Gamersnewsbits.com

First Major Site Update of 2009 Lets Gamers Keep Their Game Collection in Order

Warsaw, Poland – January 13 – For months GOG.com (http://www.gog.com) has claimed to be the ultimate destination for digitally distributed DRM-free PC classics, and thanks to Legendo Entertainment, the site finally has the balls to back that up – the pinballs, that is. Pure Pinball^TM 2.0 (http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/pure_pinball_2) – originally released under Iridon Interactive, which is now a label under Legendo Entertainment – has been added to the site’s ever-growing catalogue of classic PC games at the low, low price of $5.99. Pure Pinball 2.0 REDUX offers the most thrilling virtual pinball experience ever, with three unique 3D tables with varying themes (Racing, War and Trains), each with multiple flippers and special game modes. Featuring great visuals and countless hours of entertainment – with all of GOG.com’s features, including no DRM, full compatibility with modern operation systems and cool additional materials – there’s no denying the value of this pinball package.

Bjorn Larsson, CEO Legendo Entertainment, said, “When the game originally came out it had some pretty steep system requirements – now, with the release on GOG.com you can enjoy it in all its beauty. On most computers with all bells and whistles of your graphics card enabled, it looks gorgeous to this day and date.”

But wait, that’s not all! In a multiball-like explosion of news, the GOG.com team has also launched an update to the site that should appeal to the classic-game collectors out there. The cleverly-titled GOG.com Update 1 introduces a virtual game shelf made of fancy virtual wood that will help players keep their GOG.com games collections in order. No dust, no fuss. Other features of GOG.com Update 1 include improved community functionality, a new forum skin and an updated “My E-mails” section to keep track of correspondences with GOG.com team. Anyone with an account at GOG.com can access the new virtual game shelf by visiting their My Account page. And if you haven’t bought any games at GOG.com yet, you can check how cool the two free games look at the virtual shelf.

“Pure Pinball 2.0 REDUX brings all the pinball fun from the arcades to your house, without the smell and sticky floors. Even better, you can pay for the game once and play it till you drop… no more praying for a score match and a free replay,” said Adam Oldakowski, Managing Director of GOG.com. “We’re also excited to roll out the first major update to GOG.com; it introduces a number of improvements our community has been asking for, and the virtual game shelf really gives people a good way to stare proudly at their collections. We’ll be launching a lot of new features this year, so if you haven’t checked the site out yet, come on by!”

Pure Pinball 2.0 (http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/pure_pinball_2) is now available at GOG.com for only $5.99. More news concerning new deals, more new releases and new service features will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

New Game is a Prequel to the Successful Wild West Shooter

Ubisoft has announced that it will publish Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in 2009. Ubisoft is again teaming with Techland to develop Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, a prequel to the action shooter Call of Juarez.

“Call of Juarez was well received by gamers and critics,” said Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ubisoft. “We’re confident this new collaboration with Techland will bring an even bigger and better adventure to fans of shooters and the lawless Wild West.”

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood transports players from a ravaged Civil War-era Georgia to the Aztec ruins of Mexico. In the wildest West ever depicted, players can embody both McCall brothers in an intense Wild West storyline full of greed, lust and lawlessness that takes place during a legendary period of American history.

For more information, please visit www.callofjuarezgame.com.

Leading PC digital distribution platform GamersGate announced today the exclusive rights to sell GTR 2 on www.gamersgate.com.

GTR 2 is the successor to the international award-winning racing simulation GTR accurately represents the challenges of Motorsport racing. The detailed, photo-realistic depiction of cars and beautiful circuits, thanks to the latest graphics technology, and the enhanced driving model will make your adrenaline rise in one of more than one hundred HP-beasts.

Simbin AB finds it very exciting to finally launch their highly ranked game GTR 2 on the digital platform www.gamersgate.com.

Beginners can start with the driving school where they are taught the basics of race driving by a professional instructor. Thanks to dynamic day, night and weather changes and an impressive damage system, the races of the exciting FIA GT series become a thrilling gaming experience.

Premium Video Gaming Equipment Company Plans for Growth with Investment Led by Triangle Peak Partners

ASTRO Gaming, a premium video gaming equipment company, today announced the closing of $3.5 million in Series B venture funding. Led by Triangle Peak Partners, LP, other investors joining the round include Fayez Sarofim & Co., Nixon Watches co-founder Chad DiNenna, three-time NBA All Star and video game enthusiast Gilbert Arenas, as well as parent company ASTRO Studios. ASTRO Gaming expects to complete the round with an additional $1.5 million within the next 90 days. The Series B round will be used to support current product rollouts, additional product development and the introduction of the ASTRO Gaming brand to Europe and Asia.

“ASTRO Gaming is one of the strongest companies developing premium gaming peripherals,” said David Pesikoff of Triangle Peak Partners, LP. “With more and more people of all walks of life playing video games, we think ASTRO’s future is bright.”

Since its launch in early 2008 with the A40 Audio System, ASTRO Gaming has garnered numerous industry accolades and quickly established itself as a major player in the $5 billion peripherals segment of the video games industry. The A40 Audio System is currently the official licensed headset of Major League Gaming. Furthermore, the recently launched Transport Series of gaming gear bags were just selected as the Official Gift Bags for Spike TV’s 2008 Video Game Awards.

“Gaming has taken center stage as today’s entertainment form of choice, and the lifestyle surrounding it is only picking up speed,” said Brett Lovelady, CEO and co-founder of ASTRO Gaming. “ASTRO Gaming is leading the charge with professional-grade products that sit at the epicenter of the gaming lifestyle, offering high performance and style.”

The company has several new products under development and will continue the expansion of its catalog with new product offerings throughout the coming years.

“We launched our initial product line in April last year and had very high expectations,” said Jordan Reiss, co-founder and Vice President of ASTRO Gaming. “Little did we know that we’d surpass those expectations, thanks in no small part to a truly extraordinary holiday run. We’re excited to be entering 2009 with strong momentum and with the backing of a great partner in Triangle Peak Partners.”

New Offering from NDOORS Gains Momentum in 2008

NDOORS Interactive, creators of the strategic turn-based MMORPG,Atlantica Online, is proud to announce that Atlantica has been recognized as one of the best MMORPGs of 2008. Atlantica Online is a game that sends players on a journey around the globe, and this year the title made significant progress in attracting a large and diverse user base in North America while receiving critical acclaim for its quality, accessibility, and entertainment value.

The list of honors for Atlantica recently expanded to include the title of “Best Game” at the Korea Game Awards, hosted by the Game Industries Association on Dec. 16. Kim Tae Gon, the game’s head producer, received commendation as an “Excellent Developer” at the KGA for his work on Atlantica. These awards follow the Golden Plume trophy thatAtlantica took home for “Best Foreign Online Game” at the ChinaJoy Conference in November 2008.

Despite launching in the fourth quarter of 2008, Atlantica Onlinequickly made up for lost time by being nominated as one of the “Best New Games of 2008” by the editors at the genre leading websiteMMORPG.com, visited by over 1 million MMO-playing readers every month.

Atlantica Online’s free-to-play business model was one of the reasons that popular MMO site Ten Ton Hammer bestowed the game with the title of “Best Free-to-Play Game of 2008.” Ten Ton Hammer also cited the fact that Atlantica was “smoother and more fun than anything I had played in a long time,” in their decision to give the game a nearly perfect review score of “4.5/5 Hammers.” With such praise as “easily the best [free-to-play] game I have played and … more fun than many subscription games I have tried” from Ten Ton Hammer, it is no wonder that the game has found success among a surprisingly diverse crowd of players.

One of the winners of Atlantica’s recent “No Atlantian Left Behind” contest was 73-year-old Mary Martinez, a grandmother from Quitman, Texas. After her grandson, an avid player himself, introduced Mary to the game, she became hooked on the social connectivity that Atlantica Online offers her. “I don’t get out and around like I used to, so playing games where you interact with others is a way for me to have a more social life,” said Martinez. Mary’s dedication to the game was rewarded when she became one of the winners of the contest, taking home a new Nintendo Wii.

In 2009 Atlantica Online will continue to expand the variety of locations that the game’s players can explore while maintaining the same level of detail and quality that has proven successful so far. “With the saturation of new titles coming online in the MMO market each year, it is truly an accomplishment for Atlantica to have gained steam so quickly,” said Peter Kang, NDOORS Interactive, CEO. “The fans and critics have spoken loudly and approvingly of Atlantica and that provides us with extra motivation to increase and improve the quality and entertainment value of the product we offer this year.”

For more information on Atlantica Online, please visit:http://atlantica.ndoorsgames.com/center/default.asp

Second Helping of the Successful Franchise To Hit Shelves in April

Paradox Interactive today announced that it has finalized a publishing agreement with Enlight Software to release Restaurant Empire 2 in North America. Restaurant Empire 2 builds on the highly popularRestaurant Empire franchise, a title that has already sold over 300,000 units in the United States alone.

With two handfuls of cash and a dream of creating a legacy you will build, cook and hire your way to the very top of the culinary world, where tasty food is king and smart management reels in the dollars. If you’re skilled enough in the kitchen and behind the management desk, you just may go further than any aspiring restaurateur before you and cement your status as a true legend of cuisine.

“Enlight has done a tremendous job with Restaurant Empire. It offers everyone the opportunity to put their cooking and entrepreneurial skills to the test,” said Fredrik Wester, Executive VP of Paradox Interactive. “We are looking forward to working with them to bring the second installment to North America.”

“Paradox has proven itself as the premier strategy-based PC publisher and we could not think of a more appropriate partner to take Restaurant Empire to the next level,” said Trevor Chan, CEO, Enlight Software.

Restaurant Empire 2 is scheduled to ship in April, 2009 with an MSRP of $19.99.

In the world of Zu Online ( http://zu.igg.com ), there exist tons of unimaginable items. The one with the most rumors swirling around it is the Pet Chests. Rumor says these Pet Chests contain immensely powerful pet-related items, but unfortunately they belong to the Pet Master exclusively. Among all the Pet Chests, the Gold Pet Chests are particularly awe-inspiring.

The Pet Master cherishes his collection very much and has never given even one Pet Chest to a player. So, many people have attempted to steal these Pet Chests and finally, someone succeeded in getting some Chests to be sold in the Pet Mall. Now, if you would like to pay this daredevil some money, you can get a piece of the Pet Master’s precious private collection too.

These Pet Chests contain high level pet equipment, feedstuffs, pet eggs and more inside. If you can get a Gold Pet Chest, you will be able to make your pet much stronger and better looking. It could even make it the strongest one in any battle.

Are you eager to get these cool Pet Chests now? Do not miss such a golden opportunity to enhance your pet’s power with the best chests available!

For more information, please visit http://zu.igg.com/news/newscon.php?aid=1608.

Today, the Angels Online team (http://ao.igg.com/main.php) is giving a brief introduction to Wave Harbor, a new scene for the “Lost Atlantis” expansion.

Wave Harbor is located to the south of Palm Base. Passing through the tropical coco trees and along the endless golden beaches, players will arrive in this mysterious sea area. Because Wave Harbor is a shallow sea along the coast which connects with the mainland, many players choose this place to train their diving skill.

As a small sea connecting the ocean and the mainland, and affected by the warm current from the east, the water temperature here is very comfortable all year round. What’s more, huge creatures such as sharks are unable to come here because of the reefs. So all creatures, whether big or small can enjoy a comfortable life here.

The comfortable weather not only fosters great schools of fish but also a flourishing underwater oasis of marine plant life. Production players may find themselves busy for days if they come and collect materials here. For example, Bloody Alga is a common herb which is necessary to manufacture potions or items with attributes. Many Production players work hard in Eden to try and get some rare Wanderer Den. However, Wanderer Den can be found everywhere in Wave Harbor.

Not everything in Wave Harbor is calm, peaceful and relaxing. Because of the special frame of Atlantis and the rocks that dot this shallow sea, it is not as peaceful as it seems. Many ships have been known to knock into the reefs and leave their scattered remains just below the crashing waves.

There is an explorer called Eye Eric in the top right corner of the map. He has lived here for a long time, but now finds himself trapped by a group of Mermaids. Eric may ask Level 75+ players for help, and players can obtain abundant rewards by defeating the Mermaids and rescuing him. If players would like to enhance their rank, it is a good idea for them to accept the quest repeatedly.

Apart from the Mermaids, there is a group of evil, fierce Scale Fish covered in thick scales. These scales give them high defensive abilities. Be careful! The deadly spell attacks from the “gentle” Bal Jellyfish may hurt players as well!

For more information about this event visit

http://ao.igg.com/act/atlantis/detail.php?acid=109.