UK pay double the US price for Rock Band

Following the news this morning that Electronic Arts has confirmed the pricing structure for Rock Band in the UK, gamers have expressed anger at the cost difference between regions.

Among the milder comments posted as first reaction to the price on Eurogamer.net were:

• "At least Dick Turpin had the courtesy to wear a mask,"
  
• "That's just disgustingly shameful, in all respects."
  
• "What a joke. Months late and double the price. No sale."
  

Rock Band has a recommended retail price of GBP 180 when you factor in the instruments and the boxed copy of the game - a combination that would cost just USD 169 in the US, or around GBP 85 - less than half the price.

Additionally the title is region-locked for the Xbox 360, so anybody hoping to beat the price difference by importing from the US will be disappointed.

Source: Games Industry

MTV Games, Harmonix and EA Announce UK Release Date for Rock Band

Rock Band will make its UK debut on Xbox 360 on May 23

Rock Band's European tour will be hitting the UK this spring! Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a division of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with marketing and distribution partner Electronic Arts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today confirmed plans to release the award-winning music video game Rock Band this spring in the UK.

The UK release of Rock Band will have an exclusive launch window on the Xbox 360 videogame console from Microsoft, beginning on May 23. Rock Band will be available for additional platforms later this summer.

Rock Band is an all-new platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music. The game challenges players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune, mastering lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals. With more master recordings than any other music game, Rock Band features some of the world’s biggest rock artists and spans every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic rock to heavy metal and punk.

In addition to the 58 tracks from the North American release, Rock Band will feature nine new tracks spanning German, French and UK hits including:

• Blur “Beetlebum” (English)
• Oasis “Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” (English)
• Tokio Hotel “Monsoon” (English)
• Muse “Hysteria” (English)
• Les Wampas “Manu Chao” (French)
• Playmo “New Wave” (French)
• Die Toten Hosen “Hier Kommt Alex” (German)
• Juli “Perfekte Welle” (German)
• H-Block X “Countdown to Insanity” (German)

Rock Band’s unprecedented offering of over 70 songs to date currently available for purchase and download in the US will be made available in Europe beginning on Tuesday, May 27th. Each track will be available for 160 Microsoft Points on Xbox 360. Following that date, all new Rock Band DLC will be available simultaneously in the US and Europe on a weekly basis. For a complete list of Rock Band songs available for purchase to date, please go to http://www.rockband.com/dlc.

Since its North American release in 2007, Rock Band has garnered over 40 awards including Game Critics Award: Best of Show E3 2007 and three awards at The 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards including Outstanding Innovation in Gaming, Family Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack.

Online retail struggling to meet launch day demand for Grand Theft Auto IV

Online retailers GAME, Gamestation and Play.com are all indicating that they will be struggling to meet consumer demand for Grand Theft Auto IV when the game is released on April 29.

Although copies of the limited edition of the highly-anticipated Rockstar title are still being offered for delivery on launch day, the standard edition for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 may be in short supply for those that haven't already got their pre-orders in.

"We cannot guarantee delivery on the day of release for orders placed on or after the 7th of April," states GAME on its website, while rival Play.com offers, "we are currently sold out of this item. All orders will be dispatched on a first come, first served basis."

Gamestation too, indicates that "due to unprecedented demand for the standard editions of Grand Theft Auto IV, we are no longer taking pre-orders for this version."

The game is expected to be one of the biggest games released this year, with some analysts suggesting worldwide sales could top six million units in its first week of sale.

The retail community has been offering plenty of incentive to pre-order the title, with GAME giving away 500 free Xbox Live points to users, while HMV doubled that offer to 1,000 points as well as a book of vouchers worth GBP 130.

April and May could be massive sales months for the industry this year - as well as GTA IV, April will also see the release of Wii Fit from Nintendo, a game that is already selling out in stores, and Rock Band from EA, which was dated and priced for release today.

Source: Games Industry

God of War 2 joins PlayStation 2 classics list and price drops to $19.99

God of War 2 joins PlayStation 2 classics list - You can pick up a copy for $19.99

God of War saw Kratos, a mortal warrior, set upon an epic quest to dethrone a god, But his journey did not end there.

In god of war II, Kratos sits atop his Olympus throne as the new god of war - far more ruthless than Ares ever was.

To end his continued torment, Kratos must journey to the far reaches of the earth and defeat untold horrors and alter that which no mortal, or god, has ever changed - his fate.

God of War II sets an epic stage for a devastating mythological war to end all wars.

Nintendo Wii title - No More Heroes on Vodafone

No More Heroes goes Mobile!

Rising Star Games announces tie-in with FoneStarz to present exclusive content from hit Nintendo Wii title "No More Heroes" on Vodafone.

Rising Star Games is delighted to confirm a partnership with Vodafone’s key content partner FoneStarz for exclusive artworks, animations, ringtones and message tones. The content will be sold in areas of Vodafone live! managed by FoneStarz.

Managing Director of Rising Star Games, Martin Defries, said 'It's a fantastic tie-in for a brand-new IP that has only been in Nintendo consumers’ hands for two weeks. It confirms that we have a product that can break ground across markets and maintain a high profile. From the consumer’s point of view it enables them to own assets that would ordinarily remain beyond their reach.’

Dave Moreau, CEO of FoneStarz, welcomed the new content deal. ‘We’re looking to do more deals around games-related video and imagery. It’s content that is very popular with our customers and as well as driving sales, helps promote the games brand.

‘Rising Star Games were quick to understand the value of licensing No More Heroes to us and the two companies will continue to look at other games brands which we can exploit together.’

Growlanser: Heritage of War on PlayStation 3

Title: Growlanser: Heritage of War
Release Date: 13.06.08
Genre: RPG
SRP: €29.99/£19.99

Rising Star Games Announces Growlanser: Heritage of War

Rising Star Games is pleased to announce today Growlanser: Heritage of War, the latest entry in the critically-acclaimed Growlanser series, available for PlayStation 2 in the UK from Friday, 13th June 2008.

About Growlanser: Heritage of War
On an island continent shrouded in darkness and bounded on every shore by an impassable veil, war rages among desperate inhabitants fighting for survival. A mysterious famine has ravaged the land, leaving its denizens to struggle over what little fertile land remains. There is no safe haven; land that war has left untouched is still threatened by the Screapers, fierce and powerful monsters steadily encroaching on the cities of men. Hope is fading - who will rise to save this dying land?

Key Features

· Over 70 Hours of Gameplay! A sweeping story arc spanning 5 lengthy chapters with additional chapters to unlock

· A fantasy world comes to life! The story unfolds through gorgeous handdrawn animation and character portraits by artist Satoshi Urushihara

· Strategic party-based combat! The action is faster and more exciting than ever as you use an advanced troop command system to give orders to your allies – smart tactics are the key to victory

· Manage your character’s Ability Tree! Change your character’s abilities based on the needs of the situation. As your character levels, so too do your Ability Plates!

· Discover a magical fairy companion! The more time you spend training your fairy partner, the richer your interactions will be with her and the more she can assist you on your quest. You can even enter her in the great Fairy Contest – her performance as she competes with other fairies in a tournament of skills depends on how well you have prepared her!

· Cultivate intimate relationships with your allies! With the Friendship and Personality Rating System, your personality can either limit or enhance your interactions with others; the outcome of your encounters depends entirely on your behaviour! Mould a protagonist as ill-tempered or good-natured as you desire. And if you're brave enough, reveal your true feelings to a companion; if they come to feel the same way about you, you'll be rewarded with a bonus hand-drawn character-specific ending animation that puts the icing on the cake!

UK CHART TRACK WEEKLY CHARTS - April 5th

All formats

(Full price) Week ending 5 April 2008

1 MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES SEGA
2 TOM CLANCY'S RAINBOW SIX: VEGAS 2 UBISOFT
3 PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2008 KONAMI
4 CONDEMNED 2 SEGA
5 GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK ACTIVISION
6 VIKING: BATTLE FOR ASGARD SEGA
7 DARK SECTOR D3P
8 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION
9 SEGA SUPERSTARS TENNIS SEGA
10 FIFA 08 ELECTRONIC ARTS
11 COOKING MAMA 2 505 GAMES
12 THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD 2 & 3 RETURN SEGA
13 ARMY OF TWO ELECTRONIC ARTS
14 FOOTBALL MANAGER 2008 SEGA
15 NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. NINTENDO
16 THE SIMPSONS GAME ELECTRONIC ARTS
17 BULLY: SCHOLARSHIP EDITION TAKE 2
18 ASSASSIN'S CREED UBISOFT
19 NEED FOR SPEED: PROSTREET ELECTRONIC ARTS
20 WWE SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2008 THQ

Participate in Designing a Zombie Game

Participate in Designing a Zombie Game

Dead Wake zombie survival game's new version beta 3 version is released and available for download.

Jyvaskyla, Finland - April 8th, 2008 - Dead Wake zombie survival game's latest beta version is now available for download. Beta 3 has a little taste of survival horror for zombie fans to try. Gamers are invited to give feedback and participate in the Dead Wake development process.

Dead Wake game has been developed in cooperation with the gamers. In each release, players have given ideas as to what needs to be improved, the development team had used the best advice to improve the game. After 3 beta releases the development team is ready to take the next step: finalising and polishing the Release version so that it is ready to hit the shelves in June 2008. Players can see a release date timer on the Dead Wake website.

Players are welcomed to vote and give their ideas on how the game should be improved at the Dead Wake community forums.

FREE downloadable multiplayer maps for Kane & Lynch - Dead Men

Eidos announce new, FREE downloadable multiplayer maps for Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

Eidos Interactive, creators of some of the world’s leading videogame properties, is pleased to announce the upcoming release of four new downloadable maps for the innovative Fragile Alliance multiplayer in Kane & Lynch: Dead Men will be FREE on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and PlayStation Network.

Coming in April, all four of the new maps will be released in one downloadable pack entitled ‘The Dope Bag’. Each of the four maps features its own unique scenario: take on the local dope dealers and the Russian mafia at an LA construction site in ‘Clean Cut’, clash with the Yakuza in Tokyo in ‘Hooker’s Trail’, raid a drug baron’s mansion in a Venezuelan jungle in ‘Flying High’ and ambush General Fuentes’ military convoy in the streets of Havana to steal the gold hidden in his vehicles in ‘Hasta La Vista’.



“With Fragile Alliance we set out to offer gamers a new experience in co-op multiplayer, giving players the choice to work as a team or backstab their teammates and work for themselves at any moment,” said Kim Krogh, Lead Game Designer, IO Interactive. “The response to Fragile Alliance has been fantastic and these new maps will serve to grow the Fragile Alliance online community even further.”

Fragile Alliance is based on greed, betrayal and revenge. Up to eight players team up against police or various enemies in a series of gripping heist scenarios - from here the choice is entirely up to the individual player. The objective is to steal the bounty and make it to a getaway point. The winner is the player who escapes with the most loot. How and when you make your move is up to you. So do you share the loot with your teammates or gun them down and keep it all for yourself?

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men is a dark and gritty tale of two men bound by circumstance as they wait on death row for their final sentence. One is a flawed mercenary, the other a medicated psychopath. The two are forced to embark on a violent and chaotic journey, hating each other every step of the way.

‘The Dope Bag’ is set for release on April 17th for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and will be available FREE for download from Xbox LIVE Marketplace and the PlayStation Store.

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men is available in stores now on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC Games for Windows.

To see the latest trailer visit: www.kaneandlynch.com.

Ikaruga nows on Xbox LIVE Arcade - New downloadable content for Poker Smash

Treasure's "Ikaruga" Launches On Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday and Void Star Releases New Downloadable Content for "Poker Smash"
LONDON – Monday 7th April, 2008 - The Japanese arcade hit “Ikaruga” receives the full Xbox LIVE Arcade treatment and is poised to launch on the platform this Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 9:00 a.m.

“Ikaruga” is a fast-paced scrolling shooter with a twist – players must constantly switch their ship’s polarity to maximize their damage output and avoid incoming enemy fire of the opposite polarity.

The Xbox LIVE Arcade version features a two-player co-op mode both locally and over Xbox LIVE. Newcomers can also easily bring their skill up to speed by using the game’s slow motion training mode.

The game is a perfect combination of beautiful, manga-style storytelling and challenging arcade heroics, all brought to life in a gorgeous HD environment.

Gamers itching to obtain a moment of “Ikaruga” glory will be wise to master the chaining system that detects when enemies of the same polarity are destroyed consecutively. Doing so will reward players with huge score bonuses, which will be key to topping “Ikaruga’s” leaderboards.

The ability to relive a particularly harrowing battle is also possible thanks to the game’s record and replay function, which is new to the Xbox LIVE Arcade version of the game.

From the Japanese developer Treasure, “Ikaruga” will be available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

Poker Smash

Independent developer Void Star Creations unveils two new downloadable content packs for their hit Xbox LIVE Arcade title, “Poker Smash” this Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. The new content includes two Action Mode Environments in the Environment Pack and an additional 15 Puzzles in the Puzzle Pack, giving “Poker Smash” players a total of 13 immersive environments and 70 mind bending puzzles. The “Poker Smash” Environment Pack and Puzzle Pack will each be available for 100 Microsoft Points.

“Poker Smash” is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

WiiWare exclusive release win a prize even if you don't own a Wii

Mastiff Wants to Feed the Gaming World!

Win Gift Certificates for Burgers, Hotdogs, Pizza and More at the Major League Eating: The Game Website

Video game publisher Mastiff announced today its plan to feed the video gaming world - or at least a small part of it. Mastiff will honor each of the 12 foods found in its upcoming WiiWare exclusive release, Major League Eating: The Game with a weekly drawing. Each week, Mastiff will select a 'food of the week' and hold a drawing for gift certificates for that event, uh, 'food.' Anyone can enter - even if you don't own a Wii. Starting April 7, 2008, gamers can head to www.MLEGAME.com to register and (hopefully) win. Even better, Mastiff promised not to force feed you your prize if you do win.

"Professional gurgitory athletics is more than a hobby, more than a sport, more than a way of life. It's an encapsulation of mankind's history and struggle. Every drop of saliva, every bite, every postural tilt of the epiglottis and relaxation of the esophageal sphincter symbolizes the tension between mankind's base nature and the yoke of civilization. While my money is on base nature over civilization, offering free food seemed a civilized thing to do and a great way to hedge my bets" says Bill Swartz, Head Woof at Mastiff.

WiiWare, Nintendo's new downloadable game service for the Wii console, which launches May 12 in North America. Major League Eating: The Game will be available for download some time in May 2008. The official Major League Eating: The Game website launches on April 7, 2008.

The game features the world's greatest gurgitory athletes competing across a variety of foods and venues. Built much like a classic fighting game and deeper than a Chicago style deep-dish pizza, MLE: The Game requires players to master a smorgasbord of offensive and defensive weapons including bites, burps, belches, mustard gas and jalapeño flames while cramming and chewing food at a world-class pace. It's not for the faint of heart, the slow of reflex, or those with an overly strong aversion to a Technicolor reversal of fortune.

Major League Eating: The Game uses the Wii Remote to simulate a variety of eating techniques including the cram, toss, and 'typewriter.' Burp-offs and Hot Potato challenges during the contests keep the competition intense and eaters on their toes.
Major League Eating: The Game is for one or two players, offers online play and a leader board.

Major League Eating, the professional league which oversees all top eating events in the nation, including the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, counts among its members Takeru Kobayashi, the Japanese eating phenomenon, and American Joey Chestnut, current champion of the world.