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GoNintendo.com and Ustream.tv are working together to create a live-stream charity event, with all proceeds being given to the Child’s Play organization. This event will take place on November 22nd, at 8 A.M. EST. The event will last 8 hours.

PRlog (Press Release) – Nov 03, 2008 –Hampton, New Jersey – Ustream.TV has teamed up with GoNintendo.com to put together the ‘Best of NES’ live-stream charity event, an 8-hour live-stream with all charity proceeds being donated to the Child’s Play organization. Coming out of New Jersey, the GoNintendo.com podcast crew (and others) will be sitting down to play through some of the best games that the NES library has to offer. This old-school event will be taking place on November 22nd, and will kick-off at 8 A.M. EST. The live-stream video, as well as the methods for donation will all be available on GoNintendo.com.

“We’re thrilled to partner with GoNintendo to help raise funds for children’s hospitals across the U.S.,” said John Ham, CEO and Founder of Ustream. “Our reliable live video streaming platform will allow thousands of people across the world to participate in this unique event.”

“It’s our hope that we can bring some old-school fun to gamers around the world, all while viewers help to donate to a very important cause,” said Kevin Cassidy, Editor-in-Chief of GoNintendo.com. It’s an honor to work with Ustream.TV on this event, and together, we should be able to provide the best event coverage possible.”

Expect to see some of your favorite classic Nintendo Entertainment System games, such as entries from the Castlevania series, Punch-Out!!, Super Mario Bros., and so much more. The GoNintendo.com team will be playing through these games, talking to viewers live, interacting with viewers in the GoNintendo.com Chat Room, and they might even give away a prize or two! All of this fun will be captured in a picture-in-picture format, and backed by the quality service that Ustream.TV provides.

GoNintendo.com will be donating $300 to the Child’s Play organization, and the goal is to reach $1,000 total by the end of the 8-hour event. Once again, visit GoNintendo.com on November 22nd at 8 A.M. EST to check out the event. Donation buttons, as well as live donation coverage will be displayed alongside the video feed. GoNintendo.com and Ustream.TV are hoping that you’ll open your wallets, and donate to the Child’s Play organization. It’s a wonderful foundation, fighting for a much-needed cause.

Once again, please make sure to visit GoNintendo.com to stay up-to-date on this upcoming event.

MALIBU, Calif. – Nov. 3, 2008 – Abandon Interactive Entertainment today released new images unveiling the main characters and several environments in their upcoming online creature building and battling game, Freaky Creatures. Hitting shelves in early 2009, Freaky Creatures combines the best of collectible action figures, trading card games, MMOs and virtual worlds.

To enter the Freaky Creatures universe, players purchase a starter pack that includes the MMO game on a reusable USB flash drive, bundled with two collectible action figures and a random assortment of 50 parts, 20 powers and four objects that can be placed into the creatures’ lair. Players can then take their action figures online and build their own ultimate, customizable creatures and battle them against friends.

The new images show various environments where creatures will live and interact in the robust online world. The screenshots also reveal the main characters in the series, and pair them with their Freaky Creatures within the game.

Freaky Creatures starter packs will be available in early 2009 for $19.99. To learn more information about the Freaky Creatures universe, or to sign up for a chance to play in beta, please visit http://www.freakycreatures.com.

Mytopia Now Available on Windows Mobile as Featured Download for Holiday Season

SAN FRANCISCO – November 3, 2008 – Mytopia Inc., an innovator in cross-platform technology, today announced that its million-strong game community and solid line-up of games for everyone are now available on Windows Mobile devices. Mytopia is the featured download this holiday season on the official Windows Mobile homepage, giving users access to eight free games that work cross-platform between the mobile device, the Mytopia site on the web, and the most popular social networking site including Facebook, MySpace and others.

“Mytopia’s eight games are the first example of real-time, cross-platform content working between mobile devices and social networks and the fact that our games can be played against millions of people, makes the gaming experience truly interesting,” said Guy Ben-Artzi, Founder of Mytopia Inc. “We’re seeing fantastic growth of our user community and the Windows Mobile community gives us several million additional potential players of our anytime, anywhere gaming environment.”

At Mytopia.com, you can play the games you love, with the people you like, across different networks like Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, hi5 and Friendster. Challenge a buddy to a game of Chess or Poker, join a chatty Bingo room or play Sudoku with people from around the world. The better you play, the more experience points you gain and the higher titles you achieve for your character. As you improve your rank, you can enter new areas in the community and unlock more features. Earn Silver and Gold Nuggets, the Mytopian currency, and cash out your winnings for virtual and real prizes in the Shop.

Mytopia recently announced the official launch of RUGS™ (the Real-time Universal Gaming System), a patent-pending, proprietary framework for rapid rich media creation across the Web, mobile and Smartphone landscapes at the TechCrunch50 conference in San Francisco. RUGS™ allows developers to code rich, connected applications one time, and simultaneously deploy native versions to every supported platform, including iPhone, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, Symbian, Android, Palm and J2ME devices, as well as popular web platforms like Facebook’s F8 and Google’s Open Social. Content created on RUGS harnesses the unique capabilities of each platform, while running from a singular code base. Mytopia is leveraging RUGS™ to build the first cross-platform gaming community that allows users to play classic games together in real-time from any device or network.

Officially licensed themed table is the latest expansion for the best selling Xbox LIVE Arcade pinball game

Budapest, Hungary –November 5, 2008 – ZEN Studios, a videogame developer and digital publisher known for its innovative arcade, strategy and action games, announced today it is working with Capcom® to release an officially licensed Street Fighter™ table for Pinball FX in celebration of the soon to be released Super Street Fighter™ II Turbo HD Remix. Pinball FX is the latest in a wide selection of pinball tables for one of the best selling titles on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The table will launch on Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 on November 12th, 2008.

“It is so great to bring this awesome intellectual property of Capcom’s over to Pinball FX. I’ve long been a fan of the Street Fighter franchise and felt they made the best fighting games regardless of platforms,” said Zsolt Kigyossy, managing director of ZEN Studios. “This is our fourth expansion table for Pinball FX, and we will continue to work hard to give our fans the best possible pinball game with loads of tables and variety.”

“Capcom is pleased to team up with ZEN Studios to kick off our celebration of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix immanent release,” said Christian Svensson, VP of Strategic Planning and Business Development at Capcom Entertainment Inc. “Capcom aims to be one of the top providers of digitally delivered game content in the industry and teaming up with ZEN Studios adds an entirely new dimension to our portfolio of competitive titles.”

With this new table, the legendary Street Fighter franchise comes alive in an all-new Pinball FX experience. Street Fighter™ II Pinball FX comes loaded with the characters that revolutionized the fighting genre and created a global legacy like no other. Experience the arcade thrills of traditional pinball with enhanced gameplay, unparalleled graphical detail and innovative features not found in any other pinball game, such as:

• Enter the World Warrior Championship fighting as Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, and Guile and battle against Sagat, Evil Ryu, Vega, and Balrog, then win the final round of the championship against M. Bison!
• Discover special combo shots, animated punches, kicks and special moves as you fight against opponents using ramps and a variety of orbit shots.
• Multiple in-game challenges featuring objects, art and memorable items from Street Fighter™ II.
• Table soundtrack, sound effects and voices from the original Street Fighter II.
• Brand new hot-seat multiplayer.

For more information about Capcom or the Street Fighter franchise, please visit www.capcom.com. For more information about ZEN Studios or Pinball FX, please visit www.zenstudios.com.

The Online Action-RPG Set in an Original Fantasy Universe Offers a Unique Warrior Spirit System, Intense Session-Based Missions, Extensive Customization and More

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., (November 5, 2008) – True Games Interactive, an international publisher of multi-player online games, has revealed the first key features and game details for its highly anticipated Online action MMORPG, Warrior Epic (www.warriorepic.com). Developed by Austin-based studio Possibility Space, the game has already developed a growing community since the developer launched the Warrior Epic website earlier this year. With the new publishing partnership, True Games Interactive is now sharing new features, screen shots and game details as it gears up for the game’s spring 2009 launch.

Warrior Epic is an online, action role-playing game set in an original fantasy universe. In the game, players will assume command of a Warrior Hall from which they manage their characters’ adventures. They can recruit from a wide array of Warrior Classes, each with its own style of play. The Classes and the Hall itself can be upgraded visually as well as functionally. Players adventure together in multiplayer campaigns, adventure mode, solo quests and PVP.

One of the most unique aspects of Warrior Epic is that death does not mean the end of a warrior. Instead, it opens totally new and strategic options for players. The game’s unique Warrior Spirits System enables fallen warriors to not only be revived at any time at their hall, but also to be transformed into Spirits that can be bound to weapons to increase and open weapon abilities and skills, or they can be called out to inflict massive damage depending on player needs.

“Possibility Space and True Games are doing an incredible job building the Warrior Epic universe,” said Jeff Lujan, Founder and Chairman of True Games Interactive. “The game creates this totally new genre of session-based MMO’s with incredibly innovative gameplay features that have been fine-tuned and are sure to offer global appeal. Gage Galinger and Feng Zhu, the founders of Possibility Space, are highly talented video game veterans,”

Lujan continued; “their game design and creative talent combined with the amazing technical and publishing background of our team at True Games makes for the perfect development relationship.”

Unlike most MMO’s today, Warrior Epic will offer players a satisfying online experience even if they have only a few hours a week to play. One of the ways Warrior Epic achieves this is by putting a heavy emphasis on focused, session-based missions. These 20-30 minute sessions allow a player to make significant progress in regards to leveling their Warrior, gaining loot, and accomplishing more in a much shorter timeframe than other existing games.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/h8Ko2BX-OuI] 

For additional details on Warrior Epic and for continuous updates on the game, please visit: www.warriorepic.com.

The new v1.030 update adds even more gameplay enhancements and historical accuracy to this American Civil War grand strategy hit.

Staten Island, NY, November 4th, 2008 – Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and 2by3 Games (www.2by3games.com) are proud to announce the release of the v1.030 update for Gary Grigsby’s War Between the States. The v1.030 update focuses primarily on gameplay changes that improve historical realism in addition to bug fixes and improvements to computer-controlled production.

Specifically, historical realism is enhanced through adjustments to how the battle for Kentucky unfolds, changes to artillery and ironclad production, and tweaks to Union fleet positions at the outset of the war to restrict some early Gulf invasion strategies. Furthermore, the update brings a slight change in political point calculation to encourage more action in the Eastern theater by awarding extra points to Union players for attacking towards Richmond. Conversely, Confederate players will be awarded more political points for battle victories in Northern territories to encourage Confederate aggressiveness.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “This update improves on the near-perfect blend of historical accuracy and challenging gameplay in War Between the States to further enhance an already outstanding system. The changes coming with the v1.030 release don’t try to options away from players but provide incentives for the most historically plausible strategies.”

Taking gamers back to the start of the American Civil War, Gary Grigsby’s War Between the States allows players to experience the trials and tribulations of the role of commander-in-chief for either side. Historically accurate, detailed and finely balanced for realistic gameplay, War Between the States is also easy to play and does not take months to finish.

Promote and cultivate talented young colonels or brigadiers to build Corps and Army commanders that will help you fight and manage the war effort from battles to training of recruits with the utmost efficiency and success. An innovative multi-faceted rank promotion system allows leaders to gain in abilities and power based on their successes, while also simulating the historical progression of leaders during the war. Each decision you make must be weighed carefully, as promoting and demoting leaders, entering neutral states, raising troops and many other actions cost you the political capital that will determine your ability to achieve victory.

Get more information on Gary Grigsby’s War Between the States from its official product page. This update is comprehensive (it will update any previous version) and will bring the game to version 1.030.

Dallas, Texas, November 3, 2008 - Soldak Entertainment today announced the availability of Kivi’s Underworld for Windows and Macs.
Kivi’s Underworld can be purchased at:
http://www.soldak.com/Kivis-Underworld/Buy.html

Kivi’s Underworld demo can be download from:
http://www.soldak.com/Kivis-Underworld/Demo.html

Kivi’s Underworld is a casual, hack and slash game. Explore the mysterious underworld as a mighty Warrior battling opponents toe to toe, rain down fire on your enemies with the dangerous Fire Mage, sneak disguised with stealth to confound your foes as a Scout, unleash the fury of the Berserker, or adventure with any of the other numerous playable characters.

It all starts after a mining expedition, led by Kivi (a young lumen warrior), ventured into unknown territory, and opened a pathway to a deadly race. Dark elves decimated them. Kivi is the lone survivor, yet no one believes him about the new threat, since dark elves are just a myth. Kivi was there; he saw. The dark elves are real and his people are in great danger. Reluctantly, Kivi realizes that it is up to him.

Playing as Kivi or any of his companions, you leave the safety of the protected, underground cities to rebuild the lost city of Defiance, recruit more lumen to your cause, and defeat this growing dark elf threat, before they destroy your homeland and all of your kind. The fate of the lumen is in your hands. Can you save the lumen people?

Although very easy to learn, mastering Kivi’s Underworld is a different matter. With a fast pace, over twenty playable characters, tons of powerups, many monsters using unique tactics and skills, numerous deadly traps, and multiple difficulty levels, even an expert player will be challenged.

You can go to http://www.soldak.com/
for more information about Kivi’s Underworld and Soldak Entertainment.

The Kivi’s Underworld demo is also available from the following
mirrors:

gamershell
Windows -http://www.gamershell.com/download_35288.shtml

Mac -http://www.gamershell.com/download_35290.shtml

AtomicGamer
Windows - http://www.atomicgamer.com/file.php?id=73015

Mac - http://www.atomicgamer.com/file.php?id=73014

WorthPlaying
Windows -http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=57206

FilePlanet
Windows -
http://www.fileplanet.com/193920/190000/fileinfo/Kivi‘s-Underworld-Demo
<http://www.fileplanet.com/193920/190000/fileinfo/Kivi>

GameZone
Windows & Mac -http://downloads.gamezone.com/demos/d24761.htm

AusGamers
Windows -http://www.ausgamers.com/files/details/html/39978

Mac -http://www.ausgamers.com/files/details/html/39979

StrategyInformer
Windows -
http://www.strategyinformer.com/pc/kivisunderworld/demo/27509.html

Free-to-Play Web MMORPG Designed for Bite-Sized Play Sessions

November 4, 2008 (Austin, TX) – Austin, TX-based developer Tandem Games has announced the launch of Domain of Heroes, a new free-to-play web MMORPG available now at www.DomainOfHeroes.com. Domain of Heroes requires only a browser to play – no installs, downloads, or plug-ins are needed – and is designed to be played “anywhere and at anytime,” perfect for gaming at work, at school, or from home.

Simple enough to play while working, yet deep and story-driven enough to captivate the most hardcore RPG fans, Domain of Heroes appeals to a broad spectrum of gamers. Particularly creative players can even help to shape the future of the game.

“We have a program called Community Heroes where the community proposes ideas on the forums and those get filtered by other players and then added to the game quickly,” said Aaron Murray, Technical Director and co-founder of Tandem Games. “Over half of the game has come directly from ideas from the Beta players, and the next big updates are ideas from the community as well.”

Players can create characters from 30 races and 27 classes, and master over 150 skills as they explore the massive realm of Dohria. Domain of Heroes features millions of items to discover, with solo quests and player vs. player battles available at the click of a mouse. Start a guild, gamble for riches, enjoy mini-games, and experience an epic storyline at your own pace.

Domain of Heroes is now open to the public and works with Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Opera browsers. Create your hero and join thousands of players for free today at www.DomainOfHeroes.com.

TURBINE RELEASES PRISONERS OF PROPHECY FOR DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE®: STORMREACH®

Turbine, Inc. today announced the launch of the latest update for players of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE®: Stormreach® (DDO), Prisoners of Prophecy. This major update to DDO delivers a completely upgraded experience for new players, improves solo play with the introduction of Hirelings, upgrades the DDO engine to support DX-10 graphics technology, and adds more monsters, spells, magic items, and challenging dungeons. Prisoners of Prophecy continues Turbine’s commitment to delivering fun, engaging and exciting updates for players in its online worlds. This latest update provides a wealth of new features and experiences for players including:

Enhanced New Player Experience: To support a more story-based and friendly introduction to the game and make DDO more accessible to players unfamiliar with the 3.5 Edition rules-set, we have created a completely new starter experience. Players will now have the option to create well-built characters based on their play style without needing to assign any stat or skill points, or select any feats or spells. Subsequent characters created on the account will have the option to skip the tutorial, and will gain relevant XP and rewards as if they had completed it.

Introducing Hirelings: Hirelings is a huge new system designed to improve the solo play experience in DDO by letting players contract henchmen to help them in their adventures. Hirelings are player controlled NPC combatants with a given class, level and personality that can be contracted to aid a player in the dungeons of Stormreach. Players can contract with one Hireling of their level or lower for a few hours at a time, or until the adventure they are playing is complete. This massive new system will be introduced to players through a series of live in-game events after the launch of Prisoners of Prophecy.
DX-10 Engine Upgrade: Players can now experience Stormreach like never before with major improvements to DDO’s graphics engine, including DX-10 support for upgraded shaders for water, particle effects and lighting for terrain.

More D&D®!: A new wilderness area and several high-level dungeons await players who dare to meet the challenge of new monsters including Kobold Archmages, Frost Giants and a White Dragon.

For the latest information on Dungeons & Dragons Online®: Stormreach®, please visit http://www.ddo.com.

Get an insider’s look into the upcoming strategy RPG’s limited edition art book, only available via pre-orderNovember 5, 2008
Fans who pre-order the upcoming strategy RPG Luminous Arc 2 for Nintendo DS^TM can pick up Luminous Art, the official Luminous Arc 2 art book, upon the game’s release on November 18 (at select retailers, while supplies last).

Luminous Art is a 7″ by 10″, 60-page, full color art book featuring designs and illustrations from both Luminous Arc games. Fan favorites Lucia, Vanessa, and others from the original Luminous Arc are featured alongside the new cast from Luminous Arc 2, including Roland, Fatima, and Josie. Detailed character profiles filled to the brim with finished drawings, early sketches, and concept art compliment the compositions and ensemble paintings that round out the substantial content.

Famed character designer Kaito Shibano offers thoughts and comments regarding his inspiration for many of his designs, often lending behind the scenes insight into the creation of many of the games’ more popular characters. Presented on premium quality matte paper, the various illustrations and designed included in Luminous Art are the perfect extra for fans of the series and can make a great gift for fans of beautiful anime-style art.

Luminous Art is only available as a pre-order bonus and only at participating retailers. Luminous Arc 2 is one of three titles featured in the “Atlus Spoils” promotion, along with Eternal Poison and Persona 4 for PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. Each game includes a soundtrack CD free-with-purchase, and each game offers a deluxe full-color art book exclusively with pre-orders. Guarantee yourself a copy of this exclusive bonus item and pre-order today!

Luminous Arc 2, a strategy RPG for Nintendo DS^TM, is currently scheduled for release on November 18, 2008 with an MSRP of $39.99.