Week of February 25, 2007

We have the first image of Transformers: The Game from Activision. The title is due out this summer on the PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2, Sony PSP, and Nintendo DS... and quite possibly the Atari 2600. ;)

Sony Online Entertainment announced today that Live Update 1 will be here shortly for the MMORPG Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. Along with the news are a half dozen screenshots.

EA released five new screenshots of Battlefield: Bad Company, their up-coming war shooter for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

We have a handful of new images of Cyanide Studios' action-RPG Loki.

Rockstar Games has just sent out an email declaring the long awaited trailer for Grand Theft Auto 4 will be available March 29th. Hit the logo to visit the site and see the countdown.

The highest rated PC game of 2007 has just gotten better. Stardock has released its first update for Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar. The expansion pack to Galactic Civilizations II has already received Editor’s Choice Awards from GameSpot, IGN, GameSpy and more.

The update, version 1.5X, enhances the computer AI, improves the start-up options, reduces memory use, and includes dozens of tweaks based on player feedback. As with the original Galactic Civilizations II, Stardock is commited to providing regular free updates to its expansion pack to continually improve the game play experience for fans.

You can find the full release notes at http://forums.galciv2.com/?aid=145739; here are a few highlights:

You heard right. Funcom received a grant that will help fund the research of creating and distributing new "chapters" of The Longest Journeyvia online only.

Read the Press Release

Sony Online Entertainment released six new images and a few new details on The State of Unrest, a new area to be included in Update 32 for EverQuest II.

After spending nearly seven years in development, Micro Forte has decided to cancel their MMORPG Citizen Zero. Instead of continuing with what they started, they are announcing a new MMO using the Big World Technology, though they offer little hope of guaranteeing to finish this one as well.

Micro Forté, a leading Australian developer of MMOs, today announced that it has cancelled development on the “Citizen Zero” project, with internal development now focused on a top secret spy-themed MMO.

Steve Wang – Head of Studios for Micro Forté commented, “Although we were sad to stop working on CZ, we are extremely excited about the progress of our spy project.”

The top secret project has been in production since mid '06 with a core development team working out of Micro Forté’s Australian studio.

Micro Forté will be making further announcements in the coming months with a view to showcasing the project toward the end of this year. Micro Forté is currently taking expressions of interest from distribution partners and has already begun discussion with some of the world’s leading publishers.

Sony Computer Entertainment America will update the PLAYSTATION®Store on Thursday with Tekken 5®: Dark Resurrection™ for the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system, and an exclusive behind-the-scenes video for MotorStorm™ – just in time for next week’s launch of the brutal, no-holds-barred off-road racing game. In addition, firmware 1.54 for the PS3 system is now available for download, providing enhancements to the video chat functionality.

Below are the details on the new offerings from the PLAYSTATION Store:

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced Stuntman(r): Ignition(tm), developed by internal studio Paradigm Entertainment, is scheduled to launch in summer 2007 for the Xbox 360(tm) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION(r)3 computer entertainment system, and PlayStation(r)2 computer entertainment system. The game challenges players to drive for perfection, dropping them into the adrenaline-fueled role of a Hollywood stuntman, vying to create the most insane high-flying jumps, mind-blowing corkscrews and metal-twisting crashes ever filmed.

Rube Goldberg fans unite! Viva Media, LLC has announced that Crazy Machines 1.5 is set for a March release. The addictive and unique puzzler is coming to a PC near you.

Fans of Zork, Adventureland, Space Quest, and more now have a reason to rejoice. AdventureCon 2007 has been announced.

Read the Press Release

Microsoft Games Studios released an internal Q&A with FASA about their multiplayer FPS take on Shadowrun. Along with the interview, there are ten new screenshots and a detailed guide.

As the month of February comes to a close, we have another round of game reviews for you. The highlight of the bunch was Virtua Fighter 5.

Buka Entertainment sent over nine new screens of Collapse, their futuristic action game developed by Creoteam.

GameTap introduces the “GameTap Indie Award” for top independent developers at 2007 Independent Games Festival.

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Sega of America today announced The Golden Compass will be released on the PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS, and Sony PSP this December to coincide with the release of the film.

Read the Press Release

Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR), one of the world’s most recognized brands and a third-party video game publisher, today announced that Bullet Witch™ for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft has shipped to retailers across North America. Published in partnership with Japanese publisher AQ Interactive Inc., Bullet Witch is rated M for Mature and is available for a suggested retail price of $49.99.

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced plans to bring the renowned Conan® brand to the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Conan marks the first product in THQ’s multi-year licensing agreement to develop interactive games based on the popular character brought to life in Robert E. Howard’s original stories. The Conan video game is expected to make its next generation debut in early 2008.

EA announced that the Sims series of games will be making an appearance on the Wii and DS, but in the form of a new line called MySims.

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Publisher Lighthouse Interactive and developer Kerberos Productions today announced that they will release an Add-On for their highly acclaimed 4x space strategy title for PC Sword of the Stars.

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Funcom released some new images of Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures. The MMORPG is due out sometime during Q2 of this year on the PC and Xbox 360.

Activision has released ten new screenshots of Spider-Man 3, the latest web-slinging action game for the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

This was actually announced late last week but we failed to get it posted. Vivendi Games has announced Empire Earth 3, the next RTS in the series. Mad Doc will be developing the title.

With the announcement of the formation of Heatwave Interactive still fresh in our minds, we got a chance to ask Anthony Castoro a few questions about MMOs and what makes a game fun.

Read the interview