Download Demo-Version of Speedball 2 – Tournament available

A singleplayer demo version of Speedball 2 – Tournament is now available for download. Tigers vs. Brutal Deluxe: Who is going to kick the opponent out of the arena? PC players choose one of the two tough teams to play in single player knock-out mode against CPU opponents. With two controllers plugged in to one computer, sports fans even jump into 1-on-1 matches against human opponents.

The full retail version is coming to stores soon. It features all 32 teams, team editor, team management, the singleplayer modes knock-out, cup and tournament as well as the full multiplayer mode via LAN and internet. The demo package consists of a 440 MB zip file and can be downloaded here:

http://www.fip-publishing.de/downloads68!1!435,1.html.

Jumpgate Evolution at forthcoming Codemasters Online Connect event.

Codemasters Online today revealed that their next MMORPG set for release in 2008, Jumpgate will be fully playable at their forthcoming 2-day community event, Codemasters Online Connect.

Available to play across 400+ machines this will be the first chance players have to get hands on with Codemasters Online's latest blockbuster MMORPG set for release in Winter 2008. Lucky attendees to Connect will also walk away with an exclusive BETA key for Jumpgate as part of the gift pack being distributed to all attendees at the show.

'We are excited to be unveiling Jumpgate to the press and public at Connect," commented Edward Relf, Director of Marketing, Codemasters Online. "Connect is the perfect platform for us to demonstrate this amazing next generation MMORPG and look forward to letting gamers get hands on with this twitch-based space epic."

Recently unveiled as Codemasters Online's next MMORPG, Jumpgate is the definitive space combat MMO immersing players in an intense action-packed universe. Embarking on an immersive and accessible space adventure, players can trade valuable commodities, take part in dangerous outer-space raids, meet and play with friends and live out the dream to become an elite hero or infamous space pirate. The game features both a rich and varied universe to explore and has been designed for experienced and novice MMO players alike.

Developed by the US-based MMOG developer NetDevil, Jumpgate is a space-based MMO incorporating all-new action style gameplay like never seen before in any previous online game.

For more information on Codemasters Online Connect visit www.codemastersconnect.com

For more information on Jumpgate visit www.jumpgateevolution.com

Kicks available in French and Italian

Kicks now available also in French and Italian

Great news for all the French and Italian players!

GameTribe has released an updated version of the Kicks’ game client which includes a Multilanguage feature: now you’ll be able to enjoy this game also in French and Italian in addition to English!

To enjoy this feature all you have to do is to change settings in the option area.

1) If you are already playing Kicks Online, you will not need to reinstall the client: just launch the game and you’ll automatically download a patch that includes the new Multilanguage feature! Then go to the Options section and change your language preferences.

2) If you are not yet a Kicks player, you just need to create a GameTribe account, download the game here and then set the favorite language in option menu after logging into the game.

It’s football time!

Start playing!!!

Gametribe.com,

www.gametribe.com

World War II strategy game Men of War the sequel to Soldiers: Heroes of World War II and Faces of War

Third game in the exciting trilogy comes to the US

Leading Eastern and Central European publisher 1C Company today announced the development of its new World War II strategy game Men of War. Men of War is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Soldiers: Heroes of World War II and Faces of War and is scheduled for a summer 2008 release around the world.

Men of War takes place in Europe during the height of World War II. The story unfolds across three different campaigns played out through the eyes of Soviet, Allied and German soldiers. Each campaign has its own structured timeline bringing a different story of the war to life spanning across Russia, North Africa, Ukraine, Greece, Germany, Italy and the Pacific. The main Soviet campaign sees two student comrades, Smirnov and Kuznetzov, join the army and quickly become brothers in arms as they rise through the ranks and experience the rigors of war.

Men of War will feature 50 new units to play, including newly designed tanks, APCs and heavy guns. Dynamic, in-game video enhances the single player missions, while developer Best Way has given the sounds of war new range with over one hundred new effects, recorded under real operating conditions. The single player campaign will also feature a fully customizable user interface so players are able to set-up their command layout as they please.

In addition to the in-depth single player experience, Men of War also unleashes all new multiplayer maps along with new 'capture the flag' and 'high-value cargo' modes, all faithfully recreated with stunning graphics and refined AI. A new rating system has also been introduced to ensure a fair fight in online multiplayer battles.

Summary of key additions:

Three evolving storylines in the Soviet, Allied and German armies, comprising 19 missions in total

More than 50 new units to use in multiplayer mode

Realistic models of armament and military equipment recreated in accordance with design drawings and historical documents

System of ratings and statistics for every participant in multiplayer mode

New nation in multiplayer mode - Japan

Revised controls interface - customizable and easier to use

New multiplayer maps and 2 new game modes

Highly detailed WWII environments and characters faithfully recreated with a cutting-edge graphics engine

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.”