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Nyko Technologies today announced it won a “Best of CES” award for its Wand wireless controller for the Nintendo Wii in the Gaming category. This marks the second year in a row that a Nyko Technologies product has taken home the award. Produced and judged by editors from CNET (www.cnet.com), the winners of the “Best of CES” awards were announced Saturday, January 10, at the 2009 International CES in Las Vegas.

Selected by CNET’s unbiased expert editors, winners are recognized as having the hottest products in their respective technology categories for their unmatched innovation and creativity, and their ability to excite consumers and help them explore a world gone digital. CNET editors reviewed hundreds of entries, as well as scoured the 2009 International CES show floor for products to consider for the prestigious award.

The ten categories include car tech; cell phones and smart phones; computers and hardware; digital photo and video; gaming; GPS; home audio; home video; MP3 and portable video players; and televisions. A video of the winners and finalists showcasing their technologies can be found at http://www.cnet.com/ces .

The Wand is the world’s most advanced alternative to the Wii Remote, containing Nyko’s all-new Trans-Port technology which enables control and vibration feedback to be electrically replicated on a compatible attachment accessory, providing for a richer gaming experience and accurate digital input response. Current attachments made for the Wii Remote use a series of mechanical systems to access buttons on the controller and cannot provide vibration feedback. The Wand aims to change this with Trans-Port technology by enabling compatible accessories to digitally access key button commands. Nyko expects to ship the Wand to select retail stores nationwide in April 2009.

“We’re very proud of winning this year’s Best of CES in the Gaming category with the Wand and pleased with the warm welcome it has received with its debut,” said Chris Arbogast, director of marketing at Nyko Technologies. “Nyko constantly strives to provide new products of significant value to consumers that will enhance the video game playing experience and recognition of the Wand for Best in Gaming is a testament to these continued efforts.”

“Each year at the show, CNET editors scour the show floor to determine the top technologies that will set the trends for the coming year,” said Scott Ard, vice president of content at CNET. “Chosen from hundreds of products at the 2009 International CES, the Wand demonstrates the innovation and creativity to be awarded our “Best of CES” award within the video game industry.”

Hard-rocking Southern band Black Stone Cherry will be on Xbox LIVE January 12 to play members in Call of Duty: World at War. If you’re an Xbox LIVE Gold member, and you want a chance to play with Black Stone Cherry, send a friend request to the Gamertag “BlackStone GWF” and be online half an hour before (5:00 p.m.) the Game with Fame session starts on Monday, January 12, 5:30 p.m. EST.

The band plays hard-edged Southern-fried rock and roll, and has released two albums to date. Their first self-titled debut came out in 2006, and the new album, Folklore and Superstition, launched earlier this year. Black Stone Cherry consists of Chris Robertson (vocals, guitar), John Fred Young (drums), Jon Lawhon (bass), and Ben Wells (guitar). If you get a chance to play with Black Stone Cherry, Xbox wants to hear about it! Send an e-mail to xlmail@microsoft.com with the subject: “GWF – Black Stone Cherry.” Be sure to include your Gamertag and hometown.

Game with Fame featuring Black Stone Cherry
Who: Black Stone Cherry
Date: Monday, January 12, 2009
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. EST (2:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. PST)
Game: Call of Duty: World at War
Gamertags: BlackStone GWF (space between BlackStone and GWF)
Link: http://www.xbox.com/gwfblackstone
Xbox Emerging Artist: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/marketplace/emergingartists/2008/blackstonecherry/default.htm

Atari announced today that the highly anticipated Ghostbusters: The Video Game is set to release across North America on June 16, 2009 and later in the same week for other worldwide releases. Working closely with Sony Pictures Consumer Products and acclaimed development studios Terminal Reality and RedFly, Atari will bring this completely all-new chapter of the blockbuster Ghostbusters saga to advanced gaming platforms coinciding with the 25th anniversary celebration of the film’s original theatrical release. Ghostbusters: The Video Game, based on the smash hit motion picture franchise, is penned by original Ghostbusters writers and stars Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd and reunites many of the original cast members to recapture the unique blend of humor and fright that established Ghostbusters as a pop culture sensation. In addition, the game will also launch Tuesday, June 16, 2009 with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s worldwide debut of the original motional picture on Blu-ray Disc.

When Manhattan is once again overrun by ghosts and other supernatural creatures, players will take on the role of a new recruit joining the famous Ghostbusters team. Developed by acclaimed studio Terminal Reality, Ghostbusters: The Video Game will make its debut on the PS3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC. The PS2 computer entertainment system version and the Wii version are being developed by Red Fly Studios, and the Nintendo DS version, in which the player takes the role of one of the Ghostbusters themselves, is developed by Zen Studios. The PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PC versions of the game are developed using Terminal Reality’s phenomenal proprietary Infernal Engine technology.

In addition to Aykroyd and Ramis, original Ghostbusters Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson lend their voices and in-game likenesses to the original story set two years after Ghostbusters II, with Manhattan once again overrun by ghosts and supernatural forces. The player joins up as a new recruit with the original team, testing a variety of unique equipment and gadgets, to track, wrangle and trap this wide range of awe-inspiring phantasms in an all new funny and frightening battle to save New York City from its latest paranormal plague.

Atari will release Ghostbusters: The Video Game for the PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, Games For Windows, Wii and Nintendo DS. The launch will also leverage Atari’s worldwide distribution network to maximize the presence of Ghostbusters: The Video Game around the globe as Sony marks the film’s upcoming 25th anniversary. For more information on Atari’s entire line up visit www.atari.com.

Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II combined to gross over $500 million world-wide at the box office. The film spawned some of the most memorable comedic catch-phrases and scenes in motion picture history. To further celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary milestone this year, Sony Pictures Consumer Products has licensed the property for several new commemorative products including: toys, t-shirts, comic books, prop replicas, and a theme park attraction. In addition, the original Ghostbusters car (Ecto-1) has been fully restored with plans for special promotional appearances throughout the US and additional replicas touring across Europe. The Blu-ray Disc release of Ghostbusters will see unsurpassed picture and audio quality and advanced new bonus features including Slimer Mode, a picture-in-picture graphical viewing experience, a featurette on the refurbishing of Ecto-1, and more.

Harmonix and MTV Games announced today that the inimitable singer-songwriter and producer Lenny Kravitz will bring four of his greatest hits to the Rock® Band Music Store of downloadable content. The multi-talented Kravitz has sold more than 30 million albums and won four consecutive Grammy awards for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance 1999-2002, setting a record for most wins in a single category. Kravitz’ classic rock star style and one-of-a-kind, smooth sound that blends the best of soul, rock and funk have left many to classify him as one of the most regarded rock musicians of his time.

The Rock Band “Lenny Kravitz Pack 01″ includes three tracks from his 1989 album Let Love Rule including the title track as well as “Freedom Train” and “Mr. Cab Driver.” The pack also includes the title track from his 1993 album Are You Gonna Go My Way, which has been deemed one of Kravitz’ most successful singles.

This week’s addition to the Rock Band Music Store also includes two singles from Harmonix bands including heavy metal band Megasus and the lyrical stylings of Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives. Megasus makes its first Rock Band appearance with the single, “Megasus,” and Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives delivers its second track to the Rock Band music library with its song “Entangled”. The band’s hit “I Get By” was featured on the original Rock Band soundtrack.

Each track will be available starting January 13, 2009 for Xbox 360 and January 15, 2009 for PS3. The “Lenny Kravitz Pack 01″ will be available for $6.99 (560 Microsoft Points) or $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) for each track. Megasus and Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives tracks will be available for $.99 (80 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) each.

Release Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 (Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360)
Thursday, January 15, 2009 (PlayStation®Store)

Tracks: (Click on track to view music video)
Lenny Kravitz “Are You Gonna Go My Way”
Lenny Kravitz “Freedom Train”
Lenny Kravitz “Let Love Rule”
Lenny Kravitz “Mr. Cab Driver”
Megasus “Megasus”
Honest Bob and the
Factory-to-Dealer Incentives “Entangled”

Price: $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for Lenny Kravitz tracks
$6.99 (560 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Lenny Kravitz Pack 01″
$.99 (80 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) each for the Megasus and Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives tracks

Locations: Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Network

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change **