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I was just made aware of an indie game from developer Koonsolo has been released: Mystic Mine. It’s an all ages casual game, with simple control and can be played solo or multiplayer. I haven’t have a chance to give it a try, but drop by the page here, and check it out. http://www.koonsolo.com/news/index.php.

Mystic Mine fact sheet

Game name:

Mystic Mine

Official web page:

http://www.mysticmine.com

Demo Link:

http://www.koonsolo.com/mysticmine/demo.php

Buy Link:

http://www.koonsolo.com/mysticmine/buy.php

Price:

$19.95

Description:

Guide your gold car through a mine, switching rails with a single button. You can only go down, but thanks to an optic illusion in the levels, you can always reach every point. Play this game alone or invite some friends and play against each other. The game supports up to 6 people on one keyboard. Everyone can enjoy this family friendly game, regardless of age or experience.

Features:

• Family friendly gameplay for all ages.
• Single-button gameplay.
• Accessible to people and children with limited mobility.
• Adapts the difficulty to your skill.
• Single Player: scenario with 155 levels.
• Multiplayer: up to 6 people on 1 keyboard.
• Over 200 different levels with an impossible structure.
• Various missions and pickups
• No loading screens.
• Accessibility options to slow down game speed and enable one-switch mode.

Platforms:

Windows, Mac OS X, Linux

Adventure RPG kicks off month of special level up events and premium digital item promotions
San Francisco – February 4, 2009 – Outspark, a rapidly-growing virtual playground combining free to play games with personalized social experiences, announced today the open beta launch for the 2D side-scrolling role-playing adventure game, Wind Slayer. Thrill seekers looking for endless hours of entertainment can begin their own Wind Slayer journey now by visiting www.playwindslayer.com, registering for a free Outspark account and downloading the game.

Wind Slayer offers a rich role-playing experience in which players create and customize a character, conquer hundreds of quests and engage in frenetic Player vs. Player (PvP) battles with up to 20 players at a time. Set on the beautiful continent of Beuritania, Wind Slayer challenges players to defeat monsters and bosses as they gain skills, explore the game’s beautiful and mysterious locales and follow the path of one of six diverse and powerful classes.
Open beta players will have the chance to participate in a variety of Wind Slayer in-game special events and contests including:

* February 4-10 “Second Chance Event”: Play and reach Level 10 by February 10th and receive a rare Ancient Necklace.
* February 4-10 “Race to Level 25″: Play and reach Level 25 by February 10th and receive a powerful class-specific weapon.
* February 4-24 “Month of Love”: Create a new Wind Slayer character in the month of February and receive five free Love Potions.
* February 7-8 “Weekend Slayer”: Log onto Wind Slayer on either day between 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. PST and receive a free set of Ancient Earrings – just for logging in!
* February 13 “Slayer Tournament”: Build a team of four to compete in Wind Slayer’s first tournament for a chance to win a class-specific weapon. Tournament sign up is on the Wind Slayer forums February 9-12.

With the addition of Wind Slayer, Outspark now offers its online community the opportunity to engage in five immersive multiplayer games including the hit titles Fiesta and Secret of the Solstice. The Outspark virtual playground also features a social networking portal where community members can create free profiles, chat with their friends, create and share content and even give one another in-game items. Since Outspark’s launch in late 2007, the community has grown to more than 3.7 million users.

For more information about Outspark please visit www.outspark.com. For more information about Wind Slayer please visit www.playwindslayer.com.

The 2029 Online (http://forum.2029.igg.com ) Alpha Test will be unleashed upon MMO gamers in March. Who is lucky enough to be chosen to become a pioneer, to experience the excitement of this sci-fi based MMO game in advance? Game guilds are alliances of people with similar hardcore gaming habits who often play together. Players who have a guild or a group of members can sign up for the Alpha Test. Now, it is time to rise up for the guild you believe in and enjoy the excitement of our guild activities.

Event duration: February 4th to March 2nd
How to sign up:
All players can click here to sign up: http://forum.2029.igg.com/viewthread.php?tid=184&extra=page%3D1&frombbs=1

Your application information must include the following information:

A: Guild name
B: Number of guild members
C: Guild website link
D: Number of Guild members participating in the test
E: Contact email

Prizes:
Guilds chosen will receive:
A: Each guild member will be given 5 to 50 Alpha keys

B: After the Alpha Test closes, each of the participating guilds will be rewarded with in-game items worth about US$100 during the Closed Beta period. These items will be firstly given to guild leaders who are responsible for distributing them among their members.

Notes:
1. Each guild must have at least 5 guild members
2. Guilds will be disqualified if any irregularities are detected in the information they submit.
3. Guilds must add the game’s logo or the link to our official forum to their web pages.
4. We will inform guilds winning our prizes via emails or unveil the lists in forum news. Emails with further details and times regarding the Alpha Test will be sent to participating guilds to keep them posted.

For more information about 2029 Online, please visit http://forum.2029.igg.com/viewthread.php?tid=183&extra=page%3D1 .

The automatically-generated gear system of GodsWar Online (http://gw.igg.com) is its major feature. The players can obtain a wide range of gears in the course of adventure and upgrade them with various stones. As the complement and support to the Gear system, there is also strong Avatar clothes-transfer system. However, it is not easy to get a senior gear. You need spend more time and energy on continuous gaming and even you need luck sometimes.

Overview:
Gears are not only used for changing the characters’ appearance, but also add all kinds of attributes, special effects and functions to the characters, which will strengthen the power of characters and bring more fun to the players. They individualize the characters and present the feature of the game.

There are many ways to obtain the gears. You can get them through completing quests, killing monsters and manufacturing etc. Some gears have level limitation and class division. You can choose your beloved gear according to the class you belonged and your current level. Also the gears applied to all classes are available.

Divisions of Gears
Since there are varieties of gears in GodsWar Online, according to their different functions, they can be divided into two categories: offensive gears and defensive gears

Offensive gears: Sword, Axe, Hammer, Spear, Javelin, Bow and Wand etc.

Defensive gears: Heavy and light Armor, Helm, Gloves, Boots, Shields, Masks and Rings etc.

Attributes of Gears
In addition to the basic attributes such as attack, defense, immunes, level, and stamina, there are more additional attributes to enhance your character. More details about them will be coming in next section.

For more details please visit the official site at
http://gw.igg.com/guide/guide.php?acid=57

The great WAAAGH! rolls on in 2009! Mythic Entertainment will be invading NY Comic Con, February 6-8, with the latest for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Executive Producer, Jeff Hickman, and Creative Director, Paul Barnett, will be on hand with a special presentation to share exclusive details about the upcoming Night of Murder live event, Call to Arms live expansion, Land of the Dead dungeon, and new Orc Choppa and Dwarf Slayer careers.

Stop by booth #1449 for the chance to chat with the WAR team, play the game, score exclusive in-game items and get your hands on new WAR gear. The WAR team will also be hosting its first Developer Meet and Greet Saturday night at Dave & Buster’s in Times Square.

New York Comic Con Schedule of Events

Saturday, February 7th
11:15AM – 12:15PM: WAR Presentation by Jeff Hickman and Paul Barnett (Room #1A24)
2:30PM – 3:30PM: Poster Signing (WAR booth: #1449)
5:30PM – 6:30PM: MMORPG Panel; Jeff Hickman to participate (Room #1A24)
9:00PM – 12:00AM: Developer Meet and Greet (Dave & Buster’s, Times Square)

Sunday, February 8th
12:00PM: Realm vs. Realm Competition (WAR booth: #1449)

If you can’t make it to NY Comic Con, don’t worry! WAR is once again hitting the road with a great lineup of events for 2009. Stop by the WAR booth for a chance to play the game and speak to the development team, as well as meet other players in the area. You’ll have a chance to play new content and score exclusive in-game items and great WAR gear. There will be presentations to attend, contests to win, and Developer Meet & Greets at many of the events. Mythic’s 2009 show schedule includes:

New York Comic Con: Feb 6-8, New York, NY
Games Day Baltimore: May 9, Baltimore, MD
Games Day Toronto: June 20, Ontario, CA
San Diego Comic-Con: July 22-26, San Diego, CA
Games Day Chicago: July 25, Chicago, IL
GenCon: August 13-16, Indianapolis, IN
Penny Arcade Expo: September 4-6, Seattle, WA

For more information about these events, check out the Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning monthly newsletter or WAR Herald at http://herald.warhammeronline.com/eventcalendar/index.php.

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning has been recognized by numerous critics’ in 2008 as one of the year’s best MMOs, receiving end-of-year awards from IGN, GameSpy, G4 TV, and more.

Based on the popular tabletop war game from Games Workshop, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning features revolutionary Realm vs. Realm conflict that will provide players with an engaging battleground for years to come. Available now for PC, WAR is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.

Harmonix and MTV Games announced the addition of six new tracks to the Rock Band Music Store catalog of downloadable content for Wii home videogame console from Nintendo. The line up features four tracks from classic rock band Boston including “Hitch a Ride,” “Peace of Mind,” “Smokin’” and “Something About You.”

In addition to the Boston tracks Rock Band 2 Wii fans will also gain access to”Hanging on the Telephone” by Blondie and “Dirty Little Secret” from All-American Rejects.

All six tracks are part of the Rock Band Music Store catalog of downloadable content already released to owners of Xbox 360 and PS3. Wii fans can expect a rollout of the previously released downloadable content until the entire back catalogue of more than 550 songs is available. In addition, the regularly scheduled future DLC releases for Xbox 360 and PS3 system will also be available for Rock Band 2 Wii owners soon.

Release Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Tracks:
Boston “Hitch a Ride”
Boston “Peace of Mind”
Boston “Smokin’”
Boston “Something About You”
Blondie “Hanging on the Telephone”
All-American Rejects “Dirty Little Secret”
(All tracks are original master recordings)

Price: $2.00 (200 Wii Points) per track
Location:In-game Rock Band 2 Music Store (Wii Points must be purchased through the Wii^TM Shop Channel)
** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change **

Once described as “pure American metal,” and reaching out to fans with six brutal albums including their upcoming Wrath, the band Lamb of God will play Call of Duty: World at War with Xbox LIVE Gold members February 14. If you’re an Xbox LIVE Gold member (if not, upgrade now!), and you want a chance to play with Lamb of God, send a friend request to the following Gamertag and be online half an hour before (10:30 A.M. ET) the Game with Fame session starts on Wednesday, February 14,11:00 A.M. ET. If you get a chance to play with Lamb of God, we want to hear about it! Send us an e-mail (xlmail@microsoft.com) with the subject: “GWF – Lamb of God.” Be sure to include your Gamertag and home town.

For more than a decade, Lamb of God has been burning up stages and arenas all over the world with their blistering hardcore metal sound. From their fan favorites New American Gospel and As the Palaces Burn, to their Grammy-nominated Sacrament, this is metal at its most pure and most honest. Now, with the upcoming release of their latest album Wrath, it’s back to the roots of what makes this band so great in the first place, their live energy. Guitarist Willie Adler, drummer Chris Adler, bassist John Campbell, guitarist Mark Morton, and vocalist Randy Blythe worked together closely to make Wrath. “It was really collaborative on all levels,” says Morton, “and that’s what you’re hearing when you listen to the record. It’s got this energy, this pulse, this alive feel to it–and I think that comes from the fact that we were all pitching in. This one really is an organic record, meaning that it’s natural–they’re real songs, and every note you hear on it is played by a real person, and it’s all captured in a very old-fashioned way. Chris said something early on in the making of this record that really stuck with me–he said, ‘If we don’t do the kind of record we want to do now, when the hell are we ever going to do it?’” It sounds like Lamb of God has done exactly the kind of record they wanted to do, and you’ll be able to hear the results February 24 when Wrath is released everywhere music is sold.

Game With Fame featuring Lamb of God
DATE: February 14th
TIME: 4:00 – 5:30 (GMT – Greenwich Mean Time)
LOCATION: London
GAME: Call Of Duty: World At War
GAMERTAG: LoG GwF (space between LoG and GwF)
URL: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/calendar/gamewithfame/2009/0214-lambofgod.htm?WText.camp=Community&WText.campSrc=RSS

The Newest Addition to the Tenchu Franchise Now Available for the First Time on the Wii.

Ubisoft announced that Tenchu: Shadow Assassins is now available for the Wii in North America. From the creators of the best-selling Tenchu series, Tenchu: Shadow Assassins brings the familiar look and feel of the original opus back to ninja players. Tenchu: Shadow Assassins is rated M for Mature by the ESRB and has an MSRP of $49.99.

Tenchu: Shadow Assassins continues the saga of elite ninjas, Rikimaru and Ayame, who must use their lethal skills to keep the peace in feudal Japan. Playing as both stealthy Rikimaru and aggressive and acrobatic Ayame, players will fight their way through more than 10 missions and 50 side quests. Game features include:
• Use the Wii Remote to fight like a ninja with more than 17 historically accurate ninja weapons and tools, each with its own Wii motion.
• Move silently and use the environment as camouflage to hide and sneak in behind your targets.
• Accomplish missions as you battle enemies with katanas, throwing stars, smoke bombs and more.
• Advance to Shadow Mode level and challenge your ninja skills on Wii.
• Experience the epic adventures of Rikimaru and Ayame and put your true ninja skills to the test in a world of fierce combat and authentic tradition.

For more information on Tenchu: Shadow Assassins, visit www.tenchu4game.com

CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars combines single-player and multiplayer components into one action-packed downloadable title for Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Network. Complete with next-gen graphics and robust gameplay, CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars allows players to wage war by using their choice of gunfire and/or telekinetic superpowers. Players can use telekinetic energy to rip objects from the surrounding environment and hurl them at enemies or draw on their powers to create a bullet-proof energy shield that protects against gunfire. Flying, teleporting and accelerated speed abilities give players countless ways to fight the good fight with four multiplayer modes (Death Match, Capture the Flag, Team Death Match and Assault) and a deep single-player campaign with 30 solo challenges. CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars will be available in March ‘09 and is rated “T” for Teen.

For more information on CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars, please visit – http://cellfactorgame.com/

The Method Moves into Direct-to-Consumer Games Space with Launch of Yard Sale Hidden Treasures: Sunnyville; a Highly Addictive Game for the iPhone and iPod  Touch

The Method, formerly Method Solutions LLC, in partnership with Slapdash Games, today announced the release of Yard Sale Hidden Treasures: Sunnyville for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch. Priced at $4.99, this title is sure to be an instant App Store classic.

“I am proud that we have teamed up with Slapdash Games to bring this highly addictive PC game title to a whole new audience,” said The Method CEO Marcus Hopkins. “We are confident that fans of the App Store will truly love Yard Sale. Along with the launch of this title, we look forward to expanding further into the direct-to-consumer games space.”

Yard Sale Hidden Treasures: Sunnyville allows players to compete for the coveted “Best in Show” in the Superstar Homes Magazine Parade of Homes. Residents of Sunnyville search for hidden swag in eccentric homes to complete the ultimate in home décor. Players can also renovate antiques for that special touch. A follow-up to the hugely successful PC game, Yard Sale Hidden Treasures: Sunnyville features:

* 12 unique locations to hunt for hidden objects;
* 16 Creative repurposing projects, to help players turn trash into treasure; And
* Decorating functions, to help players become a “Superstar Designer” and turn their dream home into Sunnyville’s top abode.

Yard Sale Hidden Treasures: Sunnyville is suitable for all ages, and is a must buy for game players of all skill and experience levels.

For more information about The Method or its products please visit: www.Method-Solutions.com. To purchase Yard Sale Hidden Treasures: Sunnyville, please visit the App Store at: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=302934222&mt=8. A free “LITE” version of Yard Sale Hidden Treasures: Sunnyville is also available on the App Store at: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=303525765&mt=8