Archive for April 6th, 2010

Natsume’s Squishy Tank for Nintendo DST is now available

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

NATSUME’S SQUISHY TANK FOR NINTENDO DST IS NOW AVAILABLE

Natsume announced today that Squishy Tank for the Nintendo DST is now available at retail for an MSRP of $19.99. The game is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

“Squishy Tank delivers the ultimate in puzzle play with its fast-paced challenge and a delightful storyline,” said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO of Natsume. “It’s a perfect puzzle adventure game that will deliver hours of fun for anyone on the go.”

Roll out, Private! It’s time to enlist in hilarious puzzle fun! Match up and destroy blocks in this easy-to-learn, tough-to-master puzzle game for players of all ages. A variety of wacky powerups will aid players in their block battling, provided they can use them wisely! Fight through the four challenging game modes to unlock a trio of retro arcade mini games and a new wardrobe of squishy tank accessories!

For more information on Squishy Tank please visit www.natsume.com. You can also follow all of the latest Natsume news at

www.natsume.com/facebook and www.twitter.com/natsume_inc.

EA Sports announces the launch of Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Golf Enthusiasts Can Now Access the Award-Winning Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Experience On-The-Go

Electronic Arts Inc., announced today the launch of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online, providing on-the-go golf enthusiasts with the most accessible, authentic and feature-rich golf video game experience available through a web browser. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online, developed by EA Tiburon, has stunning high resolution 3D graphics and requires no game installation, no disc, and no additional peripherals.

In addition to a free-to-play experience that allows unlimited access to featured courses, players will be able to choose from a monthly or yearly membership, offered at $9.99 and $59.99 respectively (pricing for North America). Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online will also utilize a points-based transaction system allowing players to purchase packages of points at $9.99, $19.99 and $39.99 that can be used on in-game transactions, such as rounds of golf and Pro Shop items. Consumers who purchase the annual membership receive unlimited rounds on all available courses, and will be provided with a package of points that can be spent on Pro Shop items.

“Consumers have an increasing appetite for authentic gaming experiences online and EA SPORTS is driving innovation and growth in the online gaming category, from consoles to mobile devices and the web,” said EA SPORTS President Peter Moore. “The launch of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online signals a shift in the traditional distribution model and will change the way that people will be able to access and enjoy their favorite video games for years to come.”

Since Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online first debuted in May 2009, EA SPORTS has invited players to participate in a series of closed and open beta sessions and consumers have showed overwhelming interest and support for the offering. During open beta, players from nearly 200 countries have played more than two million rounds of golf.

The community will continue to play an integral role in driving the game’s evolution by influencing new course releases, tournament enhancements and key game features. The server architecture allows for easy feature additions driven by player feedback, creating a continuously fresh and challenging experience for on-the-go golf enthusiasts.

Beginning today, new players will also be able to enjoy the following highlighted features:

· Pro Shop – Players have access to a robust Pro Shop allowing them to customize their golfer’s apparel, gear and clubs. Items in the Pro Shop will positively affect the players’ in-game experience, allowing them to earn more in-game currency and experience with certain items and improve their performance with better clubs. Pro Shop items can be purchased with in-game currency earned through regular on course play. Additional Pro Shop items can be attained with points purchased using real-world money.

· Group Tournaments – Group tournaments will help players connect with golf buddies across the globe, as players will be able to challenge their friends in customized, private Group Tournaments. These tournaments are customizable allowing group leaders to set personalized criteria for their tournaments such as selecting the course and playing conditions.

· Friend to Friend Messaging – Leveraging the growing social aspect of golf, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online allows players to connect with and message friends in the world’s fastest-growing online golf community.

· World Championship Courses – At launch, two new courses will be released for Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online – Harbour Town Golf Links and Oakmont CC®. Upon launch, the game will feature an initial roster of ten world-class golf courses including Torrey Pines GC, Pebble Beach Golf Links®, TPC Sawgrass, Sheshan Golf & CC, St Andrews (Old Course), Wolf Creek GC, Wentworth (West Course), Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Oakmont CC® and Harbour Town Golf Links. New courses will continue to be released in the future.

Since 1986, EA has produced immersive golf experiences that give casual and hardcore gamers the ability to hit the links via an authentic gameplay experience. Since the launch of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 99 the franchise has sold more than 25 million units worldwide. The critically acclaimed Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 on the Wii™ was a finalist for IGN.com’s 2009 Sports Game of the Year. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11 will launch in North America on June 8 on the Wii, Xbox 360®, PlayStation®3 and iPhone® platforms.

For more information about Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online, go to http://tigerwoodsonline.ea.com

Natsume brings the spirit with Cheer We Go! for DS

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Natsume announced today that Cheer We Go for the Nintendo DST is now available at retail for an MSRP of $19.99. The game is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

“Players will be thrilled to get their hands on Cheer We Go. It’s a fun-filled rhythm game packed with great music, kinetic dance moves, and a lively story,” said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO of Natsume. “It’s an exciting cheerleading adventure that’s sure to entertain players of all ages!”

Star Hill needs spirit! Its sports teams are in a major slump, and the whole town is in despair. It’s so bad, the cheerleading squad is down to just one person! It’s up to the player to revive the town’s cheerleader squad and bring the winning spirit back to Star Hill! They’ll need to master a huge variety of fun and exciting cheerleading routines to wow judges and take home the gold! Along the way, they’ll make new friends, unlock mini games, and earn stylish new outfits.

For more information on Cheer We Go please visit www.natsume.com. You can also follow all of the latest Natsume news at www.natsume.com/facebook and www.twitter.com/natsume_inc.

Paradox Announces Hearts of Iron 3: Semper Fi

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Paradox Announces Hearts of Iron 3: Semper Fi

Paradox Interactive unveiled Hearts of Iron 3: Semper Fi, a downloadable expansion to its World War II grand strategy game. Semper Fi gives players more control over their country’s warfare and politics, while pleasing history buffs with a variety of new features and events. Hearts of Iron 3: Semper Fi is scheduled for release during Q2 2010.

“Our vision for Semper Fi is to transport the player into World War II in a way that previous installments have not been able to do,” said Henrik Fåhraeus, Associate Producer at Paradox Interactive. “For instance, negotiating and working with the allies was a huge part of WW2 and players are now able to experience that first hand. Also, our historical buffs have long been screaming for more historical accuracy in our games, and while the game still won’t follow history to the letter, these historical events will create a stronger experience by giving you historical references and feedback alongside gameplay.”

Semper Fi Features include:

* Player-determined hidden victory conditions that will keep opponents guessing

* Greater cooperation with allies, allowing players to request troops, convince their allies to attack a specific target and more

* Hundreds of new events added to immerse players in their own version of World War II, comparing the unfolding, alternate timeline to real history

* Vastly improved AI that will defend its territories valiantly, marshal large naval taskforces and launch multi-stage invasions

For more information join the Hearts of Iron Community on Facebook and an expanded list of features, visit http://www.paradoxplaza.com

GAME WITH FAME: Play Fight Night Round 4 with Coheed and Cambria

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Legendary band Coheed and Cambria, just before their appearance at Coachella on April 17, and touring in support of their latest release Year of the Black Rainbow, will play Xbox LIVE® Gold Members in Fight Night Round 4 in our Game with Fame. If you’re a Gold Member (if you’re not a Member, upgrade now!) join us Monday, April 12, starting at 2:00 P.M. ET and meet the band.

Send a friend request to the following Gamertag and be online half an hour before (1:30 P.M. ET) the Game with Fame session starts:

* Coheed GwF

Year of the Black Rainbow, the band’s fifth studio album, will be released April 13, and is a prequel to the legendary Amory Wars tetralogy, a conceptual series that started with The Second Stage Turbine Blade (2002), and followed by In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 (2003), Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (2005) and Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow (2007). The deluxe edition of the new album will also contain a 352-page Year of the Black Rainbow novel written by the band’s Claudio Sanchez and best-selling author Peter David. Coheed and Cambria consists of Sanchez, Travis Stever (guitar), Michael Robert Todd (bass), and Chris Pennie (drums).

If you want to hear the sound of Coheed and Cambria, check out their music videos now available on Zune Marketplace on Xbox LIVE.

If you get a chance to play with Coheed and Cambria, we want to hear all about it! We’ll be posting recaps from gamers all across the country. Send us an email (xboxgwf@live.com) with the subject “GWF — Coheed and Cambria,” and be sure to include your Gamertag and home town!

Xbox Live Game With Fame with Coheed & Cambria

Date: Monday, April 12, 2010

Time: 2PM-4PM EST / 11AM – 1PM PST

Game: Fight Night Round 4

Gamertags: Coheed GwF (*note: space between Coheed and GwF)

Xbox GWF Link: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/calendar/gamewithfame/2010/0412-coheedcambria.htm

Follow the XBOX GWF Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/gamewithfame

**WRITERS: If you would like to attend the session in NYC please let me know and we can make accomodations***

Konami announces new YU-GI-OH! 5D’s World Championship 2010 National Tournament

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Players Compete Online and Head-to-Head in Hopes of Walking Away Yu-Gi-Oh! US Champion. Finalists Also Compete in World Championship Tournament

It’s that time of year again! Players from around the nation will be sharpening their skills to compete in theYu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship 2010 Tournament. And this year, the stakes have been set even higher, as finalists in the US tournament will converge in Southern California and compete against duelists from around the world to be crowned the best Yu-Gi-Oh! player in the World.

The tournament starts online beginning April 5th, 2010 at www.yugiohuschampionship.com where contestants register for the tournament and compete in the online qualifiers. The tournament is broken into three online qualifiers (time based) – with regional finalists battling for supremacy in person. The schedule breaks down as follows:

1st Round: Online Qualifier

* Players tested on all things within the Yu-Gi-Oh! Universe through a timed Yu-Gi-Oh! Quiz. The quiz consists of trivia questions from the animated series, the trading card game and the all new Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2010 video game

* Top 256 qualifiers (per region) will advance to the 2nd round and head-to-head play

2nd Round: Online Region Qualifier

* Top 256 in each region will compete down to 128

* Top 128 qualifiers (per region) will compete online until a regional champion is crowned

3rd Round: Yu-Gi-Oh! Online USA Final

* Top 32 finishers from each regional championship will automatically qualify to compete in the online Yu-Gi-Oh! US Championship

* The final 8 are eligible to compete live and in person at the US National Championships

4th Round: Head-to-Head Competition

* Players travel to Minneapolis, MN

o Date: Saturday July 10th, 2010

* Players duel against each other using the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship 2010 game on Ninetendo DS™ via Nintendo Wi-Fi

* 2 winners will be crowned US National Yu-Gi-Oh! Champion and runner up, giving them a free ride to the 2010 Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship Tournament, August 14th – 15th in Long Beach, California.

This exciting tournament will be sure to bring out the storied champions of the past and introduce new stars in the card game franchise that spans across trading cards, video games and television.

The tournament is coming off the heels of the release of Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship 2010 for Nintendo DS, the latest video game iteration in the popular franchise based on the immensely successful Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s animated series on Cartoon Network and the kids block on The CW. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship 2010 is available in retail stores nationwide for the SRP of $29.99. The game is packaged with three exclusive trading cards as well.

For tournament rules, registration and more information on Yu-Gi-Oh! visit: www.yugiohuschampionship.com