Microsoft XBox 360 Gears of War 2 announced game to launch in November

Microsoft has promised that Gears of War 2 will launch for the Xbox 360 this November.

Cliff Bleszinski, lead designer at Epic Games, announced that the saga of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad will continue on the Xbox 360 this autumn with the highly anticipated sequel to the 4.5 million-selling blockbuster Gears of War.

"To our team the original game was just a tease, the appetiser to the Gears of War characters and new style of gameplay," said Bleszinski at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.

"Gears of War 2 is an even bigger, better and more badass experience than the first game, and we cannot wait to get it in the hands of eager gamers this November."

Also at the conference, Peter Molyneux, of Lionhead Studios, took the stage to showcase multiplayer features in Fable 2, introducing dynamic cooperative play for the first time.

Tomonobu Itagaki, head of Team Ninja, revealed new Ninja Gaiden II game-sharing features, including Ninja Cinema, which is available solely through Xbox Live, allowing players to record and upload their best ninja moves.

Microsoft said that it has received more than $250m in digital revenue from Xbox Live Marketplace through the purchase of more than 20 billion Microsoft Points.

Source: vnunet

Sony scholarship for female video game lovers

Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) said Wednesday it is luring women into video game design with a 10,000-dollar scholarship and paid internships.

"We are under-represented," Devra Pransky of SOE told AFP after the announcement of the scholarship at a major Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.

"Video game making is male dominated and we need to change that."

A Sony-sponsored survey in January of female students enrolled in game design and programming at The Art Institutes showed that about half of those surveyed think more women would play video games designed by women.

The perception of the video game industry being a male bastion deters women from getting into the field, those surveyed agreed.

"It is a misdirection that women don't like video games," said SOE publicist Taina Rodriguez, who sported a lime green t-shirt with the acronym G.I.R.L. -- Gamers In Real Life.

"If more women make games, then more women will play games and get excited about making games. We want to strengthen that cycle."

Students enrolled in The Art Institutes schools can begin applying for the SOE scholarship in April. The winner will get 10,000 dollars for tuition and a paid internship at an SOE studio.

The Art Institutes has 35 campuses in the United States and offers online education.

"I love games, but I'm a bit old school," said Niki Dominguez of The Art Institute of California in San Diego. "I'm an Atari fan."
She also boasts a nine handicap playing golf on Nintendo's Wii video game console.

Students enrolled in accredited universities or trade schools can also apply for SOE internships.

Microsoft Xbox Live video game sharing feature

Microsoft today announced that it will allow roughly 10 million Xbox Live members to play, rate and share community-created games “soon”. Microsoft expects the “open distribution” service will fuel the development of community-created games: By the end of 2008, the company expects that more than 1000 games will be available to Xbox 360 owners.

Seven such games became available today, including JellyCar, Little Gamers, The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai, TriLinea, RocketBall, ProximityHD and Culture.

Microsoft said that each submitted game has to undergo a thorough peer-review process and be evaluated for accuracy in representation and appropriateness. Community game developers will be able to beta test the process this spring and will be able to distribute their games on Xbox Live by the end of this year.

Source: TGDaily

Wednesday at GDC also saw Microsoft unveil a YouTube-like distribution system for independently created games. In a keynote address, execs said the service will allow anyone who uses the company's XNA toolkit, which enables amateur designers to make casual games, to offer their finished product to Xbox 360 owners via digital download. Service will start beta testing in the spring.

"We already have had lots of games made with XNA, but nothing to do with them," Chris Satchell, general manager of Microsoft's developer group, said in an interview. "This is the democratization of game distribution."

Company hasn't finalized plans for pricing. It's not clear whether all games on the service will be free or if designers will be able to charge for their work.

A suite of social media tools enabling users to share and rate games is expected. Microsoft will have active designers participate in a peer review process to ensure that submitted titles don't have pirated or obscene content.

If successful, the service could let amateur game designers showcase their work and launch their careers online, just as many filmmakers are now doing.

"This is a great way to give designers exposure and help them be identified by publishers," Satchell noted.

Online sharing of films of gameplay made in "Halo 3" is already extremely popular. Microsoft said in the keynote that approximately 100,000 videos from the game are being posted online each day -- about 30% more than the average for all of YouTube.

Later this year, Sony is releasing PlayStation 3 title "LittleBigPlanet," which will let users create their own levels. Microsoft's new service is the first to distribute amateur games onto consoles, however.

Microsoft also said XNA designers will be able, for the first time, to make their games for the company's Zune portable music and video player. It's the first sign that Microsoft is planning to make the struggling Zune brand its portable gaming solution. Device is more powerful than most cell phones, though not on a par with Sony's PSP or Nintendo's DS. It's not yet clear how Microsoft plans to distribute games for the Zune.

Source: Variety

Adobe takes aim at video game market

The firm that set the standard for digital photo editing intends to do the same for video game making with the Tuesday release of Adobe Director 11 upgraded multimedia software.

Director 11 made its public debut at the annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco and will begin an international roll-out in March.

The software is designed to make it simple for people to manipulate video and audio and create three-dimensional graphics for video games, virtual worlds, and even interactive store kiosks.

"It really is about digital literacy," Adobe senior product manager Rick Jones told AFP.

"In the growing world of user-generated content, more and more people trying to take control of their video. We are giving those creators the same kind of tool Adobe Photoshop gave picture takers."

Photoshop software became the premier tool for editing photographs after the California company released the first version in 1990.

Adobe Director is the descendent of multimedia software released 20 years ago and was last updated in 2004.

Director 11 is revamped to let programmers write code any language and customize video creations by simply "dragging and dropping" icons.

"Publishing is really a matter of one button click and away you go," Adobe Director "evangelist" Allen Partridge told AFP.

"From greeting cards or wedding albums to corporate presentations or folks that want to make interactive media or go all the way deep into it and create video games."

Ageia PhysX software engine gives video three-dimensional playback and lets characters or vehicles in games move realistically, a demonstration showed.

"In the gaming world, if you create a race car that careens off a wall it will look like the real world," Jones said. "It's an opportunity for people to take their games to the next level."

Jones added that Adobe wants to make inroads with makers of serious games, those designed to improve health or for training or education.

Game makers can combine Director 11 with Adobe Flash software to craft online games.

"Director takes advantage of the vast group of Flash users that may not have development skills," Jones said. "Entry-level users can create content of their choice and it is natively 3-D."

The price of Director 11 will be 999 dollars (US), a drop from the previous generation. There will be a 99-dollar version for classroom use.

Source: AFP

Microsoft Provides Thrilling First Look at Xbox 360 Blockbuster Portfolio for 2008, Announces "Gears of War 2" Ships This November

Today at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2008, Microsoft Corp. provided an exciting glimpse at what promises to be another landmark year for games and online entertainment on the Xbox 360 platform and officially announced the launch of “Gears of War 2,” exclusively for Xbox 360 this November.

Providing a dramatic close to Microsoft’s GDC keynote address, Epic Games Inc.’s lead designer Cliff Bleszinski announced that the epic saga of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad continues exclusively on the Xbox 360 this fall with “Gears of War 2.” This highly anticipated sequel to the 4.5 million-selling blockbuster “Gears of War” delves deeper into humanity’s struggle for survival against the nightmarish Locust Horde, and promises to take high-definition visuals to a whole new level.

In addition, acclaimed developer Peter Molyneux of Lionhead Studios took the stage to showcase exciting new multiplayer features for “Fable 2,” introducing dynamic cooperative play, a first to the franchise. Molyneux also announced that later this year, and before the launch of “Fable 2,” gamers can get a sneak peek at the game’s world when the “Fable 2” pub games debut as a stand-alone download on Xbox LIVE Arcade. When “Fable 2” launches, gamers will have the ability to transfer currency earned in the pub games directly to their character in “Fable 2.” This unique and first-of-its-kind experience, which can be found only on Xbox LIVE Arcade, will give the millions of “Fable” fans and gamers all around the globe the opportunity to jump into the “Fable 2” world with money already in the bank.

Tomonobu Itagaki also revealed new “Ninja Gaiden II” game-sharing features, including Ninja Cinema, which is enabled solely through Xbox LIVE, providing exciting and innovative entertainment experiences for the more than 10 million Xbox LIVE members worldwide by allowing players to record and upload their best ninja moves to Xbox LIVE.

“To our team the original game was just a tease, the appetizer to the ‘Gears of War’ characters and new style of gameplay. We were so amped to get to the next chapter, and dig deeper into the universe of this franchise,” said Cliff Bleszinski, lead designer for Epic Games. “‘Gears of War 2’ is an even bigger, better, and more badass experience than the first game, and we can’t wait to get it in the hands of eager gamers this November.”

This year, the most anticipated games will be found exclusively on Xbox 360, including the next chapters of top franchises such as “Gears of War,” “Fable” and “Ninja Gaiden,” as well as new titles such as “Too Human.”

• “Gears of War 2” (Epic Games). “Gears of War 2” is the sequel to the 4.5 million-selling blockbuster that redefined the third-person tactical action game genre. “Gears of War 2” continues the story of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad in an epic saga of survival, loss and retribution. Developed by Epic Games exclusively for Xbox 360, “Gears of War 2” launches this November.

• “Fable 2” (Lionhead Studios). In addition to the dynamic co-op mode unveiled onstage, Peter Molyneux also announced that Carbonated Games is bringing the “Fable 2” experience to Xbox LIVE Arcade. Before the game’s launch, gamers will be able to get an early taste of the “Fable 2” experience and gain a head start on earning currency for use in “Fable 2” by playing “Fable 2”-themed pub games that will be downloadable via Xbox LIVE Arcade. The currency earned in these Xbox LIVE Arcade titles will enable players to purchase items in “Fable 2” when the game launches later this year.

• “Ninja Gaiden II” (TECMO/Team NINJA). Tomonobu Itagaki debuted several tantalizing new Xbox LIVE features of “Ninja Gaiden II,” including the ability to capture and share videos of a player’s glorious battles via the Ninja Cinema feature and upload them to Xbox LIVE. “Ninja Gaiden II” launches worldwide this June.

• “Too Human” (Silicon Knights). Microsoft also showcased the epic action game from renowned Canadian developer Silicon Knights, “Too Human,” at a media event before today’s keynote address. In “Too Human,” players are treated to a nonstop barrage of action powered by the seamless integration of melee and firearms combat, plus deep role-playing elements fueled by breathtaking visuals enabled by the power of Xbox 360.

With online multiplayer gameplay, downloadable content and ways to stay in contact with a global community, these forthcoming blockbusters harness the power of Xbox LIVE to create truly innovative and exciting entertainment experiences. Each game also comes packed with Achievements, so Xbox LIVE members can help add to the more than 1 billion Achievements already unlocked on the service to date. And, as with the “Fable 2” pub games, downloadable content in Xbox LIVE Marketplace allows gamers the opportunity to customize and enhance their gameplay experiences. Since the service launched, Microsoft has seen more than $250 million in digital revenue from Xbox LIVE Marketplace through the purchase of more than 20 billion Microsoft Points.

Xbox LIVE members have been using a large portion of those Microsoft Points in Xbox LIVE Arcade, which is the premier destination for digitally distributed, high-definition original and classic games. With over 116 games to choose from on Xbox LIVE Arcade, everyone’s invited to get instantly immersed in the fun. Xbox LIVE Arcade is also home to the world’s most innovative independent developers, with more than 25 independent studios serving as the creative fuel behind the original games that represent more than a quarter of the Xbox LIVE Arcade library. The following titles represent a sample of games launching on Xbox LIVE Arcade in the near future from the world’s leading independent developers:

• “Braid” (Number None Inc.). Developed by Independent Games Festival Winner and experimental game designer Jonathan Blow, “Braid” is a platform experience that bends all the rules with the manipulation of time. “Braid” will launch this spring.

• “Castle Crashers” (The Behemoth). “Castle Crashers” is the second title currently in development by award-winning independent developer The Behemoth, creator of “Alien Hominid HD.” The role-playing game (RPG) adventure will let up to four players hack, slash and smash their way together through a visually stunning hand-drawn landscape. “Castle Crashes” launches this summer.

• “Defense Grid: The Awakening” (Hidden Path Entertainment LLC) “Defense Grid: The Awakening” is the definitive tower defense game experience designed specifically for Xbox LIVE Arcade and launches this summer.

• “Go! Go! Break Steady” (Little Boy Games) An Xbox LIVE Arcade exclusive, “Go! Go! Break Steady” is the debut title from independent developer Little Boy Games. The combination music and puzzle game combines break dancing with novel gameplay and launches this summer.

• “Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness” (Hothead Games). The first video game collaboration between Penny Arcade creators Mike “Gabe” Krahulik and Jerry “Tycho” Holkins and legendary game designer Ron Gilbert, “Penny Arcade Adventures” is an RPG-adventure game set in a highly stylized 1920s universe filled with bizarre characters, outrageous combat and adult humor. The first episode of the game launches this summer.

Xbox 360 Becomes First Video Game Console Ever to Invite the World to Create Original Games and Share Online With Millions

In a landmark announcement during the keynote address at the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC), Microsoft Corp. promised to soon allow Xbox LIVE members to play, rate and share community-created games. As the first in the industry to pioneer high-speed online gaming and high-definition games, Xbox 360 once again broke new ground by introducing a new, open distribution service for games created by the community and soon playable by its 10 million Xbox LIVE members. Community-created games on Xbox LIVE will quickly double the size of the Xbox 360 game library. By the end of 2008, Xbox 360 owners will have access to more than 1,000 games, making it the largest, most creatively diverse library across all next-generation platforms.

“The time has come for the games industry to open its doors to all game creators, enabling anyone to share their creations with the world,” said John Schappert, corporate vice president of LIVE, Software and Services for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “Our goal is to drive a creative and social revolution in games with the same transformative power that we’ve seen in digital music and video sharing.”

Inviting Everyone to Share Their Own Games With Millions

Demonstrating a look into the future potential of community-created games on Xbox 360, Chris Satchell, general manager and chief XNA architect at Microsoft, announced that seven games created using XNA Game Studio 2.0 would be available immediately for Xbox 360 owners to download from Xbox LIVE Marketplace:


JellyCar Created by Walaber from the United States, this game is about driving a squishy car through squishy worlds, trying to reach the exit.

 Little Gamers This is a 2-D high definition action side-scroller based on the famous Web comic “Little Gamers” created by Loïc Dansart, a 24-year-old software developer from Belgium.

The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai An intense 2-D action platform game created by James Silva from the United States, “The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai” has a unique, highly stylized look and fast and fluid action.

TriLinea This puzzle game created by Edison S. Prata Jr., Renato Pelizzari da Silva and Davi da Silva Prata from Brazil mixes fast-paced action with strategy.

RocketBall Created by Tyler Wanlass, Patrick Murty and Todd Barrons of the United States, this neighborhood game of dodgeball explodes onto the street with fast-paced multiplayer action.

ProximityHD This game, created by Brian Cable from the United States, takes the essence of strategy games — battles for control of territory and armies — and distills it down to a simple, easy-to-understand set of rules for casual players.

Culture Created by independent game development company Hidden Path Entertainment from the United States, “Culture” contains challenging games and puzzles based on beautiful flowers.

An Xbox 360 community game created using Microsoft’s XNA Game Studio software and XNA Creators Club membership will be able to be submitted for distribution on Xbox LIVE. Each community-created game must then undergo a thorough peer-review process and be evaluated for accuracy in representation and appropriateness. Community game developers will be able to beta test the process this spring and will be able to distribute their games on Xbox LIVE by the end of this year.

Cryptic Studios Announces Champions Online

Cryptic Studios, one of the leading independent developers of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), announced today Champions Online, their first ever self-developed and self-published MMORPG. Champions Online, based on the popular pen-and-paper Champions RPG, will give players the power of total customization of their hero experience while they explore a vast universe of richly detailed 3D environments. Champions Online is slated for release in Spring 2009.

Cryptic Studios also announced today that it has acquired the Champions intellectual property (IP) from Hero Games. First published in 1981, the Champions role-playing game is one of the first RPGs to forgo the traditional dice-rolling system of character generation in favor of a point-based system. Cryptic Studios has licensed back to Hero Games the rights to produce Champions RPG books, and the sixth edition of the HERO System and Champions, set to release in 2009, will include rules on how to recreate Champions Online characters and scenarios.

“We thought carefully about which IP to select for our next game,” said Jack Emmert, chief creative officer of Cryptic Studios. “I’ve been playing the Champions RPG since it first came out and I love both the rich history and wide array of compelling characters which made this an obvious choice for Cryptic Studios.”

“I am very excited to be working on Champions,” said Michael Lewis, president of Cryptic Studios. “We have a powerful development team, a better engine, more resources, and a vision for a new kind of MMO experience. Bringing the operating side of the business in-house enables us to be more efficient, get our developers even closer to the customer, and ultimately make a better game and long-term experience.”

Champions Online is all about total customization – it will offer a near infinite amount of character customization so that all players will have a unique game experience. Gamers will be able to create their hero’s name, back story, costume, powers and abilities as well as design their own personal arch-enemy and his or her back story, which will guarantee a truly unique experience.

“Champions Online brings a lot to the table. Gamers have literally billions of options to create their own fully customized hero,” Emmert said. “Couple that with the unique character generation system and tons of beautiful, expansive environments in which to roam, and Champions Online is going to be unlike anything MMO fans have seen before.”

For more information on Champions Online and Cryptic Studios please check out the feature story in the March issue of Game Informer magazine on newsstands now, www.crypticstudios.com, and www.champions-online.com to view character profiles, gameplay trailers, and forums.

WorldGaming.com Allows Console Gamers To Flaunt Their Skills For Cold Hard Cash

World Gaming today announced the imminent launch of WorldGaming.com, the premier online destination for console gamers from around the world to network and challenge one another in tournaments for REAL money. Currently, gamers can sign up at www.worldgaming.com for a chance to participate in the site’s closed beta, as well as an opportunity to win up to $50,000 in cash and prizes!

WorldGaming.com users will be able to meet and compete on all of today’s top consoles (Sony PlayStation® 2, Sony PLAYSTATION® 3, Microsoft Xbox™, and Microsoft Xbox 360™). At launch, WorldGaming.com will offer one-on-one challenges and multiplayer tournaments in a variety of games across multiple genres, from first-person shooters like Halo 3 and Resistance: Fall of Man, to the most popular sports titles, including Madden ’08, NBA Live, FIFA Soccer and many more – with new titles added regularly.

WorldGaming.com will also offer an unprecedented array of social networking features. Gamers will be able to create custom user profiles, add friends to their lists and build a robust gaming network. On the competitive side, features include a quick and easy challenge process, Automated Results Verification, Player Stat Tracking and dedicated game lobbies for each game title supported by WorldGaming.com. The Gamer Training Institute will allow players to hone their skills before wagering actual money on games, and when they’re ready to step up to the big leagues, the secure back-end payment technology, Community Reputation System and WorldGaming.com customer support team will ensure a safe and smooth experience.

"Playing videogames for money is not a new concept and has been going on in living rooms and dorms for years," said William Levy, president & co-founder, World Gaming. "WorldGaming.com is simply facilitating that idea online, which opens up the competitive gaming landscape in a massive way."

"I think every gamer has been fascinated with the allure of winning money by playing video games," said Zack Zeldin, vice-president & co-founder, World Gaming. “Whether it’s to tell Mom, ‘I told you so,’ or to go on and become the next world gaming champion, our community is about people who love gaming and have the skills to put their money where their game is!"

All tournaments and services offered through the WorldGaming.com platform are considered “Games of Skill.” Games of Skill are games in which the element of skill supersedes the element of chance, as opposed to traditional casino games where the element of chance supersedes the element of skill. WorldGaming.com is therefore not considered a gambling arena and is legal in more than 130 countries and the majority of the United States.

The WorldGaming.com beta sign-ups will continue until the official launch of the site in Q2 2008 at www.worldgaming.com.

About WorldGaming.com
Founded in 2006, WorldGaming.com is the premier online destination for console gamers to network and challenge other players from around the world in tournaments for REAL money. With an array of features including automated results verification, a secure payment backend, and a Community Reputation System, WorldGaming.com allows gamers to easily find and compete against other players in their favorite multiplayer games and guarantees the winners get paid. WorldGaming.com also offers robust social networking and community features with member pages, clan support, invitational tournaments, stats tracking, news, reviews, and more. For additional information, visit www.worldgaming.com.

DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 AVAILABLE NOW AT RETAILERS THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA

KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, today announced that Dynasty Warriors 6 is available now for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.

Consumers can find Dynasty Warriors 6 at the following retailers: Amazon.com, Best Buy, Circuit City, Game Crazy, Game Rush, GameStop, Gamefly, EB Games, and Wal-Mart.

About Dynasty Warriors 6
Selling over 15 million units combined worldwide, KOEI’s award-winning Dynasty Warriors series and Samurai Warriors series of Tactical Action games have become an astonishing success and are global phenomenon. With Dynasty Warriors 6, KOEI is reinventing the Tactical Action experience for the next generation.

Set in Ancient China during the 3rd century, Dynasty Warriors 6 immerses gamers in a truly cinematic kung-fu action experience. Celebrated characters have been completely re-imagined with new weapons and fighting techniques motion-captured from some of today’s leading stuntmen and women in Asia. With the game’s new “Renbu” attack system and game controls, players can execute lightning-fast combos and the most dazzling fighting moves with ease.

Developed from the ground up exclusively for next-generation platforms, the game’s proprietary engine delivers the most chaotic and challenging Tactical Action experience to date. Players can use the landscape to elude the thousands of soldiers swarming the battlefield. But as players move and attack, adaptable enemy A.I. devises offensive and defensive combat tactics, and can retaliate with packs of fierce hunting dogs and patrol boats. All of the explosive action comes to life in high definition, 60 frames per second (fps) graphics.

Based on the epic novel, “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”, Dynasty Warriors 6 depicts the massive battles ignited by the fall of the Han Dynasty when three rebellious states moved to overthrow the Emperor of China.

Created by KOEI’s Omega Force team, Dynasty Warriors 6 delivers breathtaking visuals in 720p HDTV, and in-game Dolby Digital audio. This game is rated “T” (Teen – Violence) by the ESRB. Dynasty Warriors 6 is for 1 to 2 players. Press can find assets (watermark-free) at gamespress.com. For the latest information on Dynasty Warriors 6, visit www.koei.com/dw6.

Championship Gaming Series Announces 2008 Schedule For Pan-Asian Region

Fresh from the unprecedented success of its inaugural 2007 season, Championship Gaming Series (CGS), the only worldwide professional video gaming league, today officially announced its 2008 schedule of events for the Pan-Asian Region.

The commencement of the 2008 season will build on the immense foundation laid last year, when CGS drafted 18 teams located on five continents, made high-definition broadcasts available to more than 350 million viewers worldwide, and crowned Chicago Chimera as the first-ever CGS World Champion at the $1 million CGS World Final in Los Angeles. CGS has redefined professional gaming and transformed it into a modern sport for the digital age.

Last year, CGS revolutionized competitive video gaming by launching the only worldwide professional gaming league and creating groundbreaking television programming distributed to a worldwide audience, said CGS Commissioner Andy Reif. Asia is an important region for us and the announcement of our Pan-Asian Final in Wuhan is the first of several exciting announcements to take place in the region.

General Managers from the six CGS Pan-Asian teams will soon begin evaluating their current team talent and commence the scouting and selection process for their 2008 team roster. The teams include Seoul Jinhwa, Wuhan Dragon, Singapore Sword, Sydney Underground, Dubai Mirage and Kuala Lumpur Taufan. Last year, Singapore Sword took the Pan-Asian Final as the six teams battled it out for dominance in Kuala Lumpur. This year, the teams will travel to Wuhan for the Pan-Asian Final, April 30-May 3. The top two finishers at the Pan-Asian Final will then compete against the world’s best teams at the CGS World Final.

In the 2008 season, each CGS team consists of ten athletes, each specializing in an official League game. Five of the ten players comprise a Counter-Strike: Source (CS:S) squad which competes in five-on-five matches. FIFA 08 is played one-on-one. Each CGS team also has a mixed-doubles team of two Dead or Alive 4 players, who will play against other teams in one-on-one matches on Xbox 360. Forza Motorsport 2 consists of two racers on each team competing in a two-versus-two format, also on Xbox 360.

CGS events are broadcast to more than 350 million viewers worldwide by DIRECTV's channel 101 in the U.S., BSkyB's Sky One, Sky Two and Sky HD in the UK, ESPN STAR Sports in Asia, Sky in Brazil and Mexico, and DIRECTV throughout the remainder of Latin America, and across Continental Europe via broadcast partners which will be announced shortly.

For more information, please go to thecgs.com