Namie Amuro stars in video game for McDonalds ad in Japan

Jpop queen Namie Amuro has joined a host of other stars to help sell McDonald's 'big mouth' burger with her latest TV commercial.

She headbutts herself in real life then continues the fight in the video game scene.



With short skirt high kicks and low cut tops the ad is sure to appeal to Japanese young males. Namie Amuro, from Okinawa is one of Japan's top female singers with a top ten single ever year for almost 15 years.

Watch the making of the video here...

She performs Don't Wanna Cry here...

Video of Mass Effect 2 full game play demo

Here's the full Mass Effect 2 demo footage Bioware showed to the public at GamesCom 2009.
Note: This video is recorded with a camcorder.

Second recall for PlayStation 3 Game of the Year - LittleBigPlanet

After having to be patched due to offensive Islamic themes showing up in the launch version of the game, the game was also recalled due to the offensive themes. Well, with LittleBigPlanet: Game of the Year Edition shipping to retailers on September 8th, many retailers were told to pack up their LittleBigPlanet copies and send them back.

Today, GameStop received an internal memo telling managers to load up their copies of LittleBigPlanet for a recall. Why you ask? It seems that the Game of the Year Edition of LittleBigPlanet will be using the same sale sku as the original title, and they'll only be offering the GOTY edition here on out. Whether other retailers are also recalling the title hasn’t been confirmed, but doing a quick search online will show retailers like BestBuy are still selling the game online, while GameStop/EBGames currently lists the game as 'Currently Not Available Online'.

Aion video game open beta starts on September 6-13th

Within the next four weeks, we will treat European and North American gamers to two opportunities to jump into the world of Aion and explore Atreia as Asmodian or Elyos characters ahead of its release in Europe on 25th September and North America 22th September.



Aion's Open Beta Test featuring version 1.5 will take place 6-13th September and will include numerous Western enhancements, including improvements to Aion's innovative character customization with a host of Western styles, as well as new zones, instances, skills, quests and continued game balancing and improvements. Open Beta will retain a level cap for both Elyos and Asmodians characters at 30 allowing players to focus on getting to the same level so they can explore the lands of Atreia together, as well as the Abyss.



Players who have pre-ordered Aion will be treated to a Pre-Select and a two-day Headstart period giving them the opportunity to explore, organize and progress through the game prior to the official launch. Pre-Select will take place on 18th September, while Aion's Headstart will begin 20th September. Players can still participate in the Aion's Pre-Select and Headstart programs by pre-ordering the game through several participating online and brick-and-mortar retailers.



Remember to update your Aion game password if your Aion account was created prior to July 29, 2009.

200 billion ISKs embezzled in EVE online causing run on the digital vaults

EVE Online's largest player-controlled virtual bank, Ebank, just can't seem to catch a break these days.

A few months after it was revealed that the company had been defrauded of a staggering amount of virtual cash, it turns out that the institution's digital vaults are far more barren than many realized, leading to an in-game freezing of accounts for any individual or organization that happened to have invested any InterStellar Kredits (ISK) with the bank.

Early this summer, it came to light that a veteran EVE player (known only as 'Ricdic') had embezzled — and then sold in the real world — over 200 billion ISK from Ebank, causing a run on the virtual financial institution.

However, this was just the beginning of the problems for the player-owned bank. Recently-installed Ebank Chairman Ray McCormack admitted that the bank had been mismanaged, and rules, safeguards, and controls were not enforced. As a result, it's been revealed that Ebank is 380 billion ISK poorer thanks to a number of defaulted loans.

Because of the aforementioned mismanagement, it apparently took the bank's new officers a while to figure out just how far in the red their institution is."

Karos online video game Fact Sheet free-to-play MMORPG

Karos Online is a new free-to-play MMORPG set in the torn fantasy world of Asmara. Players take the role of a hero engaged in an epic war to defeat the forces of Malyx, God of Darkness, who seek to free their captured lord and conquer Asmara.



Through questing, guild clashes and mass PvP, players fight for control of the world’s vital energy source, Fletta, with the ultimate goal of becoming the mythical Karos warrior who brings glory to the side of Light.

Karos Online is being developed by Galaxy Gate lead developers of Laghaim and Last Chaos, and will be published in Europe by NHN Corporation in 4Q 2009.

Breathtaking 3D graphics and combat action effects

Unique Fletta progression system that complements traditional leveling

Exciting dynamic dungeons

Small client size (700MB) and low minimum PC requirements

Keyboard and mouse control options

Client in English

German and Turkish Client to be supported
Characters

Five different playable races

Nine original classes with four sub-classes each,

A total of 36 specialised class options
PvE

Beautiful landscapes to explore

Ticket-based system for dungeon access -- advance to harder challenges as you prove yourself worthy

Two types of thrilling dynamic dungeons:
- Mazes: walls move and shift to affect the party’s path - no party size limit!
PvP

Guild rivalries: kill your enemies on sight!

Territory/resource control wars
Fletta progression system

Gather Fletta energy as you fight enemies

Collect Fletta shards that can be used to increase attributes, give buffs,
buy resources and enchant items

Craft beautiful Fletta weapons and armour that grow more powerful as
your character levels up
Economy

Well-developed crafting, fishing and mining systems

Consignment system for storage; increase capacity as needed
Platform

PC
System Requirements

Minimum: Windows XP / Pentium IV 1.4 GHz, 512 MB RAM, GeForce MX
5600, DirectX 9.0c, 3GB HDD

Recommended: Windows XP, Pentium IV 1.8GHz, 1024MB RAM, Geforce
FX 6200, DirectX 9.0c, 3GB HDD
Closed Beta:

Phase 1: 21-23 August

More phases to come

ESA top five P2P game piracy countries - Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Poland - 45 milllion notices issued

The Entertainment Software Association has released this year's fiscal report, putting out their numbers to level the finger at new targets.

Following up on last year's published report, this one has a whole bunch of new numbers to ponder.

The top five P2P game piracy countries this year are: Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and Poland. The ESA's anti-piracy program notes, 'Chief among this year's actions were five separate law enforcement raids against game pirates in California, resulting in the seizure of several thousand games and dozens of modded consoles, and the arrests of five individuals.'

But don't worry, they've expanded to other countries. 'The ESA sent takedown notices to ISPs covering more than 45 million instances of infringement of member company games in more than 100 countries worldwide.'

Source: Slashdot - read full post here...

Pay what you want for Championship Manager video game 'sold for a penny' as first time that a pay-what- you-want model has been tried with videogames

Fans of the popular football video game Championship Manager will be able to choose how much to pay for the new version of the title.
Developer Eidos is offering a download of the game from a penny, along with a £2.50 transaction fee.
It is the first time that a pay-what- you-want model has been tried with video games, said the developer.

UK rock band Radiohead used a similar sales strategy in 2007 with its album In Rainbows.

A survey found that nearly two-thirds of downloaders paid nothing for the album.

The new game will be available to download until 10 September, when the price will rise to £29.99.

Additional content for the game will be sold throughout the year, costing £5 for six updates.

"This is the first time an initiative like this has ever been tried in the videogames market," said Roy Meredith of Eidos.

Source: BBC

Section 8 video game release dates announced - Xbox 360 and PC

SouthPeak Interactive announce Section 8 will be in stores on September 1 for Xbox 360, and September 4 for PC in North America. In UK/Asia Pacific shelves for both Xbox 360 and PC on September 11, the rest of Europe will get the game September 18.

Developed by TimeGate Studios, Section 8 is an intense first-person shooter that gives players strategic control over the battlefield, employing tactical assets and on-demand vehicle deliveries to dynamically alter the flow of combat.



Set at the crossroads of a growing insurrection among its colonies, Earth dispatches the elite 8th Armored Infantry to turn the tide. Utilizing advanced powered armor suits, these brave volunteers are the only ones crazy enough to smash through enemy defenses and drop directly into the battlefield from 15,000 feet, earning them the nickname.

Kevin McKidd, Keith David and More Join Cast of Modern Warfare 2 video game

Some good news for you Modern Warfare warriors out there, as it looks like some real talent are lending their voices to the upcoming Modern Warfare 2.

Glenn Morshower from "TransFormers: Revenge of the Fallen," Turns out, it was the aptly-named General Morshower.

Performing duties also go to Keith David ("They Live" and "The Thing," plus Halo 3, Mass Effect, and plenty more), Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan), and Scots actor Kevin McKidd ("Grey's Anatomy" and Lucius Vorenus from HBO's "Rome") plays captain 'Soap' McTavish. Rounding out this lot will be one Craig Fairbrass, who voiced Gaz in the first Modern Warfare, aka Call of Duty 4. He didn't finish out the game in the best of shape, making his return more interesting.

So, a nice, well-rounded cast, I'd say. You know, I used to be more in-touch with who was who in voice acting. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll just be sitting over in the corner, pondering at exactly what point I lost touch with reality.

Modern Warfare 2 has taken a lot of criticism over it's price - in the UK it's £10 more expensive than other console games.

Kevin McKidd also did voice work for Rockstar in Grand Theft auto - Vice City.