The Sims 3 celebrate the biggest launch in Sims history

Electronic Arts announce that the hotly anticipated The Sims 3, stormed retail shelves starting June 2nd and sold thru more than 1.4 million PC/Mac units within the first week making it the best-selling PC launch in EA’s history. Fan intensity is evidenced through the more than 7 million downloads of player created content including: Sims, houses, stories and more. The Sims 3, also available for download from the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPod touch, shot up to #1 paid app position on launch day and has maintained that spot since launch.

“With more than a dozen press awards, strong reviewer scores and positive feedback from The Sims community, we are thrilled with the success of The Sims 3 launch and the early sales indicate that we have another hit on our hands,” said Rod Humble, Head of the EA Play Label. “The volume of items created with The Sims 3 and downloaded online is a testament to how passionate The Sims players are. It’s their world now, we can’t wait to see everything players create and share.”

“The Sims 3 for the iPhone and iPod touch soared to the number one Top Paid App position in the U.S. Apple App Store in just 18 hours of its launch and reached the number one Top Paid App position in 37 countries worldwide within two days of launch, making it EA Mobile's 3rd game launched at $9.99 to reach the number one Top Paid App position,” said Adam Sussman, VP Worldwide Publishing for EA Mobile™. “The game's sales success along with its strong critical acclaim demonstrates that The Sims 3 mobile experience is a worldwide hit with our customers.”

In The Sims 3 on PC/Mac you can create lifelike Sims with a unique personality and take them anywhere in the neighborhood. The powerful Create-a-Sim tool allows you to create Sims that are more realistic than ever. Select from dozens of personality traits such as brave, artistic, kleptomaniac, clumsy, paranoid and romantic. With Create-a-Sim, you can create a limitless number of truly unique Sims. The Sims 3 allows for infinite possibilities to design the interior and exterior of your Sims’ surroundings using the Create-a-style feature. Additionally, you can enjoy the challenge of short-term and long-term goals and then reap the rewards! Based on personality traits, skills and career choices, your Sims have short and long term Wishes that provide constant fun challenges and so many things to do and achieve. You have the ultimate freedom to choose whether to fulfill their destiny, giving them lifetime happiness and rewards or not! Register your copy of The Sims 3 for PC and Mac at www.TheSims3.com to enjoy the robust online and community features unique to your game including an all-new town called Riverview that you can download for no additional charge once you register*. You will also gain access to 1,000 SimPoints to purchase items from The Sims 3 Store to customize your Sims’ appearance and houses in all-new ways. Be the director of your Sims’ movies by capturing clips during your gameplay, visiting the official site, and editing the soundtrack, story, and transitions, then share it with the world. See what you can create with The Sims 3.

Cities XL beta - last day to join

10 June 2009. Monte Cristo, developer and publisher of CITIES XL, has announced that registrations for the game’s closed beta must be in by the end of Wednesday June 10, 2009, around 7pm UK time (BST). Gamers interested in testing the game and offering input into the development of Monte Cristo’s next-generation city builder/MMO should sign up today at http://jointhebeta.citiesxl.com.

“We’ve had a great response to our call for beta players so far,” said Jerome Gastaldi, CEO of Monte Cristo, “But we can squeeze just a few more people in to test this game in the last crucial months before it’s released. CITIES XL offers something different and refreshing in the world of MMOs and we already know that its appeal reaches way beyond the hardcore gamer.”

The closed beta programme for CITIES XL will begin shortly, when successful registrants will be able to begin playing a fully-featured version of the game.

About CITIES XL
CITIES XL enables gamers to develop cities on realistic 3D maps, which feature a variety of environments from mountain ranges to beaches and islands. The cities you will build are based on American, Asian and European-influenced architectural styles. You must create the right combinations of job opportunities, social services, leisure activities, and special events within your cities in order to keep your citizens occupied and happy. Whether you’re planning and building a new zoo, public park, residential neighbourhood or transit system, there's always a fresh and exciting challenge for would-be city managers and mayors in CITIES XL.

300,000 player Xbox video online game on the cards...

Microsoft have advertised for developers to help create a new backend game system that can support up to 300,000 player games...

Read the advert here...

“We are building an extremely high performance system to extend console games to the server in new was; creating a completely new set of web services to support dynamic programming information of games and scheduling data.”

The engineer will be responsible for “building a backend capable of hosting a 300,000 player game in real-time with real money on the line (anti-cheating, etc).”

Amazing Assassin's Creed 2 images and HD video...

Ubisoft's E3 press kit only included one screen for the mighty Assassin's Creed 2. But CVG asked around and finally got hold of a few more. And we think you'll agree that it's looking a bit tasty.

See all the images and video here on CVG ...

Global Agenda - Agents v Elves video game project Community-driven project brings humor to a timeless debate

Hi-Rez Studios, the developers of Global Agenda, today recognized the Agents vs. Elves project, an on-line community-driven initiative designed to settle once and for all a question as old as the massive, multi-player online (MMO) gaming genre itself: "How would a fantasy elf fair against a super agent in a futuristic sci-fi world?"

Agents vs. Elves is better known amongst its burgeoning contributor base as the "No Elves! Movement." Artists and writers are volunteering their own work for inclusion on the project's Facebook page. Details and a teaser trailer are available at http://www.agentsvselves.com.

"The debate of how a fantasy elf would fair in a futuristic sci-fi world is nearly as old and epic as the never-ending conflict between pirates and ninjas," said Todd Harris, Executive Producer of Global Agenda. "I see the Community embracing this Elven challenge in the same way that David attacked Goliath - head on, in full view of the enemy, with nothing but a strong knowledge of the foe's weakspot and advanced weapons technology."

Media and fans may download the NO ELVES! Evangelism and Media kit from the Agents vs. Elves website. This kit contains the materials required for prospective Global Agenda agents to spread the No Elves! movement, including a variety of art and video assets.

Monster Hunter video game and PSP 3000 bundle

To celebrate the launch of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite on June 26th Capcom has united with Sony to create the ultimate PSP bundle for players across Europe*

The bundle includes the new Mystic Silver PSP-3000, Monster Hunter branded PSP carry-pouch, screen wipe and branded skin which fits right over the PSP along with a copy of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite.

Japan’s most successful PSP title, Monster Hunter Portable 2G, is heading to Europe this coming Spring. Renamed Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, this latest installment in the epic Monster Hunter series delivers over 500 hours of gameplay spanning some 400 missions. Add in previously unreleased monsters, weapons and missions and you have the biggest Monster Hunter game to date.

Using the Ad-Hoc connection players can adventure with up to three friends for a savaging multiplayer hunting party. From devising the strategy to executing the attack, players will need to work together in order to hunt down the ferocious beasts and progress through the wide range of quests on offer. Players will be rewarded for their use of deep fighting combat systems, encouraging them to seek out the more experienced hunters and team up in order to learn from their experience.

Even in single player mode Hunters won’t be alone thanks to the introduction of the new AI Felyne feature. Accompanying players on quests your furry ally will helping them battle monsters and gather extra resources.

Features:

• The biggest Monster Hunter title to date with over 500 hours of gameplay
• Huge variety of character customisations including 1500 weapons and 2000 armour sets
• Players can form a team of up to 4 players through Ad-Hoc play and experience the multiplayer social gaming phenomenon
• Media Install option where players can save the game to a memory stick, allowing the game to load from the memory stick and UMD simultaneously for faster loading times
• AI Felyne companion who will accompany players on quests and gather extra resources. With the ‘felyne casting’ feature players can share their companions with other players, transferring data using the PSP’s sleep mode.
• Fans of the series can transfer their data from Monster Hunter Freedom 2

The Last Chariots of The Gods PC video game

Up and coming videogame publisher Iceberg Interactive today announced that it has acquired the worldwide publishing rights to the point-and-click adventure game for the PC, The Last Chariots of the Gods, from Austrian based developer Homegrown games. Based on the concepts from the bestselling novel “Chariots of the Gods” by Erich von Däniken, and other Paleo-SETI theories, players will be immersed in a world of ancient legends and modern day conspiracy. The ultimate question; Are we alone in the universe will be answered in Q4-2009 when the game will be released.

Erik Schreuder, CEO of Iceberg Interactive said: ”Many people are familiar with the books by Erich von Däniken about whether the ancient gods were actually powerful aliens visiting our planet. We are thrilled to publish a great adventure game based on these fascinating theories.”

Johann Ertl, CEO of Homegrown Games added: "We are very excited about the chance to cooperate with Iceberg Interactive, as both our companies share the belief that the needs and wishes of players should be the most important focus for game development and publishing. We believe that Iceberg Interactive puts the same heart and soul into publishing games as we do in developing them."

Product description:
The Last Chariots of the Gods is a gripping point & click adventure that takes players into a dark world of ancient legends and present day conspiracy. Players take on the role of archaeology student Marcus Bauer, who is given a task by his late granduncle to prove his strange theories that the "Vimanas" described in ancient India Sanskrit were actually spaceships from an alien society. Being a skeptic, Marcus however soon discovers that there is more behind the ancient legends than archaeology cares to know or will admit. Following clues and rumours, he soon uncovers secrets that were hidden from mankind − secrets that would turn everything we think we know upside down. As he unravels the truth, those who would like to keep it buried close in. He gets the feeling that someone or something is working against him − a feeling that turns into fear and desperation as he discovers that we may not be alone and maybe never were.

Key features:
• Inspired by the work of the Archaeology, Astronautics and SETI Research Association (AAS) and the parascience "Paläo-SETI" heavily influenced by authors like Erich von Däniken (best known for "Chariots of the Gods?)”
• Over 40 exotic locations, and more that 30 engaging characters to interact with
• Thrilling & unique storyline as players take on role of Archaeologist Marcus Bauer in an “Indiana Jones meets Erich von Däniken" scenario
• Beautiful graphics featuring state-of-the-art images, rendering & lightening,
including vRay technology
• Innovative Environment Manipulation(IEM): a feature that allows players to alter the entire environment (daytime, lighting, humidity, wind) of a scene to solve certain puzzles.
• 3rd person point of view with 1st person view for indoor locations
• Intuitive interface allowing immersing and engaging gameplay.
• Sophisticated NPC AI means that in-game characters act and respond in a realistic manner.
• All in-game technical devices function like in real life; mobile phones, text messaging, including playable mini-games on in-game pc’s
• Dynamic soundtrack featuring acclaimed composer Kai Rosenkranz

Guitar Hero on tour Modern Hits full set list and video

The anytime, anywhere shredfest continues as the curtain is lifted to reveal the entire 28-song set list in Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits for the Nintendo DS.

Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits explodes onto store shelves packaged with the Guitar Grip peripheral and pick stylus this summer, and will include the following master recordings from the past decade:



• 12 Stones - “Adrenalin”
• AFI - “Miss Murder”
• Angels & Airwaves - “Call to Arms”
• Atreyu - “Falling Down”
• Black Tide - “Shockwave”
• Coldplay - “Violet Hill”
• Endeverafter - “I Wanna Be Your Man”
• Evanescence - “Sweet Sacrifice”
• Fall Out Boy - “This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race”
• Finger Eleven - “Paralyzer”
• Foo Fighters - “All My Life”
• Franz Ferdinand - “The Fallen”
• Kaiser Chiefs - “Ruby”
• Lenny Kravitz - “Where Are We Runnin'?”
• Modest Mouse - “Dashboard”
• Phantom Planet - “Do The Panic”
• Sum 41 - “Still Waiting”
• Tenacious D - “The Metal”
• The Bravery - “Unconditional”
• The Donnas - “What Do I Have to Do”
• The Duke Spirit - “Lassoo”
• The Fratellis - “Chelsea Dagger”
• The Kooks - “Always Where I Need to Be”
• The Offspring - “Half-Truism”
• The Strokes - “Reptilia”
• Weezer - “Everybody Get Dangerous”
• Wolfmother - “Dimension”
• Yellowcard - “Lights and Sounds”



Handheld guitar gods can now choose how they raise-up their band from the underground music scene to worldwide rock stardom in Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits. Featuring a set list comprised of more than 25 master tracks from influential artists including Coldplay, Fall Out Boy and Weezer, Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits expands on the innovative Guitar Hero gameplay on the Nintendo DS by introducing an all-new Fan Request system that challenges players to jam like never before. Fret board fanatics can once again unleash their inner rock stars anytime, anywhere as they hone their shredding skills and jam to face-melting modern rock tracks from the last five years in Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits.

Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits is developed by Vicarious Visions and will be available exclusively for Nintendo DS this summer.

Real Tennis 2009, Rise of Lost Empires & DJ Mix Tour Now Available on iPod Touch and iPhone

Real Tennis 2009
Continuing their strong experience with tennis games having already released three games on mobile with 1.3 million units sold to date, Gameloft announces its most comprehensive tennis simulation to date:

* 7 stadiums entirely modeled in highly detailed 3D graphics (France, UK, USA, Sweden, Germany, Argentina, Australia)
* Play on 3 different surfaces - clay, grass and synthetic each providing a different experience.
* 8 players in 3D graphics, each one with its own animations and characteristics
* 2 controls with two different joypads
* Online and Local Multiplayer modes to you test your skills against people all over the world.
* A Career mode that lets you join a tennis tour just like a real professional player.
* A wide array of strokes for a deeper experience: lob, drop shot, smash and more

Rise of Lost Empires
Download Rise of Lost Empires to your iPhone and be the Master of Light or Darkness. Build cities, raise armies, delve through dungeons and launch attacks against enemies with easy controls custom-developed for playing on the iPhone.Will you be strong enough to lead your empire to victory?

* A true real-time strategy game: Colossal armies to lead, cities to build, and resources to manage
* 2 campaigns one with humans, the other with Orcs with no fewer than 20 missions
* Controls perfectly customized for playing on the iPhone
* More than 20 units to control and 20 different buildings to construct
* 6 heroes with tremendous strength and magical powers to lead your armies
* A variety of beautiful heroic fantasy environments

DJ Mix Tour
The 2nd game of Gameloft's rhythm range, following Guitar Rock Tour, will seduce fans of other musical genres by remixing its popular gameplay to offer a brand new musical experience.

* Astonishing tracklist: 16 licensed club songs from the top of club airplay charts, mixing the hottest hits and legendary electro tunes: Lady GaGa, Britney Spears, Pink, Axwell, September and more!
* Very attractive music genre for iPhone/iPod Touch users who are huge music consumers.
* Real interaction between the player and the game, offering an immersive musical experience:
* Feel like a DJ thanks to the touch-sensitive turntables in the menu and music player.
* Play in a crazy club atmosphere thanks to 3D animation and environments.
* Beware of silence and wrong notes if you miss or fail a hit!

Counter Strike World Record - become part of history

QPAD, the Swedish company famed for its premium gaming gear, today announced that they will host the first Guinness World Records attempt in Counter-Strike at Dreamhack, the biggest lan party in the world, taking place between 13-16 of June.

Compete against HeatoN in the world record attempt.

Everybody is welcome to participate, just sign up at the QPAD booth on location. The rules are simple! Stay as winner in a King Of the Hill for as long as you can. The contender who first reaches 10 points stays and meet the next challenger. The player with most points throughout a 6 hour period will set the new world record and end up in the official Guinness World of Records 2010 "Gamer's Edition" book. The living gaming legend Emil "HeatoN" Christensen, who is known throughout the world for his achievements in the Counter-Strike 1.6 pro gaming scene, will be the first challenger to try and get the world record. There will be two attempts during Dreamhack Summer 2009. The first one will take place on Sunday 14th of June to be followed up by a last chance during Monday 15th of June. You are only allowed to participate once. The world record attempt will be played on the classic QPAD aim map used in the QTOUR Championship 1on1 tournament.

Download the map
http://www.qpad.se/aim_qpad_2007.zip