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] [Posted by Bjorn on Thursday, March 31 2005 @ 11:35 CET]New Games Arrived
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We got a bunch of new games that came in this week here in our office.
These are:
- Brother in Arms Road to Hill 30 (Xbox)
- Star Wars Knights of the old Republic II : The Sith Lords (Xbox)
- Star Wars Republic Commando (Xbox)
We are also currently working on a review of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure for Nintendo's GameCube and on Dead or Alive 2 Ultimate for Xbox.
These should be both ready beginning of next week.
Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack slated for June release
[Category :] [Posted by Bjorn on Wednesday, March 30 2005 @ 10:49 CET]
Four New Maps Set for April Release Via Xbox Live.
Console gaming will never be the same again, as Microsoft Game Studios has announced a June 28 release date for the highly anticipated Halo 2® Multiplayer Map Pack. The multiplayer expansion pack, which is the first of its kind for a console title, contains nine new multiplayer maps to push gamers' skills to their limits. The retail package also contains two new videos: an animated side-story from the single-player story in New Mombasa and a mini-documentary that includes interviews with the map designers, combat strategies and fly-throughs of the new maps. The retail pack also allows gamers who prefer offline play via system link and split-screen to upgrade their Halo 2 experience with new maps. The retail version of the Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack carries a suggested retail price of $19.99 (U.S.).
As a special bonus, Xbox Live subscribers will get an early chance to check out four maps from the Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack in late April. Two maps, Containment and Warlock, will be presented by Mountain Dew at no cost to Xbox subscribers. Two additional maps, Sanctuary and Turf, can be purchased via Xbox Live for $5.99 (U.S.). To complete the Map Pack collection, subscribers can download the five remaining maps on June 28 for $11.99 (U.S.).
Set in a Forerunner environment on Delta Halo, Containment is a massive, icy outdoor environment suitable for vehicle combat and large team objective games such as Capture the Flag. Warlock, a small to midsized indoor arena set in ancient Forerunner ruins, offers ample opportunities for a variety of gametypes such as Territories, Slayer, Team Slayer and more. Located in the streets of Old Mombasa near the wreckage of a downed Covenant Scarab, Turf is a midsize asymmetrical urban combat environment with narrow streets, dark alleyways and heavily defended buildings. The sunlit remains of an ancient Forerunner temple, Sanctuary is a medium-sized symmetrical environment excellent for Capture the Flag, Assault, Territories and Slayer games.
More information on the individual maps and the Multiplayer Map Pack can be found at http://www.bungie.net.
Immersion obtains $90.7 Million against Sony
[Category :] [Posted by Bjorn on Wednesday, March 30 2005 @ 10:48 CET]
Immersion Corporation, a leading developer and licensor of touch feedback technology, today announced that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California entered judgment in its favor in its patent infringement suit against Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. and Sony Computer Entertainment of America, Inc. (Sony). On September 21, 2004, the jury returned a verdict favorable to Immersion and awarded past damages in the amount of $82.0 million based on sales of infringing products through June 30, 2004. The Court's judgment on March 24, 2005 awarded Immersion the $82.0 million in past damages, plus pre-judgment interest in the amount of $8.7 million, for a total of $90.7 million.
The Court also issued a permanent injunction against the manufacture, use, sale, or import into the United States of the infringing Sony PlayStation system including PlayStation consoles, Dual Shock controllers, and the 47 games found by the jury to infringe Immersion's patents. The Court stayed the permanent injunction pending appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The Court further ordered Sony to pay a compulsory license fee for the duration of the stay of the permanent injunction at the same rate and conditions as previously awarded in its January 10, 2005 and February 9, 2005 Orders. Sony made a payment to Immersion pursuant to those Orders on February 15, 2005 for the July 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004 period; however, Sony has appealed these Orders.
The Court also found in favor of Immersion on Sony's allegations of inequitable conduct during the prosecution of one of the patents asserted against Sony. In a matter related to the Sony lawsuit, the Court entered an order dismissing certain of the claims brought by Internet Services LLC (ISLLC) against Immersion with prejudice and certain claims without prejudice.
Immersion expects that Sony will appeal the judgment to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Sony also may post a bond with the Court to stay the obligation to immediately pay the amount of the judgment while appeals are pending.
Nintendo DS sets standard for hand held video games
[Category :] [Posted by Bjorn on Wednesday, March 30 2005 @ 10:46 CET]
No story about hand-held video games is complete without Nintendo, the hand-held leader for more than 15 years. The new Nintendo DSTM system is igniting the imaginations of the video game community and taking portable video games in a whole new direction.
Nintendo DS boasts two crystal-clear screens – one a touch screen – proving two are better than one. Its battery lasts an entire flight from Los Angeles to New York. DS can stand up to some tough punishment. Drop it, bump it. It doesn't matter. Nintendo DS has no moving parts, so game play won't be affected. The clamshell design protects both screens from scratches when it gets tossed into your briefcase, backpack or pocket. And by the end of the year, Nintendo will offer free Wi-Fi connection service for Nintendo DS owners to link with other players across the country and around the world.
Following subsequent launches in Japan, Europe and Australia, Nintendo is on track to ship 6 million systems worldwide by the end of March. At the same time, approximately 20 games in every genre will exist for Nintendo DS, with more than 100 more in development from major developers worldwide. Once again, Nintendo has set the standard against which all hand-held video game devices are judged.
SEGA shines light on new Sonic game, Shadow The Hedgehog
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We just got word from Wouter over @ Atari/SEGA Benelux that SEGA is currently working on a new Sonic game! I'm a delighted that such thing happens since I'm was and still I'm a big fan of the old Sonic games.
SEGA® of America and SEGA® Europe Ltd, today officially announced Shadow The Hedgehog™, an exciting new spin-off from SEGA’s best-selling Sonic The Hedgehog™ series. The SEGA title is currently in development at SEGA Studio USA, under the direction of Takashi Iizuka, lead developer of Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2/ Battle, and Sonic Heroes.
Shadow The Hedgehog allows players to collect an arsenal of weapons, vehicles, and objects to rocket through more than 50 unique missions. In his feature debut, Shadow is tormented by a dark past, struggling to discover his true identity. He is caught in a complex battle between aliens, the G.U.N. army, and Dr. Eggman, and discovers that he may be the very element that will tip the scales between good and evil forever.
“Since we first introduced him in Sonic Adventure 2, we have wanted to feature Shadow in his own game,” said Takashi Iizuka, Game Director, SEGA Studio USA. “We maintained Shadow as a mysterious character and now fans can control his destiny by engaging in a unique gameplay experience that offers a multitude of possibilities!”
Is he an android created by Dr. Eggman? Is he the original Shadow simply suffering from amnesia? Or is there an even more, sinister explanation? Now, gamers will decide in a race against time by choosing between any number of routes by which to unveil the secrets of his past. Multiple endings will reflect critical decisions at every stage of the game. Gamers have ultimate control over Shadow’s past, with the potential to rewrite his history time and time again.
Since his debut in Sonic Adventure 2 (2001), Shadow The Hedgehog has appeared in Sonic Adventure 2: Battle (2002), Sonic Heroes (2003), and the massively popular Sonic X animated series. SEGA plans to release Shadow The Hedgehog on all current generation console platforms in Winter 2005.
POSTAL 2 expansion pack is coming!
[Category :] [Posted by Bjorn on Thursday, March 24 2005 @ 17:39 CET]
In Running With Scissors' POSTAL 2: Apocalypse Weekend, gamers controlling the enigmatic Postal Dude will be sorely tempted to carry on his wicked ways in the weekend that follows on the bloody heels of the five insane, carnage-filled days experienced in POSTAL 2.
Shipping on 15.4.2005 , POSTAL 2: Apocalypse Weekend single-player expansion pack offers over 20 new areas of Paradise to decimate, 10 new missions to execute with extreme prejudice and an array of "cutting edge" weaponry that would make Lorena Bobbitt salivate.
In addition to new non-player characters (NPCs) such as the Mad Cow-infected Tourettes Zombies, old favorites such as Gary Coleman, Terrorist Zealots and the Postal Babes are also on hand for a wild weekend with the Postal Dude. Other features allow users to determine NPC logic with dynamic, real-time AI; set up buildings, furniture and other visual elements to produce original game scenarios and create their own MOD for POSTAL 2.
POSTAL 2: Apocalypse Weekend will be released in Europe on 15th ApRil 2005.
Worms 4 Mayhem coming in Q2
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Mayhem, coming Q2 to PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC, marks 10 years of worm-on-worm violence and today the series is honoured with a 10th anniversary celebratory video available from www.codemasters.co.uk/worms
The movie sees Worms 4: Mayhem's wriggling warriors giving a spectacular synchronised performance as they are blown up in time to the music of the 1812 Overture!
It's only fitting that Tchaikovsky's dramatic piece of classical music, so often used at incredible firework displays and said to be described by the composer himself as "very loud and noisy", be used to mark the occasion with all the appropriate pomp and circumstance that the classic Team 17 series deserves.
Opening with the worms' birthday cake (complete with TNT sticks for candles and a suitably angry worm atop it), the movie takes you sweeping over the landscapes, through the customisation of both worms and weapons, and, as the 1812 Overture builds to its crescendo, the worms combust, crash, blow up, and generally show off their ability to suffer at the hands of their opponents.
Get ready to light the blue touch paper of Worms 4: Mayhem's explosive gameplay as the loveable, customisable, yet entirely destructible, worms return in classic style on PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC in Q2.
Star Fox Assault launches for Nintendo GameCube
[Category :] [Posted by Bjorn on Thursday, March 24 2005 @ 17:35 CET]
Star Fox Assault puts players in the middle of a fierce intergalactic battle, fought over land, air and space. Star Fox Assault launches across Europe for the Nintendo GameCube on 29th April 2005.
Fans of the series will remember the revolutionary original Star Fox on the Super NES as one of the first titles to ever use three-dimensional graphics for its action-packed gameplay. Since then the series has gone from strength to strength, attracting a huge international following. Star Fox Assault sees the return to the intense and exciting space battles which made this series world famous.
Star Fox Assault takes place several years after the team successfully averted disaster on the Dinosaur planet. Lylat Command has received news of a new threat to the galaxy and the Star Fox team is immediately dispatched to investigate and eliminate the threat. As they progress, the mystery unravels to reveal a plot more sinister than the team has faced before.....
Players take control of team leader Fox McCloud, with characters Slippy, Peppy, Falco and new member Krystal to back him up. Players fly Arwing fighters through vividly animated worlds, ranging from firey magma planets, to frozen tundras and vast worlds made up entirely of water. Each world is filled with danger and enemies to overcome, giving players no respite from start to finish. If this isn't enough, players also get to take part in vast battles between armadas of huge space ships. Players use the manoeuvrable Arwings to fly in between and even through the larger ships, barrel rolling to avoid enemy fire and using their blasters to mow down every enemy ship in sight! Fox can even take to the ground on some levels, exploring the terrain on foot or in the heavily armoured Landmaster tank.
In addition, Star Fox Assault can also let you settle old grudges with your mates! Up to four players can battle it out in a selection of specially designed arenas. After choosing a vehicle of choice, gamers engage in heated battles against the clock. The player with the most 'kills' when the timer runs out is declared the winner.
Star Fox Assault gives you an entire galaxy to explore from the comfort of your living room. It launches across Europe only for the Nintendo GameCube on 29th April 2005 and is available at the estimated retail price of around 60 Euros.
First info on SoulCalibur III !
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New info about "SoulCalibur III" has mailed to us and we're delighted to publish this as soon as possible.
Please note that only 30% of the game development is ready so the SC team (Namco) has still a long way to go.
Anyway here's the info:
The moment the evil and holy swords crossed,
The wheel of fortune begins to turn again.
The story of warriors lured by the bipolar swords, soon to be revealed...
Featuring 3 new characters!
A new title from the popular world-wide smash hit 'sword-fighting action game' SoulCalibur series is due to be released in 2005.
SoulCalibur III offers the series' hallmarks of exhilarating sword-fighting action and profound martial arts while also delivering highly improved graphics and sound effects to create a unique gaming experience.
It also features a Character Creation Mode, which allows players to create original warriors.
With so many new gameplay modes and new characters rich with personality, this title will offer players the world-class sword-fighting action they desire.
3 new innovative characters
- Zasalamel (tentative)
This mysterious man desires to raise the evil sword. He drags those who witness the sharp light from his giant scythe to the abyss of death.
- Tira (tentative)
An angel of death from the darkness with a bird-like grace, she plays with lives using her Ring Blade.
- Setsuka (tentative)
The wandering beauty on a lonely journey. She lives for her revenge with a sword hidden in her umbrella.
An unprecedented number of modes in the series' history.
To be released in 2005 (we guess Q4 2005 Winter release).
PlayDevil gives 6 new shots of Doom 3 Resurrection of Evil
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Alright! Next month the new expansion pack for id Software latest FPS game, Doom 3 will be available in the shops.
Many of you heard already about this new pack, called "Resurrection of Evil".
It features new monsters, levels, weapons and more.
To ease the waiting a bit, we are glad to give you 6 new screenshots of this new expansion pack.
Check them out right here and enjoy!
LMA Manager 2006 ...
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A thorough evolution in Codemasters' LMA Manager series, the genre-leading football management console game, is coming this October.
Promising a defining moment for PlayStation 2 and Xbox football management games, LMA Manager 2006 is set to become the star player for the 2005/2006 footy season.
The series that has led console football management gaming for over 5 years, is being put through an intensive training regime to reach new heights in management game mechanics and visual reward.
In this evolution year, the LMA Manager development team has innovated once again and is utilising a new game and database engine for the most powerful edition ever.
LMA Manager 2006 will introduce greater depth with a hugely realistic Transfer Market system. As the core element of any football management game, the brand new Transfer Market AI enables more complex contract negotiations, greater personality from individual mangers, and advanced decision-making by players. No more straight "Yes" or "No" to transfer offers, you can go deep into negotiations discussing contract clauses, staggered payment options, player-swap deals, and transfers in advance.
Already the most visually rewarding match experience for managers, LMA Manager 2006's 3D match will bring players to life with more emotional animations, including shouting, frustration, jostling, and (ahem) gesturing.
SpellForce II - Blend of Perfection is coming
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In SpellForce II the player takes over both roles – he is Commander of his troops and also a front fighting hero, solving quests and overcoming obstacles as in classical RPGs, but also leads armies as in an RTS.
The Players character is supported by up to 5 heroes who can be summoned at special monuments – these will become available in stronger versions as play progresses and the player reveals more of the epic storyline.
In most scenarios, which are placed in huge and detailed environments, the player leads one of three factions (Alliance of Light, Hordes of Chaos, Brotherhood of Darkness) and builds bases to gather resources and summon troops at monuments.
The forces of light and the minions of darkness will clash together in fall 2005!
Midnight sales for US Sony PSP
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In response to tremendous consumer anticipation for the North American launch of the PSPTM(PlayStation® Portable) handheld entertainment system, select retailers across the country will open their doors to eager consumers at the stroke of midnight on March 24th. The most anticipated product of the year will be available at participating retail locations nationwide including special Sony Computer Entertainment America hosted events at Sony Style Retail in Manhattan, New York and the PlayStation Store at the Metreon in San Francisco.
With a record number of consumers expected to line up to be among the first to purchase the PSP system, fans in New York and San Francisco will be treated to the ultimate entertainment experience with sneak peeks at new games, giveaways, surprise appearances and more leading up to the moment of truth at midnight. At Sony Style Retail in New York, host Carson Daly will kick off the biggest consumer product launch of 2005 where one lucky consumer will purchase the first PSP in North America. Additionally, there will be an exclusive consumer launch event for PSP at the PlayStation Store in San Francisco.
Codemasters hears Asheron's Call
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Asheron's Call, the classic MMO brand, is returning to Europe as Codemasters announces securing the European distribution rights to Asheron's Call: Throne of Destiny and Asheron's Call 2: Legions from Turbine, Inc.
The two expansions for Turbine's fantasy epic services, Asheron's Call: Throne of Destiny and Asheron's Call 2: Legions, will launch in Europe in May for PC and retail at £19.99 RRP each.
Both games will include content from the original games, new exciting content from the expansions, massive amount of content from Turbine's regular service, and one month's free subscription.
Asheron's Call: Throne of Destiny is the second major expansion for the classic MMO, boasting a 5-year heritage and an overhauled visual engine, making the game more immersive than ever.
An epic storyline pits players against the encroaching menace of the Viamontians, a new race bent on conquering Dereth. In the battle to defeat these would-be rulers, the people of Dereth uncover new depths, players experience a massive story line and participate in a bitter struggle for power.
With new weapons, armour, rare items and quests, there's also a new high-level play system that rewards players with skill credits. Players can also now choose to play Asheron's Call as the warlike Viamontians and explore their unique archipelago in the North of Dereth.
Asheron's Call 2: Legions is the long-awaited expansion to the award-winning MMO fantasy RPG, Asheron's Call 2: Fallen Kings.
Codemasters will publish both Asheron's Call: Throne of Destiny and Asheron's Call 2: Legions in May for PC.
PlayDevil.com reviews Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile
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We have just placed our in-depth (yes sir) review of Tilted Mill Entertainment latest ancient RTS game, "Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile" on site.
This game features top notch micromanagement in an ancient Egyptian world.
Here's a snap from the actual review:
After playing the training missions, which were not that difficult for me, I started up the actual first scenario. Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile, as you have guessed it or not, is not an ordinary, just-another real time strategy game. No, first the whole world of COTN is experienced in Egypt. Pharao's, monuments, pyramids and the whole Egyptian civilization is at your disposal. The tough part of the game is that you must keep everything in balance.
You can read the full review right here.
Gizmondo is on sale in UK
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Gizmondo Europe Ltd, subsidiary of Jacksonville, Florida-based Tiger Telematics Inc begins retailing the Microsoft Windows CE based Gizmondo multi-entertainment device and opening of its flagship store.
At the heart of the Gizmondo is the Windows CE.NET operating system and Windows Media Player. This, coupled with a Samsung ARM9 400MHz processor, 64MB onboard memory, limitless storage via SD card, and a 128-bit NVIDIA GoForce 3D 4500 graphics accelerator, makes it the most powerful mobile entertainment and handheld gaming devices available.
The compact handheld device delivers an armory of features, which include gaming, music and video playback, SMS, picture messaging, email, a camera, and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) hardware.
One of the many things that make this pocket-sized device unique is the GPS functionality. As well as offering location-based services, the Gizmondo will be able to perform satellite navigation, permissions-based tracking, geofencing, and location broadcasting to mobile telephones. But one of the most significant advances affects the mobile gaming genre; GPS functionality is already being developed into games to make the users' location in relation to other gamers and their environment an actual game element.
More info on Boktai 2
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Konami of Europe has announced that Boktai® 2: Solar Boy Django – Hideo Kojima's sequel to his amazing light-sensing Game Boy Advance title – will be released in May, and will boast a number of key innovations over its lauded predecessor.
Set directly following the events of the first game, Boktai 2 sees vampire slayer Solar Boy Django and Master Otenko, the Messenger of the Sun, returning to Django's home town of San Miguel, after having dispatched the vampiric undead in Istrakan, the City of Death. However, all is not well in San Miguel, and the Immortals – the force for evil fought in the first game – have unleashed a spell to transform the populace into shambling zombies.
Together, Django and Master Otenko attempt to free San Miguel from its curse, but matters are complicated when a vampire snatches Django's Solar Gun. Thus, unarmed, the player must guide Django through the danger-laden streets of his undead home town, retrieve his weapon and restore sunlight to free San Miguel of its curse.
As with the original game, Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django uses a solar sensor to detect sunlight while the player is using the game, and the brightness of the sun has a real-time effect on events in the game. This allows the player to use the available light to their advantage as they explore dungeons to locate the leading Immortals, before defeating them in combat and dragging them into daylight to finish them off.
Producer Hideo Kojima has extended the use of sunlight in the new game, and it now has a more pronounced effect on the gameplay. Working with the Game Boy Advance's internal game clock, the sensor is used to reflect the light surrounding the player. As such, San Miguel will change from day to night in relation to when it is being played, with the city's undead and vampire inhabitants more active when it is dark, and more susceptible to attack when they recuperate during daylight hours. Similarly, the player can store sunlight to use against the Immortals and activate a special Pile Driver machine – the only device capable of killing a stricken Immortal...
Boasting stunning 3D environments, greatly extended gameplay and tough challenges, Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django is another classic title from the legendary Hideo Kojima. In addition to its clever use of sunlight, the new game is also compatible with Nintendo's Game Boy Advance Link Cable, allowing 2-4 players to work together as they attempt to free San Miguel from the clutches of its undead invaders.
Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django will be released for Game Boy Advance in May, 2005.
New Tracks for GTR
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GTR is taking the world by storm! That's something every fan of the award winning motor sport simulation would agree with. Now, the developer SimBin Development Team and publisher 10TACLE STUDIOS proudly announce another free expansion pack, the "King of Ovals". This pack adds three new fictional tracks in the style of American oval circuits to the existing selection of tracks in GTR. Oval racing in a GT car is a unique challenge, and provides the player with an interesting variation from the FIA-GT seasonal circuits. Each of the new tracks is designed to present the player with a different characteristic of oval racing, and the AI behaviour is adjusted to suit the new conditions and keep the player challenged.
These first publicly released "work in progress" screenshots demonstrate the feel of racing on the "King of Ovals" pack, a unique challenge for both driver and machine. You'll find them on http://www.10tacle.com/press/EXP_KOO.zip
Next Generation Of The X Universe - X³: Reunion
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EGOSOFT today announces the beginning of a new era for the X series of space combat/trading games. The planned expansion for the award winning PC CDROM title, X²: THE THREAT known as X²: THE RETURN has been cancelled. Quarter three 2005 will herald the launch of the 'next generation' of X game, in the form of X³: REUNION, the first multi format product, set in the X universe.
During the creation of X²: THE RETURN, a secondary team was tasked with the development of a state of the art X engine, with the power and flexibility to bring the concepts EGOSOFT and the fan community have envisaged to life. Many of these creations were not possible with the existing X² engine and consideration to 'space' features had to be made. The near completion of the X³ engine within 2005 would allow EGOSOFT the creative freedom they desired, with no loss of content and give players an unparalleled game experience.
X³: REUNION immerses the player into the most realistic, living universe, ever experienced. Extensive development has gone into the X³ engine, making full use of DirectX 9 technology, to create dramatic visual effects and stunningly realistic starships. The economy model in X³: REUNION is more complex than any previous X game. Coupled with the massively enhanced A.L. (Artificial Life) system, X³: REUNION will present players with an ever changing, evolving universe; where a player's actions really can shape the future of the universe. Community involvement has been extensive, throughout the development process and the launch of X³: REUNION will see many innovative fan creations in the final retail game.
X³: REUNION will also be the first chance for players to experience the thrills of deep space trading on a format other than PC, with the launch of a console version (TBA). Technical details on the enormity of X³: REUNION will be released in coming weeks.
X³: REUNION is set for launch Q3 2005.
World of Warcraft gets 1.5 Million subscribers
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Blizzard Entertainment® today announced that World of Warcraft®, its massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), has surpassed the 1.5 million subscriber mark, underscoring the game's continued success around the world. Building on its record-breaking debuts in North America, Korea, and Europe, World of Warcraft has reached global peak concurrency – the number of subscribers playing at the same time in each market – of more than 500,000 players.
Since its debut in North America on November 23, 2004, World of Warcraft has launched to critical and commercial success in Korea and Europe, exploding in popularity across the globe. In the span of a few short months, World of Warcraft has achieved record-breaking milestones, including:
Europe:
o Over 290,000 account creations and 180,000 peak concurrency in its first weekend.
o Over 500,000 active subscribers, and 230,000 peak concurrency to date.
Korea:
o The most successful 100-day launch of any MMORPG in Korean history since its commercial release on January 18, 2005.
o World of Warcraft is currently played in 75% of Korean Internet Game Rooms (IGRs), the primary venue for playing games in Korea. IGRs subscribe directly to MMORPGs and then players buy blocks of time from the IGRs for game time.
North America:
o Over 200,000 subscribers and 100,000 peak concurrency achieved in the game's first 24 hours.
o Current subscriber base of over 800,000 players.
Modification tools for Children of the Nile
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Tilted Mill Entertainment is pleased to announce additional support for "Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile" for those who like to create their own scenarios and those made by others. Players can visit a new homepage with several scenarios and links to scenarios hosted on other sites. The site will periodically highlight new content a couple of scenarios at a time, so check back every once in a while.
The site includes a list of instructions on how to modify or extract content in or out of "CotN" for a player's own personal use, as outlined in the EULA. Although "CotN" is by no means easy to modify, one might be surprised at what can be done.
Easy modifications:
The Cotn.INI file is a text file created in the same directory as the CotN.exe is, when your run your game the first time (default c:\Program files\tilted mill\children of the Nile). You can modify some of settings with any text editor to change the upper limit of your game speed improvements and other game play features.
CotN.ini:
Game speed max (256=2.5). Adjust this CPU dependant. If your crop yields go down after turning up game speed, turn it back down. The AI does not have time to path farmers to get to fields.
JPG Screenshot Quality (Default 80):
You can increase the image quality for use on a website or other uses. For super high quality, such as taking a shot for your wallpaper, you can use the command.
"Take BMP Screenshots" default off= 0 to turn on change to 1
More tricky:
- You can open graphic textures (dds) with Photoshop and substitute *.TGA files of your own, thus creating your own 'skins' or textures.
- You can substitute your favorite wav tracks or even sound fx and speech files.
Use the text 'database' referred to on the site to determine which speech file you wish to change., or you can use this 'database' file to find a .wav file you have never heard before, such as the "eat Egyptian bronze' wav's, and use them for such things as your Window's chimes, etc.
Foe more information on "Children of the Nile," please visit: http://www.immortalcities.com/cotn/
Codename : Panzers Phase Two announced
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Following the acclaim of CODENAME: PANZERS PHASE ONE in 2004, World War II strategy gaming masters, CDV SOFTWARE ENTERTAINMENT AG are pleased to announce details that the invasion continues with CODENAME: PANZERS PHASE TWO.
Set for release JUNE 2005, the latest PANZERS title will challenge 'gaming generals' to the limit, with new units at their disposal, new theatres of war to engage, new heroes and new strategies to employ.
CODENAME: PANZERS PHASE TWO will be priced at £34.99.
New Games Arrived @ the PlayDevil.com Office
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Nintendo has been very generous in giving us 3 review samples of their upcoming games.
These are :
- Mario Party 6 (incl microphone)
- Resident Evil 4
- SRS Street Racing Syndicate
Besides that LucasArts has sent us Mercenaries for X-Box.
Next week we are expecting a new bunch of games including some games from Ubisoft!
And last but not least, we are almost finished with our review of Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile and with 3 new INTERVIEWS! Yes, we haven't wrote down yet WHO but ... you'll be surprised!
EA announces Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects
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Electronic Arts announced today that Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects under the EA GAMES brand will be released this winter for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox® videogame system from Microsoft, the Nintendo GameCubeTM and the PSPTM handheld entertainment system. The game will feature Super HeroesTM from the Marvel Universe as well as a new set of characters created through a collaboration with EA and top comic book industry talent.
EA is calling on the talent of top comic book writers and concept artists, such as Jae Lee, for Marvel character and game design as well as renowned artist, Paul Catling, among other industry talents, to create a new family of Super Heroes that will go face to face with an all-star line-up of Marvel characters for the ultimate showdown.
Lee has illustrated high-profile comic book titles including Spider-Man, Uncanny X-men, X-Factor, Captain America, Transformers Versus G.I. Joe and his own creation Hellshock. Catling is best known for his concept artwork and character design on Hollywood blockbuster films including Spider-Man 2, AVP: Alien Vs. Predator, The Punisher, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects will feature more than a dozen fighters in fully interactive and destructible environments. Gamers will have full control over the individual characters with each fighter having unique attributes and super powers that are true to their background adding more depth and fighting strategy to the game.
The Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects videogame also spawned the new Marvel six issue mini-series, Marvel Nemesis: The ImperfectsTM, launching this May. In the comic book, Marvel Super Heroes including Spider-Man, Wolverine, The Thing and Elektra clash with EA's Niles Van Roekel, an evil alien scientist out to create a super army of vicious warriors. Through the comic books, the new EA characters will be unveiled each month leading up to the launch of the game.
Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects is currently under development by Nihilistic Software, an independent game development studio headquartered in Marin County, California (www.nihilistic.com), and is produced at EA Canada.
Trackmania Sunrise demo available
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Enlight, a leading software developer and publisher, announced today that the official North American demo for "TrackMania Sunrise" is now available for download. The outrageous, death defying demo will leave gamers breathless and begging for more.
"TrackMania Sunrise" is a high-octane, free wheeling racing game that builds on the original classic. Aspiring racers can construct completely original race courses and bring their cars and tracks online to trade and compete. With amazing speed, creative multiplayer race modes, and an easily accessible track editor, "TrackMania Sunrise" allows even a student driver to create and distribute outrageous tracks, providing hours of endless enjoyment. Trackmania Sunrise will be available in North America in May.
Featuring both single and multi player online modes, the demo will give drivers an opportunity to play through tracks from the official campaign, platform and puzzle modes.
Here are a few links that hosts the TMSR demo (just copy and paste them in your browser) :
http://www.3dgamers.com/news/more/1096481215/
http://www.computergames.ro/site/p/downloads/o/download-details/lng/en/dowid/4397/
http://www.filerush.com/download.php?target=tmsunrisedemo_setup.exe
http://www.ggmania.com/?smsid=18185
http://www.gamershell.com/news/20851.html
http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=24026
http://www.downloads.jolt.co.uk/index.php?page=download.php&action=open&id=191&highlight=4822#highlight
http://www.fileplanet.com/151268/150000/fileinfo/TrackMania:-Sunrise-Demo
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/driving/trackmaniasunrise/downloads.html
http://www.fileshack.com/file.x?fid=6295
http://www.happypuppy.com/games.php?action=downloadfile&gameid=1685&fid=281&platform_id=home
http://download.boomtown.net/en_uk/articles/art.view.php?id=7653
http://www.strategyinformer.com/sports/downloads/trackmaniasunrise.shtml
http://www.fragland.net/downloads.php?id=14539
http://www.eurogamer.net/file_service_files.php?action=show_file&file_id=166
Besides that, if you want extra tracks and other goodies, be sure to check out the following site : http://sunrise.tm-exchange.com/
TOCA Racer Driver 3 !!!
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The acclaimed TOCA series will return with every element of motorsport for real in TOCA Race Driver 3, Codemasters announced today.
Coming this winter for PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC, race drivers will be competing in a massive variety of the world's most aggressive motorsports, complete with explosive damage effects, head-to-head online multiplayer racing and a game engine rebuilt for a greater degree of simulation.
With an 8-year heritage, the TOCA series has captivated a wide breadth of racing gamers. To appeal across the board, TOCA Race Driver 3 will deliver individual game modes that are specifically designed to satisfy the speed-freak and the motorsport simulation fanbase, using all the juice from the enhanced engine.
For those who know their friction circles from their piston rings, there's the new Pro Career mode where you follow a career in a specialist racing discipline – including GT, Off Road, Touring Cars, Historic, Open Wheel, Rally and Oval.
With each discipline representing a different genre of motorsport, you'll progress through championships that cover the breadth of that discipline.
Get ready to experience all the power, the aggression, the glory of real-life motor racing in TOCA Race Driver 3, coming winter 2005 for PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC.
Sign up for all the latest reports through the game's development, register online now at www.codemasters.co.uk/tocaracedriver3
Hellforces is comin' to you!
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GMX Media is today announcing the street date and the unveiling of the box art for its new action packed FPS "HELLFORCES" , a blood and guts zombie killer. Licensed by Buka Entertainment, Hellforces is due for release on 25th March.
The story so far...
Experimenting with alternative power sources, the biophysicist Henry Alfred Cole has found a way to extract the soul from a human body and use the soul as a power source. The soulless bodies however turned into zombies. Hellish creatures started filling them to change dramatically the essence of the host body.
A daemon from a parallel world, Baphomet, installed himself in one soulless body and soon founded the cult of Lucifer. The aim of this cult was to open the gate for Lucifer to come into the humans' world. The number of followers of the cult increased at a catastrophic rate; Satanists all around the world were joining their ranks.
Our hero is concerned with the fate of his missing friend, who had had a meeting with the leader of a satanic sect just a day before his disappearance. His persistent investigations become a threat to the Satan worshippers and Satanists start hunting after him. The creepy truth about the fate of his friend will reveal itself in the mansion of the biophysicist...
Save the earth from the heresy and the minions of Lucifer!
Nintendo DS Achieves Record Breaking UK Sales
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Nintendo DS, launched in the UK on Friday 11th March 2005, has achieved record breaking sales of nearly 87,000 units in its first two days alone.
Nintendo DS software also proved a hit with gamers across the UK with Super Mario 64 DS, Wario Ware: Touched! and Rayman DS (Ubisoft) the UK's top three selling titles respectively.
The success in the UK follows in the wake of exceptional sales in the US and Japan where over 3 million Nintendo DS units have been sold worldwide since launch.
David Yarnton, General Manager, Nintendo UK said:
'The launch of Nintendo DS in the UK has been an unprecedented success; breaking all expected sales figures and even exceeding our expectations. Nintendo fans, new and old, have embraced the Nintendo DS and have left no doubt that it is the new must have handheld console! Nintendo set out to create a new way of hand-held gaming, offering an innovative and enjoyable experience and with the new Nintendo DS, and we have certainly accomplished this.'
The Nintendo DS launched in the UK on Friday 11th March supported by a huge range of first and third party launch titles including Super Mario 64 DS, Wario Ware Touched, Polarium, Pokémon Dash, The Urbz: Sims in the City, Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf, Project Rub and Zoo Keeper among many others.
In recognition of its technological achievements, the Nintendo DS has received the Edge magazine 'Hardware of the Year Award', as well as rave reviews across the UK, showing that the Nintendo DS has already delivered on its ambitious promise to bring a new gaming experience to gamers.
The Nintendo DS can be purchased from most good retailers for around £99. Software is available from around £29 and £19 depending on the game.
Get The Most Out Of Your PSP
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Datel's Get Connected unlocks your PlayStation Portable's potential...
It's the ultimate media management utility for the PSP. Datel's Get Connected includes everything you need to manage your files with ease.
Using the supplied USB cable and MAX Media software, you can connect your PSP to your PC and archive your game saves on your computer's hard drive for later use. You can also transfer MP3s and video files to your PSP for music and movies on the move, or even copy digital photos onto your handheld, to show your friends and family without having to print them out. You can also connect your PSP to your PlayStation 2 and store your PS2 saves on your handheld's memory stick.
And that's not all. Datel's dedicated website, www.codejunkies.com, will soon have its own PSP online community where Get Connected users can upload and download game saves. Think you're the best? Now's your chance to prove it – complete that game in double-quick time and upload your save to the Codejunkies server so others can see the fruits of your efforts. Look out too for Power Saves, exclusive downloadable save files containing in-built cheats such as infinite lives, infinite ammunition, every vehicle unlocked, all levels and more.
Datel's Managing Director Michael Connors said, "With Get Connected, you can get the most out of the PSP's gaming and multimedia capabilities. It's a must for anyone with a PSP and a PC".
Get Connected! Hits the shelves on the PSP's launch day, in both the UK and the US. It costs £9.99 or $14.99, and is also available from www.codejunkies.com or by calling 08456 010 015.
Features
- Supports avi, mpg, mpeg, vob, wmv, mov, mpe, 3gp and mp4 video files.
- Supports MP3 and AC3 file types.
- Supports JPG3 images.
- Connects to the CodeJunkies server and downloads game saves.
- Detects, downloads and installs updates through your PC's internet connection.
SNK announces Metal Slug 4 and 5 Packs for PS2/XBox
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SNK PLAYMORE USA CORPORATION, the US publishing arm of the SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION, announced today that the company will release a special METAL SLUG 4 & 5 bundle pack for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft. The METAL SLUG 4 & 5 bundle pack will ship in early Summer 2005. Each will have a suggested retail price of $39.99.
In METAL SLUG 4, a cyber-terrorist group has unleashed an international computer virus with the goal of hijacking the world's militaries. Join Marco, Fio, and new METAL SLUG team members, Trevor and Nadia, as they try to stop the distribution of the virus before it's too late.
A disc containing METAL SLUG secrets has been stolen in METAL SLUG 5, after a research installation is attacked by unknown forces. Marco, Tarma, Eri and Fio must enter "The Corridor of Fire" to recover the secrets and destroy the paramilitary syndicate known as the Ptolemaic Army.
"This is a must own collection for PlayStation 2 and Xbox owners who love the METAL SLUG franchise" said Ben Herman, SNK PLAYMORE USA CORPORATION President. "METAL SLUG has always been one of SNK's most popular franchises, and METAL SLUG 4 and 5 are two of the best in the series."
Codemasters up to release Brian Lara Int Cricket
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Designed as the ultimate hit and run experience, Brian Lara International Cricket will come packed with official content thanks to a licence from the International Cricket Council (ICC), the governing body for international cricket, Codemasters announced today.
As an iconic sports gaming brand, Brian Lara International Cricket returns to this summer for PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC and the ICC endorsement brings the organisation's world famous tournaments to the title.
You'll be able to step up to the crease and compete with the professionals in cricket's most challenging tournaments including the ICC Cricket World Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy.
Featuring all the official ICC One-Day International teams, with 16 players per squad, and stadia from around the world, including The Oval, Newlands, and Edgbaston, Brian Lara International Cricket will be a truly authentic experience.
The ICC deal also brings authentic strips and real name players with detailed facial likenesses to the game. So, in addition to Brian Lara himself, you'll be facing world-class bouncers from the world's greatest bowlers, including Wasim Akram, GD McGrath or Andrew Flintoff or trying to send the bails flying from cricket's best batsmen such as SR Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, or Andrew Strauss!
Brian Lara International Cricket will capture all the exciting, athletic, skilful and technical elements of the sport in the only cricket game designed to make batting, bowling and fielding equally enthralling to play.
Brian Lara International Cricket will hit you for six this summer when it's published by Codemasters for PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC.
Konami delivers professional racing for the PS2
[Category :] [Posted by Bjorn on Wednesday, March 16 2005 @ 16:28 CET]
Konami of Europe has announced that ENTHUSIA – Professional Racing, its incredibly realistic PlayStation 2 racing title featuring a wealth of officially licensed cars, will be released on May 6th.
Developed by Producer and race enthusiast Manabu Akita, ENTHUSIA – Professional Racing, is a racing game that focuses on the skill of driving as opposed to the continued modification of the player's car. The result is an incredibly realistic game that rewards skilful driving and includes a number of gameplay incentives to push the player's skills as a top-level driver.
Powering ENTHUSIA – Professional Racing's unrivalled realism is Akita's incredible VGS (Visual Gravity System). A proprietary system devised to assist the player as they race, the VGS occupies a small area in the centre of the screen and details the pressure on the car's four tyres, while a small yellow globe moves to show the direction and strength of the G-forces affecting the car as it corners. By monitoring these, the player can counter the pressure exerted by gravity on the car, and shave valuable seconds from their lap times.
Tied into ENTHUSIA – Professional Racing's VGS feature is one of the most realistic control systems imaginable. Full clutch control and side brake is offered, while the handling is notably different between makes of cars following rigorous road testing by Akita and his team. Clever use of the Analog Controller (Dual Shock®2) and shoulder buttons give the player comprehensive yet effective control of the cars.
LEGO Star Wars demo available
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We already played this PC game last year over @ the EGN in London and we must admin ... this is one fun game. In the SW universe with LEGO characters it's a nice mix of action and adventure.
Now today, the PC demo has been released and can be downloaded from the official site right here.
More details on Lionhead's The Movies
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UK developer LionHead studios has released a fact sheet with more detailed information on their upcoming strategy Hollywood game, "The Movies".
Here's more:
KEY FEATURES:
Become a Movie Mogul of Legend – Design your own studio and run it from the early days of cinema through present day and beyond in Story Mode by managing studio resources, investing in R&D and maximizing box office success by staying one step ahead of the competition.
Make your own movies – Make movies that appeal to the masses in Story Mode or in Sandbox Mode you can jump into any era and create your dream movie.
Control the destiny of your cast and crew – Fire and hire them, turn unknowns into movie stars, and take full creative control over script selection and the content of the movies you'll create.
Play it again and again - Over 30 hours of continuous gameplay, thousands of exciting movie characters, and limitless options allow you to vary just about everything, including the violence, romance, and realism - all mixed with world events that affect audience tastes and expectations.
Show the world your talents – Post your movies to the web for all to see.
Developer: Lionhead Studios
Release Date: Fall 2005 (PC)
Platform: PC / PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system / Xbox video game system from Microsoft / Nintendo GameCube.
Suggested Retail Price: $49.99
ESRB.
Fable: The Lost Chapters is coming to PC
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Microsoft Game Studios today announced that Fable: The Lost Chapters is currently in development for Windows and is expected to reach store shelves this fall. Fable: The Lost Chapters will feature a host of enhancements from its top-selling Xbox® version, including new quests to conquer, areas to explore, creatures to slay and story elements to discover. The original Fable sold more than 1.4 million copies and was highly acclaimed, earning numerous awards from the industry's top print, broadcast and online outlets. Fable: The Lost Chapters is being developed by world-renowned Lionhead Studios.
Based on the best-selling award-winning Xbox title, Fable: The Lost Chapters is now fully optimized for the Windows platform, complete with expanded content, greater customization, new quests and enhanced graphics. In this groundbreaking role-playing adventure game from Lionhead Studios, every action determines a character's skills, appearance and morality. A character's life story is created from childhood through to adulthood and on to old age. One can grow from an inexperienced child into the most powerful being in the world, spoken of by all and immortalized in legend. As additional story and side quests await, so too does the path of righteousness, as well as the life of evil. With every choice, a character transforms into a reflection of his actions and decisions. Age leaves characters wizened and battle leaves characters scarred in the world of Fable: The Lost Chapters.
th experience comes character advancement and physical change. These changes may take the form of expanding muscles, development of a keen eye or even the buzz of magical energies around fingertips. Villagers and NPCs comment on successes, failures, appearances and behaviors. Their many opinions are expressed through applause, mockery, trepidation, panic and even flirtation. With each good deed or creature slain, the world is changed forever. In Fable: The Lost Chapters, gamers decide: "Who will I be?"
Nintendo DS is HERE!
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Not here at the office ... yet but who knows!
Anyway today, 11 March, is the DS day. Because this day will mark the European release of Nintendo's Dual Screen console.
It's in shops everywhere today since we already reported that some UK shops even opened last night @ midnight!
Price around 149 euro while games may differ in prize.
According to insiders Sony's PSP won't make it for a March launch. There are shortages of PSP processors and Sony want to wait for a European release until FULL stock is provided.
It seems that Nintendo will get it first shot in the handheld market (like they always did) and it will be up to Sony to compete with them.
Upcoming Alien Hominid game scoops 3 awards
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Alien Hominid was the big winner at last night's seventh Annual Independent games festival In San Francisco. The already critically acclaimed title won three of the 6 prestigious IGF awards. The awards won were for Innovation In Visual Arts, Technical Excellence, and an Audience award.
With the title scheduled for a European release on XboxTM and Playstation 2TM on May 27 2005, the awards further underline Alien Hominid as one of the biggest titles to be released in 2005.
Alien Hominid is a fast-paced 2D side scroller where players must run, jump and shoot their way across the globe in pursuit of the alien's coveted UFO. The artwork is completely hand-drawn and hand-animated. The game comes complete 16 levels, complete with mini-bosses and main-bosses.
Nvidia Forceware release 70 unified driver available
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NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA), a worldwide leader in graphics and digital media processors, today announced the immediate availability of its new Windows Hardware Qualification Labs (WHQL) certified NVIDIA ForceWare Release 70 graphics driver. This new driver features:
- The industry's first WHQL-certified Windows XP 64-bit WHQL graphics driver;
- Performance increases with NVIDIA SLITM multi-GPU and single GPU configurations;
- SLI Application Profiles for more than 60 of the hottest games;
- New PureVideo technology features for home theatre and notebook PCs.
In addition the new driver supports more than seven different operating systems and more than 250 NVIDIA products. The NVIDIA ForceWare Release 70 driver is available immediately at www.nvidia.co.uk/drivers.
Sonic takes place in gaming history with star on walk of game
[Category :] [Posted by Bjorn on Thursday, March 10 2005 @ 20:12 CET]
SEGA Europe Ltd, today announced that the legendary gaming icon Sonic The Hedgehog has received a Star on the Metreon Walk of Game (www.walkofgame.com) in San Francisco, USA. The heroic hedgehog was awarded a star in the highly competitive category for favourite Games/Characters, obliterating heavy competition from the likes of Solid Snake and Lara Croft.
On Tuesday March 8th, 2005 the Metreon Walk of Game became a first-of-its-kind landmark destination for gamers worldwide. The Metreon is a state-of-the-art entertainment centre located in the heart of downtown San Francisco. This 350,000 square-foot complex features an eclectic mix of the Bay Area's best restaurants, shopping venues, theatres, and entertainment destinations, including the West Coast's largest IMAX theatre.
"As SEGA look forward to the future of the Sonic brand, it's good to look back at just how far this icon of computer games entertainment has come," commented Matt Woodley, European Marketing Director of SEGA Europe. "From his first steps on the MegaDrive, to chart topping success in 2005, he's demonstrated his enduring appeal across all ages through the years. This is a worthy salute to a true gaming superstar"
Attending this prestigious event were President of SEGA America Simon Jeffery and Takashi Iizuka, game director, SEGA Studio USA. After the ceremony they presented onlookers with a homage to Sonic via a retrospective video. Then surprisingly tantalised gamers with a sneak-peek of a mysterious trailer labelled Shadow the Hedgehog; one of several new projects coming from the Sonic franchise in 2005.
Pac-Man To Make Nintendo DS Debut In Pac-Pix
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Global video games publisher Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that Pac-Man®'s newest adventure will be available for the U.S. market in April 2005. Exclusively for the Nintendo DSTM, "Pac-PixTM" joins Namco's previously released DS titles - "Mr. DRILLER® Drill SpiritsTM" and "Ridge Racer® DS" - in an exciting new take on the classic franchise.
In "Pac-Pix," Namco's iconic hero finds himself facing off against his perennial foes - the Ghosts. With the aid of mysterious "Ghost Ink," a mischievous wizard has drawn meddling Ghosts from thin air. Armed with only his mighty Magic Pen, Pac-Man rushed to defeat the Ghosts and to lock them into a book. But in the process of turning them back into Ghost Ink, our hero finds himself trapped inside. Now, using the DS stylus, players must resume Pac-Man's quest by drawing him into life and directing his movements on the lower screen of the Nintendo DS.
Combining exciting new technology and the timeless gameplay of one of the world's most beloved franchises, "Pac-Pix" promises to be a handheld game like no other and a must-have for Pac-Man fans. Players must draw multiple Pac-Mans in order to eat all the Ghosts - drawing a bigger Pac-Man allows him to take on bigger Ghosts. Or, the player can control Pac-Man's movements by drawing walls in his path to force him to change direction and hunt down the sneaky Ghosts. Players can also enjoy collecting hidden items along the way and unlock the ability to draw Ghost-shooting arrows and even bombs - the bigger the bomb, the bigger the blast!
For more information on "Pac Pix" for the Nintendo DS, please visit: www.namco.com
Microsoft hires Unreal Engine 3 for Next Gen Xbox
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Epic Games, one of the world's leading developers of cutting-edge computer and video games and the pioneer of the award-winning Unreal® Engine, today announced that its Unreal Engine 3 technology and tools will be used in games developed by and published by Microsoft Game Studios. Earlier this year, Epic became an official licensed tool and middleware provider for the next generation Xbox® platform, and its partnership with Microsoft Game Studios further demonstrates its commitment to meet the challenges of developing for next generation hardware, and to deliver tools and technology that empower the development and publishing communities to efficiently deliver high quality, unique content.
In using Unreal Engine 3, the Microsoft Game Studios team will be able to truly exploit the unique hardware features of the next generation Xbox platform and harness the enormous power that its team has at its disposal.
New details regarding X-Box 2
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at the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC), Microsoft Corp. announced the first details of its next-generation Xbox® video game system platform, highlighting how hardware, software and services are being fused to power enhanced game and entertainment experiences.
Features of the guide include these:
Gamer Cards. Gamer Cards provide gamers with a quick look at key Xbox Live TM information. They let players instantly connect with people who have similar skills, interests and lifestyles.
Marketplace. Browseable by game, by genre, and in a number of other ways, the Marketplace will provide a one-stop shop for consumers to acquire episodic content, new game levels, maps, weapons, vehicles, skins and new community-created content.
Micro-transactions. Breaking down barriers of small-ticket online commerce, micro-transactions will allow developers and the gaming community to charge as little as they like for content they create and publish on Marketplace. Imagine players slapping down $.99 to buy a one-of-a-kind, fully tricked-out racing car to be the envy of their buddies.
Custom playlists. This feature eliminates the need for developers to support custom music in games. The guide instantly connects players to their music so they can listen to their own tracks while playing all their favorite next-generation Xbox games.
Typifying the HD Era game experience, the guide requires hardware designed with software in mind. System-level features of the guide such as custom playlists, the Xbox Live Friends list and voice chat are enabled at the chip level, liberating developers to focus on creating games, not developing for technical certification requirements (TCRs).
To support consumer demands for the HD Era, the next-generation Xbox is designed around key principles that let developers maximize real performance, using concepts they are already familiar with.
The next-generation Xbox hardware design principles include the following:
A well-balanced system that will deliver more than a teraflop of targeted computing performance
A multicore processor architecture co-developed with IBM Corp. that provides developer "headroom" and flexibility for the HD Era
A custom-designed graphics processor co-developed with ATI Technologies Inc. designed for HD Era games and entertainment applications
In addition, familiar software technologies such as DirectX, PIX, XACT and the recently announced XNA Studio - an integrated team-based development environment tailored for game production - complement the new hardware to help game developers unlock increasingly powerful and complex silicon.
The HD Era gaming platform will strike an elegant balance of hardware, software and services to power the new experiences consumers demand. Games and entertainment features such as the next-generation Xbox guide represent a shift toward more immersive and integrated consumer experiences. This shift will be further illustrated by a significant leap to high-definition graphics, where character movements and expressions are intensely vibrant and nearly indiscernible from real life; by multichannel, positional audio fidelity so clear and precise that players will be able to hear the faintest enemy footsteps sneaking up behind them; by richer online communications; and by an abundance of on-demand content for game consoles.
Two new nVidia Geforce 6 Series GPU's
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NVIDIA Corporation, a worldwide leader in graphics and digital media processors, today expands its award-winning NVIDIA GeForce 6 Series of graphics processing units (GPUs) by unveiling two new products: a 512MB version of the performance-leading GeForce 6800 Ultra GPU and a new lower cost AGP version of the GeForce 6200 GPU which brings Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 technology to even more affordable price levels.
Working with leading DDR manufacturers, the NVIDIA 512MB DDR3 GeForce 6800 Ultra GPU almost doubles the useable bandwidth and provides faster frame rates at higher resolutions and colour depths. The 512MB DDR3 GeForce 6800 Ultra GPU also features SLI technology to deliver an ultimate gaming supercomputer for the extreme gamer. In the mainstream space, the new GeForce 6200 AGP GPU brings Shader Model 3.0 functionality to the $79 price point.
The two new GPUs deliver breakthrough technologies, each providing new levels of performance and visual quality. These new products also utilise the NVIDIA ForceWareTM software suite and Unified Driver Architecture (UDA), incorporating software optimisations that take full advantage of the newest features and its industry-renowned compatibility, stability and reliability.
Originally introduced in April of 2004, the NVIDIA GeForce 6 Series of GPUs, which includes the GeForce 6800, GeForce 6600 and GeForce 6200 models, are available for both PCI Express and AGP-based PCs. These GPUs were the first to support the revolutionary Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 standard for ultra-realistic effects and NVIDIA PureVideoTM technology for home-theatre quality video on the PC.
These new GPUs are shipping now from NVIDIA and are expected to be available from numerous partners in April. Partners that will be offering these new GPUs can be found on the website at www.nvidia.co.uk.
Star Wars Galaxies: Episode III announced
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LucasArts and Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE) are thrilled to announce Star Wars Galaxies: Episode III Rage of the Wookiees as the next addition to the popular online Star Wars gaming experience. Episode III Rage of the Wookiees, available to current players two full weeks before the movie launches as a digital download, adds a whole slew of content taken directly from the highly anticipated Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith movie, including the adventure planet of Kashyyyk, home to the Wookiees.
On Kashyyyk, players will choose to defend the freedom of the Wookiees or to fight for their Imperial-backed Trandoshan enslavers in over 100 story-driven adventures. Players will also explore multiple locations of Star Wars interest, including Wookiee-controlled tree cities, Trandoshan slave camps and the safari lands of the affluent Rodians. New starcraft like a new Jedi Starfighter model flown by Anakin, along with creatures and mounts taken directly from Revenge of the Sith, will also debut in-game with the Episode III Rage of the Wookiees expansion.
Episode III Rage of the Wookiees also introduces a new type of game play: The lucrative but daring space mining adventures allow players to mine asteroids throughout space (including the new Kashyyyk space sector), collecting valuable raw materials for sale to ground-based crafters. Any starcraft can be modified for space mining, but dedicated miners will earn a sophisticated high-end ship, allowing them to traverse space while mining and fighting with up to 19 friends as shipmates!
Star Wars Galaxies: Episode III Rage of the Wookiees will be available for pre-order early April 2005 and available on May 5, 2005 via digital download. For more information, visit www.starwarsgalaxies.com!
SEGA and The Creative Assembly Announce New Game Franchise
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SEGA of America, Inc., SEGA Europe Ltd, and The Creative Assembly (CA), the award-winning UK developer behind the hugely successful Total War series, today announced a partnership to create the action-based Spartan: Total Warrior for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft®, and Nintendo GameCube. The first game in the new Total Warrior franchise represents the development giant’s first console release.
Whilst CA's Total War games emphasized the player as Commander, Spartan: Total Warrior puts the player in control of a heroic warrior. Spartan: Total Warrior will engulf the player into the midst of titanic clashes between mighty armies, blending mythical beasts and legendary monsters into the fray. Brutal combat meets epic warfare on the battlefields of the ancient world as you fight for your life, your freedom and your honour.
Ghost Recon 2 new downloadable content via Xbox LIVE
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Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest videogame publishers, today announced that the first downloadable content (DLC) for Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon 2 is now available for download via Xbox Live™. The DLC #1 includes the following:
3 MAPS:
These new maps will be available for many of the game types that shipped with Ghost Recon 2, plus the 2 new game types included in this package.
Train Yard Interior: This level focuses gameplay exclusively in the complex train station section of the Train Yard map. Shadowed areas with heavy cover contrasted by unforgiving well-lit open terrain will provide for an intense close-quarters combat experience. This map is great for small Squad or Solo games.
Train Yard Forest: Battle it out in the heavily wooded nighttime setting of the exterior forest from the Train Yard map. Keep to the shadows or brave the well-lit roadway to gain the advantage over an unsuspecting enemy. This map is particularly well suited for squad gametypes or larger solo games.
Railway Valley: This level concentrates on the furious action provided by the wooded groves and rocky outcropping in the large valley of the Railway map. Players will be able snipe approaching enemies from behind boulders or stealthily attack from tree-cover. This map is great for any size solo or squad gametype.
And a lot more!
SEGA buys The Creative Assembly
[Category :
SEGA Europe Ltd, today announced that the company has acquired the hugely successful development studio, The Creative Assembly. Founded in 1997, headed up by Tim Ansell and operating from offices in the UK and Australia, The Creative Assembly team has produced a catalogue of hits throughout their history and notably is the team behind the award winning Total War franchise.
The deal sees SEGA acquiring a company at the very pinnacle of games development – a unique group of talent who are second to none with an outstanding global reputation. The style and genre of The Creative Assembly’s games perfectly complements SEGA’s own long term strategic vision and SEGA will empower the team to continue on their existing development path whilst also expanding their resources for the future. SEGA will not only be releasing Spartan: Total Warrior this year, but will also be supporting The Creative Assembly to develop the Total War strategy series, as well as exploring ambitious new ventures.
Gran Turismo 4 passes 3 million units in Europe
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Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) is pleased to announce that the highly anticipated racing game Gran Turismo® 4, available today, has set a new, all-time Day One record for PlayStation®2 software, shipping 3,182,535 units across PAL territories. In addition to the standalone software version, Gran Turismo 4 is also available as a part of a bundle featuring the newly designed slimline PlayStation 2. The game follows its highly successful predecessors, Gran Turismo and Gran Turismo 2 and Gran Turismo 3 A-spec, and the GT series has collectively sold more than 38 million units worldwide.
Developed hand-in-hand with the motor industry’s leading marques, Gran Turismo 4 offers drivers the ultimate ride, with over 700 cars, more than 50 race tracks, new music, new manager and photo modes, better-than-real-life graphics and enhanced simulation. Built with, and tested against, the real cars, real circuits and real test drivers, every car in the GT4 paddock performs, handles, sounds and behaves exactly like its metal equivalent – giving you the chance for a no-limits test drive of the world’s finest cars from the Aston Martin DB9 Coupe, Audi Le Mans Quattro, Nissan 350Z or Ford GT to the Mercedes SLR McLaren.
10 Additional Cars for the PAL Version… GT4 was released in Japan on December 28, 2004 with an extensive list of 700 cars. In Europe and Australasia, driving fans will be treated to an additional 10 cars including the stunning new Alfa Romeo GT, the beautiful Audi Nuvolari Quattro, the award-winning modified Golf IV R32 from HPA Motorsports, the record-breaking Auto Union V16 Type C Streamline Race Car, the controversial Chaparral 2J Race Car and the 1993 Le Mans-winning Peugeot 905.
The Best Tracks… GT4 boasts a 52 track line-up including world-famous circuits such as Suzuka and, for the first time, the notorious Nurburgring Nordschleife and La Sarthe at Le Mans. There are also city courses in Seoul, Paris, Tokyo, New York, Seattle, Assisi, Capri and Monte Carlo, power and speed drag-strips, original, dirt and snow tracks (including in the Swiss Alps and Chamonix) and driving parks – many of which can be driven in reverse.
More information about Gran Turismo 4 can be found at www.granturismoworld.com
Lionhead Studios announce Black & White 2 website
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Lionhead Studios is proud to announce the launch of a completely new Black&White 2 website. This site has been designed for the community to read about the game and check out the latest information, screenshots and other artwork of the game Black&White 2.
The new design and navigation should make it easy for anyone to find the latest news regarding Lionhead Studios' Black&White 2 and is designed especially with the Black&White community in mind. The navigation is very user-friendly as everything is within maximum two or three clicks away, while most of the content can actually be found and accessed with one single click.
The website also features a look behind the scenes with quotes and development screenshots; webcams broadcasting images live from the development team and other (interactive) aspects are planned.
Black & White 2, is the sequel to the award-winning Black & White, it is being developed by UK-based Lionhead Studios and will be published by Electronic Arts world-wide. The release date is still to be announced. More information can be found at www.lhtimes.com, www.bwgame.com and also www.info.ea.com.
PlayDevil.com reviews Arcade Stick from Logic 3
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We have just published a new hardware review on-site and now we take a look at Logic 3 Arcade Stick controller for the X-Box.
Here's a snip:
The Logic 3 Arcade Stick is well designed, solid and has a good button placement. The ball-topped joystick is used with your left hand while hitting the buttons with your right.
The controller itself is not small but while it looks bulky, it's incredibly light. Since it's light you can put it comfortable on your lap without any hassle.
Read our full review right here.
UK shops open tomorrow @ midnight for Nintendo DS!
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To celebrate the launch of the Nintendo DS five Virgin Megastores throughout the UK will be opening their doors hours early to sell Nintendo DS consoles.
At precisely midnight the Oxford Street branch in London, the 235 Buchanan Street branch in Glasgow, the Pavillion Centre store in Birmingham, the Tops Plaza store in Liverpool and the Queens Street store in Cardiff will all open their doors to crowds of excited gamers, clamouring to be one of the first to touch the future of gaming.
The shopper who is lucky enough to be first through the door at each location will get one of five special Nintendo DS T-shirts indicating that they got a unit first. The next fifty people to purchase a Nintendo DS at each location will get an exclusive ³I was TOUCHED by Nintendo DS² T-shirt to show off to all of their friends.
The first fifty customers at the Oxford Street branch will also receive a special Nintendo DS goody bag. Free games will also be given out at the Oxford Street Branch while stocks last.
One lucky attendee will also get to win a once in a lifetime, expenses paid trip to Nintendo's headquarters in Japan, where they will get to see where the magic happens and even meet the creator of Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto.
In both America and Japan the first 500,000 Nintendo DS units sold out in under a week, so can you afford to miss out on the hottest gadget of 2005?
New update available for GTR
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With the official European release of "GTR - FIA GT Racing Game" on the 11th of March, all fan's of the Award-winning motor sport simulation can finally compete on an international level. For this everybody who is running the German box-version has to actualize his system, because all public servers will be updated to the new version. The update 1.3 also offers, besides some graphical improvements, new setups for all the cars that came with the "Proximus 24H of Spa" Add-On and two new race classes with the Cup 400 and Cup 300. But the main feature is the fine-tuning of the multiplayer mode with an improved overall stability and performance as well as fixed CTD bugs (crash to desktop). So be prepared for thrilling man to man races on hot asphalt in the sun of Monza or during heavy rain in the night of Spa-Franchorchamps.
It is time to GET REAL!
For more information:
www.gtr-game.com
www.10tacle.com
www.simbin.com
EA to publish Namco's Dead to Rights II in Pal Territories
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Electronic Arts today officially announced plans to co-publish Dead to RightsTMII, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2002 award-winning smash-hit Dead to RightsTM. Dead to RightsTMII is slated for release on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft and on PC in summer 2005.
In Dead to Rights II, Jack Slate and his deadly K9 partner Shadow are thrown head first into the crossfire between criminal organisations battling for control over Grant City's underworld. The story, which pre-dates that of the original Dead to RightsTM, begins with Jack investigating the kidnapping of a prominent Grant City judge. His investigation exposes a labyrinth of crime, corruption and betrayal...an earlier look at the mean streets of Grant City. Dead to RightsTMII promises intense new gameplay mechanics with over a dozen all new brutal disarm moves, spherical slow-motion diving system, and an arsenal of deadly weapons including Shadow himself.
Dead to Rights II is a third-person, story-driven Action-Noir title that delivers diverse gameplay mechanics, cinematic style and Hong Kong-inspired action.
Activision Announces New Call of Duty Console Game
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Activision will be enlisting gamers in an all new tour of duty this fall with its latest Call of DutyTM game for the consoles.
The company will develop the new title using its internal studios Gray Matter, the developer of Call of Duty: United OffensiveTM, and Treyarch, creators of the popular Spider-ManTM series.
More info as soon as we have it!
Metal Gear Solid 4 ??
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Yes, we can only say ... it's coming and Snake is not ...
More info below :
At a lavish Berlin launch event to celebrate the March 4th release of PAL versions of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, the creator and director Hideo Kojima informed assembled journalists that, while Snake Eater did indeed wrap up his initial trilogy, he will be involved with a fourth Metal Gear Solid title.
Kojima has been touring Europe promoting the latest in the highly acclaimed series: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. The new game, which is exclusively for PlayStation 2, is set in the Cold War and sees its hero, Snake, entering a hazard-filled jungle to rescue a scientist who wishes to defect. As the game progresses, however, it becomes apparent that characters from Snake's past will return to haunt him and that his mission is more personal than originally thought.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater completes the Metal Gear Solid trilogy. All three titles convey their own message, with Gene, Meme and Scene being important in forwarding, controlling and judging information in the ongoing plot. This underlines Kojima's efforts to create products, which are much more than just fun to play: he creates games with a message, and is aware of his social responsibility, whilst striking a careful balance between tension and humour.
The confirmation of a fourth installment in the best-selling stealth operative series is a major announcement during the current launch promotion of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. For the as-yet unnamed title, which is currently in the planning stages, Kojima will act as Head of Development, serving as the Executive Producer and is responsible for the game plan. Leading the whole development, he has assigned Yoji Shinkawa as the Character Designer and Kenichiro Imaizumi as Producer.
No further details are available on the fourth Metal Gear Solid title, but Konami of Europe will make further announcements in the run up to its release.
Gizmondo finally annouces UK street date
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Finally! After seeing the Gizmondo already in action last September @ European Games Network, Tiger Telematics have finally announced the UK street date for this new amazing handheld.
Here are the goods:
Gizmondo Europe Ltd, subsidiary of Jacksonville, Florida-based Tiger Telematics Inc. (other OTC, TGTL), today announces an official UK street date of 19th March for Gizmondo to coincide with the opening of its flagship store at 175 Regent Street in London's busy West End, where retail units of the multi-entertainment handheld will go on sale to the public. Gizmondo will also be available through selected retail partners in the UK on the same day.
As well as demonstrating the incredible power and functionality of the Gizmondo device at the premier London venue, the store (located across the road from Hamley's) will be playing host to other amazing technologies, like a low-frequency sound generator and a huge 3D plasma TV display. A major launch event is planned in conjunction with the store opening, details of which will follow shortly.
The £229 (inc VAT) launch package will include the Gizmondo, a standard 1100mAh battery and mains charger, contract-free SIM card, an SD card containing music, game and movie demos, in-the-ear headphones, driver software and a 1.75m USB cable. Games will be priced at three levels: £9.99, £19.99, and £29.99.
The new entrant into the handheld gaming market, Gizmondo will be ramping up the production as quickly as possible to help retailers satisfy customer demand.
The Gizmondo is powered by Microsoft Windows CE advanced real-time operating system, boasting a 2.8-inch TFT colour screen with a Samsung ARM9 400Mhz processor and incorporates the GoForce 3D 4500 NVIDIA graphics accelerator. It provides cutting-edge gaming, multimedia messaging, an MP3 music player, Mpeg4 movie playing capability, a digital camera and a GPRS network link to allow wide-area network gaming. Additionally, it contains a GPS chip for location-based services, is equipped with Bluetooth for use in multi-player gaming and accepts SD and MMC card accessories.
The Gizmondo device and its games are in retail stores from 19th March 2005 in the UK, and in North American and Continental Europe markets from Spring 2005.
Codemasters will release Namco's SRSTM
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Bringing Namco's high-speed multiplayer street racing game to Europe, Codemasters today confirms it has secured the co-publishing and distribution rights to SRSTM: Street Racing SyndicateTM in PAL territories for PlayStation 2 and Xbox.
Developed by Eutechnyx and already a hit in the US, SRSTM: Street Racing SyndicateTM will launch for PlayStation 2 and Xbox in PAL territories in Q2 2005. Get blinged up and race for cash, respect, and the girls or lay it all on the line in online pink slip races.
Day or night, gamers can tear through live traffic against rival racers in locations based on cities such as LA, Miami and Philadelphia, with miles of open streets where crews of import tuners push their nitrous-injected obsessions to the limit. Racers can battle head to head via split-screen, System Link, or even take it online and risk the pink slip to their car for the chance to win their rivals' cars permanently!
SRSTM: Street Racing SyndicateTM comes tricked out with 40+ officially licensed damageable vehicles, including some of today's hottest US import rides such as the Mitsubishi Evolution VIII, MAZDASPEED RX8, Mazda RX-7 Spirit R, Subaru Impreza S202, Toyota Supra, VW Golf VR6, Nissan 350Z, Nissan Skyline GT-R, and many more.
There are also hundreds of officially licensed modding parts, stickers, paints and vinyls, an in-game dyno that measures actual peak torque and horsepower in real-time and the US import scene's hottest female models. Put your car on the Dyno to measure your mods before you put it on the track to test your skills.
Whether in underground or sanctioned races, on the track or through the wide open city streets, the threat of cops and crashes is real. And so is the rush. In the end, glory's nice. Money and models are better. But driving away with your opponent's ride is just the best!
SRSTM: Street Racing SyndicateTM will launch Q2 2005 for PlayStation 2, and Xbox. Nintendo of Europe will distribute a Nintendo GameCube edition of the title. Prepare to take to the streets and find out more online at www.srsgame.co.uk
Playboy The Mansion In Stores Today
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Ubisoft is happy to announce that Playboy the MansionTM is now available in all European retail stores starting today on PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft and PC-CD Rom.
To celebrate this event, Ubisoft unveils the final teaser movie of the game which fans will be able to access at www.playboythemansion.com, the full and updated official website of the game that contains even more bonuses, videos and much more for you to explore...
Playboy The MansionTM is a smart management game blending tycoon & social simulation gameplay mechanics in the most glamour & stimulating setting imaginable: the famous Playboy Mansion.
As Hugh Hefner, you must strategically create the content of the Playboy magazine (image & articles) to fit a changing market and ultimately make money & fame.
To do so, hire staff, build your fantasy Mansion from grounds to Grotto, throw parties, rub shoulders with VIPs and live up to the free-minded Playboy lifestyle for your smart interactions with your guests will get you all the content you need, from interviews to photoshoots and sometimes even a little bit more...
Act of War: Direct Action is almost upon us!
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Atari today announced that Act of War: Direct ActionTM, a near-future, techno-thriller for personal computer, featuring a story created and written by New York Times best-selling author Dale Brown and nearly one hour of original, live-action feature film footage has gone gold in Europe and is on schedule for its March 18 ship date.
"Act of War: Direct Action is a brilliant piece of interactive entertainment that has been forged through the collaborative work of a collection of talent from beyond the games industry, " said Aidan Minter, Product Manager, Atari Europe. "Bringing together a New York Times best-selling author, a feature film production company and a highly talented software development studio has resulted in a new benchmark for what is possible in the genre, and made clear Atari's resolve in pushing the boundaries."
Act of War: Direct Action is a graphically stunning and frighteningly plausible tale of suspense, international intrigue and geopolitical military conflict. Through a techno-thriller story constructed by military expert and author Dale Brown, this real-time strategy experience puts players squarely in control of counterterrorist forces to defend cities of the world. As commander of a newly formed anti-terror military unit known as the Talon Task Force, players will need to recruit combat units, develop technologies, manage finite resources, and deploy their forces against a cunning and ruthless terror network. The single player Act of War: Direct Action demo is taken from the game's sixth mission set in Egypt entitled 'Falling Hawk'.
Developed by Eugen Systems with a storyline and game universe created in cooperation with Dale Brown, New York Times best-selling author and expert on US military, global conflict and future military technology, Act of War: Direct ActionTM is scheduled to release across Europe on March 18, 2005 for the personal computer.
For more information and to download the demo visit: www.atari.com/actofwar.
Namco's new PSP and X-Box line-up
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Namco has released more info on the upcoming new line-up of games for X-Box and PSP.
Here's more info:
XboxT Line-up
"Dead to Rights® II" (Third Person Action, April 2005): Jack Slate returns with his K-9 companion Shadow to clean up the street of Grant City in this explosive sequel to the best selling "Dead to Rights."
PSP Line-up
"Ridge RacerTM" (Racing, March 22, 2005): The race continues with the most beloved tracks and vehicles from the Ridge Racer series, complete with wireless multiplayer action for up to 8 players.
Get your own FREE Nintendo DS console on the Touch! Tour
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Indeed that is not a joke or a spam offer.
It's real! We just got an e-mail from Nintendo Benelux saying that, when you come to their "Nintendo DS Touch! Tour", you might be able to win 1 of the 5 free Nintendo DS consoles!
All you have to do is come to the Touch! Tour, this thursday (10 March) in the Fnac Brussels shop (Shopping Centre City 2).
Besides a free console that you might win, there are plenty of Nintendo / DS goodies!
So if you aren't busy that day (if you are ... drop in anyway) come to Fnac shop between 16u00 and 19u00 to WIN!
We'll certainly be there!
Game Demos page updated @ PlayDevil.com
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We have updated our "Demo" side page on our front page.
These include now several new game demos which you can play by just clicking on its link.
Those that are included are :
- SWAT 4
- Empire Earth 2
- The Settlers: Heritage of Kings
- Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude (english demo)
- Obscure
and
- Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (updated)
Have fun with these brand new game demos. Beware that some are huge in size (+300 mb). After all, playing a demo of a game is perfect to know if you gonna like the game or not. Play the demo before you decide to buy it.
PlayDevil.com got NEW Doom 3 X-Box shots!
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We managed to get 7 new screenshots of iD Software / Activision upcoming "Doom 3" game for X-Box.
These shots look gorgeous and if you can't wait to see them all, you can by clicking right here.
Expect also some new shots of the upcoming Doom 3 expansion pack for the PC!
Atari's Act of War has gone GOLD!
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Another game has gone GOLD today because Atari has today announced that Act of War: Direct Action, a near-future, techno-thriller for personal computer, featuring a story created and written by New York Times best-selling author Dale Brown and nearly one hour of original, live-action feature film footage has gone gold and is on schedule for its March 15 ship date.
"This collaboration of a New York Times best-selling author, a feature film production company and a very talented development house is an example of Atari's commitment to pushing the creative envelope by encouraging talent from all aspects of the entertainment industry to connect with consumers in an exciting new way," said Wim Stocks, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Atari. "The creative influence of these industry outsiders has raised the bar for what can be achieved in interactive entertainment and Act of War: Direct ActionTM is the new benchmark."
Act of War: Direct ActionTM is a graphically stunning and frighteningly plausible tale of suspense, international intrigue and geopolitical military conflict. Through a techno-thriller story constructed by military expert and author Dale Brown, this real-time strategy experience puts players squarely in control of counterterrorist forces to defend cities of the world. As commander of a newly formed anti-terror military unit known as the Talon Task Force, players will need to recruit combat units, develop technologies, manage finite resources, and deploy their forces against a cunning and ruthless terror network. The single player Act of War: Direct ActionTM demo is taken from the game's sixth mission set in Egypt entitled 'Falling Hawk'.
Developed by Eugen Systems with a storyline and game universe created in cooperation with Dale Brown, New York Times best-selling author and expert on US military, global conflict and future military technology, Act of War: Direct ActionTM is scheduled to release on March 15, 2005 for the personal computer at a suggested retail price $49.99.
Namco's Ridge Racer for PSP has gone GOLD
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Leading video games publisher and developer Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that the latest installment in its drift racing franchise, "Ridge RacerTM," has gone gold for the PSPTM handheld entertainment system. "Ridge Racer" will offer gamers signature "Ridge Racer" drift handling at breakneck speeds and be available in stores at the PSP handheld system's launch.
"Namco has created a game that takes full advantage of the new platform's wireless connectivity capabilities and offers gamers new to this genre a unique and exciting gaming experience," said Nobuhiro Kasahara, president and CEO of Namco Hometek Inc. "'Ridge Racer' not only capitalizes on the amazing wireless connectivity of the PSP handheld system, but also is a fun game that racing fans have continued to enjoy over the years."
The latest installment of "Ridge Racer" features stunning 3D graphics, smooth analog steering and robust course selections comprised of new tracks and classic courses from the "Ridge Racer" series. For the most serious speed demons who have mastered all 39 standard tours within the game, the U.S. version features a new MAX Tour in World Tour Mode, with seven ferociously difficult tours to conquer. "Ridge Racer's" Wireless Battle permits players to battle it out head-to-head in eight-player races, while an all-new nitrous boosting system allows for faster racing than ever before.
"Ridge Racer" will be available at the launch of the PSP handheld system on March 24th. For more information, please visit: www.namco.com.
Bandai starts its own games departement with Bandai Games Inc
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Bandai today announced the introduction of the recently formed corporation, Bandai Games Inc. The new videogame company, which was incorporated on January 3, 2005, will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bandai America Incorporated. Previously, the videogames sector of Bandai America was a division within the organization but will now be an independent company.
Bandai Games Inc. (BGI) is a dedicated company solely responsible for publishing and marketing innovative new videogames featuring distinctive characters for the North American market. BGI will focus all resources into the development of franchises that will appeal to all fans, including children, anime fans, gamers, and the mass market.
"The mission of Bandai Games Inc. is to know what the North American market wants and deliver the best new games here," said John Soller, marketing manager of Bandai Games Inc. "This is an exciting beginning for us because we have many new titles with wide appeal that will be introduced this year."
For 2005, in line with its mission, BGI will deliver fresh new titles featuring amazing characters in extraordinary environments to the North American videogame market. Some of the new titles that will be introduced this year include One Piece, a fun game for everyone that will feature exciting pirate characters in amazing settings; D.I.C.E., a stunning and action-packed videogame that is set in a perilous galaxy; and Zatch Bell, which features unique fighting characters that will appeal to all ages. These new titles will be available on videogame console systems such as the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo GameCubeTM and Game Boy® Advance starting in the fall of this year as well as other exciting videogames to be released throughout the year.
Sony ships One Million PSP's for US launch
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Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. today confirmed its plan to increase the initial launch shipment of the highly anticipated PSPTM (PlayStation® Portable) handheld entertainment system to one million units. Extraordinary consumer response to PSP on a global scale has led to the company making an upward revision in preparation for its North American launch on March 24. This figure is part of the company's overall three million-unit worldwide shipment estimate by the close of its fiscal year ending March 31.
The company will release a single-SKU configuration called the PSP Value Pack for a