Plenty of goodies in Xbox 360 update, Facebook, Twitter plus loads of new content

Major Nelson from Xbox Live has divulged new information on his podcast saying the next update will include 'plenty of goodies' in the next dashboard update.

He says lots of new content will join Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and Sky integration. The next update (NXE)will be 'a lot better with a load of new features it will be faster, smoother and the guide will run smoother'.

Expect it to be released in the Autumn.

PSP video game asks 'Why do girls have boobs?' Boku no Natsuyasumi 4

In this promotional clip for PSP title Boku no Natsuyasumi 4 (My Summer Vacation 4), the game's little boy goes around asking why girls have breasts.

At the end of the clip, his exasperated father asks if someone can explain this to the boy....

Watch the video...

But honestly, why-girls-have-boobs is a dumb question! The kid should be going around asking why boys have nipples. What is up with that?

Boku no natsuyasumi 4 will be released on Japanese PSPs early next month. The game lets players experience an idyll summer vacation filled with bug collecting, Japanese drum beating, swimming, fishing and irritating questions.

Kotaku reports....

First Hearts of Iron 3 BETA After Action Report

Paradox Interactive today released the first BETA “After Action Report” for the upcoming WWII strategy title Hearts of Iron 3. A long standing tradition at Paradox Interactive, the “After Action Reports” reveal key gameplay features and allows gamers to “live” the strategic gameplay and its effects through the words of the writer.

In anticipation of the release and the opening of the official “After Action Report” forum where gamers from all over the world are invited to share their “After Action Reports,” Paradox hopes you'll enjoy this look into how the new automation system is used and how an Italian campaign is used to conquer Yugoslavia.



To read the complete entries, please visit http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409547 or http://www.giantrealm.com.
Hearts of Iron 3 is currently scheduled for release on August 4, 2009.

About Hearts of Iron 3
The Hearts of Iron series has become renowned for being the biggest, most detailed and complete strategic game series on World War 2 ever made. Hearts of Iron 3 will follow that tradition closely while focusing on satisfying veteran players through a multitude of brand new features and systems, including a huge map with more than 14,000 land and sea provinces. Recent recognition includes Readers Choice for “Best PC Strategy game” at E3 and nominations in the same category at IGN and Gaming Excellence.

Another zombie game with Plants v Zombies Game for PC and Mac

Casual Games Leader's Take on the "Zombie Survival" Genre Pits You and Your Front Yard Against Legions of Lovably Laughable Undead

PopCap Games, announce the immediate availability of Plants v Zombies, a humorous action-strategy game suitable for all ages. Conceived and designed by George Fan, senior game designer at PopCap’s San Francisco studio and the creator of Insaniquarium, Plants v Zombies pits you against legions of invading zombies bent on overwhelming your lawn and making their way to your front door.

To defeat the hordes of living dead trespassing on your lawn, you must purchase and plant a wide range of lovable mutant flowers, vines, trees and other foliage that has zombie-combating powers and abilities. Plants v Zombies carries a retail price of US$19.95 and is available online for PC and Mac at www.popcap.com as well as other leading game portals including RealArcade, MSN Games, STEAM, Wild Games and Yahoo! Games.



“We love zombie games as much as everyone else, but unlike other undead offerings we wanted to create a zombie game that would appeal to both casual and hardcore gamers alike,” explained George Fan, senior game designer at PopCap. “It’s been great to see both casual and hardcore gamers in our beta test group get totally absorbed in the game, clicking intensely as the zombies chomp on their front yards.”

Featuring five different modes of play, Plants vs. Zombies presents you with a front lawn and encroaching zombies striving to reach your front door and defeat you. Choose from an ever-increasing assortment of specialized, zombie-battling plants to slow down, confuse, weaken and ultimately destroy the vegetation-munching undead before they can traverse your yard and reach your front door. Thoughtful selection of plants, judicious use of resources and clever planting/placement decisions are key to overcoming more than two dozen different kinds of zombies, each with its own combination of “skills” and behaviors. Additional obstacles and challenges in later levels include the setting of the sun, a creeping fog that obscures part of your view – even a swimming pool that takes up much of your lawn.

Features of Plants v Zombies include:

• Five different modes of play: Adventure, Survival, Puzzle, Zen Garden and Mini-Game Challenges
• 50 levels in the main Adventure mode and more than 50 more in the other game modes, with limitless replayability
• More than four dozen plants, from cherry bombs and peashooters to melon-pults, wall-nuts and sunflowers
• Dozens of different zombie types, including back-from-the-dead miners, businessmen, football players, even a zombie bobsled team!
• Suburban almanac tracks your progress and provides vital stats on plant and zombie types
• Crazy Dave’s trunk-o’-the-car shop where you can purchase special “power plants” and other zombie-exterminating tools as well as potted versions for your Zen Garden
• New fluid animation technology for prettier plants and zippier zombies
• 14 original musical pieces that dynamically adjust to the intensity of the game in real time
• So frighteningly fun you’ll soil your plants!

Easy Piano video player comes to Nintendo DS

Forget all about your childhood’s long and boring piano lessons!

With Easy Piano, practice on famous songs, from classic to pop rock, thanks to its piano accessory more realistic than ever!

Game Life, an independent video games producing company, announces a world premiere for November 2009: Easy Piano, the first ever Nintendo DS game coming with a real mini-piano accessory plugged to your console, and which allows you to learn piano without having to take boring music theory lessons! With Easy Piano on Nintendo DS, practicing the piano has never been so fun and easy.

The time when learning the piano was a true nightmare is finally over!!!
Easy Piano offers you more than 40 legendary titles, playable on a real mini-keyboard expressly designed for the Nintendo DS, from children songs to classic, pop or jazz standards.
Become an accomplished pianist while practicing thanks to 10 progressive lessons and 15 fun mini games, guided by our virtual coach. You can even play your favorite tunes without going through the lessons or know anything about music!

Impress your circle of friends!
Easy Piano also contains a creation studio, giving the game endless possibilities! You can create your very own compositions by placing notes on the score with your stylus, or by playing “live” on the piano accessory, while the game is recording what you’re playing. Friends and family can then listen to your creation, or you can surprise them by playing what you learned on a real piano instrument: now you’re the genius!

Tale of Tales follow the Path with Fatale video game

Tale of Tales announce new project, codenamed "Fatale"

While their controversial indie horror game The Path is still being enjoyed and discussed by players everywhere, Tale of Tales have started work on a new project. Much smaller in scale -but not in ambition-, "Fatale" (working title) is similar to their 2008 piece The Graveyard: an explorable painting or an interactive vignette more than a goal-oriented quest.

http://Tale-of-Tales.com/Fatale

"In fact," point out designers Auriea Harvey and Michael Samyn, "Fatale" is inspired directly by paintings. In the 19th century, a favorite theme of romantic and salon painters alike was the "femme fatale": the fatal woman who lures men to their downfall. We wanted to do something with that theme in realtime 3D. And also with the idea of a painting as a frozen moment in time."

"Fatale" is based on the legend of Salomé, who, 2000 years ago, demanded the head of John the Baptist as a reward for dancing for her stepfather, King Herod. Oscar Wilde's 1891 interpretation of Salomé as a young woman in love with the prophet is the main inspiration for the project. In "Fatale" you will be able to explore the scene of this momentous historical event, experiencing the story through the emotions and thoughts of the characters involved.

"We're interested in the idea of a love story that ends in death," muse Auriea Harvey and Michael Samyn, "but we also want to include other elements of the tale. The fact, for instance, that Salomé may have been just an insecure girl who was manipulated by her mother, Queen Herodias -who then ends up becoming the real "femme fatale". We're also very sensitive to the political tension that underlies the tale: a Middle Eastern country -Judea- occupied by Westerners -Romans- at a time of religious unrest -the birth of Christianity. And this girl, Salomé, just has the head chopped off of one of the most important figures of the time. On a whim, apparently, or for unrequited love, changing the course of history."

Tale of Tales have invited previous collaborators to join the
production: Laura Raines Smith will be, once again, animating the characters; Gerry De Mol will compose dance music; while Jarboe and Kris Force take care of the soundscape and voice acting. The characters are being created by an extremely talented and very well known game artist, whose name will remain a secret for now.

Production of "Fatale" is supported by Flanders Audiovisual Fund and Villanella. "Fatale" is scheduled to be released on October 5th 2009, the 78th anniversary of the first public performance of Salomé in English. The play had been banned from the British stage for almost 50 years because of its depiction of biblical figures.

Tale of Tales is a small independent studio founded in Belgium by new media artists Auriea Harvey and Michael Samyn. They run the online multiplayer screensaver The Endless Forest. And two of their previous creations, The Path and The Graveyard, were selected for the Independent Games Festival (in 2008 and 2009, respectively). "Fatale" is not the first project of the two around a biblical theme. Previously, they have created The Godlove Museum, a series of interactive websites based on the first five books of the Old Testament. And, a commission for the San Francisco Museum of Art in 2001, "Eden.Garden" was one of their first game-like projects. It was based on the theme of the Garden of Eden and featured the designers themselves in the roles of Adam and Eve.

Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires - Glory Lives Forever - Create your own warrior and fight for control of Ancient China in KOEI's Tactical Action opus

KOEI announce DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 Empires is available now for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system.

Most eagerly awaited by fans is the game’s new Edit mode where players can create their own character. DYNASTY WARRIORS 6: Empires features an extensive character editing system with options to customize a warrior’s gender, build, skin tone, facial features, voice, clothing, weapon and more.

Starting this July, gamers will be able to download new character customization options and music tracks from Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and from PlayStation Network.

Gamers can find DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 Empires at retailers throughout North America including Amazon.com, GameFly and GameStop.

DOOM, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, QUAKE and Wolfenstein have new owners as Bethesda buys id Software

Brings together two of world's best game studios. Library of powerhouse franchises will include DOOM, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, QUAKE, Wolfenstein and RAGE

ZeniMax Media Inc., parent company of noted game publisher Bethesda Softworks, today announced it has completed the acquisition of legendary game studio, id Software, creators of world-renowned games such as DOOM, QUAKE, Wolfenstein, and its upcoming title, RAGE.

The acquisition by ZeniMax Media joins together two of the finest, most respected videogame developers in the world, combining the first person shooter (FPS) expertise of id Software with acclaimed role playing game (RPG) developer Bethesda Game Studios – creators of the 2008 Game of the Year, Fallout 3, and the 2006 Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Bethesda Softworks will publish the titles of id Software other than upcoming releases previously committed to other publishers.

Founded in 1991, id Software established itself as an industry leader with some of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed video games of all time. id Software created the original first-person shooter, Wolfenstein 3D, and subsequently set new standards in the genre with the blockbuster releases of its DOOM and QUAKE titles. In addition, id Software developed cutting edge, proprietary technology with the id Tech engine which powers many notable FPS titles, and continues to make great advances in game technology under the direction of John Carmack, one of the country’s technology leaders and a member of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) Hall of Fame.

Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software, commented on the transaction: “This was a unique opportunity to team with a smart, sophisticated publisher like Bethesda Softworks where the interests of the studio and the publisher will be fully aligned in the development and marketing of our titles. In addition, we will now have financial and business resources to support the future growth of id Software, a huge advantage which will result in more and even better games for our fans.”

id Software will continue to operate as a studio under the direction of its founder, John Carmack. No changes will be made in the operations of id Software in the development of its games. All the principals at id Software have signed long-term employment contracts, assuring they will continue in their roles developing games at the studio.

“This puts id Software in a wonderful position going forward,” said John Carmack, who will continue to serve in his current role as Technical Director. “We will now be able to grow and extend all of our franchises under one roof, leveraging our capabilities across multiple teams while enabling forward looking research to be done in the service of all of them. We will be bigger and stronger, as we recruit the best talent to help us build the landmark games of the future. As trite as it may be for me to say that I am extremely pleased and excited about this deal, I am."

Robert Altman, the founder, Chairman & CEO of ZeniMax Media stated, “We, along with many others, consider id Software to be among the finest game studios in the world, with extraordinary design, artistic and technical capabilities. They have demonstrated, repeatedly, that rare ability to create franchise properties that are critical and commercial successes. Our intention is to make sure id Software will continue to do what they do best – make AAA games. Our role will be to provide publisher support through Bethesda Softworks and give id Software the resources it needs to grow and expand.”

ZeniMax Media Inc, which is privately held, was founded in 1999 to create quality interactive entertainment products to meet the growing worldwide demand. The Company is headquartered in Rockville, MD and maintains offices in Hunt Valley, MD, London and Tokyo. Among its wholly owned subsidiaries are Bethesda Softworks, a premier publisher of video games, Vir2L Studios which develops games for the casual market, and ZeniMax Online Studios, a studio dedicated to massively multi-player online games (MMOG).

Bethesda Game Studios, the development group at ZeniMax Media, is one of the top video game studios in the world. Its most recent release, Fallout 3, was the 2008 winner of more than 60 Game of the Year awards, including The Associated Press, Official Xbox Magazine, Yahoo, PC Gamer, IGN, Game Critics Awards, Game Developer Choice Awards, and Gamespy. Bethesda also created the 2006 PC and Xbox 360 Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and the 2002 PC and Xbox Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Bethesda Game Studios has created 2 of the 10 best games of all time, Fallout 3 and Oblivion, on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms, as reported by the industry scoring system found at www.metacritic.com and www.gamerankings.com.

NCsoft Reveals Official Launch Date for Aion! PC video game

It’s time to get ready to spread your wings and take flight in this year’s biggest massively multiplayer online game (MMO) release, Aion.

Today, NCsoft, the world's premier publisher and developer of MMOs, unveiled the official release date for Aion, the highly anticipated game where players take on a key role in a war between divine beings that will determine the fate of the world. Aion launches in North America on September 22, 2009 and makes its official debut in Europe starting September 25, 2009.

In addition to an international retail presence, Aion will also be available as a digital download at NCsoft.com, Direct2Drive and through Steam, a leading platform for the delivery and management of PC games with more than 15 million accounts worldwide.

Unlike any MMO before it, Aion is a uniquely crafted online experience where flight offers much more than just a way to explore the landscape - it is a strategic and integral part of combat, quests, and exploration. Players will dive into battle and plunge through thousands of unique, story-driven quests, all while trying to save a world literally shattered in half from centuries of brutal conflict. Using one of the most flexible and in-depth character customization systems ever featured in an MMO, players will be able to create genuinely distinct characters and explore a visually stunning world of ethereal beauty brimming with otherworldly inhabitants, mysterious enemies, and ancient secrets.

Also, a friendly reminder to take advantage of the special preorder promotion for Aion at participating retailers, including GameStop, Amazon and Best Buy. As part of the Aion preorder promotion, players will receive access to the Aion Closed Beta. Those dates are as follows:

Aion Closed Beta Dates
Friday, June 19th to Monday, June 22nd
Thursday, July 3rd to Monday, July 5th
Friday, July 17th to Monday, July 19th
Friday, July 31st to Monday, August 3rd
Friday, August 14th to Monday, August 16th

For complete Aion preorder program details, visit http://www.aiononline.com/preorder.

For more information about Aion go to http://www.aiononline.com.

Mobile veteran Venan Entertainment, IN. announces new "Venan Arcade" hand-held gaming initiative!

Venan Entertainment, a premier developer of DS, iPhone, iPod, and mobile games, today announced the creation of a new game development initiative: Venan Arcade.

“Although Venan has been a prominent developer in mobile for many years, our primary business model has been behind-the-scenes contract development for publishers like EA, THQ and Sega.” said Brandon Curiel, CEO and Lead Designer at Venan Entertainment. “Venan Arcade represents our initiative to step from behind the curtain and deliver great gameplay experiences directly to our consumers.”Venan Entertainment, a premier developer of DS, iPhone, iPod, and mobile games, today announced the creation of a new game development initiative: Venan Arcade.

“Although Venan has been a prominent developer in mobile for many years, our primary business model has been behind-the-scenes contract development for publishers like EA, THQ and Sega.” said Brandon Curiel, CEO and Lead Designer at Venan Entertainment. “Venan Arcade represents our initiative to step from behind the curtain and deliver great gameplay experiences directly to our consumers.”

Venan Arcade will initially focus on creating high-quality portable gaming experiences that can be purchased on the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPod Touch. Venan Arcade titles will be priced competitively, but never overpriced.

“With the App Store, all the traditional notions of price points have changed,” said Curiel. “What people are learning is that consumers are much more willing to try new experiences when you reduce the barrier of entry. And when you deliver a great product that is fun, accessible, and has great value, the sales will take care of themselves.”

Venan Entertainment, perhaps best known for the critically acclaimed, BAFTA-nominated DS title NINJATOWN, as well as the top-selling iPhone/iPod Touch smash hit MONOPOLY HERE & NOW: THE WORLD EDITION, will continue

its traditional work of developing high-profile AAA franchises for major publishers. Since it was founded in 2002, Venan has developed mobile titles based on many well-known game, film, and television IP’s such as MONOPOLY, NBA LIVE, NBA STREET, JAWS, SOUTH PARK, and SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS. Curiel notes, “In addition to Venan Arcade, we have several iPhone projects underway for some top-notch brands. It’s going to be an exciting year for us on the iPhone.”

The first game in the Venan Arcade initiative will be a “nonlinear top-down shooter,” according to Curiel. “The core gameplay is based on a familiar model that most gamers will recognize right away, but we’ve built on top of that to create an all-new gameplay experience. Our philosophy is that Venan Arcade titles should cater to everybody’s
play style, whether it’s casual or hardcore.”

Venan Arcade’s first title will be developed for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and will be available in early September.

A formal announcement of this first title is expected later this week.

Venan Arcade will initially focus on creating high-quality portable gaming experiences that can be purchased on the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPod Touch. Venan Arcade titles will be priced competitively, but never overpriced.

“With the App Store, all the traditional notions of price points have changed,” said Curiel. “What people are learning is that consumers are much more willing to try new experiences when you reduce the barrier of entry. And when you deliver a great product that is fun, accessible, and has great value, the sales will take care of themselves.”

Venan Entertainment, perhaps best known for the critically acclaimed, BAFTA-nominated DS title Ninjatown, as well as the top-selling iPhone/iPod Touch smash hit Monopoly Here & Now: The World Edition, will continue

its traditional work of developing high-profile AAA franchises for major publishers. Since it was founded in 2002, Venan has developed mobile titles based on many well-known game, film, and television IP’s such as Monopoly, NBA Live, NBA Street, Jaws, South Park, and Spongebob Squarepants. Curiel notes, “In addition to Venan Arcade, we have several iPhone projects underway for some top-notch brands. It’s going to be an exciting year for us on the iPhone.”

The first game in the Venan Arcade initiative will be a “nonlinear top-down shooter,” according to Curiel. “The core gameplay is based on a familiar model that most gamers will recognize right away, but we’ve built on top of that to create an all-new gameplay experience. Our philosophy is that Venan Arcade titles should cater to everybody’s play style, whether it’s casual or hardcore.”

Venan Arcade’s first title will be developed for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and will be available in early September.

A formal announcement of this first title is expected later this week.