New DS Lite model "rumour and speculation"

Nintendo denies analyst claims of slimmer new DS with larger screens

Nintendo has responded to an analyst's claims that it has completed work on a new version of its DS Lite handheld, maintaining that it is "rumour and speculation and we are not commenting further."

Evan Wilson, from Pacific Crest Securities, is quoted in a GameSpot report as saying that the new model was "thinner, has on-board storage, and larger screens," and would lose the GBA port to accommodate the changes.

The report continued that any new version of the hardware wouldn't be unveiled for some time, "until sales begin to tail off in all three major geographies."

While Nintendo has a history of periodically refreshing its handheld consoles, such as the GameBoy Advance and also the DS, it's possible that a new edition may come as some point, but the company is refusing to be drawn further for now.

World of Warcraft subscriber base now stands at 9.3 million

The company's financial statement attributed the results to a continuing strong performance from World of Warcraft, including The Burning Crusade expansion as well as the Chinese version released late in the third quarter.

The active global subscriber base for the game now stands at 9.3 million, the company said, with another expansion, The Wrath of the Lich King, due in the first half of 2008.

Overall Vivendi figures, including the company's other TV, music and telecoms subsidiaries, were up 11 per cent to EUR 5.42 billion for the quarter and 8 per cent to EUR 15.6 billion for the first nine months.

Ship Simulator 2008

The much anticipated sequel to the surprise simulation hit of last year will not only add new harbours and many new vessels, but also much desired things like advanced weather conditions and open sea missions. Ship Simulator will amaze you with its progress and will rock your simulated world.
Ship Simulator 2008 will include the following new features:

- Dynamic ocean waves, with realistic ship motions
- Long distance travels , open ocean voyages between ports
- Visible damage system
- Thirty new complex and challenging missions
- Extensive day, night, and weather systems
- Three new environments: San Francisco, Southampton/Cowes/Solent, and Marseille
- Six new ships, each with walkthrough functionality and interactive bridge controls
- Controllable container crane
- Advanced vector graphic sea chart based on realistic 3D seabed models, with full-screen display option, transparency setting, and level-of-detail on text & depth readings
- Advanced damage system showing dents and holes in the ships after severe collisions
- Free-roam mode where players can choose a ship, an environment, set all weather, day & time parameters and get sailing
- Realistic bow splash water, with support from an advanced physics simulation model
- Extensive mapping options for keys and joystick buttons
- Advanced rope system, which allows you to connect and disconnect player ships to other ships or mooring boulders at will (anchoring is now also possible)
- Addition of icebergs which cause damage when you collide with them

Features currently under development

- Mid-mission save function
- A system for sinking ships when damaged below the water line
- Advanced system for scoring and ranking in different ship type classes, linked to your on-line profile on the forum
- Two extra player ships: jet-ski and hovercraft
- Additional language versions of the game (French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Polish and more)
- Set waypoints yourself in free-roaming mode
- Multiplayer functionality, so you can sail around in your favourite environment every day with your Ship Simulator friends
- Mission editor, so you can create your own adventures and share them with your fellow players on the forum These features will be released in free downloadable patches and updates later this year. ons, and start sailing!

Minimum System Requirements For Ship Simulator 2008

Microsoft Windows 2000, XP or Vista
2.4 Ghz Intel Pentium IV or AMD processor
1 GB RAM (XP), 2 GB RAM (Vista)
4x CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive
Approx. 500 MB free hard disk space
NVIDIA GeForce 5900 or ATI 9600 Pro / X600, 128MB memory
DirectX 9.0 compatible sound card
Mouse with scroll wheel
Optional controllers: Joystick, Joypad or Steering wheel

Releasedates
- UK, Scandinavia, Portugal: OUT NOW
- France, Australia/NZ: September 28th 2007
- Italy, Spain: October 5th 2007
- USA and Canada: Q1-2008

Dungeon Explorer Warriors of Ancient Arts

Title: Dungeon Explorer Warriors of Ancient Arts
Launch Date: February 2008
Platforms: Nintendo DS
Genre: Action RPG
ESRB: E10+ / Fantasy Violence
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment, Inc
Developer: HUDSON SOFT., LTD
Legal Lines: 2007, 2008 HUDSON SOFT. “Dungeon Explorer” is a trademark of HUDSON SOFT CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. Published by Hudson Entertainment, Inc. Distributed by Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.

Game Description

Train, Battle, & Slay the Demon Lord.

Embark on a journey to rediscover and learn the lost Ancient Fighting Arts of Westoria Kingdom, a land plagued by a legion of undead and monstrous soldiers, ruled by a nefarious Demon Lord. Legend foretells a hero who will rise up and wield the powers of the lost Fighting Arts to destroy the bringer of death, restoring peace to a once beautiful and great kingdom.

Key Features

• Choose your Fighting Style – Discover over 60 different fighting styles across 8 lost Ancient Fighting Art schools. Become a balanced warrior and study techniques from all 8 schools or become a specialist and dedicate your focus to one of the lost Fighting Arts.

• Epic Battles – Wage battles against legions of different creatures, including undead soldiers, mutated monsters, and even an army of ancient automatons brought to life by dark magic. Strategy in battle is the key to survival.

• Choose your Hero – 3 Races and 3 Classes to choose from, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses.

• Epic Journey – Uncover the conspiracy to release the Demon God from his sealed prison

• Choose your Weapon – Choose from hundreds of different types of weapons, armor, and equipment and upgrade them as you progress through your adventure.

• Epic Multiplayer Adventure – Battle the Demon Lord’s minions alone or join forces with up to 2 other friends via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Kane and Lynch blast on to mobiles

IO’s two anti-heroes bring their explosive mix of action and betrayal to a game created specifically for mobile handsets

Eidos Interactive, one of the world’s leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, will bring its eagerly-awaited next generation action title Kane and Lynch: Dead Men to mobile phones this November, in a specially-created version developed for mobile by Danish Developer, Kiloo, with input from Io Interactive, the original development studio for the game.

Timed to coincide with the PLAYSTATION 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game, Kane and Lynch mobile will be released through the publisher’s fast-growing Eidos New Media division.

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men is a cinematic crime drama that tells a raw and gritty tale of two anti-heroes – one a flawed mercenary, the other a medicated psychopath: Forced to embark on a violent and chaotic journey and hating each other every step of the way, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men features a gripping storyline and relentless third-person action.

Spanning 38 action-packed levels across five very different scenarios, Kane and Lynch mobile takes the form of a fast paced action game. Armed with a wealth of firearms, explosives, deadly booby traps and gadgets, the pair must blast a path through each heavily-guarded location, using simple yet effective menu systems to switch between shotguns and assault rifles with ease.

With its mixture of platform elements and exploration – coupled with a seemingly endless army of enemies and interactive backdrops – Kane and Lynch mobile is a testing game where the stakes are high and the action is unrelenting…

For full details of Kane and Lynch: Dead Men for mobile phone and release dates, please visit http://www.eidosmobile.com/kaneandlynch/index.php?lang=UK for more information.

COOKING MAMA 2: DINNER WITH FRIENDS

Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends for Nintendo DS is the sequel to the best-selling cooking simulation game, Cooking Mama, and promises even more culinary fun and even tastier gameplay as Mama cooks up a spicy storm with new recipes, twice as many mini-games and an all-new multiplayer mode to challenge other players to a ‘cook off’, Mama style.

Nintendo DS features

· 80 original international recipes, some old favourites and the chance to create all-new customised dishes

· 150 fast and fun mini games to challenge player cooking expertise

· Offer your finished cooking creation to a friend to taste. In Cooking Mama 2 players can offer their dish to one of the many characters who will judge it for flavour and presentation, while Mama inspects the fruits of your labour and makes her own comments on your cooking skills

· Create the look of your very own Cooking Mama 2 experience. All new customisation allows players to change how the screen looks using graphics and stickers acquired throughout the game

· Note down your cooking successes through the game in your personal diary. Cooking Mama 2 features a personal diary that can be used to save pictures of recipes you've completed, as well as stickers collected throughout the game, building into a completely unique log of your cooking activities

· An all-new multiplayer mode allows you to cook with your own friends! Using one copy of the game up to four players can cook together in competitive mini games through the Download DS feature

· Your cooking ability will be reflected in the final presentation of the dish. If you make too many mistakes in the preparation then the final meal will look different from a perfect dish! You can record your own cooking progress using the diary and measure your results as your culinary skills improve

Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends will be available on Nintendo DS in early 2008

3D Glasses for Samsung, Mitsubishi TVs

Latest DLP HDTVs now offer native 3D support

eDimensional, Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative gaming accessories is pleased to announce the availability of new 3D glasses designed to take advantage of native support now found in select Samsung and Mitsubishi DLP televisions.

These televisions now feature a standard 3D output designed for the use of these stereoscopic liquid crystal shutter glasses. Utilizing the ultra-fast DLP chip, viewing 3D images in high resolution is now possible when wearing these glasses that allow you to view discreet left and right images. Simply connect your PC using a DVI or HDMI connection, install the included software and unleash the full 3D potential of your HDTV.

New movies and games are on the way, but there is no need to wait. With a properly equipped Windows PC, you can watch real 3D movies, see real 3D photos and play the latest and most popular PC games. Packages start at just $149.95 including all necessary software and a pair of 3D glasses, or $199.95 for two pairs of glasses.

eDimensional CEO Michael Epstein adds, “With the surge in new 3D content and high quality high definition screens now available, mainstream audiences can now begin to experience the stunning 3D that our gaming customers have known about for years. These new DLP televisions do an excellent job at making it easy for users to view real 3D movies, games and more.”

The 3D glasses for these TVs are now available for direct through eDimensional and will be offered through variety of retail distribution partners worldwide.

New Sci-fi RTS Game SUNAGE - trailer

Leading publisher Lighthouse Interactive and developer Vertex 4 today released the much anticipated teaser for SunAge. Scheduled to release across Europe this month, this energetic RTS game offers a unique experience bringing modern innovation to the isometric style of real-time strategy. This PC CD-ROM game is Windows® Vista™ compatible.

Globally known music producer, Angina P, created the music for the teaser. She is a production force whose unique sound transforms raw elements of breakbeat, new age and ambience, into unique and rare gems. Beside the music for the teaser, she created and produced the complete SunAge soundtrack.

GAME SUMMARY

SunAge is the modern day answer for RTS fans who want the best possible overview on their troops, while trying to outsmart opponents in frantic battles where strategies and tactics are more important than ever. If you are a core real-time strategy gamer, SunAge is for you!

Earth is a desolate wasteland destroyed by the radiation and heat of the sun. Humankind, known as the Dome Confederacy, have been forced to retreat into shielded cities enduring constant attacks by the Raak-zun cult; a sect of religious outcasts who live outside the dome. An age long war has ensued as both races battle for the limited resources of the dying planet. Amidst the havoc, the gateway to a bold new planet is unlocked. Hope is on the horizon, but this mecca is teeming with lethal Sentinel drones who will not hesitate to annihilate any life form that gets in their way.

FEATURES

• 3 Distinct Races - Human, Raak-zun and Sentinel - each with their own units, buildings, technological advantages and disadvantages.
• Unique Upgrades - Alternate modes can be researched for all units, unlocking dual functionality for greater tactical depth.
• Graphics - Stunning sci-fi environments from vast industrial cities and devastated
wastelands, to a lush alien planet. While displaying rich graphical environments and visual effects, SunAge is very playable on lower spec PC’s and laptops.
• Tactical Landscape - All units and their alternate modes are crucial to the overall
strategy. Exploit weaknesses in the enemy’s network while strengthening your own connection lines.
• Formations - Squad concept combined with long distance camera views allows
a large number of units to be fighting onscreen with a clear overview of the battle
ground.
• Singleplayer - 25 campaign maps with compelling plots for each race.
• Multiplayer - LAN and Online – Classic multiplayer with focus on gathering4 different kinds of resources and outsmarting the opponent in battle. 10 maps created uniquely for multiplayer mode.
• Command Queuing - Command your units to prone, build or attack where you want them and when you want them to do so.
• Indirect Intelligent Targeting (IIT) - Order your units to focus on pre-selected targets.

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

OS: Windows ME / 2000 / XP / Vista
CPU: 1,2 GHz Intel Pentium III or equivalent AMD Athlon processor
RAM: 512 MB (1 GB Recommended for Windows Vista)
Video Card: 128 MB 3D accelerated video card
PC CD-ROM: 4x (or PC DVD-ROM drive)
Sound: DirectSound compatible (Sound Blaster X-Fi series sound card recommended)
Available Hard Disk Space: 1 GB
DirectX: 9.0c compatible
Other: Mouse, Keyboard and Speakers
Multiplayer: LAN or 56K (or faster) Internet Connection

To download the new teaser, visit: www.lighthouse-interactive.com

AMD Unleashes Enthusiast Gaming Performance for the Masses with ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series

Incredible performance per watt and scalability with never before seen price points put enthusiast-class gaming in reach of all users

AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced the introduction and immediate availability of the ATI RadeonTM HD 3800 Series of graphics processing units (GPU). As the world's first series of graphics processors to deliver Microsoft's DirectX® 10.1 support, 55nm process technology and tri and quad multi-GPU support with ATI CrossFireXTM, the ATI Radeon HD 3800 series ushers in a new era of enthusiast gaming performance at mainstream price points. The ATI Radeon HD 3800 series will be introduced in two variants at launch, from US $179 MSRP, the ATI RadeonTM HD 3850 with 256MB of GDDR3 memory and from US $219 MSRP, the ATI RadeonTM HD 3870 with 512MB GDDR4 memory. The launch of the ATI Radeon HD 3800 series redefines the enthusiast segment and puts high performance gaming in reach of more users than ever before. This innovative new series of graphics products also represent the first step in the launch of AMD's upcoming enthusiast platform codenamed "Spider."

"With the introduction of the ATI Radeon HD 3800 series we are redefining the market for enthusiast graphics with a new class of price, performance and features that have never been seen before in this industry," said Rick Bergman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Graphics Product Group, AMD. "Through a flawless transition to 55nm and Microsoft DirectX® 10.1, we can deliver an unprecedented level of scalable performance, image quality enhancements and power efficiency at the sub- $200 segment that rivals today's most expensive graphics processors and opens up enthusiast gaming to more end users than ever before."

High Definition Gaming Leadership

With the introduction of the ATI Radeon HD 3800 series AMD delivers the first graphics processor with support for Microsoft's upcoming DirectX® 10.1 specification. Designed to deliver more immersive gaming environments, increase the amount of tools for developers and enhance overall image quality, DirectX 10.1 support ensures ATI Radeon HD 3800 series users can enjoy a more complete next-generation gaming experience.

The ATI Radeon HD 3800 series also introduces the world to ATI CrossFireXTM, AMD's innovative next-generation multi-GPU technology designed to deliver unprecedented performance scaling with support for two, three and four graphics processors in CrossFireTM configurations. At launch, the ATI Radeon HD 3800 series will support dual-GPU CrossFire with tri and quad-GPU support scheduled for January 2008.

"Alienware has a long and proven track record in staying on the forefront of graphics performance and innovation," said Patrick Cooper, Director of Product Management at Alienware. "As a pioneer in multi-GPU technology we are excited about the launch of the ATI Radeon HD 3800 series with CrossFire technology on our Area-51 ALX platform and look forward to delivering a best-in-class PC gaming experience for our customers."

Graphics bandwidth is also greatly enhanced with the introduction of PCI Express 2.0. Delivering over 16 gigabytes per second of bi-directional bandwidth, PCIe 2.0 doubles the bus data rate over the previous generation. The combination of PCIe 2.0 and HyperTransportTM3 on next-generation AMD platforms provides a dramatic increase in the amount of system bandwidth for high definition, multi-GPU PC gaming.

Performance Per-Watt Leadership

The ATI Radeon HD 3800 series GPUs are the first graphics processors to use TSMC's 55nm process technology. The smooth transition to 55nm has allowed for a ?2X increase in performance-per-watt over the previous generation with a significant reduction in die size.

"TSMC and AMD have blazed a long and successful trail of process technology innovation, delivering increased value to end users through manufacturing innovation. Our innovative half-node process, including 55nm, is the quickest and simplest way to achieve performance gain," said Kenneth Kin, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Service, TSMC. "With the immaculate execution and launch of the 55nm ATI Radeon HD 3800 series we are demonstrating once again how the strength of our successful collaboration delivers more performance-per-watt and performance per-mm? to users than they have ever seen before in a graphics processor."

In addition to 55nm, AMD has also added its patented ATI PowerPlayTM technology to the ATI Radeon HD 3800 series to provide increased control over the graphics processor in multiple power states. With PowerPlay technology users can benefit from dynamic adjustment of clocks and voltages depending on their usage scenario, which allows for a cool and quiet user experience.

High Definition Video

With the launch of the ATI Radeon HD 3850 and ATI Radeon HD 3870, AMD has answered the call of HD video enthusiasts with top-to-bottom support for the ?Unified Video Decoder (UVD). The addition of UVD ensures exceptional platform efficiency and image quality in HD-DVD and Blu-rayTM decoding for both H.264 and VC-1 specifications. Enhanced HDMI functionality also continues on this series of products with integrated HDCP and audio for HDMI video.

The ATI Radeon HD 3800 series launches with broad availability and eco-system support from AMD's Add-in-Board (AIB) and Systems Integrators (SI) partners. AIB partners building boards based on the ATI Radeon HD 3800 series include Asus, Club 3D, Diamond Multimedia, Gigabyte, HIS, Info-Tek, MSI, Palit, Sapphire, Tul and Visiontek. Systems integrators launching ATI Radeon HD 3800 series include ABS, Alienware, AMAX, Canada Computers, CyberPower, Extreme PC Corporation, Falcon-Northwest, iBUYPOWER, Maingear, Systemax, Ultra Gaming and Velocity Micro.

BEOWULF game discontinued

The video game "BEOWULF", until recently in development at 4HEAD Studios, has been discontinued.

As the new blockbuster movie „Beowulf“ from Paramount Pictures debuts in cinemas worldwide and the offical game of the movie becomes available, work on the independently developed game of same name is suspended. The game had been under development at German game developer 4HEAD Studios in collaboration with graphics and animation studio 3D-IO.

Paramount Pictures has obtained the rights to the project's core properties including trademarks, Internet domains, and other assets.

Executive Producer Gustaf Stechmann comments: "With the announcement of Ubisoft's offical game based on the movie and the conceivable competitive situation, we were seeing publishers unwilling to support our game. We thus lacked the resources needed to drive the project's development forward.

Luckily, we had the older rights to the use of the name. The buy-out deal with Paramount was therefore the logical exit strategy."

Game developer 4HEAD Studios had become financially unstable and was recently acquired by German publishing house DTP.

More information about the upcoming Beowulf game from Ubisoft can be found online at www.beowulfgame.com.