Political Platform Puzzler Clover on Xbox Live

New screenshots of début title Clover featuring a newly redesigned lead character Sam and also announce a revised release window of April. Clover is to be released via Xbox LIVE Community Games for 400 Microsoft Points.

The screenshots feature new artwork, new locations and a new dynamic sky-blending system that means that the player's view of the game world is constantly changing. Lead character Sam has been given an overhaul based on community feedback.

Clover features so much artwork that some is destined to be left on the cutting room floor, after the game hit Microsoft's mandatory 150mb maximum size limit imposed on Community Games. Gamers anticipating Clover's release can now follow Binary Tweed on Twitter and the Clover Facebook Group.

About Clover
Clover is a plot-driven platformer in the style of classic titles such as Fantastic Dizzy that sees the player solve logical puzzles by collecting items, talking to a diverse cast of characters and exploring artistically realised environments. Clover is to be released in early April via Xbox LIVE Community Games for 400 Microsoft Points.

Dragonica video game website launches on Monday 30th March

The world of MMORPG’s goes sideways as the official European Dragonica website launches on Monday 30th March

Dragonica is the brand new free arcade-style 3D side-scrolling MMORPG. It will be available to download across Europe in English, French and German this Spring from the www.gpotato.eu gaming portal. As the gPotato Europe team prepares for the Closed Beta, we are proud to announce the launch of the brand new Dragonica website at http://dragonica.gpotato.eu.

The brand new website covers everything you need to know about the world of Dragotaka ahead of the Closed Beta. Find out how a modern arcade-style 3D side-scroller plays with lots of gameplay footage and fantastic screenshots. Immerse yourself in Dragonica storyline’s by reading about the game or watch the rendered cinematic trailer as the witch Paris frees the evil Dragon Lord Elga from his prison.

Dragonica also includes this year’s most frantic multiplayer mode in the classic ten player PvP mode. Find out how to set up your own Guild in the game, how you’ll be able to hook up with another player and form a couple, and how easy it is to use the game’s friends list to find and form a party with other players. Learn about the different characters and see how you’ll be able to use the game’s character creation tool to build your online identity, decorate your own in-game house and raise a pet and bring into battle with you.

But wait, there’s more! The next generation of online MMORPGs shifts the gameplay from clicky mouse-controlled combat to precise combo-based action where you have to land every hit and get your timing right to keep the combo going. Dragonica’s keyboard only control system allows you to bring console style gaming to your PC, notebook or netbook!

You’d be silly not to try Dragonica, 2009’s brightest and most frantic arcade-style MMORPG! Pre-registration is now open for the English, French and German Closed Betas at the official European Dragonica website, http://dragonica.gpotato.eu.

Kraze a multi-genre racing video game for the PC

Armed with an array of the most powerful cars ever designed, players compete for the Kraze Championship which includes racing modes such as Off Road, Rally, F1 and Street Race.

Kraze challenges the player's concentration, car handling and racing skills on a variety of environments from narrow city lanes, perilous mountain cliffs to the shimmering sands of a mirage-strewn desert.

The salient features of Kraze include:

• 13 different vehicles with varying speed and handling
• 8 different locations around the world
• Off-Road, Rally, F1 & Street Race modes
• Championship, Quick Race & Time Trial
• Individual profiles and vehicle customisation
• Slow motion action replays and recording of races

Kraze on the PC will be available to buy this summer.

Wheelman enters UK video games charts - Resident Evil 5 stays at No 1

ChartTrack UK video game s chart week ending 28th March



1 RESIDENT EVIL 5 CAPCOM
2 WII FIT NINTENDO
3 STREET FIGHTER IV CAPCOM
4 PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE CURIOUS VILLAGE NINTENDO
5 WWE LEGENDS OF WRESTLEMANIA THQ
6 FIFA 09 EA SPORTS
7 CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR ACTIVISION
8 GRAND THEFT AUTO: CHINATOWN WARS ROCKSTAR
9 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION
10 TOM CLANCY'S H.A.W.X. UBISOFT
11 WHEELMAN MIDWAY
12 WII PLAY NINTENDO
13 MARIO KART WII NINTENDO
14 KILLZONE 2 SONY COMPUTER ENT.
15 DR KAWASHIMA'S BRAIN TRAINING NINTENDO
16 MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES SEGA
17 BEN 10: ALIEN FORCE D3P
18 GRAND THEFT AUTO IV ROCKSTAR
19 CARNIVAL: FUNFAIR GAMES 2KPLAY
20 SEGA MEGA DRIVE ULTIMATE COLLECTION SEGA

Make a video game and get a degree - in Sweden

At Gotland University in Sweden the students spend one year developing one large game to earn their degree. All lectures and literature received during the one year course IGPS (International Game Production Studies) are connected to the game they make. Since the course is on-line based, anyone in the world with the right qualifications can apply.

Gotland University has several game related educations. The course IGPS, takes the students through different focus areas from idea, concept development, via planning and production, to release. All of the assignments given to the students are applied to the game they are developing. -”Learning by doing is by far the best way of learning. That’s why everything in this course is related to one game project that the students do. That means that all your efforts during the education will go to improving the game” says Troels Linde, teacher at Gotland University.

One of the games this year is “Penalty of Heroes” a game that will be released on Xbox Live this fall. -“This is a large project with over 10 people involved and we have to manage it like any other big budget project such as the games made by Blizzard or Valve. It’s a great way to get experience and education at the same time” says Håkan Mattsson, producer of the game.

Many of the former students at Gotland University are now working at well-known game studios such as DICE, Grin, Avalanche and Massive Entertainment. The cooperation with these established game studios is one of the key factors to good education. -“We get mentors from successful game studios that give us feedback and share their experiences regarding game development. It’s a true privilege” says Nicklas Johansson, student at IGPS.

Some students start their own game companies after their education. The well reviewed PC game “Penumbra – Overtune” released in 2007, was one of the first games developed at IGPS.

April 14th is the last application day for the class of IGPS starting in September 2009.

Rick Nielson (Cheap Trick) to provide music for Wii video game The Conduit

Rock Legend to Lend Unique Musical Talents to Upcoming Sci-Fi First-Person Shooter

SEGA announce that Rick Nielsen, guitarist and founding member of the musical group Cheap Trick, would provide guitar tracks for the anticipated title, The Conduit, for the Wii home video game system. 

Nielsen, who has penned and performed such hits as I Want You to Want Me and Surrender, is known for his distinctly powerful riffs and for his signature five-neck custom guitar and crowd-pleasing live performances.

"Rick Nielsen is a rock legend who just happens to be a really likeable guy,” said Sean Ratcliffe, Vice President of Marketing, Sega of America. "It is a testament to the growing word of mouth surrounding The Conduit that he took an interest in this project and was gracious enough to lend us his expertise."

"We were very excited to get the chance to work with Rick on The Conduit," said Eric Nofsinger, Chief Creative Officer of High Voltage Software. "Even though he's known for driving rock guitar, he was able to provide great ambience and textural qualities that perfectly fits the mood of the game and helps it become a truly unique experience."

The Conduit unfolds in a near-future Washington DC after a set of inexplicable events leave the city in a state of panic. As new recruits of a shadowy government agency, players will investigate strange occurrences upsetting the city, all while trying to keep one step ahead of a mysterious and lethal enemy.



"I hope these lunar notes float with you," Rick Nielsen said on adding guitar to The Conduit.

The Conduit is slated to release in summer 2009 exclusively for Wii.

Sky Kingdoms arcade puzzler from best-selling Luxor series of marble popper video games

Sky Kingdoms, an arcade puzzler featuring advanced graphics and gameplay that challenges the best-selling Luxor series for the title of best marble popper.

Sky Kingdoms transports the player to a visually stunning realm where a chain of magic crystals holds dozens of islands in place above a yawning chasm.

Unfortunately, an evil dragon has broken the chain and disturbed the balance of the world by stealing one of the gems. If the player doesn’t reclaim the crystal before the left over magic runs out, the islands will plunge into the abyss.

To defeat the beast, the player must gather mana by firing colored spheres at chains of rolling marbles in an attempt to create matches and destroy the orbs. If the player is skilled enough to create several matches in a row, he’ll earn bonuses that will allow him to incinerate spheres, roll the chain backwards and even freeze time.

In a new twist for marble poppers, Sky Kingdoms features boss levels in which the player confronts the minions of the dragon and must dodge their attacks. These adrenaline-pumping sequences are packed with explosive visual and audio effects, creating the feel of a spectacular action game.

"Sky Kingdoms was in development for two years," says Denis Sedovich, producer. "We used that time to optimize the graphics engine, polish the gameplay and create as much eye candy as possible. We also focused on creating inventive bonuses that allow gamers to set off spectacular chain reactions that can destroy an entire chain and trigger a deluge of coins. Plus, as players advance through Sky Kingdoms, they can purchase upgrades that will increase the power of the bonuses even more."

Global Agenda - Fast-paced Combat System Highlighted in Hands-On Previews at GDC

Hi-Rez Studios gave the first hands-on demonstration of its spy-fi action MMO Global Agenda at the San Francisco Game Developers Conference, which wraps up today. Media and guests experienced fast-paced combat, in both PvE and PvP missions, using stations within the Hi-Rez exhibition booth and playing real-time with remote players.

"Our combat system was inspired by modern multiplayer shooters", says Executive Producer Todd Harris. "But in addition to firearms, we've added melee, hundreds of other high-tech player-usable devices, and jetpacks! We find it a refreshing change from the standard tab-targeting found within fantasy MMOs and we've been thrilled to see the reaction from others here at the show. And while we think our combat system is a major differentiator, we're equally excited about the RPG advancement system and the opportunity for player-groups to compete for territory control."

Booth guests also got a taste of Global Agenda's sophisticated, face-customization system and the introductory game sequence in which the player's special agent character escapes from the clutches of an oppressive world government called The Commonwealth.

"Players begin as a fugitive", Todd says. "But after choosing a class and advancing their agent skills via PvE or PvP missions, they encounter other groups within the world and choose which ones to align with. We expect most players will eventually participate in our Campaign mode which allows player groups to acquire territory within the world, construct facilities, defenses, and bases on that territory, produce resources, and engage in the player-driven drama to dominate a region."

Hi-Rez Studios also announced that they are still accepting applications toward their upcoming closed Beta. Players looking for a refreshing take on the MMO genre were encouraged to apply at www.globalagendagame.com.

Second Warhammer Online - Age of Reckoning novel in bookstores now

The original Warhammer novel DARK STORM GATHERING is now available in stores. 

The second in a series based on the award-winning MMORPG, Warhammer Online - Age of Reckoning (WAR), DARK STORM GATHERING is a tale of blood, treachery, and Chaos in a world perpetually at WAR!

Penned by Black Library author Chris Wraight, DARK STORM GATHERING tells the story of an unlikely party of adventurers forced to form an uneasy alliance with the armies of the Empire to repel the forces of Chaos. With the grim march of the Tchar’zanek, Champion of the fell powers of Chaos, underway and the Empire of Man suffering from plague and mutations, only the intervention of the High Elves offers respite. However, they are beset by foes of their own, the murderous Dark Elves. When the prospect of treachery behind Imperial lines looms, four heroes – Archmage, White Lion, Witch Hunter and Knight of the Blazing Sun – must work together to uncover the corruption before all is lost.

“Chris Wraight has crafted a dark tale that thrusts players into the frontlines of the war between Order and Destruction. It’s packed to the brim with blood, battles, and all the things that make the Warhammer world so gripping,” said Mark Jacobs, VP and General Manager at Mythic Entertainment. “DARK STORM GATHERING captures the essence of WAR perfectly.”

For further information about the WAR novel, DARK STORM GATHERING, visit www.blacklibrary.com.

Based on the popular tabletop war game from Games Workshop, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning features revolutionary Realm vs. Realm™ conflict that will provide players with an engaging battleground for years to come. Available now for PC, WAR is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB. For more information about the game and to download the 10-day free trial, visit www.warhammeronline.com.

Mount and Blade - Warband combat game demo at GDC - HD video

Following on from the recent announcement that a Multiplayer expansion was in development for the widely lauded Mount&Blade, Paradox Interactive have today revealed the first detailed information for the newly titled Mount&Blade: Warband.

Demonstrated publicly for the first time at GDC in San Francisco by the development team at Taleworlds, the expansion introduces a number of features that players have specifically requested and which will vastly improve the gameplay experience.

The key features revealed:

• Multiplayer – previously announced, the ability for up to 32 players to play simultaneously on a single map in Team Death-Match style battles
• Faction Rulers – A new in-depth system allowing the player to gain followers even as a rebel and to become the ruler of their own faction and recruit Lords as their vassalals
• Accessibility – Improved and additional detailed game information for players.
• Improved Graphics and optimisation – The introduction of state-of-the-art rendering technologies including HDR (High Dynamic Range), as well as significant improvement in the level of detail on characters, armour and weapons
• Increased interactivity - New interactivity implemented in the environments that the AI will recognize and adapt to, directly impacting the Siege mode

Commenting on the development of Mount&Blade: Warband, Armagan Yavuz, Producer at Taleworlds Entertainment said, “As a development team, we are used to short development circles, fast feedback from our users and the ability to have our gamers in the development loop. That is why we decided to create this expansion. We have received a large amount of requests from players for multiplayer and when we had published the game we saw an opportunity to explore this as well as additional improvements that our gamers requested. I feel that the multiplayer mode adds tremendously to the game experience.”

A summary of additional features includes customizable quick battles, extended diplomatic options and new weapons, armor and animations. Other aspects introduced in Mount&Blade: Warband are improvements to the combat system with more physically accurate horse archery, a variation in horse sizes, and more options when embarking on sieges.

Mount&Blade: Warband is scheduled for release in Q3 2009.