Free Halo downloads today - it's Bungie Day

Bungie celebrates fans and rewards players with a new free multiplayer map, gamer pics, dashboard theme, and Legendary Map Pack price drop.



Bungie is celebrating this day with the release of new multiplayer map Cold Storage, as well as new gamer pics and a Bungie Day Xbox 360 dashboard theme, all for free on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The “Halo 3” Legendary Map Pack will also drop in price to 600 Microsoft points in honor of the occasion.



The tradition of Bungie Day was born in part due to the significance the number 7 has played in all of Bungie’s games over the years, including the “Halo” series (7 Halo rings, Master Chief is Spartan 117, etc.), and each year the developer makes a point to use this date to treat fans to something special – usually new content, a free download or other surprise.



This year marks the best “Bungie Day” yet, as eight million plus “Halo 3” players can now download Cold Storage, a free new multiplayer map inspired by the original map Chill Out found in “Halo: Combat Evolved.” The Cold Storage facility was once a vibrant, active research center on Installation 05. An accidental contamination resulted in an unforeseen outbreak, which compromised the Forerunner center. Now, emptied and silent, watched only by a local caretaker, the abandoned structure serves as a reminder of how something as powerful as science is ultimately beholden to nature.



In addition to the new map, players will be able to download 7 exclusive new gamerpics and a Bungie Day dashboard theme for free on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Fans will need to be sure they download these on 7/7, because they will be available for one day only.



For additional details on Bungie day, be sure to visit www.bungie.net.

My Baby - Boy or Girl on Nintendo DS

Baby lifesim game “My Baby”, recently released in France in two versions “My Baby Boy” and “My Baby Girl”, has just topped the French charts. My Baby ranked N°1 on Nintendo DSFrench market week 26. The Game has just been released in Spain, Benelux, Italy, and Portugal where the same level of performance is expected.

“Beyond the smart and audacious marketing choices we’ve made, these exciting performances are mainly due to the cutting edge gameplay experience we wanted to provide gamers with. Whereas a lot of competitors provide just mini game compilations involving babies we decided to go for an ambitious gameplay experience based on a never seen before interaction with a digital baby. The result is just impressive whether you belong to the target audience or not. The actual reward for the team is to discover each day new forums with players exchanging tips about the game. This is the sign that with My Baby we have placed casual Gaming where it should be now: mainstream but deep, valuable and impressive!” Declares Sébastien Chirpaz, Publishing Marketing Director for Nobilis.

He adds “We are now working hard on preparing the UK, Germany and US launches… All the lights are green in order to make My Baby one of the new big things on the DS in Q3/Q4 2008”.

Battlefield Heroes to launch as free download this summer

Legend of Mir 3
For millions of East Asians, online gaming is not so much a hobby as a way of life. ‘Massively multiplayer’ online games such as ‘Legend of Mir 3’ and ‘MapleStory’ have legions of devoted fans who spend an alarming proportion of their waking hours sitting in front of their PCs, at home or in internet cafes, doing battle with elves, wizards and mythological beasts. Some players take their parallel gaming lives very seriously: one man murdered a friend in a dispute over a stolen virtual sword.

Maple Story

Many of these games rely on a business model that is different from the way the video-games industry works in the West. Rather than selling games as shrink-wrapped retail products which can then be played on a PC or games console, the Asian industry often gives away the software as a free download and lets users play for nothing. Revenue comes instead from small payments made by more avid players to buy extras for their in-game characters, from weapons to haircuts. In this way, a minority of paying customers subsidise the game for everyone else.

Now this model is being applied outside Asia. Electronic Arts (EA), a giant American video-games publisher, is preparing to release ‘Battlefield Heroes’, an online combat game with a slapstick sense of humour. It will be a free download but will, the company hopes, make money from both in-game advertising and the sale of character upgrades. Sean Decker of DICE, the EA subsidiary responsible for the game, says the game’s website is already attracting 60,000 visits per day, which bodes well for its launch later this summer.

PlayFirst, a publisher of ‘casual’ games based in San Francisco, is already making a success of the micropayment model. ‘Diner Dash: Hometown Hero’, a game that involves running a chain of restaurants, allows players to buy extra levels, clothing and decorations online. John Welch, PlayFirst’s boss, says sales of such items now account for 10% of the company’s revenue.

Micropayments are already proving successful in the field of social networking, notes Piers Harding-Rolls of Screen Digest, a consultancy. He points out that Habbo-a self-styled ‘hangout for teens’ that takes the form of a virtual hotel, and operates in 31 countries—generates the lion’s share of its revenue ($66 million last year) from sales of virtual clothing, furniture and accessories.

For games, the Asian model has many benefits. It lowers the barrier to entry for new players by allowing people to play games without having to pay anything. And since the game’s software is usually given away, there is no need to worry about piracy—indeed, the more a game is copied and passed around, the better. Given the huge cost of developing the most advanced video games, however, the new model seems unlikely to push aside the traditional model of selling games on disc (or as paid downloads) any time soon. But as gaming reaches out to new audiences, there may be more scope for new business models based on advertising and micropayments.

Source: Financial Express

Rock Band 2 to include EVERY SONG from Rock Band 1 free Download

Says IGN 360 editor Nate Ahern: "If you bought Rock Band 1 then chances are you'll feel cheated by the release of RB2. Immediately upon purchasing Rock Band 2 you'll have the ability to download a huge library of songs, as well as all of the songs off of the original disc as a free download."

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Free Halo downloads on Xbox 360 July 7 only get your free download

While the gaming world awaits the November release of Epic Games' "Gears of War 2," Xbox 360 gamers can get some extra bang for that copy of "Halo 3" that's sitting around. And it's free. On Monday, July 7, developer Bungie is celebrating "Bungie Day." This year, Bungie is celebrating this day with the release of new multiplayer map Cold Storage, as well as new gamer pics and a Bungie Day Xbox 360 dashboard theme, all for free on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The “Halo 3” Legendary Map Pack will also drop in price to 600 Microsoft points in honor of the occasion.



The tradition of Bungie Day was born in part due to the significance the number 7 has played in all of Bungie’s games over the years, including the “Halo” series (7 Halo rings, Master Chief is Spartan 117, etc.), and each year the developer makes a point to use this date to treat fans to something special – usually new content, a free download or other surprise.



This year marks the best “Bungie Day” yet, as eight million plus “Halo 3” players can now download Cold Storage, a free new multiplayer map inspired by the original map Chill Out found in “Halo: Combat Evolved.” The Cold Storage facility was once a vibrant, active research center on Installation 05. An accidental contamination resulted in an unforeseen outbreak, which compromised the Forerunner center. Now, emptied and silent, watched only by a local caretaker, the abandoned structure serves as a reminder of how something as powerful as science is ultimately beholden to nature.

In addition to the new map, players will be able to download 7 exclusive new gamerpics and a Bungie Day dashboard theme for free on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Fans will need to be sure they download these on 7/7, because they will be available for one day only.

More than half of Japanese Gamers quit Wii Fit

Rather than a game, Wii Fit is more comparable to an exercise program. More specifically, it’s something that most people would consider playing in short bursts each day. A recent poll, however, shows that close to two-thirds of Japanese gamers are already giving up on the product. ITMedia in Japan took poll data from 1000 gamers and a. . .

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LEGO Batman - The Videogame, Poison Ivy

POISON IVY

REAL NAME: Pamela Isley
OCCUPATION: Professional Criminal
BASE OF OPERATIONS: Gotham City
EYES: Green
HAIR: Chestnut

Pamela Isley, immune to all toxins, became Poison Ivy to fight humanity on behalf of her beloved plants. Both devilishly evil and incredibly seductive, Poison Ivy can lure most men to do her bidding. Ivy tries to keep Batman off balance, alternating between deadly force and seduction. For his part, Batman is seldom thrown by Ivy's tactics, his rigid training enabling him to keep focused on goals. Still, he respects her power and never underestimates her resourcefulness.

Attributes:

• Mastery over plant-life
  
• Exudes natural pheromones that enable her to exert control over victims
  
• Secrets deadly toxin
  
• Driven by desire to rid the world of humanity and make it safe for plant-life
  
• Relies on natural talent for seduction to undermine opponents
  
• Powers and Abilities:
  
• In LEGO Batman: The Videogame, Poison Ivy has the special ability to throw seeds where there are specific plant pots within the levels. Plants will grow out of these pots to create platforms. Poison Ivy also has the ability blows love dust to security guards who then grant her access.
  

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Mario’s Worst Nightmares Are Now in Spore [PICS]

Spore’s population of creatures continues to steadily rise since the game’s Creature Creator was released just a few weeks ago. We’ve already taken a look at how freaky Pokemon invaded Spore. But today it’s all about Mario. From badass Bowsers to busted Bob-ombs, check out the most awesome and awful clones of Mario’s most memorable foes

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THQ Announces World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars Triple H and Shawn Michaels on the WWE Smackdown v Raw 2009

THQ Inc. and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. today announced that World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars Triple H and Shawn Michaels will be featured on the cover of WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009. The accolade marks an unprecedented fifth time that fan-favorite Triple H has appeared on a cover for the leading fighting videogame franchise, while storied veteran Michaels will make his cover debut.

“Triple H and Shawn Michaels have made headlines over the years when they unite as the infamous ‘D-Generation X’ tag team in WWE programming,” said Cory Ledesma, senior creative manager, THQ. “We selected them for the cover as a means to celebrate the unprecedented level of tag team functionality we will deliver in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009. Our tag team matches will allow players to experience the true task of working together, and our new Road to WrestleMania Mode will feature the franchise's first co-op tag team storyline."

About WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 upholds the franchise’s commitment to delivering the definitive videogame simulation of live WWE programming. The Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, PlayStation 2 system and PSP system versions of the game will unleash a brand new tag team experience, allowing players to build momentum and attributes, eliminate opponents with high impact double teams and finishers, as well as get the “hot tag” for the win. The franchise’s renowned creation system offers a brand new Create-A-Finisher option, while a new Road to WrestleMania Mode paves the way to WWE’s biggest event of the year and lets players experience co-op storylines for the first time. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 also extends the virtual WWE gameplay experience with robust online capabilities, including the highly anticipated debut of downloadable content.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 for Wii builds upon its inaugural offering by significantly expanding its match type options, giving players more ways to enjoy the platform’s unique pick-up-and-play experience. The game also takes full combat sports entertainment to the next level by giving players more Superstar control with interactive entrances and victory scenes. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 for Wii will also include a wide variety of new weapons, the debut of online gameplay and much more.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 for Nintendo DS returns with new gameplay controls that utilize the stylus and D-pad to deliver a compelling handheld fighting game experience. The redesigned Season Mode takes a role-playing approach, allowing players to interact with Superstars, upgrade their abilities and complete missions on a quest toward legendary goals. In addition, a larger Superstar roster, new match types and the inclusion of Create-A-Superstar will provide players with a variety of intriguing options to enhance gameplay.

More information about WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 can be found at www.smackdownvsraw.com and www.thq.com.

Open Beta of Stone Age 2 Ready for North American Release

Aeria Games is proud to announce the open beta of the highly anticipated free-2-play massive-multiplayer RPG, Stone Age 2.

Set in the prehistoric ages, Stone Age 2 brings a mixture of dinosaurs of unimaginable heights and invisible spirits who help humans roam altered terrains such as dungeons and arid desserts.

Catch cute dinosaur pals and raise them to be battle masters and fight primeval threats alongside friendly allies. Duel against other players and creatures by building up your team with a combination of over 200 dinosaur species – each with unique personalities and special abilities. Enter your dinosaur pals into battle tournaments or just ride them around town.

For a limited time, new players will have the ability to snatch up the following items, absolutely free, just for checking out the wonderful world of Stone Age 2.

• One Small Shell Axe - Arm yourself for adventure with this free weapon that'll see you through many days of hard fighting!

• Ten Fruit of Perception - Each Fruit of Perception doubles the Experience you receive from battles for two hours - what a sweet snack!

• Five Wizard's Feed Soups - Each cup of this mystical broth raises the Loyalty and Mood of one Pal straight to 100! Perfect for quickly turning a wild Pal into a trusted companion!

• Five Dinosaur Cookies - Because dinosaurs ate cookies too; it's just that none of them fossilized so we have no record. You might want to try one of these when your endurance is low.

• One Fresh Milk - because cookies with no milk would simply be ... barbarian of us.

One addition to open beta is a new tournament structure that will be available for all weight classes and they will run 24 hours a day seven days a week and feature instant prize distribution after each tournament has been completed.

For more information on closed beta for Stone Age 2, please visit http://stoneage2.aeriagames.com.