World Championship Poker 2 video game released

Following the unprecedented success of its World Championship Poker title for PC, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Oxygen Games™ has great pleasure in confirming that its sequel - World Championship Poker 2: All In, for Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft, will be in the shops from tomorrow – November 30th.

Boasting an extensive feature set and designed specifically to make full use of the capabilities of the Xbox 360™, this Next-Gen title features even more varieties of poker, plus multi-table online tournaments and intuitive AI. In addition, the game includes extra personalities, more game environments and Xbox®Live compatibility with webcam support**.

Features:
• 14 poker variants including: Texas Hold'em, Five-Card Stud, Deuce-to-Seven, Triple Draw, Razz
• In-game tutorials for each variant
• Games may be played on or offline
• Create unique avatars to represent yourself through your career
• Likenesses, play styles and signature personality traits of six of the world’s best professional poker players, all with enhanced and dynamic personality traits
• Webcam support**
• Enhanced AI and character animations
• Hone skills with Scenario Play
• Multi-table online tournaments
• Mixed games
• Switchable third/first-person TV modes
• Poker rule customisation
• Reputation system
• All-new gaming environments
• Continuous career mode, simulating the career choices of your emerging poker pro
• Dynamic bluff and tell system - expanded to include player versus player interactions

World Championship Poker 2: All In also makes excellent use of Xbox®Live Leaderboards and Xbox®LiveVision, giving players the ability the see their opponents as they play.**

The talent :
• Howard Lederer
• Annie Duke
• Robert Williamson III
• Marcel Luske
• Thomas Bihl
• Erin Ness
• Commentary by Matt Savage, the world's foremost poker tournament director

Game at a glance:
• Single Player mode: Quick Play, Career and Scenario
• Multiplayer mode: Rank, Player Match, and Quick Play. Any of these may be Tournament games
• 1-8 Players (Non-Tournament) and 1-16 Players (Tournament)
• Six new themed poker environments in which to host the action, with multi-table online tournament capabilities
• Choose where you want to play: Casino locations, with 8 player tables, have a dealer; pad locations, with 6 player tables, allow the player to deal
• Choose the total number of players at the table - up to 200 people competing at any one time in a tournament!
• New set of venues opened for play each week, with different game types available to enter; tournaments, invitationals, side games and private games.
• Four private pads to upgrade to. Each in turn may be upgraded with new furniture and prizes, which are viewable by other players when you host online games!
• Buy items for your pad from the Pawn shop…or sell them back. Even take out a loan; however, failure to pay it back will result in your items being repossessed
• Unlockable additional pre-defined gameplay scenarios as you advance through your career

Want to play with the big boys? Reserve your seat at the high stakes tables now! World Championship Poker 2: All In, for Xbox 360™, will be in the shops from November 30th.

** Requires Xbox®LiveVision and appropriate hardware to be installed on players’ consoles

Blu-ray format dominating in Europe

HD 300 and Bond - Casino Royale top titles

The Blu-ray format is outselling rival HD DVD in Europe, accounting for 73 per cent of all HD movies sold.

According to the Blu-ray Disc Association European Promotions Committee, sales recently broke the 1 million barrier. That's not counting PlayStation 3 games, which adds another 20 million units to Blu-ray disc production for sale in Europe.

HD DVD was developed by Toshiba, while Sony backs the Blu-ray standard. Microsoft's Xbox 360 offers an add-on HD DVD movie player; Blu-ray disc playback is standard in every model of Sony's PS3.

Of the high definition movie discs bought by consumers so far this year in Europe, 73 per cent were in the Blu-ray Disc format and 27 per cent were HD DVD, according to sales data provided by Media Control Gfk International.

The Blu-ray Disc Association said the best-selling titles in the Blu-ray format were 300, Casino Royale, Spider-Man 3 and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

In the US, Blu-ray disc movies had outsold HD DVD movies by almost two-to-one during the first nine months of 2007 according to Home Media Research.

Heroes producer signs for Games Developer Conference 2008

Radical Entertainment also join February event

Heroes producer Jesse Alexander is the latest creative to sign for next year's Game Developers Conference.

Alexander, who worked on the Alias and Apocalypse videogames before working on the hit TV series, will discuss working within a team on serialised content.

Also joining the GDC line-up are Eric Holmes and Tim Bennison of Radical Entertainment to discuss their new original IP Prototype.

The Game Developers Conference takes place February 18 – 22, in San Francisco.

Source: Games Industry

Guitar Hero video game tops Swedish charts

All four SKUs in top ten

Activision's Guitar Hero III has shot to the top of the Swedish multiformat charts, with all four SKUs in the top ten.

Other new entries in the top twenty are Microsoft's 360 exclusive Mass Effect at three and EA's Need for Speed Pro Street at number 11.

Super Mario Galaxy is the best-selling game on the Wii, while Nintendo favourites The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and New Super Mario Bros are at one and two in the DS charts, respectively.

Electronic Arts holds the top three spots in the PC charts, with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Crysis and Need for Speed Pro Street.

The full charts for the Swedish market follow:

Multiformat

1. Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock (PS2)

2. Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock (360)

3. Mass Effect (360)

4. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

5. Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock (Wii)

6. Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock (PS3)

7. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PC)

8. Assassins Creed (360)

9. Singstar Svenska hits Schlager (PS2)

10. Assassins Creed (PS3)

11. Need for Speed Prostreet (PS2)

12. Need for Speed Prostreet (PS3)

13. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (360)

14. Crysis (PC)

15. High School Musical: Sing It! (PS2)

16. Need for Speed Prostreet (360)

17. Need for Speed Prostreet (PC)

18. Unreal Tournament 3 (PC)

19. World of Warcraft (PC)

20. The Sims 2 Tonårsprylar (PC)



PC

1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

2. Crysis

3. Need for Speed Prostreet

4. Unreal Tournament 3

5. World of Warcraft

6. The Sims 2 Tonårsprylar

7. En riktig jul - Julkalendern 2007

8. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade

9. Counter-Strike 1: Anthology

10. The Sims 2 Jorden Runt

PlayStation 2

1. Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock

2. Singstar Svenska hits Schlager

3. Need for Speed Prostreet

4. High School Musical: Sing It!

5. Buzz: The Hollywood Quiz

6. Singstar Svenska hits

7. FIFA 08

8. Buzz: The Mega Quiz

9. The Simpsons

10. GTA San Andreas


PlayStation 3

1. Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock

2. Assassins Creed

3. Need for Speed Prostreet

4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

5. Ratchet & Clank Tools of Destruction

6. FIFA 08

7. NHL 08

8. Rainbow Six Vegas

9. Lego Star Wars 1 & 2 The Complete Saga

10. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008


Xbox 360

1. Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock

2. Mass Effect

3. Assassins Creed

4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

5. Need for Speed Prostreet

6. Halo 3

7. Ace Combat 6 Fires of Liberation

8. NHL 08

9. Gears of War

10. FIFA 08


Wii

1. Super Mario Galaxy

2. Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock

3. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
4. Rayman Raving Rabbids

5. Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess

6. Metroid Prime 3 Corruption

7. The Simpsons

8. Rayman Raving Rabbids 2

9. Table Tennis

10. Lego Star Wars 1 & 2 The Complete Saga


Nintendo DS

1. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

2. New Super Mario Bros

3. Mario Party DS

4. Lego Star Wars 1 & 2 The Complete Saga

5. Pokémon Diamond

6. Bilar

7. Pokémon Pearl

8. Mario Kart DS

9. The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer

10. Nintendogs: Dalmatian & Friends


PSP

1. Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters

2. Silent Hill Origins

3. The Simpsons

4. Tekken Dark Resurrection

5. FIFA 08

6. GTA Vice City Stories

7. Daxter

8. Need for Speed Underground Rivals

9. Crash of the Titans

10. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions

Virtual Games Console sales generate $33 million

Wii download service becomes lucrative business model

Nintendo has said that the Virtual Console service for Wii has so far generated JPY 3.5 billion (USD 33 million / EUR 22.3 million) for the company.

Shinji Hatano, licensing director for Nintendo, revealed the figure during a recent press conference to mark a collaboration with NTT for broadband internet access for the home console, reports IGN.

According to Nintendo, 7.8 million items have been downloaded over the service, which offers old games from Nintendo and other publisher's back catalogues, priced between EUR 5 and EUR 10.

Dragon Quest video game No1 in top ten that shifts almost 1.5 million units in a week

As nine new entries hit the Japanese software chart, the game-buying public snapped up 1.44 million new titles that made up just the top ten last week.

According to data from Media Create for the sales week ending November 25 Dragon Quest IV saw one of the biggest releases of the year, selling 597,000 copies in its first week and going straight in at number one.

The latest Winning Eleven title from Konami took second and third places for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 respectively - the former outsold the latter by two to one, although the install base of the PS3 is of course still much smaller at this point.

Other notable new entries to make the top ten included Final Fantasy XI: Wings of the Goddess for the PlayStation 2 - only making fifth place with 68,000 units - and Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games in sixth.

Mario Party DS was the only survivor from last week's top ten - it held steady in fourth position.

The Xbox 360 editions of Winning Eleven and Final Fantasy XI both made the top 30, in 18th and 26th positions respectively.

The full top ten is as follows:

1. Dragon Quest IV (DS)
2. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2008 (PS2)
3. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2008 (PS3)
4. Mario Party DS (DS)
5. Final Fantasy XI: Wings of the Goddess (PS2)
6. Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
7. Dinosaur King: The Seven Fragments (DS)
8. Mega Man Star Force 2: Berserk × Shinobi (DS)
9. Mega Man Star Force 2: Berserk × Dinosaur (DS)
10. Pachinko Assassin III: Iron Pachi-Chonmage 13 (PS2)

FANTASY WARS - video game update

PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR DEADLY BATTLES AND VICIOUS TERRITORIAL STRUGGLE

Tensions ripple throughout the land of Eolia as human and orc armies prepare to clash in a ferocious battle for precious territory. Unresolved internal struggles have erupted into an unavoidable war of impending death and destruction.

Monstrous orc leader, Ugraum Grableg, paces his kingdom, roaring at Besargar to organise the orc army into the strongest and deadliest force in the land. The orcs show no fear as they sharpen their weapons, practice their battle formations, and prepare to tear humans limb from limb, satisfying their taste for flesh.

In Derenhalle, brave Derrick Pfeil summons his gallant human troops for what will be the war to end all wars. As they polish their armour and hone their carefully chosen weapons, wagers are placed on which blade will spill the most orc blood. The courageous and noble humans are more than ready to confront the terrifying enemy that awaits them. What the humans lack in physical size and strength, Pfeil knows they will make up in cunning and speed.

The clatter of armour, the clash or swords, and the spine tingling war cries echo throughout the land of Eolia. Battle is about to commence.

Take cover.

Fantasy Wars is a turn based battle strategy game for PC from Ascaron Entertainment. Undertake campaigns and missions as either the humans or orcs (later unlocking the elf army). Complete set objectives to claim victory in your mission and defeat the opposing enemy. The faster you complete your goals, the higher your skill in commanding an army.

www.fantasywars-thegame.com

Fast facts:

Publisher: Ascaron Entertainment / Nobilis

Web: www.Ascaron.com

Developer: Ino’Co / 1C

Release date: February 2008

PEGI: 12+

Format: PC

Genre: Turn-based Strategy

Race Driver: GRID rom the creators of Video games - Colin McRae: DiRT and Race Driver

Race Driver: GRIDTM confirmed as official title for intense new racing experience coming mid 2008 from the creators of Colin McRae: DiRTTM and Race DriverTM series.

Codemasters® today announced Race Driver: GRID™ as the full and official title for the game introduced under the working title of Race Driver One. Race Driver: GRID is the new racing experience from Codemasters Studios, creators of Colin McRae: DiRT™ and the Race Driver™ series, and is set to deliver a step-change in the racing genre.

Coming mid 2008, Race Driver: GRID is set to capture every moment from the starting grid to the chequered flag and concentrate those moments into an intense and dramatic race experience. Race Driver: GRID is being developed for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows®.

"Race Driver: GRID is all about the race." said Gavin Raeburn, Executive Producer at Codemasters Studios. "The next iteration of our DiRT engine combined with a decade of experience in developing driving games enables us to put the player at the centre of the action like never before. Damage, packed grids, intelligent opposition and unprecedented race day atmosphere will combine to deliver an experience like no other.

Says Ralph Fulton, Chief Game Designer. "GRID focuses on everything that happens between the start grid and the chequered flag: the drama, the rivalries, the aggression and the crashes. This is not a game about collecting cars or spending all of your time in the front-end tuning suspension settings or designing liveries. We want to make racing exciting again."

Race Driver: GRID will take players to beautifully realised and dramatic race locations over three continents to compete in an unprecedented variety of racing events. Packed with the most powerful race cars – new and classic, circuit and drift – players will compete to conquer the most prestigious official race tracks and championships and then go beyond to compete in challenging city-based competitions, through to road events and urban street races.

In Europe, race gamers will compete on the greatest official tracks in prestige Marques including Aston Martin, Koenigsegg and Pagani.

Iconic cities across the U.S. – including San Francisco, Washington DC and Detroit and each with their own atmosphere and events – play hosts to diverse street races. Here, high-performance V8 muscle cars set the pace in aggressive closely fought pack competitions.

In the Far East, Japanese racing culture sets the tone where night races, including Drift racing, take drivers through neon illuminated cities and to outlying mountain roads. There is also the opportunity to compete in races that operate on the fringes of legality in the back streets and industrial areas of Yokohama.

Race Driver: GRID is coming mid 2008 for the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Games for Windows. To register for future driver briefings and get a place on the grid, be sure to visit www.codemasters.co.uk/grid

Astraware additional mobile game smartphone support

Astraware, currently participating in the UIQ Fast Track event in Budapest, is excited to announce support for an additional mobile software platform.

In the first quarter of 2008 a selection of Astraware's own games and popular licensed titles will be released for the Symbian UIQ platform.

"The whole Astraware team is excited to be supporting such a progressive and media-rich platform," said John Phillips, Astraware's Vice President of Business Development. "UIQ continues to improve the user experience with every release of their platform, and we are sure that our games will engage the user as much as the UIQ platform engages developers."

Astraware has been working on adding Symbian to its list of supported platforms for some time and now has several games in the pipeline. Using their expertise in touchscreen and non-touchscreen control methods, Astraware's games will support both touchscreen UIQ devices like the Sony Ericsson P1i and non-touchscreen handsets such as Motorola's highly acclaimed multimedia phone, the Z8.

"Astraware’s portfolio of quality games and applications is impressive, and we are happy to see them porting more and more great titles to the UIQ platform," commented Naresh Chouhan, Head of Developer Programs at UIQ Technology. "This will broaden UIQ phone users’ choice of add-on software, of course, but it will also lead the way for other mobile software companies to see and grasp the opportunities in UIQ."

For more information about Astraware and their games, visit their website at http://www.astraware.com.

Alienware And Intel Launch Hyperblast online video game

Alienware and Intel, providers of cutting-edge gaming technology and hardware have collaborated to bring you Hyperblast – a scintillating, sc-fi themed web game. Hyperblast lets players race and blast their way through a virtual, 3-D space track to win some stunning prizes.

Featuring a weekly draw for exclusive Hyperblast t-shirts, players who push it to the limit and complete the final track will also be eligible to enter the grand prize draw to win a fully loaded Alienware Area-51® m9750 extreme gaming notebook with Intel Core 2 Duo processor worth £2,000!

Check it out at http://www.hyperblastgame.com

ABOUT HYPERBLAST!

Hyperblast provides three different futuristic tracks on which players must race against tenacious AI drones. Tactically the player may avoid enemy drones for an optimum lap time or use one of several power-ups available to destroy the opposition for bonus points.

Progressive tracks become even more challenging but fortunately the player can upgrade with Intel multi-core technology to become more powerful and destructive – necessary for competitive high scores – just like real life!


MULTIPLAYER HYPERBLAST!

Find out who’s top dog in the office. League functionality is built into the game enabling groups of friends or colleagues to compete against each other in their own private Hyperblast league.

IMPORTANT FACTS
Qualifying for the Quad Core track unlocks weekly prize draw of 20 Hyperblast t-shirts.
Completing the Extreme Edition track unlocks the Alienware Area-51 m9750 notebook grand prize draw.
Multiplayer league functionality.
Cutting-edge 3-D Flash web game
http://www.hyperblastgame.com

THE NITTY GRITTY

Hyperblast requires Adobe Flash 9 and is compatible with all major web browsers. Due to the 3D graphics the game is more processor intensive than many web games and runs best on an Intel Core 2 family processor. The competition is open to residents of European Union member states, Norway and Switzerland. The grand prize draw will be held on 29th February 2008. Entrants must provide email details to enter prize draws and winners will be notified via email. Further communications are on a strict opt-in basis.

Full terms and conditions are available here:

http://www.hyperblastgame.com/terms.php?lang=en

Build-A-Bear Workshop and Bratz Ponyz 2 video Game Factory 2008 Nintendo DS releases

Two hot new kids properties announced for 2008 on Nintendo DS!

The Game Factory today announced two hot new titles to kick off their 2008 European line-up. The Build-A-Bear Workshop game will release in the UK in March, followed by the pan-European release of Bratz Ponyz 2™ in the summer. Both games will be available for the Nintendo DS.

Bratz Ponyz 2™ follows the huge global success of the original game. Based around the glamorous, glitter filled world of the hippest horses around, the game will feature enhanced simulation aspects of gameplay, and utilize the wireless function of the Nintendo DS.

The Build-A-Bear Workshop game will give young gamers the chance to virtually personalise a furry friend of their liking, living in its very own Cub Condo®. Players will name, brush and care for their furry friend, buy virtual clothes and accessories, and unlock mini games. Building on the success of the 300+ Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, The Game Factory will give gamers a chance to fully interact with their furry friend just like a Guest in the real-world stores.

In the Build-A-Bear Workshop game, gamers will be able to –

• Choose, stuff, stitch, dress, name and play with their beary own 3D furry friend


• Pick from over 100 outfits and accessories


• Trade outfits, pictures and play games wirelessly with other DS gamers


• Play 4 themed mini games


• Explore 5 play areas packed with cool activities


• Win virtual money to buy additional accessories and clothes


• Enjoy fully rendered 3D graphics


• Use touch screen and microphone capabilities

The Build-A-Bear Workshop game will release on Nintendo DS in the UK Easter 2008.

Bratz Ponyz 2™ will be released on Nintendo DS across Europe in Summer 2008.

Xbox 360 Greatest video games Release Schedule Ever

2007 offers Xbox 360 owners the greatest range of games yet

2007 will be a year to remember for Xbox 360 players – a packed release schedule offers a wide range of incredible titles including exclusive, genre-defining games such as Blue Dragon (Microsoft Game Studios - MGS), Project Gotham Racing 4 (MGS), Naruto Rise of a Ninja (Ubisoft), Viva Piñata: Party Animals (MGS), Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (Namco Bandai Games) and Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action (MGS), not to mention some of the highest scoring games of all time in the form of BioShock (2K Games), Mass Effect (MGS), The Orange Box (EA) and the legendary Halo 3 (MGS), all of which have already been released or are set to arrive before the end of the year.

From the end of summer to the festive period, Xbox 360 boasts over 60 new releases contributing to a portfolio of over 300 high-definition titles.

Two of the most epic adventures of the year arrived in August in Blue Dragon and BioShock. Role-playing game Blue Dragon casts players as Shu, a young boy, who with a party of four must battle the evil that has invaded their world, controlling phantom shadow creatures ranging from Minotaur, to phoenix and of course, dragon.

BioShock is a “genetically-enhanced” first person shooter that lets players do things never before possible in the genre, in the unique art deco world of Rapture, an underwater utopia torn apart by civil war.

September and October were the hottest months since records began seeing the release of the epic Halo 3 and the turbocharged Project Gotham Racing 4.

Halo 3, the third and final chapter in the “Halo trilogy” smashed day-one entertainment sales records when it launched in September with players finally getting the chance to take Master Chief™ into his most crucial battle yet.

October saw Project Gotham Racing 4 return with another garage-full of the world’s most iconic cars. A brand new dynamic weather system makes for an even more exhilarating experience.

Football fans are enjoying a season of highlights on Xbox 360 with the release of FIFA 08 at the end of September and Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 at the end of October.

FIFA 08 brings you closer to the action than ever before with new Pro Skills moves that increase user-control by enabling you to combine tricks and skill moves together to recreate signature moves from the real-world superstars, the new Be A Pro: Offline Training mode, and even greater depths of authenticity, while Konami’s latest edition to the multi-million-selling Pro Evolution Soccer series returns as PES 2008, boasting a proprietary AI system, all new moves and set pieces - and even more realism than ever. PES 2008’s rosters of licensed players enjoy a wide range of flicks, nutmegs, and set-pieces, while the less savoury elements of the game appear in the form of shirt-pulling, ugly fouls and diving.

November offers something for everyone. Mass Effect, the science-fiction action-role playing game offers a whole galaxy full of difficult decisions to make as players lead an elite team to bring down a rogue agent.

Sociable fun is also on the cards - both Viva Piñata: Party Animals and Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action offer their own unique blend of party play – Viva Piñata: Party Animals putting the colourful piñatas into a succession of addictive mini games and Scene It? offering a host of movie-related trivia to answer.

Naruto Rise of a Ninja kick flips into November featuring the perfect blend of adventure, platforming and fighting and enables fans of the show to challenge fellow gamers on Xbox LIVE®.

Finally, top guns will fulfil their aviation dreams in Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, thrusting players into the heat of realistic air combat.

The review scores garnered by many of these titles have been astounding, confirming the excellence of the Xbox 360 line up. Halo 3’s score of 94 at Metacritic and 93 at Gamerankings makes it the perfect conclusion to the Halo trilogy, arriving just weeks after BioShock which wowed critics, scoring 96 and 95 at Metacritic and Gamerankings respectively.

Just when review scores looked like they couldn’t get any higher The Orange Box arrived - five innovative games from Valve®, creators of the blockbuster Half-Life franchise, in one action-packed box - scoring an astonishing 96 point average at both Metacritic and Gamerankings. Finally, Mass Effect is the most recent Xbox 360 release to garner 90+ review averages claiming 93 at both sites and rounding off simply the greatest portfolio of video games ever seen. *

These unprecedented scores demonstrate exactly why Xbox 360 continues to hold the record for highest games attach rate across the globe, at 6.3 games sold per console. With life-to-date sales of 13.4 million consoles worldwide this represents incredible software sales.

BioShock, Blue Dragon, Project Gotham Racing 4, Naruto Rise of a Ninja, Viva Piñata: Party Animals, Mass Effect, Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action, FIFA 08, PES 2008, Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, The Orange Box and Halo 3 spearhead the unparalleled selection of Xbox 360 titles that players will be able to enjoy this year.

“This year’s line up of titles on Xbox 360 is without doubt the strongest I have seen, offering incredible Microsoft-published titles such as Blue Dragon, PGR 4, Viva Piñata Party Animals, Mass Effect, Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action and Halo 3, and incredible exclusives from our partners such as BioShock, Naruto Rise of a Ninja and Ace Combat 6. It’s an amazing year for Xbox 360 players,” said Michael Newey, Group Product Marketing Manager, Microsoft.

*Score averages correct as of 21/11/07

1 on 1 Counter Strike video game tournament

Sennheiser QCUP at Dreamhack

QPAD, Sennheiser, Samsung and XFX are proud to present the Sennheiser QCUP at Dreamhack winter between 29 November to 1 December. All visitors at Dreamhack will have the chance to compete on the legendary 1on1 QTOUR Championship stage, visited by some of the best gamers in the world. Sennheiser QCUP is and open tournament and will decide who’s the best aimer at Dreamhack winter 2007.

Sennheiser QCUP
Sennheiser QCUP is a 1 on 1 Counter Strike aim tournament with 160 players participating in 3 qualifiers. The 3 qualifiers will resolve into eight players for the grand final at saturday playing a single elimination bracket best out of 3 rounds and first to 10 wins the round.(with a 2 points difference) The matches will be played on aim_qpad_2007 tournament map, same as we used in the famous QTOUR Championship.

Great prizes
The Sennheiser QCUP champion will leave Dreamhack with 500 euro in cash, Sennheisers new headset PC 350, XFX 8800GTS 320MB Fatal1ty graphic card, Samsung 22” widescreen LCD screen and products from partners and QPAD.

Sennheiser QCUP Schedule:

Thursday 29/11
64 player qualifier. Signup and matches starts at 12:00
Nr 1, 2 and 3 will go to the grand final

Friday 30/11
64 player qualifier. Signup and matches starts 12:00
Nr 1, 2 and 3 will go to the grand final

Saturday 1/12
32 player qualifier. Signups and matches starts 12:00
Nr 1 and 2 will go to the grand final that starts at 18:00

The Sennheiser QCUP grand finals will be played at saturday 1 of december starting at 18:00 inside the QPAD/Sennheiser booth. Signups to the pre-qualifiers will take place 10 minutes before the start of the qualifiers each day!

Who is the best individual aimer at Dreamhack winter 2007? Stay tuned... That's what we are going to find out!

Dreamhack
The Sennheiser QCUP will take place at Dreamhack in Jönköping, Sweden. DreamHack is the world's largest LAN-party, demoparty and computer festival! Last winter Dreamhack checked in 10,638 people!! DreamHack is focused on everything you can do with computers: a lot of gaming and communication. Programming, designing, music composing and whatever you can imagine! They organize a lot of large game tournaments.

Strategy First releases a video game vodcast with Panzer Killer's game Designer!

Strategy First presents a new vodcast featuring Panzer Killer's game Designer Pepe Moreno & Former Red Sox Pitcher Bill 'The Spaceman' Lee.

Software game publisher Strategy First, Inc. a subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings, presents a new Vodcast featuring an interview with Pepe Moreno, designer of the newly released tank action game Panzer Killer, as well as part 7 of the Bill Lee interview.

Join SFI as we continue our profile on one of Baseball’s most outspoken and revered players: Bill ‘The Spaceman’ Lee as he outlines his views as both a participant and a viewer. Just to be a little controversial we ask the All-Star pitcher his views on the Designated Hitter. Also, don’t miss designer Pepe Moreno talk about the new fast paced visually impressive title from Digital Fusion, Panzer Killer. .

“Pepe Moreno has been part of some of the biggest pop culture projects in the last 20 years. Bill Lee is a person that the longer you talk to him, the smarter you become. ”said Strategy First’s Business Development Manager, Emmanuel Wall.

You can view this month’s VodCast production at: http://www.strategyfirst.com/en/downloads/vodcast/

Online video games charitable game free download game

Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, Legacy Interactive and Animax Entertainment today launched The Tuttles Madcap Misadventures: Starlight Charity Challenge (http://www.tuttlesfamilygame.com), a casual platformer style downloadable videogame that pairs having a good time with doing good. Actors William Shatner, Bob Saget, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ashley Tisdale, Dominic Scott Kay, Dave Thomas and Dave Coulier contributed their voices to the animated game. Supporters can try the game at http://www.tuttlesfamilygame.com and purchase it for $19.99 with $15 of that amount going to Starlight to brighten the lives of seriously ill children and their families.

"When you think of charity 'signature events,' it's usually races, walks and golf tournaments. Starlight wanted to do something innovative that reflects how people are having fun today. We learned that there are more than 85 million casual gamers in the US, a growing number of whom are women, 40 years and older. That's why we chose to design a national fundraising initiative around a casual videogame the whole family can play," said Patricia Evans, Vice President, Development, Starlight. "The Tuttles Madcap Misadventures gives anyone with Internet access the chance to have fun at home supporting our cause, without the typical barriers to supporting a traditional event, such as location, ticket price and hectic family schedules."
The Tuttles Madcap Misadventures is a hilarious arcade adventure game about a thoroughly modern family trying to bond on a road trip to see the Alamo. Bob Saget voices father Barry, Jamie Lee Curtis is mother Barbara, Ashley Tisdale plays teen daughter Jess, and Dominic Scott Kay voices young son Zach. Other characters include Dave Thomas as The Australian, Dave Coulier as The Islander and William Shatner as the voice of the souped-up mini van that transports the family.

The family-friendly game features:

• An original comedic script and characters designed by Emmy Award-winning Animax Entertainment


• 40 engaging levels of side-scrolling action


• The ability to play as each of the four individual Tuttle family members, all with their own unique gameplay experiences


• Six lushly rendered environments from desert to undersea


• Flash-animated comic book style cut scenes and vignettes


• More than 300 lines of dialogue featuring the voice-over talents of some of Hollywood's biggest names

The Tuttles Madcap Misadventures marks a return engagement for Dave Thomas and Starlight. In addition to being a well-known actor, writer and director, he's also creative director and co-founder of Animax Entertainment, which has a long history of working with Starlight. Animax developed the award-winning "Coping with Chemo" webisode series for the organization, and most recently helped redesign its online social network for seriously ill teens called Starbright World.

Starlight partnered with Legacy Interactive on the game's development and publishing. Legacy is contributing 75% of its proceeds from the game back to Starlight. The game is now available for download at http://www.tuttlesfamilygame.com (where it can also be purchased as a gift) and on multiple online gaming portals for a suggested retail price of U.S. $19.99. The per unit donation amount will vary based on individual distributor agreements. Additional information and press assets are available at http://www.tuttlesfamilygame.com.

Chessmaster Live video game released on Xbox Live

Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announced that it is releasing Chessmaster LIVE on the Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

"Bringing the Chessmaster series to Xbox LIVE Arcade makes the game accessible to a whole new audience," said Peter Helm, business development associate at Ubisoft. "Chessmaster LIVE is not only a comprehensive chess program, but it is also one that has expanded beyond the traditional game to include exciting features for fans, both old and new."

Chessmaster LIVE will feature:
Hundreds of AI opponents to play in ELO-ranked matches
Voice-chat and LIVE Vision capabilities for head-to-head matches
New 3D chess sets inspired by luxury board designer, House of Staunton
Five original chess variants, including the all-new Message Chess option, which will allow players to engage in a match over the course of days, weeks or even months

Chessmaster LIVE will be available for download in January 2008.

Ubisoft will also be publishing Chessmaster for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, scheduled for a worldwide release in Spring 2008.

Flashpoint Germany Update

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and On Target Simulations are happy to announce the release of a new update for Flashpoint Germany. This latest update comes with a handful of changes which include an improvement to browsing unit waypoints and a fixed memory leak in Windows Vista.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “This update illustrates our continuing support for released titles and our commitment to Vista compatibility for the future. Thanks to the efforts of the dedicated Flashpoint Germany team, gamers will be able to continue enjoying this game for years to come on the new Vista operating system.”

Rob Crandall of On Target Simulations added “This update is short but sweet and we’re more than happy to continue improving our product as gamers continue to enjoy Flashpoint Germany.”

Flashpoint Germany is a powder keg of a game, set in one of the most dangerous periods of the Cold War. The historical fall of the Berlin Wall, which heralded the fall of Communism throughout Europe, does not happen. Instead, the Soviet Union, knowing that collapse is on the horizon, decides to seek a military solution to their internal problems. The invasion of Western Europe by huge Soviet and Warsaw Pact armies threatens to overwhelm the desperate NATO forces that deploy to stem the tide. Will you choose to lead Mother Russia’s men and material to a victory that will see the Hammer and Sickle raised over the Rhine? Or will you take the grim task of commanding the small but capable NATO forces, looking to extract a high toll from the onrushing invaders? Regardless of outcome, this most likely will be the war to end all wars!

Get more information on Flashpoint Germany from its official Matrix Games webpage. This update is comprehensive and will bring Flashpoint Germany up to version 1.13.

ABOUT MATRIX GAMES
Matrix Games produces, markets and publishes historical wargames as well as other computer gaming products. Since 2000, Matrix Games has published over three dozen titles and several award-winning games, including War in the Pacific, Conquest of the Aegean, Gary Grigsby's World At War: A World Divided, Crown of Glory, Battles In Normandy, Harpoon 3 Advanced Naval Warfare, Starshatter: The Gathering Storm and The Operational Art of War III. Matrix Games is based in Staten Island, New York. For more information, visit the Matrix Games website at www.matrixgames.com.

Monster Ball: a new video game by Legless Lizard Games - free demos

Indie games developer Legless Lizard Games has just released Monster Ball, a new 3D arcade game for the PC. But is this yet another entry in a classic game type that has been around since the early 80's? Nope - it's an entirely new gameplay concept.

Monster Ball is a "snooker-em-up" - a challenging, brain-teasing and somewhat surreal action game with innovative and multi-layered gameplay. It's sort of like pool... but with monsters.

Monster Ball features colourful and attractive 3D graphics, over 150 waves of enemies to defeat, cunningly designed special achievements to aim for, and an adjustable difficulty level to suit all levels of player skill. Players can even save replays of their games.

Monster Ball is family-friendly, but that doesn't mean it's coated in saccharine. Monster Ball can be enjoyed by gaming fiends of all ages. What's more, the game is structured so that persistence will always bring progress - but to truly master the game, a player must become both skillful and adept at thinking on their feet.

A free demo of Monster Ball is available from the game's home page:

http://www.monsterballgame.com

There's a gameplay video there too, so the game can be seen in action right away.

Command new ships and crew of the release of pirates at Ocean's Edge video game simulator

Pirates at Ocean’s Edge™ is the latest expansion for Sony Online Entertainment’s Pirates Constructible Strategy Game™ Online created at the SOE Denver studio. Featuring new islands, seafaring monsters, and fathomless whirlpools, strategy players will skillfully navigate their ships to the Ocean’s Edge, where they will be tempted by uncharted territory, mounds of gold and thrilling adventures, all while fighting possible destruction and surprise!

• Uncover more than 100 new ships, such as the USS Constitution and the HMS Victoria and over 90 new crew members including Davy Jones and the Crimson Angel, as well as an excess of treasures for players to acquire and command
• Explore the enigmatic Skull Island or traverse one of the many other new and mysterious islands along the horizon
• Sail out into the deep blue sea - but watch out for the ferocious Titans, Giant Sharks, Sea Dragons or deadly whirlpools. You'd best be careful of what lurks out on the waters!
• Claim the sturdy Catamaran and swift Windcatcher ships for yourself and sail your way to victory, gold and glory

WHEN:
Pirates at Ocean’s Edge is scheduled to launch on Wednesday, November 28, 2007

WHERE:
www.piratescsgonline.com www.station.com

About Pirates Constructible Strategy Game Online
The Pirates Constructible Strategy Game (CSG) Online is a digital version of the successful and critically-acclaimed WizKids tabletop game, in which players use die-cut cards to build sloops, galleons and frigates, plundering the high seas in search of treasure. This online version is enhanced with cool visual effects, and players can build and customize fleets, explore islands and raid their fellow online buccaneers for their booty. The game also features real-time communication online, so players can trade treasure and ships to round out their collections

Atari video Games Arriving on Microsoft Xbox LIVE

Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe Available Now

Atari today announced that Asteroids® and Asteroids Deluxe® is now available on Xbox Live® Arcade, with three more beloved Atari Classics coming soon. With Asteroids® and Asteroids Deluxe®, Battlezone®, Tempest™ and Warlords®, Atari will deliver the same gaming sights, sounds and action as the original, as well as a new evolved version of games featuring enhanced graphics, sounds and special effects.

Atari and developer Stainless are giving gamers the best of both worlds with the Atari Classic and Evolved games; nostalgic fun with the original Classics and new gaming experiences with the Evolved versions featuring contemporary graphics and music, plus Achievements to unlock and the chance to boost their Gamerscores.

Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe offers gamers the chance to rotate, thrust, flip, fire and launch into hyperspace as oncoming asteroids are blasted to smithereens just like in the 1979 original. The evolved version features the same frenetic gameplay with updated, beautifully rendered, high definition graphics.

Following this Christmas season will be Tempest, Battlezone, and Warlords. Maintaining the spirit of the original’s linear geometric rendering by using vector graphics, the evolved version of the cult-classic Tempest features a graphics overhaul. Using skill and an arsenal of weapons, gamers must clear a web of enemies before time runs out and advance to the next stage.

The classic Battlezone has received a serious overhaul and added exciting new multiplayer modes. Players can use the Xbox Live Camera to watch live video of their opponents. Combine these features with new special effects for weapon firing, impacts and explosions and Battlezone becomes one killer classic.

The multiplayer Warlords pits king versus king to resurrect the competitive spirit of arcade games from years gone by. Up to four players can join the action with Xbox Live Camera support and take control of their own castle, allowing for a variety of single- or multiplayer experiences.

Gamers can recall their old-school arcade skills in Emulation mode and experience these treasured games in all their historical glory. Mature trigger fingers can play the evolved versions of the same titles and experience the same core gameplay. Gamers of all levels can test their gaming prowess out with three different settings – Easy, Medium and Hard. For those who need a refresher on Classic Atari games, time-limited trial modes are available for all titles. These Atari Classics on Xbox LIVE Arcade support all Xbox 360 high definition resolutions up to 1080p as well as full-screen anti-aliasing and digital surround sound. Players can make the most of the Xbox LIVE service with leader boards and 12 achievements.

For more information on Atari and its entire product line-up please visit www.atari.com.