Band of Bugs video game play now...

PC version of Live Arcade title released today on www.NinjaBee.com— with a few surprises

Band of Bugs PC, the Windows-based version of the Xbox LIVE Arcade strategy title by NinjaBee, is available for download starting today on www.NinjaBee.com. To promote the game’s release, NinjaBee has also announced a new contest as well as lower prices for their T-shirts and select downloadable games.

The latest NinjaBee contest rewards the most skilled player. Players must submit a screenshot from the PC version of Band of Bugs showing their final score screen for level eight ("Hold the Line"). The player with the most enemy units defeated on that level will win a PC game of his or her choice. Please see the Band of Bugs PC Contest post on the NinjaBee forum (www.ninjabee.com/forum/index.php) for official rules.

In addition to the contest, NinjaBee has lowered the price of select PC games to $14.95. Now the full versions of both Band of Bugs and Outpost Kaloki can be purchased on NinjaBee.com for less than most other downloadable games. As always, a trial download of the game is free.

“Think of it as a holiday gift from NinjaBee to you,” said Steve Taylor, president of Wahoo Studios. “We’re giving you better quality and a much deeper gaming experience than what you would find in other online downloadable games for a lower price.”

Along with a lowered game download price, NinjaBee has lowered its T-shirt prices to $14.95 as well. Visit www.NinjaBee.com to see the collection of men’s and women’s NinjaBee-inspired T-shirts.

Free-to-play online dance game gains Lifehouse track

Nexon America Inc., the U.S. division of Asia’s leading family-friendly, online entertainment provider Nexon Group, continues to add celebrated artists to its all-star lineup in Audition. Already packed with Grammy winners, platinum recording artists, teen pop sensations, and music icons, Audition, the free-to-play online dance sensation, can be downloaded for free at http://audition.nexon.net.

Nexon America knows Audition is ready to rock with the addition of popular trio Lifehouse and the lead track, Disarray, from its album Who We Are. Lifehouse is bound to earn heavy requests from the 200,000+ dancers in the game.

“Audition gives us a new medium to get our music heard,” said Jason Wade of Lifehouse. “Now these gamers, who might not have heard us on the radio or been to one of our shows, can get a taste of some of our songs, like Disarray, and even rock out with a little dance off in the game.”

The addition of Lifehouse ushers in several new sounds in Audition, including those from Swedish rock band The Sounds, whose definitive New Wave appeal manifested in Tony the Beat and Dance with Me, a perfect fit for the game’s dancing environment.

Jennifer Lopez is also expecting players to Do it Well, the aptly named title of her prominently featured new single in Audition. And you can expect Audition to keep Poppin off with Chris Brown lending his mega-hit single with the same name. Yellowcard also makes a highly anticipated debut in Audition.

The diverse range of songs recently added to Audition include:

Armin Van Buuren – Communication

Billie Holiday – Spreadin’ Rhythm Around

Chris Brown – Poppin

Earth, Wind & Fire – Boogie Wonderland

Fantasia – When I See U

Lifehouse - Disarray

Jennifer Lopez – Do it Well

Jim Jones – We Fly High

Joss Stone – Headturner

Junkie XL – Yesterdays

Mandisa – Only the World

MIMS – Like This

The Sounds – Dance with Me

Tobymac – Gone, One World

Yellowcard – Light up the Sky

With simple directional and space bar keystrokes, Audition players perform hip-hop style dance steps and choreographed routines which require precise timing and rhythm. Players compete in various dance modes, each with its own distinctive features and objectives. Audition’s in-game reward system gives dancers, ‘Beats,’ or currency used to purchase a variety of items from the cash shop.

North American gamers are quickly learning why Nexon Games such as Audition are among the most popular games in the world. With the option to play entirely for free and the alternative to spend money for in-game enhancements at the cash shop, Nexon America is offering casual gamers the best in free online entertainment.

Top Silkroad Online Player To Win Five Thousand Dollars

World's Best Players Compete in Joymax's Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game
Joymax, an independent developer of interactive entertainment for the global market, will host the worldwide championship of Silkroad Online in Seoul, Korea for cash prizes. Silkroad Online, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game taking place along the historic Silk Road trade route, is one of six games included in this year’s Game & Game World Championship (GNGWC) on December 1st.

Two U.S. players, including last year’s champion, battled their way through the North American qualifying round in October. For their efforts, they will travel to Korea at Joymax’s expense to compete in the global finals, along with finalists from Germany, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan and Japan. In addition to the adrenaline-filled competition, the finalists will be treated to tours of Seoul, fine dining, and cocktails with Silkroad Online staff and Game Masters. At the conclusion of the final round, the top player will head home with $5,000 US, with second and third place receiving $3,000 US and $1,000 US, respectively.

Finalists will compete for cash and prizes on December 1st at the SoftExpo & Digital Content Fair 2007 in Seoul. More information about GNGWC is available at www.gngwc.com.

About Silkroad Online
Silkroad Online is a massively multiplayer online RPG that puts the player deep into ancient Chinese and European civilizations along the historic Silk Road trade route.. Traveling across Jang’an, China to Constantinople, players can make their fortunes as merchants, prey on the rich as thieves, or be protection-for-hire as hunters. Silkroad Online is free to play, and offers the unique chance for players to develop their characters free of restrictions or fixed paths.

More information about Silkroad Online is available at http://www.silkroadonline.net.

ijji.com Announces Site Slogan Contest

Join ijji.com in its competition to determine the slogan which best represents ijji.com's identity and brand

NHN USA’s ijji.com, the US subsidiary of the largest internet company in South Korea, NHN (KOSDAQ:035420), announced a competition to determine the game portal site’s slogan to go along with their new logo. The contest period starts today and will continue until Dec 11 with a voting period taking place from Dec 12 to Dec 18. The slogan with the most votes will become the new ijji.com slogan. The entrant who provides the winning slogan will be awarded 1000 G Coins.

1. Contest Period: November 28 ~ December 11
Send us your brilliant ideas for a slogan that best represents ijji's identity.
Slogan Suggestion Guidelines
- The slogan must describe the identity and meaning of ijji.
- The slogan must contain no more than six (6) words.
- The slogan should contain no more than eighteen (18) characters.

2. Voting Period: December 12 ~ December 18
We will post 3~5 of our favorite slogans in the forums for you to vote on.
If your slogan is posted, you will receive 1000 G Coin.

3. New slogan announcement day: December 21
The slogan that receives the most votes will become ijji's new slogan.

The ijji.com slogan contest starts today and suggestions and entries can be submitted here: http://event.ijji.com/slogan/home.nhn

Free download Stranger video game Multiplayer Demo

Leading video game publisher Fireglow Games® today released a new demo for "Stranger". Fireglow Games® gives you insights into the great multiplayer part of Stranger, the upcoming super combination of RPG and RTS. Multiplayer map called "Rivers of Kront" gives 6 players divided to 3 teams ability to match each other. The key to victory on this map is competent using of magical fields which are essence of the magical world of the game.

Besides the unique multiplayer map the demo contains 3 single missions from the single player demo.

You can download the multiplayer demo here:
http://www.fileplanet.com/182793/180000/fileinfo/Stranger-Multiplayer-Demo

About Stranger:

Stranger is an RPG blended with the best elements of RTS.

An innovative and never before seen magical system allows you to select your strategy and tactics in the course of a battle, thus providing an adequate answer to an enemy's every turn - you will be surprised by its simplicity and variety at the same time.
Hiring, training and control over squads of infantry and archers - you will take part in clarifying the eternal question regarding what is more important – brute force and weaponry or cunning and magic.
There are three heroes - different from each other, each one with its own personality and preferences in combat and magic. What will happen when they assemble in a single squad?
The colourful universe of Stranger inhabited not only by hundreds of types of monsters but also with intelligent tribes, which can either be your allies or enemies.
All of this is "Stranger" - 2 worlds, 3 destinies.

Features:

• RPG blended with some of the best RTS elements
• 3 main heroes and many units to choose from
• Over 100 different monsters
• Unique and flexible magic system
• Great variety of items and equipment
• More than 30 hours of single player campaign
• Multiplayer with up to 8 players
• Level design enables distinctive tactical options

Xbox 360 Introduces New Features and Console Enhancements with the 2007 Fall Dashboard Update

Free system update hits connected consoles worldwide on Dec 4; Xbox Originals, Family Timer and more available through download

As promised, Microsoft is bringing some early gifts to your Xbox 360 just prior to the holiday season. Beginning at 10 a.m. on Dec 4, the Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard Update will be available for all connected Xbox 360 consoles free of charge, bringing an array of new features and enhancements to the leading gaming and entertainment system.

Among the key new enhancements are the previously announced Xbox Originals game download service, Family Timer parental control feature, and expanded social networking experiences. Xbox 360 owners can also look forward to enhanced navigation, profile and video features and Xbox LIVE Arcade Hits.

This free update will be digitally distributed over Xbox LIVE to the more than 8 million Xbox LIVE members worldwide (Xbox LIVE Silver and Gold) with no disc or hard drive required. Gamers without an Xbox LIVE account can easily sign up for the free network by connecting their console to a broadband internet connection. New features and enhancements include:

MORE DOWNLOAD OPTIONS:
Xbox Originals – With this new service, announced on Nov. 13, consumers can download-to-own full original Xbox games. The digital shelves will always be stocked with classic titles, such as “Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex” “Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge,” “Halo,” “Fable,” “Fuzion Frenzy,” “Psychonauts,” and more as the catalogue grows over time, at 1200 Microsoft Points per game.

· Xbox LIVE Arcade Hits – On Xbox LIVE Arcade, the Arcade Hits program kicks off where some of the best selling Xbox LIVE Arcade games will become available at permanently reduced prices, making it easier than ever for everyone to build a library of downloadable games! The first games to become Arcade Hits will be “Bankshot Billiards 2” and “Lumines LIVE,” which will be available for 800 Microsoft Points each, and “Marble Blast Ultra,” “Small Arms” and “Zuma Deluxe,” which will be available for 400 Microsoft Points each. With free trial downloads for every game and over 100 games to choose from, Xbox LIVE Arcade offers something for every member of the family.

NEW WAYS TO KEEP UP TO DATE AND CONNECTED:

· Inside Xbox – A new direct feed brings current news straight from Xbox.com into the Xbox LIVE Dashboard providing members an easy, predictable entry point where they can discover what's new in: game releases, events, and Xbox LIVE Marketplace offers. (11th Dec)

· Enhanced online profile – Members interested in sharing a few more details about themselves will have the option to go beyond their motto and further personalize their profile with an expanded bio. The extended bios will be visible to “Friends Only” or the entire Xbox LIVE community.

· Expanded Friends List access – A quick and easy way for gamers to expand their personal community on Xbox LIVE, members will be able to see the Friends Lists of other Xbox LIVE members, boosting their social networking experience on the service.

ENHANCED OVERALL EXPERIENCE AND CONTROL:

· Enhanced Parental Controls – Family Timer, a strong and flexible new addition to the Xbox 360 Family Settings, enables parents to set the amount of time their Xbox 360 can be used on a per-day or per-week basis by their children or other members of the household.

· New video features – The convenience of full-screen movie previews and enhanced video codec support further expand the options when it comes to the Xbox 360 entertainment experience.

· Easy-to-use navigation features – With several noteworthy changes in the Xbox LIVE Dashboard, from the new Game Store button to the Video Store button to enhanced visuals and descriptions in the video library, Xbox LIVE members can find what they want, when they want it.

These features are just some of the new enhancements Xbox 360 owners can expect as part of the Fall Dashboard Update. On December 4th a list of all the new features and improvements will be posted at: http://www.xbox.com/live.

Stranglehold video game has gone Gold for the PlayStation 3

Midway Games Ltd today announced that Stranglehold has shipped to retail for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system in Europe. Developed by the team behind the critically acclaimed Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, Stranglehold is now available for a suggested retail price of €69.95. PlayStation 3 owners can get a taste of the cinematic action shooter by downloading the Stranglehold demo via the PlayStation Store. Stranglehold is available now for the Xbox 360 video game system and PC.

A collaboration with world renowned action film director John Woo's Tiger Hill Entertainment, Stranglehold allows players to experience the excitement of true next-gen action as you take on the role of Inspector Tequila created by John Woo for his influential action film, "Hard Boiled" starring Chow Yun-Fat. Ensnared by a crime boss with a gripping secret, Inspector Tequila is forced to cross the line from sworn duty to renegade cop. Engage your enemies with intense cinematic gun battles and cause massive environmental damage in real-time or revolutionary slow-motion Tequila Time.

More information about Stranglehold can be found online at www.strangleholdgame.com Visit the Official Stranglehold forums at forums.midway.com

A peek at So Blonde video game

Sunny, the anti-heroine of the forthcoming comic adventure treat So Blonde, is a quite unique game character. The 17 year-old blonde meets some very quirky and bizarre islanders on her temporary new island home:

Like Max. Max is a small, greedy little animal. Sunny meets him right at the start of the adventure and the pair hit it off immediately, even though she can’t quite work out what species Max belongs to! Max accompanies Sunny all over the island and stays with her throughout the adventure: he is always ready to help our blonde to carry out some tricky tasks. He is also available to the player as a playable character from time to time.

Captain Morgane is female emancipation personified: She is the lady captain of a rowdy and coarse pirate crew and knows how to keep them in line. She not only earns respect through her stunning looks; she is also aware of her skills and knows she may be able to help this lost island, the setting for So Blonde. She does not fear her arch enemy, One-Eye, but cares deeply for her crew’s welfare. Perhaps she can help Sunny call a halt to One-Eye’s activities; whether he likes it or not…

One-Eye is a real villain who embodies the classic stereotype of a pirate, down to the eye-patch (could this be where he gets his name from); only his size is at odds with the typical image of the pirate. However, this doesn't stop him from having the inhabitants of the island under his thumb: he is responsible for a curse on the island, which eventually turns out to be the cause of all the bad things going on there...

Diablo is One-Eye’s henchman, who is indeed a man who inspires fear owing to his formidable stature and brutality. These characteristics are surpassed only by his naivety and lack of self-confidence... can Sunny really show him the respect he is due?

Sunny’s island is inhabited by many more wacky characters, who we will introduce to you very soon.

Sunny Blonde didn’t exactly want to land in the Bermudas; in fact the gorgeous 17 year-old was on a luxury cruise with her parents to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary. But a raging storm plunged the ship into distress at sea, Sunny went overboard and she regained consciousness washed up on the beach like driftwood!

Much more problematic than her unintended stay on a totally unknown island, which she has no idea how she can ever leave, the horrible realisation dawns on Sunny that she will suddenly have to do without out all the luxuries of life: her mobile has no signal, her make-up is a mess and it looks like the nearest shopping mall is miles away… on foot! And if that wasn’t enough, unfortunate circumstances have thrown Sunny back some one hundred years in time and she has ended up in a golden era of pirates and buccaneers!

Sunny Blonde is also in a really tricky situation and we are calling upon the PC gaming community to solve it in So Blonde! The person responsible for the novel plot is none other than the famous adventure author, Steve Ince (“Baphomets Curse”).

So Blonde, developed by the French developers Wizarbox, promises a wacky story line, a stunning (anti-)heroine, deeply black humour, which far outstrips all the blonde joke clichés, fabulous comic-strip graphics and a quite few gameplay surprises!

dtp will publish the So Blonde game worldwide under the ANACONDA label, and the release date has been set for February 2008 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Blockdot Releases Tech Toyland Game for CompUSA

Dallas-based Blockdot has released “Tech Toyland,” an awesomely addictive holiday-themed game for CompUSA, one of the nation's leading retailers and resellers of technology products and services.

In “Tech Toyland,” your goal is to create a line of three or more gift packs of the same color.

To do this, swap the positions of any two gifts by clicking on them with your mouse. When you successfully create a line, the gift packs will disappear off the game board — earning you points! New gifts will then cascade into the empty spots. But watch out: your shopping season (and the game) ends when you can no longer create gift packs for those Movers and Shakers, Movie Buffs, Wannabe Photographers, Rebel Rockers, and Techno Geeks on your holiday list.

After playing “Tech Toyland,” users can spread some holiday cheer by sending a “challenge-a-friend” e-mail straight from the game, and they can post their scores for all to see on the “Tech Toyland Scoreboard.”

Ready for a Merry Gaming experience? In addition to be featured on http://www.compusa.com/specials/techtoyland/default.asp, “Tech Toyland” can be played on Blockdot’s gaming portal, www.kewlbox.com.

New video footage shows off the power of the elementals in NCsoft's stunning new MMORPG, Aion: The Tower of Eternity

Take control of the forces of nature and unleash the power of the elements on your enemies in NCsoft's forthcoming online epic, Aion

Of all the character classes available to play as in Aion: The Tower of Eternity, NCsoft’s amazing new online RPG, the mysterious Spiritmaster is one of the most intriguing. Using powerful magics derived from the forces of nature, Spiritmasters will find themselves an integral part of any adventuring party due to their ability to summon and control fierce creatures based on the four cardinal elements of Earth, Fire, Wind and Water.

The Spiritmaster’s chief responsibility is to summon and control elemental spirits, powerful forms of nature incarnate. This is done through a series of specific commands, such as attack and defend, that can be given via a simple onscreen control system. Other, more specialised and yet to be revealed commands exist beyond these basic controls, with each form of elemental spirit having its own unique skills and abilities.

The challenge for the Spiritmaster comes from recognising which element to call on at any given time. Earth spirits are strong in defence abilities, Fire spirits specialise in ranged attacks, Water spirits concentrate on healing powers while Wind spirits are best utilised in melee attacks. While it’s not possible to control different types of elemental spirits at the same time – Spiritmaster’s cannot control both an Earth and Water spirit simultaneously, for instance – by summoning the correct spirit for the situation in hand, Spiritmasters have the power to turn even the most desperate battles into a complete rout of the enemy. A situation that could prove immensely useful when adventurers come up against some of the more powerful rogue elemental spirits that wander Aion’s immense and incredibly detailed game world.

Aion: The Tower of Eternity is set to begin closed Beta-testing early 2008 and will release later in the year.