New Trailer download for PC SHIP SIMULATOR 2008

Leading computer software publisher Lighthouse Interactive and developer VSTEP today released a new trailer for Ship Simulator 2008, their true-to-life naval simulator on CD-ROM, compatible with Windows® Vista™. Ship Simulator 2008 includes multiplayer and new vessels from personal watercrafts and powerboats, to hovercrafts and super tankers. Navigate your way through San Francisco Bay, the New York harbor, port of Marseille and many other world renowned harbors, all recreated in minute detail. Ship Simulator 2008 began shipping to major retailers across Canada and the US last week.

The new trailer takes players on a thrilling simulation ride showcasing the wide variety of vessels. Fans can get a glimpse of Ship Simulator’s universe as they take the helm of great oceans liners of the past, as well as high-powered vessels of today. Experience what it’s like to sail your yacht through the Thai Phi Phi Islands or test your maneuvering skills with the Titanic in the bustling Rotterdam port! Besides these exciting vessels and environments, the trailer also shows the easy-to-control and user-friendly interface, giving great insight into the menus, maps and navigational instruments. Do you have what it takes to become a true sea captain?

To download the trailer, please visit www.lighthouse-interactive.com.

SUMMARY

With the growing number of Ship Simulator users worldwide, VSTEP is continuously adding new content and features. In Ship Simulator 2008, players will need to perform a multitude of tasks, all set within stunning 3D environments. They will take control of a wide array of vessels – from massive cargo ships and ferries, to speedboats, yachts, water taxis, personal watercrafts, and even the mighty Titanic! The waters you sail are as varied as the ships, including the harbors of New York, the Thai Phi Phi Islands, Rotterdam and Hamburg, plus three newly added harbours: San Francisco, Marseille and Southampton/Cowes/Solent. Ship Simulator 2008 incredibly recreates real locations from around the world and presents players with the challenges of commanding the vessel of their choice on the open sea.

FEATURES

• Dynamic ocean waves, with realistic ship motions
• Long distance travel, open ocean voyages between ports
• Visible damage system
• 50 new complex and challenging missions
• Extensive day, night and weather systems
• Open sea, plus 7 harbor environments including New York, San Francisco, Marseille and Southampton/Cowes/Solent
• 16 ships, each with walkthrough functionality and interactive bridge controls
• Controllable container crane
• Advanced vector graphic sea chart based on realistic 3D seabed models, with full-screen display option, transparency setting, and high level of detail on text and depth readings
• Advanced damage system showing dents and holes in vessels after severe collisions
• Free-roam mode allows players to choose a ship, an environment, weather conditions, time of day, and set their own waypoints
• Extensive mapping options for keys and joystick buttons
• Advanced rope system, which allows you to connect and disconnect player ships to other ships or mooring boulders at will (anchoring is now also possible)
• Mid-mission save function
• A system for sinking ships when damaged below the water line
• Advanced system for scoring and ranking in different ship type classes, linked to your online profile on the Ship Simulator forum
• Mission editor, so you can create your own adventures and share them with your fellow players on the forum
• Multiplayer free-roaming, including towing and chat
• In-game downloading of new missions, created by other players

New Content and Forthcoming Event for its MMORPG, Legend: Legacy of the Dragons

Waygate Publishing Limited, a London-based company specialising in the operation of Eastern European online games for the Western market, today announced a major interim content update for its free, browser-based Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, Legend: Legacy of the Dragons, which will be released on February 1, 2008. In addition, the company announced plans for its first major in-game event to be held on and around the next Full Moon on February 21, 2008.

Brand new content and translations

The update offers the two largest quests yet in the world of Faeo, one for each of the races, and introduces 16 new locations, four new NPCs, numerous new items and monsters, a new faction, the Destroyers of Chaos, and a variety of smaller quests. The game’s library will also be updated with the latest instalment of the game’s mythology, The Era of Change, and brand new translations about the work of the factions. This is an interim release while the company continues translating and preparing for the introduction of magic into the game, allowing high-level players to learn and cast spells, which will be fully animated in the game’s unique, within the browser game sector, combat system.

It is expected the next update, which will include at least 27 new quests, will be ready for release at the end of February. Content from the open beta version of the game is also being completely revised by a new team of translators to ensure the quality of translation matches that of the new content as the game continues to evolve.

Forthcoming in-game event

The in-game event will prepare hundreds of players for a mass battle in one of the game’s battlefield locations, allowing them to fight each other, monsters and the dragons of the game’s title, Striagorn and Erifarius. The events are already an integral part of the Russian version of the game, attracting 1000s of players to the battlefield as they fight for the honour and rewards that come with victory.

Micro-transaction payment system

Although the game is entirely free-to-play, revenue is generated through a system of micro-transactions, allowing players to buy game money to invest in their character development. There are two payment systems: the first uses PayPal, whilst the second is an SMS payment system, currently operational for players in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Ireland, Netherlands, North America, Norway and Sweden, although Waygate Publishing hopes to expand this soon.

For more information, visit www.warofdragons.com.

About Waygate Publishing

Waygate Publishing Limited operates from offices in central London, specialising in the localisation and operation of Eastern European online games. The company also develops location-aware multimedia, used in popular satellite navigation devices.

www.waygate-publishing.com

About IT-Territory

IT-Territory is the Russian-based developer and publisher of Legend: Legacy of Dragons and numerous other online games. IT-Territory recently announced it has acquired the rights to translate and localise The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™ for the Russian-speaking market.

http://www.it-territory.ru/eng/

New contest - can you play by our Guild Wars Limited rules?

ArenaNet is known to do amazing things to the world of Guild Wars. Here at PvXwiki, we have taken things one step ahead, introducing our own idea for a future Guild Wars: the Guild Wars: Limited Edition, accessible to all campaigns released thus far. "Why limited?", you may ask. The answer is simple: instead of eight skills, the Guild Wars: Limited Edition only allows players to use five skills on their bar. That's right: Five skills!

It's just like the Guild Wars you're used to - but using only five skill slots. Try your hand at making builds for the Domain of Anguish, Urgoz's Warden, and even Team Areans and Guild Verses Guild battles with these limitations.

For the second official PvXwiki contest, we are inviting you to come up with your very own Limited Edition builds with this new restriction. Anyone can enter, and winners will receive excellent prizes courtesy of Razer™.

The makers of the three best-working builds will receive limited edition Guild WarsTM Razer Deathadder mice!

PvXwiki - proudly sponsored by Razer. For Gamers, By Gamers.

Contest Dates:
February 3rd - February 24th

More about contest:
http://www.pvxwiki.com/wiki/Guild_Wars:_Limited

About PvXwiki:
http://www.pvxwiki.com/wiki/PvXwiki:About

About the prize:
http://www.razerzone.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_17&products_id=74

Arcade Boxing video game FACEBREAKER for Nintendo Wii Microsoft XBox 360 and Sony Playstation 3

Electronic Arts announced today that FaceBreaker – an all-new intellectual property – is under development at EA Canada and will be released for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game system from Microsoft and the Wii in 2008.

“We’re very excited to announce FaceBreaker, an all-new franchise from EA SPORTS that is fun, fresh and innovative,” said Peter Moore, president, EA SPORTS. “FaceBreaker reinvigorates one of the great genres in sports videogames. Arcade boxing takes me back to my roots in this industry, and this game signals our shift to adding more approachable fun to our product lineup. In no time at all, you’ll be picking up the controllers and knocking your opponent around the ring, smashing faces, and having a riot.”

The renaissance of the arcade boxing genre is upon us. Created by the same team that developed the award-winning Fight Night Round 3, FaceBreaker offers irreverent fun, immersive gameplay and eye-popping stylized graphics. In this in-your-face, arcade world full of ego-wielding characters, each boxer comes to life with unique attributes and distinct personal style, including Romeo, a Latin lover known for his pelvic thrusts, and Molotov, an oversized Russian demolitions expert with a penchant for fighting dirty. Add a little personal motivation to your fight by uploading a photo of your face to create a realistic likeness using Photo Game Face, and go toe-to-toe with a real-life friend or foe.

Laugh out loud as you pummel your opponent with a barrage of blows to the face and watch in satisfaction as your progress is illustrated by real-time facial deformation. With haymakers, face shots and body blows, wait for the right moment to drop a super punch to make your presence known. Taunt your adversaries and flaunt your talent, by tying one hand behind your back to add ultimate humiliation to your bout. In FaceBreaker, it just feels good to rearrange your opponent's face.

Baseball Superstars 2008 Cellphone video game announced

With the baseball season coming up, GAMEVIL launches the next installment of their popular baseball series, Baseball Superstars 2008

GAMEVIL USA, the LA-based mobile games publisher, announced today the launch of Baseball Superstars 2008, the newest installment of their smash hit baseball series.

In Baseball Superstars 2008, there are 8 different teams to choose from, 4 unique stadiums to compete in, and a Season, Exhibition, and My League mode to play in. You can also create, customize, and train your pitcher or batter. Upgrade and equip your players with new baseball gear and accessories purchased with the money you earn in the game, improve their stats as you train your players and hone their skills, and increase their popularity ratings as you groom them into superstars. But playing ball will not be the only thing you’ll need to pay attention to. You will also manage the life of a major leaguer as your player hosts autograph sessions, attends commercial shoots, and even goes on dates with the ladies. One of the newest additions to Baseball Superstars 2008 is the Team Management feature, which will allow you to trade players among different teams.

“We’re expecting Baseball Superstars 2008 to be another hit like it’s predecessor, as it is the arcade-style game that anyone can enjoy, regardless of whether you’re already a baseball fan or not,” said Stephanie Huang, Marketing Manager of GAMEVIL USA, Inc. “If you can’t wait for the baseball season to begin, then why not get a head start and enjoy the sports now? Throw a curveball, steal second base, and hit a homerun, all from your mobile phone. After all, in this popular baseball game, anyone can be a superstar.”

World's number one online trading card game Urban Rivals – New design and game client

The world's number one online trading card game, UrbanRivals, release a new game client and character card design

Boostr the Company behind Urban Rivals recently launched a new version of the flash game client and unveiled an improved design for the character cards. The new design is now much clearer and easier to read and the new game features introduced have improved gameplay and the user experience.

The new game client features include: -

• A new Quick Challenge feature, with just one click this automated feature will challenge other players to a duel while you sit back and wait for the next game.

• Better motion of projectiles during the battles, with each clan having their own projectile design, the new client shows the success of each round in a battle.

• An animation for “Sureshot” (when your attack is at least double that of your opponent), the animation shows the knock-out blow in full animated effect.

• Shortcuts for common actions (tool tips available when you mouse over the buttons).

• Players’ nationality flags are visible during battles, so you know where you opponent is situated in the world, allowing for better communication.

Since the launch of the new flash client Urban Rivals has experienced a 20% increase in the average amount of games played.

Sebastien Flory, CEO of Boostr remarked, “We’ve built up a successful business bylistening to what our customers want, and delivering on our promises. Urban Rivals continues to grow at an astonishing rate and we’ll continue to give Urban Rivals players what they ask for.”

Myth War Online PC game: Celebrate Valentine's Day

Myth War Online: Celebrate Valentine's Day

The Myth War Online (http://mw.igg.com ) have an event to celebrate Valentine’s Day. All players are qualified to participate in the event to make a short original film about love. Players can submit their film link in http://mw.igg.com/active/valentine/index.php

Event Duration: From 31th January 2008 to 20th February 2008

Event Rules:
1. Players’ works should be based on the in-game graphics based around the topic of love. Players’ character names can be displayed. The film should last from 1 min to 3 minutes.
2. Players can upload works to www.youtube.com first and then post the link in http://mw.igg.com/active/valentine/index.php

3. Players can submit as many eligible video clips as they want.
4. MWO will verify all submitted video clips and announce the winner list 3 days after the end of the event.

Rewards:
The Most Creative Award (2 winners) Any Saint Pet
The Best Play Book (2 winners) Any Deity Pet
The Most Popular Award (2 winners) Any Christmas Pet
Excellent Award (5 winners) Any Titan Pet

AGEOD's American Civil War Arrives in US PC game

cdv Software Entertainment USA is pleased to announce that they have shipped AGEOD's American Civil War: 1861-1865 -- The Blue and The Gray to North American retail outlets today. The game, created by acclaimed designer Philippe Thibaut, focuses on key battles of the American Civil War, and puts players in the combined role of diplomat, logistician and strategist. For more information about the game, please visit http://civilwar.cdvus.com.

AGEOD’s American Civil War: 1861-1865 – The Blue and the Gray is a historical war game that places players at the head of the United States or the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Players take on the roles of military and political leaders trying to lead their factions to military, political or economic victory during five historic years that divided the nation. Players must organize their military forces, all while managing supply and morale as they plan actions over land, sea and by rail.

The game consists of challenging scenarios, campaigns and grand campaigns, all played out on the largest American Civil War map ever created for a game. Strategy gaming fans will face a daunting challenge in this authentic title created by Philippe Thibaut, renowned designer of the award-winning Europa Universalis, Pax Romana and Birth of America.

Ultimate video game movement simulator gets better

Perhaps a number of of you has the movement simulator of Force Dynamics. This simulator can along several axis move to give a realistic experience when you play race games.

The simulator has already been on much large events and several times on TV has been.

Source: Dutch website with video

Denki Wins BEST DEVELOPER In TIGA Awards

Scottish games studio Denki has picked up the Best Developer trophy at the 2008 TIGA Awards, held in central London last night.

Denki was nominated, alongside fellow UK developers Blitz Games and Sumo Digital, as the development company which has made the greatest contribution to independent game development in the UK last year.

TIGA – The Independent Game Developers Association - is an industry body for companies in the UK which create videogames. Each of the awards were voted for by member companies.

Denki is renowned within the games industry for its focus on original game design, high-quality conversions of top-tier brands and carefully managed project development. The company is best known for its work on interactive digital television gaming where, in the past seven years, it has released nearly seventy titles through companies including the UK's Sky Television and DIRECTV in North America. Denki's releases include both original games and many based on leading brands from the likes of Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Sky Sports, LEGO, Namco, Eidos and DreamWorks.

“It's a great honour to be chosen as the best independent developer,” said Denki's Internal Development Manager, Gary Penn, “particularly considering the significant achievements of our fellow nominees”. “We’re proud of having retained our independent status through what have been some very tough times for indie developers over recent years. We're especially delighted that our colleagues and peers within the industry rate Denki so highly and would like to thank everyone who voted for us.”

Building on their experience within the Game Boy Advance and digital television markets, Denki has recently turned its attention towards the Casual and Indie games sector.

“The new opportunities afforded to independent game developers by digital distribution means that games are becoming a far more inclusive pastime,” said Gary. “You can now play games on your television, mobile phone, web browser and even your MP3 player as well as the traditional games consoles people are already familiar with. This change means that for the first time in a generation we have the opportunity to re-engage with people who would never consider themselves ‘gamers’. The next challenge for the games industry is to start creating entertainment which will appeal to people who never normally play any sort of videogames. Denki is ideally positioned to deliver these new types of game and we already have several titles we’re very excited about in development.”

Denki is working on a number of forthcoming branded titles for interactive television as well as several yet-to-be announced games, based on original intellectual property for other platforms.