UNREAL TOURNAMENT 3 PLAYSTATION 3 System Ship Date

Unreal Tournament 3 Slated to Ship on December 10, 2007, for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system in North America

Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY) and Epic Games today announced that the PLAYSTATION 3 system version of Unreal Tournament 3 is scheduled to ship to retail outlets in North America on December 10th. It is expected to begin arriving in stores in limited quantities the following day, with a U.S. suggested retail price of $59.95. The highly anticipated first-person shooter has already shipped internationally for the PC and is available for a U.S. suggested retail price of $49.95 and $59.95 for the collector's edition.

About Unreal Tournament 3

Unreal Tournament 3 marks the return of the world's premiere first-person shooter to the PC, and its debut on PLAYSTATION 3 system. Unreal Tournament 3 unleashes the full power of Unreal Engine 3, taking graphics, gameplay, and challenge to a whole new level. Players engage in intense battles with other human players online, or against Unreal artificial intelligence that sets the industry standard. With the most powerful futuristic weapons and vehicles available, this is FPS action at its best!

About Epic Games

Epic Games, Inc., based in Cary, NC, and established in 1991, develops cutting-edge games and game engine technology for PC and console. The company has created multiple million-selling, award-winning titles in their Unreal series and their latest game, Gears of War, broke sales records on Xbox 360 selling more than 3 million copies worldwide in the first ten weeks and awarded overall Game of the Year for 2006 by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, Game Developers Choice Awards, GameSpot, GamePro and many others. Epic is also responsible for the Unreal Engine, which is the underlying technology for a wide range of games including Console Game of the Year winner "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell" by Ubisoft; PC Gamer's Game of the Year "Deus Ex" from Ion Storm/Eidos; "America's Army: Special Forces" by the United States Army; and "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (PC) by Electronic Arts. Epic's Unreal Engine 3 is the current holder, and three-time consecutive winner, of Game Developer magazine's Front Line award for Best Game Engine. Epic Games was also awarded Studio of the Year at the 2006 Spike TV Video Game Awards and Developer of the Year by Official Xbox Magazine. Additional information about Epic can be obtained through Epic's Web site at www.epicgames.com

Atari to Engage in Additional Combat With ArmA: Gold

New Expansion Pack for ArmA: Combat Operations Announced

Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR), one of the world's most recognized brands and a third-party video game publisher, today announced that it will publish ArmA: Gold, a compilation of Arma: Combat Operations and Arma: Queens Gambit, Bohemia Interactive's newest military expansion pack for the Windows platform also available via digital download.

"ArmA: Queens Gambit offers players an exciting new campaign with seven more missions for an exceptional combat simulation game," said Todd Slepian, Producer, Atari, Inc. "Fans of Arma: Combat Operations, hailed as '... the most complete and perhaps even the best combat simulator out there' by GamingTrend.com, are sure to enjoy this extensive expansion. Additionally, gamers can check out the original and expansion with Arma: Gold."

In ArmA: Combat Operations, players will be able to engage in the story-driven single-player campaign or take part in huge multiplayer battles with more than 50 players on one battlefield at once. Featuring a vast environment with more than 150 square miles to explore, ArmA: Combat Operations will allow players to pilot or drive more than 30 vehicles including APCs, tanks, self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, helicopters and fighter planes. The game features an extremely powerful built-in editor which allows players to create and share complex missions as well as import user-created units and maps.

ArmA: Queens Gambit will offer a new story-based campaign occurring 18 months after the ArmA: Combat Operations war conflict. In the same realistic combat simulation experience, you will be arriving with a group of seasoned mercenaries to help the government with a sensitive matter that the army cannot handle alone. With unprecedented freedom of movement, actions and tactics, the game will allow players to immerse themselves in battle with six completely new characters, new vehicles and seven original campaigns.

For more information on Atari and its entire product line-up please visit www.atari.com.

Syphon Filter: Combat Ops

FACT SHEET


Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA)
Platform: PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) via the PLAYSTATION® PC Store
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment, Bend Studio
Genre: Third Person Shooter
Players: 8 via Ad-hoc and Infrastructure
Launch Date: November 20, 2007

ESRB:

Syphon Filter: Combat Ops expands the multiplayer experience presented in Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror and Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow, by adding mission and combat modifiers, map editing features, and the ability to share user-generated content. For the first time, users have the ability to create their own multiplayer missions with the ability to edit objectives, avatars, spawn points, and zip line locations, then upload them to the game server to share with other PSP owners worldwide. A ranking system for shared maps allows players to rate maps they have downloaded and played. Developer-created missions will also be available for players who just want to jump into a match. Developed using the Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror engine, Syphon Filter: Combat Ops features 5 modes of four versus four gameplay, including Retrieval, Sabotage, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Rogue Agent.

Key Features
Downloadable only title launched from the PSP XMB
Create, play, and share missions with other PSP owners.
Players can vote on maps they have played, providing a ranking system for all maps.
• Up to Eight person multiplayer via ad-hoc and infrastructure
• Based on multiplayer engine developed for Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror
Five types of gameplay modes including Retrieval, Sabotage, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Rogue Agent.

"Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom" Goes Gold

Microsoft celebrates gold status of the Xbox 360 exclusive game and announces chance to create new fan sites

Microsoft and BLUESIDE Inc. today announced that “Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom,” the latest instalment of the critically acclaimed franchise, has gone gold. To prepare for the journey, players can download a cool set of game assets from www.xbox.com/KUFCOD that can be used to create their own fan site. Players can also visit www.kufcod.com to find the news, features and updates on “KUF: CoD” from the team at BLUESIDE.

A departure from the action real-time strategy formula seen in previous “Kingdom Under Fire” games, “Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom” is an action-packed role playing game (RPG) that makes full use of the Xbox 360 processing power to create a revolutionary gaming experience. Players will explore vast and randomly generated maps while battling bloodthirsty monsters attacking from all directions. As the game progresses, the six heroes will find increasingly advanced and spectacular ways to defeat enemies using new weapons and abilities as they progress through six varied acts. Players will also be able to interact with one another with a full multiplayer experience and up to four-player co-op on Xbox LIVE Gold.

From the inspired minds at BLUESIDE Inc., “KUF: CoD” offers fans and new players alike an all new chapter to the “KUF” universe. For the latest revealed “KUF: CoD” characters including exclusive abilities, histories and more, go to: http://edelmanadmin.psni.com/public/Kingdom%20Under%20Fire:%20Circle%20of%20Doom/. Please do not link directly to the URL, but feel free to download and republish these assets on your own site.

“KUF: CoD” will hit stores nationwide on 1st February 2008 for an estimated retail price of £44.99

FINAL FANTASY XI WINGS OF THE GODDESS

Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, announced today that WINGS OF THE GODDESS the fourth expansion pack for FINAL FANTASY XI, a successful massively multi-player online role-playing game (MMORPG), is now available for Windows and Xbox 360.

This fourth expansion to FINAL FANTASY XI sends players twenty years back in time, right at the core of the Crystal War, the main event upon which the FINAL FANTASY XI storyline is based. With new jobs, enemies and exciting features it will make FINAL FANTASY XI one of the most involving and deep MMORPG experiences ever.

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, “The world of FINAL FANTASY XI continues to grow with both new content and new players. WINGS OF THE GODDESS provides the latest exciting expansion to Vana’diel with a host of features that ensures FINAL FANTASY XI continues to evolve and entertain.”

About WINGS OF THE GODDESS

New Combat Features:
An all-new “Allied Campaign” system will allow players to take part in large-scale battles and explore new special dungeons
New Areas:
New settings further expand the vast world of Vana’diel
Mog House Guests:
Players will be able to invite their friends to their Mog Houses, showing their personalised furniture and special items. It is a new way to talk about past adventures and future plans in an entirely customised setting.
New Jobs
New Monsters
New Jobs

Dancer
With their aggressive steps, these thewy terpsichoreans would weave forbidden magicks upon themselves and their enemies, producing results rivalling those of even the most powerful sorcerous cants. The popularity of this profession reached its peak during the Great War, when dancers were common additions to the allied army units fighting on the front lines.

Scholar
During the Crystal War, these military tacticians often served as high-ranking officers in allied forces across Vana’diel. Extensive knowledge of ancient martial theory granted them the ability to wield dual schools of magic, between which they would alternate depending on the situation at hand.

For more information about WINGS OF THE GODDESS, please visit www.ff11europe.com/goddess

NBA Street Online launched in Asia

This follows "exceptional success" of FIFA Online in Korea

Electronic Arts has announced a partnership with GigaMedia Ltd to launch and operate NBA Street Online in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau in Q1 2008.

While EA has licensed and developed the game, GigaMedia will handle marketing, community management, and technical and customer support locally.

Arthur M Wang, CEO of GigaMedia, believes the title will make a positive impact in the sector space: "This product is going to be the star product in the online gaming market."

The move follows what the company calls "the exceptional success" of FIFA Online in Korea, and the NBA game will include a number of community and customisation elements, as well as six player multiplayer tournaments.

A recent DFC report stated that it expected global game revenues to have multiplied by five times between 2003 and 2008, and that Asian territories would account for 68 percent of the total figure by then.

Buzz game wins BAFTA Children's Award

PS2 title honoured at EA sponsored event

Magenta Games' Buzz! Junior Jungle Party won the Videogame category in last night's Children's Awards organised by BAFTA.

In a ceremony that celebrated the best in children's entertainment across all media, the popular PlayStation 2 mini-game and quiz was honoured alongside such kids brands as Happy Feet (Best Feature category), Charlie and Lola (Writer category) and SpongeBob Squarepants (International category).

The Buzz series was launched in 2005 by Relentless Software, with Magenta Software partnering with the developer on the Junior spin-off titles.

The BAFTA Children's Awards were sponsored by Electronic Arts.

One million PSP slims sold in Japan

500 titles available in region

Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has revealed it has sold over one million units of the PlayStation Portable Slim & Lite.

The Slim & Lite was released in the region on September 20, with a special edition Final Fantasy branded unit going on sale a full week before the official launch.

The redesigned handheld reached the one million mark two weeks quicker that its predecessor. The system now boasts over 500 software titles available in Japan.

Rockstar fights back against censor

Manhunt 2 appeal hearing begins

Rockstar today launched its appeal against the BBFC's decision to refuse Manhunt 2 certification, accusing the board of putting its reputation above the interests of gamers.

Geoffrey Robertson, representing Rockstar, began the proceedings by claiming the British Board of Film Classification was a misnomer - suggesting it should instead be referred to as the British Board of Videogame Censors.

"There's no evidence that playing interactive videogames leads to a propensity to act them out in real life. We wonder why Manhunt 2 has been singled out for special treatment," he stated.

Robertson went on to accuse the BBFC of being "simply ignorant of the gaming experience" and "throwing adjectives with hyperbolic abandon at the game".

"Their reputation is not at stake; if it were we could show how, over the last century, they've been derided for some of the most stupid decisions in censorship history," he continued. "But we're not going to go down that road."

According to statistics presented by Robertson, there are 26.5 million gamers in the UK. Their average age is 28 and the gender split is 45 per cent female, 55 per cent male.

Addressing the panel from the Video Appeals Committee present to hear Rockstar's appeal Robertson said, "There you are, seven of you - not one of you has experienced, I'm told by the chairman, computer games, or are a gamer."

At this point one member of the panel interjected, stating, "That's not true. Some of us actually have played computer games." It was also confirmed that the panel did play Manhunt 2 in advance of the hearing.

Robertson described as "offensive and outrageous" the "allegation the board makes against adults in this country that they're somehow going to go and shoot or kill as a result of playing Manhunt 2.

"Millions of gamers play videogames and no crime has ever been directly attributed to them, with one exception."

The exception, Robertson explained, was the alleged connection between the original Manhunt and the murder of British teenager Stefan Pakeerah. The police later issued a statement which said Pakeerah's killer did not own the game and there was no connection.

Robertson added, "We say [Manhunt 2] has been banned not because of any likelihood it will harm gamers, but because of the likelihood it will harm the reputation of the BBFC."

The appeal is ongoing.

DESPERATE FAMILIES PAY UP TO £500 FOR A NINTENDO WII ON INTERNET

A shortage of one of this year's must-have gifts is sure to cause tears and tantrums on Christmas morning.

And the children won't be too pleased either.

The Nintendo Wii - a computer games console designed to appeal to adults as well as youngsters - has sold out in shops across the country.

Chains such as Game, HMV, Woolworths and Tesco say they are receiving more stock only sporadically and the consoles are changing hands for up to £500 on internet auction sites - a huge mark-up on their list price of £179.

A spokesman for HMV said: "The fact people can't find them seems to drive the demand forward. They are selling out as soon as they are going into the stores."

The supply problem stems from the fact that Nintendo is simply unable to keep up with global demand for the family-friendly Wii.

Its more expensive rivals, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, are aimed more at dedicated gamers. But the Wii - pronounced 'wee' - is designed to be easy and fun to use, even for those who have never played a computer game before.
Instead of a traditional control pad, it comes with a motion-sensitive remote controller. This can be waved to simulate playing tennis and other sports.