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Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Space Giraffe PC gets awesome 92% review, Gridrunner+++ out soon


Britain's top PC gaming magazine PC Gamer has reviewed Space Giraffe PC in its February 2009 edition and given the game an overall rating of 92% and the accolade "***** MUST BUY", making Space Giraffe one of the most highly rated games of the month. They say:

"It balances the risk, the reward and the signals so perfectly that it's either sheer luck or complete genius"… "Space Giraffe offers experiences and enemies that are actually, honestly new"…"if you give Space Giraffe a few hours and some patience you will find an immersive world unlike any other, an unforgettable one".

The February edition of PCG is in shops now, we can only recommend that you pick up a copy and read this splendid 2-page review of Space Giraffe PC for yourself.
This excellent press reception of the PC version of Space Giraffe is a testament to the effort we have put into refining and improving the game since its initial Xbox 360 release. We listened to criticism from those who found the original experience a bit too intense for comfort, and created an entirely new set of 100 more chilled-out levels which make the game more approachable for beginners - whilst retaining the original level set for those who enjoy the full-on hardcore psychedelia of the initial release. Reaction to the updated version has been universally favourable and attests to the underlying excellence of the original game design.

In developing the new levels we have also developed a much-improved shader library making possible effects which are more intricate and beautiful than before yet without being overwhelming. This shader library - and the underlying Neon engine which drives it - has already been deployed to create the beautiful background visualisations in the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade game "Space Invaders Extreme".

This library will be extended further and deployed to maximum effect in our upcoming release "Gridrunner+++" (working title; the final title will likely involve less plusses). This game has already been mentioned in EDGE Magazine's "Most Wanted" section, and is a fast-paced extrapolation of the oldschool single-screen shooter, brought brilliantly into the 21st century with beautiful abstract visuals and intense, challenging but fair gameplay accessible on a variety of levels from novice to twitch-shooter expert.
Gridrunner+++ will be released at the end of April.

iKungFu free iPhone game

iphoneiPhoneKungFu.com's new interactive iPhone game launches today on the iTunes App Store

Following its launch on 5 January this year, iphonekungfu.com has now introduced a free iPhone game on the iTunes App Store to download for free.

iKungFu is a simple yet addictive app that allows users the chance to smash through wood, ice and even brick by shaking their iPhone in a karate-chop motion. With fun sounds and the same design styles as the iPhone Kung Fu website, iKungFu is an entertaining new game for iPhone and iPod touch users.

The app concept, artwork and audio effects were created by the iPhoneKungFu.com team and then passed to developer Vladimir Kofman who has seen great success from his utility The Converter which is also available on the iTunes App Store.
“We’ve had a lot of fun creating this app for iPhoneKungFu,” said iCreate magazine Editor, Ben Harvell. “It’s amazing to think how far we’ve come in digital terms, from websites to podcasts to commissioning iPhone games in a few short years. I’d like to extend my warmest thanks to Vladimir, who has been both accommodating and patient during the creation of iKungFu.”
To download a copy of iKungFu to your iPhone, search for ‘iKungFu’ on iTunes or visit www.iPhoneKungFu.com for more information. Updated daily, iPhone Kung Fu.com offers a free ringtone and video lesson every day along with the latest news and views from the iPhone Kung Fu team.

iPhoneKungFu’s new iPhone game is the latest addition to Imagine’s growing online portfolio that includes the recently launched Pokemon Face-Off (www.pokemonfaceoff.com) and the massively popular DPhotographer.co.uk, which recently hit 50,000 photo uploads.

Big Bang Mini demo to download now on Nintendo Wii channel

big bang miniNo Need to Wait For Independence Day, Fireworks Fun is Here Today

SouthPeak Games announces a demo of Arkedo Studio’s Big Bang Mini (shipping this week!) for Nintendo DS is now available as a free download via Nintendo Channel on Wii. This unique shoot ‘em up has players blast enemies by launching fireworks displays.

The demo of Big Bang Mini includes levels from three of the game’s worlds – Hong Kong, Aurora and Luxor – giving players a glimpse of this massive action title. The full retail version will has 9 uniquely themed worlds, over 90 challenging levels of play, epic boss battles, and 7 modes that will do everything from literally waking them up to giving them hours of endless challenges.

Arkedo created an amazing title that gives everyone a taste of beautiful fireworks action. It may start off simple, but it quickly evolves into one of the most compelling and challenging shooters on DS.
The process to download the Big Bang Mini demo is simple: First make sure you are opted in on your Wii to send data to Nintendo, then select the demo from the Big Bang Mini info page on Nintendo Channel, and the Wii will instruct you to turn on your DS and select “Download Play” from the system menu.
Big Bang Mini is rated E for Everyone and begins shipping Wednesday for the suggested retail price of just $19.99.

Venetica - Experience the dark Action RPG features of the Twilight World on Xbox 360 and PC

VeneticaIn dtp entertainment’s upcoming Action RPG Venetica players take over the role of Scarlett, Grim Reaper’s daughter who is young and beautiful.. Set in a fantastic Venice, it is her mission to fight the pure evil.

Venetica takes players to the here and now of its fantastic game world, making Scarlett explore Venice’s streets, canals, houses and even the roof tops. As the daughter of Death, she also has the ability to enter the Twilight World: the world of the dead. Here, she communicates with the dead and gets access to a number of unique gameplay elements. To achieve this, Scarlett needs to learn and train for special, supernatural skills and abilities – of which she initially doesn’t even know exist…

During the game, her skills and abilities will allow her to get deeper and deeper into the Twilight World, and, for instance, ask the dead for help.

Venetica
Here and there, the dead help Scarlett to accomplish her missions by giving her hints: There are two ghosts, for example, who help Scarlett to find special items by revealing hidden doors or showing her helpful hints that will allow her to pick locks successfully. Scarlett meets these guys early in the game, when they still are alive. She helps them, but can’t avert that both will be killed later in the game.

It’s not just Good that awaits Scarlett in the Twilight World – the pure evil lurks there too, waiting the daughter of Death. Those who know the story of Venetica are aware of the bad necromancer, who is the source of all evil in the game’s story. He, Viktor, empowered himself with the Grim Reaper’s supernatural powers and now threatens the world. So, it’s not only countless horrific creatures that are waiting for Scarlett. Viktor’s powerful accomplices also hound her..

Equipped with supernatural powers, Viktor’s allies await Scarlett in the Twilight World once she has defeated them in the world of the Living. Now, Scarlett will face her real challenge: Using their powers, the evil helpers transform themselves into huge beasts, becoming even more powerful now that they reached the realm of the Dead.

Venetica’s Twilight World offers even more to the players: It’s not only special NPCs and enemies that resurrect in the world of the Dead – also Scarlett herself uses the underworld to re-awake. This allows her to generate herself tactical combat advantage, for instance by repositioning herself unseen while staying in the Twilight World, and afterwards surprisingly returning to the world of the living.

There is another special connection between Scarlett and the Twilight World: Her literally eternal love to Benedict, who dies just at the start of the game, bounds her to this world. Scarlett will meet her love regularly. In fact, Benedict will be the one who reveals Scarlett’s supernatural powers and who trains her in how to use them.

Many additional skills and abilities allow Scarlett to make even more use of the Twilight World, for instance by summoning creatures or by giving her unusual insights in both the worlds of the Living and the Dead. So, the Twilight World offers a full load of innovative gameplay features to Action RPG gamers.

Venetica will be a cinematic Action RPG with an extraordinary and deep story. The game mixes emotion and action in stunning ways.

A unique and living world full of surprises is waiting for the player, set in fantastic 16th century Venice and paired with intuitive and easy to learn gameplay.

As Cinematic RPG Venetica offers movie like cameras, subtly used cut scenes and spectacular images on a marvelous trip through a unique game world that is hard to match in the genre.

Video game release dates in February Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Nintendo DS and Wii

Priston Tale 2 : The Second Enigma - PC, PC online- 2nd February
My World, My Way - Nintendo DS - 3rd February
Burnout Paradise : The Ultimate Box - Xbox 360, PS3, PC - 5th February
Battle Fantasia - Xbox 360, PS3 - 6th February
Castlevania : Order of Ecclesia - Nintendo DS - 6th February
Lost in Blue 3 - Nintendo DS, - 6th February
Lost in Blue: Shipwrecked! - Nintendo Wii - 6th February
Rise of the Argonauts - Xbox 360, PS3, PC - 6th February
Time Hollow - Nintendo DS - 6th February
Age of Empires Mythologies - Nintendo DS - 6th February


Bolt - Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS - 6th February
Chrono Trigger - Nintendo DS - 6th February
The Times Crossword Challenge - Nintendo DS - 6th February
NASCAR Kart Racing - Nintendo Wii - 10th February
Bomberman 2 - Nintendo DS - 13th February
Buffy the Vampire Slayer : Sacrifice - Nintendo DS - 13th February
F.E.A.R. 2 : Project Origin - Xbox 360, PS3, PC - 13th February
Celetania - PC (online) - 13th February
Deadly Creatures - Nintendo Wii - 13th February
Destroy All Humans : Path of the Furon - Xbox 360, PS3 - 13th February
Eternal Sonata - PS3 - 13th February
House of the Dead : OVERKILL - Nintendo Wii - 13th February
Little League World Series 2008 - Nintendo Wii - 13th February
Mind Your Language - Nintendo DS - 13th February
Monkey Mischief - Nintendo Wii - 13th February
Petz : My Kitty Family - Nintendo DS - 13th February
Petz : My Monkey Family - Nintendo DS - 13th February
Pirates Hunt for Black Beard's Booty - Nintendo Wii - 13th February
Pitfall : The Big Adventure - Nintendo Wii - 13th February
RACE Pro - Xbox 360 - 13th February
Star Ocean : Second Evolution - PSP - 13th February
World Championship Sports - Nintendo Wii - 13th February
Wheelman - Xbox 360, PS3, PC - 16th February
Disney Sing It : High School Musical 3 : Senior Year - Xbox 360, PS3, PS3 - 17th February
Warhammer 40,000 : Dawn of War II - PC - 19th February
Cooking Mama World Kitchen - Nintendo Wii - 20th February
Cryostasis : Sleep of Reason - PC - 20th February
Men of War - PC - 20th February
NecroVisioN - PC - 20th February
Street Fighter IV - Xbox 360, PS3 - 20th February
The Sims 3 - PC - 20th February
50 Cent : Blood on the Sand - Xbox 360, PS3 - 20th February
Ceville - PC - 20th February
Disgaea 3 : Absence of Justice - PS3 - 20th February
DRAGON QUEST : The Hand of the Heavenly Bride - Nintendo DS - 20th February
SEGA Mega Drive Ultimate Collection - PS3 - 20th February
Dead Rising : Chop Till You Drop - Nintendo Wii - 27 February
The Godfather II - Xbox 360, PS3, PC - 27th February
Family Ski & Snowboard - Nintendo Wii - 27th February
Le Parrain 2 - Xbox 360, PS3, PC - 27th February
Metal Slug 7 - Nintendo DS - 27th February
Spectrobes : Beyond The Portals - Nintendo DS - 27th February
Tornado - Nintendo DS - 27th February
XG Blast! - Nintendo DS - 28th February
Codename : Panzers : Cold War - PC - Feb 2009
From the Abyss - Nintendo DS - Feb 2009
Geon - Nintendo Wii (online) - Feb 2009
Imagine Fashion Idol - Nintendo Wii - Feb 2009
Killzone 2 - PS3 - Feb 2009
Little Magician's Magic Adventure - Nintendo DS - Feb 2009
Penumbra Collection - PC - Feb 2009
Petz : Monkey Madness - Nintendo Wii - Feb 2009
Scrabble 2009 - Nintendo DS - Feb 2009
SEGA Mega Drive Ultimate Collection - X360 - Feb 2009
Sudoku for Kids - Nintendo DS - Feb 2009

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

Family Glide HockeyAksys 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!

Family Glide Hockey
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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Monday, January 19, 2009

Marble Saga - Kororinpa puzzle video game on Nintendo Wii

Marble Saga - Kororinpa 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

resident evil five gameCapcom 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