Laika's Coraline video game to Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PlayStation 2 - May 2009

Based on the exciting new movie Coraline – the first-ever stop-motion animated feature to be made in 3-D – from Focus Features and LAIKA, the Coraline videogame is coming from D3Publisher (D3P). The game will let players take on the role of the adventurous heroine Coraline and interact with the wondrous characters from the movie while navigating the scheming Other Mother’s web of deceit in a fantastical adventure through two distinct and interactive worlds.

Coraline is due for release on the Nintendo Wii console, Nintendo DS and the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system in May 2009.

“The Coraline movie is absolutely mesmerizing and we feel that the visual style and tone of the game will bring the amazing stop-motion animated film and thrilling storyline to life for players,” said Bill Anker, vice president of business development, D3P. “We’re confident that Coraline will offer a truly immersive and interactive gameplay experience that gamers as well as fans of the movie and best-selling book will enjoy.”

The only videogame based on the upcoming movie, Coraline will allow players to explore and interact with such immersive 3-D environments from the movie as the Pink Palace, its nooks and crannies and apartments, and the unpredictable Other World. Players will engage in unique mini-games and adventures with Coraline’s friends Wybie and Cat as they collect items that will unlock the mysteries of the Other World.











Coraline is under development for Wii and the PlayStation 2 system by Papaya Studios and by Art Co. Ltd., for Nintendo DS.

Punch-Out!! boxing video game on Nintendo Wii

One of the biggest names in boxing returns after a 15-year hiatus. Grab a Nintendo Wii Remote controller in one hand and a Nunchuk controller in the other and step back into the ring with a modern update of the classic Punch-Out!!

• Little Mac is back! Everyone’s favorite underdog from the 1980s joins the best of the original Punch-Out!! cast in a modern re-imagination of the series. Players will find familiar names like Glass Joe, King Hippo and trainer Doc Louis. These boxers come to life again in cell-shaded 3-D, complete with hilarious fighting animations and back stories that capture all the fun and flair of the original Punch-Out!! games.

• The motion-sensitive controls of the Wii console mean that when players throw punches, Little Mac throws punches as well. Additionally, you can control hooks and jabs by combining motion control with control-stick movement The motion-sensing Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers turn real-life swings into on-screen punches, so anyone can play. The game can also be played with classic NES-style controls by turning the Wii Remote sideways.
Characters: Little Mac, Glass Joe, King Hippo, Doc Louis, Von Kaiser and other unannounced favorites.

Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Players can obtain special “Star Punches,” which allow Little Mac to take more Health from his rival in a single punch.

Control options:

• Motion Control (Wii Remote and Nunchuck controllers)
Punch-Out!! uses the Wii Remote and Nunchuck controllers to simulate throwing punches. Use the Nunchuck to throw a left punch and the Wii Remote to throw a right punch.

• Classic Control (Wii Remote NES style)
Fans of the NES version and core gamers will be excited to see Nintendo has also included the option to play Punch-Out!! using the classic layout from the original NES controller. Use the 1 and 2 buttons along with the cross pad to throw hooks and jabs or to dodge.

Format: Nintendo Wii
Launch Date: May 18, 2009
ESRB: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief
Game Type: Action
Developer: Next Level Games

Excitebots - Trick Racing video game on Nintendo Wii Fact Sheet

High-speed action. Robotic insect and animal racers. Wii Wheel controls. Bowling, poker, clowns – and sandwiches! Add them all together and you get the wild, nonstop fun of Excitebots: Trick Racing.

• This game takes the big-air thrills and simple pick-up-and-play controls of Excite Truck and ramps up the fun with a constant barrage of funky challenges and mini-games performed at blinding speed. Players shoot goals, throw pies and even play poker in the middle of rowdy races around off-road tracks.
• Having your vehicles drive, walk or fly around the track quickly is one thing, but it’s more important to go around in style. Players earn stars for huge jumps, cool tricks and daring feats at high speed.
• Six players can race online via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in both Excite Race and Poker Race modes. If friends can’t join online, players can exchange ghost data via WiiConnect24 and challenge their friends to outdo their most daring tricks. 

How to progress through the game: Players race around tracks at high speeds while performing stunts and participating in mini-games, all in an effort to earn stars. Players win bonus stars for crossing the finish line sooner, but stunts and style are as important as speed. Stars can be traded for a variety of goodies, like new vehicles, icons and statues.

Controls: The 2 Button on the Wii Remote™ controller is the gas. The + Control Pad gives drivers a speed boost. Players turn the Wii Wheel accessory left or right to steer, tilt the Wii Wheel in mid-air to glide or to adjust pitch for perfect landings, swing the Wii Wheel in circular motions around boost bars to build up speed and press the A Button to activate items or to cash in hands in Poker Mode. Note: The Wii Wheel accessory is recommended but not required to race. Wii Remote controllers can be used on their own as well.

Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Just as in Excite Truck, drivers can hit blocks that morph the terrain before their eyes and create ramps from which players can launch mega-jumps. Players can aim for and swing around boost bars or open presents that unleash a variety of wild items, such as bottle rocket boosts or clacker mouths that chomp on other racers to slow them down. Players also can activate in-race mini-games including:

• Soccer: Drive into the soccer ball and attempt to hit it into the goal.
• Bowling: Drive through the pins and attempt to get a strike.
• Darts: Line up your bot and let the dart fly. Try to hit bull’s-eye in the distance.
• Clowns: Hit the clown in the face with a pie by throwing it at just the right angle and speed.
• Sandwiches: Drive through the ingredients in the proper order to make a delicious sandwich.

Do you know of any other game that features high-speed robotic racers combined with bowling, poker, clown faces and sandwich making? Didn’t think so.

Format: Nintendo Wii
Launch Date: April 20, 2009
ESRB: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Game Type: Action Racing
Accessories: Wii Wheel
Players: 1-2 Locally, Up to 6 via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Developer: Monster Games

Rhythm Heaven video game Nintendo DS fact sheet

Rhythm Heaven puts the music in your hands and some rhythm in your life. Let the music move you as you tap and slide your stylus on the touch screen to the beat of more than 50 musical rhythm games. The controls are as natural as tapping your finger to music.

• Simple and intuitive controls bring you closer than ever to the music – it’s as simple as tapping your finger and yet challenging enough to keep you on your toes.

• Music games continue to be extremely popular, and Rhythm Heaven delivers a new way to play. The fun pop musical beats combine with the quirky graphics for an experience that anyone can enjoy.

• Rhythm Heaven has more than 50 rhythm-based music games featuring a catchy soundtrack composed by legendary Japanese pop-music producer TSUNKU.
Game description: Rhythm Heaven features original music in dozens of rhythm-based minigames. The music, created by legendary Japanese pop-star producer TSUNKU, is addictive and catchy. Even though the controls are simple to grasp, each minigame challenges the player’s grasp of rhythm by throwing in interesting beats and off-beats.

The game is controlled entirely by the stylus: Tap to shake your hips in one game or flick the stylus on the touch screen to swing a paddle in another. It’s all about tapping, flicking, sliding and holding. This simple set of gestures combines with the rhythm of each game for a unique musical experience. It’s easy to figure out what to do, and then the game play becomes addictive. Rhythm Heaven is easy enough for new players to pick up and play for a few minutes at a time, yet veteran gamers will want to unlock and master every game.

Format: Nintendo DS
Launch Date: April 5, 2009
ESRB: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Game Type: Rhythm
Players: 1
Developer: Nintendo

Backstage with guitar Hero to debut in PlayStation Home

Activision today announced that Guitar Hero fans will have another virtual destination to join together and rock with the launch of the franchise’s very own space in the PlayStation Home

The 3D social gaming community that allows users to interact, communicate and share gaming experiences together online for the PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) computer entertainment system.

“Backstage with Guitar Hero” will give Guitar Hero rock stars around the world exclusive VIP access to both a themed backstage lounge and massive concert venue where they can meet up, hang out, check out videos for upcoming titles on the franchise, and share their rock and roll secrets. “Backstage with Guitar Hero” will continue to evolve over time adding new functionality.

Square Enix new download games on Nintendo Wii including FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS™ and FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklo

Line-up includes Two WiiWare titles and FINAL FANTASY series for Wii Virtual Console

Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) announced today at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), the forthcoming releases of new downloadable titles including...

FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS and FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord for WiiWare, as well as the FINAL FANTASY series for the Virtual Console for Wii.

The release of these new downloadable titles represent Square Enix’s recognition of the growing demand for online distribution of content/services, and the commitment they have made to provide content/services that match the needs of their customers.

Square Enix will be offering two new releases for WiiWare: FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS and FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord.
FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS, is an RPG that continues the story that began in the 1991 Super Famicom title FINAL FANTASY IV. In Japan, this title was released as a downloadable cellular phone application in February 2008. It has since been lauded for its deep storytelling, and a year after its release, has been downloaded over 3 million times.

FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord is the newest instalment in the FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES series, which has shipped over 2 million copies worldwide and is set to grow further in 2009. This title will be a sequel to FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King, which launched simultaneously with the WiiWare service in May of 2008.

In addition, the Virtual Console allows Wii users to download and play classic titles released on previous game consoles, and now for the first time ever, the FINAL FANTASY series will be made available via home console download. The first instalment of the series will be FINAL FANTASY, originally released for the Famicom™ in Japan in 1987, which will be available for download in May 2009 in Japan. The release date for PAL region will be in 2009.

Please see below for product details:

About FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS

Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Publisher: Square Enix Ltd.
Platform: Wii
Genre: RPG
Launch Date: 2009

18 years after FINAL FANTASY IV first stole the hearts of Japanese gamers, the adventure continues in FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS.

Released as a mobile phone game in Japan, this wildly popular sequel has topped 3 million paid downloads as of 25th February 2009.

The game focuses primarily on Ceodore, son of FINAL FANTASY IV heroes Cecil and Rosa. He is ably supported by a host of familiar faces from the original cast who star in a series of additional tales.

About FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord

Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Publisher: Square Enix Ltd.
Platform: Wii
Genre: Real Time Strategy
Launch Date: 2009

FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord puts players in the highly fashionable shoes of the Darklord's daughter, a malevolent little Miss, charged with dispatching intruding do-gooders by strategically placing traps and monsters around the tower she calls home.

Players will need to get their hands on ever more diabolical traps and abominable monsters to stop those pesky adventurers from making it to the Dark Crystal at the top of the tower. Be warned, though – with heroes of all the races and job classes from the FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES series storming the Darklord’s lair in real time, traps and minions will count for nothing unless deployed like a true evil genius. Anything less and the Darklord’s beloved home will be reduced to rubble!

The Magic Toy Chest is Now Available for PC! Physics fans rejoice!

The Magic Toy Chest is a physics puzzle game for the PC and Windows platform. The Magic Toy Chest is inspired by the classic PC game, The Incredible Machine, and is great fun for the whole family. The object of the game is to pick up your toys strewn about the house. Who knew picking up could be such fun!

Physics fans rejoice! Graduate Games, an independent game developmer, announces that The Magic Toy Chest, a classic-inspired physics puzzle game is now available for the PC and Windows Platform.

The Magic Toy Chest is inspired by the classic PC game series, The Incredible Machine, and is great fun for the whole family. The object of the game is to pick up your toys strewn about the house. Using wacky physics and unique toys, Players set up Rube Golberg inspired solutions to the many puzzles throughout the game. Who knew picking up could be such fun!

The player plays the role of a child who has made a mess of the house and their parents are having a dinner party and need the house cleaned up. There are 8 rooms that need picking up and over 80 chores to complete. The game features sandbox style gameplay and encourages players to experiment and use their imaginations. The game features an interactive tutorial that teaches you how to play and the puzzles and levels can be approached in any order and unlock based on a player’s skill level. Download the Free Demo Today!

The Full Version Features:

- Over 100 Puzzles across 8 Distinct Rooms of the House
- An Interactive Tutorial that explains the simple point and click controls
- Beautiful and Colorful 2D graphics
- Over 16 Different Toys and abilities to Experiment With
- Sandbox Physics Gameplay which allows for Multiple and Imaginative Puzzle Solutions
- A fully featured Level Editor allows players to create and share their own levels
- 15 Trophies / Achievements to Unlock
- Over 10 Different Music Tracks

PlayStation 3 firmware 2.7 in April

A new PlayStation 3 firmware available in April.

Firmware 2.7 has been rumoured for some time, following comments from Insomniac's James Stevenson. A new patch for Resistance 2 is to include features not available in the PS3's current firmware.

"Resistance 2 is the first game to fully log-in two PSN accounts. [LittleBigPlanet] only logs you in locally, and does not register both accounts as online through PSN," said Stevenson in a Joystiq.com thread.

"This is a big difference, and what is required for split-screen online co-op with other folks. And it was dependent on a Sony update, hence why it wasn't in when the game shipped."

The Resistance 2 update was planned for tomorrow, but this is put into doubt with a pair of anonymous developers telling Eurogamer that the required PS3 2.7 firmware update will be available in April.

Source:Gamezine

Combat Arms - Nut Shot interactive video game feature

Nexon America, a world leader in free online games, today announced it will debut "Nut Shot," a new interactive feature for its widely popular first-person shooter game Combat Arms. "Nut Shot," which went live today, allows players to earn score instant kills for shooting the nether regions of their male opponents. Players can download Combat Arms for free at http://combatarms.nexon.net and take their shot at cracking a few nuts.

"We are constantly striving to bring new and exciting game elements to our fans, elements that resonate beyond traditional FPS game play," said Min Kim, vice president of marketing for Nexon America. "Nut Shot is an amusing and challenging addition to the arsenal of features in Combat Arms - designed to enhance the gaming experience through increased interactivity, exceptional entertainment value, and of course, humor."

Providing Combat Arms with a unique, comical dimension, Nut Shots are celebrated in game with a large graphic of exploding walnuts. Other players are made aware with a corresponding icon in the upper left-hand corner kill display featuring a golden squirrel, similar to the golden skull that denotes a head shot.

Female characters who succeed in unloading a Nut Shot giggle at their accomplishment, while male characters laugh heartily after hitting the target. The Nut Shot is gender specific, which means female characters don?t suffer the humiliation.



Surpassing the two-million user mark before completing its first year of service, Combat Arms excels by offering players a variety of combat styles and game maps, complete with eye-catching graphics, customized characters, and more. Combat Arms also features a high level of socialization with its Buddy Lists, Community Support, In-game Clan System and more. This essential mix of elements represents a truly unique offering in the world of first-person shooters: a dynamic, ever-evolving game that encourages both friendly competition and individual expression.

Case Closed: One Truth Prevails is a new anime/manga style police investigation game for the Nintendo Wii

Case Closed: One Truth Prevails is a new anime/manga style police investigation game for the Nintendo Wii due for release on 1st May 2009 from Nobilis and Ascaron Entertainment. Case Closed, also known as Detective Conan, is a successful anime series from Japan and is now coming to the Nintendo Wii.

In Case Closed: One Truth Prevails the lead character is 17 year old Shichi Kudo, a very intuitive high school detective, well known in Japan as a modern day Sherlock Holmes. Shichi is on a mission to infiltrate a secret group known as the Black Organisation when he is drugged with a poison that was meant to kill him, but instead transforms him into a seven year old boy. In his new body, Shichi adopts the alias Conan Edogawa and pretends to be a child whilst continuing to secretly solve cases.

Players can use a number of special detective tools that feature in the Japanese TV series of Case Closed, including a voice changing bow tie and a solar powered skateboard. The Wii remote is used to touch or manipulate objects and also can also be used as a magnifying glass when players lead Shichi undercover to investigate crime scenes and search for clues.

Providing fun and challenges for a young audience, Case Closed: One Truth Prevails will be released on Nintendo Wii on 1st May 2009 by Nobilis and Ascaron Entertainment.

Fast facts:
Publisher: Nobilis
UK Distributor: Ascaron Entertainment
Web: www.detectiveconan-thegame.com
Developer: Marvelous Entertainment
Release date: 1st May 2009
PEGI: 7+
Format: Wii
Genre: Adventure / Police Investigation