New Mafia 2 Pc, PS3 and Xbox 360 video game screenshots released

2K Games have released five more screenshots for the highly anticipated release of Mafia 2 on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.




More screen shots...




2K Games have released five more screenshots for the highly anticipated release of Mafia 2 on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Noby Noby Boy PS3 video game release date and price

Unique PLAYSTATION 3 system Game from the Creator of Katamari Damacy Available for Download from PlayStation Network on February 19th for 3.99€

Leading video games publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S, today announced that NOBY NOBY BOY will be available for download from the PlayStation Network for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system in the PAL territories on February 19th for a price of 3.99€.

The latest game from Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi, NOBY NOBY BOY lets players expand their imaginations as they stretch a creature named BOY to incredible lengths across the playground-like planets of the solar system.

Offering a unique play experience from one of the video game industry’s most creative minds, NOBY NOBY BOY gives players complete freedom to create gameplay suited to their tastes. As BOY, players can eat and spit out nearly everything they encounter in the game, from people and animals to trees and buildings, helping them to gain length as they stretch their elongated body. Players can control BOY’s front and back ends using the PLAYSTATION 3 controller’s two analog sticks, allowing for incredibly detailed movements such as tying themselves into knots or threading BOY through holes in clouds. NOBY NOBY BOY allows players to record video footage as they play and upload it directly to YouTube for easy viewing.

Delivering a new and innovate approach to online gaming, NOBY NOBY BOY lets players collaborate to unlocks new game stages. As players stretch BOY in their individual play sessions, the lengths to which they grow are uploaded to a persistent character known as GIRL, who grows at the same rate of all the players in the world. GIRL starts at Earth and expands through the solar system as more games are played and BOYs from all players continue to grow. When GIRL reaches a new milestone in the solar system, these areas are unlocked as playable stages in the game for everyone around the world.

You can't stop gold farming in video games...

Kerry Fraser-Robinson, founder of virtual worlds developer RedBedlam, has called on the sector to embrace gold selling and realise the importance of economy in MMOs.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Fraser-Robinson explained that gold farming would always exist so long as it offered the path of least resistance and that it has the potential to ruin games unless action was taken against it.

"It's going to happen whether you like it or not," he said. "People will always find the path of least resistance, if you stop them buying your gold then they'll buy that gold from somebody else who is gold farming."

"If you don't build that into your system then you're not going to be able to compete with the gold farmers and that will ruin your in-game economy, which will in turn ruin your game. At the very least having the recognition that virtual economics is a discipline and is a very important integral part to being a virtual world," he added.

Full post on Gamesindustry here...

Ubisoft to publish World in Conflict - Soviet Assault for PC

Ubisoft announced that it will publish World in Conflict: Soviet Assault for PC in March 2009. World in Conflict: Complete Edition, the retail version of the much awaited add-on to the critically acclaimed strategy game will include the entire original World in Conflict title, as well as the Soviet Assault add-on and other exciting all-new features. Players that already own World in Conflict will have the option to download the Soviet Assault expansion pack exclusively online.

“The teams at Massive Entertainment have worked hard to ensure that they are bringing new original content to the popular World in Conflict brand,” said John Parkes, marketing director at Ubisoft EMEA. “Fans have been eagerly awaiting Soviet Assault, and Ubisoft is excited to be able to bring them great new material.”

World in Conflict: Soviet Assault allows players to relive the Cold War in a dramatic, gritty, real world setting driven by compelling characters and storyline. This one of a kind strategy game offers players a unique team-oriented experience on chillingly realistic battlegrounds. Soviet Assault features all-new characters, gameplay from the Soviet perspective, ten new films, new multiplayer maps and more.

Official War Plan Pacific Scenario Mod Guide Released!

War Plan Pacific, the exciting new Pacific theater grand strategy computer wargame from KE Studios and Shrapnel Games, is an easy game to expand thanks to its .XML scenario files. Using a text editor players can modify the scenarios that come with the game or create their own. Now, thanks to developer KE Studios, an official reference guide has been made available to help with these tasks.

The War Plan Pacific Scenario File Reference guide provides users with a quick and dirty guide to the .XML structure and explanations of what all the entries actually mean. With guide in hand players will be able to easily change any number of parameters (although the map itself and aircraft capabilities cannot be modified) to create their ideal scenario.

One of the most exciting abilities is the chance to create new vessels or edit existing ones. Want to see how warships that were planned but never actually built would fare? Create and add them in. Maybe you just want to cheat and create a super SUPER battleship. Can do. Or for those feeling really ambitious turn back the clock and create a completely new order of battle based on World War One era vessels. Modders can even change individual gun statistics independent of the ship type for maximum flexibility.

The War Plan Pacific Scenario File Reference is available as a .PDF document and can be downloaded directly from the official War Plan Pacific product page.

From that page you can also download a limited demo of the game in case you have yet to experience the elegance that is War Plan Pacific.

War Plan Pacific is a wargame for the Windows OS developed by KE Studios and published by Shrapnel Games. Designed from the beginning to hearken back to the glory days of fast playing board games, War Plan Pacific allows players to fight the entire conflict in the Pacific during World War Two in a single session.

Playing either against the AI or another opponent (direct play online, no PBEM) gamers will command an historically accurate order of battle consisting of individual ships of light cruiser size or larger, transport fleets, and air groups (land combat is abstracted). Turns represent one month of real time and movement is simulated through a point-to-point method (a la GMT's Paths of Glory) covering twenty-nine strategically important locations. Unique victory conditions for both sides present the player with interesting choices depending on whether they are commanding the Japanese or the Allies, while allowing for a range of strategies to be implemented.

War Plan Pacific is available for immediate purchase for only $39.95 and can be had either as a physical product, shipped worldwide in a DVD case, or as a digital download. It is only available for Windows.

On Tuesday, January 27th, Shrapnel Games will be hosting a chat with John Hawkins of KE Studios. The chat will begin at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST and will be found on the Shrapnel Games forum. Look for "Chat" on the top bar of the forum. Please note that in order to participate, even passively, you must first register.

For more strategy games of excellence, along with a great selection of unique titles, please visit us at www.shrapnelgames.com. Now entering our first decade in business, Shrapnel Games is dedicated to bringing gamers the very best in the genres snubbed by the mainstream industry, as evidenced by our most recent releases: War Plan Pacific and BRAINPIPE.

Zu Online - Little Sky Strategy

When travelling to Little Sky in Zu Online (http://zu.igg.com/), you may doubt whether you are in a dangerous place, because it looks so peaceful. Do not let this beauty fool you into letting your guard down. Little Sky was originally the place where the Boulder Immortal resided and cultivated his spirit, but then it became a forbidden area to imprison immortal beings. So, what will you encounter while you are exploring Little Sky?

Water Goblin (Level 142)

They are gentle winged creatures that live in Little Sky. They like to fly over the water and look a bit like a horse. Some of them are extremely clever. Some of them can even speak to immortal beings and serve as a mount.

Tablet Trapper (Level 157)

They were talismans of Purple Mansion and originally the tablets used in the Trapping Formation to help trap immortal beings. When some immortal beings infused vigor into them, they became talented creatures. Many immortal beings then created Tablet Trappers to fight for them.

Impudent Taoist (Level 163)

They were originally uncommonly strong men who made great achievements and then got the third eye. By using the third eye, they can see the world more clearly than others and even attack their enemies with fire.

Skullcap Taoist (Level 179)

They seldom speak. They exude power. But actually, they have traded their spirit to a mystical, talented person in Purple Mansion for the power they posses. This terrible deal they made has caused them to lose not only their souls, but their minds as well.

Cheen (Level 190)

Cheen is one of the three talented masters of Purple Mansion. The weapon in his hand is amazingly powerful. He always acts arbitrarily. Rumor had it he fought against the Immortal Tansoo, but in his haste to kill his enemy, he went to Little Sky and was trapped there.

Danger lurks everywhere amidst the tranquility of Little Sky. Be careful and reap great rewards!

Empires in Arms patch 1.05.03 download

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and Australian Design Group (www.a-d-g.com.au) are pleased to announce the release of the v1.05.03 update for the official computer adaptation of the award winning Napoleonic strategy game, Empires in Arms!

The comprehensive update brings a substantial number of fixes and AI tweaks and enhancements.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “The latest Empires in Arms update has a hefty number of fixes and AI improvements to further polish this adaptation of a classic game.

With many of the issues found in the original release gameplay now ironed out, gamers can concentrate on primacy over Europe!”

Take command of one of the many factions in early 19th century Europe! Empires in Arms is a grand strategy turn-based race to prove which nation is the greatest in Europe. In a bid for mastery over the continent, players can succeed where Napoleon failed or try to stop the military genius quicker than his historical enemies could!

The game moves in monthly turns where diplomacy and builds are conducted. Within the monthly turns there are a variable number of impulses where corps and fleets move about. All movement is simultaneous with battles occurring at the end of the impulse. Battles are resolved by players both picking a strategy and fighting a series of rounds in an attempt to break the enemy. Make and break alliances, declare war, invade minor nations, propose peace terms, build armies of landwehr, regulars, guards, light cavalry, heavy cavalry and artillery. Many historical leaders from the period are included to command corps and fleets, from Admiral Nelson to Marshal Davout to the Pashas of the Ottoman Empires.

The slightest mistake could be the difference between the crown of Europe or exile to St. Helena. Step into history and find your destiny in Empires in Arms!

This update is comprehensive and will bring any prior version of the game to version 1.05.03. Get more information on Empires in Arms from its official product page.

Cronous - Four New Growth Weapon Update

Cronous (cronous.neofun.com), a popular MMORPG developed and published by Lizard Interactive, players are excited and eager to get their hands on gracious four new Growth Weapons to be added this January.

Four new Growth Weapons added are named; Kai is for Fighters, Crash for Valkyries, Jend for Magicians and Schilt for Savages. These are in addition to the existing growth weapons. These additional weapons are very unique and valuable yet they require higher level restrictions to equip and use.

These new weapons are powerful than ever and, when fully grown, it can be used to polymorph the player’s character into a formidable form with exclusive skills set for each weapons. Special new skills are Holy Sword, Shadow Attack, Ice Field, Ice Spear, Frenzied Attack and Dragon Spear.

Growth Weapon is one of special feature of Cronous. It literally grows up with the player’s character and its ability increases as it does. To find out more in detail about all the interesting features on the globally played MMORPG Cronous, please visit the website cronous.neofun.com.

Plain Sight open beta begins - Play today - open to everyone, no account needed

Beatnik games  are pleased to announce that the open beta to their first game – Plain Sight – has begun!

Anyone who wishes to try out the game can do so by heading to our webpage and downloading the game - no account is required to play in this open beta session, which will last until February 8th.

http://www.plainsightgame.com/beta/

How to play
There are some very simple instructions on gameplay here: http://www.plainsightgame.com/about

In a nutshell though; attack and destroy other players to gain points. Points make you bigger, better and brighter, but you can only keep the points once you blow yourself up! Re-spawn and repeat.

Please note: this beta is not the final game and is limited in features. The final game will include more levels, power ups and different gameplay modes.

About Plain Sight

Plain Sight is a 3D multiplayer arcade game with robots; robots who bounce around cityscapes on mini planetoids and wield swords which are used to destroy one another.

Destroying another robot makes you bigger, stronger, better… a different colour.

It also gives you points.

Spoiler: You can’t keep the points until you kill yourself.
Robots!
Swords!!
Explosions!!!
Oh my!

Plain Sight will be released in Q1 2009 for PC, and available directly from the website or via a number of other digital distribution platforms, including Steam.

La Tale - Fight Arena Pits Players Against Each Other in Free-For-All Battles

The addition of Player vs. Player (PvP) content in La Tale, the 2D side-scrolling role-playing game.

Players can now access the Fight Arena and compete in free-for-all battles that support two, four or eight players at a time. Each player enters the Fight Arena with increased statistics and health for an intensified combat experience.

Players gain points for knocking other players out, but they must constantly be ready, as knocked-out players can re-spawn with full health to rejoin the battle. Bonus boxes filled with power-ups add an exciting twist to PvP combat. After the battle, contenders receive points that can be spent on special items.

"Now that we've implemented the Fight Arena, La Tale players can really find out whose skills are the strongest," said Ross Park, La Tale producer. "Our arenas are designed to give players a pure PvP combat experience that rewards the top player with top honors and bragging rights."

For more information about the new PvP system and other events in La Tale, please visit http://latale.ogplanet.com.

About La Tale

La Tale's whimsical art style and detailed 2D worlds bring a lighthearted touch to the MMORPG genre, and have won it a large following in Asia. Simple gameplay and intuitive quests make La Tale accessible for players of all ages, while the immersive storyline with a variety of characters, enemies and challenges keep the game intriguing.