Week of February 26, 2006

SAMURAI SWORDPLAY AND HIP HOP MIX IT UP IN 2006

We got an update on this highly anticipated game:

"Samurai Champloo" for the PlayStation 2 steps out of the hack-and-slash action genre and offers a new way to swing a finely-honed samurai blade. Set in Japan with hip hop feel from the hit TV series by the same name, this title allows gamers to breathe life to a "lost episode" as one of three playable characters ? Mugen, a reckless samurai with break-dancing fighting style, calculated Jin who abides by the decorum of Bushido, and a mysterious new character exclusive to the video game. Stranded in northern land of Ezo (current day Hokkaido) in search of the samurai who smells of sunflowers, the player must face foreign mercenaries, master swordsmen, diabolical assassins, mythical beasts, and gangster monkeys.

The core of the game's unique combat system lies in the innovative integration of music and linked attacks. The players can choose an array of combos based on the different hip hop grooves that they can swap at will. Music tracks become collectible, opening an extensive assortment of linked attacks that can be implemented tactically during combat.

Two additional fighting modes accompany the music-combo combat system, the visually arresting "Tate" and "Trance." When the tension gauge (fueled by a series of successful combos) is filled, the gamer will enter in "Tate" mode where the samurai is faced with a lone opponent artfully staged in front of a vibrant Japanese screen. After initiating a combination of buttons to stay in "Tate," the gamer can fulfill a hit meter to enter into "Trance." At this point, the background changes to silhouettes and an unrelenting number of enemies will attack the player. The player must survive and cut down opponents without taking a number of hits until the music ends. If the player survives, he is rewarded with a new item or weapon. With these innovative modes, "Samurai Champloo" is an original action title that melds hip hop attitude with the lyricism of the samurai warrior.

This is some of the best news we've had this year. Bethesda says that the PC and Xbox 360 versions of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion will be on store shelves March 20th.

Bethesda Softworks® and 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced that the highly-anticipated role-playing game, The Elder Scrolls® IV: Oblivion™ has gone to gold master and will be available in stores in North America and Europe during the week of March 20. Oblivion will be available for Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC in both regular and collector's editions.

"Our most ambitious project ever is finally done," said Todd Howard, executive producer of Oblivion. "We're excited to get the game into everyone's hands and let them experience it for themselves. We hope they enjoy it. I think it's our best game yet."

Oblivion is an epic, open-ended single-player RPG for the next generation providing gamers with one of the most life-like gaming experiences to date. The powerful combination of unprecedented graphics and freeform gameplay allows gamers to unravel the main quest or explore the vast world at their own pace. Oblivion is the fourth chapter in the award-winning Elder Scrolls series that includes Morrowind® (2002 RPG of the year - Computer Gaming World), Daggerfall™ (1996 RPG of the year -- PC Gamer), and Arena (1994 RPG of the year - Computer Player).

"Oblivion will set the new standard for next generation gaming and change the way role-playing games are viewed forever," said Vlatko Andonov, president of Bethesda Softworks. "We set very high goals and ensure they are reached because that is what our fans deserve and have come to expect from Bethesda Softworks. We are very proud of our team's accomplishments with respect to Oblivion."

Oblivion has already garnered numerous awards and an impressive collection of accolades, including being voted "RPG of Show" in 2005 by the Best of E3 Game Critics Awards. Oblivion ranks as one of the "Most Anticipated Games of 2006" according to PC Gamer, GameSpy, IGN, and Yahoo Games among many others, and has been featured on nearly thirty magazine covers worldwide.

"Oblivion is one of the most anticipated video games of 2006 and its release will be a milestone for the Xbox 360 and PC," said Christoph Hartmann, Managing Director, 2K Games. "A shining example of next-generation role-playing, Oblivion breaks new ground in the genre with unparalleled graphics, revolutionary gameplay and an expansive RPG world."

KOEI, recognized worldwide as the premier brand of strategy and action games, today announced that its eagerly-awaited Covert-Operations game, WINBACK 2: PROJECT POSEIDON is scheduled to ship to North American retailers on April 18, 2006, and will be available for the PlayStation(r)2 computer entertainment system and Xbox(r) video game system.

"When negotiations are no longer an option and the world's most dangerous weapons are compromised, it's time for the Winback assault team to neutralize the threat. WINBACK 2: PROJECT POSEIDON is a pulse-pounding thriller where every moment and every shot counts," said Amos Ip, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for KOEI Corporation. "The original Winback blew people away with its no-nonsense approach to action, and this March the fun, thrills, and action are back."

About WINBACK 2: PROJECT POSEIDON
In a world where terror takes many forms, a new weapon threatens to shake the balance of power. Freedom's last hope rests in the hands of three new operatives, who must race against time to recover this doomsday device. The fate of the world hangs by a thread, and a few ticks of the clock means the difference between justice and annihilation.

The follow-up to the smash-hit Winback: Covert Operations, WINBACK 2: PROJECT POSEIDON brings to the series a new "route" system that lets players experience each mission from the perspective of different operatives. There are 30 intense missions, multiple difficulty levels, and new weapons including the highly-anticipated sniper rifle.

The new Winback assault team is comprised of three young, yet combat-proven operatives led by Craig Contrell. Each team member is qualified in six different weapon types and highly-adept at CQB (Close Quarter Battle). They are masters of target identification, engagement and shot placement. In the hands of the player, all of these techniques will be put to the test. The game's unique shooting action is spread across 30 high-risk operations situated in challenging urban environments and conveyances.

Developed by Cavia for KOEI Co., Ltd., WINBACK 2: PROJECT POSEIDON is a 1-4 player game (offline), and is rated "T" (Teen- Mild Language, Violence) by the ESRB.

The ÜberSoldier single-player demo is now available, offering the promised sample of Burut's supernatural World War II first-person shooter. Word is:

"The ÜberSoldier demo offers an exciting single-player mission spanning three diverse environments. You'll blast through waves of zombies and Nazi soldiers in your quest to free a key resistance leader, using a wide variety of weapons including the 44 Machine Gun, the MP 40 Machine Pistol, and the devasting [sic] Panzerscreck bazooka as you fight through an underground complex and an enemy base."

You can download it from our friends at Gamespot.

Matrix Games has announced a new title in the Panzer Commander series, Panzer Commander: Operation Winter Storm.

CENEGA PUBLISHING has signed a deal with ALTAR Games, founding member of IDEA Games (Independent Developers Association), for another forthcoming PC-CD ROM title from the UFO series, UFO: Afterlight, due to release in Q1 2007.

Following the successful UFO: Aftermath and UFO: Aftershock, UFO: Afterlight will improve the current game type and interface and extend the current storyline of the series. CENEGA PUBLISHING and ALTAR Games are looking forward to bring more hours of quality entertainment to UFO fans and all potential players.

As its predecessors, UFO: Afterlight is a mixture of squad based tactical action and global strategy with the gamer controlling the actions of elite ground troops, and the running and construction of an intricate network of interlinking bases while collecting resources.

Tom Rakcozi, editor for GameFactSheet.com, sends word that they are open for business.

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Here are some of the news items from around the internet:

EA sent out another eighteen images of Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, showing off the graphical detail we should expect from this Xbox 360 title.

We've posted twelve new special effects-laden screenshots of Armored Core: Nexus, a high-powered mech game headed to the PlayStation 2.

Two businessmen from Scunthorpe have been jailed following their conviction for running the largest copying operation ever seen in North Lincolnshire.

Forhad Miah (35) and his brother Ajad Miah (31), both of Sheffield Street were sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court on 3rd February after their shop, AJ Computers and home address was raided by North Lincolnshire Trading Standards officers and local police.

During the 2003 raid, more than 13,000 items were seized including pirate videotapes, CDs and DVDs. The pair had been obtaining legitimate copies of games and films, which they copied and sold on to customers visiting the shop and also by email.

"We are pleased with the cessation of this major counterfeiting operation, which not only caused loss to the games, music and film industries, but also had a detrimental effect on local retailers," said ELSPA deputy director general Michael Rawlinson. "ELSPA would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and we hope the sentences handed out will act as a strong deterrent to other would-be pirates."

The pair were charged with conspiracy to produce counterfeit product. Forhad Miah, who had a previous conviction for possession of unclassified videos, was ordered to serve 15 months. Ajad Miah, who had no previous convictions, was ordered to serve nine.

The judge concerned awarded two Trading Standards officers - Julie Davey and Andy Woad - a rarely-received Judge's Commendation for their involvement in the operation.

Acclaimed action director John Woo presents Stranglehold, a stunning 3rd-person action adventure videogame for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. A "spiritual sequel" to Woo's action masterpiece, "Hard Boiled," Stranglehold redefines the action gaming experience with its acrobatic gunplay, thrilling cinematography, frenetic combat and incredible Massive Destructibility (Massive D). Chow Yun-Fat reprises his signature role as Inspector Tequila, pitting gamers as a take no-prisoners cop waging a personal war with Hong Kong crime lords. Tequila's loyalties to the force are tested when his ex-wife is kidnapped by the Russian mob in Chicago. Tequila struggles to balance his duty to uphold the law with doing what it takes to save his family.