Week of June 17, 2007

A few more games were updated with new screenshots today:

Sins of a Solar Empire

Avencast: Rise of the Mage



Stranger

Get ready to test your speed as the MotorStorm™ Time Attack mode will be available on the PLAYSTATION®Store today for play on the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) system. Additionally, the classic PlayStation® titles, Hot Shots Golf®2 and CoolBoarders®, will be available for play on PS3, in addition to PSP®(PlayStation®Portable) system, with today’s update. A trailer for the upcoming comedy, The Heartbreak Kid, will also be offered.

Below are the details of these exciting new offerings:

Today GameTap announced “A New Light,” the newest episode in “Myst Online: Uru Live.” Following GameTap’s popularized episodic format, this brand new installment will pick up where last month’s “Scars” left off, immersing players in another piece of the adventuresome, puzzle-focused gameplay.

"The response to our new episodic model for 'Myst Online: Uru Live’ has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Ricardo Sanchez, vice president of content for GameTap. “Fans of the franchise are able to plan their schedule around the latest updates, while they continue to explore all of the game’s mysteries and take advantage of the lively communities.”

In “A New Light,” power is shifting as new leaders begin to emerge, while those from the past begin to fade. Amidst the chaos, the new Age Er'Cana is released and explorers are asked to help feed the darkening lake. Meanwhile, new information is revealed and there are more who begin to fear of a coming war. Like all things Myst, mysteries abound and puzzles present themselves, so players can always expect to be challenged and rewarded.

To keep up to date with the latest news and art assets for “Myst Online: Uru Live” or to play the game for free visit www.mystonline.com.

The BIGS for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, lithe PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and Nintendo’s Wii™ has gone gold. The BIGS showcases larger-than-life ballparks, fast-paced, action-packed gameplay, spectacular power-ups, striking special effects, and a completely unique career mode setting this MLB® experience apart from anything ever seen before. Gamers will experience spectacular plays their first time up to bat with the pick-up-and-play action of The BIGS.

The BIGS embodies heroic baseball by emphasizing the exciting plays inherent in the game and making them happen more frequently with innovative over the top pitching, batting, and fielding animations. The stadiums, on-field action, player looks and player attributes have all been amplified to deliver a larger than life MLB experience.

Create your own rookie and take them from zero to hero with The BIGS completely unique career mode. Train your rookie and improve your skills through various mini-games, travel from city-to-city building a name for yourself, and work your way to MVP of the World Series!

The BIGS will ship on June 25th, 2007 for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and Nintendo’s Wii™. The BIGS is rated E for Everyone.

For more information, log onto http://www.2ksports.com.

Soldak sends word:

We posted 2 new monster profiles today for the saurian and the naga at
http://www.soldak.com/content/blogcategory/27/63/

File this under "Wacky".

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (June 21, 2007) -- SEGA® of America, Inc., SEGA® Europe, Ltd., and Canada-based developer studio BioWare® Corp. today announced a partnership to create a new video game based on the classic SEGA flagship icon Sonic The Hedgehog. The exact name of the game is undetermined, and it will ship in 2008.

"BioWare is one of the hottest names in RPG development in the world," said Simon Jeffery, President and COO, SEGA of America, Inc. "Everyone at SEGA has huge confidence that Sonic is in the safest of hands, and that BioWare can create the ultimate handheld RPG experience for gamers of all ages."

BioWare is the award-winning independent developer that has created some of the world's best-selling titles including the Baldur's GateT and Neverwinter NightsT series, the 2003 Game of the Year, Star Wars®: Knights of the Old RepublicT and the 2005 RPG of the Year, Jade Empire.T BioWare is currently developing one of the most anticipated next-generation titles of 2007, Mass Effect.T

"We're thrilled to be working with SEGA on Sonic, one of the industry's most enduring and compelling icons," said Greg Zeschuk, president of BioWare. "As huge fans of Sonic ourselves, we're committed to delivering a truly amazing story-driven experience within the Sonic universe, focusing on capturing the character's broad appeal and placing him in a completely original adventure," added Ray Muzyka, chief executive officer of BioWare.

The relationship with BioWare reinforces SEGA's increased emphasis on Western content development for Western audiences. In the past few years SEGA has announced partnerships with developers Bizarre Creations, Gas Powered Games, Monolith Productions, Obsidian Entertainment, Planet Moon Studios, Pseudo Interactive and Silicon Knights. SEGA has also acquired development studios The Creative Assembly, Secret Level and Sports Interactive.

2K Sports sent over some new images of both NHL 2K8 and All Pro Football 2K8. Both are due out this summer.

NCsoft sent along four new concept art pieces of Aion: The Tower of Eternity... very gorgeous indeed.

We've posted our interview with Buka Entertainment regarding their action title Collapse. The interview includes nine exclusive screenshots.

New York, NY – June 20, 2007 - 2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today the return of its top-rated* NHL franchise with the highly anticipated NHL® 2K8 this fall. This title will leverage all of the next generation capabilities, featuring innovative gameplay, revolutionary player models and stunning visuals to create an entirely new hockey experience, centered on authenticity and the NHL Signature Style.

Utilizing 2K Sports’ NHL Signature Style, NHL 2K8 will highlight unique player characteristics never before seen in a hockey game. To complement their true-to-life attributes, marquee players will be fitted with branded equipment including skates, sticks, pads and helmets - becoming visually recognizable on the ice.

"Building on the success of NHL® 2K7, we have developed a title that is a truly accurate portrayal of the game and how it is meant to be seen and played,” said Greg Thomas, President of Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio. “NHL 2K8 represents the complete next generation gaming experience and showcases the talent and experience of the development team. NHL 2K8 is an incredibly realistic hockey simulation and we are proud to create such an exciting video game.”

NHL® 2K8 will be available this fall for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems.

For more information, log onto http://www.2ksports.com.

Burlingame, CA -- June 20, 2007 -- KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, today announced that its two blockbuster franchises, Dynasty Warriors® and Samurai Warriors® will finally meet this fall in an unforgettable crossover event. In Warriors Orochi(tm) the characters from both franchises must team-up to wage war against a new, yet powerful force.

Warriors Orochi ships to North American retailers on September 18, 2007 for Xbox 360(tm) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The game is being developed by KOEI's award-winning internal team Omega Force.

"Warriors Orochi will introduce players to the most explosive Warriors action to date, and the most venomous enemy they may ever face, the evil Serpent King Orochi. So awesome are Orochi and his army that players will need the combined forces of history's greatest warriors to challenge them", said Amos Ip, senior vice-president of sales and marketing for KOEI Corporation. "In the game, we'll finally get to see and create some amazing team-ups, and we'll even witness long-awaited confrontations between characters from both franchises."

A post over on the Stardock forums says they are busily working on the 1.7 patch. The post outlines a few details and includes a screenshot.

Trainz Classic has been announced for the PC. We have eight new screenshots to go with it.

Santa Clara, Calif., (June 19, 2007) – Leading video games developer and publisher NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. announced today that they will be releasing TEKKEN®5: Dark Resurrection™Online, an online update to the now available downloadable fighting game, TEKKEN®5: Dark Resurrection™ at the PLAYSTATION®Store, exclusively for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. The new downloadable add-on will have TEKKEN fans thanking the fighting game gods as this marks the first time in the popular fighting franchise’s history that TEKKEN will be playable online. The new highly anticipated online feature will include ranked matches, custom battles, and online tournaments where TEKKEN fans will finally be able to show off their fighting skills to have it out with other fans, outside of their own living rooms

Updates to the new TEKKEN 5: Dark Resurrection Online will include Opti Match, Quick Match, Custom Match and Friend Match, making it easy to find opponents to fight with anywhere, anytime. Players will also have the opportunity to study their opponents by viewing battles in the lobby while waiting for their turn to conquer and trash talk each other via voice chat. The online update also includes two new single player modes, including Practice mode, where players can hone their fighting skills before battling online, and Survival mode, where players must use their superior TEKKEN skills to defeat as many opponents as possible, one after the other, in a fight to the finish.

TEKKEN 5: Dark Resurrection Online will also allow players to show off their skills with the Online News Ticker that will post the weekly, monthly and overall rank leaders at any given point. Players will fight their way to the deadly Dark Lord to prove that they are worthy of battling it out in the online TEKKEN ranking.

“It is beyond words how excited we are to finally be bringing our famous fighting franchise, TEKKEN, online for the first time,” Makoto Iwai, Senior Vice President and COO of NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. said. “Not only is TEKKEN 5: Dark Resurrection Online a great value, but it now features the largest evolution in the franchise to date.”

TEKKEN 5: Dark Resurrection was released earlier this year for download on the PlayStation®Network for the PLAYSTATION 3 system. The game features stunning 1080p graphics and classic TEKKEN gameplay. The online update, TEKKEN 5: Dark Resurrection Online, will be available later this year for the low price of $9.99. For fans who did not download the original game, it will still be available at the PLAYSTATION® Store for $19.99.

Silverlode Interactive and Wahoo Studios today announced that they have completed alpha testing of Saga, their upcoming massively multiplayer real-time strategy game (MMORTS), and that an open beta test will begin on July 5, allowing players around the world to experience the unique strategy game before its Fall release. Players can go to www.playsaga.com now to sign up for the beta test.

Based in a world built by Dallan Christensen (Lead Programmer of Starcraft: Brood War), Saga puts players in the role of ruler as they create a powerful fantasy empire to conquer their foes in a persistent world that lives on even while players are offline. Free to play with no monthly subscription fees, Saga features an exciting collectible system that allows players to buy booster packs to enhance their armies with rare troops and abilities, or to enter the barter-driven market to trade units and resources with others from around the world. Players will need to prove their might by creating a massive army made up of humans, orcs, elves, mech giants, dragons and more to take into battle, where they must rely on their strategic cunning to overcome enemy forces. They will engage in espionage, sending assassins behind enemy lines to destabilize their forces, and ally themselves with other nations to partake in large-scale guild wars, earning experience to improve their troops, gain valuable resources, and to create an even larger army.

For more information about Saga and to sign up for the beta test, visit http://www.playsaga.com.

Akella Games announced A Stroke of Fate, a point-and-click adventure set in World War II.

Torrance, Calif., (June 19, 2007) --- XSEED Games announced today that DUNGEON MAKER: HUNTING GROUND has shipped to retailers across North America. An original title developed specifically for the PSP system, DUNGEON MAKER: HUNTING GROUND offers addictive game play with a simulation dungeon creation element and real-time battles hunting for monsters to collect items, gold, and to fulfill requirements to complete the various quests given by townspeople.

Key Features

ATLANTA – June 19, 2007 – GameTap, the first-of-its-kind broadband entertainment network from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), and Macrovision Corporation are working together to make games available online for download and purchase through GameTap’s new digital storefront.

“Macrovision is a great partner whose expertise in digital distribution and content protection has allowed us to expand our offerings with a new digital retail storefront,” said Stuart Snyder, Turner’s executive vice president and chief operating officer of Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media.

Launched on May 31st with the new GameTap.com, an ad-supported website that features free games and original programming content from GameTap TV, the online store offers a broad variety of PC and catalog titles for purchase and digital download through Macrovision’s games distribution network, enabled by its digital rights management solution, ActiveMark. Macrovision’s games distribution network has more than 1700 games available for download and purchase.

“GameTap’s entry into the digital retail space, supported by Macrovision’s technology, is another great step forward in making games more accessible on the web,” said Michael Buchheim, executive vice president of Macrovision’s Distribution and Commerce Business Unit.

With more than 450 titles at launch, the GameTap.com store offers both classic games and new releases – including Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary, which became available for purchase June 5th, the same day it hit retail shelves. Examples of other titles currently available for purchase include Space Empires IV Deluxe, Civilization IV, Psychonauts, and Resident Evil 3.

Macrovision provides a broad set of solutions that enable businesses to protect, enhance and distribute their digital goods to consumers across multiple channels. Macrovision solutions are deployed by companies in the entertainment, consumer electronics, gaming, software, information publishing and corporate IT markets to solve industry-specific challenges and bring greater value to their customers.

Macrovision holds approximately 260 issued or pending United States patents and more than 1,500 issued or pending international patents, and continues to increase its patent portfolio with new and innovative technologies in related fields. Macrovision is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, U.S.A. with other offices across the United States and around the world. More information about Macrovision can be found at www.macrovision.com.

Sony Computer Entertainment America, Insomniac Games and the Global Gaming League (GGL) today announced the first nationwide tournament for Resistance: Fall of Man™, the top-selling PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) game, hosted by GameStop to be aired on GamePlay HD. Beginning in July, Resistance: Fall of Man fans around the United States can battle it out in an official tournament where they will compete in a number of different game modes and maps.

Registration for the tournament begins today at www.Gamestop.com/resistance or http://tourney.myresistance.net and will run through July 4, 2007. Players can choose to register for either player vs. player or three-on-three team competition. Space is limited to 512 single player participants, and 512 three-player teams on a first-come, first serve basis. Kicking-off on July 7, 2007, registered players will compete online in a bracket-style tournament structure to qualify for the live semi-finals.

Eight players and six teams who qualify for the live semi-finals will have the opportunity to compete for a spot in the finals at GameStop NYC 33rd & Broadway location on August 11, 2007. The following day on August 12, 2007, the top two single players and the top two team finalists head to GamePlayHD’s studio to compete in a televised final round for the championship. Awesome prizes will be awarded to all of the finalists and the top semi-finalists.

For complete details and restrictions including prize information, please visit one of the following sites:

http://www.Gamestop.com/resistance

http://tourney.myresistance.net

Software developer WorldForge today announces that because of the multiple material breaches committed by PlayLogic publishing company the agreement for the development of "Ancient Wars: Sparta" game was terminated since 1st June 2007. All rights for "Ancient Wars: Sparta" since 1 June 2007 unconditionally werereverted back to WorldForge, and Play Ten Interactive was appointed as a worldwide agent for the game on the same date. All interested parties are welcome to address Play Ten Interactive by e-mail press@playten.com or by phone +7 (495) 401-37-55 for further comments and information.

Atari sends word that the official website of The Witcher has been updated with a new look. Along with the new design, it features news, screens, videos and loads of new info.

Visit the site

Here are the three newest games added to the Wii Shop Channel:

NES Open Tournament Golf™ (NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points)

World Sports Competition (TurboGrafx-16, 1-5 players, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points)

Bloody Wolf (TurboGrafx-16, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Animated Blood, Violence, 600 Wii Points)

New screenshots for the following games:

Beautiful katamari for the Xbox 360

Call of Duty 4: Modern Wafare for the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360


ArmA: Queen's Gambit for the PC


Tony Hawk's Proving Ground for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360