DeSean Jackson And Owen Schmitt As Cover Athletes For NCAA Football 09

Jackson Featured on PlayStation 2 Cover and Schmitt Graces PlayStation Portable Pack Front

EA has announced the final two cover athletes for NCAA Football 09, scheduled to hit stores across North America on July 15 from EA SPORTS. Former Cal wide receiver, DeSean Jackson, will be the cover athlete on PlayStation 2 while former West Virginia Mountaineer Owen Schmitt can be found on the cover of the PlayStation Portable version of the game.

In three seasons at Cal, Jackson ranks third all time in receiving yards (2,423) and third in receiving touchdowns (22). He was rated as the #1 receiver in the nation by The Sporting News and Rivals.com going into his junior campaign. Jackson was a first team All-Pac-10 selection and led the nation in average punt return yards (18.2) in his sophomore season. In the recently held NFL Draft, Jackson was selected in the second round (49th overall pick) by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Schmitt, a tough-minded fullback, finished his West Virginia Mountaineer career as one of the greatest players in school lore. In his career, Schmitt earned 21 career starts and carried the ball for 1,003 yards, a 6.3-yard average, during his Mountaineer career.

NCAA Football 09 on PlayStation 2 will feature authentic collegiate animations, an all-new Mascot Challenge and bring to life the atmosphere, pageantry and tradition of college football. The PlayStation Portable version will include arcade-influenced gameplay that throws you into the action faster than ever and brings out the fun and excitement of Big Play Saturdays. Both the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions of NCAA Football 09 will feature EA SPORTS Family Play, a fun and accessible game mode that has simplified game controls, playcalling system and playbooks.

Former Arkansas All-American Darren McFadden is the cover athlete for NCAA Football 09 on the Xbox 360 while Matt Ryan from Boston College is featured on the PLAYSTATION 3 pack front. Also, Sparty the Spartan from Michigan State University will grace the cover on the Nintendo Wii. For each of the platforms, NCAA Football 09 brings to life the fun and excitement of gameday Saturdays and captures the true emotion of the college football experience.

Xbox 360 Announced as Official Music Partner to Ibiza Rocks Hotel

Xbox 360 is today announced as the Official Music Partner to the Ibiza Rocks Hotel – a collaboration between two pioneers of entertainment which will see a campaign of unmissable music activity taking place on the White Isle throughout Summer 2008.

Some of the UK’s hottest bands and cutting edge DJ’s will play intimate sets at the hotel - the spin off to the hugely successful Ibiza Rocks with Sony Ericsson gig series which, for the first time ever, brought live music to the dance capital of the world. The Ibiza Rocks Hotel launches with a live gig from The Enemy on May 31st. As the Official Music Partner, Xbox will add to the hotel’s live music programme and will also see Xbox hosting ‘Xbox Weekenders’ with the hottest bands and DJ’s across the summer.

The news comes as Xbox gears up for a summer of music activity covering music festivals, exclusive gigs and special events to celebrate the fact that players can download cutting edge music (and movies) on Xbox LIVE.

Inside the new Ibiza Rocks Hotel, guests will enjoy the ‘Xbox Social’, the perfect place to experience the latest games, music and movies available on Xbox, complete with comfy couches, and quirky extras. Throughout the hotel, Xbox 360 kiosks will be on hand to play all the latest games, and for those who can’t make it out of their rooms after a particularly heavy night’s clubbing, there will also be a concierge service available where the Xbox team will set up complimentary consoles and games in guest’s rooms

On the top floor of the 368 room hotel will be the ‘Xbox Penthouse’ – a premium quality apartment complete with sunset balcony, where all the bands playing at Ibiza Rocks will stay during their time on the island. It will also be a safe haven for VIPs and celebrities throughout the course of the events, which are set to be highlights of the Ibiza summer calendar.

The Ibiza Rocks Hotel is San Antonio’s first destination concept hotel, fusing music and fashion with fresh ideas. Thanks to Ibiza Rocks, Indie was given its inaugural invite onto the island in 2005 and has since established itself as a European phenomenon. Ibiza Rocks has welcomed some of the best bands and cutting edge DJ’s to play intimate live sets under the stars, including Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs and Kasabian. This year, The Enemy, The Pigeon Detectives, The Wombats, The Fratellis, We Are Scientists, Reverend and the Makers, Soulwax/2ManyDJ’s and Pendulum are just a few of the bands playing headline slots at Ibiza Rocks from 17th June to 9th September.

Commenting on the partnership, Alex Weller, Xbox Brand Experience Manager said: “We’re delighted to be working with such a credible partner as Ibiza Rocks Hotel. We saw massive crossover in their audience with ours, and as we focus more on music and entertainment as a whole, it’s a perfect fit for us which will enable people to connect to the things they love most – music, gaming, and having fun.”

Andy McKay, Ibiza Rocks promoter said: “When Xbox approached us, we immediately saw the synergy. Along with being a natural fit and world class brand that truly enhances what we do, the Xbox activity taking place will really add value to our customers’ experience at the hotel. We’re looking forward to a great season.”

Hanabi Festival Returns To Virtual Console!

Second season of classic U.S. and Japanese games set for launch in Europe

Retro gamers everywhere rejoice! The celebrated ‘Hanabi Festival’ is back on Virtual Console, bringing with it another timeless selection of retro titles – previously released only in Japan or the United States – to Wii gamers across Europe. Available via the Wii Shop Channel, discovery is the name of the game as players can experience for the first time many highly entertaining and cult classics, all courtesy of SEGA and Hudson Soft.

Named after the Japanese holiday season renowned for its firework displays, the Hanabi Festival offers Wii owners across Europe the opportunity to experience first-hand a series of gaming greats never released in PAL regions. To kick-start this, the second Hanabi Festival, three high-energy action and puzzle titles are unleashed…

· GRADIUS II GOFER NO YABOU (Turbografx) – the acclaimed space shooter!

· Columns III: Revenge of Columns™ (SEGA MEGA DRIVE) – the jewel puzzle brain bender!

· Final Soldier (Turbografx) – the action-packed shoot ‘em up sequel!

And there are even more import games planned to launch as the Hanabi Festival continues in the coming weeks, including such diverse titles as Puyo Puyo 2 and Gley Lancer from SEGA, and Star Parodier and Cho Aniki from Hudson Soft – and more.

GRADIUS II GOFER NO YABOU returns you to the helm of the legendary Vic Viper to overcome a new offensive from the Bacterion Empire. Originally only available on the PC Engine (Turbografx) console in Japan, this horizontally scrolling shooter challenges players to conquer the Bacterion’s fleet and its new leader, Gofer. With a total of nine stages, this perfect port of the original boasts one of the longest adventures in the series and also features more trademark fast-paced music to accompany the intense action! GRADIUS II is available now for 900 Wii Points.

If you’d prefer to test your brain rather than your brawn, then the mental tenacity of puzzle fans everywhere will be pushed to the very limit in the compelling sequel Columns III: Revenge of Columns™. Released in the U.S. in 1994 for the SEGA MEGA DRIVE, Columns III offers a single-player or multi-player experience that expands upon the gameplay of the first two Columns titles by giving players extra attacks to spring on their opponents. As in the original Columns, jewels fall into a column bin where gamers have to twist and manipulate them to match three or more jewels in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal line to prevent them from stacking up and reaching the top. In Columns III, special magical jewels are available that influence the game in numerous ways such as raising your opponent’s crush bar or lowering yours, adding an extra element of strategy to the game. Columns III: Revenge of Columns™ is available for 900 Wii Points.

The third Hanabi Festival title this week, Final Soldier, propels you to the 23rd century where you are Earth’s last line of defence against an unknown horde of alien invaders. Part of the celebrated ‘Star Soldier’ series, this action-packed vertical scrolling shooter puts you at the helm of a space fighter created by the finest scientists from across the globe. Armed to the teeth with an arsenal of weaponry you rise up against the enemy overwhelming them with lasers, flamethrowers and missiles, many of which can be upgraded to cause further devastation. Originally released for PC Engine (Turbografx) only in Japan, this Hudson Soft classic can now be yours for 700 Wii Points.

Hanabi Festival titles that were originally released in Japan contain only minimal Japanese text that will not affect players’ enjoyment. All new Hanabi Festival titles will remain on the Wii Shop Channel after the festival has ended. Titles from the previous Hanabi Festival in September 2007 (Sin And PunishmentÔ, Ninja GaidenÔ, Gradius IIIÔ, Ninja JaJaMaru-kun, and Mario’s Super PicrossÔ) are still available, except for the limited edition Super Mario Bros.: The Lost LevelsÔ.

And watch this space in the future, because the Hanabi Festival may return…

Virtual Console offers users the ultimate retro gaming experience. This week’s titles join the list of 209 classic titles already available for Virtual Console in Europe.

MTV Games, Harmonix and EA Announce - Rock Band Track Pack Volume 1 for WiiT and PlayStation 2

Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a division of MTV Networks, which is a division of Viacom, along with distribution partner Electronic Arts, today announced plans to release Rock Band Track Pack Volume 1 for the Wii home video game console from Nintendo and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. The 20-Track Pack features an electrifying mix of classic hits and current favorites, including songs by Boston, Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, and All American Rejects. The Rock Band Track Pack Volume 1 will be available on July 15th, 2008 for a MSRP of $29.99. Complete details are as follows:

Release date: Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Tracks:

• 30 Seconds to Mars The Kill
• All American Rejects Move Along
• Blink – 182 All the Small Things
• Boston More Than a Feeling
• David Bowie Moonage Daydream
• Faith No More We Care A Lot
• Grateful Dead Truckin’
• The Hives Die, All Right!
• KISS Calling Dr. Love
• Lynyrd Skynyrd Gimme’ Three Steps
• Nine Inch Nails March of the Pigs
• Oasis Live Forever
• Paramore Crushcrushcrush
• The Police Synchronicity II
• Queens of the Stone Age Little Sister
• Ramones Teenage Lobotomy
• Smashing Pumpkins Siva
• Stone Temple Pilots Interstate Love Song
• Weezer Buddy Holly
• Wolfmother Joker & the Thief

**All 20 tracks utilize original master recordings**
** All tracks are available as DLC on competing platforms**

Price: $29.99 MSRP

Rock Band is the ultimate platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music like never before. The game challenges players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune – all while learning to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals. Featuring the most master recordings of any music game ever by the world’s biggest rock artists, Rock Band includes tracks that span every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic rock, to heavy metal and punk. Rock Band has garnered over 40 awards this year 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.

Ars Technica reviews Grand Theft Auto IV

Grand Theft Auto IV is finally here, riding a wave of hype and perfect review scores. Nothing can live up to those expectations, but the game is one of the most striking cases for gaming as a storytelling medium. The Ars Technica review inside.

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Crosswords on Nintendo DS challenges players to fill in the blanks

Classic Game Gets a Modern Revamp on Nintendo DS

Mario's parent company (8 letters). Letter-based puzzles (10 letters). Dual screen, abbr. (2 letters).

Today's launch of Crosswords DS for the portable Nintendo DS video game system puts more than 1,000 crossword puzzles into the palm of your hand. Crosswords DS includes puzzles at multiple skill levels, so anyone from beginners to experts can give it a try. As you progress, the puzzles get bigger and more challenging. Because you write all your answers directly on the touch screen with your stylus, there's no need for erasers – just write your new answer over your old one. Crosswords DS also includes a sophisticated hint system if you get stuck. Just tap the Hint button with your stylus and choose to receive another clue, reveal a hidden letter or solve the whole word.



“Crosswords DS brings crossword puzzles into the 21st century in a way that's accessible to everyone,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “And because Nintendo DS is so light and portable, you can play it anywhere at any time.”

Crossword puzzles aren't the only classic word games found in Crosswords DS. There are also more than 200 Wordsearch puzzles that let you hunt for hidden words amid a jumble of letters. For more word fun, you can turn to Anagrams and construct almost endless combinations of words from a handful of letters.



Crosswords DS, with its quick and accessible word challenges, is the latest in the Touch Generations line of Nintendo DS games. Previous games include Brain Age - Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day, Brain Age 2 - More Training in Minutes a Day and Flash Focus - Vision Training in Minutes a Day.

Bus Driver PC video game driving to a store near you...

Meridian4 and SCS Software are pleased to announce that Bus Driver has gone gold and will be ready to ship to retail stores and be available for digital download in May.

“We have been working with SCS Software to change some minor things in the game for the North American market.” said Jeff Giasson, Production Director at Meridian4, “There was very little to be done to this surprisingly addictive driving sim.”

About Bus Driver
In Bus Driver, your job is to transport passengers around an attractive and realistic city. You must drive to a timetable on a planned route, while obeying traffic rules, and taking care not to upset or injure your passengers. This makes Bus Driver unlike any other driving game - the experience of driving a bus is very different from blazing through a racing circuit.

• 12 buses to drive – detailed models inspired by real-world buses, including London’s double-decker bus, America’s school bus, Europe’s low floor buses and many more
• 30 routes arranged into 5 tiers with increasing difficulty
• Multiple duties, such as driving a school bus, transporting tourists, sight-seeing tours and even the transportation of prisoners
• High replay value based on sophisticated system of traffic rules and game-play related bonuses.
• Large city to drive in, with several districts of varying styles: modern, old-town, suburb, airport, harbor and more with day/night cycles and realistic weather conditions.
• Living roads with intelligent traffic controlled by AI system.
• Non-violent, easy to pick up gameplay, suitable for all ages.

Angry GTA4 Fan Creates Freeze Page On YouTube

This page is solely dedicated to the individuals, whether owners of a playstation 3 or xbox360, who have been affected by the GTA4 freezing epidemic and also for those who have lost their entire gaming systems to the problem as well.

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Rockstar Games’ Dan Houser on GTA4 and New York

Dan Houser, Vice President of Rockstar Games and co-writer of GTA IV, spoke to Vulture about building a nuttier, dirtier Gotham.

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Top 5 Non-Violent Things To Do in Grand Theft Auto IV

After hours upon hours testing the just-released Grand Theft Auto IV, we realized there’s actually so much fun in Liberty City that is—dare we say—wholesome that we opted to breakdown the positive pastimes of the badass game rather than review it.

Leave that to the crooks.

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