Almost every gamer in the world knows about Microsoft's Project Natal and how it might just transform the way we play our games and make controllers an obsolete notion. We saw at E3 a few tech demos that showed just how responsive and fun the new technology can be.



But, speaking with Eurogamer, Epic Games' Mark Rein revealed that a few of those demos were powered by the company's Unreal Engine 3, meaning that his team already knows the ins and outs of the new system from Microsoft. Rein went on to say that the whole concept was quite amazing and that a change was coming, sooner than we might expect.

“The two games they showed on stage used our engine, so we're really excited about that,” Rein said. “I'm very pro-Natal. There are a lot of interesting things you could do with it and I'm really excited to be involved with it.”

“We're working closely with Microsoft to spread the enhancements they made with Unreal Engine 3 to other developers,” the executive continued. “If people out there are interested in doing really cool games for Natal, they should contact me and I can put them in touch with Microsoft.”

Rein emphasized his point of view and revealed: “The whole concept of playing a game without a controller is very intriguing. That's going to open up a lot of stuff.” He then took EA Sports Active as an example, as the fitness game requires a special strap for the Nintendo Wii Remote, in order for the console to track your movements. “If you made a game like that for Natal - and I'm sure EA is doing it - Natal could just look at you and tell if you're doing the exercises properly.”

So it seems that even hardcore developers like Epic Games are taking things like Natal quite seriously and, at least for their Unreal Engine tool, it will certainly offer another avenue for profit in the long run. Hopefully though, we won't get to play future installments of Gears of War or Unreal Tournament only by waving our arms at the TV screen.

From GTPlanet; one of the more dignified Gran Turismo sources on the ‘Net and certainly worthy of our attention. That doesn’t mean you should treat this as fact, just know that here at PushSquare we trust GTPlanet as a source.

While hesitant about giving concrete details (for credibility’s sake), GTPlanet are reporting that they’ve been tipped off regarding the tentative release date for Gran Turismo 5 and it hits this year. According to the site the date will be announced as a part of Sony’s three hour GamesCom conference in Cologne this August 18th.

The smartest move for Sony would be a Christmas bundle of the rumoured PlayStation 3 Slim and Gran Turismo 5.

Don’t get that hype meter flowing until Sony make an official announcement though.

Source: PushSquare

The consumer demo for Batman: Arkham Asylum, published in the United Kingdom by Eidos Interactive, will be available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 entertainment system and Games For Windows LIVE worldwide on August 7. The full game will be available at retail stores nationwide in the United Kingdom beginning August 28th.

The demo will be offered on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Network for the PLAYSTATION 3. Fans can visit www.batmanarkhamasylum.com for details on how to download the Games For Windows LIVE version.

The Batman: Arkham Asylum demo opens as the DARK KNIGHT and COMMISSIONER GORDON return The Joker back into confinement at ARKHAM ASYLUM. But things soon fall apart as THE JOKER gains the upper hand and springs a trap, setting Arkham Asylum’s occupants upon Batman. The demo offers gamers a taste of the fierce FreeFlow combat system, the cunning stealth of the Invisible Predator mechanic, and the feeling of becoming the WORLD’S GREATEST DETECTIVE as they navigate Arkham Asylum’s imposing Intensive Treatment facility. Players can unlock character bios, as well as get a sneak peak at some of the infamous foes that BATMAN will encounter within the cavernous and macabre confines of Arkham Asylum.

Featuring amazing graphics within an intense, immersive setting, Batman: Arkham Asylum exposes players to a unique, dark and atmospheric adventure that takes them to the depths of Arkham Asylum – Gotham City's psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane. Gamers will move in the shadows, instigate fear amongst their enemies, and confront The Joker and Gotham City's most notorious villains, including Harley Quinn, Bane, Killer Croc and Poison Ivy, and the newly revealed Scarecrow, who have taken over the asylum.

Batman: Arkham Asylum has been rated BBFC 15 in the United Kingdom.

Following its recent and highly successful launch in Japan with day one shipment numbers exceeding one million, Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, is pleased to confirm that Monster Hunter Tri will be released in both Europe and North America for the Nintendo Wii in early 2010. Monster Hunter Tri will set the bar in the action/adventure genre with the introduction of new features and gameplay elements as the multi-million selling franchise makes its debut on the Nintendo system.

One of the most strikingly beautiful titles ever developed for the Nintendo Wii, Monster Hunter Tri depicts a living, breathing ecosystem where man co-exists with the fantastic beasts that roam both the dry land and the brand new sub-aqua environment - a first for the series.

Living the life of a hunter need never be a solitary experience with the option of split-screen mode where two players can hunt co-operatively or form a team of up to four hunters via the game’s custom online Wi-Fi mode. Even solo players do not have to face Monster Hunter Tri’s challenging quests alone as they will be ably accompanied by Cha-Cha, an AI hunting partner whose skills will prove invaluable. New items, weapons and armour sets will be also available to assist the hunters as they embark on the most epic Monster Hunter adventure to date.

Laurent Fischer, Managing Director, Marketing & PR, Nintendo of Europe, commented “The popularity of the Monster Hunter franchise in Japan is undeniable and the Day 1 shipment number indicates that the release of Monster Hunter Tri on Wii will be another major hit for the series. We are therefore really excited that Capcom is bringing this title to Europe so the Wii audience here can also experience the thrill of the hunt. “

Visitors to this month’s GamesCom - taking place in Cologne, Germany from the 19th-23rd August - will be the first to sample a localised version of the title on Capcom’s stand as it makes its debut to a western audience. GamesCom attendees will have the opportunity to play the same game that took last year’s Tokyo Game Show by storm, with queues that stretched around Capcom’s stand so long they nearly shut down the show; eager gamers waited in excess of two hours to play.

This desire to be one of the first to experience Monster Hunter Tri is indicative of the impact the Monster Hunter franchise has made on videogame culture in Japan. With series sales totalling well over 10 million units and 3.5 million sales of Monster Hunter Portable 2G alone, it’s no surprise to find that Monster Hunter has given rise to dedicated “Monster Hunter Summer Training Camps”, ”Monster Hunter Festivals” and numerous licensed products. The franchise doesn’t just top the charts, it’s become a social phenomenon.

On the 10th November get ready for more high-speed action, as Activision Publishing, Inc. revealed plans today to deploy Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilised for Nintendo DS. Developed exclusively for the Nintendo DS by n-Space, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilised will deliver an arsenal of cutting-edge weaponry, vehicles and tactics, arming players with precision controls for battle across the world’s most dangerous hotspots.

Gamers will fight on the ground in intense building-to-building tactical combat, hack into enemy computer terminals, take the controls of military vehicles like Battle Tanks and UAV spy drones, or man the guns of an AC-130 gunship.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilised will bring the epic Call of Duty intensity of Modern Warfare to Nintendo DS fans through a unique storyline and companion narrative. The title will also serve up a array of features, including a six-player online multiplayer mode that allows friends to host their own server, as well as the brand new Survival Mode, giving players a variety of weapons to hold off waves of oncoming enemy forces and an expanded six-player online multiplayer mode. Also, Arcade Mode will allow gamers to replay the game’s single-player with a time limit and running score, with extra points awarded for specific achievements.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilised will release worldwide on 10th November, in conjunction with Infinity Ward’s highly-anticipated Modern Warfare 2, the next instalment to the record-breaking Call of Duty series and is rated 12+ by PEGI.

Nintendo DSi owners have even more ways to share their experiences with friends and family. Using an Internet-connected Nintendo DSi system and the Nintendo DSi Camera application, Facebook members can take pictures with either of the system's two cameras and upload their photos directly to their Facebook profile. This function will be available after 5 p.m. Pacific with a free downloadable system update.

While reviewing pictures they've stored in the Nintendo DSi Camera album, which includes photos taken by users and manipulated using the built-in interactive lenses, users can simply tap the Facebook icon on the system's touch screen to instantly transmit photos to the user's Facebook profile. The user's system must be configured to a wireless broadband Internet connection for the transmission of photos.

"Facebook and Nintendo DSi build on the trend of personalization that is so important to consumers," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "We're giving people the tools to express themselves in creative new ways and show off the results to their friends and family on Facebook."

Nintendo DSi has sold more than 1.7 million units in the United States alone, according to the NPD Group. The third iteration of the world's best-selling portable video game system includes photo- and voice-manipulation features that allow users to customize their experiences like never before.

Remember that Nintendo DSi features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access.

The onset of August means summer is winding down, but the downloadable action at the Nintendo Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop just keeps on heating up. Two new WiiWare offerings deliver futuristic robot foes and sultry poker opponents, respectively. On the Virtual Console, there's great news for football fans as the arcade classic TECMO BOWL makes its way to the Nintendo Wii system. And on Nintendo DSiWare, you'll find a fresh addition to the eye-pleasing, mind-bending Art Style game series.

WiiWare

OVERTURN
Publisher: Studio Zan Inc.
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: OVERTURN is a futuristic robot-versus-robot fighting game. Choose from eight different robots to pilot and master, using various close-range and long-range weapons to blast away enemies in six single-player tournaments. Unlock secret modes and up to 12 new weapons. Customize your robot's color and weapons to prepare for your next battle. Then take the action online to play in a two-player Versus battle or a four-player Battle Royale match. Search the world for Friends or other players who are online and ready for battle. Players with the optional Wii Balance Board™ can use it to control their robots by shifting their weight.

Sexy Poker
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: M (Mature) - Simulated Gambling, Suggestive Themes
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Get your pulse racing with a game of strip poker against a selection of six lovely manga-style women who may wind up in nothing but swimsuits or underwear when the final hand is dealt. Choose the classic Texas Hold'em Poker to be thrilled as the bets increase, or try the Black Jack game for a mix of chance and strategy. Discover the girls' personalities: they'll bluff you! Enter the photo gallery to see the pictures you've unlocked by playing and winning. If you're good enough, Emi, Sakura and their seductive girlfriends will bet their clothes to stay in the game.

Virtual Console

TECMO BOWL
Publisher: Tecmo
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: Released in 1987, the football game that took America by storm is back. This arcade version required a custom-made dual-screen cabinet and was popular for its large characters and intense graphics. The game is filled with great action as players take control of receivers and running backs, quickly moving the controller to break a tackle. Play alone or with up to four players in a two-on-two match. Experience the best moments of both competitive and cooperative play, finding holes in your opponent's defense, then savor the thrill of receiving a pass thrown by your teammate. In addition, game options such as play time, team division and difficulty level can be adjusted.

Nintendo DSiWare

Art Style: precipice
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: The sky is falling in the form of cubes in the action-oriented Art Style: precipice. Watch for the telltale shadow to avoid seeing your character get crushed by a falling cube while climbing the stacked cubes to ascend to the floors above. Push, pull or shove cubes to make your climb easier. Try to gain extra points by stepping on five cubes in a row on the same floor. In addition, you'll encounter special cubes that can either be helpful or harmful to your effort. Choose from either TEN FLOORS mode, which challenges you to reach the tenth floor while scoring as many points as possible, or TOWER mode, which gives you the chance to climb as high as you can. Do you have what it takes to make it to the top, or will you be crushed?

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.

Deep Silver, the games label of Koch Media, has announced an exclusive partnership with one of the UK’s top DJ academies.

Sub Bass DJ Academy, founded by respected DJ and producer Graeme Lloyd, is on board for the promotion of the new Nintendo DS game DJ Star, due for release on 18th September 2009.

The companies have joined forces to tap into the continuing consumer trend of mixing the music that they love into a fresh new sound.

DJ Star lets music lovers do just this!



There has been a massive uplift in the number of people taking DJ courses, whether they are learning for fun or as a career change. The Sub Bass DJ Academy offers a full range of courses to suit all music lovers and are supervised by professional DJs and producers who work at the heart of the music industry. “The partnership with Graeme Lloyd and the Sub Bass DJ Academy is a perfect fit for DJ Star” stated Paul Nicholls, Director of Sales and Marketing at Koch Media UK “the game mirrors the attitude of the academy by teaching wannabe DJs from backroom beginnings to headlining at top clubs in front of massive crowds.”

With a huge selection of original and cover versions from an array of musical genres DJ Star provides something to suit various musical tastes. In career mode, players start out by performing at small, private parties. The innovative Creation Studio features an additional 200 samples to enhance their set and keep them at the centre of the party as they work their way up the career ladder to ultimately become the world's best DJ playing to crowds of thousands in the world’s hottest party locations.

About DJ Star:

Players of DJ Star get to scratch in real-time using the Nintendo DS Touch Screen. The innovative title includes several genuine DJ features, well-known songs from the genres of electro, R&B, and more, as well as numerous mini-games. DJ Star enthrals players with its excellent sound quality, and is easy to learn even for players who have never set eyes on a turntable before. A step-by-step introduction and easy-to-use interface enable fans to learn how to mix and create their own songs in just a short space of time. With more than 200 samples, musicians in the handheld world can compose great hits with just a few moves of the Nintendo DS stylus. They can also exchange their best songs with friends using DS Wireless Communications.

The Sims are off on an adventure to famous destinations around the world! The EA Play Label of Electronic Arts announce that The Sims 3 World Adventures, the first expansion pack* to the No1 best-selling PC and MAC game in June 2009**, The Sims 3, is in development and will ship to retailers worldwide the week of November 16, 2009.

“We’re thrilled with the global success of The Sims 3 over these last few months and are looking forward to expanding on the gameplay experience with one of the most robust expansion packs to The Sims yet,” said Scott Evans, General Manager of The Sims at EA. “Players will be able to take their Sims on the adventure of a lifetime and explore lands outside of Sunset Valley and Riverview, pursue thrilling new life destinies in locations around the world inspired by famous destinations, and immerse themselves in the open-ended gameplay where they’ll discover new cities in China, France and Egypt and share new stories.”

Players can take their Sims on new journeys to famous real-world inspired destinations around the globe for the first time ever and seek out new adventures. While exploring the landmarks of an exotic city, there is no telling what the Sims will find. From mastering martial arts in Shang Simla, China, discovering rich culture and famous landmarks on a romantic getaway to Champs Les Sims, France or exploring the depths of ancient tombs in Al Simhara, Egypt, players can take their Sims on a journey that will change their Sims’ lives. Players can accept challenges to search for secret treasures, learn new skills and chase down new personal opportunities, meet new Sims with unique personalities, share their culture and bring them home, discover new styles on their travels, and share everything they encounter on their adventures with the world through personal photographs, movies, and stories. Additionally, players will receive 1,000 SimPoints to be used online in The Sims 3 Store*** for the PC/MAC versions of the game. Exclusive online content, available only for the expansion pack at launch, will be revealed soon.

The Sims 3 World Adventures will also be available for feature phones, the iPhone and iPod touch in early 2010 from EA Mobile. These versions will have customized mobile gameplay features which will be revealed in the coming months. For information on carrier availability and pricing for all EA Mobile games, please visit www.eamobile.com.

For more information about The Sims 3 World Adventures or The Sims 3, please visit www.TheSims3.com. Developed by The Sims Studio, The Sims 3 World Adventures has not yet been rated by PEGi.

*Requires The Sims 3 for PC/MAC to play.
**According to NPD data.
**INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED, see product pack or digital distribution rules for details

Leading Eastern and Central European publisher 1C Company is excited to announce a new game in the Theatre of War series of tactical World War II titles. Theatre of War 2 is considered to be one the most realistic simulation of modern battle ever played on a PC. The new game is currently in development and is titled Theatre of War 2 - Kursk 1943.

The Battle of Kursk lasted for forty nine days, from July 5 till August 23, 1943 and has made its way into history as one of the most crucial conflicts of WWII. It was the last strategic offensive the Germans were able to mount in the east. The resulting decisive Soviet victory gave the Red Army the strategic initiative for the rest of the war.

The Motor Panzer Division "Greater Germany"and the 3rd Mechanized Corps of the USSR Army will face each other in two large-scale campaigns in southern Kursk. From the first moment of the battle until the very last shell is fired players will be in charge of whichever side they choose. Players will have to carefully plan each conflict and work both tactically and strategically. The accomplishment of an objective will affect the outcome of the entire battle like the direction the player's detachment will be forwarded in the next combat, and also so will their reinforcements, artillery and air support. The game will feature over 20 new story-based missions with realistic military commanders such as Lieutenant General Ivan Chistyakov and Major General Walter Hoerlein. 40 types of military weaponry (including air defense guns, missile launchers, mortars), new vehicles and thirty types of small arms will be available in both the single player campaigns and the brand new multi player modes. The title will also ship with a built-in campaign generator to create numerous game scenarios for amazing value and replayability.

The Clique - Queen Teen videogame website is now online and all wannabe GLU’s (Girls Like Us) can download custom wallpapers, buddy icons, and Clique screensavers, as well as a collection of MP3s and ring tones based on popular music from the game. “Ah-mazing!”

You can visit the site by “clique”-ing the following link: http://www.thecliquequeenteen.eu

This website is the go-to spot for all the latest gossip regarding The Clique: Queen Teen videogame. Check out exclusive screen shots and even customise the website’s wallpaper to cater to your personal style. It’s a given that this site is the “it” place for all things Pretty Committee.

The Clique: Queen Teen videogame, developed by Gorilla Systems and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, is based on the popular book series by Lisi Harrison.

The Clique: Queen Teen lets fans assume the role of the new girl on campus at Octavian Country Day School (OCD). Players can give their character her very own signature look, scheme and gossip with friends - or take a break from the action and play mini-games that will help them reach their goal of becoming a member of the Pretty Committee. Like all fans of the books know, the only thing harder than getting in is staying in!

So, potential alphas - stay in the know and spread the juicy news by telling everyone who’s anyone about the Pretty Committee’s latest adventure, which will be released on Nintendo DS™ on Friday 18th September 2009.

Koch Media announce further details of its forthcoming sports release World Snooker Championship Real 09. The game is being developed by Blade Interactive and will be available on Nintendo Wii from 28th August 2009.

The official video game series of World Snooker returns in style for the 2009 season. Featuring the sport’s best players, world-famous venues and tournaments including all-new Bahrain, and with commentary from Snooker legends John Virgo, Steve Davis and John Parrot, the game is an essential for any fan.

WSC Real 09 is snooker as you’ve never seen it before, where the player uses the Wii Remote TM as their cue to battle it out against the sport’s best players as the battle to become world number one ensues. Players will feel like they’re actually in the Crucible as the unrivaled graphics bring the locations and tensions to life.

Play for real this autumn with WSC Real 09.

Features:
• The official tournaments of the 2009 season, including the all new Bahrain.
• Commentary by John Virgo, Steve Davis and John Parrot.
• The world Pool Championships and a mixed cue event called “Golden Cue”.
• Unrivaled graphics bring the stunning locations to life.
• Use the Wii Remote for superlative cue control.
• Play snooker, 8 ball, 9 ball, 3 ball and a variety of other cue sports.
• Practice your shots with the depth coaching modes.
• Watch your achievements mount up as your player rises through the ranks.

* 32 top players in the world
* All the official tournaments in the 2008 championship
* Play against other snooker champions around the globe
* 3 professional commentators
* Trickshot challenges
* Knock around pool and bar billiards

Virtual Fairground (www.virtualfairground.com) announce that it is developing Wonderland MMO (www.wonderlandmmo.com), a virtual world and MMO game for teenage girls based on the famous story Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

Wonderland MMO started development in 2008 and is set for launch mid-2010. As is the case with Virtual Fairground’s other MMO game production Club Galactik (www.clubgalactik.com), the world and game are entirely Flash-based and will run directly from any browser.

With Wonderland MMO Virtual Fairground aims to create an online hang-out with a darkly romantic and mysterious style. “We really want to create a different kind of online game experience for girls”, says Ilja Goossens of Virtual Fairground. “There are already so much sugary sweet virtual worlds for this demographic or those that are just about shopping and buying things. We believe girls have more varied interests and preferences. Something that is clearly proven by other media such as books, tv-shows and movies.”

“As a company we have a philosophy of building worlds and MMO games based on existing brands and stories”, continues Maarten Brands. “So we looked at some of the classics and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was one of the stories that popped out, something that we could really use to create our vision of an alternative online game for girls.”

Today version 1.0 of Hive Rise has finally been released. You can download and play it now for free.

http://www.HiveRise.com

Hive Rise is an extremely fast running real time strategy game. It takes place on huge maps, each providing space for over 1000 human players.

There are 12 different play modes, each offering a unique trophy. What makes it even more outstanding is the fact that the short matches (about 10 minutes) can be started at once without having to wait for your teammates. You can start playing at once, no registration is needed.

Collectable Dark Horse All-Stars part of Limited Edition set for Baseball Boss

It's no secret that Dark Horse loves comics, but perhaps lesser known is the fact that Dark Horse loves baseball, too!

In celebration of the summer season and America's greatest pastime, Dark Horse Comics and Challenge Online Games have teamed up to create the greatest sports franchise ever. In a move that will have agents talking for weeks, Baseball Boss will now feature Dark Horse players, including Concrete, Hellboy, Abe Sapien (B.P.R.D.), X, Rumor and Kraken (The Umbrella Academy), the Mask, Conan, King Kull, Cal McDonald (Criminal Macabre), SpyBoy, Ghost, the Goon, Grendel Prime, the Occultist, Go Boy 7, and Heath Huston (Fear Agent).

The free-to-play online electronic trading card game combines the collectability and trading aspects of collectible cards with the competitive excitement of multiplayer games. Harnessing Web 2.0 applications and asynchronous, short-form design, Baseball Boss and Dark Horse will set the bar for this emerging entertainment sector.

Plus, players can win a full set of virtual cards of the Dark Horse All-Stars team!

* First, players need to complete their free registration for the online game Baseball Boss and finish a quick account setup. (www.baseballboss.com)
* Then, each time their team beats the Dark Horse All-Stars in a best-of-five game series, they can randomly win a card of the Dark Horse All-Stars for their collection. (www.baseballboss.com/darkhorse)
* Players get three free packs of virtual baseball cards when they register for free for Baseball Boss.

The Dark Horse All-Stars can be challenged at baseballboss.com/darkhorse

Baseball Boss has been described by GameZone as "iTunes meets baseball cards." The addition of Dark Horse superstars will allow players to create the ultimate dream team to go head to head with other players in a way never before imagined.

Dark Horse President Mike Richardson has this to say about the new program: "Being a longtime baseball fan, it's great to see so many Dark Horse characters taking part in an online version of our national pastime and playing alongside some of my favorite real-life players."

Jeff Petry, Vice President of Sports and Licensed Properties at Challenge Games, said, "Adding key characters from the Dark Horse universe creates a fun activity for our players. We hope that both sports fans and comic fans alike enjoy these highly collectible virtual cards. We're looking forward to a great partnership with Dark Horse and to creating many more fun activities for all our players."

Paradox Interactive release the first demo for East India Company. The demo, which sets players in the time span of 1650-1660, offers fans a great preview of the trading action and intense naval combat sure to satisfy their anticipation for the release of the strategy title.

Players start with access to some ports & fleets, enabling them to immediately compete for the game’s main trading items. In addition, the demo also features two naval battle scenarios, allowing players to jump right in and try out the ocean warfare for themselves!

East India Company is now available for purchase via digital distribution channels, with the boxed release available from retailers on August 14th. For more information about East India Company, please visit the official website at http://www.eic-game.com.

World Premieres and Internationally Developed Titles Take Centre Stage

Square Enix Europe announce today its exciting line-up of combined titles which will be on show at GamesCom 2009, Cologne, August 19th – 23rd.

GamesCom 2009 will mark the first time Square Enix and Eidos titles will be showcased together; highlighting the growing diversity of the expanding global entertainment company. This year’s stand features games developed from around the world offering highly-anticipated experiences across genres and platforms.

The playable world premiere of SUPREME COMMANDER® 2 will be joined by the eagerly-awaited BATMAN™: ARKHAM ASYLUM, DISSIDIA® FINAL FANTASY®, FINAL FANTASY XIII, FINAL FANTASY XIV, KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 DAYS, MINI NINJAS™ and ORDER OF WAR™.

“We are delighted to be a part of GamesCom 2009. As the largest European games show it is the perfect event for our newly created European organisation to showcase the combined strength of our product line up for the very first time," said Phil Rogers, chief executive officer for the new organisation.

“This year’s show promises to be unforgettable with world premieres and our most diverse range of titles to date,” said Larry Sparks, Vice President of Brand, Square Enix products. “GamesCom 2009 gives us a great opportunity to share our most exciting upcoming games directly with consumers.”

To experience the latest titles from Square Enix first-hand, visit booth B54 in Hall 6 of GamesCom 2009. To find out more about Square Enix’s titles at GamesCom, please visit our official website at http://www.eu.square-enix.com/gamescom

GAMESCOM 2009 LINE-UP

BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Brand: Eidos
Platform: PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system / Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft / Games for Windows® LIVE
Genre: Action-Adventure
Release Date: 28th August, 2009
www.batmanarkhamasylum.com

Featuring the world-renowned characters of DC Comics, Batman: Arkham Asylum, developed by Rocksteady Studios, will offer show visitors a journey into the depths of Gotham City’s psychiatric asylum for the criminally insane as Batman faces his greatest challenge yet.

Visitors will also have the chance to experience a selection of the game’s extensive FreeFlow™ Combat and Invisible Predator™ Challenge Maps. Also playable will be one of the eight maps that allow fans to play as The Joker, a character that is playable exclusively in the PLAYSTATION®3 Challenge Maps that will be made available as a free download for owners of the game through PlayStation®Network.

DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Brand: Square Enix
Platform: PlayStation®Portable (PSP®) system
Genre: Fighting
Release Date: 4th September, 2009
www.dissidia-finalfantasy.com

DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY does what no other FINAL FANTASY title has done before, bringing together an all-star cast to give players a chance to see their favourite FINAL FANTASY characters engage in high-intensity battles. Experience this renowned franchise, which has shipped over 85 million units worldwide, in a brand new light with this dramatic 3-D action game. Soar through expansive environments and participate in gripping combat, all while enjoying RPG-based character development that adds a rich layer of depth to the story behind the clashing forces. The battle between good and evil begins – What will you fight for?

FINAL FANTASY XIII
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Brand: Square Enix
Platform: PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system / Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft
Genre: RPG
Release Date: 2010
www.finalfantasy13game.com

Square Enix proudly presents FINAL FANTASY XIII, the latest instalment in the world-renowned FINAL FANTASY series. To celebrate the 13th numbered release in the series, Square Enix has undertaken a colossal project involving the development of various content for multiple platforms. FABULA NOVA CRYSTALLIS®, defined in Latin as “the new tale of the crystal,” is made up of several different titles based on variations of the FINAL FANTASY XIII universe. While each title in the project features different characters, different worlds and different stories, all are ultimately based on and expand upon a common mythos.

In FINAL FANTASY XIII, players will embark on a journey through the cityworld of Cocoon and the outerworld of Pulse, encountering and fighting alongside a diverse group of allies. Execute powerful attacks with weapons and magic, and summon the enigmatic Eidolons with an evolved Active Time Battle™ system. Experience seamless transitions between real-time gameplay and in-game cinematics. Do you have the courage to face your destiny?

FINAL FANTASY XIV
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Brand: Square Enix
Platform: PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system / Windows PC
Genre: MMORPG
Release Date: 2010
www.finalfantasyxiv.com

The surprise announcement of E3 2009 is set to be one of the main attractions at GamesCom 2009. An all new massively-multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), planned for a simultaneous global release with language support in German, French, English and Japanese.

Adventure begins anew in the vast realm of Eorzea!

FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES®: THE CRYSTAL BEARERS™
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Brand: Square Enix
Platform: Wii™
Genre: Action-Adventure
Release Date: This Winter
www.thecrystalbearers.com

FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: THE CRYSTAL BEARERS provides a fresh take on the FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES series as it combines the storytelling depth, expansive world and graphical quality of FINAL FANTASY with motion-driven, real-time action gameplay. In this world, realistic gameplay and fantastical art direction are brought together for a truly unique experience for Wii users around the globe.

FRONT MISSION EVOLVED™
Developer: Double Helix Games™
Brand: Square Enix
Platforms: PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system / Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft / Windows PC
Genre: Third-Person Shooter
Release Date: TBA
www.frontmissionevolved.com

From the creative minds of Square Enix and Double Helix Games, FRONT MISSION EVOLVED brings the classic FRONT MISSION® franchise into an action-packed third-person shooter that gives players full control of a massive humanoid war machine—the wanzer. Players will battle through intense combat situations as they explore an immersive world in both the single player campaign and online multiplayer.

KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days
Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd./h.a.n.d.
Brand: Square Enix
Platform: Nintendo DS™
Genre: Action-RPG
Release Date: Autumn 2009
www.kingdomheartsdays.com

Uncover the events that took place during the year Sora was asleep regaining his lost memories. KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days revolves around Roxas, the "other" hero from KINGDOM HEARTS II, and his days as a member of Organization XIII. Follow Roxas and the rest of Organization XIII across the various Disney Worlds, and discover the connection between him, Sora, and the mysterious 14th member, and the reasons behind his eventual departure from the organization. KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days also features a multiplayer mode for the first time, allowing players to control their favourite Organization XIII members!

MINI NINJAS
Developer: IO Interactive
Brand: Eidos
Platform: Wii / Nintendo DS / Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft / PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system / Games for Windows
Genre: Action-Adventure
Release Date: Autumn 2009
www.minininjas.com

Mini Ninjas, from IO Interactive, will take you on a journey to feudal Japan where you’ll join Hiro, Futo, and the rest of the ninja clan on their biggest ninja adventure ever, as they embark on an epic and electrifying quest to restore harmony to a world on the brink of chaos.

Visitors will have the chance to get a free PC DVD containing the very first demo of Mini Ninjas to enjoy at home.

NIER™
Developer: cavia, Inc.
Brand: Square Enix
Platforms: PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system / Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft
Genre: Action-Adventure
Release Date: 2010
www.niergame.com

Nothing is as it seems in Square Enix’s latest action adventure game, set in a crumbling world plagued by disease and dark, unrecognizable creatures. Players assume the role of the unyielding protagonist, NIER, resolute in his quest to discover a cure for his daughter, who is infected with the Black Scrawl virus. With powerful allies and a mysterious book, NIER encounters things that will confound even the mightiest of warriors.

ORDER OF WAR
Developer: Wargaming.net™
Brand: Square Enix
Platform: Windows PC
Genre: Real-Time Strategy
Release Date: 18th September, 2009
www.orderofwar.com

Square Enix teams up with strategy game specialist Wargaming.net to present ORDER OF WAR, a brand-new IP set for a simultaneous release across multiple territories. Developed exclusively for Windows PC, the game features massive-scale battles brought to life with a cinematic intensity never seen before in a WWII strategy game. Players will take command of an entire army including ground troops, artillery, tank divisions and aircraft in all-out strategic assaults. The single-player mode can be played out in two campaigns – American versus German forces on the western front and German versus American and Russian forces on both fronts. Missions will be based on key historic events and operations from 1944.

PONY FRIENDS™ 2
Developer: Tantalus Games
Brand: Eidos
Platforms: Wii / Nintendo DS / Windows PC
Genre: Virtual Pet
Release date: Winter 2009
Official website coming soon.

Pony Friends 2 allows players the chance to create their perfect Pony and take part in fun activities. Featuring 12 Pony breeds players can customise every aspect of its appearance, along with its own unique personality. Players can choose all their Pony’s accessories and even design some of their own. Taking special care of their Pony to keep it clean and healthy, players can take it on trail rides across different landscapes and environments. Grab the reins, photograph wildlife and unlock a whole host of secrets on your journey.

Pony Friends 2 features an exciting and energetic competitive mode across all formats: players can compete in races and trick competitions alone or with a friend on the Wii and DS (single cart play).

SUPREME COMMANDER 2
Developer: Gas Powered Games®
Brand: Square Enix
Platforms: Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft / Windows PC
Genre: Real-Time Strategy
Release date: 2010
Official website coming soon.

Set 25 years after the events of the original game, Supreme Commander 2 begins with the assassination of the newly elected president of the Colonial Defense Coalition. The CDC members – the United Earth Federation, the Order of the Illuminate, and the Cybran Nation – deny involvement, blame each other, and a galactic war ensues! Experience brutal battles on a massive scale! Players will wage war by creating enormous customizable armies and experimental war machines that can change the balance of power at any given moment. Take the role of one of the three enigmatic commanders, each representing a unique faction with a rich story that brings a new level of emotional connection to the RTS genre, or fight the battle online. Where do your loyalties lie?

Fallout 3 is getting one last piece of DLC called Mothership Zeta this week. This DLC actually takes on a sci-fi look and is totally different than what we have become accustomed to in the Capital Wastelands. In an interview, Fallout 3 DLC Producer Jeff Gardiner describes the new DLC...

"Mothership Zeta begins with the player being abducted and held captive aboard a huge Alien craft hovering high above the Earth. The player will have to escape the craft; along the way they’ll meet other captives, have to solve difficult puzzles and secure new high-tech weaponry to employ against their captors."

If you have bought Fallout 3 and all the DLC episodes...."Operation: Anchorage", "The Pitt" , "Broken Steel", "Point Lookout" and "Mothership Zeta", this becomes around a 100 hour game, not to mention a $110 dollar game. But in all honesty, I would say that Fallout 3 deserves to be a contender for one of the greatest games of all time...

Get your kicks shooting little green men this upcoming Monday August 3rd for $10 dollars (800 MS points). Check out the HD trailer below...

Age gate trailer...



Source: Examiner

Four tracks from The Beatles: Rock Band. Better yet, we've got the videos from the game as well for your viewing pleasure, just after the break. While we're partial to the video for "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band," who are we to go all willy nilly suggesting what you choose to enjoy? Kick off your slippers and get ready for sheep counting with a handful of Beatles music from us to you.

SORRY: VIDEOS REMOVED FROM YOUTUBE BY VIACOM

Source: JoyStiq

The PlayStation 2 outsold the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable during Sony's first quarter, according to the firm's fiscal report.

Both current generation platforms saw a decline in sales from the previous quarter, with the PS3 dropping from 1.6 million units to 1.1 million, and the PSP falling from 2.1 million to 1.3 million.

The ten-year-old PlayStation 2 was the only Sony platform to experience a sales increase during the quarter. The console sold 1.6 million units, up from 1.4, with analysts attributing this to a recent price drop.

Software sales for all platforms saw a decline. The PS3 sold 14.8 million titles, dropping from 18.9 the previous quarter. PSP sales fell to 8.3 million, down from 11.2, while PS2 software came in at 8.5, down from 11.3.

PlayStation 3 sales are expected to rise during the next quarter, with the platform's long-rumoured price drop due later this year.

Speaking to CVG in a new feature on id Software's new post-apocalyptic game, Rage, John Carmack has confirmed that the PlayStation 3 version of the game will run noticeably slower that on the Xbox 360 or PC.

The game, which is projected for a 2010 release on all platforms, will be a free-roaming RPG and FPS hybrid with a heavy focus where players are able to compete in races through the wasteland in order to unlock car and weapon upgrades.

According to Edge magazine the game runs at a smooth and brisk 60 FPS on the Xbox 360 and comparable PCs, but struggles to keep things at 20 - 30 FPS on the PlayStation 3. In a series of candid comments about the capability of the PlayStation 3 hardware, Carmack squarely places the blame on the GPU.

"The PS3 lags a little bit behind in terms of getting the performance out of it,[i]" Carmack admits. "[i]The rasteriser is just a little bit slower - no two ways about that. The RSX is slower than what we have in the 360."

Carmack also says that the architecture of the CPU is a bit of a hassle to design for too and, while the PS3 processor is "about the same" as that in the Xbox 360, the Xbox 360 is just simpler to work with.

"The 360 makes it easier to split things off, and that's what a lot of the work has been, splitting it all into jobs on the PS3," Carmack says.

This isn't the first time that developers have said the PlayStation 3 is difficult to work with either - a number of developers in the past have made such claims, though Sony hasn't issued a formal reply that we know of.

Carmack promising that the PlayStation 3 version of Rage will be up to scratch before the game is released.

"Everything is designed as a 60 hertz game. We expect this to be 60 hertz on every supported platform," said Carmack.

Only days ago, that gamers started freaking out over a release date of “never” for Yakuza 3. According to The Examiner, a friend working at SEGA said the title was never coming stateside. It looks like that information was false.

The website has since run an update for that article, stating that the statements that were made were not official Sega statements. Here is the full update:

“To clarify: It was earlier reported that Sega has no plans to release Yakuza 3 stateside. By viewing upcoming release list, Sega still hasn’t made any mention of an upcoming release or revealed plans to release it stateside. However, the statements made earlier are not official Sega statements. Based on Yakuza 2 sales figures, it’s his personal opinion that the game will not sell if it sees release stateside.”

Source: PlayStation Lifestyle

After reports of a listing for the new PlayStation 3 Slim console appearing on Amazon Germany the listing has been updated with a picture here...

I wonder how long it will take Sony to have it removed?

Reports on CVG...

With the arrival of every new console comes a race for hackers to crack their way through the new toy's security, and the PS3, after just over six months, has finally been defeated.

An exploit has been found in versions 1.10 and 1.11 of the PS3 firmware which has allowed one cunning hacker to boot up copied versions of PS3 games.

The fight isn't over though - the game boots, but it doesn't actually play, so there's some way to go. And the exploit doesn't allow for the running of unofficial (homebrew) programs, which is where the real meat of modding lies.

Homebrew fans hope the PS3 scene will go the same way as PSP, which has become one of the most thriving homebrew scenes in videogame history thanks in part to easy connection with PC (USB), and its huge storage potential via Sony's universal Memory Stick Duo.

Be warned though, if you mod your PS3 you'll kill your warrantee, face being banned from the PlayStation Network, and causing problems with running new games. Even worse, you could brick your PS3 altogether.

Plus, copying games is bad, so don't do that either, ya' hear?

In the world of Professor Layton, the only way to get past the hordes of mailmen, mad dogs, and other crazed denizens that block your path is by solving fiendish brain bending puzzles. In this follow-up to last year's curious adventure, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box continues the top-hatted adventurer's story as he once again investigates a suspicious murder and explores other mysterious goings on.

In most respects, the Diabolical Box isn't much different than the Curious Village. The sequel maintains the same sepia-tinged, European art style, soothing puzzle music, and excellent voice work of the original. But this new adventure introduces a whole new slew of puzzles, and plenty of extra diversions in the Professor's suitcase. While the Curious Village limited you to building a mechanical dog and decorating your hotel room, Diabolical Box lets you put together a camera piece-by-piece, make various teas, and help an overweight hamster get in shape.


The extras add even more encouragement to seek out and solve each little puzzle, since some reward you with items like new camera parts and workout motivators for the hamster. But, like before, you don't have to worry about getting in a hurry and leaving puzzles behind. Granny Riddleton returns to sweep up any puzzles you miss and store them in her shack for you to finish later. No matter where the game takes you, you always have a chance to visit Granny and collect the puzzles you miss.

Click here for more images from the game...

And collecting all of the Picarats (the game's reward for solving puzzles correctly) earns you even more bonuses this time around, with one piece of unlockable content that's only available after collecting 4,500 of the miniature medallions. Though Nintendo hasn't talked about it yet, the game's menu also has a spot for downloadable puzzles. So, once again, you'll be able to connect to the Internet and nab even more riddles, if the game's already hefty assortment isn't enough to satiate your puzzle-solving lust.

Too many other quality Japanese titles, like Yakuza 3 and Retro Game Master 2, haven't made it to the States, so it's exciting that Diabolical Box is on its way here. Layton followers don't have much longer to wait either, as the game's set to release on August 24. Hopefully, it will sell well enough to bring its already-out-in-Japan sequel, Professor Layton and the Last Time Travel, State-side as well.

Overall, the game is just an excuse to solve puzzles wrapped loosely around a murder mystery story, but searching out and solving those puzzles is almost as addictive as trying to get the right answer the first time. If you think the only way to solve the world's problems is by staring down the sights of an automatic rifle, Layton may not be your cup of tea. But if you're looking for an adventure game that works great on the DS, then Diabolical Box should be on your short list of must-have Fall releases.

Source: 1UP

New 14-Day Free Trial Entices New & Returning Players with Vast RPG World and All Seven Ultima Online Expansion Packs

Mythic announce that Ultima Online - Mondain’s Legacy, is now available at no charge to subscribers of Ultima Online. Launched in the summer of 2005, the 7th expansion to the legendary MMORPG Ultima Online (UO) introduces the Elven race and several sprawling dungeons to the vast game world. For current Ultima Online subscribers that do not have Mondain’s Legacy, the game client will be automatically updated with the expansion content.

For players that are new to Ultima Online or for those interested in returning to the world, they can download the 14-day free trial which now features all seven expansions, including Mondain’s Legacy. Now all players can experience the Elves, new human racial abilities and new dungeons with dozens of new monsters to battle and weapons to wield.

“Mythic is extremely excited about offering Mondain’s Legacy as a free upgrade to all Ultima Online subscribers, as well as new players who sign up for the 14-day free trial,” said Jeff Hickman, Executive Producer for Mythic Entertainment. “Our goal is to continually provide fresh and rewarding experiences for our thriving UO community. By opening up our 7th expansion to all players, we hope to get everyone excited for the upcoming summer release of our 8th addition, Stygian Abyss.”

Coming this summer, Ultima Online™: Stygian Abyss™, the game’s 8th expansion, revolves around the introduction of the playable Gargoyle race. Players will find expansive new areas to explore, including Ter Mur, the Gargoyle homeland, and the Stygian Abyss – the largest dungeon area ever introduced to Ultima Online. This sprawling dungeon will contain new boss monsters of unparalleled difficulty, including the Medusa, Primeval Lich and the Stygian Dragon, as well as Player vs. Player zones where adventurers will be turned against one another.

Ultima Online: Stygian Abyss expansion requires the original Ultima Online game to play and will be available in the summer of 2009 via digital distribution only. To download Ultima Online at no charge or to find out more information about Ultima Online and the additions from Mondain’s Legacy and Stygian Abyss, please visit: http://www.uo.com.

The website for Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box has gone live.

Visit the site here...

Not too much going on over there at the moment, but there’s some cute wallpapers if the game is one of your things.

It will land in the US on August 24 and on September 25 in Europe for Nintendo DS and DSi with Level-5 releasing downloadable puzzles every week for 33 weeks.

Cyanide and Focus Home Interactive are pleased to unveil the second video of the new series of trailers.

This week, the Lizardmen show their skills on the Blood Bowl field! Mixing team players of brutal strength and nimble runners, the Lizardmen show they can overcome any obstacle either by dodging the opponents... or simply running over them.



An ultra-violent strategy game based on Warhammer Fantasy and American football, Blood Bowl allows players to create the ultimate “fantasy” sports teams. Coaches can build bone-crushing teams of Orcs, Wood Elves, Humans, Dwarfs and many more fantastic creatures – then throw them into the stadium for the ultimate blood sport! Blood Bowl is strategic, action-packed and violent, requiring coaches to use their best tactics, team design – and a dose of pure ruthless bloodlust always helps too!



All of these charming creatures are waiting for you to play in highly contested games soon on PC, Xbox 360 and handheld consoles.

War of Angels offers a complete and beautifully designed fantasy world, whose graphic style -a blend of a Japanese comic book style and western elements – is just one of War of Angel’s revolutionary features. Winged characters have exciting battles not only on land but also underwater and in the air. An intuitive town building system allows guilds to create cities according to their demands – but battles decide who rules these cities in the future.

Players can rear pets and mounts – their traits and characteristics will depend on the food fed to the player’s companion as it grows. Obviously, War of Angels comes with a variety of trading and community functions as well as a sophisticated crafting system. Finally, this unique RPG has a non-linear storyline – one that directly affects the character’s development. Players can decide whether they will choose the path of righteousness or descend into the darkness.

A truly exceptional title

"We are very pleased that we have secured this innovative title for the western gamer scene" says Patrick Streppel, member of the gamigo AG board. "An exceptional graphic style, the ability to fight under water and in the air as well as an innovative city building system set War of Angels apart from other MMOGs."

Pre-registration for the closed beta phase of the German version is open at http://warofangels.gamigo.com.

Nintendo announced sales numbers for some of its titles in the last quarter not bad figures especially considering four titles sold over one million copies between April and July.

* Pokemon Platinum DS, moved 1.91 million copies during the quarter and has sold 5.66 million worldwide
* Wii Fit sold 3.6 million copies, making LTD 21.82
* Mario Kart Wii sold 2 million with LTD 17.39 million
* Wii Sports sold 1.91 million copies, bringing total sales to 47.62 million which includes the sales of bundled versions

Activision has confirmed that Xbox avatars will be playable in its forthcoming Guitar Hero 5 - the latest in the long series of music games. It means that you'll be able to rock out alongside Lars Ümlaüt and Judy Nails.

You'll also be able to customise that avatar further in Guitar Hero 5's "create-a-rocker" mode, which will let you add clothing and accessories that are a little more rock'n'roll than the Xbox defaults.

As previously reported on Pocket-lint, Guitar Hero 5 has 85 tracks from more than 80 bands, 25 of whom have never been in a music game before. You'll also be able to combine any number of guitarists, bassists, vocalists and drummers to match whatever instruments you have.

Source: PocketLint

Outspark, the premier North American publisher for free-to-play massively multiplayer online games (MMO), today announced that it will launch and operate the North American adaptation of Debut, a casual, online rhythm and dancing game developed by EA’s J2M studio in Seoul, Korea. It is EA’s first Korean-developed game to come to the online gaming market in the west.

Working with J2M’s development team, Outspark will not only customize the game for North American audiences, but also build enhanced design and interfaces, social networking features, and regular content updates. Outspark will also be responsible for the operation of the title – including monetization, marketing, community management, support, and customer service support for the game.

Outspark has pioneered proprietary analysis-based game publishing that applies real time gamer data to dynamic retail management which responds to player perceptions, interactions and gaming patterns. Outspark uses this information to create an enhanced, engaging gaming experience that entices its more than 5 million gamers to “stay ‘n play” in their Virtual Playground, resulting in an industry-leading Average Revenue Per Paying User (ARPPU) of $50-60 per month.

The new title will leverage the power of the music genre in a free to play, casual MMO offering. Players who are accustomed to single player music and dance games will be able to experience the fun of a rich multi-player experience with deep community, highly customizable characters and great songs.

“We’re delighted to work with EA to bring this title from J2M to North America,” said Susan Choe, CEO of Outspark. “EA’s scale and strong heritage combined with Outspark’s online platform and unparalleled capability to provide real-time feedback and enhanced customization will bring unrivaled fun to millions of gamers as they play and connect in real time. Our players and EA fans will be eager to get their hands on this game.”

"Debut has been operating in Korea since 2008, and we're looking forward to bringing its adaptation to a broad North American audience," said Savannah Hahn, General Manager of EA Korea. This is a fun, immersive music rhythm game, and with Outspark's expertise in creating rich, social online gaming experiences, we think it will bring a new type of gaming environment to entertainment seekers online."

The new title is expected to be launched this fall.

The iPhone is a more powerful platform than Nintendo's Wii, and frame rate issues experienced in the Wii version of Tales of Monkey Island are down to hardware and file size restrictions, according to a Telltale Games developer.

Complaints over frame rate issues in the WiiWare version of the game on the developer's official forums triggered the response from a TellTale programmer going under the name of Yare, reports GameZine.

"The voices and textures are the way they are because we're limited to 40 megs for WiiWare titles," he stated. " The PC versions of our games are usually 150+ megs, and most modern games range anywhere from one to ten gigabytes or more. Talk to Nintendo about this one.

"Frame rate issues will probably get sorted out eventually, but keep in mind that the Wii is just not a powerful console. An iPhone is much more powerful than a Wii, even."

In a later post, the alleged representative said he stood by his comments, adding:

"The Wii and DS are extremely underpowered and their popularity doesn't remove the hardware limitations."

Even with the technical issues it experienced on Wii, Tales of Monkey Island has been one of Telltale's most successful launches, as Telltale founder Dan Connors told VideoGamer.

"It’s been pretty shocking how much love there is still out there for the Monkey Island series. It seems like a generational thing as well.

"Unfortunately I can’t get into the specific numbers, but I would definitely say it’s our strongest performing franchise to date. We’re pretty excited. It was number one on Steam for a few days. It did really well. It’s been our best performing title from our side as well."

Source: GamesIndustry

The Nintendo DS and DSi is said to be struggling to entice more punters, Nintendo has admitted its disastrous financial figures are down to the new–found status of the iPhone and iPod Touch as handheld gaming’s great new hope.

Nintendo’s profits have slumped in recent months by a massive 66%. And while the recession is clearly giving the Japanese giant a money–based migraine, it also says games from Apple’s App Store on the iPhone and iPod Touch are also wreaking havoc with sales of the Nintendo DS and DSi games.

In an otherwise dull conference call about their dire results, a Nintendo representative claimed the Nintendo DS and DSi were suffering, “due to harsher competition in the portable arena stemming directly from Apple devices.”

The Nintendo DS outsells all consoles combined

There are a lot of reasons why the iPhone and iPod Touch are giving the Nintendo DS a beating. On the most basic level though, Apple doesn’t have to shift games to shops before selling them, keeping the costs low. The Secret of Monkey Island only costs £4.99 on the App Store. And games can be free or cost just pennies.

How the PSPgo comes into this handheld play remains to be seen. But with direct downloads, Sony should be able to undercut Nintendo when it comes to price. The battle for your daily commute’s gaming time is well and truly on.

Source: ElecticPig

The manufacturing costs of the PlayStation 3 have dropped by 70 per cent, Sony Corp CEO and executive vice president Nobuyuki Oneda has revealed.

Speaking during a conference call for overseas investors following Sony's Q1 2009 results, Oneda revealed the company is on track to meet its cost reduction forecasts.

"The cost reduction since we introduced the PS3 is very substantial and this is on schedule," said the exec when questioned on the console's manufacturing figures. "We don't disclose how much of the PlayStation 3, specifically the cost deduction, was achieved during the past two years. But that is on schedule."

When pressed further for specific figures, Oneda replied: "About 70 percent, roughly-speaking."

Exact manufacturing costs for the PlayStation 3 haven't been made public by the company, however it was estimated the console originally cost Sony $800 (£485) per unit when released, resulting in a loss on every one sold.

In January 2008, reports indicated that manufacturing costs had been reduced by 50 per cent to around $400 (£243).

A further 70 per cent drop on this figure would suggest costs now sit at around $240 (£146) per unit. A figure which could indicate room for the widely rumoured price cut due later this year.

The 80GB PlayStation 3 currently retails for £299.99; $399.99 (£243) in the US.

Source: GamesIndustry

TOMY unveil the first gameplay trailer for NARUTO Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 revealing footage of the new special jutsu attacks for Naruto and Temari as well as previously unseen special jutsu for new characters Deidara and Granny Chiyo, as featured in the game. Each character within the game comes equipped with unique special jutsu attacks, enhancing the lightning-speed versus fighting action with beautifully rendered cinematic finishing moves.



Exclusively for the Nintendo Wii, the classic 3D fighting game features new and improved gameplay mechanics, more than 35 characters, multiple gameplay modes, and for the first time, Wi-Fi multiplayer functionality.

About NARUTO Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3
NARUTO Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 is an exciting new fighting game based on the hit NARUTO Shippuden animated series from VIZ Media. Exclusively for Wii, the 3D fighting game features new and improved gameplay mechanics, a plethora of gameplay modes, and for the first time, Wi-Fi multiplayer capabilities. The game follows the storyline of NARUTO Shippuden and features more than 35 characters who have been upgraded with new looks and character-specific jutsu moves. The game also offers 40 3D environments to choose from, including nine completely new stages.

NARUTO Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 hits stores November 16, 2009 for the Nintendo Wii for $39.99 SRP.

Harmonix and MTV Games today announced they will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the theatrical release of This is Spinal Tap, by making available newly recorded versions of the songs featured in the cult classic film and its 1984 soundtrack album. The songs will be available in the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content next week on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Nintendo Wii system. With the addition of the Spinal Tap tracks, the Rock Band music platform now offers more than 800 songs to consumers via disc and download, and has surpassed more than 50 million paid downloads to date.

Additional tracks from Black Sabbath and Foo Fighters will be available in the Nintendo Wii Rock Band Music Store, and tracks from Jane’s Addiction and Styx will be available for Rock Band Unplugged.

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 Systems and Wii Console

The 11 songs that comprised the film’s original soundtrack were recently re-imagined and newly interpreted by the band for its latest CD Back From The Dead. The end result is that England’s Loudest Heavy Metal Band, Spinal Tap, has never sounded better. Back From The Dead also features six brand new songs including “Back from the Dead,” “Rock ‘n’ Roll Nightmare” and “Warmer Than Hell” which are already available in the Rock Band Music Store and an hour-long DVD featuring band commentary. This is Spinal Tap is now available on Blu-Ray from MGM Home Entertainment.

Tracks available on Xbox 360 and Wii (Aug. 4) and PLAYSTATION 3 system (Aug. 6):

Spinal Tap “(Funky) Sex Farm”
Spinal Tap “(Listen to the) Flower People (Reggae Stylee)”
Spinal Tap “America”
Spinal Tap “Big Bottom”
Spinal Tap “Cups and Cakes”
Spinal Tap “Gimme Some Money”
Spinal Tap “Heavy Duty”
Spinal Tap “Hell Hole”
Spinal Tap “Rock ‘n’ Roll Creation”
Spinal Tap “Stonehenge”
Spinal Tap “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight”

(All tracks are original master recordings from Back From The Dead recording sessions.)

These tracks will be available for purchase as part of the “Spinal Tap’s TAP TEN” or as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 systems.

Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$17.99 (1440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Spinal Tap’s TAP TEN”
$2.00 USD, (200 Wii Points) per track

Wii Back-Catalog Additions
Additionally, tracks from Black Sabbath and Foo Fighters will be available Aug. 4 in the Wii Rock Band Music Store. These tracks come from the catalog of Rock Band music already released to owners of Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system. With the addition of these tracks, there are now more than 450 tracks in the Wii Rock Band Music Store.

Additional tracks available for Wii (July 28):

Black Sabbath “N.I.B.” *
Black Sabbath “Sweet Leaf” *
Black Sabbath “War Pigs” *
Foo Fighters “Doll”
Foo Fighters “Enough Space”
Foo Fighters “February Stars”
Foo Fighters “Hey, Johnny Park!”
Foo Fighters “Monkey Wrench”
Foo Fighters “My Hero”
Foo Fighters “My Poor Brain”
Foo Fighters “New Way Home”
Foo Fighters “See You”
Foo Fighters “Up in Arms”
Foo Fighters “Walking After You”
Foo Fighters “Wind Up”

(* Denotes cover version)

Price: $2.00 USD, (200 Wii Points) per track

Rock Band Unplugged Tracks for PSP System
Rock Band Unplugged fans will enjoy the addition of Jane’s Addiction’s “Had a Dad” and Styx’s “Renegade” to the 25 tracks already available via the Rock Band Unplugged in-game music store for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system.

Tracks available for Rock Band Unplugged (July 30):

Jane’s Addiction “Had a Dad”
Styx “Renegade”

Price: $1.99, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU per track on the PSP system

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

Be the first to crack the conspiracy exclusively on Nintendo Wii with The Conduit Special Edition.

Set in the near-future of a fictional America, this fast paced shooter action allows you to battle a range of devious and cunning enemy forces in a highly detailed 3D world, using a dynamic control scheme only possible on Nintendo Wii.

For the collectors among you, the special edition comes in an exclusive embossed, metallic slipcase and includes a secret agent in-game multiplayer skin, unlockable Drone single player skin and a unique All Seeing Eye.

Bethesda Softworks, a ZeniMax Media company, announce that WET will hit European retail shelves on September 18th for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. The game’s highly-stylized mix of action and acrobatics is showcased on the newly revamped web site that can be found at http://wetthegame.com.



“We are extremely excited to bring WET to gamers on September 18th,” said Vlatko Andonov, president of Bethesda Softworks. “A2M has created an explosive gaming experience and the action is non-stop from start to finish.”

Developed at Artificial Mind and Movement, WET throws players into a heart-pounding, adrenaline-pumping adventure of double crosses and paybacks in which they’ll take on the role of problem fixer, Rubi Malone. Use Rubi’s dual pistols or samurai sword during any acrobatic move as you take on countless enemies in a number of exotic locations around the globe.

“We’ve worked really hard to make WET different from any other action game available”, said Patrick Fortier, Creative Director at A2M. “When players experience the game’s unique blend of gunplay, sword combat and acrobatics, they won’t want to put the controller down.”

On a mission to find the man that left you for dead, you’ll master the controls that will allow you to create the most incredible fight sequences - limited only by your own imagination. Once you are able to chain together a number of moves, including sliding down ladders, running on walls, jumping and flipping, you will be rewarded with auto-lock and slow motion advantages. Featuring the perfect mix of humor and violence, WET is a third-person shooter experience unlike any other.

WET is a highly-stylized third person shooter that seamlessly blends gun play, sword kills and over-the-top acrobatics to create the ultimate interactive action experience. The game allows you to shoot anywhere, anytime. You will have the freedom to shoot while running, sliding down ladders, sliding across the floor, or performing any number of acrobatic moves. Featuring an ironic mix of humor and violence, unique retro film visual treatment, and original 70’s inspired music, WET is a third- person shooter experience unlike any other.

STORY:
When Rubi Malone, a gun-for-hire, agrees to fix a wealthy man’s problem by finding and bringing back his wayward son, she thinks the job is going to be cut and dry. She thought wrong. The job turns out to be more complicated than expected and the man who hired her isn't who he appears to be. On the run and looking for the man who betrayed her, Rubi is leaving a massive body count in her wake.

KEY FEATURES:

Three Types of Gameplay – Seamlessly combines three types of gameplay: 360 degree slip-aiming mechanics, sword fighting and acrobatic abilities.

Acclaimed Writer Duppy Demitrius – Written by Demitrius who is best known for his work on the action-packed TV series 24.

Ultimate Interactive Action Experience – Over-the-top acrobatics with constant action that features aerial sword attacks, fantastic sword skills and high body count.

Cinematographic Style – Unique retro film visual treatment with stylized over-the-top characters, an original 70’s inspired soundtrack and locations that span three continents.

New Iconic Character – Rubi combines attitude, style and killer instinct!

NFL training camps are in full swing and the release of Madden NFL 10 is only two weeks away! Will Tom Brady return to his MVP level? Will the Dolphins build on last year’s success? How will T.O. affect the Bills? Will new coach Rex Ryan lead the Jets to the post season? 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 extremely competitive AFC East division. In addition to the player ratings, a wealth of team-specific assets are now available, for both the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, and Wii versions of Madden NFL 10.

Everything culminates next week, where Madden NFL 10 will predict the 2009 NFL division winners, season MVP, and more.

To view the overall team ratings for the Jets, Dolphins, Patriots, and Bills, 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 Madden NFL 10 Season Preview

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

Create your very own 3D character and then go and explore your new fun environment. You can then create your own 3D friends and keep them happy by playing games with them and giving them gifts! The happier your friends are, the more games you will unlock… you will even unlock new locations to go and explore and play games in!

You can share gifts and friends, and also chat with up to three friends via DS Wireless Communications. Will you be able to keep your friends happy and be the best friend ever?!

This summer, let My Friends take you to a whole new world of fun & games!

My Friends for the Nintendo DS is out now!

Apple gaming has come a long way in a short time, and estimates suggest there are over 13,000 games on the App Store. This means if you've just got yourself a new iPhone 3GS, 3G or iPod touch, the choice may be overwhelming.

Here is our pick of the best iPhone and iPod touch blockbuster games so far, with direct links to the App Store should a game take your fancy.

Link to games and full post here...

Evidence has emerged that Warren Spector's Junction Point Studios is working on a game codenamed "Epic Mickey" for the Wii, offering a dark, steampunk-style take on Mickey Mouse and the Magic Kingdom.

Most of the evidence comes from the rumour-hunter's faithful friend - concept artists' websites - and appears to corroborate a Gamasutra report from late last year that first identified the "Epic Mickey" codename.

Tireless digger Superannuation has turned up the website of concept artist Tony Pulham, whose resumé reveals he recently joined Junction Point to work on "Epic Mickey", and identifies it as a Wii game.

Another Superannuation post unearthed some beautiful concepts for "Epic Mickey" on the website of artist Fred Gambino. Pictures show the Mickey Mouse ears adorning a gigantic, crumbling paddle-steamer, the spires of the Magic Kingdom castle perched atop a twisted tower of rock, and a semi-mechanical "Zombie Goofey" [sic].

Meanwhile, a poster on the NeoGAF forum has found what appear to be the same concepts described in the original Gamasutra report, showing more distorted, nightmarish, mechanical versions of classic Disney characters, including the Seven Dwarves. They come from the artist Gary Glover's site.

Disney Interactive Studios bought Junction Point - which Deus Ex mastermind Spector formed with several other Ion Storm alumni - two years ago. Not long after, it was rumoured - notably in American gaming magazine EGM - that Spector was working on a Mickey Mouse platform game intended to rival Mario.

Last year, Spector said that he was "tired of making games about guys in black leather carrying guns" and that "100-hour games are on the way out". He also revealed that Disney Feature Animation and Pixar were collaborating on Junction Point's game.

And there's more. In an archived Edge interview from E3 2006 - before the Disney acquisition - Spector said: "I want to do a cartoon game really bad - well, really good. People don't realise that I did my Masters thesis on Warner Brothers cartoons, you know - I used to teach animation classes, I've been a Disney stockholder since I was 19. I'm a cartoon freak, I've met a bunch of the old WB directors, and did Toon, the cartoon [pen-and-paper] RPG… And I've been trying to get somebody to let me do a cartoon game for the entire time I’ve been in the videogame business."

In that same interview, Spector even alluded to a project that sounds an awful lot like "Epic Mickey". "I did some concept work on a license with a media company that was very cartoony, and boy, we did some great work," he said. "It was the most fun I've had in a long time, maybe since Deus Ex. The work was phenomenal, and I'll never be able to show it or talk about it with anybody. But hopefully the project will happen. We were gonna let people live in a cartoon world, and it was going to be wacky."

A friend of Eurogamer also once spotted Warren Spector wearing a Mickey Mouse backpack and hoodie in public. True story.

Here's hoping Spector's paymasters at Disney allow him to realise some of the extraordinary vision hinted at by those concept images, because it's mouth-watering stuff. And a long way from the Castle of Illusion...

Source: EuroGamer

Aliens vs 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-fictions 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 Freyas Prospect.

El Presidente would like to invite all Xbox 360 gamers to view the delights of the tropical pardise that is Tropico 3. Kalypso Media have today released the very first screenshots for the Xbox 360 version of their forthcoming title. Tropico 3 is the third game in this highly popular and succesful strategy series and will stick to the theme of the original Tropico game.

More screenshots after link...



Tropico 3 on the Xbox 360 will be an almost identical port of the PC version except for some of the interface elements which will be specially adapted for the console. Tropico 3 will mark the publishing debut of Kalypso Media on the Xbox 360 platform.







Tropico 3 on the Xbox 360 will be released shortly after the PC version in the Autumn of 2009.

What does a single-shard, persistent world do for gameplay?
What can one persons actions mean for over 300,000 people?
EVE is an unscripted, emergent experience.

Start exploring Eve Online with a free 14 day trial:
www.eveonline.com/butterfly

In this first ViDoc created by acclaimed developer Bungie, Sgt. Buck, voiced by Nathan Fillion, introduces his team of ODSTs and their mission into covenant occupied New Mombasa.

Gunnery Sergeant Eddie Buck has witnessed more war than any Marine should. He fought alongside Cole at Harvest—somehow managed to make it off of Reach alive. The fact that Buck is still on his feet says more about his mettle than his military dossier ever could. Now the Covenant have found Earth.


Devastated her defenses. Anyone who could have stopped the invasion is dead or gone. But Buck and his squad of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers aren't going to let Earth fall without a fight. These ODSTs may be headed feet first into hell, but they’re going to make damn sure it’s crowded with Covenant when they get there.



Don't forget 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.

Capcom announce the official site for Ace Attorney INVESTIGATIONS - Miles Edgeworth is up and going at http://ace-attorney.com.

Ace Attorney fans can get the latest info about the game here as well as new screens and artwork.

We had an incredible time at Comic Con 2009. Fans were extremely excited to get their hands on the game. Producer Motohide Eshiro was on location, meeting fans and signing autographs.

Ace Attorney INVESTIGATIONS - Miles Edgeworth, will hit the U.S on February 16, 2010 for the Nintendo DS. This time around, the player takes on the role of famed prosecutor Miles Edgeworth, a memorable rival of charismatic legal eagle Phoenix Wright. Edgeworth actively investigates crime scenes in order to pursue the truth behind each case. By solving the challenging puzzles presented to him, Edgeworth will work with the police to bring criminals to justice.

Accompanying Title Update Offers New FREE Multiplayer Mode; Download the F.E.A.R. 2: Reborn Demo on August 27

From September 3, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin fans will be able to download four all-new single-player levels in the exclusive F.E.A.R. 2: Reborn DLC campaign from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Monolith Studios, for a brand new gameplay experience on the PlayStation Network for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows PC.

F.E.A.R. 2: Reborn lets players experience four new single-player missions that coincide with the events in F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, and a simultaneous automatic title-update provides a free Slow-Mo Deathmatch multiplayer mode for use with F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin multiplayer content. A robust game demo of F.E.A.R. 2 Reborn will be released on August 27.

• Four All New Levels: Face the chaos of Alma’s aftermath from an entirely new point of view: that of Replica Soldier Foxtrot813. As gamers begin the mission as part of an orbital Powered Armor drop to reinforce their squad, the ruined city of Auburn emanates supernatural events and familiar voices, beckoning Foxtrot813 to go against orders from Replica command. Be careful, not everything is as it seems…

• Slow-Mo Deathmatch: Through a free title update, gamers obtain a slow-mo powerup to slow down enemies in multiplayer deathmatch, thus gaining a distinct short-term advantage. The longer players hold onto the slow-mo powerup, the more objective points are accumulated, contributing to the overall score. Watch out though, whoever has slow-mo ability becomes a bigger target to everyone else!

Additionally, launching on August 13 is a brand new F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin premium theme for 240 Microsoft Points and picture pack for 80 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360, as well as a new theme for PLAYSTATION 3. F.E.A.R. 2: Reborn is the third robust DLC pack available for F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, and will become available for Windows PC at a later date. The “Toy Soldiers” map pack launched April 16, with the “Armored Front” map pack following soon after on May 21.

In F.E.A.R.2: Project Origin a routine assignment to locate the president of Armacham Technology Corporation in connection with an unfolding hostage crisis turns into a desperate battle for survival after an explosion decimates the city and unleashes Alma Wade, the terrifying supernatural menace at the center of Armacham’s highly classified Project Origin. As Alma’s power swells out of control, special forces Sgt. Michael Becket and his squad must battle through an apocalyptic landscape of shattered buildings and buckled streets in search of clues for how to destroy her. The more Becket learns about Armacham’s secret experiments and reckless agenda, the more he begins to suspect that he’s somehow linked to the crisis and may be the only one capable of averting total disaster.

Kuju Entertainment and developer doublesix today announced the opening of the first graveyard in PlayStation Home, in the brand-new Burn Zombie Burn! PlayStation Home Space.

The creepy new Burn Zombie Burn! PlayStation Home Space incorporates the fun, cartoony art style and quirky sense of humor that make Burn Zombie Burn! a rollicking zombie-killing adventure. Players wandering the Burn Zombie Burn! graveyard, filled with statues, crypts and a maze, will find surprises around every corner.

The Burn Zombie Burn! PlayStation Home Space includes three crypts, and those brave enough to explore them will find the first two filled with Burn Zombie Burn! goodies and extras, including a challenging hedge maze mini-game for up to six players. The third crypt, on the other hand, remains a mystery, though music and flashing lights offer some clue as to what lies behind the stone door. Curious zombie-slayers will need to master the timed mini-game if they want to discover the third crypt's secrets.

For more on Burn Zombie Burn! head to www.burnzombieburn.com, and for Burn Zombie Burn! walkthroughs provided by the doublesix team, check out the dedicated YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/doublesixgames.

About Burn Zombie Burn!
Set across six classic American-horror-movie inspired levels, Burn Zombie Burn! is a top-down, arena-based shoot-em-up in the classic coin-op tradition featuring next-gen game-play mechanics and possessing that 'one-more-go' addictiveness which defines all of the great shooters.

The aim of the game couldn't be simpler; shoot, burn and blow-up as many brain-munching zombies as possible. Use fire to build up your multiplier and then destroy zombies en masse with explosives to increase that oh-so-important leaderboard high score. But beware! A burning zombie is a faster zombie - burn too many and they will overwhelm you.

Burn Zombie Burn! is frantic, arcade gaming at its best - delivering dark humor and bloody zombie violence in copious amounts!

It’s only been a month since the launch of Spore Galactic Adventures and already EA’s Maxis studio has hit a major milestone with more than 100,000 user-created adventures! Spore fans have taken creativity to new heights, creating imaginative, wacky and fun missions with the game’s easy-to-use Adventure Creator. Dive in today and play various imaginative and epic Adventures such as “The Silent Beacon,” “Valley of a Thousand Deaths” and “The Fog” by visiting the game’s Sporepedia at www.spore.com

Expanding on the original Spore game, the Spore Galactic Adventures expansion pack gets your creature out of its spaceship and exploring colorful and wacky new planets. Players can turn their creatures into space captains, battle epic monsters in intergalactic arenas and engage in intense planet-side races. In each mission, players earn experience to rank up their captain and earn game-changing items such as the Plasma Pulser and Swarm Magnet. In addition to the adventures in the box, players can download 10 all-new adventures created by the writers of the outrageously funny, pop-culture parody TV show, Robot Chicken.

To support Spore’s dedicated fan community, www.spore.com features a bevy of fun content including additional downloadable adventures, contests and news.

Available for PC and MAC for $29.99, Spore Galactic Adventures is rated E10+ by the ESRB. The Robot Chicken adventures are rated TEEN by the ESRB. As an expansion pack, Spore Galactic Adventures requires the original Spore game to play.

To learn more about Spore Galactic Adventures or to download a free trial of the Spore Creature Creator, please visit www.spore.com.

Try your hand at battling for supremacy over Europe in this new playable demo!

Matrix and Wastelands announce the release of a playable demo for WW2: Time of Wrath. Coming on the heels of the release of the successful release of this new grand strategy game, the demo offers gamers a chance to experience World War II on a massive scale.

The demo is available from Patches Scrolls, Gamer’s Hell, Strategy Informer, Fan gaming, and Worth Downloading.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “Any fan of World War II strategy should give the Time of Wrath demo a download. It doesn’t take much time to pick up the game and start battling it out across Europe and Time of Wrath is one of the best game systems on the market when it comes to recreating the Second World War!”

From the front lines in France and Russia to the deserts of North Africa and the airfields and convoys of Britain, the campaigns of World War II are yours to command in WW2: Time of Wrath! This turn-based grand strategy title, the highly improved and expanded sequel to WW2: Road to Victory, puts the player in charge of the political, economic and military decisions of one or more Axis or Allied nations, including minor nations. A diplomacy system based on political points allows you to sway possible allies to your side. An upgraded and expanded naval combat system includes fleet engagements, combat patrols, massive aircraft carriers, elusive raiders and U-Boats as well as a convoy system.

Concentrate precious industrial resources on building, training and upgrading a wide variety of combat units from airborne soldiers and armored divisions up to nuclear weapons! Historical leaders enhance the performance of your armies and hundreds of historical events like the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Lend-Lease and more give you choices that can change the course of history. WW2: Time of Wrath is fought across turns that vary in length by season and 25 km hexes with divisions and corps, giving the player a broad strategic picture of the war while still leaving enough room for operational decisions.

Get more information on WW2: Time of Wrath from its official product page and be sure to get the demo from this list of mirrors.

Mindemia announce that their puzzle board game, Room Boom - Suburbia is available for Mac users.

In Room Boom - Suburbia, players try to gain control over a suburban neighborhood by building and selling houses. Anything from hiring corrupt demonstrators to leveling opponents houses to the ground is allowed in the way to victory!

Room Boom: Suburbia blends puzzle action with a multiplayer board game in a unique way, suitable both for a gathering of friends or family, as well as single player sessions against computer controlled opponents.

Mindemia is also proud to reveal that a free addon pack is currently in production. 'The Bum Expansion' will contain two new elements on the board, bringing more complexity and fun to the game; The Bum: A vagrant has taken his residence in peaceful Suburbia. He will seemingly mindlessly wander across the board, scare potential Buyers away and halve revenue and rent wherever he decides to stop and rest.
Buyers: The word is spreading about the building skills of the local house builders, and people are lining up for new houses. If a Buyer is waiting in an area, the next house built there will generate an additional 50% in revenue. Just make sure to build it before The Bum arrives, or they will look elsewhere!
'The Bum Expansion' will be available for free for all who own the full version of Room Boom: Suburbia.

For more information about Room Boom: Suburbia, and a free demo, visit:
http://www.roomboomsuburbia.com

Multi-instrument Musical Mayhem on Nintendo DS!

Aksys Games is pleased to release Rockin' Pretty, a music simulation game, exclusively for Nintendo DS today! Developed by Arc System Works, creators of Princess On Ice, players will once again test their music-rhythm prowess to the beats of hard rock! Choose between four hard rocking instruments such as the guitar, bass, drums, or keyboard and rock your way to stardom! Will you be able to take your lovely girls to fame!?

Rockin' Pretty utilizes the stylus to tap or strum to the hard hitting music of Rockin Pretty. With intuitive game mechanics, players will take our lovely girls through various performance venues and gain star power. Using the stars collected from each level, players will be able to unlock new outfits, hairstyles, and instruments.

"Don't let the glitz and glam fool you! Boys and girls will find themselves rockin' out while playing Rockin' Pretty." says Frank deWindt II, Project Lead, Aksys Games. "If you love musical rhythm games, you'll fall head over heels for Rockin'
Pretty!"

Key Features:

• A Tale of Music and Love
A great family story of teenage proportions, will our beloved girls pick love, or their love for music?!

• To Trade Or Not To Trade
Using local wireless connectivity, players will be able to trade items, outfits, and instruments they unlock with friends and family!

• Fame Is All You Need!
Earn your audience's love and watch your girl's appearance change!

• On The Road To Stardom!
Perform your heart out at eight tour events, ranging from basic open-mic nights to stardom arena venues!

CompuExpert announced today that Patch 1.004 has gone live in PC flight simulation Rise of Flight - The First Great Air War.

The new update to Rise of Flight includes a number of improvements to the combat flight simulator's interface. A new chat system has been implemented in network play, allowing players to communicate more easily. The flight map can now be accessed and navigated more conveniently, and menus and screens throughout the game have been improved. A profile statistics screen now tracks and displays a wide variety of statistics, keeping players up-to-date with data about their accomplishments.

A number of improvements have been made to Rise of Flight's multiplayer capabilities. In addition to the new chat system, connecting to other players for networked games is now easier, and server creation is now fully functional.

Two new airplanes have also been added to Rise of Flight with the update. The British S.E.5a biplane and the German Pfalz D.IIIa fighter join the other meticulously rendered World War I era planes.

Also included are improvements to the artificial intelligence that allow computer-controlled planes to fly and fight more effectively, increasing the simulator's challenge and realism.

About Rise of Flight
Rise of Flight is a World War I PC flight-simulation title from Moscow-based developer neoqb. The flight simulator, set in the Western Front in 1917, was built on the newly developed Digital Nature engine. More than 125,000 square kilometers of the territory have been redrawn from 20th Century maps. Rise of Flight allows virtual pilots to fly the famous Spad XIII, Fokker D.VII, Albatros D.Va and Nieuport 28 biplanes in exciting dogfight battles. Featuring advanced physics, flight and damage models, Rise of Flight promises a realistic, challenging and fun experience for simulation fans of all stripes and skill levels. Rise of Flight also implements full 6 DOF TrackIR support and is compatible with the TripleHead2Go multi-monitor system from Matrox.

Consumers can purchase Rise of Flight at: Amazon.com, GoGamer.com, NewEgg.com, NCIX.com, FSPilotShop.com, Fry's Electronics, Microcenter, Wal-MartCanada and other fine retailers.

Atlus went live with the full website for Demon's Souls a groundbreaking action RPG experience for PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. With new content and game information, plus updates planned from now until the game launches, the official site is a must-visit for hardcore gamers.

Over time, new details will be revealed about the various characters and demons players will encounter and weapons and spells at their disposal, as well as tips on character growth to aid players in their challenging quest.

Additionally, there will be in-depth explanations of the groundbreaking online gameplay system, access to the official Demon's Souls blog and Wiki pages, up-to-date news and coverage, and much more. Fans can also use a special banner code to let them "Drop a Soul Sign" on social networking sites they frequent, letting others know that Demon's Souls is coming to North America!

The press conference announcing the site's launch was overseen by Atlus' supercomputer and coffee maker, AtlusA.R.A.M.

"This website is the culmination of many hours of labor," droned the automaton. "On it, humans will find information about the upcoming game Demon's Souls. It will be expanded over time. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS!?"

Visit the official website: http://www.demons-souls.com

The website's launch coincides with the expansion of Demon's Souls' pre-order bonus at participating retailers. Atlus recently revealed that fans who reserve either edition of the game at participating retailers will receive a 40-page art book and a music CD featuring the game's full soundtrack, all at no additional cost.

Visit the special pre-order site: http://www.demons-souls.com/preorder.php

Demon's Souls for PLAYSTATION 3 system is scheduled for North American release on October 6, 2009. The Standard Edition will retail with an MSRP of $59.99, and the Deluxe Edition, which includes a 150+ page strategy guide and collectible slipcase, will retail with an MSRP of $69.99.

About Demon's Souls
King Allant the XII, the last king of Boletaria, searched tirelessly to expand his might. The Nexus, a great ice shrine nestled in the mountains, bestowed the power of the souls onto him, bringing prosperity to his kingdom. Still unsated, he returned again to the Nexus, where he foolishly awakened the Old One from its eternal slumber. This long forgotten evil, now wrought upon Boletaria, plunged the realm into darkness and fog. A mighty demon horde poured into the kingdom, devouring the souls of men.

Champions from other realms learned of Boletaria's fate and sought to deliver the kingdom from evil; none would return from the cursed land. Called upon by a mysterious maiden in black, you go forth, the last hope for humanity in a place lost to demons and darkness...

Key Features
• Ultimate hardcore RPG challenge - In this brutal land, death is inevitable, but not final. Combining the best features of an action game and RPG, you'll slice, smash, shoot, and ensorcel some of the most horrible, vicious enemies ever encountered. Are you strong enough to face the impossible and win?
• Groundbreaking online capabilities - Network features go far beyond any previous RPG, allowing players to leave hints for each other, replay death scenes, cooperatively revive dead players, or invade another player's game to wreak havoc. Not merely an add-on feature, multiplayer options are vast, and uniquely focused on changing and intensifying the single player experience.
• Freeform and flexible - The open-ended structure of the game means that there is no single path, but rather a wealth of options. Set your own pace and progress as you like. Build exactly the character you want by creating a detailed avatar, nurturing the right stats, and customizing your skills and equipment.
• You act, the world reacts - The World Tendency system changes the aggressiveness of monsters and the rewards for killing them based on players' actions. Different events and NPCs may be triggered, as well.

Watchmen Part 2

Morally Superior
Reward: 36 Points
Objective: Complete the game as Nite Owl.

Street Justice
Reward: 36 Points
Objective: Complete the game as Rorschach.

Martial Artist
Reward: 15 Points
Objective: Perform all 8 Nite Owl combos within 60 seconds.

Feral Fighter
Reward: 15 Points
Objective: Perform all 8 Rorschach combos within 60 seconds.

You Tag 'em - I Bag 'em
Reward: 11 Points
Objective: Eliminate an enemy that your partner has knocked down or thrown in your direction.

Focus Fire
Reward: 11 Points
Objective: Take down 10 enemies in a row finishing off each of them before doing damage to anybody else.

Electric Explosion
Reward: 8 Points
Objective: Hit 14 enemies with a single electrify armor blast.

Rrarararghgh!!!
Reward: 8 Points
Objective: Sustain a single rage mode for 60 seconds.

Ping Pong
Reward: 8 Points
Objective: Hit at least 4 different enemies while building up a combo.

Unending Combo
Reward: 8 Points
Objective: String a single uninterrupted combo that's at least 10 hits long.

Gentleman
Reward: 8 Points
Objective: Complete Chapter III without hitting any ladies before they hit you.

Watchmen Part 1

Psycho
Reward: 36 Points
Objective: Complete the game in Rorschach mode.

Hero
Reward: 36 Points
Objective: Complete the game in Nite Owl mode.

Teamwork
Reward: 36 Points
Objective: Complete the game in co-op mode.

Thief
Reward: 15 Points
Objective: Find all abilities and pickups in Rorschach mode.

Detective
Reward: 15 Points
Objective: Find all abilities and pickups in Nite Owl mode.

Untouchable
Reward: 11 Points
Objective: Go unharmed for an entire level, without restarting from a checkpoint.

Turbo
Reward: 11 Points
Objective: Complete the game in less than 80 minutes in one session, without restarting from a checkpoint.

Vigilante
Reward: 8 Points
Objective: Eliminate 20 bad guys in 101 seconds.

Shield
Reward: 8 Points
Objective: Dodge or block 25 incoming attacks.

Strong Arm
Reward: 8 Points
Objective:Knock 100 people over, by throwing other people into them.

Retaliator
Reward: 8 Points
Objective: Perform 200 counter attacks.

Exterminator
Reward: 8 Points
Objective: Perform 250 finishing moves.

Kuju Entertainment and developer doublesix announced today that Burn Zombie Burn! on PlayStation Network is getting an update.

Players can now incinerate zombies to their favorite music, thanks to a new custom-soundtrack option, while new video-capture and uploading capabilities make it easy for zombie-slayers to immortalize their finest moments and share them with friends.

Today's patch also includes a teaser trailer for Burn Zombie Burn! In Space, coming in the next expansion pack, and fixes scoring issues in the Burn Zombie Burn! leaderboard.

For more on Burn Zombie Burn! head to www.burnzombieburn.com, and for Burn Zombie Burn! walkthroughs provided by the doublesix team, check out the dedicated YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/doublesixgames and become a Fan on the Facebook Page www.facebook.com/burnzombieburn.

About Burn Zombie Burn!
Set across six classic American-horror-movie inspired levels, Burn Zombie Burn! is a top-down, arena-based shoot-em-up in the classic coin-op tradition featuring next-gen game-play mechanics and possessing that 'one-more-go' addictiveness which defines all of the great shooters.

The aim of the game couldn't be simpler; shoot, burn and blow-up as many brain-munching zombies as possible. Use fire to build up your multiplier and then destroy zombies en masse with explosives to increase that oh-so-important leaderboard high score. But beware! A burning zombie is a faster zombie - burn too many and they will overwhelm you.



Burn Zombie Burn is frantic, arcade gaming at its best - delivering dark humor and bloody zombie violence in copious amounts!

The Xbox 360 and PC versions of id's Rage sport higher framerates than the PlayStation 3 version, the latest issue of Edge magazine reveals.

In a ten-page reveal in its latest issue, Edge writes that the Xbox 360 version of Rage - which uses id's new Tech 5 engine - matches the 60fps framerate of the PC version, while PS3 runs at just "20-30fps".

It's not mentioned whether the PS3 framerate will be addressed by the game's eventual release.

"The PS3 lags a little bit behind in terms of getting the performance out of it," John Carmack told Edge. "The rasteriser is just a little bit slower - no two ways about that.

"The RSX is slower than what we have in the 360. The CPU is about the same, but the 360 makes it easier to split things off, and that's what a lot of the work has been, splitting it all into jobs on the PS3," he said.

The PS3 edition was thought to be the most technically capable of the console pair, thanks to id being able to squeeze the gigantic shooter onto a single-player Blu-ray disc, compared to Xbox 360's four DVDs.



The developer also confirmed that a Mac version of Rage is still in development.

Source: CVG

Today GameTap released two new games for their games-on-demand service, Zoo Tycoon 2 and Turtix.

Zoo Tycoon 2 brings the series update to date with a 3D engine and even more animals, shops, and exhibits to help you build and maintain the animal sanctuary of your dreams.

Turtix is a 2D platformer that evokes the hop ‘n’ bop games of the 16-bit era with illustrative graphic flair.

New Releases For Subscription Service, Available 07.30.09:
Zoo Tycoon 2- It's back to the zoo! With Zoo Tycoon 2, you are once again in charge of your very own zoo, with dozens of animals to choose from. And with the new Guest Mode, you can walk around, take care of the animals, and see your zoo as it's never been seen before - in full 3D. Keep your animals fed and happy and your guests entertained and you'll be a true zoo tycoon in no time.
http://www.gametap.com/video-games/Zoo-Tycoon-2-20001162-0.html

Turtix- The islands used to be a peaceful, happy place, protected by a powerful magic amulet. One day, however, a young student named Turtix goofed on a spell and broke the amulet! Now the islands have been invaded by enemies, and Turtix must go forth and fix his mistake by recovering the pieces of the amulet in this fun platforming adventure.
http://www.gametap.com/video-games/Turtix-20001138-0.html

Next Week’s Release: Arx Fatalis

Free Game Of The Week, 07.30.09 – 08.05.09:
King Of Fighters 2003- The King of Fighters tournament is back, this time hosted by an unknown patron. But (as usual!) the tournament has sinister underpinnings, and someone - or something - once again seeks the power of the demon Orochi. There’s only one way to bring an end to this sinister plot, and it involves a lot of butt-kicking!
http://www.gametap.com/video-games/The-King-of-Fighters-2003-20000933-0.html

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

KOEI dedicates WARRIORS OROCHI 2 for PSP (PlayStation Portable) system to the fans with exclusive game content and two new minisites

KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, today announced that WARRIORS OROCHI 2 for PSP (PlayStation Portable) system has reached gold status. The Tactical Action game ships on August 25th, 2009, and comes packed with exclusive content for the PSP system including: new playable characters, new scenarios, and a Japanese voice option.

Gamers can pre-order the game now from Amazon, Best Buy, Game Crazy, GameFly, and GameStop.

To celebrate the upcoming release, KOEI is launching two sites for the game. There's the official product site, and a new minisite conceived with KOEI's legions of hardcore fans in mind.

With the new minisite, dubbed "Warriors Orochi 2 Dedicated," KOEI is giving its fans WARRIORS OROCHI 2 music tracks and over a dozen specially-modified high-resolution movie clips all of which fans can use free-of-charge to create their own anime music videos (AMVs) or fan videos.

Visit the "Warriors Orochi 2 Dedicated" site today at koei.com/wo2dedicated. Learn more about WARRIORS OROCHI 2 on the official product mini site at koei.com/wo2psp

About WARRIORS OROCHI 2
Shattering time and space, the venomous Serpent King Orochi kidnapped history's greatest warriors in a scheme to test his might. The heroes eventually defeated Orochi and his menacing army. Now the slain Orochi lies in the netherworld, and a mysterious alliance is hatching a plan to resurrect Orochi.

With four different storylines featuring characters from SAMURAI WARRIORS® and DYNASTY WARRIORS®, WARRIORS OROCHI 2 includes three new game modes: Dream, VS and Survival, as well as "Tag Team"-style matches that pit fighters in head-to-head arena combat.

A star-studded lineup boasts 96 playable characters including the massive boar-like Gyuki and the faceless Dodomeki. New playable characters exclusive to the PSP system include the graceful San Zang and the warrior-monk Benkei.

New features exclusive to the PSP system also include: 2-Player VS mode plus Co-op play in Story, Free and Dream modes, 12 new scenarios in Dream mode, and a Japanese and English voice option.

WARRIORS OROCHI 2 for the PSP system is developed by KOEI Canada and based on an original work by Omega Force. Play is for 1 to 2 players. Multi-player play is via ad-hoc wireless only. This game is rated "T" (Teen – Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence) by the ESRB.

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and Wastelands Interactive (www.wastelands-interactive.com) are pleased to announce the release of a playable demo for WW2: Time of Wrath.

Coming on the heels of the release of the successful release of this new grand strategy game, the demo offers gamers a chance to experience World War II on a massive scale.

The demo is available from Patches Scrolls, Gamer’s Hell, Strategy Informer, Fan gaming, and Worth Downloading.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “Any fan of World War II strategy should give the Time of Wrath demo a download. It doesn’t take much time to pick up the game and start battling it out across Europe and Time of Wrath is one of the best game systems on the market when it comes to recreating the Second World War!”

From the front lines in France and Russia to the deserts of North Africa and the airfields and convoys of Britain, the campaigns of World War II are yours to command in WW2: Time of Wrath! This turn-based grand strategy title, the highly improved and expanded sequel to WW2: Road to Victory, puts the player in charge of the political, economic and military decisions of one or more Axis or Allied nations, including minor nations. A diplomacy system based on political points allows you to sway possible allies to your side. An upgraded and expanded naval combat system includes fleet engagements, combat patrols, massive aircraft carriers, elusive raiders and U-Boats as well as a convoy system.



Concentrate precious industrial resources on building, training and upgrading a wide variety of combat units from airborne soldiers and armored divisions up to nuclear weapons! Historical leaders enhance the performance of your armies and hundreds of historical events like the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Lend-Lease and more give you choices that can change the course of history. WW2: Time of Wrath is fought across turns that vary in length by season and 25 km hexes with divisions and corps, giving the player a broad strategic picture of the war while still leaving enough room for operational decisions.

Mythic Entertainment announce that the critically acclaimed MMORPG, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR), is being developed for the Mac computer platform and is currently being offered in beta version. The Mac version of WAR is scheduled for official release in the fall of 2009, when players on both platforms will be able to battle and quest together on the same servers.

The beta of the Mac version of Warhammer Online will allow current players to download a client to their Mac computers and play with their live game accounts. Players who do not have an existing live account, but are interested in playing WAR on the Mac, will be able to participate in the beta version of WAR on Mac by downloading a 10-day beta trial account. As part of the WAR Mac beta event, players who participate will receive an exclusive title and trophy reward for their characters within the game.

“The MMORPG audience continues to expand, and that means gamers eager to experience WAR aren’t all playing on a PC,” said Jeff Hickman, Executive Producer of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. “We want as many players as possible to experience the glory of Realm vs. Realm combat, and bringing WAR to the Mac makes this an exciting reality.”

WAR for the Mac is made possible using the CiderTM Portability Engine from TransGaming (TSX-V: TNG) that acts as a "wrapper" around the game software, enabling it to run seamlessly on Intel-based Macs. TransGaming’s Cider technology allows Mythic Entertainment to rapidly enable and deploy WAR for the Mac, providing a new high quality gaming experience to the ever-growing Mac gaming community.

“The availability of WAR on Mac is an outstanding example of the caliber of games being deployed for the Mac gaming community,” commented Vikas Gupta, CEO & President of TransGaming. “Mythic Entertainment has created an incredible game and TransGaming is thrilled they have chosen our advanced Cider technology to launch WAR for the Mac.”

To download the beta version of WAR for Mac or the 10-day beta trial, please visit: www.warhammeronline.com/mac.

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 and rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB, WAR will be available for the Mac in the fall of 2009. For more information or to download the 10-day free trial, visit http://www.warhammeronline.com/.

This history born from the remote past…

Gods which were ruling the Universe, decided to create a new life a new world and 3 new races to populate it. And so Human, willing to know everything about the beings, Nordic, fighters which respect only honor and courage and Elves, nature and harmony sons, born in ARENA World.
The Mind God was the ruler of this world and he begun to teach to Human beings how to use the strength with the aim to create an absolute power to rule the world over the other races.

But Gods discovered this plan and their rage was terrible: Mind God should be killed and it was the war…

ARENA Online, published by Kalicanthus Entertainment, is the new MMORPG 3D Fantasy free to play, available on www.arenaonline.eu .

The world is inspired to Celtic and Slavic legends and each player can choose a race to play and each race fight against the other two. Each character’s template can be completely personalized and the growth of the character is skills based so each player can create a Mage or a Warrior or any hybrid combination. To get experience players can do hundreds of quests, can get experience killing mob also in group or killing other player’s race.

The entire world is Realm vs. Realm based with some locations free of fight. Players can organize themselves in guilds, but members must belong to one race and can participate to castle siege every day. Guilds conquering a castle can earn Platinum defending it.

There are many events in the game like castle sieges, treasure chest event, tournaments, Coliseum battles and so on. There is a crafting system well developed and players can create their own weapons or armors to increase their skills but they can also gather resources to get money and create potions or enchantments.

ARENA is continuously updated and new features are added every week.

Wizardry, battles, God palace.. an hard MMO for hard players.. This is ARENA Online.. Only for the brave!

New game from publisher Game Life, ‘Easy Piano’. The fun and educational new game lets players enjoy the most realistic piano experience ever on DS thanks to its unique 8-note full-octave keyboard peripheral. The various game modes will guide players’ first steps in the piano world and offer the chance for more practiced players to play all-time classics. The game is scheduled for release in November 2009 in Europe and PAL regions.

Whether you are playing along with different tracks from the game or learning the piano, for the first time on DS players will be able to practice on a real keyboard and be tutored in the correct finger movements and skills required to become a mobile virtuoso. The 8-note piano keyboard peripheral represents a complete musical octave, but players will have access to a full three octave range while playing. Players can also choose from piano, guitar or a number of other instruments included with the game depending on how the mood takes them or what their chosen musical opus demands.

The game’s tracklisting contains 40 of some of the world’s most famous songs, spanning time and genres to offer something for everyone. Discover how to play Mozart, or Beethoven then switch styles to hammer out Bohemian Rhapsody, Bittersweet Symphony, Every Breath You Take or even The Jingle Bells theme tune. With 2 different difficulty modes, everyone can have fun testing and improving their keyboard skills.

The creation mode allows players to record up to four 3-minute-long masterpieces, with tools giving everyone the chance to enhance their creativity. Beginners can use simplified staves to assist and practice, while those with more honed skills can get straight into recording their live performances. After listening and correcting the work of one hand, players will then be able to add a second hand to the recording.

The lesson mode is specifically designed for people discovering the wonders of piano playing for the first time, with a series of 10 involving lessons and a host of mini-games to teach the basics of playing and music in a way that never fails to entertain.

Gameforge announce the opening of a new client-based MMOG, Gates of Andaron. Gamers will be introduced to the battle between the kingdoms of Valorian and Derion in the Gates of Andaron. The fantasy game, developed by Korean MMOG developer Zemi Interactive, is available for free to courageous fortune-seekers everywhere at www.gatesofandaron.com.

War has ravaged the kingdoms of Valorian and Derion. Those who were once allies are now hostile enemies. While the origin of the conflict has been lost over time, both kingdoms have created their own versions of the story behind the bloody conflict. The only thing certain is that the key to ending the war between the two kingdoms lies hidden in ancient, almost-forgotten tales and sagas. The quest to reveal the truth and end the everlasting struggle is a task for only the bravest of adventurers.

Whether playing as a human, feline or fairy, as an ally to one of the warring kingdoms you will face deadly challenges that can only be surmounted through the might of sword and power of magic. Not only will your journey take you through the world of modern Iberia, but it will transport you to distant lands deep in the depths of Andaron's history. In Gates of Andaron, terrifying monsters and epic battles await as you rise above the betrayal and become a hero for all eternity.

Gates of Andaron features:

• R.S.C.S. - Real-time Strategic Command System: For fast-paced combat situations, the Real-time Strategic Command System helps you keep an overview, stay in control, and lead your combatants into battle quickly and conveniently.
• Motivating PvP Scoring System: While conquering terrain and completing special missions in grueling player versus player (PvP) battles, earn valuable honor and achievement points that enable you to purchase additional, exclusive items for your character.
• Expansive Customization Options: The crafting system allows you to create your own armor. With the help of skilled NPC's and special items, you are able to add improvements and visual effects to your weapons and equipment and prepare helpful potions.
• Cooperative Gameplay: Having another player by your side not only provides camaraderie, but allows you to share life energy and collect experience points together as you progress through challenging battles.

New Quarantine Mode includes a new map, weapons and has players turning into zombies, running amok and spreading their contagion to other players

Nexon America announce Quarantine Mode, a new content update for its popular multiplayer online first-person shooter (FPS), Combat Arms. The new play mode introduces player-versus-zombie combat where players compete as soldiers or as infected zombies. The mission for players: to either survive and destroy the infected or infect as many humans as possible. Players can acquire the updated game now at http://combatarms.nexon.net.

Quarantine Mode is introduced as “Operation: Overdose,” on a new map to Combat Arms. On this map, players are randomly selected at the start of each match to become a zombie. Players chosen for the “infected” team must try to infect anyone that crosses their path. Zombie players will use a melee attack to infect other players. Infect all players and zombies win. Humans have two ways to win – survive the mission timer or destroy all of the infected.

For the uninfected, it won’t be easy to fight off the zombies, who are immune to poison, extremely resistant to bullets and moderately resistant to fire, explosives and melee attacks. Zombies are also not affected by critical hits. Infected players have double the normal stamina and have an increased amount of health. Players will need to use their weapons to keep the zombies away with the weapon knockback feature and work with teammates to use strategy to defeat the hordes of walking dead.

“This isn’t the usual zombies invading, eating your brains type of scenario,” said Min Kim, Nexon America’s vice president of marketing. “In Quarantine Mode, the fun doesn’t end with fending off zombies. Even if you get infected, you can continue playing as a zombie and spread the zombie bug to your friends and other soldiers. This makes for a messy, gooey fun fight with only the stoutest soldier able to avoid becoming a chew toy.”

The new Combat Arms update also includes a variety of new deadly weapons including a flame thrower, new assault rifles and shotguns to its roster of deadly armaments. Quarantine Mode is the latest major update Nexon America added to Combat Arms, which has seen more than three billion kills since launching last summer.

From the studio that brought MLB 09 The Show, SCEA San Diego presents NBA 10 The Inside. NBA action is back once again for hoops on-the-go with NBA 10 The Inside for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system. Combining the perfect blend of arcade and simulation basketball along with a host of unique mini-games, NBA 10 The Inside delivers an engaging NBA experience with quick action and fluid gameplay. This year’s effort expands on the franchise by offering the most diverse and feature-rich handheld NBA action available.

New this year is the expanded Conquest Mode, with three original features where players will take on the entire country and battle in the classic acquisition style of Conquest while playing Dodgeball, Give & Go, or MiniQuest which allows players to choose from 1 of 4 mini-games. In addition, two new mini-games have been brought into the mix—Open Lanes, a traditional 10 frame bowling game, and Cherry Pickin,’ a puzzle based mini-game with an NBA feel, both of which players can enjoy anytime, anywhere. NBA 10 The Inside also brings back all of the popular mini-games from years past. From the Skee-Ball-like Hot Shot to basketball-themed pinball tables, all are available to provide fast and engaging action that further adds to the stable of traditional and non-traditional basketball gameplay.

Refined gameplay mechanics and Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) also help to create a more realistic and action-oriented experience. And, with expanded play-by-play and audio commentary from Kenny Smith and Ian Eagle, NBA 10 The Inside delivers an unrivaled experience for basketball fans and gamers alike.

KEY FEATURES

* New Quest Modes

- DodgeQuest – Players will battle teams head-to-head in an attempt to take over the entire country while playing the Dodgeball mini-game. In-game power ups and player upgrades have also been added to the traditional Dodgeball mode for depth.
- Give&GoQuest – Players will face off on the Give & Go mini-game as they battle other cities and acquire players in an attempt to take over the entire country.
- MiniQuest – New Conquest mode lets players take over the entire country and choose from either Dodgeball, Conquest, Elimination, or Give & Go each time two cities battle one another.

* New Mini-Games

- Open Lanes – A traditional 10 frame bowling mini-game with an NBA look and feel.
- Cherry Pickin’ – A puzzle based mini-game where players shoot colored orbs that stick to the game board, which is made of additional colored orbs. The goal is to line up at least three orbs of the same color to remove them from the board. The overall objective is to clear out all orbs on the game board to proceed to the next level.
- Classics – Shootin’ Bricks, Block A Shot, Big Shooter, Pinball and more classic mini-games return in NBA 10 The Inside.

* Expanded Play-by-Play and Color Commentary

- Ian Eagle returns to provide new play-by-play and in-depth analysis, along with fresh color commentary from former NBA star Kenny Smith.

* Realistic Animations – Running at 60 FPS, NBA 10 The Inside incorporates tandem animation technologies to produce ultra realistic player interactions. Additionally, motion capture data delivers smooth gameplay and lifelike player movements.

* Wireless Multiplayer Gameplay – Compete head-to-head against friends and basketball fans around the country with Ad Hoc connectivity of up to two PSP systems, or link to a network via a wireless local area network (VLAN) access point for multiplayer action nationwide.

LittleBigPlanet, the PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) hit that won various Game of the Year Awards last year and is credited with defining the “creative gaming” genre, is coming to the PSP(PlayStation Portable) for the first time. Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment’s Cambridge Studio in close collaboration with the award-winning Media Molecule team, LittleBigPlanet PSP allows player to bring the beloved Sackboy with them on the go.

LittleBigPlanet PSP is a world of endless possibilities where imagination and creativity is king. In this stylish and stitched-together 3D craft material world, there is fun to be had for all ages, tastes and player types. On this portable LittleBigPlanet there are over 30 new developer-created levels through 7 new themed locations to explore and Play. Players will also find a huge host of materials, tools and stickers to Create objects or even levels that suit their style. And, pivotal to the creative LittleBigPlanet community, players will be able to publish their creations online to Share with others via PLAYSTATION®Network. Levels and objects can then be ranked so the best of the best rise to the top.

PLAY, CREATE & SHARE
The LittleBigPlanet experience starts with players customizing Sackboy, the loveable main character on LittleBigPlanet. From there, players Play and learn about Sackboy’s powers to interact physically with the surrounding environment while navigating through over 30 vibrant themed environments. Players make their way across these worldly levels, avoiding obstacles, solving puzzles and collecting items that can be used to make their own creations.

To Create, players use the simple “Popit” menu system to access all of Sackboy’s materials, stickers, tools to bring their imaginations to life. Here, players have the power to build and move around any object in the game’s colorful landscape. All materials and objects have realistic physical properties and will behave accordingly. With a robust tool set at their disposal, the sky is the limit. Once the object or level is completed, players can publish and Share their creative works with the community via the PLAYSTATION Network. Of course, they can download and explore other players’ creations as well.

LittleBigPlanet continues to bring its revolutionary concept and the most accessible design tools to the videogame industry, this time in a portable form with LittleBigPlanet PSP. On this LittleBigPlanet, the world is full of infinite possibilities, where imagination becomes reality and the powers of creation are firmly in the players’ hands.

KEY FEATURES

PLAY, CREATE, SHARE – LittleBigPlanet PSP allows players to not only play ready-made in-game levels, but to also create their own game levels and share them with others across the world via the PLAYSTATION Network. All while on the go!
CUSTOMIZED EXPERINCE – Whether the player is a fashion designer, an architect, or aspiring video game developer, they can show their talents off with the easy-to-use creation tools to build and share objects or entire levels.
GET CREATIVE – Players will have a full array of stickers, decorations, materials (glass, metal, sponge, polystyrene, cardboard and rubber), bolts (springs, motor and wobble bolts), switches, and rods, to choose from to create their unique game levels for fun or competitive gameplay.
THIRTY NEW LEVELS ACROSS 7 THEMES - LittleBigPlanet PSP delivers new content with new levels and territories to play and explore.

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 VS 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 colorful, 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 more than $100 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.
Key features

Features
• Over 50 characters from the Marvel and Capcom Universes!
• 3 on 3 tag-team matches
• New online matching mode, including Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix’s “Quarter Match” mode ; enjoy the arcade experience from your console
• New optional visual filter smoothes out the game’s graphics
• Four button controls introduce new players to fighting games; compatible with the Mad Catz Street Fighter IV joysticks and Fight Pad
• Available for the first time via digital distribution on Xbox LIVE Arcade and the PlayStation Network

By now, many of you are Hulk Smashing over Xbox Live, and if you're not ... what are you waiting for?

Actually, while you download Marvel vs. Capcom 2, watch our latest video from the MvC2 Mix Tape. This track from Planet Asia and DJ Toure is called "Superheroes."



You can't deny the bad-assery of this video and the album as a whole. If you didn't win one of our limited MixTape vinyls at Comic-Con, here's the entire track listing. We'll let you know when and where soon, but everyone is going to be able to download the Mix Tape for free. And it's entrirely possible we'll be giving away more of the limited vinyls through Unity. Stay tuned!

1. “Superheroes” by Planet Asia and DJ Toure
2. “Number One” by Havoc and Nyce
3. “Terrorize” by Raekwon and Ohno
4. “The Remainder is One” by Random, Blaze Rock and Storyville
5. “Reinforcements” by DJ Qbert
6. “Take U 4 A Ryde” by Talib Kweli and Ohno
7. “Battle Drum” by Hieroglyphics
8. “Fight the Good Fight” by The Grouch and Eligh
9. “They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To” by E40 and DroopE
10. “Power Up” by MC Supernatural

Source: Capcom blog

Aspyr Media and the leading Eastern and Central European publisher 1C Company release the demo for Death to Spies: Moment of Truth, the sequel to the popular stealth-action title Death to Spies.

The game's main character is Semion Strogov, Captain of the 4th department of the Soviet counterintelligence service called SMERSH. SMERSH literally means in Russian Death to Spies, which was the name for a set of counterintelligence departments in the Soviet Army formed during World War II. Strogov is back from his previous missions and must now participate in a series of even more complicated and exciting military operations under the code name Death to Spies: Moment of Truth.

The demo features a single level from the game called "Polish Surprise." In this level the player infiltrates a Nazi castle to destroy a weapons cache and intercept a radio transmission of top-secret intelligence.

The demo is available at http://files.aspyr.com/support/DTS_Demo_Installer.zip and Death to Spies: Moment of Truth is scheduled for release later this summer.

Multiplay - one of the largest gaming communities in Europe - is pleased to announce it has 5,000 beta keys for S2 Games' Heroes of Newerth. The keys are for the closed beta and will be available from Monday 3rd August from Multiplay's gaming downloads site, www.fileplay.net.

Craig Fletcher, Managing Director of Multiplay said: "We are very pleased to be chosen by S2 Games to release 5000 keys for their highly-anticipated title. This represents the latest in an increasing portfolio of content delivered through the Fileplay site.

Developers and publishers alike are really seeing the benefits of the clean, easy-to-use site for their beta key and file distribution needs. With new features still being launched, such as the High Definition video streaming last week, the site is going from strength to strength."

To coincide with the UK’s largest LAN event, i37 (http://iseries.multiplay.co.uk), Multiplay will be allocating 2,000 of these keys specifically for those attending the event. The remaining 3,000 will be distributed over five days, with 600 available each day. These keys will allow the lucky gamers to join the closed beta and be some of a select few who are enjoying the game in advance of general release.

Demand is immense for what many are calling the next version of DotA, so people need to be fast to secure a key.

Reserve EITHER edition and get a free 40-page art book AND a free soundtrack CD

Atlus - defenders of the macro-transaction (i.e., pay once, get everything), today expanded the free bonus for customers who pre-order Demon's Souls, a groundbreaking action RPG experience for PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.

In addition to the previously announced 40-page, full-color art book, fans who pre-order at a participating retailer can now also expect to receive a free soundtrack CD featuring music from the game.

The disc, which offers 24 tracks totaling 71 minutes from the game's haunting orchestral score, represents the complete Demon's Souls soundtrack, available for the first time as part of this exclusive North American promotion. The CD will be secured within the inside back cover of the art book, ensuring that existing pre-orders will receive the added bonus disc.

"With its deep, satisfying gameplay and highly innovative online functionality, Demon's Souls is already a tremendous value for PLAYSTATION 3 system owners," stated Aram Jabbari, Manager of PR and Sales at Atlus. "Not content with just that, or possibly suffering from some sort of undetectable mental ailment, we're taking things even further with the expansion of the free pre-order gift being offered to customers. Reserve EITHER edition of the game, Standard or Deluxe, at a participating retailer and receive a 40-page art book and a music CD featuring the game's full soundtrack, all exclusive to North America and at no additional cost to the customer. With this, pre-orders of the Deluxe edition of Demon's Souls become one of the best values in gaming history, and a must-own for collectors and avid fans of the game."

Demon's Souls for PLAYSTATION 3 system is scheduled for North American release on October 6, 2009. The Standard Edition will retail with an MSRP of $59.99, and the Deluxe Edition, which includes a 150+ page strategy guide and collectible slipcase, will retail with an MSRP of $69.99.

After a very successful Closed Beta, Aeria Games has announced that La Tale will be progressing forward into Open Beta on July 30, 2009.

Aeria Games is celebrating the beginning of Open Beta with an exciting leveling event: The run for 80. The first 80 players brave enough to lead the community and reach level 80 will receive a special prize package filled with rare and wonderful in game items. In addition to the Run to 80 event, Aeria has planned for a number of daily events during Open Beta to keep the action moving. Some of these events include bonus experience events, free game items and monster spawns.

La Tale is a unique 2D side-scrolling Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG). Players will find a richly drawn world filled with adventure, puzzles and skilled combat. La Tale brings together traditional console gaming and adds the thrill of an unpredictable multi-player world to deliver endless action packed fun.

The much anticipated new game will join the ranks of successful free-to-play MMOs at Aeria, including Shaiya, Last Chaos, Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online, and Dream of Mirror Online. La Tale promises an exhilarating gaming experience to go along with the reputation of high quality service and support of Aeria Games.

Mythic Entertainment, an Electronic Arts studio, today announced that Ultima Online - Mondain’s Legacy, is now available at no charge to subscribers of Ultima Online. Launched in the summer of 2005, the 7th expansion to the legendary MMORPG Ultima Online (UO) introduces the Elven race and several sprawling dungeons to the vast game world. For current Ultima Online subscribers that do not have Mondain’s Legacy, the game client will be automatically updated with the expansion content.

For players that are new to Ultima Online or for those interested in returning to the world, they can download the 14-day free trial which now features all seven expansions, including Mondain’s Legacy. Now all players can experience the Elves, new human racial abilities and new dungeons with dozens of new monsters to battle and weapons to wield.

“Mythic is extremely excited about offering Mondain’s Legacy as a free upgrade to all Ultima Online subscribers, as well as new players who sign up for the 14-day free trial,” said Jeff Hickman, Executive Producer for Mythic Entertainment. “Our goal is to continually provide fresh and rewarding experiences for our thriving UO community. By opening up our 7th expansion to all players, we hope to get everyone excited for the upcoming summer release of our 8th addition, Stygian Abyss.”

Coming this summer, Ultima Online™: Stygian Abyss™, the game’s 8th expansion, revolves around the introduction of the playable Gargoyle race. Players will find expansive new areas to explore, including Ter Mur, the Gargoyle homeland, and the Stygian Abyss – the largest dungeon area ever introduced to Ultima Online. This sprawling dungeon will contain new boss monsters of unparalleled difficulty, including the Medusa, Primeval Lich and the Stygian Dragon, as well as Player vs. Player zones where adventurers will be turned against one another.

Ultima Online: Stygian Abyss expansion requires the original Ultima Online game to play and will be available in the summer of 2009 via digital distribution only.

In series finale "The Bogey Man," a long-buried mystery could mean the end of West Wallaby Street as we know it!

FREE episode here...

The final episode of Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures releases today, completing a four-month escapade that has taken the famous inventor and his faithful pooch through a madcap series of wild and engaging new stories. Available today for PC at www.telltalegames.com, "The Bogey Man" puts Wallace's mechanical and social skills - not to mention his golf swing - to the test. Filled with unrequited romance, hidden mysteries, perplexing contraptions, and a heavy dose of comic relief, "The Bogey Man" brings the series to an exciting climax in grand Wallace & Gromit style.

In the previous episode, Wallace inadvertently got down on one knee before his prim neighbor Felicity Flitt - who interpreted the gesture as a marriage proposal. In a twisted plot true to Wallace & Gromit form, his only chance for a reprieve is admission into the prestigious Prickly Thicket country club, an association distained by the Flitt family due to a centuries-old dispute. It seems like the perfect escape, but once Wallace is admitted into the club, he learns of a much larger mystery that must be solved to protect the West Wallaby Street lifestyle he and Gromit hold dear. Built by Wallace and Gromit's own ancestors, the club itself is a grand machine in the style of Wallace's own inventions, and its mechanical inner-workings hide a secret that must be recovered to return life back to normal. Only Wallace and Gromit have the technical know-how to unlock the mysteries protected by this contraption to top all contraptions!

Over the last four months, Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures has taken the heroes through exciting new stories - from a honey business plagued by giant problems (and giant bees!), to a whodunit set at an underground beach resort in Wallace's cellar, to a heartwarming tale of canine wiles triumphing over an oily villain's greedy deceit. Today's release represents the first time the complete episodic series is available on PC, making now the ideal time for new players to dive in and enjoy all four Grand Adventures stories.

Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures made its debut on Xbox LIVE® Arcade this spring with Fright of the Bumblebees, which can be downloaded for 800 Microsoft points. The series is due to complete its Xbox LIVE Arcade run in the coming months, with the official release date announcements expected shortly.

Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures has been just one of numerous recent highlights for the characters, who are celebrating their 20th Anniversary this year. Their highly successful short film, A Matter of Loaf and Death, has been airing around the globe since its triumphant Christmas debut and will begin distribution in the US on DVD this coming fall. The pair are also featuring in 'Wallace & Gromit present A World of Cracking Ideas', a major exhibition celebrating innovation at the Science Museum in London. Telltale's Wallace & Gromit games are designed for the same all-ages audience as the duo's other endeavors and will be enjoyed by gamers and non-gamers alike.

Customers can purchase the complete set of Wallace & Gromit games from www.telltalegames.com for $34.95. This purchase includes the option to receive a Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures Collector's DVD containing the four games plus bonus content for just the cost of shipping, to be released shortly. Individual Wallace & Gromit episodes can be purchased for $8.95. Telltale is also introducing an upgrade offer today, which allows customers who own one of the individual episodes to get the remainder of the series for only $19.95. Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures includes subtitles in German, French, Italian, and Spanish. To buy the games for PC or download the free demo, visit http://www.telltalegames.com/wallaceandgromit.

About Wallace & Gromit

Wallace

An endearing and affable inventor. Ever enthusiastic, Wallace's hair-brained, over-ambitious, yet well intentioned ideas consistently get him and his faithful hound into trouble. A definite penchant for cheese and crackers, not to mention fashionable knitwear!

Gromit

Wallace's long-suffering loyal pooch. Gromit cares greatly for Wallace even though he's often railroaded into his master's mad-cap plans. Though cultured and sensitive, preferring order and the quiet life, Gromit displays amazing courage and heroism when it comes to getting his master out of self-made scrapes. Always showing astonishing initiative, Gromit is definitely the intelligent one of the pair.

Electronic, announced today that Fedor Emelianenko, the world’s top ranked* MMA heavyweight, will headline the EA SPORTS MMA fighter roster. Emelianenko will be joined by Gegard Mousasi and Renato Sobral, both of whom will be featured in a title bout at the STRIKEFORCE fight on August 15, as the first of a long list of fighters who will appear in EA SPORTS MMA, the all-new mixed martial arts title coming in 2010.

“I have fought all over the world and I am excited to be in EA SPORTS MMA because this game is going to show the global appeal of mixed martial arts,” said Emelianenko. “I know MMA fans have been wanting to play as me and pitting me against any opponent. Now they will have their opportunity.”

Fedor Emelianenko, a 6’0”, 231 pound Russian heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter, who excels in Sambo and Judo, holds a 30-1 record and is the current WAMMA Heavyweight champion. Prior to signing on with STRIKEFORCE, Emelianenko defended his WAMMA championship by knocking out former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski. (sted: Prior to signing on with STRIKEFORCE, Emelianenko defended his WAMMA championship by knocking out former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski.) .

Gegard Mousasi, a former Dream Middleweight champion, has a current record of 25-2-1 and won his last match in Dream 9 against Mark Hunt this past May. The 6’1”, 185 pound Dutch-Armenian fighter will be taking on Renato Sobral to determine STRIKEFORCE’s Light Heavyweight champion and has a fight style that is a unique blend of Dutch kickboxing and judo.

Sobral, hailing from Brazil, is known for his aggressive style, grappling prowess, and high-caliber submissions. He is the current STRIKEFORCE Light Heavyweight champion and has a record of 35-8 with his last victory coming against Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at Affliction: Day of Reckoning fight earlier this year.

“I am very excited to have Fedor, the number one heavyweight in the world, as one of the top fighters in EA SPORTS MMA,” said Executive Producer Dale Jackson. “He is one of the elite fighters in the sport today and will provide the ultimate competition for our gamers. The EA SPORTS MMA team at Tiburon has been working on the game for over a year already and we will have a lot more great fighters and other exciting news to talk about soon.”

In addition to appearing in the EA SPORTS MMA video game, Mousasi and Sobral will be sponsored by EA SPORTS for the STRIKEFORCE fight.

EA SPORTS MMA will feature the most authentic, intense and broad mixed martial arts experience to date – complete with a vast array of top fighters and fighting styles from around the world. EA SPORTS MMA will be available on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.

EA SPORTS is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, NHL hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA Football and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR.

* As ranked by Sherdog.com

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.

Due to the amazing combination of Marvel and Capcom characters and the game’s celebrated fighting system and graphics, Marvel VS. Capcom 2 has been a hotly sought-after title on the game collector’s circuit. Previously owned copies for older game consoles have been demanding more than $100 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.

Not a great deal is known about Final Fantasy XIV Online - one of the true surprise announcements of this year's E3. So you have to take a good look at all the media you can get - trailer below.



Great HD trailer that you may have missed - or seen in low-quality shaky-cam footage - in a decent resolution.

Source: CVG

Metallic Blue and Deep Red DualShock 3 pads heading to retail this October

Sony has revealed two new controllers for the PS3 will be heading to the US this autumn.

These vibrant DualShock 3 joypads will be available in Metallic Blue and Deep Red and are due to hit shelves in October.

The new controllers, spotted by Engadget, expand the range of coloured peripherals available for the console in the region, including a silver version of the Dualshock 3 that was launched through GameStop towards the end of June.

There is currently no word on whether or not these new colours will be retailer exclusive, nor any signs that they will be released in Europe.

Source: MCVUK

CMSF British Forces is available now! The second Module for the Combat Mission Shock Force modern warfare tactical simulation has just been released!

British Forces is available for download, mail delivery, or both download & mail delivery, starting at just $25, and as usual available only directly from www.battlefront.com!

Ownership of the base game Combat Mission Shock Force is required. A bundle consisting of British Forces and Marines (the previous Module) is available as well, for only $35 (a whopping $15 off the regular price). You can download and play immediately! Hardgoods - consisting of a CD - will be mailed out within 2 weeks.

Click here to order now! = http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=9&Itemid=26

A free demo for Combat Mission Shock Force v1.20 including Marines and British module content is available for download as well. Click here to download the free demo = http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=42&Itemid=358

Players Can Experience Demo of Single-Player Mode for Flight Combat Game on Xbox 360

505 Games U.S., in collaboration with 1C Company, have today released a demo for upcoming flight combat title IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey. The single-player demo is now available for download on the Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

The IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey demo will give players a taste of two of the game’s memorable conflict scenarios, The Battle of Britain and The Battle of the Bulge.

In Battle of Britain: Red Skies Over Dover, players are given the role of a Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot commanding the legendary Mk. II Spitfire with B wing armament (two canons, four machine guns). What starts off as a routine ‘mopping up’ mission on a few stray He-111 German bombers soon develops into an all-out battle in which the RAF faced their finest hour. The mission demonstrates the skills required to intercept larger bombers as well as the more nimble Stuka bombers. The need to use wingmen effectively will become apparent as the mission unfolds and survivors will have the opportunity to land on a home airstrip.

In Battle of the Bulge: Tiger Hunt, the US Air Force P-51D Mustang is the weapon of choice, as players are tasked with taking out Germans ripping through the Ardennes. Defending FW-190 fighters will also have to be dispatched to help overcome the Tigers as US forces aim to stem the German advance and defend the front line. The mission will allow players to try rocket attacks on ground targets as well as sample the snow-capped vistas of the Belgian landscape in December.

Based around large-scale aerial combat over the ground-based military operations of World War II, variety is at the heart of the action in IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey. Players participate in the most famous confrontations of the era piloting fighters, battle planes or heavy bombers across a range of thrilling missions. There are six theatres of war in which to engage – The Battle of Britain, Stalingrad, Berlin, Sicily, the Battle of the Bulge and Korsun – representing the main airborne battles of World War II in Europe.

As well as taking environmental and landscape visuals to new heights by incorporating satellite technology, IL-2 also boasts a tangible damage effects engine. Players will see real-time damage to aircraft, such as holes in the wings and trail lines during dogfights.

505 Games, in collaboration with 1C Company, will release IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey in North America on September 15, 2009 for Xbox 360, PS3, DS and PSP platforms.

Today, Toys“R”Us announced that customers who purchase Activision Bakugan Battle Brawlers video game for Nintendo Wii or Nintendo DS in any Toys'R'Us store in the world will receive a unique edition of the game when it is released on October 20. Featuring two exclusive in-game characters, this version of the highly-anticipated video game is now available for pre-order at Toys“R”Us stores in the United States with a $5 deposit.

The characters featured in the exclusive Toys“R”Us edition are:
• Manion, a mysterious sphinx with golden armor protecting his head, back and forearms. Due to his huge wingspan, he can attack from above. Additionally, his sharp claws can tear at his enemies.
• Ravenoid, a humanoid looking Bakugan totally covered in armor, can use his large wings to swoop down upon his opponents in battle. His large, clawed feet can also squeeze victims in an unyielding vice.

“This global exclusive with Activision allows us to offer Bakugan fans around the world a completely unique way to experience the Bakugan Battle Brawlers video game with one-of-a-kind characters and abilities,” said Bill Lee, Vice President, Divisional Merchandise Manager, Toys“R”Us, U.S. “There is no better place to offer special editions of video games that can’t be found anywhere else in the world than Toys“R”Us.

Fans can begin pre-ordering the Bakugan Battle Brawlers video game today in Toys“R”Us stores nationwide or online at Toysrus.com. Bakugan Battle Brawlers will be released for Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment systems on October 20, 2009.

Latest game in the "Lips" franchise features 40 chart-topping hits, plus a five-song pack of your choice for free download from Xbox LIVE
One of the most incredible collections of the world’s hottest number one songs is about to launch this fall. Get the crowd singing and the party started with “Lips: Number One Hits,” the newest game in the “Lips” singing franchise exclusively for Xbox 360.

Show off your singing chops with friends, harmonize in a duet or belt out those high notes to a diverse collection of 40 global smash hits, spanning genres, generations and countries so that even the pickiest of singers can find their unique pitch.

Available worldwide this fall, “Lips: Number One Hits” features popular songs that have graced the # 1 position on major global charts. Joining previously announced hits from Coldplay, Rihanna, Tokio Hotel, Timbaland feat. OneRepublic, Extreme, Culture Club, MC Hammer, Roy Orbison and Marvin Gaye the full catalog also includes:
• California Love by 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman (U.S.): this song earned the late rapper a posthumous Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance, Duo or Group in 1997
• Barbie Girl by Aqua (Denmark): a breakthrough international hit, this song featured the band’s lead singers as the toy couple Barbie and Ken in the music video
• Just Dance by Lady Gaga feat. Colby O’Donis (U.S.): the debut song of this theatrical pop singer became an international smash hit
• Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears (U.K.): this successful single was written and recorded in two weeks, becoming the band’s first Billboard Hot 100 #1 and peaking at #2 on the U.K. Top 40 chart
• The Fear by Lily Allen (U.K.): from her second album, this song is the artist’s social commentary about the dark side of celebrity and consumer culture
• Don’t Phunk With My Heart by Black Eyed Peas (U.S.): influenced by Indian music, this song sampled the Bollywood cult hit film “Don,” a movie about a man posing as the leader of a gang of international smugglers
• I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’ by Scissor Sisters (U.S.): this song was written with the legendary artist Elton John and features his piano playing in the melody
• Heartless by Kanye West (U.S.): this is the first single in “pop art” music, a new genre which West describes as making pop music in an "artistic" way
• Touch My Body by Mariah Carey (U.S.): this song was Carey's 18th #1 on the U.S. singles charts, which pushed her into second place behind the Beatles as the artist with the most chart-topping singles
• Hey There Delilah by Plain White T’s (U.S.): this song was written as an ode to a girl named Delilah that the band’s singer met only once by chance in NYC
• Always On My Mind by Pet Shop Boys (U.K.): the Daily Telegraph’s music critics ranked the band's cover of this Brenda Lee song as #2 of the all-time best cover songs
• I’m Yours by Jason Mraz (U.S.): while this artist’s music has appeared on the charts since 2003, this single is his first chart-topping hit
• Push the Button by Sugababes (U.K.): this song was the girl group’s fourth #1 single in the U.K. and topped the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles

The complete song listing of artists and songs available on “Lips: Number One Hits” can be found at xbox.com/lips.
In addition to the huge variety of songs available on disc, “Lips” fans will be able customize their “Number One Hits” set list with a theme pack of their choice containing five additional songs, available to download for free on Xbox LIVE. This summer, singers can help decide what themes will be available for “Lips: Number One Hits” by voting for their favorite themes at xbox.com/lips.

“Lips: Number One Hits” and the original “Lips” game combine to create the ultimate singing party, with more songs to keep the fun rocking all night long. But for singers with an insatiable appetite for variety, Xbox LIVE Marketplace has a vast library of tunes that can be downloaded for both titles. New tracks of all genres and artist-specific songs packs are added regularly each week, so personal catalogs can keep growing and growing. “Lips,” combined with the power of Xbox LIVE, makes Xbox 360 the best destination for music game fans.

“Lips,” Xbox 360’s first exclusive singing party game from iNiS, launched November 2008. The second title, “Lips: Number One Hits,” launches this October 2009. More information on “Lips” is available at xbox.com/lips.

Overlord II - Battle Rock Nemesis DLC extends the evil with new combat arena, enemies and in-game items

Extend the evil as Codemasters announce the new ‘Overlord II - Battle Rock Nemesis’ downloadable content for Overlord II, the twisted fantasy action adventure, for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

The ‘Battle Rock Nemesis’ downloadable content is available now from PLAYSTATION Store (£3.19 / €3.99 / $5.00) and today on Xbox LIVE Marketplace (400 Microsoft Points). Details of downloadable content for the PC edition of Overlord II will be announced shortly.




The ‘Battle Rock Nemesis’ downloadable content installs the imposing ‘Battle Rock’ arena in the Netherworld which plays host to a series of new combat challenges as the player progresses through the game. Gamers harvest life force as they wreak havoc upon Nordburg Hunters and Gnomes in practice rounds and then take on fearsome foes, including the Satyr, the Empire’s Champion, and the fabled Phoenix in a series of boss battles which unlock new rewards including more powerful spells and in-game items for the Overlord and his Minions. On Xbox 360, players can earn Achievements worth 100 points through winning the boss battles.



Overlord II is the sequel to the original twisted fantasy action adventure and is available for the PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC, with full online & offline multiplayer and split screen functions. Overlord Dark Legend was developed and designed exclusively for Wii and features Minion control through intuitive Wii Remote movement. Overlord Minions is a dedicated puzzle action title, developed exclusively for Nintendo DS and uses 100% touch screen controls, perfect for Overlords on the go.

Xbox announce Swiss born, female racing sensation Natacha Gachnang as the European ‘Face of Forza’ to celebrate the upcoming launch of Forza Motorsport 3 for the Xbox 360 from Microsoft.

Launching on 23 October 2009, Forza Motorsport 3, is the definitive racing game for everyone from hardcore tuners to anyone who’s ever dreamed of driving at full-throttle. Who better than Gachnang to speak to its incredible realism and thrilling driving action.

In December 2008, Gachnang was announced as the first ever female driver to race in the FIA Formula Two Championships. The 21 year old, who is the cousin of Formula One driver Sébastien Buemi, is currently shining in her debut season racing under MotorSport Vision.

Natacha also spent some time in Seattle as a consultant on the game, giving advice on the realism of some of the tracks she has raced in her career, as well as critiquing the sounds and set ups of the cars she has driven. Gachnang also explored the customisation and tuning elements of the game and created her own car.

The ultimate thrill seeker, Gachnang lists heliskiing as one of her favourite hobbies and she jumped at the chance to test her experience of the road on the breathtaking virtual tracks of Forza 3.

“What a buzz – the tracks, the cars, the handling – the attention to detail is incredible. Forza 3 is a car fans dream! It really feels like I’m right there, in the car, racing round the tracks, all in the comfort of my own living room!” said Natacha Gachnang

Launching this October exclusively on Xbox 360, "Forza Motorsport 3" unites the racing game genre making it possible for everyone to experience the thrill of the world's most exotic and exquisite cars.

You can take the wheel of over 400 of the most loved cars on the planet on over 100 different tracks, including the sublime Audi R8 and the infamous German Nürburgring.

Developed by Turn 10 and Microsoft Studios, Game Director Dan Greenawalt stated, “A love of all things cars lives in everyone at Turn 10. It’s fantastic to see this mirrored in Natacha. Her passion and expertise for racing is clear to see and the realism of the game really lets her skills as a driver shine through. From a pro driver like Natacha to anyone who has a passion for cars, Forza Motorsport 3 has something for everyone.”

The release of Defenders of Law launches the beginning of a three-game deal in which Big Fish Games has acquired the Defenders of Law IP and will publish the first edition online and in retail stores as well as two upcoming sequels through 2010. The first edition of Defenders of Law for PC download is now available at www.bigfishgames.com.

“Defenders of Law is a truly immersive game that lets players take the role of an investigative lawyer,” said Melissa DiGioia, Senior Producer at Big Fish Games. “The game’s unique method of storytelling coupled with its innovative detective gameplay allows players to experience a truly interactive murder mystery.”

“Big Fish Games has built a site full of strong titles, and to have Defenders of Law included in their lineup ensures that the game will reach a wide audience,” said Mariana Cardoso, General Manager of GAMEINVEST.

In Defenders of Law, players step into the shoes of one of five possible lawyers in order to investigate a murder mystery in the town of Willburg. The lawyers are assigned to defend a suspect in the murder of Miss Rosendale; and they have 15 days to gather enough evidence to strengthen their clients’ defense. Players must test their strategy skills by exploring the town to collect evidence. Clues can come from several helpful witnesses, as well as from fingerprints, footprints, and blood samples. Physical evidence can be extracted from the crime scene with the hidden object game mechanic, and analyzed in the lab. After the evidence is processed in the lab, the player will go to the courtroom for a decisive showdown against the district attorney. In the end, it will be revealed whether the defendant is guilty or innocent.

Using a mouse, players navigate their way through 28 detail-rich scenarios with multiple crime scenes, numerous murder weapons and several different murder suspects that guarantee a different outcome and experience each time the game is played. With five characters to choose from and many hours of ingenious gameplay, players of all ages will be drawn to the mystery of Defenders of Law.

Redbana has just released several new and exciting additions to the online dance rhythm game, Audition. New clothes, songs, modes and more have been added to the virtual dance world, making it the freshest online dance scene on the web. The new updates bring a fresh wave of style to the game, introducing players to the hottest music to hit the scene.

“Keeping the game as current as possible through routine updates is a priority for us,” explains Eric Liu, Global Manager of Redbana. “Audition is all about providing a fun, bright, exciting environment, and in order to maintain this experience with each visit, the game’s features need to reflect its players present interests.”

Redbana’s modern inspirations are appreciated in the game’s upbeat music, bright animations and attitudes, which all work together to make a fantastically fun virtual dance community. Audition’s routine updates are not limited to game accessories; the most recent update includes:

- 8 New Songs
- 50+ New Avatar Items
- Extended Story Mode
- Big Game Renewal!
- Crazy Dynamic Mode (individual, team)
- Beatup & Union Battle Party Reset Items

Redbana’s unique enthusiasm to create frequent game updates and upgrades in sync with Audition’s outstandingly energetic attitude ensures an online game that is fun for everyone.

No Audition account? No problem. New users can sign up for a FREE account at http://audition.redbana.com

Sony and WildStorm have teamed up with best-selling fantasy author J.S. Lewis to adapt the smash hit MMO, Free Realms (www.FreeRealms.com), to the comic page! This 12-issue comic book series mirrors the nonstop action of the game, offering exciting adventures, battles with vicious monsters and, of course, the allure of gorgeous fairies!

The story begins when a young boy is abducted and dragged into a darkened forest teeming with twisted monsters. It's up to a relic hunter and a pixie to save him, but their mission is cut short when a horde of troll-like creatures captures them!

On sale starting July 29th, 2009, look for Free Realms comic book issue No1 wherever comics are sold!

FEATURES:
• 32pg.
• Color
• $3.99 US
• Story by J.S. Lewis
• Art by Jon Buran and Allen Martinez
• Colors by Bill Crabtree
• Letters by Johnny Lowe
• Cover by Jon Buran and Allen Martinez
• Release Date Wed, July 29th, 2009

Land of Magic is introducing a new Treasure Chest event on July 30, 2009. A nice break away from traditional EXP Boost events, the Treasure Chest event will give players items according to the amount of time played.

New players can receive the first gift item after only 5 minutes of play time. After another ten minutes, players will receive another next gift item. As playing time doubles, players will receive another special item.

Players do not have to be logged on to the game continuously for the time to be accumulated. All players need to do is log in often to receive the special gifts. The time is reset every day during daily server maintenance. For existing players, the times needed to get these special items are longer.

The special gifts will be mostly cash shop items, some rare items and gems. In Land of Magic, gems are needed to upgrade weapons. Some lucky few will win rare weapons considered to be the most valuable items in the game.

Land of Magic is a constantly evolving MMO game that was once the top ranked online game in Korea for three straight years. Land of Magic is also one of the first games to introduce the rebirth system which allows players to reborn over and over again into the same or different professions with different results. Famous for its fast play, number of levels, numerous combinations of skills and distinct differentiation among classes, player characters are all unique in the Land of Magic.

For details, please visit NeoFun.com.

Koichi Sugiyama is renowned across the world for the expansive orchestral work he's contributed to the Dragon Quest series. Lesser known is the fact that he's a boardmember on JASRAC, a copyright collection agency that's the equivalent of the RIAA in Japan, and he frequently comments to the media about copyright and piracy issues. (These often don't get reported on as much as his more conservative, nationalistic comments, such as that time in 2007 when he spearheaded a full-page ad in the Washington Post disputing Japan's involvement with "comfort women" during World War II.)

Dragon Quest IX may have sold 3 million copies in Japan within two days of launching, but that hasn't kept Sugiyama from getting steaming mad over gamers using flash-RAM carts to play the RPG for free. "The way I see it, it's like selling a set of thieves' tools," he commented to Famitsu magazine this week. "If you make off with a physical item, everybody knows that's a crime. If you stole an apple from a fruit stand, then you're plainly committing the crime of shoplifting; going into someone's house and taking their jewelry is robbery. Everyone is conscious of the fact that stealing what's in front of you is a crime, but with something that's not in plain sight, like intellectual property, a lot of people fail to understand what the issue is."

Going into people's houses unannounced and rifling through all their possessions in search of herbs and gold is one of Dragon Quest's more amusing hallmarks, but Sugiyama doesn't have much respect for people who have no problem emulating that in real life. "I'd like them to see this property the same way they'd see physical property," he said. "Looking at how aware the world's nations are of copyright, I'm sad to say that I have the impression Japan is lagging behind. The more advanced a nation, generally the more respectful of copyright they are, but I would not call Japan at all advanced in this regard."

Sugiyama's reputation for being outspoken has made him an easy target for criticism among Japanese gamers, similar to litigious anti-violence activist Jack Thompson over here. "[Internet] opinions don't make me angry -- they inspire me to try harder," the composer responded in the Famitsu interview. "It's hard to say if the anti-copyright crowd is a small group or actually the majority, but let's say they compose about 20 percent of users, and another 20 percent completely and fully support copyright. That leaves 60 percent of users without a clear view on the law, and there's the chance that the 20 percent with outrageous opinions will drag that 60 percent to their side. I've seen that phenomenon in several cases, so you can't ignore it just because you think it's a tiny minority at work. These are all hypothetical figures, but the real battle here will be how to appeal to this large group of people without a solid opinion on copyright."

A revision to Japan's copyright legislation passed in May means that as of January 1, 2010, it will be expressly against the law to download pirated software in the nation, in addition to uploading it. Downloading will not be an arrestable offense and holds no criminal penalties, but if a game publisher felt like it, they could track illegal downloaders and take them to civil court for damages, much as the RIAA has tried to do with music downloaders in the US.

Sugiyama isn't all that satisfied with this new law, however. "Selling pirated games or offering them for download on the Internet puts you afoul of the law, but selling the RAM cartridges themselves is tough to restrict by law," he said. "With the revisions to copyright law taking effect next year, using a RAM cartridge to commit intellectual property theft will be a crime, but actually arresting someone for it will be extremely difficult. It may be time to consider some other sort of legal restriction."

Source: 1up

Sales of Dragon Quest IX have now topped three million, according to figures from Famitsu publisher Enterbrain.

The DS RPG has sold 3.2 million copies in Japan since its launch on July 11; a number which Agence France-Presse is reporting makes it the fastest-selling game on Nintendo's handheld to date.

Just two days after its release, the title had sold over 2.3 million units with sales of the DSi console increasing twofold as a result.

The wait is over as old-school hero Nathan Spencer gets a 3D makeover with today’s release of Bionic Commando for Windows PCs.

Bionic Commando is rated by the ESRB as Mature and is available now on store shelves in North America for $39.99 for Windows PCs or through various online distribution platforms, including the Capcom e-Store and Steam.

Features:

* Use the bionic arm to swing between towering skyscrapers at breathtaking speed, hook onto distant objects, zip up on hanging girders and choose your own route through the game
* Gameplay that moves through horizontal and vertical environments - a 3D game that truly uses all three dimensions Full multiplayer mode with rich stat-tracking to check whether you’re a true commando or a lowly private
* Use the power of the bionic arm - and of next-gen physics - to realistically throw massive objects, pummel opponents, whip enemies into the air, or pull the landscape apart
* Arm yourself with a variety of weapons worthy of a Bionic Commando
* Starring Mike Patton, the former lead singer of Faith No More, as the voice of Nathan Spencer
* Developed by Swedish studio GRIN, developers of the highly acclaimed Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter series for PC

Meanwhile, Bionic Commando Rearmed became available today via Steam. Regularly $10, Bionic Commando Rearmed can be purchased in a bundle through Steam with Bionic Commando for $44.99.

Deep Silver have just released a new trailer with scenes from the game, presenting many different aspects of the RPG. The new trailer is accompanied by the song "The Poet and the Pendulum" from Nightwish, the most successful symphonic/gothic metal band world-wide.

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.

A Whole New Dimension of Horror Comes to PC Fans
Capcom is pleased to announce that Resident Evil 5 for the PC will release on September 18th, 2009 across European territories. PC gamers will get the ultimate Resident Evil package in the new PC version as new features will include NVIDIA’s new GeForce 3D Vision technology (wireless 3D Vision glasses sold separately), new costumes and a new and improved mercenaries mode with three times as many enemies.

Fans that pick up the PC version will be the first to experience stereoscopic 3D out of screen effects as their living rooms are transformed into the world of Kijuju. Infected Majini coming at players from every angle, dust flying in and out of screen and the scariest bosses to date are taken up a notch. Resident Evil 5 PC is a whole new level of fear players will never forget. The game also supports Stereoscopic 3D in all of its cut scenes – an industry first.

These groundbreaking stereoscopic 3D effects were developed in close cooperation with NVIDIA, which resulted in the game being part of NVIDIA’s “The Way It’s Meant To Be Played” partnership program. Resident Evil fans can check out the 3D action for themselves today as a new stereo 3D tech demo with benchmark is available to download today on NVIDIA’s official site at - http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_re5_downloads.html.

To find out more info on NVIDIA’s GeForce 3D Vision technology, click on the link here, http://www.nvidia.com/3dvision/.

As part of First Star Software’s celebration of 2009 as the 25th Anniversary of Boulder Dash, DotEmu and First Star Software, Inc. are proud to announce the launch of the first free, Ad-supported, Boulder Dash game now available at : http://www.easyretro.com/play/334/boulder_dash_arcade-first_star_software.html

Since its initial release, in 1984, there have been four versions of Boulder Dash released into the coin-operated arcades. Ported by DotEmu and Co-published by First Star Software, Inc. this Arcade version is the best known, most popular of them all!

In each of the 24 levels, as you play in all 6 worlds, you must clear a path and collect the number of diamonds required in order to open the exit. Along the way, you'll encounter boulders, brick walls, magic walls, the growing amoeba, numerous enemies and much more. Boulder Dash-Arcade Web Edition is playable with the keyboard; but also, with the mouse, improving original gameplay and broaden the appeal to more casual players who are used to a ‘mouse-only’ interface.

- Several millions of units have been sold in the Boulder Dash series, and we are very happy to have the opportunity to make this classic available again, and for the first time, on the Internet. In addition, the casual game play will be enjoyed by both retro-gamers as well as news players.», Xavier Liard, DotEmu CEO.

- We’re very excited to be working with DotEmu as we prepare to launch several Ad supported, ‘free-to-play’ titles, including Boulder Dash-Arcade Web Edition and others in the Boulder Dash series. We see these free, browser versions of Boulder Dash as yet another way to feature the brand and to support the recent release of new games in the series, on SmartPhones; for Windows and Mac, etc.» added Richard M. Spitalny, First Star Software’ President.

Rumble Fighter, a compelling and fast-paced online mixed martial arts Fighting game is launching today in Europe. PC gamers from all over the continent can sign up NOW, create a character and start fighting TODAY, absolutely FREE of charge. Just visit this website http://rf.ogplanet.eu to register.
Casual MMO publisher OGPlanet today announced the official launch of its first European game, Rumble Fighter. Following a successful Beta period, all European PC gamers are now invited to join forces with friends in the rumble zone, in battles of up to 8 players.

Unlike other Multiplayer Online Games that charge subscription fees, Rumble Fighter allows gamers unlimited access to the battle zone free of charge. Players can upgrade and purchase a large variety of items and skills to enhance and personalise their game play experience. This is done by either earning carats, Rumble Fighters’ in-game currency, through participating and winning battles or by buying Astro’s, OGPlanet’s virtual currency.

To celebrate the full launch of Rumble Fighter, OGPlanet will be giving all players a random in-game Astro item. All players who will have logged in before Sunday, August 2nd at 23;59 will receive their very own surprise!

“Since we opened our Beta trial to all European gamers, Rumble Fighter has received great feedback and our top priority now is to continue offering a high-quality, user friendly game,” stated Stephan Ansari, VP of European Operations. “With our dedicated European client, we can offer a more personalised gaming experience making Rumble Fighter an exciting Multiplayer Online Game (MOG) that blends social online community experiences with casual, easy to pick-up gameplay.”

Gamers are invited to create an online character with a unique fighting style and virtual personality, then scrap it out, online to the bitter end against fighters from all over the Europe.

Pit your fighting wits against fighters throughout Europe across numerous feature-rich 3D environments using a wide variety of fighting techniques and in-game weapons and items.

Rumble Fighter’s Features:
o Free to download and play
o Fully customisable – change your character’s appearance and choose its fighting style and techniques
o Solo and Team modes- choose to battle alone or join forces with friends
o Up to 8 players in the same room
o Easy to learn – casual and fun gameplay makes Rumble Fighter easy to understand and quick to get to grips with
o Hardcore Gamer or Casual Fighter – Rumble Fighter is exciting for players of all abilities, from the “Casual” to the “Hardcore”
o Transform – Rumble Fighter’s unique “ExoCore” systems enables players to evolve during battle and further enhance their character’s attributes
o Upgrade with Astros – use in-game points known as Carats or buy OGPlanet’s universal cyber currency Astros to further customise your characters and buy new techniques, weapons and other items
o Rich graphics – Rumble Fighter’s custom-built graphics engine utilises cell shading techniques and pre-rendered global illumination map textures, creating vibrant rich imagery inspired by Japanese animé
o Available to PC users in Europe from today.

Puzzle Lab announces the release of Posh Boutique 2, a sequel of a great time management hit. Alicia successfully developed her own chain of posh boutiques and went on a vacation. Hardly had the plane landed, when she found out, that she had won a lottery prize of $1,000,000! Full of enthusiasm, she cancelled her vacation and decided to start another chain of boutiques in a new area. The gameplay is basically the same as in the first Posh Boutique, but there are also some new features, making the process of running the boutique business even more fascinating. VIP mini-games will entertain you after a busy day devoted to time management.

Acting as Alicia, you serve customers who come to your store to buy something. You take them to fitting rooms, to the sunglasses rack or to other accessories, depending on what they would like to purchase. To deliver excellent customer service, follow the icons above each customer's head - they display the desired item. Once you have taken the customer to the right place, you should choose the right item from the assortment of goods. Unlike the first Posh Boutique, Posh Boutique 2 features several ways of selection: skimming, picking one of nine items and picking an item from the conveyor belt. Finally the customer should be taken to the check-out counter to pay for his purchases.

For each day there is a goal to earn a certain amount of money. Later on you can spend it on hiring an assistant or on upgrading equipment in order to serve the customers faster and to make them more patient. By the way, the patience level of each customer is also displayed above the heads in the form of smileys. The more content a customer is when leaving the boutique, the more money you earn! So do not make them wait for too long, otherwise the customers can lose their patience and leave without paying. Apart from upgrades, you can also spend money on store window design to attract more customers.

Of course, there are various types of customers, and you should pay special attention to those marked as VIP. But there also two new types: journalists and couples. Couples are simply served together, but journalists are a bit troublesome. You should make efforts to cater for them well, and, in addition to this, they come to the store after the close of business. They choose goods for a boutique review and rate your store. To get a high rating (and to increase sales!) you should find required goods among those scattered all over the screen.

For various achievements Alicia gets awards and keeps them in a special trophy room. It is available at any time, so that you can enter it and see if you are successful enough! Remember that at the end of the game the trophies will bring you some extra money.

Features:

- Upgradeable equipment
- Improved time management gameplay
- New types of customers
- New ways to attract customers
- Exhilarating mini-games
- Cups and awards
- Rich graphics

Pricing and Availability

Posh Boutique 2 runs under Windows 98, ME, 2K, XP and Vista. A single-user license costs $9.95 ($4.95 if you subscribe to Puzzle Lab mailing list).

Get a taste of NBA 2K10's all-new gameplay and My Player career mode while living the life of an NBA hopeful going through the real NBA Draft Combine.

2K Sports today announced NBA 2K10: Draft Combine, a download-only title that will provide pre-season fun for basketball fans leading up to the fall launch of NBA 2K10.

Planned for release this September on Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation Network for PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, NBA 2K10: Draft Combine will allow fans to create their own custom player with the utmost detail and, for the first time in the NBA 2K series, begin their career by experiencing the on-court life of an NBA hopeful going through the NBA Draft Combine at the world-renowned, ATTACK Athletics gym in Chicago.

“We’re giving our dedicated NBA 2K fans an incredible opportunity with NBA 2K10: Draft Combine,” said Greg Thomas, senior vice president of sports development for 2K. “Gamers will have exclusive access to online content and get to test drive NBA 2K10’s new gameplay features, advanced player progression system and the all-new My Player career mode before the game launches this fall.”

Features of NBA 2K10: Draft Combine include:

• Building custom players by working with a mentor, the 2K Insider, and increasing their NBA stock through a variety of challenging basketball drills and 5-on-5 games.
• Over 300 different signature customizations, including player-specific shooting animations, dunk and dribble packages and more to allow each created player to have his own unique personal style.
• Ability to strengthen all parts of the created player’s game with a variety of drills, such as shooting, post offense and defense, attacking the basket, dribbling, challenging shots, boxing out for rebounds and more to progress through the NBA Draft Combine.
• Organized games that will allow players to gain valuable skill points and offer a variety of specific in-game objectives that will need to be accomplished in order to gain them. At the end of each game, a full analysis will be available for gamers to review their player’s performance and strategize their further improvement.
• All players created in NBA 2K10: Draft Combine will wear a special patch on their uniform throughout the rest of that player’s career to denote that they have completed the NBA Draft Combine.
• Online leaderboards to track the highest ranking custom built players, and where a player stacks up against the competition.
• Opportunity to unlock special achievements on Xbox 360 and trophies for PLAYSTATION 3 system.
• Fans can take their custom built players from NBA 2K10: Draft Combine and use them in the all-new My Player career mode in NBA 2K10 launching this fall, allowing them to continue their journey of becoming an NBA legend.

NBA 2K10: Draft Combine, developed by Visual Concepts, is planned for release in North America, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and India this September on Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 (400 Microsoft Points) and PlayStation Network for PLAYSTATION 3 system ($4.99).

Beginning July 28 Fans Can Wreak Havoc with the Game's Most Powerful Weapon Yet in the New Map, StormVille

GameHi announced it will begin the first open beta test for Sudden Attack, their No. 1 free-to-play first person shooter (FPS) available for players July 28 – August 17. Slated for commercial release this fall, fans who missed the closed beta can register for this first open beta 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 first open beta will be open to anyone who signs up over the next three weeks. Members of the first closed betas will not need to re-register, and will be able to keep their same account and character name.

For the first time players will get to try the Property Defense mode in the new map StormVille. Here each team must find, capture, and defend a specific area for a certain amount of time, in order to win the game. Unlike rules from other missions, the characters will respawn infinitely until the objective is met or time runs out. As well, players will have the chance to experience the game’s most powerful weapon yet, the MG43. This machine gun is Sudden Attack’s primary weapon, holding 100 rounds in a clip, the largest rounds in the game so far.

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.

Frogster’s French and Spanish Runes of Magic server is open for all players as of now. With the launch of the open beta test, MMO-interested French and Spanish players can now explore the already integrated content of the online fantasy world in their own native languages.PEGI: 12+


Following the successful shutdown of the closed beta, the servers today go back up on the net for the deciding test phase. A brief registration procedure on the official Spanish (http://www.runesofmagic.com/es/) and French (http://www.runesofmagic.com/fr/) web pages is all that is required to take part in the open beta. All adventurers who are already active in the game will keep their accounts. The download of the software is of course free of charge. Frogster will use the time leading up to the official live operation in September to optimise the localisation. A so-called ‘wipe’ – a deleting of avatars – of characters created during the open beta test will not take place.

“We are completely satisfied with the development of Runes of Magic in Spain and France,” commented Daniel Ullrich, Director of Product Management, on the closed beta’s previous performance. Above all, the key aspect of localization is progressing according to plan: “A large part of the game has already been translated for the launch of the open beta,” said Localization Manager Konstantin Drewitz: “We are optimistic that we can offer Runes of Magic as a completely localized version for the release in September.”



Runes of Magic – a world full of wizardry and adventure
The German and English versions of Runes of Magic were released on 19 March 2009. Anyone can download the online role-playing game for free at: www.runesofmagic.com and can plunge into the game world after a short registration process.

With an extensive range of features, Runes of Magic is redefining the standard for free-to-play massively multiplayer online role playing games. Runes of Magic features an absorbing story through more than 1,600 quests, in a vibrant fantasy world. Players can choose from six main classes, combined with a secondary class, presenting 30 individual combinations of character classes over all. All characters possess unique skills with impressive combo attacks and can use mounts like war horses and more.

A particularly attractive feature is the ability for players and guilds to arrange and furnish their virtual homes. Thanks to an extensive crafting and reputation system, exciting PvP and demanding dungeons and boss monsters, there is something for everyone.

Taiwanese developer Runewaker developed Runes of Magic according to western MMO standards over three years. The studio is providing new challenges for players every four to five months with free add-ons and updates. You can find more information, pictures, videos, and the game available for free download via the official website: www.runesofmagic.com.

Features
• Free-to-play: no monthly fees, free download
• Extensive dual class system (six primary and secondary classes)
• Versatile spell and attack combinations
• Enthralling background story
• More than 1,600 quests and quest series
• No zone boundaries thanks to seamless architecture
• Dungeons: Instanced, tile based, and persistent
• Individually developable skills and spells
• Armour sets with special bonuses
• Dynamic item system with hundreds of runes for upgrading
• Optional PvP system with arena battles
• Ranking system with player-ranking lists
• Multitude of unique mounts
• Epic crafting system with the ability to improve existing items
• Personalization of player houses through individual furnishing
• Reputation system
• Customisable user interface with the option to use Add-Ons
• Map and radar system to easily find dealers, resources and quests
• In-game auction houses for trading items
• Teleport-Runes for instant travel
• Mouse and keyboard controls for movement
• Regular updates with new content
• Guild castles in special zones
• Cross-server fights in three-server-battle and guild wars in development

Facts
Title: Runes of Magic
Genre: Fantasy MMORPG
Platform: Windows PC
Publisher: Frogster Online Gaming
Developer: Runewaker Entertainment Ltd.
Release: 19 March 2009

Wii Sports Resort is more than just a game: it's the sequel to the phenomenally successful Wii Sports, and marks the debut of Nintendo's MotionPlus accessory.

The original Wii Sports was a fantastic introduction to the concept of motion controls. Think about it: the Wii Remote was a radical departure from established video game controllers and without the butter smooth motion control experience of Wii Sports to light the way, the whole experiment could have easily back-fired. Of course, the game is also ridiculously fun and still stands as the quintessential Nintendo Wii experience.

Which is why a retail sequel makes so much sense. But rather than being just a simple follow up, Wii Sports Resort faces its own monumental task: familiarise Wii owners with the new MotionPlus accessory and convince them to buy yet another Wii Remote attachment. Easy enough, right?

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Wii Sports Resort: Like the real thing

Actually it is because, much like its predecessor, Wii Sports Resort makes it largely effortless for anyone to jump into one of the 12 included mini-games, and although every single game doesn't justify the use (or requirement) of the included MotionPlus adaptor, the ones that do offer a very positive advertisement for not only the accessory but the potential future of gaming on the Wii.

What makes MotionPlus so compelling is the way it enhances each mini-game; at its best, it allows you to forget that you're simply holding a piece of plastic. Each slight movement of the Wii Remote is replicated on screen, whether it's a table tennis paddle or sword in your hand. The added accuracy lets you focus on the actual motions and it adds a nice touch of realism to the experience.

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Of course, you'll still have to overcome the urge to focus on the visual representation of your actions and instead simply play like you would in real life. Resort's visual style may be eye pleasing, but following the on-screen images isn't always the best way to play.

For instance, while playing Frisbee Dog, I found myself putting up much better scores when I stopped focusing on the angle at which my Mii was holding the disc and simply motioned like I was tossing the real thing.

The same held true in Table Tennis, an improved version of the mini-game seen in Wii Play: the less I worried about the on-screen position of the paddle, the better I seemed to play. It works against many of the traditional notions we have about playing games, but it proves to be a very intuitive way to play, and both aforementioned mini-games are among the best in the package.

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Also of note are the Swordplay games. Wanna-be Jedis should be excited as Resort finally proves that a lightsaber-focused Star Wars game (or any sword-based game, for that matter) is a real possibility on the Wii. Split between duels, adventure-like Showdown stages (in which you take down waves of foes), and a Speed Slice mode where you chop up everyday items as indicated by the screen, these games finally give you nearly full 1:1 control.

It's no exaggeration to say that the standard for melee-based action games has been set and any future game that doesn't support MotionPlus will immediately be seen as a disappointment.

The MotionPlus attachment also improves the Bowling and Golf events, both of which are holdovers from the first game. The attachment gives you greater control over the spin and release of your bowling ball, making an already sharp mini-game even better. Golf has a more robust feel this time around, with nine new holes (for 18 total) and additional shot options, though it's still tough to gauge the strength of your shot, especially while putting or chipping in.

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Many of the other games make less of an impact, whether due to uninteresting gameplay or the lack of MotionPlus implementation. Wakeboarding and Power Cruising (jet ski racing) are both decent water-based events, but neither offers a particularly compelling experience. The Basketball games lack a realistic throwing motion, but the Three-Point Contest remains a decent diversion; the Pickup Game mode is just a poorly realised imitation of the real thing, however.

The Air Sports (skydiving and sightseeing/dueling in airplanes) are pleasant, relaxing counterparts to the more active events, but the remaining games, Cycling and Canoeing, both come across as Wii Fit castoffs, with constant, tiring motions and lengthy challenges.

As with its predecessor, Wii Sports Resort is best experienced with local pals (up to four players in most games), though the score-based challenges mean events like bowling, archery, and Frisbee Dog hold up well with repeated solo play.

Still, it's tough to justify the lack of online play modes or even leaderboards, especially since the game has some online implementation via the excellent option to automatically download top user-created Miis from the Check Mii Out channel for opponents and bystanders. This alone is enough to ding the overall score.

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But even without that crucial feature, Wii Sports Resort still feels like an accomplishment, not only because it offers a fun and accessible experience built around the MotionPlus attachment, but because it may very well renew optimism in those jaded by the lacklustre motion controls seen over the last couple years. It's a very strong follow-up to the original and I can only hope that upcoming titles will build on the momentum that Resort has generated.

Source: PC Advisor

DJ Jazzy Jeff, GRAMMY Award winning hip-hop and R&B record producer, actor and world famous turntablist will ascend to the virtual stage this fall in Activision and Guitar Hero's highly anticipated video game DJ Hero. In addition to joining the distinguished rank of playable characters that will appear in the game, including DJ Shadow, DJ Z-Trip, Grandmaster Flash, DJ AM and others, DJ Jazzy Jeff will shake the room and bring the party to life with his own set list featuring two exclusive mixes hand created by the legend himself - Tears for Fears "Shout" v Eric B. & Rakim "Eric B. Is President" and LL Cool J "Rock the Bells" vs. The Aranbee Pop Symphony Orchestra "Bittersweet Symphony."



"I am very, very excited DJ culture is finally getting its due. To have a song in DJ Hero is a dream come true; to be a character someone can pick up the controller and select you and play is probably the biggest thing to happen to me in my career," said DJ Jazzy Jeff. "Music is so much a part of everyone's life, DJ Hero is going to appeal to almost everybody."



Expanding upon the revolutionary easy to pick up/challenging to master gameplay mechanics developed and refined in Guitar Hero, DJ Hero delivers an all-new interactive music experience that allows players to rule the party and not only experience, but to hear music in an all-new way. With over 100 individual songs, highlighted in over 80 unique never-before-released mixes that blend genres of music, including hip-hop, R&B, pop, rock and electronica, DJ Hero delivers the most diverse and international collection of music ever assembled in a music game by incorporating anthems from legendary artists. Created exclusively for DJ Hero, the turntable controller immerses fans into DJ culture and a sea of music as they utilize and master various DJ techniques including scratching, blending, cross fading and sampling, while leaving room for creative expression with a variety of effects and player chosen samples and scratches, transforming a face in the crowd into the life of the party.

DJ Hero is being developed by FreeStyleGames for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment systems and the Wii system from Nintendo.

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 VS 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 colorful, 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 more than $100 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.
Key features
Features
• Over 50 characters from the Marvel and Capcom Universes!
• 3 on 3 tag-team matches
• New online matching mode, including Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix’s “Quarter Match” mode ; enjoy the arcade experience from your console
• New optional visual filter smoothes out the game’s graphics
• Four button controls introduce new players to fighting games; compatible with the Mad Catz Street Fighter IV joysticks and Fight Pad
• Available for the first time via digital distribution on Xbox LIVE Arcade and the PlayStation Network

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.

But the balance was 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's favor. The world has been torn asunder, sinking into a vortex of disorder. As for the few surviving warriors their fates are about to be determined.

Assume the role of your favorite FINAL FANTASY characters thrown into an epic battle between light and darkness in this unique action game.

505 Games in collaboration with 1C Company have confirmed the date of the single player Xbox 360 demo for upcoming flight combat title IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds Of Prey. Gaijin Entertainment’s hotly anticipated WWII action simulator will get the demo treatment on Xbox LIVE Marketplace from 29th July, with the full release hitting UK shelves on 4th September for Xbox 360, PS3, PSP and Nintendo DS.

The IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds Of Prey demo will give players a taste of two of the game’s memorable conflict scenarios, The Battle of Britain and The Battle of the Bulge.

In Battle of Britain: Red Skies Over Dover, players are given the role of an RAF pilot commanding the legendary Mk. II Spitfire with B wing armament (two canons, four machine guns). What starts off as a routine ‘mopping up’ mission on a few stray He-111 German bombers soon develops into a fracas in which the RAF faced their finest hour. The mission demonstrates the skills required to intercept larger bombers as well as the more nimble Stuka bombers. The effective use of wingmen will become apparent as the mission unfolds and survivors will have the opportunity to land on a home airstrip.

In Battle of the Bulge: Tiger Hunt, the US Air Force P-51D Mustang is the weapon of choice as players are invited to pick off some German armour ploughing through the Ardennes. Defending FW-190 fighters will also have to be dispatched; although the Tigers are the primary target as US forces aim to stem the German advance and defend the front line. The mission will allow players to try rocket attacks on ground targets as well as sample the snow capped vistas of the December Belgian landscape.

Based around large-scale aerial combat over the ground-based military operations of World War II, variety is at the heart of the action in IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey. Players participate in the most famous confrontations of the era piloting fighters, battle planes or heavy bombers across a range of missions. There are 6 theatres of war in which to engage – The Battle of Britain, Stalingrad, Berlin, Sicily, the Battle of the Bulge and Korsun – representing the main airborne battles of World War II in Europe.

As well as taking environmental and landscape visuals to new heights by incorporating satellite technology, IL-2 also boasts a tangible damage effects engine. Players will see real-time damage to the aircraft such as holes in the wings and trail lines during dogfights.

IL2 Sturmovik: Birds Of Prey will be published by 505 Games in collaboration with 1C Company on 4th September 2009 for Xbox 360, PS3, DS and PSP. Visit the official website at www.il2game.com for all the latest information.

In the medieval universe of World of Battles, nine races fight a terrible war for world domination. Choose your side, recruit, train and equip units in order to create a powerful army able to face opposing armies created by other players.

Take part in huge battles in order to establish yourself as a warlord and progress in the online World of Battles’, ranks. Players will be free to connect for quick play and to participate in one of the many official tournaments of World of Battles.

In the game, you will discover a unique system for customizing your units and soldiers. You'll be able to personalize the appearance of each one of your soldiers with a very high level of detail. Before launching into your first battles, you'll need to prepare your troops, because if you don't, your army will surely take a beating.

Once you're ready to fight, gameplay switches to real time strategy mode. Take command of your armies and show everyone who's the greatest warlord in the war-torn battlefields of World of Battles. You can also join friends to confront other clans in titanic guild wars in which tactics and teamwork will be essential to become the most powerful army of all.

World of Battles is free and accessible to all in order to allow everyone to share an intense online gaming experience. World of Battles has higher technical ambitions than other current free internet games and a significant development budget. The game will be supported through additional services and micro-transactions which will allow players to buy customizations for troops and units.

World of Battles is currently being developed by Frogwares studio. It will be available online for free in June 2009.

In development by Epicenter Studios, "Real Heroes: Firefighter" emphasizes non-violent, game-integral puzzles and challenges that mirror the on-the-fly choices firefighters face every day.

Featuring Epicenter's proprietary "Thinking Fire" technology, blazes will seem almost alive as they not only attack structures, potential victims and firefighters, but also cause unexpected changes to the environments that will suddenly alter the player's options and strategies.

No two scenarios will play out the same way in "Real Heroes: Firefighter."

Electronic Arts unveiled the full soundtracks for Madden NFL 10, FIFA 10, NHL 10 and NBA LIVE 10. This first-ever quadruple announcement represents the sounds of this fall’s four sports franchises and affirms EA’s standing as the leaders in worldwide videogame music and marketing.

“Each EA SPORTS game is unique to every gamer that picks up the controller, we wanted to make sure the music matched each of those unique experiences,” said Steve Schnur, Electronic Arts’ Worldwide Executive for Music and Marketing. “With the big songs and huge bands in Madden NFL, bringing back the Soul of the Game to NBA LIVE, tapping into the hard hitting metal tracks of NHL and the international flavor of FIFA, this year’s EA SPORTS soundtrack line up aligns with each of the game’s unique styles.”

MADDEN NFL 10

Since 2001, the annual Madden NFL soundtrack has become music’s most essential launching pad for such artists as Avenged Sevenfold, Franz Ferdinand, Lupe Fiasco and Fallout Boy. This year, Madden NFL 10 makes the ultimate surprise play with a front-line of classics that includes Black Sabbath, 2Pac, Iron Maiden, Kid Rock, Nirvana, Public Enemy, System Of A Down and Rage Against The Machine; tracks by breakout bands Airbourne, Mastodon, and Killswitch Engage; and an exclusive new song by Cypress Hill.

The complete in-game soundtrack for Madden NFL 10:
ARTIST SONG
2Pac Can't C Me
Airbourne Heads Are Gonna Roll
Alice In Chains Them Bones
B.o.B Created A Monster
Bang Camaro Revolution
Beastie Boys Sabotage
Black Sabbath Paranoid
Cypress Hill Get ‘Em Up
Helmet Unsung
Iron Maiden Aces High
Judas Priest Painkiller
Kid Rock I Am The Bullgod
Killswitch Engage Reckoning
Korn Blind
Mastodon Divinations
Nas feat. Puff Daddy Hate Me Now
Nirvana Breed
Pantera Walk
Public Enemy Shut Em Down
Rage Against The Machine Guerrilla Radio
Set Your Goals Gaia Bleeds (Make Way for Man)
Slipknot Duality
System Of A Down Sugar
The Vanity Plan Before I Die
Young Dre The Truth Cheah Beah

NBA LIVE 10

Long recognized as the premiere showcase for diverse and innovative new music, NBA LIVE 10 features more than 80% exclusive tracks, including reinvented classics from Afrika Bambaataa, Dead Prez and Snoop Dogg, along with ground-breaking collaborations by indie-rockers Matt & Kim with the legendary De La Soul, and newcomers Mickey Factz & B.o.B. The soundtrack also spotlights never-before-heard songs from Beastie Boys and Wyclef Jean.

The complete in-game soundtrack for NBA LIVE 10:
ARTIST SONG
88 Keys feat. Colin Munroe Wake Up Call
Afrika Bambaataa feat. Why G, Mickey Factz &The Fort Knox Five Zulu! (We Don't Stop Yawl)
B.o.B. Champion
Beastie Boys Pop Your Balloon
David Banner & GQ S.P.I.T.
De La Soul La La La
Dead Prez Still Bigga Than
Embassy Music Board Overtime
Grand Puba Get It
Laza Crank It Up
Matt & Kim feat. De La Soul Daylight (Troublemaker Remix)
Matt & Kim Daylight
Mick Boogie feat. Kidz In The Hall, Donnis & Daytona Class Of Our Own
Mickey Factz & B.o.B. Mind Got Blown
Mos Def feat. Talib Kweli History
Murs feat. Kurupt & Jay Rock We Ballin'
Pete Rock When I Need It
Reflection Eternal Get Lite
Rye Rye feat. Busy Signal Get Like This
Snoop Dogg Lodi Dodi (LIVE 10)
Wale feat. Jazmine Sullivan World Tour
Wyclef Jean feat. Haitian Fresh Ballin'
Xzibit feat. BJ The Chicago Kid & Poo Bear Fanatic
Young Dre The Truth & 2Pac feat. BJ The Chicago Kid All Eyez On Me (The Truth)
Zion I Go Hard

NHL 10

NHL 10 boasts a crunching line-up of metal, indie-punk and rapcore tracks from both legendary platinum bands – including Megadeth, Scorpions, Green Day and Rancid – and breakthrough new acts such as Cancer Bats and Metalkpretty.

The complete in-game soundtrack for NHL 10:
ARTIST SONG
Alexisonfire Young Cardinals
Cancer Bats Deathsmarch
CKY Hellions On Parade
Disco Ensemble Golden Years
Drangonforce Heroes Of Our Time
Eagles Of Death Metal Anything 'Cept The Truth
Earl Greyhound Oye Vaya
Green Day Know Your Enemy
Megadeth Peace Sells
Metalkpretty Wake Up! Wake Up!
Ministry & Co-Conspirators Keys To The City (Chicago Blackhawks Theme Song)
MxPx Kids In America
Nickelback Burn It To The Ground
Papa Roach Into The Light
Priestess Raccoon Eyes
Rancid The Bravest Kids
Scorpions Rock You Like A Hurricane
Thousand Foot Krutch Fire It Up

FIFA 10

For the latest edition of the most influential global soundtrack in the world today, EA SPORTS FIFA 10 brings together genre-spanning tracks from 39 different artists representing more than 25 nations, including England, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil, Norway, New Zealand, Israel, USA and Nigeria.

The complete in-game soundtrack for FIFA 10:
ARTIST SONG COUNTRY
Adiam Dymott Miss You Sweden
Afrobots Favela Rock Brazil
Alex Metric Head Straight England
Auletta Meine Stadt Germany
Balkan Beat Box feat. Tomer Yosef and Saz Ramallah-Tel Aviv Israel
BLK JKS Lakeside South Africa
Bomba Estéreo Fuego Mexico
The BPA feat. Ashley Beedle Should I Stay Or Should I Blow England
Buraka Som Sistema feat. Pongolove Kalemba (Wegue - Wegue) Portugal
CasioKids Fot I Hose Norway
Children Collide Skeleton Dance Australia
Crookers feat. The Very Best, Two Fingers & Marina Gasolina Birthday Bash Italy
Cut Off Your Hands Happy As Can Be New Zealand
Dananananaykroyd Black Wax Scotland
Datarock Give It Up Norway
Fabri Fibra Donna Famosa Italy
Fidel Nadal International Love Argentina
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs La Luz Del Ritmo Argentina
Macaco Hacen Falta Dos Spain
Major Lazer Hold The Line USA
Marcio Local Soul Do Samba Brazil
Matt & Kim Daylight (Troublemaker Remix feat. De La Soul) USA
Metric Gold Guns Girls Canada
Mexican Institute Of Sound Alocatel Mexico
Nneka Kangpe Nigeria
Passion Pit Moth's Wings USA
Peter Bjorn And John Nothing To Worry About Sweden
Pint Shot Riot Not Thinking Straight England
Playing For Change War / No More Trouble WORLD
Rocky Dawuni Download The Revolution Ghana
Röyksopp It's What I Want Norway
Soshy Dorothy France
The Answering Machine It's Over! It's Over! It's Over! England
The Enemy UK Be Somebody England
The Temper Trap Science of Fear Australia
Tommy Sparks She's Got Me Dancing England
The Whitest Boy Alive 1517 Germany
Wyclef Jean MVP Kompa Haiti
Zap Mama Vibrations Belgium

Exkee is proud to announce its first WiiWare title, ColorZ, is now available on Nintendo Wii download platform.

ColorZ is an original action/puzzle game that takes place in a world full of colourful UFOs. Unfortunately, things have taken a downwards turn since a new virus polluted the universe and created thousands of nasty microbes. Your challenge is to attack the microbes and restore your planet back to its original vibrant self.

At the beginning of the game only red, green and blue UFOs are present and the player will be given control of one of the colours. The main rule is that one UFO can only pass through or absorb a microbe if it is made of the same colour. If not, your UFO dies. Players have to avoid colliding with microbes of different colour, sometimes chang