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

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 AND CRYTEK USHER IN THE NEXT-GENERATION OF PC GAMING WITH CRYSIS

The Highly Anticipated First-Person Shooter Ships to Retailers Today

Redwood City, Calif. – November 13, 2007 – The wait is finally over! Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Crytek announced that Crysis® is now shipping to stores in North America and Europe. Featuring jaw-dropping visuals, industry leading technology and open-ended gameplay, Crysis is set to break new ground in the FPS genre and has already received a 98% from PC Gamer, the highest score ever awarded in the magazine’s 14-year history. Crysis is also setting the bar internationally, with a 94% from Gamestar in Germany – in its 10-year history no other game has earned a rating over 94%.

“Crysis is the culmination of the dedication and tenacity of everyone here at Crytek who shared the goal of creating a true next-generation FPS,” said Cevat Yerli, CEO and President of Crytek. “Our vision from the beginning was to deliver an immersive, open-ended single-player campaign, to innovate in multiplayer and to give our community a powerful, easy-to-use editor and we’re extremely proud of the end result.”

“Crysis is nothing short of amazing. It is an innovative, technical achievement that has blown us all away,” said David DeMartini, Vice President and Global General Manager, EA Partners. “EA Partners has a long history of working with the most talented independent studios in the world and helping them deliver their creative vision to a mass, global audience and our experience with Crytek is adding to that legacy.”


The complete Crysis package is composed of three primary components:

* An Epic Single Player Campaign – Players are thrust into the middle of a global conflict between the US and North Korea over a mysterious artifact that turns out to be extraterrestrial in nature. Fortunately, players are outfitted with a high tech Nanosuit that allows them to alter their strength, speed, armor and cloaking abilities and an arsenal of fully customizable weapons, helping to even the playing ground against a highly mysterious and intelligent enemy threat.
* Multiplayer Reinvented – Crytek has also focused much of their development efforts in creating two unique multiplayer experiences. PowerStruggle is a new, team-based multiplayer mode where players need to work together strategically to capture resource points throughout the map to win the ultimate arms race for nuclear technology. And for those who are looking for a more action-packed experience Crysis also features Instant Action, traditional deathmatch made even more frenetic as every player is outfitted with the revolutionary Nanosuit.
* CryENGINE 2TM Sandbox Editor – Also included with Crysis is the complete version of Crytek’s Sandbox Editor. Extremely powerful with a simple user interface, the editor will give the community full access to one of the most powerful design tools in the industry.


Crysis has been rated ‘M’ for Mature by the ESRB (Blood and Gore, Language, Violence) and 16+ by PEGI in Europe. Visit www.esrb.org and www.pegi.info for updated rating information. For more information about the game, the game’s official website at www.nanosuit.com.

Labels: Crysis, EA, PC

XFIRE TO BRING FANS THE WORLD'S FIRST
CALL OF DUTY® 4: MODERN WARFARE™
PC ONLINE TOURNAMENT

Log On November 15-21 to Participate in the
"Xfire First Strike: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Tournament and Events"

MENLO PARK, CA (November 13, 2007) - Xfire, one of the fastest growing online gaming communities in the world today announced the first-ever Call of Duty® 4 online tournament for the PC, the "Xfire First Strike: Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™ Tournament." Kicking off Thursday, November 15, the tournament is Xfire's first user tournament, with more than $30,000 worth of prizes up for grabs for competitors including new Voodoo computers, Nvidia's 8800 GT graphics cards and Creative Labs sound cards and headsets. In addition to the open tournament, Xfire will host a series of events to celebrate the release of the highly-anticipated game, including a "Live Chat" and a "Play With" session with developer Infinity Ward, as well as three hours of pro-am sessions with top-ranked competitive teams.

"We are thrilled to host the first PC online tournament for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare," said Frederic Descamps, senior director of marketing, Xfire. "By working closely with Activision and Infinity Ward to develop a series of free events never-before-seen on the PC, we have the opportunity to present a truly unique and exciting experience for our community."

Free registration for the "Xfire First Strike: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Tournament and Events" is available now - open to gamers 17 years of age or older. For additional details and to sign up to participate, please visit the Xfire First Strike page.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is rated "M" (Mature) by the ESRB for Intense Violence, Strong Language, Blood and Gore and available now at retail outlets nationwide.

About Xfire, Inc.
Xfire, Inc. is one of the fastest growing online gaming platform and community in the world helping gamers to easily connect, chat and play with their friends online. Xfire is a free service that allows gamers to easily browse for game servers, chat with friends through IM and voice chat, as well as download the latest updates and additions to their favorite games. With over 8.5 million members in over 100 countries, Xfire is an international community connecting gamers across the globe. Xfire is a wholly owned subsidiary of MTV Networks and is based in Menlo Park, CA.

Call of Duty®4: Modern Warfare™ is a registered trademark of Activision Inc.

Labels: Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare, PC, Xfire

XFIRE TO BRING FANS THE WORLD'S FIRST
CALL OF DUTY® 4: MODERN WARFARE™
PC ONLINE TOURNAMENT

Log On November 15-21 to Participate in the
"Xfire First Strike: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Tournament and Events"

MENLO PARK, CA (November 13, 2007) - Xfire, one of the fastest growing online gaming communities in the world today announced the first-ever Call of Duty® 4 online tournament for the PC, the "Xfire First Strike: Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™ Tournament." Kicking off Thursday, November 15, the tournament is Xfire's first user tournament, with more than $30,000 worth of prizes up for grabs for competitors including new Voodoo computers, Nvidia's 8800 GT graphics cards and Creative Labs sound cards and headsets. In addition to the open tournament, Xfire will host a series of events to celebrate the release of the highly-anticipated game, including a "Live Chat" and a "Play With" session with developer Infinity Ward, as well as three hours of pro-am sessions with top-ranked competitive teams.

"We are thrilled to host the first PC online tournament for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare," said Frederic Descamps, senior director of marketing, Xfire. "By working closely with Activision and Infinity Ward to develop a series of free events never-before-seen on the PC, we have the opportunity to present a truly unique and exciting experience for our community."

Free registration for the "Xfire First Strike: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Tournament and Events" is available now - open to gamers 17 years of age or older. For additional details and to sign up to participate, please visit the Xfire First Strike page.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is rated "M" (Mature) by the ESRB for Intense Violence, Strong Language, Blood and Gore and available now at retail outlets nationwide.

About Xfire, Inc.
Xfire, Inc. is one of the fastest growing online gaming platform and community in the world helping gamers to easily connect, chat and play with their friends online. Xfire is a free service that allows gamers to easily browse for game servers, chat with friends through IM and voice chat, as well as download the latest updates and additions to their favorite games. With over 8.5 million members in over 100 countries, Xfire is an international community connecting gamers across the globe. Xfire is a wholly owned subsidiary of MTV Networks and is based in Menlo Park, CA.

Call of Duty®4: Modern Warfare™ is a registered trademark of Activision Inc.

Labels: Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare, PC, Xfire

Sony Online Entertainment Simultaneously Launches Expansions for Two of Its Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games
EverQuest® and EverQuest® II

EverQuest Secrets of Faydwer™ and EverQuest II Rise of Kunark™ Available Today

SAN DIEGO, CA – November 13, 2007 – Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) announces today that both EverQuest® and EverQuest® II MMORPGs have brand new expansion packs set to go on sale today throughout North America. EverQuest Secrets of Faydwer™ and EverQuest II Rise of Kunark™ are complete and inclusive including all previous expansions and relevant adventure packs in each, for a suggested retail price of $39.99 at participating retail stores and via digital download at www.station.com.

“Launching dual expansions of this magnitude for two major MMOs on the same day is a Herculean feat,” said Russ Shanks, COO and Vice President, Sony Online Entertainment. “It took a full year, dedicated development teams and the experienced infrastructure of SOE to be able to support these simultaneous launches. We’re extremely proud of the breadth of the new adventures these two games offer and we’re also grateful for the support from our beta testers and loyal community for their input on the final products.”

EverQuest II Rise of Kunark brings back the legendary high-fantasy game play style from its famous predecessor and blends it with the beautiful cinematic graphics for which the game has become known. “This is a return to nostalgia expansion -- where players will enjoy the best game experience in EQII’s three year history and likely the most compelling content the franchise has ever seen,” according to Scott Hartsman, Sr. Producer, Sony Online Entertainment.

Rise of Kunark introduces players to the Sarnak, a new dragon-like humanoid playable race that inhabits the jungle islands of Timorous Deep - a new starting location for adventurers featuring a wealth of new content for levels 1-20. Many of the expansion’s new zones are based on favorite gameplay areas from the original EverQuest, such as Karnor’s Castle, the Lake of Ill Omen, Sebilis and Veeshan’s Peak. In addition, Kunark raises the level cap to 80, adding new solo, group, and raid content for levels 65-80.

EverQuest Secrets of Faydwer is the fourteenth expansion for this genre-defining game. “We put a renewed emphasis on the test and adjust period for Secrets of Faydwer and increased the number of our Beta testers by 25 percent,” said Clint Worley, Sr. Producer, Sony Online Entertainment. “The feedback we received from the players was outstanding and it raised the quality bar exponentially.”

Secrets of Faydwer players will have the opportunity to advance to level 80 as they explore through 15 new zones, discovering thousands of new items along the way. In addition to the new high level raid content, there are new Alternate Advancement ability lines to refresh even the most hardened warriors.

Both retail and digital customers will receive several items with their purchase. Rise of Kunark consumers receive the base EQII game, the Rise of Kunark expansion, all three previous expansions and adventure packs, a claimable cockatrice house pet and a Legends of Norrath online strategy game starter pack, booster pack and loot item. Secrets of Faydwer consumers will receive the base EverQuest game and all 14 expansions, a claimable worg mount and a Legends of Norrath online strategy game starter pack, booster pack and loot item.


EverQuest II Rise of Kunark Features

* All-New Player Race – Start up a brand new Sarnak – the classic dragon-like humanoid creature that now inhabits Timorous Deep. Exiled from your homeland and magically altered, discover how your new breed came to be, and eventually return home to help your race triumph over the evil Iksar.
* New Starting Area – Begin your adventure from the new starting area in the islands of Timorous Deep. Conclude your day of questing and retire to new housing within the Village of Gorowyn.
* Level Cap Raised – Continue your adventures with your existing character in Kunark, expanding on your achievements as Adventure and Tradeskill levels all increase to 80. Achievement points cap raised from 100 to 140.
* More Unique Zones – Advance your way through new, massive regions, containing many zones filled with nostalgia and danger, such as The Emerald Jungle, Skyfire Mountains, Sebilis, and Karnor’s Castle.
* Hundreds of New Quests – The tale of Kunark is told through hundreds of new quests, aimed at gameplay of all types: solo, group, and raid.
* More Weapons & Armor – New quests for all 24 classes. Battle through the opposition and acquire additional fabled and legendary armor sets.
* New Mount – Explore the world on the shoulders of a new rampaging beast - The Kunarkian Rhinoceros.
* Dozens of New NPCs – Encounter and engage a wide variety of new enemies that inhabit the menacing lands of Kunark.
* Improved Features - New and improved racial abilities for all of the original races, new tradeskill interface and new in-game map capabilities.

EverQuest Secrets of Faydwer Features

* Level Cap Increase – Players can now achieve level 80.
* New High Level Content – Over 3,000 new item sets, more than 300 new spells and 30 new NPCs. In addition, prepare for the return of some of the best known NPC’s in the EverQuest franchise!
* 15 New Zones – New realms for adventurers to explore, including: Meldrath’s mechanical fortress Mechanotus, the new lands of the Loping Plains and Kerafyrm’s lair Crystallos.
* Thrilling New Adventure Content – Travel through Faydwer solo or with a group to complete over 100 new challenges, including 28 high-end raids.
* Alternate Advancement Ability Lines – 170 Alternate Advancement Abilities with various ranks.
* Amazing Heroic Items – Increase stats above current caps!


For more information on EverQuest Secrets of Faydwer, and a free trial of EverQuest visit www.everquest.com.

For information on EverQuest II Rise of Kunark and a free trial of EverQuest II visit www.everquest2.com.

Labels: Everquest II Rise of Kunark, Everquest Secrets of Faydwer, PC, SOE

EVERQUEST® FRANCHISE ONLINE STRATEGY GAME -- LEGENDS OF NORRATH™ STACKS THE DECK WITH ITS FIRST EXPANSION ANNOUNCEMENT

Additionally, SOE Announces the First Championship Series to Start Later This Year

DENVER, CO – November 8, 2007 – Just three months after the highly successful inaugural launch of the online trading card game Legends of Norrath (LoN), Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) announces that Forsworn, the first expansion for the online strategy game, is currently in development. Based on legendary MMOs EverQuest® and EverQuest® II, Forsworn is scheduled to launch Tuesday, December 18, 2007. LoN Oathbound was released late this past summer and has already hosted more than 300,000 matches to date.

“The instant success of the game’s first set, Oathbound, led to the decision to release Forsworn before the end of this year. Forsworn will continue to provide players with high-quality gameplay and a rich storyline that enhances a compelling stand-alone game or the already seamless experience from within the worlds of EverQuest and EverQuest II,” said Scott Martins, Director of Development, SOE. “Forsworn expands the Legends of Norrath experience with something for everyone. We’re particularly excited about kicking off the Legends of Norrath Championship Series in early December. With a total prize pool in excess of $100,000, this series adds another viable element of competitive play to the game.”

Developed at SOE’s Denver, CO studio, Legends of Norrath is the first online trading card game based on and playable from within SOE’s popular franchises EverQuest (EQ) and EverQuest II (EQII), as well as from a free stand-alone client. Launching from a menu within either MMO or using a free SOE Station ID (available at www.station.com) in the stand-alone client, players can challenge opponents on their game server and across other EQ and EQII servers.

Forsworn, the second release in the Legends of Norrath storyline, features enhanced multiplayer support that allows team-based 2 vs. 2 games, as well as cooperative multiplayer “raid” games against powerful AI opponents. Forsworn introduces 235 new, artistically stunning game cards, with new gameplay and multiplayer options, as well as an updated client with new content and bonus features for all registered users. Forsworn also boasts 22 additional loot items each for EQ and EQII, including player mounts, potions, clothing and spells.

Available in both 58-card digital starter decks and 15-card digital booster packs, Forsworn cards will be available via digital download from SOE’s Station Store. The digital starter decks (58 cards) will be available for $9.99 (plus any applicable taxes), with digital booster packs (15 cards) selling for $2.99 (plus any applicable taxes).

In addition to AI opponents and player vs. player combat, Legends of Norrath is the complete online card gaming experience, featuring numerous Casual and Tournament game lobbies with three exciting tournament formats in which to compete. Tournaments range from smaller on-demand tournaments all the way up to the Legends of Norrath Championship Series events, with a total prize pool in excess of $100,000 USD.


Legends of Norrath Championship Series

Starting in December Legends of Norrath players can truly test their strategic skills and throw down in the Legends of Norrath Championship Qualifier tournaments. Running monthly, each of these events will have no entry fee and will feature a prize pool of approximately $5,000 USD. Winners of these monthly qualifier events will receive an automatic entry into the Legends of Norrath Championships at Gen Con Indy 2008 in Indianapolis, IN where they will compete for cash and prizes in excess of $100,000 USD.


On Demand Tournaments

Starting November 17th, Legends of Norrath players can also start their own tournaments or enter other player-initiated tournaments 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. These 8-player events feature a variety of play formats including Constructed Deck and Booster Draft formats. In Booster Draft, players can open several packs of cards and only play with the cards drafted for their deck– a pure test of calculated skill! Scheduled tournaments for larger numbers of players are set to run each week so that players can compete in tournaments with several hundred players at a time.


Loot Tournaments

Monthly loot tournaments pit individual player skill against each other as they compete for promotional cards, sealed packs and loot to be used in EQ and EQII. Just for entering, players will receive a special loot and promo card that can only be obtained through such Loot Tournament events. Players who place well can win additional prizes such as packs, promotional cards and/or loot.


To get started on the fun, players can download the cilent for free, test their skills against AI and real opponents, and then head over to the tournament lobby to play. Tournament eligibility limited and subject to official rules. Residents of certain territories are ineligible to participate in LoN tournament play. Please see the EULA for details. For a schedule of events, rules and further details see the LoN Events Page or the LoN Tournaments webpage . For more information on Legends of Norrath, visit the website at www.legendsofnorrath.com.

Labels: Legends of Norrath, PC, SOE

Labels: Bionic Commando, Capcom, PC, PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360

ARRR MATEYS!

PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEA™ RETAIL PRE-ORDER

TO START OCTOBER 23

WHAT:
Pirates of the Burning Sea, the MMORPG featuring high seas action and adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder, is scheduled to be available for pre-order starting Tuesday, October 23rd at participating retail locations.


PRE ORDER

FEATURES:
Players who pre-order the game will receive the following:

*An invitation to the “Pre-Boarding Party” allowing them access to the live game up to 15 days prior to launch, and the ability to keep their characters, skills and equipment after launch with purchase of game and paid subscription (characters will have a level cap of 20 during the pre-boarding party)
*Captain’s Best Friend – a blue and yellow parrot
*Mighty Blades - Swedish Rapier, Old World Steel or Musketeer’s Matching Blades (depending upon which fighting style is selected)
*Original Game Soundtrack CD – 60 minutes of pirate themed music (comes in pre-order box)


WHEN:
Pirates of the Burning Sea is scheduled to be available for preorder in North America on Tuesday, October 23, 2007. A European pre-order date has not been set at this time.

For more pre-order information on Pirates of the Burning Sea, log onto www.piratesoftheburningsea.com.

Labels: PC, Pirates of the Burning Sea, SOE

CODEMASTERS CELEBRATES HALLOWEEN EARLY WITH RELEASE OF CLIVE BARKER'S JERICHO

Burbank, CA - Tuesday, October 23, 2007 - Just in time for the scariest holiday of the year, Codemasters today announced its long-awaited action/horror game Clive Barker's Jericho has shipped to retail outlets nationwide. A terrifying squad-based shooter based on an original concept by the master mythmaker, Clive Barker's Jericho is available for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system from Sony and Games for Windows®, and is rated "M" (Mature - Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language - Content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older) by the ESRB.

Cited as, "A poop your pants scary video game," in the October 2007 issue of Stuff Magazine, Clive Barker's Jericho is a spectacular, creative, blast from Barker's cannon of nightmares, and an interactive experience that mingles the darkest elements of his horror fiction with an ambitious, age-spanning story aimed at mature gamers, fans of Clive Barker and horror fiction enthusiasts.

Clive Barker's Jericho dispatches gamers to the Middle-Eastern city of Al-Khali, where the most ancient of evils has resurfaced; causing intense paranormal activity that has caught the eye of the military. Controlling the Jericho squad, an expert strike team skilled in both conventional and paranormal warfare, players fight their way through slices of time on a grueling journey as they make their way toward the heart of the evil. Along the way, gamers encounter the horrific armies of hellish denizens that now rule the city and corrupt everything they touch, and as they incrementally approach the source of evil, players will have to rely less and less on traditional weapons and instead focus on the combined psychic talents of the Jericho Squad.

Additionally gamers can still download the Clive Barker's Jericho playable demo for the Xbox 360 from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace and the PLAYSTATION 3 system version from the PLAYSTATION®Network, with the Games for Windows® demo available from the official game website (in downloads).

For more on Clive Barker's Jericho, be sure to visit the website located at www.jericho-game.com.

Labels: Clive Barker's Jericho, codemasters, PC, PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360

With the November launch of Sam & Max Season Two fast approaching, Telltale has just released a trailer for Sam & Max 201: Ice Station Santa.

Sam & Max episode 201, Ice Station Santa, will premiere on GameTap on November 8 and will be released to gamers worldwide one day later on November 9 from www.telltalegames.com. The premiere episode brings the Freelance Police to a bleak and desolate wasteland, to face their most ancient and powerful opponent yet – Santa Claus! More details about the Season Two premiere episode – including gameplay videos, purchase information, and a streaming version of today’s trailer – can be found at http://www.telltalegames.com/samandmaxseasontwo.

Labels: PC, Sam and Max Season 2, Telltale Games

DARKNESS WITHIN: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder
Official Demo Released for Horror Adventure Game Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft

Toronto, Canada -- Oct 18, 2007 -- Leading publisher Lighthouse Interactive and developer Zoetrope Interactive today released a demo for their upcoming psychological horror Adventure game, Darkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder. This chilling PC CD-ROM game, inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, will be releasing across Canada and the U.S. this Halloween. Darkness Within is Windows® Vista(tm) compatible.

Onur Samli, CEO of Zoetrope Interactive said, "The demo will take players into a world where nothing is as it seems. Mysteries unfold and players will toe the fine line between sanity and insanity. We wanted to create an eerie game world where players will enjoy being frightened. The story is also very involving - not only are players tasked with finding fugitive murder suspect Loath Nolder, but they must also uncover the astonishing truth behind their own character."

"Zoetrope created a suspenseful and intriguing adventure true to the works of H.P. Lovecraft. Darkness Within stands out from other games in its genre since it takes players deep into the dark recesses of the human psyche exploring themes such as the occult, nightmares and paranormal events," said Erik Schreuder, CEO of Lighthouse Interactive. "The demo gives players a peek into the twisted world built around a compelling murder investigation. Darkness Within will keep players entertained for hours!"

The demo features one of the frightening game settings players will encounter during the murder investigation. Strange happenings will occur, so players will need to keep their wits about them in order to escape the terrifying darkness.

GAME SUMMARY:
As police detective Howard E. Loreid, players are tasked to solve the murder of Clark Field, a wealthy man involved in the occult. At the top of your list of suspects is Loath Nolder; a highly respected private investigator who mysteriously abandoned his last case for reasons unknown. Rumor had it that he ventured to several exotic places around the world learning from tribe shamans and sorcerers. It remains a great mystery as to why Loath Nolder disappeared so suddenly, resurfacing five years later and resuming his investigations just as abruptly as he had left them. Why does this venerated P.I. now sit on the other side of the law?

Your seemingly routine investigation takes a dramatic twist as strange and terrifying happenings begin to plague your psyche. You experience lucid horrifying dreams and are tormented by paranormal happenings. Why do days pass instead of hours when you sleep? What's real and what's not? As you pursue fugitive murder suspect Loath Nolder, you must face dire truths hidden deep within a haunting darkness and the recesses of your mind.


FEATURES:
Built-in Hint System with 3 Difficulty Levels - Players can choose to play in Standard, Detective or Senior Detective modes.

Unique Inventory System - Utilizing the 'thinking screen' allows players to collect and examine items, and thoughts. Clues can also be researched, combined or used.

Dynamic Puzzles and Features - Traditional adventure game puzzles are complimented by deciphering dreams and underlining excerpts in documents to garner critical clues.

Enhanced Gameplay Experience - The proprietary game engine enables compelling special effects, stunning visuals, and dynamic lighting and shading, in a panoramic first person game environment.

Eerie Gameplay Atmosphere - An immersive experience is created by a fascinating story, chilling real-time cut scenes, and haunting music.


To find out more about Darkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder and to keep up with the latest news on the game, visit http://www.lighthouse-interactive.com/ and www.zoetropeint.com/In/gameinfo.htm.

Labels: Darkness Within, Lighthouse Interactive, PC

BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID
EVERQUEST® II GAME UPDATE #39 UNLEASHES
THE SHARD OF FEAR AND HALLOWEEN HAUNTED HOUSE!

Also, New EQII Website and Rise of Kunark Pre-Order Go Live!

WHAT:
The Shard of Fear!
Even before we find ourselves in the Nights of the Dead, the Shard of Fear brings forth our worst nightmares. Remnants from the Plane of Fear have manifested themselves and are now accessible through the Fear Gate in the Feerrott. Dare you face your terrors in this new Level 70 group zone? The Shard of Fear also incorporates persistent instance technology and can be taken on in steps should your group need time away from the computer! Only seasoned adventurers traveling in groups should dare tread into this realm of terror and dread!

Halloween comes to Norrath!
Trick-or-Treating, Haunted Houses and an eerie raid mark the beginning of Nights of the Dead in Norrath! Collect candy from NPC’s in the cities to earn Halloween rewards, free spirits in the Haunted House to unbind them from their haunting curse and quest on a hair-raising raid all hallows eve! Nights of the Dead is set to haunt Norrath from 10/26/07 to 11/05/07.

EverQuest2.com Re-launched for Rise of Kunark
Just in time for the RoK pre-order and expansion, EverQuest2.com has been re-launched with new content and features! Check out the website to get a look at some cool new artwork for RoK and a host of new information for prospective players. New and veteran EQII players will find news and information about the game, the trial, our latest update, and more! The changes you find at EverQuest2.com are just the beginning of a series of changes that add more information about the game for all players and people looking to learn more about the game.

Rise of Kunark Pre-order Now Available
The Rise of Kunark expansion for EverQuest II is now available for pre-order! Can't wait to get your hands on the expansion? Want to see what's inside the box? Now you don't have to wait to see it on the shelves, you can check out the RoK pre-order website and get the details. As a special bonus, everyone who pre-orders EverQuest II Rise of Kunark will receive one (1) Burynai Seeker house pet per account!

Information on additional enhancements included in GU 39 can be found here.

EverQuest II is rated T (for Teen) by the ESRB, suggestive themes, use of alcohol, violence.

WHEN:
October 17, 2007

WHERE:
www.playthefae.com (Free Trial)
www.everquest2.com

Labels: Everquest II, PC, SOE

Labels: EA, Hellgate London, Namco-Bandai, PC

Biggest expansion pack for the award winning “Zoo Tycoon® 2” now available to all animals lovers looking for new challenges and a slew of new extinct creatures

Microsoft Game Studios today announced that “Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals,” the biggest expansion pack for the award winning “Zoo Tycoon 2,“ has landed onto retail store shelves starting today.

Developed by Blue Fang Games LLC, “Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals” enhances the “Zoo Tycoon 2” experience by introducing new challenges, more than 30 new animals, new exciting ways to play and a new look through extinct-themed objects and buildings. “Zoo Tycoon 2” players can experience all of these new features with ease, as the expansion pack seamlessly integrates with the core game so that gamers can play immediately.

“Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals” is available for the estimated retail price of $29.99 for Windows. “Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals” is rated “E10+” for everyone 10 and older. “Zoo Tycoon 2” is required to play “Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals.”

For more information and free downloadable content, including new animals, scenery and demos, please visit the official Zoo Tycoon Web site at http://www.zootycoon.com.

Labels: Microsoft, PC, Zoo Tycoon 2, Zoo Tycoon Extinct Animals

Microsoft has sent over a nice little treat in the form of the in-game cinematic video for their upcoming Age of Empires III expansion pack, The Asian Dynasties!

Also be sure to check out the downloadable demo of the game before it hits stores! You can find it at the following sites: www.agecommunity.com, www.ageofempires3.com or www.ageofempires3.com/asiandynasties, which will be updated on a weekly basis through launch.

Labels: Age of Empires III The Asian Dynasties, Microsoft, PC

AHOY MATEYS!

PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEA™ SCHEDULED TO

SET SAIL WORLDWIDE JANUARY 22

Gamers Experience Action and Adventure on the High Seas Circa 1720 in New Online PC game


SAN DIEGO, CA & SEATTLE, WA – October 5, 2007 – Sony Online Entertainment LLC’s (SOE) Platform Publishing label and Flying Lab Software LLC (FLS) announced today Pirates of the Burning Sea™, is scheduled to launch worldwide on January 22, 2008. The hotly anticipated MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) game, featuring high seas action and swashbuckling adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder, is being developed by Seattle-based FLS and published by Platform Publishing.

“We are eagerly anticipating the day we can raise the anchor and set sail with Pirates of the Burning Sea. Our team’s hard work and dedication, and that of our partners at SOE’s Platform Publishing group, is going to result in a fantastic gameplay experience for PC gamers,” said Russell Williams, CEO, Flying Lab Software. “We are looking forward to bringing this game to fruition, and appreciate the support from our dedicated community in helping us to develop a top-notch game.”

As a captain in Pirates of the Burning Sea, you can choose among the French, Spanish, English, or Pirate nations, playing a naval officer, a freetrader, a privateer, or a pirate as you like. Action–filled ship battles take place at sea, where players can destroy or board and seize their competitors’ ship. On land, a world of swashbuckling adventure awaits full of sword-swinging action. The unique player-driven economy means players can be a captain of industry too, running mines, lumber mills, shipyards and other large-scale operations to produce the tons of goods needed to supply every player in the game with what they need. Through the player-generated content system, players can create their own sail and flag designs to display in game and even model their own ships.

“The vast amount of player-created content and the intense strategy required in Pirates of the Burning Sea sets it apart from any other MMO on the market,” said D Tim Granich, Sr. Global Brand Manager, Sony Online Entertainment. “Gamers will be donning their captain’s gear and eagerly awaiting their next battle on land or sea.”

The game takes place in the New World circa 1720, a dramatic time of conflict and riches that features action for every play style, from epic ship combat, to piracy, to building economic empires or sword-swinging adventure. With more than one thousand missions per nation, dozens of ports to explore, and the entire Caribbean as their domain, players will find an online experience like no other.

Pre-orders are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 23rd. Players that pre-order will receive an invitation to the “Pre-Boarding Party” giving them access to the live game 15 days prior to launch. During this time, players can level up to 20 and keep their characters after launch, with a purchase of the game and paid monthly subscription. Players who pre-order and purchase the game will also receive a “captain’s best friend” – known to any good pirate as a blue and yellow parrot – as well as a powerful weapon suited to their fighting style and an original game soundtrack CD complete with 60 minutes of pirate-themed music.

Pirates of the Burning Sea game features:

· Join one of four nations (Pirate, English, French, or Spanish)

· Every player is the captain of their very own ship in massive naval battles

· Duel other players to control more than 80 conquerable ports in the Caribbean

· Explore the world and make a name for yourself in more than 1,000 missions

· Economy driven by players, who manufacture and sell all ships and equipment found in the game

· Build, capture, and customize more than 50 historical ships

· Design your own flags and sails

· Choose from 3 different styles of swashbuckling combat – deadly and formal Fencing, flashy, dual-wielding Florentine or rowdy and treacherous Dirty Fighting

· Participate in epic sea battles with up to 25 players on a side

For more information on Pirates of the Burning Sea, log onto http://www.piratesoftheburningsea.com/ or the community site at http://www.burningsea.com/

Labels: PC, Pirates of the Burning Sea, SOE

EA ANNOUNCES THE COMMAND & CONQUER SAGA

AND CELEBRATES 12 YEARS OF THE POPULAR SERIES

Collection of Thirteen Command & Conquer Titles


LOS ANGELES, Calif., October 2, 2007 – Experience Command & Conquer™ like never before—thirteen Command & Conquer games spanning three generations of the series in a single package! Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced The Command & Conquer™ Saga, a massive compilation of over a dozen Command & Conquer games including the award-winning Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars™ and all the titles featured in Command & Conquer™ The First Decade. Available in North America this October for the PC, The Command & Conquer Saga marks the largest PC franchise compilation to date.

With over 25 million copies sold worldwide, the Command & Conquer franchise has defined the Real-time strategy (RTS) genre with fast and fluid gameplay, cutting-edge visuals, epic storylines, and rich campaign missions. The series has evolved over a decade, spawned over a dozen titles, and continues to be the genre benchmark by which all RTS games are measured. With its explosive style of warfare, the Command & Conquer franchise has grown over the years to span multiple fictional genres, including the science fiction Tiberium Universe, the revisionist history of the Command & Conquer Red Alert Universe, and a twist on modern warfare with Command & Conquer™ Generals.

The Command & Conquer Saga contains the following titles:

Command & Conquer™ (Aug. 1995)
Command & Conquer The Covert Operations™ (April 1996)
Command & Conquer Red Alert™ (Oct 1996)
Command & Conquer Red Alert Counterstrike™ (Mar. 1997)
Command & Conquer Red Alert™ The Aftermath™ (Sept. 1997)
Command & Conquer™ Tiberian Sun™ (Aug 1999)
Command & Conquer™ Tiberian Sun™ Firestorm (Feb. 2000)
Command & Conquer Red Alert™ 2 (Oct. 2000)
Command & Conquer™ Red Alert™ Yuri’s Revenge™ (Oct. 2001)
Command & Conquer Renegade™ (Feb. 2002)
Command & Conquer™ Generals (Feb. 2003)
Command & Conquer™ Generals Zero Hour (Sept. 2003)
Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars™ (Mar 2007)

The Command & Conquer Saga has a US MSRP of $49.99. All games included in the compilation are rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.

The development team at EA Los Angeles continues to give back to their community—one of the largest and most active fan communities in the world. To help celebrate the series’ twelfth anniversary, EA recently offered a free download of Command & Conquer Gold which garnered close to 3 million downloads to date. Over the next few months, fans can expect even more from the Command & Conquer team including exclusive content, video features, original programming through the Command & Conquer online network, and more. For up to date information on the anniversary activities or for more information about The Command & Conquer Saga or the Command & Conquer series, please visit http://www.commandandconquer.ea.com/.

Labels: Command and Conquer Saga, EA, PC

Expansion pack for “Flight Simulator X” franchise adds a host of new planes, missions and modes and hits store shelves Oct. 23rd

Microsoft Game Studios today announced the first expansion pack for the critically acclaimed “Flight Simulator X,” released last Fall, has gone gold and will begin hitting retailers throughout North America on Oct. 23rd.

Developed by ACES Studio, “Flight Simulator X: Acceleration” adds a wealth of new content and features, allowing gamers to race against each other in amazing, highly-detailed locations around the world. Aviators are able to test their skills and heroism in many new missions while enjoying three exciting new aircrafts and the ability to share rewards, photos and videos with friends and the broader flight simulator community.

“Flight Simulator X,” which launched in October 2006, introduced gamers to a beautifully rich and realistic world offering a completely new and innovative gaming experience. Available in both standard and deluxe versions, “Flight Simulator X” allows gamers of all ages, types and skill levels opportunities to cruise more than 24,000 airports and experience first-hand what it’s like to be an aviator traveling the globe. With the addition of more than 50 missions and increased online game capabilities, “Flight Simulator X” is more than just a simulator and has proved to be the fastest selling addition to the 25-year “Flight Simulator” franchise.

“Flight Simulator X: Acceleration” will be available for the estimated retail price of $29.99 for Windows. “Flight Simulator X: Acceleration” is rated “E10+” for everyone 10 and older. “Flight Simulator X” is required to play “Flight Simulator X: Acceleration.”

For more information about “Flight Simulator X” please visit http://www.microsoft.com/games/pc/flightsimulatorx.aspx.

Labels: Flight Simulator X, Microsoft, PC

Second expansion pack for massively popular Games for Windows franchise adds Eastern flare, hits store shelves Oct. 23rd

Microsoft Game Studios today announced that the eagerly awaited “Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties,” the second expansion pack for “Age of Empires III,” has gone gold and will hit retailers throughout North America on Oct. 23rd.

From renowned real-time strategy developers Big Huge Games and Ensemble Studios, “Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties” introduces gamers to Asian civilizations and a host of new gameplay features. Players will experience firsthand the rich and historical influences of Asia while commanding their units and expanding their empire in the Eastern world.

In addition to the introduction of playable Asian civilizations to Age of Empires III, the expansion pack provides new content, new ways of winning and trading, random map styles that feature remixes of classic “Age of Empires” game styles, and the return of Wonders - a favorite gameplay element in “Age of Empires II.” These new features will coincide with the basic core gameplay of “Age of Empires III” that gamers have come to know and love. “Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties” will also ship as a Games for Windows title with easier installation, enhanced reliability standards and support for key Windows Vista features, including the Games Explorer and Parental Controls.

“Age of Empires” and real-time strategy buffs can pick up "Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties” for the estimated retail price of $29.99 for Windows. “Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties” is rated “T” for Teen, for gamers 13 years old and above. “Age of Empires III” is required to play “Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties.” For more information, please visit www.ageofempires3.com.

Labels: Age of Empires III The Asian Dynasties, Microsoft, PC

ARRR MATEYS!

PIRATES OF THE BURNING SEA™ RETAIL PRE-ORDER

TO START OCTOBER 23

Pirates of the Burning Sea, the MMORPG featuring high seas action and adventure in a bold world of pirates and plunder, is scheduled to be available for pre-order starting Tuesday, October 23rd at participating retail locations.

PRE ORDER FEATURES:

Players who pre-order the game will receive the following:

*An invitation to the “Pre-Boarding Party” allowing them access to the live game up to 15 days prior to launch, and the ability to keep their characters, skills and equipment after launch with purchase of game and paid subscription (characters will have a level cap of 20 during the pre-boarding party)
*Captain’s Best Friend – a blue and yellow parrot
*Mighty Blades - Swedish Rapier, Old World Steel or Musketeer’s Matching Blades (depending upon which fighting style is selected)
*Original Game Soundtrack CD – 60 minutes of pirate themed music (comes in pre-order box)

Pirates of the Burning Sea is scheduled to be available for preorder in North America on Tuesday, October 23, 2007. A European pre-order date has not been set at this time.

For more pre-order information on Pirates of the Burning Sea log onto http://www.piratesoftheburningsea.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 choose one of three nations – England, France or Spain – or choose the role of a Pirate and battle it out for glory and power.

Labels: PC, Pirates of the Burning Sea, SOE

Czech industry veterans announce Prague-studio, debuts with off-road racer MOTORM4X

Prague, Czech Republic (September 20th, 2007) A number of Czech-based game development veterans today announced the existence of The Easy Company s.r.o., a Prague-based studio committed to creating ground-breaking technology and games for PC and consoles. The core development team at The Easy Company previously held lead-positions at Illusion Softworks where they made significant contributions to a number of record-breaking hit titles including Hidden & Dangerous 1 and 2 and MAFIA.

The Easy Company have been working behind closed doors on its debut title for the past 14 months, an all-terrain off-road racer entitled MOTORM4X for the PC. MOTORM4X is a non-formulaic racing-title that lets players drive and explore large outdoor terrains in a variety of SUV and off-road vehicles featuring simulated GPS and 4WD functions including player-controlled axle-locking, 4 wheel drive and GPS pathfinding.

Said Martin Babarik, Producer at The Easy Company “We’ve assembled one of the most experienced teams in the region compromised of local industry veterans with a proven track record of delivering triple-A titles for both PC and consoles. This experience will allow us to bring those same high production values to lighter and more focused games.”

The Easy Company is financially backed by ARCA Capital Bohemia, a private investment company specializing in providing venture capital to expanding companies in Central and Eastern Europe.

Labels: Easy Company, MOTORM4X, PC

Lighthouse Interactive Acquires the North American Publishing Rights to Ship Simulator 2008

Toronto, Canada -- Sep 20, 2007 -- Leading publisher Lighthouse Interactive and developer VSTEP today announced that they have extended their publishing deal to include the North American rights to Ship Simulator 2008; the acclaimed naval simulation game for Windows®. The game will be released in Canada and the U.S. in Q1 2008. VSTEP will maintain the rights for online distribution.

Ship Simulator 2008 was released by Lighthouse in most European territories this year. The North American retail release will include all the free add-ons, including the upcoming multiplayer mode. Ship Simulator 2008 is the follow-up to the surprise simulation hit Ship Simulator released last year. Not only is the game Windows® Vista(tm) compatible, but it includes brand new harbors like San Francisco, new vessels including jet-skis and hovercrafts, and also advanced weather conditions, waves, visible damage, enhanced ship bridges, multiplayer and open sea missions. Ship Simulator 2008 will amaze players with its progress and will rock their simulated world!

"Ship Simulator and Ship Simulator 2008 have both received accolades from simulation fans, retailers and the press worldwide," said Steve Wall, VP of Lighthouse Interactive. "We are proud to be bringing this international hit to the North American market."

VSTEP's Technical Director, Pjotr van Schothorst added, "The North American version of the game will be packed with features including: 50 different single player and multiplayer missions, a Mission Editor, and the ability to track player profiles establishing their ranks in different ship classes."

SUMMARY:
Ship Simulator 2008 is a revolutionary simulation game that puts players at the helm of some of the most varied and detailed ships to be found at sea. Players will need to perform a multitude of tasks, all set within a stunning 3D environment. They will take control of a wide array of ship types - from massive cargo ships and ferries, to speedboats, yachts, water taxis and even the mighty Titanic. The waters you sail are as varied as the ships, with newly added harbors such as Southampton, Marseille and San Francisco. Ship Simulator 2008 recreates real world locations from around the world as well as the challenges of commanding a vessel on the open sea.

FEATURES:
*Dynamic ocean waves with realistic ship motions
*Long distance travels with open sea voyages between ports
*Advanced damage system showing holes in the ships after severe collisions with other ships and even icebergs
*50 new challenging missions for both single player and multiplayer modes
*Extensive day, night and weather systems
*8 new ships, an oil rig and 3 new locations: San Francisco, Southampton and Marseille
*Walkthrough functionality and interactive bridge controls on all ships
*Controllable container crane
*Advanced vector graphic sea chart with full-screen display option, transparency setting and high level-of-detail on text and depth readings
*Free-roam mode where players can choose a ship, an environment, weather conditions, time of day, and time parameters
*Advanced physics simulation model displaying realistic water effects like water splashing on the bow
*Extensive mapping options for keys and joystick buttons
*Anchoring and advanced rope system which allows you to connect and disconnect player ships to other ships or mooring boulders at will
*A system for sinking player ships when damaged below the water line
*Mid-mission save function
*Enhanced ship bridges with more interactive elements
*An advanced system for establishing ranks in different ship classes linked to the online player profile
*Ability to set a trajectory with waypoints in free-roaming mode by pointing-and-clicking on the game map
*Extended environments for Rotterdam and Hamburg harbors
*Option for dual-screen users (full chart on second monitor)
*Rating missions indicated by stars

For more information about Ship Simulator 2008 or Lighthouse Interactive, please visit http://www.shipsim.com/ and http://www.lighthouse-interactive.com/.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
OS: Microsoft® Windows® 2000 / XP / Vista®
CPU: 2.4 GHz Intel® Pentium® IV or AMD® processor
RAM: 1 GB RAM (2 GB recommended for Windows® Vista(tm)) Video: 128 MB NVIDIA® GeForce(tm) 5900 or ATI® 9600 Pro / X600 video card
PC CD-ROM: 4x (or PC DVD-ROM drive)
Available Hard Disk Space: 500 MB
Multiplayer: LAN or 56K (or faster) Internet Connection
Sound: DirectX® 9.0 compatible sound card
Other: Keyboard, Speakers and Mouse with scroll wheel
Optional Controllers: Joystick, Joypad or Steering wheel

Labels: Lighthouse Interactive, PC, Ship Simulator 2008

EA ANNOUNCES The Sims on Stage –

A NEW ENTERTAINMENT, COMMUNITY AND PERFORMANCE PLATFORM FROM THE SIMS LABEL

Experience the Ultimate Online Destination for Performance and Creative Expression with The Sims and Find Your 15 Minutes of Fame!

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—Sept. 5, 2007—Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced the beta launch of The Sims™ On Stage, an interactive online playground that allows anyone with a standard PC or Mac™ and broadband connection to unleash their inner creativity! By visiting www.thesimsonstage.com, people can immediately and free-of-charge start recording karaoke songs, stories, comedy routines and more. The site offers incredibly fun and accessible tools that make it easy to watch, create and share recordings with just a few close friends, The Sims On Stage community, or the entire world online. Bringing together elements of performance, humor and community, The Sims On Stage is the perfect destination for people to express their creativity – and enjoy the talent and imagination of others!

“The Sims has long had one of the largest, friendliest and most creative communities in the world. With the release of The Sims On Stage, we welcome a new kind of customer to our way of having fun,” said Studio Head of The Sims Label, Rod Humble. “The world of interactive entertainment is now broader than ever thanks to new web-based technologies, and we are thrilled to give you a new way of having fun with The Sims On Stage.”

The Sims On Stage will also feature an easy-to-use Movie Mashup that will allow members to create original movies featuring The Sims content made available exclusively to members of The Sims On Stage community. Looking for your 15 minutes of fame? The Sims On Stage spotlight shines on thousands of well-known rock, pop and country songs available to karaoke fans at launch, making it easy to record and share your favorite ditty! And if singing is not your thing, take a shot at Open-Mic Recordings and share your favorite performances -- from spoken word and comedy routines, to knock-knock jokes and more!

Keep recordings private or make them public for the world to see! With one click of the mouse, The Sims On Stage members can easily upload their recordings onto blogs, social networking sites and more. Plug in your microphone, grab your webcam and record away!

Launching today in English, The Sims On Stage is an entertainment and performance destination based on the online karaoke community, SingShot Media that was acquired by Electronic Arts in February 2007. Please visit www.thesimsonstage.com for more details, and to experience the fun firsthand!

Labels: Apple Macintosh, PC, Sims On Stage

EA’S MEDAL OF HONOR AIRBORNE SHIPS TO STORE SHELVES NATIONWIDE

As a Member of the 82nd Airborne Division the First Step is Everything

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., September 4, 2007 – Get ready to get airborne! Medal of Honor Airborne™, the latest installment from EA’s critically-acclaimed Medal of Honor™ franchise has shipped to store shelves across North America and the UK for the PC and Xbox 360™ videogame and entertainment system. The game will ship to retailers throughout Europe on September 7. Medal of Honor Airborne is set to redefine the series and will change the way shooters are played. Medal of Honor Airborne offers a dramatically different approach to FPS games with its unprecedented non-linear gameplay.

“In recreating the largest airdrops in history, Medal of Honor Airborne brings a dramatic change and opens up the FPS genre with the innovative airdrop experience," explained Patrick Gilmore, VP and Executive Producer at EALA. “Players have the ability to land anywhere on the battlefield, and choose their own tactics to achieve victory, delivering unprecedented variety and freedom to the combat experience.”

For the first time in a FPS game, players airdrop into combat from a C-47 and land anywhere in an open battlefield. The first step is everything and the player’s landing spot can dramatically change the course of battle. Conflict on the ground offers unprecedented tactical choice in vertical, open battle spaces with a wealth of attack routes and flanking opportunities.

The Medal of Honor Airborne development team continues to ensure that the ideals and integrity of the prestigious Congressional Medal of Honor are accurately reflected in the game. The producers sought counsel from numerous expert sources to make certain the game is historically accurate and as true to the WWII Airborne experience as possible.

Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino has scored the music for Medal of Honor Airborne. An esteemed composer for numerous film and TV projects such as “Lost”, “Alias,” M:i:III (2007), The Incredibles (2004), and most recently Ratatouille (2007), Giacchino has been repeatedly recognized for his contributions to theatrical composition and score. As the original composer and creator of the memorable theme music for the Medal of Honor series, he helped set the bar for using music to bring emotion into gaming. Giacchino’s extraordinary talents and musical sensibility have been utilized once again to bring a new dimension to the WWII FPS experience of Medal of Honor Airborne.

Developed at EA Los Angeles under the EA™ brand, Medal of Honor Airborne is rated ‘T’ for Teen by the ESRB, 16+ by PEGI, and 18+ by USK. The Xbox 360 version has a US MSRP of $59.99 and the PC version has a US MSRP of $49.99. Medal of Honor Airborne for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system will ship in November. For more information on Medal of Honor Airborne and the Medal of Honor franchise, please visit: www.moha.ea.com.

Labels: EA, Medal of Honor Airborne, PC, Xbox 360