Race Driver: GRID coming to Nintendo DS

Race Driver: GRID coming to Nintendo DS this summer, complete with circuit creation system.

It's all about creating the race - Race Driver: GRID set to define portable racing.

This summer, take inspiration from competing in the world's most exciting racing cars on legendary circuits and iconic city streets and then get creative with the most powerful track editor in portable gaming, as Codemasters® announces that a special edition of Race Driver: GRID™ is coming to Nintendo DS™.

Set to launch simultaneously with the home console and PC versions, the Nintendo DS edition has been specifically designed for the handheld and is set to offer the most complete pick-up-and-play pocket racing package, complete with stunning visuals.

Race Driver: GRID will deliver intense, incident-packed wheel-to-wheel racing against aggressive AI opponents to create a breathtaking race experience, all the way from the grid to the flag. Accessible handling will enable gamers to jump straight into the action, while a huge career mode includes championship and race events. Quick fire Challenges offer a fast fix of racing for gamers on-the-go and include Time Trials, Speed Tests and Chase events.

Bringing a new world of motor sport to life, players will race at beautifully realised and diverse locations across three continents. In Europe, race prestige marques on the world's most famous circuits including Spa and the Nurburgring. In America, compete in powerful muscle cars through the streets of San Francisco to Washington DC. Taking the race to Japan, experience the unique exhilaration of drift racing on the neon lit streets of Shibuya and then compete in Touge events, downhill races that operate on the fringe of legality.

Exclusively for the Nintendo DS edition, Race Driver: GRID will feature the evolution of the critically acclaimed track editor, first seen in Race Driver™: Create and Race™. With over 60 individual pieces, the creation system offers near-limitless design options, including the ability to personalise trackside hoardings and billboards. Players will be able to craft complete championship circuits in detail or, using the simple Free-Draw tool, create and race within minutes.

Extensive online and multiplayer options let players compete in adrenaline pumping four-player races, climb to the top of global online leader boards for every race event, or share up to four individually created tracks with up to four players in the ultimate custom race series. Gamers can also upload and download new tracks to Race Driver: GRID servers.

With a stunning selection of real-world settings, outstanding racing cars, a powerful track editor and incredible graphics, Race Driver: GRID is the most exciting, fun and feature packed racer you can fit in your pocket. Developed by Firebrand Games, the team responsible for the award-winning Race Driver: Create and Race, the Nintendo DS edition of Race Driver: GRID is coming summer 2008. To register for future driver briefings and get a place on the grid, be sure to visit www.RaceDriverGrid.com.

MASS EFFECT TO LAND ON PC IN MAY

Leading video game developer BioWare, an Electronic Arts company, has announced that the award-winning space epic Mass Effect™ will be released for the PC in May 2008. Published by EA and re-designed for the PC, Mass Effect invites players to take the role of Commander Shepard as they set out on an adventure to save the galaxy from imminent destruction. Wrought with treachery, heroism, difficult decisions and a universe filled with unique and colorful species, Mass Effect delivers a truly compelling storyline.

Optimized for the PC, Mass Effect for the PC incorporates the following features:
• Optimized controls designed specifically for the PC.
• High resolution visuals – Mass Effect for the PC features highly detailed textures, characters and environments.
• Fully customizable controls – PC gamers can re-map the control scheme any way they like.
• Run & Gun Control – Players can assign biotic powers or skills to ‘hot keys’ allowing them to play Mass Effect with a heavier focus on action.
• New decryption mini-game.
• New inventory screen GUI and functionality – The enhanced inventory system makes it easier for players to equip and modify their weapons and armor.

“Mass Effect serves as a powerful example of video games as an art form, delivering new levels of emotional intensity, realistic characters and a gripping storyline – all set in a compelling new universe,” said Ray Muzyka, General Manager, BioWare and Vice President, Electronic Arts. Frank Gibeau, President of EA’s Games Label added, “EA has struck an agreement with Microsoft to handle future publishing for Mass Effect. We are looking forward to releasing Mass Effect on the PC this Spring and brand new titles in the future.”

Originally released for the Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment system, Mass Effect has received critical acclaim throughout the world with more than 70 awards including Game of the Year, Console Game of the Year and Role-Playing Game of the Year. Mass Effect combines a deep story with intense combat and challenges the player to make difficult decisions that can significantly impact the course of events. An innovative conversation system allows for lifelike interaction with some of the most realistic digital actors, voiced by Hollywood actors such as Seth Green, Marina Sirtis, Lance Henriksen and Keith David. Mass Effect for the PC has not yet been rated by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

DUNGEON EXPLORERTM WARRIORS OF ANCIENT ARTS NOW AVAILABLE ON SONY PSP AND NINTENDO DS

DUNGEON EXPLORERTM WARRIORS OF ANCIENT ARTS NOW AVAILABLE ON PSP AND DS

Hudson Entertainment's Classic RPG Franchise Returns, Bringing Two Different Game Play Experiences & Stories to Handheld Platforms

Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm of Hudson Soft, today announced that Dungeon Explorer Warriors of Ancient Arts for the PSP (PlayStationPortable) system and Nintendo DS are now available at retail. Published by Hudson and distributed in North America by Konami Digital Entertainment Inc., both versions will retail for a SRP of $29.99 each.

“We are thrilled to bring back a classic RPG franchise on current gen platforms,” said John Greiner President and CEO of Hudson Entertainment. “Both the PSP system and Nintendo DS games offer players two deep, action-packed RPG experiences that truly represent what the Dungeon Explorer property is all about.”

Both versions deliver unique game play adventures, while updating the classic series with all-new engaging stories. On the PSP® system, players find themselves on a quest to uncover the fate of a legendary kingdom. Along the way, heroes will engage in epic battles and fight against demonic and monstrous creatures, armed with their own arsenal of assorted weapons. There are hundreds of variations between weapons, armor and equipment for players to choose from, all of which can be reworked as they progress through the adventure.

On the PSP® system, players have the ability to choose their warfare style with more than 150 different kinds of fighting arts, one of them being Big Bang Arts. Big Bang Arts, unique to Dungeon Explorer™ Warriors of Ancient Arts for the PSP® system, allows three players to team up to triple their destructive power in Ad-Hoc Multiplayer mode. Big Bang Arts harnesses the power of all three characters at once to unleash a devastating attack on the enemy. Timing is crucial, as the game is action-oriented, and must be calculated precisely in order to be successful. The PSP® system has been rated T (Teen) by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).

The Nintendo DS version places gamers in a land beleaguered by a legion of undead, monstrous soldiers. The story takes place long after the events of the PSP system, as a legend foretells of a hero who will rise to face the growing threat. Gamers must rediscover the lost Ancient Fighting Arts to restore peace to the once flourishing kingdom of Westria. With more than 60 different fighting arts across 8 lost Ancient Fighting Art schools, players can become skilled warriors in order to successfully wage battle against their enemies. Armories of weapons, armor and equipment are available to players, along with three hero races and three character job classes. Players can also play in a group, as 3 players can join forces to battle the Demon God’s minions via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The Nintendo DS™ version has been rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) by the ESRB.

Massive Updates For SwitchBlade, Bringing Controller Support To More PC Games

Blue Orb Releases Massive Updates For SwitchBlade, Bringing Controller Support To More PC Games

SwitchBlade Version 3.0 Now Available from Multiple Download Sites

Blue Orb, Inc. today brought the console controller experience to even more PC gamers with the release of SwitchBladeTM Version 3.0. The updated release adds brand-new controller solutions, called Blades, for Guild Wars®, Hellgate: LondonTM, and Half-Life 2. In addition, Blue Orb delivers an enhanced World of Warcraft® Blade with class-specific schemes and other improvements.

Available as a free download from SwitchBladeGaming.com, FileFront.com, FilePlanet.com Curse.com, Spawnpoint.com, Xfire.com, and other popular download sites, the new version is the first major expansion of SwitchBlade's game support.

"Today's release is a huge step toward realizing our ultimate goal with SwitchBlade, which is full-featured controller support for the most exciting PC games," said Aaron Levin, Vice President of Business Development for Blue Orb. "We want to give gamers new options for how to play their favorite PC games – we're starting by bringing the console experience to a few key PC titles today, but just wait for the rest of 2008."

For more information, please visit www.switchbladegaming.com.

Penumbra Black Plague PC video game ships plus download demo

Penumbra Black Plague shipping to stores in North America

Publisher Paradox Interactive proudly confirms the release of the eagerly anticipated horror adventure, Penumbra Black Plague, shipping to stores in North America from today.

The second instalment in the Penumbra series becomes the latest addition to the survival horror genre, inviting gamers to continue Philips quest from the cliffhanger finale of the previous episode.

Developed by Frictional Games, the highly talented and creative two-man team has toiled to deliver a gaming experience that surpasses the lofty expectations generated by their first collaboration.

Visit the official website: http://www.paradoxplaza.com/penumbra/

Play the demo: http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/penumbrablackplague/download_6185668.html?tag=topslot;title;1&om_act=convert&om_clk=dltopslot

Buy Penumbra Black Plague on GamersGate: http://www.gamersgate.com/index.php?page=product&what=view&sku=DD-PENBP

Suggested retail price: USD 19.99/ EUR 19.99

StoneLoops! Of Jurassica Open Beta Launched

StoneLoops! Of Jurassica Open Beta Launched

Codeminion, authors of the hit casual game Magic Match, announce the launch of StoneLoops! Open Beta on www.codeminion.com.

Codeminion, authors of the hit causal game Magic Match, are happy to announce the launch of StoneLoops! of Jurassica Open Beta version. The game is available for testing immediately on the new www.codeminion.com website to anyone who joins the beta program.

StoneLoops! of Jurassica is a unique marble popper set in the prehistoric era. It features stunning visuals and a twist on the regular marble popping mechanic which lets players grab and shoot balls directly from the path. This change makes such an impact on the overall experience that after playing StoneLoops! many people find it difficult to enjoy older games. Introduction of the Strategy Mode is also new to the marble popper genre.

About Codeminion
Codeminion S.C. is an independent developer of casual games, based in Warsaw, Poland. Most known for the successful, best of 2005 Magic Match fantasy puzzle game, Codeminion focuses on high quality, innovative titles with mass market appeal.
For more information about Codeminion and their Beta Program:
www.codeminion.com

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."