Latest Cities XL video game trailer released...

Monte Cristo Games and Namco Bandai Games are thrilled to be able to reveal the limited edition and standard editions for Cities XL, their innovative next generation city-simulation game. The Limited Edition includes 16 bonus items in a special pack and will only be available from key UK retailers.



The Cities XL Standard Edition box will include the installation DVD for the game, two instruction manuals, a 7-day trial code for the online Planet Offer and a trial offer on a second DVD so that one of your friends can discover the game.

On top of that, the Limited Edition box will include the following additional content:

• Five additional maps for solo mode,
• Five exclusive landmark buildings, (Berlin’s Victory Column, Kiev’s St. Vladimir’s Cathedral, New York’s 40 Wall Street, Paris’ Opera Garnier, San Francisco’s Grand Hotel),
• One exclusive city hall: Los Angeles’ City Hall,
• Two permanent blueprints: the Mayan pyramid of Chichen Itza and London’s Big Ben. These blueprints will be available from the start and can be built as many times as you wish.
• A bonus in-game t-shirt to make your avatar even more unique,
• an honorific medal to display proudly on your personal profile page on CitiesXL.com,
• Three postcards
• A 41x34cm poster

You will soon be able to pre-order the Limited Edition in the UK; there will be more information in the following days.

About CITIES XL

CITIES XL enables gamers to develop cities on realistic 3D maps, which feature a variety of environments from mountain ranges to beaches and islands. The cities you will build are based on American, Asian and European-influenced architectural styles. You must create the right combinations of job opportunities, social services, leisure activities, and special events within your cities in order to keep your citizens occupied and happy. Whether you’re planning and building a new zoo, public park, residential neighbourhood or transit system, there's always a fresh and exciting challenge for would-be city managers and mayors in CITIES XL.

Batman: Arkham Asylum NVIDIA Physx video game support HD video

An immersive adventure unfolds in stunning detail

Eidos, Warner Bros and NVIDIA Corporation announce the Games for Windows LIVE release of forthcoming DC Comics-licensed video game, Batman: Arkham Asylum, will feature NVIDIA PhysX technology, which allows for the creation of incredibly realistic worlds full of interactive materials and objects.



As a result, PC gamers will get to experience intense realism and fully immerse themselves in Batman’s journey into Gotham City’s asylum for the criminally insane.

Hardware accelerated by supported NVIDIA GeForce GPUs, PhysX technology provides an even deeper level of engagement for players of Batman: Arkham Asylum by utilizing the processing power of the NVIDIA GPU to render stunning in-game physics objects in the environment that not only add to the overall look of the game, but create an immersive and believable world.

With PhysX technology enabled, players can explore darkened corridors packed with volumetric fog which reacts to Batman’s movement and cobwebs which tear with his passing. Combat becomes a maelstrom of motion as office papers are thrown into the air alongside soda cans and litter as Batman lands each punch upon The Joker’s henchmen. Throughout the game, the decaying gothic architecture is realized to an incredible detail with wall tiles chipping and breaking, stone pillars crumbling upon impact, and particles from breaking glass and debris shattering and falling down around Batman’s feet.



“Supporting NVIDIA PhysX technology has allowed us to add that little bit extra to the PC version of the game,” said Sefton Hill, Game Director at Rocksteady Studios. “As Batman interacts with the world, the aging asylum creates a more immersive, believable world which really draws the player in.”

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 who have taken over the asylum. Using a wide range of Batman’s gadgets and abilities, players will become the Invisible Predator and attempt to foil The Joker’s demented scheme.

The NVIDIA PhysX development platform consists of a robust physics engine, API, and middleware designed to give developers and animators unprecedented creative control over the look of their final in-game interactivity by allowing them to author and preview physics in real time. To take advantage of PhysX technology in Batman: Arkham Asylum, players must have a compatible NVIDIA GPU and a copy of the Games for Windows LIVE version of the game, which will be available beginning September 15th, 2009, in North America, and September 18th, 2009, in Europe and Australia.

Batman: Arkham Asylum will also be available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system from August 25th, 2009, in North America and August 28th, 2009, in Europe and Australia.

LostWinds Winter of the Melodias - Sequel to the Best-Selling, Award-Winning Game Coming to WiiWare - with video

Frontier revealed LostWinds - Winter of the Melodias, the follow-up to last year’s best selling, award-winning WiiWare launch title LostWinds. This all-new game is packed with intuitive new gameplay mechanics and feels as fresh and compelling as the original.



The power of the wind is once again in the palm of your hand as you wield your Nintendo Wii Remote to use the elemental powers of Enril the Wind Spirit to protect and guide the young boy Toku - power his jumps and glides, suspend and smash new enemies, and explore all-new expanses of the stunningly presented, magical land of Mistralis as you experience Toku and Enril’s new adventure to save Toku’s mother, lift an ancient Curse and thwart the evil Balasar.

Players are able to instantly transform Mistralis between Summer and Winter, harnessing the brilliance of nature: frozen Winter ponds and waterfalls become deep, teeming Summer pools and chambers in which to dive and unlock secrets, enemies can be frozen or doused, and the very air itself used to form snowballs or moisture-laden clouds. Other amazing new abilities include the cyclone, which can be used to transport Toku, smash powerful enemies and even drill through the rocks of the Mistralis’ diverse, richly interactive Chilling Peaks and Melodia City areas.

“LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias will delight both new and returning players.” said David Braben, Chairman and Founder of Frontier “Every aspect has been extended and polished, and the major new gameplay elements dovetail perfectly to give a fantastically rich, fun, innovative experience.”

With production values to match the very best Nintendo Wii system disc titles, LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias will be available to download directly to the living rooms of millions of families in Europe and The Americas exclusively via Nintendo’s WiiWare service.

We Sing Nintendo Wii video game with 30 chart topping original songs

Nordic Games Publishing AB today confirmed that CentreSoft is to act as the publisher’s distribution partner for We Sing in the UK.

We Sing features both Solo and Party games, including a simultaneous four-player mode. We Sing has been developed exclusively for the Nintendo Wii and will be released on October 30th 2009.

“CentreSoft is in tune with everything that Nordic Games is striving to achieve.” Commented Nordic Games’ Sales & Marketing Director, Nik Blower. “They were perfect hosts for our Dance Party and Racer games and I’m sure they’ll hit all the right notes with We Sing.”

“CentreSoft and Nordic games will certainly make beautiful music together.” Said Margaret Pearson, CentreSoft’s Commercial Director. “We Sing has already caught the imagination of gamers everywhere and I’m sure that Nordic Games will succeed in making it top of the pops!”

We Sing features 30 chart topping original songs and videos from artists, including:

UB40 – Red Red Wine
Amy Winehouse – Tears Dry On Their Own
Charles And Eddie – Would I Lie To You?
Sugababes - Girls
OneRepublic Ft Timbaland - Apologize

Amazing adventures The Forgotten Ruins Seek-and-Solve Puzzle Game for Nintendo DS

Ubisoft announced a partnership with PopCap Games, the leading developer and publisher of broadly appealing video games, to distribute Amazing Adventures: The Forgotten Ruins for Nintendo DS. The game will be available on September 10, 2009 in all EMEA territories.

Amazing Adventures: The Forgotten Ruins was inspired by the original 'hidden object' PC game series, but features entirely new storylines, locations, gameplay modes and challenges. "With Amazing Adventures: The Forgotten Ruins™, we're delivering brand new adventures that have tremendously wide appeal to a rapidly expanding audience of casual players." said John Parkes, EMEA marketing director at Ubisoft.

Today’s announcement marks the first PopCap Games release for Nintendo DS in Europe. Mark Cochrane, EMEA Business Development Director at PopCap: "PopCap is delighted to work with Ubisoft to bring Amazing Adventures to the Nintendo DS platform. The Amazing Adventures franchise has been very successful online, boasting more than 15 million downloads since its 2007 introduction, and we are confident it will translate well for the adaptation on Nintendo DS.”

Developed in partnership with Black Lantern Studios, Amazing Adventures: The Forgotten Ruins™ transports players to an archeological dig, where they discover clues and follow an all-new character-filled storyline, chronicled in a player journal that will lead them to a long-lost Mayan ruin. Rich in content and entertainment value, the game features 20 missions and 18 locations. Eleven of the missions are unique to the Nintendo DS where players are challenged to find over 90 hidden objects per scene. They will also earn awards for accomplishing goals within the game and can unlock additional gameplay modes by locating bonus items such as Jade Masks and Mayan Glyphs.

Amazing Adventures: The Forgotten Ruins also includes five mini-games, including the new Mah-Jongg and popular Memory Match. The game features unique stylus-based controls, a separate instructions page for easy reference and three individual profiles, so you can pass the game around to family members.

Free download Resident Evil The Darkside Chronicles characters Leon & Claire available now

Assembling your very own RE Cubee could not be simpler:

Download the template (available in English, French, Spanish and Italian)
Print out.

Cut out the sections and assemble and thanks to the special interlocking tabs there’s no need for any messy glue.

Leon & Claire are available right now from the download section from www.capcom-europe.com , with more to follow in the coming weeks.

Have fun and remember to ask an adult to help you with the cutting out.
Capcom’s European PR team.

Western Wind Farting music game on iPhone and iPod Touch

Putting the Music Back in Musical Fruit

Rock Ridge Games announce the release of Western Wind for iPhone and iPod Touch. Available in the App Store now for just 99 cents, Western Wind is a melody and memory-based game that puts the music back into musical fruit. Hilariously addictive, off-color yet in-tune, Western Wind should be a part of everyone’s App library.

Western Wind is a tale from out of the Wild West that has been overlooked by modern historians. Six cowboys, all members of the musical troupe “Black Bart and The Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds”, set out seeking fame and fortune in the prosperous West. After taking a wrong turn in Albuquerque they are lost, hungry, and are forced to burn their instruments for warmth.

A case of beans is all they have left. That and their unwavering drive to keep the dream of hitting it big on the emerging Frontier music scene alive. Always resourceful, The Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds make music in the only way they can, and Western Wind is born from the ashes of their burned guitars and rusted bean cans.

Western Wind features two main gameplay modes: Musical Fruit and Follow That Fart. Core to the experience is Musical Fruit, which features 12 notes that players can use to create their own songs. Whether it’s an original tune or a campfire favorite, players will be able to craft and save their musical masterpieces. Follow That Fart is a fresh take on the classic game Simon Sez, where players must repeat a pattern of notes that becomes more complex and challenging as players advance.

Additionally, Share a Song mode allows players to play back any of their recorded songs. Your friends will bust a gut laughing as they listen to your fart-filled rendition of Tiny Bubbles.
Make music the Old West way with Western Wind!

To download the app please visit: http://itunes.com/apps/westernwind

Must.Eat.Birds iPhone update new content added including online high-scores, free trial to be available

Mediatonic, the London-based social gaming specialist, has announced that its first iPhone game, the App Store staff favourite Must.Eat.Birds, is due to receive a patch.

Dedicated ‘Nomster-launching’ players will be treated to a set of nine new missions and will be able to share high-scores online as part of the free update.

Mediatonic will also be releasing a completely free trial or ‘Lite’ version of the game, containing three levels and one challenge mode.

The patch is available today 27th August with the Lite version scheduled for release very soon.

Paul Croft, creative director, Mediatonic comments “Must.Eat.Birds has been a phenomenal success story for us and to celebrate we thought we should spice things up for our loyal iPhone-owning fans. We’re taking advantage of the dynamic platform the App Store represents to add content free-of-charge to Must.Eat.Birds, and this update is just the first set of new content we’re releasing.”

Peg-Popping Phenomenon Peggle Nights Now Available in UK on PC CD-ROM

The much-anticipated sequel to PopCap’s Peggle, the Casual Game of 2007, is hitting retail shelves courtesy of Focus Multimedia. Peggle Nights takes players into the “dream worlds” of each of the eleven Peggle Masters– so fans can live their favourite Peggle characters’ wildest dreams!

The original Peggle game took the world by storm - winning multiple awards and delighting casual and hardcore gamers alike. With its all-new features, including 60 unique levels and a new Peggle Master, Peggle Nights is sure to delight existing Peggle players - while also making some new peg-popping friends.

Peggle is described as a compelling blend of pachinko, pool and pinball. Players fire a metallic silver ball from the top of the screen, relying on gravity to propel the ball downwards while it ricochets off orange and blue "pegs".

The goal is to clear all the orange pegs from the screen before running out of balls. A moving "bucket" at the bottom of the screen offers free balls, while green power-up pegs give the player special abilities via the Peggle Masters who guide players through the game. These power-ups include explosive area-clearing blasts, lobster claws that serve as pinball-type flippers and "fireballs" that cut through all pegs in their path.

Features:
• Four Modes of Gameplay, giving you hours upon hours of addictive fun:
o Adventure Mode – your quest to become a Peggle Master
o Duel Mode – play against friends or the computer
o Challenge Mode - increasingly difficult goals across 75 levels
o Quick Play Mode - choose favourite levels and power-ups or allow the game to pick random ones!
• New Peggle Master: Marina the Squid has an electric new power-up to add to your arsenal
• 60 newly designed levels
• 60 new challenges
• New style shots: More ways to score bonus points
• All-New Soundtrack: But still retaining the iconic ‘Ode to Joy’ which plays on completion of a level
• Level Packs: Easy to install additional levels are downloadable for free from PopCap’s website

PopCap Games is the leading developer and publisher of broadly appealing video games. Their top game titles have been downloaded more than 1 billion times by consumers worldwide. PopCap’s Peggle has been downloaded more than 50 million times since its first introduction in March 2007. The Peggle series — available for PC, Mac, Web, video iPod, iPod Touch, iPhone, 650 models of mobile feature phones and smartphones, Nintendo DS and Xbox Live Arcade — has garnered more than a dozen awards from leading industry associations and trade journals.

Peggle Nights joins Focus Multimedia’s Essential range of great value PC games and software. Every Focus Essential title has the suggested retail price of just £9.78 including VAT.

Russian version of Pandora Saga! video game launched apply for beta now...

Astrum Online Entertainment and Japanese company Gonzo Rosso, a leading international operator and developer of online games, announce the signing of the contract for localization and publishing of Pandora Saga, a new MMORPG by Gonzo Rosso, in Russia, CIS and the Baltic States. The game will be localized and operated by IT Territory, part of Astrum Online Entertainment.


Pandora Saga is a free-to-play MMORPG originally published by Gonzo Rosso. Set in a fantasy world infused with the classic grandeur of Medieval Europe, the game offers realistic and action-driven battle experiences to players and provides a wide array of battle strategies based on the original tactics used in ancient European wars. You will find brief information about the game, see the initial screenshots of the localized version and apply for closed beta testing at www.pandorasaga.ru.
Key features of Pandora Saga:
- Ultimate Fighting System
Adopting medieval warfare; players fight on the field with siege weapons and cavalry, besieging castles.
- Epic Battles
Pandora Saga features a large-scale PVP war that offers a highly strategic and action-packed gaming experience with three nations battling for victory and honor.
- Multiple Races and Classes
Pandora Saga contains 6 races with unique abilities and 4 basic classes, opening the path to 28 advanced classes.
- Highly optimized graphics and content
Pandora Saga is the first ever Japan-made MMORPG published by Gonzo Rosso with sophisticated 3D graphics.