Chunk 2 - second update for free-to-download and play game, Dungeon Runners

NCsoft Europe today announced the release of Chunk 2, the second content update for its successful free-to-download and play game, Dungeon Runners.

This update includes in-game advertising in non-member worlds, more bank space for members, item trading, increased access to prime loot, and overall Player versus Environment (PvE) and Player versus Player (PvP) balance refinements.

Dungeon Runners is a free to download and play online multiplayer role playing game in a satirical, fast-paced sword-and-shield setting, where defeating monsters and evil enemy’s results in piles of loot, treasure, and non-stop fun.

The hallmark of Chunk 2 is in-game advertising which will help fund future development of the massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) and keep it free for players. The in-game advertising will be visible to non-members in loading screens and in a banner that sits on top of the game window during play. Dungeon Runners members, who can subscribe to the game for only $4.99 per month (equivalent to approximately £2.50), will not see any of the advertising.

Advertising in Dungeon Runners will open up new content and functionality for all players. Non-member players will gain access to new content previously unavailable to them, including dungeons and valuable items. Also, non-members will now have access to one page of bank slots, enabling them to store more items. Members will increase their bank storage space from one to three pages.

Also, by popular demand, a secure trade system has been added to Dungeon Runners. This new feature allows everyone to easily trade items (with the exception of gold) with other players through a simple interface.

“Chunk 2 unlocks an enormous amount of playable content for non-members that they didn’t have access to before thanks to the addition of in-game advertising,” said Stephen Nichols, NCsoft’s producer and lead programmer for Dungeon Runners. “Our non-member players are very happy they can now use what was previously members-only loot, and our members are really excited about receiving additional bank slots to hold their items. These changes, plus our new secure trade system, make this update a win-win for everyone!”

Further enhancements include increased rare item drops and stackable potions for members and non-members alike, which lead to more success in this hack–and-slash game.

Dungeon Runners can be downloaded for free at http://www.dungeonrunners.com/join.html. Players can play for free or subscribe to the members version at any point for $4.99 a month. Members have access to such benefits as log-in queue priority, members-only servers, and the most powerful items, weapons and armor. Membership status also includes three bank pages for hundreds of loot items and the ability to stack potions in one inventory slot to save room for even more loot.

To find out more please visit the Dungeon Runners web site at: www.dungeonrunners.com.

The game is rated Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

Wonderworld Amusement Park video game for Nintendo Wii

New Game Lets You Enjoy Boardwalk Games and Rides in the Family Living Room

Majesco Entertainment an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, today announced Wonderworld Amusement Park for the Wii home video game system. Developed by Coyote Console, Wonderworld Amusement Park brings to life a fully 3D world of games, rides and prizes across multiple themed areas that players can explore with personalized avatars.

“In summertime, nothing is more synonymous with family fun than a day at an amusement park. In Wonderworld Amusement Park, we bring this sense of excitement and adventure to the Wii with four player support that enables the whole family to play together,” said John Merchant, Marketing Manager, Majesco Europe. “Only the Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™ controllers let us reproduce the real life thrill of these games and rides from the comfort of the living room.”

Wonderworld Amusement Park includes 30 different mini-games that mirror real carnival games but are re-imagined in the park’s five stylized fantasy areas. Players immerse themselves in this fantastical world of fun by creating and customizing their own unique character with outfits and accessories purchased with mini-game winnings. As an added bonus, gamers can also enjoy playable rides within the 3D park and challenge other family members in several 4-player gameplay modes.

Wonderworld Amusement Park will launch in summer 2008.

Wonderworld Amusement Park video game for Nintendo Wii

New Game Lets You Enjoy Boardwalk Games and Rides in the Family Living Room

Majesco Entertainment an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, today announced Wonderworld Amusement Park for the Wii home video game system. Developed by Coyote Console, Wonderworld Amusement Park brings to life a fully 3D world of games, rides and prizes across multiple themed areas that players can explore with personalized avatars.

“In summertime, nothing is more synonymous with family fun than a day at an amusement park. In Wonderworld Amusement Park, we bring this sense of excitement and adventure to the Wii with four player support that enables the whole family to play together,” said John Merchant, Marketing Manager, Majesco Europe. “Only the Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™ controllers let us reproduce the real life thrill of these games and rides from the comfort of the living room.”

Wonderworld Amusement Park includes 30 different mini-games that mirror real carnival games but are re-imagined in the park’s five stylized fantasy areas. Players immerse themselves in this fantastical world of fun by creating and customizing their own unique character with outfits and accessories purchased with mini-game winnings. As an added bonus, gamers can also enjoy playable rides within the 3D park and challenge other family members in several 4-player gameplay modes.

Wonderworld Amusement Park will launch in summer 2008.

Trickster Online Revolution download new content

Ntreev USA, Inc. announced today that Trickster Online Revolution has recently released new content for their popular 2D fantasy MMORPG.

Trickster Online Revolution Releases Much Anticipated 3rd Jobs and Related Content:

In the 2.6.5 Patch, Ntreev USA has added 3rd Jobs and all related content for Trickster Online Revolution - www.tricksteronline.com/entrypoint/?epn=10030 . The 3rd Jobs are an extension and an in-game upgrade for players. It not only changes the appearance of characters, but also unlocks a host of new job based skills and maneuvers.

Sang Kwon, Manager of Game Operations for Ntreev USA and Trickster Online Revolution, said that, "We are all glad that we were able to get this long awaited feature out before the holidays!" He further explained that, "[3rd Jobs] Opens the door to more exciting skills and items, but this is just a first step [for upcoming content and releases that will enhance the game]!" He later added his extreme appreciation on behalf of Ntreev USA, for the already "huge response" that the new content has gotten from players.

By adding 3rd Jobs and related content, Ntreev USA has expanded the already large number of possible Jobs and Advancements from the initial 16 variations (including 1st and 2nd Jobs) to a new total of 33 unique Jobs and Advancements. 3rd Jobs now add a total of 17 Job variations for Trickster Online Revolution character types, which is more than 1st and 2nd Jobs combined. These new Jobs are based on the initial 4 character types already available for all players, including a male and female version of Charm, Sense, Power and Magic character types.

Players interested in advancing their characters to 3rd Jobs should proceed directly to the Garden of Skill Masters.

NVIDIA Gives PC Gamers More Processing Power With The GEFORCE 8800 GTS 512 MB

News Facts:

NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512 MB graphics cards are available today, just in time for the holiday-buying frenzy.

Coming on the heels of the introduction of the critically acclaimed GeForce 8800 GT, the GeForce 8800 GTS 512 MB graphics card delivers impressive new levels of performance in the $299–$349 price range.

GeForce 8800 GTS 512 MB graphics cards offer an intense gaming experience with stunning special effects and high-definition visuals for the hottest holiday PC games, such as: Crysis, Hellgate: London, Gears of War, Unreal Tournament 3, and Call of Duty 4, along with full support for current DirectX 9 games.


Product Facts:

• NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512 MB offers 25% more graphics processing power than NVIDIA products previously offered at the same price point[i].


• The GeForce 8800 GTS 512 MB also offers new features such as support for PCI Express 2.0, dual-link HDCP, and the second-generation PureVideo® HD engine from NVIDIA.


• The NVIDIA PureVideo HD engine delivers astounding Blu-ray and HD DVD movie picture quality on a PC with 100% offload of H.264 video decoding, freeing the CPU to perform other tasks and significantly reducing power consumption, heat, and noise.


• All GeForce 8800 GPUs support NVIDIA SLI® technology which allows you to use two graphics processors in unison, sharing the graphics workload.


• GeForce 8800 GTS 512 MB graphics cards are available now from leading add-in card manufacturers, retailers, and system builders. For information on where to buy GeForce 8800 GTS 512 MB products, please visit http://www.nvidia.com/wheretobuy.

Fantasy Date Demo with Mobile Web, Video, and Gaming in one Experience

Choose Your Date by 'Pressing the Right Buttons'

With boons in online dating and electronic gaming, its no wonder that both sectors would converge into new entertainment products, as is the case with Fantasy Date, a new service from MoConDi. Fantasy Date™ is a WAP-based interactive fictional mobile video dating game featuring role-playing features that lead players through hookup and relationship challenges.

Building upon MoConDi’s pioneering successes with millions of game and video downloads worldwide, Fantasy Date is the first to incorporate the mobile web, gaming and mobile video into one experience. Its use of on-demand character control is optimized for Sprint PCS Vision’s high-speed mobile network.

Fantasy Date™ players select a character, male or female, to whom they will try to seduce by reacting correctly to the different video situations presented. The revolving cast of characters keeps users engaged with a monthly change in the lineup of hotties to hookup with. The game is structured in several levels for every character, each level consisting of three video situations. After each video situation, the user is asked to choose among three options. Every choice prompts not only a score, but also a different video reaction from the character. The more the player presses the “right buttons", the more receptive the reaction of the character will be.

“Fantasy Date allows players to get their game on with a fun and original application providing carriers with a compelling new way to engage users and generate revenue,” said J.T. Klepp, President and co-founder of MoConDi

According to Juniper Research, online dating and content uploaded to third party sites will increase from $572m in 2007 to more than $5.7bn in 2012. Demand for innovation in mobile gaming and dating services makes hybrid products like Fantasy Date, an interesting opportunity for carriers such as Sprint.

“Fantasy Date”™ is available exclusively on Sprint’s wireless network for $2.99 and can be found in the “Chat & Dating” category of the Sprint homepage. A demo is available at http://www.mocondi.com/fantasydate/index.html.

Eidos Christmas mobile games line-up

A veritable Santa's sack of code and assets are now available for all Eidos New Media mobile games.

The Eidos Christmas line-up includes a mix of original titles and classics – from Lara to new guys on the block, Kane and Lynch and the hugely addictive Sola Rola.

Kane and Lynch mobile: Inspired by IO Interactive’s highly anticipated title; players can experience 38 adrenaline filled levels through 5 gripping scenarios. The mobile version of Kane and Lynch takes the gritty essence of IO's new blockbuster title and combines it with innovative design to create a unique game for mobile handsets.

Tomb Raider: Anniversary Edition: To celebrate ten years of gaming’s most famous archaeologist, Lara Croft will star in a new adventure taking in familiar locations from her past. Inspired by the first three Tomb Raider mobile phone games, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Anniversary faithfully preserves the elements which made the original mobile games some of the best available on the mobile platform. Taut, and fast-paced, this is a perfect tribute to one of gaming’s true legends and the first title to come from new British Developer, FinBlade.

Sola Rola: An original title, Sola Rola is a fun mixture of puzzle and action elements in which users control two blobby heroes – Wiz and Waz – as they attempt to save the universe by manipulating shapes. Spanning 25 stages, Sola Rola is crammed with puzzles and uses a unique physics system in which objects and characters can be scaled, tilted and used to solve the increasingly difficult puzzles on offer.

Championship Manager 2008: Released to coincide with the PC version of the game, the mobile version of Championship Manager 2008 is a fully featured game of what is rightly regarded as the pioneer of football management titles. Developed by the award-winning Dundee based Dynamo Games, the mobile game features all the tactical acumen and logistics of the PC title, with a simple to navigate menu system and 2D match overlay specifically designed for handsets.

Patapon in North America only on Sony PSP (PlayStationPortable)

Rhythm-Based Action Blends with Abstract Art to Deliver a Unique New Gaming Genre to the North American Market in February 2008

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) announced today the February 2008 North American release of Patapon™, available exclusively for PSP (PlayStationPortable). Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment WorldWide Studios Japan Studio, Patapon is a highly stylized, 2D platform/action adventure game that transforms players into a mystical leader in charge of guiding a tribe of small, quirky warriors called Patapons. Through an innovative use of musical beats, players will march the Patapons against opposing armies and gigantic monsters in an attempt to find the far end of the world. In Patapon, players will encounter a new style of gameplay that blends rhythm and action, where various drumbeats are used to command the Patapons to march, retreat, attack, and defend, all in the ultimate quest for survival and victory. The game presents a variety of warrior types, along with a wide selection of weapons and shield upgrades, allowing each player to customize their Patapon army and strategize for each mission. Using character designs by popular French graphic artist Rolito, who served as chief artist for the game, Patapon introduces a distinctive art style incorporating abstract shapes, vibrant environments, and larger-than-life boss enemies.

“Patapon is a unique experience for gamers of all ages because it combines two key forms of entertainment: rhythm and music, and stellar platforming action,” said Jeff Reese, director, software marketing, SCEA. “Music is a huge part of the PSP’s multifunctional feature set, and we are excited to deliver a new genre of music and action gaming that further adds depth to the PSP software lineup.”

For years the Patapon tribe has lived in the desolate frontier, driven from their home by the evil Zigoton army. Behind the Patapons' cute exterior, lies a fierce warrior spirit that can only be commanded by the beat of the war drum. They wait for the day the "Almighty" will return and lead them against their enemies, as Patapon legend states the glory of the ancestors will be resurrected when they reach the far end of the world. The wait finally comes to an end as the drums of war are heard once again.

Set among a variety of colorful 2D backgrounds, Patapon unfolds through more than 30 missions with more than 20 different environments, where players are tasked with outfitting the Patapon army, collecting resources, and using strategy to grow the tribe into a devastating fighting force. Incorporating various button-timed drumbeats in real-time to control the Patapons, players will strategically traverse through each environment, battling enemies each step of the way. The game presents a variety of warrior types such as archers, infantry, cavalry, and more that players can unlock, along with a wide selection of more than 100 weapon and shield upgrades, allowing players to customize their forces throughout the funky adventure. Additionally, Patapon features five unique music-based mini-games to earn additional Patapon upgrades. Players will revel in the addictive nature of the game, collecting rare weapons and items, and earning more points to upgrade and amass an army of Patapons.

Patapon PSP game factsheet

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Studio
Platform: PSP (PlayStationPortable)
Genre: Rhythm/Action/Platform
Players: Single-player
Launch Date: February, 2007
ESRB Rating: “RP” for Rating Pending

OVERVIEW
Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, Patapon™ is an innovative, rhythm-based 2D platform/action game exclusively for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system. In the game, players are tasked with leading the colorful Patapons, a brave and noble tribe, through a series of epic battles against opposing armies and gigantic monsters. In a distinct gameplay twist, action and rhythm are intertwined as players utilize drumbeats to march, attack, and defend, ultimately leading the Patapon tribe to victory.

Featuring more than 20 missions in a variety of environments such as swamps, volcanos, gorges and deserts, players will outfit a Patapon army, collect resources, and grow their tribe into a devastating fighting force. Patapon presents a variety of warrior types, along with a wide selection of weapon and shield upgrades, that players will use to strategically customize and position their army as they progress through the funky adventure. Players will easily get caught up in the addictive action by collecting rare weapons and items as the adventure unfolds, and by earning more points to upgrade to new Patapons. Additionally, Patapon features five unique music-based mini-games to earn additional upgrades for the Patapon army. With vibrant character designs by popular French graphic artist, Rolito, Patapon introduces a unique, 2D art style incorporating abstract shapes, colorful environments, and larger-than-life boss enemies.

STORYLINE
For years the Patapon tribe has lived in the desolate frontier, driven from their home by the evil Zigoton army. Behind the Patapons' cute exterior, lies a fierce warrior spirit that can only be commanded by the beat of their God’s war drum. They wait for the day that the "Almighty" will return, to lead them against their enemies and bring them back to their homeland. Finally, their wait has come to an end as the drums of war are heard once again.

KEY FEATURES

• Rhythm and Action Collide – Master up to six different drumbeats to command the Patapon troops to march, attack, defend, power up, retreat, and use magic. Combine the various chains of drumbeats to address each unique level, leading the Patapons to victory over the Zigoton enemy forces.

• Strategic Gaming – Patapon delivers a strong element of strategy by requiring players to properly customize and build up the Patapon army, arm each soldier with particular weapons and armor, and position them correctly for battle.

• Mission Variety – Take part in more than 30 specific missions including hunting, escort, and boss battles, and explore numerous vivid environments along the way. Players will discover and access more than 100 items and weapons throughout the adventure.

• Unique Art Style – French graphic artist Rolito, noted for his abstract art style seen in collectible toys, animation, and websites, lends his skills to create a variety of unique characters and environments, bringing the Patapon world to life.

• Mini-Games – Five music-based mini-games allow players to earn bonuses and upgrades to further customize the Patapon warriors.

• Music – Captivating and dramatic original music builds dynamically as players march and encounter enemy battles throughout each level.

Major League Baseball for Playstation 3, Playstation 2 and PSP

MLB 08 THE SHOWTM Announced For PLAYSTATION 3, PlayStation 2 AND PSP (PlayStationPortable)

Popular Baseball Franchise Looks to Retain Title as The Most Realistic Baseball Game

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) announced today that MLB 08 THE SHOW will be available in Spring 2008, exclusively for PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3), PlayStation 2 and PSP (PlayStationPortable). Already widely considered the most authentic baseball game available, the next iteration of the critically acclaimed franchise, MLB 08 THE SHOW, is set to provide fans with the most realistic baseball experience to date.
Reflecting on the history of the franchise, the longest-running officially licensed baseball title on PlayStation® platforms, the SCEA San Diego Studios development team went into this season looking to build upon the history and success of the franchise, by raising the level of authenticity and realism, and creating the perfect blend of features and unique gameplay opportunities.

To deliver the closest experience possible, next to actually trying to make it in the Majors, MLB 08 THE SHOW introduces a more immersive Road to The Show mode. As gamers attempt to make a starting line-up in the Big Leagues, playing on both offense and defense from a custom-created player’s perspective, a more robust dynamic goal system and a new career advancement system will determine when a player is eligible for a promotion. Additionally, custom-created players are more interactive. As a position player, gamers will be able to further adjust that players positioning, catchers will endure more defense situations, and pitchers will now experience mound visits with user interaction – all making Road to The Show mode even more realistic.

“Baseball fans know that the MLB franchise has been met with critical acclaim and has a long-standing winning tradition,” said Scott Rohde, senior director, product development, SCEA San Diego Studios. “MLB 08 THE SHOW continues to display our commitment to delivering highly-innovative and improved features in order to provide an unrivaled simulation with a broadcast quality presentation.”

As the only first party franchise officially licensed by Major League Baseball Properties Inc. (MLBP), Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), MLB 08 THE SHOW features more than 3,000 individual player animations, including personalized stances, pitching animations, individual swings, batting rituals and motion captures from MLB® players. Additionally, the franchise adds to the realism by including Umpire Personalities combined with Interactive Hot and Cold Zones and Player-scaled Strike Zones, Release Point Pitching combined with Adaptive Pitching Intelligence (API) and the Pitch Command System (PCS), and the most comprehensive commentary ever produced for a sports title, featuring the three-man booth of Rex Huddler, Matt Vasgerian and Dave Campbell.

Providing players with some additional performance incentives, the MLB franchise introduces the new Progressive Batting Performance feature, which will both reward players for superior performance and penalize them for hitting slumps. Specific to each individual batter, players will be rewarded with slight contract bonuses, or punished with slight decreases in contract, based on how that batter that performs beyond his “natural ability” while under user control. Adding to the online feature set, which includes customizable Online League Play with up to 30 teams, scrolling MLB Score Ticker and more, MLB 08 THE SHOW introduces SCOUT (SportsConnect Online User Tracking), which allows gamers to set and store their game preferences on the MLB server, and then enables the system to look for a Quick Match with opponents that fit similar competitive criteria.

For PS3 and PSP owners, MLB 08 THE SHOW serves up the new Pitcher/Batter Analysis, both in-game and post game, offering a breakdown of how a batter has performed based on LHP or RHP, pitch type and the result. And for fans who want to create their own soundtracks, MLB 08 THE SHOW offers the opportunity to take music stored on a PS3 system’s HDD or a Memory Stick Duo and add tracks to the list of music played in the JukeBox.

Along with all the key franchise features, gameplay favorites for PlayStation 2 include Franchise mode, where players take control of the entire team, Rivalry Mode, which allows fans to set-up, track and maintain heated rivalries, the Home Run Derby and EyeToy™ functionality. MLB 08 THE SHOW for PSP continues to be a fan favorite with its core features and ability to play anytime, anywhere, on the go. Plus, sports fanatics can utilize the system’s online news service to get the latest MLB news feeds online or save them to the Memory Stick Duo and review them offline at their convenience.