£3000 to be won on the latest series of online Xbox 360 tournaments

MatchBox360 £3000 Online Summer Series

MatchBox360 turns up the heat this summer with a sizzling prize fund totalling over £3000 to be won on the latest series of online Xbox 360 tournaments.

The “MatchBox360 £3000 Online Summer Series” sponsored by NETGEAR and IIYAMA features the most popular Xbox 360 titles including Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, Gears of War and FIFA08.

Following the success of the Winter Series in January with over 150 teams and 700 players battling it out over Xbox Live, this latest selection of tournaments will set a new standard for MatchBox360 online tournaments with the largest prize funds available to date.

With the forthcoming MatchBox360 XL eSports LAN tournament on 25-27th July at Cranmore Park, the “MatchBox360 £3000 Online Summer Series” not only provides the Xbox 360 gaming community the perfect opportunity to win some amazing prizes, but will also see some of the best teams in Europe practising their tactics as they prepare for the largest dedicated Xbox 360 tournament in Europe.

For all the latest MatchBox360 XL news and information please visit: http://www.matchbox360.co.uk

The “MatchBox360 £3000 Online Summer Series” prizes include:

IIYAMA Call of Duty 4 5v5 (in association with Console Lounge and Team V)

• Prizes: £250 cash
• 5 x iiyama ProLite E2003WSV...the official monitors of MatchBox360 XL!
• 15 x Xbox 360 Enemy Territories: Quake Wars (Activision)
• £250 cash
• Forum: http://community.matchbox360.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=126
• Registration: http://community.matchbox360.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6608

NETGEAR Halo 3 4v4:

• Prizes: £700 cash
• Forum: http://community.matchbox360.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=124
• Registration: http://community.matchbox360.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6577

Gears of War 4v4:

• Prizes: 8 x Xbox 360 Gears of War 2
• Forum: http://community.matchbox360.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=125
• Registration: http://community.matchbox360.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6488

The “MatchBox360 £3000 Online Summer Series” tournaments are now open for registration and will take place throughout June to August with the first tournament starting on Sunday 15th June...so what are you waiting for, get your teams registered now!!!

More of your favourite Xbox 360 titles including Guitar Hero III and Race Driver: GRID will be added to the online tournament line-up over the next few weeks. For more information on all the tournaments available, please visit the MatchBox360 online tournament forums:

http://community.matchbox360.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=27

We look forward to meeting you online and at MatchBox360 XL on 25-27th July!

Axe Shredders hit road with Nintendo DS Guitar Hero - On Tour bundle

First Portable Edition in the Guitar Hero Franchise Lets Players Unleash Their Inner Rock Star Anytime, Anywhere

Most musicians dream of one day reaching platinum success. A new Nintendo DS™ bundle lets aspiring axe shredders claim that coveted status right from day one. The new Silver/Black Nintendo DS branded with the Guitar Hero® logo will be available exclusively as part of a limited-time bundle with Guitar Hero®: On Tour. For the first time, this smash-hit franchise is playable on a portable video game system using the revolutionary Guitar Hero™ Guitar Grip™ peripheral and fully tapping into the distinctive abilities of the Nintendo DS hardware.

Available on June 22, 2008, at North American retailers nationwide, the bundle provides a cool combo package for grads about to head off to college as well as summertime, road-tripping rockers of all ages.

"This one-of-a-kind bundle makes Nintendo DS even more appealing to our ever-growing audience of players," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Like Nintendo DS itself, the Guitar Hero franchise has attracted millions of new players to the world of video games."

"We are thrilled to be the first third-party publisher to partner with Nintendo on this unique offering," said Dusty Welch, Head of Publishing for RedOctane. "With the Guitar Hero-branded Nintendo DS and our Guitar Hero: On Tour game and peripheral, this amazing bundle delivers gamers a complete Guitar Hero experience they can enjoy anytime, anywhere."

Using the revolutionary Guitar Hero Guitar Grip peripheral and a custom-designed Guitar Hero pick-stylus, Guitar Hero: On Tour leverages the unique abilities of Nintendo DS to bring a new dimension to hand-held gaming. Featuring a wide variety of music, including tracks from blink-182, No Doubt, Jet, Nirvana, Bloc Party and many others, players can rock out in career mode, join together in co-op or go head-to-head in a "Guitar Duel" using Battle Items unique to the DS platform.

Troll Bashing, Unicorn Slaying Minions back on The Attack In Overlord Raising Hell

Sheep-worrying trailer of PLAYSTATION 3
system special edition unveiled here

A devilishly delicious trailer of the summer's must-play for megalomaniacs, Codemasters revealed an all-new trailer video for Overlord Raising Hell, the extra evil edition of Triumph Studios' twisted fantasy blockbuster, coming June 20th† exclusively for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.



In the video, now available from www.codemasters.com/overlordraisinghell, unicorn slaying, troll baiting and sheep worrying is all on the agenda as the Overlord, ably assisted by his loyal band of demented minion warriors, lays waste to all he surveys. Perfect for anyone who ever wanted to grow up to be an evil, despotic tyrant, Overlord Raising Hell will take players on a seriously warped fantasy adventure that's packed with dark humour and loaded with smart satire on established RPG convention and cliché.


On a tongue-in-cheek journey of death and destruction where evil is enlightening and tyranny's a treat, Overlord Raising Hell has players venturing deeper into the world than ever before. In a series of hellish new levels, each a supernatural abyss, the undead denizens are on the attack. There's only one thing for it: assemble the minions, descend into these kingdoms and embark on a fresh wave of oppression to become the Overlord of the underworld.

With exclusive content and a host of gameplay improvements, Overlord Raising Hell is the Overlord's definitive outing and is set to launch for the PLAYSTATION 3 system on June 20th. Discover why being evil has never been so much fun with the new video and more available online at www.codemasters.com/overlordraisinghell and sign up as part of the Overlord's army on Facebook†† (or the sheep gets it).

Velvet Assassin - Xbox 360 and PC - Fact Sheet

Velvet Assassin

TITLE: Velvet Assassin
PLATFORM: Xbox 360 & PC
DEVELOPER: Replay Studios
GENRE: Stealth-Action
RELEASE DATE: Late 2008

Velvet Assassin is the sumptuous new stealth-action game set to deliver a breath of fresh air into the genre and up the stakes for World War II games. Inspired by the fascinating story and unbreakable spirit of British secret agent Violette Szabo, players take control of Violette Summer, a beautiful spy deep behind enemy lines with no support or official backing from the British Government. Intense stealth-action gameplay with a startling real-time lighting system and surreal visuals combine to produce an incredible gaming experience. Velvet Assassin is set to challenge gamers to win the war from the shadows come late 2008.



VIOLETTE SUMMER

Born in Devon, England, Violette Summer grew up in a happy family and had a great and active childhood. Initially, she started her working life in a beauty salon before the outbreak of war inspired her to move to London and join the weapon industry. It didn’t take too long for her to be noticed by the Secret Services; she was after all strikingly beautiful, athletic and had great attention to detail. It was only a formality that she was recruited into MI6 during Britain’s darkest hours.




As if inspiration was needed during those very bleak days, Violette had lost a close aunt during one of the first Luftwaffe bombing attacks and to further compound her terrible heartache she later lost her cherished RAF husband in battle. However, Violette was extremely strong willed and where many would have lost themselves to misery and mourning, she used these painful experiences to inspire her to succeed as a spy for the MI6.

Come late 2008 players will be able to help Violette Summer in her daring quests behind enemy lines.

Spore Pre-Orders Creature Creator bonus for UK

Good news for those of you waiting to get their hands on Spore’s fully working Creature Creator, which is out on the 17th of June. EA’s UK PR manager, Jonathan Goddard, was at hand to inform us that the cost of the Creature Creator will be taken off the full retail price of the Spore game, due in September.

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16 games, one package....classic! SNK Arcade Classics vol. 1 coming soon to Europe.

SNK PLAYMORE and Ignition Entertainment are pleased to announce the upcoming release of SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 for PlayStation 2, PlayStationPortable and Wii.

Taking 16 of SNKs most beloved titles, this pack includes:

- ART OF FIGHTING – The first fighting game to introduce the then new Spirit Gauge, Super Special Moves, use of the ‘zoom in/zoom out’ function and battle damage to the characters faces.
- BASEBALL STARS 2 – The sequel to the very popular Baseball arcade game.
- BURNING FIGHT – Battle organised crime in the streets of New York in the side-scrolling fighter.
- FATAL FURY – The first of SNK’s fighting franchises to use the NEOGEO MVS System.
- KING OF THE FIGHTERS ’94 – This is where the KOF phenomenon began.
- KING OF THE MONSTERS – Giant monsters, Destruction and mayhem in Japan.
- LAST RESORT – Take on hordes of enemies in the popular futuristic shooter.
- MAGICIAN LORD – SNK’s classic platformer, pits you as the heroic wizard Elta.
- METAL SLUG - this series has long been regarded as the bench mark of side-scrolling purity, now see why!
- NEO TURF MASTERS – Can you get a hole in one?
- SAMURAI SHODOWN – The first title in SNK’s hugely popular weapons based fighter.
- SENGOKU – Fight the undead, in feudal Japan.
- SHOCK TROOPERS – Fast paced action and lots and lots of bullets in this run and gun adventure.
- SUPER SIDEKICKS 3 – We all love football – so does SNK!
- TOP HUNTER – In this futuristic platformer, you play as Roddy or Cathy, as you protect the Colonists from the threat of the Space Pirates.
- WORLD HEROES – Take on the greatest fighters throughout time in this popular fighter.

‘In the Arcade, the addictive quality of these games ensured that the money in your pocket didn’t last long’, says Peter Rollinson, Product Manager, Ignition Entertainment. ‘Now the only difficulty is deciding which game to play first’.

DETECTIVE CONAN on Nintendo Wii

Who is Conan?

The most popular Japan manga comic “CASE CLOSED: ONE TRUTH PREVAILS” was created in 1994. 120 million copies have been sold since!

In 1996 Conan made his television “debut” on famous TV channels like: TF1 in France, Italia 1 in Italy, Cartoon network in Spain …

1997, the first Detective Conan movie is released and is a hit at the box office in Japan!! The latest event: a new Detective Conan movie in April 2008!! What is this new and mysterious investigation about?

Conan is inaugurating the new “Mirapolis” theme park but a series of crimes crashes the party …

In September 2008, Detective Conan fans and young detectives all over the world will enjoy “CASE CLOSED – The Mirapolis investigation” on the Nintendo Wii! This adventure game will thrill kids: visit crime scenes, solve enigmas, find clues, collect evidence, play super fun mini-games (football, Super hero arcade battles, smash the groundhog and more!), and of course catch the bad guy. You will also enjoy game Extra: listen to music with the jukebox, view your ingame picture collection!

Thanks to your Wiimote you are going to be able to solve this investigation using all of Conan’s gadgets (Bow Tie Voice transmitter, solar-powered Skateboard, super sneakers …).

Game features

• Loaded with extras: 6 different mini games, Extra content.
  
• A great storyline!
  
• A title specifically developed for the WII: Visit crime scenes, collect evidence, touch and manipulate objects with you Wii-mote…
  
• The manga universe: Characters, gadgets, The original Japanese manga voices are available.
  

About the game
Genre: Adventure / Investigation
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Publisher: Nobilis
Developer: Marvelous Entertainment Inc.
Release date: September 2008

War Between the States PC Civil War Game Now Available

Fix the bayonets and prepare to charge, this turn-based American Civil War strategy tour-de-force is coming your way!

Gary Grigsby’s War Between the States is now available for purchase! Now gamers can experience the award winning design talent of Gary Grigsby and his team as they take us to the American Civil War in a brand new grand strategy game that is sure to be viewed as a masterpiece of the genre.

The release of this highly anticipated title comes after an in depth promotional video in addition to the release of some strategy sections of the manual and a forum after action report. Altogether, the newly available media will give gamers a clear picture of the engaging and addictive gameplay to come.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “The 2 by 3 Games design team has triumphed once again with this remarkably deep and realistic but also accessible American Civil War title. With so many wargaming classics to their names, it’s no wonder why so many gamers have hotly awaited this release!”

Taking gamers back to the American Civil War, Gary Grigsby’s War Between the States allows players to experience the trials and tribulations of the role of commander-in-chief for either side. Historically accurate, detailed and finely balanced for realistic gameplay, War Between the States is also easy to play and does not take months to finish.

Promote and cultivate talented young colonels or brigadiers to build Corps and Army commanders that will help you fight and manage the war effort from battles to training of recruits with the utmost efficiency and success. An innovative multi-faceted rank promotion system allows leaders to gain in abilities and power based on their successes, while also simulating the historical progression of leaders during the war. Each decision you make must be weighed carefully, as promoting and demoting leaders, entering neutral states, raising troops and many other actions cost you the political capital that will determine your ability to achieve victory.


Explore the historical tactics of the day to find the best way to win. Use cavalry to raid the enemy supply depots and conduct reconnaissance to determine the best place to strike and then engage the enemy head on and watch the epic push and pull of battle unfold in front of you. In between battles, the mighty Union navy or brave Confederate raiders can strangle and disrupt supply flow at critical times in your campaign. Build river gunboats and transports to exploit the strategic value of the Mississippi and entrench and fortify key locations to deny passage to the enemy.

Test your mettle and strategic vision in one of the most bitterly fought contests in history – the War Between the States.

MidEast Crisis 2 - Help Wanted and Beta Testing Open

MidEast Crisis 2 has released two more screenshots, showing the IDF and GOI bases in action. The mod team have also released a new map called Mount Temple that is a four player map. Further information can be found at the MidEast Crisis 2 news forums.

MidEast Crisis 2 needs Beta Testers. To help test the mod (and get a sneak peak) head to the official application page.



Lastly, MidEast Crisis 2 is also looking for voice actors. More information can be found at the official ME2 forums.

Fireteam Reloaded PC game Free download available

Multiplayer Online Game from Pixel Mine is a “Quick Fix” featuring Intense Battlefield Action.

Fireteam Reloaded, a team-based, multiplayer action game for the PC, is now available as a free download at www.pixelminegames.com. Developed by Pixel Mine, Fireteam Reloaded combines fast-paced sports action with intense battlefield combat while using integrated voice communication. Fireteam Reloaded is the third game to utilize the Pixel Mine Store for its micro-payment technology.

“The original Fireteam was a groundbreaking and inspirational game – and as its spiritual successor, Fireteam Reloaded aims to deliver even more fun, great characters and non-stop action to the gaming community that everyone can enjoy for free,” said David Reese, President of Pixel Mine.

The initial download of Fireteam Reloaded includes two maps, three character classes, four gameplay modes and state of the art voice chat technology, that lets players easily communicate with one another to formulate strategy and taunt their opponents. Fireteam Reloaded also features a spectator mode that lets enthusiastic fans cheer or jeer from above and even drop items into the game from their spectator viewing platform.

Fireteam Reloaded enjoyed huge success during its open beta with thousands of players establishing accounts, and comments claiming “Lots of fun to play” and “Addictive.”

Each match of Fireteam Reloaded provides ten minutes of non-stop action. According to Bill Money, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Pixel Mine, “The gameplay appeals to a massive audience of casual gamers who are looking for a quick adrenaline fix. Hardcore gamers will also find the intense action to be exhilarating and perfect for a much-needed midday shooting break.”

New content for Fireteam Reloaded, such as maps, character classes and items, will be made available through the Pixel Mine store using their secure micro-payment transaction system. Located at www.pixelminegames.com, this one-stop-shop lets gamers browse and purchase Pixel Mine games, check out stats, chat with friends, manage their account and billing, read the latest news, and more.

A Military Discount of 20% off of all Fireteam Reloaded items in the store will be applied toward accounts that use a “.mil” email address. Also, players accessing the game from an iGames Partner LAN Center will receive the basic game unlock for free. A list of participating LAN centers can be found at http://www.igames.org/Events.asp?Event=8158.