Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars Director’s cut coming next year

Ubisoft signs deal to publish the Director’s Cut of Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars

Genre-defining Adventure Game that Introduced Gamers to the Mysteries of the Knights Templars Makes its Debut on Wii(TM) and Nintendo DS(TM) Systems with a Special Edition

 Today Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announced a publishing agreement to release the special edition of Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars on Wii(TM) and Nintendo DS(TM) systems.

“Ubisoft works with the very best development talent in the world,” said Alain Corre, Ubisoft EMEA Executive Director. “We jumped at the opportunity to work with Charles Cecil and Revolution to publish a game of the highest pedigree so perfectly suited for the Nintendo audience.”

Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – The Director’s Cut builds on the original, boasting a new and explosive narrative interwoven with the first story. New puzzles have been added for Nintendo DS and Wii that specifically utilize Nintendo’s unique control methods. The game also features stunning animated facial expressions drawn by Dave Gibbons, the artistic genius behind the comic book and upcoming movie, Watchmen.

“These new platforms and their innovative controls enabled us to translate and enrich the point-and-click gaming experience in a way that no other console allowed before,” said Charles Cecil, founder of Revolution Software and designer of the Broken Sword series. “Through Dave’s animated faces, the game’s characters are portrayed as empathetic and emotional – driving the narrative in a way that has never been done before in an adventure game. The Director’s Cut has allowed me to deliver my true vision for the series.”

Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – The Director’s Cut starts with the player in control of charming Parisian photo-journalist Nicole Collard, who witnesses the brutal and horrifying murder of one of Paris’s richest and most influential statesmen. During her investigations, which feature exclusive new locations, Nico meets amiable American George Stobbart, who has been unwittingly caught up in the sinister and bloody theft of an ancient manuscript. Together, they are drawn into a terrifying conspiracy rooted in a long-forgotten medieval legend.

Expanding on the original classic storyline, The Director’s Cut features tight scripting and an intense atmosphere from the explosive opening sequence to the gripping finale, where the full threat of the conspiracy is revealed.

Adds Charles Cecil, “The Director’s Cut features elements that enhance the original puzzles and storyline, which helps explain what happened prior to the start of the original game, and how it ties to later games in the series.”

Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – The Director’s Cut is scheduled for release on Wii and Nintendo DS in March 2009.

Hudson Entertainment releases new screens for Help Wanted

Unemployed? There’s a Job For Everyone With Fifty Unique Occupations!

REDWOOD CITY, CA – Friday, December 19, 2008 – Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm for HUDSON SOFT, today released a new batch of screenshots for Help Wanted™, a fun, slap-stick new life simulation game for Wii™ slated for Summer 2009. In Help Wanted™, players are sent on a mission to save the world from impending extinction by completing fifty different jobs. Help Wanted™ is developed by Hudson Soft and published by Hudson Entertainment for North and South America.

Help Wanted™ allows players to choose from completing over fifty odd jobs. The jobs included in this new batch of screens include Security Guard, Sushi Chef, Plane Cleaner, Haunted House Monster, Bodybuilder, and Sumo Referee, to name just a few. The game includes multiple difficulty levels that change up the gameplay elements and a multiplayer feature that allows for head-to-head play on up to fifteen different jobs.

After completing each job, players can then shop for fun and unique items using the money they’ve earned from their daily grind. In addition, gamers can also buy special defensive goods that will help to save the planet or delay it’s extinction from a meteor. After making purchases, players can also add keepsakes to their displayable collections in the collector’s room.

For more information about Help Wanted™ or Hudson Entertainment visit www.Hudsonentertainment.com orwww.hudsonent.com.

New Guitar Hero World Tour DLC coming in January

Travis Barker, Rascal Flatts and Oasis Songs Among New Downloadable Guitar Hero(R) World Tour Tracks in January

Travis Barker Encore Performance Showcases Diverse Music Genres

Country Superstars Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley and Brooks & Dunn Make Guitar Hero(R) Debuts

British Multi-Platinum Selling Rockers Oasis Bring Full 2008 Album ‘Dig Out Your Soul’

Building upon the extensive variety of chart-topping hits that span multiple genres of music available to Guitar Hero fans, Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) will release over 20 party-rocking anthems as downloadable content for Guitar Hero(R) World Tour throughout January 2009.

Before fans ring in the New Year, additional downloadable content for Guitar Hero World Tour from hard rock bands Hinder, Nickelback and Rev Theory, will be available on December 23rd. Hinder’s first single “Use Me,” from their recently released album Take It to the Limit, is joined by Nickelback’s “Because of You” and Rev Theory’s “Light it Up.”

Further diversifying the catalogue of songs available for download for Guitar Hero World Tour is the debut of the Country Rock Track Pack featuring Rascal Flatts “Me and My Gang,” plus GRAMMY(R) Award winning artists Brad Paisley’s “Ticks” and Brooks & Dunn’s “Hillbilly Deluxe.” Country music fans can rock out starting on January 8th.
World-renowned drummer Travis Barker, whose likeness appears in Guitar Hero World Tour, is returning to the Guitar Hero stage on January 15th for an encore with a three-song Track Pack illustrating his talents across various styles of music. Two of the tracks, “What’s My Age Again” and “Lycanthrope,” are from his work as part of blink-182 and +44 respectively. Completing the Track Pack is his solo-project remixing Flo Rida’s smash-hit “Low.”

Following multiple stops around the world and further expanding the Guitar Hero global music library, Guitar Hero World Tour makes a trip down under on January 22nd with three of the biggest Australian bands of all-time. Silverchair makes their debut appearance in the Guitar Hero franchise with their 1995 hit “Tomorrow.” Rounding out the Track Pack is the GRAMMY Award winning Wolfmother with “Dimension” and The Vines with their hit “Outtathaway!”

After making a successful splash into Guitar Hero World Tour downloadable content with three singles off their critically acclaimed Dig Out Your Soul album, gamers will have the opportunity to shred, drum and wail away to the full album from beloved, multi-platinum UK rock band, Oasis, in its entirety on January 29th. Joining “Bag it Up,” “Waiting for the Rapture” and “The Shock of the Lightning” are “The Turning,” “I’m Outta Time,” “(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady,” “Falling Down,” “To Be Where There’s Life,” “Ain’t Got Nothin,” “The Nature of Reality” and “Soldier On.”

The Oasis Album will be available on Xbox LIVE(R) Marketplace for the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 1520 Microsoft Points and on the PlayStation(R)Store for the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system for $18.99. The Track Packs will be released for Xbox 360 for 440 Microsoft Points and PLAYSTATION 3 system for $5.49. The songs on the Oasis Album and in each Track Pack will be released as downloadable singles for Xbox 360 for 160 Microsoft Points, PLAYSTATION 3 system for $1.99 and Wii(TM) for 200 Wii Points.

Guitar Hero World Tour transforms music gaming by expanding Guitar Hero’s signature guitar gameplay into a cooperative band experience that combines the most advanced wireless controllers with new revolutionary online* and offline gameplay modes including Band Career and 8-player “Battle of the Bands,” which allows two full bands to compete head-to-head online. The game features a slick newly redesigned guitar controller, drum kit controller and a wired microphone, as well as an innovative Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock ‘n’ roll anthems. Music creators are also able to share their recordings with their friends online through GHTunes(SM) where other gamers can download and play an endless supply of unique creations.

Guitar Hero World Tour is now available for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, the Wii home video game system from Nintendo and the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. The game is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB. For more information on Guitar Hero World Tour, please visit worldtour.guitarhero.com/.

Club Nintendo offers special membership for fans

Dec. 16, 2008

Starting today, Nintendo welcomes its North American fans to Club Nintendo™, a special club that rewards members for registering Nintendo products and completing surveys. Nintendo fans can sign up by visiting Club.Nintendo.com. After joining, fans can register select Nintendo hardware and Nintendo-published games in exchange for Nintendo Coins, which can then be redeemed for limited-edition Nintendo rewards available only to Club Nintendo members.
 
“Club Nintendo gives fans what they want – access to exclusive rewards for their loyalty to our brand and our products,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America Inc.’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “We’re offering some unique items as a way to say thanks for their support of Nintendo.”

Once they become Club Nintendo members, Nintendo fans and former My Nintendo members can create a profile and register select Nintendo products on the site by inputting a product serial ID (a list of compatible products is posted on the site). The user is then asked to complete a survey about the product. Coins are awarded once surveys are complete. That’s when the fun begins. Some of the exclusive rewards include the Game & Watch™ Collection for the Nintendo DS™ and a set of traditional Hanafuda cards printed with Nintendo characters.

Customers who purchase a new Wii™ or Nintendo DS™ system can register the product with Club Nintendo and complete a survey to extend the product warranty. Club Nintendo members can reach Gold and Platinum status by collecting a certain amount of Coins each year. Gold and Platinum members will be eligible to receive exclusive rewards. As members, fans can also sign up for personalized newsletters to learn about upcoming products that best match their interests.

For more information about Nintendo, please visit www.Nintendo.com.

Nintendo announces early 2009 games

New Releases Include Pokemon Platinum, New Play Control,  Pikmin and Mario Power Tennis for Wii, Fire Emblem for Nintendo DS

REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 17, 2008 – Continuing its commitment to create fun and engaging experiences for everyone, Nintendo of America Inc. today unleashes a broad list of exciting new games for the first quarter of 2009. Topping the list is Pokémon™ Platinum version for Nintendo DS™, a remarkable new entry in the beloved Pokémon series, slated for a March 22 launch across North America. Nintendo’s roster of more than 100 new games includes an impressive array of challenges and experiences for new players and loyalists, as well as everyone in between. Notable titles include the enhanced New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis™ and New Play Control! Pikmin™ for Wii™, and Fire Emblem™: Shadow Dragon, Personal Trainer™: Mathand Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for Nintendo DS.

“Our fans expect a diverse selection of entertainment options, and we’re eager to deliver exactly that,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “We’re building on the momentum of a strong holiday season by offering new and experienced players an even greater library of game titles in 2009.”

Pokémon fans in particular will have plenty to cheer about as Pokémon Platinum is readied for its U.S. debut. Following the vast popularity ofPokémon® Diamond and Pokémon Pearl, Pokémon Platinum is the newest in the core series of Pokémon games. Pokémon Platinumfeatures a new story full of adventure, never-before-seen forms of powerful Pokémon – including the legendary Giratina’s Origin Forme – and the Distortion World, a mysterious new world that suddenly appears in the Sinnoh region. In addition, with Pokémon Platinum up to 20 players can interact with other Pokémon fans from around the world in the new Wi-Fi Plaza, featuring mini-games and activities. Players can also enjoy the new features in the Global Terminal, such as posting battle videos using the new “Vs. Recorder.”  In addition,Pokémon Platinum features a new Battle Frontier, where the toughest Trainers can test their skills in new ways. Pokémon Platinum already has broken previous Nintendo DS sales records in Japan, selling more than 1 million copies in its first two days of release.

For the portable Nintendo DS, Personal Trainer: Math builds on the new Personal Trainer™ series, which launched with Personal Trainer™: Cooking, now extends its reach beyond the stomach to the brain.Personal Trainer: Math introduces 40 fast-paced exercises to give players a fun way to improve their arithmetic skills. The Personal Trainer series is designed to help users enrich their lives and learn new skills in fun and interesting ways. Also for Nintendo DS, fans of the Fire Emblem franchise will enjoy the arrival of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, a revamped and re-imagined version of the NES™ classic, featuring touch-screen controls. Players with a broadband Internet connection can enjoy worldwide battles over Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo’s online gaming service.

Meanwhile, for the Wii console, Nintendo is offering up two classic Nintendo GameCube™ games: New Play Control! Mario Power Tennisand New Play Control! Pikmin enhanced for play using the Wii Remote™ controller. The enhanced New Play Control! Pikmin game lets players point the Wii Remote controller at the screen and use it as a cursor, making it easy to select either a single Pikmin or an entire army. When a player tosses Pikmin, they fly wherever the cursor is pointing. New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis lets players enjoy an afternoon on the court as their favorite characters from the Mushroom Kingdom, complete with motion-controlled serves and swings. With Wii controls, players can swing the Wii Remote controller to hit forehands and backhands and to apply spin. Experienced gamers can also attach a Nunchuk™ controller for additional precision. Both games are scheduled to launch next March.

Third-party publishers continue to bring diverse, creative games likeFINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES®: Echoes of Time™ from Square-Enix for Wii and Nintendo DS. These games offer unique features that allow users to play multiplayer across Nintendo platforms.MADWORLD™ from Sega will be available exclusively for Wii, and the highly acclaimed franchise Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars from Rockstar Games will be available for Nintendo DS.

Below is a partial list of upcoming games for Wii and Nintendo DS. Note that game titles and launch dates are subject to change.

Wii

Activision
Monsters vs. Aliens - March 24

Crave Entertainment 
Monster Pals™ - March
Solitaire & Mahjong - February
Puzzle Challenges and More! - February
Crayola Colorful World - March

D3Publisher 
Onechanbara™ Bikini Zombie Slayers™ - February
Coraline - January

Destineer
WordJong Party - January
Battle Rage - February
Cradle of Rome - February
Cate West: The Vanishing Files - March
Burger Island - March

Disney Interactive Studios
Disney Sing It: High School Musical 3: Senior Year - Winter

DreamCatcher
Play the World - March

Electronic Arts
NASCAR® Kart Racing - Feb. 10
SimAnimals™ - Jan. 27
TRIVIAL PURSUIT - Early spring

Hudson Entertainment
FISHING MASTER WORLD TOUR - Jan. 6
Marble Saga Kororinpa™ - Spring

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. 
DanceDanceRevolution® Disney Grooves - March

Majesco Entertainment
Escape the Museum - January
Major Minor’s Majestic March - March

Marvelous Entertainment USA
Little King’s Story - Feb. 17
Rune Factory: Frontier - March

Mastiff 
Deer Drive™ - Jan. 20

NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. 
We Ski™ and Snowboard - March

Nintendo
New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis™ - March
New Play Control! Pikmin™ - March

Sega 
The House of The Dead: Overkill™ - February
SONIC™ and the Black Knight - March
MADWORLD™ - March

Southpeak Interactive
Roogoo Twisted Towers™ - Feb. 17
Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball™ - March 17
Brave: A Warrior’s Tale™ - Feb. 17

THQ
Paws & Claws Pet Resort - Jan. 5
Neighborhood Games - Jan. 5

Ubisoft
Tenchu™: Shadow Assassins - February
Broken Sword™: Shadows of the Templars (Director’s Cut) - March

XS Games
Super PickUps™ - Q1

Nintendo DS

Activision
Monsters vs. Aliens - March 24
Pimp My Ride 2™ - March 24
Animal Planet™ - March 10

Atlus U.S.A., Inc. 
My World, My Way™ - Feb. 3
Legacy of Ys™: Books I & II - Feb. 10
Trackmania™ DS - March 17

Crave Entertainment 
Monster Pals ™ - March

D3Publisher of America
Puzzle Quest™: Galactrix™ - Q1
Coraline - January

Destineer 
USA TODAY Puzzle Craze - January
DinoPets - March

Disney Interactive Studios
Phineas and Ferb - Winter

DreamCatcher
Inkheart - January
Learn Math - January
Drivers’ Ed Portable - January
Monster Band - January
Zoo Quest - February
My Personal Diary - February
Music Star: Pop Star - February
Paint by DS - March
Matchstick - March
Dreamer: Top Model - March
Sarah – Keeper of the Unicorn - March
Learn Chess - March
Dragon Master - April

Electronic Arts
Zubo™ - March
Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure™ - Q1
SimAnimals™ - Jan. 27

Empire Interactive 
Jagged Alliance - Feb. 17

Gameloft
American Popstar – Road to Celebrity - March 9

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
Elebits: The Adventures of Kai and Zero™ - Q1
Suikoden Tierkreis - Q1
Little Magician’s Magic Adventure™ - Q1

Majesco Entertainment 
WonderWorld Amusement Park™ - January
Powerbike - January
Our House™ - Q1
Hot ‘n’ Cold - March

Marvelous Entertainment USA
Avalon Code - February
Flower, Sun, and Rain - March

Mastiff
Moon™ - Jan. 13

MumboJumbo
Chicken Hunter Star Karts - March 10

Nintendo
Personal Trainer™: Math - Jan. 12
Fire Emblem™: Shadow Dragon - Feb. 16
Pokémon™ Platinum version – March 22

ROCKSTAR GAMES 
Grand Theft Auto™: Chinatown Wars - Winter

Southpeak Interactive 
Big Bang Mini® - Jan. 6
Roogoo Attack™ - Feb. 17
Brave: Shaman’s Challenge™ - Feb. 17

Square Enix, Inc. 
FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES®: Echoes of Time™ - Spring

THE GAME FACTORY
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES™ - Jan. 19

THQ
Paws & Claws Pampered Pets - Jan. 5

TOMY Corporation
My DoItAll™ - February

Ubisoft
Jake Power Fireman - January
Jake Power Policeman - January
Imagine™ Cheerleader - February
JoJo’s Fashion Show - February
Petz® Horseshoe Ranch - February
Imagine™ Family Doctor - February
Imagine™ Ice Champions - March
Jake Power Handyman - March
My Fashion Studio Paris Collection - Feb. 17
American Popstar – Road to Celebrity - March 24
Broken Sword™: Shadows of the Templars (Director’s Cut) - March

XSEED Games
Retro Game Challenge - Jan. 6

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!

Evasive Space Website Launches with Official Video Trailer

Full Details of Game Revealed on EvasiveSpace.com and in Video Footage

CHICAGO – Dec. 16, 2008
YUKE’S Company of America today announced the launch of the official website for Evasive Space, a top-down space action/adventure title for WiiWare^TM developed by High Voltage Software. The new website highlights all features found within the game and includes the official trailer providing an in-depth look at the game mechanics and challenges that lie within. You will be using the infrared capabilities of the Wii Remote^TM to pilot Konki on timed and collection-based missions in a race to save the universe from Dr. Dark Matter, confronting many obstacles along the way across a variety of intergalactic environments for an experience that will challenge your reflexes.

Key features of the game include:
- Guide Konki through 20 hazardous space time and collection based missions spanning four differently themed worlds
- Deftly pilot your ship with innovative use of the Wii Remote’s infrared pointer capabilities
- Pick up items and ship upgrades to enhance skills and increase your chances for survival
- Six different four person multiplayer matches locally on your home console
- Compete for best times with Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection online leaderboards
 

View the new website and official trailer at www.evasivespace.com.

Evasive Space will be released in January of 2009, downloadable for 1,000 Wii Points^TM, and has been rated “E” for Everyone with Mild Fantasy Violence by the ESRB.

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.

Guitar Hero: Metallica confirmed

Wow. Like we didn’t know this already… Rolling Stone has confirmed that Metallica has confirmed that the game is coming “some time in the first half of 2009″

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/12/15/guitar-hero-metallica-confirmed-by-band-details-emerge/

Wii Update: 2 WiiWare, 1 VC Game

Dec. 15, 2008

Time may be getting tight for holiday shoppers, but the selection and excitement at the Wii™ Shop Channel just keeps on growing. There’s no simpler way to access a brilliant variety of new and classic games, and they’re all available for download directly to your Wii console-no ribbons or wrapping paper required. This week’s additions bring a fresh mix of challenges for new and experienced players to enjoy: Slay a dragon in the season finale of Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People, solve a multiplayer puzzle or race the clock on an arcade-style motorbike course.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

WiiWare™

Strong Bad Episode 5: 8-Bit Is Enough (Telltale Games, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older-Mild Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief, Mild Suggestive Themes, 1,000 Wii Points): Trogdor, the beefy-armed dragon of legend, has shaken free from his video game and is running through the countryside, “burninating” everything in sight. With a dragon on the loose and 8-bit classics leaking into the real world, it’s all fun and games until the proud land of Strong Badia falls to Trogdor’s fiery wrath. Now Strong Bad must take back the night by sending this scorching menace back into his arcade cabinet once and for all. Just one problem: Does anybody know how to kill a dragon?

Big Kahuna Party (Reflexive Entertainment Inc., 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 700 Wii Points): Embark on a tropical adventure with the explosively charged Big Kahuna Party. Looking to make the ultimate party game, we started with a concept that’s accessible to the whole family-the popular match-three game. On top of that, we crafted a unique multiplayer experience in which you can choose to work together to complete the challenging levels before the timer runs out, or go head-to-head and compete in a frenzy of fun. To top it off, we added 99 uniquely free-flowing levels, the challenging Tiki Pole, 20 hidden tropical sea creatures to unlock, the strategic Fish Net and more. The result is a family party game like no other, easy to pick up but impossible to put down. Play alone or with friends, and unleash the Tiki spirit within.

Virtual Console™

Enduro Racer™ (SEGA Master System, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Based on the popular SEGA arcade game and redesigned for the SEGA Master System, Enduro Racertakes you on an intense set of adrenaline-designed courses containing diverse and rough terrain that will test your skills and reaction time. Ride as fast as you can to pass as many cars and bikes as possible while also avoiding obstacles and pitfalls such as debris on the road. Take jumps off ramps and try to keep your speed up, but make sure to keep an eye on your bike so it doesn’t blow up in your face. Are you ready for the challenge?

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Strong Bad Episode 5 is out today!

It’s dragon killing time! The Strong Bad season finale — starring the infamous Trogdor the Burninator — arrived on WiiWare and PC this morning, bringing the first monthly episodic series for a console to an exciting close. And what a ride it’s been! Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People kicked off with a chart-topping performance on WiiWare (#1 on the most downloaded list for almost all of August!) and has remained a favorite month after month, proving that creative titles based on offbeat characters who dole out advice emails on the Internet really do have a place in the video game world.

Speaking of video game worlds, that’s exactly how the Strong Bad series closes. (Good segue there, eh?) In 8-Bit Is Enough, Strong Bad gets up close and personal with some of his favorite arcade classics on a quest to send the pesky, beefy-armed dragon Trogdor packing, and restore balance to Free Country USA. Sound epic? That’s because it is! If you’re a Strong Bad fan, a video game fan, or a fan of things that are hilarious, you owe it to yourself to check out 8-Bit Is Enough — and the rest of the Strong Bad series.

The finale is available for PC as part of the $34.95 Strong Bad season pass (available from www.telltalegames.com) or can be downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel for 1,000 Wii points. (The WiiWare version is currently only available in North America).

Check it out, its a great way to end an awesome series. It’s been successful enough, let’s hope there’s a season 2 on the horizon!

Pearl Jam signs with MTV Games and Harmoix to bring their debut album, Ten, to Rock Band on the date of it’s re-issue

Full Album to be Released as Rock Band DLC Day and Date with the Re-issue of “Ten”: Four Special Edition Packages in Stores on March 24, 2009

NEW YORK, NY – December 15, 2008 – Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game development company, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today confirmed that Ten, the debut album that sold 12 million copies and introduced the world to Pearl Jam (http://www.pearljam.com) in 1991, will be offered for download in the Rock Band Music Store day-and-date with the re-issue of the album in stores on March 24, 2009.

Paul DeGooyer, Senior Vice President of Electronic Games and Music for MTV Networks Music / Logo Group, added, “Just hearing the first few notes of Jeremy or Alive brings back all the raw emotion of this incredible, hugely important album. We are honored to be working with Pearl Jam to deliver Ten as it is re-issued.”

In addition to the track “Alive” that is already available on the Rock Band 2 game disc, the Pearl Jam Ten download pack will include the additional 10 songs from the album:

1. Once
2. Even Flow
3. Why Go Black
4. Jeremy
5. Oceans
6. Porch
7. Garden
8. Deep
9. Release

Pearl Jam released Ten on August 27, 1991. The album reached #2 on the Billboard 200 chart, sold over 12 million copies and became one of the cultural touchstones of the 1990s. Songs such as “Alive,” “Black,” “Even Flow” and Jeremy became staples of rock radio, and still make frequent appearances on the band’s ever-changing concert setlists. The album was produced by Rick Parasher. Pearl Jam’s 1991 lineup was Jeff Ament (bass), Stone Gossard (guitar), Dave Krusen (drums), Mike McCready (guitar) and Eddie Vedder (vocals).

Rock Band 2 features the largest music catalogue of any music-based videogame to date including over 100 songs[1] on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack with an unrivaled blend of classic and new artists including AC/DC, Guns ‘N Roses, Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, Motorhead and more! The Rock Band online music store recently surpassed 30 million paid downloads since the game’s launch in late November 2007. With more than 500 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at http://www.rockband.com/dlc), the addition of complete and immediate backwards compatibility for songs purchased from Rock Band’s ever-expanding online music store and the ability to export most songs from the original Rock Band disc, Rock Band continues to deliver the largest library of music ever for a video game.

For more information on Rock Band and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com.

MTV Games is the publisher of Rock Band and is developed by Harmonix, EA is the exclusive distribution partner for Rock Band. About MTV Games MTV Games is dedicated to creating, marketing and publishing high-quality, innovative interactive products that are relevant to the MTV audience and complement the core values of the MTV Networks brands.

Winter Sports 2: The Next Challenge released to retail

December 10, 2008 - Conspiracy Entertainment is pleased to announce the retail release of “Winter Sports 2: The Next Challenge,” the exciting sequel to last year’s top-selling “Winter Sports; The Ultimate Challenge” for the Nintendo Wii™. “Winter Sports 2″ features 15 disciplines spanning nine sports, 42 challenges and “boss” rivals to test the mettle of casual and hardcore gamers alike. Four-player hotseat and two-player split-screen play allow for multiplayer fun on the Wii, while a career mode lets players customize their in-game characters for a more realistic gameplay experience.

More information about “Winter Sports 2: The Next Challenge” is available athttp://conspiracygames.com.

Developed by 49 Games, “Winter Sports 2: The Next Challenge” is the exciting sequel to the top-selling “Winter Sports: The Ultimate Challenge” for the Nintendo Wii™. This new game features more events, more challenges, final bosses and support for the Balance Board accessory in sports like Snowboarding and Alpine Skiing. With multiplayer support via hotseat and split-screen play, “Winter Sports 2: The Next Challenge” is enjoyable to both solo players and families alike.

Bruiser and Scratch available now exclusively for WiiWare

Austin, Texas- December 10, 2008 – Steel Penny Games, a videogame development company specializing in mass market and kid friendly games, announced today that its highly anticipated WiiWare™ puzzle game Bruiser and Scratch is now available for download on the Wii Shop Channel for Nintendo Wii™. The puzzle game can be obtained for 1000 Wii Points®.

Bruiser and Scratch is the first game released from Steel Penny Games and is rated E for everybody. Bruiser and Scratch are a pair of lovable friends that are somehow always getting into the thick of it. Bruiser and Scratch somehow find themselves sucked into a world where science and magic interweave freely. Their adventure leads them through this mystery place of dark undertones and adventure they meet friends who help them along their way. This adventure packed matching puzzle game will keep you mystified through each level as you travel through the magical world that Bruiser and Scratch have fallen into.
For more information about Steel Penny Games or Bruiser and Scratch, please visitwww.steelpennygames.com.

Guitar Hero(R) World Tour Expands Global Music Library With Downloadable Songs From Europe’s Hottest Bands

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec 11, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ –
Increasing its library of local music from around the world this month, Activision Publishing, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Guitar Hero(R) World Tour – which features on-disc songs from top global acts such as Tokio Hotel, Hushpuppies and Radio Futura – is offering new three-song Track Packs of downloadable content from popular European bands including Germany’s Sportfreunde Stiller, France’s BB Brunes and Spain’s Fito Y Fitipaldis.

Following their home country’s disappointing 2006 World Cup elimination, German rock band Sportfreunde Stiller re-wrote their chart-topping hit “‘54, ‘74, ‘90, 2006″ in anticipation of a 2010 championship, re-titled it “‘54, ‘74, ‘90, 2010″ and are bringing it to Guitar Hero World Tour as part of a three-song Track Pack available today.

Also included in the pack and further expanding the global audience are Italian rock band Negrita with “Mama Mae” and French rock sensation BB Brunes with “Dis Moi.”

Swedish rock icons the Backyard Babies, whose Guitar Hero(R) III: Legends of Rock on-disc track “Minus Celsius” saw an increase in digital audio downloads after appearing in the game, are building on the success for an encore with “Degenerated” off their 2008 self-titled album.

Joining the Backyard Babies in the second three-song Track Pack to be released later this month are Spanish rockers Fito Y Fitipaldis with “Por La Boca Vive El Pez” and Netherlands’ beloved Di-Rect with “Johnny.”

The two Track Packs will be available on Xbox LIVE(R) Marketplace for the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 440 Microsoft Points and on the PlayStation(R)Store for the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system for $5.49. The songs in each Track Pack will be released as downloadable singles for Xbox 360 for 160 Microsoft Points, PLAYSTATION 3 system for $1.99 and Nintendo(R) Wi-Fi Connection for Wii(TM) for 200 Wii Points.

Guitar Hero World Tour transforms music gaming by expanding Guitar Hero’s signature guitar gameplay into a cooperative band experience that combines the most advanced wireless controllers with new revolutionary online* and offline gameplay modes including Band Career and 8-player “Battle of the Bands,” which allows two full bands to compete head-to-head online. The game features a slick newly redesigned guitar controller, drum kit controller and a wired microphone, as well as an innovative Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock ‘n’ roll anthems. Music creators are also able to share their recordings with their friends online through GHTunesSM where other gamers can download and play an endless supply of unique creations.

Guitar Hero World Tour is now available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, the Wii home video game system from Nintendo and the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. The game is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB. For more information on Guitar Hero World Tour, please visit worldtour.guitarhero.com.