Disney Mobile Studios Announces Xmas 2007 Mobile Games

Lode Runner, Bomberman, Disney Snow Sports, Enchanted and Cars: Radiator Springs 500 launch

Disney Mobile Studios, part of The Walt Disney Internet Group EMEA (WDIG) announces today the line-up of mobile games for the Xmas season.

Capitalising on its ability to produce original IP-based games as well as bringing successful Disney franchises to market, Disney Mobile Studios is launching a number of key titles for mobile devices:

Lode Runner – the return of one of the most popular videogames in history with improved graphics and features. A retro classic.

Bomberman – The cheekiest, funniest game ever, where you battle to beat opponents with bombs, skates and fire! But this isn’t one version, but every version of the classic Bomberman imaginable.

Disney Snow Sports – Duckburg is hosting the winter games and you have to help Mickey, Donald and Goofy win through. Skiing, bobsleighing and winning medals are the order of the day.

Enchanted – Based on the forthcoming Disney Xmas movie which pitches animated fairytale characters into real life Manhattan, the mobile game challenges players with a number of 'enchanted' mini-games and puzzles.

Cars: Radiator Springs 500 – Lightning McQueen and the gang are back in this sequel to the original mobile game. Based on the continually successful Cars film franchise, the game has an original take on the racing genre.

Sunil Gunderia, Managing Director and VP Mobile EMEA, Disney Mobile Studios commented “We are delighted to bring such a strong line-up to market this Xmas, reflecting our in house creativity and the strong franchises that Disney can bring to market.”

The line up of games will begin to launch across all major operator networks in Europe from November 2007 and will be backed through synergistic marketing campaigns with Disney businesses and bespoke marketing activities through Disney Mobile Studios.

Professional Bull Riders Game Delivers All the Action of the Toughest Sport on Dirt

Crave Entertainment, a leading publisher of console videogames, and Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) in partnership with D2C Games, Inc. today revealed details of the Professional Bull Riders videogame. Capturing all the adrenaline and challenge of the Toughest Sport on Dirt, the game lets you play as a pro bull rider or as a bull in multiple events leading up to the World Finals. Available for the Wii home video game console, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, with downloadable versions on the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system and PC, the PBR games are scheduled for release in time for the World Finals beginning in October 2008.

"PBR has a dedicated fan base and the sport is poised to become the next NASCAR," said Rob Dyer, President of Crave Entertainment. "Capturing the intricacies, adrenaline rushes and excitement of professional bull riding is paramount to the success of the games."

"PBR is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. with nearly 20 million fans watching or attending PBR events in 2006,' said Sean Gleason, CMO of PBR. "We are thrilled to partner with Crave Entertainment and D2C Games to bring the sport of professional bull riding to our millions of loyal fans."
Players may create their own character and compete as a professional rider or a tenacious bull throughout 10 three-round events in multiple locations, including New York, Anaheim, and Atlanta. Challenge or play as top riders, including Guilherme Marchi, Justin McBride, and Chris Shivers, or play as one of the tour's ferocious bulls!

Unlimited play modes test players' skills in either staying on for at least eight seconds or bucking off the rider before his time is up and Season Mode features unlockable riders and bulls. Become the best rider or bull in multiplayer by having the most "wins," or become part of the Millionaire's Club by beating some of the meanest, toughest bulls in the history of the PBR. Intuitive controls and multiple difficulty levels allow anyone to pick up and play and realistic sounds from screaming crowds to bone-crunching falls max out the realism.

"D2C Games is focused on capturing the essence of the sport while delivering a video game that is easy to pick up and very fun to play," said Scott Orr, CEO and Founder of D2C Games, Inc. "PBR fans for the first time will be able to experience the most exciting eight seconds in sports."

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• Professional Bull Riders - Out of the Chute video game for PSP and PC to download

MEGA BRAIN BOOST' FOR THE NINTENDO DS

Upcoming Title Includes 3 Games on 1 Cartridge for Exceptional Value

Stop the “brain drain” and improve your mental prowess with Mega Brain Boost, a new Nintendo DS game from Majesco Entertainment, an innovative provider of video games and digital entertainment products for the mass market. Developed by Interchannel-Holon, Mega Brain Boost is actually three-games-in-one: the previously released Brain Boost Gamma Wave and Brain Boost Beta Wave, plus a third never-before-released game that offers an additional set of exercises designed to improve memory and concentration.

“By packaging three distinct games within 1 game cartridge and pricing the total package at $19.99, we’re offering a great deal of value to consumers looking for quality entertainment,” said Ken Gold, Vice President of Marketing, Majesco. “Each game within Mega Brain Boost offers a completely different set of fun, yet challenging, brain training problems designed to enhance mental acuity.”

Mega Brain Boost encompasses three separate games developed under the consultation of renowned researcher and author, Dr. Makoto Shichida, creator of the Right Brain Development Theory. Shichida’s theory holds that you can develop your right brain by increasing your recognition of images, shapes, spatial patterns, illustrations and intuition. He established the Shichida Method of education that entails daily training of repeated drills, absorbing large amounts of information quickly and being able to accurately reproduce those images visually in order to stimulate the right brain.

Mega Brain Boost includes Brain Boost Beta Wave, Brain Boost Gamma Wave plus a bonus third game.
Collectively, the three games include 15 sets of multiple choice based brain training drills along with a multiplayer feature that lets 2 players face off against one another to determine who’s the bigger brainiac.

Mega Brain Boost will be available in January 2008 for a suggested retail price of $19.99. For additional information, please visit www.majescoentertainment.com

New Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Companion Pack Videos Now Available

Three in-game video clips of the playable songs from Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Companion Pack are now available for your use. The clips can be downloaded from the following links:

"Putting Holes in Happiness" - Marilyn Manson (Nick Zinner remix)
http://dam.dvs.tv/IGA/guitarheromanson.mpg

"Tina" - Flyleaf
http://dam.dvs.tv/IGA/guitarheroflyleaf.mpg

"Carcinogen Crush" - A.F.I.
http://dam.dvs.tv/IGA/guitarheroafi.mpg

About Marilyn Manson

Known for his outrageous stage persona, Marilyn Manson released his sixth studio record, "Eat Me, Drink Me," in June 2007. Written following an introspective year, the new release was called "his most honest work ever" by Rolling Stone magazine. Over the years, Manson's heavy-metal sound has incorporated elements including spoken-word poetry, glam rock and vaudeville, and he tends toward unconventional and experimental music and recording techniques. More information about Marilyn Manson can be found at http://www.marilynmanson.com.

About Flyleaf
While many loud rockers reopen old wounds by singing about their broken homes and broken hearts, Belton, TX quintet Flyleaf (Lacey Mosley, vocals; Sameer Bhattacharya, guitar; Jared Hartmann, guitar; Pat Seals, bass; James Culpepper, drums) confronts past injuries to heal old scars and in the process prove that hope shines brighter than despair. Flyleaf's self-titled debut album is filled with songs about abuse, neglect, addiction, dysfunction, and overcoming adversity. The band's wide array of brooding beats, atmospheric textures and lunging riffs compliment Mosley's emotionally charged vocals, which range from breathy and beautiful to scathing and aggressive. For more information about Flyleaf, visit http://www.flyleafmusic.com.

About AFI
The documented origins of AFI stretch back to 1991 when Ukiah, California, teens Davey Havok and Adam Carson formed the band and released a debut split 7" the following year with fellow Ukiah High students Loose Change (whose lineup at the time featured future AFI guitarist Jade Puget). Twelve years later, AFI would make the decision to brave major label waters, releasing sixth album Sing the Sorrow on Dreamworks in 2003. "Girl's Not Grey" would be the band's single most infectious "pop" moment to date, while "Death of Seasons" incorporated lockstep industrial rhythms and mournful choruses before dissolving into a cacophony of screaming anguish. Now with the new DECEMBERUNDERGROUND, AFI invite The Despair Faction and other fans new and old (and yet to be made) to experience their most accomplished and labor-intensive work to date. For more information about AFI, visit http://www.afireinside.net.

About Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Companion Pack

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Companion Pack (Interscope Records) features not only the key songs on Activision's Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock, 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.

Control Time In TimeShift Adventure

Sierra Entertainment has announced that the next generation of first-person shooters, 'TimeShift', is officially available at retail stores nationwide for the PC and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system.

The game, one of the most talked about titles of 2007, will also be available on the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system on November 19, 2007.

Developed by Saber Interactive and published by Sierra Entertainment, 'TimeShift' allows players to control time and use it as the ultimate weapon in a fierce battle against the neo-fascist regime of Dr Krone.

In 'TimeShift', the story revolves around a highly respected physicist with a mysterious past.

When your colleague Dr Krone goes rogue and uses an experimental time-manipulating suit to create an alternate time stream where he is a grim dictator in a dystopian alternate reality, players must chase after him and use time to overthrow his rule.

Armed with similar, yet less stable time-bending suit, players have the ability to slow, stop and reverse the flow of time, while being able to freely interact with the environment and enemies, a feat never before accomplished in video games.

Featuring ground-breaking artificial intelligence, powerfully realistic graphics and immersive sound and story, 'TimeShift' is proving to be one of the first truly next-gen games to come to market this holiday season.

"We are very excited to ship this highly anticipated title to retail," said Pascal Brochier, president, Global Retail for Vivendi Games.

"Players are going to see effects in this game like they never have before - the ability to control time is a very unique feature, which is a lot of fun to play in single or multiplayer mode."

With a comprehensive online 16-player multiplayer mode, featuring time controlling "chrono" grenades, 14 different maps and over 40 different customisable features, 'TimeShift', was developed for elite multiplayer gamers by drawing inspirations from the best FPS's and adapting itself to the players' unique style by incorporating highly customizable gameplay modifiers resulting in a frenetic and competitive multiplayer experience every game.

Source: Sky News

Nintendo Wii Knockoff at Wal-Mart

Sometimes you can get great products from Wal-Mart at good prices; other times, you find items that shouldn't ever be sold.

A few weeks ago, reports started showing up that Wal-Mart was selling a cheap LCD game that looked nearly identical to the Nintendo Wiimote.

When I went to my local Wal-Mart to see if it was true, they hadn't arrived yet.

I just checked again, and there they are - terrible, terrible little toys that have zero redeeming features aside from their resemblance to a much better brand. Produced by a company called ToyQuest out of Los Angeles, these toys are border-line unplayable, and shamelessly copy the Nintendo Wii's style.

They even include motion controls, which are absolutely worthless because you can't see the screen if you're moving the toy. ToyQuest should be ashamed for making these, and Wal-Mart should be ashamed of carrying them. It's a product blatantly designed to confuse the consumer and leech an undeserved sense of quality by emulating a better product only a couple isles away.

More images here

From: Nintendo About

The Art of Pac-Man

Spit & Polish was something all custom toy fans have been dreaming about for a very long time.

Doktor A finally got the solo show he deserves and boy did he live up to the expectation with some magnificent custom pieces.

The highlight of show for me is the custom Soopa Coin Op Bros titled “The Secret History of Video Games: Pac Gentleman”.

More from Doktor

Giant Donkey Kong Game

The Computer Game Museum in Berlin has accomplished two things to make fanboys, such as ourselves, very moist.

Firstly, they have created a museum dedicated to computer games and secondly, the institution has produced a mahoosive reconstruction of the classic Donkey Kong game using scaffolding.

That is large.

Lap it up fellow fanboys, lap it up.

Oh, imagine how burly that large cardboard Donkey Kong would be—I wish he'd pick me up and hold me in his muscular primate arms...

Atari may lose DragonBall game license

It looks like Atari is in trouble as they are in a dispute with FUNimation. FUNi terminated their partnership with Atari claiming that they voilated their contract. I did not think this would come so soon, especially since Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is finished and due out in stores very soon. If they don't get things worked out in time, Namco Bandai is around to take the license, since they publish Dragonball Z games in Japan. I hope they do, because they do a good job in promoting the Naruto video games, in my opinion. Plus, Namco is my third favorite game publisher in the world, with Sega being the first, and Square-Enix second.

'Zheng Tu' game going online in Malaysia

Malaysian video game fans will soon be able to join the more than 1 million online users of the increasingly popular Chinese video game, "Zheng Tu."

The Malaysian company, iG-Interactive Sdn Bhd, has announced that it has reached an agreement with China's Lager Network Technologies Inc. to create a regional online server for the popular video game, China's official Xinhua news agency said Saturday.

"Game mission can teach gamers Chinese philosophy," iG-Interactive Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Tan Teck Seng said Friday.

The Malaysian executive said that the server's official launch would take place on Wednesday, adding that the game's quizzes would also be localized for users in the capital of Kuala Lumpur.

"Zheng Tu" is currently one of only three video games with online capabilities that have more than 1 million concurrent users.

Xinhua said that Chinese online games have been especially successful in other Asian countries such as Malaysia, where nearly one quarter of the country's population are Chinese.