New and improved PDC World Championship Darts 2009 on Nintendo Wii

The throwing method with the Wii Remote in PDC World Championship Darts 2009 is all new, having been re-designed and improved, from the 2008 version. The mechanism has been completely rewritten to give you the most realistic darts throwing experience yet – so you’ll have no excuse if you miss an easy shot!

Oxygen and Rebellion studios have strived to give darts fans a throwing gesture as realistic as possible using the Wii Remote. PDC Darts 2009 will have 3 throwing assist levels; Max, Min and Off. Max will allow those not experienced at throwing real darts the ability to keep up with the games professional players, Min and Off modes will challenge players with greater experience taking power, dart weight and accuracy into account.

Phil The Power Taylor, who has been working with Rebellion and Oxygen to improve the throwing method said “The throwing method is smooth, fluid and simple. Oxygen have really improved upon last year’s version and it feels the same as throwing a real dart with the advantage being that I don’t have to walk to the dart board to take out the arrows!”

Steve Hart, Producer at Rebellion commented “We wanted to offer people the ability to compete against the worlds top Darts players, those starring in the game compete at their real life dart averages. We knew we couldn’t expect everyone to keep up with such professional play. In order to achieve this we had to first, design and implement a throwing gesture that felt natural and as close to the real thing as possible. Once this was in place we went to work on offering different levels of “Assist Mode” as per last years game, where by assisting people with the throw accuracy, power etc. the game offered a more forgiving game mechanic, or with Assist Off, as close to the real thing as a computer game could ever provide. We’re very happy with the results.”

Jim Scott, CEO of Oxygen Games added “We got some criticism from a few passionate sports and darts fans last year who thought the throwing method could be improved. We took everything they said on board and have now created the purest and most realistic darts experience to date. We are sure anyone who tries this version will not be disappointed.”

Specific Improvements:

1. Assist modes cover more areas than previous version.
2. PDC2009 has a more intuitive system, whereby aim reticule can be re-locked into same position.
3. The gesture is more sensitive and accurate
4. On screen feedback is centred on the reticule, so all info is provided at the point of interest, instead of looking into a corner as in the previous version.
5. Dart weights are taken into account this year. So if you’re throwing high all the time, select a heavier dart rather than tweaking your gesture.
6. Relentless Focus Testing to ensure we knew where it was wrong, and where it was right. And the readjusted accordingly.

Killzone 2 - Guerrila boss admits "Some Areas to Improve"

Hermen Hulst is the managing director of Guerrilla Games. He appears to be a refreshingly honest and straightforward chap in an industry rapidly disappearing beneath a mountain of jargon, obfuscation and plain BS. He is also responsible for Killzone 2, the game that could either breathe new life into PlayStation 3 or serve as the first verse in its swansong.

While Internet forums have been befouled with rants about how good or bad the game is, Mr Hulst is more up front. He says, "We've delivered in most areas on the vision we set out. We have pushed the machine hard". However, he also states, "If you analyse down to the nitty gritty, there are some areas to improve."

That is not the kind of statement a company leader makes about a make-or-break product that he is not confident in. He's also upfront about why the game came about, telling the BBC, "Our mission for the title was to build a showcase for the PlayStation 3 hardware. I think we have pushed the machine, so I am hopeful that we can help Sony push hardware units."

Source: Spong

Runes of Magic - Daily quest has players battling against huge minotaurs

A new challenge arises in Runes of Magic. From today with 'Battle for Mystery’ a truly epic encounter awaits players in the high level area of the fantasy online role-play game.

This encounter follows the concept of the Daily Quests – tasks that are only accessible once a day - requiring a challenging battle with a world boss. The daily quest leads players out of the 'Harf trading post' to the 'Mystical Altar', a location up in the Ystra Highlands. This is where they have to overcome the sinister magician Samoge. In the course of the battle, two gigantic stone statues in the form of minotaurs are awakened and brought to life. However, the player ought not to wage the ‘Battle for Mystery’ on their own: nothing less than a combat troop of up to 36 players with a level of at least 45 are needed to bring Samoge to his knees. They will also be supported by envoys from the NPC faction ‘The Eye of Wisdom’ who have also placed a price on the magician’s head.

Considerable valuable rewards beckon to the raiding party in the event of a victory over the world boss Samoge and his enlivened helpers. Together with epic quality weapons and armaments, players will also bag rare scrolls to help them with rune interpretation which could also help them in increasing the value of their equipment.

Runes of Magic started the open beta with an English and a German version in the middle of December 2008. All interested players can now download the online-role playing game and enter into the fantasy world after creating an account for free on www.runesofmagic.com.

Runes of Magic – a world full of wizardry and adventure
With an extensive range of features Runes of Magic prepares to redefine the standard of free2play MMO games. Runes of Magic conveys an absorbing story through more than 1.000 quests embedded in an atmospheric fantasy setting. Players can choose between six main classes and combined with a secondary class they present 30 individual combinations of character classes over all. All characters possess unique skills with impressive combo attacks and can use mounts like war horses and more. A particularly attractive feature for guilds and players is the possibility to arrange their own virtual homes with individual furnishing. Thanks to an extensive crafting and reputation system, thrilling PVP, as well as demanding dungeons and boss-monsters, no wishes remain unsatisfied. The Taiwanese developer Runewaker has developed Runes of Magic according to western MMO standards within a time frame of three years. The studio will provide new challenges for players every three to four months with free add-ons and updates. MMO fans can find more information, pictures and videos on the official website www.runesofmagic.com.

Features

- Free2play: no monthly fees, free download
- Extensive dual class system (six primary and secondary classes)
- Versatile spell- and attack-combinations
- Enthralling background story
- More than 1.000 quests and quest series on launch
- No zone boundaries thanks to seamless architecture
- Dungeons: Instanced and tile based as well as persistent
- Individually developable skills and spells
- Armour sets with special bonuses
- Dynamic item system with hundreds of runes for upgrading
- Optional PvP system with arena battles and guild wars
- Ranking system with player-ranking lists
- Multitude of unique mounts
- Epic crafting system with the chance to improve existing items
- Personalization of player houses through individual furnishing
- Reputation system
- Customisable user interface with the option to use Add-Ons
- Map and radar system to find dealers, resources and quests easily
- In-game auction houses for trading items
- Teleport-Runes for instant travel
- Mouse and keyboard controls for movement
- Regular updates with new content
- Cross-server fights in three-server-battle in development
- Guild houses in special zones in development

Free Driving Lesson (UK) with Nintendo DS game - Pass Your Driving Theory Test out this March

Avanquest Software Publishing, formerly known as GSP and one of the UK's leading consumer software and games publishers, will launch Pass Your Driving Theory Test for Nintendo DS in March 2009. Pass Your Driving Theory Test DS from Avanquest also comes with a free driving lesson worth £26 from LDC, the UK’s third biggest driving school. The release follows the success of All in One Driving Test on PC, with the publisher now transferring its expertise to the handheld market.

The sophisticated driving revision guide will be targeted at the 1.5 million learner drivers that take a theory test every year. A theory test costs £30 and almost 40% of those taking it will fail*, which can result in increased costs, wasted time and added annoyance to an already stressful situation. The free driving lesson included with every copy is expected to increase sales by offering consumers a practical benefit in addition to a sophisticated revision guide.

Pass Your Driving Theory Test DS includes all 1265 official Driving Standard Agency (DSA) questions for car and motorcycle, with detailed explanations for each answer. Unlike similar titles, tests can be customised, enabling students to focus on particular subject areas and create a targeted revision plan.

“Our free driving lesson worth £26 with each copy of Pass Your Driving Theory Test DS is a practical benefit and a value for money offering when you consider the software retails at £19.99,” states Simon Reynolds, European Games Director at Avanquest Software Publishing. “With 1.5 million learner drivers taking their theory test each year the potential market is huge and self replenishing every year. We expect this offer to attract learner drivers and enable retailers to fulfil a great need in the market.”

Pass Your Theory Driving Test DS enables revision on the move, at college or work due to its portable capabilities. Consumers turn the DS on its side to revise in the more convenient book format of the Nintendo DS, and the software has been designed to cater for both right and left handed people.

Fast facts:
Publisher: Avanquest Software Publishing
Developer: Uacari/LDC
Distributor: Interactive Ideas / Gem / Centresoft / Ideal Software
Release date: March 2009
Format: Nintendo DS
Genre: Simulation
SRP: £19.99

Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Plaza Skate 2 download available

Experience the Inspiration for Dyrdek's New MTV Show with Skate 2's Latest Downloadable Content

Electronic Arts announce that gamers will be able to extend their Skate 2 experience with the download of Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Plaza, starting today in the PLAYSTATION Store for $5.00 in North America and on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 400 points. The downloadable content features Rob Dyrdek’s new skate plaza, the centerpiece of his MTV show, Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory, as well as the surrounding downtown Los Angeles area.

“I’ve been involved with the Skate franchise since the very beginning and each game has been able to perfectly capture the culture and feel of skateboarding,” said skateboarder entrepreneur, Rob Dyrdek. “I can’t wait to give players a taste of the Fantasy Plaza, my dream skateboarding space. The team at Black Box has recreated the plaza in Skate 2, complete with all the ledges, gaps and rails. On top of all that, there’s still a lot more surprises outside the park that both gamers and skaters will enjoy.”

Recently released for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, Skate 2 has already received high acclaim from top videogame media including a 4.5 out of 5 from PlayStation: The Official Magazine, a 91 from PSM3 and ‘Game of the Month’ distinctions from IGN and Game Informer.

Skate 2 brings gamers to New San Vanelona, a city rebuilt with more spots to skate and own. Equipped with double the bag of tricks and the ability get off the board to move objects around, players can now create their own epic skate spots which can then be shared and experienced by others around the world. The game also features a revamped Thrasher Hall of Meat mode that will have players spending countless hours pulling off bone-crushing wipeouts and bails.

Skate 2 is developed by Black Box, in Vancouver, British Columbia. The game is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB and 16+ by PEGI.

Atlantica Online Rolls Out Major Update

Content Upgrades Include New Character Classes, Dungeons, Hairstyles, and More

Strategic turn-based MMORPG, Atlantica Online, today released a major update for the award-winning title. The update adds several new features, including two new main character classes – Musician and Maniac. These new features and classes will enhance the player’s journey through time and history in their quest to find the lost land of Atlantis.

The majority of the new content will be accessible to all players immediately, while some of the new features will only be available to players who have reached level 100.

The major content updates include:

Two New Main Character Classes
Head out into the world with the new classes and get your hands on some unusual gear: a guitar or a power saw. The Musician wields a guitar, which can be selected by any player, new or ongoing. Specializing in long-range combat, the Musician attacks by playing music that strikes two enemies in a line. Its magic attack, the Ravaging Melody, depletes enemies’ attack power, defense, and health, and aids your mercenaries’ attacks. When they attack, they utilize moves that would make Angus Young envious.

The second new class is the Maniac, and he/she brandishes a power saw. Only players at level 100 can create a main character using the power saw, although that character will have to start anew at level 1. The Maniac’s attack hits all enemies in a row, and has a magic cast called Storm Blast.

New Mercenary
The Elementalist is a new, Class B magic mercenary that can be recruited in North America after you reach level 100. When upgraded, the Elementalist becomes the legendary Native American, Pocahontas.

New Dungeons
Now offering even more locations, Atlantica boasts a handful of new dungeons including Alcatraz Prison, which can only be accessed by nations. Additionally, the Valley of Oblivion, also in North America, can only be accessed by guilds, and is the route players must take to acquire the Elementalist. There are also new side quest dungeons based in China.

Celebrate Your Character’s Individuality
Not only will your character now have three new options for hairstyles (the long wave, the afro, and the rasta), your main character will now receive a present on his or her in-game birthday.

To read the complete list of the new updates for Atlantica Online, please visit www.playatlantica.com.

Atlantica Online is a strategic turn-based MMORPG that combines innovative combat with character/party development and city/country management. Players take on the quest to destroy the Oriharukon, a powerful energy sensor from the lost civilization of Atlantis that survived and is now endangering humanity. This journey will take players around the globe, to locations like the Great Wall of China and the pyramids of Egypt, and they will come face-to-face with monsters ripped from history and lore, such as the ruthless Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu and Dracula.

Win a Life-Size Blood Raven Space Marine Statue (UK) with Warhammer 40000 Dawn of War II

To celebrate the release of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II, due for release this Friday (20th February 2009), Gamestation has planted five life-size Blood Raven Space Marine statues in stores, one of which will be given away to a lucky member of the official Dawn of War II Facebook Page!

If you want to stand a chance of winning one on of these towering 2 meter statues, all you have to do take a picture of yourself with one of the models and then upload it to the ‘Fan Photos’ section of the Dawn of War II Facebook Page, ensuring you tag yourself and the name of the store you found the statue in.

So, where can these impressive life-size replicas be found?! At one of the Gamestation stores listed below:

• Hull - 59-60 Prospect Centre, Hull, HU2 8PW
• Orpington - 79 - 81 The Walnuts, Orpington, BR6 0TW
• Edinburgh - 134A Princes Street, EDINBURGH, EH2 4AH
• Blackburn - 59-61 King William Street, Blackburn, BB1 7DJ
• Stratford Upon Avon - 13 Town Square Shopping Centre, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6AU

Deadline for entry is Wednesday 25th February and then, on the 26th February staff from the Gamestation will choose a worthy winner. Entries will be judged on clever composition, creative content and artistic merit! The statue will then be delivered to a UK address of the winner’s choice. Terms and conditions apply, go to the Dawn of War II Facebook Page for full details.

X-Blades out on PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 tomorrow

SouthPeak Interactive anime inspired foray into the hack ‘n slash arena, X-Blades, is out tomorrow across PAL territories. Available for the PC, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, X-Blades delivers high speed action and adventure, combined with a stylised artistic flair.

To celebrate the launch of X-Blades in the UK, real-life model Jodie Dart donned a specially created outfit based on Ayumi’s armour in the game. The 22-year-old from Plymouth then recreated recognisable poses from artwork of Ayumi, including the stunning cover art.

“Just by looking at X-Blades players can see that this won’t be another run of the mill action game,” said Jonathan Hales, Managing Director SouthPeak Interactive. “The large and detailed worlds, combined with beautiful artwork and film-like cut scenes, are only the beginning of what X-Blades has to offer.”

In X-Blades, players take the role of the beautiful treasure hunter Ayumi as she battles through waves of enemies in her search for a powerful and ancient relic. Armed with her trusty pistol blades, Ayumi relies on her acrobatic skills and lightning-quick fighting style to cut a swath through the hordes of evil keeping her from her goal. If she becomes overwhelmed, Ayumi can add devastating and upgradeable magic attacks to her combos to defeat her enemies.

“One of the many features you’ll find in X-Blades is the idea of letting the player choose their own character direction,” said James Seaman, Managing Director at TopWare Interactive. “The type of combos learned, magic abilities upgraded and even the layout of the controller buttons are completely up to the player, giving them the opportunity to play Ayumi in any way they like. Add that level of personalisation to the already top-notch fighting engine and sexy art style, and you’ll find that X-Blades delivers for both anime and action fans alike.”

PlayStation 3 firmware 2.7 details leaked?

A thread on the Game Trailers' forum claims to have the details on what we can expect from the next PS3 firmware drop.

Nothing's been confirmed by Sony and we'll ask for a 'no comment' when people turn up for work. All this info comes from a source who is said to work "in an R&D department at Sony". Stranger things have happened...

Read full post on CVG site here...

Tiger Woods golfing game on iPhone reveled on Twitter

Twitter seems to be a popular place for developers to post cryptic remarks about new games and future updates these days, but is seem EA Mobile has chosen Facebook to show off the first screens of its Tiger Woods 09 game for the iPhone.

These are pegged as pre-release shots, suggesting improvements will likely be made before we actually see the finished product, but we've got to say it's already looking pretty splendid.

Tiger's recognisable, and the fully 3D fairways do justice to the iPhone's graphical abilities. There even appears to be a reasonable amount of customisation of your golfer, and the selection screen suggests you can choose between CPU or human players, so this is likely to be a multiplayer affair.

No solid details as yet, check this Tiger Woods 09 screenshot.

Source: Pocket Gamer