Sega 'Very Happy' to be sixth biggest games publisher

Sega is quite content with its position as the sixth-biggest game publisher by revenue in the U.S., and is not at all interested in merging or being acquired by anyone at the moment, according to Simon Jeffrey, chief executive of the U.S. arm of Sega Sammy.

"There is plenty of room for smaller companies to be successful and profitable in this business. You don't have to be number one or number two. You can be number six very happily," said Jeffrey.

He is also understandably thrilled that Mario & Sonic At the Olympic Games sold a combined five million copies on Wii and DS, saying "I don't think we believed in our wildest dreams that it would sell five million units in just three months." To be honest, neither did we.

Source: WIRED Blog

iGames and Game Centers Launch New Tour of Competitive Gaming Events in Partnership with CEVO

Leading Game Center organization iGames, together with 17 of the nation’s leading Game Centers, today announced the creation of the Gamers Tour (www.gamerstour.com), a new series of eSports tournaments geared towards the amateur to semi-professional communities.

Featuring regional and national tournaments, along with a series of online competitions hosted by leading competitive gaming community CEVO (www.cevo.com), the Gamers Tour will showcase the best local gamers from around the US competing for cash and prizes on today’s most popular competitive titles, including Counter-Strike: 1.6 (PC) and Counter-Strike: Source (PC), along with additional games which will be announced shortly.

The Gamers Tour will be focused on complementing the events offered by other eSports event organizers. Many eSports tournament organizers hold high-profile events showcasing the world’s best professional gamers. The Gamers Tour will be focused on providing fun competitive local events for players of a broader range of skill, thereby serving the need for a LAN-based program for non-professionals on their way to competing at higher levels.

In total, more than 32 competitions are planned to take place throughout 2008, with more than $50,000.00 in cash and prizes in the balance. Regional tournaments will offer a set minimum of a $1,000 prize pool. All prizes will be awarded promptly to winning players for their efforts.

The events will take place at Game Centers with a proven history of operating the highest quality eSports events, including X3O Gaming Center in Maryland.

“We are proud to work with iGames and other leading game centers to build the Gamers Tour. Our 2008 Dust-Off Championship Series will be making gaming history for a second year in a row, being the largest tournament ever in the United States to be developed and executed by a gaming center,” said Nick Fitzsimmons, Manager of X30 Gaming Center. “We are looking forward to incorporating the 2008 Dust-Off Championship Series with the Gamers Tour, which will provide more visibility to the thousands of gamers nationwide.”

The Gamers Tour is distinguished in that the events will be accessible to more local players than any other eSports organization with LAN play. As the tour grows, participating locations will be within driving distance of every major city in the United States. The nation’s best Game Center events will be united through a coordinated schedule of tournaments and rankings will be established for players and teams based on results.

“Though many organizations provide online opportunities to play in leagues, ladders and tournaments, game centers, with their in-person atmosphere, are the perfect venue to help strengthen and grow the eSports community,” said Mark Nielsen, Executive Director, iGames. “In addition, the LAN environment offered at game centers provides aspiring professional gamers the opportunity to hone their skills on LAN which is how most big prize tournaments are run.”

Tournaments will be held throughout the year and will be announced as details become available. For more information and a complete list of Game Centers hosting the Gamers Tour, including signup information, visit http://www.gamerstour.com.

Dominions 3: The Awakening Updated download for Windows Mac and Linux

Dominions 3: The Awakening Updated Once Again!

Version 3.15 Now Ready For Immediate Download!

The best keeps getting better! The mad Swedish geniuses behind the multi-award winning Dominions 3: The Awakening, Illwinter Game Design, and their publisher Shrapnel Games (that would be us) would like to announce a brand new patch is available for the game.

As you've come to expect the patch, which is version 3.15, contains a mixture of cool new features and the elimination of a number of bugs. Players will happily note that one of those eliminated bugs is the scale spread bug that brought woe to some. Some other notable highlights that should bring a smile to your face and put a spring in your step: MA Ulm and LA Abysia boosted and Ermor domkill at proper levels now.

A complete list of what can be found in the version 3.15 update includes:

The Features:

• MA & LA Ulm sexier.
  
• Ulm Iron Faith: Black Priests in MA Ulm, Priest Smiths.
  
• Iron Faith spells: Iron Darts, Iron Blizzard.
  
• Iron Angel, MA Ulm summon to battle enemy sacreds and magical beings.
  
• Guardians got Black Halberds that stun enemy sacreds.
  
• Ghoul Guardians no longer sacred, but got Black Halberds.
  
• Halt Heretic: New ability on Iron Angel, Ulrich hero and Lord Guardians.
  
• Plate armors slightly better. Ulm plate armors more so.
  
• LA Abysia sexier.
  
• Slayer cult: Anathemant Slayers, common slayers noncapital.
  
• LA Anathemants got death magic.
  
• LA Smoulderghosts sacred.
  
• Warbreds: huge humanbreds bred for war.
  
• Late Abysian Hero
  
• Fossilized Giants, LA Abysian summon.
  
• Altered spell: Hidden in Snow more expensive and gives more units. Also more
  
• effective with luck, magic and turmoil.
  
• New spell: Hidden in Sand. Summons dust walkers if cast in a wasteland. More
  
• powerful in luck, magic and turmoil.
  
• Altered spell: Flight is personal.
  
• New spell: Gift of Flight.
  
• New icons: Halt Heretic, Animal Awe, Spy and Assassin.
  
• Avalon witch changes: Crones strat move 1, mother and daughter random nature/air.
  
• New national militia events for UW nations.
  

The Bug Fixes and Balance Changes.

• Scale spread bug fixed.
  
• Ermor domkill upped to proper levels.
  
• Old militia event made rare.
  
• Peshti got Kite Shields.
  
• Peshti Spearman strat move 2.
  
• Bogatyr strat move 3.
  
• Some more strat move fixes.
  
• Plague Scythe -> twohanded.
  
• Exarch and Kosheij got robes.
  
• Grid Druzhina cold res 50.
  
• Fivefold Angel stump attack instead of fist.
  
• Simargl Falchion -> bite.
  
• Simargl patrol -> 10.
  
• Bloodlord helmet.
  
• Rigor mortis no longer affects inanimates.
  
• Internal Alchemy works properly.
  
• Demonbred got correct age.
  
• Forester and Bakemono scout stealth fix.
  
• Moose Riders cheaper 45 -> 30.
  

* #coldpower mod command fixed.

The patch can be downloaded directly from Shrapnel Games and is available for
Windows, Mac, and Linux. Point your browser to:

www.shrapnelgames.com/Illwinter/Dom3/6.htm

Dominions 3: The Awakening Updated Once Again!

The best keeps getting better! The mad Swedish geniuses behind the multi-award winning Dominions 3: The Awakening, Illwinter Game Design, and their publisher Shrapnel Games would like to announce a brand new patch is available for the game.

As you've come to expect the patch, which is version 3.15, contains a mixture of cool new features and the elimination of a number of bugs. Players will happily note that one of those eliminated bugs is the scale spread bug that brought woe to some. Some other notable highlights that should bring a smile to your face and put a spring in your step: MA Ulm and LA Abysia boosted and Ermor domkill at proper levels now.

A complete list of what can be found in the version 3.15 update includes:

The Features:

•MA & LA Ulm sexier.
•Ulm Iron Faith: Black Priests in MA Ulm, Priest Smiths.
•Iron Faith spells: Iron Darts, Iron Blizzard.
•Iron Angel, MA Ulm summon to battle enemy sacreds and magical beings.
•Guardians got Black Halberds that stun enemy sacreds.
•Ghoul Guardians no longer sacred, but got Black Halberds.
•Halt Heretic: New ability on Iron Angel, Ulrich hero and Lord Guardians.
•Plate armors slightly better. Ulm plate armors more so.
•LA Abysia sexier.
•Slayer cult: Anathemant Slayers, common slayers noncapital.
•LA Anathemants got death magic.
•LA Smoulderghosts sacred.
•Warbreds: huge humanbreds bred for war.
•Late Abysian Hero
•Fossilized Giants, LA Abysian summon.
•Altered spell: Hidden in Snow more expensive and gives more units. Also more
effective with luck, magic and turmoil.
•New spell: Hidden in Sand. Summons dust walkers if cast in a wasteland. More
powerful in luck, magic and turmoil.
•Altered spell: Flight is personal.
•New spell: Gift of Flight.
•New icons: Halt Heretic, Animal Awe, Spy and Assassin.
•Avalon witch changes: Crones strat move 1, mother and daughter random nature/air.
•New national militia events for UW nations.

The Bug Fixes and Balance Changes:

•Scale spread bug fixed.
•Ermor domkill upped to proper levels.
•Old militia event made rare.
•Peshti got Kite Shields.
•Peshti Spearman strat move 2.
•Bogatyr strat move 3.
•Some more strat move fixes.
•Plague Scythe -> twohanded.
•Exarch and Kosheij got robes.
•Grid Druzhina cold res 50.
•Fivefold Angel stump attack instead of fist.
•Simargl Falchion -> bite.
•Simargl patrol -> 10.
•Bloodlord helmet.
•Rigor mortis no longer affects inanimates.
•Internal Alchemy works properly.
•Demonbred got correct age.
•Forester and Bakemono scout stealth fix.
•Moose Riders cheaper 45 -> 30.
•* #coldpower mod command fixed.

The patch can be downloaded directly from Shrapnel Games and is available for
Windows, Mac, and Linux. Point your browser to:

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/Illwinter/Dom3/6.htm

Dominions 3: The Awakening is a fantasy turn-based strategy game that proves that today's gaming landscape still has room for the garage developer. It's also probably the best damn hardcore turn based fantasy strategy game you'll ever play, but you already know that since you're reading up on the patch. Unless you just like to collect game patches. In which case go on and grab the demo from the same spot and see why
everyone worships at the altar of Illwinter. Then once enthralled head on over to the Gamers Front and grab a copy to apply this patch to, especially since it's on sale all month long!

Throughout March Dominions 3: The Awakening is $7.00 off its normal retail price of $54.95! Don't have it yet? Great time to grab it. Already have it? Christmas is only nine months away and it makes a perfect gift! Remember, you can never have enough Dominions in your life!

For more information on Dominions 3: The Awakening, or to check out any of our other fine products, please visit us at www.shrapnelgames.com. Recent releases include the
modder's paradise dungeoncrawl of Scallywag: In the Lair of the Medusa and coming soon to a tabletop near you, Eat Electric Death!, the tactical starship combat board game set in the Infinite Space universe.

Carriers at War PC video game Update patch for download

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and Strategic Studies Group (www.ssg.com.au) are happy to announce that a new minor update is now available for Carriers at War. This quick but helpful 1.02.2 update address two issues which arose after the major 1.02 update. The 1.02 update brought a new scenario, an editor tutorial, and tons of new editor/gameplay changes too.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “The latest 1.02.2 update is riding on the tails of the fantastic 1.02 update which was recently released. With a few quick fixes to improve upon an already solid game, Carriers at War is more addicting and fun than it’s ever been!”

Carriers at War is a WWII naval combat and strategy game set in the Pacific Theatre. Putting you at the heart of WWII carrier combat, you are in charge of commanding carriers with powerful airgroups tasked with delivering a knockout blow to the enemy, while avoiding retribution at the hands of a canny foe. Although it includes land-based airpower, surface combat and invasions, Carriers at War focuses heavily on carrier fleet command strategy, which requires the player to use all of their naval prowess to best the enemy. Throughout the wide range of scenarios found in Carriers at War, history buffs and strategy fans alike will recognize and enjoy playing through famous engagements including Pearl Harbor, Midway, Coral Sea, Eastern Solomons, and more! This 2007 release is a fully modern, brand new Carriers at War, though it remains true to the incredible gameplay of the original wargame classic.

Get more information on Carriers at War from its official Matrix Games webpage.

This update is comprehensive and will bring the game up to version 1.02.2.

WITCHES - 3rd person action adventure game developed by Revistronic

Witches (working title)

GENRE: 3rd person action/adventure game
PLATFORMS: PC, Xbox 360 & PS3
PARTNER(S): Schanz Intl. / TBC
LAST UPDATE: Dec 05th, 2007

“Where the Dark Arts reign… you can still rise up… and fight.”

Overview

Project WITCHES is a 3rd person action/adventure game developed by Revistronic and designed to exploit the capabilities of new generation consoles.

Players find themselves in terrifying dark medieval surroundings in an epic struggle for survival against the repellent deformed Hordes of the Beast, an evil creature that has established a reign of slavery and terror throughout the land.

Across a landscape of devastation, you have to direct Tempest, Shadow and Fire, sultry warriors that still resist his dark will and leads the rebellion against his satanic power.

Key Features

Scenario: Everything reeks of death, torture and destruction. People have been enslaved. They are prisoners of a dark power that has established a reign of terror and devastation throughout the land.
Sultry girls against satanic monsters: Let’s yourself go in this dark medieval narrative and enjoy the contrast between sensual beauty and sinister horrors. Direct the beautiful but dangerous Shadow in a spectacular fight against hordes of repellent deformed creatures.
* Feel the fear: Skies rent by terrifying storms, hair-raising shrieks, shadows in the fog, stealthy movements and menacing growls, the glint of monstrous eyes that watch from the shades.

* Spectacular system of tactical combat: Combining spectacular combat with sequences of caution and stealth. The tactics you use will be decisive for your survival. You must rescue the captives and obtain their help. You will lead your team. You can be a great leader or sacrifice your comrades in the fight. Your decisions will shape your destiny.

Totally interactive environment: All game items can be used, creating a sensation of total immersion such as never before. You can use all kinds of objects to achieve your aims, even the amputated limbs of adversaries.
* Gameplay: 2 modes, requiem and arena that exploit the full the spectacular possibilities of new generation consoles. More than 12 hours of gameplay across 4 levels and 80 scenarios.

Technology: powered by “Picture Next–Gen engine V.3”.
Game Engine v.3 uses pioneering technologies in the development of techniques and processes for the creation of interactive content applied to the representation of surroundings 3D in Real time.
Strengths: fast learning curve, real time cinematography render, Real-time physics, High savings, and easy adaptation to multiplatform developments, Reduction of Development times and costs.

Unique Selling Points (USP’s)

• Main characters: Sexy and sensual warriors designed with specific strengths and weaknesses.
  
• Powerful Witches Squad: Levels and scenarios are designed specifically to encourage cooperative play.
  
• Strong visual gaming: cutting edge graphics, full of lights, shadows and special effects, beautiful scenarios and interactive cinematics to increase immersion present a cinematic experience and make the game spectacular.
  
• Easy & intuitive control: The Player can switch the Main Character, perform combos, use magical powers, run, jump, climb, perform the stealth occultism arts and move the lights in real time.
  
• Combat system: Engage your foes in one-on-one fights, skirmishes with dozens of adversaries, or even battles with hundreds of monsters at once.
  
• Script: Original plot that open different endings based on witches actions. Their relationship delivers surprises.
  

Target focus

Males 18-35 years old.
Casual gamers that enjoy good stories, easy gameplay and amazing action.
Hardcore gamers own a high-end PC and graphics card, and/or the most recent consoles (XBOX360 or PS3).
Fans of 3rd person action/adventure games.

Disney Mobile Studios - PK: PHANTOM DUCK GAME on MOBILE CELLPHONE NETWORKS

TACKLE THE MEAN STREETS WITH PK: PHANTOM DUCK

Immerse yourself in the richly detailed world of PK: Phantom Duck, out now for mobile phones.

Disney’s PK: Phantom Duck, based on the legendary comic book franchise, puts a novel, darker twist on Donald Duck, fusing comic strip storytelling with action-packed gameplay. PK is a masked avenger with a mission to protect the town of Duckburg from the evil Ma Beagle and her Beagle Boys.

PK must keep the crooks and creeps in check as he battles against foes such as an army of security robots run amok, flying robot menaces, boss battles with each of the Beagle Boys, and many more.

This exquisitely rendered comic book world features stunning Disney classic art and animations, and 14 levels of puzzles. Physics-based puzzle play will test your brainpower as you devise clever ways to outwit the enemy. You’ll uncover secret zones as you progress through the levels to discover hidden bonuses and new ways to meet challenges – you’ll never play the same game twice, so the action is always fresh.

PK: Phantom Duck is out now and available from all major mobile phone operators.

Next-gen Blu-ray "mindblowing" say Sun's James Gosling

Forthcoming third-generation improvements to the Blu-ray specification are "going to be just mindblowing," according to James Gosling, vice president and fellow at Sun.

Demonstrations planned for the company's JavaOne conference in May to show off the new features "will blow [delegates'] socks off" providing the code is ready in time, he said.

"People are going nuts trying to exploit everything that's in Blu-ray," Gosling added.

While Gosling was unable to reveal details of what's ahead, he was keen to talk about what we'll see when Blu-ray Profile 2 (agreed about a year ago) finds its way into players in the coming months.

Blu-ray Profile 2 increases the amount of local storage that must be provided by a player (flash memory is now so cheap that this is unlikely to make much difference to the price of Blu-ray hardware) and also mandates the provision of Internet connectivity.

This will result in "all kinds of really interesting Blu-ray applications that use the network," Gosling told iTWire, such as first-person shooter games, shopping, and community subtitling.

The idea of allowing outsiders to provide subtitles is getting a mixed reception from the movie industry, he said. On one hand, it means they can release movies before subtitling is complete and it provides a way of reaching many more markets with a single product, but the studios are also concerned about the loss of control. There are quality control issues when subtitles aren't subject to review by the movie's creators, and there is also the possibility that spoof or otherwise humorous subtitles could be unofficially released.

"There's still a lot of dissension in the industry," Gosling observed.

Most manufacturers of upgradable Blu-ray players have almost finished work on Profile 2 upgrades, he said.

Furthermore, people have realised that "Blu-ray players are pretty interesting things even when they don't have a disc in them" as with appropriate programming they could deliver other functions such as acting as an IPTV set-top box.

Sun's Java language - originally designed by Gosling - is part of the Blu-ray standard.

Source: IT Wire

Hideo Kojima -Metal Gear Solid 4 too big for Blu-Ray discs

Several big names may be going the Blu-ray way, but perhaps not all are satisfied with the decision. Konami’s video game designer Hideo Kojima is one such example. Apparently the 50GB Blu-ray is not enough for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, reported renowned gaming blog Kotaku.

Speaking to Famitsu, Hideo Kojima stated, “For us, we are still not satisfied with the quality we can do. You know, there’s not capacity space.” The interviewer then asked Kojima if he was referring to the Blu-ray, to which the father of Metal Gear replied, “That is correct. There is not enough space at all. There is not enough space. We always talked about where to cut and what to compress.”

It seems, the team had to compress certain parts of the game to fit it on the Sony format, and the foreign voice tracks were entirely cut.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot will be released in June 2008 across the globe.
Well coming back to, Kojima’s stance, what do you think? Would you yet prefer “Quality over Quantity”? Do drop in your views below and let us know about the same.

Source: Tech Shout

MGS4 Squeezes Onto PS3 Blu-ray, Could It Fit On Xbox 360? - db Techno

Conspiracy Entertainment's Nintendo Wii Cocoto Magic Circus video game released

Conspiracy Entertainment, a developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment software in North America and Western Europe, announced today that the Company's highly anticipated gaming title for the Nintendo Wii "Cocoto Magic Circus" was shipped to U.S. retail stores.

"Cocoto Magic Circus," a mini game compilation developed by Neko Entertainment, was first marketed under the name "Cocoto Fun Fair" to Europe in 2006. Conspiracy gained the U.S. rights to develop the game for the Wii console under the name "Cocoto Magic Circus," which is currently being distributed through Conspiracy's agreement with SVG Distribution, Inc.

Featuring 40 mini-games "one more original than the next," "Cocoto Magic Circus" is an arcade-style shooter game focused on freeing a magical fairy. The game's four progressive modes -- Arcade, Training, Duel and Tournament -- can accommodate up to four players. "Families and their children nationwide are catching on to the recurring and loveable character Cocoto. The simple, cartoonish and fast-paced style of our latest release is ideal for children six years and up, and at its affordable price points, it is poised to add to sales in the first quarter of 2008," said Sirus Ahmadi, president of Conspiracy Entertainment.

Keith Tanaka, CFO of Conspiracy Entertainment, said, "The fourth quarter of 2007 was a very strong quarter in terms of the number of released titles and revenues, and we are continuing this aggressive growth trend in the first quarter of 2008. 'Cocoto Magic Circus' is the third title to be released in March. Combined with strong Wii: 'Winter Sports' sales, our new releases provide for significant sales growth in the first quarter of 2008, a significant turnaround from no revenues in the first quarter of 2007."