Mafia 2 video game GamesCom Fact sheet - Exclusive screenshots video and game video

Born the son of a poor immigrant, Vito is a beaten down Italian American who is trying to escape the life of poverty that consumed his childhood. It was on the streets that Vito learns that joining the Mafia is the only route to wealth and respect for people of his standing. Wanting to escape the life of hardship that his father led, he dreams about becoming a “Made Man.”



A petty criminal his whole life, Vito, along with his childhood friend, Joe, will descend into the world of organized crime. Together, they will work to prove themselves to the Mafia as they try to make their names on the streets. Starting with low-level jobs like robbery and stealing cars, Vito and Joe escalate quickly up the Mafia family ladder…but the life as a wise guy isn’t quite as glamorous as it seems.



Features:

- Immersive Gangster Experience: Through strong, authentic characterization, compelling narrative and stunning presentation, the mature storyline will make players understand the pull and impossible escape of life in the Mafia
- Action-Packed Gameplay: Take part in heart-stopping car-to-car chases, visceral hand-to-hand combat and intense gunplay, all of which come together to form a deep and engrossing gameplay experience
- Illusion Engine : 2K Czech’s proprietary Illusion Engine, allows gamers to explore Empire Bay’s 10 square miles while transitioning from beautifully rendered outdoor environments to intricately designed interiors seamlessly without the need for loading times
- Authentic Portrayal of Mid-20th Century America: Experience an epic story set across two decades where the clothing, cars and advertising are meticulously created to replicate the feel of a ‘40s and ‘50s American city; as players progress through the eras the city and its elements will change to reflect the time period.
- Soundtrack Reflects the Mood of the Era: Players will be immersed in the Golden Era of America as Mafia II features tracks from some of the era’s most influential artists

Title: Mafia II
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: 2K Czech
Platform: PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows-based PC
ESRB Rating: Not Yet Rated
Release Date: Early 2010

Just Cause 2 video game website launched - with video

Eidos Interactive Ltd, creator of some of the world’s leading video game properties, today announced the launch of the official Just Cause 2 website, packed with game information, new video content, screens and a competition with a money-can’t-buy prize!


Launched today at JustCause.com, the official website puts its main focus on community. Designed to offer the ever-growing fanbase a place to have their voices heard, registered users are encouraged to participate throughout the site. Fans will be able to comment on the current news postings or media downloads, discuss the latest happenings in the extensive user forums or download a custom-made fansite starter kit to create their own Just Cause 2 website. For the ultimate Just Cause junkie, the site has launched with a community competition to offer five registered users the chance to have their names star in the game as colonels in the island’s military regime.

A content-rich destination site for both fans of the series and new players alike, JustCause.com will become a repository for news and features surrounding the game. The site will be updated regularly with every bit of news and information and will also feature an extensive media section with exclusive content available from launch, including trailers, walkthrough videos, podcasts, ringtones and more.

“In creating the official Just Cause 2 website, we wanted to create an editorially-driven site packed with entertaining and informative content which both fans and those new to the series could really become part of,” said Lee Singleton, General Manager of Eidos Game Studios. “What we are launching with today is the tip of the iceberg, with plans already underway for numerous community rewards for registered users; more competitions and great prizes; and community days nearer launch where registered users can be amongst the first to play the game.”

Developed by Avalanche Studios, Just Cause 2 is an adrenalin-fuelled, free-roaming action/adventure set in the island paradise of Panau. Playing as agent Rico Rodriguez, players can explore over 1000km² of tropical beaches, snow-capped mountains, arid desert and dense jungle as they attempt to eliminate their former boss and mentor who has gone rogue with agency money and secrets. Using a unique grapple and parachute combination, there is no vertical limit as the air becomes your playground: grapple a passing plane in flight, hijack helicopters or BASE jump from the tallest buildings or mountains. Just Cause 2 offers players the freedom to tackle missions the way they choose and with over 100 vehicles and countless upgrades and collectibles, the choices are limitless.

Playing EA Sports Madden NFL Creates a More Passionate & Knowledgable Football Fan

Does the Madden NFL franchise create a better football fan? EA SPORTS, a label of Electronic Arts, announce the results of the Madden Football IQ study, conducted by the University of Oregon’s Warsaw Sports Marketing Center. This year’s study, which examined how fans of Madden NFL also interact with the sport of football, determined that fans who play the Madden NFL video game series are not only more knowledgable about the game of football, but are also more avid, devoted fans.



“For the second year, we delved into the relationship that the Madden NFL game forges with real football, and the study proved that it runs very deep. Madden NFL fans are not only extremely knowledgable about the game of football, they are equally as passionate,” said Paul Swangard, Managing Director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon. “Twenty-one years of the Madden NFL franchise has created a smarter and more devoted football fan.”

The study surveyed more than 9,000 EA SPORTS Madden NFL players and football fans on both knowledge of the sport and fan avidity. Building on a previous study, respondents’ football knowledge was tested through five categories of football knowledge: Game Situations, General Knowledge, History, Rules and Business of Sport.

In addition to testing respondents’ football knowledge and game-playing habits, consumption of NFL football was also measured through questions on viewing, attending games and purchasing habits as it relates to the sport of football. Based on the results of the consumption and knowledge portions of the study, the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center developed a football “fan avidity” score to examine the correlation of time spent playing Madden NFL and being a passionate football fan.

According to the fan avidity score, the more hours playing the Madden NFL game correlates to a more devoted and involved NFL fan. The most passionate of these fans are less likely to miss a football game on Sunday than most non-Madden players and are likely to attend at least one NFL game per season.

Madden NFL Creates More Passionate Football Fans

According to the survey, Madden NFL players on average consume 35 percent more football content than those who do not play the game. This measurement included information on viewing, attending games, and purchasing habits related to the game of football.

One of the greatest differentiators between Madden NFL gamers and those that didn’t play the game was football viewing patterns. When it comes to watching football games, there is no NFL fan more reliable than a Madden NFL player, as 42 percent of Madden NFL players indicated they never miss a football game due to other activities. Only 12 percent of non-Madden NFL players would make the same claim.

Madden NFL players also watch a lot of football. During the regular NFL season, 43 percent of Madden NFL players watched 16 or more hours of NFL programming per week – two-thirds of a day per week or more – compared to only 15 percent of non- Madden NFL players. And it doesn’t slow down much in the off-season, as 41 percent of Madden NFL players watch six or more hours of football-related television per week compared to only 14 percent of non-Madden NFL players.

Madden NFL players also bring their passion to their teams. Madden NFL players more regularly attend NFL games: 58 percent of Madden NFL players attend at least one game a year, compared to only 39 percent of non-Madden NFL players.

“Each year, EA SPORTS provides an authentic football experience through the Madden NFL franchise for fans to not only fuel their passion, but also to learn the game of football,” said Peter Moore, president of EA SPORTS. “The findings of the Madden Football IQ study demonstrate that Madden NFL player’s knowledge and passion for the game of football is unparalleled.”

Madden NFL Players More Knowledgable About Nuances of Football

In this year’s study, the Madden NFL Football IQ survey found that Madden NFL players continue to be more knowledgable about the game of football than non-Madden players. Out of a total of 25 questions, Madden NFL players scored higher in all five survey categories. Categories where Madden NFL players scored significantly better were Game Situations and General Knowledge categories, where Madden NFL players scored 19 and 12 percent higher, respectively.

Questions where Madden NFL players scored particularly higher indicated intricate knowledge of not only football mechanics, but also nuanced knowledge of football terminology. Examples included:

* 67 percent of Madden NFL players correctly identified specific passing routes versus 48 percent of non-Madden NFL players.
* Madden NFL players also know their defensive schemes, with 81 percent correctly identifying formations compared to 67 percent of non-Madden respondents.
* Madden NFL players get inside the game of football as well, demonstrated as they correctly defined injury classification terms more often than non-Madden NFL players. For example, 63 percent of Madden NFL players correctly defined “Injured Reserve” versus 48 percent of non-Madden NFL players.

In the near future, fans will be able to take the Madden Football IQ survey online when they visit the Madden NFL 10 page.

Future Racer - Slick anti-grav racing out now on iPhone and iPod Touch

Future Racer, The highly anticipated debut iPhone title from independent developer Assyria Game Studio, launches on iTunes today priced at £0.59 / €0.79 / $0.99 for a promotional launch period only.

The incredibly slick title is a high-speed, anti-gravity racer boasting fully 3D environments and a wide range of fiendish tracks set to test your reflexes to the limit. From complicated toxic sewer networks, winding forests littered with hazards and illuminated night-time cityscapes, each of the six tracks are bursting with character. Future Racer strikes the perfect balance between delivering high speed thrills and impressive visuals, without compensating style for speed.

Integrating full tilt control, the game is easy to pick up and play, but difficult to master, with skilled AI players and the ongoing pressure of racing against the clock. Moving away from combat-based pickups, Future Racer focuses purely on speed and skill, with power-ups including speed boosts and subtracting precious seconds from your finishing time.

Key Features:

-Simple accessible controls utilize the iPhone and iPod Touch tilt functionality

-Six wildly different tracks and six racing vehicles with differing strengths and weaknesses

-Compete against fiendish AI players to unlock medals and trophies

-A collection of beneficial pick-ups to utilize throughout each race

-Visually stunning full 3D environments

-Fully licensed soundtrack from Triptik

Shamans Join the Battle in Rumble Fighter video game

New Class Draws Upon Ancient Knowledge and Natural Energy

Players in Rumble Fighter, the massively multiplayer brawler from OGPlanet, now have a new tool in their struggle against the Dark Guardians, the evil league of warriors bent on destroying the world.

The Shaman class, introduced today, is composed of mystical spiritualists who draw their energy from nature. Players who have fought the game's first PvE boss, Typhoon, have already heard how the Shamans' ancient magic sealed the great ice beast away for 500 years. Their powers make them a natural enemy to the Dark Guardians, including Typhoon himself, so Rumble Fighters who take up the ancient weapons of the Shamans will need to be ready for battle against the constant threat of this evil group.

In honor of the Shamans' arrival, OGPlanet is offering traditional Shaman ceremonial Earth Guardian and Earth Guardian Angel costumes in the Astro Shop. Players who purchase the Shaman class will also receive the powerful Nagib's Head ExoCore.

Hip Hop All Star video game for iPhone and iPod Touch

Featuring An Original Playlist From Today's Hottest Hip Hop Stars and DJs, Hip Hop All Star Turns iPhones Into Virtual Turntables in September

I-play, Oberon Media's publishing division and the world's leading multi-platform casual games publisher, today announced Hip Hop All Star for iPhone and iPod touch.



In Hip Hop All Star, players scratch and spin their way to DJ stardom to the tune of an original and exclusive playlist from 12 top-selling hip hop artists, mixing classic old-school hip hop with the new-school hip hop.

Hip Hop All Star's breakthrough real-time scratching technology and flawless touch-screen controls provide innovative and addicting gameplay from the block party all the way to the hippest clubs. Players must tap notes in rhythm with the music and scratch the turntables to perform in five different party locations. With WiFi and BlueTooth Multi-player modes, players can challenge friends to real-time DJ battles and use power ups to bust out scratch tricks and wow the crowd (and their friends). Once the first 12 songs are mastered, players can increase the set list with new downloadable tracks as they continue to spin, scratch and rock the party. In addition, the best of the best can earn DJ bragging rights by sharing their high scores with friends using the game's Facebook Connect feature.

The Hip Hop All Star set list will feature original tracks from Busta Rhymes, Kid Cudi, Mya, Ray J, Greg Nice, Jason Nevins, Slim Thug, Kool G Rap, Unk, DJ Eclipse, DJ Serafin, DJ Eddie James, Ike Lees, and Scarchild. They will be joined by DJ Green Lantern, one of the most successful and critically acclaimed DJs, and host of Hip Hop Nation on Sirius Satellite Radio.

"Hip Hop All Star is the most authentic DJ'ing experience you can get in a game," said DJ Green Lantern. "And be sure to check out the iPhone to iPhone DJ battles, and lay down a beat on your opponent anywhere, anytime."

"Hip Hop All Star is the hip hop lover's DJ game," said Don Ryan, chief operating officer at Oberon Media. "We think this will set the bar high as the first hip hop DJ game to hit the market, offering top -tier talent on a portable platform."

Hip Hop All Star is now available through select mobile carriers, and is scheduled for release in the Apple® App Store in September.

Elven Chronicles video game slashes its way onto the iPhone and iPod Touch!

Big Blue Bubble announce that their award winning role-playing game, Elven Chronicles, will be arriving on the Apple’s mobile platforms, the iPhone and iPod Touch, in September.

Elven Chronicles puts the player in the shoes of a young knight, fighting to discover the secrets of his forgotten past, and a charismatic elf on quest for self redemption.

With a massive 20 hours of captivating story, vast territories to explore, randomly generated dungeons, and gorgeous, hand drawn enemies and characters, Elven Chronicles will keep even the most seasoned RPG’er engaged.

Winner of Pop Vox’s Best Mobile Game, Elven Chronicles has garnered praised by industry professionals and critics alike: “Zelda meets Final Fantasy in this massive RPG” (Anannya Sen, Mobile Game FAQs).

Features…

• Classic Console RPG design
• Massive World Maps
• Captivating Story
• Countless Spells, Weapons, Armour and Accessories
• Random Dungeon Maps
• Stunning Characters and Scenery
• Over 20 hours of Gameplay

Elven Chronicles was developed for the Apple iPhone 3G/3Gs, iPod Touch.

Free Heavy Metal Content pack for PC survival horror video game Killing Floor plus 10% discount

Tripwire Interactive is releasing the free Heavy Metal Content Pack for the hit co-op survival horror title, Killing Floor AND throwing in a 10% discount on the game for the week. Following on from the success of the earlier DLC Character Pack, this entirely free update brings 2 new weapons, a brand new map and a bunch of other new features to the game. The major ones:

2 new weapons: the AK-47 assault rifle beefs up the Commando Perk, with heavier hitting power in semi and full automatic fire modes. The Katana is a classic melee weapon that combines speed, reach and cutting power.

A brand new map: KF-Foundry. This map is set in a Horzine manufacturing facility, tucked away in an old steel foundry. Multiple levels, strange machinery and molten metal all serve to create an eerie and frantic location to fight off the specimen hordes!

Further new features include:


Added "On Fire" behavior to all Specimens. When a specimen burns a certain amount, they will now freak out and behave like a burning zed should, making the flamethrower more effective.

Updated the flashlight to look and act in a more realistic fashion.

Tweaks include:


Added smoke to the Scrake's Chainsaw.

Adjusted the spawning of the Patriarch boss character to prevent cases where the boss was spawning too close to players.

Adjusted Bullpup's firing sound to have more bass.

Adjusted "Crisp up" settings for some of the Specimens when on fire.

Updated Mutator and Map White Lists (see Killing Floor forums for more details)

And, of course, some bug fixes:

Fixed Scrake's head glowing when decapitated.

Fixed "The Long War", "The Hard War", and "The Completely Suicidal War" achievements not unlocking.

Fixed known exploits on KF-Farm, KF-Manor, KF-Offices, and KF-WestLondon.

The pack is free to everyone who owns the game and will update automatically. Killing Floor is now available on Steam (www.steampowered.com) and is rolling out in stores across Europe and North America.

Zen Pinball Street Fighter 2 tribute expansion for Zen Pinball released

ZEN Studios, the leading developer of arcade-style pinball videogames in partnership with Capcom, announced today that ZEN Pinball Street Fighter II Tribute has launched as the initial expansion table for ZEN Pinball and is available on PlayStation Network for $2.49 and 1.99EURO. With loads of in-game challenges, players can to jump right into the action with combo shots, animated punches, kicks and special moves as only the Street Fighter franchise can deliver!

ZEN Pinball packs a heavy hitting punch with the addition of ZEN Pinball Street Fighter II Tribute! The table comes loaded with both the iconic World Warriors that revolutionized the fighting genre and the unique music and sound from the original game. Players can now experience the legendary Street Fighter franchise combined with the arcade thrills of traditional pinball with Zen Pinball’s signature cutting-edge visuals, true-to-life ball and table physics and new innovative features not found in any other pinball game.

Developed by ZEN Studios, ZEN Pinball Street Fighter II Tribute is the first of several expansion tables slated for release within the coming months and joins the existing V12, Tesla, Shaman and El Dorado tables that have already made ZEN Pinball one of the most popular games on the platform.

Midway Gmaes becomes Tradewest games after management buy out

Midway Games and Midway Games SAS (Paris) will from now on be operating under the names Tradewest Games and Tradewest Games SAS.

Martin Spiess, who previously was responsible for the European publishing and distribution arm of the international game publisher Midway Games Inc.

From 2005 onwards as Executive Vice President - International, recently acquired ownership of the UK and French offices of Midway Games Inc. as part of a management buyout.

During his time at Midway Spiess significantly expanded the company's European business. Most recently, Midway’s European publishing and distribution operations contributed close to 40% of Midway’s worldwide business. Spiess is considered to be one of the most experienced managers in the European games industry.

In addition to Midway’s UK and French offices Spiess has also acquired the rights to the Tradewest brand. This is a brand representative of tradition, a name under which a well-known North American game publisher operated between 1986 and 1994. In 1994 Tradewest’s business was taken over by WMS Industries (the then-proprietor of the Midway and Williams brands) and became Williams Entertainment Inc., which was then renamed Midway Home Entertainment Inc. in 1996. Over the following thirteen years Midway, whose parent was listed on the US New York Stock Exchange, moved on to become one of the leading developers and providers of computer and video games in the world.

“We are very glad to have acquired the rights to such an internationally well-known brand of such tradition in the gaming industry”, said Martin Spiess. “Under the name Tradewest Games we will as of now be acting as a European full service provider in the fields of game distribution and publishing. We have access to a wide-reaching global network of game developers and international partners from all relevant areas of the games industry. First and foremost, however, there's a well-experienced European team behind Tradewest Games that has proven its expertise and know-how in the past years by bringing to market some of the biggest games projects in the world.’’