Week of November 6, 2005

We've posted a Q&A regarding Starcraft Ghost that was conducted last month at BlizzCon. With the Q&A are 10 new images. The game is really looking good since the last time we saw it.

Q&A and screenshots

Saddle up for the ride of a lifetime! Activision, Inc.’s highly anticipated action game GUNT; has shipped to retailers nationwide. Developed by Neversoft Entertainment, GUN puts players in the role of Colton White, a vengeful gunslinger who straddles the line between good and evil as he makes his way through the untamed West of the late-1800s where greed, lust and brutality were a way of life.

“GUN transports players back to a time in American history when laws were virtually non-existent and the only true friend was a gun,” said Dusty Welch, vice president of global brand management for Activision Publishing. “Players will be drawn into an epic free roaming action-adventure that will have them on the edge of their seats as they brave the elements and battle challenging enemies through the backdrop of the American West.”

As Colton White on a quest to find out who killed his father and in discovery of his true identity, players will showdown against corrupt lawmen, a murderous preacher, renegade army psychopaths and others while waging war on horseback, collecting bounties, and commandeering trains. As they travel through an action-packed landscape of high mountain wilderness, deserts and bustling territorial towns, they uncover an epic story of betrayal, greed, and revenge.

Screenwriter Randall Jahnson, whose credits include Mask of Zorro and The Doors, penned GUN. The story is brought to life by a voice cast of talented actors including Thomas Jane as vengeful gunslinger Colton White; Kris Kristofferson as Colton’s mountain man father, Ned; Tom Skerritt as Resistance Fighter Clay Allison; Brad Dourif as evil preacher Josiah Reed; Ron Perlman as Mayor Hoodoo Brown of Empire, New Mexico; and Lance Henriksen as the obsessive tyrant Thomas MacGruder.

For more information on GUN visit www.gunthegame.com. To learn about GUN’s backstory and discover hidden secrets of the GUN world visit the poker tables at www.lastcallpoker.com.

GUN is now available for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox® video game system from Microsoft and Nintendo GameCube™ for a suggested retail price of $49.99 and Windows® PC for a suggested retail price of $39.99. It will be available for the Xbox360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft the week of November 15. GUN is rated “M” (“Mature” – Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol) by the ESRB.

Lights…Camera…Action! Activision, Inc.’s The Movies; is ready for its close up and is now available at retail outlets nationwide. Created and developed by renowned life simulation pioneer Peter Molyneux and Lionhead® Studios, The Movies allows gamers to become the ultimate Hollywood player by building and running their own movie studio, from crafting and shooting unique movies to making or breaking the stars they discover and create.

“The Movies is the most comprehensive Hollywood experience ever,” said Dusty Welch, vice president of global brand management, Activision, Inc. “Whether it’s building and running the studio of your dreams or creating movie masterpieces, The Movies delivers something for everyone who has ever dreamt of making it in Tinseltown.”

In Story Mode, players take command of their inner movie mogul and manage all aspects of a studio from talent and resources to research and development. They can make a wide variety of movies such as crime dramas, psycho thrillers, musicals, spaghetti westerns, sci-fi cliffhangers and black comedies, and work to maximize box office success by staying one step ahead of the competition. In addition, players can jump right into movie making in Sandbox Mode, creating films from their favorite time period from the silent film era of cinema to present day and beyond. Ultimate control is at gamers’ fingertips as they customize everything from scripts and dialog to the look of their stars from head-to-toe. With thousands of exciting movie characters and limitless options, The Movies allows players to take full creative control of their Hollywood ambitions, ultimately posting their box office blockbusters or obscure B movies to www.themoviesgame.com for the entire world to see.

The Movies for Windows® PC is available for a suggested retail price of $49.99. In addition, a DVD disc Premiere Edition featuring exclusive star costumes, a 20-song game soundtrack, an advanced movie-making hints guide, trailers and original concept art, is available for the suggested retail price of $59.99. Both versions are rated “T” (Teen with blood and gore, crude humor, mild language, sexual themes, use of alcohol and tobacco, and violence) by the ESRB.

For more information on The Movies, please visit www.themoviesgame.com.

A two-year anti-piracy operation came to a successful close on Friday with the arrest of a renowned counterfeiter and the recovery of an estimated £250,000 worth of games, music and film discs, after ELSPA (Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association) and local authorities hit four locations in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

The 35-year-old man, who has previous convictions for counterfeiting offences and assault, had been under observation for some time. The confiscated copied games included PlayStation 2, Xbox and Gamecube titles and formed the majority of the haul. It was also apparent that he had been illegally 'chipping' consoles.

A team of ELSPA investigators with Dumfries and Galloway police and trading standards officers searched a one-bedroom flat belonging to the individual, as well as a shop, an internet café and two other houses. A search of the flat uncovered a hidden staircase behind a cupboard door, which led up to a secret second floor. This comprised of several rooms full of state of the art copying equipment and a large amount of counterfeit merchandise, as well as a safe containing jewellery and over £2,000 in cash. A stash of copied discs was also found hidden in a fake partition. Although this was the offender's listed home address - thought to be a front for fraudulent benefit claims - he in fact resided in a nearby house with his wife and children.

"ELSPA continues to crack down on those who seek to profit illegally from selling copied games," said Michael Rawlinson, deputy director general of ELSPA. "We would like to thank Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary and Trading Standards department for all their hard work and cooperation in helping to prevent counterfeiters from undermining legitimate local business."

ELSPA is now forensically examining the seized evidence. It is likely that court proceedings will follow.

Want to know a bit more about Turbine's latest MMORPG Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach? Head over to our DDO page to learn more and see six new images.

That's right, Take Two released a trio of screens of NBA 2K6 for the Xbox 360.

We have a trailer and some new details on Spellforce 2, JoWood's sequel in the works. The trailer reveals a bit about the Dark Elves.

Spellforce 2 page

We've gotten hold of five new images of Prince of Persia: Revelation for the Sony PSP.

Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment industry publisher and developer, today announced the development of Spy Hunter®: Nowhere to Run™, the next installment in the top-selling Spy Hunter franchise that dates back to the original arcade game. Stepping out of the Interceptor for the first time and into action will be Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in the role of the ultimate secret agent, Alex Decker. Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run is scheduled to ship in summer 2006 for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox® videogame system from Microsoft.

"Midway is taking the classic Spy Hunter franchise in a powerful, new direction that will be led by the casting of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as the game’s main character," said Steve Allison, chief marketing officer, Midway. "For the first time in the Spy Hunter franchise we are allowing the player to step out from behind the wheel of the Interceptor and straight into the action."

Midway’s Spy Hunter is also set to be the subject of a major motion picture from Universal Pictures. More information on Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run can be found at www.midway.com.

SpyHunter®: Nowhere to Run™ takes the Spy Hunter franchise where it’s never gone before on foot. Featuring action superstar Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as government super-spy extraordinaire Alex Decker, players for the first time ever can step out of the Interceptor and straight into third-person action, utilizing The Rock’s physical prowess by taking down enemies with intense melee combat moves. In Nowhere to Run, the evil NOSTRA corporation returns, this time with a plan to steal the latest government technology including the world’s most sophisticated spy vehicle, the Interceptor, and it’s up to Alex to stop them.

Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announced the official Prince of Persia® title for the PSPTM (PlayStation® Portable) system - Prince of Persia® Revelations. Developed by Pipeworks, the game builds on last year's console success, Prince of Persia® Warrior WithinTM, and features original content such as additional puzzles, new maps and redesigned levels. The game takes combat to a higher level with new combos using melee weapons, projectiles, walls and more with the Free-Form Fighting system. Players will be able to journey through non-linear environments and engage in soul-shattering boss battles. Prince of Persia® Revelations will ship December 2005.

The Old Man said to the Prince, "Your fate has been written. You will die."

Enter the dark underworld of Prince of Persia® Revelations. Hunted by the Dahaka, an immortal incarnation of Fate seeking divine retribution, the Prince embarks upon a path of carnage and mystery to defy his preordained death. His journey leads to the infernal core of a cursed island stronghold harboring mankind's greatest fears. Only through grim resolve, bitter defiance and the mastery of deadly new combat arts can the Prince rise to a new level of warriorship - and emerge from this ultimate trial with his life.

Atlus has another game to announce. This time its Steambot Chronicles, an action/adventure/RPG for the PlayStation 2.

As cars became more and more common on city streets, the Trotmobile came into being. This two-legged, walking metal vehicle could be adapted to a variety of road conditions and purposes: agriculture, civil engineering, and transportation. The industrial revolution continued, increasing the Trotmobile's popularity. People placed their hopes and dreams on the backs of these wonderful machines, marching toward a better life just beyond their reach...

Vanilla Beans wakes up to find himself lying on a sun-drenched beach. How did he get there? And, who in the world is the girl standing above him?

The girl soon introduces herself as Connie, and Vanilla begins the first busy day of a grand adventure. He'll take Connie home, meet the other members of her band (the Garland Globetrotters), and explore the town of Nefroburg. At the end of this busy day, Vanilla relaxes in the town square where the Globetrotters are performing only to witness a gang of bandits overrunning the town! How things go from here is up to the player...

Will Vanilla join the Garland Globetrotters? Or, will he join the Killer Elephant gang? The choices Vanilla makes, the Trotmobiles he builds, and the friends he keeps are all up to gamers who take part in Steambot Chronicles.

FEATURES:

# "Sandbox" style gameplay offers a fantastic non-linear action adventure!

# Make your living playing in a band, farming, or even as a Trotmobile arena fighter. The choice is yours!

# Customize your gameplay experience!

# Buy parts to pimp out your Trotmobile!

# Play music in your own band!

# Earn money by learning to play different instruments on busy street corners!

# Battle over land, sea, and air in your Trotmobile!

# Fight a multitude of enemies and gigantic boss mechs against overwhelming odds!

Continuing the recent deluge of announcements, Atlus sends word of a new RPG in the works for the PlayStation 2.

In the not so distant future... Desperate to find a way to save the earth from pollution, mankind created a gigantic supercomputer and named it Noah. Noah's solution, however, was to exterminate its creators. In a matter of days, civilization fell to terrifying weapons and monsters created by Noah. This cataclysmic event came to be known as the Great Destruction.

As the years passed, the number of human survivors grew, slowly but steadily. They formed villages and towns, living off of technology that they were able to salvage from the piles of wreckage.

Among the survivors were those who rose up to fight Noah's robotic henchmen. To track down and eliminate these threats to humanity, they utilized the most powerful weapons still operable after the Great Destruction—tanks! As a sign of respect, people nicknamed them "hunters."

Noah, the cause of the Great Destruction, was in fact destroyed by one such hunter. However, its ruthless offspring still roamed the world, striking fear in people's heart.

Now, a young man prepares to set foot into the deadly desert wasteland to make a name for himself, as did his father, a veteran hunter...

FEATURES:

UK developer Darkling Room sends word of a new point-and-click adventure in the works. The official website is up with screenshots and additional info to go along with the press release below:

UK based game developers, Darkling Room, announce the production of "The Lost Crown: a ghosthunting adventure". The new adventure title is written by Jonathan Boakes, and will be exclusively designed for the Windows® platform.

About the game:
The Lost Crown: is a scary, and thrilling, new adventure title inspired by classic ghoststories and today's modern ghosthunting techniques. The haunting works of Charles Dickens, M.R.James, Arthur Conan Doyle and E.F.Benson combine with night-vision cameras, E.V.P and other ghosthunting gadgets to bring a frightening story to gamers in Spring 2006.

Travel with Nigel Danvers, to an eerie seaside town on England's east coast. Learn to use advanced techniques used by real paranormal investigators, and uncover an ancient mystery, and treasure. But beware, not all of the town's residents will help in your mission, whether they are alive or dead. Murder, mystery and suspense await brave gamers in the New Year.

Features:

Destan Entertainment is proud to inform about beginning of its new FPS development process. "Burn" enables players to fight with others in multi player mode and with bots in a single player game.

Features of Burn:

We're capping off the weekend with another seven game reviews for your reading pleasure.

We've posted a special page dedicated to Joytech's line of gaming products for the Xbox 360. Head over to the page to learn more about their controller, racing wheel, and more.

We've been on the quiet side lately when it comes to game reviews. However that's changing. This weekend we have eight game reviews for you across 4 different platforms. We have another seven in the works. For now, here are the eight: