Week of April 8, 2007

Eidos released ten new screenshots of Ancient Wars: Sparta, their historical RTS for the PC.

IDEA Games has been nice enough to debut the English version demo of Alpha Prime, their sci-fi FPS developed by Black Element Software, here on GPM. The demo comes in a modest 440MB download.

Download the Demo

Capcom has announced they are bringing some of their classic titles to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

Capcom® Entertainment, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced the development of several digitally downloadable titles for Xbox LIVE® Arcade, PLAYSTATION® Network and PC. Capcom hits including Super Street Fighter® II Turbo HD Remix and Super Puzzle Fighter™ II Turbo HD Remix will appear in all-new form, while licensed games Rocketmen™: Axis of Evil and Talisman appear as downloadable games for the first time. These titles reflect Capcom’s new “Digital Initiative,” which has also produced the incredibly successful Xbox LIVE Arcade title, Street Fighter® II' Hyper Fighting.

Namco Bandai sent over nine new screenshots of Culdcept SAGA, their board game/card game hybrid exclusively for the Xbox 360.

The PlayStation Store has been update with a few new items:

While not the largest game reviews update, we do have eight new reviews for you today, the must-buy highlight being Super Paper Mario.

Steven Peeler of Soldak Entertainment sends word that they have posted the conclusion of their story "Dragon Stone" for Depths of Peril.

Visit the site

Leading video games publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. announced today that its newest racing title, The Fast & the Furious has new features for the

PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system. The video game is developed through a licensing agreement with Universal Studios Consumer Products. The Fast & the Furious on the PSP® System will allow players to feel an unparalleled sense of power as they drift race their way through beautiful visuals and new modes exclusive to the PSP® System. Wirelessly trade your customized rides in the Swap Meet, tune your car and give it an oil change in the Tuner Shop for a temporary performance boost, challenge up to 3 friends in multiplayer drift battles in the Road Sweeper mode or visit the Extras menu to view tricked out rides from the movie and real world.

For more information on The Fast & the Furious, visit www.namcobandaigames.com

Leading video games publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., announced today that the popular animated TV series SHONEN JUMP, NARUTO, from VIZ Media, will invade the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system for the first time in NARUTOTM: Ultimate Ninja Heroes. Available late-summer 2007, the latest edition of the series will offer a furious fighting game experience with up to 3-on-3 team-based gameplay, intense single player action and a wireless multi-player versus mode for up to two users all within the Naruto Universe. With eight interactive stages and 20 playable characters to choose from, gamers can take the battle outside the perimeters of the home to become the ultimate Hokage.

For more information on NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes visit: http://www.namcobandaigames.com

Ubisoft sends word of a new game in development titled Heroes of Might & Magic V: Tribes of the East. This new expansion will add a ton of new features and is expected out later this year.

read the Press Release

Three new screenshots of the new Transformers game, expect in time for the opening of the film next month.

EA Games released 13 new images of SimCity for the Nintendo DS. The game is due out sometime this year.

Other World Computing (OWC) http://www.macsales.com, a leading Mac and PC technology company, announced today the highest capacity, fastest portable storage drive solution on the market – the OWC 160GB Mercury On-The-Go portable hard drive. Equipped with FireWire 800/400 and USB2 interfaces, the OWC Mercury On-The-Go 160GB 7200RPM is a palm-sized, bus powered, high performance storage solution offering a full 60% greater capacity than the next available 7200RPM capacity in the market of only 100GB.

Priced at $279.99, the powerful OWC Mercury On-The-Go 160GB 7200RPM model is geared towards the demanding ‘on-the-go’ professional, who requires dependable, high-performance storage. The ‘fits in your shirt pocket’ portable drive is compatible with virtually all computers with an available FireWire or USB port, including all Macs and PCs. It also works with all FireWire or USB gadgets, including digital cameras and camcorders, for an instant on-the-go portable storage solution to quickly and safely store all your digital photos and video when traveling.

Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios today confirmed the multiplayer beta of “Halo® 3” will debut to audiences worldwide via Xbox LIVE® on May 16 at 1pm GMT and run through June 7 at 7:59 a.m. GMT. Coming exclusively to the Xbox 360™ console this fall, “Halo 3” is the highly anticipated third chapter in the groundbreaking “Halo” trilogy from legendary developers Bungie. “Halo 3” lets gamers experience Master Chief’s greatest battle as he launches an epic mission to stop the Covenant, destroy the impending Flood threat and ultimately save mankind.

Made possible through Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox LIVE gaming and entertainment network, which provides a robust online service for more than 6 million gamers worldwide, the multiplayer beta for “Halo 3” will give anxious Xbox 360 gamers their first opportunity to get their hands on the new levels, weapons, vehicles and game types, as well as a chance to provide valuable data that Bungie will use in continued development. Starting May 16, gamers who secured their admission to the multiplayer beta either through the “Rule of Three” promotion or by purchasing a specially marked copy of “Crackdown™” for Xbox 360 will be able to don their Spartan armor, download the beta on Xbox LIVE, and jump online using their Xbox LIVE Gold account* to battle other gamers from around the world.

1C and Battlefront.com are excited to announce that Theatre of War has now officially gone gold! The much anticipated World War Two real-time strategy game by the creators of IL-2 Sturmovik and the makers of Combat Mission, will be released already in just a few days worldwide on April 19, 2007, initially via digital delivery from Battlefront's download portal at www.battlefront.com, and a couple of weeks later in a DVD version with printed manual available by mail. Theatre of War is not sold in stores due to Battlefront's "independent publisher" policy.

Due to the high demand and large number of pre-orders and to be able to deliver the anticipated download bandwidth required especially for the first days of release, Battlefront has multiplied its file hosting capacity by partnering with Fileburst, one of the leading high volume data delivery service providers on the market.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., - April 9, 2007 - Leading video games publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., announced today that its highly-anticipated title .hack(R)//G.U.(TM) Vol. 2: Reminisce(TM), for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, has gone gold. Slated for nationwide release on May 8, this engaging Action-RPG (Role-Playing Game) simulates a fantastic world that invites gamers to experience the newest chapter in the epic .hack saga.

After defeating the mysterious Tri-Edge, Haseo and his friends find that they are trapped inside the most popular MMO of their time, "The World." Follow the tale of Haseo as .hack//G.U. Vol. 2: Reminisce envelops players in a gripping, dramatic storyline told through breathtaking cinematic sequences and intense real-time battles. Gamers will have the opportunity to customize their fighting styles and weapons, unlock a slew of allies, trick out their steam bikes, and engage in a brand-new mini card game with a deck of their own design. Additionally, .hack//G.U. Vol. 2: Reminisce will also feature the entire unedited first episode of the exciting .hack//Roots anime series. Unlocked from the start, the episode's story cleverly ties into the events of the game. .hack//G.U. Vol. 2: Reminisce will definitely take audiences to a "World" beyond the ordinary role-playing game experience.

Developed by CyberConnect 2, .hack//G.U. Vol. 2: Reminisce, is rated T for Teen by the ESRB and is available at retail for the SRP of $39.99. More information about .hack//G.U. Vol. 2: Reminisce is available at: www.namcobandaigames.com, and, www.dothack.com/GU.

Microsoft sends word that their Spring Update for the Xbox 360 will include Windows Live™ Messenger on Xbox 360™, connecting friends across Xbox 360 consoles, Microsoft® Windows®-based PCs and Windows Mobile®-powered devices.

Read the Press Release

Do you have an itch to blast bug-shaped space fighters? Have you ever wondered whether Dr. Bomb was a medical doctor or a Ph.D.? Do you resolve all your disputes with a heated round of Rock, Paper, Scissors? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you'll want to pay a visit to the popular Wii™ video game system's Wii Shop Channel.

Three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

Galaga™ (NES®, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points)

BRAVOMAN™ (Turbografx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points)

Alex Kidd™ in the Enchanted Castle (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)

Along with The Umbrella Chronicles, Capcom also announced they will be bringing Resident Evil 4 for the Nintendo Wii.

We missed posting this Friday, but Capcom announced a new Resident Evil title coming to the Wii later this year.