Uncharted 2 - Among Thieves Online multiplayer features revealed!

Five-Versus-Five Player Matches Competitively - Up To Three Player Cooperative Modes

Sony Computer Entertainment announce that UNCHARTED 2 Among Thieves - exclusive to PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) - will introduce online competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes to the franchise. Developed by Naughty Dog Inc., UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves, the highly-anticipated follow up to UNCHARTED: Drake’s Fortune, will feature up to 10 players in 5-versus-5 competitive gamezplay.



Cooperative multiplayer modes allow up-to-3 players to progress through a variety of environments by working together to accomplish set objectives. Using a robust party system, groups of players will remain together in ranked and custom matches while earning currency, which used in combination with currency earned in single player missions, will unlock additional content and upgrades.

Presented with multiple modes of competitive gameplay, players battle in ranked matches that include Team Death Match and Capture the Treasure, a unique style of multiplayer competition that encourages team work to transport a treasure over dynamic terrain such as ledges and obstacles. Capture the Treasure brings truly vertical game play to traditional multiplayer modes. With maps based on environments from the single player campaign, players are taken from the night time streets of a war torn city to a Nepalese village and have the ability to create custom games allowing them to play any type of game on any map.



“Adding a multiplayer aspect to the UNCHARTED franchise is a significant step in the re-playability of the game,” said Christophe Balestra, co president Naughty Dog. “UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves will be the most impressive and ambitious game that Naughty Dog has done and we are thrilled to let our fans experience it this fall.”

UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves is the story of Nathan Drake, a fortune-hunter with a shady reputation and an even shadier past who is lured back into the treacherous world of thieves and mercenary treasure-seekers. The tenth game by premier PS3 system developer Naughty Dog, UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves allows players to take control of Drake and embark on a journey that will push him to his physical, emotional and intellectual limits to discover the real truth behind the lost fleet of Marco Polo and the legendary Himalayan valley of Shambhala.

More Lips Game Add-on Tracks coming to Xbox LIVE this May

This May, “Lips,” the hit singing party game exclusively for Xbox 360 from iNiS Corp., is adding 15 more tunes to the already blossoming library of Game Add-on songs available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace and the in-game Get Music store.

A special treat for 80s aficionados everywhere, the smooth sounds of New Edition will be available on 15th May in a convenient song pack including, “Mr. Telephone Man,” “If It Isn’t Love” and “Cool It Now” for 440 Microsoft points. Single songs, available throughout the month for 160 Microsoft points, vary from the upbeat “Dance Floor Anthem” by Good Charlotte, to the country sensation “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus, to the soothing “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol. With such an abundant variety of music available, fans around the world have even more reason to belt out their favorite songs with friends on their “Lips” wireless light-up microphones.

Available on 1st May:

Dance Floor Anthem (I Don't Want To Be In Love) – Good Charlotte
Why Does It Always Rain On Me? – Travis
Hard To Handle – The Black Crowes

Available on 8th May:

You Get What You Give – The New Radicals
Turning Japanese – The Vapors
Clocks – Coldplay

Available on 15th May:

Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
Mr. Telephone Man – New Edition
Cool It Now – New Edition
If It Isn't Love – New Edition
New Edition Song Pack – Mr. Telephone Man, Cool It Now, If It Isn’t Love

Available on 22nd May:

Lollipop – Mika
Achy Breaky Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus
100 Years – Five For Fighting

Available on 29th May:

I Miss You – Blink-182
Life Is A Rollercoaster – Ronan Keating
Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol

“Lips,” the singing party game from Xbox 360 and iNiS, includes 40 songs on-disc and two wireless, motion-sensitive microphones. The “Lips” microphones are also compatible with other hit music games on Xbox 360 such as “Rock Band 2” and “Guitar Hero Metallica” with more games coming soon.

Franz Ferdinand and music from The Allman Brothers Band, Prong, The Distillers, Alien Ant Farm and Luscious Jackson join Rock Band

Harmonix and MTV Games today announced the addition of 10 songs from six popular rock bands to the Rock Band™ Music Store of downloadable content including a three-pack from Franz Ferdinand and music from The Allman Brothers Band, Prong, The Distillers, Alien Ant Farm and Luscious Jackson.

Franz Ferdinand has produced a string of memorable, chart-topping hits since the band’s formation in 2001. The Scottish band’s signature song, “Take Me Out,” from their self-titled 2004 album will debut in the Rock Band Music Store next week. The Franz Ferdinand 3-pack also includes “Do You Want To” from You Could Have It So Much Better (2005) and “Lucid Dreams” featured on the album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (2009). The tracks will be available for purchase as a three-pack or as individual tracks.

Southern-rock outfit The Allman Brothers Band makes its first appearance in the Rock Band Music Store with “Midnight Rider,” featured on 1970’s Idlewild South, and “Blue Sky,” featured on the band’s 1972 classic album Eat a Peach. The band has received numerous awards and was named one of Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” in 2004. Eat a Peach was the band’s final album to include legendary guitarist and founding member Duane Allman before his tragic motorcycle accident death in 1971. Rolling Stone magazine listed Allman as the second greatest guitarist of all time, behind only Jimi Hendrix. The Allman Brothers Band made it’s Rock Band debut with “Ramblin’ Man” on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack.

New York City metal band Prong makes its Rock Band debut with “The Banishment” and “Idealistic Types,” both featured on Prong’s latest album Power of the Damager (2007). In addition, The Distillers deliver their brand of energetic punk rock power in their Rock Band debut with “Drain the Blood,” the lead single from their third album Coral Fang (2003).

Rounding out this week’s line-up is “Smooth Criminal” from Alien Ant Farm featured on ANThology (2001) and Luscious Jackson’s “Naked Eye” from Fever In Fever Out (1996).


Release Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360)
Thursday, May 7, 2009 (PlayStation Store)

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change **

Tracks:
Franz Ferdinand “Take Me Out”
Franz Ferdinand “Do You Want To”
Franz Ferdinand “Lucid Dreams”
Alien Ant Farm “Smooth Criminal”
The Allman Brothers Band “Blue Sky”
The Allman Brothers Band “Midnight Rider”
The Distillers “Drain the Blood”
Luscious Jackson “Naked Eye”
Prong “Idealistic Types”
Prong “The Banishment”

(All tracks are original master recordings)


Locations: Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360
PlayStation®Network
Music Videos:
Click on the track below to view the song’s corresponding music video.
Alien Ant Farm “Smooth Criminal”
Franz Ferdinand “Take Me Out”
Franz Ferdinand “Do You Want To”
Luscious Jackson “Naked Eye”

Website Links:
For more information, please visit:

Rock Band Website
Franz Ferdinand Official Website
The Allman Brothers Band Official Website
The Distillers Official Website
Prong Official Website
Luscious Jackson Official Website
Alien Ant Farm Official Website

Rock Band 2 is available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment systems and Nintendo Wii home videogame console from Nintendo.
There are now more than 660 tracks available via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/music). Rock Band continues to satisfy music fans’ and gamers' voracious appetite for rock with more than 40 million paid downloads since its launch on November 20, 2007. The Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks and packs from the vast selection of offerings available to date without ever leaving the game as they build their own custom Rock Band library.
Rock Band and Rock Band 2 are rated "T" for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

Rhiannon - Curse of the Four Branches video game for download

Welsh developer Arberth Studios has joined with games portal Gamersgate to offer the English-language version of its supernatural adventure 'Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches' for download. The non-exclusive deal covers all publishing territories of the world.

Arberth's co-founder Noel Bruton comments "We're very excited about this opportunity. It means that 'Rhiannon' is now available anywhere with a good Internet link, which opens it up even to territories where we don't yet have direct publishing arrangements. It can put 'Rhiannon' in the hands of more players, which is why we wrote it - to get it played. It's a great alternative route to market for the smaller independents like ourselves."

However, it is not just the increased and immediate product distribution that drew Arberth to Gamersgate, but the flexibility and quality of the facility. Bruton continues, "Gamersgate's online inventory monitoring service allows us to track and manage sales almost in real time, which is a far cry from the comparatively primitive, after-the-fact periodic sales reports from some more conventional publishers. We see offerings like Gamersgate as a key part of the future of access to adventure videogames."

Resident Evil 5, Street Fighter IV and Bionic Commando Coming to PC Starting in July

Capcom announce that three of its blockbuster hit console games of 2009 will be coming to the PC beginning this summer. Bionic Commando, Street Fighter IV and Resident Evil 5 will all be coming to the PC, beginning in July with Street Fighter IV and Bionic Commando, while Resident Evil 5 comes later in the year. All three games will be optimized for the PC platform and will have new PC-specific features added to the already great games. All three games will be available both at retail and via various digital distribution methods.

Street Fighter IV features a mix of returning favourites such as Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and Guile along with new characters created for this game, such as Crimson Viper, Abel, El Fuerte, and Rufus. Characters and environments are rendered in stylized 3D, while the game is played in the classic Street Fighter™ 2D perspective with additional 3D camera flourishes. Instantly familiar six-button controls are the hallmark of the game, with a host of new special moves and features. Mixing classic genre-defining game mechanics the franchise is known and loved for with all-new, never-before-seen gameplay systems, Street Fighter IV brings a brand new fighting experience to fans the world over. The PC version of Street Fighter IV will feature online play, higher screen resolutions and three new shaders based on three of the “artistic” trailers released in 2008 that will change the visual appearance of the game: “watercolour,” “poster” and “sumi-e ink” styles. Street Fighter IV PC is scheduled for release throughout PAL territories on July 3.

The first true sequel to the classic 1988 Nintendo Entertainment System original, Bionic Commando sees the return of the bionically-enhanced Nathan "Rad" Spencer. Time has not been kind to Spencer: 10 years after his heroic defeat of the Imperials, he has been betrayed by the government he swore to serve, imprisoned for crimes he didn't commit, and sentenced to death. Bionic Commando transposes the swing-and-shoot gameplay of the 8-bit original onto a stunning 3D environment of towering buildings, suspended roadways and monorails, deep canyons and sheer rock faces, where every environment is scalable using swinging, repelling, climbing and wall-walking techniques. The PC version of Bionic Commando will support higher resolutions than the console version, remappable controls including mouse and keyboard support, support for both DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 and online connectivity for multiplayer sessions.

In Resident Evil 5, returning hero Chris Redfield is sent to Africa to investigate a biological weapon that is transforming the populace into aggressive and disturbing creatures. Joined by another local BSSA agent, Sheva Alomar, the two must work together to solve the truth behind the frightening turn of events. Featuring a revolutionary new co-op mode of gameplay, Resident Evil 5 will let players experience fear together as terror moves out of the shadows and into the light of day. The PC version of Resident Evil 5 will feature online play for co-operative play sessions over the internet and will also take advantage of NVIDIA’s new GeForce 3D Vision technology (wireless 3D Vision glasses sold separately).

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky patch update v1.5.09

1.5.04 - 1.5.08 versions saved games will be compatible with 1.5.09.
Patch introduces the following changes...

Improved integrated anti-cheating system to take screenshots from the player’s screen.
Improved integrated anti-cheating system that allows the remote admins to track the modifications in network game parameters.
Fixed bug with killing the player after respawn.
Improved player-checking system upon connection.
Fixed bug with RPG-7.
Fixed bug in buy menu.
Added new effect High Definition Ambient Occlusion.
Increased the game stability.
Changes of game balance in Multi-player:
- Increased damage dealt by "Tunder С14", "SA Avalanche ".
- Added possibility to attach scope to "SA Avalanche".
- "UDP Compact" pistol now has an increased cartridge (12 bullets).

Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce offers PSP multiplayer like no other

Koei Ltd proudly releases its first major co-op ‘Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce’ title on the Sony PSP. Featuring:

• Quest based gameplay over 100s of uniquely generated maps
• Four player co-op set over 15 sprawling cities
• Deep Crafting System allowing 100s of weapons, items and upgrades to be created and traded
• Devious boss battles with gargantuan, screen-filling enemies
• The all new ‘Fury Transformation’ attack to obliterate opponents

With the PSPs recent resurgence, more gamers than ever are choosing to play together and experience the console how it was meant to be experienced – socially. With instantly accessible gameplay to fans and new-comers alike, Dynasty Warriors Strike Force is the perfect title for those new to the PSP and on-the-go gaming.

‘The PSP has always been a solid, fantastic machine and Koei’s games always look their best when they feature on PSP, so to have such an accessible multiplayer game released as the PSP enters its most interesting period yet is great’, said Will Curley, Vice President Sales & Marketing KOEI Ltd, ‘we hope people have fun playing Strikeforce on-the-go. There really is no other multiplayer game on the PSP like it’

Hailed as the true stars of the original Overlord, the Minions will return in Overlord II

Evil may have a new face but he’s brought along some old friends. Hailed as the true stars of the original Overlord, the Minions will return in Overlord II, today confirmed for release on June 26th for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Games For Windows. Ahead of release, gamers can see the maniacal Minions in malevolent motion in the new ‘Minion Maximus’ gameplay video below.



In Overlord II the Minions return stronger, smarter, deadlier (and funnier) and are ready to fight in epic battles that will see them squaring up to the Legions of a new enemy – the Glorious Empire. Their horde mentality is as wild and outrageous as ever and their loyalty to their Overlord has not changed – they’ll do anything and everything that’s commanded of them (and then a bit more) to aid their masters’ quest to destroy or dominate the land.

During the Overlord’s onslaught, the savage pack will gleefully destroy the towns of the Empire and decide the fate of their denizens. Given the right instruction, they’ll even gather voluptuous mistresses for the Overlord and infiltrate the very heart of the Glorious Empire’s army badly (but passably) disguised as diminutive soldiers.

Delivering a whole new level of Minion control, players can equip the Overlord’s devoted brown, green and red Minions with mounts, unique and deadly creatures ready to raise hell. Forming the Minion Cavalry division, brown Minions can ride and control packs of vicious wolves (“Aw, lovelies wolfies”). On wolf-back, the Minions can be swept into attacks and knock enemies off their feet through sheer force and then bite and gore opponents in lupine finishing moves.

Red Minions ride fire salamanders, which become living flamethrowers that shoot fireballs as a primary attack. Green Minions can mount giant spiders, enabling them to climb walls to get to places where no other Minion can get. Meanwhile, the blue Minions, the more ethereal and Zen-like of the tribes, wouldn’t be seen dead on a creature’s back; but they will keep their eyes on their Minion pals and, should they take a tumble or get injured, they’ll dash to the rescue and make use of their unique healing powers.

“The Minions are the stars of the show and we’ve brought them back with bigger personalities and with more abilities than before,” said Lennart Sas, Creative Director, Triumph Studios. “Hilariously supercharged, the Minions can tear down scenery and destroy buildings, ride mounts and operate powerful siege weapons in massive battles with the Empire. They became hugely popular from the first game, so we’re upping their profile, abilities and unique characteristics.”

Prepare to put the Minions into action in Overlord II – the game that puts the laughter into slaughter – coming June 26th for the PLAYSTATION 3 system, Xbox 360 and Games For Windows.

Round 4 video game predicts Knock Out for Manny Pacquiao over Ricky Hatton? Fight night video

11th Round KO Ends Back and Forth Bout

Manny Pacquiao will win his highly anticipated May 2nd bout against Ricky Hatton with a convincing 11th round knockout, according to the official EA SPORTS simulation conducted using Fight Night Round 4.

Available 26th June 2009, for the Xbox 360 video game system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, Fight Night Round 4 is the latest entry in the critically acclaimed boxing series from Electronic Arts.
According to the simulation, an aggressive attempt by Hatton to limit Pacquiao’s movement early on was unsuccessful. Pacquiao’s used his speed and control of the ring to take advantage of Hatton’s aggression, picking his punches and keeping out of range. The tide turned in Hatton’s favor in Round 4 when he found some success trapping Pacquiao in the corner. With little room to work with, Pacquiao was forced to trade blows on Hatton’s terms. This relentless exchange proved to be too much for Pacquiao who went down to a powerful left hook at the end of Round 6. The later rounds saw the revival of the quick moving Pacquiao, who outpaced and out boxed Hatton yet again. Lightning fast left jabs wreaked havoc on Hatton through Rounds 7, 8 and 9 before a commanding right hand brought him to the mat in Round 10. Badly hurt and looking sluggish, Hatton was unable to beat the count after falling to another deadly right hook from Pacquiao in Round 11.



The simulation was conducted using Fight Night Round 4’s all-new AI (Artificial Intelligence) system. Dubbed R.E.A.L (Record, Evaluate, Adapt, Learn) AI by the development team, the system re-creates each fighter’s ring strategies in the game based on their real life counterparts. Built with adaptive logic, the system triggers fighters to change their tactics based on their success, or failure, throughout the course of a bout.



One of the most anticipated video games of 2009, Fight Night Round 4 features unique boxer styles and an all new physics based engine that creates one-of-a-kind bouts between over 45 licensed boxers, including Hatton and Pacquiao. Fans will have the chance to recreate this May 2nd bout with the Fight Night Round 4 Demo, which is scheduled for release in late-May.

Pokemonfaceoff.com smashes the 3 million battle barrier! Over 493 Pokemon to battle.

Pokémon World's new Pokémon battling website proves to be a phenomenal success

Pokémonfaceoff.com was launched in December 2008 by Imagine Publishing as part of its online expansion and as a companion to its established Pokémon World magazine.

The online battle engine allows users to choose the winner of a faceoff between two pocket monsters and then records the results of the battle which also count towards a list of the top100 Pokémon of all time. After just four months www.Pokemonfaceoff.com has now hosted over three million battles!

“We could never have imagined the colossal number of players Pokémon FaceOff.com would attract!” exclaimed Nick Roberts, Imagine’s Business Development Manager and the driving force behind Pokémon World and the new website.

“We caused major disruption to Imagine’s websites over Christmas with the number of Pokémon battles taking place, and since then we have gone on to see every one of the 493 Pokémon take part in over 12,000 battles each. That makes over three million Pokémon battles in four months!”

“I would just like to thank all the Pokémon fans that have played the FaceOff game so far and made it the success that it is, and a big thank-you to Electronic Arts, D3 Publisher and Square-Enix for using the site to advertise their latest games too.”

With the launch of Pokémon Platinum for Nintendo DS on 22 May, Imagine is standing by for the next surge of Pokémon FaceOff players to battle it out online. And the number one Pokémon so far? It’s Platinum cover star Giratina, winning 83% of its battles.

Imagine Publishing is one of the UK’s fastest-growing consumer specialist publishers. Formed in May 2005, Imagine now publishes 20 magazines and 27 websites in the videogames, computing, entertainment and photography markets. An Imagine magazine is purchased every ten seconds.

Name: Pokémon World Face Off
URL: www.pokemonfaceoff.com
No. of Pokémon available for battle: 493