and registration from Xfire.com. Registered SwitchBlade users receive product updates at no charge. User forums, product announcements, and contest information is available at http://www.switchbladegaming.com.