Warrior Quest Adds Online Leader Boards And World Rankings For Players On PC, Wii, PS3 And Mac

NextGenBooks.com today announces the addition of worldwide leader boards and rankings to its console and PC compatible RPG, Warrior Quest. Players are invited to step into the world of Warrior Quest, a casual fantasy adventure where players train compete against a host of characters to become the ultimate Battle Master. With the addition of online leader boards and world rankings players will now have their levels ranked against other players from across the globe. Warrior Quest has been uniquely developed not just for PC and Mac gamers, but also for owners of Wii, PS3, and on March 20th, PSP users.

By accessing Nextgenbooks.com through an appropriate internet browser, gamers using most PCs and consoles will be able to start their own quests to become the ultimate Battle Master. World rankings will be calculated on daily, weekly, monthly, and all time basis with future competitions to be announced in the coming weeks. A PSP compatible edition of Warrior Quest will also launch on March 20th complete with all of the features of the original edition, modified to operate within the handheld’s reduced memory capabilities.

Future updates of Warrior Quest are already in development with further refinements to the battle system, new player accessible Battle Cards to collect, and a more complete online experience that will allow players to chat with one another, across PC and console formats.

Warrior Quest is online now, accessible via internet browsers on PCs and Macs, Wii and PS3, and on March 20th, PSP. The game is 100% free with competitions and tournaments due to begin in the coming weeks. Details on these exciting developments and the game can all be accessed at www.nextgenbooks.com

GameShadow bags its millionth registered user

GameShadow, the leading automated patching service, today celebrates the registration of its one millionth user.

The GameShadow client software recognises and updates almost 3,000 different games, which gives the company unprecedented access to audience data which has been used to great effect by publishers in product planning and targeting - so much so that the team intends to launch a free monthly newsletter for its partners indicating industry trends and audience activity.

GameShadow has grown exponentially over the last six months, during which time it has expanded its service to include:

• A weekly newsletter going out to 450,000 gamers
• A blog and Gaming Network to connect its huge user base
• A powerful advertising mechanism to a very targeted audience

Of particular note is the new support for Hi-Definition trailers for PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, and related cross-platform editorial. "With the huge, free download capacity and bandwidth we already offer, it just made sense to extend that support to console owners," said Founder, Tony Treadwell.

With the continuing emphasis on great, comprehensive content, the company went on to completely overhaul its comprehensive game and file database, 'Gamepedia'. In addition to a new look and easier navigation, the 'game bible' is now integrated with the Gaming Network, providing functionality like Most Wanted lists, and telling users how many people own any given game - 3.6 million of which it is currently tracking.

These advancements have resulted in an unprecedented level of growth, averaging out at over 1,000 new registrations per day. Treadwell again, "One million satisfied subscribers is a real milestone for us, but it's just one step closer to our goal of becoming a true portal for gamers PC and console gamers alike."

Instinct video game Releases V2.0

Middleware provider Instinct Technology has emphasised the scope of its ambition and technical innovation with the latest release from its cross-platform game development solution Instinct Studio.

Instinct Studio version 2.0 has several new exciting features, building on its existing ground-breaking game development productivity benefits such as Remote Control which provides real time editing across platforms, as well as including a completely new and optimized graphics rendering system.

“We have a dual approach to our development as we have two target audiences, the content side of games development who spend a large portion of their working day inside the Instinct Studio tools environment, and programmers who want a clean and extensible middleware API and framework to work with which accelerates their development effort and crucially won’t put barriers up to their requirements. Whereas the earlier versions of Instinct Studio delivered primarily on the user experience, which we’ve now enhanced, the main focus this time has been optimizing the various systems across all our target platforms” says Instinct Technology’s Dermot Gallagher CTO, “This is a very significant revision and has been driven by listening to our clients and responding to technical developments in the market place”.

“The games industry has a wide variety of titles in development that range from triple AAA blockbusters to casual games” says Instinct Technology’s David Lawton COO, “We are very confident we have significantly enhanced our product set and to support this release we have introduced a range of innovative pricing models to give every level of developer a real opportunity to create fantastic games and succeed using our cutting-edge technology.”

Instinct Studio is a suite of software tools designed to allow game creators to produce state-of-the-art interactive products.

As computer and video games have become more complex and technically-demanding, game creators have come to need more efficient tools and production processes in order to meet more demanding deadlines and budgets, Instinct Studio has been designed from the ground up to satisfy these needs.

Instinct Studio features high-performance graphics coupled with powerful game creation tools, allowing a wide variety of game genres to be developed. These tools support WYSIWYG editing within a single unified working environment, maximizing productivity by reducing iteration times. The software has been designed as a true middleware API utilizing a set of extensible frameworks.

Instinct Studio is backed by world class technology, tools, documentation and support. The suite has been designed to integrate seamlessly with existing 'best in class' middleware solutions for specialist functionality (e.g. physics, artificial intelligence, multi-player networking etc.), allowing users to create fully-featured, state-of-the-art games for the new generation of game systems.

Wonderland Online: The Official Site Released (PC MMORPG)

With the Wonderland Online (http://wl.igg.com) Alpha Test right around the corner, the WLO team is pleased to announce that the official Wonderland Online website will be released at 9:00pm GMT-5 on Mar 18th. This site will be a resource for the testers and all players in the future, as well as serve the community as a place to follow what's happening in the game.

Detailed game information and forums are currently available for viewing. The official encourages you all to stop by often to learn more about Wonderland Online. Pay close attention to the website for more details: http://www.igg.com

Microsoft Xbox 360 Content Creation Challenge

Disruptive Media Publishers Announce Xbox 360 Content Creation Challenge

Nokia-Sponsored Contest Brings User-Generated Theme Artwork to the Xbox 360

Disruptive Media Publishers, the leading provider of lifestyle customization content (gamer pictures and themes) for Xbox LIVE on Xbox 360, today announced the official launch of the DP Content Creation Challenge. This marks the first time that individual artists have had the opportunity to get their unique content published on Xbox LIVE Marketplace as downloadable Xbox 360 themes, which can then be purchased by the over 10+ million members using Microsoft Points. The contest kicks off on March 17, 2008, and runs until April 28, 2008.

“Since the launch of the Xbox 360, users have constantly demanded the ability to create and distribute their own unique themes, and this has never been possible…until now,” said Clay Branson, Marketing Director for Disruptive Media Publishers. “This contest allows digital art creators a unique opportunity to bring their designs to the largest social network in the living room, with more than 10+ million Xbox LIVE members around the globe and 2.6 million instant messages, text and voice messages sent daily on Xbox LIVE.”

Nokia is the official sponsor of DP’s Content Creation Challenge. Nokia’s new offering is the Nokia N81, which is N-Gage compatible. “This contest is offering Nokia a great way to engage our N-Gage audience where they live and play,” said Nick Malaperiman, Nokia’s head of global marketing 3rd-party games. “We are looking forward to seeing the unique creations that result from the Challenge.”

Xbox LIVE Marketplace is home to more than 9,000 pieces of downloadable gaming and entertainment content and to date there have been over 400 million individual downloads of this content. Some of the most unique content allows for customization of the Xbox 360 system. This customization includes custom faceplates to change the external appearance of the console, as well as themes and gamer pictures that can be used throughout the entire console environment. Themes, which can include up to four unique images, allow users to customize their Xbox 360 user interface. Other personalization includes the player’s Gamer Picture, which is a unique visual identity displayed to the rest of the gaming community.

The Contest Details:
Users can visit www.my360theme.com, where they will find detailed instructions and a content template. Once material has been created to the proper specs, a simple file upload tool will allow users to transfer their content & associated information to DP’s servers. Upon submission, users can also choose to be affiliated with a specific Xbox 360 community partner.

After an internal quality review process, approved content will appear in a community gallery page on www.my360theme.com, where individuals vote to determine the top content. Real-time voting tabulates the top individual themes based on the number of votes received. At the conclusion of the contest, the top individual theme (as voted on by the community) will be officially published to Xbox LIVE Marketplace and, along with having content for purchase by Xbox LIVE users, will receive a grand prize package that includes a 42” HDTV and surround sound home theatre system, a library of Xbox 360 games, a Blu-ray DVD Player and a Nokia N81. More detailed rules are available at www.my360theme.com.

Dynamic leaderboards will also track a “community score” based on cumulative votes for themes affiliated with a community partner. In addition to the individual prizes, the community partner with the highest score will receive additional prizing, including an Xbox 360 game library and electronic store gift cards. DP’s participating community partners include:

• 360style.net
• 360sync
• 360voice.com
• Evil Avatar
• Hawty McBloggy
• Platform Nation
• The10k.com
• Unscripted 360
• Xbox Addict

Aurora: The Secret Within Goes Gold

Aurora: The Secret Within Goes Gold

Video games publisher Lexicon Entertainment are pleased to announce that ‘Aurora: The Secret Within’ has hit gold status and set for a release date of April 25th 2008.

Roswell, 1950 and a sensational rumour from the US Army have surfaced. A flying saucer has crashed near Roswell.
While this unbelievable event is broadcasting, the detective Pileggi falls into a mysterious case about the vanishing of a local farmer. During the investigation, he will discover that his reality has always been an illusion.

The Pentagon has been leading people to believe that Area 51 has been hiding projects about supersonic airplanes or alien technologies. The truth however is that the base was developed for a secret project called Aurora.

A secret project developed for time travel...

Features Include:

• 40 noir's placing within New Mexico
• 3D rooms exploration
• Original soundtrack and audio effects
• 3D interactive animated characters
• Logical, mathematical riddles and puzzles that gradually get harder
• Multiple choices dialogues, influencing the story
• 3D cut scene movies
• Multiple endings

Free Demo - Major League Baseball 2K8 Download now @ PlayStation Store

2K Sports Announces Free Demo of Major League Baseball 2K8 Now Available for Download on PlayStation Store

While dedicated fans eagerly anticipate the start of opening day, 2K Sports today announced a free Major League Baseball 2K8 demo is now available for download through the PlayStation Store. Players will be able to practice their skills at Boston’s legendary Fenway Park by playing three full innings as either the Colorado Rockies or Boston Red Sox.

The free game demo will also offer fans a chance to experience the new and exciting features that Major League Baseball 2K8 brings to the virtual diamond through retooled pitching, batting, fielding and baserunning gameplay mechanics. Fans will also get a sneak peek at the stunning realism and depth of gameplay in Major League Baseball 2K8 through new Signature Style™ animations and redesigned stadiums that showcase the detail and specific architecture of each city.

Major League Baseball 2K8, rated E for Everyone by the ESRB, is now available in retail stores for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStationPortable) system, and Wii home video game system.

LOL The Craziest Handheld Game Ever is Coming to Nintendo DS

Agetec To Make Nintendo DS Owners LOL

The Craziest Handheld Game Ever is Coming This May

Agetec, Inc today announced that it will be releasing LOL for Nintendo DS™ this May. A unique, free-form gaming experience, LOL’s motto says it best: “If the game is boring, then you are boring.”

“We decided not to include a single player mode in the game because that would defeat the purpose. This game was created to be a social game that allows you interact on and off Nintendo DS with your friends,” said Mark Johnson, the producer. “LOL concentrates on the comedic joy of using the imagination of everyone in the room.”

“LOL is a game with endless possibilities that can be played for hours and hours of nonstop entertainment,” said Hiro Fukuoka, producer at Agetec. “As long as you are a fun-loving person with a little bit of an imagination, there should be no reason you find LOL to be anything less than a great time with your friends. It maximizes your creative abilities and puts a fun twist to it.”

LOL is played by one of the players making a challenge in writing to the others. The crazier the challenge, the more fun everyone will have. The person who delivered the challenge chooses an appropriate time limit, and everyone has to answer the challenge on their touch screen however they see fit – with words, pictures, or whatever comes to mind. The host reveals the answers, and everyone votes on a winner who will then decide on the challenge for the next round. Always different and a blast to play every time, LOL will, as its name implies, make everyone laugh out loud.

Look back at the week: PS3 rebound; Xbox 360 Blu-ray; Wii sales

Sales for Sony Corp.'s Playstation 3 rebounded in Japan after a five-week fall. The PS3 ranked as the No. 4 best-selling hardware for the week.

Sony this week citied Blu-ray for strong U.S. PS3 sales. The PS3 held strong sales for the second straight month in the latest U.S. tally.

NPD Group Inc. this week that the PS3 sold more than 280,000 units in the month of Feb. The hardware ranked as the No. 4 top-selling video game offering for the month.

Advanced orders for the PS3 DualShock 3 controller spiked at Amazon.com this week upon availability. The controller will be sold in the U.S. in Apr.

PS3 80GB sales gained this week at Amazon.com on a pending restock of the item. The SKU has been in and out of stock at the retailer due to high demand.

Capcom Co.'s Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is hot as ice on the PS3. Despite some visual hiccups, the title delivers big offline and online action.

Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 held a tepid sales increase in the latest Japan charts. The hardware ranked as the No. 6 video game offering in the territory for the week.

Microsoft this week debunked reports that it is in talks with Sony to provide a Blu-ray solution to the Xbox 360. Microsoft discontinued the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player last month.

Capcom Co. this week said that it will blast Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition to the Xbox 360 and PC. The new version will include new modes and cross platform gameplay.

The Xbox 360 was outsold by the PS3 in Feb. U.S. sales. The Xbox successor sold more than 254,000 units for the month.

Sega Corp. this week said that it will release Alpha Protocol to the PS3 and Xbox 360. The new espionage RPG title is slated for a 2009 release.

Aksys Games this week said that Guilty Gear 2: Overture will strike the Xbox 360. The tactical action title will be released in Q3 of 2008.
Nintendo Co.'s Wii this week ranked as the No. 1 hardware in Japan. Additionally, the console ranked five titles in the top 10 software charts.

Nintendo this week said that it will release Mario Kart Wii in Apr. The title will include the Wii Wheel peripheral.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl this week was sold out at Best Buy despite in-store availability status. The title was released on Mar. 9 in the U.S.

Nintendo this week released a new wave of Virtual Console titles to the Wii. Titles include DoReMi Fantasy and Puyo Puyo 2.

Nintendo this week said that the select Wii console may be unable to read Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It is offering to repair affected Wii consoles at no cost.
Microsoft this week said that it will add Blu-ray support to the Windows operating system. The company previously backed Toshiba's HD DVD.

Amazon.com this week price cut Blu-ray titles to as low as $14.95. Titles include Underworld, The Patriot, and Black Hawk Down.

Best Buy this week discounted HD DVD titles by 30 percent to in-store and online customers. Toshiba Corp. in Feb. said it will exit the HD DVD business.

HD DVD title The Matador spiked 15,064 percent at Amazon following a discount to $8.95. Additionally, a wave of titles were price cut to $9.95.

Source: PunchJump

SUDDEN STRIKE 3: ARMS FOR VICTORY Fact Sheet

Tanks roll. 

soldiers march. 

Battleships bristle. 

Planes thunder high above the battlefield, where untold legions lie wounded or dying. World War II has arrived, and only you can turn the tide in Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory, the latest in the multimillion-selling line of award-winning real-time strategy games, which brings history’s most storied conflicts to stunning life right on your desktop.



Sudden Strike 3 features an all-new fully 3D engine optimized for strategy games, new campaigns, massive battles, and historically modeled units that are rendered in accurate relative scale – from a wide assortment of infantry types to massive battleships and aircraft carriers – along with significantly expanded gameplay so players can wage war across a variety of terrains and environments. A new interface reduces complexity, while the addition of hundreds of new unit types (including prototype units) and new combat options (naval operations, coastal defenses and more) will offer the player an exciting and challenging strategy experience.

Key features

• Massive Scale – Watch thousands of historical and prototype units clash atop gigantic maps
  
• Explosive Action – Cutting-edge 3D engine delivers unprecedented combat detail
  
• Total Control – Intuitive user interface lets you jump right in and relive World War II’s greatest battles
  
• Real-World Tactics – Outfox hyper-intelligent enemies by air, land or sea
  
• Multiple Campaigns – Fight as the Allies or Germans in Europe, turn the tide at Iwo Jima or spearhead assaults on the USSR
  

The information contained in this fact sheet relates to a prerelease product that may be substantially modified before its first commercial release. Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the product when first commercially released. This fact sheet is provided for informational purposes only, and CDV Software Entertainment makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the fact sheet or the information contained in it.