LostWinds: 3-D on Wii as WiiWare download game

Nintendo will launch this cool little three-dimensional adventure from Frontier as one of the first WiiWare downloadable games

Nintendo's WiiWare lets independent developers create a plethora of cheap, downloadable games for the masses, and the company chose to make Frontier's LostWinds one of its launch games. Simple to play and attractive, this intriguing adventure should appeal to all ages, especially those looking for a meatier Wii experience.

LostWinds is a fully 3-D adventure in which you play as two characters at the same time, the boy Toku (the apparent savior of his world, Mistralis) and his sidekick, a wind spirit named Enril. You do this by maneuvering Toku with the nunchuk's analog stick while guiding Enril using the Wii remote. It shares similarities with Nintendo's DS game, Kirby Canvas Curse in the sense that you draw on the screen to help Toku reach new areas and destroy enemies. For example, if you approach a cliff, you press and hold A on the remote, then draw a line underneath Toku angled towards the edge, causing Toku to catch a gust of wind and land safely.

This also works with defeating enemies. If you come across one of the game's creatures, you press and hold A, then draw a quick circle around it, thus trapping it in a vortex. And if encircling your foes doesn't suit you, drawing a line on top of them enables Toku to fly above their heads without taking damage.

According to Frontier, enjoyment comes from experimenting with the game world, searching for ways to interact with the environment in order to push things along. It may be something as simple as planting and watering a seed to make it grow, thereby completing a puzzle.

As for LostWinds' story, don't expect anything epic. Although the game has a simple narrative where both Toku and Enril must work together to defeat the evil Balasar, the game doesn't feature any cut scenes and has limited dialogue. That's not a bad thing per se, but rather Frontier's commitment to focusing more on the gameplay.

It's too early to pass judgment, but we see lots of potential. LostWinds is a cool little game with a lot to offer, and we look forward to downloading it as soon as it goes live.

Source: GameDAILY

Microsoft plans to drop the price of the Xbox 360 Arcade to match Nintendo Wii?

When it's priced the same, for all intents and purposes, which it's looking like it just might be by late next week. Referencing "trade sources," MCV claims that Microsoft plans to drop the price of its entry-level Xbox 360 Arcade by as much as €50 ($76 USD). TechRadar.com adds spice to the rumor by avowing the drop and claiming it'll occur across Europe on March 14, sourcing "numerous UK retailers...who agree that the 360 price is set to be slashed on this date."

Altogether, the Xbox 360 Elite is poised to take a dive from €300 to €240, while the basic Arcade system, which lacks a hard drive, should drop from €200 to €150. That would technically make the Arcade cheaper than the Wii, which lists for €180.

Is it time to drop the price of the Xbox already? Let's see:

- Microsoft dumps HD DVD drive for Xbox 360 -- more of a psychological oops, but it leaves a ton of existing 360 owners in a lurch, and feeds a right or wrong public perception that something major associated with the Xbox 360 failed.

- Sony muscled past the 360 for the first time in January. I know, it shocked me too, and since Microsoft beat the pants off Nintendo and Sony each in software sales that month, I guessed it was Blu-ray sales driven. Which means Sony could be on the verge of a hardware sales turnaround that's not even games driven.

- The Xbox 360 has (or had) an absurdly high unit failure rate, i.e. the doleful "red ring of death," and enthusiast confidence on message boards and blogs is low, trending toward sardonic. Microsoft has performed minor miracles to rectify the situation and deserves full honors for being stand up about the problem, but first impressions (like possession) are nine-tenths law. Unreliable and expensive is of course a universe away from "bargain-priced" and "sufficiently revised."

- A considerable part of the Xbox 360's revenue model is Xbox Live and aftermarket online and/or casual game sales. Drop the 360 price into Wii territory and get your marketing team going toe-to-toe with Nintendo on the casual-online front and you just might redraw the battle lines. Nintendo may have found a new niche, but it remains a pretty monolithic one. The Xbox 360 (uniquely) has the economic and creative potential to mix and match hardcore and casual demographics. Figuring out how to market that message is Microsoft's game to lose.

So yeah, I think it's time to drop the price, unleash the new marketing campaigns, spin the monthly statistics to emphasize the company's forte (software revenue and critically acclaimed games), release a standalone Blu-ray player, etc. to get the system back on its feet, lest Nintendo continue to pull ahead based on sheer momentum, and Sony eradicate Microsoft's lead by virtue of movie player sales alone.

Will U.S. Xbox 360 prices follow suit? Grab hold of your wallet, then bet your bottom dollar.

Source: PC World

Xbox 360 to be cheaper than Wii on March 14 - TECH.BLORGE.com

Xbox 360 Getting Price To Compete With Wii - db Techno.com

Xbox 360 to get Wii-Like Pricing? - Spong

Video game box art - telling the truth?

Check out this site where existing video game box art has been given a twist...

More from: Call of the day

Red Bull BC One Nintendo DS game playable demo available

Playlogic announces playable prototype of Red Bull BC One

Playlogic, an independent worldwide publisher of entertainment software, announced the launch of a web based prototype to the Red Bull BC One DS game.
The game takes the player to the international Red Bull BC One breakdance tournament that challenges B-boys and B-girls alike. Players control their break dancer by solving puzzles under strict time limits. Puzzles consist of drawing geometrical shapes, which will get more complex as the game progresses. A steady hand and speed are required to set a high score that is worth bragging about. The game features fresh and stylish graphics with urban music as well as tense puzzle rounds alternating with a variety of minigames. Red Bull BC One is currently being
developed for Nintendo DS by Smackdown.

The game prototype allows players to look at the concept of the game and help the developing team by providing the ever important feedback. The player’s comments and suggestions will be used to improve the final version of the game. Furthermore, the players that forward the best ideas or comments will even be credited in the final game.


Red Bull BC One for Nintendo DS will be published worldwide in early Summer 2008.

For more information about Red Bull BC One and for playing the prototype game please visit: http://www.redbullbcone.com/game

Dynamite Fishing video game - fun fishing simulator PC game

HandyGames blasts you away!

Have a big blast with what could easily be the world’s craziest fishing simulation! Arm yourself for an explosive raid on the wet and weird underwater world!

As a Texas redneck with acute money problems, you join the profitable fish business. Get your unsinkable tub and buy sticks of dynamite at the local weapon vendor to blow up some big fish! Learn about new technologies, e.g. stimulating pheromone bait or evil super weapons like the squirrel bomb! Find hidden underwater treasures and beat rare boss fish by using the unfair methods of dynamite fishing! If you do well, you might even catch the girl of your dreams and not just smelly fish! After all, you hope for a son to whom you can teach your dirty tricks in the future!

The most explosive Casual Game of all times is available now!

Features:

- Crazy fishing action with dynamite sticks

- Weird story with explosive gags

- 30 wet levels full of satirical themes

- 20 dangerous weapons for gill destruction

- 6 unsinkable boats with individual upgrades

- 2 extremely funny game modes: Story mode, Freestyle

- Relaxing aquarium mode for Peeping Toms

- Coloured gallery with much more coloured story pictures

- Authentic Hillbilly soundtrack

- Highscore for all fish fetishists

- Tutorial for chief blaster training

Available here...

Nintendo Wii and DS game - Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games sells 5 Million

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Hits 5 Million in Global Sales

TOKYO-SEGA Corporation today announced that its history-making video game title, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, has sold five million copies worldwide in just over three months. Developed by SEGA for the Wii video game system and the Nintendo DS™ system, with creative input and executive milestone approvals by Nintendo’s developers, the title brought together for the first time the two most beloved icons in the entertainment industry. In the spirit of the Olympic Games, the legendary mascots also brought friends from their storied franchises along, including Luigi, Knuckles, Yoshi and Tails, to compete in a variety of Olympic events.

“With adored icons and fun game play, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games has shot to the top of the sales charts and is clearly resonating with the growing audience of casual gamers that want an engaging and accessible gaming experience,” said Simon Jeffery, President and COO, SEGA of America.

Published by SEGA across Europe and North America, and by Nintendo in Japan, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games made its worldwide debut on November 6, 2007, when the Wii version hit store shelves in the United States. According to the NPD Group, which tracks sales data in the United States, the game was one of the top-ten best-sellers in the United States – across all platforms – in the critical holiday sales month of December.

When Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games launched in Europe just days later, it was an immediate hit, rising rapidly to the top of sales charts. Mario & Sonic became the best-ever performing Wii game over the seven-day period that ended on December 11, 2007. In January, Mario & Sonic was the best-selling video game in England across all formats.

“The market for entertaining games that everyone can enjoy is growing faster than any other segment in the industry, thanks in part to the explosive popularity of Wii and Nintendo DS,” continued Jeffery. “A key element of our growth strategy at SEGA is to develop and publish games that appeal to this expanding market.”

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games is licensed through a worldwide partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the exclusive Interactive Entertainment Software licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

CAL RIPKEN'S REAL BASEBALL LAUNCHES LIVE FROM DISNEY'S ESPN THE WEEKEND

CAL RIPKEN'S REAL BASEBALL LAUNCHES LIVE FROM DISNEY'S ESPN THE WEEKEND

New Website Offers a Free One-of-a-Kind Video Game and Online Community for Baseball Enthusiasts Around the World

Key Facts:
Baseball’s all-time “Iron Man” and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cal Ripken, Jr. was today announced as the official spokesperson for Real Baseball, a free online video game and community for baseball enthusiasts around the world. Cal Ripken’s Real Baseball is the new name of the community/video game which was previously known as Ultimate Baseball Online or UBO.

The new website is at: www.PlayRealBaseball.com.

Cal Ripken’s Real Baseball enables gamers to compete in a Massively Multiplayer Online Sport Game (MMOSG), meaning each position on the field is manned by a human player in a 3-D virtual stadium. Players can create their own characters and build their skill level (player stats) through successful play on the field against other real human players. Unlike current video games that aim to simulate professional sports, Real Baseball (RB) delivers a first-person perspective of a character, created and developed by the player, interacting online in real-time with teammates and opponents playing from numerous locations.

Real Baseball was created by Andy Wang, founder and CEO of Netamin Communication Corporation, the first company in the world to develop the technology to build a Massively Multiplayer Online Sports Game (MMSOG). Netamin is headquartered in Diamond Bar, California with additional operations in Korea.

Real Baseball has been in existence for three years in a beta mode under the name Ultimate Baseball Online, and currently boasts approximately 7,000 players worldwide. Over the past three years Ultimate Baseball Online have seen strong participation in the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Korea, England, Italy, South Africa, Brazil and Australia.

Quotes:

Cal Ripken Jr., Member of National Baseball Hall of Fame:

“Real Baseball is a fun game that provides the players with a unique perspective and delivers a one of a kind lifelike baseball experience. The online baseball community reinforces baseball fundamentals and provides baseball fans and gamers with a challenging experience. It is a great destination for baseball fans of all ages.”

Andy Wang, Founder & CEO of Netamin:

“We are very excited to partner with Cal in an effort to make our website and video game even better for baseball lovers across the globe. We strive to make Real Baseball the most authentic baseball video game it can be, and adding Cal to our team not only strengthens our brand, but connects us with a baseball legend that will take our video game and community to the next level.”

Imperium Romanum PC video game website update

"Imperium Romanum": The Updated Website!

Kalypso Media Group is pleased to announce that a number of new features have been added to the official website of the strategy highlight “Imperium Romanum”.

To follow-up the release of “Imperium Romanum” two weeks ago Kalypso have now provided players with a range of new content including a newsletter service (where users can sign up to receive the latest information about new game content), the patch which solves problems with the copy protection, download links for the demo version, as well as two wallpapers, the tech tree, the developer interview video and the fansite-kit (logos, screenshots, artwork material etc).

If you haven’t already visited the site, march over to http://www.imperium-game.com to also learn more about the city-building game, to see a variety of screenshots, the trailer of the game and to join the discussion forum.

Build, reign and defend! “Imperium Romanum” allows the player to take the future of an empire into their own hands, as the game sees them take the role of a governor of a Roman province and strive to build a well organised, prosperous and commanding settlement. Set in the time-honoured Roman Empire players will marvel at the incredible attention to detail, as they construct fortifications, build towers, gates and bridges, and pay for them with the new currency which has been implemented into the game for a challenging, enjoyable, and authentic quest to rule the World.

“Imperium Romanum” was released in the UK on 22nd February 2008.

PANASONIC PROJECTORS PARTNERS MAJOR LEAGUE GAMING TO SPONSOR PRO GAMER TOM "TSQUARED" TAYLOR

PANASONIC PROJECTOR SYSTEMS COMPANY PARTNERS WITH MAJOR LEAGUE GAMING TO SPONSOR PRO GAMER TOM "TSQUARED" TAYLOR

Pro Gamer Has Tested and Will Promote Panasonic's PT-AX200U, the First Home Theater Projector Designed with Gaming in Mind

Panasonic Projector Systems Company (PJSC), Unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, today announced its partnership with Major League Gaming (MLG), the professional video game league, to work with one of their top ranked professional gamers, Tom "Tsquared" Taylor. Tsquared has tested the "Game mode" on the new PT-AX200U home theater projector and found that it is the first projector to deliver a high-quality, gaming experience. The high definition 720p projector will remove virtually any lag in response time and expands detail reproduction, revealing gradation in saturated areas that are otherwise lost to darkness.

Tsquared, one of the top ranked professional Halo players, is a leading member of the Halo team, Str8 Rippin. Over the last two years, Tsquared has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, ranked #1 by Stuff Magazine in the "Top 20 Under 30 Power List", starred in MTV's "True Life: I want to be a professional gamer," and featured on G4TV's "XPlay" gaming tutorial. At the age of 20, Tsquared has become one of the most recognized professional video game celebrities in the industry.

"I'm very excited to work with Panasonic Projector Systems Company in this new partnership. Panasonic's AX200 is truly in a class by itself. This is the only projector I'll ever need to use. I practice on it at home before tournaments, use it for casual gaming and it's great for watching sports with my friends"

said pro gamer Tom "Tsquared" Taylor.

"We recognized the growing gaming market, both recreational and professional, and designed a quality home theater projector that caters to gamers' needs. We're excited to partner with Major League Gaming and one of their top ranked professional gamers, who both agree that Panasonic's AX200 offers a superior experience for gaming," said Thomas Zitelli, president of Panasonic Projector Systems Company.

Tsquared joined PJSC at this year's International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV to promote and demonstrate the PT-AX200U to reporters and attendees. He will participate in events and promotional opportunities throughout the year with the Panasonic Projector Systems Company team and can be seen at the following MLG (www.mlgpro.com) Pro Circuit events:

MLG Pro Circuit Event: 

• April 11-13: Meadowlands, NJ
  
• June 13-15: San Diego, CA
  
• July 11-13: Orlando, FL
  
• August 22-24: Toronto
  
• October 3-5: Dallas, TX
  

To learn more about the brand new AX200 projector, please visit www.panasonic.com/projectors

Rainbow Web Returns in Challenging Sequel!

Rainbow Web Returns in Challenging Sequel!

It is not very easy to create a follow-up to one of the most popular match-three games, but Sugar Games has succeeded in this task with honors.

Thousands of Rainbow Web fans worldwide are jumping in exhilaration as Sugar Games announces Rainbow Web 2, an even-more-entertaining head-scratching puzzle that plunges players into the magic world of Rainbow Kingdom positioned in front of the ultimate enemy.

When in October 2005 Sugar Games released its first game, Rainbow Web, it literally rocked the whole casual game community resulting in 85,000 copies sold towards the end of 2007. It exceeded in advance the average number of sales for a casual game which according to Casual Games Association usually varies from 5,000 to 20,000 copies. Moreover, it challenged similar figures for non-casual PC titles: according to DreamCatcher Games, 100,000 units is often an industry success benchmark. Due to such popularity and anticipation of the fans, the release of the sequel seemed imminent. And so it happened.

Neither the gameplay nor the tale surrounding it has grown stale in the two-and-a-half year gap between the original Rainbow Web and the current follow-up. The ongoing story of the captivating Rainbow Kingdom, the idyllic world of wonderland, the citizens of which once again opened a portal to our world, is compelling and will evoke recollections of fairy tales you used to read in childhood.

The puzzles in Rainbow Web 2 do not stray far from the addictive recipe of the original. Your goal is to match three or more bubbles of different colors to clear them from the game board. And here comes the most remarkable distinction of the game: the game field designed as a spider’s web, not a corny rectangular field. The bubbles are matched according to the threads of the web. When a match is made, those bubbles disappear from the web and new ones slide into place. But you do not have just to match bubbles of the same color: your objective is to compile a word from letters entrapped inside some bubbles. It makes the game even more fascinating.

Rainbow Web 2 provides two modes: classic where you will have a consistent challenge with time limits and relaxation mode with no time restrictions. Classic mode adds some suspense to the gameplay as it is rather craft-demanding to make a match on webs of tricky sizes and shapes within a time limit.

Augmenting the fun experience are the beautiful graphics that make bubbles glisten, shine and explode with iridescent sparkles, neat sound effects and memorable music inspired by ethno legends and tales themes.

Availability

Rainbow Web 2 runs under all versions of Microsoft Windows including Windows Vista and costs $19.99 (USD) for a single-user license. Further information on Rainbow Web 2, as well as a free trial copy is available free of charge from http://www.SugarGames.com/rainbow-web-2/