The Sims 3 Content Creator Camp

The Sims 3 Content Creator Camp was held at The Sims Studio. EA played host to some of the most passionate and creative custom content creators for The Sims PC franchise and they were able to get hands-on with The Sims 3 and do what they do best—create custom content! Today we have a new video that gives you a behind the scenes look at the creator camp which included creators from Italy, France, Germany, Brazil, Korea and more.

Additionally we have a few more samples of the excellent creations that stemmed from the camp from elaborate lots to personalized furnishings. Hundreds of pieces of content were created to establish a robust set of user-created content for The Sims 3 players which will all be available at www.TheSims3.com on launch day June 2, 2009.

The Sims 3 Game Features

Create any Sims you can imagine and give them personalities! Design your ultimate Sim by choosing up to five traits and numerous body characteristics in the Create-a-Sim feature. Customize your Sims body type, facial features, hair styles, and more. Create an evil, handsome, ripped kleptomaniac that wreaks havoc on those around.

Control your Sims’ destinies. From a rock star or world leader to an expert thief, you choose whether or not to pursue the Lifetime Wish of your Sim. Choose whether to fulfill their destiny, giving them a lifetime of happiness and rewards—or not and be devious!

Customize everything! You are the designer! From clothing to houses, customize patterns, colors, or create any house you can imagine. Customize any aspect of your Sims' style…even down to the style and color of their shoes!

Be the Director of your Sims’ movies! Never before have you been able to make your own movie with a cast, a set, soundtrack, a story and editing without leaving the game. Now you can with the movie making mash up tool set. Make a movie and share it with the world!

Share like never before! Join The Sims 3 online community where you can show off your creations from Sims and houses to objects, movies, and more. Download exclusive content and hear the latest news of The Sims 3 world first.

Website: http://thesims3.ea.com/

More on Battlefield Bad Company 2 video game - sign up for Battlefield Heroes beta

Before Rejoining the 'B' Company, Players Go Back to WWII in Battlefield 1943

DICE, an Electronic Arts, announced the development of Battlefield: Bad Company 2, the sequel to last year’s blockbuster title. In this installment, the Bad Company crew again find themselves in the heart of the action, where they must use every weapon and vehicle at their disposal to survive. The action unfolds with unprecedented intensity, introducing a level of fervor to vehicular warfare never before experienced in a modern warfare action game. To get ready for the assault this winter, players can prepare for action in Battlefield 1943, an all-new multiplayer game available this summer via PlayStation Store, Xbox LIVE Marketplace and on the PC.

In Battlefield: Bad Company 2, the ‘B’ company fight their way through snowy mountaintops, dense jungles and dusty villages. With a heavy arsenal of deadly weapons and a slew of vehicles to aid them, the crew set off on their mission and they are ready to blow up, shoot down, blast through, wipe out and utterly destroy anything that gets in their way. Total destruction is the name of the game, delivered as only the DICE next generation Frostbite engine can. Either online or offline, enemies will soon learn there is nowhere to hide. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be available for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system, the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and the PC.

Using the same Frostbite engine, Battlefield 1943 takes players back to WWII. The game offers endless hours of 24 player multiplayer action over three classic and tropic locations; Wake Island, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima. Delivering the award-winning through-the-gun and vehicle warfare online experience DICE is best recognized for, Battlefield 1943 will have players battling in ruthless aerial dog fights and intense trench combat. Players can see the game in action at New York Comic Con (Booth No 1441) from February 6th-8th.

“Bad Company 2 takes everything that players liked in the original and ups the ante – more vehicles, more destruction and more team play,” said Karl Magnus Troedsson, Executive Producer Battlefield Franchise, DICE. “Battlefield 1943 is a new take on a blast from the past classic coming to life with brand new technology that we’re eager to get into players hands.”

To sign-up for the Battlefield Heroes beta, players can visit www.battlefield-heroes.com

The Penguins are being fixed! - video game gets a revamp

Meridian4 and Frogames have been hard at work tweaking Penguins Arena, their action-packed, non-stop battle for survival – FPS (First Penguin Shooter) and have fixed a few things and added others.

The update to Penguins Arena: Sedna's World has been released and is available through normal digital distribution channels. The specific changes include:

• Added "Custom maps" game mode, which allow players to play maps created with PAME (Penguins Arena Map Editor)
• Added 4 new custom maps created by fans (Thanks!)
• Fixed case of penguins falling into the water but are still alive (The ‘Tread Water’ bug)
• Fixed some achievements not being able to be unlocked
• Fixed crash when a player tries to join a full server
• Fixed not being able to bind the 'E' key

About Penguins Arena

It all begins when a penguin legend comes to life in the form of Sedna, the ancient Penguin Goddess. Global warming, pollution... Penguin tribes are endangered. Sedna utters them that there is room for but one tribe. And so the purging begins.

Penguins Arena is a thrilling and innovative First Penguin Shooter with very short rounds and where the magic of reincarnation, combined with the supernatural ability to return to the game as a ghost, ensures that your character has every chance to change your tribe's fate.

Save the Penguins, Save the Planet!

• 5 different weapons and bonuses
• Up to 4 different penguins tribes
• 15 different Icebergs battlefields
• Cute and colored cartoon graphics
• Fight the good fight and earn achievements
• Short rounds and furious, intense gameplay
• Player interaction, even after death
• Reincarnation system
• Multiplayer game (LAN or Internet)

Pirate Galaxy – revolutionary browser game closed beta starts

Leading European Publisher gamigo AG is happy to announce the start of the closed beta testing phase of the revolutionary browser game “Pirate Galaxy”. From now on up to 5000 players who register on www.pirategalaxy.com get gradually unlocked, allowing early access to the game.

The Revolution of Browser-MMOGs
With Pirate Galaxy publisher gamigo and developer Splitscreen Studios, will push the boundaries of what is possible in a web browser. The game uses a new, unique technology which allows advanced 3D graphics without the need to install client software to the computer.

Besides that, the game offers exciting gameplay and a huge Galaxy to explore. Players are able to travel to hundreds of different planets, visit space stations in orbit and fight the dangers of their hazardous surfaces. In addition to a compelling story-line, there will be an unlimited amount of automatically generated quests, so space pilots will always have some exciting adventures waiting for them.

Players won’t only have to watch out for other Space Pirates in the game, but for an evil alien race called MANTIS. This technological highly developed race attacked many of mankind’s colonies and outposts. Only experienced squads of players will be able to fight the strong MANTIS-battleships and save the galaxy from these hideous aliens.

Servers are now open!

From today on, the first servers are commencing operation and a couple of hundred players are already unlocked, with more able to play every day. Everyone who wants to join the beta-phase should register at www.pirategalaxy.com. Of course, Pirate Galaxy is completely free of charge and requires no monthly fee to play.

“We are very happy about how the players responded to our Pirate Galaxy announcement”, says Elmar Kofler, Product Manager of Pirate Galaxy. “The game quickly became one of the most anticipated titles in the next g lineup. Now we are looking forward to the feeback of the players, which will help us to give the final touch to every aspect of the game and make decisions for upcoming features.”

gamigo will use this testing phase to find and remove remaining bugs. Beyond that, gamigo will watch player’s comments and suggestions in the forum closely and consider their opinions in the further development of the Pirate Galaxy.

About Pirate Galaxy:

In Pirate Galaxy the player immerges into a Science-Fiction-World, where the galaxy is controlled by maleficent aliens, called MANTIS. The player takes control of a spaceship and takes his fate into his own hands. Along with thousands of other online-pirates, players will fight with aliens, hunt for worthwhile treasures and reconquer the despoiled colonies.

Pirate Galaxy introduces a new era of browser-games and offers a fantastic Science-Fiction-Online-World to the gamers. The game can be played via a client-program, or directly in a web-browser from almost any PC. In both cases players are able to navigate their spaceships through a high-resolution 3D-ambience.

Features:

· detailed 3D-Graphic within the browser
· exciting real-time-fights in PVE and PVP-Modes
· spaceships can be adjusted individually
· motivating role-playing-elements
· a huge game universe with hundreds of planets and innumerable quests
· easy and simple navigation
· comprehensible user interface
· free to play – no payments, no monthly fees

Pixie a New game on Mac and PC Free video game demo

Long-time independent Mac and PC game developers Phelios, Inc. (creators of the PTK Game Engine) and EMV Software (of Warblade fame), have collaborated on a new game called, Pixie. Pixie, a game that is reminiscent of vintage arcade games met with a modern twist, has just been released for both Mac and PC platforms. Pixie was created with the PTK Game Engine. The sound effects and music were composed by William Lamy, and the graphics were created by Paul Conway.
Description of Pixie

The game's main character, Pixie, loses her way in a magical forest one day and needs your guidance to return home. To succeed, gamers must play and advance in each game level, which will ultimately send Pixie on her way home, safe and sound. For each level, the objective of the game is to fence off or claim a majority of the playing field. Click on the playing board and send a magical vine to block off areas of the board. Block off bugs as well and turn the playing field into flowers or magical mushrooms. Catch coins as they fly off the bugs, to buy helpful bonuses like bombs, shields, health potions, extra lives and more.

Pixie features 100 levels, 2 big boss challenges, 4 backgrounds and hours of entertaining game play.

Pixie is available to purchase for $19.95 at both Phelios' and EMV Software's websites:

http://www.phelios.com/
http://www.emv-software.com/

Free PC demo downloads of Pixie are available at:

http://www.phelios.com/files/pc/pixie.exe
http://www.warblade.as/pixie/pixie.exe

Online Real-Time Fighting Game - Battle

Multiverse, a leading provider of interactive entertainment development technology, today launched Battle, the company's first web-based video game that pits players against one another in an action-packed gladiator match.

When playing Battle, players choose from a variety of weapon attacks and magic spells to overwhelm and defeat their opponents. Consumers can play Battle for free at leading social networking sites, including Facebook, MySpace, and Friendster; leading casual game portal, Kongregate; and Multiverse's own site http://battle.multiverse.net. Because the game uses Flash, which is already installed on over 98% of all computers worldwide, consumers don't need to download or install any new software.

"Battle is the first glimpse of a whole new level of excitement in casual games. While new players can begin having fun in seconds, experienced gamers will be thrilled to finally see in a web browser the kind of action and graphics they've found on consoles and in massively multiplayer online games," said Corey Bridges, co-founder and executive producer, Multiverse. "We're confident Battle is going to redefine players' expectations of what's possible in casual games."

Battle: A Sneak Peek of New Platform Capabilities
By extending its platform to enable the development of games for social and casual sites, Multiverse is helping its customers tap into a growing and lucrative consumer resource. According to the Casual Gaming Association, casual games have 200 million active players worldwide who generate $2.25 billion annually.

"We built Battleto showcase what's possible with our underlying technology, the Multiverse Platform," said Rafhael Cedeno, co-founder and CTO, Multiverse. "As a platform provider, we're focused on helping teams build any kind of game or virtual world they want for any outlet – with us, the possibilities are virtually limitless.”

This technology enables game-developers to bring, for the first time, proven genres of gameplay – MMO, sports, combat, real-time strategy, and more – to web browsers in an action-packed multiplayer experience. Multiverse plans to make this new functionality available for public use in the coming months, and has already begun working with a select number of its current customers who have received a preview of its capabilities.

Free Radical to become Crytek UK

Crytek has officially confirmed the acquisition of Free Radical Design and all of its assets, which now becomes part of the Crytek network.

The Nottingham outfit now joins Crytek's other studios in Germany, Ukraine, Hungary, Bulgaria and South Korea.

"We’re very excited about this step to expand Crytek into the UK with such an experienced and highly talented team," offered Avni Yerli, MD of Crytek.

"Free Radical Design is a great fit to Crytek and its culture, given that Free Radical has a proven track record on delivering high quality games.

"The combination of this team, the Crytek network and our CryENGINE technology will be a foundation for outstanding gaming experiences and a magnet for the best talent in the UK," he added.

Source: GamesIndustry

The Guild and Neighbours From Hell to be released on Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS

JoWooD Productions has announced that they will increasingly focus on Nintendos DS and Wii systems to broaden the corporate product portfolio. Popular brands like The Guild and Neighbours From Hell will be released for Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii.

“Bringing our most popular and well-known brands to DS and Wii is a great opportunity and illustrates JoWooD’s multi-platform approach. The Guild is set in an incredibly rich post-medieval world. Its compelling and unique gameplay will translate well to the new hardware. The humorous, family-friendly puzzle game Neighbours From Hell will especially benefit hugely from the innovative control schemes offered by Nintendo’s highly successful consoles.

The broad games portfolio enables JoWooD to contribute to almost every segment of the Wii and DS gaming market. With our experience in the industry and reliable development partners we are well positioned to attract console gamers from all over the world.” says David Skreiner, Assistant Producer.

The release for Neighbours From Hell is planned for the 2nd quarter of 2009. With this step, the Austrian publisher will position his popular games on the growing console market.

EA has confirmed that Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Battlefield 1943 are in development.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 sees the return of Bravo Company and their darkly comic slog through the Second World War. We're promised such locations as snowy mountaintops, dense jungles and dusty villages with destructible scenery once again courtesy of the Frostbite engine.

The game will be released on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Meanwhile the multiplayer-focused Battlefield 1943 will be released for PC, and for consoles via the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. EA says the game features 24-player multiplayer action over three classic and tropic locations; Wake Island, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima. It is powered by the same graphics engine as Bad Company 2.

"Bad Company 2 takes everything that players liked in the original and ups the ante – more vehicles, more destruction and more team play," said Karl Magnus Troedsson, Executive Producer Battlefield Franchise, DICE. "Battlefield 1943 is a new take on a blast from the past classic coming to life with brand new technology that we’re eager to get into players hands."

Source: Boomtown

Rise of the Argonauts video game out in UK tomorrow 6th February

Codemasters announced that Rise of the Argonauts, an epic action RPG developed by Liquid Entertainment and published by Codemasters, will be available to buy from UK retail stores from tomorrow (6th February 2009) for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and the PC. To see the exclusive “Big Finish” UK launch trailer and for more information about the game, visit www.rise-of-the-argonauts.com.

Rise of the Argonauts immerses players in a gladiatorial adventure set in a wondrously imagined vision of ancient Greece. Taking the role of Jason, a hero and weapons master, players will battle alongside Hercules, Achilles, Atalanta and other Argonauts as they engage in brutal combat and enchanting dialogue against formidable beasts and enemies, in a vast world alive with fickle gods, jaw-dropping panoramas, deep exploration and epic quests. The search for the Golden Fleece is not only one of exploration, but of transformation: from warrior king to exalted hero touched by the gods.