Issue 15 - Anniversary brings City of Heroes release the 15th major free content update - with video

NCsoft launched Issue 15 - Anniversary, the next exciting chapter of City of Heroes, the premier comic-book inspired MMO. Commemorating the game’s recent five-year anniversary celebration, Issue 15: Anniversary brings City of Heroes its 15th major free content update introducing players to all-new content, missions, features and customization tools that continue to place City of Heroes at the forefront of the evolving MMO genre.

“City of Heroes continues to reinvent itself with each Issue launch providing players with new content, developmental tools and exciting game play experiences they can’t get anywhere else,” said Brian Clayton, general manager and executive producer of City of Heroes. “Issue 15 is no different – it brings players the revival of one of the most popular villain groups in the game, streamlined Mission Architect search and navigation, as well as enhanced character customization featuring even more costumes, faces and costume change animations which will all surprise and delight the community.”

Issue 15: Anniversary allows City of Heroes to come to life with more in-depth gameplay experiences and storytelling options as it marks the revival of The 5th Column, the most popular villain group, through 10 new action-packed missions. Players will participate in a Hero Task Force or a Villain Strike Force, in order to uncover the mystery behind this long dormant foe. Along with the new missions, players can now customise their characters with more than 20 extra character faces, Vines and Ulterior themed costume sets and several new costume change emotes - visual animations that come to life when characters transition between costumes within the game.



Additionally, Issue 15: Anniversary introduces players to new mission creation enhancements, testing tools and navigation services as part of the recently launched Mission Architect system. These features allow players to more easily create and polish their own unique custom content before sharing it with the public, and help streamline the process of searching through user-generated missions. Since the release of City of Heroes’ Mission Architect system, two months ago, users have developed and published more than 200,000 stories for the community to enjoy.

Join millions of super powered heroes and villains and become your own unique super powered hero to save the world, or an infamous villain seeking to destroy it. City of Heroes has received a 16+ rating by PEGI.

Dreamkiller relentless shooter video game for Xbox 360 and PC this fall

Aspyr Media and Mindware Studios probe the insidious depths of the subconscious to bring Dreamkiller to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC. A fast, frantic and mega-bloodbath first-person shooter, Dreamkiller takes gamers inside the dark and twisted nightmares of tortured souls possessed by unknown forces.

Gamers will take on the role of Alice Drake, a psychologist with the extraordinary ability to enter the minds of her patients and combat the ravenous foes haunting their dreams. Utilizing a host of fantastic weapons and her own special abilities, Alice confronts our common demons only to discover an even deeper menace reigns within. The ultimate showdown becomes inevitable between that which would torment and she who will protect, and only one force will prevail amidst a variety of dreamscapes as varied and bizarre as the human mind itself.

Dreamkiller features 12 rich levels of single-player gameplay each laced with swarms of hideous and disturbing enemies reflecting the mind’s infinite palette of fear. The onslaught continues with numerous multiplayer modes and a host of over-the-top weapons and supernatural abilities. Stay awake, Dreamkiller will be available this fall.

Sudden Attack video game beta starts today, June 30th

Korea's No.1 Online First Person Shooter Enters Second Closed Beta in North America

GameHi announce it will begin the second closed beta test for Sudden Attack, their No. 1 free-to-play first person shooter (FPS) available for players June 30 through July 12. Slated for commercial release later this summer, fans who missed the first closed beta can register for this next phase at http://www.gamehi.com/ in order to take part in what’s currently one of the most popular multiplayer online FPS games in Asia.

This second closed beta will be open to anyone who signs up over the next two weeks. Members of the first closed beta will not need to re-register, but will find they have new characters.

Originally launched in July, 2006 Sudden Attack is now the most played first person shooter in Korea with more than 100 consecutive weeks on the game charts. Notable for its high quality graphics, stable game service, ample resources, and quick character and community system, Sudden Attack is positioned to garner similar blockbuster success in the U.S. Its broad appeal comes from a combination of elements including fast and fun casual gameplay; and unlike most FPS games, Sudden Attack is free-to-play.

With ongoing updates for new maps and firearms Sudden Attack offers a variety of features to provide both novice and core gamers continuous gameplay options. Community inclined it supports several chatting modes, macros and firm clan system, as well as Explosion and Elimination game modes. Quick entry allows users to install in under three minutes and join games without having to wait for a new start. Even new FPS fans can easily adopt in the game with simple rules and easy controls. Additionally, players can earn in-game points for game currency or purchase upgrades through real world cash.

Sudden Attack players are divided into two opposing teams: Special Force and Silent Fox Alliances. Each team is required to have at least one member and at maximum eight members. Players can also group into their own clans to fight within a separated network. Here players can show off group power, where teamwork and coordination play a crucial role. Strong clans can join ‘Clan Battle System,’ an exclusive competition mode in the game. Clan strengths can be proved clearly within this mode, as comradeship and cooperation are decisive factors to secure a win. Additionally, the game makes a breakthrough in comparison with preceding MMOFPS titles with the availability of in-water battle mode.

Interested players can learn more at http://www.gamehi.com/.

ARMA II Demo free download - last longer than some games

The demo can be downloaded from www.arma2.com

The eagerly anticipated demo for the sandbox PC military shooter smash hit of 2009, ARMA II, is released and available for all who want to visit the post-soviet republic of Chernarus and enjoy all of the fantastic features of this monumental war simulator.

Do you want to fight eye to eye with enemies on the lush, open battlefield, do you want to take advantage by strafing enemy position in aircraft, do you want to crush enemy lines in a tank? Then download the demo and get a taste of what it takes to be a soldier in a modern warfare conflict!

Featuring the most realistic warfare gameplay to date; The ArmA II demo offers the opportunity to explore its highland area as well as the small Chernarusian island of Utes. More specifically, the 'boot camp' missions are all available which act as tutorials for the game's many disciplines including helicopter flight, unit command and base construction. In addition, the full single player mission 'Trial By Fire' from the main campaign and the multiplayer map 'Mini Warfare', allowing ArmA fans the chance to trial three multiplayer modes are included in the demo. A selection of over 20 vehicles, more than 25 weapons and various soldier and civilian models will be included, although these represent only a fraction of those available in the retail version.

The ARMA 2 demo is big, not only in size, but also in the amount of content and re-playability offered. The demo alone will last a player longer to complete than many retail games! Please visit the www.arma2.com for more information.

HP To Deliver Customizable Print-on-Demand Gaming Artwork will allow players to view, create and purchase custom prints for EverQuest and Free Realms

Following the Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) Fan Faire event June 25-28, HP today launched an innovative print-on-demand service for Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) gamers. The HP print-on-demand technology will allow players to view, create and purchase custom prints of classic characters, imagery and scenes from SOE’s various fantasy worlds, games and artists. The service, which will be accessed directly from the online games, is scheduled to launch later this year in EverQuest, EverQuest II and Free Realms.

“There is a significant opportunity among SOE’s gamers to provide personalized and customized offline souvenirs from the games and fantasy worlds they love,” said Rohit de Souza, Vice President and General Manager, Retail Publishing Solutions, Imaging and Printing Group. “We believe this program is a first of its kind in the MMO gaming segment and demonstrates the wide range of opportunities available for delivering custom print-on-demand services.”
“This unique service allows players to create their cards during an online play session then, though HP’s state-of-the-art print-on-demand service, we’re able to provide ‘offline’ access to online content to create a whole new interactive experience,” said Christopher Sturr, Director of Corporate Strategy Sony Online Entertainment. “We’ve been impressed with the customization and personalization capabilities offered by HP and are excited about the value this service will bring to gamers.”
How it Works
Through the in-game Station Cash® commerce system in SOE’s games, players will access the Marketplace and choose from a list of select art images and sizes. A simple in-game and/or web-based interface will walk players through the entire process from the initial order to purchase confirmation, without ever closing the game world and/or current game session.

For the initial launch of the service, SOE will debut 10 art images from the Legends of Norrath™ series. The companies plan to feature and debut new prints, limited edition collector’s prints and select prints from top game artists throughout the year. Ultimately, SOE and HP plan to offer players the ability to personalize and customize their own art prints, posters, and other merchandise using their avatar, screen shots and artwork.

About HP Print on Demand Services
HP offers print on demand technologies, expert design services and business processes to produce high quality printed products using the latest HP hardware and media. The products are produced at time of order using secure digital technologies for immediate customer delivery. With the use of the broad suite of HP publishing technologies and services, HP eliminates the need for finished goods inventory, offering competitive price points and unsurpassed quality for print-on-demand products.

Be the first to play Tatsunoko v Capcom - Ultimate All-Stars Hits Anime Expo

You darn kids will get your first open-to-the-public crack at Tatsunoko Vs Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars this weekend at Anime Expo in Los Angeles CA.

It's not the final build of the game, but is already 100% awesome with all of the characters you got a peek at during E3, all their epic supers, and some giant robots thrown in for good measure.

Check here or here for some fun backstory on a few of the glorious TvC characters, or here or here to watch the game being played in the wild.

The full post with links can be found here...

Over 100 games to play on National Geographic Kids website...

National Geographic Kids website has over 100 interactive games for the kid inside us all to enjoy! Between action games, adventure games, puzzles and quizzes, geography games and much more there is a game or puzzle for everyone.

The number one game on the site is Pluto’s Secret which came out last fall and garners over 1 million page views a week! The game developed by National Geographic and Sarbakan, blasts kids into a virtual solar system to complete exciting space missions as well as teach kids why Pluto is no longer considered a planet.

This game among the many other exciting games (which will help pass the time!) can be found at our kids website:

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

Knowing that everyone loves free gifts, especially free games, I felt that this would be of great interest to you and your readers of your blog.

Mabinogi video game has released a slew of sunshiny features to kick off its Summer of Fun

Mabinogi has released a slew of sunshiny features to kick off its “Summer of Fun” which includes the release of Hawaiian-style shirts, shaved ice snacks, and an Independence Day event which will add rewards and fun to Mabinogi players’ adventures.

With the purchase of an Aloha Card, players can rebirth their characters (or start new characters) complete with weather appropriate clothing. This clothing includes beach print shirts and shorts as well as sandals. The Aloha Card is currently available.

Once appropriately attired, players can travel to Emain Macha to visit the NPC Gordon to receive sweet treats as part of the Mabinogi “Summer of Fun Shaved Ice Event.” Players can give Gordon fruit juices and he’ll make a shaved ice treat, which will bring refreshment to the players if they choose to eat it. However, to earn rewards and prizes, players can race with their shaved ice to Qilla Base Camp where an overheated Ethna is trading rewards for the cooling effects of the shaved ice. This event is underway and runs through July 9.

More rewards are available to players via the Independence Day event where general stores are selling Red, White and Blue Fireworks. When players shoot off their fireworks, rewards can come to those whose fireworks go especially high. Players will earn a box decorated with the American flag as a reward for their achievement. This event is underway and runs through July 9.

For more information about the Summer of Fun event or the free-to-play and download game, Mabinogi, go to: http://mabinogi.nexon.net/

PC video games Worms 4 Mayhem and Rainbow Six 3 Raven Shield just £4.88 in UK

The titles will retail at the VAT- reduced price of £4.88 and are available to buy NOW on the Sold Out label.

Worms 4 Mayhem is one of the most infectious strategy action games! Worms are back in force with bold new levels, an improved 3D camera and animation system, new customisable weapons, ridiculous new outfits, and the same devilish attitude.

Blow the bejaysus out of each other’s team in the turn-based anarchy that you love. Experience online multiplayer madness with crazy new battle modes and max out your damage with utterly destructible, themed landscapes. Make your team unique with custom hats, hair, hands, glasses voices and more and build your own fiendish ûber-arsenal! Described by PC Gamer as ‘Classic stuff... A multiplayer blast’, this game is a true manic mischievous mayhem!

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six™ 3 Raven Shield™ Complete, the sequel to Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six™: Rogue Spear™ (2000 Action Game of the Year - PC Gamer US) and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six™ (1999 Action Game of the Year - PC Gamer US) is sure to keep you right at the edge of your seat. Take command of Team Rainbow, the most elite counter-terrorism force ever assembled. When terrorists assault our world, they incur the wrath of Team Rainbow. Your duty begins when negotiations end. With 30 specialist team modes and over 57 real-world weapons, there is not threat you cannot contain. PC Gamer wrote: ‘No other games out there offer the same level of thoughtful action. It is the best single-player close-combat game and excellent online’. Ensure you do not compromise with terror – just eliminate it!

Nintendo Wii and DS New Adventure Game Based on the Multi Million-Selling The Daring Book for Girls Series out in October

For a daring girl, rafting down the Amazon, climbing Mt. McKinley, or embarking on an exotic African Safari is all in a day's event! Majesco announce The Daring Game for Girls for Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS. In this adventure title based on the bestselling books published by the William Morrow imprint of HarperCollins, players can achieve their dream adventure by successfully completing an array of exciting challenges.
"The Daring Book for Girls series is the ultimate can-do, how-to 'manual' that celebrates the female spirit and guides adventurous girls in a range of daring and practical activities," said Gui Karyo, Executive Vice President of Operations for Majesco. "This game captures that content and is the perfect interactive complement for fans of the books and other girls interested in a game designed specifically for them."

"The Daring Book for Girls series, including the new book, The Double Daring Book for Girls, has entertained and inspired millions of girls, and we look forward to the game furthering the reach of this well-loved property," said Liate Stelhik, SVP and Publisher of William Morrow.

The Daring Game for Girls is an entertaining and informative adventure that lets players virtually experience activities straight from the popular book. Players can pick from one of several character models with a wide range of ethnicities and features. As they play, girls will earn gear and collectibles while having fun in spy missions, cave exploration, freeze tag, double dutch, basketball, arts and crafts, managing a corner stand, making friends, and much more. Players will also learn educational facts about famous women in history and use that knowledge to ace Pop Quizzes. Only by earning all six types of Daring Girl Badges - including Girl Lore, Life Skills and World Knowledge - can players realize an adventure to Africa, the Amazon or Mt. McKinley and become a true Daring Girl!

Developed by WXP, The Daring Game for Girls on Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS is expected to release in October 2009.