Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Wireless Guitar Controllers

Activision, Inc. today announced that standalone wireless guitar controllers for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will be available at retail stores nationwide by early 2008.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock lets fans thrash and burn with new wireless guitar controllers available for each platform, including exclusive Gibson Guitar's Les Paul model for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii home video game system from Nintendo, and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. PlayStation 2 gamers will also get to shred on an exclusive shape, Gibson's Kramer guitar, popularized by hard rockers and known for its body design, pickups, electronics and construction for furious finger fretting.

Wii-kly Update: Three New Classic Games Added To Wii Shop Channel

Let's hope you all survived the long holiday weekend. With all the eating, traveling and family fun, isn't it time to do something just for you? So take a few minutes and do a little shopping from the comfort of your couch, away from the chaos of the malls. This week you can get into a game of hoops, do a little faux gambling or head out to sea with your favorite dolphin friend.

Three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the Wii™ Shop Channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

DOUBLE DRIBBLE™ (NES®, 1-2 players, rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): DOUBLE DRIBBLE, the first 5-on-5, full-court home basketball game, is pure hoops action at its finest. While still a surprisingly accurate basketball game for its time, the frantic action keeps you on your toes as your players run from one end of the court to the other. Choose from a handful of teams and multiple levels of difficulty as you take on the computer alone or challenge a friend and see who has the better skills. Take the ball and sink shots from locations all over the court, or get in your opponent's face and do your best to block the shot. Better yet, drive the lane and rock the rim to see one of the game's trademark slam-dunk cut scenes. He shoots, he scores!

Vegas Stakes™ (Super NES®, 1-4 players, rated E for Everyone – Simulated Gambling, 800 Wii Points): Feel like taking a road trip to Las Vegas? Let your inner high roller go wild as you try your luck at five different games-blackjack, slots, poker, craps and roulette. Start with only $1,000 in your pocket and play your way through five casinos, each with a different theme and varying limits. But no one wants to gamble alone, right? Not a problem, as you'll be able to choose one of four friends to tag along and offer advice when you need it. Further enhancing the experience is the fact that you'll be presented with a slew of interactions with random casino patrons. Best be careful, though-your choices in these situations could either get you closer to the millions of dollars you're after or cost you a pile of that hard-earned cash. Roll the dice, spin the wheel, hit or stand-do whatever it takes to stake your claim in Vegas and beat the house!

Ecco Jr.™ (Sega Genesis, 1 player, rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): The aquatic adventures of Ecco come to life for a younger generation of gamers. Perfect for kids, Ecco Jr. finds our young hero heading out to sea with a variety of tasks he must perform in order to get there. Along with his friends Tara the baby orca and Kitnee the young Atlantic dolphin, Ecco Jr. will interact with sea lions, sea horses and other aquatic life as he makes his journey to the Big Blue. Introduce your kids to the classic series of Ecco the Dolphin titles by downloading Ecco Jr. today.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Earn £10 playing football game

United Football is looking for 50 sporty European gamers!

Want to earn £10 playing football? Staggan Interactive, the developer of the multiplayer online game United Football, are looking for 50 European gamers to help in the next phase of development. United Football is a free, fun to play 5-a-side soccer game. It’s the first online multiplayer soccer game where gamers can play in teams consisting entirely of other online human players and boasts a unique control system and viewpoint that puts the gamer right in the action.

If you have a couple of hours to spare, are English speaking and aged over 14 send an email to playtest@staggan.com with the words “Tell Me More” as the subject.

WWII Battle Tanks: T-34 vs. Tiger

Leading Publisher Lighthouse Interactive is proud to announce that it has acquired the PAN European publishing rights to Russian Publisher IDDK and Russian developer G5's highly anticipated simulation game ‘WWII Battle Tanks: T-34 vs Tiger’. Scheduled to release in Q1 2008 on the PC, this highly realistic WW2 Tank simulation game will allow players to experience the power of some of the most advanced weaponry of its time and battle the enemy head on during some of the most critical campaigns of World War 2.

Steve Wall, Vice President Business Development for Lighthouse Interactive said: “We are very excited to be publishing ‘WWII Battle Tanks: T-34 vs. Tiger’ throughout Europe. This is truly the most immersive World War 2 tank simulation available to date.” He went on to say, “The development team has created something special with their attention to detail in all aspects of the game. The combination of gorgeous graphics, realistic physics models, interactive environments and deep and engrossing gameplay is sure to satisfy the most ardent gamer.”

Dmitry Demenchoock Head of Games for IDDK said “Our developer G5 Software, ourselves, our volunteer testers and consultants from around the world have put a tremendous amount of effort and passion into creating ‘WWII Battle Tanks: T-34 vs. Tiger’. A game of this kind requires specialized publishing and promotion abilities from a publisher. Experience, professionalism and real passion for the game are what is required. This describes Lighthouse Interactive perfectly and is why we think that Lighthouse Interactive was the ideal choice for us and we are pleased to be working with them.”

Game summary

The tank simulation ‘WWII Battle Tanks: T-34 vs. Tiger’ takes place in Belarus during the summer of 1944, in which the Soviet Union launched “Operation Bagration”, the Belarusian offensive, against the retreating German Wehrmacht. After Kursk, this was the most significant struggle of the two tank armies and resulted in the complete destruction of the German Army Group Center and the Soviet recapture of all territories within their 1941 borders.

The player can experience the battlefield from within the Russian T-34 and the German “Tiger”, with fully animated 3D interiors and playable Driver, Gunner and Commander positions. The tanks’ dynamics include realistic physics, accurate ballistics and elaborate damage models. Interior models feature historically accurate gun-sight optics.

The vast Belarusian landscape of the early 20th century, with its rolling hills, villages and large forests was carefully recreated from historical reference photos and maps. The rich battlefield environment includes AI controlled Russian and German tanks, infantry, armored-personnel-carriers, anti-tank-guns and airplanes.

Stunning special effects, such as explosions, fires and smoke, the ability to completely destroy vehicles and buildings, all combine to create a lifelike combat environment. The action can be viewed from various camera angles in first or third person view.

‘WWII Battle Tanks: T-34 vs. Tiger’ includes two single-player campaigns and two multiplayer modes (skirmish and team-play) for LAN and Internet play for up to 16 players.

Features

• German and Russian Campaign missions are based on “Operation Bagration”, the codename for the Soviet Belarusian Offensive during World War II.
• Playable tanks: The Russian T-34/85 and the German Sd.Kfz. 181 "Tiger" Ausf. E.
• Control your tank from fully modelled and animated 3D positions. (driver, gunner and commander).
• “Napalm Engine” 3D technology allows for impressive effects, such as dynamic shadows, self shading, bump mapping, specular maps, glow and bloom.
• Stunning graphics and huge realistic landscapes to explore.
• Interactive environment with various levels of destruction: Buildings, trees and vehicles can be damaged or destroyed by cannon, MG fire or ramming attacks.
• AI controlled vehicles include: T-34/85, T-34/76, Tiger, Sk.Kfz.251, M3A1,ZIS-5, Opel Blitz, ZIS-3, Pak. 40, IL-2, FW-190.
• Multiplayer options include: LAN and Internet play for up to 16 players; Two multiplayer modes: Skirmish and TeamPlay.
• The game is GameSpy Arcade ready for online multi-player sessions and uses DirectPlay TM technology for direct IP multi-player connections via LAN and Internet.
• “TrackIR TM” support immerses the player in hands-free first person views for all available crew positions.

Unleash Your Inner Russian Farmer

The hero in the game isn't a warrior who blasts away bad guys with a super powerful arsenal of weapons. Instead, Iv@nich wears a plain apron and relies on his hens instead of a pistol.

Tula, Russia - November 26, 2007: Blagotek today announces the immediate availability of "Farmer Iv@nich - Eggs Lord", a new computer game that lets you unleash your inner farmer.
You assume the role of Iv@nich, a Russian farmer geek who bred a new kind of hens that lay eggs faster than sound. The eggs come so fast that the farmer is having a hard time collecting them! Things would be easier if it were not for the annoying cock. The cock is not pleased at the farmer's success and does everything to stop his progress.

The goal of the game is to help Iv@nich become the eggs lord. Collect the eggs until all the baskets are full. When a basket is full of eggs, it disappears. The faster you collect, the more points you score and the more chances you have to win the level. But if you take too long and do not collect the eggs in time, the level is lost and you have to start all over again.

While collecting eggs may not sound as exciting as blasting away bad guys with a super powerful arsenal of weapons, you'd be surprised at how challenging it is. Advancing in your career, you'll go through 33 difficult levels. Besides, there the angry cock! It'll try to attack you if you do not shake a leg and run away. And do not step on the baskets because if you do step or the cock bites you, the eggs multiple and you are not likely to collect them in time.

"Farmer Iv@nich - Eggs Lord" features outstanding graphics that complement the gameplay.

Try your hand at collecting eggs. It's fresh and fun to play!

Download the trial from http://www.blagotek.com/download/IvanichSetup.exe

Farmer Iv@nich: Eggs Lord – worst game ever or decent hoax?

Russia’s Blagotek provides the answer to violent computer games with a game that makes 3D Monster Maze look like Crysis...

With meat-spraying killfests such as Manhunt 2 being refused classification in the UK, and Clive Barker’s Jericho receiving similar treatment in Germany, violence in computer games is a hot topic at the moment. However, Russia’s Blagotek supposedly has an answer to the latest trend in butcher battles in the form of Farmer Iv@nich – Eggs Lord, a family-friendly game that’s all about collecting eggs, and there’s not an Uzi or a BFG in sight.

The company’s website paints a dismal, but humorously worded, picture of the gaming scene today. ‘Today the video game market is flooded with shooters and monsters,’ says Blagotek, with ‘lots of blood and tons of meat – that’s what many gamers like today. But these games are played by our children!’ The answer, we’re led to believe, is to get your kids playing Farmer Iv@nich – Eggs Lord instead.

We’ve had a play on the demo and we can safely say that the game is one of the worst things we’ve ever seen. For a start, Blagotek says that ‘Farmer Iv@nich - Eggs Lord’ features outstanding graphics that complement the gameplay.’ Now, no one expects a game about collecting eggs to rival Crysis in the graphics stakes, but you might at least expect the game to be fun to play. For example, you don’t expect to have to restart from the beginning of the game if you step on a basket. What’s in these booby-trapped baskets exactly, or are you not allowed to tell us because they might be full of something bad like bombs?

Still, the music is comically bouncy, and there’s also some good fun to be had in the pigeon English. In the game, you have a counter of ‘catched eggs’ rather than ‘caught eggs,’ but the game’s press release is also a good read, particularly the parts about your nemesis - the farm’s cockerel. ‘Besides, there the angry cock!’ says Blagotek, ‘it'll try to attack you if you do not shake a leg and run away. And do not step on the baskets because if you do step or the cock bites you, the eggs multiple and you are not likely to collect them in time.’

The game costs 12.75 Euros, but you can download the free demo, complete with ‘catched eggs’ here. Let’s hope that Blagotek has some better ideas in the works, as we’re sure it wouldn’t want to put all its eggs in one basket. (See what we’ve done there?)

Check out our video of the gameplay below. Is this terrible game for real, or is it just an elaborate wind-up?

Play Dekaron Free

The winning MMORPG is coming to Europe on GameTribe!

GameTribe is proud to announce the acquisition of the European licence for the greatly awaited free to play MMORPG game: Dekaron.

The agreement was signed by GameTribe and GameHi, developers of the game, to offer the localized version of the game to all European players.

Dekaron is a fusion-fantasy 3D MMORPG set in a violent, Middle Ages based scenery. Its realistic environment and explosive adventure make this extraordinary game much like watching a fast-paced action movie. You must journey into this magical world with hundreds of other adventurers and explore perilous dungeons and fantastical cities in the world of Trieste.

No mercy for the weak: Dekaron is pure survival!

The game already has localized versions for the Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese and Chinese markets. The English version dedicated to the North American market by Acclaim is presently in its Open Beta phase under the name of 2Moons.

First details:
European Closed beta: this phase will start in Early 2008
European servers and services will be dedicated to European players in order to deliver the most enjoyable and involving experience.

It’s now time for EU gamers to get ready to play Dekaron: the Closed Beta version will be available on GameTribe.com in a few months, so hurry up to register and do not miss your chance!
Stay tuned on www.gametribe.com for further updates.

FIFA, EA AND PLAYSTATION HEAT UP SEARCH FOR BEST VIRTUAL FOOTBALLER IN FIFA INTERACTIVE WORLD CUP

Ronaldinho invites fans to register and compete in global interactive football competition
Chertsey, UK, 26 Nov 2007 – The virtual football season is heating up as gamers and football fans around the world are getting ready for the next stage of the FIFA Interactive World Cup. Since the launch of FIFA 08 last month, over 10,000 players from 25 countries and five continents have started battling for top position on the leader board in the online part of the competition via PLAYSTATION Network. This month, the first live qualifying events have kicked off in Denmark, the Netherlands, Hungary and will move on to Korea, Portugal and a total of over 20 locations across the world over the next five months in search for the world’s best interactive footballer.

“The FIFA Interactive World Cup is a fantastic opportunity for all football fans to show off their skills and passion for the sport with FIFA 08,” said Ronaldinho. “It is a great tournament in which you have to train and work hard to succeed – just like in real football, so I invite all fans to register and enjoy this party of interactive football.”

On the 24th of May 2008, the 32 finalists will travel to Berlin from the four corners of the world to compete at the Sony Centre for the ultimate title of FIFA Interactive World Player 2008. The winner will receive an invitation to the FIFA World Player Gala 2008 and a cash prize of USD 20,000. The first players to have qualified for the Grand Final are 15 year old Christian Lønhart from Bagsværd in Copenhagen and Roland Császár (17) from Budapest. The Dutch qualifying event was won by last year’s FIFA Interactive World Cup winner Andries Smit (18) from The Hague, Netherlands who secured his spot in the Grand Final for the second time in a row following a tense qualifying match yesterday.

Players who think they have what it takes to become one of the 32 finalists can register for the online qualification modus or find out about a qualifying event near them at www.FIFA.com/FIWC.
The FIFA Interactive World Cup is the world’s only officially FIFA sanctioned global football gaming competition with presenting partners EA and PlayStation. Participants from around the world compete with EA’s FIFA 08 on PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3). This year, players can participate at one of more than 20 physical FIWC 08 Qualifier Events across the globe or online via the PLAYSTATION Network in over 25 countries.

For official terms and conditions of the FIFA Interactive World Cup, visit: http://www.fifa.com/interactiveworldcup/organisation/documents/index.html

Zoë Mode announces Dancing with the Stars for Activision

Zoë Mode is pleased to announce the development of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ for PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii to be published by Activision. Released in North America on 23rd October 2007, ‘Dancing with the Stars’ challenges players to take to the dance floor with 18 celebrity and professional dancers from the hit ABC television show. The PlayStation 2 version supports a dance-mat while the Nintendo Wii version utilizes the Wii Remote and Nunchuk.

Zoë Mode Studio Head, Ed Daly comments:

"The studio's strategy is to develop games that appeal to new audiences, music and party games are a key focus for Zoë Mode. ‘Dancing with the Stars™’ is a massive success in the US and the game will appeal to dance game devotees and fans of the show who want to get off the couch. We are delighted to be working with one of the world’s biggest publishers: Activision has proven to be a great partner in our joint vision for creating a refreshing approach to dancing on the PlayStation2 and Wii”

Unique to its genre, ‘Dancing with the Stars™’ features 10 different dancing styles for the player to master, from the Cha Cha, Mambo and Rumba to the Foxtrot and Waltz each dance style provides a unique challenge for the player, and in the two-player game, their partner. Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli are on hand to dish out the criticism of the players' performance while multiplayer options allow players to dance together as a couple or challenge each other in a head-to-head dance off.

Shopto confirms its position as a leading online retailer

Shopto.com is proud to announce record traffic figures for its online retail store in October 2007, with November expected to bring further growth. As such, the site is benefiting from its most successful period to date.

Between the 1st and 31st of October 2007, Shopto.com received more than 300,000 unique visitors, all searching for the best prices and the biggest deals. Between them, these visitors generated over 9 million page impressions, comparing favourably with videogames portals such as totalvideogames.com, computerandvideogames.com, eurogamer.net and videogamer.com.

November has already seen a dramatic increase, with traffic up over 32%, putting shopto on course to break the 500,000 unique user mark by the end of the month. Complimenting the sharp increase in users, page impressions are also up 40%, with an expected 12 million pages to be served before the end of November.

“The Christmas period is always a busy time of year for retail, and shopto’s market leading prices and renowned customer service is really starting to hit home within the gaming community,” commented Igor Cipolletta, Chief Operating Officer of shopto.com. “We’re geared up for our biggest period yet, and with some of the best deals on hardware and software in the UK, we’re proud to offer our unrivalled service as one of the leading names in online retail.”

www.Shopto.com has hundreds of deals online right now, including a Nintendo Wii console, with Wii Sports, Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption and Prince of Persia: Rival Swords retailing for an unbeatable price of £279.99. Also on offer is the HDMI enabled Xbox 360 Premium pack, including a copy of Crackdown for just £214.99 and the newly released 40GB PS3 for £279.99. These bundles are not exhaustive, and Shopto.com strives to always offer the best deal for the consumer, offering them the choice and affordability they require.

Warhawk downloadable pack coming to PLAYSTATION Network this December

Announcing Operation: Omega Dawn

Get a brand new map and a new aircraft: the awesome KT-424 Combat Dropship. All this in one download from PLAYSTATION Network

The battle began this August when Warhawk went online on PLAYSTATION Network (PSN). Since then, the fighting has spanned the globe as PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) gamers of all nationalities battle for supremacy in this world of multiplayer military confrontation. Whether you’re fending for yourself or enlisting in a team of Eucadian or Chernovan forces to wage war on foot, at the controls of a tank or from the cockpit of the fearsome Warhawk, there’s non-stop action ahead in Warhawk – and it’s about to get even better with the PSN release of Operation: Omega Dawn, the first downloadable Warhawk expansion pack exclusively available from PLAYSTATION Store. Operation: Omega Dawn delivers a new gameplay experience that expands the title’s strategic gameplay elements by offering a new world to explore and introducing a unique aircraft to the Warhawk universe: the awesome KT-424 Combat Dropship.

With Operation: Omega Dawn, the war between the Eucadians and the Chernovans forces continues as the two countries fight to control the high-tech facilities of a critical new battlefield – the Omega Factory. The battle takes place in an entirely new world - an industrial night-time setting where players will fight through five new layouts of advanced building complexes and huge industrial towers. The new map supports all existing game modes – including Team Deathmatch, Zone Mode and Capture the Flag – and is the largest combat zone to date for Warhawk!

But that’s not all; no new battlefield would be complete without a new piece of kit, and Operation: Omega Dawn comes complete with a serious toy which will enhance the already intense Warhawk experience: the KT-424 Combat Dropship. You’ll activate the vehicle once you gain control of one of the many weapons factories on the world; once you have it, you’re in charge of an advanced aircraft capable of carrying seven soldiers and a ground vehicle at once. The KT-424 Combat Dropship transports 1 pilot, 6 soldiers and 1 ground vehicle; and features a deadly new weapon – the MBEC-3 Heavy Support Cannon. You’ll have loads of opportunity to take full advantage of the new KT-424 Combat Dropship because the new world is full of vertical gameplay which integrates ship decks, raised platforms, and factory rooftops accessible only by airborne deployment.

Are you ready for Operation: Omega Dawn? Only the fiercest, most visionary and most disciplined teams of soldiers can hope to carry the day. We’ll see you there – locked and loaded - on PSN this December.

Operation: Omega Dawn pack features:

Set at night for added impact and tension, the Operation: Omega Dawn pack for Warhawk™ features an enhanced level of teamwork, tactics and coordinated aerial assaults with the new KT-424 Combat Dropship.

Omega Factory battlefield includes 5 new map layouts featuring advanced building complexes and huge industrial towers.
KT-424 Combat Dropship transports 1 pilot, 6 soldiers and 1 ground vehicle; and features a deadly new weapon – the MBEC-3 Heavy Support Cannon.

The 5 large layouts from the original battlefields have been modified to include the KT-424 Combat Dropship.
All this in one single download from PLAYSTATION Network this December