zOMG! It's Finally Here! Gaia Online's MMO Game Enters Closed Beta

Gaia Online, the world's most active online community, has launched its upcoming casual MMO into closed beta. Over 10,000 community members will be able to participate in the beta program.Gaia Online proudly announces that the game’s official name will be “zOMG!”, a term generated from the virtual world’s active community. In development since 2006, zOMG! is scheduled for release this summer, and will give the community a new way to play, socialize, and explore.

In April, Gaia Online announced that it would accept requests for entry into the beta program. Over 120,000 applications to enter the closed beta were submitted by community members. Players selected from Gaia Online’s active community of over five million will get the chance to play in-game with the creators of zOMG! and provide feedback on the game.

“Our Gaian community is loyal, vocal and not afraid to ask for what they want,” said David Georgeson, senior developer of zOMG! at Gaia Online. “It only makes sense for online worlds to place a huge emphasis on community involvement. In our case, they aren’t just the people who will play the game; they’re the ones who asked for it.”

Designed in a flash-based environment that is free and requires no downloads, players will interact in zOMG! by engaging in quests, battling monsters, exploring the beautiful worlds and socializing with friends. As an extension of the Gaia Online virtual world, the MMO game extends the current Gaia Online offerings, like mini games, customizable avatars, forums, and numerous creative and social outlets.

Visit www.zomg.com for more information about the closed beta program and new images from zOMG!.

Voyage Century Online: Mecca for Mummies

Voyage Century (http://vc.igg.com/), a 3D MMORPG from IGG (www.igg.com), prides itself on its real world geography, historical design, and eye-catching graphics, and continues to impress its extraordinarily loyal players and fans all over the world.

The latest instance of the Return of the Mummy will be launched soon following the release of Hurricane Island. In order to protect newbie players, the instance was developed with different areas fitting players’ different levels: The legendary mummies domain- Pyramid; Criminal concentration-Iron Prison and the paradise for pirates-the Island of St. Croix. There is also hidden treasure to allure players caught in peril. Going through the Space Door and arriving at the Return of the Mummy, players will face challenges from evil servants of the Dead and loyal guardians who died to protect the Return of the Mummy. The treasure is within arm’s reach-but players must defeat monsters to get a hold of it. Fight or run away, it is also a tough choice players to make. Remember, the treasure in Voyage Century Online is reserved for the fearless and brave.

For more info visit the official site http://vc.igg.com/news/1226/Hunting%20Event.html

Ignition Entertainment is Pleased to Announce the European Release of BOING! DOCOMODAKE DS

Based upon the mascot of the leading Japanese mobile phone company, NTT DOCOMO, INC. – Boing! Docomodake DS will be released exclusively for the Nintendo DS this Autumn.

Set on the day of the annual festival held in the Docomodake Forest, the Docomodake family is nowhere to be seen! You play as Papa Docomodake and guide him through various obstacles and challenges in order to find his family and get them to the festival on time.
Obviously, Papa Docomodake has a trick or two to help him on his quest. With a tap of the stylus he can release ‘Minis’ that aid him when the going gets a little tough. Remember, Minis make the impossible possible!

‘Boing! Docomodake DS has all the elements needed for a great platform game’, says Peter Rollinson, Product Manager, Ignition Entertainment Ltd. ‘the game has a wide ranging appeal, and offers more than enough to keep all gamers happy’.

For further information please visit: www.ignitionent.com/docomodake

Boing! Docomodake DS will be available Autumn ’08 exclusively for the Nintendo DS

Gotta Collect 'em All!

For all the collectors out there, the fine art team at Red Fly Studio put together some kick-ass trading cards, a poster, and hero statue that will be floating around out there. The poster will be available with Rise of the Fungi (DS) pre-orders and the life-size statue with The Spore Wars (Wii) pre-orders. The first 3 trading cards are in the current issue of Nintendo Power (August issue, along with a contest where 2 families can win a trip to NYC for the 20th Anniversary party at the Nintendo World Store in Sept). You’ll also be able to get them at PAX, the 20th Anniversary Party mentioned above, LesClaypool.com, and more. The easiest way to make a complete set of 24 cards will be by pre-ordering the games at GameStop (get a pack of 11 for Rise of the Fungi and different 11 for The Spore Wars and then 1 card will be included with each version of the game).

Mushroom Men Sail the Seas of Cheese…

Les Claypool will be headlining and Mushroom Men will be in full effect aboard Jam Cruise 7 (http://jamcruise.com/). Leaving out of Ft Lauderdale January 4, 2009, they’ll be tons of artists playing day and night as the ship ports in Belize City and Costa Maya.

For anyone interested in winning their way aboard, GameStop is running a special sweepstakes. Visit http://www.gamestop.com/mushroommen for more on that. And for those actually going, they’ll be more great contests to win Mushroom Men stuff while out on the open waters.

Tall Tales of Mushroom Men

There is also a custom Mushroom Men VW Bus in the works (details coming to www.MushroomMen.com soon). And the Space Squid writing contest has 1 week left for submissions (details: http://spacesquid.com/free_writing_contests.htm).

SPORE FOR MAC GOES ON-SALE WITH TRANSGAMING

TransGaming Inc. (TSX-V: TNG), announces the launch of Pre-Orders for EA’s SPORE for Mac at GameTree Online (www.gametreeonline.com/ea/spore/), the company’s digital distribution portal for Mac video games.

The release of EA’s SPORE on Mac September 7-8, 2008, the newest video game creation from The SIMS creator Will Wright, marks a new age for Mac gaming around the world, and GameTree Online will make it easier then ever for Mac consumers to purchase and enjoy the game. TransGaming has expanded its relationship with EA, the worlds largest video game publisher, beyond Mac enablement, to provide a global distribution strategy for the SPORE franchise on Mac. The GameTree Online digital distribution portal complements TransGaming’s Cider Portability business, which provides publishers, like EA, with a turn-key solution to enable games for the Mac. TransGaming enabled EA’s SPORE Creature Creator for Mac, which is also available to consumers at GameTree Online now! Mac consumers everywhere can now enjoy the newest Will Wright creation at www.gametreeonline.com/ea/spore.

With a truly unprecedented level of flexibility, SPORE and SPORE Creature Creator let you make a limitless number of fun creatures and embark on an evolution adventure. Bring creatures to life with SPORE Creature Creator — see how they dance, strike a pose, and in September guide your unique personal creature on an epic journey of discovery.

For more information on partnering with TransGaming and distribution via GameTree Online, visit their sites at www.transgaming.com or www.gametreeonline.com.

TEMPT LADY LUCK IN FREE-TO-PLAY MMORPG, FIESTA

Outspark, a leading virtual playground offering online community-based gaming, today announced the newest feature for its hit fantasy role-playing game, Fiesta. Remi’s Rare Finds is a thrilling new minigame offering players a chance to win exclusive, rare and unreleased in-game items like mounts, weapons and power-ups. The game is available now at http://store.outspark.com/fiesta/rarefinds .

To play Remi’s Rare Finds, players spend 1500 SparkCash and receive a random item from the collection. Keep your item and use it with any Fiesta game character, or exchange it for a credit. Five credits may be exchanged for a free play. The prize pool is always changing, with new items being added every month.

“Engaging our community is very important to us, and Remi’s Rare Finds is the newest exciting addition to a game already filled with rich, dynamic gameplay,” said Outspark founder and CEO Susan Choe “Each play offers a chance at some great in-game items, and we’re sure our players will love it.”

Fiesta is a free to play MMORPG with a friendly, social community. Set in the fantasy world of Isya, the game features fierce monsters, exciting in-game events, accessible Game Masters and more. Fiesta continues to undergo active development by Korea’s Ons On Soft for the PC. For more information and to become a part of the Fiesta community, visit http://fiesta.outspark.com

Ninja Gaiden II statues launched

First 4 Figures is thrilled to announce that they have been awarded a license from Microsoft and TECMO/Team Ninja to create high end 1/4 scale statues based on the characters from the Ninja Gaiden II video game exclusive to Xbox 360. The first statue release is the video game’s super Ninja warrior, Ryu Hayabusa. In Ninja Gaiden II, Ryu must battle the evil Black Spider Ninja clan and Four Greater Fiends to avenge the honor of the Hayabusa Clan and protect Humanity from destruction.



Ryu Hayabusa, in his default NGII black costume, is coming soon from First 4 Figures. Based on the official Ninja Gaiden II box artwork and in-game 3D model, First 4 Figures has painstakingly captured Ryu Hayabusa’s intensity and deadly demeanor. The base is covered in artificial grass and features Ryu walking through a graveyard of swords from fallen warriors. He comes equipped with his signature Dragon Sword, Eclipse Scythe, and a Falcon’s Talon. At 1/4 scale, Ryu stands at 18 inches tall and when you include his Eclipse Scythe, he stands at 31 inches tall (that’s over 2½ feet)!

Height: 31 inches to the top of the Eclipse Scythe (approximately 80cm).
SRP: $349.99
Available: Q1-2009
Limited: 1,999 pieces worldwide

Order here...

EA Sports Fantasy Football returns...

EA SPORTS FANTASY FOOTBALL is open for registration at fantasy.EASPORTS.com. Renew your league from last year or create a new league and invite your friends to play.

This year, use your PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system or Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft to expand your fantasy football experience with applications like EA SPORTS Fantasy Football Live Draft Tracker & Live Score Tracker and Madden NFL 09 Integration.

Madden NFL 09 - The first sports game that adapts to you!

Celebrating 20 Years of Innovation, Madden NFL 09 delivers its most complete NFL football package ever.

Whether you're a seasoned vet or picking up the game for the first time, players of all skill levels will enjoy a unique, yet challenging experience with the innovative Adaptive Difficulty Engine, which tailors the game to match your playing style.

With more than 85 new features and enhancements, Madden NFL 09 is the most authentic and adaptable game in sports video game history.

NCAA Football 09 video game - out now

The electricity of Big Play Saturday is back!

Powered by the all-new Breakaway Engine and showcasing unique college-style animations, NCAA Football 09 arrives with all the excitement and pageantry of a storied college bowl game.

Develop a loyal fan base with a Home Field Advantage and build your legacy in the Online Dynasty Mode.

With authentic collegiate gameplay and thousands of school specific plays, college Saturdays jump to life like never.

With more than 70 new features and modes, NCAA Football 09 is king of the next-gen gridiron this season!