Official PlayStation Magazine UK scoops world exclusive LittleBigPlanet review

Image via WikipediaFuture teams up with Sony to give gamers a limited edition Sackboy God of War skin

Official PlayStation Magazine – the UK’s bestselling Sony games magazine, scoops the world exclusive review of LittleBigPlanet this month, and gives players the chance to grab an amazing FREE download that will customise the game’s Sackboy star.

With personalisation and customisation at the very heart of the LittleBigPlanet experience, UK readers of Future’s Official PlayStation Magazine will be able to personalise their Sackboy character with an exclusive download from Sony Computer Entertainment. Readers will receive a unique code which can be redeemed via PlayStation Network to download a Kratos skin – changing their cute character to the imposing Spartan anti-hero from Sony’s critically-acclaimed God of War series.

Before Media Molecule’s hugely-anticipated LittleBigPlanet hits PlayStation 3 on Friday 24th October, Official PlayStation Magazine delivers the world exclusive review. The in-depth 8-page review comprehensively lifts the lid on how gamers can unleash their creative potential in LittleBigPlanet, revealing how the game’s near limitless potential for players creating and sharing their own custom-designed objects, ideas and levels.

With Sackboy the coverstar of the November issue, the celebration of LittleBigPlanet continues with an exclusive offer for new subscribers. The first 200 readers who take out an annual subscription to Official PlayStation Magazine will receive a highly collectable Sackboy plush toy from Sony, as well as a Blu-ray movie and the magazine for just £15.57 a quarter, a massive 20% saving on the newsstand cost.

Tim Clark is Editor of Official PlayStation Magazine:

“The buzz around LittleBigPlanet is now deafening, thanks to the current Beta trial, and once our review hits it’ll be clear just how special this game is. Being able to give our readers the adorably grumpy exclusive Kratos skin is a real coup for us, and we can’t wait to start bumping into them in the incredible online mode.”

Publisher of Official PlayStation Magazine, Richard Keith added:

“This is a UK-developed game that’s going to be huge across the globe this Christmas and beyond. I’m proud we got the world exclusive review and that we were able to team up with Sony to offer something very special for our readers, We look forward to working with Sony on further exclusives.

The November issue of Official PlayStation Magazine with the world’s only Blu-ray demo disk and the exclusive LittleBigPlanet Kratos download is on sale now, costing £5.99.

Lego - Batman the video game - screenshots - video

LEGO Batman - The Videogame, published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and developed by TT Games, ships to retail stores on 10th October on the Microsoft Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation 2, PSP(PlayStationPortable) system, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and Windows PC.

Gotham City’s most notorious criminals have broken out of ARKHAM ASYLUM and it’s up to the DYNAMIC DUO to stop them. Based on the iconic DC Comics’ heroes BATMAN and ROBIN, as well as many other memorable characters from the DC Comics Universe, LEGO Batman: The Videogame blends the wildly popular Batman universe with the versatility of LEGO building and the humour of the LEGO minifigure. Unlike any LEGO game done in the past, players can now explore their wicked side and play the game as the villains, not just the heroes.


















From the rooftops to the sewers, players will experience Gotham City like never before as they choose to play from the perspective of either the villains, entering the game from Arkahm Asylum, or the heroes, swinging into action from The BATCAVE. LEGO Batman: The Videogame features fifteen hero levels and fifteen villain levels – for a total of thirty unique action-packed levels. Play as comic heroes Batman, Robin, ALFRED PENNYWORTH and BATGIRL, or wreak havoc as The Joker, HARLEY QUINN, MR. FREEZE, TWO-FACE and many more!

LEGO Batman: The Videogame features a completely original storyline, encompassing the lighthearted charm of LEGO and the multifaceted lore of Gotham City. LEGO Batman: The Videogame features co-op multiplayer allowing for easy pick-up-and-play. Players can also get behind the wheel of legendary vehicles, such as the BATMOBILE and BATWING. Enhance the abilities of the Dynamic Duo by unlocking Batman and Robin’s suits to help fight Gotham’s villains, or use The Joker’s electric buzzer to give our heroes a shock.

LEGO Batman: The Videogame is a fast-paced action adventure title for fans of all ages.

Star Wars Force Unleashed leads video game requests in September

Goozex, Inc., the leading online video-game trading community, today released its September Top 10 trading lists. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, published by LucasArts, led the most requested category for the month of September. Ninja Gaiden II, published by Microsoft Game Studios, was the most traded game on Goozex in September.

Below are the top 10 Goozex trading lists for September 2008.

Top 10 Most Requested Games on Goozex in September 2008:

1. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Xbox 360
2. Rock Band 2 – Xbox 360
3. Mercenaries 2: World in Flames - Xbox 360
4. Infinite Undiscovery - Xbox 360
5. LEGO Batman: The Videogame – Xbox 360
6. Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise – Xbox 360
7. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed – PlayStation 3
8. Spore - PC
9. Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway – Xbox 360
10. Pure – Xbox 360

Top 10 Most Traded Games on Goozex in September 2008:

1. Ninja Gaiden II – Xbox 360
2. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots – PlayStation 3
3. Darkness – Xbox 360
4. Gears of War – Xbox 360
5. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune - PlayStation 3
6. Too Human – Xbox 360
7. Burnout Paradise – Xbox 360
8. Lost Odyssey – Xbox 360
9. Unreal Tournament III – Xbox 360
10. Battlefield: Bad Company – Xbox 360

Top 10 Most Offered Games on Goozex in September 2008:

1. Rock Band - Xbox 360
2. Grand Theft Auto IV - Xbox 360
3. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots – PlayStation 3
4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Xbox 360
5. Gears of War - Xbox 360
6. Halo 3 - Xbox 360
7. Ninja Gaiden II - Xbox 360
8. Mass Effect – Xbox 360
9. Grand Theft Auto IV – PlayStation 3
10. Assassin’s Creed – Xbox 360

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Battlefront patch v1.10 standalone released 'Plain Jane'

Image via WikipediaCMSF v1.10 standalone patch ("Plain Jane") released! We are pleased to kick off the first weekend in October with the release of a major update to our flagship game, Combat Mission Shock Force.

The new patch (codename "Plain Jane") takes the base game up to v1.10 and it is packed full of features including new vehicles, a new "Iron" skill level, updated sound effects, improved A.I. behavior (including dynamic use of artillery!), over 30 new Quick Battle Maps, game performance increases and much more (full list included below). As we have done before, we are releasing this patch in three distinct flavors, one for each of the unique versions currently on sale, either from Battlefront.com directly online or published by Paradox Interactive or distributed via the GamersGate website.

Each of the patches is "All Inclusive" and can be applied to any earlier version of the game. The patch is only required for players who do not already own the "Marines" Module that was released last week. Players who have purchased "Marines" already are up to date (v1.10). Please follow the link below for full details about the patch, its features, and to find download links.

Link to jump directly to the CMSF Patches page: http://www.battlefront.com/

Rock Band add Offspring 3 pack, George Thorgood The Destroyers to download music

Image via WikipediaHarmonix and MTV Games announced today the addition of nine new tracks to the Rock Band Music Store catalog of downloadable content. This week’s lineup includes a 3-pack from the legendary California punk rock band The Offspring, which features “Gone Away,” “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy),” and “Self Esteem.” The 3-pack joins previously released Rock Band downloadable track “Hammerhead” to make for a total of four Offspring tracks available in the Rock Band library of downloadable content.

In addition to The Offspring 3-pack the following six tracks will also be added to the Rock Band library of downloadable content: Against Me!’s “Stop!,” Free’s “All Right Now,” George Thorogood and the Destroyers’ “Bad to the Bone,” Harvey Danger’s “Cream & Bastards Rise,” Screaming Tree’s “Nearly Lost you” and Static-X’s “Push It.”

Each Track will be available starting October 7, 2008, for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and October 9, 2008, for PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. Each track will be available for $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) or $5.49 (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for The Offspring 3-pack.

Release date: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360)

Thursday, October 9, 2008 (PlayStationStore)

Tracks:

The Offspring “Gone Away”
The Offspring “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)”
The Offspring “Self Esteem”
Against Me! “Stop!”
Free “All Right Now”
George Thorogood and the Destroyers “Bad to the Bone”
Harvey Danger “Cream & Bastards Rise”
Screaming Trees “Nearly Lost you”
Static-X “Push It”

Price: $5.49 (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for The Offspring 3-pack
$1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
(All tracks are original master recordings)
Locations: Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 and PlayStationNetwork

Sniper - Art of Victory PC video game release in US

City Interactive's latest PC shooter takes aim at the shops

Sniper - Art of Victory drops players into the thick of the action during various battles of WWII. Taking on the decisive role of a military sharpshooter, it will be up to the player to track down and eliminate key German targets, including the general in charge of the Stalingrad assault. Realistic ballistics, true-to-life sniper rifles and a unique aiming system ensure the ultimate combat experience for players.





Hot on the heels of the release of their exciting tactical shooter, SAS: Secure Tomorrow, City Interactive is pleased to announce the release of Sniper: Art of Victory, to North American PC retail today. Featuring graphics powered by the critically acclaimed Chrome engine, Sniper: Art of Victory puts players into the boots of a WWII sniper as he attempts to fend off German forces throughout key battles of WWII.

Warhammer ban gold selling 'bottom feeders'

Warhammer Online developer Mythic Entertainment has been quick to ban gold sellers and spammers from the recently launched title.

Studio boss Mark Jacobs hasn't held back in his latest blog post, where he revealed his thoughts on gold sellers in no uncertain terms.

"I hate gold sellers with every fiber of my being," wrote Jacobs.

"Since WAR launched we have been banning these jerks like crazy. As of Saturday night, we had banned about 400 of them.

"My CSRs have a zero tolerance policy. We don’t wait and let them stay in the game and ban them en-masse, my guys ban their useless, time-consuming butts right away. We have a strike team whose sole job it is to get these guys off our servers as quickly as possible," he revealed.

"We are in for a real fight against these bottom feeders and it will be a long and costly battle but it’s one we are going to take to them and this is only the first step," added Jacobs.

He also said that in the past companies have tried to buy him off by offering him a stake in the gold selling business, despite the opportunity to make a "tidy sum" on the side.

"For those who might be tempted to think that we are doing this so we could offer our own service or because we do make money off their boxes (traditionally, gold sellers will quickly shift to buddy disks and free trials though to lower their costs), let me tell you this. I’ve been offered 'a piece of the action' both personally and corporately in the past if I will either turn a blind eye or help them in their actions. This would have netted me and/or Mythic a very, very tidy sum, far more than we would see from box sales.

"My answer was and always will remain the same: Go to hell."

Source: GamesIndustry

Google Wants Lively To Be a True Gaming Platform

Image via CrunchBaseFollowing confirmation that Google intends to open its virtual world Lively to games developers, creative director Kevin Hanna has revealed the long-term goal is for the service to become an online games platform.

At GDC Austin earlier this month, Hanna said that initially the company will release an application programming interface (API), allowing users to create simple arcade or 3D games.

"There is a longer term goal of opening up the API so the architecture of Lively could be used as an online games platform," detailed Hanna, speaking exclusively to GamesIndustry.biz.

The veteran of Microsoft – who now works at Google partner X-Ray Kid with a team that includes former employees of Sony, Disney, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros. and Marvel Entertainment – hopes that Lively can be an entry point for developers who can easily get to grips with the Google technology.

"I'd like for it to be invisible, where when it makes sense to have 3D aspects of the web, that everyone will have already downloaded the plug-in, it's one of the first things you do when you install your machine, and you're able to just jump around and play in a creative space," he said.

"I feel like a big chunk of the games industry out there has a corporate mentality where you're first to be second, and I've been there, where they say, "'Make sure you include this aspect, and this aspect, and this aspect, to ensure that we have an 80 per cent market share.'"

This copycat attitude is dampening the creativity of the games medium, according to Hanna, who believes Lively can can be an inspiration to developers.

"It's sucking the life out of what should be the most creative and innovative medium out there, and I hope that this inspires those same 'passionate start-ups' and kids in college to actually go and produce games where they don't have to worry about the visual bar or the accessibility, because those things are already pre-established."

PC game predicts the US presidential election result 2008 - The Political Machine

The Political Machine

On the road to the White House

The irony of the realism

The Political Machine is a PC game. It is designed to be fun. But underneath the covers it is one of the most advanced political simulations that exists. For example, in 2004, The Political Machine 2004 edition accurately predicted the election in June. Stardock's Brad Wardell was asked live on CNBC in June 2004 how the game predicted the outcome.

The game correctly predicted that Ohio - not Florida - would be the state to watch and whoever won that state would win the election. It also correctly predicted the winner of 48 of the 50 states. Moreover, political junkies will appreciate many of the political consultants and strategies employed in the game such as the use of smear merchants, spin doctors, intimidators, cheer leaders, movie stars, etc.

Strategy gamers will appreciate the balanced game mechanics which allows players to research new campaign tactics. The Political Machine isn't just a fun game to play; it's a game that lets players see how the political process works in all its gory detail. Simple to play, difficult to master.

Kalypso Media and Stardock bring you the humorous and irreverent game The Political Machine, a PC strategy game in which players run for President of the United States. Players can choose an existing candidate or can design their own from scratch, then choose a map/scenario to campaign in. From there, players must tackle the issues and battle against their ideological opponent for victory on election day.

The Political Machine will be released on PC 17.10.08 at £19.99

Warhammer Online tops American PC video games chart

Warhammer Online - Age of Reckoning has topped American PC video game sales chart for the September 20 week.

SPORE took second place (No1 last week) in the MMO video games race for top slot with Warhammer Online Collectors Edition thaking third.

Crysis - Warhead entered the chart at No 4 folled by The Sims 2 Apartment Life at No 5.

No 6 placed World of Warcraft - Battle Chest with Spore Galactic Edition came in seventh and The Sims 2 Double Deluxe 8th.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky took in 9th place and finally World of Warcraft was at No 10.

America PC games chart:

1. Warhammer Online - Age Of Reckoning

2. SPORE

3. Warhammer Online - Age Of Reckoning Collectors Edition

4. Crysis - Warhead

5. The Sims 2 Apartment Life

6. World Of Warcraft - Battle Chest

7. SPORE Galactic Edition

8. The Sims 2 Double Deluxe

9. Stalker - Clear Sky

10. World Of Warcraft