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Paradox Interactive invites you to leave the safety of your hiding place and enter the horror odyssey of Penumbra Collection. The new horror game pack announced today includes the critically acclaimed games Penumbra: Overture and Penumbra: Black Plague together with the puzzle oriented expansion pack Requiem. The horror collection is planned for a release in Q1, 2009.

”Our intent with the Penumbra series has always been to focus on fear. We set out to create an experience where the gamer is vulnerable with a sense of discomfort beyond what games in the horror genre typically deliver,” said Thomas Grip, Lead Programmer/Co-founder of Frictional Games.

The critically acclaimed survival horror series Penumbra has become a cult classic. The game’s emphasis on challenging problem solving and survival, offers players an unparalleled psychological thrill. Played from a first person perspective and powered by a 3D engine utilizing cutting edge technology, Penumbra is a substantial advancement of the horror genre.

“The horror experience is enhanced by the unique physics system that allows the gamer to interact with nearly every object, which gives a vivid and intense feeling of involvement,” said Sound Director / Co-founder of Frictional Games, Jens Nilsson.

Penumbra Collection features:
• Cutting-edge game engine featuring modern 3D and physics technologies
• Physics system allowing for true environmental interaction and direct manipulation of objects
• Detailed and highly interactive environments
• Advanced AI, enabling enemies to cooperate and use the environment
• An environmental audio system, to heighten the senses
• Wide array of puzzle challenges
• An immersive and thought provoking story line
Prepare yourself to be taken on an intense journey filled with psychological horror and unspeakable things, hiding deep in the darkness in Penumbra Collection.

Today, the Angels Online (http://ao.igg.com) team from IGG has been kind enough to take some time to give a brief introduction about the new city “Palm Base”.

Palm Base Overview 
Located in the middle of the southern part of Puqi Island, it is a new base surrounded by oceans and islands. Coco trees are lush and green here. The blue coastline extends to the boundary of Puqi Island. Some shells are scattered along the beach and shine in the warm sunlight. They look like stars in the sky. Players can also find some giant crabs and Color Whelks near the coast.

Built by excellent scientists from the Iron Castle, the base is outstanding because of its defense and attack abilities. It is divided into 5 parts, including four special parts for the four factions around the base and a part for commerce and sightseeing in the middle. The northern area for the Shadow faction is evil and imposing. The eastern one for the Steel faction is impressive due to its defensive abilities and high-tech feel. The southern one for the Breeze faction flourishes with a sense of vitality everywhere. Respectable knights go the rounds in the western area for the Aurora faction.

In the middle of the base, there are four faction totems and officers from the Holy Battlefield. Many Angels come from a great distances to gather here and prepare for their underwater exploration.

As one of the most important maps in the new expansion, Palm Base is a transfer station which symbolizes the harmonious blend of the four factions. Players can find a Trainer, Repairman, Pet Master, Healing Seller and other NPCs in the base. What’s more, players can accept primary quests from their factions’ NPCs.

For more information about AO visit
http://ao.igg.com/act/atlantis/detail.php?acid=109

In the midst of the elections coming up, several Aeria titles will be dealing out items with presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain attached to them. The items will be sold until Nov. 4 and the presidential candidate item that has sold the most will determine the virtual president.

Players can log on to Last Chaos and find special deals titled the “Barack Obama Presidential Pack” or “John McCain Presidential Pack,” that contains numerous items. The best selling pack will determine the virtual president.

So far in Last Chaos, the sales of the two packs are in a close race, with Obama .1 percent ahead of McCain.

This event will allow players a fun way to determine who may be the next United States president. The prediction of the virtual president will be chosen by players from all over the world.

For more information, visit http://lastchaos.aeriagames.com/node/2484.

“A parent can reward a child with days of entertainment content for the price of a pack of gum… and at the same time someone who regularly meets up with their friends in Wizard101 may elect to get full access up front, and save by subscribing,” said KingsIsle Entertainment CEO Elie Akilian.

Designed to fill the void between online play sites for the very young and MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) games with mature adult interaction, Wizard101 puts players in the fantasy role of a wizard apprentice at the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts. The game’s colorful creative look, family-friendly features and immersive game play have made the site a popular online destination since launch in September. Players can choose to play in three economic formats:
1. At the basic level, Wizard101 is free-to-play for as long as players choose.

2. Subscriptions provide advanced gameplay access for a monthly fee. Prices start at $6.95 per account per month for multiple accounts on the family plan, or $9.95 per month for the regular subscription. All items will be available to subscribers via in-game gold or item drops.

3. The micropayment system now allows individual streets or “zones” to be unlocked for as little as $1.00. Players purchase packages of in-game currency called Crowns to buy zones or items in the game. A volume discount is available based on the number of Crowns purchased.

Wizard101 features spell-casting adventure and card style game play. The game’s family-friendly safety features include a collaborative play style, a chat system with many options and a character name selector. The game contains no blood, and characters don’t die if they are defeated in a duel of spells-they simply go to a safe area in the game to regain health. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board gave Wizard101 a rating of E10+.

Hudson Entertainment Announces The Release of Alien Crush Returns for Wii

It’s Back and It’s Better Than Ever, Now with Online Multiplayer!

HUDSON ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES
THE RELEASE OF ALIEN CRUSH RETURNS FOR Wii

It’s Back and It’s Better Than Ever, Now with Online Multiplayer!

REDWOOD CITY, CA – November 3, 2008 – Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm of HUDSON SOFT, today announced that it has officially launched Alien Crush Returns, available for digital download on WiiWare™ for Wii™. Alien Crush Returns is a sci-fi pinball game based on the classic TurboGrafx-16 series from Hudson Entertainment.

The timeless brand is reborn on WiiWare with an entirely new sci-fi take on pinball including bonus stages and power-ups. Players never know what kind of bizarre creatures will appear in the next board. In extraordinary pinball fashion, the game offers gameplay spanning two screens, providing players a lot of real estate to rack up points, multipliers and bonuses. The game is played across multiple boards, all of which feature an eerie sci-fi landscape with enemies that try to prevent players from obtaining pinball perfection.

“Alien Crush Returns gives players single player scores to obsess over and multiplayer scores to fight over” said Sabine Duvall, Vice President of Product Development at Hudson Entertainment. “Pinball is about perfection and the pursuit of a high score. The game’s online multiplayer features will not only meet this requirement, but also satisfy the demand of Wii gamers for more online competition.”

This unique sci-fi take on pinball includes enemies, power-ups, bonus stages and hidden surprises. For players who are confident in their alien crushing skills, they can go online to play against friends to see who can get the higher score! Alien Crush Returns is the only pinball game for WiiWare that lets gamers compete head to head online. In addition, the game includes online leaderboards for score-obsessed pinball players.

Alien Crush Returns is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.

For more information on the game, please visit the official website at:
http://www.hudson.co.jp/wii/wiiware/aliencrush/usa/e/

MMO Calendar is happy to announce that MMO Calendar 2009 is now on sale!

With the help of some wonderful MMO developers we have put together our 3rd annual one-of-a-kind calendar featuring autographed artwork from the hottest released and upcoming MMO’s!

MMO Calendar 2009 Includes:

Age of Conan
DC Universe Online
Dofus
Eve Online
EverQuest II
Free Realms
Guild Wars
Pirates of the Burning Sea
RuneScape
The Agency
Warhammer Online
World of Warcraft

Also, as a special thank you to everyone that purchases a calendar this year, we’ve been given a bag full of prizes to give away! Upon placing your order you will be entered to win 1 of 10 prizes for each game… boxed copies, premium accounts, 30-day passes, 60-day passes, closed beta accounts and more!

Keep in mind though… even if you don’t win a prize in one of the drawings you still win!

As always, 100% of the proceeds of the sale of MMO Calendar go directly to the amazing people at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, helping them in the fight for children’s lives. Is there a more noble cause anywhere?

Order yours today at http://www.mmocalendar.com

Liverpool November 3rd 2008 – Thumbstar Games, a new mobile aggregation company, was launched in Liverpool today. With mobile developers looking for an increased value service, Thumbstar not only offer developers a sales solution but also significant PR and Marketing for their titles.

Thumbstar is headed up by Martin Kitney who has over ten years experience in the games and mobile entertainment industry. Having co-designed and sold ‘Airlock’, the first third-party mobile game launched by Orange back in 2001, Kitney has seen the market change dramatically. “The industry is constantly changing and we know the services that we are offering will give developers an excellent route to market whilst gaining exposure for their titles” commented Kitney.

Thumbstar has already signed distribution deals in Europe and Asia, and represents a host of top developers from around the world. Details of these deals will be announced in the near future. Thumbstar’s current line-up of wireless products includes JAVA Games, Applications, Wallpapers and Themes.

The Wonderland Online Team (http://wl.igg.com/main.php) has announced that the Wonderland Online’s 8th Server – Scorpio will be here at the same time as the new version-Fairy’s Whisper.

The new version will be feature the release of the Rebirth System, Mercenary System, Forging System, Fairy Skills, four new civilization maps and much, much more… Surely, players will have a whole new Wonderland experience to look forward too!

For more information, please visit http://wl.igg.com/news/newscontent.php?aid=1325.

“Cryptic has experienced huge growth over the past year and has exciting opportunities ahead of it,” said Bill Roper, Design Director, Cryptic Studios. “The company knows how to choose compelling IPs that have rich histories such as Champions and Star Trek. I’m looking forward to working with the team.”

As a 14-year game industry veteran, Roper has worked directly on numerous top selling titles, including the Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo series. He joined Blizzard Entertainment in 1994 to work in sound, music and voiceover, eventually being appointed as Vice President of Blizzard North and a Director of Blizzard Entertainment where he managed all external projects and coordinated internal development teams. In 2003, Roper co-founded Flagship Studios and Ping0 where he held the role of CEO for five years and oversaw the launch of Hellgate: London and development of Mythos.

Cryptic Studios, headquartered in Los Gatos, is currently in production of two highly anticipated MMO action games, Champions Online and Star Trek® Online. Champions Online, based on the popular Champions™ pen-and-paper RPG and published by 2K Games, will give players the power of total customization for their hero experience while they explore a vast comic book universe.  Set in the year 2409, Star Trek Online will allow players to immerse themselves in the future of the Star Trek universe, exploring strange new worlds, seeking out new life and new civilizations in an ever expanding vast universe.