Spoils Demon's Souls for PlayStation 3 Pre-order Box set exclusive edition release in US October 7th

If you can only buy one version of Demon's Souls, make it one of these two...

Atlus revealed that Demon's Souls, a groundbreaking action RPG experience for PlayStation 3 system, is to become the newest entry in the Atlus Spoils fan appreciation program. In addition to the standard version of the game, which now features new North-American exclusive box art, there will also be a deluxe edition. For less than it costs to import the game, fans will receive a 150+ page strategy guide (only available as part of this deluxe version, not for sale anywhere else) and a collectible outer slipcase, in addition to the game itself.

Moreover, fans who pre-order either version will receive a free bonus art book with designs and concept sketches from the world of Demon's Souls (only at participating retailers, while supplies last).

"Atlus Spoils is all about giving back to our fans and thanking them for their support, and we're excited to be able to do something very special for Demon's Souls," stated Tim Pivnicny, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Atlus. "On October 6th, PLAYSTATION 3 system owners will be treated to the definitive release of what many consider to be the most innovative action RPG in recent memory. With both the standard and deluxe versions of the game accompanied by irresistible North American exclusives, like a special pre-order bonus art book, we hope this is an offer patient Demon's Souls fans will be hard-pressed to resist."

Demon's Souls for PLAYSTATION 3 system is scheduled for North American release on October 6, 2009. The standard version will retail with an MSRP of $59.99, and the deluxe edition with an MSRP of $69.99. Pre-orders for the deluxe edition are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 8th.

About Demon's Souls
King Allant the XII, the last king of Boletaria, searched tirelessly to expand his might. The Nexus, a great ice shrine nestled in the mountains, bestowed the power of the souls onto him, bringing prosperity to his kingdom. Still unsated, he returned again to the Nexus, where he foolishly awakened the Old One from its eternal slumber. This long forgotten evil, now wrought upon Boletaria, plunged the realm into darkness and fog. A mighty demon horde poured into the kingdom, devouring the souls of men.

Champions from other realms learned of Boletaria's fate and sought to deliver the kingdom from evil; none would return from the cursed land. Called upon by a mysterious maiden in black, you go forth, the last hope for humanity in a place lost to demons and darkness...

Key Features

* Ultimate hardcore RPG challenge - In this brutal land, death is inevitable, but not final. Combining the best features of an action game and RPG, you'll slice, smash, shoot, and ensorcel some of the most horrible, vicious enemies ever encountered. Are you strong enough to face the impossible and win?
* Groundbreaking online capabilities - Network features go far beyond any previous RPG, allowing players to leave hints for each other, replay death scenes, cooperatively revive dead players, or invade another player's game to wreak havoc. Not merely an add-on feature, multiplayer options are vast, and uniquely focused on changing and intensifying the single player experience.
* Freeform and flexible - The open-ended structure of the game means that there is no single path, but rather a wealth of options. Set your own pace and progress as you like. Build exactly the character you want by creating a detailed avatar, nurturing the right stats, and customizing your skills and equipment.
* You act, the world reacts - The World Tendency system changes the aggressiveness of monsters and the rewards for killing them based on players' actions. Different events and NPCs may be triggered, as well.

Excalibur to release PC Digger Simulator, Crane Simulator, Forklift Truck Simulator, Driving Simulator and Farm Simulator games.

Starting off with Farming Simulator, this is a product which was one of Germany’s best-selling PC titles in 2008 with sales in excess of 100,000 units during its first five weeks on the Media Control GfK chart. The five other titles are: Digger Simulator, Crane Simulator, Forklift Truck Simulator, Driving Simulator and Farm Simulator.

Commenting on the deal which will see all six titles published between August and November 2009, Excalibur’s managing director, Robert Stallibrass offered: “These simulation titles offer Excalibur publishing an excellent inroad into this very niche market. We look forward to making a great success of each of them!”

Bleach The 3rd Phantom video game takes on new role for Europe on Nintendo DS

BLEACH: The 3rd Phantom will be released in Europe early next year, exclusively for the Nintendo DS. Based on the critically acclaimed manga and animated series, BLEACH: The 3rd Phantom marks the first venture into the Strategy RPG genre for the series.

A spin-off from the main narrative, BLEACH: The 3rd Phantom’s exclusive storyline has been created from the ground up under the supervision of Tite Kubo, the author and creator of BLEACH. Shedding light on events that transpired before the anime, the story centres around the Soul Reaper twins, Fujimaru Kudo and his sister Matsuri Kudo. As they progress through the story, fans will encounter the familiar faces of Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki, alongside never before seen characters developed specifically for the title.

The two lead characters offer completely unique gameplay experiences, as well as the chance to work cooperatively towards achieving their ultimate moves. With a further cast of over fifty characters who can be selected to join the battle, users will discover a wide range of dynamic personalities as they journey through the game. Interactive in-game dialogue sequences will allow gamers to manage personal relationships with the characters and even unlock new ones. As players fight against the Arrancar and Hollows, they will gain experience to further customise their abilities. Utilising each character’s unique skills and strengths, players will be able to adapt to any situation as they create and command an army of up to eight Soul Reapers.

BLEACH: The 3rd Phantom employs a traditional Strategy RPG gameplay format with an added bonus of anime styled combat during in-game battles. Gamers will enjoy the best of both worlds as the graphics in the field map feature outrageous renditions of BLEACH characters in a 3-D isometric environment, while in-game battles are rendered with beautiful 2-D graphics taken from the animated series. Once gamers complete the story mode, a bounty of unlockable content awaits them. The multiplayer feature will allow up to two players to battle head-to-head via Wireless Mode.

BLEACH: The 3rd Phantom on Nintendo DS is slated for release in Europe early in 2010.

Create your own hero with Champions Online video game

Create your own hero with Champions Online, a massively multiplayer online action game based on the popular pen-and-paper Champions RPG, will give players the power of total customization of their hero experience while they explore a vast universe of richly detailed 3D environments.
Champions Online is all about total customization - it will offer a near infinite amount of character customization so that all players will have a unique game experience. Gamers will be able to create their hero's name, back story, costume, powers and abilities as well as design their own personal arch-enemy and his or her back story, which will guarantee a truly unique experience.

* Total Character Customization
* A game filled with action based combat
* Choose your unique power
* Design your nemesis
* Varied, Expansive Environments:
* The storyline will be fully personlized

Fight Night Round 4 review for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 consoles

I got in close, chucked off a few body blows, swerved a jab and with a quick flick of the right stick and a tap of the A button unleashed Iron Mike Tyson's signature jumping haymaker to send the great Muhammad Ali to the canvass.

The massively satisfying sequence was instantly replayed in slow-mo, hi def EA polished glory and my fate was sealed, 'I'm playing this for the next two days solid'.



Better yet I did not fall out of love with Fight Night Round 4 when Ali got up, dusted himself down and absolutely pummelled me for the next three rounds before knocking me out completely with a masterclass befitting the legendary man.

View all Six gamezplay Fight Night 4 video here...

Read full post here on The Bucks Herald

Aliens v Predator is an entirely new title for PC and high-definition consoles

Aliens v Predator is an entirely new title for PC and high-definition consoles from acclaimed British developer Rebellion, the team behind the 1999 original PC gaming classic.

Bringing the most intense war between two of science-fiction’s most popular characters FPS fans, AvP delivers three outstanding single player campaigns and provides untold hours of unique 3-way multiplayer gaming.

Experience distinctly new and thrilling first person gameplay as you survive, hunt and prey in the deadly jungles and swamps surrounding the damned colony of Freya’s Prospect.

- As the Marine, you’ll experience a claustrophobic and terrifying experience where light is your friend, but there’s never enough. However, the United States Marine Corps are humanity’s last line of defence, and as such they are armed to the teeth with the very latest in high explosive and automatic weaponry.

- As the Predator, you will stalk from the shadows and from above, passing athletically through the treetops to ambush your victims. Although equipped with an array of powerful, exotic weapons and tracking equipment, honour ultimately dictates that you must get in close and take your trophies face to face.

- As the most deadly species in the universe, the Alien offers you the chance to play as the very stuff of nightmares - the monster in the dark swarming forward with countless others, jaws like a steel trap and claws like blades.

- Play all sides off against each other in a series of unique 3-way online modes and go tooth-to-claw-to-pulse rifle in the reinvention of one of multiplayer gaming’s defining moments.

Activisions DJ Hero video game could cost under £100 in UK?

A £108 price has been rumoured for Activision's new musical offering DJ Hero this week, although the publisher refuse to be drawn into confirming or denying this speculation.
"We don't comment on our product pricing strategies," Activision told blog VG247.

"However, we believe that DJ Hero will provide tremendous value for our consumers by delivering an all-new interactive music experience with over 100 individual songs that are highlighted in over 80 unique mixes, a wide variety of music from some of the biggest artists including Jay-Z, Eminem, Benny Benassi, Gwen Stefani and Black Eyed Peas among others."

Retailer ShopTo suggested the £107.99 pricing recently, stating that they will sell the game at a discount - £94.85.

Source: Play.tm

Sony panned to drop UMD in PSPs well before the PSP Go was announced

The Japanese website GameBusiness claims, in an interview with Naoya Matsui, Sony planned the demise of the UMD a long time ago.

In the interview, he claimed that Sony always planned to release a handheld gamer, like the PSP Go, without a UMD drive.

"We'd planned to release a PSP model without a UMD drive since the very beginning," he's reported as saying.

No physical media

According to Matsui, Sony has been waiting for the electronic delivery mechanisms to mature sufficiently to make physical media redundant.

He explained: "We wanted to release it when the delivery of digital content was on par with the delivery of physical media. That's what we've been working on these past two years."



Whether Sony really did have the UMD's demise planned when the original PSP launched in 2004, we'll never really know, but come October's PSP Go launch, we'll definitely get a feel for life without those unloved little disks.

Play takes 200 billion ISKs in EVE Online video game Fraud

The latest major scandal in EVE Online, the space MMO notable for its large, player-driven economy and the entertaining stories it often generates. A player named Ricdic, chairman of a large in-game bank, decided to embezzle roughly 200 billion ISK (the game's currency). Ricdic exchanged the ISK for about $5,000 to pay off real-life debts. Massively has an in-depth write-up about how the theft affects the game and its players.

Since the scandal became public, there's been a run on the virtual bank, and its executives are doing what they can to reassure people that it will continue to exist. Ricdic was banned, not for the embezzlement, but for trading 200 billion ISK for real currency, which is forbidden by EVE's EULA.

Source: Slashdot

HD Nintendo Wii to dominate console sales by 2015

An analyst is forecasting that Nintendo will continue to dominate the gaming console domain for the next couple of years or so, and that the HD iteration of Nintendo Wii console is there in the offing.

Speaking to Edge Online, Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan, asserted that the HD upgrade of Wii will help the console beating Sony PS3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 to second and third spots respectively in global sales of consoles by 2015.

Predicting the dominance of Nintendo Wii in game consoles market for the next two years, he said in a statement, “The console’s low price point, innovative control mechanism, and compatibility with standard definition televisions will provide it with a competitive advantage over the next two years”.

He further went on to say that Sony will eventually hit the second spot, primarily because of the company’s victory in the HD DVD format war, while Microsoft Xbox will slip to the third spot, owing to its lack of penetration in Japanese market.

Read the full post on Storage IT here...