Völkl Diamond Cup - your chances of winning a ski outfit worth £470

Empire of Sports, the first massively connected multisport 3D game, is proud to unveil the latest in its ever growing online sports events; The Völkl Diamond Cup. In association with winter sports equipment brand, Völkl, Empire of Sports has added the Völkl Diamond Cup as a permanent feature to its already impressive line-up of resident online sports based events.

The Völkl Diamond Cup can be found in the permanent events program within Empire of Sports. There are four key stages to qualify for the Völkl Diamond Cup; the first three stages can be entered at any time during the week. The finals will be held every other Saturday and the winner will receive a ski outfit (jacket and trousers) from the Völkl Performance Wear range.

Empire of Sports provides a great interactive platform for companies to promote their brands and advertise new products online – while also reaching a wider audience. As part of Völkl’s association with Empire of Sports, two pairs of brand new Völkl skis will be made available for players’ avatars to use in-game, boosting their performance and making them look good while they’re doing it! Better still, as those ski models are part of Völkl’s range for the forthcoming 2009/10 winter season, Empire of Sports’ avatars will have access to them before the real skis are even available in the shops. So the players will exclusively be able to access the first-class quality of the equipment in May.

Empire of Sports is currently in the Prologue phase: this phase allows Empire of Sports to expand progressively, with the help and feedback of its vast community of online players.

If you are interested in entering the Völkl Diamond Cup and fancy your chances of winning a ski outfit worth £470, all you need to do is download the game client from www.empireofsports.com, register and speak with Francis in the centre of Empire of Sports!

Nintendo DSi online shop opens in Europe Five games available - top ten things you need to know about the DSi

Nintendo's DSi Online Store launches in Europe today, on offer are five games free Opera-based internet web browser.

Games to download - WarioWare Snapped!, Pyoro, Paper Plane, Art Style Aquite and Art Style Code.



Before you can access the store, DSi users must download the latest system update the launch promotion adds 1000 free DSi Points to your account.

Games are in three different pricing categories – 200 Points (GBP 1.80), 500 Points (GBP 4.50) and Premium, and can be accessed through the main menu.

The DSi is on sale today in Europe, with retailers across the UK expecting strong sales over the launch weekend.

1. The DSi is the third revision of the DS console, the biggest selling games console yet made, with global sales of over 100 million, 9 million of these in the UK alone.

2. Although it looks remarkably similar to the existing DS Lite, the DSi represents a bigger jump forward than that from the chunky original DS to the DS Lite. The new machine is slimmer, with slightly bigger screens and a faster processor, and is packed with new features.

3. New feature one: the DSi has its own built-in operating system, modelled on the Wii system. The OS is stored on the DSi’s built-in memory. One of the practical upshots of this is that games are now “hot-swappable”, meaning you no longer need to power off and on your console when changing game cartridges.

4. New feature two: the DSi comes with two low-resolution cameras, one facing inwards and one outwards. The cameras are complemented by a built-in application that allows you to distort the photos you take for humorous effect. They can also be used for video-chatting.

5. New feature three: the DSi comes with an SD card slot, where photos, music and digital media can be stored. Don’t get too excited by the music playback. The DSi only plays AAC files, not the more popular MP3. Why? Read our interview with Nintendo’s UK boss to find out.

6. New feature four: if you want to play your old Gameboy Advance games, forget it. There is no longer a slot at the front. This is also bad news for fans of Guitar Hero, which uses the slot for its fretboard.

7. New feature five: the DSiWare store, modelled on the Wii store, will offer games for download in exchange for Nintendo points. A web browser will be offered for free.

8. New feature six: the improved internet connectivity means that the DSi firmware can be updated by Nintendo. This is bad news for game pirates, who are thought to have cost the company millions in lost revenue by making DS games available for download on to cards such as the notorious R4. The DSi will not recognise an R4 card.

9. In its native Japan, the DSi sells for around 20,000 yen. One year ago, when the pound was worth 200 yen, this would have suggested a UK price of £100. Now the pound is worth 139 yen, which has bumped up the UK price to £149. Ouch.

10. Nintendo has opted for a quiet launch for the DSi, perhaps in recognition of the fact that no DSi-only games exist yet, and the DSiWare store is poorly stocked. Still, the company reports pre-orders for the console at ten times the level of the DS Lite.

First screenshot from Madden NFL 10 - game released this August in UK

Paint on the eye black and lace up the cleats, Electronic Arts announce that Madden NFL 10 will be available in UK retail stores this August. The storied football franchise ushers in a new era with advancements that bring the NFL fan everything they see on Sundays, minus the grass stains.

On-field authenticity and emotion is taken to another level in Madden NFL 10. With more control over the outcome of the play than ever before, players can drag defenders towards the first down marker, fight for a fumble at the bottom of the pile, and avoid the rush by stepping up into the pocket. Utilizing an all-new animation technology, Madden NFL 10 ensures that the Fight For Every Yard doesn’t end until the whistle blows.

“The Tiburon team couldn’t be more excited about Madden NFL 10.” said Phil Frazier, Senior Producer. “With online innovation that will connect Madden fans together like never before, an immersive broadcast presentation that captures the suspense and emotion of the NFL, and the most authentic gameplay to date, Madden NFL 10 will be the pinnacle in the award-winning franchise.”

Madden NFL 10 on the Nintendo Wii introduces a unique, genre-defining art style that will raise the bar for sports games on the console. Completely redesigned and built from the ground up, Madden NFL 10 epitomizes what fun looks like on the Wii and will deliver a social, dynamic experience for the entire living room.

Madden NFL 10 will kick off the season with the Madden NFL 10 Draft Experience hosted exclusively in the US at maddennfl.easports.com on Saturday, April 25th. The innovative website will feature a live, streaming draft analysis show produced right from Madden headquarters in Orlando, Florida. The show will feature several interactive elements, including live call-ins from NFL athletes, on-site correspondents from New York City, and the chance for Madden fans to phone in with comments and questions. As players are drafted, their official Madden NFL 10 ratings will be released and discussed live. The website will also feature dynamic polls, social networking feeds, photos from the NFL Draft, and live blogs from the Madden NFL 10 player ratings team. The Madden NFL Draft Experience is a fully interactive destination for NFL and Madden fans alike.

The countdown to the Madden NFL 10 cover announcement begins today in the US with the launch of maddennfl.easports.com and the There Can Only Be One campaign. Each week, check back to the Madden NFL 10 website as candidates that capture the essence of Fight for Every Yard are introduced. See who is in the running for the most coveted cover in sports video games, leading up to the Madden NFL 10 cover unveil on Friday, April 24th.

The award-winning Madden NFL franchise will be available on the Xbox 360 video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation 2 and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment systems, Wii, PSP (PlayStation Portable) handheld entertainment system and is rated RP by the ESRB.

Madden NFL 10 is developed in Orlando, Florida by the EA Tiburon studio, which also produces NCAA Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR and NASCAR Kart Racing.

Opera sign agreement with Nintendo to supply browser

Opera Software has announced partnerships with both Ford and Nintendo to provide browsing capabilities for users of Ford trucks and vans and Nintendo game consoles.

Opera Software has announced partnerships with both Ford and Nintendo to provide browsing capabilities for users of Ford trucks and vans and Nintendo game consoles.

According to the partnership with Ford, owners of Ford F-150, Super Duty, E-Series and Transit Connect trucks and vans will now be able to access the full web from the convenience of their vehicles, thanks to Opera and Ford Work Solutions. Opera will be the featured browser on Ford’s broadband-capable, in-dash computer.

Source: eweek

Karcass Online PC MMORPG video game - trailer

In the continent, there existed 5 kingdoms. Placed in the swamp of warfare, these kingdoms struggled and split up continuously. As people were suffering from countless wars, the demon lord invaded. Corrupted demons came to the humans' world through warp gate, and soldiers of the kingdoms tried to resist.



With their repetitive loss, the alliance force retreated and prepared for a final war in the desert fortress, Queren. The soldiers fought bravely, but they became more tired as the battle lasted for days. On the seventh day, the fortress was almost defeated by the demons; only despair was there.

Then, a knight appeared from horizon. The knight rampaged through the waves of demons, and slashed them with a sharp sword. The fortress was once again filled with hope. Surprisingly, the knight was a woman, named Hertia. She lost her beloved children, and met a person. The man, covered in a black robe, saved her and taught a way to control mystic power named Arke. She called him Nameless. The alliance force reestablished army and defiance the demons. Hertia was respected by everyone as a hero who saved the fortress from despair. The fortress was in peril few more times, but the people who were taught by the Nameless, like Hertia, appeared and protected it from falling down. Mercenary Kaballa, Hunter Thelos, and Mage Feira were the heroes. They searched for people with talent, and gladly taught their knowledge to them. With their teachings, the alliance force was able to control the power of Arke, and have abilities to oppose the demons.

Sega's Virtua Tennis 2009 another successful title this May

SEGA Europe Ltd. and SEGA of America, Inc. today announced they will be publishing Virtua Tennis 2009. Virtua Tennis 2009 will smash into action on Sony PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and downloadable for PC fans in May 2009.

Virtua Tennis 2009 will again allow you to take on the world’s top tennis players in some of the most realistic courts to be found on gaming consoles. Take on the likes of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer or play as Maria Sharapova against Venus Williams to recreate some classic court battles. Joining this impressive roster of tennis stars are several new players for 2009, including men’s World No.4 Andy Murray and ladies French Open champion Ana Ivanovic. In addition to the traditional singles, doubles and mixed doubles matches, Virtua Tennis 2009 will also have the official Davis Cup license, giving players the coveted opportunity to lead their country to glory!

Virtua Tennis 2009 has extensive additions and detailed improvements to the classic arcade-style match engine like no other tennis game available. Player stumbling adds a new dimension to matches, while improved volleying, serving and net play allow you to express yourself on court like never before. In addition, the popular World Tour Mode has been given innovative new features offering a fully integrated online system, and new online ranking system available for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Along with numerous other additions the Player Creation System in World Tour Mode has also been expanded, and a new look Tennis Store containing over 800 items will enable players to create their own unique Virtua Tennis Champion!

“The return of Virtua Tennis promises to be a real treat for both fans of the series and sports game fans everywhere” commented Gary Knight, European Marketing Director for SEGA Europe. “The tennis season is shaping up to be the most exciting in years, and with new players, courts, an Online Tour and extensive on-court updates – Virtua Tennis 2009 is sure to maintain its spot as the standard by which all tennis games are judged.”

Finally, no Virtua Tennis game would be complete without the ever popular Court Games and Virtua Tennis 2009 doesn’t disappoint! Fan favorites will be returning alongside each other in completely new minigames, ensuring the tradition is carried on into this new iteration of the series. But look out for crocodiles, fruit and pirates in Virtua Tennis 2009’s collection of unique Court Games, available to play as single player, multiplayer and online, and sure to have players coming back for more!

Virtua Tennis 2009 is due for release on the Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360 and PC in May 2009

Legend of Zelda The movie VFX trailers check out the amazing graphics on APRIL FOOLS DAY...

A lot of work was put into the following video ... watch it then read the release date at the end...

Omerta Killer reset for Mafia video game Deathmatch - don Barafranca

UK based Omerta Game Ltd, publisher of the Internet's leading Mafia-themed massively multiplayer online game (MMOG), Omerta announces a reset to the Deathmatch version of its very successful game.

Omerta is a text-based mass participation online role-playing game. The action is played out in a world that replicates the infamous 1930's Mafia boss, Gianluca Barafranca, or better known as Don Barafranca. The goal of each player is to usurp the venerable Don Gianluca and take control of the Mafia empire. Players also progress by stealing, racketeering, robbing banks, stealing and racing cars and forging alliances. It is free to sign up and play. The only requirements are a PC and internet connection.
The Deathmatch version of Omerta, is the Internet's first text-based shoot-em-up. As a result, the action within the game is much faster, and there is a focus on killing. Players can consequently rank higher, much faster than in the traditional version of the game.

“The Deathmatch version of our game will prove very popular for players that enjoy the original version of Omerta, but are time poor. Much more can be achieved in the Deathmatch version of the game, in a very short space of time” comments Steve Biddick, CEO of Omerta Game Ltd.

The Deathmatch version of Omerta was reset on Tuesday, March 31st at 13.00 GMT. The reset will effectively cleanse all the current player data and create a fresh, new playing environment.“The reset to the Deathmatch version of Omerta will excite existing players and appeal to new, prospective players because everybody will start on a level playing field. The reset will bring a sense of vitality to what is already a very compelling version of the game”, adds Steve Biddick.

Omerta boasts a busy IRC server which frequently has more than 4,000 concurrent users and typically more than 70,000 log in every day to chat, race cars and organise Mafia family wars. The game is run by a crew of over 200 volunteers worldwide.“We have a strategy to continue developing our core product, Omerta as well as breathing new life into existing versions, which players will experience with the reset to the Deathmatch version of the game”, concludes Steve Biddick.

Play here...

Some men prefer playing games to having sex - are they crazy!

In this T3 post they point to research by PS3 price compare that 32% of men prefer playing games to having sex....

Third of men prefer gaming than having sex.

Whether it's Chun-Li, Lara Croft or even Master Chief that floats your boat, video games are apparently 'Better than sex' according to British men.

New research shows that among the 1,130 British men surveyed by www.PS3pricecompare.co.uk, 32 per cent of them would rather button-bash their rumblepack controllers than have a fumble in the sack with their other halves.

The figure leaped to an amazing 72 per cent when the question involved the temptation of playing a brand new video game. The surveyed men admitted their partners were “being too hard to please” and “not as much fun”. (Evidently, the survey doesn’t reveal how many of the men actually had girlfriends.)

Read the full post here on T3...

Square announce two Crystal Defenders games on Nintendo WiiWare

Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces the release of two downloadable titles for Nintendo WiiWare. The first of these defensive simulation games, CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R1 will be available for download in April, while a release date for CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R2 will be announced at a later stage.

Featuring jobs and locations from the popular FINAL FANTASY TACTICS series, CRYSTAL DEFENDERS requires players to strategically deploy units to fend off encroaching enemy hordes and prevent them from stealing their party's crystals.

The WiiWare version includes several improvements to the interface and a new design optimized for consoles. A worldwide ranking system allows players to upload their scores to leaderboards and see how they stack up against other players around the globe. These and other new features are sure to increase excitement and enhance replayability.

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, “The release of these two CRYSTAL DEFENDERS titles on WiiWare demonstrates Square Enix’s commitment to providing new downloadable content, meeting the needs of its customers. CRYSTAL DEFENDERS combines easy pick-up and play mechanics, great depth and an addictive quality that make it ideal for the platform. I hope that many people experience and enjoy it.”

About CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R1

Story
In a land ruled by might and magick, peace is ensured by the benevolent power of the crystals. When a young moogle charged with guarding these crystals learns of an evil presence gathering on the horizon, he calls upon heroes from the far corners of the realm to join forces and stand against this new threat.

Wielders of blade and bow, keepers of arts arcane, unite! As darkness draws nigh, only you can protect the light that binds us. The fate of Ivalice lies in the hands of...the Crystal Defenders!

Features
CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R1 is a defensive simulation game in which players deploy characters from the FINAL FANTASY TACTICS® series onto a variety of different maps to battle wave after wave of encroaching monsters. The first game in the series, Crystal Guardians, was released in Japan for mobile phones in January 2008. In December of the same year, iPhone 3G, iPod touch and iPod versions were released under the new name, CRYSTAL DEFENDERS. To date, the total number of downloads for the series have reached over 800,000.

CRYSTAL DEFENDERS R1 is simple and easy to learn – monsters will enter an area and march through it until they are defeated or reach an exit, at which time they will steal one or more crystals. It is up to the player to decide – by pausing the action at crucial moments – when and where to deploy various jobs such as Black Mages or Soldiers that will attempt to defend the party’s crystals. Factors such as map terrain, monster strengths and weaknesses, job attributes, and more will play a crucial role in determining what steps a player should take.