Gamersnewsbits.com

Storyline
A new chapter in the saga challenges you to help King Roland thwart off evil brewing in the distant corner of the Kingdom! Persuade the king to believe your island is the most ideal royal destination. 

• A new chapter to the MySims Kingdom story – Help King Roland defend evil in a far-flung corner of the Kingdom.

• Nine new mini-games – Players must conquer mini-games in order to persuade the King that their island is the ultimate royal destination. Mini-games include – kayaking, ski jumping, populating the zoo, and many others!

Athlone, Ireland – 18th July 2008 - Alienware® the leading manufacturer of high-performance notebook, desktop and professional systems today launches the Area-51® m17x, a commanding and aggressive addition to the newly redesigned Area-51 line of notebook computers. Alienware has already received numerous awards from the computer industry this year with the launch of the 15.4-inch Area-51® m15x, and the company has once again upped the ante. With a brilliant 17-inch, widescreen HD display, Alienware has designed the Area-51 m17x for PC gamers, 3D content creators and multi-media enthusiasts.

www.alienware.co.uk/Area51m17x

Area-51 m17x

• Core 2 Extreme mobile processors including Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000
• Dual SLI enabled NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800M GTX GPUs for unprecedented performance levels.
• Up to 4GB of 667MHz DDR2 Memory
• Up to 640GB of hard drive space for storing massive entertainment collections, plus support for solid state drives and hybrid hard drives.
• Includes Alienware’s BinaryGFX technology
• Smart Bay technology giving users on-the-fly customisation capabilities

Price:
Area-51 m17x from £1,430 Inc VAT and delivery

The Area-51 m17x surpasses expectations as the fastest notebook Alienware has ever designed. An Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme processor teams with the fearsome power of dual, SLI®-enabled NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800M GTX GPUs for unprecedented performance levels.

“We pride ourselves in designing elite systems for consumers who absolutely refuse to settle for second best,” said Brian Joyce, Senior Vice President at Alienware. “The Area-51 m17x is, by far, the most aggressive, most powerful notebook computer Alienware has ever built.”

The Area-51 m17x satisfies even the most demanding mobile users by delivering:

• NVIDIA SLI technology with dual NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX graphics cards to produce an unrivaled mobile DirectX® 10 gaming experience.

• Intel’s 45nm Core 2 Extreme X9000 mobile processors supporting maximum speed and responsiveness during intense battle sequences in users’ favorite games, crisp 3D rendering, flawless music encoding and other high-intensity tasks.
 
• Up to 640GB of hard drive space for storing massive entertainment collections, plus support for solid state drives and hybrid hard drives.

• The Alienware Command Center control panel, home to exclusive programs such as the AlienFX® customisable lighting feature and the AlienFusion power management system.

• Smart Bay technology that allows users to swap out their optical drive for an additional 320GB hard drive, bringing the notebook’s storage capacity to nearly 1TB.

When asked to compare the Area-51 m17x to its sibling system, the Area-51 m15x, Joyce said, “With both systems, Alienware has once again revolutionized mobile performance. The Area-51 m15x is ideally suited for road warriors or students who are constantly on the move but still want that boost of power Alienware delivers. The Area-51 m17x is for professionals and hardcore enthusiasts who want pure, unbridled performance with the added benefit of portability.”

“Intel’s Core 2 Extreme and Core 2 Duo mobile processors power the Area-51 m17x to performance results that are nothing short of spectacular and can even rival most desktop systems,” said Erik Reid, Director of Marketing, Mobile Products Group, Intel. “Improvements in speed and energy efficiency delivered by the Intel Core microarchitecture give Area-51 m17x users confidence that they are working and gaming on the most advanced technology imaginable.”

“With NVIDIA SLI and two GeForce 8800M GTX GPUs, the most powerful notebook graphics processing solution ever, Alienware’s Area-51 m17x is equipped to generate an unrivaled visual experience,” said Rene Haas, general manager of notebook GPUs at NVIDIA. “Whether users are tackling the new era of DirectX 10 games, high-definition movies or dynamic Windows Vista applications, they can count on the Area-51 m17x to deliver.”

For more information on the Area-51 m17x, please visit: www.alienware.co.uk/Area51m17x.

Tokyo, Japan – July 1, 2008 – Gala Inc. today announced that Gala-Net Inc., a consolidated subsidiary of Gala Inc., has been granted the right to provide the online game Luna Online for the U.S. and other English-speaking countries by South Korean developer EYA Interactive Co. Ltd. (”EYA Interactive”). The game will be available on gPotato, Gala-Net’s online game portal.

Overview of Luna Online

Luna Online is a free-to-play fantasy MMORPG that emphasizes user communities. Among the game’s unique social features are the Match Making System, which helps players find the perfect match to play with, and the Family System, which lets players join up and operate a farm together. Other characteristics include flexible character development with over 40 jobs, superior graphics, cute character designs, and fast paced action.
The game has already proven its appeal to casual and hardcore gamers of both genders, with over one million registered users in Korea alone. It has also been commercialized in Taiwan, and was awarded the Best MMO Award at the Bangkok Interactive Festival 2008.

A new addition to the Storybook Series of Sonic Titles

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (July 21, 2008) –SEGA of Europe Ltd. and SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced Sonic™ and the Black Knight, an all-new Wii-exclusive adventure. Part of the storybook series of games that began with Sonic and the Secret Rings, this new title brings Sonic into the world of Arthurian legend and offers the worlds most infamous blue hedgehog the chance to become a knight. Using the unique Wii control system, this exciting game will take advantage of both the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk to offer an interactive experience that any Sonic fans will love.

Created by Sonic Team in Japan, this innovative game takes Sonic into a medieval world and arms him with a sword to aid in his effort to save the day. Sonic and the Black Knight will provide Sonic fans with an irresistible cast of characters and teach them all what it takes to be a true hero and the ultimate knight. With a series of missions taking place in stunning Arthurian-inspired locations, Sonic and the Black Knight promises to offer a fast-paced adventure that gamers of all ages will enjoy.

“After the success of Sonic and the Secret Rings we’re delighted to announce a second title in the Storybook Series,” said Gary Knight, European Marketing Director, SEGA Europe, “Following Sonic on his way to knighthood will excite players of all ages.”

Sonic and the Black Knight, exclusively for the Wii, will be out in Spring 2009.

NEW YORK, NY – July 21, 2008 – Epic Games, Inc. and Del Rey, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing Group, announced today that Del Rey will publish three novels set in the gritty world of the bestselling and critically acclaimed Gears of War video game series. The first novel, GEARS OF WAR: THE BATTLE OF ASPHO FIELDS, written by #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Traviss, will go on sale October 28, 2008. The Gears of War 2 video game, the highly anticipated sequel to the genre-defining third-person shooter that won over 30 game of the year awards, will be released worldwide exclusively for the Xbox 360™ on November 7, 2008.

In GEARS OF WAR: THE BATTLE OF ASPHO FIELDS, the last human stronghold on Sera braces itself for another onslaught from the Locust Horde, as ghosts come back to haunt Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. For Marcus — decorated war hero, convicted traitor — the return of an old comrade threatens to dredge up an agonizing secret he’s sworn to keep. As the beleaguered soldiers of the Coalition of Ordered Governments take a last stand to save humankind from extermination, the harrowing decisions made at Aspho Fields have to be relived and made again. Marcus and Dom can take anything the Locust Horde throws at them — but will their friendship survive the truth about Dom’s brother Carlos?

“After finishing the first Gears of War game, players were left wanting to know more about Delta Squad and the events leading up to Emergence Day,” said Epic Games’ president Michael Capps. “This trilogy of novels opens up whole new worlds of storytelling opportunities, and will add even more context to the upcoming comic book series, game sequel and motion picture. We loved Karen Traviss’ work on the Republic Commando series, and we can’t wait to get her Gears book to our fans.”

“Playing Gears of War is a kick-ass experience,” said Del Rey editor Keith Clayton, “And the Gears of War books should remain true to the spirit of the game. I’m happy to announce that the marriage of Karen Traviss and chainsaw bayonets is a match made in heaven—or hell, if you happen to be a Locust drone.”

For further information on the novel, GEARS OF WAR: THE BATTLE OF ASPHO FIELDS, visit www.delreybooks.com.

For information on Gears of War and Gears of War 2, visit www.gearsofwar.com.

Wario Land™: Shake It!
Format: Wii™
Launch Date: Sept. 22, 2008
ESRB: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence
Game Type: Platformer
Players: 1
Developer: GOOD-FEEL, Ltd.

KEY INFORMATION
Wario™, Nintendo’s greedy, uncouth and rude anti-hero, returns to his roots. The Wario Land series is where Wario first appeared, and it’s back in all its side-scrolling, platform-jumping glory.
• With the Wii Remote™ controller turned sideways, veterans and newcomers alike can run, jump and smash their way through hectic side-scrolling stages. By shaking the Wii Remote, you can shake down your enemies, free coins from treasure bags and even cause earthquakes.
• Each stage is a masterfully crafted side-scrolling obstacle course of puzzles, enemies and assorted hazards. Every stage holds numerous secrets and treasures to discover (and steal). And each stage has multiple “missions” to keep you coming back again and again to unlock everything, collect more coins or just improve your best time.
• Wario returns to form, with all the jumping, power-dashing and butt-stomping we’ve come to expect. This is surly Wario at his finest.
Game storyline: Wario receives an antique globe and telescope that allow him to travel to the once-idyllic Shake Dimension, now conquered by the tyrannical pirate, the Shake King. With the assistance of his longtime rival, Captain Syrup, he must rescue the Merfles, denizens of the Shake Dimension imprisoned by the Shake King. Only by defeating the bosses of all five continents of this strange world can Wario find and confront the Shake King, rescue Queen Merelda, queen of the Merfles, and, most importantly, claim the Bottomless Coin Sack, a never-ending supply of gold.

How to progress through the game: Each stage has Wario navigating an obstacle course of dangers and traps to find an imprisoned Merfle. Once he frees the little fellow, the countdown begins and he must find his way back to the starting gate before time runs out. Wario must also defeat a boss in each continent, and then buy a map of the next
continent from Captain Syrup. Once all five continents’ bosses have been defeated, Wario takes on the Shake King himself.
Characters: Wario, our “hero.” Captain Syrup, a female pirate (and rival from previous games) who aids Wario on his quest. The Merfles, helpless natives of the Shake Dimension, and their queen, Queen Merelda. The Shake King, leader of a ruthless pirate band who has conquered the Shake Dimension.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXoZQlKdZzw]

Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Wario can jump and dash, as per previous Wario Land games. New to this game is the ability to shake the Wii Remote for various effects. By default, a shake of the Wii Remote makes Wario punch the ground, causing a small earthquake and dazing enemies. Wario can then pick up dazed enemies and, with another shake of the Wii Remote, shake them for rejuvenating garlic and occasionally gold. Enemies can also be thrown, and you aim by tilting the Wii Remote.
Wario also takes control of three different vehicles during the course of the game, all of which are piloted in part by tilting the Wii Remote. The controls are standard for a Wii Remote held sideways (D-pad, buttons), but with an important twist: most of Wario’s special moves are accomplished by shaking or tilting the Wii Remote. This allows great versatility but without forcing the player to remember complicated button combinations.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LgFjqRXx4I]

Aimed primarily at a casual and family gaming audience, the As Seen On TV range features games developed as direct spin offs from highly-rated, mainstream TV shows such as Golden Balls, The Magic Roundabout and Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old? With in-game presentation from the likes of Noel Edmonds and Jasper Carrot, As Seen On TV’s products are both familiar and instantly accessible for all levels of gamer.

Other key features of the range are bold new packaging, featuring As Seen On TV’s distinctive, retro television logo, and an impulse buy price point. Together with broad and far reaching trade marketing, and print and TV advertising plans, along with continued, regular TV scheduling of shows in the range, helps guarantee mass market appeal for As Seen On TV throughout the busy Christmas period and beyond.

The initial launch titles include Deal Or No Deal 2008, Golden Balls and Professor Heinz Wolff’s Gravity on both Wii and DS and Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old? on DS.

“We are delighted to be launching the As Seen On TV range during the key Christmas retail period,” said Craig McNicol, Managing Director at Koch Media. “With its strong visual branding, competitive price point and superb line up of much-loved titles and TV personalities we expect this to be a massive hit with family audiences over the Christmas season.”

Title: “My Aquarium”
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Developer: Hudson Soft
Format: Digital download for WiiWare™
ESRB Rating: RP (Rating Pending)
Pricing: TBD
Availability: TBD
Release Territories: Worldwide

My Aquarium: My Aquarium is an all-new, original IP for WiiWare™. In this pleasant and relaxing software experience, much like a real aquarium, you can customize your fish tank with different backgrounds, gravel styles, decorations, plant life, and of course, fish.
Product
Overview: My Aquarium brings the relaxation of an aquarium to your Wii™. Sit back, interact with the fish, and enjoy the wondrous things that can happen. Don’t worry if you have to go away for a while; you might even find a brand new fish when you come back! Fish & fun for the whole family. Why not add an aquarium to your home?
Features:
• Create a captivating world for your enjoyment and relaxation – Decide exactly which fish you want in your aquarium and what decorations they’ll get to enjoy. Choose the glass color, lighting, background design, style of gravel, rocks, or plant life for the world your fish will inhabit. Mix and match different fish in up to 6 individual aquariums. You can even send aquariums to your friends using WiiConnect24™ if they also have My Aquarium!
• A wide selection of colorful fish – Choose from 40 different types of fish, from groupers to jellyfish. Both freshwater and saltwater fish can cohabit just fine. If you want to feed your fish, you can choose from a variety of food. You can even interact with your fish and keep a watchful eye on your favorite. Learn more about your fish in the Fish Database.
• Interacts with the Wii Forecast Channel – Tank conditions change depending on the weather in your area!
• Focused on Fun –You can simply relax and enjoy the fish. Don’t worry about water temperatures or other special knowledge needed for a real aquarium. My Aquarium requires only your imagination.
Publisher

Information: About Hudson Entertainment, Inc.: Hudson Entertainment is the North American publishing arm of Hudson Soft, an international provider of games and entertainment content founded in 1973. Hudson introduced best-selling classic videogame franchises including Bomberman, Bonk, and Adventure Island. Hudson Entertainment focuses on four key businesses: console games, digital download content, mobile games, and music. Hudson’s mobile division has been a leading supplier of games and personalized content. Through numerous partnerships with record labels, Hudson has become a leading provider of hip-hop ringtones and mobile content. For more information on Hudson Entertainment, please visit www.hudsonent.com.

MUNICH, Germany - July 21, 2008
Burda:ic, a publisher of online games worldwide, today announced the open beta launch of Florensia, a free-to-play MMORPG from Japanese developer NETTS. Following a highly successful closed beta period, players the world over are now invited to traverse vast lands and sail the open seas in search of dark dungeons and undiscovered treasure. With four starting classes and a huge variety of weapons and spells from which to choose, Florensia is a rousing adventure that blends vibrant, 3D graphics with classically accessible MMORPG gameplay.

“Our top priority is providing subscription MMO quality in a free-to-play format,” said Achim Kaspers, managing director of Burda:ic. “We received a lot of good feedback from our closed beta, so we’re throwing open the doors as we prepare new features like second classes, expanded PvP gameplay, and additional creature updates.”

The world of Florensia includes:

• Vibrant, pastel-shaded 3D graphics
• Four entirely unique character classes: the Explorer, the Noble, the Mercenary, and the Elementalist
• An large variety of frightening monsters to battle
• Upgradeable equipment sets which are more powerful when worn together
• Uncharted islands, dungeons, and treasures waiting to be discovered by daring captains
• In-depth tutorial quests to help welcome new players
• Well-balanced solo and party-based gameplay
• Immersive PvP with everything from one-on-one fights to massive fleet battles
• Five basic ship classes, each one completely customizable

About Florensia
Florensia is a vibrant, maritime world that brings players from around the globe together to explore the islands of Cardiff, Exeter, and Magnal. Choosing one of four starting classes, from the sword-wielding Mercenary to the spell casting Noble, players will do battle with a huge variety of weapons and magical abilities as they explore expansive, underground dungeons and sail uncharted seas. Free-to-play and featuring a wide range of quests on dry land and across the ocean, Florensia is a distinctive blend of vibrant, colorful graphics and classically accessible MMORPG gameplay.

More information about Florensia can be found at http://www.florensia-online.com/