Aeria Games Acquires Dreamlords: The Reawakening

Aeria Games acquired its first real-time strategy game for North American release, Dreamlords: The Reawakening, by Swedish developers, Lockpick Entertainment.

Dreamlords extends Aeria’s portfolio of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games by introducing strategic gameplay that is familiar to Age of Empires, Starcraft and Settlers of Catan players. Unique to Dreamlords, the game universe is always running — even when players are sleeping or at school or work. Players are encouraged to define their orders in advance to move toward their strategic directions every minute of the day. They may perform game operations from any location with a basic browser and Internet connection, and they can battle in a 3D-immersive world after downloading the free PC game.
The exclusive North American release of Dreamlords: The Reawakening through Aeria Games will be free to play with no upfront or monthly costs. Special in-game items and decorative equipment will be available in the game’s “Item Mall” for optional purchase using Aeria Points — the universal currency on the Aeria Games portal.

“For a long time, gamers have been looking for a fun MMORTS game to play, and Dreamlords answers that demand,” said Spencer Chi, producer at Aeria Games.

“We’re impressed with what (Aeria Games) has done with other games in their portfolio and how they work with their community and feel they are an excellent partner for bringing Dreamlords: The Reawakening to the people,” said David Rosén, CEO of Lockpick Entertainment

Dreamlords: The Reawakening will be available for beta testing in July 2008 and release is expected for August 2008. More information is available on the Dreamlords Web site at http://dreamlords.aeriagames.com.

Aeria Games Acquires Dreamlords: The Reawakening

Aeria Games acquired its first real-time strategy game for North American release, Dreamlords: The Reawakening, by Swedish developers, Lockpick Entertainment.

Dreamlords extends Aeria’s portfolio of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games by introducing strategic gameplay that is familiar to Age of Empires, Starcraft and Settlers of Catan players. Unique to Dreamlords, the game universe is always running — even when players are sleeping or at school or work. Players are encouraged to define their orders in advance to move toward their strategic directions every minute of the day. They may perform game operations from any location with a basic browser and Internet connection, and they can battle in a 3D-immersive world after downloading the free PC game.
The exclusive North American release of Dreamlords: The Reawakening through Aeria Games will be free to play with no upfront or monthly costs. Special in-game items and decorative equipment will be available in the game’s “Item Mall” for optional purchase using Aeria Points — the universal currency on the Aeria Games portal.

“For a long time, gamers have been looking for a fun MMORTS game to play, and Dreamlords answers that demand,” said Spencer Chi, producer at Aeria Games.

“We’re impressed with what (Aeria Games) has done with other games in their portfolio and how they work with their community and feel they are an excellent partner for bringing Dreamlords: The Reawakening to the people,” said David Rosén, CEO of Lockpick Entertainment

Dreamlords: The Reawakening will be available for beta testing in July 2008 and release is expected for August 2008. More information is available on the Dreamlords Web site at http://dreamlords.aeriagames.com.

DT CARNAGE TO SMASH IT UP!

Be prepared to get lost in the world of fast cars, talented drivers, and dirty tricks as Agetec, Inc. today announced that they are revved up and ready to “step on the gas pedal” with their upcoming game, DT Carnage, for the Sony PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. DT Carnage, which promises to be the most cutthroat racing game ever seen, can be found in North American retail stores this summer.

In DT Carnage, players will race on various tracks using any and every trick they have up their sleeves. From using items to slow down opponents, to crushing other drivers against the side of the track, to simply breezing past rivals using skillful driving maneuvers, racers will do whatever it takes to be proclaimed number one.

“Fans of the racing genre will love this game. It features top notch graphics, amazingly realistic controls, and over the top action. With all of that and more, the game will really make players feel like they’re in the race of their lives,” says Mark Johnson, producer at Agetec. “DT Carnage also sets itself apart from other racing games by having a RPG like mode that allows drivers to live the life of a racer from start to finish.”

In RPG mode, players start off with training. Players will learn how to use various items and techniques to excel on the track. After players have finished training and leveling up their drivers through the growth system, they will send their drivers off to the tracks to battle against the best of the best.

For more information visit www.agetec.com.

Chrono Trigger DS Announced

Square-Enix announce a possible 2D/3D remake of the SNES classic RPG, Chrono Trigger. Or possibly a sequel, only on DS.

Official site: http://www.square-enix.co.jp/ctds/

Big Box of Blox now available for S60 smartphones and FREE for Club Astraware members during July!

Astraware and Digital Eel are excited to announce the release of Big Box of Blox for Symbian S60 smartphones. This blox-stacking extravaganza is already available for Palm OS and Windows Mobile smartphones and PDAs.

Big Box of Blox is a blox-stacking game taken to outrageous extremes! Players arrange the three-blox-high stacks as they fall. Match blox in groups of three or more, vertically or horizontally, to eliminate them - but that's not all!

Don't just stack the blox. Smash them, blast them, mutate them or explode them in a shower of flames! Use special blox including jokers, bombs, frogs, mushrooms, fireballs and slot machines to clear the board before it reaches the top!

Big Box of Blox includes five mind-bending game modes: Flaming Peelout, Blok Atak, Groink, Mushroom King and Asylum Cubez, and players can even create their own combination using the special Custom Mode.

Faithful to the critically-acclaimed PC version, Big Box of Blox features cool psychedelic graphics, awe-inspiring animated backgrounds, brain crunching sound effects and an epic music soundtrack. The game's graphics reflect the dark and mysterious nature of the PC original, but smartphone-owners are sometimes known to go outside into the light, so Big Box of Blox also includes a gamma adjustment slider so users can select their preference from dark and atmospheric to vibrant and acidic.

As an introduction to this fantastic game, Club Astraware members can get Big Box of Blox FREE during July 2008. Existing Club Astraware members just need to log into their account to get their free copy of the game.

Download the PC version of BBoB here: http://www.digital-eel.com/blox/files.htm

'Navy Field', ready to sail into the world!

The 'Navy Field' developed by SDEnternet (CEO: Hakyong KIM, www.sdenternet.co.kr), an MMOTSG, setting the ocean as a battle field from World War II, has been chosen 2 years consecutively as an official game of KIPA's GNGWC (Game&Game World Championships), and is expected to gain worldwide naval battle game mania attention again in 2008.

The 'Navy Field' was a finale of GNGWC2007 the final game of last year in KOEX, now being served in the U.S., Japan, Germany, and Russia as well as in Korea. Unlike last year, Germany and Singapore as well will be holding the local tournaments in the GNGWC 2008.

The 'Navy Field', a long-run game being served for 6 years, has been popular with worldwide gamers with its unique game background and story. We visited SDEnternet who is preparing for GNGWC 2008 and interviewed the company about recent news regarding 'Navy Field'

The following is the full interview:

Q. What is the background of developing Navy Field?
- Navy Field is for sure a unique game. There is no such game anywhere in the world. There were some games about army or air force, but nothing about the navy when Navy Field was developed. Our developers have been interested in naval battles and they had corresponding knowledge of such. As a result, a unique naval battle game called Navy Field was born.

Q. Was there any difficulties regarding the service in the beginning?
- Frankly speaking, we didn't even have any concept for service in the beginning. We opened an incomplete game to users. As such, there were many difficulties of service. However, as starting charges to partial game, we continuously updated contents and focused on administration in order to bring gamers back to the game. After all, we now have a steady number of user accesses running at the same time.

Q. What did you get from GNGWC 2007?
- Navy Field has a structure based on PvP team plays, which we believe is a suitable structure for game contests. Also, Navy Field is open not just to a certain country, but to all around the world through a global service. Localized services are being improved by partners in each country. Navy Field is a great game made in Korea. In addition, GNGWC is a great event for worldwide users to enjoy such games like Navy Field.

Q. Was there any episode from the last version of GNCWC 2007?
- There was a raffle event at the end of the local contests in Japan for the GNGWC 2007. The items for raffle were MP3 players, NavyField crystal souvenirs, etc. Even though the actual price for a MP3 player is more expensive than a NavyField crystal souvenirs, there were many people who wanted to exchange their MP3 Players for a NavyField souvenir after the raffle. It was like a crowded auction site… with that, we felt the power of contents as well as a sense of the Japanese love toward NavyField. After all, the final winner of GNGWC2007 was from Japan.


Q. How about the current global service status?
- We opened the game in Korea first and started to distribute the service in China and in Japan through our partners. In the U.S., we began to service through a GSP (global service platform), which brought great attention from users. Finally, we established a local office for serving the U.S. Based on the US service, we started the service in Germany and in Russia starting in 2007, and there are still many countries with on-going service negotiations.

Q. How about the localization?
- We believe that localization is a key to success in the overseas market and we are still considering ways on how we can solve this issue. The basic step would be translated for each local area. We have also thought of other various possibilities including adding unique maps for users in each country or taking events for local holidays. But, most of all, we need the role of administration in each country who can bring local user opinions to us so that we can develop and address such issues.

Q. Tell us about the powerful community of Navy Field.
- Navy Field has been served for more than 5 years. So many gamers have been enjoying the Navy Field. In view of the game feature related to the military, the user community is getting improved with the mania. The enthusiastic gamers through their voluntary activities and advertisements have brought other gamers who left the Navy Field back to the game.

Q. Any final comments for the gamers attending the GNGWC 2008?
- We are proud of joining the GNGWC as an official game this year again. We ask gamers to enjoy and make exciting memories with GNGWC 2008 this year. We will do our best.

YUKE'S Unveils Official Game Trailer with Launch of Double D Dodgeball Website

YUKE'S Company of America, the U.S. publishing arm of Japanese game developer YUKE'S Company Limited, today launched a new website and unveiled the official trailer for Double D Dodgeball, its upcoming title for Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The new video gives an exclusive preview of the fast-paced competition that awaits with Double D Dodgeball, slated for release on July 30th, 2008.

Double D Dodgeball recreates the classic playground sport in a new, futuristic setting with an arcade feel. Within its unique design lies one of the most competitive online sports games to hit Xbox LIVE Arcade this year, enabling online matches of up to 8 players, and up to 12 players total when including AI. Featuring both Eastern and Western dodgeball rules, Double D Dodgeball pays homage to the playground sport in its truest form.

The website not only features the brand new trailer, but also includes a variety of screenshots and gameplay details providing an in-depth look at one of this summer’s most highly anticipated Xbox LIVE Arcade titles.

To visit the website, please click here: http://www.doubleddodgeball.com/

About YUKE'S Company of America
A wholly-owned subsidiary of YUKE'S Company Limited, YUKE'S Company of America released NEVES for the Nintendo DS and developed D1 GRAND PRIX for the Playstation® 2. The company is based out of Roselle, Illinois and is a fully licensed publisher and developer for Sony Computer Entertainment of America, Nintendo of America Inc., and Microsoft.

For more information on YUKE'S Company of America, please visit: http://www.yukes.us

SPIDER-MAN FANS SEIZE CONTROL OF MARVEL AND ACTIVISION'S SPIDER-MAN: WEB OF SHADOWS VIDEOGAME PACKAGING

The future of New York City will be in gamers’ hands this fall and starting today Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) is allowing them to determine the Spider-Man: Web of Shadows package image. Starting today, members of the Spider-Man consumer VIP community can go to www.SeizeControl.com to vote for their favorite videogame package options, all featuring the heroic web-slinger as he prepares to confront a devastated Big Apple. The consumer control campaign will continue through launch, giving fans the opportunity to vote on various aspects of Spider-Man: Web of Shadows marketing campaign.

To date, members have already helped Activision cast voice actors for actual roles in the final game, based on auditions that were held at this year’s New York Comic Con. Voting has also commenced to find the perfect models to portray fan favorites Black Cat and Mary Jane in the Activision booth at San Diego Comic-Con in July. Fans will continue to have unprecedented control over the campaign with upcoming votes including gifts for pre-sell, gameplay content to be posted on the community website, packaging layout, and more.

In development by Shaba Games and Treyarch, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is scheduled for release this fall and has not yet been rated by the ESRB. Fans can learn more about Spider-Man: Web of Shadows and the full consumer control campaign details by visiting www.seizecontrol.com.

About Activision, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $2.9 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.

Jagex launches member's beta of RuneScape High Detail

Jagex Ltd, the UK’s largest independent games developer, today launched RuneScape High Detail, the latest version of their hugely successful massively-multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG). RuneScape High Detail has been released as a beta to subscribers with the plan to offer the same functionality to free players in the future. RuneScape High Detail is a full graphics improvement, which utilizes new technology to enhance the game graphics and, for the first time, runs the game in full screen through an internet browser.

About RuneScape

RuneScape is a massively-multiplayer online game, set in a fantasy world of warring races, ravaged landscapes and sinister powers. The game is updated twice a months with new content, quests, skills or challenges.

RuneScape remains the 2nd largest free-to-play and subscription-based MMO in the western world, with more than six million active players and over one million paying subscribers.

About Jagex Ltd

Jagex, Ltd. is an independent games developer and publisher based in Cambridge, England, with over 380 employees. With proprietary graphics compression, game engine and network communication technologies, Jagex creates online games that are enjoyed by millions of players around the world.

CustomPlay Golf 2009 - video game on PC and Nintendo Wii

CustomPlay Golf 2009 for release in October 2008 on PC and Q1 2009 on Nintendo Wii.

CustomPlay Golf 2009 revitalizes the golfing experience with a game packed with features that encompasses the full embodiment of this great sport along with some little extras that will please aficionados and the leisure player equally. From the detailed delights of 15 full 18 hole championship courses to some inventive crazy golf courses, no area is left untapped to present the ultimate in GOLF!

CustomPlay Golf 2009 builds on the solid base of CustomPlay Golf 2, built on realistic physics, swing mechanics, stunning courses and player customization. The new editor is fast and easy to use, allowing for the most realistic looking courses yet. In-game the whole course is always displayed in the distance and loading times between holes have been eradicated. Added to this are the following all new course types; Crazy Golf, Mini Golf, Par 3, Pitch and Putt and Driving Range, to make an all-encompassing golf experience.

“We are excited to be working with the CustomPlay Golf team as their experience and knowledge in the creation a golf game is exceptional. Lexicon Entertainment believes they can create a new unique benchmark as they truly understand the most important nuances of this great sport and we believe a golf title that will have gamers coming back for more”.

Christopher Allcroft, President of Publishing for Lexicon Entertainment UK Ltd.



THE COURSES
Including 15 full 18 hole championship Golf courses, including licensed and fantasy courses, along with the following, additional varieties: - Par3 (full 18 hole par 3 courses with all clubs available), Pitch and Putt (short 18 hole courses, with just the pitching wedge and putter available), Mini Golf (putter only courses), Crazy Golf (themed courses with obstacles, moving objects and animating objects), Driving Range (traditional and fantasy).

CUSTOMISATION
The editor allows anyone to create any kind of course from scratch. Create a player and tailor their playing style and look. When playing you can setup the game according to tee time, weather, pin location, tee difficulty and game mode.



FEATURES
Game Modes; Practice Mode, Offline, AI, Matchplay, Strokeplay, Stableford, Modified Stableford, Foursomes and Fourballs.
Online – play against 1 to 7 opponents.
PlayMail – email a playable version of any hole, to anyone, they can play it even if they don’t own the game.
Dynamic time of day system, choose your tee time and watch time fly.
Physics – the ball data in game was provided by T&K Golf Research who collate data for the major golf equipment manufacturers.
Stunning graphical weather/effects including enhanced lighting and shadow systems for objects and terrain, normal map, detail map, mega-texture and more
PlayMail, allowing you to email, detailed playable holes to anyone, even if they don’t own the game