New Microsoft Xbox 360 rumour is wide of the mark

Despite weeks of speculation about the possibility of major gaming announcements from Microsoft at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this year, company head Bill Gates and other senior executives delivered a low-key performance that included little related to gaming.

Rumours of a new Xbox 360 SKU to potentially contain HD-DVD playback, a 320GB hard drive and other wish-list features were laid to rest by Gates and the president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, Robbie Bach, as sentimentality of Gates' closing tenure as corporation boss, a slew of social networking products for Windows, Zune updates and Windows Mobile took precedent over gaming in a presentation that contained little solid detail about existing ranges and few announcements about new ones.

After a video showing how Gates' last day at the office may look before he retires as Microsoft's front man this year and focuses solely on his charity concerns – a piece of film including the likes of Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Barack Obama, Steven Spielberg and Bono – Gates told a packed auditorium that Windows Live now has 420 million users and that Windows Mobile is currently the handheld platform of choice for 20 million people.

A demonstration of 'new' Windows features such as a calendar (reminiscent of Google's web calendar), an event and social network tool (that seemed similar to Facebook) and an online video search system were followed by an announcement that Microsoft will be handling all the internet video coverage of this year's Beijing Olympics.

It wasn't until about 40 minutes into the presentation that Robbie Bach appeared on stage, although he didn't have much to say that wasn't already public news. He revealed that Xbox Live has now passed 10 million users, and reiterated the recent announcement that Xbox 360 has sold more than 17 million consoles worldwide.

With 2007's launch of Vista, he said, Windows gaming has continued to "grow and be strong". Non-gaming entertainment – video, specifically – formed the bulk of the conference's new 360 content, with announcements that Disney and ABC are to add TV programmes for download on Live Marketplace, and that MGM is to include movies.

The other major announcements for Xbox 360 concerned "Extender devices" from Samsung and HP, allowing Windows Media Center functionality without an Xbox 360, while HP is going to build Extender functionality into one of its new TVs.

On the media-convergence tip, Bach also confirmed that BT will be the first global telecom provider to allow subscribers to use Xbox 360 as a set-top box. No other details were offered.

"When you look at all this together, what we've done with Xbox and Xbox Live and what we're doing with Media Center and Mediaroom [the company's IPTV and multimedia platform] it's abundantly clear that building great connected TV experiences is not a hobby for Microsoft. This is something that we take quite seriously and we think we can build a great business with great products for ourselves."

Bach went on to laud Microsoft's gaming performance in the US with the claim that up to November 2007 Xbox 360 products had accounted for USD 3.5 billion of business.

"That's a billion dollars more than Nintendo did on the Wii and 2 billion dollars more than Sony did on the PS3," said Bach. "And if you look at the spend on Xbox 360 games, it's more than the spend on Wii and PS3 games combined. So our Xbox business is in a very, very good place."

There was no comparison given of sales in Europe and Japan, however.

The Consumer Electronics Show is taking place in Las Vegas and will continue until January 10.

Source: Games Industry

NaturalMotion Integrates AGEIA PhysX Technology into Next-Generation "Backbreaker" Video Game

Euphoria Engine Breathes Life Into New Football Game With Fully Interactive, Non-Canned Tackles.

AGEIA Technologies, Inc., the pioneer in hardware-accelerated physics for games today announced that NaturalMotion has integrated AGEIA PhysX technology in its euphoria motion synthesis engine to power its upcoming, highly anticipated football game for next-generation platforms, Backbreaker. Using the euphoria engine with AGEIA PhysX, NaturalMotion’s Backbreaker is the first football game to focus on hyper-realistic, non-canned tackling that will virtually showcase every shove, hit, and stumble.

“Backbreaker is more than just another sports title; it’s an entirely new experience. Using full real-time simulations of the athletes’ motor nervous systems and bodies enabled us to produce a fantastic, realistic sports experience that captures the riveting excitement of the American favorite past time,” said Torsten Reil, CEO of NaturalMotion. “By utilizing PhysX as part of our euphoria engine in this title, players in Backbreaker will never make the same tackle twice, giving them an intensely unique experience every time they play the game.”

euphoria is a novel run-time technology for synthesizing interactive animations on next-generation hardware platforms. It is designed to replace canned animation data in a selective and non-disruptive way, and is capable of creating unique game moments during game play. At the heart of euphoria are real-time behaviors, which are AI motion controllers that adaptively drive the character’s muscles in response to sensory input. euphoria behaviors are not based on animation data. Unlike canned-data approaches, euphoria behaviors are fully procedural and are capable of creating new experiences for the player.

“Backbreaker is a fantastic example of the future of PhysX technology and gaming, itself. With AGEIA PhysX and the euphoria engine, game developers are able to seamlessly create characters that move, react and interact naturally in any situation,” said Manju Hegde, CEO of AGEIA. ”Backbreaker exploits PhysX to feature powerful physics-based gameplay with pervasive interactivity and realism. The on-the-field football action with different tackles every time provides a pure, realistic football experience that will truly change the shape of gaming.”

About AGEIA

AGEIA Technologies, Inc., is the pioneer of hardware-accelerated physics for PC games and has developed the world's first dedicated physics processor, the AGEIA PhysX processor. The AGEIA PhysX processor powers massive and pervasive real-time interactive worlds that for the first time obey the laws of classical physics. AGEIA provides a world-class cross platform software development kit to simplify advanced physics programming for the PhysX processor, as well next-generation gaming consoles. AGEIA is changing the face of gaming by working with more than sixty leading developers and publishers to deliver the next generation of physically immersive entertainment. The company, headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is privately-held.

About NaturalMotion

NaturalMotion Ltd. is the first company to create 3D character animation software based on Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS), a technology that utilizes adaptive behaviors and artificial intelligence to simulate the human-nervous system. Based on Oxford University research, NaturalMotion’s euphoria synthesizes 3D character animation in real time on Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC, thus creating unique game moments and previously unachievable interactivity. In addition to licensing its technology, NaturalMotion is developing Backbreaker, an American football title for release in 2008.

It's a Flame-Broiled Fiasco as Namco Networks Serves Up BurgerTime Delight

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the arcade classic gets supersized on mobile with enhanced mode, new characters and mini-games.

Namco Networks, the leading publisher and developer of mobile games and entertainment for mass-market casual gamers, today announced the launch of its newest mobile title, BurgerTime Delight, just in time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this arcade classic. The first title through its partnership with Japanese developer G-mode, Namco Networks’ mobile update of the arcade classic includes game enhancements not found in any other version of the game. New and exclusive features include new level backgrounds, new characters, mini-games and two game mode options including a classic arcade mode and an enhanced mode.

BurgerTime Delight follows the storyline of the arcade classic, BurgerTime, originally released in 1982 by Data East, whose game rights are now owned by G-mode. In the game, players assume the role of Chef Peter Pepper, whose goal is to build behemoth burgers by knocking each burger ingredient onto plates at the bottom of the screen. Each level introduces a variety of challenges for Peter, including being chased by his food nemeses Mr. Hotdog, Mr. Egg and Mr. Pickle. Players can squash these foes with falling ingredients, stun them with pepper from a collected peppershaker or burn them with hot sauce.

“BurgerTime was such a popular ‘80’s classic with addictive game play that it only made sense for Namco Networks to bring this property to mobile phones and enhance the game play for mass-market consumers to enjoy,” said Scott Rubin, vice president of sales and marketing, Namco Networks. “G-mode has been a great partner for us and we are delighted to offer this mobile-only version of BurgerTime to casual mobile gamers.”

The arcade mode of the game maintains the same graphics and game play as the original arcade classic. Namco’s enhanced mode is designed to introduce new content and boost the game’s playability on mobile phones, including updated and modern graphics and other new creative elements to the game. For example, the enhanced mode introduces eight new environments where players can build burgers. These environments include the inside of a freezer, an oven, a barbeque pit, a pastry display case, a diner tabletop and a dishwasher. Each level contains new dangers to outmaneuver such as flashing and hot heat lamps, water droplets and sharp icicles.

BurgerTime Delight by Namco also includes two new food baddies, Mr. Garlic, a clove of garlic who drops lingering morsels of his cloves behind him and Mr. Carrot, who can drill himself down a level to chase Peter. Also new to the mobile game is a word collection mini-game that challenges players to collect letters and spell three words: PETER, DINER and BURGER. When players spell the word on a level they earn two extra lives and automatically clear that level.

Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition to attempt the ultimate International Guitar Hero Marathon!

Guinness World Records are excited to announce an international Guitar Hero Relay Marathon record attempt on 6th February between the UK, France, US, Canada, South Africa and Australia to celebrate the launch of the inaugural Guinness World Record: Gamer’s Edition 2008.

All budding Guitar Heroes are welcome to come and take part in the historic record attempt – dressed as their favourite rock star or Guitar Hero player! The UK leg will take place at HMV, Oxford Street, London at 6pm kicked off by XX untill passing on to New York at 8pm.

Players will rock in pairs to one song before passing on to the next Guitar Hero, with just 15 seconds changeover between jams! Paris will kick off proceedings followed by the London, New York, Toronto, LA and Sydney. Players will also be given the chance to form a group and compete for the highest score set by a 6 people playing one guitar, with each person allocated a key and the strum bar to play!

The Guinness World Records: Gamer’s Edition 2008 released on February 8 is an exciting new venture which celebrates the records and achievement of the video gaming world. The book profiles the worlds best selling titles, reviews games and accessories and is packed with tips, cheats and trivia that will keep gamers engrossed!

‘Videogaming was one of our most popular sections of our annual book,’ explained Gamer’s Edition Editor Keith Pullin ‘we are delighted to now give video game records the space they deserve, it is a must have for every gaming enthusiast!’

New PSP Expands Its Entertainment Experience By Introducing Skype

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that it would introduce Skype™ features to the new slim and light PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system (PSP-2000 series). More than 246 million members are registered for the use of this communications software, which enables users to communicate with other Skype users around the world over the Internet. Calls between Skype users are free of charge.

By introducing Skype on PSP, the following features and services will be made available to PSP users (*1) (*2):

- Free voice calls between Skype users

- Skype contact list management (view existing contacts, add new ones)

- Skype presence (see which friends are online and available to talk)

- SkypeOut™ calls to make calls to landlines and mobile phones anywhere in the world (requires the purchase of Skype credit)

- Optional SkypeIn™ number that lets users receive calls on Skype from landlines and mobiles anywhere in the world (requires the purchase of Skype credit)

- View and modify Skype settings and account details (including username creation, SkypeOut settings, voicemail settings and call forwarding)

PSP users worldwide will be able to start using Skype features and services through a simple system software update scheduled in late January. After updating the PSP system software, a Skype icon will be added to the Network category in the home menu. PSP users who do not yet have a Skype username can register by clicking the icon and following the instructions. PSP users who already have a Skype username can immediately sign in by clicking the Skype icon and entering their username and password.

SCEI will deploy various measures to meet users’ demand and vigorously promote the expansion of the PSP platform as a handheld entertainment system to enjoy a variety of interactive digital entertainment.

Hollywood Heavyweights Disney-ABC Television Group and MGM Offer High-Definition Entertainment Content on Xbox LIVE

Deals bring hit television content from ABC, ABC News, ABC Family, Disney Channel and Toon Disney along with film classics and recent blockbusters from MGM and United Artists.

Xbox LIVE Marketplace, the leading high-definition video-on-demand service, is expanding once again, adding content from two major entertainment partners. Microsoft Corp. today announced at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that Disney-ABC Television Group and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) will be joining the more than 35 networks and studios offering U.S. Xbox LIVE members premium entertainment content via the Xbox LIVE Marketplace Video Store.

“Disney-ABC Television Group and MGM are two of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, and this announcement helps continue to evolve and diversify the content offering on Xbox LIVE,” said Robbie Bach, president of the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “The ability to offer such great content in high definition further expands Microsoft’s commitment to connected entertainment with Xbox 360.”

Later this month, all U.S. Xbox LIVE members will begin to have access to select TV shows and movies from the ABC Television Network, ABC Family, ABC News, Disney Channel and Toon Disney as part of an agreement with Disney-ABC Television Group. More than 500 hours of content, in both standard definition and high definition when available, will be offered including hit ABC Television shows “Lost,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Ugly Betty” and “Desperate Housewives.” Past and current ABC shows will be available on demand, with new episodes arriving on the service the day after they air on television. A variety of award-winning ABC News broadcasts and specials from its unparalleled archive dating back to 1963 and containing priceless interviews, stories and historical moments will be available for download as well.

Viewers will also be able to enjoy shows from ABC Family, such as “Kyle XY” and “Greek, ” as well as popular Disney Channel series including “Hannah Montana” and “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” and select Disney Channel Original Movies such as “High School Musical” and “High School Musical 2.”

“As a company dedicated to providing consumers with a variety of high-quality entertainment and news content that they can view at their convenience, regardless of time, place or platform, we are very excited to bring our programming to Xbox LIVE members,” said Anne Sweeney, co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney-ABC Television Group. “This new agreement will not only provide incremental viewing opportunities, but also provides a wealth of promotional opportunities to further awareness of our shows and brands.”

MGM will be bringing its legendary movie library to the service, with classic films ranging from the “Rocky” series to “Dances with Wolves.” Action-thrillers such as “Terminator,” “Silence of the Lambs” and “The Amityville Horror,” comedies and broad-appeal titles such as “Legally Blonde,” “Barbershop” and “Agent Cody Banks,” and award-winning films such as “Platoon,” “Rain Man” and “The Usual Suspects” highlight the diverse launch lineup. United Artists, an MGM sister company, will be making films available as well. Many titles offered by MGM will be available in high definition.

“The Video Store on Xbox LIVE Marketplace has proven to be very successful, and we are excited that MGM will be a partner in 2008,” said Jim Packer, co-president of Worldwide Television at MGM. “At MGM we are always looking for new ways to reach our broad audience, and partnering with Microsoft allows us to make our legendary library available to the millions of Xbox LIVE members here in the U.S.”

The Video Store in Xbox LIVE Marketplace is the leading provider of high-definition video on demand, offering movies for video on demand and TV shows and music videos for electronic sell-through. With more than 3,500 hours of premium entertainment content from more than 35 studios and networks, Xbox LIVE Marketplace helps make Xbox 360 the center of connected entertainment in the living room. More information about content being offered on Xbox LIVE Marketplace is available at http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/marketplace/moviestv/?WT.svl=nav.

Savage 2: A Tortured Soul Opens Big at iGames

Special Kick-Off Party, Jan. 12, Will Give Players Special Taste of Hotly Anticipated Savage: The Battle For Newerth Sequel

WHAT:

Leading game center organization iGames to host a special pre-launch party and showcase to celebrate the release of Savage 2: A Tortured Soul, the hotly anticipated sequel to Savage: The Battle For Newerth, which will be available at http://www.s2games.com on January 16.

WHEN & WHERE:

• One-day pre-launch party: January 12, 2008 at 25 select iGames member centers
• 2-week showcase: January 14-27, 2008 at 250 additional iGames centers

WHAT MAKES THIS EVENT DIFFERENT:

Not only is the launch party happening in advance of the official game release, but gamers can save their character and play the game for free every time they come to an iGames center.

Why?

The reason is simple: S2 Games, the creators and publishers of Savage 2, understands that one of the key things that will make Savage 2 such a unique and enjoyable game to play is allowing gamers the ability to easily get in and start playing this great game.

“S2 Games has taken every effort to make it as easy as possible for gamers worldwide to be able to jump in and play Savage 2,” says Mark Nielsen, iGames Executive Director. “iGames encourages every gamer to give this game a try in support of S2’s courage in making Savage 2 a game with the community in mind first and foremost…besides the fact that the game is fantastic!”

“As a team based game, building a thriving community around Savage 2 has been a major part of the game’s development,” said Marc DeForest, co-founder and lead designer of S2 Games. “Working with iGames to offer gamers the opportunity to not only try the game early, but to also maintain a full game account while playing at iGames centers. This allows gamers to come out and play the game the way it was meant to be played – among and against friends.”

ABOUT THE GAME:

About Savage 2: A Tortured Soul
Savage 2: A Tortured Soul is the sequel to the critically acclaimed online multiplayer game Savage: A Battle for Newerth, which introduced gamers to the completely new Real Time Strategy Shooter (RTSS) gaming genre. Savage enabled players to opt for either the fast-paced, run-and-gun action of a first-person shooter (FPS) game – playing as a Warrior – or the more cerebral and tactical planning of a real-time strategy (RTS) game – playing as a Commander – working together as a team to defeat the enemy. Savage 2: A Tortured Soul builds upon the addicting, fast-paced gameplay of the original with additional squad-based features and enhanced role-playing game (RPG) elements which enable players to build their character level and abilities throughout the game.

Savage 2: A Tortured Soul is rated “T” for “T” comes with a MSRP of $29.99. For more information about the title, visit: http://savage2.s2games.com

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Last Of The Patriots French Version Is Now Available On PC

Paul Davis creator of Last Of The Patriots, announced today a French version of the game has been released available from the games website. The French version was created at users requests and was translated by Fabrice Brunon.

Last of the patriots is an indie game prototype developed by games veteran Paul Davis whose C.V includes GTA-San Andreas, GTA4, Manhunt, and Manhunt2.

Last of the patriots is a new style of game, using a development process based on a movie script, rather than a traditional game design document, the team has used this approach to bring a cinematic feel and theme to the game.

Philips and Ubisoft bring amBX to Brothers in Arms Hell's Highway and Far Cry 2

Philips today announced an alliance with Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, to amBX-enable Brothers in Arms Hell’s Highway and Far Cry 2, both due for release in 2008. The agreement will also see an amBX patch being released for the original Far Cry. Further patches for existing Ubisoft games will also be released with the amBX-enabling of additional titles to be announced later.

Demonstrations of amBX-enabled versions of Brothers in Arms Hell’s Highway and Far Cry will be available on the Philips stand, Central 12124, at CES, Las Vegas from 7th to 10th January 2008.

Shorthand for ‘ambient experiences’, amBX reinvents the gameplay experience by extending the traditional gaming world out of the screen and into the real world. amBX delivers full ‘surround senses’ by allowing developers to use light, colour, sound, rumble and even air flow through enabled devices, including the Philips amBX PC Gaming Peripherals range of LED colour-controlled lighting, rumble peripherals and variable speed desktop fans.

Developed by Gearbox Software, Brothers in Arms Hell’s Highway proudly builds on the critically acclaimed World War II game franchise and sees players dropped into Operation Market-Garden, the largest paratrooper operation in wartime history, fighting to open the famous ‘Hell’s Highway’ in a daring bid for a quick end to the war. Incorporating amBX in Brothers in Arms Hell’s Highway will create a huge arsenal of real world effects and experiences using air movement, light and rumble.

Variable speed fan effects will simulate wind speed from soldier movement on foot, in the air and in vehicles, as well as punches of airbursts from explosions and object collision. LED light effects will deliver directional light - across a 16 million colour range - to indicate danger, bullet and shrapnel impact and simulate everything from the use of torches in dark environments to full-on explosions. Finally, rumble effects will create distinct tyre and track rumble from different vehicle types, a wide range of weapon recoil effects and the thud and shock of being on the receiving end of a bullet, grenade or bomb. All these explosive amBX effects will be running throughout both gameplay and the game’s detailed cinematic cut scenes.

The original Far Cry won PC Gamer’s ‘Action Game of the Year’ Award in 2004. Since then the Far Cry brand has gathered critical acclaim and numerous awards, selling a whopping three million units. Developed by Ubisoft’s Montreal Studio, Far Cry 2 is all set to continue the original’s award-winning success and despatches the player to a collapsing central African country to tackle a factional mercenary conflict.

Using the developer’s tailor-made Dunia game engine, Far Cry 2 will deliver incredibly realistic destructible environments, special effects such as dynamic fire and storm effects, real-time day and night cycle, dynamic music and non-scripted enemy A.I. - all of which will be given the real world treatment through the amBX light, fan and rumble effects.

“In striving to create high quality games, incorporating the most innovative technologies to produce the best possible gaming experience is of fundamental importance to Ubisoft,” commented Vincent Greco, Worldwide Production Technical Coordinator, Ubisoft. “With amBX we can enhance the immersive experience, adding a new dimension to our games.”

“Working with one of the world’s largest publishers on two of the most successful gaming franchises of all time is an amazing opportunity for our amBX technology to really shine in front of a worldwide audience,” commented Jo Cooke, Chief Marketing Officer, Philips amBX. “Brothers in Arms Hell’s Highway and Far Cry 2 are titles that will showcase just how powerful and in your face amBX effects can be in a war game. This is just the start of the alliance between amBX and Ubisoft and the level of our co-marketing with Ubisoft will underline our dedication to bringing all-new ambient effects to world class games.”

Philips is setting a global standard by licensing the amBX technology to computer game developers, publishers and peripherals manufacturers and Ubisoft joins a rapidly growing list of content creators, including Codemasters, THQ, Introversion, Gearbox Software, Gas Powered Games, Zombie, Riot Games, Brain in a Jar, Invictus Games, Instinct Technology, Kuju, Revolution, Sumo Digital and Rivers Run Red.

A full list of specifically amBX-enabled, modded and FXGenerator compatible games, searchable by genre and publisher, can be found at www.ambx.com.

Nintendo Wii Super Smash Brothers: Brawl information

Thanks to Brawl Central, we've found out a bunch of new Super Smash Brothers information. None of the information below is confirmed.

• It seems that if you "pass" a mini-game on the WarioWare stage, you heal slightly.



• Meta Knight has a Kirby (pink) colored costume.



• Sothe, from Fire Emblem I believe, is an assist trophy. I guess he's supposed to use knives in the game, but doesn't in Brawl. Instead he does a somersault kick.



• NEW MUSIC! Animal Crossing Main Theme, Balloon Fight's Balloon Trip music, and WarioWare Main Theme.



• When you start a match, the background music is displayed.



• As seen on the Dojo, Wario-Man's bike is very fast and it's easy to SD with it.



• More info on Sandbag Item: You beat him up, and items come out as you hit him.



• The WarioWare stage features over 8 minigames, including "Don't Move".



• Bowser and Kirby seem to be getting more and more praise for how much they have improved over their Melee forms.



• More Music Confirmed: Yoshi's Island has songs called "Ending BGM" and "Athletic". Norfair has "Brinstar BGM", "Samus's Theme", and "Metroid Ending Theme". Bridge of Eldin has "Great Bay".



• Snake's Remote Mine (Down Smash) varies in damage from 10-20%.



• Kirby's new Dash Move is named "Break Spin". It's being refered to as the yo-yo attack, but does not involve a yo-yo of any kind.

Source: Nintencast

Xbox 360 and Wii versions of Bully: Scholarship Edition by Rockstar released in March

The Xbox 360 and Wii versions of Bully - Canis Canem Edit on PS2 in Europe - will be released here on 7th March and Rockstar has specified what we can expect over and above its original release.

Details on IGN point to eight new missions, four new classes (biology, geography, maths and music), new items and clothing, new two-player offline mini-games and unlockable Achievements on Xbox 360. Whether all that applies to both Wii and 360 isn't immediately clear.

What should be clear is that even an unchanged game would be welcomed by fans of the more recent platforms. Canis Canem Edit won plaudits upon release, including a very favourable review from some handsome idiot, and Bully: Scholarship Edition - as it's known on 360 and Wii - is highly anticipated as a result.

The game sees young Jimmy Hopkins arriving at the dodgy Bullworth Academy, where Rockstar Vancouver applies the old Grand Theft Auto free-roaming formula to a school-day structure with impressive results. There's lots of humour and typically impressive scripting and content to explore as Jimmy navigates the competing cliques and interests of his school-mates and masters.

Look out for our take on the new versions closer to release.

Source: Eurogamer

The Queen Plays Nintendo Wii

The gadget-loving Queen has become HOOKED on Prince William's new Nintendo Wii games console.

William's girlfriend Kate Middleton bought him the £200 gift for Christmas - but he now has to share it with his grandma.

A Palace source told The People: "When she saw William playing a game after lunch at Sandringham she thought the Nintendo looked tremendous fun and begged to join in.

"She played a simple ten-pin bowling game and by all accounts was a natural.

"It was hilarious. William was in fits of laughter. He was enormously impressed at having such a cool gran.

"And although she is 81 the Queen's hand-eye co-ordination was as good as somebody half her age."

The Wii was this Christmas's musthave gift. Players can create their own customised on-screen lookalike - just like our jokey Elizabeth pictured above.

Kate, 26 on Wednesday, watched as William, 25, unwrapped the gift at the Royal Family's festive gathering. Our source said: "He loves his gadgets and boys' toys. So it was the perfect present for him.

"His only difficulty nowis prising it away from the Queen's clutches. She showed all the signs of becoming a Nintendo addict."

It's not the first time the Queen has joined the hi-tech revolution.

In 2001 she got her first mobile phone and has regularly upgraded to one with the latest features.

Her Majesty set up her own email account years ago.

In 2005 she took delivery of an iPod that stores more than 100,000 tunes.

And last June she added a trendy BlackBerry to her technological armoury - and made sure her senior staff were equipped with them too.

Source: The People

Cranium, Hullabaloo, Cadoo and Zooreka video games on EA?

Hasbro the world's second-largest toy and game company, said on Friday it agreed to acquire board game maker Cranium Inc for about $77.5 million.

The acquisition of privately held Cranium will add to a Hasbro games portfolio that already includes Monopoly, Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit.

The price may be adjusted based on Cranium's net assets on the closing date, Hasbro said. The deal is expected to close during the first quarter of 2008.

"This acquisition is consistent with Hasbro's ongoing strategy to bring to market the most innovative toy and game brands in the world," said Brian Goldner, chief operating officer for Hasbro.

Seattle-based Cranium was co-founded in 1998 by Scottish entrepreneur Richard Tait and business partner Whit Alexander, who met while working at Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research).

Wachovia Capital Markets analyst Tim Conder said Cranium is a strong brand and estimated it has revenues of at least $100 million.

In a research note, Conder said his firm believes Hasbro will leverage Cranium games into its licensing agreement with Electronic Arts Inc

Source: Reuters

Slitherine targets US with History Channel backing for Video Games

UK developer expands to DS and next-gen consoles

Ambitious UK outfit Slitherine Strategies hopes to crack the US market with the backing of The History Channel, as it expands from its niche PC market to tackle home and handheld consoles.

The company has established a dedicated following with its PC titles, and now plans four DS games and a move onto the Xbox 360 to capture elusive success in North America.

"The Xbox 360 market is our way into the US," said marketing manager Marco Minoli, speaking to GamesIndustry.biz at Game Connection last month.

"It's becoming very mass market. I can't say the same for Europe as apart from the UK the market for Xbox 360 is quiet, but it's the right time for us to establish this brand on the next-gen consoles, and it's more of an investment for us.

"The History Channel is huge in the US. Our big weakness at Slitherine has always been the US, we've never found a way into that market. We really need to tackle that market and the History Channel brand will help us achieve that," he added.

Following the successful release of The History Channel: Great Battles of Rome on PSP and PlayStation 2 last year, Slitherine acknowledges that without the strong TV branding it would struggle with a genre not traditionally associated with home consoles.

"Many big publishers have tried porting strategy games to consoles and it just doesn't work," commented Minoli. "Without the History Channel backing we wouldn't have been able to try Great Battles of Rome on the PS2. It's opened the door."

It's not just Slitherine's dedication, but The History Channel's commitment to helping create quality products that Minoli believes will push the company to success on consoles.

"The History Channel really sees this as there product. I've worked with many licensors and all they do is approve the game and that's it. They really see it as a brand extension, the realise how videogames can increase their target audience," he said.

The first DS title from Slitherine, The History Channel Pocket History: Rome is due in the second quarter of 2008, with the Xbox 360 title The History Channel: Great Battles of the Middle Ages due in the third quarter.

Source: Games Industry

Free XBox live game from Microsoft

Rewards for grumbling Xbox users

Microsoft has apologised for the glitches that hit its Xbox Live online game system during the Christmas break.
The software firm said it was "disappointed" with its performance and promised a free downloadable game to all users as recompense.

It said the problems had been caused by a surge of people signing up and using the gaming service.

Microsoft said the growth in new users had been driven by sales of top titles such as Mass Effect and Halo 3.

Game offer

The Xbox Live service suffered an ongoing series of problems during the holiday season. The discussion boards and forums of many gaming news websites have been filled with gamers complaining that they could not sign up or get on to the service.

More from the BBC...

Mario, Sonic miss gold in Nintendo Wii game 'g "Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games'

It sounds like a surefire hit: two of the most recognizable video game icons in the world, Mario and Sonic, team up for the first time in a single video game.

While the game isn't a complete mess, fans of Nintendo or Sega might be disappointed after playing "Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games," as it seems the developer, Sega Studios Japan, focused more on quantity than quality.

As the name of the game suggests, this Nintendo Wii exclusive is a collection of sports events to be played at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, including track and field, gymnastics, archery, skeet shooting, table tennis and more, along with a few fantasy games such as performing aerial maneuvers through hoops in the sky and a combative running race. Your goal is to take home as many gold medals for your country as possible.

Up to four players can compete in the majority of these matches, some of which need to be unlocked by performing well, and you can choose from a number of familiar video game characters to control, each with his or her own attributes. For example, Bowser is powerful, Princess Peach is more technical and Sonic enjoys fast speed. You can also import your own custom-made Mii character from your Wii and join Team Mario or Team Sonic.

From the main menu you can choose from a number of game types: Single Match (aim for the record in a single event); Circuit (play in a series of events and compete for first place overall); Mission (complete specific events to earn prizes); and Gallery (play minigames to unlock Olympic Games trivia and bonus music tracks). Some of the more enjoyable events include table tennis, 110m hurdles, high jump and javelin throw.

In other words, there is plenty of selection when it comes to the characters you can play and event types. But the games lack depth and can be difficult to control. The events are basically minigames that are over in a few seconds; they give you little reason to return to them a second or third time. While all of the games use the Wii's motion-sensing wireless controller, and in some cases the tethered "Nunchuk" controller, some of these Olympic games, such as skeet shooting and swimming, weren't as easy to control as other events.



While there is some fun to be had while competing through the more than 20 events, "Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games" might be best played as a weekend rental - and by younger kids rather than adult gamers. The vast selection of games, characters and modes (including multiplayer) help give this disc some merit, but its shallow approach and sometimes unresponsive control might frustrate players. "Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games" nets a bronze medal.

Portable players might opt for the Nintendo DS version of the game, available for $34.99.

Source: IndyStar

MICROSOFT ALREADY WORKING ON GAME FOR NEXT NEW XBOX?

In the latest issue of EGM, rumor hound Q-man got a really interesting tidbit from a mole at Microsoft: a secret first party sequel is already being worked on for the next Xbox console. According to the magazine, the game was originally planned for the Xbox 360, but was recently moved over to the next Xbox console.

It's not uncommon for platform holders to begin working on new consoles and launch games years before they actually come out, but this could point to the next Xbox console not being that far off.

So what sequel could it be? Hmmm... a new Halo? The next Forza? How about the next Perfect Dark? Oh, or maybe Fable 2? Kidding.

More from: Electronic Gaming Magazine

Top 10 Microsoft Xbox LIVE Games of 2007

Here are the top 10 most played Xbox 360 games on Microsoft's Live service for the entire year of 2007:

2007 Top Xbox 360 Titles (Unique Users)

1 Halo 3
2 Gears of War
3 Call of Duty 4
4 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
5 Call Of Duty 3
6 Crackdown
7 Oblivion
8 Guitar Hero II
9 Forza Motorsport 2
10 Lost Planet2007

Top Xbox LIVE Arcade Titles (Sales)

Rankings are based on data collected from 1/1/07 – 12/31/07

1 TMNT 1989 Arcade
2 Worms
3 Castlevania: SOTN
4 UNO
5 Bomberman LIVE
6 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures
7 Sonic The Hedgehog
8 Pinball FX
9 Geometry Wars Evolved
10 Texas Hold 'em

2007 Top Original Xbox Titles (Unique Users)

1 Halo 2
2 Star Wars: Battlefront 2
3 Counter-Strike
4 Battlefield 2: MC
5 Doom 3
6 Forza Motorsport
7 Madden NFL 07
8 Conker: Live Reloaded
9 Call of Duty 3
10 Rainbow Six 3

(Unique Users) is the number of Gamertags that have played a game.
In the case of Arcade titles, the list is ranked by purchased games.

Source: Major Nelson

Major slides on Nintendo Wii this February

Major Dream Major Wii Nagero! Gyroball is scheduled to come out on February on an appropriate console for a dramatic action baseball game (Tomy's listed genre).

You get to swing the remote like a bat and pitch with motion control. Sound familiar? So, Major Wii borrows from Wii Sports, but that worked out well for Konami’s Power Pro series. Perhaps, adding anime characters will sell the concept to more people?

Not me, though! Wii Sports is plenty and I have Famista DS to carry around too.

Source: Siliconera

Official North American Web Site Launched for PC video game Pacific Storm: Allies

CDV Software Entertainment USA invites gamers to visit the new official North American Web site for Pacific Storm: Allies, the latest title in the successful Pacific Storm series of WWII strategy/action games. The new site offers visitors high-quality screenshots, trailers and in-depth game information for this exciting strategy title that combines elements of grand strategy, resource management and action-oriented hands-on combat in one package. For more information about Pacific Storm: Allies, please visit http://pacificstorm.cdvus.com.

Pacific Storm: Allies is the latest title in the Pacific Storm series of WWII Pacific theater games which combine real-time strategy, resource management and exciting, in-your-face combat action. In Pacific Storm Allies, players jump into the thick of battle, playing as the United States, Japan, and a new playable nation - the United Kingdom. Allied nations, including the Netherlands, Germany and Russia, offer a new level of diplomacy and resource management to the game. An updated graphics engine brings to life new aircraft, naval ships and landscapes, showcasing them in lush, vivid detail.

As with the original Pacific Storm, Allies offers something for everyone - armchair admirals can take command of massive fleets from a sweeping strategic perspective, while the action fan can jump into the cockpit to battle it out in the skies, or man deck guns to turn enemy ships into smoking hulks.