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Aspyr Media and Activision Publishing, Inc. have teamed once again to rock the computer gaming world with the announcement of Guitar Hero World Tour for Windows PC and Mac. Transforming music gaming by expanding Guitar Hero’ssignature guitar gameplay into a cooperative band experience, Guitar Hero World Tour for PC and Mac offers state-of-the-art wireless controllers to computer gamers for the first time, new online and offline gameplay modes and a Music Studio feature for composing and editing original rock and roll anthems. Guitar Hero World Tour is the most complete music game to-date with 86 on-disc tracks from music legends such as The Eagles, Van Halen, Metallica, Michael Jackson and The Doors and features in-game appearances by world famous artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Corgan and Travis Barker.

“Guitar Hero World Tour is the standard for music games on consoles and we can’t wait to unleash this incredible experience on computer gamers,” said Ted Staloch, Executive Vice President, Aspyr Media. “With full band play, support for the new wireless controllers, the ability to create their own music and an amazing array of customization options, Guitar Hero World Tour will be the definitive music game on PC and Mac. We are proud to once again be working with Activision to extend this powerful brand to an eager audience of gamers.”

Guitar Hero World Tour delivers more ways to play than ever before. Virtual musicians can live out their rock and roll fantasies by playing either a single instrument in-game, or any combination of instruments within the game, in addition to the full band experience. Building on all of the online gameplay modes from Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock, Guitar Hero World Tour introduces Battle of the Bands mode, which allows eight players to join online and challenge each other band-to-band to determine who is the best of the best. In the Band modes, up to four players can jam together, online or offline, as they progress through the game. In single-player Career Mode, players can jam on any of the instruments in-game utilizing the controllers in branching venue progression enabling them to rock out in the order of their choice.

The game’s innovative new Music Studio lets players express their musical creativity by giving them access to a full complement of tools to create digital music from scratch, utilizing all of the drum kit controller and guitar controllers, and then play their compositions in the game.

Guitar Hero World Tour for PC and Mac will be available summer 2009. The game is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.

Jump Online and Start Banging Beats with the Patapon 2 Mini-Game – It’s Free and Ready to Play on Your PC or Mac

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announced today that SPIL GAMES will host an exclusive Patapon™ 2 mini-game across many of their online game portals for one week only from March 9th to March 16th 2009. This official flash mini-game is fully playable on both PC and Macs, showcasing the musical fun and inventive gameplay of the newly released Patapon 2 – Out now on PSP (PlayStation® Portable).

The Patapon 2 mini-game, developed by Kerb to promote the launch of Patapon 2, allows you to try your hand at banging out beats to command your tiny tribesman with the rhythm of your drum. Patapon 2is the follow-up to the hugely popular Patapon™, a fun-filled adventure that combines unique gameplay with rhythm and music, requiring you to create cool drumming combos and lead your tribe to victory. There’s plenty of musical fun to be had – whether you want to play with your mates or enter a cool music carnival! With its funky rhythms, cool graphics, and a brand-new team mode, it’s a title you’ll want to get your hands on when it arrives this March.

SPIL GAMES is the world’s ultimate online game destination, providing online games through more than 50 game portals localized in 20 languages worldwide. As a primary distribution partner, SPIL GAMES launched the LocoRoco™ 2 mini game across all 50 of their gaming portals.

Test out your drumming skills with the Patapon 2 mini-game – it goes online at www.agame.com from March 9th to March 16th 2009. You can also visit www.gamesgames.com/game/Patapon-2.html.

Second Installment of Casual Cult Classic Now Available for Macintosh

PopCap Games today announced that Peggle Nights, the second installment in the immensely popular Peggle series, is now available for the Apple Macintosh line of personal computers. Peggle Nights carries a retail price of US$19.95 and is available now for download at www.popcap.com. Peggle Nights and the original Peggle have been downloaded more than 45 million times and have garnered numerous critical accolades and “game of the year” awards. PopCap also announced the imminent arrival of the second free bonus level pack for Peggle Nights, sporting a “Spring” theme.

Peggle Nights features 60 all-new Adventure mode levels and 60 new Challenge mode hurdles, along with a new “Peggle Master” power-up, new kinds of style shots, achievements, and other special bonuses. The game takes players into the “dream worlds” of each of the eleven Peggle Masters, providing five beautifully rendered and themed levels for each character’s secret dreams and aspirations. Peggle Nights supports downloadable expansion packs, and early next month PopCap will release a free 10-level “Spring” themed bonus level pack, the second free expansion pack to be released for the game.

“Braid” for Mac and “The Maw” for Windows Coming Soon

Hothead Games revealed today its plans for a one-of-a-kind model of collaboration with other top-notch independent developers. This unique collaborative effort marries indie studios’ creative game designs with Hothead Games’ multi-platform development and digital distribution expertise to bring award-winning titles to new gaming platforms.

Among the first to join in this effort is Jonathan Blow, whose 2008 launch of Braid via Xbox LIVE Arcade amazed gamers with its innovative game play and distinctive art style. Hothead Games is partnering with Blow to bring his ground-breaking game to the Mac platform and has secured exclusive digital publishing rights to that version.

Further, Hothead Games has forged a new fellowship with The Maw developer Twisted Pixel. Launched last month on Xbox LIVE Arcade, Hothead will deliver The Maw to the Windows platform, integrating special features to make the crowd-pleaser compatible with multiple as-of-yet-unannounced digital distribution platforms and services.

“We focus on finding new distribution opportunities so that they can focus on what they do best: developing their next great game,” said Hothead Games COO Joel DeYoung. “These two titles represent only the tip of the iceberg. We’re committed to working with indies and helping them be successful, so look for lots more announcements to come.”

Digital Eel’s Latest Title Available For The Mac!

No longer do Mac users have to look to their PC brothers in envy when it comes to Digital Eel’s latest game, BRAINPIPE: A Plunge to Unhumanity. Originally released in December for Windows it is now also available on the Mac, at the same low price of only $14.95 and available for immediate download through the Shrapnel Games online store, the Gamers Front.

BRAINPIPE: A Plunge to Unhumanity is a game of international intrigue, exotic romance, and an ostrich named Gwen. Okay, it’s none of those things. In actuality BRAINPIPE is a hypnotic (some might even say mesmerizing, but since mesmerizing and hypnotic mean the same thing why not just call it hypnotic?) journey through the subconscious which leads to either transcending the human race or abject failure. It’s also a computer game. But not a blender.

In BRAINPIPE the player, which would be you once you have purchased the game, maneuvers through a ever-shifting kaleidoscope tunnel using a one-click interface while attempting to collect glowing glyphs and avoiding the savage obstacles that threaten your very sanity. Blast down the tunnel, amassing a score that will impress friends and co-workers. In many ways BRAINPIPE feels like a classic arcade game as seen through the Digital Eel lens; easy controls, addictive gameplay, and the siren song of the high score table.

BRAINPIPE has already been recognized by many fine folks around the world. Bob Mandel of The Adrenaline Vault has it as one of his top casual games of 2008, calling its gameplay “addictive”. He also says, “You get sucked into the mesmerizing setting immediately, and you will not want to blink or turn away for even an instant.” He could have used hypnotic setting, too, ya know.

Joseph Vanburen awarded BRAINPIPE 4 out of 5 err, balls, and feels the game is “…a testament to Digital Eel’s sense of pushing the envelope in game design and content.” Play This Thing!’s 99th also thinks that Digital Eel “…outdid themselves” with the game.

But wait, there’s more! The Academy Awards of the independent gaming world, the Independent Games Festival, has nominated BRAINPIPE in the Excellence In Audio category. The awards will happen on March 25th at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Last time Digital Eel was up for the award they won for Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space. Will they do it again?

To check out all the features of BRAINPIPE: A Plunge to Unhumanity, download a demo, and purchase the game please visit its official product page.

You can also find a nifty gameplay video on the BRAINPIPE forum.

BRAINPIPE:A Plunge to Unhumanity is available as a download for Mac and Windows, priced at a steal of $14.95, through publisher Shrapnel Games.

For more information on other titles by Digital Eel published by Shrapnel Games, or to browse our catalog of award-winning strategy and niche titles from other developers, please visit us at www.shrapnelgames.com, currently celebrating a decade in business. Our latest releases include the real time simulation title Battle Group Commander, Episode One by ProSIM and War Plan Pacific from KE Studios.

Feral Interactive has announced it will release the Mac version of Rome: Total War™ Gold Edition in March. SEGA’s top-rated strategy game will be released by Feral as the second in the series of Feral Legends titles.

Encompassing three centuries of warfare from the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire, Rome: Total War is regarded as one of the best strategy games ever with a seamless integration of strategic and tactical modes and featuring a 3d graphics engine that is capable of rendering over 10,000 soldiers on a single battlefield. 

Players take charge of one of three Roman families with the goal of increasing their family’s power in Rome through diplomacy, economic skill, and of course, war! Players can fight epic historical or fictitious battles while negotiating a century-spanning campaign across Europe and Africa. 

Making the appearance of Rome: Total War on the Mac even more compelling is the inclusion of the official expansion pack, Barbarian Invasion. Set some 300 years later, players must decide whether they will save Rome from its enemies or, at the head of a Barbarian faction, fight to destroy it. 

“The Total War series is one of the most-requested additions to Mac gaming” said Feral Interactive’s David Stephen. “It’s a game that is superbly suited to the platform and one that will be available to all Intel Mac owners including those with Macbooks”

The game will retail in for $29.95, It is currently available to pre-order from Feral’s online store (http://www.feralinteractive.com/?section=buy&language=english).

*UPDATED* Minimum system requirements call for a 1.8GHz Intel Mac only, 512MB RAM, 128MB graphics card, DVD drive, 3.5 GB of hard disk space and Mac OS X v10.4 or later. The game DOES support Intel GMA processors. (Intel Mac Minis and MacBooks).

Independent Developer Mikomi.info Today Announces a Massive Expansion of its Range of Free Games and Content for Home and Portable Videogame Consoles

Independent videogame and content developer, Mikomi.info, today announces plans to significantly expand its range of free content available for home PCs and online enabled videogame consoles. In addition to opening new play areas on its consistently popular online RPG Warrior Quest, Mikomi.info has also launched a brand new game, Star Blaster, which can be played on both the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 via their console’s respective browsers. Incorporating a distinctive interface, Star Blaster pits players against waves of invading aliens whilst online leader boards allow gamers to compare their skills with those of other players from around the world.

In addition to the launch of Star Blaster, online RPG Warrior Quest has also been expanded with the addition of a new gaming area, Starshine Towers. Since its launch early in 2008, Warrior Quest has attracted hundreds of thousands of gamers and has consistently proven popular with both Wii and PS3 gamers since its launch earlier this year. Online leader boards again connect players from across the world and across gaming platforms. Starshine Towers can be accessed by entering the password “starkid” when prompted in game. Also announced today is a brand new game, Ash’s Quest, which is due to launch before the end of 2008. Combining RPG elements with a side scrolling mechanic, Ash’s Quest will bring more free adventure gaming to consoles, PCs, and Macs this holiday season.

Today’s final announcement is the unveiling of a planned March 2009 launch for Mikomi.info’s debut graphic novel, Xevicom Forever: Remixed. Previously released as an online exclusive, Xevicom Forever has been reworked with new artwork and an expanded script for its print debut next year. In addition to being available through all good comic and graphic novel retailers Xevicom Forever: Remixed will also see an exclusive version released for PlayStation Portable.

Mikomi.info is an independent game and content developer for PC, Mac, and online enabled home videogame consoles. Its website, www.mikomi.info, hosts a variety of exclusive content for players that include games, comics, and graphic novels. For more information please visit http://www.mikomi.info

With the Thanksgiving holiday coming soon in the U.S., It’s a slow weekend for news, so i’m posting next week’s releases, starting with tomorrow…speaking of which… Guns N Roses’ Chinese Democracy album FINALLY releases tomorrow. Go get a copy, it’s frigging great (well, the leaked tracks and GH:WT songs are, I havent heard all of em). And remember to get your Dr. Pepper coupon! (they’re giving everyone in America a free can since Chinese Democracy is being released this year). Remeber, this is a ONE DAY ONLY promotion, which starts at 12:01AM EST, and will be available for 23 hours and 59 minutes: http://www.drpepper.com.

So, Here’s the list of games and peripherals coming this week to a Gamestop, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Amazon.com, etc near you….A Vampyre Story (PC)
Age of Empires Mythologies (DS)
All Star Cheer Squad (DS)
AMF Bowling World Lanes (Wii)
Band Manager (PC)
Banjo-Kazooie (X360)
Bolt (PC)
Bratz Kidz (DS)
Cake Mania: In the Mix! (Wii)
Call of Atlantis (PC)
Cradle of Rome (DS)
Championship Foosball (Wii)
Chronicles of Mystery: The Scorpio Ritual (PC)
The Chronicles of Spellborn (PC)
Chrono Trigger (DS)
Chrysler Classic Racing (DS, Wii)
Club Penguin Elite Penguin Force (DS)
Colour Cross (DS)
Cooking Guide Can’t Decide What To Eat (DS)
Disney Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force (DS)
Ellen Whitaker’s Horse Life (DS)
Emergency Hospital (360, PC)
Emma Goes to the Mountains (DS)
Football Director DS (DS)
Garfield Gets Real (DS)
Imagine Gymnast (DS)
Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine (Wii)
King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga (Wii)
Lego Indiana Jones (Mac)
Metal Gear Online Meme Expansion (PS3)
Mumbojumbo 6 Pack (PC)
Mytran Wars (PSP)
Neopets Puzzle Adventure (DS, PC)
NPPL Championship Paintball 2009 (360)
Personal Trainer: Cooking (DS)
Puzzlegeddon (PC)
Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure (Wii)
Skate City Heroes (Wii)
Ski And Shoot (Wii)
Sonic Unleashed (360)
Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (360, PS3)
Syberia (DS)
Tornado (DS)
Ultimate Band (DS, Wii)
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire 2 (DS)
Winter Sports 2 The Ultimate Challenge (360, PS2, Wii)
Yamaha Supercross (PC)
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force 3 (PSP)

Peripherals
4GB Memory Stick (by Sony) (PSP)
6 in 1 Wii Fit Kit (by CTA Digital)(Wii)
DS Lite Clear Case & Stylus (by Intec) (DS)
Playstation 3 InCharge Dual Charge Station (by Tekno Creations) (PS3)
PRO V Gamer 100 10ft. (by Volo) (HDMI Cable)
PRO V Gamer 200 10ft (By Volo) (HDMI Cable)
Rock Band 2 Triple Cymbal Expansion Kit (by MadCatz) (360, PS2, PS3, Wii)
Star Wars Light Up Lightsaber Stylus 2 Pack (by Bensussen, Deutsch & Associates) (DS)
Universal HDMI Cable 4 ft. (by Volo)(HDMI Cable)
Universal HDMI Cable 7 ft. (by Volo) (HDMI Cable)
Wii 6 in 1 Sports Kit (by Intec)(Wii)
Wii Control Pak Essential Controller Kit (by Nyko) (Wii)
Wii Fishing Rod (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Fit Silicone Armor (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Fit Workout Belt (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Hockey Stick (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Maracas (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Ping Pong Rackets (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Pom Pom (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Pom Pom with Nunchuck (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Pool Stick (by Intec) (Wii)
Wii Table Tennis Party Pack (by DreamGEAR) (Wii)
Wii Wireless Guitar for Rock Band and Guitar Hero (by Intec) (Wii)
Xbox 360 Official Rock Band Faceplate and Console Skinz – Scorpion (by MadCatz) (360)
Xbox 360 Official Rock Band Faceplate and Console Skinz – Tattoo (by MadCatz) (360)
Xbox 360 Official Rock Band Faceplate and Console Skinz – Tiger (by MadCatz) (360)

Helsingborg – 17th November 2008,

Frictional Games is happy to announce the release of Penumbra: Requiem for Mac & Linux. The puzzle expansion for Penumbra: Black Plague is now available through our online store at USD 9.99.

Driven completely insane from creating the Penumbra games, Frictional Games is offering all three Penumbra games as a collection at a horrific price of USD 35. This offer is available through the online store and is for Mac & Linux only.

Penumbra: Requiem has previously been released for Windows by publisher Paradox Interactive. Paradox Interactive is set to release a Penumbra: Collection for Windows in Q1 2009.

In related news, AIKA – an orchestral soundtrack, narrative and graphics project was released last Friday. This soundtrack was created by, among others, Penumbra musician Mikko Tarmia & writer Tom Jubert. Be sure to take a look at AIKA as much of the greatness in the Penumbra series comes from the music and story. To spice things up even further, Tom Jubert is nominated for “Best Videogame Script” at this years Writers’ Guild Awards 2008 to be held at BAFTA on Sunday 23rd November. We wish him all the best of luck!

Link: http://store.frictionalgames.com
Link: http://www.paradoxplaza.com/
Link: http://www.thesoundoffiction.com/AIKA/

About Penumbra: Requiem
Requiem is a puzzle expansion for Penumbra: Black Plague. The game contains numerous physics based puzzles, spread out over 9 levels with unique settings. The expansion pushes the graphics capabilities of the game as far as it can – while creating the most detailed and dreading environments yet in a Penumbra game.

The expansion gives extra details to the characters from previous Penumbra games, taking peeks into their final moments of insanity.

Link: http://www.penumbrarequiem.com/site/

About Penumbra Series
Is a first person survival horror series of games, emphasizing on survival and problem solving in favour of mindless violence and gore.

Played from a first person perspective and powered by a 3D engine utilising cutting edge technology, Penumbra is a substantial advancement of the genre. The unique physics system allows for true environmental interaction in a way not possible in other games. The player can open drawers, pull levers, pick up objects and now manipulate those objects in 3D space – all using natural mouse movements, creating a highly interactive and immersive game world.

Penumbra will put players on edge like never before as they explore ominous and mysterious environments, the unknown awaiting them behind every corner. The world is detailed both in terms of graphical fidelity and narrative character – Penumbra is a horrific experience that will grip players from its opening thrills to it chilling denouement.

Link: http://www.penumbragame.com/

About Frictional Games
A small independent developer located in the south of Sweden. Develops original horror games using in-house developed technology with unique physics features, allowing for interaction capabilities not available from any other developer. Currently developing the next generation of technology and tools to power a new survival horror series of games.

Link: http://www.frictionalgames.com
Link: http://www.nextfrictionalgame.com/

Feral Interactive has today announced Friday, November 28th as the worldwide release date for the Mac version of LEGO® Indiana Jones: The Original AdventuresTM, a captivating take on the cinematic adventures of Hollywood’s iconic archaeologist.

Developed by TT Games©^TM and LucasArts – the same people behind LEGO Star Wars II – LEGO® Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures^TM takes the fun and creative construction of LEGO bricks and combines it with the wit, daring and non-stop action of the original movies.

With a unique tongue-in-cheek take on the original adventures, LEGO® Indiana Jones follows Indy’s escapades through the jungles of South America to the mountaintops of India. Players can build and battle their way through their favourite cinematic moments, from Indy’s entanglements with snakes to his dashing boulder run.

“With the extra benefit of Lego Indiana Jones running on all Intel Macs including MacBooks, we are proud to be bringing another great title from TTGames and LucasArts to the Mac platform” said Feral Interactive’s David Stephen.

“We’re delighted to be bringing LEGO® Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures^TM to the Mac,” said Garry Edwards, Business Development Director of TT Games. “The winning combination of charming humour, intuitive puzzles and continent hopping adventure has been a great success and now everyone can enjoy it.”

The game will retail in North America for US $39.95, £29.95 (inc VAT) in the UK and €39.95 (inc VAT) throughout Europe. It is currently available to pre-order from Feral’s online store (http://www.feralinteractive.com/?section=buy&language=english).

Minimum system requirements call for a 1.8GHz Intel Mac only, 512MB RAM, 128MB graphics card, DVD drive and Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later.

More details and selected trailers of the game are now available at: http://feralinteractive.com/game/legoindy