New update to the ARMA II video game - declassified for immediate analysis

New update to the ARMA II homepage. This update provides a unique opportunity to explore the world of the post-Soviet Republic of Chernarus, which is the setting of this highly anticipated military simulator. This latest piece of Intel which allows an in-depth look at the ARMA II environment, has been declassified for immediate analysis at http://www.arma2.com

North-Eastern Chernarus is a hilly area with rocky coastlines; the tallest hilltops reach more than 700 m above sea level, covered with temperate forests and is still relatively untouched from logging and mining. The biggest cities and industry are concentrated on the southern coast. There are mostly smaller villages inland, situated in deep valleys, hidden in forested ridges or on elevated plateaus with lush meadows.

ARMA II consists of 225 square kilometers of highly detailed sandbox landscape, modeled with stunning precision and detail, using real-world geographical data of the Ceske Stredohori mountains; a picturesque, volcanic area situated in the northern part of the Czech Republic (GPS location for reference: 50°42'6.477"N, 14°7'55.217"E). Covered by 235 megapixels of open, accurate, aerial mapping (15.3602 pixels), 350 km of roads, more than 50 cities and villages and over 1 million world objects, ARMA II is a true masterpiece of environment creation, never before seen in a tactical military simulator or first person military shooter.

ARMA II benefits from an internal realism based vegetation system called LINDA, capable of generating realistic vegetation both for massive real-time as well as offline rendering. LINDA generates vegetation based on real biological processes including its development over a period of time.

The website update provides a detailed glimpse into the world of Chernarus, including in-depth descriptions of the historical and political situations, as well as a description of specific regions modeled to real world geographic data, supported with in game images. The Intel is being declassified in thematic groups every 12 hours starting this morning at 10:00 CET.

ARMA II will be available on June 26th 2009 on PC.

Ultimate military simulator, for the ultimate combat experience.

The Best Selling Cheerleading Video Game All Star Cheer Squad 2 is Back with High Flying New Moves, Exclusively for Nintendo Wii

All Star Cheer Squad 2, is currently in development exclusively for Nintendo Wii and is scheduled for release this fall. Tony G, world renowned cheer choreographer best known for his work on the Bring it On movies, will once again serve as chief consultant for the title.

In All Star Cheer Squad 2, 14 exotic locations from around the world will serve as the backdrop for global cheer competitions. No longer a newbie, players will start out as the captain of the Tiger Squad, leading the team to victory by utilizing an all-new diverse move set that includes real-world aerial stunts, tumbling, formation changes and advanced moves on the Wii Balance Board™ accessory. Moves can be executed by using two Wii Remotes™, allowing for greater mobility. Players will select their squad members and then choose from more customization options including new makeup, hairstyle and uniforms. Because every routine needs a good beat first, All Star Cheer Squad 2 will feature even more original cheer music. Combined with an upgraded routine editor featuring a music mixer, a choreography editor and the ability to challenge friends via WiiConnect24™, All Star Cheer Squad 2 will allow players to live the ultimate cheer experience.

*Source: The NPD Group / Retail Tracking Service; Title – All Star Cheer Squad

Storm into May: Guerilla Event for players at Combat Arms Europe - free download link

Combat Arms Europe storms into May with a guerilla-event for a lavish weekend. On this Saturday and Sunday (May 2nd and 3rd), players who enter the battlefields during the peak hours from 4 pm through 10 pm CET will receive additional 30% on GP and EXP on top of their usual portion, and all that just for playing their usual rounds.

This time’s Bonus GP & EXP event is not the first of its kind, but part of the diverse, non-stop in-game event series at Combat Arms Europe which includes “GM Live” where players can measure their skills in battles with or against GMs, clan events, and the recent festive weeks with Xfire.

“We had several bonus GP and EXP events already, and the responses were always very positive,” says Sung Jin Kim, Directing Manager at Nexon Europe. “We always plan and execute our events to deliver an extra portion of fun and unexpected challenge, but the bonus GP & EXP events are especially a form to express our gratitude for the enthusiasm and support of our players. We really appreciate their dedication for Combat Arms Europe, and hope that they can benefit from the additional GP and EXP and further enhance their game-play experience a bit faster. But this is only one of our “smaller” events, and we have an extensive list of new events lined up. Our players can definitely look forward to receiving more very soon.”

Combat Arms Europe drives on to gain enthusiasm and popularity among European gamers with its exciting mix of various combat styles, battlefields and multiple game modes, presented in eye-catching graphics and customized characters. Combat Arms Europe also features a high level of socialization with in-game Buddy List, Clan System, Community Support and many more. This essential composition of traditional as well as advanced FPS elements and striking socialization features is free-to-play, representing a truly unique offering in the ever evolving world First-Person-Shooters.

To download the game for free and to secure some bonus GP and EXP, please visit and sign up at http://combatarms.nexoneu.com.

Third video game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat announced

GSC Game World is glad to announce a new project in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series – S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat (working title) for PC. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat will become a third stand-alone game in the highly-acclaimed Survival FPS S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series. The project is slanted for release in autumn 2009.

The events of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat unfold shortly after the end of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl. Having discovered about the open path to the Zone center, the government decides to hold a large-scale military "Fairway" operation aimed to take the CNPP under control.

According to the operation's plan, the first military group is to conduct an air scouting of the territory to map out the detailed layouts of anomalous fields location. Thereafter, making use of the maps, the main military forces are to be dispatched.

Despite thorough preparations, the operation fails. Most of the avant-garde helicopters crash. In order to collect information on reasons behind the operation failure, Ukraine's Security Service send their agent into the Zone center. From now on everything depends on the player.

Key game features:

• Photorealistic exclusion Zone – Pripyat town, Yanov railway station, Jupiter factory, Kopachi village and more, recreated by their true-to-life prototypes.
• New story, a number of unique characters.
• Extended system of side quests.
• New monsters: Chimera and Burer. New behaviour and abilities for all monsters.
• New A-Life system, created using the players' best-liked elements of the first two games in series.
• Emissions considerably influence the world of the Zone.
• Sleep function added into the game.
• New player's interface.
• Possibility to continue the game after completion in a freeplay mode.
• The game is developed on X-Ray engine v.1.6

New Web Site Available for Sacred 2: Fallen Angel

Ascaron Entertainment have re-launched the official web site for Sacred 2: Fallen Angel. The updated site, available at http://www.sacred2.com, offers visitors a wealth of information about the upcoming fantasy action-RPG, including new screenshots, trailers and concept art from both the PC and console versions of the game.

Jeremy Soule and Joss Ackland to provide IL-2 Sturmovik: Bird of Prey's soundscap

The duet of Jeremy Soule (KOTOR, Oblivion) and Joss Ackland (Lethal Weapon 2) performing on 1C Publishing’s IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey. Soule will be applying his unique talents to composing an exclusive European soundtrack for the game, whilst Ackland’s momentous, timeless and distinctive tones will be the backbone of the UK and US version of the game’s narration.

London-born Ackland is a distinguished stage actor, and has appeared as a chameleonic cad in over 100 films. Though he has avoided type-casting, in recent years he’s managed to secure many roles as a person of distinction, including Archchancellor Ridcully in Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather, Ambassador Lysenko in The Hunt for Red October, and Winston Churchill in Above & Beyond. Older gamers may remember him as the South African heavy in Lethal Weapon II or even the voice of the black rabbit in Watership Down!

Multi-award winning composer Soule, on the other hand, is a native of the videogame stage, supplying music for the leading games of the last ten years; Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Company of Heroes, Harry Potter, Total Annihilation, SOCOM: The Navy Seals and the Elder Scrolls series all owe their distinctive aural environments to him, alongside many, many more. With a corpus stretching from the deceptively simple Rugrats and Lemony Snicket, to the asian stylings of Guild Wars: Factions, to the opening of the $744 million-earning The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Soule has demonstrated his versatility and professionalism.

Developed by Gaijin Entertainment for Xbox 360 and PS3, DiP Interactive for Nintendo DS and DYNAMICSYSTEMS for PSP, IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey features the greatest aerial battles of all time, during the Second World War, and boasts the most realistic landscapes and aircraft seen in any flight sim. IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey will be published by 505 Games under the 1C Label and is due for a 2009 release.

Features
· Authentic World War II atmosphere
· Engage in more than 50 thrilling missions from famous historical battles over Eastern and Western Europe.
· Five theatres of war to engage in, including The Battle of Britain, Stalingrad, Berlin, Sicily and Korsun' representing the main airborne battles of World War II in Europe.
· Fly historically accurate aircraft, from the iconic Spitfire to the Mustang and of course the Ilyushin IL-2!
· Completely flexible difficulty level system: from arcade to realistic simulation c
· Thrilling multiplayer modes: Dogfight, Team Deathmatch, Ground Strike and Capture the Airfield
· Cutting edge, highly-detailed visuals, realistic sound and original music

505 Games will publish IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey on the 1C Label for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and PSP in 2009.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine the video game out in UK

Activision Blizzard has sponsored the wolverine enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo for one year. In addition, the lead male wolverine has voluntarily changed his name to Logan in respect of the legendary Marvel character.
The sponsorship will help to ensure that Edinburgh Zoo, who has the only wolverines in the UK, can continue its breeding programme throughout 2009 and 2010.

Quote from Edinburgh Zoo
“It’s fantastic that X-Men Origins: Wolverine is sponsoring our very own wolverines here at Edinburgh Zoo. As a charity we rely on our fundraising to further our work and sponsorship is an excellent way for us raise essential funds, not just for the day to day care of our animals, but for our conservation projects across the globe.”
Cristina Pouso, Corporate Development Manager

Quote from Activision
“What better way is there to pay homage to the mighty Wolverine by making sure his real life cousins are cared for during the next year? With wolverines an endangered species, we see Wolverine having a major role in helping people become more aware of these wonderful creatures and ensuring their survival for many years to come.”
Aruna Sinha, Senior Brand Manager, Activision

About the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS)
RZSS, which celebrates its centenary this year, is one of Scotland’s leading charities at the forefront of animal management, conservation, education and research. RZSS owns and manages two of Scotland’s top animal based visitor attractions, Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park.

About X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Inspired by Twentieth Century Fox’s highly anticipated feature film, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the official video game delivers the most true-to-character Wolverine action ever featured in-game. Players will utilise Wolverine’s signature brute strength, regenerative mutant abilities, and indestructible adamantium claws as they perform death-defying feats, take massive damage, regenerate in real-time and uncover the mutant’s mysterious and complex past.

The game is available on PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Games for Windows PC, PSP, PLAYSTATION 2 and Nintendo DS. Please check individual formats for age ratings.

Massive support planned for release of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite on PSP

Capcom a leading worldwide developer and publisher of videogames, has today announced that it will be working in partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) to support the release of the upcoming Monster Hunter Freedom Unite game for PSP (PlayStation Portable).

The game which is scheduled for release on the 26th June will be heavily backed by a multi-million promotional campaign throughout PAL territories.

“We are looking forward to working closely with Capcom to promote Monster Hunter Freedom Unite,” commented David Reeves, President SCEE. “With the combined efforts of both companies we want to emulate the success that the title has had in Japan.”

Key to the huge success of the Monster Hunter series in Japan has been the social aspect of multiplayer hunts. Across PAL territories gamers will be able to sample the phenomenon of Monster Hunter before the games release with the launch of the demo available to download on PlayStation Network. The demo will feature three quests to prepare players for the arrival of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite in which you can choose to play alone with the aid of your feline companion or in a team of up to four players to get a real taste of the social gaming side of Monster Hunter that’s taken Japan by storm.

Retail initiatives include an exclusive PSP hardware bundle which contains a specially designed Monster Hunter branded PSP skin and pouch along with a copy of the game.

Michael Pattison, Senior Marketing Director of Capcom Europe stated “Working closely with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe to promote the latest title in the Monster Hunter franchise allows Capcom access to all of Sony’s promotional channels, including Playstation websites, community pages and Playstation Home. A series of events and print and on-line advertising will support a heavy weight TV advertising program. The support of Sony on this title is a clear indication that Monster Hunter can be successful across the West.”

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 features all-new tournament challenge mode and Nintendo Wii exclusive disc Golf feature

Rewrite many of golf’s most dramatic moments in Tournament Challenge; an all-new character progression mode in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10. Experience historic situations over various seasons, including Tiger’s clutch birdie that featured the amazing putt on the 18th green to win last year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, only this time you determine the outcome.

Get an intimate account of specific moments as introduced by Tiger Woods, as he provides his personal insight and strategy to his real-life approach. The Tournament Challenge mode is available on Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii and PSP versions of the game.

Exclusive to Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 on the Wii, Disc Golf allows fans to trade in their golf clubs for a new way to play all championship courses featured in the game. Imagine trying to take on the famous island green on hole 17 at TPC Sawgrass with a disc! Featuring support with the Nintendo Wii MotionPlus accessory, Disc Golf brings the family-fun sport into your living room.

City of Heroes Issue 15: Anniversary Announced

NCsoft is celebrating the fifth anniversary of City of Heroes - the first and longest-running comic book-inspired MMO game. Developed by the recently-renamed Paragon Studios, the team took the opportunity to officially announce that the development is underway for the next content update for the series - aptly named Issue 15: Anniversary.

Issue 14: Architect, released earlier this month, marked the first time MMO players have been given the opportunity to create and share their own custom missions and story arcs. Now, just weeks after Issue 14’s release, players have already created and uploaded more than 120,000 user-generated story arcs. With the upcoming Issue 15: Anniversary, Paragon Studios will bring fans a host of new features and content including much greater options and more usability for the Mission Architect game system. From new mission options for both Villains and Heroes, to new costumes and faces, Issue 15: Anniversary further builds on the innovation and customisation of the Mission Architect tool.

Former players wishing to commemorate this special date can take part in a reactivation opportunity from April 28, 2009 at until Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. GMT. During this reactivation event all expired retail and trial accounts that are in good standing can access the live servers. In addition, the community can participate in a variety of five-year anniversary events, including a T-shirt logo design contest, and a City of Heroes video homage contest. For more information on our anniversary celebrations, go to http://eu.cityofheroes.com/en/news/

During the past five years, the City of Heroes series has been praised by the press with more than 22 “Game of the Year” and “Editor's Choice” awards in its first year of launch. Press accolades for City of Heroes include Computer Gaming World's “2004 MMORPG Game of the Year” award, and most recently Massively's “Most Improved Game of 2008” award. In addition, the highly praised City of Villains expansion pack received MMORPG's “2005 Game of the Year” award.