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“KING OF SOUL” OTIS REDDING DEBUTS ON ROCK BAND

Harmonix and MTV Games today announced that a five pack of songs from Otis Redding, known as the “King of Soul,” as well as singles from All Time Low, Alphabeat, Brian Setzer and The Chemical Brothers, will be added next week to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii.

These are among the more than 400 artists currently available through the Rock Band platform. With more than 1,000 songs available, Rock Band is, without question, the industry leader in providing the best selection of interactive musical content, songs and artists.

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation3 System and Wii

Otis Redding’s short career has been celebrated many times over. He was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994, received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999, has three songs listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “The 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll,” and Rolling Stone ranked him No. 21 in their 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the No. 8 greatest singer of all time. The legendary artist will make his debut in Rock Band next week with five of his classics: “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song),” “I’m Sick Y’all,” “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember” and “Love Man.”

Also available in the Rock Band Music Store next week are singles from All Time Low (“Weightless”), Alphabeat (“Fascination”), Brian Setzer (“Stray Cat Strut”) and The Chemical Brothers (“Let Forever Be”).

Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (Feb. 16) and PlayStation3 system (Feb. 18):

· Otis Redding – “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” +

· Otis Redding – “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)” +

· Otis Redding – “I’m Sick Y’all” +

· Otis Redding – “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember” +

· Otis Redding – “Love Man”

· All Time Low – “Weightless”

· Alphabeat –“Fascination” +

· Brian Setzer – “Stray Cat Strut” +

· The Chemical Brothers – “Let Forever Be” +

(All tracks are original master recordings)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “Otis Redding Pack 01”as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 system, and as individual tracks only on Wii. Tracks marked with “+” are also available for download in the family-friendly LEGO® Rock Band Music Store.

Price:$1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track

$8.49 USD, £4.39 UK, €6.55 EU (680 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Otis Redding Pack 01”

$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per track

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **

For more information, please visit:

Rock Band Website

Otis Redding Website

Rock Band 2 is available for Xbox 360, PlayStation3 system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Wii system. Xbox 360, PlayStation3 system and Wii versions support downloadable content.

Downloadable content for Wii is purchased via the in-game Rock Band Music Storeusing Wii Points™ purchased through the Wii™ Shop Channel and can be downloaded to the system memory or to an SD card for additional storage. The tracks stream directly from the SD card for seamless play.

With these additions, there are now 1,086 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/music). Rock Band continues to satisfy music fans’ and gamers’ voracious appetite for rock with more than 60 million paid downloads since its launch Nov. 20, 2007. The Rock BandRock Band library. Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks and packs from the vast selection of offerings available to date without ever leaving the game as they build their own custom

Rock Band and Rock Band 2 are rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB. Music downloads are not rated by the ESRB.

For more information on Rock Band 2 and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com.

Find More Delicious Candy for Your Brain at the official website www.bittos.com

MACHINE and Unconditional Studios announced today that bittos+, the flagship edition of the bittos innovative arcade-style puzzle game, has launched for WiiWare™ and is available today through the Wii™ Shop Channel for 1,000 Points ($10.00).

Developed by Unconditional Studios and rated “E” for everyone by the ESRB, bittos+ is a fun puzzle game for the whole family that challenges players to guide, rotate and slide the shapes into just the right arrangement to construct vibrant, shiny squares. Yes, squares! Make squares, and squares within squares, to advance through the levels which become progressively quicker and more challenging. Loaded with multiple modes to unlock, collectable in-game awards, local leaderboards for both you and your household, and unique game styles to suit your every mood, bittos+ sweeps you away, delivering a brand new gameplay experience that everyone can enjoy.

The PC version, bittose is also available exclusively through machinearcade.com for $14.99. To access the central resource for the growing bittos community, players can point their cursor at bittos.com, where fans and newcomers alike can download the PC version of the game, study bittos anatomy, download gameplay footage, vividly detailed screenshots, and find information on every detail about the game with the latest news and updates.

To learn more about bittos, please visit bittos.com, become a fan of bittos on Facebook at the official Unconditional Studios page: facebook.com, or subscribe to the official bittos YouTube channel at youtube.com.

There’s a lot to say about this week’s downloadable games. You can check out the brain-training power of The Amazing Brain Train! or the cute puppies of Me And My Dogs: Friends Forever. Fans of more traditional games can protect their space fleet from waves of enemies in STARSHIP DEFENSE™ or explore the dual temporal world of Chronos Twins. Retro gamers will certainly like the ninja stylings of Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi™ on the Virtual Console™ service or the chance to try out the Nintendo DSiWare™ title Dark Void™ Zero, a mythical long-lost game from Capcom’s vaults.

And then there’s Muscle March.

A bunch of bodybuilders (and a polar bear) clad in bikini briefs chase after protein-powder thieves who can bash through walls at will. Strike your best bodybuilder poses to catch the thief and make the protein powder yours again. This surreal experience is best shared among friends, so start flexing!

WiiWare

Muscle March
Publisher: NBGI
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Wii Points™
Description: Muscle March is a quirky Japanese action game stuffed full of macho bodybuilders. The all mighty protein powder has been stolen, so it’s up to Tony and his muscle-bound crew to catch the thieves. Choose from a variety of perfectly molded superstars and bring these terrible villains to justice. As the thieves attempt escape, they will smash through walls while making a variety of poses. You must match these poses to fit through the holes and catch up to the thieves. The protein powder will be yours again! Flex your muscles by yourself or with up to three friends in turn-based macho excitement. Posing for a few minutes not enough? Enjoy Endless Rush mode until your muscles bulge and explode! Muscle March will also be the first WiiWare title to offer a polar bear in tight swimwear!

The Amazing Brain Train!
Publisher: Wahoo Studios
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: All aboard! Power up your intellect and embark on an epic quest aboard The Amazing Brain Train! Fueled by your mental energy, Professor Fizzwizzle’s Brain Train will take you on a brain-boosting adventure. Put your mighty mind to the test and see how far you can go.

Nintendo DSiWareSTARSHIP DEFENSE
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: STARSHIP DEFENSE takes the tower defense genre into outer space. Defend your space fleet from wave after wave of enemy attacks by equipping a variety of weapons and using a combination of strategic skills and resource management. Attach weapons to your ships using the touch screen, making sure to place them for maximum effect when planning your defense. If you don’t, the relentless nature of your enemies could overwhelm you. Increase your chances of success by using energy collected from defeated enemies to install new and more powerful weapons, destroying particular enemies to obtain weapon upgrades, and watching for rare power crystals that unlock advanced attacks, including a devastating black hole. And if you still find yourself in trouble, select an SOS card to call on a special kind of assistance. You’ll have to defend your fleet across 30 intense sectors, some with specific challenges, while advancing your rank from lowly recruit all the way to fleet admiral. Are you up to the challenge?

Dark Void Zero
Publisher: Capcom Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: As the ’80s were drawing to a close, the developers at Capcom began work on a top-secret project that aimed to set new standards for the platformer genre. That game was called Dark Void. Alas, Capcom suspended development on Dark Void as it began to evaluate the SNES™. Before long, the game was shelved and drifted, unnoticed, into the annals of gaming history. Dark Void became a legendary “lost project” at Capcom. Now, nearly 20 years later, Dark Void is back! To commemorate the game’s humble origins, Capcom has commissioned this recreation of the original 8-bit classic, now re-titled Dark Void Zero, on the Nintendo DSi™ system. You play as Rusty, the first human born in the Void, who must take on the Watchers in a quest to stop their domination of Earth. With the aid of Nikola Tesla and his state-of-the-art rocket pack, Rusty must take down the Watchers and their minions across three intense levels of action and intrigue.

Chronos Twins
Publisher: EnjoyUp Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Enter into the original world of Chronos Twins, where you’ll live a fantastic adventure full of innovative ideas never seen before in any game. Thanks to its Dual Gameplay game system you’ll be able to control Nec in two temporal scenarios at the same time. Chronos Twins mixes action, platforms, adventure and puzzles to challenge your intelligence and ability. If you like games with a real challenge, there’s no doubt that Chronos Twins is the game you’re looking for.

Me And My Dogs: Friends Forever
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Have you always dreamed of having a cute dog to cuddle? Thanks to Me And My Dogs: Friends Forever, you can have up to three of the cutest pups imaginable at the same time and take them with you everywhere you go. Choose from friendly Labradors, playful Chow Chows and smart Beagles. Like real dogs, you’ll have to take care of them, feed them, wash them and give them lots of love. Play with them at the park and teach them lots of tricks or train them for competitions at the stadium. You can even call them like in real life thanks to the microphone.

Virtual Console

Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Original platform: Genesis
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: Easy to play, hard to master, Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi, first released in 1987, is the sequel to the original Shinobi arcade game, and is one of the only games in the Shinobi series to feature true arcade-style game play. Play as Joe Musashi, the master ninja known to his enemies only as “The Shinobi.” This battle is not one you must fight alone, as this is the first game in the Shinobi series to feature your ninja attack dog, Yamoto, who will charge foes on command, leaving them open to a powerful drop kick. Use your mastery of ancient ninja technique to topple the crime syndicate – the Neo Zeed Corporation – and free the foreign dignitaries they have taken hostage in New York City. Good luck, and may the ninja spirits help guide you in your journey.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit Wii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

NinjaBee brings Grubby Games star Professor Fizzwizzle to new platform

Professor Fizzwizzle, the diminutive genius and star of the 2008 PAX 10 award-winning PC title, The Amazing Brain Train!, will make his debut in a new destination, Nintendo WiiWare, the Wii system’s downloadable service, on Monday Jan. 18, 2010. Players will be able to hop on board and begin their own brain-boositng adventure for only 600 Wii Points (USD $6).

The new WiiWare title takes players on a mind-sharpening journey around Professor Fizzwizzle’s cartoon world stopping only to solve challenges and help his friends along the way. Fueled only by mental energy, The Amazing Brain Train! guides the player through 15 different mini-games in three addictive game play modes—quest, test and practice.

“This is one of the few brain training games that has a quest/story mode,” said Joey Kendall, Lead Programmer at NinjaBee. “It adds new goals and more purpose to the mini-games. The story is silly but it’s kind of like watching a Disney movie – it’s cute but there’s a lot of humor in there that only an adult would understand. It adds great comic relief.”

More than a year of work has been put into fine-tuning The Amazing Brain Train! and adapting it for the Wii. The result is a fun, ultra-challenging and addictive brain training game that is unlike any other in the WiiWare library.

“This is no ordinary brain game,” said Ryan Clark, co-founder of Grubby Games. “The Amazing Brain Train! contains features never before seen in the genre. It’s a departure from the minimalist brain games we’ve seen in the past. You can forget about goal-less gameplay: The Amazing Brain Train! is packed with quests, trophies and high scores that add an aspect of gameplay that other brain games just don’t have.”

The game includes 32 unlockable trophies, 16 categories of high score competition, unlockable tracks and quests, plus a test mode that grades your brain power and tells you just how far your mental juice can carry you.

“The game does a really good job of rewarding you for doing well,” Kendall said. “It kind of triggers that ‘achievement mentality.’ You get a couple trophies and find yourself saying, ‘I’ve got to get all of those.’”

The Amazing Brain Train! was originally released for PC, Mac and Linux in May of 2008 and in July of that year, the game was selected out of hundreds of entries as one of 10 games to be featured at the Penny Arcade Expo.

Season 6 Winner Along With Show’s Key Celebrities And Contestants To Be Featured In The Game

Atari Inc, and The Weinstein Company announced today that the initial videogame based on the mega hit-TV program, will strut its way to retail on March 2, 2010, releasing within season seven of the program. The Project Runway videogame will be released exclusively for the Wii system and is being developed by Tornado Studios.

A must have “accessory” for series fans, Project Runway the videogame will put players in the role of aspiring fashion designer. Similar to the show, players will be presented with a range of theme challenges as they create designs and adorn models with hair, make-up, and accessories. Players can then become the model and strut their creations down the runway using the Wii Balance Board™ accessory. Capturing the true essence of Project Runway, the title will feature the show’s key talent, Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, and Michael Kors as well as the top eight contestants from season six including reigning Project Runway winner Irina Shabayeva.

In addition to the core reality show competition, the Project Runway videogame for Wii™ will include a variety of fun, family friendly game features inspired by the content from the show. These include:

· an interactive garment studio

· a fashion career mode

· hair and make-up studios

· a Wii Balance Board-compatible catwalk game

· a feature where the player can take part in high-profile fashion shoots and take on the role of a fashion photographer.

TWC spokesperson David Glasser said: “We are so thrilled about our new partnership with the Atari team and are especially pleased to present Project Runway fans with this new and exciting experience.”

For more information, please visit www.atari.com.

Just when you think TvC: Ultimate All-Stars is out of surprises, you get this ^^^!

TvC: Ultimate All-Stars is basically the uber-version of the Japan-only Tatsunoko Vs Capcom: Cross-Generation of Heroes.  It adds more characters, tunes the balance, and gives the whole glorious package worldwide online versus play. 

Niitsuma and the team also went back to the drawing board on the collection of zany mini-games from the original, and have transformed one of the best of the bunch into a robust game worthy of a download unto itself. 

TvC: Ultimate All-Shooters is a 2D shoot-em-up in the style of past Capcom classics as “Legendary Wings” and “Commando.”  It takes place on the snow-covered wastelands of Lost Planet, and pits you against hordes of hungry Akrid bugs. 

It has four unique playable characters:  Ryu and the PTX-40A from the Capcom side, and Ken the Eagle and Tekkaman from the Tatsunoko side.  All of the characters move in their own way, and have character-specific regular and special attacks (shinku-hadoken anyone?).  It has mini-bosses, bosses, and MEGA bosses, different paths to take through the game, and you can play up to 4-player coop!

The best part?  This game is built into Tatsunoko Vs Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars already.  Any fans of OG Capcom shooters needs to check this one out.

Innovative Rhythm and Fitness Game Is Now Available In Retail Stores Nationwide

Over 100 Songs to Step Along To Makes Walk It Out! One of the Most Expansive Rhythm Games on the Market

Konami Digital Entertainment Inc., today announced Walk It Out! is now available in retail stores nationwide for Wii. Designed with children and parents in mind, Walk It Out! takes a fresh perspective on gaming by integrating traditional rhythm elements with a low impact and high energy walking simulator. In addition to addictive and rewarding gameplay, Walk It Out! provides an immersive music experience by offering one of the vastest and expansive music libraries of any rhythm game on the market. The soundtrack, which contains over 100 songs, features some of today’s biggest artists including licensed masters from Ne-Yo (Closer), Fergie (Clumsy) and Demi Lovato (How Do You Sleep).

Walk It Out!’s uniqueness lies in the gameplay where players walk their way throughout an expansive world of fields, stadiums, parks, ocean sides, suburbs and other metropolitan areas. As players step to the beat, they will begin to watch the world evolve and expand in real-time. Go straight or take a turn and follow the road less traveled to unlock in-game items, songs and bonuses. The more you walk, the more you discover and explore!

More than just gameplay, Walk It Out! promotes and encourages fitness and wellness for the whole family. As players walk, progress is tracked with in-game charts, graphs and visuals to show calories burned, distance traveled, steps taken and more! Because of the easy to learn controls, players of all skill levels can get up and walking quickly! Players can even take a break from their travels with fun and challenging mini-games.

Walk It Out! is also compatible with the DanceDanceRevolution Controller, Wii Balance Board and Wii Remote and Nunchuk.

Walk It Out! is available in retail stores nationwide for the SRP of $29.99. Walk It Out! is made exclusively for Wii. For trailer, screenshots and song list, please log onto www.konami.com/walkitout

New Take on Classic Game to Appear on the Wii in 2010

Electronic Arts Inc. announced today that EA SPORTS is developing one of the most popular and culturally influential arcade basketball games ever made — NBA JAM — for the Nintendo Wii. EA SPORTS NBA JAM revives the classic franchise with vintage NBA JAM gameplay, and all-new features that deliver a fresh new take on the game. Featuring the sights and sounds that fans of the franchise will instantly recognize, EA SPORTS NBA JAM mixes the old school with the new, to deliver a one-of-a-kind sports presentation on the Wii.

“NBA JAM is one of the most recognizable franchises in videogame history,” said Peter Moore, President, EA SPORTS. “Diehard fans of the original game have been asking for a remake for more than a decade. We’re very excited to give them their wish this year with the return of this iconic franchise.”

Featuring gameplay that is true to the original, NBA JAM will have players spinning with ankle breaking moves to the basket and on the way to high-flying, backboard-smashing dunks. In addition to the classic experience, EA SPORTS NBA JAM will also introduce new game modes, characters and gameplay depth.

NBA JAM brought an all-new visual style to the sports videogame genre when it debuted in 1993. Now, the new EA SPORTS NBA JAM re-defines the visuals for a sports game yet again by bringing true-to-life body types, updated physics and visible player emotion to the over- the – top experience.

EA SPORTS NBA JAM is currently in development at EA Canada in Vancouver, BC and will be available for the Nintendo Wii videogame system in 2010. The game has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI.

For more information, visit www.nba-jam.easports.com.

SEGA are pleased to confirm that Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing will allow you to race as your Mii on the Nintendo Wii version of the game. Take on the likes of Sonic, Dr Eggman, Ryo and Amigo, as your Mii races towards the chequered flag on tracks inspired by your favourite SEGA worlds! Winning is only part of the fun in Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing! Each character, including your Mii, can unleash a unique All Star move specific to them, allowing a quick way for competitors to get back into the race!

Majesco Entertainment Company and developer Attractive Games LTD today released the preview trailer from the upcoming Wii title Pizza Delivery Boy. As evidenced in the trailer, players use the Wii Remote as an all-in-one kitchen utensil and driving wheel to prepare and deliver a plethora of palatable pizzas to hungry customers in three bustling burgs. However, they must avoid a number of obstacles that stand between them and the coveted title of Pizza Boy of the Year! The Wii exclusive game is expected to release in March 2010 and is rated E for Everyone.

The key to happiness and success can been measured with a good slice of pizza. This has never been more evident than in Pizza Delivery Boy’s three vibrant fully 3D communities whose population experienced bliss and happiness each time they enjoyed the delectable pizzas made by three brothers who each ran their own successful restaurants. Unfortunately the bungling brothers let the success go to their heads and their once thriving palaces are now on the brink of ruin. The towns are in desperate need of a local hero. As the brothers’ new hire, it is the player’s task to restore the faltering pizza parlors to their past prominence. The player must make money by baking and delivering pizzas throughout the three busy towns, which are crawling with scoundrels and hazards like hungry hobos, oil slicks and student drivers. As with all jobs, this one also has its perks as players can unlock a variety of speedy vehicles and earn extra cash on their days off by taking on various side missions.