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Fixing some multiplayer issues…

- Available Now via Xbox Live, Title Update Delivers Numerous Enhancements to Multiplayer and Single Player Experience in Atari’s Acclaimed Race Sim -

Atari today confirmed that a title update for ultra-realistic racing simulation game RACE Pro is available now for automatic download via Xbox Live.

Taking on board feedback from the player community, SimBin and Atari have responded with this first title update which addresses numerous issues and greatly enhances primarily the multiplayer experience and also the single player game.

RACE Pro is developed by renowned award-winning game developer SimBin, a leading creator of PC racing simulators, available now exclusively to the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. For more information about RACE Pro visit www.atari.com/racepro and for more details about Atari’s entire product line up visit www.atari.com.

To make your voice heard on the official RACE Pro forum, click here.

The main enhancements and issues addressed in the Title Update are as follows:

MULTIPLAYER UPDATE
- Fixed bug causing the game to crash when 12 players have joined and left a multiplayer game
- Disallow connections to host if they are not waiting for players.
- Fixed the “fast forward” / speed bug currently generating some unrealistic race times in leaderboards.
- Fixed problem with lap times being reported to the wrong leaderboard when moving on to the next track in multiplayer.
- Fixed problem of a player joining during session activation causing the client to get stuck in the loading screen.
- Fixed issue when creating a session with downloaded car and inviting a player that doesn’t have the car
- Fixed name of tracks on servers list when players do several sessions in a row
- Fixed incorrect race length value seen in game list screen
- Fixed transparent car that appears after un-pausing in multiplayer qualification
- Fixed the incorrect message that appears when attempting to access multiplayer without a gamer profile signed-in and if selecting Multiplayer with an offline gamer profile
- Set default host option of qualification to NO in multiplayer for players that have never hosted a game in Race Pro before
- New messages: Display some session info in-game so players can recognize where in the game they are
- New messages: Add a specific multiplayer loading tip showing 50% of loading time in player match only.

GENERAL UPDATE
- Fixed performance drop while driving over curb
- Improved deformation of cars
- Fixed hot seat start position problems
- Removed dangerous driving dialogues when entering loading screen
- Fixed crash when the player tries to enter the end pit driving backwards and wants to restart the race after the losing message
- Fixed some localization bugs
- Locked F3000 car #12 and unlocked the Corvette C5R since there is no contract for it in Career mode
- Fixed validation for replay files to allow replay files saved between year 2000 and 2099
- Fixed sound bug making Doppler effect of other cars sound corrupt in swing cam
- Fixed force feedback detection for wheels and slightly improved strength of force
- Adjusted the Seat Leon Extreme Tryout time
- Fixed sound bug making the rev sounds on some cars not transition smoothly (including Mini Cooper and BMW M3 GTR)
- Fixed sound bug with the force calculation of picking the correct collision sound

The Retronyms announced today the release of their new app Seek ‘n Spell for the iPhone 3G. Seek ‘n Spell transforms iPhone gaming from a solo, sedentary experience to an active and social outdoor contest. Combining real outdoor spaces with virtual letters, Seek ‘n Spell is a word game where you and your friends compete to gather letter tiles and create words to score the most points. Want to see it in action? TheSeek ‘n Spell trailer is available for download below.

With Seek ‘n Spell, players gather in a park or other large outdoor space with a clear view of the sky and activate the app. Seek ‘n Spell detects all the players present and scatters letter tiles across the playing field. Players then race one another around the field to capture up to 10 letter tiles at a time, which they use to create words. Coveted gold tiles will appear randomly on the field, earning players a doubled score when used in words. Points are earned based on the length of the words players spell, and the player with the most points when time runs out wins.

“The GPS capabilities of the iPhone 3G offer new gaming opportunities, and we’re taking full advantage of them with Seek ‘n Spell,” said Dan Walton, co-founder of Retronyms. “We are using the GPS as an innovative game controller, where your actual location on Earth drives the gameplay. We’re releasing Seek ‘n Spell on Earth Day to celebrate our planet and encourage iPhone users to get outside and play.”

The trailer for Seek ‘n Spell, which includes live-action footage of the game being played, is available athttp://www.seeknspell.com/video.html.

The Seek ‘n Spell is available for download from the iTunes App Store at a retail price of $2.99 by visitinghttp://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=307726640&mt=8

Get a taste of the recently released Fantasy Wargame

Paradox Interactive has today released a playable demo of Elven Legacy, the Fantasy Strategy Wargame for the PC developed by Russian studio 1C: Ino-CO.

The demo allows players to play the tutorial along with one mission from the Campaign mode and can be downloaded from the following location:

http://www.elven-legacy.com/index.php/downloads/demo/

Elven Legacy sends players on an epic quest aimed to restore the former glory of the Elven race. With a thrilling storyline with multiple endings and tools that allow players to create their own missions and share them in multiplayer mode, Elven Legacy will provide hours of exciting game play for strategy fans.

Elven Legacy is available from retailers everywhere, along with all good digital download outlets for a suggested retail price of €29.99.

Now Available – Just in Time for Earth Day (ok, I missed this one yesterday, sorry!)

I-play, Oberon Media’s publishing division and the world’s leading multi-platform casual games publisher, today announced the global launch of Paradise Quest for the PC. Available just in time for Earth Day, Paradise Quest brings gamers deep within the Galapagos archipelago where they will embark on a wild puzzle adventure to restore the majestic island of Isabela to its former beauty. Adding a revolutionary twist to the ever-popular Match-3 puzzle genre, all matches in Paradise Quest directly affect the player’s navigation across the board and the outcome of the island.

In Paradise Quest players take on the role of renowned ecologist, Dr. Evan Finch, as they re-establish life in this once magnificent and flourishing retreat. To complete their mission, players must restore each region of the island and re-introduce wildlife to successfully revive the gorgeous surroundings of Isabela. As they gather resources, the camera will pan to reveal a new portion of the environment to be rescued.

In the midst of the amazing island transformation, players must photograph and document up to 75 unique Galapagos species and log the information in their journal to unlock valuable power-ups and resource upgrades. Moving smoothly across the board, players will collect over 350 habitat fragments to piece together scene depictions of six breathtaking regions of the island. Additionally, they will uncover buried artifacts that may lead to answers behind an ancient mystery and untold stories of a lost civilization. To solve the mystery of this island of intrigue, players must rely on the research of a professor of archeology who will help piece together all of the findings and follow their clues.

Paradise Quest is available now on the PC worldwide for $19.95.

“The Arsenal of Democracy” Video Showcases the United States

Paradox Interactive today released a new in-game video for Hearts of Iron III, the long awaited third installment of the World War II Strategy series set for release towards the end of 2009. 

The new video footage showcases The United States, from sea to shinning sea. The epic scale of Heart of Iron 3 is revealed in these shots of the United States. Should the war ever reach the coasts of the United States, the Hearts of Iron 3 map is ready to provide an environment for the war to progress on. The video also demonstrates some of the new production features available in Hearts of Iron 3 including the capability to build up the National Guard and mobilize them for war and the ability to build cheaper but less effective ships. 

Click here to view the in-game footage “The Arsenal of Democracy”: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGGDuW3jrxU 

Hearts of Iron III is now in the Beta stage of development. Over the past few months, the team has been stabilizing the foundations of the AI, tightening up the rules and mechanics of the game, along with implementing brand new artwork and interface features. 

The third installment in the critically acclaimed World War II strategy series, Hearts of Iron III will feature a plethora of brand new features to satisfy veteran and novice players alike, including an enormous game map with more than 14,000 land and sea provinces. 

Hearts of Iron III is scheduled for release in Q3.

GamesCampus’ new 3D pool simulation game enters Closed Beta today, April 23rd Through April 30th

San Jose-based online game publisher, GamesCampus.com (www.GamesCampus.com, run by OnNet USA), announced that Cue Online, its free, item-based realistic online pool simulation game, will launch its second closed beta today at noon PDT and it will be available for players for the next 7 days (through April 30th) at http://cueonline.gamescampus.com/.

New features in the second closed beta test of Cue Online include a more competitive and exciting rebalancing of skills as well as the addition of a basic game fee with a new default allowance provided for first-time players. A new Wager Channel has also been introduced allowing players to bet in the game. In addition, players will be able to purchase Cues and Chokes through the Item Mall.

Cue Online offers competitive billiards games including straight pool, nine-ball, and eight-ball. Developed by Happy Nation, Cue Online delivers realistic billiards gameplay with a custom physics engine and was recently nominated as “Best Game of the Month” by the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Happy Nation’s exclusive engine was designed to create as realistic of an environment as possible. Each ball’s movement will depend on each player’s style, including stroke power, table contact, spin and strike quality with other balls, the cloth friction of the table and more.

For more information about Cue Online visit
http://cueonline.gamescampus.com/.