Ubisoft's Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII Takes Flight on the PlayStation 3 System

Today Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announced that Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII has released, with exclusive features and gameplay for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, and is scheduled to arrive in retail stores in the U.S. this week. Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII is the follow-up to the squadron-based flight combat game Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII.

In Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII, you are the leader of Operation Wildcard, an undercover and elite squad of pilots secretly created by the American government. Your mission is to sabotage and destroy the Third Reich’s evil plans to create a weapon of mass destruction. During this mission you and your team discover that the bad guys also have an elite team of their own. In an attempt to disarm the enemy, you engage in dramatic and movie-like spy missions in some of the world’s most exotic locations, using experimental weapons and flying never-before-seen prototype aircraft.

The PLAYSTATION 3 system version includes exclusive content enhanced by the power and features of the platform:

Innovative use of the SIXAXIS™ wireless controller: Experience a new sensation of flight. With four alternative control configurations, Blazing Angels will take full advantage of the motion sensor function/tilt feature. Players can easily maneuver the plane just by moving the SIXAXIS wireless controller. Arcade and Simulator modes are included, for both classic and motion-sensitive control.

All-new multiplayer racing: Fly in a racing circuit while trying to navigate the natural terrain, avoid urban obstacles and other landmarks, and pull ahead of your opponents to be the first to cross the finish line.

Other key features of Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII include:

Over-the-top action: Engage in 18 high-stakes missions where you will bomb bridges, steal secret weapons, destroy Zeppelins and more.

Never-before-seen aircraft: Pilot over 50 authentic planes and prototypes including the Gotha Go 229, DH Vampire F Mk 1, Me-163 "Komet," Meteor and many more.

Unusual experimental weapons: Get the advantage in combat by using experimental WWII weapons including high-velocity cannons (such as the German Mk 103), and self-guided and TV-guided missiles.

Exotic WWII setting: Engage in epic battles in some of the world’s most captivating environments such as Cairo, the Himalayas, Moscow’s Red Square, Rome’s San Pietro’s Cathedral, the Swiss Alps, the Baltic seacoast and China.

Next-gen graphics: Discover fully rendered environments and 3D aircraft models designed for next-generation gaming. Experience improved depth of field, jaw-dropping cinematographic lightening and outstanding sound effects.

Fast-paced multiplayer action: Challenge up to 15 players in free-for-all, co-op and squad-based missions, including the all-new Epic Battle and Capture the Flag modes.

Epic boss battles: For example, go up against a giant German Zeppelin over the pyramids of Cairo. Take out its nine gun turrets while you expose its vulnerable underside.

Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII is rated "T" (Teen) and ships with a manufacturer suggested retail price of $59.99.

For more information about Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII, please visit www.blazingangels2.com.

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP FOR NINTENDO DS

Furry friends making their way to the shelves nationwide!

The Game Factory today announced the release of Build-A-Bear Workshop, its first simulation videogame for Nintendo DS. The Build-A-Bear Workshop Mission is to bring the teddy bear to life, which brings to mind warm thoughts about childhood, about friendship, about trust and comfort, and also about love. Build-A-Bear Workshop for Nintendo DS was developed by Neko Entertainment, is rated E for everyone and is available now for a suggested retail price of $29.99.

Build-A-Bear Workshop for Nintendo DS is a new, fun kind of relationship simulation game, which takes into account the player through each furry friend’s evolution and enhances the player’s fun factor. Build-A-Bear Workshop furry friends, graphical universe and lifestyles are respectfully adapted and enhanced by this new addition to the gaming world.

Game features include:

• Create and customize your very own furry friend in the beginning of the game. Pick the furry friend you want to play with, stuff it, give it a special heart and whisper a wish in its ear. Stitch it together, fluff it, name it, dress it and take it home to its special house that you get to color.

• Eight different furry friends are available to customize: Dimples Teddy, Mocha Bunny, Pink Poodle, Playful Puppy, Velvet Teddy, Friendly Frog, Marvelous Monkey and Sassy Kitty.

• Your furry friend’s home is the interface itself, containing six different areas, each hosting 2 to 4 unique activities including food preparation, dance education, playground, tooth brushing, shopping and dressing up for a full photo session!

• Play 4 fun mini games, both single and wireless multiplayer.

• Trade clothing, accessories and pictures with your friends using the wireless connection!

• Use the Nintendo DS microphone for whispering a wish and use the stylus for direct physical contact with your new furry friend!

GUITAR HERO FANS GET CHANCE TO WIN A PONTIAC G5

Details of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Tournament Powered By The Pontiac Garage Revealed

To support the launch of Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock, Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), Pontiac and Hot Topic are teaming up on a national promotion giving Guitar Hero fans, ages 16 and older, the chance to show off their fret burning skills and win a 2008 Pontiac G5. During the one month tour, consumers around the country can play the game that everyone is talking about at Hot Topic stores in the following cities:

Date City Mall
11/8 Orland Park, IL (Chicago) Orland Square
11/12 Paramus, NJ (New York/Newark) Garden State Plaza
11/15 Buford, GA (Atlanta) Mall of Georgia
11/19 Austin, TX Barton Creek
11/26 Phoenix, AZ Metro Center Mall
11/29 Las Vegas, NV Meadows Mall
12/3 Northridge, CA (Los Angeles) Northridge Fashion Center
12/5 San Francisco, CA San Francisco Center

Qualifying will take place from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at each stop on the tour. The top eight scores from the Qualifying Round will proceed to the Semi-Final Rounds which will immediately follow.

Winners at each of the eight stops will receive a $100 gift card from Hot Topic. Additionally, winners will submit their high score on an undisclosed song to determine the two national finalists to advance to the Grand-Finals Round. The two Grand-Finals Round participants will win a trip for two to Los Angeles where they will compete in front of the game creators at Activision for the right to drive away in a 2008 Pontiac G5.

Individuals interested in participating can pre-register for the tournament by visiting the designated Hot Topic store starting at 10:30 a.m. five days prior to the tournament date. Pre-registration will close at 5:00 p.m. the evening before the tournament date. Pre-registering is highly recommended as space is limited.

For complete rules visit participating Hot Topic stores or www.guitarhero.com.

ALIEN SOLDIER NOW ON Wii VIRTUAL CONSOLE

SEGA of America, Inc. today announced that it will be releasing a number of import titles from the SEGA Genesis library starting with Alien Soldier, which is currently available for download on the Wii Shop Channel. Prices for import SEGA Genesis titles start at 900 Wii Points. Wii Points can be purchased online or at select retailers at an MSRP of $20 for 2,000 points.

Game Summary

Alien Soldier - As Epsilon-Eagle, you are an alien soldier that has been genetically engineered to produce maximum intelligence and strength. You were once a member of the criminal organization Scarlet, but when you decide to break from the group, you are forced into a showdown with Scarlet’s new leader Xi-Tiger, who kills a hostage in his attempt to destroy you. Now it’s up to you to take revenge against the bad guys in this side-scrolling action game! Choose from six different weapons and battle the bosses of Scarlet until you reach the final confrontation with the ultimate secret weapon!

The Wii Shop Channel serves as the Wii’s online storefront where visitors can redeem Wii Points to download games. Users need a high-speed Internet connection to access the Wii Shop Channel. Users can buy Wii Points at retail or with a credit card online from the Wii Shop Channel and redeem their Wii Points to download these and other classic games.

For more information on upcoming Virtual Console titles from SEGA, please visit the official Web site at www.sega.com. For assets, please visit the SEGA Press site at http://segapr.segaamerica.com.

SILENT HILL IN STORES

First Silent Hill Title for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) System Offers New Game Play, Storyline Enhanced Camera System And Updated Controls

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced Silent Hill Origins has shipped to retail stores in North America. Developed exclusively for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, Silent Hill Origins brings to North America the frightening and popular survival horror series with all new game play and a storyline set before the events of the original Silent Hill. Fans can experience this one of a kind game with updated controls allowing for more fluid combat and detailed exploration of environments.

"Fans of Silent Hill can expect a fear-inducing experience with Silent Hill Origins," said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "We're adding to the mythos by revealing some secrets hinted at in the original Silent Hill and have added an all-new soundtrack from series composer Akira Yamaoka to the elaborate puzzles and chilling storyline that has made Silent Hill a hit for gamers everywhere."
Reborn on the PSP® system, gamers take on the role of Travis Grady, a lone truck driver making a routine delivery when he makes an unfortunate detour to the mysterious town of Silent Hill. Players must help Travis escape the city's horrific inhabitants and unravel the mystery of the strange hallucinations from Travis' past, visions that have plagued him since childhood.

Updated controls maximize combat, allowing Travis to use his fists, his wits and an array of weapons including a meat cleaver, pool cue and sledgehammer to fight his way through the nightmarish world of Silent Hill and face more than one possible ending. Taking full advantage of the PSP® system's graphics, sound, and portability, Silent Hill Origins sets a new standard in handheld gaming terror.

Silent Hill Origins is rated "M" for Mature by the ESRB and available for an SRP of $29.99. For more information, please visit www.konami.com.

WHAT EVERY GIRL WANTS, A HORSE OF HER OWN! HORSE LIFE FOR NINTENDO DS

The dreams of many young girls have been granted as D3Publisher of America, today announced that Horse Life, an original game exclusively for the Nintendo DS, has shipped to retail. Horse Life immerses players in the equestrian world by putting a horse right inside of their DS. Available for $29.95 MSRP, players must use the touch screen and microphone to keep their horse happy and fit by feeding them, cleaning their stall and riding them. Most importantly, players will put their training to the test by participating in national and international competitions to earn prestige and money to become a great champion.

“We are very pleased to be able to bring the joy of owning a horse to the Nintendo DS gamer with Horse Life. The game recreates the experience of owning a horse with exciting game play and the best graphics of any horse game available,” said Kim Motika, vice president of sales and operations, D3PA. “We know players will fall in love with Horse Life as soon as they pick it up, and we hope to fulfill many wishes this holiday season by offering the horse that so many have wanted but never gotten.”

Players will have the ability to choose from three horse breeds, French Saddle, English Thoroughbred and Thoroughbred Arabian that they can customize by choosing the name and coat color. Once players begin their training they can visit the Gear Shop to purchase over 80 different items such as clothing, saddles or food and treats for their horse. As players complete levels of competition, they will unlock the ultimate prize, a secret horse breed!

Horse Life developed by Neko Entertainment and is rated “E” (Everyone) by the ESRB.

NEXT-GEN FEATURES FOR NiGHTS: JOURNEY OF DREAMS

SEGA of America, Inc. today announced that NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams for the Wii video game console will come complete with a variety of next-gen features that tap into the system’s hardware including “Weather Channel” support, a Wii-first! This feature enables the game’s “My Dream” area, a customizable sand-box environment that allows gamers to capture, raise, and even combine the inhabitants (A-Life) from the world of Nightopia, to generate real-time weather effects specific to the territory players previously registered with on the Wii. For example, if the current weather forecast is clear and sunny in the players’ resident territory, the “My Dream” environment will be clear and sunny as well. The game will also feature an online-enabled two-player mode allowing gamers to race and battle against one another via Wi-Fi connection at launch on December 18, 2007.

Unlike any other game available today, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams will deliver the feeling of flight through the innovative Wii control system. With the help of Persona masks, 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 the most unique and experience on the Wii.

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, gamers can overcome obstacles and restore peace to Nightopia.

What is A-LIFE: A-LIFE are creatures living in the world of dreams. There are 3 types of A-LIFE: "Nightopians" who reside in Nightopia, "Nightmarens" from the world of Nightmare, and "Mepians" who are a mix of the two creatures. A-LIFE live freely in the world of Nightopia and they multiply, learn, and evolve as they transform with generational changes.

What is "My Dream": "My Dream" is a customizable "sandbox" environment where players raise their A-LIFE creatures. By using NiGHTS’ ability to para-loop in the single-player game, the A-LIFE creatures can be captured and transferred to a player’s My Dream space. The My Dream world evolves dramatically depending on how the player nurtures the A-LIFE activities and the various objects that the player drops into the environment, creating a truly personal experience.

For new assets, full details on Persona masks, game trailers, and more!, please visit http://segapr.segaamerica.com

IBM video game teaches business and computer skills

There are no wizards, monsters or swords in IBM's new video game, but Big Blue hopes students of information technology will find Innov8 much more rewarding than a weekend devoted to World of Warcraft.

Innov8 is an interactive, three-dimensional educational game designed to teach graduate students a combination of business and IT skills.

Armonk-based IBM Corp. is offering it free, starting today, to more than 2,000 universities around the world.

While Innov8 might look and play like a traditional video game, its goal is much weightier: making dry lessons taught in books come alive in a medium that is familiar to nearly every college student.

Just as pilots use flight simulators to learn to fly airplanes, students of information technology management can benefit from simulations of business problems, said Sandy Carter, vice president of IBM's Service Oriented Architecture and WebSphere strategy, channels and marketing.

"You get 80 percent greater retention when someone does a task versus reading about it. The concept is to get students to experience the task in a fun way," said Carter, a Chappaqua resident who works at IBM's Somers campus.

A student playing Innov8 enters the game as a character named Logan, who gets an assignment to solve a business problem from her company's chief executive officer.

The first scenario involves improving operations at a call center, where workers are taking too long to solve problems and have poor documentation.

Logan meets other characters along the way, including a chief information officer named Sam, a business analyst named Stavros and a call center veteran with a gruff personality named Stella.

"The fun part is you are a character," Carter said. "You have to find clues as you would in real life. You have to talk to the other characters. You click on a video and learn about how to do things. You can click on posters and the posters come alive. You can run upstairs and discover certain rooms and find out things about the company itself," she said.

The idea for Innov8 was born out of a sort of real-life simulation: IBM's yearly business-case challenge that pits students from two colleges against each other.

In January, Carter asked students from Duke University and the University of North Carolina to figure out how to develop skills that combine business and technology know-how.

Forty of the 44 teams competing came back with the idea of using a video game.

Carter recruited several of the students, and in May IBM said it was developing Innov8. Big Blue enrolled more than 30 colleges in a pilot program, including Pace University.

Jim Lawler, an associate professor of information systems at Pace, said he plans to use Innov8 in a spring class on global program and project management.

"It's called a game, but I call it a tool," Lawler said. "There's a lot of intelligence behind it."

Lawler has been playing with the game for about a month and has found it easy to use, a key concern because he didn't want learning the game to detract from learning the coursework.

"When I first learned about this tool, I was skeptical about it. The question was how long it will take me to learn it and how long it will take to teach my students. But I mastered it in a day," he said.

Lawler, a teacher for 25 years who remembers courses that were taught entirely for mainframe computers, said the video game would appeal to today's generation.

"Almost all these students were brought up with this metaphor. It brings the course into the 21st century," he said. "Enrollment is lower in computer science and information systems nationally. This is what schools have to do, integrate these kind of games and tools."

Fuad A. Mahmood, a graduate student at Brandeis International Business School in Waltham, Mass., has been testing Innov8 for about a week.

Mahmood, a player of popular games such as Command & Conquer and Age of Empires, said the interface was very familiar.

"It was very entertaining and educational at the same time," he said. "It's very much like a conventional game. The only difference is you are running a company."

He said the call center scenario was realistic and challenging.

"Information was coming in real time, and I had to manage labor in terms of high skills and low skills and manage work outsourced to partner call centers," Mahmood said.

Preeta M. Banerjee, assistant professor of strategy at Brandeis, said students could gain practical experience without actually being on the job.

"They are learning in a low-risk environment. There is even a simulated teleconference with people around the world, which gives them a good sense of what a meeting like that might be," she said.

More corporations and especially the U.S. government are starting to see the potential of games to teach serious subjects, said David Rejeski, director of the Serious Games Initiative at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C.

People used to think the idea of "serious games" was an oxymoron, Rejeski said, but there is increasing awareness of the potential for games to become teaching tools.

The Apply Group, a high-tech consulting firm, predicts that one in five of the Global Fortune 500 will adopt gaming for learning by 2012.

"The thing about games that's really nice is you can fail softly. The military became interested in this a long time ago because failure (in war) means death," Rejeski said.

Even Santa Claus Needs Help Picking Good Video Games

A majority of kids expect at least some disappointment when they unwrap video game gifts this holiday season, a new nationwide survey of 8-17 year-olds reveals. Sixty percent of those surveyed for the 2007 Game Crazy Holiday Gift Tracker anticipate getting a game they do not want, getting a game for the wrong system, or not getting any or all of the games on their holiday wish list. Their expectations come from experience. According to the survey, nearly half of all kids (49 percent) said they were disappointed with a video game-related gift they received last year.

“We went straight to the source to find out what kids want and what their expectations are this holiday season,” said Wes Sand, Senior Vice President at Game Crazy, the second-largest specialty game retailer in the country. “We knew video games and game systems would again be popular items on holiday wish lists, but we were surprised at how little confidence tweens and teens have in their parents’ and grandparents’ ability to pick the right gifts.”

Santa Claus fared only marginally better. Forty-five percent and 44 percent of those surveyed anticipate getting an unwanted game from a parent or grandparent, respectively, while 37 percent expect one to come as a gift from Santa Claus.

“Kids are extremely passionate about video games and game systems, and find it amusing when adults don’t know their Wii from their Xbox,” said Leah Ingram, a gift-giving expert and mother of 10- and 12-year-old daughters. “They say they’ll do the darndest things to get a game they want.”

Nearly one-third of kids polled said they would teach a sibling how to play a game, listen to their parents’ favorite radio station in the car, or do two months of household chores if it meant getting the right game as a gift.

“If you don’t shop for games often and are time-crunched during the holidays, it can be easy to pick a gift in a hurry that either disappoints or that you later wonder, ‘Did I buy the right game?’” Ingram said.

Cracking the Game-Buying Code

To help parents, grandparents and other gift givers this holiday season, Ingram and the video game experts at Game Crazy offer several tips for choosing great video game gifts.

First and foremost, ask. Since buying gifts blindly from a wish list can be risky, if you ask first, there’s a very good chance kids know what they want and can steer you in the right gift-buying direction.
Know your recipient and align their interests with game content. “Great gifts are highly personal,” Ingram said, “so buy video games that involve the recipient’s other hobbies or interests. If your child or grandchild likes music, consider a game such as Guitar Hero III or Rock Band. If they’re into sports, Madden 08 or Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground may be fun for them.”
Learn about and use the video game ratings system. Three in five kids (62 percent) say they expect to ask for a video game this holiday that they know is rated above their age level. “Just like movies have ratings, so too do video games,” explained Patricia Vance, president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board, which assigns game ratings. The letter ratings on the front of the package suggest age-appropriateness and content descriptors on the back give some detail about the game’s content. “The important thing is to know what’s in the game and to use that information to determine whether or not it’s one you consider age-appropriate for the child to whom you’re giving it,” Vance said. Parental controls that are available on the newer game consoles also operate on the basis of ESRB ratings, and help parents make sure that the games their kids are playing are ones that carry ratings they deem suitable.
Match the game content with the player’s skill level. More than 30 percent of kids expect a parent or grandparent to buy them a game that is too advanced for them. For younger children, consider if the child has the fine-motor skills and comprehension to succeed at the game. If not, they may become frustrated quickly. For older kids, consider whether the content is challenging enough.
Buy the game for the right system. Nearly 30 percent of kids polled in the Game Crazy survey said they expect to get a game they want this holiday, but it will be for the wrong system.
Make sure you can get involved in the fun. “My daughters are sometimes frustrated when they get a great game that they’d like to play together, only to discover that it’s a game for one player only,” Ingram said. “As a family, we try to buy games that allow for four players so we can have family time together playing video games.”
To help parents and grandparents prevent disappointment during the holidays, Game Crazy has created a free “Parent’s Guide to Game Buying” brochure that contains these and other helpful tips for purchasing video game titles and systems. The brochure is available at all Game Crazy retail locations or can be downloaded from their respective Web sites.

Game Crazy has also produced a video game wish list that is available at www.gamecrazy.com. Kids can complete it online and email it to a parent or grandparent or print it and fill it out by hand. The wish list also indicates each video game’s rating.

Hot Games and Systems for the Holidays

In addition to asking kids about their expectations for receiving video games and related gifts this holiday season, the 2007 Game Crazy Holiday Gift Tracker also asked what games and systems they want most. Eighty percent of the kids surveyed plan to ask for video game titles, while 59 percent intend to ask for a game console and another 22 percent intend to ask for a handheld system. Eleven percent of respondents plan to ask for both.

The Nintendo Wii, Sony PS3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 top the list of most-wanted gaming systems among all 8-17 year olds. Guitar Hero III, Mario Party DS, Super Mario Galaxy, My Sims and Halo 3 are expected to be among this year’s hottest-selling titles.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

The 2007 Game Crazy Holiday Gift Tracker survey was conducted online August 17-20, 2007 by Weekly Reader Research. One thousand U.S. male and female participants, ages 8-17, were recruited from Weekly Reader Research’s INSIDERS survey research community. Random sampling procedures were employed to ensure the respondents accurately reflect the nation’s 42.7 million 8-17 year olds in terms of age, race/ethnicity, gender and census region. The margin of error is +/- 3.2 percent at the 95 percent confidence interval.

Ubisoft acquires Japanese video game developer Digital Kids

With the world of capitalism falling to bits around our ears, it appears that no one has told Ubisoft to save its money for the inevitable sub-prime bust-up. Oh, no, our cheeky French pals have only gone and forked out for a specialist Nintendo developer.

That's right, for an undisclosed sum, Raving Rabbids and Assassin's Creed publishers, Ubisoft, has forked purchased or acquired (we know that there is a apparently a difference in finance land) Japanese creators of Hamsterz - among other DS and Wii games - Digital Kids.

DK currently employs 20 people in its Nagoya and Osaka, Japan, offices, and has already worked closely with Ubisoft on Petz. So, for the first time in a long time we have Europe buying into Japan. Not for Ubisoft the long, slow development and training required to build up a team of Wii and DS devs... and why the hell should it when it's one of the biggest publishers in the galaxy.

We now wait for the deal to close as it meanders its way through both the European Union and Japanese tax authorities - a game in itself we're sure. Will the French maestro have slammed a vast sum of money to prove that it can? Or will it be savvy and cost-conscious to prove that it's a sensible company and not raving at all?