SAGA Persistent MMO RTS Releases a Preview of Its New Undead Faction.

The first expansion set for the collectible game SAGA (www.playsaga.com) consists of a new faction with 17 unique Undead unit types plus a variety of spells specific to the Undead faction.

This brings the total number of SAGA factions to six, evening out the sides between the Brotherhood (Orcs and Dark-Elves) and the Order (Elves, Dwarves, and Giants); the Order are still desperately battling to keep Goth Azul (god of Death and Lord of the Undead) chained to the Underworld.

Three sites feature exclusive unit renders and strategies on ways to exploit each unit’s tactical strengths:

www.rpgvault.com covered four cavalry and two airborne Undead units, including the deadly Forsaken Dragon. The full article can be found at http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/888/888733p1.html

www.tentonhammer.com previewed the ranged undead contingent, led by the Liches, commanders of the Undead forces. The full article can be found at http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/38411

www.tcgplayer.com has the melee Undead, who like to get up close and personal; featuring the Abomination, the most gruesome fiend ever spawned in Silverlode’s studio. The full article can be found at http://www.tcgplayer.com/db/game_review.asp?AID=2477&PID=232&DBID=4

The Undead expansion is due to be released in Early August, both online and in hobby stores across North America and in select UK locations.

Release and Beta Schedule for Frogsters' MMORPGs

Frogster starts into the second half of the year with a wide-ranging MMOG portfolio. The bulky five-game-package consists of Runes of Magic, The Chronicles of Spellborn, StoneAge 2, Kickster and an Add-on for Bounty Bay Online.

The comprehensive fantasy MMORPG Runes of Magic will enter the closed beta in September completely adapted to western standards and with an impressive soundtrack by the prestigious sound studio Dynamedion. Roundabout two months later, the Berlin based publisher will transfer the game into the open beta. The launch phase for an English and German version is scheduled to follow at the end of the year. A pre-registration for the beta tests has already started on the official website www.runesofmagic.com. Frogster is going to invite assorted community members and guilds into the alpha soon.

Frogster's hot autumn is complemented by The Chronicles of Spellborn, which has passed performance and stress tests last week very successfully following an essential development milestone. After the integration of some remaining content components and final balancing and polishing work, Frogster will release the long awaited fantasy online role playing game this year as planned. For Spellborn the beta-registration has already started as well on www.spellborn.com.

The European version of StoneAge 2 which just had been announced will already be going into the closed beta phase in August. The launch of the free2play game is also planned for autumn (beta registration on www.stoneage2.com). As another addition to its MMOG line up, Frogster will introduce Kickster next week in detail. The trendy free2play online soccer community is likewise going to be launched in autumn. Moreover, a large-scale add-on for the sailor MMOG Bounty Bay Online is also in the making.

Moto Racer motor bike video racing game on Nintendo DS

It’s high time to give you more of what MOTO RACER DS has in its guts! In respect to its roots MOTO RACER DS is the only motor bike game that is truly multi-disciplinary: Moto GP, Traffic, Supercross or Freestyle. Warm up the stylus and get ready to burn out, take radical curves, and pull-off crazy tricks. Whether you are a racer or just a free styler, whether you are a good old racing track warrior or a wild street racer... you will get what you need with MOTO RACER DS!

This exclusive new version for the Nintendo DS, with its mind-blowing graphics, deep content, and its exclusive “Stylus Precision Handling”, brings motorsports one step further on the Nintendo DS.

“SPECIFICALLY MADE FOR THE DS”

• Stylus Precision Handling (SPH) to pull-off amazing tricks and to take on the sharpest curves ever.
• A multiplayer mode: up to 4 players with only 1 game, and up to 8 players with 8 DS™ cards via the DS’ wireless connection!
• 3 difficulty levels: Beginner, advanced & expert.
• 5 camera angles, fitting to each game style.
• 8 environments for an instant immersion: Mountains, desert, forest, highway, downtown …
• 32 different motorcycles with their own characteristics (acceleration, turbo, speed, and handling!).
• 44 crazy tracks!!!

MOTO GP
Burn rubber with your stylus in order to show your friends that you are a speed Devil!!

4 different game modes: championship, single race, time trial, and multiplayer, 12 motorcycles, 18 tracks in different environments.

TRAFFIC
Race through the city and pull-off manuveres you never even dreamed, or challenge your friends to a downtown duel using the Nintendo DS™ wifi connection!!

3 game modes: duel, multiplayer, and 10 mission to even the most daring riders, like pizza delivery, slalom, wheeling, highway Star, domination … 8 motorcycles and 10 tracks. Unlock all sorts of crazy bikes (scooter, mini-bike…).

SUPERCROSS
Challenge the A.I. or up to 8 of your friends in an all out dirt bike race!

4 game modes: championship, single race, time trial, and multi-player. 12 motorcycles, 12 tracks to challenge your opponents, and perform tricks! Don’t be afraid to get your stylus covered in mud in order to win the race, and best your friends!

FREESTYLE
With the stylus dedicated gameplay, performing tricks has never been so intuitive!!

2 game modes: championship & records. 12 motorcycles, 4 tracks, 16 tricks (360°, Lazy boy, Kiss of death… and more X-treme tricks!). The goal of this game mode is to perform a lot of impressive tricks. Line-up tricks and accumulate points to be the First!

SimAnimals, and all-new franchise from the Sims label!

The Sims, an Electronic Arts Label announced the first details for the all-new SimAnimals. This all-new franchise and original intellectual property from The Sims Label establishes a whole new category of wild animal games. Made exclusively for the Wii and the Nintendo DS, SimAnimals will be available worldwide in January 2009.

Now, for the first time players can engage with the wild world of animals in their natural surroundings in an immersive and tactile way. In this game you are challenged to engage, touch, move and try to control more than 60 animals as you journey deeper and deeper into the forest. You control an on-screen animated hand that allows you to reach out and touch, pick up and move everything in the game from foxes and bears to trees and flowers. Cohabitate with these animals in their natural surroundings, and based on how you treat them, the animals will come to know and love – or dislike you! Have fun developing relationships with wild animals and their families, and experience the humor and drama of surviving in the wilderness.

“SimAnimals opens up a new world of creativity with wild animal adventure, fun and mischief,” said Rod Humble, Head of Studio for The Sims Label. “For the first time in an animal game, you can reach out and touch, engage and play with a huge cast of wild animals in their natural surroundings. SimAnimals offers an immersive and tactile experience using the Wii remote and the Nintendo DS stylus that allows you to easily and intuitively become part of the wood’s expressive, quirky and sometimes surprising narrative. Classic story-telling about wild animals comes to life in SimAnimals.”

Wild animals abound! You will meet a host of friendly wild animals including deer, squirrels, rabbits, hedgehogs and owls. And also some mischievous characters like foxes, raccoons, badgers, crows and bears who love to stir up trouble. Get in the middle of the action as they all come together in your very own forest setting for a wild time!

Solve challenges and achieve goals throughout the game, because the animals need you to help them thrive. Discover secrets, unlock forest areas and uncover one-of-a-kind objects and wild animals, some with special abilities, by successfully completing tasks. It’s survival of the fittest, as you find out who the troublemakers are and who the good guys are to make sure everyone gets along – or not!

In SimAnimals on the Wii, take up to three of your friends with you on a forest adventure in cooperative play mode! The forest, filled with exciting wildlife, is big enough for you and your pals.

SimAnimals is tailored for the Nintendo DS. Use the stylus to orchestrate your wild animals and their environments!

Guitar Hero DS on the streets

To celebrate the launch of Guitar Hero: On Tour for Nintendo DS, videogame publisher Activision took to the streets to demonstrate the music-making game in the heart of London.

Members of the public were invited to entertain passers-by at Covent Garden, London’s home of busking, with renditions of rock hits by No Doubt, Ozzy Osbourne, Bloc Party, Jet and Maroon 5.

In an area of Covent Garden Market more used to hosting jugglers, mime artists and other diablo entertainers, those passing through the tourist hotspot were alternately impressed or bemused depending on their understanding of the technology.


Guitar Hero: On Tour is released in the UK today for Nintendo DS. It is the first time the world’s biggest franchise has appeared on a handheld games console, and comes with a unique guitar grip peripheral.

Time of War Released - Classic Shooter Fun Is Back!

Oniric Games announced today the international online launch of Time of War. A modern day shooter featuring addictive old school gameplay, Time of War brings back the mindless fun of battling huge hordes of enemies, shooting big weapons and blowing everything up in ground shaking explosions.

Sixcorp has issued an ultimatum: all the world nations are to surrender power to them or they will use cyber energy, their devastating new technology, to wipe out all of the world’s major capitals. Sean Harmmor, a former member of the World Alliance’s elite forces, is brought back into duty to put an end to the threat.

In Harmmor's boots, players will have to face dangerous opponents each step of the way, but will have a special weapon on their side: cyber energy. Harmmor’s cyborg arm gives him the ability to turn Sixcorp’s latest development against them.

With the help of Harmmor’s special cyber powers, players will have to infiltrate Sixcorp’s bases and battle with heavily armed soldiers and high tech defense systems in a quest against time to undermine Sixcorp’s military superiority and bring the world powers back into balance.

Features:

- Addictive shooter action with non-linear gameplay.
- Lots of powerful weapons –arm yourself to your teeth!
- Destructible environments –blow up everything!
- Use cyber energy in destructive special attacks.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMNvKQvMA-U

For screenshots and further information visit: http://www.timeofwargame.com

Speed Racer - The Videogame - Fact Sheet

PlayStation 2

RELEASE DATE: Fall 2008
PUBLISHER: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
DEVELOPER: Sidhe Interactive
ESRB RATING: RP
GENRE: Arcade Action Racing

PRODUCT OVERVIEW:

Speed Racer: The Videogame for PlayStation®2 will be released in Fall 2008 along with the DVD version of the fast action film, Speed Racer. Set in a hyper-realistic world where car culture is the culture, players compete in the World Racing League against up to 25 different racers across rollercoaster-like race tracks. Players will enjoy a combative racing experience like no other when they take control of each T180 race car, achieving amazing speeds and mastering four independently turning wheels that allow drivers to engage in “Car-Fu” to jump, flip, and outmaneuver their opponents. Speed Racer: The Videogame captures the action, look and feel of the high adrenaline arena racing developed for the film in an accessible, fun-filled game that allows players to actually get behind the wheel on incredible tracks straight out of the world of Speed Racer.

PRODUCT FEATURES:

Master “Car-Fu” combat, using the T180 race car as a weapon to fight your way to the finish line by smashing, jumping, flipping and spinning other cars off the track
Choose from 25 different drivers and cars, including Speed Racer and the Mach 6 or Cannonball Taylor and the GRX
Careen down the track as the mischievous Chim-Chim – a new unlockable driver
Race across the all-new 13 mile Skorost track, which twists through an abandoned Soviet rocket base
o The game features the voices of Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch), Racer X (Matthew Fox) and Trixie (Christina Ricci) as playable characters
Trixie’s T180 race car is designed exclusively for the game
Utilize “The Zone” to boost your speed up to 500 MPH and gain an advantage on the track
Create powerful alliances with other racers to increase your chances of winning championships
Players will experience futuristic racing across 18 incredible tracks in 6 vibrant environments
Award-winning composer Winifred Phillips, created an original score for the videogame fusing rock, classical and retro beats into a unique soundtrack

Five Most Embarrasing Moments Of Nintendo’s E3 Conference

It’s easy to just forget this year’s Nintendo conference, pretend it never happened, or ignore it entirely. That won’t change the fact that by and large, it was a miserable trainwreck of failure and easily the company’s worst in history. What went wrong? Oh, about a thousand things, really, but nobody has time to relive it. So here's the run down.

read more | digg story

Blizzard wins Warcraft bot battle

Blizzard has won the first round of a legal battle against the maker of software that automates game play in World of Warcraft. It brought the case against MDY Industries claiming its WowGlider program infringed its copyright.An Arizona district court has ruled MDY does infringe Blizzard's copyright but not in the way the game maker claimed.

read more | digg story

Namco Bandai - Soulcalibur IV out soon on PlayStation 3 and Xbox

Critically Acclaimed Fighter Gears Up for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Soulcalibur IV, the newest installment in the highly acclaimed weapons-based fighting game franchise, has gone gold for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. Developed by Project Soul, the legendary team behind Soul Blade and Soulcalibur I-III, Soulcalibur IV will redefine the fighting genre when it is available nationwide on July 29.



Take control of an expanded roster of warriors from around the galaxy in their unrelenting search for the Soul Edge and Soul Calibur swords. Soulcalibur IV will also play host to a bevy of special characters including legendary STAR WARS icons Master Yoda for the Xbox 360, Darth Vader for the PLAYSTATION 3 system, and appearing on both platforms, Darth Vader’s Secret Apprentice from LucasArt’s hotly anticipated STAR WARS - The Force Unleashed. Adding to the mythos, Soulcalibur IV will also include a number of special characters designed by famous Japanese manga artists and character designers.



Retooled from the ground up, Soulcalibur IV perfects its highly celebrated weapons-based fighting system with stunning high definition graphics and new gameplay mechanics. Adding to the depth of combat, players can now destroy protective armor; weakening their enemy’s resolve and unleash Critical Finish moves to defeat opponents in one final blow. Also new to the series is the ability to compete online against players from around the world with their favorite Soulcalibur characters or customized characters for global domination.

To support the release of Soulcalibur IV, an extensive national marketing campaign is underway that will generate more than 250 million consumer impressions. Television ad campaigns will run throughout July and August, consisting of :30 and :15 second spots aimed at cable programming in the U.S. and Canada. Additional initiatives include online and print programs, as well as promotional and retail partnerships that will raise the anticipation for this premiere franchise.



Also to further whet appetites, players can now download the original Soulcalibur for Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360. Originally released in 1999, Soulcalibur remains the highest rated fighting game of all time and continues to garner critical acclaim with its graceful transition into the high definition era. Gamers can prove their worth against the world with dozens of leaderboards spanning every character and mode. Players can sharpen fighting instincts in Arcade, Survival and Training modes or challenge a friend in local-play Versus mode.

Soulcalibur IV will carry a suggested MSRP of $59.99 and a limited Premium Edition with exclusive content will be available for $79.99. Soulcalibur for Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 is now available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points. Soulcalibur IV and Soulcalibur are rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.