Archive for May 23rd, 2008

CDV’s Theatre of War now offered for sale in retail box

Friday, May 23rd, 2008
cdv USA Ships Theatre of War to North American Retail
Cary, NC, May 22, 2008 – Theatre of War, the WWII battlefield simulation title from cdv Software Entertainment USA and Battlefront.com, has shipped to North American retail outlets today. This boxed retail version of Theatre of War will include all the patches and official content additions since the game’s previous download-only release. Theatre of War combines the look, feel and historical elements of World War II to create an unrivaled tactical battlefield experience spanning major campaigns from the Battle of Moscow to Normandy. With more than 50 missions spread across multiple campaigns and a rich do-it-yourself mission and map editor included, Theatre of War rewards armchair generals with tremendous gaming and replay value. For more information about the game, please visit http://www.cdvus.com.

Theatre of War offers a fresh take on the WWII Real-time Strategy genre by combining the look, feel, sounds and historical elements of WWII to create the ultimate warfare simulation. The game engine features realistic shell ballistics, armor penetration calculations and damage effects coupled with destructible environments, trenches, fortifications and individually tracked weapons, equipment, ammo and vehicles. More than 50 battles spread across seven different campaigns (US/UK, Soviet, German, French, Polish, Battle for Moscow and Panzer Lehr in Normandy), along with eight non-campaign scenarios, five Training scenarios and 11 different multiplayer missions are available in the game to offer a rich and challenging combat experience to players.

Lunch Break for mobile platforms released

Friday, May 23rd, 2008
New from Xing Mobile: Lunch Break

Dutch/Indonesian developers Xing Mobile are pleased to announce their latest J2ME game “Lunch Break”.

This MIDP-2 game which runs on all mobile phones of this type with a screen size of 176×208 lets you run a lunchroom/restaurant just like in the popular On-line PC games. Prepare your tables, seat customers in an orderly fashion without placing them too close to noisy kids or loud talking businessmen and most importantly: serve their food in time. This is challenging game which will enable you to get through your own lunch break quickly while forgetting to eat at all….

Bethesda Softworks announces Development partnership with Splash Damage

Friday, May 23rd, 2008
May 22, 2008 (Rockville, MD) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax Media company, announced today a long-term development partnership with the award-winning U.K. studio, Splash Damage™.

Splash Damage has been recognized by the industry for the quality of its titles and particularly for its skill in creating cutting-edge multiplayer games. The studio has received numerous accolades and awards for Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory™, including Game of the Year nods from GameSpy, IGN, and PC Format. Their latest game, Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars™, won over 80 Editors’ Choice, E3, Most Wanted, and Game of the Year awards and nominations.

Bethesda Softworks continues to expand its development and publishing reach, with investments in a library of AAA titles and the opening of new offices in Europe and Japan in the past year. Best known for its 2006 Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion®, Bethesda has in development a number of compelling titles, including the highly-anticipated Fallout® 3 due in Fall 2008.

“Bethesda Softworks has repeatedly been responsible for outstanding games as both publisher and developer.” said Paul Wedgwood, Owner and Creative Director of Splash Damage. “Both of our studios share a passion for creating great games, and we’re confident that this partnership will result in even greater experiences for gamers. We’re really looking forward to working with Bethesda.”

“This could not be a more perfect fit,” said Vlatko Andonov, President of Bethesda Softworks. “We are extremely impressed with Splash Damage and the quality titles they produce. They are highly creative and innovative, and have demonstrated a high level of dedication to their projects. We are confident that gamers everywhere will be thrilled with the offerings from this collaboration.”

More details about Splash Damage’s brand-new project will be provided in the coming months. For more information on Bethesda Softworks, visit www.bethsoft.com. For more information on Splash Damage, visit www.splashdamage.com.

Audiokinetic releases new Wwise tools

Friday, May 23rd, 2008
Audiokinetic® releases Wwise® 2008.2 and Wwise Motion

Latest solutions confirm the company’s technological advance

Montreal, Canada – May 22, 2008 – Audiokinetic Inc., a leading audio solution provider for the video game industry, announced today the release of a new version of its award-winning audio pipeline solution, Wwise, and the official launch of its highly-expected motion solution for games, Wwise Motion.

As for previous versions of Wwise, Wwise 2008.2 includes an impressive set of new features that will help game developers create more immersive audio for their games. Among these new features, the following can be outlined:
• Multi-channel source: Wwise now supports files up to 5.1 channels;
• Source control: in addition to Perforce, Wwise now supports Subversion for workgroup.

Another essential aspect of this new release of Wwise is the introduction of Wwise Motion, the first and only motion solution for games. Presented by Audiokinetic at the 2008 Game Developers Conference, Wwise Motion allows game developers to efficiently create, customize, and manage motion in their games, using the same functionalities and streamlined workflow as Wwise. Wwise Motion supports all next-gen platform controllers, as well as D-BOX Motion Code™ gaming systems developed by partner Wwise Motion was released along with Wwise 2008.2.

Wwise 2008.2 and Wwise Motion reinforce Audiokinetic’s position as the most innovative company in the industry. “Wwise Motion demonstrates once again that Audiokinetic is always a step ahead of the competition in terms of innovation and advanced production pipeline,” said Simon Ashby, Product Development Manager, Audiokinetic.

In order to illustrate the functionalities of Wwise and Wwise Motion, Audiokinetic collaborated with partner Emergent Game Technologies. Audiokinetic was responsible for the entire audio aspect in Emergent’s new demo, The Forbidden Terror on Station Z (Zorsis), which was also presented at GDC 2008. Audiokinetic worked with long time partners Michael McCann and Soundelux Design Music Group: McCann created an amazing music score for the demo, and Soundelux Design Music Group provided all the sound effects to include weapons, creature voices, ambiances and the UI. ”Working with McCann and Soundelux was extremely satisfying,” commented Simon Ashby. “These guys are so pro; most of the content they deliver is right on target and almost never need retakes.” The assets were then integrated and managed in Wwise to create the final audio in Zorsis. Audiokinetic then used Wwise Motion to generate the motion effects in the demo.

Wwise 2008.2, Wwise Motion and Zorsis are available for download on Audiokinetic’s web site.

Archlord reaches 500,000 players

Friday, May 23rd, 2008
ArchLord Exceeds ½ Million Milestone
ArchLord, the popular subscription-free MMORPG exceeds 500k players across the West
Thursday, 22nd May – Codemasters Online is pleased to announce they have opened the doors to their 500,000th player of its popular subscription-free MMORPG, ArchLord.

Since moving to free-to-play, ArchLord has seen explosive new player growth over recent months with more players than ever taking on the challenge to compete to become the all-conquering ArchLord and with it rule the entire game world.

Ed Relf, Director of Marketing, Codemasters Online commented, “This is a key milestone in the growth of ArchLord. ArchLord is a premier free-to-play MMORPG offering significantly more depth and quality than most other free-to-play games and this recent achievement solidifies our commitment to the ongoing development and success of ArchLord.”

To cope with the increased popularity for the game, Codemasters Online will shortly be opening an all-new game world to cope with the game’s substantially increased demand as they gear up for the next free content update Episode 3 due in the coming months.

ArchLord is a premier free-to-play online role-playing game allowing players to download and play the game for free with no monthly subscriptions or commitments. The online game challenges thousands of players each month to raise an army, to compete to become the game’s all-ruling ArchLord and with it control of the entire game world impacting on the lives of thousands of ArchLord players.

To download ArchLord the premier free-to-play MMORPG visit the game’s official website www.archlordgame.com

Novint will display their new Falcon controller at DreamHack 08

Friday, May 23rd, 2008
Reachin Technologies introduces the Novint Falcon to Europe at DreamHack, June 14 – 17, 2008.

Stockholm, Sweden May 22, 2008 – Reachin Technologies, the maker of the Haptics Engine HaptX introduces the highly acclaimed and award winning Novint Falcon to the European market at DreamHack, June 14 -17, 2008 in Jönköping, Sweden.

The Novint Falcon is the game controller, which has received a lot of attention, especially in the US, since its launch last year. Replacing the mouse or joystick, the Falcon is, essentially, a small robot that lets you feel and interact in genuine 3D within computer games.

The Novint Falcon lets you feel high-fidelity three-dimensional force feedback (haptics), while controlling the game in three dimensions. The Falcon controller not only moves right, left, up and down, like a mouse, but also moves inwards and outwards for a true 3D touch enabled gaming experience. By holding the Falcon’s detachable grip and moving the proxy, the gamer can interact freely with the objects in the environment; even touch the back side of objects. The motors of the device are synchronized with the graphics and physics data of the game letting the gamer feel textures, shapes, weight, dimension, and overall dynamics. The critics have so far been unanimous stating that the Falcon provides a more immersive and intense computer gaming experience, some even stating that it’s Nintendo Wii and Force Feedback on steroids.

The Novint Falcon will be on display at the HaptX booth at DreamHack, where visitors can experience games such as Quake 4, Half Life 2, Penumbra: Overture and Black Plague first hand. Novint Falcons will also be available for the first time to consumers in Sweden and the rest of Europe for purchase at DreamHack as well as on the HaptX web site www.haptx.com.

“Our collaboration with Novint Technologies started over two years ago and since then we have not only developed HaptX, a state of the art Haptics Engine for high-fidelity 3D force feedback in computer games, but together with Novint we have also invested and created a series of games where we utilize and display the amazing capabilities of the Falcon. For us to be able to introduce the Novint Falcon to Europe and especially the Swedish and Nordic gaming community is a tremendous milestone and great step forward in making this technology widely available outside of the US. We have received massive amounts of requests from gamers asking how they can get their hands on the Novint Falcon since its introduction in the US 9 months ago and now we are able to accommodate these requests”, says Mats Lordin, CEO of Reachin Technologies.

Experience the Novint Falcon and HaptX at DreamHack- The Novint Falcon will be on display at the HaptX booth in Hall B at Dreamhack in Jönköping, Sweden, June 14 through 17, 2008. Besides experiencing the Falcon in Quake 4 multiplayer tournaments and competitions, the participants will also be able to experience other games supporting the Falcon such as Half Life 2 and the new version of the game Penumbra: Black Plague HaptX Edition, which will be released on May 28th.

Ant Commandos’ 4-in-1 Double-Range Guitar Controller for sale now

Friday, May 23rd, 2008

Be The Envy of Your Friends With The First Guitar Controller That Is 100% Compatible With All Guitar HeroTM & Rock BandTM Features ForPlayStation®2 and PlayStation®3


May 22, 2008 – Ontario, CA
- The Ant Commandos (TAC), a leading provider of innovative wireless video game music peripherals and accessories, announced today its V Shaped Double Range Guitar ranging in colors from flame red and electric blue, to jet black, is now available at retail for an SRP of $59.99. The Double Range Guitar is the first on the market to feature 100% compatibility with all Guitar Hero and Rock Band games for PlayStation® 2 and PlayStation® 3.

TAC’s Double Range Guitar enhances players’ gameplay experience no matter which music-inclined video game or PlayStation system they are using. By utilizing 2.4GHz wireless technology, players can hurl themselves around as they thrash to the beat, up to 30 feet away from the console. A second set of FeatherTouch fret buttons on its Xtended Fret Array allows players to fully take advantage of experiencing a full range when performing earth-shattering solos, then using the higher set for rhythm parts. The Double Range’s lower 5 buttons are 100% compatible with Rock Band’s Solo Guitar play and it offers a 5-way switch to support the sound effect feature in Rock Band. When playing Guitar Hero, the lower 5 buttons behave just like the top 5 buttons, thus allowing gamers to simulate solo action in Guitar Hero I, II, and III. Additionally, gamers will be able to rock out like a true musician with the 360FLY Clip, a special belt clip that attaches to the guitar with a single pivot point, allowing players to wildly spin the guitar to replicate the moves of their favorite famous guitarists.

“Guitar Hero and Rock Band have become a cultural phenomenon, and with all the people out there playing these games, it is important that their guitar controller work with every feature in the games,” said Jesse Manwill, Senior Manager, Product Management at TAC. “The Double Range is the ONLY guitar that is compatible with all of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band features-including the solo and 5-way effect switch. Consumers who purchase the Double Range can rest assured they are getting the most feature compatible guitar available on the market.”

The Double Range is the only guitar controller that is compatible with both the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. This market advantage is a huge benefit, eliminating consumers’ headaches as players no longer have to worry about which platform’s peripheral they need to purchase in order for it to work with their system. If a consumer is thinking about upgrading to a PlayStation 3, or if they already have a PlayStation 3, but they want to play their favorite songs on Guitar Hero 1 and II on the PlayStation 2, they can still purchase the Double Range as it is fully compatible for both systems.

Other Double Range features that help players make the most of their gameplay experience include the new PowerThief power saving mode which conserves the controller’s power by turning off when it senses inactivity, and the Low Battery Indicator which blinks red, signaling to players that the battery needs to be replaced -no more guessing or discarding a good battery. Also, the Super Whammy System whammy bar helps to provide protective control over soaring whammy bar effects for those who are rough with their controller.

Aquatic Tales announced

Friday, May 23rd, 2008
GAMEINVEST Announces Underwater Musical Game Aquatic Tales

Sing-Along Puzzler Brings Family Adventure and Conservation Awareness to DS, Wii and PC This Holiday Season

LISBON, Portugal – May 21, 2008
Portugal’s leading video games investor, developer and publisher, GAMEINVEST, today announced Aquatic Tales, an underwater adventure game for Nintendo DS™, Wii™ and PC. From the TV to the PC and the handheld, Aquatic Tales is designed to turn your screen into a living aquarium, and teach important lessons about conserving our oceans. With a cast of aquatic creatures on a thrilling journey and an original musical score, this game is sure to have the whole family playing and singing together. Aquatic Tales will be available worldwide this holiday season.

“Saving the environment is an important issue that we wanted to bring to audiences through a fun and engaging game,” said GAMEINVEST founder and CEO Paulo Gomes. “Aquatic Tales includes important messages about preserving our oceans within an immersive and entertaining gaming experience.”

Aquatic Tales immerses players in an adventure where they will guide and protect a family of endangered fish on a journey to safety. The importance of family and teamwork will resonate with people of all ages, creating an experience for the whole family. Oceanic preservation and conservation themes are communicated throughout the game. Intuitive controls using a DS stylus, mouse or Wii Remote make this game easily accessible to everyone. Cheerful and spirited music scores throughout the game will inspire the whole family to sing along.

Discover a cast of characters in this underwater adventure. For millions of years, the Arawak aquatic tribe prevailed in the North American rivers. An ancient prophecy claimed that the Arawaks would eventually see the end of their species due to the arrival of a mysterious tribe polluting their native rivers. Now at the brink of extinction, the last of the Arawak tribe must journey to a new habitat, Sisikwa, a sanctuary in the Amazon River, to save their species and live prosperously. Save and restore the Arawak tribe through 25 challenging levels and seven beautiful worlds in Aquatic Tales.

Trainz Booking Office opens online

Friday, May 23rd, 2008
Online Trainz Booking Office opens for business

New York, USA (May 22, 2008) Avoid the rush! Don’t miss any more Trainz!!! Paradox Interactive is pleased to confirm the online Booking Office for – Trainz: The Complete Collection, officially open for business.

The multipurpose website is a great source of news and information for novice or experienced commuters, drivers, surveyors and yardmasters alike. Services include:

- A description of features
- Release timetable and other news
- Purchase information
- Action screenshots
- Informative videos

and more. If you plan to travel through the world of Trainz, then this site should be your first destination, in preparation for your great virtual journey ahead!

Visit the Booking Office, by clicking on the following link: http://www.paradoxplaza.com/trainz

Alone in the Dark soundtrack to be released for retail sale

Friday, May 23rd, 2008
ALONE IN THE DARK® SOUNDTRACK TO BE RELEASED BY MILAN RECORDS

- The Soundtrack to Alone in the Dark Features a Mesmerizing Score by Composer Olivier Deriviere Performed by Grammy Award-winning Choir The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices -


NEW YORK, May 22, 2008
– Atari Interactive Inc. and MILAN RECORDS today announced their first collaboration with the forthcoming MILAN RECORDS release on May 24, 2008 of the soundtrack to the highly anticipated action survival video game Alone in the Dark. The original Alone in the Dark created the survival horror genre and set the standard for later games. Developed by Eden Games, the new Alone in the Dark is set to reinvent the genre once again with unique innovations and thrilling gameplay.

The evocative score was composed by Olivier Deriviere (Obscure) and performed by world-famous, Grammy Award-winning choir The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices. The result is an energetic, memorable score that mixes orchestration with the unique sound of The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices.

“For its first release of a video game soundtrack, Milan Records is very proud to be associated with such a classic series as Alone in the Dark,” said Nick Bobetsky, VP Sales and Marketing, MILAN RECORDS. “This is an original and powerful soundtrack, which goes beyond what you would normally expect in a video game.”

Alone in the Dark follows paranormal investigator Edward Carnby as over the course of one apocalyptic night he must fight to survive and uncover the earth-shattering secret behind New York’s Central Park. With an exhilarating mix of gameplay, intense storytelling in a TV season style, unprecedented environmental interaction, and DVD chapter select feature which lets players move on if they get stuck, Alone in the Dark is set to change what players expect from action games.

Alone in the Dark is scheduled to ship on June 20th in Europe and June 24th in North America on Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows-based PC, Wii™ and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, followed by PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system later in 2008. Classic soundtrack label MILAN RECORDS (City of God, Tsotsi, Flags of Our Fathers, Ghost, Monsoon Wedding, Pan’s Labyrinth) will release the album physically and digitally in North America on May 24th and across Europe in late June.

Here’s what the press has to say about Alone in the Dark:

“Alone in the Dark’s sheer scale is simply mind-blowing.” – Gamesradar.com

“A fresh approach to video game storytelling” – Gamespot.com

Tracklisting:
1- Prelude to an End
2- Edward Carnby
3- The Fissure
4- Collapsing Floors
5- The Façade
6- Reception Hall
7- The Humanz
8- Who Am I?
9- Central Park
10- Crying NY
11- Loneliness
12- Bethesda Fight
13- Killing The Fissure
14- No More Humans
15- Truth
16- Niamam
17- The Light Carrier Test
18- Shto Li (A cappella)
19- The Final Gate
20- The Choice
21- An End for a Prelude

For more information on the game please visit www.centraldark.com/us