Search This Blog

Monday, November 19, 2007

Mass Effect Original Soundtrack From The Blockbuster Xbox 360 game

THE EPIC SOUNDTRACK TO THIS YEAR'S HOTTEST ROLE-PLAYING GAME

Sumthing Else Music Works, Inc., through its licensing relationship with BioWare and Microsoft Game Studios, proudly presents Mass Effect Original Soundtrack. Featuring over an hour of original music from the game, the soundtrack CD will be released on November 20 to US retail outlets through Nile Rodgers’ Sumthing Else Music Works label www.sumthing.com. Sumthing Else Music Works is the industry leader in licensing and distributing video game soundtracks.

Inspired by classic sci-fi movies such as ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘Dune,’ the Mass Effect soundtrack was composed by Jack Wall and Sam Hulick with additional music by Richard Jacques and David Kates. The score blends 80’s electronic music with modern orchestral scoring to enhance the dramatic storyline and beautiful visuals set in an epic futuristic universe.

"From the earliest stages of its conception, Mass Effect was meant to be an original artwork about the future, inspired by the great science fiction experiences of the past," said Casey Hudson, Project Director for Mass Effect. "This synthesis of originality and familiarity called for a truly unique soundtrack, with ambitious goals and unprecedented challenges."

From the creators of the critically-acclaimed Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire comes an epic space saga exclusively for the Xbox 360 that spans the entire galaxy. Combining a rich and engaging narrative with intense sci-fi tactical combat, Mass Effect features an immersive and cinematic gameplay experience rarely seen before in video games. For more information on Mass Effect, visit www.masseffect.com.

About BioWare
BioWare Corp. is an electronic entertainment company which develops computer, console, handheld and online video games focused on rich stories and memorable characters. Since 1995, BioWare has created some of the world's best-selling titles including the award-winning Baldur's Gate™ and Neverwinter Nights™ series, as well as the 2003 Game of the Year, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic™. Original BioWare-created IPs include the 2005 RPG of the Year, Jade Empire™, with next-generation titles Mass Effect™ and Dragon Age currently in development. Mass Effect will ship to retailers globally in November, 2007. The game has received more than 50 awards, including the 2007 Game Critics Awards for “Best Console Game” and “Best RPG” at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. With studios in Edmonton, Canada, and Austin, Texas, BioWare is also hard at work on a new title for the Nintendo DS™ based on Sonic the Hedgehog, as well as several unannounced projects including a massively multiplayer online game. For more information on BioWare, visit www.bioware.com.

*BioWare, BioWare Corp., Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Jade Empire are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by BioWare Corp. in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords Scoops the Field in Australia


MELBOURNE

At the conclusion of GDAA’s highly successful Game Connect: Asia Pacific 2007 Conference and Expo, the GDAA held its Annual Industry Awards Dinner at which the following winners were announced before 200 guests including GDAA members, industry and government representatives.

Best Game – 2007
Winner: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (Infinite Interactive)

Best New Startup (Adam Lancman Award)
Winner: Redtribe
Special Commendation: Acheron Design

Best Console Title – 2007
Winner: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (Infinite Interactive)

Best PC Title – 2007
Winner: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (Infinite Interactive)
Special Commendation: Fury (Auran)

Best Handheld Title – 2007
Winner: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (Infinite Interactive)

Best Mobile Title – 2007
Winner: The Fast & the Furious: Fugitive 3D (Firemint)

Best Gameplay – 2007
Winner: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (Infinite Interactive)

Best Graphics – 2007
Winner: Viva Piñata: Party Animals (Krome Studios)

Best Audio - 2007
Winner: Viva Piñata: Party Animals (Krome Studios)

Releases Patch 1.02 For Culpa Innata

Software Publisher Strategy First Inc., a subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings, Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSTR), released a new Patch for “Culpa Innata” today. The Culpa Innata patch version 1.02 will solve and/or improve the following in-game issues:

1-A rare, but major bug which resulted in the game crash while mostly seen in PA inventory screen because of some graphics cards driver incompatibility with the DirectX optimized functionality has been fixed. This bug is rare but nearly consistent on some graphic cards, graphic card drivers and the DirectX version configurations. The rework of the optimization pipeline of the game is now compatible with these and any other configurations.

2-A few rare logic bugs have been fixed.

Please note that Players’ saves will not be affected by this patch and can be installed at any point during gameplay.

The patch 1.02 can be downloaded directly from our website at:

Strategyfirst Download

Exclusive EQ2 Offer in Online Gamer


Limited Edition In-Game Item Only Available Though Magazine

Fans of the new EverQuest II (EQII) expansion, Rise of Kunark, have something else to be excited about as Sony Online Entertainment and Beckett's Massive Online Gamer (MOG) magazine are offering a once in a lifetime opportunity to EQII players and MOG readers. A secret access code has been added to the latest issue of Massive Online Gamer magazine available on newsstands the week of November 28th that will provide all readers with a limited edition portrait of the infamous warlord Venril Sathir. For fans who cannot wait for the magazine to hit the newsstand, the first 1000 people to subscribe to Massive Online Gamer will receive a unique code via email that can be redeemed for the in-game item.

"We have set up a subscription service that will allow new subscribers to get the code almost instantaneously. EQII players can either wait for the magazine to hit the newsstands or get the code now. When you subscribe, you'll get the code as well as a great discount on our annual subscription," said Doug Kale, editor of Massive Online Gamer.

Fans of EQII will want to nab this exclusive Venril Sathir in-game item as quickly as possible since it is a limited edition item. This marks the first time that Sony Online Entertainment, the makers of EQII, has offered an item of this level through a magazine.

"We are excited that Sony has partnered with Massive Online Gamer. Our readers are interested in every angle of the massive online community, so rewarding both existing as well as new readers is a tremendous opportunity for everyone," added Kale.

Magazine link

Xbox Brings Friends And Families Together In Latest TV Ad

New campaign showcases the fun for everyone available on Xbox 360

Microsoft today reveals details of its latest advertising campaign, currently hitting TV and cinema screens across Europe. The ads showcase the great range of games and products available on the Xbox 360 console to a wider audience – whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a complete novice.

The new advertising dramatises this thought, by bringing people together around the Xbox experience in unexpected places. The TV ad shows people’s day-to-day lives disrupted by the appearance of a band of renegades who appear in hot air balloons. The squad assemble a living room, complete with TV, an Xbox 360 and a range of games. The bystanders then crowd round the Xbox experience unfolding.

The UK TV campaign, which has seen a multi-million pound ad spend, is being supported with lifestyle-based advertorials across print and online. Xbox has also secured a four-week Virgin Radio promotion giving away hundreds of games in the run up to Christmas.

In addition, the campaign will be accompanied by some guerrilla marketing tactics to bring the TV ad to life. The ‘Sofa Tour’ will travel the length and breadth of the country, and will see the Xbox team setting up the makeshift living room as seen in the TV ad on high streets around the UK. Consumers will be encouraged to experience the games first hand and will also have the chance to win the full living room set up for themselves.

This buzz will also be replicated in-store, with a major push at retail to showcase and promote the fun range of games that everyone can play.

Xbox 360 was the first next-generation console to launch back in November 2005. Given the growth and success the console has seen since then, an important next phase is already underway for the brand – broadening the appeal of the console. Whilst the original Xbox, which launched in November 2001, was targeted at hard-core gamers, Xbox 360 vision is much more universal.

Commenting in the campaign, Stephen McGill, Microsoft UK head of Gaming and Entertainment said: “The TV ad really sums up what Xbox is all about. Whilst we pride ourselves on offering the very best titles for a devoted gaming audience, we also have a number of titles that literally anyone can pick up and play - whether they’ve played a computer game before, and this campaign is all about our broadening message in the run up to Christmas.”

The TV ad is being broadcast now.

Escape from Paradise City - Traits and Skills Overview No1 Available

Learn more about the RPG elements of the newly released strategy/RPG game

Today cdv Software Entertainment USA released part one of a four part guide to their recently launched strategy/RPG title - Escape from Paradise City. In part one of the guide, readers will learn more about the general traits and skills available to players throughout the game. In Escape from Paradise City, gamers play as three unique characters -- an ex-con, a streetwise hand-to-hand expert and a corrupt FBI agent – who find themselves forced to help the government infiltrate the criminal underworld of the most corrupt city in America. Players must use each character’s unique skills and traits in their quest to defeat local gang leaders and make their way to the final showdown with the city's mysterious crime bosses to get to the root of their stranglehold on power. For more information, please visit http://paradisecity.cdvus.com.

Part one of the guide is available at -
http://paradisecity.cdvus.com/content/powers

Escape from Paradise City drops players into a dystopian world that combines a dark underworld and elements of the supernatural. In the game, the player is required to infiltrate the gangs of Paradise City on behalf of a powerful government agency that, despite its influence, has been unable to introduce even a glimmer of law and order to this horribly corrupt city. In an intertwining chapter-driven story, the player takes turns controlling one of three gritty characters that, for their own reasons, have “volunteered” to get to the bottom of the mystery behind the controlling crime syndicate’s power.

Bomberman Live - Free update

A free title update is now available for Bomberman Live. The update addresses issues some players have experienced and tweaks other aspects. Here are just some of the many improvements players can expect to see:

. Costumes come correct: If users have Bomb-Up Pack 2, but not Bomb-Up Pack 1, costume changes now save correctly.

. Less waiting between matches: The in-between match timer has been reduced to 20 seconds and is now visible to users.

. No more power-up lag: Previously, due to network lag, some power-ups that had already been picked up by one user remained on the ground on another user's screen. This is no longer the case.

. Know what you're getting yourself into: Users can now preview match settings from the game lobby.

. Brag for a minute: Online end of match screens now show gamerpics instead of Bomberman heads. There's also a timer of 60 seconds for the winner to brag.

. 1 bomb + 1 bomb = dangerous bomb: Kicking two bombs together now makes dangerous bombs more often.

. Over six figures of bombing: Leaderboards now show numbers beyond 100,000.

. Plunder some more: Scavenger can now be turned on for the "Plunder Isle" level.

Akella Announces City of Abandoned Ships

The makers of Sea Dogs, Pirates of the Caribbean, and other critically acclaimed naval titles are working on another swashbuckling RPG.

Akella, a leading developer, publisher and distributor of video games in Russia and CIS, has announced its forthcoming naval title, City of Abandoned Ships. Developed by Seaward.ru, City of Abandoned Ships will combine compelling gameplay and wonderful graphics thus bringing a new experience to all the fans of daring sword duels and ship-to-ship combats.

“Akella has a good track of records in developing a diverse lineup of maritime titles. City of Abandoned Ships is one more step to build upon our capacities in creating the paradise world of pirates as it was in the 17th century”, said Dmitry Arkhipov, VP Development of Akella. “Our new RPG will deliver an exciting storyline and attract new fans to naval games genre”.

About City of Abandoned Ships

Developer: Seaward.ru
Publisher: Akella
Genre: RPG
Release date: Q1 2008

Starting out your buccaneering career you can choose to go it alone and become the most feared pirate on the seven seas, terrorizing Spaniard and English gentleman alike. Or prove your loyalty and take the coin of one of four different navies: French, English, Spanish or Dutch.

Sailing the high seas as a swashbuckling dread pirate or as a dashing naval captain, you will explore strange new countries and alien civilization, raid and plunder fortified ports and cities, and search for ancient treasures. But beware, the dead do not sleep easy and in the dark South American jungles myth and reality intertwine.

Solve the ancient mysteries of a vanishing tribe, cross swords with the most notorious swashbucklers ever to sail the ocean blue and make sure that no foe ever sets foot on land again.

Key features:
Explore the accurately-mapped paradise of the Caribbean. Sail your tall ship around the islands of Cuba and Jamaica to Belize and Bermuda.
Vast array of land-based locations, from dense South American jungle to dark Caribbean cave complexes.
Meet real-life historical characters, such as Jamaican governors Colonel Thomas Lynch and Thomas Modyford.
Take your part in quests based around actual historical events.
Experience mirrored missions for different states – defend a Spanish territory in one instance and orchestrate a ruthless attack in another.
Unique P.I.R.A.T.E.S system of character progression: Power, Impression, Reaction, Authority, Talent, Endurance and Success.
Face fierce ship-to-ship combat or stand toe-to-toe with the most feared swordsmen in the Caribbean.

Silent Hunter 4: U-Boat Missions

FAQ

1. Explain what you mean by “strategic support” in Silent Hunter?
With the arrival of the German campaign in U-Boat Missions, players gain control over additional strategic resources other than their own submarines. These resources can be used towards the goal of sinking enemy shipping by either helping the player locate enemies – i.e. the scout planes – or by directly attacking them.

2. Are there any new features connected to this strategic support system?
The most important feature is that the units controlled by the strategic gameplay now report contacts and combat the enemy even when away from the player’s location. This is a great tool in attacking enemy ships, but on the other hand the player has to exercise caution and be careful not to cause the indirect loss of said units. In other words, do not direct your Armed Merchant Cruisers to intercept enemy battleship groups, if you care for the lives of those brave sailors that is.

3. Is the strategic support feature of U-Boat Missions historically accurate or just something you invented?
The actual concept of a submarine commander giving direct orders to aircraft or surface warships is admittedly a little stretched from reality, but not by much. In a grand scale war there’s always information flowing to and from submarines, and commanders often reposition their battle groups or divert resources based on feedback from the units in the field. Submarines benefit greatly from sighting reports from scout planes (one needs only to read the memoirs of Grand Admiral Doenitz to see how many times he requested scout planes for support) and it makes perfect sense for a form of collaboration similar to what we’ve modeled here to take shape.

4. Are the strategic support elements available only for the new German campaign?
As of now the strategic support features are available only for the new German campaign in U-Boat Missions. However, there is nothing stopping enterprising modders from adding it to the U.S. campaign.

5. What are the tactical steps for a successful mission utilizing the new strategic support features?
The same steps one takes in hunting as a lone submarine apply here. Find the target, position for attack and then deliver a crushing blow. With scout planes, finding a target is obviously easier since their speed and detection range is much greater than yours. Positioning your cruiser groups is an exercise in the art of interception. The final part, the actual battle, is simply a matter of bringing enough resources to overcome the enemy. Don’t take chances and you won’t be surprised by the results.

6. What new units are available for you to command in the strategic game?
Units available to command: Recon plane (from land bases), German auxiliary cruiser, German heavy cruiser, Japanese carrier group (call recon plane), Japanese cruiser group, Japanese taskforce.

7. What are the requirements for unlocking new units and abilities?
Unlocking the auxiliary units is based on the player’s rank, and the rank is achieved based on the number of successful patrols and renown what has been gained.

8. Can I turn off the strategic gameplay?
The strategic game cannot be turned off except by modding the game, but there’s nothing forcing the player to use the new abilities. So, if you prefer a “traditional” Silent Hunter experience, commanding only your own submarine, you can choose to do that.

SEGA Announaces The House Of The Dead 2&3 Return

Renowned Horror Arcade Game to Bring Non-Stop Shooting Action to your living room

SEGA Europe Ltd. today announced that THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD 2&3 RETURN is coming to the Wii home video game system from Nintendo. Combining two zombie shooters, THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD 2™ and THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD III™, this new compilation gives gamers the full arcade experience of battling hordes of rabid zombies in the comfort of their homes.

In THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD 2&3 RETURN, players will be able to play both versions of the game, battling the relentless attack of bloodthirsty zombies with steady aim and a quick trigger finger. Utilising the innovative new Wii Zapper™ or the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, players will experience branching storylines with over six game modes including Arcade Mode and Time Attack modes that will test their shooting skills. THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD 2&3 RETURN features an engaging single-player campaign, plus a co-op multiplayer mode for up to two players for countless hours of zombie shooting action.

“THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD franchise has been revamped for today’s gamer looking for fast-paced shooting action on the Wii” commented Gary Knight, Marketing Director of SEGA Europe. “Utilising the new Wii Zapper, the player can get the renowned light gun experience in their own home.”

THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD is famous for its heart-pounding pace and the great visual detail of the vast armies of unique enemies. Blasting through legions of grotesque zombies and mutated monsters, players eventually face-off against colossal boss creatures that will test the accuracy and skill of every Wii gamer.

THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD 2&3 RETURN will be available for the Wii home video game system from Nintendo in spring 2008.