Gamersnewsbits.com

Yes, that’s right! Connecticut Senator Gayle Slossberg (Dem) says that games like Grand Theft Auto IV and it’s “points for rape” need to be better labeled for content. Thing is….there’s no such part of the game. But she thinks there is and if she had any skills at playing the game, she would prove it!

Connecticut voters! Time to vote someone out of office and tell other lawmakers to stop wasting their time on stupid things that don’t exist and work on the real problems with our nation!

http://www.newhavenadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=8476

Weston, CT – June 25, 2008 - Got Game Entertainment LLC today announced a North American publishing deal for “Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches” (PC). Created by Arberth Studios of West Wales, “Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches” promises an authentic first-person, point-and-click adventure brimming with Celtic atmosphere. This spine-tingling story of the haunting of a lonely, teenage girl blends magic with technology, fact with myth, and horror with compassion. The game, scheduled for release October 2008 with a suggested retail of $29.99 (USD), is a feast for lovers of ghost stories, mysteries, legends, and puzzles. “Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches” is not yet rated by the ESRB.

“Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches”, based on the classic Welsh “Four Branches” legends, is set in a mystical place on the Celtic fringes of Britain, a place where myth and magic spill into reality, threatening the sanity of a teenage girl and bringing an ancient battle for revenge to a remote Welsh farmstead. Are reports of unexplained noises and strange visions by fifteen year old Rhiannon Sullivan merely the figments of an overactive imagination? Or does the history of her family’s new home, Ty Pryderi, hold a terrible connection to a timeless struggle between man and magic? Her parents take Rhiannon away, leaving Ty Pryderi to your watch and exploration, but their absence can only postpone an ancient inevitability of revenge and death.

Unless you can stop it!

“Thanks to committed publishers such as Got Game Entertainment, the adventure genre is back and better than ever,” said Arberth Studio’s Noel Bruton. “We created ‘Rhiannon’ for every adventure fan who loves a haunting story, mystical atmosphere, and brain-teasing puzzles.”

The game’s official website will launch this summer. For more information now, visit http://Rhiannon.GotGameEntertainment.com.

SANTA MONICA, CA – JUNE 25, 2008 – Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today the upcoming release of Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2009 for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, and Wii™. The latest title in the best-selling Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts franchise puts players in bone chilling, pressure-packed hunting situations as they seek out savage animals in the world’s most dangerous locations.

“Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2009 is about hunting for sport as well as survival,” said Dave Oxford, Activision Publishing. “Imagine being rushed by an eight-foot tall, nine hundred pound grizzly bear. You are not thinking about stuffing the bear and placing it in your mountain cabin. Your only instinct is avoiding death.”

Players will face raw danger as they encounter the fiercest animals on earth, including lions, grizzly bears, jaguars and more. Accurately modeled Cabela’s equipment in the game means the firearms, tactics and gear are all realistic and precise – but this won’t always help in the face of an unpredictable, open environment packed with avalanches, elephant stampedes, and piranha infested waters. If you do miss a shot and fail to stop a charging man-eating animal, you will be forced to fight it via a melee defense – but pay attention; it’s likely another nearby animal will join the attack.

Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2009 will also feature a wide variety of gameplay modes, including fan favorite Action Zone, and hunting scenarios ranging from surprise animal attacks to strategic hunts.

The game is scheduled for release in Fall 2008. For more information visit www.activision.com.

Staffordshire, UK & BOTHELL, Wash USA – June 25th, 2008 - Astraware^® and Sandlot Games^® are excited to announce the release of Westward^® for Symbian^® S60^® and UIQ^® smartphones. The highly acclaimed game was released for Palm OS^® and Windows Mobile^® smartphones and PDAs earlier this year.

Based on the hit PC game by Sandlot Games, Westward offers many hours of absorbing game play as players control the destiny of the Wild West by building thriving towns, exploring unchartered plains, dense forests and rocky canyons and guiding their settlers to safety and success.

Westward features 4 different locations to explore with more than 20 game levels. Players manage a variety of resources and deal with environmental disasters like fire and drought, all while following the trail of the Mad Russian, a con artist extraordinaire, who must be brought to justice before he can cheat anyone else out of their life savings.

Westward has been optimized for smartphones running S60 3rd Edition and UIQ3 and can be controlled using 5-way, key controls or stylus. The game is available now, priced $19.95. To download a trial or to purchase, visit http://www.astraware.com/westward.

STREAM MEDIA FILES FROM PC TO ENJOY ON THE Wii^TM

X-OOM Software, a leading publisher of digital media software, has launched X-OOM Media Centre for Wii XE, to enable users to enjoy their music, videos and photos on a Nintendo Wii™. This innovative software turns the popular gaming console into an interactive media hub by streaming digital media files from a PC to a Wii™.

Share and enjoy your favourite digital media

Favourite video files, photos and music normally found on a PC in a bedroom or study, can now be easily shared and enjoyed on a TV in any room via a Nintendo Wii™ using X-OOM Media Centre for Wii XE. Once installed on a PC, the software will wirelessly interact with the Wii™. Chosen files can then be streamed to the console, eliminating the hassle of transferring content via cumbersome memory cards, USB devices or CDs.

Access web TV, radio and podcasts

X-OOM Media Centre for Wii XE also makes it possible to browse the internet, providing access to over 1,000 digital radio and TV channels. New options include podcast support, RSS feeds and access to popular video sharing sites such as YouTube™ and Google Video™.

Easy installation

Requiring no extra hardware, X-OOM Media Centre for Wii XE is easy to use and install. After installing the software on the PC, use the File Wizard to add files to the Media Centre. Then, simply select the Wii’s Internet Channel, typing in the web address and pass code provided, to navigate the simple menus and browse the streamed files.

Photos and films can be enjoyed in high quality as the software is optimised for widescreen and HD programs. Common network connection is provided through WLAN or LAN, and extensive media files are supported such as MP3, WMA, OGG, DivX, XviD, Mpeg2, MPEG4, WMV, JPG, BMP etc.

http://www.x-oom.com/usa/index.html

Wednesday 25th June 2008. Dundee, Scotland. Innovative casual game developer Tag Games has announced a new approach to mobile game development, with a ground-breaking money back guarantee.

The offer, which is effective immediately on all J2ME, BREW, iPhone, Blackberry and Smartphone projects, is based upon an objective scoring system that defines quality based upon pre-defined delivery objectives as well as external game analysis.

Managing director Paul Farley explained the rationale behind the scheme. “Tag has first-hand experience of the difficulties involved in a publisher or intellectual property owner selecting a trusted development partner. We realised that we could immediately and effectively reduce the risk to partners, from the development side of the equation.”

“Tag has worked very hard to build its reputation of delivering an outstanding service in terms of scheduling, budget and game-play quality. We are proud to be the first developer to offer a money back guarantee for partners using our mobile development service.”

Tag’s development guarantee should prove especially attractive to traditional game publishers, brand owners and media companies who have yet to move their properties into the complex and rapidly-evolving mobile gaming market.

Farley continues, “Creating mobile games is a complex and specialist process that often belies the seemingly simple nature of the end product. We are now supporting hundreds of devices, thousands of SKU’s, dozens of languages and a multitude of new technology features, such as full 3D visuals, multiple connectivity options, motion sensing and touch-screen controls. Tag Games provides a bespoke, end-to-end service which removes all of the barriers and risks for prospective clients. The combination of Tag’s skill, experience and capacity with the money back guarantee provides an unbeatable proposition!”

Tag Games – whose founders have previously helped create massive global hit games such as Grand Theft Auto and State of Emergency – has had a hugely successful year during which it has tripled headcount, achieved and is maintaining profitably, raised investment and delivered a number of original and branded high-quality casual games to the global market.

The company was recently approved as a Nintendo DS™ and Wii™ developer complementing existing support for the majority of mobile technologies including Apple iPhone, Blackberry, Smartphone, J2ME and BREW.

Further information regarding the money back guarantee scheme can be obtained by contacting bizdev@tag-games.com

A new Online Games Retailer by the name of Top 1 Games (www.top1games.com) has opened its virtual doors for business officially today. The subsidiary of Dutch company Xing International Holding B.V. will strive to be an international specialist retailer which offers both the latest PC and console games and hardware as well as vintage/retro product lines. With the Xing Interactive PC value games line featuring heavily in the initial product offering the company seeks to expand and diversify as more third party suppliers are signed up and direct accounts are opened with other publishers. Available immediately are some hard to find Wii accessories and products for the professional gamer regardless of preferred platform. Credit Card, iDeal and Paypal payments are accepted and www.top1games.com will ship products to any country in the world.

Future plans according to Managing Director Dede Wiliam are to expand the product offering with DVDs and Toys later this year. “We saw this as an opportunity to create an additional B2C sales channel for our own product lines and offer an extra outlet for the companies we distribute to retail for. Value for money and building a wide selection of different (and hard to find) products is our ultimate goal”. The webshop will be promoted in national and international press as well as through internet and search engine marketing.

You can visit www.top1games.com today to check out the initial selection or contact the support team at info@top1games.com.

Michigan, June 24, 2008. Wolverine Studios, a developer of simulation games, is proud to announce our first foray outside the sporting world. Wolverine Studios is excited to announce our newest title: Music Wars Rebirth.

Music Wars Rebirth is the creation of Antuan Johnson who is happy to be bringing his music industry simulator to Wolverine Studios. Music Wars Rebirth allows players to create and manage their own record label by giving them the opportunity to both manage the financial state of their company as well as managing aspects of the artists signed to their label. The in-depth game play allows the user to track all aspects of the career of an artist as they take them from unknown talent to global superstar while catapulting their label to the top of the music industry.

Antuan began working on the Music Wars series in 2004 with a series of freeware releases. His most recent version, Music Wars 3, registered tens of thousands of downloads among various freeware and shareware sites. Fans of the series have called the games “addictive” and “brilliant” and Wolverine Studios President Gary Gorski says “I’m very excited about this new opportunity for both Antuan and our company. We’ve looked for opportunities to expand outside of our traditional sports-orientated games and I think this game will be a huge success for our company.”

More details and discussion about the game will be available from Wolverine Studios’ company website at www.wolverinestudios.com

International Host City Bidding Now Open for WCG 2010 Grand Final

New York, NY; Framingham, MA, June 24, 2008 - The road to elite video gaming’s TEAM USA 2008 is now confirmed: The World Cyber Games (WCG) USA 2008 National Final will be held in at this year’s E for All Expo in Los Angeles, October 3 – 5, International Cyber Marketing (ICM) and IDG World Expo announced today. The WCG USA 2008 National Final at the E for All Expo will feature 200 of America’s very best players, all competing for the rare chance to make TEAM USA and represent the United States at the WCG 2008 Grand Final, to be held in Cologne, Germany, this November 5th – 9th. The WCG’s Grand Final is the culmination of the world’s largest video game tournament.

America’s top gamers will be the showcase tournament attraction at the 2008 E for All Expo, the premier consumer video game event, organized by IDG World Expo and scheduled to take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center October 3-5, 2008. The WCG USA 2008 National Final will fill more than 15,000 square feet of dedicated space on the E for All show floor. In addition to determining TEAM USA and national champions in 14 WCG “Official Game Titles” the WCG USA will include the Samsung Mobile Challenge tournament, a women’s gaming invitational tournament, an “old school” pinball competition, numerous walk-up video gaming contests and many more exciting attractions. Feature matches in some of the world’s most popular PC and Xbox 360 videogames will take place on a main stage complete with live play-by-play commentary keyed to the in-game action being projected on giant video screens. World Cyber Games’ partners Samsung Electronics, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Games For Windows, Phillips amBX, Dust-Off and several others will feature expo booths with interactive displays, product demonstrations and gaming kiosks in the WCG USA tournament area at E for All, creating a high-energy gaming and youth lifestyle festival for consumers. E for All attendees will have countless opportunities to walk away with merchandise prizes via giveaways and promotions in the WCG USA area during breaks in the tournament.

“E for All is the perfect stage for the World Cyber Games, providing attendees with a unique opportunity to see the who’s who of elite competitive gamers in-person as they show their mastery of today’s most popular video game titles,” said Mary Dolaher, Chief Executive Officer of IDG World Expo, the leading producer of world-class tradeshows and events around the globe. “Through our partnership with ICM, we’re not only establishing a home for the 2008 WCG USA National Final, we’re underscoring our support of the growing global eSports gaming community.”

“E For All has quickly established itself as a premiere video game event in the United States. This World Cyber Games USA National Final at E For All will immerse gaming fans and attendees into the ever-expanding genre of International eSports competition – this is the only place to see America’s best gamers, live and in person, battling for the treasured opportunity to represent the USA on competitive gaming’s most coveted stage, the World Cyber Games Grand Final this November in Cologne Germany.” said Michael Arzt, General Manager of WCG USA.

World Cyber Games Announces International Host City Bidding
In related news, the World Cyber Games also announced the opening of worldwide bidding for the right to serve as 2010 Grand Final Host City. Applicant cities from across the globe will partake in an evaluation process, where factors such as location, financing, Government support, facilities, local and national promotion and city infrastructure will be reviewed. All host city applications must be received by ICM before August 22. The final announcement of the WCG 2010 host city winner is scheduled for May 2009. For more host city bid information, please contact Mr. Tae Kim tkim08@icm2k.com.

WCG first introduced the host city concept in 2002 when Daejeon, a major city in Korea, held the Grand Final with tremendous success. Following Daejeon, a number of great global destinations have played host to the premiere celebration in e-Sports, including: San Francisco, USA (2004), Singapore (2005), Monza, Italy (2006) and Seattle, USA (2007). This year, the competition returns to Europe as Cologne, Germany plays host to the Grand Final. Next year the event returns to Asia as Chengdu, China plays host in 2009.

“The WCG’s reputation and prestige has been rapidly and steadily escalating over the last 9 years A growing number of international cities desire to establish images as hi-tech focused, dynamic, young-minded and energetic, by hosting the WCG Grand Final,” said Mr. Hyoung Seok Kim, CEO of International Cyber Marketing, global organizer of the WCG, “The WCG has contributed to the economic development and IT infrastructure of the host cities it has visited and we believe that the WCG 2010 Host City selection will be the most competitive Host City Bid in WCG history.”

World Cyber Games is the premier international video game competition with over 1.5 million players from more than 70 countries participating annually. The WCG is organized by International Cyber Marketing, organizers of the world’s biggest game competitions and numerous Game and e-Sports related businesses. Online registration for the WCG USA tournament is free to all and continues through June 30th at www.worldcybergames.com/usa.

“The Spore Galactic Edition is the ultimate backstage pass for the Spore universe,” said Patrick Buechner, vice president of marketing, Maxis. “The Spore Galactic Edition is an incredible collection of art, video and behind-the-scenes access to the development team for fans, along with some of the coolest, most collectable packaging in years.”

Spore gives players their own personal universe in a box. Create and evolve life, establish tribes, build civilizations, sculpt entire worlds and explore a universe filled with creations made by other gamers. Spore gives players a wealth of creative tools to customize nearly every aspect of their universe: creatures, vehicles, buildings, and even UFOs.