Family Glide Hockey is now available for download, exclusively on WiiWare

Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment software, announces Family Glide Hockey is now available for download, exclusively on WiiWare™! Developed by ARC SYSTEM WORKS, creators of the Guilty Gear series and Family Table Tennis, players will once again embark on another American pastime!

For only 500 points, Family Glide Hockey features eye pleasing cel-shaded graphics and endearing music, while sporting easy competitive gameplay for all ages. Choose between single player mode, versus mode (up to 4 players can play), or challenge your skill in engaging mini-games.
“”Fans of air hockey will have another reason to stay home during the long winter nights”, states Frank deWindt II, Project Lead, Aksys Games. “Family Glide Hockey is definitely a great way to spend some fun quality time with your friends and family, without the sting of wasting your quarters!


Key Features:

• Fun for the Whole Family!
Choose between four different family members! There's Billy (son), Sarah (daughter), Mommy, and Daddy!

• You've Got The Touch!
Devastate your opponent and unleash the power of the Fire Shot or Trick Shot for the win!

• Choose Your Battleground!
Pick among 5 unique locations to have a friendly match of glide hockey. Choose between the gymnasium, forest park, beach, amusement park, and even an arctic aquarium!

• Exciting Mini Games!
Try your wits against Glide Hockey Brawl, Glide Hockey Drill, and Glide Hockey Tracer!

Family Glide Hockey has been rated “E” for everyone by the ESRB.

Football Manager Live - Online world now online

Test your football management skills with the rest of the world online for the very first time

Sports Interactive and SEGA Europe announce that Football Manager Live for PC and Apple Macintosh is available now via digital download at www.footballmanagerlive.com, and will be available from 23rd January in stores.


Football Manager Live, the eagerly awaited persistent-world game from award winning development studio Sports Interactive, lets you test your football management skills against the rest of the world online for the very first time.

“Football Manager Live is a very different game to Football Manager – imagine, if you can, a cross between Football Manager, fantasy football, an auction website and some social networking, and you’ll be just about there,” said Miles Jacobson, Studio Director at Sports Interactive. “Football Manager Live is the best way to prove your football management prowess to the world, and with a new development model dubbed as “constant development”, there will be new features being added to the game every few months, with a lot of these features being based directly on consumer feedback and what the people playing Football Manager Live want to see in the game.”

“Football Manager Live is an exciting step forward for the Football Manager brand, and with Sports Interactive being behind the helm of the very first live football MMO, it couldn’t be in better hands,” said Gary Knight, Marketing Director of SEGA Europe Ltd.

Football Manager Live lets you create and manage your very own football club, choosing your team name, colours, badge, home ground, and also deciding which players to sign from Sports Interactive’s famous database of over 330,000 real world footballers.

Providing a more casual experience than the Football Manager series, you can log in from anywhere, download the small client and play against your friends and other managers from around the world. Players can exchange banter with rival managers via the in-game chat system anytime, 24 hours a day 7 days a week, and you can also choose a league to suit your playing style, tailored to how often and when you want to play the game.

Craft the best team possible and buy, sell, loan and exchange players with other managers in the lively transfer market, or snap up some talent with the new player auction system. To ensure your success you have to balance your finances and develop your club, using an innovative skill system to improve your managerial style and give you the edge.

Football Manager Live operates on a subscription service, with the initial retail boxed copy retailing at £29.99 including a four month subscription to the game, with online subscriptions costing £22.99 to play the game for three months, £43.99 for six months and £72.99 for a full year, which equates to less than 20p per day.

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Marble Saga - Kororinpa puzzle video game on Nintendo Wii

A new teaser for Marble Saga: Kororinpa, coming for the Nintendo Wii later this spring. Marble Saga: Kororinpa, an exciting puzzle adventure centering around a marble, features a variety of levels for gamers to explore, 4-person multiplayer gameplay, tons of customization features, the ability to connect and compete online and the use of the Wii Balance Board as features.

The story takes place with players heading out on a journey with Anthony the Ant as he searches for the Golden Sunflower. By guiding Anthony’s marble around the Ant World and searching for items which are valuable to help reach the Golden Sunflower, gamers will help Anthony save his colony.

Along the way players will face dangerous mazes and use cool and amazing widgets and gadgets to guide Anthony to his objective. With multiple levels to explore and three difficulty stages within each level, no area is ever the same.

Unique features in Marble Saga: Kororinpa allow fun customization for players. From designing the ball with attributes to helping players navigate through stages easier, to Miis™ and preset fun images, to an Edit Mode which allows for custom design of a unique stage, gamers can really make this entertaining experience their own. For a more competitive tone, a 4-person multiplayer mode allows players to compete with three other opponents on the same map as each races to the finish line. For more customization and group fun with others, the Wii Connect 24 feature allows gamers to share the unique stages they created with their friends or to receive extra stages from Hudson after the game’s launch via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Marble Saga: Kororinpa will be available in Spring 2009.

Resident Evil 5 demo download on PlayStation 3 from Monday 2nd February

Capcom is pleased to confirm that PlayStation 3 owners will be able to experience action from two levels of the highly anticipated Resident Evil 5 ahead of its March 13th release date.

The demo will be available for European registered PSN users to download free of charge from Monday 2nd February.

As in the full game, the demo offers three levels of co-op play: single-player with AI support, two-player split-screen on a single PS3 and two-player across PSN.

As a reminder the demo will be available to download from Xbox Live from Monday 26 January.

Moto Racer DS ultimate motorbike racing game on Nintendo DS this April

Moto Racer is back! Moto Racer DS is the definitive motorbike racing game from Nobilis and Ascaron Entertainment. Due for release in April 2009 Moto Racer DS continues the successful series by delivering an incredible gaming experience on the portable Nintendo DS platform.

Racing fans take part in four exciting disciplines in a wide range of environments. Compete in single races, missions or against friends in multiplayer mode. Moto Racer DS also introduces the optional new and intuitive stylus control system with its unique Stylus Precision Handling (SPH).

Take a trip into the world of adrenaline pumping race action with the new Moto Racer DS game trailer available on my YouTube channel (please subscribe) here...

The only racing game with 4 exhilarating disciplines:

· Grand Prix - Race at speed around tight bends and scrape your knees against the tarmac of the race circuit

· Traffic - Involves a more measured pace with skilled manoeuvres in order to dodge oncoming trucks in urban cityscapes

· Super Cross - Features indoor circuits with treacherous leaps requiring expert thrusts and controlled landing to master the course

· Freestyle - Riders have to brake carefully, managing their speed and thrust to pull off jaw-dropping tricks high in the air

Race against friends

The multiplayer option in Moto Racer DS enables up to eight other bikers to be challenged for the ultimate racing experience against friends. Players can also compare their scores with others using the Online Worldwide Ranking system at the Moto Racer DS website.

Unique Stylus Precision Handling

Moto Racer DS features SPH, allowing the player to experience sensational acceleration, clever braking and stunning freestyle tricks by moving the stylus across the touch-screen. Point the stylus left and right to move the bike in the chosen direction, enabling corners to be taken smoothly and oncoming traffic to be speedily avoided, while other stylus movements can be used to perform back flips, flying jumps and crazy spins, providing hours of entertaining freestyle fun.

Fast facts:

Publisher: Ascaron Entertainment / Nobilis
Web: www.motoracer-thegame.com
Developer: Artefacts Studio
Release date: April 2009
Rating: PEGI: 3+
Format: Nintendo DS
Genre: Racing

Pass your driving theory test with Nintendo DS video game

Avanquest Software Publishing, a leading consumer software and games publisher, will launch Pass Your Driving Theory Test for Nintendo DS in March 2009. It is the essential interactive guide for those preparing to take their driving theory test. All 1265 official DSA questions are included for both cars and motorcycles, with users given the option to customise a revision schedule to fine tune their knowledge.

A theory test costs £30 and must be completed before driving students can take their practical examination. Almost 40% of those taking their theory test will fail*, which can result in having to reschedule a practical driving test. This in turn increases costs, wastes time and adds annoyance to an already stressful situation. For £19.99, Pass Your Driving Theory Test DS is a cost effective tool to ensure a first time pass.

When learning to drive, an instructor keeps a personalised record of a student’s progress. With Pass Your Driving Theory Test DS, users can do this by analysing their test results and creating a tailored revision schedule to improve specific subject areas. There are four effective test modes for users to assess themselves:

· DSA Test – In this mode learner drivers can test themselves on questions from one of the 14 official DSA categories to improve a specific subject area

· Custom Test – This test format allows users to customise an exam to develop their knowledge by specifying the number of questions from each of the 14 categories

· Mock Theory Test – Just like the real thing, learners are given 57 minutes to answer 50 questions, enabling them to judge if they are ready for their official theory test

· Quick Test – These tests enable driving students with a couple of minutes spare to do a rapid revision session of 10-40 randomly selected, timed questions

Pass Your Driving Theory Test DS includes all 1265 of the official theory test questions, with explanations for every answer to ensure learner drivers gain a clear understanding of the subject area. It has been developed in conjunction with LDC, one of the UK’s largest driving schools, that also offers a FREE driving lesson worth £26 for every owner of Pass Your Driving Theory Test DS.

Pass Your Driving Theory Test DS will be released by Avanquest Software Publishing in March 2009, priced £19.99

Fast facts:

Publisher: Avanquest Software Publishing
Developer: Uacari
Distributor: Interactive Ideas / Gem / Centresoft / Ideal Software
Release date: March 2009
Format: Nintendo DS
Genre: Simulation
SRP: £19.99

Aika Online realises ultra large-scale war with 300MB MMORPG beta

Aika Online's ultra large-scale war MMORPG surprises users with client optimization
- Users downloading client give high marks to Aika's system optimization

HanbitSoft announced that the company has been rated highly by users for its system optimization since the client distribution of Aika Online ("Aika"; http://aika.hanbiton.com), the ultra large-scale national war MMORPG.

Since the 16th, December Aika has distributed clients through its official website; it has conducted OBT within Korea since the 18th. HanbitSoft added that the users who tried the client location were amazed since download up to location took them only about 5 minutes, experiencing for themselves the system optimization that they have only heard about before. Such system optimization is expected to eliminate issues related to getting into the game since many gamers would be able to enjoy together to realize an ultra large-scale war, the strong point of Aika.

Aika reveals clear graphics even in light clients with a little more than 300 MB and retains a quest line according to the Aika Novel as well as massive contents such as Fran, users¡¯ eternal soul mate, instance dungeons, raid dungeons, etc.

Aika can run in PCs with Pentium 3 CPU and 512 MB; thus earning raves in international markets for its powerful competitiveness considering the fact that there are still many gamers and Internet cafes whose PC features are not that advanced. In fact, Aika is receiving countless calls from overseas as well.

"Since Aika is a war game, and hundreds of warriors should be in a field, we placed the biggest emphasis on system optimization. There are many users who consider whether they need to buy a new PC whenever a new game comes out. With Aika, however, they can enjoy the best quality without such burden," said Yura, Kim, director of HanbitSoft.

Watch the video on my YouTube channel here... (please subscribe)

Warhammer 40,000 - Dawn of War II out soon

THQ announced that Warhammer 40,000 - Dawn of War II, developed by the award-winning Real-time strategy (RTS) developer, Relic Entertainment, has reached the gold master stage of development and is now entering manufacturing. 

Set in the grim, war-ravaged world of Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 science fiction universe, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II delivers visceral combat, stunning visuals, and destructible environments throughout a non-linear single-player experience as well as a fully cooperative multiplayer campaign via Microsoft's free Games for Windows - LIVE service.

Developed exclusively for Windows PC and powered by an enhanced version of Relic's proprietary Essence EngineTM 2.0, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II is scheduled to be on store shelves at retail outlets nationwide on February 19, 2009.

"Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II will build on the critical acclaim and commercial success of the Dawn of War franchise, letting players experience RTS gaming like never before," said Kevin Kraff, vice president of global brand management, THQ. "Combining non-linear gameplay, cooperative multiplayer, cinematic visuals, and destructible battlefields brings a new, innovative dynamic to the genre."

"Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II stays true to the fast-paced, brutal heart of the Dawn of War series, while introducing branching single-player storylines and unique unit customization," said Tarrnie Williams, general manager, Relic Entertainment. "The deep, tactical gameplay lets players develop and lead personalized elite units who gain experience and grow stronger with every ferocious battle."

About Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II transports players into Games Workshop's vast Warhammer 40,000 universe, where an intergalactic war between ancient races has raged on for countless millennia. Featuring vicious front-line combat, destructible environments, a fully cooperative multiplayer mode, four unique playable races and a non-linear single-player campaign with branching storylines, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II delivers the ultimate sci-fi fantasy RTS experience. Disposable units will become a thing of the past as gamers feel the intimate brutality of war and develop a personal connection with fully customizable squads. For more information on Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II, please visit www.dawnofwar2.com.

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.

Watch the video on my YouTube channel here... please subscribe





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