New Content for Knight Online - Server addition, anti-cheat, PVP update and Knight online forever Chapter 4

One of today's most popular free2play online game destinations, announces big additions to the Knight Online World.

New Server – Ionia. Players will have the chance to start over from scratch in the long awaited release of Knight Online’s 16th world Ionia. The world takes its name from the goddess Akara.

Having watched her children suffer for too long, she has decided to recreate a new world for them to live on where she can watch over and protect them. The new update will also include Knight Online’s planned anti-cheating measures. This update is geared toward preventing hack tools from working while the game is running.
Border Defense War Update. Players will now be able to engage in “Border Defense War” on a new map according to a tiered level schedule. There will be more Border Defense Wars more often, with more chances to win, and players will be more evenly matched up as players from similar levels battle each other.

“It doesn’t get much better than this. Says Joseph Willmon, Associate producer, Knight online “With a new server, new content, advancement in the ongoing storyline, and tough new measures aimed at preventing cheating, today is a great day to be a Knight Online player.”

Along with the new server and border defense war update Knight Online Forever – Chapter 4 has been released. The neutral trade city of Moradon is under siege! Karus and El Morad alike must band together to stem the tide of evil before it destroys all they hold dear. Fight back wave after wave of rampaging monstrosities, and eventually confront the death god Krowaz himself!

Magnificent Gizmos and Gadgets video game on iPod Touch and iPhone

Publisher X, a videogame publisher committed to providing entertaining and innovative titles through the growing digital distribution channel, announced today that the physics-based puzzle game Magnificent Gizmos & Gadgets is available now for Apple iPhone and iPod touch.

“This is the most diverse and unique puzzle game on the iPhone! Players have an unlimited number of options when constructing their own gizmos and gadgets,” said Mel Kirk, director of marketing for Publisher X. “Tie that together with a realistic physics engine, outstanding graphics, and the ability to easily save and share levels, and Magnificent Gizmos & Gadgets delivers a deep game play experience with tremendous replay value.”

Magnificent Gizmos & Gadgets is an addictive physics-based puzzle game that takes players into a world where anything is possible! Build catapults, automated vehicles, and even create ball busting battering rams as you traverse the tricky terrain and navigate through wild obstacles all in an attempt to move the Goalon into the endzone. Each level has an infinite amount of solutions, so get ready to use your brain to create your own strategic approach to each challenge!

Complete 44 levels by taking control of a variety of tools and parts to construct the most magnificent Gizmos to ever hit the iPhone. With realistic physics and gravity, stunning graphics, an intuitive drag-and-drop control system and brain-bending challenges, Magnificent Gizmos & Gadgets inspires creativity and will have you struggling to put the game down!

Magnificent Gizmos & Gadgets features:

• 44 challenging levels, each with an infinite number of possible solutions
• A variety of environmental objects, including explosive cannons, powerful fans, rumbling conveyors, and more
• A helpful tutorial and hint system that teaches you how to be a physics whiz
• A Share feature that allows you to save and email your favorite Gizmos to your friends
• Beautifully stylized visuals
• Groovy, foot-tappin' soundtrack

Developed by The Method, Magnificent Gizmos & Gadgets is available through the App Store for $4.99.

Major event in the Call to Arms live expansion for Warhammer Online - Age of Reckoning

Mythic Entertainment announce the start of ‘Beyond the Sands’ - the next major event in the Call to Arms live expansion for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR). From April 20 to April 27, the armies of WAR will clash over the wreckage of mysterious airships that fell from the sky and puzzle over the appearance of strange artifacts from far-off lands.

Those looking for answers will need to cast their gaze south to the Land of the Dead, where the Tomb Kings reign supreme.

This week, adventurers from the forces of Order and Destruction will be tasked with recovering the artifacts of the Nehekharan Kings and subduing their vengeful Liche Priests. Those who successfully complete the epic tasks at hand will be rewarded with exotic treasure and glory, including the unique event titles of ‘Grave Robber’ and ‘The Eternal,’ Tomb Kings trophies, and – for the truly dedicated – Aviator Goggles, a helm item with special properties.

“The next big event in the Call to Arms live expansion has arrived, and we couldn’t be more excited,” said Mark Jacobs, vice president and general manager of Mythic Entertainment. “‘Beyond the Sands’ introduces the ancient and eternal Tomb Kings to WAR, a game already packed with amazing content. This live event is just a small taste of the Tomb Kings-themed, undead mayhem still to come!”

Based on the popular tabletop war game from Games Workshop, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning features revolutionary Realm vs. Realm™ conflict that will provide players with an engaging battleground for years to come. Available now for PC, WAR is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB. For more information about the game and to download the free 10-day trial, visit www.warhammeronline.com.

UK Discount PC games - Rise & Fall - Civilizations at War, Stranglehold and Unreal Anthology out may 9th

Mastertronic has announced today the release of their latest batch of four PC titles to add to their existing range. Each title will retail at the VAT- reduced price of £9.77 and will be released ion 8th May on the PC Gamer Presents label, which is reserved for games that have received a review score of 80% or more in PC Gamer Magazine.

With a score of 91%, Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War is sure to satisfy even the most demanding of players. This epic game combines real-time strategy with third-person action and naval combat as you’ve never seen it before. Rise & Fall features four of the ancient world’s most powerful empires – the Greeks, the Persians, the Egyptians and the Romans. It brings back to life well-known characters from history and mythology, including Mark Antony, Achilles, Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. Rise and Fall’s true battle formations will let you unleash the military might of more than 80 unique units in large scale assaults and sieges. Board and ram naval vessels with naval warfare units and annihilate city defences with a variety of siege weapons and troops. Recruit craftsmen, scientists, artisans and advisors who will help improve your civilization as you build it from the ground up. PC Gamer magazine commented: “Without question this game boasts the best briny battles ever seen on a PC screen. Stainless Steel have taken possibly the dullest aspect of the traditional RTS and turned it into something beautiful and important.”

Another great April release is John Woo Presents Stranglehold. Take on the role of Inspector Tequila from John Woo’s influential action film, Hard Boiled, starring Chow Yun-Fat. Engage the enemy in Tequila Time by targeting and firing in real-time, while the world dramatically slows. Enjoy the exhilaration of running up railings, swinging from chandeliers and leaping onto moving objects. Bring the world down on your enemies and carve your own realistic path of destruction! The innovative physics engine provides gamers with an unprecedented level of interactivity. With two huge areas to explore (Chicago and Hong Kong), the interactions are infinite, with each level offering massive amounts of destructibility. The game combines exciting, challenging action, beautiful graphics and great sound effects! PC Gamer’s review wrote: “Stranglehold brings back some classics of action gaming that deserve a fresh showing.”

Unreal Anthology brings gaming into the 21st century! It’s a compilation of the defining first chapters in the Unreal saga, including the original Unreal (as well as the Return to Na Pali expansion pack), Unreal II: The Awakening, Unreal Tournament (Game of the Year Edition), and Unreal Tournament 2004 (Editors Choice Edition). You are John Dalton, an ex-Marin and Marshal for the Terran Colonial Authority, assigned to patrol the edge of human exploration. Only you can prevent the Awakening. PC Gamer’s review commented: “Unreal nailed the sweet spot, loosely draping enough story over its frame to at least provide motive, while emphasising the balls-out gunplay in the incredibly pretty environments.” Unreal is the bloodiest multiplayer mayhem ever seen. In this game, the reality was altered – forever.

James Cato, Mastertronic’s Sales Director commented “April’s releases are for no fool! With four great titles, each with a review score of over 80%, this month’s offering will provide quality and value for consumers and retailers”.

All titles will be released on 8th May, 2009.

New Star Grand Prix has been updated to version 1.07

New Star Grand Prix has received a major update. Along with a host of new features it has been translated into 12 different languages. It is available now on PC and Mac from www.newstargames.com.

New Star Grand Prix has been updated to version 1.07. New features include the KERS boost system, slipstreaming and a speedometer HUD. It is also now playable in 12 languages. (English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Danish, Polish, Finnish, Turkish, Slovenian.)

New Star Grand Prix is a top-down racing game inspired by classics such as Super Sprint and Micro Machines, but brought bang up to date to feature all the teams, drivers and tracks of the 2009 Grand Prix season. It features a full career mode that spans up to 10 seasons where you must compete against the world’s best drivers on 17 real-world tracks. During your career you will need to manage your finances and relationships with the team boss, pit crew, friends and fans. You can gamble at the casino and even purchase sports cars, but it is on the track where you must really prove yourself. Races feature changeable weather conditions, tyre wear, car damage and fuel loads, all of which affect your car’s handling and will require careful monitoring if you want to make tactical pitstops. The camera can be zoomed in or out to suit your driving style and after the race you can upload your best laptime to the online leaderboard. The game also features a comprehensive track editor that will allow you to design and race on your own tracks.

Trial versions for PC and Mac are available from www.newstargames.com/nsgp.html and the full version for can be purchased for $9.99. Please contact Simon Read for a review copy.

Based in Oxford, UK, New Star Games is a small independent company with a passion for sports games.

Arabic Rappelz Hamaleel Newspaper promotion

The first Arabic 3D MMO Game and virtual world, Arabic Rappelz, has started a cooperation agreement with the famous newspaper Hamaleel in a bid to promote Arabic literature and culture among the Internet generation in the Middle East

The first action is this agreement comes as Arabic Rappelz is celebrating the World Book and Copyright Day on April 23rd 2009.

Hamaleel is sponsoring a 3-days competition where players are asked to answer questions related to World and Arabic literature and culture with virtual and real world gifts.

Arabic Rappelz is the first Arabic MMO game to be published in the region, it was commercially launched on March 16th, 2009.

Hamaleel Newspaper is an independent weekly newspaper that focuses on local and Arab literature

About Game Power 7
A publisher and developer of online MMO games and related digital media, Game Power 7 emerged as the first gaming company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Game Power 7 is a subsidiary of Weiss Investment, a leader in media business in MENA and Southeast Asia regions, and the owner of the Spacetoon and Space Power TV stations and media hubs.
Game Power 7 published the first online MMO game in the region, Arabic Rappelz, thus, taking the risk of this untapped market in MENA
The company has built a state-of-the-art game localization and culturalization facility that provides global game developers with value-added game publishing services
Game Power 7 is based in Dubai, UAE.

Go on a PSP(PlayStation Portable) shopping spree with new v5.50 update

System software update v5.50 for PSP now allows unregistered users to check out PlayStation Store and view the Information Board

The doors to PlayStation Store have just opened wide thanks to the latest system software update for PSP (PlayStation Portable). The v5.50 upgrade means you no longer need a PlayStation Network account to do a quick bit of window shopping – you can check out all the latest games, trailers and demos available for download from your PSP.

But that’s not all the upgrade offers. PSP users will now be able to view PlayStation Network’s Information Board on the PSP system’s XMB (XrossMediaBar) interface– the live news feed detailing the latest exciting PlayStation Store offers – on their screen (as long as they are WiFi connected).

This upgrade is available from April 21. For more information about the upgrade and these features please go to www.eu.playstation.com

Killzone 1.24 Patch Details

AI - Bots now skipping disabled/destroyed MGs in warzone when requesting mounted guns.
AI - Do not claim waypoints for the previous character when it’s dead.
AI - Fixes bots getting stuck trying to arm/disarm S&D object when mission is already over.
Campaign - Fix for potential progression bug in Salamun Bridge.
Clan - User name, not users clan displayed in rankings
Clan - Winning 10 Clan Challenges causes the user to become stuck on the medal awards screen.
Controls - Lean & Peak - Zoom hold on and out of ammo it switches between regular/scope view rapidly.
Cosmetic - Blue screen tint which indicates scout cloak is occasionally enabled and will remain indefinitely.
Cosmetic - White squares on the grenade counter merge together when displayed in 1080p
Create Game - “Badge Combination” option does not work properly
Create Game - Online - “clan only” presets apply even after a player leaves a clan
DLC - DLC pack 1 - ’Steel & Titanium’ support DLC - New Loading screens advertising the first DLC pack.
Exploit - Helghan Industries - Player getting out of map fix.
Exploit - Radec Academy - User is able to gain access to the roof when revived in a specific location.
Exploit - Reviving player stuck in wall collision can result in him spawning outside level
Exploit - Salamun Market - One sided wall allows people to be seen and shot from outside where they cant see or fire out
Exploit - Tharsis Depot - Player can get out of the “normal” play area and can get into some sniper/camp spots
Feature - Invite player from friendslist Feature - Join Clan Member list added.
Feature - Join Game - 17-24 players filter.
Feature - MP - Moving while seeing scores after pressing SELECT
Feature - The radar/map now has a larger radius
Feature - Three additional ’Harcore’ Ranks added to the top limits.
Front-end - Add support to display more than 8 maps when creating a game /challenge/tournament
Front-end - Sorting ascending and decending ranks working better in ’Rankings’
Front-end - When in a squad, the Valor Trophy is visible in the Squad Tab, however the users rank is not being displayed on top of it.
Mods - Official tournament to be displayed first followed by custom created tournaments
Mods - Additional functionality made avalable to the in-game moderators.
Network - Server side fix for full games being displayed incorrectly.
Network - User is unable to use the ’Join Clan Member’ tab due to Network Error Code 20002.
Online - File-synching with the Japanese release of Killzone 2 on the 23rd of April.
Sound - Turret placing sound continues when killed.
Stability - Crash when synching gamestate after a full mapcycle
Stability - Hang on a screen with a blank message window just before a message appears.
Stability - Reducing the load on the server related to syncing the buddylist
Stats - If a clan wins 24 Clan Challenges and goes to the result screen, the medal acquisition screen, which normally displays when you win 25 games, will display.
Stats - Number of air-support grenades used by tacticians does not add to the stats of joined user correctly.
Stats - Number of spawn-grenades used by tacticians does not add to the stats of joined user correctly.
Stats - User sometimes does not receive 1000 valor award when winning 10 Clan Challenges.
Text - % character not displayed correctly on the creating game dialogue box after selecting to create game.
Text - If a client receives an invite from a clan which has a ’$’ character in the clan name, the recipient will get kicked
Text - Minor Italian localization fix.
Text - Minor Japanese localization fix.
Tournament - Game decides winner if one of the two teams doesn’t spawn in
Trophies - Fix for Wargod trophy unlocking pre-maturely

Source: PS3Blog

Battle Rage - The Robot Wars video game Q&A session

With the impending UK release of BATTLE RAGE: THE ROBOT WARS a third person shooter with elements of a beat’em'up game that allows a player to control giant robots. This being the first real ‘REAL 3D’ console game, by using stereoscopic glasses on the Nintendo Wii, the team behind the development taken time out of their schedule to provide an insight into the game’s 3D engine. Below, Rob Dorney Art Director and Karl White Technical Director talk about some of the main aspects of the game.



1. How is it real 3D?

KW: Most computer games are created using 3D models but the player still only sees a flat image of these on their 2DTV. Each image is flat just like a photo. You can try to imagine depth from shadows and the size of objects, but really each frame of the TV image is totally flat. In the ‘real world ‘ we see objects in real 3D, objects are solid and they appear near to us or far away. Our in-game stereoscopic render works the same way that our normal eyesight works in the real world by providing a different view to each eye, so our in-game objects appear as real 3D objects. It really does separate the game environments and characters according to their distance from the player, the effect of which is very immersive. The stereoscopic effect forces your eyes to refocus when you look around the environment, just like they would in reality.

RD: With any graphical advances like this, the effect is more pronounced in some environments than others. In BattleRage’s case, the designers took particular care to lay out the environments so there was plenty of very selectively placed items that help accentuate the 3D immersion.

2. How important will 3D gaming be?

RD: We feel there had to be a next step away from 2D control methods and 2D screen imagery- it’s been done for 20 years now. The next evolution in control has come from motion sensitive devices, the Wii remote being the primary commercial success in this field, and the next visual advance will certainly be into 3D interactive entertainment. We saw a trend forming with TV manufacturers and the movie industry starting to look into 3D and felt the video game market should also be at the forefront of this revolution. Titles like BattleRage will sow the seeds with many developers and we’re convinced there will be many other titles that try their hand at developing new 3D rendering technology, as we have.

3. How does it work?

KW: Having two eyes we see two slightly different images with each eye. The brain works out from the slight variation in each image the correct distance away for everything it sees. Our stereoscopic effect essentially works by drawing the game environment twice - once for each of your eyes. The rendered images differ because each eye will see the environment from a slightly different perspective, with objects in the immediate foreground being seen very differently in one eye than the other. It’s this difference which makes the stereoscopic 3D effect work. These two images are then overlaid; one in red, one in cyan and the combined images form a new stereoscopic image. The red and cyan lenses in your glasses block out the colours that make up one of those images allowing us to 'tell' each of your eyes what they should see.

We chose the colour separation technique so that the effect could be seen by anyone (including people who are colour blind!) and without any special hardware. Instead we spent time refining the effect so it would be as effective and immersive as possible. There have been films which use the same process but due to how the film is displayed, personal eyesight and slight colour differences in the lens to view the film, the images are often blurred or a ghosting effect happens, which spoils the 3D effect. With the video game we run a personal setup to correctly align the player, TV and lens to provide a perfect 3D experience.

4. Plans for more?

RD: Very much so; the press feedback we’ve had since announcing the technology has been exceptionally positive so it’s very clear to us that the market is ready for the 'next big thing'. We’ve invested considerable time, cost and manpower into both engine-side technology and peripheral technology, to make immersive 3D titles and BattleRage will be just the first to reap the rewards of this investment. Other titles include games for all ages, styles and genres. We have just applied for patents on new technology using the Wii motion sensing devices to detect your head movements so not only can you see in 3D you can actually move around in 3D. Tilting your head will look around objects or moving closer to the screen will view the objects close up and the player will move around a world by just looking in the direction they want to move. It is very close to virtual.... reality a sort of 3D-VR simulation device, but I’m afraid that at this stage I’m bound by NDA so can’t talk too much about those, sorry!

5. What is the future for 3D gaming?

RD: The future is exceptionally bright for 3D video games. We think you’ll see developers exploring all manner of new immersive experience technology in both the visual area and in tactility. There will no doubt be casualties where people push a boundary too far too early, but for the first time in a while, innovation seems to be at the forefront of developers imagination. In the immediate future things like inventive control devices, more use of voice recognition and 3D rendering technology will be pushing back the traditional boundaries of entertainment.

RD: The original late 80’s VR revolution was probably a little before its time, but it proved that people were fascinated by immersive experiences. Nowadays with much more accessible and powerful technology at our disposal, not to mention a bunch of very talented and creative programmers and designers, there really is a 3D revolution upon us. If for no other reason, BattleRage will be remembered as the game which really started it all!

BATTLE RAGE: THE ROBOT WARS is a third person shooter with elements of a beat’em'up game that allows a player to control giant robots. It will offer standard visual mode or visually stunning 3D graphics mode. Battles between the robots take place on carefully selected battlegrounds (so called “arenas”) and they are short, quick, brutal skirmishes. The player can fight alone (versus one, two or even three opponents) or in a team against a common foe. Every robot has its own weapons (for melee and distance combat), additional enhanced weapon types can be collected on the arena.

The player can customize their robot’s parameters in the single player and multiplayer modes to create their own unique fighting style. Also many new, powerful robotic upgrades will be waiting for the player to unlock in the story mode. The Tournament has begun.

Features:
Single player and Multiplayer modes.
Arcade mode with a separate Storyline for each of the robots characters.
Robot Customization.
Compelling mechanics (Rage, Rush, Power Triangle).
Special Attacks (push, stun and other unique abilities for each robot).
Robots allowed to fight with 3 weapons at the same time (two ranged and one melee).
8 unique starting robots.
20 weapons.
10 arenas.
Innivotive 3D graphics.

Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars multi-player option video game trailer

You will play as Huang Lee, who is on a typical mission to revenge his father's death and, in true Asian style, to restore the honor of his family by punishing those who dared to mock it.

But his trip won't be easy, as the criminals found in the Chinatown neighborhood are extremely dangerous and will make a lot of trouble for him. The gameplay fragments in between the classic GTA-style artwork show a lot of fun things like running around while explosions happen at every step, in a very arcade manner as even Rockstar Leeds have said.

Watch the video...