Atlus Nails it With Hammerin’ Hero, Action-Packed Side-Scrolling Beat ‘Em Up For PSP® (PlayStation®PORTABLE) SYSTEM

Atlus U.S.A., Inc. today announced that it has secured the North American publishing rights for Hammerin’ Hero, an arcade-style, old school, side-scrolling beat ‘em up for PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system. Forget everything your parents told you about violence only being a last resort. In Hammerin’ Hero, if it moves, hammer it. Pummel your way through 12 distinct levels, including city streets, an amusement park, a TV studio, a baseball stadium, and more. Ever wonder what happens if you hammer something over the head in deep space? Underwater? The only way to find out is to pick up a copy ofHammerin’ Hero for PSP on March 3. This is one hero you don’t want to mess with! (hint: because he has a hammer.) 

Hammerin’ Hero is scheduled for release on March 3, 2009, with an MSRP of $29.99.

For more information about Hammerin’ Hero, visit the official website.

CID the Dummy

Oxygen Games Introduces The Newest Action Hero on The Block – CID The Dummy!

NORTHAMPTONSHIE, UK Tues 16th December

The game is set in a near-future version of our planet. Litigiousness and refusal to accept responsibility has grown to such an extent that any product manufactured or sold by anyone, anywhere, has to pass a near-infinite barrage of safety tests. Be it a steamroller, a plimsoll, or a book, it’s got to be safety checked by independent government bodies in triplicate, and only after long-term safety testing can it be unleashed on the general public.

It’s in this world, with its laser-tight focus on safety, and rife with please-don’t-sue-me attitudes, that the lowly Crash Impact Dummy rose to occupy its current position of importance. Back in the old days, Crash Impact Dummies were only used when studying car crashes. As lawsuits became more prevalent, though, Professor B M Werken and D-Troit, joint owners of one of the main Crash Impact Dummy manufacturing plants, saw a gap in the market, and started creating Crash Impact Dummies for other things. They started off with more obvious uses like construction cranes and level crossings, but now make Crash Impact Dummies responsible for checking the safety of sponges, dog toys, contact lenses, you name it.

Professor B M Werken is a man with a history, though. People wonder why he throws himself into his work with such focus, 24/7. He explains that he just wants people to be safe, and the press are usually satisfied with his answer. The truth, though, is a little darker.

Why does the Professor fall out with his friend and business partner, D-Troit, who becomes his arch enemy? What has driven the Professor to become so obsessed with product safety? Why does D-Troit kidnap Mia, the Professors daughter?

About CID The Dummy

A star is born and he’s made to last. CID THE DUMMY makes his debut in Oxygen Games’ first multi-platform production. It’s an all-new action platformer that is sure to grab you with its enjoyable, fun gameplay, featuring a totally original character with charisma and moves, different fighting styles with which to battle enemies from unarmed combat to weapons like the Bazooka that can freeze, hit and burn.

• Interact as only a crash impact dummy can. Climb walls, swing on ropes, burn obstacles, destroy exploding barrels, use lifters, bounce on springs and with a neat head butt destroy walls all in stunningly realized environments. Game environment interaction is the most important part of the gameplay.
• CID’s world is swarming with a host of fearfully fun enemies like the Dumper, Cursed Dummy and the bizarre Failed Experiment.
• Apart from fighting enemies, the player will enjoy solving puzzles, avoiding traps and using acrobatic skills to get out of dangerous situations!

Monster Jam: Urban Assault National Tournament to Pit the Best Gamers Against One Another for the Second Annual National Championship

SANTA MONICA, CA – DECEMBER 16, 2008 – Monster Jam® is proud to announce that fans will once again be able to “game their way to Vegas” in the Monster Jam: Urban Assault National Tournament, the video game equivalent of the Monster Jam World Finals. The contestants will challenge each other in a series of regional qualifiers using the Monster Jam: Urban Assault game on Wii^TM for a chance to compete in Las Vegas on March 28, 2009. The contest is open to everyone ages 13 and up. To enter and for more details, please visit www.MonsterJamOnline.com/nationaltournament.

The 16 regional qualifying rounds will begin at Houston’s Reliant Stadium on January 3rd and will be followed by 15 more qualifying rounds at the top Monster Jam stadiums across the country. Each of the 16 national qualifiers will host Monster Jam: Urban Assault competitions where four contestants, picked at random from online entrants, will compete against each other on Wii^TM gaming platforms in front of the packed stadiums. The eight fastest winners, out of all 16 winners, will then be flown to the Monster Jam World Finals at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium, where they will compete against each other for the national championship.

Fans not picked to compete in the regional qualifiers also have a chance to compete. One lucky individual will be chosen at random as the wildcard entrant and will also win a trip to Las Vegas to challenge the eight regional winners in the tournament finals. To have a chance to be selected the random wildcard entrant, sign up at www.MonsterJamOnline.com/nationaltournament.

This past March, 14 year-old Jordan Rager of Loganville, GA, won the first ever Monster Jam Video Game National Tournament in Las Vegas by first qualifying at the Atlanta Georgia Dome regional qualifier. He was then awarded an expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to compete against the other regional qualifiers at the Monster Jam World Finals. At the Las Vegas Monster Jam Finals, Jordan bested all finalists to become the inaugural Monster Jam Video Game National Champion.

The Monster Jam: Urban Assault 2009 National Tournament regional qualifier locations and dates:

January 3 – Houston, Texas – Reliant Stadium
January 10 – Atlanta, Georgia – Georgia Dome
January 10 – Anaheim, California – Angel Stadium
January 10 – San Antonio, Texas – Alamodome
January 17 – Detroit, Michigan – Ford Field
January 17 – Minneapolis, Minnesota – Metrodome
January 17 – San Diego, California – Qualcomm Stadium
January 24 – Indianapolis, Indiana – RCA Dome
January 24 – Orlando, Florida – Citrus Bowl
January 24 – Phoenix, Arizona – Chase Field
January 31 – Miami, Florida – Dolphin Stadium
January 31 – New Orleans, Louisiana – Superdome
February 21 – St. Louis, Missouri – Edward Jones Dome
February 21 – Tampa, Florida – Raymond James Stadium
February 28 – Jacksonville, Florida – Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
February 28 – Oakland, California – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
**March 28 – Las Vegas, NV, Monster Jam World Finals – Sam Boyd Stadium
**The Monster Jam World Finals in Las Vegas, NV will host the Monster Jam: Urban Assault National Championship.

In Monster Jam: Urban Assault, all-out destruction is taken to a whole new level by busting the traditional Monster Jam action out of the stadiums and onto city streets across the globe. Players can choose from over 27 different monster trucks, including classic Monster Jam icons like Grave Digger®, Maximum Destruction®, Monster Mutt®, El Toro Loco®, Blue Thunder® and Captain’s Curse®, as well as newer stars such as Stone Crusher^TM and Backwards Bob^TM. The game focuses on crushing everything in your path while doing insane tricks in never before seen urban environments. Monster Jam: Urban Assault features 26 new urban tracks, 12 authentic Monster Jam stadiums, seven different game modes and 12 skill competitions, and players can challenge up to four of their friends via split-screen multiplayer.

Monster Jam: Urban Assault is available now for Wii^TM, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and Nintendo DS^TM.

Anyone interested in competing in the Monster Jam Urban Assault National Tournament should visit www.MonsterJamOnline.com/nationaltournament to sign up for a chance to be randomly selected to compete at a regional stadium qualifier. Official entry rules and more tournament details can also be found at the site.

Activision Unleashes New Details on X-Men Origins: Wolverine

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec 09, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ –
Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) has released new details on X-Men Origins: Wolverine, whose titular hero is one of the most popular Marvel characters of all time. The video game, scheduled for release in May 2009, coincides with the global debut of Twentieth Century Fox’s release of its feature film, X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, which is also based on the famous Marvel character.

From the award-winning studio Raven Software, the video game enlists players to experience the tormented origins of Wolverine, from his escape of the Weapon X facility to the jungles of Africa and beyond. The game is currently in development for the Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system, Windows(R) PC, Wii(TM) home video game system, Nintendo DS(TM), PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system and PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system, and is not yet rated by the ESRB.

“We have an amazing team with Raven Studios at the helm, creating what will undoubtedly be the quintessential, true-to-character Wolverine video game experience that fans have been craving,” said Rob Kostich, vice president, global brand management, Activision Publishing, Inc. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine amps up the action by bringing to life Wolverine’s wholly unique skills such as his brute strength, regenerative mutant abilities, and indestructible adamantium claws and skeleton in an immersive experience that is fitting to one of the most enduring and popular characters of all time.”

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is an epic action-adventure featuring a true-to-character Wolverine gameplay experience that takes gamers through and beyond the movie’s storyline. Set in a variety of vivid real-world locales, the title challenges players to hone their animal instinct as they uncover hidden dangers, hunt and destroy enemies, and take on seemingly insurmountable situations while discovering the truth about Wolverine’s tragic past. With razor-sharp adamantium claws unsheathed, the future X-Man enacts lightning-quick combat, evasive maneuvers, in-depth combo attacks, and an array of brutal finishing moves. Wolverine doesn’t just deliver massive damage, either — he also takes it, thanks to his mutant regenerative power that heals him in real time right before the player’s eyes.

The title is in development by Raven Studios and Amaze Entertainment.

PBR Out of the Chute Enters Download Arena

PBR Out of the Chute Enters Download Arena

D2C Games’ Professional Bull Riding Game Available Now for Sony PSP and PC

San Mateo, Calif. – Dec. 4, 2008 - D2C Games, Inc., a leading publisher and developer of downloadable interactive entertainment, and Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) announced today that the PBR Out of the Chute for PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and PC is exclusively available for download from www.us.playstation.com/PSN/mediamanagerand www.direct2drive.com.

Capturing all the adrenaline and challenge of the Toughest Sport on Dirt™, PBR Out of the Chute lets you play as a top pro bull rider or as a rank bull in multiple events leading up to the World Finals in Las Vegas.

“As the fastest growing sport in North America, PBR brings high-octane action and incredible excitement to PSP® system and PC gamers everywhere,” says Scott Orr, President of D2C Games. “PBR Out of the Chute is a great family game and fun social experience where players take on the roles of rider and bull in the ultimate battle of brains vs. brawn.”

“A two-ton bull is a lot less dangerous on the PSP® system or PC than it is in a PBR arena, but D2C and Totally Games managed to capture the essence of the sport in this game”, says Sean Gleason, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of PBR. “We are extremely proud of PBR Out of the Chute and couldn’t be happier about the relationship with such great game developers and publishers.”

Players may create their own characters and compete as a professional rider or a rank bull through 10 three-round events in multiple lwww.direct2drive.comocations including New York, Anaheim, and Atlanta. Challenge the best or play as top riders including Guilherme Marchi, Justin McBride, and Chris Shivers. Even compete as one of the tour’s rankest bulls, complete with signature moves! Intuitive controls and three difficulty levels allow everyone to pick up and play, have fun, and be challenged for hours. Multiplayer Mode allows players to compete against each other as rider vs. bull in 8 seconds or unlimited time modes. Season Mode features un-lockable riders, bulls, and videos as players compete to become the best rider or bull through the PBR season and win the World Finals in Las Vegas. Become part of the Millionaire’s Club by beating some of the meanest, rankest bulls in the history of the PBR. Realistic sounds, pre-ride commentary, official rules, and heart-pounding music capture the essence of the PBR experience.

PBR Out of the Chute is now available for PSP® system and PC at a suggested retail price of $14.99.

Slow News day!

With the Thanksgiving holiday coming soon in the U.S., It’s a slow weekend for news, so i’m posting next week’s releases, starting with tomorrow…speaking of which… Guns N Roses’ Chinese Democracy album FINALLY releases tomorrow. Go get a copy, it’s frigging great (well, the leaked tracks and GH:WT songs are, I havent heard all of em). And remember to get your Dr. Pepper coupon! (they’re giving everyone in America a free can since Chinese Democracy is being released this year). Remeber, this is a ONE DAY ONLY promotion, which starts at 12:01AM EST, and will be available for 23 hours and 59 minutes: http://www.drpepper.com.

So, Here’s the list of games and peripherals coming this week to a Gamestop, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Amazon.com, etc near you….A Vampyre Story (PC)
Age of Empires Mythologies (DS)
All Star Cheer Squad (DS)
AMF Bowling World Lanes (Wii)
Band Manager (PC)
Banjo-Kazooie (X360)
Bolt (PC)
Bratz Kidz (DS)
Cake Mania: In the Mix! (Wii)
Call of Atlantis (PC)
Cradle of Rome (DS)
Championship Foosball (Wii)
Chronicles of Mystery: The Scorpio Ritual (PC)
The Chronicles of Spellborn (PC)
Chrono Trigger (DS)
Chrysler Classic Racing (DS, Wii)
Club Penguin Elite Penguin Force (DS)
Colour Cross (DS)
Cooking Guide Can’t Decide What To Eat (DS)
Disney Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force (DS)
Ellen Whitaker’s Horse Life (DS)
Emergency Hospital (360, PC)
Emma Goes to the Mountains (DS)
Football Director DS (DS)
Garfield Gets Real (DS)
Imagine Gymnast (DS)
Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine (Wii)
King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga (Wii)
Lego Indiana Jones (Mac)
Metal Gear Online Meme Expansion (PS3)
Mumbojumbo 6 Pack (PC)
Mytran Wars (PSP)
Neopets Puzzle Adventure (DS, PC)
NPPL Championship Paintball 2009 (360)
Personal Trainer: Cooking (DS)
Puzzlegeddon (PC)
Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure (Wii)
Skate City Heroes (Wii)
Ski And Shoot (Wii)
Sonic Unleashed (360)
Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (360, PS3)
Syberia (DS)
Tornado (DS)
Ultimate Band (DS, Wii)
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire 2 (DS)
Winter Sports 2 The Ultimate Challenge (360, PS2, Wii)
Yamaha Supercross (PC)
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force 3 (PSP)

Peripherals
4GB Memory Stick (by Sony) (PSP)
6 in 1 Wii Fit Kit (by CTA Digital)(Wii)
DS Lite Clear Case & Stylus (by Intec) (DS)
Playstation 3 InCharge Dual Charge Station (by Tekno Creations) (PS3)
PRO V Gamer 100 10ft. (by Volo) (HDMI Cable)
PRO V Gamer 200 10ft (By Volo) (HDMI Cable)
Rock Band 2 Triple Cymbal Expansion Kit (by MadCatz) (360, PS2, PS3, Wii)
Star Wars Light Up Lightsaber Stylus 2 Pack (by Bensussen, Deutsch & Associates) (DS)
Universal HDMI Cable 4 ft. (by Volo)(HDMI Cable)
Universal HDMI Cable 7 ft. (by Volo) (HDMI Cable)
Wii 6 in 1 Sports Kit (by Intec)(Wii)
Wii Control Pak Essential Controller Kit (by Nyko) (Wii)
Wii Fishing Rod (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Fit Silicone Armor (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Fit Workout Belt (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Hockey Stick (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Maracas (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Ping Pong Rackets (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Pom Pom (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Pom Pom with Nunchuck (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Pool Stick (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Table Tennis Party Pack (by DreamGEAR) (Wii)
Wii Wireless Guitar for Rock Band and Guitar Hero (by Intec) (Wii)
Xbox 360 Official Rock Band Faceplate and Console Skinz – Scorpion (by MadCatz) (360)
Xbox 360 Official Rock Band Faceplate and Console Skinz – Tattoo (by MadCatz) (360)
Xbox 360 Official Rock Band Faceplate and Console Skinz – Tiger (by MadCatz) (360)

Official Neverland Card Battles Demo Now Available for Download

Experience True Card Battling On Your PSP® System

CHICAGO – Nov. 14, 2008

Experience a true card battle game with the official Neverland Card Battles demo for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, now available on the PlayStation®Store on PSP system. Tabletop card battling game mechanics are combined with strategy RPG elements for a unique game that integrates over 200 collectible cards. Unlock new cards and playable Dominators (card wielders) as you adventure through Neverland to save the world from the evil deity Hellgaia. Available in the full retail version, ad-hoc battle mode lets you prove the power of your custom card deck against a friend.

The all new demo includes opening cut scenes, a tutorial mode, and a full level where you will go up against the Dominator Egma. Do you have the skills to beat him? Will you play your cards right? Find out what the first battle is all about, and what awaits you in Neverland Card Battles.

All previously released content, details and video footage can be found by visiting the official website at: www.neverlandcardbattles.com

The game has been rated “T” for “Teen” with Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Partial Nudity and Use of Tobacco by the ESRB with a suggested retail price of $29.99.

Ubisoft reveals soundtrack for Shaun White Snowboarding

Shaun White Track List to Feature Classic Rock Standards and Indie Rock Anthems

London, UK – November 13, 2008 – Today Ubisoft announced the soundtrack for Shaun White Snowboarding, a brand new video game franchise built around Olympic and X-Games gold medalist Shaun White.

Shaun’s love for classic rock played an important role in inspiring the final list of songs for his video game. Featuring an eclectic mix of genres and artists, the soundtrack flawlessly aligns fresh alternative beats, hardcore rock and old school classics, forming every thrill-seeker’s ideal playlist. Some featured standout artists include Kasabian, Audioslave, MGMT, Heart, Blue Öyster Cult and Bob Dylan.
Below is the full list of tracks featured in Shaun White Snowboarding:

• “The Press Corpse” – Anti-Flag
• “Gasoline” – Audioslave
• “Berlin” – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
• “Weapon of Choice” – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
• “Don’t Fear the Reaper” – Blue Öyster Cult
• “Hurricane” – Bob Dylan
• “Someday Baby” – Bob Dylan
• “Acceptable in the 80s” – Calvin Harris
• “Clean My Wounds” – Corrosion of Conformity
• “Time to Fly” – Dunk
• “We Come 1” – Faithless
• “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” – Gil Scott-Heron
• “Counting the Days” – Goldfinger
• “Jump into the Fire” – Harry Nilsson
• “Barracuda” – Heart
• “The Fashion (Do or Die)” – illScarlett
• “Anna Molly” – Incubus
• “White Rabbit” – Jefferson Airplane
• “Reason Is Treason” – Kasabian
• “Stuntman” – Kasabian
• “Cult of Personality” – Living Colour
• “Working for the Weekend” – Loverboy
• “Control” – Metro Station
• “Of Moons, Birds & Monsters” – MGMT
• “Time to Pretend” – MGMT
• “Dashboard” – Modest Mouse
• “Stompbox” – Overseer
• “Rock Box” – Run DMC
• “Ill Placed Trust” – Sloan
• “Ring of Fire” – Social Distortion
• “Save Yourself” – Stabbing Westward
• “The Ballroom Blitz” – Sweet
• “Perfect Wave” – The Beautiful Unknown (Formerly Barlow)
• “Keep Loving Me” – The Draytones
• “Waiting for Go” – The Dykeenies
• “Alive & Amplified” – The Mooney Suzuki
• “Great DJ” – The Ting Tings
• “Every Inambition” – The Trews
• “Animal I Have Become” – Three Days Grace
• “Play That Funky Music” – Wild Cherry

Shaun White is an Olympic gold medalist with 42 professional wins, including seven Winter X-Games gold medals. He was also the first athlete to win gold medals in Winter and Summer X-Games in unique disciplines. White collaborated with Ubisoft’s award-winning development team to create Shaun White Snowboarding. The game features open world mountains across the globe, where players are free to define their own experiences and express themselves through tricks, unique riding styles and highly customizable avatars. Players can also hang out with their friends and have fun off the board by throwing snowballs, hiking to access secret spots, and filming their friends doing tricks.

Shaun White Snowboarding will be available for retail beginning Nov. 14, 2008 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, the Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo, the Nintendo DS™ system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC.

For more information on Shaun White Snowboarding, please visit www.shaunwhitegame.com.

Vicious Cycle Software and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Partner to Provide Vicious Engine to Developers in India

Indian Developers to Utilize the Comprehensive Suite of Development Tools for PlayStation®2 and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable)

MORRISVILLE, N.C. – Nov. 11, 2008

Vicious Cycle Software announced today that the company is partnering with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) to provide Vicious Engine, the leading middleware solution, to game developers in India. Part of SCEE’s ongoing strategy to accelerate the adoption rate of the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) in the region, Vicious Engine will be available for both platforms to further promote game development in South Asia.

“We looked for an all-inclusive game engine that provided flexibility and a rapid development cycle,” said Jim Ryan, COO of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. “The Vicious Engine is both intuitive and easy-to-use, an excellent choice for our program in India.”

“Working with up-and-coming developers has always been part of our long-term strategy,” said Eric Peterson, president and CEO of Vicious Cycle Software. “This is an historic program, and we are looking forward to all the amazing titles Indian developers will create using our engine.”

The adaptable, easy-to-learn middleware has been used to design games of every style, including adventure/platformer games like Dead Head Fred and the best-selling Flushed Away, deeply addictive casual fare like Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords™ for PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and even instructional/educational titles like Discover Babylon andINNOV8.

Vicious Cycle Software recently announced a new version of the company’s proven game engine, V^e2. V^e2offers a suite of new and improved features for current generation consoles, including an updated lighting engine, an animation blending component, and modern pixel shader technology, all optimized for current platforms. V^e2 will be widely available to developers in 2008, but the company is currently looking for early adopters who are interested in evaluating V^e2. Interested parties are encouraged to contactlicensing@viciousengine.com.

More information about the Vicious Engine and V^e2 is available at www.viciousengine.com.

Shaun White Snowboarding goes gold

SAN FRANCISCO – November 6, 2008 – Today Ubisoft announces that Shaun White Snowboarding for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, the Wii(TM) home video game system from Nintendo, the Nintendo DS(TM) system and PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system, and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system have gone gold. The game is scheduled for release on November 16, 2008.

Shaun White Snowboarding was developed in close collaboration with Shaun White, Olympic gold medalist and eight-time X Games gold medalist. The game is powered by the award-winning Assassin's Creed(TM) engine for Xbox 360 and the PLAYSTATION 3 system, and truly captures the action sports lifestyle. Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip was also developed from the ground up for the Wii, taking full advantage of the Wii Balance Board(TM) accessory and featuring its own unique storyline and adventure with Shaun White. Shaun White Snowboarding for the PSP system and Nintendo DS allow players to enjoy the thrilling sport of snowboarding anytime, anywhere. Players can earn points and build their characters in Shaun White Snowboarding for the PlayStation 2 system, which also features co-op and multiplayer modes.

Shaun White Snowboarding for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system will ship with a "T" for Teen rating by the ESRB. Shaun White Snowboarding for the PSP system and the PlayStation 2 system, and Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip for the Wii will ship with an "E10+" for Everyone 10 and up rating. Shaun White Snowboarding for the Nintendo DS and PSP system will ship with an "E" for Everyone rating by the ESRB. 

For more information on Shaun White Snowboarding, please visit www.shaunwhitegame.com.

Review: Midnight Club: Los Angeles (360)

Midnight Club: Los Angeles

Developer: Rockstar San Diego
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Format Reviewed: Xbox 360
Other Released Formats: PS3, PSP
Number of Players: 1 (Up to 16 online)
Online Features: 16-player events, Rate My Ride, Player Stats and Rankings (via Rockstar Games Social Club)
ESRB Rating: Teen (Mild Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Strong Lyrics)
Genre: Racing
Release Date: 2008-10-20

Midnight Club: Los Angeles came to me out of the blue. I actually have been considering purchasing a racer for the 360 when this one came my way. Honestly, I’m not really sure how to start this review. Do I start with the races, or the story mode? Gorgeous graphics? The Customization of the vehicles? Racer abilities? All there to make this game extreme fun.

I have to say, my first racing game on the 360, and I’m not sure how much more realistic a game can get. The overview map is almost photorealistic, and the actual sights while racing ARE photorealistic. Down to the signs on the building and the cars are just beautiful. They can’t be damaged as much in some games, but they do take a beating. Scrapes, broken windows and torn off bumpers all have happened, but big body crunches, even when you flip the car just don’t happen. That’s ok, this isn’t a sim, it’s just good old-fashioned balls to the wall racing, to hell with real physics. That’s not to say the cars don’t feel fairly real: Each car has its own characteristics. The weight of each car and whether they are front or rear-wheel drive makes a difference in handling. The VW I started out with at the beginning didn’t have trouble taking corners at full speed in its stock config, but the Camaro I won in a pink-slip race feels like I’m driving on ice when I make even the slightest adjustment. Another thing, despite its name, it’s a 24 hour game, with day and night cycles.

Each car is customizable, all the performance aspects, the exterior, the interior, paint, tires, even the license plate is customizable. Love neon? Turn it on! Want to dye the interior vinyl? You can do that. Always wanted those ground effects on your Jetta? Done. With each race won, you get money, it’s just a matter of saving up.

Speaking of winning…There are a ton of different race options, you have Red Light races, timed runs, pink-slip races, freeway races, tournaments, hangout races and other odd jobs. Each of these has a monetary reward, and as long as you finish, you win more “rep”, which is the reason for street races and a part of the story that links all this racing together. When you look at your GPS screen, you’ll see icons for the different races that are available around you. You can pick and choose, or just drive around, and you’ll eventually come across someone. Each race on the GSP screen is colored. Green = Easy, Yellow = Normal, Orange = Above Average, Red = Hard. Don’t let the colors fool you into thinking a green race is going to be truly easy. I’ve had easy Orange races, and hard green ones. There a lot of factors that can make that green race into a hard one.

You will get many new races and opportunities from you sidekick. It pops up on the lower left side of the screen (which is sometimes annoying when you are trying to find a specific spot on it already). This will happen when you meet certain rep requirements and when you complete other tasks. Keep an eye on this; you’ll learn where you can race for pinks, which is a great way to build your garage up. It’s also worth mentioning that if you don’t want to follow the GPS and just drive around the city you can do so. There are a few areas for jumps and collectable Rockstar barrels that unlock cheats. Don’t forget that there’s a ton of Gamerpoints out there to collect, some are surprising to find (Like the “getting off the bench” one for just joining a proposed race online, or “just get a motorcycle” for driving on two wheels in a car too much).

The races have many variables to them, shortcuts, obstacles, other racers, police and the traffic. All of these can turn a massive lead into a miserable loss. These things can work against the other racers as well. I’ve been behind in a race, and all of the sudden pass all of the other racers who chain-reaction wrecked ahead of me. There’s 2 other things that can help you win the race: Nitrous and Abilities.

You have 4 abilities that you can learn: Zone, Roar, EMP and Agro. You must drive “clean”, meaning no crashing into things. If you do it right, you get a special sound, and you can press the LB button to activate. Zone lets you slow time. Roar sends a shockwave that clears all racers and cars out of your way. EMP sends an electromagnetic pulse out that shuts down the engines of cars around you. Agro makes your car stronger, allowing you to run into everything you want without worry of damaging out.

Your garage can be filled with cars, and as you customize and win vehicles, you can sell them, modify them more, sell them, or trade them up for other cars. If you chose to mod you car, it will increase the value. Each race you win will get you money to either modify your vehicle, or save to buy that new car. If you really have to have that car but can’t wait to race for it, and have a heavily modified tuner, you can trade your car with some cash to get it. I kept my cars while saving up for that next awesome one (there are a couple bikes in there to build and race too).

I have not had much online racing with this title, but the options here look like you could have an endless time playing. Support for up to 16 players (though only 4 at a time can race), Quick Cruise (just flash anyone close and propose a challenge). The race types are able to be played online, and you can use the Race Editor to create your own races on the map and challenge others online. There’s also quite a few other types, including the multiplayer standard: capture the flag. Another online feature is one sure to be popular with the car-mod enthusiasts: Rate My Ride mode, which lets you upload your car for others to rate or hate.

If you’re looking for a great racer with a lot of options, online, and absolutely stunning graphics, Midnight Club: Los Angeles is a great pick. It’s definitely still at the top of my game stack, and will remain there for a long while. It’s got a teen rating, and some of the language in the cut scenes hang out in PG-13 level if you have little ones around, you might want to keep the volume down while partaking of those “club” races.

Rating: 4.75 of 5
If you want a great racing experience with tons of races and options, fairly realistic settings and vehicles, but not bound to sim rules, this is it.

Monster Jam Urban Assault coming Tuesday

Monster Jam Urban Assault will be out next week for the Wii, DS, PSP and PS2. We’ve compiled the info on the various gameplay modes and listed them below. With trucks like King Krunch, Grave Digger, Backwards Bob and El Toro Loco tearing through various cities.

The latest Monster Jam promise? UTTER CHAOS!!!

Championship Mode:
Level – Smasher
* Objective: Cause as much destruction as possible. The more expensive your demolition becomes the higher your score!
* Number of tracks: ten – three Air Strike, seven Devastator events
* Typical layout of tracks: Each track has a wide range of different destructible objects. Players can destroy statues, cars, construction equipment, and may more objects. The outdoor event centers have a set number of three attempts and are not timed. Players can choose from five different ramps, each with varying heights giving players the chance to rack up some serious airtime. The points earned during each of the three tries are added together and make up the total score for the course.

Level – Speedster
* Objective: Players must Dash to the finish line while racking up points and boost with stylish tricks
* Number of tracks: nineteen – six Eliminator, six Race Circuit, seven Head to Head events
* Typical layout of tracks: Since only one of the six Eliminator events is in an outdoor event center, players should focus on placing first in each race. All Head to Head events are designed to have very narrow, curvy roads

Level – Stuntman
* Objective: Out-maneuver opponents by successfully completing bold stunts. Players can also multiply their points by linking together tricks to create flashy combs
* Number of tracks: nine – three Monster Jump, three Skill Jump, three Trickster events
* Typical layout of tracks: none of the Monster Jump events is timed. However, they do limit the number of attempts that can be made. Players will only have three tries to successfully complete as many tricks as possible. Skill Jumps also limit the number of attempts to five instead of the usual three. In these tracks, players must drive their trucks through certain targets, each with a set value of points. Trickster events are always in open areas with an array obstacles like pipes and ramps players can use to gain stunt points These stages are timed so players can choose to stay in a small area with a couple of obstacles or sacrifice some of their available time to venture out further around the course to find larger obstacles.

Level – World Series
* Objective: Players will showdown against some of the most infamous Monster Trucks on the circuit.
* Number of tracks: 22 rounds – fifteen Freestyle, seven Stadium racing events
* Typical layout of tracks: Every World Series event is held in a stadium so players will be racing exclusively on dirt tracks. Racing challenges will time players to sprint to the finish line before their opponent. Since these tracks are from Point A to Point B, skillfully Rear Steering on hair pin turns will cut down race lap time.

New Neverland Card Battles Footage Reveals the Power of Godseal Talisman Cards

CHICAGO – Oct. 23, 2008
In anticipation of the launch of Neverland Card Battles next week on October 28th for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, YUKE’S Company of America today released brand new video footage revealing the powerful Godseal Talisman Cards in action, the most powerful spell cards in the game. Featuring the ability to boost the power of all allied units on the board, revive multiple cards from the discard pile, and more. The use of these cards is enough to swing the momentum in a single turn.

When the evil deity, Hellgaia, was locked within the Cardinal Arc shrine, his powers were too dangerous to seal into one card. The five pillar gods decided to split his powers into six powerful cards, thus named Godseal Talisman Cards, each of which crowns one of the Pillar Gods, including Hellgaia. Legend has it that these Godseal Talisman Cards hold the key to protecting the shrine’s seal. Only once Galahad possesses all six of the Godseal Talisman Cards can he set up the final confrontation with the mysterious Arth and seal Hellgaia within the Cardinal Arc forever.

All previous released content, details and video footage can be found by visiting the official website at: www.neverlandcardbattles.com

Neverland Card Battles pre-orders can be placed with Amazon.com®, GameStop®, and Game Crazy®. The game has been rated “T” for Teen with Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Partial Nudity and Use of Tobacco by the ESRB.

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows Swings Into Retailers Nationwide

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct 21, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — The fate of New York City lies in gamers’ hands starting today as Activision Publishing, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) and Marvel’s (NYSE: MVL) all new Spider-Man: Web of Shadows(TM) ships to retail outlets nationwide. The enthralling action-adventure saga introduces players to a cataclysmic Big Apple clash against an invasion of alien symbiotes that threatens mankind itself. Rated “T” (for Teen) by the ESRB, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows(TM) is available on Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system, the Wii(TM) home video game system and Windows(R) PC. “E10+” (for everyone) ESRB-rated versions are also available on Nintendo DS(TM), PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system and PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system.

“Spider-Man: Web of Shadows delivers the deepest combat system ever in the Spider-Man universe, whether it’s going vertical up the side of neck-breaking skyscrapers or web-slinging into action over them for high-altitude, high-octane aerial battles,” said Rob Kostich, vice president, global brand management, Activision Publishing, Inc. “The team has captured a truly captivating Spider-Man experience that combines mesmerizing combat and riveting visual effects with a compelling and unfolding storyline that places gamers in control of the action.”

With a story penned by acclaimed Marvel comic book writer, Brian Reed, the title features a New York City devastated by a deadly symbiote invasion, in which players are faced with the choice to play the heroic web-slinger in his classic, agile red suit or the dark, formidable black suit. Battling with or against a huge cast of fan-favorite Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains, gamers can switch allegiances instantly as they decide which missions will ultimately save mankind.

An all-new combat system, built from the ground up, combining web-slinging and customizable superpowers provides gamers the unrivaled opportunity to fight and explore in an open free-roaming and destructible environment. In battle, Spider-Man’s speed and agility are tested within the diverse cityscape, challenging players to master fast-moving acrobatic combat, powerful new web-slinging moves and destructive combo attacks, as combat seamlessly migrates from the streets, up the sides of buildings and onto rooftops.

Developed by Shaba Games and Treyarch, with additional development by Amaze and Aspyr, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is available now for $59.99 (Xbox 360, PS3), $49.99(Wii), $39.99 (PS2, PSP) and $29.99 (PC, NDS). Fans can learn more about Spider-Man: Web of Shadows by visiting http://www.seizecontrol.com.

Rockstar Games Announces Midnight Club: Los Angeles and Midnight Club: LA Remix Now Available Nationwide

Newest edition of original open-world street racing series available in stores today

 

New York, NY – October 21, 2008 – Rockstar Games is proud to announce the fourth installment of its critically acclaimed and genre-defining Midnight Club franchise, Midnight Club: Los Angeles, is now available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Midnight Club: LA Remix is also available for the PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system. The titles will be available internationally on October 24.

“Midnight Club has always been about giving you freedom, whether racing, cruising or tuning your car. The game allows you to do what you want, when you want,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “This is the first Midnight Club to be appearing on the current generation of hardware and San Diego’s hard work really shines in every aspect of the game.”

Developed by Rockstar San Diego, Midnight Club: Los Angeles provides a seamless, breathtaking environment for everyone who loves to compete. With no load times, no tracks, and no rules, the game allows players to race at breakneck speeds through an unbelievable recreation of Los Angeles. 

“We have been working hard to make this game the fastest and most fun racer out there,” said Jay Panek, Midnight Club Producer at Rockstar San Diego. “From the look and feel of the city and cars, to the exciting races, we are proud of this game and can’t wait for racing fans to get their hands on it.”

A racing game is nothing without the great cars and Midnight Club: Los Angeles allows extensive customization of vehicles for both performance and appearance. Players can now fully personalize their officially licensed imports, tuners, classic muscle cars and motorcycles both inside and out with a dizzying array of licensed rims, body kits, interior upgrades, vinyls and more.

Midnight Club: LA Remix for the PSP system provides another incredible portable racing experience. Developed by Rockstar London, the game will take full advantage of the hardware to deliver the unrivaled sense of speed and style that the bestselling Midnight Club series is known for.

The racing experience in Midnight Club: Los Angeles is extended online at the Rockstar Social Club (www.rockstargames.com/socialclub) where players will be able to enter tournaments, share customized car photos, rate rides and track stats with other gamers.

Midnight Club: Los Angeles for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 and Midnight Club LA: Remix for the PSP system are rated T for Teen.

Rockstar Games is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

On a side note, I have received a review copy of Midnight Club: Los Angeles for the 360, and will get a review out this weekend. My first impression (and the impression of the kids) is that it’s pretty damn fun. I’ll have something for you guys to read on it this weekend.