Cities XL download demo links - get the game now....

The demo of the highly anticipated next-generation city building game CITIES XL is now live. The demo period will run for the month of September and will give players the chance to build a city of up to 22,000 citizens on a persistent planet (the full version of the game lets you create megalopolises of millions of citizens).

Players will be able to build their city across three available maps (the full version of the game will include 25 maps for solo mode and 50 for the Planet Offer). Inter-city trading, the chat function and a limited avatar builder have all been included, along with the possibility to visit Capital City, a town that offers an example of what can be created with Cities XL.



Players can also create their own city journals and start a new city as often as they wish for the duration of the demo period. Developed by Monte Cristo Games, CITIES XL expands upon all the features that make city builders fun and interesting, while also letting players take their game online, as they interact with others in a persistent online environment.

Realism will be pushed to the limit with cities that are bigger, more realistic and more sophisticated than ever before. Cities XL will launch exclusively for PC in October 2009

You can download the demo from one of the following locations:
Worthplaying
GamersHell
BigDownload
Strategy Informer

Snapshot of Safar'Wii video game

Live as a wild life reporter in Safar’Wii. On Animal Island you can explore and take photographs of all the different species that live there. Save all your photo’s in your album and learn facts about the animals as well as hear what they sound like in the wild!

You have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to explore a new island, Animal Island. As a photographer for ‘Animal News’ you will be given assignments to take photographs of the islands inhabitants, and experience them up close and personal.

“Safar’Wii makes your dreams of getting close to wild animals a reality,” said Emma Jenkins Product Manager, “it gives kids the chance to interact with animals, see them in their natural habitats and learn about them in an exciting and fun way.”

With 21 different species, take the perfect picture as you travel around the island. See lion cubs sleeping with their mother or a cheetah stalking its prey. As you carry out your assignments your relationship with the animals will grow. As you gain their trust, you’ll be able to do things like hug a panda or ride an elephant.

Learn more about the animals you have seen by saving them in your animal file, and create a photo album filled with the best pictures.

Wild animals to track, a mysterious island to explore & the opportunity to learn about all the animals – a real Safari adventure!

Safar’Wii is out on the Nintendo Wii September 2009.

Rake In Grass releases Crystal Cave Vide Game Classic

Rake In Grass is proud to present the release Crystal Cave Classic – a remake of a logic game Crystal Cave.

Crystal Cave Classic is a quest for long-lost treasures buried in pitch black caves, pyramids and temples of ancient civilizations. Huge gemstones were sheltered from the sunshine for eons of time waiting for explorers brave enough to unearth them. You, as an intrepid treasure hunter, will need all your ingenuity to pass the traps and dangers of the underground and collect the treasure in more than 170 levels.

Crystal Cave Classic is an adventure logic game for players of all ages. The game is available for Windows PC and Mac OS X version.

The main features:

- Explore lost tombs and ancient dungeons
- Lots of logic riddles - train your brain!
- Play in over 170 levels
- Use teleports, boulders and other types of rocks to solve levels
- Four graphic scenarios
- Original music
- Create your own levels using our simple editor

Game's official site:
http://crystalcave.rakeingrass.com

GamersGate Reveals Upcoming Video Game Promotions, Releases and Pre-orders

GamersGate today announced their weekly specials:

Publisher Week:

Sega Week - All Sega games - 50% OFF (pre-orders excluded)

Games of the Weekend (September 10-13):

Star Assault - 50% OFF
Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts - 50% OFF

New release (Friday, September 11):

Mini Ninjas - Eidos (UK excluded)

New pre-order program:
• With each pre-order, users will earn bonus Blue Coins that can be used to purchase other titles.
• A price-drop guarantee that guarantees that if the pre-ordered game drops in price within 30 days from release for more than 5 days, the customer will get the difference backin Blue Coins.
• The pre-ordered game will be loaded to the user's account six hours before release to avoid heavy traffic (with publisher approval).
Games available for pre-order:

Pre-order Football Manager 2010 - get Outrun 2006: Coast to Coast for FREE!
Pre-order Alpha Protocol - get Space Siege for FREE!
Pre-order Batman Arkham Asylum
Pre-order Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim - get Majesty Gold Edition for FREE!
Pre-order Red Faction Guerrilla - get Red Faction 1 and 2 for FREE!
Pre-order Sacred 2 Ice and Blood
Pre-order Raven Squad

For latest up-dates and news, follow us on Twitter @gamersgate, and join us on Facebook!

Mini-game despatches players onto the Course of Terror!

The curtain goes up on the ‘Course of Terror’! The clown Malatina offers a new solo challenge for plucky adventurers in the Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game, Runes of Magic. Once per day, she will give players the opportunity to enter a challenging, obstacle-packed dungeon. The mini-game will be added to the game in the final content update along with the full launch of ‘Chapter II – The Elven Prophecy’, on 15 September.

The dungeon consists of a chamber containing 45 fields, each with a seal that hides a range of different obstacles to challenge the adventurer. Each of these demands a special tactic: For example, ice barricades can only be overcome by using a heavy artillery piece. Players have to use the right tools for the job during the game‘s ten minutes. Clown ghosts constantly appear, making matters even worse for our heroes. Once adventurers discover the field containing the key, they’ll receive rewards as well as an entry into the next round. Special titles can also be unlocked using ‘ghost cards’, to reward players for completing the challenge.

There is also additional work in progress on other solo challenges which will be added to Runes of Magic. “We like to always look for ways to keep our players entertained and offer them plenty of variety,” commented PR Manager Philipp Senkbeil. “MMO players don’t always want to be in groups and mini-games are a perfect change from the routine of raids.”

There’s a new in-game video showing the ‘Course of Terror’ in action at: www.runesofmagic.com/en/videos.html

Arsenal of Democracy - A 'Hearts of Iron' Video Game

Paradox Interactive are excited to unveil a brand new Hearts of Iron game entitled Arsenal of Democracy, set to release on PC in December.

Developed by BL-Logic, a development studio made up by fans of the Hearts of Iron series and active member of the modding community, Arsenal of Democracy is the ultimate World War II simulation and is described by Project Leader Lennart Berg as “Hearts of Iron II on steroids!”

Describing the idea and process behind the creation of Arsenal of Democracy, Berg goes on to say, “During the years of the Hearts of iron II lifecycle, I made a list of improvements in the forums and these became the guidelines to the new game. So we went ahead and implemented these along with many more ideas until we had pretty much replaced and enhanced everything from the original. The end result, in our very humble opinion, is the ultimate World War II simulation.”

KEY FEATURES
• Increased resolution and windowed mode freely selectable
• Totally reworked combat mechanics, new missions and realistic combat behavior and losses
• Several new technologies
• New espionage interface and reworked espionage system
• One of the most detailed economy and production system found in any Hearts of Iron game
• Realistic logistics system
• Everything is moddable
• AI reworked and now poses a genuine threat, even to experienced players
• 4 new battle scenarios

Beatles Rock band worldwide debut - First-of-its-kind Music Video Game Capturing The Beatles' Extraordinary Music, Career and Legacy + track list

Apple Corps, MTV Games and Harmonix, the world’s leading developer of music-based games and a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks, announce The Beatles : Rock Band will be available tomorrow in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other territories. Released simultaneously with the digitally re-mastered Beatles CD catalogue, the music-based video game will offer players an unprecedented, experiential progression through the music and artistry of The Beatles and be available for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Wii™ console from Nintendo.

From the early touring days in 1963 Liverpool to the immortal, final performance on the Apple Corps rooftop, fans can follow in The Fab Four’s footsteps as they traverse the globe during the height of Beatlemania, unlocking real photos and videos of The Beatles – some never before seen by the public. Beatles fans will also be thrilled to hear previously unreleased authentic voice recordings from John, Paul, George and Ringo chatting between takes during studio sessions recorded at Abbey Road more than four decades ago.

The Beatles: Rock Band allows fans to pick up the guitar, bass, mic or drums and experience The Beatles’ extraordinary catalogue of music through gameplay that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band’s legendary career. Additionally, for the first time in a music videogame, The Beatles: Rock Band introduces three-part vocal harmonies to gameplay, allowing gamers to revel in the unparalleled vocal stylings of The Beatles.

The Beatles: Rock Band features 45 songs on-disc representing a cross-section of hits and favorites that span The Beatles’ storied career. Additional music from The Beatles’ epic catalogue will be made available for purchase and download through The Beatles: Rock Band Music Store. Abbey Road will be released on October 20, 2009, followed by the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in November and Rubber Soul in December.

The 45 songs included in The Beatles: Rock Band and the venues in which they are featured in are:

Cavern Club (1963):
• Twist And Shout
• Boys
• Do You Want To Know A Secret
• I Saw Her Standing There Ed Sullivan Theater (1964):
• I Want To Hold Your Hand
• Can’t Buy Me Love
• A Hard Day’s Night
• I Wanna Be Your Man
Shea Stadium (1965):
• Ticket to Tide
• I’m Looking Through You
• Eight Days A Week
• If I Needed Someone
• I Feel Fine Budokan (1966):
• Day Tripper
• And Your Bird Can Sing
• Drive My Car
• Taxman
• Paperback Writer
Abbey Road (1966-1967):
• Yellow Submarine
• Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / With A Little Help From My Friends
• Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
• Getting Better
• Within You Without You / Tomorrow Never Knows
• Good Morning Good Morning Abbey Road (1967-1968):
• I Am The Walrus
• Hello Goodbye
• Hey Bulldog
• Back In The U.S.S.R.
• Dear Prudence
• While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Abbey Road (1968-1969):
• Helter Skelter
• Revolution
• Birthday
• Octopus’s Garden
• Something
• Come Together
• Here Comes The Sun Rooftop Concert (1969):
• Dig a Pony
• I’ve Got A Feeling
• Don’t Let Me Down
• I Me Mine
• I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
• Get Back
Encore:
The End

As previously announced, “All You Need Is Love” will be released tomorrow, September 9, 2009, exclusively through Xbox LIVE for a limited time as a downloadable track for The Beatles: Rock Band. All Apple Corps Ltd, MTV Games, Harmonix and Microsoft proceeds will benefit Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

The Beatles: Rock Band will offer a new set of hardware replicas representing the instruments made famous by John, Paul, George and Ringo. Featured in the set are the Rickenbacker 325 and Gretsch Duo Jet guitars—hailed as two of the celebrated, signature instruments played by John Lennon and George Harrison throughout their careers. Also available is a Höfner bass controller—a large-scale replica of the bass famously used by Sir Paul McCartney. Rounding out the set is a Ringo Starr inspired Ludwig-branded Rock Band 2 drum set with a classic pearl finish and vintage replica Beatles kick drum head.

Pricing for The Beatles: Rock Band is as follows:

• Limited Edition Premium Bundle for Xbox 360/PS3/Wii: US MSRP $249.99, continental Europe MSRP €199.00, UK MSRP £179.00
• Includes: The Beatles: Rock Band software, Höfner Bass controller: Large scale replica of the Bass famously used by Sir Paul McCartney, Beatles-inspired and Ludwig-branded Rock Band 2 drums with classic pearl finish and vintage replica Beatles kick drum head, Microphone, Microphone Stand, additional special content
• Rickenbacker 325 Standalone Guitar for Xbox 360/PS3/Wii: US MSRP $99.99, continental Europe MSRP €99.99, UK MSRP £89.99
• Gretsch Duo Jet Standalone Guitar for Xbox 360/PS3/Wii: US MSRP $99.99, continental Europe MSRP €99.99, UK MSRP £89.99
• The Beatles: Rock Band Software for Xbox 360/PS3: US MSRP $59.99, continental Europe MSRP €69.99, UK MSRP £49.99
• The Beatles: Rock Band Software for Wii: US MSRP $59.99, continental Europe MSRP €49.99, UK MSRP £39.99

The game will also be compatible with all Rock Band™ instrument controllers, as well as most Guitar Hero® and other authorized third party music video game peripherals and microphones.

The Beatles: Rock Band marks the first time that Apple Corps, along with EMI Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Harrisongs Ltd and Startling Music Ltd has presented The Beatles music in an interactive video game format. The Beatles: Rock Band is published by MTV Games and developed by Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game company and creators of the best-selling Rock Band. Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) is serving as distribution partner for the game. In addition, Giles Martin, co-producer of The Beatles innovative LOVE album project, provided his expertise and served as Music Producer for this groundbreaking Beatles project.

The Beatles: Rock Band is rated “T” for Teen with the descriptors “Mild Lyrics” and “Tobacco Reference” by the ESRB.

128 teams to compete in Counter-Strike: Source and Call of Duty 4

From Tuesday 15th September to Sunday 27th September two tournaments will take place, each offering the winning team a superb prize of five ATI Radeon 4850 512MB graphics cards, providing the kind of graphical power any gamers wants in their computer - when you combine the ATI Radeon 4850 series GPUs with SAPPHIRE’s know-how you get a graphics card than can propel you deep into your gameplay with seamless frame rates and high resolutions.

The SAPPHIRE Call of Duty 4 tournament will kick off on the 15th with over 1,200 hours of gaming in just 6 days, with this feat repeated the next week for a different 64 teams, competing in the SAPPHIRE Counter-Strike: Source tournament, which commences on Tuesday 22nd September.

“It’s great to be working with SAPPHIRE again after their great involvement with our event at Gadget Show Live 2009,” said Adam Godfrey, Business Development for Heaven Media. “SAPPHIRE has long been the favoured graphics card brand for gamers due to the high and reliable quality of their products.”

“We believe that helping esports continue to grow is a very important goal” said SAPPHIRE’s Adrian Thompson. “We’re pleased to be supporting Esports Heaven’s September Madness, and are looking forward to some great games taking place!”

These SAPPHIRE tournaments will be covered by Cadred.org and Tek-9.org, two of Europe’s most influential esports coverage sites.

Outspark Appoints Owen Mahoney to Chief Executive Officer

Outspark, the premier North American publisher for free-to-play massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, today announced the appointment of Owen Mahoney as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Mahoney’s career path spans traditional and online media including senior executive roles at Electronic Arts Inc., the leading global independent developer and publisher of video games. Outspark’s Founder and current CEO, Susan Choe, will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board and work with game developers on partnering with Outspark.

Mr. Mahoney will accelerate Outspark’s continued expansion of its global user base from North America where it is has the largest free-to-play MMO audience. The company has also established a rapidly growing community in Europe and in the Pacific Rim where free-to-play games have attracted large audiences for many years. Currently, Outspark has a registered user base of more than 4.7 million globally, and since the company launched in 2007, traffic to Outspark has grown to 5.4 million unique visitors a month.

“Since founding Outspark early 2007, the Freemium MMOG market has evolved dramatically. Outspark’s team has built a leading game publishing company, executing solid growth while bringing together a unique MMOG publishing platform with social community elements,” said Susan Choe. “With Owen’s leadership and business experience in the global gaming industry, Outspark will evolve as a leading global game industry player.”

Mr. Mahoney brings more than 15 years experience working in the digital media sector. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President of corporate and business development at Electronic Arts, and during his 9-year tenure from 2000-2009, he led the company’s worldwide corporate development activities including acquisitions, equity investments and strategic partnerships. Previously, Mr. Mahoney has held numerous executive positions at online and software companies in both the U.S. and Asia, including PointCast, Claris Japan and Radius. Mr. Mahoney holds a B.A. in Asian Studies from the University of California at Berkeley and attended the University of Tokyo’s graduate law program.

"Having the opportunity build on Susan’s success is a great privilege and I'm honored by the board's endorsement," said Owen Mahoney. "Outspark appeals to a vast global user base and to everyone who wants to establish a connection with gamers around the world in real time. Outspark’s game publishing platform and portal also offer fantastic opportunities to both content developers and game publishers, and I look forward to providing value for Outspark, our loyal user base, investors and our great staff."

Outspark has enjoyed rapid success with a unique business model that has created a flourishing online community around the concept of engaging social events, in-game and around-game networking, user-generated content and a personalized user experience. Outspark currently offers five mid-casual MMO games with more titles being launched this year.

World's first exclusive - Xploder Is The First And Only Cheat System Available For Your DSi, FACT!

Legendary cheat experts Xploder have worked their magic once again by being the first to market with their cheat system for the Nintendo DSi.

For those of us DSi gamers who love to pamper our Nintendog pooches, we will for the first time be given the ability to unlock all toys, endless amounts of dog food and all of the new breeds, whilst those with a slightly darker side will be happy at the prospect of unlimited cash to expand our arsenal of weapons in GTA Chinatown Wars!

The on-line community database is where the genius lies in the Xploder cheat system, giving us instant access to constantly updated cheat saves which we simply download and transfer to our DSi games with the supplied cable.
Being part of the exclusive Xploder community also enables us to interact with like minded DS gamers and even upload our own saved games for others to use, filling us with an enormous sense of self satisfaction!

Another innovative and useful feature of the new Xploder is the ability to back up our own saved games to any PC, safeguarding the priceless hours we have all spent trying to get the better of our games.

DS Lite owners do not despair! The new Xploder cheats system is fully compatible with this slightly older generation of the Nintendo handheld and is supported 100% within the Xploder community.

So, whether we want to turn the tables on Professor Layton, beat the beat in Rhythm Paradise or get miles ahead in the latest DS Mario Kart, Xploder’s ever expanding online database contains literally 100’s of cheat saves to give us a helping hand with all the latest, hottest titles.

The Xploder cheats for DSi and DS Lite consoles is available now from www.xploder.net and all leading video game stores for just £14.99.

Please click the link below to go directly to the product page:
http://www.xploder.net/nintendo-ds/products/189/Nintendo-DS-DS-Lite-and-DSi-Xploder-Cheats.htm

Features:

• Fully compatible with DSi and DS lite consoles
• 100’s of cheat saves for the hottest titles
• Future proof with ever expanding database of cheat saves
• Exclusive entry to the Xploder online Community
• DSi / DS Lite Transfer cable included