Free download Stranger video game Multiplayer Demo

Leading video game publisher Fireglow Games® today released a new demo for "Stranger". Fireglow Games® gives you insights into the great multiplayer part of Stranger, the upcoming super combination of RPG and RTS. Multiplayer map called "Rivers of Kront" gives 6 players divided to 3 teams ability to match each other. The key to victory on this map is competent using of magical fields which are essence of the magical world of the game.

Besides the unique multiplayer map the demo contains 3 single missions from the single player demo.

You can download the multiplayer demo here:
http://www.fileplanet.com/182793/180000/fileinfo/Stranger-Multiplayer-Demo

About Stranger:

Stranger is an RPG blended with the best elements of RTS.

An innovative and never before seen magical system allows you to select your strategy and tactics in the course of a battle, thus providing an adequate answer to an enemy's every turn - you will be surprised by its simplicity and variety at the same time.
Hiring, training and control over squads of infantry and archers - you will take part in clarifying the eternal question regarding what is more important – brute force and weaponry or cunning and magic.
There are three heroes - different from each other, each one with its own personality and preferences in combat and magic. What will happen when they assemble in a single squad?
The colourful universe of Stranger inhabited not only by hundreds of types of monsters but also with intelligent tribes, which can either be your allies or enemies.
All of this is "Stranger" - 2 worlds, 3 destinies.

Features:

• RPG blended with some of the best RTS elements
• 3 main heroes and many units to choose from
• Over 100 different monsters
• Unique and flexible magic system
• Great variety of items and equipment
• More than 30 hours of single player campaign
• Multiplayer with up to 8 players
• Level design enables distinctive tactical options

Xbox 360 Introduces New Features and Console Enhancements with the 2007 Fall Dashboard Update

Free system update hits connected consoles worldwide on Dec 4; Xbox Originals, Family Timer and more available through download

As promised, Microsoft is bringing some early gifts to your Xbox 360 just prior to the holiday season. Beginning at 10 a.m. on Dec 4, the Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard Update will be available for all connected Xbox 360 consoles free of charge, bringing an array of new features and enhancements to the leading gaming and entertainment system.

Among the key new enhancements are the previously announced Xbox Originals game download service, Family Timer parental control feature, and expanded social networking experiences. Xbox 360 owners can also look forward to enhanced navigation, profile and video features and Xbox LIVE Arcade Hits.

This free update will be digitally distributed over Xbox LIVE to the more than 8 million Xbox LIVE members worldwide (Xbox LIVE Silver and Gold) with no disc or hard drive required. Gamers without an Xbox LIVE account can easily sign up for the free network by connecting their console to a broadband internet connection. New features and enhancements include:

MORE DOWNLOAD OPTIONS:
Xbox Originals – With this new service, announced on Nov. 13, consumers can download-to-own full original Xbox games. The digital shelves will always be stocked with classic titles, such as “Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex” “Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge,” “Halo,” “Fable,” “Fuzion Frenzy,” “Psychonauts,” and more as the catalogue grows over time, at 1200 Microsoft Points per game.

· Xbox LIVE Arcade Hits – On Xbox LIVE Arcade, the Arcade Hits program kicks off where some of the best selling Xbox LIVE Arcade games will become available at permanently reduced prices, making it easier than ever for everyone to build a library of downloadable games! The first games to become Arcade Hits will be “Bankshot Billiards 2” and “Lumines LIVE,” which will be available for 800 Microsoft Points each, and “Marble Blast Ultra,” “Small Arms” and “Zuma Deluxe,” which will be available for 400 Microsoft Points each. With free trial downloads for every game and over 100 games to choose from, Xbox LIVE Arcade offers something for every member of the family.

NEW WAYS TO KEEP UP TO DATE AND CONNECTED:

· Inside Xbox – A new direct feed brings current news straight from Xbox.com into the Xbox LIVE Dashboard providing members an easy, predictable entry point where they can discover what's new in: game releases, events, and Xbox LIVE Marketplace offers. (11th Dec)

· Enhanced online profile – Members interested in sharing a few more details about themselves will have the option to go beyond their motto and further personalize their profile with an expanded bio. The extended bios will be visible to “Friends Only” or the entire Xbox LIVE community.

· Expanded Friends List access – A quick and easy way for gamers to expand their personal community on Xbox LIVE, members will be able to see the Friends Lists of other Xbox LIVE members, boosting their social networking experience on the service.

ENHANCED OVERALL EXPERIENCE AND CONTROL:

· Enhanced Parental Controls – Family Timer, a strong and flexible new addition to the Xbox 360 Family Settings, enables parents to set the amount of time their Xbox 360 can be used on a per-day or per-week basis by their children or other members of the household.

· New video features – The convenience of full-screen movie previews and enhanced video codec support further expand the options when it comes to the Xbox 360 entertainment experience.

· Easy-to-use navigation features – With several noteworthy changes in the Xbox LIVE Dashboard, from the new Game Store button to the Video Store button to enhanced visuals and descriptions in the video library, Xbox LIVE members can find what they want, when they want it.

These features are just some of the new enhancements Xbox 360 owners can expect as part of the Fall Dashboard Update. On December 4th a list of all the new features and improvements will be posted at: http://www.xbox.com/live.

Stranglehold video game has gone Gold for the PlayStation 3

Midway Games Ltd today announced that Stranglehold has shipped to retail for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system in Europe. Developed by the team behind the critically acclaimed Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, Stranglehold is now available for a suggested retail price of €69.95. PlayStation 3 owners can get a taste of the cinematic action shooter by downloading the Stranglehold demo via the PlayStation Store. Stranglehold is available now for the Xbox 360 video game system and PC.

A collaboration with world renowned action film director John Woo's Tiger Hill Entertainment, Stranglehold allows players to experience the excitement of true next-gen action as you take on the role of Inspector Tequila created by John Woo for his influential action film, "Hard Boiled" starring Chow Yun-Fat. Ensnared by a crime boss with a gripping secret, Inspector Tequila is forced to cross the line from sworn duty to renegade cop. Engage your enemies with intense cinematic gun battles and cause massive environmental damage in real-time or revolutionary slow-motion Tequila Time.

More information about Stranglehold can be found online at www.strangleholdgame.com Visit the Official Stranglehold forums at forums.midway.com

A peek at So Blonde video game

Sunny, the anti-heroine of the forthcoming comic adventure treat So Blonde, is a quite unique game character. The 17 year-old blonde meets some very quirky and bizarre islanders on her temporary new island home:

Like Max. Max is a small, greedy little animal. Sunny meets him right at the start of the adventure and the pair hit it off immediately, even though she can’t quite work out what species Max belongs to! Max accompanies Sunny all over the island and stays with her throughout the adventure: he is always ready to help our blonde to carry out some tricky tasks. He is also available to the player as a playable character from time to time.

Captain Morgane is female emancipation personified: She is the lady captain of a rowdy and coarse pirate crew and knows how to keep them in line. She not only earns respect through her stunning looks; she is also aware of her skills and knows she may be able to help this lost island, the setting for So Blonde. She does not fear her arch enemy, One-Eye, but cares deeply for her crew’s welfare. Perhaps she can help Sunny call a halt to One-Eye’s activities; whether he likes it or not…

One-Eye is a real villain who embodies the classic stereotype of a pirate, down to the eye-patch (could this be where he gets his name from); only his size is at odds with the typical image of the pirate. However, this doesn't stop him from having the inhabitants of the island under his thumb: he is responsible for a curse on the island, which eventually turns out to be the cause of all the bad things going on there...

Diablo is One-Eye’s henchman, who is indeed a man who inspires fear owing to his formidable stature and brutality. These characteristics are surpassed only by his naivety and lack of self-confidence... can Sunny really show him the respect he is due?

Sunny’s island is inhabited by many more wacky characters, who we will introduce to you very soon.

Sunny Blonde didn’t exactly want to land in the Bermudas; in fact the gorgeous 17 year-old was on a luxury cruise with her parents to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary. But a raging storm plunged the ship into distress at sea, Sunny went overboard and she regained consciousness washed up on the beach like driftwood!

Much more problematic than her unintended stay on a totally unknown island, which she has no idea how she can ever leave, the horrible realisation dawns on Sunny that she will suddenly have to do without out all the luxuries of life: her mobile has no signal, her make-up is a mess and it looks like the nearest shopping mall is miles away… on foot! And if that wasn’t enough, unfortunate circumstances have thrown Sunny back some one hundred years in time and she has ended up in a golden era of pirates and buccaneers!

Sunny Blonde is also in a really tricky situation and we are calling upon the PC gaming community to solve it in So Blonde! The person responsible for the novel plot is none other than the famous adventure author, Steve Ince (“Baphomets Curse”).

So Blonde, developed by the French developers Wizarbox, promises a wacky story line, a stunning (anti-)heroine, deeply black humour, which far outstrips all the blonde joke clichés, fabulous comic-strip graphics and a quite few gameplay surprises!

dtp will publish the So Blonde game worldwide under the ANACONDA label, and the release date has been set for February 2008 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Blockdot Releases Tech Toyland Game for CompUSA

Dallas-based Blockdot has released “Tech Toyland,” an awesomely addictive holiday-themed game for CompUSA, one of the nation's leading retailers and resellers of technology products and services.

In “Tech Toyland,” your goal is to create a line of three or more gift packs of the same color.

To do this, swap the positions of any two gifts by clicking on them with your mouse. When you successfully create a line, the gift packs will disappear off the game board — earning you points! New gifts will then cascade into the empty spots. But watch out: your shopping season (and the game) ends when you can no longer create gift packs for those Movers and Shakers, Movie Buffs, Wannabe Photographers, Rebel Rockers, and Techno Geeks on your holiday list.

After playing “Tech Toyland,” users can spread some holiday cheer by sending a “challenge-a-friend” e-mail straight from the game, and they can post their scores for all to see on the “Tech Toyland Scoreboard.”

Ready for a Merry Gaming experience? In addition to be featured on http://www.compusa.com/specials/techtoyland/default.asp, “Tech Toyland” can be played on Blockdot’s gaming portal, www.kewlbox.com.

New video footage shows off the power of the elementals in NCsoft's stunning new MMORPG, Aion: The Tower of Eternity

Take control of the forces of nature and unleash the power of the elements on your enemies in NCsoft's forthcoming online epic, Aion

Of all the character classes available to play as in Aion: The Tower of Eternity, NCsoft’s amazing new online RPG, the mysterious Spiritmaster is one of the most intriguing. Using powerful magics derived from the forces of nature, Spiritmasters will find themselves an integral part of any adventuring party due to their ability to summon and control fierce creatures based on the four cardinal elements of Earth, Fire, Wind and Water.

The Spiritmaster’s chief responsibility is to summon and control elemental spirits, powerful forms of nature incarnate. This is done through a series of specific commands, such as attack and defend, that can be given via a simple onscreen control system. Other, more specialised and yet to be revealed commands exist beyond these basic controls, with each form of elemental spirit having its own unique skills and abilities.

The challenge for the Spiritmaster comes from recognising which element to call on at any given time. Earth spirits are strong in defence abilities, Fire spirits specialise in ranged attacks, Water spirits concentrate on healing powers while Wind spirits are best utilised in melee attacks. While it’s not possible to control different types of elemental spirits at the same time – Spiritmaster’s cannot control both an Earth and Water spirit simultaneously, for instance – by summoning the correct spirit for the situation in hand, Spiritmasters have the power to turn even the most desperate battles into a complete rout of the enemy. A situation that could prove immensely useful when adventurers come up against some of the more powerful rogue elemental spirits that wander Aion’s immense and incredibly detailed game world.

Aion: The Tower of Eternity is set to begin closed Beta-testing early 2008 and will release later in the year.

US PlayStation 3 sales climb 300 per cent

Following the introduction of 40GB and 80GB SKUs

Sony Computer Entertainment America has revealed that sales of PlayStation 3 hardware have leapt by 298 per cent since November 2.

The climb is attributed to the availability of both 40GB and 80GB units at US retail.

Figures for the Thanksgiving period – dubbed Black Friday – were up 245 per cent when compared to the previous year.

According to SCEA figures, for the week ended November 24, sales of the PSP handheld in the region jumped 136 per cent compared to the previous week, and PS2 sales were also up 287 per cent.

Ahead of the busy Christmas season, Sony is also enjoying positive sales in other key regions.

Last week, the PlayStation 3 outsold the Nintendo Wii in Japan, and yesterday it was announced that the recently released PSP Slim & Lite has sold over one million units in the region.

EA regrets Need for Speed porn promotion

Images "slipped through proper approval process"

Electronic Arts has said that it regrets a promotion for its latest Need for Speed game which used Page 3 porn models for a topless photo shoot.

The images appeared on Page 3.com, the official softcore porn site of UK tabloid The Sun, and featured topless models posing with a Ferrari. The Need for Speed branding and EA logo featured prominently.

"We regret that these images slipped through the proper EA approval process," said a spokesperson for the publisher, speaking to GamesIndustry.biz.

"They were not appropriate for our brand. The original site has been taken down this morning."

While the images have been deleted, an accompanying video of the photo shoot still remains online, although any association with the game has been removed.

Need for Speed: Pro Street was released last Friday in Europe and today entered the all formats charts at number two.

New ad agency for $150 million PlayStation account

Original agency dropped after 13 years

Sony has hired Deutsch as the new agency in charge of its USD 150 million PlayStation ad account.

Although no official announcement has yet been made, Agency Spy is reporting that Deutsch, based in Los Angeles, has won the coveted account.

Deutsch was one of five finalists vying for the account, including Publicis, Venebles, RPA, and TBWA.

TBWA, formerly known as Chiat/Day, had handled Sony's advertising since 1994 with the launch of the original PlayStation. It also helped Sony launch the PS2, PSP, and PS3, but was recently involved in controversy over some of its advertisements.

According to TNS Media Intelligence, Sony spent USD 94 million on measured media in 2006 and USD 2.9 million for the first eight months of 2007.

DS sales rocket in Japan following software frenzy

Dragon Quest IV prompts a hardware spike; all platforms show increased sales

Sales of the Nintendo DS handheld in Japan rose over 50 per cent in the week ending November 25, with all other platforms also experiencing increases.

The DS shifted over 116,000 units, most likely off the back of the release of Dragon Quest IV, and has now soared past 6 million sold in Japan this year and 20 million sold in Japan to date, according to Media Create.

With the software top ten titles selling nearly 1.5 million units in the same week, a hardware surge was to be expected, although the other platforms didn't benefit quite so much as the DS.

The PlayStation Portable was up from 65,000 to 75,000, the Wii up from 36,000 to 54,000 while the PlayStation 3 jumped from 39,000 to 50,000.

The full sales numbers for hardware are as follows:

1. Nintendo DS: 116,694
2. PlayStation Portable: 75,027
3. Nintendo Wii: 54,362
4. PlayStation 3: 50,564
5. PlayStation 2: 14,875
6. Xbox 360: 7117