Wii Fit To Keep Americans Moving at $89.99 on Nintendo Wii

In anticipation of the U.S. launch of Wii Fit™, the new interactive fitness game for the popular Wii™ system, Nintendo of America Inc. has announced pricing details for this groundbreaking release. Available at Nintendo World store starting on May 19, Wii Fit and the innovative Wii Balance Board™ accessory will be bundled and sold together at a suggested retail price of $89.99.

Boasting a dynamic mix of more than 40 yoga, aerobics, strength training and balance activities, Wii Fit provides consumers with a fun, easy and affordable way to incorporate exercise into their daily routines. Using the included wireless Wii Balance Board accessory, every member of the household can step up and stay active, setting individual fitness goals and tracking their progress over time.

Consumers in the New York area who pre-order Wii Fit from the Nintendo World store in Rockefeller Plaza will receive a special bonus item. From April 18-20, the first 1,000 consumers who place a $5 deposit for Wii Fit will receive a limited edition Wii Fit T-shirt featuring the image and reproduced autograph of legendary Nintendo video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto.

Through mid-February, Wii Fit had sold more than 1.4 million copies in Japan since its Dec. 1, 2007 launch.

Tee-Off Online With Hot Shots Golf - Open Tee 2 For PSP (PlayStationPortable)

Golf Fans Around The World Prepare To Tee-Off Online With Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 For PSP (PlayStationPortable)

Critically Acclaimed Hot Shots Golf Franchise Once Again Drives On To PSP With Exotic Courses, Deep Character Customization, and Robust Online Action


Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) announced today the North American release of Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2, available exclusively for PSP (PlayStationPortable). Developed by Clap Hanz, in conjunction with Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, Santa Monica Studio, Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 takes the multi-million unit-selling Hot Shots Golf franchise and prepares to deliver another stellar portable golf experience to PSP.

Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 features beautiful new courses and wacky characters, along with hundreds of customization options including clothes, accessories, and equipment. Additionally, the game brings a wide range of exciting multiplayer options including 16-player online tournaments and ad hoc capability for one-on-one or Stroke Mode challenges.



“The Hot Shots Golf franchise has been a perennial winner over the years for PlayStation, and we are very excited to bring the game’s quirky golf experience back to PSP,” said Jeff Reese, director, software marketing, SCEA. “With greater online capabilities, challenging new courses, and a variety of gameplay modes, Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 is a stimulating portable experience that delivers all the charm and fun the Hot Shots Golf series has to offer.”

In addition to brilliant graphics, colorful characters, dramatic camera angles, and realistic golf physics that fans of the series have come to love, Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 features a variety of gameplay modes to satisfy even the most hardcore golfer. Players will have the opportunity to golf on 12 breathtaking courses across tropical islands, vast desert plains, snow-capped mountains, and oceanfront views.

Internet play is available to allow players the opportunity to challenge other Hot Shots across the globe in tournaments of up to 16 players. Additionally, players can tee-off locally with up to eight others via Match Play or go head-to-head in Ad Hoc mode. In single player, fans can engage in Stroke Play mode, offering traditional golf on any available course, as well as Challenge Mode, giving players the opportunity to compete in a regular season filled with tournaments and the ability to unlock various characters and items throughout the game. To improve individual skills, players can access a Training mode to perfect every drive, pitch, and putt before the real challenge. Additionally, a fun and challenging Hole-in-One mini-game is available to test each player’s shot-making prowess and enhance their character’s overall accuracy.

Character customization includes more than 320 options to personalize characters with a variety of items including clothing, hairstyles, clubs, accessories, and more. Players can also utilize special combinations of clothing and accessories to provide a unique boost to character attributes as well as overall fashion style. Successfully conquering challenges in the game will allow players to further upgrade equipment, allowing for more accurate shots, longer drives, and impeccable control.

CAPCOM ships widescreen ŌKAMI on the Nintendo Wii

CAPCOM SHIPS ŌKAMI FOR THE NINTENDO Wii

Wii Remote Integration, Widescreen 480p Graphics Bring New Life to Award-Winning Game

Capcom Entertainment, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, is pleased to announce that Ōkami™ for the Nintendo Wii™ has begun shipping to retail. Offering an unequalled level of control built around the intuitive Wii Remote™ and available for the first time for widescreen with higher definition 480p graphics, Ōkami gives players an opportunity to rediscover a critically-acclaimed and beautifully crafted adventure as if they are playing it for the first time. Ōkami is rated T for Teen by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) and is available for $39.99 MSRP.

Previously released for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system in 2006, Ōkami was hailed as “Game of the Year” by multiple magazines and websites, including Associated Press, PSM, Village Voice, IGN.com, Game Revolution and many more. This new iteration of Ōkami on the Wii is already following in its predecessors footsteps with strong reviews across the board as IGN.com gave it a score of 9/10, stating that, “You need to buy Okami for Nintendo’s system,” while 1up.com/Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game a glowing “A”grade on the website and in their latest issue.

Ōkami tells the story of Amaterasu, the Japanese sun god, who takes the form of a wolf and sets out on an amazing journey to restore a ruined, darkened world into a beautiful place full of life and color. Commanding the elements and various magical abilities, the player uses Okami’s signature “Celestial Brush” to revitalize life and defeat the tyrannical and destructive monster Orochi, effectively “painting” on the screen with the Wii Remote. Ōkami for the Wii takes the unique gameplay experience to a whole new level, creating one of the most compelling games for the Wii on the market today.

Mixing Japanese folklore and a stunning traditional Japanese art style, Ōkami comes alive on Wii with its awe-inspiring art style and scenic 3D levels that have the appearance and texture of paper scrolls brushed with watercolor-like calligraphy art. Renowned development studio Ready At Dawn Studios® has painted a whole new Okami experience on Wii through a blend of stylized graphics, movements and unique gameplay, resulting in a rich and dynamic experience never seen before.

The Sims celebrates 100 million sales wordwide

The Sims Is A Global Cultural Phenomenon In 60 Countries And 22 Languages Thanks To Players of The Sims Everywhere

The Sims, a Label of Electronic Arts, today announced a significant entertainment milestone, celebrating 100 million units sold around the world, thanks to players of The Sims everywhere. The first game from The Sims was sold in 2000 and has gone on to become the best-selling PC game franchise of all time and is sold in 22 languages and 60 countries around the world. The Sims franchise has inspired millions of players to tell stories, create characters, explore relationships, live through generations, design fashions, and build homes and design home interiors for their Sims. TheSims2.com, the vibrant online community of players of The Sims, has more than 4.3 million unique visitors per month, who have downloaded more than 70 million user-generated creations. A place to discover player creativity is on YouTube, where more than 100,000 videos and movies of The Sims have been shared, with about 200 million views.

As a special thank you to players of The Sims, visit TheSims2.com on April 16th to download a complimentary exclusive outfit for your Sims in honor of this milestone. It’s the perfect outfit for your Sims to enjoy a night of celebration!

“At this milestone, we want to thank players of The Sims everywhere for making The Sims such a worldwide phenomenon,” said Rod Humble, Head of Studio for The Sims Label. “The Sims has been an interactive experience for people around the globe to explore their passion for creativity and we’re thrilled to be a part of that. From building houses and relationships, from the first kiss to a toddler’s first step, from kitchen fires – and even visits from ghosts, players have told more than 100 million unique and fun stories!”

“The Sims is truly unique in the world of interactive entertainment because it attracts creative people around the world of all ages and both genders,” said Nancy Smith, President of The Sims Label. “Because of the open-ended creative freedom that players experience with the game, The Sims has universal appeal like no other game franchise. We thank players everywhere for their creativity, sense of humor and strong sense of community that has made The Sims the cultural phenomenon it is today.”

The Sims from EA Mobile has seen phenomenal global success, with more than nine million downloads of The Sims games onto people’s mobile devices, The Sims is a market leading downloaded game.

Fun facts to note:

100 million copies of The Sims lined up end to end would line the perimeter of the Wembley football pitch over 115,000 times
100 million copies of The Sims line up end to end would stretch the distance between Land’s End and John O’Groat’s over 200 times

HAZE – 4 Player Co-op Campaign Demo Exclusively on PlayStation Network

Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, today announced the imminent release of a fully playable demo for Haze, the new first-person shooter set in a harsh future where war is never quite what it seems.

Coming exclusively to the PlayStation Network in early May, this playable demo will give gamers a taste of not only the single-player campaign in Haze, but will also allow up to four-player, drop-in drop-out co-op play online.

Developed by shooter experts Free Radical, creators of the critically acclaimed TimeSplitters series, Haze is scheduled for release exclusively on the PlayStation 3 entertainment system on 23rd May 2008.

New screenshot – Haze:

Take a look at this brand-new screenshot from Haze to get a sneak peek at what’s in store for gamers when the playable demo drops in early May. Single-player campaign or four-player co-op…just name your poison. It is nearly time to get your fix…

For more information on Haze, please visit – www.hazegame.com

Quake-type iPhone games on the way

Developers behind Quake port for iPhone named, more games planned

HermitWorks Entertainment has been confirmed as the development team behind the unofficial Quake 3 port. As widely reported this week, the port uses the built-in motion sensors to control action in the game, and offers the capability for two player play using Wi-Fi.

What wasn't known until GameCyte did some digging is that the port took only "a matter of hours" to conduct.

Speaking with the site, developer Cameron Tofer also revealed the studio is also porting its original game, Space Trader, to the iPhone, that game is also built on a modified Quake 3 engine.

HermitWorks is also working on a casual iPhone RPG tentatively called Quest which also uses that engine. The developers are using two jail-broken iPhones.



Watch YouTube video here

Source: MacWorld

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue races on to Sony PlayStation 3 in the US

Ten years after Gran Turismo launched on the PlayStation, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue makes its way exclusively on to Sony’s new High Definition games console the PlayStation 3.

GT5 comes on the latest Blu-Ray disk and offers 1080p High Definition (HD) graphics integrated into a precision racing simulator game and a stunning original soundtrack.

With seventy cars up for grabs, from all the world’s top manufacturers, you’ll have plenty to spend you hard earned credits on. From a Ford to a Ferrari all the latest models are available to race round the six fabulous circuits. The courses include street racing round London, the Daytona oval experience plus twisting mountain top racing. Gran Turismo game sales have already topped 48 million since launch and this fifth instalment is set to build on that figure.



The game is available on Blu-Ray for $39.99 and includes extra HD footage of car development and exclusive GT ‘Behind the scenes’ specials. Those with a high speed internet connection can choose to download the game from Sony although the extra HD video will only be downloaded ‘on demand’.

Up to 16 players can race head-to-head both offline and online, with online race players ‘matched’ against each other. You can earn credits both on and offline to gain better vehicles.

The North America game sports an exclusive sound track mixing dance, electronic and ambient HD sounds. Artists include Justice, DJ Shadow, Weezer and The Mars Volta.

The online user homepage carries ‘real time’ weather forecast and live news and updates. The game can update over the internet and new content can be downloaded. Gran Turismo 5 vehicles can be customised and tuned to suit any driving conditions and the game is compatible with Sony’s DualShock 3 wireless controllers.

On a downside the cars never get damaged, no matter how many times you crash and online other users can barge you off the courses without penalty.

Jump into Battle with New Theatre of War Trailer

cdv Software Entertainment USA today released a new trailer for Theatre of War, their upcoming WWII battlefield simulation/RTS game.

The new video is available for immediate download at the links below, and showcases some of the incredibly detailed unit models and battlefields that players will encounter throughout the game’s extensive campaigns. Slated for a May 2008 release on PC, Theatre of War offers an extensive real-time strategy experience.

By combining the look, feel and historical elements of World War II, Theatre of War creates an unrivaled tactical battlefield experience that spans major campaigns from the Battle of Moscow to Normandy. With more than 50 missions spread across multiple campaigns and a rich do-it-yourself mission and map editor included, Theatre of War rewards armchair generals with tremendous gaming and replay value. For more information about the game, please visit http://www.cdvus.com.

Download the video here

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.

Halo 3 Multiplayer action rages on with download content on Xbox Live

"Halo 3" Multiplayer Action Rages On With Downloadable

The award-winning multiplayer experience evolves with three new maps and expanded Forge options now available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace

After launching in September 2007, millions of fans the world over still log onto Xbox LIVE every day to experience the award-winning action of “Halo 3” multiplayer. That experience expanded first in December with the release of the Heroic Map Pack, and today Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie release the next evolution with the Legendary Map Pack.

Available for 800 Microsoft Points exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, this second major downloadable content offering includes three new multiplayer maps, as well as a load of new Forge options.

Avalanche and Blackout revive two fan-favourite maps from previous “Halo” games, while Ghost Town welcomes desolate jungle combat to the experience. And now, using new options in the Forge, players can create more detailed challenges and map variants than ever, while also utilising a variety of visual effects to create new, unique screenshots and saved films.

Avalanche is a throwback all the way to “Halo: Combat Evolved.” This snowy battlefield was inspired by the original Sidewinder, but the massive, vehicle-oriented objective map adds a twist to its classic predecessor with all new interiors, dramatically reshaped exteriors and brand new vehicle variants. Admire the view from above, as Avalanche also marks the arrival of the Hornet to “Halo 3” multiplayer.

In keeping with the theme of “fan-favourites,” Blackout will fill the void left by fans of “Halo 2’s” Lockout. Although fully re-visualised, this map adheres very faithfully to the tightly wound perfection of the original, but eschews Forerunner architecture in favour of industrial human design. Blackout is perfect for fans of small battleground Slayer matches.

The Legendary Map Pack also packs a brand new punch, in addition to the two classics, with Ghost Town – a battle-scarred maze of narrow passages and dangerous ruins. Collapsed ceilings and shell-battered buildings provide both valuable cover and deadly traps, as catwalks and stairways take the fight from claustrophobic ground combat to dizzying rooftop battles. Ghost Town is a mid-sized map ideal for Team Slayer games and smaller, objective types.

As an added bonus, for a limited time only, gamers who purchase the Legendary Map Pack will receive a four month subscription to "Bungie PRO" via Xbox LIVE. Bungie PRO greatly expands the Halo 3 experience by increasing the maximum number of file share storage slots from six to twenty-four while also increasing the total file storage size to 250MB. This will allow players to upload and share more films, maps, screenshots and game-types than ever before.

The maps of the Legendary Map Pack are available in matchmaking today to those who have purchased the download. Additionally, fans that have yet to purchase the Heroic Map Pack, which released in December, can now download it for free on Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

Scotland's schoolchildren to be taught games design in school

Scotland Spearheads Curriculum for Excellence Games Design Initiative

Scottish school children afforded opportunity to develop and design their own games thanks to new Curriculum for Excellence initiative.

New moves in Scotland to encourage a greater understanding and harnessing of the digital age – including teaching pupils to make computer games in class – have been welcome by the UK’s games trade body ELSPA.

Scottish schoolchildren are to be taught how to design and develop their own electronic games as part of the Scottish Government's new approach to learning, Curriculum for Excellence.

Pupils will use software to create their games in a move which it is hoped will create dynamic young programmers of the future who will ensure the continued success of Scotland's games industry, which employs more than 500 and generates £20million annually.

Pupils will also be taught how to use computer software to create animations and feature films.

Some children across Scotland are already experiencing computer design and animation in class but this is the first time guidelines on what skills children should be equipped with have been presented.

Paul Jackson, ELSPA Director General, said: “We applaud the move to teach a better understanding of the digital age. The Leitch Review, a report instigated by the Treasury, concluded that the UK was falling behind other leading countries when it came to developer skills – a vital resource for the UK gamers industry.

“The initiative in Scotland is clearly a step in the right direction and the Scottish government is setting a good example. We hope similar schemes will be considered for the rest of the country. Programming and developing games is one of the areas in which we have traditionally done well in the UK – but ensuring we stay among the top countries for development in the years ahead is no easy task. Introducing the mechanics of making and designing games in schools is one way to ensure we stand a chance of staying ahead of the curve.”