Empire - Total War tops UK video game chart this week

ChartTrack

Week ending 7 March 2009

1 EMPIRE: TOTAL WAR SEGA
2 KILLZONE 2 SONY COMPUTER ENT.
3 WII FIT NINTENDO
4 TOM CLANCY'S H.A.W.X. UBISOFT
5 HALO WARS MICROSOFT

Ultra Soft 'Safe Sports Pack' on Nintendo Wii

Designed for Wii Sports Fans Hoping to Improve Comfort and Scores for Only $29.99

Penguin United is doing its part to contribute to the world of video game sports by offering the ultra soft Safe Sports Pack for Nintendo Wii. Designed for comfort and versatility, the Safe Sports Pack provides consumers with a three-in-one kit for tennis, golf and baseball games for Nintendo Wii. The Safe Sports Pack is a must-have for any serious fan of Wii sports.

The Safe Sports Pack adds realism and improves game play to any tennis, golf or baseball video game for Nintendo Wii. The Safe Sports Pack’s ultra soft design is child-safe, extremely durable and has a suggested retail price of only $29.99.

“In terms of comfort and game play, the Soft Sports Pack is perfect for Wii sports fans,” stated Richard Huang, Penguin’s President. “Each attachment - for tennis, golf and baseball - is molded in ultra soft, durable material which makes the Soft Sports Pack exceptionally reliable and safe. “

Product Highlights:

• Soft, Safe and Durable Spongy Material Design
• Includes Tennis, Golf and Baseball Attachments
• Easy Fit Design with Interlocking Handle
• Port Access for Nunchucks
• SRP: $29.99

New download content for The Maw video game on Xbox Live Wednesday

For those wanting longer levels and more use of the various powers from The Maw, Twisted Pixel Games has announced that a new level called “River Redirect” will be launching this Wednesday, March 11 on Xbox LIVE Arcade for 100 Microsoft Points ($1.25 USD). This level features the Brute Bounty Hunter, introduced in the first DLC level “Brute Force”, and showcases more advanced gameplay and combined use of Maw’s powers.

This is the second of three DLC levels that Twisted Pixel Games has been working on ever since The Maw development wrapped last year. “With River Redirect we tried to make a more puzzle-focused level that requires a bit more skill than some of the game’s other levels,” explains Lead Designer Sean Riley. “Frank finds a raging fire blocking his path, but with Maw’s powers you can find a way to redirect a river to extinguish the flames.”

Each DLC level will expand The Maw storyline by fitting in between the original levels as “deleted scenes”. “As with any production, there are always pieces left on the cutting room floor that you wished could have made it into the final cut,” says CCO and Director Josh Bear. “We had a lot of half-finished story elements and gameplay mechanics, so we are picking the best ones, polishing them up and making new levels that are bigger in size and scope than the ones in the main game.”

About The Maw

The Maw is a 3D action-adventure game available on Xbox LIVE Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points ($10 USD). It was honored with the PAX-10 Audience Choice Award and is a finalist for Technical Excellence in the upcoming 2009 Independent Games Festival. More information about The Maw can be found at www.WhatIsTheMaw.com


About Twisted Pixel Games, LLC

Founded in 2006 by industry veterans, Twisted Pixel is an independent game development studio that operates in two capacities: 1) Inventing innovative original IP concepts then developing them into premiere console titles; and 2) Providing top-flight contract games development work to leading publishers on their highly-anticipated titles. The company’s mission is to become a leading developer of digitally distributed console games with ambitious and inspiring games that exceed consumer expectations. Learn more about Twisted Pixel at www.TwistedPixelGames.com.

Banjo-Kazooie Nuts and Bolts new Download content from Rare...

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts – it's not over yet. We can't offer any specifics, but it wouldn't do to let your N&B disc gather dust. To whet your appetite for what's coming, a few words from L.O.G. himself...

"Am I addressing the fine minority of gamesplayers with taste, those who are still neck-deep in the customisable wonders of my latest title to feature that drooling bear and the shrieking hag I wish I'd never invented? And Gruntilda too, of course. Ah, the humorous bait-and-switch.

"As I put so much effort into hammering and sticky-taping together all those new worlds for Nuts & Bolts, I thought I'd reward the loyalty of its cadre of ardent players with a brief hint. So prick up your ears, soldiers: consider this an early warning that news on potential lifespan-lengthening activities will be incoming very soon. The game's lifespan, I mean, not your own. I may be a deity, but that's just unrealistic.

"If all goes well, you'll soon be able to experience a little something that I devised during a spare moment in exile from the Palace lounge as the Lady of Games watched some kind of dreadful house renovation show marathon. I have to say I'm quite pleased with the end result, apart from the section that Klungo insisted on contributing due to what he claimed was 'popular demand'. Well, that remains to be seen. I've even topped it off with a promotional logo to keep you interested, as I'm told it's all about the logos and PR and vertical marketing these days.

"That's all for now. Until the next time I randomly and irresponsibly decide to break the fourth wall, enjoy."

So there you go. Expect more info to be out there as soon as next week, but in the meantime rest assured that the Lord of Games is keeping the Nuts & Bolts dream alive.

Earlier fact sheet on gamezplay.org here...

WiiWare Gradius ReBirth plus Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars

Remember when Grandma used to mark your height on the wall every so often, just to see how fast you were growing? Well, if the Wii Shop Channel had its own growth chart, she'd be impressed at how the selection of great games keeps getting bigger and bigger each week. Take a look at the latest additions and you'll discover a pair of different yet equally engaging titles: a thrilled-packed WiiWare shooter and a classic SEGA adventure for the Virtual Console™. Thanks to this steady stream of new games, your own library ought to be growing up fast, too.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

WiiWare

Gradius ReBirth (Konami, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Blast your way through levels filled with alien spaceships and otherworldly creatures in this retro side-scrolling shooter. Pick your weapons carefully and upgrade them to create a devastating arsenal of space-aged weapons that will aid you in your challenging mission. Players can post their high scores to worldwide leader boards via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection and see where they rank against all the other Gradius ReBirth players. Test your skills with Gradius ReBirth and see if you have what it takes to beat this action-packed arcade shooter.

Virtual Console

Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars™ (SEGA MASTER SYSTEM, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Comic Mischief, Crude Humor, 500 Wii Points): In this platformer from the 1980s, help Alex Kidd in a race against time to find the 12 missing zodiac signs hidden in six challenging levels-including toyland, the robot factory and an outer-space level-all complete with crazy enemies.

High Voltage explain why The Conduit dropped Wii MotionPlus support..

The Conduit was supposed to have support for Wii MotionPlus. As revealed last week, however, it's been removed. But why?

1UP got in touch with High Voltage Software VP and chief creative officer Eric Nofsinger to find out what happened."We've been committed to doing what is right for the game and being true to our fans from the start," said Nofsinger over e-mail.

A Nintendo's media summit last fall, while still a reporter for MTV, Nofsinger was notably excited when telling me how quickly they incorporated MotionPlus. The situation changed between then and now, however, but there's no conspiracy.

Read the full post here on 1up...

2K Sports announce Bigs 2 - the sequel to the hit arcade-style Major League Baseball game The BIGS

2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, announced today that The BIGS 2, the sequel to the hit arcade-style Major League Baseball game The BIGS¸ will be available this summer for the Xbox 360 video Game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment systems, PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, and Wii home video game system from Nintendo. Known for its over-the-top style of gameplay, The BIGS 2 focuses on the “big” fast-paced moments in Major League Baseball with new opportunities to go up against MLB legends, more mini-games like Home Run Pinball, and a variety of other thrilling new features.

“Fans have been clamoring for a follow-up to The BIGS since it launched two years ago, so we’re excited to now deliver The BIGS 2,” said Greg Thomas, senior vice president of development, 2K Sports. “In the spirit of celebrating the most epic moments in Major League Baseball, The BIGS 2 offers a refreshingly fun and unique experience of dramatic walk-off homeruns, miraculous wall catches, acrobatic diving grabs, and many more incredible plays you’d usually see only in a highlight reel."

Burn Zombie Burn! invades PlayStation Network on march 26th

The upcoming release of what will surely prove to be one of the most addictive and charismatic arcade shooters of 2009: Burn Zombie Burn! available exclusively on Playstation Network on Thursday, March 26, 2009.

Burn Zombie Burn! is one of Sony Computer Entertainment America's exclusive downloadable games on their PlayStation Network, and will be given the all star promotional treatment to ensure it's success. Players can take part in high score and trophy competitions to win a horror themed holiday abroad, framed Burn Zombie Burn! artwork signed by the development team and of course, limited edition t-shirts depicting the characters from the game.

doublesix promises to provide additional PlayStation Network downloadable content for Burn Zombie Burn! including a strategy guide with hints and tips from the creators of the game, an 8 page "BZB" graphic comic and the unique catalogue of music tracks composed specifically for the game.

About the Game

Burn Zombie Burn! is set across six classic American-horror movie inspired levels. A top-down, arena-based third-person shoot 'em-up in the classic coin-op tradition will contain all new mechanics.

The goal is simple: to get the highest score possible. Your hero is Bruce - an average every-day Joe who was looking forward to spending some 'quality time' with his girlfriend Daisy when their Saturday night is interrupted by a zombie invasion. Standing in your way is a never ending horde of undead. To survive you must shoot, burn and explode as many zombies as possible before they overwhelm you. Fire is your most important tool and massive scores can be achieved by burning the zombies en masse and setting up huge chains of explosions that wipe them out in one go.

Burn Zombie Burn! is frantic, arcade gaming at its best - delivering dark humor and bloody zombie violence in copious amounts!

Moto Racer DS adrenaline pumping new motorbike racing game on Nintendo DS - 3rd April 09

Moto Racer DS is the adrenaline pumping new motorbike racing game for the Nintendo DS from Nobilis and Ascaron Entertainment, due for release on 3rd April 2009. Players can compete in four thrilling race modes, using the unique Stylus Precision Handling (SPH) to control speed, manoeuvring and perform impressive tricks.

The intuitive and effective SPH allows players to experience the excitement of racing from a different perspective. The stylus can be used for rapid acceleration, measured braking, crazy jumps and extreme stunts. For those who prefer the traditional method of racing, the D-pad can also be used to tear around the various circuits at lightening speed.

In the Freestyle arena, daredevil tricks including Nack Nack, Superman and Kiss of Death can be expertly carried out using the SPH. This innovative control method can be used to perfect landings and thrusts on the Super Cross tracks, such as Hula Whoops, Mud Arena and Sky Runner.

The SPH will assist in executing sharp manoeuvres in Traffic mode, enabling players to dodge the oncoming vehicles that hurtle towards them. Racers can also achieve mind blowing acceleration through the beautiful environments of Granite Valley, Eternal Sunset and Gasworth Castle on the Grand Prix circuits.

Moto Racer DS features a unique online Worldwide Ranking System for comparing scores with others from around the world. Players can register and create a rider profile, entering their Moto Racer DS code that can be found after completing a time trial race. http://www.motoracer-thegame.com/en/worldwide-ranking/

Fast facts:

Publisher: Nobilis
UK Distributor: Ascaron Entertainment
Web: www.motoracer-thegame.com
Developer: Artefacts Studio
Release date: 3rd April 2009
PEGI: 3+
Format: Nintendo DS
Genre: Racing

X3 Gold Edition - Includes X3 Reunion 2.5, X3 Terran Conflict 2.0, "The Aldrin Missions", and a soundtrack CD

The computer game developer Egosoft and Deep Silver, the games label of Koch Media, a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products, today announced the upcoming release of the X³: Gold Edition. The agreement includes world-wide rights (except for the USA, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean).

The collector's edition contains both X³ games, including all add-ons. The new add-on "The Aldrin Missions" for X³: Terran Conflict is released for the first time, offering numerous additional missions, ships, and sectors. The X³: Gold Edition represents the grand finale of the X trilogy, providing many hours of gaming fun.

For those who like to experience that outer space atmosphere outside of the game as well, the X³: Gold Edition also contains a soundtrack CD with music from X³: Terran Conflict.

The award-winning space drama X3: Reunion 2.5 begins in 2935. The Argon fleet is stretched almost to breaking point by the continuing attacks from the aggressive Khaak, while ruthless Yaki pirates hunt for a mysterious relic, and an equally mysterious machine, obviously left behind by an ancient species, poses a whole new set of questions...

X³: Terran Conflict 2.0 creates a bridge back to Earth's solar system. The player gets to take on the roles of various characters from the X universe, or a Terran military pilot, and set out on numerous adventures in the most extensive world of all X games ever. X³: Terran Conflict 2.0 raises questions such as: how has Earth changed in the course of all those years? How are the relationships between Earth and its brethren from the X universe going to develop?

The new add-on, "The Aldrin Missions", features the colony of Aldrin, which was lost centuries ago, and is now once again joining the Terran system. The Terrans are quite eager to reestablish the connections between Aldrin, separated from the rest of the universe for so long, and Earth. The Terrans are putting a huge effort into recolonizing the system that had been presumed lost for so long. The player takes on a crucial role in shaping this new Terran frontier, while exploring new Terran stations and facilities, and making use of a new ship and numerous additional features.

Personal Uplink: Both games now allow players to connect to Egosoft's new "Personal Uplink" community and compare their achievements within the X universe to those of others.

X³: Gold Edition will be released early in the 2nd quarter of 2009.