Animal Paradise Pet Sim for Nintendo DS Nears Release

Animal Paradise for Nintendo DS has been completed the family-friendly handheld videogame release of the season will join kids on their journey back to school this fall. Shipping to North American retail stores on September 23, 2008, Animal Paradise has received an ESRB rating of “E” for “everyone.”

After the kids have finished their first week back at school - and their homework - parents can reward them with Animal Paradise’s stable of adorably friendly animals to care for and play with on their DS. Graced with the endearingly comical “big-nose” style of animal photography, from famed Japanese photographer Yoneo Morita, Animal Paradise promises to warm hearts and keep children entertained for hours. Under Empire Interactive’s recent partnership with Atari, Inc., Animal Paradise’s release will mark the first of four announced titles to be distributed exclusively by Atari in North America.

“We know players want pet simulation games with a variety of animals to choose from, and Animal Paradise delivers just that with loads of adorable animals, engaging gameplay and appeal for children and animal lovers of all ages,” said Karim Farghaly, vice president of sales, Empire Interactive. “We think this is a perfect title to kick off our distribution deal with Atari and another step forward in establishing Empire as a major player in the US gaming market.”



Animal Paradise takes players to a virtual farm where they can try their hand at caring for and raising 18 different animals including dogs, cats, hamsters, horses, pigs and more. Pets will need to be fed, cleaned, walked and played with in order to make sure they stay fit, healthy and happy.

As they progress through the game, players will unlock new animals to care for and fun-filled mini-games like Treasure Hunting, Footprint Trail and Shampoo Scrub. Getting to know the animals, learning what kind of care each one prefers, and building a bond with them will be rewarded by unlocking exclusive pet photos for your virtual album. No other game this fall will entertain kids while teaching them how to be responsible caretakers like Animal Paradise.

Pre-order Tank Universal get Shadowgrounds game free of charge

Meridian4 is excited to announce that for all Steam clients who pre-order Tank Universal before its release date on August 21st, receive a copy of our highly-successful, critically-acclaimed Action/Shooter; Shadowgrounds free of charge.

For more information regarding the pre-order visit the Coming Soon section on www.steampowered.com.



Tank Universal will be available on August 21st for $9.99 on most digital online channels including Steam, D2D, Impulse, GamersGate and many more. For more information visit www.meridian4.com or any of the digital sites listed.

About Tank Universal
Tank Universal creates a huge virtual ‘Tron-like’ world where you take part in immense 3D tank battles involving scores of units both friendly and not so friendly in wide open levels!


Players can bombard the enemy from a distance or close the gap and dodge shells point blank - all in an immersive first person perspective.

• 20 levels of highly addictive and intense tank battles
• Some missions require you to leave the safety of your tank and explore the world on foot
• Ability to upgrade weapons and tank equipment
• Fight alongside allies against highly intelligent and numerous enemies • Spectacular looking virtual world and eye-popping particle effects
• Take the battle in any direction with wide open levels allowing freedom of play
• Intriguing storyline switching between the 'real world' and the digital virtual world
• Enhanced resolutions, including widescreen support up to 1680x1050

Videogames Based on the Upcoming Animated Feature Film Igor

Igor Games to Be Released in Europe on PC, Nintendo DS and Wii

Announcing the game Igor for the PC, Wii and Nintendo DS in the European PAL territories, the French overseas territories, the Commonwealth of Independ-ent States, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Igor videogames are produced by I2G and Legacy Interactive. They are based on the animated movie of the same title by Exodus Film Group, distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. “Igor” opens in the United States on September 19, 2008 and features the voice talents of artists such as John Cusack, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Jay Leno and Christian Slater. The movie will benefit from a worldwide distribution for the Holidays of 2008.



“Igor” is a playfully irreverent comedy with a new twist on the classic evil scientist/monster genre and tells the story about an evil scientist’s hunchbacked lab assistant, “Igor”, who has big dreams of becoming an evil scientist in his own right and winning the coveted first place award at the annual Evil Science Fair. But, instead of creating a dangerous monster for the competition, Igor creates the amiable Eva instead. His attempts to convince Eva to behave like a real monster lead to numerous entanglements. With a lot of humour involved, both the movie and the games commemorate the monster movie genre of the classic Hollywood era.

The games will closely follow the storyline of the movie. The PC and Wii versions will become a varied action-adventure game allowing players to control all four main characters: Igor, Eva and their two friends, Brain and Scamper. The Nintendo DS version will allow players to design their monster individually by adding new body parts, and compete against other scientists’ creatures via a thrilling puzzle combat system. Hundreds of possibilities enable players to create truly individual monsters.

The Igor games are scheduled for release on all platforms this October.

Exclusive Preorder Bonus Soundtrack CD for Yggdra Union

Preorder bonus item for Yggdra Union, a card-based strategy RPG for the PSP (PlayStationPortable) system. Exclusively at GameStop stores and www.GameStop.com, customers who preorder a copy of Yggdra Union will receive a limited run soundtrack CD. Previously a Japan-exclusive, 56 tracks of music from the game have been beautifully remade.

Availability will be limited; preorder by September 16 to guarantee a copy! Don’t miss your chance to own this collectible!

Originally released for Game Boy Advance to warm praise, Yggdra Union is stunningly redone and loaded with enhancements, including fully remastered audio and visuals (including the artwork of famed character designer and manga artist Satoko Kiyuzuki), dual language dialogue with both Japanese and English, a widescreen aspect ratio, additional difficulty settings, new unlockable content, and more… all exclusive to the PSP system!

Yggdra Union is currently scheduled for release on September 16.

Pre-order your copy of Yggdra Union at GameStop.com: http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=72177

About Yggdra Union
Ruled by a royal family believed to be descended from the gods, Fantasinia is a prosperous and tranquil land — until the peace is shattered by the invading forces of the Empire of Bronquia. Led by the young Emperor Gulcasa, who seized power in a brutal coup d’etat, Bronquia’s Imperial Army cuts a bloody swath through the people of Fantasinia and the Royal Armies of King Ordene. Princess Yggdra Yuril Artwaltz, the sole survivor of the royal family, escapes with the kingdom’s only hope: the holy sword Gran Centurio. Fleeing to the southern tip of the continent, she encounters an unusual thief named Milanor, a young man destined to help liberate the people of her kingdom...

Key Features

• Break-the-mold strategy system – Turn-based strategy meets real-time action in this innovative battle mechanic! Build your strongest deck of cards to rain down special attacks, monitor the aggression meter to adjust the power of each hit, and create troop unions that will overwhelm the enemy’s numbers.
• Rebuilt for the PSP® system – Yggdra Union is brand new again on the PSP® system, boasting remastered audio and visuals, new playable characters, additional missions, difficulty options, widescreen support, and dual English and Japanese voiceover tracks.
• Unlock even greater rewards – There is more to Yggdra Union than can be revealed in a single game. With 3 different endings plus a hidden ending and secret characters, there’s tons of treasure for a true gamer to uncover.

Hit 'Heroes' Flight Combat Series for 2009

Atari and Red Mile Entertainment to Bring the New Installment of Hit 'Heroes' Flight Combat Series to Playstation 3, Xbox 360 And Windows PC in 2009

Get ready to scramble! Atari and Red Mile Entertainment are bringing Heroes over Europe, an ultra-realistic seat-of-the-pants tactical flight combat game and the latest in the critically acclaimed Heroes series, to the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows PC in 2009.

The sequel to the mighty World War II flight combat game Heroes of the Pacific, Heroes over Europe takes aspiring combat pilots into the bullet-ridden heart of major World War II European air battles in glorious dogfight-friendly high definition. Heroes over Europe follows the Allied campaign from the attacks on London to the destruction of Berlin, with players under orders to strap themselves into the authentically rendered cockpits of the campaign’s iconic aircraft. Their mission: to survive the most ferocious dogfights ever seen in a flight combat game.




“The Heroes series has brought some of the world’s most exciting air battles in history to gamers all over the world, and Heroes over Europe builds on the series’ impressive legacy with highly detailed realistic visual presentation and an even deeper online experience,” said Cyril Voiron, VP Brand Management Worldwide Publishing, Atari.

“Transmission Games did an incredible job on the first game, Heroes of the Pacific, and this second game in the series is definitely benefiting from that experience,“ said Simon Price, President of Red Mile Entertainment. “We are very excited to partner with Atari to bring this stunning title to gamers worldwide.”



Developed by Transmission Games (formerly IR Gurus) in Melbourne, Australia, and powered by an all-new engine, Heroes over Europe is set to raise the bar for flight combat games, with new and unique game modes, and deeper and more comprehensive online gameplay for up to 16 players. Visually, the game takes no prisoners with meticulously rendered environments including faithful recreations of London and Berlin, and ultra-realistic iconic warplanes of the era, all presented in stunning high definition graphics. With additional content available to download from launch, Heroes over Europe is scheduled for release in 2009.

NBA Live 09 on PlayStaion 3, XBox , Nintendo Wii and PS2

NBA LIVE 09 is back with the best playing basketball videogame in the category that rewrites the book on authenticity and connectivity – but is still accessible enough for new users to get in on the ground floor.

New features like Pick and Roll Control, Defensive Lockdown Control, Signature Playcalling and Quickstrike Ankle-Breakers will make the NBA LIVE experience fun from beginning to end. For those in need of some extra coaching, NBA LIVE 09 takes you to training camp with the NBA Academy that gives you a chance to hone your skills.

NBA LIVE 09 has rewritten the rules and fundamentally shifted the way you look at sports simulation games. Dynamic DNA emulates - with absolute precision - an NBA player in every sense of the word and it does so dynamically.



NBA LIVE 365 takes the statistical data of DynamicDNA and brings it to life. NBA LIVE 09 is now constantly evolving and authentically reflects what you see on the court in your virtual experience. Just like the real NBA game, players get injured, free agents sign late, great players go cold and no-names breakthrough. If you're a sports fan, this is a dream come true – NBA LIVE 09 is made fresh daily all season long.

Key features

• DYNAMIC DNA—The brain behind the game is powered by Synergy Sports Technology , the premier analytics provider using NBA data for over 20 NBA teams, which evaluates Player DNA that breaks down how a player scores, Team DNA that rates how the players on the floor play as a unit and Tendencies that refer to the percentage a player drives left, right or shoots from each spot on the floor.
  
• Based on Last Night, Not Last Season—–NBA LIVE 365 takes it to a whole new level of connectivity, providing you an unprecedented level of authenticity and realism. Now every game truly is different powered by DynamicDNA data updating daily.
  
• NBA Rewind*—–Think you can do it better? Rewrite history and replay last night's game with the updated statistical data that recreates identical conditions including injuries, hot/cold streaks, tendencies and player DNA.
  
• Pick and Roll Control—This new two-man game mechanic lets you control both the ball handler and the screener, as you set screens and run two man plays, with on court instructions popping up to guide you through each play.
  
• Signature Playcalling— Introducing an accessible in game playcalling system that pushes on-court visualization to guide you through the play. Linked to LIVE 365, this feature will suggest authentic plays for NBA's stars to run on the court.
  
• NBA Academy—Get the most out of your game and hone your skills when you jump into game with an all-new practice facility.
  
• Quickstrike AnkleBreakers—Force your defender to step up and guess what you'll do next. Trigger the turbo button and use the right analog stick for bold, responsive ball-handling moves to fake out your defender and create scoring opportunities.
  
• Lockdown Control—–A new risk reward system to lock in your check on defense. Get in tight on a strong shooting guard to take away his shot, or play back to keep a quick point guard from blowing by you.
  
• FIBA Expanded—–With 24 national teams to choose from, you can compete in an international tournament using authentic FIBA rosters and teams, including, the United States, Spain, France, and more.
  
• 5 vs. 5 Online Team Play*—–All 10 players on the court can now be controlled by users on 10 different consoles around the world. Now the game outcome can be completely dependent on how you play as an online team.
  
• Online* Custom Leagues—Create your own online league, with all-new drafting, trades and a single elimination playoff format.
  
• Be A Pro—Feel what it's like to be a part of a team and lock in as one player – online using Online Team Play, or offline in single player mode. Let NBA LIVE give you feedback and track how well you are playing your position.
  
• Extend your Game with EA SPORTS World*—Create your own highlight reel then upload the video to EA SPORTS World to prove your passion to the world.
  

Bauer Advertising Announces sponsorship for Guitar Hero

Bauer Advertising and 4Music today announced an exclusive sponsorship deal with Activision to promote the Guitar Hero games across Channel 4’s 4Music channel and six Bauer Consumer Media music TV channels; Kiss, Kerrang!, Magic, Q, The Box and Smash Hits.

The deal, brokered by Bauer Advertising and Starcom Mediavest, is one of the largest gaming advertising deals negotiated at Bauer Advertising to date.

The partnership with Activision Publishing, Inc., a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products, is designed to further enhance brand awareness for Guitar Hero, the world’s best-selling rhythm-based video game series, as well as help promote the upcoming Guitar Hero World Tour launch in the U.K.

Beginning 15th August 2008, Activision’s Guitar Hero brand will be the exclusive weekly sponsor for over 40 hours of live concerts that will be broadcast on 4Music, Kiss, Kerrang!, Magic, Q, The Box and Smash Hits for a six-month period, running until February 2009. Bespoke 60” interactive adverts will run across all channels during that six-month period as well as 10” blipverts that will act as teasers to ensure that short-stay viewers also engage with the promotion.

The adverts will preview new footage from various Guitar Hero games and run competitions offering viewers the chance to win prizes such as home entertainment systems, accessories and other Activision games. Viewers will text in to enter the competitions, or log on to a bespoke microsite, generating audience interaction within the campaign activity.

As part of the partnership, the Guitar Hero brand will also sponsor seven hours of relevant weekly programming across the music EPG on Bauer channels, which comprise 40% of the total music TV market.

Darren Khan, TV Sales Director, Bauer Advertising says: “The live festivals and music programming on our channels are a perfect fit for Guitar Hero’s target market and it is great to work with Activision on this exciting long-term promotion. Creating and packaging exclusive partnership opportunities for clients across the extensive music programming content on 4Music and Bauer music TV channels is a great new proposition from Bauer Advertising, and we are delighted to have Activision on board.”



David Tyler, UK & Ireland Marketing Director, Activision Publishing, Inc. UK says: “This is an amazing opportunity for us to reach a huge number young people with a variety of music tastes in one neat, targeted campaign. Guitar Hero video games are the perfect product for all music lovers who live and breathe the fantastic programming that Bauer’s music channels and 4Music provide.”

Tetris Pop EAs mobile cellphone game

Power Up with Tetris POP. 

Push your skills to the limit in frantic timed challenges. Can you beat the clock in three high-energy modes and several action-packed Tetris mini-variations? Survive wave after wave of tetriminos in Flood or drown in the matrix. Trigger bombs in Detonator to go KABOOM. Hang on tight in Ledge or plummet into a bottomless pit. Dazzle your eyes and ears with brilliant colors, animated backgrounds and pulse-pounding beats. Tetris POP is packed with surprises and secrets.

Key features

• Enjoy an incredible range of game play with 17 different mini-variations.
  
• Experience three new play modes: POP, POP Chrono and POP Mix.
  
• POP: Encounter 22 levels, each containing three mini-variations and explore eight unique "worlds," each with their own animated backgrounds and energetic music.
  
• POP Chrono: Set your desired play time and let the game tailor a play session to fit your schedule.
  
• POP Mix: Customize your game play by selecting your favorite mini-variations from the play list.
  
• Complete levels and achieve goals to progress through the game and unlock a secret surprise.
  
• Dazzle your eyes with stunning animated backgrounds
  
• Groove along to eight, high-energy music tracks.
  

Batman: Arkham Asylum Screenshots - Xbox 360

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