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Thursday, November 13, 2008

New Nintendo DS trademarks registered...

Nintendo intend to region-lock Nintendo DS software (a first for their handheld games).

Nintendo has legally protected the names for tons of DS software ideas, including some specifically aimed at the brand new DSi model.

These are DSiChannel, DSiStation, DSiNews, DSiMovie, DSiMusic, DSiMail, DSiMode, DSiVision and DSiTsuushin (DSiCommunication), according to the Japanese trademark database read by Siliconera.

The full list of DS bright-spark ideas follows:

DSArcade
DSBook
DSCreator
DSClub
DSCommunity
DSCooking
DSDiary
DSeye
DSFamily
DSFriend
DSLife
DSLive
DSLibrary
DSmobile
DSMap
DSNavi
DSNet
DSPhone
DSPlus
DSPoint
DSSchool
DSSpeak
DSShop
DSShopping
DSTrainer
DSTime
DSWalk
DSZone
MyDS
CatchDS
ShotDS

Outrage from fans at anti MadWorld ban call

Mediawatch-UK has received sacks of "hostile emails" after calling for a ban of gory Sega Wii game MadWorld, reports our sister site Eurogamer.net.

The company complained back in August that the title will "spoil the family fun image" of the console, arguing that "modern and civilised values" should take priority over "killing and maiming people".

Full post on GamesIndustry here...

Hoshi no Kirby: Ultra Super Deluxe knocks GTA IV of top slot in Japan

According to data from Media Create, Hoshi no Kirby: Ultra Super Deluxe sold 266,000 units in its first week of sale.

The full top ten for Japan, week ended November 9, follows:

01. Hoshi no Kirby: Ultra Super Deluxe (DS)
02. Rhythm Tengoku Gold (DS)
03. Wagamama Fashion Girls Mode (DS)
04. Pokémon Platinum (DS)
05. Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3)
06. Valkyrie Profile: Toga o Seoumono (DS)
07. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP)
08. Personal Trainer: Walking (DS)
09. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Spec III (PS3)
10. LittleBigPlanet (PS3)

Wii Speak locked to one user

If you buy Wii Speak you'll be the only person who can use it as Nintendo have include a one-time activation code.

This will stop second-hand sales of the Wii Speak Unit that's needed to access the Wii Speak Channel.

Wii Speak is a microphone accessory for Nintendo's Wii video game console. Connected to the console via USB, the device can be placed near the video display, allowing voice chat to be conducted with the entire room.

According to Miyamoto, the microphone is designed to "clearly capture many different voices being spoken in a room at the same time and convey that over the Internet."

Wii Speak is launched in the UK on December 5th at a price of £25.

Puzzlegeddon PC puzzle game for brainiacs and painiacs alike

Puzzlegeddon promises to deliver a great experience for brainiacs and painiacs alike.

"Puzzle, collect resources and defeat opponents – by combining an inventive puzzle mode with frantic party-game action and the added twists of the Puzzlegeddon universe, players are in for a great puzzle brawler and an early Christmas gift this November" says Johan Hellberg, CEO of Pieces Interactive.

Select your island of choice and puzzle for resources to defeat opponents throughout the many galaxies, game modes and challenges which awaits players in Puzzlegeddon. Join the battles online in multiplayer games for up to 6 players. Fight evil robots or puzzle for survival on a poisonous planet in the game's challenging and addictive single player modes. Puzzlegeddon is a game for all tastes and play styles which challenges players to think hard, play smart and act fast.

Puzzlegeddon even features life after death. Get defeated and enter the Dead Puzzler's Challenge where players can improve their chances in the next round or even respawn back into the action.

Puzzlegddon doesn't need a very powerful computer to run good or to look great and the game features simple controls and can be played with just a mouse or an Xbox 360 controller for Windows.

Angelina Jolie Hooked on Computer Games

Angelina Jolie is reportedly using video games to help her lose her excess baby weight.

The actress, who gave birth to twins in July, has been taught by her eldest son, Maddox, how to play virtual Pilates on his Nintendo DS.

A family insider reveals: "The kids were convincing her that video games were more than just fun...

She tries to get in an hour of Pilates three times a week. She's picking it up pretty quickly and is already at the hardest setting."

Source: ContactMusic.co.uk

Crystal Quest video game now on iPhone and iPod Touch

One of the 1980's favorite games, Crystal Quest, is now available for iPhone and iPod touch from the Apple App Store. Crystal Quest made its first appearance on the Macintosh in 1987, and has progressively grown its fan base throughout the years. Delivering a unique combination of therapeutic enjoyment and intense, adrenalin-boiling arcade action the player's objective is to collect enough crystals to open a gateway to advance to the next level.

"It is a tremendous pleasure for us to re-release this beloved title that so many gaming fans have memories of playing for countless enjoyable hours. It's very exciting to recognize Crystal Quest's Mac roots by re-releasing a new and better version for iPhone and iPod touch," said Niccolo de Masi, president, Hands-On Mobile. "With its addictive gameplay and built-in fan base, we know that Crystal Quest will be a huge hit worldwide."

First created by veteran game developer Patrick Buckland, Crystal Quest is a mega-selling classic 20 years in the making. This space shooter game features updated graphics with retro gameplay requiring players to pilot a ship through wave after wave of action, collecting crystals and evading the Nasties, unique enemies that emerge from portals on each side of the screen. Fire your weapon at them, or deploy a smart bomb to vaporize every Nasty on the screen. Collect all the crystals to open the gateway to the next level, but don't forget to gather up the goodies in each wave - from bonus points to extra smart bombs and even an occasional mega-crystal for massive points. Any little bit helps on your Crystal Quest!

"Good old-fashioned arcade games are making a comeback because they are still just as much fun as they were 25 years ago," said Buckland. "The idea for the game came from a simple observation that people like to clean things up. Present them with a chaotic playfield and build the game around erasing it. There's something built into us all that makes this enjoyable. Crystal Quest was hardly the first game to feature such an experience, but it's probably the first game that was blatantly built around this concept."

EA Sport active all new heart pumping calorie burnout

Do you find there are too few hours in the day to run a household, hold down a job and fit in a workout? Or, are you just getting bored of the same old fitness routine? EA SPORTS, a label of Electronic Arts today announced the development of EA SPORTS™ Active, an innovative new customizable and personalized fitness product that will get you motivated to move in the comfort of your home. EA SPORTS Active will launch exclusively for the Nintendo Wii worldwide next spring.

Developed in collaboration with fitness experts, including Bob Greene – renowned exercise physiologist, author and Oprah’s personal trainer – EA SPORTS Active is perfect for the whole family, though designed specifically for women seeking a simple, fun and cost-effective way to achieve a healthy lifestyle. The product will be the first in a new line of EA SPORTS fitness and sports performance products in development to improve the well-being of people of all ages.

“EA SPORTS Active and our entrance into the fitness space is an exciting and groundbreaking milestone for EA SPORTS,” said Peter Moore, president, EA SPORTS. “As we continue to expand our brand, we have a real opportunity to redefine the home fitness experience with a more Western cardiovascular approach and exercises that will appeal to a diverse audience, getting people off the couch and into shape while interacting with our products in a way never before possible. EA SPORTS Active costs less than a gym membership, it provides a variety of exercises unlike a one dimensional in-home fitness contraption, and it delivers an interactive experience that you don’t get from a DVD – this is a true fitness revolution and a space in which we intend to be leaders.”

EA SPORTS Active features a wide variety of interactive activities combined into a circuit that target both the upper and lower body as well as cardio, and supports two players to allow family or friends to get fit together. EA SPORTS Active provides a new level of motivation with on-screen, real-time feedback on your workout such as calories burned, while also allowing you to adjust intensity levels. EA SPORTS Active will include two specially-designed leg straps that hold the Wii’s Nunchuk controller to track lower body movements, as well as a resistance band to support a number of upper body strength training exercises.

“One of the most frequent questions I am asked is how to get fit at home – especially from busy mums. EA SPORTS Active provides a fun and effective workout that targets your upper body, lower body, and gets your heart pumping in just 20 minutes a day,” said Greene. “It’s a great way to get moving when you can’t get outside or you only have a short amount of time at home. In addition, I like the variety of exercises that it provides – one of the many reasons it has earned the Best Life seal of approval.”

EA SPORTS Active features a “30 Day Challenge,” a fitness road map for players to reach their fitness goals with the guidance of a virtual trainer. The Challenge provides a new, 20-minute workout every time a player exercises, including clear instruction, feedback on technique and positive encouragement throughout the workout. Each circuit will feel different and increase in intensity as fitness levels improve to help you work up a sweat and work toward your fitness goals. Users can also create their own custom workouts that vary in activity, duration and intensity, and the Wii Balance Board will add functionality to many exercises.

EA SPORTS Active is in development at EA Canada in Vancouver.

Marvelous and Ignition Bring the Darkness of LUX-PAIN for Nintendo DS

Lux-Pain for Nintendo DS, the all-new text-based adventure game, will set its “eye” on North America in March 2009.

Showcasing the work of hot Japanese animator Robin Kishiwada, whose credits include cover illustrations for Eureka Seven series, Lux-Pain features music composed by Kenji Ito, well-known for the music in SaGa, Mana, and Culdcept series’, and Yasuyuki Suzuki, of Operation Logic Bomb, Tail of the Sun, and Space Invaders Extreme fame.

Lux-Pain is set in historical Kisaragi City, a town plagued by mysteries from small mishaps to murders - with no logical explanation as to why these events occur. It seems “Silent”, a worm born through hate and sadness, has infected humans and forced them to commit atrocious crimes. The hero's parents are victims of such crimes. To avenge his parents, Atsuki goes through a dangerous operation to acquire Lux-Pain in his left arm, a power so strong that his left eye turns golden when using it to seek and destroy Silent for good.

"Here at Ignition, we are a focused team of passionate gamers who are always on the look for unique, quality games," said Ajay Chadha, President of Ignition Entertainment. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Marvelous again to bring the profound adventure of Lux-Pain to gamers everywhere!”

“We are very excited to be working with Ignition Entertainment to bring Lux-Pain to the U.S." said Yasuhiro Wada, Managing Director of Marvelous Entertainment. “Lux-Pain is engrossing and blood-chilling and we hope gamers will become addicted to Atsuki and the darkness of Kisaragi City.”

Lux-Pain Features Include:

• Investigate your surroundings and gather hints by conversing with characters in the game • Explore the massive world of Kisaragi City • Use your stylus to conduct autopsies of Silent worms found throughout the game • Psychic Powers enable you to save potential victims from Silent. Use your stylus to find the parasite before it reaches the heart of the victim.

World War II Road to victory v1.21 patch update

The 1.21 update rolls out more fixes and improvements to this World War II grand strategy game

Major new update is available for the recently released WWII grand strategy game, World War II – Road to Victory. The update brings about two dozen fixes, including improvements to gameplay and several rule tweaks. Additionally, the in-game report window now delivers information on a wider range of game events and the Poland 1939 scenario has been revised with a new more historically detailed order of battle.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “The IQ Software team continues to work hard to improve World War II – Road to Victory based on community feedback. We’re happy to see the ongoing enhancements and we know gamers will enjoy them as well.”

World War II: Road to Victory, the first release from IQ Software, puts the player at the helm of his choice of one or more Axis or Allied nations, including minor nations, amidst a continent torn by full scale war. Combat, production, research and diplomacy are all fully modeled.

A diplomacy system based on political points allows you to sway possible allies to your side. Naval combat includes fleet engagements, elusive raiders and U-Boats as well as a convoy system. Concentrate precious industrial resources on building, training and upgrading a wide variety of combat units from airborne soldiers and armored divisions up to nuclear weapons! Historical leaders enhance the performance of your armies and historical events give you choices that can change the course of history. World War II: Road to Victory is fought across turns that vary in length by season and 25 km hexes with divisions and corps, giving the player a broad strategic picture of the war while still leaving enough room for operational decisions.

Get more information on World War II – Road to Victory from its official product page. This update is comprehensive and will bring any previous version of the game to version 1.21.

Patch file download here...

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Thursday, November 13, 2008