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Vintage covers and Centerfolds from the archives of the world’s best-selling men’s monthly magazine to be found throughout the world of Empire Bay

2K Games announced that it has signed a license agreement with Playboy magazine for a unique in-game integration to use more than 50 of their vintage covers and Centerfolds in Mafia II, this year’s highly anticipated epic mobster game for the Xbox, PS3, and Windows PC. Set in the fully realized and immersive 1940s and 1950s American urban cityscape of Empire Bay, Mafia II will enable players to collect virtual copies of the iconic magazine, which has served as the definitive guide to lifestyle and culture for men since December 1953.

“While most mob-inspired games’ emphasis is solely on action, Mafia II features a deep and compelling narrative that is embellished with a sophisticated, era-evoking atmosphere,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “In partnering with Playboy, we are able to add a unique element of authenticity to the game by using vintage images from the magazine that illustrate the power of Playboy’s influence on the attitudes and culture of that generation.”

Mafia II is a beautifully crafted look into the dark and unforgiving world of the Mafia where clothing, cars, music and advertising are meticulously created to replicate an American city in the ‘40s and ‘50s. Players will easily become engaged in the game’s cinematic, Hollywood-style experience with strong, believable characters in a living, breathing city that transports them to a time when rock-n-roll first strummed its guitar and chrome-plated hot rods roared down boulevards.

“For more than 55 years, Playboy has been a part of America’s pop culture landscape, engaging its readers with insightful features, interviews and fashion spreads, as well as pictorials of some of the world’s most beautiful women,” said Playboy magazine’s Editorial Director Jimmy Jellinek. “Mafia II is set when Playboy first came into vogue and features characters whose style and attitudes mirror content from our early issues. We’re excited to bring an element of authenticity to the game that is unmatched in the men’s publishing category.”

Mafia II is currently in development by 2K Czech, the same creative team behind the award-winning, genre-defining Mafia, which captivated millions of gamers around the world. By fusing high-octane gunplay with white-knuckle driving and an engaging narrative, Mafia II looks to be the industry’s most compelling Mafia title to date.

For more information, please visit www.mafia2game.com.

Following their recent announcement (well, over a year ago), Beatnik Games, a far-too-cool independent game development studio, are happy to let everyone know that their caffeine-fueled, dream-inspired debut game Plain Sight hasn’t been canned and is in fact set to be unleashed onto an unsuspecting world on March 22nd via Steam and other digital download platforms at the ridiculously low price of $9.99.

For anyone whose memory doesn’t stretch back to the beginning of 2009 (it was last decade after all), Plain Sight is a multiplayer arcade game set across 13 space-themed mapsand features a unique twist on the standard Deathmatch mechanic. Playing as your average ninja robot about town, you begin each game with a sword and a quantum of energy. Leaping across each level leaving a bright trail in your wake, you must destroy other ninja robots to steal their energy. As you get more energy you change color and get bigger, stronger and brighter. This is where the catch comes in! You only get to convert your hard earned energy into game-winning points if you blow yourself up. The more opponents you take out in the explosion, the higher the multiplier, the higher the score!

Respawn and repeat!!

Features: 13 multiplayer mapsBattle up to 20 players5 self-destructive gameplay modes, ‘Deathmatch’, ‘Ninja! Ninja! Ninja! Robozilla’, ‘Lighten Up’, ‘Team Deathmatch/Weakest Clink’ and ‘Capture The Flag’In-game power-ups30 different robot upgrades to spend your experience points onPerfect your skills against AI ninja robots in the offline practice modeDedicated server software included

For more on Plain Sight please visit the official website at www.plainsightgame.com and the official Steam Store page at http://store.steampowered.com/app/901296

IGG’s new mystical fantasy title, Altis Gates (http://ag.igg.com), recently completed its Closed Beta and is now gearing up for the Open Beta. In preparation for the OB, the Altis Gates team has organized a naming event that will let players create and then vote for their favorite names for the Altis Gates OB Realm and Server.

After gathering and then putting all the entries through a rigorous process of elimination, the AG team has finally managed to narrow it down 8 Realm and Server names that stood out from the rest.

Now, it wouldn’t be much fun if the players weren’t able to get their two cents in, so they will be holding a vote to see what players think. The vote will start on February 12th at 12:00am EST (GMT-5) and will last until 9:00pm on February 21st to determine which name is the best. During the vote, players can cast their votes for the name of their choice. At the end of the event, creator of the Realm and Server names combination will win a cool mount. This mount will be awarded to the winners during the Open Beta itself.

The Altis Gates team always believes in working with players to take game to the next level. This is yet another opportunity where players can be directly involved in decision making process.

You can find out more about this event on the event page http://ag.igg.com/event/name/.

“KING OF SOUL” OTIS REDDING DEBUTS ON ROCK BAND

Harmonix and MTV Games today announced that a five pack of songs from Otis Redding, known as the “King of Soul,” as well as singles from All Time Low, Alphabeat, Brian Setzer and The Chemical Brothers, will be added next week to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii.

These are among the more than 400 artists currently available through the Rock Band platform. With more than 1,000 songs available, Rock Band is, without question, the industry leader in providing the best selection of interactive musical content, songs and artists.

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation3 System and Wii

Otis Redding’s short career has been celebrated many times over. He was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994, received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999, has three songs listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “The 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll,” and Rolling Stone ranked him No. 21 in their 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the No. 8 greatest singer of all time. The legendary artist will make his debut in Rock Band next week with five of his classics: “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song),” “I’m Sick Y’all,” “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember” and “Love Man.”

Also available in the Rock Band Music Store next week are singles from All Time Low (“Weightless”), Alphabeat (“Fascination”), Brian Setzer (“Stray Cat Strut”) and The Chemical Brothers (“Let Forever Be”).

Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (Feb. 16) and PlayStation3 system (Feb. 18):

· Otis Redding – “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” +

· Otis Redding – “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)” +

· Otis Redding – “I’m Sick Y’all” +

· Otis Redding – “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember” +

· Otis Redding – “Love Man”

· All Time Low – “Weightless”

· Alphabeat –“Fascination” +

· Brian Setzer – “Stray Cat Strut” +

· The Chemical Brothers – “Let Forever Be” +

(All tracks are original master recordings)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “Otis Redding Pack 01”as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 system, and as individual tracks only on Wii. Tracks marked with “+” are also available for download in the family-friendly LEGO® Rock Band Music Store.

Price:$1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track

$8.49 USD, £4.39 UK, €6.55 EU (680 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Otis Redding Pack 01”

$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per track

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **

For more information, please visit:

Rock Band Website

Otis Redding Website

Rock Band 2 is available for Xbox 360, PlayStation3 system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Wii system. Xbox 360, PlayStation3 system and Wii versions support downloadable content.

Downloadable content for Wii is purchased via the in-game Rock Band Music Storeusing Wii Points™ purchased through the Wii™ Shop Channel and can be downloaded to the system memory or to an SD card for additional storage. The tracks stream directly from the SD card for seamless play.

With these additions, there are now 1,086 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/music). Rock Band continues to satisfy music fans’ and gamers’ voracious appetite for rock with more than 60 million paid downloads since its launch Nov. 20, 2007. The Rock BandRock Band library. Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks and packs from the vast selection of offerings available to date without ever leaving the game as they build their own custom

Rock Band and Rock Band 2 are rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB. Music downloads are not rated by the ESRB.

For more information on Rock Band 2 and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com.

Say “I Do” to Special Mount & Blade: Warband Wedding Interview

Love and Marriage, Go Together like a Horse and Combat

In anticipation of Valentine’s Day, Paradox Interactive presents a special developer interview for all you “lovers” out there of Mount & Blade: Warband.

The multiplayer sequel to 2008’s Mount & Blade will, in addition to intense 64 player combat on horseback, incorporate new gameplay based on marriage into the action RPG that is set to release in March of 2010.

Join Armagan Yavuz, Lead Developer at Taleworlds Entertainment, as he takes players through the new marriage features in Mount & Blade: Warband during the Paradox Interactive Convention.

“It’s a very important aspect of real life and we wanted to translate that into the game,” says Armagan, as he speaks on romance in the title. “It’s a different kind of challenge.”

View the complete interview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZacSv_JNCao

Mount & Blade: Warband will be available in the US and via digital distribution on March 30th 2010 and April 2nd in the UK.

Mount & Blade: Warband Game Features:

* Multiplayer battles with up to 64 players. Multiplayer modes include Deathmatch, Team

* Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Conquest, Battle, and Siege.

* Seek adventure alone, or recruit and train an army fit for a king. You and your companions will gain experience and skills while your soldiers evolve into a deadly fighting force.

* State-of-the-art rendering technologies combine with a more informative interface, allowing new and advanced players alike to enjoy an unprecedented level of immersion.

* The ability to marry a lady of the realm for romance or cold political gain. Try to win a lady’s heart through poetry or bravery.

For more information visit www.paradoxplaza.com/games/mount-blade-warband

The original Mount & Blade game is currently enjoying a 85%-off sale on Steam until the 15th of February.

4Story, www.global.4story.com, a popular free-to-play MMORPG developed and published by Zemi Interactive, announced X1.5 Upgrade Chance Event will be commenced today. With active participation of previous 1.5X upgrade event, 4Story GM team has prepared something extra for all MMORPG fans. Every month, there will be 10 hours of surprising 1.5X upgrade event initiated. This surprising 1.5X upgrade event will be 1 hour at a time and only 10 times a month at random hour.

“It will not be easy to make projection from users. We advise you not to stress yourselves out by checking every daily event hours, but instead believe in your luck!” said, the Chief marketing manager of Zemi Interactive, Daniel Choi.

4Story also has a free game cash event on going and introduced one step registration in its new welcoming page. You can get more information on the new contents and the events at the 4Story global website (www.global.4story.com).

Tetsuya Nomura-Designed FINAL FANTASY XIII Limited Edition Faceplates to Also be Released

In celebration of the launch of one of the most highly anticipated games of 2010 and the debut of the FINAL FANTASY series onto the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Square Enix, Inc. and Microsoft have announced the FINAL FANTASY XIII Special Edition Bundle.

Fans looking to purchase a “next generation” console will note that this Special Edition is not only an amazing value, but also the only console outside of Japan to be bundled with the game. The bundle includes a 250GB Hard Drive engraved with the FINAL FANTASY XIII name, two Wireless Controllers, exclusive downloadable avatar items and a Standard Edition copy of FINAL FANTASY XIII.

Additionally, Square Enix’s famed character designer, Tetsuya Nomura, has created an exclusive FINAL FANTASY XIII Limited Edition Faceplate that will be available promotionally in very limited numbers. Players can immerse themselves in the complete FINAL FANTASY XIII experience this March.

WHEN/WHERE: The FINAL FANTASY XIII Special Edition Bundle is available for pre-order now and in-stores beginning March 9, 2010, while supplies last.

The FINAL FANTASY XIII Limited Edition Faceplate will be available promotionally in fixed, limited quantities at select retailers in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Story

Cocoon — a utopia in the sky.

Its inhabitants believed their world a paradise.

Under the Sanctum’s rule, Cocoon had long known peace and prosperity.

Mankind was blessed by its protectors, the benevolent fal’Cie, and believed that tranquil days would continue forever.

Their tranquility was shattered with the discovery of one hostile fal’Cie.

The moment that fal’Cie from Pulse — the feared and detested lowerworld — awoke from its slumber, peace on Cocoon came to an end.

Fal’Cie curse humans, turning them into magic-wielding servants.

They become l’Cie — chosen of the fal’Cie.

Those branded with the mark of a l’Cie carry the burden of either fulfilling their Focus or facing a fate harsher than death itself.

A prayer for redemption.

A wish to protect the world.

A promise to challenge destiny.

After thirteen days of fates intertwined, the battle begins.

Features

· Take Part in a Gaming Experience that Sets New Standards – The first in the series developed for a simultaneous release on multiple high-definition consoles, FINAL FANTASY XIII pushes new boundaries in cinematic presentation, sound and gameplay.

· Experience the Unity of Speed and Strategy with the Ultimate Active Time Battle system The familiar system has evolved, granting players the freedom of executing numerous commands in a single turn with the multi-slot ATB gauge. Whether inputting singular commands in each slot for consecutive attacks, or expending multiple slots at once to activate a devastating blow, it’s up to the players to respond effectively to the battle conditions at hand.

· Adapt to the Ever-Changing Tide of Battle with Paradigms – A brand-new game mechanic enabling players to assign roles to their party members at any time during battle, shifting between combat paradigms. Consisting of various combinations of the game’s six roles, ranging from Commando, the offensive specialist, to Medic, the quintessential healer, paradigms allow players to respond and adapt instantly to any given situation to turn the tide and seize victory.

· Witness the Battle Scene Transform with an All-New Summon System – Introducing Gestalt Mode, a powerful dimension of the summon system that elevates the action to a whole new level. In Gestalt Mode, characters and their transformed Eidolons fight as one, dealing massive damage to enemies through simple button commands.

· Delve into an Emotional Experience – An immersive storyline connects players to an intriguing cast of characters. Will they have the strength to confront their cursed fates, or will destiny prevail over all that they believe in?

· A Brand-New Song for an International Audience – Multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Leona Lewis has come on board with Square Enix to provide her new song, “My Hands,” for the North American and European versions

OFFICIAL WEBSITES:

FINAL FANTASY XIII information: http://finalfantasyxiii.com.

FINAL FANTASY XIII Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FinalFantasyXIII.

FINAL FANTASY XIII Twitter: http://twitter.com/OfficialFFXIII.

Partnership with World-Renowned Fantasy Videogame Includes Visibility Throughout the Game and at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas

NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2010 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Square Enix Inc. (Square Enix) today announced a promotional partnership that will make FINAL FANTASY® XIII – the latest in the world-renowned action-packed role-playing videogame series that has shipped more than 92 million units – the presenting partner of the 2010 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

As the presenting partner of the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, FINAL FANTASY XIII will have prominent exposure throughout Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas, where the game will be played. The role-playing videogame, which features futuristic characters and gameplay, will receive significant presence during the broadcast on ESPN, which will televise the NBA All-Star event for the sixth consecutive year. There will also be a dedicated FINAL FANTASY XIII area at NBA All-Star Jam Session where fans will be able to preview the videogame, which will be available for both PlayStation®3 and the Xbox 360® on March 9, 2010.

“FINAL FANTASY XIII ,the next evolution in videogame entertainment, will appeal to first time players and series fans alike,” said John Yamamoto, President and CEO of Square Enix, Inc., “We are delighted to be the presenting partner at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and give fans a chance to experience the most highly anticipated game of the year before it launches on March 9.”

“FINAL FANTASY is a storied brand in the videogame category and this partnership will bring an exciting new element to this year’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game,” said Mark Tatum, NBA Executive Vice President of Marketing Partnerships. “A good portion of our fanbase overlaps with the young, videogame-playing audience, so it is a natural fit for us to partner with a leading franchise like FINAL FANTASY around one of our marquee All-Star events.”

The 2010 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by FINAL FANTASY XIII will tip off on Friday, Feb. 12 at 7:00 p.m. EST/ 6:00 p.m. CST from NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas inside the Dallas Convention Center. This year’s celebrity participants will include a cast of players from film, TV, and music who will be outfitted in retro 1986 NBA All-Star uniforms paying tribute to NBA All-Star 1986 in Dallas. The game will also feature former NBA players and current WNBA players.

FINAL FANTASY XIII marks the dawning of a new era for the celebrated franchise, bringing the series to multiple high-definition consoles simultaneously for the first time in its history. The series is defined by a constant evolution, offering nothing less than the finest creative vision, graphical quality and gameplay system of its generation with every installment, and FINAL FANTASY XIII will be no exception to its legacy.

Coming April 27th to 360 and PS3. This one looks interesting.

NIER is a unique “Action-RPG” for PlayStation 3 system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, which represents the next epic story from the renowned RPG masters at Square Enix. 

Developed by cavia Inc, NIER blends both innovative and traditional RPG gameplay mechanics with an intense, bloody combat system to create an action-packed single-player experience where players explore and discover a future lost to a shadowy past.

NIER delivers on Square Enix’s renowned pedigree for creating unique and twisting storylines coupled with deep character development – a pedigree that has kept gamers around the world enraptured for decades.

In NIER, nothing is as it seems as players are kept guessing from beginning to end by elaborate plotlines and cliff-hangers that reveal a complex reality hidden behind the illusion.

Players will jump into the title role of the unyielding Nier as he begins his desperate quest to discover a cure for his daughter, Yonah, who is stricken with the deadly Black Scrawl disease.  Armed with a powerful set of magical abilities as well as mighty swords and armor, Nier will do battle alongside a set of formidable allies against waves of dark enemies and giant bosses to discover the truth about the disease, his daughter…and himself.

FEATURES

• The Next RPG from Square Enix: NIER, the newest franchise from RPG masters Square Enix, delivers unique and memorable characters, intense action-packed battles, explosive magic and storytelling like only Square Enix can.
• Unbelievable Story Twists and Reveals:  Immerse in an amazingly intricate storyline set in a world plagued by human anguish, buried secrets and a ravaging disease.  With plot twists hiding around every corner, NIER’s story needs to be seen to be believed.
• RPG Gameplay Injected With Action-Packed Combat:  Battle ferocious and mysterious enemies by combining proven RPG-style gameplay, such as magic, character development and faithful allies, with action-focused explosive swordplay and combat.
• Powerful Magical Abilities:  When his sword isn’t enough, Nier can call on a remarkable array of stylish and powerful spells to augment his combat moves and overcome adversaries.  As players progress, upgraded spells will help defeat ever-more-deadly enemies.
• Brutal Combat Moves:  Face off against evil creatures and unleash brutal combat moves along with devastating combo attacks.  Unlock an arsenal of devastating weapons, each with its own design and attack style.
• Formidable Allies: Travel with a dynamic party of allies and do battle against monstrous giants as a powerful and united party.
• A Dynamic and Stunning World:  Travel across an unforgettable world filled with dynamic landscapes featuring the hauntingly familiar remains of modern society.

A New Revolution to All CroNisians

At last, the long wait is over. The Neo Union War system will be updated on February 9, 2010. The Union War will never be the same as before after this grand update. This grand update is followed by two special events to celebrate the opening of the Neo Union War system.

Many had anticipated the January 21, 2010 Neo Union War update. There were many outcries amongst the fan of CroNous when Lizard Interactive had reluctantly announced the postponing of the new update on January 21, 2010 due to lack of testing. Some have even doubted if there ever will be a new update. However, to everyone’s amazement, the update came sooner than expected. Lizard Interactive is positive that Neo Union War update will go live on February 9, 2010.

It’s one on one on one: the Defending Union against the two Besieging Union, and one Besieging Union against the other. There are no allies in this new Union war system. Each Union, consisting of 5 guilds, will fight for supremacy using Siege Weapons like Catapult and Ballista.

 March for the West or East Gate and destroy the Internal Gate to summon the West and East Guard Tower. Destroy either the West or East Guard Tower to derive at the next destination: the Statue of Bernai King. Destroy the statue to win the Will of the King item. Then, carry the Will of the King item to the Altar of Fire and perform the 30 second Will of the King ceremony. But beware! The Will of the King item can be very hazardous as it will slow you down drastically upon acquisition.

 Every time a player participates in the Neo Union War, Honor Points and Winning Points will accumulate. With enough Honor Points, players will be allowed to purchase special items, such as ArkKnights with its great appearance, from special shops using Honor Points.\

For the winner of the Neo Union War, the Union will be granted a castle to rule with the power of taxation. The Union Master will be granted an imperial crown until the next Union War. The Union to achieve a 4 week consecutive win will also be awarded 40,000 NeoFun points, an equivalent value of 4,000 dollars.

 The grand update will be followed by two events: Love Love Valentine and Age of the Sage event. In the Love Love Valentine event, players will hunt and gather 3 ingredients of biscuit sticks, chocolate and gift box; visit Kayla, the mix master and combine with 50% success rate; and send it as a gift as the item will not be self-openable. In the Age of the Sage event, players will be rewarded 5,000 NeoFun points, which is of equivalent value of 50 dollars, for creating a fan site. Also, after the update, Master Enchant Stones(3% Enchant Stone(M), 5% Enchant Stone(M), 3% Holy Stone(M), 5% Holy Stone(M)) will be available from Ytudana.

The update is expected to last for several hours as there will be mega loads of files to update. There has never been and there will never be a grander update than this Neo Union War update in the history of CroNous.