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Empire Interactive today released a slew of assets, including box art, logo and screen shots for the upcoming, strategy role-playing game,Jagged Alliance for Nintendo DS. Expected to ship in North America in the Spring of 2009, the turn-based RPG combines a unique mix of high technology, tactical maneuvering and strategic planning with a compelling storyline that will test the limits of players’ strategy and role-playing skills.

The highly revered classic was originally released for PC in 1994 as part of a series of award-winning strategy games. In its DS debut, Jagged Alliance will boast a unique blend of turn-based combat, strategy and role-playing, creating a compelling and addictive playing experience unlike almost anything else. The non-linear gameplay will uniquely unfold based entirely on the player’s moves and decisions. 

Releasing in Spring 2009 on Nintendo DS, Jagged Alliance will have an ESRB rating of “T” for “Teen” and will retail for $29.99.

Rock Band bundles to sick and seriouly ill children in hospitals.

Harmonix and MTV Games give a minimum $50,000 contribution and more than 650 Rock Band® bundles in support of Starlight Children’s Foundation programs

Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. and MTV Games are making a generous minimum $50,000 gift to Starlight Children’s Foundation to bring the power of music to children facing chronic and life-threatening illnesses. The partnership will allow Harmonix, the world’s premiere music video game development company and creators of Rock Band®, and MTV Games, publisher of Rock Band, to give Starlight children the chance to relax, enjoy and rock out to music in a fully interactive and social setting. In addition, more than 650 Rock Band® bundles have been provided to Starlight’s seriously ill children at its Great Escape^TM family events and to hospitals around the country.

“We’re honored to work with Starlight, which has an amazing tradition of offering support to seriously ill children,” said Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder of Harmonix Music Systems. “We hope that our contribution will give these deserving families a new avenue to spend time together and enjoy great music.”

Paul DeGooyer, Senior Vice President of Electronic Games and Music for MTV Networks Music & Logo Group, added: “We’re very excited to be part of a program enabling Starlight kids and their families to rock out a bit through our placement of games in hospitals and at family events, facilitating once-in-a-lifetime getaways, and donations. It truly is a privilege to help Starlight and its mission.”

Beyond the monetary gift and product donation, the partnership will:
- enable select Starlight families to attend the Rock Band tour events,
- provide Rock Band bundles to Starlight families at Starlight’s Great Escapes family activities,
- provide Rock Band bundles to pediatric patients at select Starlight hospital partners, and
- provide Rock Band themed Great Escape family activities, which will be hosted for Starlight families by Harmonix and MTV Games.

Great Escapes (www.starlight.org/greatescapes) is a program created by Starlight to provide families with seriously ill children with a chance to spend recreational time together to relax, regroup and return home with a renewed sense of strength and hope. Great Escapes include movie screenings, trips to the circus, ball games, harbor cruises, mother-daughter makeovers, picnics, pajama parties and many more special activities. Starlight currently provides regular Great Escapes in more than 30 communities throughout the country.

The Rock Band themed Great Escapes will give Starlight children and family members a behind-the-scenes look at Rock Band, a chance to meet the game’s creators, a sneak peak at new content and other once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

“We all know that music is healing, and we are expecting Rock Band products to have a powerful, therapeutic effect on our children,” said Paula Van Ness, CEO of Starlight Children’s Foundation. “Rock Band will provide distractive entertainment therapy for thousands of seriously ill children and their families, both in the hospital setting and on an out-patient basis.”

New Wii Controller and Accessories to be Offered Together in Two Value Packs

Nyko Technologies®, the premier videogame accessories manufacturer, today announced two new accessories that will be available for its new Wand™ controller, expected to ship this April. Designed to work with the Wand’s patented Trans-Port™ technology, the new attachments include a Wired Kama with Rumble and the Pistol Grip gun that digitally replicates the A and B input commands. Both products are expected to be available in value packs following the Wand’s release in the second quarter of 2009.

Wand Action Pak 
The Wand Action Pak is perfect for shooting games, including one Wand controller and one Pistol Grip attachment. The Pistol Grip attachment is the first gun peripheral for the Wii with digital button relocation. Existing gun peripherals that attach to the Wii Remote™ use a mechanical activation system that is prone to breakdown from prolonged use, experiences a slight delay in response time and has software compatibility issues.

The Wand’s Trans-Port technology enables the Pistol Grip to activate the A and B commands digitally, as if depressing the buttons directly on the Wand itself. A small switch on the bottom of the Pistol Grip allows the A and B button functions to be easily flipped between the controller’s two buttons, the trigger and the hammer, depending on the game and convenience of button access. A port has also been included on the bottom of the Pistol Grip to allow for the connection of additional accessories, such as the Kama controller. The Wand Action Pak will be available in June for a MSRP of $49.99

Wand Core Pak 
The Wand Core Pak is the ideal starter set for any Wii gamer and includes one Wand controller and one Wired Kama with Rumble. The Wired Kama with Rumble is the latest version of Nyko’s Kama controller for Wii, the first and only model to incorporate full vibration feedback support for an immersive gameplay experience. The Wired Kama with Rumble connects to the Wand via a 4-foot cord and utilizes Nyko’s exclusive Trans-Port technology to enable vibration with all titles that utilize remote vibration. The new controller will feature the same design and form factor of the Wireless Kama for a comfortable fit and extra grip. The Wand Core Pak will be available in June for a MSRP of $49.99

The Wand is designed for maximum compatibility with Wii software and accessories and will be available individually in April for an MSRP of $34.99

”The Wand opens up a myriad of new features and accessories for us to improve how consumers experience games on Wii,” states Chris Arbogast, Director of Marketing, Nyko Technologies. “Recognized as Best of CES 2009 in the Gaming category, the Wand will ship as a stand alone unit and in both the Action Pak and Core Pak so users can customize their gaming experience. We’re pleased to announce these two new Wand-compatible accessories and look forward to introducing innovative new ways of utilizing Trans-Port technology in the future.”

For more information on these and other Nyko products, please visit:www.nyko.com.

Content Upgrades Include New Character Classes, Dungeons, Hairstyles, and More

NDOORS Interactive, creators of the strategic turn-based MMORPG,Atlantica Online, today released a major update for the award-winning title. The update adds several new features, including two new main character classes – Musician and Maniac. These new features and classes will enhance the player’s journey through time and history in their quest to find the lost land of Atlantis.

The majority of the new content will be accessible to all players immediately, while some of the new features will only be available to players who have reached level 100.

The major content updates include:

Two New Main Character Classes 
Head out into the world with the new classes and get your hands on some unusual gear: a guitar or a power saw. The Musician wields a guitar, which can be selected by any player, new or ongoing. Specializing in long-range combat, the Musician attacks by playing music that strikes two enemies in a line. Its magic attack, the Ravaging Melody, depletes enemies’ attack power, defense, and health, and aids your mercenaries’ attacks. When they attack, they utilize moves that would make Angus Young envious.

The second new class is the Maniac, and he/she brandishes a power saw. Only players at level 100 can create a main character using the power saw, although that character will have to start anew at level 1. The Maniac’s attack hits all enemies in a row, and has a magic cast called Storm Blast.

New Mercenary 
The Elementalist is a new, Class B magic mercenary that can be recruited in North America after you reach level 100. When upgraded, the Elementalist becomes the legendary Native American, Pocahontas.

New Dungeons 
Now offering even more locations, Atlantica boasts a handful of new dungeons including Alcatraz Prison, which can only be accessed by nations. Additionally, the Valley of Oblivion, also in North America, can only be accessed by guilds, and is the route players must take to acquire the Elementalist. There are also new side quest dungeons based in China.

Celebrate Your Character’s Individuality 
Not only will your character now have three new options for hairstyles (the long wave, the afro, and the rasta), your main character will now receive a present on his or her in-game birthday.

To read the complete list of the new updates for Atlantica Online, please visit www.playatlantica.com.

Atlantica Online is a strategic turn-based MMORPG that combines innovative combat with character/party development and city/country management. Players take on the quest to destroy the Oriharukon, a powerful energy sensor from the lost civilization of Atlantis that survived and is now endangering humanity. This journey will take players around the globe, to locations like the Great Wall of China and the pyramids of Egypt, and they will come face-to-face with monsters ripped from history and lore, such as the ruthless Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu and Dracula.

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

The folks at Tales of Pirates (http://top.igg.com/ ) want to share with their players— the X-Files of the 3 Mirage Cities. According to the map there are 3 different instances including the Shaitan Mirage, the Icicle Mirage, and the Thundoria Mirage. Only the luckiest players have the chance to access these places, and you must remember to bring a mask before entering.

Ⅰ. Shaitan Mirage—Compound of the Magic and Wisdom

The fantastic world of magic and spells – Shaitan Mirage is the best training location for Herbalists.

Monsters’ Rank: Level 72+

Monsters’ Attributes: low attack, high defense and high Physical Resistance.

BOSS: Level 80 Phantom Knight

Ⅱ. Icicle Mirage— Sharp-shooter’s Training Arena

The best training location for Sharp-shooters, as the geography here is beneficial for them to use the long-ranged attack weapons and fight with BOSSes.

Monsters’ Rank: Level 72+

Monsters’ Attributes: high attack, low defense and low speed.

BOSS: Level 80 Evil Ice Phantasm

Ⅲ. Thundoria Mirage—Showcase Speed and Strength
An important military place, similar to Thundoria Castle, where the pirate army of Crusaders and Champions stand on garrison. Here they stand and fight against the designated dark force.

Monsters’ Rank: Level 72+

Monsters’ Attributes: normal attack, high hit and normal defense.

BOSS: Level 80 Warrior Phantom

For more info visit: http://top.igg.com/.

Galaxy Online (http://go.igg.com) is a leading MMO strategy game developed by IGG.com. The game features a galaxy that you need to build, and provide different kinds of construction functions to produce resources, to conquer the outlander and rule the galaxy. In the game there are 5 channels for communication, Force, Galaxy, Corps, World, and Team. Their colors are different. But OGAME didn’t have a chat system, and so it isn’t really easy to communicate with other players

The real difference is that Galaxy Online features real-time strategy, while OGAME titles rely upon battle reports. In Galaxy Online, you need to think about ammo reloading time, defensive modules launch, moving distance and attack range, etc. So in galaxy online, you don’t play with AI, you play with real players. Your every single move in the game, would lead to your victory or defeat.

Unlike some others similar titles, which are supposed to be the game of chaotic fighting between players, but Galaxy Online, is more massive and has more factions (6 factions). Players can take part in a war individually or as a part of a faction. Players can also team up with other players to make their forces stronger.

Galaxy Online is more than role playing strategy game. I don’t know if the I-go or Chess game have ever attracted you, but somehow, playing Galaxy Online is just like giving you the idea of playing the I-go or Chess with your all the players online.

For more information about this game, please visit http://go.igg.com/main.php.

Majesco Entertainment Company released character art from Major Minor’s Majestic March for Wii. Created exclusively for the newest title in development by NanaOn-Sha, this new art reveals famed New York artist, Rodney Alan Greenblat’s concepts for some of the more prominent characters in the game. Major Minor’s Majestic March marks the return of the legendary design team behind the renowned PaRappa the Rapper franchise – Masaya Matsuura and Rodney Alan Greenblat. The game is created exclusively for Wii and is slated to launch in March 2009.

Pre-Order Metal Gear Online SCENE Expansion to Receive the Special “Cardboard Man” Head Gear

Konami today announced SCENE Expansion, the latest Metal Gear Online expansion pack for the ultimate squad based, tactical shooter based on the Metal Gear Solid Universe. Available in March, SCENE is the third Metal Gear Online expansion pack and features a vast amount of new content – including new maps, special characters, new gear and more. In order to make SCENE as accessible as possible, players, for the first time ever, can now use PayPal along with the PlayStation® Network Wallet prepay system as a form of payment. Additionally, players who want to be the first to get their hands on the latest expansion for the popular, multiplayer shooter hit, can pre-order SCENE via MGOnline’s in-game shop and Konami’s shop (https://mykonami.net/mgo/). All Metal Gear fans who pre-order SCENE will receive the hilarious classic “cardboard man” head gear as a special free gift. Players will be able to pre-order SCENE one week before launch.

Additionally, on February 26, Konami will debut an all-new trailer on the PlayStation® Store that will offer fans a sneak peak of this highly anticipated expansion.

Please find below further details on some of the new content in the expansion pack:

· 3 New Maps
o Outer Outlet – An Industrial Wasteland, made up of buildings and underground/above ground areas. Suitable for medium to long range attacks.
o Hazard House – An enormous three story mansion. Suitable for close to medium range combat.
o Ravaged Riverfront – Clock Tower, made up of underground, above ground, and under water areas. Suitable for medium to long range combat.

· 2 new special characters
o Raiden and Vamp – two highly anticipated characters with extraordinary physical abilities and overwhelming offensive power.

Metal Gear Online is the online multi-player experience that is included free in the retail version of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, developed exclusively for the PS3 computer entertainment system.

- Ultra Realistic Racing Title Races into Stores Exclusively for Xbox 360 -

Atari today announced that RACE Pro has reached the checkered flag as it races into retail stores. Developed by renowned award-winning game developer SimBin, a leading creator of PC racing simulators, RACE Pro brings SimBin’s formidable skill and know-how exclusively to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for the very first time.

“Atari is committed to working with the industry’s finest developers, and SimBin is at the top of the game when it comes to racing simulations. RACE Pro is the first time SimBin has brought its incredible expertise to console and we’re proud to be launching it with them,” said Phil Harrison, President of Infogrames, the parent company of Atari. “RACE Pro is the most realistic racing game available on console, and is accessible to newcomers while having the depth to satisfy the most demanding petrol-head.”

RACE Pro recreates a breathtaking reality giving gamers the ultimate racing simulation experience, all powered by Lizard, SimBin’s own physics engine. With precision physics and handling, racers will feel every bend and burst of acceleration along with every emotion from pre-race tension in the pit lanes to the exhilaration of capturing the checkered flag. RACE Pro provides unrivalled realism and deep immersion into the racing world through ultra realistic car models and official FIA championships and tracks. Putting players in the driving seats of their simulated racing careers, racers will have the opportunity to work their way up the leader boards through intense training and winning key races.

The variety of cars in RACE Pro ranges from 200 to over 1000 horse power, encompassing a host of championships including WTCC (World Touring Car Championship), Formula 3000 and Formula BMW. GT cars from manufacturers including Aston Martin and Saleen take their place on the grid as well as production cars such as the Audi R8 and Dodge Viper SRT10. In addition, RACE Pro is exclusively bringing all the WTCC cars from manufacturers BMW, Chevrolet and Seat to Xbox 360 for the very first time. For a blast of accessible fun, the Mini Cooper Challenge invites players of all abilities to take the wheel.

Gamers and racing fans alike will experience the thrill of racing these powerful cars on 13 real life tracks covering all continents, of which Macau, Porto and Pau are exclusive to RACE Pro, and US tracks Laguna Seca and Road America are brand new to SimBin fans.

Online play via Xbox LIVE online entertainment network and System Link support lets up to 12 players take on equally high-powered opponents and test their skills to the limit to reach the finish line ahead of the pack. For friends closer to home, the brand new ‘Hot Seat’ feature puts players in the driving seat for a limited amount of time before passing the controller to the next player and so on, demanding exceptionally quick reactions and precision racing from even the most seasoned drivers.

RACE Pro provides deep immersion into the racing world through ultra realistic car models and official FIA championships and tracks. Smell the burning rubber of tires on a hairpin bend and feel the vibrations of a revved-up engine on the grid … Nothing gets closer than RACE Pro, available in stores now.

For more information, please visit the official website at www.atari.com/racepro.