NBA Live 09 on PlayStaion 3, XBox , Nintendo Wii and PS2

NBA LIVE 09 is back with the best playing basketball videogame in the category that rewrites the book on authenticity and connectivity – but is still accessible enough for new users to get in on the ground floor.

New features like Pick and Roll Control, Defensive Lockdown Control, Signature Playcalling and Quickstrike Ankle-Breakers will make the NBA LIVE experience fun from beginning to end. For those in need of some extra coaching, NBA LIVE 09 takes you to training camp with the NBA Academy that gives you a chance to hone your skills.

NBA LIVE 09 has rewritten the rules and fundamentally shifted the way you look at sports simulation games. Dynamic DNA emulates - with absolute precision - an NBA player in every sense of the word and it does so dynamically.



NBA LIVE 365 takes the statistical data of DynamicDNA and brings it to life. NBA LIVE 09 is now constantly evolving and authentically reflects what you see on the court in your virtual experience. Just like the real NBA game, players get injured, free agents sign late, great players go cold and no-names breakthrough. If you're a sports fan, this is a dream come true – NBA LIVE 09 is made fresh daily all season long.

Key features

• DYNAMIC DNA—The brain behind the game is powered by Synergy Sports Technology , the premier analytics provider using NBA data for over 20 NBA teams, which evaluates Player DNA that breaks down how a player scores, Team DNA that rates how the players on the floor play as a unit and Tendencies that refer to the percentage a player drives left, right or shoots from each spot on the floor.
  
• Based on Last Night, Not Last Season—–NBA LIVE 365 takes it to a whole new level of connectivity, providing you an unprecedented level of authenticity and realism. Now every game truly is different powered by DynamicDNA data updating daily.
  
• NBA Rewind*—–Think you can do it better? Rewrite history and replay last night's game with the updated statistical data that recreates identical conditions including injuries, hot/cold streaks, tendencies and player DNA.
  
• Pick and Roll Control—This new two-man game mechanic lets you control both the ball handler and the screener, as you set screens and run two man plays, with on court instructions popping up to guide you through each play.
  
• Signature Playcalling— Introducing an accessible in game playcalling system that pushes on-court visualization to guide you through the play. Linked to LIVE 365, this feature will suggest authentic plays for NBA's stars to run on the court.
  
• NBA Academy—Get the most out of your game and hone your skills when you jump into game with an all-new practice facility.
  
• Quickstrike AnkleBreakers—Force your defender to step up and guess what you'll do next. Trigger the turbo button and use the right analog stick for bold, responsive ball-handling moves to fake out your defender and create scoring opportunities.
  
• Lockdown Control—–A new risk reward system to lock in your check on defense. Get in tight on a strong shooting guard to take away his shot, or play back to keep a quick point guard from blowing by you.
  
• FIBA Expanded—–With 24 national teams to choose from, you can compete in an international tournament using authentic FIBA rosters and teams, including, the United States, Spain, France, and more.
  
• 5 vs. 5 Online Team Play*—–All 10 players on the court can now be controlled by users on 10 different consoles around the world. Now the game outcome can be completely dependent on how you play as an online team.
  
• Online* Custom Leagues—Create your own online league, with all-new drafting, trades and a single elimination playoff format.
  
• Be A Pro—Feel what it's like to be a part of a team and lock in as one player – online using Online Team Play, or offline in single player mode. Let NBA LIVE give you feedback and track how well you are playing your position.
  
• Extend your Game with EA SPORTS World*—Create your own highlight reel then upload the video to EA SPORTS World to prove your passion to the world.
  

Bauer Advertising Announces sponsorship for Guitar Hero

Bauer Advertising and 4Music today announced an exclusive sponsorship deal with Activision to promote the Guitar Hero games across Channel 4’s 4Music channel and six Bauer Consumer Media music TV channels; Kiss, Kerrang!, Magic, Q, The Box and Smash Hits.

The deal, brokered by Bauer Advertising and Starcom Mediavest, is one of the largest gaming advertising deals negotiated at Bauer Advertising to date.

The partnership with Activision Publishing, Inc., a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products, is designed to further enhance brand awareness for Guitar Hero, the world’s best-selling rhythm-based video game series, as well as help promote the upcoming Guitar Hero World Tour launch in the U.K.

Beginning 15th August 2008, Activision’s Guitar Hero brand will be the exclusive weekly sponsor for over 40 hours of live concerts that will be broadcast on 4Music, Kiss, Kerrang!, Magic, Q, The Box and Smash Hits for a six-month period, running until February 2009. Bespoke 60” interactive adverts will run across all channels during that six-month period as well as 10” blipverts that will act as teasers to ensure that short-stay viewers also engage with the promotion.

The adverts will preview new footage from various Guitar Hero games and run competitions offering viewers the chance to win prizes such as home entertainment systems, accessories and other Activision games. Viewers will text in to enter the competitions, or log on to a bespoke microsite, generating audience interaction within the campaign activity.

As part of the partnership, the Guitar Hero brand will also sponsor seven hours of relevant weekly programming across the music EPG on Bauer channels, which comprise 40% of the total music TV market.

Darren Khan, TV Sales Director, Bauer Advertising says: “The live festivals and music programming on our channels are a perfect fit for Guitar Hero’s target market and it is great to work with Activision on this exciting long-term promotion. Creating and packaging exclusive partnership opportunities for clients across the extensive music programming content on 4Music and Bauer music TV channels is a great new proposition from Bauer Advertising, and we are delighted to have Activision on board.”



David Tyler, UK & Ireland Marketing Director, Activision Publishing, Inc. UK says: “This is an amazing opportunity for us to reach a huge number young people with a variety of music tastes in one neat, targeted campaign. Guitar Hero video games are the perfect product for all music lovers who live and breathe the fantastic programming that Bauer’s music channels and 4Music provide.”

Tetris Pop EAs mobile cellphone game

Power Up with Tetris POP. 

Push your skills to the limit in frantic timed challenges. Can you beat the clock in three high-energy modes and several action-packed Tetris mini-variations? Survive wave after wave of tetriminos in Flood or drown in the matrix. Trigger bombs in Detonator to go KABOOM. Hang on tight in Ledge or plummet into a bottomless pit. Dazzle your eyes and ears with brilliant colors, animated backgrounds and pulse-pounding beats. Tetris POP is packed with surprises and secrets.

Key features

• Enjoy an incredible range of game play with 17 different mini-variations.
  
• Experience three new play modes: POP, POP Chrono and POP Mix.
  
• POP: Encounter 22 levels, each containing three mini-variations and explore eight unique "worlds," each with their own animated backgrounds and energetic music.
  
• POP Chrono: Set your desired play time and let the game tailor a play session to fit your schedule.
  
• POP Mix: Customize your game play by selecting your favorite mini-variations from the play list.
  
• Complete levels and achieve goals to progress through the game and unlock a secret surprise.
  
• Dazzle your eyes with stunning animated backgrounds
  
• Groove along to eight, high-energy music tracks.
  

Batman: Arkham Asylum Screenshots - Xbox 360

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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.