Street Fighter IV video game on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 this Friday

Capcom announce that Street Fighter IV has shipped to retail for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system ahead of its official release date this Friday 20th February. The long-awaited Street Fighter IV is posed to redefine the fighting game genre with a return to the classic 2D Street Fighter fighting action mixed with new characters, high definition 3D visuals, and next-generation fluid gameplay.

“Long time Street Fighter fans and those new to the series will be blown away by the all new Street Fighter IV,” said Ben Wyer-Roberts, European Marketing Manager. “From a game series that has over 20 years of heritage, Street Fighter IV is the perfect blend of well loved characters and features from the past and some amazing new ones. Street Fighter IV is undisputed heavyweight champion of the next generation fighting genre.”

Street Fighter IV features a mix of returning favourites such as Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and Guile along with new characters created exclusively for this game such as Crimson Viper, Abel, El Fuerte, and Rufus. 

Characters and environments are rendered in high definition 3D, while the game is played in the classic Street Fighter 2D perspective with additional 3D camera flourishes. Six-button controls for the game return, with a host of new special moves and features integrated into the input system. Street Fighter IV also incorporates state of the art online match making and worldwide online gameplay. 

Mixing classic genre-defining game mechanics the franchise is known and loved for with all-new, never-before-seen gameplay systems, Street Fighter IV brings a brand new fighting game to fans the world over. With the inclusion of Capcom's latest advancements in new generation technology, Street Fighter IV promises to deliver an extraordinary experience that will re-introduce the world to the time-honoured art of virtual martial arts.

Features:

• Classic 2D Street Fighter gameplay with stunning high definition 3D characters and environments
• New special moves that go beyond any Street Fighter fan's wildest imagination, including Focus attacks, Super Combos, and the revenged-fueled Ultra Combo system.
• Classic Street Fighter characters recreated for a new generation of gamers, including the original cast of Street Fighter II
• New brawlers: female super-spy Crimson Viper, lucha libre wrestler El Fuerte, mixed martial artist Abel and more!
• New gameplay elements provide new challenges for both newcomers and the most seasoned Street Fighter pro.
• Online gameplay features, including instantaneous online challenges, versus mode, tournament mode, and world wide online gameplay.

Metal Slug 7 on Nintendo DS video game review

Metal Slug 7 (MS7), the latest instalment in SNK Playmore's popular "run and gun" shoot-'em-up series, is unique because it does not have an arcade counterpart like each of the other core Metal Slug releases. Despite this break from tradition, MS7 otherwise fully embraces its heritage in almost every conceivable way.

For the uninitiated, that means plenty of frenetic shooting action, gorgeous hand-drawn visuals, screen-filling boss encounters, swarms of foes and, of course, Metal Slugs (powerful tank-like contraptions).

If you're a fan of the series you will soon find that there is very little here you haven't seen before. In fact, despite being a Nintendo DS title, MS7 makes almost no effort to embrace the console's unique features - the touch screen houses a map but little else, and wireless multiplayer is entirely absent. Instead of startling innovation, then, Metal Slug 7 offers polish, and plenty of it.

Read full review on Cubed3 here...

Two hundred million video games sold by Gameloft most to iPhone and iPod Touch

The Gameloft catalogue now contains nearly 300 games available for download

Gameloft, the worldwide leader in mobile game publishing, today officially announces it has sold over 200 million mobile games since starting in 2003.

The Gameloft catalogue now contains close to 300 entries in all existing categories and suited to every culture. Gameloft games are now available in more than 80 countries, thanks to a very strong distribution network (telecom operators, phone and console manufacturers and media partners).

Gameloft games are distinguished by their availability since they are generally adaptable to all phones and platforms, so each person can enjoy the game he or she wants, regardless of their hardware. Apple (and the Appstore) has become Gameloft’s single biggest sales channel for mobile games in 2008, overtaking all the mobile operators.

“At Gameloft, we believe that consumers are uncompromising,” said Michel Guillemot, President of Gameloft. “They want the best games for the mobile phone or console in their pocket or at home. They also want immediate access at the lowest cost. We channel our creativity and our determination into creating entertainment that corresponds to their expectations and their need for diversion. That includes adapting it to their lifestyle and their budget. These are the reasons they buy our games in such great numbers.”

In 2009, Gameloft announced it will publish a significant number of games for the iPhone and for all devices connected to downloadable networks. It will continue to simultaneously publish games for 1,200 telephones and consoles accessible through the PlayStation Network, PlayStation Store, Nintendo WiiWare, Nintendo DSi and Microsoft Xbox LIVE Arcade.

Tokyo Beat Down Nintendo DS video game - meet the cast

Atlus profiled two more of the main characters of Tokyo Beat Down for Nintendo DS in "Meet the Cast" Beast Cops Lewis Cannon and Rika Hyodo are dedicated to protecting the citizens of Tokyo by beating the sin out of evil-doers, but someone needs to supervise and keep them in line! Meet the Captain and Inspector below...

"Look, kid, I know I shot you, but if you get blood on my backseat, I'm gonna really hafta get violent on you..."

Takeshi Bando

Captain 

Tak has been at Yaesu Station for many years, and he's a trusted friend. He's the only man who can keep the other beast cops in line... although sometimes, even his tactics can be a bit excessive.

He's recently gained some weight, and he's a bit sensitive about it. So careful what you say around him!

Fighting style: All-out offense. He hits hard and gets hit hard.

"This station is full of amateurs. My dog could run the place better!"

Jean Saburo

Inspector

He's an elitist, and his standards are uncompromising. He was sent from main headquarters, downtown, to ensure the investigations run smoothly.

Others think he definitely does not have what it takes to be a beast cop. That's alright, though; Lewis and Rika'll scare him off soon enough.

About Tokyo Beat Down
Who has it within them to rise up against the ever growing threat of violence, crime, and terrorism on the streets of Tokyo? Enter the Beast Cops, tireless servants of justice. These men and women struggle night and day for the heart of the city. They'll match any villain punch for punch, kick for kick, bullet for bullet. They're Beast Cops because they will do whatever it takes, pay any price, inflict as much damage as necessary, in order to restore peace and security to the streets of Tokyo.

Key Features

• Beat 'em up that lets you shoot 'em up - When fisticuffs aren't enough, add guns to deliver a whole new brand of justice to the mean streets of Tokyo. Pick up a variety of weapons, ranging from handguns to rocket launchers, for intense action on each level.
• Badass 70's cop show vibe - Outrageous style, over-the-top substance, and no holds barred hardboiled police action mix with madcap humor and sharply-written dialogue. Dishing out justice to the seamy underbelly of Tokyo has never been this satisfying.
• Multiple characters & endings - This sordid tale of Tokyo's criminal set unfolds through the eyes of three different cops with unique play styles. Story branches lead to multiple endings that determine whether you'll get your shot to beat down the ultimate crime boss.

Tokyo Beat Down is scheduled for release on March 31, 2009 with a MSRP of $29.99.

Rock band Nintendo Wii seven new Nirvana tracks added

The addition of seven tracks from alternative grunge band Nirvana to the Rock Band Music Store catalog of downloadable content for Nintendo Wii home videogame console from Nintendo.

The lineup includes seven master recordings from Nirvana’s 1991 album Nevermind including “Breed,” “Lounge Act,” “On a Plain,” “Polly,” “Something in the Way,” “Stay Away,” and “Territorial Pissings.” These tracks join “In Bloom” from the original Rock Band soundtrack and “Drain You” featured on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack to make for a total of nine Nirvana songs available in the Rock Band music catalog available to Wii owners.

This week’s offering comes from the Rock Band Music Store catalog of downloadable content already released to owners of Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. Wii fans can expect a rollout of the previously released downloadable content until the entire back catalogue of more than 570 songs is available. In addition, the regularly scheduled future DLC releases for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system will also be available for Rock Band 2 Wii owners soon.

Release Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Tracks:

Nirvana Breed
Nirvana Lounge Act
Nirvana On a Plain
Nirvana Polly
Nirvana Something in the Way
Nirvana Stay Away
Nirvana Territorial Pissings

(All tracks are original master recordings)

Price: $2.00 (200 Wii Points) per track

Location: In-game Rock Band 2 Music Store (Wii Points must be purchased
through the Wii™ Shop Channel)

Relax, Play and improve your mind with Challenge Me - Brain Puzzles on Nintendo DS

Oxygen Games introduces the first in a new range of games designed to relax and stimulate your mind; Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles!

Relax, Play and improve your mind. Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles, with its extended gameplay and variety of features, gives you the chance to test yourself while having fun. Guaranteed to stimulate and surprise with hours of gameplay to keep you entertained, Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles is a relaxing and entertaining way to keep your mind challenged and stimulated.

Incorporating two number based games, Sudoku & Picture Logic, Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles will not only bring you hours of fun and relaxation, they may also improve your mental skills.

Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles Sudoku is a challenging and entertaining version of the well loved Sudoku game. 500 different Sudoku challenges are available, providing hours of fun and lots of opportunities to exercise your mind. Anyone used to paper based versions of Sudoku will have no problem picking up the rules as they are identical in the game. The Nintendo DS controls are easy & intuitive to use, allowing new users of the Nintendo DS to quickly feel at home. For newcomers to Sudoku, Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles offers many features which will help beginners to get started and quickly master these challenging and fun puzzles.

The rules of Sudoku are simple, to succeed you must place the numbers 1-9 in a 9x9 grid, with each number only appearing once in each row, column & each 3x3 mini grid. Start at a stroll on the easy setting before aiming for Olympic gold on the hard setting! Sudoku will keep you entertained whether it’s for just 5 minutes on the bus or 5 hours relaxing at home.

In the ‘Challenge Me!’ mode you can test yourself on 30 puzzles against the clock. When you have finished a report will let you know whether all that mind exercising is making you smarter!

Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles – Relax, Play and Improve Your Mind!

Hi to all the staff at Flash-Fire, especially CC, have fun and I'll try and get the email address fixed

Harvest Moon - Frantic Farming on Nintendo DS this May

Natsume announce that it will be publishing Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming for the Nintendo DS this spring.

The company also released the first screenshots and gameplay details. The game is scheduled to hit retail this May.

Something strange is happening on Sunny Island! Crops are popping up everywhere and growing out of control!

If something isn't done soon, the once-tranquil island will be buried in an avalanche of vegetables! It's up to the players to solve the mystery of this produce predicament as they try to tame the crops and gather as many vegetables as they can!

"Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming is an all-new action-puzzle game set in the world of Harvest Moon," said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. "With exciting gameplay modes, unlockable music and art, and a deep story mode with multiple selectable characters, it's no puzzle why we think it will be a big hit with Harvest Moon and puzzle game fans alike!"

Set in the world of the recent DS hit Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness, Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming continues the tale of the island and its residents. Players can choose from 12 playable characters, each with their own unique story! See how the mystery unfolds from each character's perspective, and who they meet along the way!

The game features a variety of modes including Story Mode, the brain-teasing Mission Mode, and the action-puzzle excitement of Score Attack and Free Play Modes. Players can test their farming skills against their friends and family in multiplayer. Players can also unlock character art, music, and some special surprises in their Collection Room.

Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming will ship to retail this May.

Street Fighter and Resident Evil Visa Creditcards with rewards - now available

Capcom Presents the Game Industry's First Branded Visa Card With Trendsetting "Experiential" Rewards Program

Capcom announce a game industry trendsetting program to allow Capcom community members to show their fan spirit with a unique Capcom Unity Visa prepaid card. Capcom is the first video game company in North America to offer a co-branded Visa rewards card program specifically designed for gamers. The Capcom Unity Visa card program is now available for immediate online enrollment at http://www.capcom-unity-card.com.

This is not a credit card, but an innovative user-funded prepaid card that works anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, earning a precedent-setting series of cash back, points on Capcom’s community website Capcom-Unity.com, accelerated rewards from select retail and merchandise partners, discounts and exclusive access. Most importantly, Capcom’s enthusiastic fan base will be able to pay for dinner, get money from an ATM or buy games with a Visa card featuring some of the most recognizable video game characters on the planet, from games such as Street Fighter IV and Resident Evil 5.

“The Capcom Unity Visa is a truly unique program, a first in the video game industry” said Mark Beaumont, chief operating officer and head of Capcom consumer software publishing in the Americas and Europe. “Not only are we connecting our consumers with their favorite brands in an innovative way, but we’re also giving them an expansive rewards program that will let them participate in the Capcom community at a greater level.”

The Capcom Unity Visa prepaid card represents a true fiscal alternative for Capcom fans, allowing them to pick from several Capcom-themed prepaid card designs – including initial designs featuring art and images from Resident Evil 5, Street Fighter IV and Bionic Commando, with more designs to be offered regularly in the future – and control how much money is available on their prepaid card through easy and efficient online account access. Since this is not a credit card, almost everyone in North America over the age of 13 can qualify, with absolutely no impact to their credit history. Purchases are protected by Visa’s Zero Liability Policy , and funds deposited on the card are fully FDIC-insured.

The card is issued by Prepaid Solutions USA, a service of West Suburban Bank in the western suburbs of Chicago. “Working together, Capcom and West Suburban Bank have been able to create a truly innovative loyalty program that combines cash back and online rewards with experiential rewards that go far beyond the norm”, said Daniel P. Grotto, President of Prepaid Solutions USA at West Suburban Bank. “We very are excited to be a part of the launch of the Capcom Unity Visa card program. It will provide a safe and easy way for cardholders to pay for purchases wherever Visa is accepted. "

Unity members can go to any of thousands of Visa ReadyLink locations, transfer money online from their bank accounts directly to their Capcom Unity Visa card, set up regular transfers from their accounts or even establish direct deposit from their employers. The Capcom Unity Visa card can be used to pay bills electronically, as well as instantly pay other Capcom Unity Visa card holders. The Capcom Unity Visa card allows Capcom fans the freedom to access their cash where and when they need it, protecting themselves from bank overdraft fees while allowing them to pay with the card anywhere that Visa is accepted There are no paper statements generated or checks to be printed or paper check registers; users can choose to receive updates and alerts via email or text messages and all transactions are digitally recorded for the cardholder automatically, and can be viewed online.

The Capcom Unity Visa card will reward cardholders in three different ways: earning points on Capcom-Unity.com, earning cash back from online or signature-based purchases and earning accelerated rewards through the online “Capcom rewards mall.” For every dollar cardholders deposit on the Capcom Unity Visa card they will earn 5 Capcom Unity points which can be used in a number of different ways on the community website, including the new Auctions and Raffle features. Capcom Unity Visa cardholders will also earn one-half percent of cash back from all signature purchases – the cardholder then has the option to either redeposit the cash onto the card for additional use or purchase discounted gift cards from retail partners at the online rewards mall. Those same purchases will also qualify for accelerated rewards ranging from 0.5% to 20% from over 750 retailers, including iTunes, BestBuy.com, Target.com and many more.

Capcom is developing a larger suite of rewards for Capcom Unity card holders above and beyond the standard incentives. Not only will Unity members be earning points on Capcom Unity with every purchase, but Unity card holders will find a new level of access to all things Capcom opening to them. Unity card holders may be able to “jump the line” at Capcom events or gatherings, gain access to Beta tests for new Capcom or other “experiential” rewards that extend beyond the online space, such as being written into a Capcom game or comic book or possibly even being an extra in a Capcom movie. Using the Capcom Unity Visa at Capcom’s own e-store will also save players 15% on their purchase, which means real savings on the games they were planning on buying.

For more information about the Capcom Unity Visa prepaid card program, visit http://www.capcom-unity-card.com

Ceville - Profile of a Tyrant! PC video game

Kalypso Media today release the profile of the diminutive but evil tyrant Ceville, the star of Kalypso Media’s upcoming point & click adventure Ceville.

Name: Ceville
Age: 48
Profession: Professional Tyrant
Hobbies: Torture, abusing the peasants.

Ceville enjoyed a carefree youth as the son of the renown tyrant Ceville Senior. Nothing gave young Ceville more pleasure than spending his days building torture chambers with his wooden blocks and throwing his dolls into prison. Whenever these pursuits began to pall he amused himself by maltreating the staff with his little pranks, much to his father's delight. A chip off the old block…

Precocious, little Ceville was soon attending seminars such as "Tyranny The Fun And Easy Way" and "A True Reign Of Evil In Just 24 Hours" in preparation for his future career as dictator. It was at this point that he conceived his theory of "Ceville Justice", also known as the Ceville Decision. In this form of justice both sides of a disagreement are punished equally. Twice as much fun for Ceville!

One fine day, as young Ceville was in the process of locking the cat Kitty into the cellar for a few days of punishment, news reached him of his father's totally unexplained disappearance. Since that fateful day Ceville has ruled Faeryanis with an iron fist, where he delights in thinking up new ways of abusing his innocent subjects.

Soon the dynamic young dictator was overworked cooking up evil plans and was forced to hire a helper, Basilius. Soon Basilius was seldom far from Ceville's side, providing him with tips in his role as the wise advisor. As is the usual lot with tyrant’s assistants everywhere, he too was treated poorly.

However, one fine day, as Ceville sat high upon his throne and exercised his widely feared Ceville Justice as he had done so many times before ...

Ceville will be published in the UK by Kalypso Media on the 27th of February at a retail price of £29.99.

Virtual Frontiers - Daniel Boone and the Hunters of Kentucky demo download now

Demo of First Person Historic Adventure Now Available on HuntersofKentucky.com

HunersofKentucky.com has today released the first official demo for their upcoming first person adventure Virtual Frontiers: Daniel Boone and the Hunters of Kentucky. The demo, which is freely available from the game’s website, encompasses the first few levels of the forthcoming adventure and introduces players to the fascinating world of the early American frontier. From hunting to surviving in the wilderness, Virtual Frontiers aims to bring the early West to life for players all across the world.

Combining traditional 3D gaming with education and historical awareness, Virtual Frontiers offers players a unique way to learn about the men and women who helped to settle the early American frontier and the Native American tribes who fought to defend their homelands. Just as “The Oregon Trail” taught a broad audience about emigration to the far west, Virtual Frontiers looks to illustrate the settling of the trans-Appalachian west by combining history and 3D gaming. Virtual Frontiers: Daniel Boone and the Hunters of Kentucky is aimed at those aged 15 and over and will be released as a free download (through huntersofkentucky.com) in March 2009.

To celebrate the release of the demo version of the game, an official development blog has also launched with plans for a forum to be launched in the coming weeks ahead of the full game’s release date. For more information on the game, including versions suitable for magazine cover discs please visit the official website. The demo version of Virtual Frontiers is online now and can be downloaded from the game’s official website at HuntersofKentucky.com