First Branded Scavenger Hunt in Ubisoft's Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: - Vegas 2

In-game scavenger hunt promotes upcoming movie "Tropic Thunder" with interactive experience that engages and rewards gamers.

A first-of-its-kind dynamic in-game advertising promotion has been created to promote the upcoming film “Tropic Thunder,” the companies have placed an interactive scavenger hunt in “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six - Vegas 2,” published by Ubisoft, which encourages gamers to actively interact with the dynamic in-game campaign, take action from the clues, and get rewarded at the final stage of the hunt.

“This innovative scavenger hunt enables us to reward our target audience and give them a direct call to action to go see ‘Tropic Thunder,’” said Amy Powell, senior vice president of Interactive Marketing for Paramount Pictures. “We’ve had a track record of success working with Massive since the business started. This is taking our in-game advertising campaigns to the next level by making them interactive and actionable. Gamers are motivated to seek out the next ad, which is an amazing way for us to build awareness and excitement for our new release.”

Gamers see a series of nine branded “clues” within “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2,” each leading them to the next clue, until they successfully reach the end of the scavenger hunt. Everyone who completes the scavenger hunt will receive an invitation to join Ubisoft’s VIP club and the chance to download a free digital VIP map for “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2,” and will be entered into two prize drawings. In the first drawing held July 31, 25 winners received a “Tropic Thunder” Gift Pack: two tickets to “Tropic Thunder” and a “Tropic Thunder” T-shirt and hat.* The second drawing, on Aug. 22, will award one grand prize winner an Xbox 360 Elite system as well as a one-year Xbox LIVE subscription and a collection of Ubisoft’s upcoming video game releases.**

“This is a new and highly innovative use of dynamic in-game advertising and really demonstrates the creativity and marketing power of this medium,” said Cory Van Arsdale, CEO of Massive.

The scavenger hunt began on July 18 and will run through Aug. 25 to drive awareness leading up to the movie opening on Aug. 13.

Breaking: Final Fantasy XIII Xbox 360 Asia Version Announced

During E3, Microsoft announced that Final Fantasy XIII was coming to the Xbox 360 — but only for North America and Europe. However, the Xbox 360 was not announced for Japan. Add another country to the list!

read more | digg story

ChartWeekly UK video games chart 2 August

All formats

Week ending 2 August 2008

1 SOULCALIBUR IV NAMCO BANDAI GAMES 
2 WII FIT NINTENDO
3 MARIO KART WII NINTENDO
4 WALL-E PLAY THQ
5 BIG BEACH SPORTS PLAY THQ
6 GUITAR HERO: ON TOUR REDOCTANE
7 WII PLAY NINTENDO
8 MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES SEGA
9 DR KAWASHIMA'S BRAIN TRAINING NINTENDO
10 LEGO INDIANA JONES: ORIGINAL ADVENTURES LUCASARTS
11 GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK REDOCTANE
12 KUNG FU PANDA ACTIVISION
13 SUPER SMASH BROS: BRAWL NINTENDO
14 CARNIVAL: FUNFAIR GAMES 2KPLAY
15 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION
16 BATTLEFIELD: BAD COMPANY EA GAMES
17 SPORTS PARTY PLAY ZONE
18 MORE BRAIN TRAINING FROM DR KAWASHIMA NINTENDO
19 FIFA 08 EA SPORTS
20 BEIJING 2008 SEGA

Mortal Kombat v DC Universe - Additional Characters on Roster Confirmed!

Today, Midway announced the release of an all-new gameplay FIGHT video for the highly anticipated Mortal Kombat v DC Universe videogame. Along with the FIGHT video, four additional characters have been confirmed for the famous roster including The Joker, Kitana, Jax and Green Lantern.

This latest, in-depth video showcases the innovative fighting mechanics found in Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, including Klose Kombat, an up-close brutal fighting mechanic that shows progressive damage on each fighter and Freefall Kombat, giving players the ability to engage in kombat as they fall from one arena down to the next. Both of these fighting mechanics along with Test Your Might and character-specific signature moves, including Batman's Batarang and Scorpion's spear.


About Mortal Kombat v DC Universe
For the first time ever Scorpion, Sub-Zero and the Mortal Kombat warriors battle with Batman, Superman and other popular DC Universe Super Heroes. Choose your side and challenge your opponents with a new fighting system including Freefall Kombat and Klose Kombat along with dynamic multi-tiered environments. Plus, pick your favorite character from MK or DCU and pursue a fighting adventure in the new single player mode with an intertwined storyline and two unique perspectives.

Aion - The Tower of Eternity - Fact Sheet

Aion - The Tower of Eternity
A mighty Celestial War has torn the once peaceful world of Atreia apart at the seams. In the wake of this catastrophic ba le, just a few will ascend into divinity and save their people from total annihilation.

A Class of Your Own
Choose from four unique character classes, gain experience and advance in one of two specialised classes. Your decisions will determine your path through Atreia, make them wisely…
Explore the Unknown
Discover the inside of a world broken in two, where the only thing that connects either side is an unstable and perilous ri known as the Abyss. Choose between two divine factions, the Asmodian or the Elyos, and save your people from an ancient evil that threatens to destroy everything in its path.

A New Breed of Combat
Battle for control of valuable strongholds and artefacts within the Abyss, a hotly contested ba le eld resting between the upper and lower halves of Atreia. Plan and execute raids against rival factions, earn special ranks and rewards through victory, and prepare for unexpected a acks by the Balaur, an ancient race freed from imprisonment within the Abyss.

Scout
Incredible agility and speedy attacks make this class a formidable adversary
Warrior
Highly skilled in close combat, utilising their immense physical strength and prowess to smash through enemy ranks
Mage
Masters of magic and capable of dealing astonishing damage over great distances
Priest
Specialists in healing magic and long-range spells to help allies and hinder the enemy

Fight and Flight
Engage in a spectacular and evolving combat system utilising combos, skill chains, counter-attacks and spectacular aerial combat. Group with friends or fly solo in the Abyss, where a acks can come from any direction. Experience the thrill of combat like never before!

The Power of Creation
Totally customise your character through an incredibly in-depth character creation tool, advanced cra ing systems and detailed item customisation. Take individuality to a new level with the innovative Stigma system, allowing characters to utilise and combine skills and abilities not normally available to that p particular character’s class.

Gemma Atkinson in Red Alert 3, appearing at M Festival

Multiplay, organisers of M Festival - the UK's largest electronic games festival - are pleased to announce that Gemma Atkinson will be meeting fans and promoting her role in EA's upcoming Red Alert 3. Gemma will be at the M Festival from the afternoon of Friday 8th August.

Former Hollyoaks star and I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! survivor Gemma Atkinson has been unveiled as the latest star who will be appearing in Command & Conquer Red Alert 3, the highly anticipated continuation of the real-time strategy videogame.

Making her videogame acting debut, Gemma, 23, will play Lt Eva McKenna, a character familiar to fans of Command & Conquer Red Alert 2. A military officer with a sexy twinkle in her eye and a British stiff upper lip, Eva is a communications officer for the Allied coalition in their fight against the Soviet and Rising Sun superpowers.

The game, which takes place in an alternate timeline and imagines what would have happened if time travel had been used by both Albert Einstein and the Soviet Union, features an epic global confrontation with you at the controls of your chosen faction.

Gemma said: "I'm a gamer and the chance to act in one of the best loved videogames was an opportunity I was really keen to explore – especially as Eva is such a strong female character. The worlds of gaming and film are getting ever closer and as an actress I wanted to explore this exciting new area of drama, broaden my acting skills and continue the active, outgoing side of my personality that I showed in I’m A Celebrity…”

Gemma was in Hollyoaks for five years as troubled teenager Lisa Hunter. She later appeared in ITV’s primetime show Soapstar Superstar and last year she bravely stepped into the Aussie jungle to battle in the bush tucker challenges in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!.

She has a role in forthcoming Brit flick Boogie Woogie alongside Jamie Winston, Christopher Lee and Heather Graham, which hits cinemas nationwide in August 2008.

Read this week’s Zoo magazine for a full interview with Gemma and to see her stunning new photoshoot in the guise of her Red Alert 3 character, Lt Eva McKenna.

About Multiplay:

Multiplay are organisers of the UK’s largest video games festival, the i-Series. Established in 1997 they have over ten years of experience in organising LAN parties and have seen tens of thousands of gamers attend the events.

Complimenting their events Multiplay are also Europe’s largest online games service provider, offering server hosting for the best multiplayer games of the day. Their self-owned and operated network infrastructure connects the UK with mainland Europe, providing the fastest connections to their servers.

Aion - The Tower of Eternity - video game

NCsoft Europe, the world’s leading publisher and developer of online computer games, has today revealed the official fact sheet for Aion: The Tower of Eternity – its visually stunning massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), where you ascend to divinity and fight in a celestial war.

In Aion you’ll wield divine powers to bring deliverance to your people and restore balance to a world shattered by cataclysm. Prepare yourself for power and privilege in an epic online adventure you'll take with thousands of other players and spread your wings to claim your rightful place among the immortal legions of Atreia!

Activision to release Track Pack for Guitar Hero III - Legends of Rock

Guitar Hero III - Legends of Rock. The three-song Interscope Track Pack will let gamers further expand and customise their Guitar Hero playlists and experience a variety of new tunes on August 7.

The pack will include the heavy, pained lyrics of Flyleaf’s "Tina," the heartfelt track "Carcinogen Crush" from hardcore-punk turned goth band, AFI, as well as a remix of Marilyn Manson’s grinding, fast-paced "Putting Holes In Happiness" by Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

The Interscope Track Pack, originally offered to purchasers of the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock soundtrack CD, will be available on August 7 for download on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION Store for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock offers the ultimate rock experience with new wireless guitars, freshly added content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer modes allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true rock status as they riff through a star-studded soundtrack including master tracks by legendary artists such as Aerosmith, Guns 'N' Roses, The Rolling Stones, Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine and Pearl Jam, as well as original songs by guitar icons Slash and Tom Morello. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is now available and is rated 12+ by PEGI and 12 by the BBFC. For more information visit http://community.guitarhero.com.

Shark Boy Attacks TNA iMPACT! Video Game

Today, Midway confirmed another of the remaining unannounced wrestlers for TNA iMPACT!, the highly anticipated video game based off the fastest growing professional wrestling brand in the world and its flagship program TNA iMPACT!. Fan favorite Shark Boy, who hails from the Deep Blue Sea, was officially announced today.

To date, Midway has announced 19 wrestlers who will be featured in the game. Six more TNA superstars will be unveiled in the coming weeks. Here is a list of the confirmed roster.

Abyss
AJ Styles
Alex Shelley
Booker T
Chris Sabin
Christian Cage
Homicide
Rhino
Sting
Shark Boy Eric Young
Hernandez
Jay Lethal
Kurt Angle
Christopher Daniels
Samoa Joe
Jeff Jarrett
Scott Steiner
Tomko

Developed by Midway LA, TNA iMPACT! is scheduled to ship this September for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 2.

For more information on TNA iMPACT! and/or other Midway products, please visit the Midway Asset site:

Midway Asset Site:
www.midwayeuro-press.com

Mortal Kombat v DC Universe: Additional Characters on Roster Confirmed!

Today, Midway announced the release of an all-new gameplay FIGHT video for the highly anticipated Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe videogame. Along with the FIGHT video, four additional characters have been confirmed for the famous roster including The Joker, Kitana, Jax and Green Lantern.

This latest, in-depth video showcases the innovative fighting mechanics found in Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, including Klose Kombat, an up-close brutal fighting mechanic that shows progressive damage on each fighter and Freefall Kombat, giving players the ability to engage in kombat as they fall from one arena down to the next. Both of these fighting mechanics along with Test Your Might and character-specific signature moves, including Batman's Batarang and Scorpion's spear.

About Mortal Kombat v DC Universe

For the first time ever Scorpion, Sub-Zero and the Mortal Kombat warriors battle with Batman, Superman and other popular DC Universe Super Heroes. Choose your side and challenge your opponents with a new fighting system including Freefall Kombat and Klose Kombat along with dynamic multi-tiered environments. Plus, pick your favorite character from MK or DCU and pursue a fighting adventure in the new single player mode with an intertwined storyline and two unique perspectives.