Acclaimed 'Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima' coming to PC users with 'Games for Laptop' and PC Release

Namco Bandai Games Europe S.A.S today announced the forthcoming launch of Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima, the latest game from the popular brain training series supervised by prominent Japanese neuroscientist Dr. Kawashima. Filled with all-time favourites intended to stimulate different parts of the brain and keep minds active, Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima will be available on PC DVD-rom and ‘Games For Laptop’ mini-DVD at retailers in Europe and PAL regions from 29 May 2009, and will also be available for digital download at the Atari store by visiting www.atari-store.eu.

The development of Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima was supervised by Dr. Kawashima, the renowned Japanese neuroscientist whose revolutionary brain training technique was made popular through the acclaimed Brain Training series on Nintendo DS and mobile phones. Dr. Kawashima’s belief is that our brains, just like our bodies, need regular exercise to stay active and healthy.

In today’s busy society, it is important to spare a few moments every day to give our brains a workout and fight against the natural decline of their abilities. Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima for PC and ‘Games for Laptop’ lets busy people who spend the majority of their day in front of computers enjoy a mental workout when travelling, during a break at work or on the sofa at home. Now there is no excuse for not keeping our minds in great shape!

Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima consists of 36 quick mini exercises divided into three colour-coded categories to train the three main lobes of the brain – frontal, parietal and temporal – through simple arithmetic, memory games and puzzles. The highly intuitive games are played using the mouse to point and click or simple keystrokes. Progress can easily be tracked by viewing the results charts, and can be shared on the official website at www.brainexercise.eu for worldwide ranking.

Dr. Kawashima, the ‘brains’ behind the best-selling and influential Brain Training series on Nintendo DS and mobile phones, oversaw the development of Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima. NAMCO BANDAI Games now broadens the appeal of the acclaimed series by bringing Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima to anyone who spends time in front of a computer with the new ‘Games for Laptop’ mini-DVD format ideal for laptop use on the move. Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima will be available on PC DVD-Rom and ‘Games for Laptop’ mini-DVD at retailers in Europe and PAL regions from 29 May 2009, and for digital download by visiting the Atari store at www.atari-store.eu.

Ubisoft Week at GamersGate

Special Promotion Offers as Much as 50% Off of Select Titles

GamersGate, the leading digital distribution platform for PC games, today announced a special promotion for nineteen Ubisoft titles. The games are discounted up to 50% off. The promotion ends Sunday May 3rd, 2009.

The following games are 50% off:
Assassins Creed
Beyond Good & Evil
Blazing Angels
Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII
Brothers in Arms Hells Highway
Brothers in Arms Road to Hill 30
Far Cry
Far Cry 2
IL-2 Sturmovik 1946
Prince of Persia
Shaun White Snowboarding
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
Tom Clancy's End War

The following games are 25% off:
Far Cry 2 Fortune Pack
Grey's Anatomy
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.
World in Conflict: Soviet Assault
World in Conflict: Complete Edition
To find out more about GamersGate, please visit www.gamersgate.com.

Hysteria Hospital: Emergency Ward: Learn the moves & get the hang of the Crazy Gadgets!

The first day as head nurse – what are you supposed to do with all these gadgets?!? It’s important that you make a good impression and get the emergency ward running smoothly. Your challenge it to get as many satisfied patients processed and out of the hospital as healthy and happy as you possibly can – so you’d better know your stuff!

Machines & Equipment

Waiting Room
Try not to keep your patients waiting - cure them quickly to keep them happy and healthy. Juggle them around to stop anyone exploding with rage!

Triage
Always wondered what Triage meant? Nows your chance to find out – here’s your first chance to get the diagnosis right. Remember, the quicker you are the happier and healthier the patient!

X-Ray
It might look like an electric shock – but seriously, it is an x-ray! Patients may need to lie down for a while afterwards.

CAT scans
Get the problem out of the bag with a CAT scan; find out about breaks and fractures to ensure you make the correct referral. No animals are harmed in the process.

Stress treatment
This might not be the most conventional stress relief treatment, though maybe its a bit more fun! This robot cow behaves like a mad and enraged bull and so makes the patient forget the cause of their stress…

Can you keep the emergency ward efficient and keep the patients happy and healthy? Can you treat 15 different medical conditions using a vast variety of cutting-edge equipment ….Can you handle the pressure?

Hysteria Hospital: Emergency Ward is set for release on Wii, Nintendo DS and PC in May 2009.

Campfu video game surpasses 100,000 Players Worldwide

Rebel Monkey, a Manhattan-based entertainment company best known for CampFu, a browser-based Casual Massively Multiplayer Online (Casual MMO) community, today announced that the site has reached in excess of 100,000 registered players since its late February 2009 launch, demonstrating swift growth and market traction. CampFu users come from 110 countries worldwide, spending on average over 60 minutes playing games and socializing on the site.

The CampFu community gets to engage with a variety of online activities and features, including real-time multiplayer games, a virtual CampGround, chat, hundreds of virtual goods, and fashion-forward avatars that are persistent both in-game and in-world. In CampFu's free-to-play eco-friendly environment, it’s the real-time co-op games set it apart – offering players new levels of online gameplay collaboration, enabling the natural formation of teams and alliances that carry over into the CampGround.

"CampFu is a fun and fresh online hang-out that is different from anything else out on the market,” said Margaret Wallace, CEO of Rebel Monkey. "Players have really responded to the look of our avatars and that you can actually use your avatars inside of the games in real-time – unlike a lot of online multiplayer sites out there where avatars are usually relegated to the sidelines.”

Still several weeks shy of its first 100 days as a live service, CampFu has attracted an incredible range of players including teens, online gamers and people who enjoy social networking and being a part of online communities. With an estimated 231 million casual gamers worldwide and an expected 180 million registered users of virtual worlds such as Club Penguin or Habbo Hotel, Rebel Monkey stands at the nexus of several exciting market trends.

CampFu is powered by the company’s Monkey Wrench multiplayer gaming platform. Claiming to own the real-time co-op gaming space, “if you want to play as a group with your avatars inside of a real-time casual gaming environment, you are really only going to find that at CampFu,” adds Rebel Monkey CCO, Nick Fortugno. “Expect more kinds of real-time co-op games to come – exploring deeper levels of team play and collaboration.”

To commemorate this 100,000 user milestone, Rebel Monkey will be launching new parts of the CampFu CampGround and a full site re-design this week. More co-op games, social networking features and ways to customize your avatar and cabin are coming later this spring. To explore CampFu, visit www.CampFu.com.

Calling All Petrol Heads - 5,000 Beta Testers Wanted!

If you've got a PC and fancy yourself as the next Lewis Hamilton then you could be just the person to join the Beta test for iOpener's new live play technology; "Opener Enabled". The revolutionary software will give petrol heads everywhere the opportunity to be among the first to race in real-time against professional drivers!

iOpener is looking for 5,000 of the world's best race gamers to put its technology through rigorous testing in mid-June 2009 prior to public launch later this year. To register for your chance to be selected for virtual pole position visit www.real-timeracing.com

Andy Lurling CEO of iOpener Media said, "We know that gamers and race enthusiasts have been waiting to be able to race against professional drivers in real time. It's actually a very complicated thing to do but we've cracked it. Now we're ready to put the technology in the hands of some of the best race gamers to see what they can do with it."

iOpener Media's patented technology works via an 'Orange Box' placed inside a racing car which then feeds the telemetry and GPS data to gamers via internet with out lag. Gamers will be able to join games and test their driving skills in 1-on-1 and 1-to-many during a live race.

Behold the might of the arcane arts in Elven Legacy

Today Swedish wizards of strategy Paradox Interactive, aims to cast a potent spell of enchantment upon you. From across the lands of Eiola, an explosive new trailer has been summoned to demonstrate the might of the arcane arts. This deadly power holds the key to victory, as the war continues to reclaim the lost – Elven Legacy.

Magic. It is a power without equal. Available to each of the warring races. This ancient energy can be manipulated by warriors and champions alike. Yet only the most sage of priests and sorcerers can master its greatest secrets. Manifesting itself in one of three ways, magic can take the form of a myriad of powerful spells. It can also be bound to mystic objects called Artifacts. Some lie strewn across the land, hidden in secret lairs. Others can be found in the possession of conquered foes. Magic can also be granted as innate talents called 'Perks', to warrior regiments, as they level up in experience.
Behold the manifestation of ultimate power, by clicking here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQWsnpLx-00

More destructive than the largest war-machines, magic can strike down a mass of enemies in one fatal blow. Yet it can possess a subtle touch, curing the wounds of an injured champion or mage. Magic can also be used to augment the protective and offensive capabilities of your troops. Making the weakest warriors a force to be reckoned with. In some cases, magic can terrify the opposition into paralysis, removing their effectiveness in battle. While some spells enable spectral beings to be conjured into existence, to fight on the side of the caster.

Magic is truly a force to be reckoned with. It possesses the ability to alter the balance of power on any battlefield, granting victory to those who can successfully yield its potency. Yet care must be taken with its use. For by its very nature magic can only be discharged a finite number of times, before requiring the need to be restored. This can only be performed after each battle is decided. So use it wisely!
The Elven Legacy demo was recently released and allows players to play the tutorial along with one mission from the Campaign mode.

The demo can be downloaded from the following location;
http://www.elven-legacy.com/index.php/downloads/demo/

Elven Legacy is available from retailers everywhere, along with all good digital download outlets for a suggested retail price of €29.99.

Nintendo Download: Poker, Planes and Platform Games Fuel Players' Ambition

The table is set for card-flipping fun with this week's release of Clubhouse Games Express: Card Classics on Nintendo DSiWare, while the new Paper Airplane Chase packs portable challenges for fans of airborne action. WiiWare users will find Cocoto Platform Jumper, a wildly imaginative new platformer populated by mysterious creatures. Last but not least, Nobunaga's Ambition, a classic strategy game from the Super NES system era, finds its way to the Virtual Console.

As an added bonus to help celebrate the recent launch of the new Nintendo DSi system, Club Nintendo members now will be able to earn coins for registering, linking and providing feedback about their Nintendo DSi systems. They also will be able to earn coins for providing feedback about Nintendo DSiWare titles, which will be automatically registered on their Club Nintendo account when they link their Nintendo DSi Shop to their Club Nintendo account.

Nintendo DSiWare

Clubhouse Games Express: Card Classics (Nintendo, 1-8 players, Rated T for Teen - Simulated Gambling, 500 Nintendo DSi Points): Clubhouse Games comes to Nintendo DSiWare with a collection of five fun card games in Clubhouse Games Express: Card Classics. Play familiar favorites like Blackjack and Five Card Draw, or test your ability in the fast-paced Last Card, Last Card Plus and President. DS Download Play allows players to host as many as seven friends.

Paper Airplane Chase (Nintendo, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 200 Nintendo DSi Points): In Paper Airplane Chase, glide your virtual paper plane through an increasingly tricky slalom course. Take it slow in Endless mode or zip through several Time Attack courses. The two-player Race mode allows friends to race each other using a single Nintendo DSi system.

WiiWare

Cocoto Platform Jumper (Neko Entertainment, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Cartoon Violence, 700 Wii Points™): A long time ago in a faraway land, strange little creatures lived in the depths of Abyss. Cocoto, his little devil friends and the mysterious Fairy protect the secret of the magma — the source of their power — in a magic cauldron. Meanwhile, Zaron, the god of lightning who lusts after this force, is up to something. He can count on the rulers of the other kingdoms that Cocoto must cross. The tragic kidnapping of Shiny, Baggy and Neuro has left Cocoto alone to watch over the cauldron. Refusing to leave his friends, he will set out to find them with Fairy.

Virtual Console

Nobunaga's Ambition (Super NES, 1-8 players, Rated E for Everyone - Violent References, 800 Wii Points): Nobunaga's Ambition is a game set in Japan's Warring States period, a turbulent age when feudal warlords battled for control of the country. As the ruler of a fief, the player chooses his or her own path to conquest: Will you wage war on your neighbors or rely on diplomacy? Use economic sanctions or send ninja assassins? Use all of your ingenuity and resources to unite Japan under your banner.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

Ultimate Soccer Boss Public Launch for North America

MMOABC, a leading massively-multiplayer online (MMO) portal and social network, is proud to announce the public North American launch for Ultimate Soccer Boss, an MMO Sports Manager Game powered by Digenetics, Inc. Ultimate Soccer Boss (USB) is the first ever free-to-play soccer manager browser game powered by Digenetics' patented adaptive evolutionary learning technology which enables players' traits to evolve. Players can sign up and create their own unique club at www.ultimatesoccerboss.com starting on April 27th.

Unlike other sports manager games, Ultimate Soccer Boss will feature players that actually evolve their skills over time based on variables such as numbers of plays, training matches, and overall management of the club, thus resulting in a truly unique game play.

“The closed and open beta events were a major milestone and success for all partners involved in Ultimate Soccer Boss,” said MMOABC Founder and CEO Andy Tong. “Many critical features have been refined since open beta and we believe that thousands of both current and new managers will enjoy these updated features.”

Ultimate Soccer Boss updates include payment options, evolving player traits, tactics, game flow, shop items, commerce system, and stadium upgrades. Future game upgrades will include game play animation, game flow overlay, player evolution charts, club statistics, game music, and updated friendship invitation system to perfect the Ultimate Soccer Boss experience.

Visualise your dream home with Grand Designs 3D at Grand Designs Live!

The Grand Designs 3D team will be at the Grand Designs Live show demonstrating their new state of the art home design software on stand B3. The Grand Designs Live show will be at Excel London from the 25th April to the 4th May. Both the public & press will have the opportunity to meet and discuss the software with the design team.

The Grand Designs 3D software range was released in October at the Birmingham NEC Grand Designs Live show. Since being released the software has consistently received high review scores from the press, with PC Advisor awarding Grand Designs 3D Renovation & Interiors their prestigious Gold Award.

Grand Designs 3D software is for anyone inspired by Grand Designs and who wishes to communicate their own design ideas. Grand Designs 3D allows users to bring their ideas to life before seeking professional advice, whether making changes to existing homes or contemplating a self build project. The software range consists of three products: Grand Designs 3D Kitchen & Bathroom (£24.46), Renovation & Interior (£48.92) and Self Build & Development (£195.73).

The user can complete their design step by step, planning with 2D drawing tools before breathing life into their project by visualising their ideas in 3D. A database of fixtures and fittings allows each project to be furnished and decorated with rendered images demonstrating the effects of texturing, lighting and even shadows. Finally, a 3D walk through feature allows each project to be examined in close-up detail and provides a genuine impression of moving in to the finished home or room.

The software includes some content from the Grand Designs TV programme, such as 2D interior and exterior plans from TV projects and 3D models. You can even base your ideas on your favourite Grand Design from the show. The larger programs will also allow users to export industry standard drawings, in formats used by professional architects and planning authorities.

To complement the software there is a support site www.3Darchitect.co.uk, which will enable users to download additional content .

The Grand Designs 3D home designer software range will run on Windows XP/Vista.

Bethesda Softworks and Del Rey Books announce novels based on the Elder Scrolls Video Game Series

Bethesda Softworks, a ZeniMax Media company, and Del Rey, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing Group, are pleased to announce that Del Rey Books will publish two novels based on Bethesda Softworks’ award-winning, high-fantasy video game series, The Elder Scrolls. The best-selling game series is known for giving the player the ability to choose how their story will play out and unfold, and for the incredible amount of lore and depth found in these rich game worlds.

Penned by New York Times bestselling author Greg Keyes, the novels will be all-new, original stories based in The Elder Scrolls universe. The first novel – The Infernal City – is set to be published in Fall 2009. Among Keyes’ prior works are the Age of Unreason tetrology (for which he won the prestigious "Le Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire" award), and three New York Times bestselling Star Wars novels in the New Jedi Order series.

“We’ve been big fans of Greg’s work for a long time, and we’re thrilled he agreed to bring his talents to The Elder Scrolls,” said Pete Hines, vice president of public relations and marketing for Bethesda Softworks. “We see these books as a natural extension of the franchise and think fans will love the stories and characters Greg has created.”

The Infernal City is set after the events of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, the latest game in the video game series, and finds the citizens of Tamriel once again facing an uncertain future. Floating high above the land is a strange and mysterious city that is casting a horrifying shadow – wherever it falls, people die and rise again as undead. It is up to an unlikely duo – a seventeen-year-old girl named Annaig and the Emperor’s young son, Prince Attrebus – to rescue the kingdom from doom. Annaig and Attrebus’ quest will take them through the Elder Scrolls universe and their adventure is sure to add to the series’ already magnificent mythology.

For more information on Bethesda Softworks, visit www.bethsoft.com.