Gran Turimo Academy Goes Live on PlayStation

Log onto http://www.gtacademy.eu to start your journey in the ultimate driving competition courtesy of PlayStation, Nissan and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue.


Drivers of the world, start your engines - the GT Academy has arrived. The ultimate competitive driving test will begin on June 2nd when GT Academy goes live in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. The pan-European competition will be open to residents of the UK & Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Germany & Austria, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark and sees PlayStation and Nissan unite the worlds of virtual and real-life racing to make the dreams of aspiring race drivers a reality. The competition will run as follows:

Stage One: www.gtacademy.eu – 2nd June 2008 for seven weeks

The first phase of GT Academy will take place online with a giant Gran Turismo 5 Prologue tournament on PLAYSTATION Network. The competition will run for seven weeks and to enter, players must register their PLAYSTATION Network sign in ID on www.gtacademy.eu. The next time they play GT5 Prologue online they will be able to race in the GT Academy Time Trial where they will compete to be the fastest around the Eiger Nordwand track in a Nissan Fairlady 350Z.

Stage Two: National Final - July 2008

The fastest 20 drivers in each country will be invited to a national final to compete head to head on Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. The three fastest drivers from the final will win a seat at the…

Stage Three: GT Academy at Silverstone - 25 August 2008

The virtual gives way to tarmac as the fastest three drivers from each country travel to Silverstone, the home of British motor racing, to take part in the GT Academy - a real-life driving competition on the track itself. Competitors will not only have to prove their driving skills in a Nissan GT-R but will also be tested for their mental and physical skills in a series of tests.

The two fastest drivers from Silverstone then have the chance to enter a four month training programme to earn their racing licenses and take part in a real life race in a fully race prepared Nissan 350Z at the 24 Hour endurance event in Dubai in January 2009.

Speaking at Nurburgring 24H race, Kazunori Yamauchi, President of Polyphony Digital producers of Gran Turismo said: “This is a very exciting day for Gran Turismo. The Gran Turismo story started 10 years ago with the ambition to make a racing game that gives players the ultimate driving simulation experience. The GT Academy is the ultimate realisation of this ambition taking the Gran Turismo experience to the next level.

Stephane Cottin, Vice President, Marketing and Strategy, for Nissan in Europe continued: “GT Academy is a first for the motoring industry. Never before has a competition of this scale been undertaken to unite the worlds of virtual and real-life racing. GT Academy sets the challenge to see if gamers can recreate their performance behind of wheel of a real racing car and on their journey be amongst the first in Europe to drive the GT-R on track.”

WWII FPS Ubersoldier 2 - The end of Hitler comes to PC

Join resistance fighters in the battle to overcome the Nazi occupation forces

Bringing back the undead and well-armed hero Karl Stolz, ready to defeat Hitler’s forces with Ubersoldier 2 - The End of Hitler. The classic first person shooter is set in WWII with richly added RPG elements and traditional FPS features. Developed by Burut Creative Team and published by Strategy First, UberSoldier 2 will be available for PC in Summer 2008.

It is April 1945. Allied armies are closing on the Nazi capital Berlin. US planes are roaming the skies over the Reich, and the thunder of Soviet artillery can be heard even in the Fuhrer’s bunker. The fall of the Nazi rule is imminent. Even the closest aides have abandoned Hitler and are trying to find an exit strategy out of the war.



Yet, a tightly knit group of SS generals and officers, involved in the most heinous and dark deeds, are seeking a way to save the remnants of the Third Empire. They have conspired to move the leaders of the Reich, together with precious resources and classified equipment, to a remote hideout in the Tibet mountains. There, in the heart of Asia, they can wait for their time, kept safe by the tireless vigilance of zombie monstrosities created in the Nazi secret labs.

You’re Karl Stolz, nicknamed “UberSoldier”, a genetically modified ‘super-soldier’ brought back from the grave and a key member of the team. Together with your friends you must uncover the exact extent of the SS plan, face some of their bravest troops and best war machines, penetrate the occult secrets of the Black Order and travel halfway through the world to destroy your ultimate target.

“We are thrilled to bring this epic shooter to the North American market” said Brock Beaubien, Producer, Strategy First. “Ubersoldier 2 is an exciting twist to the World War 2 genre and delivers exciting fast-paced action.”

“Strategy First is known to be one of the most creative publishers in North America,” said Dmitri Kruglov, CEO of Play Ten Interactive. “We’re thrilled to cooperate on UberSoldier 2 with them.”

Ubersoldier 2 - The End of Hitler is a classic first person shooter, set in World War II, where the main hero uses supernatural abilities as well as over 21 traditional weapons such as MG-42, BAR and Panzerschreck, in his fight against the Nazis. Players will be on the edge of their seat fighting both human and unearthly enemies through a variety of adrenaline-pumping missions.

Street Fighter IV on Xbox 360 PlayStation 3 and PC - coming soon

Capcom announce the development of Street Fighter IV, the next iteration of the genre-establishing fighting game series, for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows-based PC.

Few videogame series have had such a strong impact on their perspective genres the way Street Fighter has over the decades. Creating a global legacy spanning over twenty years of fighting games, the Street Fighter series has become a pillar in the fighting videogame genre. Street Fighter IV for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Windows-based PC continues this tradition of excellence with a return to the classic 2D Street Fighter fighting action mixed with new characters, amazing visuals, and next-generation fluid gameplay.

Street Fighter IV features a mix of returning favorites such as Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and Guile along with new characters created for this game, such as Crimson Viper, Abel, El Fuerte, and Rufus. Characters and environments are rendered in stylized 3D, while the game is played in the classic Street Fighter 2D perspective with additional 3D camera flourishes. Six-button controls for the game return, with a host of new special moves and features integrated into the input system. Mixing classic genre-defining game mechanics the franchise is known and loved for with all-new, never-before-seen gameplay systems, Street Fighter IV brings a brand new fighting game to fans the world over. With the inclusion of Capcom's latest advancements in new generation technology, Street Fighter IV promises to deliver an extraordinary experience that will re-introduce the world to the time-honored art of virtual martial arts.

More information here

Features:

• Classic “2D” Street Fighter gameplay with stunning 3D characters and environments

• New special moves that go beyond any Street Fighter fan's wildest imagination, including Focus attacks, Super Combos, and the revenged-fueled Ultra Combo system.

• Classic Street Fighter characters recreated for a new generation of gamers, including the original cast of
Street Fighter II

• New brawlers: female super-spy Crimson Viper, lucha libre wrestler El Fuerte, mixed martial artist Abel and more!

• Amazing locations never seen before in a Street Fighter game

• New gameplay elements provide new challenges for both newcomers and the most seasoned Street Fighter pro.

Play Buku Sudoku on Xbox LIVE Arcade (US only) - Win a 40 Samsung LCD TV

Merscom Announces Contest with Prizes including 40 30,000:1 LCD TV

Merscom announce that it is sponsoring a contest with Xbox360Achievements.org for the upcoming Xbox LIVE Arcade title, Buku Sudoku, which is scheduled to launch Wednesday, 28 May. A drawing will be held two weeks after launch among players who earn all 200 achievement points, with the winner receiving a Samsung LN40A550 40” television. An additional five players who complete all the achievements win a copy of Scene-It? Lights, Camera, Action for the Xbox 360 that also leverages the Big Button Wireless Controller.

Merscom chose an HDTV as way of informing gamers about the incredible high res graphics of Buku Sudoku. Just as the Samsung LN40A550 represents the next step in digital televisions, Buku Sudoku represents the evolution of Sudoku into core gaming. The HDTV features include full HD 1080p resolution, 5 ms response rate and a dynamic contrast ratio of 30,000:1. Superb connectivity and networking with a USB port and 3 HDMI 1.3 ports with Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) also makes it perfect for the gamer’s 360. Also, Samsung’s DNIe Digital Natural Image Engine improves the picture by enhancing the contrast, detail, and white balance.

In addition to the Samsung TV, the other five players chosen from those that earn 200 out of 200 Achievement Points will receive Scene It? for the Xbox 360. Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action includes four wireless Big Button Controllers, giving each player their own buzzer. Both Scene It? and Buku Sudoku utilize the simple and intuitive Big Button Controllers for a casual and fun experience.

“We feel this contest really draws attention to the beautiful graphics in our game, as well as shows the complexity and challenges in Buku Sudoku,” said Kirk Owen, CEO of Merscom. “The Samsung TV represents the cutting edge of LCD TVs. Most importantly, though, it rewards the gamers who put a lot of time into our product.”

Dan Webb, Admin at x360a.org, commented “Everyone loves getting achievements and everyone loves Sudoku, so this is the perfect competition.”

Players can register for the contest at Xbox360Achievements, Bukusudoku360.com or Merscom’s website. Be sure to read all contest rules before entering. No purchase is necessary. The contest is only open to players in the United States You may also enter by mailing your name, address, email, and phone number to:

Buku Sudoku Free 1080 HDTV
Merscom LLC
Boyd Hall, Suite 330
55 VilCom Circle
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

SplashFighters - free-to-play casual multiplayer 3D action fighting game

Popular free-to-play online game announced - SplashFighters as the newest addition to GamersFirst.

SplashFighters is a casual multiplayer, 3D, action fighting game, and has been extremely popular in Asia. In the game, players from around the world can battle one another in challenge, deathmatch, capture-the-flag, soccer and other modes. A unique skin edit tool allows users to customize their character’s looks, and the combat system allows for over 1.8M combinations thanks to the large number of available fighting styles, accessories and weapons.

“We are excited to add SplashFighters to the GamersFirst lineup.” stated Patrick Ford, Vice President of Marketing and Community Development, K2 Network Inc. “This is the beginning of many new offerings we will have in the coming year.”

SplashFighters has over 24 million users globally and will soon be made available to GamersFirst’s 16 million registered users. GamersFirst provides a universal currency for players to purchase in game items and power ups and is the central location to find all of the K2 network titles, access customer service and view current game promotions.

“K2 Network and GamersFirst is an exact fit for SplashFighters,” says Yoshiyuki Chiba, President, CyberStep Communications Inc. “We are thrilled to partner with GamersFirst in offering SplashFighters to the North American gaming community.”

Venetica unveils new Deck 13 role-play game RPG – for the PC and Xbox 360

Venetica, a visually stunning role-play game with a cryptic storyline. Venetica mixes emotions and action in a unique free roaming and living sixteenth century world full of surprise.

In the era of Venetica, Death walks among the living as a flesh & blood being, carrying out the deeds of an ancient council known by a few as Corpus. Each generation of the Corpus is set with the task of selecting the next predecessor of the bringer of death. Unfortunately, the most recent council had unwittingly selected a crafty necromancer who is determined on bringing death and destruction to the world.

This conniving imposter has managed to transform into an undead fiend, which no mortal man can kill. This power-crazed necromancer is hell-bent on destroying the reinstated Death and the council of Corpus. Only one person stands in his way, Scarlett, the daughter of Death.

Up to now she has known nothing of her origins, her powers and the capabilities that she possesses – now she is challenged to learn how to develop and use her powers to save her father and curse the necromancer and his henchmen to the eternal hereafter. dtp entertainment is going to release Venetica in 2009 for PC and the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. www.venetica-game.com

New Multiplayer Demo Released for Sword of the Stars - Collector's Edition

A new demo is released in honour of the recent launch of the critically acclaimed 4X space strategy game Sword of the Stars - Collector’s Edition. This demo was taken from the gold master code, which is the very latest version of the game, and represents the Sword of the Stars universe as it is now.

Sword of the Stars: Collector’s Edition began hitting store shelves across the UK earlier this month. It brings the entire Sword of the Stars universe together by including the official add-on Born of Blood and further upgrades. The Collector’s Edition is also packed with exclusive bonus material and a 150+ page Sword of the Stars paperback novel entitled, The Deacon’s Tale, penned by renowned science fiction author Arinn Dembo.

Chris Stewart, Producer at Kerberos Productions said, "This new demo covers gameplay leading up to the Cruiser/Fusion era and is based on version 1.5.2 – the most awesomest version – of the game! We also created a comprehensive tutorial video pack to help ease new players into the Sword of the Stars universe. With multiplayer action for up to three players and two wicked maps, new players will get a taste of what Sword of the Stars: Collector’s Edition has to offer. Our goal is to leave players drooling for more!”

Demo Features:

• Created from the gold master version of Sword of the Stars: Collector’s Edition, version 1.5.2
• Play as Human, Liir or Tarkas races
• Two maps (2D and 3D sphere)
• Limited to 150 turns
• Features just a few of the fun and devastating weapons in the full version of the game
• Single player and multiplayer campaigns (against other 1.5.2 demo players) Leads up to the Cruiser/Fusion era
• Tutorial video pack can be downloaded separately and installed into this new demo

Sword of the Stars: Collector’s Edition Includes:

• The popular base game Sword of the Stars*
• The highly acclaimed add-on Born of Blood*
• The first ever Sword of the Stars paperback novel, The Deacon's Tale written by renowned science fiction author Arinn Dembo (150+ pages)
• A Bonus CD with stunning concept art, video interviews, trailers, music tracks, and extensive backgrounds on each of the five races

Updated to version 1.5.2 featuring standalone server capabilities and the ability to create custom maps.

To download the version 1.5.2 demo and the tutorial video pack, visit: www.lighthouse-interactive.com

Major League Eating - The Game - Meet the Eaters Week 2

Erik ‘The Red’ Denmark
Seattle, WA
Age: 29
Weight: 208

Erik "the Red" Denmark, a golfer living in Seattle, embodies his namesake's passionate hunger and also enjoys a similar respect - not just from Greenlanders, but from all who have witnessed his tireless determination at the competitive eating table. He boasts a tolerance for hot and spicy fare, having performed in jalapeños, huevos rancheros, and buffalo wings. In Major League Eating: The Game, Erik dominates the competition when shrimp is involved, and is especially strong when it comes to Spicy, a flaming belch of flames. He’s most vulnerable to Rotten Food.

Records:
Native American Fry Bread: 9.75 in 8 minutes
Shrimp: 4 lbs, 15 oz. Spot shrimp in 12 minutes
45 Krystal Burgers in 8 minutes
61 Hard-Boiled Eggs in 8 minutes


Richard LeFevre
The Locust
Henderson, NV
Age: 63
Weight: 132

The Locust is known for a strong jaw, and stomach capacity that seems to increase, not decrease, as a contest progresses. Previously considered an outsider in the competitive eating community, LeFevre embraced the formal eating circuit for the first time in 2002, participating in hot dogs, all-you-can-eat buffet and chili. Since then his prowess and reputation have grown. In Major League Eating: The Game, LeFevre shines when confronted with Jalapeños or Spicy, but has difficulties with Antacid.

Records:
Jalapenos: 247 in 8 minutes
Huevos Rancheros: 7.75 lbs in 10 minutes
SPAM: 6 lbs in 12 minutes
Chili: 1.5 Gallons in 10 minutes


Patrick Bertoletti
Deep Dish
Chicago, IL
Age: 22
Weight:190

Patrick Bertoletti is a gurgitating force of nature. He has beaten every major eater, taking out two superstars at one chomp on October 9, 2007 with his victory over Takeru Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut in the Spike TV televised Las Vegas chicken wing "Chowdown.”

Bertoletti considers himself a sweet specialist but proven himself capable of claiming victory regardless of food type. Some say the intimate knowledge of food he carries as a recent culinary school graduate gives him an unfair advantage. Others credit his habit of using the music of Irish punk band Dropkick Murphys, channeled in via earphones, to maintain pace during competitions. However, no one disputes his stature as true force of nature in competitive eating and one of the greatest eaters of all time. In Major League Eating: The Game, Bertoletti is strong in Pizza-eating events and Mustard Gas, a dangerous gaseous cloud, but weak against Invincible.

Records:
Grits: 21 lbs in 10 minutes
Waffles: 14.5 lbs in 10 minutes
Strawberry Shortcake: 15.25 lbs in 8 minutes
Ice Cream: 1.75 Gallons in 8 minutes


El Toro Jimenez
El Toro
Las Vegas, NV
Age: 30
Weight: 187

El Toro has a big mouth, although it doesn't seem to serve him well in competition. Fond of extravagant claims, personal attacks on other eaters and all sorts of theatrics, he is usually at the bottom of the pack at the end of any given contest. Other eaters see him as abrasive, offensive, and void of talent. He does, however, contribute to the sport by setting an example of what not do.

Records:
6.66 lbs Cranberry Sauce in 8 minutes
10 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs in 12 minutes
11 Bratwurst in 10 minutes
34 Hard-Boiled Eggs in 8 minutes

New German units in the free addon for Sudden Strike 3 Arms for Victory

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Leading video game developer and publisher, Fireglow Games, presents a pack of screenshots showing new German Jagdpanther, Jagdtiger, StuG IIIg in the free addon for Sudden Strike 3 Arms for Victory.

Design a Poster for GRID - win a scolarship

In anticipation of Codemasters new racing game GRID, Codemasters has teamed up with Brickfish to launch the “Design a Poster for GRID” campaign located here.

The campaign invites entrants to design a poster that captures the thrill of the race and the intensity of the competition.

The grand prize winner, selected from the top 100 highest scoring entries, will win a $1,000 scholarship or cash equivalent, a version of GRID on the platform of their choice and have their entry featured on the GRID website as downloadable wallpaper.

Codemasters will also give away prizes for two runners-up, most viral and sign-up sweepstakes.