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Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Ubisoft to transform with movie, TV and sports projects


Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has detailed his future vision for the company, as he transforms the French outfit from a videogames publisher into a multimedia entertainment business.

Speaking exclusively to GamesIndustry.biz at last week's Ubidays event in Paris, Guillemot revealed ambitious plans to place Ubisoft at the centre of CGI movie production, as well as branching out to new game genres and TV productions.

Ubisoft's Quebec studio is ramping up its animation and CGI business and will also be central to the company's recently announced entry into 3D videogames.

"Our goal is to create a studio that will be very high quality, our goal is to try to get to the level of quality of Peter Jackson's Weta studio," offered Guillemot, in an interview published today.

more from Games Industry...

Paradox Interactive quizzes geo-political masterminds


So you think you have the makings of a geo-political mastermind? Can you prove it? – Yes! –Well, in that case Paradox Interactive proposes a challenge. Can you correctly answer all of the questions in a game related quiz for – Supreme Ruler 2020?



Each question is taken from past or current global events and situations. Focus now, as there is no fifty-fifty, no ask-the-audience and no phone-a-friend! If you have five minutes to spare, then take the test and prove you have the makings of a Supreme Ruler. For as the countdown to release ticks down to zero, time is running out! Pit your wits against the quiz and prove your worth.

To access the questions, click here: http://www.paradoxplaza.com/SupremeRuler2020/?p=quiz

Official website www.paradoxplaza.com/supremeruler2020
Suggested Retail Price: 39.99 USD/ 39.99 EUR
Release: US June 17th, Europe June 20th

Ninja Gaiden Creator Itagaki Leaving Team Ninja, Suing Tecmo


Last month, Team Ninja head and Ninja Gaiden director Tomonobu Itagaki suggested that he would be done with the franchise after the upcoming release of Ninja Gaiden 2. On Monday night we received a clearer picture of just what he meant with the announcement that Itagaki is leaving Team Ninja and suing Tecmo, the day before Ninja Gaiden 2's release!

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Gag order? Bah! EGM refuses to review Metal Gear Solid IV


So Konami doesn't want reviewers can't mention the 90 minute cutscenes, the grotesque install size, and other items if they want to review MGSIV? EGM said, "Screw that! We got journalistic integrity over here. Keep your damn MSGIV." Well done EGM.

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Sins of a Solar Empire PC game releases on June 13 in the UK


Sins of a Solar Empire sold approx 100,000 copies over two months following its US release earlier this year and hit number one in the USA charts. The Europe game will contain an additional bonus of six exclusive maps, a techtree poster and manual:

Face Off: In this small map there's no room to manoeuvre, no way to escape.
Rush to take what few planets there are and crush your enemy quickly!

Agamemnon's Bounty: Your forces must descent upon the Agamemnon star system to compete for its rumoured riches. Only the most cunning will grasp the system's greatest rewards.

Backstab: Abnormal distortions in phase space have created strange wormholes with only one entrance in this star system. Players must expand their empires while watching their backs!

Double Cross: The fledgling empires of the Rhaego system are preparing to expand, but space is at a premium. It won't be long before battle is joined...

Triumvirate: Will your neighbour aid or hinder your conquest of the Liladi system? Choose your diplomatic posture wisely - other factions may be enlisting allies of their own.

Implosion: With few alternate paths from each empire's homeworld, the resource rich core of this large star system will become a fiercely contested battleground.

Hyperion's Gates: Resources are scarce and the races of the Hyperion Cluster struggle to be the first to reach the riches of the Atropos system. But can they overcome the guardians at the gates?

The survival of humanity stands on the edge of utter ruin as three powerful factions vie for control of the galaxy. Take command of one of three space-faring races as you work to establish your domination of the galaxy in Sins of a Solar Empire. Fighting for the survival of your entire race against relentless foes, your success will depend entirely on your ability to manage your empire and command your vast fleets of starships to victory. Through a combination of diplomacy, economic skill, cultural influence, and sheer military might you will establish order over your corner of the galaxy!

Turok dinosaur hunter video game coming to PC in June




Sci-Fi Firts Person Shooter (FPS) out on PC in June 2008

Turok, a Sci-Fi First Person Shooter (FPS) game for PC, is being released by Avanquest Software Publishing in June 2008. The player takes on the role of Joseph Turok, a former black ops commando, now part of an elite Special Forces squad known as Whiskey Company.

The game is set in the future on a dark, mysterious planet inhabited by Roland Kane and his army. Whiskey Company has been tasked with ‘taking down’ Kane, an escaped war criminal and Turok’s former mentor. However, as their ship approaches the planet it is shot down, scattering all of its passengers including Turok across the planet’s wilderness, making the mission near possible to complete.
Turok is stranded on the planet and must locate other crash survivors while confronting Kane’s army of Mendel-Gruman soldiers, dinosaurs, huge insects and other ravenous creatures. Only by using his elite military training will Turok be able to survive the wild environment he finds himself in and complete his mission.

Fast facts -
Publisher: Avanquest Software Publishing
Developer: Touchstone
Distributor: Open
Release date: June 13th 2008
BBFC: 15
Format: PC
Genre: Sci-Fi FPS

Nintendo Trying to Keep Americans Fat - Wii Fit Shortage hits US


While the supposed Wii Fit shortages are nothing compared to the now infamous Wii shortages we've seen, at least one of those ever-insightful analysts now claims to deduced the cause of them, and he's laying the blame squarely on Nintendo. According to Wedbush Morgan Securities' Michael Pachter, Nintendo has shipped some 2 million Wii Fit units to

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A new team of superspies rocks Nintendo Wii with Capcoms Spyborgs


Saturday Morning Cartoons Explode to Life in This Revolutionary Wii Title

Spyborgs, a new action game coming exclusively to the Nintendo Wii home video game system from Nintendo. In Spyborgs, players take on the role of a diverse team of five bionic superspies in a fight to save the world from a group of dastardly villains. Wii gamers will be set to save the world when the game launches in 2009.

The first title developed by Bionic Games, a newly-formed development team comprised of former Insomniac Games and High Impact developers known for their work on hugely popular franchises Ratchet and Clank and Resistance: Fall of Man, Spyborgs is a unique action-adventure game set in a stylish world that resembles a Saturday morning cartoon. Engaging players in team-based challenges designed to utilize 2-player co-op play, Spyborgs takes the theme of “team” to a whole new level of fun. In Single-player mode the “team” theme continues as players jump from one member of the superspies’ team to the next, rapidly tackling different challenges designed around each character’s unique abilities. Fast, addictive gameplay, unique controls offered by the Wii Remote, and a storyline that refuses to take itself too seriously, Spyborgs will provide players with a dynamic and fresh gaming experience like no other.

“Our goal is to maximize the potential of the innovative Wii Remote while delivering a new paradigm in cooperative game play,” said Michael Haller, president, Bionic Games, “We also wanted to bring a lot of humor to the game which we feel we have accomplished. This game will make you laugh — for all the right reasons.”

Players jump between the identities of a team of five bionic superspies to combat a rogue squad of wacky, dysfunctional super villains. Each character has unique powers to match their super-spy skills, such as heavy firepower, martial arts, bladed weaponry, acrobatic skateboarding skills or pure robotic destruction. This cast of characters may make a misfit group individually, but by utilizing them as a team, the Spyborgs will have the power to save the world – if they don’t blow themselves up first! Spyborgs’ tongue-in-cheek action and compelling interactive cartoon theme keeps players engaged from the first episode to the last with one of the most fun and entertaining games to be developed for the Wii system.

UK Charttrack weekly charts 31 May 08

All formats

Week ending 31 May 2008



1 GRAND THEFT AUTO IV ROCKSTAR
2 RACE DRIVER: GRID CODEMASTERS
3 MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES SEGA
4 WII PLAY NINTENDO
5 PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2008 KONAMI
6 HAZE UBISOFT
7 SEGA SUPERSTARS TENNIS SEGA
8 FIFA 08 EA SPORTS
9 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION
10 MARIO KART WII NINTENDO
11 GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK REDOCTANE
12 ROCK BAND EA GAMES
13 IRON MAN: THE OFFICIAL VIDEOGAME SEGA
14 DR KAWASHIMA'S BRAIN TRAINING NINTENDO
15 QUAKE WARS: ENEMY TERRITORY ACTIVISION
16 AGE OF CONAN: HYBORIAN ADVENTURES EIDOS
17 UEFA EURO 2008 AUSTRIA-SWITZERLAND EA SPORTS
18 BIG BRAIN ACADEMY: WII DEGREE NINTENDO
19 SONIC AND THE SECRET RINGS SEGA
20 CARNIVAL: FUNFAIR GAMES 2KPLAY

New Horizons - Official add-on for Ship Simulator 2008

New vessels and other exotic horizons to discover...

New trailer released for NEW HORIZONS, the official add-on for Ship Simulator 2008

New trailer for New Horizons, the official add-on to their highly successful Ship Simulator 2008 franchise. New Horizons hit store shelves across the UK and Scandinavia in April 2008 and is available at GamersGate.com for North America. This highly realistic naval simulator will be available in the rest of Europe later on.



The Ship Simulator series continues with an armada of new vessels and another exotic horizon to discover. The trailer gives fans a glance at the new vessels and the improved features included in New Horizons, such as the enhanced walk through mode, which allows players to go on deck and explore the ship they are commanding in greater detail. The trailer also showcases the integrated multi player mode and the unlimited gameplay possibilities thanks to the option to download new missions directly in-game.



To download the trailer, please visit www.lighthouse-interactive.com.

To find out more about the Ship Simulator 2008: New Horizons add-on and to keep up with the latest news, visit: www.lighthouse-interactive.com and www.shipsim.com.

GAME SUMMARY

Challenge your friends online in New Horizons with 20 all-new missions and free roaming multiplayer mode. Try your hand at sailing a luxury cruise liner or a classic yacht or feel the impact of the waves as you guide your fishing vessel home through a storm! New Horizons offers a number of new highly realistic environments to explore, 8 more exciting vessels for your sailing pleasure, and unlimited gameplay with in-game downloading of new missions. The add-on requires the original Ship Simulator 2008 game to run. Updates will be made automatically upgrading any version of Ship Simulator 2008 with all previously released updates and patches.

KEY FEATURES ‘Ship Simulator 2008 Add-on: New Horizons’

  • Online multiplayer free-roaming action, including towing
  • 8 new vessels for Ship Simulator 2008, including a modern harbour tug with advanced azimuth thrusters and a push boat with 4 different cargo barges
  • Brand new sailing environment – Padstow (Cornwall), England, built with advanced visuals and bump mapping technology
  • 20 new missions, involving the new vessels and the new environment
  • Unlimited gameplay with in-game downloading of new missions
  • Option to connect and disconnect barges to the push boat in-game
  • New walkthrough options including exploration of the push boat’s highly detailed engine room
  • New trailer released for NEW HORIZONS, the official add-on for Ship Simulator 2008