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.

'Go Go Cosmo Cops!' announced for Nintendo DS!

Namco Bandai Games Europe today exclusively announced Go Go Cosmo Cops! for Nintendo DS. A brand new action title loaded with platforming mayhem and original gameplay, Go Go Cosmo Cops! heads to Europe and the PAL regions this September 2009.

Suba Games to launch Ace Online: Episode 3.2 this week!

Wicked Interactive Ltd.(www.wickedinteractiveltd.com) announce the upcoming release of ACE Online Episode 3.2, a patch to the current Episode 3 -War of Pandea, that offers all new content including a new Nation War System, a revamped game interface, new maps, an all-new slot machine and new cash shops items. The game can be downloaded at http://ace.subagames.com/download.aspx.

"We are excited to launch this new update for ACE Online," said Garvin Yeung, CEO of Wicked Interactive LTD. "Episode 3.2 offers several updates throughout many different areas of the game and we think players will be thrilled with the new content."

Nation War System Updated
The mothership war system has been completely revamped. No longer will motherships be summoned based on nation points, instead they will be scheduled at a specific times decided by the nation leaders. In addition, Outpost Wars occur more frequently and are now activated concurrently of each other. Also, rewards earned within the war system are now totally performance-based. The better a player performs in combat, the better their reward.

Revamped Interface and New Maps
The game interface has been streamlined in many areas making it more efficient. In addition, two new maps have been added to the game, Coronado and Castle Corona. The Outpost Castle Corona and its battle map Coronado have been added to the middle of the Pandea map chain, specifically at the map, Sunshine Born.

All-New Slot Machine and Expanded Cash Item Shop A slot machine has been added to the game to provide more prizes to players. Players simply purchase tokens and insert them into the slot machine to win various prizes. Some of these prizes include new Gear armor, S-type recovery kits, and even some cash shop items. In addition, the ACE Online Cash Shop has been expanded to include the sale of buff items that remain on a player's character for an extended period of time and will stay active until it's time expires. The cash shop has also been expanded to accommodate the slot machine and all related items.

ACE Online is part of the Suba Games library of free MMOs.
http://www.subagames.com

X3 Terran Conflict Update 2.1 and UPLINK Competitions and tutorial videos

Egosoft announces the X3: Terran Conflict 2.1 Update:

A Treasure Hunt Mission and Much More!

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. Speaking to Ketraar regarding the development of the mission, he said, "The Mission Director is a great tool and as an X-veteran, I wanted to bring a little nostalgia to TC through a mission. With Xenon_Slayer on hand to provide some guidance on the tricker parts of the mission's development, the process of making it was both educational and fun and I hope that gamers will find it as fun to play."



Also featured in this update is a much-awaited performance upgrade, which streamlines graphics rendering to produce better frame-rates and a generally smoother gameplay. This patch will also bring further improvements to Tractor Beam towing, the Universe Trader, a number of scripts and the 'mine minerals' command. For those of you who like to keep things ticking along while you do other things, this update also brings a new 'run in background' option, so you can chat to friends or surf the Egosoft forums while your factories churn out wares!



If you're using this option, you may want to park your ship somewhere safe before you alt-tab out of the game - you could end up in an asteroid or 400km from the sector's centre! The update also adds a number of new Mission Director variables and attributes, in addition to a couple of script commands. There will also be more info available about marines in menus, as well as more ship information available in shipyard and HQ menus.



As well as adding in new content and features, we've also fixed some of those annoying little bugs. Some graphical and turret configuration issues have been fixed. The patrol and defend sector commands have also been fixed. Additionally the rear turret compatibility of the Springblossom has been reverted to its pre-2.0 configuration.

X3TC UPLINK Competitions

Stats Mean Prizes!

Now that you have had a chance to get used to the fact that you can save your game stats and upload them to the Egosoft servers and then see the results of your exploits both in league tables and in your personal profile, we think it's time to ratchet up the competition slightly - with a competition!

On a weekly basis we will invite you to upload your stats to a special UPLINK area, so that our panel of judges can determine if you have met the victory conditions for that week's competition. The criteria for each week's round could be anything from "the most stations destroyed" and "the most jumpdrive energy used" to "the most sectors found" during the competition period. We will tell you, of course, what the gameplay and victory conditions will be and also what prize you'll be playing for.

You will be given a gamestart to use (so you can assume you'll have to start a new clean game) and a goal to reach by the stated deadline. Important note: members of EGOSOFT staff and players of games with the **MODIFIED** tag in the player states will not be permitted to enter this competition.