Design the CITIES XL Collector's Edition!

Monte Cristo offers fans a chance to determine the content for the Collector's Edition of their upcoming next-gen city builder

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Monte Cristo, developers of the upcoming next-generation city-building game, CITIES XL, is offering fans a unique opportunity to help design the Collector's Edition of the game. Visitors to the official Web site can submit suggestions and vote on current ideas for the Collector's Edition, which Monte Cristo is planning to release alongside a standard retail package in Q2 2009.

To submit an idea, or vote on current ideas, please visit

CITIES XL allows gamers to develop cities on realistic 3D maps using an incredible collection of unique structures and monuments based on American, Asian and European-influenced architectural styles. The maps feature a variety of environments: mountains, hills, canyons, beaches and islands, all set in different climates from tropical to desert, Mediterranean to temperate. Players must create the right combinations of social services, leisure activities, special events and other job opportunities within their cities in order to feed, clothe, employ and entertain their citizens. Be it planning and building a new zoo, public park, residential neighborhood or transit system - there's always a fresh and exciting challenge for would-be city managers and mayors in CITIES XL.

The game’s online features and services will allow players to create interconnected cities on virtual and persistent planets. Mayors can share and trade with one another, specialize their economy and team up with befriended cities to create sprawling metropolises. Life on the planet will be punctuated by events and competitions - a concert held in one town may, for example, be attended by visitors from other areas who can also enjoy a walk around the city to admire the urban creations of multiple players. By combining a fantastic single-player game with the social and multiplayer aspects of an MMO, CITIES XL will shape the future of the genre by offering more variety, bigger cities and multiple gameplay layers.

For more information about CITIES XL, which will ship in 2009.

Kliff and Justice are back - Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus

The Rush-down of the Century Returns on the PlayStation 2 system, PSP system, and Wii!

Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment products, announces today, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus will be arriving this spring 2009. Hardcore players will finally be able to take their fight on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStationPortable) system, and Wii.

Developed by Yokohama-based Arc System Works, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus is the definitive installment in the series and is widely cited as one of the most balanced fighter among its peers.

Sporting high resolution graphics in 480P, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus marks the return of over 20 beloved characters from the Guilty Gear franchise, including Kliff and Justice! Fans of the series will be pleased to not only find all their characters available right off the bat, but will finally be able to uncover the rich stories of each character for the first time!

"Never has there been a fighting game where so much attention to character balance exists," said Michael Manzanares, Producer, Aksys Games. "Guilty Gear veterans will definitely find themselves immersed once again with the new story and survival modes."

Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus Features

• 2 COMBATANTS RETURN TO THE BATTLE!
Accent Core Plus marks the return of fan favorites Kliff Undersn and Justice, rounding out the cast of 25 playable characters.

• ALL NEW STORY MODE CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR GGXXACP!
Discover the back story to all of your favorite characters in the Guilty Gear mythos, with fully-voiced dialogue.

• FIGHT TO SURVIVE!
Level up your character's abilities and traits in the re-tuned Survival Mode.

• TEAM BATTLE ROYALE!
Create a three-man team in Versus Mode to find out which characters are the ultimate Guilty Gear team-up.

Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

Mobile Amusements release Mouse Panic! for iPhone and iTouch

The crazy game of rat and mouse!

Featuring greedy mice, evil rats and loads of smelly cheese.

Guide the hungry mice by laying down cheese trails that lead home.

Can you clear each of the 48 puzzle levels spread over several themed zones from the Flower Gardens, Creaky House, Store Room, Old Cellar, Magic Kitchen and finally to the Table Top.

As you progress through the levels you will face many new puzzles that include... Mouse transporters, Breakable Blocks, Base Swappers and Bonus Time Clocks.

Cheese can be inserted, rotated and cleared. When a mouse eats the cheese, the mouse will then change direction according to the direction the piece of cheese was pointing in.

When all mice are finally home you are able to play a new puzzle and unlock newer levels as you progress.

Beware of the 'Black Rats' who will attempt to slow your progress through some of the later puzzles however!

Mouse Panic! is available now on the iPhone App Store.

Features:

* Original puzzle gameplay.
* 48 increasingly harder puzzles.
* Unlockable levels.
* Continue and save game option.
* Easy to learn gameplay and controls.
* Colourful graphics throughout.
* Suitable for all ages.

Shin Megami Tensei - Devil Summoner 2 - Raidou Kuzunoha v King Abaddon for PlayStation 2 - Free Raiho Plushie included with each copy at launch.

Atlus announced that Shin Megami Tensei - Devil Summoner 2 - Raidou Kuzunoha v King Abaddon, a new chapter in the stunningly original action RPG series for PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, is out in North America on May 12th.

Improved over its predecessor in every way, Devil Summoner 2 is an action RPG breath of fresh air, with a deep, easy-to-control combat system, nearly two hundred demons to negotiate with, collect, and fuse, and a variety of strategies to employ and master. Experience a 1920's Tokyo bustling with cases to solve, criminals to bring to justice, and the threat of the mysterious King Abaddon looming on the horizon.

For a limited time, and out of an exceptionally small fixed number of units, North American gamers will have even more reason to pick up the game that raced to the top of the Japanese game sales charts upon its release. Each and every launch copy of Devil Summoner 2 will feature a rare Raiho plushie doll (not available for sale separately). Only a small amount of these rare bundles will be assembled, and each package will be numbered to ensure its rarity and collectible value. Should there be future print runs of the game, they will ship without the Raiho collectible. Act before they're gone!

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon is scheduled to negotiate its way into retailers on May 12, 2009 with an MSRP of $39.99. Each and every copy of the game's limited quantity launch will ship with a rare Raiho collectible plushie.

About Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha versus King Abaddon:
A new threat to Japan's Capital calls for the return of its case-solving, tube-slinging Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha the 14th. When a woman walks into the Narumi Detective Agency and asks to find a man, Raidou's boss is reluctant to accept, but soon it's clear there's more to the case than it seems on the surface. It isn't long before Raidou is on the trail of crooked gamblers, masked ninja, and strange insects... a trail leading him inexorably to the mysterious King Abaddon.

Key Features

• Massively upgraded battle system - Advancements to the battle mechanics include a MAG balancing system, dodge and hide abilities, and the ability to command two demons in combat. Use the retooled Weapon Alchemy system to create new swords with unique special attacks.
• Deeper demon integration - Demon negotiation returns with more than twice the number of demons to attempt to recruit to your side. Create more powerful demons through fusion and skill transfer. Control two demons in battle and choose from more tactical options.
• Phenomenal creative team - The rich environment of this Taisho-era Japan comes to life with the character designs of Kazuma Kaneko and the musical score of Shoji Meguro.Over 500 character possibilities - 10 races, 2 genders, 3 alignments, and 15 majors add up to incredible opportunity to customize your party! Change majors for further customization at higher levels.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha versus King Abaddon has not yet been rated by the ESRB.
About Atlus U.S.A., Inc.
Located in Irvine, California and founded in 1991, Atlus U.S.A., Inc. is renowned for its proud tradition of publishing exceptional role-playing games with strong niche appeal. The Atlus library of critically acclaimed video games includes Odin Sphere, Trauma Center series, and the award-winning Shin Megami Tensei series.

Bounce Trap Tilt Arrives on the iTunes App Store Today!

PlayScreen launches a new version of their great game with enhanced controls

PlayScreen is pleased to announce the release of "Bounce Trap Tilt" on the iTunes Application Store today. "Bounce Trap Tilt" combines elements of Pachinko and Pinball, tosses in a fun mix of touch screen and accelerometer controls, and delivers an amazingly addictive puzzle gaming experience.

"Bounce Trap Tilt" is priced at 99 cents US, and is available immediately for download at the following link -
http://tinyurl.com/5oatwr

BounceTrap Tilt is a free update for existing BounceTrap players.

How to become a game designer with no experience

How to Break into Game Design, With Zero ExperienceSteve Gaynor is a designer at 2K Marin, working on BioShock 2. This article previous published on Steve's Fullbright blog.

I decided I wanted to make video games when I was nearing the end of my college career. I knew I wanted to get into design. Unfortunately, I didn't know how.

During this time I attended a free seminar held outside Seattle on the topic of how to get into game development. It was presented panel-style, featuring a group of producers, artists, and HR managers on an auditorium stage before a surprisingly large crowd. Individual sessions throughout the day touched on the qualities developers look for when hiring, how to put together a good CV or resume, a Q&A forum with the panel, and so on. Near the end of the seminar, one of the speakers summed up the takeaway of this entire how-to-get-into-the-industry confab:

"Make cool s**t, and show it off to anyone and everyone."

The statement, simple and common sense as it is, was driven home in the context of this big to-do at a convention center outside of Seattle. It seemed almost a trite sentiment, but if these industry people bothered to bring us hundreds of neophytes and wannabes all the way out here, and agreed that this simple mantra was what we needed to hear, then that must be all there is to it. And as far as I can tell, it's turned out to be true over the years.

Read full post on Edge here...

Square Japan Brings Cult DS Puzzler Yosumin to Xbox Live Arcade

Square Enix Japan officially announced their entry into the Xbox Live Arcade marketplace earlier this week, beginning with a port of Crystal Defenders from Japanese cellphones. The company's second DLC offering has been revealed as a remake of its cult-hit Nintendo DS puzzler Yosumin., and will be released some time in Spring as Yosumin. Live.

The pop-happy, candy-colored Yosumin. sported one of those so-simple-it's-genius Japanese puzzle game concepts: Visually scan the board for two tiles of the same color on a diagonal line, then select the pair to turn all tiles between them the same color. The further like-colored tiles are apart, the more points earned. Hugely addictive for single-player gameplay versus the clock, but the version of Yosumin. coming to XBLA will reportedly feature competitive multiplayer as well.

Perhaps more intriguing than Yosumin. itself is a line in Microsoft Japan's press release (translated from the Japanese): "Beginning with these two games, Square Enix plans to release a steady stream of its popular titles - as well as original content - on Xbox LIVE Arcade". Does this mean more mobile ports are coming? Final Fantasy IV: The After, or the recent remake of SaGa 1, perhaps? Time will tell.

Source: 1up News

Dead Space available for PS3, Xbox 360, PC

Dead Space was designed with one key point in mind: to put some good old-fashioned fear into you.

The game does everything possible to leave you feeling desperate and barely surviving. You are alone, have little ammo, and your enemies refuse to die easily.

As Isaac Clarke, you head off on an interstellar repair call only to find the crew of the disabled ship have been mutated. Isaac must travel into the bowels of the ship in order to repair it and escape the intelligent and ruthless necromorphs. These mutants will disappear and appear from the vents, play dead till you get close enough to pounce and just plain rip you apart to make sure you can't complete your mission.

The only way to defeat these monsters is to dismember enough of their limbs until they finally fall. Tense combat and a truly scary environment with some original touches make Dead Space an excellent addition to the survival horror genre.

Source: Aberdeen News

Weekend Events with GM at Cronous

Enjoy various events every weekend with Cronous GMs.

GMs of Cronous (cronous.neofun.com), a popular MMORPG developed and published by Lizard Interactive, are planning to hold various events every weekend to provide players with more enjoyable and fun experience.

Weekend events are to be held every weekend starting February. These events are planned and activated by GMs and varies from increased EXP, item drops, summoning boss monsters near town, giving out buffs and more. GMs will also receive opinions and ideas from players on how to improve weekend events.

With the new update coming up, Cronous players can expect to double the fun in this February. To find out more in detail about all the interesting features on the globally played MMORPG Cronous, please visit the website cronous.neofun.com.

Celebrate the Chinese New Year on the free-to-play MMORPGs Flyff and Rappelz.

The free-to-play MMORPGs Flyff: Fly For Fun and Rappelz are now ready to launch the Chinese New Year festivities, and offer players a special event from the 27th January to 3rd February. Players of all levels will be able to celebrate the Year of the Ox on their favorite game and win numerous awards.

From January 27, players in the world of Rappelz will have to fight different monsters to get special cards featuring the image of an Ox. By combining the six missing parts of each card, players can earn different items that assign temporary bonuses or improvements to their character. Lucky adventurers will get a special item to capture rare creatures from the Rappelz world.

From the 28th of January to the 3rd of February, events take a different shape in Flyff, and adventurers can collect surprise boxes stolen by the monsters of Madrigal. Two types of boxes can be recovered, which contain their own set of surprises and rare items. The boxes will allow the players to launch magnificent fireworks throughout Madrigal, while the Chinese New Year boxes are full of exotic objects such as the endearing Baby Penguin, a very rare collector pet.

Also, the gPotato team is proud to announce the release of the official story behind the world of Rappelz. Fans can read about the history behind Rappelz on the official Roleplay forum. Future events based on this story are planned for the coming months.

Our events aim to bring together players of all levels around regular and original events that the whole community can participate in.

Please find attached the screenshots of the special event of the Chinese New Year on Flyff and Rappelz.