Game Party 2 and Touchmaster 2 on Nintendo Wii announced

Sequels to Popular Casual Hits Scheduled To Ship This Fall.

Sequels to two of Midway’s top-selling casual games for Wii and Nintendo DS. Game Party 2 for Wii, the sequel to Midway’s top-selling Game Party which has shipped more than one million units worldwide to date, includes returning favorites from the original and five all-new fun filled family games. TouchMaster 2, for the Nintendo DS, offers a collection of 20 new addictively fun and exciting card, action, strategy, puzzle and picture games. Game Party 2 and TouchMaster 2 are both scheduled to be available this Fall.

“Following the great success of the first installments, Game Party 2 and TouchMaster 2 are guaranteed to provide hours of entertainment, whether alone or in a group, for people of all ages,” said Mona Hamilton, vice president of marketing, Midway Home Entertainment. “Casual game fans enjoyed the intuitive style of the originals, which have now been expanded and enhanced but still maintain that pick-up-and-play feel.”

About Game Party 2

With 11 games in all, Game Party 2 for the Nintendo Wii includes fun to play games that will provide hours of enjoyment with friends and family. Game Party 2 features new games like Bean Bags, Horseshoes, Lawn Darts, Puck Bowling and more. Each game, including classics like Skill Ball, Darts and Hoop Shoot has exciting new features like four player mode, customizable characters and tournament play, making Game Party 2 the ultimate party game for all ages and skill levels.



About TouchMaster 2

The wide variety of highly interactive mini-games that made Midway’s TouchMaster a favorite in bars and arcades across the country returns again with TouchMaster 2 for the Nintendo DS. With 20 new games, including exciting twists on some familiar classics, with new spins on Mahki, Poker and Solitaire, TouchMaster 2 offers addictive fun for gamers of all ages. TouchMaster 2’s new collection includes extremely fun and exciting card, action, strategy, puzzle and picture games. Play a quick round to beat your high-score or find some real competition playing head-to-head against other players. TouchMaster 2, the personal arcade that fits snug in the palm of your hands!

Tour De France Cycling Game download 2008

Experience the historic race first hand with pro cycling manager - tour de france 2008

Cycling’s biggest tournament, the Tour De France, started on July 5th with the world’s best cyclists battling through the 22 day race. Cycling fans can get a unique insight into the epic competition with Pro Cycling Manager – Tour De France 2008. This is the latest version of the popular racing management game for PC and PSP, available now.

Aspiring sports managers must build the best team and implement strategically sound race tactics throughout their own Tour de France, as they mastermind a bid for the prestigious yellow jersey. Players are in charge of every aspect from start to finish, including selecting the best riders and setting training schedules to prepare the team for the arduous race ahead.



Once the tour begins, the team of cyclists has to be guided through the 21 stages and 2000 miles of gruelling competitive racing. Starting in Brest, the stages make up a round trip of France, including races through Nantes, Toulouse and the famous Alpe D’Huez. Cyclists will finish the three week stint with the traditional loop around the historic Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Highly detailed rider models and animations combine for a realistic environment that accurately recreates buildings and tracks, giving players and fans a chance to experience the most famous cycle race in the world.



Watch the trailer here
http://www.cycling-manager.com/pcm2008/trailer_int/

Visit http://www.cycling-manager.com for more information.

Sarah's Emergency Room for Nintendo DS - Nintendo Wii - Xbox Live - PlayStation Network and PC

Forget Bee Stings and Broken Bones – Head to the Hospital for Fun This Summer.

Bringing hospital drama to multiple platforms this summer with Sarah’s Emergency Room. Currently in development for Nintendo DS, Wii, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade and PC platforms, Sarah’s Emergency Room is a time management and hospital simulation game where players take on the role of a young nurse, caring for patients in fast-paced hospital environments. GAMEINVEST is currently looking for qualified distribution and publishing partners for Sarah’s Emergency Room on the various platforms.

“Sarah’s Emergency Room revives the time management genre with fun, challenging levels and a frenetic pace with simulation management skills,” said GAMEINVEST founder and CEO Paulo Gomes. “Our commitment to quality and accessibility shines with beautiful graphics and a pick-up-and-play interface.”

Sarah’s Emergency Room casts players as Sarah, a young nurse who has recently graduated from college in California and is struggling to find a job. In a twist of fate, Sarah is hired for a nursing position at a small hospital in Arkansas, where she discovers that managing an emergency room is a bit harder than she expected. At the hospital, she tends to all patients who walk through the door, diagnosing, taking X-rays, filling prescriptions and assisting in the operating room. Play through the game’s narrative to the exciting conclusion - will Sarah’s career as a nurse be a success?



Using a Wii remote, DS stylus, controller or mouse, players will direct the nurse, Sarah, and the patients, rushing between doctors and exam rooms. When working at larger hospitals, players will see multiple on-screen levels, enabling them to manage different floors, moving players with the elevator. The 3D graphics, seven hospitals, and increasing levels of difficult tasks will challenge time management gamers of all ages.

Capcom's Devil May Cry 4 - Windows version out now

PC Version Features Enhanced Graphics and Technology with Exciting New Modes.

The highly anticipated Games for Windows version of Devil May Cry 4 ships to retail today.



Devil May Cry 4 is already a certifiable hit in the console world, having shipped over 2 million units world wide since its release in North America in February. The Games for Windows version of Devil May Cry 4 will feature new modes, enhanced graphics options and additional content. Devil May Cry 4 has been rated M for Mature by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board and carries a suggested retail price of $39.99.



Good things come to those who wait as Windows-based PC owners will benefit from having more modes and more visual customization options to help enhance their demon-slaying action. Following up on the amazingly popular Windows-based PC demo available for download at major direct-to-download websites, Devil May Cry 4 for Games for Windows has garnered critical praise with the game’s additional graphical prowess and buffed up frame rate. The full version will feature a number of exclusive content for the Windows-based PC including, Turbo Mode, which will turn-up the action to insane speeds, and Legendary Dark Knight Mode, which will harness advanced Windows-based PC processing power and fill the screen with an unbelievable number of enemies for extra difficulty.



Moreover, familiar enemies from the console versions will show-up in new locations in the Games for Windows version. The high resolution screen settings allow the cut scenes of the game to run at up to 120 frames per second (up from 30 frames per second in the console version of the game). Slider options are available to manage various visual effects seen throughout the game. Additionally, Devil May Cry 4 for Games for Windows comes with a Benchmark Test Mode which lets users test their Windows PC. Devil May Cry 4 for Games for Windows will have both DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 modes,




From the producer of the original Devil May Cry and Resident Evil 4 comes the next installment in the hugely successful stylized action series that has so far achieved global sales of nearly seven million units. Devil May Cry 4 immerses gamers in a gothic supernatural world, where a new protagonist clashes with a familiar hero. As the new leading man, Nero, players will unleash incredible attacks and non-stop combos using a unique new gameplay mechanic: the powerful “Devil Bringer” on his right arm.

Zoids Assault on Microsoft Xbox 360 Screenshots

---

---

---

---

Too Human on Microsoft Xbox 360

Exploring Aesir

The Orbital “String” Tower, Bifrost
At the center of Midgard lies Bifrost, the Orbital “String” Tower. The Tower reaches from the surface of the planet to the lowest of orbits, where a complex of space stations resides.



Built as the YMIR were rising to power, this tower is a bridge to the orbital facilities of the Aesir, where precious materials are synthesized in a variety of zero to low gee environments. Orbital monitoring systems are also present, but are radically hindered by the presence of impenetrable cloud cover and the skein of nanotech that the development of Cyberspace brought to the planet. The String connects the territories of Midgard and Asgard, “earth” and “heaven”. The String affords the Aesir the ability to manufacture and refine material free from the interference of the machines.



The Halls of the Aesir

These Halls are the seat of power in the eyes of Humanity. Here they can walk amidst the humans, so their presence is felt and provide assurance. It is here that the Aesir formulate battle plans and regale each other with the tall tales. The building itself is massive, rises many hundreds of stories above ground level and reaching deep into the earth as well. Amongst its many tiers lie armories, vehicle bays, loading docks, research labs, staging areas, barracks, training facilities, arboretums, hospitals and even prisons. The building is self-sufficient enough to maintain the war effort, but it is ultimately reliant upon the Orbital String for stability. Each of the gods has his own personal Hall within this building, to be used as a sort of office, in addition to their true homes that reside atop the Orbital String tower in Asgard.




Cyberspace

Although Cyberspace is present in all parts of the planet, the height of activity is within the walls of Aesir territory. There are more wells within the Halls of the Aesir than anywhere else. This is primarily because its use has fallen only to the Aesir, who use it to gauge the future and enact their battle plans.
There are Wells scattered across the entire world, but most of them are disabled or shut down after centuries of disuse and warfare. Most areas of cyberspace can be travelled to directly from these Halls, so long as the requisite Wells across the globe have been activated.

Keepin' it real fake, the Nintendo Wiimote candy dispenser

This candy dispenser looks "exactly" like a Wiimote, except it fires candy out of the spot where the IR transmitter should be.

Apparently the instructions suggest that you "Do not aim at face," so... it's kind of like the real thing.

read more | digg story

Apple shows renewed commitment to games

Apple has changed its practices and shows signs of committing to supporting games on the Mac.

Apple hadn't done enough to support games in the past, but said that Apple CEO Steve Jobs' keynote speech at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference last year suggests that the company has a renewed focus on games.

"I think historically, Gabe is absolutely right. The Apple guys will probably frown to hear me say that, but I mean there are facts and there are facts, and the fact is, that over the years Apple has shown an interest in gaming and then not followed through on it," id Software's CEO said.

"I do think they have made a significant investment... Jobs had a limited amount of time [at his WWDC 07 keynote]... but... had games on his show; not only did he give time to id, he gave time to EA, and I do think that it demonstrates at least a commitment at a high level to sharing the platform's face, if you will, with games."

"But I mean, it is about the follow up... and I certainly hope they follow through on it, because with the hardware now, you're not having to deal with this weird Power PC architecture; they have Intel chips and all that stuff, and it does make it a whole lot easier for us to work with it," he added.

Do More Than Just Game on Your Microsoft Xbox 360

Once I bought my 360, however, I've been able to get rid of my home theater PC, my DVD player, and even my cable box, so that my entire entertainment system runs through my Xbox 360. It's convergence at its best. The 360 is not perfect by any means, but it's the best multimedia device I've ever used.

read more | digg story

Madden Music Soundtrack available for download

One of the Most Influential Soundtracks in Videogame History Returns with Major Events, Tracks from Busta Rhymes featuring Linkin Park, Disturbed and The Offspring.

Get more here...

Music track listing for Madden NFL 09, set to release August 12, 2008. The new soundtrack features 26 songs from a multi-genre roster of superstar acts and soon-to-breakthrough artists, including Franz Ferdinand, Good Charlotte, Airbourne, From First To Last, The All-American Rejects, Rev Theory, K’Naan, and Kidz In The Hall. Madden NFL, the biggest-selling sports franchise in videogame history, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with a full slate of live music events, tributes and television appearances leading up the game’s street date.

“Madden NFL is the foundation of what we do and sets the standard for every soundtrack we create,” said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing for EA. “Madden NFL revolutionized the industry by making music of multiple genres – from both established acts and brand-new artists – an essential emotional component of the videogame experience and the NFL season itself. This 20th Anniversary Edition soundtrack celebrates that legacy like never before, complete with marketing events that take the excitement to a whole new level. Not only have we changed the gaming culture forever, we continue to move the needle musically for millions of people around the world. Madden NFL will always be recognized as the game that made the music matter in videogames.”

The highlights of the Madden NFL 09 soundtrack include genre-bending collaborations by Busta Rhymes featuring Linkin Park and Young Dre, The Truth featuring Good Charlotte, as well as returning Madden NFL hit makers Franz Ferdinand, Gym Class Heroes (both with pre-album prerelease tracks), All American Rejects, Shinedown, Senses Fail, Disturbed, The Offspring and Airbourne. The soundtrack’s trend of introducing emerging artists continues with 12 new acts that include The Fashion, Kardinal Offishall featuring Lindo P, In Flames, Innerpartysystem, Hollywood Undead, Mindless Self Indulgence, Izza Kizza, Trivium, Kovas and Tyga.



Cross-promotional events leading up to the game’s release include a series of :60 viral videos for tracks featured in the game, a special Madden Music Anniversary tribute issue of Billboard on newsstands July 13th, as well as other marketing partnerships to be announced in the near future. Beginning the week of August 4th, a different Madden NFL 09 soundtrack artist will perform live each night on a popular late night show.

Over the past decade, the Madden NFL soundtrack has launched premier artists that include Good Charlotte, OK GO, Fallout Boy, Franz Ferdinand, Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine, Yellowcard, Dashboard Confessional, Jet, Ozomatli and 30 Seconds To Mars, and featured such superstars as Green Day, Outkast, Foo Fighters, blink-182, Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne, The Hives, Timbaland featuring Justin Timberlake and Sum 41.

The complete in-game soundtrack for Madden NFL 09 features the following 26 songs:

ARTIST - SONG
Airbourne - Stand Up For Rock ‘N Roll
Busta Rhymes feat. Linkin Park - We Made It
Disturbed - Inside The Fire
Franz Ferdinand - Lucid Dreams
From First To Last - Worlds Away
Gym Class Heroes - I’m Home
Hollywood Undead - Undead
In Flames - The Mirror’s Truth
Innerpartysystem - Don’t Stop
Izza Kizza - Millionaire
K’NAAN - ABC’s
Kardinal Offishall feat. Lindo P - Burnt
Kidz In The Hall - Blackout
KOVAS - Wax On, Wax Off
Mindless Self Indulgence - Never Wanted To Dance
Rev Theory - Hey Yeah
Senses Fail - Wolves At The Door
Shinedown - Devour
The All-American Rejects - The Real World (Demo)
The Fashion - Like Knives
The Offspring - Hammerhead
Trivium - Into The Mouth Of…We March
Tyga - Diamond Life
Underoath - Desperate Times, Desperate Measures
Wale feat. Southeast Slim - Breakdown
Young Dre The Truth feat. Good Charlotte - Workin’

Music from the Madden NFL 09 soundtrack is available on EA’s music website at www.ea.com/eatrax.