Xbox Live players target of Hackers

Xbox Live is being targeted by malicious hackers selling services that kick players off the network.

The booting services are proving popular with players who want a way to get revenge on those who beat them in an Xbox Live game.

More at the BBC site here...

World War One - La Grande Guerre update to 1.0.6A

A sizeable new update is crossing no man's land and heading to hard drives!

Matrix Games and AGEOD are pleased to release the comprehensive 1.0.6A update for World War One – La Grand Guerre. This latest update brings over 50 tweaks and fixes, some of which are major stability improvements. In addition, there are a score of scenario improvements. Overall, the update brings more stability and playability to World War One.

Also, the final full high resolution manual is now completed! This manual will be included with the update. It is much larger, more comprehensive (and prettier) than the existing manual and it is recommended that all players give it a look.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “AGEOD has steadily been improving the gaming experience of World War One since its release. Additionally, we are happy to present to gamers the completed full, high resolution manual which will no doubt be of great use to all players.”

As Europe mobilized in August 1914, both sides of what would be called World War I chanted “Home before the leaves fall!’’ Four long and bloody years later Europe lay in ruins and many once-enthusiastic patriots returned home disenchanted and broken ... Will YOU be able to prevent that outcome?

Take charge as a military and political leader during the most trying and critical times of World War One! As either a member of the Central Powers, the Entente or a neutral nation, you will confront the epic gauntlet of challenges that faced the likes of Kitchener, Joffre, Luddendorf, Clemenceau, Czar Nicholas II or Enver Pasha in scenarios that range from single theatres to the entire grand campaign.

Gaze over an incredibly detailed, beautifully crafted, and massive WWI map as you control dozens of different ground units, planes, and ships. To add further flavor to an already chaotic and intense period of conflict, hundreds of military, economic, political and technological events can help turn the tide of war for or against you. Deftly craft new alliances and jockey for any advantage that can break the deadlock by using ambassadors in an innovative and intuitive diplomacy system.

This update is comprehensive and will bring any previous version of the game to version 1.0.6A. Get more information on World War One – La Grande Guerre from its official product page.

DiRT 2 - FUEL gameplay

Codemasters showcased some of the star players from its 2009 portfolio at its San Francisco Gamers Day event, held last night, Thursday 19th February. Featured titles included DiRT 2, FUEL, Operation Flashpoint - Dragon Rising, Jumpgate Evolution, Overlord II, Overlord Dark Legend and Overlord Minions.

Codemasters announced that DiRT 2, the sequel to the award-winning off-road racer, has been scheduled to ship this September for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Games For Windows LIVE, Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP (PlayStation Portable) system; the most extensive format launch in the 10 million+ selling series’ history.

Set to deliver a thrilling off-roading experience with extreme sports attitude, new visuals released at www.dirt2game.com revealed that, in addition to Utah, Malaysia and London, DiRT 2’s World Tour of off-road events will take racers to a massive, spectator-packed Los Angeles sports stadium for an exhilarating rally cross event: the “Stadium King Shootout”.

Codemasters also showcased FUEL, the multi-terrain, multi-vehicle action racing title from Asobo Studios that will present players with the largest environment ever created in race gaming. FUEL will have players competing across wildly different terrain, created from the most compelling, diverse and striking areas of America using satellite data.

In a new gameplay video, now available from www.fuel-game.com, gamers can tour some of the game’s iconic locations, including the Utah salt-plains and the Grand Canyon, all rendered beautiful by Asobo Studios’ A.C.E. game engine. Coming this May, FUEL will be published for the PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360 and Games For Windows LIVE.

Marking the much anticipated return of the genre-defining military conflict title, Codemasters revealed Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising in action and released new in-game screenshots (now available from www.flashpointgame.com). Set to be the most accessible, engaging and visceral sandbox shooter of the year Operation Flashpoint - Dragon Rising is coming this summer for the Xbox 360, the PLAYSTATION system and Games For Windows.

From an immense racing world to an entire universe, Codemasters Online and developer NetDevil announced that Jumpgate Evolution, the action-based PC Massively Multiplayer Online game that promises exhilarating space combat on a vast scale, is scheduled for take-off this June. Previewing the game’s breath-taking visuals and an innovative twitch-based space combat, a new gameplay video was also released and is now available from www.jumpgateevolution.com.

Heralding the return of the delightfully despotic Overlord and his Minion horde, Codemasters announced that its three new Overlord titles are scheduled to ship this June. Overlord II, the sequel to the original hit twisted fantasy adventure will launch for PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Overlord Dark Legend, an all-new Overlord action adventure steeped in fairy tale lore with sinister satirical twists and starring a new, younger Overlord, will be published exclusively for Wii. While Overlord Minions, an irresistible puzzle action game starring an elite squad of four heroic Minions, will be available exclusively for Nintendo DS.

Revealing a taste of the terrific tales of tyranny that await players, the first Overlord II and Overlord Dark Legend gameplay videos were released and are now available from www.codemasters.com/overlordII and www.codemasters.com/darklegend respectively.

CID has faced his first real challenge, and won!

CID has faced his first real challenge, and won!

He has just beaten Crusher, a giant flying robot capable of ah… “Crushing” anything to smithereens.

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Now, Crusher sits there, broken and tattered and begging CID to spare him his life. Crusher explains that D-Troit has control over the minds of all the evil robots and that they weren’t always bad!

What will CID do? Trust Crusher and spare him his life or finish off his enemy by showing no mercy!?

About CID The Dummy

A star is born and he's made to last. CID THE DUMMY makes his debut in Oxygen Games’ all-new action platformer. CID THE DUMMY is sure to grab you with its enjoyable, fun gameplay, featuring a totally original character with charisma and lots of moves. CID has many different fighting styles with which to battle enemies, from unarmed combat to weapons like the Bazooka that can freeze, hit and burn.

• Interact as only a crash impact dummy can. Climb walls, swing on ropes, burn obstacles, destroy exploding barrels, use lifters, bounce on springs and with a neat head butt destroy walls all in stunningly realized environments. Game environment interaction is the most important part of the gameplay.
• CID's world is swarming with a host of fearfully fun enemies like the Dumper, Cursed Dummy and the bizarre Failed Experiment.
• Apart from fighting enemies, the player will enjoy solving puzzles, avoiding traps and using acrobatic skills to get out of dangerous situations!

CID The Dummy will be released on Nintendo Wii, Playstation 2, PSP System, and PC.

Rock Band charity donation and help for seriously ill children

Harmonix and MTV Games give a minimum $50,000 contribution and more than 650 Rock Band bundles in support of Starlight Children's Foundation programs

Harmonix Music Systems and MTV Games are making a generous minimum $50,000 gift to Starlight Children’s Foundation to bring the power of music to children facing chronic and life-threatening illnesses. The partnership will allow Harmonix, the world’s premiere music video game development company and creators of Rock Band, and MTV Games, publisher of Rock Band, to give Starlight children the chance to relax, enjoy and rock out to music in a fully interactive and social setting. In addition, more than 650 Rock Band bundles have been provided to Starlight’s seriously ill children at its Great Escape family events and to hospitals around the country.

“We’re honored to work with Starlight, which has an amazing tradition of offering support to seriously ill children,” said Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder of Harmonix Music Systems. “We hope that our contribution will give these deserving families a new avenue to spend time together and enjoy great music.”

Paul DeGooyer, Senior Vice President of Electronic Games and Music for MTV Networks Music & Logo Group, added: “We’re very excited to be part of a program enabling Starlight kids and their families to rock out a bit through our placement of games in hospitals and at family events, facilitating once-in-a-lifetime getaways, and donations. It truly is a privilege to help Starlight and its mission.”

Beyond the monetary gift and product donation, the partnership will:
- enable select Starlight families to attend the Rock Band tour events,
- provide Rock Band bundles to Starlight families at Starlight’s Great Escapes family activities,
- provide Rock Band bundles to pediatric patients at select Starlight hospital partners, and
- provide Rock Band themed Great Escape family activities, which will be hosted for Starlight families by Harmonix and MTV Games.

Great Escapes (www.starlight.org/greatescapes) is a program created by Starlight to provide families with seriously ill children with a chance to spend recreational time together to relax, regroup and return home with a renewed sense of strength and hope. Great Escapes include movie screenings, trips to the circus, ball games, harbor cruises, mother-daughter makeovers, picnics, pajama parties and many more special activities. Starlight currently provides regular Great Escapes in more than 30 communities throughout the country.

The Rock Band themed Great Escapes will give Starlight children and family members a behind-the-scenes look at Rock Band, a chance to meet the game’s creators, a sneak peak at new content and other once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

“We all know that music is healing, and we are expecting Rock Band products to have a powerful, therapeutic effect on our children,” said Paula Van Ness, CEO of Starlight Children’s Foundation. “Rock Band will provide distractive entertainment therapy for thousands of seriously ill children and their families, both in the hospital setting and on an out-patient basis.”

Prince of Persia - Epilogue Download (DLC) Trailer

Watch it hereNo more sorry

Runes of Magic PC video game has launched

After a successful beta test Runes of Magic has launched

Frogster today announced that the highly anticipated free to play massively multiplayer online role-playing game Runes of Magic has now commercially launched. From today players can immerse themselves in the first chapter called ‘Rise of the Demon Lord’ and experience the wonders of Taborea. Runes of Magic is available as a free download from the official website: www.runesofmagic.com.

Anyone who has not yet registered can do so for free at the official website www.runesofmagic.com and leap into the adventures right away. Players with existing accounts can continue to use their characters created during the beta. Fans can also expect an expanded game world in comparison with the previous open beta phase version. New quests and an epic quest series, as well as new instances offer fresh game content. A final fine-tuning of the German and English translations and bug fixes have also been implemented. The fantasy world will soon been expanded with the addition of ‘Ravenfell’, a coastal area with a distinct pirate flavour. The game world will be further complemented by regular updates following the release.

Runes of Magic – a world full of wizardry and adventure
Runes of Magic was commercially released on 19th March. After a successful open beta that saw the population soar to over half a million players with 725,000 created characters. All interested players can continue to download the fantasy online role-play game for free at www.runesofmagic.com and following a short registration process, can plunge into the game world.

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 four to five months with free add-ons and updates. MMO fans can find more information, pictures and videos on the official website www.runesofmagic.com.

Features

- Free to play: 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
- Guild castles in special zones
- Cross-server fights in three-server-battle in development

Facts
Titel: Runes of Magic
Genre: Fantasy-MMORPG
Platform: Windows-PC
Publisher: Frogster Online Gaming
Developer: Runewaker Entertainment Ltd.
Release: March 19th 2009
PEGI: 12+

American McGee’s - Alice - PlayStation 3 video game

American McGee and EA Reunite For the Next Chapter in EA's Classic Alice Franchise

Electronic Arts and Spicy Horse today announced that they have signed a publishing deal for an all-new title based on EA’s 2000 classic, American McGee’s Alice. The game reunites EA with American McGee, the creative visionary behind the original game. The new title is in development for the PC, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 video game console.

“This new project is a dream come true for me and the fans who’ve kept the Alice flame alive,” said American McGee, senior creative director at Spicy Horse. “EA gave us creative latitude and support on the original game which resulted in something beautiful and daring. This trip through the looking glass promises to be even more exciting.”

“EA Partners is thrilled to team up with American McGee and Spicy Horse on the next installment of the Alice franchise,” said David DeMartini, senior vice president and general manager of EA Partners. “American McGee’s interpretation of Alice was an instant classic, and EA Partners is ready to help him bring his innovative vision for the franchise to even darker, more exciting places.”

Spicy Horse was represented in the deal by CAA and Weissman Wolff.

Age of Conan gets major upgrade - new dungeons, PvP and much more

Today's update introduces several brand new high level dungeons to the Hyborian world such as ‘Xibaluku’, ‘The Slaugherhouse Cellar’, ‘Cradle of Decay’ and also opening up an additional part to the level 80 raid dungeon ‚Black Ring Citadel’. And there is a series of other significant updates to various game mechanics like raid loot options and GUI updates, PvP resources for tradeskills, tweaking of several raid boss encounters and quests.

New Dungeons

Headlining the bill in this update is a lot of great new high level content whether you are looking for some solo fun, an engaging group activity or ready to face some new raid challenges!

Thunder River is the location of the new level 80 dungeon instance for small groups. The Acheronians called it ‘Xibaluku’, and the Picts have found the blood magic of the Acheronians and seek to make the power their own. Xibaluku contains up to a dozen boss encounters, some are essential to progress while others are completely optional but all have been designed to try and provide a really dynamic and changing experience in the dungeon. Some of the bosses may even appear with different abilities or in different forms across different visits!

To gain access to Xibaluku players must first dare the brand new solo experience in ‘The Slaughterhouse Cellar’ at level 80 also in the Thunder River playfield. Players will have to go there on their own to look for the mysterious shards made out of an unknown metal, which can only be found in the cellar. But the ghosts of the fallen haunt this place and make it dangerous for both Picts as well as players.

Raiders will be happy to know there are new challenges for them to test their skills against! The ‘Black Ring Citadel’ Wing 3 raid dungeon instance is now accessible from between the already existing entrances to Wing 1 and Wing 2 and provides level 80 raid-groups with new challenges such as the sorceress Athyr-Bast and the demon Leviathus.

Last but not least: the ‘Cradle of Decay’ is a group instance that offers players around level 43 a brand new place to discover and test their mettle while hunting for experience and loot. All life seems to have been sucked out of this rotten place and the player group will have to stand up against a seductive mistress, a wrathful mother and a horrid master – among other dangers.


PVP Updates and new Lootable Resources

This update sees a massive update to the PVP systems with over fifty improvements, tweaks and additions to PvP Minigames, Massive PvP sieges and the PvP Notoriety system. The key new addition we also introduce a new game mechanic for PvP resources. This new feature will make it necessary to gather special resources in the Border Kingdoms which will be needed to build, repair and maintain battle-keeps. Adding further meaning to the open world PVP experience these new resources can be found in the Cimmerian End of the Border Kingdoms, be warned though any enemy killing you will be able to loot any PVP resources you carry from your corpse!


Raid Encounter Changes

In the ongoing process to update and improve the many raid boss encounters in the game, this update also features many adjustments to the behaviour of bosses such as Yakhmar, Kyllikki, Vistrix and others.


GUI Adjustments

Together with dozens of tweaks and adjustments to the User Interface, this update also introduces a brand new Master Loot option. This allows group leaders to designate one group member as the Master Looter who will then be in control of loot distribution during a raid. And there are also many additional options for every player to configure a personalized loot distribution during raids and group adventures.


Additional Updates

In addition to all the updates mentioned above this update brings many more changes on topics like combat, quests, items, tradeskills, mounts and guild features – just to mention a few.


For the full list of updates and changes please refer to the update notes available on the official Age of Conan forums.

We hope you enjoy this update as much as we do!

Official website

Killzone frame rate drops to 20fps - that's low!

Killzone 2 is arguably the most technically impressive game of modern times, but its engine can come under pressure.

By now you must have played the Killzone 2 demo. A perfect showcase for the game, but if you can believe it, it doesn't hold a candle to latter levels. Particle effects and hundreds of dynamic light sources abound; the attention to detail is stunning.

Video at end of post...

The game's engine performs relatively well throughout, with Guerrilla Games already admitting that they use the PlayStation 3's SPU processors to make sure the 30 frames-per-second refresh rate stays intact.

As the game progresses the special effects (usually a description used for movies) go into hyper-drive and it's almost unbelievable that the PlayStation 3 manages to keep up with it.



Full post on Gamezine here...