WWE Smackdown v Raw 2009 as WWE returns to consoles

The Number One Fighting Videogame Franchise Returns To The Virtual Ring With WWE Smackdown v Raw 2009

Leading Videogame Brand Set to Deliver the Definitive Sports Entertainment Experience With Added Depth, Explosive New Features and the Debut of Downloadable Content

THQ and JAKKS Pacific today announced that WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is in development for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStationPortable) system, Wii videogame console, Nintendo DS and mobile devices. Joining the immensely successful World Wrestling Entertainment roster of WWE SmackDown/SmackDown vs. Raw licensed videogames, which have shipped more than 37 million units worldwide since 1999, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is expected to begin shipping to retail outlets worldwide this fall.

“The ambitious cross-platform launch of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 last year yielded tremendous growth for the franchise, as we delivered multiple gameplay experiences across seven platforms and greatly expanded our audience of WWE videogame fans,” said Bob Aniello, senior vice president, worldwide marketing, THQ. “With dynamic new features and the extension of our gameplay experience through downloadable content, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 will bring more console, handheld and wireless gamers together to enjoy the virtual world of WWE.”

“We are tremendously excited about the next groundbreaking release in the billion dollar WWE SmackDown vs. Raw videogame franchise,” said Nelo Lucich, vice president of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. “Downloadable content, innovative experiences with tag teams and a new Create-A-Finisher feature, along with significant annual improvements across all platforms, combine to bring the sports entertainment experience to new heights and gratify our long-time fans, casual gamers and franchise newcomers alike.”

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 upholds the franchise’s commitment to delivering the definitive videogame simulation of live WWE programming.

The Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, PlayStation 2 system and PSP system versions of the game will unleash a brand new tag team experience, allowing players to build momentum and attributes, eliminate opponents with high impact double teams and finishers, as well as get the “hot tag” for the win. The franchise’s renowned creation system offers a brand new Create-A-Finisher option, while a new Road to WrestleMania® Mode paves the way to WWE’s biggest event of the year and lets players experience co-op storylines for the first time. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 also extends the virtual WWE gameplay experience with robust online capabilities, including the highly anticipated debut of downloadable content.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 for Wii builds upon its inaugural offering by significantly expanding its match type options, giving players more ways to enjoy the platform’s unique pick-up-and-play experience. The game also takes full combat sports entertainment to the next level by giving players more Superstar control with interactive entrances and victory scenes. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 for Wii will also include a wide variety of new weapons, the debut of online gameplay and much more.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 for Nintendo DS returns with new gameplay controls that utilize the stylus and D-pad to deliver a compelling handheld fighting game experience. The redesigned Season Mode takes a role-playing approach, allowing players to interact with Superstars, upgrade their abilities and complete missions on a quest toward legendary goals. In addition, a larger Superstar roster, new match types and the inclusion of Create-A-Superstar will provide players with a variety of intriguing options to enhance gameplay.

Playable Demo of Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis Available

Playable Demo of Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis Available Now!

Focus Home Interactive, The Adventure Company and Frogwares are pleased to announce the first playable demo of Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis, the latest episode in the critically acclaimed Sherlock Holmes adventure/detective franchise for PC.
This new demo contains several hours of gameplay and lets you play as the great detective, hot on the trail of Arsène Lupin, the famous French thief, who plans to steal a precious painting at the National Gallery in London. You will have to gather clues, investigate crime scenes, interview witnesses and display all your reasoning skills to solve the puzzles left by the gentleman burglar and keep him from stealing the painting and embarrassing Scotland Yard.

Download the demo from:

GameSpot

WorthPlaying

GameZone

FileFront

GamersHell

Focus Home Interactive

A true battle of wits between two of the greatest figures in popular literature, Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis will send players to 19th Century London where Arsène Lupin, a young French burglar with an impressive track record, has just challenged Scotland Yard and the most celebrated of detectives – Sherlock Holmes.

Lupin has announced that he plans to rob the capital of five objects of immense value over the course of five days. The objects are housed in highly prestigious locations such as the National Gallery, the British Museum, the Tower of London and even Buckingham Palace! Sherlock Holmes will have to muster all his courage and ingenuity to save England from terrible humiliation.

Theatre of War video game coming to PC from Battlefront

Theatre of War offers a fresh take on the WWII Real-time Strategy genre by combining the look, feel, sounds and historical elements of WWII to create the ultimate warfare simulation.

The game engine features realistic shell ballistics, armor penetration calculations and damage effects coupled with destructible environments, trenches, fortifications and individually tracked weapons, equipment, ammo and vehicles.

More than 50 battles spread across seven different campaigns (US/UK, Soviet, German, French, Polish, Battle for Moscow and Panzer Lehr in Normandy), along with eight non-campaign scenarios, five Training scenarios and 11 different multiplayer missions are available in the game to offer a rich and challenging combat experience to players.

About Battlefront.com

Battlefront.com is an independent, internet-based publisher and developer of superior war and strategy games since 1997! Among our games you will find the award-winning 3D tactical combat simulation series Combat Mission (three successive Wargame of the Year Awards).

Other titles include the ultimate WWII RTS game Theatre of War by acclaimed developer 1C Company, grand strategy classic Strategic Command 2 Blitzkrieg by award-winning designer Hubert Cater, the WWII air combat game Down in Flames by Dan Verssen, the uniquely "realistic" Sci-Fi combat game DropTeam and the famous TacOps 4 modern combat simulation, a commercial version of the official tactical training tool used by the U.S. Army.

Look out later this year for the ultimate Napoleonic combat simulation HistWar: Les Grognards from Jean-Michel Mathé! Besides computer games, Battlefront.com offers a selection of books, prints, and other warfare related articles to one of the world's largest and fastest growing wargamer fan communities!

Project Bang for Nintendo WiiWare

Preparing our big bang for Nintendo WiiWare

Engine Software announces WiiWare development

Engine Software, developer based in the Netherlands, today announces that it has started its first development project for the Nintendo WiiWare service. The debut title, for now dubbed “Project Bang!”, will be a casual game type with very addictive gameplay using the unique Wii Remote controller functionality, and will support a two-player battle mode.

Nintendo’s WiiWare service is a new downloadable game content service that is scheduled to be launched in March 2008. Players will be able to purchase and download WiiWare games directly from the Wii Shop Channel in exchange for Wii Points. “WiiWare brings new levels of creativity and value to the ever-growing population of Wii owners.”, as stated by Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime.

Ruud van de Moosdyk, VP of Development at Engine Software: “We are very excited about our first game for the WiiWare service. When we acquired our official Wii license last year we already had several concepts written up that would be ideal for WiiWare, and Project Bang! is the first to actually go into production. We wanted to get rolling on this exciting new platform early on, and I am quite happy we are now on schedule to do just that. “

In the near future Engine Software will be releasing more information (including the final name), and screenshots of Project Bang!, as well as more news regarding future plans for the platform. Project Bang! is scheduled to be completed early on in the service’s operational status, but no exact date can be given at this time.

Last Of The Patriots II now available on PC freeware game

Paul Davis author and creator of the prototype series Last Of The Patriots has announced that Last Of The Patriots II is now available for download on PC. The game features new concepts in story-telling techniques, and switches between the two main characters as they seek the truth behind the corporation.

The series is a prototype for future games, that revolve around plot and character and less on action, with an emphasis on deeper underlying meaning. The main premise of the game is to show war in a realistic way never before seen in games. "The game is a prototype, but we hope this can add something both for the industry and players alike" said Paul Davis the games creator.

The game has been released as freeware and is now available for download.

Imperium Romanum - Free Patch

Today, Kalypso Media Group is publishing a multilingual patch for the strategy highlight “Imperium Romanum”.

As part of our constant work to continually improve our products, we’ve listened to the forums and can now announce a new patch. As an added bonus, the patch also includes a map of the settlement Augusta Raurica.

The patch can be downloaded from: http://www.imperium-game.com/getupdate102.php

On www.imperium-game.com you can find general information about the game, a variety of screenshots, the trailer of the game as streaming video, interviews with the developers and a comprehensive demo version.

Imperium Romanum now available.

EA ANNOUNCES ZUBO - A NEW CHILDREN'S VIDEO GAME EXCLUSIVE TO NINTENDO DS

Original Nintendo DS game features collectable characters in a music-based rhythm-action adventure

The EA Casual Entertainment Label today announced the development of a new wholly-owned, original intellectual property, created for 7-11 year old boys and girls. Zubo is a music-based rhythm-action game featuring a unique set of characters that is scheduled to ship worldwide later this year, exclusively on the Nintendo DSTM handheld system.


“Zubo represents the culmination of a dedicated incubation project, which specifically sought to develop a new videogame property for boys and girls under 12,” said Harvey Elliott, Head of the EA Bright Light studio in Guildford, UK. “The team here has designed a rich, immersive and, above all, enjoyable experience – one that will live in the schoolyard, at home or on the move.”


Players enter the world of Zubalon to help the colourful and zany inhabitants, the Zubos, defeat an evil force which is bent on world domination. Players can befriend the Zubos they meet along the way, feed and nurture them, help them gain skills and strength, and assist them in their battles with the enemy, the dastardly Zombos.

A key element to Zubo is music, which is intrinsic to Zubalon from its tuneful plant life through to its currency of musical notes. The player will use the music to drive the battles forward, synchronising their stylus action and tapping in time with the musical beats to win!

With 55 Zubos available to find and recruit to a player’s squad, plus a wealth of interactions and mini-games, and the world of Zubalon to explore, Zubo offers a deeply rewarding Nintendo DS experience.

Zubo is developed by EA Bright Light studio in Guildford, UK and it will be available on the Nintendo DS this autumn.

Trickster Online Revolution Episode 2 launched

A New Revolution is Here! Trickster Online Revolution Episode 2 Is Live!

With the newest content update and patch for Trickster Online Revolution, the second major Revolution Episode comes to Caballa Island! Revolution in Trickster Online is not merely a buzz term, but a fully-loaded update and addition to the popular online title. With the first and now second Revolution Episode, Trickster is setting a new standard for online titles focusing on immersion of players into the mysteries and deep backstory of the game itself, the history of Caballa Island! Revolution Episode 2 allows players to delve deeper than ever before into the secrets of Caballa Island and the disappearance of its once mighty inhabitants, the Altheo Empire.

Episode 2 involves over twenty interlocking and story driven quests that will provide a colorful and fully detailed look into the hidden mysteries of the fallen Altheo Empire, Megalo Company, the late Don Cavalier and Trickster Online Revolution itself, and includes a brand new area never before seen in any previous adventures, Mirage Island! Tricksters who wish to begin the quest for glory, and answers to every burgeoning question that began in Revolution Episode 1, should begin by finding the Waterweed Witch, Kahlihara in the newly revised and completely overhauled Mermaid Palace!

Revolution Episode 2!

In addition to the newly released Revolution Episode 2 content, an exclusive Episode 2 Event has also begun to reward all Tricksters who are able to make their way to the new, amazing Mirage Island local! Completion of the new Episode 2 Quests will allow Tricksters to receive outstanding in-game items. For all the details of this brand new Event and for more information on the Revolution Episode 2 content, make sure to check the official website, or the direct link below!

Revolution Episode 2 Event!

Level Your Pets! Make Them Stronger with the Brand New Pet Leveling System!

Pets are a valued and highly important component of the Trickster Online Revolution experience. Pets add stat bonuses and provide a unique aesthetic compliment to Tricksters throughout the island. Previously, Pets were limited by their individual Level compatibility, yet now, Trickster Online Revolution is releasing a brand new system which will allow Pets to Level up and increase their in-game prowess just as regular Tricksters do! Tricksters interested in this exciting new addition, make sure to visit Pet Breeder Erin and Egg Shop Owner Leonardo in Megalopolis! Tricksters interested in gaining new training for their pets and the ability to change their stats should make sure to visit Pet Trainer Shara in Megalopolis as well!

Egg Shop Owner Leonardo Details

Pet Breeder Erin Details

Pet Trainer Shara Details

Soviet Campaign in Men of War - video game released

The German advance on Soviet territory was almost unstopable and German troops were only several kilometres away from Moscow. It was absolutely vital to stop the Germans and protect the capital, loosing Moscow would have caused a major impact on the Soviet troops moral.

Freshly sent troops out of Siberia were doing a good job, since they were used to the strong winter and temperature.

Soon the German advance was finally stagneted and they could be fought back to the Ukraine where you are going to slip into the role of a special operations officer behind enemy lines to help your comrads on the battlefields.

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Also a screenshot of the Sherman Jumbo

The M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo variant had even thicker frontal armor than the Tiger I. Intended for the assault to break out of the Normandy beachhead, it entered combat in August 1944

Screenshot Five

If you see last weekend's screenshots, here they are:

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Screenshot Eleven
Screenshot Twelve

Commodore 64 channel launches on Nintendo Wii

Things are getting even better for the Wii, with the Commodore 64 channel launching today on the Wii's online Virtual Console store.

The likes of Mario Kart and - the surprisingly decent - PES are giving more committed gamers a chance to dust down their Wii.

And things are getting even better, with the Commodore 64 channel launching today on the Wii's online Virtual Console store. But before you get too excited the service is only launching with two titles - Uridium and International Karate.

They cost around 3 quid each - which is fine - but while both are generally seen as retro classics I'm not sure how they will stand up today. IK will be ok for a quick bit of multiplayer but tricky shooter Uridium could frustrate today's - let's face it - softer gamers.

Of course, what we really want to see on the service are Paradroid, Emlyn Hughes International Football and Finders Keepers. Oh, and the Frankie Goes to Hollywood game. C64 games then - what would you pay to play on your Wii?

Source: Guardian

Enjoy Pure Gaming Nostalgia As Commodore 64 Titles See Virtual Console Hit 200 Games!

This week sees the 200th title hit Virtual Console as it once again expands its catalogue with the arrival of Commodore 64 games for all to enjoy! As the biggest selling personal computer of all time, the release of the Commodore 64 back in 1982 was an historic moment in the computer and video games industry. Now, for the first time Wii owners can experience some of the greatest titles from its impressive back catalogue.

First up, get ready for a high-speed galactic adventure! Originally seen on the Commodore 64 in 1986, Uridium sees the solar system invaded by fifteen Super-Dreadnoughts. Players must defend each of the fifteen planets in this classic shoot’em up to stop the enemy fighters draining precious mineral resources from the planetary cores. Developed by 8-bit shoot’em up pioneer Andrew Braybrook, this outer-space title is pure nostalgia! Uridium is available for download now for 500 Wii Points.

Next from the classic Commodore 64 is something a bit more down-to-earth; globe-trotting martial arts title International Karate. Released in 1986 for the Commodore 64, this one-on-one fighting game sees players compete in a karate tournament to become the international karate champion. Players must fly around the globe to various exciting locations, under the watchful eye of the old wise judge, winning bouts as they go. With points awarded for successful hits, either against a second player or the computer, get your black belt at the ready and take on International Karate on Virtual Console for 500 Wii Points.

Finally, get ready to put pedal to the metal as you head out on the drive of your life across the highways of America in Cruis’n USA™. Originally released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998, Cruis’n USA™ brought the classic arcade hit into the home. Racing along the highways of LA, the deserts of Arizona to the nations capital city Washington DC, get ready to feel the wind in your hair as you push for the finish line to gain glorious victory! Featuring a 14-stage cross country solo challenge, as well as a split-screen two player mode to take on a friend head-to-head, enjoy famous US sights like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Grand Canyon as you experience the thrill of street racing. Cruis’n USA™ is available to download now for 1000 Wii Points.

Virtual Console offers users the ultimate retro gaming experience. This week’s titles join the list of 197 classic titles already available for Virtual Console in Europe, bringing the total to 200 games!