New dungeon announced for Runes of Magic - Kalin Shrine conflict with Mage Taboreas

The Kalin Shrine leads players into conflict with the mightiest Mage Taboreas

A few weeks before the launch of the award-winning online role-play game Runes of Magic, Frogster is releasing information about new content being built into the release version. This includes the high-level dungeon ‘Kalin Shrine’, a mysterious place where the dark mage Regin has taken possession and where he sets players some huge challenges.

Located in the dusty wastes of the Dust Devil Canyon, the ‘Kalin Shrine’ was built back in the mists of time, even before the blossoming of the of the old kingdoms. Ancient knowledge resides in the heart of the Shrine and there once was a time when Regin kept this knowledge safe for his own followers, but now he is using the power of the shrine for his own dark purposes. Well armed players are now being requested to drive him out of the sanctuary. This is no simple task; it can only be undertaken by warriors who have the maximum Level 50, since the passages and levels of this lost shrine are populated by ghosts, rune guardians and grave robbers.

In addition, boss level opponents also support the powerful magician in his sinister works. They all demand a special tactical approach from the six man group of adventurers. Just one of the obstacles for players to over come in this struggle is a crystal tortoise which can bind players in solid ice for ten minutes. However, the most testing battle lies at the heart of the shrine: In order to defend his power, any means is justifiable to the End Boss Regin. Using black magic, he is able to summon some of the already slain bosses back to life and bring them to his aid. Should adventurers master this quest and free the shrine from the evil influence, their troubles will be rewarded with booty in the form of rare armour.Moreover, many more quests are entwined around the ‘Kalin Shrine’ and so continue to lead the story of the Runes of Magic ever onward. Further information about the new dungeon ‘Kalin Shrine’ is available on the official Runes of Magic website www.runesofmagic.com.

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

PopCap Launches Peggle Art contest $10,000 to be won

Top Fan Submissions from U.S. and UK To Be Incorporated Into Future Peggle Installment; Prizes Include Trips to Seattle, Retail Spending Sprees, iPhones, Xbox 360s and More

PopCap Games, the leading developer and publisher of casual games, today announced a first-of-its kind Peggle Art Contest, with the top submissions being immortalized in a future installment of the cult classic casual video game. The contest, which opens today and runs through June 3, 2009, is one element of Peggle Fever, a months-long celebration of all things Peggle. Peggle Fever will include other contests and sweepstakes while celebrating the arrival of new adaptations of Peggle for Nintendo DS (arriving today in the U.S.), Apple’s iPhone, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and XBLA service, and more.

Available to residents of the 50 United States (and District of Columbia) and the United Kingdom, the Peggle Art Contest will award more than $10,000 in prizes, including trips for the top submitters to visit PopCap’s Seattle headquarters, spending sprees at Best Buy, limited edition Peggle merchandise, and iPhones and Xbox 360s with Peggle pre-installed. Entries can involve any aspect of the game’s artistic elements, from background scenes to drawn or written descriptions of new Peggle Masters and power-ups, to level designs (peg layouts). Full details of the contest, including entry forms and rules, can be found at www.popcap.com/promos/peggleart. Entries can be submitted electronically or by mail.

“We get a lot of fan mail from Peggle devotees, including lots of suggestions for background art, new Peggle characters and power-ups, and level designs, and thought an art contest would be a fun way to foster and tap into that creativity and enthusiasm for the game,” said Sukhbir Sidhu, co-creator of Peggle and studio director at PopCap. “We’re excited to see what the rabid Peggle community comes up with in the way of ideas!”

Digital contest submissions must be no larger than 5 megabytes in size and analog submissions must arrive on a sheet of paper or other material no larger than 8.5 inches by 11 inches and be no thicker than 4 inches. Nearly any type of ink or paint can be used, from finger-paints or colored pencils to ballpoint pens and magic markers. Judging will be conducted by members of PopCap’s art department and development studio, who will weigh creativity and feasibility of submissions along with artistic talent. No copyrighted or trademarked imagery – other than visual elements found in the Peggle games themselves – will be accepted. A sampling of submissions from each week of the contest may be posted to the contest microsite and prizes will be awarded to the top two dozen entries (twelve per age group). Both “adult” (age 18 and over) and “youth” (13 to 17) categories are available, with twelve winners being named from each age group.

Hacker Evolution - Untold for Mac, a new hacking simulation game - Free Demo download

Hacker Evolution: Untold, the newest hacking simulation game in which you play the role of a computer hacker in an attempt to change the future of mankind.

When the number of computers in existence and their processing capacity exceeds that of all mankind, a point of technological singularity is encountered. A massive economic and systematic crisis hits the entire world. Nobody knows the exact cause, and all solutions to fix it, are failing. We are about to lose our position as a dominant specie on the planet, in favor of something we have created... computers.

You play the role of Brian Spencer, a young computer programmer working for a company he started with a couple of friends, which has developed the technology from where it all started.

When you are being framed for crime, it's up to you to prevent computers from becoming the next dominant specie, and clear your name, using your hacker skills.

The concept behind Hacker Evolution: Untold is to create a game that challenges the gamers intelligence, attention and focus, creating a captivating mind game. Solve puzzles; examine code and bits of information, to help you achieve your objectives.

Hacker Evolution: Untold Pricing and Availability Hacker Evolution: Untold for Mac runs on any Apple computer running at least Mac OS X 10.4 and costs $24.95(USD).

Direct download link for the demo version

New Wild West cowboy adventure game Fenimore Fillmore's Revenge on PC

Fenimore Fillmore's Revenge is a point and click PC adventure set in the Wild West from Nobilis and Ascaron Entertainment, full of mysterious puzzles and humorous dialogue. Players can enjoy the game's detailed graphics as they follow the adventures of Fenimore Fillmore, a courageous cowboy who must find his recently kidnapped cowgirl companion Rhiannon, before undertaking a quest to find secret hidden treasure.

Fenimore and Rhiannon's adventures begin when they encounter a wounded stranger on their travels. The stranger tells Rhiannon of some treasure hidden in a cemetery, revealing the name of the person buried there in his last dying words. However, three men approach whilst this clue is being revealed and attack Fenimore and Rhiannon in a blazing showdown to find out the details. Fenimore is left for dead whilst Rhiannon is kidnapped and the treasure hunt begins. Players can then take on the role of either Fenimore or Rhiannon, working through the storyline to collect clues and solve the many puzzles.

Throughout the game, players can enjoy entertaining, humorous dialogue and a wide range of crazy characters; an alcoholic doctor, a mad scientist and a deaf telegraph operator. Fenimore Fillmore's Revenge also features beautiful 3D graphics and animated cartoon images, allowing the player to fully immerse themselves in the Spaghetti Western theme.

Fenimore Fillmore's Revenge includes over 50 different objects that can be combined and utilised to move the plot forwards. For example, players will need to collect red and green herbs in order to heal an injured character before progressing further. After some herbs have been fed to the patient, the remaining herbs can be mixed with mud to make a dressing for his wound, prompting him to reveal further clues.

Fast facts:
Publisher: Nobilis
UK Distributor: Ascaron Entertainment
Release date: Q2 2009
PEGI: 7+
Format: PC
Genre: Adventure

Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad – Xbox 360 full walkthrough

Aya is one of the last descendants of a cursed bloodline. The Baneful Blood that flows through her veins ensures that her life will be filled with conflict, heartache, and madness. When blood touches Aya’s skin her Baneful Blood sings out a song of havoc and infuses her body with a terrible power.
The power of the Baneful Blood lets Aya fight with rage and ferocity but it slowly destroys her mind. In time, the Baneful Blood may consume her.

Link to pdf walkthrough file for game

35 million downloads Tumblebugs video game to come to phones and iPhones

Web sensation that boasts over 35 million downloads to come to phones and iPhones

Connect2Media, the multi-platform entertainment publisher, will be bringing ‘Tumblebugs’, one of the webs most successful games, to mobile phones and iPhones in Q2 2009.

‘Tumblebugs’ has been a remarkable hit on the internet with well over 35 million downloads or free-plays to date it is a true ‘mass market’ product. The game has topped download charts on all of the major games sites including Yahoo!, Big Fish Games, Shockwave, AOL and Oberon and spent four months in Real Arcade’s top ten. The game’s hit status has created international demand seeing it translated into numerous languages.

“Tumblebugs struck us as being one of the most beautiful polished games on the market.” said Eric Hobson, Connect2Media CEO, “Based on a classic gameplay mechanic the look and feel of Tumblebugs was what really struck us and elevated the game way above similar products.”

“We are very excited to have Connect2Media and Tag Games on board as partners for Tumblebugs mobile,” said Darren Baker, CEO of Wildfire Studios. “Both companies have a real understanding and appreciation of the value of the Tumblebugs franchise. Connect2Media's broad consumer reach and Tag's development expertise mean we're confident the debut of Tumblebugs on mobile will continue the brand's success story.”

Paul Farley, Managing Director of Tag Games, said, “Tumblebugs is a game that we are very proud of and Connect2Media are the perfect partner for us to work with to take it to mobile platforms. Their distribution footprint, relationships with carriers around the world and expertise in the sector are unparalleled.”

In the game the ‘Black Bug Empire’ are marching lines of good Bugs underground to be enslaved forever. The player launches vividly coloured bugs at the line of prisoners, when three or more of the same coloured bugs are matched they are saved. The simplicity of the gameplay, simply aim and fire, makes it easy for anyone to pick up and play and hard to put down. Further depth comes in the form of power-ups, two different gameplay modes and the games 78 levels of un-put-downable action.

Update for Napoleon in Italy PC video game (version 1.1)

Another fresh update headed for the Italian front!

Matrix Games and Hussar Games are pleased to announce the release of the comprehensive 1.1 update for Napoleon in Italy.

The new update brings a small number of fixes and AI improvements in a variety of areas including sieges and objective selection.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “This latest update adds some polish to a well-crafted title based on a less noted but still fascinating chapter in Napoleon’s meteoric rise to power.”

Lead the young Napoleon's French Army on his first campaign against the Austrians and Piedmontese in Northern Italy or try to stop Napoleon’s dedicated army and tactical brilliance with the mighty allied army of Austria. Experience a great interface and addicting gameplay in this realistically modeled game of Napoleonic combat.

Units and armies have various attributes like morale, experience, unit cohesion and supply to reflect the realities of historical operational combat in the Napoleonic era. Leaders are rated for Attack, Defense and Initiative as well as many special abilities designed to reflect the unique historical abilities of each commander. A realistic unit replacement system and historical siege and tactical battle rules bring the ultimate in turn-based game play set at the end of the 18th century.

This update is comprehensive and will bring any previous version of the game to version 1.1. Get more information on Napoleon in Italy from its official product page.

Knights in the Nightmare on Nintendo DS soundtrack free with pre-orders and bonus Art book with some retailers

It's starting to look like anything but a nightmare

Atlus U.S.A. today announced that the manager of its Atlus Spoils problem, Charlie the chimpanzee, has gotten out of control. For Knights in the Nightmare on Nintendo DS™, the simian has packaged not only a soundtrack CD within each and every premium boxed launch copy, but also decided to include a 7"x10" full color pre-order bonus art book as well (at participating retailers).


"In hindsight, hiring a non-human for this position may have been a mistake," said Aram Jabbari, manager of PR and Sales at Atlus. "We appreciate his zeal for the work, and he certainly livens up company parties, but to offer not only a soundtrack CD in a premium package, but a pre-order bonus art book also? He's taking this Atlus Spoils thing too far. We'd get rid of him, but he has consistently threatened us with lawsuits and handfuls of excrement, making it an uncomfortable prospect."

Certain to be one of the most innovative titles of 2009, Knights in the Nightmare is a wholly unique experience. Frantic, energetic action mixes with thought-provoking tactical gameplay, all within a beautifully-rendered fantasy setting and presented through a captivating, emotional narrative.

Knights in the Nightmare is scheduled for release on June 2, 2009 with an MSRP of $34.99.

About Knights in the Nightmare
Somewhere between heaven and the underworld - in the center of a quiet lake - stood an ancient castle known as Aventheim. One night, without warning, denizens of the netherworld emerged and slaughtered the kingdom; nary a soul was left alive.

Within an abandoned, long-forgotten church deep in the woods, a wisp is set free. Bereft of memory, it is drawn toward the monster-infested castle and re-awakens the souls of the vanquished knights, leading them back towards the fallen stronghold to confront the very forces of evil that took their lives.

Key Features
• An experience unlike any before it - Incorporating strategy RPG, real-time strategy, and shooter elements, you've never experienced a game like this. Control a Wisp with your stylus and activate the souls of deceased knights to aid you in destroying foes on the map. Enemies fire bullets in multiple directions, making it vital for players to master the unique touch controls.
• Over 100 playable characters - Find and recruit the ghosts of seven different classes of knights from your kingdom, and learn of their pasts, hopes, dreams, and untimely deaths. Sacrifice their souls to one another to balance their skills and create your ultimate party.
• A tale from two perspectives - This twice-told legend entangles you in a dark and brooding tale that is simultaneously examined through events both past and present. Complete the adventure to unlock the ability to play through the game with a new narrative twist, placing the antagonist in the starring role.

Knights in the Nightmare has been rated "T" for Teen with Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, and Suggestive Themes by the ESRB.

Burnout - Toy Cars pack download this Thursday

It's another amazing Downloadable Content Pack for Burnout Paradise - you can look forward to driving these crazy cars around Paradise City when they're made available to buy in 2009.

Regular Burnout fans will recognise 5 Paradise City classics - the Carson GT Concept P12, the Krieger Racing WTR, the Hunter Takedown 4x4 and the Hunter Manhattan, but there are 9 awesome vehicles in this range.

Phantasy star Portable exclusive PSP game soon

The Phantasy Star experience is soon to be available on the PSP, picking up the story from before Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus. With a new character – Vivienne (see rabbit-eared lady pictured above) – players must investigate a new contamination in the Gurhal system.

Both longtime fans and new players will experience a brand new storyline, a new record book feature, new characters and the ability to play with up to four other players (via Sony wireless) – whilst still being able to enjoy the original content from the Phantasy Star Universe series. Players can also create their own avatar or port in a character from the Phantasy Star Portable downloadable demo.

The Phantasy Star experience on the PSP will also be the first in the series to offer multiple endings based on different player actions.

Source: ThreeSpeech