Resident Evil 5 - takes over LOVEFiLM website this weekend

LOVEFiLM.com, the UK's largest online DVD & games rental service and entertainment website has teamed with Capcom for the first time to celebrate the release of Resident Evil 5.

Capcom's LOVEFiLM branded gamespage takeover starts today and will last until Sunday 15th, with a LOVEFiLM homepage beginning Saturday 14th until Monday 16th. Visitors to the site can learn all about the game and the franchise and are able to add titles including the successful spin off film versions to rental / purchase lists.

News of the latest title in the Resident Evil franchise will also reach 100,000 customers through LOVEFiLM branded rental envelopes distributed from today.

www.lovefilm.com/browse/console_games.html

Mushroom Men - The Spore Wars video game on Nintendo Wii

An ichorous green meteor plummets through Earth's atmosphere, fracturing and showering the earth with glowing green space dust that affects all forms of life nearby. Some plant life - like mushrooms and cacti -acquire sentience. At the same time, the green glow twists and mutates other life forms like spiders and roaches, transforming them into semi-intelligent, warlike communities.

WII BOSS BATTLES

When I came onto revising the boss fights in Mushroom Men, we had some basic mechanics in place but they needed a lot of iteration to make them truly interesting. We didn’t exactly have a lot of time, so I looked back on some of the fun boss moments I’d experienced in the past. I’m a huge retro-game fanatic, with a big collection of old systems, so I spent an afternoon or two with some of my favorite old games to find out what made those bosses fun.

Bosses as Mechanic Reinforcement
Several of the bosses and mini-bosses were included to reinforce a specific mechanic, such as the Telekinesis-Throw (whereby Pax uses his Telekinesis ability on an object and tosses it back at the enemy). Players had the option to use this ability during the game to get the upper hand on an opponent, or could let Player 2 perform this to help them out in the midst of battle. But it was never enforced, as we didn’t want to force the player to use them. However, with bosses we had a chance to make a puzzle and to encourage the player to use those mechanics. Several of the bosses require this Telekinesis-Throw attack to dispatch. One of the mini-bosses actually acts as a tutorial for the Spore Punisher maneuver, flying out the player’s reach until they can successfully execute it.

Boss as Action/Puzzle
Some of the bosses had to be stand-alone encounters, and that allowed us to borrow a trope from the Zelda series: the boss as an action/puzzle exercise. In some of these encounters, the player wasn’t strong enough to hurt the boss directly, or couldn’t get at them, and had to use environment components and specific game mechanics to take them out. This framed the whole boss fights as puzzles to be solved, not simply a skill exercise (although there is some of that, surely!).

Bosses as the Level
In the Parking Lot, the player will face not one but FIVE bosses to deal with. The entire area is centered on these encounters, and I’m willing to wager it will be one of the most well-received experiences of the game. I won’t spoil it, but each of the bosses will use their environment in interesting and unique ways closely tied to them.

Mushroom Men – The Spore Wars and Mushroom Men – Rise of the Fungi will be available across Europe in March, 2009.

TITLE: Mushroom Men – The Spore Wars
PLATFORM: Nintendo Wii
TITLE: Mushroom Men – Rise of the Fungi
PLATFORM: Nintendo DS
DEVELOPER: Red Fly Studio
GENRE: Action Adventure
RELEASE DATE: March, 2009

Hysteria Hospital Emergency Ward video game - PC Demo

Oxygen Games offer up a taste of the excitement to come with a demo of the first Hospital of this frantic game – Test your nerves and see if you’ve got what it takes……

Do you like a challenge? Can you handle the pace of this frantic, fast paced action-packed game? You have a whole Emergency Ward in your hands – can you cope with the responsibility? This demo showing the addictive and fun game coming soon on Wii, Nintendo DS and PC, gives you a taste of the fun to come!

You’ll need to give the demo your full attention while you move patients around, control the nurses and take your patients through triage by dragging objects around, making sure no-one is missed out while frantically playing against the clock!

It’s your job to keep the patients happy and well – are you sure you’re up to the job?

Hysteria Hospital: Emergency Ward is set for release on Wii™, Nintendo DS™ and PC in May 2009.

Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Nintendo DS and Wii are trademarks of Nintendo.

Hysteria Hospital: Emergency Ward
Release: May 2009
Genre: Time management
Formats: Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii and PC
Pegi: 7+
Developer: GameInvest
RRP Nintendo DS - £24.99, Wii - £29.99, PC - £19.99

CID the Dummy video game the enemies unveiled

With every story you have your heroes and also your fair share of enemies that like to get in the heroes’ way! Well, just in case you were wondering, this story is no different!

These enemies are tough, and each one has different weaknesses so you’d better know which are which!

Copter Cam: Small but frustrating enemies that are fast, but not very strong. Close range attacks are advised.

Guard Dog: Guard Dogs aren’t very fast but are persistent and always hungry! A smack on the snout should do the trick!

Security Guard: It is safest to attack Security Guards with the bazooka as they are strong and quick like a professional boxer!

Radioactive Abominion: These poisonous creations can do a lot of damage at close range, so fire from distance and keep out of EYE’s reach.
Workman Dumper: Strong, fast but not very smart, Workmen should be taken out with Rubber Bullets.

Soldier Dummy: Perfect middle of the road ‘fighters’ – hit from long range if possible!

Fish Dummy: NO FISHING! These vicious creatures should be avoided like Piranhas. Outswim them if you can…

Cursed Dummy: Very cunning foe, these like to play hide and seek and sneak up on you with their lethal knife.

Failed Experiment: Failed experiments are radioactive, so will try and touch you to inflict their nastiness.

About CID The Dummy

A star is born and he's made to last. CID THE DUMMY makes his debut in Oxygen Games’ first multi-platform production. It's an all-new action platformer that is sure to grab you with its enjoyable, fun gameplay, featuring a totally original character with charisma and moves, 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.

Scotland host game recruitment fair in Dundee Sat 14 March

“Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life”
Confucius, Chinese Philiosopher (551 - 479 BC)

Scotland’s premier recruitment fair for the gaming industry returns to Dundee this month for its fourth consecutive year with over 500 people from around the country and abroad expected to attend.

Game in Scotland takes place on Saturday 14 March at 12 noon in Fat Sams Nightclub in Dundee. The event offers anyone interested in working in the growing games sector the opportunity to meet Scotland’s top games development studios and learn about the variety of excellent job opportunities that are available within this exciting industry, from games design, animation and programming to testing and quality assurance.

Representatives from companies such as Realtime Worlds, 4J Studios, Denki, Cohort Studios, TAG Games, Proper Games, Outerlight, Codeplay, Dynamo Games, TPLD and Digital Goldfish will offer valuable advice and discuss some of the 60 employment opportunities currently open in the industry in Scotland.

The half-day event consists of a series of exhibition stands, informal company presentations, panel sessions and lots of opportunities to meet representatives from various games companies across Scotland including console, mobile and interactive TV development studios.

The afternoon will be rounded off with an informal networking reception that will allow attendees to continue chatting with the games companies’ representatives in a relaxed environment.

Colin MacDonald, Studio Manager, Realtime Worlds commented “We’ve hired more people from Game In Scotland than from any other recruitment event anywhere in the world, but still the appetite for more talent in Scotland’s games companies is insatiable, so it’s fantastic to see this year’s show looking like being bigger and better than ever.”

Over half of Scotland’s games development studios are based in Dundee – making the city the prime location for a Scotland-wide event. More than 500 people are employed in Scotland’s game sector which generates over £20 million annually and Scotland is home to some of the world’s most successful games development studios, creating top selling titles such as the Grand Theft Auto franchises, State of Emergency, Denki Blocks for the Sky TV Platform and the multi-award winning Crackdown for XBox360.

Jill Farrell, Regional Director, Scottish Enterprise, said “The games industry in Scotland could grow at a much faster pace if companies had access to more people with the skills and attitude required for entry level and experienced level positions. The sector needs new talent to help it grow and by staging the recruitment fair in Dundee, where many games companies and digital-media students are based, Scottish Enterprise can match skills with vacancies and help promote economic growth within the sector. This events publicises the career opportunities in games, boosts the profile of the computer industry and presents a unique networking opportunity between potential employees and industry. Every year companies find new employees and more people are attracted into the industry.”

“Dundee is seen by many in the games industry as a key recruiting ground and there’s a real buzz about the industry in the city, making it the ideal spot to raise awareness of the exciting opportunities that are available in the Scottish games sector.”

The event is free to attend but registering in advance is essential as capacity is limited and places are awarded on a first come first serve basis.

Visit www.gameinscotland.com for more information and to register.

Rag Doll Kung-Fu: Fists of Plastic on PlayStation network April 9th

The US producer on Rag Doll Kung-Fu: Fists of Plastic, Joshua Miller, has announced via the US PlayStation Blog that the game will be coming to the PlayStation Network on April 9th.

Originally shown at last year’s E3, Rag Doll Kung-Fu: Fists of Plastic is a follow on, of sorts, from the original Rag Doll Kung-Fu on the PC and created by the people behind Media Molecule and LittleBigPlanet.

This PlayStation 3 iteration, however, is an all-new version of the game, complete with updated graphics, controls, challenges, characters and… PlayStation 3 Trophies.

Check out a trailer for Rag Doll Kung-Fu: Fists of Plastic below and be sure to look forward to its release on the PlayStation Network on April 9th.



Source: El33tonline

Gland Slam Tennis to feature John McEnroe

Feisty Tennis Champion Makes Videogame Debut - You can't be serious!

Electronic Arts announced today that tennis legend John McEnroe will headline a roster of some of the sport’s all-time greats to be featured in EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis. An enigmatic personality both on and off the court, McEnroe will make his videogame debut in EA’s new tennis franchise. The game is being developed under the EA SPORTS brand by EA Canada in Vancouver, B.C. It will be available first for the Wii and ships to North American retailers on June 16th, 2009.

“It’s great that EA SPORTS has embraced tennis into its family of games. I think it’s a solid sign the sport is thriving and I hope it will continue to generate more interest and excitement in tennis,” said McEnroe. “Having Wimbledon exclusive to this game is huge because Wimbledon is such a special tournament, for the entire sport of tennis and for me personally.”

One of the greatest tennis players of all-time, McEnroe won seven Grand Slams, including three at Wimbledon, and amassed 77 singles titles. He stopped playing singles on the main ATP tour at the end of 1992 but has remained heavily involved in tennis, playing on seniors tours and providing television commentary for a number of networks at the Grand Slams. McEnroe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999. Off the court, he hosted his own talk show and written an autobiography, titled “You Cannot Be Serious”, a phrase he made famous through his on-court outbursts during his career.

“Having a champion like John McEnroe exclusive to EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis reflects our commitment to deliver an authentic, entertaining, and deep representation of the sport like never before,” said Dave McCarthy, Vice-President, EA SPORTS. “McEnroe’s success, charisma and passion for tennis easily make him one of the most recognizable and colorful personalities, not just in tennis, but all sports.”

Specifically designed for the Wii, EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis puts the racket in the palm of your hand and delivers the deepest tennis experience. Users will feel like they are actually playing tennis, performing real forehands and backhands in their living rooms. The game is one of the first to be compatible with Wii MotionPlus™, which enhances the one-to-one motion with added shot depth and precise ball placement.

EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis for the Wii has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI, and has an MSRP of $49.95. For more information, log onto www.easports.com/tennis. Media can find screenshots and video of the game at http://info.ea.com.

Top-selling titles and franchises from EA SPORTS include Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL, NBA LIVE, NCAA Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR and NASCAR racing.

Superheroes and Villains Arise in La Tale PC video game

The introduction of a new evil in the successful 2D side-scrolling MMORPG La Tale.

The game's iconic heroine, Iris, is a brave, kind-hearted soul who brought friends together in the face of evil, but now players get to challenge Iris's beautiful but deadly rival, Chonpalm.

The arrival of Chonpalm ushers in a dark new chapter in the La Tale saga. La Tale players can follow the trail of Iris's party through six new zones, including the high-tech, mythical realms of Midgard, Valhalla, and Bifrost. They will discover why this lovely, kind-hearted former companion turned on her allies. This intense chapter culminates at the location of Chonpalm's betrayal with the discovery of a new breed of enemies that swore themselves to the destruction of Iris. Players may try to survive by equipping themselves with one of more than a dozen new weapons that may drop as they progress through the six new maps.
"Up to this point, La Tale has been mostly light-hearted and carefree," said Ross Park, La Tale's producer. "This new chapter is the first time that we see the darkness of the game's world. I feel that players will really love the new developments for the characters in Iris's party and the plot twists that we will be releasing in the coming months."

Players who are training for the challenge of Chonpalm can get some extra motivation in this new chapter with the addition of costumes based on La Tale's resident superheroes, the Abio Rangers. Once in costume, players can submit their most heroic or unique pose for a chance to win 10 Peach Cans in the Abio Ranger Idol Contest.

More information about these and other La Tale updates and events can be found on the La Tale website at http://latale.ogplanet.com.

About La Tale
La Tale's whimsical art style and detailed 2D worlds bring a lighthearted touch to the MMORPG genre, and have won it a large following in Asia. Simple gameplay and intuitive quests make La Tale accessible for players of all ages, while the immersive storyline with a variety of characters, enemies and challenges keep the game intriguing.

Les Stevens en action dans de Dr Les de situations sur Nintendo Wii

Midway Games SAS, développeur et éditeur de loisirs interactifs, lève le voile sur l’histoire de la famille Stevens.

Alors qu’une étrange machine commence à semer la pagaille dans la maison des Stevens, chaque membre va devoir se mettre à l’action pour remettre de l’ordre.

Ce ne sont pas moins de 17 jeux que devra résoudre le joueur pour aider Bruce, Rose, Bob, Tim et Alex. Seul ou à deux, lancez vous de la nourriture, recollez les morceaux du ciel qui s’évaporent ou envoyez le petit Alex chercher du mastic à l’aide d’un élastique dans le mode Jeu Libre.

Match de boxe à la télévision :
Bataille à table ! Alex et Tim ont décidé de jouer avec la nourriture pendant que les parents ont le dos tourné. Ils ont 3 manches pour se départager. Tous aux abris ! Il faudra charger de la nourriture en secouant la manette, appuyer sur A et faire le mouvement de lancer avec la manette. Pour éviter de trop perdre de points, protégez-vous avec vos couverts pendant la bataille. Attention, vous ne disposez que de trois protections à chaque manche !

Bob ! Touches pas à l’antenne !
La machine infernale a déréglé la parabole, et Bob s’en est mêlé ! Vite, rebouche les fissures de la couche d’ozone pour éviter une pluie stellaire ! Servez vous de la Wiimote comme un tube de mastic. Appuyez sur A en vous guidant d’un point vert à un autre pour chaque morceau du ciel afin de le reboucher. Evitez la menace stellaire en détruisant chaque météorite.

Catapulte !
Mr Stevens a oublié ses tubes au bureau, mais pas de problème, Alex est là, et il est prêt à se catapulter au bureau s’il le faut ! Chargez la puissance du lancer en secouant la Wiimote, orientez Alex vers l’immeuble de Mr Stevens tout en repérant le sens du vent !

Découvrez les autres jeux au fur et à mesure de l’histoire. Vous pourrez également apprendre à les maîtriser dans le mode Battle pour affronter un ami et réaliser le meilleur score ! Qui des deux deviendra un membre de la famille Stevens ?!

Cette aventure extraordinaire vous permettra de débloquer tout un tas de bonus : vidéos, artworks, musiques…

Le 20 mars, devenez-vous aussi un Stevens pour transformer ces catastrophes domestiques en révolutions ludiques sur Nintendo Wii.

PlayStation Store update - Wheelman demo DLC for Street Fighter IV, Everybody's Golf, LittleBigPlanet and Buzz plus Patapon 2 for PSP.

Sony has updated the PlayStation Store with a Wheelman demo, some more DLC for Street Fighter IV, Everybody's Golf, LittleBigPlanet and Buzz, and the digital download version of Patapon 2 for PSP.

The Wheelman demo is the same as the one released on Xbox Live last week, and Everybody's Golf benefits from the Sackboy costume mentioned yesterday, although at 79p / .99 euros.

Street Fighter IV gets the Shoryuken Pack at £3.19 / 3.99euros, featuring alternative costumes for Ryu, Ken, Dan, Akuma and Gouken; LittleBigPlanet owners can download a free St. Patrick's Day outfit; and Buzz! fans get a £6.29 / 7.99 euros National Geographic Prehistoric quiz pack.

Patapon 2, meanwhile, goes for £19.99 / 29.99euro, although as with LocoRoco 2, PSP owners have the right to feel a bit miffed about that given that online retailers are flogging it for £14.99. There is at least a free demo.

Also for PSP, there are a couple of EA oldies in the shape of Hi-Octane and Street Skater 2, both at £3.99 / 4.99 euros.

Source: Eurogamer