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Sunday, May 25, 2008

Favourite PlayStation 1 emulator ePSXe 1.7.0 released


After 4 years without updates, the ePSXe team released version 1.7.0 of everybody's favourite Playstation 1 emulator, with a hefty number of significant updates, and higher compatiblity with games.

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Sega new games Bayonetta and Madworld on Xbox, Wii and PS3


SEGA announce ground-breaking new SEGA titles - MADWORLD - Infinite Line and Bayonetta – covering a variety of game genres with innovative design concepts that explore the depths of today’s best-selling platforms. A soon-to-be-announced fourth title, being directed by legendary gaming icon Shinji Mikami, is also part of the agreement.
“The creative forces at PlatinumGames bring a new level of imagination into the SEGA family at a pivotal time in the video game industry when the demand for quality, originality and fun has never been greater,” said Tatsuya Minami, President and CEO, PlatinumGames. “These new titles will contribute meaningfully to SEGA’s brand, while adding a new level of depth to the strategic portfolio of games in our library.”
“We are thrilled to have forged this new relationship with such a talented team of individuals and we are understandably excited about the titles that they are producing for us,” commented Mike Hayes President and COO of SEGA Europe Ltd.  “SEGA continually strives to release games for all consumers that are of the highest quality, working with Platinum Games further enhances that strategy.”


MADWORLD, the first title set for release in Q1 2009, is an inventive third-person action game exclusively for Wii. Produced by Atsushi Inaba, MADWORLD has a unique black and white style, depicting an incredibly sharp backdrop that straddles graphic novels and 3D worlds. As players battle opponents, they must master the use of various weapons and items found within their environment, such as chainsaws and street signs, while entertaining sports commentary adds to the third-person gameplay. With its irreverent humour and over-the-top violence, MADWORLD will deliver a unique core gaming experience currently missing on the Wii system.

Infinite Line (working title), a role playing game exclusively for the Nintendo DS portable handheld system, takes place in outer space and gives players the ability to control, build, outfit and customise more than 150 spaceships. Infinite Line stretches the DS hardware to the limit, offering over 200 characters and the ability to control multiple spaceships at any one time. Releasing in 2009 and currently being produced by Atsushi Inaba and directed by Hifumi Kouno (from developer Nude Maker), Infinite Line is one of the most complex RPG titles developed for the DS to date.

Bayonetta is a stylish and cinematic action game, directed by creator Hideki Kamiya and set for release in 2009 on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. A witch with powers beyond the comprehension of mere mortals, Bayonetta faces-off against countless angelic enemies, many reaching epic proportions, in a game of 100% pure, unadulterated all-out action. Outlandish finishing moves are performed with balletic grace as Bayonetta flows from one fight to another. With magnificent over-the-top action taking place in stages that are a veritable theme park of exciting attractions, Bayonetta pushes the limits of the action genre, bringing to life its fast-paced, dynamic climax combat.

Supernova 2 - Spacewar video game released for PC and Macs


Supernova 2 - Spacewar is a space wargame combined with a resource macromanagement simulation from Tycoon Games.

Riva Celso, programmer/designer of Tycoon Games stated “After the first title, I wanted to shift genre completely, making a turn-based space wargame, integrated with a resource macromanagement part. I wanted to keep the management part simple, with global variables affecting your whole empire rather than managing every single planet. It is my first
game for the Tycoon Games website, which will feature exclusively strategy, simulation and war games”.

Supernova 2 is available for PC and Mac platforms, and has a very simple interface, but lots of gameplay elements: you have to manage your empire resources, then research new technologies like new weapons, armors, shields or mysterious devices to build a powerful fleet. Once you have assembled your army, target an enemy starsystem to conquer it, and see the wargame part in all its splendor. 
Many different ship classes, from small, fast scout ships to huge, slow, but devastating motherships: each one with its own statistics, plus the addition of unique ships for each faction, for a total of 25 different ones. Lots of different weapons both for short range fighting like beam cannons and bolts, or long range like missiles and torpedoes. The wargame simulation has lots of details, including different weapons ranges, ammo and recharge times, and the angle of fire which affects weapons damage and if used properly can turn the tide of the battle in your favor.
A free demo is available from Tycoon Games website

List Of Nintendo Wii Games New Releases For 2008

As competition hots up in the games console market we are seeing more and more new releases from the likes of Playstation, Nintendo and Xbox. The quality of the games seems be getting better and better with a wider range of game genres to choose from. Check out these new releases planned for 2008 and see which ones catch your eye.

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Get drawing with Sega's Pictoimage game on Nintendo DS


Push your freehand drawing skills to the limit!

PictoImage, a fun and challenging party game that will sharpen your wit and drawing skills, is coming exclusively to Nintendo DS in August 2008.


PictoImage is a pick up and play puzzle game in which players to take turns drawing the image of a word, while competitors race against the clock to guess the word first. The words are generated at random and can be anything from an apple, to a waterfall or a butler! Even if art is not your best subject, the three playable modes means there really is something for everyone and it can actually help you learn to draw!

The Multiplayer Mode in PictoImage allows up to eight players to enjoy a variety of party drawing games. In Picture Pass, for example, a subject will be passed from player to player in an image and the last player guesses the subject based on the last drawing. The single-player and two-player mode gets players guessing an image from a library of 300 drawings created by people of all ages whilst the tutorial mode teaches players how to draw different images from the four main categories of Animals, Objects, Food, and Other. Art has never been so much fun!



PictoImage is exclusive to the Nintendo DS and will be available in August 2008.

Screenshots from Sudden Strike 3 - Arms for Victory - Addon













Leading video game developer and publisher, Fireglow Games, today announces a new batch screenshots showing a new French units from Sudden Strike 3 - Arms for Victory - Addon.

Sudden Strike 3 - Arms for Victory - Addon will be available for Free at the end of May

About Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory:
Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory is the latest instalment in the award-winning, critically acclaimed and hugely popular Sudden Strike series. It features historically authentic models built to scale, fully interactive giant maps and full 3-D state-of-the-art graphics in the popular Sudden Strike style. Only Sudden Strike plays like the 'real thing'. WW2 gaming at its best: on land, at sea and in the air!
Features:
  • Fully interactive landscape (all objects can be destroyed, all buildings and pillboxes can be used as shelter)
  • Massive operations on big maps, strategic scale of the maps (front line can be a few kilometres long)
  • Thousands of units fighting in real time
  • More than 300 tanks, ships, soldiers, guns and planes with original weapons built to scale
  • Great sounds, 5.1 supported, nations speak native languages
  • New feature - advanced Micro AI-behaviour allows your troops to act exactly as you plan
  • Joint naval and ground operations, air raids, artillery strikes etc.
  • State-of-the-art technology to render 3D landscape, realistic lines of sight and fire
  • Spectacular visual & lighting effects
  • Multiplayer mode: up to 8 players, GameSpy supported
  • Five campaigns playable for American, British, German, Japanese and Soviet sides

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Encryption Chip Will End Piracy, Says Atari Founder


At yesterday's Wedbush Morgan Securities conference, Atari founder Nolan Bushnell claimed that a stealth encryption chip will "absolutely stop piracy of [PC] gameplay."There is a stealth encryption chip called a TPM that is going on the motherboards of most of the computers that are coming out now,"

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Race Driver - Grid in top gear ready for UK launch


zavvi's flagship London store hosting a day of action-packed racing events – including the grand final of the European Fastest Lap Challenge

EVENT CALL

What: Race Driver: GRID launch & Fastest Lap Challenge Final
Featuring: A BMW 3 Series will be won by the fastest racer
Plus: Multiplayer play-offs - open to all, prizes to win.
Plus: Beat the Development Team challenge – open to all.
When: May 30th, 2008 – 12.00 noon to 5.00 pm
Where: zavvi, 14-16, Oxford Street, London, W1D 1AR
Entry: Free to everyone


Codemasters today issued an invitation to UK gamers to attend Race Driver: GRID's high-octane launch event, set to take place at zavvi’s flagship Oxford Street store on May 30th – the game’s launch date.

The highlight of the day will be the grand final of the European Fastest Lap Challenge, which has seen legions of gamers fiercely competing to set their best time on Spain’s Jarama circuit. With the top-ranked drivers now chosen, only one speed freak can walk away with the ultimate prize: a brand new BMW 3 Series car.

Alongside this thrilling finale, Codemasters is also holding an open tournament on the day which will see scores of petrol heads go head-to-head in Race Driver: GRID’s action-packed 12-player multiplayer mode, with a host of prizes up for grabs. Gamers are advised to bring their best driving gloves along and prepare for some tough competition.

For those who want even more of a challenge, then members of the Race Driver: GRID development team will be on hand to compete against visitors to the store, in a series of “Beat the Developer” sessions being held throughout the day.
Finally, the first 100 people to buy a copy of the game from the Oxford Street store receive an exclusive key ring and T-shirt.†
Race Driver: GRID is coming May 30th (Europe/PAL) for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Games For Windows. A Nintendo DS edition will follow, please visit www.racedrivergrid.com for more details.

Moto Racer video game is back on Nintendo DS


The "Moto Racer" anthology is taking a new and radical turn!

With 7 million units sold to date, the motorbike franchise is back with an astonishing version for the Nintendo DS.

Faithful to the original game concept, Moto Racer DS will be the first true multi-discipline motorbike game, for the Nintendo DS™. Moto Racer DS features 4 different disciplines: “Moto GP”, “Traffic”, “Freestyle”, and “Supercross”.

The exciting arcade gameplay is now powered by the use of the stylus, and the multi-player mode up to 6 riders using WiFi!

Many other hot revelations to come …

Till then get a glimpse on www.motoracer-thegame.com

About the game
Genre: Motor Bike simulation
Platform: Nintendo DS
Publisher: Nobilis
Developer: Artefacts
Release date: Q4 2008

Panzer Command - Kharkov update patch released


Panzer Command - Kharkov Updated!

The first official update is on the way, with fixes, features and new units!

Matrix Games and Koios Works are pleased to announce that Panzer Command: Kharkov, a major new release in the Panzer Command series of 3D tactical wargames, has now been updated to v1.01. In Panzer Command - Kharkov, players step back to the early days of May, 1942 as both the German and Soviet armies prepare major offensives focused on the same place – Kharkov.

The v1.01 update is a major new version with over 40 fixes, ranging from two serious international region-related bugs to unit data typos and an issue that could prevent medals being awarded correctly in campaigns. New features include a Trees On/Off toggle, better path-finding and collision handling and more intelligent use of maps and platoon sizes in random battles. The showcase new unit for this release is the mighty KV-2, a formidable addition to the Soviet forces! In addition, the requirement for Internet Explorer 7 components to run the tools has been dropped. Tools like the Scenario Editor and Random Battle Generator will now work fine with Internet Explorer 6 components, which are included by default with Windows XP and later, requiring no additional installation of software.
Panzer Command: Kharkov is a 3D tactical game in which players control a core force of vehicles and squads while battling through individual scenarios and historical campaigns. In addition, Panzer Command: Kharkov includes a Random Battle Generator and a Random Campaign Generator that cover battles and campaigns across the Eastern Front of World War II

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “Panzer Command: Kharkov has been very well received by tactical wargamers and critics alike, earning an 89% from Armchair General and a 7/8 score from Out of Eight. While the official release was stable and relatively bug-free, we moved quickly to track, investigate and resolve all reported issues as well as add in some new features and new units. International customers in particular will appreciate two nasty region-related bugs being resolved, which were the only critical issues on our list.”

Panzer Command: Kharkov is a 3D simultaneous turn based strategy game where you command either the Soviet or German forces during the punch and counter-punch of the 1942 battles around Kharkov in the Ukraine. Two new Kharkov campaigns as well as some additional short campaigns tie the scenarios together, allowing core units to progress from battle to battle, gaining experience, medals and special abilities. A point system allows players to “purchase” additional units for each mission in the campaign as well as replace losses, forcing decisions on management of resources. The new random battles system and the random campaign system allow for virtually infinite replayability with a variety of historical forces and settings.
The design for Panzer Command: Kharkov lets first time wargamers sit down and start playing, while allowing hard-core gamers to enjoy the realism and historical accuracy. All campaign battles can also be fought as individual scenarios and a new random battle generator as well as a random campaign generator make for almost infinite replayability! The AI can control either side in each battle and a full Play-by-Email system allows for head to head play.
Panzer Command: Kharkov includes a full set of scenario and campaign editing tools as well as excellent support for moddability, extending to the game data as well as the 3D models themselves.
Owners of Panzer Command: Winter Storm are able to use the additional Winter maps from Winter Storm in Panzer Command: Kharkov, which expands the winter map selection for random battles and campaigns significantly (only one winter map comes with Kharkov). In addition, if Kharkov is installed on a system which already has Winter Storm, it will install bonus Winter Storm campaigns that are updated to work with all the new features and improvements of Panzer Command: Kharkov.
Panzer Command: Kharkov is available now from the Matrix Games Online Store at $39.99 US for the digital download and $49.99 US for a boxed copy with a printed manual. Owners of Panzer Command: Winter Storm can register for a special upgrade coupon to purchase Panzer Command: Kharkov at a $15 discount. A bundle offer is also available for new customers to purchase both Winter Storm and Kharkov together for $15 off the combined price. Check the Panzer Command: Kharkov game page and forums for information on these special pricing offers.

Features of Panzer Command: Kharkov include:
  • New Scenarios and Campaigns
  • German Kharkov, May 1942, 14th Panzer Division, (8 Battles)
  • Soviet Kharkov, May 1942, 169th Rifle Divison, (8 Battles)
  • German Mcensk, October 1941, 4th Panzer Division, (4 Battles)
  • German Kursk North, July 1943, (3 Battles)
  • Boot Camp Tutorial (6 Battles)
  • Plus additional individual battles and updated Winter Storm campaigns for Winter Storm owners (48 scenarios total if you own Winter Storm)
  • New Random Battle Generator
New Random Campaign Generator
  • New Spring and Summer Maps
  • One Winter map is included with Kharkov. Winter Storm owners get access to all the additional Winter Storm Winter maps for the historical winter campaigns as well as random battles and campaigns.
  • Trenches and Foxholes
Minefields

  • Detailed LOS and Terrain rules for historical realism
  • Scenario Editor, Campaign Editor, Template Editor
  • Improved Commands, Improved Interface Options
  • Improved AI
  • Improved Infantry Combat
  • Reinforcements
  • Surrender Option
  • Smoke
  • New Auto-Targeting
  • Improved Graphics
  • Improved Sounds
  • Improved Performance
  • New Units
  • New On-Map Mortars
  • New On-Map Infantry Guns
  • Greatly expanded list of German and Soviet Units from 1941 - 1944
  • Get more information on Panzer Command: Kharkov from its product page.