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Ninjamurai Leaps Out Of The Shadows As Players Are Invited To Take a Sneak Peek Into The PSP Mini Title Coming This July

Video Game Developer Open Emotion Studios (http://www.openemotionstudios.com/), today unveiled the details behind the story and the cast of seven major characters in their upcoming PSP Mini title, Ninjamurai. Players will be introduced to the mysterious Ninja-Samurai, rejected by both sides of his parents’ heritage, along with his spunky sidekicks who each play an integral role in his journey of discovery.

In Ninjamurai, the player assumes the role of Takezou Nishimura (Also known as The Ninjamurai), a young warrior who is the offspring of a union between a Female Ninja and a male Samurai. Rejected by both sides and looked down on as a kind of a mongrel breed, Takezou can be impulsive due to his age and often has a cocky attitude. He does however have a good heart and a desire to help others. He is the most skilled warrior in his mountain shrine where he was raised by a man named Oro Sensei. After many years of training, Takezou is tasked with going into the nearby city and doing some recon. When he gets to the city he realizes something is amiss. It is overrun with Black Armor Militia and Takezou sets about destroying the Black Armor presence in the city. He meets a Black Armor commander named Bedros Majima, who informs him that the Black Armor was responsible for the murder of his parents.

Along the way, Takezou will interact with a varied cast of characters. Oro, the master of the mountain shrine, was once the master of the Ninja Clan, which Takezou’s mother was part of. When his young charges’ mother and father were slain, Oro took him in and raised him like his own. He is also the keeper of a sacred seal which keeps the dark dragon of the monastery in check. While once a powerful warrior, Oro’s fighting days are over.

Yukiko is Ninjamurai’s recon contact. She keeps him informed of enemy activity and notifies him of threats. Although she can be quite impatient and a bit strict, she is secretly quite soft and finds herself becoming quite fond of Nishimura.

The Black Armor is a dark evil being which absorbs the spirits from beings and incorporates them into digital data. He has been doing this for centuries and as such he has become one of the most powerful beings on the planet. He runs a conglomerate which is a front for illegal activities and he commands the largest ninja force in the world. The Black Armor Executioner is the right hand man to The Black Armor himself. He also has the ability to absorb the residual static (Souls) of warriors. He is obsessed with claiming Oro Sensei and Takezou, as he believes they are indomitable spirits that will give him an obscene amount of power. Perhaps enough to destroy Black Armor, and take over the clan himself…

Ninjamurai just recently became available for PSN in Europe and will be launching in North America in early July. For more information, please visit the official Website at http://www.openemotionstudios.com/

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced the latest in downloadable content for GTI Club Supermini Festa! available on Nintendo Wii, PSP and PSPgo, GTI Club Supermini Festa! is the all-new high-paced racing game stemming from the hugely popular, internationally renowned arcade franchise.

To keep fans of the franchise clamoring for more replayability, GTI Club Supermini Festa! will have downloadable content available for FREE via Nintendo Wi-Fi and via WLAN for the PSP system. Available on April 22nd, players can download the following custom car customizations:

1) Morris Mini Cooper S 1275cc

2) FIAT Abarth 695 ss

3) AUTOBIANCHI A112 Abarth

4) RENAULT 5 Alpine Turbo

Each month Konami will bring all new FREE content for players to enjoy. Players can access this exclusive DLC via the game’s online capabilities. Users simply join the ‘Ranking’ option and the data will be downloaded for free. It will be available for the cars listed above, currently unlocked and stored in the game’s Garage location.

More designs are to follow in the coming weeks.

Cover Selection Marks First in Series of Initiatives Enabling

Madden NFL Fans to Shape Franchise

Electronic Arts Inc. announced today that New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been chosen by fans to be featured on the cover of Madden NFL 11, set to hit retail shelves on Tuesday, August 10. The Madden NFL 11 cover announcement is the result of a first-ever online consumer vote, powered by the Doritos “Change the Game” program, which empowered fans to select the highly-debated cover athlete. The partnership between EA SPORTS™ and the Doritos brand represents the first in a series of initiatives this year which allow fans to help shape the future of the franchise.

Doritos “Change the Game” allowed fans to submit their vote online, with Drew Brees winning over Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne.

“The Madden NFL franchise holds a special place in popular culture and the cover is a coveted position for players all over the league,” said New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. “I’m honored to be the first cover athlete chosen by Madden NFL fans and it’s a great way to cap off an amazing year for the Saints and the city of New Orleans.”

From February 4 – March 15, fans logged on to www.doritoschangethegame.com to vote daily for one of the three nominees. Voters were also entered into a drawing for a chance to win a trip to the 2010 NFL Draft. During the voting period, former NFL all-stars and Madden NFL cover legends Eddie George, Marshall Faulk and Shaun Alexander were featured on limited-edition Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch Doritos bags to inspire fans to vote for the next Madden NFL cover athlete.

“Drew’s exceptional performance during the regular season and in Super Bowl XLIV resonated with voters and helped cement his position as the fans’ choice to grace the cover of Madden NFL 11,” said Todd Sitrin, Group Vice President, EA SPORTS Global Marketing. “Giving fans the power to select this year’s Madden NFL cover underscores our commitment to connecting with our fans and giving them opportunities to influence the game.”

“Doritos is always looking for unprecedented opportunities to provide our fans access to the things they are most passionate about, and we are thrilled we were able to partner with EA SPORTS to give consumers complete control over this highly anticipated gaming moment,” said Rudy Wilson, vice president, marketing, Frito Lay.

Drew Brees was named Super Bowl XLIV MVP after leading the New Orleans Saints to their first ever Super Bowl title. Following a career threatening injury during his last season with the San Diego Chargers, Brees joined the New Orleans Saints in 2005, less than a year after Hurricane Katrina. Since then, Brees has helped rebuild the city and the football team, through his successes on the field and contributions to the community off the field.

Brees’s decorated NFL career has included four Pro Bowl selections, three All Pro selections, three NFC Offensive Player of the Year awards, the Associated Press 2008 NFL Offensive Player of the Year and the Pro Football Weekly 2004 Comeback Player of the Year. Off the field, Brees has been a champion as well through his charity – the Brees Dream Foundation – and his work in the New Orleans, San Diego and West Lafayette/Purdue, Ind. communities, which have provided over $4,500,000 to charitable causes and academic institutions.

Beyond the cover athlete selection, the franchise has also recently introduced two new initiatives that further enable fans to influence Madden NFL 11. From March 31 – April 26, fans have had the ability to vote on three match-ups through the Madden NFL website and determine which teams would be featured in the Madden NFL 11 game demo: a Super Bowl rematch, or a replay of one of the Conference Championship games. During the 2010 NFL Draft, fans will have the opportunity to influence rookie player ratings in Madden NFL 11 via online votes on the Madden NFL website.

Madden NFL 11 will redefine videogame football for both veteran and rookie players by providing a Simpler, Quicker and Deeper experience:

· Simpler: Call plays like an NFL coach with ease using an all-new play-calling system, GameFlow, which executes an authentic, situational game plan for you.

· Quicker: The new play-calling system will enable players to spend more time on the field and less in the playbook – completing games in half of the time.

· Deeper: Madden NFL 11 is feature-rich, with improved animations and control options, enhanced online functionality, and new broadcast and audio presentation that delivers the NFL experience fans have come to expect.

Madden NFL 11 will be available on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 , Wii, and PSP (PlayStation Portable). Madden NFL 11 will also be available for download globally on mobile platforms including iPod touch and iPhone and feature phones.

Madden NFL 11 is developed in Orlando, Florida by the EA Tiburon studio, which also produces NCAA Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR, and EA SPORTS MMA.

For more information about Madden NFL 11 please visit maddenNFL.easports.com.

Consumers should also check in regularly at www.doritoschangethegame.com for details on what’s to come from Doritos and Madden NFL 11.

3D Action Platform Game Available April 8th in North America and Europe for Download on PlayStation® Network

Creat Studios today announced the release of Freekscape: Escape From Hell for the PlayStation Mini platform to play on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable (PSP) and PSPgo. The game will be available via Sony’s PlayStation Network on April 8th in Europe and North America for $4.99 / €4.99.

Developed by Kidguru Studios in Brazil, Freekscape: Escape From Hell is a side-scrolling platformer game set in a 3D world. Players control a little demon named Freek, who finds a holy trident which infuses him with ideas of ascending to Heaven.

“Creat Studios is proud to bring Freekscape: Escape From Hell to the PlayStation Mini platform,” said Vladimir Starzhevsky, CEO and co-founder of Creat Studios. “We’re confident that players will fall in love with its charming characters and addictive gameplay.”

Freek encounters a variety of unusual creatures in his fire-laden underground world while running and jumping along his journey. His new-found trident allows him to the capture crazy crawlers and turns them into different tools, depending on their abilities.

“Kidguru Studios is excited to work with Creat Studios to bring another innovative PlayStation Mini title to gamers on the PlayStation 3, PSP and PSPgo,” said Daniel Garcia, Director of Kidguru Studios. “Freekscape: Escape From Hell provides a thrilling and delightful new action platform experience for all ages.”

Freekscape: Escape From Hell has been rated “E” for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board for this platform.

XS Games today announced the availability of The Red Star for the PSP go exclusively on the PlayStation Network. The game, originally released in 2007 on PlayStation 2, is based on the sci-fi/fantasy graphic novel of the same name by Christian Gossett. Featuring fully polished and improved controls, The Red Star skillfully blends together side-scrolling fast paced retro beat ‘em up gameplay with the blasting power of top-down action packed shooters.

The Red Star takes place in the mystical, technically advanced United Republics of the Red Star (URRS), an alternate reality universe loosely resembling Soviet Russia. Once deemed a powerful empire, the URRS quickly transforms into a dystopia thanks to the slaughtering of millions of its own people under the orders of their leader, Imbohl, a corrupt sorcerer revered as the leader of the Great Revolution. Haunted by their nation’s tragic past, the Heroes of the Red Star quickly discover their true calling, abandon their duties as soldiers of the Red Fleet, and embark upon a life changing journey to liberate their people from Imbohl’s sadistic and dark ruling.

Players can choose to play as either Maya Antares, a powerful Warkaster (sorcerer and human energy cannon) in search of her husband lost in battle, Kyuzo, Maya’s personal bodyguard and deadliest of all guardsman, or Makita, a quick and agile Nokgorkan rebel orphan.

The Red Star can currently be purchased on the PlayStation Network at the price of $14.99. Keep a lookout for the iPhone version coming out later this year.

For more information, please visit http://www.redstar-us.com/.

Legendary Games Workshop Tabletop Game Blitzes Console and Handheld Players, Their Defense is Powerless

SouthPeak Games, today announced Blood Bowl for Windows PC, Xbox 360 and PSP coming in 2010. The hard-hitting fantasy football title previously available exclusively as a Windows PC downloadable game is lobbing a ‘Hail Mary’ pass straight onto retail shelves in 2010.

Just in time for the human football season’s end, SouthPeak is here to offer a less than traditional spin on classic football. With a rich heritage of table-top gaming, Blood Bowl is poised to tear your Windows PC, Xbox 360 and PSP system a new end zone. With turn-based gameplay and each play teetering on the roll of the dice, Blood Bowl will keep you on the edge of your seat from kickoff to final score. Inspired by the infamous Warhammer® series, Blood Bowl brings some of the most vicious gameplay, dirty tricks and lest we forget – secret weapons – to the field in an all new way.

“We’re thrilled to have a part in bringing a proper retail version of Blood Bowl to North American gamers on Windows PC, Xbox 360 and PSP.” said Aubrey Norris, Manager of Human-Orc Relations at SouthPeak. “It’s never easy to get all these races to agree on something – but if there’s one thing they love its good competition with a lot of bloodshed!”

Blood Bowl’s retail Windows PC and Xbox 360 packages will kick-off in January 2010 with the PSP system version taking the field in Spring of 2010. If you’ve never seen a goblin thrown into the end zone by a troll to score a touchdown, then prepare to be amazed! More details are sure to pop up as the teams get themselves in order and the pre-season action begins.

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

Somewhere far far away in a random solar system, a lone space man dies… horribly. Take control of said fateful space man as he battles to his end against the dreaded Alien Zombies! Using a standard laser gun and a few pickups along the way, make sure you take out as many of those Alien Zombie suckers before they take you down. Its that simple. It’s Alien Zombie Death.

Things to know:
- Available in Jan 09, 2010 as a downloadable PSP mini. Price is likely to be around £2.50 / $5.00
- Game play is very retro. Very platform-y. Very shoot-em-up-y. Very fun.
- 14 levels. So, method and location of death is completely up to you.
- A menagerie of Alien Zombie fiends. Fat ones. Green ones. Flying ones. Burpy types.
- Hey… it’s PomPom game. Only slightly weird people need apply.

Video trailer loveliness: http://pompomgames.com/?p=114

Keep your eyeballs on www.PomPomGames.com for more announcements.

It’s Adventure Served Your Way in the All-New Strategy RPG!

Natsume Inc., announced today that it is bringing an all-new RPG titled Adventures To Go to the PlayStation Portable system later this summer. The game offers a refreshing twist on the strategy RPG genre, offering gamers the opportunity to shape and customize the game’s dungeons to their own liking!

“We are thrilled to be publishing Adventures To Go,” said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. “Its whimsical storyline, strategic combat, and endless replayability should earn it a top spot on any RPG player’s list!”

In this hilarious and innovative strategy RPG, players take control of Finn Courtland and his band of misfits in their quest for fame and riches. Along the way, they just might have to save the world from the evil Arbitus and his band of demons. It’ll take brains as well as brawn to win the day, though; the grid-based combat challenges players to think strategically and make the best use of each character’s unique skills and abilities. The strategy doesn’t end there, though! Players can spend their hard-earned cash to set up the game’s randomized dungeons to their liking; choose the terrain, the size of the dungeon, and the monsters that you’ll face. Play it safe, or take on bigger risks for even greater rewards! Your adventure is in your hands!

Adventures To Go will make its first public appearance at next month’s E3 trade show in the Los Angeles area and will ship to retail later this summer.

For more information on Natsume’s titles, please visit www.natsume.com.

Published by Atari Inc. in North America and Coming to Xbox 360, Wii, PS3, PS2, PC and Nintendo DS on June 16th, 2009

Coming Exclusively to PS3 and PS2 in Europe and PAL Regions on June 19th 2009 Published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

PSP(PlayStation Portable) Version Coming Worldwide Autumn 2009

Atari today confirmed the worldwide launch plans for the highly anticipated Ghostbusters: The Video Game.

The title will launch on the Xbox 360, Windows PC, PS3, PS2, Wii and Nintendo DS in North America on June 16th 2009 and will be published by Atari Inc.

In an exclusive deal for Europe and the PAL regions, the PS3 and PS2 versions will launch on June 19th 2009 published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. The launch coincides with the 25th anniversary of the original film’s theatrical release and the launch of the Blu-Ray of the classic first movie, benefiting from a worldwide launch and licensing campaign by Sony Pictures Consumer Products.

“Ghostbusters: The Video Game is one of our most significant worldwide releases this summer. Through Atari’s North America publishing business and alongside our partners at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, we have a strategically diversified approach to maximize a title of this magnitude on a global basis,” said Jim Wilson, CEO, Atari, Inc.

He continued: “As excitement in the marketplace continues to accelerate around this title and the 25th anniversary of the movie’s release, Ghostbusters’ large and loyal fan base and gamers across North America can play Ghostbusters: The Video Game across all major platforms on June 16.”

A PSP (PlayStation Portable) version of the game is scheduled for worldwide launch in autumn 2009 and will be published in Europe by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game, based on the smash hit motion picture franchise, is penned by original Ghostbusters writers and stars Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd and reunites many of the original cast members to recapture the unique blend of humour and fright that established Ghostbusters as a pop culture sensation. The game’s launch on 16 June 2009 coincides with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s worldwide debut of the original motion picture on Blu-ray Disc.

In addition to Aykroyd and Ramis, original Ghostbusters Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson lend their voices and in-game likenesses to the original story set two years after Ghostbusters II, with Manhattan once again overrun by ghosts and supernatural forces. The player joins up as a new recruit with the original team, testing a variety of unique equipment and gadgets, to track, wrangle and trap this wide range of awe-inspiring phantasms in an all new funny and frightening battle to save New York City from its latest paranormal plague.

For more information about Ghostbusters: The Video Game please visit www.ghostbustersgame.com.

Survive grisly monsters, experience spectacular powers and endure mysterious battles – now in the palm of your hands!

Playlogic Entertainment, Inc. announced today that the heart-pumping, thrill-seeking teen horror title Obscure: The Aftermath is coming to the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system and will be available in North American retail stores in September. The title is already available for the Wii system, PS2 and Windows PC under the same name.

“We received a tremendous amount of feedback from fans wanting us to bring the gruesome gore of Obscure 2 to a handheld console,” said Rogier Smit, executive vice president of Playlogic. “Our talented teams have since crafted the game to fit the unique co-op capabilities and controls of the PSP while also keeping the exciting gameplay and detailed graphics featured in the console versions intact.”

Obscure: The Aftermath is the sequel to the acclaimed survival horror game Obscure. Two years ago, at Leafmore High, a group of young teenagers were trapped inside their school and haunted by monsters that had been released by their maniac headmaster. Some of them survived that terrible night, while others perished. Since then the survivors have picked up their lives and began college at Fallcreek University.

Unexpectedly, strange black flowers start springing up all over campus. While experimenting with these flowers in class, a dangerous substance is discovered that induces strange but vivid dreams. Some of the students find that there is more to the flowers than anyone could have ever expected and when the seeds finally germinate, a bad trip suddenly turns into a horrible reality.

Game features include
* Six individually developed characters, all with their own unique skills
* Unique co-op mode; second player can join in at any time
* Highly detailed and rich 3D environment
* Vast variety of weapons and horrifying monsters
* Stunning soundtrack performed by the Boston String Quartet and the Paris Opera’s Children’s choir
* Fully optimized controls for PSP, including a redesigned menu
* User accessible playlist of the musical tracks and FMV cutscenes
* Stunning storyboard, artwork and concept art galleries

Obscure: The Aftermath is rated “M” for mature by the ESRB. For more information about the game or Playlogic, please visit www.playlogicgames.com.