gamezplay

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Angels Online - New PVP system called Holy Battlefield is now available

Angels Online: Outpost Battlefield and Monsters Overview
After the release of the Lost Atlantis, a new PVP system called Holy Battlefield is now available for all players to enjoy. It has evolved based on the Outpost Battlefield and the Totem Battle. Players must have been very familiar with the Totem Battle, so today the Angels Online team is giving a brief introduction concerning the Outpost Battlefield.

Outpost Battlefield
The Outpost Battlefield was the first PVP system released for Angels Online. Four appointed NPCs can be found in the four main cities. Different factions’ players can talk to corresponding NPCs and then enter the Outpost Battlefield and PK with players from other factions.
In order to protect lower level players, there will be two maps for level 21-40 players and level 41-60 players respectively. Players will be teleported to the corresponding map according to their level.

Strategies
Fighting system players always charge forward under heavy fire like tanks, and are very important in the Outpost Battlefield. Magic players should deal as much damage as they can in time to soften up their enemies for the main tanks. If there are more than two factions’ on a map, players who take part in the Outpost Battlefield the first time may become flustered, and this can be disastrous during battle.

Boss Monsters & Production
Monsters which are as powerful as BOSSes will come to the Outpost Battlefield from 6:00pm to 12:00am everyday. Players can organize teams to defeat these monsters and obtain certain Riddle Pieces. 200 Riddle Pieces can be exchanged for a Certificate.

A guild with more Certificates has a chance to occupy a map in advance in the Totem Battle. On the battlefield, production players can obtain some Riddle Pieces as well by collecting high-level materials. However, their Riddle Pieces are much sought after, these players may be attacked by players from other factions. It is better for them to team up with other fighters and collect materials together.

For more information about this and other events visit:
http://ao.igg.com/act/totemskirmish/

Microsoft say Black Friday Xbox sales strong...

Microsoft was the first to issue a press release, saying that U.S. Xbox 360 console sales over the Black Friday weekend were on pace to beat previous years. It estimated Black Friday sales were up 25 percent on 2007 numbers and that the Xbox 360 outsold the PlayStation 3 by a three-to-one margin.

Of course, analysts are expecting Nintendo to trounce Microsoft in consoles sold. Nintendo doesn’t have a Black Friday report ready yet.

Sony, meanwhile, thumped its chest back at Microsoft. Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing and PlayStation Network at Sony, said in a statement that the company’s U.S. sales are up 90 percent year-to-date and that sales are on track for the company’s fiscal year which ends March 31, 2009.

Retailers reported strong sales on Black Friday, but many analysts attributed that to deep discounting. Video game companies have bundled more games with each console, and Microsoft cut its console prices in September, but the industry hasn’t resorted to big discounts. In the game industry, the most expensive new games debut at $60, but there is always the danger that new games won’t sell well and that used games will surge. That isn’t the case right now, evidently.

Gears of War 2 lived up to the hype. I finished it last week and was quite delighted with the sequel to the 2006 original. Microsoft said it sold 2 million copies of that game on its first weekend after the Nov. 7 launch.

Microsoft said that Fable II and Lips (a sing-along game) also sold well. And it said that sales of Xbox 360 hardware have been strong worldwide since the company cut prices in September. Among the big titles that should push November U.S. sales of video games are Gears of War 2, EA’s Left For Dead, Sony’s LittleBigPlanet and Resistance 2, Activision Blizzard’s World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, THQ’s WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009, and Nintendo’s Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia for the Nintendo DS handheld game player. NPD is expected to publish November game sales results on Dec. 11.

Full text source: The standard

Tomb Raider Underworld video game review...

Tomb Raider is certainly ready to move in new directions. However, before it does, Underworld serves as a suitable exclamation point to wrap up old ideas before moving on to the next big thing. In that capacity, the game is a huge success, delivering the best of what makes Tomb Raider games fun while excising most elements that have irked players in recent years. This game won't likely change your opinion of the character or her adventures, but it's a grand ride for those who still look forward to globetrotting with the British heiress.

Crystal Dynamics acknowledges from the start that it's time to sweep out the old and bring in the new, opening the game with a bang (bye-bye Croft Manor), making it abundantly clear that things are changing for Lara. Underworld features the most cinematic and exciting Tomb Raider plot yet, filled with tense drama and awe-inspiring scenes of discovery. Without explicitly saying so, Underworld serves as the final act of the seemingly disconnected stories presented in Legend and Anniversary. Culling characters and unanswered questions from both, this closing chapter won't leave fans hanging.

The series' basic design tenets remain intact, but they are more polished here than ever before. Clambering along ledges, leaping across dangerous gaps, dodging ancient mechanical traps, and culling endangered animal species... it's all here. What has changed is the sense of scale. Underworld is all about huge mechanisms and sprawling levels. The platforming is top notch, and navigating the varied locales of the game world has never been more fun. Lara's actions feel and look more natural, thanks to some excellent motion-captured animation; cracks only show during occasional transitions between animations. Her moveset is also dramatically expanded, giving her more facility to interact with the environment in the way you want.

The mind-bending puzzles are fun, particularly the impressive number of optional challenges scattered throughout the game to find extra relics and treasures. If anything, some of the puzzles may be too big. I'm as much of a fan of gigantic, pulley-rigged ancient statues as anyone, but there are times where the scale of these contraptions is too massive to even understand what you're doing when you place widget A in slot B. Beyond this frustration, most of the puzzles are a blast to solve, delivering repeated "aha" moments that puzzle gamers can't help but love.

Combat is a marginal step up from previous incarnations, but is still heavily focused on wild leaps around the environment as you hold down the trigger. Unlike before, these combat encounters frequently pop up while you're in the midst of hanging off a ledge or leaping between posts, upping the excitement significantly. Legacy camera problems, meanwhile, haven't improved significantly and is probably the biggest problem still facing the talented development team.

In tone, Underworld hits the target dead center, delivering the perfect mix of isolation and discovery with larger dramatic encounters. No modern cities mar Lara's excursion this time, this is tomb-raiding from beginning to end. Remarkable visuals sell the experience, and a moving score deepens your involvement. The formula behind the game is ready for some fresh ideas, but as a wrap up of old ideas, Underworld hits the sweet spot.

All gamezplay.org posts including video and sexy Alison Carroll the new face of Lara Croft...

PLATFORM: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
STYLE: 1-player action/adventure
PUBLISHER: Eidos

CONCEPT: Explore the hidden ruins of the ancient past in one of Lara Croft's best adventures
GRAPHICS: Gorgeous environments, moody lighting, and slick animation make this a surprise contender for one of the finest looking games of the year
SOUND: A fantastic score sets the mood for exploring mysterious ruins and shooting in desperate gun battles
PLAYABILITY: Lara reacts with ease and precision, but the camera is sometimes frustrating
ENTERTAINMENT: A thrilling adventure for any gamer, but long-time tomb raiders will especially love all the nods to previous narratives
REPLAY VALUE: Moderate
THE BOTTOM LINE: 8.75 out of 10

Source: Courant

NBA Live Jersey contest winners to be announced

They came. They designed. They are being chosen...

The judges are picking the best designs from more than 10,000 entries in the NBA LIVE Jersey Creator Contest.

Check out fan favorites in the galleries and come back to see the winners soon.

Check out the gallery here...

Pit Crew Panic! The All Girl Pit Crew arrive on Nintendo WiiWare

Broken Aircraft Carrier? Leaking Fishing Boat? Giant Broken Wedding Cake? Fear not! Hudson’s All-Female Pit Crew Has You Covered!

The official launch of Pit Crew Panic!, an all-new, wacky “panic-action” game, available for WiiWare. This unique game is loaded with frantic fixing fun as the player’s all-female pit crew repairs a variety of bizarre “WHATSITS” as fast as they can.

Players can choose to play solo and race against the clock or play against their friends to see whose all-female pit crew can hammer, screw and wrench the fastest on a giant broken wedding cake! Inspired grease monkeys can even play online and see whose girls can out-fix their opponents on an aircraft carrier, a broken toilet, a pot of sunflowers, a car with a cake under its hood and many more zany “WHATSITS”!

Pit Crew Panic! is full of crazy frantic action! As broken “WHATSITS” race up to the awaiting pit crew, players will have the power to assign each of their pit crew girls to different sections of the broken item that needs to be fixed. Players have to hurry before timers run out since sections of the broken “WHATSITS” could explode like ticking time bombs or spew automotive fluids and nearby pit crew girls will get stunned or slip!

Players can also help out their pit crew girls in sticky fix-it situations by using their Wii Remote just like a real pit crew tool. Just like any good grease monkey would use a screwdriver, wrench or other pit crew tools, players can use the Wii Remote to hammer away with up and down swings or tighten bolts with a turn of the wrist. There is also a handy tutorial to help players figure out not just how to play the game, but also how to go as fast as they can when fixing all the wacky “WHATSITS” in the game!

“Pit Crew Panic! has taken gameplay with the Wii Remote to fun and creative new extremes,” said Sabine Duvall, Vice President of Product Development at Hudson Entertainment. “The game has a unique sense of humor which players will appreciate as they try to use the Wii Remote as a blowtorch to fix a space station or as a wrench to fix a locomotive.”
Pit Crew Panic! is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).

Grand Theft Auto IV on PC includes SecuROM 7 install

Image via Wikipedia

The upcoming PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV will install SecuROM 7 on customers' systems, although the game maker claims its properly de-fanged the detested DRM technology.

Rockstar told the gaming site IGN that GTA IV's flavor of SecuROM won't limit the number of installs of the game, nor will it restrict the number of machines it can be put on.

Those were arguably the most reviled SecuROM checks previously used on games such as EA's Spore, which have put many gamers up at arms. EA later backed down on the number total Spore installs, but kept the PC limit capped at five.

A Rockstar spokesperson told IGN:

GTA IV PC uses SecuROM for protecting our EXE until street date has passed, to ensure the retail disk is in the computer drive, and is used for Product Activation of the title. Product Activation is a one time only online authentication when installing the game.

The anti-DRM crowd will still have the rest of SecuROM's questionable repertoire to wag a finger at. It had been known to cause hardware problems for some, and even after a game has been removed from your system, uninstalling SecuROM is no easy task.

The latter point explains why the Rockstar rep added that even if a customer uninstalls and re-install GTA IV, it won't require re-authentication. (Unless a customer changes to "major" components on the PC, such as CPU and video card). "Active functions" of SecuROM are removed on the game's installation but "some traces will remain," according to Rockstar. The company said it's presently "working" with SecuROM just to post information on its support pages on how to remove the DRM completely.

Although an internet connection will be required for activation, the game maker said it will provide for rustic customers to activate the game using someone else's machine with web access.

To ward off those looking for the inevitable pirated version of GTA IV with SecuROM removed, the Rockstar spinster went with the angle that property theft isn't as easy, profitable, and amusing as each and every game in the GTA series would suggest:

Aside from the fact that warez are a great place to pick up a Trojan or key logger, using a cracked copy of GTA IV PC will result in varying changes to the game experience. These can range from comical to game-progress-halting changes.

It sounds a bit like the company is leaking bugged versions of the game on file-sharing sites. That may even keep freetards from getting their paws on a stolen digital copy for one — maybe two days tops by our estimate.

Source: The Register and IGN

Monday, December 01, 2008

Lord of the Rings - Mines of Moria online MMO game

The 2007 PC MMO Game of the Year returns with an all-new breakthrough title! The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria drops you into the dark majesty of the world beneath Middle-earth.

Explore a truly vast underground environment like youve never seen before. Battle the terrors of the Nameless Deep with new legendary items that evolve and grow in power as you do.

Watch the HD video here on my YouTube channel...

Al-Quraysh - Strategy Video Game 100 years of Islam's history

"Al-Quraysh" is a strategy game developed by Damascus based Afkar Media, that tells the story of the first 100 years of Islam's history from the viewpoint of four different nations - Bedouins, Arabs, Persians, and Romans.

One can choose to command any of the armies of the four nations or lead the army of the main character, Khaled Ibn Waleed, a Muslim warrior who defeated the Roman and Persian empires and never lost a battle. Or one can play the role of the Bedouin sheikh, who must earn the respect of his tribe. The player has the task of building and protecting trade routes and water sources, building armies, conducting battles, and freeing slaves.

The makers hope "Al-Quraysh," named after the prophet Muhammad's tribe, will help to correct the image of Islam, alleviate tensions with the West, and stoke pride among young Muslims. Afkar Media has already produced two games, both dealing with the plight of the Palestinian people.

One game released last year, "Under Siege," was born out of frustration with the prevalance of Arabs and Muslims portrayed as terrorists in Western video games. The creators of the game say the story line counteracts the biases in some Western games by showing the Palestinian struggle from an Arab vantage point and creating Arab and Muslim characters who are fighting in self-defense.

I haven't had the chance to check out or play any of the AfkarMedia games, although I truly wish I get to, but I think it's great that they're out there and doing all this amazing work.

I also like their choice of subjects and the messages they're trying to get across through their games.

Children say Wii will get fit if it's fun - video games help...

Children will take the recommended amount of exercise they need each day if it is combined with video games, new academic research has reveal

An independent study at the University of Cumbria found that nine in every ten youngsters want to play video games at the same time as exercising. The games reduce the boredom of exercise.
Fifty children aged 11 and 12 were asked to use exercise equipment combined with video games provided by a company called Gamercize.

The children could play their games only while they maintained movement on the fitness machines. If they stopped exercising, the games paused.

Researcher Jack Tyson said: "The results of this study show that 90% of children like combining video games with exercise.

"Only one in five of these children was achieving the recommended one hour a day of moderate physical activity, while three-quarters of them played video games for more than one hour a day."

Today, the National Obesity Forum hailed the findings.

Clinical director Dr David Haslam said: "Physical inactivity in children is a major cause of the obesity epidemic, and Gamercize provides an innovative solution, reducing sedentary behaviour, whilst maintaining enjoyment, making it a popular and appealing remedy. This study begins to show that by providing more novel opportunities, it is possible to increase a child's activity in a painless and effective way."

Tam Fry, the Forum's board member for children and the Honorary Chairman of the Child Growth Foundation, added: "Ideally children should be running around fields and expending energy naturally, but a lot of children are unable to do this so active gaming brings about energy balance. The key to all this is that children must have fun and the value of Gamercize is that children have a great time using it."

Gamercize equipment has proved popular in schools and homes worldwide.

Derbyshire Sport introduced Gamercize equipment into schools this year.

Steve Smith, the schools sports partnership development manager, said: "We have found Gamercize equipment appeals to all children, helping us to provide additional physical activity in our primary and secondary schools. Gamercize has proved both popular with children and is extremely flexible for PE teachers and school sport competition managers alike."

Gamercize products are available locally in the United Sates through leading exergame resellers, see http://www.gamercizeusa.com or http://www.gamercize.net for full details.

About Gamercize

Gamercize, the company behind world leading patented electronic fitness accessories for PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2, Xbox and Gamecube. The company aim is to encourage fitness with motivation and enjoyment, by innovation in technology. Gamercize is a member of the Fitness Industry Association and Youth Sports Trust. Its website is http://www.gamercize.net.

Source: PA

Fernando Torres addicted to video games - buys three of each...

Spanish footballer Fernando Torres, who plays for UK side Liverpool, is addicted to computer games and has spent £35,000 kitting out his home with high-tech toys including three PlayStation 3 consoles.

He is understood to be highly superstitious and his love of three continues when he orders video games.

He has three copies of Pro Evolution Soccer(Surprise!) Grand Theft Auto IV and Halo 3.

Three games rooms three Playstation 3s three Xbox 360s, three of each game and three times three - number nine the number on his jersey.

AramA II Armed Assault video game - military simulator

Director’s cut High Definition movie of the recent ArmA II trailer, created especially for the dedicated fans in the ever-growing ArmA community.

As part of its continued commitment to the loyal ArmA fans, Bohemia Interactive wanted to ensure that the extended trailer provided a detailed look at the game’s weapons, vehicles and the incredible environments in the troubled setting of war-ravaged Chernarus. The ArmA II website also contains even more information about the upcoming military simulation and is packed full of key intel.

“We want to support our fans with fresh materials and news on a regular basis,” said Marek Spanel, CEO of Bohemia Interactive. “This video will be followed by more materials in the close future. Stay tuned and check the ArmA II website for forthcoming info.”

In ArmA II, you’re part of an elite squad of American soldiers sent behind enemy lines to restore peace to Chernarus, a Soviet country ripped apart by civil war as warring rival factions fight to take control of the troubled state. In an epic story full of plot twists and turns, it becomes clear that the troubles plaguing Chernarus are deeper than anyone thought and the battle intensifies to extreme levels.

Watch the ARMA 2 HD video in game trailer here on my YouTube channel...

ArmA II will be available across Europe in 2009.

Space Invaders - Pit Crew Panic - Metal Slug 2 out on Nintendo Wii

After a long, lazy holiday weekend, it's time to shake off your post-Thanksgiving daze. Need some suggestions for boosting your activity level back into the red? Let the latest additions to the Wii Shop Channel be your guide: Take command of a UFO in an epic space battle, get your engine revving as the leader of a frenzied pit crew, or storm the battlefield in a high-tech military mêlée. With all this excitement, you may be ready for another vacation day sooner than you think.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

WiiWare

SPACE INVADERS GET EVEN (Taito, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older-Cartoon Violence, 500 Wii Points): The Space Invaders are back, and this time they're out to get even. Take control of a UFO and make those Earthlings pay by unleashing your fleet of heroic invaders against their puny tanks, fighter jets and artillery-but watch out for the massive boss awaiting you at the end of each stage. Use your invaders' five attack types and the might of the mother ship to rack up high scores, then upload them via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and see where you stand in the global rankings. (Note: Router and broadband access required for online play. For more info, visit www.nintendo.com.)

Pit Crew Panic! (Hudson Entertainment, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Pit Crew Panic! is a frantic, action-packed game that unfolds on the racing circuit. During the game, the pit crew is not only faced with repairing vehicles, but also various WHATSITs. Handling the WHATSIT repairs is a pit crew made up of legendary beauties. The controls are simple: Just grab a member of the crew with the Wii Remote™ controller's A Button, then release the button when the Pointer is over the damaged PART, and that crew member will begin repairs. Assign repairs to the members of your team and provide support using the Wii Remote to send a fully repaired WHATSIT out of the pit as quickly as you can. The game features Normal mode, which can be played using one of two rules: Abnormal mode (players split into two teams and compete against each other) and Ranking mode (compete with players around the world for the top record). Each mode can be played with a maximum of four Wii Remote controllers, allowing you to team up with friends and family. Your teamwork could lead to outstanding records.

Virtual Console

METAL SLUG 2 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen-Blood and Gore, Violence, 900 Wii Points): Released in 1998 by SNK, METAL SLUG 2 is a side-scrolling military-action game. Players choose from Marco, Tarma, Eri and Fio, setting their sights on wiping out Morden's newly remobilized Rebellion Army. Just like the original METAL SLUG, players blaze a trail by shooting and jumping, but METAL SLUG 2 adds a new arsenal for you to command, including a heavy machine gun, a shotgun and even a laser gun, providing players with rich variety. Battle effects are packed in, as well-players turn into mummies after getting caught in poison gas coughed up by mummies. After picking up too many food items, characters turn fat, but they get an attack-strength upgrade. Two-player action is supported, too, so players can have a blast with their friends.

Download a playable demo of Nikopol - Secrets of the Immortals PC game

Playable demo for their adventure game Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals (PC), inspired by the rich futuristic universe created by famed graphic novelist Enki Bilal.

In the demo, players discover the first chapter of the game: ‘Alcide’s Flat’, which gives them a glimpse of the eerie, corrupt atmosphere that is unique to this visually stunning adventure game. Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals is available now at the Lighthouse Interactive European Web Shop and major retail stores across the United Kingdom and Scandinavia.

Download the demo at: FileFront

It is the year 2023 in Paris, France – now ruled by a power-hungry dictator, it is a place where the fascist rich and the abandoned poor are separated by both a literal and figurative wall. As our hero Nikopol, you must thwart a dark conspiracy as one of the leaders plot to take control of Paris and its people, but the story takes a sharp twist. You receive shocking news that your father, Alcide Nikopol, an astronaut sent into orbital exile many decades ago, may be alive and hidden in the city's underground. At the same time an eerie and mysterious pyramid appears floating above the city and is said to be inhabited by powerful Egyptian gods; among them Horus, god of the sky. Your journey will be entangled with political intrigue as you are caught between two worlds… one of anarchy and one of immortality.

FEATURES

· A thrilling challenge set in a rich futuristic universe inspired by famed graphic novelist Enki Bilal
· As Nikopol, you must use cunning and logic to protect yourself from the Immortals' plans and thwart a dark conspiracy
· Interact with a cast of unique characters set in 6 different game environments
· Visually stunning graphics married with immersive gameplay

LEGO Batman wins Best Videogame at the 2008 Children's BAFTA's

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment are pleased to announce that LEGO Batman: The Videogame has won a prestigious Children’s BAFTA Award for Best Videogame 2008.

Developer TT Games was snapped up by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment in 2007 and has since had a hugely successful 2008 seeing the release of LEGO Indiana Jones and LEGO Batman: The Videogame.

TT Games beat stiff competition from Nintendo’s Mario Kart Wii and Professor Layton and the Curious Village to scoop the top prize at the Children’s BAFTA Awards. Only four titles were short-listed for the award two of which were titles developed by TT Games - LEGO Batman: The Videogame and Guinness World Records: The Videogame.

“We’re absolutely delighted; it’s a very special accolade for the whole team” said TT Games head of production Jonathan Smith.

“To get this acknowledgment, here in our home country of the UK, to be acknowledged by the British Academy for the work that everyone’s done on LEGO Batman, was really thrilling.”

Spencer Crossley, head of videogames UK at Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment said, “We extremely happy for everyone at TT Games. They have brought to life two great brands through fantastic game play and lots of humour which works perfectly for children.”

LEGO Batman: The Videogame is the latest game from the award-winning team behind the LEGO Star Wars series of games. With trademark LEGO fun and charm, the game takes you into the world of the ultimate crime-fighting hero. LEGO Batman: The Videogame brings the one-and-only Caped Crusader to life in a completely original storyline. Players will take control of the Dynamic Duo, Batman and Robin, to fight Gotham City’s most notorious criminals including The Joker, The Penguin, Catwoman, Scarecrow, Killer Croc and many more. The criminals have broken out of Arkham Asylum and are set to wreak havoc on the city.

Trainz Simulator 2009 - World Builder Edition 400 locos and 12,500 other items

Create and operate the rail world of your dreams. Build routes, drive locos, issue Driver Commands, download content and much more.

Auran Games and N3VRF41L Publishing today announced that the latest version of their long running Trainz franchise went gold today. Trainz Simulator 2009: World Builder Edition is the culmination of 8 years of ongoing development and is the fifth major release in the series. It delivers new features and graphics capabilities along with over 12,500 rail related items including more than 400 locomotives and hundreds of miles of drivable routes.

"The World Builder Edition for Trainz 2009 is a defining release in the history of Trainz," said Tony Hilliam, Auran CEO and Exec Producer of Trainz. "This release builds upon all the features from previous releases and adds new higher resolution graphics capabilities, more detailed terrain and new tools such as advanced content search filters and custom displacement maps. Many of our audience are dedicated hobbyists who have their favourite version of Trainz from 2004, 2006 through to the Trainz Classics series. Our goal is that Trainz 2009 will provide a united platform for all users which we will continue to improve upon every year."

"Trainz has sold more than a million units around the world since 2001," said Graham Edelsten, Director of N3V Publishing. "We have released a dozen or more different versions aimed at every type of train fan and at every budget. It is truly an evergreen product based around people's enjoyment of the world of trains. Trainz 2009 is backwards compatible with the majority of the 100,000+ items that are available on the Trainz Download Station but it is also capable of handling much higher resolution content as well. It will be very exciting to witness the new content as it is developed and released over the coming months and years. We look forward to bringing that new content to users in every corner of the globe."

TS2009 includes the traditional Surveyor (World Builder) module plus Driver and Railyard. People can create, drive, operate, collect and share content with more than 300,000 registered Trainz fans from around the world. The focus of development for TS2009 has been on improving the underlying systems to bring Trainz into the next generation of graphics and to provide better tools for the community to create their own dream railroad (or railway, depending on where you are in the world). It includes 99% backwards compatibility plus enormous room to expand upon existing content by upgrading assets such as tracks, locos and rolling stock.

Work has already begun on the upcoming Engineers Edition (TEE) which will deliver a range of newly created routes that utilise the new capabilities provide by the World Builder Edition. TEE will be available in retail outlets throughout the world in early 2009.

TS2009 World Builder Edition is available for digital download or mail order on DVD from the Auran Store for USD $29.99. www.auran.com

Range of Free Games availble for Wii, PS3, PC and Mac

Massive Expansion of its Range of Free Games and Content for Home and Portable Videogame Consoles.

Independent videogame and content developer, Mikomi.info, today announces plans to significantly expand its range of free content available for home PCs and online enabled videogame consoles. In addition to opening new play areas on its consistently popular online RPG Warrior Quest, Mikomi.info has also launched a brand new game, Star Blaster, which can be played on both the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 via their console’s respective browsers. Incorporating a distinctive interface, Star Blaster pits players against waves of invading aliens whilst online leader boards allow gamers to compare their skills with those of other players from around the world.

In addition to the launch of Star Blaster, online RPG Warrior Quest has also been expanded with the addition of a new gaming area, Starshine Towers. Since its launch early in 2008, Warrior Quest has attracted hundreds of thousands of gamers and has consistently proven popular with both Wii and PS3 gamers since its launch earlier this year. Online leader boards again connect players from across the world and across gaming platforms. Starshine Towers can be accessed by entering the password “starkid” when prompted in game. Also announced today is a brand new game, Ash’s Quest, which is due to launch before the end of 2008. Combining RPG elements with a side scrolling mechanic, Ash’s Quest will bring more free adventure gaming to consoles, PCs, and Macs this holiday season.

Today’s final announcement is the unveiling of a planned March 2009 launch for Mikomi.info’s debut graphic novel, Xevicom Forever: Remixed. Previously released as an online exclusive, Xevicom Forever has been reworked with new artwork and an expanded script for its print debut next year. In addition to being available through all good comic and graphic novel retailers Xevicom Forever: Remixed will also see an exclusive version released for PlayStation Portable.

Mikomi.info is an independent game and content developer for PC, Mac, and online enabled home videogame consoles. Its website, www.mikomi.info, hosts a variety of exclusive content for players that include games, comics, and graphic novels. For more information please visit http://www.mikomi.info

Dokapon Kingdom video game - meet the heroes

Meet the Characters: Job Classes Among The Heroes Of Dokapon

They each have their own unique strengths...who will you become?

Like most RPGs worth their salt, Dokapon Kingdom allows players to choose from a variety of job classes in the development of their ideal adventurer. At the beginning, players choose from one of three job types - Warrior, Thief, or Magician - each with a unique bonus ability or trait. For example, the Warrior can randomly receive a boost to his or her attack at the start of a turn, although the Warrior insists that no illegal performance enhancement drugs are involved. The Thief can steal one random item or field magic from another player when he or she passes through them on the play field (and they really don’t care what they snatch, so long as their target has something to lose). Lastly, the Magician can cast two field magic spells prior to their turn, whereas other player classes can only cast one.

After a little bit of adventuring, players will be able to master their existing job and unlock new ones. Clerics can randomly heal a little HP at the start of a turn (“we don’t need no steenkin’ potions”), the Acrobat can bounce back from a fatal blow every now and then (gracefully, we should add), and the Ninja can use two items prior to the start of a turn (that’s what agility gets you). There’s a ton of variety, and a ton of different ways to play based on the kind of character you work towards. Each class also has a preferred type of weapon, yielding a significant performance increase when equipped for the right type of adventurer.

Here’s a listing of job classes you’ll find in Dokapon Kingdom (excluding a couple secret ones):

Warrior
Strong in attack and defense abilities, the Warrior receives a random boost to his AT (attack) stat at the start of a round.
Preferred weapon: Sword

Magician
Physically frail but strong in the arcane arts, the Magician is able to cast two spells prior to his or her turn, whereas other classes can only cast one.
Preferred weapons: Staff, Wand

Thief
Trained to be fast and agile, the Thief will often be the fastest player in a fight, and uses his or her shiftiness to steal one random item or field magic from every player it passes by on the play field.
Preferred weapon: Dagger

Cleric
A potent magician but serviceable in a fight, the Cleric randomly heals some HP (health points) at the start of turns, a very useful trait in tough areas.
Preferred weapons: Spear, and to a lesser extent Axe or Hammer

Alchemist
The Alchemist is a master of items. No doubt a result of numerous experiments, the Alchemist has mastered the ability to randomly duplicate an item or field magic every now and then. If he has rare items in his possession, this ability increases in value exponentially.
Preferred weapons: Staff, Wand

Monk
The Monk, master of meditation, can dramatically boost his abilities in times of need. This 50% boost to all stats makes the Monk an absolutely lethal adversary at his or her best.
Preferred weapon: Bare Knuckles

Ninja
The Ninja, deft and cunning, has the ability to use two items prior to a turn. Considering how powerfull some of the rarer items in the game are, this allows the Ninja to potentially wreak a lot of havoc before their turn even begins.
Preferred weapon: Sword

Acrobat
The Acrobat is the ultimate master of physical grace and beauty. This offers him or her the ability to feign death following a critical blow. Opponents will be stunned as the Acrobat gracefully jumps back to their feet, ready for another round of battle.
Preferred weapon: Crossbow

Spellsword
The Spellsword, being a master of magic and blade combat, has a counter for field magic that he or she is randomly able to employ. Nothing is more disheartening to an opponent than to see their potent magic thwarted.
Preferred weapon: Sword

Dokapon Kingdom, the friendship-destroying game, is scheduled for release on October 14.

Search This Blog

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Monday, December 01, 2008