Ring of Fates "most accessible Final Fantasy ever"
Posted by M @ 11:02 p.m. NZDT

Square Enix's Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates will be released across all PAL territories in Autumn 2008 exclusively on the Nintendo DS.

Ring of Fates has been designed to be the most accessible Final Fantasy ever. The unique action-based gameplay offers exciting 3D levels, exploration and puzzle solving, with a control system that allows players to engage enemies on their terms and without any random encounters.

"The best part of this exciting adventure is that up to four friends can team-up and co-operate with Nintendo DS Wireless Communication, says Square. "Like all great heroes, you'll want to look good during the action and there are hundreds of different items and costume combinations to make your character unique."

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix adds: "With a strong focus on action and exploration, Ring of Fates offers an exciting, fast-paced adventure. If you've never played a Final Fantasy game before, Ring of Fates is the perfect introduction and offers even more fun when played with friends."

Features

• Unique action-based gameplay – with 3D levels, exploration and puzzle solving
• Action-based control system lets you experience the adventure your way
• Experience exhilarating real-time battles with intuitive controls
• Gorgeous 3D graphics and an emotional audio score creates a beautiful world to explore
• Co-operate with up to four players to explore via Nintendo DS Wireless Communication
• Realise the tale of two heroic yet innocent twins in a unique story of fate, adventure and fraternal love.
• Hundreds of different item and costume combinations add to the fun. Changes to costume and equipment are directly visible on your character in the game
• Trade with friends using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection functions
• Additional content over the original Japanese version, with four new quests
• The multiplayer mode allows friends to play together regardless of their selected language.

RE4 breaks 1 mil on Wii
Posted by M @ 9:31 p.m. NZDT

Capcom has announced that Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition has shipped over one million units worldwide.

Since the release of the first Resident Evil game in 1996, the series has shipped over 33 million units and is valued as one of Capcom's strongest and most original intellectual properties. RE4 Wii Edition retains the intensity of the original Resident Evil 4 while bringing players a new play experience through the use of the Wii Remote. In this way, by retaining the interest of the core fanbase and expanding outward toward new casual players through the Wii platform, Capcom says it has successfully captured the attention of a new set of users.

It is Capcom's ongoing plan to aggressively pursue the continued creation of unique and inspired creations for the Wii, including such titles as Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, which is set to go on sale on November 13th, followed by We Love Golf! in 2008.

Capcom also says is committed to researching and developing new processes and techniques specific to each of the unique platforms to create a revolutionary gaming experience.

"We're very excited for its future," said Jack Tretton, President and Chief Executive Officer for SCEA. "We look forward to the platform's continued growth and expect to sell approximately 12 million units worldwide by the end of March, leading us to anticipate that PlayStation 2's lifecycle will exceed that of the original PlayStation. Never before has an in-home game system experienced this type of worldwide success on such a long-lasting scale."

Since its inception, PlayStation 2 has had a tremendous impact on the industry, helping to establish the DVD format as well as giving gamers some of the most popular software titles in video game history, spanning all genres. Currently there are nearly 1,500 titles in PlayStation 2's software library and this number will continue to grow with more than 160 new games expected in North America throughout the holidays and by the end of March 2008 including Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, High School Musical: Sing It, Madden NFL 08, Manhunt 2, NBA '08, Rock Band, and Buzz.

SCEA is also bringing a new look to PlayStation 2 this holiday with the release of a limited edition Ceramic White PlayStation 2 bundled with SingStar Pop and two USB microphones. The new PlayStation 2 bundle will be available in North America in early November for a suggested retail price of US$150.

Double BAFTAs for God of War II
Posted by M @ 11:15 p.m. NZDT

God of War II, which launched in April on PlayStation 2 and has sold more than half a million copies across PAL regions to date, has scooped two awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts at this year's ceremony. Taking awards for Best Story and Character and Best Technical Achievement, the game, from Sony Computer Entertainment's Santa Monica Studios, overcame stiff competition from the likes of SCEE's own Heavenly Sword (Story and Character) and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (Technical Achievement), as well as The Simpsons Game and Gears of War for Xbox 360, to land the prestigious awards.

Cory Barlog, Game Director of God of War II, commented, "It's an honour just to be mentioned alongside those other phenomenal titles. The team worked tirelessly to make this God of War even better than the first title. Our goal was to push PS2 to its limits… so we are very proud to be recognised by BAFTA for Technical Achievement. However, to create a successful franchise, you also need great gameplay, strong characters and a compelling plot and we're equally delighted to be recognised by BAFTA for that. We hope that the forthcoming launch of God of War: Chains of Olympus on PSP will continue to expand the franchise and introduce the tale of Kratos to a whole new bunch of people."

In addition to the BAFTA achievements, God of War II was awarded the title of PlayStation Game of the Year 2007 at the Golden Joysticks – an awards ceremony that allows gamers, rather than industry insiders, to cast their vote.

God of War II continues the story of Kratos, the Spartan warrior who made a life-changing pact with war god Ares that would lead to years of torment. The story has already seen Kratos make an epic journey through the Underworld of ancient Greek myth to find his own salvation. GOWII begins with Kratos sitting atop Mount Olympus as the new God of War – far more ruthless than Ares ever was. To gain respite from the torments of his past deeds, Kratos must journey to the far reaches of the earth and defeat untold horrors to alter that which no mortal, or god, has ever altered… his own fate.

Next year the God of War franchise, which has sold more than 1.5 million copies across PAL regions to date, goes portable with the March launch of God of War: Chains of Olympus on PSP. This completely new God of War title will tell the story of how Kratos became the merciless figure he is at the beginning of the first God of War, and is set to have fans on the edge of their seats as the background story unfolds.

GeForce 8800 GT rolls out
Posted by M @ 2:31 p.m. NZDT

The Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT, the latest in the standard-setting GeForce 8 Series of graphics processing units (GPUs), is hitting store shelves this week. Specifically developed to answer enthusiast gamers' demand for high-performing graphics to the sub-$500 price point, Nvidia says the GeForce 8800 GT offers a hyper-reactive, intensely robust gaming experience for the latest next-generation DirectX 10 games, such as Crysis, Hellgate: London, and Gears of War, as well as full support for current DirectX 9 games.

"When we introduced the GeForce 8 Series family, our most savvy customers and press demanded a product with 64 stream processors and a 256-bit memory interface to deliver more performance at the popular €199 to €259 price point. Today we decided to raise the bar and deliver GeForce 8800 GT with 112 stream processors, a fast 256-bit memory interface, and our second-generation PureVideo HD technology, giving our customers an incredible value proposition," said Ujesh Desai, general manager of GeForce desktop GPUs at Nvidia. "At this price point, gamers are getting more performance and features than ever before."

"GeForce 8800 GT is the perfect card for gamers that want to play Crysis," said Cevat Yerli, CEO of Crytek. "By bringing such high performance to the sub-€250 price segment, Nvidia is allowing even more gamers to experience the full range of Crysis's stunning visual effects at maxed-out resolutions."

In addition to 112 stream processors—each individually clocked at 1. 5GHz—and a 256-bit memory interface running at 900MHz, the GeForce 8800 GT is designed for the new PCI Express 2.0 bus standard and is backwards compatible with the original PCI Express standard.

The GeForce 8800 GT also marries the best-in-gaming with the best-in-HD. It leverages Nvidia's revolutionary second-generation video processing engine to deliver high-quality playback of HD DVD and Blu-ray movies on everyday PCs. The new programmable video processing engine takes on all of the high definition H.264 video decoding, freeing the CPU to perform other tasks and significantly reducing power consumption, heat, and noise.

Record 58 tracks for Rock Band
Posted by M @ 12:27 p.m. NZDT

Harmonix and MTV Games have announced the final song list for Rock Band.

Featuring "the most master recordings of any music game ever", Rock Band includes 58 tracks and spans genres of pop music ranging from alternative and classic rock to heavy metal and punk. With multiple instruments and a selection of online and offline game modes to play as a band or individually, Rock Band offers players an infinite number of ways to play each song and live out their ultimate rock and roll fantasies.

"Our goal with Rock Band was to give players the chance to experience an amazing cross section of music from the last four decades, and our final list of tracks includes everything from emerging bands to iconic artists," stated Paul DeGooyer, MTV's Senior Vice President of Home Entertainment, Music and Games. "The overwhelmingly positive response from artists, music publishers and record labels made the final selection process challenging, but extremely exciting. As a result, 51 out of 58 of the final selections are based on original masters, giving fans an unprecedented way to get closer to the music they love."

Eric Brosius, Harmonix audio lead stated, "Now that the disc track list is locked and Rock Band is being prepped for manufacture, we are working with our music partners to set an exciting download schedule, both for launch and beyond. Through DLC, players will have the ability to take a deeper dive into the music of the artists featured on the Rock Band disc, or further explore different genres of rock or additional bands if they choose."

Rock Band set list:

In addition to the 45 tracks listed below, Rock Band will also feature 13 songs ranging from a variety of established bands to up-and-coming independent artists that can be unlocked as you play through the game.

1960s
Rolling Stones "Gimme Shelter"

1970s
Aerosmith "Train Kept a Rollin'"
The Who "Won't Get Fooled Again"
Boston "Foreplay/Long Time"
Mountain "Mississippi Queen"*
The Police "Next to You"
David Bowie "Suffragette City"
Black Sabbath "Paranoid"*
Blue Oyster Cult "Don't Fear the Reaper"
The Ramones "Blitzkrieg Bop"
Deep Purple "Highway Star"
KISS "Detroit Rock City"
Molly Hatchet "Flirtin' With Disaster"
The Outlaws "Green Grass & High Tides"
Sweet "Ballroom Blitz"*

1980s
Rush "Tom Sawyer"
Bon Jovi "Wanted Dead or Alive"
The Clash "Should I Stay or Should I Go"
Faith No More "Epic"
R.E.M. "Orange Crush"
Iron Maiden "Run to the Hills"*

1990s
Foo Fighters "Learn to Fly"
Metallica "Enter Sandman"
Nirvana "In Bloom"
Stone Temple Pilots "Vasoline"
Weezer "Say It Ain't So"
Smashing Pumpkins "Cherub Rock"
Radiohead "Creep"
Beastie Boys "Sabotage"
Hole "Celebrity Skin"
Garbage "I Think I'm Paranoid"
Soundgarden "Black Hole Sun"

2000s
The Hives "Main Offender"
Queens of the Stone Age "Go With the Flow"
The Strokes "Reptilia"
Jet "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"
OK Go "Here It Goes Again"
Nine Inch Nails "The Hand That Feeds"
Pixies "Wave of Mutilation"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Maps"
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Dani California"
Coheed & Cambria "Welcome Home"
Fallout Boy "Dead on Arrival"
The Killers "When You Were Young"
New Pornographers "Electric Version"

Rock Band is a new platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music like never before, challenging users to master the lead/bass guitar, drums, and vocals as solo artists or cooperatively as part of their own band.

Rock Band is slated for release for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2/3 in Q1 2008.

For more information, visit rockband.com.

Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto series was again acknowledged, with Vice City Stories scooping the Handheld Game of the Year award for the second consecutive year, while Wii Sports claimed its first Golden Joystick Award triumphing as Family Game of the Year. Codemasters was victorious in the newly-created Developer of the Year category.

The winners of the 25th annual Golden Joystick Awards in full are as follows:

The bliss Girls' Choice Game of the Year 2007: Guitar Hero II
The Sun Family Game of the Year 2007: Wii Sports
The Games Radar Handheld Game of the Year 2007: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
The 4Talent Mobile Game of the Year 2007: Final Fantasy
The T3 Innovation of the Year 2007: Nintendo Wii
The BBC 1Xtra Soundtrack of the Year 2007: Guitar Hero II
The Nuts All-Nighter award 2007: Gears of War
The GameTribe Online Game of the Year 2007: World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade
The Next-Gen.biz UK Developer of the Year 2007: Codemasters
The Total Film One to Watch 2007: Assassin's Creed
The Vivendi Retailer of the Year 2007: Game
Publisher of the Year 2007 – sponsored by Future: Nintendo
Editor's Choice Award 2007 – Gears of War
Official Nintendo Magazine's Nintendo Game of the Year 2007: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Official Playstation Magazine's PlayStation Game of the Year 2007: God of War II
The PC Gamer PC Game of the Year 2007: The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
The Sonopress Xbox Game of the Year 2007: Gears of War
The 02 Ultimate Game of the Year 2007: Gears of War

For more information, visit goldenjoystick.com.

PSP Warhammer demo available now
Posted by M @ 12:26 a.m. NZDT

The Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command demo for Sony PSP heralds the start of an intergalactic war the likes of which has never been seen before. Players will be thrust into the heart of the action as they don the legendary armour of the Ultramarines Chapter of Space Marines and fight for their way through the demo, available to download from thq-games.com.

Set in the vibrant world of Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 universe, the demo gives players a taste of the fast paced strategic action and futuristic weaponry fans of this series. Gamers are thrust into the heart of the action as their Chapter battles to save the planet of Ruhr III from the grasp of the daemonic Chaos Space Marines.

Players are given command of a small squad of five Space Marines as well as a heavily armoured Dreadnaught to complete their objective. These units showcase some of the 20 types of weapon on offer in this title as well as the player customisable equipment each unit can carry.

The complete game will feature a storyline spanning 15 single player missions set in environments with destructible terrain and customisable units. Players will also be able to enjoy over nine unique multiplayer maps as either Space Marines or the corrupted forces of Chaos with up to seven opponents from across the globe. The full version of Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command will be available for DS and PSP in November.

Bladestorm gone gold
Posted by M @ 12:19 p.m. NZDT

Koei's Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War has achieved gold status, and will ship from 6 November for Xbox and PlayStation. A free single player demo is available now online.

Set amidst a war-torn 14th century France, the demo delivers a taste of the battles where players will take direct command of entire military units. As a mercenary soldier, players will contract their services to the English or French, with the ultimate goal of achieving fame and fortune.

In the 14th Century, a quarrel over English succession to the French throne escalated into what history would call the Hundred Years' War. This ongoing war had exhausted the standing armies of both sides and there was a growing dependence on mercenary soldiers.
As arrows rain from above, knights will charge on horseback, cannoniers will fire volleys at heavy infantry, and armies will collide in unprecedented scale. Players immerse themselves in ferocious battles where an innovative action style enables you to defeat countless numbers of soldiers with one cleverly chosen attack command. Establish a reputation as a formidable warrior and leader of men, build your war chest and lure hardened warriors to your employ. Outwit your opponents and overwhelm them with dominating force to be the last one standing when the dust settles on one of history's greatest conflicts.
For more information, visit the re-launched minisite at koei.com/bladestorm.

War Hammer PSP demo available now
Posted by M @ 11:16 p.m. NZDT


Today heralds the start of an intergalactic war the likes of which has never been seen before. Players will be thrust into the heart of the action as they don the legendary armour of the Ultramarines Chapter of Space Marines and fight for their way through this challenging demo for upcoming PSP title Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command. The PSP demo is available to download from THQ-games.com.

The demo gives players a taste of the fast paced strategic action and futuristic weaponry fans of this series have grown to know. Gamers are thrust into the heart of the action as their Chapter battles to save the planet of Ruhr III from the grasp of the daemonic Chaos Space Marines.

Players are given command of a small squad of five Space Marines as well as a heavily armoured Dreadnaught to complete their objective. These units showcase some of the 20 types of weapon on offer in this title as well as the player customisable equipment each unit can carry.

The complete game will feature a gripping and immersive storyline spanning 15 single player missions set in vivid 3D environments with destructible terrain and customizable units. Players will also be able to enjoy over nine unique multiplayer maps as either Space Marines or the corrupted forces of Chaos with up to seven opponents from across the globe.

The full version of Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command will be available for Nintendo DS and Sony PSP in November.

Kyd scores Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
Posted by M @ 1:47 p.m. NZDT

BAFTA-winning Jesper Kyd has composed and produced a dark and distorted soundtrack for Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, a gritty, character-driven third person action shooter from the creators of Hitman, IO Interactive. Kyd's score is a "cohesive and hard-hitting combo of scar-edged melodic soundscapes and subversive action-driven grooves" that portray the twisted and emotionally driven story of the two lead characters, Kane and Lynch, a flawed mercenary and a medicated psychopath – forced together but hating each other every step of the way. Dead Men will be available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC in November.

To achieve the right kind of musical tonality for Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, Kyd's score is as relentlessly intense and unforgiving in its attitude as the violent rage of Kane and Lynch on their destructive path of redemption and revenge. Delivering a mix of melodic and sublime atmospherics, explosive electronic beats intoxicated with musical distortion and strewn with hardcore industrial guitar sounds, Kyd pushes the immersion factor and displays the main characters' flaws, anger and pain in his echoing themes embedded with haunting vocals, heavily processed synth ambience, ethnic instrumentation and other multi-layered sounds.

Best known for his epic choral/orchestral and edgy electronic scores for the multi-million selling Hitman series, Kyd's fusion of cinematic scoring techniques and minimalist electronic music for Hitman: Contracts won Best Original Music at the BAFTA Games Awards and his stylish symphonic hybrid score for Hitman: Blood Money was awarded Best Original Score by IGN and nominated for Best Original Video Game Score at the MTV Video Music Awards. His other collaborations with IO Interactive include Hitman: Codename 47, Hitman 2: Silent Assassin and Freedom Fighters, which received GameSpot's Special Achievement Award for Best Original Music. For more information, visit jesperkyd.com.

Soldier of Fortune site live
Posted by M @ 1:23 p.m. NZDT

Activision has launched the official site for the upcoming Soldier of Fortune: Payback. The website, located at mercenarieswanted.com, features a new trailer and exclusive screenshots, videos and weapons profiles. In addition, fans of the series can find information on upcoming gaming competitions and register for email updates.

Soldier of Fortune: Payback is the third installment of the Soldier of Fortune series. The saga continues with the organisation known as 'The Shop', where players take on the role of a hired mercenary. Players will experience all the thrills and dangers of authentic mercenary combat blasting their way through high intensity combat situations in the world's most dangerous hotspots in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. Using any means necessary, players will need to uncover a complex plot and defeat an extremist organisation determined to throw the world into global conflict.

Soldier of Fortune: Payback will be available for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. The game is scheduled for release in November.

Ubisoft says the Beowulf video game captures the spirit and artistic beauty of the film while offering an even deeper look into the epic tale of Beowulf. The video game features exclusive content that is unexplored by the film and even the classic tale, extending the adventure through 30 years of the Beowulf story. The roles of King Hrothgar, played by Anthony Hopkins, Beowulf, played by Ray Winstone, Wiglaf, played by Brendan Gleeson, and Wulfgar, played by Sebastien Roche, have been greatly expanded and adapted to the interactive realm to deliver amazing performances that can only be found in the game.

"The starring actors lend authenticity and intensity to The Beowulf video game experience, something that was indispensable in order for us to extend the story beyond the movie," said Gabrielle Shrager, writer and lead story designer for the Beowulf video game. "The actors seamlessly translated their characters' depth and emotion, breathing life into their video game roles as they did for the film."

The Beowulf video game is an action combat game currently in development for the Xbox 360, PS3, PSP and PC. It is being developed by the award-winning team that created the original Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter in Ubisoft's Tiwak studio and is scheduled for worldwide release in conjunction with the movie's opening in November.

Exclusive partnerships for Legends of Rock
Posted by M @ 11:25 p.m. NZDT

Delivering the most authentic rock experience to date, Activision's Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will feature some of the world's most influential musical instrument and equipment manufacturers including Gibson, Guitar Center Audio-Technica, Crate, Ernie Ball, Krank, Line 6, Mackie and Zildjian. Alternative Press, Decibel, Guitar Player, Kerrang and Paste magazines also make appearances, giving Guitar Hero legends the chance to see their names in the headlines.

In addition to partnering with some of the most prominent names in music, Activision has forged key strategic alliances with companies such as Pontiac and Axe whose product appears in the game.

"By forging exclusive relationships with key companies in the music and consumer packaged goods industries we are able to bring an even greater depth of realism to Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock," said Dave Anderson, senior director of business development for Activision. "From venues like Pontiac Garage, to customised guitars from Axe, the game delivers the ultimate rock and roll experience."

Shivering Isles on Blu-ray next month
Posted by M @ 11:12 p.m. NZDT

Bethesda Softworks will release Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles for PlayStation 3 at retail. This standalone disc will allow gamers who already own Oblivion to experience the award-winning expansion.

This new retail product follows the October release of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition for PlayStation 3 system, which includes the Shivering Isles expansion. Originally released in March 2006 for PC and Xbox 360, and in March 2007 for PS3, Oblivion features a combination of free-form gameplay, cutting edge AI, character voices by acting legends Patrick Stewart, Sean Bean, Terrance Stamp, and Lynda Carter, and an award-winning soundtrack. Gamers can choose to unravel Oblivion's epic narrative at their own pace or explore the vast world in search of their own unique challenges.

With more than 30 hours of new gameplay, Shivering Isles allows you to explore an entirely new plane of Oblivion – the realm of Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness. Shivering Isles features a bizarre landscape split between the two sides – Mania and Dementia –filled with vast, twisting dungeons mirroring the roots of the trees they are buried within. Sheogorath himself looks to you to be his champion and defend his realm and its inhabitants from destruction as you discover all new items, ingredients, spells, and much more.

For more information, visit elderscrolls.com.

Top Gear downloadable through Gran Turismo TV
Posted by M @ 1:47 a.m. NZDT

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and Polyphony Digital, Inc., the creators of Gran Turismo, have announced a collaboration with BBC Worldwide that will allow BBC's Top Gear programme to be downloaded through Gran Turismo TV on PlayStation 3.

GT TV, a dedicated online channel packed with the latest news and content from the motoring world, will launch worldwide on PlayStation Network in 2008. BBC Worldwide will provide 40 episodes of Top Gear, the award-winning BBC television series about motoring for download.

In addition, the Top Gear Test Track – the track featured each week on the show, where host Jeremy Clarkson and the Top Gear team test the latest cars – will be replicated in Gran Turismo 5 on PS3.

"We at Polyphony are great fans of the world's best motoring programme, Top Gear, so we're delighted to be collaborating with BBC Worldwide to deliver Top Gear content via Gran Turismo," said Kazunori Yamauchi, President, Polyphony Digital, "We're sure that players will be as thrilled as we are when they get the chance to put their own driving skills to the test on the Top Gear Test Track in GT5, as well as enjoying classic episodes of Top Gear via GT TV."

Simon Danker, Director, Digital Media, BBC Worldwide commented, "BBC Top Gear is the world's number one motoring media brand and we're thrilled to make it accessible to Gran Turismo gamers. We continue to explore different avenues to share our content with an expanding audience, and are delighted to participate with Polyphony Digital in the launch of this exciting new opportunity."

Osbourne model for ArtGuitar controller
Posted by M @ 11:21 p.m. NZDT

ArtGuitar, designer of custom paint and technology for guitars, will offer two exclusive designs featuring Ozzy Osbourne for its limited edition AG RiffMaster Guitar controller. In addition, ArtGuitar has unveiled three new designs from iconic rock band Kiss to add to its guitar controller portfolio.

"We create detailed designs featuring iconic rock artists that you simply can't find anywhere else, and we're thrilled to add Ozzy Osbourne to our guitar controller portfolio," stated Steve Spurgeon, CEO of ArtGuitar. "The AG RiffMaster Guitar Controller truly customises the rock experience and our customers now have 16 limited edition designs to choose from."

The AG RiffMaster Guitar Controller is a genuine life-size Peavey guitar modified for play with guitar based music video games on Playstation 2 and is exclusively available online at artguitar.com. In addition to the newly announced Ozzy Osbourne and Kiss designs, ArtGuitar also offers exclusive images from Pantera and Lynyrd Skynyrd in its guitar controller portfolio.

ArtGuitar is best known for its patented process that digitally paints images onto guitars. Using the same technology, ArtGuitar and Peavey are bringing exclusive, limited edition designs to a guitar controller for the first time.

To pre-order the AG RiffMaster Guitar Controller and for more information, visit artguitar.com.

Arcade controllers for Xbox 360
Posted by M @ 11:07 p.m. NZDT

Arcade-In-A-Box has produced single- and dual-player authentic arcade controllers for the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 control panels feature authentic arcade controls that are identical to those used on arcade machines including Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Galaga. In addition to being compatible with the Xbox 360, the arcade controllers can also be used with PC.

"Xbox 360 gamers have a wide variety of classic arcade games to play, but until now there hasn't been a high-quality, stick with the authentic controls that hard core gamers demand," says Ed Farias, Owner of Arcade-In-A-Box. "Our goal was to design and deliver a product for the gamer who wanted the most elite, most authentic, and most thrilling Xbox 360 arcade experience possible."

The Xbox 360 arcade controller joins other items including the Arcade-In-A-Box home arcade console, Jamma-In-A-Box featuring authentic arcade PC Boards and a home arcade cabinet kit.

More information, visit arcadeinabox.com.

Original Korn track for Haze
Posted by M @ 11:32 p.m. NZDT

Hard rock band Korn has written and recorded an original song for Ubisoft's upcoming Haze video game. The song will be launched to radio and video in November, to coincide with the launch of the game. The single, Haze, will be available for purchase online.

Korn has sold more than 30 million records worldwide since 1994, releasing seven consecutive multi-platinum selling albums. Their latest untitled album was released in July. Lead singer Jonathan Davis has often mentioned a love for video games, including games from Ubisoft like Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2. "Gaming for me is a religion," says Davis. "I had to come up with a track that can hit up that kind of rush I get from the game."

The deal with Korn is a first for Ubisoft and marks a new strategy of creative partnership with different figures in the music industry. "This partnership with Korn is original in the video game industry in that the song will be released and promoted as a full-fledged (sic) single, and not just as a download with the video game," stated Christian Salomon, vice president of worldwide licensing at Ubisoft. "It is a testament to the synergy possibilities between music and video games, which often share the same audience."

Made by Virtua Tennis developer Sumo Digital, Sega Superstars Tennis will be released on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii and DS, all hitting shelves early in 2008.

Sega Superstars Tennis has over 15 playable Sega characters including Sonic the Hedgehog, AiAi from Super Monkeyball, Ulala of Space Channel 5 and Amigo from Samba De Amigo. In addition to their own unique attributes, each character will also come equipped with its own superstar tennis skills.

Exhibition mode offers the chance to challenge Sonic, or the character or your choice, to a match on one of many courts, including Sonic's home court of Green Hill Zone, or Amigo's Carnival Park court. Wherever you play there will be a host of Sega celebrities cheering you on from courtside and by partaking in crazy doubles matches with your choice of partner, you could end up playing against some pretty unusual couples. Prove your Sega hero is the shining star of Superstars Tennis by collecting silverware in the Tournament Mode. There will also be the opportunity to unlock a host of extras which will be announced in the near future.

Complementing the Exhibition and Tournament modes, there will also be new and innovative ways of enjoying some of Sega's classic titles, plus platform exclusive ways to play the game, including online modes for X360 and PS3 versions.

"Sega Superstars Tennis has the potential to be one of the most fun and accessible sports games ever." commented Gary Knight, European Marketing Director. "The fantastic Sumo Digital team has had access to a wealth of Sega IP and you'll be surprised at the gaming icons that will be making an appearance."

Lost Planet coming to PS3 with extra features
Posted by M @ 11:33 p.m. NZDT

Capcom has announced that sci-fi action shooter Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is in development for the PlayStation 3 and is scheduled to hit in early 2008.

Combining a single player campaign and multiplayer modes with support for up to 16 players online, enormous world maps unfold as players battle hostile creatures in blistering weather conditions across vast snow fields and blazing volcanic areas either on foot or in armed, robotic Vital Suits.

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition for the PS3 will release with a number of specific features not previously available in retail editions of the console version. These include 16 diverse multiplayer maps right out of the box and additional playable characters each with their own unique abilities.

Extreme Condition for the PS3 system includes the following features:

• Connect to gamers around the world via PlayStation Network and participate in a variety of cooperative and versus battles with up to 16 players:
• Elimination - It's every snow pirate for themselves in this death match mode where the victorious are rewarded for the most points earned.
• Team Elimination – You're only as good as your teammates so strategy and cooperation is key in eliminating the opposing side.
• Post Grab - Teams are tasked with capturing and holding as many Posts as possible.
• Fugitive - One player is assigned as the "Fugitive", and he or she will earn points for various actions (staying alive, killing enemies, capturing posts). Dying deducts points and winning is determined when a maximum total is reached or when the score ticks down to zero.
• Foot and Vital Suit based gameplay – Command highly powered VS and weapons not only to help players traverse the treacherous terrain, but to eliminate enemies that lie ahead. Strategically switch between VS and on foot gameplay to best face each situation and challenge.
• Vast environments - Snowstorms, arctic winds, towering buildings and mountains of ice are all stunningly realized as battles occur above and below ground, creating a truly immersive and cinematic event of epic proportions.
• A premier team of developers – The creators of the critically acclaimed Onimusha and Devil May Cry series have come together to create the expansive world of Lost Planet.

Capcom brining Okami to Wii
Posted by M @ 11:18 p.m. NZDT

It's finally time to experience the magic of Okami as it was always meant to be played. Capcom's award winning game is set for release on the Wii home in Autumn 2008.

Featuring a re-imagined control scheme built around the Wii Remote, Okami offers players an unparalleled level of control and an opportunity to rediscover a critically-acclaimed and beautifully crafted adventure.

Okami tells the story of a mythical sun god who sets out to restore a dismal world, decimating the forces of evil who stand in the way by commanding the elements and mythical abilities the deity possesses. Mixing Japanese folklore and a traditional Japanese art style, players must utilise an inventive control scheme to overcome the challenges and evil that await.

Originally designed for the PlayStation 2 and released in 2006, Okami now comes alive in an entirely new way on the Wii with its visually impressive art style and beautiful scenic 3D levels that have the appearance and texture of paper scrolls brushed with watercolour calligraphic art. Throughout the vibrant and distinctive surroundings, players must use the Wii remote to interact with a dynamic world and cast of characters. The blend of stylised graphics, movements and unique gameplay will result in a rich and dynamic experience.

Okami includes the following features:

• Innovative gameplay and control scheme optimised for the Wii - Defeating monsters requires both motion-controlled physical attacks, but also use of the Wii Remote as Amaterasu's 'Celestial Brush' to paint the desired powers for decimating enemies and solving puzzles.
• Create and destroy at will - Play as a god to re-establish order and beauty to a world laid barren by evil.
• Intense action-packed battles – Rooted in Japanese folklore, fight against a diverse line-up of demons and monsters.Utilise various gameplay styles – In addition to the Celestial Brush, Amaterasu can wield three types of offensive weaponry, each with their own unique abilities and effects. Depending on how a weapon is equipped, it can be used as the main or sub weapon:
• Reflectors – These well-balanced weapons are suited for close range combat
• Rosaries– Sacred magatama beads are great for quick long range attacks
• Glaives – These can be charged up to unleash powerful close range attack
• Intriguing main character – Assume the role of the sun god, Amaterasu, who descends upon the earth in the form of a wolf. The Japanese translation of the word wolf is Okami.
• Original visuals and revolutionary design– Vibrant and inspiring graphics, reminiscent of traditional Japanese art created on paper scrolls, produce a large variety of stages with a watercolor-esque appearance.
• Interact with a unique and dynamic cast of characters.

Free tickets to Devil Dared Me To
Posted by M @ 12:50 a.m. NZDT

Gameplanet has five double passes and posters to give away to The Devil Dared Me To, now showing in cinemas nationwide.

To enter the draw, email mcaie@gameplanet.co.nz with the name of the stunt team featured in the movie (two correct options). Tickets are valid till 26th October so get in quick! Update - we have finally received five correct entries (and a bunch of wrong ones...) so congratulations to our winners!

Naruto site now live
Posted by M @ 11:24 p.m. NZDT

The new Naruto Nintendo Games Web page, narutonintendogames.com has launched in conjunction with the upcoming releases of Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution for the Wii and Naruto: Path of the Ninja for the Nintendo DS. Both games will ship to retail outlets on October 23, 2007. The new website will provide Naruto fans with all the latest information on Naruto games based on episodes from VIZ Media's hit anime series Shonen Jump Naruto.

Naruto fans can visit the site to:

· Get the latest news and information on all Naruto games for Nintendo platforms

· See game trailers, screen shots and other exclusive images from the games

· Sign up for a special Naruto Newsletter to be the first to know about Naruto on Wii and Nintendo DS

· Receive members-only hints, tips and strategies

· Join the new Naruto community for Wii and DS gamers - the Ninja Academy.

Speedball II now on Live
Posted by M @ 10:40 p.m. NZDT

Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe is available on Xbox Live Arcade starting today.

Regarded as a break-though title that took the sports genre to a new level, Speedball, the Bitmap Brothers classic, was first released for the Amiga in 1990 and quickly became a huge success. However it wasn't until the release of its sequel, Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe that the title reached new gaming heights and sold over two million units. Empire Interactive says it is considered by many to be one of the best games of all time.

It says the Xbox Live Arcade version is perfect conversion of original game will all the classic elements that have made it a firm favourite, but with the addition of a high definition version, more teams and downloadable content.

Empire Interactive has recently enjoyed success with the release of arcade classic Double Dragon, one of the most popular full game downloads on Xbox Live Arcade. It hopes the release of this Speedball 2 will cement Empire's position as a leading provider of casual games in the online marketplace.

Clive Kabatznik, CEO of Silverstar Holdings commented, "Speedball II will undoubtedly add to our earlier successes on Xbox LIVE Arcade and further demonstrates our ability to cost effectively redeploy classic titles on all major formats and a multitude of distribution channels."

Mike Montgomery, of developers Bitmap Brothers said, "The team is as passionate about Speedball today as they were back in the day. The evolution of the game to Xbox Live Arcade will provide renewed interest and excitement for Speedball fans old and new."

Sega's Nights shipping January, new features announced
Posted by M @ 2:14 a.m. NZDT

Sega has announced that Sega: Journey of Dreams for the Wii will ship January 2008.

The title, a sequel to the critically-acclaimed hit Nights, will allow players to take flight, unleash incredible airborne manoeuvres, and explore seven magnificent worlds of imagination, dreams and nightmares. Sega also unveiled plans to reawaken the Artificial Life (A-Life) feature in Journey of Dreams, which gives gamers the freedom to oversee and develop their own sandbox environment enabling them to capture, raise, and even combine the inhabitants from the world of Nightopia, and has confirmed that the game will feature a two-player mode and network support at launch.

Nights: Journey of Dreams will deliver the feeling of flight through the innovative Wii Remote. Players will glide, spiral and loop through a variety of mystical dream worlds packed with action and adventure as they dive and blast through rings, gather orbs and come up against fantastic and unforgettable boss battles.

"Finally developing a sequel for Nights is a dream come true – for myself and, I hope, also for fans of the original game as well as people new to the game," commented Takeshi Iizuka of Sega Studio USA "Nights: Journey of Dreams will be a unique game making good use of the great features Wii has to offer."

Journey of Dreams unfolds in Nightopia, the spectacular dream world of two young characters, Helen and Will. Struggling to overcome the every day challenges of growing up, these two 12-year-olds find their real life experiences spilling over into their dreams. As Helen and Will fall into a deep sleep, they are greeted by Nights, a fantasy jester, who leads them to explore the rich and vibrant land of Nightopia. Along the way, Nights helps the youngsters bravely face their fears by finding inventive ways to confront, outpace, and outwit foes - such as the villainous Nightmarens. Through the freedom of flight, execution of stunning acrobatic moves and tapping into special abilities that enable gamers to combat danger and restore peace to Nightopia.

For more informationse, visit guitarhero.com.

Real money for virtual estate in Second Life
Posted by M @ 1:00 p.m. NZDT

Residents of Second Life can now become cash buyers for land and property in their virtual world.

By stepping up to the Ukash terminals located in the Bulido Money Service outlets in the phenomenally successful virtual world, the millions of Second Lifer residents can now use Ukash cash vouchers to get Linden Dollars, the official Second life currency.

Cash consumers, and those without credit cards or with concerns about providing their financial details online, get Ukash vouchers from thousands of convenient locations across Europe.

"Ukash transactions are growing across Europe because of the convenience and security it provides to those who wish to spend cash online, so it's natural to offer the same benefits to those who wish to transact within Second Life," says Mark Chirnside, Chief Executive Officer at Ukash.

"Over [US] $6 million were traded at LindeX, Second Life's currency exchange during the second quarter of 2007, and nearly 100m (1) residents of the virtual world have premium membership that allows them to buy and sell land within Second Life so there's a new and booming economy that we're pleased to be opening up to the cash consumer," added Mark Chirnside.

The transaction is completed in real time, putting Linden Dollars into the resident's account immediately. Residents can also make return visits to the Bulido website to get Linden Dollars without needing to be logged into Second Life, adding even more convenience to the Ukash and Second Life experience.

The Bulido Money Service is designed and operated by Crafty Studios Games Development GmbH of Pöttsching, Austria.

"We know that there are millions of Second Life residents unable to participate fully in the virtual economy as they can't get Linden Dollars so working with Bulido to provide a convenient and secure cash payment method will open up new opportunities to these currently excluded consumers," concludes Mark Chirnside.

Consumers can get Ukash from payment terminals found in newsagents, grocery stores, post offices and petrol forecourts across the UK, Ireland, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands. Ukash is also available online and via banks in these countries and a further 15 across Europe. There are no fees charged to get Ukash, meaning consumers can use the full amount of their Ukash when spending online.

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition
Posted by M @ 12:33 p.m. NZDT

Ubisoft has entered an agreement with Bethesda Softworks to publish The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition for PlayStation 3 this December. Oblivion GotY will include the original version of the award-winning RPG, Oblivion, along with the official expansion, The Elder Scrolls IV: Shivering Isles, and the downloadable content, Knights of the Nine.

This new product will allow players who have never played the 2006 Game of the Year to experience Oblivion for the first time with additional content. In addition, gamers can continue their existing games of Oblivion and experience the new quests and areas offered by the expansion and downloadable content.

Oblivion features a powerful combination of free-form gameplay, cutting edge AI, and an award-winning soundtrack. Gamers can choose to unravel Oblivion's epic narrative at their own pace or explore the vast world in search of their own unique challenges.

With more than 30 hours of new gameplay, Shivering Isles allows you to explore an entirely new plane of Oblivion – the realm of Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness. Shivering Isles features a bizarre landscape split between the two sides – Mania and Dementia –filled with vast, twisting dungeons mirroring the roots of the trees they are buried within. Sheogorath himself looks to you to be his champion and defend his realm and its inhabitants from destruction as you discover all new items, ingredients, spells, and much more.

Knights of the Nine features an all-new faction and quests for noble characters and answers many of the questions surrounding the Ayleid ruins found throughout Oblivion. Players can join a new faction and found their own order of holy knights – leading them into battle against a sorcerer-king and his demonic minions while exploring massive dungeons and searching for legendary relics – the holy armour and weapons of the Divine Crusader.

For more information, visit elderscrolls.com.

BAFTA Fellowship for Sims creator
Posted by M @ 1:36 a.m. NZDT

Will Wright, creator of the Sims, the world's best selling PC gaming franchise with more than 90 million units sold, will shortly join an exclusive number of household names from TV and Film as he becomes the first recipient of the Fellowship from the video games industry at the British Academy Video Games Awards 2007. The Fellowship is the highest accolade the Academy can bestow on an individual for creative work. Until now, the much lauded Fellowship has remained an exclusive part of BAFTA's more established pillars, TV and Film. But today's British Academy recognises the massive impact of video games on popular culture and their huge contribution to the whole art form of the moving image.

Hilary Bevan Jones, Chairman of the Academy said "Will's immense, creative body of work and his continued contribution to the industry make him a most worthy recipient of the Fellowship and being such a pioneer, we are thrilled that he will be the first person to receive this honour."

Wright, who is widely accepted as one of the world's leading visionaries in the field of video game design, has been passionately creating games for more than 20 years. Although he has worked on a number of hugely successful games, among them Raid On Bungling Bay (1984), SimCity (1989), SimCity 2000 (1993), SimCity 3000 (1989) and SimCity 4 (2003), he is best known for bringing to fruition one of the best-loved games franchises in history, the Sims – a game whose inspiration sprang from a combination of the aforementioned titles.

Other firsts at this year's Awards include the BAFTA Ones to Watch Award which recognises up-and–coming talent, and the PC World Gamers' Award, the only publicly-voted award of the night (obsessedwithgames.co.uk). This year's Awards will be held at London's Battersea Evolution on 23 October. Music acts will include the indie rock band Athlete with another act being confirmed this week. The show will be broadcast on E4 on November 4 at 11pm and repeated the following weekend on Channel 4.

WWE SmackDown v Raw 2008 is scheduled for release on November 9 for the PS3, PlayStation 2, Wii, DS and Xbox 360. The PSP version is scheduled for release on November 23.

"Our official game demo will allow consumers to embrace WWE SmackDown v Raw 2008 in the weeks leading up to the official game launch," said Bob Aniello, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, THQ. "The demo strongly supports our campaign as we grow the franchise to seven platforms, giving players multiple ways to enjoy their WWE video game experience."

"The WWE SmackDown v Raw 2008 playable demo on Xbox Live Marketplace will offer players a taste of what the game has to offer prior to its release this November," said Nelo Lucich, vice president of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. "The new Superstar Fighting Styles and Struggle Submission System significantly enhance gameplay, and players can take advantage of Superstar and arena options from Raw, SmackDown and ECW."

The demo will allow players to experience exhibition match play using the Raw, SmackDown and ECW arenas. Superstars Rey Mysterio, Bobby Lashley, Undertaker and Randy Orton are available for battle in both single-player and two-player, head-to-head gameplay. Throughout the demo, players can sample several of the game's new features, including Superstar Fighting Styles and the Struggle Submission System.

WWE SmackDown v Raw 2008 will let players take the fight into their own hands with the debut of eight Superstar Fighting Styles. Each fighting style has its own unique strategy with exclusive moves and abilities. A brand new Struggle Submission System gives players intuitive and natural control over their WWE Superstars using the analogue sticks. Realism and strategy are at the forefront, as players can now control the amount of pressure they apply. WWE 24/7 Mode, which combines the popular Season and General Manager modes, embraces the intensity of the superstar lifestyle. Multiple character development options, stat tracking and career goals will guide players toward the ultimate achievement of becoming a WWE Legend. In addition, WWE SmackDown v Raw 2008 includes numerous fan-requested updates, including new rosters, more environmental hotspots, improved out-of-ring action and much more.

WWE SmackDown v Raw 2008 for the Wii features unique controls and gameplay created specifically for the platform, resulting in quick response times and a more arcade style feel. Ultimate control is taken to the next level, as players can act out slams, strikes, taunts and finishers as they take place on screen.

WWE SmackDown v Raw 2008 for the Nintendo DS lets players directly control a Superstar's action with the stylus, while situation-based fighting includes over 80 unique holds for a variety of strategic options. Players can also experience a full year of WWE action, storylines and drama in WWE Season Mode.

More information, visit mackdownvsraw.com.

Fury trailer reworked by Aussie DJs
Posted by M @ 2:03 p.m. NZDT

A new Australian video game sound company, Australian Sound Forge have put together a remix for the Fury story trailer. Fury is a fast paced MMO developed by Auran and is due for global release this month.

Australian Sound Forge features some interesting members with some of Australia's leading DJs partnering up with a couple of local game industry veterans.

"Part of our interest is getting back to heartbeats. Remember Space Invaders - now we have secured some of the best in the business at being able to move heart rates up and down, our leading DJs. Add this to the mix of classical composers and educators and we have a team keen to push the audio in games," says Scott and Tod of ASF.

"We wanted to put something together that would be perfect for the LAN parties and expo's that Auran have booked in for next few months to coincide with the launch. This one will be perfect in the big rooms," says Luke Bowditch, also of ASF.

For more information, visit unleashthefury.com.

Band of Bugs expansion for Xbox Live Arcade
Posted by M @ 9:27 a.m. NZDT

NinjaBee, a independent developer of Xbox Live Arcade titles, has announced its newest expansion pack, Ninja Sticks of Fury, for the Band of Bugs title. With this new expansion pack comes a new shadowy character, new achievements and a bigger challenge.

The new campaign is set in a new desolate and mountain area beyond the known Insect Kingdom. Featuring a new unit class, players guide a ninja named Vail who leads a group of mercenaries while a mysterious group wreaks havoc across the snowy wasteland. The ninja adds a new level of strategy to Band of Bugs, forcing players to think in new ways.

Band of Bugs has gained popularity for its innovative level editor, which allows any user to create unique content for their friends and the community. Ninja Sticks of Fury adds a brand new unit and a winter tile set to the editor allowing level designers to push their creativity to the limit. The Snowy environment is not only available in the editor, but will automatically enhance select existing maps already in the game, adding new variety to old favourites.

Band of Bugs was released in June, 2007. It supports 1-4 players in co-op or in multiplayer versus modes and also supports the Xbox Live Vision camera. One of the few turn-based tactics games available, NinjaBee says Band of Bugs provides gameplay deep enough to be satisfying to established fans of the genre, but friendly enough to appeal to casual gamers. Currently, the game has fifty levels, three map packs, two additional campaigns, and also features a level editor allowing gamers to design custom scenarios and play them solo or over Xbox Live.

Virtua Fighter 5 gone gold, demo on Live
Posted by M @ 7:09 a.m. NZDT

Sega has announced that Virtua Fighter 5, the highly-anticipated arcade fighting game for Xbox 360, has gone gold.

Virtua Fighter 5 for the Xbox 360 will feature an online versus mode at launch and is scheduled to ship October 26th.

The Xbox 360 version of Virtua Fighter 5 is based on the latest arcade version update and features both analogue stick and D-pad control, as well as vibration support. The game also includes an improved Quest mode featuring more CPU rivals, items, and emblems for character customisation. The Dojo mode has added features including leaderboards, training move settings, improved throw escape training, and the option to change your opponent's position and recovery type.

The VF5 demo is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. The Virtua Fighter 5 demo allows players partial access to both Versus mode, where two players can battle it out offline, and also to Arcade mode for single player action.

Both modes feature Akira, Sarah, El Blaze and Eileen as playable characters and the demo has three playable stages – Arena (El Blaze's stage), Deep Mountain (Lei-Fei's stage) and Island (Jeffrey's stage).

Bubble Bobble Double Shot for Nintendo DS

Bub and Bob are back! Bubble Bobble Double Shot is a respectful return to the series' roots, bringing Bubble Bobble to the DS with new additions to the classic formula. Based on the original Bubble Bobble arcade game first released in 1986, Bubble Bobble Double Shot stars the two Bubble Dragons, Bub and Bob who move over a system of platforms, busting and pushing bubbles, avoiding enemies and collecting a variety of power-ups. Bubble Bobble Double Shot for DS features a perfect re-creation of Bubble Bobble's frantic platforming gameplay, complete with all the secrets and fun gameplay that made the original such a rewarding game to master.

Rainbow Islands Evolution for the PSP system

A cult classic arcade game from Taito, Rainbow Islands Evolution for the PSP system is another sequel in the Bubble Bobble franchise. Set once again in Rainbow Islands, Bub and Bob are now under the shadow of an evil record company who is polluting the ecosystem with a constant, mass-produced musical dirge. Only Bub and Bob have the experience to take on the record company and its seven bosses, setting the stage for a new adventure. The strict vertical ascents of the original have been expanded and extrapolated into three dimensions, with each level's building-block platforms now following perspective and disappearing into the distance.

Vic Reeves hosting BAFTA games awards
Posted by M @ 10:30 p.m. NZDT

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts today announced that comic legend Vic Reeves will host this year's British Academy Video Games Awards in association with PC World. Reeves, one half of legendary off-the-wall comedy coupling, Reeves and Mortimer, whose Shooting Stars won a BAFTA back in 1996, recently walked away with this year's LAFTAS Legend award. Hilary Bevan Jones, Chairman of the Academy, said, "We are thrilled to have Vic fronting these Awards. His sheer exuberance, off-beat humour and love of video games make him the perfect choice."

Vic loves playing video games with his wife Nancy and was also chosen by BAFTA for his artistic appreciation of, and involvement in, contemporary popular culture. Painting was his original career plan and he attended a foundation course in London's East End and worked in a gallery in the mid-80s while continuing to paint and draw. He has also exhibited at the Royal Academy and many other galleries.

The Academy is known for recognising excellence within the more traditional art forms of the moving image, but last year really embraced video games seriously and is now firmly committed to this fast-moving, cutting edge, contemporary art form. This year's Awards ceremony, to be held at Battersea Evolution, in London on 23 October, will reward the individuals behind the very best in artistic, creative and technical innovation in video games. There will be two live musical acts this year, with indie rock band Athlete confirmed so far.

This year's Awards will include the publicly-voted PC World Gamers Award and a new BAFTA Ones to Watch Award in association with Dare to be Digital. Online voting for the PC World Gamers Award is live now at obsessedwithgames.co.uk.

The collaboration brings together game building and industry expertise on energy, electricity production and greenhouse gas emissions to highlight the impact of electricity generation on the emissions of carbon dioxide that are linked to climate change. The low-carbon electricity choices and monitoring of SimCity's carbon emissions provide an entertaining, fully-integrated and accurate look at some of the causes and some of the major solutions available to combat rising levels of carbon and to help address the threat of global warming. SimCity Societies will be available at retailers from November 15.

"Since their inception in 1989, SimCity games have served as excellent creative and educational tools to convey complex subjects. With SimCity Societies, we have the opportunity not only to demonstrate some of the causes and effects of global warming, but also to educate players how seemingly small choices can have a big global impact," said Steve Seabolt, Vice President of Global Brand Development for The Sims Label at EA. "BP was one of the first major energy companies to publicly acknowledge the need to reduce carbon emissions and begin taking precautionary measures. As such, they are the perfect partner to help educate people on this important social issue in SimCity Societies."

The game does not force players to power their cities any specific way, but allows them to make choices, each of which come with advantages and disadvantages. Similar to real-life, the least expensive and most readily-available buildings in SimCity Societies are also the biggest producers of carbon dioxide. Should players choose to build cities dependent on these types of sources for power to conserve their in-game money, their carbon ratings will rise and, at reaching critical levels, the game will issue alerts about the threat of the various natural disasters like droughts, heat waves and others that may strike their cities.

Alternatively, players can strive to create a greener environment and avoid hazards caused by excessive carbon emissions by choosing from a variety of low-carbon power options. Using hydrogen and natural gas plants to wind farms and solar power, SimCity Societies encourages people to learn about some of the causes and consequences of global warming in an engaging, educational and meaningful way. While these power sources maintain nearby property values and keep the cities' citizens safer from disaster, they also mimic real-life in that they cost players more of their funds, and do not produce as much power as less green options that take up similar space. Informative real-world snippets about power production and conservation will also be available in-game, informing players of global warming issues both virtually and in reality.

"The time was right for this partnership. EA was developing the next iteration of the SimCity series at the same time that we were looking for opportunities to raise awareness about low-carbon power choices," said Carol Battershell, Vice President, BP Alternative Energy. "EA has a powerful reach to the next generation and BP has a suite of low-carbon power alternatives. In our collaboration through this innovative game, we can provide education on the issues surrounding climate change, its association with carbon emissions and the ability to take early positive action through low-carbon power choices."

Atari brining Legendary: The Box to PAL territories
Posted by M @ 2:43 p.m. NZDT

Atari will co-publish the forthcoming first-person shooter Legendary: The Box in PAL territories. Coming to PC and consoles, Legendary: The Box is scheduled to launch in Winter 2008.

Developed by Spark Unlimited, Legendary: The Box tells the story of a thief – Charles Deckard – who is duped into stealing the mythical Pandora's Box. Like Pandora before him, he cannot resist the temptation of finding out what's inside. By opening the fabled device, he unleashes hordes of creatures thought to be merely the imaginings of our ancestors. However, murderous werewolves, unstoppable gryphons and other creatures of ancient lore prove all too real as they wreak havoc across an unprepared modern world.

"Gamecock have already established themselves as a serious new force to be reckoned with in video games, and we're proud and excited to be entering into this agreement with them to co-publish such an original and excellent quality product as Legendary: The Box," said Mathias Hautefort, Executive Vice President of publishing and production, Atari. "The agreement marks another positive step forward for Atari in bringing original and high quality interactive entertainment to the market."

"Gamecock is very proud to be working with Atari on this project, utilising their massive distribution network in the PAL territories to make this game as big a hit outside the US as it will be inside," said Harry Miller, El Presidente and Head of Development, Gamecock Media Group.

Developer Spark Unlimited was founded by 27 of the individuals who developed titles in the award-winning Medal of Honor series. The critically acclaimed and multi-million unit selling Call of Duty: Finest Hour was the result of the company's first efforts and the team is excited to bring their proven talent and experience in creating compelling first person action games to this project.

"Our goal at Spark has been to create high-quality innovative titles that deliver uniquely realistic and cinematic gaming experiences," said Craig Allen, Chief Executive Officer of Spark Unlimited. "We are excited to welcome Atari as a co-publisher in order to insure Legendary: The Box™ becomes a global success."

Legendary: The Box™ is a breath-taking blockbuster experience where man and machine take on the beasts of legend in the war to end all wars, all set against a backdrop of total social disintegration. High calibre ordnance meets beak, talon, fang and claw in awe-inspiring fire fights the like of which have never before been realised in a video game. Living, breathing dynamic environments are spectacularly torn apart in the battle to stay alive, with the devastation of New York and London realised on an unprecedented scale.

For more information about the game please visit www.legendarythebox.com. Gamecock Media Group can be found at www.gamecockmedia.com, with more information about Atari's entire product line up at www.atari.com.
-ends-

FIFA 08 kicks Halo 3's aura
Posted by M @ 10:03 a.m. NZDT

Electronic Arts has heralded FIFA 2008 as Europe's biggest entertainment launch of the season. EA Sports' FIFA 08 continues has sold over one million units sold at retail across all formats in its first week on European shelves. FIFA 08 is outselling every other popular game offering launched in Europe in the same week, and Electronic Arts says the series remains true to its fame as the world's best selling sports franchise.

"This is just the start of what promises to be the most exciting season ever for gamers", said Gerhard Florin, EA Executive Vice President for International Publishing. "FIFA 08 kicks off our holiday line up, which has more fresh titles than ever before including consumer favourites like Need for Speed Pro Street along with original properties like Army of Two, EA Playground, Smarty Pants, Rock Band, Hellgate London, The Orange Box and Crysis. This year there truly is something for everyone".

FIFA 08 released in New Zealand on 28th September.

The Games for Windows – Live v1.2 update will continue to add numerous end-user benefits to the service, such as support for offline Achievements, so gamers can continue to rack up Gamerscore when not connected to the internet, the ability to see whether friends are joinable in games, along with additional UI features.

In August 2007, Games for Windows – Live 1.1 added a lot of great features that enhanced the user experience, including support for five new languages (Russian, Polish, Czech, Norwegian and Dutch), the addition of 12 new gamer pics and a new Network Information Viewer to provide a simpler way to troubleshoot connectivity issues.

Games for Windows – Live 1.1 also included many backend upgrades to improve gamers' experiences such as DirectX 10 and Windows XP support for future Games for Windows – Live titles, log on error reporting, improved error messaging, improved router interaction, improved security and reduced time to recover a gamer profile on new Windows PCs.

Microsoft is rolling out two Games for Windows – Live updates in a four months and says its goal is to deliver new and exciting experiences for Windows gamers, while maintaining the unique PC gaming environment.

Publishers shifting to Wii: report
Posted by M @ 1:54 a.m. NZDT

Screen Digest has launched the Games Bulletin, a new service for the video games industry. Providing periodic, data-rich updates on 256 bit games publishing, gamer demographics and industry forecasting trends, the first volume focuses on software publishing in the final quarter of 2007.

The Games Bulletin analyses aggregated data from all 256 bit physical retail releases scheduled for release in the final quarter of 2007, identifying trends in publishing, platform support, content (exclusives, IP, licensing, genre) and games development.

Publisher commitment is shifting significantly to Nintendo's Wii with 86 titles scheduled for release in Q4, compared with 47 for Microsoft's Xbox 360 and 38 for Sony's PlayStation 3. A quarter of Wii releases are exclusive to the platform – compared with eight for the Xbox 360 and five for Playstation 3.

Wii is proving attractive to publishers not only because of its rapidly growing installed base, but also thanks to lower development costs and the relative ease of transferring development resources to the platform compared with its 256 bit counterparts. As a result Screen Digest expects that the number of games available for Wii will surpass Xbox 360's library in early 2008 at current release rates.

Armed with the most exclusives as well as the release of Super Mario Galaxy, Screen Digest believes that Wii is likely to lead the 256 bit market in the final quarter of 2007. The Xbox 360 platform will be driven by an increasingly well established US user base enjoying a combination of strong multiplatform releases and a persistent Halo 3. Given the competition, Sony's release schedule lacks the firepower to command consumer attention during this crucial trading quarter and it is difficult to see how the catalogue will drive hardware sales in such a competitive environment.

Further analysis of Q4 releases underlines the importance of the UK as a key territory for console games development, which leads the European territories and, given its size, is more than holding its own against the US and Japan.

Ed Barton, Screen Digest Games Analyst and author of the first Games Bulletin, commented "Halo 3 commanded the attention of the mass market and we expect Super Mario Galaxy for Wii to continue the process of educating the consumer as to the benefits of the current generation of home consoles. Given present publishing activity levels and hardware sales rates, we expect 256 bit gaming to have moved out of transition and squarely into the mass adoption phase by year end. While Wii and Xbox 360 are likely to look back on 2007 with some satisfaction, the same cannot be said for PS3. Given the platform's release schedule this Christmas, it is not a surprise that Sony is focusing on lowering the cost of entry to PS3 platform to maintain parity with its rivals this Christmas."

Strategic Command 2 expansion gone gold
Posted by M @ 1:41 a.m. NZDT

Fury Software and Battlefront.com have announced that the long awaited expansion pack for Strategic Command 2 has now gone to gold master.

The Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warefare Expansion raises the bar in the WWII strategy wargaming arena with all new game options, improved artificial intelligence and expandability with its included full game editor. The game will be released at the end of this month.

The Weapons and Warfare Expansion requires that players already have Strategic Command 2 Blitzkrieg installed. For those that are new to the Strategic Command 2 game or want the original game and the new expanion together, a bundle includes both Strategic Command 2 Blitzkrieg and the Weapons and Warfare Expansion.

Atari removes Board members
Posted by M @ 1:27 a.m. NZDT

Atari, Inc. has announced that its majority stockholder, California US Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment, removed five people from its Board of Directors of Atari via written stockholder consent effective as of October 5, 2007.

New York-based Atari, Inc. develops interactive games for all platforms and is a third-party publisher of interactive entertainment software in the US. The company's 1,000+ titles include franchises such as Test Drive and Dragon Ball Z. Atari, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames Entertainment, an interactive games publisher in Europe.

In May, Atari announced a reorganisation of its general and administrative functions, reducing Atari's workforce by approximately 20 per cent. The company has been on a cost-savings drive following "substantial doubt" over its ability to continue as a going concern, announced last year.

Sega Bass Fishing for Wii
Posted by M @ 12:58 a.m. NZDT

Sega has announced Sega Bass Fishing for the Wii, the latest addition to one of the most successful fishing game franchises of all time. With content developed exclusively for the Wii, Sega Bass Fishing will be released in early 2008.

Sega Bass Fishing returns with all-new controls utilising the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. With over 20 different types of lures to choose from, gamers can cast off using the Wii Remote to try and land one of four different types of freshwater bass.

Sega Bass Fishing also offers gamers the freedom to select time-of-day and season during play which impacts the activity of the fish, their appetite, and their depth. When players hook a big one, they can use the motion sensor to reel it in. Featuring 15 lake environments, Sega Bass Fishing has four game modes: Arcade, Tournament, Practice and Nature Trip.

Golden Compass game voices by film actors
Posted by M @ 12:30 a.m. NZDT

Rising young stars Dakota Blue Richards and Freddie Highmore are voicing their characters for The Golden Compass, Sega's official video game of the film of the same name.
The Golden Compass follows Lyra, voiced by Dakota Blue Richards, as she travels through the frozen wastes of the North collecting items in order to explore, evade and deceive her way to rescue a friend kidnapped by a mysterious group known as the Gobblers. The Golden Compass is Dakota's first major acting role and she was picked from 1000's of hopefuls who auditioned for the part of Lyra in the film.

Lyra can also use her daemon, Pantalaimon, to collaborate with in-game characters and to help her get through certain difficult situations. The role of Pantalaimon is voiced by Freddie Highmore, who starred as Charlie Bucket in the 2005 version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Gamers can also play as Iorek Byrnison, a great armoured ice bear who joins the quest, battling to protect Lyra during their journey using his special attacks to fend off enemies. Players will also be able to unlock secrets and mini-games using a mysterious truth-telling golden compass device called an Alethiometer.

The Golden Compass videogame is releasing on PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS and PSP later this year. For more information, visit goldencompassgame.com.

• Experience a tale that takes you beyond the events of Final Fantasy XII
• 3D graphics, music and video bring the land of Ivalice to life and push the capabilities of the Nintendo DS
• Take control of your favourite characters using the stylus and Nintendo DS touch screen
• Experience real-time battles using the Gambit system
• Collect and synthesise items and treasures to create new rare items
• More summons than in any other Final Fantasy game
• Epic soundtrack from the composer of Final Fantasy XII

Speedball 2 17th October
Posted by M @ 1:04 a.m. NZDT

The classic combat sports game Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe, will be available on the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade from 17th October.

Regarded as a break-though title that took the sports genre to a new level, the Bitmap Brothers classic, Speedball, was first released for the Amiga in 1990 and quickly became a huge success. However it wasn't until the release of its sequel, Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe that the title reached new gaming heights and sold over two million units. Empire Interactive says the Xbox Live Arcade version is a "perfect conversion" of Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe with the addition of an all-new high definition version, more teams and downloadable content, whilst still retaining all the classic elements that have made it a firm favourite amongst gamers.

Empire Interactive has recently enjoyed success with the release of arcade classic Double Dragon, where it has become one of the most popular full games downloads on Xbox Live Arcade. Empire hopes the release of Speedball 2 will further cement its position as a leading provider of casual games in the online marketplace.

Ian Higgins, CEO Empire Interactive said, "Xbox Live Arcade is the ideal environment for this exciting new high definition version of Speedball. With the addition of extra content packs and downloadable content, gamers will at last have the ultimate version of the game."

Mike Montgomery, of developers Bitmap Brothers said, "The team are all as passionate about Speedball today as they were back in the day. The evolution of the game to Xbox Live Arcade will provide renewed interest and excitement for Speedball fans old and new".

Britain rejects revised Manhunt 2
Posted by M @ 12:38 a.m. NZDT

The British Boad of Film Classification has rejected a revised version of the video game Manhunt 2. This follows the rejection of the original version of the game in June. The distributor had set in motion an appeal to the Video Appeals Committee against that decision, and this was suspended while the revised version was considered for classification.

David Cooke, Director of the BBFC announced: "We recognise that the distributor has made changes to the game, but we do not consider that these go far enough to address our concerns about the original version. The impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone, or the essential nature of the gameplay, is clearly insufficient. There has been a reduction in the visual detail in some of the 'execution kills', but in others they retain their original visceral and casually sadistic nature.

"We did make suggestions for further changes to the game, but the distributor has chosen not to make them, and as a result we have rejected the game on both platforms. The decision on whether or not an appeal goes ahead lies with the distributor." Manhunt 2 was also banned in New Zealand and elsewhere.

Bee Movie Game demo on Live
Posted by M @ 11:10 p.m. NZDT

Activision's Bee Movie Game demo is now available for download on Xbox Live Marketplace.

The demo features a full action-packed chase level in which players must learn to navigate an onslaught of New York City street traffic, narrowly avoiding collisions with speeding cars, trucks and other hazards as they experience life from a bee's perspective.

Bee Movie Game is based on the upcoming DreamWorks Animation film, Bee Movie, from creator Jerry Seinfeld. Bee Movie Game allows players to race, chase, fly and blast their way through the adrenaline-fueled world from the feature film and beyond. As the witty and courageous Barry B. Benson, gamers are propelled on an exciting adventure to save the bees' production of honey.

Bee Movie Game will be available this Spring for Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PC, Wii and DS. For more information, visit beemoviegame.com.

Pirates of the Burning Sea shipping 22 January
Posted by M @ 10:13 p.m. NZDT

Sony Online Entertainment's Pirates of the Burning Sea is scheduled to launch worldwide on January 22, 2008. The hotly anticipated MMO game, featuring high seas action and swashbuckling adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder, is being developed by Seattle-based FLS and published by Platform Publishing.

"We are eagerly anticipating the day we can raise the anchor and set sail with Pirates of the Burning Sea. Our team's hard work and dedication, and that of our partners at SOE's Platform Publishing group, is going to result in a fantastic gameplay experience for PC gamers," said Russell Williams, CEO, Flying Lab Software. "We are looking forward to bringing this game to fruition, and appreciate the support from our dedicated community in helping us to develop a top-notch game."

As a captain in Pirates of the Burning Sea, players can choose among the French, Spanish, English, or pirate nations, playing a naval officer, a freetrader, a privateer, or a pirate as you like.

Action–filled ship battles take place at sea, where players can destroy or board and seize their competitors' ship. On land, a world of swashbuckling adventure awaits full of sword-swinging action. The unique player-driven economy means players can be a captain of industry too, running mines, lumber mills, shipyards and other large-scale operations to produce the tons of goods needed to supply every player in the game with what they need. Through the player-generated content system, players can create their own sail and flag designs to display in game and even model their own ships.

"The vast amount of player-created content and the intense strategy required in Pirates of the Burning Sea sets it apart from any other MMO on the market," said D Tim Granich, Sr. Global Brand Manager, Sony Online Entertainment. "Gamers will be donning their captain's gear and eagerly awaiting their next battle on land or sea."

The game takes place in the New World circa 1720, a dramatic time of conflict and riches that features action for every play style, from epic ship combat, to piracy, to building economic empires or sword-swinging adventure. With more than one thousand missions per nation, dozens of ports to explore, and the entire Caribbean as their domain, players will find an online experience like no other.

"The introduction of the new PS3 has been the result of extensive research into the entertainment needs and preferences of the next generation of PS3 owners," said David Reeves, President of SCEE. "It has allowed us to deliver an extremely advanced, yet incredibly affordable High Definition gaming and entertainment system, configured to the needs of the next generation of... PS3 owners."

For more information, visit ologyworld.com.

$300 million for Halo 3 in week one
Posted by M @ 12:46 p.m. NZDT

Microsoft has announced that Halo 3 has made more than US$300 million in sales in its first week on sale. The acclaimed Xbox 360 exclusive is the fastest-selling video game ever and already one of the most successful entertainment properties in history.

Microsoft says initial reports from retailers worldwide show console sales have more than doubled compared with the weekly average before the launch of Halo 3. "With games like Halo 3, BioShock, Mass Effect and Project Gotham Racing 4, Xbox 360 has the greatest line-up in the history of video games and the only console where consumers can play all of the year's biggest blockbusters."

"Halo is truly a cultural phenomenon, and the launch of Halo 3 is an important milestone for Xbox 360 and for video games as entertainment and as an art form," says Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft. "Halo 3 embodies our vision for the future of entertainment, where some of the world's greatest creative minds will deliver a new generation of interactive storytelling."

Halo 3 is quickly staking its place as the most popular Xbox Live game in history with members gathering in record numbers to play on the world's largest online gaming and entertainment network. More than 2.7 million gamers played Halo 3 on Xbox Live in the first week, representing nearly one-third of the seven million Xbox Live members worldwide. Within the first day of its launch, Halo 3 players worldwide racked up more than 3.6 million hours of online gameplay, which increased more than elevenfold to 40 million hours by the end of the first week, representing more than 4,500 years of continuous gameplay.

Since Halo 3 launched, gamers have unlocked nearly 30 million achievements. In its first week, Halo 3 drove a record number of Xbox Live Gold Memberships as hundreds of thousands of new members gathered online with friends, family members and other gamers around the world to collectively compete and complete the game.

Dementium: The Ward for DS on Hallowe'en
Posted by M @ 12:19 p.m. NZDT

Renegade Kid has announced that Dementium: The Ward for the Nintendo DS has gone into manufacturing and will be in stores on Hallowe'en. "The survival horror FPS is sure to scare the sh*t out of players with killer sound and ambience, frightful enemies, and a disturbing story."

For more information on Dementium: The Ward, visit dementium.com.

BAFTA public voting now open
Posted by M @ 11:18 p.m. NZDT

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) invites the public to vote for their favourite game in the PC World Gamers' Award at this year's British Academy Video Games Awards. The inaugural PC World Gamers' Award, at BAFTA's 2007 Video Games Awards, is the only game to be voted for by the public at this year's ceremony which takes place on Tuesday 23 October in London. Gamers can vote for the award at obsessedwithgames.co.uk. The list of finalists is as follows:

• Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS) (Nintendo/Nintendo)
• FIFA 07 (PS2) (EA Canada/Electronic Arts)
• Football Manager 2007 (PC) (Sports Interactive/Sega)
• Gears of War (Xbox 360) (Epic Games/Microsoft)
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (PSP) (Rockstar Leeds/Take Two)
• Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3) (Insomniac/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)
• Wii Play (Wii) (Nintendo/Nintendo)

NFS ProStreet soundtrack revealed
Posted by M @ 3:12 p.m. NZDT

Electronic Arts has revealed the complete soundtrack for Need for Speed ProStreet, which is set for release from 23rd November on all formats. The soundtrack features over 35 songs from artists representing a range of styles, along with an original score by internationally renowned DJ/Producer/Musician Junkie XL.

"The Need for Speed franchise has set the worldwide standard for not only racing games, but their soundtracks as well," said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Music Marketing at EA. "Now for the first time, Need for Speed ProStreet takes street racing from the underground to pro level with a music mix to match."

In addition to the lead track More from Junkie XL, the Need for Speed ProStreet soundtrack also features songs from Artwerk artists Datarock and Airbourne. Additional highlights include tracks from the most recent albums by Avenged Sevenfold, the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, TV on the Radio, and Unkle, featuring Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age. The new rave scene is represented by Mercury Prize winners Klaxons, electronica by Peaches and MSTRKRFT, dance punk by Bloc Party, and dubstep by UK sensations Wiley.

The complete soundtrack includes the songs listed below. To hear samplings of each song, visit ea.com/eatrax.

Artist / song:

• Airbourne Blackjack
• Avenged Sevenfold Almost Easy
• Bloc Party Player (Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix)
• Chromeo Fancy Footwork (Guns 'N Bombs Remix)
• Clutch Power Player
• CSS Odio Odio Odio Sorry C
• Datarock I Used To Dance With My Daddy (Karma Harvest Mix)
• Digitalism Pogo
• Dude 'N Nem Watch My Feet
• Dune A Blast Blast
• Foreign Islands We Know You Know It
• Junkie XL feat. Lauren Rocket More (Junk O Flamenco Remix)
• Junkie XL feat. Lauren Rocket More (Junk O Rock Remix)
• Junkie XL feat. Lauren Rocket More (Junk O Rock Remix)
• Junkie XL feat. Lauren Rocket More
• Klaxons Atlantis To Interzone
• MSTRKRFT Neon Knights
• Neon Plastix On Fire
• Peaches Boys Wanna Be Her (Tommie Sunshine's Brooklyn Fire Retouch)
• Plan B More Is Enough feat. Epic Man
• Plan B No Good (Chase & Status and Benni G Remix)
• Smallwhitelight Spite
• The Faint Dropkick The Punks
• The Horrors Draw Japan
• The Rapture The Sound
• The Toxic Avenger Escape (Bloody Beetroots Remix)
• TV On The Radio Wolf Like Me
• Unkle Restless feat. Josh Homme
• We Are Wolves Fight And Kiss
• Wiley Bow E3
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs Kiss Kiss
• Year Long Disaster Leda Atomica
• Yelle A Cause Des Garcons (Riot In Belgium Remix)

Need for Speed ProStreet also continues the tradition of featuring the most desirable street racing cars. This November, Need for Speed ProStreet is the first full packaged videogame where gamers can test drive the Nissan GTR before its launch in Spring of 2008.

Original Stephen Barton sountdtrack for COD4
Posted by M @ 11:20 p.m. NZDT

Infinity Ward and Activision have announced that Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare will feature an original score by Stephen Barton with the main theme and music production provided by award-winning composer Harry Gregson-Williams.

Gregson-Williams' work has been featured in numerous feature films, television series, and video games with credits including Enemy of the State, Man on Fire, Spy Game, Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Team America: World Police. The soundtrack for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was performed and recorded by a full orchestra, largely at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, England.

"Harry Gregson-Williams was the perfect choice to craft an immersive and rich soundtrack that matches the heightened atmosphere and tension of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare," says Grant Collier, Studio Head at Infinity Ward. "Harry's wealth of experience, passion and intensity together with the talents of young composer, Stephen Barton, shine through in the score draws gamers deeper into the epic and cinematic experience that is Call of Duty 4."

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3 will begin deployment on Tuesday, November 5, 2007. The game will also be available for and Nintendo DS.

For more information, visit charlieoscardelta.com.

Voiceover details for Turok
Posted by M @ 11:04 p.m. NZDT

Prominent actors will star as the major characters appearing throughout Turok, the upcoming story-driven, sci-fi first person shooter game from Touchstone. Timothy Olyphant, Powers Boothe, Ron Perlman, William Fichtner and Donnie Wahlberg are among the actors who recorded voices of characters in the game, which will be released on February 5, 2008, for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Turok is set on a dark, mysterious planet in the future. The player will take on the role of Joseph Turok, a former black ops commando, now part of an elite special forces squad, known as Whiskey Company, which is on a mission to take down Roland Kane and his army, the Mendel-Gruman Corporation. As Whiskey Company's ship approaches the planet inhabited by Mendel-Gruman, it is shot down. Turok is stranded on the planet and must locate other crash survivors while confronting Mendel-Gruman soldiers and a variety of dinosaurs and other ravenous creatures.

Gregory Norman Cruz provides the voice of Joseph Turok and the other members of Whiskey Company are Timothy Olyphant (as Cowboy), Ron Perlman (Slade), Donnie Wahlberg (Shepard), William Fichtner (Logan), Mark Rolston (Cole), Chris Judge (Jericho), Lombardo Boyar (Gonzales), Gideon Emery (Reese), Josh Gomez (Parker), Jon Curry (Foster), Jason Harris (Carter) and Steve Van Wormer (Henderson).

Powers Boothe is the voice of the villain, Roland Kane, an escaped war criminal and Turok's former mentor. Sean Donnellan voices Grimes, Kane's mysterious, elusive henchman and part of Mendel-Gruman.

"The actors who lent their voices to Turok are a testament to both the magnitude of the project and the interest of top-notch talent," said Josh Holmes, vice president and general manager of Propaganda Games, the Vancouver, British Columbia-based developer. "The characters in the story are paramount to the experience and we have assembled an outstanding cast to assure high quality performances across the board."

For more information about Turok, visit turok.com.

Wii remote cover for extra grip, less damage
Posted by M @ 12:41 a.m. NZDT

Nintendo is releasing a Wii Remote Jacket, a durable, silicone cover for the Wii Remote that provides a variety of benefits for the player.

Nintendo will include the Wii Remote Jacket with all Wii hardware systems and with all Wii Remotes sold separately or packaged with Wii Play. Hardware featuring the Wii Remote Jacket has begun shipping.

The Wii Remote Jacket provides cushioning for the Wii Remote for people who might accidentally throw or drop their Wii Remotes while playing games. Use of the Wii Remote Jacket is meant to supplement, not replace, the basic game-play instructions: keep a firm grip, don't let go of the controller, use the wrist strap and make sure your play area is free of people or objects. The Wii Remote Jacket also serves as a cover for the Wii Remote. Nintendo recommends players use the new Wii Remote Jacket as a cushiony shield, though the current Wii Remote is a safe product when used properly.

"We're always looking for ways to improve our products and make sure everyone has a safe and fun experience," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Many electronics manufacturers provide similar protective covers for products like cell phones, PDAs and MP3 players."

The Wii Remote Jacket is designed to be added and removed easily, in case users want to slip their Wii Remote into an accessory like the upcoming Wii Zapper.

For more information, visit wii.com.

Square clarifies overseas bus dev position
Posted by M @ 11:08 p.m. NZDT

Square Enix has commented on overseas business development to clarify its position following an interview with the Financial Times. "It is crucial for us to expand our businesses on a global basis," says Yoichi Wada, President and Representative Director, Square Enix Co., Ltd. "At this point, our revenue from sales of games for console and handheld devices in overseas markets such as North America, the PAL territories and Asia accounts for about 50% of the total revenue in this segment. "Given the fact that the size of overseas markets is now more than three times as large as the domestic market, we recognize numerous growth opportunities. Our strategy to seize such opportunities is two-fold; (i) strengthen our own distribution channels developed by our local subsidiaries in these geographic areas, and (ii) diversify our content in accordance with user preferences in each area. Through these strategic initiatives, our initial goal within a time frame of three to five years is to raise our foreign sales ratio for console/handheld games from its current 50% level to approximately 75%. We shall continue our effort to better serve overseas markets."

Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix), with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Asia, North America and Europe. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises - Final Fantasty, which has sold over 75 million units worldwide, and Dragon Quest, which has sold over 43 million units worldwide - under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world.

CDV stock sold to investment company
Posted by M @ 10:47 p.m. NZDT

CDV Software Entertainment says its new business model is making an impact not just in its sector: bigname investors are also putting their trust in the continuing success of the new CDV following its consolidation to become a full service provider. The Frankfurt-based private equity fund Brockhaus Private Equity recently secured 100,000 shares and a total of 239,800 partial debentures.

The Brockhaus Private Equity II fund acquired 100,000 shares held by a major stakeholder as well as a further 239,800 partial bonds. The private equity fund focuses on fast growing medium-sized businesses in Germany and Europe – a profile which, the investors believe, aptly sums up CDV in its new guise.

"It was the business model paired with an experienced management that convinced us," says Marco Brockhaus, founder and managing director of Brockhaus Private Equity. "In our opinion, CDV fills a market gap in the games sector that promises huge growth potential." At CDV, too, the commitment on the part of the fund's initiator is seen as "entirely positive": "We have gained a strategically valuable institutional investor that takes the long-term view," commented cdv's CEO-designate, Christian Gloe. "This commitment to CDV not only corroborates our own perspective, but shows that CDV is once again an interesting investment prospect and can meet the standards of institutional investors."


CDV is the only listed, independent full service provider for the games sector in Germany. Together with its subsidiaries CDV POS GmbH, Gamesmania, Seven_m and CDV USA, Inc., it has about 60 employees, contacts within all relevant markets and decades of expertise. The company, which was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Bruchsal, Germany, has been on a steady growth course since its 2007 consolidation and is aiming in the medium term for a strong market position as one of the globally leading full service providers in the games sector.