Xbox 360 outsells Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3 in Japan last week

Microsoft's Xbox 360 sold more consoles than Sony and Nintendo in japan, last week, for the first time in five months.

Star Ocean - The Last Hope from the blockbuster video game series from Square Enix's helped push sales.

• Xbox 360 -21,013
  
• Nintendo Wii - 16,900 
  
• PlayStation 3 - 15,927

"Star Ocean: The Last Hope", which is designed for the Xbox 360, went on sale on Feb. 19 in Japan, and is estimated to have sold 173,850 units by Feb. 22, becoming the top-selling game software in the country last week, the research firm said.

Wolfire - Black Shades action packed video game on iPhone and iPod Touch

The classic action-packed title is now mobile.

Wolfire released its classic first person shooter Black Shades for the iPhone today. Fans can find it on the app store for only 99 cents.

Black Shades is an intense first-person-shooter game about a bodyguard protecting a VIP from an onslaught of assassins. Originally created by Wolfire's lead programmer David Rosen (while he was was still in high school) Black Shades has been ported to iPhone by Henry Kropf with support from the rest of the Wolfire team.

Features:

• Use seven different weapons to take down the assassins, or use your bare hands to disarm them!
• Slow down time to line up the perfect headshot for instant kills!
• Use the shotgun to blast the heads off of hordes of zombies!
• Zoom in with the scoped rifle to take out enemy snipers!
• Watch enemies fall to the ground with realistic physics!

"It sounds impossible, but Black Shades actually manages to turn the generally plodding, infuriating task of the escort mission into something challenging, fun, and strangely replayable. And before you say anything, yes: the graphics do suck, and no, it isn't a big deal." -Destructoid.com

"The game does a great job of making you feel like a psychic bodyguard with very basic graphics and simple game mechanics, and that’s really something. It’s so satisfying when you catch an assassin rushing in with a knife, only to plug him with your gun… or when you spy a sniper across the street, and knock over the VIP as a bullet whizzes over his head." - Tigsource.com

For more information check out the Wolfire Blog

and the Black Shades iPhone launch page

New "Halo Wars" Video Series Examines Expanded "Halo" Universe free demo download on Xbox Live

“Halo Wars” sets the stage for one of the most beloved video game conflicts to date: Humanity’s struggle to save the universe from annihilation at the hands of a relentless consortium known as the Covenant.

Halo Wars Episode 3 and Episode 4 YouTube videos - please subscribe...

In a new video series from Microsoft, “Halo Wars: Universe Expanded” examines this epic story which spans across four game titles. With insight from creators, critics and the franchise’s biggest fans, this series told in three acts illustrates why “Halo Wars” is such an important chapter in the “Halo” timeline.

Act 1 draws deeply on the story and art elements that make up “Halo” and how they are presented in “Halo Wars” and previous titles starring Master Chief. This required viewing for all “Halo” fans titled “Universe Expanded: Act I” is available for download on Xbox.com/Halo and on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, with subsequent acts following the week of 2nd March.

“Halo Wars” is rated 16+ PEGI, and is available in Europe on the 27th February. A demo is now available on Xbox LIVE in all LIVE enabled regions worldwide. For more information, visit Xbox.com/Halo or HaloWars.com.

Over 1.5 million players play Moshi Monsters game

New features boost the unstoppable global growth of Moshi Monsters

Mind Candy (developers of the online game for kids, Moshi Monsters) today announced that over 1.5 million Monsters have now been adopted at www.moshimonsters.com. The free-to-play online children’s game with an educational twist announces explosive worldwide growth since its recent launch.

Moshi Monsters Cheats, Codes, Hints and Game tips....

CEO of Mind Candy, Michael Smith, commented: "We’ve been absolutely amazed by the early growth of Moshi Monsters. Every month hundreds of thousands of children from all over world are joining the community and adopting their own pet monster. Children love the social gaming element while parents appreciate the educational qualities of the puzzle games.”

The company also revealed a number of new updates to the game recently including “Moshlings”, collectable pet Monsters that vary in rarity and style.
With over 40 Moshlings to collect in total, the race is already on to see who can capture the full set. The winner will be honoured with their very own in-game statue built on Main Street within Monstro City to celebrate this great achievement!

Moshi Monsters is a world of adoptable pet monsters, an exciting cross between a virtual pet, social network and educational puzzle games site for kids. The puzzles test a variety of skills including basic maths, spatial awareness, logic, counting, anagrams and vocabulary. Moshi Monsters is free to play, allowing kids to adopt their own pet monster and play games online with millions of other children across the world.

To create your free Moshi Monster and enter a world of fun and puzzles visit www.moshimonsters.com

NEW POST - Moshi Monsters Cheats, Codes, Hints and Game tips....

Navy Field PC video game - New Server Open and Update of New Submarines & Game Mode!

Navy Field Europe launched their new server “Yamato” today with a special Event of Double Exp, Credits and Points for a 1 month period.

At the opening, many other events have been started. Among others, NFEU is arranging Ranking Events, a Level 30 Challenging Event, and they will open special battle rooms in the next period where players have to fulfill specific objectives.

Event participants can win many Premium Items and Navy Field Crystals.

Gamers can check the details at http://www.navyfield.eu/eng/event/list.asp

NFEU also released their newest patch today, with the 3rd generation of submarines, new weapons and additional functions for submarine captains, as well an advanced Night Battle mode.

Next week, Thursday March 5th, an additional patch will follow with a special game mode for Light and Heavy Cruisers.

Furthermore the newest Balance Update for battleship nears completion. As a result all battleships on the Ship Tree, from First until last, will be revised. In addition the Account System will be updated in March.

Anno - Create a New World on Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS

Uniquely Designed for the Wii and the Nintendo DS, New Game Allows Players to Create Their Own Flourishing Empire

Today Ubisoft announced Anno: Create a New World, a real-time strategy and simulation game specifically designed for the Wii home video game system and the Nintendo DS hand held system.
Scheduled for release in summer 2009, Anno: Create a New World gives gamers the opportunity to explore new civilizations and build their own empire like never before through the immersive action of the Wii Remote and the DS stylus.

“ANNO: Create a New World allows gamers to take the civilization building experience to the next level of fun and interactivity,” said John Parkes, marketing director EMEA at Ubisoft, “We’re pleased to be bringing the brand new, uniquely designed game to the Wii and Nintendo DS for the first time.”

Developed by Keen Games, ANNO: Create a New World takes place in 1404: King Georges’ land is suffering from droughts and famine. Aware of the distress of his citizens, the King decides to send his two sons, William and Edward to gain new territories in order to produce enough goods to satisfy the inhabitants. Whereas Edward suggests fighting to collect the precious resources, his brother, William offers a peaceful solution proposing to explore new and unsettled lands in the south of the Kingdom. With the agreement of his father, William heads to the South and discovers the mysterious orient culture.

Key Features of ANNO: Create a New World :

• Explore & create with fun and ease

- Explore a beautiful world, discover new places to settle and create your own realm
- Learn from other cultures (Oriental, European…) & expand your horizons
- All the controls are intuitive, the interface is fully adapted to the consoles’ gameplay

• Discover how to manage cities & societies

- Be considerate, plan wisely and learn to manage resources
- Satisfy the needs of your citizens and care for your society

• Enjoy friendly, peaceful family entertainment

- Relax & build your cities in a rich and peaceful world
- Play together with your family & friends and let them help you to create your world thanks to the 2-player co-op mode for Nintendo Wii and the 4-player multiplayer mode on the Nintendo DS

In addition, ANNO: 1404 the next PC game of the ANNO franchise developed by Related Design will be also available this summer 2009.

Ninja Blade out april 7th Ninja Blade Free Xbox Live demo download March 9th

Free Xbox LIVE demo coming March 9 - Bonus content available with title pre-order

Microsoft and FromSoftware announced today that Xbox 360 exclusive “Ninja Blade” has gone gold and will ship to retailers in the UK on April 3rd. FromSoftware, well-known for their work on “Armored Core” and the “Tenchu” franchise, created a modern ninja epic where Ken Ogawa and his team of skilled fighters battle a terrifying disease that transforms the citizens of Tokyo into an infected monster horde. Armed with an extensive arsenal of ninja weapons and abilities, including Ninja Vision and Todomé Attack, players confront grueling challenges in their mission to save humanity.

Get a head start on the action by downloading the “Ninja Blade” demo on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Available March 9, this free demo will provide players with an engaging first look into the world of Ken Ogawa and a chance to battle the monster horde before the game hits store shelves in April.

“Ninja Blade” will have an estimated retail price of £44.99 and is rated PEGI 16+. For more information, visit www.xbox.com/ninjablade.

Cities XL - City Builder PC video game

In Cities XL, the main game will be a city builder: You will be the mayor of a city and you must try to regulate its development. We say “try” because you will not have 100% control over what happens in your city – the city simulation will have a certain autonomy, combining both unyielding logical rules (the public sector) and decisions taken by independent entities (the private sector). It is this simulation that we will describe here. This article will be spread over several blog entries.

1.1 Resources

The simplest rule has to do with resources. Some buildings will supply one or more resources, while other buildings will consume them. First and foremost, there will be resources useful to the city: electricity, fuel, water, waste management. Then there will be industrial resources: agriculture, industry (heavy, manufacturing, high-tech), and services (hotels, and “offices” that represent the tertiary services – finance, the legal profession, marketing, and research). Finally, there will be transport.

Players will not necessarily have to establish a fine balance between supply and demand for each of these services. They will however have to keep an eye out for potential imbalances. For example, a resource that is in too short supply will see its price rising, which can have a negative effect on the businesses that use it. This will reduce the city’s tax income or, worse, result in bankruptcies. If electricity is too expensive, it could result in heavy industry moving out of the city. In contrast, a resource that is over-supplied will see its price collapse. This could have an effect on the industries that produce it.

1.2 Services

Other buildings will provide services to the population. This category includes education, health, the police, the fire department, shopping, and leisure. The bigger and wealthier the city becomes, the more demanding the citizens will be in terms of the quality, quantity, and variety of services available nearby. Residents will take into account the distance that separates their home from a building providing a service. This distance will be calculated based on roads and transport facilities. It’s not much use being close to a hospital as the crow flies if you’re actually on the other side of a river and there’s no bridge… Ease of access to a hospital for different inhabitants, taking roads and traffic into account. Similarly, traffic jams will in effect increase the distance from a service. Players will therefore need to improve the transport infrastructure by building highways and providing bus services.

1.3 Living environment

The third important factor will be the living environment. In this context, certain buildings will have a negative impact: buildings that emit pollution or make noise, industrial dangers, and abandoned buildings. Others will have a positive impact: nature in the vicinity of the city, parks, and monuments.
The living environment will be an important factor in citizens’ satisfaction levels. It will be easy to control at the start of the game, but will become more complicated as the city grows.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 - Grand Slam Tennis on Nintendo Wii from EA Sports

New Nintendo Wii MotionPlus Compatible Products Launching In June

Electronic Arts today announced that Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 and EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis will be the first two products from the EA SPORTS label that utilize the functionality of the Wii MotionPlus. EA SPORTS has at least five products, including EA SPORTS Active in May, in development that will launch before the end of 2009 designed specifically for the Nintendo Wii.

“On the Wii, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 and EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis bring the authentic motion and excitement of championship golf and tennis to life for fans of all ages and skill levels,” said Peter Moore, President, EA SPORTS. “With the new Wii MotionPlus, slicing a winner on Centre Court at Wimbledon or dropping an 8 iron pin high on No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass have never felt better. We couldn’t be more excited about the dynamic new EA SPORTS experiences coming this year to the Wii.”

With the all-new Wii MotionPlus, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 will allow golf fans to experience a near-perfect 1:1 swing – and control to work the ball – from the tee box to the green. The game brings players inside the ropes to experience the drama of PGA TOUR tournament for the first time. Feel the intensity and excitement on every swing as you compete against the leaderboard.

EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis, available first for the Wii, puts the racket in the palm of your hand and offers the deepest tennis experience ever for the Wii. As the home to all four Grand Slams, and exclusive to Wimbledon, you can take your customized created player on a quest to win the four slams in Grand Slam career mode. Giving gamers a chance to play at Wimbledon’s famed Centre Court adds a level of authenticity that isn’t available anywhere else. EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis delivers an authentic tennis experience that makes you feel like you are playing with and against the sport’s greatest legends and today’s current stars.

Resident Evil demo downloads top 4 million on Xbox 360 and PS3

Capcom's Jun Takeuchi has revealed that the Resident Evil 5 demo has been downloaded over four million timess on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles worldwide.

The information emerged in an MTV interview, in which Takeuchi discussed acusations of racism surrounding the title.

"When the game is out to the mainstream and on the shelves and being played by users, I'm not expecting it to be a problem," he explained, adding: "People will be able to play the game and see what it is for themselves."

Microsoft also announced plans to launch a limited edition red Resident Evil Xbox 360 Elite to coincide with the release of the game. See my earlier gamezplay.org post...

The new coloured console will retail for $399, with a copy of Resident Evil 5, plus Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, the limited edition console will be available from March 13.

Colplay first Lips video game download song pack

The first downloadable Lips song pack will be available on March 13th and features Coldplay Microsoft have revealed.

Three tracks - Speed of Light, The Scientist and In My Place will feature.

On 27th February they plan to add Amber by 311 , In the Shadows by The Rasmus plus The Adventure by Angels and Airways. Later on March 6th Hook Me Up by The Veronicas, Shake It by Metro Station and Lips of an Angel by Hinder will also be added.

A game update is also expected in March with improved scoring and vibrato detection added to a global leaderboard offering.

Kart Racer and Truck Racer on Nintendo Wii plus PlayStation 2 and PC April 24th release

Nordic Games Publishing AB today announces their second set of console titles, Kart Racer and Truck Racer, for the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2 and PC.

Both titles will launch across EMEA on the 24th April 2009.

Kart Racer is a fast paced game that really hones in your close proximity racing skills, and Truck Racer is all about muscle power versus smaller more nimble utilitarian vehicles. The two genres were chosen to appeal to a wider gaming audience, and also mark the beginning of a range of Racer titles.

Pelle Lundborg, Publishing Director, Nordic Games says, “We used the consumer sales research data from over 2,000 retail installed Game Outlet pallets which led to the conclusion that racing games were great impulse purchases for parents and young gamers alike, so our strategy was to utilise this data and produce games that fit the market.”

Kart Racer and Truck Racer were developed by racing specialist game developer Brain in a Jar. Working out of Oulton Park Race Circuit they are responsible for over 20 racing games in the last 10 years.

Lundborg concludes, “Our intention is to deliver a set of entertaining products at the right price point, and we’ve found that both Kart and Truck Racer play especially well with steering wheel accessories so we expect the games will be sold as high value-for-money bundles when they arrive in the stores.”

Kart Racer & Truck Racer will launch on the 24th April, with an SRP of £14.99 / €19.99 for the WiiTM versions and £9.99 / €12.99 for both the PlayStation®2 and PC versions.

Full list of New games announced for Nintendo Systems in 2009

While everyone is still buzzing about the upcoming April 5 launch of the Nintendo DSi system, video game fans will have plenty of great games and experiences to keep them busy. Nintendo has an extensive, diverse library of about 120 games on the way for both the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS systems. Upcoming Nintendo-published video games for Nintendo Wii include:

Excitebots: Trick Racing has elements that make it one of the more unique racing games on the market. It launches April 20 and lets everyone in the family use the Wii Wheel™ accessory in unique and changing environments, play fun minigames and perform crazy tricks in a game that builds on the Excitebike and Excite Truck franchises.

Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, originally made for the Nintendo GameCube system, launches May 4 with newly added motion controls. It's the latest in Nintendo's New Play Control! series of games.

Punch-Out!! launches May 18 and brings back all of the fun of the beloved, classic NES game that thrilled players in the early 1990s. Boxers battle as iconic hero Little Mac as they fight their way through a cast of new and familiar boxing opponents on their quest to win the coveted WVBA (World Video Boxing Association) Championship Belt.

Nintendo's downloadable WiiWare service continues to be a showcase for new games, new concepts and new ideas. A selection of upcoming titles includes:

• BIT.TRIP BEAT, developed by Gaijin Games and published by Aksys Games: BIT.TRIP BEAT is what you get when you mix classic video gaming with modern gaming sensibilities. What may seem like a simple "paddle" game turns into a psychedelic trip down memory lane which has you hitting "beats" in rhythm to Chiptune style music. While the game can be difficult, if you crank up the tunes and get in the zone, you'll have a great time. Performing perfectly isn't required to experience all the game's content, but the extra challenge will keep score-hunters coming back in search of each level's elusive "PERFECT" score.

• Eduardo the Samurai Toaster, developed and published by Semnat Studios LLC: Fight your way through 13 diverse locations on your own or with up to three friends in this frenetic and stylish side-scrolling action game. Play as Eduardo and his fellow toaster buddies as you fire an assortment of pastries at all kinds of dastardly food products. Hop onto laser-mounted scooters and fly across the screen in rocket packs, and learn to cooperate with your teammates or simply annoy each other in an awesomely fun way by throwing each other around the screen. The choice is up to you.

• Night Game, developed and published by Nicalis: Exclusively for WiiWare, Night Game (working title) is part action game and part puzzler. It invites players into a beautifully atmospheric world, where they must use real physics to maneuver a mysterious, glowing sphere through vastly different locales. Night Game pushes the boundaries of design with its unique art style, and professionally produced music score. This title is a 2009 Independent Games Festival Seumas McNally Award nominee and from the same developers responsible for Cave Story on Wii.

• Swords & Soldiers, developed and published by Ronimo Games: Swords & Soldiers is a side-scrolling real-time strategy game, in which three distinct factions battle for the powers of the gods. The goal is to destroy the enemies' castle on the other end of the level, while protecting your own. This can be done by training powerful units or casting devastating spells. The game will feature a single-player campaign and a competitive split-screen multiplayer mode as well as several other game modes.

Great titles are also on the way for the portable Nintendo DS system. Some Nintendo-published video games for Nintendo DS include:

Rhythm Heaven is an infectious video game that has been a huge hit in Japan. Players tap and slide the stylus on the touch screen in time to the beat. This fun, stylized game launches April 5.

A new entry in the Personal Trainer series is Personal Trainer™: Walking, which launches May 25. Personal Trainer: Walking tracks users' progress and makes going for a walk a little more fun. It comes with two pedometers that users can wirelessly connect to their Nintendo DS system when they return home.

In The Legendary Starfy game, which launches June 8, players dive into a spectacular undersea adventure with Starfy, the legendary hero of Pufftop. Players swoop into enemies like a shooting star, glide over bottomless chasms and transform into powerful creatures to help a mysterious, bunny-eared visitor find his lost memory.

In recent weeks, multiple third-party publishers have announced plans to boost their support of Nintendo systems. Between now and June, Nintendo fans will enjoy games like: The Conduit, a first-person shooter from Sega that pits players against a terrifying group of alien invaders intent on taking over a futuristic Washington, D.C.; EA SPORTS Active, a Wii exclusive from Electronic Arts that offers players fun, easy-to-learn exercises and activities that users can do with family and friends; and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10, the newest iteration of the popular golf game from Electronic Arts that lets players hit the links to prove their driving and putting prowess.

Below is a partial list of upcoming games for Wii and Nintendo DS. Note that game titles and launch dates are subject to change.

Wii

2K Sports

Major League Baseball 2K9 - March 3
Don King Boxing - March 31

Activision

X-Men Origins: Wolverine - May
Ice Age 3 - June 30

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - June

Aksys Games

Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus - May 12

Atari

Ready 2 Rumble Revolution - March 17
Backyard Baseball 10 - March 31

Capcom Entertainment Inc.

MotoGP - Spring

Codemasters Inc

Overlord Dark Legend - Summer

Conspiracy Games

Real Heroes: Firefighter - April

Deep Silver, Inc.

Professor Heinz Wolff's Gravity - April
Fritz Chess - May

Disney Interactive Studios

Hannah Montana The Movie - April

Electronic Arts

TRIVIAL PURSUIT - March
MySims Party - March
EA SPORTS Active - May 19
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 - June
BOOM BLOX Bash Party - Spring
MySims Racing - Summer
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Summer
G.I. JOE The Rise of Cobra - Summer
EA SPORTS Tennis (working title) - Summer

Hudson Entertainment

Help Wanted - Summer

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.

DanceDanceRevolution Disney Grooves - April 2
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Wheelie Breakers - May 19

LucasArts

Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings - Late Spring

NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc

Klonoa - Q2

Nintendo

New Play Control! Pikmin - March 9
New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis - March 9
Excitebots: Trick Racing - April 20
New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat - May 4
Punch-Out!! - May 18

SEGA of America

Virtua Tennis 2009 - May
The Conduit - June
Let's Tap - June

Southpeak Interactive

Roogoo Twisted Towers - April 7
Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball - April 21

Zoo Games, Inc.

M&M's Beach Party - March 10
Puzzle Kingdoms - March 31
Garfield Gets Real - April 7
Pennzoil's Build-N-Race: "Speed Demons" - April 14
Jelly Belly Ballistic Beans - April 21
Smiley World Island Challenge - April 28
Garfield's Pet Force - June 9

Nintendo DS

2K Sports
MLB 2K9 Fantasy All-Stars - March 3
Don King Boxing - March 31

Activision

X-Men Origins: Wolverine - May
Ice Age 3 - June 30
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - June

Activision/RedOctane

Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits - June

Aksys Games

Jake Hunter Detective Chronicles: Memories of the Past - May 26
Rockin' Pretty - June 23

Aspyr Media, Inc.

Treasure World - June

Atari

Backyard Baseball '10 - March 31
My Horse and Me Riding For Gold - March 31

Atlus U.S.A., Inc.

TrackMania DS - March 17
Tokyo Beat Down - March 31
The Dark Spire - April 14
Dokapon Journey - April 14
Steal Princess - April 21
101 in 1 Explosive Megamix - April 21
Super Robot Taisen OG Saga:Endless Frontier - April 28
Knights in the Nightmare - June 2
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor - June 23

Capcom

Mega Man Starforce 3 Black Ace - June
Mega Man Starforce 3 Red Joker - June

Codemasters Inc

Overlord Minions - Summer

Deep Silver, Inc.

Pet Vet: Down Under - March
Professor Heinz Wolff's Gravity - April
Elite Forces: Unit 77 - April
DJ Star - May
Fritz Chess - May
The Humans - May
Horoscope DS - May

Disney Interactive Studios

Hannah Montana The Movie - April

DreamCatcher

Dreamer: Shop Owner - April 21
Dreamer: Babysitter - April 21
Dreamer: Teacher - April 21
Prank'd - May 19

Electronic Arts

Zubo - March 10
Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure - March 17
MySims Party - March
SCRABBLE - March
LITTLEST PET SHOP Spring - March
MySims Racing - Summer
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Summer

Hudson Entertainment

Miami Law - Summer

KOEI

Monster Racers - June

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.

Magician's Quest: Mysterious Times - May 5
Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Stardust Accelerators World Championship 2009 - May 19

LucasArts

Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings™- Late Spring

Majesco Entertainment

Puffins: Island Adventure - April 14
Powerbike - April 28
Drama Queens - May
Marker Man Adventures - May
Hot 'n' Cold - May
Dawn of Heroes - June

MumboJumbo

Crazy Chicken Star Karts - March 31
Crazy Chicken Atlantis Quest - April 28
Crazy Chicken The Pharaoh's Treasure - June 2
7 Wonders II - June 30

Nintendo

Rhythm Heaven - April 5
Personal Trainer: Walking - May 25
The Legendary Starfy - June 8

PopCap Games, Inc.

Peggle Dual Shot - March 3

Rockstar Games

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars - March 17

Southpeak Interactive

Roogoo Attack - April 7

THQ

Desktop Tower Defense - April 29

Ubisoft

Imagine Makeup Artist - May 5
Imagine Music Fest - May 5
Imagine Boutique Owner - May 26
My Healthy Cooking Coach - June 2
Petz Fashion: Dogz and Catz - June 9
Jake Power Soccer Club - June 16

Valcon Games

History Channel: Great Empires: Rome - March 17

Zoo Games, Inc.

Yamaha Supercross - March 10
Hands On!: Tangrams - March 24
Puzzle Kingdoms - March 31
Garfield Gets Real - April 7
Jelly Belly Ballistic Beans - April 21
Smiley World Island Challenge - April 28
Garfield's Pet Force - June 9

Acclaimed Sam & Max video game series on Xbox Live Arcade

Xbox LIVE joins PC and Wii as new channel for "gaming's first sitcom"

The dog and rabbity-thing stars of Telltale's popular episodic games are one step closer to world domination today with the announcement that the first two "seasons" of Sam & Max will be appearing on Xbox LIVE Arcade. This is the award-winning comedy duo's first appearance on the Xbox 360, as well as on a connected console download service. Worldwide PC and Wii retail releases of the second season are also upcoming.

These approaching releases will sport catchy new monikers to more closely tie the season titles with their respective story arcs. Season One, which takes the Freelance Police from the New York City streets to Washington D.C. and all the way to the moon on the trail of a hypnotic nemesis, will be dubbed Sam & Max Save the World for all new releases moving forward. Season Two, which involves a baffling series of time paradoxes at the hands of unconventional aliens, has been renamed Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space. The Xbox LIVE Arcade releases will carry these new titles, as will Atari's 2009 retail versions of the second season.

"With Sam & Max coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade and the approaching retail launch, we're reaching a larger audience than we ever have before," says Telltale CEO Dan Connors. "These new releases give us an opportunity to better communicate the imaginative stories that make the Sam & Max games so special, and to strengthen the unique identity of each season."

Both Sam & Max seasons will be released on Xbox LIVE Arcade as full-season bundles, providing instant gratification to players who have been eagerly waiting for the Freelance Police to appear on Microsoft's console. The second Sam & Max season - which recently received Best Adventure Game accolades from IGN and PC Gamer and took home five Aggie Awards, including Best Comedy Writing, Best Gameplay, and Game of the Year from Adventure Gamers - is also scheduled to hit retail for PC and Wii in the coming months.

Today's news follows Telltale's recent announcement that the highly anticipated new series, Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures, is leading the company's expansion to Xbox LIVE Arcade. For more details about Sam & Max, Wallace & Gromit, and Telltale's other games, please visit http://www.telltalegames.com.

About Sam & Max
Sam is a six-foot dog in a baggy suit sporting a trombone-sized .44 hand-cannon. Max is a three foot "rabbity thing" with a saw blade grin and the impulsive nature of the average piranha. Together they patrol the sticky streets of a fantastical New York City, righting wrongs, pummeling perps, and ridding the urban landscape of the shifty legions of "self-propelled gutter trash" that litter their streets. Sam & Max have appeared in comics, video games, an animated TV series recently reissued on DVD, and an Eisner award-winning webcomic.

Navy Field PC video game - New Server Open and Update of New Submarines & Game Mode!

Navy Field Europe launched their new server “Yamato” today with a special Event of Double Exp, Credits and Points for a 1 month period.

At the opening, many other events have been started. Among others, NFEU is arranging Ranking Events, a Level 30 Challenging Event, and they will open special battle rooms in the next period where players have to fulfill specific objectives.

Event participants can win many Premium Items and Navy Field Crystals.

Gamers can check the details at http://www.navyfield.eu/eng/event/list.asp

NFEU also released their newest patch today, with the 3rd generation of submarines, new weapons and additional functions for submarine captains, as well an advanced Night Battle mode.

Next week, Thursday March 5th, an additional patch will follow with a special game mode for Light and Heavy Cruisers.

Furthermore the newest Balance Update for battleship nears completion. As a result all battleships on the Ship Tree, from First until last, will be revised. In addition the Account System will be updated in March.

PDC World Championship Darts 2009 Nintendo Wii video game

Think you know darts? Well step up to the Forum Oche, fire your opinions and let’s see how much you really do know!

We know that darts fans and gamers are passionate and want to be heard – well now there’s a place you can let us, and every other dart fan in the world know what you think! Not just about the new Darts game coming out on Wii™ and Nintendo DS but anything to do with Darts!

On the forum you have a chance to give us advice on what to put into the darts game, talk about anything to do with darts, or even if just want to talk about anything else that’s on your mind (within reason of course!)

And that’s not all. Time to time we are going to have guest celebrities on the forum such as Taylor, Barney, Wade, Mardle, Jenkins, Part and many more! So feel free to post your questions on the “Ask the Pros” Forum to these guys and we’ll make sure they let you know what they think!

So now you have a chance to talk about your favourite sport with many other darts fans and the pros so what are you waiting for? Check out www.dartsvideogame.com and click on “Forum” to chat Darts all day and night!

Atari admit problems with RACE Pro online game - some quick fixes...

Following the worldwide launch last week and subsequent sales success of Atari and Simbin’s RACE Pro, some players are experiencing problems when playing online.

UPDATE: Check the official Atari forum here for latest information...

Some problems are created by the sheer number of people who are trying to play online at the same time, a situation which is unfortunately impossible to appropriately simulate in pre-launch testing.

Other difficulties are arising because of the specific way the multiplayer gameplay mode is designed. To help players quickly get to grips with how to get the most out of the online mode until changes can be implemented in game, we have produced a Guide which is now publicly available.

We apologise to players for any inconvenience or poor experience caused by these unforeseen issues, and we would like to reassure the community that we have been focused on solving all the known problems since the game’s North American launch on 17 February. To this end, a Title Update is planned to be available to all players connected via Xbox Live as soon as humanly possible.

In the meantime, we would like to thank all the players who are already having a great time with RACE Pro on and offline, and we promise full continued support to the rapidly expanding community of players.

If you have feedback you would like to share with Simbin and Atari, please make your voice heard at the game’s official forum: http://forums.eu.atari.com/forumdisplay.php?f=654

Guide to Online Play in Race Pro Xbox 360:

* There are 3 steps in any online race in Race Pro:
-Open Practice session – where you wait for new drivers to join
-Qualification session – to determine the position on the starting grid
-Race – to race against other drivers

* The Qualification step is optional. You can bypass it by selecting “No” for Qualification in the Host Setting screen.
* It is important to note that the host leads and “times” everything. It can sometimes take time for him to start a session or go from one step to another, so please bear this in mind and be patient.

How to set up a Player Match session in Race Pro Xbox 360:

1- Go to Xbox Live
2- Select Player Match, then Create Match
3- Choose the race settings such as track, car class, length, player slots…(we advise setting fewer player slots, selecting “Yes” to AI opponents and selecting “No” to Qualification).
4- Choose your car
5- Choose your car settings (default settings are normally adequate)
6- Press A button to pass to the loading screen
7- Press A button when loading is completed
8- Select Drive and you’re now in the Open Practice session where you wait for other drivers to join in.
9- Once enough drivers have joined, press Start and choose Next Session (when you see the warning message displayed, select ‘yes’)
10- On the Player/Timing screen, press A button
11- Select Next Session
12- Once the loading is complete, select Race, and you’ll then be on the starting grid.
13- Once the race is finished, on the Player/Timing screen press A button. Then you can select Done and then choose a new track to race with the same people and settings.

Useful Tips:

-Either as Host or as Client, it’s better choose 6 to 8 opponent slots / games to optimize the gaming experience.
-As Host, it is important not to wait too long for new players in the Open Practice session. It may discourage players who want to race quickly.
-It is strongly recommended that you join games via the Custom Match option (instead of Quick Match one). You’ll then be able to choose for yourself the game you want to play in.
-Using Private Sessions is also a good way to optimize the network and game performance.
-When you’re not the host, please wait for the host to start the qualifying session or the race. Wait on the driver/timings screen or on the Replay/Monitor/Quit screen (but don’t quit). Loading will start quickly, leading you to the next step.
-Use the Custom modes and check the created sessions. Choose the sessions marked as “Waiting for Players” or “Qualifying”.

Tom Clancy - H.A.W.X. FREE demo on PlayStation 3 tonight...

A playable demo download of Tom Clancy - H.A.W.X. video game will go live at 5pm (UK time) tonight 26th February 2009.

The download will feature two missions, three aircraft and full four player co-op support.

The aircraft include SU-35 Super Flanker, AV-8B Harrier II and F-16a Fighting Falcon. Ubisoft explain player can choose the control system - default mode or expert allowing full control of the aircraft.

The full H.A.W.X. will be relesed on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on Friday March 6th followed, a week later on March the 13th by the PC video game.

Lord of the Rings Conquest download No 2 will cost 800 MS points or $10 PS3

Following the Free download for Lord of the Rings - Conquest EA will charge 800 Microsoft Points on Xbox 360 download and $10 to PlayStation 3 owners.

The content adds three new characters, including Gothmog, two new areas and two new maps.

The game hasn't had very good reviews so it remains to be seen if users will rush to buy this new content...

Halo 3 - Orbital Drop Shock Trooper (ODST) name change explained

Bungie have explained to GamePro why they changed the Halo 3 - Recon game name to ODST...

They wanted to highlight the new stars in the game the 'Orbital Drop Shock Troopers' (ODST) - hence the name change.

So, out with Recon and in with ODST the abbreviation seem to defeat the object of the name change if you ask me!