Archive for September 30th, 2008

Marble Saga: Kororinpa announced

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

HUDSON ENTERTAINMENT’S MARBLE SAGA: KORORINPA ROLLS ONTO Wii NEXT SPRING

Sequel to the Fun-Filled Puzzle Adventure Features Tons of New Levels, Multiplayer Gameplay, Wi-Fi Connection And Wii Balance Board Compatibility

REDWOOD CITY, CA – September 30, 2008 – Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm for HUDSON SOFT, today announced that it is bringing Marble Saga: Kororinpa, an exciting puzzle adventure centering around a marble, exclusively to Wii next spring.

The sequel to Kororinpa: Marble Mania, Marble Saga: Kororinpa is full of new levels for gamers to explore, 4-person multiplayer gameplay, tons of customization features, the ability to connect and compete online and the use of the Wii Balance Board as features.

“Gamers will be amazed to see how much entertainment we have packed into Marble Saga,” said Sabine Duvall, Vice President of Product Development at Hudson Entertainment. “Whether players want to compete with each other through multiplayer or Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, explore more than 150 levels by themselves, or use the Wii Balance Board for additional fun, this game really will deliver an
action-packed adventure for gamers of all ages.”

The story takes place with players heading out on a journey with Anthony the Ant as he searches for the Golden Sunflower. By guiding Anthony’s marble around the Ant World and searching for items which are valuable to help reach the Golden Sunflower, gamers will help Anthony save his colony. Along the way players will face dangerous mazes and use cool and amazing widgets and gadgets to guide Anthony to his objective. With multiple levels to explore and three difficulty stages within each level, no area is ever the same.

Unique features in Marble Saga: Kororinpa allow fun customization for players. From designing the ball with attributes to helping players navigate through stages easier, to Miis and preset fun images, to an Edit Mode which allows for custom design of a unique stage, gamers can really make this entertaining experience their own. For a more competitive tone, a 4-person multiplayer mode allows players to compete with three other opponents on the same map as each races to the finish line. For more customization and group fun with others, the Wii Connect 24 feature allows gamers to share the unique stages they created with their friends or to receive extra stages from Hudson after the game’s launch via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Additionally, Wi-Fi Leaderboards let players compete online against each other to see who can navigate through the world the fastest.

For those who can’t live without gaming peripherals, the Wii Balance Board can be used as players navigate through the world as the ball with this new feature. In addition, gamers can utilize 40 innovative and useful widgets to help assist them in guiding their marble, including shrinking machines, movable bridges, vacuum tubes, cannon vaults and more!

Marble Saga: Kororinpa will be available at retail in Spring 2009.

Atlantica Online new screenshots

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Phantom EFX to relocate and build new HQ

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY TO UNVEIL PLANS FOR PHANTOM PARK

Phantom EFX, Barmuda Corporation and T8 Design to relocate to Industrial Park

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – September 30, 2008 – Phantom EFX, Barmuda Corporation, and T8 Design broke ground September 26 on a new $4 million building project that will serve as their headquarters in the Cedar Falls Technology Park.

The 54,000-square-foot facility named Phantom Park will be located at the corner of Technology Parkway and Chancellor Drive and is scheduled for completion in spring of 2009. The facility will include professional office suites along with warehouse and light manufacturing space to accommodate Phantom’s and Barmuda’s Distribution operations. The company’s previous building on 209 Roosevelt St. was destroyed in the floods of 2008 and the companies have been forced to relocate since that time.

Darin Beck, manager for the project and owner and CEO of Barmuda MMC and Barmuda Distribution, is also a owner/partner in Phantom EFX and T8Design. “These new headquarters will allow the companies to grow and be a showcase facility for our national and global clients. I’m very excited that we have finally broken ground,” said Beck. “Phantom Park will be a world-class facility for us and will accommodate our growing companies for years to come.”

Founded in 1998, Phantom EFX is the leading game developer and publisher of interactive card, slots, and casino entertainment titles for PC and Mac. Phantom is also an intellectual property developer for casino gaming companies, the iPhone and other mobile platforms.

An artist’s rendering of what the completed Phantom Park will look like. Construction is estimated to be completed by spring of 2009.

Phantom EFX owner/partner and CEO Aaron Schurman said, “Phantom Park will enable us to capitalize on the synergy we have between all of the companies and will serve as a prestigious headquarters for our global operations we can all be proud of.”

Phantom EFX, along with its warehouse and distribution divisions, will occupy 30,000 square feet and will feature a high-tech environment that will be helpful to recruit and retain employees nationally and internationally. With the ever-growing casino gaming market and Phantom’s ever growing importance in the gaming industry, Phantom felt it was necessary to take the companies image to the next level. Phantom EFX distributes PC games world-wide and soon will boast titles on both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

Barmuda MMC, founded by Darin Beck in 1986, is Iowa’s dining and entertainment leader with eighteen different restaurants, nightclubs and lounges, including a new catering company and two event centers. The downtown Waterloo Bourbon Street, Voodoo Lounge, and Sky Event Center are under construction now. Another new Bourbon Street and Voodoo Lounge are scheduled to open in Grinnell, Iowa in October. The new properties are included in the eighteen stated. Barmuda will occupy 15,000 square feet of the building and feature a modern facility to showcase its F&B and distribution operations.

Barmuda CEO and owner Darin Beck said, “We’re planning for more rapid growth. We were in the middle of adding a new wing of office suites in our old building when the flood came. The new building will provide us with the ability to grow in a much easier way than before. But most important to me is the ability to have all of our companies back together again under one roof. We have an incredibly talented group of people in all three companies and the synergy between us makes for some very remarkable chemistry. We have missed that since being displaced by the flood.”

Beck said the new facility was prompted by the loss of the former building in the flood of 2008 and without the city’s diligence, none of this would have been possible. “We are very pleased with everyone’s efforts including the Mayor, City Council, City staff and especially Bob Seymour, Community Services Manager for the City of Cedar Falls,” added Beck. “Bob was a Godsend in the whole process and I’m very proud of our city for making this all happen so quickly.”

When completed, the project will be home to the fast-growing T8Design, a web-based technology company serving the banking industry as well as Fortune 500 companies such as John Deere, Nike, Adobe and others. T8Design will occupy 5,000 square feet and boast having a direct fiber connection to the Team Data Center. This will allow T8 to have direct access to its servers and infrastructure.

T8Design owner/partner and CEO, Wade Arnold is excited to be a part of the new Phantom Park. “Our business compliments Barmuda and Phantom quite nicely,” said Arnold. “Being able to have T8′s partners headquartered in the same building is simply an amazing accomplishment I wouldn’t have thought possible. The flood is bringing us all together in ways we couldn’t have imagined prior to June.”

According to Dan Levi, the project’s architect and Owner of Levi & Associates of Cedar Falls, the building will be placed on three lots in the technology park, plus a portion of two more. “The front of the building will be dominated by glass, steel and limestone and a great deal of green space, initially used for landscaping, that eventually will be used for business expansion. The remaining 4,000 square feet are comprised of a shared board room, training facility and restrooms as well as vending and break areas. It will certainly be a beautiful new building for the already successful Technology Park.”

Combined employment of Phantom EFX, T8 Design, Barmuda and all of its affiliated companies is approximately 560 people throughout the Cedar Valley. Around 100 people will work at the new headquarters building. It is expected that the combined growth of all the companies will be around 200-300 people in the next two or three years.

MS to roll out a new color controller for 360

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

MICROSOFT ROLLS OUT RED XBOX 360 WIRELESS CONTROLLER JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

This holiday season, Xbox 360 fans are invited to accessorize with Microsoft’s award-winning Xbox 360 Wireless Controllers, now available for a limited time in red with newly designed black accents. Experience wireless gaming from up to 30 feet and enjoy uninterrupted play with the included Play & Charge cable and red rechargeable battery, which provides up to 25 hours of play on a single charge. Additionally, when the battery runs low, you’re given ample warning so you can connect the included Play & Charge cable for continuous play.

Available in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and Asia, the Xbox 360 Limited Edition Red Wireless Controller and Play & Charge Kit with red rechargeable battery now come together in a never before available color and at an exceptionally low price of just $64.99 (U.S. estimated retail price (ERP)). This product is the newest addition to Microsoft’s line of Xbox Authentic Products and further reinforces Microsoft’s commitment to enhancing the way people experience games and entertainment.

War World for XBLA

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

PREPARE FOR AN OUT OF THIS WORLD BATTLE IN WAR WORLD ON XBOX LIVE ARCADE THIS WEDNESDAY

This Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 9 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PDT) gamers will have the opportunity to hone their war fighting and strategy skills in “War World.”

Travel to a far away planet for a pure adrenaline rush! “War World” is a fast-paced third person shooter that features a unique blend of action and tactical gameplay, which sets it apart from any other multiplayer shooter. The game features powerful armored mechanoids that battle head-to-head in an all-out savage single and multiplayer war.

Choose from 16 different mechanoids, each has its own special abilities and advantages, including Extreme Speed, High Damage Lasers, Missiles and more. The single player Arcade mode boasts a 100 level campaign that can be played with five levels of difficulty. Rather take on the opponents with friends? “War World” multiplayer offers four unique game-modes: Capture the Flag, Bomb Assault, Death Match and Team Death Match.

Developed by Third Wave Games and published by Ubisoft, “War World” will be available for 800 Microsoft Points worldwide. The game is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.

For more details on “War World” please visit:

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/w/warworldxboxlivearcade/

Gears of War 2 hands-on at E for All Expo

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

GEARS OF WAR 2 FIRST PUBLIC HANDS-ON WITH HORDE MULTIPLAYER AT E FOR ALL EXPO

Be the first to experience the all-new Horde mode in “Gears of War 2” during the E for All Expo, which takes place Oct. 3-5, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. “Gears of War 2” will be available for the public to play at the World Cyber Games booth (#649).

For the first time, the public will be able to get their hands on the brand new cooperative multiplayer mode, Horde, which allows up to five players to work together to fight off waves of invading Locust and strive for the highest team score possible.

“Gears of War 2” launches worldwide on November 7th and is available exclusively on Xbox 360.

For more information about “Gears of War 2,” visit www.GearsofWar.com.

For more information about the E for All Expo, visit www.eforallexpo.com.

Shot Online a swinging success at 2008 GNGWC regional finals

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Winners of the GNGWC Regional Finals for Shot Online will head to Korea to Play in the Grand Championship

San Jose, Calif. (September 30, 2008) – San Jose-based online game publisher, Gamescampus.com (www.gamescampus.com, run by OnNet USA), announced today the official winners of the Shot-Online Challenge at the 2008 Regional GNGWC (Game and Game World Championship) Finals which were recently held in Los Angeles, CA.

The talented winners of the Shot-Online Championship include:

Christopher Rea (in-game character name 8ballxpress) – 1st prize winner

Robert Alexander (in-game character name Slosh) – 2nd prize winner

Cheyne Last (in-game character name cadaviar) – 3rd prize winner

Gamescampus.com will graciously send each of these lucky winners to Korea to tee off against other top gamers on an all-expenses paid trip to compete in the Grand Final Championships. The finals are to be held on November 16, 2008.

The 2008 Tournament marks the 3rd annual GNGWC. A total of six countries have each held local contests with the final global match being held in Korea in November. The final global competition will be hosted by KIPA (Korean Industry Promotion Agency) and sponsored by KT Corporation.

“Shot-Online is the first online game I have ever played. For me it’s all about the interaction with other players that makes the game enjoyable. Making the US Regionals was my goal and I was shocked that I made it and won! It just goes to show you that you should always strive to do your best because you never know when someone is watching,” said first place winner Christopher Rea (aka
“8ballxpress”).

Rea continued, “I’m so excited about going to Korea. I was stationed there in the mid 90′s at Osan Air Base as a mechanic for the Air Force. I love the food, the people, the culture and have always wanted to go back so I am thankful to gamescampus and the GNGWC for helping make that happen. SEE YA IN KOREA!”

“It has been an honor for Shot-Online to once again be involved in the GNGWC and we are so proud of the Shot-Online champions,” said David Chang, executive vice president of marketing and business development at Gamescampus.com. “We look forward to seeing them compete with the best of the best and we wish them the very best of luck.”

For more information about Gamescampus.com or Shot-Online please visit www.gamescampus.com .

For more information on the 2008 GNGWC, please visit official website (http://www.gamengame.com/gngwc/).

GamersGate releases The Guild 2: Venice

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

New York – September 30, 2008 – Today GamersGate announced the digital release of the stand-alone expansion to the historical strategy game The Guild 2, from publisher Dreamcatcher Interactive.

The Guild 2: Venice will show the fascinating ambience of Venice Including its small sidestreets, gondolieres and the mystical carnival, all of which promise many hours of gaming fun. Live your life in The Guild 2: Venice the way the medieval population did, by having a family, earning money and enjoying the romance of Venice. Who knows. Maybe you will meet the infamous Casanova!

The Guild 2: Venice has an SRP of $29.99 is now available from GamersGate under the following link:
http://www.gamersgate.com/index.php?page=product&what=view&sku=DD-GUILD2V

Princess Debut for DS available

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Natsume’s Brand New IP Allows Girls To Experience the World of a Princess

Burlingame, Calif., September 30, 2008 – Natsume, a worldwide developer and publisher of family-oriented video games, announced today that Princess Debut for the Nintendo DS has officially shipped to retail for an MSRP of $29.99. Princess Debut continues Natsume’s commitment to publishing family-friendly interactive entertainment. Perfect for girls of all ages and skill levels, the rhythm and adventure title offers girls the chance to step into an enchanting world where they are the princess of a magical kingdom.

“Parents looking for an age-appropriate video game either right now or as a holiday gift this year need to look no farther than the DS section of their local video game store,” said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. “Princess Debut is the perfect addition to any family’s library of Nintendo DS titles. The game has a wonderful story, fun characters, and some of the most beautiful and fluid dancing ever seen in any game.”

In the game, players find themselves in a fantasy world where they have 30 days to get ready for the big ball; they’ll have to master their dance moves and win over one of the six handsome princes to be their partner. They’ll meet and woo the princes through the game’s large, branching storyline. Once the player convinces a prince to be their dancing partner, it’s time to go out on the dance floor! By utilizing the Touch Screen, players guide their character gracefully across the dance floor while matching their partner’s rhythm. All of the dances in the game are taken from motion-captured professional dancers, so the game is just as impressive to watch as it is fun to play.

Princess Debut offers four modes of play including Story, Ballroom, Practice, and Movie. With 20 outfits to find, 14 unique endings to experience, and 18 different kinds of music and dance styles to choose from (including Waltz, Latin Dance, Tango, Ballroom, and much more), there’s no shortage of things to see and do!

Princess Debut is the perfect holiday gift for any girl who has always dreamed of becoming a princess and finding her own Prince Charming! Princess Debut is now available exclusively for the Nintendo DS.

Princess Debut is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB).

For more information on Princess Debut, please visit www.natsume.com.

Tales of Pirates: New Maze System in 2.0

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Tales of Pirates (http://top.igg.com) will be launching a brand new maze system in the coming v.2.0. Following the three main mystical mazes Forsaken City, Dark Swamp, and Demonic World, it will be another stirring place for players to explore in game. Today we will give you a brief preview of it.

The new maze system, Celtic Heartland, is connected with the legendary conflicts between good and the evil. It contains 2 maps which are controlled by the two forces. If seen from above, the 2 mazes seem to have a serious face (Bright Maze) and a sinister-smiling face (Dark Maze). Here is a more clear view of the new maze from far above:

The Bright Maze players can only enter in daytime and the Dark Maze, can only be accessed at night. Also they have totally different terrain, vegetation and architecture. Each of the 2 mazes has 2 boundaries. Players accessing them should be Level 90+.

Bright Maze

The maze originated from the good aspects of its protector’s heart, which is influenced by the double gods known as the Bright Maze. It is not a PK map, on the contrary, challengers here should coordinate well, because the monsters are very hard to defeat.

Ways to enter: The 1st boundary can be accessed at the NPC Njorth Ville, and the 2nd boundary through the portal is at the 1st boundary.

BOSS: Firm Protector (1st boundary), Fury Cara (2nd boundary)

Dark Maze

The maze originated from the evil aspects in the protector’s heart which was influenced by the Morgoth known as Dark Maze. This maze allows PK. Players should guard against attacks from the other players while being confronted with the evil creatures. In this maze, players are required to transport a batch of goods, if they successfully deliver the goods to their final destination, they will obtain fabulous rewards. If they are killed by others along the way, they will get nothing, and could even be punished. On the other side the looter will obtain big bonuses, so players should be very careful of nearby players when escorting the goods.

Ways to enter: The 1st boundary can be accessed at the NPC Njorth Ville, and the 2nd boundary through the portal at the 1st boundary.

BOSS: Distorted Protector (1st boundary), Vicious Melkor (2nd boundary)

For more details about v.2.0 of Tales of Pirates, please visit our official website: http://top.igg.com .