Worst games on Xbox live

You pop in your Halo 3 disc, you fire up Xbox Live, and you won't have any trouble finding somebody to play against. Same goes for Call of Duty 4. And Grand Theft Auto IV. But what about the other end of the multiplayer spectrum? What games are you least likely to find somebody still playing in August

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5 Cool Things You Missed in GTA IV

Grand Theft Auto IV is too big, too deep, too overwhelming. You could spend dozens of hours in Liberty City and still overlook hundreds of hidden details. You could finish the storyline completely and still pass by some of the game's very best moments. We're talking about entire characters, whole missions, secret sex scenes and phonebooks.

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Free Coverage for Independent games in online magazine!

Thirteen1 is offering the chance to independent games FREE coverage in their popular free to read magazine by launching a unique article-submission system.

What is the Article Submission System?

The Article submission system is a way for independent web games to let Thirteen1 know of their presence in the gaming world.

Game owners can request a unique referral code, which can be attached to a button, banner or a text link somewhere on their website.

Each account will be awarded points for sending unique visitors/readers through to Thirteen1 magazine every 24 hours.

Why should games sign up?

As an independent publication Thirteen1 is committed to covering games of all sizes in the magazine and likes to give everyone a fair chance of coverage.

Because Thirteen1 are physically unable to keep track of the popularity of every game on the internet, (which helps them determine the best time to feature a title), the amount of points that games accumulate will be their indication of its current growth and popularity.

Points are earned by sending unique visitors to the Thirteen1 website, with additional points earned if the visitor then completes a particular goal (such as reading the magazine) during their referred visit.

When the 100,000 points milestone is reached, the system will alert the Thirteen1 team of the fact and they will automatically begin the process of considering the game for an article.

Why are the points based on Thirteen1 site conversions?

This is not just a way for Thirteen1 to boost their traffic stats and website conversions, that would be both underhand and against the ethos of the magazine!

Instead, the Thirteen1 team will judge the quality of the gamer based traffic on the way that they interact with the website and magazine, which will ultimately allow them to best determine the way to feature the game within the magazine.

This really is something for nothing! Thirteen1 are dedicated to providing games of all sizes with coverage within the magazine, and this is purely one of the systems for keeping a check on the growth of a title.

Visit http://www.thirteen1.com/advertising.php for more information and to register an account.

Natioal geographic Panda video game coming to Nintendo DS

Namco Bandai has announced that National Geographic Panda is coming To Nintendo DS.

National Geographic Panda gives DS owners a unique opportunity to teach, play and care for a group of fun loving panda bears in the serene Panda Park. The Panda’s can be rewarded for their good behavior with toys and new clothes that can be purchased with the daily allowance provided. In addition over 20 National Geographic articles will also be unlocked as the game is played, giving adoptive panda parents a chance to learn all about the lives of these majestic and endangered animals.

National Geographic Panda Features Include:

• Players will have the ability to play with, help, teach and nurture their very own panda bear.
  
• View pictures and read stories about real-life pandas from the National Geographic archives.
  
• Panda’s habits change with how the players treat and play with it.
  
• Players can interact with their panda using the stylus.
  
• National Geographic Panda is scheduled for release next month on the Nintendo DS.
  

Ronimo Games Announces Swords & Soldiers on WiiWare next month

Dutch Studio Ronimo Games has just announced that they will be releasing Swords & Soldiers on Nintendo’s WiiWare download service.

Swords & Soldiers is a side-scrolling real time strategy game, in which three distinct factions battle for the powers of the gods. The game will feature a single player campaign and a competitive split-screen multiplayer mode as well as several other game modes.

Dynasty Warriors 6 video game on PlayStation 2 and Windows PC Nov 18

KOEI to introduce its Tactical Action mega-hit to more platforms along with never-before-seen content exclusive to the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system

Tactical Action game, DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 on PlayStation 2 and to Windows-based PC.

DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 will debut on PlayStation 2 as a massive two-disc collection action-packed with the full cast of playable characters and pulse-pounding scenarios of the original release, plus platform-exclusive content including never-before-seen “Musou” mode stories, incredible new weapons, five additional stages and 10 new scenarios.

DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 for PlayStation 2 will ship to retailers starting November 18, 2008, while the version for Windows-based PC will be available simultaneously and exclusively through digital download. The game is already in stores for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.



About DYNASTY WARRIORS 6
Selling over 18 million units combined worldwide, KOEI’s award-winning DYNASTY WARRIORS series and SAMURAI WARRIORS series of Tactical Action games have become a global phenomenon.

Based on the epic novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the genre-defining DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 depicts the massive battles ignited by the fall of the Han Dynasty when three rebellious states moved to overthrow the Emperor of China.

DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 delivers the unparalleled exhilaration of single-handedly destroying thousands of soldiers on massive fields of combat. Utilizing spectacular fighting techniques motion-captured from some of today’s leading stuntmen and stuntwomen in Asia, DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 immerses gamers in a truly cinematic kung-fu action adventure. The game’s lightning-fast fighting, intuitive combat system and breathtaking environments create an unparalleled gaming experience that pushes the limits of Tactical Action.

Aion: The Tower of Eternity at Games Convention '08

Fans of Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games will get a first-hand look at NCsoft Europe’s http://eu.plaync.com/eu/ highly anticipated Aion: The Tower of Eternity http://eu.aiononline.com/en/ at this year’s Games Convention, in Leipzig Germany. Non-stop events on the 600m² consumer stand will keep the expected 200,000+ visitors entertained and for the fortunate few, the show will provide the first opportunity to secure a coveted place in one of the upcoming Aion: The Tower of Eternity Exclusive Preview Events.

Running from August 20th through to August 24th, the Games Convention has swiftly become one of the world’s leading computer and video game events, attracting press and consumers from all over Europe. NCsoft’s latest online title Aion: The Tower of Eternity is anticipated to be released during 2009, making this year’s Games Convention the first opportunity for players in Europe to actually experience the game ‘hands-on’. Players will be welcome to play the game on the massive 600m² consumer stand situated in Hall 3: Booth B20. In addition, journalists attending the show can view presentations in the Business Centre Hall 1: Booth J50 (Flashpoint stand).



Leading the entertainment will be the NCsoft Europe Community Team, who will be running a fun-packed show of competitions and activities, ranging from live presentations of Aion to interactive quests for the crowd to participate in. Characters from the game will be walking the stand for photo opportunities, while players are invited to display their ingenuity and creativity in the ‘player costume competition’. Registration pods will allow players to record their details with the Aion team for the upcoming Exclusive Preview Events, with a lucky few having their names drawn and guaranteed a slot during the show itself.

This year, NCsoft Europe receives support for the Games Convention from a number of high-profile industry partners. The world’s leading manufacturer of high-end precision gaming peripherals, Razer, http://www.razerzone.com will be providing their precision gaming keyboards, mice, mouse pads and headsets for consumers to experience pinpoint accuracy, smoothness and sound clarity in Aion, while LG Electronics http://notebooks.lge.de/ display their cutting edge gaming laptops and LCD tv screens to guarantee a crystal clear view of Aion in all its glory. For gamers’ refreshment, NCsoft is supported by Mueller dairy www.muellermilch.de who will provide free drinks of their Fructiv range to reenergize the weary.




Making the Games Convention experience interactive has been key to this year’s preparations. Mobile devices with an active Bluetooth connection will automatically receive Aion content for viewing. Live video of activities across the stand will be streamed directly to http://eu.aiononline.com/en/ and an MMS quick text service will be provided for consumers to allow them to see their own photos taken at the convention on the main stage projection screen.

Aion: The Tower of Eternity is a fantasy-based MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game). Set within a mythical world, players are swept up into an ancient conflict between two playable factions and a third, NPC-controlled faction. This unique dynamic introduces PvPvE game play, keeping combat unique and unpredictable. Heavily focused on questing and role playing, Aion delivers a compelling game play experience, lavishly presented through the immense power of the CryEngine.

One Character – Thousands of ChoicesRunes of Magic offers a very interesting system for character development besides its dualclass system already exp

Runes of Magic offers a very interesting system for character development besides its dualclass system already explained. To equip a character in Frogster's upcoming fantasy MMOG with unique abilities, players may take skills and spells from three basic categories.

Amidst the general abilities and spells players will find callback spells, crafting skills, melee attacks and a PvP flag to enable or disable the player versus player mode. The second category in Runes of Magic, the so-called primary skills, may only be used by the primary class. Among these abilities special skills like the exceptional attack combinations of warriors, reanimation of priests or sneaking up of rogues can be found. Players can use the secondary skills with both their primary- and secondary class. If a player chooses to play a Rogue as his or her secondary class, he may for example apply "Training: Assassin's weapons" to throw daggers.

At any time, players can change their primary and secondary class. But a player will only receive experience and talent points for his active primary class, which means that only this class will level up. To upgrade the secondary class, players will have to switch between the classes first.

By defeating enemies and via regular level-up the player will receive talent points, which can be used in Runes of Magic to upgrade most skills and spells. The Mage's fireball for example will only reach its true destructive power, when it has been enhanced with talent points. The multifaceted crafting will be trained by regular practice just like the combat skills, e.g. one-handed swords, wands or bows.

Each class in Runes of Magic possesses a special ability, which is already available at level 1, but has a long cooldown time of one hour. Warriors for example increase their Fury by using „Rage", Scouts fire their arrows with an increased attack bonus by using the „ Arrow of Essence ", which does not consume physical arrows and Mages transform their spells into instant spells by applying „Elemental Catalysis". While a Rogue's normal attack changes into a murderous instrument by the use of „Assassinate" for 30 seconds, a Knight endows all of his companions with a protective shield for 15 seconds via the use of his „Holy Shield". Some skills in Runes of Magic may be used at any time, others need a certain conjuring time, a few have a cooldown period and for others the correct type of energy is needed (Warriors use fury, Rogues energy, Scouts focus and Knights, Mages and Priests use mana). Beside the active skills, players in Runes of Magic also have passive abilities that enable them to use certain equipment like a bow or armor.

Even skill combinations are possible when starting with the right opening attack. The correct sequence of each skill's assigned element - fire, water, wind, earth, light and darkness - can trigger mighty combination attacks that deal immense damage to an enemy or complement a skill or spell with a special effect. Thus, a normal spell can for example affect a whole area when applied within such a sequence. By using several skills in the right order, players trigger such a combo effect. The best way to figure out which combinations work best, is by playing together with other players fighting against the many creatures and monsters in the gaming world of Runes of Magic.

The first region of the ambitious online roleplaying game can be played in an early test version at the Games Convention at booth A10 of Publisher Frogster Interactive in hall 5. Further information, a registration form for beta-signup and a new action-trailer are available on the official website: www.runesofmagic.com.

Barclays Premier League Football available on GO!VIEW

Football fans will be thrilled to hear that the best of this season’s Barclays Premier League will be available on GO!VIEW, the video on-demand service for the PlayStation Portable (PSP). Following the big kick off this weekend, from Sunday 17th August, PSP owners will be able to transfer 45 minutes of extended highlights from Sky Sports matches to watch on the go - or wherever they want!

Throughout the new season, GO!VIEW customers will be able to watch a great range of Barclays Premier League football from hundreds of Sky Sports games. Sky Sports will show 92 Live Barclays Premier League games this season and a further 242 ‘near live’ matches, ensuring that all GO!VIEW customers will be able to access games involving their favourite Premier League team.

In addition, highlights from the season’s best games so far will also be available ongoing from October for fans to transfer to their PSP so they can relive the highs and lows of the current campaign.

The football content on GO!VIEW is available as part of the monthly ‘Sports’ subscription packs which offers content from across the sporting world, and includes cricket, golf, boxing and extreme sports. New GO!VIEW customers can get a one month trial subscription to the Sports Pack as well - as the two other Subscription Packs; Comedy and Entertainment - absolutely free!

In addition to the subscription packs, selected Movies to Rent and Latest TV to Rent can be transferred via the rental service on GO!VIEW. Subscription packs are priced at £5 (€7) for 1 pack, £8 (€11) for 2 packs and £10 (€14) for all three packs and with everyone who registers for the service at www.goview.tv receiving a free month’s subscription, there’s no better time to be a PSP owner!

www.goview.tv

GO!VIEW is a joint venture between Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Sky who have established the joint venture ‘GO!VIEW Entertainment UK’. This is being used to bring the PSP video-on-demand to market in the UK, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands & the Isle of Man. Sky is providing their expertise in building successful video-on-demand platforms as well as content acquisition. Sony Computer Entertainment is providing the marketing for the service.

Fireglow Games announces that Plumeboom series of video games goes to iPhone iPod Mobiles

Leading video game developer and publisher, Fireglow Games, announces partnership with Virtual Programming to port on iPhone/iPod/Mobiles the following series of casual games which use the Plumeboom brand: Plumeboom: The First Chapter, The Golden Path of Plumeboom and ABOO: Plumeboom's Friends.

PC-versions of these games are already available at BigFish, iWin, PlayFirst and other web-portals.

About "Plumeboom: The First Chapter" (Download demo 23,3 Mb)

Orniland is a paradise for birds. Thousands live here in peace and harmony. But two villains, Crowbeak the Wizard and his servant, Cornix the Scientist, seek to undo the tranquility of the land through darkness... with an evil potion that they spread across the country using conveyors. The potion turns birds into Warriors of Darkness serving the villains. Only Plumeboom the Peacock can destroy the system of conveyors and save Orniland! Help him in his mission

About "The Golden Path of Plumeboom" (Download demo 15,6 Mb)

Plumeboom the Peacock of Orniland found an ancient map of treasures that are kept in caves stored by hundred locks and of course it's the players' task to help Plumeboom open all the locks. Every single lock consists of a turning magnetic shape that attracts orbs of different colors. By shooting orbs at the shape players can use diverse tactics to place their globes at the right spot thanks to the advanced physics system in the game. When there are three orbs of the same color aligned they will burst. The more aligned orbs are burst in one blow the higher the score. The lock is opened, when there are no orbs left.

About "ABOO: Plumeboom's Friends" (Download demo 11,7 Mb)

Plumeboom is a great traveler, and he has many friends in numerous fabulous worlds. Country of Aboo is one of such worlds. It is settled by hard-working wormlings, who day after day quarry Magic Crystals that may be converted into any possible item! They've recently faced a real disaster. The two evils, Crowbeak the wizard and the mad scientist Cornix, that was expelled from Orniland, got to know about the Magic Crystals and decided to grab these from the defenseless wormlings, in order to create the Weapon of Darkness. The evils forces are stronger, but our kind friend Plumeboom is assisting settlers of Aboo. The Magic Crystals shouldn't fall into the evil claws.