echochrome - Sony PlayStation 3 and PSP puzzler fact sheet

echochrome

Fact Sheet

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA)
Studio: SCE Japan Studio
Platform: PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) via PLAYSTATION Network and PSP (PlayStationPortable)
Genre: Puzzle Game
Rating: “E” for Everbody

OVERVIEW

Featuring elegantly designed black and white drawings, echochrome is a puzzle game for PS3 and PSP available via download on PLAYSTATION®Network and on PLAYSTATION Store on PC. Each version of echochromefeatures 56 exclusive levels - totaling over 100 levels across both versions - with each unique level designed specifically to match that platform’s characteristics. Gamers are challenged to play within five simple laws of perspective that govern how one advances through each stage. Offering the most gameplay with the least graphics, echochrome is likened to playing a M.C. Escher drawing on PlayStation®. The player controls an infinite canvas, guiding a mannequin figure by carefully controlling the perspective, tilting and turning the level to create a continual pathway for the character to walk safely through the design. The goal of each level is to reach all of the echos, or shadow guides, as quickly as possible.

There is no set pathway for any level in echochrome. Players will find different and limitless ways to advance through each stage. Additionally, players are able to create their own unique levels using Canvas Mode, and share them with their friends. Additionally, the PS3 version will allow players to upload their favorite custom levels to the developer, and the developer will pick the best of the best to distribute to all online players of the PS3 game (via a free download).

A simple and highly addictive puzzle game, echochrome will change your perspective.

THE 5 PERSPECTIVE LAWS THAT GOVERN echochrome

• Perspective traveling - By manipulating the viewpoint, the player can connect two pathways that are apart and the character will travel across as if the routes are connected.
  
• Perspective landing – The character will fall down a hole and land on whatever appears beneath it.
  
• Perspective jump – The character will jump when if it walks over a jumping platform. One it begins its descent, it will land on whatever appears underneath it.
  
• Perspective absence - By hiding jumping platforms or holes, they cease to exist.
  
• Perspective existence – If a gap in a pathway is blocked, the character will walk over it as if the pathway is connected.
  

DRAGON QUEST SWORDS: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors video game on Nintendo Wii this May

DRAGON QUEST MAKES Wii DEBUT IN MAY WITH
DRAGON QUEST SWORDS

Square Enix, announces DRAGON QUEST SWORDS: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors for Wii will be released across all PAL territories from 9th May, 2008.

DRAGON QUEST SWORDS: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors, available exclusively on Wii, is an action-packed Virtual Experience where the player becomes the hero of the story. As the hero, the player must use the Wii controller to control their legendary sword, and fight off horde after horde of monsters. Slice at enemies, parry with your shield and block attacks to launch powerful counter-combos.

DRAGON QUEST SWORDS contains all the familiar features people have come to expect from the DRAGON QUEST series, such as a system to power up weapons and the ability to perform a large array of powerful attacks. Additional mini-games add to the fun as you catch darts with your shield and try to defeat Slime monsters as quickly as possible to win bonus items.


John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, "We are excited to be bringing DRAGON QUEST SWORDS to PAL territories. The DRAGON QUEST series is an international hit having sold over 43 million units worldwide, but is still relatively new to Europe. We hope that DRAGON QUEST SWORDS will find a place in the hearts of everyone."

About DRAGON QUEST SWORDS: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors

Story
In the town at the foot of Avalonia Castle, a young man enjoys a peaceful life with his father. That young man is you. It is your sixteenth birthday at last, and time to take the Walk of the Worthy, the trial of strength which all young Avalonian males must undergo upon coming of age.

You will need to put all of your training in the ways of the sword into practice if you are to pass the test, and take your rightful place amongst Avalonia's warriors. Should you succeed – who knows what adventures await you!

Features

- The first DRAGON QUEST title to be developed exclusively for Wii
- Use the Wii Remote as your legendary sword! Immerse yourself fully in the action as you slice at the enemy!
- Explore a rich, vibrant 3D world in first-person perspective
- Engage a variety of diverse and colourful enemies, who are brought to life with detailed animation and graphics
- Series creator Yuji Horii, legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama and renowned composer Koichi Sugiyama, team up once again to create an unforgettable gaming experience
- Become the hero in a dramatic storyline that is suitable for all
- Beautiful audio score fully immerses you into the world of DRAGON QUEST
- New International version includes revised gameplay offering a more intense and challenging experience
- In-game text is localised into English, French, German, Italian and Spanish

FINAL FANTASY IV SET FOR NINTENDO DS

FINAL FANTASY IV coming to NINTENDO DS

FINAL FANTASY IV
THE STORY THAT SET A NEW RPG STANDARD
RETURNS ON NINTENDO DS

Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces that FINAL FANTASY IV will be released across PAL territories in Summer 2008 exclusively on the Nintendo DS system.

FINAL FANTASY IV, one of the highest rated adventure games of all time, makes an impressive return on Nintendo DS. With improved 3D graphics, fully-voiced dramatic cut-scenes, an inspiring remixed score and additional content never before seen, there has never been a better time to immerse yourself in this masterpiece of interactive storytelling.



The game that broke the RPG moulds with its innovative Active Time Battle (ATB) system has been revamped, whilst keeping all the charm of the original release. The gameplay benefits from all the Nintendo DS capabilities and allows for a deeper and richer experience of a tale of exceptional heroes, inevitable betrayal, unforeseen redemption, endless love and colossal magic.

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, "FINAL FANTASY IV is a benchmark in RPG history. This improved version of FINAL FANTASY IV is a great opportunity for fans, old and new alike, to experience one of the definitive titles in the FINAL FANTASY series in an exciting and innovative new way".

About FINAL FANTASY IV

Story

Four elemental Crystals, each possessing the awesome power, lie scattered throughout the realm. However, men are quick to covet things which offer strength, and easily corrupted by the might which they possess…

Seduced by the promised power of the Crystals, the kingdom of Baron begins employing unprovoked force to seize them from peaceful nations. The dark night Cecil – Lord Captain of Baron's elite force, the Red Wings – is ordered by his king to obtain the Crystals, but soon begins to question the monarch's motives. Stricken with grief at his own actions, yet burdened by his loyalty to his country and his personal sense of honour, Cecil at last decided to turn from the path of darkness and destruction.



Enraged, he king accuses him of disloyalty, strips Cecil of his command, and sends him off to slay a mysterious beast that lurks in the nearby Valley of Mist. Cecil embarks on a fateful journey that will bring trials, betrayals, friendship, loss and self-discovery. Can Cecil open his eyes and become the man of honour that he must be?

Features

- One of the most loved FINAL FANTASY games ever made, returns with a full remake for Nintendo DS.
- A classic, superbly written adventure with heroes, betrayal, redemption, love and magic are awaiting you.
- Beautiful 3D graphics with a stunning hand-painted style and fully arranged audio immerse you into the world of FINAL FANTASY IV like never before.
- Superb gameplay now with all-round additions including Touch Screen control, enhanced Dual Screen usage, arranged boss battles, a dungeon mapping system and also the facility for characters to learn abilities from their friends.
- Fully-voiced cut-scenes, with high quality 3D characters maximise use of the hardware to set a new standard in Nintendo DS storytelling.
- New additional episodes let you explore the unseen lives of the main characters.
- Event Theatre bonus mode lets you replay any scenes that have already been viewed.
- Special new mini-game lets you nurture your own summon monster and battle a friend via DS Wireless Communications!

Wii Picross - 3200 Picross logic art puzzles - Griddlers, Nonograms, Picture Crosswords

WiiPicross

www.WiiPicross.com, the rapidly growing home to over 3200 Picross logic art puzzles (aka Griddlers, Nonograms, Picture Crosswords), invites Nintendo Wii and PC players from around the world to discover a package of exciting new features

User Profiles, Picross Points, Gamercards and our Live Global Rankings! *

Wii Picross is a top ranking destination for curious and dedicated logic art puzzlers alike, with over 1.3 million puzzles already served in a wide variety of difficulties. Continuing with Quest Engine's friendly, 'free to play', 'user driven content' approach, you can now become a Wii Picross member and create a user profile that tracks all of the puzzles you play, fave, and design. You can watch your achievements stack up and share all of your picross creations with the convenience of a single link.

A new competitive element has been added to the site in the shape of Picross Points. These are earned in a variety of ways as you play and design puzzles, and they define your position on three live, global rankings: Player, Designer, and an Ultimate leaderboard.
Gamercards are generated around the clock too, so those fighting their way up the ranks can display their position with pride wherever they go.

Full details of Picross Points can be found here

Picross is an immensely rewarding game that blurs the line between mathematics and art, and is uniquely enjoyed by people of all ages. At Wii Picross, we aim to foster its healthy aspects by encouraging people to learn, play and design their own puzzles to share with the world. Our dedicated staff are always on hand in the friendly community forums to talk tactics and we test, label and approve all submissions manually.

Puzzle fans have one more reason to explore the fundamentals of the game. Wii Picross will be holding its first puzzle design contest and theme week starting May 12th, with prizes awarded for the seven best submissions. All information for this will be announced on-site soon, so come and get familiar with our picross design suite and then play to win!

Prize of a lifetime with Princess On Ice for Nintendo DS

Princess On Ice have teamed up with Dancing On Ice 2008 champion Matt Evers to offer the prize of a lifetime to any wannabe Suzanne Shaws by presenting an exclusive one-to-one ice-skating lesson from the man himself. The winner will have a unique opportunity to learn from one of the most recognised figure skaters in the world, and garner all the tips and advice necessary to become a real life Princess On Ice.

American born Matt Evers is probably best known for his glittering performances in ITV's Dancing On Ice, where he has competed as professional partner to Bonnie Langford, Lisa Scott-Lee and most recently with winning partner Suzanne Shaw. With Suzanne, Matt achieved a perfect score of 30 for their flying routine and another perfect 30 for their favourite routine to win a tense final and be crowned overall champions.

“Matt has become a household name who we’re proud to have associated with Princess On Ice,” commented Juliette Fielder, 505 Games UK Product Manager. “We’re hoping the opportunity to pick up some tips from Matt will inspire plenty of fans to get involved!”

In Princess On Ice, players must jump, spin and pirouette their way to figure skating fame in this stylus-led rhythm game. Choosing one of four hopeful candidates, the action takes place on the lower touch screen where players must tap in time to the beat to see the results unfold on the top screen. Customisation is also the order of day, as hundreds of accessories and clothing options are unlocked as you progress through the game.

The competition will run exclusively on the Princess On Ice website - www.505games.co.uk/princessonice - from the 25th April.

Princess On Ice will be published by 505 Games for Nintendo DS on 25th April 2008.

MONOPOLY VIDEO GAME - Most Played Board Game in the World Reinvented With a Party Twist For Next-Gen Video Game Platforms

The Casual Entertainment Label of Electronic Arts today released additional details on MONOPOLY (working title), the first Hasbro-branded video game set to launch on next-generation consoles including Wii and the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system. MONOPOLY will also be appearing on the PLAYSTATION 2 computer entertainment system as well as mobile phones and Pogo.com™. The multiplatform video game is inspired by Hasbro’s highly anticipated MONOPOLY HERE & NOW: The World Edition board game. Currently, the MONOPOLY video games are set to release this year simultaneously with the global launch of the new board game.

The MONOPOLY video games promise a fresh take on the timeless classic with accessible gameplay for players of all ages and skill levels. The all-new digital gaming edition brings a party twist and features 4-player simultaneous play, ensuring that everyone is engaged and allowing the whole family to get involved in the fun and play together. Faster gameplay eliminates downtime freeing up players to wheel and deal their way through some of the most recognizable cities and landmarks from around the world. Families can fill up their passports as they try to unlock new and never-before-seen game boards or challenge each other to fun interactive mini-games like breaking out of the jail cell and running away with all the loot. Play in offline single or multi-player mode and compete to own it all and win!



“EA is taking MONOPOLY’S core gameplay and bringing it to life in a way never before imagined,” said Chip Lange, Vice President and General Manager of EA’s Casual Label. “With this dynamic take on Hasbro’s classic board game, we’ve accelerated the pace of play, added new interactive mini-game sequences and integrated multi-player moments designed to make MONOPOLY a non-stop party for the whole family.”

“It promises to be a very exciting fall for MONOPOLY fans worldwide,” said Mark Blecher, General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro. “EA has done a tremendous job of re-imagining the world’s most popular board game by remaining true to the traditional gameplay that millions of consumers have come to love while also creating new digital twists that can only be achieved in an interactive world. Rolling the dice and passing go will never be the same.”

Age of Conan beta! - PC video game

U.S. Residents Only
Join the beta to participate in the Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures Beta Leveling contest!

Qualified applicants that join the beta will have a chance at winning some great prizes for the retail game release. Level as high as possible or be the first to hit the level cap in the Age of Conan beta.

Subscribers: Get ready for the
Age of Conan beta!

Go to FilePlanet, grab your key and start downloading this MASSIVE beta client immediately! Be ready to play the beta, day 1.
Pre-Load the Beta Client on your PC NOW!

FilePlanet site here

Little League World Series 2008 - for Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS

Activision, announced today the upcoming release of Little League World Series 2008 for Wii and Nintendo DS. Players will have the ability to bat, pitch and field using intuitive controls developed exclusively for Nintendo's platforms. Little League World Series is the perfect game to play with your friends and family. The game hits shelves August 5, 2008.

"Little League baseball fans, players and families simply haven't had a videogame made just for them, so our goal is to fill this niche," said Dave Oxford, Activision Publishing. "Creating this game with the Little League organization has been a pleasure and we look forward to paying homage to the three million Little League players around the world today."

Little League World Series is the first officially licensed Little League video game to hit next-generation consoles. Bat, pitch and field your way from local sandlot slugger to Little League World Series Champion. Featuring eight U.S. and eight international teams, extraordinarily deep character customization, World Series Mode, and various skill based challenges, Little League World Series offers an exciting, authentic baseball experience. Motion-sensing controls on Wii make it accessible for Little League players and parents, while the DS version gives players the freedom to get on the diamond anywhere.

"Activision has captured the essence of what makes Little League so wonderful for players and spectators alike," Jud Rogers, Sr. Marketing Executive, Little League International. "We look forward to working with them in the upcoming months to help polish the game and bring it to Little Leaguers and fans."

Wireless Nunchuck for Nintendo Wii - Wii want one!

Go Wireless - Stop Getting Whipped

No more messy wires – just gaming full on

Get the full benefit from your Nintendo Wii gaming experience

Zappies Ltd is proud to announce another in the range of Wireless peripherals. This Wireless Nunchuk allows you to play your favorite Wii games without being limited by the Remote-to-Nunchuk cable. Compatible with all games requiring a nunchuk. Simply snap the wireless receiver to the bottom of your Wii Remote, press the synch button on your wireless nunchuk and you are ready for non-stop, wireless gaming.

An integrated LED status indicator on the receiver lets you know when you are connected, synched and ready to game. No need to buy batteries. Built-in rechargeable Lithium Ion battery and USB cable included. 4-player compatible. This is all you need to take your Wii gaming to another level!

Devil May Cry 4 arriving on PC in Summer

Capcom's Devil May Cry 4 Coming To PC This Summer

Demo With System Benchmark Mode Will Be Available Before The Game's Release

Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that the highly anticipated PC version of Devil May Cry 4 is ready for release this summer. Devil May Cry 4 is already a certifiable hit in the console world, having shipped over two million units worldwide since its European release in February. A demo of the game will be released for PC players before the retail version ships, allowing PC gamers to try the game ahead of time as well as testing their system’s prowess with the included benchmark mode. The PC version of Devil May Cry 4 will feature new modes, enhanced graphics options and some additional content. Devil May Cry 4 has been rated 16+ by PEGI.

Good things come to those who wait as PC owners will benefit from having more modes and more visual customisation options to help enhance their demon-slaying action. Turbo mode will turn up the action to insane speeds, while Legendary Dark Knight Mode will harness advanced PC processing power and fill the screen with an unbelievable number of enemies for extra difficulty. Moreover, familiar enemies from the console versions will show-up in new locations in the PC version. The high resolution screen settings allow the cut scenes of the game to run at up to 120 frames per second (up from 30 frames per second in the console version of the game). Slider options are available to manage various visual effects seen throughout the game. Devil May Cry 4 for the PC will have both DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 modes and will also be compliant with the Games For Windows® program.

From the producer of the original Devil May Cry and Resident Evil® 4 comes the next instalment in the hugely successful stylised action series that has so far achieved global sales of nearly seven million units. Devil May Cry 4 immerses gamers in a gothic supernatural world where a new protagonist clashes with a familiar hero. As the new leading man Nero players will unleash incredible attacks and non-stop combos using a unique new gameplay mechanic: the powerful “Devil Bringer” on his right arm.