features
Frenetic action - Lost Planet is a fast-paced third-person shooter with all the depth, intrigue and intensity of a science fiction classic.
Online multiplayer cooperative and versus battles, up to 16 players!
Foot and vehicle based gameplay Command highly powered armed vehicles and weapons.
Vast environments - Snowstorms, arctic winds, towering buildings and mountains of ice.
description
Set within the merciless frozen tundra of a hostile planet, humans struggle for survival as conflicts arise between man, the surrounding indigenous creatures and the monstrous beings that have invaded. With a gripping single player campaign and numerous multiplayer modes, Lost Planet for Xbox 360 delivers an intense cinematic gameplay experience.
In Lost Planet, human snow pirates navigate VS (Vital Suits) through hostile ice-covered environments, fighting against the indigenous Akrid creatures for the precious thermal energy they need to survive. For one such pilot named Wayne, death almost seemed imminent until he was fortunately rescued. However, he can only remember a few fragments of his past including the slaying of his father by the monstrous beings. Yet under the veil of ice, a devious plan has been set into motion by the Neo Venus Construction Corporation (NEVEC) who plans to sterilise the world of all Akrid and snow pirates alike. What really happened to Wayne? Who is behind NEVEC and why are they plotting this destructive scheme that could potentially annihilate human kind? Encounter valuable allies and dangerous enemies on Wayne's search for the truth.
Lost Planet is an epic gaming masterpiece combining a gripping single player campaign and intense multiplayer modes with support for up to 16 players. Lost Planet contains sophisticated visuals, with an unmatched level of detail as advanced light sourcing is used to ensure a realistic presentation that enhances every explosion, smoke and particle effect. Enormous world maps unfold as players battle hostile creatures in blistering weather conditions across vast snowfields and blazing volcanic areas either on foot or in armed, robotic Vital Suits.
Capcom will also partner with NVIDIA on their The Way It's Meant To Be Played program to showcase the incredible gaming experience that consumers can expect with a PC equipped with the latest NVIDIA GeForce graphics processors.
NCsoft is to close down vehicle combat MMO Auto Assault at the end of August.
The title launched in April last year and had seen a steady stream of free content released for it from developer NetDevil.
"Today NCsoft is announcing that it will be closing down service for Auto Assault at the end of the summer," confirms a notice on the official Auto Assault website.
"The service will close at midnight on August 31 2007. As of today, any player currently in the service with an active billed account will not be billed again."
Players with multiple month billing or time cards will be reimbursed and more information is expected to be announced shortly.
NCsoft has enjoyed considerable success with a number of MMO titles including Lineage, City of Heroes and Guild Wars.
The next title from Auto Assault developer NetDevil will be a massively multiplayer game based on the Lego brand.
Ubisoft has finally gotten around to the official unveiling of Dark Messiah of Might & Magic: Elements.
We've already told you it's the Xbox 360 port of the Source-powered fantasy action game on PC, but according to new information there are some teensy differences.
Because a pad isn't quite as adept as a mouse and keyboard combination, developer Arkane Studios is popping a lock-on feature in, along with tweaked level design and statistics to wrap your bearded chops around. We're also promised various technical improvements, which are presumably in-line with the numerous PC patches released so far.
Multiplayer has been revamped specifically for Live, and will feature new maps for up to ten of you to blow fantasy lumps out of each other on. Whether you do it as an archer, priestess, mage or knight is up to you.
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic was released late last year on PC. Built on the famous Half-Life 2 engine, it conjured up all sorts of physics-based mischief and ingenious killing solutions. It was also a refreshing action-slant on the fantasy genre, basing itself firmly in first-person territory.
It had a few kinks, but still earned itself a solid eight from Kieron Gillen, largely thanks to the pantomime splendour of dispatching enemies in increasingly more original ways.
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic: Elements is due for release on 7th September.
An Australian woman who forged a relationship with a younger World of Warcraft player has been arrested in the US as she attempted to meet with the chap and his family.
31-year-old Tamara Broome had met the 17-year-old in Azeroth when he was a year younger, and News.com.au - who we're nicking all this off, obviously - claimed that he had previously attempted to fly over there, and that they aimed to get married.
A week ago Broome left Australia for the US so that, in the words of her housemate, "they could sort it all out" with the parents. She claims that the teenager's folks even arranged the trip.
As it was, she was arrested when she attempted to board a train near their home in North Carolina, and is now being held on a USD 2.35 million bond and could go to jail for more than two years if found guilty of attempting to abduct a child.
features
Fly the most lethal WWII aircraft of japan or the united states.
Sign up for famous battles such as Pearl Harbor, Midway, and Iwo Jima.
4 historical campaigns featuring more than 40 missions.
description
Attack on Pearl Harbor is amazing aerial combat where players relive the action-filled dogfights of the Pacific Theater of WWII -- as both Japanese and American pilots. When the Japanese launched their infamous surprise attack on the United States, it began a new kind of war. The aerial war over the Pacific lasted until 1945, and you'll experience the major battles firsthand. Multiplayer dogfighting action - Up to 12 players can fight it out via the Internet or LAN, fly solo or team up in squadrons as either American or Japanese pilots Accessible interface makes it easy for anyone to jump straight into the biggest aerial battles of WWII.
features
Wide variety of off-road and rallying disciplines including Rally, Hill Climb, Rally RAID, Rally Cross & the CORR desert series.
Photorealistic tracks painstakingly recreated from real-world location photography and satellite data.
Incredibly detailed models of 46 licensed vehicles bring the action to life.
Online play that allows 100 players to compete against one another.
Stay in control or watch as your car dramatically crashes into a barrier and barrel-rolls, crushing every panel and spewing debris across the track.
description
Colin McRae: DIRT is the most diverse and exhilarating off-road racing experience ever with sensational gravel, mud and dirt events the world over. Events include the series' intense point-to-point races and takes players further off-road than ever before.
Race in challenging heavyweight 850bhp cars, drifting on the loose gravel and high-speed blind corners of Hill Climb events along perilous cliff edges. All 12.4 miles of the world famous Pikes Peak International is included, with over 150 precarious turns to negotiate through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
How about engaging in multiple car races with Dakar-style trucks and super-powered 4x4s on the toughest desert terrain in Rally Raid competitions? Then there are Rally Cross events, switching between dirt and road racing, where the competition is always tight, fast and collisions with your opponents are inevitable. Colin McRae: DIRT also offers a dedicated mode for European, International and Global rally championships featuring official 2WD, 4WD, Classic and RWD rally cars.
Colin McRae: DIRT delivers the wheel-screaming exhilaration of off-road racing with the next generation of the series' sublime car handling and physics system and a devastating new damage engine that ensures players experience every bump in the track, every loose rock, every inch of shifting dirt through the reactive environments.
With an incredible range of off-road vehicles, thrill-packed tracks, modes that make the most of online multiplayer, and more varied events than any other single-championship rally game, Colin McRae is a bigger, faster, wilder racing experience.
features
Enjoy the original Dungeon Siege II, where you'll fight for fortune and glory on the continent of Aranna. Build up new attacks, develop powers to help you face monsters and build your legend in a strange new world. Succeed in yor quests and you'll face the powerful Vardis -- a warlord whose power is a danger to all things.
In Dungeon Siege II - Broken World your heroism has proven damaging. After you beat the warlord, the world starte coming apart -- and the people of Aranna blame you for this. New monsters appear in the countryside -- patchwork creatures who seem to be made from pieces of several beasts. To clear your name and improve your reputation, you decide to Head into the shattered lands and find the source of these new monsters.
Also includes a Making of Dungeon Siege II DVD, plus collectible maps, portraits & wallpapers.
description
Dungeon Siege II Deluxe delivers role-playing adventure and monster-hacking action. This special collector's set combines the action of Dungeon Siege and offers a world of new bonus features.
features
Two additional fighting styles
New Monsters
New Weapons
Improved Combat
description
The beautiful and mysterious world of Jade Empire, optimized and enhanced for PC. Experience the award winning martial arts action-RPG. Jade Empire is a fast-paced martial-arts role-playing game (RPG), from Knights of the Old Republic RPG-developer BioWare. It's set in a new, fantastical world based on mythical China, where sinister events have upset the peaceful harmony of an isolated martial-arts school. Featuring furious action previously found only in Hong Kong cinema, the game lets players master more than 30 fighting styles and a wide range of mystical powers as they embark on a perilous journey, stretching from the Land of Howling Spirits to the lush gardens of the Imperial City.
Jade Empire casts the player as a martial arts master and lets them choose between good and evil. That choice will follow them throughout the land, affecting their interactions with other characters and followers. Developed with a revolutionary second-generation Xbox engine, the game will offer fans a stunning visual and gameplay experience.
China-based developer Shanda Interactive has inked a deal with Tecmo to create and operate DOA Online in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao.
For the uninitiated, DOA is Tecmo's flagship fighting series, seen most recently on Xbox and Xbox 360. This is the first online PC game to be spawned from the series. Under terms of the agreement DOA Online will be developed by Tecmo's online game development studio "Lievo Studio", and Shanda will provide its online game-related experiences and technologies to assist development. The game is expected before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, says Tecmo.
"The Dead or Alive series is one of the most popular fighting franchises created, and it is a great honour for Shanda to partner on the game's online version. DOA ONLINE will be developed on both PC and Shanda's EZ Platform. Its gamepad support will deliver to users a fantastic console gaming experience," said Shanda boss Tianqiao Chen. "By leveraging our strong operating platform and advanced come-stay-pay revenue model, we are confident that DOA Online has the potential to achieve great success in China. In the future, the two parties will continue to actively seek cooperative opportunities in online entertainment-related fields."
Tecmo president Yoshimi Yasuda added, "DOA Online is not a simple replant from the console platform to the PC platform. It is a completely new game featuring the characteristics of a PC online game. We are confident that the game will become one of the most successful online games in China.
"As China's largest online game company, we believe Shanda is the best partner of Tecmo's global game platform Lievo in China. Additionally, we have the technical capability and actual achievement to implement worldwide online fighting matches in our competitive fighting game for the console platform. Combining Tecmo's strong video game development and designing experience, and Shanda's expertise in online game operation, we are confident that our future cooperation will be a highly successful one."
I know this technology isn't brand new but I don't think many people have heard about or experienced this yet. I don't understand why consoles are not utilizing the idea of 3D sound. This would be especially good for handhelds since this is best when used with headphones. Ken Kutaragi (If that is his name) even talked about 4D gaming but didn't mention 3D sound. Trust me, you will want to listen to this with headphones. Without further ado, here's the link:
Capcom, a publisher that once ruled the video arcade on the strength of its fighting games, hasn't produced a traditional 2-D fighter in over three years, much to the chagrin of its fan base. Today, their Japanese arm decided to rile up said fan base by posting a teaser trailer for a new 2-D fighting game, to be unveiled soon.
No details were given as to what that game might be. The site says the game is a "Capcom original," which could mean that it's a new franchise, but could also simply mean that it is not based on an outside license.
Fan speculation has already run the gamut: Street Fighter IV? Marvel vs. Capcom 3? Rumormonger "neo2046" at GAF says that it's based on their Devil Kings (Sengoku Basara) franchise, and developed by Guilty Gear makers Arc System Works.
I doubt it'll be a Street Fighter game, as I believe the rumors that control of the storied martial arts franchise has been handed to Capcom's US division and the artists at Udon Comics. But apart from that, your guess is as good as mine, at this point.
Import Gaming store Play Asia have posted all of this weeks import gaming releases, heres the full list from Play Asia
Xbox360™:
Colin McRae DiRT US US$ 59.90
Hour of Victory US US$ 59.90
Overlord ASIA US$ 49.90
Ratatouille US US$ 49.90
Ratatouille ASIA US$ 44.90
The Bigs US US$ 59.90
The Darkness US US$ 59.90
Transformers: The Game US US$ 59.90
PlayStation3™:
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII JPN US$ 64.90
Boku no Natsuyasumi 3 JPN US$ 59.90
The Bigs US US$ 59.90
The Darkness US US$ 64.90
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas US US$ 64.90
Nintendo Wii™:
Chicken Shoot US US$ 39.90
Driver Parallel Lines US US$ 49.90
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix US US$ 49.90
Pokemon Battle Revolution US US$ 49.90
Ratatouille US US$ 49.90
Transformers US US$ 49.90
PlayStation2™:
Ape Escape 3 (PlayStation2 the Best Reprint) JPN US$ 20.90
GI Jockey 4 (Koei the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
God of War II KOR US$ 59.90
Grim Grimoire US US$ 49.90
Ratchet & Clank 4th Girigiri Gingano Giga-battle (PlayStation2 the Best Reprint) JPN US$ 20.90
Sangokushi IX (Koei Selection) JPN US$ 24.90
Super Robot Taisen OG: Original Generations KOR US$ 59.90
Winning Post 7 (Koei the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Nintendo DS™:
B-17: Fortress in the Sky US US$ 24.90
Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol JPN US$ 48.90
DS Calorie Navi JPN US$ 39.90
DS:Style Series: Anata mo DS de Classic Kiite Mimasenka? JPN US$ 39.90
DS:Style Series: Chikyuu no Arukikata DS (France) JPN US$ 29.90
DS:Style Series: Chikyuu no Arukikata DS (Italia) JPN US$ 29.90
DS:Style Series: Chikyuu no Arukikata DS (Thai) JPN US$ 29.90
DS:Style Series: Hana Saku DS Gardening Life JPN US$ 39.90
Dokidoki Majo Saiban JPN US$ 48.90
Doko Demo Yoga JPN US$ 39.90
Hoshigami Remix: Ruining Blue Earth US US$ 34.90
Kado-Chan Shiki Doko Demo Kin Trai-Navi JPN US$ 42.90
Kururin Doughnuts: Okashi Recipe JPN US$ 39.90
Puchi Puchi Virus JPN US$ 29.90
Ratatouille US US$ 34.90
Touchmaster US US$ 34.90
Treasure Gaust: Gaust Diver (Crimson Red) JPN US$ 48.90
Treasure Gaust: Gaust Diver (Deep Purple) JPN US$ 48.90
Sony PSP™:
Final Fantasy US US$ 39.90
Hayarikami Portable (The Best Price) JPN US$ 29.90
Hot Wheels Ultimate Racing US US$ 24.90
Jeanne D'Arc (PSP the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
Ratatouille US US$ 39.90
Rengoku 2: The Stairway to H.E.A.V.E.N. (Hudson the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
The Bigs US US$ 39.90
TraxxPad US US$ 39.90
PC Games:
Attack On Pearl Harbor ASIA US$ 36.90
Colin McRae: DIRT ASIA US$ 36.90
Dungeon Siege II: Deluxe Edition ASIA US$ 36.90
Haikyou Gakuen (Slim Version) (DVD-ROM) JPN US$ 64.90
Jade Empire: Special Edition ASIA US$ 36.90
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition ASIA US$ 34.90
Magazine & Book releases:
Arcadia Magazine [August 2007] JPN US$ 12.90
Dead Rising Delusions Replay JPN US$ 22.90
Famitsu Wave DVD [August 2007] JPN US$ 16.50
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Artbook JPN US$ 27.90
Official Nintendo Pokemon Battle Revolution Player's Guide US US$ 14.90
Pokemon Battle Revolution: Prima Official Game Guide US US$ 16.90
Toys & Misc:
27MHz Dragonfly Set (Blue) US$ 49.90
40MHz Dragonfly Set (Green) US$ 49.90
47G-4A Helicopter (Red) [220V] US$ 28.90
Bleach EX 2 Phone Strap Gashapon JPN US$ 2.90
C3xHobby 1/7 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure (Devil Ver.) JPN US$ 64.90
Champion High Performance RC Helicopter [220V] US$ 31.90
Excellent Model Core Queen's Blade R-1 1/8 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Experienced Mercenary Echidna JPN N/A
Excellent Model Core Queen's Blade R-1 1/8 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Mori no Bannin Nowa JPN US$ 53.90
Fate/Stay Night Pre-painted PVC Action Figure - Black Saber JPN US$ 20.90
Fine Scenery Noir et Blanc 1/7 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Diana (White Angel) JPN US$ 60.90
Fine Scenery Noir et Blanc 1/7 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Morte (Black Angel) JPN US$ 60.90
High Speed RC Helicopter [220V] US$ 27.90
High Speed X-1 RC Helicopter [220V] US$ 27.90
Jinki Extend Pre-painted PVC Figure - Tsuzaki Aoba & Moribito 2 JPN US$ 44.90
Lingerie Soldier Papillon Rose 1/8 Scale Painted PVC Figure - Papillion Rose JPN US$ 54.90
Megamisama Chuuihou 1/8 Scale Painted PVC Figure - Fauna JPN US$ 54.90
Muv Luv Alternative 1/8 Scale Painted PVC Figure - Meiya Mitsurugi JPN US$ 57.90
Neon Genesis Evangelion School Phone Strap Gashapon JPN US$ 2.49
Nohohon Stitch US$ 9.90
Persona 3: Mitsuru Kirijo 1/7 Scale PVC Figure JPN US$ 49.90
Pia Carrot G.O. Pre-painted 1/8 Scale PVC Figure: Ayano Kunugi (Special) JPN US$ 19.90
Pioneer High Performance RC Helicopter [220V] US$ 44.90
RC Mosquito Helicopter [220V] US$ 29.90
Roboraptor US$ 69.90
Robotpet Set (Pink) US$ 69.90
Robotpet Set (White) US$ 69.90
Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne The Best One Coin Figure Series 1 And 2 JPN US$ 5.90
Shining Tears 1/7 Scale Painted PVC Figure - Mao JPN US$ 47.90
Snort RC Helicopter [220V] US$ 34.90
Super Real Figure DX Series: Denshi Maid Techou - Koi no Iroha JPN US$ 37.90
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu 1/8 Scale Painted PVC Figure - Yuki Nagato JPN N/A
Vampire Saviour: Lilith 1/8 Scale Prepainted PVC Figure (Regular) US$ 19.90
Vampire Saviour: Lilith 1/8 Scale Prepainted PVC Figure (Special Variant) US$ 19.90
Voltron Masterpiece Edition Action Figure N/A
Video Game related Soundtracks:
beatmania IIDX 14 Gold Original Soundtrack JPN US$ 39.90
beatmania IIDX 14 GOLD Original Soundtrack & dj TAKA First Album - milestone JPN US$ 76.90
Bleach Way JPN US$ 19.90
Bleach Way [CD+DVD] JPN US$ 24.90
dj TAKA First Album - milestone JPN US$ 39.90
Hudson Premium Audio Collection JPN US$ 29.90
Kiniro No Corda 2 - Felice JPN US$ 28.90
Neo Romance Trillion Splash Summer JPN US$ 28.90
The Best of Tales JPN US$ 26.90
The Best of Tales [CD+DVD Limited Edition] JPN US$ 66.90
Did everyone enjoy the Lucky Summer Sale? Well gather round, because we're very happy to announce another special promotion for our customers. Play-Asia's Summer Smoothie is here to quench your entertainment thirst, plus it tastes great too! From now until Friday, July 12th, the Play-Asia.com Summer Smoothie promotion will commence with massive savings on all items for our regular and new customers alike.
Take a sip of Play-Asia's Summer Smoothie! All "in-stock" items have now been reduced by a stunning 20%. That's thousands of great reasons for you to grab one or more items and save plenty of cash in the process.
Looks good, tastes great! Don't forget, this offer is strictly limited until July 12th and only applies to products that are presently "in-stock" at Play-Asia. In other words, some offers will expire quickly, while others will be added during stock arrival on every single day. Get in quickly to avoid disappointment!
Mmmmm, smoothie. Don't waste any time, browse as fast as you can and save on some of the best deals you can find online.
features
Hire and fire with 60 different characters to manage
Watch the medical drama unfold as nurses, doctors and patients learn to like, hate and even fall in love with one another
Four different hospital locations to expand, customize and upgrade
Easy to learn gameplay coupled with a multitude of challenging game modes to try
All the latest equipment is available to treat hilarious diseases such as Monkey Nuts and Explosive Sneezing
description
Hospital Tycoon lets you take control of a real hospital, and stop medical dramas from becoming a major crisis. Manage and maintain the hospital - make sure the patients get cured and the staff is kept happy. Get it wrong and you could end up with a horde of sick, angry people. Get it right and your hospital will grow from strength to strength. You decide who to hire and fire with 60 different characters to manage. Create your own entertaining situations and watch as the characters improve over time if you treat them right. Features 4 different hospital locations to expand customize and upgrade.
description
The expert mix of sports sim and management has established the Cycling Manager series as one of the key releases in sports titles. Each new version is more meticulously produced with greater attention to detail.
Pro Cycling Manager/Tour de France 2007 invites you to take part of one of the biggest International Cycling Competitions. At the head of one of the 60 official teams available in the game, you will influence the tactics and strategies of your team during the 150 playable races in real time. As the sports manager, you will also have to manage your team, organise the signing of contracts, equipment, transfers, the schedule and training; all in a normal day's work of a professional team manager.
The Tour de France has been faithfully recreated and is packed with intense action in all the stages: the electric atmosphere in the cols, the massive sprints and the long breakaways are just some of the thrilling game features.
The team at Cyanide has excelled to offer you a title full of innovations and improvements to immerse the player even more deeply into the game realism. In the management game, the famous career mode is revamped with a much more intuitive interface, a new transfer system, a new simulation engine and new functionalities for scouts; so many elements have been lifted directly from the true-to-life professional organisation of the competitions to get under the skin of a real sports manager.
In its real-time simulation, the Pro Cycling Manager 2007 gameplay is even more refined and comprehensive. It offers new possibilities in the races and an improved AI for more varied behaviour to generate an incredibly realistic gameplay experience. Besides the improvements to the graphic aspect and the game animation using new shaders, a shadow system and new textures, this new version will enhance the gameplay sensation putting the player right in the centre of the action.
features
Win the championship in the single-player mode, or challenge friends in the multiplayer mode
10 playable characters with their own tricks and styles
Impressive water simulation and physics - Surf in a variety of locations, from the calm water of Shiverpool to the explosive waters of the volcano area
Tons of unlockable content
Awesome game soundtrack for carving waves
description
Surf's Up is exciting arcade surfing and extreme sports action. Head out to the "Reggie Belafonte Big Z Memorial Surf Off," where surfers from around the world risk it all for glory. Experience the rush and thrills of surfing in exotic surf spots around Pen Gu Island and can rip it up and play as one of 10 characters from the film. Play as Cody, the young challenger from Shiverpool; Tank, the merciless champion; or Big Z, the surfing legend from the past. Only by mastering and understanding the waves can the player become not only the new champion, but a true surf legend.
features
Instantly transform from a larger-than-life robot to a high-powered vehicle, to leave your enemies in the dust
Use ranged weapons in either Robot mode or Vehicle mode to take out your enemies
Every object in the game world, including buildings and vehicles, can be crushed, toppled, wrecked - even used as weapons
Choose among an army of characters in the Transformers universe and utilize their unique abilities to complete missions
Engage in melee combat with special moves unique to each character
description
Control the outcome in the battle for Earth this summer with Transformers, the official game of the blockbuster film. Protect the earth with Autobots or destroy it as Decepticons as you lead the Transformers in the epic battle for control of planet Earth! Make a choice: Protect Earth as Autobots or destroy it as Decepticons. With dual campaigns, the fate of the world is in your hands.
- The sprite display processing was improved, and "Fighting Run" came to operate. (I got material information to operate from PC2E author's Mr.Ki. Thanks very much.)
- Operation speed & timing of CPU has been elaborately adjusted. In a lot of games, I think that it approached a real machine by the timing of the sound of the demonstration scene. And in "Snatcher", the freezed trouble (generated from v1.11) was solved.
- In "Kaze no Densetsu Xanadu II" and "Exile", the display order of the screen was corrected. (This bug was generated from v1.11.)
- In "Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire", the bug that the screen advances early (generated from v1.11) was corrected.
- Additionally, a detailed part has been improved and corrected.
ega and Gas Powered Games have revealed Space Siege, an original RPG for the PC, as the result of their previously announced collaboration.
Developed by Gas Powered Games, Space Siege is a science-fiction themed action RPG which also features a separate co-op multiplayer mode for up to four players.
"Chris Taylor and his talented team at Gas Powered Games are recognised as leading innovators in the industry," said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president of marketing at Sega of America.
"Space Siege promises to be a compelling and innovative successor to the very popular Dungeon Siege franchise."
The game is currently scheduled to ship in North America and Europe in Q1 2008.
SEGA's just hit us up with a barrage of new screens, artwork and info for its upcoming shooter, The Club. Because SPOnG doesn't feel there are enough sports in the world that involve ragtag mercenaries and homeless people hurting each other, we thought we'd share.
First up is a spot of detail on NYPD hard-ass Renwick. SEGA tells us:
“A tough, no nonsense, NYPD Detective of more than 30 years standing and one of the most decorated cops on the force. Renwick first picked up rumours of The Club – some kind of freak-circuit, under ground snuff show entertainment – from his contacts in the New York underworld. Intrigued and sickened by what he was hearing, he tried to investigate further, but found all his official lines of inquiry blocked by NYPD bureaucratic intransigence. The harder he pushed the more resistance he encountered. The Club must have powerful allies within the Mayor’s office or the NYPD, because not only was Renwick taken off the case, but, when he tried to go to the press with his suspicions, convincing but trumped-up allegations of bribe-taking were suddenly brought against him.
“Forced to resign to avoid a scandal and possible criminal charges, Renwick continued his investigation unofficially, using his own time and money to try and break the veil of secrecy surrounding The Club. He must have got closer than he knew, or finally irritated The Club enough to make them do something about him, because what he thought was a new lead turned out to be an ambush, with The Club enforcers waiting for him. The Club’s money men were obviously unimpressed with Renwick’s persistence.”
Next up is the Siberian Dragov, affectionately known as 'The Beast':
”Heavily-tattooed, mountainously-built, a Siberian hunter, a trapper and a bandit, Dragov is unarguably the most wanted criminal in Russian history. Originally, it took three platoons of Spetsnaz Special Forces to capture him, but they couldn’t keep him captive for long and he broke free, slaughtering his way out of Russia’s most secretive and brutal gulag prison, fleeing on foot across hundreds of miles of frozen tundra wilderness.
“Military helicopters were sent in hot pursuit, snipers aboard given strict orders to shoot to kill. But someone somewhere had heard of Dragov's brutal and daring escape and decided he would be worth a lot more alive than dead. A swift phone call was made directly to the powers that be at the Kremlin and almost immediately the helicopter snipers were ordered not to kill Dragov, but to bring him in alive. Swapping their bullets for tranquiliser darts, they tracked Dragov down and fired shot after shot into the fugitive figure. Finally, with a terrifying bellow of rage, Dragov collapsed and spiralled into unconsciousness. Upon awaking he would discover that he had become the newest recruit to The Club, with freedom promised for surviving the deadly contest.”
Also dished up was some information on a couple of the locations you'll get to 'club out' pain in. You can find out more about the Prison Cells here, and the Steel Mill (which SPOnG had a bit of a poke around when we previewed The Club) here.
Now, without further ado, cast your eyes over the screens and artwork of the Steel Mill and Dragov below.
Hi all been a rough few days with rumours coming to me that they thought Sony, Nintendo or Microsoft had taken us down. But as we dont host illegal files and we are only interested in Homebrew and Supporting the consoles we cover then we are not a threat to the wellbeing of any console maker.
The last week had seen the server go down numerous times and even going into recovery mode, it got so bad that the files were backed up and the server was restored.
What that does mean is that everything should be running much faster and smoother.
So have no fear the only network to cover PSP. Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, PS3, PS2, GBA, Gamecube, Dreamcast, Sega-Saturn, GP2X, GP32, Gizmondo, Xbox, Xbox360, Tapwave Zodiac and Mobile Phone Emulation and Homebrew is going nowhere
Its nice to be newsposting again, as always a Massive Thanks to Martin our Server Admin for coming to the rescue . Busy weekend of releases coming with GBAX 2007 on the doorstep.
Not if they have the appropriate license come September, but with a gambling law getting its final update at that time, MMOs that have competitions or offer prizes may be classified as 'online gambling' and subject to the same laws and penalties as more traditional forms. With all the chatter in the US and elsewhere about where MMOs fit into the overall scheme of online gambling (or not), it will be interesting to see how companies start to navigate the water. In the US, for example, 'games of skill' are - for the most part - exempt from gambling regulations; this is not the case with the new UK law.
"...MMO operators can avoid any potential penalties by obtaining an operators' licence from the Gambling Commission.
"This is not a simple task, but it is also not overtly complex. The key is to satisfy the Commission that you have in place an operation that satisfies the requirements and key objectives of the new law."
These include commitments to ensuring fair and open gambling, the protection of children and other vulnerable persons and the prevention of links between gambling and crime.
E3, the gaming industry's major annual event kicks off in Santa Monica this week - but the game has changed.
A backlash over the massive Electronic Entertainment Expo began last year.
Major publishers decided the huge money needed to showcase their wares to impress thousands of gaming journalists and industry people wasn't worth it - much like the cut-backs in costs for movie producers now getting their scripts from comic books.
It was too big, too noisy and too hard to get the message out above the cacophony.
There is a much smaller industry-event this year with announcements from the major console makers and only a handful of publishers.
The others are staying away.
But that hasn't stopped the usual flurry of wild rumours of what gamers might get their hands on.
There are a lot of interesting, and widely speculated topics being thrown about.
- Console price drops (Sony denied a PS3 drop but rumours persist)
- A handheld xBox will be displayed, along the lines of Microsoft's iPod rival, the Zune.
PS3 debuts its Second Life-type online gaming platform called Home and announces a public beta is being launched
- PSP gets a redesign
- The Wii gets a proper hard drive storage solutionSo the rumours go.
PS3 and Xbox Live will let gamers see what they've announced by posting stuff including game trailers to their online networks for console fans to peruse.
And as the third-generation consoles are a reality this year - unlike last E3's unveiling of the then-up-and-coming Wii and PS3 - the biggest excitement will be about games instead.
Will that excitement be more trailers of Xbox 360'd Halo 3 or Sony's Killzone 2 for the PS3?
Will we be swamped with trailers for new PS3 games showing off the console's potential?
Will there be more shown of the next Gran Turismo, the next Grand Theft Auto, or an eagerly awaited Metal Gear Solid 4?
And no doubt lots of Mario for Wii!
Will Microsoft announce the popular Gears of War for PC/Vista?
Also anticipated is the arrival of Call of Duty 4 and you can already see E3's HD trailer.
For more previews of some of the hot ones, there is Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed, EA's Burnout Paradise, and a new Simpsons game.
Desperately awaited are confirmed dates for the release of EA's Spore, created by Sims founder Will Wright and Mass Effect, presently scheduled for the end of this year.
What game sequels would you like to see? Are you hoping for changes to the consoles in design or price?
It's been discovered that SEGA has filed a trademark for the name 'Primeval Hunt' with the US Patent Office. With no further details to go on this leaves plenty of room for imaginative game ideas.
The 'Primeval' part of the title suggests something featuring beasties from the earliest age in human evolution which, given the second part of the title, players will find themselves hunting. Given SEGA's light-gun heritage, perhaps a new arcade shooter is in development.
We might hear more at E3, but then again we might not.
Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today a diverse lineup for the E3 Media & Business Summit that contains the latest entries from its celebrated Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy franchises, as well as the resurgence of beloved classics that have helped define the legacy of one of gaming's most innovative companies. Additionally, Square Enix, Inc. announced that Front Mission, the origin of the renowned mech strategy saga, is currently in development for North American audiences and will be playable for the first time in English.
On display at the Barker Hangar at booth #113 from July 11 - 13, the following titles will have playable kiosks: DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker, FINAL FANTASY II,
FINAL FANTASY XII: REVENANT WINGS, FINAL FANTASY TACTICS: THE WAR OF THE LIONS, FRONT MISSION and HEROES of MANA. Featuring six playable titles, Square Enix is delivering a wealth of deep and engaging experiences for the Nintendo DS and PSP (PlayStation Portable) system to all of this year's attendees.
E3 2007 Lineup
DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
ESRB Rating: Not Yet Rated
Release Date: November 6, 2007
DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker is the latest installment in the venerable RPG franchise, developed exclusively for the Nintendo DS and arriving in North America on November 6, 2007. Scout, train and synthesize a colorful array of over 200 classic
DRAGON QUEST monsters as you compete in the Monster Scout Challenge. Already achieving sales of more than 1 million units in Japan, DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: Joker is a breakout title that combines the depth of a classic DRAGON QUEST RPG with the addictiveness of a monster-catching adventure.
DRAGON QUEST SWORDS: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
Platform: Wii
Genre: "Virtual Experience" RPG
ESRB Rating: Not Yet Rated
Release Date: TBA
Developed from the ground up to take advantage of the Wii and its motion-sensing technology, DRAGON QUEST SWORDS: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors is set to slice its way onto Nintendo's next-generation platform. This exclusive title utilizes the Wii's motion-sensing controls as players use the Wii Remote to slash, parry and blast their way through a land filled with trademark DRAGON QUEST foes. Developed with both longtime fans and casual players in mind, DRAGON QUEST SWORDS:
The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors is poised to take video gaming to an entirely new level of fun and interaction.
FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Ring of Fates
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Action-RPG
ESRB Rating: Not Yet Rated
Release Date: Spring 2008
Few titles epitomize the very essence of multiplayer camaraderie like the FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES series. Released in 2004 as an innovative title that took advantage of the Nintendo GameCube-to-Game Boy Advance connectivity,
FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES bred an entirely new gameplay experience that expanded the horizons of conventional RPG gaming. Primed for a release on the
Nintendo DS, FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Ring of Fates is poised to continue this tradition by providing fans with two distinctly unique games: a fully fleshed single-player RPG experience and an addictive multiplayer element for up to four players.
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS: THE WAR OF THE LIONS
Platform: PSP system
Genre: Tactical RPG
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: October 9, 2007
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS: THE WAR OF THE LIONS is a portable update to 1997's turn-based strategy game FINAL FANTASY TACTICS - an undisputed classic that gave birth to the world of Ivalice. In this first title of the IVALICE ALLIANCE, players take center stage as the events of an epic conflict threaten to destroy the lands and peoples of Ivalice - the same world featured in such classic titles as FINAL FANTASY XII and FINAL FANTASY TACTICS ADVANCE. FINAL FANTASY TACTICS: THE WAR OF THE LIONS features
PSP system-exclusive content such as stunning CG sequences, powerful new jobs, a widescreen presentation, head-to-head multiplayer, new storyline elements, and an all-new English translation. FINAL FANTASY TACTICS: THE WAR OF THE LIONS will be released simultaneously in North American and European territories.
FINAL FANTASY II
Platform: PSP System
Genre: RPG
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: July 24, 2007
Originally released in 1987 in Japan, FINAL FANTASY was hailed by gamers and critics alike as one of the first RPGs to create a fantasy world that captured the imagination of players around the globe. Now its sequel, FINAL FANTASY II, seeks to continue the
Square Enix tradition of providing quality RPG experiences on a wide variety of formats and platforms. Featuring completely redrawn graphics, 16:9 widescreen presentation and an all-new dungeon, FINAL FANTASY II carries on the legacy of the award-winning franchise that has shipped more than 75 million units worldwide.
FINAL FANTASY XI: WINGS OF THE GODDESS
Platform: PlayStation 2 system, Windows, Xbox 360
Genre: MMORPG
ESRB Rating: Not Yet Rated
Release Date: Winter 2007
Experience the next chapter in the immersive and ever expanding world of Vana'diel in FINAL FANTASY XI: WINGS OF THE GODDESS, a content-rich expansion pack that brings exciting new features to the world of FINAL FANTASY XI. Delve into new quests, meet new players, view new sights and experience the fourth chapter in the award-winning MMORPG that has a community of more than 500,000 active subscribers and over 1.7 million characters from around the world. FINAL FANTASY XI is the only title capable of triple-platform simultaneous multiplayer, allowing players to take up arms together on the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, Windows and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, whether they are in North America, Europe or Japan.
FINAL FANTASY XII: REVENANT WINGS
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
ESRB Rating: Not Yet Rated
Release Date: November 20, 2007
Following the story of the beloved classic that captivated more than 5 million players around the world, FINAL FANTASY XII: REVENANT WINGS continues the tale that won numerous accolades from the industry's top publications. Developed exclusively for the Nintendo DS, FINAL FANTASY XII: REVENANT WINGS is an all-new experience that uses the unique features of the Nintendo DS to their fullest. Utilizing full Touch Screen functionality,
FINAL FANTASY XII: REVENANT WINGS allows players to control massive armies, unleash special moves and activate Gambits, all with the use of the stylus. As the next installment in the IVALICE ALLIANCE, the world of Ivalice comes alive through the respected musical stylings of Hitoshi Sakimoto, the guidance of Akitoshi Kawazu and the direction of Motomu Toriyama, director of FINAL FANTASY X-2 and the upcoming FINAL FANTASY XIII.
FRONT MISSION
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Strategy RPG
ESRB Rating: Not Yet Rated
Release Date: October 23, 2007
Discover the origins of the FRONT MISSION series in this explosive handheld saga that was never before localized for North America. Reborn exclusively on the Nintendo DS,
FRONT MISSION introduces exciting new features, such as dual screen presentation and multiplayer modes that update the classic that gave birth to seven beloved sequels. Using Touch Screen functionality, players command a squad of customizable mechs known as wanzers and direct them through turn-based skirmishes across the battlefields of the 21st century.
HEROES OF MANA
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: Strategy RPG
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and older)
Release Date: August 14, 2007
Developed exclusively for the Nintendo DS, HEROES of MANA breathes new life into the WORLD of MANA by taking it into an entirely new dimension. For the first time in the history of the series, stylus-wielding generals must plan, plot and strategize their way to victory on the battlefield. Utilizing the Touch Screen to the fullest, players take full control of the battle as they gather resources, assemble armies and experience an all-new perspective on the ever-evolving battle for the world of MANA.
GameTap has opened up its online gaming service to Mac users, offering 500 titles from its library of videogames.
Intel-based Mac users will be able access the service thanks to TransGaming's Cider engine which allows PC titles to run on Macs, Mac Minis and Mac Books.
"The availability of GameTap for the Mac represents an amazing inflection point for Mac gamers," offered Vikas Gupta, CEO of TransGaming.
"GameTap is a great boon to the gaming world and it's wonderful that GameTap is making their content available to the thriving Mac community."
Currently Mac users can only take advantage of the GameTap Lite Player, with the Deluxe Player promising full-screen gameplay and other features when it launches later this summer.
Titles on offer via the service include Metal Slug, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Sonic the Hedgehog and Space Invaders.
features
Gripped camera in 3rd person on Walk Mode - Over the shoulder more immersive experience of the game
Experience Open Environments Racing over 260 km in Two Distinct Time Periods Multiple paths to complete over 32 missions and 132 sight jobs across photo-realistic 1978 & 2006 New York City
Control and Customize Over 80 Drivable Vehicles - Including cars, motorcycles, and trucks - all integrated with a realistic vehicle damage system
Authentic Hollywood- style Action Experience adrenaline pumping high speed racing and car chases
Massive Enhancements Over Previous Driver games - Including better characters and vehicles AI, better graphics and physics
description
New York in '78 was the coolest place on the planet. I was new to the Big Apple, just a country boy looking to make it good. In just a few weeks it felt like home. From New Jersey to Queens, from the Bronx down to Battery this was my patch, my backyard. 28 years later and the city sparkled like new but underneath, the filth was still there, and I had vengeance crawling inside me.
description
Discover how corruptible you are in Overlord, the twisted fantasy action adventure where you can be evil (or really evil). In the game's seriously warped fantasy world, players will become the Overlord and get first-hand experience of how absolute power corrupts absolutely". You could be a regular run-of-the-mill Overlord. However, with incredible power at your disposal and a team of evil-minded impish critters, the Minions, on hand to do your bidding, how will you resist the temptation to be wonderfully despotic?!
The Overlord has the power of concentrated badness right from the start and you'll know how much more of a total bad-ass you're becoming as the game tracks your 'corruption' throughout.
How corrupt you become depends on how you handle any given situation, your actions and how their consequences impact the game world. For example, if you and your minion horde dispose of a bunch of particularly nasty, violent Halflings that have overrun a once-peaceful village, the village's original peasant occupants will herald you as their liberator. Now each time you pass through, the peasants will welcome you as their new lord and protector, cheering your arrival and giving you offerings.
However, as an Overlord, it's worth seeing what more can be obtained from the peasants' gratitude. If you exert some proper feudal repression, they'll tremble and fall to their knees when you're in town. If you become truly mean, the poor peasants will resort to cowering in your presence, pray for their lives and even offer up their daughters in order to appease you.
Welcome to the wide open and most fascinating trading- and battleground of all times: Space itself is waiting for you to be dominated in Space Force Rogue Universe, the exciting and groundbreaking 3D space experience presented by JoWooD Productions. On his own path through an yet unknown universe, the player can fight, trade or smuggle to earn respect, wealth and fame. In the end, your reputation is all that counts your goal is to become the best-known pilot in space.
Spaceforce Rogue Universe comes with excellent graphics, accompanied by moderate hardware requirements and the full freedom of choice in this non-linear space experience, the player is given the opportunity to master the game exactly how he/she wants. It includes trading, fighting, and raiding space stations and fortresses, but also the examination of cryptic artefacts and anomalies and, of course, mind-blowing warps through wormholes and long-distance space gates.
Spaceforce Rogue Universe brings the fascination of space back to your screen. After remarkable prosperities of Space-Action sims and freelancing games in the past, it's time for a fresh and intergalactic experience. The player will face new opportunities to establish an independent thrilling life in space, while enjoying the beauty of the universe in this new space adventure.
SEGA has revealed more information for its "chilling" upcoming science fiction role-playing game Space Siege.
It's being developed by Chris Taylor and his team at Gas Powered Games, the studio responsible for Dungeon Siege and Supreme Commander.
Space Siege promises to have tactical combat action, where you'll need to dynamically use your environment to outsmart and lay ambushes for your enemies. You'll do this with the help of your customisable robot partner, HR-V.
Everything from the robot's armour, weapons and special equipment can be upgraded, and it will respond to your commands to help make your fancy manoeuvres successful. The pair of you can even combine your efforts to pull off special moves. Flipper and that freckly boy could never do that.
As with most role-playing stories your path is open to multiple approaches. You can stay entirely human or embrace cybernetic technology implants, as well as revel in numerous skill choices and special abilities.
The aliens and characters you meet along the way are all supposed have unique personalities, and there's a separate online co-operative campaign you can play with up to four of your friends.
GSC Game World has whipped the radioactive cover off its expansion to the sprawling first-person shooter S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
It's dubbed Clear Sky and will take place one year before the original story, back-filling the iconic character Strelok's history and the emergence of the Zone. With plenty of new nuclear beasties to say hello to.
Clear Sky will also include belated support for DirectX 10 and improved performance from the DirectX9 renderer. The AI has been bumped up, too, on top of a new animation engine and game engine.
As you explore the Zone you'll become part of the war between the different factions, and be able to join and lead any of them to victory. You'll also be treated to a new upgrade system for weapons and armour, enjoy a worked HUD and PDA, and be given the benefits of Fast Travel. Phew.
It looks like it will be a polished-up and improved addition to what we claimed to be one of the scariest and ambitious games on the PC this year. All that and Clear Sky is promised for release in the first quarter of 2008 - which we hope it sticks to.
Here's another chance to cast an eye over Hellgate: London, Bill Roper's new baby currently in development at his company Flagship Studios.
If you've not come across the game before, it's an action-RPG on PC fusing swords and sorcery with sci-fi and plunges you into an apocalyptic London overrun by the spawn of Hell. It's got the likes of randomly generated levels and a multiplayár component with MMO-style features.
Reports are circulating that Crysis has received a semi-concrete release date of September 14 this year, however the official line we have from EA is "2007". To be honest, we wouldn't be at all surprised if this game slipped into 2008.
Anyway, it's E3 which means screenshots deluge time and as expected new shots from Crytek's shooter have erupted out the show floor. Enjoy.
Heres the full list of this weeks import gaming releases at Play Asia
Xbox360™:
Monster GameLink HDMI Digital Video/Audio Cable US$ 59.90
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 JPN US$ 64.90
Vampire Rain US US$ 59.90
Xbox 360 Hard Drive (120 GB) ASIA US$ 189.90
Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit (Black) ASIA US$ 19.90
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (Black) ASIA US$ 44.90
Nintendo Wii™:
Component Video and Stereo Audio A/V Kit US$ 59.90
Dragon Quest Swords: Kamen no Joou to Kagami no Tou JPN US$ 64.90
The Bigs US US$ 49.90
PlayStation3™:
Gundam Musou KOR US$ 68.90
Monster GameLink USB to Mini-USB PlayStation 3 Controllers US$ 16.90
Ninja Gaiden Sigma US US$ 64.90
Railfan: Taiwan High Speed Rail ASIA US$ 59.90
PlayStation2™:
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness 2 (PlayStation2 the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Grand Theft Auto III (Best Price) JPN US$ 24.90
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Best Price) JPN US$ 34.90
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (Best Price) JPN US$ 24.90
Inaka Kurashi: Nan no Shima no Monogatari (Super Best Collection) JPN US$ 20.90
Izumo Zero JPN US$ 64.90
Memories Off #5 Encore JPN US$ 49.90
Memories Off #5 Encore (Soundtrack Bundle Edition) JPN US$ 69.90
Pop'n Music 14 Fever JPN US$ 64.90
Pop'n Music 14 Fever [Konamistyle Special Edition] JPN US$ 119.90
True Crime: New York City (PlayStation2 the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Sony PSP™:
Steel Horizon US US$ 39.90
Tekken Dark Resurrection (PSP the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
PC Games:
Driver Parallel Lines ASIA US$ 36.90
Hospital Tycoon (DVD-ROM) ASIA US$ 34.90
OverLord ASIA US$ 36.90
ProCycling Manager Season 2007 - Le Tour de France (DVD-ROM) ASIA US$ 32.90
Spaceforce: Rogue Universe ASIA US$ 36.90
Surf's Up (DVD-ROM) ASIA US$ 32.90
Transformers The Game (DVD-ROM) ASIA US$ 29.90
Guide Books:
Ninja Gaiden Sigma: Prima Official Game Guide US US$ 16.90
Toys & More:
Baby Mickey Switch US$ 9.90
Bomberman Sound Bakuhatu Plush Doll: Black Bomb JPN US$ 19.90
Bomberman Sound Bakuhatu Plush Doll: Red Bomb JPN US$ 19.90
D.C. II - Da Capo II: Koko Tsukishima 1/8 Scale JPN US$ 39.90
DX Super Mario Characters Sofubi Figure 3: Kuribo JPN US$ 19.90
DX Super Mario Characters Sofubi Figure 3: Luigi JPN US$ 19.90
DX Super Mario Characters Sofubi Figure 3: Super Mario JPN US$ 19.90
Konami Figure Collection: Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu 1/8 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Haruhi Suzumiya (School Uniform Ver.) JPN N/A
Masterpiece of Shunya Yamashita No 1: Rudy Scale Figure JPN US$ 52.90
Mickey Mouse Push and Go Dump Truck US$ 8.90
Mickey Mouse Push and Go Plane US$ 8.90
Mickey Mouse Push and Go Train US$ 8.90
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny Pre-Painted PVC Figure: Luna Maria Hawke (Ver. 6) JPN US$ 17.90
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny Pre-Painted PVC Figure: Stellar Loussier (Ver. 6) JPN US$ 17.90
Neon Genesis Evangelion Extra Aphrodite Figure Ver. 2 - Asuka Langley JPN US$ 19.90
Neon Genesis Evangelion Extra Aphrodite Figure Ver. 2 - Rei Ayanami JPN US$ 19.90
New Super Mario Bros. Mini Figure Collection Vol. 3 JPN US$ 2.99
Nintendo DS Lite Mini Figure & DS Card Case Twin Strap (Pocket Monster Ver.) JPN US$ 5.99
Nintendo Prize Collection Series Family Computer Luigi Golf Toy JPN N/A
Nintendo Prize Collection Series Family Computer Mario Golf Toy JPN US$ 19.90
One Piece Luffys Family 8 Candy Toy JPN N/A
Picoo Z - Tail Propellers Accessory Kit US$ 7.90
Picoo Z Infrared Control Helicopter (AH-64D Apache) US$ 32.90
Picoo Z Infrared Control Helicopter (Sky Challenger) US$ 54.90
Princess Waltz 1/7 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Iris JPN US$ 62.90
Rockman ZX Advent Poster N/A
X-Twin Pro: Air Acrobat US$ 39.90
X-Twin: Bi-Wing US$ 29.90
X-Twin: Classic Trainer US$ 29.90
X-Twin: Eagle-Wing US$ 29.90
X-Twin: Jet US$ 29.90
X-Twin: Sports Flyer US$ 29.90
X-Twin: Turbo Fury US$ 29.90
Some of you might remember the homebrew site pdroms.de, which has disappeared about a year ago. The news service has gone public again by today, but there are no downloads available.
PDRoms is covering homebrew news for handhelds and consoles, without limit. Starting from Atari 2600 ending at Wonderswan Color.
Here is the qote:
A part of the page is back. It's the news service. Have fun!
Basically this is the display of the RSS-Feed available on PDRoms.org. PDRoms.org is currently in Alpha-Testing stage and will offer many new features compared to the old page.
PDRoms.org ist NOT available for the public yet, it's not a bug and we know about it Just stick with the news here at PDRoms.de in the meantime. Updates are made almost daily.
- The drawing processing and the CPU processing etc. were sped up respectively a little. I think that processing lightened in some measure of a personal computer environment so not fast.
- Operation speed & timing of CPU has been elaborately adjusted. In "Wonder Momo", the bug to which the picture after the stage cleared was not correctly displayed (generated by v1.13) was solved.
- In the ending of "Formation Soccer'90", the trouble that had been freezed (generated from v1.11) was corrected.
- Additionally, a detailed part has been improved and corrected.
GSC Game World appears to be looking beyond previous publisher THQ for a partnership on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky.
"We are now in the middle of negotiations," PR Manager Valentine Yeltyshev told GamesIndustry.biz, "so we're not decided on who will publish the game."
Clear Sky is the newly-announced prequel to this year's first-person shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl, which earned much acclaim despite a protracted and seemingly fraught period in development.
Strong sales of the PC-only shooter helped THQ end its 2007 fiscal year by topping USD 1 billion in sales.
Developer GSC Game World is demonstrating the game to trade and press at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, part of the E3 Media & Business Summit.
THQ was not immediately available for comment. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky is due out in Q1 2008.
Over at Success HK a new Console with built in emulation support has been released and surprisingly enough it boasts Snes, Nes and Megadrive emulation from the Off.
Heres the details:
Product Features
Music Player : Support MP3, WMA, FLAC , with Equlizer
Game Player : Game Emulator support NES, SNES & MD/SMC ( Sega 16bit )
Movie Player : Support AVI of MPEG-4 format
Video Recorder : Record in 320*240 MPEG4
Picture Viewer : Support JPG, GIF , BMP format
Description
Portable Game & Media Player integrates such functions as watching Movie, enjoying Music, Playing GAMES , Reading novels, sound Recording, browsing Pictures and Take pictures. Feature : Game Player : Game Emulator support NES, SNES & MD/SMC ( Sega 16bit ), You can run thousands of game which you can download from Internet Movie Player : Support AVI of MPEG-4 format ( DIVX 3.11/4.X/5.X and XVID codec : Sizes : 320*240 @ 30 fps ) Music Player : Support MP3, WMA, FLAC , with Equlizer Camera : Digital Camera Function with 1300K pixel Video Recorder : Record in 320*240 MPEG4 Voice Recorder : Voice Recorde in MP3 format in 128,192 and 256KPS E-Book Reader : Support E-Book in TXT format Picture Viewer : Support JPG, GIF , BMP format Build-in 1G memory, Support Max. 4G external SD card. Build-in Litum Rechargable battery wth 12000mah , Continue Video play for 6 hrs, or Music play for 20 hrs. With Auto Shut down, Firmware upgradable, 3.6" screen size ( 960*240) TFT , Theme Select, Multi Language support ( English, French, Chinese, Italian, Portuguese ) , Wallpaper changable.
Sounds very interesting, emulation, media player and rechargeable battery. Its retailing at USD 109.68 (Ł55) at SuccessHK. Ill buy one for review as soon as possible and let you know if it lives up to the specs.
Despite still looking bloody good, Pandemic's Mercenaries 2 has managed to sneak under the radar for the majority of E3. So here's some screenshots that, in a double-whammy strike, give a refresh on how the blaster's shaping up, and rack up our news count as well. Nice.
Back at GDC we managed to see the game over the shoulder of one of the spiky-haired devs, and it was indeed in good form. The demo we saw sported plenty of QTE-style enemy fights and a tank section which had the game's hero demolishing an entire village in a barrage of explosions. Just what you'd expect then, really.
It's out at the end of the year on 360, PC and PS3.
More screenshots?! You can't moan when they're showing off Irrational's gorgeous Bioshock though, unless you're some kind of crazed horror FPS-hating mentalist, that is...
In related news 2K has just delivered a seven foot tall Big Daddy into our coffee area, which almost put us off buying our Americano this morning. Have a look at the pic on the right; if you can get it out our front door you can have it.
The August release date is fast approaching, and if you haven't already you can check out our recent hands-on time with the PC version, as well as our little chat with senior designer Joe McDonagh.
The Nintendo DS is still the best selling console in Japan, with Media Create figures showing that the handheld sold over 139,200 units for the week ended July 8.
Nintendo's Wii is also maintaining its strong sales performance by shifting over 75,200 units in the region.
The PSP continues to be the leader in Sony's family of consoles, selling just under 33,000 units, although sales have dropped by over a 5,000 units compared to the previous week.
The PlayStation 2 sold 14,120 units, with the PlayStation 3 not far behind with 12,691 units.
Microsoft's Xbox 360 continues to record poor sales in the region, with under 2,400 units for the same period, while the GBA sold 600 units and the GameCube 174 units.
Nexon has launched MapleStory across Europe, attempting to add to its 67 million registered users in the US and Asia.
It's an MMORPG with a cartoon-style and side-scrolling 2D action, as well as all the usual persistent world mechanics like levels, items, guilds, etc. And while MapleStory is completely free to download and play, it features the "Nexon Cash" currency that you buy with real money to spend on in-game goods and services in a special shop.
MapleStory has been around since 2003 in Asia, and Nexon plans to keep the experience fresh for us by adding weekly updates, in-game events, quests and modes to the fantasy mix.
"We are very excited to finally bring the amazing world of MapleStory to Europe," said David Yoo, business development man at Nexon. "Now gamers all over Europe can enjoy MapleStory's delightful visuals, vibrant community and simple, yet truly compelling gameplay.
"We look forward to making many more exciting MapleStory Europe announcements over the coming months."
It's available in English, French, German, Spanish and Dutch. Head over to the official MapleStory website to get started.
Codemasters Online Gaming is giving away 6000 in-game credits to anyone that buys ArchLord, which works out at around GBP 10 / EUR 15 worth.
You can spend these on all sorts of fantasy bits and pieces in the Chantra shop, which is mostly made up of items to ease the level burden by increasing experience and gold earned from killing monsters.
It's the latest campaign by Codemasters Online Gaming to drum up a significant following for what appears to be a sinking ship. Since it launch last November the subscription fee has been abolished and the price of the game slashed to around a tenner - relying on people to purchase in-game credits to keep it afloat.
Despite this, ArchLord is to get a free expansion in the next few weeks, which will add siege warfare to the player-versus-player mix. It will also make the game's unique goal possible - as one lucky player will finally be crowned ArchLord.
Only one of these can exist per server, and they'll get an exclusive bunch of rewards like a dragon mount and powerful spells, abilities and equipment - including a personal set of guards made up of guild mates treated to special royal sets of armour.
Die in general combat as the ArchLord and you'll return to life like always with the full set of abilities intact. However, be killed as the result of a challenge to your crown and you will be stripped of your status and gifts that go with it.
It's a goal probably only reachable by the super hardcore elite, and one that couldn't rescue the game for us when we played it last year.
Capcom has said that it's preparing a patch for the PC version of Lost Planet: Extreme Condition that will introduce new view modes, multiplayer tweaks and additional characters - including Mega Man.
It's not clear from Capcom's email missive exactly when the patch will tumble down, but it's described as an automatic update, and its release will coincide with the re-launch on Xbox 360 of Map Pack 1 and 2 as free downloads.
The PC changes include a "Resident Evil 4-style" view mode and a new "Wide" view, a "movie mode" for watching the game's cut-scenes back to back, multiplayer updates to allow you to see connected players, "PC Map Pack 1" and new characters, presumably for multiplayer - Jo from Lost Planet itself, Mega Man, and Dead Rising's Frank West.
It'll all stack up to 400MB of data. A good place to keep an eye out for updates would be the Lost Planet community forums, or you can check out our Lost Planet PC gamepage for our review, DirectX 9 versus 10 comparison, trailers and all the rest.
Flagship Studios boss Bill Roper is adamant the developer isn't ripping people off with the subscription-based access to Hellgate: London online multiplayer.
"We wanted to have the best of both worlds: to give people the free experience they're expecting, because this is from the Diablo team, but at the same time to provide continuing content," Roper told PC Zone magazine before discussing exactly what players will get for their $9.99 a month.
He continued, "We want to be able to stream things into the game continuously - additional gameplay modes, mods, quests, monsters and environments, special events for special days, weekly events, things that are ongoing and that go above and beyond balance fixes and bugs - even up to including new factions and character classes".
Roper explained that a fixed, regular schedule won't be applied to such updates but provided an example of how "at the end of every quarter or something, we do a big thing such as adding a new character class or some story".
The subscription, he said, is a way for Flasghsip Studios to be able to maintain the live team that produces the updates for the game and to interact with the community to see what they'd like added.
That Lost Planet PC patch we told you about yesterday will be released on 20th July. Friday, then.
That patch will be released alongside the first PC Map Pack (Trial Point, Hive Complex, Radar Field and Island 902), and the Xbox Live Map Packs that already include these arenas (numbers 1 and 2) will be reduced from 400 Microsoft points to free Xbox Live Marketplace downloads on the same day so nobody gets in a huff.
The PC patch also introduces new multiplayer character models (Mega Man, Frank West from Dead Rising, Joe from Lost Planet), two new camera angles (Resi 4-style and wide view), a cut-scene viewer for sending yourself to sleep back to back, and an option to see who's actually connected in PC multiplayer games.
Microsoft has confirmed that while Gears of War will not support cross-platform play between the 360 and recently announced PC versions, anybody buying the latter will be able to play it on Windows XP as well as Vista.
As in, without having to wait for the hackers to sort it out.
"It's also worth noting," says old pal the Gamerscoreblog, "that the PC version of Gears of War achievements are separate from the Xbox 360 version. That means you can get 1250 Gamerscore from the Xbox 360 Gears of War, and an additional 1000 Gamerscore from the PC version!" Yes! Buy it again!
New features of the PC Gears include additional multiplayer maps and game modes, a game editor and five new single-player chapters. A demonstration at Microsoft's E3 conference revealed a showdown with a Brumak.
Unfortunately, Xbox 360 owners probably won't get to experience the new content, with Epic's Mark Rein telling one E3 interviewer that to do so would require a patch so massive that it would dwarf the five downloads made available for 360 to date.
Codemasters Online Gaming has responded to claims that MMO ArchLord is dying out by saying its population has grown since launch and "still increases week on week".
But when pushed to reveal numbers for the amount of people currently playing, it coyly replied that that wasn't the trend in the genre.
"Unfortunately we are not in a position to release current subscriber numbers," a spokesperson for Codemasters Online Gaming told Eurogamer. "As with any MMO, publishers never release that information. Unless, of course, you are Blizzard and have over 8 million subscribers." Or Ankama Games with Dofus.
Questions arose over ArchLord's future after the publisher announced that it would be offering 6000 free in-game credits with every copy sold. These can buy you levelling aids in the Chantra Shop, where you would otherwise use real money to purchase goods.
Previous efforts to drive attention to the game have seen a subscription system come and go, and the price of the game slashed to around a tenner depending on which part of the world you're in.
But far from pull support, Codemasters is insistent that future content is on the schedule - the first thing being upcoming free expansion Episode II. This will add castle sieges to the game as well as the chance to finally become the ArchLord - with a USD 10,000 custom set of real-life armour awaiting the first one officially crowned.
"We have no plans to close the service at present," the spokesperson continued. "ArchLord is still very much in Codemasters Online Gaming's future plans with new content (in the form of Episode II) currently in testing and further content beyond that in development."
Codemasters Online Gaming also handles one of this year's big success stories, Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar. Unlike ArchLord this reviewed well and has seen a surge in active subscribers, although no figures have been released.
NCsoft has detailed plans for a Guild Wars: Eye of the North pre-release bonus pack, due out on 20th July.
It will let you get your hands on exclusive in-game goodies that Guild Wars fans designed as part of a fancy competition: the Glacial Blade, Hourglass Staff, and Darksteel Longbow. A special DVD is in there, too, which will let you trial-play all of the previous campaigns for a total of 10 in-game hours or 14 real-life days - whichever expires first.
You'll also be able to join the pre-order crowd in the Sneak Peak Weekend on 24th - 26th August, where all progress your character makes and all items you gain will be saved for when Eye of the North launches on 31st August.
But the best thing about all this is that theoretically you could get the bonus pack for absolutely nothing - its price is to be determined by each retailer. And if one of them does decide to charge you, then that amount will be taken off the GBP 24.99 asking price of Eye of the North when you buy it. From the same place, obviously.
Eye of the North is billed as the first expansion in the Guild Wars series, despite being the third paid-for update. Factions and Nightfall were campaigns, you see, so Eye of the North is the start of a new direction for developer ArenaNet.
It's all about rewarding the existing fan-base by heaping new dungeons, skills, armour, weapons and items on them. It will also act as a bridge to the sequel, Guild Wars 2, via the Hall of Monuments where you'll be able to carry over titles and accomplishments.
Head over to our Guild Wars: Eye of the North gallery for the latest screenshots, seen here.
We recently cornered lead designers Ben Miller and Eric Flannum to talk about Eye of the North, Guild Wars 2, and rewarding loyalty. Head over to our interview to find out more.
Remember the first time you clapped eyes on the facial animations Valve created for its Half-Life 2 characters? It was awesome, stuff we'd never seen from a videogame previously and in this regard stuck a boot up the arse of 'real' and kicked the game way over the heads of the competition.
But such animation is only part of the trickery behind the face to create believable in-game characters.
In order to keep NPCs real, Marc Laidlaw, Valve's Half-Life plot man, has explained the developer tries to draw strong relationships between the characters, and that making each one part of a believable network of family and friends (and rivals) makes it easier for players to relate to them.
"Characters in weaker science fiction stories often seem flimsy because they're solitary heroic figures without parents, siblings or ordinary relationships", he said in an interview with PC Zone magazine.
Character-driven drama depends on social context, status transactions, how they relate to other people in the world, explained Laidlaw.
"We also assume our characters have spent their whole life in this world - especially Alyx, who grew up surrounded by headcrabs and Vortigaunts."
These characters, Laidlaw said, are drawn in such a way that "the crazy SF details" that populate the Half-Life universe are just ordinary, everyday obstacles to them. They're obstacles still full of potential threats and surprises, as in our own world, "but with a grim internal logic".
You can read the full interview with Marc Laidlaw on these pages shortly.
Longbow Digital Arts appears to have taken a few cues from The Creative Assembly's Total War series for its PC RTS Hegemony: Philip of Macedon.
The historically based strategy game charts the rise to power of Philip of Macedon - Alexander the Great's dad - as he wages war in the Ancient Greek world. The game features a continuous 3D map allowing you to zoom right into the nitty-gritty while you'll also be able to make use of what's being termed a "2D parchment map" to get a grand strategic overview of proceedings.
New screenshots released show hoplites in battleline formations, views of the 2D parchment map and a Macedonian Phalanx - take a look.
A release date for Hegemony: Philip of Macedon is to be confirmed.
On the face of it CDV's Escape from Paradise City sounds an old premise flogged to death, but a supernatural weaving in and out of its polygons is enough to tweak our interest.
Escape from Paradise City is an action-RTS in development for PC that drops you into the shoes of an NSA agent who has to go undercover to infiltrate the criminal underworld in Paradise City. Your goal is to climb the law-braking ranks to ultimate crime boss and then take out the crime lord currently ruling the roost.
Yes, we've heard that one a million times before but the crime lord's "more than your average thug - or average human", CDV explains, with a hint that something far more sinister lurks behind the boss' hold on power.
The game word presented is dystopian, dark and gritty, and you can view it for yourself in new screenshots released. Escape from Paradise City should be out later in the year.
Another round up of the latest Gaming related releases from Worlwide importer PLay Asia:
Xbox360™:
Max Drive 160 HDD US$ 159.90
Overlord US US$ 59.90
Project Sylpheed: Arc of Deception US US$ 44.90
Xbox Live 12-Month Gold Card ASIA US$ 49.90
PlayStation3™:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix KOR US$ 59.90
Nintendo Wii™:
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu Wii JPN US$ 64.90
Momotaro Densetsu 16 JPN US$ 59.90
PlayStation2™:
Dual Shock 2 Controller - satin silver US US$ 29.90
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix KOR US$ 54.90
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 14 JPN US$ 64.90
Monster Hunter 2 (PlayStation2 the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
Nodame Cantabile JPN US$ 59.90
Sengoku Basara Double Pack JPN US$ 49.90
Shounen Onyouji: Tsubasa Yoima, Ten e Kare JPN US$ 64.90
Shounen Onyouji: Tsubasa Yoima, Ten e Kare [Deluxe Box] JPN US$ 95.00
USB Keyboard US$ 39.90
Ultraman Fighting Evolution 3 (Banpresto Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Ultraman Fighting Evolution Rebirth (Banpresto Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Nintendo DS™:
Archime DS JPN US$ 24.90
Cinnamon Ball: Kurukuru Sweets Paradise JPN US$ 48.90
Kosume Chick * Paradise JPN US$ 39.90
Kouchuu Ouja: Mushi King Super Collection JPN US$ 58.90
Mushi King Card Case N/A
Naruto: Saikyo Ninja Daikesshu 5 JPN US$ 48.90
Nintendo DS Lite (Pokemon Center Pikachu Yellow) - 110V JPN N/A
Saitou Takashi no DS de Yomu Sanshoku Ball-Pen Meisaku Juku JPN US$ 39.90
Sommelier DS JPN US$ 29.90
Tantei Jinguuji Saburou DS: Inishie no Kioku JPN US$ 39.90
Touch! Bomberman Land: Star Bomber no Miracle * World JPN US$ 48.90
Zenmai Zamurai JPN US$ 48.90
Sony PSP™:
Happy Feet JPN US$ 14.90
Mawaskes: Based on Carton-kun JPN US$ 39.90
Mawaskes: Based on Carton-kun ASIA US$ 34.90
Riviera: The Promised Land US US$ 39.90
Simple 2500 Series Portable Vol. 10: The IQ Cube JPN US$ 28.90
Smash Court Tennis 3 US US$ 34.90
Ultraman Fighting Evolution 0 (Banpresto Best) JPN US$ 29.90
Guide Books:
Monster Hunter Portable 2nd Hint Book Part II [Limited Edition] HK US$ 18.90
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 The Official Strategy Guide US US$ 24.90
Toys & More:
Ant's Life Studio US$ 79.90
Demondane Fine Scale Model Kit JPN US$ 49.90
Final Fantasy Master Creatures: Bahamut (Non Scale Pre-Painted Action Figure) JPN US$ 19.90
Final Fantasy Master Creatures: Cefca Palazzo (Non Scale Pre-Painted Action Figure) JPN US$ 19.90
Inukami Prepainted 1/8 Scale PVC Figure: Nadeshiko US$ 29.90
Inukami Prepainted 1/8 Scale PVC Figure: Yoko US$ 29.90
Mini Roboboa HK US$ 12.90
Mini Robopanda HK US$ 13.90
Mini Robopet HK US$ 9.90
Mini Roboquad HK US$ 12.90
Mon-Sieur Bome Collection Vol.23: Fate/Stay Night - Saber JPN US$ 42.90
Palm-Z Indoor Flyer US$ 27.90
Roboboa HK US$ 99.00
Robopanda HK US$ 219.00
Roboquad HK US$ 94.90
To Heart 2 - Sasamori Karin 1/8 Scale PVC Figure JPN US$ 14.90
UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie Enban Koujo 1/6 Statue (International Version) US$ 24.90
Xenosaga Legend Kos-Mos Figure Collection EP2 JPN US$ 7.90
Video Game related Soundtracks:
Einhander Original Soundtrack JPN US$ 19.90
Growlanser VI Original Soundtrack JPN US$ 23.90
Haruka Amami (The Idolm@ster Master Artist 01) JPN US$ 21.90
Kabu Trader Shun Original Soundtrack JPN US$ 27.90
Metal Gear Solid 20th Anniversary Collection JPN US$ 27.90
Radio DJCD Bleach B Station Second Season Vol.3 JPN US$ 24.90
Together2007 (10th Anniversary Movie Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl: Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai Intro Theme) JPN US$ 12.90
Yayoi Takatsuki (The Idolm@ster Master Artist 02) JPN US$ 21.90
Sony Online Entertainment announced a redesign of the company's web site which will host free trials of the majority of SOE’s MMOs, casual games, and mobile games.
“As SOE continues to grow its business and acquire a wider variety of titles, it was only appropriate that the Station.com website be redesigned to offer a more user-friendly and immersive experience to our diverse player base,” said Torrie Dorrell, SOE's senior vice-president of global sales and marketing.
“Players from around the world will be able to obtain news and information surrounding upcoming and live games, visit community sites, download a casual game or two and even check out SOE’s latest offerings for the PlayStation Store."
SOE's site is launching simultaneously in English, French, German and Japanese. The company plans to roll out more languages, services, and games in the coming months.
The CMP Game Group has announced that Hiromichi Tanaka, executive officer at Square Enix, will be delivering the international keynote at the Austin GDC.
“We are honoured to have Hiromichi Tanaka, a leading figure in the online game developer community deliver the International Keynote at this year’s event,” said Jane Pinckard, Austin GDC's content manager. "Tanaka's presence at our conference is indicative of the event's global appeal."
Tanaka is best known as the lead developer on Final Fantasy XI, the first game in the series to allow cross platform online play between PC and console. His keynote will address the challenges of designing a multiplatform MMO.
The Austin GDC takes place in Austin, Texas from September 5 through September 7.
Joe Zbiciak is holding an IntelliVision Coding Competition. Deadline is 1st November 2007.
Rules:
* The game must be no larger than 16K 16-bit words. Games are not constrained to 10-bit wide ROM. They can use the full 16-bit width.
* The game must fit the $5000-$6FFF, $D000-$DFFF, $F000-$FFFF standard 16K-word memory map.
* The game must not require additional RAM beyond what is available in the Intellivision.
* The game must play as intended on an unexpanded Intellivision, Intellivision II, and Sears Super Video Arcade with minimal glitches. Note that the game may make use of the ECS and/or Intellivoice to enhance game play as long as these peripherals are not required for proper play. For example, Space Patrol has enhanced sound and music when the ECS is present.
* The game should play flawlessly in jzIntv. If you have issues getting your game to play correctly, hop on INTVPROG and ask questions! We're friendly. We don't bite. :-)
* The game may make use of any previously existing code out there that the author has license to use. For instance, the example code included with SDK-1600 is available to all under the GNU GPL. No sense re-inventing the wheel for no good reason.
* All entries must be received by November 1st, 2007. Judging will take place during the month of November, with results posted by December 1st.
* All entries must be sent to Joe Zbiciak at this address: intvnut at gmail dot com.
* Entrants grant Joe Zbiciak permission to make binary versions of all entries available for download on the web.
* Entrants grant Joe Zbiciak permission to produce a small number of physical copies (cartridges) of the game for the purpose of issuing the contest prizes, as defined in the Prizes section.
* Joe Zbiciak reserves the right to adjust these rules as necessary, and/or cancel or extend the contest based on number of entries received.
Prizes:
First prize is $100. Second prize is $50. First and second prize winners also will receive a physical copy of the top two games on a multicart. If I do announce runners up, they too will receive cartridges and all announced winning and runner-up titles will be on the multicart.
Oliver Puschatzki has donated three of his NTSC composite mods as prizes for this contest! These will be awarded to the top entries in addition to the cash prizes and cartridges.</blockquote>
PDROMS Coding Competition #3.667 is almost in the pipe! The topic has been choosen, the prizes are ALMOST confirmed (currently reconfirming with play-asia for their voucher offer) - the action starts after the dev-fr.org Coding Competiton. Probably August 3rd (not 100% fixed), running for one full month.
Prizes as per today can be found in the PDRoms Webboard here.
Ubisoft has announced that Far Cry 2 is in development for PC and due for release in spring 2008.
It's the sequel to the 2004 original developed by Crytek, which won wide critical acclaim. Since then Ubisoft has released internally developed console spin-offs, and finally acquired the full rights to the series in March 2006.
The publisher's Montreal studio will be handling creation this time around, and is confident it can recreate the impact of the first.
"Far Cry marked the beginning of a new era for shooters. An era of gorgeous graphics and of advanced artificial intelligence," said John Parkes, Ubisoft marketing man. "We are confident that Far Cry 2 will have the same impact again on the FPS genre landscape."
German developer Crytek has since signed with EA and is currently developing first-person shooter Crysis for PC.
Ubisoft expects assets for Far Cry 2 will be released "soon".
The episode of South Park that showed the familiar potty-mouthed children becoming hopelessly addicted to World of Warcraft has been nominated for an Emmy.
It will be the sixth time the rude and satirical cartoon has been in line for "the television equivalent of the Oscars", giving it a chance at its second win - the first was in 2004 for the "Best Friends Forever" episode revolving around Kenny and his PlayStation Portable powers.
Games have been the inspiration for numerous episodes of South Park, including the Emmy-nominated parody of Pokémon, "Chinpoko Mon", and the two-parter based around Cartman's impatient wait for a Nintendo Wii, "Go God Go".
The "Make Love, Not Warcraft" episode featured Cartman defecating at his computer chair into a bed-pan held by his mum as the quartet battle tirelessly to prevent the end of the World... of Warcraft.
2K Games has released a demo for the second Civilization IV expansion pack Beyond the Sword.
It's got a waist-size of 314MB and lets you test out technology created - as the name suggests - after the invention of gunpowder, and beyond.
The full game was released today, hooray, and is touted as the largest addition to the series so far. There's 10 new civilisations to build up, each with their own leaders and style, plus plenty of new units and buildings to build on the original game with.
Natural disasters will happen randomly to disrupt your progress now, and there will be more focus on the diplomatic side of the game - and the chance to win earlier using words rather than weapons.
On top of all this the computer is now cleverer, practically capable of taking over the world while you're sleeping through levels. Those trees of technology have grown, too, and you'll be able to pluck their apples sooner using the new advanced-start feature, which pops you further down the evolutionary line at the beginning of the game.
Developer Firaxis has even decided to pop-in 12 maps created by you lot, the fans of the games.
Unreal Tournament 3 won't be using Games for Windows LIVE, the Xbox Live-style service Microsoft rolled out with Windows Vista.
That's according to Epic Games' Mark Rein, who was responding to questions on the game's official forum (picked up on by Wired).
"UT3 does not use Games for Windows LIVE," he confirmed. "We have not decided about cross-platform play between PC and PS3."
"We're not 100 percent sure that users want that feature, but if we get time we'll play around with it and see how it works.
"In the meantime we plan to be able to serve the PS3 from PC servers so that should help us gets lots of great servers going."
Unreal Tournament 3 is a PlayStation 3 and PC "exclusive" for 2007, with an Xbox 360 version due to be released in 2008.
It's a continuation of Epic's always-enjoyable Unreal multiplayer series, which has been through several iterations despite the "3" tag, and offers a range of team-based modes stuffed with vehicles and interesting equipment, including a rather smashing sort of trifle-based man-trap that we'll be giggling about in our upcoming preview. Watch out for that.
On Tuesday NCSoft whispered in our ear about the bonuses Guild Wars disciples receive should they pre-order Eye of the North, and today it's entertaining us with a new trailer from the expansion.
Running for just shy of two minutes, you can clap eyes on the trailer in our video player top right.
It's great that Guild Wars creator ArenaNet is creating new content for fans of its MMO, but of course what we're really eager to see is Guild Wars 2. The developer's spoken quite openly about its plans for the sequel, however we've yet to view it in the flesh.
In the meantime then, Guild Wars: Eye of the North. Introducing the likes of 18 multi-level dungeons, 150 new skills across all ten Guild Wars professions, ten new heroes and 40 new armour sets and new items, it's out on August 31.
Thanks to the incredible success of the DS, it's possible Nintendo may be waving good bye to the Game Boy - which has been going strong since 1989 - as George Harrison confirms the company may never return to one of its best know brands.
Speaking to GameDaily BIZ, senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications George Harrison revealed: "This year in our marketing you really won't see much push against Game Boy itself, so it will kind of seek its own level. It's hard to say in the future if we will ever bring back the Game Boy trademark."
Back in 2005, Nintendo launched the DS as the 'third pillar' of its hardware line-up, alongside Game Boy and its home console. However, the DS's meteoric rise has apparently put the kibosh on any plans to release a Game Boy Advance 2.
However, Harrison noted that dropping the Game Boy name in favour of the untested DS brand wasn't an easy decision. "It was a big risk for us to actually pass on it and call the new product the Nintendo DS," he revealed, "but it was part of Mr. Iwata's philosophy that if we're going to make a radical difference and try to reach a new audience, then we have to change the name... we had to make a break even though we had one of the greatest trademarks in the history of the industry."
Fixed crash on startup with -f command line option
Fixed SPU bug that caused FF8 FMV audio to stop sometimes
Fixed bug that prevented some keys being mapped to controllers
Fixed bug where window size/position was reset when using fast forward
Added support for Alcohol 120% MDF/MDS images
Fake subcode in track gaps (required for TombRaider1)
Fixed Syphon Filter boot hang
Fixed infinite loop in Tekken3 and Deception3
Changed 384 mode to 364 which seems to be correct (based on TombRaider)
Fixed aspect ratio correction for 5:4
A $1 million AUD (approx. US $880,000) heist of PlayStation 2 consoles in Australia was foiled by the power of GPS. According to the Sidney Morning Herald, a truck fitted with a GPS tracking device and containing 4,704 PS2s was stolen. Police used the tracking device (and magic -- no, not really) to locate the stolen truck and consoles.
Four men have been charged for the theft. Let that be a lesson to you would-be robbers and delinquents: leave it to the pros.
The first hints of the setting - or settings - that Ubisoft is using as the backdrop for the action in FPS Far Cry 2 have arrived via concept art that's slipped out onto the internet.
And judging by what's on display, the follow-up is going to take us to numerous locations around the globe.
You'll also notice the concept art includes characters or "Buddies", which are surely people who join up and fight alongside you during the adventure, although we imagine they won't do so all at once.
Whether it's indication of a more squad-based direction for Far Cry 2 or these Buddies will be more sidekicks in the vein of Alyx in Half-Life 2, we'll just have to wait and see.
Nintendo dominates the NPD Groups' software sales chart for June 2007.
According to their official sales data, the eighth game in the Mario Party series, and the first for the Wii, topped the charts.
Another Wii title, Wii Play, placed second. Following close behind in the third and fourth position were a pair of Nintendo DS games, namely Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl.
The Xbox 360's top-selling game in June was Forza Motorsport 2, reaching fifth place on the chart. Activision's Guitar Hero II held the sixth and seventh place for the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox 360 versions, respectively.
Rounding out the chart were two additional Wii titles-Pokemon Battle revolution in the eighth position, and the Wii version of Resident Evil 4 at number nine. Take-Two's The Darkness for Xbox 360 was the tenth best-selling game of June.
Harry Potter's latest videogame outing continues to dominate the UK charts - no doubt thanks to the recent launch of the film to which it ties in and last Saturday's release of the final book in JK Rowling's witches and wizards series.
However, it will face stern competition this week from Transformers (number two All Formats, number one on PS2 and Xbox 360), with the live action film in that famous franchise set for general release this Friday.
Elsewhere in the top ten, Nintendo's brain training titles occupied three positions - More Brain Training for DS is at number three, with Wii title Big Brain Academy at four and the original DS Brain Training at eight.
Last week's number five, Mario Party 8, slips down to 30 as retail awaits delivery of new stock following a recall, and is replaced by Nintendo's own Wii Play - another consistent performer in recent months.
Meanwhile, the launch of the PS3 version of Take-Two's The Darkness helped the comic-based action game hop from eight to seven (topping the PS3 chart), just below Activision's Shrek the Third, while Cooking Mama stuck to the chart-pan at nine and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 rose to ten.
Outside the top ten there were re-entries for PS3 titles Resistance: Fall of Man (24) and MotorStorm (35), no doubt boosted by Sony's decision to offer PS3 bundles starting last week.
And while at a glance Potter is expected to duel Transformers for number one next week, both could be trumped by this Friday's release of Nintendo DS pair Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl, while Activision's Guitar Hero: Rock the 80s could capture the interest of PS2 owners.
Cryptic Studios is powering up the next update for its superhero/super-villain MMORPG City of Heroes/Villains, and is showcasing forthcoming attractions in a three minute trailer. You can view it in our video player.
In Issue 10: Invasion, as the update's named, the developer's explained it decided to advance the game's overall storyline and focus on alien threat to Paragon City and the Rogue Isles.
"Like any ongoing game we have many unresolved plot threads and each is a great opportunity for introducing new game content. Our first thought for Issue 10 was to bring back the 5th Column, a villain group that disappeared when the Council was introduced in Issue 3. But in the end we decided to focus on one of the greatest threats to Paragon City and the Rogue Isles, the aliens known as the Rikti", Cryptic's Matt Miller said in a developer diary.
"We had revealed a lot about the Rikti in the past, but there was always the looming spectre of a second Rikti War. There were already plenty of missions that involve shutting down attempts by stranded Rikti to contact their homeworld. For current players, Rikti are a familiar enemy and remain a giant pain in the butt."
Watching fast-moving footage of Resident Evil 5 in a small window on your PC monitor doesn't give you the chance to really appreciate how great it looks, so we've got some nice, high-res screens you'll know good it looks, and these high-res screens you can gawp at 'til your heart's content.
You'll recognise some of these scenes from the E3 trailer, set in a dusty village with some pretty brutal residents.
Just as Resi 4 set new standards for graphical detail in the past generation on GameCube, Resi 5 looks to do the same again, with awesome lighting and environmental detail.
It's a way off though, not expected until maybe 2009. The good news, however, is that there's an extended trailer to look forward to before the end of the month!
Tragnarion Studios is the latest developer to reveal it's licensed Epic's Unreal Engine, and is employing the technology in a PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 sci-fi shooter built for co-op play.
The game's called The Scourge Project, and supports four players that form the "technologically advanced" Echo Squad which is battling those dratted aliens. Tragnarion promises that each member of the four-man squad has their own unique story that will unravel as you progress through the game.
"Will your friends fight with you to discover the truth, or betray you to protect it? Beneath the veil of the eclipse, hidden agendas and divided loyalties make anything possible."
Details are thin on the ground currently, but presumably AI will take control of members of the squad if you're Billy No-Mates. We're not convinced about this whole back-stabbing element to the plot either. If each member of the squad is under the control of the player, how will that work? Are we going to have to do a bit of role-playing?
Sega of America Inc. on Tues. announced that Alien Syndrome for Nintendo Co.'s Wii and Sony Corp.'s PSP handheld has shipped to U.S. retail.
The RPG shooter features a single-player adventure and multiplayer co-op support for up to four players.
In the title, players take the role of Earth Command Trooper Aileen Harding to battle aliens. Characters specialties and skills and can be upgraded in the campaign, including armor and weaponry.
The final game feaatures 20 different weapon types, including flamethrowers, lasers, and nanobot swarms.
The Wii version will utilize the Wii Remote to allow motion-sensitive controls, including slashing through enemies, and running and gunning through hallways.
The PSP version will include Wi-Fi support for up to four players.
Just stick with the news here at PDRoms.de in the meantime. Updates are made almost daily.
