Nintendo Wii-kly Update: Photo Feature, Pokemon Snap Added To Wii Shop Channel

Get ready to celebrate the arrival of a bunch of fun new features on the Wii Shop Channel. This week marks the debut of the first Pokémon game for the Virtual Console: Pokémon Snap, which originally was a hit on Nintendo 64. This Pokémon photographic adventure comes with a special Wii bonus: It now includes a special feature that allows players to post pictures they take in the game to their Wii Message Board and send them to friends with whom they've traded Friends Codes.

And let's not ignore the other sure-to-please titles: Ghosts'n Goblins and BASEBALL STARS 2. These three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. But wait – there's more!

Later in the day on Monday, Nintendo will make your holiday shopping just a little bit easier. If some people on your gift list have visions of classic video games dancing in their heads, you're in luck. Starting this week, Wii Shop Channel patrons can use a new Gifting feature to send games to other Wii owners with whom they've traded Friend Codes. It's an easy and inexpensive way to give your fellow Nintendo buffs the gift of a classic game—no wrapping paper required. And don't worry about duplication. If your friend already has the game you're trying to give, you'll get a simple message and be bumped back into the catalog to continue shopping.

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:



Pokémon Snap (Nintendo 64, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): As one of the most unique games in a renowned series, Pokémon Snap was the first truly 3-D Pokémon game and introduced the phenomenon to the Nintendo 64. Travel to Pokémon Island and meet Professor Oak to begin a safari, taking the best possible photographs of 63 different Pokémon as they exist in the wild, undisturbed by humans. This is not as easy as it sounds—the island has many types of climates and environments to explore, along with secret activities and hidden passages to discover. Plus, some of the Pokémon can be a little shy and won't pose for the camera unless you tease them with special items. After you're done, submit one picture of each Pokémon to Professor Oak, and he'll judge it based on size, pose, technique and number of Pokémon captured.



Ghosts'n Goblins (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone—Mild Animated Violence, 500 Wii Points): Ghosts'n Goblins was a popular arcade game before it made the leap to the NES in 1986. Like later games in the series, Ghosts'n Goblins presents quite a challenge to players brave enough to take on the role of Arthur and delve into the realm of demons and monsters to rescue the kidnapped princess. Choose your weapons wisely and take advantage of their strengths to deal with the situation at hand. Pass through the six gates that stand between you and Astaroth, and teach him a lesson in chivalry he'll never forget. Demonstrating a high level of technical prowess for a game of its era, Ghosts'n Goblins presents a unique and unforgettable universe. The stage for adventure is set. Are you up to the test?



BASEBALL STARS 2 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 900 Wii Points): Lace up your cleats and step onto the diamond with the pros of BASEBALL STARS 2. You'll find everything you'd expect in a classic game of baseball, but with an arcade feel and intense action that distinguish it from the pack. Pick one of six unique teams from cities around the world, then get ready for nine innings of excitement, whether you're taking on the computer in a 15-game tournament or squaring off against a friend. There are two modes of game play, so even the most inexperienced player can compete at the major-league level (with a little computer-aided fielding). Watch as the game develops through split-screen views and close-up shots worthy of any highlight film, and see if you can catch the numerous over-the-top animations of the large and detailed player models. Think you have what it takes to win the pennant?

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

The Path - Horror game in line for an award

The Path is beautiful

Upcoming artistic horror title selected for the Independent Games Festival

"The Path" has been selected as a finalist in the Independent Games Festival in the category "Excellence in Visual Art". Winners will be announced during the Game Developers Conference on February 20th in San Francisco. A playable demo of the game will be presented in the Independent Games Festival Pavilion on the show floor at conference, from 20 to 22 February.
http://www.igf.com/02finalists.html
http://www.gdconf.com

The Path is a single player horror game, currently under development at Tale of Tales. The game is scheduled for release in early 2009. The entry to the IGF consisted of a single chapter of the game (out of a total of six). The Path is an atmospheric interactive experience inspired by the folk tale of Little Red Ridinghood. It subverts players' expectations and evokes an intensely dark and sad mood.
http://www.tale-of-tales.com/ThePath

"We are both surprised and delighted to come up as finalists. Surprised because, historically, the jury of the IGF has been leaning towards retro games and experiences that prioritize gameplay over content. The Path stands out as a game that goes against the grain: embracing contemporary technologies, exploring realtime aesthetics and focusing on narrative and mood above all. So that makes us very happy: to see artistic ambition in independent games being rewarded."

Tale of Tales is a Belgian games studio lead by media artists Auriea Harvey and Michaël Samyn. They develop games with the explicit intention of exploring the artistic potential of the interactive medium, which they believe to be enormous. This often leads them to designing titles that are unorthodox and not even considered to be games at all by some. Case in point is their multiplayer screensaver The Endless Forest, in which every player plays a deer without missions, goals or combat.

"The Endless Forest is an idyllic and peaceful game. The Path deals with extreme violence in an intense, psychological way. Nevertheless, both games share a number of design principles, centered around the freedom of the player to decide how and when to play and what the ultimate narrative will be. Both games are casual in terms of interaction, but deep and poetic in terms of content."

Tale of Tales is celebrating its fourth birthday next Wednesday, December 19th. There will be a special ABIOGENESIS performance in The Endless Forest starting at 11 UTC. Everyone is invited to come and join the Twin Gods in a party of raining rocks, flower fireworks and goofy song and dance. Because the sublime requires the grotesque!
http://tale-of-tales.com/TheEndlessForest/abiogenesis.html

Free Demo download - Biohexx 2: The Second Encounter - 2007 Logic Game of the Year

Biohexx 2, a stunning sequel to award winning Biohexx from Pyramid Games, will not leave your grey matter unsatisfied! Do not hesitate, have your intellect challenged!

Pyramid Games today announces the release of Biohexx 2: The Second Encounter, the groundbreaking sequel to the most extraordinary intellect straining game - Biohexx. Just imagine yourself in a biolab. There are lots of papers, retorts, spirit-lamps and test tubes around you. Suddenly, you discover colonies of various bacteria in the test tubes. What are you thinking about? About numerous things, perhaps. But the only thing you would not dream of thinking is that the bacteria are not just passive microscopic organisms which do nothing all the time, but intelligent and circumspect creatures which will challenge your intellect very soon!

The game field represents a hexagon divided into smaller hexagons, like a rhombus drawn on a check paper. According to the level, there is your army of bacteria and your opponent's on different sides of the game field. The bacteria have two abilities: to replicate themselves on a nearer square or jump to another farther-situated one. When a bacterium is positioned in immediate proximity to its opponent, it renders it into its own type thus allowing a certain side to get a numerical superiority. The player's objective is to cultivate their own colony of microorganisms on the whole area of the game field. In other words, to occupy the whole game space with "their" army of bacteria by replicating them or assaulting the opponent.

Biohexx 2 has three game modes: Classic Game, Scenario and Head to Head. The first one allows you to play against the computer on various maps with the help of five different types of bacteria. In this mode, the game somehow reminds a well-known chess or checkers game. There are also four stunning difficulty levels: Easy (computer yields to the player easily), Normal (computer plays in a usual way), Hard (computer does not give away and uses its whole intellectual strength) and Impossible (only the most intelligent will win).

In the Scenario mode, you can hold a tournament on one of the maps or create your own one. You are not restrained in your creativity in any way: maps could be either simple or complex phantasmagoric ones.

You can hold a battle with your friends in Head to Head mode. You make the first move, your friend the second or vice-versa. You have no limitations in tactics because you play with a person, not a computer.

Biohexx 2: The Second Encounter Features at a Glance:

- An intellect challenging entertainment;
- 3 Game Modes: Classic, Scenario, Head to Head;
- 5 Types of bacteria;
- Beautiful graphics to please your eyes;
- No constraints in tactics and creativity.

Pricing and Availability

Biohexx 2: The Second Encounter runs under Windows 95, 98, ME, XP or VISTA and costs $19.95 (USD). Its free demo-version is available at http://www.pyramid-games.com/.

The Games Company Nintendo Wii games announcement

Berlin-based Publisher Announces Launch of Popcorn Arcade Series in Germany

The Games Company expands its field of activity and turns to developing games for next generation consoles. The certified Nintendo partner has acquired the license of an entire game series for Nintendo's booming Wii console. From 20th December TGC will publish the Popcorn Arcade series, which is very popular in Britain, under its label Green Kangaroo in German speaking territories. Five games developed by DDI – Data Design Interactive will make the start and bring pure console gaming fun to German livingrooms at the very reasonable price of 29,99 Euro.

The license deal with the British games developer DDI includes 24 titles with highvalue casual content appealing to younger and older gamers alike. In addition to the action racers Billy the Wizard and Monster Trux Arenas the action adventures Anubis II, Ninjabread Man and Rock `n´ Roll Adventures will hit the stores in December. Wii gamers are looking forward to further regular releases in 2008.

Christian Sauerteig, Marketing Manager TGC, believes in the enormous potential of the new strategic direction: „The cooperation with Data Design Interactive is a great step forward for us on the way to become a multi-platform publisher. Our ambitious commitment benefits from starting off with a Wii series that has already been successful in Britain and we are expecting favourable sales figures.“

Stewart Green, Marketing Director Data Design Interactive, is very glad to have found a potent German publisher for the powerful Wii brand: “With the range of titles offered through our Popcorn Arcade label growing to 24 we needed a distribution partner capable of handling such a wide variety of games. The Games Company’s professionalism and proven expertise shone through and we are very happy and confident to have them on board.”

TGC website here... http://www.the-games-company.com/en/

Dare to be Digital £1m video game design competition

Dare to be Digital, the UK’s premier computer games design competition for students, received an early Christmas present today when its promoters Abertay University confirmed that it will increase its financial support for 2008.

The decision means that Dare to be Digital’s full-time organising team can now begin to source external contributions to a total budget of £1 million over the next two years.

The organisers are planning to almost double the number of student teams in 2008, and also increase the number of host centres across the UK and possibly overseas as well.

In 2007, a total of 12 teams containing 60 students competed in Dare to be Digital, at host centres in Dundee, Belfast and Guildford.

Abertay University also announced today that Dare ProtoPlay, the highly successful public showcase included for the first in the 2007 competition, will be repeated next year. The organising team are already looking for potential venues for an expanded ProtoPlay in 2008.

Paul Durrant, Dare to be Digital Director, highlighted three factors which have encouraged the organisers to think bigger and better for 2008: “Dare to be Digital teamed with up the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for the first time this year with the winners eligible for the BAFTA Ones to Watch Award.

“Secondly, indie documentary production company Wantok were commissioned by BBC Radio 4 to track the competition from start to finish. Their documentary, Game Academy, will be broadcast in prime morning slots in December.

“Finally, Dare to be Digital is also featured as a best practice example in the UKTI / BERR / TIGA report Playing for Keeps.

“These exciting achievements show that Dare to be Digital has come of age and is now attracting serious attention from throughout the industry and beyond. There has also been a very high level of interest in all of the teams from 2007 and in the IP they created, with several commercial negotiations underway.

“In addition, key hires of individual contestants have also been made by Free Radical, Codemasters, Rare, Microsoft China, Disney, Rockstar North, Realtime Worlds, Google London, TT Games, Her Majesty's Government Communications Centre, Natural Motion, Stainless Games, and FXLabs (India). One team has even set up its own new company – Threshold Interactive.

“That so many individuals are winning exciting jobs in the industry within days or weeks of the end of the competition speaks volumes for the calibre of the students and the value that employers place on the Dare experience.

“We now working on transferring the model into other sectors of the creative industries, and we are poised to scale up not only the contest itself but also Dare ProtoPlay into the definitive independent IP and talent showcase to consumers and industry as we reach critical mass over the next couple of years.”

CYBORG 5.1 HEADSET WITH SURROUND SOUND - the ultimate video game experience

Intensify Your Gaming Experience With Mind Blowing Audio

SAITEK LAUNCHES CYBORG 5.1 HEADSET WITH SURROUND SOUND

Saitek, a leading designer and manufacturer of consumer electronic products for PC and gaming, has announced the release of the Cyborg 5.1 Headset, a fully adjustable high-end headset with built-in surround sound to provide the ultimate gaming audio.

The Cyborg 5.1 Headset features an integrated 5.1 sound card which provides true surround sound to make the gaming experience more explosive and intense. Six sonic drivers deliver precise and directional audio, so you can pinpoint attackers from distant gunfire or hear a fast car approaching from behind, allowing you to respond quickly and immersing you fully in the game.

The headset has a noise-cancelling boom microphone allowing communication between fellow gamers or team members on Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games. Favourite games can now be enjoyed with full audio, without disturbing anyone nearby. The headset also has easy-to-reach integrated in-line volume controls, mute control and 5.1 sound select switch. The stylish headset cans are enhanced by the unique Cyborg logo which illuminates when 5.1 sound is activated.

Saitek’s new Cyborg range is designed specifically for serious gamers who demand the best equipment. Enthusiastic gamers will play intensely for long periods of time and need peripherals that offer outstanding comfort. The Cyborg 5.1 Headset is fully adjustable, with low profile rotating cans and an adjustable headband, improving portability and comfort over long sessions of gaming. The sllimline Cyborg 5.1 Headset also comes with a hard carry case for safe transportation between LAN gaming arenas.

As well as PC games, the Cyborg 5.1 Headset also works with MP3 / CD / handheld devices (in stereo) via the 3.5mm jack cable.

System requirement:

Connectivity: USB 2.0

Windows XP, XP 64 and Windows Vista (all versions)

Notes to Editor:

Saitek’s CYBORG 5.1 Headset is available from www.Saitek.com priced £69.99.

Saitek’s new range of gaming and PC peripherals will all be released in the UK between November 2007 and February 2008.

Insecticide - Nintendo DS game release date

After months of following clues and putting together the pieces, Crackpot Entertainment and Gamecock Media group have cracked the case. Insecticide will release on Nintendo DS on February 12, 2008, with the first bisodic downloadable PC episode available soon after.

Insecticide brings the gritty feel of old-school detective films to the PC and Nintendo DS like never before. Utilizing the unique interface options of both platforms, Insecticide taps right into the heart of action/adventure fans. Embark on a harrowing adventure as rookie detective Chrys Lyst and take on the biggest case Troi has ever seen. Insecticide brings you right to the action with heated third-person combat scenarios and platforming elements. Detailed detective sequences include interrogation, crime scene investigation and puzzle solving. Insecticide truly has something for “everybuggy.”

For more information, please visit www.insecticidethegame.com

Fully Animated Commercial For video game Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

Premier Animation Studio Provided Body Motion Capture Expertise to Create CG Promo with Oscar-winning Visual Effects Company

Perspective Studios, an industry-leading computer animation production house, today announced that the company collaborated with The Mill New York to create the commercial for Uncharted: Drake's FortuneTM for PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3TM) computer entertainment system. Tasked with creating a full CG environment with realistic animated characters, The Mill team worked closely with Perspective Studios to motion capture Nolan North, the voice actor for Nathan Drake - the main character for Uncharted.

"Being able to work with Nolan North has allowed us to maintain authenticity in the TV spot," said Joshua Merck, lead animator of The Mill New York. "Access to North was crucial in our efforts to create realistic body movements, and working with Perspective Studios enabled us to capture the finer details of his performance."

"It was a remarkable opportunity to apply our expertise towards the creation of a commercial for such a highly-anticipated title," said Keith Robinson, SVP Animation Production at Perspective Studios. "The Mill New York has done an amazing job re-creating the environments with great detail and realistic feel."

The 24-second spot for Uncharted is available at http://ny.beam.tv/beamreels/reel_player.php?SGKzJGPDsJ&resize=1&xip=45755327.

CG-Animated Film "Igor" game deal announced

Exodus Film Group announced today a videogame deal with Interactive Game Group (I2G) and Legacy Interactive for a multi-platform game based on Exodus' CG-animated feature film "Igor." The game will be distributed on Nintendo DSTM and WiiTM, PC (retail, downloadable, online), and wireless. Legacy Interactive will publish the "Igor" licensed game in North America and I2G is financing and coordinating the project on a worldwide basis. "Igor" is a Weinstein Company presentation being distributed in U.S. theaters by MGM on October 24, 2008. The Weinstein Company is handling international sales for "Igor."

"The principals at Legacy and I2G have proven track records in creating and distributing exciting and innovative games," said Bruce Auerbach, Exodus president of consumer products. "The audience experience will be greatly enhanced by not only seeing the movie, but being able to 'play' the movie."
"The incredibly rich world and characters the film offers are well suited to the action puzzler genre," said Ariella Lehrer, Legacy Interactive's CEO. "I think this is a game that will have crossover appeal among casual and more core strategy gamers alike."

Frederic Chesnais, I2G's founder and general manager, added, "This project is exactly why I have created I2G, to bring talented people together and facilitate the creation and distribution of interactive entertainment."

The film version of "Igor" is a playfully irreverent comedy that brings a new twist to the classic monster genre. In a world filled with Mad Scientists and Evil Inventions, one talented evil scientist's hunch-backed lab assistant has big dreams of becoming a Mad Scientist himself and winning the annual Evil Science Fair. The stellar voice cast includes Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Jennifer Coolidge, John Cusack, Arsenio Hall, Sean Hayes, Eddie Izzard, Jay Leno, Molly Shannon, and Christian Slater.

Exodus recently announced a nationwide promotional program with Carl's Jr. and Hardee's restaurants. The videogame deal adds to the extensive line of "Igor" consumer products aligned with the film, which currently includes a master license for toys and collectables with Corgi International, a major publishing deal with award-winning global leader Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division and a comic book series with IDW Publishing. Corgi will release a wide range of products including action figures, play sets, electronic role-play games, pocket money toys, vinyl figures, plush, statues, busts and other associated products. Simon & Schuster plans nine "Igor" books, which will be published under their Simon Scribbles and Simon Spotlight imprints.

Award-winning animation writer Tony Leondis (Disney's "Lilo & Stitch 2") is directing the screenplay by Chris McKenna (Fox's "American Dad!"). Exodus CEO John D. Eraklis and President Max Howard are producing with Jean-Luc De Fanti executive producing on behalf of Exodus Productions in Paris. Eric Robinson, Senior Vice President of Production and Development, is overseeing "Igor" on behalf of The Weinstein Company.

Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties $3K Tournament at iGames

Exclusive Competition, December 22-23, to Celebrate the Next Chapter in the Acclaimed Age of Empires Series to be Held Online and at 16 Select iGames Centers

Cash Prizes for the Best Gamers, PLUS Special Giveaways

WHAT:

Leading game center organization iGames will host a special online tournament for Age of Empires® III: The Asian Dynasties, the latest chapter in the acclaimed RTS series, published by Microsoft Game Studios and developed by Big Huge Games and Ensemble Studios.

WHEN & WHERE:
Saturday and Sunday, December 22-23, online and at 16 select iGames centers

PRIZES + FREE STUFF:
The Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties $3K Tournament is a 1-v-1 competition featuring $3,000 in CASH prizes for players. Gamers will be able to compete from any of the Official 16 Game Centers, or from anywhere else over the Internet.

Players who compete from an Official Game Center location will receive an Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties t-shirt. The competition features a prize pool of $3,000 in CASH to be distributed among the finalists:

1st: $750
2nd: $500
3rd: $350
4th: $250
5th-6th: $150
7th-8th: $125
9th-16th: $75

Saturday - Single Elimination (Max of 128 Players), until only 8 players remain. The 8 players will advance to Sunday for Double-Elimination finals.

ABOUT THE GAME:

Prepare yourself to experience Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties - the next chapter in the acclaimed Age of Empires III series from Big Huge Games and Ensemble Studios.

The Asian Dynasties brings the triumph and turmoil of some of history's greatest Asian civilizations to stunning life. Wielding the symbolic power of immense Wonders of the world, lead the armies of China, India or Japan in a struggle for dominance against the European powers, or against each other. Crush opponents with ranks of new military units, such as the Chinese Flame Thrower, the Indian Siege Elephant, or the fierce Japanese Shogun. Or play the role of master diplomat, and befriend your allies at the Consulate, biding your time and building a force of foreign weaponry that will topple your enemies. In Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties, players use the might of the East to bring the world to its knees.

Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties adds three new civilizations, 15 monumental Asian Wonders, the new Export resource, new random maps, three five scenario-campaigns that feature all new Age of Empires III characters, Eastern native tribes, and a wealth of exciting new Home City content.

Explore, conquer and extend your empire as you clash with the invaders on the battlefield and drive them into the sea!

Features:
• Playable Asian Civilizations
Command one of three fierce Asian civilizations: the Indians, the Chinese or the Japanese each with its own unique armies led by powerful warrior Monks, Daimyo, Mansabdars and other special units
• Exciting New Single Player Campaigns
Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties introduces thrilling new stories into the popular Age of Empires III mythology. Play through three new mini campaigns with new heroes and villains who find themselves in the midst of some of Asia's most pivotal historical events, both factual...and fictional.
• New Ways to Play Age of Empires III
With the addition of Wonders of the world and the new Export resource, Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties injects an intriguing level of depth to existing Age of Empires III strategy. If used wisely, these new features can mean the difference between rousing a victory or a humiliating defeat.
• An Immersive World
Players will explore an exotic Asian setting over 11 new Random Maps, three new Home Cities, and interactions with new native civilizations, all while battling opponents in new game modes, including King of the Hill, Regicide, and Treaty No-Blockade.
Age of Empires® III: The Asian Dynasties for Windows is rated “T” for “Teen” by the ESRB and comes with a MSRP of $29.99. For more information about the title, visit: http://www.ageofempires3.com/asiandynasties/.