FlatOut Head On – Official PSP Demo due for Release

FlatOut Head On – Official PSP Demo due for Release 22 February 2008

Empire Interactive has today confirmed that European gamers will be among the first in the world to sample its eagerly awaited PSP title FlatOut Head On with the release of the official PSP demo on 22nd February 2008.

“This is a great way for us to showcase FlatOut Head On to PSP gamers”, said Sean Walsh, Empire Interactive Product Manager. “PSP enthusiasts can often be heard talking on forums and blogs about the lack of good demos available for their beloved handheld. We wanted to help satisfy that need, and by giving them a taste of some of the featured modes - Carnage, Deathmatch Derby and Ragdoll Stunts – we think that it’ll really whet their appetite for destruction.”

The three featured game modes on the demo are ‘Carnage Race’, ‘Deathmatch Derby’ and one of the classic Ragdoll stunts. ‘Carnage Race’ is a fight against the clock to score as many points as you can in the given time by causing as much damage as possible to the scenery and your opponents in order to maximise your score. ‘Deathmatch Derby’ is an arena-based Derby with one simple objective – destroy your opponents before they destroy you with the aid of 3 lives and a multitude of power-ups. And finally, for the first time in FlatOut Head On, the Ragdoll Stunts take centre stage as a fully integrated component of the main Carnage Challenge mode. In High Jump drive the car down the ramp as fast as possible and launch your driver through the windscreen high into the sky and watch it slam into the metal net.

Play on all the featured modes included will be unlimited, however players will not be able to save their progress and no other features will be unlocked.

The FlatOut Head On PSP demo will be available for download from http://uk.playstation.com and the Empire Interactive website: http://www.empireinteractive.com from the 22nd February 2008.

FlatOut Head On is due for its European release on 14th March 2008 and will feature some of the most destructive hi-octane motorised anarchy handheld racing has ever seen.

World Rally Championship 3D Mobile cellphone Game Scoops IMGA Award

'World Rally Championship 3D' Mobile Game Scoops IMGA 2007's 'People's Choice Award'

Even As the Clock Ticks Away, It's Impossible to Ignore the Fierce 3D Graphics and Cinematic Camera Angles of WRC

At yesterday’s IMGA Ceremony, I-play, the mobile publishing division of Oberon Media, the world’s leading multi-platform casual games company, was awarded the IMGA 2007’s ‘People’s Choice Award’ for the ‘World Rally Championship 3D’, the mobile game based on one of the most exciting spectator sports in the world. The game, published by I-play, was developed by I-play’s partner Firemint.

The FIA ‘World Rally Championship 3D’ features up to 16 official WRC locations; players must master four challenging environments and road surfaces in both arcade and championship modes – all against the clock! The game also features cinematic camera angles; third person driving views; track hazards such as logs, boulders and crashed cars, as well as the official WRC music and sound effects!

New Gaming Community renowned for its free, automated patch delivery system

GameShadow Launches New Gaming Community & amBX Support

GameShadow Ltd – renowned for its free, automated patch delivery system – today announced that its new gaming community had left Beta. The announcement coincides with the company’s recent implementation of Philips amBX support, as part of its ongoing commitment to provide gamers with all the latest demos, trailers, and drivers.

The gaming community infrastructure has been undergoing rigorous stress and usability testing since mid-December, and the company is very proud to finally fling open the doors. The service includes:

Profiles automatically populated with the users’ game data, recorded by the existing GameShadow Downloader. No need to manually input every game you own!

Gaming specific functionality Most Wanted list, and a news feed reporting user-tailored events like new demos and the games friends are playing.

Gaming Community tools like messaging, friends, groups, and a customisable user interface.

Founder Tony Treadwell has said, “This is a big part of GameShadow’s ongoing drive to become a hub for gamers the world over. We’re known for providing fast downloads, but the addition of the new gaming community, strong editorial and a broader user-base really means we can offer something no one else can match.”

Despite this, the company is still committed to its original diktat. Tony Treadwell again, “We’re still the fastest, easiest way to stay on top of the latest patches, demos and trailers. We’ve just released the 2.4 version of the GameShadow Downloader, which – along with the usual performance increases – now allows amBX users to automatically keep up to date with the latest amBX drivers and updates.”

“We’re delighted to be working with GameShadow to get amBX software out to our customers as efficiently as possible,” said Jo Cooke, amBX Chief Marketing Officer. “Partnering with GameShadow was an easy decision to make, and a seamless transition. We look forward to working with the company as we roll out more amBX updates and gaming files in the future.”

GameShadow has had a strong Christmas period, growing to almost 1 million subscribers, meaning the company is now in a position to unite gamers the world over.

Overclocked: A History of Violence Announced by Lighthouse Interactive

Solid Release Date for Overclocked: A History of Violence Announced by Lighthouse Interactive

Leading Publisher Lighthouse Interactive and dtp Entertainment AG, today announced a solid release date for their highly anticipated psychological thriller Adventure game, Overclocked: A History of Violence. This PC DVD-ROM game will begin hitting stores shelves across the United Kingdom, Scandinavia and Benelux territories on May 2, 2008. And will begin shipping to major retail stores in Canada and the U.S. on March 31, 2008. Created by award-winning developer House of Tales Entertainment, Overclocked explores an archetypical, yet actual condition of mankind: violence. Players will become engrossed in a world where memories and illusions; dreams and reality; perpetrators and victims… collide. Overclocked: A History of Violence is Windows Vista compatible. Six screenshots accompany this press release.

Erik Schreuder, CEO Lighthouse Interactive said, "We are very proud to expand our line-up with this high quality Adventure game. House of Tales is known for their strong characters and thought provoking plots, and Overclocked is an exceptional example of their talents. Players will take on the role of six different characters throughout the game. This innovative approach, combined with chronologically inverse storytelling, will give players the immersive experience they've been waiting for." Schreuder went on to say, "Overclocked: A History of Violence was released in German speaking territories with great success. Adventure gamers in English speaking territories will now have the chance to enjoy this extraordinary game."

UK video games charts

All formats

(Full price) Week ending 9 February 2008

1 DEVIL MAY CRY 4 CAPCOM -
2 MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES SEGA
3 TUROK DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS
4 BURNOUT PARADISE ELECTRONIC ARTS
5 PDC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DARTS 08 OXYGEN INTERACTIV
6 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION
7 THE CLUB SEGA
8 FIFA 08 ELECTRONIC ARTS
9 CONFLICT: DENIED OPS EIDOS
10 THE SIMPSONS GAME ELECTRONIC ARTS
11 ASSASSIN'S CREED UBISOFT
12 WWE SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2008 THQ
13 NEED FOR SPEED: PROSTREET ELECTRONIC ARTS
14 PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2008 KONAMI
15 NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. NINTENDO
16 LEGO STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA LUCASARTS
17 GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK ACTIVISION
18 RATATOUILLE THQ
19 FOOTBALL MANAGER 2008 SEGA
20 TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 08 ELECTRONIC ARTS

Award Winning BioShock To cellphone mobile phones

Mobile Gamers: Welcome to Rapture

IG Fun & Indiagames To Bring The Award Winning "BioShock" To Mobile

IG Fun LLC, the international publishing arm of Indiagames Ltd, India’s benchmark online and mobile games company; today announced it will bring BioShock, one of the most awarded PC & Console games in the history of gaming, on the mobile platform. IG Fun secured the global rights to develop and publish BioShock for the mobile platform from 2K Games.

BioShock is a first-person shooter game with role playing game customization elements. It is the 2nd highest rated Xbox 360 game and the 3rd highest rated PC game till date. Since its launch, BioShock has been well accepted by gamers and critics all over the world. The game received overwhelmingly positive press reviews, particularly for its “morality-based" storyline, immersive environment and Ayn Rand-inspired dystopian setting. At E3 2006, BioShock was given "Game of the Show” award. It was adjudged as the “Best Xbox 360 Game” during Leipzig Game Convention 2007. BAFTA 2007 conferred BioShock the “Best Game Award”.

Sean Malatesta, CEO, IG Fun said, “We’re trying to do great things and BioShock on mobile promises to offer a whole new gaming experience and unmatched excitement amongst mobile gamers the world over. BioShock is a special game in its genre; it brings an element of conflicting morals which has an impact on the storyline, and, among other things, on the difficulty of the game itself.”

Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Gondal, Founder & CEO, Indiagames Ltd. added, “Bio-shock on mobile will herald the next level in mobile game development and gameplay experience. The PC and console version of the game has already been a huge hit and we are confident of replicating the success on the mobile platform too.”

BioShock places the player in the role of a plane crash survivor named Jack, who must explore the underwater Objectivist-dystopian city of Rapture, and survive attacks, by the mutated beings and mechanical drones that populate it. The gamer will have to make meaningful choices and mature decisions, ultimately culminating in the grand question: do you exploit the innocent survivors of Rapture or save them?

This "genetically enhanced" first-person shooter lets the gamer do things never before possible in the genre: turn everything into a weapon, biologically mod body with plasmids, hack devices and systems, upgrade weapons and craft new ammo variants, and experiment with different battle techniques in an incredibly unique underwater city.

Online conference with the leader of Rig'n'Roll PC video game

1C opens online conference with the leader of Rig'n'Roll team

Leading Eastern and Central European publisher 1C Company is pleased to announce that it will have an online conference with Igor Belago, leader of SoftLab-Nsk. SoftLab-Nsk is the development studio behind the critically acclaimed Hard Truck franchise and is currently working on the third game in the line-up - Rig’n’Roll.

The online conference starts on February 12. Readers may ask any question they want to Igor simply by posting them in the correct forum. The developers will choose the most popular and interesting questions and Igor Belago will answer them on 1C's official forum.

To participate in this conference forum members must read the conference rules and post their questions here on the forum. Questions will only be accepted until February 22. After this date Igor and his team will start answering the posts in order.

Rig’n’Roll is a sequel to the famous Hard Truck series. Gamers can race high-powered big rig trucks along thousands miles of real Californian roads, visiting San-Francisco to San Diego, San Jose to Los Angeles. Rig’n’Roll delivers players the ultimate truck driving experience with authentic models of trucks and their interiors, completely new physics and astonishing 3D graphics.

Website:http://www.1cpublishing.com/

Rig’n’Roll also gives gamers an opportunity to test their management skills as they establish their own cargo transportation company. Players will recruit staff and hire other drivers to work for them as they expand their business and eliminate their competitors from the transportation market. Apart from being the most accurate and innovative truck driving simulation game ever produced, Rig’n’Roll immerses players in an exciting story with an unexpected finale, making new allies and battling treacherous foes as they discover a conspiracy that will test their skills to the limit.

Hands-On Mobile Launches cellphone game Heroes Lore in Europe

Hands-On Mobile Launches Heroes Lore in Europe

Hands-On Mobile, the world's leading developer of connected games and applications, announces that Heroes Lore: Wind of Soltia is now available for download across Europe. Hands-On Mobile is launching the game as part of its 'Best of Korea' programme, which fast-tracks the very best games from the world's leading mobile gaming market for launch in other territories. Heroes Lore: Wind of Soltia sold more than 100,000 copies in its first month when it was released in Korea and went on to regularly top the country's mobile charts.

Heroes Lore: Wind of Soltia takes place in a huge world, comprising over 100 varied maps. Players play as one of three playable characters, a Knight, Rogue or Guardian. The characters must battle through diverse locations ranging from dungeons to deserts and icy tundra to lush grassland. Players are confronted by more than 80 types of monsters and bosses in their quest, all of whom must be defeated using a combination of the basic weaponary available and the magical items that can be collected.

"Heroes Lore has been massively successful for us in Korea and we are delighted that we have the reach to introduce European players to a game that has proven to be so immensely popular on the other side of the world," said Greg Robinson, President and General Manager EMEA, Hands-On Mobile. "Heroes Lore: Wind of Soltia is the first title in the Heroes Lore series, but we anticipate being able to bring the multiplayer sequels to Europe this year, which will only increase further the demand and popularity of what is the probably the best mobile RPG game available."

Heroes Lore has already been exceptionally well received by the European games press, Midlet Review gave the game 9/10, stating: "HLWS is no ordinary game, it will catch you and will be a part of your life." Mobile Game FAQs gave Heroes Lore 86% and claimed that in terms of "…depth and gameplay it is second to none on the mobile."

Hands-On Mobile has also teamed up with the major RPG community, Spawn Point to promote the game.

Imperium Romanum: The PC Playable Demo for download

"Imperium Romanum": The Playable Demo!

Kalypso Media Group is pleased to announce the release of the playable demo of the upcoming strategy title “Imperium Romanum”. The sequel to the successful "Glory of the Roman Empire" which sold over 1 million units throughout Europe, “Imperium Romanum” is a challenging, enjoyable, and authentic quest to rule the world.

As the governor of a Roman province the player must test their strategic abilities as they defend their settlement against the attacking Barbarians, trade goods and strive to build a well organized, prosperous and commanding settlement.

The fortune of your settlement lies very much in your own hands…..

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.

The demo includes two training missions and one game mission and can be downloaded from:

http://www.strategyinformer.com/pc/demos/imperiumromanum/demo.html

http://www.worthdownloading.com/download.php?gid=3115&id=14013

Imperium Romanum, will be published on 22nd February 2008 at a price of £29,99. The title will be released by the Kalypso Group worldwide, excluding Spain and Italy. Imperium Romanum is already considered to be one of the top PC-strategy games of the first quarter of next year.

Roogoo video game for Xbox LIVE and PC

SouthPeak Make It Two For LIVE

Innovative, Charming Puzzle Title Coming To Xbox LIVE Arcade and PCs This Spring

SouthPeak Games has announced it will be releasing Roogoo for Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC this spring. Developed by Spidermonk Entertainment, Roogoo uses geometric shapes and rotating discs to craft a frenetic, exciting puzzle game framed within an imaginative storyline and a delightfully realised fantasy universe and is the second title SouthPeak have announced for Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360.

Roogoo tasks players with guiding meteors in the form of shaped blocks though a series of rotating disks as a means of saving the planet Roo and the entire Roogoo race. If aligned correctly, the disks allow the blocks to reach the ground and scores are awarded. However, it’s not as easy as simply rotating the disks to form a neat tunnel. Various obstacles and enemies will impede the blocks’ transit and with the flow of meteor blocks steadily increasing as the game progresses, players will have to think on their feet to save the Roogoo and rack up seriously high scores.

“Roogoo is a rare breed of puzzle game that combines compulsive play with an engaging storyline and a wonderful fantasy world,” said Melanie Mroz, CEO of SouthPeak Games. “With its accessible gameplay, unique charm and high production values, Roogoo is set to carve its own niche when released for Xbox LIVE Arcade and PC. Gamers will definitely have loads of fun mastering its unusual depth and trying to become the guru of Roogoo.”

“We set out to build an addictive, casual game that would be easy to play yet difficult to master,” said Scott March, President at SpiderMonk Entertainment. “SouthPeak gave us the freedom to push the limits of creativity and it resulted in a game that is truly different and has something for everyone. Not only do we have solid gameplay mechanic, but we have added a story element to the experience to really keep players engaged.”

Roogoo will be released for Xbox LIVE Arcade and PC this spring.