DRAGON QUEST SWORDS On Sale Tomorrow

Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces that DRAGON QUEST SWORDS - The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors for Wii will be on sale tomorrow 9th May, 2008 across all PAL territories.

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

Rockstar Patches GTA IV's PS3 Online Play

Rockstar Games just confirmed that they have released a patch for the Playstation 3 version of GTA IV which was causing issues with online play.

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WWE Legends of Wrestlemania

Publishers of the Renowned WWE SmackDown/SmackDown v Raw Franchise To Establish New Property for Next Generation Systems


THQ and JAKKS Pacific, announced that WWE Legends of WrestleMania is currently in development for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. Joining the distinguished WWE SmackDown/SmackDown vs. Raw franchise, which has shipped more than 37 million units worldwide since 2000, WWE Legends of WrestleMania is scheduled for release in March 2009 to coincide with the annual pinnacle of sports entertainment, WrestleMania 25, in Houston, Texas.

“We have generated significant year-over-year growth in key global territories with WWE-licensed videogames, including tremendous success with the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw franchise,” said Peter Matiss, vice president, global brand management, THQ. “The development capabilities afforded by next generation hardware, combined with our established history and deep understanding of fighting videogames, allow us to leverage the strength of the WWE brand to further extend our leadership in the fighting videogame genre and bring this new property to market.”

“JAKKS Pacific is pleased to introduce a new WWE videogame property to the fighting genre,” said Nelo Lucich, senior vice president of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. “The WWE SmackDown vs. Raw franchise has captured a collective audience of WWE fans, game enthusiasts and casual players, and we are confident that WWE Legends of WrestleMania will be poised for great success.”

Pro Evolution Socer 2008 (PES) - The essential summer signing - lower price

Konami reissues 360, PlayStation 2 and PC-DVD versions of PES 2008 at new, low price
Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has announced that its best-selling PES 2008 title will be reissued as a budget release for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2 on May 16th.

Originally released in October 2007, PES 2008 has won worldwide acclaim for its utter realism and closeness to real football. Now newcomers to the series will be able to experience all the feints, through balls and blistering runs the game has to offer, with the 360 reissue retailing for £24.99 and the PlayStation 2 version for £19.99.

The heart of PES 2008 is a proprietary adaptive AI system entitled Teamvision. Unique to the Konami game, Teamvision is a sophisticated AI programming that can adapt to the individual’s playing style. Through repeated play, it will learn new ways to build attacks and to counter specific movements and previous attacking or defensive errors, ensuring games are more in line with the tactical but flowing nature of the real thing.

As an extension of the Teamvision system, every aspect of PES 2008’s on-field play has been reworked and fine-tuned to create the balanced and strategic play of a high stakes match. Set-pieces have been improved, with full control given over the number of players and the position of the defensive wall. A wider range of set piece options are also available to make use of specific talents within the team.

Coupled with a wealth of licensed teams, instantly recognisable players who move identically to their real-life counterparts, and a stunning array of training, online and competition modes, PES 2008 is still the top of its league, and will be the bargain signing of the summer.

The Champ Is Back! EA Announces EA Sports Fight Night Round 4

Mike Tyson Featured in First Boxing Videogame in Nearly a Decade

Electronic Arts announced today that EA SPORTS™Fight Night Round 4 is in development at EA Canada in Vancouver under the EA SPORTS brand. EA SPORTS Fight Night is back with the most realistic “in the ring” experience to date, featuring some of the greatest boxers in history fighting in their prime.

“The EA SPORTS Fight Night franchise has always been synonymous with quality and innovation that raised the bar for the sports videogame genre”, said Kevin Wilkinson, Executive Producer, EA SPORTS. “EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 3 was a platform defining game as the industry transitioned to next generation consoles. EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 will change how boxing games are played and measured in the future.”

Featuring a re-written gameplay engine, EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 will add a variety of fighting styles and boxer differentiation to authentically emulate the greatest fighters of all time. Pressure your opponent with the brawling inside style of young Mike Tyson, bobbing and weaving to set up powerful hooks and uppercuts. Capitalize on Muhammad Ali’s reach, hand speed and fleetness of foot to bewilder your opponent with lightning fast jabs and straights from the outside. For the first time in history, EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 gives you the opportunity to pit these legendary heavyweights against one another and name a true champ.

No fight will be the same with an all-new physics-based animation system that recreates the full spectrum of true-to-life punch impacts, giving boxers a devastating arsenal of punches, blocks and ring movement. The new physics system allows for missed punches, glancing punches, knockout blows and for the first time ever, rough and tumble inside fighting. Fatigue, adrenaline, footwork and timing all come into play as you hammer away at your opponents.

EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 will be available for the Xbox 360 system and the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and ships to retailers in 2009. The game has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI.

EA SPORTS is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL Football, FIFA Soccer, NHL hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR and NASCAR racing.

GTA IV hits $500m in first week

Take-Two has announced that its blockbuster title GTA IV hit the USD 500 million sales mark in its first week, breaking all previous entertainment launch records.

Rockstar's controversial game sold over six million units worldwide, of which 926,000 units were sold in the UK alone. On its first day GTA IV sold over three million units globally and earned approximately USD 310 million.

"We knew Grand Theft Auto IV would break new ground in terms of the player's experience, with its compelling story line, extraordinary gameplay and action that ranges over a broad urban canvas. Now, it has broken sales and rating records as well," said Strauss Zelnick, chairman of Take-Two.

"Grand Theft Auto IV's first week performance represents the largest launch in the history of interactive entertainment, and we believe these retail sales levels surpass any movie or music launch to date. We congratulate the entire Rockstar team on creating a must-have experience that takes the legendary Grand Theft Auto franchise to a new level," Zelnick added.

EA UNVEILS NEW 'EA SPORTS FREESTYLE' SUB-BRAND

EA SPORTS Freestyle to represent the lighter side of sports: No rules, just fun.

Electronic Arts today launched EA SPORTS Freestyle, a new sub-brand aimed at a growing, more casual sports gaming audience. EA SPORTS Freestyle games, while based in sports, will be playful, inclusive, casual, and easy to pick up and play for kids and parents, women and men, and casual and hardcore sports fans of all ages.

“The launch of EA SPORTS Freestyle is an exciting milestone in the evolution of the EA SPORTS brand,” said Peter Moore, president, EA SPORTS. “EA SPORTS Freestyle will be a perfect complement to our core portfolio of games that our loyal fans are deeply passionate about, and will provide compelling opportunities for new audiences looking for a lighter gaming experience and an easier entry point into EA SPORTS.”

EA SPORTS Freestyle will be the home for innovative new intellectual properties from the EA SPORTS label, including three new games in development and slated for release in the next 12 months. The first title to launch under the new sub-brand will be FaceBreaker, an arcade-style boxing title set for release in September 2008 and the first new console IP from EA SPORTS since 2002.

EA SPORTS is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL Football, FIFA, NHL hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR and NASCAR racing.

Project Gotham Racing 4 'Game With Fame' On Xbox 360

One of the top acts of 2008 to take on all comers via Xbox LIVE

Microsoft revealed that Pendulum, one of the hottest acts of 2008, will be tearing up the track with gamers from across the UK in a unique Game with Fame event on Project Gotham Racing 4. Tipped for huge things this year, the band is rocking Radio 1’s One Big Weekend this coming weekend plus a number of summer festivals.

The Game with Fame is celebrating ‘Xbox LIVE Presents: Pendulum’, an intimate gig to mark the launch of In Silico, Pendulum’s highly anticipated new album. Xbox LIVE subscribers can also log on and download the video to Pendulum’s current Top 10 single “Propane Nightmares” at no additional charge, until 00.01 on Sunday 18th May.

The band will be getting behind the wheel and logging on to Xbox LIVE on Monday 12th May at 15.00 to play with selected gamers from across the UK, smoking all comers in Microsoft Game Studios award winning racer. To be in with a chance to join Pendulum online for this unique event, gamers simply need to email their details to the event organisers, telling Pendulum why they want to play with them. The lucky gamers who are successful in applying will then be emailed all the details they need to take part in the event.

How to take part

Simply email the following information to pendulum@gamewithfame.net
• Name
• Age
• Gamertag

Terms and conditions apply. For more information on this please log on to http://www.xbox.com/en-GB

Fallout 3 To Feature Original Soundtrack By Award-Winning Composer Inon Zur

Bethesda Softworks, a ZeniMax Media company, announced today that Inon Zur has created the original musical score for Bethesda Softworks’ highly anticipated post-apocalyptic video game, Fallout 3. Zur, an award-winning composer, has created numerous scores for films, television, and new media.

“We’ve wanted to work with Inon for a long time,” said Todd Howard executive producer of Fallout 3. “He brings so much to the table, in terms of his talent, background, and the music that’s influenced him. He’s created a score that has epic sweep; from the lonely ambience of the wasteland to dramatic fights for survival.”

Fallout 3 features one of the most realized game worlds ever created. Create any kind of character you want and explore the open wastes of post-apocalyptic Washington, D.C. Every minute is a fight for survival as you encounter Super Mutants, Ghouls, Raiders, and other dangers of the Wasteland.

“Fallout 3 is one of the most engaging and demanding projects I've scored,” said Inon Zur. “It was very rewarding to put all my creative energy into supporting Bethesda's vision for the game. I’m very proud of the outcome, and look forward to sharing the music with the players."

In addition to scoring a number of best-selling video games, Zur’s music has been featured in many high-profile projects including Hollywood film trailers, network television productions, CGI movies, and symphony concerts. Most recently, Zur has composed music for CBS’ ‘Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side’ TV webisode series as well as the Marvel Kids webisodes for ‘IRON MAN’.

Currently under development at Bethesda Game Studios – creators of award-winning The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the 2006 Game of the Year – Fallout 3 is slated for release this Fall on Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, and Games for Windows.

Fallout 3 has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

CHARTTRACK UK video games Chart

All formats

(Full price) Week ending 3 May 2008

1 GRAND THEFT AUTO IV TAKE 2
2 WII FIT NINTENDO
3 MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES SEGA
4 MARIO KART WII NINTENDO 2
5 PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2008 KONAMI
6 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION
7 TOM CLANCY'S RAINBOW SIX: VEGAS 2 UBISOFT
8 IRON MAN: THE OFFICIAL VIDEOGAME SEGA
9 GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK ACTIVISION
10 FIFA 08 ELECTRONIC ARTS
11 COOKING MAMA 2 505 GAMES
12 UEFA EURO 2008 AUSTRIA-SWITZERLAND ELECTRONIC ARTS
13 SEGA SUPERSTARS TENNIS SEGA
14 HALO 3 MICROSOFT
15 ASSASSIN'S CREED UBISOFT
16 NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. NINTENDO
17 MARIO KART DS NINTENDO
18 FOOTBALL MANAGER 2008 SEGA
19 LEGO STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA LUCASARTS
20 NEED FOR SPEED: PROSTREET ELECTRONIC ARTS

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