Expansion to The Lord of the Rings - Mines of Moria Online Launched

Turbine And Codemasters Online Invites Players TO Unlock The Mines Of Moria!

New Social Gaming Web Site Introducing the Highly Anticipated Expansion to The Lord of the Rings Online Launches Today!

Turbine and Codemasters Online today announced the launch of an innovative new social gaming web site introducing The Lord of the Rings Online - Mines of Moria, the first expansion to the 2007 PC Game of the Year*. Players across North America and Europe are invited to begin their journey to Moria by visiting www.unlocktheminesofmoria.com to get up-to-date information about Volume II of The Lord of the Rings Online. Players will discover the secrets of Moria with several fun, interactive mini-games inspired by the Books of J.R.R. Tolkien. Registered participants can challenge themselves and their friends to earn special deeds that unlock unique rewards including exclusive videos, images, and in-game items that will aid them on their journey into Moria this fall.

“The ‘Unlock the Mines of Moria’ campaign is part of an innovative launch strategy that offers players an interactive social gaming destination where they can individually and collectively delve into the first major expansion to The Lord of the Rings Online,” said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. “Whether you are new to the world of Middle-earth or a long time member of our community, we invite everyone to explore and share the wonders of Moria.”

King Under the Mountain, launching today, is the first of many mini-games where players from around the world can interact as they commence their quest into Moria. The mini-game is based on the story of the excavation and building of Khazad-Dûm, the Dwarven capital and grandest of cities. The game finds its origin from an old Dwarven game containing items that Dwarves love most – caverns, gems and fighting. Players who register at www.unlocktheminesofmoria.com can play solo or battle against friends in this highly entertaining tactical strategy mini-game. Visitors do not need to be subscribers to The Lord of the Rings Online to register.

The Lord of the Rings Online is the award-winning massively multiplayer online role-playing game, (MMORPG) that delivers an interactive experience brimming with life and filled with the familiar people, places and monsters from the most beloved fantasy adventure of all time. From the picturesque surroundings of the Shire to the great underground realm of Moria, players will experience the world of Middle-earth as never before. The Lord of the Rings Online is available for purchase at major retailers across North America and Europe. For more information, please visit www.lotro-europe.com

MTV's Rock the Cradle Kicks off with Rock Band Competition

On April 3rd, MTV Networks is premiering their new show Rock the Cradle, which is a a singing talent competition featuring celebrity offspring and their famous parents such as: Olivia Newton-John, Kenny Loggins, Bobby Brown, Eddie Money, Joe Walsh, MC Hammer, Dee Snider (whose son unfortunately inherited his chin) and more. This should definitely be interesting because every week the contestants will take the stage and give it their all or be sent packing.

Each rock star kid will Rock the Cradle in front of a panel of judges, and like American Idol and other reality shows, the judges will share their opinions after each performance, but the viewer will ultimately decide who will stay and who will go. The winner will get to try and follow in the footsteps of dear ole Mom or Dad.

To celebrate the new series, there will be a Rock Band video game competition this Saturday, March 22, in select cities between kids and their parents. ROCK THE CRADLE DNA DUELs will be held in LA, NY, DC, Chicago and Cleveland area shopping malls. The winning teams will square off at the finals in the middle of Time Square. NYC.

To register for the event, visit the official MTV Rock the Cradle website where you can also get more information like locations and times. If any of our readers decide to sign up for this or just plan on watching the competition, please be sure and drop us a line letting us know how well you did or what you thought of it.

Source: Press Release

Video game - Sudden Strike 3 launched

The Invasion Begins as Sudden Strike 3 Ships to Retail Outlets

cdv Software Entertainment USA and Fireglow Games today shipped their exciting WWII RTS - Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory - to North American retail. Sudden Strike III is the latest in the critically acclaimed and best-selling series of Sudden Strike WWII RTS games that drop players into some of the biggest and most furious battles of WWII. For more information about Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory, please visit http://www.suddenstrike.com/.

Sudden Strike 3 features new campaigns, massive battles, and historically modeled units, along with significantly expanded gameplay so players can wage war across a variety of terrains and environments. For more information about Sudden Strike 3, please visit the official Web site at http://www.suddenstrike.com/.

Celebrate the launch of Vikings on Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3.

Visitors to Gamestation in the Telford Shopping Centre were greeted by Vikings, to celebrate the launch of the new game Vikings on Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3.

Taking visitors back in time, the "Raudr Vagr" Saxon, Norman, Celtic and Viking e-enactment group were kitted out in authentic clothing and armour, bearing shields and other replica weaponry.

Organised by Store Manager Mike Brookes and Assistant Manager Kevin Faulkner, Mike says, “The event was a great success and our customers – of all ages – enjoyed interacting with our Vikings!”

Stacy and Julian Green, Nick Harris, James Goddard and Robson Bebbington, of the "Raudr Vagr" Saxon, Norman, Celtic and Viking e-enactment group

Copies of the new Viking game are available from Gamestation in the Telford Shopping Centre and online at www.gamestation.co.uk

Classic Adventure game MYST comes to Nintendo DS

Classic Adventure Game on the Horizon for Nintendo DS

Empire Interactive, a leading publisher of interactive entertainment software, today announced that development for MYST is complete. Just in time for summer vacation, MYST allows players to take their eerie adventures on the road, in the sky, to the beach or wherever their travels may lead. The game takes full advantage of the DS' touch-screen technology, seamlessly incorporating new tools for a greater challenge.

Developed by Hoplite Research, LLC, MYST packs in every bit of the original game's engaging and mysterious adventuring goodness - more than 40 hours of gameplay - and adds to it. The experience has been enhanced and recreated for Nintendo DS, including an all-new interface, a new set of mini-tools, re-mastered soundtrack and video, and the Rime Age, a new world not included in the original MYST.

"Nintendo DS has provided us an amazing, yet challenging opportunity to bring the MYST franchise to a huge and diverse audience - more than 65 million units have sold since the system's launch in 2004," said Karim Farghaly, vice president of sales, Empire Interactive. "MYST has been around over a decade, and it is an absolute pleasure to reintroduce the game to long-time fans and first-time adventure seekers."

"MYST is one of the greatest interactive casual games ever created and we are proud to work closely with the creators of the original to bring this experience to all Nintendo DS players of all ages." said Manny Granillo, president and chief designer, Hoplite Research, LLC.

Uniting adventure gamers new and old, MYST DS is expected to ship to North American retail stores on May 13, 2008 with an ESRB rating of "E" for "Everyone."

MYST is an engaging experience that draws adventure-seekers into beautiful yet eerie worlds with unique settings in varied times and places. While venturing through the six worlds of MYST, players find themselves playing a key role in an ever unfolding story or family intrigue and betrayal - by solving a multitude of puzzles, mazes, and problems. Close observation and precise logic will help players unlock the secrets of MYST.

The non-linear gameplay of MYST is designed unlike any other adventure game, with no instructions, inventory, death or dialogue. MYST is about the experience encountered throughout the breathtaking worlds and environments.

BANDAI Classic MR DRILLER on Microsoft Xbox LIVE Arcade

NAMCO BANDAI Games Brings Classic MR. DRILLER Online To Xbox LIVE Arcade This Wednesday

Joining the fabulous line-up of puzzle games available on Xbox 360, “MR. DRILLER Online” comes to Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday 2nd April at 9.00. Players take on the role of a driller moving through levels of colourful blocks, avoiding the threat of being crushed by falling blocks, all while keeping their air supply from running out.

“MR. DRILLER Online” features single player modes including ‘Standard Driller’ and ‘Quest Driller’, as well as online multiplayer support for up to four players on Xbox LIVE. In online multiplayer mode, players can participate in a split screen Solo Battle, where the best score wins, or in Tag Battle, where friends team up in pairs to beat the game.

Where can I get this game from?

Created by NAMCO BANDAI Games, “MR. DRILLER Online” will be available for 800 Microsoft Points.

For more details on “MR. DRILLER Online” please visit:
• http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/m/mrdrilleronlinexboxlivearcade/

Also, don’t miss out on new downloadable content for “Pinball FX.” For more details please visit:
• www.xbox.com/livearcade

Sony Closes Online PlayStation Store to update

Sony will be revamping its "PlayStation Store" downloadable content marketplace for PlayStation 3, the company said this morning. The new design is pictured above.

The downside? The store - already known for a lack of updates versus Nintendo's and Microsoft's online shopping hubs - won't be updated at all for the next two weeks.

It's played havoc with Harmonix's Rock Band download schedule. Tomorrow, April 1, the company had planned to offer Portal theme song "Still Alive" as a free download. It's still on for Xbox 360, but PlayStation 3 owners will have to wait until April 17.



The redesign of the store was long overdue, to put it mildly. Sony's current shopping interface is not only the worst of the three, it's one of the worst interfaces for anything, ever. It's an absurd labyrinth of choices and confusion. Finding what you want takes about twice as long as it should. Buying it without accidentally exiting the store took practice. And who thought a point-and-click mouse interface using a control pad was a good idea?

Luckily, it seems as if all this will be rectified in the update.

Source: W.I.R.E.D.

Commando - Steel Disaster comes to Nintendo DS

Lexicon Entertainment And XS Games Collaborate To Bring 'Commando: Steel Disaster' The American Market

Video games publisher Lexicon Entertainment are delighted to announce that the highly anticipated Nintendo DS product ‘Commando: Steel Disaster’ will be shooting its way to American retail stores in Q3 with a publishing deal in place with highly respected XS Games.

You play as the heroic Storm who must put an end to Rattlesnake and his evil organisation. You get to do this with a range of heavy weaponry and Lexicon assures us there are plenty of different weapons and pick-ups - each with its own attack method and power. Plus, some guns can be used to find secret items.

Shoot, jump, throw and roll into action as you battle though each of the five missions and the two extra hidden missions. Each mission has various beautifully crafted environments all culminating in an epic boss fight.

Mow down wave after wave of animated enemies and use the various
vehicles to destroy enemy gun ships and tanks in this extreme test of any gamer’s skill.

• Highly stylized graphics with slick animations
• Get behind the wheel of various vehicles
• Complex boss battles and 20 different types of enemy
• Pick up 10 different types of weapons
• Destructible terrain and weather conditions
• Discover hidden missions by finding secret data disks

R-Type Command Demo for Sony PSP Available Exclusively at PlayStation Store

R-Type Command Demo for PSP System Users Now Available Exclusively at the PlayStation Store

Atlus Invites You to Play the Bold New Entry in the R-Type Series Before its May Release

Atlus unveiled the playable demo for R-Type Command, the upcoming PSP (PlayStationPortable) system turn-based strategy game, exclusively at the PLAYSTATION Store. Boasting a taste of the many missions from R-Type Command, the demo offers an eye-opening hands-on glimpse into the franchise's daring new direction.

PSP system owners can download and play the demo from the PLAYSTATION Store

For more on R-Type Command, please visit the official website

R-Type Command for PSP takes to the stars on May 6th.

Dungeon RPG Etrian Odyssey II - Heroes of Lagaard comes to 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, preferred publisher of adventuring duo Fight and Heal, announced Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard for Nintendo DS. 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