Ten most important games you've never heard of

Former EDGE editor, Margaret Robertson, reveals 2007's ten most important games you've never heard of at this year's Edinburgh Interactive Festival.

Respected industry consultant and former editor of EDGE magazine, Margaret Robertson, today revealed she will be speaking at Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008 to praise ten of the most important games of last year that many people won’t be familiar with.

Entitled: ‘Need To Know: The Ten Most Important Games Of The Last Year You’ve Never Heard Of’, Robertson, who regularly contributes to BBC Online’s Technology section, will speak on Monday 11th August between 13:45 - 14:15 before an invited audience of industry delegates and press at Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

The last twelve months have been dominated with talk of BioShock, GTA IV and Wii Fit, but Robertson questions whether they are really the most significant games of the year. Have they done the most to change the rules, and to establish the trends which will shape the industry in the years to come?

Robertson said: “While big-hitting titles such as these grab the headlines, the games whose personnel, means of production, target audience, chosen platform, gameplay innovations, visual style, business models or marketing approach are rather more revolutionary can easily get overlooked. So, if you've ever wished you'd spotted Portal back when it was still Narbacular Drop, this session will steer you through the robot-building, wing-walking, child-rearing, music-battling games that will change the industry in 2009.”

About Margaret Robertson:
A historian by training, Margaret Robertson has written for many specialist magazines, mainstream publications like FHM, Seed and the BBC, and four years wrote for, and ultimately edited, Edge, the world's most respected videogame magazine. She also part of the team behind the GameCity festival, and serves as a juror for IndieCade, the Independent Game Festival and Dare to be Digital. Now, as a consultant, she advises companies like EA, Sony and Channel 4 on game design and industry trends.

About Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008
Now celebrating its sixth year, the Edinburgh Interactive Festival is powered up to showcase the continued popularity, growth and influence of video games. And this year, the Interactive Festival is more synchronised with the world famous Edinburgh Festival than ever, appealing to the press, public and professionals from film, television and interactive media backgrounds alike, offering a bigger event for delegates, more consumer focusing – an overall spectacle for all.

New to Interactive Festival 2008 will be Features, Exhibition and Recruitment areas specifically tailored to cater for the public - allowing them access to the latest games and job opportunities in games.

As ever, the three-day Interactive Festival wouldn’t be complete without the cornerstones of conferences, keynotes, panel sessions, debates, games screenings and even more people than ever jostling to get through the doors.

Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008
Edinburgh International Conference Centre
150 Morrison Street, Edinburgh EH3 8EE
UK

Sunday 10th August
Game Screenings
Dare ProtoPlay
Public games area and retail site

Monday 11th August
EIF Conference
Game Screenings
Dare ProtoPlay
Public games area and retail site
Conference Networking event

Tuesday 12th August
EIF Conference
Game Screenings
Dare ProtoPlay
Public games area and retail site
Digital Interactive Symposium

Edinburgh Interactive Festival will also play host to the Digital Interactive Symposium, the games event aimed at academics and games industry professionals. It takes place on the afternoon of Tuesday 12th August.

Romance of the three kingdoms XI download free demo now

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI will be released across Europe on PC this September. RTK XI is the latest instalment in this award-winning strategy series but the first to be released in Europe on PC. Combining political manoeuvring with city building and tactical warfare, RTK XI is a tremendously involving experience that will appeal to PC strategists of all flavours. It will be available in stores and online from September 5.

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI website is now live and the playable demo can be downloaded here for free. Head to the link below to learn more about the game’s devious politics, where you get to duel directly with fellow leaders. Discover more about the ways in which you can develop your city into the capital of a thriving empire. And find out about all of the intricate details which combine to make RTK XI a genuinely epic, time devouring experience.

www.rotk.co.uk


About ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS XI
From legendary video game producer Kou Shibusawa comes his next historical simulation masterpiece! Rediscover an ancient civilization with an explosive history in this most stunning edition of Romance of the Three Kingdoms to date. Set during the end of the Han Dynasty and the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D., RTK XI presents the most visually captivating evolution ever seen in the history of the series. Featuring an artistic style evocative of classical Chinese ink-paintings, and with debates and duels now rendered in real-time 3D animation, RTK XI pushes the boundaries and blurs the line between video games and art in this stunning recreation of the mood and feel of ancient China.

Players will need to dig deep within to prove themselves adept at both the military and political arts in order to bring China under one rule. Domestic affairs, diplomacy and warfare are all conducted on a single vast 3D relief map, dramatically bringing to life the epic scale of the adventure that lies before them.



As the ruler of a kingdom, each player will have complete control over their territories. More than 40 base commands give players the power to govern cities, manage their personnel, practice diplomacy, and much more. Complete freedom to develop markets, shipyards, outposts, forts and military units expand on the already substantial benchmarks established by previous editions of the series. Finally, players will watch the era come to life through the unique individual personalities of more than 780 officers and supporting characters that they will meet and interact with while engaged in one of RTK XI's eight gripping scenarios

For improved control over each military campaign, RTK XI's turn-based game play allows the player to plan their movements without undue time constraints, and then execute their battle tactics when ready. RTK XI also introduces an entirely new system for researching military techniques, as well as an Advanced Tactics System that allows players to drive or lure enemies into devastating ambushes. Skilled players will be able to link together tactics for maximum damage.

Supernova 2 - Spacewar update patch 1.0.3 to download

Supernova 2: Spacewar is a space war game combined with a resource macromanagement simulation from Tycoon Games.

Just two months after the first version, Tycoon Games has released a major game update. The new features bring new life to Supernova 2, introducing the following enhancements:

- “Skirmish Mode” allows players to focus mainly on the war game: all technologies are known and unlimited resources and money to build fleets directly on startup are made available to the players.
This is perfect for those players who want to enjoy only the war game.

- “Ship Customization” is a new screen where gamers are able to create custom ship blueprints or modify an existing one: each device now requires a certain amount of space and energy, but the possibilities for custom combinations are endless.

- “Statistics Screen” enables the player to see various, interesting statistics about the current game like battles win/lost, total ship killed/lost, etc.

- “Real-Time Turns” is an option within the game macromanagement, so the time advances automatically without having to end each turn manually. Players can set their own speed using the plus and minus keys to change game speeds or press the “P” key to pause/unpause.

There have been several, minor bug fixes implemented, and improvements have also been added. Riva Celso, designer/programmer of Tycoon Games stated, “Any existing customer can just redownload the game to get all the new features for free, adhering to our policy of unlimited lifetime free updates. For those people who've tried the previous version but didn't like it for any reason, I encourage them to give it another try, since now it is definitely a different game”.

The Rarest and Most Valuable Sega Dreamcast Games

There are two major trends you will notice in the list below. First of all is the dominance of fighting and shooting games, mostly of the 2D nature. This is of little surprise to those that know the Dreamcast well as there games are some of the main draws for the system — especially when they don’t get ported to other systems. The second. . .

read more | digg story

Blast works - Build Trade Destroy new Low Low price

Unique "A-Rated" Nintendo Wii Game Now Available For Just $19.99

Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy is now available at retailers for the unbeatable price of $19.99. Developed exclusively for Wii by Budcat Creations, Blast Works has secured top ratings from major media outlets, including:

• 'A' rating from Electronic Gaming Monthly
• 'A' rating from 1Up.com
• 9 out of 10 from Destructoid.com that said the game was "fantastic" and "a fine example of excellence in the genre..."
• 9 out of 10 rating from GameZone.com that said Blast Works was "an unrelenting blast"
• 8.5 out of 10 from Nintendo Power that recognizes the game's "genuinely unique gameplay"
• 8.1 rating and Wii Game of the Month for June from IGN.com that said Blast Works "provides almost limitless replayability"

"Blast Works has been well received by the gaming community as one of the most innovative and creative games for Wii," said Gui Karyo, Executive Vice President of Operations, Majesco. "With the lower price point, the game is among the best values available this summer and a must-own for hardcore gamers, budding game designers and action fans alike."

Blast Works is an innovative side-scrolling 2D shooter based on Kenta Cho's popular online game Tumiki Fighters. Featuring multiple game content editors and the groundbreaking Blast Works Depot website where gamers can post and trade custom content worldwide, Blast Works also features a "sticky" element that lets players absorb the pieces and attributes of enemy ships to boost their own flying arsenal. In addition to 15 missions included in the basic game, multiple Blast Works Editors allow players to construct their own shapes, ships, levels, enemies, movement and bullet patterns. Also, Blast Works lets gamers trade their unique content directly with friends or share their content globally over BlastWorksDepot.com via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and WiiConnect24. This website allows players to upload and download community-developed content with other users anytime from anywhere for endless gameplay possibilities.

Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy is rated E for Everyone, and is now available for a suggested retail price of $19.99.

Hello Kitty's Biggest Adventure yet on Nintendo DS

Hello Kitty - Big City Dreams, will be exclusively available for Nintendo DS and is scheduled for an autumn 2008 release.

In search of new adventures, Hello Kitty is set to make a move to the Big City this autumn in Empire Interactive’s Hello Kitty: Big City Dreams for Nintendo DS. Kitty White is moving away from her beloved Sanrio Town into a simple downtown apartment in The Big City, and it’s up to players to help her fulfill her dream of someday moving into a luxurious, top-floor penthouse.

“Hello Kitty fans of all ages will be captivated by the charming environments and friendly interaction with some of their favorite Sanrio characters in Hello Kitty: Big City Dreams” said Rob Lightbody, Product Manager Empire Interactive. “Hello Kitty fans will love exploring the Big City through Kitty’s eyes and helping make her city girl dreams a reality.”

Hello Kitty: Big City Dreams is a mini-game based adventure that follows Kitty in her recent move to the Big City where she will meet up with her old Sanrio pals like Badtz-Maru, Pochacco and My Melody and even make some new friends. Players will be able to choose between two distinct modes – exploration and mini-game. In the exploration mode, Kitty moves around her apartment, explores the Big City and interacts with items and inhabitants she comes across. In the mini-game mode, Kitty will play through a variety of mini-games and earn friendship points that will allow her to purchase costumes, ride the bus or train, and of course customize her apartment.

Kitty will be very busy helping and playing with her friends, from trying to beat Kerropi’s Arcade Hero score, to lending Tuxedosam a hand, serving customers in Restaurant Rush. Every girl knows something about fashion and when My Melody is in trouble, Kitty is more than willing to become an impromptu fashion assistant at her clothing store. After a long day out and about assisting friends in need, Kitty needs a stress-free night on the town, only to find her crush Daniel Star, at Destination: Dance. One can only imagine the fun and exciting adventures that await Kitty – and gamers – as they explore The Big City together.

Kitty’s ultimate goal in the Big City is to move from her first-floor apartment, where the game starts, to her dream suite in the sky. It’s up to players to help Kitty collect enough Friendship Points, by working and helping her friends, so she can earn her way to the apartment of her dreams. The apartment complex has five floors, in which rooms get bigger at each floor and end with Kitty’s ultimate goal – the Super Deluxe Suite.

Genre: Adventure
Release Date: Autumn 2008
Publisher: Empire Interactive
SRP: £29.99

The Last Guy -on PlayStation Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA)
Studio: Japan Studio
Platform: PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) via PLAYSTATION Network

Genre: Line Action
Rating: E10+: Alcohol References, Mild Suggestive Themes, Mild Violence

OVERVIEW

A fast-paced and highly addictive classic arcade style game with simple controls, The Last Guy uses real-life aerial maps of 14 cities around the world for its levels, including Asakusa (Tokyo, Japan), Los Angeles, and London. Within a set time limit, the player - who is the last hope for to save mankind from the zombies that are taking over Earth - navigates through the city map, gathering survivors hidden out in buildings along the way and leading them to a designated “escape zone.” As the player rushes around the level picking up survivors, a line of nervous people forms behind him and follows his every move around the level, scrambling back inside nearby buildings if a zombie gets too close.

STORYLINE

Set some time in the 21st century, a mysterious purple ray hits Earth, turning anyone outside and touched by the light into a zombie. With zombies roaming the streets, unaffected people lucky enough to have been inside a building when the ray hit are anxiously holding their collective breath for someone to rescue them. As the Last Guy, the player is the survivors’ last hope to survive this global crisis.

OTHER FEATURES

• Real Cities – Each stage is brought to life with real aerial photography of the actual city, with multiple levels of zoom to get the best view of the area to see where the survivors, and zombies, are hiding out
• Zombies and Bosses – The Last Guy features 10 types of zombies and 4 types of bosses to avoid and outwit as the player races around the city rescuing survivors.
• Special Abilities – Utilize special powers such as dash to get away from zombies, thermography vision to see where people are hiding, a whistle to get your long line to huddle up and get out of zombies’ paths, and the ability to surround a cluster of people completely with a line of people and instantly rescue them all.
• Power-Ups – Take advantage of five kinds of power-ups to help complete each stage, including stamina boosts, freezing time, warping back to the Escape Zone, and temporary invisibility.
• Extra Stages – Players can unlock Extra Stages to play with super high scores

Gaming television debuts Trailer Monkey TV

The Slackerfarm, an online gaming television site and community, debuts Trailer Monkey, bi-weekly video programming showcasing the latest and greatest in game trailers, Dev Docs and game play footage.

Joining The Slackerfarm.com Podcast, The Slackerfarm expands on its talk show style programming to offer gamers a view into the games in discussion, on the horizon of release, and the games of yesteryear.
For additional information or if you wish to submit your assets to The Slackerfarm for broadcast, contact Devin Di Nardo or visit www.theslackerfarm.com.

Founded in 2003, The Slackerfarm joins the stream of online video heading into Web 3.0. Offering both audio and video programming, The Slackerfarm offers gamers a wide variety of options to gather the latest gaming news, reviews, previews and discussion on games, the gaming industry and the gaming lifestyle. The Slackerfarm provides a fun, social environment, with everything from contests to discussion forums on gaming, movies, celebrities and more, The Slackerfarm is a place where gamers can for the video programming they deserve and can interact in. For more information, visit www.theslackerfarm.com.

Alone in the dark demo on Xbox Live

Get a First Hand Taste of Atari's Innovative Action Survival Experience

The Xbox 360 demo of Eden Games’ innovative action survival opus Alone in the Dark is available now on Xbox Live Marketplace. Featuring selected playable levels from the first and second episodes of the game, players will be able to try the innovative gameplay first hand including the combination of items to create unique and powerful weapons, the real-time handling of objects to overcome enemies and obstacles, and the use of fire as a devastating weapon.

“Alone in the Dark is a prime example how to orchestrate a game… mixes all the innovative elements plus the superb presentation into a thrilling action-horror-cocktail” Gamestar, Germany

“…deserves to be lavished with praise for some outstanding ideas and set-pieces.” Xbox World 360, UK

“Beautiful action sequences, camera positioning, drama, tension and a great score give you the feeling you are playing an interactive movie” Games, Benelux

“Ambitious, different and thoroughly absorbing.” Guardian, UK

Alone in the Dark is in stores now for Xbox 360, PC, Wii and PlayStation 2, with the PLAYSTATION 3 version following later in 2008.

Trailer Monkey Debuts on The Slackerfarm!

The Slackerfarm, an online gaming television site and community, debuts Trailer Monkey, bi-weekly video programming showcasing the latest and greatest in game trailers, Dev Docs and game play footage.

Joining The Slackerfarm.com Podcast, The Slackerfarm expands on its talk show style programming to offer gamers a view into the games in discussion, on the horizon of release, and the games of yesteryear.
For additional information or if you wish to submit your assets to The Slackerfarm for broadcast, contact Devin Di Nardo or visit www.theslackerfarm.com.

Founded in 2003, The Slackerfarm joins the stream of online video heading into Web 3.0. Offering both audio and video programming, The Slackerfarm offers gamers a wide variety of options to gather the latest gaming news, reviews, previews and discussion on games, the gaming industry and the gaming lifestyle. The Slackerfarm provides a fun, social environment, with everything from contests to discussion forums on gaming, movies, celebrities and more, The Slackerfarm is a place where gamers can for the video programming they deserve and can interact in. For more information, visit www.theslackerfarm.com.