British computer games publisher SCi Entertainment has received a takeover approach from Chinese rival CDC Corporation, The Sunday Telegraph reported.
SCi, which owns the successful Tomb Raider franchise starring Lara Croft, said in September it was in talks with several potential acquirers but has yet to update the market on their progress.
The front runner at the time was reported by media to be Ubisoft, but the French company told Reuters last month it was not interested.
The Sunday Telegraph said Nasdaq-listed CDC, which owns the China.com portal, wanted to buy SCi to expand the international reach of its games division.
A spokesman from SCi declined to comment.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Final Fantasy Series Trading Mini Set
Your favorite characters from the FINAL FANTASY series are now available as collectable miniatures! FINAL FANTASY Series Trading Arts Mini Set Vol. 1 features Cloud from FINAL FANTASY VII, Rinoa from FINAL FANTASY VIII, Yuna from FINAL FANTASY X and Vaan from FINAL FANTASY XII, and will be available at the Official Square Enix Merchandise Store on November 16
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles PLAYSTATION 3
Official Expansion Disc to Award-Winning Role Playing Game to be Available This Week
Bethesda Softworks, a ZeniMax Media company, announced today that The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles for PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system from SCEA is now shipping to North American retail stores. This standalone disc will allow gamers who already own The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion to experience the award-winning expansion.
This new retail product follows the October release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition (GotY) for PLAYSTATION 3 system, which includes the Shivering Isles expansion. Originally released in March 2006 for Windows and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and in March 2007 for PLAYSTATION 3 system, Oblivion has already earned countless awards from publications around the world and won numerous Game of the Year and RPG of the Year awards.Oblivion features a powerful combination of free-form gameplay, unprecedented graphics, cutting edge AI, character voices by acting legends Patrick Stewart, Sean Bean, Terrance Stamp, and Lynda Carter, and an award-winning soundtrack. Gamers can choose to unravel Oblivion’s epic narrative at their own pace or explore the vast world in search of their own unique challenges.
With more than 30 hours of new gamezplay, Shivering Isles allows you to explore an entirely new plane of Oblivion – the realm of Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness. Shivering Isles features a bizarre landscape split between the two sides – Mania and Dementia –filled with vast, twisting dungeons mirroring the roots of the trees they are buried within. Sheogorath himself looks to you to be his champion and defend his realm and its inhabitants from destruction as you discover all new items, ingredients, spells, and much more.
Shivering Isles for PLAYSTATION 3 system will also be available for download on the PLAYSTATION Network (North American, English only) beginning November 29th. Shivering Isles is rated M for Mature by the ESRB. For more information on Oblivion, Shivering Isles, or The Elder Scrolls, visit www.elderscrolls.com.
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PHILIPS AMBX-ENABLES QUAKE 4
Philips today announced an agreement with id Software, makers of the hugely popular and successful DOOM, QUAKE and Wolfenstein series of games, to provide an amBX-enabled Mod for QUAKE 4.
A multiplayer version of QUAKE 4 was initially amBX-enabled through a Mod in August for public demonstration at QuakeCon, the free convention held in the Dallas area where PC gamers from all over the world make the pilgrimage to play and compete on a giant gaming network. The multiplayer demonstration proved hugely popular with everybody who saw, heard, felt and played it.
Shorthand for ‘ambient experiences’, amBX revolutionises the gameplay experience by extending the gaming world out of the screen and into the real world. amBX delivers a full ‘sensory surround experience’ by equipping game developers with a tool box to use light, colour, sound and even air flow through enabled devices, including the Philips amBX PC Gaming Peripherals range of LED colour-controlled lighting capable of representing 16 million different colours, rumble peripherals and variable speed desktop fans.
The Philips amBX team has crafted a Mod for QUAKE 4, which when played with amBX peripherals, will see fans, lights and rumble effects, including 360 degree environmental lighting, form an integral part of the gameplay.
Players running and jumping in the game will actually feel the air move around them and the effect of landing and impacts. Weapons will generate custom effects, including surrounding light, rumble, shudder and fan blast effects from the rocket launcher. On a more subtle level, rear view lighting is darkened when players use a weapon scope mode, to draw players into the sniper frame of mind. On the receiving end, damage feedback is displayed through a multi directional red light blood splatter and bullet impact vibration. Finally, power and pick ups are represented through different light effects, including a light blue aura for Quad Damage, pulsing red for Regeneration, a fast yellow pulse for Haste, green light for Health and blue light for Mega Health.
“The response to the QuakeCon multiplayer demonstration was overwhelmingly positive and we’re delighted to offer all those fans an amBX Mod for QUAKE 4,” commented Jo Cooke, Chief Marketing Officer, Philips amBX. “The range of effects amBX brings to QUAKE 4 is so diverse, it really offers an all-new first person shooting experience.”
“It’s exciting to see Philips’ innovative amBX technology enhancing the already intense experience in QUAKE 4,” said Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software. “amBX was a definite hit at the last QuakeCon and we look forward to even more gamers checking out the visceral amBX experience at QuakeCon 2008.”
Philips is setting a global standard by licensing the amBX technology to computer game developers, publishers and peripherals manufacturers and id Software joins a rapidly growing list, including Codemasters, THQ, Introversion, Gearbox Software, Zombie, Riot Games, Brain in a Jar, Invictus Games, Instinct Technology, Kuju, Revolution, Sumo Digital, Rivers Run Red, Philips Peripherals & Accessories and SpectraVideo.
Games which are amBX compatible include Broken Sword: The Angel of Death, Clive Barker's Jericho, Darwinia, DEFCON, Overlord, Supreme Commander, QUAKE 4 and Toca Race Driver 3. Over 100 titles are also compatible with the FXGenerator and a full list, searchable by genre and publisher, can be found at www.ambx.com.
Philips is currently in the closing stages of agreements with a number of other high profile companies regarding amBX-enabling and Modding all kinds of games.
A video of QUAKE 4 in action at QuakeCon, as well as interviews with attendees playing the amBX-enabled mutliplayer version can be found at www.ambx.com.
BOMBERMAN
He’s back! Hudson Soft and Living Mobile have joined forces again to bring Bomberman back to mobile phones. In his latest adventure, Bomberman stars in a double pack comprising Bomberman Classic and Bomberman Supreme, which incorporates a multiplayer mode via Bluetooth. Bomberman Supreme offers not only high-end graphics, but also many hours of gameplay: 50 levels, full of old and new power-ups and five Bosses to be bombed! This is the ultimate Bomberman and a must-have for every mobile gamer.
Bomberman Classic is a tribute to the very first Bomberman from the arcade game from the 80s. In this version, you can retrace the first steps that Bomberman took, and look up additional background info about the popular video game star in the accompanying Bomberman History Special.
Bomberman Supreme brings the game right up to date, with stunning graphics and flawless animations, brand new enemies as well as old foes, and new power-ups. Run through walls, freeze your opponents and achieve invincibility – everything is possible with the numerous upgrades available within the game.
As well as the classic single player and versus modes of existing Bomberman games, the new Bomberman includes a multiplayer mode for limited handsets, so that you can now challenge your friends via Bluetooth.
Furthermore, Bomberman contains a special WAP feature in which you can upload and publish your high scores in daily, weekly, monthly and all-time high score rankings. Compare your score with other users all over Europe!
Title: Bomberman Supreme
Developer: Living Mobile
Publisher: Living Mobile
Copyright: Hudson Soft
Available now
SocioTown, a Web-Based 3D MMOG, is Unveiled
SocioTown is a web-based 3D massive multiplayer online social game (MMOSG) developed by Outside the Box Software. It's playable in a browser with no downloadable client required. It utilizes Adobe’s Shockwave Player, which most browsers already have installed.
The official trailer for SocioTown can be viewed here:
http://www.sociotown.com/sociotown_video.html
SocioTown is a small but growing town where every apartment building can be inhabited by players. Each room can be furnished with a variety of items, which players can purchase at stores within the town. SocioTown also features a very intuitive social system that hasn’t been done before with real-time chat applications. Players can view a visual representation of their own social network, which shows the complex relationship of their friends and acquaintances up to 3 degrees of separation. Additionally, players can earn Town Experience points, which will allow them to access new areas and challenges.
For more screenshots and information, visit the feature page on the official site:
http://www.sociotown.com/sociotown_features.html
SocioTown is currently in late stage Alpha development and should enter public beta testing by the end of the year.
The official trailer for SocioTown can be viewed here:
http://www.sociotown.com/sociotown_video.html
SocioTown is a small but growing town where every apartment building can be inhabited by players. Each room can be furnished with a variety of items, which players can purchase at stores within the town. SocioTown also features a very intuitive social system that hasn’t been done before with real-time chat applications. Players can view a visual representation of their own social network, which shows the complex relationship of their friends and acquaintances up to 3 degrees of separation. Additionally, players can earn Town Experience points, which will allow them to access new areas and challenges.
For more screenshots and information, visit the feature page on the official site:
http://www.sociotown.com/sociotown_features.html
SocioTown is currently in late stage Alpha development and should enter public beta testing by the end of the year.
Two New Nintendo DS Bundles
Limited-Edition Gold and Metallic Rose Become Must-Have Gifts
Starting Nov. 23, Nintendo gives the holiday season a fresh blast of color with the launch of two special-edition Nintendo DS bundles. Each pairs a custom-color Nintendo DS system with one of the platform's hottest titles. The new Gold edition comes with The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, while the Metallic Rose Nintendo DS comes with the "Best Friends" version of Nintendogs.
"Nintendo DS remains the portable system of choice for gamers," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Our new bundles will be collector's items for current gamers while offering an attractive way for people new to video games to play with style."
With its dual screens, touch-screen, amazing franchises and innovative games, Nintendo DS has been a cornerstone of Nintendo's efforts to expand the world of video games to new audiences and to get as many people playing as possible. According to information from the independent NPD Group, Nintendo DS sales in the United States:
topped 458,000 in October.
are nearly 4.5 million for 2007.
exceed 13.6 million since the system launched three years ago on Nov. 21, 2004.
boasts 14 different million-unit sellers in North America, including Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day, Pokémon Diamond Version, Pokémon Pearl Version, Yoshi's Island DS, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team, Big Brain Academy, New Super Mario Bros., Animal Crossing: Wild World, Mario Kart DS, Super Mario 64 DS and four versions of Nintendogs.
The new bundles will build on this legacy as they offer shoppers something new for the holidays.
The glimmering Gold edition of the Nintendo DS shows the world your passion for excellence and grandeur, since it comes bundled with The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass – the year's biggest hand-held adventure game – and is emblazoned with the series' signature Triforce logo. It's a shiny nugget that any gamer – girl or guy – would be proud to show off.
For those looking for a different kind of dazzling color, the new pretty-in-pink Metallic Rose edition puts a futuristic sheen on your color scheme. It's bundled with Nintendogs, the acclaimed puppy-interaction software that lets players select, train and play with their own canine companions. And the hardware comes accented with a distinctive pink puppy paw print.
Whichever DS bundle you choose to complement your look, don't let the stocking-friendly size fool you: These packages are big on style and fun. For more information about Nintendo DS, please visit www.nintendo.com.
The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo GameCube systems. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold nearly 2.5 billion video games and more than 430 million hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Zelda and Pokémon. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, visit the company's Web site at www.nintendo.com.
Axis goes off the rails!
Axis re-established their long standing relationship with Frontier Developments by working working on the Cambridge based developer's new title Thrillville: Off the Rails. Following the success of theme park game Thrillville, which featured a series of cutscenes created by Axis and was the number one original family game in the USA in 2006, Frontier asked the UK-based studio to bring the main character Uncle Mortimer back for more and produce over six minutes of cutscenes for the new title.
Directed by Dana Dorian, the cutscenes follow Uncle Mortimer as he guides and supports you through the new theme park environments. In a similar vein to the original game there is plenty of slapstick humour, gags and the odd experiment that goes wrong.
'I had been involved in the first Thrillville project but not as director so it was great to get to grips with a character who I felt I already knew well' said Dorian. 'I had the chance to work directly with the team at Frontier and be involved in the development of the scripts and also input into the dialogue record, it’s great to be included in a project that early and at that level.'
The challenge for Axis was providing a balance between the explanations for the next stage of the game play and continuing to entertain and engage the player with a performance that makes them laugh.
'We knew that Frontier loved what we had done with the cutscenes in Thrillville and this time we got to up the ante by bringing in some new characters' said Axis producer Debbie Ross. 'We added a series of robotic characters who appear in the opening cutscene as rollercoaster crash test dummies but then appear every so often throughout the other shots, you have to watch closely to see their hilarious antics' continued Ross.
These secondary performances are what added more charm and additional comedy to the sequences and it is something Dana Dorian and the team of animators are proud of doing so well.
‘It is always great to take a script and develop visual gags around a lot of what is in there and I am delighted with the performances we pulled off for all the characters’ said Dorian.
Frontier Managing Director David Walsh said of the project ‘We've worked with Axis on several projects now and they have added real value to our collaborations, both during the creative process and in the final quality of their output. We look forward to working with them again in future.’
Directed by Dana Dorian, the cutscenes follow Uncle Mortimer as he guides and supports you through the new theme park environments. In a similar vein to the original game there is plenty of slapstick humour, gags and the odd experiment that goes wrong.
'I had been involved in the first Thrillville project but not as director so it was great to get to grips with a character who I felt I already knew well' said Dorian. 'I had the chance to work directly with the team at Frontier and be involved in the development of the scripts and also input into the dialogue record, it’s great to be included in a project that early and at that level.'
The challenge for Axis was providing a balance between the explanations for the next stage of the game play and continuing to entertain and engage the player with a performance that makes them laugh.
'We knew that Frontier loved what we had done with the cutscenes in Thrillville and this time we got to up the ante by bringing in some new characters' said Axis producer Debbie Ross. 'We added a series of robotic characters who appear in the opening cutscene as rollercoaster crash test dummies but then appear every so often throughout the other shots, you have to watch closely to see their hilarious antics' continued Ross.
These secondary performances are what added more charm and additional comedy to the sequences and it is something Dana Dorian and the team of animators are proud of doing so well.
‘It is always great to take a script and develop visual gags around a lot of what is in there and I am delighted with the performances we pulled off for all the characters’ said Dorian.
Frontier Managing Director David Walsh said of the project ‘We've worked with Axis on several projects now and they have added real value to our collaborations, both during the creative process and in the final quality of their output. We look forward to working with them again in future.’
Dirty Dancing the Video Game
Dirty Dancing the video game is out now!
Codemasters Online is pleased to announce that Dirty Dancing, the official game based on the hit movie, is now available for purchase across Europe and North America.
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the movie, fans can now step back into the year 1963 and encounter the world of their favourite film. Through this action puzzler, Dirty Dancing enthusiasts now have the opportunity to experience the life of Baby. Learn to dance with the resident dancing couple, Johnny and Penny, and work alongside the team at the renowned Kellerman’s Mountain House Resort.
“Dirty Dancing is a premium casual game in which fans of both the movie and high-quality casual games will be able to enjoy for hours, comments Tim Hodges, Associate Product Manager, Codemasters Online. We are proud to be a part of such an imperative franchise and we are delighted to bring a quality casual game to the many dedicated Dirty Dancing fans.”
Dirty Dancing is one of the most enduring modern classics in feature film and home entertainment history, the release of Dirty Dancing - The Video Game caps off a year-long celebration by Lionsgate in honor of the movie’s 20th Anniversary. Earlier this year, Lionsgate released a 20th anniversary edition DVD and Blu-ray disc along with a remastered companion CD from Sony/BMG. Both those releases came on the heels of a theatrical event that sold out theatres nationwide and resulted in ticket sales of more than 80,000 over a two-day period.
First released in 1987, Dirty Dancing redefined date movies and continues to captivate the hearts and minds of generations of fans, generating more than $170 million in worldwide box office receipts and selling more than 10 million DVDs. Starring Jennifer Grey (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) as “Baby” Houseman and Patrick Swayze (Ghost) as the sexy Johnny Castle, Dirty Dancing is the story of a naïve girl who meets an experienced dance instructor and becomes his pupil in dance and love. The Oscar®-winning film (Best Music, Original Song) was recently named one of the Top 10 Date Movies of all time, according to an E! Entertainment Television poll of industry executives and celebrities.
Dirty Dancing the Video Game is available for purchase at selected retail stores across Europe (£14.99 / €19.99) and is also available for download in the US ($19.99). For more information visit: www.dirtydancinggame.com
Rainbow Islands Evolution for PSP
New Screens, Art and Details About Bubby and Bobby's Latest Adventure in Rainbow Islands!
A cult classic arcade game from Taito, Rainbow Islands Evolution for the PSP® system from Ignition Entertainment is a sequel in the popular Bubble Bobble franchise. See below for more on the story of Rainbow Islands Evolution and visit the FTP link for new screens and art.
The Evil Record Company!
A record company called Million Records has expanded into every area of the music industry from production of instruments to raising new talent and publishing records. Recently they have started to churn out nothing but generic, soulless music and have spread it across the globe.
Songwriters held Prisoner!
All the songwriters are now held prisoner inside the Headquarters of Million Records, located in the Rainbow Islands. They are forced to create boring, empty music 24 hours a day while strictly adhering to the ‘Million Hit Manual’.
Ecosystem in despair!
The ‘fake’ music created by Million Records has a terrible effect on the ecosystem of the Rainbow Islands. The trees have withered, insects have mutated into aggressive attackers and even the islands’ gravity has been affected!
The Good guys!
This terrible calamity has brought Bubby and Bobby back to restore their homeland to its natural glory. Using a magical Rainbow instrument called the ‘Hurdy Gurdy’, they must battle and destroy the evil Major Seven!
The BAD guys!
The pride of the Million Records Company, the “Major Seven” appear as the bosses in each stage, using their giant instruments and cheap sounds to try and stop Bubby and Bobby dead in their tracks.
GAME FACTS
Platform: PSP (PlayStation Portable) system
Genre: Classic arcade
Publisher: Ignition Entertainment
Developer: Marvelous Entertainment
Noof players: 1-2 multi-player
Rating: E for everyone
Ship Date: January 2008
A cult classic arcade game from Taito, Rainbow Islands Evolution for the PSP® system from Ignition Entertainment is a sequel in the popular Bubble Bobble franchise. See below for more on the story of Rainbow Islands Evolution and visit the FTP link for new screens and art.
The Evil Record Company!
A record company called Million Records has expanded into every area of the music industry from production of instruments to raising new talent and publishing records. Recently they have started to churn out nothing but generic, soulless music and have spread it across the globe.
Songwriters held Prisoner!
All the songwriters are now held prisoner inside the Headquarters of Million Records, located in the Rainbow Islands. They are forced to create boring, empty music 24 hours a day while strictly adhering to the ‘Million Hit Manual’.
Ecosystem in despair!
The ‘fake’ music created by Million Records has a terrible effect on the ecosystem of the Rainbow Islands. The trees have withered, insects have mutated into aggressive attackers and even the islands’ gravity has been affected!
The Good guys!
This terrible calamity has brought Bubby and Bobby back to restore their homeland to its natural glory. Using a magical Rainbow instrument called the ‘Hurdy Gurdy’, they must battle and destroy the evil Major Seven!
The BAD guys!
The pride of the Million Records Company, the “Major Seven” appear as the bosses in each stage, using their giant instruments and cheap sounds to try and stop Bubby and Bobby dead in their tracks.
GAME FACTS
Platform: PSP (PlayStation Portable) system
Genre: Classic arcade
Publisher: Ignition Entertainment
Developer: Marvelous Entertainment
Noof players: 1-2 multi-player
Rating: E for everyone
Ship Date: January 2008
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