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Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Everquest II with 'Gathering Tempest' game update


WHAT:
In “Gathering Tempest”, EverQuest II’s game update No46, players will experience an exciting live event, introduction of a new zone and a plethora of new content for both current and returning players of all levels.

The Void Storms Part 1: The Invasion
This live event runs through the middle of July, and gives players the opportunity to join in the investigation to explore the electrifying mysteries surrounding the wild energy storms appearing in Norrath. “The Void Storms Part 1: The Invasion” is one of the many scheduled live events and expansion pack themed content releasing this summer as part of the Living Legacy program. This live event is open to players of all levels and through their participation everyone can obtain a reward.

Heroic Runnyeye Zone Introduced
Players will be able to recapture the magic with a brand new experience in Heroic Runnyeye as it is introduced to the game with unique loot and exciting adventures. A worthy demonstration of the dedication and advancement of the EQII world.

Adventuring Updates
Adventuring in eighteen group instances such as Chelsith, Shard of Fear and Estate of Unrest will now yield status points when the bosses are killed!



For more details log onto www.eq2players.com

WHEN: Game Update No46 is live.

WHERE: www.everquest2.com
Art assets are available for download at www.soepress.com

Escape the Museum for Nintendo Wii

Escape the Museum for Wii. Based on the popular online hunt and find game from Gogii Games, Escape the Museum is being developed by Majesco Studios and will be available in retail outlets this holiday for only $19.99.
"Although an incredibly successful PC genre, the hunt and find adventure category has yet to be introduced on Wii," said Liz Buckley, Director of Marketing, Majesco. "Escape the Museum's online success coupled with category opportunity and an attractive price point make this an ideal title to bring to market."
In Escape the Museum, a devastating earthquake has rocked the foundations of the National Museum of History and players must help Susan Anderson, who was knocked unconscious by falling debris while searching the museum for survivors, escape from the crumbling building to the safety outside. Thwarted by doors blocked with rubble and tripped alarm systems, players wander through the museum's maze of 12 different hunt and find areas and 25 action-packed adventure scenes, using the Wii Remote to uncover hidden exits and save priceless archaeological artifacts. Along the way, players will solve puzzles, consult a map and access hints to help them inch closer to freedom and a joyful reunion with Susan's lost daughter, Caitlin.

Escape the Museum for Wii is expected to release this holiday for $19.99.

Overlord Raising Hell - Big Fights - video released


Zombies, giants and reapers line up for one hell of a beating as epic bosses and battles video opens at www.codemasters.com/overlordraisinghell

Brace yourself for epic battles and badass bosses as Codemasters today revealed the latest video for Overlord - Raising Hell, the extra evil special edition of Triumph Studios’ twisted fantasy blockbuster. The video, now available from www.codemasters.com/overlordraisinghell, takes gamers up-close-and-personal with the title’s unique selection of fearsome foes and abominable adversaries.

Prepare to make mincemeat of Melvin Underbelly, the morbidly obese glutton who, wielding a giant fork as a weapon, is unwisely swinging his weight around the Overlord’s kingdom. Give Goldo Golderson a hangover to remember in an alcohol-fuelled confrontation with the boozy dwarf who rides into battle astride a gargantuan steamroller. The chaos continues as a sultry succubus, scythe-swiping reapers, lurching-zombies and many more hysterical hostiles line up to take on the Overlord.
With some of the most fearsome and outrageous enemies in fantasy gaming queuing up to knock the Overlord from his throne, it’s fortunate that a loyal, lunatic minion army is ever-eager for action. This band of belligerent bruisers is always at the Overlord’s beck and call, ready and willing to hurl themselves into battle with kamikaze commitment.

Overlord Raising Hell is the Overlord’s definitive outing and launches this Friday, 20th June, across Europe for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system; the title is set to ship to U.S. retail on June 24th. Unleash you inner despot and ready the minions for battle with the new video and more available online available online at www.codemasters.com/overlordraisinghell.

Velvet Assassin - Fact Sheet - The weapons

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.



TOPLINE WEAPON OVERVIEW

Colt:
The Colt, or M1911, is a .45 calibre, single action, semi-automatic handgun, which was the standard-issue handgun in the combat arm of the United States Armed Forces from 1911 to 1985. The design is described as one of the most effective and reliable in the history of firearms, having a service life of over 70 years. A lot of the mechanisms used in the original Colt 45 are still used in standard issue handguns worldwide to date.


G-43 Rifle:
The Gewehr 43 is a semi-automatic German rifle used during WW2. It followed many earlier less successful designs but became popular due to its weight, reliability and its ability to be mass produced. It was given to German Army units that were in more advanced positions and was used as a Sniper Rifle due to its accuracy. It could not be fitted with a bayonet, so in close combat it was less successful.


Luger:
The Luger P. 08 is a 9mm recoil action, semi-automatic pistol, which was the standard-issue pistol for the German Armed forces from 1908 to 1938, although was still primarily used by Officers as their standard side-arm throughout WW2. It was a much coveted prize if it was found by the Allied Forces and was often traded between themselves for cigarettes and other rations.



Luger Carbine:
The Luger Carbine or ‘Zie Lange Pistole 08’ is a 9mm recoil action, long barrelled pistol which could be turned in to a rifle with a 32 round drum magazine (like the American Tommy guns made famous by Al Capone). This dual purpose weapon proved popular during ‘Blitz Krieg’ with the fast moving SS troops needing less weight to carry so having two guns in one was a great advantage.

MG-42:
The MG-42 (shortened from German: Maschinengewehr 42, or "Machine Gun 42") is a machine gun that was developed for, and entered service with, Nazi Germany in 1942, during World War II. The machine gun was a huge contributor to Allied casualties and the MG-42 was made infamous to its durability, reliability, simplicity to operate and the ease in which it could be moved and reloaded.


MP-40:
The MP40 (Maschinenpistole 40, literally "Machine Pistol 40") is a submachine gun developed in Germany and used extensively by paratroopers and platoon and squad leaders during World War II. The MP40 had a relatively low rate of fire and low recoil, which made it more manageable than other contemporary submachine guns. As it is a machine pistol the user had the ability to hold it in one hand and fire either while parachuting or in close combat so didn’t have to fully expose them and risk being shot.




Shotgun:
The Shotgun was manufactured by all sides during WW2, but was not frequently used in regular combat. It was used by the army to guard Prisoner of War camps, but proved very popular with the underground Militia forces throughout France and Belgium. It was an easy weapon to use accurately due to the ammunition spread, especially with little combat training like that of most Guerilla forces.

STG-44:
The StG44 (Sturmgewehr 44 or "Assault rifle model 1944") was an assault rifle developed in Nazi Germany during WW2 and was the first of its kind to see major deployment. It was named for propaganda reasons by Adolf Hitler himself and literally means ‘Storm Rifle’, intended to be used to storm Allied positions. It was first deployed on the Eastern Front against Russia and was very effective in long range confrontation with the enemy and more useful in close quarter combat as it had the capability to be fitted with a bayonet or provide cover fire to help the advancing troops.


Flamethrower:
The Flamethrower was a handheld or vehicle mounted weapon that consisted of three tanks, two filled with a flammable liquid and one with a pressurised gas (usually nitrogen) and a small reservoir where it’s then passed over an incendiary device before being pushed through the gun. A primitive form of the flamethrower was used by the Byzantine Empire in Greece around 673 A.D. It was fitted aboard ships and used to set other ships and rigging alight. During WW2 troops carrying Flamethrowers were to a distinct disadvantage as their movement was impaired due to the tank strapped to their back and were a target for enemy snipers. It is rumored that if these troops were captured they would be executed rather than taken prisoner due to the graphic nature of their victims’ death. It was a particularly dangerous job and was known to be given to troops caught breaking rules or disrespecting officers.

Grenade:
The word Grenade is derived from the French word for Pomegranate as it was a similar size and the shrapnel reminded troops of the seeds from the fruit. It was primarily used to attack enemy positions such as bunkers or pillboxes; it was also used as an anti-personnel weapon to move the enemy from their positions making it easier to confront them with regular weapons.

Velvet Assassin will be available across Europe from late 2008.

ChartTrack Weekly Games Charts

All formats

Week ending 14 June 2008

1 METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS KONAMI
2 LEGO INDIANA JONES: ORIGINAL ADVENTURES LUCASARTS
3 GRAND THEFT AUTO IV ROCKSTAR
4 MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES SEGA
5 DR KAWASHIMA'S BRAIN TRAINING NINTENDO
6 RACE DRIVER: GRID CODEMASTERS
7 WII PLAY NINTENDO
8 SPORTS ISLAND HUDSON
9 SID MEIER'S CIVILIZATION REVOLUTION 2K GAMES
10 WII FIT NINTENDO
11 PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2008 KONAMI
12 FIFA 08 EA SPORTS
13 GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK REDOCTANE
14 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION
15 NINJA GAIDEN II MICROSOFT
16 MARIO KART WII NINTENDO
17 CARNIVAL: FUNFAIR GAMES 2KPLAY
18 UEFA EURO 2008 AUSTRIA-SWITZERLAND EA SPORTS
19 GAME PARTY MIDWAY
20 DRAGON BALL Z: BURST LIMIT NAMCO BANDAI GAMES

TheSimsCarnival.com - Create-your-own-games portal enters open beta.


TheSimsCarnival.com is now in Open Beta and available online at http://www.TheSimsCarnival.com with added content, features and new game creation options. This games destination website has hundreds of games of all kinds and creators are adding more everyday. There is bound to be a game that you love -- and if not, you can make it! Since its inception in February, 2008, TheSimsCarnival.com has built an active online community where nearly 1 in 4 visitors during Closed Beta have created and published their own games. The tools provided at the site empower players to become game creators at any programming skill level, from novice to Flash developers.


Play
With hundreds of unique and cool games to play, there is a game for everybody -- you won’t find this selection of games anywhere else. Making games is so easy at TheSimsCarnival.com, so you will see new and unique games and experiences to enjoy everyday. Come and check them out!

Create

Three tools -- The Wizard, The Swapper and The Game Creator -- are your assistants in game design. The Wizard leads you through the process of creating a game step-by-step with intuitive and fun options designed to help you make the coolest game. The Swapper let’s you customize existing games – or newly made games from The Wizard - with your own selection of images, so personalizing a game is at your fingertips. With The Game Creator, and it’s easy to use library of images, animations and sounds, everyone can create cool games.

You can also upload games created in Adobe® Flash® that can be viewed, played and shared with TheSimsCarnival.com community. Flash developers interested in uploading their games to the site should go to http://wwww.TheSimsCarnival.com/portal/upload/flashgame and follow the instructions to get your game up. Flash developers will be able to retain branding and links back to their developer site, providing another way to get exposure and traffic for their games. Those interested in learning more about our programs specifically targeted for Flash developers should send an email to SimLeaderAlpha@ea.com.



Share
At TheSimsCarnival.com, create playlists of your favorite games so you can stitch together all your favorite games into one experience, send a game by email or embed a game on social networking sites or on your personal blog. Games are now truly a social experience and one that can be shared and enjoyed by others.

Visit TheSimsCarnival.com today to play, create and share games of all kinds!

Microsoft brings the Rock Band experience to Facebook


myRockBand launch adds weight to campaign highlighting the exclusivity of the videogame Rock Band this summer on Xbox 360

Microsoft launches a new Facebook application – myRockBand - to support the ‘Xbox 360 presents Rock Band Live’ campaign. The summer long series of promotional events in the U.K., France and Germany celebrates the exclusive availability of the videogame Rock Band on the Xbox 360 console.

The myRockBand application, developed by digitaloutlook, mirrors those aspects of the videogame that make Rock Band such fun. Rock Band on Xbox 360 brings friends and family together and challenges players to tour for fame and fortune by mastering lead guitar, bass, drums and vocals. On downloading the application, Facebook members create their ultimate band choosing the name, their position and, from the friends list, band mates. Their friends can interact with the application and, just like a bonafide band, fans can action ‘scream “you rock”’, ‘fling your knickers’, ‘show them rock horns’ and ‘crowd surf.‘ The critics amongst them can ‘boo the band’ or ‘put your fingers in your ears.’
Wannabe band members can also audition to join the band, challenging any band member for their position. This action launches a flash game that sets off a sequence of notes that have to be memorised and replicated by the player. If their score is higher than the original band member they will assume pride of place in the band. Every action is reported in the newsfeed of the community’s home page.


“Want to immortalise your rocker moment? Then join myRockBand on Facebook to share in our real-world Xbox 360 Presents Rock Band Live events and loads of music stuff! It’s your Rock Band destination to share, explore and invite your girlfriend or mates – it’s just like the videogame but even better,” explains Stephen McGill, Head of Gaming & Entertainment, Entertainment & Devices Division, UK.
Xbox 360 Presents Rock Band events will be held in a number of different locations in the UK, France and Germany. Fans will have the opportunity to perform songs from a variety of artists including David Bowie, The Clash, Jet, Garbage and Radiohead. Performances will be filmed with the best being loaded onto Xbox.com/rockband. Winners will be chosen by MTV and celebrity judges Maximo Park and will be treated to a week-long VIP trip to Ibiza.


Direct link to application: http://apps.facebook.com/rockbanduk/

Video games raise student math scores

Based on research conducted by the University of Central Florida (UCF), immersive educational video games can improve students' math skills and comprehension and raise scores on district-wide benchmark exams.

read more | digg story

Premiere of the worldwide reveal trailer for Call of Duty - World at War


Watch the premiere of the worldwide reveal trailer for Call of Duty - World at War only on Xbox LIVE Marketplace June 21 - June 22.
“The next Call of Duty revealed! Watch the premiere of the worldwide reveal trailer for Call of Duty - World at War only on Xbox LIVE Marketplace June 21-June 22.
Call of Duty - World at War redefines WWII, challenging players to survive the most harrowing and climactic battles of the Pacific and European theatres.”

All Girl Arcade to Reinvent Gaming for Girls


New gaming network and upcoming MMOG hopes to be a much-needed haven for female gamers

At last, young females have a dedicated gaming site to call their own. With the goal of changing the face of online entertainment for girls, Fuel Industries has developed a revolutionary gaming portal which will empower young girls to create a stronger presence for themselves in videogame culture. Dubbed AllGirlArcade.com, the site includes a host of features, including a collection of casual games, user memberships, a point and rewards system, console and handheld reviews, an online mall, and the ability to play cooperatively with other girls. An MMOG is to be released in the fall of this year. The site will also feature articles and interviews with females in the game development industry, to help create awareness and inspire young girls who may have an interest in pursuing a career in the gaming business.



Based around the intergalactic antics of three outgoing videogame champions, The All Girl Star Squad, the site invites visitors into a world filled with hilarious and unique characters. The story revolves around Mika, Jessie, and Yuki, Earth gaming celebrities, caught up in an intergalactic struggle between a group of wacky aliens and a Fire queen best on universal rule. Playing out over a series of animated webisodes, the story is the inspiration for the first series of web games available on the portal. The MMOG will be built around the universe and will feature characters and locations from the story. Third party games will also be hosted on the site in order to create a truly exceptional gaming experience for young females.



With its trophy and gem systems, AllGirlArcade.com promotes healthy competition in a safe environment online where parents are able to monitor their children’s activities and interactions. Aiming to expand the All Girl Start Squad into a 360 degree entertainment property, including television, movie and toy branches, Fuel Industries has placed some of the most impressive talent in the industry on creating a unique portal that will excite young visitors, and prove that it’s time for the boys to move over, because this Arcade is Girls Only.

Key Facts

• All Girl Arcade is a created specifically with females between 8 and 10 in mind.

• The portal features empowered female heroines who will be the focal points in the intergalactic adventures in cross-media environments, including an online MMOG in the fall.


• Site includes online games, cross-platform game reviews, user accounts, and gems which users can spend on additional content and merchandise.

• All Girl Arcade brings a powerful new female presence to the online gaming world. Female characters are strong, independent and positive role models for young girls.

• Fuel Industries intends to expand the characters from All Girl Arcade into a cross-media venture, involving movies, merchandise and television, beginning with webisodes featured on the site—a true 360 degree entertainment property.