BOMBERMAN LAND soon on Wii, Nintendo DS, and Sony PSP (PlayStationPortable)

Hudson Entertainment's Award-Winning Bomb Maker To Hit Retail Shelves January 29, 2008 for $29.99

Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm of Hudson Soft, today announced BOMBERMAN LAND for the Wii and PSP (PlayStationPortable) system, and BOMBERMAN LAND Touch! 2 for the Nintendo DS have gone to gold master. Published by Hudson and distributed in North America by Konami Digital Entertainment Inc., all three versions are planned to ship on January 29, 2008 for a SRP of $29.99 each.

BOMBERMAN LAND brings an exciting single player campaign element to the Bomberman property while holding true to the multiplayer mode that has made it so popular in the past. The series introduces a multitude of mini-games, many of which can be played in multiplayer mode. The PSP and Wii versions feature 50 mini-games. While the Wii version is full of interactive games that utilize the Wii Remote in various ways, the Nintendo DS version features over 40 types of mini-games that are played with the Stylus. In addition, the BOMBERMAN LAND series features a robust single-player Story Mode, where players can explore a fantasy land and solve quests and puzzles with the ultimate goal of restoring peace and tranquility to the beleaguered Bomberman world.

Best of all, players will find the classic multiplayer Bomberman experience that gamers know and love on each platform. The PSP and Nintendo DS versions allow for shared play locally and up to 4 players globally. The Wii version features 6 different "Battle Modes" with 20 maps each for the ultimate party.

Microsoft Xbox 360 sales top 17.5 million

Christmas 2007 was a blockbuster season for the gaming industry, and Xbox 360 has hands-down emerged as the industry leader. Consumers spent more holiday dollars on the Xbox 360 total gaming experience: a great variety of consoles, the best games and a unique online community with Xbox LIVE.

Here are some breaking sales figures:

• Microsoft has sold more than 17.7 million Xbox 360 consoles worldwide


• Microsoft has sold more than 8.1 million copies of “Halo 3” since its launch on September 26 2007


• “Mass Effect” reached 1.6 million units sold, in just six weeks since it went on sale on November 20 2007


• Consumers spend more on Xbox software and accessories, with a record-high software attach rate of 6.9, according to NPD

Microsoft is proud of the contributions Xbox 360 is making to the gaming industry, and looks forward to an even more successful 2008.

Warner Brothers defect to Sony Blu-ray High Definition from HD-DVD

WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE ITS HIGH-DEFINITION DVD TITLES EXCLUSIVELY IN THE BLU-RAY DISC FORMAT BEGINNING LATER THIS YEAR Decision Made in Response to Strong Consumer Preference for Format
(January 4, 2008 - Burbank, CA) - In response to consumer demand, Warner Bros. Entertainment will release its high-definition DVD titles exclusively in the Blu-ray disc format beginning later this year, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. and Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.

"Warner Bros.' move to exclusively release in the Blu-ray disc format is a strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give consumers what they want," said Meyer. "The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers."

Warner Home Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format and Blu-ray. After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end of May 2008.

"Warner Bros. has produced in both high-definition formats in an effort to provide consumer choice, foster mainstream adoption and drive down hardware prices," said Jeff Bewkes, President and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner Inc., the parent company of Warner Bros. Entertainment. "Today's decision by Warner Bros. to distribute in a single format comes at the right time and is the best decision both for consumers and Time Warner."

"A two-format landscape has led to consumer confusion and indifference toward high definition, which has kept the technology from reaching mass adoption and becoming the important revenue stream that it can be for the industry," said Tsujihara. "Consumers have clearly chosen Blu-ray, and we believe that recognizing this preference is the right step in making this great home entertainment experience accessible to the widest possible audience. Warner Bros. has worked very closely with the Toshiba Corporation in promoting high definition media and we have enormous respect for their efforts. We look forward to working with them on other projects in the future."

Nintendo DS iPhone Redesign? What do you think?

Gizmodo special

Gizmodo reader Phil Nolan, a profesional 3D modeler and animator, got inspired by our Nintendo DS 2 mock-up and wish list and sent us his cool version of this dreamed-up third iteration of the Nintendo DS. It looks so yummy inside that I want to get it out for a date:



As you can see, he took the original design and added a whole lot of the iPhone and the PSP. Looks quite good to me, even while it still has some unresolved issues, like the hinge, which can't be like the MacBook because it will block the shoulder buttons. Still, a very doable, even slimmer form factor than the Lite which can perfectly fit all the not-so-crazy features we thought could make it to the next revision of the Nintendo portable console.

And before the anti-Apple camp gets up in arms, let's not forget that the original DS got redesigned with a clear inspiration on the Apple's all-white, all-shiny, all-simplicity iPod design. People didn't think the same could be done with the original DS and look what happened with the Lite.



Some more thoughts from the "buts" that people claimed about the first 2D mock-up:

"But the screen on top should be the same size"
Not necessarily. For compatibility, you can play original DS games letterboxed. Even new games could retain exactly the same format and keep backward compatibility if you want. The top wide-screen, however, could be used very well in most games. But specially, for media playback.

"But the it should be a totally new concept. Nintendo broke the rules and will do it again in the next generation"
That may be true, but the True Next Generation is years away. It took decades for Nintendo to change the paradigm of the original Gameboy to the Nintendo DS. Until the latter arrived, the first went through many iterations, each adding more things: smaller package, more power, color, backlighting, etc.

They milked the cow until it was dead. Then, they reinvented themselves with the DS. The next DS will be an evolution of power and features, not of basic concepts. It works great now, it sells like crazy, so you don't need to change it dramatically just yet. Nintendo just needs to keep the distance with the PSP and that will be it.

"But it will be too expensive to make"
Like I said in the original mock-up article, given the sinking prices of current components thanks to the proliferation of smartphones like the iPhone or multimedia players, a DS 2 with shaved corners, better screens and built-in multimedia playback will be very doable in 2008. Granted, it may not take this shape, but it will happen sooner than later.

"But it doesn't have Advance cart compatibility"
With downloadable games coming to the DS and dirty-cheap Flash RAM prices, the next version of the DS will probably have Virtual Console emulation, just like the Wii. Why deal with hardware when you can have it all in software?

Source: Gizmodo

Hellgate: London v0.6 Singleplayer PC video game Patch

According to legend, when the ravens depart the Tower of London, it will crumble to rubble and disaster will befall England. As man became more dependent on science, believing only in what he could define or create, ancient knowledge and rituals were lost to the antiquity of time.

This patch fixing various items, quests, bugs and more.

The Settlers - Rise of an Empire PC video game patch 1.3 download

RTS fans were treated to a detailed strategy fest ate last September by Blue Byte and Ubisoft when the two released The Settlers: Rise of an Empire for the PC. Now they're back with patch 1.3 which kills off bugs and adds some very nice, small features. Here they are:

Additional Features

• Map Editor Do/Undo tool performance improved.


• Quest trees in the Map Editor are exportable to GraphViz.

Added support for cliff “snapping“ in the Map Editor

• The Map Editor updates terrain blocking when placing/removing cliffs.


• Several quest system improvements.

Bug Fixes for Game

• Fixed a problem on 7000 series nVidia graphic cards where the game would cause a blue screen under very rare circumstances.


• Game no longer crashes upon entering LAN/online mode if no network connection is available.


• Building decals should now always be visible.


• Fixed a bug on campaign map 4 (Narfang) where Hakim would not reach the castle and hence the final quest could not be completed.

Bug Fixes for Map Editor

• A selection problem with certain types of stones & trees has been fixed.


• Some fixes for wall gate, map rotation, water level, and brush tools.


• Map Editor files are now removed when uninstalling the game.


• Fixed bug where entities were invisible yet cast shadows.


• Fixed several issues related to Do/Undo.


• Added snapping points for harbour wall.


• Map sound points are now properly stored.


• Fixed some issues related to localization.


• Several minor fixes related to tool usability.

Patch available here... http://thesettlers.uk.ubi.com/news.php



From: pc.qj.net

Nintendo DS full game downloads NOT coming after all

Just 2 days ago it was reported that full DS games would be made downloadable thanks to the wifi comparabilities of the Wii. Well it turns out that was a mistake made by The New York Times and, like the Japanese version of the same channel, only DS demos will be available to download.

From Nintendo: "An article about the Nintendo DS video game system in the Dec. 31 Business Day section of the New York Times incorrectly referred to future capabilities of the device. The statement that complete Nintendo DS games will eventually be able to be downloaded into the device via a wireless connection with the company's Wii game console is incorrect.

Users can download games to play on Wii, and, in the future, the Nintendo DS will be able to receive demo versions of some DS games from Wii, but not the entire game. The demo will be erased once the Nintendo DS is turned off."

Source: Nintencast

Race Driver: Create & Race Wins Best Nintendo DS Racing Game Of 2007

Glasgow, United Kingdom - Firebrand Games developed Nintendo DS hit, Race Driver: Create & Race, published by Codemasters, today was awarded Best DS Driving/Racing game of 2007 in the IGN annual awards.

The critically acclaimed racing title beat off stiff competition from Need For Speed ProStreet, Diddy Kong Racing and Juiced 2:Hot Import Nights to be crowned Best Driving/Racing Game of 2007 for hugely successful Nintendo DS handheld gaming platform.

Firebrand CEO, Mark Greenshields, said "We are extremely confident in our racing game engine and we're sure that the features that we crammed into Race Driver: Create & Race would set the title as one of the best of 2007. We're very proud to receive this award from IGN and it's of great credit to our Scottish Team that they developed the IGN rated Best DS Racing Game of 2007."



The IGN Best of 2007 website stated, "Race Driver: Create and Race brought a console level experience to the handheld market. The game is a fun arcade-style racing game that boasts an impressive amount of features, both online and off. The customizing features add a creative element not seen in other racers and the production value is some of the best we've seen. Race Driver shows just how polished a third-party game can be, and other racers may have a hard time competing".


Launched in September 2007, Race Driver: Create & Race gives players control over 20 of the fastest racing cards on the planet and unleashes them on 30 of the most-exciting official race circuits. What really sets Race Driver: Create & Race aside is the unique and intuitive track designer which gives players a chance to design and share their very own race tracks using the Nintendo DS stylus. The game also was recognised as a runner-up in the IGN 2007 Best Graphics technology and Best Online Multi-Player game categories.

For more information on the game, check out www.codemasters.com/createandrace

World's First Quad Screen Race Simulator The VRX MACH 4

VRX Industries Ltd., a premier designer, developer, and manufacture of home & corporate entertainment products, today announced the launch of the ultimate, home-entertainment race simulator: the "VRX MACH 4" for this holiday season. The VRX MACH 4 is a masterpiece of cutting edge technology combined with an ascetically-stunning design. The VRX MACH 4 is powered by four Xbox 360's, outputting 4 Teraflops of power, which drive the 3 Sharp Aquos LCD's; the fourth Xbox 360 powers a 7" LCD rear view mirror which elevates the virtual racing experience to a new level of realism.

The design and development of the VRX MACH 4 Prototype began in the fall of 2006. "Our goal is to eclipse the success of the VRX PRO (launched with the original Forza Motorsport)," said Robert Stanners, President, VRX Industries Ltd. "With the success of Forza Motorsport 2, we are confident to surpass all expectations. VRX is committed to total excellence in developing the Ultimate Race Simulator by being the world's first to combine a total of 4 LCD's which completely immerses the driver in the virtual race environment. VRX Industries goal is to give drivers the true and complete sense and feeling of speed; taking the sensation further beyond the tactile feedback system of the Buttkicker and Bose Acoustimass 10 sound system by adding a Virtual Wind System powered by 2 dual Honeywell Fans."; another innovation 1st by VRX.

Specifications:
· 4 Microsoft Xbox 360's
· 4 Copy's Forza Motorsport 2
· Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter
· Microsoft Force Feedback Steering wheel
· 3 Sharp Aquos 37" LC-D62U 1080p HD LCD displays
· Adjustable rear view Power Acoustik (PTM 750) 7" LCD display
· Bose Acoustimass 10 series surround sound system with subwoofer
· Harmon Kardon AVR-144 Surround Sound receiver
· 1500 Watt Tactile Vibration Feedback System
· 1900 Watt Tactile Power Amplifier
· Virtual Wind System powered by 2 dual Honeywell fans with chrome shroud
· 1" CNC machined polished aluminum foot assembly that connects to the front of the VRX
· Universal triple screen aluminum mounting bracket that accepts LCD displays from 20" to 40"
· Adjustable aluminum and tinted acrylic component shelves
· On board power bar and unique wire way system conceals cables
· Polished chrome chassis with powder coated wheel mount and pedal mount
· CNC billet aluminum Speaker Mounts and Seat Wing
· Front and rear non-slip aluminum vibration dampeners
· 3M automotive chrome trim concealed edges
· Italian Sparco Monza racing seat (choice of Red/Black or Black/Silver)
· Sparco automotive seat slider
· Suspension seat base
· 3/D epoxy coated graphics
· Velcro and machined rubber grip blocks "prevents wheel and pedal movement"
· 10" diagonal and 8" horizontal wheel adjustments
· Polished Aluminum Speaker Mounts
· LED Lighting effects
· Beverage Containment System

Games website: http://www.virtualracerx.com

Requiem: Bloodymare PC video game Delivers Intense Experience for Mature Gamers

Gravity Interactive Unleashes A Nightmare Of Violence And Death Into The MMO World

Requiem: Bloodymare Delivers Intense Experience for Mature Gamers

Gravity Interactive, developer and publisher of a wide variety of online games including both casual and hardcore MMOs, is bringing the bloody horror of Requiem: Bloodymare to the United States in early 2008. The title introduces a world where the misuse of science and magic has warped the natural world into a twisted vision of death.

Set in the world of Ethegia, players take on the role of the Temperions, beings created through genetic engineering and arcane rites to engage in bloody combat with the walking nightmares stalking the land.

Using the Havok engine, Requiem: Bloodymare brings to life a visually stunning realm where fallout from generations of scientific and mystical warfare has polluted the natural world and given birth to horribly mutated monsters. The battles between players and these grotesque creatures are rendered with intense sequences of bloody and gory graphics.

“We’ve dedicated more than four years of intense development to be sure Requiem: Bloodymare really brings something unique in the MMO market.” Peter Kang, CEO, Gravity Interactive, said. “We very consciously decided when we started the project that we wanted to diversify our offering to include much more than the cute, anime inspired gameplay of our previous hits. Requiem isn’t a game for kids; this is for mature players that are looking for hardcore content that conjures up their deepest nightmares and fears.”

Requiem: Bloodymare also brings several game mechanics that set it apart from the rest of the MMO market. The time of day will be an extremely important factor for players under the Nightmare System with incredibly powerful creatures awakening to terrorize the world at night. To defeat these challenges players will be able to draw upon the DNA System and the Beast Possession System. Players will use genetic engineering to modify their DNA to obtain characteristics and abilities nature never intended. The mystic arts will enable players to possess and transform into different bestial beings with extraordinary abilities.

More information about the Requiem: Bloodymare can be found at http://www.playrequiem.com.

Stargate Worlds PC video game MMORPG Sneak Peek Coming With Stargate Atlantis

Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment (CME) will give fans a sneak peek of its debut massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) - titled Stargate Worlds® - when the first trailer debuts Jan. 4, 2008, with the mid-season premiere of Stargate AtlantisTM on the SciFi Channel.

Stargate Atlantis returns on Jan. 4 at 10/9 p.m. EST/CST.

Starting Jan. 18, 2008, viewers can enter for a chance to win an opportunity to have their name or likeness incorporated into Stargate Worlds in the Unlock the Gate Sweepstakes.* Viewers are invited to watch Stargate Atlantis each Friday starting on Jan. 18, 2008 at 10/9c on SciFi to retrieve a unique code to enter the sweepstakes.

“We have spent years looking for a quality gaming partner to extend the Stargate franchise beyond television and DVDs,” said Travis J. Rutherford, executive vice president, MGM Consumer Products and Location Based Entertainment. “This trailer is an exciting preview of that extension, and we are proud to have the opportunity to debut it as part of the Stargate Atlantis return. Our fans will jump at the chance to have their likeness incorporated in the MMORPG and become a part of Stargate history.”

Based on Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s (MGM) Stargate franchise, Stargate Worlds features tactical modern combat vs. science-fiction weapons and instant travel across the galaxy in a story-driven MMORPG.

“The trailer will give gamers and fans a glimpse at what they can expect to find in Stargate Worlds,” said Rod Nakamoto, senior vice president of product development, Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment. “It’s a mix of old and new elements that hint at the direction we are taking the franchise.”


In Stargate Worlds, gamers will explore new worlds and encounter ancient, alien cultures across an evolving galaxy. While staying true to the spirit of the Stargate franchise to which its fans have become familiar, Stargate Worlds will also introduce new worlds, characters and action to the Stargate universe that are far beyond the scale that can be shown on television.

“Stargate Worlds is about instant adventure in an epic, evolving universe,” said Stargate Worlds studio head Dan Elggren. “That’s what fans and gamers are going to see in this trailer.”

Stargate Worlds is based on Stargate SG-1 and the show’s spin off Stargate Atlantis. Stargate SG-1 is the longest-running science fiction series in US television history, airing 213 episodes over 10 years.

Unreal Tournament 3 to Teach Valuable Game Development Skills

Today’s teens are the first generation born into a world completely oriented around technology. Their births were announced on a cell phone and their images growing up were sent to family on the Internet. They have social networking pages and build relationships by calling and texting friends.

So what’s the best way to teach technology, and more specifically, the emerging field of video game development, to teens? Campbell, CA based iD Tech Camps, America’s largest national youth summer computer camp, thinks it has the answer. Instruction is broken into manageable parts and classes promote hands-on learning in small groups of just 6 or 7 students—a big departure from a typical school classroom of 30. Topics at the camp focus on the interests of teens. And who wouldn’t want to make their own video game? The small peer group collaboration and emphasis on experimentation encourage exploration and creativity in the rapidly expanding field of video game development.

“We provide an environment where instruction is personalized and fluid,” said Pete Ingram-Cauchi, president and CEO of iD Tech Camps. “Teens choose our computer camp because we have the cutting edge software and tools that are most relevant in the industry. Partnering with industry leaders like Epic Games is vital. They believe in our teaching philosophy. They understand that a key component to offering the best tech courses involves instruction of the industry’s leading game engine, Unreal Engine 3, as provided with the Unreal Tournament 3 game.”

Midway, a leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer, and world-renowned developer Epic Games, Inc., recently announced that the highly anticipated and award-winning Unreal Tournament 3 game has shipped for PC. Building off of the massive success of Gears of War, the 2006 Game of the Year, Epic Games has brought the world's premiere and multi-million unit selling first-person shooter back to the PC. Students at iD Tech Camps will get instruction on the Unreal Engine 3 tools that ship as part of the Unreal Tournament 3 PC version. This way they are getting training in a world-class professional game engine that has also been used in award-winning, million-selling, games including Gears of War, Mass Effect and BioShock.

“We’ve partnered with iD Tech Camps because of their reputation for quality game development instruction for teens,” said Mark Rein, vice president of Epic Games. “Unreal Tournament 3 delivers unparalleled game quality that gamers have come to know and expect from Epic Games. We are reaching an audience of gaming enthusiasts who play the game as well as learn to design and mod with our deep set of tools.”

iD Tech Camps and the iD Gaming Academy use the recently released Unreal Tournament 3 in their curriculum and during NVIDIA-hosted Gaming Tournaments. Students will be able to modify Unreal Tournament 3 by adding new levels, redesigning skins or replacing characters to customize game play through interactive modding tools. They can also create 3D video games and design 3D environments and levels complete with advanced special effects.

The “couch potato” characterization of video game players is being tossed out the window. Players no longer passively play; they build their own environments, characters and strategies. Educators and manufacturers are responding by providing the training, technology and tools that allow users to be more than just players.

About iD Tech Camps and the iD Gaming Academy
iD Tech Camps provides weeklong, day and overnight summer computer camps for beginner to advanced students at 50 prestigious universities in 23 states. Students create, design, mod and code 2D and 3D video games, as well as design websites with Flash animation, film digital movies, build robots, learn programming and more. iD Gaming Academy immerses teens in the dynamic world of video game. Courses include Camp Fatal1ty™, Game Modeling with Maya® and Game Programming. For more information, visit www.internalDrive.com and www.iDGamingAcademy.com.


About Unreal Tournament 3
Unreal Tournament 3 marks the return of the world's premiere first-person shooter to the PC, and its debut on the PLAYSTATION 3 system. Unreal Tournament 3 unleashes the full power of Unreal Engine 3, taking graphics, gameplay, and challenge to a whole new level. Players engage in intense battles with other human players online, or against Unreal artificial intelligence that sets the industry standard. With the most powerful futuristic weapons and vehicles available, this is FPS action at its best! More information about Unreal Tournament 3 can be found online at www.unrealtournament3.com.

Wideload Games Launches GRRNews.com, the No:1 Source For Election Coverage In The Animal Kingdom

GRRNews.com Sponsored by Politically-Charged Party Game, Hail to the Chimp

News Team Anchor Woodchuck Chumley on Assignment at Iowa Caucus

In the spring of 2008, democracy comes to the animal kingdom in Wideload Games’ politically-charged party video game Hail to the Chimp. Only one animal will rally enough support in the wild to win and become president. If you feel like you are uninformed about this election, it is likely due to the human bias at CNN, MSNBC, and the so called Fox News. With the launch of GRRnews.com, you now have a site “by animals for animals” that scares up hard-hitting, probing coverage of the issues YOU care about every day.

The GRR News herd of top notch correspondents includes award-winning News Anchor Woodchuck Chumley, Co-Anchor Juliet the Ostrich, and everyone’s favorite Weatherturtle Rusty. Together they will bring you up-to-the-minute election polls, gossip, stock tips, interviews with candidates, and more. Tireless reporters will track the ten candidates, and each of their different political parties and platforms. Other site features will include a daily blog, video, horoscope, obituaries and regular columns including “This Day in History.”

"News is our territory,” said GRR News team anchor Woodchuck Chumley. “Other news networks are nothing more than the lapdogs of the ruling elite. GRR is the network for the discerning news hound. No matter how chaotic the world gets - and it's going to get pretty wild during the upcoming election - animals everywhere know they can turn to GRR for the truth. Now, with the advent of GRRnews.com, you can get your full dose of GRR using cutting-edge 'Internet' technology."

As the recognized Godfather of animal news, Woodchuck Chumley is a hero of reporters around the world. Wideload Games and Gamecock Media Group are sponsoring Woodchuck Chumley's trip to the upcoming Iowa caucus in Des Moines where he and his video crew will show legions of admiring journalists how it’s done.



Hail to the Chimp, the lead sponsor of GRRnews.com, will deliver exciting gameplay, lush interactive environments, and a comic look at politics. Just like any political race, the candidates will fight hard and are encouraged to team-up and form alliances when it helps their campaign. But, only one will win the right to party.

Hail to the Chimp (www.hailtothechimp.com) will be published by Gamecock Media Group and released on Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system at a price point of $39.99.

Professor Kageyama's Maths Training on Nintendo DS

Improve your calculus with DS!

The foundation of Dr Kageyama’s Maths Training is 100 square calculations a method conceived by Kageyama Hidea, a Japanese elementary school principal. The DS is held side ways like a book and all answers are written using the stylus.

The key principal of the software is repetition which according to Kageyama stimulates the brain. The main exercise 100 cells maths, consists of 100 hundred simple maths problems combined into a 10 by 10 grid using the numbers at the top and side of the grid. There are however many other exercises, ranging from simple one digit math problems to slightly more complex three digit challenges.

Features:
The selection of three exercises changes every time the user advances to the next level 9which happens every five days).

Depending on speed and accuracy a player will be rewarded with a bronze, silver or gold medal and a listing in the top three best times for that particular exercise.

* The software keeps track on the days in which the users trained by rewarding them with ‘tick’ mark in the built-in calendar.

One Piece: Unlimited Adventure - The Straw Hat Pirates to Land on Nintendo Wii

Leading video games publisher and developer, NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., announced today that One Piece™: Unlimited Adventure™ has gone gold for the Wii™. Based on the hit animated TV series, One Piece™, players will follow the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates as their journey leads them to treasure and perilous encounters on an uncharted isle. Danger awaits swashbuckling players when One Piece: Unlimited Adventure is released on January 22.

“One Piece: Unlimited Adventure is the perfect fit on the Wii system as gamers can come together to explore, compete and experience the world of the animated series,” said Todd Thorson, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. “One Piece: Unlimited Adventure embodies our commitment to produce top-notch games that are an extension of its popular anime properties.”



While sailing the open sea, an island mysteriously rises from deep beneath the ocean waves, leaving the Straw Hat Pirates stranded on a strange land. Players will take control of their favorite One Piece characters to explore new areas, battle vicious enemies and solve challenging puzzles.

With the innovative Wii Remote and Nunchuck controller, players will pull, turn and swing to battle nefarious villains using each character’s own unique set of moves including Luffy’s “Gum Gum Storm” and Nami The Navigator’s “Cyclone Tempo”. Players can experience the exclusive new storyline in Adventure Mode with one of eight Straw Hat Pirates; put their skills to the test in Survival Mode; or go toe-to-toe with friends in Vs. Mode. Players can also unlock over 40 characters, secret items, and special costumes. With more characters to play as and hours of gameplay, One Piece: Unlimited Adventure marks the spot for fun and adventure on the high seas.

One Piece: Unlimited Adventure is rated “T” for teen by the ESRB. For more information on One Piece: Unlimited Adventure, please visit: onepiece.namcobandaigames.com

Deca Sports For The Nintendo Wii with Basketball, Supercross, Figure Skating and Curling

Ten Unique Sports Including Basketball, Supercross, Figure Skating and Curling Form the Most Comprehensive Sports Game Ever

Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm for HUDSON SOFT, today announced that it is bringing Deca Sports, a unique ten-sport game, exclusively to the Wii™ home video game system in Summer 2008. Combining ten sporting events into one addicting and fun-filled game, Deca Sports offers an immersive experience for fans of any age. The sporting events: Beach Volleyball, Snowboard Cross, Badminton, Basketball, Curling, Figure Skating, Archery, Supercross, Soccer and Kart Racing.

"We have seen tremendous growth in the casual sports gaming market in the last few years, and saw an opportunity that would be a perfect fit for the Nintendo Wii" said John Greiner, President and CEO of Hudson Entertainment. "With Deca Sports we wanted to offer a sports package that is unrivaled in terms of sheer number of available sports. More importantly, the game is easy to play, but offers layers of depth that even hardcore sports enthusiasts will love to play."

Each sport in the game uses the Wii Remote™ in unique yet accessible ways. With a subtle swing of the Wii Remote™ players can hit and spike the ball in Beach Volleyball, while twists of the wrist produce a wild ride down the slopes in Snowboard Cross. In Figure Skating players need to keep to the music and properly time all of their jumps and spins in order to impress the judges while passing the ball and lining up shots is essential in Soccer. All ten sports support both single player and multiplayer modes, in addition to a training mode to practice essential skills. The wide range of events and modes make Deca Sports the perfect game for players and sports fans of all ages.

Bear in the Air on soundtrack of the new Tony Hawk game Proving Ground

Motorcity Daredevils give New Year treat to fans

New Midlands rock band Motorcity Daredevils recently signed a deal to have their song ‘Bear in the Air’ on the soundtrack of the new Tony Hawk game, Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground. (®)

The band have just finished filming a promotional video for the track and have now released the video as a New Year present to their many fans. The video is available to view on

YouTube http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bgkKg9QdQz0) and

myspace http://www.myspace.com/motorcitydaredevils and
http://www.myspace.com/worlddominationmusicltd

Including ex-Raging Speedhorn front man Frank Regan amongst its members, Motorcity Daredevils are a three-piece rock band in the classic 70s mould, from the Midlands town of Corby. Their sound is made up of influences such as Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Motorhead, Budgie and Thin Lizzy.



Singer and Drummer Frank Regan said:

‘We beat some stiff competition to get a place on the new Tony Hawk game and it has given us a massive boost. The video is our way of giving something extra to our fans throughout the world. It is now up on Myspace and YouTube sites to view”.

Motorcity Daredevils have already signed a publishing deal with World Domination Music, and are now negotiating with several record companies to secure the release of their first album. They are currently in the studio making their second album which they hope to have ready for release before MIDEM in January 2008.

Omega Five for Microsoft Xbox Live Arcade 9 Jan for 800 points

Sci-Fi Side-Scrolling Shooter Coming January 9 for 800 Microsoft Points

Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm of Hudson Soft, today announced that Omega Five for Xbox LIVE Arcade will be available to consumers on January 9, 2008 for 800 Microsoft Points. Published by Hudson and developed by Natsume, the game is an entirely new original IP featuring a side-scrolling shooter set in a gorgeous 3D environment.

Taking place in a far-flung future, Omega Five delivers hardcore action never seen before on the platform, while providing visually stunning graphics that pushes the limits for a digital download game. The game is set in multiple 3D environments and features incredible special effects and enormous battles, all in high definition. Omega Five is distinct in that players can choose from multiple humanoid characters, each with their own unique special attacks and upgradeable weapons, which they can shoot in 360 degrees. Omega Five also includes a local co-op function so a friend can join in on the aerial mayhem.

Hudson also released details on the final playable character. R.A.D. is another of Omega Five's unlockable warriors and is very similar to Ruby. Her skintight suit allows her to move much more quickly than Ruby, letting her weave through waves of enemy fire, though it also slows down her aiming.

. Weapon Type A: Vulcan Laser Cannon - R.A.D.'s initial weapon blasts enemies with rapid-fire laser beams. As the weapon is upgraded, the rate of fire increases, allowing her to unleash a non-stop barrage of laser fire.
. Weapon Type B: Reflecting Laser Beam - R.A.D.'s second weapon is a continuous laser beam that allows her to cut a swath of destruction through lesser enemies. Upgrades increase the power of the beam, splitting it in two, which also reflect off of certain surfaces. This lets R.A.D. attack enemies from around corners.
. Weapon Type C: Lightning Gun - Her final main weapon is a high-intensity lightning gun that roasts enemies. Upgrades increase the power, letting R.A.D. slice through enemies at will, as well as adding secondary lightning bolts that shoot out from the main beam at nearby enemies, doing incremental damage.
. Alternate Attack - R.A.D. has one alternate attack, which sends out satellite that can instantly destroy lesser enemies or anchor onto stronger enemies. After the satellite latches onto an enemy, it deals continuous damage, and R.A.D. is still able to fire in any direction. Additionally, while the satellite is floating around R.A.D., it can block enemy fire.
. Dimension Field - All characters can quickly teleport to another dimension for a brief time, allowing them to avoid enemy attacks, though at the expense of a small amount of life.
. Ultimate Burst - All characters can unleash an enormously destructive nuke-like attack, after having collected at least 100 p-chips (the pink triangles that appear after defeating enemies) to fill one p-jail (the golden triangles at the bottom left of the screen).

Penumbra Black Plague PC video game developers diary

Paradox Interactive released today the second part of the developer's diary for creepy adventure Penumbra Black Plague, scheduled for a worldwide release in February 2008.

In the second part of the diary, Frictional Games go into depth of the creation of the voice-overs, one of the most important features when it comes to psychical horror. A voice sample comes with the diary to illustrate.

The developers continue by explaining how technical issues were dealt with and improved since the prequel, Penumbra Overture.


Developer Diary
Part 2

By Frictional Games

Voice overs
The voiceovers are an area that has received more attention in Black Plague than it did in our previous Overture game. In Overture we had one character speaking to the player through a radio, in Black Plague this has been extended to around five characters speaking to him through various media. As we are working with a small budget we have not done any animated and synced characters. This is also a design choice as we believe horror is created by being lonely and isolated in an unknown territory, so don't expect any friendly chats over a cup of tea! (…)

Technical issues
One of the more important things you need to do in a game is to make sure that everything is as optimised as much as possible. However, since optimisation often happens as one of the last things in development there is not always time for it and the game does not perform as good as it should at release. When it comes to Penumbra: Black Plague, the entire backbone for the game was already made which meant we did not have to spend a great deal of time to get things to work, instead we could focus on making things work fast at an early point in development. For the gamer, this means that Black Plague will run smoother than Overture and we have also been able to add more eye candy and can make the game look prettier without making it run slower. (…)

Read the whole diary: http://www.paradoxplaza.com/press/penumbra/DevDiary

Read more about Penumbra Black Plague: http://www.paradoxplaza.com/penumbra

Release: February 2008
Suggested retail price: USD 19.99

World in Conflict video game live on GamersGate for direct download

GamersGate announced today that World in Conflict, the worldwide critically acclaimed action strategy game, has launched and is available for direct download.

On November 9th, 1989 the Cold War was supposed to end…it didn't. World in Conflict™ is the action strategy game where players defend their country, their hometown, and their families in the face of the Soviet-led World War III, delivering an epic struggle of courage and retribution.

Prepare yourself for the most intense strategy game ever created.

· 9.5 out of 10 Gamespot.com Editor's Choice
· 9.3 out of 10 IGN Editor's Choice
· 93% PC Gamer Editor's Choice
· 5/5 Stars Gamespy.com

To find out more about World in Conflict, please visit http://www.worldinconflict.com/
For more information about GamersGate, please go to http://www.gamersgate.com