Activision price new Tony Hawk Ride video game and skate board

£99.99 is the price of the new Tony Hawk title and accompanying skateboard for PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360. Bearing in mind you can get a 'real' starter skateboard for around £20, that's a hefty premium to pay for a soft landing on the carpet. You'll also look seriously more cool with a genuine board under your arm, as opposed to a carrier bag containing a large cardboard box and plastic accessories.

The game is set to be unleashed on November 20th, just in time to make your Christmas list and will be offered with a 'regular' wireless board or a limited edition version, a black and red board bearing the logo of Mr Hawk. The latter only being available at Game stores. We're presuming this isn't going to be at a premium, but we wouldn't put anything past Activision right now. Is it any good? Well, the finished game hasn't yet been put through its paces by any reviewers of note. With the new version being such a radical departure from past efforts, you might want to wait until a few hands-on notices come through before splashing the cash. Unless you're a TH obsessive - in that case, get in!

Play PlayStation 3 - Heavy rain video game before it's released with download demo

The EU blog ran an interview with Guillaume De Fondaumiere, Co-CEO Of Quantic Dream, the developers behind PS3 exclusive Heavy Rain. Whilst worth watching in its own right, it’s the replies to the comments, more candid that usual, that are the bones of this post. When asked about the E3 demo, Alex Pavey, European Product Manager for the game replied: “the ‘Taxidermist Demo’ from E3/Leipzig 2008 certainly won’t be going to waste. But I can’t say any more than that, for now at least.”




On the same subject but replying to another poster, Pavey said “there won’t be a downloadable demo available in the immediate future, but rest assured that we’re definitely planning to give players opportunities to try Heavy Rain for themselves, before the game is released.”

He was also asked about Home integration, to which he said: “there’s such a great community in Home, and we’re definitely thinking about ways to bring Heavy Rain into it. I can’t say more than that for now, but Home is certainly in Quantic Dream’s thoughts.” Other soundbites of interest from Alex Pavey? “DLC is certainly a possibility,” for one, and on Trophies: “Quantic Dream are working hard on a way of integrating trophies into the game in way that will contribute to the experience, and not detract from the atmosphere.” The game is out in early 2010, and looks certain to cause a bit of stir when it does.

PS 2 games Suikoden Tactics, Zone Of The Enders: The 2nd Runner, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, with Silent Hill 2

Konami has revealed plans to reissue classic PlayStation 2 titles for retail, according to Eurogamer.

The publisher has already repackaged Suikoden Tactics, Zone Of The Enders: The 2nd Runner, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, with Silent Hill 2, 3 and 4 also in the pipeline.

"They are proper reissues," a spokesperson told the website. "Konami has put them out at budget price because of demand. They are remanufactured. They are ours.

"We've manufactured certain amounts depending on the title, and they're being bought by wholesalers so will likely pop up in independent rather than chain stores."

The budget re-releases are expected to retail between £10 and £20.

Hudson Entertainment's DECA SPORTS 2 Warming Up for Nintendo Wii - with video

DECA SPORTS 2 Expands on Popular Franchise as the First Sports Compilation Game to Offer Online Competitive Play. Athletes of all shapes, sizes, and skill levels wanted! Hudson Entertainment, the North and South American publishing arm of HUDSON SOFT, announced that DECA SPORTS 2 will be released in Fall 2009, following the landmark success of DECA SPORTS, the exclusive title for Nintendo Wii that shipped two million units.



“Due to the massive popularity of sports games on Nintendo Wii, the demand for in-game variety and online gameplay has never been greater,” said Mike Pepe, Director of Marketing at Hudson Entertainment. “With online play and 10 new sporting events, we believe DECA SPORTS 2 will delight fans and new players alike.”



As the only Wii sports compilation game with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection online multiplayer, DECA SPORTS 2 will allow players to compete against other ‘DECAthletes’ from around the country. Featuring diverse sports such as synchronized swimming, motorcycle road racing, speed skating, ice hockey, mogul skiing, dodge ball, tennis, and darts, as well as lesser known international sports such as petanque and kendo, DECA SPORTS 2 will continue the original game’s credo of “the Everybody Sports Game.” Besides the new play, gamers will also be able to design their own teams, customizing uniforms, athlete skill sets, and even the looks of the athletes themselves.

Forza Motorsport 3 - New video game screenshots

Nice cars indeed; and you'd probably be very happy to own such vehicles, if you are the rich and sleazy bastard who can afford such unnecessary luxury.

Forza Motorsport 3 is going to be in stores for the Xbox 360 on October 27, 2009. Judging from the new screenshots, I must say they've improved those car models quite a bit.

From what I hear, they've tweaked the vehicle physics to make it seem more realistic, but they'll also allow players to use assistance while driving (breaks and so on) if you're interested in a more arcadish kind of experience:

All in all, it should be a good racer.


Link to the screenshots on ActionTrip

Brutal legend video game now free!

Activision and Double Fine have settled their dispute over publishing rights for Brutal Legend, paving the way for the game’s release.

The settlement comes just before both sides were to present their arguments to court, with Activision claiming that it still owns the rights to publish Brutal Legend, despite seemingly dropping the title from its line-up following the Blizzard merger.



When EA picked up the rights to publish the game Activision sued. Double Fine then counter-sued, claiming that Activision was simply trying to protect sales of Guitar Hero, and had no real interest in publishing Brutal Legend unless it was under the Guitar Hero brand.

Before the settlement the judge presiding over the case expressed doubts over Activision’s claims, saying that he couldn’t see any “likelihood of success” for the mega-publisher.

Double Fine countersued, claiming Activision terminated its agreement to release the heavy-metal inspired game after a failed attempt to make it part of the company's lucrative "Guitar Hero" franchise. Double Fine claimed Activision then moved to stop the release of "Brutal Legend" to try to protect "Guitar Hero."

"Brutal Legend" features Black as band roadie transported to a mythical ancient world to fight evil.

Los Angeles Superior Court spokeswoman Vania Stuelp said attorneys for Activision notified the court of the settlement agreement with Double Fine. Attorneys for the companies did not immediately return calls seeking comment on Thursday.

A hearing on a proposed injunction scheduled for Thursday morning was canceled. Activision's attorneys were set to argue why the game shouldn't be released.

Superior Court Judge Craig Karlan told attorneys last week that he was inclined to deny Activision's request and allow the game to be released on time.

Award-Winning Motion Sensing Peripheral jOG Now Compatible With Over 100 Popular Games For Nintendo Wii - full list of compatable games

New Concept Gaming today announced that the list of games compatible with its multi-award winning accessory jOG has now passed the 100 mark, with more being added every week. Furthermore, multiple jOGs can be used so the whole family can join in the fun, with such an extensive list of games to play in so many different genres that there’s no chance of anyone getting bored!

jOG is a unique motion sensing accessory compatible with the Nintendo Wii that allows character movement in the game only when the player jogs on the spot, creating a feedback loop immersing players deeper into the game play while taking light exercise. Simple to set up, jOG works with any games that use the Nunchuk joystick for character movement on screen, ensuring its compatibility with a much wider variety of games than other fitness related peripherals which require titles to be programmed specifically to make use of their functionality.

“The decision we made early in development to use ‘overlay’ technology has paid dividends as we see the compatibility list grow day by day,” explained Brendan Ludden, Managing Director of New Concept Gaming. “No other accessory in this field works with anywhere close to this number of games. While boredom is never far off with other fitness related peripherals, there will always be new, fresh games coming through that will work perfectly with jOG, and with multiplayer fully supported too, the whole family can join in the fun!”

Below is a list of games that we have tested with jOG compatible with Wii so we know they work well. We are constantly adding to this list so check back regularily to see if we've tested your favourite game yet!

• Alien Syndrome

• Alone in the Dark

• Animal Crossing: Lets Go to the City

• Anubis II

• Barnyard

• Baroque

• Battalion Wars 2

• Bee Movie Game

• Ben 10: Alien Force

• Ben 10: Protector of Earth

• Bleach: Shattered Blade

• Bolt

• Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood

• Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30

• Call of Duty 3

• Code Lyoko: Quest for Infinity

• Conduit The

• Crash of the Titans

• de Blob

• Dead Rising: Chop Til You Drop

• Death Jr.: Root of Evil

• Disaster: Day of Crisis

• Disneys Chicken Little: Ace in Action

• Disneys Meet the Robinsons

• Donkey Kong Jungle Beat

• Dragon Blade: Wrath of Fire

• Eledees

• Escape from Bug Island

• Far Cry Vengeance

• Geometry Wars: Galaxies

• George of the Jungle

• Godzilla: Unleashed

• Igor the Game

• Indiana Jones and the Staff Of Kings

• Iron Man

• James Bond: Quantum of Solace

• Kung Fu Panda

• Kung Fu Panda: Legendary Warriors

• Lego Batman

• Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures

• Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga

• Links Crossbow Training

• Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

• Madworld

• Manhunt 2

• Mario Power Tennis

• Mario Strikers Charged

• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

• Medal of Honor Heroes 2

• Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

• Monsters vs. Aliens

• Mortal Kombat: Armageddon

• Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars

• MySims Kingdom

• Namco Museum Remix

• New Play Control! Pikmin

• Nicktoons: Attack of the Toybots

• Nights: Journey of Dreams

• No More Heroes

• NPPL Championship Paintball 2009

• Obscure: The Aftermath

• Okami

• One Piece Unlimited Cruise 1 - The Treasure Beneath the Waves

• Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers

• Open Season

• Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End

• Prince of Persia Rival Swords

• Rampage: Total Destruction

• Ratatouille

• Red Steel

• Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition

• Rogue Trooper

• Scarface: The World Is Yours

• Shrek the Third

• Sonic and the Black Knight

• Sonic Unleashed

• Soulcalibur Legends

• Spider-Man: Friend or Foe

• Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

• SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab

• Star Wars The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels

• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

• Super Mario Galaxy

• Super Smash Bros. Brawl

• Tenchu: Shadow Assassins

• The Ant Bully

• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

• The Destiny of Zorro

• The Godfather: Blackhand Edition

• The Incredible Hulk

• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

• The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

• The Secret Files: Tunguska

• The Simpsons Game

• Thrillville: Off the Rails

• TMNT

• Tom Clancys Splinter Cell Double Agent

• Tomb Raider: Anniversary

• Tomb Raider: Underworld

• Top Spin 3

• Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen

• WALL-E

• Wild Earth: African Safari

• WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2008

• X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Harvest Moon comes to iPhone with Frantic Farming puzzle action video game

Natsume announce that its first iPhone title, Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming, is now available for download. Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming a unique and action-packed puzzle game set in the world of the popular Harvest Moon series.

"We are thrilled to be bringing this unique and addictive puzzle game to the iPhone," said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume.

"Whether you're looking for fast-paced puzzle action or brain-teasing challenges that require careful planning, you'll have lots of fun with Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming!"

In Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming, your goal is to grow and harvest crops as fast as you can! It's easy to pick up and play, but takes skill and practice to master. Harvest chains of crops for big points, and use golden crops and rain to turn the field to your advantage! Test your speed and skill in Score Attack mode, or puzzle your way through thirty unique challenges in the brain-teasing Mission mode!

Batman Arkham Asylum: Demo Available Now On PSN, Xbox Live & Games For Window

The consumer demo for Batman: Arkham Asylum, published in the United Kingdom by Eidos Interactive, is available NOW for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 entertainment system and Games For Windows LIVE.

The Batman: Arkham Asylum demo opens as the DARK KNIGHT and COMMISSIONER GORDON return The Joker back into confinement at ARKHAM ASYLUM. But things soon fall apart as THE JOKER gains the upper hand and springs a trap, setting Arkham Asylum’s occupants upon Batman. The demo offers gamers a taste of the fierce FreeFlow combat system, the cunning stealth of the Invisible Predator mechanic, and the feeling of becoming the WORLD’S GREATEST DETECTIVE as they navigate Arkham Asylum’s imposing Intensive Treatment facility. Players can unlock character bios, as well as get a sneak peak at some of the infamous foes that BATMAN will encounter within the cavernous and macabre confines of Arkham Asylum.

The demo is available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Network for the PLAYSTATION 3. Fans can visit www.batmanarkhamasylum.com for details on how to download the Games For Windows LIVE version.

Large free extension for Bounty Bay Online on the horizon - six new cities

With a significant expansion of the world of Bounty Bay Online, Berlin-based publisher Frogster is about to stir the quiet waters of the Pacific Ocean! Scheduled for release in Q4 2009 "Beyond the Horizon" will add six new cities on the shores of North and South America and much more new content and new features to the historic sailor MMO world. For the first time ever, players will have the opportunity to circumvent the world by taking the route around Cape Hoorn and across the Pacific.

Available in German and English first, French players will be able to explore the new content a few months later. Like all previous add-ons, "Beyond the Horizon" will be available for free. The website http://www.bth.bountybayonline.com is online now and will provide information about the upcoming add-on regularly.

On their journey across the seas, players will travel to the legendary lands of the Maya in “Beyond the Horizon”, where, amidst imposing pyramids, players will find a new challenging, instanced, quest line. More instances like the Labyrinth on Crete or the Caves of Gibraltar await players following the compelling new quest lines.

Moreover, players will be able to choose from five new character classes called professions in “Beyond the Horizon”. Where players only could advance their skills and careers so far, they can now choose to become a Treasure Hunter, Armed Businessman, Royal Military Officer, Imperial Guardian or Caribbean Pirate. Every profession has their own skill-tree of specialties that can be raised by allocating skill-points.

Another important new feature of the historical world of sea-faring adventurers will be several merchants alliances like the Iberian or the Arabian merchant alliance: Individual players or complete guilds will be able to join them. Together they are then able to access special quest lines that yield exceptional rewards. Additional high-lights of “Beyond the Horizon” are a new wedding system, new wardrobe/clothes sets, several new mini-games, over 40 new main quests and several new pets. Furthermore the new ranking systems of “Beyond the Horizon” will appeal to those players who always wanted to know who are the strongest guilds, the best land-lubbing fighters, the best fishermen or the wealthiest players overall!

Bounty bay Online is available free of charge. Download and register at www.bountybayonline.com

About Bounty Bay Online
With Bounty Bay Online players enter the Age of Discoveries from the 15th to the 17th century. MMO fans are able to choose an online career as a merchant, sailor, fisherman, pirate or adventurer and make their fortune at land and on the seven seas. Alone or with a guild of players, many adventures and gripping quests lie on their way. Thousands of ancient discoveries on all continents like the pyramids of Gizah or the Chinese Wall are waiting to be explored. After exciting PvP combat at land and on the seas, strong guilds can take control of colonies and cities and decide upon their destiny. Bounty Bay Online features a unique trade system based on supply and demand. In April 2008 Frogster has started a free-to-play server with an integrated item shop as an alternative to the subscription model, so that new sailors can now roam the Seven Seas without any fixed costs. More information is available on www.bountybayonline.com.

Features

• Hundreds of authentic ship models
• Land and sea combat
• More than 60 realistic towns and harbours.
• Guilds can conquer towns and decide upon their taxes and tariffs
• Free add-on „Storm Island“ with new items, new features and new regions included
• Free Colony Add-on released in January 2009