Taito and the Netherlands Embassy in Japan bring Waterways to iPhone!

Taito Corporation (Taito), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd., today announced that, with the cooperation of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan, action-puzzler Waterways will be on sale at the App Store worldwide and available for the iPhone and iPod Touch on June 11. Waterways, developed by Dutch studio Rough Cookie, was the winning concept of the Netherlands-Japan GameJam 2008 contest, held as part of the “Netherlands in Japan 2008-2009” celebration.

Last year was the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Japan and the Netherlands, and this year, 2009, marks 400 years of trade between the two nations. Sponsored by the Dutch game organizations NLGD Foundation and the Dutch Game Garden, and also backed by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japan GameJam 2008 contest was held by Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan as part of the continuing “Netherlands in Japan 2008-2009” celebration.

The Netherlands government invests in the growth of its national creative industry, and for this reason the “Netherlands in Japan 2008-2009” celebration has also featured events focusing on cross-cultural exchange via games. Taito has long taken an active role in promoting the industry and mobile gaming in particular by participating in world-class events such as the International Mobile Gaming Awards. Hoping to make use of this prior experience and eager to contribute to the longstanding friendship between Japan and the Netherlands, Taito participated in the “Netherlands in Japan 2008-2009” celebration by joining the panel of judges for the Netherlands-Japan GameJam 2008 competition and agreeing to publish an extended and adapted version of the winning concept.

GameJam winner Waterways is an action puzzle game designed and developed by Dutch studio Rough Cookie. Players assume the role of a heroic cow named Patch. When the Netherlands’ state-of-the-art water management system “Caretaker 3000” goes haywire, leading to widespread flooding, it’s up to Patch to navigate a series of water-filled mazes and drawbridges in an effort to reach and repair the leaking valves. Waterways makes full use of the iPhone/iPod Touch’s motion sensors, with intuitive controls and instantly appealing game play.

Taito and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan hope to continue to work together for the benefit of both Japan and the Netherlands’ game industries.

WATERWAYS

Publisher: Taito Corporation

• Platform: iPhone / iPod touch
• Release Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009
• Genre: Game (Puzzle / Action)
• Price: $2.99 / €2.39
• Region: Worldwide
• Copyright: Rough Cookie 2009 / Published by Taito

HeatoN launches secret product at Dreamhack

QPAD, the Swedish company famed for its premium gaming gear, today announced the launch of HeatoN’s first product at Dreamhack, the biggest LAN party in the world, taking place 13-16 of June.

1339 Product release
The research and development collaboration between QPAD and Emil "HeatoN" Christensen was presented in January and now the first product of this partnership will be launched at Dreamhack. To catch a glimpse of the new product you should go to the QPAD and Guinness World record booth in the exhibition area for a presentation and demonstration on Saturday the 13th of June at 13:39 C.E.T.

"I would have to say that we have developed the perfect XXXXX that will make sure you are always on the top of your game." Says Emil "HeatoN" Christensen

World exclusive
50 pcs of the new HeatoN product have been flown in exclusively for this release and will be available in the Dreamhack shop directly after the release.

Crown of Glory: Emperor's Edition Gets a Major Update

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and Western Civilization Software (www.west-civ.com) are thrilled to announce the release of the first update for their hit Napoleonic strategic/tactical blend, Crown of Glory: Emperor’s Edition. The comprehensive 1.0.9 update comes with heaps of improvements and bug fixes in addition to two key new pieces of documentation: The Advanced Economy: Help and Advice for the New Player, and the Modder’s Guide.

As for the hefty list of bug fixes, the most notable item resolved is the mouse lag experienced by some in certain parts of the interface. In addition, the update includes improvements to the AI for both the strategic and tactical portions of the game, several significant improvements to the overall interface, and two dozen “fine tune” rule changes to enhance historical accuracy.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “Crown of Glory: Emperor’s Edition is an absolutely must-have for any fans of the Napoleonic genre. The first Crown of Glory made a mark when it was released, but Emperor’s Edition takes us to a whole new level of Napoleonic strategy! If you tried the original Crown of Glory, there is still an upgrade discount available for the Emperor’s Edition. If you haven’t tried it, the stand-alone Emperor’s Edition is an excellent time to get on board and see if your inner Napoleon is up to the challenge.”

Two centuries ago, Europe was in the midst of one of the most gripping periods in human history. It was an era that saw cobblers become princes and emperors become exiles, an age of legendary diplomats and brilliant tacticians. Listen to the roll of the drum, the call of the bugle, and see the banners unfurled above the divisions and corps. Wide-eyed recruits march next to battle-scarred veterans, sabers clatter alongside the bags of grapeshot, the wheels of hundreds of caissons rattle, as generals plan and diplomats plot, and all of Europe grasps with desperate hands for… The Crown Of Glory.

This new Emperor’s Edition is a stand-alone sequel to the acclaimed Crown of Glory and improves on the original in every area, immersing the player in the epic events of the Napoleonic era. A beautiful strategic map with more than 200 provinces covers all of Europe and North Africa, with scenarios and campaigns from 1792 up to 1820. Stronger AI, a streamlined interface and a new simplified economic model to allow players to focus on the aspects of the game they most enjoy. Players take the role of one of the crowned potentates of any of the eight Major powers as well as having the option to play as a minor power such as Poland, Denmark or Portugal.

A turn-based structure allows you to play at your own pace, deciding on the military, diplomatic, economic and social paths of your nation, including treaties, trade routes and levying and supplying military units. While your armies march across a worldwide map with monthly turns, detailed land and naval battles allow you to play at a smaller scale, where your brigades, divisions and ships can be commanded with historical tactics. All battles can be resolved quickly or fought out on a detailed battlefield map.

The eight major powers (France, Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia, Turkey, Spain, and Sweden) and over ninety computer-controlled minor nations are modeled in rich historical detail. Every effort has been made to bring you as thorough a simulation of the Napoleonic Era as is possible, from the dockyards of Lisbon to the frozen wastes of Holy Mother Russia.

Historical leaders, special abilities, fleets, upgrades, reinforcements, colonialism, guard units and over 100 historical events, give Crown Of Glory: Emperor's Edition a unique and engrossing style. Combining Strategy and Tactics in one design, Crown Of Glory: Emperor's Edition offers you an opportunity to test your strength in an age of legends.

The update is comprehensive and will bring of all previous versions of Crown of Glory: Emperor’s Edition up to v1.0.9. Get more information on Crown of Glory: Emperor’s Edition from its official product page.

X³: Terran Conflict Update 2.1 and UPLINK Competitions

X3: Terran Conflict 2.1 is now available! In this update we see the addition of a community-developed mission, written by Ketraar. This mission is called Treasure Hunt and will have you chasing your tail around the X-Universe looking for the next clue to lead you to what is arguably the ultimate prize.

New character 'Jin' now live and playable in Ntreev USA's Grand Chase!

Ntreev announce that its new character, Jin, a melee specialist, is now live and playable for its action-adventure MMO brawler, Grand Chase. As the 8th member of the Grand Chase, Jin joins the chase to search for Luther, the leader of the Silver Knights, and finds himself infatuated with Amy.

"Players will be very excited with the introduction of Jin as an addition to the Knights of Grand Chase," said Chris Lee, CEO at Ntreev USA. "Jin will be an integral part of the Grand Chase story and his character attributes, including a special fighting ability and special attacks, will make him one that North American gamers will want to experience."

About Jin

Jin is a melee-specialist from the Silver Land and a member of the Silver Knights who is a fast, heavy attacker with very short range.

Jin has three classes, the first job being Fighter where he uses his fists and feet to attack. He also possesses the unique ability to "burn," a special ability that makes him stronger and changes his skills. Jin can charge the gauge and use the charge to perform special attacks or improved skills. If the bar is fully charged, Jin will go into "burn" mode making several new attacks available, and boosting his skills and attack power; however the charge bar will quickly drain in burn mode. In addition, Jin also has the ability to dash through opponents during their mid-combo attacks.

About Grand Chase
Grand Chase is an online action brawler set in a medieval fantasy world. It follows the story of a few brave young knights who join a group of nobles known as the "Grand Chase" to defeat an evil usurper to the throne, a villainess known as Kaze'aze. Grand Chase combines traditional side-scrolling dungeon crawling with intense, skill-based player vs. player (PvP) matches. Visit http://grandchase.ntreev.net for more information.

Asda Story video game launches the new Faction Warfare Player vs. Player Combat System

San Jose-based online game publisher, Gamescampus.com (www.gamescampus.com, run by OnNet USA), announced today that it has launched the new Faction Warfare Player Vs. Player (PvP) combat system in its popular MMORPG, Asda Story http://asdastory.gamescampus.com/.

As part of the new system, players may select from one of the following Factions which will serve as their character's PvP allegiance against other players' Factions in the weeks to come: Light, Darkness, and Chaos. After players have selected which Faction they would like to fight for, they may apply for scheduled Faction War Battlefield matches that pit the three opposing Factions against one another in a fight to capture Fortresses around a special Battlefield Map, with additional warfare maps to follow soon. Up to 30 players from each Faction may join in the fight, with up to 90 players mixing it up in intense combat at one time.

As each Battlefield fills, new ones will open to accommodate every player that wishes to participate in the fighting. Faction teams are balanced for each Battlefield based on level and number of players participating to ensure even, heart pounding fights every time. Split into Attack Units with Attack Captains leading their troops into the field, players are able to gain Warfare Points both by defeating players of the other Factions in direct combat, or capturing Fortresses owned by the other Factions located around the map.

The more players fight and compete in the Faction Wars, the more Experience, Honor Points, and Honor Coins they will receive towards special Faction Warfare items and gear that is not available anywhere else in the game. In addition, they will gain PvP Rankings to unlock access to even better and more powerful items.

Based on a colorful, bright and cheerful world, Asda Story is a free to play exciting fantasy-style anime 3D MMORPG game that features a unique 'Soul Mate System.' The unique party system offers two players the ability to align to become 'soul mates' in-game and grants them access to unique perks and the ability to activate special powers together with their Soul Mate. Another key feature of the game is the 'Real Costume System,' which gives players some of the most extensive personalization and design options ever seen in an MMORPG.

For more information about Gamescampus.com or Asda Story, please visit www.gamescampus.com.

Get ready for summer: Kalypso Media release new screenshots and video for Tropico 3!

Kalypso Media released ten new screenshots for their upcoming city building strategy game Tropico 3. The new screenshots show the steamy, bustling City of Tropico Island together with views of the harbor and life in the jungle.



Tropico 3 will be published by Kalypso Media, developed by Haemimont games and hitting stores worldwide this September.



For further information please visit the official game website www.tropico3.com

Hot, hotter, Fireburst! new off-road action racing game

In late 2009, the heat will rise on PC and next generation consoles. Black announcea perfect way to counterbalance the cold season: Fireburst, a new off-road action racing game, featuring unique innovations. The title is being developed by the game forge exDream, based in Hannover, Germany, and will appear on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. Fireburst is thus the first title released to Sony's next generation console by the publisher from Cologne.

Fireburst sends players into a fiery, four-wheeled adrenalin frenzy. Behind the wheel of numerous different racers, drivers get to speed along paved race courses or wicked off-road tracks, showing no respect for their rivals. Thanks to a novel boost system, opponents are kept at a distance in spectacular ways in various single and multiplayer modes. The element of fire prominently features in all special maneuvers. It is possible, for example, to coat your own vehicle in protective flames, or make a rival's car explode with a burst of fire.

Fireburst also offers brilliant graphics: In order to bring glorious effects and breathtaking landscapes to the screen, exDream's developers base their graphics on Unreal Engine 3. Many dynamic objects and impressive light effects on vehicles and tracks make for fantastic top-level, high-speed racing action.

Features:
• First PlayStation 3 title from Black Inc.
• Innovative boost system: With the novel 4-stage fire boost, opponents' vehicles are eliminated in spectacular ways
• Fireburst is developed based on Unreal Engine 3
• Wacky characters
• All kinds of vehicles: From sleek buggies and pimped-up vintage models to massive pick-ups, this fleet leaves nothing to be desired
• Unique combinations of drivers and vehicles: Match a character with the appropriate vehicle to optimize driving attributes
• Game modes offering plenty of variation: Challenge and championship modes, as well as multiplayer options (with up to 16 players online, or up to 4 players offline with a split screen), make for spectacular entertainment
• Surprising twists: 20 huge tracks are divided into ten areas. Each track offers shortcuts and alternative routes
• Plenty of bonuses: Unlock new vehicles, tracks, and game modes
• Sneering and jeering: Each character uses more than 50 different taunts to mock the competition. But beware: The more you provoke the AI drivers, the more aggressively they will race you!

"With Fireburst, we have reached a new dimension in the racing game genre. This is largely due to the innovative boost system which allows players to attack and destroy opponents' cars in different ways," says Birgit Hönsch, divisional manager of Games Publishing & Licensing at RTL interactive GmbH. "Our executive producer Rupert Easterbrook, whose many years of experience in the games industry proved to be a perfect asset to our project, is providing immense support in the development of this game. The production staff and I are proud to have Rupert on board as a producer who already successfully handled projects for major international companies in the sector, such as Electronic Arts, Sony, Take 2, or Sega."

Fireburst from Black Inc. will appear in the 4th quarter of 2009 on PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

First Gameplay Video Released for Legio!

Mezmer Games today revealed more information regarding the upcoming title Legio, a turn-based strategy game for one to two players. The game is a unique mix between chess and a turn-based war game, and takes place in a mythical fantasy world where magicians, warriors and monsters battle for domination. Both players control an equal army of characters with the goal of eliminating the other player's army.

The new gameplay movie showcases one of the main characters of Legio, the King, lurking around at night until he runs into an opponent slightly out of his own league, the Giant. The movie also displays the prominent gameplay elements of Legio. Each game starts with players setting up the game board and placing their battle units in position. In the actual battle, you can see how the different units move around, attack, and eventually die - all of it being performed differently by different characters. The movie clip also shows the timing element when attacking an enemy.

To view the new gameplay video, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_4yzi8iqWI

For more information, please visit http://www.mezmergames.com/group/legio

Sony and The Jace Hall Show bring the epic tale of EverQuest to life in documentary!

Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) and The Jace Hall Show are pleased to announce the creation of the epic documentary based on the monumental entertainment property, EverQuest. EverCracked! The Phenomenon of EverQuest chronicles the trials and tribulations leading to the development, launch and success of the hit massively multiplayer online game which celebrated its tenth anniversary in March 2009. The full-length film will debut at the 2009 Fan Faire in Las Vegas, NV on June 26. The film’s trailer is available for download online at: www.soepress.com.

“When we began mapping out ideas for EverQuest, we never anticipated it would endure to create such a powerful cultural impact over the next decade and beyond,” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “As part of the continued 10th anniversary celebration, this film does a fantastic job at revealing the story behind the game and how the team created a franchise that forever changed the landscape of online entertainment.”

EverCracked! celebrates EverQuest’s legacy by taking a look at the past, present and future of the franchise. The film, hosted by veteran video game developer and personality Jace Hall, includes never-before-seen footage and interviews with industry moguls and longtime players. EverCracked! details the events, products, personalities and art that graced the world of Norrath over the years, with many tongue-in-cheek moments that befit EverQuest’s own sense of fun and humor.

“EverQuest was such an influential title; many people don’t realize just how daunting of a task it was to create,” said Jace Hall, President of HD Films. “With this documentary we were able to tell the epic story of the game and the people behind it while incorporating the light-hearted signature of the Jace Hall Show.”

In addition to the film’s premier screening, SOE will host numerous EverQuest 10th Anniversary activities throughout Fan Faire in Las Vegas, NV from June 25-28. Online registration is open now. Please visit http://www.soefanfaire.com for more information.

To download the trailer visit http://www.soepress.com.