Gridplane shows off their Xbox NXE designs

Design and animation studio Gridplane has revealed one of the many mock-ups it developed for Microsoft as a potential user-interface update, which later became the NXE.

Tasked with creating new ways for users to interact with multimedia, this particular mock-up showcases some of the style found in the NXE.



Notably, the use of full retail packaging to list titles and the panes of information, such as the disc in tray image for Halo 3, can be found on current Xbox 360s.

Second hand video game sales hit new game purchases and the developers don't like it!

Take-Two has said that it is frustrated by the sale of second hand product through specialist chains such as GameStop.

The company is increasingly looking to online solutions to combat the loss of sales due to pre-owned goods, with the forthcoming release of Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and the Damned an example of breathing life back into an older game.

"GameStop continues to aggressively push their used game business, which is having a meaningful negative impact on sales of new games," noted analyst Doug Creutz, following a meeting with Take-Two CEO Ben Feder this week.

"Management is frustrated with this trend and is examining ways to ameliorate the problem, which includes strategies around online play and downloadable content which extend the lifespan of AAA titles."

Nintendo products are also high on Take-Two's agenda, with the company closely monitoring the performance of GTA: Chinatown Wars on the DS.

"The upcoming launch of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the DS will be an important test of Take-Two's ability to make inroads on Nintendo's wildly successful DS and Wii platforms," said Creutz

"Nintendo wants their platforms to appeal to all gamer segments (not just casual/family) and views Take-Two’s IP as an important driver of core gamer interest."

Source: GamesIndustry

Target discount video games - Too Human - Mercenaries 2 - Fracture - Viva Pinata - Virtua Fighter 5 - EndWar

Everyone's favorite aggressive clearance retailer, Target, is discounting their old video game stock. This means that your local Target has cut the price of Xbox 360 titles including Fracture, Virtua Fighter 5, Too Human, Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise and others by as much as 30%. Playstation 3 titles including Mercenaries 2, Web of Shadows, EndWar and others have also seen a price cut.

As always, your mileage may vary depending on your local store's selection and price cutting schedule.

For those willing to tempt fate by not making a purchase just yet, expect what's left of the clearance selection to be discounted by as much as 50% in the next week or so. It's Target tradition.

RACE Pro unveal Mini Cooper car Class

Car Class Reveal: Mini Cooper

A front wheel drive icon named Mini was launched back in 1959 and was in production all the way up to the year 2000. Since its launch the Mini been a constant fixture on the international racing scene both on and off road. In 2001, BMW, current owner of the Mini brand and a key player on the racing circuit, re-launched the car under the name of The New Mini and also created the Mini Cooper Challenge backed by BMW.

For the Mini Cooper Challenge, it was decided that a 180 horsepower, supercharged Mini Cooper S would be the vehicle of choice. The street legal version of this car is already a formidable track car, and in RACE Pro, players can experience the real race car from bumper to bumper and all the close racing action that comes with it. The Mini Cooper Challenge is one of the most exciting one-car classes.

• 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: 210 bhp @ 7250 rpm
Torque: 243 Nm @ 4750 rpm
Weight: 1080 kg
Top speed: over 200 km/h

F.E.A.R 2 - Project Origin Live event in europe

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment are pushing F.E.A.R fans to the max with their European F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin Live event.

The F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin Live event will be taking part on February 12th 2009 in London and tests fans fears and gaming prowess against selected members of the community. Eight fans will be escorted to a secret location where they will go head to head in an intense gaming battle of skills, strength and spine chilling F.E.A.R.

For those that don’t make the grade or are too afraid, you can experience the event live online to witness and control the fate of the chosen players.

But for the rest of you that are brave enough click through to www.whatisfearlive.com and enter for your chance to face your fears and be the first people in Europe to play the new F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin game in a gaming session like no other.

F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin, developed by Monolith Productions, launches across Europe on February 13th 2009 on Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Games for Windows.

The sequel will continue the original game’s spine-tingling supernatural suspense story of an escalating paranormal crisis that threatens to destroy a major American city. At the center of the calamity is the mysterious Alma, whose rage against those who wronged her triggered a chain of events that have spiraled completely out of control. Now that she has free reign, the consequences will be unimaginable.

Need for Speed SHIFT, Need for Speed NITRO and Need for Speed World Online video games announced

Fifteen years - more than 40 countries - close to 100 million games sold. Need for Speed has helped to define automotive culture for millions of fans with its embrace of the car lifestyle and its cool rebellious attitude. Today, Electronic Arts unveiled the details of what is in store for the franchise over the next 12 months, as the property expands to new platforms, new categories and new media.

Need for Speed is committed to providing unique and customized experiences for all types of racing fans by establishing three independent series; simulation, action and arcade racing. Each series will be developed by a highly-specialized team dedicated to delivering the ultimate racing experiences to car enthusiasts around the world – whether they be interested in adrenaline action, arcade fun or authentic simulation.

“We recognize racing videogame fans are very passionate and unique -- they want customized gameplay experiences. Whether it’s more of a realistic driving game with accurate car physics or over-the-top cop chases, we are making different games for different audiences,” said Keith Munro, vice president of marketing, Need for Speed. “Each game provides a deep, engaging and rich racing experience. We’re giving players the option to choose the best racing title that suits their style of gameplay.”

Need for Speed SHIFT – Autumn 2009
Shift into high gear! Designed to deliver a true driver’s experience that reflects contemporary motorsports, Need for Speed SHIFT is built by racers for racers. Need for Speed SHIFT delivers an authentic and immersive driving experience developed by Slightly Mad Studios in collaboration with executive producer Michael Mann at Black Box and senior vice president Patrick Soderlund at EA Games Europe. Slightly Mad Studios includes developers and designers that worked on the critically acclaimed games GT Legends and GTR 2. Need for Speed SHIFT replicates the true feeling of racing high-end performance cars like never before. Players are thrust into the heart of the action with immersive and exciting features including a stunningly realistic first-person cockpit view camera and an all-new crash mechanic, providing an unrivalled sensation of the speed and feeling of racing a car on the extreme edge of control.

Soderlund is also part of a racing team that recently competed in the 4th edition of the TOYO TIRES 24H Dubai 2009, the first major race event of the year. His team ranked #5 in the high-profile race. Soderlund and the SHIFT development team are committed to bringing the on-the-track experience to players across the world.

Need for Speed SHIFT will be released on PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, PSP (PlayStation Portable) and PC in fall 2009.


Need for Speed NITRO (Working Title) – Autumn 2009
Developed by EA Montreal, Need for Speed NITRO for Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS will have players of all skill levels hooked from the moment they get into the action, while arcade racing fans will be exhilarated by the deep and challenging gameplay. EA Montreal has already established a strong track record of developing for these platforms and will bring their unique creativity and innovation to the Need for Speed franchise.

Gamers can build up their boost as they drift and drag behind their opponents and use it strategically to change the course of the race, but watch out for the cops! Offering a fresh and unique visual style, the game features a variety of licensed cars which can be fully customized to let the game reflect the player’s taste and personality. This evolutionary take on arcade racing, bringing back the best features found in Need for Speed games, comes exclusively to the Nintendo platforms this fall.


Need for Speed World Online – Winter 2009 in North America, (Summer 2009 in Asia)
Co-developed by Black Box and EA Singapore, Need for Speed World Online takes the race into the largest open world in the history of Need for Speed - designed exclusively for the PC. Beginning in Asia, this Play 4 Free action racing game will give Need for Speed fans access to licensed cars, parts and multiple game modes. Players will prove their racing supremacy through the sophisticated online matchmaking features and fully customize their profile and their ride.

EA and Black Box will have more news about the Need for Speed franchise in the months ahead.

Cradle of Rome v.1.27 for Apple Mac - a Peasant Can Become an Emperor!

AWEM studio announces a Mac version of its colorful and absorbing match-3 game - Cradle of Rome v. 1.27. Now Mac users can also enjoy the exciting process of building the magnificent ancient city of Rome! Fine graphics, match-3 puzzles of various forms and challenging obstacles that need special approach make this casual game a really addictive one. If you manage to accomplish all tasks and build all the glorious buildings, you will get the title of Emperor!

Cradle of Rome for PC was released in 2007 and became the Best Puzzle Game of the year. It was a real hit among people fond of casual games. That is why AWEM studio has developed Cradle of Rome version for Mac. There is no doubt that Mac users will appreciate this admirable game as well. It offers you a chance to build the legendary city and to feel yourself a part of the world History. There are five historical epochs in Cradle of Rome, and each of them corresponds to a certain stage of city development - from a small village to the great capital. Solving the puzzles, you collect enough supplies to pay for new buildings. So, as you build Rome step by step and gain experience, you get higher ranks. The highest possible one is Emperor, which is your main goal in this game.

The gameplay is at the same time calm and fascinating due to pleasant music, vivid colors, simple interface and challenging levels. You put together matching items and destroy marble plaques. Some of the items bring you money and supplies, others allow using bonuses. By the way, Cradle of Rome offers eight unique bonuses (hammer, lightning, shield, star etc.) which help to cope with chains, double plaques and other obstacles. When all the plaques are destroyed, the level is completed - now you can construct new buildings using the collected resources. Remember that Rome was not built in a day. Work diligently, and one day you will see the glories of ancient Rome! Coliseum, the Pantheon, the Temple of all the Roman Gods and other masterpieces of ancient architecture will show your imperial power, and you will enter the Home of Gods on the top of Mount Olympus.

System requirements for Cradle of Rome 1.27:
Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5
CPU: 1.83GHz
RAM: 512 MB

A single-user license costs 19.95 $. Further information on the product, as well as the free trial version is available here.

Mad Skills Motocross beta version released when 1001 fans have joined facebook site

Turborilla promises to release a free beta version of their action motocross racing game "Mad Skills Motocross" when the number of fans on Facebook reaches 1001. The small, independent game developer whishes to increase their presence on social networks and are rewarding their fans accordingly.
After the beta has been released Turborilla has another ace up their sleeve and will announce an interesting concept involving a formula and the number of Facebook fans.

Mad Skills Motocross is a sidescrolling motocross game that reminds of the golden days of gaming while also utilizing high-tech features. The game sports neural networks for the AI and precise physical simulations of motocross bikes and riders. It can be played on Windows, Macintosh and Linux. One of the testers of an early development version had this to say:

"I have to really say, I really enjoy it. It's got quite a bit of replay factor even in its current form. The later tracks are really pretty sweet. The arcade mode is just straight fun."

Now Facebook users can also enjoy an early peek at Mad Skills Motocross.

All you have to do is go to the fan page,
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mad-Skills-Motocross/58755926184 , and choose to become a fan. As soon as 1001 users have become fans, Mad Skills Motocross Beta will be released to all of them for free.

The fan page contains concept art, screenshots and videos showing just how fun Mad Skills Motocross is.

New, fresh, Intel has been declassified at the ARMA II headquarters as suitable for civilian eyes.

505 Games are pleased to announce that ARMA II homepage updates will be coming on a weekly basis starting today! Intel declassified at the ARMA II headquarters as civilian suitable, is ready for immediate analysis at http://www.arma2.com/classified_en.html .

Enlist for duty in ARMA II , take part in the growing ARMA II community and get fresh Intel straight after its declassification.

The ARMA II homepage will be updated with fresh news: including, but not limited to, a description of all six factions, and analysis of weapons, vehicles and aircraft. Each time Intel is declassified it will be accompanied by a series of authentic visual references, in the form of screenshots and/or video footage.
ARMA II will be available across Europe in 2009.

AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! - A Reckless Disregard for Gravity PC video game

We generally cut-and-paste the game's name to cut down keyboard wear, but it's spelled with 25 letter As and three exclamation marks: AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! - A Reckless Disregard for Gravity, or Aaaaa! for short.

Latest post with video s added....

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10 FACTS...

1 In Aaaaa!, you gain points by swooping past buildings and terrain as close as you can, while going as fast as you can.
2 You can score extra points giving a thumbs-up to spectators as you fall past them.
3 You can also gain points by flipping them off at just the right moment.
4 Dejobaan prototyped the initial concept in 3 days, spending much of that time cackling and smacking the player into things.
5 We're certain that the soundtrack really does change how players play a level. Fast-paced music has now been scientifically proven to make you more likely to break your bones against terrain.
6 The developers came up with the idea while when our level designer sent YouTube BASE jumping videos to our programmer.
7 The term BASE in BASE Jumping stands for Building, Antenna, Span, Earth.
8 In Aaaaa!, buildings can float above the ground.
9 One of the items is an electromagnetic harpoon gun that allows you to swing between (and into) towers. No radioactive spider bites required.
10 Free bonus fact: Eugene Andreev holds the world record for the longest free-fall parachute jump. His jump lasted over 15 miles.