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Former 1-UP Entertainment Network and EGM Senior Exec Shane Bettenhausen Joins Ignition Entertainment as Company Continues to Expand Worldwide Operations

Ignition Entertainment announced today that Shane Bettenhausen has been tapped as the Company’s new Director of Business Development. As the former Senior Executive Editor for influential gaming media outlets Electronic Gaming Monthly and 1-UP.com, Shane’s extensive background and profound knowledge of videogames, coupled with his encyclopedic knowledge of the video gaming industry, perfectly primes Bettenhausen to spearhead the company’s development initiatives moving forward well into the ‘next gen.’

According to Shane, “I’ve spent the past nine years dissecting and evaluating games as a journalist, and I’m incredibly eager and humbled to finally get the chance to learn the other side of the business. I’m tremendously excited to help shape the direction of Ignition’s future products, and I feel that together, we’ll be able to craft experiences that entertain, challenge, and emotionally impact gamers.”

“We couldn’t be more pleased to have found Shane for this key role within our Company,” said Ajay Chadha, President of Ignition Entertainment. “He is smart, versatile, passionate, energetic and crazy – a perfect fit for Ignition!”

Known best in the United States for its breakout hit and critically acclaimed puzzle game series, Mercury Meltdown, Ignition Entertainment has been building its U.S. presence since 2004. In 2007, Ignition Entertainment completed an investment acquisition deal with UTV Software Communications Ltd., India ’s foremost Media & Entertainment Company. Recently, the company announced that Ajay Chadha, one of the co-founders of Ignition, would join the U.S. office as its new President. With the new key executive leadership, an infusion of funds and a strong worldwide media partner, Ignition Entertainment has grown and flourished with key product and license acquisitions, thereby establishing its long-term, high-quality next-generation development.

Today Ubisoft announces that the “Mile High” and “Freebie Pack” downloadable content (DLC) packs for Shaun White Snowboarding for the Xbox 360, PS3 computer entertainment system are available now. The price for the “Mile High” DLC is 800 Microsoft points or $9.99 for the PS3, while the “Freebie Pack” is free for both systems.

The “Mile High” pack includes a new mountain, called “B.C.”, and the following:
• 3 competitions
• 5 side quests
• 2.5 km2 gameplay area over a 3 km vertical drop
• 0.8 km long, 4-level cascading halfpipe
• 2 Pants
• 2 Coats
• 2 Tuques
• 2 Gloves
• 2 Boots
• 2 Goggles
• 10 Snowboards

The “Freebie Pack” provides riders with the following gear:
• 2 Pants
• 2 Coats
• 2 Tuques
• 2 Gloves
• 2 Boots
• 2 Goggles
• 9 Snowboards

For more information on Shaun White Snowboarding, please visit the game’s official site at www.shaunwhitegame.com

Arcade-Style Racing Game Revs Up With High Definition Graphics for up to Eight Players Online

Konami today announced that GTI Club+, the classic arcade-style racing game originally released by Konami in 1996, is now available for download on the PSN, the digital media delivery service for the PS3 computer entertainment system. With spectacular HD graphics, GTI Club+ enables players to compete online with up to eight friends in either free-for-all events or team play.

In GTI Club+, players race through the tight city streets and winding mountain roads of France’s Ville De Circo with an elite collection of high performance European hatchbacks, such as the Mini Cooper and Volkswagen Golf. The easy pick-up-and-play racing game allows beginners and experienced veterans alike to explore the open city for the most efficient routes between checkpoints, race each other to the top of the worldwide leaderboards, or partake in the fast-paced game of Bombtag, a free-for-all-mode where players play hot potato with explosives.

GTI Club+ takes full advantage of the PS3 system, utilizing the Dualshock 3 wireless controller to create vibrations when cars race over bumps in the road, as well as provide motion controlled steering. As an added bonus, gamers can take pictures using the Playstation Eye and distribute them to other gamers during crucial racing moments such as overtaking, crashing and ramming.

For more information on GTI Club+ please visit: www.konami.com.

What’s your weapon of choice? Is it a laser gun? Or maybe just a simple deck of cards? No matter what type of game gets you fired up, the latest additions to the Wii Shop Channel are sure to add something new and exciting to your arsenal. With fast-flying cards, tumbling pachinko balls and sinister vampires in your midst, you’ll need every tool at your disposal.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:

WiiWare

Jungle Speed (Playful Entertainment Inc., 1-8 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Jungle Speed is a lightning-fast card game for the entire family, where quick reflexes and a keen eye will put you on top. Flip your cards, watch your opponents and grab the totem at the right moment to win the game. Just when you think you’ve got it down, a new card can temporarily change the rules and keep you on the edge. Play starts when the first person flips a card. Moving around the table, symbols are revealed until two of the exposed cards match. Players with matching cards must then scramble to grasp the totem in the middle of the table; the loser gets the winner’s cards and anything in the pot. With paws flying, be the first person to get rid of all your cards and win the game.

Planet Pachinko (Allied Kingdoms Inc., 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone—Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): Can you survive the Pachinkeet Temples of Planet Pachinko? In the future of the future, an ancient civilization has sealed away its riches in elaborate temples dedicated to the game of pachinko. Now the Robot family must fight through these dangerous temples in search of their lost puppy. Using their rockets, lasers, grenades and slime launchers, will they be able to survive the challenges? They aren’t the only ones adventuring through the temples. The pirate Vile Vill and his minions are looking to loot the temples and take on the Robot family. Play in single-player mode or with a friend in exciting two-player co-op.

Virtual Console

Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse (NES, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): This is the third game in the popular Castlevania series and the last of the franchise released on the original NES console. Take on the role of Trevor Belmont, forefather of Simon, and battle Dracula in a time long before the events of the first two Castlevania games. In addition to his trusty whip, Trevor has a previously unseen power—the ability to transform into one of three different companion spirits that he meets during his quest: Syfa, a young vampire hunter capable of powerful magic; Grant, a ferocious pirate who can climb on walls; and Alucard, forgotten son of Dracula, able to shoot fireballs and transform into a bat. Use an assortment of weapons (some specific to each character) as you choose which path to follow in your fight against Dracula and his army. Loaded with replay value and featuring some of the best platform action ever, this title is not to be missed.

For more information about Wii, please visit wii.com.

Guitar Hero World Tour to Debut Exclusive Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Tracks as Downloadable Content Day and Date with Release of New Album, Working on a Dream Bruce Springsteen will make his videogame debut on January 27, 2009, with two downloadable songs available Guitar Hero World Tour.

Coinciding with the release of his new album, Working on a Dream (Columbia Records), the two-song Track Pack will be available for download simultaneously with the album’s release on January 27, 2009. The Track Pack, which features the iconic Springsteen song “Born to Run” and “My Lucky Day,” a brand-new track off his new album, Working on a Dream, will be free to download during the first week of the album’s release.

“Bruce Springsteen has been a defining force in Rock ‘n Roll and we are incredibly excited to have him make his video game debut with Guitar Hero World Tour,” said Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard.

Springsteen’s longtime manager Jon Landau said, “Activision has been a leader in getting music to the public in new ways and we are very happy to have them making these two songs available to their audience.”

The Bruce Springsteen Track Pack will be available on Xbox LIVE(R) Marketplace for the Xbox 360, PlayStation Store for the PS3 as singles for Wii for free between January 27, 2009, and February 4, 2009. Starting February 5, 2009, the Track Pack will be available on Xbox 360 for 320 Microsoft Points, on the PS3 system for $3.99 and as singles on Wii for 200 Wii Points each.

Guitar Hero World Tour transforms music gaming by expanding Guitar Hero’s signature guitar gameplay into a cooperative band experience that combines the most advanced wireless controllers with new revolutionary online* and offline gameplay modes including Band Career and 8-player “Battle of the Bands,” which allows two full bands to compete head-to-head online. The game features a slick newly redesigned guitar controller, drum kit controller and a wired microphone, as well as an innovative Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock ‘n’ roll anthems. Music creators are also able to share their recordings with their friends online through GHTunes where other gamers can download and play an endless supply of unique creations.

Guitar Hero World Tour is now available for Xbox 360, PS3 , Wii and PS2. The game is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB. For more information on Guitar Hero World Tour, please visit worldtour.guitarhero.com.
For more information about Bruce Springsteen, please visit www.brucespringsteen.net or www.shorefire.com.

Xbox 360 gamers worldwide won’t have to wait until March 13, 2009 to get their hands on the highly-anticipated “Resident Evil 5.” The next installment of the landmark survival horror franchise from Capcom will take action to a new level with a two-level, playable demo available exclusively on Xbox 360 for one week beginning Monday, January 26. In the demo, players will have a first glimpse of the fear they will never forget, as “Resident Evil 5″ makes daylight just as terrifying as darkness. Additionally, a new exclusive high-definition trailer of the game, shown only at the past Tokyo Game Show in October of 2008, will be made available for download on the Xbox LIVE service on Friday, Jan. 16.

Fans will have the opportunity to experience “Resident Evil 5’s” revolutionary new features early, including two-player co-op with voice chat along with new characters, weapons and environments. The demo is set within two stages from the beginning of the game – Assembly Place and Shanty Town — featuring plenty of co-operative action, shooting, hordes of bloodthirsty infected Majini enemies and a few puzzles to round out the action. The demo has three levels of co-op play: single-player with AI support, two-player split-screen on a single Xbox 360 and two-player across Xbox LIVE.

Xbox 360 gamers will also be first to take on the new enemies in battle, including an army of weapon-wielding infected Majini, the gigantic hooded Majini Executioner and even the dreaded Chainsaw Majini. Players can also choose between the classic “Resident Evil”-style controls or switch to the newer “Action” controls inspired by games like “Gears of War 2″ and “Halo 3.”

In this hotly anticipated new title coming on March 13, Chris Redfield returns as the “Resident Evil” hero and heads to Africa where the latest bioterrorism threat is literally transforming the people and animals of the city into mindless, maddened creatures. Joining forces with a new partner, Sheva Alomar, the two must work together to discover the truth behind this evil plot. Utilizing the new co-op mode, players will be able to assume control of either Chris or Sheva and experience “Resident Evil” in new ways.

For more details, please visit: http://www.xbox.com/residentevil5 or http://www.residentevil.com.

Welcome to Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall, a re-imagined and futuristic three-dimensional adventure set during an alien invasion of the Cartoon Network universe. Thrust into the role of a cartoon boy or girl, players can team up with other players and Cartoon Network characters in the first triple-A massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) for kids.  Join an epic kid-centric adventure alongside thousands of other players and more than 50 characters from some of Cartoon Network’s most popular shows, including: Ben 10 Alien Force; Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends; Ed, Edd n Eddy; Dexter’s Laboratory; The Powerpuff Girls; Billy & Mandy; Kids Next Door, Samurai Jack and more.

The retail Victory Pack Exclusive includes: 4 months free play time, 2 exclusive character outfits and weapons not available in the online version of the game, a comprehensive Game Guide, and a cool FusionFall tshirt size Adult small (t-shirt only available at GameStop)

Through a partnership with online child protection specialist, Crisp Thinking, FusionFall will be integrated with the Crisp NetModerator system, providing the most complete suite of safety features the industry has to offer in an online game for kids.

Dive into life as a Puffin as Majesco Entertainment Company today announced Puffins: Island Adventure for Nintendo DS. Developed by Other Ocean Interactive, Puffins: Island Adventure is an adventure simulation that lets players experience what it’s like to be one of Nature’s most unusual and endearing seabirds.

In Puffins: Island Adventure, players become part of a Puffin flock and experience their arduous, but rewarding, existence as they learn to fly, dive, start a family and more. While navigating through the island, they will interact with other Puffins, play games to earn the favor of their peers and raise a family to carry on their legacy. Puffins: Island Adventure features mini-games that relate to real-life Puffin activities underwater, in air and on land. By mastering the Puffin 500, Puffin Plummet and Tide Pool Fishing, players earn reputation points that unlock pictures and videos of real Puffins in their natural Canadian locales. If players make it far enough, they will unlock new levels and even their very own Puffin burrow. Gameplay through the untamed wilderness is accompanied by traditionally-styled Atlantic Canadian music composed of exotic instruments including the tin whistle, fiddle and bodhran. Music composition features the talent of one of Canada’s most popular artists, Alan Doyle, frontman for the world renowned band Great Big Sea. In addition, Puffins: Island Adventure also features 4 player local and 2 player Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection multiplayer modes.

Puffins: Island Adventure is expected to release this spring. For more information about Majesco’s exciting line of products, please visit www.majescoentertainment.com.

The Wonderland Online Team (http://wl.igg.com/main.php) is proud to announce that: the official WL Noble Salon will be released! If players purchase or exchange for 8000 or more WL points totally, they can create their very own Noble Salon on WLO official website.

Every qualified player can build one Noble Salon with as many 5 friends in it at most. In the salon, any Points Card purchases earn the buyer credits worth 10% of the purchase, while other members will get credits worth 2%. The credits will be charged into players’ accounts within 24 hours.

Players who decide not to create their own salon can join in others available salons. But you should fill out the required information to apply to join in a salon. A player will become a member of a salon as soon as the owner approves the application. Players can also chat with their friends in the salon. Pool the resources of many players. Be ready to join a Noble Salon!

To meet most Buzz members’ requirements and give them something back for their continued support, a brand-new Buzz reward mode has been released for all members.

Angels Online (http://ao.igg.com/main.php) Buzz members would be the first to experience this mode in advance

The main revolution for this renewed program is Players can choose [Consumption Reward] or [Level Reward] and they can change it at any time.

Level Reward: The new mode. Choose it and players can directly obtain the corresponding IGG points after players they’ve promoted reach the required level in game.

Consumption Reward: The default mode. Choose it and players can obtain the corresponding Buzz credits after players they’ve promoted purchase any IGG points. The Buzz credits can be used to take part in the Fortune Wheel event and abundant rewards are waiting for all players.

For more information about this event can visit:
http://buzz.igg.com/news_content.php?id=148