Step into the 19th Century...

Discover the adventures of Sherlock Holmes in a game with a gripping atmosphere, for the first time ever delivered in a full 3D world of thoroughly intensive and wholly immersive real-time sleuthing.

Cities and places exude authenticity, creating environments you would expect to find at the end of the 19th Century. And yet, amidst the daily grind and bustling lives of society, there also exists terrifying places, and it is in these confines where you will have to control your fears, retain your focus, and ascertain the truth.



Get Closer to the Clues…

This new adventure of Sherlock Holmes rises to the challenge of being entirely in 3D, while the creators have retained the traditional adventure game 'point & click' mechanic, in which the game is played solely with the mouse. The use of full 3D allows for an immersive experience, with changing game rhythm and additional enigmas and puzzles using physics and lighting.

Sherlock Holmes - The Awakened offers rewarding gameplay, a true symbiosis of two technologies specific to adventure games: WARP (used in the first Myst and Amerzone) which allows first-person movement in pre-calculated decors; and 3D surroundings, which allows the character to be controlled in a truly immersive manner, as well as being able to appreciate the splendour of the surroundings, thus offering a large freedom of movement. The advantage of mixing these two game modes provides a greater diversity of scenario, interaction with more people and a high factor of realism. You will also be challenged by puzzles in 3D, linked to physics for example, in which the weight of objects can be used to trigger mechanisms, and others using dynamic lighting, where a torch might be used to illuminate, in real time, certain places in order to reveal clues or other secrets and passageways.

Neversoft to create new Guitar Hero titles

The development of future titles in the Guitar Hero franchise looks set be taken on by Neversoft, after a recent job listing appeared on the Tony Hawk developer's website.

Harmonix had developed previous titles in the acclaimed series, but has since been bought by MTV Networks for US $175 million in September last year.


Activision acquired original Guitar Hero publisher RedOctane, along with the licence, in May of last year, adding the music franchise to a highly-regarded portfolio of brands that includes Call of Duty, Tony Hawk and Spider-Man.

A spokesperson for Activision would not be drawn on the situation, offering: "Activision does not comment on matters of rumour or speculation."

Neversoft has been an Activision studio since 1999, and has worked on titles such as Tony Hawk's Project 8, Gun and Spider-Man.

Halo 3 beta boosts Crackdown pre-orders by 25 per cent

Retail has noted a surge of interest in free-roaming action game Crackdown, since the announcement that the game disc will include a beta key to the multiplayer testing of Bungie's highly-anticipated shooter Halo 3.

Specialist chain GAME says that pre-orders for Crackdown have risen by 25 per cent since Microsoft unveiled the initiative.



"Halo 3 is one of the most highly anticipated Xbox 360 titles for 2007 and our customers are hungry to get hold of it," commented, MD of GAME Group's online business.

"Halo 3 beta is a great way for gamers to actually influence the making of the game and will ensure the production of a truly amazing game," he added.

Crackdown, from developer Realtime Worlds, is due for release February 23 in Europe. Copies of the game which include the Halo 3 beta key will be housed in specially marked packaging.

EA and Bizarre reveal new Live Arcade title

Boom Boom Rocket to be EA's first title on Xbox 360 download service

Electronic Arts has revealed its first title for the Xbox 360's Live Arcade service - a game developed by Project Gotham team Bizarre Creations and conceived by Pogo.com.

Boom Boom Rocket is a rhythm action title due for release in Spring this year, and marks EA's first entry into the growing on-demand download service for consoles.
Project Gotham from same developers


"As one of the worldwide leaders in game publishing, EA has long recognised the power of on-demand, online entertainment," said Chris Early, product unit manager for Xbox Live Arcade.

"We're honoured that EA has chosen Xbox Live Arcade as the platform for their first-ever downloadable game for console game players and are excited to make Boom Boom Rocket available to the millions of Xbox Live Arcade players around the world."

Developer Bizarre Creations has already enjoyed success in the download market with Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, a fan favourite and one of the first titles available on Xbox Live Arcade.

"Boom Boom Rocket is an addictive and original challenge for all types of gamer, and we're enjoying working with EA to create this unique Xbox Live Arcade experience," said Martyn Chudley, MD of Bizarre Creations.

"Our teams love both working and playing on Xbox Live Arcade, and we're looking forward to releasing another innovative title on this platform with Boom Boom Rocket."

PS3 to cost £425 in the UK

Senior retail sources have said that the 60GB PlayStation 3 will go on sale in the UK for £425, as previously stated by Sony UK.

Now several retail execs have confirmed that the £425 figure is correct, and said they are expecting an official announcement from Sony next week. It's thought that the 20GB PlayStation 3 will NOT be made available in the UK, at least during the initial launch period.



The announcement is also expected to confirm a March 23 launch date across Europe, as previously reported.

The UK price is equivalent to just under EUR 647, which is likely to elicit complaints about "rip-off Britain" as Sony has confirmed that the 60GB PS3 will cost EUR 599 in most other European territories. The price for Ireland, however, has been set at EUR 629.99, apparently due to a higher VAT rate.

One retail source said that the higher UK price has not been driven by Sony but by British retailers, who traditionally seek bigger profit margins than their Continental counterparts.

EA to launch Sims Stories

Electronic Arts Inc announced a new line of video games called "The Sims Stories" aimed at the laptop-toting youth market as it strives to deliver a bigger proportion of titles based on more lucrative company-owned material.

Players of "The Sims" control virtual people called Sims as they sleep, eat, cook, socialise, buy things and work.

"The Sims" is the No. 1 franchise at EA, the world's biggest video game publisher, which has sold more than 70 million games globally since 2000. It also has a broader audience than most games. Half of its players are female -- unlike most commercial video game audiences, who are mostly male.

"The Sims Life Stories" is the first in the new series and is due in the United States and Europe in the first week of February.


"The Sims Pet Stories" and "The Sims Castaway Stories" are scheduled to ship in mid-2007 and late 2008, respectively.

EA aims to use the new titles to expand the "Sims" audience to more casual players and is targeting multitasking MySpace teens and consumers in their early 20s with the new games.

"The Sims Life Stories" has a comic-romantic plot and offers a new story mode, which runs through 12 chapters of a set story line, while also supporting the franchise's traditional open style of play.

All of "The Sims Life Stories" games are designed to run on laptops and do not require upgraded graphics cards, as many PC games do. The games can also be played for hours or minutes in a window while other programs, such as instant messaging or e-mail, run simultaneously.

The games have a "Teen" rating and will retail for $40.

American Technology Research analyst Paul-Jon McNealy said the franchise-expanding move comes at a time when "The Sims" was due for a refresh and fits in with EA's goal of creating more games with internally owned properties -- which have better margins than games based on licensed material such as films.

It also comes amid changes in the laptop market.

"The laptop market has opened up to a younger demographic in the last seven years," McNealy said.

Video games fulfilling needs

Researchers say they've found another reason why video games are so hard to give up: They may help fulfil basic psychological needs.

In a study published in the January issue of Motivation and Emotion, investigators from the University of Rochester and Immersyve Inc. looked at what motivated 1,000 gamers to keep playing video games.

"We think there's a deeper theory than the fun of playing," lead investigator Richard Ryan, a motivational psychologist at Rochester, said in a prepared statement.

The gamers were divided into four groups, each asked to play different games. They answered questionnaires both before and after playing the games. The researchers used the questionnaires to look at the underlying motives and satisfactions that can spark players' interests and sustain them during play.



More than just mindless fun
The researchers found that the games can provide opportunities for achievement, freedom and even a connection to other players. Those benefits trumped a shallow sense of fun, which doesn't keep gamers as interested. Players reported feeling the best when the games produced positive experiences and challenges that connected to what they knew in the real world.

"It's our contention that the psychological 'pull' of games is largely due to their capacity to engender feelings of autonomy, competence and relatedness," said Ryan. He believes that video games not only motivate further play but "also can be experienced as enhancing psychological wellness, at least short-term."

For the participants who played massively multiplayer online, or MMO, games - which are capable of supporting hundreds of thousands of players simultaneously - the need for relatedness emerged "as an important satisfaction that promotes a sense of presence, game enjoyment and an intention for future play," the researchers found.

Ryan pointed out that while not all video games are able to satisfy basic psychological needs, "those that do may be the best at keeping players coming back." – (HealthDayNews)

Wii Sports Boxing Rocky - Eye of the Tiger

Wii Sports Boxing/Rocky Montage to Eye of the Tiger.



Or watch here

Wii Sports - Rocky Training Montage

This video was featured in my "Wii Sports Experiment".



Or wtach here

1million PS3s shipped in Japan

Software totals reach 5m worldwide

Sony has announced that shipments of PlayStation 3 units to Japan have reached the one million mark.

The total number of worldwide shipments of the new console is now two million units, which Sony claims beats comparative shipment totals for previous PlayStation platforms.



Software shipments for the next-generation machine had reached five million units by the end of December 2006.

Sony has promised the next-gen console will launch in Europe in two months time, with retail sources pointing towards an expected launch date of March 23.

Long queues as World Of Warcraft expansion launches

"There are probably four times more people here than we expected"

There were queues on Oxford Street again last night HMV hosted the launch of the new World of Warcraft expansion pack - and struggled to meet an unexpectedly high level of demand.

When asked how many copies of The Burning Crusade the store had to sell, Ellis replied, "Not enough, I don't think. Put it this way, we've got a few stores in the West End and we're opening them up now to get the rest of the stock out. We've just phoned the warehouse to get stock into stores for nine tomorrow morning. We could do a couple of thousand, to be honest."

A queue had begun to form at around 5.30 that morning, but HMV staff handed out wristbands and told fans to return in the evening. However, "We catered for a certain amount of wristbands and we just gave up on them at about 7pm," Ellis said.

With more people continuing to join the queue as midnight drew nearer, the scenes at HMV were reminiscent of console launches, as Ellis agreed. "It's bigger, to be honest," he observed.

"I think we'll be all right on stock, but it's gone OTT - it's absolutely unbelievable."

1st Game - Once Upon a Time in Japan Series

First Game in the Once Upon A Time in Japan Series, "Earth"

Once Upon a Time in Japan: Earth. Aims to transport players to various periods in Japan’s storied history, giving them a look at the inner struggles of a country bound by tradition and ruled by the warrior class. “Earth” is the first title of a three part arc and is planned for a Q4 2007 release.

“We feel very strongly about our product and the future of this series. The subject matter and setting of this game are, as far as we know, unprecedented in the adventure genre and we are putting forth a massive effort in an attempt to make the games that we’ve always dreamed of playing,” says Ben Keeney, Lead Designer and Co-Founder of Abborado Studios.

Abborado’s other Co-Founder, Jared Morante, agrees: “What we’re doing with these games will hopefully enthrall players and we strive to excel in every area, from art, to gameplay design, writing, character development, and score. The team we have assembled is quite passionate about the project and extremely talented. We can’t wait for gamers to get their hands on this series.”

“Earth” is a third-person, point-and-click adventure for the PC that tells the story of Zenjiro, a samurai who left his clan during a time of war, seeking a life of peace with his family. Unfortunately, a tragic event sixteen years later forces Zenjiro to explore Etchu province looking for his wife, children, and other survivors. Along the way he will meet many characters including Hanbei, a fearsome ronin with a mysterious past, and Shiho, the bright young daughter of a famous Noh theater performer.

Furthermore, Zenjiro will discover that not all is as it seems outside the province. The military campaigns he thought to be a thing of the past have once again bubbled to the surface, and in an effort to keep the peace there is little freedom allowed for the people. Yet again, Zenjiro's country appears to be changing dramatically as he seeks his own reasons to continue moving forward.

Features include:

•High resolution, digitally hand painted scenes, featuring scrolling and detailed animation.

•Traditionally hand drawn and animated characters, inspired by classic Disney and Studio Ghibli films.

•An amazing original score, combining traditional Japanese instrumentation and arrangements with modern scoring methods and techniques.

•An immersive setting that allows players to explore a province in 17th century Japan.

•A vast assortment of puzzles, painstakingly researched to fit the time period and locale, while revealing bits of Japanese culture and history to the player.

•Authentic Japanese voice acting

•A captivating storyline, focusing on well developed characters, that builds to an exciting climax.

Games Chart

All Formats

1 New LOST PLANET: EXTREME CONDITION by CAPCOM (-)
2 New WARIO WARE: SMOOTH MOVES by NINTENDO (-)
3 Down FIFA 07 by ELECTRONIC ARTS (1)
4 No move PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 6 by KONAMI (4)
5 Down NEED FOR SPEED: CARBON by EA (2)
6 Down THE SIMS 2: PETS by EA (3)
7 New ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS by NINTENDO (-)
8 No move GEARS OF WAR by MICROSOFT (8)
9 Down CALL OF DUTY 3 by ACTIVISION (5)
10 Down NEW SUPER MARIO BROS by NINTENDO 7
11 Down LEGO STAR WARS II: ORIG TRILOGY by LUCASARTS (6)
12 Down RAINBOW SIX: VEGAS by UBISOFT (11)
13 Down WWE SMACKDOWN v RAW 2007 by THQ (9)
14 New WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP 2007 by SEGA (-)
15 Down FOOTBALL MANAGER 2007 by SEGA (12)
16 Down GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY STORIES by TAKE 2 (10)
17 Down TONY HAWK'S PROJECT 8 by ACTIVISION (13)
18 New NINTENDOGS: LAB & FRIENDS by NINTENDO (-)
19 Down ANIMAL CROSSING: WILD WORLD by NINTENDO (17)
20 Down SPLINTER CELL: DOUBLE AGENT by UBISOFT (16)

ZootFly Ghostbusters Ecto2 chase

Ghostbusters Ecto2 chases ghosts through the streets of NY



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Halo 3 - Starry Night

Halo 3 - Starry Night



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Nintendo Wins Emmy Award

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has awarded Nintendo an Emmy® Award for its invention of the plus-shaped D-pad, one in a long string of Nintendo's controller innovations. The award was presented in recognition of the technological achievement of the D-pad, which radically changed how people interact with their video games and, by extension, their televisions. Nintendo received the award in Las Vegas during the Technological & Engineering Emmy Awards, which kicked off this week's Consumer Electronics Show.

The D-pad first debuted on the controllers for the Nintendo Entertainment System® in 1985, and has been standard on all video games controllers ever since. The D-pad replaced joysticks and represented an early example of how Nintendo was willing to shake up the status quo in the search for a better gaming experience.

"Nintendo has long been a pioneer in the way that people interact with their games," said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "Our commitment to pushing the envelope continues today with our motion-sensitive Wii Remote controllers, which again rewrite the rules. We are grateful for this award and thank the academy for the honor."

Mini Mario-Mayhem Throughout The World!

Mario v Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis is let loose on Nintendo DS



Hold on to your hats! Mario Vs Donkey Kong is back, and this time our favourite duos mean business! In our last outing it was up to Mario to save the day by finding all the Mini Mario’s, but this time roles have been reversed and he must rely on them! Featuring easy accessible touch screen controls, over 80 different levels and utilising the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Service. Mario Vs Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis is sure to provide all with endless amounts of mind boggling fun as it marches on to Nintendo DS across Europe on 9th March 2007.

A whole host of Nintendo world famous characters make a welcomed return in this game, including Mario, Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong’s long lasting love Pauline. Enraged and jealous by Pauline’s preference for Mini Mario over Mini DK, Donkey Kong kidnaps Pauline during the opening ceremony of Mario’s new theme park – Super Mini Mario World. It’s now up to the Mini Mario’s, on orders from Mario to brave mind bending obstacle filled levels and reach the top floor of the theme park where Pauline is waiting to be rescued by her mini heroes.

The player’s simple touch on the Nintendo DS touch screen using the stylus influences and guides the path the Mini Mario’s take, you can also move blocks using the stylus to create new paths, ride elevators and conveyor belts and avoid hazards like fireballs. ‘Thwomps’, lethal lava and deadly water traps all lie in wait for our mini heroes on there march and therefore quick reactions, puzzle skills and a steady hand will stand you in good stead in this game. Donkey Kong isn’t planning to play fair either, with new weapons in the form of Crash Kong and Capture Kong to use against our heroes. Sidekicks Mummy Guy and Snap Claw will do everything in their power to ensure the Mini Mario’s do not reach the exit door preventing our Mini Mario’s from moving onto the next level.

This game features over 8 themes and over 80 diverse and rich levels packed with hazards and puzzles, which will present new challenges to all players. What’s more players can also create their own levels and maps with the ‘new level editor’ before sharing them with others across the world using the unique Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. This feature brings a whole new dimension to gameplay creating an interactive gaming context in which you and others can compete in levels you have created, as well as competing in levels created by others. Players cannot only download levels from friends using the Friend Code system but can do so from anyone around the world ensuring that players really are spoilt with long-term endless fun without restriction.

This is the perfect fusion of retro action and cutting edge contemporary puzzles and is sure to be even more exciting and fun than its predecessor. Mario Vs Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis storms into stores across Europe on Nintendo DS on 9th March 2007 at an estimated retail price of around £30.

Wii-kly Update: Three New Classic Games Announced For Wii Shop Channel

Today Nintendo adds three new classic games to the popular Wii™ video game system's Wii Shop Channel. The games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:



Xevious (NES®, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Players control their Solvalou ship and destroy the XEVIOUS forces. Fire the zapper missiles against air-based enemies and drop the blaster bombs down upon ground-based targets. Destroy Andor Genesis to earn bonus points. Unique enemies, interesting background music, a variety of vertically scrolling background environments and many hidden game play features differentiated Xevious from the other shooting games released at the time. Are you devious enough to beat Xevious?



R-Type III: The Third Lightning (Super NES®, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): It was believed on Earth that the deadly BYDO Empire had been destroyed - but now they've returned, as nasty as ever. Their ships and armies are more powerful than before, and Earth will surely be conquered unless the new R-90 ship can destroy them. Powered with engines that launch it into different dimensions, and armed with the Round, Shadow and Cyclone Forces, the R-90 has what it takes to wipe out the BYDO threat. The BYDO mother ship must be found and destroyed to entirely erase the species from our galaxy.




Moto Roader (TurboGrafx16, 1-5 players, 600 Wii Points): Moto Roader is a futuristic racing game that allows up to five players to compete against each other. Players use the cash earned when they win a race to power up their machine. Not only can they change the "TIRE" and "BODY" of their vehicles, but they also can add "SPECIAL" parts. Jump over tall obstacles with a "HOPPER" and blast past rivals at incredible speeds with "NITRO." What multiplayer game would be complete without attack items? Use a forward-launching "GRENADE" or a backward-dropping "BOMBER" to blow up and knock away rivals. Outmaneuver rivals in all eight heats to become the champion. Any combination of Wii Remote™ and Nintendo GameCube™ controllers can be used in multiplayer games.

Battlestations - Midway Europe out 9th February

Eidos Interactive, one of the world’s leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, today confirms that the highly anticipated Battlestations: Midway will be released on 9th February, 2007 on Xbox 360 and PC.

Battlestations: Midway brings to life the epic naval battles of World War II from Pearl Harbour to the Battle of Midway itself. Featuring an innovative blend of action and real-time strategy gameplay, players can instantly switch between every vehicle under their command throughout the course of any battle.

“Battlestations: Midway has definitely been worth the wait. It will offer players a genuinely new gameplay experience in the single player campaign and the online multiplayer will give PC and 360 gamers something totally unique to sink their teeth into” said Matt Russell, Brand Manager.



The single player mode features 11 large-scale campaigns with 12 bonus challenge missions, while the online multi-player combat offers an entirely new online battle experience with head-to-head and co-operative style gameplay with battles boasting over 100 units.

2007 marks the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Midway, the single most decisive naval battle in US history, which served as a turning point of World War II.

Battlestations Midway will be released on 9th February on Xbox 360 and PC.

Namco Sequel to Pool Pro Online

Head-to-head pool with customizable games plus networking

Think you’re a pool shark? Get ready to hustle your way through 8- or 9-ball games and play head-to-head with opponents in real-time in Pool Pro Online II, the newest mobile game from Namco Networks, a leading publisher and developer of wireless games and content.

Pool Pro Online II lets players create a personal profile, choose an in-game look and enter the virtual pool hall to compete in real time and head-to-head against players vying for fame and in-game cash. The game also offers offline one-player or two-player versus mode for those looking for a little practice.




The sequel to Pool Pro Online, which has been played online more than 4.4 million times and proved players’ desire to play against others across the country, Pool Pro Online II, builds on the success of Pool Pro Online by offering players a fully customizable experience, while maintaining backwards compatibility to the original game and its established player network.

“The Pool Pro Online franchise of games has been extremely successful, since its launch less than a month ago, an average of 5,000 online games of Pool Pro Online II have been played daily,” said Scott Rubin, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Namco Networks. ”Our top player plays an average of 40 online games per day, and with the new features, like betting in-game cash and weekly tournaments, this player has even more to keep him busy.”

With the customizable features, players looking to upgrade their cue or customize their felt can visit the Pro Shop, where they can use the in-game cash (won in tournaments or hustled from other players) to purchase new cue sticks, pool tables and in-game backgrounds. Because the Pro Shop is server based, new customization items will frequently become available.

Individual profiles track players’ skills, wins, loses and tournament rankings. Players can search for opponents online by skill, rank or the size of their in-game bank account. With a buddy list, players can keep a list of favorite opponents and praise or taunt them using the game’s messaging feature.

"Pool Pro Online has always been about its online head-to-head component, and this is where it leaves all other pool titles in the dust," said Hugo Reyes, WGWorld.com. “Giving players the ability to play in real-time against players across the country increases the competitive nature, making it a more enjoyable and interactive experience.”

Pool Pro Online II is available today on select national wireless carriers and will be available on other carriers in the future. Visit Pool Pro Online for more information.