Archive for August 13th, 2008
Mytopia Nominated for TIS Innovation 100 Award in Games and Entertainment
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008PALO ALTO, Calif. – August 13, 2008
Mytopia.com, the first cross-platform social gaming community, today announced that it has been nominated for the first annual TIS Innovation 100 Award in the Games and Entertainment category. Mytopia.com was nominated for the award by members of The Industry Standard community for distinguishing itself as an innovation leader. Voting is open to the public through October 3, 2008. To vote for Mytopia.com, visit www.thestandard.com/awards/tis100/show_category/5738 .
“We are dedicated to providing a seamless experience for audiences to enjoy social gaming from every corner of the Web, and thank The Industry Standard community for nominating us for this award,” said Galia Ben-Artzi, Co-founder and Director of Business Development and Marketing at Mytopia Inc.
In Mytopia, audiences can play classic games together and chat with friends in real-time across social networking platforms such as Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Friendster and hi5. Even Yahoo, Apple, Google and Vista widget users can join in on the fun and play with friends from every corner of the Web. In addition, players on Mytopia.com can interact seamlessly with those on all platforms supported by Mytopia and support for new networks is continuously added. For more information, visit www.mytopia.com.
“What’s unique about Mytopia is the ability to play online with friends, no matter where they’re already spending time on the Web. You’re no longer limited to opponents within your social network. Mytopia is a place where we can all just play together,” added Ben-Artzi.
Final winners for The Industry Standard Innovation 100 Awards will be announced on Monday, October 20, 2008. For more information about the awards, visit www.thestandard.com/awards/tis100 .
New Zoids Assault screens
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008August 12, 2008
Atlus today released new screenshots of Zoids Assault, a strategy RPG for Xbox 360® featuring gigantic mechanical war machines going head-to-head on the field of battle.
Zoids Assault is set to release on September 9, 2008.
Chalkboard Sports Baseball Hits it Out of the Park, Onto Your iPod
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008SAN MATEO, Calif. – August 12, 2008
D2C Games™, Inc., a premier developer and publisher of mass-market downloadable interactive entertainment, today announced that Chalkboard Sports Baseball™ is now available on the iTunes® Store (www.iTunes.com). Sports fans can purchase and download Chalkboard Sports Baseball for $4.99 and play America’s favorite pastime anytime, anywhere on an iPod® nano (3rd generation), iPod® classic and iPod® (5th generation).
Chalkboard Sports Baseball offers incredibly fun game play and depth not usually found in casual sports games and it was developed exclusively for iPod® and the unique click wheel.
Chalkboard Sports Baseball features…
- Easy, Pick-Up-and-Play controls optimized for the Click Wheel.
- Personalized teams thanks to FaceMaker™, a unique web-based tool that allows gamers to easily import their own images into the game via iTunes®.
- I-Think AI™: computer players so smart they literally think on the fly.
- Bonus point home run targets and unlockable pitches.
- Quick Play and Playoff modes, six ballparks, multiple camera views, all the sounds of being at the ballpark – even day and night games!
“The iPod is a game platform that offers a remarkably unique interface that is simple and intuitive, with endless possibilities to developers,” said Scott Orr, founder and CEO of D2C Games. “Chalkboard Sports Baseball is the first game we are bringing to iPod gamers and we have big plans to offer more Chalkboard Sports titles that are easy to play, incredibly fun and user personalized.”
Go to www.d2cgames-facemaker.com to try out the FaceMaker utility.
ASDA Story’s first in-game events happening now
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008GAMESCAMPUS.COM ANNOUNCES ASDA STORY EVENTS GOING ON NOW THROUGH AUGUST 19
In addition to the Guaranteed Fun Promotion Where players can win $30 for playing the game, Several In-game events offer great prizes including Campus Cash, iPod Nano’s, an Xbox 360 and a Wii, and much more.
San Jose, Calif. (August 13, 2008) – San Jose-based online game publisher, Gamescampus.com (www.gamescampus.com, run by OnNet USA), announced today that it is celebrating the open beta for Asda Story with several in-game events and lotteries with great prizes including iPod Nano’s, Xbox 360 and Wii consoles and tons of campus cash for the winners.
Also, Don’t forget! Gamecampus and Asda Story are hosting the Guaranteed Fun Promotion. The company is certain that players will be satisfied with their Asda Story game experience, so much so, that they are staking money on it. Any player who signs up for and plays the game (for free) for 30 days and reaches Level 40 and isn’t satisfied with their experience can ask the company to pay them $30 USD. For the full details visit http://asdastory.gamescampus.com/event/fun.html.
The events going on now in-game include:
Asda Story Cartoon Event:
Create your own 4 panel cartoon using screenshots of Asda Story and post it in the official Cartoon Contest forum section for a chance to win Campus Cash prizes! The Event will take place over two separate periods, so if you don’t win the first time players can create another and try their luck again. The first event is taking place now through August 19 with a second event starting August 20th to September 2. The First Place winners of each event period will receive 10,000 Campus Cash, the Second Place winners will receive 5,000 Campus Cash, and the two Third Place winners will receive 3,000 Campus Cash each.
‘Give a Tip to the Beginners’ Event:
Post the best tip or piece of advice for your fellow players in the official Tip Event forum section and have a chance at receiving Campus Cash prizes! The first event is taking place now through August 19, with a second event providing players another shot at the prizes starting August 20th to September 2nd. The First Place winners of each event period who post the best tip, piece of advice, or guides will receive 10,000 Campus Cash, Second Place winners will receive 5,000 Campus Cash, and the two Third Place winners will receive 3,000 Campus Cash.
In-game Digging Event:
Grab a shovel and start digging for items! All Asda Story players are invited to join the dig for rare items that are usually only available through the item mall. The items include a number of Nimbus cloud vehicles to ride, useful in-game items such as HP Potions, Teleportation Scrolls to meet up with friends, and Gold Exchange Tickets to get rich in-game more quickly!
Attendance Lottery:
Asda Story players who join in the Event and pick up daily Attendance Tokens from the Event NPC will be put into a lottery to win prizes including Gold Exchange Tickets, 4GB iPod Nanos, and one lucky person will win a Nintendo Wii! Remember to pick up a token each day because the more a player has at the end of the Event period, the more chances they will have to win the drawings.
Level-up Event:
All users are encouraged to level up as far as they can during open service to receive a number of great prizes.
Any and all users are able to win prizes for reaching specific levels.
All players that reach Level 5 will receive Event Teleport Scrolls to quicken their travels around the maps. All characters that reach Level 10 by the end of the Event Period will be entered into a lottery where two characters will win a 4GB iPod Nano for the owners of their accounts.
Gold Wolf Event:
Users can get Event Raffle Tokens from killing special Golden Wolves and be entered into a lottery for a number of prizes including 50 sets of headphones and one lucky winner will get an Xbox 360. The more Raffle Tokens on a character, the more chances they have to win one of the prizes.
About Asda Story:
Based on a colorful, bright and cheerful world, Asda Story is a free to play exciting fantasy-style anime 3D MMORPG game that features a unique ‘Soul Mate System.’ The unique party system offers two players the ability to align to become ‘soul mates’ and allows them to wear unique costumes and use special skills. Another key feature of the game is the ‘Real Costume System,’ which gives players some of the most extensive personalization and design options ever seen in an MMORPG.
Both unique systems (‘Soul Mate System’ and ‘Real Costume System’) were credited for helping to generate a high female user ratio for Asda Story (more than 20% of the total players are female) when launched in Korea and Japan. With these systems, players are able to personalize the design of their items and make the look of their characters stand out. Gamescampus.com is expecting to see similar ratios with females for the launch of Asda Story in the United States.
For more information about Gamescampus.com or Asda Story, please visit www.gamescampus.com.
Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness goes gold
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008Fand of popular series don’t have long to wait as the most robust portable harvest moon experience ever heads to manufacturing.
Burlingame, Calif., August 13, 2008 – Natsume, a worldwide developer and publisher of family-oriented video games, announced today that Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness for the Nintendo DS has gone to gold master. When the title ships on August 26th, its launch will kick off the ten-year anniversary for the franchise. The anniversary celebration will include various retail promotions with special collectible pre-order items, a 10th anniversary DS Lite Kit, strategy guides and more.
”To have such a remarkable following and support for the Harvest Moon series is wonderful, and we think fans will be very pleased with this new handheld addition,” said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO of Natsume. “Island of Happiness stays true to the elements of the series that fans love, and will provide players an exciting Harvest Moon universe that will continue to elevate the series to new heights.”
Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness brings the largest portable Harvest Moon experience ever to the Nintendo DS. Starting off with an abandoned farm, a handful of seeds, and the determination to start a new life, it’s up to the player to develop a mysterious, abandoned island into a bustling tropical paradise. By harvesting crops, raising animals, and mining for precious gems, gamers will help the island grow into a vibrant town filled with people, businesses, and eligible bachelors and bachelorettes. Players can take on the role of a male or a female, and choose who they want to fall in love and start a family with. Gamers can also test their farming skills against each other and compete for prizes via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness will ship on August 26th, 2008 and will retail for $29.99. Players who pre-order the game through select retailers will receive a free chicken plush.
Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).
For more information on Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness, please visit www.natsume.com
InstantAction.com Announces New Map for Fallen Empire: Legions
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008InstantAction’s breakout hit, Legions, is expanding its universe once again with a fresh new map – Zenith Cauldron. Boasting real estate four times larger than the two previously released maps (Nivosus and Moonshine), Zenith Cauldron offers players the extra space to make every match a true exercise in both tactics and skill. Expanding on the environments currently available, the new map’s large desert-themed playing field will feature a plethora of rolling dunes allowing players to take full advantage of the Legion’s “ski” feature. Zenith Cauldron also features large slopes surrounding the two bases so players can get a good jump right after spawning. Players should also forward to exploring Zenith Cauldron with the soon-to-be-released “Outrider” class.
So what are you waiting for? Go check out Zenith Cauldron!
More news regarding 10Tacle’s insolvency
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008Got this in my inbox a few minutes ago….
With regards to the announcement of 10Tacle Studios AG business activity’s discontinuation, Reakktor Media, subsidiary of 10Tacle Studios AG, declares that this does not affect the business activity of Reakktor Media GmbH, despite the insolvency, especially with regards to the operation of the MMORPG (Massively Online Role Playing Game) „Neocron 2″ and the development of the MMO (Massively Online Game) “Black Prophecy”.
I’m glad to see that these games can continue on despite the mother company folding. Keep a lookout for these titles still coming from Reakktor Media!
Bionic Commando Rearmed is now available on XBLA and PC
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008BIONIC COMMANDO® REARMED IS NOW AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA ON PLAYSTATION®Network, Xbox LIVE® Arcade, and WINDOWS PC!
Capcom’s Classic Action Platformer Grapples It’s Way onto Next Generation Consoles and Windows PC
SAN MATEO, Calif. — August 13, 2008 — Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced Bionic Commando® Rearmed, a makeover of the classic 8-bit game originally released 20 years ago, is now available for download in North America on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®Network, and PC. Bionic Commando Rearmed is rated Mature by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) and is available for 800 Microsoft Points, $9.99 on PLAYSTATION®Network, or $14.99 on PC.
Bionic Commando Rearmed sees a return of the intense 2D side-scrolling, shooting and grappling action from the beloved 1988 classic game, Bionic Commando® on the Nintendo Entertainment System®. Bionic Commando Rearmed brings the game into the next generation with stunning new visuals, new weapons, online rankings, a reworked musical score, and newly reworked stages.
Bionic Commando Rearmed also boasts a multitude of features including 2 player co-op, a frenetic multiplayer mode for up to 4 players and a series of over 50 devious challenge rooms to test your swinging skills. What’s more, each version of the game will feature unique content specific to that platform. The title will also provide cross-game bonus features, as completing parts of Bionic Commando Rearmed will unlock new content and provide secret insight into the characters and storyline behind the brand new next generation Bionic Commando.
Features:
• Classic Bionic Commando gameplay focused around the use of the bionic arm
• 2-player Co-op mode
• Local multiplayer matches for up to four players
• Total modern visual revamp, including dynamic shadows, particle effects and environmental damage
• Reworking of musical score
• Cross-game interoperability – complete specific parts of Bionic Commando Rearmed to unlock new content and hints for the Bionic Commando sequel
• Unique platform specific content for Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION®Network
• In-game art designed by one of Capcom’s most talented artists, Shinkiro
For more information, visit: www.bioniccommando.com