Jewel Quest Expeditions and Mah Jong Quest Expeditions on Nintendo DS

Jewel Quest Expeditions and Mah Jong Quest Expeditions on Nintendo DS. Following on from the success of these hugely popular casual games on PC, these two classic puzzles will launch in September 2008.

Jewel Quest Expeditions DS

With over 15 million players worldwide on PC, Jewel Quest is a much loved gem-matching game that provides hours of entertainment. Play as adventurer Robert Pack, travelling through Africa on a quest to unlock the mysteries of 180 unique jewel boards.

Work through each of the levels using the stylus or control pad to select adjacent rows of coloured jewels, turning the blocks underneath to gold before the timer runs out. If too much time is taken a life will be lost, but bonus points will be awarded for remaining time. Earn special moves by matching up gold coins, allowing golden blocks to be created, buried jewels to be uncovered and obstructive items removed. Enjoy the game as a single player or wirelessly link up with up to 7 friends to enter competition mode.

Mah Jong Quest Expeditions DS

This popular ancient Chinese game has been enjoyed by over 4 million players worldwide on PC. The new DS version features classic Mah Jong gameplay with an intriguing twist, guaranteed to challenge anyone looking for a brain workout. As the world has fallen into a state of imbalance, teenage hero Kwazi is split into male (White) and female (Black). Players must restore harmony to the world by guiding the two Kwazis through 8 mystical lands and 64 different puzzle boards.

Choose from Quest, Classic or Puzzle mode to work through the levels, using the stylus or control pad to match pairs of tiles. The puzzle board must be cleared before time runs out; points are won for every match made and matching four identical tiles in a row with extra bonuses awarded for remaining time.

Fast facts:

Publisher: Avanquest Software Publishing
Developer: iWin, Inc.
Distributor: Open
Release date: 12th September 2008
PEGI: 3+
Format: Nintendo DS
Genre: Puzzle
SRP: £19.99

Pet Pals Wii announced

JoWooD Productions is pleased to announce it has taken over as publisher for Pet Pals Wii™ in the European market. By adding this title to its 2008 line-up, the Austrian Publisher is targeting young players between the ages of 6 and 12 and fans of other kids & family games such as “Paint by DS”, “Matchstick Puzzle by DS” or “Music Monstars”.

"Nonviolent & educational“ – these demands of most parents are met with Pet Pals Wii. Children are taught responsibility for their pets in a fun and entertaining way. With the unique features of the Wii Remote, the player can even take over the role of the veterinarian to save sick or injured animals.

Inputs from veterinarians during the development of the project have contributed to the authenticity in Pet Pals Wii, guaranteeing an outstanding gaming experience.

Galaxy on Fire 2 - Mobile Cellphone video game

FISHLABS presents the second part of the spectacular 3D space shooter for mobile phones

Fans of outer space shooters can prepare themselves for tough battles: FISHLABS, leading developer of premium 3D mobile phone games, presents the second part of their multi-award-winning space shooter Galaxy on Fire™. The new mobile game, which will be released in the late autumn of this year, ties in to its highly praised predecessor and once again sets new standards in the field of 3D mobile games.

In this thrilling outer space episode, the mercenary Keith Maxwell, the hero of the first part, is catapulted through time and space by a malfunction in his spaceship’s hyperdrive. He wakes up 35 years later and finds himself in a changed galaxy, where the balance of power is gravely threatened: an unknown race has invaded the known space of the galaxy using wormhole technology and threatens the existing balance of power.

The successor to the award-winning Galaxy on Fire impresses with sensational 3D graphics, outstanding gameplay, and a thrilling story. The gigantic galaxy, with over 20 solar systems, Includes 100 unique space stations, completely rendered in 3D, with an extensive trading system, mission boards, and upgrade possibilities for ships and equipment.

The stirring story, with over 10 hours of dramatic space adventures guaranteed, skilfully combines mission-based and free gameplay. Players can choose from among more than 30 individual spaceships and equip them with countless weapons and equipment for the battle against the enemy. Mini-games offer the opportunity to land on asteroids and mine ore, in order to manufacture special equipment and trade goods later. Using new special weapons, squadron gameplay, and the ability to take control of firing turrets, players combat against dozens of opponents from different races and fractions in most diverse battle situations.

‘The first part of Galaxy on Fire, which appeared a good three years ago, was our first really big 3D title. The game was revolutionary in its graphics and game depth and earned nothing but top scores in countless tests. Naturally, the expectations for the second part in our fan community are just as high,’ says Michael Schade, CEO of FISHLABS Entertainment GmbH. ‘There is good reason we took our time with the sequel, and we are sure that Galaxy on Fire 2, with its improved graphics and completely new gameplay elements, will even surpass the success of its predecessor.’

Master of the Monster Lair - Nintendo DS game delayed to October

A shovel with insider information and the rare ability to speak aloud has just broken the story that Master of the Monster Lair has slipped out of September and is now scheduled for release on October 21.

“It seems as though Nintendo DS adventurers in search of dungeon-crafting, monster hunting and loot collection will have to wait a little while longer,” stated the trowel, matter-of-factly.

Master of the Monster Lair for Nintendo DS lets players create the dungeon of their dreams, trying to lure in a variety of monsters carrying different types of items and treasure. True master lair architects can trade designs with a friend via local wireless. Dig these features and more when Master of the Monster Lair releases on October 21, 2008.

Official game demo for puzzle-strategy title Red Bull BC One for Nintendo DS

Official game demo for the upcoming puzzle-strategy title Red Bull BC One for Nintendo DS.

To preview the game, click here and stay tuned for Ignition Entertainment's official launch of the Red Bull BC One game site, coming soon!

Red Bull BC One is one of the most important B-Boy competitions in the world. The legendary battle hosts 16 of the world's best B-Boys in a one-on-one, knock-out-battle to determine who is The One. See the latest Red Bull BC One trailers, screenshots, game facts, wallpapers, and access the entire Red Bull BC One universe at www.redbullbcone.com. Visitors will also have the opportunity to view past battles, create their own B-Boy profile and peruse profiles of more than 180 other B-Boys and find out more about the 2008 Red Bull BC One competition this fall in Paris, France.

The Red Bull BC One game lets players become a champion B-Boy. Using the touch screen functionality on your Nintendo DS, you'll control the action of your very own B-Boy by solving puzzles breaking combos under increasingly tough time limits. Set a high score that's worth bragging about and advance your player to the next round. Coupled with a unique graphic flare, 35 original musical tracks and a variety of mini-games, a quick, steady hand and some creativity will throw you right into the Red Bull BC One arena.

FEATURES:

• Officially licensed game, featuring the world of Red Bull BC One competitions
  
• 36 battles throughout 8 stages in story mode, plus training mode
  
• 70+ different dance animations
  
• Many un-lockable mini games and items
  
• 35 unique music tracks
  
• 3D backgrounds (basketball court, urban street, beach and more)
  
• Multiple customization options (outfits, hair, shoes and more)
  
• Battle against a friend in wireless multiplayer mode!
  
• Look for Red Bull BC One to break its way into stores September 16, 2008.
  

Gamedaily - Top 25 Xbox Games

Gamedaily Top 25 Xbox games...

01. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (LucasArts)
02. Halo 2 (Microsoft)
03. Ninja Gaiden (Tecmo)
04. Halo (Microsoft)

05. ESPN NFL 2K5 (Sega)
06. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Rockstar Games)
07. Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath (Electronic Arts)
08. Burnout 3: Takedown (Electronic Arts)
09. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (Ubisoft)
10. Jet Set Radio Future (Sega)

11. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (Ubisoft)
12. Crimson Skies: High Road To Revenge (Microsoft)
13. SSX 3 (EA Sports Big)
14. Jade Empire (Microsoft)
15. The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher's Bay (Vivendi Games)
16. Psychonauts (Majesco)

17. Beyond Good and Evil (Ubisoft)

18. Fable (Microsoft)
19. Mercenaries (LucasArts)
20. Panzer Dragoon Orta (Sega)

21. Dead Or Alive 3 (Tecmo)
22. Unreal Championship 2 (Midway)
23. Star Wars Battlefront II (LucasArts)
24. Project Gotham Racing 2 (Microsoft)
25. The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (Sierra)

read more | digg story

Exclusive Lego Universe Video Offers First Game Glimpse

Lego Universe developer NetDevil has given us an exclusive peek into Lego Universe, the massive multiplayer online game where you can use bricks to collaboratively "build in real time", having adventures through maps that span across all Lego themes: from Space to City to Pirates to Ninjas to Underwater, everything will be in there.

read more | digg story

New Virtual Reality video games with VR920 Video Eyewear

The first video eyewear specifically designed to let you step inside virtual worlds, MMOs and 3D games. No more staring at flat screens. The iWear VR920 allows you to enter virtual worlds and communicate with others as if you are really there.

Experience cyberspace like never before
Step inside with the Vuzix iWear VR920, the world’s first Internet communications and gaming solution that incorporates immersive big-screen 3D, head tracking, microphone and audio. You can move, look around, listen, and communicate with others - almost like being in the ‘real’ world. The iWear VR920 opens amazing new doors to the World Wide Web.



Price: $399.95 (USD)

The Upgraded VR920 v2.2 software adds support for 11 new titles; including Halo, Grand Theft Auto and Lord of the Rings Online.

Version 2.2 Software, expanding the number of VR920 virtual reality supported titles to 62. The v2.2 software provides the user with superior 3D visual quality and compatibility with virtually any graphics card on a 32-bit Windows XP or Vista system. The 11 new titles include:

• Halo: Combat Evolved
• Lord of the Rings Online
• Far Cry
• Falcon 4.0
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
• EverQuest II
• Final Fantasy XI
• PlanetSide
• Spore: Creature Creator
• Quake Wards
• X-Plane 9.0

Additionally, v2.2 software upgrade includes Vuzix 3D Stereoscopy and/or head-tracking expanded support for 20 previously supported games. These titles include:

• Call of Duty (multiple titles)
• Roller Coaster Tycoon 3
• Doom 3
• Quake 4
• Crysis
• Half-Life (multiple titles)
• Team Fortress 2
• The Ship
• Dark Messiah
• Garry’s Mod
• Dystopia
• Hidden
• Hypercube
• Insurgency

For a complete list of titles, please visit www.vuzix.com.

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Apple v Microsoft as the British Technology Awards Unveils Shortlist

Sony and Nintendo dominate "best of rest"; nods to BBC for its hugely popular iPlayer

The shortlist for the inaugural British Technology Awards has been unveiled, confirming the British public’s love for all things Apple.

In total, the firm has bagged 11 nominations across the event’s 13 award categories – though Microsoft is close behind with nine.

VOTE HERE NOW...

The iPhone, iPod Touch, iTunes and Macbook Air all feature heavily, whilst Microsoft technologies such as Xbox 360, Windows Live, Windows Vista and Windows Media Player 11 also vie for attention.

The British Technology Awards will also pit three of the Internet’s heavyweights against each other, as the public decides which is more popular: Facebook, YouTube or the BBC iPlayer.

Following weeks of intensive open nominations, organiser Incisive Media – publisher of ComputerActive, Personal Computer World and Gizmodo – now bracing itself for thousands of votes, as Britain’s gadget fans declare their loyalties.

Thanks to the unique way the awards are structured, the British Technology Awards will see some interesting battles. iTunes is up against Audacity and Guitar Hero in the Music Technology category. The BBC iPlayer takes on the Sony PlayStation 3 and Sky in the Home Entertainment Technology category. And who can predict the winner of Most Indispensable Technology, when the nominations include Google Maps, the Appile iPod, Virgin Media, Sky and Facebook?

Paul Allen, editor of ComputerActive comments: “The British Technology Awards have been designed to be the most mainstream awards of their kind. This isn’t the place for a ‘Best Flastcreen TV’ category – we want to know what the man, woman, young, old on the street thinks. These awards aren’t the preserve of audiovisual nerds – they’re real people who use and enjoy technology on a day to day basis, and we can’t wait to find out how they vote.”

No other technology accolades have the scope and scale of the British Technology Awards. Consumers are the primary focus, with all categories voted for exclusively by the public.

13 awards will be won, across diverse categories as Best Kids Technology, Most Indispensable Technology and Technological Innovation of the year. Rather than restrict the awards to a narrow shortlist, the BTAs should see some interesting battles, as technologies from different sectors compete for the ultimate goal.

Voting on the shortlist is taking place now. The winners will be announced in October 2008.

The shortlist in full:

Gadget of the Year
Apple iPhone
Apple iPod Touch
TomTom Go 720
Nokia N95
Blackberry Curve
Fujifilm F100fd
Archos 605
Slingbox


Music Technology
Apple iTunes
Windows Media Player 11
Audacity
Play.com
Guitar Hero
Ion USB turntable
Creative X-Fi
Napster


Business Technology of the Year
Asus Eee PC
3 3G USB Modem
RIM Blackberry Curve
Panasonic Toughbook
Vodafone USB 3G modem
Intel low-power Xeon quad-core processor
HP Compaq ultra-slim dc7800 PC
Microsoft Windows Server 2008


Best Home Entertainment Technology
BBC iPlayer
Nintendo Wii
Freeview
Sky
Panasonic Viera HDTV series
Sony Bravia HD LCD TVs
Sony PS3
Microsoft Xbox 360


Best Kids Technology
Nintendo DS
Windows Vista parental controls
Advent Kids laptop
Scalextric Digital
Hornby DCC trainsets
Lego Mindstorms NXT
Fisher Price Kid Tough digital camera
Bebo


Most Stylish Technology
Apple iPhone
Apple Macbook Air
Sony Vaio TZ
Acer Ferrari ultraportable laptop
Canon SX100 IS camera
LG Viewty
Dell XPS One
Samsung LE series LCD TVs


Best Gaming Technology
Nintendo Wii
Nintendo Wii Fit
Sony PS3
Microsoft Xbox 360
Microsoft Flight Simulator X
Nintendo DS
Guitar Hero
Sony PSP


Best Mobile Technology
Apple iPhone
Nintendo DS
RIM Blackberry Curve
Nokia N810
Asus Eee PC
Sony PSP
Google Mobile
Samsung Q1 Ultra


Most Indispensable Technology
Google Maps
BT Broadband
Apple iPod
BBC iPlayer
Sky
Apple iPhone
Virgin Media
Facebook


Technological Innovation of the Year
Apple iPhone
Windows Vista
Intel Core 2 Quad processors
Apple Macbook Air
Asus Eee PC
Adobe Photoshop Express
Belkin Wireless USB Hub
Google Docs / Apps


Best Online Technology
BBC iPlayer
Skype
You Tube
Facebook
Google Docs
Windows Live
BT Digital Vault
Pinnacle PCTV to go


Retailer of the Year
Amazon
Play.com
John Lewis
Ebuyer
Tesco Direct
PC World
Maplins
Argos


Greenest Technology of the Year
Bye Bye standby
Toyota Prius
Windows Vista
Lexus LS600H
Fujitsu Siemens Scenicview P22W-5 ECO
G-Wizz
Oneclick Intellipanel
Apple OS X

In-Game Advertising to Rising Eagle, a Free-To-Play First-Person Shooter

Rising Eagle - Futuristic Infantry Warfare, a new and free-to-play first-person shooter. The debut title from Israeli developer Invasion Interactive, Rising Eagle is a team-based tactical combat game designed for online competitive and cooperative play, featuring realistic urban cityscapes as well as a range of exciting game modes and weaponry. The PC game can be downloaded at www.rising-eagle.com.

The Rising Eagle announcement builds off the momentum of other ad-sponsored launches -- original titles such as Trackmania and the highly-anticipated Quake Live both leverage the benefits of IGA’s in-game advertising, creating value for the entire gaming community.

The partnership with IGA benefits advertisers, publishers, developers, and players. Advertisers access a coveted, highly engaged demographic; publishers harness advertising revenue to offset rising development costs; developers continue to create compelling story lines and advanced game play features; and consumers are able to enjoy revolutionary titles such as Rising Eagle free-of-charge.



On behalf of premium advertisers, IGA places relevant, contextual advertisements within the game’s dynamic urban environment. Seeing familiar well-known brands on billboards and shop fronts further enhances the all-encompassing sense of realism for the gamer.

Ed Bartlett, VP Publisher Relations – Europe of IGA Worldwide says: “The release of a top tier title like Rising Eagle: Futuristic Infantry Warfare for free demonstrates IGA’s continued drive to offset the rapidly rising cost of developing premium games. As in-game ad budgets steadily increase the “freemium” model which IGA pioneered will further illustrate the company’s commitment to bringing games to market in a manner that benefits consumers, developers, publishers and advertisers.



Yaron Dotan, CEO of Invasion Interactive says: “The ability to freely distribute a high quality shooter such as Rising Eagle, while maintaining a solid revenue stream from in-game advertising, is a revolutionary capability made possible by IGA Worldwide. Having the ad-serving technology easily accessed through a single point of contact enables us to focus our efforts on delivering quality game-play experiences.”