Create your own hero with Champions Online, a massively multiplayer online action game based on the popular pen-and-paper Champions RPG, will give players the power of total customization of their hero experience while they explore a vast universe of richly detailed 3D environments.
Champions Online is all about total customization - it will offer a near infinite amount of character customization so that all players will have a unique game experience. Gamers will be able to create their hero's name, back story, costume, powers and abilities as well as design their own personal arch-enemy and his or her back story, which will guarantee a truly unique experience.

* Total Character Customization
* A game filled with action based combat
* Choose your unique power
* Design your nemesis
* Varied, Expansive Environments:
* The storyline will be fully personlized

I got in close, chucked off a few body blows, swerved a jab and with a quick flick of the right stick and a tap of the A button unleashed Iron Mike Tyson's signature jumping haymaker to send the great Muhammad Ali to the canvass.

The massively satisfying sequence was instantly replayed in slow-mo, hi def EA polished glory and my fate was sealed, 'I'm playing this for the next two days solid'.



Better yet I did not fall out of love with Fight Night Round 4 when Ali got up, dusted himself down and absolutely pummelled me for the next three rounds before knocking me out completely with a masterclass befitting the legendary man.

View all Six gamezplay Fight Night 4 video here...

Read full post here on The Bucks Herald

Aliens v Predator is an entirely new title for PC and high-definition consoles from acclaimed British developer Rebellion, the team behind the 1999 original PC gaming classic.

Bringing the most intense war between two of science-fiction’s most popular characters FPS fans, AvP delivers three outstanding single player campaigns and provides untold hours of unique 3-way multiplayer gaming.

Experience distinctly new and thrilling first person gameplay as you survive, hunt and prey in the deadly jungles and swamps surrounding the damned colony of Freya’s Prospect.

- As the Marine, you’ll experience a claustrophobic and terrifying experience where light is your friend, but there’s never enough. However, the United States Marine Corps are humanity’s last line of defence, and as such they are armed to the teeth with the very latest in high explosive and automatic weaponry.

- As the Predator, you will stalk from the shadows and from above, passing athletically through the treetops to ambush your victims. Although equipped with an array of powerful, exotic weapons and tracking equipment, honour ultimately dictates that you must get in close and take your trophies face to face.

- As the most deadly species in the universe, the Alien offers you the chance to play as the very stuff of nightmares - the monster in the dark swarming forward with countless others, jaws like a steel trap and claws like blades.

- Play all sides off against each other in a series of unique 3-way online modes and go tooth-to-claw-to-pulse rifle in the reinvention of one of multiplayer gaming’s defining moments.

A £108 price has been rumoured for Activision's new musical offering DJ Hero this week, although the publisher refuse to be drawn into confirming or denying this speculation.
"We don't comment on our product pricing strategies," Activision told blog VG247.

"However, we believe that DJ Hero will provide tremendous value for our consumers by delivering an all-new interactive music experience with over 100 individual songs that are highlighted in over 80 unique mixes, a wide variety of music from some of the biggest artists including Jay-Z, Eminem, Benny Benassi, Gwen Stefani and Black Eyed Peas among others."

Retailer ShopTo suggested the £107.99 pricing recently, stating that they will sell the game at a discount - £94.85.

Source: Play.tm

The Japanese website GameBusiness claims, in an interview with Naoya Matsui, Sony planned the demise of the UMD a long time ago.

In the interview, he claimed that Sony always planned to release a handheld gamer, like the PSP Go, without a UMD drive.

"We'd planned to release a PSP model without a UMD drive since the very beginning," he's reported as saying.

No physical media

According to Matsui, Sony has been waiting for the electronic delivery mechanisms to mature sufficiently to make physical media redundant.

He explained: "We wanted to release it when the delivery of digital content was on par with the delivery of physical media. That's what we've been working on these past two years."



Whether Sony really did have the UMD's demise planned when the original PSP launched in 2004, we'll never really know, but come October's PSP Go launch, we'll definitely get a feel for life without those unloved little disks.

The latest major scandal in EVE Online, the space MMO notable for its large, player-driven economy and the entertaining stories it often generates. A player named Ricdic, chairman of a large in-game bank, decided to embezzle roughly 200 billion ISK (the game's currency). Ricdic exchanged the ISK for about $5,000 to pay off real-life debts. Massively has an in-depth write-up about how the theft affects the game and its players.

Since the scandal became public, there's been a run on the virtual bank, and its executives are doing what they can to reassure people that it will continue to exist. Ricdic was banned, not for the embezzlement, but for trading 200 billion ISK for real currency, which is forbidden by EVE's EULA.

Source: Slashdot

An analyst is forecasting that Nintendo will continue to dominate the gaming console domain for the next couple of years or so, and that the HD iteration of Nintendo Wii console is there in the offing.

Speaking to Edge Online, Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan, asserted that the HD upgrade of Wii will help the console beating Sony PS3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 to second and third spots respectively in global sales of consoles by 2015.

Predicting the dominance of Nintendo Wii in game consoles market for the next two years, he said in a statement, “The console’s low price point, innovative control mechanism, and compatibility with standard definition televisions will provide it with a competitive advantage over the next two years”.

He further went on to say that Sony will eventually hit the second spot, primarily because of the company’s victory in the HD DVD format war, while Microsoft Xbox will slip to the third spot, owing to its lack of penetration in Japanese market.

Read the full post on Storage IT here...

Galaxy Online (http://go.igg.com) has a new update ready for players. Some of the new features include, battle losses modifications, Elite pirate Instance, error and bug fixes and a whole batch of items.

The new content is a mix of battle tech and technology for assisting with development - the Titanium Alloy Drill, Gas Refiner, Cloning Lab, Purple Science Matrix, Red Arc Machine Arm and much more are all waiting to be put to use in constructing a powerful Galactic Empire.

Another big part of the update is the introduction of the Spacedock, which should make battles much more enjoyable, even for player who lose them often. Using the Spacedock, players who lost their fleets in battle can repair and redeploy a percentage of the fleets. The repair won’t use up any resources but just time. The percentage of recovered ships is related to Ship Repair Tech in the science tree. At the highest level 8, at most 60% of your fleets can be mended.

Here below is the list of items added to the game:

* P.A.M. - Extends Planet Trusteeship service
* Alloy Drill - Increases your planets' Alum yield by 30%.
* Gas Extractor - Increases planets' Gas yield by 30%
* Cloning Tank - Accelerates population increase by 30%
* Science Matrix - Increases the yield of Science points on planets by 30%
* Time Converter - Accelerates building construction by 20%
* Pocket Stargate - Increases flight speed of ships by 30%
* Arc Machine Arm - Accelerates ship building by 15%
* Industrial Pattern - Increases the work duration of Celestial Industrial Bases
* Combat Observation Platform - Enables you to watch combat
* Command Badge - Increases the maximum amount of effective ships on each grid of all fleets
* Resource Case - Use to get some resources.
* Science Case - Use to get some Science points.
* Supplies Case - Use to get some Supplies.

For more details, please visit http://go.igg.com/main.php

Buccaneer: The Pursuit of Infamy, a PC game developed by Stickman Studios. This game will be released in Q4 2009.
Buccaneer is a single and multiplayer game where players strive to become the most infamous pirate captain of all time and etch their name in The Hall of Infamy.

Set against a backdrop of the sunny Caribbean, players will control a variety of classic tall ships, bristling with cannons, as they plunder their way through a 50 mission campaign and go head to head against other cut-throats online with the Player versus Player mode.

Employing a simple and intuitive control system, players will be able to jump straight into the action and begin their career in piracy.

With a wide variety of non-linear single player missions and a choice of more than a dozen fully customisable ships, Buccaneer will have budding pirate captains clamouring for more!

ABOUT THE GAME

Genre: Sea Battle / Pirates
Platform: PC
Publisher: Nobilis – Blitz Arcade
Developer: Stickman Studios
Release date: Europe – Q4 2009

Well that's what some site are reporting as Ubisoft have registered the name Just Dance.
No platform or date has been released.
Activision Blizzard already have Dance Hero registered...


Dance Dance Revolution

Square Enix announce that DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY will be released across Europe and all PAL territories on 4th September, exclusively on the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system.

Celebrating over 20 years of world’s most popular adventure game series. DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY brings together the largest cast of FINAL FANTASY characters ever assembled in a single game. The most famous heroes and villains will now collide in a war that threatens to tear the world apart.

DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY (IGN.com Best of E3 Winner 2009, Best PSP Fighting Game) takes one-on-one fighting to a new action-packed level on the PSP. Through expansive 3D environments, players can glide through the air, dash along walls and perform summons familiar to fans of FINAL FANTASY. Complete with all the character progression and customisation expected from the series, DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY truly delivers the action, spectacle and emotion of FINAL FANTASY in the ultimate portable fighting experience.

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, “With so many favourite heroes and villains contained in one game, DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY is certainly going to appeal to fans of the series. The action-packed experience is a real showcase for the PSP and is set to become an instant classic on the system.”

For a limited time, DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY will also be available at launch in a LIMITED COLLECTOR’S EDITION, featuring unique clamshell packaging and containing a special soundtrack CD, Lithograph prints, Brady Games Official Miniguide and a 48-page The Art of DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY hardback artwork book.

About DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY – LIMITED COLLECTOR’S EDITION

LIMITED COLLECTOR’S EDITON contains:

• Unique DISSIDA FINAL FANTASY clamshell packaging
• Full boxed copy of the DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY game
• DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY Best Selection Soundtrack Mini-CD: The DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY Best Selection Soundtrack Mini-CD includes a selection of music tracks from the game that are especially chosen for this Special Edition version by composer Takeharu Ishimoto. The Mini-CD will be presented inside a unique pochette and contain liner notes written by Takeharu Ishimoto.
• Hardback, 48-page The Art of DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY artwork book: featuring character artwork, CG rendered art and more from across the game production.
• Brady Games Official Miniguide: 32-page game guide printed in full colour, with character artwork, descriptions and walkthrough information – to help you win the battle.
• Exclusive Lithograph Prints: 2 Exclusive Lithograph prints, inside a unique DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY branded bandwrap featuring artwork not used to promote the original Japanese version of the game.

For more information about DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY, please visit the official website at www.dissidia-finalfantasy.com

About DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY

Story
Cosmos, the goddess of harmony. Chaos, the god of discord. Reigning from distant realms, the two gods had gathered warriors from all lands to lead them in savage war.
Cosmos and Chaos were of equal strength. It was believed the conflict would last forever. However, the balance is now broken.
Those who answered Chaos's call created an inexhaustible force. And under vicious attack without relent, the warriors fighting for Cosmos started to fall one by one. The conflict that has continued for eons is now about to end in Chaos' favour.
The world has been torn asunder, sinking into a vortex of disorder. As for the few surviving warriors… their fates have yet to be determined.

Features
• Experience the high-quality world and gameplay mechanics of FINAL FANTASY presented in action-packed 3D environments where players can glide through the air and dash along walls.
• Combining all-out brawling alongside RPG-style character development and customisation, an original system developed by the creators of the KINGDOM HEARTS series takes fighting gameplay to another level.
• Fan-favourite heroes and villains from the entire FINAL FANTASY series come together in one game for the first time in a remarkable new tale with fully-voiced CG movies and real-time events.
• Players select their favourite FINAL FANTASY characters, sided with either Cosmos or Chaos, to set the stage for their fantasy match.
• Accessible through "EX Burst", players can experience gameplay faithful to the originals through memorable battle features such as "Limit Break" and "Overdrive". In addition, long time fans of the series can enjoy the ability to summon Aeons and options such as the "command battle" system. Familiar environments and music from the FINAL FANTASY series also appear, arranged to make the most of the hardware capability.
• Continue the experience by trading Friend Cards, creating items and sharing AI characters with other players and even engage in virtual AI battles made possible by the PSP system ad hoc mode.

Heron: Steam Machine is Triangle Studios' take on the pipe puzzle format. In Heron: Steam Machine, players have to connect pipes to keep the Steam Machine running. Play in single player or co-op with friends for huge amounts of puzzle fun! The gameplay mechanic is simple and addictive, anybody can learn to play Heron within minutes, but only experts are able to achieve the highest scores.

The story:
For many years, a mechanic named Ron has been working at the factory for Rubber Duckies. One day, the owner of the factory decided to retire, and leave the family business to his evil son, who has different plans with the factory altogether. The evil son doubled production targets for the factory, and as a result, Ron has to work at least twice as hard to keep up with the high demands of his new boss. The player has to help Ron out in the factory, and together they face the challenge of keeping the Steam Machine from breaking down!

Multiplayer:
Multiplayer is an important feature in Heron: Steam Machine. The Wii™ console is all about having fun with family and friends. In Heron: Steam Machine, players have to co-operate and connect each one of the pipes at the same time. Can you work as a team in perfect harmony? Test your skills in the Multiplayer mode of Heron: Steam Machine.

Key features:

* Addictive single- and multiplayer fun for all ages.
* High quality 2D Graphics.
* Upbeat soundtrack.
* Multiple highscore listings.
* For up to 4 players.

The Number One fighting title is back as Street Fighter IV PC launches at European retail. The critically acclaimed Street Fighter IV launched in February for the Xbox 360 and PS3 and this latest PC instalment of the title brings with it all the content from the next-gen versions plus some exclusive features.

Players can bring the stunning 3D environments to life with a higher screen resolution than was seen in the next-gen versions and customise the artistic look of the game by choosing between Watercolour, Poster or Sumi-E ink style to give a whole new look to the gameplay. Newcomers and seasoned pros can take the battle online via Games for Windows Live and compete to become the worldwide champion.

Street Fighter IV PC is also available to purchase digitally from Direct2Drive, Steam, Impulse, Metaboli and GamersGate.

Activision is calling on gamers to join the VIP community for Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the No1 best-selling Super-Hero action-RPG. Starting today, players can log on to www.MarvelUltimateAlliance.com and become VIP members earning exclusive and early access to insider content such as classified game information and character reveals, Ask-a-Developer sessions, VIP-only screenshots and videos, and community prizes.



Also just launched on www.MarvelUltimateAlliance.com is a casual online web game that puts players in the heart of the Marvel Civil War. Fans get to choose their side among Pro-Registration and Anti-Registration forces and face off in real-time battles to help their side emerge victorious. Fans can join the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 Civil War online game and be eligible for weekly giveaways and prizes, including Xbox 360 Elite consoles, signed memorabilia from Stan Lee, a grand prize of a 42” 1080p flat screen TV and more.

The company also announced in conjunction with GameStop, gamers that pre-order a copy of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 for the PS3 or Xbox 360 from a GameStop store or online at www.GameStop.com will receive an exclusive playable character – Juggernaut.

Incorporating elements of the acclaimed Marvel Civil War storyline, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 allows players to choose their side and team up revered heroes and villains from the largest army of Super Heroes ever, including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Iron Man, Deadpool, Venom, Green Goblin and Captain America. Players can combine characters’ powers and unleash astonishing new fusion attacks.

The game is being developed by Vicarious Visions for the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2 system, PSP (PlayStation Portable) system and Nintendo DS and is not yet rated by the ESRB.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.



Activision Publishing maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, Russia, Japan, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan.

The first intercontinental multi-player Powerboat Challenge race over two Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks at the recent IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC) 2009 conference in Dresden. The demonstration illustrates the capabilities possible on LTE next generation wireless broadband networks as envisioned by the ng Connect Program. For the first time, gamers played this award-winning high speed racing game in real time between Dresden and Ottawa over next generation LTE.

“The demo at the IEEE ICC Conference will translate into a whole new revenue stream for wireless operators in that they can capture the imagination of both the game developer community and avid multi-player gamers everywhere,” stated Derek Kuhn, Vice President, Emerging Technology and Media Group, Alcatel-Lucent. “Since the start of the ng Connect Program a few short months ago, members have been working hard together to create exciting applications for next generation networks. FISHLABS and Alcatel-Lucent collaborated to create a much more compelling multi-player gaming experience taking users far beyond downloading a simple mobile game and playing alone.”

ng Connect Program member Alcatel-Lucent supplied its industry-leading solution for end-to-end LTE network, integrating Converged Radio Access Network (RAN) and Evolved Packet Core (EPC), and delivering super fast download speeds with reduced latency, to prototype LTE terminals. This showcases again how Alcatel-Lucent leverages wireless innovations and IP market leadership to deliver unprecedented scalability, quality of experience to LTE end-users, while enabling new service and business models for wireless operators.

The Powerboat Challenge™ game delivers a real-world racing experience as players demonstrate their skills by maneuvering around buoys and each other at high speeds. An ultra-fast LTE network environment is needed to support the real-time transmission of the competitors’ position data and the much more data-intensive physical values making the game feel more realistic.

505 Games has announced the release of Guilty Gear 2: Overture exclusively for Xbox 360. The latest in the popular series launches on 4th September 2009 and will take fans in a bold new direction, borrowing elements from genres outside of the traditional one-on-one fighting action for which Guilty Gear has become famed.

Guilty Gear 2: Overture developer Arc System Works has blended action and real time strategy for their latest instalment, and for the first time have introduced 3D graphics to its most popular and enduring series. As well as taking control of their chosen character, players will command legions of loyal followers to crush all in their path. Battles are won and lost by destruction of opponents’ strongholds, known as ‘Masterghosts’ and by successfully defending one’s own from enemy attack. Effective and tactical use of support troops, or ‘servants’, to achieve these aims as well as sharp fighting technique are the keys to victory.



Offering a full single player campaign, four way multiplayer over Xbox LIVE! or two player local multiplayer, Guilty Gear 2: Overture will also feature 50 unique units designed by famed series artist Daisuke Ishiwatari. Many familiar characters return to the game, including Sol Badguy, Ky Kiske and the mysterious That Man, all of whom have their signature special attacks recreated for the first time in glorious 3D.

Guilty Gear 2: Overture will be published exclusively for Xbox 360 on 4th September 2009 by 505 Games.

Drive, Cut, Slog And Nurdle For Real As Codemasters Reveals Details Of The First Cricket Video Game For Nintendo Wii.

Gamers will be able to use their Nintendo Wii Remote to bat and bowl their country to success when Ashes Cricket 2009 is released for Nintendo Wii this August; the integration of the Wii controls is set to take players closer to the action than ever before. To be published by Codemasters, the home of video game cricket, Ashes Cricket 2009 will feature fully licensed players, kit and stadia from the upcoming npower Ashes Series between England and Australia offering a completely authentic experience.


The Wii edition of Ashes Cricket 2009 will enable up to four players to take to the field in a variety of game modes including the iconic Ashes Series, Test Matches and limited over games including 20 overs. Batsmen will use the Wii Remote to drive, cut, slog and nurdle their way through an innings. When fielding, players will use the Wii Remote to polish the ball, set their field and bowl accurately applying swing/turn to their deliveries in order to take those all important wickets.

Ashes Cricket 2009 will also feature a Scenario mode that will pit players against more than 50 match defining moments, such as scoring vital match-winning runs, taking dramatic last-gasp wickets and seeing off the oppositions’ danger men to succeed.

As well as featuring the fully licensed teams from England and Australia, Ashes Cricket 2009 will feature six other Test playing nations as well as ten of the world’s most recognisable stadia, including the five featuring in this summer’s npower Ashes Series. The authenticity of the experience extends to the game’s commentary, which is provided by cricketing favourites Jonathan Agnew, Shane Warne, Ian Botham, Ian Bishop and Tony Greig.

ngmoco is excited to take gamers on a wild new adventure in Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid, now available on the Apple App Store. Building on the huge success of the award-winning Rolando, which took the App Store by storm in December 2008, Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid spans the seas on the way to the mysterious island of Fontanis and follows the heroic quest of a funky new cast of characters from the Kingdom of Rolando.



“ngmoco is excited about this amazing sequel to Rolando. It's bigger, bolder and more beautiful than ever with huge additions to Rolando’s signature gameplay that fans and newcomers alike are going to love,” said Neil Young, CEO & founder of ngmoco. “Developed exclusively for the iPhone and iPod touch, Rolando 2 is a classic example of just how deep, polished and meaningful pocket-sized games can be when they embrace the unique capabilities of these powerful devices.”

Lovingly crafted by Simon Oliver’s HandCircus microstudio, Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid’s unmistakable style combines incredible gameplay with the bouncing rhythms of renowned break-beat artist Mr. Scruff and the vibrant, endearing visuals of pop illustrator Mikko Walamies.

“We’ve pulled out all the stops for Rolando 2,” said Simon Oliver, Founder of HandCircus. “Since the release of Rolando, we have been hard at work developing all-new gameplay mechanics, a new 3-D graphics engine and much deeper story featuring all new Rolandos. The final experience will surprise and challenge iPhone and iPod touch gamers everywhere.”

With 46 levels and six unique chapters, each with its own distinct visual style, Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid expands on the success of the original with an epic new quest filled with surprises behind every touch. Using the accelerometer and the innovative Multi-Touch user interface of iPhone and iPod touch devices, players will lead an ensemble cast of delightful characters and directly manipulate the game environment as they face tribes of savage new enemies, cunning physics puzzles and an exciting, tropical world with a fresh new look. Drawing players further into the adventure, Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid features a non-linear story design where players choose the order in which the narrative unfolds.

Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid leverages the connectivity of ngmoco’s Plus+ Network, which harnesses the latest OS3.0 technology to power a robust social network to gamers. Using the Plus+ Network, players can challenge friends to beat their score on any level using push notification and compare scores on the global leaderboards to keep the competition rolling.

The epic tale of Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid opens with a deadly curse that has ravaged the Sages of the Kingdom of Rolando. To save the ailing Sages, General Sir Richard Smythe, noble explorer and Captain of the HMS Plunderful, is tasked with leading a diverse and charming team of brave Rolandos to retrieve the rare and mysterious Golden Orchid from the summit of Stormtop Mountain. From the zaftig William “Billy” Loutfish, able to move heavy objects and dive gracefully to access hidden underwater treasures, to the cunning, agile Major James Cardigan, who is equipped for special climbing and navigation tactics, each member of the Rolando expedition brings special charm to the quest.

Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid is available for $9.99 from the Apple App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at http://appstore.ngmoco.com/rolando2

Established in June 2008, ngmoco has already developed and successfully released multiple iPhone and iPod touch games including the chart topping MazeFinger, Topple, Topple 2, Dr. Awesome, Dropship, Word Fu and the just released Star Defense. With five top-ten products and its games having been installed more than nine million times, ngmoco is one of the leading game makers and publishers for the iPhone & iPod Touch.

To witness the lives and minds of the ngmoco team at work on the future of iPhone and iPod touch games, visit http://www.ngmoco.com.

Rocawear Virtual Items Debut In Outspark's Project Powder

Hip young fashionistas rejoice, as a new partnership announced today brings Rocawear, the famous lifestyle apparel brand co-created by the legendary Jay-Z, to virtual worlds, social networks and online games including Outspark’s Project Powder. Project Powder takes players to a snowboarder’s paradise where they can customize their characters and accessories, race against friends and pull off jaw-dropping stunts on the finest snow in the galaxy.

“Our online games and relevant user base provide great engagement channels for the right celebrities & brands. We’re excited about working with Rocawear, one the leading and hippest brands out there. Partnerships like these deliver the types of experiences and unique content we continuously seek to offer our community,” said Wilson Kriegel, Outspark Vice President of Business Development.

The Rocawear virtual items, based on current and prospective physical Rocawear products, are now available from the Project Powder Pro Shop, accessible at http://store.outspark.com/projectpowder and within the Project Powder game.

The partnership was made possible by Virtual Greats, which connects celebrities, artists, intellectual property owners and brands with a new generation of fans, unlocking value through digital representations of real-world content in online communities. The deal marks the first time merchandise from Virtual Greats will be available in massively multiplayer online games. Rocawear will also be the first apparel brand to license its intellectual property for distribution in online communities via Virtual Greats, building on Virtual Great’s existing strength in celebrity, entertainment, and sports IP.

“With a line of trendsetting products ranging from children’s clothing to loungewear to sunglasses, Rocawear is the kind of lifestyle brand that is ideally poised to capitalize on the desire of online consumers to express themselves with fashion,” said Dan Jansen, CEO, Virtual Greats.

Receiving Critical Acclaim and Awards at E3 2009, Roogoo Features Interactive Puzzles and Invigorating Gameplay

SouthPeak Games announce the release of two new additions to the growing family of their addicting, fast-paced Roogoo series: Roogoo Twisted Towers for Nintendo Wii and Roogoo Attack! for Nintendo DS. The latest games provide fun for the entire family as only quick reflexes and thinking can save Planet Roo from the vicious Prince Moo and his wicked Meemoo followers.



Roogoo Twisted Towers and Roogoo Attack! follow the delightfully endearing Roogoos through colorful (and Meemoo infested) worlds as they fight to save Planet Roo. Using the world-saving power of meteor shapes, players must rotate platforms in myriads of different formations all the while strategizing on the fly and collecting quick-falling shapes. Players will get hooked on the invigorating gameplay that requires fast thinking, determination and grit; leaving players craving more action and adventure after each level. As an added bonus, the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS versions can wirelessly connect and unlock 20 bonus levels within each title!



“Players will find that Roogoo Twisted Towers and Roogoo Attack! are even more exciting and content-filled than their original counterpart,” said Richard Iggo, VP of Marketing at SouthPeak. “Both versions feature all new, gorgeous environments, villainous foes, and hours of engaging multi-player fun. We’re certain both kids and adults will enjoy everything the new Roogoos have to offer.”

The first titles to emerge from Konami development group will be released in the coming months, with Gradius Rebirth out today, followed by DRiiFT MANIA later this month, and the all-action Contra Rebirth in August. Each title is an all-new game, with Gradius Rebirth marking the welcome return of one of gaming’s most acclaimed shooters of all time.

Gradius Rebirth retains the 2D space-based action the series is famed for, with players guiding their Vic Viper ship through a series of horizontally-scrolling stages infested with thousands of aliens and huge end-of-level bosses. Power-up capsules allow the user to add lasers, secondary weapons systems, shields, etc, to their craft, while new additions include a Score Attack Mode wherein high-scores can be compared, and a Replay system where hard-fought battles can be reviewed.

DRiiFT MANIA will follow later in July, and is a top-down racer that allows up to eight players to race each other, using cartoon-style characters. Featuring twelve different tracks based on four themed environments – cityscape, hills, snow and a desert oasis – players can also select one of 34 vehicles from four categories. Each category is tailored for use within the different environments, with variations of speed, acceleration and handling and grip levels making specific vehicles ideal for particular locations.

DRiiFT MANIA ‘s multi-player modes allow users to play using combinations of Wii Remotes, Nunchucks and Classic Controllers, and seven game modes are on offer. These include single-player and multi-player championships, and Team Race; wherein participants are divided into two teams, with the winner those that amass the most points. The VIP mode elects one player per team as a VIP vehicle, who must be protected at all costs from the opposition cars, with the removal of the VIP car resulting in a win for the attacking team.

DRiiFT MANIA also has a fun ‘Contamination’ idea, where a player is marked contagious and must contaminate very other player within a set period, while ‘Cold Potato’ mode charges the user with collecting said vegetable and holding on to it for as long as possible! Finally, the ‘Meteorite’ option sees players embarking on a normal race, while trying to avoid a series of meteors as they fall from the sky.

Completing the trio in August is Contra Rebirth, a welcome return for Konami other celebrated shoot ‘em up series. Armed soldiers are charged with running and jumping through a series of 2D levels, each littered with alien forces, vehicles and face-offs with massive bosses. OTT weaponry is the order of the day as homing missiles, flame-throwers and high-powered lasers are used to blast a path to the end of each stage, while agility and dexterity are required to clamber over seemingly impassable areas, and scale crumbling buildings.

Sword of the Stars Ultimate Collection is the definitive space strategy anthology for the PC, released to retail today by Ascaron Entertainment. The collection contains Sword of the Stars and the two expansion packs, Born of Blood and A Murder of Crows, offering value for money and extensive gameplay for existing fans of the series and strategy gaming enthusiasts.

In the Sword of the Stars Ultimate Collection, players can take control of six different species in a fight for galactic domination. Human and alien races such as Hiver, Liir, Tarkas, Zuul and Morrigi each possess unique modes of transport enabling players to move between star systems at varying speeds and in different spaceships. For example, humans can fly quickly between stars using special space lines while the hivers rely on building interdimensional gateways for direct travel to different galaxies.

Gamers can design and build spaceships from three different classes; Destroyer, Cruiser and Dreadnought. By mixing and matching a wide variety of technologies players can customise their fleets, arming them with a choice over 40 different weapons including point-defence cannons, cloaking devices and missile launchers.

Sword of the Stars

It is the year 2405 and human scientists discover a new technological system called Node Drive that allows space travel faster than light speed. However, the Hivers choose this moment to attack Earth killing 70% of the population. A military organisation called Sol Force is established allowing players to develop infrastructure, build new ships and colonise other planets to ensure the survival of the human race.

Born of Blood

Set 40 years on from Sword of the Stars in 2445, the violent wars between the Humans, Hivers, Liirs and Tarkas have subsided and diplomacy is dawning. However, the Zuuls, a species of marsupial-like creatures, emerge and shatter the peace. Players can take command of the Zuul army utilising over 90 new ship sections and 15 new weapons to obliterate enemies. Alternatively, players can unite with other races against the Zuuls using the new ship upgrades War, Projector and Boarding and a new type of defence satellite, the Torpedo Defence Platform.

A Murder of Crows

While battles against the Zuul continue, a ghost from the past returns in the form of the scheming Morrigi. A host of new features is available for players with 12 new ship sections and a unique Grav Flock Drive system so that the more ships are added to a fleet, the more speed will increase. New gameplay options include the addition of espionage operations and demands for planetary surrender.

Publisher: Ascaron Entertainment
Developer: Paradox Interactive
Release date: 3rd July 2009PEGI: 7+
Format: PC
Genre: Turn based Strategy

Playbrains announce a new and very personal way to play with your friends over Xbox LIVE. For the first time in any Xbox LIVE Arcade game, gamers will be able to take full control of their custom Avatar as a playable, in-game character through “Avatar Attack” mode in Madballs in…Babo:Invasion (MiBI) for Xbox LIVE Arcade on Xbox 360.

By selecting the “Avatar Attack” mode from the multiplayer Skirmish menu in MiBI gamers will be given the option to use their custom Avatar as a fully-controllable in-game character. Once selected, the “Decappuccino Machine,” in a very sanitary manner, will painlessly separate the Avatar’s head from its body where it will then be fitted and equipped with some heavy hitting and highly explosive artillery! And unlike the bright gooey mess that Madballs and other Babo spew when they take damage, each Avatar head is hand-filled by the loving and caring folks at Playbrains with only the finest confetti to ensure a pleasant and colorful display upon destruction.

“We wanted to give Xbox LIVE Arcade players an opportunity to really go ‘head to head,” commented Scott Simpson, president of Playbrains. “We feel that the Avatar Attack mode in MiBI will soon take its place in our world’s society as a critical tool for settling disputes – leapfrogging wars, lawyers, reality show judges and other far more expensive methods that humans have used till now.”

About Madballs in...Babo:Invasion
A gameplay rich, feature laden "casually hardcore" action shooter, Madballs in...Babo:Invasion (MiBI) is that rarest of gaming commodities: a genuinely unique title. Featuring the recently re-released Madballs™ characters, Oculus Orbus and Horn Head, from the popular 1980's toys best remembered for their outrageously bad looks and graphically colorful names, MiBI is an arena-based 3D shooter where players are able to design their own combat maps almost instantaneously by placing a combination of map tiles to create a never-before-seen map before gameplay starts. Truly, no two games are ever the same.

Offering players a satisfying and immersive experience in both single-player and multiplayer, Madballs in...Babo:Invasion has a plethora of features and game modes such as 4-player online co-op along with, never-before-seen in an Xbox LIVE Arcade title, being able to incorporate your Xbox LIVE Avatar into multiplayer combat via the 'Avatar Attack' mode. Yes, Xbox LIVE Arcade combat just got personal. And with up to 16-player multiplayer support, MiBI will be one of the few Xbox LIVE Arcade games to support more than 8 players at a time, and the only avatar-based game to support 16 players.

Unique Wi-Fi Gameplay Encourages Players to Explore Real World Surroundings to Collect Treasures.

Aspyr Media announced today that Treasure World has shipped to retailers across North America. The game, which encourages players to seek out Wi-Fi signals in order to unlock in-game treasures, is available on Nintendo DS for $29.99.

“With Treasure World, we’re offering players an entirely new level of interaction that crosses from the traditional game world into the real world,” said Ted Staloch, Executive Vice President, Aspyr Media. “With thousands of treasures to unlock and hundreds of player customization options, in addition to the real world treasure hunts, players are going to be able to spend months finding and doing everything the game has to offer.”

Treasure World is the world’s largest treasure hunt with hundreds of millions of treasure spots around the world. Players use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to find Wi-Fi signals, DS and Wii™ systems and other wireless signals to collect treasures. Each of these signals delivers one of thousands of new treasure collectibles. A vast amount of treasures await to be found, ranging from traditional scenery such as flowers, statues and tiki torches, to iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Big Ben, to holiday themed items like jack-o-lanterns and snow men. In addition, players can unlock new attire for their character and offer limitless possibilities for customization, including Panda, Feline, Ninja and Anime costumes. And along the way, players accumulate in-game currency to purchase additional treasures.

They can then use their treasures to decorate their in-game world and create musical compositions. Each treasure even has its own sound associated with it such as a guitar, piano or trumpet. So when the treasure is placed on the ground players can create their very own music tracks. Players can then upload their DS save data to the official website, www.clubtreasureworld.com, and show off their treasures, world creations, character disguises and musical creations to other players around the world. The website even has a built in real world treasure map that allows users to place pins in order to show where they found their treasures.

Sign up to become a member of Club Treasure World and you'll be automatically entered to win your very own copy of the game and a Nintendo DSi system! Deadline to enter is July 31, 2009.

With over 2,600 unlockable treasures in the game, Treasure World offers players limitless potential for creation and exploration!

Work on the Gathering Hall has begun! In only a few days critically-acclaimed artists End of the Line will have transformed a space that was once used as an art gallery into a full-blown Monster Hunter art installation. Only a stone’s throw away from Tottenham Court Road tube station in central London the Gathering Hall will be the ultimate destination for Monster Hunters. Aiming to recreate the social gaming environment enjoyed by Monster Hunters in the east, people will be able to meet other players easily, download exclusive quests, learn how to play on dedicated tutorial nights and meet the developers when they visit the UK. The Gathering Hall will be open seven days a week and entrance will be free and exclusive to anyone with a PSP and copy of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite.

DICE, an Electronic Arts announce that Battlefield 1943 will be exclusively available July 8th on Xbox LIVE Marketplace and July 9th on the PlayStation Network. Battlefield 1943 is an all-new download-only action game that brings DICE’s first-class vehicular warfare to gamers for just $15, or 1200 MS Points.

Battlefield 1943 is a critically-acclaimed First-Person Shooter (FPS) multiplayer game that puts players in the middle of a dogfight on land, sea or in the skies. The game introduces two thrilling new modes that can be played across four classic Battlefield tropical WWII maps: Wake Island, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and Coral Sea. These maps are inspired by the award winning Battlefield 1942 game, but have been redesigned and reengineered using the DICE destructible Frostbite engine which takes down walls, blockades and cover spots, leaving players with almost nowhere to hide. The game delivers endless hours of social online gameplay – an extraordinary value at just $15.

The Coral Sea map which is included in the game will be unlocked as part of a worldwide community challenge, where players will work together to reach 43M kills on both Xbox LIVE and the PlayStation Network. To help gamers reach that goal, up to 24 players can play together online in countless matches. They will have the freedom to compete by land, air and sea as either the US Marines or the Imperial Japanese Navy. Whether they choose to play the role of a rifleman crawling through the trenches, a steel-fisted tank commander, or a dog fighting ace pilot, gamers will have the power to rule the Battlefield.

“Battlefield 1943 is going to change consumer expectations of what a downloadable game can be. By offering Frostbite’s next generation destruction technology with a full Vehicle Warfare FPS multiplayer experience at a mere 560MB, Battlefield 1943 sets a new standard,” said Gordon Van Dyke, Producer on Battlefield 1943. “Our goal is to blow people away with a fully accessible, retail-calibre game for veteran Battlefield fans and shooter fans alike to enjoy for only $15.”

GameTap - Today we released the adventure game Runaway: Dream Of The Turtle, the sequel to last month’s release Runaway: A Road Adventure. Our free game of the week is the 2006 release Rogue Trooper a third-person-shooter based on the 2000AD comic of the same name.

New Release For Subscription Service, Available 07.02.09:
Runaway: Dream Of The Turtle- After their adventures in Runaway: A Road Adventure, Brian and Gina decide to take a relaxing vacation in Hawaii. But when taking a flight to tiny Mala Island, everything goes all wrong once again. Their elderly pilot dies on them, Gina has to parachute out of the plane, and Brian ends up crash landing in the jungle. Now Brian has to make his way to civilization, find Gina, and figure out how to get off the island in this madcap adventure game.
http://www.gametap.com/video-games/Runaway:-The-Dream-of-the-Turtle-20001151-0.html

Next Week’s Release: Hotel Giant 2

Free Game Of The Week, 07.02.09 – 07.08.09:
Rogue Trooper- In the far future, the war between the Norts and the Southers has poisoned the very earth with toxic biological and chemical weapons. Now humanity is forced to live in domed cities to escape Nu-Earth’s corrosive atmosphere. But the Southers have a new weapon in this war: the Genetic Infantry, gene-spliced soldiers immune to any poison - leaving them capable of fighting the Norts in any terrain.
http://www.gametap.com/video-games/Rogue-Trooper-20000329-0.html

Next Free Game Of The Week: Tomb Raider Anniversary

The complete list of free games can be found here: http://www.gametap.com/video-games/free-pack-games.html

Top Ten Most Played Games This Week:

1. Rise Of Nations
2. Titan Quest
3. Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Warlords
4. Freelancer
5. Sacred: Gold
6. Disciples II: Rise Of The Elves: Gold
7. Hitman: Blood Money
8. Puzzle Quest
9. Fable: The Lost Chapters
10. Heroes Of Might And Magic III: The Restoration Of Erathia

If you need any additional information or graphical assets feel free to contact me.

The summer is in full swing, and what better way to celebrate Independence Day than Madden NFL 10 team previews, featuring the NFC East. What teams will lead the pack? Which players are prepped for a breakout season? Will your team be a contender or pretender? See how your favorite team and players will fair – according to the Madden NFL 10 Season Preview.



We continue our look at each team’s overall rating and individual player ratings with a focus on the NFC East division. In addition to the player ratings, a wealth of team-specific assets will be made available, for both the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, and Wii versions of Madden NFL 10.
Everything culminates on August 3rd, where Madden NFL 10 will predict the 2009 NFL division winners, season MVP, and more.

To view the overall team ratings for the Eagles, Giants, Redskins and Cowboys, as well as download the complete team roster ratings, visit the official Madden NFL 10 website below:

• Madden NFL 10 Season Preview

Up next week: The AFC North

Madden NFL 10 will be available on the Xbox 360 video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment systems, Nintendo Wii, PSP (PlayStation Portable) handheld entertainment system and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

New Green Day Tracks off 21st Century Breakdown Now Eligible for Best Performance in a Pepsi Rock Band Video at MTV Video Music Awards

Harmonix and MTV Games announce that three exclusive tracks from multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winners Green Day, as well as eight songs from artists performing at the premiere of the RockStar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, will be added to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content next week for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Playstation 3 computer entertainment system and Nintendo Wii system.

The Green Day tracks available next week are the first in an exclusive partnership between MTV Games’ Harmonix and Warner Music Group’s Green Day to bring the band’s songs to the Rock Band platform as downloadable content. These first songs, “21 Guns”, “Know Your Enemy” and “East Jesus Nowhere,” are from the band’s latest album, 21st Century Breakdown.

Selling nearly 50 million records worldwide, Green Day has won critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including three Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Album for Dookie, Best Rock Album for American Idiot and Record of the Year for their smash hit "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." Green Day recently released their eighth studio album, 21st Century Breakdown, on Warner Music Group’s Reprise Records. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, as well as on the Rock, Active Rock and Alternative charts, fueled by the Alternative radio No. 1 single “Know Your Enemy.” 21st Century Breakdown, which Rolling Stone has called “a rock opera in which the rock always comes first,” is also a hit around the world, topping the charts in 24 countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan.

Eight songs from artists performing at the RockStar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, including Behemoth, Cannibal Corpse, Marilyn Manson and Slayer, will also be available for download next week in the Rock Band Music Store. The RockStar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival is a new summer touring metal and rock festival in the United States during July and August, assembled by Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman. Rock Band fans can also play tracks by RockStar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival performers Killswitch Engine and Bullet For My Valentine, previously released as downloadable content.

Tracks:
Green Day “21 Guns”
Green Day “East Jesus Nowhere”
Green Day “Know Your Enemy"
Behemoth “Conquer All”
Black Dahlia Murder “What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse”
Cannibal Corpse “Hammer Smashed Face”
God Forbid “Empire of the Gun”
Job for a Cowboy “Embedded"
Marilyn Manson “Disposable Teens”
Slayer “Black Magic”
Whitechapel “This Is Exile”

(All tracks are original master recordings)

These tracks will be available for purchase as part of the “Green Day Pack” or “Mayhem Pack” or as individual tracks for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 systems.

Release Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2009
(Wii and Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360)
Thursday, July 9, 2009
(PlayStation®Store)

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

Price: $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$5.49 (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Green Day Pack”
$13.49 (1,080) Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Mayhem Pack”
$2.00 (200 Wii Points) per track

Locations: Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360
PlayStation Net
In-game Rock Band 2 Music Store (Wii Points must be purchased through
the Wii Shop Channel)

Today, NeoGames opens its doors to the Scandinavian market as part of a program to maintain itself as a worldwide and specifically Scandinavian leader in Scratch Cards.
NeoGames Partners has now dedicated local currencies for the 3 major Scandinavian countries Sweden, Denmark and Norway, with dedicated websites and all games in Swedish and Danish.

This includes NeoGames’ original and market leading brands, Scratch2cash and hopa.com.

Currently, NeoGames accepts US Dollars, British Pound and the Euro. Now with the new additions of the Scandinavian currencies, players will have wider payment options available to them.

Targeted sites in these languages, local currencies and tailor-made marketing material will attracts new and existing players and increase affiliate conversion rates.

For more information, please email: Affiliates@NeoGamesPartners.com

Please visit http://www.team6-games.com to have a look. The new website will provide visitors with a better overview of all our games and easy acces to media. We also like to take this opportunity to introduce our 5 new game titles for the Nintendo Wii!

Pacific Liberator
Pacific Liberator is an all-action helicopter game that places you in the middle of the pacific. You'll be conducting aerial warfare versus fast and trigger happy enemies. Your adversaries will range from simple foot-soldiers to heavily armed tanks and from fighterjets to incredible carriers!
You'll have to push your heli's to the limit if you want to stand a chance! During the action packed missions you will have to protect and destroy objectives. Beware when you open fire because everything you see can be blown up, including whole villages.

Features:
- 18 singleplayer missions
- Everything in sight is destructable
- Control your helicopter with Wii mote and Nunchuk

Link to the website with media: http://www.team6-games.com/games/Pacific-Liberator-54

Glacier2
Glacier 2 starts at the very top of the Alps: Are you ready to reach insane topspeeds by driving down the mountains of death? While it goes faster and faster downhill, watch out for dangerous cliffs, dodge falling rocks, go aim your rockets, heat up your machine guns and deploy mines to take out your opponents and finish first place!

Features:
- Over the top combat racing action!
- 18 Freezing cold levels full of traps, cliffs, mines, falling rocks, canyons and spectacular jumps!
- 7 tuned superrides, all equipped with various deadly weapons from rockets to machineguns, and from shotguns to mines!

Link to the website with media: http://www.team6-games.com/games/Glacier-2-50

Monster Trucks Mayhem
Enormous tires, incredible, massive engine power and the shocking excitement of Monster Trucks has made it to the Nintendo Wii system (and PC)!

Get ready to race and roar in some real crazy, monstreous outdoor and indoor tracks, meanwhile destroying whatever lies on your path and smashing your opponents from the road.

Breakeable objects and big jumps (airtime) result in more nitro boost for your seven terrorizing monstertrucks!
Monster Truck will contain seven of these detailed landscapes: Canadian junkyard, City Centre Chaos, Desert rocks, Death Mountain, Manhattan Rooftop, Stinky Sewers and the Dark Volcano

Link to the website with media: http://www.team6-games.com/games/Monstertrucks-Ultra-Mega-Extreme-51

Kyiv Chase
Select the side of either the police or the criminals, and shoot & race your way through 20 deadly racing missions.
Destroy all what lies in your path with rocketlaunchers, homing missiles, machine guns, gattling guns, mines, shotguns, cannons and more.

Link to the website with media: http://www.team6-games.com/games/Kyiv-Chase-52

Speed
Speed is all about, as the name suggests, speed!
At various racetracks around the world you will prove you're the absolute master of fast reflexes time after time in this ultra fast, arcade racer.
Can you handle the speed?

Link to the website with media: http://www.team6-games.com/games/Speed-53

Alawar Entertainment, one of the world's leading publishers of casual games, today released "Magic Encyclopedia: Moon Light." The hidden object adventure game is a sequel to "Magic Encyclopedia: First Story", a popular release set in a world of fantasy and enchantment.

Players join Katrina and her brother as they travel across the world and through time to save their professor from the curse of the werewolf. The gameplay involves finding the hidden pieces of important items and reassembling the objects to solve challenging puzzles.

"Magic Encyclopedia: Moon Light" takes players on a captivating and unpredictable journey across four continents. The game features dazzling hand-drawn graphics, 32 challenging levels, 18 mini-games and over 1,500 objects to find.

Kirill Plotnikov, vice president of publishing at Alawar, says "Magic Encyclopedia: Moon Light" is a deeply satisfying game experience with extraordinary artwork. "We worked hard to create an exceptional visual experience for players. Our artists drew each location and object by hand, giving the game a warm and charming feel. After all, true creativity is always an act of magic."

With the release of "Magic Encyclopedia: Moon Light" also comes the announcement that Alawar has begun production on "Magic Encyclopedia 3." The third game in the continuing series is on target to be released in 2009.

• Read more about the PC version at http://www.alawar.com/game/magic-encyclopedia-moonlight/

Risen will make its international debut on October 02, 2009. The new RPG from the inventors of Gothic, Piranha Bytes, has already entered the Beta phase and is now being honed to perfection. Risen will be available for PC and Xbox 360, the video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

"The release date for Risen enables us to introduce the game to the market in the best possible condition," says Daniel Oberlerchner, Brand Manager at Deep Silver. "We have been in the Beta phase here for several weeks, and now our focus lies on eliminating the remaining bugs."

The contents of Risen are already complete, and all dialogs have been recorded. A total of three quality assurance teams are working on the game – one directly at Piranha Bytes, one at Deep Silver, plus an additional external studio.

About Risen:
This epic role playing game is set in a medieval world on a volcanic Mediterranean island, The “Risen” story unfolds over four chapters and will offer multiple ways to develop the story by his own actions and decisions. An innovative and intuitive user control interface will support both casual and hardcore gamers. With full world streaming support, the player will have a seamless experience while playing in a fully simulated game world with authentic characters.

Risen will be released for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows® operating system. More information about Risen on http://risen.deepsilver.com

Aspyr Media announced today that Treasure World has shipped to retailers across North America. The game, which encourages players to seek out Wi-Fi signals in order to unlock in-game treasures, is available on Nintendo DS for $29.99.

“With Treasure World, we’re offering players an entirely new level of interaction that crosses from the traditional game world into the real world,” said Ted Staloch, Executive Vice President, Aspyr Media. “With thousands of treasures to unlock and hundreds of player customization options, in addition to the real world treasure hunts, players are going to be able to spend months finding and doing everything the game has to offer.”

Treasure World is the world’s largest treasure hunt with hundreds of millions of treasure spots around the world. Players use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to find Wi-Fi signals, DS and Wii™ systems and other wireless signals to collect treasures. Each of these signals delivers one of thousands of new treasure collectibles. A vast amount of treasures await to be found, ranging from traditional scenery such as flowers, statues and tiki torches, to iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Big Ben, to holiday themed items like jack-o-lanterns and snow men. In addition, players can unlock new attire for their character and offer limitless possibilities for customization, including Panda, Feline, Ninja and Anime costumes. And along the way, players accumulate in-game currency to purchase additional treasures.

They can then use their treasures to decorate their in-game world and create musical compositions. Each treasure even has its own sound associated with it such as a guitar, piano or trumpet. So when the treasure is placed on the ground players can create their very own music tracks. Players can then upload their DS save data to the official website, www.clubtreasureworld.com, and show off their treasures, world creations, character disguises and musical creations to other players around the world. The website even has a built in real world treasure map that allows users to place pins in order to show where they found their treasures.

Sign up to become a member of Club Treasure World and you'll be automatically entered to win your very own copy of the game and a Nintendo DSi system! Deadline to enter is July 31, 2009.

With over 2,600 unlockable treasures in the game, Treasure World offers players limitless potential for creation and exploration!

For more information about Treasure World, visit www.clubtreasureworld.com.

ZEN Studios, creators of the recent PSN smash hit ZEN Pinball, confirmed today that it will release a free-to-play demo of The Punisher - No Mercy on July 2, 2009, exclusively for PlayStation Network. Releasing the same day as the full version of No Mercy, the demo will allow players to sample the fast-paced action of the Marvel Comics-inspired first-person shooter with two of the eight levels from the original version of the game.

Today the studio also released the list of No Mercy trophy achievements, which can be viewed at www.marvel.com or www.psu.com.

Powered by Unreal Engine 3, The Punisher: No Mercy lets players jump into Punisher action, fighting alongside or taking on an eclectic mix of Punisher allies and villains in a series of online arena-style multiplayer matches that feature solo and team-based missions for up to eight players. Battle arenas span from shipyards rife with contraband to the “birthplace” of Jigsaw, the Punisher’s archenemy.

In addition to the exceptional online gameplay, No Mercy also boasts a single player story mode where players can unleash their vengeance on hordes of villains while unfolding an original storyline and unlocking new additional content. The story mode also features exclusive artwork from acclaimed Marvel artist Mike Deodato.

Two new download packs shipping in July for Battlestations: Pacific, giving gamers new units and maps for tailor-made battles.

Featuring six new units and 18 new pieces of nose art, the Mustang Pack allows players to customise their battles in both single and multiplayer modes.

Amongst the units, players can take to the skies in the legendary US P-51 Mustang bomber escort, a late entry to the Pacific campaign but one which made its mark in Europe as a deadly force; or control the seas with the US Navy’s Alaska Class, giving the upper hand with a large and heavily armed ‘cruiser killer’; or the Super Yamato Class, a huge behemoth of a ship which, had it left the drawing board, would have outclassed the Yamato in every way with the potential to be the most powerful battleship in history.

The Carrier Battles Map Pack gives gamers four new maps, playable across all five multiplayer modes. Take part in a clash of carriers at Midway, do battle at dawn in the mist of the Philippine Islands, experience the fury of Kamikaze attacks in the rocky islands of the Leyte Gulf and take control of your forces amongst the mountain peaks and glacial waters of the icy Aleutian Islands.

The Mustang Pack, priced at 160 points, and the Carrier Battles Map Pack, priced at 800 points, will be available to download on Marketplace from July 2nd and July 23rd respectively for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games for Windows LIVE. Battlestations: Pacific™ is rated ESRB “T” for Teen in North America and PEGI 12+ in Europe.

2K Sports invites gamers and fans of The BIGS™ video game series to the Nintendo World Store in New York City on Monday, July 6 for The BIGS 2 Home Run Pinball tournament. Attendees will have the exciting opportunity to meet and get autographs from the New York Mets’ Mike Pelfrey and Alex Cora, who will help kick-off the tournament.

Eligible participants in the The BIGS 2 Home Run Pinball tournament will have the chance to win prizes such as a Wii system from Nintendo, an authentic Major League Baseball jersey autographed by Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers, the cover athlete and spokesman for The BIGS 2, and a variety of other prizes. Attendees will also have the exclusive opportunity to purchase The BIGS 2 for Wii a full day before the game is released in retail stores. Registration for the tournament begins at 12:00 PM Eastern Time and registration slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Tournament play begins at 4:15 PM Eastern Time. All prospective tournament participants must be 10 or older, and participants 17 or younger must be accompanied by and have permission from a parent or guardian.

Date: Monday, July 6

Location: Nintendo World Store

10 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10020

(646) 459-0800


Schedule: 12:00–3:30 PM – Home Run Pinball Tournament registration

4:00 PM – Event introduction

4:10 PM – Mike Pelfrey and Alex Cora of the New York Mets to faceoff in The BIGS 2

4:15 PM – Tournament begins

6:00 PM – Tournament concludes

Coming to retail stores on July 7, 2009, the Big Leagues will get BIGGER with The BIGS 2. Rated E 10+ by the ESRB, The BIGS 2 will be available on all major video game platforms. The BIGS 2 has been elevated to new heights this season with amazing visual effects and a variety of new gameplay modes, including the fan-requested Season Mode and Become a Legend. With improved player animations and pick-up-and-play controls, The BIGS 2 will deliver an action-packed MLB video game experience.

Temporarily Available for Only 99 Cents, the GPS-Based iPhone Game Is An Exciting New Way to Have Fun at Holiday Events

The Retronyms have announced a special holiday weekend price drop for Seek ‘n Spell, the GPS-based word game for the iPhone 3G and 3GS, to celebrate their recent “Best Use of Technology” award from the 2009 Come Out & Play Festival. Held in New York City, the Come Out & Play Festival is an annual event that celebrates outdoor and street games played in public spaces.

Chosen by a panel of fourteen judges, the award was presented to The Retronyms team at a ceremony on June 14. Regularly priced at $2.99, Seek ‘n Spell will be available for a special price of only 99 cents from July 2 to July 6 to celebrate the award.

“We are honored that the Come Out & Play Festival recognized Seek ‘n Spell for its innovative use of the iPhone and GPS technology,” said Dan Walton, co-founder of The Retronyms. “We felt that Independence Day weekend would be a perfect time to celebrate with our fans by offering a holiday discount. Seek ‘n Spell is a great game to play with family and friends during picnics, barbecues, or any other outdoor festivity.”

Seek 'n Spell is the iPhone 3G and 3GS application that transforms gaming from a sedentary experience to an active and social outdoor contest that exercises the mind and the body. Combining real outdoor spaces with virtual letters, Seek Ê»n Spell is the word game where players race against the clock to gather letter tiles and create words to score the most points. When the game begins, Seek 'n Spell displays a satellite map of the player's location with letters scattered about the field. Players run to a letter to pick it up, and they can collect up to ten at a time to spell as many words as possible. More points are scored for longer words, and coveted gold letters appear randomly on the field to double a score when used in a word. Visit the Seek ‘n Spell forums to find other players in your area (http://seeknspell.com/forums/) or join the Seek ‘n Spell Meetup.com groups in San Francisco and Cleveland to play in those cities.

Seek ‘n Spell is available for a special Independence Day weekend price of $0.99 from the iTunes App Store at http://linktoapp.com/seeknspell.

Third Edition of Best-Selling Franchise Features All New Mini-Games, Bakeries and Customization

Majesco and Sandlot Games creator of the Cake Mania franchise announce Cake Mania 3 for Nintendo DS.

Based on Sandlot Games' award-winning online PC franchise that has been downloaded more than 100 million times, Cake Mania 3 features all-new bakeries, bakery upgrades, kitchen customization, customers and mini-games.

"We are excited to continue building on the success of the Cake Mania franchise on Nintendo DS™," said Daniel Bernstein, Founder and CEO of Sandlot Games. "Millions of Cake Mania fans will be thrilled to play the latest and most ambitious installment in Jill's cake-baking adventures."

"Sandlot Games' Cake Mania franchise is beloved by casual gamers of all ages and Cake Mania 3 delivers the frantic gameplay fans expect, but topped off with many new features," said Gui Karyo, Executive Vice President of Operations for Majesco. "With worldwide sales of more than 650,000 units, the Cake Mania franchise remains a strong property for us that we will continue to leverage with this third release."

Cake Mania 3 boasts new features that will attract everyone from loyal fans to first time players. More than 80 new levels, 30 new customers and 6 beautiful time-spanning environments test Jill's speed and efficiency. Gamers will meet the challenge of spell-casting Egyptian Pharaohs, Dinosaurs with dangerous appetites, and impatient Medieval English princes with a myriad of exciting new kitchen upgrades. In addition, players can unlock three new mini games, and for the first time in the series, change Jill's outfits throughout the game. So no matter the era, she'll never be out of style!

Developed by Digital Embryo in partnership with Sandlot Games, Cake Mania 3 on Nintendo DS™ is expected to release early fall.

Summer is officially here and MapleStory rolled out its latest update with a sunny new set of features to provide its players more fun and adventures. The update offers an exciting new title system, time travel to battle the game’s biggest challenge, Pink Bean, work as a secret agent and the opportunity to be a hero as part of a party quest to save the polluted Ellin Forest.

Here are more details on these exciting updates:

Time Temple – Players travel through time via the ‘Time Temple,’ to stop Kirston from reviving the Black Wizard. There are numerous new monsters to battle, including the toughest boss ever, Pink Bean. This undefeated monster champ of the world might look cuddly but is so deadly, it has yet to experience defeat.

Title System - Players complete special challenge quests and earn medals that display below their characters names in game.

Title medals include:
• Diligent Explorer: Log in for three hours every day for a set number of days.
• Veteran Hunter: Kill 100,000 monsters your level or above.
• Party Quest Mania: Achieve the S rank on eight party quests.
• Quest Specialist: Complete 800 quests.
• Celebrity: Acquire 20,000 fame points.
• Ultimate Warrior, Magician, Thief, Bowman, or Pirate: Reach level 200

Some titles can only be held by one Mapler at a time and will be replaced if another player tops their record. These titles are:
• Donation King: Donate the most mesos to any one town.
• Maple Idol Star: Be the most famed person in MapleStory.
• Legendary Hunter: Kill the most monsters of any type your level or above

Finding Master M - Look out for secret agents, who have invaded the Maple World. Players can join them on exciting missions to uncover the true identity of Master M. Event quests give players the chance to gather clues which assist in unveiling Master M’s identity. Players who complete this mission will be rewarded with an Agent Equipment set. This event runs through August 25.

Agent Training Program - Players will test their combat skills in this new program, which pits an individual player or team of players against boss monsters for the ultimate monster battle. Players must defeat each monster to advance to the next stage and do not see their EXP suffer if defeated.

Ellin Forest Party Quest – Three to five players rally together in this party quest to save the polluted Ellin Forest. Players travel back in time and battle their way through the poisoned forest to uncover the cause of the pollution.

All these new features are now available for free in MapleStory.

Mastertronic have announced the release of the critically acclaimed “World of Goo” on PC, previously available as download and as WiiWare, but now a debut for boxed product. It will also be the first title to be released on their new label, Great Indie Games, a label set up to offer a route to market for independent games developers.

World of Goo is a simple puzzle/building game with a quirky sense of humour. The main objective of the game is to get a requisite number of goo balls to a pipe representing the exit. In order to do so, the player must use the goo balls to construct bridges, towers, and other structures to overcome gravity and various terrain difficulties such as chasms, hills, spikes, or cliffs.

The 48 levels are varied with wide-ranging objectives and a variety of goo. New goo is introduced early on in each chapter, and subsequent missions progressively ramp up the challenge and force you to put it to good use. Different types of goo have special abilities – black goo is rigid and cannot be moved after being placed, green goo can be moved around after initial placement, white goo hangs down like long water drips, red goo can be deployed to act as helium balloons to help keep long bridges in the air over treacherous pits, yellow goo can stick to vertical surfaces while Skull goo is resistant to being popped by spikes.

World of Goo on the PC is a unique visual experience. Brilliant design is achieved through vibrant and contrasting colours and beautiful graphics, giving a surreal cartoon feel to the game. Realistic sound effects add to the games wit and personality and the game is accompanied by a fantastic, atmospheric soundtrack whereby carefully chosen music tracks set the atmosphere for each level.

World of Goo boasts raving reviews and extremely high scores. PC Gamer awarded World of Goo 93% along with PC Format, and PC Zone came in just short of that at 90%. Eurogamer scored World of Goo 9/10 commenting “The world of Goo is a raging pleasure to spend time in, and interact with” whilst Gamespy gave it five stars commenting “(World of Goo is) an amazing, breathtaking and immeasurably charming piece of game design”. The comments continue - “The most charming, creative and generally weird indie title to come out this year” Escapist magazine and “One of the most original and addictive gaming experiences to come along in years” Gamespot

World of Goo has been developed by 2D Boy, an independent developer consisting of Kyle Gabler and Ron Carmel, both former Electronic Arts employees, who with World Of Goo won awards at the Independent Games Festival at the Game Developers Conference in 2007.

Kirsty Payne, Marketing and PR Manager at Mastertronic commented “We are so proud to be releasing World of Goo on PC. It has all the makings of a classic and has received phenomonal reviews from the specialist games press. We will be rolling out a full mainstream consumer marketing and PR campaign targeting specialist PC press, lads mags, national press and womens press as this game can be played and enjoyed by absolutely everyone”.

World of Goo is released on 3rd July 2009

To celebrate 10 years of the popular NBA 2K franchise, and the milestone of having sold two million units of NBA 2K9 worldwide, 2K Sports today announced that the NBA 2K10: Anniversary Edition is planned for release in North America this fall for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.

NBA 2K10: Anniversary Edition will come packaged in a specially designed 2K Sports locker configured for game storage, and include exclusive items featuring 2009 NBA Finals MVP, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, along with a special commemorative video looking back on 10 years of the NBA 2K franchise and its past cover athletes.

As part of a limited edition offering of only 30,000 copies, each NBA 2K10: Anniversary Edition will be individually numbered for authenticity. Fans can now preorder their copy online and at local retail outlets across the country. Ten lucky fans will have the rare opportunity to find an autographed Kobe Bryant fine-art print, designed by Shepard Fairey’s Studio Number One, which will be hidden and randomly packaged among the different lockers. Gamers with Xbox LIVE online entertainment network and PlayStation Network membership will also be able to enjoy special privileges for NBA 2K10: Anniversary Edition, including exclusive access to an online lobby - the Gold Room - where celebrities and other VIP members will go to play, and only players with the Anniversary Edition will be allowed to enter.

NBA 2K10: Anniversary Edition will include:

• NBA 2K10 video game
• 2K Sports’ NBA 2K10 game locker
• 3” Figurine of Kobe Bryant by McFarlane Toys
• 16” x 36” Kobe Bryant poster
• Commemorative NBA 2K 10th anniversary DVD
• Access to the Gold Room, the NBA 2K10 VIP online lobby (accessible only with Xbox LIVE and PlayStation Network membership)

“NBA 2K is the premier basketball video game franchise for serious players, deeply rooted in rich and pure authenticity that real hoop heads get, which is why we’ve been the favorite NBA simulation for so long,” said Greg Thomas, senior vice president of sports development for 2K. “We’ve always been very proud of how we engage our fans on a community level, and NBA 2K10: Anniversary Edition is our way of giving back to all those that have supported us along the way.”

Coming this fall, NBA 2K10 is expected to deliver the most realistic, stylistic, and feature-rich simulation experience ever available in the NBA 2K franchise – from gameplay to graphics, presentation and online features. Developed by Visual Concepts, NBA 2K10 is not yet rated by the ESRB and will be available for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, Nintendo Wii system from Nintendo, and Windows PC. NBA 2K10: Anniversary Edition will be available for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3.

The Dream Stick 360 by Dream Arcades features the first commercially available wireless arcade control panel compatible with Xbox 360 and Windows PC.

Dream Arcades
(http://www.DreamArcades.com) is proud to announce the immediate availability of the new Dream Stick 360. The Dream Stick 360 brings a new contender to the fighting game ring and introduces the first competition quality wireless arcade stick for Xbox 360.

The Dream Stick 360, which is available now, features authentic arcade buttons, joystick and commercial quality cabinet. Windows PC support is also available via an optional adapter. The Dream Stick 360 is priced at just $139 plus shipping.

"The Dream Stick 360 is the perfect opportunity for us to bring the arcade experience into the home, at a lower price point and a smaller footprint than our full-size arcades," says Michael Ware, owner of Dream Arcades. "Also, because we are the only home arcade manufacturer to offer a complete line of home arcade products from control panels to 120-inch projection arcades, we can help grow your home arcade collection over time."

Dream Arcades is the only home arcade manufacturer with a complete line of products from personal arcade joysticks, arcade kits (just add your own monitor and game console or PC), and complete arcades (ready to plug in and play). Since 2002, the company has had one goal - to deliver the ultimate home arcade.

New video game based on the original high school musical, Grease is being made. Working in collaboration with Paramount Digital Entertainment, 505 Games will oversee and publish a Grease video game for the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS.

The Grease video game will allow players to sing and dance alongside Danny, Sandy, The Pink Ladies and the T-Birds. The game will take full advantage of the Nintendo Wii’s motion-sensing controls and microphone, and the DS’s touch screen to create exciting gameplay for casual and family gamers eager to experience Grease in a new medium.

“We are really excited about working with Paramount Digital Entertainment to turn this world famous film into a video game for the very first time. Working with such a well known and much loved brand is a great opportunity and we believe the collaboration further strengthens 505 Games’ entertainment portfolio,” commented Ian Howe, Managing Director 505 Games.

“Paramount Digital Entertainment is pleased to be working with 505 Games to develop Grease,” said John Kavanagh, Senior Vice President of Video Games for Paramount Digital Entertainment. “Grease is the ideal opportunity to reach a broad gaming audience who love to sing, dance and have fun with a party-style game.”

Microsoft's Kodu Game Lab is now available to buy on the Xbox LIVE Community Games store, allowing all Xbox 360 users to create their own games using a visual programming language.

The game's been dubbed the Xbox 360's LittleBigPlanet - although comparisons seem a little unfair - and has been designed to be accessible for children and enjoyed by anyone.

The XBL Marketplace blurb states: "The visual programming environment allows rapid design iteration using only a game controller for input. Share your creations with friends over Xbox LIVE."

Looks like it could be worth your 400 MS Points.

Having shipped last night, Kodu is now available for purchase after two and half years, when the game was first conceived. There are already countless player-made levels more "sophistocated" than what the dev team could dream up, apparently.

So there shouldn't be any worry about lack of content, for those more interested in playing than creating. First, make sure you've got 400 Microsoft Points to spare.

The Xbox LIVE Marketplace description states: "The visual programming environment allows rapid design iteration using only a game controller for input. Share your creations with friends over Xbox LIVE."

It should be noted that Kodu has been experiencing problems with purchase links online, so you may want to buy through your console for the time being. Just to be on the safe side.

Allods Online is the upcoming free AAA MMORPG developed by Nival Online, the makers of Heroes of Might & Magic V. It will be published by Gala Networks Europe this Autumn in English, French and German at the gPotato.eu portal. The gPotato Team is proud to introduce players to the second faction. The League is an alliance between three races: the Kanian Federation, the Elves and the Gibberlings. They are opposing the Empire in the war for domination of the Astral.

The League is a democratic society which uses elections and voting systems to manage its realm. The Council of Deputies is democratically elected by the citizen electorate. While local issues are dealt with accordingly, important decisions that will impact on the lives of all League citizens can only be made after a vote within the Council. All three distinct races are fully playable to those who chose the League over the Empire.

• The Kanians are an ancient federal state that has had to rapidly adjust to the new threats that the Astral poses. The human race was set up as a strategic union of the tribes after the defeat of the Orcs a long time ago, and was founded on the principles of a free state for all citizens, legal democracy and personal freedoms. They are willing to fight to the death to protect this, and believe that the Xadaganians suffer under a tyrant.

• The Elves are the most ancient of all the races of Sarnaut and have watched the development of the others from a distance. Their political structure was developed long before the Great Cataclysm and is heavily family orientated. After an unprovoked attack by the Xadaganians and the Orcs which led to the loss of the Elven allod of Grokh to, the Elves signed an accord to join the League.

• The Gibberlings are creatures from the continent Isa. It felt the brunt of the Great Cataclysm leaving them with little space to survive. However, a drunken Gibberling did discover the secret of travelling through the Astral. Exceptionally fertile, most Gibberlings come in a “sprout” of three who live, travel, fight and die as a unit. Their small stature does not put them off raiding Orc settlements when the opportunity arises. They are looking for a new homeland, and this was their main reason for joining the League.

Featuring six distinct playable races and 28 classes, Allods Online will give players a rich new world, with a gaming lore over a decade in the making. It features innovative and diverse new gameplay, and is completely free to play. Further information on the game will be released over the coming weeks and months.

It’s easy to follow Allods Online.

Yes we can! announce the launch of Bob the Builder Festival of Fun for Nintendo Wii. Following the success of the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS Bob the Builder titles, this original game for Nintendo Wii, featuring the enormously popular Bob the Builder, has launched in the UK and European market.

Bob the Builder Festival of Fun Wii is a truly collaborative game for parents to play together with their children, so even very young children with limited coordination can play, with the child using the Wii Remote to control the action movement and the older player assisting by using their own Wii Remote to guide and steer. It really does enable young children to control the gameplay themselves and with help from their parents they can share and complete tasks together cooperatively.

Bob the Builder, currently airing on BBC2, Cbeebies and Nick Jr, is the number three pre-school boys brand in the UK* and is recognised as the most-loved character for children aged 0-4 in the UK**. Bob the Builder has enjoyed 10 years of success with 2009 marking his 10th anniversary, with a UK single release planned for summer 09 and the return of Bob the Builder LIVE global theatre tour this Autumn. Bob the Builder Magazine remains a Top Ten UK preschool children’s magazine and the official website receives on average 20 million hits per month globally, and nearly 1 million Bob books were sold in the UK during 2008, with 30 new titles to come from Egmont in 2009.

In Bob the Builder Festival of Fun Wii the player enjoys a vast array of fun and diverse story-based challenges and can tackle tasks with up to three friends or family members in numerous exciting multiplayer modes, enabling them to play competitively or play collaboratively to get the job done.

The game makes full use of the unique Wii technology to control the gameplay, using the Wii Remote as a hammer, a pick axe and spade, to pick up rubbish, blow the leaves, mix the cement or even spin pizzas to help the Bob the Builder characters put on a grand festival for the town. After all their hard work, they can grab the Wii Remote and follow the on-screen cues to enjoy a fabulous sing-along with Bob the Builder himself!

Kickabout League has gone live today on www.funorb.com. The free-to-play browser-based multiplayer 5-a-side football game features customisable kits, pitches, formations and players all in a growing persistent game world with real time player auctions.

Kickabout League, playable on almost any PC with an internet connection, can be played by 2 to 8 players or combination in between in any individual match.

The game can be accessed today by visiting www.funorb.com/kickabout/play.ws

Paramount Digital Entertainment today announced a Top Gun game for iPhone and iPod touch is available on the Apple App Store. Inspired by the classic film, the Top Gun app places players at the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School, where instructors Maverick and Iceman will help them compete to become the next Top Gun. Players can take control of a F-22 Raptor or a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, shoot down MiGs and dodge incoming air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, all while navigating intricate environments and weaving in and out of the Danger Zone.



“Over twenty years after its debut, ‘Top Gun’ remains one of the most popular, iconic movies of all time,” said John Kavanagh, senior vice president, Video Games of Paramount Digital Entertainment. “This unique Top Gun app puts that thrilling cinematic experience at your fingertips. Using the accelerometer and innovative Multi-Touch user interface in iPhone and iPod touch allowed us to create epic aerial battles and hugely entertaining gameplay that's sure to bring out the Maverick in all of us.”

Top Gun takes full advantage of the capabilities of the iPhone and iPod touch and the first person jet shooter game features 10 missions in a variety of environments, including oceans, deserts, canyons and city centers, both during the day and at night. Players can take out enemies by locking-on and firing their missiles, while aerial and ground-based obstacles create multiple Danger Zones to navigate. Top Gun will also feature iconic songs from the “Top Gun” movie soundtrack. Top Gun players can earn medals and achievements while progressing through Story Mode and can also revisit previously completed missions in the game’s Instant Action Mode.

Top Gun for iPhone and iPod touch is available now from Apple’s App Store or here for an introductory launch price of $1.99 and will be regularly priced at $3.99.

The culmination of all things Madden NFL has arrived with Online Franchise in Madden NFL 10. The latest Madden NFL 10 Video Documentary series is now available, which includes details and perspectives on the all-new, award winning Online Franchise mode – direct from the development team.



Enjoy 32 team leagues, featuring anywhere from 1 to 32 human controlled teams, in Online Franchise mode that provides full team management, including trades, live drafts, depth chart changes, and more…and it’s all just one click away!

Online Franchise is the biggest feature to ever grace Madden NFL and it’s all manageable from your console, remotely through a web browser, or via a custom iPod Touch Application. Have full control of your team from anywhere you can log on. With new mobile updates and web connections, Online Franchise is available to you 24/7, and with immediate updates to your console, you’ll never miss a down.

Online Franchise revolutionizes gameplay in that it acts as a true NFL season with 32 teams and a full season, including playoffs and the Super Bowl.

Online Franchise is exclusive to the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 versions of Madden NFL 10, which will be available in stores on August 14th.

On the heels of winning 25 international gaming awards with FIFA 09, Electronic Arts revealed the first features for its top-selling* football franchise from EA SPORTS. Responding to consumer feedback from more than 275 million online games played**, FIFA 10 will deliver a new standard for authenticity with gameplay refinements and innovations that will make it the most complete and intelligent simulation of football.

On the pitch, critical gameplay fundamentals have been enhanced to ensure that FIFA 10 mirrors real-world football, providing more sophisticated ball control, and physical interaction between players. In addition, players now move, behave and position themselves more realistically. On attack, players analyze space more effectively, curve their runs in an attempt to stay onside, create passing lanes naturally, and drive for more variety in attacking options. On defense, new concepts like position priority enable defenders to multitask so dangerous spaces left open by teammates out of position are covered. Plus, slide tackle targeting, press marking, and better-urgency clearance logic provide new options that make defending a tactical skill in FIFA 10. In goal, a myriad of improvements and refinements to goalkeeper intelligence result in a more responsive and powerful rushing system and ultra-realistic saves.

We have benefited from 275 million games played online to refine FIFA 10 in a way that matters most to our fans, said Andrew Wilson, Vice President & Executive Producer for the FIFA franchise. Weve listened and responded to their feedback to improve player control, responsiveness and intelligence and create what we believe is the worlds most authentic football videogame.

Listening to feedback and addressing gamer frustrations has become a key part of the EA SPORTS strategy to improve the FIFA franchise on an annual basis. Better balance on lofted through balls, improved goalkeeper intelligence, more realistic shooting mechanics with less shots hitting the goal posts, a practice arena to perfect skills, and a more immersive football experience through continuous play and quick free kicks are just a few of the issues raised by fans and addressed in FIFA 10.

Three new innovations revealed today have been developed to change the player control experience in FIFA 10. The first-ever true 360° dribbling system gives players finer control of the ball, enabling them to find spaces between defenders that previously were not possible. Using an all-new animation technology, skilled dribblers now have the ability to face the defender and use highly responsive lateral dribbling to skip past him. An innovative concept called Freedom in Physical Play enables players to perform wider dribble touches and new collision sharing creates a varied, less predictable, and extended fight for possession between the dribbler and a defender.

FIFA 10 also features a deeper iteration of the ever-popular Manager Mode with more than 50 major improvements, including new match realism, realistic player transfers based on multiple decision points, and true-to-life player growth curves.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince video game allows players to experience all the magic, adventure and fun of the Warner Bros. Pictures’ film based on J.K. Rowling’s sixth book in the Harry Potter series.



In the game of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, players return to Hogwarts – reproduced from movie blueprints in exacting detail - to help Harry survive a fraught sixth year. Players will be able to master gesture-based spell-casting as they explore the Hogwarts school grounds, from the heights of the Astronomy Tower to Professor Slughorn’s Potions classroom in the depths of the dungeons and iconic locations in between such as the Gryffindor common room and the Great Hall.

For the first time players can move and cast spells simultaneously, creating intense and fast-paced wizard duels as the champions from each house line up to challenge the Boy Who Lived. Players can also chase down the Golden Snitch™ as they take to the air as the Seeker on the Gryffindor Quidditch™ team. In addition to spell-casting and flying, players can put their potion-mixing skills to the test when they learn how to mix and brew magical ingredients in Potions class. Players may even get sidetracked by Ron’s romantic entanglements as they journey towards the dramatic climax and discover the identity of the Half-Blood Prince.

“We are very excited by the fact that fans will be able to use Nintendo’s Wii Remote controller as their wands,” said Harvey Elliott, VP and GM Casual Studios, EA Play Label. “Casting charms and jinxes – Stupefy, Wingardium Leviosa, Accio and Petrificus Totalis among others – has never been easier or more realistic. This is definitely the most authentic translation from the movies and fiction that we have ever produced; the fans are going to love it!”

Developed by EA Bright Light, the team behind the worldwide success of the Harry Potter library of videogames, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince videogame shipped to retailers nationwide today for the Wii, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, Nintendo DS, Windows PC, Mac, and mobile devices. The Nintendo Wii, PLAYSTATION 3 system, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PC, and Mac versions are rated ‘E10+’ and the handheld versions are rated ‘E’ for Everyone by the ESRB.

Celebrating the accomplishments of the industry at the show, one winner was selected from five nominees in 29 distinct categories. SCEA made the largest impact in the awards, taking home top honors in multiple categories including “Best Trailer” for The Last Guardian, “Best Graphics” for Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, “Best Press Conference” and the most noteworthy category, “Best of Show” for God of War III.

“With all eyes on the industry as the show returned to its previous format, it was an impressive showing,” said Shane Satterfield, Editor-in-Chief, GameTrailers “The general level of quality was extremely high, making selecting the nominees and winners incredibly difficult. The editorial team had its hands full, and we applaud the developers and publishers for showing some truly groundbreaking products.”

The expert editorial staff at GameTrailers selected all nominees and winners with 135 total nominees across all platforms and genres. With the exception of the “Best Trailer Award” and “Best Graphics Award,” all games had to be playable by the press at the show to be eligible.

GameTrailers’ extensive E3 2009 coverage included over 850 pieces of original content that garnered over 52 million total video views to date.

For more on E3 and GameTrailers coverage Log on to here to catch all the awards action and the very best of E3 2009.

Winners of the “GameTrailers Best of E3 2009 Awards” are as follows:

GENERAL AWARDS –

Best Of Show: God of War III - SCEA

Best Trailer: The Last Guardian - SCEA

Most Innovative: Project Natal - Microsoft

Best Graphics: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - SCEA

One To Watch: The Last Guardian - SCEA

Best New IP: Brutal Legend - Electronic Arts

Best Music/Rhythm Game: DJ Hero - Activision

Best Software Lineup: PlayStation 3

Best Press Conference: Sony


PLATFORM AWARDS -

Best PlayStation 3 Game: God of War III - SCEA

Best Xbox 360 Game: Assassin’s Creed II - Ubisoft

Best Wii Game: DJ Hero - Activision

Best PC Game: Assassin’s Creed II - Ubisoft

Best PSP Game: Gran Turismo - SCEA

Best Nintendo DS Game: Scribblenauts -WBIE

Best Downloadable Game: Zombie Apocalypse - Konami


GENRE AWARDS -

Best Action Adventure Game: God of War III - SCEA

Best Fighting Game: The King of Fighters XII – Ignition

Best First-Person Shooter: Modern Warfare 2 - Activision

Best Third-Person Shooter: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves -SCEA

Best RPG: Mass Effect 2 - Electronic Arts

Best Sports Game: Wii Sports Resort - Nintendo

Best Driving Game: Forza Motorsport 3 - Microsoft

Best Online Game: Star Wars: The Old Republic

Best Strategy Game: League of Legends - Riot Games

Biggest Surprise: Metroid: Other M

NinjaBee, the creators of the first fully-enabled Avatar game on Xbox LIVE Arcade, A Kingdom for Keflings, announced today that beginning July 8, Band of Bugs will include Avatar support. In addition, NinjaBee will be releasing Tales of Kaloki, a new, game-changing DLC for Band of Bugs.

The added Avatar support will allow gamers the option of replacing the original story’s hero, Maal, with their custom Avatar as they play through the main story mode. Players will also be able to engage in hand-to-hand combat and spell casting in eight-player Spider Hunter mode. Spider Hunter, one of several multiplayer modes, allows players to battle with or against their friends over Xbox LIVE to survive an onslaught of deadly spiders, mosquitoes, centipedes and more.

The Tales of Kaloki DLC is based on NinjaBee’s first Xbox LIVE Arcade game, Outpost Kaloki X. The DLC is set in space and uses the basic mechanics of Band of Bugs but adds a new tile set, new characters, new story, new skills, new strategy, new attacks and new abilities.

“We’re giving you an entirely new game,” said Steve Taylor, president of NinjaBee. “The Tales of Kaloki DLC is Band of Bugs but with long-range combat using lasers, rocket launchers, OO rays and a ton of other sweet weapons to blow attacking space ships to smithereens. It’s all the wackiness from Outpost Kaloki X and tactics from Band of Bugs rolled into one, and we’re stoked to be releasing it.”

In addition, NinjaBee will release a Band of Bugs Premium Theme. This theme, which features scenes from the game and concept art, can be downloaded through the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 240 Microsoft Points.

The Avatar support will be added to the original game for free and the Tales of Kaloki DLC will be purchasable through the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 240 Microsoft Points. Like the extensive collection of DLC already available for Band of Bugs, Tales of Kaloki can be played by downloading the original game, Band of Bugs (800 MS points). The Avatar support, Tales of Kaloki DLC and the Premium Theme will be available Wednesday, July 8. Band of Bugs is rated E for Everyone.

About NinjaBee
NinjaBee, located in Orem, Utah, began developing games in 2004. With every game they make, NinjaBee’s goal is to create a unique, top-quality, fun experience for people of all ages. Their popular titles include Outpost Kaloki X, Cloning Clyde, Band of Bugs, Boingz, Doritos Dash of Destruction and A Kingdom for Keflings.

With summer officially underway, Warhammer Online - Age of Reckoning (WAR) is honoring the 4th of July holiday with a live event which kicked off last week and runs through Monday, July 6th at 8:00 am ET.

The forces of Order and Destruction will celebrate by dropping rare firework items from every enemy player killed during RvR combat. In addition, all players will experience a 10% gain in the amount of XP and Renown earned during the entire live event.

Kill your enemies and flaunt your victories with firework displays, because the 4th of July live event has begun and the WAR rages on!

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 on Warhammer Online, please visit www.warhammeronline.com.

Compete in the World's Greatest Skateboarding Event with Skate 2's Latest Downloadable Content

Electronic Arts announce that starting July 9 gamers can download and compete in Skate 2’s Maloof Money Cup Pack, based on the largest pursed event in the history of professional skateboarding. The pack will be available in the PLAYSTATION Store for $3.00 and on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 240 points in North America.

“Skate 2 has been embraced by the gaming and skateboarding community across the globe, making it the perfect stage for the Maloof Money Cup’s videogame debut,” said Joe Maloof, President of Maloof Companies. “Now players everywhere can experience the world’s greatest skateboarding championship and revel in the high-stakes excitement of the competition for themselves.”

Skate 2’s Maloof Money Cup Pack will feature separate gameplay events both online and offline – freeskate, single player vert and street contests that put gamers against world class pros, and an online mode in which gamers will be able to compete against their friends in new activities and challenges for bragging rights. Xbox 360 gamers get an added bonus as there are 250 achievement points up for grabs.

The Maloof Money Cup presented by etnies and Monster Energy boasts the largest purse in the history of professional skateboarding with nearly $450,000 in cash and prizes. The three-day competition and festival takes place July 10-12, 2009 at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif., during the opening weekend of the OC Fair. All attendees can ride the virtual course for themselves in the Skate 2 booth, located near the front of the festival, where the Maloof Money Cup Pack will be available for playing.

Skate 2 ups the ante in delivering all the grit, creativity, and culture of skateboarding with all-new tricks that allow players to skate it their way – both on and off the board. Gamers can create their own epic skate spots which can then be shared and experienced by others around the world. The game also features a revamped Thrasher Hall of Meat mode that will have players spending countless hours pulling off bone-crushing wipeouts and bails.

Skate 2 is developed by Black Box, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio in Burnaby, British Columbia. The game is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB and 16+ by PEGI.

Eligible mmolecule members can win one of 1,000 closed beta keys for WonderKing Online

WonderKing Online Beta Key Giveaway for mmolecule members. mmolecule will conduct a random drawing to award 1,000 closed beta keys for WonderKing Online, a new MMO from NDOORS to be released in 2009.

Any existing mmolecule member or anyone who becomes a member of mmolecule on or before July 7th will be eligible to win. Only one key will be awarded per person. Winners will be privately notified on July 8th.

“We're very excited to offer our community members the opportunity to experience WonderKing Online,” said Andrew Muchmore, COO and co-founder of mmolecule. “This is a great opportunity for mmolecule members to get into the game, as well as get to know NDOORS. We look forward to offering more tools, services, and contests involving WonderKing Online in the very near future.”

Complete contest details are available at http://www.mmolecule.com.

This afternoon (June 30th) at 3pm PDT, active Gatheryn beta testers will have the opportunity to participate in Gatheryn's first community event, The Elymia Ice Cream Social. The Ice Cream social is open only to active beta testers, but more events will be scheduled, and more users welcomed into the beta in the weeks to come. Don't miss out on the fun and excitement of Gatheryn community events - register for the beta at http://www.mindfusegames.com.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet other Elymians and exercise Gatheryn's social functionality by comparing clothing ensembles, adding others to their Friends List, or playing a game of checkers. Members of the Mindfuse staff will also be in attendance to answer questions about Elymian life and listen to feedback from users on what they like in the game, and what they'd like to see changed.

Ice cream will be distributed to all attendees as an in-game item 3 times during the event - at 3:00, 3:30 and 4:00. Using ice cream is a good way to test out Gatheryn's newly implemented health system as a single serving completely cures all fatigue. No RSVP is required for active users. The event will take place in Westpark, just outside the Broken Anchor Pub, in the Western portion of the city.

For more information about Gatheryn, or to register for the beta, visit: www.mindfusegames.com

Cult Hit - Action Shooter of 2007, Infernal – Is coming exclusively to console on Xbox 360 this spring!

Former Etherlite Secret Agent Ryan Lennox, now obsolete and betrayed by those close to him is a man who knows no fear! In a desperate bid to uncover his former employers secret agenda Lennox makes a pact with the devil. Embarking on an action-packed voyage into a world of deception and betrayal, armed with special abilities and military grade weaponry, Ryan Lennox is a man who must succeed.



Lennox will need to master his devilish powers to uncover the truth and restore the delicate balance of good and evil. The captivating plot sees Lennox journey from ancient monastery catacombs and secret mountain hideouts to sprawling harbor docks and industrial oil refineries, before finally facing his ultimate showdown...

Infernal uses a state-of-the-art Physics engine enabling highly interactive worlds with destroyable walls and objects, while giving the player the ability to use a vast array of weapons. This is supported by using high level graphics and a stunning overall design based on locations throughout Europe and the USA.

Features:

* Stunning 3rd Person Shooter with deep & engaging storyline
* Explore a range of stunning environments & locations across 3 levels of difficulty
* Over 10 hours of gameplay
* Control a variety of guns and weapons as well as supernatural forces to increase their power
* Engange in Hand to Hand combat, or utilize a range of weaponry
* Duck and cover system to avoid enemy attacks
* Fight intelligent opponents who use the environment to their advantage
* Utilize a vast array of supernatural powers such as telekinesis & teleportation to overcome obstacles and enemies
* Harvest the energy of your enemies to heal and to replenish your Infernal mana


“Infernal was always designed with a console release in mind and it’s great that we’re finally able to release exclusively on XBOX360. The vast array of weaponry and supernatural powers makes Lennox an enviable foe.” Said Adam McGowan, Marketing Director at Playlogic

Infernal will be released exclusively to console on Xbox 360 in Q2 2009!

Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

Konami revealed new game details and screenshots from the upcoming tactical role-playing game, Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment for PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE Arcade in this winter. On the continent of Sostegaria, two rival kingdoms stand on the brink of war. In a small town on their border is a simple church orphanage, home to young Tobias Martin. Caught in the tide of battle, Tobias and his comrades enlist to fight for peace – and revenge. But they face an unstoppable warrior, who wields the almighty Flames of Judgment, and will let no one stand in his way.


Key Features:

Classic gameplay, expanded and streamlined – combines the speedy RPG pace of the original Vandal Hearts with improved user mechanics and top-notch presentation.

Strong story – serving as the prequel to the original Vandal Hearts, Flames of Judgment delivers a rich, focused, and character-driven storyline that includes quality cinematic cutscenes.

Multiple endings – the player’s actions throughout the game determine the ending, Tobias’ future and more!

Party members adapt to the player’s style of game play – player characters naturally and automatically improve at whatever they do, providing a wide, deep range of customization options.

20 playable maps

Capcom announce that Mega Man Star Force 3 (MMSF3) for Nintendo DS has shipped to North American retailers. Mega Man Star Force 3 comes in two different versions, Black Ace and Red Joker, allowing friends to share unique items and powers utilizing the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, enhancing their individual characters. Mega Man Star Force 3 is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) and carries a suggested retail price of $29.99.



As in the previous games, Mega Man Star Force 3 is a unique blend of an action and role-playing game (RPG), combining the high intensity combat that is the hallmark of Mega Man games with Star Force’s strategic battle system. By defeating enemies and boss characters, players earn “battle cards” that enhance and evolve Mega Man’s abilities and attacks.



New to Mega Man Star Force 3 are “Noise Changes,” random enhancements that change Mega Man’s form and unlock new abilities. The two versions of the game, Black Ace and Red Joker, each have over 100 unique Noise Types that can be combined with Mega Man to unlock elemental powers based on earth, air, water and fire. The new Noise feature will add an exciting randomness to battles, encouraging players to explore, collect and battle across the digital world of Mega Man Star Force 3.



In Mega Man Star Force 3, players travel between the physical world and the digital world via electromagnetic waves that form “wave roads.” Geo Stelar, the protagonist of the game, can see these wave roads by using his unique “visualizer” tool. Once in the digital world, Geo can merge with the electronic life-form known as Omega-Xis to become Mega Man. The wave roads are being overrun by mysterious “noise” that change the player’s environment and powers in different ways. This noise is being generated by an approaching gigantic meteor that threatens both the physical and digital worlds of Mega Man Star Force 3, forcing Geo Stellar and his crew to fight the oncoming threat to save two worlds. Fortunately, Mega Man discovers that he can control the Noise, using the new “Noise Change” system to transform into many different forms, including the ultimate “Black Ace” or “Red Joker” forms.

Let's admit it PS2 emulation is something that you'll probably never use, but at the same time there's still a desire to have it. If Sony hadn't have introduced backwards compatibility in the first place and originally mocking fun of Microsoft's efforts with the 360, we probably would never have bothered.

Still it's been a number of years since Sony decided to strip away the PS2 hardware featured in the original PS3 models as a cost-cutting measure, and yet the feature is still one of the most desired from PS3 owners and potential adopters.

Thankfully, it appears that backwards compatibility could finally be on the way if a recent patent application is anything to go by, spotted by Silconera here.

Full post here on Total Video Games here...

The Games For Windows edition of Asobo Studio’s epic racer FUEL is now shipping to stores in North America, Codemasters announce the game will launch throughout EMEA on July 2nd with a UK street date of July 3rd. To celebrate the launch, a new video showcases the diverse locations, beautiful scenery and freedom to explore which up to 16 players can enjoy in FUEL’s stunning game world.

FUEL offers an astounding 5,560 square miles playground which is fully open to race and explore. Based on satellite data from the United States, wildly diverse terrain from the snow-capped Mount Rainier to the arid Grand Canyon and everything in between create an atmospheric, epic racing sandbox. With a 70+ strong vehicle line up, including bikes, buggies, quads, cars, roadsters, trucks and even a hovercraft, gamers experience unprecedented choice in choosing tactical routes on-the-fly, on or off-road. The wide vehicle roster is perfect for taking on hundreds of exhilarating arcade events, from large-scale raid challenges to tight circuit races, available in FUEL’s career mode.



Extensive multiplayer options allow up to 16 players to discover FUEL’s world in free ride or compete in thrilling head-to-head races. Gamers can also unleash their creativity by using the powerful yet intuitive race editor to create events set anywhere in FUEL’s environment and share them online.

FUEL is set to raise the bar for open-world racing when the Games For Windows edition launches Friday 3rd July. FUEL is also available for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Starting the developing progress end of 2007 the game will hit the shelves mid of 2010.

“U-Wars” is a tactical sci-fi third person shooter set up an ultra realistic subaqueous scenario. Combining the thrill of an undersea setting with a cinematic approach and a superior story line “U-Wars” is the first lifelike underwater action experience.

In “U-Wars” the player will take control of an elite force and is constrained to accomplish covert operations both on land and undersea.

As the PC version is supporting the NVIDIA PhysX technology the XBOX users will enjoy a variety of multiplayer modes via XBOX Live.

Just like Risen, the new RPG from Piranha Bytes, the website offers different approaches for mastering the challenges that players encounter. From the beach, a path leads into a dense tropical forest – what dangers may lurk there, and where is the best direction to turn? By keeping a close eye on their surroundings, players can discover all kinds of secrets here. Wild beasts and odd creatures haunt the twisted paths that lead deep into the interior of the island. Watch out, or you may be in for a nasty surprise!

The already familiar Risen blog, which provides topical news about the development of the game, is also continued and keeps offering fans all kinds of information from the world of Risen.

About Risen:

This epic role playing game is set in a medieval world on a volcanic Mediterranean island, The “Risen” story unfolds over four chapters and will offer multiple ways to develop the story by his own actions and decisions. An innovative and intuitive user control interface will support both casual and hardcore gamers. With full world streaming support, the player will have a seamless experience while playing in a fully simulated game world with authentic characters.

MADWORLD Official Soundtrack featuring 20 original HipHop songs from the inventive third person action game developed by PlatinumGames. MADWORLD Official Soundtrack is released today to retail outlets through Sumthing Else Music Works www.sumthing.com, and will be available for digital download on Sumthing Digital www.sumthingdigital.com and iTunes.

MADWORLD Official Soundtrack includes all 20 original songs from the game produced by PlatinumGames composer Naoto Tanaka in collaboration with HipHop and Rap artists OX, Doujah Raze, Sick-YG, Bandy Leggz, Wordsmith, S.O.U.L. Purpose, and Optimus. Featuring explicit lyrics, the provocative soundtrack reflects MADWORLD's highly stylized graphics and visceral gameplay.

"There are a total of 20 tracks on the MADWORLD soundtrack and they are all original songs that we produced especially for the game," said composer and soundtrack producer Naoto Tanaka. "I would make the backing tracks (or the beats) and then we would hand them off to these talented artists to get their performances. It was a pretty big challenge, especially as it was my first time with this kind of collaboration, but I think luck was on my side and it turned out to be extremely successful."

Driven into quarantine and chaos in Varrigan City, you take on the character role of Jack in MADWORLD's challenging storyline, as you experience over-the-top action combined with fast and instinctive arcade-style gameplay and a multitude of outrageous moves. With its irreverent humor and survival of the fittest gameplay in a graphic novel world, MADWORLD delivers a unique gaming experience on the Wii.

Blockbuster video game franchise Gears of War burst onto the book scene last year with its first official novel by No1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Traviss. ASPHO FIELDS — spanning the story between Gears of War and Gears of War 2 — was an instant bestseller. Now the sequel, GEARS OF WAR: JACINTO’S REMNANT (Del Rey Trade Paperback, on sale July 28, 2009, $15.00) picks up from the harrowing end of the second game and follows humanity’s struggle to survive after the destruction of its last bastion on the planet Sera.

After a brutal fifteen-year war for survival, the Coalition of Ordered Governments is forced to destroy Jacinto – mankind’s last city – in a final bid to stop the Locust Horde. As the survivors flee, they're caught between the last of the Locust, bent on vengeance, and a primitive struggle to stay alive in an icy wilderness. It’s up to Marcus Fenix, Dom Santiago, and their fellow Gears to fight to get Jacinto’s refugees to a safe haven. But what they find is a new world; lawless, treacherous, with an all too familiar enemy – humans, as desperate and dangerous as any Locust grub.

“Karen Traviss has outdone herself once again,” said Rod Fergusson, executive producer, Epic Games. "JACINTO'S REMNANT not only answers the question of what happens after the events of Gears 2, it also provides greater insight into the Gears of War universe and a deeper understanding of its characters. We hope players of the games and discerning readers alike will enjoy this ongoing tale of humanity's fight for survival."

GEARS OF WAR: JACINTO’S REMNANT was written in partnership with Epic Games, Inc., developers of the 11 million-selling Gears of War video game franchise. GEARS OF WAR: JACINTO’S REMNANT will be released day and date with the latest Game Add-on for Gears of War 2 (Xbox 360). Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection includes all previously released downloadable content for the game to date in addition to Dark Corners, a substantial Add-on featuring seven new multiplayer maps and the new Road to Ruin campaign chapter. In total, the All Fronts Collection contains nineteen maps and a new campaign experience, available for 1600 Microsoft points on Xbox LIVE starting at 12:00 a.m. GMT on July 28.

Karen Traviss is the author of four Star Wars: Republic Commando novels: Hard Contact, Triple Zero, True Colors, and Order 66; three Star Wars: Legacy of the Force novels: Bloodlines, Revelation, and Sacrifice; two Star Wars: The Clone Wars novels: The Clone Wars movie novelization and No Prisoners; as well as City of Pearl, Crossing the Line, The World Before, Matriarch, and Judge. A former defense correspondent and TV and newspaper journalist, Traviss lives in Wiltshire, England.

GEARS OF WAR: JACINTO’S REMNANT by Karen Traviss
A Del Rey Trade Paperback
Publication Date: July 28, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-345-49944-8
$15.00

Paleo Entertainment announce that Drug Wars, the bloody, futuristic first-person shooter, has invaded Steam today and is available now for $9.99.

Paleo’s twelve-man team has bent the complex CryEngine 2 to their will, assembling a gritty, gory romp through a futuristic New York City, circa 3100, where severe global warming conditions have resulted in a harsh divide between upper-class Brooklyn gang bosses and a booming population of engineered Neanderthal bottom-dwellers.



Armed with a deadly variety of weapons, including everything from a biomechanical arm to environmental objects (use your enemy’s dismembered appendages against them!), jump into Drug Wars’ blistering singleplayer campaign, MOB, an updated, reworked version of Paleo’s first major release, or light bitches up in Drug Wars’ frenetic multiplayer action, featuring deathmatch, team deathmatch, and unique Capture The Drugs objective-based games for up to 32 players.

In addition to the variety of weapons and gameplay sets, Drug Wars also introduces several new vehicle options not found in MOB that add an additional layer to the chaotic combat. Vehicles players will have access to include:
• The speedy Hover Bike capable of performing awesome jumps
• The Hover Car featuring bombs, Tommy Guns and the ability to tote three other players along
• The Rad Mobile, featuring rockets and Gatling Guns
• The Drug Runner Boat, a four-person water speedster with targeted homing rockets

Drug Wars also gives gamers immediate access to all of the weapons found in MOB, including all of the alternate firing modes. These brand-new vehicular options that allow both quick-travel across the detailed landscapes and the ability to mow down your opponents ensure a huge variety of gameplay options to keep players addicted to the bloody fun.

Developed on the CryEngine 2 game engine and featuring an innovative comic book-styled presentation and neo cell-shaded art style, Drug Wars represents the pinnacle of boutique indie development.

Drug Wars has a pending rating from the ESRB, but is recommended for 18+ gamers for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Partial Nudity, Strong Sexual Content and Use of Drugs and Alcohol.

After one month of closed beta testing, finally we are proud to expand the Ys universe to everybody who is eager to go deep into it. All the current Key To Play community will warmly welcome every new European player on the 30th June.

This time no key will be asked to open the doors to the world of Ys. You will only need a Key To Play account to enjoy this fully detailed game. Also there won’t be any character wipe after this!

Choose carefully your race and specialisation following your game style. If you have any doubts, take a look to the Game Guide from our Official Site. And even if you can’t decide, remember you can create a maximum of 6 different characters in your account.

During the Closed Beta phases, more than 100,000 keys have been distributed. Without the help of all the players which have been sharing their suggestions with us, nothing could have been possible. So Key To Play would like to thank them for all their efforts with an exclusive Closed Beta tester reward.

Ys - Call Of Solum

Call of Solum is an MMORPG based on the famous Ys series, created for the Japanese company Falcom. Since its first title for 8 bits, already turned into a classic, several manga series, OAVs and even novels have been stemmed. This time, Falcom and CJ Internet are joining to present Ys - Call of Solum, the new title of the series turned into an online videogame that follows the anime style, so characteristic in the entire saga.

Ys - Call of Solum arrives in Europe thanks to of Key To Play.

* It will start on June 30th
* No key needed
* No character wipe after the Open Beta
* Rewards for all the Closed Beta testers

Key To Play

Key To Play is a new online videogame portal of different genres, created in 2008 with the aim of bringing great international titles to the European market. With several offices in Europe and Asia, Key To Play is offering offers online players a large network of support and development possibilities. All this with one goal: to be able to give the best quality and playability.

Currently, the titles are launched in 4 languages simultaneously, English, French, German and Spanish, to offer more convenience to the players.

Key To Play has committed, up to now, to two titles, Priston Tale 2: The Second Enigma and Ys Online - Call of Solum.

GREED features all ingredients to create an enthralling hack'n'slash classic. In the tradition of other critically acclaimed and proven genre colleagues you as the player will need to fight your way through masses of critters, robots, aliens and many other exotic adversaries while collecting unique items and skills thus leveling up your character. In contrast to the genre ancestors, the story of GREED takes place in an adult and mature science fiction scenario.

In the futuristic universe of GREED the discovery of novel interstellar travel possibilities has lead to a new age of colonialization. The five largest colonial powers are entangled in a full-scale war over a new element called Ikarium, the recently discovered rare source of nearly unlimited energy. You as a former member of an elite military unit will fight a battle for your survival not know-ing that your actions will lead fate of all mankind into dramatic consequences…

GREED takes your character, chosen out of three completely different classes, through manifold levels and environments, all playable in three increasing difficulty levels putting even the toughest endgame player to a test – but as always, more pain con-tains more gain! Embedded in various scenarios, GREED throws waves of deadly foes in your way as well as screen filling end bosses. But don’t despair! Helpful innovation can be found in numerous innovative features such as the unique dodge move, self-charging shields or destructible environments. The combination of the different character-specific skills and abilities in three categories gives you the diversity needed to conquer even the toughest foes. And if you need a little more support, GREED also features a cooperative multiplayer mode where you and your friends can show the universe what you are made of!

Features
• Hack’n’Slash in a dark science fiction setting
• A huge variety of different levels in three settings, each playable on three dif-ficulties, inhabited by fierce and deadly creatures and screen-filling end bosses
• Three entirely different character classes to choose from
• Upgradable skills in three categories per character class – the simultaneous use of these categories causes thrilling skill combinations
• Upgradable character attributes with direct game play effect
• Hundreds of partially socketed items to collect
• Online cooperative multiplayer mode for up to three players

Title: GREED
Genre: SciFi-Hack’n’Slash / Action-RPG
Publisher: Headup Games
Developer: ClockStone
Platform: PC
Release: November 2009 (tbc)

In the good old tradition of the original "Empire" game of the 80's, Empires of Steel lets you create a random map from scratch within seconds and a couple of clicks. But in addition to that, Empire of Steels includes one of the most powerful map editors available on the market. Beta tester Chris Nelson has written a developer blog article about his (successful :)) attempt to re-create the European map within a short time, armed with nothing else but the game editor, a google'd map and using the editor's "overlay" feature and some imagination.

Click here to jump directly to the EoS Developer Blogfront

Nintendo DS Players Can Discover, Upload and Share Items on the Site When Game Releases Later This Week

Today Aspyr Media announced the release of Club Treasure World, a companion web-based community supporting this week’s launch of the whimsical new title, Treasure World. The site is the most extensive community ever built around a Nintendo DS game and delivers a fantastic extension to the Treasure World player’s experience.

“The goal with Treasure World is to offer a radically different interactive experience,” said Ted Staloch, Executive Vice President, Aspyr Media. “Through Club Treasure World, we’re offering players the opportunity to come together as a community like never before, and expand their game experience with others by chatting, showing off their in-game world and treasures, sharing music and much more.”

Club Treasure World is designed to provide fans of all ages with the ultimate destination to find and share Treasure World experiences and information. In the Nintendo DS game, Treasure World is the world’s largest treasure hunt with hundreds of millions of treasure spots around the world. Players use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to find Wi-Fi signals, other DS or Wii systems and other wireless signals to collect treasures. Each of these signals delivers one of thousands of new treasure collectibles. Each treasure even has its own sound associated with it so when placed on the in game ground players can create their very own music tracks. There are also tons of character disguises to collect. All of the changes a player makes to their in game world and character disguise as well as the music they create can be shown off/shared with other treasure hunters on Club Treasure World.

Anyone can join and take part in the forums and view friend’s pages. Once a player uploads his latest game information they can have access to all activities, such as:
• Showing off their treasure creations with other Club Members
• Building their own musical jukebox (by placing items they’ve collected in the game to create Songscapes)
• Learn how others have made great Songscapes
• Claim special treasure keys
• Earn treasure hunting awards
• Make friends and post messages to friends
• Search, view and show where treasures have been found across the world on the Treasure Map (players call place pins where they have found each collected treasure)
• Share Treasure World Friend Codes for Nintendo DS
• Set up trade times to trade treasures on DS
• Discuss the finer points of treasure hunting
• Player polls, numerous leaderboards and achievements, forums, Wi-Fi tutorials, and an extensive help section

Treasure World offers players limitless potential to what they can create and explore!

Club Treasure World is working with the ESRB Privacy Online Program to ensure that it is COPPA compliant and child safe for all Club Treasure World online activity. The site is a safe and monitored environment for all ages and includes extensive parental controls, profanity filters, permissions and email activity reports.

Uforia, a new online game publisher specializing in massively multiplayer online games, announce that it will begin the Open Beta Test for Red War: Edem's Curse.

Red War is an exciting free-to-play online MMORPG which takes gamers through the worlds of Meltya and Alies. Gamers can choose from three classes as they battle the dark forces of Qelian and the inhabitants of Meltya and attempt to prevent their peaceful world of Alies from being overtaken.

The Open Beta provides players with countless hours of fun and plenty of opportunities to meet new friends as they explore several new maps and battle new monsters that have been added since the last beta session. There is also a host of exciting events that will give players many chances at winning unique prizes that they will be able to use during the Open Beta period and beyond.

Players also will not have to contend with any character wipes as is often the case in many games. The characters that the players create will be permanent.

"We recently completed a very successful closed beta where we had hundreds of players from all over the world experience the game and provide some thoughtful feedback," said Mike Min, Game Operations Producer. "Now we are opening up the game to even more players to come and experience the world of Red War."

About Red War - Edem's Curse
Red War: Edem's Curse is an isometric MMORPG in the vein of Diablo and other dungeon crawlers that revolutionizes dungeon crawlers with new features such as the Red War tournaments. Red War's daily tournaments are a pure test of skill rather than character level or equipment.
All participants are set to the same level at the beginning of the tournament, and only stats and skills are allowed to be customized.

Gamers can download the game from the official Red War website at http://redwar.uforia.com/

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today revealed new game details and screenshots from the upcoming tactical role-playing game, Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade in this winter. On the continent of Sostegaria, two rival kingdoms stand on the brink of war. In a small town on their border is a simple church orphanage, home to young Tobias Martin. Caught in the tide of battle, Tobias and his comrades enlist to fight for peace – and revenge. But they face an unstoppable warrior, who wields the almighty Flames of Judgment, and will let no one stand in his way.

Key Features:

Classic gameplay, expanded and streamlined – combines the speedy RPG pace of the original Vandal Hearts with improved user mechanics and top-notch presentation.

Strong story – serving as the prequel to the original Vandal Hearts, Flames of Judgment delivers a rich, focused, and character-driven storyline that includes quality cinematic cutscenes.

Multiple endings – the player’s actions throughout the game determine the ending, Tobias’ future and more!

Party members adapt to the player’s style of gameplay – player characters naturally and automatically improve at whatever they do, providing a wide, deep range of customization options.

20 playable maps

For all-new screenshots of Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment and more, please visit our media download site at: http://www.konami.com/downloads/

NCsoft launched Issue 15 - Anniversary, the next exciting chapter of City of Heroes, the premier comic-book inspired MMO. Commemorating the game’s recent five-year anniversary celebration, Issue 15: Anniversary brings City of Heroes its 15th major free content update introducing players to all-new content, missions, features and customization tools that continue to place City of Heroes at the forefront of the evolving MMO genre.

“City of Heroes continues to reinvent itself with each Issue launch providing players with new content, developmental tools and exciting game play experiences they can’t get anywhere else,” said Brian Clayton, general manager and executive producer of City of Heroes. “Issue 15 is no different – it brings players the revival of one of the most popular villain groups in the game, streamlined Mission Architect search and navigation, as well as enhanced character customization featuring even more costumes, faces and costume change animations which will all surprise and delight the community.”

Issue 15: Anniversary allows City of Heroes to come to life with more in-depth gameplay experiences and storytelling options as it marks the revival of The 5th Column, the most popular villain group, through 10 new action-packed missions. Players will participate in a Hero Task Force or a Villain Strike Force, in order to uncover the mystery behind this long dormant foe. Along with the new missions, players can now customise their characters with more than 20 extra character faces, Vines and Ulterior themed costume sets and several new costume change emotes - visual animations that come to life when characters transition between costumes within the game.



Additionally, Issue 15: Anniversary introduces players to new mission creation enhancements, testing tools and navigation services as part of the recently launched Mission Architect system. These features allow players to more easily create and polish their own unique custom content before sharing it with the public, and help streamline the process of searching through user-generated missions. Since the release of City of Heroes’ Mission Architect system, two months ago, users have developed and published more than 200,000 stories for the community to enjoy.

Join millions of super powered heroes and villains and become your own unique super powered hero to save the world, or an infamous villain seeking to destroy it. City of Heroes has received a 16+ rating by PEGI.

Aspyr Media and Mindware Studios probe the insidious depths of the subconscious to bring Dreamkiller to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC. A fast, frantic and mega-bloodbath first-person shooter, Dreamkiller takes gamers inside the dark and twisted nightmares of tortured souls possessed by unknown forces.

Gamers will take on the role of Alice Drake, a psychologist with the extraordinary ability to enter the minds of her patients and combat the ravenous foes haunting their dreams. Utilizing a host of fantastic weapons and her own special abilities, Alice confronts our common demons only to discover an even deeper menace reigns within. The ultimate showdown becomes inevitable between that which would torment and she who will protect, and only one force will prevail amidst a variety of dreamscapes as varied and bizarre as the human mind itself.

Dreamkiller features 12 rich levels of single-player gameplay each laced with swarms of hideous and disturbing enemies reflecting the mind’s infinite palette of fear. The onslaught continues with numerous multiplayer modes and a host of over-the-top weapons and supernatural abilities. Stay awake, Dreamkiller will be available this fall.

Korea's No.1 Online First Person Shooter Enters Second Closed Beta in North America

GameHi announce it will begin the second closed beta test for Sudden Attack, their No. 1 free-to-play first person shooter (FPS) available for players June 30 through July 12. Slated for commercial release later this summer, fans who missed the first closed beta can register for this next phase at http://www.gamehi.com/ in order to take part in what’s currently one of the most popular multiplayer online FPS games in Asia.

This second closed beta will be open to anyone who signs up over the next two weeks. Members of the first closed beta will not need to re-register, but will find they have new characters.

Originally launched in July, 2006 Sudden Attack is now the most played first person shooter in Korea with more than 100 consecutive weeks on the game charts. Notable for its high quality graphics, stable game service, ample resources, and quick character and community system, Sudden Attack is positioned to garner similar blockbuster success in the U.S. Its broad appeal comes from a combination of elements including fast and fun casual gameplay; and unlike most FPS games, Sudden Attack is free-to-play.

With ongoing updates for new maps and firearms Sudden Attack offers a variety of features to provide both novice and core gamers continuous gameplay options. Community inclined it supports several chatting modes, macros and firm clan system, as well as Explosion and Elimination game modes. Quick entry allows users to install in under three minutes and join games without having to wait for a new start. Even new FPS fans can easily adopt in the game with simple rules and easy controls. Additionally, players can earn in-game points for game currency or purchase upgrades through real world cash.

Sudden Attack players are divided into two opposing teams: Special Force and Silent Fox Alliances. Each team is required to have at least one member and at maximum eight members. Players can also group into their own clans to fight within a separated network. Here players can show off group power, where teamwork and coordination play a crucial role. Strong clans can join ‘Clan Battle System,’ an exclusive competition mode in the game. Clan strengths can be proved clearly within this mode, as comradeship and cooperation are decisive factors to secure a win. Additionally, the game makes a breakthrough in comparison with preceding MMOFPS titles with the availability of in-water battle mode.

Interested players can learn more at http://www.gamehi.com/.

The demo can be downloaded from www.arma2.com

The eagerly anticipated demo for the sandbox PC military shooter smash hit of 2009, ARMA II, is released and available for all who want to visit the post-soviet republic of Chernarus and enjoy all of the fantastic features of this monumental war simulator.

Do you want to fight eye to eye with enemies on the lush, open battlefield, do you want to take advantage by strafing enemy position in aircraft, do you want to crush enemy lines in a tank? Then download the demo and get a taste of what it takes to be a soldier in a modern warfare conflict!

Featuring the most realistic warfare gameplay to date; The ArmA II demo offers the opportunity to explore its highland area as well as the small Chernarusian island of Utes. More specifically, the 'boot camp' missions are all available which act as tutorials for the game's many disciplines including helicopter flight, unit command and base construction. In addition, the full single player mission 'Trial By Fire' from the main campaign and the multiplayer map 'Mini Warfare', allowing ArmA fans the chance to trial three multiplayer modes are included in the demo. A selection of over 20 vehicles, more than 25 weapons and various soldier and civilian models will be included, although these represent only a fraction of those available in the retail version.

The ARMA 2 demo is big, not only in size, but also in the amount of content and re-playability offered. The demo alone will last a player longer to complete than many retail games! Please visit the www.arma2.com for more information.

Following the Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) Fan Faire event June 25-28, HP today launched an innovative print-on-demand service for Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) gamers. The HP print-on-demand technology will allow players to view, create and purchase custom prints of classic characters, imagery and scenes from SOE’s various fantasy worlds, games and artists. The service, which will be accessed directly from the online games, is scheduled to launch later this year in EverQuest, EverQuest II and Free Realms.

“There is a significant opportunity among SOE’s gamers to provide personalized and customized offline souvenirs from the games and fantasy worlds they love,” said Rohit de Souza, Vice President and General Manager, Retail Publishing Solutions, Imaging and Printing Group. “We believe this program is a first of its kind in the MMO gaming segment and demonstrates the wide range of opportunities available for delivering custom print-on-demand services.”
“This unique service allows players to create their cards during an online play session then, though HP’s state-of-the-art print-on-demand service, we’re able to provide ‘offline’ access to online content to create a whole new interactive experience,” said Christopher Sturr, Director of Corporate Strategy Sony Online Entertainment. “We’ve been impressed with the customization and personalization capabilities offered by HP and are excited about the value this service will bring to gamers.”
How it Works
Through the in-game Station Cash® commerce system in SOE’s games, players will access the Marketplace and choose from a list of select art images and sizes. A simple in-game and/or web-based interface will walk players through the entire process from the initial order to purchase confirmation, without ever closing the game world and/or current game session.

For the initial launch of the service, SOE will debut 10 art images from the Legends of Norrath™ series. The companies plan to feature and debut new prints, limited edition collector’s prints and select prints from top game artists throughout the year. Ultimately, SOE and HP plan to offer players the ability to personalize and customize their own art prints, posters, and other merchandise using their avatar, screen shots and artwork.

About HP Print on Demand Services
HP offers print on demand technologies, expert design services and business processes to produce high quality printed products using the latest HP hardware and media. The products are produced at time of order using secure digital technologies for immediate customer delivery. With the use of the broad suite of HP publishing technologies and services, HP eliminates the need for finished goods inventory, offering competitive price points and unsurpassed quality for print-on-demand products.

You darn kids will get your first open-to-the-public crack at Tatsunoko Vs Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars this weekend at Anime Expo in Los Angeles CA.

It's not the final build of the game, but is already 100% awesome with all of the characters you got a peek at during E3, all their epic supers, and some giant robots thrown in for good measure.

Check here or here for some fun backstory on a few of the glorious TvC characters, or here or here to watch the game being played in the wild.

The full post with links can be found here...

National Geographic Kids website has over 100 interactive games for the kid inside us all to enjoy! Between action games, adventure games, puzzles and quizzes, geography games and much more there is a game or puzzle for everyone.

The number one game on the site is Pluto’s Secret which came out last fall and garners over 1 million page views a week! The game developed by National Geographic and Sarbakan, blasts kids into a virtual solar system to complete exciting space missions as well as teach kids why Pluto is no longer considered a planet.

This game among the many other exciting games (which will help pass the time!) can be found at our kids website:

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

Knowing that everyone loves free gifts, especially free games, I felt that this would be of great interest to you and your readers of your blog.

Mabinogi has released a slew of sunshiny features to kick off its “Summer of Fun” which includes the release of Hawaiian-style shirts, shaved ice snacks, and an Independence Day event which will add rewards and fun to Mabinogi players’ adventures.

With the purchase of an Aloha Card, players can rebirth their characters (or start new characters) complete with weather appropriate clothing. This clothing includes beach print shirts and shorts as well as sandals. The Aloha Card is currently available.

Once appropriately attired, players can travel to Emain Macha to visit the NPC Gordon to receive sweet treats as part of the Mabinogi “Summer of Fun Shaved Ice Event.” Players can give Gordon fruit juices and he’ll make a shaved ice treat, which will bring refreshment to the players if they choose to eat it. However, to earn rewards and prizes, players can race with their shaved ice to Qilla Base Camp where an overheated Ethna is trading rewards for the cooling effects of the shaved ice. This event is underway and runs through July 9.

More rewards are available to players via the Independence Day event where general stores are selling Red, White and Blue Fireworks. When players shoot off their fireworks, rewards can come to those whose fireworks go especially high. Players will earn a box decorated with the American flag as a reward for their achievement. This event is underway and runs through July 9.

For more information about the Summer of Fun event or the free-to-play and download game, Mabinogi, go to: http://mabinogi.nexon.net/

The titles will retail at the VAT- reduced price of £4.88 and are available to buy NOW on the Sold Out label.

Worms 4 Mayhem is one of the most infectious strategy action games! Worms are back in force with bold new levels, an improved 3D camera and animation system, new customisable weapons, ridiculous new outfits, and the same devilish attitude.

Blow the bejaysus out of each other’s team in the turn-based anarchy that you love. Experience online multiplayer madness with crazy new battle modes and max out your damage with utterly destructible, themed landscapes. Make your team unique with custom hats, hair, hands, glasses voices and more and build your own fiendish ûber-arsenal! Described by PC Gamer as ‘Classic stuff... A multiplayer blast’, this game is a true manic mischievous mayhem!

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six™ 3 Raven Shield™ Complete, the sequel to Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six™: Rogue Spear™ (2000 Action Game of the Year - PC Gamer US) and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six™ (1999 Action Game of the Year - PC Gamer US) is sure to keep you right at the edge of your seat. Take command of Team Rainbow, the most elite counter-terrorism force ever assembled. When terrorists assault our world, they incur the wrath of Team Rainbow. Your duty begins when negotiations end. With 30 specialist team modes and over 57 real-world weapons, there is not threat you cannot contain. PC Gamer wrote: ‘No other games out there offer the same level of thoughtful action. It is the best single-player close-combat game and excellent online’. Ensure you do not compromise with terror – just eliminate it!

For a daring girl, rafting down the Amazon, climbing Mt. McKinley, or embarking on an exotic African Safari is all in a day's event! Majesco announce The Daring Game for Girls for Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS. In this adventure title based on the bestselling books published by the William Morrow imprint of HarperCollins, players can achieve their dream adventure by successfully completing an array of exciting challenges.
"The Daring Book for Girls series is the ultimate can-do, how-to 'manual' that celebrates the female spirit and guides adventurous girls in a range of daring and practical activities," said Gui Karyo, Executive Vice President of Operations for Majesco. "This game captures that content and is the perfect interactive complement for fans of the books and other girls interested in a game designed specifically for them."

"The Daring Book for Girls series, including the new book, The Double Daring Book for Girls, has entertained and inspired millions of girls, and we look forward to the game furthering the reach of this well-loved property," said Liate Stelhik, SVP and Publisher of William Morrow.

The Daring Game for Girls is an entertaining and informative adventure that lets players virtually experience activities straight from the popular book. Players can pick from one of several character models with a wide range of ethnicities and features. As they play, girls will earn gear and collectibles while having fun in spy missions, cave exploration, freeze tag, double dutch, basketball, arts and crafts, managing a corner stand, making friends, and much more. Players will also learn educational facts about famous women in history and use that knowledge to ace Pop Quizzes. Only by earning all six types of Daring Girl Badges - including Girl Lore, Life Skills and World Knowledge - can players realize an adventure to Africa, the Amazon or Mt. McKinley and become a true Daring Girl!

Developed by WXP, The Daring Game for Girls on Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS is expected to release in October 2009.

Harmonix and MTV Games announce 16 tracks from artists including Mission of Burma, Pearl Jam, The Offspring and more coming this week to the Rock Band Music Store catalog of download content for the Nintendo Wii system.

Three songs each from alternative rockers Pearl Jam and punk favorites Mission of Burma will be added this week. Additionally, songs from The Offspring, Harvey Danger, Panic at the Disco, George Thorogood and more will be released June 30 to the Wii Rock Band Music Store.

These tracks come from the back catalog of Rock Band music already released to owners of Xbox 360® and PLAYSTATION® 3 system. Wii fans can expect a rollout of previously released downloadable Rock Band content until the entire back catalog of more than 700 songs is available. With the addition of these tracks, there are now more than 345 tracks in the Wii Rock Band Music Store.

Release Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2009

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

Tracks:
Deep Purple “Space Truckin’”
George Thorogood “Bad to the Bone”
Harvey Danger “Cream and Bastards Rise”
In This Moment “Forever”
Lacuna Coil “Closer”
Lacuna Coil “Swamped”
Mission of Burma “Mica”
Mission of Burma “That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate”
Mission of Burma “That’s When I Reach for My Revolver”
The Offspring “Gone Away”
The Offspring “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)”
Panic at the Disco “She’s a Handsome Woman”
Pearl Jam “Brother”
Pearl Jam “Alive (Live: Drop in the Park)”
Pearl Jam “State of Love and Trust (Live: Drop in the Park)”
Snow Patrol “Take Back the City”

(All tracks are original master recordings)

Price: $2.00 (200 Wii Points) per track

Location: In-game Rock Band 2 Music Store (Wii Points must be purchased through the Wii Shop Channel)

Rock Band 2 is available for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation 2 systems and the Wii system. The Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Wii versions support downloadable content.

Downloadable content for Wii is purchased via the in-game Rock Band Music Store using Wii Points purchased through the Wii Shop Channel and can be downloaded to the system memory or to an SD card for additional storage. The tracks stream directly from the SD card for seamless play.

Rising Star Games is pleased to confirm securing the publishing rights for the much anticipated fantasy adventure title. Fragile: Farewell Ruins of the Moon developed by Tri Crescendo, the team responsible for Baten Kaitos and, more recently, Eternal Sonata exclusively for Nintendo Wii. Fragile is scheduled for a Q1 2010 release in the PAL territories.

“Fragile has a great team of creative designers who in turn have brought to life a beautiful art style that pushes the limits of the Wii console without compromising on gaming quality” stated Tyrone Walcott product manager at Rising Star Games. “This announcement will delight European gamers and the Otaku community. Rising Star Games has again shown its commitment to bring the best games from Japan.”

For members of Rising Star Games exclusive Hoshi Club, this information was released exclusively 72 hours earlier. “We’re incredibly excited about bringing Fragile to the PAL territories. There’s been a massive upsurge of interest for this title since being showcased in Famitsu (Japan)” explained Simon Alty, Rising Star Games’ Head of Brand. “The feedback from fans in our forums was that this was a title they wanted us to champion and we are very excited to respond to that ‘fan power’ with this announcement.”

Fragile takes place in the near future, in a world that has lost its population. You play as Seto, a young boy searching through the abandoned cities and facilities of this world, trying to learn the truth behind the disappearance of all the people, and to find someone to keep him company. In addition to exploration, Seto has to deal with ghosts who appear in the ruins.

Players will be able to explore a dark and abandoned world with the aid of their Wii Remote that functions as a flashlight and as a proximity sensor to hunt down invisible ghosts. The cinematic presentation, joined with an emotional soundtrack, bring the tale of a lonely and lost individual to life as players encounter memorable characters and discover the back story behind scavenged objects that provide insight on people's last days before the apocalypse.

The next Hitman game will be released in late 2010, and will share story points with the upcoming film sequel by Twentieth Century Fox.

That's according to Variety, which claims that the fifth Hitman game will have deadly baldy Agent 47 "at a low point" and he must build himself back up psychologically and physically to reclaim his mantle as the world's most feared assassin.

Screenwriter Kyle Ward is back on script duties, as well as penning the Kane and Lynch and Uncharted films.

Square Enix announce that the second add-on scenario for FINAL FANTASY XI, their MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online Game), will begin pre-sale on July 5, 2009. Titled “A Moogle Kupo d’Etat – Evil in Small Doses”, this upcoming add-on scenario will launch simultaneously worldwide later this summer, for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system (North America and Japan only) and Windows.

Beginning on July 5, 2009, “A Moogle Kupo d’Etat – Evil in Small Doses” will be available for pre-purchase and download for £7.99 in the UK and €9.99 in the rest of Europe via the PlayOnline Viewer. Slated to launch at the end of July following the next FINAL FANTASY XI version update, players whose in-game character’s main job level is at least 10 can begin to enjoy this new content. Introducing a brand-new story arc, this new scenario requires the installation of RISE OF THE ZILART®, the first expansion pack in the FINAL FANTASY XI series.

The development of these add-on scenarios, including the already launched “A Crystalline Prophecy - Ode of Life Bestowing” and the upcoming third and final scenario – “A Shantotto Ascension – The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born” – is led by Masato Kato, who created the stories and scenarios for FINAL FANTASY XI, and its first expansion pack, RISE OF THE ZILART. With the summer release of this second scenario, “A Moogle Kupo d’Etat – Evil in Small Doses”, players will delve into a dark mystery set in motion by a single drop of water.
About A Moogle Kupo d’Etat – Evil in Small Doses

Story
It all started with an innocent drop of rainwater and a rickety, ramshackle Mog House desperately in need of repair.
Little did anyone suspect that this would be the beginning of a harrowing nightmare unheard of in the annals of moogle-kind.

About FINAL FANTASY XI

Accommodating players in Europe, North America and Japan, FINAL FANTASY XI is the first massively multiplayer online role-playing game capable of simultaneous multiplayer cooperation across three different platforms. Now in its eighth year of service, FINAL FANTASY XI has a robust community of 500,000 subscribers from around the world. The series continues to evolve and expand, offering newcomers and fans alike an immersive, engrossing and engaging universe to traverse, defend and explore.

This week's new downloadable games include a trio of WiiWare titles - two built around water-themed challenges and one designed to keep your mental chops in top shape. For Virtual Console, you'll find a memorable SEGA character making his return in a classic single-player sci-fi adventure. Rounding out the lineup is a new Nintendo DSiWare title that's sure to have sudoku fans reaching feverishly for the nearest stylus.

WiiWare

Water Warfare
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Water Warfare is a comical first-person shooter that uses water guns to battle and soak opponents. A map with a particular theme - Playground, Beach, Plaza or Nature Park - is generated automatically when the game begins, so you can think up new strategies each time you engage. Game modes include Single Player Missions, CPU Match and 2-Player Split Screen. On top of that, players with broadband Internet access can use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to battle with up to eight players from around the world, or participate in Ranking Mode.

Reel Fishing Challenge
Publisher: Natsume, Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Reel Fishing Challenge offers a fun and challenging experience for novice fishers and master anglers alike. Put your skills to the test and discover new types of fish in the challenging mission mode, or relax and enjoy the game at your own pace in free play mode. No matter which mode you play, the game's beautiful graphics and natural setting bring the fishing experience to life. Choose from a variety of lures to attract and hook the game's numerous fish. Each fish looks and moves like the real thing - it's the closest you can get to real-life fishing without putting on your waders.

Silver Star Reversi
Publisher: Agetec, Inc.
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Silver Star Reversi has two modes: 1-Player mode allows you to play a match against the computer opponent, and 2-Player mode allows you to play against another person. In 1-Player mode, you can choose from five different computer opponents, turn the background music on or off, adjust sound effects and access in-game help features. During each match, you can also redo your last move, save the game at any point, or resign from the game. After a match has ended, you can review each move and resume the match from any point you choose.

Virtual Console

Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa
Original platform: SEGA MASTER SYSTEM
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Ten years have elapsed since Opa-Opa restored peace to the Fantasy Zone. Now history is repeating itself, and the planets that make up the Fantasy Zone once again find themselves attacked by the mastermind of the Nenon planet forces. This mastermind is secretly constructing a huge fortress in the Fantasy Zone and aims to put an end to their ambitious plans. Just as he did 10 years ago, Opa-Opa must do battle to save the Fantasy Zone.

Nintendo DSiWare

SUDOKU MASTER
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: SUDOKU MASTER offers 150 unique puzzles that beginners and experts alike will enjoy. A handful of tutorials will help you learn the rules and controls as you go, and handy features like Write Mode and Temp Numbers make Sudoku pleasantly user-friendly. Feeling confident? Then try your hand at Title Mode to work your way up from Rookie to Sudoku Master. All puzzles were created by Sudoku veteran NIKOLI Co., Ltd., and tips from Sudoku godfather Maki Kaji are offered between games.

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.

Natsume announce that Reel Fishing Challenge has been released for digital download on WiiWare. The latest entry in the best-selling Reel Fishing series brings the most true-to-life fishing experience yet to the Nintendo Wii.

"We are excited to bring the respected Reel Fishing series to WiiWare," said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. "The Wii's motion-sensitive controls have allowed us to create a true fishing experience!"

Reel Fishing Challenge offers a fun and challenging experience for novice fishers and master anglers alike. Put your skills to the test and discover new types of fish in the challenging mission mode, or relax and enjoy the game at your own pace in free play mode. No matter which mode you play, the game's beautiful graphics and natural setting bring the fishing experience to life. Each fish looks and moves so much like the real thing, you might mistake your TV for an aquarium!

As an added bonus, players who have Reel Fishing Angler's Dream for the Wii can unlock bonus missions and additional fish in Reel Fishing Challenge.

Reel Fishing: Challenge will be available for digital download on WiiWare today.

SEGA announce Wacky World of Sports, an outrageous new sports game exclusively for the home video game system, Nintendo Wii. Wacky World of Sports brings some of the worlds most obscure sports to the videogame world for the first time, and will hit stores late 2009.



Wacky World of Sports takes players on a trip around the world to try their hand at some of the lesser known sports of countries including Italy, the Netherlands and Australia. The ten sports featured in the game all start easy enough but the more advanced a player gets the more extreme they become! Tuna Tossing has been a popular sport down under for a number of years now, but just how far can that tuna be thrown in the comfort of the living room? Drag out an old armchair to take part in Furniture Racing, but make sure Grandma is not still sat in it, as those chairs are fast! And if that’s still not bizarre enough, how about ironing a shirt at one thousand feet in the Extreme Ironing event?!

“Wacky World of Sports brings together what is easily the most outrageous collection of real life sports games SEGA has ever seen” commented Gary Knight, European Marketing Director, SEGA Europe. “The game brings a whole new dimension to the party game genre, and is sure to become a family favourite. By utilising the unique way of playing on Wii, Wacky World of Sports makes these particularly unusual sports accessible to everyone!”

The mind boggling sports action in Wacky World of Sports can be battled out with friends and family in the Multiplayer Party Mode, in which individuals compete against each other to find out who will reign supreme. Alternatively, choose to play as one of a dozen larger-than-life characters in the Tour Mode and travel the world defeating current champions to become the World Champion of Wacky Sports!
Wacky World of Sports will be released on Wii late 2009.

Sumthing Else Music Works through its licensing relationship with Microsoft Game Studios, proudly presents Banjo-Kazooie Nuts & Bolts Original Soundtrack featuring the original music score from the third installment of the Banjo-Kazooie series developed by Rare Ltd.

The soundtrack album be released on June 30th to retail outlets through Sumthing Else Music Works www.sumthing.com, and will be available for digital download on Sumthing Digital www.sumthingdigital.com and iTunes.

Famed game developer Rare Ltd. has revived one of its most beloved and successful franchises exclusively on Xbox 360. Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts embraces new and old fans alike, as the famous bear and bird duo return in stunning high definition for a unique adventure of epic proportions.

The Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts Original Soundtrack features original musical compositions by Robin Beanland (Killer Instinct, Conker's Bad Fur Day), Grant Kirkhope (Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Tooie) and David Clynick (Perfect Dark, Perfect Dark Zero).

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts brings an entirely new experience to the console and takes the franchise to a whole new innovative level of enjoyment. High-definition graphics, user-created content and online gameplay are just three of the many advances people of all ages and skill levels will discover as they embark on their adventure.

Earlier fact sheet on gamezplay.org here...

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Jigsaws are the latest craze to hit the DS & DSi! Sit back and relax with three themed JIGAPIX versions in Winter 09. The launch versions of the brand cover Wild World, Wonderful World and Pets. Each themed pack contains over 80 stunning images that can be played in both single and multiplayer modes. Each image can be played in multiple difficultly levels to suit the casual and the more adventurous gamer, giving players of all abilities hours of fun. There is even a challenge mode for the more hardcore puzzler.

Not just a Jigsaw, JIGAPIX offers bonus mini games including Spot the Difference, Sliding Blocks and Slices

Plus, for all DSi owners as well the fantastic pre-loaded images JIGAPIX lets you create your own pictures, utilizing the new DSi Camera feature! You can now take a picture of absolutely anything, and JIGAPIX will then create a jigsaw of your picture. This gives you endless opportunities of creating your own puzzles from the pictures you take.

• WILD WORLD - There are 1000’s of wild animals in the World. In JIGAPIX Wild World you will find some of the wildest. From the bottom of the ocean, across the vast African plains, to the deepest tropical jungles, take a walk on the ‘wild side’ and don’t forget your DS!

• WORDERFUL WORLD - The World is a wonderful place. Uncover some of the most spectacular imagery and visit places you could only dream of. Puzzle your way around the World, it may just take more than 80 days!

• PETS – complete jigsaw puzzles of some of the best know pets and some lesser known ones too! From cats to cockatoos, guinea pigs to goldfish, horses to hamsters, this pet edition will contain something for everyone

‘“The Nintendo DS & DSi platforms are perfect for this game. The idea is so simple yet so addictive” says, Chris Walton, Marketing Executive at Zushi. “Jigsaws are an extremely popular pass time and JIGAPIX allows you to play and compete on the move. Educational fun and relaxing, JIGAPIX offers casual gaming for all ages and indulgence in a guilty pleasure for some.”

With more titles in the pipeline including JIGAPIX Smiley World and JIGAPIX Love is…., due for release later in 2009. This is just the start for the JIGAPIX brand as more licenses and themes will to be added in the near future to cater for all ages and interests.

Marvel v Capcom 2 features the biggest roster of challengers to ever square off in a Capcom fighting game, a total of 56 combined brawlers from both the Capcom and Marvel universes. From the world of Capcom comes characters such as Ryu from the Street Fighter series, Jill Valentine from the Resident Evil games and unofficial company mascot Mega Man.



Marvel is represented by some of its biggest names, including the Invincible Iron Man, Captain America, the Sentinel of Liberty, and War Machine, Weapon of S.H.I.E.L.D. Players can mix and match from both worlds in order to create their own ideal three man/woman/robot/monster team-up.



Marvel v Capcom 2 is designed to be a gateway for new players to experience the fun of fighting games while providing a deep system for hardcore fighting fans to dig into. Action is based around colourful, exaggerated attacks that include gigantic projectile attacks (such as Ryu’s fireball or Dr. Doom’s Plasma Beam) and high-flying aerial moves (like Spider-Man’s Maximum Spider or Cammy’s Killer Bee Attack). The controls are somewhat simplified from the classic six-button system at the heart of Capcom games like Street Fighter™ IV, utilizing a four-button control scheme for the action, with two “assist” buttons that pull in your team members for additional support.



Due to the amazing combination of Marvel and Capcom characters and the game’s celebrated fighting system and graphics, MvC2 has been a hotly sought-after title on the game collector’s circuit. Previously owned copies for older game consoles have been demanding big prices in auctions and at specialty video game outlets. Now players who have been desperately searching out used copies of the game will be able to go hands-on and play online with the same great online experience from Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix. Additionally, Capcom has added an optional advanced visual filter that improves the overall appearance of the game and added online modes, including Ranked Matches and the popular Player “Quarter” Match that allows up to four people to watch and chat while two others are battling it out.

Parrot Pals is the newest title in the Discovery Kids games line-up. Choose your favorite breed, give it a name, and start to take care of it. You can train your parrot and teach it new tricks. You can even speak to your parrot and it will repeat your words back to you.

* Use the DS microphone to teach your parrot to talk
* Interact and play games with your parrot like tug of war, chase the ball, and even hold a parrot race!
* Bright, colorful, intuitive and easy to pick up
* Customize and care for your new exotic flying friend

GFI is eager to announce new action shooter game Steam Slug, which allows players to enjoy a truly steampunk world in alternative history setting.

It is the world of Steam Slug, the world where at the end of XIX century history followed an alternative path and machines rose against the mankind. Smoking monsters with human brains encased in brass 'n' glass roam devastated cities. The skies are blackened with mechanical creatures, the streets are plagued with steam and blood.

There is no place to go, the machines are everywhere and the only way of survival for you and for the mankind is to fight rogue engines and find the ultimate evil behind their creation – mysterious Mephistopheles.

In the world of Steam Slug you have almost no chance of survival. But death is not an option…

* Unique steampunk style
* Intense third person shooter
* Realistic, destructible environment
* Interactive, changing world with cunning enemies
* Arenas for fighting deadly bosses

About Steam Slug:

Genre: Action/Shooter
Platform: PC DVD-ROM
Age: 16+
Eng GM: Q4 2009

Keep your patients happy – organise the ward to treat their condition as quickly as possible.

Can you get the energy to make sure you clear all the beds before the next patient comes along? – the loss of patients could seriously damage your wealth!

Design and improve your ward for life-saving efficiency. Treat 15 conditions – all with cures using the latest “bleeding-edge” treatment!



Hysteria Hospital: Emergency Ward is set for release on Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PC on 17th July 2009.

Realore, a developer of such hits as Farm Mania and Jane's Hotel, announced the release of its brand-new time management game Jane's Zoo.

Jane is back again! This time well-known lady decides to save the extinct wild animals. You have a chance to help her in organizing asylums for the animals all over the world and taking care of them.

Now Jane’s Zoo available exclusively on Realore web site http://www.realore.com/games/janeszoo

At the very beginning Jane pays attention on a great disaster on our planet. While her traveling around the world she sees a lot of factories and plants that cause water and air pollution. Pour wild animals die in such a horrible living conditions. Jane can’t stand it and she will do anything to stop destroying our planet! And you have a unique chance to help her in this fine business!

Jane's Zoo game is divided into 3 main parts so you will travel to Europe, Asia and Africa. Each place has its own climate, animals and traditions so you’ll have to be careful! Jane won’t let you down and help in any situation. By the way, helping animals is not as boring as you may think: unique wild animals, baby animals (watch them growing!), different weather conditions, fascinating mini-games etc.

Feel the atmosphere of the wild nature and spirit of freedom with Jane’s Zoo! Now Jane decides to save the extinct wild animals. You have a chance to help her in organizing asylums for the animals all over the world and taking care of them.

Download Jane's Zoo for free on PC, soon it will be also available Mac

Rare animals and wild nature in general are in your hands now! Help Jane and save the world! Think of the future today with this fascinating colorful Jane’s Zoo game!

Matrix Games and 2by3 Games are proud to announce that Gary Grigsby’s War in the East: The German-Soviet War 1941-1945 is in development.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “War in the East is still in the early stages of development but already the gameplay is proving to be fantastic. We know anticipation for this title is very high and we look forward to giving you more and more details about yet another 2by3 Games blockbuster as they become available!”

Gary Grigsby’s War in the East: The German-Soviet War 1941-1945 is a turn-based World War II strategy game stretching across the entire Eastern Front. Gamers can engage in an epic campaign, including division-sized battles with realistic and historical terrain, weather, orders of battle, logistics and combat results. As with all the award-winning titles made by the 2by3 Games team, factors such as supply, fatigue, experience, morale and the skill of your divisional, corps and army leaders all play an important part in determining the results at the front line. Gary Grigsby’s War in the East will come with a massive Eastern Front scenario as well as smaller scenarios all with different strategic and operational challenges.

Features include:

• 10 miles per hex and Weekly turns
• 25,760 hexes or over 2.5 million square miles of battlespace
• Division sized maneuver units (with some brigades/regiments and Soviet Corps)
• German Corps/Army HQs and Soviet Army/Front HQs
• Map covers from 100 miles west of Berlin in the west to the Urals in the east, and from 150 miles north of Leningrad in the north to Baku and Sofia in the south.
• Independent Corps/Army battalions to attach to maneuver units
• Air units by group in their own airbase units
• Detailed production
• Losses in individual vehicles and squads
• Detailed yet automatic accounting for support personnel and supplies/fuel/ammunition
• Historical commander ratings
• Accounts for troops/vehicles that are disrupted, disabled and fatigued
• Accurately depicts the need for training units before entering combat
• Detailed weather zones and ice levels
• Full war as well as smaller scenarios
• Intricate Fog of War rules and unit detection levels

Gary Grigsby’s War in the East: The German-Soviet War 1941-1945 is scheduled to be available by the end of 2009, get more information on the game from its official product page.

Harmonix and MTV Games announced that three additional tracks from artists performing on this year’s international Warped Tour, as well as a three pack from classic rockers Foreigner, will be added to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content next week for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.

The Warped Tour is an annual international music and extreme sports festival that began in 1994 and features a diverse line-up of bands, as well as pro-skating and BMX exhibitions. This week, five tracks from Warped Tour artists A Day to Remember, Bad Religion, Chiodos, Escape the Fate and Underoath were made available in the Rock Band Music Store, and next week, three more tracks from Warped Tour artists – Dear and the Headlights, The Devil Wears Prada and Thrice – will be available for download.

Three tracks from classic rock favorites Foreigner, which formed in 1976 and have sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, will also be available beginning June 30. “Blue Morning Blue Day,” “Feels Like the First Time” and “Head Knocker” will be available in the Rock Band Music Store. Additionally, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club makes their Rock Band debut with “Weapons of Choice,” from the band’s 2007 album, Baby 81.

Tracks:
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club “Weapon Of Choice”
Dear and the Headlights “Sweet Talk”
The Devil Wears Prada “Hey John, What’s Your Name Again?”
Foreigner “Blue Morning, Blue Day”
Foreigner “Feels Like the First Time”
Foreigner “Headknocker”
Thrice “Image of the Invisible”
(All tracks are original master recordings)
These tracks will be available for purchase as part of the “Foreigner Pack” or “Warped Tour 02 Pack” or as individual tracks for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 systems.

Release Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2009
(Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
(PlayStation®Store)

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

Price: $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$5.49 (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Foreigner Pack” and “Warped Tour 02 Pack”

Locations: Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360
PlayStation Network

Dirt 2 will be on sale this September and Codemasters is promising...

“…a roster of contemporary off-road events, taking players to the most diverse and challenging real-world environments.”

Dirt 2 will feature officially licensed rally cars and off-road vehicles which has been specifically selected to deliver aggressive and fast paced racing.

Dirt 2 will feature seven vehicle classes with the opening drive being with the Group N Subaru. In addition to the main campaign there will be full online functionality with head to head competitive play and some new social features.

'Now Gamer' reports a release date of September 25th 2009 for the long awaited Gran Turismo 5 PlayStation 3 video game.

Polyphony’s frontrunner screams into view at last...

While many have complained about the Gran Turismo series’ way of using ‘teaser’ versions of the games such as Prologue, it does make a lot of sense. Polyphony famously loves to lavish its full releases with attention until they’re as good as they can possibly be, meaning that only with a little taster of the action will fans be satisfied with the lengthy gaps between each proper title. So with the finishing touches finally being done to GT5, it’s time to finish up with Grid or – if you’re particularly slow – Prologue since when the main event kicks off, you’re not going to have time to so much as look at another racing sim.

Read the full post on their website here...

To celebrate the life of, pop legend, Michael Jackson Xbox LIVE Marketplace is offering FREE download of the Thriller iconic video.

Previously the Thriller video cost 1,200 Microsoft Points.

The landmark 1983 music video by John Landis for the 50 million copy selling Thriller album.

Jackson had been featured in several video games, including Sega Corp.'s Moonwalker for the arcade and the Sega Genesis console. He also appeared in a cameo in the music title Space Channel 5 for the Sega Dreamcast.

Watch the Moonwalk video game trailer here on gamezplay...

Users Who Had Albatross 18 Accounts Before Pangya Re-Launched In U.S. Must Submit Their Account Recovery Requests By 11:59 PDT June 30

Ntreev USA announce it will be closing Pangya migration from Albatross 18 at 11:59 PDT June 30th. This means any Albatross 18 users who want to migrate their accounts over to Pangya must submit their recovery requests to Ntreev USA before the cutoff time on June 30. After that, the account recovery service will no longer be available.

This announcement is only for players who had played Albatross 18 and have not yet submitted a request for account recovery. For players who have never played the previous version of Pangya, this announcement does not apply. Albatross 18 players can request account recovery through the‘RECOVER ACCOUNT’ button located on the right side of Ntreev’s website at:

http://Pangya.ntreev.net.

Pangya is a casual golf game that takes the difficult rules of golf an transforms them into an easy to pick-up and play casual golf experience that a player of any skill level can enjoy. Pangya is free for players to download and play, while some items in the game including certain characters, clothing sets, new equipment and accessories are available to purchase via micro-transaction. The in-game currency in Pangya, called Pang, allows players to purchase items from the in-game shop that will enhance a character. The in-game shop also provides new inventory and equipment and offers players the ability to send gifts and more. Gamers can earn Pang by finishing a hole at par or better and by showcasing powerful shots.



For more information about Ntreev USA visit www.ntreev.net.

All the fun of cooking with great games and Jamie Oliver's recipes for you to create, enjoy and share.

Learn how to prepare 100 of Jamie's delicious recipes using real ingredients in your
kitchen at home, or in the virtual kitchens on your Nintendo DS.

Fun games and interactive step-by-step instructions guide you on a cooking journey,
whether you're a beginner cook or a brilliant chef!

Features:

* Interactive cookbook: Use the 'hands free' voice recognition tool to help you create 100 of Jamie's cracking recipes.
* Cooking games: Follow and recreate Jamie's recipes in 10 original 3D kitchens with hundreds of utensils and ingredients to choose from.
* Cooking challenge: Cook against the clock! Work your way up to becoming a master chef
* Cooking assistant: Create and store your own shopping lists.
* Recipe creator: Allows you to store up to 100 of your own recipes. Plus share with your friends over wi-fi!

Listen up rookies! “Halo 3: ODST” drops on September 22, but will you and your team have what it takes to survive the Covenant onslaught in the new cooperative multiplayer mode, Firefight? Firefight will put you to the test as you and your friends assume the role of an ODST squad and fight together to take on increasingly challenging waves of enemies.

It’s where new “Halo” heroes will be born, and an opportunity to step into the boots of a legend. If you pre-order “Halo 3: ODST” at participating retailers, you will receive a token to unlock grizzled UNSC hero Sgt. Johnson as a playable character in Firefight.

Fan favourite and “Halo” series stalwart Sergeant Avery Junior Johnson is a tough-as-nails career Marine who has been in more life or death battles than you've had hot meals. He’s survived more infectious Flood outbreaks, greased more Covenant bad guys, and earned more medals than any other twenty soldiers. And now you get to walk a mile in his shoes.

New campaign
Developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by acclaimed developer Bungie, “Halo 3: ODST” is a new game in the “Halo” saga that lets people experience events leading up to the epic story told in “Halo 3” through the eyes of an ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), as they search for clues leading to the whereabouts of their scattered squad and the motivations behind the Covenant’s invasion of New Mombasa.

New cooperative multiplayer experience
In addition to a brand new campaign, “Halo 3: ODST” introduces a new cooperative multiplayer mode called Firefight which allows “Halo” fans to experience co-operative gaming in a whole new way: they will be fighting as members of an ODST squad against waves of increasingly challenging enemies across a variety of battlefields. This experience is made even more intense with the integration of “Halo 3’s” “skulls,” which progressively activate as time goes on to alter the gameplay and up the challenge. Players will battle through wave after wave in search of high scores, Achievements and bragging rights.

The complete “Halo 3” competitive multiplayer collection
“Halo 3: ODST” also includes a second standalone disc with three new “Halo 3” multiplayer maps, all original “Halo 3” maps, as well as the “Legendary,” “Heroic,” and “Mythic” Map packs for a total of 24 maps.

Ensure your place in the “Halo: Reach” beta
Purchasing “Halo 3: ODST” will ensure “Halo” fans get access to the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta when the beta goes live in the future. Announced at E3 2009, “Halo: Reach” is the prequel to the blockbuster “Halo” trilogy and is scheduled for release in fall of 2010.

“Halo 3: ODST” will have a suggested retail price of £39.99. “Halo 3: ODST” is rated PEGI 16+.

Battle it out in “Fatal Fury: Garou-Mark of the Wolves” on Xbox LIVE Arcade. This classic Japanese arcade fighter game is the latest release in the “Fatal Fury” series and its coming straight to Xbox LIVE Arcade, your premier destination for quality, action-packed downloadable games.

Hit the streets of Southtown and fight for the tournament win with legendary tactics like “Just Defense,” “T.O.P.” and “Braking.” Train your skills and choose from a variety of characters to maximize your street fighting credit on Xbox LIVE.

Published and developed by SNK Playmore Corp., “Fatal Fury: Garou-Mark of the Wolves” will be available for 800 Microsoft Points worldwide. The game is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.

*Xbox LIVE Gold membership required for online multiplayer

Another Fight Night issue that has the gamers talking is the lack of face buttons to throw punches (part of Fight Night 3).

EA have indicated that it may be added as Download content not sure if it may be free.

The Xbox 360 version of Fight Night Round 4 has been freezing on a number of Xbox 360 consoles. EA are aware and say the problem of freezing is only effecting a small number of players.

The demo version had a similar problem but EA put that down to hardware. This freeze bug involes retail versions of Fight Night Round 4 and EA say it is related to an HDD issue and some files contained there in.

Hopefully an update will fix the freeze issue soon.

Hatton v Pacquiao fight video Fight Night Round 4 video game Manny Pacquiao KOs Ricky Hatton

Gamasutra reports... A US resident has filed a class action suit against Square Enix accusing them of deceptive advertising, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment related to the online game Final Fantasy XI.

The suit, filed in California, is seeking $5 million in damages. "(Square Enix) engaged in various levels of deceptive advertising, unfair business practices, and fraudulent concealment with respect to the online games at the point of purchase," the suit said.

The filing alleges the following against Square Enix:

"This case narrowly focuses on Defandants deceptive advertising, unfair advertising, and fraudulent concealment to conceal certain critical information about their online games. The deceptive advertising, unfair and undisclosed business practices, and concealment concern, among others:

1. Licensing of the online games software disguised as a sale
2. Monthly fees ("fees") to play online games
3. Penalties for late payment fees
4. Interest charges for late payment fees
5. Charges while the online game account is suspended
6. Termination of the right to use the online game for late payment of the fees
7. User restrictions and conditions related to the online games
8. Termination of game data for late payment of the fees

The filing estimated that the number of people to take part in the class action "will number greater than 100,000", based on the "Defendant's online game database."

Full post here...

One of the top selling PC game franchises of all time returns with all new stunning 3D graphics and expanded gamezplay! Experience your park like never before, add yourself and your friends to the crowd, ride the coasters you design, and view the thousands of detailed guests up close and personal.


Stunning new 3D graphics Ride the coasters with the all new Coaster Cam All new rides and attractions Realistic day/night and weather cycles Add cinematic special effects to your rides including earthquakes, monster attacks, flames and smoke New VIP visitors create unique and humorous challenges

NAMCO BANDAI Games announce the forthcoming launch of Dragon Ball - Revenge of King Piccolo exclusively for Nintendo Wii. Scheduled for European launch this autumn 2009, Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo promises to thrill fans with the first ever appearance of the original Dragon Ball story on Wii in glorious 3D.

Heading back to the early days of the Dragon Ball story, players will control Kid Goku as he sets out on fantastic adventures with his friends. The title faithfully reproduces the uniqueness and special humour of the early Dragon Ball series, while adding an original blend of action and adventure to the mix. With the original Japanese music and voiceover included for maximum authenticity, Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo offers fans a dazzling new experience with the characters and universe they know and love.

The visuals in Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo take the series to a new level by faithfully reproducing on-screen the original drawings of legendary Dragon Ball artist Akira Toriyama down to the finest pen strokes. Thanks to the high-quality, state-of-the-art graphics, fans will be able to immerse themselves in the Dragon Ball universe like never before.

Game modes include Story mode which follows Kid Goku from the Red Ribbon Saga to the King Piccolo Saga with the ability to replay previously completed stages, and the unlockable VS mode where players can take different unlocked characters into battle.

With in-game collectables, a host of unlockables, and more fun, fights and adventure than ever before all delivered in dazzling 3D, Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo is the definitive Dragon Ball videogame experience coming to Wii this autumn 2009.

NAMCO BANDAI Games announce the launch of Dragon Ball - Raging Blast, the latest instalment in the Budokai Tenkaichi saga and the first video game in the Budokai Tenkaichi series to arrive on the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Featuring stunning HD graphics and audio, destructible environments and enhanced character features, Dragon Ball: Raging Blast takes players far beyond the realms of the original anime series, blasting its way into retailers in Europe and the PAL territories this autumn 2009.

Interactive and destructible environments bring a new layer of intensity to the battle stages featured in Dragon Ball: Raging Blast. Smash opponents into rocks to increase their damage count and gain the upper hand in battles.

Featuring the series’ trademark combat style, the game hosts a variety of the most popular characters taken from the series, all of which have enhanced features such as facial expressions for a deeper level of immersion into the Dragon Ball universe.

Dragon Ball: Raging Blast boasts superior graphics that enhance the sense of the characters’ speed and power. In addition to classic signature moves, characters also benefit from a new “Super Rising” move which allows more variety in the battle stages and lets players explore new areas of the Dragon Ball universe.

Dragon Ball: Raging Blast for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft is coming to retailers across Europe and the PAL regions this coming autumn 2009.

This post over on Game Set Watch has some artwork from Enix adventure game Nanatsu Kaze No Shima Monogatari - The Seven Blasts of Wind in Island Story Sega Saturn video game.
They have lots more here on their site...

Harvey Nichols Summer Sale 2009 was promoted with a print advertising campaign featuring fashion conscious fighters from video games such as Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Each character is decked out in the latest designer clothes, with the men in Alexander McQueen suits and women in Rodarte dresses, modelling the luxury items that can be found for up to 50 per cent less during the sale period.

The Sales Fighters campaign was developed at DDB London by executive creative director Jeremy Craigen, head of art Grant Parker, art directors/copywriters Graeme Hall and Hunter Somerville, illustrator Mathieu Raynault, photographer Rick Guest and designer Steven Wilson.

New pedometer-based games have arrived with Nintendo DS releases like Nintendo's Personal Trainer - Walking and Ubisoft's My Weight Loss Coach both bundling pedometer accessories.

Even Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver, destined to be two of the highest-selling titles in Japan this year they come with a PokeWalker that encourages players to walk with the accessory so they can gain XP for their creatures or earn currency in-game.

Bandai and SSD Company have their own standalone pedometer-based game coming out this July, Yuuhokei: Tenkatouitsu ~ Aruite Sengoku no Hasha to Nare, which loosely translates as Walking Meter: Unification ~ Become the Ruler of the Warring States by Walking.



As the title suggests, you can play as three different warlords from Japan's Warring States period (15th to 17th century) -- Oda Nobunaga, Takeda Shingen, and Uesugi Kenshin. The game will also feature over 70 other warlords, such as Date Masumane and Akechi Mitsuhide. Though you might not recognize some of these names, these characters have experienced a surge of popularity recently in Japan with the Sengoku Basara games/anime.

The way the pedometer works, you keep the accessory in a pocket and amass troops by walking, increasing your army's ranks as you go about their day. According to Bandai, "you can dominate the enemy with your large army if you walk a lot." Your soldiers can attack with spears, guns, bows and arrows, and more.

There will also be a corresponding website where you can record your weight and how much you've walked. As you progress through your warlord's campaign/storyline, you'll also receive codes that you can put into the website to see details of local warlords and a map of Japan showing the areas you've unified.

Bandai's target audience for Walking Meter: Unification is men and women in their 30s who have an appreciation of history. The company has high hopes for this product, too, expecting to sell over 10 million units by the end of 2010.

And if conquering rival warlords and unifying Japan isn't your thing, apparently there are three other similar pedometer-based titles that've been released in Japan -- Space Battleship Yamato (Star Blazers), Haha wo Tazunete Sanzenri (a.k.a. Marco), and Kacho Kosaku Shima - all of which are based on manga/anime properties.

Heavy Rain is a cinematic and evolving thriller from Quantic Dream, the developer behind the critically acclaimed Fahrenheit.

Dealing with a range of adult themes, the game revolves around a sophisticated plot and strong narrative threads that explore a complex moral proposition. You assume the role of multiple characters, with very different backgrounds, motivations and skills, in a world shaped by Bending Storylines - a dynamic narrative design where your actions and decisions will s