Put the Sin Back in Sin City with Midway's This is Vegas

Open World, Lifestyle Action Experience Allows Players to Fight, Gamble, Drive and Party in the World's Most Decadent City

Midway Games, a leading interactive entertainment software publisher and developer, today announced This is Vegas, an open world, lifestyle action experience, where players will live out their Vegas fantasies by fighting, gambling, driving and partying their way through the most decadent, fast-paced and wildest city in the world. Developed by Midway's acclaimed Seattle-based internal studio, Surreal, This is Vegas is expected to ship for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows-based PC in Winter 2008.

The first screenshots, video and game information for This is Vegas are being unveiled throughout the week at IGN (http://www.ign.com). Europe will also have a selection of magazine Cover features hitting throughout the month of February.

"We are thrilled to be unveiling the first-ever videogame experience which allows players to live out their wildest Vegas fantasies," said Alan Patmore, studio head, Surreal. "Whether it's partying in the hottest night clubs, racing in underground circuits, testing your luck at the tables or getting into a barroom brawl, This is Vegas has it all."

For the latest game information, trailers and more, please go to http://vegas.midway.com.

Got Game Entertainment Announces "Arctic Stud Poker Run" Goes Gold

Got Game Entertainment LLC today announced that “Arctic Stud Poker Run” has gone gold. Developed by Game Refuge, the veteran arcade team behind “Rampage World Tour” and “General Chaos”, this “full-contact poker” game for PC is a decidedly irreverent, over-the-top reinvention of real-life cross-country "poker runs" in which players race from place to place picking up playing cards in an effort to assemble a winning hand. The Got Game Entertainment release of “Arctic Stud Poker Run” features loads of upgrades and enhancements to the developer’s earlier limited-run edition of the game. “Arctic Stud Poker Run” will make its North American retail debut in March at $19.99 (USD). The game will also be available for download purchase via www.ArcticStudPokerRun.com. “Arctic Stud Poker Run” is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB for Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Comic Mischief, and Mild Violence.

“Arctic Stud Poker Run” is an arcade-style combat racing game with a revolutionary multi-player battle experience. The action-packed “full contact poker” game includes everything from heat-seeking missiles and dynamite-filled snowmen to spell-casting goblins and bullet-proof long-johns. The Got Game Entertainment release includes the following upgrades and enhancements to the limited-run Game Refuge edition:

•37 characters from which to choose
•New single player progression
•Event trophies and award ceremonies
•Progressive betting
•No-limit poker and "all-in" options
•Spectator speech and "side nets"
•New bot settings
•User-customizable controls
•Remote server controls
•New game duration options
•Additional incendiaries
•Secret incantations
•Instant access to online games
•Enhanced AI
•Expanded print documentation

For more information, visit www.ArcticStudPokerRun.com.

Tradewinds 2 gets first release for Windows Mobile Standard smartphones

Astraware and Sandlot Games are pleased to announce a new version of Tradewinds 2 for Windows Mobile Standard devices alongside an update to the existing Palm OS and Windows Mobile Professional versions.

The first release of Tradewinds 2 for Windows Mobile Standard devices supports both QVGA and QVGA landscape smartphones, and the 5-way control system has been optimised for non-touchscreen devices to make it easier to navigate map, port, and combat screens in the game. The Palm OS and Windows Mobile® Professional versions of Tradewinds 2 have also been updated to include these enhancements which further improve the playability for users who prefer to use key controls instead of the stylus and touchscreen.

Tradewinds 2 is a fun Caribbean trading adventure featuring 20 ports to explore and trade in, pirates to battle and defeat and fun missions to complete for honor and reward. Players can select from a choice of 4 characters to play as, with an additional unlockable character and a Custom Character Creator to offer many hours of additional play. Tradewinds 2 includes two modes: Story Mode where players undertake tasks to complete a set of missions; and Free Trade Mode where the aim is to trade goods and build your fortune.

Tradewinds 2 is available for download for Palm OS and Windows Mobile smartphones and PDAs from http://www.astraware.com/tradewinds2. To enjoy fully-featured, unlimited play players can purchase the game for $19.95.

NAMCO BANDAI GAMES SHIPS CULDCEPT SAGA FOR XBOX 360

NAMCO BANDAI Games America announced today that Culdcept SAGA has shipped to retail stores nationwide exclusively for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Combining the luck and strategy of a traditional board game with the depth of trading card games, Culdcept SAGA offers gamers an entirely original play experience as they customize their decks and take on opponents in an addictive single player mode, multiplayer versus mode and online via Xbox LIVE.

Culdcept SAGA immerses players in a mystical world in which combatants wage war to possess pieces of a powerful book known as the “Culdcept.” Shattered into hundreds of cards imbued with incredible capabilities, the Culdcept has the power to grant its owner godlike abilities. As players battle others who seek to wield the Culdcept, they will move around a variety of game boards in an attempt to gain ownership of land squares while confronting enemy monsters. As they traverse the board, players can choose to pay a toll to their opponent to avoid battle, or go toe to toe with a creature of their own. With each successful encounter in the game’s single player story mode, players will acquire new cards as well as rare outfits they can use to customize their in-game avatar.

Featuring nearly 500 unique hand-illustrated cards, Culdcept SAGA lets players create their own custom decks that suit their individual play style. Choosing from fearsome creatures, powerful equipment and mighty spells, players have nearly infinite freedom to generate new strategies and techniques for overcoming their opponents.

Boasting an impressive range of multiplayer features, Culdcept SAGA lets up to four players match wits and custom decks in tactical battles on a single Xbox 360 system or online with Xbox LIVE. Players will be able to customize the full scope of their multiplayer experience by managing the in-game rules, match types and even holding “blind” matches to level the playing field by distributing a random deck of cards to all competitors.

Culdcept SAGA is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB and carries a suggested retail price of $39.99. For more information, please visit www.namcobandaigames.com.

SEGA LAUNCHES OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF VIKING: BATTLE FOR ASGARD

SEGA Europe Ltd. today is proud to announce the launch of the official website for their highly anticipated title, VIKING: Battle For Asgard. Fans can immerse themselves in the violent yet spectacular world of Vikings and their Gods by clicking on www.sega.com/viking. The official site features game information and visuals, as well as the epic new video featuring the Siege of Caldburg which debuts on the site today.

VIKING: Battle For Asgard is the latest console title from the award winning and critically acclaimed development studio, The Creative Assembly and is due for release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on 28th March 2008. For more information please visit www.sega.com/viking, and for press assets please visit www.sega-press.com.

NOBUNAGA'S AMBITION: RISE TO POWER AVAILABLE NOW

KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, announced that Nobunaga’s Ambition®: Rise to Power is available beginning today at North American retailers including GameStop, Best Buy, EB Games, Game Crazy, Amazon.com and GameFly. This historical simulation game from legendary producer Kou Shibusawa is exclusive to the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system.

Gamers looking for the latest information on Nobunaga’s Ambition: Rise to Power, can visit the official minisite at www.koei.com/risetopower.

About Nobunaga’s Ambition: Rise to Power
Set during the 16th century, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Rise to Power sends players back in time to the Sengoku (Warring States) period of Feudal Japan. It was during this time that the visionary Nobunaga Oda assembled the most advanced military force in Japan, and instituted new policies that stimulated the growth of the nation’s economy.

In Nobunaga’s Ambition: Rise to Power, players will assume the role of Nobunaga, or of a rival warlord, in their quest to unite Japan under one rule. Packed with 7 dramatic scenarios - from the 1551 Struggle for Power to the events following Nobunaga’s death in 1582, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Rise to Power lets players embark on their quest from more than 300 different starting points.

For the first time in the series, military campaigns are carried out using an explosive 3D real-time battle system. Plus a new command lets players go “all in” and risk their entire empire in battle. If victorious, players will expand their empire, but a defeat could mean the total loss of their land.

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Rise to Power is more than just a game of military domination. Life in Feudal Japan is brought to life with remarkable detail. In vibrant castle towns the daily lives of characters will unfold while players nurture their village into a flourishing empire. Players will also manage government affairs and develop critical infrastructure such as ninja camps, blacksmiths, and markets. A robust character edit function features a wide variety of character faces, the ability to edit stats, and lets the player choose when and where the characters will appear.

Originally released in Japan as Nobunaga’s Ambition: Tenkasousei, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Rise to Power marks the return of the series to North America. Nobunaga’s Ambition: Rise to Power is developed by KOEI and produced by Kou Shibusawa, the mastermind behind the legendary Romance of the Three Kingdoms and P.T.O. historical simulation series. The game is rated “T” (Teen – Alcohol Reference, Mild Language, Mild Violence) by the ESRB.

The Epic Journey Continues with the Release of the First Downloadable Content for the Sci-Fi Blockbuster "Mass Effect"

To date, over 1.6 million gamers have explored the engaging sci-fi universe of "Mass Effect." Beginning on 10th March, fans everywhere will be able to expand the "Mass Effect" experience with the release of the first ever downloadable content for the award-winning saga.
The "Bring Down the Sky" downloadable content pack will be released to Xbox LIVE Marketplace on Monday, 10th March at 10am, and will be available for 400 MS points. This is the first in a series of planned downloadable content that further expands the "Mass Effect" universe and continues the adventures of Commander Shepard and his crew of the Normandy.
"Bring Down the Sky" includes a new uncharted world that introduces the notorious and feared alien race of the Batarians. A Batarian extremist group has hijacked a mobile asteroid station in the Asgard system, setting it on a collision course with the nearby colony world of Terra Nova. Only Commander Shepard can save the millions of innocent civilians before the asteroid completes its deadly descent.

"Bring Down the Sky" contains approximately 90 minutes of heart-pounding action and a new Achievement worth 50 Gamerscore points.

"Mass Effect" is exclusively available on Xbox 360.

"Imperium Romanum" Set to Conquer North America in March 2008

Take the future of an empire into your hands in “Imperium Romanum”, an historical strategy title for PC created by Kalypso Media and Haemimont Games and will be published by SouthPeak Games in North America in March 2008.

Imperium Romanum puts the player in the role of a governor of a province, where he or she must strive to build a well organized, prosperous and commanding settlement. Set in the time of the Roman Empire at its peak, players will marvel at the incredible attention to detail as they construct fortifications, towers, gates and bridges, while paying for them with a new currency. Imperium Romanum is a challenging, enjoyable, and authentic quest to rule the world.

With missions based on real events and locations and enhanced by elements like crime and economics, Imperium Romanum is the complete historical strategy gaming experience. Impressive graphics showcase historically accurate buildings, natural disasters, and siege machines, as well as an improved battle system where the player commands their armies. The missions are interactive, so the players activate the goals when they choose.

Build. Rule. Conquer!

In January, SouthPeak Interactive, LLC and Global Services Partners Acquisition Corp. (OTC Bulletin Board: GSPA, GSPAB, GSPAW, GSPAZ) jointly announced that they have agreed to a business combination resulting in a new publicly held entity that will be called SouthPeak Interactive Corporation. The transaction will allow SouthPeak to access the public markets to accelerate its growth strategy and take advantage of strong industry growth trends.

Trade-in at Goozex!

Goozex, Inc., the leading online video game trading community, publicly launched today a new feature that connects members to play together through their personal Goozex profile pages. Goozex members can now team up with each other on thousands of specific game titles for online playing and sharing content.

New features include invitations to play online and quickly form Goozex gaming groups of friends, and requests for specific gaming help, opinions, and other related content. Goozex members can easily find each other through their personal profile pages and by adding games to their “Playing Now” list.
To introduce members to this feature, Goozex co-founders Mark Nebesky and Jonathan Dugan invite members to play Call of Duty 4 on Xbox Live every Thursday in February from 8:00 to 9:00pm (EST). Members will also have an opportunity to personally connect with part of the Goozex founding team in a fun gaming environment.

“Goozex has always been about connecting gamers to share their individual experiences,” said Valerio Zanini, CEO and co-founder of Goozex, Inc. “As gamers, we want to not only get great deals on games, but also share our knowledge of games and maybe even get a little competitive with friends online. When you think of a game like Call of Duty 4, you see there are a lot of different layers to bond with and we think it’s great to create new friends over one common game experience.

How to Find & Connect with Goozex Members:
Browse through Goozex’s extensive database of games, and visit the page of the game you are interested in. Under the “Playing Now” tab you will find a list of members that are available to connect with to play online or share gaming comments and content. Just push the “Invite to Play” button and create a connection with another member.
If you want to add yourself to the “Playing Now” list and be contacted by other members, simply click the button “add to list”. You can also see the list of all games you are Playing Now by visiting your profile, and the clicking the “Playing Now” tab.

About Goozex, Inc.
Goozex, Inc. is an award winning and best in class rated peer-to-multi-peer trading company headquartered in College Park, Maryland. Launched in July 2006, Goozex.com was named a Webby Award Official Honoree in April 2007. It has also been rated best in class by Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM #223) and GamesRadar (Dec. 25, 2007). Currently, it is the leading video game trading service based on an automated point system. Games are assigned a point value based on several factors including supply and demand, and users earn points when trading their games with other users. Points can then be redeemed for other video games. The system offers its users a fair market value for their games and guarantees all trades.

Goozex, your game trading community. Please visit our website at www.goozex.com

WII-KLY UPDATE: TWO NEW CLASSIC GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

Step into two very different types of action this week. Either battle the bad guys to save hostages and preserve freedom or bury your opponents with magical jewels. Whatever you fancy, you'll need to be ready for a challenge: strategize as a fearless hero or manipulate special jewels to raise the crush bar. How do you plan to win today?

Two new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wii™ owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

OPERATION WOLF (NES, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Use of Tobacco and Violence, 500 points):

A group of desperate terrorists is keeping hostages in their jungle fortress. As a member of the elite tactical squad Operation Wolf, you must invade their hideout, destroy their operations, and get the hostages out alive! Maneuver through a series of missions and fight off soldiers, patrol boats, helicopters, and more. The further you progress, the more enemies you'll have to defeat and the harder they'll try to stop you in your tracks (going so far as tossing knives and grenades at you or wearing armor). Each area along your path ends with a boss battle where you'll have to find and exploit each boss's particular weakness. To top it all off, your weapon options are also limited, so you'll need to conserve ammunition and grenades. Operation Wolf is said to be the most valiant and capable unit in the military-can you save the hostages and win the day?

Columns III:
Revenge of Columns (Genesis, 1-5 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 points): This single-player or multiplayer experience expands upon the game play of the original two Columns titles giving players some extra attacks to spring on opponents. As in the original Columns, jewels fall into a bin, and you have to twist and manipulate them to form matches of three or more in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line to keep the jewels from stacking up and reaching the top. In Columns III, special magical jewels do things like raise your opponent's crush bar or lower your own, adding an extra element of strategy to the game. This is a great game to play with friends, so download it today and jump into the action!