Guild Wars and Lineage II website launched

NCsoft Europe unveils two new websites designed to introduce new players to Lineage II and Guild Wars.

NCsoft Europe today announces the launch of two new websites specifically created to introduce players new to massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) the opportunity to discover two of NCsoft Europe’s most cherished and endearing games: Guild Wars® and Lineage II.

From the battle-ravaged ruins of Tyria (Guild Wars), through the ancient kingdom of Cantha (Guild Wars Factions™), and on across the treacherous plains of Elona (Guild Wars Nightfall), www.discoverguildwars.com introduces newcomers to the full Guild Wars experience, including the official expansion pack, Guild Wars: Eye of the North. Try mixing and matching combinations of games on this stunning, user-friendly website to discover how to gain access to new skills, missions, and geographical locations.

Lineage® II: The Chaotic Throne, by contrast, offers a slightly different, if no less epic, playing experience. The world of Lineage II is divided into three kingdoms: Aden, Elmore and Gracia who share a delicate balance of power. Solo fighters, entire clans and immense alliances engage in combat so brutal the very ground shakes! By visiting www.discoverlineage2.com player can discover the historical background and rich heritage of one of the most enduring MMORPGs currently available using a sumptuously presented page-turning presentation guide.

PlayStation 3 and PC Gamers Can Get Their Frag On With Three New Maps for Unreal Tournament 3

PlayStation 3 and PC Gamers Can Get Their Frag On With Three New Maps for Unreal Tournament 3

Midway and Epic Games announce that downloadable content for the award-winning first-person shooter, Unreal Tournament 3, is now available for PlayStation 3 and PC. The downloadable content consists of three deadly arenas: Morbias, Facing Worlds and Searchlight. PC users can find the new content at www.unrealtournament3.com, while PS3 users can download it directly from the PlayStation Network.

These downloads, which are free to all owners of Unreal Tournament 3, mark the latest achievement in providing the gaming community with unrivaled mods and superior experiences through the most recent installment in the Unreal Tournament franchise. While Unreal Tournament 3 shipped with 40 maps, and hundreds of user-created mods have been published since the game's release, Midway and Epic are committed to providing fans with even more official content to further extend enjoyment of the game.

Morbias is the deathmatch arena that started it all, perfectly suited for anything from small intense duels to chaotic free-for-all matches. The Unreal Tournament classic, Facing Worlds was one of the most played maps in gaming history. This beloved sniper map makes its return alongside an intricate new capture the flag map, Searchlight, designed for both z-axis rooftop runs and strategic indoor gameplay. Returning classics and fresh new designs let you experience Unreal gaming like never before.

Unreal Tournament 3 is rated 18+ PEGi.

Penny Arcade Game - Windows Mac and Linux versions

Hothead Games Sets Price, Technical Specs For Upcoming Penny Arcade Game

Windows, Mac and Linux versions to sell worldwide for $19.95

Hothead Games today announced official pricing for the upcoming first installment in the downloadable, episodic game series Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness. Although the title is long, the price is just a short and sweet $19.95 for the Windows, Mac and Linux versions of the game, currently scheduled to launch simultaneously this spring on these platforms and via Xbox LIVE Arcade.

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One is expected to offer gamers five to ten hours of gameplay and work on current generation computer hardware, making it compatible with players' schedules and pocketbooks.

Minimum System Requirements

Windows and Linux

• Windows 2000/XP/VistaTM with latest updates or Linux 32-bit x86
• Pentium III, AMD AthlonTM 1.0 GHz or better

Mac

• Mac OS X 10.4/10.5 with latest updates
• PowerPC G4, G5 or Intel based Mac 1.0 GHz or better

Recommended Configuration

Windows and Linux

• Pentium IV, AMD AthlonTM 1.5 GHz or better

Mac

• PowerPC G4, G5 or Intel based Mac 1.5 GHz or better

Atlus Announces Dungeon RPG Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard for Nintendo DS

Adventurers Wanted; Atlus Announces Dungeon RPG Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard for Nintendo DS

One of Gaming's Truest RPG Series Returns in June

Atlus U.S.A., Inc., preferred publisher of adventuring duo Fight and Heal, today announced Etrian OdysseyTMII: Heroes of Lagaard for Nintendo DSTM. Continuing one of the genre's purest experiences, this sequel builds upon the original cult classic with more diverse areas to explore, new character classes, more fiendish FOEs, and an improved mapping system.

Etrian Odyssey II boasts an all-star development team, led by director Shigeo Komori (scenario designer; Etrian Odyssey, Odin Sphere). Composer Yuzo Koshiro (The Revenge of Shinobi, Streets of Rage, Etrian Odyssey) returns for Heroes of Lagaard, in addition to character designer Yuji Himukai and monster designer Shin Nagasawa, who both worked on the original Etrian Odyssey.

The odyssey resumes June 17th.

Visit the official Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard website: www.atlus.com/etrian2

About Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard In the Grand Duchy of High Lagaard, it is said that the Duke is descended from inhabitants of a castle in the sky. When an unforeseen crisis befalls the nation, it is decreed that the first explorer to retrieve the Grail of Kings from that mythical floating palace will be rewarded with wealth and fame beyond imagining. Enter the central city of Lagaard and begin your journey to the clouds!

Key Features

- Make the adventure yours - Rediscover true role-playing as you build your party of stalwart adventurers from 12 different classes. From basics like name and sex to advanced settings like combat formation, skills, and spells, every detail is yours to customize!
- The Odyssey continues - Experience an all-new story, more classes, improved mapping capabilities, new Force Skills, and over 100 side-quests.
- Chart your progress through the dungeons - Etrian Odyssey's innovative mapmaking tool returns with more options and features! Use the touch screen to map out the halls, chambers, treasures, and dangers of the realms you explore.

Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

PT Boats: Knights of the Sea Multiplayer Screenshots

Akella is pleased to present the recent multiplayer screenshots from PT Boats: Knights of the Sea which is a mix of fast-paced action sim and a more hardcore experience involving tactical planning and strategic thinking. Slated for release later this year, the title undergoes the final touches on balancing and minor bug fixes.

The fresh downloads show off the Deathmatch Mode and feature refresh of the game artwork.

The screenshots can be accessed in the game gallery

About PT Boats: Knights of the Sea

PT Boats: Knights of the Sea
Genre: naval action simulator
Platform: PC
Developer and publisher: Akella
Release date: Q2 2008

The seas can be dangerous, but when you're in command of a crack strike boat crew, you might just be the most dangerous thing out there...

Join up to the Russian, German or Allied navies and prove your worth out these on the open water. Control every aspect of your boat's defensive and offensive, from the anti-aircraft guns hobbling your enemy's air superiority to the torpedo strapped to the sides to sink destroyers of merchant vessels.

Combining advanced strategic and action modes you can plan the intricacies of your attack and then lead your crew from the front and right in the battle. As you advance in rank throughout the long campaign you will gain access to new boats and even warships for you to command. Build up your crew in single player then go online and join your friends manning your own boat and challenge others in a battle to the death.

Key features:

• Innovative combination of sim, strategy and tactical action.
• Control the entire crew or take your place at an individual station.
• DirectX 9 as well as DirectX 10 options.

Proprietary graphics engine, with advanced physics and post-processing effects

Xbox Live Cheaters gamerscore accounts to zero There is NO appeal

Microsoft reset cheaters' "gamerscore" accounts to zero and eliminated all past achievements. There is no appeal.

Microsoft is cracking down on players on its Xbox Live gaming service who use hacks to artificially inflate their scores.

"Today, we took action,"

said Larry Hryb, Microsoft's Xbox Live programming director, in a blog post Wednesday.

Hryb, who blogs under the pseudonym Major Nelson, said Microsoft would reset cheaters' "gamerscore" accounts to zero and eliminate all past achievements. Their gamer profiles would also publicly show they've been caught cheating, according to Hryb.

"Xbox Live remains committed to keeping the service free of cheating in order to maintain a fair and level playing field for everyone,"

said Hryb.

In a separate post, Microsoft said its judgments on whether a player had amassed their score by cheating are final. "The original gamerscore correction will remain permanent without any way to appeal," the company warned.

"Your best choice is to show the community you won't do it again,"

said Microsoft.

Microsoft said it uses "specific and automated criteria" to determine if players are cheating. Some Xbox Live players have been known to cheat by using third party tools to hack into their saved game files.

Microsoft's crackdown on Xbox Live cheaters is so far proving popular with legitimate players.

"About time, how many people have been caught so far?,"

said a user in a post on the Major Nelson blog.

"Good job making the service fair, Microsoft,"

said another.

In addition to online gaming, Xbox Live also lets users download high-definition movies and TV shows and communicate with each other. The service counts more than 10 million members, according to Microsoft.

Source: Information Week

Nintendo Wii Leads Jump in Japan's Game Market

Console sales grow 13.4 percent in 2007, led by the cheaper Wii, says a new report.

The console game market in Japan grew 13.4 percent in 2007 thanks largely to the popularity of Nintendo's Wii, according to a report due to be published on Friday.

The entire game console market was worth ¥685 billion (US$6.9 billion) in 2007, with the hardware and software markets about evenly matched. In the previous year the software side of the market had led the industry but the sector was rebalanced last year due to the availability of the Wii and Sony's PlayStation 3, said Media Create in its annual "Game Market White Paper."

The PlayStation 3 launched on Nov. 11, 2006, and the Wii hit store shelves in Japan on Dec. 2, 2006, but early popularity of the consoles meant that many sales were delayed until 2007. Price cuts for the PlayStation 3, which was criticized early on for being too expensive, also helped boost sales later in 2007.

Total hardware sales rose 31 percent to $3.48 billion and software sales were virtually unchanged at $3.39 billion, according to the report. The estimates are based on point-of-sales system data gathered by Media Create from hundreds of retailers in Japan.

"Sales of Wii software rose strongly but those for the PlayStation 2 fell so they offset each other," said Kenichi Chiba, an analyst at the Tokyo company.

The Wii has been credited with revitalizing Japan's console game market and expanding the gaming population -- the number of people who regularly play video games. Its innovative wireless and motion sensitive controller and a low price have been key to attracting many people who might otherwise not have bought a game console. The Wii currently sells in Japan for $250, versus $400 for the PlayStation 3.

Sales of the console totaled 1.1 million in the few weeks of 2006 during which it was on sale, and 3.9 million during 2007 to take total Japan sales to 5 million units by the end of the year, Nintendo said.

The Wii remains popular. In the week from March 10 to 16 the Wii was the number two-selling games device in Japan with sales of 55,845 units, according to Media Create. In first place was Nintendo's handheld DS with sales of 57,651 units.

Source: PC World

Details Emerge On Rock Band for Nintendo Wii

MTV and Harmonix announced recently that Rock Band has been confirmed and will be released on the Nintendo Wii on June 22. More details have now been released about the game, revealing how it will compare to its PS2, PS3, and Xbox 360 counterparts.
It is looking more and more like Rock Band on the Nintendo Wii will be very similar to the PS2 version. Reports are that the game is actually going to be a port of the PS2 version, and not a port of the PS3 or Xbox 360 version.

This is due to the fact that it is confirmed to not feature any type of online play or downloadable content. This means no downloadable songs, no online music store, no Band World Tour mode online etc.

In terms of the songs though, the Wii version will get a bit of a boost to try to make up for the alck of DLC.

The Wii version is getting 5 bonus tracks over the original Xbox 360 and PS3 playlists. This is a nice bonus, but still does not fully replace DLC.

The other news is that Harmonix may not be putting any type of band customization or the Band World Tour mode in the game. These may be left out of the Wii version.

And finally, those of you with Guitar Hero III on the Wii should know that the guitar will not work on Rock Band.

Source: dbTechno

Warhammer: Battle March - Character Profiles 2: Dark Elves 2

Dark Elf Dragon (mount for heroes)
Ancient and deadly, the dragons of Naggaroth are reared by the Beastmasters and are amongst the most powerful creatures in all the lands. They can breathe forth a noxious cloud of corrosive fumes that burns skin and causes any who breathe it to choke and die. Only the greatest lords amongst the Dark Elves ride atop the massive Black Dragons of Naggaroth which, even alone, have the power to destroy an army.

Dark Elf Spearmen
Citizen-warriors of Naggaroth are most commonly armed with long, heavy bladed spears, and they are uniformly well drilled in their usage. Each warrior is highly skilled and has reactions far superior to those of lesser races, and through near constant warfare and training, the citizen-warriors of Naggaroth are more than a match for the professional sol-diers of other races.

Harpies
Harpies are feral winged creatures possessed of a savage, primeval beauty. Some claim they are the souls of slain Witch Elves given form, others that they are the manifestation of Khaine in his aspect of the predator. They are creatures of Khaine, that is for sure, for they delight in the tormenting of their victims and feast upon raw flesh.

Highborn
The noble Highborn are the ruling elite of Naggaroth, and it is they who often lead the armies of conquest against the lesser races. They are haughty, noble and their training in the arts of war is second to none. Equipped with the finest of Dark Elf arms and armour, they are fearsome foes on the field of battle.

High Sorceress
The High Sorceresses are the most powerful practitioners of the Dark Arts in all of Nagga-roth bar the Witch King himself, and they wield terrifying powers. They are incredibly adept at manipulating the Winds of Magic in their rawest, most destructive form, channel-ling energies that would destroy lesser beings into powerful spells that can lay waste to enemy armies.

Kaeleth
Claimed as a babe by the bloody Witch Elf priestesses of Khaine, the infant Kaeleth was offered up to Khaine, the god of murder, and plunged ritualistically into a Cauldron of Blood. Initiated into the Temple of Khaine, the young Dark Elf was raised as an Assassin, and over the centuries has become a master of death.

One of the Witch King's most feared assassins, Kaeleth is a master of blades, poison and the darkness, and he is capable of infiltrating the enemy, slaying his target and making his escape without trace. But it is not just the foes of the Dark Elves that must fear him – for Malekith uses Kaeleth to silence any Dark Elf foolish enough to question his authority.

Lilaeth
Bitter and fuelled by hatred, Lilaeth is a member of the dark convents of the sorceresses – a mistress of the Dark Arts. As are all Sorceresses she is wedded to Malekith the Witch King, and studied many years to master the channelling of the raw Winds of Magic that flow across the land. For centuries she has served the Witch King, and she commands devastatingly destructive magic.

When the Witch King launched a war against his hated High Elf kin, Lilaeth fought at his side, leading a splinter army that pushed deep into Ulthuan. This war was eventually re-pelled, and Lilaeth's army was shattered. At the mercy of the High Elf mage Aurelion, Lilaeth's life was spared that she may face the wrath of the Witch King.

Malekith has given her one chance to redeem her failure, and to seek her vengeance on the High Elves.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky Release date announced

GSC World Publishing and Deep Silver announce planned release date for S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky

Game will be released on August 29, 2008

GSC Game World, computer games developer, its publishing subdivision GSC World Publishing and Koch Media, a leading marketer of video games, today announced the planned release date for the title S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky. According to the agreed plan, the game will ship August 29, 2008 worldwide. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky will be published by the games labels Deep Silver and GSC World Publishing.

“The topic of the release date for S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky has created a lot of interest among gamers, press and fans. We’re pleased to announce an exact date for this highly anticipated game now,”

said Craig McNicol, Managing Director of Koch Media.

“Our intention to deliver the game simultaneously worldwide is both a challenge and big responsibility to the many fans of the game around the globe. We are looking forward to achieve this ambitious goal in August.“

- said Sergiy Grygorovych, GSC World Publishing CEO.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky is a survival FPS game for PC based on a ‘what-if’ scenario of the second Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. The game is created as a warning to mankind against mindless play with technologies. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky is the official prequel to the renowned S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game by the Ukraine-based GSC Game World studio. The game is set in 2011and brings forth the events to have preceded the third campaign of Strelok to the Zone center. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky introduces an alternative look onto the events of the original game and offers the player to try himself out as a mercenary s.t.a.l.k.e.r. in search of his own path in the world of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

Official game site: www.stalker-game.com