Aquaria wins Game of the Year at Game Tunnel's 6th Annual Independent Games of the Year Awards

Gliding ahead of the pack, Aquaria was the 2007 winner of the Independent Game of the Year award. The award, the culminating event of Game Tunnel's 6th Annual Game of the Year awards, is given each year to the most outstanding Independent Video Game.



The Independent Game of the Year awards have been established to honor ingenuity, innovation and excellence in Independent Games. This year's awards began December 11th with the Sports Game of the Year award and have continued through 3 weeks and 13 categories finishing with the Top 10 Independent Games of the Year and Aquaria taking the top spot.

Previously a winner at the Independent Games Festival, Aquaria's visual style captivated reviewers at Game Tunnel almost as much as the innovative gameplay. Featuring a spacious underwater world of striking beauty and haunting music, Aquaria is a unique experience that embodies all for which Independent Games are recognized.

"Independent Games are known for pushing the boundaries of gaming, providing an experience that is singular and different," said Russell Carroll, Editor-In-Chief at Game Tunnel. "We are excited every year for the opportunity to play these wonderfully original and inventive games and are happy to award winners in multiple categories to celebrate their achievements."

An article providing descriptions, links, and downloads to all the award winners can be found at: http://www.gametunnel.com/article-661.htm. The list of all award categories and winners is as follows:

2007 Independent Game of the Year - Aquaria

Technical Categories:
Game of the Year: 

Graphics - Aquaria
Sound - Aquaria
Innovation - Determinance
Multiplayer - ThreadSpace: Hyperbol

Special Awards
Kid's Game of the Year - The Tuttles Madcap Misadventures
Player's Choice Award - Wonderland Adventures
Genres:
Action Game of the Year - DarkSide
Casual Game of the Year - Snapshot Adventures: Secret of Bird Island
Adventure Game of the Year - Aquaria
RPG Game of the Year - Depths of Peril
Sim Game of the Year - Venture Arctic
Sports Game of the Year - Reach
Strategy Game of the Year - Immortal Defense

About Game Tunnel
GameTunnel was created in 2002 to provide news and reviews on the Independent Gaming scene. Since its launch Game Tunnel has published over 800 reviews of Independent (or Indie as it is commonly known as) games. It's most popular articles include the monthly round-up of what's new in indie gaming, and the yearly Independent Game of the Year Awards.

Latest UK video games chart

All formats

(Full price) Week ending 29 December 2007

1 ASSASSIN'S CREED UBISOFT 2
2 FIFA 08 ELECTRONIC ARTS
3 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION
4 THE SIMPSONS GAME ELECTRONIC ARTS
5 NEED FOR SPEED: PROSTREET ELECTRONIC ARTS
6 PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2008 KONAMI
7 WWE SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2008 THQ
8 GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK ACTIVISION
9 THE GOLDEN COMPASS SEGA
10 THE SIMS 2: CASTAWAY ELECTRONIC ARTS
11 KANE & LYNCH: DEAD MEN EIDOS
12 LEGO STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA LUCASARTS
13 SUPER MARIO GALAXY NINTENDO
14 TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 08 ELECTRONIC ARTS
15 NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. NINTENDO
16 FOOTBALL MANAGER 2008 SEGA
17 RATATOUILLE THQ
18 UNCHARTED: DRAKE'S FORTUNE SONY COMPUTER ENT.
19 MARIO PARTY 8 NINTENDO
20 TOMB RAIDER: ANNIVERSARY EIDOS

Ex Hitman programmers launch first video game - Deep Blue Sea Free demo download on PC and Mac

Former "Hitman" programmers launch their first casual game, Deep Blue Sea for PC and Mac, from their new game studio, The Game Equation.

The hit game, Deep Blue Sea, is the first release from the brand new game studio, The Game Equation. "After working on top-rated shooters for years, we were ready to work in a smaller company and make smaller games. We started to notice how people with our background were making top hits in the casual games industry," explains Brian Meidell, co-owner of the Copenhagen based company, The Game Equation. "We realized that the high end of the casual games industry was within our reach, and that the shorter product cycles and smaller company setting was exactly what we wanted. These are games that remind us of the ones we played when growing up," he smiles.



"We studied the different options, and decided on the match-3 genre for Deep Blue Sea,” explains Bo Cordes, co-owner of The Game Equation. “Our goal was to apply our knowledge and experience towards creating a casual game with totally smooth and responsive gameplay or, 'tight' gameplay as we call it." Deep Blue Sea’s initial sales and feedback indicate that they have accomplished just that.

One challenge was creating an original soundtrack that sets the mood throughout the game. "We knew from working on the internationally best-selling 'Hitman' series that the game’s sound and music mean a lot for its enjoyment, yet this is often the most overlooked element," Meidell clarifies. To this end, The Game Equation contracted a Danish composer, Rasmus Hartvig with years of experience creating music for films and theatrical productions, to create an integrated music and sound design for Deep Blue Sea.

"Making music and sound for computer games is a very different challenge from making music for films - you have to consider unusual factors like, 'would this be annoying to listen to after four hours,' and, 'what if these sounds are played simultaneously?' But I'm always up for a new challenge," says Hartvig.

Deep Blue Sea is the result of The Game Equation’s experienced approach and dedication to detail. Deep Blue Sea is available for PC and Mac, both versions retailing at $20.

22 level FREE download for Mac and PC

Deep Blue Sea and free demo for PC and Mac available here: http://www.thegameequation.com/games/deepbluesea/

MX v ATV Untamed - developer diary

By Brian Coonce, Principle Game Designer, Rainbow Studios

Over the past decade, Rainbow Studios has been hard at work fine-tuning the ultimate offroad videogame. As development has shifted from PCs and consoles to next-generation powerhouses, our vision of everything offroad has also expanded. Whereas previous games focused exclusively on MX bikes or ATVs, the latest iterations of the MX vs. ATV franchise have grown to include all of the offroad vehicles you might see during a weekend offroad outing, including sand rails, dune buggies and 4x4 golf carts. We then added the vehicles you’ve only dreamed about tearing through the outdoors in: trophy trucks, monster trucks, and the all-new ORV Sport.

While we packed in more machines, the greatest challenge has always been creating a competitive series where players can demonstrate their mastery over the vast variety of vehicles in the game. To this end, the design team created the all-new Opencross mode, a series of long-form races where the machines battle it out to determine who really owns the offroad.

The first thing you’ll notice in your first Opencross race is that these tracks are huge; in fact, they are the longest races you’ll find in MX vs. ATV: Untamed. Opencross allowed our track designers to take full advantage of Untamed’s massive open worlds. In a given race, you’ll travel across dams, over bridges, up narrow valleys and down steep cliff faces on your path to offroad domination. These courses were meant to serve up the toughest offroad challenge you will ever find, so don’t be surprised if you’re forced to battle for position through shallow river passes or across narrow natural rock bridges.

Although each vehicle is equally equipped to handle the harsh terrain, certain vehicles may have specific advantages depending on the environment. The wide open dust plains of Del Sol and Copper Valley are particularly well suited for the wide suspension of the sand rail and dune buggy. The shallow creek beds and rolling hills of Split Oak and Crawly Creek are easily soaked up by the monster truck’s giant tires. The sudden changes in elevation at Lakewood and Pine Lakes are quickly traversed by the light and nimble ORV Sport. The narrow back roads of Clearwater and Sutherlin Valley are the perfect opportunity to put miles behind you in a supercharged trophy truck. What vehicle and where you drive it is up to you as long as you can keep up with the competition.

Choose your path to offroad domination by downloading the demo today on Xbox Live Marketplace or the Playstation Network!

EA Japan builds SimCity 2 video game for Nintendo DS

It hasn't been long since SimCity first made its way to DS - we're weren't particularly impressed either - but EA Japan has already announced a sequel.

First screenshots have emerged on its Japanese site along with early information on the game. The big hook this time is you'll be able to build up settlements and cities through the ages, from the caveman era to medieval times and then the industrial revolution. So forget fending off UFOs and fixing damage caused by rumbling earthquakes. It seems like you'll be concerning yourself with rogue wildcats and the plague instead.

According to information in the latest issue of Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, you'll even be able to combine resources from different ages in Free Mode to create the sort of hybrid city that'd surely made modern day architects weep. We also hope that EA will be improving issues such as the random difficulty curve and the lack of scenarios in the first game.

Currently listed with a March 19th release in Japan, there's no information on US or UK releases yet. On past experience, we'd be hoping for a summer launch - we'll let you know as soon as EA makes an announcement.

Source: Pocket Gamer

Guitar Hero III mobile video game for cellphones goes live... in the US

Gameloft's Guitar Legend has already proved that the Guitar Hero musical rhythm genre can work well on phones, but now the original has made its way onto mobile.

However, for now Guitar Hero III Mobile is only available in the US, on operator Verizon Wireless' portal. Published by Hands-On Mobile, we've reported on the game before, but there are some new details to disclose now that it's out.

As we said, there are four guitars and three venues in the game, plus 15 fully licensed tracks. What's new is the info that the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Suck My Kiss' and The Scorpions' 'Rock You Like a Hurricane' are among them.

For those of you with good memories, yes, the latter did indeed feature in Guitar Legend on mobile, too. Pearl Jam and Santana are also on board. In the US, players will be able to download new tracks every month.

So what about the UK? Guitar Hero III Mobile is due out sometime between February and April, depending what operator you're on. We can't wait to see how it performs, so click 'Track It!' for an alert when we review the final game.

Source: Pocket Gamer http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Mobile/Guitar+Hero+III+Mobile/news.asp?c=5282

'Guitar Hero Mobile' sneak peek: It rocks

Conference-goers flocked around the Guitar Hero station at Motorola's mammoth tent on the CTIA Wireless conference floor, but it was Hands-On Mobile's modest booth where Guitar Hero Mobile is best experienced. There the game's product manager, JJ Leichleiter, walked me through the mobile version of the popular console game.



Let me dispel all doubt by assuring you that this is the real thing, deputized by Activision, Guitar Hero's console publisher. Loosely based on Guitar Hero 3, the 3D mobile version offers two characters (Axel Steel and Judy Nails), four guitars, and 15 songs. Subscription holders will receive three more songs every month.

Playing virtual guitar has gotten easier with a reduction from five keys on the console game's peripheral guitar to three on the phone. Users can choose whichever keypad row feels best.

This game has a lot going for it--easy fretting, satisfying animation, and killer sound quality. Guitar Hero Mobile uses PMD audio for the BREW platform, which preserves the melody, harmony, vocals, and cacophonous ding every time you miss. Stay tuned for a video demonstration on this space and on CNET TV.

Guitar Hero Mobile will be available for purchase for Verizon Wireless users in December 2007. After that, more networks on the BREW platform will join the fray, followed by J2ME phones.

More from CNet review here... http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12261_7-9804241-51.html

Microsoft may pay compensation for XBox live problems over Christmas

Reports...

...LIVE was never completely offline. We did have some spotty issues over the weekend, but the XOC (Xbox Operations Center) was fully staffed (as it always is 24/7/365) and they addressed the issue as quickly as they could.

According to The Bitbag, Microsoft will be compensating their Xbox LIVE Gold customers for the problems the service has been having over the holiday—somehow.

An unnamed Microsoft contact told the site:

...we will definitely be doing something for our Gold members that weren't able to get online over the last week.
Subscriber rights to some sort of refund seem a little vague here, especially since Microsoft has said that the service isn't technically down.

Source: Kotaku

3 new rock band tracks added to Microsoft XBox live

Tracks added...

Gimme Three Steps by Lynyrd Skynyrd

The Black Crows' Hard to Handle

Rush's Limelight

each track costs 160 points

Go on get rocking now...

Sony PlayStation 3 firmware update adds cool new 'Gaia' Music Visualizer

See link below
Watch the YouTube video here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Gud7hiPRM0

One of the more hidden features of the PlayStation 3's 2.10 firmware update is the spectacular Earth-based music visualizer, seen in motion on multiple user-posted YouTube videos and in stills in the pictures below.

The feature's creator, Kyoto-based Q-Games (PixelJunk Racers), which was commissioned by Sony to create the visualizer, has been talking to Gamasutra about the feature's genesis, its use of NASA data, and possible expansion concepts.

Q-Games' chief of technology James McLaren spoke to Gamasutra about how that project got started, explaining: "Originally, we were working on the Gaia project (our name for the earth viewer) as a possible boot sequence for the PS3. The waving cloth background, also created by Q-Games, got the nod when the PS3 launched."



McLaren continues: "We persevered with Gaia, and this visualizer came out of that ongoing work. We've had this under our hats for a while, so it's nice to finally see it released into the wild."

He added: "What you are seeing is a slimmed-down version, due to Flash ROM restrictions, so we are happy to witness a positive reaction on various internet forums."

But how were the effects in the visualization created? McLaren explains: "This representation of the earth is a 3D model with some shaders and SPU trickery going on. We tried to accurately model the earth's atmosphere and have all the correct highlights on the oceans, etc. The texture data is sourced from the NASA Blue Marble project."

"They have some data that they've patched together from hundreds of satellite passes over the earth, which is really top-notch quality, as you can see. We really owe NASA a debt of gratitude for the data, as without it we wouldn't be able to produce something that looks this good."

Is Q-Games helping out Sony with any other updates in the near future? McLaren explains: "Unfortunately, we can't really say much about that. We'd certainly like to expand the current Earth visualizer and allow people a little bit more user control, something we've seen a few requests for on various online forums."

However, he notes in closing: "Perhaps a future update might include the full Blue Marble dataset, but that would need to be a hard disc-resident version..."

Source: Gamasutra

Orange box patch for Sony PS3?

On the Steam forums, about surround sound issues on the PS3 version of The Orange Box.

A spokesperson for the company wrote:

We're working on getting the optical cable support into an update. I'll post when I have details.
Patch now looking pretty likely, then.

Read the thread here... http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=634132

Source: Kotaku