This week, we have two anticipated titles coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade, Marathon Durandal, and Spyglass Board Games. Both will come to Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 this Wednesday, August 1, beginning at 9:00 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. Pacific).

Marathon: Durandal
ESRB Rating M (Mature)
800 Microsoft Points
Available Worldwide

Seventeen years ago, you survived a vicious Pfhor assault on the U.E.S.C. Marathon. Now you have been awakened by the enigmatic, sentient A.I. called Durandal and sent to an alien world to uncover the mysteries of their advanced technology. In Marathon: Durandal, armed with only a pistol, you are humanity’s last champion!

• Epic story: Exclusive to Xbox LIVE® Arcade, Marathon: Durandal is a cult classic first-person shooter (FPS) that continues the tradition of great gameplay while remaining faithful to the spirit of Bungie lore as the predecessor to the Halo franchise.
• Upgraded visuals: All images in the game have been redrawn in high definition.
• Modern networking: Marathon: Durandal features a new modern networking layer built with Xbox LIVE in mind.
• Superior control: The redesigned controls take full advantage of the Xbox 360 Controller and enhance playing a first-person shooter on a home console.
• For more details on “Marathon: Durandel”, please visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/m/marathondurandalxboxlivearcade/.

Freeverse is a registered trademark of Freeverse, Inc.

Spyglass Board Games
ESRB Rating E (Everyone)
400 Microsoft Points
Available Worldwide

Spyglass Board Games offers a fun new take on classic board games, like Chess, Checkers, Mancala, and Reversi. Play and chat socially on Xbox LIVE®, or play against the computer. Use the Xbox LIVE Vision camera to personalize the game board, playing pieces, and video effects. Each game has custom pieces to choose from, such as a rook made of stone, or a furry checkers piece with cute gleaming eyes. Make each game your very own!

• Full featured games: Four classic board games to choose from. Play Chess, Checkers, Mancala, or Reversi.
• Video integration with Xbox LIVE Vision camera: Fully integrated video chat lets you see your opponent. Use the video effects to personalize your game.
• Customizable pieces: Choose custom game pieces that range from traditional marble, to metallic silver, to fuzzy and wiggling gel.
• Twelve achievements: Twelve achievements are offered ranging from easy, such as playing all four games, to more challenging, such as taking all four corners in Reversi.
• For more game details on “Spyglass Board Games”, please visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/s/spyglassxboxlivearcade/.

The Virtual Console™ is like a box of chocolates: You never know which games
have the tasty caramel filling and which ones have that pink-green crème
inside. Whatever your preference, we’ve got you covered with this weeks
release of Star Soldier, Dynamite Headdy and Drop Off. Read on and savor the
delicious centers of these classic treats.

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

Star Soldier (NES®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence,
500 Wii Points): The standard for vertically scrolling shooters, Star Soldier
is the original game that spawned all of the titles in the long-running
Soldier series. Go inside a floating space station inhabited by a giant
computer known as Starbrain. Your mission: to stop Starbrain’s galactic
invasion by piloting Caesar, a new, compact space fighter through 16 deadly
stages. Collect power capsules to increase three different attributes of your
ship: firepower, movement speed and defensive shields. Blast wave after wave
of approaching enemies or use the innovative Trap Zone feature to fly beneath
a land mass and avoid incoming fire. Conquer each stage to make your way to
the final confrontation with Starbrain.

Dynamite Headdy™ (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Comic
Mischief, 800 Wii Points): Headdy, a toy with a detachable head, arrives in
North Town to find that the evil puppet king Dark Demon is causing serious
problems. Dark Demon is gathering up all the puppets in town and turning some
into his own evil minions, while eliminating the rest of the puppets that
aren’t good enough to join his legions. Headdy is captured and is targeted for
the incinerator, but escapes in the nick of time. Now he’s got to save the
town. To do so, Headdy has to take on all manner of bad guys and even has to
contend with his lifelong nemesis, Trouble Bruin the bear. Can Headdy overcome
all his foes and take down Dark Demon?

Drop Off (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): Brave
five rounds of haunting, nightmarish dreams in this take on the classic arcade
puzzler. To save his dearly beloved from the malicious demon that controls her
dreams and holds her captive, our brave hero plunges himself into the
nightmare to vanquish this evil foe. Deftly use the arrow items and control
the angle of the ball to shatter the blocks that descend from the top of the
screen. Set your sights on the joints holding the blocks together and knock
off multiple blocks in one exhilarating blow. As you drop more and more
blocks, their shapes will change, allowing you to earn bonus points. You must
use your concentration and reflexes to defeat the demon and save your beloved.

Labels: Nintendo, nintendo wii, Virtual Console

The Virtual Console™ is like a box of chocolates: You never know which games
have the tasty caramel filling and which ones have that pink-green crème
inside. Whatever your preference, we’ve got you covered with this weeks
release of Star Soldier, Dynamite Headdy and Drop Off. Read on and savor the
delicious centers of these classic treats.

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

Star Soldier (NES®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence,
500 Wii Points): The standard for vertically scrolling shooters, Star Soldier
is the original game that spawned all of the titles in the long-running
Soldier series. Go inside a floating space station inhabited by a giant
computer known as Starbrain. Your mission: to stop Starbrain’s galactic
invasion by piloting Caesar, a new, compact space fighter through 16 deadly
stages. Collect power capsules to increase three different attributes of your
ship: firepower, movement speed and defensive shields. Blast wave after wave
of approaching enemies or use the innovative Trap Zone feature to fly beneath
a land mass and avoid incoming fire. Conquer each stage to make your way to
the final confrontation with Starbrain.

Dynamite Headdy™ (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Comic
Mischief, 800 Wii Points): Headdy, a toy with a detachable head, arrives in
North Town to find that the evil puppet king Dark Demon is causing serious
problems. Dark Demon is gathering up all the puppets in town and turning some
into his own evil minions, while eliminating the rest of the puppets that
aren’t good enough to join his legions. Headdy is captured and is targeted for
the incinerator, but escapes in the nick of time. Now he’s got to save the
town. To do so, Headdy has to take on all manner of bad guys and even has to
contend with his lifelong nemesis, Trouble Bruin the bear. Can Headdy overcome
all his foes and take down Dark Demon?

Drop Off (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 600 Wii Points): Brave
five rounds of haunting, nightmarish dreams in this take on the classic arcade
puzzler. To save his dearly beloved from the malicious demon that controls her
dreams and holds her captive, our brave hero plunges himself into the
nightmare to vanquish this evil foe. Deftly use the arrow items and control
the angle of the ball to shatter the blocks that descend from the top of the
screen. Set your sights on the joints holding the blocks together and knock
off multiple blocks in one exhilarating blow. As you drop more and more
blocks, their shapes will change, allowing you to earn bonus points. You must
use your concentration and reflexes to defeat the demon and save your beloved.

Labels: Nintendo, nintendo wii, Virtual Console

Xbox LIVE to promote HD DVD versions of “300” and “Heroes: Season 1.”

SAN DIEGO — July 26, 2007 — Today at Comic-Con International 2007, Microsoft Corp. announced it will lower the price of the popular Xbox 360™ HD DVD Player from $199 to $179 ERP (United States only) starting Aug. 1, 2007, and will add five free HD DVD movies for anyone purchasing an Xbox 360 HD DVD Player between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30. In addition, Microsoft further solidified the Xbox 360 as the ultimate high-definition (HD) entertainment platform, with key announcements around the HD DVD launches of “300” from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and “Heroes: Season 1” from Universal Studios.

To promote the HD DVD versions of “300” and “Heroes: Season 1,” Microsoft unveiled exclusive content for Xbox LIVE^® Marketplace. Xbox LIVE will offer “300” on demand in HD starting Aug. 14, and is working with Warner Bros. at Comic-Con on a Bringing It Home campaign featuring “300” and other Warner Bros. properties. In advance of the street date for the “Heroes: Season 1” HD DVD boxed set, Xbox LIVE members will be able to download for free the show’s pilot episode in high definition for a limited time. Members will also be able to download trailers, teaser scenes and other promotional materials highlighting the “Heroes: Season 1” boxed set on HD DVD.

Already the most affordable high-definition player available, the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player is the best solution for movie lovers seeking HD content in the highest possible resolution. The player’s price reduction to $179 (U.S. ERP) continues to set the bar for value, making the Xbox 360 platform the most affordable solution for consumers seeking the broadest, most compelling selection of next-generation gaming and HD video experiences.

“With the price reduction to $179, the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player continues to be the most affordable way to enjoy high definition,” said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of Global Marketing, Interactive Entertainment Business, Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “From the beginning, we set out to offer Xbox 360 owners an unrivaled high-definition experience, with a choice of optical discs on the HD DVD format and digital downloads through Xbox LIVE Marketplace — both of which have a selection of the best content Hollywood has to offer. Today’s announcements around ‘300’ and ‘Heroes: Season 1’ are great examples of how we believe HD content can be offered to consumers.”

In addition to the price drop, Microsoft is extending Toshiba’s highly successful “Perfect Offer” of five free HD DVD discs to Xbox 360 consumers. Previously exclusive to Toshiba HD DVD Players, with the purchase of an Xbox 360 HD DVD Player at the new low price of $179 ERP, consumers can choose five HD DVD titles for free from a selection of 15 popular titles through a mail-in offer. With a retail value of over $140 (U.S.), this promotion makes the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player one of the most compelling offerings for consumers looking to make the leap into HD this holiday season.

LATEST Nancy Drew^® PC game debuts at Number One

Nancy Drew Becomes Top Adventure PC Game in June for North America

BELLEVUE, WA, July 26, 2007 – With sales of Nancy Drew PC games increasing year-over-year, Her Interactive achieved an impressive sales goal when they announced today that the company’s latest offering, Nancy Drew^®: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek, debuted at #1 in June, and went on to become the top-selling adventure PC game in North America for the month. Additionally, thanks to strong consumer demand at retail, Her Interactive landed five Nancy Drew games on the top 10 adventure PC game sales chart in June^*.

“2007 has already been a phenomenally exciting year for us as we’ve successfully expanded into Europe, increased our online distribution presence, and now achieved the top sales spot for our latest adventure PC game, and done so against some formidable competition,” said Megan Gaiser, President and CEO of Her Interactive. “We are proud of our sales success and hope to continue this positive momentum as we move towards the important holiday season.”

Her Interactive’s award-winning Nancy Drew PC game franchise has already achieved more than 4 million in unit sales to date, making it the top PC adventure game series over the last three years, and surpassing such notable counterparts as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Myst.

More information about Her Interactive and the company’s entire line of exciting Nancy Drew games can be found online at www.HerInteractive.com.

PT Boats: Knights of the Sea new website shipped

Moscow – July 26, 2007: Akella announces that an updated website of PT Boats: Knights of the Sea has been launched.

Brand-new graphics and images along with new sections are awaiting you here. While developing the new website we tried to meet expectations of naval simulators’ fans that are eager to extract detailed information on what’s going on. The Press section contains related publications in mass media, FAQs will get you in the loop of what’s been asked by other gamers before. The updated Museum houses new description of naval, aviation, and armament parks.

Not only have we added new sections the website interface has changed a lot – it’s more interactive, and impacts what you’ll see in the Museum section. You’re very welcome to visit www.pt-boats.net and plunge into the world of sea battles created for you. More surprises await you there.

PT Boats: Knights of the Sea

Genre: naval action simulator

Platform: PC

Developer and publisher in Russia & CIS: Akella

World publisher: TBD

Release date: Q4 2007

PT Boats: Knights of the Sea is a naval action simulator that places gamers in charge of a mosquito fleet of the Allied Forces, Russia or Germany during the height of World War II. Take command of a boat and control each member of the crew. Shoot down aircrafts using machineguns, torpedo hostile destroyers and supply ships. Plan your attacks in tactical mode, then switch to action mode and lead your fleet to the victory. In fact, you can do whatever it takes to accomplish your mission. While advancing in rank you’ll get more boats and warships under your command.
Fight versus real opponents in multiplayer game. Align with your friends to create the best ship crew ever and beat the rival team in a fair battle!

2K Games Releases Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword^TM – the Largest Civilization® Expansion Pack Ever!

New York, NY – July 25, 2007 – 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today that Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword^TM, the latest expansion pack for the critically acclaimed Civilization IV^TM series, is now available. Developed for the PC by the Company's world-renowned development studio Firaxis Games™, Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword sets a series milestone by showcasing the largest amount of expansion content in the history of the Civilization® franchise.

Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is the second expansion pack for Sid Meier’s Civilization IV - the 2005 PC Game of the Year and a major commercial success, selling over 1.5 million units worldwide since its October 2005 release. This expansion focuses on the late-game time periods after the invention of gunpowder and delivers eleven challenging and decidedly different scenarios created by the development team at Firaxis Games, as well as members of the Civilization Fan Community. Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword also includes ten new civilizations, 16 new leaders, five new wonders, and a variety of new units that will offer even more fun and exciting ways for players to expand their civilization’s power as they strive for world domination.

“Given the overwhelming critical and commercial success of Sid Meier’s Civilization IV, we were inspired to provide these loyal fans with the series’ most robust expansion pack ever,” said Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K. “By featuring more content than any other Civilization expansion pack, Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is a must-have for all Civilization fans and will set a new industry-wide bar for expansions.”

Key features include:

• Expanded Epic Game: Firaxis Games delivers a massive increase in new units, buildings, and technologies to the epic game with additional focus on the late-game time periods.
• New Game Scenarios: The expansion will deliver 11 new scenarios, many containing themes never before included in the Civilization series, custom designed by the team at Firaxis and select members of the Civ Fan Community. Stand-alone downloadable demos available for the space-themed Final Frontier scenario and the historical Charlemagne scenario are available at http://www.2kgames.com/civ4/beyondthesword/.

• New Civilizations: The expansion pack includes ten new civilizations, such as Portugal, Babylon and Netherlands and their associated unique units and buildings.

• More Civilization Leaders: Sixteen new leaders including leaders for the ten new civilizations, as well as additional leaders for existing civilizations. Abraham Lincoln, Boudica, Hammurabi and Sitting Bull are just a few of the new leaders.

• Corporations: A new gameplay feature allows players to create corporations and spread them throughout the world. Each corporation provides benefits in exchange for certain resources.

• Espionage: Now available much earlier in the game, this expanded feature offers players many new ways to spy on opponents, stir citizen unrest and defend their government’s secrets.

• Events: New random events such as natural disasters, pleas for help, or demands from their citizens will challenge players to overcome obstacles in order for their civilizations to prosper.

• New Wonders: Five new wonders await discovery including the Statue of Zeus, Cristo Redentor, Shwedagon Paya, the Mausoleum of Maussollos, and the Moai Statues.

• Expanded Space Victory: Winning the race to Alpha Centauri will now require more strategic planning and tactical decision making.

• Apostolic Palace: An ancient version of The United Nations, the Apostolic Palace will become available earlier in the game, providing a way for players to win a diplomatic victory more quickly. New resolutions will also be added which will expand the available diplomatic options.

• Advanced Starts: A major fan request; this new feature will enable players to “buy” components of a custom-tailored empire and begin play in the later part of the game, allowing them to experience many of the new features of the expansion pack in a shorter amount of time.

• Enhanced AI: The AI has received many enhancements, making it tougher to beat on the higher difficulty levels. The ways in which the AI will attempt to achieve victory have also been expanded.

Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword requires the full version of Sid Meier’s Civilization IV and is now available for PC for $29.99. The title is rated “E10+” for Everyone 10 and older. For more information please visit http://www.civilization.com/.

Showdown: Scorpion new website launched

Akella and B-Cool Interactive announce Showdown: Scorpion new website. The newly-born website includes most relevant updates on the game development and contains the Game section (covering the key storyline, characters, armory, and features), the Media section (featuring the freshest game assets), Press and Community sections. The News Blog and Forum can also be found on www.ScorpionTheGame.com.

About Showdown: Scorpion

Genre: FPS

Platform: PC

Publisher: Akella

Developer: B-Cool Interactive

Release date: Q1 2008

After several major economical and political crises the world as we know it ceased to exist. Only few major states survived 2020s, while the lesser authorities have collapsed, leaving behind anarchy and pollution. The power vacuum was filled by key international companies who acquired control over derelict territories, forming Free Commerce Areas (FCAs).

In early 2030s ruins of unknown origin were discovered in Sudan. Several artifacts possibly of alien nature were quickly revealed and soon major dig has started. But few month of work as well as bulk of dig team were lost to underground explosion followed by contamination of the region. To prevent disease from spreading series of nuclear strikes were made, completely annihilating the site. These events have caused major resonance and soon treaty limiting the usage of dangerous technologies and weapon systems was signed between FCAs and UN. As a result International Committee of Technology and Warfare Supervision (ICTS) with its own military and intelligence units, was created.

Same time few survivors of Sudan Incident emerged as founders of newly formed Zenith Corporation. This institution with HQ in Zagreb FCA quickly established itself as a notorious player on weapon, pharmaceutics and IT markets. But in 2028 several instances of Zenith weapon systems together with samples of unidentified biological weapons were discovered during the liquidation of the extremists’ Albanian group in Kosovo.

ICTS immediately started investigation. It was planned to infiltrate Zenith as a customer with clear ties to one of the terrorists’ organization and get a proof of its illegal activity. One of the best ICTS field agents, codename Scorpion, has been assigned to this mission…

Game Key Features

• Intense action in cyber-punk styled Earth 2028
• Futuristic storyline supported by multiple cut-scenes
• Combination of first-person combat and stealth action elements provides unique gaming experience
• Impressive arsenal of upgradable weapons
• Character can gain access to several paranormal psychic powers including ability to subdue the will his enemies for short period of time
• Advanced squad-oriented combat AI creates strong challenging opposition
• Elite opponents who possess similar to player character supernatural powers
• Cutting-edge game engine produces detailed realistic picture

GAMETRAILERS.COM CROWNS WINNERS OF THE
"GAMETRAILERS BEST OF E3 2007 AWARDS"

Expert Editorial Staff Choose Top Products in 26 Categories

Electronic Arts' Rock Band Awarded "Best of Show"

Santa Monica, Calif. (July 25, 2007) - GameTrailers unveils the winners of the second annual "GameTrailers Best of E3 2007 Awards." Celebrating the outstanding achievements in gaming, one winner in 26 separate categories were hand-picked from hundreds of games exhibited at the 2007 E3 Business and Media Summit. The top award, "Best of Show," was given to MTV Games' Rock Band, while other stand-out honorees included Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed for "Best Action Adventure" and Activision's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for "Best First-Person Shooter." "The editorial team at GameTrailers was absolutely blown away by the caliber of games at this year's E3," said Shane Satterfield, Editor-in-Chief, GameTrailers. "Choosing the nominees and winners was extremely difficult, and we applaud the developers of these games for going the extra mile to deliver unparalleled experiences." Nominees were narrowed down to five per category totaling 130 nominees across all platforms and genres. With the exception of the "Best Trailer Award" and "Best Graphics Award," all games must have been playable by the press at the show to be eligible for nomination. Nominees were chosen by the expert editorial staff at GameTrailers. GameTrailers extensive E3 2007 coverage which includes over eleven hundred pieces of original content, has attracted more than nine million gamers and over 80 million video views to date. Log on to GameTrailers at www.gametrailers.com/game/5191.html to catch all the awards action and the very best of E3 2007. Winners of the "GameTrailers Best of E3 2007 Awards" are as follows: GENERAL AWARDS - Best of Show: Rock Band - MTV Games Best Trailer: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Activision Most Innovative: LittleBigPlanet - SCEA Best Graphics: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Activision One to Watch: Resident Evil 5 - Capcom Best New Franchise: LittleBigPlanet- SCEA Best Non-Game: Jam Sessions - Ubisoft Best Music/Rhythm: Rock Band - MTV Games Best Hardware: Xbox 360 GENRE AWARDS - Best Action/Adventure: Assassin's Creed - Ubisoft Best Puzzle/Parlor Game: Zak and Wik: The Quest for Barbaros' Treasure - Capcom Best Strategy: World in Conflict - Vivendi Best Role-Playing: Eternal Sonata - Namco/Bandai Best Sports: Madden NFL 08 - Electronic Arts Best First-Person Shooter: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Activision Best-Third Person: Fracture - LucasArts Best Online: LittleBigPlanet - SCEA Best Racing: Burnout Paradise - Electronic Arts Best Fighting: Virtua Fighter 5 - Sega PLATFORM AWARDS - Best Xbox 360: Rock Band - MTV Games Best PlayStation 3: LittleBigPlanet - SCEA Best Nintendo Wii: Super Mario Galaxy - Nintendo Best Nintendo DS: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - Nintendo Best Sony PSP: God of War: Chains of Olympus - SCEA Best PC: Half Life 2: The Orange Box - Electronic Arts

About GameTrailers
GameTrailers (GT) is the premier video destination for gaming entertainment and information. GT delivers timely, high-resolution broadband video content for gamers that includes original shows, video reviews, game trailers and comprehensive video coverage of gaming events from around the world. GT also has a robust community that features user-generated content, a community marketplace and a variety of communication tools so gamers can talk to friends and share media such as fan movies, machinima and daily blogs. GT has offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York and is a division of Viacom Inc.'s (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B) MTV Networks Entertainment Group.

Haarlem, The Netherlands -- July 25, 2007 -- Leading Publisher Lighthouse Interactive today released a teaser for its fantasy-based Action RPG game AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage. Scheduled to release in October 2007 on the PC, this new RPG successfully combines fast-paced and dynamic combat elements with a solid RPG foundation to create a compelling story-driven gaming experience. AVENCAST will also be Windows® Vista(tm) compatible.

The teaser features nightmarish enemies in tense combat situations as the hero unleashes vicious melee and spell casting attacks. However, AVENCAST is not only about combat. There are strong adventure elements involving a multitude of dangerous quests, exploration of vast environments to unearth powerful relics, puzzle solving, and interaction with various non-playing characters (NPCs) to advance the engaging story.

As the sun rises over Avencast, the renowned academy of magic; a young adept begins his perilous journey. In a world of wizardry, wonder and untold mystery, you must undertake some of the most diverse quests to hone your abilities in spell casting, weaponry and melee combat. Your martial skills are soon put to the test as demonic monsters of unknown ancient origin descend upon Avencast turning the academy into a horrific state of chaos and destruction.

Armed with over 50 combat moves and spells, and a vast arsenal of equipment items, you must uncover the source of these ominous happenings while vanquishing an onslaught of fiendish enemies. Treachery and deceit reveal themselves as the vicious army of adversaries beleaguers your frail haven threatening Avencast's very existence. Amidst the mayhem, an astonishing truth unfolds which will forever change the battle scarred Wizard.

AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage is accessible to novice RPG game players, but it will also challenge core RPG and Action fans. Both combat and non-combat interactions create a perfect balance between brains and brawn. By requiring players to bring their own combat and strategic skills to the forefront, they will have the excitement of crafting a powerful character unleashing their hero's potential.

• Cast Lethal Spells from Different Skill Trees - Surrounded by vicious foes, unleash a mighty soul magic spell. The pure agglomeration of energy alone produces a warp in the surrounding atmosphere before the catastrophic nova demolishes your enemies. Blood Magic (elementally charged blows with varying speeds, ranges, and damage properties) and Soul Magic (covers all kinds of ranged magic spells allowing better area control) - both allow players to summon reinforcements during combat.
• Perilous Quests - While brawn and agility will win most battles, acumen and strategic thinking are necessary to survive challenging quests.
• Fluid Combat System - Chain together spells and easily execute lethal attacks using an innovative system that favors skillful gameplay over dull mouse clicking. Unleash your hero's potential as you bring your own player skills to each intense battle.
• Strong Player Personification & Character Development - Acquire new equipment, armor, weapons and spell casting skills to craft a powerful character.
• Over 30 Nightmarish Monsters with Advanced AI - Each with versatile combat strategies, attacks, and defensive moves dependant upon the player's behavior and attack strategy.
• State-of-the-art 3D Engine - Stunning graphics enhanced with advanced visual effects make for an impressive display of devastating spell casting.
• Many Hours of Exciting Gameplay - Set in diverse worlds with both indoor and outdoor environments to explore.
• Attractive to a Broad Range of Players - An Action RPG at its core, but dynamic gameplay and adventure-like quests make AVENCAST attractive to a broad range of game players.

EA SPORTS Delivers Country and Rock to NASCAR 08 Soundtrack

From Pole to Checkered Flag – NASCAR 08 Soundtrack Burns Up the Track with Full Throttle Mix

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – July 20, 2007 – Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced a full-throttle mix of country and rock on its soundtrack for NASCAR® 08 in stores July 26, 2007. Mulit-platinum country duos Brooks & Dunn and Big & Rich trade paint with hard rock’s Velvet Revolver and Airbourne to represent the fast and dangerous sounds of the total NASCAR experience.

The soundtrack reflects NASCAR’s growing and diverse fan base, speaking to both its country roots and surging urban enthusiasts. The NASCAR 08 soundtrack features the exclusive debut of Long Haul, from the forthcoming album by legendary country superstars Brooks & Dunn, as well as the pounding tracks Loud and Radio from the acclaimed new album by multi-Platinum pair Big & Rich. Hard rock supergroup Velvet Revolver takes racing intensity to the wall with the single She Builds Quick Machines, while hot new Australian band Airbourne - also featured in Madden NFL 08 - challenges all competition with Stand Up For Rock ‘N’ Roll.

“NASCAR 08 puts gamers behind the wheel with a soundtrack that puts the pedal to the floor,” said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing at EA. “Today’s NASCAR has 75 million of the most brand-loyal fans in all of sports, and any music mix must be a real reflection of true NASCAR culture. It’s more than country. It’s bigger than rock. This soundtrack is 100% cars ‘n’ guitars adrenaline that will blow gamers’ doors off.”

Rising country music star, Jason Aldean will be performing Monday night, July 23 at the invite-only EA SPORTS™ NASCAR 08 Launch Party in New York City. Amongst other songs, Jason will perform Johnny Cash, his recent hit single that is featured in the NASCAR 08 soundtrack.

NASCAR 08 delivers the most robust NASCAR console racing experience in franchise history. This 10th edition of the official NASCAR racing video game features two-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion and driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet Tony Stewart on the cover and makes its franchise debut on next generation systems including the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system. The game is rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB.

The complete in-game soundtrack for NASCAR 08 includes:

ARTIST - SONG - ALBUM TITLE
Airbourne - Stand Up For Rock ‘N Roll - Runnin’ Wild
Big & Rich - Loud - Between Raising…and Amazing Grace
Big & Rich - Radio - Between Raising…and Amazing Grace
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Need Some Air - Baby 81
Blackberry Smoke - Up In Smoke
Brooks & Dunn - Long Haul
Bucky Covington - Empty Handed - Bucky Covington
Crossin Dixon - Stomp - Crossin Dixon
Halfway To Hazard - Country ‘Til The Day We Die - Halfway To Hazard
Jason Aldean - Johnny Cash - relentless
Palmerston - Addicted To This - Palmerston
Velvet Revolver - She Builds Quick Machines - Libertad

To purchase the music from the soundtrack, go to EA’s music site at www.ea.com/eatrax/. For more information about NASCAR 08, visit http://www.easports.com/.

Labels: EA Sports, Nascar 08

Wii-kly Update: Three New Classic Games Added to Wii Shop Channel

Ah, the three classic summer leisure activities: golf, pinball and battling
hordes of evil creatures. Luckily, it’s Monday and once again Nintendo has you
covered. Players can hit the crazy links with the spherical Kirby, become a
pinball wizard or just enjoy an afternoon of helping good triumph over evil.
So pour yourself a tall glass of lemonade and settle in for some classic
gaming fun.

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

Kirby’s Dream Course™ (Super NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii
Points): Step up to the tee for the wackiest golf game of your life. This one-
or two-player game features a floating golf course in the sky. High above
Dream Land, players can pitch and putt the ever-popular puff ball, Kirby,
through a maze of three-dimensional obstacles on a zany checkerboard course.
Players must aim for the multitude of enemies that are spread throughout each
fairway. Kirby must hit all the enemies to make them disappear, and the last
one becomes the hole. Sink Kirby into the hole to advance to the next stage
and clear all 8 courses – 64 holes in all.

Devil’s Crush (TurboGrafx16, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone – Animated
Blood, Mild Fantasy Violence, 600 Wii Points): Devil’s Crush is the exciting
sequel to the hit pinball game Alien Crush and features even smoother ball
movement and enhanced special effects. Shoot the ball onto the board with the
Devil Shooter, then use flippers and nudging to keep it in play and rack up a
high score. Complete certain conditions to play up to six different bonus
stages. Get a “Perfect Clear” on those to earn a huge amount of points. The
game’s ominous theme is enhanced by its enemies: wandering skeleton knights,
sorcerers and even a giant face that changes from a goddess to a sinister
serpent.

Shining Force™ (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy
Violence, 800 Wii Points): In ages long forgotten, Light fought Darkness for
control of the world. Finally, the Ancients defeated the evil ruler of the
dark forces known as Dark Dragon and cast him into another dimension, though
he vowed to return in 1,000 years. As time passed, all memory of Dark Dragon
was buried, and the land of Rune enjoyed 10 centuries of peace. Yet, as
promised, the dark ruler returned, along with hordes of evil creatures that
ravaged the land. As chaos erupted, several strongholds of Good still held
out, awaiting a hero who could wield the Powers of Light.

Labels: Nintendo, nintendo wii, Virtual Console

10 Fast Facts from Nintendo – First Half 2007*

--Through the first half of 2007, the total Wii™ hardware sell-through in
the United States and Canada combined is more than 2.3 million units (2.1
million United States, 222,000 Canada).

--For the first half of 2007, Nintendo represents nearly 70 percent of the
industry growth in the United States and Canada combined.

--In June alone, Wii was once again the top-selling home console with
nearly 435,000 units sold in the United States and Canada combined (381,800
United States, 53,000 Canada).

--In June alone, Nintendo DS™ was the top-selling video game system overall
with nearly 608,000 units sold in the United States and Canada combined
(562,000 United States, 46,000 Canada).

--Nintendo remained the top video game publisher in the United States and
Canada in June, as well as the top publisher for all of 2007.

--In June alone, Nintendo has six of the top 10 best-selling games in the
United States, including the top four: Mario Party® 8 and Wii Play™ for
Wii, and Pokémon® Diamond and Pokémon® Pearl for Nintendo DS.

--Of the top 30 best-selling games in the United States for all of 2007,
half are for Nintendo systems.

--The three best-selling games in the United States for all of 2007 are for
Nintendo systems: Pokémon Diamond, Wii Play and Pokémon Pearl.

--Wii already boasts more than 180 games, including 120 downloadable
Virtual Console™ titles. By the end of the year, that total number will
climb to about 330 games, including an additional 100 new games from every
major third-party publisher, along with an additional 50 Virtual Console
titles.

--Approximately 300 games are already available for Nintendo DS, with
another 140 titles expected by the end of the year from every major third-
party publisher.

# # #

*Sources: NPD and NPD Canada

Labels: Nintendo

ACTIVISION ANNOUNCES GUITAR HERO' ENCORE: ROCKS THE 80S' HAS ROCKED ITS WAY ONTO RETAIL SHELVES

Shreddin' You Back to the Old School One Riff at a Time

SUNNYVALE, CA - July 24 - Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced that the latest installment of the wildly popular Guitar Hero™ franchise, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s™, is now available at retail stores nationwide. Available exclusively for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s takes fans back to an era where neon was radical, fanny packs were in, and spandex was never tight enough.

Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s features visually stunning retro rock venues and hipster characters, unlockable guitars, and intense game play modes. The totally stellar soundtrack includes songs by artists such as Flock of Seagulls, Twisted Sister and Judas Priest. With additional songs as made famous by The Go Go's, Poison, Iron Maiden and Quiet Riot, fans can grab a bottle of ultra-hold hairspray, tighten their headbands, and rock all the way back to the '80s.

"From heavy metal to hair metal to punk, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s includes some of the greatest rock anthems of the era," said Dusty Welch, head of publishing at RedOctane. "We're very excited to be able to offer new content to our loyal PS2 fans, and will definitely keep them shredding their axes until the holiday season."

Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s, rated T for Teen by the ESRB, is published by RedOctane® and developed by Harmonix. For more information, please visit the dedicated community site http://www.guitarherogame.com/.

Labels: Activision, Guitar Hero Encore Rocks the 80s, Playstation 2, RedOctane

EA ANNOUNCES ARMY OF TWO HITTING RETAIL STORES WORLDWIDE THIS NOVEMBER 2007

EA Montreal’s Highly Anticipated New Intellectual Property and Unique Two-Man Gameplay Set to Redefine the Co-op Action/Shooter Genre

Montréal, Canada, July 24, 2007– Never go into battle alone! The deadliest two-man military outfit a government can buy is hitting retail stores this holiday. Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that ARMY OF TWO™ will be on retail shelves starting November 15, 2007 in North America and Europe. Launching on the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, ARMY OF TWO gameplay focuses on two-man missions, two-man strategies, two-man tactics and a two-man advantage to bring a new and groundbreaking gaming experience to players worldwide, online and offline. Co-op is no longer a mode, it’s the game.

ARMY OF TWO will captivate gamers with a politically charged storyline, centering on the impact and ethical issues of Private Military Corporations. EA Montreal has also enlisted world renowned composer, Trevor Morris, to bring all aspects of the storyline and epic two-man gameplay to life through a powerful soundtrack. Morris has worked on numerous Hollywood blockbuster titles including Black Hawk Down, Bad Boys II, The Last Samurai and Pirates of the Caribbean 1 and 2.

ARMY OF TWO is developed by EA Montreal and has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI. Visit http://www.esrb.org/ or http://www.pegionline.eu/ for updated rating information. For more information on the game, please visit the official game website at www.armyoftwo.com.

Labels: Army of Two, EA

EA ANNOUNCES SOUNDTRACK FOR BOOGIE

Highly Anticipated Dancing and Singing Game Hits Retail Stores this August With Music Made Popular By Hit Bands Including The Jackson 5, Britney Spears, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cyndi Lauper and Black Eyed Peas

Montreal, Canada – July 10, 2007 – Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today the complete soundtrack for Boogie™, which will be released for the Wii™ on August 7, 2007 in North America and August 31, 2007 in Europe. The game features more than 35 hit songs from over four decades including Celebration, Dancing Machine, Groove Is In The Heart, and We Are Family. Boogie ships with a packed-in karaoke microphone peripheral and includes new versions of tracks made popular by the hit bands listed below. The game has a U.S. MSRP of $59.99.

”This is a breakthrough game with a landmark soundtrack,” said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing at EA. “We’ve brought together generations of the biggest hits in pop music history for a game that takes Wii innovation to a whole new level. Boogie is truly the ultimate family fun experience.”

Players will dance, sing and create music videos with this ultimate videogame party package that takes advantage of the innovative Wii controls. Gamers can sing their favorite tunes or dance to the latest hit songs as well as catch their best dance moves, record their own voice and make music videos with the easy-to-use music video creator.

SONG MADE - POPULAR BY
ABC - The Jackson 5
Baila Me - Gypsy Kings
Boogie Oogie Oogie - Taste Of Honey
Brick House - The Commodores
Canned Heat - Jamiroquai
Celebration - Kool & The Gang
Dancing in the Street - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
Dancing Machine - Jackson 5
Don't Cha - Pussycat Dolls / Busta Rhymes
Fergalicious - Fergie
Get Right - Jennifer Lopez
Get The Party Started - Pink
Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
Groove Is In The Heart - Dee-Lite
I Want You Back - Jackson 5
I’m A Slave 4 U - Britney Spears
It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls
Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
Le Freak - Chic
Let's Get It Started - Black Eyed Peas
Love Rollercoaster - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Love Shack - The B-52's
Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of…) - Lou Bega
Milkshake - Kelis
One More Time - Daft Punk
One Way Or Another - Blondie
Oops I Did It Again - Britney Spears
Pop Muzik - M
S.O.S. - Rihanna
Stars - Simply Red
That's The Way (I Like It) - KC And The Sunshine
Tu Y Yo - Thalia
U Can't Touch This - M.C. Hammer
Virtual Insanity - Jamiroquai
Walking On Sunshine - Katrina & The Waves
We Are Family - Sister Sledge
Y.M.C.A. - The Village People

To see the full song list and purchase the music from the soundtrack, please visit www.ea.com/eatrax/.

Boogie is the perfect party game and a complete entertainment package for gamers of all ages. This game is been rated E10+ by the ESRB and 3+ by PEGI Europe. For updated rating information visit http://www.esrb.org/.

Labels: Boogie, EA

EA’s DICE Studio Announces A New Reflection in Gaming with “Mirror’s Edge”

A Revolutionary First Person Action Adventure for Next Generation Consoles and PCs from the Makers of Battlefield

Redwood City, CA. – July 10th 2007 – Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) today confirmed that it has a new game in development for next generation consoles and the PC at its EA DICE studio in Stockholm. Mirror’s Edge™ is a revolutionary new take on the First Person Action Adventure category.

Patrick Soderlund, General Manager of EA DICE, commented: “We are a studio that believes in taking risks and taking games in new directions. We made the sandbox experience viable and enjoyable in Battlefield and now, we are looking to do something radical with the traditional established mechanics of first person movement.”

Senior producer, Owen O’Brien, commented: “We want to change the way that players are able to move in first person. No more restrictions, no more being blocked by simple barriers such as walls and fences. We want to enable the player to move like a real person, with the ability to run, jump, vault and slide in a way that has never been seen before in a first person game."

Mirror’s Edge will ship in calendar year 2008 for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment system and for the PC and is being developed at EA DICE in Stockholm, Sweden. This product is not yet rated by PEGI or ESRB. For more information on EA DICE, please visit http://www.dice.se or www.ea.com.

Labels: EA, Mirror's Edge

EA UNVEILS FINAL DESIGN THEMES FOR THE SIMS 2 H&M FASHION RUNWAY

Players Invited to Create Eveningwear, Beachwear and Red Carpet Fashions Inspired by H&M and blockbuster video game franchise, The Sims 2

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—July 10, 2007— Today Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company, announced the final three design themes for The Sims™ 2 H&M® Fashion Runway, including “Night Out,” “Let’s Go to the Beach” and “Red Carpet”. The Sims 2 H&M Fashion Runway provides The Sims fans, designers and fashionistas alike the tools to create their very own fashions using The Sims 2 and the summer-themed collection The Sims 2 H&M Fashion Stuff pack. One lucky participant will have the opportunity to have their design produced by H&M and sold in stores worldwide!

The Sims 2 H&M Fashion Runway offers a unique opportunity for budding designers, fashion aficionados and The Sims fans to express their infinite creativity and personal fashion style. Using The Sims 2 for PC, players can create their own fashion designs, submit them online and enjoy the chance to see Sims wearing their creations in a virtual runway show broadcast on Yahoo!, www.TheSims2FashionRunway.com and www.hm.com. Whether designing the latest fashions, viewing them on the virtual runway or voting on what should be the next hot design, anyone can participate The Sims 2 H&M Fashion Runway!

For each design theme, 12 designs will be selected and featured in a virtual runway show that to be broadcast online all summer long. Voting will then open up to The Sims 2 community (www.thesims2.com), H&M Fans, and fashion enthusiasts everywhere, with top picks featured in a Grand Finale Fashion Runway Showcase. From Milan to Montreal, Miami to Madrid, fans around the world are encouraged to vote for their favorite design in The Sims 2 Fashion Runway Showcase beginning mid-July www.TheSims2FashionRunway.com. Submissions for the themes are as follows: eveningwear “Night Out” (July 7-13), swimwear “Let’s Go to the Beach” (July 14-20) and lastly, glamorous couture “Red Carpet” submissions (July 21-27).

For complete rules and more information on how to participate in this original, creative experience, go to www.TheSims2FashionRunway.com.

The Sims 2 H&M Fashion Stuff is available now on retail shelves across Europe and North American.

Labels: EA, Sims 2

Damn! My feet hurt, my back hurts and I am in massive need of caffine (thank goodness for all the free Coke!), but I have returned from a busy, busy day of E3. After ate lunch, I went off to see what SOE had brought to the show. While showing off a few titles, I focused on the most interesting of their PC titles: Pirates of the Burning Sea and The Agency. Pirates of the Burning Sea is actually essentially finished - the developer would have shipped what they have here as the finished product had SOE not stepped in and given them another year to make the game perfect. Allowing you to live out your wildiest pirate adventures in a MMO setting, Pirates made an impressive showing at E3. Custom flags and masts, an ever-changing world that can change between PvP and PvE at any moment as well as an economy that is solely held up by the players, and a battle system that involves much more than just clicking and pressing hot keys round out the Pirates experience I was shown today.

The Agency, a FPS/3rd person hybrid MMO, was shown in true playable form, as it was actually a movie file of the developers playing it that was shown. After a brief breakdown of the gameplay - which includes Operatives that will work for you even when you aren't playing so even when you don't play you won't get far behind friends - we were shown the gameplay video. With stylish graphics that are more over-the-top and unique than realisitc and refined controls, The Agency looks like, if it can captialize on all the genre-pushing ideas the developers have, could be the next big thing. But enemy A.I., gameplay balance and spreading the experience too thin with too many options are concerns I pulled from my experience today.

After that, I went off to the Barker Hanger, which is the closest thing to the old E3 of booths and games that is here. I was able to get my hands-on quite a few awesome titles, but as the media room is about to close (I am always having this problem!), I will short list them for now.

Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles (WII) - Graphics are above average for a Wii title, the new Zapper controller is comfortable and effective for the gameplay. Not sure how much depth is in this game, but my small taste did perk my interest.

Zach and Wiki (WII) -Vibrant graphics and 3D point-and-click adventure controls seem perfectly suited for the Wii. Gestures are used to interact with the world with more than just clicks. As long as the puzzles and characters stay interesting, this will be a winner.

Hellboy (360, PSP) - The 360 version is shaping up decently, with gameplay that will satify both the hardcore and casual gamer. Interactive environments are fun, combos are varied, graphics are decent though some of the textures could use some work. The PSP version, surprising, looks pretty good, with some really crisp textures. Gameplay isn't as solid though, as it feels a lot like every other beat-em-up on the system.

4 minutes before I get the boot, so I have to cut this short again. Sorry, but expect more tomorrow!

Labels: Capcom, E3 2007, Konami

Good morning! Your E3 rat has returned for another day of sniffing out news and bring you all the impressions and hands-on reports he can. I need to catch myself up from yesterday, as I was rushed out of the media room before I could finish my thoughts, but at that same time, I have a meeting with SOE real soon and need lunch, so here's a small catch up bit to last you until I return!

Condemned 2 - simply amazing. Easily the most impressive game I have seen in playable form here so far. We were shown around about 25% of the first level, steered by one of the developers. The game opens after the main character (the same one from the first game) and his homeless friend being kicked out of a bar and are now off to find more booze. New to the series are context sensitive moments where if you hit the A button quick enough, you'll interact with the cut scenes. These are generally very simple gestures, such as shaking hands, flipping someone off, etc. I didn't get to see what happens if you don't press the button, though it doesn't seem to be wholly detrimental to your experience.

While the graphics, even in its unfinished state, were very slick. Textures were varied and detailed, frame rate was silky smooth and the physics were accurate and impressive. But what really impressed was how enemies took damage. Depending on where you hit them and with what, enemies would bruise, cut and bleed. You can also break arms and disable your enemies, the key, I was told, to taking on multiple enemies at once. Environmental kills are also making a return, but are far easier to pull off now.

After seeing more of the first level, we were shown the improved forensics parts. You will be called upon, at more random times this time around, to discover why and how someone died, much like in CSI. You will be given essentially a form to fill out, answering questions such as 'who is the person dead?' and 'where is the murder scene?' Your cursor will highlight certain objects, wounds and other items around and you must select from a menu what the answer is to your questions. For example, when answering who the dead person was, we looked at the face and determined it was a male, looked at the uniform to determine he was a police officer, then looked at this badge to figure out who he was. I felt like I was playing Phoenix Wright - a grand compliment!

Finally, we were shown a survival mode dubbed 'bum fight.' This is exactly what it sounds like - you against waves after waves of enemies until you die. I was told this mode actually came from developers playing around, testing A.I. and after a few hours, they decided it was so fun to make it an accessible mode. It is basically a way to 'crack skulls for 15 minutes' I was told - nothing wrong with that! You can set the parameters of the fight, since as how many enemies at a time, what weapons are available and what enemies you want to fight (all of which are unlocked as you complete levels in single player).

A few more notes to wrap Condemned 2 up. Multiplayer is going to play a big part, with a promise given to us that the same stale multiplayer will not be simply rehashed in Condemned 2 - they plan on exploring the possibilities the game world they have created allows. What that means I wasn't able to find out, but it is nice to at least hear a developer willing to branch out and take a risk or two.

All in all, this game is nothing short of amazing in its demoed form and as long as the development team keeps pushing forward and pushing the envelope of game play as they showed yesterday, Condemned 2 will easily be a huge hit when it drops.

Before I go, I want to make a few comments regarding Ubisoft, once press conference I am watching right now. Much like everyone else, Ubisoft is jumping on the casual bandwagon hard, with more than a dozen new DS titles coming out soon. Lots of new animal with a 'Z' at the end games coming, including Dolphinz and Tigerz. A line of games to cater to preteen/teen girls is on its way as are the My Coach series of self-help titles. Jam Sessions was shown off and looks just as interesting and creative as it did a few months ago. One Wii game was show, Nitro Bikes, which looks to take the Excitetruck experience back to the bikes, with fast, arcade action and much welcomed online play.

Then the big guns came out. The new Brothers in Arms next-gen title, Hell's Highway, was shown in playable form and looked quite good. Graphics were crisp and gameplay was tight, varied and extremely realistic. Also shown in playable form was Assassin's Creed, which simply stole the show. Breathtaking visuals, superb sound effects (voice, effects and music) and the gameplay looked to take the Prince of Persia formula to new highs with more interactive environments and a greater sense of improvision in how you accomplish a task as well as get to where you are going.

Well, Ubisoft is over and lunch is waiting. Expect more updates as the day continues!

Labels: E3 2007, SEGA

Back again! Its been a few hours since I posted last and a whole lot has gone down in that short amount of time. I sat in on a few more press conferences and enjoyed a private showing of SEGA's upcoming titles not shown at the no appointment necessary Barker Hanger.

I know some of these are vague and missing detail, but I only have 20 minutes of computer time so I gotta go fast!

First off, EA. The EA press conference focused not on the entire lineup but nearly exclusively on casual games. Which is no surprise considering their newly formed division, EA Casual Games, was only just announced to the public. As is no surprise, the majority of the games shown off from their casual divisions were for the Wii. We were treated to live demonstrations of Boogie (Wii), EA Playground (Wii), Smarty Pants (Wii - working title) and blocks title coming out of EA's partnership with famed director, Steven Spielberg.

Boogie is shaping up quite nicely, with very slick visuals that do not give off that PS2/XB/GC stench and fun, if not goofy and embarrassing, gameplay. We were given a live demonstration, showing off not only the dancing - which involves flailing around like a bird having a seizure - and singing - a man with a thick accent is the perfect singer for the Pussycat Girls' "Don't Cha" - but also the replay ability of the game. Our demonstrator showed off a video he had made earlier in the day, which included his dance moves and voice, using a 3D effect. I wasn't sure this title was going to show any appeal outside of the younger set, but if the final game is as solid as what was shown off, Boogie could quickly become a sleeper hit.

EA Playground, announced a couple weeks before E3, was finally shown off to the public. On its surface, it is a Wii compilation of many of the games kids play at school, such as dodgeball and tetherball. But dig a little deeper and you will find new games such as Kicks - the odd combo of soccer and volleyball. The two games shown off - dodgeball and tetherball - were completely controlled with the Wiimote with only the most necessary of controls. I'm not sure how much depth and lasting appeal one may be able to pull from this game, but again, the younger and casual set should have a ball.

Smarty Pants is a quiz show game that brings in gesture controls for things such as ringing in - done by raising your hand, spinning the wheel - you actually have to crank it up, and tug of war of two players tie when ringing in. Not much else is known about this title, but if the questions are plentiful and the quick, gesture-based mini-games interesting, Mario Party may have some competition for the ultimate Wii party title.

Finally, the block title (I can't remember if this actually had a name or not) is an interesting puzzler that can be bested described as Jenga on crack (or Jenga meets dominoes if you don't like crack). You have your Jenga-style towers and blocks, but along with those are special blocks that explode, shoot goo or are cows. Yep, you read that right - cows. There will be around 20 character blocks once the game is finished, along with many, many puzzles, multiplayer and a puzzle editor so you can make all the crazy levels you want!

After EA, I went over to the Loews Hotel to check out SEGA's games. I wasn't allowed to touch anything, so no hands-on any games, but I was given a thorough walkthrough for the titles I saw. First off was Sonic and Mario at the Olympics. I was shown the 100 meter dash, long jump and shotput. Each event using the Wiimote and/or nunchuck to control your characters, such as pumping your arms like mad to run and swinging the Wiimote much like in Rayman Raving Rabbids to throw the shotput. The game is being developed to not be over-the-top, but as realistic as possible - despite the obvious irony. Single player and multiplayer are in the works, as well as an online leaderboard (sorry, no true online multiplayer). Unfortunately, SEGA wasn't privy to details about the WiiFit board, as it would be an obvious addition to the gameplay, but alas, it seems for too late to implement it at this point.

Damn - my time is nearly all spent and I still have some much to talk about. Okay, fast recap for now:

Condemned 2 - the best game I have seen in action so far. Looks to be a complete blast.

Iron Man - looks nice but not quite sure if the gameplay will translate into fun over multiple hours.

Stranglehold - definitely worthy of the the hype.

Blacksite Area 51 - big bosses look awesome, squad gameplay appears simple yet effective.

Silent Hill 5 - for real, though not really graphics were shown, just a teaser trailer.

Metal Gear Solid 4 - new trailer is so bad ass it hurts.

And I'm out of time! More tomorrow (or tonight if I can)!

Labels: E3 2007, EA, SEGA

*NOTE: Sorry for any blurry pictures, I don't have the best digital camera!!!

Hello! As most of you know, E3 kicked off this morning in sunny Santa Monica, California and your very own Tony Peters (from the U.S. team) was on hand. Kicking everything off was Nintendo's press conference. Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo's President and Chief Operating Officer, MC'd most of the event. Instead of putting the focus simply on games, the PC was filled with statistics, graphs, videos, news clips, etc. involving the DS, Wii and Nintendo as a company.

The main focus of these was on not only Nintendo's place in the gaming industry as a whole as well as how Nintendo is faring with the 'casual' and non-gaming crowd. Fils-Aime spoke on how the 18-24 demographic has been steadily growing, as has Nintendo's grasp of the female gaming crowd. As the DS recently passed the 40 million units sold around the world mark, Flis-Aime was ready to place the Wii, sold out for the entire 33 weeks it has been on the market (though rumors of that having more to do with Nintendo than consumers still ran rampant), at the top of the next generation console war, claiming it shall overtake the lead soon.

But politics aside - its the games you want to hear about and the games I want to talk about! The first announcement was not a game, but an accessory - the new Zapper. This new controller houses not only the Wiimote, but the nunchuck as well. The Wiimote sits on the front facing forward, as one would imagine it would, and the nunchuck connects to the back. As the bottom of the Wiimote is now covered by plastic, the trigger has been moved to a natural gun position on the actual Zapper. It was revealed that Capcom's upcoming Wii shooter, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, would take advantage of the controller, as well as SEGA's Ghost Squad and EA's Medal of Honor: Airborne. Medal of Honor is special, as it also supports 10 Wii-specific gesture motions to work with the zapper (what these are weren't revealed). The best part about the Zapper may be the price, coming in at a paltry $19.99 USD.


Following that was a reel of upcoming third-party titles for both the Wii and DS, including Namco-Bandai's Soulcalibur Legends (Wii), WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008 (both), Dragon Quest: Swords (Wii) and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii). These were just quick looks at Nintendo's support of the third-party developers who have been flocking projects to Nintendo systems recently.


Following this was a few pictures and short clips of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. While no new gameplay information was shared (nor was Sonic announced as a playable character - you know Mario can't win a foot race with the 'hog, so they have to bring the fight to his turf!), one truly important one was: the release date. Brawl will be kicking Wii butt on December 3rd in the U.S.



Then we had a recap of Nintendo's online presence (or some would say lack there of) before receiving a few tasty online treats for the coming months. Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker (DS), Madden NFL 08 (Wii), Medal of Honor: Airborne (Wii - up to 32 players!)and FIFA 08 (Wii) will all support online gaming! The EA online games are extremely important, as they show that Nintendo is finally opening up their online plans to third-parties. Let's hope other companies will be allowed to follow suit just as fast!

Next up, we were treated to Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass as it was played by a Nintendo fan on the big screen, followed by another fan playing Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Neither play-throughs were short and lacking in new details, but I do admit I was pretty jealous to be watching others play. Both titles are shaping up quite well and I can't wait to get my hands on them in the coming days!

Now comes the biggest news to come out of the PC. Are you ready for this? Coming to the Wii early next year is Mario Kart Wii. This racer will be fully playable online and the series is about to receive a change in how many people can play the game - what that means was not revealed, but it sounds like Mario Kart is about to finally see some real gameplay changes (sorry, but two people karts doesn't cut it).

Bundled with each copy of the game will be a wheel controller, but unlike Monster 4x4, this wheel does not appear to just be a cheap Wiimote holder. The pictures of it show a trigger button on the back, one for each side, and though the picture does not show it, a press releasing accompanying the PC says it does indeed house the Wiimote and is not a stand-alone controller.

Fils-Aime turned over the MC duties to Nintendo's president, Satoru Iwata, who shared his journey through gaming and how accessible it has become over the years. This was followed by videoes of one lucky family who was able to play Super Mario Galaxy and talk about. New levels, including a pirate ship, were shown as well as a glimpse of Mario in a bumblebee suit. The focus on the video was not on the game, but how gamers and non-gamers played the game and interacted with each, which kind of sucked because you know we all really just wanted more game footage!

Finally, Shigeru Miyamoto took the stage to unveil the final card up Nintendo's sleeve - WiiFit. Using a white pad, apparently about the size of a bathroom scale, that reads weight and pressure on it, you can get a workout through 40 mini-games designed to get gamers in shape. Games should range from straight, no-frills workouts, such as balancing, stretching and push-ups, to fitness entertainment such as aerobics (think simplified DDR) and blocking soccer balls with your head (an event Miyamoto and Fils-Aime dueled each other against on stage). Though hardly mind blowing, WiiFit does continue to push the boundaries of casual gaming to new frontiers and should attract even more consumers to the Wii than before!

That wraps up the Nintendo press conference. Later today I will be attending press conferences for Electronic Arts, Activision, enjoying some private playing time with SEGA before wrapping up with the Konami press conference. Speaking of the Konami PC, I was emailed today to expect an unannounced title and while this is based completely on eavesdropping (hey, they sat next to me at the Welcome Reception last night, I couldn't help not to listen!), it could be Silent Hill 5. COULD BE. All I know is when it was mentioned, a Konami PR rep didn't answer about the possibility, and I would imagine a 'no' would be in order if it were truly the answer in such a casual setting. But what do I know?

Okay - lunch awaits! Expect more updates later tonight!

Labels: E3 2007, Nintendo

GAMETAP DEBUTS TOMB RAIDER EDITION OF RE\VISIONED ANIMATED SERIES WITH MINNIE DRIVER VOICING LARA CROFT

Panel of All-Star artists and writers, including Jim Lee, Warren Ellis, and Peter Chung, discuss the Re\Visioned experience at 2007 Comic-Con

ATLANTA – JULY 10, 2007 – GameTap, the first-of-its-kind broadband entertainment network from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), announced today the premiere of Re\Visioned, an all-new animated series airing for free exclusively at GameTap.com. The new series of short animated episodes will feature a rotating set of well-known artists and writers re-imagining famous video game icons from GameTap’s massive library of titles.

With new episodes airing weekly starting today through August 23rd, the first season of Re\Visioned features ten episodes focusing on the legendary Tomb Raider franchise and the adventures of popular heroine Lara Croft. Academy Award-nominated actress Minnie Driver will provide her unique voice for leading lady Lara Croft throughout the season, while Jim Lee, Warren Ellis, Peter Chung, Brian Pulido, Gail Simone, Michael Stackpole, Ivan Reis, Cully Hamner, Christos N. Gage, Louie Del Carmen, David Alvarez, and Six Point Harness, provide their ‘Re\Visioned’ view of the famous video game heroine.

“Re\Visioned is a chance for us to show fans another side of their favorite gaming characters as seen through the eyes of today’s top writers and artists,” says Ricardo Sanchez, GameTap’s vice president of content and creative director. “We’re very excited about this series and see it as a great representation of the innovative content available at GameTap beyond our immense catalog of video games on-demand.”

The new series is exclusive to GameTap and visitors can view new episodes each week and watch trailers for the first season absolutely free. Each new season of Re\Visioned will showcase a different gaming series from GameTap’s massive game vault. For more information and to see the latest episode of Re\Visioned: Tomb Raider, visit www.gametap.com/tombraider.

Providing pop culture fans with a behind-the-scenes look at the news series, GameTap will host an all-star panel on Saturday, July 28^th at 4:15pm at the 2007 Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. The panel assembles some of the legendary comics writers and artists responsible for the creative re-imagining of Lara Croft, including Jim Lee (Batman: Hush), Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan), Peter Chung (Aeon Flux), Gail Simone (Wonder Woman), and Brian Pulido (Lady Death). GameTap will also be exhibiting on the Comic-Con International main showroom floor, offering special prize giveaways and autograph sessions with industry stars like Marvel editor-in-chief Joe Quesada, Darwyn Cooke (The Spirit), and Kevin Eastman (co-creator, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) in conjunction with the HERO Initiative.

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays' creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It's a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment. For more information, visit www.HeroInitiative.org.

Today, XSEED's upcoming PSP RPG, Brave Story: New Traveler, had its official website launch at http://www.bravestorynewtraveler.com/. Releasing July 31, 2007, stop by and read up on what the game is all about and watch for our hands-on preview in the coming weeks!

Labels: Brave Story New Traveler, PSP, XSEED

Labels: Activision, Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock, nintendo wii, Playstation 2, PLAYSTATION 3, RedOctane, Xbox 360

BioShock, the upcoming first-person shooter from 2K Games that introduces the concept of Emergent Gameplay, is aiming to become one of this years biggest hits. In a recent demo trailer released by 2K Games we were shown first hand how BioShock allows you to approach any situation from multiple angles.

On the first attempt, one of the developers rushes into a room and unloads bullets on a small group of enemies, simply obliterating them with very unique looking shotguns, machine guns and crossbows. However, after advancing the player is quickly ambushed by not only multiple approaching enemies but also a well-hidden turret. After realizing their mistake, the scene is reset and approached from a new angle...

On the second attempt, the player sneaks around the level and comes up behind the turret. From here he can hack into it, resulting in it automatically littering any of your foes with lead. And that team of enemies that ambushed him before? Using elemental powers the player simply lit them on fire, causing them to all run to a nearby pool of water, which happened to be electrified thanks to the players quick wits, and another elemental ability. Also demonstrated was a bizarre power that, when used on a foe, apparently tricks them into attacking any of your enemies for a certain amount of time. All of the gadgets and abilities were great, but it's still to be seen how inventory management will work with all the unique abilities and weapons.

The ability to manipulate the surrounding devices, such as security cameras, and more importantly traps, was also demonstrated in the video. A simple trip wire awaits any player not paying close enough attention, but a crafty player can actually remove the wire and place it in a new spot, such as a across a door that surely will open up and overflow with enemies. BioShock's latest in-game demonstration has us truly excited for the game, and we can't wait to explore the depths in what looks to be a truly fun and engaging non-linear fashion this August.

TAKE COVER!!! - GERMANY INVADES NEW YORK CITY

Codemasters Releases First Footage of Nazi Assault on the Big Apple

Burbank, CA - Friday, July 6, 2007 - Codemasters today revealed the first footage of the German invasion of New York via an intense FMV trailer from the company's upcoming, alternate-reality World War II FPS Turning Point™: Fall of Liberty. The video is available for download now from: www.turningpointgame.com.

Opening with battleships taking the New York harbor, planes flying overhead, zeppelins filling the skies and armed paratroopers descending onto the city streets, the FMV is a moving piece of video sure to inspire gamers to revolt and become part of the U.S. resistance. Turning Point: Fall of Liberty is planned to ship this fall for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox™ 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games for Windows®, and is currently rated "RP" (Rating Pending) by the ESRB.

Turning Point: Fall of Liberty explores the consequences of what may have happened if, after being struck by a cab in New York in 1931, Winston Churchill had died and wasn't alive to rally the Allied forces to confront the Nazis during WWII? Turning Point: Fall of Liberty uses this 'what if' scenario to create an alternate history where Europe surrenders to Hitler in 1940, and America is not drawn into the war until the 1953 invasion of the U.S. east coast, as depicted in the trailer.

Bringing a fresh perspective to the WWII genre through an alternate timeline and advanced weaponry, Turning Point: Fall of Liberty will be a very personal battle for gamers. Depicting a Second World War never before imagined, players will fight afresh as a civilian on new battlegrounds against the German Wehrmacht (war machine).

Taking the role of Dan Carson, a reluctant New York City construction worker who turns freedom fighter, gamers must survive the initial invasion before regrouping with other resistance members to fight back. Always outmanned and outgunned, players must use guerrilla tactics and hand to hand grappling combat as they attempt to stop the world's most notorious war machine.

Developed by U.S. studio Spark Unlimited, no stranger to the WWII shooter genre, Turning Point: Fall of Liberty is not another typical WWII game set in the European or Pacific theatres. It's set to deliver an explosive Action/FPS experience in a world where famous locations and landmarks appear startlingly different under Nazi occupation.

For more information on Turning Point: Fall of Liberty, be sure to sign up for future briefings online at: www.turningpointgame.com.

Labels: codemasters, PC, PLAYSTATION 3, Turning Point Fall of Liberty, Xbox 360

Nissan GT-R PROTO Headlines Need for Speed ProStreet’s Car List


Need for Speed ProStreet boasts an impressive and unique car list that spans over 40 years of the automotive spectrum. Today, EA unveils the first set of vehicles to be featured in the game with the Nissan GT-R PROTO leading the pack. This will mark the first time that the Nissan GT-R PROTO, which was unveiled at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, is available in a full packaged video game.

Every car in Need for Speed ProStreet is selected for a reason – it is either unique, aspirational, memorable or highly desirable. The first list of cars to be revealed in Need for Speed ProStreet is:


* Nissan GT-R PROTO
* 1970 Plymouth® Hemi® Cuda
* 1995 Mazda RX-7
* 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse
* 2006 Audi S4
* 1986 Toyota Corolla GTS AE86
* 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer EVOLUTION IX MR-edition
* 2006 Volkswagen Golf GTI
* 2008 BMW M3


Need for Speed ProStreet is about building the ultimate performance-tuned battle machine, taking it to multi-disciplinary showdowns all over the world and pitting your skills and reputation against the very best street racers. The game is slated to ship in Fall 2007. It will be available for the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, and Wii as well as the PlayStation 2 Nintendo DS, PSP, PC and mobile. More information can be found at http://www.needforspeed.com/.

Labels: Blockbuster Xbox 360, EA, Need For Speend ProStreet, Nintendo DS, PC, Playstation 2, PLAYSTATION 3, PSP

EA CELEBRATES 2007 RUGBY WORLD CUP
WITH EXCLUSIVE RELEASE OF OFFICIALLY LICENSED VIDEOGAME

New Zealand All Blacks Captain Richie McCaw
Headlines Superstar Lineup in EA SPORTS Rugby 08

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – July 6, 2007 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) will celebrate the 2007 Rugby World Cup™ with the launch of EA SPORTS™ Rugby 08, the event’s only officially licensed video game featuring reigning Player of the Year Richie McCaw, captain of the New Zealand All Blacks, as its cover star. EA SPORTS Rugby 08 will ship to stores worldwide on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system on July 17, in time for the real-world tournament kick off.

Experience all of the passion and excitement of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France as you challenge the best teams and players ever assembled for global supremacy. A nation’s destiny is in your hands when you take control of one of the officially licensed national teams in EA SPORTS Rugby 08 and power your way through a gruelling World Cup campaign for the sports’ ultimate prize – the glorious Webb Ellis Cup.

“The 2007 Rugby World Cup unites rugby fans from around the world and our game, EA SPORTS Rugby 08, celebrates this passion by capturing all of the national rivalries in-game, enabling fans to play as their favorite teams from qualification right through to the championship final,” said Tristan Jackson, lead producer of the game.

Honoured as 2006 Player of the Year by both the International Rugby Board (IRB) and the International Rugby Players Association (IRPA), McCaw is considered the world’s best openside flanker. He will be the centrepiece of EA SPORTS Rugby 08 advertising, marketing and packaging as well as spokesperson for the game. The 26-year-old McCaw was first called up to the All Blacks three years ago when he debuted against Ireland and was named Man of the Match. He has been a linchpin in the All Blacks ever since, earning numerous national and international accolades, while becoming one of the world’s most popular rugby players.

Joining McCaw on the front packs of EA SPORTS Rugby 08 in selected territories around the world are 11 additional athletes who also demonstrate athletic excellence, undying determination and masterful skill for their national teams. Joining McCaw on the cover of EA SPORTS Rugby 08 in the United Kingdom is England’s Mark Cueto, and in France is Frenchman Yannick Nyanga. Bryan Haban, Schalk Burger and Andre Pretorius will be showcased on the cover in South Africa, brothers Mauro and Mirko Bergamasco in Italy and Australia’s Stirling Mortlock will be the featured athlete in Australia and Asia.

This is the season you take complete control of managing your favourite squad as EA SPORTS Rugby 08 enables you to emulate the style of your favorite team on offense and now on defense. Using new, authentic defensive formations, adjust your defense on-the-fly to keep momentum on your side or counter your opponent’s attacking style by changing your defensive strategy based on score, field position and more.

This year EA SPORTS Rugby 08 introduces a layered pick-up-and-play control system for set pieces and drop kicks. Now you take full command over every scrum and maul with enhanced push and rotation controls. Make lineout throw-ins look easy with a simplified control scheme for the novice player and advanced mechanics for the pro. Master the new kicking meter to score those key penalties and conversions, while new truck and zoom camera angles zero in on all the breakdown and set piece action during the game’s biggest moments.

In addition to enabling gamers to participate in the 2007 Rugby World Cup by taking control of one of 20 national teams, the game features a new, compelling mode of play named World Cup Challenge. Testing even the most hardcore rugby fan, it re-creates the biggest moments in World Cup history and challenges you to re-write the results with today’s teams to unlock exclusive World Cup highlight videos.

EA SPORTS Rugby 08, developed by Electronic Arts in Vancouver, Canada, is available on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. This game is rated is rated “E” (Everyone) by the ESRB and 3+ by PEGI in Europe.

Labels: EA Sports, Playstation 2, Rugby 08

EA INTRODUCES A NEW WAY TO PLAY -- EA SPORTS FAMILY PLAY --
ON THE WII IN MADDEN NFL 08, NBA LIVE 08 AND FIFA SOCCER 08

EA SPORTS Family Play Simplifies Controls
to Enable Fans of All Ages and Skill Levels to Play Together

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – July 5, 2007 – Watch out sports fans, the playing field has been leveled! Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) has made it easier for players of all ages and skill levels to play its most popular EA SPORTS™ games on the Wii™ through the all-new EA SPORTS™ Family Play style of gameplay. Debuting in the Wii versions of Madden NFL 08, NBA LIVE 08 and FIFA Soccer 08, EA SPORTS Family Play is a new way to play that enables players of all abilities to play with their friends and family without a competitive disadvantage. Advanced controls are also available for more experienced players, providing two compelling ways to play, and ensuring everyone can enjoy playing EA SPORTS games on the Wii together.

In the main game of Madden NFL 08, NBA LIVE 08 and FIFA Soccer 08, players have the choice to play the style that best suits their skills. When entering a contest, players now have the option to choose Advanced or Family Play. Once in the game, Advanced users take complete control of all aspects of the gameplay through intuitive Wii gestures using both the Nunchuk and Wii remote. EA SPORTS Family Play offers a simplified control system using just the Wii remote that enables novice players to focus on having fun while the console does the rest. With the Wii remote in hand, players control key actions – such as shooting, passing, snapping, and throwing – while the console controls the rest. It’s like having an invisible helper on your team. Plus, as novice players gain confidence in their ability they can gradually begin to use Advanced controls simply by plugging in the Nunchuk. It’s that easy.

“EA SPORTS Family Play on the Wii creates an incredibly accessible and user-friendly experience that the whole family will enjoy,” said Dave McCarthy, Executive Producer for the three games developed at EA Canada. “While many fans love to control every piece of the action, novice players can have just as much fun jumping in to throw a touchdown pass, nail a three pointer or take a shot on goal. Family Play brings together fans of all ages to enjoy playing EA SPORTS games, and even let’s them ease in to Advanced play if they desire.”

The following three EA SPORTS games feature EA SPORTS Family Play:

Madden NFL 08 on the Wii

Anyone can play like a pro in Madden NFL 08, whether a new user or a long time fan. Play with only the Wii remote with EA SPORTS Family Play or use the Wii remote and nunchuck for more advanced controls; the decision is yours. Featuring an all-new Party Mode, play trivia or chose from 22 different mini-games. Break down plays and highlight key moments with all-new Madden NFL 08 telestrator. Bring the game online, play head to head with friends and keep up to date with the live sports ticker for the ultimate online experience.

NBA LIVE 08 on the Wii

When the game is on the line and the ball is in your hands, what will you do? Will you penetrate the lane and rise above the rim for a monster slam, or find an opening around the perimeter and sink the game-winning basket? Jump in on the NBA action with EA SPORTS Family Play that gives every user the opportunity to enjoy success in NBA LIVE 08. You control your team’s shooting, passing, and steals on defense with the Wii remote, and leave the rest up to the AI. If you’re already a pro, use both the Wii remote and nunchuck for more advanced controls.

FIFA Soccer 08 on the Wii

The whole family can play FIFA Soccer 08 with a flick of the wrist. Play the traditional and authentic way or in a new party mode called Footii Party with Ronaldinho where you can play Juggling, Table Soccer or Boot It with your own Mii characters to unlock a customized Ronaldinho character to take on the champ. The in-game Soccer Academy makes it easy to learn the basic and FreeMotion™ advanced controls in more than 30 interactive tutorials, or let the game give you an assist with EA SPORTS Family Play. EA’s award-winning Interactive Leagues online play is also featured.

EA SPORTS™ is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL Football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® Hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®, NCAA® March Madness® and NASCAR® racing. For more information about EA SPORTS, including newsletters, podcasts, and fantasy football action please visit www.easports.com.

Labels: EA Sports, FIFA 08, Madden NFL 08, NBA Live 08, nintendo wii

FAMILY VALUES TOUR EXPANDS WITH SECOND STAGE

RedOctane's "Guitar Hero™" Gets In The 'Family' Way Sponsoring Second Stage
This summer's biggest tour, Family Values, have teamed up with RedOctane's "Guitar Hero" to sponsor a second stage this year with an additional five bands making a total of 13 acts on the tour, announced today. A likely pairing, rock's biggest outing including co-headliners Korn and Evanescence, Atreyu, Flyleaf, Hellyeah, and Trivium partnered with the ultimate rock star experience, "Guitar Hero," will foster hot new comers Five Finger Death Punch, Invitro, Twin Method and others to be announced shortly, on the second stage all for an added value and the best-priced lawn tickets of the summer at $9.99 (itinerary below).

The second stage will also include the largest national competition for the nation's hottest electronic game, "Guitar Hero" to date. A "face-off" competition between eight "Guitar Hero II" finalists in each market, winners from earlier Radio Station sponsored events will play "Guitar Hero II" on stage between sets and compete for an autographed Korn guitar, band access passes and a chance to play Jonathan Davis backstage after the show.

Korn have been longstanding fans of the game with Jonathan Davis going public on his obsession with "Guitar Hero" in the Wall Street Journal in November 2006. Davis admitted to spending as much time on the tour bus playing the game as he did on stage performing! Said Davis, "This is the hottest game in the country and we are stoked to have them on the tour."

About Family Values: Korn, along with management company The Firm, created The Family Values Tour in 1998 with a bill headlined by Korn and performances from Rammstein, Ice Cube, Limp Bizkit and Orgy. 1999's line-up featured headliners Limp Bizkit, along with Filter, The Crystal Method, Primus, Staind, Mobb Deep, Ja Rule, and Method Man & Redman. Korn also made surprise appearances at a few dates. Beyond the live touring aspect, the debut outing of Korn Family Values Tour spawned a gold-certified live album and platinum-certified companion home video. This was followed in spring 2000 with the second live disc and long-form home video. The 2001 trek featured Stone Temple Pilots, Linkin Park, Staind, Static-X and Deadsy. Family Values continued in the summer of 2006 with Korn, Deftones, Stone Sour, Flyleaf and Dir en grey on the main stage resulting in another live cd and dvd making it one of the most consistently successful tour franchises in music history.

About Guitar Hero II: Guitar Hero II explodes onto the Xbox360™ with over 70 songs and the revolutionary X-Plorer® Controller! Selecting from a wild group of rockers and jamming at concert venues that grow in size leading your Rock Star all the way to Stonehenge. Play with a friend and shred riffs cooperatively playing the lead, bass or rhythm, or go head-to-head in one of two Face-Off Modes.
Family Values Tour Routing:

Date City Venue
Fri, July 20 - St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Sat, July 21 - Minneapolis, MN Float-Rite Amphitheatre
Sun, July 22 - Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Tue, July 24 - Toronto, ON Molson Amphitheatre
Wed, July 25 - Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
Tue, July 27 - Boston, MA Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts
Wed, July 28 - Washington, DC Nissan Pavilion
Sun, July 29 - Hartford, CT New England Dodge Music Center
Fri, Aug 3 - Buffalo, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Sat, Aug 4 - Pittsburgh, PA Post-Gazette Pavilion
Sun, Aug 5 - Camden, NJ Tweeter Waterfront
Tue, Aug 7 - Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Wed, Aug 8 - Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
Fri, Aug 10 - Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center
Sat, Aug 11 - Atlanta, GA HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Sun, Aug 12 - Orlando, FL Amway Arena
Tue, Aug 14 - Miami, FL Sound Advice Amphitheater
Wed, Aug 15 - Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre
Fri, Aug 17 - Dallas, TX Smirnoff Music Centre
Sat, Aug 18 - Houston, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Sun, Aug 19 - San Antonio, TX Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Tue, Aug 21 - Oklahoma City, OK Zoo Amphitheatre
Wed, Aug 22 - Kansas City, KS Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Fri, Aug 24 - Denver, CO Coors Amphitheatre
Sat, Aug 25 - Albuquerque, NM Journal Pavilion
Sun, Aug 26 - Phoenix, AZ Cricket Pavilion
Tue, Aug 29 - Bakersfield, CA Rabobank Arena
Fri, Aug 31 - Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Sat, Sep 1 - San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sun, Sep 2 - Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

* Venue does not have Lawn Seating

Labels: Guitar Hero

Sunnyvale, California – June 29, 2007 – Today Agetec announced Cookie & Cream for Nintendo DS™ has shipped in North America. A unique cross between a puzzle and platformer game, Cookie & Cream is rated E for Everyone, and is available now for $29.99.

When the moon is no longer lighting the night sky, two rabbits – Cookie & Cream – are put in charge of discovering where the nighttime orb has gone to. Their investigation leads them to a mysterious trap-filled island. They'll have to work together if they hope to rescue the errant lunar object in time for the Moon Festival.

Players of Cookie & Cream must navigate their way through the diverse worlds on the top screen while solving puzzles and disarming traps on the Touch Screen below. Played as either a single-player game where one person controls both characters, or as a cooperative game where one person maneuvers Cookie on the top screen while the other is in charge of Cream on the Touch Screen, Cookie & Cream is a unique combination of gaming genres that's completely unlike anything else on Nintendo DS. Players can also take part in 9 fun minigames, or up to four players can play a minigame battle where the fastest to solve the most games wins.

"Cookie & Cream is a much-loved classic on the PlayStation 2," said Mark Johnson, Vice President of Production and Marketing at Agetec, Inc. "The Nintendo DS version improves on the game by taking advantage of the Touch Screen technology. The result is a game that's more fun than the original."

Labels: Agetec, Cookie and Cream, Nintendo DS