EIDOS European Release date for Tomb Raider - Underworld

Eidos Interactive, creator of some of the world’s leading videogame properties, today announces the November 21st, 2008 ship date for the highly anticipated, upcoming entry to the illustrious Tomb Raider franchise, Tomb Raider: Underworld, throughout Europe.

Tomb Raider: Underworld will release simultaneously on Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, Wii, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, and PC Games for Windows platforms. With development led by Crystal Dynamics, developers of the recent Tomb Raider blockbusters, Tomb Raider: Legend and Tomb Raider: Anniversary, Tomb Raider: Underworld takes players on an epic adventure, where they will face greater challenges and choices than ever before.

Tomb Raider: Underworld marks the first game in this flagship series that is designed specifically for next generation consoles. Lara Croft uncovers proof of the existence of the mythical hammer of the Norse God Thor, a weapon rumored to have the power to smash mountains into valleys and destroy the Gods themselves.

Setting an epic journey around the globe in motion, Lara visits ancient ruins , collecting clues that lead her to a forgotten power that could lay waste to all civilization. Exploiting the power and capabilities of next generation consoles, Lara must hunt for clues across larger than life environments, seen with exquisite, detailed clarity. Solving multifaceted puzzles, facing foes both animal and supernatural, players have the aid of enhanced weapons and abilities, as they explore the secrets of the past.

Also coming to the Wii and Nintendo DS consoles, Tomb Raider: Underworld for these systems features exclusive features not included on other platforms. The Wii version includes an archaeological toolkit exclusive to this console that allows players to excavate hidden areas and secrets with the aid of a compressed air gun, acetylene torch, chisel and pliers.

“We’re thrilled to bring back Lara Croft and Tomb Raider at Christmas time on all formats,” said Patrick Melchior, Head of European Distribution. “Lara Croft has never looked, acted or played so realistically before. Tomb Raider: Underworld will delight fans and gamers alike as well as being a great gift for the Christmas season!”

Little King leaps into action on Nintendo Wii

Rising Star Games today releases new gameplay footage of the highly anticipated Nintendo Wii exclusive Little King’s Story. Coinciding with the title being showcased at E3 by Rising Star Games’ parent company and developer Marvelous Entertainment, and XSEED Games (the product’s North American publisher), the new trailer highlights more of the quirky imagery and gameplay which has garnered much interest since its announcement earlier in the year.

Little King’s Story has an art style which is very ‘story-book’ in look and has a magical fairy tale quality which will intrigue and delight gamers. The storyline, visual imagery and lyrical music of the game work in concert to transport players to an interactive, enchanting fairytale world. By combining gameplay elements from life-simulation, real-time strategy and adventure genres, the many aspects of creating a vast kingdom come to life. As the King, players will manage and involve their townspeople in the goals of creating this new territory.

He will enlist them to dig for treasure, build new buildings and otherwise better their community. Of course leadership is a two-way street, so as the King, players must try to conquer rival nations to create a single, unified kingdom whilst also granting the requests of townspeople as he sees fit. The game transforms the Wii Remote into a royal scepter and offers players the chance to be the best king in the world!

Little King’s Story is scheduled for release in Q1 2009 throughout Europe and the rest of the PAL territory.

Lineage II: The Chaotic Throne – Gracia

With the release of Gracia, Lineage II’s developers have completely changed the rules on how to build the game to ensure Lineage II is improved across the board and even more fun to play. The Vitality System will help players to build competitively high-level characters quicker than ever before, meaning they can now enjoy the great end-level content without the grind.

One of our greatest assets is our fantastic group of players, who are a very dedicated, hardcore bunch that spend a lot of time and effort building up their characters and battling each other in big player vs. player (PvP) fights like castle sieges. However, the process of building and leveling characters can be a very long and frankly tedious process in Lineage II, which may serve as a barrier for letting a much larger group of potential customers to fully enjoy our game. While in the past the developers in Korea have continually built the game with this hardcore mentality firmly set, with the release of Gracia, they’ve completely changed the rules and made Lineage II even better and a lot more fun.

The big change is that leveling a Lineage II character is now extremely easier—and we say “extremely” in a fairly conservative manner. A normal new character that goes through the beginning quests can gain a few levels in just a few minutes, and players should find leveling now quite easily, all the way up to level 60 and beyond. Players that could spend several months of hardcore grinding to get up to a competitively high level will now be able to accomplish the same feat perhaps a month, if not less. They’ll also be able to get to their occupation changes a lot faster, so developing a selection of specialized characters is a much more realistic option. Building characters is now a lot fun and easy to do, rather than a long-term activity many players would rather do without. This drastic change in leveling is due to several factors.

For one thing, experience rewards for killing creatures and accomplishing quests has been increased across the board. This means that you’ll gain a lot more for generally doing the same things you always do. Running out of quests trying to gain experience, or continual creature farming, is not nearly as big of a factor any more. Also, new repetitive quests have been added in each race village to help out players even further.

We’re also introducing a cool new Vitality system. For one thing, you accumulate Vitality for not being logged in. You can also get Vitality points by staying in a peace zone, or by hunting raid or boss monsters (you’ll get a percentage of your earned raid points in Vitality points). New characters and existing characters before the update goes live also start out with the maximum number of Vitality points.

So what do you do with Vitality points? You consume Vitality when you kill ordinary creatures and gain experience, though Vitality won’t get spent if you’re taking on a quest creature, if you don’t get experience for killing a creature, or if you’re taking on a boss. When Vitality is spent, your experience and SP bonus is greatly increased, depending on how much Vitality you currently have. If you’re maxed out in Vitality points (Vitality Level 4), your bonus will be 300% of the normal experience and SP gain. If you have a few thousand Vitality points (Vitality Level 1), the bonus is 150%. Because Vitality is so easy to earn, players will be in the bonus consistently and the overall experience gain can be huge.

To help characters level even more, the buffs available to low-level beginning players can now be used all the way to level 62, and we’ve even added a few more buffs for players to use. These buffs like Haste and Vampiric Rage help out tremendously in dealing with Lineage II’s various creatures and quests, and makes solo play a lot easier.

With Gracia, Lineage II is now a lot easier to play, and the level barrier is not nearly as tough as it used to be. Players will be able to get to the high levels relatively quickly, and can enjoy some of the best parts of the game like PvP and castle sieges without having to spend a huge amount of time getting there.

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Original God Sim returns on the Nintendo DS

Rising Star Games is pleased to announce plans to release Populous DS in Europe ahead of its unveiling at this year’s E3. This product is part of a stellar line-up being showcased by Rising Star Games’ parent company, Marvelous Entertainment, and XSEED Games (the product’s North American publisher) at the Los Angeles Convention Centre.

Based on the original PC classic, Populous DS brings a re-imagination of the classic game which pioneered the God simulation genre. Featuring touch-screen controls that utilise the dual-screens, players manipulate five elementally-imbued gods, each with their own unique miracles within an extensive single-player campaign. In the multiplayer wireless mode, up to four players can unleash earthquakes, tidal waves and raging volcanoes onto rival players’ lands.

Populous DS is scheduled for release in Q1 2009 throughout Europe and the rest of the PAL territory.

Logitech's new cordless Wii keyboard

Logitech cuts the cord on its new keyboard for the Wii. The Cordless Keyboard for Wii (as it's called) is officially licensed by Nintendo, so you can be sure it'll be compatible with your Wii games as well as the Wii Internet Channel.

The keyboard comes with dedicated Wii-centric keys, including Zoom In/Out, Forward/Back, Quit and Ok, and features a full-sized keyboard. And weighing in at only 1.5 lbs, it should be light and compact enough to fit comfortably on your lap. The keyboard goes on sale soon for $50.

Source: Cnet

UK games sales hit new record

First half of 2008 shows unprecedented software revenue growth thanks to Wii, Xbox 360 & PS3, plus DS.

Video games are enjoying a golden era in popularity according to figures released today by ELSPA (the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers’ Association) and Chart-Track – the company that tracks games sales in the UK. Software sales for the first six months of 2008 are up on almost all games formats to a staggering revenue of £738 million (31.3m units sold) – an increase of over 42 per cent on 2007’s half-year figures. The first six months of 2008 show unprecedented software revenue growth thanks to just Wii, Xbox 360 & PS3, plus DS account for £690 million of the total. In stark contrast, PC games software suffered a hefty decline, with revenue of £48 million (3.9m units sold) – down 29 percent on last year’s £68 million.

Paul Jackson, Director General of ELSPA, said: "Games are now one of the most popular pastimes of the British – hence these remarkable figures. Our gamers are more mature than those of most countries – the average age of a player here is now 33 – and as our core gamers have grown up, so too have the revenues they bring in. Games are also proving themselves to be robustly recession-proof. Other retailers in the High Street have been struggling this year, but those selling games are not having such a tough time.

“Britain leads the way across Europe – and one in three games sold across the EU is also developed here. The challenge now is to ensure our success is not taken for granted at home or undervalued in any way – and to ensure we have the home-grown talent to ensure we will still be leading the way five years down the road.”

Revenue from console hardware over the first half of 2008 has seen overall growth in console revenue thanks to Wii & DS Lite. Revenue from console hardware was £513 million – up 27 percent on last year’s figure of £405 million. In terms of units shifted, 3.1 million – up 41 per cent on 2007’s 2.2 million.

Revenue from total games, hardware and accessories sold was a breathtaking £1,452 million (45.4 million units) – up 42 percent on last year’s no less impressive £1,022 million (34 million units).

160 games for the iPhone and iPod touch

Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, has revealed that over 160 games will be available to download for the iPhone upon launch of the devices App Store, in a phone call with the New York Times.

In total 500 applications will be available when the store launches in the US today, 25 per cent of which will be free, 90 per cent will be sold for less than USD 9.99 and one third of the applications will be games.

Jobs also revealed that that Apple doesn't plan to make much money off of the applications, including games, by giving developers a 70 per cent cut of the sales.

"We are not trying to be business partners," said Jobs.

Final Fantasy XIII coming to X360!

Announced at the E3 press meeting.

Square Enix's long-awaited Final Fantasy 13 will no longer be PlayStation 3 exclusive. Yep, you read that right, it's July 14th (not April 1st), and I'm fresh out of hyperbole: Xbox 360 fans are getting Final Fantasy XIII.


Launching at same time as PS3 version!

"Available on Xbox 360 at launch in North America and Europe," said Square Enix. "We believe that bringing the game to Xbox 360 will allow us to provide a game to even more fans in North America and Europe."

Read more here on Joystiq...

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts - Fact Sheet

"Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts"

Fact Sheet

July 2008

Title: “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts”

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Developer: Rare Ltd.

Format: DVD for the Xbox 360 video game system

ESRB Rating: E-10 rating pending

Availability: November 2008

Product Overview:

Famed game developer Rare Ltd. is reviving one of its most beloved and successful franchises exclusively on Xbox 360 with the third installment of the “Banjo-Kazooie” series. “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” embraces new and old fans alike, as the famous bear and bird duo return in stunning high definition for a unique adventure of epic proportions. The Lord of the Games (aka LOG) is tired of the petty squabbling between Banjo and the evil witch Gruntilda (aka Grunty), and has arranged a showdown to decide the rightful owner of Spiral Mountain. Claiming to have created every video game ever made, LOG has built the game worlds in which the contest’s challenges take place. Banjo must complete LOG’s challenges to win, while Grunty tries to stop him using every method her devious mind can muster.

Throughout their adventure, players create their own abilities by building vehicles for Banjo to pilot over land, sea and air. Vehicle parts, which range from simple devices such as engines and wheels to more unusual equipment such as springs and egg guns, are earned and collected throughout the game. Players use their imagination to combine parts in any order to create whatever vehicle they choose. LOG’s challenges have one goal, but players’ choice of vehicle and tactics will determine how it gets accomplished. By exploring worlds and solving puzzles, players both young and old will be rewarded with more advanced and diverse vehicle parts in their quest to defeat Grunty once and for all and lay claim to Spiral Mountain.

With the power of Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE, “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” brings an entirely new experience to the console and takes the franchise to a whole new level of enjoyment. High-definition graphics, user-created content and online gameplay are just three of the many advances people of all ages and skill levels will discover as they embark on their adventure.

Features:

Top features include the following:

• An adventure that starts with your imagination. If you can imagine it, you can build it in the Mumbo’s Motors easy-to-use workshop. Then put your creation to the test as you take on Grunty in your quest for Spiral Mountain. Unlike other games, where the player progressively picks up new skills or abilities at points predetermined by the game’s creator, “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” puts the power of improving Banjo’s abilities into the hands of the players as they build vehicles that allow Banjo to progress through the game. Vehicle parts include a wide variety of body panels, engines, wheels, wings, propellers, fuel and weapons, plus many more weird and wonderful gadgets such as floaters, Mumbo Bombos and the versatile sticky ball. Players can design and create anything from a simple object-carrying truck to a space-age flying saucer. Once players have designed their creation, they give it the finishing touch by painting it and choosing a suitable name before Banjo jumps in and pilots it into action.

• Customizable experience. With more than 100 contraption parts and unlimited possible combinations, no two players will have the same experience in “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.” By exploring the vast game worlds, discovering hidden secrets and solving puzzles to win rewards, players continually find more and more ways to customize and improve their contraptions, creating an unprecedented level of user-generated content for a 3-D platform adventure game.

• Fun right out of the box. Don’t worry if you aren’t the world’s greatest inventor or want to skip the workshop and get straight to the action, because “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” comes with a fully loaded experience right out of the box. Pre-built vehicles are included so players can jump right in and get started, with many more contraptions available for purchase throughout the adventure using the in-game currency system of musical notes.

• Xbox LIVE gets in on the fun. For the first time in franchise history, “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” is going to include competitive and cooperative multiplayer gameplay. Now players can face off head-to-head in multiple multiplayer modes or team up and play cooperatively via Xbox LIVE.* And with the title’s online blueprint sharing system, players can share their designs over Xbox LIVE with friends and gamers everywhere. Rare has an extremely dedicated and active fan base, and we expect this addition combined with the unlimited user-generated content of “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” to help further grow and inspire that community, and push their creative limits!

• Engaging storyline and entertaining characters. Two of Rare’s most beloved characters have returned from retirement, making their debut on Xbox 360. To win the deed to their homeland and prevent the evil witch Gruntilda from developing it into tower blocks and malls, Banjo and his best friend Kazooie battle over land, sea and air against their longtime rival. Familiar faces such as Mumbo Jumbo, Bottles, Captain Blubber and the Jinjos are also back to lend a hand, along with an equally colorful cast of new friends and foes. Players can look out for Trophy Thomas, Piddles, Lord of the Games and Grunty’s mechanically menacing army of Gruntbots.

• Innovation connecting the franchise’s past and present. With the power of Xbox 360, this newly activated feature, known as Stop ‘N’ Swop, connects “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” to the upcoming Xbox LIVE Arcade release of the original “Banjo-Kazooie.” Players’ accomplishments in the new game will be rewarded with extra content and features in the Xbox LIVE Arcade game, encouraging fans to dive into as much “Banjo” as they can get their hands on!

• Enjoy alone or with friends. “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” offers complete single-player and multiplayer experiences. Gamers can play through the adventure alone in the single-player campaign, or with friends in competitive or cooperative challenges alone or in teams on Xbox LIVE.

• Fun for everyone. Xbox 360 is the home to the best entertainment experiences for everyone. With “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts,” Xbox 360 continues to build its impressive lineup of content that appeals to people of all ages and types.

Mirror’s Edge - a unique first-person action adventure

Original Fiction in Mirror's Edge Introduces Faith

“Once this city used to pulse with energy; dirty and dangerous, but alive and wonderful. Now it is something else.” – Faith. DICE, an Electronic Arts, today announced that writer and story designer Rhianna Pratchett is responsible for crafting the intricate script for Mirror’s Edge - a unique first-person action adventure. Pratchett introduces players to Faith, a ‘runner’ in a world where communication channels are highly monitored and the movement of human traffic is closely watched. When Faith’s sister gets framed for a murder she did not commit, Faith finds herself on the edge of the city, on the wrong side of the law.



“It was a great experience working with the team at DICE to help breath life into Faith; her world, relationships and backstory,” said Rhianna Pratchett. ”My heroines and heroes have always been the ones who were ordinary, but through the events of a story, became extraordinary. Faith is skilled, but she's certainly not a superhero. She has her flaws, like all of us. In short: she's real. That's her appeal.”

Mirror’s Edge delivers players straight into the shoes of this modern day heroine as she traverses the vertigo-inducing cityscape, engaging in intense combat, fast-paced chases and challenging puzzles. With a never-before-seen sense of movement and perspective, players are drawn into Faith’s world.

“We were excited to work with Rhianna to develop the story, setting and character of Faith,” said Owen O’Brien, Executive Producer, DICE. “We were extremely lucky to be able to work with someone who is not only a writer, but also a core gamer, to create the world of Mirror’s Edge.”

Pratchett has been recognized by the videogame entertainment industry for numerous achievements in her 10 year gaming career including being voted by Next-Gen.Biz as one of the 100 most influential women in the games industry. She’s also worked on a number of high profiles games including Heavenly Sword and Overlord that have been nominated for a BAFTA and Develop Award for creation of story, character and new intellectual property. For more information on her work, please visit www.rhiannapratchett.com.