Video Game Technology Brings Hudson River Landing To Life

UK Company Just Flight Recreates 'Miracle on the Hudson' Landing For BBC And ITN Reports

Millions of viewers around the globe watched incredible scenes unfold as Captain 'Sully' Sullenberger performed a miraculous emergency landing. Reports of this astonishing event were augmented by graphical footage provided by British flight simulator company, Just Flight.

Just Flight's experts sprang into action to recreate the spectacular A320 landing manoeuvre for both BBC's 6 O'clock and News at Ten bulletins last Friday - and then ITN's 11pm news programme. They assisted with reports on the crash by providing a simulation reconstruction after a call came in from the BBC early Friday morning. BBC reporters then visited Just Flight's offices to write their stories and the footage was constructed in time for lunch.






Using their software, Just Flight was able to simulate the incident in astonishing detail, including the full-engine failure and resulting fires at 3,000 feet, the dramatic turn at the George Washington Bridge at 1,000 feet when both engines had cut out and the final ditching opposite the 48th Street Pier on the Hudson River. This event recreation highlighted for viewers the heroic skills of Captain Sullenberger.
BBC reporter Rory Cellan-Jones said later: “Just Flight was very helpful and knowledgeable, not just about the software but about aircraft in general”.

Andy Payne, Director of Just Flight, added: “It was fantastic to be able to assist both the BBC and ITN in bringing this story to their audience with such clarity. ITN News had clearly tuned in, as they also contacted us to ask if we could do something very similar for their 11pm News programme. We were happy to help, of course, although it's safe to say that several of the team weren't expecting their weekend to start with a drive back to the office in the early evening!”

Michael Rawlinson, Managing Director of ELSPA, added: “In light of the drama that unfolded last week in New York, it was great to see that gaming technologies could be utilised to reconstruct such astonishing scenes for the viewers of the BBC and ITN, which has also gone on to be the most watched video on the BBC website. It illustrates perfectly how technologies derived directly from those used for gaming can be incredibly useful in other aspects of our lives.”

If you would like to see the simulation in all its glory, as used within the BBC report, follow this link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7834499.stm

Race Pro - Car Class Reveal - GT Classes

RACE Pro features three GT Classes: GT Pro, GT Sport and GT Club. GT Pro is the fastest of the three classes, followed by GT Sport and GT Club. Each GT class features all out race cars presented in full race trim. What differentiate the three classes are levels of tuning on engines, the amount of chassis improvements allowed, and tyre and wheel sizes.

The GT classes in RACE Pro have been designed to mimic real GT classes from around the world. RACE Pro features a mixture of rules from major GT championships to ensure the best possible balance in terms of performance amongst the cars whilst also ensuring that each car performs like its real life counterpart. Tools used in RACE Pro to balance performance are air intake restrictors and restrictions to the aerodynamic package. With the cars properly balanced, the choice of which car to race can be based on factors other than sheer performance.

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1. GT PRO

a) Saleen S7R
• Manufacturer Overview: Saleen Inc.
Saleen Inc. is an American manufacturer based in Irvine, California. Saleen manufactures high performance limited-edition sports cars as well automotive equipment. Steve Saleen, a former race car driver, founded the company Saleen Autosport in 1984, the same year the company introduced the first Saleen Mustang. The Saleen S7R has had much success in GT racing all over the world.
• Key Stats
Power: 608 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 768 Nm @ 5250 rpm
Weight: 1140 kg
Top speed: > 300 km/h

b) Viper GTS-R
• Manufacturer Overview: Chrysler (Chrysler Holding LLC)Walter P. Chrysler founded the Chrysler Corporation in 1925 in Detroit. The purchase of Dodge and the creation of the DeSoto and Plymouth divisions in 1928 made Chrysler the third of Detroit’s “Big Three” automakers. Known for many years as Detroit’s engineering company, Chrysler Corporation gained fame for creating power steering, power windows, the alternator, electronic fuel injection and the Hemi engine. In the late '60s, Chrysler was heavily involved with NASCAR and producing performance-oriented cars. In 1998, German-based Daimler-Benz merged with Chrysler to form DaimlerChrysler.
• Key Stats
Power: 655 bhp @ 6250 rpm
Torque: 803 Nm @ 4500 rpm
Weight: 1130 kg
Top speed: > 300 km/h

2. GT SPORT

a) BMW M3 GTR
• Manufacturer Overview: BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke)
BMW is a German car and motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1916 with its headquarters in Munich. During the First World War, the company enjoyed rapid growth building engines for military aircraft until 1918. BMW’s logo therefore represents a rotating airplane propeller. BMW M is a division of BMW producing sports and high-performance vehicles. Since its creation in 1972, BMW M has had a rich history of motor sport success. BMW Group also owns the brands Rolls-Royce and Mini. BMW has been involved successfully in Saloon, Touring, Sports Car and Formula racing.
• Key Stats
Power: 500 bhp @ 7750 rpm
Torque: 500 Nm @ 6500 rpm
Weight: 1180 kg
Top speed: > 280 km/h

b) Corvette C6R
• Manufacturer Overview: Chevrolet
Chevrolet Motor Company of Michigan was created in 1911 with its headquarters in Detroit. Seven years later, General Motors bought the operating assets of Chevrolet Motor Company. Following innovations such as 'the cast iron wonder', an engine renowned for its remarkable durability, and the Powerglide transmission, the first low-price competitor to offer fully automatic shifting, the Chevrolet Corvette was introduced in 1953. The Chevrolet Corvette was the first all-American sports car built by an American car manufacturer. The Corvette name comes from a small, maneuverable fighting frigate and the original emblem incorporated an American flag into the design but was later dropped. Corvettes have a long history of combining exceptional handling and brutal engine power into an affordable package that is significantly less expensive than other prestigious brands with similar capabilities. Corvettes are recognised for their power, efficiency, and affordability.
• Key Stats
Power: 610 bhp @ 6250 rpm
Torque: 775 Nm @ 5250 rpm
Weight: 1120 kg
Top speed: > 300 km/h

c) Spyker C8
• Manufacturer Overview: Spyker Cars N.V.
Spyker Cars N.V. is a Dutch hand-built car manufacturer headquartered in Zeewolde, the Netherlands, and founded in 2000 by Victor R. Muller. However, the Spyker name has a much older history. The brothers Spijker built the first Benz-engine motorcar in 1898, then during the First World War, Spyker built fighter aircrafts and aircraft engines. After the war, the company resumed car production until 1925 when it ceased business. Nevertheless, the Spyker name has not been forgotten since it is now used by modern Spyker cars.
• Key Stats
Power: 471 bhp @ 7500 rpm
Torque: 468 Nm @ 5500 rpm
Weight: 1100 kg
Top speed: > 280 km/h

3. GT CLUB

a) Aston Martin DBRS9
• Manufacturer Overview: Aston Martin
Aston Martin is a British manufacturer of luxury performance cars with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. The name comes from Martin, who raced specials and the Aston Hill Climb. From 1994 to 2007, Aston Martin was part of the Premier Automotive group, a division of the Ford Motor Company. In 2007 Aston Martin was sold to a consortium of two international investment houses (Investment Dar and Adeem Investment) led by David Richards. Aston Martin has a long and successful history in motor sports.
• Key Stats
Power: 550 bhp @ 6250 rpm
Torque: 645 Nm @ 5750 rpm
Weight: 1270 kg
Top speed: > 280 km/h

b) BMW Z4
• Manufacturer Overview: BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke)
BMW is a German car and motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1916 with its headquarters in Munich. During the First World War, the company enjoyed rapid growth building engines for military aircraft until 1918. BMW’s logo therefore represents a rotating airplane propeller. BMW M is a division of BMW producing sports and high-performance vehicles. Since its creation in 1972, BMW M has had a rich history of motor sport success. BMW Group also owns the brands Rolls-Royce and Mini. BMW has been involved successfully in Saloon, Touring, Sports Car and Formula racing.
• Key Stats
Power: 455 bhp @ 8250 rpm
Torque: 410 Nm @ 7000 rpm
Weight: 1145 kg
Top speed: > 250 km/h

The world's smallest hereo- Mini Ninjas video game - No one trips over a mountain; it is the smallest pebble that causes you to stumble

It is with great pride that Io Interactive unveils their latest videogame creation in a brand new game - MINI NINJAS, due for release Fall 2009 on Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PC Games for Windows and PlayStation 3 – Rated E10+, PEGI 7+

Prepare yourself for a Ninja adventure like you have never seen before! Join Hiro, the smallest hero on the biggest adventure, as he embarks on an epic and electrifying quest to restore harmony to a world on the brink of chaos. Use your skills and mighty Ninja training to battle a magical army of evil Samurai. Harness the power of your Kuji magic and utilise the special skills of your Mini Ninja friends as you travel through a perilous world to reach the final confrontation with the Evil Samurai Warlord in his Fortress of Doom.

“Mini Ninjas represents a truly special game for us,” said Niels Jørgensen, General Manager of Io Interactive. “The whole team is very excited about it, because it is unique in so many ways. From the art style to the characters and the depth of the game – Mini Ninjas has that exceptional appeal, which is sure to keep both young and old very entertained.”

Commander in chief PC video game out on Inauguration Day...

Geo-political game lets players make critical decisions starting tomorrow, just like President Obama

Commander in Chief, a PC game that puts players in President Obama’s shoes, launches tomorrow, Inauguration Day. Just like the President, players immediately face the same problems and challenges as in the real world – the economy, controlling the military, national security and terrorism, natural disasters, alternative energy sources, and many others – all with the persistent threat of a terrorist attack on a major U.S. city.

Commander in Chief is played on a detailed 3D world map on a screen similar to cable news programs – multiple windows, scrolling tickers, and on-screen video inserts. To make the geo-political simulation as close to “real world” as possible, each of the 192 countries in Commander in Chief has current data on 400 key factors provided by 50 international organizations including the United Nations, G7, NATO, NAFTA, OPEC, and many other respected sources.

The game has generated national television coverage, print coverage including The New York Times, and has been featured on political Internet sites. Media interest outside the U.S. has been extensive, reaching major publications in Europe, Australia, Singapore, and throughout Asia.

Think you can do better than President Obama on issues such as unemployment, the environment, social security, or foreign relations? Here’s your chance! Commander in Chief will be available at retail stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com starting on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009.

Commander in Chief was developed by Eversim, published by IGS (Interactive Gaming Software based in Maryland), and distributed in North America by Atari Distribution.

Mass Effect Trilogy Confirmed For PS3?

Ever since EA snapped up Bioware, everyone has been considering the possibility of Mass Effect coming to the PlayStation 3. After all, EA's only loyalty is to money, and they're always interested in catering to the largest possible audience.

Well, according to a "fairly reliable source close to Electronic Arts," as reported by SecondStoryGamer, the upcoming sequel and any new installments in the future will indeed be available on Sony's machine, in addition to the Xbox 360 and PC. Evidently - and not surprisingly - EA decided to make the jump to multiplatform due to "the economic outlook." In other words, due to the poor state of the economy, EA wants to make as much as they possibly can out of their current slate of titles, and allowing the critically acclaimed RPG franchise to come to the PS3 would certainly help.

As for the original, the source claims it's "likely" that EA will release a port of Mass Effect at some point this year. While we can only classify this information as "rumor" for the time being, we can supposedly expect the official announcement to come at the Game Developer Conference in March. If it does happen, it's good news for all PS3 owners, as it gives them a high-profile RPG series, which is something the PS3's library desperately needs.

We'll keep our eyes peeled for more evidence concerning this breaking news, and if we're lucky, someone from EA might confirm it publicly before GDC 09. But at the very least, this news is quite encouraging.

Source: PSX Extreme

The Magic of Faeo - New Magic Content and Locations for Legend - Legacy of the Dragons

Latest content update for Legend - Legacy of the Dragons. 

The MMORPG, which can be found at www.warofdragons.com, continues to grow in popularity and the new update offers new locations, monsters, quests and the long-awaited battle magic.

Magic

For those who have already reached level 11 in Legend, there is now the chance to speak to one of Faeo’s War Mages and ask them for training in the art of battle magic. Following a path determined long ago, Humans will be able to speak to Velt the Light Mage, Yu the Air Mage or Aguas the Water Mage. The Magmar magic schools are Fire (Fayt), Earth (Landt) and Shadow (Hombre). Once they have proven themselves worthy of magic, level 11 warriors will able to wield such spells as the Ray of Darkness, the Manacles of Light, the Tongue of Flame and Ice Storm.

Warriors who are not yet strong enough for such powerful knowledge still have the opportunity to speak with the mages and to fight an Elemental to see just what sort of power magic possesses in Faeo!

New locations

New locations have opened up on both the Human and the Magmar continents, bringing with them a variety of new monsters and NPCs. The historic fort cities of Faytvor and Grand Fort are now accessible, with locations including the Luan Coast, Gryphon Crossing, Terror Wharf and Ancestral Mountains. Gargoyles, Phitzells and Krogans are among the slimy beasts to be found hiding in the undergrowth, whilst I-Vidi and Berrush the Demonologists, Stavros and Tungur the Blacksmiths and Sentries Requt and Groumer are just some of the new residents to be found needing the help of a mighty warrior.

In addition, Norak the Virtuous has opened the Cloister of Virtue, offering protection for Faeo’s new and vulnerable warriors.

Rock Band tracks Steve Miller Band, Godsmack, Rob Zombie and more...

Harmonix and MTV Games announced today the addition of eight new tracks to the Rock Band Music Store catalog of downloadable content including music from the Steve Miller Band, Godsmack, Belly, Ghost Hounds, Mute Math and Rob Zombie.

The Rock Band 2 disc features the Steve Miller Band’s classic track “Rock ‘n Me” and now fans of this classic American blues band can expand their collection of SMB music with a three pack of tracks including “The Joker’’ from their album The Joker (1973), “Take the Money and Run" featured on the Fly Like An Eagle (1976) album, and “Space Cowboy” from Brave New World (1969). Alternative metal group Godsmack debuts in the Rock Band Music Library with “I Stand Alone” from their album Faceless (2003).

The update also features Mute Math’s 2008 Grammy-nominated “Typical", alternative rock group Belly’s pop hit “Feed the Tree” (Star, 1993) and Ghost Hounds’ “Wind Me Up” joins “Ashes to Fire” as their second track in the Rock Band Music Store.

Rounding out this week’s additions to the Rock Band Music Store is Rob Zombie’s “War Zone”, the lead single from the soundtrack Punisher: War Zone (2008) from Marvel Comics’ latest film adaptation of urban vigilante Frank Castle, a.k.a. the Punisher.

Release Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360)
Thursday, January 22, 2009 (PlayStation Store)

Tracks:
Steve Miller Band “Space Cowboy”
Steve Miller Band “Take the Money and Run”
Steve Miller Band “The Joker”
Godsmack “I Stand Alone”
Belly “Feed the Tree”
Ghost Hounds “Wind Me Up”
Mute Math “Typical”
Rob Zombie “War Zone”
(All tracks are original master recordings)

Price: $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$5.49 (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for the Steve Miller Band 3-pack

Locations: Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 and PlayStation®Network

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change **

Football Superstars, the world’s first virtual football world

Football Superstars, the world’s first virtual football world, has broken the quarter of a million, registrations barrier. The excitement amongst gamers and football fans in the run up to the now live CyberSports published game has been reflected in the huge increase in registrations since October, with the number signed up doubling in just seven weeks.

The marketing campaign began in May 2008, with 25,000 registrations signed up to the free to play and download football MMOG (massively multiplayer online game) and by October the first target of 100,000 had been reached. The recent publicity surrounding the game, available on www.footballsuperstars.com, has seen this double to 200,000 by the end of November. The number now stands just over an impressive 250,000. This strength of support amongst the online community has been echoed on the website’s forum, on which 60,000 registrants have interacted, and 220,000 individual games of football have already been played in the last eight weeks – an astonishing half a million man hours of game play.

In Football Superstars, players re-create themselves online as a footballer and then have free reign in a state of the art interactive virtual world. Players can play their way from 3-a-side up to full 11-a-side matches, gaining new attributes and skills in order to specialise in their chosen playing position. Away from the pitch players can socialise in restaurants, bars and clubs and visit virtual stores where they can buy equipment and clothes. Players can train in gyms and on training pitches to enhance their skills or flirt with the paparazzi in a bid to boost their fame and status and gain access to the most exclusive clubs and venues.

Phil Booker, CyberSports Head of Sales and Marketing, said: “Breaking the 250,000 barrier is an incredible achievement. It’s fantastic to see the results of the combination of strategic partnerships that we have set up and our marketing strategy using PPC, SEO and viral marketing paying off with such a large number of registrations. We’ve had great support from DBD Media and Infectious Media amongst others, and with their continued support, the registrations will continue to grow and Football Superstars will be the success that our hard work promises.”

Japanese Star Ocean video game series finally reaches U.S.

Star Ocean is a Japanese RPG series whose first game wasn't released in the United States until now. And now that it's here, it stands as one of the better role-playing games on the PSP.

"Star Ocean: The Second Story" was the series' debut in America; "Star Ocean: First Departure" is a remake of the original Super Nintendo game, which is set 20 years before "The Second Story."

But that's getting ahead of things. The game begins on the planet Roak, a relatively primitive world whose inhabitants appear mostly human, except for the tails and pointy ears.

Roak seems peaceful -- one of the game's young heroes, Roddick, even laments the boredom to be had even as a member of the defense force for the town of Kratus.

Roddick and his friends Millie and Dorne find more excitement than they bargained for when they encounter two strange beings who appear in a flash of light. These beings turn out to be Ronyx Kenny and Ilia Silvestri, humans from Earth who belong to a "Star Trek" Federation-like alliance that has a policy of noninterference with undeveloped worlds.

But Ronyx and Ilia are bending the rules because a petrifying contagion sweeping through Roak was introduced by a rival faction of humans.

They offer to help, and the group soon learns that the origins of this disease and its cure lie in Roak's past, and so they head to an ancient time gate to travel back and wrest the cure from the body of a legendary evil. But they have to leave behind their advanced equipment, and then something goes awry in the time trip.

Other "Star Ocean" games have had a similar mix of futuristic high technology with common fantasy tropes such as monsters and magic (called symbology here). It's a combination that has served the series well.

Battles are played out in real time. The player can have up to four characters in the party and can switch control between them at will. When controlling a character, the player can hammer on the X button to keep up a series of combo attacks, use the shoulder buttons to execute pre-chosen special attacks or pause the action to select items and magic. The fighting is fast-paced and can be pretty tough.

The overhaul "First Departure" has received is considerable. The graphics are the most obvious improvement: Where the original game had sprite artwork, here the characters and monsters are redrawn in high resolution, and pre-rendered backdrops take the place of the old tile-based locations.

Star Ocean: First Departure
Publisher: Square Enix
System: Sony PSP
Price: $39.99
Age rating: Teen

Source: Post Bulletin

Aliens - Colonial Marines video game

First-Person Shooter Based on Popular Motion Picture Franchise on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows PC

SEGA details the squad-based first-person shooter video game, Aliens - Colonial Marines. Licensed through an exclusive agreement with Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising and developed by Gearbox Software, the game is available on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Windows-based PC in late 2008.


In Aliens: Colonial Marines, players are part of a United States Colonial Marine squad and must prepare to face an alien assault more intense and horrific than ever before. Driven by a compelling and original story penned by renowned writers Bradley Thompson and David Weddle Aliens: Colonial Marines will retain the atmospheric look and feel of the original films while leveraging next-generation technology to create an entirely new interactive Aliens experience.

Packing classic Aliens weaponry ranging from pulse rifles to flamethrowers as well as brand-new equipment and skills all within a squad-based combat system, players will become an elite United States Colonial Marine. Featuring claustrophobic environments, a brooding soundtrack, and a multitude of surprises and shocks, players will battle against menacing alien hordes in strikingly detailed levels that include the stark interiors of the abandoned Sulaco and unique environments created specifically for the game.


Aliens: Colonial Marines will feature a story driven single-player mode and an all-new four player co-op mode allowing players to share the chilling experience with three friends. In co-op mode, each player will assume the persona of a Colonial Marine and have a distinct role to play in the completion of every mission. Additionally, more multiplayer modes will be revealed later in the year that will complete the Aliens video game experience.

Since its 1979 debut, Alien and its three sequels have grossed more than $557 million worldwide.