Archive for May 14th, 2008|Daily archive page
Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft announced
Comments (1)Jesse McCartney and Cody Linley to Provide Voice Talent for Frank and Joe Hardy
Toronto, Canada, May 14th, 2008: Tapping the talents of two of Hollywood’s rising young stars, JoWooD and DreamCatcher Games, leading worldwide publishers and distributors of interactive entertainment software, working in conjunction with Resnick Interactive Development, LLC, today announced that they have signed on teen media titans Jesse McCartney and Cody Linley to lend their talents as the voices of Frank and Joe Hardy in the forthcoming PC game, The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft.
“Securing the voice talent of Jesse and Cody really enhances the overall entertainment experience for our fans,” said Byron Gaum, Global Product Marketing Manager, DreamCatcher Games. “We are thrilled to be working with both stars on making The Hidden Theft one of the most captivating Hardy Boys mysteries to date.”
“It’s very exciting having Jesse M cCartney and Cody Linley on the project,” said Mike Adams, Producer of The Hardy Boys franchise for DreamCatcher Games. “They are such great young talents, and I look forward to working with them both.”
Emmy award-winning daytime actor and platinum-selling recording artist Jesse McCartney makes his way back to the videogame space as he takes on the voice of elder brother Frank Hardy in The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft. Now a veteran at lending his voice to a videogame character, Jesse will help guide Hannah Montana star, Cody Linley as he rounds out the famous mystery solving duo by lending his voice as Frank’s younger brother, Joe Hardy.
In The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft, the vault of the Spencer Mansion is robbed, and the Bayport Police call on the Hardy Boys to help tie up some loose ends, but they soon find themselves in the middle of a major criminal investigation that takes them on an adventure all over Bayport, and even into New York City. But th e pieces don’t add up, and Frank and Joe find themselves embroiled in a drama of sinister proportions. Is the recent theft linked to something from the past? Can Frank and Joe find and decipher the clues in time to prevent another crime from happening?
Developed by XPEC Entertainment Inc., The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft is expected to be available for PC users this fall at retail outlets nationwide. For more information about The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft please visit www.dreamcatchergames.com.
Race Driver: GRID multiplayer news
Comments (4)Wednesday, 14th May – Reflecting the ethos, spirit and attitude of the offline game, Race Driver: GRID will bring a world of motorsport to life online as Codemasters® today announced that the game’s multiplayer content will feature 32 exhilarating online race events on 80 circuits at 15 intercontinental locations.
Featuring up to 12-player events with incredible full car damage, Race Driver: GRID’s online multiplayer races will see gamers competing in aggressive races on iconic city streets and famous championship circuits across Europe, the U.S. and Japan.
“Race Driver: GRID online is the ultimate expression of what the game is all about – incident-packed, aggressive, wheel-to-wheel racing,” said Ralph Fulton, Chief Game Designer, Race Driver: GRID. “Our wide range of motorsport disciplines, stunning locations and full damage 12-player races make for a uniquely spectacular race experience and our immersive new ranking system rewards player skill and deepens the challenge online.”
Players will be able to take their custom livery online and make it feared and respected by competing in a huge range of racing disciplines; from drifting around Yokohama Docks, charging through the mean streets of Detroit, racing touring cars around Spa-Francorchamps to competing in chaotic demolition derbies.
The pure race experience is at the heart of Race Driver GRID’s gameplay and, in online multiplayer, everything is geared towards maximising player time spent on track and minimising time spent in lobbies. Players can rapidly find the event they want and a slick voting system, matchmaking mechanism and seamless host migration means gamers find competitive races quickly and sessions stay together longer.
An innovative new online ranking system charts players’ progress as they advance from Junior Rookie to Legend, with experience points being awarded based on a wide range of achievements, from events won to beating higher ranked opponents.
As players rise through the rankings, online leaderboards record the fastest laps for each track and gamers can download ghost cars to test out their skill against the best in the world in Test Drive mode or check out the competition in Spectator mode. Players can also fully customise their game including switching damage on or off, enabling catch-up mode, setting driver aids and allowing public and private games.
Race Driver: GRID is coming May 30th (Europe/PAL) for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games For Windows®. A Nintendo DS™ edition will follow. Race Driver: GRID playable demos – featuring two online multiplayer events – are now available from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace, PLAYSTATION®Network and, for the Games For Windows demo, please visit www.racedrivergrid.com
MySims Kingdoms announced
Leave a CommentGuildford, UK — May 14, 2008 — The Sims™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) Label, today announced first details for MySims™ Kingdom, the next experience from the creators of MySims™. Launching exclusively on the Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ platforms, MySims Kingdom sets you on a story of adventure, discovery and exploration to help King Roland and his subjects revitalize the Kingdom. Launching globally in autumn 2008, MySims Kingdom for the Wii and Nintendo DS puts the creativity in your hands to make the Kingdom something to behold!
MySims Kingdom for the Wii
King Roland needs your help to make the Kingdom a better place. Throughout this tale to bring the Kingdom back to its former glory, you must help new and old friends alike, discover new lands and build to the limit of your imagination.
Your MySims Kingdom experience begins in The Capital, the majestic land at the center of your story-telling. Check out the Castle, explore this first land and begin to meet your first set of new friends, including King Roland, Princess Butter, and the Wizard Marlon. Find out more of what awaits you here and then get in your boat to sail to many more lands on the horizon!
Throughout your journey new characters, lands, and clever new contraptions will be revealed. Construct and do everything from tending your pigs to finding treasure chests. Newly-added building options will help you accomplish the tasks you’re challenged with along the way, including building broken bridges. In true MySims fashion, everything is customizable, allowing every creation within your world to have a signature look.
There is a lot more to discover in regions beyond The Capital, so stay tuned for more characters, contraptions and lands that are yet to be revealed!
MySims Kingdom for Nintendo DS
Take the Kingdom with you! MySims Kingdom on Nintendo DS adds a new chapter to the saga, challenging you to help the King thwart the plans of evil in a far flung corner of the Kingdom. Many new activities and mini-games are included to help you persuade the King that your island is the ultimate royal destination.
“MySims has been met with such enthusiasm by players and families everywhere, we are excited to make MySims its own franchise within The Sims Label,” said Rod Humble, Head of Studio for The Sims Label. “MySims Kingdom has players helping King Roland and his subjects make the MySims world a better place by completing rewarding quests, building houses, bridges or even making contraptions powered by electricity or water. And MySims Kingdom on Nintendo DS, adds many new activities such as kayaking, ski jumping, populating the town zoo and many others!”
Since its launch in September 2007, MySims quickly rose to global success and is loved by players everywhere, having sold 2.8 million copies worldwide to date. The second installment in the franchise, MySims Kingdom, will hit retail shelves across North America, Europe and Asia in Fall of 2008. For more information on MySims, please visit www.mysims.com.
Get ready to embark on your own story-telling journey of discovery and exploration in MySims Kingdom this fall.
Product Specifications
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Electronic Arts Redwood Shores
Platform: Wii/Nintendo DS
Ship Date: Worldwide: Fall 2008
Category: Simulation/Strategy
ESRB Rating: This game has not been rated
PEGI Rating: This game has not been rated
WiiWare European Launch May 20th
sorry guys, we’re not going to get Dr. Mario….yet… so drool over what those lucky Europeans get to download, and write to Nintendo to get em released here in the US!
WiiWare Arrives In Europe
The opportunity to create the next groundbreaking video game for Wii has well and truly arrived for developers as WiiWare hits Europe. Launching on 20th May 2008, developers, no matter how big or small, will be able to create exciting new downloadable game’s to be sold through the Wii Shop Channel. Changing the way developers create Wii games and players access them, WiiWare will make it possible for smaller, creative titles to take centre stage. Developers will be able to see their big ideas step into reality, without risk or the need for a big budget.
With WiiWare games the possibilities are endless. Only limited by the imaginations of the developers, expect to see a raft of new, fresh and original games head to Wii from an entire range of genres. Utilising the Wii’s unique control methods from the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to potentially the Wii Board and Wii Wheel, developers have the freedom to create the game of their dreams in an affordable way, with low entry barriers and flexible criteria in front of them. Such is the opportunity that, already developers who have never created or published games for Nintendo are working on a host of potential ideas.
Laurent Fischer, Managing Director of Marketing & PR of Nintendo of Europe comments, ‘We are excited by the positive response we have received from third party developers to the announcement of WiiWare. We hope that this opportunity and the inspiration to produce original and exciting games will allow developers of all sizes to bring new concepts, genres and game play experiences to Wii. Opening this creative door will also provide Wii users access to a huge choice of games that they can easily download and enjoy.’
Easy to access and simple to use, WiiWare games will be available to download directly onto Wii from the Wii Shop Channel from 500 Wii Points. To date, a vast array of exciting and creative new projects are already in the pipeline, ensuring fresh concepts and content will frequently become available for all to enjoy. Players themselves will also become central to the creative process as their download choices and genre selection will become instrumental in helping developers determine future projects.
From 20th May onwards a whole host of brand new creative games from developers across Europe and the rest of the globe become available, including:
· Dr. Mario & Germ Buster™ from Nintendo
· FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King™ from Japanese developer SQUARE ENIX
· Lost Winds from UK developer Frontier
· Pirates: The Key of Dreams from Dutch developer Oxygen Interactive Ltd
· Pop™ from Australian developer Nnooo
· Star Soldier R from Japanese developer HUDSON SOFT
· Toki Tori from Dutch developer Two Tribes B.V.
· TV Show King from French developer Gameloft
With so much creative freedom on offer to developers there is sure to be something for everyone on WiiWare. Keep checking www.Wii.com and the Nintendo Channel (launching on 30th May 2008 on Wii) for all the latest WiiWare news and releases.
WiiWare: Launch Window Games Information:
Title: Dr. Mario & Germ Buster™
Developer: Nintendo
Number Of Players: 1 – 4 players
Genre: Puzzle
Controllers Used: Wii Remote
PEGI Rating: 3+
Additional Information: Supports Miis, WiiConnect24, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Game Overview
The all-time puzzle classic returns for the Wii generation, featuring online gameplay and a new Germ Buster mode! Destroy all the viruses trapped in the bottle by dropping and slotting capsules to create lines of matching colours. The more viruses you clear, the faster the capsules drop.
In Dr. Mario, challenge the computer in 1 Player mode, go head-to-head with a friend in 2 Player mode, or prove your skills against the world via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. You can also send a demo version of the game to a friend (within your region) using WiiConnect24.
In Germ Buster (based on the relaxation game in More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima), up to four players can use their Wii Remotes to grab, spin and slot capsules as your Miis try to keep the nasty bugs at bay. Who thought that catching germs could be so much fun?
Title: FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King™
Developer: SQUARE ENIX
Number Of Players: 1 player
Genre: Simulation
Controllers Used: Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Classic Controller, GameCube Controller
PEGI Rating: 7+
Additional Information: Add-on data download
Game Overview
According to legend, a deserted town now serves as the lifeless reminder of a once powerful kingdom. The young son of an exiled king reaches this land after a long journey, finding only an abandoned castle – and a magic crystal. Though tarnished by years of neglect, the crystal has maintained its luminous glow and bestows upon the boy the power of architek, the ability to manifest memories into reality. With the help of loyal servants and audacious adventurers, the new king dutifully prepares to rebuild his people’s homeland in this new realm.
©2008 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. FINAL FANTASY, MY LIFE AS A KING, the MY LIFE AS A KING logo, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd.
Title: LostWinds™
Developer: Frontier
Number Of Players: 1 – 2 players
Genre: Platform Adventure
Controllers Used: Wii Remote, Nunchuk
PEGI Rating: 7+
Game Overview
LostWinds is a fresh, enchanting adventure that lets you wield the awesome powers of Enril the wind spirit – from raging tornados to the gentlest breeze – to guide and protect Toku, a young boy who is the only one who can help you release the curse placed upon the world of Mistralis and its people by evil Balasar.
Mistralis is a stunningly presented, magical land full of wonder and intrigue that bursts to life with your every action and exploration. LostWinds’ novel, playful controls let you use Enril’s elemental powers to jump and glide Toku through Mistralis’ different regions, buffet and smash enemies and solve puzzles on their journey to a dramatic showdown. Bursting with new gameplay ideas that embrace the Wii controller, LostWinds puts the power of the wind in the palm of your hand.
LostWinds © 2008 Frontier Developments Limited. All rights reserved.
Title: Pirates: The Key of Dreams
Developer: Oxygen Interactive Ltd
Number Of Players: 1 – 4 players
Genre: Action
Controllers Used: Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Classic Controller
PEGI Rating: 3+
Game Overview
Pirates: The Key of Dreams is a frantic nautical shoot-em-up. Sail your way across the Caribbean, cannons blazing, looting booty, running blockades, and ultimately, battling Blackbeard himself. The player takes control of a Navy Captain sent deep undercover as a ruthless Pirate, in order to seek out and retrieve The Key of Dreams, a valuable and dangerous cursed artefact. Rescue castaways to bolster your ship’s crew, gaining performance increases to your navigation, weaponry, structural integrity and cartography skills. Collect increasingly powerful weaponry including Rockets, Mines, Chain Shot, Saw Blades and a Flamethrower to hurl destruction into the path of your enemies.
Play against three of your scurvy friends or AI opponents in pitched multiplayer battles over 35 levels, in seven themed environments. Choose from different ship types that reflect your play style. Play in turbo mode if you’re Pirate enough!
Oxygen Games, and Oxygen Games Logo, are registered trademarks of Oxygen Interactive Software Ltd.
Title: Pop™
Developer: Nnooo
Number Of Players: 1 – 4 players
Genre: Puzzle / Shooter
Controllers Used: Wii Remote
PEGI Rating: 3+
Additional Information: Supports WiiConnect24, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Game Overview
Pop is all about popping bubbles! It may sound simple but there are lots of things you can do to get a high-score and have fun. Just keep an eye on the timer because when it runs out it’s game-over! Each bubble is worth both points and time so try to fill up your timer first then focus on scoring high. You can then start to chain the same colour of bubble for big points by popping bubbles of the same colour. This is a great way to increase you score.
Friends can join you in a game of Pop too! Whenever you are playing all they need to do is connect their Wii Remote and then join in the action. Watch out because they may start using power-ups to hold you back! If they do try to pump up some bubbles or detonate a nuke this will create a shock-wave which will destroy any matching colours of bubbles it touches.
Finally there are badges for completing certain objectives; online high-score tables and WiiConnect24 messages so you can keep up with your friends progress and boast about your own.
Title: Star Soldier R
Developer: HUDSON SOFT
Number Of Players: 1 player
Genre: Shooter
Controllers Used: Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Classic Controller
PEGI Rating: 7+
Additional Information: Supports Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Game Overview
A new kind of shooter where players aim for the best scores within a 2 or 5-minute time limit!
Develop various scoring strategies and pump out those points within the breakneck timeframe!
In-depth gameplay, tons of replayability!
Assembled in record time to counter the advance of a powerful enemy, the mysterious Brain Forces, the “Caesar” starfighter takes off to fight for the very future of mankind!
Shoot down countless enemies, upgrade your ship to the max with power-ups hidden throughout the levels, and carry out an all-out assault against the core of the enemy fortress!
Combining the excitement of shoot’em-ups with in-depth scoring strategies, this state-of-the-art competitive shooter will keep you coming back for more!
Upload your best scores with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, and pit your skills against the world’s best fighter pilots from the comfort of your living room!
Hone your skills and show the world who’s boss!
© 2008 HUDSON SOFT
“STAR SOLDIER” is a trademark of HUDSON SOFT.
Title: Toki Tori
Developer: Two Tribes B.V.
Number Of Players: 1 – 2 players (Please note that the second player can only use a second Wii Remote to write hints on the screen)
Genre: Puzzle / Platform
Controllers Used: Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Classic Controller
PEGI Rating: 3+
Additional Information: WiiConnect24 (Please note that we only use the local message board functionality of WiiConnect 24)
Game Overview
Toki Tori is his name and collecting eggs is his game! In this puzzle / platform game, players get to use a variety of items such as the Telewarp, InstantRock™ and Slug Sucker. Clever use and combinations of these items is needed to solve all the game’s levels, of which there are more than 70. These levels range from easy to brain-teasingly hard, resulting in dozens of hours of puzzle play-time.
Toki Tori makes the most out of what the Wii was to offer. It uses of the Wii Remote for a unique control scheme, which offers players a new and more relaxing play style. A second player can help you out, by drawing hints while you are playing. The game even uses the Wii Message Board in a unique way!
In short, Toki Tori:
- is a puzzle / platform game
- offers dozens of hours of gameplay
- uses the multiple Wii Remotes for a new play style
- uses Wii Message Board
- displays English texts and manual
© 2008 Two Tribes B.V.
Title: TV Show King
Developer: Gameloft
Number Of Players: 1 – 4 players
Genre: Trivia, TV Quiz, TV Show
Controllers Used: Wii Remote
PEGI Rating: 3+
Additional Information: Supports Miis
Game Overview
Become King of a fun TV trivia show! Confront friends and family with your Mii and see who is the smartest! Confront friends and family in a TV quiz game show! Let your Mii try to answer fun and challenging trivia questions, from the classics to original stumpers, spanning across history, geography, literature, science, sports and entertainment! For an extra challenge, use your Wii Remote in original ways. Make it to the finals and see who can win the greatest amount of cash in one last, ultimate duel. TV Show King will challenge your brain! Now, get ready… get set… and go play TV Show King!
- Have fun and test your general knowledge with more than 3,000 questions on all kinds of subjects; for an alternately serious and hilarious game.
- Use your own customized Mii as your in game character for a truly immersive experience.
- Numerous entertaining themes including music, cinema, entertainment, history, geography, sports, common knowledge, fun and pop culture.
- Answer the questions following the different game rules: use your Wii Remote as a torch light, as a scratching tool or as a pointer.
- A true animated TV set: highly colourful characters (a host, a DJ and a cheering crowd)
- A turning wheel to spice up the game: double your gain, loose everything or swap your cash!
- Increasing tension with an increasing difficulty and stakes!
Zeemote news
Groundbreaking JS1 Controller Takes ‘Technology Innovation’ and ‘Quality of Experience’ titles at “Meffy” Industry Awards
London, UK May 13, 2008, Zeemote®, Inc. (http://www.zeemote.com/), the creator of intuitive user interface technologies, today celebrates being crowned winners of the inaugural ‘Quality of Experience Award’ and the ‘Technology Innovation Award’ at the Mobile Entertainment Forum’s (MEF) fifth annual Meffy awards.
“Being recognised for these awards is a huge compliment to the entire Zeemote development team as well as the game developers who have thoroughly embraced our interface,” said Beth Marcus CEO Zeemote “The JS1 is a major leap in the world of mobile gaming and we’re delighted that the MEF judges have recognised the true technological innovation .”
The JS1 controller won the first ever “Quality of Experience Award”, voted for by a broad panel of consumers, for bringing a near console gaming experience to mobile games. Through its ease-of-use, ergonomic design and simple set up via Bluetooth, the JS1 provides user-friendly, intuitive and engaging game play for consumers.
Winning the Technology Innovation Award demonstrates that the JS1 controller directly enhances the uptake and enjoyment of mobile gaming by removing the limitations associated with a directional keypad. This award underscores the JS1’s ability to aid consumers, developers and operators alike in efficiently overcoming barriers surrounding mobile content consumption.
“With over 40 Zeemote ready games available, the game developer community is rapidly embracing the Zeemote JS1 controller. Over the coming months, the industry can look forward to major partnership announcements and the launch of the first handset and controller bundle.” concluded Marcus.
Rimma Perelmuter, MEF Executive Director said “Zeemote created an innovative tool to help drive the casual games market by overcoming the limitations of screen size and interface. It received the most enthusiastic response from the consumer panel, irrespective of age or demographic, due to its ease of use.”
Touch Darts for DS announced
Fearlessly Step Up To The Oche In Agetec’s New Dart Game
SUNNYVALE, CA – May 13, 2008 –Agetec, Inc. is pleased to announce that its Nintendo DS™ game, “Touch Darts”, will be released in North America in June of 2008.
“This is not just your ordinary dart video game; Touch Darts really takes advantage of Nintendo DS’s unique touch screen and allows players to accurately simulate throwing darts with a simple flick of the stylus,” says Mark Johnson, producer at Agetec. “The developer, Full Fat, made sure to fine tune the controls so that even the most hardcore dart fanatic is happy with this game. It’s quite an achievement.”
Touch Darts comes with four classic dart modes: tournament, challenge, quickplay, and multiplayer. Quickplay and multiplayer mode gives up to four players the chance to square off on the board via single cartridge. Tournament mode includes four different levels of difficulty ranking from Rookie to Expert.
“This game will make you feel as if you were really in your living room, at your friend’s house, in the pub, or in a tournament tossing darts,” continues Mark Johnson. “Another great feature in Touch Darts is the challenge mode, which takes traditional dart tossing and puts a whole new spin on it. Challenge mode consists of ten mini games and includes the classics like Killer, Round the Clock, and 1001, but also includes all new games like Speed Darts. In Speed Darts, players must score a certain amount of points in a given period of time. Challenge mode is a lot of fun and is something even seasoned darts players will find fresh.”
Visit www.agetec.com for more information.
Zoids Assault for Xbox360 announced
Kneel before Zoids!
IRVINE, California – MAY 13, 2008 – Atlus U.S.A., Inc., hailed as publisher of the month by “Hulking War-Machine Weekly,” today announced Zoids Assault, a gritty militaristic strategy RPG featuring enormous beasts of steel, exclusively for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Zoids Assault further demonstrates Atlus’ commitment to Xbox 360® system and the strategy RPG genre, joining Operation Darkness and Spectral Force 3 in a stacked 2008 lineup.
Manage a team of elite war machines through a campaign of intense military conflicts. Advanced upgrade and customization options combine with challenging objective-based gameplay to offer a fresh new strategy RPG and a daring new vision of the long-running Zoids universe. Commanders, start your engines (of war)!
Zoids Assault is currently scheduled for release on August 26.
Visit the official site:
http://www.atlus.com/zoids
Nintendo backs International Handheld Learning Conference in London
Speakers including popular science writer, Steven Berlin Johnson, social media scientist, danah boyd, former Xerox Corp chief scientist, John Seely Brown, writer, Marc Prensky, learning visionary, Stephen Heppell, Futurelab research director, Keri Facer, mobile learning guru, Mike Sharples and MIT’s chief learning architect, David Cavallo will join Andrew Pinder, CBE, chairman of Becta.
Now in its fourth year the event has become the largest of its kind bringing together over 900 of the world’s leading opinion formers, thought leaders, practitioners, education leaders, developers, policy and decision makers to explore the convergence between consumer electronics, entertainment software, educational technology and learning.
The conference encompasses how broad ranges of technologies from mobile devices and super low cost laptops to gaming technologies to emerging web platforms and beyond are affecting learning.
The event is supported by UK government agency, Becta, along with industry support from Nintendo.
Darren Gorton, Business Development Director for Nintendo, said “We are proud to be supporting this important event once again and look forward to hearing from the some of the world’s leading thinkers in the field of learning. With over 70 million DS units in peoples hands we are genuinely interested in the positive impact that they can have for self-improvement and collaborative learning”
Delegates registering for the conference by July 31st receive a free Nintendo DS handheld and game cartridge that they are encouraged to bring with them for interactive participation during the event.
Graham Brown-Martin, founder of Handheld Learning, said, “We are delighted to receive such confident support both from government agencies and industry alike. The provision of the Nintendo DS handheld is far from a gimmick as we are encouraging delegates to do the kind of things during the event that are often not allowed in classrooms throughout the world despite the power and possibilities of such devices”.
City Life 2008 Edition coming soon
New York, USA (May 14, 2008) OYEZ. OYEZ. OYEZ!! Global publisher Paradox Interactive wishes to let it be known that City Life 2008 Edition approaches its official date of release. The real-time city-building strategy game will begin shipping to stores in North America from June 17, while stores in Europe will ship from June 20.
Get Cookin’ announced as Ericsson phone exclusive
New Motion-Sensitive Technology from Sony Ericsson Brings New Challenges to Mobile Gamers
San Francisco – May 13, 2008 – Today at the JavaOne 2008 Conference, Glu Mobile Inc. (Nasdaq: GLUU), a leading global publisher of mobile games, announced its upcoming original title, Get Cookin’, will utilize motion-sensitive technology available on new Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (“Sony Ericsson”) handsets. The use of this technology challenges players to use a combination of physical gestures as well as button presses to create sophisticated cuisines, bringing an entirely new ingredient to mobile games.
Get Cookin’ is a new title from Glu launching in July 2008 across all major carriers worldwide. Get Cookin’ challenges players to create delicious cuisine by perfecting a wide variety of cooking methods, ingredients, seasonings and recipes. Gamers with the Sony Ericsson W910i, debuted earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, will utilize motion-specific techniques to complete enticing meals in order to rise to the top of their profession.
“Sony Ericsson’s motion sensor technology allows us to incorporate more authentic, true to life challenges in Get Cookin’ and introduce an entirely new dimension to mobile games,” said Jill Braff, senior vice president of global publishing, Glu. “The use of this technology gives developers a way to deepen the gameplay and gives players a truly fun game that incorporates all new ways to play.”
The built-in accelerometer in the Sony Ericsson W910i is used to control game functions such as flipping a steak on the grill by utilizing its sensitivity to allow for a more intense and physical gaming experience. Get Cookin’ will utilize the JSR 256 API motion sensor found inside the W910i and several other new Sony Ericsson devices.
For more information, visit www.glu.com.
Ignition Game Design Academy is now available
Temecula, CA May 1, 2008 — Applied IDEAS, Inc. is pleased to announce the completion of the new IgnitionTM Game Design Academy Curriculum for both secondary and post secondary schools. This comprehensive curriculum teaches the student both real-world game engine principles and what it takes to create a game level. It demonstrates the processes involved in exporting game art from 3ds Max® or Maya® to a game engine environment in a quick and easy way, but also teaches the concepts and connections between game art and a game engine.
The Ignition game engine uses a straightforward command-line scripting language that makes it easy to learn for both novices and seasoned gaming enthusiasts. The Game Academy Curriculum was built from the ground up to address the challenges facing educators at all levels. One of these challenges includes art students that want to build fun and engaging 3D games in a timely fashion without fussing with complicated game level editors, obscure exporting rules and difficult programming languages.
Applied IDEAS test marketed the curriculum at the Art Institute, Orange County for 2 quarters. Dr. Kenneth C. Maffei, CEO of Applied IDEAS, Inc., and creator of the IgnitionTM Game Engine, observed that the students “were able to quickly adapt to the export process and scripting language to ultimately build their own custom games.”
Pia Maffei, President of Applied IDEAS, Inc., one of the most accomplished and well known 3D trainers in North America recently taught the curriculum to a 14 year old teen who marveled at how easy and fun the scripting was. One of her favorite quotes from him was, “I’m teaching my friends and now I know how features like you see in Everquest® are done”.
Dr. Jose A. Rueda, PhD, MBA, from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, has this to say, “The 30 students in our Game Development program are really enjoying the Game Academy Curriculum. After reviewing the materials it became the obvious solution for us. It was not long before the students and faculty were exporting game art assets and writing scripts. It makes life very easy for the instructor. We love it!”
Pat Gombarcik, Autodesk Certified Instructor, Southeast Career Technical Academy says:
“The curriculum material is well written and easy to understand – for both the student and the instructor. One of the first questions I hear from new students is “Can we make a game in this class?”. Now I can tell them that they’ll not only make a game, but they’ll learn about Game Design and they’ll be using 3ds Max which is industry standard software in the game industry.”
Applied IDEAS, Inc. is working with Paul W. Norman, formerly in Education Sales at Autodesk®, and current owner of Evil Genius Consulting, to make this curriculum available to schools around the world. Paul says, “We already have 15 resellers in America, along with resellers in Australia, China, and Europe.” Contact Paul at Paul@evilgeniusconsulting.net to learn more about lab packs and resellers in your area.
Applied IDEAS, Inc. is the creator of Autodesk’s highly praised Animation Academy curriculum and the Instructor Certification Program. Their mission for the past 16 years has been to provide outstanding resources and services in the areas of training, production, and custom software for the 3D community. They take immense pride in the quality of their work, and have become a recognized industry leader of the field of 3D.
Everquest II Update #45 announcement
EverQuest® II game update #45, titled “A Prophet Returns,” brings a Prophet from The Plane of Power to Norrath to help confront a ravaging plague in a new, story-based live event. In addition to the return of the Prophet, the game update will bring tradeskill revamps and multiple ways for players to obtain achievement experience from quests far beneath their level.
Game Update #45 features:
• Players will receive four more character bank slots to work with, as well as obtaining the ability to see their shared alternate-alignment bank slots.
• Players can exchange coins and items from one character to another, even across good and evil alignments.
• Players can increase their achievement point total as grey quests level 10 and above will now award achievement experience.
• Cures for priests will see changes to help when dealing with diseases, physical ailments, magical afflictions and elemental scourges. All four priest single-target cure spells will funnel to one all-purpose cure.
• Coercers will receive many new changes for their possession spells and abilities. The possession spells will allow Coercers to harness their pet’s essence for better control.
• A total overhaul to weapon crafting will lead to significant changes for master crafted weapons.
For more details log onto www.eq2players.com
WHEN: Game Update #45 is live.
WHERE: www.everquest2.com
Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals announced
The stories and art of famed graphic novelist and filmmaker Enki Bilal adapted for an immersive, richly detailed adventure game for the PC
Weston, CT – May 13, 2008 – Got Game Entertainment today announced a North American publishing deal for “Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals” (PC), adapted from the famed “Nikopol Trilogy” graphic novel series, and major film release “Immortal”, by Enki Bilal. “Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals” is a visually striking, richly detailed point and click adventure game developed by Benoît Sokal’s White Birds Productions. The game immerses players in a futuristic Paris and the tale of a son’s search for his father and ultimate journey into the perilous world of political intrigue. As Nikopol, players must use cunning and puzzle-solving logic to thwart a dark conspiracy. “Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals” is scheduled for release in August 2008 and will retail for $29.99 (USD).
“Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals” opens in the Paris of 2023, now ruled by a power-hungry dictator, a place where the fascist rich and the abandoned poor are separated by both a literal and figurative wall. As we join our hero Nikopol, the son of an astronaut frozen in space decades ago, we find that a floating pyramid inhabited by Egyptian Gods hovers above the city. As one of their leaders plots to take control of Paris and its people, word reaches Nikopol that his father may be alive and hidden in the city’s underground, a possible pawn in a looming battle. In the search for his father, Nikopol’s journey finds him entangled in political intrigue, caught between two worlds, one of anarchy and one of immortality.
The game’s official website will launch later this spring.
Microsoft Game Studios announces 2008 line-up!
Attendees of the MGS San Francisco showcase event will witness the first extended taste of “Gears of War 2,” the sequel to the blockbuster third-person tactical action game that sold nearly 5 million units. Epic Games Design Director, Cliff Bleszinski, will demonstrate dramatic new gameplay elements and stunning visual effects in a campaign sequence from early in the game – where Marcus Fenix and COG forces engage in pulse-pounding firefights between two Derrick transports, fend off vicious Reaver fly-by attacks and rabid Brumaks – all in the same rollercoaster ride of a level. As the most anticipated Xbox 360 exclusive title of the 2008 holiday season, “Gears of War 2” offers an unforgettable gameplay experience that blends a gripping story with visceral combat on a grand scale.
MGS will also crack open “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise,” set to appear on store shelves this September. Developed by the creative masterminds at Rare, this sequel to the colourful, sleeper hit builds upon the gameplay of the original and adds innovative twists to the mix. In an effort to help Piñata Central rebuild their computer database of piñatas, players will send piñatas at full candiosity to parties all around the world while using their creativity and imagination to attract, capture, protect, train and manage more than 100 newly discovered and existing piñata species. An exciting, new “Just for Fun” setting makes getting into the game fast and easy. For the first time, players will be able to collaborate together on a garden through a rich co-op experience, connect and play with others online via Xbox LIVE as well as instantly introduce new piñata species to their garden through an innovative new feature utilizing the Xbox LIVE Vision Camera.
MGS will also pull back the curtain on another beloved franchise with the triumphant return of Banjo, one of Rare’s most successful characters, in “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.” Defying the laws of nature, a bear, a bird and a backpack team up to embark on another incredible adventure this November. MGS is breaking the rules of traditional platformer games by putting the power to invent new abilities for Banjo directly into the players’ hands. By using their ingenuity to build imaginative vehicles that can be combined with infinite variations, gamers help Banjo successfully complete missions through multiple terrains. Through exploration, discovering hidden secrets and solving puzzles to win rewards, players will continually find increasing ways to customize and improve their contraptions, creating an unprecedented level of user-generated content and emergent play for a 3-D adventure game.
These instantly recognizable franchises join the enviable company of “Fable 2,” “Too Human” and “Ninja Gaiden II” from Team NINJA/TECMO, making Xbox 360 the home of the best blockbuster game experiences this year.
Other news and features of 2008 Xbox 360 blockbusters:
• “Fable 2”: The wait is almost over for the sequel to THE biggest action role-playing game in Xbox history. Swords, guns and now the newly unveiled magical power round out the combat in this action RPG from acclaimed developer Peter Molyneux and Lionhead Studios. Players will have even more choices to continuously shape who their characters become in a world 10 times the size of the iconic Xbox game. “Fable 2” introduces a host of exciting new features for gamers, including a first-of-its-kind Xbox LIVE Arcade experience, and a genre-stretching multiplayer experience, allowing gamers easily play “Fable 2” with friends and family side-by-side from the comfort of a living room couch. Players can immerse themselves in this vibrant world that only Lionhead and Molyneux could create, beginning this holiday.
• “Too Human”: Today, MGS and Silicon Knights will confirm that the wait is almost over – “Too Human” will be available on August 19 in North America and August 29 in Europe. “Too Human” is an epic, highly anticipated action game with integrated RPG elements and features a rich storyline with deep character development, both hallmarks of Silicon Knights’ legendary tradition of video game development. Additionally, Silicon Knights is showcasing for the first time, the title’s online cooperative play via Xbox LIVE; allowing gamers to experience “Too Human” with friends in a multiplayer setting.
• “Ninja Gaiden II”: Team NINJA/TEMCO will reveal today that gamers can get a head start on expanding and customizing their “Ninja Gaiden II” experience with the release of Gamerpics and Themes, available as PDLC on Xbox LIVE beginning today. The Gamerpics packs include five new images each, at 100 points per pack; and the Themes, which focus on heroes and bosses, are 150 points per pack. Soon gamers everywhere will follow Ryu Hayabusa’s entire blood-drenched mission – through cities like Venice, New York and Tokyo – to avenge his clan and prevent the destruction of the human race. “Ninja Gaiden II” slashes its way onto store shelves on June 3 in North America and June 6 in Europe. Additional “Ninja Gaiden II” PDLC will be available for download on May 20, with subsequent releases throughout the summer.
• “Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One” on Xbox LIVE Arcade provides a first-of-its-kind RPG-Adventure experience based on the popular Web comic. The creative collaboration between Penny Arcade creators Mike ‘Gabe’ Krahulik and Jerry ‘Tycho’ Holkins, legendary game designer Ron Gilbert and producers at Hothead Games results in a 100-percent authentic Penny Arcade experience that pushes bizarre characters, outrageous combat and adult humor to the precipice of darkness. “Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One” will be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade May 21, 2008.
Microsoft Game Studios is the home to many of the industry’s biggest franchises and continues to set the bar for top-quality entertainment experiences for players of all types. Characters from the game universes of “Gears of War,” “Fable,” “Banjo-Kazooie,” and “Viva Piñata” have enthralled gamers young and old all over the world. In 2007, MGS made history with some of the biggest video game launches ever, including Halo 3,” “PGR4” and “Mass Effect.”
With games often among the highest rated in their class by critics, Microsoft Game Studios delivers the best and most complete game experiences exclusively on Xbox 360, fuelled by the passion of 10 million gamers worldwide playing on Xbox LIVE.
This is just the beginning of what promises to be another landmark year for games on Xbox 360. Stay tuned for more announcements in the coming months.
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts facts
Title: “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts”
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Developer: Rare Ltd.
Format: DVD for the Xbox 360 video game system
ESRB Rating: E-10 rating pending
Availability: Holiday 2008
Product Overview:
Famed game developer Rare Ltd. is reviving one of its most beloved and successful franchises exclusively on Xbox 360 with the third installment of the “Banjo-Kazooie” series. “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” embraces new and old fans alike, as the famous bear and bird duo return in stunning high definition for a unique adventure of epic proportions. The Lord of the Games (aka LOG) is tired of the petty squabbling between Banjo and the evil witch Gruntilda (aka Grunty) over the years, and has arranged a showdown to decide the rightful owner of Spiral Mountain. Claiming to have created every video game ever made, LOG has built the game worlds in which the contest’s challenges take place. Banjo must complete LOG’s challenges to win, while Grunty tries to stop him using every method her devious mind can muster.
Throughout their adventure, players create their own abilities by building vehicles for Banjo to pilot over land, water and air. Vehicle parts, which range from simple devices such as engines and wheels to more unusual equipment such as springs and egg guns, are earned and collected throughout the game. Players use their imagination to combine parts in any order to create whatever vehicle they choose. LOG’s challenges have one goal, but players’ choice of vehicle and tactics will determine how they get there. By exploring worlds and solving puzzles, players both young and old will be rewarded with more advanced and diverse vehicle parts in their quest to defeat Grunty once and for all.
With the power of Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE, “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” brings an entirely new experience to the console and takes the franchise to a whole new level of enjoyment. High-definition graphics, user-created content and online gameplay are just three of the many advances people of all ages and skill levels will discover as they embark on their adventure.
Features:
Top features include the following:
• An adventure that starts with your imagination. If you can imagine it, you can build it in the Mumbo’s Motors easy-to-use workshop. Then put your creation to the test as you take on Grunty in your quest for Spiral Mountain. Unlike other games, where the player progressively picks up new skills or abilities at points pre-determined by the game’s creator, “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” puts the power of improving Banjo’s abilities into the hands of the players as they build vehicles that allow Banjo to progress through the game. Vehicle parts include a wide variety of body panels, engines, wheels, wings, propellers, fuel and weapons, plus many more weird and wonderful gadgets such as floaters, Mumbo Bombos and the versatile sticky ball, from which players can design and create anything from a simple object-carrying truck to a space-age flying saucer. Once you’ve designed your creation, give it the finishing touch by painting it and choosing a suitable name before Banjo jumps in and pilots it into action.
• Customizable experience. With more than 100 contraption parts and unlimited combinations possible, no two players will have the same experience in “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.” By exploring the vast game worlds, discovering hidden secrets and solving puzzles to win rewards, players continually find more and more ways to customize and improve their contraptions, creating an unprecedented level of user-generated content for a 3-D platform adventure game.
• Fun right out of the box. Don’t worry if you aren’t the world’s greatest inventor or want to skip the workshop and get straight to the action, because “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” comes with a fully loaded experience right out of the box. Pre-built vehicles are included so players can jump right in and get started, with many more contraptions available for purchase throughout the adventure using the in-game currency system of musical notes.
• Engaging storyline and entertaining characters. Two of Rare’s most beloved characters have returned from retirement, making their debut on Xbox 360. To win the deed to their homeland and prevent the evil witch Gruntilda from developing it into tower blocks and malls, Banjo and his best friend Kazooie battle over land, sea and air against their longtime rival. Familiar faces such as Mumbo Jumbo, Bottles, Captain Blubber and the Jinjos are also back to lend a hand, along with an equally colorful cast of new friends and foes. Look out for Trophy Thomas, Piddles, Lord of the Games and Grunty’s mechanically menacing army of Gruntbots.
• Enjoy alone or with friends. “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts” offers complete single-player and multiplayer experiences. You can play through the adventure alone in the single-player campaign, or play with friends in competitive or cooperative challenges on your own or in teams.
• Fun for everyone. Xbox 360 is the home to the best entertainment experiences for everyone. With “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts,” Xbox 360 continues to build its impressive lineup of content that appeals to people of all ages and types.
Developer
Information: Founded in 1985 and based in the United Kingdom, Rare Ltd. is one of the world’s leading video game developers and the mastermind behind some of the most popular video games in history, including multimillion-dollar sellers “GoldenEye 007,” “Perfect Dark,” “Banjo-Kazooie” and “Donkey Kong 64.” In November 2005, Rare released “Perfect Dark Zero,” “Kameo: Elements of Power” and “Viva Piñata” for Xbox 360. Rare continues to entertain the world with the release of “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” and “Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise” later this year. For further information, visit http://www.rareware.com.
