Universe at War: Earth Assault Breaks Out at iGames

Exclusive Launch Party, Showcase, at Select iGames Member Centers Across North America to Celebrate Release of Combat-Intensive RTS


One-Day Launch Party, December 8th; Two-Week Showcase, December 10th-23rd

WHAT:

Leading game center organization iGames will host a series of special events to celebrate the release of Universe at War™: Earth Assault, SEGA’s eagerly anticipated combat-intensive RTS.

WHEN:

The first event will be a one-day launch party, Saturday, December 8th, complete with informal skirmishes with gamers across North America, followed by an expanded showcase, December 10th-23rd, allowing real-time strategy fans one free hour over a two week period to experience the game first-hand.

WHERE:

• Launch Party: 50 select iGames member centers across the US and Canada.
• Showcase: 100 additional iGames member centers.


ABOUT THE GAME:

Developed by Petroglyph, this combat-intensive Real-Time-Strategy (RTS) game enlists players in an epic struggle to prevent total alien domination of planet Earth. Set in the near-future Universe at War: Earth Assault features three distinct factions that have traveled across the galaxy to wage epic warfare on Earth. With customization options never seen before in the RTS genre, Universe at War: Earth Assault will create an exceptional strategy game experience for PC gamers.

Key amongst Universe at War: Earth Assault innovations is “Tactical Dynamics,” a system that allows players to retrain and customize their units in real-time on the battlefield. During the immense battles, “Tactical Dynamics” will allow your faction to overwhelm enemy forces and exploit tactical situations. Weaponry and defenses can be modified in true real-time to take advantage of the constantly shifting battlefield while fully customizable tech trees will allow players to constantly amend the development of technologies that they deem key to victory.

Battles in Universe at War: Earth Assault will also feature deformable terrain that will bear the scars of the huge clashes taking place. Deadly sci-fi weapons and alien powers will allow players to destroy whole cities and territories on a global scale, while the persistent world of Universe at War: Earth Assault will mean players can revisit previous battlegrounds to find them still smoldering in ruins.

Universe at War: Earth Assault further innovates through offering new multiplayer modes inspired by popular MMOs and other online games. Players will earn achievements, rewards, and medals in a finely balanced environment that leads into a persistent online campaign for ultimate faction supremacy across a virtual representation of the Earth.

Universe at War™: Earth Assault is rated “T” for “Teen” by the ESRB and carries an MSRP of $49.95.

Official website

Angels Online: Game Feature Preview

Angels Online (http://ao.igg.com/), the new MMORPG from IGG (www.igg.com) has been anxiously anticipated by tons of players since it was first announced. Today the AO team is going to give players a sneak preview of some of the game features.

◆Various Skill Combinations and a Flexible Class System
Angels Online will offer players nearly 40 Class Skills and hundreds of spells, which will definitely allow their players to pursue their ideal classes. They will have different class titles if they adopt different special skill combinations. In addition, there are hundreds of thousands of items and weapons, and a complete Paper Moppet System, so players have tons of things to do in game.

◆Creative Robot System
Players will also see cute robots in Angels Online. These special robots can not only benefit their collection, but also can help them to fight against loathsome monsters. The fat cat and the doggie robots are very eye-catching and unique, and, in addition, there are cute penguin robots and teddy bear robots.　If players like cute characters, they shouldn’t miss the special Robot System.　

◆Fight for the Totem
A totem in game is not just a status symbol. A guild which owns a totem is the host of a corresponding territory, and can monopolize the resources there. Those players who have good performance during a battle will be offered various equipment and awarded all kinds of titles, which will give players a strong sense of achievement. Additionally, players can upgrade their totem to make it more powerful, so obtaining a totem will mean a lot to a guild.

◆Mounts, Pets, and Mini-Games Let You Have Fun
Players can ride various cute animals such as turtles, little pigs, horses, and big lizards to wander around the fascinating world. During battle, their pets can not only help them to fight against monsters, but also can level up and become more and more powerful. Additionally, players can play some mini-games in Angels Online such as 5 in a Row!, Bingo and Sikitcha when they are tired of killing monsters.

Gordon Brown Turns To 'Democracy' For Helpful Hints

BRING THE TROOPS HOME FOR CHRISTMAS? INJECT A SPENDING BOOST FOR BIRD FLU PREVENTION?

Following consultation with his ally in the US, the UK’s Prime Minister has turned to Democracy, a political strategy game for PC for some ‘serious’ inspiration.

With mounting pressure from the back benchers to review unpopular policy, the PM needs to carefully assess political strategy to gain the largest share of the vote to stay in power. But you won’t be able to keep everyone happy all of the time, so tread cautiously as popular policy may not be in the best interests of the country.

With an unpopular war being waged in the East and financial meltdown coming from the sub prime markets in the West, the UK government needs to take a firm and steady stance to appeal to the mass vote and win through. Tough political decisions lie ahead…

Do you withdraw British troops from Iraq to gain approval from the masses back home but expose the world to the increasing threat of terrorism? Do you maintain the unpopular increase in interest rates to safe guard from recession or opt for the more popular cut in interest rates and risk increasing the level of consumer debt in the UK? Winter bird flu is back on the agenda – do health services need a boost?

Up for the job?

Democracy is a political strategy game on PC from Ascaron Entertainment. It enables players to take control of countries modelled on real democratic nations such as the UK, USA, France, Germany or Sweden. As Prime Minister or President, players need 50% of the vote at each election in order to remain in power. Think strategically to secure position for as long as possible – implement controversial new policies and solve national crises to placate or rile voters.

Shoot And Shake With Saitek's New Cyborg Rumble Pad

FULLY CUSTOMISABLE PC GAMEPAD OFFERING CYBORG MODULE, PRECISION MODE AND UNIQUE FPS BUTTON

Saitek, a leading designer and manufacturer of consumer gaming products for PC, has announced the launch of its Cyborg Rumble Pad. The Cyborg Rumble Pad is a high end PC gamepad with a number of unique features that allow users to fully personalise and customise the controls to improve their gaming experience.

The Cyborg gamepad features the unique new Cyborg module, which can be unclipped from the pad and turned through 180 degrees to reverse the configuration of the left stick and d-pad. This dual configuration makes the gamepad perfect for both diehard PC gamers and those who’ve only recently come to PC games from consoles.

As well as the Cyborg module, the Cyborg Rumble pad features an FPS button which automatically sets up the pad's controls for typical commands found in most current FPS genre games, and the new Precision mode – a first in PC gamepad design. Precision Mode decreases the sensitivity of the pad’s left or right sticks to make aiming weapons easier and more accurate.

With its unique innovations and stylish design the new Cyborg Rumble pad takes gaming performance to new levels, improving control, heightening the senses and helping gamers realise their true potential.

Saitek’s new Cyborg range is designed specifically for serious gamers who demand the best equipment to help them win. Enthusiastic gamers will play intensely for long periods of time and need peripherals that not only offer outstanding comfort, but high precision and absolute control.

Cyborg Rumble Pad - Fast facts:

· Cyborg Module - A unique adjustable module that can be turned through 180 degrees, reversing the left stick and d-pad to suit gamers who prefer PC- or console-style pad configurations.

· FPS Button - This instantly programmes the pad with the keyboard and mouse commands often used in first person shooter games.

· Precision Button – The gamer can configure any button on the gamepad to engage Precision Mode. Precision Mode allows the gamer to select a button(s) or stick(s) on the pad which, when activated, will decrease the sensitivity of the Cyborg Rumble pad’s left or right sticks - useful when trying to aim a very sensitive rifle with a telescopic sight over long ranges.

· X-Mode – Checking a box in the game controller settings changes the pad’s mode from Classic to X Mode. In the default Classic mode, the two shoulder buttons act as buttons, and the triggers act as buttons or axes. In X mode, the two shoulder buttons continue to act as buttons but the two triggers now function only as analogue axes, allowing the trigger to control a range of movements. This mode emulates the set-up of XBox™ controllers.

The controller setup includes:
2 quick fire triggers
2 analogue triggers
8 way d-pad
6 responsive buttons
2 analogue joysticks

The Cyborg Rumble pad is fully programmable with SST programming software, making it suitable for any game genre.

Limited Edition Squad Command Themed PSP Console to be won

To celebrate the launch of the new handheld strategy game Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command on Sony PSP tomorrow, THQ in conjunction with Games Workshop and a team of professional modelers has created a limited set of six exclusive Squad Command themed PSP consoles.

Only one of these incredible custom PSP’s is bound for the UK – to be in with a chance of winning this awe-inspiring bit of kit, enter our exclusive competition on THQ-Games.com – we’ve got copies of the game for runners up too.

Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command brings intense, strategic combat to handheld consoles.

In the grim darkness of the 41st Millennium, the daemonic forces of Chaos clash with the Imperium’s finest - the Space Marines. Command your elite squad of Ultramarines, equip them with over 20 ranged and close combat weapons, and pit them against the might of the World Bearers in turn-based tactical combat across fully destructible 3D battlefields.

Wage war through 15 single-player missions, or battle your friends and foes over nine brutal multiplayer maps, and engage in epic conflicts between 2-8 players.

Supporting a host of options, including game sharing, local wireless and full online play supported by online leaderboards, Squad Command offers hours of gameplay and one of the most complete multiplayer packages on handheld.

The PSP version of Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command, complete with glorious 3D graphics and hi-res cinematics hits stores tomorrow!

SNOWBALL WARS! - download

Play Snowball Wars, the snowballin' action game, anytime with our free download!

Click and drag kids from your team into position, and practice your snow skills.

Game objectives
You control the three red kids. The game starts out as a three vs three battle, but as you increase in level, the blue kids increase in number. Click and drag one of your kids into position so that you can get a good shot on the other team. Hold down the left mouse button to make your power meter go up. The more you fill up your power meter, the farther and harder your kid will throw. If a kid gets hit, but not too hard, he will be stunned. He'll stand there shaking, and will be temporarily unable to move or throw. If a kid gets hit hard enough, he'll fall down, and won't get up again until the next level. Knock down everyone on the blue team before they get you!

Download it here

Or

Play online here

Crayon Physics Deluxe - PC game

Crayon Physics Deluxe is a sequel to the popular freeware game Crayon Physics. Or you can think of it as the game I would have created if I would have had more than 7 days to do it. Way more than 7 days. More like 7 months or 17 months.

Anyway Crayon Physics Deluxe is a 2D physics puzzle game, in which you get to experience what it would be like if your drawings would be magically transformed into real physical objects. Solve puzzles with your artistic vision and creative use of physics.

The game features:

Greatly improved physics (you can draw what ever you want)
Huge number of new levels
Easy to use level editor
You can read more about the game from my blog. Also you can test the original prototype which is freely available. But please understand that the prototype isn’t a demo version of this game and doesn’t reflect the quality of Crayon Physics Deluxe.

Visit the site here

Painting without numbers on Nintendo DS

Ever dreamed of painting like Picasso? Van Gogh? Michelangelo? Maybe even Da Vinci. Well here's your chance. Introducing Paint by DS, a new "non-game" on the DS by Mercury Games and Ertain's series on the Nintendo DS.

This game explores a very young concept in gaming: non-violent and non-competitive. In fact, it aims to help the gamer relax. Using the stylus, the player mixes oil and water-based paints to emulate the colours and consistencies of real paint, then paints the colors unto the canvas. This game offers a palette of 15 colouring challenges with a dash of mini games based on the works of famous artists.

The developers created this game aimed for the DS owners who need to relax and tone down once in a while. Paint by DS is the first of their Zen series.

Limited editions will be sold with a paint set or a paint book. It will be released in Europe this August 24, priced at £ 19.99 / € 24.99. The US will Paint by DS themselves later this year.

Best Buy Black Friday offers - Resident Evil 4, others for US$ 19.99 each

The United States celebrated Black Friday once again and retail chain Best Buy had something in store for Nintendo Wii owners.

For those who aren't from the States, this is an unofficial shopping event where shops open early and sell items for discounted prices.

Anyway, Best Buy has decided to put a total of four different Nintendo Wii video games in the bargain basket for this event namely Resident Evil 4, Sonic and the Secret Rings, Brunswick Pro Bowling, Rapala Tournament Fishing. Each video game can be purchased for just US$ 19.99.

Take note that while each Best Buy store will carry a minimum number of 10 copies per title, a customer is only entitled to one purchase and no rain checks will be allowed.

Crazy games commercials...

Watch the video here

God Hand

The last title Clover Studio developed before disbanding may have gone past your noses, but a backgrounder isn't necessary to get the kicks out of this God Hand trailer. Some half-naked guy with a fist for a head walks around spanking ladies and breaking cars. Need we say more?