Mount and Blade - Warband combat game demo at GDC - HD video

Following on from the recent announcement that a Multiplayer expansion was in development for the widely lauded Mount&Blade, Paradox Interactive have today revealed the first detailed information for the newly titled Mount&Blade: Warband.

Demonstrated publicly for the first time at GDC in San Francisco by the development team at Taleworlds, the expansion introduces a number of features that players have specifically requested and which will vastly improve the gameplay experience.

The key features revealed:

• Multiplayer – previously announced, the ability for up to 32 players to play simultaneously on a single map in Team Death-Match style battles
• Faction Rulers – A new in-depth system allowing the player to gain followers even as a rebel and to become the ruler of their own faction and recruit Lords as their vassalals
• Accessibility – Improved and additional detailed game information for players.
• Improved Graphics and optimisation – The introduction of state-of-the-art rendering technologies including HDR (High Dynamic Range), as well as significant improvement in the level of detail on characters, armour and weapons
• Increased interactivity - New interactivity implemented in the environments that the AI will recognize and adapt to, directly impacting the Siege mode

Commenting on the development of Mount&Blade: Warband, Armagan Yavuz, Producer at Taleworlds Entertainment said, “As a development team, we are used to short development circles, fast feedback from our users and the ability to have our gamers in the development loop. That is why we decided to create this expansion. We have received a large amount of requests from players for multiplayer and when we had published the game we saw an opportunity to explore this as well as additional improvements that our gamers requested. I feel that the multiplayer mode adds tremendously to the game experience.”

A summary of additional features includes customizable quick battles, extended diplomatic options and new weapons, armor and animations. Other aspects introduced in Mount&Blade: Warband are improvements to the combat system with more physically accurate horse archery, a variation in horse sizes, and more options when embarking on sieges.

Mount&Blade: Warband is scheduled for release in Q3 2009.

Marvel Universe Online, the comic book superhero MMO, will be released in 2012

Simon Philips, Marvel's president of worldwide consumer products, said the MMO wouldn't be out until after the Captain America movie in 2011 and the Avengers film in 2012. He explained that time would be used to work with Gazillion to create "the next generation of storytelling".

"It sounds like a long way away, but it's not," Philips told MTV. "We've got to create, together with [game publisher] Gazillion, that environment that is going to be a totally immersive experience and a perpetual storytelling experience as well."

"Every day, every week, and every month, there is a new element of technology that comes about," Phillips added. "So whatever plans we had for an MMO two years ago have now evolved to embrace that new technology."

Earlier this month, Gazillion announced that its studio, Gargantuan, would be developing Marvel Universe Online, as part of the publisher's 10-year deal to create a series of virtual worlds based on the comic book giant's IP.

Source: GamesIndustry

Alien Hominid HD - award winning Xbox Live Arcade game - Half-price deal of the week...

Alien Hominid HD, the award winning Xbox LIVE Arcade game from The Behemoth, will be “Deal of the Week” beginning March 30th.

The game will see a 400 point price drop during this time. As an added bonus, players who own Alien Hominid HD (and have received at least one achievement) will unlock the playable Alien character for Castle Crashers, Xbox LIVE Arcade’s Game of the Year for 2008.

“There has never been a better time to get to know our little yellow friend who started it all!” said Kelly Revak, Mayor of Behemothtown and Community Ambassador. “Charge up your power shot and go chomp some heads!” Accused of being the hardest but funniest game in the universe by five different species of sentient beings, the oft-overlooked “easy mode” can be used by hominids in training.

About Alien Hominid HD
As a feisty yet adorable alien, gamers must fend off FBI agents in search of their coveted spacecraft. With unique, hand-drawn characters and weapons, this award-winning title is the epitome of quirky humor and intergalactic fun. Sixteen levels, seven mini-games, and jump-in anytime multiplayer capability adds to the cosmic mayhem. Alien Hominid HD from The Behemoth is a side-scrolling extraterrestrial experience like no other, and is available now for download on Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360.

Game Features

• Sixteen levels and seven mini-games, including “All You Can Eat” and “PDA Games,” now with online multiplayer support.
• Main and Mini-games high scores are tracked on the Xbox LIVE Leaderboards.
• Multiplayer modes enable co-op play and per controller difficulty.
• Earn up to 12 Achievements and 200 Gamerscore points.

Fans vote Castle Crashers Game of the Year in Xbox Live Arcade awards

Castle Crashers, the most downloaded Xbox LIVE Arcade title released in 2008, is also the fan favorite according to the 2nd Annual Xbox LIVE Arcade Awards. Over 185,000 Xbox LIVE Arcade community members cast their votes awarding Castle Crashers the top honor of “Game of the Year” as well as “Best Original Game” and “Best Co-op Mode.”

Four-player online capabilities, deep replay value, and downright fun gameplay helped Castle Crashers stand out among the excellent games released in 2008.

“These awards are particularly meaningful to us because they were decided by the players themselves.” said Kelly Revak, Mayor of Behemothtown and Community Ambassador. “A BIG thank you to all who voted, you are the wind beneath our chicken wings! Seriously, we have the best fans in the whole world.”

Castle Crashers continues it’s record-breaking pace, remaining in the top five most downloaded titles since its August 2008 release. With over 800,000 players now on the leaderboards, Castle Crashers is on track to attract 1 million players within a year of launch, a feat few Arcade titles have achieved.

About Castle Crashers:

As Xbox LIVE Arcade’s top hit of 2008, Castle Crashers has attracted a wide-ranging audience with its engaging art style, easy control system, and simple yet addictive game play. From seven-year-olds playing their first video game to hardcore older gamers looking to recapture the 2D arcade games of their youth, this game has something for everyone. Hack, slash, and smash your way to victory in this red-hot arcade adventure! Featuring hand-drawn characters, Castle Crashers delivers unique hi-res illustrated visuals like nothing you've ever seen before. Play with up to three friends locally or over Xbox LIVE to save your princess, defend your kingdom, and crash some castles with an arsenal of combos and magical attacks to choose from! Priced at 1200 Microsoft points, Castle Crashers boasts 20 levels, over 40 weapons, and 20 unlockable characters, making this one of the largest games available on Xbox LIVE Arcade.

First Shakespeare video game - Romeo and Juliet Free demo download

So, does Shakespeare's play really work as computer game? That's what the folks at Baby Eish Games are hoping. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

Independent game studio Baby Eish Games has unveiled the first in its series of Shakespeare-based computer games, Most Romantic Tales?

Romeo and Juliet. Unlike previous adaptations, this visual novel adventure game boasts a line by line translation of Shakespeare's original text. While the story has been translated into colloquial English, all of the key elements of Shakespeare's romantic tragedy are still in tact. Players can decide between different dialog options, but ultimately, the story is linear.

A Baby Eish spokesperson has this to say, "Shakespeare was an entertainer, not an academic. Frankly, we think he'd be pretty appalled at how we teach his plays at school. They're meant to be enjoyed, and translating his works into computer games is a great way to reach the modern audience on their own ground."

You can find a free, one hour demo of Most Romantic Tales Romeo and Juliet at http://www.babyeishgames.com/Romeo-Juliet.html.

Exclusive video game range based on Giochi Preziosi best-selling toy range

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has announced it has entered into an exclusive, global licensing agreement with Giochi Preziosi and Marathon Media to develop and publish video games based on the hugely successful Gormiti action figure and entertainment franchise.

The new agreement expands the Gormiti phenomenon into the interactive entertainment software category with the first Gormiti titles to be released for Nintendo DS and Wii gaming systems.

Gormiti is the story of the never ending battle on the ‘Island of Gorm’ between vast armies inspired by the elemental forces of nature. Created and first launched by Giochi Preziosi in 2005, the expansive product line inspired by the heroes of Gorm is Europe’s fastest growing action figure brand. With over 100 million figures sold to date, Gormiti ranks among the category best sellers in all major European markets and is quickly gaining speed following its launch in the US earlier this year.

All new Gormiti adventures are featured in the Giochi Preziosi/Marathon Media co-production of a 52 episode, animated TV series entitled ‘Gormiti - The Lords of Nature Return’. The animated series premiered in Italy to record ratings via the Mediaset network in September 2008 and will launch in fall 2009 on M6 in France and on RTL 2 in Germany. Broadcaster for other countries, including UK and Spain will be announced after MIP TV 2009.

“The Gormiti licence is one that is ideally suited to video games,” commented Kunio Neo, President for Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH. “The collection side of it and the eternal battle between these elemental forces opens up a wide range of exciting possibilities. The games will be entrusted to our European development studio, and we look forward to unleashing the Gormiti armies on DS and Wii in the near future.”

“Konami’s global reach and marketing expertise combined with their proven ability to translate an action packed and character rich property like Gormiti into an exciting and sustainable video game franchise makes them a perfect partner to compliment and expand upon the Gormiti phenomenon” said Giochi Preziosi’s CEO Dario Berte. “Konami understands the magical appeal of Gormiti. We are excited and proud to be partnering with a company that shares our passion for creating a gaming experience that will bring these amazing characters to life for dedicated Gormiti fans and video game enthusiasts of all ages.”

Vincent Chalvon Demersay, President of Marathon Media, said, “The stories and characters that make “Gormiti - The Lords of Nature Return” such a unique and fascinating television series also make it a great candidate for adaptation as an exciting interactive gaming adventure. Konami has an exceptional track record of developing high quality games that capture the imagination and extend the entertainment experience into the gaming arena.”

Golemizer MMORPG first free expansion now online

The first free content expansion, Diluculo Island, for the free web MMORPG Golemizer. A free 2D steampunk MMORPG, Golemizer requires no download or plug-in to play and features a rich sandbox environment.

Following the path of a mysterious scientist named Dr. Grant, players will discover an island where strange creatures, the bymizins, are living. Are they friendly? Are they hostile?

Players will have to find out for themselves while facing the many dangers of the island like giant spiders, zombie velociraptors and the terrifying X-Rex (a steam powered dinosaur).

Along a storyline of 100 new quests, the Diluculo Island expansion features:

- Over 200 new zones to explore
- 3 new golems that players can create (zombie velociraptor, mecha repair-o-tron and even the X-Rex)
- 10 new skills available to all characters
- New island themed items that players can buy to customize their cities and dungeons
- The first vehicle in Golemizer, a blimp that can be built by players!

To meet the requirements of the constantly growing number of players and NPCs (over 10 000), Golemizer has recently been moved to a new server to provide the best gaming experience possible.

Since its release in September 2008, more than 19 000 players have roamed the creative world of Golemizer. In their journey, they have created 1 200 quests using the player quests creation system, crafted over 800 000 items and created more than 5 000 new zones using the player dungeon system.

PlayStation and Xbox games 'turn children into scientists and engineers'

Children who spend hours every day on their PlayStation or Xbox video consoles are improving their brains, according to new research.

A study of 12 year-olds found they boosted crucial visual-spatial skills in which a child learns by thinking in pictures and images.

Video of new Nintendo DSi



Read full story on the Telegraph site here...

Nintendo Wii sales pass 50 million

Global sales of Nintendo's Wii console have passed 50 million, the company's boss Satoru Iwata has said.

The Wii is now the fastest-selling games console in history, surpassing the PlayStation 2.

Mr Iwata also said that Nintendo's handheld DS console had shipped 100m units around the world.

Read the full post here on the BBC...

Final Fantasy XIII detail emerge

The first concrete details of how the forthcoming monster RPG will actually handle.

We find out how a step backward could push the series forward...

Details on CVG website here...