Meed for Speed Nitro on Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS

Developed specifically for the Wii and Nintendo DS, Need for Speed NITRO delivers the fun and exhilaration of high-speed racing, combining the franchise’s trademark attitude and car culture with deep and thrilling gameplay. Gamers must battle through the mayhem of relentless cops, master the art of drifting to gain boost at 150 mph, and prove themselves across five mega cities at a gripping 60 frames per second.

Starting in Rio, Brazil, gamers will move their way up the ranks to dominate every race from street to street, city to city. Players will be battling it out until the finish line as they prove their racing skills across the world. During the heat of competition, they must master techniques such as drafting off rivals to gain speed and drifting sharp corners to gain nitro boost. Players will also have to manage their heat level as cops add to the mayhem on the road with their increased intensity and aggression.



Whether it’s with the Wii remote, nunchuck, racing wheel, the classic controller or the Gamecube controller, Need for Speed NITRO lets gamers race it their way. Players can decide exactly how they want to dominate the competition. And for the ultimate bragging rights, players can’t just win the race, they must own it. With a nearly limitless visual customization system, gamers can design a unique art style to attach to their ride. As they edge out competitors in driving finesse, their art will overtake the world, vibrantly painting the story of racing supremacy. All this combined with fresh modes, tracks and exotic real world locations make Need for Speed NITRO one of the most exciting, heart-pounding arcade racers for the Wii.

Key features

• Own It!— Every track is divided into five zones, each with its own racing objectives. When players nail the goals, their art style engulfs the zone, vibrantly boasting their racing dominance.
• Battle to the Finish Line— Increase other racers’ heat levels to stick the cops on them, manage car damage to maintain maximum speed, and build up nitro with skilled drifting to take the lead.
• Pick Your Ride— Choose from an impressive list of licensed vehicles that features a variety of classic and modern licensed cars including muscles, exotics, and tuners. Vehicle details are accentuated for a completely unique look and style. Each ride also has their advantages and disadvantages. Choose from faster cars that take on more damage, or tougher vehicles that are slightly slower.
• Extreme Customization—Trick out any car’s appearance by using an incredibly deep yet intuitive visual customization system. Players can hit the streets in style with their personalized dream car.
• Nitro-Charged Multiplayer— Up to four players can take part in intense races across a variety of fresh race modes including Team Race, Eliminator, Drag Race, Drift Challenge and more.
• Co-op World Tour Campaign— Rising from the slums to the pinnacle of racing reverence, up to four players can participate in the World Tour Campaign featuring street races across five cities to unlock new cars, parts, tracks, and challenges.

Braid video game now available for Mac!

Mac gamers rejoice! You too can now manipulate the flow of time and rescue the Princess. Hothead Games proudly announced today the release of the Mac version of Jonathan Blow's Braid on the Greenhouse indie digital distribution platform at www.playgreenhouse.com. Available for worldwide download at only $14.95, today's launch of Braid represents the one of the first in a unique collaboration between Hothead and other top-notch independent developers to bring their award-winning titles to new gaming platforms.

Explore the human condition and manipulate time in the lush, painterly world of Braid, a puzzle-platformer that takes you from a house in the city on a journey through a series of worlds to solve puzzles and rescue the princess. In each world, you have a different power to affect the way time behaves, including the ability to rewind, create parallel realities and utilize time dilation. There is no filler in this game; every puzzle shows you something new and interesting about the game world.

Key Features:

• Untraditional platforming. You can never die and never lose, but challenge is always present and focused on solving puzzles, rather than forcing you to play and replay tricky jumps.

• Puzzle-rich environment. Travel through a series of worlds searching for puzzle pieces and solving puzzles by manipulating time: rewinding, creating parallel universes and setting up pockets of dilated time. The gameplay is always fresh and new and the puzzles inspire new ways of thinking.

• Aesthetic design. A painterly art style and lush, organic soundtrack complement the unique gameplay.

• Non-linear story. A nonlinear fiction links the various worlds and provides real-world metaphors for your time manipulations; act out real-world themes at your own pace, exploring playful "what if" universes.

• Forgiving gameplay. The game doesn't force you to solve puzzles in order to proceed. If you can't figure something out, just play onward and return to that puzzle later.

Braid has been rated "E 10+" for Everyone 10 and older by the Entertainment Software Rating Board for all platforms.

Earth Eternal free-to-play MMO beta opens

Sparkplay Media announce the upcoming beta of Earth Eternal, a top-tier free-to-play MMO. An indie fully 3D title that can be played within a browser or via a downloadable client, Earth Eternal is positioned to take free-to-play MMOs to the next level. Scheduled for release later this summer, players can check out this epic fantasy by taking part in the closed beta test beginning May 18th.

Earth Eternal offers users an incredibly immersive gaming experience with a broad range of character customization options and diverse environments. Set in a world where mankind no longer exists, the game incorporates a blend of original fiction, mythologies from Norse to Egyptian, and classic fairy tales into an epic, sweeping story that provides the stage for users to create their own, personal stories.

“MMOs can be daunting for those who haven’t played them before, so we wanted to create a dynamic, yet approachable experience with Earth Eternal; something fun for any level of gamer,” said Matt Mihaly, CEO of Sparkplay Media. “And by combining compelling full-featured, immersive MMO game play with story written for a Western audience we’re sure that Earth Eternal will have a wide appeal. We’re particularly excited to be able to offer all this in a browser.”

Earth Eternal is truly free-to-play. Everything that can be purchased can be earned through playing the game, but players have the option to purchase upgrades in the form of virtual items. Players choose from 22 (seriously!) unique races, ranging from the bear-like Ursine to the Faerie-born Cyclops to the hawk-like Atavians, and select from four classes – Knight, Rogue, Mage, and Druid. Unlike most MMOs however, players are not limited to skills and spells from their class – they can select many abilities from other classes as well, allowing players to either go deep or broad in their character builds.

Interested players can go to http://www.eartheternal.com/ to learn more about Earth Eternal and sign up for the closed beta test today.

Rolling Stone - Drum King for Nintendo Wii out in Spring

New Music Rhythm Game Brings Air Drumming to Nintendo Wii Consoles This Spring

Global videogame publisher 505 Games and Rolling Stone magazine today announced a new music and rhythm game, Rolling Stone: Drum King for Nintendo Wii.

Available at retailers nationwide this spring, Rolling Stone: Drum King allows gamers to utilize the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller to rock out like some of the greatest drummers of all time.

“For more than 40 years, Rolling Stone has been a staple in the voice of American music culture and entertainment and we are pleased to collaborate with 505 Games as we venture into video games for the first time,” said Will Schenck, Publisher of Rolling Stone magazine. “With more people playing console video games than ever before, this was a natural next step for the Rolling Stone brand.”

“We’re thrilled to be working with a music and entertainment pop culture icon to bring some of the greatest music in rock ‘n’ roll history to this game,” said Adam Kline, president of 505 Games. “This partnership with Rolling Stone puts 505 Games at the forefront of the growing crossover between music and video games on one of the hottest gaming platforms available today.”

In Rolling Stone: Drum King, players can rock out in single-player mode or duel against a friend in multiplayer mode by swinging the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller to the beat of the music. Gamers can enhance their experience with a customizable avatar complete with a rock ‘n’ roll drummer personality and put their dashboard drumming skills to the test with a wide range of drumming styles and music. Aspiring drummers and gamers alike will be able to perfect their drumming skills with 30 top-quality cover tracks inspired by artists like Queen, Fall Out Boy, The Clash, Gorillaz and The Police as they go on tour and take the stage at numerous performance venues.

Here is the full list of hit songs featured in the game:

All Star – Inspired by Smash Mouth
Banquet – Inspired by Bloc Party
Be My Baby – Inspired by The Ronettes
Blister in the Sun – Inspired by Violent Femmes
Born to Be Wild – Inspired by Steppenwolf
By the Way – Inspired by Offcuts
Can't Get Enough – Inspired by Bad Company
Can't Stand Losing You – Inspired by The Police
Cissy Strut (instrumental) – Inspired by The Meters
Click Click Boom – Inspired by Saliva
Direction – Inspired by Starting Line
Feel Good Inc. – Inspired by Gorillaz
Fight the Good Fight – Inspired by Triumph
I Fought the Law – Inspired by The Clash
In Too Deep – Inspired by Sum 41
Let There Be Drums – Inspired by The Ventures
Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous – Inspired by Good Charlotte
Mickey – Inspired by Toni Basil
No One Knows – Inspired by Queens of the Stone Age
On Top of the World – Inspired by Boys Like Girls
Organ Donor (instrumental) – Inspired by DJ Shadow
Pull Me Under – Inspired by Dream Theatre
Saturday Superhouse – Inspired by Biffy Clyro
She Sells Sanctuary – Inspired by The Cult
Song 2 – Inspired by Blur
Soundgarden – Inspired by by Spoonman
Stay With Me – Inspired by Faces
The Final Countdown – Inspired by Europe
The Take Over, The Breaks Over – Inspired by Fall Out Boy
We Will Rock You – Inspired by Queen

Pin-Up Girls Invade Battlestations - Pacific video game plus create your own pin-up

Create your own WWII aeroplane nose art at www.BombShellBeauties.com (age gate).

This week, to celebrate the recent release of Battlestations: Pacific on the Xbox and PC, co-publishers Eidos and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment have released a brand new pin-up girls website, BombshellBeauties.com, to salute the naughty but nice nose art of World War II.

The new site, www.BombShellBeauties.com (age gate), lets users create their own WWII nose art, which appeared on the sides of fighters, bombers and other war planes of the era. The site features the talents of the lovely international pin-up model Tailor James along with the stunning newcomer Irena G striking classic WWII-style pin-up poses.

The user can rewind, slow down, speed up and even zoom in and out, frame by frame, to find the perfect pin-up pose for their nose art. The user can also place the pose onto one of four WWII war planes. With the flash-based paint tool, the user can even adjust the pin-up pose, add a background image, name and more. A postcard showing the new nose art on the WWII plane can be shared and turned into a desktop background.

To check out the site for yourself, or try your hand at creating the ultimate pin-up girl image, please visit www.BombShellBeauties.com (age gate).

Microsoft patent Wii like controller

Newly released patent applications from Microsoft have sparked speculation that it is to unveil a Wii remote rival at the E3 expo in Los Angeles. An application was filed in 2007 for a motion controller, dubbed Magic Wand, that interacts with "a collection of sensors".

Microsoft says it will not "comment on speculation" about a possible launch.

Gavin Ogden, from gaming site c&vg.com, told the BBC that Microsoft needed to "jump on the motion sensor bandwagon".

"We thought they were going to show something off at the E3 Expo in 2007 - some sort of waggle stick - but nothing materialised," he said.

"I have no doubt they are going to try and do something, although it remains to be seen how they do it."

Biometrics

The patent application also describes "biometric sensors" that would examine "fingerprint, hand geometry, hand vein pattern, palm pattern, and grip configuration" along with "facial thermogram, a facial feature, a retinal feature, or an iris feature".

"There was talk, a long time ago, about mapping people's faces on to characters," said Mr Ogden.

"However, there were concerns that people would stick real faces on it - such as Gordon Brown - and then spend all day shooting them. The world wasn't ready for that."

At the beginning of May, Microsoft's boss, Steve Ballmer, gave a speech to the Dallas Regional Chamber and was quoted as saying: "Pay attention to the stuff we're announcing in the next month on Xbox."

So the industry will be waiting to see if Microsoft comes up with any surprises at the Los Angeles expo in June.

Source: BBC

No legacy teams in Madden NFL 10 on PS2 but Hall of Fame make appearance..

Madden NFL 10 will no longer have legacy teams on the PS2. That's the bad news. The good news is that Hall of Fame players are set to make an appearance. And there's a chance that, if some law suits have their way, this is the last year when we get to see them.

Electronic Arts is saying that the PlayStation 2 version of Madden NFL 10 will not have the legacy teams because the franchise needs consistency and the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 version never had that feature.

For the company, it is easier to take it out of one of the features rather than adding it to another two. But the action seems to be the result of the 28-million dollar suit brought by a group of retired NFL players who argued that the accurate stats featured in the game made it pretty clear which players were modeled even if their names were not used.

A lot of players seem to be upset at Electronic Arts these days. There's already an ongoing suit from former stars of the NCAA and there are threats coming from retired NFL players. This means that Electronic Arts might make sure that it's delivering potential enemies as little ammunition as possible.

Madden NFL 10 is set to change the way the franchise looks. There's a brand new graphics engine that should simulate movement, tackles and throws much more naturally. EA Sports is also saying that the game will offer many more options and will create an atmosphere that will attract hardcore players and new comers. The Wii version of Madden NFL 10 is also taking on a more stylized look with the stated aim of creating an experience that is more suited to the users of that console.

Mirror's Edge cosplay stunning pictures released

Some images are completely original, others imitate certain poses or scenes from the video game. Not the same bright-white-and-red colour scheme but it's pretty damn close to nailing the look and feel of Mirror's Edge, more so than any other cosplay we've seen.

Link to Savage Land Flickr slideshow

Restaurant Empire 2 video game for the PC

Newly formed videogame publisher Iceberg Interactive today announced that it has acquired the publishing rights in several territories for “Restaurant Empire 2” for the PC, from videogame developer Enlight Software.

Slated for release later this month in the UK and Scandinavia, Restaurant Empire 2 takes gamers further into the depths and delights of the culinary universe than ever before.

“We are really proud to be bringing the sequel to the widely popular Restaurant Empire franchise to major parts of Europe”, said Erik Schreuder, CEO of Iceberg Interactive. “A game like this certainly fits the genre that gamers will come to expect from us.”

In Restaurant Empire II, players must build, cook and hire their way to the very top of the gastronomic biz, where tasty food is king and smart management reels in the dollar signs. And if you’re lucky, you just may go further than any other before you and cement your status as a true legend of cuisine…

Features:
• A brand-new 16-misssion campaign that gives us a look at the ongoing story of the Leboufs, as they try to tiptoe through the minefield of marriage and the unique circumstances of professional success.
• A superior graphics engine brings to life the cities, characters and restaurants that populate the world of cuisine. Food has never looked so good.
• Two new enterprise categories: Coffee Shop and Dessert House that complements the existing Restaurant enterprise.
• Over 600 recipes in total, offering a huge variety of food.
• New themed restaurants ranging from the aquatic deep, exotic rainforest and motor racing takes the idea of “themes” to unprecedented heights
• Over 700 new interior objects, bringing the total number to 1400.
• Introducing the new German cuisine category of restaurants complimenting the existing foods and architectures of the French, Italians and Americans.
• Munich, in addition to the triumvirate of Paris, Los Angeles and Rome is now yours to select as a destination to set up shop and expand your burgeoning business.
• Hire live performers to perk up your restaurant’s atmosphere, varying from concert soloists to rock bands and indoor circus performers.
• With the new Recipe Research feature you can now actively invest into improving the quality of your food as well as gain invaluable knowledge in the formulation of new delicious recipes.
• And finally, Armand awaits you with a secret mini-game inside.

EA Throws a Party With BOOM BLOX Bash Party for Wii with the help of Steven Spielberg

It’s time to throw, bash, and party, as the EA Play Label of Electronic Art announces BOOM BLOX Bash Party for Nintendo Wii has shipped to stores in North America today and will hit stores in Europe beginning May 28. EA and Steven Spielberg continue their collaboration to bring players this highly-anticipated sequel to last year’s critically-acclaimed BOOM BLOX game for Nintendo Wii, which earned more than a dozen awards and received recognition from parenting organizations, media outlets and the gaming industry.

With more than 400 new levels, stunning new worlds, and twice as much multiplayer game play, BOOM BLOX Bash Party brings tons of action-packed fun for the whole family.

“The original BOOM BLOX really came from a need to bring families back into the same space playing games together,” said Steven Spielberg. “We had so many more creative ideas that we wanted to put into the sequel, and BOOM BLOX Bash Party really takes the original concept to a whole new level of interactive family gaming.”

BOOM BLOX Bash Party features nearly twice as many multiplayer challenges as the original BOOM BLOX making it the ultimate party game! Players will have a blast playing with or against friends in co-op, versus and new team-based challenges. Whether playing solo or with friends, BOOM BLOX Bash Party will have players off the couch, throwing, bashing and slinging blox like never before!

In addition to the more than 400 new levels in BOOM BLOX Bash Party, players can also easily download new levels created by EA and the BOOM BLOX Bash Party community at no additional charge with an Internet-connected Wii. EA will make 40 additional levels available at launch with many more to come. In addition, players can create their own levels using the game’s enhanced Create Mode, and submit those levels to be posted and made available to the community. Over time, BOOM BLOX Bash Party owners will have access to many more downloadable levels in addition to those already included in the game.

"We are thrilled to be able to offer players a constant stream of new and exciting levels in BOOM BLOX Bash Party,” said Amir Rahimi, Senior Producer. “The EA team has been working hard creating exciting new levels that will be made available over time, and we cannot wait to see the passion and creativity the BOOM BLOX Bash Party community members put into making their own shared levels.”

EA takes the destruction to new heights with four stunning new themed worlds including Space, Pirate, Heroic and Show Time! Players will experience action puzzle game play in new physical environments like zero gravity and under water. Players will also encounter exciting new block types, like Virus, Conveyor and Push blox; new block shapes like cylinders and wedges, and engaging new tools, like the cannon and the slingshot. A new cast of characters, as well as favorites from the original BOOM BLOX, are now part of the puzzle-solving strategy. Players can now throw, grab or sling them, and watch them fly, knocking down blox and causing eye-popping explosions!

Developed by the EA Casual Studios, BOOM BLOX Bash Party is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and 3+ by PEGI. The game has a US MSRP of $39.99.

In 2005, EA and Steven Spielberg entered a multi-year collaboration that would generate three new original franchise properties. EA owns the intellectual properties and the franchises will be developed, published, and distributed worldwide by EA. Spielberg has been working directly with the EA development teams at the EALA studio in Playa Vista to offer his signature style of storytelling to the concept, design, and artistic vision of the unique games.