System 3 Challenges PlayStation2

Friday 25th January/...System 3 has announced that its upcoming racing simulation, Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, will be heading for the PlayStation®2 this spring. The announcement comes ahead of a special issue of Official PlayStation Magazine, which sees Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli taking pride of place with a special wrap-around cover and Ferrari-branded packaging framing a world-exclusive preview.

Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli is System 3’s labour of love – a re-creation of Ferrari’s own racing series, which sees both professional and amateur drivers taking to the world’s most famous race tracks in 430 Challenge race cars. Developed by racing game specialists Eutechnyx, Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli draws upon the developer’s years of experience with racing titles and includes a uniquely magical touch from GP2 driver Bruno Senna, nephew of F1 legend Ayrton and technical consultant on the game’s handling.

Previously announced for PLAYSTATION®3, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS, Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli on the PS2 will match the PS3 version in terms of game features. 50 expertly-modelled Ferraris are available, along with the full complement of Ferrari Challenge series tracks, exquisitely balanced handling, remarkably lifelike opponent AI and the most comprehensive custom vinyl editor yet seen in a PlayStation racing title. With online multiplayer for up to 8 racers and System 3’s innovative Card Challenge mini-game also included, Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli’s PS2 incarnation proves itself to be no poor relation to its bigger cousin and is in prime position to become the definitive racing experience for the platform.

In-depth analysis of the game’s features and development process can be found in issue 95 of Future Publishing’s Official Playstation 2 Magazine, which goes on sale on the 30th of January. Spanning six pages, the preview describes Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli as “a total dream come true for any Ferrari fan”, noting that the cars “handled beautifully”. Rounding off with a closing comment that “established PS2 racing games do face a real Ferrari challenge”, the enthusiasm and optimism of the feature is matched by that of System 3 CEO, Mark Cale.

“We want Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli to reach as many gamers as possible and the PS2 version is instrumental in achieving this”, remarks Cale. “Despite technical limitations, the team at Eutechnyx are doing an outstanding job in translating the exceptional features of the PS3 version to its predecessor, maintaining an excellent standard of visuals and keeping that incredible handling intact. We’re confident that Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will set the standard by which other PlayStation 2 racing titles will be judged”.

Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli will be released for all formats in Spring 2008.

Shoot Halo's Master Chief Your Way And Win A Trip To Tinseltown With Xbox 360

Microsoft today announced the launch of a unique European competition looking for fans across the region to help create and show the unseen adventures of Master Chief. Whether its Master Chief’s “Meet the Parents”, a Spartan high school reunion, or even break dancing to MC Hammer, the “HALO: RECUT” contest is encouraging gamers and filmmakers alike to be as creative as possible, with the lucky winner scooping a once-in-a-lifetime master-class trip to Los Angeles.

Microsoft is looking for innovative movie makers to construct their own original video of Master Chief, which sees him taken away from the Halo universe and remixed into different scenarios. Whether created using a traditional video camera, gaming footage, old school animation or the latest video editing software, the point is just to be creative.

To enter the competition participants simply have to visit the following site www.xbox.com/en-GB/halorecut and upload their video from 31st January until 21st March 2008. The entries will then be judged by a panel of experts from the gaming industry to find the most creative concepts. One winner from each country will win themselves an Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and a copy of Halo 3. Terms and conditions apply, please visit www.xbox.com/en-GB/halorecut for details.

Each country’s winning video will then be put through to the European final which will be judged by the creators of the game, Bungie Studios. The overall European winner will win a trip to Los Angeles to study for one month at the New York Film Academy, where they will learn all they need to know about making movies. The prize includes return transatlantic flights, accommodation, car rental and $2,000 spending money.

Brian Jarrard, Bungie Studios added: “This competition is a great way to showcase the creativity and passion that drives the Halo fan community. We can’t wait to see how people infuse their own style and personality into Master Chief and deliver a whole new take on the Halo phenomenon. May the best Spartan win!”

For more information about the project please visit www.xbox.com/en-GB/halorecut

Ex-Naughty Dogs Form Steel Penny Games, Become WiiWare Dev

Steel Penny Games, an independent Austin, TX-based game developer, announced their acceptance into the Nintendo WiiWare developer stable, and is busy at work on an original IP title set to release in mid-2008. Steel Penny Games states that the upcoming title blends a challenging puzzle game with dramatic fantasy environments and appealing characters for an exceptionally satisfying experience. Other details about the upcoming product are not available at this time.

The company, organized in early 2007 by former Naughty Dog veterans Jason Hughes and Andrew Gilmour, joins the ranks of studios initially focused on digital distribution. Steel Penny Games president Jason Hughes described their strategy as "the modern equivalent of the garage method for an independent to gain a foothold in the industry-a unique opportunity WiiWare presents that we appreciate." At Naughty Dog, Hughes was a senior graphics tools engineer, and Gilmour was a senior background artist.

The team at Steel Penny Games have spent the past year building a proprietary engine geared toward the Wii platform's capabilities, and creating a new intellectual property to span a series of games. Hughes elaborated, "I am impressed with the egalitarian approach Nintendo has taken toward WiiWare developers. It allows the risk burden to shift back onto the creative developers."

R44 helicopter for Flight Simulator X and 2004 released

Take a rotary route to the air in Just Flight's R44!

Just Flight is pleased to announce the release of its R44 helicopter for Flight Simulator X and 2004. This latest addition to the prestigious Flying Club hangar has been developed by the same team as the rest of the critically-acclaimed Flying Club series. It is packed with features and is now available to download exclusively from Just Flight's website.

The high level of detail in the Flying Club R44 is the result of extensive research and testing using real-world aircraft and the simulation comes with an authentic set of instruments, 2D and 3D cockpits, realistic avionics and the huge range of liveries and international aircraft options results in 221 variations to fly.



Just Flight's Marc Siegel commented: "The real R44 is the World's most popular GA helicopter and we're confident that our Flying Club R44 will have similar success is the FS world."

Key features

• Includes the skid equipped R44 Raven II, and the Fixed Utility and Emergency Float equipped R44 Clipper II.
• Authenticity on the ground as well as in the air! With the engine off and the 'park' icon clicked, the pilot and passenger figures are removed, the manoeuvring wheels are in place on the skids and the main rotor tie down is secured to the rotor and the rotor moves up and down gently in the breeze.
  
• Top quality custom sound set for interior and exterior created from recordings of the real aircraft.
  
• Operating emergency floats allows you to lift off from a hard surface and fly along with the floats packed. You can deploy the floats, which will pop out inflated, and then land on any water surface.
  
• Custom flight model is incredibly accurate and reflects the performance of the real aircraft as closely as possible in FSX (SP2). Users of the FS2004/FSX/FSXSP1 version can still take advantage of the SP2 flight model by choosing an 'Expert' option on their R44.
• Highly immersive virtual cockpit with mouse-clickable instruments, levers and knobs; operating cyclic and collective with throttle and mixture controls. An accurate 2D cockpit is also included.
• Animation is state-of-the-art and includes main and tail rotor rotations and pitch, swash plates, tail rotor pedals, cyclic control, collective and rotary throttle, all four cabin doors and port/starboard engine bay access doors that animate and come with fully detailed interiors.
• Detail extends to small but important items like the door hinges, door air vents (they even open and close), NAV radio antennas, detailed rotor heads, skid wheel attachment points, fuel caps, navigation lights, operating emergency landing lights; even the door handles work!
• Comprehensive colour illustrated PDF electronic manual is included that covers aircraft description, panel and gauge descriptions, Avionics description and operation and the realistic in-sim checklist shows the normal operations checklist and operation limitations. There is also a descriptive tutorial to enable you to take flight as quickly as possible.
  

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
Microsoft Flight Simulator X or 2004 – Windows Vista or XP

MINIMUM HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
PC with 2.0GHz (3.0 for FSX), 512Mb RAM (1.0Gb for FSX), graphics card with 128Mb (or higher) video memory, DVD-ROM drive, Hard disk space 1.0Gb

FSX Just Flight VFR Real Scenery Series Now Complete for download

Publisher: Just Flight
Developer: Just Flight
Format: Download
Price: £14.99 / €22.95 / $29.99

Our VFR Real Scenery series of photorealistic scenery add-ons for FSX is now complete - Volume 4 (Northern England) is available today.

This new volume includes all those great features which have made Volumes 1 - 3 so popular...

• Hand-drawn night lighting effects
  
• Custom 'landable' water features
  
• Superb 9.6m mesh terrain to provide accurate terrain elevation
  
• No patches, no upgrades, and no promises about features which will be included at a later date - all these are integral features of each add-on and are automatically installed as part of the program. What could be simpler?
  

As well as a variety of demo areas and videos (see the VFR Real Scenery Information Page or the individual product pages for full details) we have got some great offers running at the moment...

You can buy all four volumes of VFR Real Scenery for only £74.99/€111.95/$149.99 and earn 500 Just Rewards points.

If you don't yet have Flight Simulator X, we're offering the Deluxe version along with either two, three or four Volumes of VFR Real Scenery at greatly reduced prices.

Save £40 on the retail price of FSX + Volumes 1 & 2, £50 on FSX + Volumes 1, 2 & 3, or you can make a saving of £60 if you buy our FSX + Volumes 1, 2, 3 and 4 bundle!

First person shooter, NecroVisioN, Video Game for PC

505 Games today announced it will publish the first person shooter, NecroVisioN, for PC across Europe under the newly created 1C Label.

Developed by The Farm 51, NecrovisioN is a first person shooter which immerses gamers in the claustrophobic trenches and bunkers of the First World War. Reminiscent of a Lovecraft horror, NecroVisioN seamlessly mixes the harrowing battlefields with a nightmarish demon and vampire underworld, unleashing a truly visceral experience.

The year is 1916 and the Great War has been raging for two long years when Simon Bunker, a US army soldier, joins the front line with the allied forces. During the ferocious fighting, Bunker and his battalion get lost behind enemy lines while trying to break through to allied positions. While being pushed back into defensive positions they stumble across a series of mysterious trenches where all is not as it seems. As they push forward they discover that there is a greater evil hiding underneath the battlefields of the Great War, an evil which is forcing its way to our world and threatens to change the delicate balance of power.

Battling his way through the trenches, Bunker uncovers an enemy more deadly than anything he has ever encountered. Demons and vampires wage a brutal underground war, which is spilling into the human world, and Bunker finds himself fighting not only for his own survival, but the survival of Mankind.

Key features include:

- a stunning mix of WWI and Hellish underworld environments
- intense and explosive first person combat
- 18 different weapons with a mix of authentic WWI and Underworld mystical
- hordes of enemies including human, demons and vampires
- 12 visceral missions to challenge all abilities
- huge, brutal boss battles
- online/LAN gaming for up to 16 players
- six maps with three game modes, including deathmatch, team deathmatch and capture the flag/artefact

PDC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DARTS 2008 FOR PLAYSTATION 2 & PC

Pure excitement, Pure pressure, Pure Darts - Game On!

PDC Darts 2008 for PlayStation®2 and PC hits the shops tomorrow. Starring even more PDC Champions, a full line up of electrifying tournaments, exceptional graphic enhancements and even more play modes, PDC World Championship Darts steps up to the oche to industry acclaim:

GAME OF THE WEEK 4/5 - Nuts

‘A definite bull’s eye for the Wii’ 4/5 – The Daily Star

“Oxygen Games’ latest darts simulation is perfect for Wii…” – Games TM

"...it's nearly as much as a test of skill as the real thing." - GamesMaster

Calling on darts, sports and Wii fans PDC World Championship Darts 2008 is bringing the spectacle and excitement of the nation’s best loved sport to your home - this week for PlayStation 2 and PC, and in Feb 8th 2008 for Wii.

Pure excitement, Pure pressure, Pure Darts - Game On!

Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto IV release date and website for PS3 and XBox360

Next-generation Console Debut of the Grand Theft Auto Franchise Set for April 29, 2008

Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, is proud to announce the release date for Grand Theft Auto IV, the new title in the genre-defining Grand Theft Auto franchise. Developed by Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto IV will be simultaneously available for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and will be in stores worldwide on April 29, 2008.

"We are so excited to be releasing Grand Theft Auto IV," said Sam Houser, Founder and Executive Producer of Rockstar Games. "We've pushed ourselves very hard to make something incredible and hope the game sets a new benchmark for interactive entertainment."

For more information, log onto http://www.rockstargames.com/IV

SUNAGE PC video game Shipping in Canada and US

Leading publisher Lighthouse Interactive and developer Vertex4 today announced that the highly anticipated North American version of their dynamic sci-fi real-time strategy game SunAge has gone gold and will begin shipping to major retail stores across Canada and the US on January 28, 2008. A bilingual French/English version will be released in Canada for Francophone fans. SunAge is an energetic RTS game that offers a unique experience, bringing modern innovation to the isometric style of real-time strategy. This PC CD-ROM game is Windows Vista compatible.

Erik Schreuder, CEO of Lighthouse Interactive said, “We are proud to bring SunAge to RTS fans across North America. This version includes upgrades and enhancements that were not included in the European releases. SunAge brings a mature and refreshing new take on the RTS genre and introduces some great new features that will appeal to many strategy fans. We’re thrilled to see that SunAge lives up to its promise.”

“SunAge has been a labor of love. The forums have been very active with a lot of positive feedback from fans in the UK, Scandinavia, Benelux and Italy, who have been playing the game since its European release in November 2007. We’re excited to finally bring SunAge to fellow RTS fans in Canada and the US,” said Roman Pfneudl, CEO of Vertex4. “The game has become so much more than I anticipated and we think SunAge has a lot to offer gamers who love to play real-time strategy games as much as we do. We look forward to hearing their feedback and will continue to support the game.”

SunAge is the modern day answer for RTS fans who want the best possible overview on their troops, while trying to outsmart opponents in frantic battles where strategy and tactics are more important than ever. If you are a core real-time strategy gamer, SunAge is for you!

GAME SUMMARY

Earth is a desolate wasteland destroyed by the radiation and heat of the sun. Humankind, known as the Dome Confederacy, have been forced to retreat into shielded cities enduring constant attacks by the Raak-zun cult; a sect of religious outcasts who live outside the dome. An age long war has ensued as both races battle for the limited resources of the dying planet. Amidst the havoc, the gateway to a bold new planet is unlocked. Hope is on the horizon, but this Mecca is teeming with lethal Sentinel drones who will not hesitate to annihilate any life form that gets in their way.

FEATURES

• 3 Distinct Races - Human, Raak-zun and Sentinel - each with their own units, buildings, technological advantages and disadvantages.
• Unique Upgrades - Alternate modes can be researched for all units, unlocking dual functionality for greater tactical depth.
• Graphics - Stunning sci-fi environments from vast industrial cities and devastated wastelands, to a lush alien planet. While displaying rich graphical environments and visual effects, SunAge is very playable on lower spec PC’s and laptops.
• Tactical Landscape - All units and their alternate modes are crucial to the overall strategy. Exploit weaknesses in the enemy’s network while strengthening your own connection lines.
• Formations - Squad concept combined with long distance camera views allows a large number of units to be fighting onscreen with a clear overview of the battle ground.
• Singleplayer - 25 campaign maps with compelling plots for each race.
• Multiplayer - LAN and Online – Classic multiplayer with focus on gathering 4 different kinds of resources and outsmarting the opponent in battle. 10 maps created uniquely for multiplayer mode. • Command Queuing - Command your units to prone, build or attack where you want them and when you want them to do so.
• Indirect Intelligent Targeting (IIT) - Order your units to focus on pre-selected targets.

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

OS: Windows 2000 / XP / Vista
CPU: 1.2 GHz Intel Pentium III or equivalent AMD Athlon processor
RAM: 512 MB (1 GB recommended for Windows Vista)
Video Card: 128 MB 3D accelerated video card
PC CD-ROM: 4x (or PC DVD-ROM drive)
Sound: DirectSound compatible (Sound Blaster X-Fi series sound card recommended)
Available Hard Disk Space: 1 GB
DirectX: 9.0c compatible
Other: Mouse, Keyboard and Speakers
Multiplayer: LAN or 56K (or faster) Internet Connection

Mount & Blade PC action role-playing video game gears up for release - download link...

Paradox Interactive announced today great news for all fans of medieval combat title Mount & Blade. After several years in BETA, the game is close to completion and scheduled for a worldwide release during Q2, 2008.

Mount&Blade is a single-player, third- or first-person action/role-playing game with a focus on medieval combat. Developed by the Turkish development house TaleWorlds Entertainment, the BETA version of the game has received acclaim worldwide by gamers impressed by everything from the realistic horseback combat to the sandbox gameplay. The latter enables players to roam the map freely in a medieval world that offers options ranging from hunting down bandits, trading for profit in the game's deep economical system and becoming a commander and taking part in the wars ultimately becoming a great lord of the realm.

"We believe Mount & Blade could be a genre defining title and we are thrilled to be working with TaleWorlds Entertainment to bring the game to a worldwide audience, said Fredrik Wester, Executive Vice President of Paradox Interactive. "In BETA, the title has already garnered much deserved attention and excitement in the gaming community and this will be a release to look forward to."

"Paradox Interactive has reached great success because they know their market and understand gamers, which is the main reason we chose to partner with them for this significant release, said Armagan Yavuz, Co- Founder and lead programmer of TaleWorlds Entertainment. "Our vision for Mount & Blade has been an ambitious one and now that we are so close to completion, we can't wait to invite gamers into the world we have created".

The BETA version of Mount & Blade can be downloaded from GamersGate.

Battleground Civil War PC video game Updated

This classic turn-based strategy title just got even better

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) is happy to announce that a short but sweet update is now available for the best-selling turn-based American Civil War battlefield series, John Tiller’s Battleground Civil War. The update fixes an issue where a few Bull Run and Antietam scenarios were not showing up in the scenario selection window.

Relive the splendor and excitement of John Tiller’s classic Civil War games in this updated compilation, John Tiller’s Battleground Civil War, which has been updated by John Tiller himself to work on all Windows operating systems from Windows 98 up to and including Windows Vista. Included in this compilation are the original titles that gave the Battleground battle system the fame that has endured over years and years of play. Gamers can refight famous battles like Shiloh, Antietam, Bull Run, and Gettysburg with the fantastic realism and intuitive interface fans of John Tiller’s gaming systems have come to rely on. This comprehensive collection offers long-lasting play with many variant historical and what-if scenarios as well as smaller related battles.

Take command of the mighty armies of these eras; enjoy the time-tested interface and turn-based game mechanics that made John Tiller’s original game designs famous. With the choice of 2D or 3D battlefield views, dozens of scenarios and more historical information then can be found in most public libraries; John Tiller’s Battleground Civil War reintroduces gamers to some of the best 19th century wargames ever made!

There’s no time to delay, soldier! Fall in and prepare to charge across the Battlegrounds of the Civil War!

Get more information on John Tiller’s Battleground Civil War from its official Matrix Games webpage. This update is comprehensive and will bring the version of the game up to 1.01.

MAGI - the indie game about wizard duels goes "deluxe" Free download

MAGI - an original strategy game about wizard duels has just been released in a much improved version.

MAGI is an unique strategy/RPG game in which the player takes a role of a dueling mage and engages into series of magical battles. The game cleverly mixes elements of strategy and RPG with almost arcade-like action. "If you would cross Magic: the Gathering with Mortal Kombat, you would get something close to what MAGI is" says Tom Grochowiak, the game's creator.

The new release brings many changes. Virtually every aspect of the game was reworked or improved. "It was hard work. But when I finally released the new version, I realised it's closer to an actual sequel than to your typical patch" Tom admits proudly.

MAGI was first released on March 21, 2007. Since then it underwent many changes and several updates. The game's fresh idea and solid balance were warmly received by both players and indie game reviewers.

Official website with more information, demo download and screenshots:
http://www.getmagi.com

Codemasters Online Reveal New Dungeons & Dragons Online Module 6 Download

Narrated by Kate Paiz (Senior Producer). The video contains details of the forthcoming game update module 6. Since it's launch in Feb '05 the game has now doubled in size in terms of in-game content! The 10 day free trial for DDO is available now at www.ddo-europe.com

New Ouster Race download for Darkeden

Joymax, an independent developer of interactive entertainment for the global market, has introduced a third race, called "Ouster," to its vampire-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Darkeden. A unique race that is half vampire and half human, the Ousters can use special summoning magic and wield bladed weapons called "Chakrams."

New players can now receive special beginners' gear when they join the game. Available for the first 14 days of play, the gear will better prepare neophyte gamers to experience the dark, gothic world of Darkeden.

About Darkeden
A free-to-play MMORPG currently in open beta, Darkeden invites players into a bleak near-future environment and a brutal conflict between three distinct races: vampires, slayers, and ousters. Featuring hand-rendered graphics and an isometric 2D view, Darkeden is easy for novices to learn, yet includes a broad variety of features and character-building options for hardcore players. Darkeden contains hundreds of potential skills and two distinct systems of character advancement, and is available to download and play free of charge.

Darkeden is available for download at http://www.joymax.com/portal//.

Nintendo 2007 Wii and Nintendo DS Sales Figures

Throughout 2007 the Nintendo DS and Wii have both seen strong hardware and software sales, as people of all ages across Europe embraced the pick up and play nature of the consoles and titles released.

The phenomenal interest in Wii, with its innovative Wii Remote and interactive titles, has lead to over 6 million consoles flying off the shelves in Europe since its launch in December 2006. The unprecedented popularity of the console has also seen four first party Wii titles; Wii Play, Super Mario Galaxy, Mario Party 8 and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, each sell in excess of over one million units across Europe and provide complete entertainment for the whole family.

At the same time, the handheld Nintendo DS console has proved a firm favourite with all generations with titles from Animal Crossing: Wild World to Big Brain Academy and Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl truly providing entertainment to millions of Nintendo DS owners throughout Europe! Sales of the console have now broken the 20 million barrier in Europe, and the popularity of Touch! Generations titles such as the Brain Training series and Nintendogs have paved the way to ensure gaming has been bought to a whole new audience regardless of age, gender of previous gaming ability.

The much loved Mario franchise continues to keep Europe entertained whether the player is an old Mario fan or a newcomer to the series. Mario Kart DS has seen 2 million copies race of the shelves of retailers across Europe and with titles such as New Super Mario Bros selling over 3 million copies to date and Super Mario Galaxy on Wii breaking the 1 million barrier within a few months of launch, Mario is as strong as ever!

The table below lists European sales figures as of the beginning of January 2008. These are sell-through figures based upon retail sales in each European country that are provided by independent research companies.

Nintendo Co., Ltd has also announced today their global consolidated shipment figures. This is the number of Wii and Nintendo DS hardware and software Nintendo has sold to its distributors and retail customers worldwide. *Please reference Nintendo's third quarter financial results announcement issued separately.

European Wii sales (sell-through estimate) figures at a glance as of beg Jan 2008:
Product Total European Cumulative Sales to date (Sell through
estimate as of beg Jan 2008)
Wii Over 6 million units
Wii Play 2.3 million units
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess 1.3 million units
Mario Party 8 1 million units
Super Mario Galaxy 1.3 million units

European Nintendo DS sales (sell through estimate) figures at a glance as of beg Jan 2008:
Product Total European Cumulative Sales to date (Sell through estimate as of beg Jan 2008)
Nintendo DS 20 million units
Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? 5 million units
More Brain Training From Dr Kawashima: How Old Is Your Brain? 2.8 million units
Nintendogs 8 million units

2008 will continue to see innovative titles hit the shelves as Wii Fit arrives in Europe, and the Touch! Generations range expands with the addition of Professor Kageyama's Maths Training: The Hundred Cell Calculation Method on the Nintendo DS.

This year will also see Mario racing back onto Wii in Mario Kart Wii, which will be bundled with a new accessory - the Wii Wheel - allowing anyone to simply pick it up and start playing! In addition, fans will see him head into battle, along with other famous characters from Nintendo and third party titles, as Super Smash Bros. Brawl launches across Europe.

Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason PC GAMERS TO BE FROZEN IN FEAR

505 Games today announced that it will be publishing the European release of the survival horror title, Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason, under the newly created 1C Label. Developed by Action Forms, Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason is due for release on PC in 2008.

The Arctic Circle, Russian North Pole station ‘Pole 21’, 1968 - Alexander Nesterov is a meteorologist sent to investigate the final hours of the North Wind, an old nuclear ice-breaker trapped in an icy grave. This steel beast once fought for its country, but during a dangerous mission it drifted into an ice trap slowly freezing to death every living thing on board.

Alex must fight against the intense cold by finding any remaining heat sources as he investigates the final days of the North Wind and unlocks the mysteries within. However, Alex is no ordinary meteorologist as he possesses a unique ‘Mental Echo’ ability that allows him to relive the final memories of the dead and change their actions in the past, changing their future. Nothing can prepare Alex for the truth he uncovers as he digs deeper into the history of the ship.

Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason takes players on a terrifying trip into the unknown as they explore the dark, frozen, claustrophobic corridors and unlock the shocking secrets of the North Wind.

Key Features:

- Terrifying first person survival/horror action gameplay

- Unique “Mental Echo” ability providing the player the chance to change the outcome of a character’s past

- Highly detailed levels based on a real Russian ice-breaker

- Battle powerful enemies, all with unique capabilities

- Non player characters help to reveal the true story

- Historically-authentic weapons

- Completely new physics and weather system with realistic ice, frost and snow with advanced character/object physics

- Unified dynamic shadowing system – fully dynamic, moving light sources, casting shadows on all objects

Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason, will be published by 505 Games for PC across Europe in 2008.

Tune In To The High-Definition Premiere Of "GameTrailers TV With Geoff Keighley"

MTVN'S ENTERTAINMENT GROUP AND VIDEOGAME JOURNALIST GEOFF KEIGHLEY EXPAND PARTNERSHIP WITH BROAD TALENT AND DEVELOPMENT DEAL

Tune In To The High-Definition Premiere Of "GameTrailers TV With Geoff Keighley" Friday, January 25, 2008 On Spike TV


MTV Networks’ Entertainment Group, a division of Viacom' (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), today announced a talent and development deal with acclaimed videogame journalist Geoff Keighley, the host of Spike TV’s “Game Head,” the preeminent videogame show on television. Premiering Friday, January 25, 2008, the fifth season of “Game Head” will be re-launched as “GameTrailers TV with Geoff Keighley.” The weekly magazine-style show, made available for the first time in high-definition, will feature an expanded online presence and a tighter integration with GameTrailers.com, the premier provider of video for gamers.

In addition to serving as an executive producer on the new show, Keighley will enter into a development deal with Spike TV to create additional on-air programming, consult on the annual Spike TV “Video Game Awards” show and host a number of to be announced specials. He will also continue hosting and producing “Bonus Round,” GameTrailers’ popular online roundtable talk show about the videogame industry.

“We are thrilled to have the industry’s number one host on the number one videogame show on television,” said Kevin Kay, president of Spike TV. “This new deal allows us to work more closely with Geoff to ensure that Spike continues to be home to the best videogame programming both online and on TV.”

“It has long been my hope to sign Geoff to a larger overall deal so we can make better use of his talents across all of our properties,” said Jon Slusser, SVP Spike Digital and Videogames. “Geoff’s experience as a journalist and passion for videogames make him one of the best gaming experts in the field and he is an invaluable addition to the MTVN Entertainment Group.”

“I’m proud of what we’ve done these past few years with “Game Head,” our various videogame specials and The Bonus Round, so it’s natural to bring everything together into one overall multi-platform deal,” said Keighley. “This year we’re going to continue delivering exclusive content to gamers, but also take videogame programming in some new and unexpected directions.”

“GameTrailers TV with Geoff Keighley” will bring fans the latest scoop on the gaming industry’s hottest titles, coolest events and biggest stars, offering the access and insight millions of viewers have come to expect from GameTrailers.com. Featuring a rotation of over 20 segments, Keighley and co-hosts Amanda MacKay and Daniel Kayser will provide exclusive content catering to gamers with varying interest levels from the casual gamer to hardcore enthusiasts. In addition to premiering on Spike TV and Spike HD, the program will be available in high definition on GameTrailers.com and Xbox Live Marketplace.

Get the Edge with Gaming Hardware from Specialist Manufacturer Ideazon

Leading gameware specialist, Ideazon Inc. develops, manufactures and markets the next generation of gaming peripheral technologies that enhance the gamers experience. Much of their success has been built around the unique Zboard™. The Zboard™ allows keysets for the latest games to be interchanged in the keyboard and therefore allow programmable keys and a keyboard set-up for each game. This produces a much quicker response and better reactions when playing the game.

With a very strong following in the US, the company has now set up the UK channel with the launch of some exciting new products.

MERC™ Stealth Keyboard - features the best illumination in gaming peripherals.

Ideazon has taken its hugely popular MERC™ gaming keyboard to the next level in a way that is leaving the competition in the dark. The MERC™ Stealth's colour and intensity illumination controls allow gamers to dial in the precise lighting level they prefer in any gaming environment. The keyboard offers three distinct illumination levels when turned on: Subtle, Ambient and Intense. The user can also select from red, blue or purple light, or they can choose no light at all.

To maximize both playing comfort and playing time, the MERC™ Stealth comes with 34 dedicated gaming terrain keys and nine rubberized labelled keys for main commands like jump, crouch and directional movement. All keys are labelled and clustered together for the ultimate gaming experience, with the spacing and positioning of keys designed for ultimate precision and control. The keyboard comes with predefined key mappings for the most popular games, but all keys, including the Windows key, can very easily be remapped individually by using the included Z Engine™ software. The Z Engine™ gaming software enables the "precise" management of Ideazon's gaming tools and brings gaming peripherals to the next level. Several features including: a graphical interface; drag & drop functionality, macro making and message key capabilities give gamers the tools to dominate the gaming world and share their strategies with others in the gaming community.

The gaming terrain is tilted 11 degrees to match natural wrist position. Additionally, traditional PC gamers who enjoy gaming on standard WASD keys can still use these keys on the MERC™ Stealth to continue to dominate. SRP £59.99 Inc Vat

REAPER™ Edge gaming mouse.

The REAPER™ Edge is easy to use and easy to programme and is complete with an array of advanced features for both hardcore and casual gamers; the new mouse includes real time, on-the-fly DPI switching to a maximum of 3200 DPI – and much more.
It is ideal for First Person Shooter, Massive Multiplayer Online, Real Time Strategy, Simulation, and Action Games.

It is compatible with Windows 2000/XP and it is Certified for Windows Vista. It has Full Speed USB Interface with 1ms response time, 20g Acceleration with a Max speed of 45ips. There are 5 distinct levels of DPI sensitivity (800, 1200, 1600, 2000, and 3200) The Reaper Edge mouse also features an independent X- and Y- axis calibration.
SRP £ £49.99 inc Vat

GH-100 Gaming Headset. This Gaming headset provides clear in game sound and voice in a Behind the head/Over the ear format. There is an adjustable microphone, in-line volume adjustment and comfortable foam ear pads. SRP £14.99 inc Vat

Ideazon products are distributed in the UK by Interactive Ideas and available from www.amazon.co.uk and www.play.com.

Masthead Studios Unveils the Post-Apocalyptic World

Masthead Studios, the innovative independent game development studio based in Bulgaria, is proud to announce its debut MMO Earthrise, a post-apocalyptic science fiction title slated to release in 2009.

In the aftermath of a catastrophic third world war, Earth lies in ruin, and mankind is all but extinct. In a small corner of the world a new society has risen in the years following, populated mostly by the clones of those stored in a massive DNA database compiled at the end of the war. A corporate government has created a seemingly Utopian civilization, but its heavy-handed control over society, its resources, and even life itself has forced a substantial opposition. These rival factions accuse the government of crimes against humanity in its rampant willingness to abuse the cloning process to its own gain. It is at this crossroads that players will find themselves: fight as a champion of the new world order, or take up arms with Noir, the shadow government sworn to overthrow the totalitarian rule.

Masthead has employed its own engine to craft the stunning graphics and atmosphere in the game, as well as to handle its dynamic combat mechanics. Explore the diverse and sprawling capital city of Sal Vitas and surrounding unclaimed territories. Fight with advanced PvP mechanics featuring customizable power armor, huge mechanized exoskeletons, and an arsenal of weapons to control contested lands and their resources. Influence the market-based economy by working for the corporate world or trading on the black market, all based in immense and highly customized crafting and offline play systems. Players will shape the society in the beginning of a new mankind; or they will create their own dystopia.

“This will change the way we play sci-fi MMOs,” said Atanas Atanasov, CEO of Masthead Studios. “Our team is creating a game that will introduce the next innovative approach to the genre, and we feel to MMOs themselves. We based the game in a vision of society’s future, where the technology and economics of today have ensured an unavoidable cataclysm. Earthrise won’t be just an MMO, but an experience in a new, never-before-imagined post-apocalyptic world.”

Further information, initial concept art, game lore and a growing community around Earthrise are now available at www.play-earthrise.com.

About Masthead Studios

Masthead Studios is an independent game development studio focusing on innovative, next-generation MMORPGs. Integrating its own proprietary engine technology, the company is currently developing its first title, Earthrise, the post-apocalyptic, sci-fi MMORPG to be launched in 2009. Masthead is located in the emerging technology hub of Sofia, Bulgaria, enabling the studio to recruit local and international talent. For more information please visit www.mastheadstudios.com.

Paradox Interactive brings City Life 2008 to North America

Publisher Paradox Interactive announced today that it has signed the next-generation city builder, City Life Edition 2008, for the North American market. Scheduled for release in May, 2008, the title will be available in retail stores as well as for digital download via GamersGate.

The original City Life was praised for bringing originality to the city building simulation genre and the title managed to carve out its own niche in the genre. City Life Edition 2008 brings as much originality and detail as its predecessor, and the 3D game engine with its detail and animation promises total freedom of construction. Several new features have been added, including:

- 60 new buildings making it a total of 360 buildings
- 10 new maps
- An updated editor with the possibility to import real life satellite maps

About City Life – Edition 2008
rom superb villas in residential neighborhoods to imposing skyscrapers in the financial district, design, construct and develop the city of your dreams. Provide comfort and satisfaction for your citizens by offering them work, health care, entertainment facilities, and much more and ensure that your city's coffers are brimming. It's up to you to manage this city efficiently, ensuring booming development while at the same time regulating the very delicate issues of pollution and traffic. Let peace reign between the six unique subcultures, or pay the price if the situation deteriorates into conflict, riots, and, in the worst-case scenario, fires.

About Paradox Interactive
Paradox Interactive has been a leading publisher and developer of strategy games for the PC platform since 1999. Well-known worldwide for their strategy titles, the company has a particularly strong presence in Europe and the US. The steadily growing publishing portfolio includes in-house developed titles such as critically acclaimed franchises Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron; as well as an extensive third party line-up of titles that include Tarr Chronicles, Penumbra: Black Plague, Supreme Ruler 2020 and Lost Empire: Immortals.

The experienced development team recently announced a new Q2, 2008 title, developed under the world-renowned brand Europa Universalis – ROME. Visit http://www.paradoxplaza.com for more information.