Video Games To Be Official Welcome Event At 2008 Olympics

They aren’t turning video games into an official Olympic sport just yet, but they will become an official welcome event at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

The Global Gaming League (GGL) has already sealed the deal that will make video games a part of the festivities.

Currently, there is a tournament planned along with other various events of competitive gaming and contests.

From FileFront

AMBX ARRIVES ON GOOGLE EARTH, ITUNES, QUICKTIME AND MORE

Philips today announced that amBX FXGen+ lighting effects can now be experienced with Google Earth, iTunes, QuickTime, VLC, Media Player Classic, MediaPortal, Zoom Player and Windows Media Center, through Windows XP or Windows Vista. As Windows Media Center and MediaPortal both support TV tuners, users are even able to experience amBX FXGen+ lighting when watching live TV. All the applications support surround and multi-location lighting and the announcement demonstrates just how versatile the ambient experiences platform has become outside the gaming arena.

These latest media applications will also run alongside the all-new amBX Illuminate, an easy to use background application which allows users to set their amBX lighting to any default colour, using hue, saturation and lightness. amBX users can choose between five different lighting presets for a quick change of mood lighting, when the need arises. For more dynamic lighting, amBX Illuminate can be set to loop between the five presets, from slowly flowing shades to sudden, exciting contrasts.

Finally, adding music into the applications mix, amBX also works with audio player visualisers to orchestrate all kinds of light effects, from subtle mood lighting to sophisticated light shows. amBX can bring the excitement of a live show or atmosphere of a club night right into the user’s home.

Using ‘surround senses’, amBX creates a new type of PC application experience by extending the traditional content world out of the screen and into the real world. The revolutionary platform allows content 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. These senses are then used to recreate on-screen effects in the real world.

Whilst the Philips amBX team works closely with content developers to ensure many games and applications are developed to be amBX compatible from release, the amBX FXGen+ allows users to experience amBX effects in synchronisation with existing content, ensuring backward compatibility. Furthermore, amBX patches offering even more new effects are regularly being released for download at www.ambx.com.

“These latest non-gaming applications are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of how dynamic amBX can be,” commented Jo Cooke, Chief Marketing Officer, Philips amBX. “Seeing geographical lighting effects while using Google Earth or watching a movie on the VLC Media Player is an experience we’re convinced users will enjoy. Many more software applications, both gaming and non gaming, will follow suit throughout 2008.”

Philips is setting a global standard by licensing the amBX technology to content developers, publishers and peripherals manufacturers including Ubisoft, 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 FXGenerator and amBX FXGen+ compatible games and programs, including The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Lost Planet, Crysis, Stranglehold and Need for Speed: ProStreet, can be found at www.ambx.com.

XBOX Live Friends Widget v2.1

From 1337pwn...

Early this morning, we released a subtle update to the XBOX Live Friends List widget. The new version of the widget has a further optimized version of the communications code along with usability improvements. For example, you can now have multiple instances of the widget open and give them unique "labels".

download here...

Tomy and D3Publisher Of America's NARUTO: Ninja Destiny on Nintendo DS

Tomy And D3Publisher Of America's NARUTOTM: Ninja Destiny Goes Gold

3D Fighting Game for Nintendo DS Destined to Ship Soon

TOMY Corporation and D3Publisher (D3PA), publishers of interactive entertainment software, announced that they have completed development on NARUTOTM: Ninja Destiny for the Nintendo DSTM handheld system. Featuring scenes, characters, and storylines from up to the 140th episode of VIZ Media's hit animated TV series NARUTO, NARUTO: Ninja Destiny brings incredible 3D ninja combat to the DS for the very first time. Easy to play and difficult to master, NARUTO: Ninja Destiny is expected ship to retail stores nationwide on February 26, 2008.

Players can soon take their ninja battles on the road with NARUTO: Ninja Destiny, the first 3D head-to-head NARUTO fighter for the Nintendo DS. Any aspiring ninja can unleash powerful jutsu and take advantage of items to brawl his way to victory against 16 different characters. Dual-screen combat will allow fierce battles to unfold on the top screen while special power-ups can be strategically unleashed on the touch screen for fast, frenetic action. Core fighting game fans and casual gamers alike will find plenty to enjoy, thanks to a combo move system that is both intuitive to pick up and challenging to master. With new characters, stages, and a much-improved frame rate, NARUTO: Ninja Destiny offers new content over the original Japanese version while offering a slew of popular gameplay options like the intense single-player story mode, versus mode, and wireless two-player battles.

For more information on NARUTO please visit www.naruto.com. For more information on NARUTO: Ninja Destiny, please visit www.NarutoNintendoGames.com.

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SECOND ISSUE OF EQUINOX - THE OFFICIAL EVERQUEST II PRINT MAGAZINE

PRE-ORDERS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN TODAY FOR THE SECOND ISSUE OF EQUINOX - THE OFFICIAL EVERQUEST II PRINT MAGAZINE

Two Legends of Norrath loot cards are pre-order bonus items

WHAT:
EQuinox is the first official print magazine dedicated entirely to EverQuest® II (EQ II), its players, creators and adventurers in the world of Norrath. EQuinox is a community driven magazine written by players, developers and EQ II enthusiasts providing insight, information and excitement about the world of EQ II. Pre-orders for the second issue of EQuinox are scheduled to begin today.

Players who pre-order and purchase the second issue of EQuinox will receive Two Legends of Norrath loot cards:
• EQ II Loot- The War Scout: Wall painting grants a rent status reduction of 300
• EverQuest Loot- Familiar of Valik the Cruel: Summons a cruel and spiteful Gargoyle familiar

EQuinox issue No2 features:
• Artisan Section
• Legends of Norrath Forsworn Feature and Collectible Poster
• Role Playing Tips
• Leadership Guide
• Norrath Guild Bill of Rights
• Developer Interviews
• Community News
• Fan Fiction

Suggested Retail Price:
• Issue No2 - $12.99
• Bundle No1 & No2 - $18.99
• Issue No1 - $8.99
WHEN: Pre-orders are scheduled to begin today and run through
11:59pm PST Monday, March 10th

WHERE: For more information about the magazine log onto
www.equinox-magazine.com
To pre-order the magazine log onto www.store.station.sony.com, click on EverQuest II listed under "products by game" in the left hand margin, and follow the instructions.

PC VIDEO GAME DEMOCRACY RELEASED

Stores Nationwide Vote For Democracy

PC GAME DEMOCRACY RELEASED

Democracy, the political strategy game on PC from Ascaron Entertainment, is elected into stores across the UK today. Players take control of countries modelled on real democratic nations such as the UK, USA, France, Germany or Sweden.

As Prime Minister or President, players need 50% of the vote at each election to remain in power. Think strategically to secure position for as long as possible – implement the necessary new policies or solve national crises to placate or rile voters.

Make decisions on a number of controversial subjects including the legality of cannabis, drinking laws, street violence, fuel tax or the Armed Services that serve to either attract voters or dispel the voting public. You could choose to maintain the ‘special relationship’ with America, or alternatively look to Europe for closer alliances.

Whatever you decide, your electorate will tell you what it thinks; the response means winning and losing power.

Fast facts:
Publisher: Ascaron Entertainment (UK)
Web: www.ascaron.com
Developer: Positech Games
Release date: February 15th 2008
PEGI: 3+
Format: PC
Genre: Business Strategy

LEGO Indiana Jones Web game online

LEGO Indiana Jones Web game online

Three Melons has teamed up with LEGO to create its latest Flash Web-based advergame: LEGO.com Indiana Jones. The game features Indy as its main star and easy to learn, hard to master gameplay suitable for players of different ages. “LEGO is an amazing client to work with and being able to play with Indy was something amazing for the team”, said Mariano Suárez Battán, Captain Melon (aka CEO) at the studio.

“We wanted to keep true to the Indiana Jones story, provide astounding visuals and mouse driven gameplay that allows everybody to play but makes it complex to achieve the maximum score possible”, declared Pablo Mayer and Augusto Petrone, Producer and Lead Game Designer respectively in the project.

Brent Hill, the internet content manager of LEGO Playthemes commented: “The LEGO Indiana Jones online game sets a new bar for wickedly-fun play, integration with our global communication strategy, faithfulness to the storyline and excellent adherence to the LEGO brand values (and have you seen the graphics? They ROCK!) Three Melons have far exceeded our brief and I look forward to partnering with them more in the future!”

The game is now live and ready to be played online at: http://indianajones.lego.com/en-US/Games/Default.aspx

Satellite imaginary provided by NASA in Geo-political Supreme Ruler 2020

Satellite imaginary provided by NASA in Geo-political Supreme Ruler 2020

Publisher Paradox Interactive releases screens showing one of the title's most unique features

Leading strategy publisher Paradox Interactive released today a new set of screen shots of the next big title within the geo-political strategy genre, Supreme Ruler 2020.

By using high resolution satellite imagery provided courtesy of NASA, the Canadian developer BattleGoat Studios has certainly managed to create a unique feeling of accuracy when playing as one of 250 regions world-wide. In Supreme Ruler 2020 players can zoom in from outer space to small regions and capitals such as Stockholm, Sweden, shown in the accompaning screenshots.

Release: May 2008
Suggested retail price: USD 39.99/ EUR 39.99

Aerosmith Rocks This Way To Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Free download

World Renowned Recording Group Aerosmith Rocks This Way To Guitar Hero®: Aerosmith®

Epic Collaboration Creates First Music-Based Game to Feature One Band

Free Download of “Dream On” Offered to Commemorate Alliance

Fire up the fret board, crank the amp to 11 and get ready to rock this way with Activision, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, the first game built around the legendary music of America’s Greatest Rock ‘N Roll Band: Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer. Slated for release this June, this latest installment from the franchise with the No1 best-selling video game in 2007, puts players in the shoes of Perry (guitar), Whitford (guitar) and Hamilton (bass), as they rock out alongside frontman Tyler and drummer Kramer. Gamers will experience Aerosmith’s GRAMMY winning career, from their first gig to becoming rock royalty, in a way that no other entertainment vehicle offers.

To celebrate this historic, ground-breaking collaboration, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock fans will have the opportunity to download and jam to Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” The song will be available for free from February 16-18 on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION Store for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. For more information, please visit www.guitarhero.com.

“Having a game built around Aerosmith has been a huge honor and really a great experience for us,” says Joe Perry. “We’ve put a lot of ideas into the game so that fans can have fun interacting with our music, getting inside our body of work and learning about the band’s history.”

Steven Tyler says, “Any band that can go from ‘Don’t Want to Miss A Thing’ (Aerosmith’s No1 smash hit) to the ass-kicking ‘Sweet Emotion’ to the cheekiness of ‘Love in an Elevator,’ to the classic ballad ‘Dream On’ shows why Activision chose us to headline this game based on the diversity of the Aerosmith catalog. Not only is songwriting a bitch, but then it goes and has puppies.”

Perry adds, “On a larger scale, it’s cool for us to be pioneers helping to rebuild the music industry through a format like video games. It’s great for rock since the record companies are struggling to make sense of how things are changing. Fans want to get and experience music in new formats-and there are going to be some of them who will play the game, then pick up the guitar for real and start bands. It’s what’s happening now, and it’s only going to build more momentum in the future. It’s a massive change for the music business.”

“We are extremely excited that Aerosmith chose to team up with Guitar Hero, bringing one of the world’s all-time best-selling artists together with one of the biggest video game brands, to deliver a new and unique interactive way for our customers to connect with artists and their music,” said Dusty Welch, head of publishing for Activision/RedOctane. “This partnership will give Aerosmith, a band that has sold more than 150 million albums worldwide, a powerful and innovative platform to reach their fans and new audiences.”

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith brings these quintessential rock legends to the interactive realm to create the ultimate gaming experience. As fans progress through their careers in the game, they can rock out to scores of Aerosmith’s greatest hits, as well as songs from celebrated artists that the band has either performed with or has been inspired by in some way. Venues from historical moments during the band’s illustrious career offer the experience of “sweet emotion” and further capture the essence of the band’s rise to fame.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith is being developed by Neversoft Entertainment for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. The Wii™ version is being developed by Vicarious Visions. The PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system version is being developed by Budcat. The game is not yet rated by the ESRB.

Upcoming horror title The Path - new gameplay footage

Playing The Path

Tale of Tales release gameplay footage of upcoming horror title The Path

The Path has been nominated for the Independent Games Festival. As such, a playable demo of this work-in-progress will be on display at the IGF pavilion at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco next week. Creators Auriea Harvey & Michael Samyn will be on the scene and more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

For those who will not be able to make it to the conference, Tale of Tales is releasing brand new video footage captured straight from the demo. This is the first publicly available gameplay footage that has been released so far. And although the game is still under development, the video clearly shows the unique graphic style that the developers are going for and discloses some of the music created especially for this project by American industrial rock diva Jarboe.

The video can be download from
http://Tale-of-Tales.com/ThePath/downloads.html
There is a High Definition version and a smaller one.

The Path is not a regular video game. It challenges a lot of assumptions and conventions. Although the creative team behind The Path is decidedly independent and small, their ambition is great and their vision strong.

"We are using the medium of games to tell stories. To tell old stories in new ways. To immerse people in a certain mood. To make them experience poetry in an almost tactile way. The fairy tale of Little Red Ridinghood is about a girl on the verge of womanhood. We chose to adhere to older versions of the story. Versions in which a girl meets a wolf and nobody comes to her rescue. The Path is a dark tale that always ends badly. A cautionary tale, perhaps, against the attractions of a gloomy forest. Or perhaps an encouraging tale, about seizing the day to bloom as splendidly as anyone can, even if only for a short while."

Tale of Tales is a game development studio located in Belgium. The Path is designed by Auriea Harvey & Michael Samyn. Character animations are created by Laura Raines Smith. Jarboe composes the music and Kris Force takes care of the sound design.

Lost Glory PC video game in Europa Universalis Rome

Detailed description of Macodonia – "Lost Glory" in Europa Universalis Rome

The history lessons of publisher Paradox Interactive continues

Which country will you lead in the next grand strategy title Europa Universalis Rome? Publisher Paradox Interactive released today the second in a series of in-depths descriptions of the five largest countries in the upcoming addition to the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis series.

The second part goes into detail of Macedonia – "Lost Glory":

In 323 BC, in Babylon, Alexander the Great died. The Macedon King was the greatest conquer the world had ever seen, and a military genius without peer. He turned Macedonia from the most powerful state in Greece into an Empire that stretched to the Indus Valley. However his empire would not last long after his death. With no obvious successor his generals, who history remembers as the Diadochi, would carve up the empire.

The general Cassander would take control of the old Macedonian heartland, however his sons were not of the same mould and his death would herald further warfare. An invasion of Gallic warriors would end the rule of king Ptolemy Keraunos and after a few more short-lived kings the field was whittled down to 2 contenders. On one side you had Antigonus Gonatas, grandson of the Diadochi Antigonus and nephew of Cassander. The other side saw, what many at the time thought, as the military heir of Alexander Phyrrus of Eprius.

Buy, download and play previous titles in the Paradox portfolio on GamersGate! http://www.gamersgate.com

Read more about Europa Universalis Rome: http://www.paradoxplaza.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=281&Itemid=226

New multi-platform title: the sports game Summer Athletics

dtp and 49Games announce a new multi-platform title: the sports game Summer Athletics

Hamburg-based dtp entertainment AG, one of the leading German game publishers, and the Hamburg development studio 49Games today announce the new sports game Summer Athletics. Players can expect an abundance of disciplines from a variety of summer sports in this title. Summer Athletics will appear summer 2008 as a multi-platform title.

Summer Athletics brings sports right into your living room: exciting competitions in more than 25 of the most popular summer sports disciplines, such as sprinting, hurdles, cycling, archery, javelin, hammer throw, and swimming, will provide long-lasting fun.

Summer Athletics will be action-packed multi-player fun for the whole family. The intuitive controls will be adapted to make the most of the individual platforms. Four different difficulty levels will make sure that both regular and casual gamers will enjoy themselves. The game will feature a character editor, career mode, lifelike 3D graphics, realistic athlete animations, and an impressive stadium atmosphere, bringing a special flair to Summer Athletics.

‘In 49Games, we have found an outstanding studio for a partner. Their sports games enjoy great success and even greater popularity,’ says Markus Windelen, COO of dtp entertainment AG.

The teaser website can be visited at www.summerathletics.com. The available screenshots are taken from the PC version of the game.

System: Multi-platform
Publisher: dtp entertainment AG
Developer: 49Games
Release: Summer 2008
MSRP: tba

S3 Graphics Chrome 400 Series Sets New Standards in Energy-Efficient HD Multimedia and DirectX 10.1 Gaming

S3 Graphics Chrome 400 Series Sets New Standards in Energy-Efficient HD Multimedia and DirectX 10.1 Gaming

The new S3 Graphics Chrome 400 Series graphics processors bring the latest 3D graphics, Blu-rayTM and HD-DVDTM support to energy-efficient desktop and notebook platforms

S3 Graphics today announced the S3 Graphics Chrome 400 Series discrete graphics processors, designed to provide the latest gaming experience for energy-efficient desktop systems and portable notebook PCs coupled with outstanding HD content playback at the highest performance-per-watt ratio ever.

Using proven low power 65nm process technology, S3 Graphics Chrome 400 Series processors will support the latest Microsoft® DirectX®10.1 game engine and the PCI Express® 2.0 bus technology, bringing superb performance and improved 3D gaming image and texture rendering in a remarkably power-efficient, low heat package.

Ultra thin and light notebooks and small form factor desktop PCs will now be able to take full advantage of the latest graphics with a discrete DirectX 10.1 capable graphics solution. These products, requiring extreme power-efficiency and rigidly low thermal specifications, will now be able to boast full HD video support and the latest in display connectivity.

Using the breakthrough ChromotionHD™ 2.0 fully programmable video architecture for true HD quality 1080p playback for Blu-ray™ and HD-DVD™ content, the Chrome 400 Series graphics processor will offer a state-of-the-art cinematic experience while remaining cool under the hood. The ChromotionHD engine will support the latest HD standards including H.264, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, VC-1, WMV-HD, and AVS.

"S3 Graphics has developed a product that will deliver incredible, high quality 1080p HD playback for Home Media Centers, Desktop PCs and Ultra Thin and Light Notebook PCs without creating the unwanted noise and heat often associated with high performance components," said Dr. Ken Weng, GM of S3 Graphics. “The feature-rich capabilities in the Chrome 400 Series will provide the end-user with a broad spectrum of new visual capabilities in a leading performance-per-watt product.”

The first GPUs of the S3 Graphics Chrome 400 Series will be available in late February 2008.

About the S3 Graphics Chrome 400 Series Graphics Processors

The 64-bit S3 Graphics Chrome 400 Series GPUs are based on cutting edge Fujitsu 65nm process technology incorporating the following key features:

- DirectX 10.1 Support: An S3 proprietary unified shader architecture supports the latest additions to DirectX 10.1 allowing realistic 3D rendering and increased visual acuity through improved Anti-aliasing (AA), Image/Texture improvements, higher precision formats, and programmable lighting effects. These improvements will allow users to experience life-like rendering and image quality in supported DirectX 10.1 applications.

- ChromotionHD™ Video Technology: Featuring a fully programmable video architecture with true HD quality 1080p playback for Blu-ray and HD-DVD content, the ChromotionHD engine supports the latest HD standards including H.264, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, VC-1, WMV-HD, and AVS, for a stunning movie experience. The video engine is also highly optimized with the decoding and post processing display pipeline that allows simultaneous acceleration of single and multiple video streams in HD format with vibrant colors and picture clarity.

- S3 Graphics PowerWise™ Technology: Sophisticated algorithms and power control mechanisms will allow Chrome 400 Series GPUs to deliver the optimal balance between performance and power on-the-fly, to meet performance and application requirements for power efficient graphics computing on thin and light notebook PCs and small form factor (SFF) PCs. Additional benefits allow users to increase time-between-charges by extending battery life and superior performance-per-watt operation, giving users a true mobile graphics platform for the latest 3D and HD video technologies. Enabling PowerWise on consumer desktops will provide an ideal platform for silent, fanless solutions in HD multimedia home systems. In the corporate market, PowerWise will reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO), minimizing electricity usage and cooling costs.

- PCI Express 2.0: Chrome 400 Series GPUs support the latest advances to the PC component interconnect by offering users the ability to boost the graphics performance of their current systems with the high throughput PCI Express 2.0 bus technology. The faster connection speed also allows users to take advantage of additional S3 Graphics technologies such as AcceleRAM™ which leverages system memory for image data storage, and MultiChrome™ Multi-GPU technology to unleash higher 3D rendering performance.

- Advanced Display Connectivity: Integrated digital display support with HDCP content protection will allow users to connect to a multitude of monitors, displays, and consumer electronic (CE) devices for HD content viewing across a secure display path. Built-in HDMI transmitters with HD Audio controllers allow seamless HDMI connectivity, without requiring external cable connectors for audio inputs into the GPU. Display interfaces include HDMI, dual-link DVI, DisplayPort, HDTV, and VGA. Supporting the latest display technologies ensures S3 Graphics can deliver an optimal viewing experience to the user for 3D and HD video.

More information on the S3 Graphics Chrome 400 Series may be found on the S3 Graphics website at:

http://www.s3graphics.com/en/products/chrome_400/

Creatures Exclusively For Nintendo Wii

THQ Announces Deadly CreaturesTM Exclusively For Nintendo Wii

Action Thriller Pits Players Against a World of Creeping Terror

THQ today announced Deadly Creatures, an original action thriller title coming exclusively to the Nintendo Wii console in 2008. Developed internally by THQ’s critically acclaimed Rainbow Studios, Deadly Creatures throws players into a venomous world of desert terror, where the greatest victory is survival. Players will follow the entwined adventures of an armored scorpion and a stealthy tarantula as they struggle against a variety of creatures including vicious Gila monsters, tarantula wasps, black widows, and the most dangerous predator of all – Man. Deadly Creatures takes full advantage of the Wii’s unique motion-based control scheme and allows players to fully experience every pounce and tail sting.

“Deadly Creatures is an amazingly innovative game concept, and exemplifies THQ’s commitment to creating original new IP for the Nintendo Wii platform,” said Randy Shoemaker, director of global brand management, THQ. “With Deadly Creatures, we are raising the bar for all 3rd party Wii titles, and focusing on deep, compelling gameplay for a largely untapped audience of Wii gamers.”

"Deadly Creatures is a creepy, cinematic thrill ride, where the distinction between predator and prey can shift around every corner," said Nick Wlodyka, executive producer and general manager, Rainbow Studios. "With brutal motion-controlled combat, a dark compelling story and some of the best visuals to date on the Wii, we are excited to bring Deadly Creatures to a large core Wii audience that hungers for a new experience.”

About Deadly Creatures

Deadly Creatures is a 3rd person action thriller set amidst a desert world of venomous terror, built exclusively for the Nintendo Wii. Players will control an armored Scorpion and a deadly Tarantula as they fight for survival against Gila monsters, lizards, black widows and many more terrifying creatures. Featuring intuitive motion controls and a deep combo-based combat system, Deadly Creatures is a thrilling mix of brutal creature-crushing action and suspenseful exploration of vast 360 degree desert and man-made environments. Gamers will explore this darkly compelling story through the eyes of two of the world’s most deadly creatures.

Death Jr. : Root Of Evil for Nintendo Wii

Eidos Interactive announce Death Jr. : Root Of Evil

Eidos Interactive Ltd., one of the world’s leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, has confirmed that Death Jr.: Root of Evil, a spine-tingling, humorous platform shooter from developer Backbone Entertainment, will be released on Nintendo Wii in summer 2008.

Take on the role of the Grim Reaper’s teenage son, Death Jr., as he and his friend Pandora, whilst arguing over a cocoon they’ve collected for a school biology project, accidently release an evil and powerful spirit called Furi. In order to stop Furi and her hordes of nasty minions, Death Jr. and Pandora must team up with their wacky group of friends and fight their way across a series of crazy, fun-filled locations.

“Death Jr.: Root of Evil is a compelling and action-packed game experience coupled with lots of humour as gamers play as the Grim Reaper’s misfortunate teenage son,” said Ray Livingston, Brand Manager at Eidos. “Played solo or together with a friend, Death Jr.: Root of Evil is a great addition to your Wii collection if you enjoy fun-filled, challenging platform games.”

Play as Death Jr. or Pandora or choose to play cooperatively with a friend using both characters. Battle your way through 19 levels, fighting over 60 unique enemies and bosses in a seamless blend of 3D platforming and intense shoot 'em up action. Use Death Jr’s famed scythe and Pandora’s whip, as well lots of cool upgradeable weapons including everything from twin pistols to C4 Hamsters! Unlock new exciting moves and combos and learn to perform them to great effect using the Wii Remote.

Death Jr.: Root of Evil is set for release in summer 2008 on Nintendo Wii.

WOW - Announces New Global World Of Warcraft Arena Tournament Format

Blizzard Entertainment Announces New Global World Of Warcraft Arena Tournament Format

2008 World of Warcraft Arena Tournaments to feature competition on dedicated regional tournament realms and more than $200,000 in cash prizes

PARIS, France. – Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced plans to launch a new type of tournament competition using the Arena System in World of Warcraft®, its popular subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game. The tournaments will take place on special realms that allow competitors to instantly create level-70 characters with epic equipment, placing the focus on tactics and execution rather than normal adventuring.

“eSports is one of the most exciting facets of online gaming today,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We’re pleased to expand World of Warcraft’s tournament options for players who want to focus mainly on the competitive aspect of the game.”

The tournaments are scheduled to start in April with two rounds of online qualifiers in Europe, South Korea, North America, and the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Each qualifier round will have a per-competitor entry fee - 15€/£12 in Europe; 20,000 won in South Korea; $20 in North America; and NT$450 in the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau - and will run for six weeks. During this time, teams will play 3-vs.-3 matches on the tournament realm in their region, with the top four teams from each round advancing to the regional finals to compete for more than $27,000 in cash prizes. Winners from each region will then be invited to a global championship event to compete for $120,000 in cash prizes, including a $75,000 grand prize.

Stay tuned to www.wow-europe.com for further tournament details.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Video Game from Disney interactive

Return To Narnia

Disney Interactive Studios Announces Details of Disney/Walden Media's The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Video Game

Those who long to spend their days in Narnia will be able to revisit as old heroes return 1,300 years later and a new hero must rise. Disney/Walden Media’s The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian video game will be released to retail stores on the 20th June in time for the film’s 27th June 2008 release date, Disney Interactive Studios announced today.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian video game will be available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, the Wii system, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS™ and Windows-based PC.

Developed by Traveller’s Tales, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian for home consoles and Windows-based PC takes players throughout Narnia and includes a level, which is unique from both the novel and the film. The level, which is set between the events of “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” and “Prince Caspian,” takes place at the castle of Cair Paravel and tells the story of how Narnia fell to the Telmarine hordes. In “Prince Caspian,” Cair Paravel is seen only as abandoned ruins the Pevensies discover hundreds of years later.

The action/adventure game offers gameplay for one or two players on the same system and drop-in/drop-out features, allowing either player to join the game and leave. With combat, exploration and puzzle solving that extends beyond the film, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is the ideal complement to the movie-going experience. The game features more than 20 playable characters including the ability to play as Prince Caspian. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian game is the sequel to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe for consoles, which received the prestigious IGN.com Editor’s Choice Award.

“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian game is an epic adventure that provides memorable experiences as it takes players throughout the familiar areas of Narnia from the second film,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “Fans of the films and books will re-live the excitement, the battles and the memorable characters while going beyond the events of the film.”

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian for Nintendo DS will be a completely new gaming experience from the console and PC versions and is being developed to take advantage of unique DS functionality. This action-oriented, turn-based RPG game will let players explore the land of Narnia controlling more than 10 different characters. The game’s RPG and puzzle gameplay includes other exciting features such as, touch screen gesture controlled attacks, activating the DS microphone to sound the game’s horn during battles, as well as an option to turn the DS on its side for storybook narratives. Prince Caspian for the Nintendo DS is being developed by Fall Line Studio, the Nintendo platform-dedicated development studio of Disney Interactive Studios.

About “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” film
The enchanted characters of C.S. Lewis’s timeless fantasy come to life again in this second installment of the seven book series, in which the Pevensie siblings are magically and mysteriously transported back from England to Narnia, where a thrilling, perilous new adventure and an even greater test of their faith and courage awaits them.

Goin' Downtown PC video game

Goin' Downtown

ABOUT THE GAME

The City is alive! Goin´ Downtown takes you to a futuristic metropolis to take up the challenge of an exciting point & click adventure. You are the charismatic hero Jake who earns his living as a mediocre and frustrated cop in the year 2072. One morning, when walking through his neighbourhood, he stumbles across an unconscious woman. An exceedingly attractive woman who unfortunately has lost her memory as Jake notices when he clumsily wakes her up. This is the beginning of an adventure with Cathy in which Jake discovers that he can be a real hero and that true love can save lives. A story with many twists and turns, a main character to strongly identify with, sophisticated yet consistently logical puzzles, a simple user interface and highly detailed graphics make Goin´ Downtown the definite adventure highlight of the year.

FEATURES
• Thrilling story with black humour and fascinating characters
• Real-time lighting effects for locations and characters
• Logical puzzle design
• More than 40 locations and more than 30 characters
• Atmospheric soundtrack and congenial voice acting
• Easy point & click control

USPs
• Gripping top-notch sci-fi psycho-thriller
• Movie-like story
• Revolutionary puzzle system for newbies and pros
• Developed by the makers of “Simon the Sorcerer - Chaos Happens” and “Everlight”

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Minimal: Windows® XP/Vista, Pentium 4 CPU
with 2,0 GHz, 512 MB RAM, 2 GB available
hard-disk space, 64 MB DirectX®9.0c compatible
graphics card, DirectX® compatible
sound card
Recommended: Windows® XP/Vista, Pentium
4 CPU with 2,5 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 4 GB
available hard-disk space, 128 MB
DirectX 9.0c compatible graphics card,
DirectX compatible sound card

Nintedno DS Lunar Genesis £5.50 inc delivery at Play.com save over £24

Lunar Genesis
£5.50 Free Delivery
RRP: £29.99 | You save: £24.49 (81%)
In stock. | Usually dispatched within 24 hours.
Link to Play.com

Set in an expansive fantasy universe and beautifully presented in a rich, vibrant visual style, the world of Lunar has seen a number of versions across several formats, spanning 14 years and three generations of hardware. Set a thousand years before previous storylines, Lunar Genesis tells the tale of a band of young adventurers performing courier jobs who stumble into a battle between the forces of good and evil. This battle threatens to consume the entire land and sets the stage for over 70 hours of handheld RPG adventuring.

With all of the standard features associated with a traditional Japanese RPG, Lunar Genesis is adapted perfectly to take advantage of the benefits afforded by the Nintendo DS hardware. All aspects of player interaction, from movement around the game environments to map and menu navigation can be controlled via the touch-screen. Both displays are employed throughout the game to make sure the player has access to all the information they need. The dual screens are also fundamental to the battle system, with airborne enemies occupying the upper screen and traditional ground-based troops on the bottom. Even the microphone is used, as blowing on it during a fight acts as a 'panic button'.

Perhaps the most exciting feature for series fans and newcomers alike is the inclusion of the Coliseum mode, a wireless multiplayer battle where scratch cards earned during the singleplayer quest can be used to take on other players. The participants literally scratch off squares on the touch-screen, the outcome of which dictates the flow of combat. The winner gets to keep the loser's card for use in further Coliseum battles or to aid them in their singleplayer questing.

• Exclusively on Nintendo DS - Lunar: Dragon Song, the first original game in the Lunar series in 10 years, will only be available on Nintendo DS.
  
• New Light & Dark enemy system - Players must battle the forces of evil by transforming Dark enemy creatures into Beings of Light.
  
• New characters - Five new main characters debut in the Lunar universe: Jian, Gabryel, Lucia, Flora and Rufus.
  
• New Battle Card system - Find different Battle Cards during your quest to alter the abilities and powers of members in your party.
  
• New weapons and items - Lunar: Dragon Song features all-new items and weapons never seen before in any Lunar title.
  
• Wireless LAN connectivity - By connecting via wireless LAN, players can share rare and unique items within the Lunar world.
  
• DS microphone support - Players can command situations by giving orders into the DS microphone.

Codemasters announces launch of hot new Overlord content, now available for Xbox 360

Go to hell as Codemasters announces launch of hot new Overlord content, now available for Xbox 360.

Single-player, multi-player and split-screen downloadable packs now available for Overlord on Xbox 360.

Heralding the return of the Overlord and his Minion horde, Codemasters today announced the launch of new downloadable content packs for Overlord™, including the game's single-player expansion Overlord: Raising Hell.

The new content is now available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and comprises of one free and two premium download packs; the premium packs are available for 800 and 400 Microsoft Points respectively.

Downloadable Content Pack Details:

OVERLORD: RAISING HELL

• Devilishly good single-player expansion pack.
• Includes new Abyss levels and Dungeon Challenges.
• Premium pack: 800 Microsoft Points from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

Go deeper into the Overlord's twisted world as this single-player expansion pack opens a series of hellish new levels, each a supernatural abyss for the game's five domains: Mellow Hills, Evernight, Heaven's Peak, the Golden Halls and the Ruborian Desert.

Access to each abyss is via a portal, which opens once a kingdom has been successfully conquered and the previous ruler banished to a personal hell within. However it's not just the fallen heroes that have been dragged into the abyss: the Overlord's newly loyal peasants have also been taken down into hell too.

With the undead denizens of each abyss on the attack and threatening the Overlord's reign above ground, there's only one thing for it: assemble a Minion army, descend into each abyss and embark on a fresh wave of tyranny in order to return the serfs to their homelands, defeat the fallen heroes once and for all, and claim the throne of the underworld.

OVERLORD: CHALLENGE PACK

• Seven all-new multiplayer maps, including "Capture the Maiden".
• Deviously difficult Legendary Single Player Mode.
• Premium pack: 400 Microsoft Points from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

Come and have a go if your Overlord's hard enough. All new pillaging fun with seven additional online multiplayer maps, including the competitive 'Capture the Maiden' map and 'Protect Your Power', where players must defend the Overlord's tower against waves of enemy attack.

Putting the Minions through their toughest workout, the Challenge pack also introduces a 'Legendary' difficulty mode, which challenges players to achieve Legendary status by using their most aggressive Minion managing skills to complete the single-player game under exceptional bad-ass circumstances.

OVERLORD: SPLIT-SCREEN MULTIPLAYER PACK

• FREE downloadable multiplayer content pack for Xbox 360.
• Enables split screen play on all existing multiplayer maps.
• Plus adds a hot new 'Rocky Race' multiplayer map

This free content download enables players to go head to head on all of the game's original multiplayer maps in a new split screen mode. The update also introduces a new multiplayer map, Rocky Race, which sees a pair of Overlords working cooperatively to survive the onslaught of an arch rock giant on the rampage.

All content packs are now available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 and require players to have a full copy of Overlord in order to experience the additional content.