Applications now available for SONY online entertainment 2009 G.I.R.L. scholarship program

Program Awards Up To $10,000 Toward Tuition and Other Educational Expenses.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 G.I.R.L. Scholarship to help educate and recruit more women into the field of video game production and design.

Sponsored by Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) a global leader in online gaming, and administered by Scholarship America, a leading non-profit educational support program, applications are available at https://www.scholarshipamerica.org/gamersinreallife and more details, including official rules for entry are available online at http://www.station.sony.com/girl/.

"There are a significant number of women who are gamers, but not enough working in the video game field,” said Torrie Dorrell, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, Sony Online Entertainment. "With the application process starting today, we're taking a concrete step toward opening the door a little wider for women who want to go into game development."

One skilled student will win up to $10,000 to be applied toward tuition and other educational expenses at the school at which the student is currently enrolled, and an optional paid internship of up to 10 weeks at Sony Online Entertainment’s headquarters in San Diego, California (room, board, transportation and living expenses not included), to work on the upcoming online video game Free Realms.

In order to be eligible to participate, entrants must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program related to video games, must not graduate before the end of the 2010 spring term, and must comply with the program’s official rules. Entrants are required to complete an online application, and if chosen as finalists, submit concept art and two (2) essays that will be reviewed by a panel of judges from SOE. Online applications must be completed and submitted on or before April 24, 2009 and SOE must receive the concept art and essays from finalists by June 12, 2009. SOE will announce the winner on or about July 17, 2009.

For more information about the G.I.R.L. scholarship program, please visit http://www.station.sony.com/girl/.

Monster Jam Set to Crown 2009 Champion at the Monster Jam - Urban Assault National Tournament Finals in Las Vegas This Weekend

Activision and Feld Motor Sports, Inc. announced today the championship round of the Monster Jam: Urban Assault National Tournament, taking place at the Monster Jam World Finals in Las Vegas’s Sam Boyd Stadium this Saturday, where one of nine finalists will be crowned as the new National Champion.

Eight of the nine finalists qualified for an expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to compete in the Monster Jam: Urban Assault National Tournament by winning their regional qualifiers at Monster Jam events during January and February. The finalists will challenge each other using the Monster Jam: Urban Assault game on Nintendo Wii.

The tournament consisted of 16 regional qualifying rounds that began back in January and took place at the top Monster Jam stadiums across the country. Players competed on Wii gaming platforms in front of thousands of screaming Monster Jam fans. The eight fastest winners have been awarded expense-paid trips to Las Vegas, where they will compete against each other for the national championship in the Monster Jam World Finals at Sam Boyd Stadium. The winner will become the second Monster Jam Video Game National Champion.

Michael Furlow, from Jacksonville, IL, is the lucky wild card winner who qualified for the 9th and final National Tournament spot by registering online at www.MonsterJamOnline.com.

The Monster Jam: Urban Assault 2009 National Tournament Championship participants are:

Winner Won In Hometown Time

1. Joe Schaefer Houston, TX Brenham, TX 1:42:00
2. Matt Regevig Phoenix, AZ Glendale, AZ 2:07:80
3. Eric Myers Oakland, CA Fairfield, CA 2:12:84
4. Alberto Trevino San Antonio, TX Portland, TX 2:20:79
5. Tony Lee St. Louis, MO Auxvasse, MO 2:21:12
6. Drew Winthrop Miami, FL West Palm Beach, FL 2:25:93
7. Justin Kerfoot Anaheim, CA Newport Beach, CA 2:30:00
8. Craig Knor Indianapolis, IN Munster, IN 2:32:66
9. Michael Furlow *Wildcard Winner* Jacksonville, IL

The nine qualifiers will compete in three separate semi-final rounds throughout the day on Saturday at the Built Ford Tough Party in the Pits at the Monster Jam World Finals. The three winners of the semi-final rounds, in addition to the fastest gamer of the six who did not win, will compete in the final round for the National Championship.

Last year, 14 year-old Jordan Rager of Loganville, GA, won the first ever Monster Jam Video Game National Tournament in Las Vegas by first qualifying at the Atlanta Georgia Dome regional qualifier. He was then awarded an expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to compete against the other regional qualifiers at the Monster Jam World Finals. At the Las Vegas Monster Jam Finals, Jordan bested all finalists to become the inaugural Monster Jam Video Game National Champion.

In Monster Jam: Urban Assault, all-out destruction is taken to a whole new level by busting the traditional Monster Jam action out of the stadiums and onto city streets across the globe. Players can choose from over 27 different monster trucks, including classic Monster Jam icons like Grave Digger, Maximum Destruction, Monster Mutt, El Toro Loco, Blue Thunder and Captain’s Curse, as well as newer stars such as Stone Crusher and Backwards Bob. The game focuses on crushing everything in your path while doing insane tricks in never before seen urban environments. Monster Jam: Urban Assault features 26 new urban tracks, 12 authentic Monster Jam stadiums, seven different game modes and 12 skill competitions, and players can challenge up to four of their friends via split-screen multiplayer.

For more information about the event and daily updates about the finals please visit www.monsterjamonline.com.

Monster Jam - Urban Assault is available now for Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, and Nintendo DS.

New Video Game Console uses 3G networks to beat Piracy

A startup called Zeebo is marketing a new game console toward emerging markets, only using a 3G wireless network to download new games.

Zeebo will launch its console to Brazilian retailers next month, priced at the equivalent of $199.

Zeebo said it is targeting the so-called BRIC market – Brazil, Russia, India and China – with plans to lower the price to $179 and even $149 next year. At its current price, the Zeebo console costs the same as an Xbox 360 Arcade; the popular Nintendo Wii costs $249.99 new.

Interestingly, the console's launch is designed to provide a competitive answer to, and to prevent, game piracy in the emerging markets. "Selling titles for only a slight premium over the gray market prices of the original titles, so consumers have no reason to leave home to shop" is one of the benefits of the new console that Zeebo touts on its Web site.

Full post on Yahoo here...

More on the new console here on nexus404...

Toy Story Mania Announced Beloved Toy Story characters and theme park attraction provide backdrop for family-friendly carnival-style video game.

Disney Interactive Studios today announced Toy Story Mania!, inspired by the Disney/Pixar animated feature "Toy Story," will be released exclusively for the Wii home video game console this fall. Toy Story Mania! showcases an array of entertaining games based on the new Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort attractions, while featuring the iconic characters and humor from the popular Disney/Pixar "Toy Story" franchise.

"The 'Toy Story' franchise is a fun, dynamic and heart-warming series containing characters and themes that connect with every age group," said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. "Toy Story Mania! combines those popular elements with the unique antics of the new theme park attraction for the ultimate in family entertainment."

In Toy Story Mania!, players experience the fast-paced, zany fun of the Toy Story Mania! theme park attraction, which is an interactive experience requiring 3D glasses and involving rapid or quick-firing shooting galleries. In addition to galleries adapted from the attraction, the game includes new and original galleries and a series of mini games, all hosted by beloved characters from the movies. The thematically-connected levels are designed for up to four players of all ages with competitive and co-operative multiplayer options. Toy Story Mania! also includes bonus 3D features, transforming the game experience with eye-popping visuals.

The Pixar-created "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" have both had successful box office and DVD sales. The Disney Digital 3D™ theatrical re-release of "Toy Story" is in the works and will open in theatres on October 2, 2009, followed by the 3D re-release of "Toy Story 2" opening on February 12, 2010, leading up to the premiere of "Toy Story 3" in 3D summer 2010. Toy Story Mania! is the first video game to place characters from these films into a carnival game setting and is expected to resonate with fans of the films and the attraction, as well as gamers who like pick-up-and-play party games.

Developed by Papaya Studio, Toy Story Mania! will be available this fall exclusively for Wii.

UK consumer show runs story on Xbox 360 disk scratching...

Despite Microsoft warning users of problems with moving your Xbox while a disk is inserted (label stuck on drive tray) - users still report scratched disks.

BBCs 'Watchdog' consumer programme ran tests on various old, and new, Xbox 360s with differing results...

Read the full post here on the BBC site... plus video

Blame the family

Microsoft responded with this statement...

"Microsoft reaffirms its longstanding position that it's not been able to ascertain any defect in the Xbox 360 console that causes concentric gouges (that is, 'scratching') on discs when a console is in a stationary position. Indeed, despite extensive testing and examination under static operating conditions, Microsoft has never been able to reproduce the concentric gouge that causes disc readability problems or find any such defect in consoles returned by consumers for examination. It's only with the movement of a console that such 'disc scratching' may occur. Consequently, Microsoft provides notices on the Xbox 360 console itself, in the user manual, and on its website - warning consumers not to move the console with a disc in it while in use."

Ubisoft announce R.U.S.E. video game by Eugen Systems creators of Act of War - Direct Action

Ubisoft announced the launch of R.U.S.E., a new intellectual property developed by Eugen Systems, creators of the critically acclaimed strategy title Act of War - Direct Action. R.U.S.E. is scheduled for release on Windows PC, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system for fiscal year 2009/2010.

R.U.S.E. is optimized for Intel’s latest core processors, including the Intel Core i7 processor, and will be demonstrated for the first time in public at the Intel booth during the Game Developers Conference (GDC) at Moscone North Hall, booth No6006 at 5:00 PM Pacific on Wednesday March 25 in San Francisco.

R.U.S.E. is a one-of-a-kind real-time strategy game that allows players to bluff their enemies to lead their nation to victory, controlling the action using views that range seamlessly from the heart of the battlefield to the full theatre of war. Players will be plunged into the action thanks to the exclusive IRISZOOM Engine which offers an intuitive interface that allows for smooth, rapid transitions from a birds-eye view of the entire conflict, down into the heat of the battle and vice versa.

“With R.U.S.E., Ubisoft is once again shaking up a genre, offering an RTS with a twist that will thrill gamers,” said John Parkes, EMEA marketing director at Ubisoft. “Ubisoft is known for innovation and R.U.S.E. continues that tradition, offering the most immense and detailed maps ever seen in an RTS. Players can explore the maps using IRISZOOM Engine, which provides an aerial, smooth interaction unlike anything ever seen before.”

Ubisoft and Intel are committed to working together to ensure R.U.S.E. takes full advantage of Intel technologies. “Ubisoft and Intel are demonstrating some of the benefits gamers will experience when playing R.U.S.E. on the Intel Core i7 processor based platforms,” said Elliot Garbus, vice president Intel Software and Services Group, general manager Visual Computing Software Division. “Gamers will experience more immersive game play with smooth zooming from satellite to ground view, superior AI delivering more complex unit movements and more realistic physics throughout the game.”

In R.U.S.E., players use their brain as the ultimate weapon, fighting a war of perception, where the ability to deceive and mislead the enemy determines success. A first in a strategy game, R.U.S.E. reinvigorates the genre by using deception to give new-found depth to the game play.

KarmaStar video game on iPhone and iPod Touch - Easy-to-learn, addictive strategy game speeds players from birth to old age in eight turns.

Entertainment Company, an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, today announced KarmaStar for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Developed by acclaimed game designer Harvey Smith (Deus Ex), the game is a tactical card game and features a quirky, signature art style.

A light-hearted strategy game that lasts about 10 minutes, KarmaStar challenges players to maneuver through life against two opponents in just eight turns to build up personal traits and make opportunistic use of Wildcards and Bonus Scores. Just like real life, the game supports different paths to victory.

"The iPhone and iPod Touch have effectively reinvigorated mobile gaming, allowing publishers to offer a truly rich and immersive play experience never before seen on a mobile device," said Gui Karyo, Executive Vice President of Operations, Majesco Entertainment. "With titles such as KarmaStar, Majesco is continuing to expand our reach to new platforms where we can offer the most enjoyable casual gaming experience to everyone."

"Working on KarmaStar was exciting for several reasons," added Harvey Smith. "While my primary project is a console/PC game, I love the iPhone. It's an amazing device and working with a tiny team allowed me to touch many aspects of the project. Majesco was supportive as we experimented with our game mechanics, which was critical since KarmaStar is a card-game/board-game hybrid. In general, my respect for strategy game designers just went through the roof. I'm really glad I got the chance to work on a game like this."

As players advance through each stage in KarmaStar, they must build up five personal traits -Health, Mind, People, Love, and Money - and overcome obstacles from each phase of human existence. The game is a combination of immediate tactics, longer-term planning and luck. All the while, players must make decisions about how they treat other players when faced with an assortment of life's most embarrassing and triumphant moments. Building traits early can pay off later and players will learn that sacrifices can sometimes lead to greater rewards.

Combining a host of technical features - including the ability to play alone against the game's AI or with two other players via WiFi - KarmaStar offers silky smooth animations and frame rate to make the playing experience that much more rewarding. Whether playing alone or against others, KarmaStar also tracks the player's achievements, career high score, wins and losses, while giving players the option to listen to music from their iPod music library during play.

IGN present Raiders of the Lost Ark - The Adaptation

The first ever UK screening of the cult classic Raiders of the Lost Ark - The Adaptation [PG]. The charity premiere at Vue West End, Leicester Square will take place on 28th April 2009 at 5.45 pm (film starts 6.30 pm).

Hailed as ‘the greatest fan film yet’*, Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation is a 100-minute recreation of the classic film. Started in 1982 by Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala at the age of 12 years old, it took all their pocket money, unwavering dedication, astonishing ingenuity, plus a basement fire and the loss of a pair of eyebrows before the film was finally ‘in the can’ seven years later.

For 15 years, Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation nearly became a forgotten masterpiece until a screening at a film festival by Harry Knowles made it an overnight sensation. It was subsequently featured in Vanity Fair and The Today Show. Fans include Eli Roth, Quentin Tarantino and even Steven Spielberg, who personally wrote to Chris and Eric: “Wanted to let you know how impressed I was with your very loving and detailed tribute to our Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

IGN.com and Vue are proud to bring this highly talked about, but rarely seen cult classic to the UK for the first time ever. Fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet the filmmakers and take part in a Q&A session. Plus, see exclusive props and win artwork from the original series and even indulge in some delicious bites at an Indy-themed food and drink reception.

“Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation is the ultimate fan film; made by fans for fans. It’s the perfect fit for the IGN.com community of over four million games and movie enthusiasts,” said Justin Keeling, General Manager, IGN UK. “We love it and just had to make sure IGN.com and Vue were the first to bring it to the UK.”

Vue’s Marketing Director Mark De Quervain said, “Vue Entertainment are delighted to be the only cinema company to show this unique cult film in the UK. The opportunity to support independent film and also to raise money for MediCinema will make this a really important event for Vue and IGN.com, and a truly unmissable event for our customers.”

Tickets to the UK Charity Premiere of Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation are available now for just £17.50 at www.myvue.com/raiders. Ticket proceeds from the premiere will be donated to MediCinema (www.medicinema.org.uk), a registered charity dedicated to bringing the magic of cinemas to patients in hospitals across the UK.

Award-winning Astraware Sudoku now available for BlackBerry smartphones!

Astraware - the Handmark Game Studio is excited to announce the release of Astraware Sudoku for BlackBerry smartphones. Alongside the new release, this award-winning Sudoku game has also been updated for Palm OS and Windows Mobile smartphones - with enhanced graphics, and changes to the existing game engine to improve calculations and hints for some of the more difficult puzzles.

Recognised by many as the best mobile Sudoku game for a range of smartphones, Astraware Sudoku includes all the features avid Sudoku players want. The game includes the highly acclaimed OTA Puzzle of the Day that allows players to download a puzzle for each difficulty level from the Sudoku of the Day webserver each day and on completion submit their time to see how they compare to other players worldwide! The BlackBerry and Palm versions of Astraware Sudoku also enable players to download packs of puzzles at multiple difficulty levels as and when required, so players never need worry about running out of puzzles.

Astraware Sudoku includes a wide range of assistance including a Sudoku solver, manual and automatic pencilmarks, a smart hints system to give players helpful guidance without just showing the solution, and hold-and-highlight for locating particular numbers or groups. Players can use these features to learn how to play Sudoku, improve their game and progress to higher difficulty levels!

In addition, players can enter their own puzzles from magazines and newspapers and use all of Astraware Sudoku s assistance to help solve them.

To coincide with this release, Astraware Sudoku for BlackBerry, Palm OS and Windows Mobile has been reduced to the new regular price of $9.95, but to celebrate the release players can grab a copy for just $4.95 for a limited time from Astraware.com and Handmark.com!

Astraware Sudoku is available for BlackBerry, iPhone, iPod touch, Windows Mobile and Palm OS.

X-Blades - Winners of the fansite-contest posted

Our big creative X-Blades competition which has been running since the beginning of last month has now finished - and we have the winners!

In cooperation with ZUXXEZ and TopWare, the Internet site insidexblades.de asked for fans to send in their contributions covering a range of topics from wallpaper and videos to comics - and the top prize was an Xbox 360 video gaming and entertainment system! There were lots of entries - and the jury has now finally decided on a winner!

If you want to find out just who has won what and what the winning entry looks like... check out www.insidexblades.de!

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