AceGamez’ Reviews Editor Geoff Holland recently made his debut appearance on popular Xleague.tv show Games Night, which was screened on Thursday 24th December at 8pm.

Xleague.tv is Sky’s dedicated gaming channel, which features a range of shows that delve into all aspects of gaming, covering news, reviews, previews and charts, as well as a number of gaming tournaments for the likes of Halo 3, FIFA 08, Virtua Fighter 5 and Unreal Tournament III. Games Night is their fortnightly discussion show, where a panel of four industry experts chat about gaming news topics, look at forthcoming games and review the latest releases.

Geoff joined host Paul Vale and show regulars David Jenkins, Games Editor for Teletext, and Steve Boxer, Games Editor for The Guardian, along with returning guest Games Writer Will Freeman. Topics up for discussion included a controversial Times article that labelled games as “crack cocaine for the brain” and called the creators of games “evil”, plus the return of retro 2D shooters. The group also took a look at the new teaser trailer for Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 and put four games to the test, Ghost Squad on Wii from Sega, Geometry Wars: Galaxies on Wii from Vivendi, The Club on Xbox 360 and PS3 from Sega and Devil May Cry 4 on Xbox 360 and PS3 from Capcom.

The show will be repeated regularly over the next couple of weeks (next repeat Sunday 27th Jan at 10pm), and you can also view the full show online at the link below on Xleague.tv’s website, where you’ll also find a host of other content, including previous episodes of Games Night. Geoff had a fantastic time on the show and is looking forward to returning soon!

Click here to view the show now!

Labels: AceGamez, Capcom, Devil May Cry 4, Games Night, Geometry Wars: Galaxies, Ghost Squad, nintendo wii, SEGA, Sky, The Club, Vivendi, Xleague.TV

CODEMASTERS SHIFTS RACING INTO HIGH GEAR WITH GRID

GRID™ Confirmed as Official Title for Next Evolution of
Codemasters' Popular Race Driver™ Series

Burbank, CA - Thursday, November 29, 2007 - Codemasters® today announced GRID™ as the full and official name for the game formerly introduced under the working title Race Driver One. An all-new racing experience from Codemasters Studios, creators of the DiRT™ and Race Driver™ series, GRID is due out in mid 2008 and will deliver a step-change in the racing genre.

"GRID is all about the race," said Gavin Raeburn, Executive Producer, Codemasters Studios. "The next iteration of our DiRT engine combined with a decade of experience in developing driving games enables us to put players at the center of the action like never before. Damage, packed grids, intelligent opposition and unprecedented race day atmosphere will combine to deliver an experience like no other."

GRID takes players to dramatic and beautifully realized race locations over three continents to compete in an unprecedented variety of racing events. Packed with the most powerful race cars - new and classic, circuit and drift - players will compete to conquer the most prestigious official race tracks and championships then beyond to compete in challenging city-based competitions, and then on through to road events and urban street races.

"GRID is set to capture every single racing moment, right from the starting grid to the checkered flag, and concentrates these moments into an intense and dramatic race experience," said Ralph Fulton, Chief Game Designer, Codemasters Studios. "The drama, the rivalries, the aggression and the crashes; this is not a game about collecting cars or spending all of your time in the front-end tuning suspension settings or designing liveries. We want to make racing exciting again."

Gamers will compete on Europe's greatest official race tracks in prestige Marques including Aston Martin, Koenigsegg and Pagani. Iconic cities across the U.S, including San Francisco, Washington DC and Detroit - each with their own atmosphere and events - will play host to diverse street races, where high-performance V8 muscle cars set the pace in aggressive, closely fought pack competitions. And in the Far East, Japanese racing culture sets the tone where night races, including Drift racing, takes drivers through neon illuminated cities and to outlying mountain roads. There's also the opportunity to compete in races that operate on the fringes of legality in the back streets and industrial areas of Yokohama.

GRID is being developed for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows®, and is currently rated "RP" (Rating Pending) by the ESRB. To register for future driver briefings and get a place on the grid, be sure to visit www.codemasters.com/grid.

1C Company acquires an in-house development studio of Akella

Akella gets publishing rights to PT Boats: Knights of the Sea

Moscow, November 26 2007 - 1C Company, the leading Eastern and Central European publisher, is pleased to announce that it has acquired Akella’s “Sea Dog” in-house development studio.

The Sea Dog team is comprised of experienced developers who contributed to the creation of such hits as Sea Dogs, Pirates of the Caribbean and Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales. Within Akella, this development studio has become one of the few Russian teams successfully developing games for the Xbox and Xbox 360.

The team is currently working on the Age of Pirates: Captain Blood project that will be released on PC and Xbox 360. The acquisition of Akella’s development studio is another step to build upon 1C’s status as a leading developer and publisher of entertainment software.

Once the current project is completed, 1C’s newly acquired studio will develop a wide range of innovative titles for multiple game platforms. According to the agreement between 1C and Akella, Akella has acquired the worldwide publishing rights to PT Boats: Knights of the Sea.

PT Boats: Knights of the Sea is a breakthrough action simulation featuring torpedo boats in World War II. Akella was previously developing the title when 1C was a co-publisher and investor. This title has approached a closing stage of its development and has recently been successfully presented at NVIDIA’s Editor’s Day as a next-gen technology product. It will become the first Russian title to be released in both DirectX 9 and DirectX 10. PT Boats: Knights of the Sea makes a successful contribution to keeping Akella’s traditions as a leading naval game developer alive. It is destined to become one more hit in Akella’s top lineup of products.

The successful series of pirates titles will be continued by another of Akella’s studios and a new announcement will follow shortly.

About 1C Company

1C Company specializes in distribution, publishing and development of mass market software. Founded in 1991, 1C has become the leading publisher and distributor of computer games in Eastern and Central Europe. 1C Company is widely acknowledged as a game developer and has several internal studios. Internal developments of 1C include IL-2 Sturmovik, IL-2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles, Aces Expansion Pack, Pacific Fighters and Theatre of War. 1C Company works as a publisher and producer with over 30 independent development studios and has produced over 100 projects for PC and consoles.

For more information on 1C please contact us at the numbers above or go to our website at www.1cpublishing.com.

About Akella

Akella, founded in 1993 and headquartered in Moscow, Russia is a leading developer, publisher and distributor of computer games in Russia, CIS and Baltic countries.

To date, Akella has released more than 600 gaming, educational and developing titles. The biggest Russian localization studio is owned by Akella making the most complicated gaming products available for Russian consumers with high quality translation reliably delivered on deadline. Some of the most famous titles include the best-selling releases: Neverwinter Nights 2, the Prince of Persia series, MMORPG EverQuest II, Painkiller, Sacred, Fahrenheit, Test Drive Unlimited, Armed Assault and others.

In-house and co-development studios are currently creating around 60 games. These studios are engaged into developing a diverse lineup of products varying from cartoon-based children games to the biggest of brand titles (Postal 3 for Xbox 360 and PC; Disciples 3: Renaissance, Jagged Alliance 3 – for PC, and others).

Akella’s shareholders include Quadriga Capital (EBRD fund) and Intel Capital.

Midway Games Inc. and Epic Games today announced that the PlayStation® 3 version of Unreal Tournament 3 is scheduled to ship to retail outlets in North America on December 10th. It is expected to begin arriving in stores in limited quantities the following day, with a U.S. suggested retail price of $59.95. The highly anticipated first-person shooter has already shipped internationally for the PC and is available for a U.S. suggested retail price of $49.95 and $59.95 for the collector's edition.

About Unreal Tournament 3
Unreal Tournament 3 Unreal Tournament 3 marks the return of the world's premiere first-person shooter to the PC, and its debut on PlayStation® 3. Unreal Tournament 3 unleashes the full power of Unreal Engine 3, taking graphics, gameplay, and challenge to a whole new level. Players engage in intense battles with other human players online, or against Unreal artificial intelligence that sets the industry standard. With the most powerful futuristic weapons and vehicles available, this is FPS action at its best!

Expand Your Xbox LIVE Network of Pals by browsing the Friends lists of other Xbox LIVE members

New Experience to be made available on December 4^th with the Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard Update

Microsoft is making it even easier to expand your Friends network on Xbox LIVE, starting with the Fall Dashboard Update on December 4^th. Members will now be able to check out the friends lists of fellow Xbox LIVE members right from the Dashboard. With this new feature, members can find old friends or connect with new ones within the community of more than 8 million people on Xbox LIVE around the globe and send messages and game invites, as well as compare games and Achievements.

With the prevalence of social media websites such as MySpace and FaceBook, this type of capability has largely come to be expected from consumers as a means to relate in an online community. Xbox LIVE continually seeks new ways to better serve the expectations of its members, which often result in enhancements made available for free through the bi-annual Dashboard updates.

When the Fall Dashboard update is distributed on December 4^th, the new default setting on Xbox LIVE will be active enabling members to see the Friends lists of other Xbox LIVE members. Members who would like to keep their friends list private can take the following steps to change their settings beginning today:

Log in to www.xbox.com/fof and select one of the three options available for your Gamertag:

• Everyone (only available to members 18 and older)
• Friends only (available to members 13 and older)
• Blocked (available to all members, and automatic for anyone under the age of 13)

Stay tuned for more information about the Xbox 360 Dashboard Update later this month.

Banish Evil From the Epoch of Light as “Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom” Goes Gold

Microsoft celebrates gone gold status of the Xbox 360 exclusive game; announces chance to create new fan sites

Microsoft and BLUESIDE Inc. today announced that “Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom,” the latest installment of the critically acclaimed franchise, has gone gold. To prepare for the journey, players can download a cool set of game assets from www.xbox.com/KUFCOD that can be used to create their own fan site. Players can also visit www.kufcod.com to find the news, features and updates on “KUF: CoD” from the team at BLUESIDE.

A departure from the action real-time strategy formula seen in previous “Kingdom Under Fire” games, “Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom” is an action-packed role playing game (RPG) that makes full use of the Xbox 360 processing power to create a revolutionary gaming experience. Players will explore vast and randomly generated maps while battling bloodthirsty monsters attacking from all directions. As the game progresses, the six heroes will find increasingly advanced and spectacular ways to defeat enemies using new weapons and abilities as they progress through six varied acts. Players will also be able to interact with one another with a full multiplayer experience and up to four-player co-op on Xbox LIVE Gold.

From the inspired minds at BLUESIDE Inc., “KUF: CoD” offers fans and new players alike an all new chapter to the “KUF” universe. For the latest revealed “KUF: CoD” characters including exclusive abilities, histories and more, go to http://edelmanadmin.psni.com/public/Kingdom%20Under%20Fire:%20Circle%20of%20Doom/. Please do not link directly to the URL, but feel free to download and republish these assets on your own site.

“KUF: CoD” will ship to retailers nationwide on Jan. 8 for an estimated retail price of $59.99.

Get ready for classic space shooting action with the release of “Asteroids” and “Asteroids Deluxe” which will be available jointly for download on Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 this Wednesday, November 28 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PST).

Save the earth from a deadly deluge of asteroids and re-experience the beloved arcade classics “Asteroids” and “Asteroids Deluxe” on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Players control a spaceship in an asteroid field and shoot to destroy asteroids and saucers, all while trying to avoid a costly collision. Complete with re-mastered HD visuals and the whiplash inducing high-speed “throttle monkey” mode, players will be hooked for hours! “Asteroids” and “Asteroids Deluxe” will be available worldwide as a joint download for 400 Microsoft Points and are rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

• For more details on “Asteroids” and “Asteroids Deluxe” please visit:

o http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/a/asteroidsxboxlivearcade

TOYS FOR TOTS SAN DIEGO ANNOUNCES 2007 HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE EVENTS

San Diego, CA November 19, 2007 – The San Diego chapter of the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program today announced the 2007 Holiday Toy Drive schedule of events. The organization has teamed up with a variety of local companies this year including the Chargers, Wal-Mart and Sony Online Entertainment. Collection events will kick-off in November and conclude with the 18th Annual Chargers Toy Drive at their home game on December 16th.

The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is a nonprofit charity which collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them to needy children in the community as Christmas presents. The toys are collected by Reserve Marines at various community fundraisers and civic functions, sorted according to age and gender, and then distributed to local social and welfare agencies, churches and civic organizations. In 2006, the Toys for Tots program in the San Diego area collected 171,125 toys reaching more than 49,000 children.

This year, the Marine Corps Reserves has set a goal of collecting more than 185,000 toys to reach at least 53,000 underprivileged children in the San Diego community. While the Marine Reserves organize, coordinate and manage the nonprofit charity program, the ultimate success depends on the support of the local community and the generosity of the people who donate toys.

2007 Calendar of Events:

* November 23-December 16: Wal-Mart Charity Toy Drives Every weekend at Santee, Shawline, Poway and Murphy Canyon stores from 9am-7pm.
* November 28: NBC 7/39 Toys for Tots Charity Kickoff Celebration at the NBC Studios San Diego. Toy collection and Live Coverage. www.nbcsandiego.com 619 231-3939 5pm-9pm
* December 2: Del Mar Village Association Holiday Wonderland Camino Del Mar and 15th Street. Toy collection. www.delmarmainstreet.com 858 755-1179 10am-6pm.
* December 7 & 8: NBC 7/39 Charity Toy Drive at the NBC Studios San Diego. Toy collection and Live Coverage. www.nbcsandiego.com 619 231-3939. Dec 7th; 5am-7pm / Dec 8th; 6am-5pm.
* December 16: 18th Annual Chargers Toys for Tots Drive at Qualcomm Stadium. Chargers vs. Lions game. Toy collection. www.chargers.com 11am-2pm.

New, unwrapped toys may be dropped off at any Toys for Tots collection box or may be brought to the events listed above. Furthermore, financial donations may be made to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation www.toysfortots.org.

Labels: SOE

Puchi Puchi Virus™ Announced for the Nintendo DS™!

Santa Ana, CA – NIS America announces its first puzzle game, Puchi Puchi Virus™ for the Nintendo DS™. Puchi Puchi Virus™ will be localized by a new team within NIS America to fulfill an emerging group of gamers.
“Our core audience will remain the same, but we will also appeal to the information rich yet time poor casual gamers with unique and distinctive titles.” says Haru Akenaga, president of NIS America.

About Puchi Puchi Virus™

Puchi Puchi Virus™ does not resemble the ordinary puzzle game. The usual “object drop” style was replaced with a more intuitive system of “object linkage”. Its simple design and surprisingly in-depth game play can addict even the most demanding puzzle game enthusiasts.

The object is to form at least a single triangle formation by linking viruses together and erasing them from the screen. Victory conditions vary from mission to mission, but erasing all of the viruses will be the fundamental rule of this game. Erase all the viruses and you win, but if the screen gets filled with the emerging viruses you lose. Note: there is a twist to this system that gives depth to the game play. Viruses turn to stone if left alone for a while, which cannot be selected to form a triangle. However, these stones can be erased if they are within a triangle that you create. With a little luck and practice players can rake in massive points by letting the viruses turn to stones and erasing them all at once.

RELEASE DATE: February 2008
PLATFORM: Nintendo DS™
GENRE: Puzzle
PLAYER(S): 2

For more information please visit www.puchipuchivirus.com.

Labels: Nintendo DS, NIS America, Puchi Puchi Virus

Gamer Excitement Reaches Galactic Proportions as “Mass Effect” Touches Down Today on Retail Shelves in North America

Highly anticipated Xbox 360 exclusive “Mass Effect” makes its long-awaited debut; SCI FI Channel to celebrate game’s release with exclusive half-hour special “Sci vs. Fi: Mass Effect.”

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 20, 2007 — To the delight of gamers and science-fiction (sci-fi) fans alike, the wait is finally over as “Mass Effect,” an award-winning action role-playing game (RPG) described by Game Informer Magazine as “One of the greatest science fiction stories ever told,” hits retail shelves today, with a continued rollout to retailers worldwide planned.

Developed by BioWare, the creators of the critically acclaimed “Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™” and “Jade Empire™,” comes an epic space saga exclusively for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system that spans the entire galaxy. “Mass Effect” combines a deep story with intense, sci-fi tactical combat. Through high-definition graphics and an amazingly realistic and innovative conversation system that allows for lifelike interaction with the voices of scores of digital actors such as of Seth Green, Marina Sirtis and Lance Henriksen, “Mass Effect” provides an immersive gameplay experience never seen before in a video game.

Published by Microsoft Games Studios, “Mass Effect” is an epic sci-fi action RPG that places gamers at the center of a conflict that will decide the fate of the universe. Assuming the role of an elite human Spectre agent, Commander Shepard, players are entrusted with keeping galactic law and order and are charged with uncovering a terrifying truth. Faced with morally challenging decisions that will affect the future of all races, players must travel across an expansive universe to stop a threat so great it could destroy all life in the galaxy. With its exciting blend of rich story lines, intense squad-based combat and crisp high-definition gameplay, “Mass Effect” is destined to be one of the most gripping game experiences ever.

“‘Mass Effect’ is like playing a movie! The magic of video games bridges science fiction, intense combat and intriguing story lines to create an emotional connection between players and their characters,” said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of global marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “The Xbox 360 platform allows developers to create rich and engaging stories not found on any other console. ‘Mass Effect’ is the latest example of our commitment to bringing original and captivating titles to fans everywhere.”

Hailed by critics as one of the best games of 2007, “Mass Effect” has already garnered significant and effusive praise from the industry, punctuated by accolades from some of video gaming’s most respected publications. These include Game of the Month honors from Electronic Gaming Monthly and GamePro magazines, and a perfect score of 10 out of 10 along with an Editor’s Choice Award from Official Xbox Magazine, which described “Mass Effect” as “a transcendent experience, the new standard-setter for what a game can be.” In addition, the title has earned some of the industry’s highest honors, such as “Best Console Game” and “Best Role Playing Game” from the 2007 Game Critics Awards.

To celebrate the “Mass Effect” worldwide launch, the SCI FI Channel will air a special episode of “Sci vs. Fi: Mass Effect” beginning today, Nov. 20, at 11 p.m. EST and PST. The special will explore the ways that technology and creativity came together to make “Mass Effect” a compelling experience for gamers and science fiction fans alike. More information is available at http://www.scifi.com/masseffect.

“We set out to redefine the video game experience with ‘Mass Effect’ and create an immersive, highly interactive game that draws players into a compelling universe,” said Ray Muzyka, chief executive officer for BioWare Corp. “‘Mass Effect’ creates an emotional connection between players and the characters they encounter, and Xbox 360 provided us with the perfect platform to tell this incredible story.”

“Mass Effect” is an action RPG available exclusively on Xbox 360 and is rated “M” for Mature by the Entertainment Software Rating Board. It is available now for $59.99 (ERP), or $69.99 (ERP) for the special Limited Collector’s Edition, which includes a fiction book titled “Galactic Codex: Essentials”; an art book titled “A Future Imagined”; a bonus DVD featuring four exclusive documentaries about the creation of this epic game titled “Inside BioWare”; and 10 songs from the game’s soundtrack.

Labels: Mass Effect, Microsoft, Xbox 360

CODEMASTERS LAUNCHES TURNING POINT: FALL OF LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL

Website Delivers New, Shocking Look into "What If" Scenario,
Plus New "Invasion" Gameplay Video and Developer Blog

Burbank, CA - Thursday, November 20, 2007 - Bringing forth a haunting glimpse into a world that might have been, today sees the launch of the "International Journal" - a series of news reports and newsreel videos that documents the fiction behind Turning Point™: Fall of Liberty, Codemasters' alternate reality WWII shooter currently in development at Spark Unlimited™. In preparation to fight the oppression, resistance fighters are invited to get a full briefing at www.turningpointgame.com [click International Journal].

Inspired by the game's alternate history setting, the International Journal details fictional events from 1940 through to the moment when Nazi forces launch a devastating attack on the United States of America via New York in 1953, Turning Point: Fall of Liberty's opening scene. With news written in the period's style, the video newsreels make use of authentic WWII footage to tell the stories.

Through regularly scheduled updates, the Turning Point: Fall of Liberty website will highlight key fictional events that led up to the invasion. Discover how British Prime Minister Chamberlain surrendered to Hitler, the destructive advance of the Third Reich across European territories throughout 1940, the successful Axis invasion of Northern Africa in 1942, and even how King George VI would have died in American exile in the early 1950s.

Illustrating the culmination of events, the explosive new 'Invasion' video detailing the brutal attack on New York, is also now available on the official website (in Downloads). Plus, for all the latest news straight from the guys in the trenches at Spark Unlimited, be sure to check out Producer Dean Martinetti's, developer blog.

Turning Point: Fall of Liberty is scheduled to release in early 2008 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and Games for Windows®, and is rated "T" (Teen - Language, Violence - Content that may be suitable for persons ages 13 and older) by the ESRB. For the latest intelligence on Turning Point: Fall of Liberty, be sure to check out the official game website at: www.turningpointgame.com.

Labels: codemasters, Turning Point Fall of Liberty

The Story of Rainbow Islands Evolution for PSP® System

New Details About Bubby and Bobby’s Latest Adventure in Rainbow Islands!

A cult classic arcade game from Taito, Rainbow Islands Evolution for the PSP® system from Ignition Entertainment is a sequel in the popular Bubble Bobble franchise and is coming to North America in January 2008. See below for more on the story of Rainbow Islands Evolution and visit the FTP link for new screens and art.

The Evil Record Company!

A record company called Million Records has expanded into every area of the music industry from production of instruments to raising new talent and publishing records. Recently they have started to churn out nothing but generic, soulless music and have spread it across the globe.

Songwriters held Prisoner!

All the songwriters are now held prisoner inside the Headquarters of Million Records, located in the Rainbow Islands. They are forced to create boring, empty music 24 hours a day while strictly adhering to the ‘Million Hit Manual’.

Ecosystem in despair!

The ‘fake’ music created by Million Records has a terrible effect on the ecosystem of the Rainbow Islands. The trees have withered, insects have mutated into aggressive attackers and even the islands’ gravity has been affected!

The Good guys!

This terrible calamity has brought Bubby and Bobby back to restore their homeland to its natural glory. Using a magical Rainbow instrument called the ‘Hurdy Gurdy’, they must battle and destroy the evil Major Seven!

The BAD guys!

The pride of the Million Records Company, the “Major Seven” appear as the bosses in each stage, using their giant instruments and cheap sounds to try and stop Bubby and Bobby dead in their tracks.

Labels: Ignition, Playstation Portable, PSP, Rainbow Islands Evolution

Dirty Dancing the Video Game releases across Europe and North America

Dirty Dancing the Video game is out now!

WARWICKSHIRE, United Kingdom - Nov. 20, 2007 - Codemasters Online announced today that Dirty Dancing the Video Game, the official game based on the hit movie, is now available for purchase in North America via digital download at www.codemasters.com/eshop. Dirty Dancing the Video Game will be available at US retailers in early 2008.

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the movie, fans can now step back into the year 1963 and encounter the world of their favorite film. Through this action puzzler, Dirty Dancing enthusiasts now have the opportunity to experience the life of Baby. Learn to dance with the resident dancing couple, Johnny and Penny, and work alongside the team at the renowned Kellerman's Mountain House Resort.

"Dirty Dancing the Video Game is a premium casual game that fans of both the movie and high-quality casual games will be able to enjoy for hours," comments Tim Hodges, associate product manager, Codemasters Online. "We are proud to be a part of such an epic franchise and we are delighted to bring a quality casual game to the many dedicated Dirty Dancing fans."

Dirty Dancing is one of the most enduring modern classics in feature film and home entertainment history, the release of Dirty Dancing the Video Game caps off a year-long celebration by Lionsgate in honor of the movie's 20th Anniversary. Earlier this year, Lionsgate released a 20th anniversary edition DVD and Blu-ray disc along with a remastered companion CD from Sony/BMG. Both those releases came on the heels of a theatrical event that sold out theatres nationwide and resulted in ticket sales of more than 80,000 over a two-day period.

Originally released in 1987, Dirty Dancing redefined date movies and continues to captivate the hearts and minds of generations of fans, generating more than $170 million in worldwide box office receipts and selling more than 10 million DVDs. Starring Jennifer Grey (Ferris Bueller's Day Off) as "Baby" Houseman and Patrick Swayze (Ghost) as the sexy Johnny Castle, Dirty Dancing is the story of a naïve girl who meets an experienced dance instructor and becomes his pupil in dance and love. The Oscar®-winning film (Best Music, Original Song) was recently named one of the Top 10 Date Movies of all time, according to an E! Entertainment Television poll of industry executives and celebrities.

Dirty Dancing the Video Game is available for purchase via download in the US ($19.99) at www.codemasters.com/eshop. For more information visit: www.dirtydancinggame.com.

Labels: Dirty Dancing the Video Game, PC

Burnout Paradise New Box Art Revealed

Rock Paradise City! EA today unveiled the stunning, sleek and new pack front for the latest installment of the hugely popular Burnout franchise. The pack art for Burnout Paradise breaks away from the traditional Burnout imagery of spectacular crashes to set gamers on a course into a new open world. While crashing is now and will always be at the heart of Burnout, this Paradise City experience introduces the franchise to all new open-world gameplay where you have the freedom to discover your own personal driving experience, whether you’re online or off.

Tear through the streets of Paradise City, filled with insane super jumps and hundreds of smashable targets, looking for shortcuts to give you that competitive edge! The action begins with you but it may not end, just pull up to a stoplight and spin your wheels to enter one of five types of high speed action challenges or jump online instantly with your friends. Burnout Paradise sets a new standard for online social gameplay with its EasyDrive online system.

All the cars in Burnout Paradise have been engineered from the ground up to look beautiful, whether they’re fresh out of the showroom or smashed into scrap. From exotics and muscle cars to hot rods and even supercharged SUVs, get ready to experience spectacular bone-crushing crashes and an unparalleled sense of speed! Welcome to Paradise: one city with infinite possibilities.

Labels: Burnout Paradise, EA

MIDWAY AND EPIC GAMES SHIP THE AWARD-WINNING UNREAL TOURNAMENT 3 FOR PC

Unreal Tournament 3 Marks the Highly Anticipated Return of the Multi-Million Unit Selling Franchise

CHICAGO - November 19, 2007 – Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer and world-renowned developer Epic Games Inc., today announced that the highly anticipated and award-winning Unreal Tournament 3 game has shipped for PC. Building off 2006 Game of the Year, Gears of War's massive success, Epic Games has brought the world's premiere and multi-million unit selling first-person-shooter back to the PC. Unreal Tournament 3, rated "M" for Mature by the ESRB, is available for a U.S. suggested retail price of $49.95, with the PC collector's edition available for a U.S suggested retail price of $59.95. Unreal Tournament 3 is also scheduled to be available soon for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.

"Unreal Tournament 3's superior graphics and gameplay experience take the award-winning Unreal franchise to a completely new level," said Steve Allison, chief marketing officer, Midway. "The game truly defines what fast-paced, frenetic, intense first-person shooter gameplay should be."

"Unreal Tournament 3 delivers on the promise of high-caliber game quality that gamers have come to know and expect from Epic Games and the Unreal franchise," said Mark Rein, vice president, Epic Games. "The power of Unreal Engine 3.0 has enabled the development team to set new expectations for what cutting-edge graphical and gameplay quality for a first-person shooter should be."

Unreal Tournament 3 has been met with numerous awards and critical acclaim from some of the industry's most respected media outlets:

• "Best of E3" E3 2007 - GameSpy
• "Best of E3" E3 2007 - ShackNews
• Runner-Up, "Best Graphics Technology" E3 2007 - IGN
• Finalist, "Best Shooter" E3 2007 - GameSpot
• "Most Innovative Games of E3" - E3 2007 - GamePro
• Nominated "Best PC Game" E3 2007 - GameTrailers
• Nominated "Best First-Person Shooter" E3 2006 - IGN
• Nominated "Best Online Multiplayer Game" E3 2007 - Game Critics Awards
• Nominated "Best Online Game" E3 2007 - GameTrailers
• Nominated "Best Graphics Technology" E3 2006 - IGN

Halo 3” Evolves as Heroic Map Pack Explodes onto Marketplace in December

Plus, this Week “Undertow” Dives onto Xbox LIVE Arcade and a Thanksgiving Sale comes to MSN Games this Wednesday

Attention Spartans!

The internationally award-winning “Halo 3” multiplayer experience is about to get even better. After launching to incredible acclaim and fanaticism, “Halo 3” players will be able to enjoy three all new multiplayer maps on Dec. 11 as part of the Heroic Map Pack, the first in a series of downloadable content from Bungie Studios to come via Xbox LIVE.

Available for 800 Microsoft Points exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, each map presents a totally different play style. Standoff’s symmetrical valley, with its entrenched bases and fields of boulders is ideal for mid-sized objective and Slayer game types, while Rat’s Nest’s vast, labyrinthine passages bring something new to the “Halo” multiplayer experience: an indoor vehicle paradise, strongly influenced by the Campaign mode, ideal for big team battles. Finally, Foundry is the ultimate Forge map – players can edit every single object in this voluminous industrial warehouse, place stairways, walls, bridges and tunnels to create an entirely new play space and build almost any kind of map they can think of.

All three maps will become available for free download via Xbox LIVE Marketplace in Spring 2008, just prior to the next wave of all new “Halo 3” multiplayer maps.

As if the legions of "Halo 3" players needed more reasons to stay logged on and fragging, the Forge also allows players to edit and customize all three maps, keeping “Halo 3’s” multiplayer experience fresh, exciting and evolving. In addition, ongoing updates to “Halo 3’s” matchmaking playlists ensure that ranked and social gameplay remains dynamic and competitive.

While you wait for the “Halo 3” Heroic Map Pack, check out the 101^st game to launch on Xbox LIVE Arcade as Chair Entertainment Group brings “Undertow” to the platform. The fast-paced, aquatic action game arrives this Wednesday, November 21^st, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PST).

"Undertow" redefines aquatic based shooters through a mix of high-definition graphics, intuitive controls and multiple modes of game play action. "Undertow" features a story driven single player campaign, on and offline co-op, and multiplayer for up to 16 players over Xbox LIVE. Players battle for control of the oceans as one of three selectable races, each with four unique, upgradeable units. "Undertow" will be available worldwide this Wednesday for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E10+.

· For more details on “Undertow,” please visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/u/undertowxboxlivearcade/

In other Microsoft Casual Games news, Thanksgiving comes early this year with an MSN Games “Thanksgaming Sale.” Starting at 12:01 a.m. PST on Wednesday, November 21 (3:01 a.m. EST) through 8:59 p.m. PST (11:59 p.m. EST) Monday, November 26, ALL download titles on MSN Games will be 50% off in the United States only. For more details on the MSN Games “Thanksgaming Sale,” please visit http://zone.msn.com/en/general/article/thanksgamingsale.htm.

AHOY LAND LUBBERS! GRAB YOUR MOUSE AND SET A COURSE IN THE PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEA™ STRESS TEST #2

WHAT:

Pirates of the Burning Sea, the MMORPG featuring high seas action and adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder, is scheduled for its second stress test Thursday, November 15th through Sunday, November 18th, hosted by File Planet.

HOW:

Players who are interested in participating need to set sail for www.FilePlanet.com to sign up for the weekend play test. Players will be allowed to register starting Monday, November 12th, with current FilePlanet subscribers getting the first go at access into the game.

Once registered, players will be taken to a page with both a link to the Pirates installer and a Stress Test key. The key will not be active (able to be consumed) until 3:00 PM PST on Thursday November 15th. Players will be able to play the entire three days of the Stress Test., or until they hit the level cap of 20.

WHEN:

Pirates of the Burning Sea stress test is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. PST on Thursday, November 15 and running until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, November 18th.

For more information on the Pirates of the Burning Sea stress test, or to sign up, log onto www.FilePlanet.com.

ABOUT PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEA:

Pirates of the Burning Sea is an MMORPG featuring high seas action and adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder. Set against the backdrop of the New World of the 18th Century, players can be any one of three nations – England, France or Spain – or choose the role of a Pirate and battle it out for glory and power. Pirates of the Burning Sea is scheduled to launch on January 22, 2008.

For information on the game, please log onto www.piratesoftheburningsea.com.

Labels: PC, Pirates of the Burning Sea, SOE

EA TO DISTRIBUTE RAIL SIMULATOR IN NORTH AMERICA

Train Enthusiasts Invited to Ride the Rails on the PC starting January 16 with all-new Content for North American Release

Redwood City, Calif. – November 15, 2007 – All aboard! Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that it will distribute Rail Simulator for the PC in North America. The game was released in Europe in October and will now ship in North America, with a wealth of new content, on January 16, 2008.

Developed by Kuju Entertainment, Rail Simulator is the ultimate experience for train enthusiasts and gamers alike, allowing players to take the controls of historic and contemporary trains on more than 1,000 miles of real-life routes from around the world. New to the North American release is the highly popular Barstow to San Bernardino route alongside all-new Union Pacific locomotives and rolling stock.

Rail Simulator puts players in control of every aspect of the train’s operation and even gives players a track editor to create their own routes and share them with other gamers online. Varying difficultly levels tailor the game to players of all skill levels, from Easy to Full Simulation.

“We’re thrilled to extend our European relationship with EA Partners to include distribution of Rail Simulator in North America,” said Tim Gatland, managing director of Rail Simulator Developments Limited. “The team at Kuju Entertainment has created an incredible product for train enthusiasts of all ages, and the team at EA Partners is helping us reach the widest possible global audience.”

“Kuju Entertainment is the hands-down leader in this category and EA Partners is excited to be distributing Rail Simulator in North America this January,” said David DeMartini, vice president and general manager of EA Partners. “The team at EA Partners is committed to helping studios of all sizes take advantage of EA’s worldwide publishing infrastructure, and we can’t wait to help get Rail Simulator into the hands of North American gamers.”

Rail Simulator is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB. More information about Rail Simulator is available at www.railsimulator.com.

Labels: EA, PC, Rail Simulator

EA SHIPS BOOGIE ON THE PLAYSTATION 2

Boogie on Nintendo DS to Ship Later this Month - Offering Gamers Unique 3D Gameplay and Original Game Modes

Montreal, Canada – November 15, 2007 – Shake it. Sing it. Create it. Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that Boogie™ for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system hit retail stores in North America. In Europe, gamers can pick up their copy on November 30. Boogie, which shipped for the Wii™ in August and was recently featured on NBC’s Today Show for a segment on keeping families fit, is bringing both its singing and dancing gameplay to one of the world’s most prevalent hardware systems. PlayStation 2 players will dance, sing and create music videos with this complete entertainment package.

Boogie features new versions of tracks made popular by hit bands such as The Jackson 5, Kool & The Gang, Black Eyed Peas and Britney Spears. Players can sing along to 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 music video creator.

Boogie is also taking its dancing act on the road with a unique Nintendo DS™ version that features the first 3D gameplay on the handheld system. The game introduces new gameplay modes and mini-games not found in the Wii or PlayStation 2 version for easy gaming on the go. Boogie on the Nintendo DS will be on shelves on November 29 in North America and November 30 in Europe.

Developed at EA Montreal, Boogie is the perfect party game for gamers of all ages. Boogie on the Nintendo DS has a U.S. MSRP of $29.99, which includes 3D Glasses. Boogie on the PlayStation®2 has a U.S. MSRP of $49.99, and ships with a microphone. Boogie has been rated E10+ by the ESRB with descriptors for Lyrics and Suggestive Themes. For more information, please visit the website at www.boogie.ea.com.

Labels: Boogie, EA, Playstation 2

Embark on an Epic Journey With
Dungeon Explorer Warriors of Ancient Arts

Hudson Entertainment Brings Classic Action RPG Franchise
to PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) and Nintendo DS Next Year

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., November 15, 2007 - Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm for Hudson Soft, announced today that it is bringing Dungeon Explorer Warriors of Ancient Arts to North America in early 2008 for the PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) and Nintendo DS. Each version of the game will feature a unique story with epic battles, an all new assortment of weapons and many unique fighting styles. Like the classic game, the new versions will feature deep and customizable multiplayer adventuring. Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts will be available February
2008.

In the game for the PSP system, players are trained in weaponry and mystical forces as Warriors of Ancient Arts. On a quest and ready to uncover the fate of a legendary kingdom, gamers will prepare to battle demonic forces and monstrous creatures. DE: WAA features hundreds of variations of weapons, armor and equipment that can be chosen and upgraded throughout the adventure to defeat enemies. Unique for the PSP system, players have the ability to choose their warfare style with more than 150 different kinds of fighting arts, including Big Bang Arts, allowing three players to team up to triple their destructive power in Ad-Hoc Multiplayer mode.

In the DS version, gamers find themselves in a land plagued by a legion of undead, monstrous soldiers. Commanded by the Demon God, the Evil Menace is determined on bringing Westoria Kingdom to its final days. The story takes place centuries after the events of the PSP version, as a legend foretells of a hero who will rise to face the threat. Gamers must rediscover the lost Ancient Fighting Arts of Westoria in
order to restore peace to a once sprawling and vibrant kingdom. With more than 60 different fighting arts across 8 lost Ancient Fighting Art schools, players can become a skilled warrior to successfully wage battle against dangerous enemies such as the Demon God's undead soldiers, mutated monsters, and an army of ancient automatons. To assist in battle, the game offers hundreds of weapons, armor and
equipment; all can be upgraded along the way. Players can also choose from three hero races and three character classes to form a unique warrior for battle. For a group effort, 3 players can join forces to battle the Demon god's minions via Nintendo's Wireless Connection.

"Bringing a classic franchise like Dungeon Explorer to the handheld gaming systems of today continues Hudson's pledge to deliver engaging new content to gamers, while tapping into the nostalgia of the popular series," said John Greiner, President and CEO of Hudson Entertainment. "Dungeon Explorer updates the much loved series with an all-new engaging story and introduces new RPG gameplay elements never before seen in a handheld game."

For more information on Hudson Entertainment or Dungeon Explorer Warriors of Ancient Arts, please visit www.hudsonentertainment.com.

Labels: Dungeon Explorer Warriors of Ancient Arts, Hudson, Nintendo DS, PSP

November 16, 2007---A free title update is now available for Bomberman Live. The update addresses issues some players have experienced and tweaks other aspects. Here are just some of the many improvements players can expect to see:

. Costumes come correct: If users have Bomb-Up Pack 2, but not Bomb-Up Pack 1, costume changes now save correctly.

. Less waiting between matches: The in-between match timer has been reduced to 20 seconds and is now visible to users.

. No more power-up lag: Previously, due to network lag, some power-ups that had already been picked up by one user remained on the ground on another user's screen. This is no longer the case.

. Know what you're getting yourself into: Users can now preview match settings from the game lobby.

. Brag for a minute: Online end of match screens now show gamerpics instead of Bomberman heads. There's also a timer of 60 seconds for the winner to brag.

. 1 bomb + 1 bomb = dangerous bomb: Kicking two bombs together now makes dangerous bombs more often.

. Over six figures of bombing: Leaderboards now show numbers beyond 100,000.

. Plunder some more: Scavenger can now be turned on for the "Plunder Isle" level.

Spend some time on the edge of your seat with Games for Windows branded titles “Crysis” and “Kane & Lynch: Dead Men”

Gamers will have plenty of chances to vent some adrenaline this week as action-packed Games for Windows branded titles “Crysis” from EA Partners and “Kane & Lynch: Dead Men” from Eidos hit retail shelves.

In “Crysis,” the game PC Gamer scored a 98 out of 100 and called a “creative and technological marvel” that is “destined to be a classic,” users can don a powerful “nano suit” to save the world from hostile aliens. “Crysis” also supports cutting-edge DirectX 10 technology, producing incredibly nuanced graphics and setting the bar for PC gaming to come.

However, if saving the world sounds a little altruistic, cinematic crime drama “Kane & Lynch: Dead Men” affords players the opportunity to tear the world apart as a pair of escaped death-row cons. As the icing on the cake, “Kane & Lynch: Dead Men” will support Games for Windows – LIVE for online play, letting up to 8 players compete with free List Play for Silver users and, for Gold members, enhanced matchmaking and online multiplayer achievements.

Additionally, since both games sport the Games for Windows brand, gamers are assured of a user-friendly experience. Games for Windows branded titles offer easier installation, widescreen compatibility, 64 bit support and leverage Windows Vista’s gaming features, ensuring a safe, easy and fun experience.

Both games are rated “M” for mature audiences only and can be purchased for the estimated retail price of $49.99. “Crysis” is available now, and “Kane & Lynch: Dead Men” hits store shelves today. For more information please visit www.ea.com/crysis and www.kaneandlynch.com.

SEGA® of America, Inc. has released the first batch of downloadable content packs for Virtua Fighter™ 5, the highly-anticipated arcade fighting game now available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system. The content packs include a number of bonus items for each selectable character including alternate hairstyles, lightplates and more! The content packs are available for purchase on Xbox® LIVE.

The Microsoft Xbox 360™ version of Virtua Fighter™ 5 is based on the latest arcade version update and features both analog stick and D-pad control, as well as vibration support. The game also includes an improved Quest mode featuring more CPU rivals, items, and emblems for character customization. The DOJO mode has added features including leaderboards, training move settings, improved throw escape training, and the option to change your opponent's position and recovery type. These all work to create a more refined DOJO mode where players can improve their fighting strategy.