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Established video game publisher Ghostlight, have released International Athletics on PSP just in time for the Olympic Games in Beijing, with the Nintendo DS version coming soon.

International Athletics is the most realistic athletics title on any handheld console and the only athletics title available on the PSP. The title boasts a wide range of events from the 4 key disciplines; running, jumping, throwing and shooting. Thumbs will be wagging and DS stylus’ wiggling as players compete in the single player or four-player multiplayer modes in their quest for multi-disciplined glory.

With full character customisation, gamers will be able to recreate their heroes with startling accuracy and then progress through a compelling career mode, competing for medals and unlocking world famous venues and events.

Speaking on the International Athletics trade stand at the recent London Grand Prix, British Olympic medal hope, Greg Rutherford said “The accuracy and realism of International Athletics is fantastic, certainly better than anything I’ve played on the DS or PSP before. The game is also a great way for children and adults to learn about the different track and field disciplines – I’ll certainly be testing my skills on the long jump before I head to Beijing”

Greg went on to win the long jump at the Crystal Palace event on the 25th & 26th July which was sponsored by Ghostlight and International Athletics. The event attracted 32,000 spectators over the 2 days and reached a television audience over 20 million viewers worldwide. Marketing Account Manager, Adrian Clews commented “The event was a huge success with record numbers attending and watching the action live on TV. The Ghostlight stand was a hive of activity with families taking the opportunity to play International Athletics on both DS and PSP demo pods. The multiplayer functionality and unique realism, which only International Athletics can offer on handhelds, was a massive hit with the largely family based audience.”

For more information on International Athletics log on to www.ghostlight.uk.com/athletics

World’s Largest Video Game Tournament to Feature Samsung Mobile Challenge in 10 Countries Around the World Including WCG USA National Final in Los Angeles and WCG 2008 Grand Final in Cologne, Germany

(NEW YORK, NY, August 6, 2008) - The World Cyber Games (WCG), the recognized blue chip leader for international video game competitions, today announced a partnership with mobile electronic front runner, Samsung. Through the agreement, the WCG will once again showcase the highly successful ‘Samsung Mobile Challenge’ (SMC) at World Cyber Games events in 10 countries around the world including major National Finals in the USA, Korea, China, India, Singapore, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the world championship Grand Final in Cologne, Germany this November. This marks the largest ever number of SMC events, with three times more countries than last year.

The Samsung Mobile Challenge will showcase the new SAMSUNG INNOV8 as the official mobile phone in WCG events worldwide. Each national team representative for the SMC at the Grand Final will be determined through an open competition in all 10 participating markets; providing players, spectators and mobile gamers with an opportunity to become part of their respective national team and earn a trip to the Grand Final.

“We are pleased to have Samsung expand their participation in the World Cyber Games 2008,” said Hyoung-Seok Kim, CEO of International Cyber Marketing, organizer of the WCG. “The SMC has been extremely popular at past WCG events and we look forward to its expansion into even more markets this year.”

Asphalt 4: Elite Racing, developed by Gameloft, will be the official game at this year’s SMC. Asphalt 4: Elite Racing puts you in the driver seat of 10 dream cars and bikes with amazing 3D environments. There are five racing modes in six global locations like Paris, Shanghai and New York City.

With well over one million players from more than 70 countries, the World Cyber Games is widely regarded as video gaming’s premier tournament. Featuring online and offline events held throughout the world, the year-long WCG series attracted more than 1.5 million competitors worldwide in 2007. The 2007 WCG Grand Final in Seattle, Washington broke new ground as more than 29 million people tuned in to watch the competition unfold in real-time, marking the largest global, live satellite broadcast for an e-Sports event. Additionally, the World Cyber Games was recently recognized by Guinness World Records for the World’s Largest Video Game Competition with over 1.5 million competitors worldwide.

For more information on World Cyber Games or to register for the 2008 World Cyber Games regional tournaments, visit www.worldcybergames.com

JAPAN – August 6 – HUDSON SOFT COMPANY, LIMITED (head office:
Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Representative Director Michihiro Ishizuka) has announced the simultaneous global release of the popular game ‘PuzzLoop’ as a new title at the App Store, which sells software for Apple’s iPhone® and iPod touch®.

Available today, PuzzLoop ($7.99,) has enjoyed world-wide popularity on several different platforms. With user friendly direct controls, this game makes use of the iPhone and iPod touch’s unique touch screen interface, just as did Hudson’s ‘BOMBERMAN TOUCH – The Legend of Mystic Bomb’ ($7.99,), a game released at the opening of the App Store on Friday, July 11, 2008.

Audiences from all backgrounds can jump right into the new PuzzLoop and its many features, including an uncomplicated interface, fun onscreen action, and addictive playability.

Hudson will continue to explore the possibilities in new devices like the iPhone and iPod touch, while releasing games that support them.
Along with quickly establishing its brand, Hudson will provide customers of these devices with new and compelling gaming experiences.

‘PuzzLoop’
Release Date:
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Price (including taxes): $7.99
Copyright: ©HUDSON SOFT 2008

“Fire, Connect & Clear!” Introducing the ultimate ‘looping puzzle’
game.

After PuzzLoop began as an arcade game in 1998, the immensely popular puzzle action game has been ported to numerous game platforms. The uncomplicated controls require only touching the screen and aiming at the colorful balls rolling on a rail. Clear the balls by connecting three or more of the same color. String combos together to raise the maximum points awarded. Master the numerous items too, and clear them all!

STAFFORDSHIRE, UK & SEATTLE, WA – August 6th 2008 – Astraware^® and PopCap Games, Inc. are excited to announce the release of one of PopCap’s flagship titles for Palm OS^® and Windows Mobile^® smartphones. Insaniquarium DeluxeTM offers hours of frantic aquarium fun as you feed your fish, watch them grow and protect them from alien invaders!

Insaniquarium Deluxe is the craziest aquarium game ever – tend to your fish and keep them happy and they’ll reward you with precious coins and jewels. Use the money you earn to buy upgrades for your tank or egg parts which hatch lots of different in-tank pets with special powers. These pets can help you feed your fish, collect coins, or even protect against the aliens that will invade your tank and wreak havoc. You can also use the money you earn to buy better weapons to see the aliens off quicker!

Insaniquarium Deluxe includes 3 fun ways to play:
Adventure – keep your fish healthy and protect them from aliens through 4 fun aquarium stages each with multiple levels of mayhem; Time Trial – feed your fish and fight off the alien invaders to make as much money as possible against the clock. A new time trial is unlocked as you complete each stage in Adventure Challenge – once you’ve mastered Adventure, face the ultimate challenge as you feed your fish and try to protect them from ever increasing alien attacks. The challenge ends when the last fish is zapped!

Insaniquarium Deluxe is available for Palm OS^® 5 smartphones and PDAs with at least a 320×320 screen, and for smartphones and PDAs running Windows Mobile^® 2003 and later. For more information, to try and to buy, visit http://www.astraware.com/insaniquariumdlx.

EL SEGUNDO, CA – August 6, 2008 – Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced that Frogger for the iPhone and iPod touch is available on the Apple App Store. As the company’s first title for the App Store, Frogger has been re-designed to take full advantage of the platform’s capabilities, including the innovative Multi-Touch Interface and accelerometer.

“We see the iPhone platform as an opportunity to showcase the legendary Konami brands in a truly unique fashion,” said Joe Morris, Vice President of Konami Mobile. “Konami is committed to providing players with games that leverage the latest technology. Fans of the best-selling Frogger franchise can now experience the title like never before, and we look forward to releasing more of our popular titles for the iPhone soon.”

Konami Mobile’s Frogger for the iPhone and iPod touch is the latest edition of the 27-year old successful series that includes the classic Frogger, a top ten best-selling mobile game. For more information, please visit www.konamimobile.com.

Frogger is available for $9.99 from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch, or at www.itunes.com/appstore/. For more information, please visit www.konamimobile.com.

Beta Testers Find Virtual World Brings the Family Together For Shared Playtime

PLANO, TEXAS- Aug 06, 2008 – Online entertainment company KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc announced the successful completion of closed beta testing for virtual world Wizard101. The final beta testing phase has now been opened to the general public at www.wizard101.com. Wizard101, which emphasizes magical adventure and card-collecting in an online 3D world of Wizards, is expected to officially launch within the next month.

“We more than doubled our anticipated beta audience for Wizard101,” said KingsIsle CEO Elie Akilian. “It turns out that the solid game mechanics and whimsical fantasy environment appeal even beyond the tween audience. We’ve had a great response from testers that included everyone from grandmas who play with a grandchild sitting in their lap to twenty-something traditional gamers.”

Wizard101’s collaborative play style supports an environment where players benefit from working together in adventure quests. A tiered chat system and pre-defined character name generator create a safe community for younger players while an Arena provides a spot for more traditional gamers to show off their player versus player spell-casting skills. As they adventure, players can upgrade their costume and magical accessories, adopt bizarre pets, solve puzzles and play mini-games. At launch, Wizard101 will be free to play, with advanced play content available by subscription.

KingsIsle had Wizard101 under development for three years before the beta period, which means testers experienced a very fully fleshed out game with detailed graphics, fantastic worlds and fully-functional game play. There has been an increasing online buzz about Wizard101. Testers, including those below from esteemed virtual community The Syndicate® have been saying things like:

“Wizard101 is a great game for the whole family, especially for kids. I watch my 6 year old AND my 14 year old laughing with each other instead of irritating one another, as brothers tend to do. I play right along side of my kids.”

“Having been a gamer for 30 years now, playing with my kids has to be the most fun I have ever had … They enjoy the ability to get many different spells and see all the amazing animations, and both are always wanting to start new wizards to try the others. I think the variety of schools and the spells that goes with them makes Wizard101 stand out over [other online games].”

Anyone with a PC who would like to join the final beta testing phase can now sign up at www.wizard101.com and instantly download and install the initial software to join the large cast of good, bad, and frequently silly in-game characters and other players. Beta testers play the game for free and provide feedback to the game’s creators leading up to the official launch.

For additional details go to www.wizard101.com.

Finally, the world’s greatest classic gaming magazine gets the online presence it deserves – and everyone can join in!

Retrogamer.net is a new online portal for fans of the popular Retro Gamer magazine. The site not only enables them to interact with the world’s number one retro gaming magazine in an exciting new way, but also ensures that they will be able to upload content directly – 24 hours a day!

By simply registering and creating an online profile users can write profiles on any classic videogame, which can then be uploaded to the Retro Gamer website; creating an invaluable database of classic games for everyone to enjoy, leave comments and rate.

Retrogamer.net was created specifically with Retro Gamer’s loyal readership in mind, and it already has a sense of community that few other rival sites are able to achieve. The new reader interaction features gives a little something back to the readership, as the best entries will eventually be chosen to appear within the pages of the print magazine dstributed all over the world. Retrogamer.net also boasts a definitive console/home computer buyers’ guide with links to the latest eBay auctions, the magazine’s off-the-wall team blog, and the popular reader’s forum that now boasts over 2,500 registered users.

“I’m extremely pleased with the new look www.retrogamer.net and it’s the perfect opportunity for our readers to get that little bit closer to the magazine,” said Retro Gamer Editor, Darran Jones. “We have a fiercely loyal following that few other magazines are able to enjoy and it’s a real pleasure to give them the chance to write about their favourite fondly remembered games.”

Imagine Managing Director, Damian Butt, said of the new site: “This great new portal was created by our talented interactive team in record time, and now the whole retro community can enjoy and participate in what I am sure will become the best collection of classic games profiles on the Net.”