Frontlines: Fuel of War available for free download on Microsoft Xbox Live

Lock and load soldier! Its time to take the battle to your living room as the single player demo of Frontlines™: Fuel of War™ goes live on Xbox Live® Market Place. Players will be thrust into the near future as they battle in an epic struggle over earth’s last oil reserves in this innovative new first person shooter from THQ and KAOS Studios.

Set in the near future, Frontlines: Fuel of War asks the plausible question ‘what would happen if our oil reserves were about to run out?’. As man kind is starved of one of its most important resources two super powers face off over the last reserves in intense futuristic warfare. Starting on the oil fields of central Asia this game takes players across the globe and right into the heart of Moscow itself.

Created in collaboration with a team of military advisors this game features over sixty different weapons and vehicles all based on real world technology being developed by the modern military. Players will be able to take the war to their enemy using everything from guided smart bombs and remote control combat drones to the good old fashioned assault rifle. The unique Frontline mechanic employed in this game ensures that the gameplay is intense and fast-paced at all times as well as giving players the freedom to explore the maps fully.

The Xbox Live® Marketplace demo features the second mission of the single player game where players can experience the open world gameplay and hi-tech weaponry as well as the destructibility of structures throughout the maps. With complete freedom to complete objectives in any order and from any direction players will be able to replay this demo again and again as they discover completely new ways to reach their goal.

The finished game will feature a gripping and immersive single player storyline spanning eight vast missions and an exciting multiplayer mode for up to 32 players featuring a unique role and load-out system allowing players to customize their character to suit any situation.

So what are you waiting for? Download the free Frontlines™: Fuel of War™ demo now from Xbox Live® Marketplace and get right into the action! The full version of Frontlines™: Fuel of War ™ will be available for Xbox 360, Sony PS3 and PC in February 2008.

XNA Game Studio 2.0 from Microsoft Enables Creation of Online Multiplayer Games Using LIVE

Popular game development software now includes support for Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows – LIVE

Microsoft Corp. today marked the next step in its initiative to democratise game development and unleash the creativity of the community with the release of the XNA Game Studio 2.0, the next generation of the popular game development platform for Xbox 360 and Windows. The new version builds upon XNA Game Studio Express, released one year ago, and includes the ability to create online, cross-platform multiplayer games for Xbox 360 and Windows using Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows - LIVE, respectively. XNA Game Studio 2.0 adds more than 15 new features and is available for download from http://creators.xna.com.

“When building XNA Game Studio 2.0, we wanted to offer everyone the opportunity to utilise the rich gaming environment of LIVE used by AAA developers for titles such as ‘Halo 3’ and ‘Gears of War,’” said Chris Satchell, general manager of the XNA organization at Microsoft. “We accomplished our goal with this new toolset, and, best of all, it remains highly accessible to students, hobbyists and pros alike.”

Many of LIVE’s best features are supported by XNA Game Studio 2.0 with minimal to no coding necessary to activate them - features like matchmaking, which uses LIVE to find the best games for you to play based on your location and internet connection. Additionally, XNA Game Studio 2.0 fully supports game development with all versions of the Microsoft Visual Studio product line.

XNA Creators Club Academic Trial Memberships Now Free to Qualified Students and Faculty

Since its release last December, XNA Game Studio has been an incredible success, with 750,000 downloads, adoption by more than 300 universities worldwide and at least nine textbooks on the tools in development. In subjects from computer science to fine arts, introductory courses to graduate and research projects - XNA Game Studio is helping faculty members and students explore the boundaries of applied gaming technology in education. Along with XNA Game Studio 2.0, Microsoft will also provide a free academic trial membership in the XNA Creators Club beginning in January, allowing faculty members and students to use XNA Game Studio 2.0 and Xbox 360 for instructional purposes.

Time to Dream-Build-Play Again

From more than 4,500 entrants from around the world, four community games were awarded Xbox LIVE Arcade publishing contracts in this year’s Dream-Build-Play game development competition. Microsoft will once again challenge aspiring game developers to create their dream games for a chance to win more coveted publishing contracts. This week Microsoft kicks off registration for Dream-Build-Play 2008 with the Silicon Minds Warm-Up Challenge. Registration begins on 14th December and winners will be announced at the Game Developers Conference where details of the main challenge will be announced. Run in partnership with Microsoft Research’s Machine Learning Group in Cambridge, England; Rare Ltd.; and Lionhead Studios, prizes for the Warm-Up Challenge will include the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interview for an internship with one of those organizations.

“Artificial intelligence is so important to the games we make at Lionhead Studios, and we are very excited to see what the community can come up with in this Warm-Up Challenge to Dream-Build-Play 2008,” said Peter Molyneux, managing director at Lionhead Studios. “We are always on the lookout for the best talent and believe that XNA Game Studio 2.0 will be a great platform for contestants to showcase their skills on.” More information about Dream-Build-Play 2008 is available at http://www.dreambuildplay.com.

GripShift video game roars onto Microsoft Xbox LIVE Arcade

GripShift®, the award winning racing platformer developed and published by Sidhe Interactive is now available for download on Xbox LIVE® Arcade (XBLA), the premier destination for digitally distributed, high-definition original and classic games. Featuring an extensive single-player experience, two multiplayer modes, stunning visuals and amazing sound, GripShift is available for 800 Microsoft points under the Games tab on the XBLA Dashboard.

"Bringing GripShift to the Xbox LIVE Arcade gives a whole new audience the chance to experience some frantic racing fun," said Mario Wynands, Managing Director of Sidhe Interactive. "We think 360 owners will get a lot for their money with this game, as it offers a ton of content which can be played repeatedly for those who are intent on topping the leaderboards."

Sidhe has also made available a list of Xbox LIVE achievements along with two new trailers from GripShift, showing fly-throughs of two intense Challenge courses.

For more information on GripShift, please visit: www.gripshiftgame.com.

Baroque RPG - Role Playing Game announced for Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation 2

Atlus U.S.A., Inc., a leading publisher of interactive entertainment, today announced Baroque, a new dungeon-crawling action RPG for the Wii and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. Dark, addictively challenging, and totally immersive, Baroque is a pure RPG experience, highly regarded by Japanese gamers and now finally scheduled to arrive in North America! Baroque is currently slated for release in February 2008.

For more on Baroque, please visit the official website!
http://www.atlus.com/baroque


About Baroque
You awaken to find the world in ruin, your heart beset with unexplained guilt. A cataclysm has destroyed the cities and empires of men and disfigured the spirit of humanity. In this nightmare, it falls to you to descend a mysterious tower in search of absolution. Battle merciless foes through treacherous dungeons, scour for new items to aid you in your travels, and unlock the secrets of a devastated land. You will find death in the depths, yet learn that death is not the end of the story; in the twisted world of Baroque, it is only the beginning.

Key Features

• Hardcore dungeon-crawling RPG action! With its many ever-changing levels, each teeming with perverse monsters and tormented souls, the world of Baroque is a frightening and unforgiving realm.


• Death is not the end - Take part in a unique story progression system in which the end of your life only serves to drive the adventure forward. Each time your character dies, more secrets about the forsaken world are revealed!


• Deep customization options – The player has full control over how they shape their character and how they play the game.
• Find and equip a vast assortment of weapons and items, some with a variety of uses. Acquire powerful stat-boosting parasites and combine them to multiply their potency. Only the resourceful will survive!

Baroque has been rated "T" for Teen with Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, and Tobacco Reference by the ESRB.

Playstation 3 (PS3) Unreal Tournament 3 can't use PC mods, maps at launch

The PlayStation 3 version of Unreal Tournament 3 has been the talk of the town for being one of the first ever console games to feature modding. Though you'll need the PC version to make use of the editor for maps, models, and so forth, having access to player-created content is still a huge feature. We've been testing these functions out, but have learned that the PS3 version—which hit stores across North America today—cannot accept mods yet. Epic Games team member Josh Adams has explained the problem on the official forums:

However, the PS3 mod tools aren't quite ready yet. We are working through some final legal/release issues.

When it's ready, you will need to download the latest PC patch and another PS3 Mod Tools "patch" that adds the full PS3 mod support to the PC version.

You will have to cook ypur mods for the PS3 specifically. You will also need removable media (memory card, USB drive, etc) to transfer the mod from your PC to your PS3.
Our tests show that the Unreal Engine 3 Editor has no way of exporting content specifically for the PS3 yet. There is also no utility to package the various .ini, .ut3, and .u files necessary for other mods into a format that can be extracted and installed by the game's import content function. Though the instruction manual contains some basic instructions, even the printed reference page is currently unavailable. This may be a downer for some who were looking to get mods going right from the start.

Source: Ars Technica

Unreal Tournament 3 video game download Patch Now Available!

our betas later, the Unreal Tournament III patch is ready for primetime! Including well over a hundred changes, the patch does a lot to address the complaints about the game's user interface, and though not required to play on patched servers, it is well worth downloading despite its hefty 240MB filesize.
Download from:

AtomicGamer - http://www.atomicgamer.com/file.php?id=65912
Beyond Unreal - http://www.beyondunreal.com/daedalus/singlepost.php?id=11329
FileFront - http://files.filefront.com/Unreal+Tournament+3+Retail+11+Patch/;9232999;/fileinfo.html
FilePlanet - http://www.fileplanet.com/183076/180000/fileinfo/Unreal-Tournament-3-v1.1-Patch?r=5
GGMania - http://www.ggmania.com/?smsid=24641
WorthPlaying - http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=48228

This update works fine with the D2D version as well.



Source: Voodoo Extreme

GameTap SEGA Saturn and Dreamcast access for Mac Users

GameTap just announced that they have streamlined their new Cider technology which enables Mac users to access SEGA Saturn and Dreamcast titles. Fortunately, this will work for all broadband-enabled PC and Intel-based Macs that meet the memory requirements. I am a GameTap member and would highly recommend it to anyone.

There is also a new GameTap player that launches faster and discovers games considerably faster than before. This new player is what enables Mac users to access the classic SEGA Saturn and Dreamcast games. Some of the classic games include Panzer Dragoon and Crazy Taxi.

“The Mac is enjoying faster growth than any other computing system and the launch of the new

GameTap player enriches the Mac experience even further for that large audience,” said Vikas Gupta, CEO and President of TransGaming. “TransGaming and GameTap are committed to bringing the greatest games to the Mac, which has already included Myst Online: Uru Live, and we are pleased to continue this partnership that enhances the Mac gaming landscape.”

To play the latest titles, Gold level subscription plans are currently available for as low as $5.00 per month and new subscribers can get their first month for only 99 cents. Gamers can also visit GameTap.com to check out the selection of more than 50 free games which are updated each week.

More from : GameTap

Orange Box: Portal 'Comparo' HD

Watch the video here on GameVideos

Side-by-side look at both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Portal, just as you can see the difference between the two versions of Half-Life 2 here. (Hit that link if you don’t know what caused all this hubbub in the first place.)

Unlike Half-Life, Portal seems to be running perfectly smooth and looks visually identical to the 360 version. The only noticeable difference you’ll find in watching the video above is that the PS3 version of Portal apparently takes 7-10 seconds longer to load than the 360 version. Definitely annoying, but also most definitely not a game breaker when you’re playing a good game.

Frontlines: Fuel of War video game xBox 360 Demo Now Available

The highly-anticipated Frontlines: Fuel of War – which will see a beta release on PC in the coming days – has a demo now available on the Xbox Live Marketplace. It’s an interesting take with a sort of sandbox-strategy element to the game.

The official description on the demo:

Frontlines: Fuel of War is an open-world First Person Shooter set on the frontlines of tomorrow. In a world ravaged by a global energy crisis, environmental decay, and economic depression, players assume the role of an elite soldier in the Western Coalition Army on an epic crusade against the Red Star Alliance to control the last of the world’s oil reserves. Frontlines: Fuel of War combines intensely cinematic, non-linear game play, with next generation weaponry and a revolutionary Frontline Combat System to deliver the most thrilling and engaging FPS to date.

That’s quite a tall claim. It’ll give you some food for thought while you wait for this monster 1.69 GB demo to download.

European Union agrees tax breaks for games

French request for parity with film industry gets the green light

The European Commission has approved the French government's request to apply film industry tax breaks to the games industry.

The move will allow for around a 20 per cent rebate on the cost of development for games that fall under qualifying criteria - and it is estimated that around half of all games developed this year would have qualified.

Both Tiga and the EGDF had argued strongly that such a move should go ahead, in order to help lessen the unbalancing effect that support from other countries such as Canada was having.

In a statement, the EU said that only games that meet the "criteria of quality, originality and contribute to cultural diversity," will be eligible, with the scheme authorised for a period of four years.

"Given in particular the small market shares of the manufacturers covered by the measure, the Commission is satisfied that the aid will have a limited effect on competition and on trade between the Member States," said the Commission.

"This effect will be even more limited by the fact that the French authorities have accepted the Commission's request to largely include subcontracting costs within the eligible costs. These costs had initially been excluded, thus creating the risk that beneficiary companies would be encouraged to internalise their costs, to the detriment of European subcontractors," detailed the report.

The EU investigation was prompted by the French government's proposal late last year, and conditions then included a test for originality, quality and promotion of European cultural diversity.

At the time the EU's competition commissioner, Neelie Kroes, warned: "We must be sure that the measure will promote only genuine cultural projects and that it will not have the effect of an industrial policy instrument in favour of the videogames sector."

Source: Games Industry