The Enchanting Islands PC video game released Free demo download

Alawar Entertainment, a leading international publisher of casual games, today announced the release of "The Enchanting Islands." The new match-three adventure combines the best qualities of a fairy tale with a simple city simulation.

In "The Enchanting Islands," a young lady attempts to free five magic islands from the curse of an evil witch, who has turned the once lush and verdant realms into barren wastelands. To accomplish this important task, the player must collect the alchemic ingredients needed to return life to these formerly beautiful places. Between levels, the player can exchange the ingredients for upgrades, giving rise to meadows bursting with color, blossoming sakura trees and towering oaks. Each improvement will increase the population of the islands and have a renewing effect on the environment.

The goal of each level is to collect a certain amount of resources within a limited amount of time. Players must create matches of three or more identical elements to fill their reserves, earn bonuses and win boss battles in which matched ingredients fall on the head of the invading monster.

"The Enchanting Islands" features stunning graphics and exciting gameplay. In addition, the desire to save the islands is meant to motivate gamers to continue playing and come back time and again.

"The developers of 'The Enchanting Islands' stuck to the most popular trends in casual entertainment while making the gameplay truly unique," said Denis Sedovich, producer. "They did an extraordinary job, and I believe players everywhere will give the game an enthusiastic reception."

Free demo download about the PC version at http://www.alawar.com/game/the-enchanting-islands/.

Two new Watchmen video game trailers Night Owl and Rorschach

Two new Watchmen - The End is Nigh videos showcasing the crime-fighting partnership of Nite Owl, the gadget-driven tech wizard, and Rorschach, the mysterious masked figure who can wield any weapon at his disposal.

New Wheelman video game screenshots PC video game

Cars, fire, motorcycles semis--yup, another batch of Wheelman screenhots is here.

The Vin Diesel-starring driving action game, developed by Midway Newcastle, arrives on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on March 24. Expect console demos before release.

First-Ever Next Generation King of Fighters Game - The King of Fighters XII

Newly Hand-Drawn in High Resolution,The Fight is on in July 2009 on PLAYSTATION 3 System and Xbox 360 Video Game and Entertainment System from Microsoft

Ignition Entertainment announce The King of Fighters XII is releasing worldwide in July 2009 on Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.

The legendary 3-on-3 fighting game series that united rival brawlers from SNK Playmore’s classic arcade franchises celebrates its 15th Anniversary in style with the release of The King of Fighters XII. For the first time in its history, this epic martial arts showdown has undergone a complete graphical overhaul. The antiquated character sprites used over the past 14 years have been dropped in favor of all-new, high-resolution fighters fluidly animating across painstakingly detailed, 100% hand-drawn backgrounds.

“Our development slogan for KOFXII is “KOF Re-Birth” and we’ve aimed to create an entirely new King of Fighters game. To make this a truly unique fighting game, we’ve revolutionized the graphics by creating state of the art visuals - and made no compromises in that process whatsoever,” said Masaaki Kukino, SNK Playmore.

“I couldn’t think of a more appropriate way to commemorate The King of Fighter’s 15-Year Anniversary than with a gorgeously animated, high-definition installment that updates the KOF legacy for a new generation.” said Shane Bettenhausen, New Business Development Director of Ignition Entertainment. “While other fighting games have abandoned the time-consuming process of creating beautiful 2D art, KOFXII fully embraces the refined aesthetic beauty that only human hands can produce.”

For a sneak peek at The King of Fighters XII, check out The King of Fighters ’98: Ultimate Match– for PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system packed with footage and content of The King of Fighters XII in every game – in stores today!

Stay tuned to Ignition Entertainment for more information, including screenshots, trailers, and loads of details on new game play features!

Factions in Mytran Wars PSP video game

Stormregion developing strategy title exclusively for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system

Deep Silver, the games label of Koch Media, a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products, today released new background information about the two different factions in the turn-based strategy game "Mytran Wars".

By the mid 23rd Century, Earth stands united under the rule of a high presidium of multinational corporations. Fossil fuels, drinking water and other natural resources are all but depleted.

The Kondor Corp. began investing in space research and development in the hopes of exploiting much needed resources. When the planet Pythar is discovered, it soon becomes clear that the most valuable resource on it are not the ore reserves. Instead, it is a network of naturally existing energy running criss-crossed (in ‘ley lines’) across the surface of the planet. The junctions, where two or more of these lines meet, form energy pools that concentrate the energy into a mass. These pools are home to the Mytrans, forming what Humans would describe as the equivalent of cities.

As the Kondor Corp. shareholders have seen far too much money being poured into this project, they expect returns on their investment and that means plundering the planet for every resource it can give up. But the energy is the lifeblood of the Mytrans. They need it to survive. Without it, they will perish. War becomes inevitable.

The Mytrans

The Mytrans are both majestic and ethereal. They are described by Humans as resembling ghosts with elegant movements that mimic swimming through the air. They see their planet, Pythar, as a bright surging vortex of energy. Being a part of the environment also makes reproduction an easy task for the Mytrans. In fact, there is no reproduction as humans understand it. Instead, for Elders, death is dissolution of energy back into the energy flow and birth is nothing more than a forming of energy into a whole sentient being. So this energy is the "life essence" of the Mytrans, and there are great ramifications if the Humans extract it and take it back to Earth.
Mytran society is split on how to address this problem with the Humans. The Elders, who knew of the Old Wars, want peace and coexistence with the Humans. The younger rebels, on the other hand, wish to drive them out.

"Mytran Wars" is being developed exclusively for PSP (PlayStation®Portable) system by Stormregion, creators of the highly-acclaimed Codename: Panzers games.

Features:
- Riveting plot full of twists and turns that plunge the player deep into the game's unique universe
- Diverse missions and tasks with every level offering fresh challenges and new situations
- Easy to use base management system where players can research new technologies
- 3D graphics with free camera movement
- Contrasting, story-driven, immersive campaigns with two distinctive, well balanced playable sides
- Graphic novel style presentation with an absorbing atmosphere

Killzone 2 joins UK video games chart at No1 pips Halo Wars

Chartweek UK video games chart

Week ending 28 February 2009

1 KILLZONE 2 - SONY COMPUTER ENT.
2 HALO WARS - MICROSOFT
3 STREET FIGHTER IV - CAPCOM
4 WII FIT - NINTENDO
5 PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE CURIOUS VILLAGE - NINTENDO
6 SEGA MEGA DRIVE ULTIMATE COLLECTION - SEGA
7 FIFA 09 - EA SPORTS
8 CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR - ACTIVISION
9 BEN 10: ALIEN FORCE - D3P
10 MARIO KART WII - NINTENDO
11 SILENT HILL: HOMECOMING - KONAMI
12 WII PLAY - NINTENDO
13 GRAND THEFT AUTO IV - ROCKSTAR
14 DISNEY'S BOLT - DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS
15 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE - ACTIVISION
16 MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES - SEGA
17 GUITAR HERO: WORLD TOUR - REDOCTANE
18 WARHAMMER 40,000: DAWN OF WAR II - THQ
19 - NEED FOR SPEED: UNDERCOVER - EA GAMES
20 F.E.A.R 2: PROJECT ORIGIN WARNER BROS. - INTERACTIVE

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