New European Server launch for Lineage II: The Chaotic Throne

NCsoft Europe Prepares To Launch New European Server For Lineage II: The Chaotic Throne
Increased demand for NCsoft's acclaimed MMORPG Lineage II celebrated with launch of additional EU server.

Thursday 6th March/... Brighton, England – NCsoft Europe, the world’s leading publisher and developer of online games, will soon be launching a new European server for its hit massively multiplayer online PC game, Lineage II.

Since its worldwide launch in late 2003, Lineage II has been an unparalleled success, reaching more than 17 million players worldwide and gaining a reputation as the gaming market’s premier player-versus-player (PvP) MMOG. Following the December 2007 launch of Lineage II’s latest expansion, The Kamael, which added a staggering gigabyte’s worth of new content to the game, demand for European server access is running at an all time high as new players rush to join long-time fans. By launching a new server, called Luna, alongside the existing European servers Franz and Teon, NCsoft Europe has quickly moved to ensure continued, instant access and smooth online gameplay for new and current players of Lineage II.

Lineage II is an epic, online fantasy adventure like no other. It offers a dynamic online world, drawn in exquisite detail and populated with wonderfully lush landscapes, intricately sculpted fortresses and beautifully realised characters. Players can storm massive castles, fend off majestic beasts, ride dragons into battle and conquer formidable rival clans as they aim to become part of the Kingdom of Aden’s political and social elite. With the launch of The Kamael players can enjoy an entirely new playable race, a mysterious breed of one winged soldiers with an affinity to dark magic, along with a completely enhanced new player experience that’s helped to introduce thousands of new adventurers to Lineage II’s incredible world.

“Lineage II is a remarkable game that truly encapsulates the very best that the massively multiplayer online RPG genre has to offer. With its deep, immersive gameplay and thrilling player Vs player combat the demand for server access across Europe continues to be incredible.” said Mirko Gozzo, Lineage II product manager at NCsoft Europe. “We’re delighted to be launching a brand new European server for a game that continues to go from strength to strength.”

NCsoft expects the new Lineage II server, Luna, to launch at the end of April.

The standard edition box of Lineage II: The Kamael is available now at major retailers at a recommended retail price of £14.99 / €19.99 and at the PlayNC store (http://eu.plaync.com/eu/store/). The game includes a 15 day time card in addition to the standard 30 days play; giving players a total of 45 days play time. Monthly subscription fee to the game is £8.99 / €12.99. The game is rated 12+ by PEGI (www.pegi.info). For more information please visit www.discoverlineage2.com

Pendulum Spins into Action with Digital Extremes for Dark Sector's Cinematic Cut Scenes

Pendulum Spins into Action with Digital Extremes for Dark Sector's Cinematic Cut Scenes

Pendulum, a leading digital animation & fx studio for the advertising, video game and entertainment industries, announced today that some of its latest work will be seen in the highly anticipated game, Dark Sector™. D3Publisher and Digital Extremes'original 3rd-person action-shooter, designed exclusively for next-generation gaming, will feature over 13 minutes of original Pendulum-directed cinematic cut-scenes portraying critical story elements of the game.

Pendulum designed, story-boarded, directed and animated seven in-game cut scenes, using Softimage XSI, and worked closely with the Digital Extremes development team to facilitate those sequences being exported to the game developer's proprietary next-gen technology, the Evolution Engine™. Starting with the creation of original storyboards, based on the Dark Sector narrative script, Pendulum then scanned those boards and used Final Cut to edit them into 2D Animatics, so as to define story pacing and basic shot layouts. These were subsequently translated into 3D Animatics and relied upon by Pendulum's Michael McCormick and Robert Taylor for scene blocking and added efficiency during their direction of multiple days of motion capture. Facial animation was executed using a combination of Digital Extremes' in-game facial animation rigs and Pendulum's proprietary facial software. Working closely with the Digital Extremes team, Pendulum was able to conform to the developer's unique pipeline and help smooth the sequences' integration into the game.

"Pendulum got it. They understood from day one that creating amazing cinematics is about iteration and collaboration," said Sheldon Carter, Digital Extremes' Producer for Dark Sector. "And that's exactly what we were looking for in a creative partner. Someone who could see our creative vision and help us raise the quality bar of the cinematics to match the AAA quality game we were designing. The end result are incredible cinematics that we can all be proud of."

A dark gritty experience packed with fast action, incredible superpowers and an engaging story, Dark Sector represents the next evolution of interactive action. Dark Sector thrusts players into the role of Hayden Tenno, a covert operative sent on a dangerous mission into Lasria - an Eastern European city on the brink of ruin that hides a deadly Cold War secret. In the midst of this mission, Hayden is attacked by an unknown enemy and infected by the Technocyte Virus, a brutal bio-weapon that twists its victims into mindless killing machines. Surviving this attack, Hayden finds that the Technocyte virus has granted him powerful inhuman abilities, unlike anything he has ever seen. Now, he must evolve along with his powers, survive, and become a hero. The 7 cut scenes, all integrated into and played back from within Digital Extremes' powerful Evolution Engine, tell this story with stark clarity and high-octane action.

Pendulum owners, McCormick and Taylor, served as the project's Directors, with Colin Hodges as the project's 3D Technical Lead and Wade Ammon as the studio's cinematics Producer. Motion Capture was provided by Los Angeles-based Vicon House of Moves.

Damnation new video game for Microsoft Xbox 360 Sony PlayStation 3 and Windows PC

The action shooter goes vertical as Codemasters signs Damnation from Blue Omega Entertainment.

Set to change the landscape of third person action/shooters forever, catch the dizzying views at www.codemasters.com/playdamnation

Codemasters, a leading video game publisher, and US creative studio Blue Omega Entertainment today announced Damnation, a new videogame franchise set to come leaping onto the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows this winter.

Evolving the shooter genre with its unique and exhilarating combination of fluid action and combat, Damnation will feature huge, open environments, frenetic combat, daredevil acrobatics and high-octane vehicle-based stunts. Presenting players with an intense test of reflexes, quick thinking and rapid-fire conflict, Damnation will feature vast, breathtaking landscapes, each covering miles of distance and thousands of vertical feet.

Billed as a 'shooter gone vertical' and visually inspired by iconic elements of American history, these massive streaming landscapes will form the battlegrounds for a post-industrial conflict between humanity and an unstoppable arms dealer hell-bent on total world domination.

Players will be able to choose their own paths and navigate the world by performing daredevil feats on the edge of human ability. However players aren't the only ones with mind-blowing acrobatic skills; intelligent enemies will give chase and engage players in frantic gun fights and attacks that can come from any direction – in Damnation's world there's no safe place to hide.

With up to three hours of actual gameplay stretching out in front of them per level, players will need more than just muscle power to get across each level safely. Damnation will offer players a selection of awe-inspiring vehicles, from motorbikes capable of launching across seemingly infinite chasms, to huge, armour-piercing marvels that will induce mayhem with every huge shell.

The high action will be supported with an epic and in-depth story which, while focusing on the exploits of the hero character Rourke, is truly an ensemble piece. Players will meet and become involved in intricate story plots that reveal much more than the obvious.

In addition to the single player experience, Damnation comes complete with a unique set of multiplayer options that take full advantage of the game's expansive levels. Currently in development at Blue Omega's facilities in Annapolis, USA, Damnation will be available for Xbox 360, the PLAYSTATION 3 system and Games for Windows in late 2008. For more information and to catch a glimpse of what the future of gaming has in store, visit http://www.codemasters.co.uk/games/.

Driving simulation: Bus Driver to launch in US

The Wheels at Meridian4 Go Round and Round!

Meridian4 (http://www.meridian4.com) is pleased to announce that they will be publishing SCS Software’s addictive driving simulation; Bus Driver in North America and Australia. The game, which is already a success with fans in Europe, will be hitting our shores in May. So everyone behind the yellow line, get to the back of the bus and make sure you have exact change because this is going to be a great ride!

“When I first saw the name Bus Driver, I said…really? After playing the game and learning of SCS Software’s heritage with games like Deer Hunter II & III and the successful 18 Wheels of Steel series, I knew that Bus Driver would be a hit with the right audience." said Steve Milburn, Marketing Director at Meridian4. “Bus Driver will catch you off guard and have you obsessed within minutes.”

“Having successfully launched the game across Europe, we are delighted to partner with Meridian4 to bring Bus Driver to Northern American fans of the game." said Pavel Sebor, CEO at SCS Software

About Bus Driver

In Bus Driver, your job is to transport passengers around an attractive and realistic city. You must drive to a timetable on a planned route, while obeying traffic rules, and taking care not to upset or injure your passengers. This makes Bus Driver unlike any other driving game - the experience of driving a bus is very different from blazing through a racing circuit.

• 12 buses to drive – detailed models inspired by real-world buses, including London’s double-decker bus, America’s school bus, Europe’s low floor buses and many more
  
• 30 routes arranged into 5 tiers with increasing difficulty
  
• Multiple duties, such as driving a school bus, transporting tourists, sight-seeing tours and even the transportation of prisoners
  
• High replay value based on sophisticated system of traffic rules and game-play related bonuses.
  
• Large city to drive in, with several districts of varying styles: modern, old-town, suburb, airport, harbor and more with day/night cycles and realistic weather conditions.
  
• Living roads with intelligent traffic controlled by AI system
  
• Non-violent, easy to pick up gameplay, suitable for all ages.
  

The World Ends With You game on Nintendo DS

The World Ends With You - release date announcement

Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces that THE WORLD ENDS WITH YOU, an exciting new title from the makers of KINGDOM HEARTS, will be released across all PAL territories from 18th April, 2008 exclusively on the Nintendo DS system.

Previously known as Subarashiki Kono Sekai on its release in Japan. THE WORLD ENDS WITH YOU is an innovative new title from Square Enix that fully utilizes the capabilities of the Nintendo DS, and takes major influence from Japan's modern day culture including its people, music, clothes, food and design.

Set in Tokyo's trendiest district, the story begins with the lead character Neku waking up to find a phone message stating he has only 7 days before he will cease to exist. Only with the coolest fashions, friends and fighting skills can Neku restore hope to the city's population and prevent being stricken from existence altogether!

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, "Square Enix has traditionally been associated with RPG's set in fantasy lands, but THE WORLD ENDS WITH YOU is our first ever game to be set in modern times and real-life locations. We believe gamers of all ages and abilities will be able to enjoy all that THE WORLD ENDS WITH YOU has to offer."

For further information about THE WORLD ENDS WITH YOU, please visit the official website at www.theworldendswithyou.co.uk

About THE WORLD ENDS WITH YOU

Story
The story begins as our hero, Neku, wakes up amidst the hustle and bustle of Shibuya, Tokyo. Confused and disoriented, he receives a message on his phone warning him that he will cease to exist unless he completes a certain mission. With his life seemingly on the line, Neku plunges into the back streets of the urban labyrinth...

Features
- Experience the urban grit and neon of the coolest district in Tokyo with a distinctive, high quality style of in-game artwork
- Meet an achingly hip cast of characters each with an interesting personality and stylish sense in fashion, music and culture
- Highly innovative and intuitive combat system that makes full use of the Nintendo DS Dual Screens and Microphone like no other game before it!
- Use fantastic psychic powers to read the thoughts of the population, put words into people's minds, and move objects to help you progress in your adventure!
- Immerse yourself in an amazing audio soundtrack featuring a diverse fusion of bleeding-edge hip-hop, rock, and techno
- A tale of friendship, hope and overcoming your challenges, creatively told with a modern edge
- Shop till you drop! Keep abreast of the latest Trends to stay one step ahead of the fashion scene and your enemies
- Action-packed minigame fun that can be enjoyed by up to four players via DS Wireless Play!
- Engage the Chance Encounter mode via DS Wireless Play to share data with fellow game users you bump into in the real world

CITY OF HEROES: The Ultimate Heroic Weekend CITY OF HEROES

CITY OF HEROES: The Ultimate Heroic Weekend CITY OF HEROES: The Ultimate Heroic Weekend
Every Hero Is Invited to the Centre's Biggest Ever Gaming Weekender!

Omega Sektor and NCsoft Europe announce a special Easter Weekend Gaming Spectacular that you won’t want to miss! CITY OF HEROES: The Ultimate Heroic Weekend will run from 21st – 24th March and will include gaming, dancing, drinking and a chance to win exclusive goodies and meet some of the greatest heroes and villains around.

There will be non-stop activities running throughout the daytime across Saturday, Sunday and Monday with entry priced at £5 a day. In addition, hero wannabes are invited to special evening events on Friday and Saturday night, with entry tickets priced at £5 and £10 respectively.

The fun starts at 8pm on 21st March as Omega Sektor hosts a Heroes and Villains Masquerade Ball, where guests are invited to come along dressed as their favourite comic alter ego, and the best dressed will win a One Year Free Play Pass to be used at Omega Sektor. The party will run until midnight and include gaming challenges and tournaments, special drinks and music from the resident DJ. Members of the City of Heroes Community Team will be on hand to meet and greet players, and special guest Mellisa ‘WarWitch’ Bianco (game designer) will be flying in from the US to make the weekend an event to remember.

The weekend gets into full swing on Saturday 22nd when doors open at 10.00am with heroes and villains taking to the floor to meet the people posing for photos and signing autographs. Special guests include Ms Liberty and The Ghost Widow from the City of Heroes & City of Villains games. Money raised from selling the photographs will be donated to a special charity - the Draw the World Together Foundation whose artists will also be on hand to sketch players as their favourite comic characters. Activities will run until 24th March.

On Saturday night there will be a special Night Play session, where gamers are invited to play into to early hours. Tickets for any of the days’ events are available in advance from the Omega Sektor reception or via the ticket hotline 0121 200 8383. A limited number of tickets for all the events will also be available on the door.

For more details on this action packed weekend, visit http://uk.cityofheroes.com/news/article/3138/

New patch available for 'Penumbra: Black Plague' download link

New patch available for 'Penumbra: Black Plague'

Please find below a link where you can download a new patch for recently released ‘Penumbra: Black Plague’.

http://www.paradoxplaza.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=39&Itemid=120

The patch includes new alternate solutions to puzzles increasing the re-playablity of the game.

The playable demo is still available and can be downloaded from the following site;

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

Key Features in Penumbra Black Plague

Cutting-edge game engine featuring modern 3D and physics technologies
Adapted motion blur effects and a new unified lighting system with real-time lightning create great depth with a realistic atmosphere of psychological horror.

Compelling and detailed story

Find the answers to questions of the mystery of Philip's lost father throughout the game, with new explanations and a complete storyline wrap up.

Highly interactive environments
Interact with any object not nailed to the ground! Focus on, pick up and move around objects through a simple drag and drop interface.

Environmental sounds system
The sounds of the different environments are contributing to the atmosphere and give the player scaring hints of dangers.

Puzzle solving challenges
Horror adventure game in puzzle-like style with bonuses and incentives to challenge the player throughout the game.

King's Bounty video game website goes live Get videos, pictures and more

King's Bounty Website goes live

Get videos, pictures and more as this classic franchise returns

Leading Eastern and Central European publisher 1C Company announced today that the hotly anticipated game King’s Bounty: The Legend’s website has gone live. Players can now find and download videos, images and artwork straight from the developers. The new web site also contains information about the game world, heroes and monsters.

King’s Bounty: The Legend is an adventure game with tactical turn-based battles and RPG elements unfolding in a rich fantasy world. The character and his army of companions travel across a huge continent, visiting dozens of different locations all connected to each other. Communicating with NPCs, collecting resources and recruiting an army the player will control their character in real-time mode, while all battles take place in classic turn-based mode with a strong emphasis on tactical elements.

Developed by faithful fans of the original King’s Bounty, King’s Bounty: The Legend continues the remarkable traditions of the legendary role-playing adventure. This creation of Katauri Interactive is not just a spiritual successor for the critically acclaimed series, but its true rejuvenation.

King’s Bounty: The Legend will be published by 1C Company and distributed in the United States by Atari and Nobilis in Europe. Please visit the new website and experience the magic at www.kings-bounty.com.

Heaves Out Dungeon Runners Content Update

NCsoft Heaves Out Dungeon Runners Content Update

NCsoft’s Dungeon Runners team is keeping things cool for its players by launching a new content update that provides some frosty surprises including snowmen, a new dungeon, new items and improvements to the waypoint system.

The content update, which is considered more of a “Heave” than a full-blown expansion “Chunk,” introduces a new dungeon called Balzack’s Burrow for player levels 55 and up. Balzack’s Burrow is loaded with loot, monsters and a final boss-battle that will require more than just mind-numbing violence in order to claim victory.

Chill Bill, a formidable snowman and the first NPC that players can summon in Dungeon Runners, is available at level 30 and can help players fight enemies. He has several specialized moves, such as the head butt, where Bill removes his head and bashes an opponent. Chill Bill is a low maintenance snowman that can be healed by hitting him with ice projectile spells.

Chill Bill also comes with several cool skills including “On the Rocks” which freezes Bill in a solid bock of ice, slowing down nearby enemies; “Snow Globe” which stuffs Chill Bill into a globe where he receives a major maximum health increase, and “Nippy Twigs” a skill buff which dramatically increases Bill’s attack damage and slows enemies.

Closing out wintertime for Dungeon Runners is a visit by Shivery the Incorrigible Snowman who is quickly melting in Townston, so his stay in the game will be short yet filled with bitterness. Shivery, who is a victim of dungeon warming, will provide players with a loot-filled quest, but not without delivering a few pleasantries such as “…your parents didn’t love you,” and “…you are adopted.”

Additionally, the Heave includes 51 new quests, two new fighter armor sets, new mythic items, a two-handed rifle for rangers and improvements to the user interface and the waypoints system.

“I think that Dungeon Runners players will find these new features, especially the snowmen as being pretty cool…literally,” said Stephen Nichols, Dungeon Runners’ producer. “We are always looking to create more ways for players to have fun while keeping the challenge compelling. Sometimes features can be a bit silly, but that is what makes Dungeon Runners so special.”

For more information, or to download and play the game for free, go to www.dungeonrunners.com.

Guaranteed video game fun or you get a refund

Aeria Guarantees Fun or Refund

The Aeria Games guarantee has started, players can check out one of Aeria’s premiere games, Last Chaos, worry free.

“Aeria Games loves the Last Chaos community and we want to show them we mean it we promise that Last Chaos is a fun game,” said Susan Revelt, senior producer of Last Chaos.

Last Chaos is one of Aeria’s most popular free-to-play massive multiplayer online (MMO) games. Players accomplish missions, learning crafting skills, rearing helpful pets and experiencing adventures with the help of Aeria’s popular Item Mall.

Players can purchase Aeria Points to obtain enhancements through the Item Mall for advanced game play. Aeria is offering players the choice of a 5,000 Aeria Point refund from March 4th to March 22nd for those who aren’t satisfied with the game.

Along with Aeria’s guarantee is the number of events scheduled in the month of March.

“This month we have a number of exciting events,” said Revelt. “Add to that our daily events and our special orientation classes for new players and we feel very confident in guaranteeing a fun filled month for every player no matter what their level or experience.”

Players must do the following to obtain their refund:

• Between March 4th and March 22nd players must register with their ingame account name. Registration is in this post on the forums: http://forums.aeriagames.com/viewtopic.php?t=86731
  
• If a player fails to have fun they will need to contact our billing department using the contact form here: http://www.aeriagames.com/contact
  
• When filling out the contact form the subject must be “Fun Month Rebate” and the category must also be “Fun Month Rebate”.
  
• The rebate request must be made between April 1st and April 10th.
  
• The refund is only for item mall purchases made with Aeria Points. Purchases made with Bonus Aeria Points are not eligible to be refunded.
  
• Maximum refund amount is 5000AP.