Archive for July 11th, 2008

Two Worlds: Epic Edition

Friday, July 11th, 2008

MIDLOTHIAN, VA - July 11, 2008 – SouthPeak Games today announced its open-world role-playing hit game will get a new release on PC with the upcoming Two Worlds: Epic Edition. The expanded game will be available in August 2008.
“Two Worlds has seen unprecedented popularity, not only upon its original release, but in the months since it has gained even more fans,” said Melanie Mroz, CEO of SouthPeak Games. “Epic Edition collects everything available for the world of Antaloor into one package so those who have yet to explore its rich and vibrant lands can now do so in its entirety.”
Two Worlds: Epic Edition will contain the original game and the add-ons “Tainted Blood” and “Curse of Souls”, putting the massive world of Antaloor and countless hours of adventuring into one tremendous package. The original Two Worlds gave players a huge world and hundreds of adventures to undertake. The expanded content of Epic Edition adds over 70 online quests, eight new multiplayer maps, an innovative player-versus-player challenge where opponents battle to control magical orbs within a variety of arenas, and introduces the town of Tharnburg where players can train their warriors in various skills and challenge other players to combat in the Gladiator District’s huge arena.
Two Worlds: Epic Edition is rated M for Mature and will have a retail price of $19.99. For more information about Two Worlds or SouthPeak Games, please visit www.2-worlds.com or www.southpeakgames.com.

Warhammer Online’s Guild Beta has begun

Friday, July 11th, 2008

FAIRFAX, Va. - July 11, 2008

Mythic Entertainment, an Electronic Arts studio (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced that the Guild Beta for Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning™ (WAR) has begun. Over 10,000 guilds applied and those selected will have the chance to experience the game’s most expansive beta phase yet.

An historic 750,000 applicants have signed up for the opportunity to enter WAR’s closed beta, and the selected guilds will join tens of thousands of new participants as the game enters the final phase of its closed beta test. Guild members, many with long histories playing a multitude of massively multiplayer online games, will test WAR’s recently added Guild and Heraldry features, as well as Public Quests™, new dungeons, Scenarios, user interface updates and more as the MMORPG advances towards its launch later this year.

“WAR’s Guild Beta is here and some of the world’s most experienced MMO players will now get a chance to play one of the most anticipated MMOs of all time,” said Mark Jacobs, vice president and general manager of Mythic Entertainment. “We look forward to seeing them beat, bash and burn their way through the world that we have created for their enjoyment. It’s going to be a lot of fun and it’s going to be glorious!”

Based on Games Workshop’s epic and longstanding tabletop fantasy war game, Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning™ features revolutionary Realm vs. Realm™ (RvR) gameplay that immerses players in a world of perpetual conflict. Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning™ is scheduled for launch on the PC in the fall of 2008.

About Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning

Experience the glory of Realm vs. Realm! Declare your allegiance and join hundreds of thousands of mighty heroes on the battlefields of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, the new MMORPG from Mythic Entertainment, the creators of Dark Age of Camelot™. Enter a grim world of perpetual conflict to fight for the Realms of Order (Dwarfs, High Elves, and Empire) or Destruction (Greenskins, Dark Elves, and Chaos). Invade enemy lands, besiege imposing fortresses, and sack sprawling capital cities for the glory of your Realm. Wield devastating magic and deadly weapons, battle monstrous creatures, and join your brothers-in-arms in epic Public Quests™. Climb the Bastion Stair, carry your Guild Banner into battle, and unlock the secrets of the Tome of Knowledge as you travel the world. So, sharpen your blades and unleash your inner mutation. The Age of Reckoning has begun and WAR IS EVERYWHERE!

Red Mercury adds AcidSolitaire to the Apple Apps Store

Friday, July 11th, 2008

Glenview, IL, July 11, 2008 - Red Mercury, LLC, a developer and publisher of fun and snappy iPhone games, today announced that AcidSolitaire® Collection is now available for sale on the App Store.

The most popular computer card games, Solitaire, Freecell and Spider, are brought together in the AcidSolitaire Collection. With easy touch screen play, and incredible attention to detail, the AcidSolitaire Collection is a fundamental necessity for all iPhone and iPod touch owners.

AcidSolitaire Collection delivers the excellence you expect from iPhone and iPod touch games. Relax with polished game play and snappy graphics. Easy-to-read cards make it fun in either portrait or landscape mode. Select images from the Photos app to create your own game backgrounds, and queue up some music from your iTunes library to enjoy while you play.

Smart Sparkle Hints® and the helpful Card Finder make AcidSolitaire play like no other card game. AcidSolitaire Collection makes it fun for everyone, from beginners to the most advanced solitaire enthusiast. Try to win every game!

AcidSolitaire Collection for iPhone and iPod touch includes:

  • Quick and simple single-touch play with Intellimove®
  • Easy stop and go. Games are always automatically saved
  • Listen to your iTunes music while you play
  • Super Battery Saver extends battery life
  • Complete move memory. Undo/Redo your last move or every move
  • Use your own Photos as game backgrounds
  • Includes AcidSolitaire® , AcidFreecell® , and AcidSpider®
  • Various game style options and select game by number
  • Entertaining statistics and fireworks make it a thrill to win!

“A product as stunning and exciting as the iPhone only deserves the best, most elegant software. We put a lot of effort into the AcidSolitaire Collection to make it a game that is fun to play every day, and it’s also a great way to show off your iPhone,” said Scott Corley, President and Founder of Red Mercury. “I play it every day.”

AcidSolitaire Collection is available now for $9.99. The game can be purchased and installed directly from the App Store on the iPhone and iPod touch. The game is also available for purchase via iTunes.

For more information, visit http://www.red-mercury.com/iPhone.

Capcom to show it’s Booty

Friday, July 11th, 2008

Plunder is now:

Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, is pleased to announce that the game formerly known as Plunder is now called Age of Booty.

Age of Booty is a casual , real-time multiplayer strategy game that puts players at the helm of their own pirate ship with the goal of sending your enemies to the briny deep, and looting and capturing towns for your pirate faction.

 

In Age of Booty, players team up with other online players or AI-controlled pirate ships to raid, pillage, sink, and destroy their way to dominance on the high seas. Spoils of war and booty are used to upgrade and customize pirate ships to make them even more deadly as players take on 25 unique challenges and seven of the most devious Pirate Alliances on the high seas. Gain notoriety and fame by climbing the online leader boards. Create and share custom maps using the intuitive map creation system

MMOSmart opens China offices

Friday, July 11th, 2008
MMOSMART OPENS CHINESE OFFICES – EXPANDS INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE

North American Online Game Distributor & Publisher Seeks Chinese Partners

San Jose, CA - July 10, 2008- After 11 successful years in the North American online gaming industry, MMOSmart has expanded its staff presence to Beijing and Shanghai, China. The additional staffing will provide MMOSmart’s game development partners 24/7 support world-wide. Headquartered in North America and offices in Europe, and now Asia, MMOSmart is fulfilling its mission to grow game distribution and publishing to universal audiences – by offering a full range of MMOG Operation and management services to game developers & Publishers in any country.

Steven C. Wade, CEO of MMOSmart, who has personally helped launch over 20 MMOG titles in the U.S. including Aeria Games Succsful title “Last Chaos”, enjoys offering complete and custom fit marketing, publishing, and distribution services for game developers. After successfully partnering with three Chinese companies to publish and distribute their online games to N. American audiences, including Snail Games’s “Age of Armour” ,Steven Wade says, “Staffing offices in China just makes sense. That’s wheresome of the most exciting games are coming from today and we needed to go direct to the source to bring these games to new audiences in the fastest way possible. It’s a competitive business, and we want to remain on top.”

MMOSmart’s presence in Beijing and Shanghai will have a positive effect on the marketing, distribution and publishing needs of game developers, both big and small throughout China. Mr. Wade goes on to say, “We love games, we love China, and so do our customers world-wide. We want to work with anyone, large or small, who is looking for an international audience for their title. ”

Strategy First to publish Perimeter II: New Earth

Friday, July 11th, 2008

STRATEGY FIRST SIGNS LONG AWAITED RTS SEQUEL: PERIMETER II: NEW EARTH
The fate of humanity is once again in your hands

MONTREAL, Quebec – July 10, 2008 – Software publisher Strategy First Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings, Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSTR), and KDV games, are bringing back the eagerly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed ‘Perimeter’, Perimeter II: New Earth.

The story of Perimeter II: New Earth follows the events from the original game. The Exodus, lead by the wise Spirits, have been searching for the New Earth. The Harkback have lost faith in the Spirits, overthrown their rule, and decided to head back for the Old Earth, not believing its death. Both sides took the final step on their way, but the chain has closed and mortal enemies entered the same planet face to face.

“We are excited to be working with KDV Games. We’re confident that Perimeter II will continue to build upon its award- winning tradition of developing great RTS games,” said Strategy First Business Development Manager, Emanuel Wall.

“Perimeter II is a project for intellectual gamers who appreciate a new gaming experience and innovative ideas. In order to make the most out of project potential, we were looking towards a publishing partner with the most experience in the RTS genre. Strategy First meets the case perfectly. We see our collaboration as a great opportunity to introduce fresh original ideas to true fans of the RTS genre in North America,” said Evgeny Novikov, Managing Director at KDV Games:

Ideas of territorial gameplay and landscape modification introduced in the original game are now realized on a new concept & technology level. The VistaGame Engine enhances the dynamics and depth of gameplay, turning the battlefield into an arena for the confrontation of two elements - ground and water.

“Perimeter 2″ is a project for fans of the RTS genre. The revolutionary concept of terra-forming, along with new elements and fresh ideas, is sure to provide a unique gaming experience.

For more information on Perimeter 2: New Earth, please visit: http://www.strategyfirst.com/en/games/Perimeter2/

Midway appoints Craig Duncan as head of Newcastle Development Studio

Friday, July 11th, 2008
Industry Veteran to Lead Midway’s Efforts on WheelmanTM and Future Projects

CHICAGO - July 10, 2008 – Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer, today announced it has appointed Craig Duncan as studio head for Midway Studios - Newcastle. Craig joins Midway Studios - Newcastle with more than 10 years of senior development management experience. Craig spent over 5 years at Codemasters Software Co. Ltd in a number of roles managing external and internal development and development services. In his most recent role with Codemasters he held the title of director, product development. In this role Craig was responsible for worldwide product development. Craig will be leading development efforts on Midway’s action-driving title Wheelman, as well as future projects at the Newcastle studio and will report directly to Matt Booty, Midway’s Senior Vice President - Worldwide Studios, who is also currently serving as interim CEO and president of Midway.

Midway’s Newcastle studio works in close conjunction with the company’s European head office in London as well as Midway’s US-based studios in Chicago, Austin, Seattle and Los Angeles to share technology and talent across a number of Midway’s internal projects.

“We’re very excited to announce the appointment of Craig Duncan as our Newcastle studio head,” said Matt Booty. “We are confident that Craig’s strong background along with his creative and technical expertise will further enhance the quality of upcoming games like Wheelman.”

“Midway is committed to working with the best talent in the industry and becoming a publishing force in Europe,” said Martin Spiess, executive vice president - international, Midway Games Ltd. “We consider ourselves very fortunate to have a seasoned manager like Craig Duncan running our Newcastle studio, and look forward to his future contribution.”

Mechanic Master announced

Friday, July 11th, 2008
MIDWAY GOES MECHANICAL ON Nintendo DSTM

Chicago – July 9, 2008 - Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment software publisher and developer, today announced a new brain-teaser extraordinaire, Mechanic Master™, for the Nintendo DS™, which will ship this October.

Anyone familiar with the musings of American political cartoonist and Pulitzer Prize winner, Rube Goldberg, will already know the weirdly insane logic epitomized in his world-renowned series, Rube Goldberg Machines. For those yet to experience this mechanical madness, an entire universe of excruciatingly fantastical contraptions await in the guise of Mechanic Master.

Undeniably entrancing, the 100 levels of puzzling genius challenges the player to build wacky contraptions to perform simple tasks, like turning on a light bulb or releasing a balloon, in seemingly indirect and convoluted ways using the DS’ stylus. This game calls for problem-solving ingenuity that flies in the face of logic itself!

As well as Classic and Drawing modes, the game also features a level editor for creating unique puzzles to share with friends via WiFi.

Martin Spiess, Executive Vice President International, Midway Europe, said, “Midway has already seen considerable worldwide success from recently introduced franchises, Game Party and Touchmaster. Mechanic Master is similarly aligned for the Nintendo family-orientated audience and we have high expectations for this title.”

Summary of Features:

  • Classic Mode - Use gravity shifters to change the direction of gravity, laser pistols and mirrors to cut things, a vortex to make things disappear and many more gadgets to keep the contraption in motion and clear the level
  • Drawing Mode - The stylus is your main tool! Use it to draw, move, place and teleport objects to solve the puzzle.
  • Level Editor - Test your gray matter by solving 100 existing levels or use the built-in level editor to create your own contraptions and share them wirelessly with friends
  • Create and share your own levels with friends or send a limited demo version of the game over Wi-Fi

Indiecade to be at E3

Friday, July 11th, 2008
IndieCade to Showcase Highly Innovative Videogames and Collection of Imaginative Game Artwork from Independent Games Development Community at E3 2008

LOS ANGELES July 10, 2008 – IndieCade today announced it will highlight extraordinary work from the international independent game developer community at the E3 Media and Business Summit, July 15-17 in Los Angeles . This exhibition will represent the first U.S. preview selection of games submitted to the 2008 IndieCade festival.

Again this year, Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the E3 Business and Media Summit organizers, invited the IndieCade International Festivals of Independent Games to give the gathered insiders a view of the industry’s bustling creative fringes. At this exclusive invitation-only industry event, IndieCade will highlight the diversity in independent gamemaking with more than a dozen games exemplifying the creativity and breadth of vision that independent game designers incorporate into their work.

“It is important to challenge the industry with games that turn our idea of play inside out, that keep the fans engaged – and do it passionately, on small budgets, and in innovative ways. That is the point of this showcase and the work of IndieCade,” said Stephanie Barish, founder and president of IndieCade.

For this event, IndieCade selected games that would speak to the E3 audience, choosing from the more than 100 games submitted by independent gamemakers this year. Festival Director Sam Roberts states, “Game selections span the spectrum from casual games to those headed for mainstream publication, to ARGs, art games, and installations. We wanted to show work from the heart, work that conveys creative vision and work that bends and breaks gaming conventions. This is work that illustrates what games are capable of being.”

To complement the videogames, IndieCade will also feature high-resolution prints of artwork from eight independent games. “Capturing an instant of gameplay highlights both the visual artistry of the game in its own right, as well as its unique aesthetic vision in contrast with the standard fare,” explains Festival Chair Celia Pearce. “These prints illustrate the many ways that indie developers cut against the grain of commercial games, moving away from photorealism and out to the edges, with black-and-white video, nature, abstraction, simple old-school pixilated styles, and other aesthetic directions that are totally unique to the indie scene.”

IndieCade’s E3 Business and Media Summit Showcase follows this Spring’s first Asian IndieCade showcase in Hangzhou , China , for the CICAF animation festival’s audience of almost 500,000 people. Upcoming showcases and events include PAX in Seattle, E for All in Los Angeles , GameCity in the UK , as well as IndieCade’s flagship gallery exhibition at the Open Satellite in Bellevue , Washington , in October.

What: IndieCade @ E3 Business and Media Summit
Where: Los Angeles Convention Center, Booth # 437 When: July 15-17, 2008
Attendees: Invitation Only

Hudsonsoft launches 3 titles for iPhone/iPod

Friday, July 11th, 2008

Hudson Soft Launching Three Games at the Opening of the Apple App Store

The three games are for iPhone and iPod Touch

BOMBERMAN TOUCH, AQUA FOREST, and SUDOKU, for iPhone & iPod touch Worldwide

TOKYO, Japan–July 10, 2008–Hudson Soft Co., Ltd. today announced three of its key gaming titles, BOMBERMAN TOUCH - THE LEGEND OF MYSTIC BOMB, AQUA FOREST and SUDOKU will all be available on the Apple App Store when it launches today. All these exciting games fully leverage the unique and innovative features of iPhone and iPod touch, including the Multi-Touch screen and accelerometer. These three games are only the first in a series of applications that Hudson Soft plans to release for the iPhone OS platform.

BOMBERMAN TOUCH -THE LEGEND OF MYSTIC BOMB- is Hudson Soft’s flagship title on the Apple App Store. Classic Bomberman gameplay is melded seamlessly with the innovative Multi-Touch user interface using motions such as flick, tap and tilt in a story set amongst ancient ruins.
Players can also control Bomberman’s moves by touching any location on the screen to bring up a directional control pad.

AQUA FOREST powered by OctaveEngine Casual has two modes in the game - Puzzle mode with a water and ecology motif and Free mode in which users can create anything they wish using the game’s tools. Puzzle mode has five levels, each of which has ten stages, for a total of fifty stages. As each puzzle is solved, the tree in the background will grow gradually. In Free mode, users will experience a whole new world of drawing. Using real physics, graphics created using the game’s tools will come to life as soon as they are drawn on the touch screen.

SUDOKU Vol.1- in collaboration with Nikoli, the inventor of this globally popular logic puzzle and Hudson Soft introduce Sudoku for iPhone and iPod touch. Gameplay is designed specifically for the touch screen so players can easily enter numbers in boxes as smoothly as writing with a pen.
Apple’s new App Store will provide iPhone users with native applications in a variety of categories including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel. The App Store on iPhone works over cellular networks and Wi-Fi, which means it is accessible from just about anywhere, so you can purchase and download applications wirelessly and start using them instantly. Some applications are even free and the App Store notifies you when application updates are available.

These three games will be available priced at just $5.99 for SUDOKU and just $7.99 each for AQUA FOREST and BOMBERMAN TOUCH from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/

Hudson Soft and other topics on entertainment: Additionally, game-specific information, such as the world rankings for SUDOKU, are available on the Do the Hudson!! site, linked directly through the “web to” function built into games sold in the Apple App Store.

Hudson Soft was one of the first companies in the console game industry to have quickly adopted mobile development, and it is currently distributing diverse content, from games to music, with the major cellular phone carriers in Japan.