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June Update Welcomes Summer to the Courts with New Outfits, Free Gifts, and Plenty of Prizes!

Burda:ic, a leading publisher of online games worldwide, today announced the start of the Summer Festival in colorful sports MMORPG, Fantasy Tennis Season 2. Kicking off the June update, the festival lets players experience summer on the courts with parasols, popsicles, and a variety of poolside attire. As a reward for braving the heat, Burda:ic will even be handing out free, limited edition t-shirts as gifts!

Of course, the June update adds more than just the festival proceedings. A few in-game tweaks have been made and three new Gacha sets have been added, including the truly fantastic Literature Set. Dress up as Robin Hood, Zorro, or the great Sherlock Holmes and take to the courts as your favorite fictional hero!

For more information about the June update and the Summer Festival, please visit http://ft.alaplaya.net.

UBISOFT TOURS THE GLOBE WITH SHAUN WHITE SNOWBOARDING: WORLD STAGE

Ubisoft announced that it is collaborating again with Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White in Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage. Developed by Ubisoft Montréal, the game will be available exclusively for the Wii(TM) system from Nintendo and will be on store shelves holiday 2009.

“Working with Shaun on the first title was an excellent experience,” said Antoine Guignard, Ubisoft producer of Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage. “The great public reception of Shaun White Snowboarding and the wonderful collaboration with Shaun made it a slam dunk for us to reunite to create a fun, new adventure for fans.”

Players will hit the slopes with Shaun White and his crew, but this time the stakes are higher as you pursue the world’s top competitions from a half-pipe in the middle of New York’s Time Square to the most prestigious competitions of France, Canada and Japan.

“Ubisoft has been a great partner, and I’m excited for World Stage,” said action sports phenom Shaun White. “It’s cool to give people insight on what my life is like on the competition circuit.”

Shaun White Snowboarding was a worldwide success for Ubisoft, selling over 3 million copies since its November 2008 launch and establishing a new sports brand for Ubisoft. The title was also one of the first and most popular video games compatible with the Wii Balance Board(TM) accessory. Players will be able to break out their Balance Boards once again for Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage when they flex their board skills either alone or together with family and friends.

Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage will be showcased at the Ubisoft press conference during E3 at the Los Angeles Theater on June 1st at 5 p.m. Visitors can hit the powder, as well, at the Ubisoft booth on the show floor (South Hall, Booth #1022).

For more information on Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage, please visit: www.shaunwhitegame.com.

Classic Franchise Returns to the Ring with Motion Controls, Multiplayer Action and New Surprises

Today the world of video game boxing returns to its roots with the launch of the new Punch-Out!! game for Nintendo’s Wii console. The game brings immersive motion controls to an iconic franchise that has been around since the days of the NES. Players are invited to step into the ring as underdog Little Mac as they go toe-to-toe with an array of memorable characters, including familiar faces like Glass Joe, King Hippo and Don Flamenco.

The motion-sensitive Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers turn the swings players make in real life into on-screen punches. Both novice and veteran gamers can pick up Punch-Out!! and punch their way to the top. The optional Wii Balance Board accessory (sold separately with Wii Fit) can be added to provide an extra challenge for advanced players who want to literally bob and weave through their fights. For those who insist on old-school Punch-Out!! purity, the game also can be played with classic NES-style controls by turning the Wii Remote controller sideways.

Even players who have battled through the original games hundreds of times will find new challenges with Punch-Out!! for Wii. For instance, once Little Mac (with the help of trainer Doc Louis) has pummeled his way through all the contenders, they return to offer him new challenges in Title Defense Mode. Only this time, their traditional weaknesses have been eliminated and players must find new ways to achieve victory. In this mode, the once-harmless Glass Joe now wears headgear, and King Hippo’s vulnerable belly is protected behind a manhole cover. The new twists ensure fans enjoy a completely new play experience.

For the first time in the Punch-Out!! series, a head-to-head multiplayer mode lets players compete against one another. Both players take on the role of Little Mac and match wits as they trade uppercuts, jabs and body blows. With a series of well-placed punches, Little Mac transforms into the gargantuan Giga Mac, who can land more powerful blows and is more difficult to take down.

“Punch-Out!! is back, keeping all the charm of the original while delivering a knockout punch with new twists to experience and enjoy,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “As part of one of Nintendo’s most storied franchises, this new Punch-Out!! game will surprise and delight fans with even more ways to enjoy its timeless game play.”

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

For more information about Punch-Out!!, visit www.PunchOut.com.

Sign up now for a free account and tear up the Chachapoyas slopes with stylish new gear!!

Outspark, a leading North American virtual playground combining free to play games with personalized social experiences, today announced the commercial debut of its hit online snowboard racing game Project Powder. Featuring a new Pro Shop with stylish outfits for each of the game’s customizable characters, the commercial release also includes a brand new, never before seen map. Snowboarding fans and gamers of all ages and experience levels can visit www.playprojectpowder.com now to begin enjoying the snow!

Featuring more than a dozen thrilling trails with some of the most pristine spring snow in the galaxy, Project Powder offers players access to a snowboarder’s paradise where they can, create a character, race against friends and pull off larger-than-life tricks.

To celebrate the launch of the new in-game store, Project Powder is holding a Pro Shop raffle. It is the perfect time to gear up and grab the newest outfits in the brand new Pro Shop. Buy the Expedition Outfit, Hummingbling or any other premium in-game item for entry in the contest – one lucky player will win a gaming keyboard and mouse and several others winners will receive in-game currency to spend on their favorite Project Powder gear. Look good, play great and win cool stuff. For complete details, visit www.playprojectpowder.com.

Project Powder Features:

* Four playable characters
* 14 intense tracks including the brand new Chachapoyas Part 3
* Three exciting game modes: Race Mode, Battle Mode & Coin Mode
* Beat other boarders and complete courses to level up, earn cash and buy new gear and snowboards
* Create your own unique style as you learn new tricks through the innovative trick tree

To sign up for a FREE Outspark account or to learn more about Outspark please visit www.outspark.com.

The Charity Event Runs Now Through May 14th on the Sasori Course in the Popular Shot-Online MMO Golf Simulation Game

San Jose-based online game publisher, Gamescampus.com (www.gamescampus.com, run by OnNet USA), today announced the second annual online ALS Charity Tournament for its popular MMO golf simulation game, Shot-Online. The memorial event has been held annually since 2006 to remember a Shot-Online player who passed away from ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).

The GamesCampus ALS Charity Tournament is underway and will run through May 14th on the Shot-Online Sasori golf course. Players of any skill level are welcome to join the charity event. GamesCampus will donate $1 for every player who completes the entire 18-hole Sasori course in the Shot-Online game. GamesCampus will also waive the green fees for all participants. All proceeds from the tournament will be donated to the Driving 4 Life organization to benefit its ALS Therapy Development Institute and ALS research efforts.

“We are pleased to announce our annual event for this great cause and proud to provide all proceeds from the tournament to the Driving 4 Life organization to help raise awareness and cure ALS,” said Tony Liu, Producer of Shot Online. “We encourage all Shot-Online players as well as their friends and family members to take part in this special event which is for such a great cause.”

The Open Beta Is Now Live For The Popular Online Casual Golf Game At http://Pangya.ntreev.net/

Ntreev USA, a leading online game developer and publisher, announced today that it has re-launched Pangya, its popular, online casual golf game in North America. The game, previously known as Albatross 18 in the U.S. is now in beta at http://Pangya.ntreev.net/.

The newly launched beta includes full game play content from Pangya’s Season 3. Before summer, Ntreev USA will introduce Season 4 with new characters, locations, all-new customization features and more. Members who previously had accounts for Albatross 18 will be able to transfer their accounts over to Pangya. All accounts setup during this beta phase will transfer over when the game launches commercially next month.

“Pangya has enjoyed worldwide success and popularity, including its tremendous mainstream popularity in the U.S. market,” said Chris Lee, CEO at Ntreev USA. “Pangya offers a unique golf experience that is easy to pick-up-and-play, and appeals to a wide variety of skilled and casual players alike. We are excited that we could bring it back to the North American players who love it.”

Pangya is a casual golf game that takes the difficult rules of golf and transforms it into an easy to pick-up -and-play casual golf experience that a player of any skill level can enjoy. Featuring simple and intuitive controls, Pangya allows anyone who has used Windows to easily play with other gamers and unlike other online games; players in Pangya are friends, not enemies!

In Pangya, players are taken to 14 gorgeous locations where they can choose one of 8 unique playable characters. Pangya offers players an extensive customization experience with thousands of possible combinations of costumes, accessories, equipment, golf clubs, power boosts and more that help them to become a pro out on the green.

Pangya is free for players to download and play, while some items in the game including certain characters, clothing sets, new equipment and accessories will be available to purchase via micro-transaction.

The in-game currency in Pangya, called Pang, allows players to purchase items from the game’s shop that will upgrade a character, provide new inventory and equipment, allows them to send gifts to other players and more. Gamers can earn Pang by finishing a hole at par or better, and by showcasing powerful shots.

The beta for Pangya is now available, with a full commercial launch in May.

For more information about Ntreev USA visit www.ntreev.net. For more information on Pangya, please visit http://Pangya.ntreev.net/.

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/.

Playlogic Entertainment, Inc. is pleased to announce that Pool Hall Pro, the action-packed sports game developed by Icon Games Entertainment, is coming to Wii and PC May 26, 2009. Pool Hall Pro calls on players of all levels from amateurs to pool sharks to take on the world’s toughest opponents as they travel the globe mastering an array of pool and snooker games in order to earn fame and fortune.

“Pool Hall Pro brings action-packed entertainment back into casual sports games with customizable characters, exotic pool hall locations, numerous modes and countless hours of gameplay,” said Adam McGowan, Marketing Director for Playlogic. “The simple control scheme and easy-to-access modes make Pool Hall Pro a great game to pick up and play.”

Pool Hall Pro features six modes with a vast array of pool and snooker games, such as basic pocket billiards to U.S. 8 ball and 6 ball snooker. Create your own avatar before setting out to challenge the pool hall’s toughest opponents and take your character from rags to riches! Compete against the pros in single player mode or make a name for yourself as you travel the globe earning cash and unlocking collectables in world tour mode. Win games and unlock collectables to pimp out your crib and give your billiards room your own personal touch. Increase the difficulty by adjusting AI opponents for more challenging games!

Pool Hall Pro for Wii comes with an added taste of realism as players are able to use their Wii remote to simulate the feel of a real pool game by matching the cue movement with a simple on-screen interface and movement from the player.

Additional game features include:
• Six game modes: Arcade, Tournament, Multiplayer, Exhibition, World Tour and Practice
• 11 game varieties: UK 8 Ball, US 8 Ball, 9 Ball, 6 Ball Pool, 10 Ball Pool, 15 ball Pool, Pub Pool, 6 Ball Snooker, 10 Ball Snooker, Snooker and Basic Pocket Billiards
• Fully customizable characters
• Earn collectibles to pimp out your crib
• Simple control scheme
• Four AI difficulty levels: Rookie, Amateur, Pro, Champion

Pool Hall Pro has been rated “E” for everyone by the ESRB. For more information regarding the title or Playlogic, please visit: www.playlogicgames.com.

Rapper and hip-hop artist Bow Wow, fresh off the release of his latest album New Jack City II, will play NBA Live 09 with Xbox LIVE Gold members April 15. If you’re an Xbox LIVE Gold member (if not, upgrade now!), and you want a chance to play with Bow Wow, send a friend request to the following Gamertag and be online half an hour before (4:30 P.M. ET) the Game with Fame session starts on Wednesday, April 15, 5:00 P.M. ET. If you get a chance to play with Bow Wow, we want to hear about it! Send us an e-mail to xlmail@microsoft.com with the subject: “GWF – Bow Wow.” Be sure to include your Gamertag and home town.

In a career that spans seven major albums selling over 10 million copies, all by the age of 21, Bow Wow has gathered a huge fan following for his music, his acting in movies and television shows, and his philanthropic activities. People Magazine named him one of the most beautiful people in the world in 2008. And he re-united with long-time friend Jermaine Dupri to release one of the hottest albums of this year in New Jack City II. He is also the first entertainer to be asked to join Stephon Marbury’s Starbury, an athletic apparel company dedicated to providing stylish and affordable products. Bow Wow’s sneakers and clothing for men and women will debut later this year, and Bow Wow plans on giving some back to the fans. He says, “When you purchase anything from my line you’re being a part of the movement, because I’m going to donate ten percent of my profits to charities and organizations around the world.”

If you want a taste of Bow Wow’s music, check out this hot music video download from Xbox LIVE Marketplace:

“On the Road to New Jack City II” – http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/videos/media/6d0709e0-8ead-4c19-804f-158ccd6b9a03

Bow Wow Game With Fame on Xbox LIVE
Date: April 15th
Location: Atlanta
Time: 5:00PM – 7:00PM (EST)
Game: NBA Live ‘09
GAMERTAG: Bow Wow GWF (**space between Bow and Wow and GwF)
URL: http://www.xbox.com/gwfbowwow
Check out Game With Fame on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gamewithfame

Popular heavy and progressive metal band Queensrÿche will play two games, Halo 3 and NASCAR 09, with Xbox LIVE Gold members April 13. They’ll be playing Halo 3 from 4-5 P.M. ET, and finish up with NASCAR 09 from 5-6 P.M. ET. If you’re an Xbox LIVE Gold member (if not, upgrade now!), and you want a chance to play with Queensrÿche, send a friend request to the following Gamertag and be online half an hour before (3:30 P.M. ET) the Game with Fame session starts on Monday, April 13, 4:00 P.M. ET. If you get a chance to play with Queensrÿche, we want to hear about it! Send us an e-mail to xlmail@microsoft.com with the subject: “GWF – Queensrÿche.” Be sure to include your Gamertag and home town.

Queensrÿche has sold at least 20 million records worldwide with their first three albums going gold, and their next two releases going platinum and triple-platinum. The band consists of Geoff Tate (vocals), Michael Wilton (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass), and Scott Rockenfield (drums). It was Tate who initiated their latest project, the impressively ambitious American Soldier. “The process started with a conversation with my Dad. He was a career military man, with the Marines in Korea and an Air Force tour of duty in Vietnam in ‘68,” says Tate. “He had never talked about his experiences in war, and all my life I’ve been asking questions and waiting for the stories that I never heard. These past couple of years he started talking, and I taped one of the conversations. That was the beginning.” Tate went on to interview dozens of soldiers, those who served in World War II and every intervening conflict up to and including the effort in Iraq.

“It’s very much a statement of the soldiers,” he says, “It’s where they are at and what they have experienced. I hope the album, as a whole, is a statement that can get them talking to each other and begin that process of connecting that needs to happen between people. This was one of the more challenging records for me to write, lyrically, because I am not involved in the songs. It is not about me, and it’s not about how I feel. It is me interpreting stories from the perspectives of the soldiers and putting their words into lyric form, retelling the story in the most honest way that I could.”

Queensrÿche Game With Fame on Xbox LIVE

Date: April 13th

Location: Seattle

Time: 1:00PM – 3:00PM (PST)

Games: Nascar ‘09 (1:00PM – 2:00PM PST) and Halo 3 (2:00PM – 3:00PM PST)

GAMERTAG: Queensryche GwF (**space between Queensryche and GwF)

URL: http://www.xbox.com:80/en-US/community/calendar/gamewithfame/2009/0413-queensryche.htm

If you want to sample the sound of Queensrÿche, check out Xbox LIVE Marketplace for their ‘If I Were King” video:
http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/videos/media/9a2d6bd8-2bfe-4aad-b073-8b8f0dfc9427

VISIT THE GAME WITH FAME TWITTER FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION: http://twitter.com/gamewithfame