Multiplayer server application released for Ship Simulator 2008

Multiplayer server application for their successful simulation hit, Ship Simulator 2008. The application provides all Ship Simulator 2008 players the ability to create their own stand-alone multiplayer servers. The multiplayer server application is English, but compatible with all available language versions of Ship Simulator 2008.

Furthermore the application is suitable for players with Ship Simulator 2008 and the official add-on Ship Simulator 2008: New Horizons. This highly realistic simulator puts players at the helm of some of the World’s most varied and detailed ships found at sea, allowing them to explore accurately recreated environments. Ship Simulator is available in 20 countries and 7 languages.

To download the multiplayer server application, visit: www.lighthouse-interactive.com

To find out more about Ship Simulator 2008 and to keep up with the latest news, visit: www.lighthouse-interactive.com and www.shipsim.com.



GAME SUMMARY

With the growing number of Ship Simulator users worldwide, VSTEP is continuously adding new content and features. In Ship Simulator 2008, players will perform a multitude of tasks, all set within stunning 3D environments. They will take control of a wide array of vessels – from massive cargo ships and ferries, to speedboats, yachts, water taxis, personal watercrafts, and even the mighty Titanic. The waters you sail are as varied as the ships, including the harbors of New York, the Thai Phi Phi Islands, Rotterdam and Hamburg, plus three newly added harbours Southampton, Marseilles and San Francisco.



Ship Simulator 2008 incredibly recreates real-world locations from around the globe and presents players with the challenges of commanding the vessel of their choice on the open sea.

Tomb of Theos dungeon update for Last Chaos video game launched

Last Chaos, the first title of Aeria Games is prepared to pour out one of its most innovative and latest content updates, the Tomb of Theos.

The Tomb of Theos is a dungeon for level 75-plus players who will have the chance to control entry into the dungeon. The controls of the dungeon are placed squarely into the hands of the master of the guild that owns the dungeon.

In order for a guild to have ownership of the dungeon, the guild must go through the dungeon and secure a crystal, but with certain circumstances. The guilds have only two hours to secure the crystal, and at the end of those two hours the guild who has last secured it will win the dungeon.

“The competition for the dungeon will be fierce,” said Tim Adams, associate producer of Last Chaos. Once the dungeon is secured by the winning guild, a system comes into play that allows the guild to have complete control over the dungeon. The guild has the ability to change the condition in the dungeon from the pollution factor and monster difficulty.

“The owner can increase the damage in 10 percent increments, up to 100 percent effectively doubling the amount of damage players do while inside the dungeon,” Adams said.

In order for guilds to enter the dungeon siege, a fee is imposed by the guild who owns the dungeon, while at the same time they can also impose a tax on all the gold the enemies drop. A guild can earn up to 20 percent of all the gold dropped.

“Overall, owning the castle is a big financial gain for any guild, and is also a symbol of their power on any given server,” Adams said.

Guilds will have the chance to gain ownership of the dungeon once a week but with new obstacles. Once a guild has ownership, they can construct small obstacles for guilds returning that will remain in the dungeon even when the guild loses ownership.

With the new dungeon system implemented, players have a whole new arena of game ahead of them every week in order to have control of one of the most difficult areas in Last Chaos.

“Since the Last Chaos community is so closely knit, every action by guilds on each server is felt by all the players,” Adams said. “At first it may be the most powerful guild who owns the castle, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there are rebellions amongst the players, and guild wars to follow.”

Limited edition Crisis Core - Final Fantasy VII - PSP (PlayStationPortable) bundle

Includes CRISIS CORE
FINAL FANTASY VII
- and engraved silver PSP

CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII, PSP bundle, available on 20th June 2008, priced at 189.99 Euros. The chain of events which set the epic adventure of FINAL FANTASY into motion is revealed this summer with the release of CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- a prequel to FINAL FANTASY VII, the biggest selling FINAL FANTASY of all time. The eagerly-anticipated game will be available for the European market, in a special PSP (PlayStationPortable) bundle coinciding with the game’s release and will include a limited edition, CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- engraved silver PSP and a copy of the game.

As one of the greatest franchises in gaming history, the arrival of CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- on PSP makes this the perfect time for all RPG fans and adventure gamers to pick up the handheld system. A must-have title, the only way to complete this chapter in FINAL FANTASY history is on PSP and this bundle offers the opportunity for gamers to take another step into one of the best loved game worlds in history. CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- also makes the most of the power of PSP, with stunning graphics and CG cut-scenes, state-of-the-art voice acting and widescreen presentation.

Developed by Square Enix Co., Ltd., CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- ups the action from previous FINAL FANTASY titles with an all-new dynamic battle system with real-time action, while retaining the immersive storytelling expected from a game with such heritage.

Now it is your chance to discover the events leading up to the destruction of the metropolis of Midgar and the downfall of the ruthless Shinra Corporation. Following the story of young Shinra solider Zack Fair, CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- revisits a classic world populated by celebrated characters including the heroic Cloud Strife, tragic Aerith Gainsborough and the villainous Sephiroth.

Return to this unforgettable tale once more with the special PSP and CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- bundle, on 20th June 2008.

New Apple 3G iPhone games announced at Apple Keynote speach

Apple announced their expected 3G version of the iPhone and showed some of the games in development for the iPhone.

SEGA are developing Super Monkey Ball which uses the motion sensor built into the iPhone to control the game, other games use the same function to control driving and RPG games.

You can watch the Keynote presentation here Fast forward to 22minutes to the start of the demos.

Look out for 'Band' great software for creating music on your iPhone.

Father's Day celebrated in The Lord of the Rings Online

Codemasters Online invite players to Celebrate Father's Day together in Middle-earth.

Fathers from across the UK are invited to celebrate this year’s Father’s Day in virtual style by taking part in the Father’s Day celebrations set to take place across Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings Online.

Taking place on June 15th, Codemasters Online will be running a series of in-game Father’s Day events designed to celebrate this special occasion including father and sons fishing, music and fireworks as well as ad hoc competitions and challenges taking place throughout the day. Fathers are invited to attend these events with their sons and daughters and take part in the online festivities with the thousands of other players in Middle-earth.

"What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than spend it with your loved ones in the greatest fantasy world ever created?" said David Solari Vice President of Codemasters Online. "We invite fathers to come and enjoy the festivities that will we be running all day to mark this special occasion.”

The celebrations are open to both existing and new players to The Lord of the Rings Online. New players can download the free trial now at www.trylotro.com to take part in the day’s festivities.

For more information on the Father’s Day celebrations visit the game’s official European community portal www.lotro-europe.com

Soul Bubbles creative game on Nintendo DS

SOUL BUBBLES, the new phenomenon for the Nintendo DS, is set to release across Europe on Friday, 13th June.

In Soul Bubbles, the player takes the role of a young shaman apprentice who is tasked with saving lost ‘souls’ and guiding them to safety. He must safeguard these fragile beings by placing them in protective bubbles so he can transport them through a series of increasingly treacherous and hostile worlds.

As the shaman, use your stylus to draw the bubbles, then deflate, cut or join them to other bubbles to navigate through each environment. You must fill bubbles with water or gas, escape traps, extinguish fires and avoid all the sticky or dangerous surfaces that will slow the bubbles down.

“Soul Bubbles is an extremely creative and unique title which really pushes the physics capabilities of the Nintendo DS,” said Lou Fawcett, Head of Casual Games at Eidos. “The reaction from the press so far has been incredible and we’re hoping the public are going to love Soul Bubbles every bit as much as we do.”

Soul Bubbles features 8 unique worlds, each with its own visual style and gameplay challenges, and over 40 levels to play through on your journey to becoming a true spirit herder.

The Conduit FPS coming to Nintendo Wii Exclusive

The Conduit, a stunning first-person action shooter that promises to provide some of the best visuals seen to date on Nintendo's Wii gaming console, for early 2009 release.

Using their proprietary Quantum 3 Game Engine technology, the team at High Voltage Software is fusing fast and fluid gameplay with an advanced set of visuals intended to squarely establish the Wii as a true next-generation gaming platform. The first-person shooter boasts a competitive online multiplayer component and a thrilling single-player campaign. Advanced graphical features include dynamic environment mapping, interactive water with real-time reflection, and four-stage texture composition including gloss, diffuse, and bump mapping.

"Too many Wii owners have been told that the Wii is a casual platform with no room for serious games or top-tier graphics," said Eric Nofsinger, Chief Creative Officer at High Voltage Software. "With The Conduit, we intend to prove that theory wrong by providing gamers with the kind of title they imagined back when the platform was first announced."

Featuring terrifying alien creatures, an advanced Artificial Intelligence System, and a rich, conspiracy-laden story, The Conduit has more than a pretty face. "The Wii has tremendous potential," said Kerry J. Ganofsky, CEO and founder of High Voltage Software. "We've invested heavily in our technology to make certain that potential is realized with The Conduit."

The Conduit's control scheme was carefully designed from the ground up with the Wii in mind, as were each of the weapons in the extensive armory, providing gameplay not possible on other platforms. As Secret Service Agent Ford, you must learn to master each of these weapons as well as the special "All Seeing Eye" device to defeat enemies, solve puzzles, and unravel the game's mysteries.

"Conduit was especially designed for the Nintendo Wii" states Matt Corso, Creative Director at High Voltage Software. "From the weapons to armory and graphics, we tailored everything to the Wii which sets this game play apart from anything else on the market right now."

Publisher excitement and interest in The Conduit has been overwhelming. High Voltage Software will continue to search for the perfect partner to ensure The Conduit’s success.

The Conduit is tentatively scheduled for release early 2009 exclusively for the Nintendo Wii.

'Spider-Man - Web of Shadows' Preview [Screenshots]

New Spidey game developer Shaba Games believes that their fall-launching Spider-Man: Web of Shadows will be that break.

The team's solution to the game series' stagnation largely consists of implementing tricks they've learned in the company's previous 11 years of development.

read more | digg story

Sturmovik: Birds of Prey Flight Simulator for Xbox 360 PS3 Nintendo DS and PSP

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey to the console market for the first time. Developed by Gaijin Entertainment for Xbox 360 and PS3, DiP Interactive for Nintendo DS and DYNAMICSYSTEMS for PSP, the game takes place during the greatest aerial battles of all time (discounting Pterosaurs) and boasts the most realistic landscapes and aircraft seen in any flight sim. IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey will be published by 505 Games under the 1C Label and is due for a 2009 release.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey is based around large-scale aerial combat over the ground-based military operations of World War II. Players participate in the war’s most famous confrontations piloting fighters, battle planes or heavy bombers across a range of thrilling missions. There are five seats of war to engage in – The Battle of Britain, Stalingrad, Berlin, Sicily and Korsun – representing the main airborne battles of World War II in Europe.



As well as advanced environmental visuals enriching the game play, IL-2 also boasts an all new damage effects engine. Players can see real time damage to the aircraft such as holes in the wings and trail lines during dog fights. Hundreds of airplanes taking part in air battles is a distinguishing feature of IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey and the unique environmental engine also produces highly detailed, realistic landscapes that allows players to see a brand new simulation of ground support actions.


Features

• Authentic World War II atmosphere
  


• Engage in more than 50 thrilling missions from famous historical battles over Eastern and Western Europe and fly historically accurate aircraft
  


• Completely flexible difficulty level system: from arcade to realistic simulation
  


• Thrilling multiplayer mode support customisation – from the colour scheme of your plane to your choice of weapons.
  


• Cutting edge, highly-detailed visuals, realistic sound and original music from Jeremy Soule (composer of Company of Heroes, Dungeon Siege, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Guild Wars, Neverwinter Nights, Prey, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Total Annihilation, Unreal II, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, and many more.)
  

505 Games will publish IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey on the 1C Label for PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and PSP in 2009.

New High School Musical 3 - Senior Dance Video Game this Christmas

Popular Disney Franchise Extends New Storylines and Adventures to Popular Gaming Platforms This Christmas.

New video games this Christmas season for the globally successful “High School Musical” franchise. High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! for the Wii home video game console, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and Windows-based PC allows players to “dance” along with favourite characters to familiar “High School Musical” songs from all three movies, as well as experience another memorable year as Wildcats at East High. High School Musical 3: Senior Year for Nintendo DS features all new songs from the upcoming theatrical release of “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” and lets fans play through the game as the Wildcat whose personality is most like theirs.

“We’re building on the success of last year’s line up of ‘High School Musical’ video games with new immersive extensions to the hit property,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “We’ll continue to bring exciting and fresh interactive experiences to ‘High School Musical’ fans everywhere, delivering new storylines, characters and songs.”

High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! for Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 system and Windows-based PC lets players experience the music, familiar locations and popular characters from all three movies, including the upcoming “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” Players move to the rhythm of the hit songs using the controllers unique to each video game console, such as Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™, to classic “High School Musical” anthems, including “We’re All In This Together” and “What Time Is It.”

Players take the role of Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad or Taylor or can customise their own Wildcat, using a variety of outfits, shoes and hairstyles. In addition, the game features various multiplayer modes, including competitive and cooperative play. In competitive mode, users can earn power-ups to affect other players’ performances, while in cooperative mode players need to dance simultaneously and in sync to earn high scores. Fans can follow along to choreography from the stars and complete songs to earn points and unlock new songs, clothing and characters.



A unique rhythm-based dance game, High School Musical 3: Senior Year for Nintendo DS also allows players to experience the music, scenes and characters from the “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” film. The game features trivia-based personality quizzes that allow players to determine the Wildcat whose personality is most like theirs. This feature lets fans dance through the game as that specific character, performing songs and experiencing the fun themed to Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad or Taylor’s personalities. In addition, High School Musical 3: Senior Year utilises the DS stylus and D-pad to capture special photos to create a custom East High senior yearbook layout, to keep for years to come.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! for Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 system and Windows-based PC and High School Musical 3: Senior Year for Nintendo DS are scheduled for release this Christmas. All titles have an anticipated Pan European Game Information (PEGI) rating of 3+.