New server for free online golf simulator Shot Online PC video game

The launch of an all new server and exciting in-game events for its popular MMO golf simulation game, Shot-Online.

Beginning today, players will find an all-new Shot-Online server to play on. As part of the celebration of the newly added server, GamesCampus will be hosting exciting events for new and existing Shot-Online players to enjoy. Events include offering free green fees for all courses, while hosting a tournament to give away prizes including repairable Hurricane and Tornado club sets and much more.

The game can be downloaded and played for free here.

Shot-Online is hosting three different events in celebration of the new server. The three events include offering free green fees for all courses, as well as a tournament dedicated to Level One players who have just created a character and starting out, while the third event takes place on February 28th when the character who reached the highest level from each avatar will win the top prize, a repairable Tornado club set. There will be multiple prizes given out so everyone is encouraged to come and join the fun!

"Opening a new server is just like launching a whole new version of Shot Online," said Tony Liu,producer of Shot-Online. "The new server benefits all players by providing a fresh start to new gamers, and allowing existing players to meet new people, new friends, and new rivals at the same time!"

About Shot-Online
Shot-Online, developed by Gamescampus.com, is a hybrid massively multiplayer online game. This golf simulation game incorporates elements of traditional role-playing and is enhanced by proprietary physics software. This software allows for real-world golf ball behavior based on environmental factors. Detailed 3-D graphics and realistic animation enhance the user-experience as players help their characters grow in skill and capability. Team and solo competitions allow players a chance to win game currency with which users can purchase skill-enhancing items.

For more information about Gamescampus.com or Shot-Online, please visit

Warrior Epic website launched with closed beta sign up page...

www.warriorepic.com Now Accepting Registrants For The Upcoming Warrior Epic Closed-Beta Test Coming Later This Month

True Games Interactive, an international publisher of multi-player online games, has launched a brand new website for its highly anticipated Online action MMORPG, Warrior Epic www.warriorepic.com. Along with many new features to the website, True Games is proud to announce that it is now accepting sing-ups for players who hope to be part of the upcoming closed beta test for the game. The closed beta test will only have a limited number of spots available so those interested in being part of it are encouraged to sign up now at the website for a chance to qualify.

"It's an exciting time for both True Games and Possibility Space as we see all the elements of our work on Warrior Epic coming together,"
said Jeff Lujan, Founder and Chairman of True Games Interactive. "The website looks amazing and offers gamers a great look at what is to come for the game. We are amazed at how many people want to be part of the closed beta so we invite you to sign up now for your chance!"

The stunning new website introduces new information and visuals on the exciting environments in the game, along with a sneak peek at the warrior halls; which play a key role in the game. Fans can also check out and participate in the community forums and download cool wallpapers, screen shots and videos from the media downloads page.

About Warrior Epic

Warrior Epic www.warriorepic.com is an online, action role-playing game set in an original fantasy universe. In the game, players will assume command of a Warrior Hall from which they manage their characters' adventures. They can recruit from a wide array of Warrior Classes, each with its own style of play. The Classes and the Hall itself can be upgraded visually as well as functionally. Players adventure together in multiplayer campaigns, adventure mode, solo quests and PVP.

One of the most unique aspects of Warrior Epic is that death does not mean the end of a warrior. Instead, it opens totally new and strategic options for players. The game's unique Warrior Spirits System enables fallen warriors to not only be revived at any time at their hall, but also to be transformed into Spirits that can be bound to weapons to increase and open weapon abilities and skills, or they can be called out to inflict massive damage depending on player needs.

Unlike most MMO's today, Warrior Epic will offer players a satisfying online experience even if they have only a few hours a week to play.

One of the ways Warrior Epic achieves this is by putting a heavy emphasis on focused, session-based missions. These 20-30 minute sessions allow a player to make significant progress in regards to leveling their Warrior, gaining loot, and accomplishing more in a much shorter timeframe than other existing games.

For additional details on Warrior Epic and for continuous updates on the game, please visit: www.warriorepic.com.

Runes of Magic PC video game launch set for March 19th free beta accounts now...

Highly Anticipated MMORPG to launch on March 19th, 2009

Frogster Interactive today announced that following a three month open beta test, that has seen over 450,000 players explore the world of Taborea, the highly anticipated massively multiplayer online role-playing game Runes of Magic will launch of March 19th, 2009.

"Since the open beta test launch is December, the population of Taborea has soared and we have been working closely with our community to fine tune the Runes of Magic experience", said Daniel Ullrich, Director of Product Management at Frogster, "We look forward to welcoming thousands of new players to Taborea during the next few weeks, as we get ready to fully launch Runes of Magic".

Runes of Magic started the open beta with an English and a German version in the middle of December 2008. All interested players can now download the online-role playing game and enter into the fantasy world after creating an account for free on www.runesofmagic.com.

Runes of Magic – a world full of wizardry and adventure

With an extensive range of features Runes of Magic prepares to redefine the standard of free2play MMO games. Runes of Magic conveys an absorbing story through more than 1.000 quests embedded in an atmospheric fantasy setting. Players can choose between six main classes and combined with a secondary class they present 30 individual combinations of character classes over all. All characters possess unique skills with impressive combo attacks and can use mounts like war horses and more. A particularly attractive feature for guilds and players is the possibility to arrange their own virtual homes with individual furnishing. Thanks to an extensive crafting and reputation system, thrilling PVP, as well as demanding dungeons and boss-monsters, no wishes remain unsatisfied. The Taiwanese developer Runewaker has developed Runes of Magic according to western MMO standards within a time frame of three years. The studio will provide new challenges for players every three to four months with free add-ons and updates. MMO fans can find more information, pictures and videos on the official website www.runesofmagic.com.

Features

- Free2play: no monthly fees, free download
- Extensive dual class system (six primary and secondary classes)
- Versatile spell- and attack-combinations
- Enthralling background story
- More than 1.000 quests and quest series on launch
- No zone boundaries thanks to seamless architecture
- Dungeons: Instanced and tile based as well as persistent
- Individually developable skills and spells
- Armour sets with special bonuses
- Dynamic item system with hundreds of runes for upgrading
- Optional PvP system with arena battles and guild wars
- Ranking system with player-ranking lists
- Multitude of unique mounts
- Epic crafting system with the chance to improve existing items
- Personalization of player houses through individual furnishing
- Reputation system
- Customisable user interface with the option to use Add-Ons
- Map and radar system to find dealers, resources and quests easily
- In-game auction houses for trading items
- Teleport-Runes for instant travel
- Mouse and keyboard controls for movement
- Regular updates with new content
- Cross-server fights in three-server-battle in development
- Guild houses in special zones in development

EVE online MMO PC video game 30 day free trial

Exclusive promotion brings CCP's popular Sci-Fi Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMO) to Rock Notebooks during February and March 2009

Rock, Europe’s leading gaming laptop manufacturer, today announced a partnership with CCP, the developers of EVE Online, to provide its Notebook customers with an exclusive, 30-day free trial of leading MMO EVE Online. The EVE Online trial will come pre-installed on all Rock Notebooks sold in the February and March 2009, presenting serious gamers with the opportunity to immerse themselves in an advanced, constantly evolving game.

Set in space, tens of thousands of years in the future, the persistent universe of EVE Online features explosive warfare, a fully-fledged economy and a complex society with a class system and its own representative democracy. With more than a quarter of a million subscribers, EVE Online is a sophisticated game that requires advanced strategic gameplay to succeed. Its single-sharded world enables players to build their reputations and achieve a real legacy built on in-world fame.

“We design and manufacture some of the fastest, high-performance gaming notebooks in the world, inevitably our customer base is primarily composed of serious gamers,” says Nick Boardman of Rock. “EVE Online is just the kind of advanced, graphics-intensive game that appeals to our audience. Our partnership with CCP enables us to deliver greater value to our gaming customers.”

“With overlapping audiences, our partnership with rock is highly synergistic in that rock Notebooks run EVE Online with our graphics turned all the way up, enabling rock customers to experience the gameplay and art of EVE as it was meant to be,” says Magnús Bergsson, VP of sales, CCP. “Through this partnership, both CCP and rock will be able to further expand their audiences. We’re thrilled to work together.”

Please visit www.rockdirect.com for more information.

Grand Ages Rome download demo - this week

Viva Media will distribute the demo for Grand Ages: Rome later this week. The demo is comprehensive, allowing gamers a glimpse into the game’s many exciting features. Viva Media CEO, Carlo Voelker, commented, “Players will experience great graphics alongside complex city building, character development, and much more in this limited, but enticing taste of the game.”

The demo will introduce many exciting aspects from the full game. Two missions will be available for players to try their hand at building an empire. In the first mission, Bread and Circuses, the player will have to construct a small city, while in the second, Legio VIII, their strategic and military skills will be tested as well.

A rising empire awaits you! Can you lead the greatest civilization in the world?

Demo Quick Facts:

Basic Tutorial & Combat Tutorial included
2 complete missions: Bread and Circuses and Legio VIII
2 noble families to join: Aemilii and Valerii
1 exciting cut-scene to enjoy
Demonstration of Research, Estates, and Talents mechanics

Fate of Free Radical Design to be decided tomorrow

The fate of Free Radical Design will be announced formally tomorrow - Wednesday, February 4.

The TimeSplitters and Haze developer went into administration at the end of the year, and numbers were cut at the studio bringing headcount down to 40.

Administrator ReSolve Partners has said that it will make the announcement this week, after indicating that there has been "very strong" interest in the company.

While the administrator had been striving to sell the company as a whole, ReSolve did indicate that it would be prepared to split technology, IP and other assets if it meant a more lucrative sale.

A number of companies have been rumoured to be interested in Free Radical Design, including Codemasters and Monumental Games, but ReSolve has also indicated that there has been interest from outside of the videogames industry.

Source: GamesIndustry

EA granted exclusive video game license by Ludlum Entertainment

EA announce that Ludlum Entertainment has granted the company exclusive worldwide license to create video games based on the works of Robert Ludlum, including the Jason Bourne series.

Under the multi-year agreement, EA will release the first game based on Jason Bourne, which is currently in development with Starbreeze Studios in Uppsala, Sweden.

Mike Quigley, group vice president of marketing, EA Games Label, said that this agreement will bring the action, intrigue and intensity of Robert Ludlum's fiction to life for casual and core gamers.

EA said that Matt Wolf, a video game veteran, will work with EA to oversee the creative development, production and positioning of the Ludlum Entertainment games portfolio.

Financial details of the license agreement were not disclosed.

Smartphones including iPhone and Blackberry massive increase in video game downloads...

The number of people downloading mobile games grew 17% year-on-year to 8.5 million - with smartphones, such as the iPhones and Blackberry, overtaking traditional mobiles for the first time ever.

"The rapid growth in smartphone adoption in the United States has provided a boost for mobile gaming, as 34 per cent of those downloading a game in November did so using a smartphone," said Mark Donovan, senior analyst, comScore.

The study of US consumers showed that the number of smartphone owners downloading a game nearly tripled, while downloads on traditional phones dipped 14 per cent.

iPhone owners now represented 14 per cent of all downloaded mobile game in November, with 32.4 per cent of all iPhone users reporting they downloaded a game in the month, compared with a market average of 3.8 per cent.

"Last year, not one smartphone appeared in the top 10 devices used for mobile downloads," Donovan explained. "This year, six out of 10 are smartphones, excluding devices with smartphone-like functionality, such as the Instinct and Voyager, which also make appearances."

"As the mobile phone has evolved into a better platform for both playing and merchandising games, the games being offered have also been improved, drawing in a broader user base."

"Over the past year, we have seen mobile gaming expand into a broadening demographic, with strongest growth among teens, who previously eschewed their mobile device in favour of handheld gaming devices, and those 35 and older," Donovan concluded.

Source: GamesIndustry

Blood Magic gets Time of Shadows PC video game add-on

Leading Eastern and Central European publisher 1C Company today announced the development of Time of Shadows.

Time of Shadows is an add-on to the popular action RPG Blood Magic which now unveils its world of magic even further. Over hundred new spells, divided into 12 magic schools, bring fresh power to your fight against hordes of enemies as you stop their invasion. Follow your destiny and uncover the truth behind the sinister plot. As with Blood Magic you can again create unique combinations of spells which are especially useful in multiplayer mode. This system of magic is the most innovative ever seen in a modern RPG. Players can also compete in 2-person duels or in large arenas against many others in true melee combat.

Time of Shadows is currently scheduled for a spring 2009 release.

Blood Magic is a third-person action RPG where the weapon of choice is magic. The game is set in a richly detailed medieval fantasy world, allowing the player a wide variety of choices both in individual quests and character development. There are over a dozen different fields of magic, allowing players many choices for specialization. The most unique aspect of the magic system is the ability to combine spells.

Please find more information about Time of Shadows at www.1cpublishing.eu/game/time-of-shadows.

Sims 2 tops US PC video games chart - 8 out of 10 games form EA or Activision

Electronic Arts and Activision dominate the top ten of the US PC games chart for the week ended January 24.

US PC games chart follows:

01 The Sims 2 Double Deluxe
02 World Of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Expansion Pack
03 Spore
04 The Sims 2 Apartment Life Expansion Pack
05 Fallout 3
06 World Of Warcraft: Battle Chest
07 World Of Warcraft
08 Left 4 Dead
09 Civilization IV
10 Call Of Duty: World At War