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YouTube uploads integrated into PlayStation 3 games

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. has announced that it is integrating the YouTube API to allow developers to add video uploading to their titles.

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Dream Pinball 3D available now on Nintendo Wii

Classic Arcade Fun Reinvented in Cutting Edge Pinball Videogame

SouthPeak Games today announced that Dream Pinball 3D has shipped for Wii™ in the UK. The dazzling pinball simulator combines striking 3D graphics, realistic physics and a refined control system tailored to the unique features of the platform. Also released today new screenshots from Wii, as well as the Nintendo DS TM and PC versions, showing the Monsters, Aquatic and Spinning Rotors tables; three of the six themed tables included in Dream Pinball 3D.

"We have experience with classic bar room games and they have proven extremely popular titles with gamers," said Melanie Mroz, CEO of SouthPeak Games. "Dream Pinball delivers a dose of nostalgia along with a great price point that makes it a must-buy for any fan of the genre."

Dream Pinball 3D merges stunning visuals with flawless gameplay. The game features realistic ball physics and motion blur effects as well as multiple dynamic and fixed camera positions. The title also features six pinball machines, each with its own theme, sound effects and music.

"With Dream Pinball 3D, our goal was to create the ultimate pinball simulator by combining realistic physics with controls that capitalize on the unique qualities of each platform," said James Seaman, Managing Director of TopWare Interactive. "We've created an awesome gameplay experience that is a blast for both hardcore and casual gamers."

Dream Pinball 3D is rated 3+ and is available now for a suggested retail price of £24.99. Dream Pinball 3D for PC and Nintendo DS will be released in the UK in July 2008.

Top selling console in the US - Nintendo Wii

Wii emerged as the top-selling console in April, according to the independent NPD Group, which tracks U.S. video game sales. Wii sold more than 714,000 units in April alone, bringing its lifetime sales in the United States to more than 9.5 million.

"Wii sales were buoyed in part by the strong launch of Mario Kart Wii, which sold more than 1.1 million units," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Our belief in appealing to a broad, diverse audience of players continues to resonate with consumers, and we look forward to continuing our outreach to an expanded audience with the launch of Wii Fit next week."

Other Nintendo highlights from April's NPD report include:

• Mario Kart Wii finished as the No. 2 game of the month.
• Six of the top 10 games of the month are for Nintendo systems: Mario Kart Wii (No. 2), Wii Play™ (No. 4), Super Smash Bros. Brawl (No. 5), Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness (No. 7), Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time (No. 8) and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (No. 9).
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl crossed the 3 million sales mark in the United States.
• Wii and Nintendo DS again finished as the two top-selling hardware systems.

Gingerbread Studios Unleashes THE PROTECTOR

Newly formed Polish developer Gingerbread Studios today announced The Protector, a thrilling PC and Xbox 360 first/third person shooter featuring visceral action, tense, tactical stealth and an enthralling storyline.

The Protector centres on the exploits of two vastly different characters - hardened British mercenary Jonathan Kane and beautiful US archaeologist Jennifer Guile. After an acrimonious two-year estrangement, these two former lovers are reunited when Jennifer's father - a leading archaeologist - is murdered by a new terrorist organisation called Scarlet Vengeance, which is looking for a powerful Aztec artefact to use for a devastating terrorist attack. When Scarlet Vengeance's attentions turn to Jennifer - the only person who knows the location of the artefact - Kane is forced to track her down and protect her. Thrown together in extreme circumstances, the duo must overcome their differences and use their unique skills to thwart the terrorists' horrifying plan.

'Gingerbread Studios has taken the theme of South American mythology and masterfully injected it into a contemporary setting that reflects the escalating threat of global terrorism within the modern day world,' said James Cato, CEO of Gingerbread Studios. 'The Protector's two distinct playable characters and eclectic mix of action and stealth make it highly unique, while its branching, thrilling plot promises to keep gamers captivated till the end credits roll.'

Features:
Play as both Jonathan Kane - a hardened British mercenary and former MI6 agent trained in counter-terrorist tactics - and Jennifer Guile - a beautiful and wily US archaeologist.

• Two distinct gameplay modes - searing, tactical shooting action (Kane) and tense, stealth sections (Jennifer).
• Use your environment to hide and take cover. Enter into third-person mode when in cover to acquire a better overview of your surroundings. Lean out from behind cover to engage your enemies with minimal exposure. Blind fire around corners when severely pinned down.
• Superb world physics where objects are splintered, shattered and sent flying by barrages of bullets and explosions, creating massively believable battlefields. The player can even shoot enemies - and be shot - through thin walls, adding a further tactical element.
• Enemies intelligently seek out and utilise cover - just like you.
• Disarm enemies by shooting the weapons from their hands, leaving the enemies vulnerable. Once an enemy has been disarmed, they must either reach for a sidearm or run for cover - both of which take time.
• Enemy AI uses lifelike line of sight and hearing to determine your whereabouts. Enemies are more vulnerable in darker areas, while their lifelike reactions to sight and sound also provide the perfect environment for stealth-based gameplay.
• Fully interactive world, populated by civilians, commuters, students and workers who intelligently react to their surroundings and situations.
• Wide range of enemy types, ranging from elite terrorist forces to mythical Aztec creatures.
• Intriguing plot featuring two very different endings, depending on your choices.
• Challenging puzzles and mini games.

EA ANNOUNCES WARHAMMER ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING TO SHIP IN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND IN FALL 2008

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR) will ship in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia simultaneously with the North American and European Fall 2008 release.

In addition, WAR will also feature a dedicated server in Australia, ensuring the best game play experience possible for players in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and other Southeast Asian territories. Players will still have the option of connecting to North American servers.

"Warhammer is a world-wide franchise with a strong following in Australia and New Zealand. By placing our own server down under and running customer service out of EA Mythic, we can ensure that when we launch WAR, Oceanic players will experience the same quality of game play and customer service as North American players" said Mark Jacobs, VP and General Manager of EA Mythic.

Based on Games Workshop’s epic and longstanding tabletop fantasy war game, WAR features revolutionary Realm vs. Realm (RvR) game play that immerses players in a world of perpetual conflict. WAR is scheduled for launch on the PC in Fall 2008.

To learn more about the game, please visit www.warhammeronline.com.

KONAMI CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF DANCEDANCE REVOLUTION WITH THREE NEW RELEASES:

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced three upcoming DanceDanceRevolution titles will ship this Fall in honor of the 10th anniversary of the franchise. After a decade as one of the most popular franchises in the music genre, DanceDanceRevolution fans can move their feet to different beats with DanceDanceRevolution X for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, DanceDanceRevolution UNIVERSE3 for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party 2 for Wii.

"We cannot thank our fans enough for their continued devotion to the DanceDanceRevolution franchise. The continued popularity and longevity of DanceDanceRevolution has transformed it from a video game into something much bigger and more special," said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "We wanted to celebrate this special occasion by bringing to market three new versions of the game that offer the biggest and best musical selections along with a slate of unique features."

DanceDanceRevolution X

In DanceDanceRevolution X, players can dance their way through a soundtrack packed with major hits from some of today's top artists. The latest release for the PlayStation 2 system offers fans of the beloved dance video game enhanced graphics along with fun, interactive gameplay and innovative new game modes, including the brand new LAN Battle Mode - which lets up to eight players battle simultaneously through the LAN lines on their PlayStation 2 system. Additionally, players can work up a sweat by customizing their own workout and fitness programs and, by plugging in the EyeToy USB Camera (for PlayStation 2) peripheral, they can put themselves in the game.

DanceDanceRevolution UNIVERSE3

Marking its return to the Xbox 360, DanceDanceRevolution UNIVERSE3 offers fans a whole new experience with the debut of new modes including DJ Mode and City Mode. In DJ Mode, players can explore their inner DJ while creating tracks and song lists to dance to while City Mode allows players to compete against bosses throughout the DanceDanceRevolution city and become the ultimate champion. Additionally, the game boasts one of the biggest soundtracks, giving fans more than 65 songs spanning from the '70s to some of today's hottest tracks. DanceDanceRevolution UNIVERSE3 also features online multiplayer function - allowing for dance-offs with up to four friends from around the world and character customization with more than 400 options of clothing, faces, skin tones and hairstyles - letting players create the ultimate dancer, and complete Xbox Live functionality.

DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party 2

Rounding out the DanceDanceRevolution 10th anniversary celebration is the release of DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party 2 for Wii. DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party 2 is sure to be the life of the party with 4 player multiplayer, Wii Remote and Nunchuk support, smash hits taken from the last four decades of music, entirely new modes and more! The all-new soundtrack features big hits such as "I Want Candy", "Umbrella", "Black or White" and "We Got The Beat" ensuring that DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party 2 will appeal to dance enthusiasts of all ages. The mutliplayer function allows for head-to-head battles in the Dance n' Defend Battle Mode where players use the Wii Remote to battle their opponents. Other new modes include the non-stop dance action in Course Mode, the ability to unlock hidden features in Groove Arena Mode and the all-new Hottest Training Mode. With brand new gimmicks, the incorporation of your Mii, enhanced motion capture, new characters exclusive to the game, and new stages with enhanced effects on more than 50 unique dance environments, there is no party like Hottest Party 2.

KONAMI ANNOUNCES CASTLEVANIA: ORDER OF ECCLESIA FOR NINTENDO DS

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia exclusively for Nintendo DS™. Introducing the all-new Glyph attack system, players will be able to use special attack combinations as they attempt to defeat Dracula and his horde. Also introduced to the series are new outdoor locales ranging from forests to the ocean, giving players the chance to explore outside of Dracula's Castle. Developed by legendary Castlevania producer Koji "Iga" Igarashi, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is poised to set a new standard for side scrolling action on DS.

"We have always felt that the Castlevania franchise has been an excellent fit on Nintendo DS, and based on the popularity of the DS classics, Dawn of Sorrow and Portrait of Ruin, our fans agree," said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "We fully expect Order of Ecclesia to ignite the fan base once again as it combines the classic Castlevania gameplay with an all-new combat system and outdoor environments."

In Order of Ecclesia players take the role of a member of the Ecclesia, an organization that has sworn to defeat the evil forces of Dracula. By using the new Glyph attack system, players can unleash more than 100 different combinations to battle Dracula's minions throughout 20 explorable areas. Utilizing the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection , players can choose to compete head-to-head, or trade items and equipment they have found while exploring the environments. Multiple endings that can be unlocked depending on how the player completes the game adds even more replay value to the game with plenty of addictive exploration, combat and items to discover.

Developed by Konami, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is planned for release on Nintendo DS in Fall 2008. For more information on the games, please visit: www.konami.com.

NHL All-Star Rick Nash of Columbus Blue Jackets to be Cover Athlete for NHL 2K9

Visual Concepts to bring the fun and excitement back to hockey video games

Millions of hockey fans continue to enjoy intense Stanley Cup Playoffs action, but it’s never too early to start looking forward to next year’s NHL season. 2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software today announced that three-time NHL All-Star and captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Rick Nash, will be featured as the cover athlete and spokesman for this year’s highly anticipated hockey video game, NHL 2K9. Visual Concepts has taken over the development duties for NHL 2K9 and are building a brand new experience from the ground up with the ultimate goal of creating an addictively fun sport simulation of the NHL that will be available this fall.

“I’ve been a longtime fan of the hockey games from 2K Sports. My idols have all been on the covers of video games as I was growing up, so to be on the cover of NHL 2K9 myself is truly incredible,” said Nash, who scored an impressive three goals in the 2008 NHL All-Star Game. “The set of new features they’re adding is really going to make this game special for hockey fans - I’m hoping they give me a couple extra points to my player rating this year!”

Nash was selected first overall in the 2002 NHL Draft and is one of the most exciting and dynamic young players in the NHL. In only his second season, at the age of 19, Nash became the youngest player in NHL history to win the “Rocket” Richard Trophy by co-leading the League with 41 goals scored. Now an established superstar in the NHL, Nash was also a member of Team Canada at the 2006 Olympics, and was named MVP of the 2007 World Championships. His deep level of involvement and work with Visual Concepts, alongside his background as an experienced gamer, provides an invaluable contribution and influence to the overall development process for creating the most fun hockey experience available.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have Rick Nash be part of the 2K Sports family,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “Nash is one of the marquee names in the NHL today. He is a true gamer and there is no player more fitting to represent NHL 2K9 as we bring high quality fun to hockey video games for another year.”

NHL 2K9 is being developed by Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio, and is not yet rated by the ESRB. NHL 2K9 will be available this fall for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. For more information, please visit www.2ksports.com.

Gamevil launches Golf Superstars 2008 mobile game

You don't have to be a pro at golf in order to enjoy this game!

2008-GAMEVIL USA, the LA-based mobile games publisher, announced today the launch of Golf Superstars 2008, a new casual golf game that will challenge your golf prowess with unique themed tournaments and real golf rules.

Golf Superstars 2008 immediately appeals to a wide audience with its user-friendly controls and game play. Users select from a list of players, each with personal strengths, and customize them with special items they unlock throughout various tournaments. Like real golf, there will be obstacles that players must look out for, such as water hazards and trees or cactuses that stand in the way. Unlike most golf games that seem to only aim at hardcore golf fans, Golf Superstars 2008 attracts players of all ages with its fun and easy to learn game play, sharp and colorful graphics, and realistic golf shots and techniques.

“Golf Superstars 2008 maintains a good balance of challenging and casual game play, with tournaments that test out ones golf prowess and easy controls to ease beginners into the game,” said Stephanie Huang, Marketing Manager of GAMEVIL USA, Inc. “The game is very addicting, and users will find it very original and enjoyable without feeling the pressure of having to know the sport well in order to play the game.”