Space Exploration - Serpens Sector video game download

Metal Beetle Ltd has released a new preview version of Space Exploration - Serpens Sector, its upcoming RPG. The new preview is available from http://www.metalbeetle.com/spaceexploration/download.php.

In this new preview, your ship's crew play a much larger role. Crew members now have individual skills and morale levels, and many encounters have been rewritten to let you choose crew members for specific tasks. And instead of the time limit in dev 8, you can now return to Fleet Headquarters to ask for more fuel - the better you do in your mission, the more fuel you are awarded.

Space Exploration: Serpens Sector is a role-playing game based on classics like Starflight and Star Control. You are tasked with exploring the mysterious Serpens Sector after a long period of human absence. Each game has a different map and a different set of encounters, drawn from a large list. The base game will be free, and purchasable expansions will add further encounters for those who enjoy the game and want to see more.

The game is still under development, but preview versions are available for download, and player feedback is very much encouraged. While the basic elements of the game engine are present, the game is still being refined, and a lot of content is yet to be added. The next preview release, dev 10, will focus on improved space combat.

The game has been under development since late 2007 and is slated to be released in 2009. The first expansion will be released simultaneously.

Space Exploration: Serpens Sector is under development by Metal Beetle Ltd, a small UK-based software company.

Tiki Bar TV and Secret Lab Announce First Official Tiki Bar TV Game - Day of the Tiki

Tiki Bar TV game by Secret Lab coming for Mac and Windows in Summer, iPhone to follow

Video podcast pioneers Tiki Bar TV
have joined forces with Secret Lab, an independent video game developer, to create video games based on the Tiki Bar TV video podcast.

"Exciting things are happening in the Tiki Bar," said creator Jeff Macpherson, who stars as Doctor Tiki in the wildly successful, popular podcast Tiki Bar TV. "We are combining the power of video with the fun of game - we intend to call this exciting new medium the Video-Game.

Gamers and drinkers alike will be thrilled to use Johnny Johnny like a puppet, and fling him into the face of danger," enthused the good doctor.

"Our audience has been requesting this for a long time and we're sure they won't be disappointed," added producer Tosca Musk. "This is the beginning of what we hope will be a long and adventurous collaboration." The first game to come out of the partnership, entitled Day of the Tiki, will be a 3D platform game initially available for Windows and Mac OS X, followed by a version for the iPhone. The game will be available for digital download.

Paris Buttfield-Addison, Producer at Secret Lab, noted that the project was a perfect fit for the team at Secret Lab: "We make our games with the same irreverent humor that pervades Tiki Bar TV. We are thrilled to collaborate with the ingenious team from the Tiki Bar."

A release date for Day of the Tiki is to be announced.

Become a Playboy with Playboy Manager PC video game and win a lifetime subscription to Playboy magazine

Jolt Online Gaming, the leading browser games publisher, is more than a little excited to announce the launch of Playboy Manager, the Massively Casual Online Game (MCOG) you can play on any Internet browser at any time.

In Playboy Manager, you play a crack talent agent managing the career of some of Playboy’s hottest up-and-coming models. Competing against thousands of other players, you will guide your model’s career toward her ultimate goal: Becoming a world-renowned Playmate with a permanent room in the Playboy Mansion!

“We’ve wanted to do a Playboy game forever,” exclaimed Dylan Collins, CEO of Jolt. “As enormous fans of the articles, we jumped at the opportunity to bring the game online for a huge audience. Who hasn’t wanted to manage a Playboy model?”

“We are delighted to work with Jolt in offering our fans this great new way to experience and enjoy the World of Playboy,” said Scott Stephen, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Playboy Digital.

Combining the best elements of trading card and turn-based gaming, Playboy Manager is the only online game to feature exclusive content from Playboy, including videos and photos of breathtaking Playboy models. The game, to launch in Summer 2009, will be playable for free at www.playboymanager.com

If you pre-register right now at www.playboymanager.com, you could win one of several lifetime subscriptions to Playboy magazine – a prize offered only to pre-registered users!

Playboy Manager is a continuous game designed to be played in short bursts from any Internet browser at any time. Play it during a lecture, on your phone or even in the office (when the boss isn’t looking!) Bookmark www.playboymanager.com now!

Acquire wealth, fame, and a bevy of beautiful models while you compete with thousands of other players - all of them after exactly the same things. Strive to drive the finest cars, throw the biggest parties, and encounter the world’s sexiest women – the luxurious Playboy lifestyle presented in an online game packed full of wit, style, and pictures which can only be described as titillating.

For more information, regular updates and the chance to win a lifetime subscription to Playboy magazine, register at www.playboymanager.com

The Conduit - first-person shooter - video game on Nintendo Wii

The Conduit first-person shooter garnered multiple awards at E3 2008, including three awards from IGN: Best Shooting Game (Nintendo Wii), Best Graphics Technology (Nintendo Wii) and Best Overall Nintendo Wii Game. The Conduit is a stunning, futuristic title powered by a new game engine technology that delivers remarkable visuals and effects, as well as a rich interactive experience that is unlike any other title on the Nintendo Wii.

“Bringing The Conduit into our library is yet another show of SEGA’s belief that the Wii is more than a casual games console,” says Gary Knight, European Marketing Director at SEGA of Europe Ltd.. “As one of the most anticipated Wii games for next year, The Conduit will be the new benchmark for first person shooters.”

“High Voltage Software's partnership with SEGA to publish The Conduit represents an important milestone for this studio,” said Kerry Ganofsky, CEO and founder of High Voltage Software, Inc. “SEGA shares our vision for the title and its tremendous potential, which is why we chose them from a long list of potential partners. With their support, we are confident that The Conduit will deliver the definitive shooter experience that Wii fans have been waiting for since the system's launch.”

The Conduit takes players into a dark story in Washington D.C. after a vicious alien invasion has rocked the country. An organisation called the Trust has sent in Secret Service agent, Mr. Ford, to go up against the insect-like alien race known as “The Drudge.” Armed with an array of futuristic weaponry and an intelligence-gathering device simply called the “All-Seeing Eye,” players follow an intricate maze filled with conspiracy, shady government activity and terrifying aliens.

The Conduit’s detailed control system allows players to customise and configure their controls, including look sensitivity, turning speed, the dead zone and much more. As players delve further into the mystery behind the extraterrestrial invasion, shocking details reveal that the invasion may have been brought on with help from the government itself.

Powered by High Voltage Software’s groundbreaking Quantum 3 engine, The Conduit ensures that players will experience single and multiplayer gameplay with graphical fidelity never seen before on the Wii. The Conduit will also support the recently announced Wii Speak peripheral, allowing online multiplayer gamers the ability to chat as they destroy aliens in each terrifying level. Additionally, the game will take advantage of the Wii MotionPlus for optimal control.

The Conduit is slated to release in Spring 2009 exclusively on the Nintendo Wii.

Red Dead Redemption Wild West video game screenshots trailer

Red Dead Redemption Wild West video game based on Rockstar RAGE engine is the sequel to Red Dead Revolver 2004 video game. Promising and open world environment on both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles.

See a few screenshots on this trailer here...

Design a Raskulls and have it included in the video game contest announced

Coming soon is the release of Halfbrick’s brand new game for Xbox Live Arcade – Raskulls. It’s a puzzle platformer with a rich story mode and multiplayer racing features, so with an original concept and quirky characters, there’s no limit to the creative ideas that can be explored.

You can check out the full list of current character profiles at the Raskulls game page on the Halfbrick website, and to celebrate we’re putting the creative power of Raskulls into the hands of the gamers!

Today Halfbrick is proud to announce the Design a Raskull Competition! We are making the call for all fans from around the world to submit their best design and send it to the Halfbrick team. Entries will be judged on originality, creativity and humor.

The reward for the best character submission is no two-bit family picnic booby prize. This is the real deal that will be seen on Xbox consoles all around the world.
Our Raskulls team will take the design, work it into a 3D model and include the character in the final game on Xbox Live Arcade along with full artist credit.

The Grand Prize winner will receive:

- Their design modeled into the final Raskulls game to be released on Xbox Live Arcade, along with artist credit
- A free copy of Raskulls upon its release on Xbox Live Arcade
- A limited edition King figurine
- A Halfbrick T-shirt
Two runner-up winners will receive:
- A free copy of Raskulls upon its release on Xbox Live Arcade
- A limited edition King figurine
- A Halfbrick T-shirt

Entering is simple. Download the Raskully Profile template from the official contest page and base your work on that. Sketches, drawings, painted, colored-in: all is fine, so long as you show us your creative side! You can draw with your tablet, print it out and work with your own materials, anything you like – just make sure the final version is submitted to us via raskulls@halfbrick.com in JPEG format, subject line DESIGN A RASKULL ENTRY, along with your name, age, country of residence and contact email address. Don’t forget to sign up to the Raskulls forum and show off your entry with the rest of the community!

Head on over to the contest page for the template and conditions of entry. Entries close on Wednesday, June 17th, so get started and show us your skills! One quick note - don't send us any copyrighted characters placed onto the Raskulls template. Trust us, we've already thought about how awesome Boney Spiderman and Homer Simpskull would be, but the owners of such properties would be none too happy. Original ideas only please!

Ghostbusters video game Exclusively on Two PlayStation Platforms in June for the 25th Anniversary of Original Hit Movie

Original Cast of the Hit Movie Come Back Together to Do Battle With the Supernatural on the Streets of Manhattan

PSP Version Coming Autumn 2009 - Sony Computer Entertainment, Sony Pictures Consumer Products, and Atari Europe today announced that Ghostbusters: The Video Game for PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) and PlayStation 2 is to be published in PAL territories by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe in June, meaning that owners of PS3 and PlayStation 2 will get their hands on the game that reunites the cast of the hit movies.

To mark the 25th anniversary of the well-loved franchise, the game will launch in coordination with the Blu-ray release of the original hit movie and licensing programs from Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc. Ghostbusters: The Video Game will launch in Europe and PAL regions on June 19th 2009 exclusively for PS3 and PlayStation 2.

“We’re committed to bringing the PlayStation family the biggest and best gaming experiences first,” says Mark Hardy, European Product Marketing Director at SCEE, “and it doesn’t get any bigger and better than this blockbuster title. This summer, PlayStation owners will be the first to grab their proton packs and fight the spirit world. We’d like to wish them the best of luck in their ghostbusting endeavours and, of course, to remind them not to cross the streams!”

“With our colleagues at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe publishing Ghostbusters: The Video Game, we are thrilled by the dynamic new Ghostbusters game. We think it will have tremendous appeal to gamers and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this beloved franchise.” said Mark Caplan, Vice President of Licensing-Interactive for Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc. “With this superb game launching alongside the Blu-ray release, we will reach existing fans and the next generation, bringing them all into the irresistible Ghostbusters universe.”

“Atari is committed to maximizing the launch of the Ghostbusters videogame across Europe,” Said Jim Wilson, VP Worldwide Marketing, Atari. “In partnership with both Sony Pictures Consumer Products, Inc and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, we have a unique opportunity to add new game products and expand marketing opportunities to reach Ghostbusters fans in Europe.”

In Ghostbusters: The Video Game, players can grab a proton pack and turn their ghostbusting fantasies into reality as the new recruit to the Ghostbusters team in a story set two years after the Ghostbusters 2 movie. Once again, the city of Manhattan has been overrun with ghouls, ghosts and all things foul – and it’s down to the Ghostbusters team to capture them all and regain control.

The game has been written by original Ghostbusters writers Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd and reunites members of the original cast for the first time in 20 years. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson lend their voices and in-game likenesses to the game, which also features performances from favourites including William Atherton (Walter Peck), Annie Potts (Janine) and Brian Doyle-Murray (Mayor Jock Mulligan).

Developed by Terminal Reality and Red Fly Studios Ghostbusters: The Video Game will arrive on PS3 and PS2 this June. PSP version of the game is scheduled for launch in autumn 2009.

Can you run the country better than Gordon Brown? New PC commander in Chief simulator games lets you try!

How would you deal with the credit crunch? What would you do about global warming? How would you manage a global flu epidemic?

To investigate these questions and mark the launch of the new 2009 PC Geo-simulator Commander in Chief, masked Gordon Brown impersonators hit the street around Parliament to see whether members of the public felt they could do a better job at running the government than the current Prime Minister. The results found that 36% of the respondents reported that they believed they would personally make for a better Prime Minister.

Members of the British public now have their chance to prove it, though they will be stepping into the Prime Minister’s shoes in the virtual world.

Commander in Chief is a comprehensive geo-political simulation game for PCs where players face the same complex issues confronting leaders like Gordon Brown on a day-to-day basis. The great detail and depth of the simulator reveals the complexities of managing a government and the challenging decisions they must make. In the game, as in real life, every decision has consequences and balancing all of the demands is no simple task.

Are you a warmonger or a diplomat, would you bail out the banks, could you avoid scandals and political pitfalls, should you sign the Kyoto protocol and develop environmental solutions to a threatened world?

From decisions on current issues of terrorism to unemployment, epidemics to alternative energy policy, players can test their ability to deal with issues domestically or on the world stage, responding to actions taken by fellow global leaders. Like in real life, players need to consult daily newspapers to gauge the public and international response to their policies and use their virtual laptop or phone to communicate with other government officials, leaders or the 50 international organisations like the UN, NATO or OPEC.

According to Louis-Marie Rocques, from the game developer Eversim, "One of the key points when designing the game was for us to achieve the highest degree of realistic simulation, while making the seriousness of politics a challenging and entertaining experience." Striking this balance correctly has a strong pay-off for bringing the challenges of politics to life. Steven Ross, Professor of History, University of Southern California, states, “I think this is a great thing for getting people really hooked in politics. The challenges that players face blur the lines between politics and entertainment.”

The Gazette gives the game “Four stars out of five’ and Honestgamers.com says, "The game is a smooth, sublime experience about running a nation in the present era."

Can you handle the burden of the world on your shoulders? Can you become one of the world’s great leaders? Can you do better than Gordon Brown?

Commander in Chief is available online and in stores across the UK. For more information visit: www.commander-in-chief.co.uk

Over two million downloads of Map pack 1 for Call of Duty World ar War

The juggernaut that is Call of Duty : World at War Map Pack 1 continues to roll, with Activision and developer Treyarch announcing today that worldwide sales for the downloadable map pack have cleared the two million download mark, on both Xbox LIVE and the PlayStation Network (combined).

“This is a huge milestone and we are so appreciative of our incredibly supportive community who continue to play and enjoy the game,” said Mark Lamia, Studio Head of Treyarch. “We’re hard at work on Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 2 and look forward to delivering that in June.”

Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 1 contains four maps (Nightfire, Station, Knee Deep and Verrückt) and is available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 800 Microsoft Points and on the PlayStation Store for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system for £7.99. Call of Duty: World at War is rated 15 by the BBFC.

Replica Rickenbacker and Gretsch guitar controllers for The Beatles Rock Band video game

The Beatles: Rock Band Pre-Order Club Goes Live, May 5th

Harmonix Music and MTV Games along with Electronic Arts, announce that replica Rickenbacker 325 and Gretsch Duo Jet guitars will be made available as standalone music peripheral controllers for The Beatles: Rock Band.

In addition, The Beatles: Rock Band Pre-Order Club also goes live today in the U.S. and Canada giving fans exclusive news and access to exclusive game elements from the eagerly awaited game set for release worldwide on 9/9/09.

The Rickenbacker 325 and Gretsch Duo Jet guitars are hailed as two of the signature, most celebrated instruments played by John Lennon and George Harrison throughout their careers, respectively. They will be made available for MSRP $99.99 in the U.S. and in continental Europe for MSRP €99.99 and for MSRP £89.99 in the UK. These wireless instrument controllers join the previously announced Höfner bass controller, a large-scale replica of the bass famously used by Sir Paul McCartney, and the Ringo Starr inspired and Ludwig-branded Rock Band 2 drums, with a classic pearl finish and vintage replica Beatles kick drum head. All controllers will be available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii and will be compatible with all Rock Band titles.

Also announced, The Beatles: Rock Band Pre-Order Club officially goes live today. North American and European fans who pre-order any version of the The Beatles: Rock Band at a participating retailer will be given an access code to officially join the Pre-Order Club. After entry of the code, consumers will gain access to breaking news and exclusive behind the scenes elements . For a list of participating retailers or to learn more about The Beatles: Rock Band Pre-Order Club, please visit www.thebeatlesrockband.com.

The Beatles: Rock Band will allow fans to pick up the guitar, bass, mic or drums and experience The Beatles’ extraordinary catalogue of music through gameplay that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band’s legendary career. Available simultaneously worldwide in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other territories for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Wii system from Nintendo on Sept. 9, 2009, the game will be compatible with all Rock Band instrument controllers, as well as most Guitar Hero and other third party music video game peripherals and microphones.