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Jesse McCartney and Cody Linley to Provide Voice Talent for Frank and Joe Hardy

Toronto, Canada, May 14th, 2008: Tapping the talents of two of Hollywood’s rising young stars, JoWooD and DreamCatcher Games, leading worldwide publishers and distributors of interactive entertainment software, working in conjunction with Resnick Interactive Development, LLC, today announced that they have signed on teen media titans Jesse McCartney and Cody Linley to lend their talents as the voices of Frank and Joe Hardy in the forthcoming PC game, The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft.

“Securing the voice talent of Jesse and Cody really enhances the overall entertainment experience for our fans,” said Byron Gaum, Global Product Marketing Manager, DreamCatcher Games. “We are thrilled to be working with both stars on making The Hidden Theft one of the most captivating Hardy Boys mysteries to date.”

“It’s very exciting having Jesse M cCartney and Cody Linley on the project,” said Mike Adams, Producer of The Hardy Boys franchise for DreamCatcher Games. “They are such great young talents, and I look forward to working with them both.”

Emmy award-winning daytime actor and platinum-selling recording artist Jesse McCartney makes his way back to the videogame space as he takes on the voice of elder brother Frank Hardy in The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft. Now a veteran at lending his voice to a videogame character, Jesse will help guide Hannah Montana star, Cody Linley as he rounds out the famous mystery solving duo by lending his voice as Frank’s younger brother, Joe Hardy.

In The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft, the vault of the Spencer Mansion is robbed, and the Bayport Police call on the Hardy Boys to help tie up some loose ends, but they soon find themselves in the middle of a major criminal investigation that takes them on an adventure all over Bayport, and even into New York City. But th e pieces don’t add up, and Frank and Joe find themselves embroiled in a drama of sinister proportions. Is the recent theft linked to something from the past? Can Frank and Joe find and decipher the clues in time to prevent another crime from happening?
Developed by XPEC Entertainment Inc., The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft is expected to be available for PC users this fall at retail outlets nationwide. For more information about The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft please visit www.dreamcatchergames.com.

Wednesday, 14th May – Reflecting the ethos, spirit and attitude of the offline game, Race Driver: GRID will bring a world of motorsport to life online as Codemasters® today announced that the game’s multiplayer content will feature 32 exhilarating online race events on 80 circuits at 15 intercontinental locations.

Featuring up to 12-player events with incredible full car damage, Race Driver: GRID’s online multiplayer races will see gamers competing in aggressive races on iconic city streets and famous championship circuits across Europe, the U.S. and Japan.

“Race Driver: GRID online is the ultimate expression of what the game is all about – incident-packed, aggressive, wheel-to-wheel racing,” said Ralph Fulton, Chief Game Designer, Race Driver: GRID. “Our wide range of motorsport disciplines, stunning locations and full damage 12-player races make for a uniquely spectacular race experience and our immersive new ranking system rewards player skill and deepens the challenge online.”

Players will be able to take their custom livery online and make it feared and respected by competing in a huge range of racing disciplines; from drifting around Yokohama Docks, charging through the mean streets of Detroit, racing touring cars around Spa-Francorchamps to competing in chaotic demolition derbies.

The pure race experience is at the heart of Race Driver GRID’s gameplay and, in online multiplayer, everything is geared towards maximising player time spent on track and minimising time spent in lobbies. Players can rapidly find the event they want and a slick voting system, matchmaking mechanism and seamless host migration means gamers find competitive races quickly and sessions stay together longer.

An innovative new online ranking system charts players’ progress as they advance from Junior Rookie to Legend, with experience points being awarded based on a wide range of achievements, from events won to beating higher ranked opponents.

As players rise through the rankings, online leaderboards record the fastest laps for each track and gamers can download ghost cars to test out their skill against the best in the world in Test Drive mode or check out the competition in Spectator mode. Players can also fully customise their game including switching damage on or off, enabling catch-up mode, setting driver aids and allowing public and private games.

Race Driver: GRID is coming May 30th (Europe/PAL) for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games For Windows®. A Nintendo DS™ edition will follow. Race Driver: GRID playable demos – featuring two online multiplayer events – are now available from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace, PLAYSTATION®Network and, for the Games For Windows demo, please visit www.racedrivergrid.com

sorry guys, we’re not going to get Dr. Mario….yet… so drool over what those lucky Europeans get to download, and write to Nintendo to get em released here in the US!

WiiWare Arrives In Europe

The opportunity to create the next groundbreaking video game for Wii has well and truly arrived for developers as WiiWare hits Europe. Launching on 20th May 2008, developers, no matter how big or small, will be able to create exciting new downloadable game’s to be sold through the Wii Shop Channel. Changing the way developers create Wii games and players access them, WiiWare will make it possible for smaller, creative titles to take centre stage. Developers will be able to see their big ideas step into reality, without risk or the need for a big budget.

With WiiWare games the possibilities are endless. Only limited by the imaginations of the developers, expect to see a raft of new, fresh and original games head to Wii from an entire range of genres. Utilising the Wii’s unique control methods from the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to potentially the Wii Board and Wii Wheel, developers have the freedom to create the game of their dreams in an affordable way, with low entry barriers and flexible criteria in front of them. Such is the opportunity that, already developers who have never created or published games for Nintendo are working on a host of potential ideas.

Laurent Fischer, Managing Director of Marketing & PR of Nintendo of Europe comments, ‘We are excited by the positive response we have received from third party developers to the announcement of WiiWare. We hope that this opportunity and the inspiration to produce original and exciting games will allow developers of all sizes to bring new concepts, genres and game play experiences to Wii. Opening this creative door will also provide Wii users access to a huge choice of games that they can easily download and enjoy.’

Easy to access and simple to use, WiiWare games will be available to download directly onto Wii from the Wii Shop Channel from 500 Wii Points. To date, a vast array of exciting and creative new projects are already in the pipeline, ensuring fresh concepts and content will frequently become available for all to enjoy. Players themselves will also become central to the creative process as their download choices and genre selection will become instrumental in helping developers determine future projects.

From 20th May onwards a whole host of brand new creative games from developers across Europe and the rest of the globe become available, including:

· Dr. Mario & Germ Buster™ from Nintendo

· FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King™ from Japanese developer SQUARE ENIX

· Lost Winds from UK developer Frontier

· Pirates: The Key of Dreams from Dutch developer Oxygen Interactive Ltd

· Pop™ from Australian developer Nnooo

· Star Soldier R from Japanese developer HUDSON SOFT

· Toki Tori from Dutch developer Two Tribes B.V.

· TV Show King from French developer Gameloft

With so much creative freedom on offer to developers there is sure to be something for everyone on WiiWare. Keep checking www.Wii.com and the Nintendo Channel (launching on 30th May 2008 on Wii) for all the latest WiiWare news and releases.

WiiWare: Launch Window Games Information:

Title: Dr. Mario & Germ Buster™
Developer: Nintendo
Number Of Players: 1 – 4 players
Genre: Puzzle
Controllers Used: Wii Remote
PEGI Rating: 3+
Additional Information: Supports Miis, WiiConnect24, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

Game Overview

The all-time puzzle classic returns for the Wii generation, featuring online gameplay and a new Germ Buster mode! Destroy all the viruses trapped in the bottle by dropping and slotting capsules to create lines of matching colours. The more viruses you clear, the faster the capsules drop.

In Dr. Mario, challenge the computer in 1 Player mode, go head-to-head with a friend in 2 Player mode, or prove your skills against the world via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. You can also send a demo version of the game to a friend (within your region) using WiiConnect24.

In Germ Buster (based on the relaxation game in More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima), up to four players can use their Wii Remotes to grab, spin and slot capsules as your Miis try to keep the nasty bugs at bay. Who thought that catching germs could be so much fun?

Title: FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King™
Developer: SQUARE ENIX
Number Of Players: 1 player
Genre: Simulation
Controllers Used: Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Classic Controller, GameCube Controller
PEGI Rating: 7+
Additional Information: Add-on data download

Game Overview

According to legend, a deserted town now serves as the lifeless reminder of a once powerful kingdom. The young son of an exiled king reaches this land after a long journey, finding only an abandoned castle – and a magic crystal. Though tarnished by years of neglect, the crystal has maintained its luminous glow and bestows upon the boy the power of architek, the ability to manifest memories into reality. With the help of loyal servants and audacious adventurers, the new king dutifully prepares to rebuild his people’s homeland in this new realm.

©2008 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. FINAL FANTASY, MY LIFE AS A KING, the MY LIFE AS A KING logo, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd.

Title: LostWinds™
Developer: Frontier
Number Of Players: 1 – 2 players
Genre: Platform Adventure
Controllers Used: Wii Remote, Nunchuk
PEGI Rating: 7+

Game Overview

LostWinds is a fresh, enchanting adventure that lets you wield the awesome powers of Enril the wind spirit – from raging tornados to the gentlest breeze – to guide and protect Toku, a young boy who is the only one who can help you release the curse placed upon the world of Mistralis and its people by evil Balasar.

Mistralis is a stunningly presented, magical land full of wonder and intrigue that bursts to life with your every action and exploration. LostWinds’ novel, playful controls let you use Enril’s elemental powers to jump and glide Toku through Mistralis’ different regions, buffet and smash enemies and solve puzzles on their journey to a dramatic showdown. Bursting with new gameplay ideas that embrace the Wii controller, LostWinds puts the power of the wind in the palm of your hand.

LostWinds © 2008 Frontier Developments Limited. All rights reserved.

Title: Pirates: The Key of Dreams
Developer: Oxygen Interactive Ltd
Number Of Players: 1 – 4 players
Genre: Action
Controllers Used: Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Classic Controller
PEGI Rating: 3+

Game Overview

Pirates: The Key of Dreams is a frantic nautical shoot-em-up. Sail your way across the Caribbean, cannons blazing, looting booty, running blockades, and ultimately, battling Blackbeard himself. The player takes control of a Navy Captain sent deep undercover as a ruthless Pirate, in order to seek out and retrieve The Key of Dreams, a valuable and dangerous cursed artefact. Rescue castaways to bolster your ship’s crew, gaining performance increases to your navigation, weaponry, structural integrity and cartography skills. Collect increasingly powerful weaponry including Rockets, Mines, Chain Shot, Saw Blades and a Flamethrower to hurl destruction into the path of your enemies.

Play against three of your scurvy friends or AI opponents in pitched multiplayer battles over 35 levels, in seven themed environments. Choose from different ship types that reflect your play style. Play in turbo mode if you’re Pirate enough!

Oxygen Games, and Oxygen Games Logo, are registered trademarks of Oxygen Interactive Software Ltd.

Title: Pop™
Developer: Nnooo
Number Of Players: 1 – 4 players
Genre: Puzzle / Shooter
Controllers Used: Wii Remote
PEGI Rating: 3+
Additional Information: Supports WiiConnect24, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

Game Overview

Pop is all about popping bubbles! It may sound simple but there are lots of things you can do to get a high-score and have fun. Just keep an eye on the timer because when it runs out it’s game-over! Each bubble is worth both points and time so try to fill up your timer first then focus on scoring high. You can then start to chain the same colour of bubble for big points by popping bubbles of the same colour. This is a great way to increase you score.

Friends can join you in a game of Pop too! Whenever you are playing all they need to do is connect their Wii Remote and then join in the action. Watch out because they may start using power-ups to hold you back! If they do try to pump up some bubbles or detonate a nuke this will create a shock-wave which will destroy any matching colours of bubbles it touches.

Finally there are badges for completing certain objectives; online high-score tables and WiiConnect24 messages so you can keep up with your friends progress and boast about your own.

Title: Star Soldier R
Developer: HUDSON SOFT
Number Of Players: 1 player
Genre: Shooter
Controllers Used: Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Classic Controller
PEGI Rating: 7+
Additional Information: Supports Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

Game Overview

A new kind of shooter where players aim for the best scores within a 2 or 5-minute time limit!

Develop various scoring strategies and pump out those points within the breakneck timeframe!

In-depth gameplay, tons of replayability!

Assembled in record time to counter the advance of a powerful enemy, the mysterious Brain Forces, the “Caesar” starfighter takes off to fight for the very future of mankind!

Shoot down countless enemies, upgrade your ship to the max with power-ups hidden throughout the levels, and carry out an all-out assault against the core of the enemy fortress!

Combining the excitement of shoot’em-ups with in-depth scoring strategies, this state-of-the-art competitive shooter will keep you coming back for more!

Upload your best scores with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, and pit your skills against the world’s best fighter pilots from the comfort of your living room!

Hone your skills and show the world who’s boss!

© 2008 HUDSON SOFT

“STAR SOLDIER” is a trademark of HUDSON SOFT.

Title: Toki Tori
Developer: Two Tribes B.V.
Number Of Players: 1 – 2 players (Please note that the second player can only use a second Wii Remote to write hints on the screen)
Genre: Puzzle / Platform
Controllers Used: Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Classic Controller
PEGI Rating: 3+
Additional Information: WiiConnect24 (Please note that we only use the local message board functionality of WiiConnect 24)

Game Overview

Toki Tori is his name and collecting eggs is his game! In this puzzle / platform game, players get to use a variety of items such as the Telewarp, InstantRock™ and Slug Sucker. Clever use and combinations of these items is needed to solve all the game’s levels, of which there are more than 70. These levels range from easy to brain-teasingly hard, resulting in dozens of hours of puzzle play-time.

Toki Tori makes the most out of what the Wii was to offer. It uses of the Wii Remote for a unique control scheme, which offers players a new and more relaxing play style. A second player can help you out, by drawing hints while you are playing. The game even uses the Wii Message Board in a unique way!

In short, Toki Tori:

- is a puzzle / platform game

- offers dozens of hours of gameplay

- uses the multiple Wii Remotes for a new play style

- uses Wii Message Board

- displays English texts and manual

© 2008 Two Tribes B.V.

Title: TV Show King
Developer: Gameloft
Number Of Players: 1 – 4 players
Genre: Trivia, TV Quiz, TV Show
Controllers Used: Wii Remote
PEGI Rating: 3+
Additional Information: Supports Miis

Game Overview

Become King of a fun TV trivia show! Confront friends and family with your Mii and see who is the smartest! Confront friends and family in a TV quiz game show! Let your Mii try to answer fun and challenging trivia questions, from the classics to original stumpers, spanning across history, geography, literature, science, sports and entertainment! For an extra challenge, use your Wii Remote in original ways. Make it to the finals and see who can win the greatest amount of cash in one last, ultimate duel. TV Show King will challenge your brain! Now, get ready… get set… and go play TV Show King!

- Have fun and test your general knowledge with more than 3,000 questions on all kinds of subjects; for an alternately serious and hilarious game.

- Use your own customized Mii as your in game character for a truly immersive experience.

- Numerous entertaining themes including music, cinema, entertainment, history, geography, sports, common knowledge, fun and pop culture.

- Answer the questions following the different game rules: use your Wii Remote as a torch light, as a scratching tool or as a pointer.

- A true animated TV set: highly colourful characters (a host, a DJ and a cheering crowd)

- A turning wheel to spice up the game: double your gain, loose everything or swap your cash!

- Increasing tension with an increasing difficulty and stakes!

Groundbreaking JS1 Controller Takes ‘Technology Innovation’ and ‘Quality of Experience’ titles at “Meffy” Industry Awards

London, UK May 13, 2008, Zeemote®, Inc. (http://www.zeemote.com/), the creator of intuitive user interface technologies, today celebrates being crowned winners of the inaugural ‘Quality of Experience Award’ and the ‘Technology Innovation Award’ at the Mobile Entertainment Forum’s (MEF) fifth annual Meffy awards.

“Being recognised for these awards is a huge compliment to the entire Zeemote development team as well as the game developers who have thoroughly embraced our interface,” said Beth Marcus CEO Zeemote “The JS1 is a major leap in the world of mobile gaming and we’re delighted that the MEF judges have recognised the true technological innovation .”

The JS1 controller won the first ever “Quality of Experience Award”, voted for by a broad panel of consumers, for bringing a near console gaming experience to mobile games. Through its ease-of-use, ergonomic design and simple set up via Bluetooth, the JS1 provides user-friendly, intuitive and engaging game play for consumers.

Winning the Technology Innovation Award demonstrates that the JS1 controller directly enhances the uptake and enjoyment of mobile gaming by removing the limitations associated with a directional keypad. This award underscores the JS1’s ability to aid consumers, developers and operators alike in efficiently overcoming barriers surrounding mobile content consumption.

“With over 40 Zeemote ready games available, the game developer community is rapidly embracing the Zeemote JS1 controller. Over the coming months, the industry can look forward to major partnership announcements and the launch of the first handset and controller bundle.” concluded Marcus.
Rimma Perelmuter, MEF Executive Director said “Zeemote created an innovative tool to help drive the casual games market by overcoming the limitations of screen size and interface. It received the most enthusiastic response from the consumer panel, irrespective of age or demographic, due to its ease of use.”

Fearlessly Step Up To The Oche In Agetec’s New Dart Game

SUNNYVALE, CA – May 13, 2008 –Agetec, Inc. is pleased to announce that its Nintendo DS™ game, “Touch Darts”, will be released in North America in June of 2008.

“This is not just your ordinary dart video game; Touch Darts really takes advantage of Nintendo DS’s unique touch screen and allows players to accurately simulate throwing darts with a simple flick of the stylus,” says Mark Johnson, producer at Agetec. “The developer, Full Fat, made sure to fine tune the controls so that even the most hardcore dart fanatic is happy with this game. It’s quite an achievement.”

Touch Darts comes with four classic dart modes: tournament, challenge, quickplay, and multiplayer. Quickplay and multiplayer mode gives up to four players the chance to square off on the board via single cartridge. Tournament mode includes four different levels of difficulty ranking from Rookie to Expert.

“This game will make you feel as if you were really in your living room, at your friend’s house, in the pub, or in a tournament tossing darts,” continues Mark Johnson. “Another great feature in Touch Darts is the challenge mode, which takes traditional dart tossing and puts a whole new spin on it. Challenge mode consists of ten mini games and includes the classics like Killer, Round the Clock, and 1001, but also includes all new games like Speed Darts. In Speed Darts, players must score a certain amount of points in a given period of time. Challenge mode is a lot of fun and is something even seasoned darts players will find fresh.”

Visit www.agetec.com for more information.

Kneel before Zoids!

IRVINE, California – MAY 13, 2008 – Atlus U.S.A., Inc., hailed as publisher of the month by “Hulking War-Machine Weekly,” today announced Zoids Assault, a gritty militaristic strategy RPG featuring enormous beasts of steel, exclusively for the Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Zoids Assault further demonstrates Atlus’ commitment to Xbox 360^® system and the strategy RPG genre, joining Operation Darkness and Spectral Force 3 in a stacked 2008 lineup.

Manage a team of elite war machines through a campaign of intense military conflicts. Advanced upgrade and customization options combine with challenging objective-based gameplay to offer a fresh new strategy RPG and a daring new vision of the long-running Zoids universe. Commanders, start your engines (of war)!

Zoids Assault is currently scheduled for release on August 26.

Visit the official site:
http://www.atlus.com/zoids

New York, USA (May 14, 2008) OYEZ. OYEZ. OYEZ!! Global publisher Paradox Interactive wishes to let it be known that City Life 2008 Edition approaches its official date of release. The real-time city-building strategy game will begin shipping to stores in North America from June 17, while stores in Europe will ship from June 20.

New Motion-Sensitive Technology from Sony Ericsson Brings New Challenges to Mobile Gamers

San Francisco – May 13, 2008 – Today at the JavaOne 2008 Conference, Glu Mobile Inc. (Nasdaq: GLUU), a leading global publisher of mobile games, announced its upcoming original title, Get Cookin’, will utilize motion-sensitive technology available on new Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (“Sony Ericsson”) handsets. The use of this technology challenges players to use a combination of physical gestures as well as button presses to create sophisticated cuisines, bringing an entirely new ingredient to mobile games.

Get Cookin’ is a new title from Glu launching in July 2008 across all major carriers worldwide. Get Cookin’ challenges players to create delicious cuisine by perfecting a wide variety of cooking methods, ingredients, seasonings and recipes. Gamers with the Sony Ericsson W910i, debuted earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, will utilize motion-specific techniques to complete enticing meals in order to rise to the top of their profession.

“Sony Ericsson’s motion sensor technology allows us to incorporate more authentic, true to life challenges in Get Cookin’ and introduce an entirely new dimension to mobile games,” said Jill Braff, senior vice president of global publishing, Glu. “The use of this technology gives developers a way to deepen the gameplay and gives players a truly fun game that incorporates all new ways to play.”

The built-in accelerometer in the Sony Ericsson W910i is used to control game functions such as flipping a steak on the grill by utilizing its sensitivity to allow for a more intense and physical gaming experience. Get Cookin’ will utilize the JSR 256 API motion sensor found inside the W910i and several other new Sony Ericsson devices.

For more information, visit www.glu.com.