DK to publish Halo the video game encyclopedia

DK announced today that the company will publish the officially licensed encyclopedia to Halo, one of the most successful video game franchises in history. The Halo Encyclopedia will be a comprehensive guide to the characters, weapons, vehicles, equipment, and locations from Halo - Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo Wars, and Halo 3 - ODST.

Created in full collaboration with Microsoft, the book, which is scheduled for publication in November 2009, will give fans unprecedented insights into the Halo universe in 352 full-colour pages and it includes a Foreword by Halo franchise development director, Frank O’Connor.

“Microsoft approached DK to discuss a ‘Halo’ book project after San Diego Comic-Con last year, where they saw our impressive array of Star Wars, DC Comics, Marvel and other licensed reference titles,” says Alex Allan, Director of Licensed Publishing for DK. Halo has always fascinated the creative team at DK, many of whom are avid gamers,” Allan continues, “and we had the full support of Halo’s very experienced team to create this spectacular book.”

“We were struck by DK’s thorough treatment of other licensed properties and we turned to them to create the definitive reference to the ‘Halo’ universe for the legions of devoted fans,” said Microsoft Game Studios' Frank O'Connor.
The Halo Encyclopedia is DK’s first foray into publishing a comprehensive reference book for a video-game property. DK secured a world language deal and expects to publish the book in many territories, and in foreign languages.

Unleash your inner SingStar with new Wireless Microphones

• Feel total freedom as you sing, dance, and perform wire-free with new Wireless SingStar Microphones
• Compatible with PlayStation 2 and PLAYSTATION 3
• Coinciding with the launch of brand-new SingStar Pop Edition

Get ready to unleash the SingStar within - with the launch of brand-new Wireless SingStar Microphones from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE). Rated as ‘excellent’ by the SingStar community, Wireless SingStar Microphones will have you and your friends performing from couch to table-top - completely leads-free! Coming to UK stores on 20th March, the launch of Wireless SingStar Microphones coincides with the release of SingStar Pop Edition for PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3).

With full focus on the SingStar community, SCEE asked community members to trial the new Wireless SingStar Microphones and offer their feedback. An amazing 99% of participants rated their microphones as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’, while SingStar community member Stuart from the UK said “Wireless Mics kick ass!” Dave Ranyard of Executive Producer of the SingStar franchise says “We’re excited with the community’s response to Wireless Mics. Now SingStars can enjoy their experience wire-free – and test them out with the exciting launch of SingStar: Pop Edition along with hundreds of new tracks in SingStore. We’re looking forward to seeing your brand-new wireless videos at My SingStar Online or www.singstargame.com.”;

Easy to pass around or keep to yourself; Wireless SingStar Microphones are lots of fun and easy to use. Test them out with brand-new SingStar Pop Edition, with brand-new voice control feature. Unleash some attitude with P!nk’s So What? Then grab your best mate for a pop duet with Jordin Sparks feat. Chris Brown’s No Air , rock out with Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer or perform a sexy solo with Sam Sparro’s Black and Gold. Here’s the international playlist:

Alphabeat 10.000 Nights Of Thunder
Amy Winehouse Rehab
Black Kids I'm Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance
Bon Jovi Livin' On A Prayer
Chris Brown With You
Chris De Burgh Lady In Red
Cyndi Lauper True Colors
Gloria Estefan Rhythm Is Gonna Get You
Jordin Sparks feat. Chris Brown No Air
Kaiser Chiefs Never Miss A Beat
Kate Nash Mouthwash
Kings Of Leon Sex On Fire
Klaxons Gravity's Rainbow
Little Jackie The World Should Revolve Around Me
N*E*R*D Sooner Or Later
P!nk So What!
Queen Bohemian Rhapsody [DSCIMG]
Robbie Williams Angels
Robyn Be Mine
Rockwell Somebody's Watching Me
Sam Sparro Black And Gold
Solange I Decided
Sugababes Girls
The Feeling Rose
The Killers Human
The Police Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
The Script The Man Who Can't Be Moved
Will Young Changes
will.i.am Feat Cheryl Cole Heartbreaker
Yazoo Don't Go

Meanwhile the brand-new Voice Control function[1] available with SingStar Pop Edition means you won’t need to worry about picking up your PS3 controller as you sing along. Simply speak into your Wireless SingStar Microphones and announce which track you want to sing next - and it will appear on your screen! Plus you can even shop and search through your SingStore Carousel using your voice! Being a SingStar’s never been so much fun…

Wireless SingStar Microphones come with improved high-quality sound and are compatible with both PS3 and PlayStation 2. So cue the lights, turn up the volume and get ready to unleash the SingStar inside you when Wireless SingStar Microphones are launched 20th March whilst SingStar Pop Edition hit stores in April.

Add-On Content for Magic Ball, Mahjong Tales - Ancient Wisdom and Cuboid Coming Soon

TikGames and Creat Studios announce the upcoming release of premium downloadable content for their hit PLAYSTATION Network (PSN) games, Magic Ball, Cuboid and Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom. Booster Packs will be available for download on the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, offered via the PLAYSTATION Network, beginning Thursday, April 16th with the release of the Magic Ball Booster Pack, with additional Booster Packs to follow in the coming weeks.

Magic Ball, a fresh spin on classic brick-breaking gameplay in which players bust apart 3D environments, offers gamers new action with the release of the Magic Ball Booster Pack, featuring a whole new world to destroy. Players will be able to smash their way through 25 all new magical, witch-themed levels, earning a series of new trophies along the way. Custom music support will also be made available via a free patch download.

Cuboid, a mind-bending 3D puzzle game, will offer gamers three different options for add-on content. The Cuboid Booster Pack contains 33 new levels that will test even the best players’ skills, rewarding gamers with new trophies. The Cuboid Level Editor allows players to become level designers and challenge others with their own custom levels. Players can either create a brand new level from scratch, or improve upon any existing level, created by other players or taken from the original campaigns. User-created levels can be uploaded to the PSN where they will be made available to other players (who have downloaded the free patch). Players can also earn trophies for creating their own levels, and for rating the levels created by others.

“Gamers are going to thoroughly enjoy the Cuboid Level Editor,” said Anatoly Tikhman, founder and CEO of TikGames. “With this new add-on, anyone can take on the role of game designer to create and share levels with the rest of the Cuboid online community. Gamers can choose to create simple yet entertaining levels, or try to build levels that will challenge even the most cunning Cuboid players.”

The Cuboid Bundle Pack includes both the Booster Pack (33 new levels) and the Level Editor. Custom music support for Cuboid is also on its way via a free patch download.

The Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom Booster Pack features 25 all new layouts to beat in Infinity mode, as well as a level editor that allows players to create their own layouts from scratch and share their creations with other gamers by hosting an online multiplayer game on their custom-created level. Players can then save any new customized level that they have created or played via online multiplayer invitation to their HDD. Also included is a series of new trophies, obtainable by only the most dedicated Mahjong players. Highly-requested mouse support will also be made available via a free patch download.

“We are thrilled with the response that our first three PlayStation Network titles have received from both the PlayStation community and the media, and we are excited about releasing these Booster Packs to add to the great gaming experiences that so many PSN players are already enjoying,” said Vladimir Starzhevsky, CEO of Creat Studios, Inc. “We have listened to our gamers who have repeatedly asked for more levels, level editors and new trophies, and we’re thrilled to be able to deliver on so many of their requests.”

Magic Ball, Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom and Cuboid additional downloadable content will include PLAYSTATION Trophy support and have been rated “E” for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board for this platform.

Hello Kitty present Angel Cat Sugar Nintendo DS video game

The first Character from Hello Kitty Creator in 28 Years. Already a Massive Brand in Asia & Europe.

From Yuko Shimizu, the Japanese creator of the internationally successful Hello Kitty, comes Angel Cat Sugar, a worldwide merchandising phenomenon which has seen the introduction of over 200 products in Asia and Europe across most categories.

Angel Cat Sugar’s first foray into videogames will arrive in Europe* just in time for the summer school break, publisher Rising Star Games confirmed today. Released on the Nintendo DS™ and PC-CD, Angel Cat Sugar sees the ambitious publisher releasing both formats in July 2009, further strengthening its award-nominated Home of Japanese Games campaign throughout the summer months.

“We are thrilled to be working with Yuko Shimizu on this important new franchise. Angel Cat Sugar demonstrates that our position as the Home of Japanese Games extends across all markets and reaches into the mass market pioneered by Nintendo,” commented Martin Defries, managing director of Rising Star Games. “As a young and ambitious company, we feel perfectly placed to help in building this new brand and realising its enormous potential in the games market.”

About Angel Cat Sugar

As a princess of Angel Land, Sugar has the power to heal hurt feelings. With the help of three young mice, Thyme, Parsley and Basil, Sugar spends her time spreading her love throughout the kingdom, studying, listening to music and reading books. A big lover of nature, naturally she adores the forest, the stars in the sky, the beautiful moon, the birds, the river and the fish that swim in it.

Why did Riri run away? - Gobliiins 4 video game

Riri is an orycterope and has a thirst for action. As a youngster he always had enough toys and even the king himself played baball with Riri. But the orycterope never liked baball and he only played along unwillingly…

The tiny orycterope had always dreamt of going out into the world and experiencing exciting adventures. One day, Grand Steward Galantz came to Riri and told him about a life of freedom without King Balderon. Riri decided to take his chance. He left a note to the king hoping the three Gobliiins wouldn’t be right behind him trying to bring him back again.

But soon Riri found out that Galantz had his own agenda, because he arranged the kidnapping of his beloved fiancée and Riri has now found himself on another planet!

Riri can only hope that the three Gobliiins solve his riddles and save him and his fiancée. Will the Gobliiins find Riri and his fiancée? Find out on 24th April 2009!

Gobliiins 4 will be released on 24th April 2009 for a recommended retail price of £19.99.

Gobliiins 4 was developed by Société Pollene and is published by Kalypso Media and Snowberry Connection.

Dutch Radio 6 to broadcast hour long special - The audio from The Chronicles of Spellborn video game

As Midnight passes on the night of Tuesday the 14th of April, Dutch Radio 6 will broadcast an hour long special about the audio in The Chronicles of Spellborn.

Listen on the internet here...

The program will feature sound, music and voice-overs from the MMORPG that has only just been released in Europe and the United States.

Audio in games is often taken for granted, but the achievements made in The Chronicles of Spellborn are recognized in many reviews, previews and player feedback, and now also in this unique broadcast.

Unlike film, sound in video games is not linear, as it is not the passing of time that decides the sequence of events; instead player's actions directly influence the sound that us heard. A player's location is the primary storytelling device and The Chronicles of Spellborn certainly takes this to heart.

Says Audio Director Matthew Florianz; "It certainly was a goal to create sound in such a way that players could close their eyes while traveling, and still get a sense of movement.

To achieve this, Spellborn features well over 15 hours of specifically composed ambiences. Forest, roads, and fields can all exist in the same zone, yet all will have their own specific sound as player move between them. To create these ambiences, over 500 hours of layered sounds, effects and synthesizer recordings where used".

However, sound generated by the environment is only one part of the equation and the radio broadcast will also feature music by award-winning composer Jesper Kyd, who wrote the musical score for Spellborn.

Says Jesper Kyd; "My approach to this score is to not make it sound like predictable fantasy music, but to write a more hybrid score, to complement the mystical world of Spellborn".

His music is carefully restrained and, like the universe in which Spellborn is set, it conveys its message slowly. The opening title representing the games first hero, Graidlon Marrow, is a minimal piece, tragic even. The music chooses not to score the epic conflict and struggle, but the tragic destiny of a hero whom in the end sacrificed himself for the greater good of the peoples living in the game world. Solo instruments and a human voice often represent an individual’s place in this post-apocalyptic world.

The human voice is also used for the games introduction, voiced by Dutch actress Anna Drijver, her capricious voice is as unpredictable as the universe she inhabits.

Equally to how Spellborn unfolds its game play, the initial simplicity may be deceptive. In today’s world, artistic endeavors often strive for instant gratification but Spellborn is a rare exception. Like a good book or masterfully composed symphony it takes its time, revealing its depth, sophistication and story only for those that patiently engulf themselves in the experience. The execution of sound in the game represents this approach.

Download Chronicles of Spellborn wallpaper here...

New Wii MotionPlus and Wii Sports Resort arrive June 8th

Advanced Motion Controls Arrive June 8 - Wii Sports Sequel to Follow

Nintendo is setting the stage for a blockbuster summer with the announcement of two hotly anticipated product releases. The new Wii MotionPlus accessory will hit U.S. retailers on June 8, taking the motion-sensing controls of the popular Nintendo Wii system to new levels of precision and performance.

What's more, these control enhancements will be on vibrant display when the Wii Sports Resort game launches on July 26, offering a beach-themed follow-up to the groundbreaking Wii Sports game. Wii Sports comes packed with the Wii console. It grew into a worldwide phenomenon and continues to attract millions of new players to the world of video games. Each Wii Sports Resort game comes packed with a single Wii MotionPlus accessory.

When used with specially designed games, Wii MotionPlus tracks players' movements in finer detail and with greater accuracy than ever before, building upon the innovative wireless function of the motion-sensing Wii Remote™ controller. Even the slightest twist of the wrist or turn of the body is replicated exactly on the TV screen, allowing users to become even more immersed in Wii game play. Designed for easy attachment to the Wii Remote controller, the Wii MotionPlus accessory will be offered at an MSRP of $19.99.

Wii Sports Resort takes the inclusive, fun and intuitive controls of the original Wii Sports to the next level, introducing a whole new set of entertaining and physically immersive activities. With the deep control enhancements of Wii MotionPlus, veteran Wii users and newcomers alike can enjoy unprecedented gaming precision as they cruise on a water scooter, duel with swords, throw a Frisbee® and much more. Wii Sports Resort and Wii MotionPlus will be offered together at an MSRP of $49.99.

"Wii MotionPlus represents a new evolution in video game control. The variety of fun games in Wii Sports Resort show off its incredible precision," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "Developers around the world are busy working on new ways to incorporate Wii MotionPlus controls into inventive experiences for consumers."

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features.

Levels and Environments for Damnation video game relealed

Unveiling the variety of the incredible open-world expanses in Damnation’s levels, Codemasters release an all-new video with developer commentary for the steam-punk themed shooter. The “Levels & Environments” video features developer commentary from Blue Omega’s Jacob Minkoff and offers an insight into how Blue Omega created such awe-inspiring game environments and the vertical nature of the expansive levels on offer in Damnation.

With a new release date set for 22nd May 2009 on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and the PC, Damnation distances itself from the linear nature of most modern day shooters and offers players true choice in how to traverse the massive streaming environments. Players will duck, dive, leap, shoot and fight through vast, streaming levels teaming with hostile troops - from industrial towns, through lush, sun kissed, leafy mountainside ruins and into the frozen tundra’s of the north.

“All the environments have multiple paths through them, giving players real freedom in deciding how to go about tackling the enemy,” says Jacob Minkoff, Lead Game Designer. “Some will prefer to run straight at them with their trusty Railroad Spike Gun. Others would prefer to climb and leap right to the top, avoiding direct fire fights by sniping and raining down death from above.”

In addition to the extensive single-player campaign, Damnation also delivers drop-in-drop-out co-operative online play and innovative multiplayer modes. Taking advantage of the scale and height of Damnation’s levels, new game types and traditional deathmatch and capture the flag modes are given a vertical twist, where players have to balance firepower and agility and can kill or be killed from any direction.

Currently in development at Blue Omega's facilities in Annapolis, USA, Damnation will be available for Xbox 360, the PLAYSTATION 3 system and PC on the 22nd May 2009.

Women’s Murder Club - Death in Scarlet new James Patterson novel crime adventure PC video game out 1st May

Women’s Murder Club: Death in Scarlet is a thrilling new crime adventure due for release on 1st May 2009.

Avanquest Software Publishing brings the excitement and suspense of the best-selling James Patterson novels to the PC in this engaging and interactive mystery combining hidden objects, light adventure and crime solving puzzle games.

The story begins when the body of a murdered woman washes up underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. In order to solve the murderous crimes, gamers must choose one of the three main characters to play as; homicide detective Lindsay Boxer; medical examiner Claire Washburn; or crime reporter Cindy Thomas. Players must scour the city for clues, scrutinise murder scenes and complete laboratory work in order to progress through the enigmatic storyline and untangle a web of ancient culture, corruption and greed.

In Women’s Murder Club: Death in Scarlet, mystery fans will need their investigative skills to identify victims, examine evidence and interrogate suspects as they dig further into the killer’s mind. Players must use their contacts to cross examine and decipher each victim’s story in order to stop the ruthless killer before the time runs out and another victim dies.

Women’s Murder Club: Death in Scarlet features a compelling storyline written by James Patterson himself, combined with a unique blend of adventure and puzzle gameplay. Players can explore 18 beautiful settings throughout San Francisco whilst solving nine challenging investigations. Clues can be collected in the various hidden object levels to aid the solving of over 90 puzzles that are critical to the case.

Women’s Murder Club: Death in Scarlet puts player’s observational skills, puzzle solving and logic to the test, making it an ideal game for fans of James Patterson novels, murder mysteries and crime investigation.

Fast facts:
Publisher: Avanquest Software Publishing
Developer: Valusoft
Distributor: GEM, Centresoft, Interactive Ideas and Ideal Software
Release date: 1st May 2009
PEGI: 7+
Format: PC
Genre: Crime Adventure
SRP: £19.99

Titan Online free-to-play MMORPG open beta starts April 28

EYA Interactive announce that Titan Online, its free-to-play, massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG), will enter into the Grand open beta on April 28. Players can get a taste for this martial arts fantasy by logging in at http://titan.eyagames.com.

An epic title based on traditional Asian culture, Titan Online is a fusion MMORPG that boasts a unique combination of martial arts and robots that takes place in a spectacular fantasy world. Titan Online is based upon the Korean best-selling novel, “Mo Siang.” Set in ancient China, players will experience historic Chinese locales, meet influential figures from various dynasties, experience mysterious aspects of various ancient Asian cultures, all while trying to save the martial arts world by engaging in intense real-time battles.

This milestone will contain lots of new game content, including special field items and armor packages, never-before-seen in the world of Titan Online. There will be 11 new special event weapons available for give-away at various online game sites, as well as support of larger resolutions. All participants will have the opportunity to start from the beginning to maintain balance and fairness. However, there are no plans to wipe the accounts from this Grand Open Beta moving forward.

Developed in-house by EYA Interactive, Titan Online offers a very real picture of ancient China with 75 maps of historical sites, including Dun Hwang, Chang An, Kai Feng, Beijing, Shu Zhou, Shao Lin Temple, Chin Shi Huang mausoleum, Hang Zhou, Tai Shan, The Great Wall, and Hwang Her. In order to create the most true-to-life experience, the EYA development team spent time in China researching the ancient and historical cities so they could accurately reproduce them in the game.

The upcoming Grand open beta, which will begin on April 28, 2009, will allow users to tap into a world that has already birthed a veritable civilization of fans in Asia. It will offer players an opportunity to discover enthralling characters in a beautiful 3D, cell-shaded world filled with unique characters. The Grand open beta will continue until the commercial launch and is not limited to a specific number of participants.