5 CHILLING IMAGES REVEAL GOTHIC SETTING OF NEW HORROR GAME

Dracula: Origin is the dark new adventure game for PC from Ascaron Entertainment and 93 Games. The game puts you in the role of Professor Van Helsing, the renowned vampire hunter on a quest for Dracula. Hunt down history’s most famous vampire, prevent him from raising the dead, and liberate the souls of all those who have crossed his evil path.

Five fearsome new Dracula: Origin screenshots reveal the stunningly detailed and gothic locations of the game. These images show Professor Van Helsing following the deadly trail left by Dracula as he travels through England, Egypt and, of course, Transylvania. Beware the encounters with Dracula’s faithful worshippers, watch out for the beguiling vampire temptress and be sure to avoid becoming another pile of human remains in Dracula’s Transylvanian castle.

Download the screenshots now or visit www.dracula-origin.com for more information. Prepare to do battle with Dracula, the prince of darkness, on June 6th.

An endless website for deer only

After several months of activity behind the scenes, Michael Samyn and Auriea Harvey have opened The Endless Forest community website to the public. The Endless Forest community of players had been growing steadily and had started to burst out of the Tale of Tales web forums. The new community website offers a place where players of the game can post artwork and images, keep diaries, and check if their friends are online through a live map of the game world.

The Endless Forest is a game without goals or competition. It challenges the imagination and the creativity of the players. Many of them are very talented artists themselves. The new community website offers a platform where their design ideas, artistic impressions and fan art can be shared. A veritable online gallery of some pretty amazing artworks.

The Endless Forest Community Website has its own domain at
http://EndlessForest.org
Login requires being registered for the game, which -as always- is entirely free. But most of the content is available to anyone.

The Endless Forest is a free multiplayer game that can be used as a screensaver. It has been growing steadily since its launch in September 2005. With over 200,000 downloads and more than 25,000 registered players, The Endless Forest is a thriving active community to be proud of.

"The original design of The Endless Forest was created in response to a commission from a museum -the Musée d'Art Moderne in Luxemburg (Mudam), who still host the server. So when it was launched, we thought we had made an artistic statement that would hopefully be appreciated by some art lovers and perhaps get some respect from our peers. To our pleasant surprise, however, the game increasingly exceeds our all too modest expectations. Thousands and thousands of players joined up to experience the tranquility and bliss of a world without violence, without chatter and without anything to do but enjoy. And a vibrant community emerged around it. Despite the continued claims of so-called industry professionals, there is a huge potential for interactive entertainment that is not games in the strict sense of the word."

Tale of Tales is a game development studio located in Gent, Belgium and headed by Auriea Harvey and Michael Samyn. Their focus is on the artistic use of the interactive medium, as was recently demonstrated in "The Graveyard", a very short game in which you play an old lady who visits a cemetery. Meanwhile, Tale of Tales are very hard at work on their IGF-nominated horror game "The Path", scheduled for release in early 2009.

All this and more on http://Tale-of-Tales.com

Trickster Online Revolution - The Chaos Tower Is Here Are You Able To Survive The Peril?

11 Floors Of Sheer Danger, Peril And Adventure! There's No Turning Back Now Tricksters!

With the newest content update and patch for Trickster Online Revolution, a brand new area has been uncovered on Caballa Island! This new area, known as the Chaos Tower, is the single most difficult and challenging addition ever released on any version of Trickster Online Revolution. Consisting of eleven (11) consecutive floors of the most arduous monsters, quests and battles to be found anywhere on the island. This area is not for the faint of heart, and only Tricksters Level 160+ can even gain entrance to this mighty danger-filled dungeon! Even for the Tricksters that do meet the high Level requirement, it will be a difficult, adventurous journey, and Megalo Company has highly recommended to all Tricksters that they attempt this new dungeon in Parties with other Tricksters fighting by their side.

Once a Trickster enters the dungeon and begins to explore its nefarious interior, there is no backing down, no retreating and no going back. Inside the Chaos Tower Tricksters will be able to gain new complete, series of new items which can be upgraded throughout the dungeon itself. In addition, special Monster Quests must also be completed in order to advance to the next consecutive floor within the Chaos Tower.

For more information on this newest release for Trickster Online Revolution, make sure to check out the official website, and don't forget to sign up for the Official Trickster Online Revolution Newsletter!

Chaos Tower Unleashes Epic Challenges And High-Stakes Adventure!

Chaos Beckons - Chaos Ranking Even - Defeat The Towert!

To celebrate the unveiling of this newest area and complete addition to the incredibly deep world of Trickster Online Revolution, a new Event is being held. This new Event, known as Defeat the Tower, is a special Ranking Event which will reward the best of the best of Tricksters who are able to meet and overcome the exceptional challenges found within the Chaos Tower and its challenging Monster Quests from Hunter Yuri. From April 23rd until May 17th, 2008, and split up into 4 weekly heats, Tricksters will compete head to head to get the best rankings in the Monster Quests within the new Dungeon. Every week, the top 10 Tricksters will be rewarded with ultra-exclusive Chaos Boxes, each packed to the brim with special, limited edition items, equipment and gear! There are 4 different Chaos Boxes and they will be rewarded according to the individual rankings of the top 10 Winners.

Tricksters can only win this Event and receive their Chaos Boxes once, and all of the brave and valiant Tricksters who successfully complete the Quests, and Win this Event in any of the 4 heats, will be displayed on the official website!

For more information on this newest Event, as well as the details of the heats, dates, and the Chaos Boxes and their contents, make sure to check out the official website, and don't forget to sign up for the Official Trickster Online Revolution Newsletter!

Chaos Beckons - Defeat The Tower To Become The Best And Receive Exclusive Chaos Boxes!

The Awesome Beginner Area Renovation Continues!

Continuing the ongoing efforts to improve the Trickster Online Revolution experience for all Tricksters, more improvements have been implemented to Caballa Island! These new improvements include more Tutorial Quests that cover the finer points of Refining, Elements, Drilling and even the difference between Character Types!

For more information on these newest and all future improvements as they become available, make sure to check out the official website, and don't forget to sign up for the Official Trickster Online Revolution Newsletter!

Get Into The Newly Improved Revolution!

New Gacha, New MyShop And Other Additions Are Here For You!

With all of the new content and improvements that have come to Caballa Island and the world of Trickster Online Revolution, it should come as no surprise that new items and additions have also come to MyShop, for purchase with Ntreev Cash Points, the new Survival Kit for Chaos Tower has been added to add aid to steadfast Tricksters who wish to challenge the newest and deepest Dungeon in the game's history.

Along with new MyShop items, popular NPC, Time Keeper Pia, has been added as the new resident of Gacha Town 1 - Megalopolis! As Pia is making her debut to Gacha, the special item-drilling-mini-game, exclusive to Trickster Online Revolution, new items and rewards have also been added to Gacha Town 1 - Megalopolis, and several non-rare Gacha items have been reviewed by the hardworking staff of Megalo Company and have been upgraded!

For more information on all the newest additions to MyShop and Gacha, make sure to check out the official website, and don't forget to sign up for the Official Trickster Online Revolution Newsletter!

New Items Come To MyShop! Time Keeper Pia Comes To Gacha!

PENNY ARCADE GAME GOES GOLD, ROGUE KITCHEN APPLIANCES REJOICE

Windows, Mac and Linux Versions of Episode One Reach Gold Master

Hothead Games is thrilled to announce that the Windows, Mac, and Linux versions of Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One have reached gold master status and are planned for worldwide download via the new digital download service Greenhouse at www.playgreenhouse.com later this quarter. In celebration, Hothead gave some infamous Penny Arcade characters a new look and let them loose on the unsuspecting websites www.rainslick.com, www.hotheadgames.com, and www.playgreenhouse.com for the public to enjoy.

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One is an RPG-adventure game set in the comic-book-meets-pulp-horror-meets-H.P. Lovecraft deranged 1920s universe of New Arcadia, delivered to gamers via accessible episodic releases. Players join Gabe and Tycho, the crime-solving team of the Startling Developments Detective Agency, to combat savage enemies and solve mysteries hidden deep in the sinister heart of New Arcadia. The game is the result of close collaboration between Hothead Games and Penny Arcade, featuring distinct artwork and characters designed exclusively by Mike "Gabe" Krahulik, story and dialogue by Jerry "Tycho" Holkins, and both brought to life by the Hothead team.

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One is priced at $19.95 for the Windows, Mac, and Linux versions and at 1600 Microsoft points via Xbox LIVE Arcade, with a rating of "M" for Mature by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board for all platforms.

Kung Fu Panda Video Game Demo Now Available On Xbox LIVE

Gamers can become the ultimate Kung Fu Master as Activision, releases the Kung Fu Panda video game demo on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Based on the upcoming feature film from DreamWorks Animation SKG, the Kung Fu Panda video game demo features a full, multi-stage level in which players can experience a taste of the game’s kung fu awesomeness and bodacious humor. Assuming the role of Po the Panda, gamers will be able to deliver incredible combo attacks against a variety of enemies, navigate stunning multi-tiered environments and execute the hilariously powerful Panda Stumble and Panda Quake maneuvers. Additionally, players who beat the demo will receive an exclusive cheat code for the full game allowing them to unlock playable characters in multiplayer mode.

The Kung Fu Panda video game takes gamers on an epic adventure through 13 awesome levels from the movie and beyond. Players must master the specialized kung fu fighting styles of Po, his teacher Shifu, and the legendary kung fu masters, the Furious Five, to become the Dragon Warrior and finally defeat the ultimate enemy, Tai Lung. Featuring a deep variety of gameplay, unique co-op and competitive multiplayer modes, collectibles, and a host of character upgrades, the Kung Fu Panda video game provides an experience gamers of all ages will enjoy.

The Kung Fu Panda video game will be available June 3, 2008 for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii home video game system from Nintendo, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, Games for Windows, and the Nintendo DS. The console and Windows PC versions are rated PG by the BBFC.

Street Preacher GTA IV

Rock Star doesn't miss a thing in mimicking NYC...

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Rubik's Cube For The Nintendo DS And Wii

New 3D Puzzle Games Allow Players to Step 'Inside' the Iconic Rubik's Cube

The Game Factory ltd, an international publisher of family-friendly and casual videogames, today announced it has signed a licensing agreement with Seven Towns Limited to publish RUBIK’S PUZZLE WORLD, a 3D puzzle game experience for the Nintendo Wii™ and DS™ systems, both inspired by the Rubik’s Cube.

“The Rubik’s Cube is one of the most well known icons in the gaming and entertainment industry,” says Henrik Mathiasen, president of the Game Factory. “We’re honored that Seven Towns Limited has chosen us to take the Rubik’s experience to the next level with Rubik’s Puzzle World. We feel confident that we have created a concept for the whole family that is innovative, challenging and addictive, offering a new twist in the puzzle genre while keeping the Rubik’s Cube core values alive.”
“We’re pleased to be working with the Game Factory to enhance the Rubik’s brand with Rubik’s Puzzle World,” says David Hedley Jones, for Seven Towns Limited, a London-based company that has introduced hundreds of successful original games and toys throughout the world in the past 35 years. “We’re confident that everybody will enjoy this video game experience.”

Step Inside the Cube’ with Rubik’s World
For those who have always wondered what the inside of a Rubik’s Cube looks like, the Game Factory will deliver Rubik’s Puzzle World during Autumn 2008. Designed for players aged eight and older, this otherworldly game will look and play like no other game on the market. A collection of extremely addictive, easy-to-play puzzle games will increase in difficulty as the player delves deeper into this 3D world.

Each version of Rubik’s Puzzle World will host its own unique and original series of games. Players will test their brainpower by constructing 3D shapes and objects, navigating through mazes and even creating their own soundtracks. The DS™ version will allow players to connect to a community of Rubik’s Puzzle World enthusiasts through the platform’s wireless connection. The Wii™ version accommodates up to four players and will feature an online message board.

Rubik’s Cube Facts

In 1980, the Rubik’s Cube, was launched on an unsuspecting world with a Hollywood party hosted by the "other" famous Hungarian Zsa Zsa Gabor. Little did anyone know it would become the world’s biggest-selling puzzle. So iconic did The Cube become that it earned a place in New York’s Museum of Modern Art, and its own entry in the Oxford English Dictionary; not to mention worldwide sales exceeding 300 million copies. Today it looks the same, it works the same and it’s still incredibly popular.

The Rubik's Cube has featured in major movies, ad campaigns, generated huge sales of T-shirts and apparel, been used as an iconic image for lottery games and scratch cards; and along with the brand's other 3D twisting puzzles still generates a huge amount of public interest, recognition and affection.

DOOM OF THE LAST-KING FOR THE LORD OF THE RINGS ONLINE

Turbine, Inc. and Codemasters Online announced the details of the fifth content update for subscribers to The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™. Book 13: Doom of the Last-king continues the epic story of The Lord of the Rings Online, adds an entire new region to the world of Middle-earth, a new Monster Play class and the introduction of the hobby system. Book 13: Doom of the Last-king is available now to subscribers of The Lord of the Rings Online in North America and Europe.

“The Lord of the Rings Online has grown dramatically in scale, content and the size of our community in its first year of operation,” said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. “We’ve received a very positive response from players about the new region of Forochel and the long-awaited addition of fishing that adds an entirely new level of fun and enjoyment to the game. It’s been an incredible first year and we are hard at work finishing up Book 14 slated for release this summer. All of us are very excited for our journey this fall into the Mines of Moria.”

"We have seen a huge increase in overall players over the last few months as more people than ever move to Middle-earth", said David Solari Vice President of Codemasters Online. "After a fantastic first year we look forward to continued momentum as more and more people try this incredible game".

NEW FEATURES:
New Region – In the far, frozen north of Eriador lies Forochel, a land unlike any other in Middle-earth. This new region lets players see the ocean for the first time and introduces several new temperature based landscape effects. Players will need to be mindful of the cold due to a new damage type – frost. Frost will slowly damage their character until they find a source of warmth in the form of shelter or a campfire.
New Faction – Beneath the brooding skies of Forochel dwell the hardy tribes known as the Lossoth. Suspicious of outsiders, they have long warred against other folk – especially the Guaredain, bloodthirsty wolf-loving barbarians in league with the forces of Angmar. Players can earn favor with the Lossoth by helping them in the struggle against their ancient enemy in this latest addition to The Lord of the Rings Online’s (LOTRO) reputation system. Lossoth reputation rewards include unique armor sets, weapons, a new mount, housing decorations, and class specific items
Introducing the Defiler — The first new class for Monster Players debuts in Book 13. The Defiler is a healer that will round out any War Band in their quest to dominate the Ettenmoors. The Defiler uses new healing skills such as Fertile Slime and Fungal Bloom to aid its party in battle and has a host of new Debuff skills including Curse of the Lethargic Heart to defeat their enemies.
The Hobby System — The player hobby system is introduced in Book 13. Fishing is the first hobby being introduced in LOTRO. From the Midgewater Marshes to the Shores of Evendim, players will find fishing to be a relaxing, entertaining and beneficial pastime. Players can earn deeds and traits as they improve their fishing prowess and captured fish can be used to cook in recipes or be mounted as trophies in a player’s house.
The Epic Continues! — At Elrond’s urging, players venture into the frozen wastes of the north to continue Laerdan’s search for the remnants of the ring Narchuil. Aided by the Snowmen of Forochel, players will uncover the fate of an ancestor of Aragorn and strive to thwart the terrible aims of Angmar.
Over 100 New Quests — The story continues for players as they aid the Fellowship and encounter new adventures in Middle-earth.

Grand Theft Auto IV - UK's day one sales record broken with 609,000 copies shifted in 24 hours

Grand Theft Auto IV has broken all previous records – selling an estimated 609,000 units

ELSPA, the Entertainment Leisure Software Publishers’ Association, today reports that day one sales of Rockstar Games’ hugely anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 have comfortably eclipsed the previous record set by GTA: San Andreas in 2004. Tuesday 29th April sell through for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 reached 609,000 units - comfortably beating the previous record: GTA: San Andreas for PS2, which sold 501,000 units on Friday 29th October, 2004.

“The scale of GTA’s day one sales are phenomenal and reflect a vibrant market which continues to grow. Gamers are from all age groups and demographics with estimates putting the total number of people in the UK who enjoy games at over 20 million,” said ELSPA managing director, Mike Rawlinson.

All-time No1
Initial Day 1 'GTA: San Andreas' PS2 was Friday 29th October, 2004 at 501K units.

GTA IV combined PS3/360 (All formats record)
Initial Day 1 sales are estimated at 609K units for Tuesday 29th April which is a new record.

Xbox 360
Microsoft's 'Halo 3' launched on Wed 26th Sep07 and the day 1 sales were 266K units.

The new 24 hour record is 'GTA IV' which on initial estimates recorded 335K units on Day 1, Tuesday 29th April.

PS3
The previous record has been well and truly eclipsed. This was set recently by Sony's 'Gran Turismo 5: Prologue' launched on Friday 28th March with Day 1 sales of 80K.

The new 24 hour record is 'GTA IV' which on initial estimates recorded 274K units on Day 1, Tuesday 29th April.

FINAL FANTASY XI 2008 Edition Released In May

Includes Wings of the Goddess expansion

Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces the forthcoming release of FINAL FANTASY XI 2008 Edition, available from 23rd May.

FINAL FANTASY XI takes you into the world of Vana'diel during the aftermath of a great war, as you answer a desperate call to defend your people. In this first ever cross-platform massively multiplayer online game, you'll unite with other warriors as they save their world from utter destruction.

The brand-new 2008 Edition available for both Windows and Xbox 360 contains all four expansion packs, Rise of the Zilart, Chains of Promathia, Treasures of Aht Urghan and the latest expansion pack Wings of the Goddess.

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, "The world of FINAL FANTASY XI continues to grow with both new content and new players. FINAL FANTASY XI 2008 Edition allows interested players to join the adventure with the bonus of all the expansion pack content. I hope many more players enjoy and experience the exciting world of Vana'diel and all that FINAL FANTASY XI has to offer."

About WINGS OF THE GODDESS

• New Combat Features:
  
• An all-new "Allied Campaign" system will allow players to take part in large-scale battles and explore new special dungeons
  
• New Areas:
  
• New settings further expand the vast world of Vana'diel
  
• Mog House Guests:
  
• Players will be able to invite their friends to their Mog Houses, showing their personalised furniture and special items. It is a new way to talk about past adventures and future plans in an entirely customised setting.
  
• New Jobs: Dancer and Scholar
  
• New Monsters
  

About FINAL FANTASY XI

FINAL FANTASY XI was originally released on May 2002. In October 2003 the title was released in North America and the European release followed in September 2004.

FINAL FANTASY XI is the first MMORPG capable of simultaneous multiplayer action across three different platforms, allowing players worldwide to combine forces on Windows, PlayStation®2 (North America and Japan only) and Xbox 360.

FINAL FANTASY XI players from all over the world can unite in one gaming universe in a community of more than 500,000 players, and 1.7 million characters.

March 2007 saw the introduction of the French and German language versions of FINAL FANTASY XI creating an influx of new players. Those already playing will tell you this has added to a vibrant multi-cultural online community.

FINAL FANTASY XI is the first ever MMORPG for Microsoft's Xbox 360.