Along with the completion on investigation and correction of the critical issue, we have decided to begin FINAL FANTASY XIV Open Beta Test on Sep. 2, 2010 at 02:00 (GMT).

Starting on Sep. 2, 2010 at 02:00 (GMT), acquisition of registration code required for FINAL FANTASY XIV Open Beta Test will become available on “FINAL FANTASY XIV Open Beta Test Application Site.” For more details, please refer to “FINAL FANTASY XIV Open Beta Test Application Site.”

http://entry.ffxiv.com

We are looking forward to your participation in FINAL FANTASY XIV Open Beta Test!

So if any of you readers are going to dive into Final Fantasy 14 let us here at Gamedibs know and we can try out the game together. Hit the link above and we’ll see you online!

Send the questions you would like answered to Jeremy@gamedibs.com and I will do my best to get them all answered. The cut off for questions to be submitted will be Wednesday, August 25th. Remember to keep the questions relevant and specific and lets have some fun.

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced plans for a limited-release Collector’s Edition of World of Warcraft(R): Cataclysm(TM), the third expansion for the world’s most popular subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game,* World of Warcraft. The special Collector’s Edition package, which will only be available at retail stores, will include the following exclusive bonus items in addition to the game disc:

Art of the Cataclysm art book, featuring 176 pages of never-before-seen images from the archives of the Blizzard Entertainment cinematics department and the World of Warcraft development team, as well as progressive visuals from multiple stages of development.
Exclusive in-game pet: he may not be a breaker of worlds just yet, but Lil’ Deathwing will still proudly accompany heroes on their struggle to save Azeroth from his much, much larger counterpart.
Behind-the-scenes DVD with over an hour of developer interviews and commentaries, as well as a special Warcraft(R) retrospective examining the rich gaming history of the Warcraft universe.
Soundtrack featuring 10 epic new tracks from Cataclysm, including exclusive bonus tracks.
Special-edition mouse pad depicting Deathwing menacing the ravaged continents of Azeroth.
World of Warcraft Trading Card Game cards, including a 60-card starter deck from the Wrathgate series, two extended-art cards, and two Collector’s Edition-exclusive hero cards, marking the first appearance of goblin and worgen heroes in the TCG.
The first two World of Warcraft expansions, The Burning Crusade(R) and Wrath of the Lich King(R), each shattered PC game sales records upon their release. In Cataclysm, the face of Azeroth will be forever altered by the return of the corrupted Dragon Aspect Deathwing. Players will explore once-familiar areas of the world that have now been reshaped by the devastation and filled with new adventures. In an effort to survive the planet-shattering cataclysm, two new playable races — worgen and goblins — will join the struggle between the Alliance and the Horde. As players journey to the new level cap of 85, they’ll discover newly revealed locations, acquire new levels of power, and come face to face with Deathwing in a battle to determine the fate of the world.

The beta test for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm is currently underway. To set up a Battle.net account and sign up for a chance to participate, please visit the official Battle.net website at http://www.battle.net.

The World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collector’s Edition will be available on DVD-ROM for Windows(R) XP/Windows Vista(R)/Windows(R) 7 and Macintosh(R) at a suggested retail price of $79.99. The release date and other details for the game will be announced in the months ahead. For more information on World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, please visit the official website at http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/cataclysm.

Homerun Battle 3D has exceeded 60 million match ups since its launch. There are currently more than 1 million accounts made to date for Homerun Battle 3D, showing that users on average play the game 50 times, enjoy the match up mode 220times over approximately 70days. Homerun Battle 3D has reached 480 million minutes of total interactive user’s experience of the game.

Picture of US user waiting for a Korean user to get ready for some slamming homeruns, in Retina Display.

Also, Com2uS released an update for its franchise baseball game, homerun battle 3D. The game now supports sparkling high definition graphics for the iphone 4 retina display.

Homerun Battle 3D is about slamming a ball over the fence – the core pleasure of baseball. It has full, real-time, online network for head to head matchup game play, a variety of ball types, batting equipments, and a spice of competition.
No baseball game can be better on iphone, ipod touch, ipad and android devices.

Come and join for Home Run FUN!

I admit it. I was late to the game. I never really started watching the Criminal Minds TV series until about a year ago when I caught a marathon of episodes late at night. I couldn’t tear myself away! Each episode was captivatingly creepy and refreshingly different from the vast majority of the other “cop” shows on television. Little did I know that six months later I’d be tapped as the designer and producer for a light adventure/casual game version of the Criminal Minds license. Obviously I was met immediately with a very unique set of challenges in trying to translate a show that revolves around an elite team of FBI profilers who analyze and hunt down the country’s most twisted criminal minds into something the intended audience of gamers would enjoy as much as I do. The show is darkly lit, contains disturbing themes, features a large cast of characters at different locations each episode, and plots that are driven primarily by very abstract psychological profiling. Where to begin?

I decided to approach the restrictions as a challenge. The Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) travels to a new city every episode? Great! We decided to make the game contain three distinct episodes (instead of just one as most games do), each in a different region of the US: Texas, Florida and the Pacific Northwest. Each episode would follow the same format that has made the series a ratings success.

Dark lighting and large primary cast? A big challenge for this game is to meet the casual game audience on their terms. We carefully examined what works and doesn’t work in some of the “darkest feeling” casual games and have learned to play with colored light and to make the brightest spots brighter rather than make the darkest spots darker. As you can see below, the result is a colorful but darkly moody feeling.

And our crack team of artists found a gritty, but realistic style for our characters that I think both fans of the show and casual gamers will enjoy.

Presenting an interactive experience that contains disturbing themes? Bring it on! Most (if not all) Criminal Minds episodes deal with some pretty dark plot lines. Tune into a random episode of the show and the BAU team is likely to be hot on the trail of a sick-minded serial killer who probably has some issues that can be traced back to a bad childhood. While this is admittedly titillating to watch on TV, I don’t think most people want to be immersed “up close and personal” in that world. The addition of a cursor on the screen, the digital embodiment of the player’s presence, and active hidden object gameplay (now you’re touching the stuff!) to a story like that could be a real turn-off to most casual game players. After reviewing years of Criminal Minds episodes, we hired some of the best writers around to come up with three brand- new cases that the license holder (CBS) would love and scripted them in a way that could translate into exciting gameplay that doesn’t take things too far. Below you can see an example of the hidden object gameplay from our first case where the BAU team has to track down an UNSUB (Criminal Minds-speak for “unknown subject”) who has apparently been killing random women and posing their dead bodies as his own twisted work of art. This particular scene is from the city park where two of the victims were known to have gone jogging. Perhaps we can find a common thread between the victims and in the objects on the screen. Hmm…

And what about the problem of presenting psychological profiling drama visually with very limited dialog? Well, that is a mystery we will have to save until the next developer blog.
Be sure to check out the Criminal Minds game when it releases later this year!

Criminal Minds for PC/MAC is scheduled for release in December 2010, and will be available on Legacy Games and at leading retailers.

Games in this episode:

Dewy’s Adventure (Wii)

Windjammers: Flying Power Disc (Neo Geo)

The Combatribes (SNES)

I hope you all enjoy this work in progress, as it truly is a labor of love for me.

Gamedibs is currently going under a major overhaul, so stay tuned for further news.

Q. Considering the number of Fifa fans there are out there, how excited are you guys about the exposure?
A. We’re so excited and stressed out that we decided to hide our identity behind red tracksuits and gigantic sunglasses, Daft Punk style…

Q. From your photos it would appear you guys are skaters, how long have you been boarding and what is your favorite skating game?
A. We’ve been boarders since before it was legal in Norway. Favorite skating game is without a dubt Skate Or Die!

Q. Do you guys game more now that you have been in such a huge title as FIFA?
A. We’ve got tracks in four different FIFA games, so we’ve actually had to quadruple the gaming.

Q. What are some Norwegian bands that you guys enjoy that we might not know about in the states?
A. Røyksopp, Denga Denga, Syntax TerrOrkester, MT SIX, Quasimojo, No States, NOXAGT, Sound Of Sotra, Karin Park, John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen, Audiogarde, Purified In Blood, Kvelertak, Moha, Ultralyd, Bjørn Torske, Lindstrøm & Prince Thomas, Todd Terje, Diskjokke, Of Norway, Christian Tilt, Annie, Ungdomskulen, Skatebård, Tobii, Fjorden Baby!, Teebee, Kråkesølv, Casiokids, Lars Vaular and a bunch of black metal bands such as Burzum, Dimmu Borgir, Mayhem, Gorgoroth and Enslaved?

Q. What is your favorite track on Fifa 10 aside from your own?
A. Peter Bjørn & John´s Nothing To Worry About

Q. What EA title will you be in next and how do you feel about it?
A. The amazing DATAROCK track “Amarillion” will be featured in a game we can’t tell you about, but we already feel great about it!!!

Q. What game do you guys play most on tour?
A. Skate Or Die!

Q. Who is your favorite skater?
A. Øyestein Greni who won the 1991 European Skateboard amateur championship in Antwerp. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4P2ilyiYlA.

Him or anyone who dares to use the Photon light boards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L7pXgk0iGM&feature=related

No , no wait – that’s an eaven tie between Christian Slater in “Gleaming The Cube” and Michael J Fox in “Back To The Future”.

Q. Have you guys every googled yourselves, if so were you surprised by anything you found?
A. Sure. Loved it when Playboy fronted us: http://www.playboy.com/articles/free-music-alert-datarock/

Q. What was your biggest American musical influence?
A. Talking Heads & DEVO.

Q. You guys have anything to say to all the gamedibs fans out there?
A. Check out the label we run – YAP Records at myspace.com/yaprecords

For more information on them please also visit the official EA blog.

The program, Glitch, is funded by the National Science Foundation and employs dozens of Atlantan teens as game testers. Kids tested games for companies like Electronic Arts, Cartoon Network, and GameTap.

Betsy DiSalvo, student at Georgia Tech School of Interactive Computing PhD and Glitch’s lead researcher, played a vital role in the project. DiSalvo became interested in the subject after studying some statistics concerning African American gamers.

In an interview with Noire Digerati she said “that is a very dramatic [contrast compared to] people who do use game interest as an entry point into computer science,” she said.

“What I found” DiSalvo said to Digerati. “Was this really strong sense of sportsmanship and social play, And because of that, they weren’t cheating, modding, or hacking the games at all. They were pretty much playing the games straight out of the boxes the way they were intended to be played. They weren’t seeing games as something that could be manipulated, or something they had power over.”

DiSalvo and other researchers began to find ways for people “break the games open,” despite codes of sportsmanship and fair play. They came up with and interesting solution: game testing.
Glitch Game Testers was born June 2008 and continues strong, helping young African Americans open up new career avenues. Glitch is a success and has gone farther than expected, according to DiSalvo. “[They] are trying to turn them from being just consumers, to being producers of technology. Not just producing with technology, not just using software, but actually producing the software itself,” Disalvo explained.

Corey Steward, Computer Science major at Georgia Tech, Glitch research assistant and black man, said he related to the boys in the program. He recalled enjoying computer science as a child but being distance from an opportunity to be in contact with it. The highest level tech course available to him was a typing course.

DiSalvo believes Glitch and similar programs may have a lasting impact in the U.S. She has formulated two possible models for imitating and applying Glitch outside of the current program.
Disalvo told Digerati “one way is to launch Glitch as a brand and actually set this up as a larger company and open up other offices to do this,” she said. “[The other way would include] an existing game company or game testing company. You could put this in as a high school program.”

Steward also believes in the potential of Glitch saying that it “can grow way beyond a research program.”

“You can put this in communities and give kids resources they wouldn’t normally have, or [put people in place] who can teach them things they wouldn’t normally learn,” he said.
Special thanks to www.blackdigerati.org for covering the story.

I know the difference between a reel of shots prettied up and slapped together and an actual gameplay trailer but other may not. For instance, I recently discovered my parents started playing video games. Despite the years of watching me play as kid it took an Army of Two trailer to get them rolling with their gaming career. Before long they beat it and called me in a panic wondering what game they should buy next. I asked them what game they had played and quickly deduced that co-op shooters were probably what they were going to stick to. I suggested everything from Left for Dead to Halo. Had they seen the mouthwatering trailer for Dante’s Inferno they might have gone out and bought it. The trailer offers nothing but an outstanding visual experience and offers no insight into what the game is like to play. It might confuse people that are not life long players or very young gamers. This type of misleading adventure is not restricted to modern day shenanigans.

I was a kid I played every Final Fantasy I could get my hands on. I read all about the game in magazines and on the internet but never seen the commercial. By the time I actually seen the commercial I had beaten the game. I was watching and began to get confused. They showed only the cut scenes in the game, totally unplayable sections. The commercial was a huge misrepresentation of what the game actually was. Had I seen the commercial I might not have bought it. I really enjoyed classic turn based rpgs. I would have thought the game was more like Zelda than Final Fantasy. The Dante’s Inferno ad would have the opposite effect. People might buy this game thinking it is something its not and be terribly disappointed. Granted, there is a disclaimer on the screen but who is going to notice it when they are picking their jaw up of the floor.

Hard Headed Heroes: The Iron Man, War Machine, Doctor Doom, Sentinel, Juggernaut, Mega Man, Roll, Servbot, Tron Bonne and Zangief

Babes and Villans: Magneto, Rogue, Gambit, Blackheart, Spiral, B.B. Hood, Chun Li, Cammy, M. Bison and Felicia

Orgy of Favorites: Cyclops, Cable, Storm, Psylocke, Colossus, Ryu, Ken, Morigan, Jill Valentine and Akuma

February 11 two sets of 10 pics and one set of 5 pics (80 MS points) will be available for a totaling to 55 gamerpics.

The Wolverine collection: Wolverine, Omega Red, Sabretooth, Silver Samurai, Marrow, Son Son, Charlie, Dhalsim, Jin and Hayato

Sakura Meets Capatin America Colection: Spider-Man, Hulk, Captain America, Venom, Iceman, Captain Commando, Dan, Sakura, Guile and Strider

And the package that’s guaranteed to be a fan favorite…..
Weird Ass Includes: Thanos, Shuma-Gorath, Ruby Heart, Amingo and Anarkis

Though there are 56 playable characters in MvC2 there is one gamerpic missing. MvC2 players are invited to find the missing character. The first person to give Capcom blogger DJ Qbert the correct answer wins a free signed copy of the MvC2 vinyl.

“We’re looking for a brand new bum (the best in the world!) to be the new “face” for our always expanding intimates and briefs lines. The winners will be flown to LA, photographed and featured online. Send in a close-up photo of your backside wearing American Apparel panties, bodysuits or briefs for consideration and vote for your personal favorites.

You must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Submit your photo(s) between January 28, 2010, and February 21, 2010. Two winners – selected by American Apparel judges – will be eligible to be our next butt model. The top ten contestants, as voted on by the public, will receive a grab bag of American Apparel items valued at $300.”

See the butts!
http://i.americanapparel.net/storefront/UGCStyle/BestBottom2010/View.asp?e=4314

MSI has been talking about this device for a few weeks but only recently said that its tablet will run Google’s OS Android, which was originally designed for smartphones.

The name of the device is still unknown.

Fans that want to get their gaming and football fix all in one are invited to “watch the NFC Championship with Bio-Ware” event where they chat live with the Development team of Mass Effect 2 through the Bio Ware game room via Usream. Participants will of the event get an exclusive look at Mass Effect 2 gameplay during halftime. Bio Ware will also be giving away its coveted “shwag” every 15 minutes throughout the game.

Bio-ware is also set to launch a mass effect 2 trailer during the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship game. The full length, uncut trailer will be the games first television debut.

“There’s a generation of people who grew up with a set of games like Centipede that are favorites,” says Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices Division. “They look almost like casual, fun games today, (but) at the time they were high-end, edgy games. Game Room is the idea of bringing that back to the market and bringing that to a very broad audience.”

Microsoft wants to not only recapture the attention of older gamers but introduce old titles to younger gamers. “Bach compared the experience people will have in the Game Room to a Journey concert he attended with his daughter – it was a great experience for him because he grew up listening to the band. And it was fun for his daughter because she thinks Journey is cool,” according to Microsoft news center.
“I think you’re going to have the same phenomenon with Game Room,” Bach says. “Even the people who would call themselves ‘hardcore gamers’ are going to think that it’s fun in a retro way.”

Frank Pape, senior director of business and product development for Xbox, wants to bring back the rivalry of the arcade days.
“If someone on my friends list has played in my arcade, their name will be hanging next to my machine and I’ll get notified of that on all of my devices,” says Pape. “It’s just this constant one-upmanship and also being able to customize my own arcade and show off the machines just like they were, with lights and fancy sounds.”.

Game Room will be available for free download to Xbox LIVE and PC. Once installed, players can wander a customizable, old-school arcade with retro game cabinets from game makers Atari, Intellivision, Konami and more.

Although video games are constantly becoming more realistic and complex, a lot of gamers got their start with arcade games with eight-bit graphics simple objectives.

“There’s huge nostalgic appeal to these games,” says Kristen Miyake, an Xbox marketing manager.

According to Xbox news center, “after launching Game Room, Xbox will release new game titles weekly, all of which players can demo free of charge and purchase individually. To download games, users purchase Microsoft Points – the virtual quarters of the Xbox LIVE marketplace. The points are credited to a user’s account, and the player can then purchase items or games from the marketplace.”

In Critter Crunch, players assume the role of Biggs, a friendly, furry forest dweller with an unending hunger for tasty critters. Using his long tongue, Biggs must set the food chain in motion by launching smaller critters into the waiting mouths of larger ones, clearing the screen and filling his belly.

It’s a multiplayer puzzle title, which can be purchased from the Playstation store. Enjoy!

Players who buy the game new will have a nice surprise on the first day. “Players who access ‘The Cerberus Network’ will receive the first DLC pack on January 26th (launch day in North America) featuring new missions and in-game items,” EA explained. “Included in this pack is a mission that introduces Zaeed, a rugged and deadly gun-for-hire who is recruited to join Commander Shepard’s mission to save mankind.”

There is even more content planned for after launch, including a hovering tank called the Hammerhead, new missions, and new in-game items. EA also notes that these downloads are tied to your EA Online account, which is non-transferable.

After launch, when GameStop is shilling used copies of the game for a few bucks less, gamers now have a reason to go with a new copy, as they won’t have to buy the Cerberus Network separately. Mass Effect 2 hits the Xbox 360 and PC on January 26.

Source: EA.COM

Mad Moxxi is named after a female character who is reminiscent of a circus leader with just a bit of crazy in her.  The music and storyboard used during the introduction of the character do a great job of setting the tone of what we should expect from the upcoming arena matches.  Once the intro concludes you are loaded into a staging area of sorts.  This area has all the vending machines you would expect to load up from and a bank teller to unload extra weapons and such.  The nice touch to the bank is the fact that you can purchase upgraded slot amounts.  So if you are a weapon farming whore like me this addition alone may be worth it.  After you stock up on any ammo you may need you are ready to earn your cred with Mad Moxxi.  You pick up one quest in the area which asks you to survive 5 rounds in each of the 3 venues.  The length to accomplish this feat is right around 45 minutes – a perfect length of time in my opinion.  Once you complete this task however your next quest is to survive a grueling 20 rounds in each of the venues.  Each separate venue will then take you approximately 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours to complete.  A mind numbing number considering if the host console disconnects or crashes you have to start all over again.

The rewards for completing these objectives are great for the die hard Borderlands fans and possibly for the achievment whores out there.  You recieve an achievement for completeing the first quest along with recieving an extra skill point.  This in essence gives your character an additional level of sorts to strengthen him even further.  Once you complete the second mission you recieve an additional achievment and another skill point to use how you want.  Skill points are precious in the game and the 2 extra you will recieve help to differientiate and strengthen your character even more.

The style of the game would be compared to “Horde” from Gears of War 2.  Those of you who though Borderlands was too easy will enjoy this surprisingly challenging content.  The more friends you add the more difficult and fun it becomes.  If you were a fan of Borderlands and were looking to get more co-op enjoyment out of the game this purchase may be well worth it.  If you are looking for a way to farm for unique weapons and gain some additional experience however this will not be for you.  The weapons table is the same as the game so nothing new there and you receive no experience for killing enemies in the arenas.  i would assume this was to alleviate people from power-leveling characters using the content but I can only speculate.

Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot is a great ode to “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome”.  It encapsulates great co-op play with frantic and challenging levels; while adding additional rpg elements to further your characters progress.  The content is fun but there are a few things I feel should have been different.  The biggest selling point for Borderlands was the wide range of weapons; this content adds no new weapons.  There also should have been more maps.  The 3 are fun for a time but will soon grow stale.

If you were like me and enjoyed Borderlands and the great co-op offering it supplied then this content is for you.  If you weren’t wowed by anything the game offered in the first place then you may just want to pass this one by.

Back to the Basics

These are awesome…

The staff of Savage Cycles with their creation. (l-r): Jack Rafferty, Sean Snyder, Mike Dixon, Jeremy Gordon, and Steve Shreve

Major changes include initial dedicated server support, a new Micro kart, adjusted Kick It and Rinky Dink maps, and the Chute Shoot now has bumpers. Also, ping times are now sorted correctly in the server browser and Screen blur shader has been removed to lower slow down. Finally, game pad mouse control defaults are off and the
GG achievement is now fixed.

Dragon Age: Origins, the Awakening expansion pack brings players a whole new world to explore called Amaranthine. In this new world players discover the secrets of the darkspawn; their true motivations are revealed. Players will battle new horrific and terrifying creatures including a new breed of intelligent darkspawn , Inferno Golems and a Spectral Dragon. Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening provides new customization features for both heroes and parties, including the ability to re-spec their character attributes. Other features include an increased level cap, new spells, abilities, specializations and items and five new party members. Players can continue using their own characters or start fresh with one of the new options.

“Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening shows BioWare’s commitment to our fans by delivering new story-driven experiences which enrich the dark heroic fantasy universe our fans have come to know and love,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, Co-Founder of BioWare. “The vibrant worldwide community of Dragon Age fans will relish uncovering the secret motivations of the darkspawn, revealing how the darkspawn continue to infest the world despite the defeat of the Archdemon.”
The Dragon Age story arc continues, following the events of Dragon Age: Origins and puts players into the role of a Grey Warden Commander charged with revitalizing of the order of Grey Wardens. Players will also be in charge of discovering how the darkspawn survived after the death of the Archdemon. How players rebuild , resolve the conflict with the mysterious “Architect,” and determine the fate of the darkspawn are just some of the moral choices that will shape each player’s journey.

“No other release rejuvenated a genre more than Capcom’s flagship fighting game. It grabbed a new generation of fans and reignited the passion of old-school gamers in the series,” according to Geison Cacho of the Contra Costa Times. The runners up were Uncharted 2, and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2.

Reigniting the passion of old school fans was not the only award winning quality according to the judges at Mercury News. “The huge turnout at Evo Championship Series 2009, the preeminent U.S. fighting game tournament, is proof of that. The return to the classic gameplay, along with some new tweaks and a great online mode, made “Street Fighter IV” the game I played and loved the most this year,” according to Cacho.

Capcom itself was ecstatic about the choices made by California judges. “I was very happy to see Street Fighter IV pick up some nominations not just for “Fighting Game of the Year, but actually for “Game of the Year” overall, and now it’s actually won…It’s nice to be nominated, but nicer to win, and an EVO shout out to boot,” Capcom said on their blog.

You can surf the internet on a cold winter day using Dot Gloves, but they should come with an instruction manual. The tips of the middle finger, index finger, and thumb are covered in black silicon. You might think that you can just use any part of the finger tip but you can’t. There is a small, thick, thread on the tip of the fingers. You have to use that thread to use the phone or the gloves do not work well. I think the gloves would be better if there were more threads or just another way to utilize more of your finger tip. The gloves do work and I enjoy the knitted homegrown feel, but I would like to see a little more surface area to utilize in upcoming models.

CID The Dummy (Wii/PSP)
Hysteria Hospital: Emergency Ward (Wii)
Hurry Up Hedgehog (DS)
Pirates: Duels on the High Seas (DS)
PDC World Championship Darts (PSP)
Obscure: The Aftermath (PSP)

Enjoy!

Have a merry x-mas and a happy new year, and I’ll see you all on x-mas day with a review to wrap up retro month!

A slue of terrible comments was made about the film. Game trailers said this: “the fights are awful, Guile’s from Brussels and apparently, there’s some cyborg soldiers we never knew about.” Gamer trailer was not alone in its criticism. The Washington Post said the film was “notable only for being the last film made by Raul Julia, an actor far too skilled for the demands of the evil warlord, Gen. M. Bison, but far too professional to give anything less than his best.” On Rotten Tomatoes only 15% of reviewers gave the movie a positive review. However, Martin Scribbs from Low IQ Canadian gave the movie a more optimistic review. “If you grew up playing Street Fighter 2, you MUST see this movie. If not, stay far, far away,” said Scribbs. He believes the movie can be enjoyable because it can satisfy gamer nostalgia.

Despite critical reviews the film was a financial success, earning triple its production cost. It also featured Jean Claude Van Damme as well as Raul Julia. As mention by game trailers, it was Julia’s last movie which could not have hurt ticket sales. Also, the film fared better than the most recent Street Fighter film, Street Fighter the Legend of Chun Li. The movie received only 4% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and IGN gave the film 1.5 stars out of 5, saying “There’s better staged and more enjoyable brawls between Peter and the Chicken on Family Guy.”

When all is said and done people are still looking back on the film after 15 years. Whether the film was an artistic failure or not it has remained relevant.

SplitFish AG’s much-anticipated wireless DUAL SFX EVOLUTION, PC crossover controller, the new wireless FRAG PRO and FRAG FX STANDARD will be on display at CES 2010.
PRESS, WHOLESALERS AND RETAILERS ARE INVITED TO CES MEETING ROOM 36048 MP, IN THE UPPER LEVEL OF THE SOUTH HALL (within Splitfish/TekNmotion), FOR A FIRST HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH THESE REVOLUTIONARY NEW CONTROLLERS and a demo session with one of the worlds best CALL OF DUTY pro gamers. A limited number of THE DUAL SFX EVOLUTION, FRAG PRO and FRAGFX STANDARD EDITION will be available for PRESS to take home on a first come basis so be sure to book appointments early.

The DUAL SFX EVOLUTION will be a sport, action and casual player’s dream, with the freedom to punch, wrist flick and swing the controller to trigger your favorite preprogrammed melee shots, kicks and checks – not to mention a fast action-button layout and motion integration when you want it for driving, snowboarding or skateboarding. Please check the following video links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWai7iRpMkg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8LE_9ZCIQw
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A64476BE869340A5

If you want more interaction with your action titles, this is a perfect upgrade or replacement to any standard stick controller for all games. This is a revolutionary, wireless, upgradable two-part FREVO adjustable analog stick controller that promises a superior new level of intuitive experience for console gamers of any skill level. The fully featured controller gives all the best analog stick control, plus it offers up assignable dual independent wireless motion for sixaxis or analog stick emulation as well as “wrist flick” button triggering. No other controller provides sports and other action game title fans this level of enhanced, intuitive, performance capabilities, made specifically for fan favorites like FIFA, MADDEN, H.A.W.X., Fight Night, and even including some fun functions for LITTLE BIG PLANET.

The DUAL SFX FRAG PRO brings all the best of the dominating FRAGFXv2 mouse gaming design in a DUAL WIRELESS COMBO. The new controller showcases customized gaming mouse and FREVO “Fragchuck,” and functions as a fully featured wireless PS3 and PC gaming controller with programmable button configurations and adjustable mouse aiming that provides unprecedented levels of accuracy. It improves upon the tremendously popular FragFX, adding a dual wireless rechargeable system to the intuitive controller and a new “FRAG CONTROL CENTER” utility to adjust button configurations and sensitivity and save individual game configurations. The ergonomic laser mouse provides PC-like accuracy and easy PS Home navigation, while the left-hand grip provides full SixAxis motion control and a whole slew of customization functions and other special performance features.

For more information on the Dual SFX Evolution and other SplitFish developments , please visit www.splitfish.com.

You begin with a simple Headquarters to build supply depots that send supply trucks back to your base. These supplies are used to develop your strategy. Playing the multiplayer allows you to explore every possible way to defeat your opponent, whether by land or by air.  Resource positioning seems to be a little lopsided as supply buildings can be pretty far away, but this can be compensated for with prudent resource management.

The units that you build start with your standard G.I. units that can hide in cities and forests and ambush enemy units. You can also build several different types of tanks. Some can shoot while moving. Other units can hide in forests and specialize in tank busting or infantry. You can also use artillery to bombard enemy buildings and units, while using planes to make bombing runs on their supply lines.

You are generally able see everything that your opponent does with their units, but differentiating between enemy units can be tough. This is where strategy and use of a Ruse is indispensable in resource and unit management. Your Ruse selections range from spying to creating decoy buildings and units that you can use to distract your opponent. The Ruse system makes RUSE dynamic, disallowing simple mass and rush strategies to succeed. Ruse selections range from spying to decoy buildings and units that you can use to distract your opponent. These are good ideas for use against an opponent in multiplayer.

A side note one the graphics needs to be noted however. The graphics engine works very well. The detail to each unit is also intriguing. However, zooming in seems to be disorienting, as you cannot see all your units very well. Also, too actually maneuver and organize everything you must zoom out pretty far, The game causes players to have to adjust their sights so much it get a bit annoying at time, but the overall game looks good.

Although the Beta does not allow you to experience what is in the trailers, massive bombardment from sea by naval vessels, it is a generally enjoyable. The beauty and complexity of RUSE Beta keep you interested the entire time that you are playing, hopefully some of the kinks mentioned will be looked at, but the excitement for this new adventure does not seem to lose any momentum.

For me video games brought me into my own mentally. It was a kind of media that I enjoyed and was, frankly, educational. I did not enjoy reading as a child. I hated school and anything that related to it and as a result I was a very poor student. I was a typical problem child and for the first few years of school I was a hardship for my parents and teachers. Teachers believed I had a learning disability and behavioral problems. However, at age 8 I played my first RPG, Breath of Fire. I still remember digging through the games at Blockbuster and reluctantly picking it out. I didn’t understand it but the art work intrigued me.

It was slow starting but once I got the concept I was completely hooked. I could barely read at the time but I read every word of the storyline. I made sure to talk to every single towns-person in every town and never skipped a single scene in the story. I loved the story lines and the characters inspired quite a bit of emotion in me. I began to understand what was going on in my classes at school much better and even enjoyed being there more.When I finished I was terrified that the game was one of a kind and I wouldn’t get a chance to play another game like it. I was glad to learn that there were tons out there even some that I enjoyed good deal more than Breath of Fire.

I continued playing games did not only serve as an English tutor for me. Other titles such as Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals confronted me with puzzles. Solving Lufia puzzles is not the most daunting task but it is challenging for an eight year old kid. I really feel that beating the scenarios in the game was intellectually stimulating. Considering that the games I played were text heavy and contained puzzles I think it is safe to say that what I was doing was akin to reading and solving puzzles books. If you laid out the text of a game it would easily come out to the length of a short novel. Not to mention, the puzzles were harder than finding the little bird in grand ma’s frying pan in the highlights books at school.

Right before my parents were getting serious about threats to take away my SNES for spending long hours on it, they realized my grades were improving. It was not hard to see what changed in my behavior because it was obvious that I spent at least a couple hours a day playing in my bedroom. They continued to let me play and I continued to love gaming. Story lines in games such as FF III, Lufia and Chrono Trigger were not exactly Black Beauty or Wind in the Willows, but I remember them fondly and feel they did a great deal for me as a child.

By the way, in all of these games I have racked up thousands of simulated “kills” or “simulated murders,” as some might call them. As I said before, to date I have not mounted a tower to pick off civilians with a hunting rifle or loaded fetuses into a gun and launched them like tee shirts. So, for all the Michael Atkinson’s and Jack Thompson’s out there who believe gaming to be an entirely negative force, dig deep and find people who have hyper-positive gaming experiences. There has never been a single incident of violence that can be traced directly to gaming but this article is evidence of a life unarguably changed for the better because of games. I believe they are responsible for me getting into college. They were basically the books of my childhood. If never discovered Breath of Fire sitting on a shelf at Blockbuster who knows what I would be doing now.

“Yes, more candy for your brain with the bittos franchise coming to PC!” says Fox for Unconditional Studios, “And starting today the internet is squared by the arrival of the new bittos.com website. Watch gameplay videos, study bittos anatomy or even download detailed screenshots, lush wallpapers, tiny messenger icons, and much more!

Developed by Unconditional Studios and rated “E” for Everyone by the ESRB, bittos offers players a chance to take control of a variety of shapes while guiding, rotating and placing them in just the right arrangement to construct vibrant, shiny squares. Yes, squares! In fact, making squares and making squares within squares is what creating bittos is all about. The further the player progresses through the levels, the more challenging the game can become and the more unique the experience. Loaded with multiple unlockable modes, in-game Awards to collect, high score boards for both the player and the player’s household, and a mind-shattering four stages of 10 levels in 82 rounds, bittos offers one of the deepest puzzle experiences available today.

“We are thrilled to offer an exclusive game pack for PlayStation 3 gamers,” said Jonathan Knight, Executive Producer for Dante’s Inferno. “The PlayStation platform has a long history of delivering AAA action/adventure games. Adding Dante’s Inferno to that rich catalogue is very exciting for the team. And with the demo now available on the PlayStation Network, players can finally get a taste of what awaits them in the full game on Feb 9th.”

In the Dante’s Inferno “Gates of Hell” demo, gamers will experience Dante Alighieri’s re-imagined past, as a crusader who returns home to Florence to discover his true love, Beatrice, murdered. Sworn to her rescue, Dante must journey to the Gates of Hell and beyond to battle undead monstrosities, unholy boss demons, and Death himself. Offering a glimpse into the vast world of Dante’s Inferno, the demo serves as a prelude to the player’s perilous journey through the nine circles of hell.

EA’s Dante’s Inferno is an epic descent through Dante Alighieri’s nine circles of hell – limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery. At a blazing-fast 60 frames per second, each circle features unique environments, all new creatures, terrifying demons, story elements and are scored distinctly to set a tone that fits each circle of sinners.

Dante’s Inferno will be released for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and Sony PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) on February 9, 2010 in North America and is rated M for Mature by the ESRB.

“Emotionally engaging narrative is a key design pillar for BioWare, and the top-notch voice talent in Mass Effect 2 helps drive this goal,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder, BioWare and Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group of EA. “Credible, powerful personalities are vital to delivering a compelling story experience in BioWare’s games, and we have assembled an amazing ensemble cast that surpasses the very high bar set in the original Mass Effect!”

Esteemed actor Martin Sheen stars as the mysterious Illusive Man who commands Cerberus, a secretive paramilitary organization dedicated to protecting human interests in the galaxy. Yvonne Strahovski plays deadly Cerberus operative Miranda Lawson, who has been genetically engineered for superior mental and physical traits. Returning to the cast from the original Mass Effect is Seth Green as Joker and Keith David as Admiral David Anderson. And rounding out the vocal roster are Tricia Helfer as EDI, the voice of the new Normandy; Carrie-Anne Moss as Aria T’Loak, the crime lord who rules the planet Omega; Shohreh Aghdashloo as Admiral Shala’Raan vas Tonbay; Michael Hogan as Captain Bailey; Adam Baldwin as Kal ‘Reegar; and Michael Dorn as Gatatog Uvenk.

The Mass Effect trilogy is an emotionally charged science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will once again step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding their crew of some of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it’s potentially suicidal. Featuring intense shooter action, a rich futuristic storyline, space exploration and emotionally engaging character interaction, the game delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience.

Mass Effect 2 will be available on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC on January 26, 2010 in North America and January 29, 2010 in Europe.

For the full list of websites, head on over to the Capcom blog at: http://www.capcomunity.com/jgonzo/blog/2009/12/08/dark_void_presents_jetpack_attack__the_game

iSamJackson is an entertaining soundboard app that contains a gigantic collection of original and authentic recorded quotes, humorous adages and sage insight all provided by Samuel L. Jackson. Users can fully customize the soundboard as well as access a personality scanner where Mr. Jackson himself will tell you just what he thinks you’re made of. In addition, users desperate to cast their eyes into the future and receive Mr. Jackson’s guidance can call on “Ask Sam,” the feature that allows them to seek instantaneous advice from the king of cool.

iSamJackson will be available on the iTunes App Store for both the iPhone and iPod touch in the coming months. For more information about iSamJackson, please visit www.isamjackson.com. For more information about Heatwave Interactive, please visit www.heatwave.com.

Created by Visceral Games, Dante’s Inferno is set in Dante Alighieri’s vividly imagined nine circles of hell – limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, violence, heresy, fraud and treachery. Players take Dante on an epic descent through hell, battling their way through a terrifying gauntlet of demons to reclaim the soul of his beloved Beatrice. The Dante’s Inferno comic will highlight the action-packed moments in the game, and will also deliver more perspective on Beatrice’s experience, adding more depth to the game’s story and exploring more of the poem’s dramatic depiction of the underworld.

“We’ve been incredibly lucky to get the talented artists of WildStorm to contribute their inspired craft to the Dante’s Inferno epic,” says Dante’s Inferno senior producer, Justin Lambros. “The vivid artwork from Diego Latorre just screams out of the page, and Christo Gage’s thoughtful words breathe life and give soul to Dante and Beatrice. We can’t wait to see what gamers think of the comic, and we think comic fans will love the game once it hits stores on February 9.”

The videogame Dante’s Inferno, upon which the comic book was based, will be released for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and Sony PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) on February 9, 2010. A free demo will be available for download on the PlayStation Network starting December 10, 2009, and on December 24th on Xbox Live. Dante’s Inferno is rated M for Mature by the ESRB and 18+ by PEGI.

Pandemic™ Studios, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS), today announced that the open world action sandbox game The Saboteur™ is available today. As the game hits store shelves today, console players can download a free* content pack (DLC) called ‘The Midnight Show’. The sexy pack unlocks a V.I.P room at the game’s cabaret ‘The Belle de Nuit’ including several sultry cinematics, unveils an all-new mini-game, and unlocks five seedy hiding spots in Paris. The downloadable content also gives players the ability to unlock nudity in the game, allowing them to make their own choice regarding the game’s maturity. All new console copies of The Saboteur contain a single use download code for ‘The Midnight Show’ redeemable through the game on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace and PlayStation® Store. Owners of the PC version will have automatic access ‘The Midnight Show’ without an additional download. For console players who wish to buy the ‘The Midnight Show’ DLC pack as a stand-alone download, they may do so on Xbox LIVE for 240 MSFT points and for $2.99 at the PlayStation Store.

“The Saboteur is unlike any other WWII action game. It paints a picture of Nazi-occupied Paris that is corrupt, riddled with danger and more than a little sexy. ‘The Midnight Show’ DLC takes all of this edginess to the next level, but in an authentic, organic way,” said Nick Earl, Senior Vice President and Group General Manager at Electronic Arts. “This feels like the Director’s Cut of the game. We’re very proud to have the opportunity to deliver this alternate experience with a DLC pack that is so polished and robust.”

The Saboteur is set in World War II France and takes players through the seedy underbelly of Paris as hero Sean Devlin sets off on a revenge mission. Inspired by a true story, The Saboteur stars Sean Devlin who, motivated by personal revenge, fights, climbs, and races through open-world Paris, sneaking into the heart of the Nazi operations and sabotaging their every move. With the help of the French Resistance, the British intelligence, an arsenal of weaponry, street smarts and brawn, players will exact revenge on those who get in his way. From derailing trains and blowing up zeppelins to scaling famous Parisian landmarks, this action hero uses a broad range of weapons, explosives and vehicles to get the job done.

As Sean takes down enemies, the citizens of Paris are empowered to resist the tyrannical Third Reich and their eyes open to the colorful world around them. This innovative mechanic, called the ‘Will to Fight,’ will change the way Paris is seen and felt – from a dark and oppressed policed state to a bright and inspired world where the citizens fight back. As the player executes acts of sabotage against the occupying force, color returns to the stylized black and white world – both figuratively and literally.

The Saboteur is available for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, and the PC and is rated “M for Mature” by the ESRB and “18+”by PEGI.

About the Game
Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is the next chapter in the fan-favorite Sands of Time universe. Visiting his brother’s kingdom following his adventure in Azad, the Prince finds the royal palace under siege from a mighty army bent on its destruction. When the decision is made to use the ancient power of the Sand in a desperate gamble to save the kingdom from total annihilation, the Prince will embark on an epic adventure in which he will learn to bear the mantle of true leadership, and discover that great power often comes with a great cost. Game features include:
• Classic Gameplay Reinvented: From huge-scale multi-enemy combat to dizzying feats of acrobatic prowess in gigantic environments enhanced by the Prince’s ability to control nature and time, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands will push the Prince’s prodigious abilities to unseen levels.
• A Blockbuster Experience: Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands will offer players unforgettable set pieces made possible by the advanced technology offered by the award-winning Anvil engine. With all-out war at the gates of the kingdom, the Prince’s abilities will be challenged like never before through the course of epic wow moments.

• Mastery Over Nature: Wielding powers of nature and time, the Prince will have unparalleled mastery over his environment and his enemies. The Prince will discover that harnessing the forces of nature itself will prove to be a devastating companion to his ability to rewind time.

• Return of a Fan-Favorite Franchise: Set between Prince of Persia The Sands of Time and Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands will provide fans a new chapter in the Prince of Persia universe and deepen their understanding of the Sands of Time series.

The versions for Wii(TM), Nintendo DSi(TM) and DS(TM) as well as the PSP® system will feature a different gaming experience from the versions for Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 system. More details will be unveiled in the near future.

Lionheart: Kings’ Crusade invites players to rewrite history through controlling and upgrading leaders and their armies, guiding various historical factions through political events, collecting relics, and unlocking new content in a feature-rich campaign set to take on the strategy genre by force in Q2 2010.

Visit the developers website at: http://www.neocoregames.com/index.php?action=1

Controversy was struck recently when game developer Rebellion refused to change its PC title Alien vs. Predator to meet Australian approval ratings. Australia’s Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) CEO Ron Curry responded to the ban: “It doesn’t seem democratic that a single attorney general should be able to dictate what the vast Australian population can interact with. The government trusts us to be adults with films, but they only want us to be children with games.”

Atkinson insisted that games were a negative force that needed restriction and that many gamers are unable to think for themselves. “I accept that 98%, 99% of gamers will tell the difference between fantasy and reality, but the 1% to 2% could go on to be motivated by these games to commit horrible acts of violence.” Atkinson also claims that gamers were a minority interest and trying to impose their will on the greater population.

“This is a question of a small number of very zealous gamers trying to impose their will on society, and I think harm society. It’s the public interest versus the small vested interest,” said Atkinson. Gamer Gary Farrow defended gamers and believes the matter is one of product awareness, “we’re talking about just labeling content, so we have a fairly educated idea as to what to expect [from a game].”
I

Not wasting anytime, the show opened with a large present on stage. The voice of Mark Hamil’s Joker begins to echo from the loudspeakers, asking viewers if they’re ready for the big surprise. And thusly, the shoe kicked off with arguably the biggest reveal of the night, as were were treated to a short teaser trailer, ending with a sickly looking (and sounding Joker), hooked up to an IV and coughing and wheezing his way through his trademark maniacal laughter. Fade to black and we’re greeted by the phrase “Arkham Has Moved”.

Of course, that was just the start of the big reveals. We had been promised a new Star Wars game would be announced, and fans were not let down as LucasArts brought us the first teaser for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II. The trailer featured the first game’s protagonist, Starkiller, walking into a large gladiator arena while the voices of Yoda and Darth Vader speak about death, destiny, and the future.

Trailer snippets of a so-called “mystery games” had been released by Spike over the past week or so, and that game was also finally unveiled at the VGAs, in the form of a new True Crime title. You might remember the name from a pair sub-par GTA clones that Activision published in the first half of the decade. Both of those games were developed by Luxoflux, who went on to make games based on Shrek and Transformers. This new True Crime is being helmed by United Front Games, makers of the promising but yet to be released ModNation Racers, and moves away from the United States to China. The original True Crime titles had tons of promise but failed to deliver. Hopefully the recent trend of excellent open-world games will ensure this new True Crime game is worth playing.

The premiers continued throughout the show’s two hour runtime. We got our first gameplay looks at the new Medal of Honor and Crackdown 2, debut trailers for Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands and Tron Evolution, and game reveal trailers for Spec Ops: The Line and Green Day Rock Band. Be sure to tune into the Dibcast next week for our full thoughts on this years VGAs (or check my Twitter feed from tonight to see just how bad of an idea I think Green Day Rock Band is). Drop me a line at josh[at]gamedibs.com and tell me what you thought about the awards, and maybe we’ll use your email on the Dibcast next week.

Until then, be sure to check out all of tonight’s reveals by clicking here.

Pint Shot Riot is one of the many video game rock stars helping EA develop awesome sound tracks for games like Fight Night Round 4 and Fifa. GameDibs had an interview with Pint Shot Riot bass player Baby Dave.  See what Baby Dave has to say about the bands habits and hobbies, which include a love for MMA, Boxing, and XBOX Live.

How avid is Pint Shot Riot about gaming?

“I’m probably the most avid gamer, my life changed when Xbox live entered it! We do get the chance to play together sometimes which is always intense!”

Do you guys play the EA games your band is featured in?

“Well, I had Fifa 10 on pre-order when I found out we were going to be on it so definitely that one! I did take the time to check out all of them to some extent, Fight Night 4 is an incredible game.”

Do you see any relationship between making music and playing games?

Does gaming help the process?

“Oh no, the opposite if anything! It’s important to practice and work on writing as much as possible but it’s a lot harder with an Xbox 360 in the room! Also, it’s a common cause of lateness at rehearsal times!”

I never listened to Pint Shot Riot before I heard it in Fight Night

Round 4; did you guys discover any musicians through gamming?

“A few through the Tony Hawk games and Fifa, they were probably the soundtracks which had the most impact on me.”

What was it like hooking up with EA games, was it just a phone call out

of the blue or did you contact them?  How did you get a deal with EA?

“Through a third party originally. We were getting radio play from a DJ in L.A. who then gave our music to E.A and it went from there.”

How big of a factor was getting a track on an EA game in helping

expand your notoriety?

“That is an ongoing process but it’s been awesome so far. We’ve had a lot of interest from the internet; we’ve received some awesome messages from people all over the world which feels amazing.”

Do you think landing a track on a video game could be a new avenue for musicians to gain recognition?

“I think it already is, for sure.”

Pint Shot did music for Fight Night and FIFA but who do they prefer,

Ricky Hatton or David Beckham?

“I’ve nothing against Beckham, and I look forward to watching him help England win the world cup but we were big Hatton fans before Fight Night. We like a bit of boxing and Hatton was a big favorite anyway so to actually end up being his entrance music was sweet!”

Fight Night and FIFA are both sports games, is Pint Shot into any

Sports, what do you watch or maybe play?

“Well, as I mentioned we love boxing and also MMA, as well as being Coventry City fans. A couple of us have done some boxing training and we all like to stay fit. I attended my first UFC event recently, which was mind-blowing!! And Mini-Rocket is a demon striker on the local Sunday league football scene.”

What kind of influence do you think music simulation games will have on the gaming and music world?

“Hopefully it will help youngsters understand the basics of how music is made and how instruments work which has to be a positive thing.”

Guitar Hero or Rock Band and why: game play, downloadable content or

personal quark?

“Both, evens in my book.”

Can any of you play any instruments on Guitar Hero or Rock Band on expert?

“I’d so love to lie here!! Not really, I tried playing Metallica with the double kick pedals but I sucked big time! I reckon it is easier to play proper drums on some songs!”

Would you like to be featured on a game like Guitar Hero or Rock Band?

“Of course, that would be an honor.’”

Have you ever jammed on the real thing while a friend wailed away on a

Guitar Hero or Rock band song you know?

“Actually, I did once whip out the acoustic bass when my friends were playing. How did you know that, were you there, hiding?!”

As a band what are your three biggest influences?

“Good music, good friends, good times.”

Are there any British bands you think fans should know about, people

making great music underground or even something popular across the

Atlantic but practically unknown here?

“There is a massive music scene going on in every city in the UK. Pick the kind of music you like, Google it or check MySpace.”

Now that you have been exposed to international audiences will you

be touring in the U.S or anywhere else soon?

“We would love to in the future, we’ll have to see.”

After all is said and done do you think you will attract more game

groupies or music ones?

“Do you know any gamer groupies?! Holy macaroni, that is a scary thought!”

Have you guys ever drank a few pints, taken a few shots and then

started a riot, i.e trouble of some sort? Do you have a really

memorable experience your willing to share?

“Sure we know how to drink but rioting for us is having a good time which can end up with girl trouble…”

Do you have anything to say to all the GameDibs fans out there?

“Just thanks for listening, and if you need further information check out www.pintshotriot.co.uk or www.myspace.com/pintshotriot.”

Peace. Baby Dave

1)   Is Legends of Norrath only available to EverQuest and EverQuest II players?

You don’t have to be an EQ or EQII player to enjoy Legends of Norrath (LoN). You can download the stand alone client from the website and be on the same server as everyone else in the game. You may not be familiar with all the references to EverQuest lore, but you can absolutely get into the game – and LoN is a great introduction to the world of Norrath.

2)   Is this game meant to be played stand alone or just alongside the mmo you are playing?

It works as both, really. Some players play LoN by itself, especially when they’re challenging other players, or competing in a tournament. Others like to play the single-player campaigns while waiting for their raid to begin or taking a break between quests. You can play LoN from our stand-alone client at full screen, or bring it up in windowed-mode next to EQ or EQII. You can also launch LoN inside of the MMOs.

3)   Can you switch between the card game and mmo easily?

You open and close LoN inside EQ and EQII with just the click of a button. This is especially handy when you want to redeem a loot card in LoN and then go right back to your character to use your new item. In EQII, you can also resize and minimize LoN to switch back and forth more rapidly.

4)   Are there any benefits you receive if you are an EQ subscriber?

Currently EQ, EQII and Station Access subscribers receive five booster packs a month for their collection at no additional cost. They get the Archaeologist Starter Deck from our recent Travelers expansion, which includes nine exclusive cards. Also, one weekend every month we add exclusive promo cards to the MMO loot tables. When you kill a creature in the MMO it might just drop one for you. And from time to time we’ll offer other goodies, like scenarios, loot cards or maybe bonus booster packs when you purchase new EQ or EQII expansions.

5)   How does Legends of Norrath differ from other digital card games out there?

Legends of Norrath has many features that differ from other digital card games. For example, we’ve built our trade interface right into the game to make it easy to find what you’re looking for. Unlike other types of digital card games that don’t allow you to trade at all, or require you to work out trades with other players through forums and email, we’ve made it simple. In LoN, you can do a direct trade with another player where both of you add and subtract cards until you both agree. You can also post trades with exactly what you’re looking for and what you’re willing to trade for it. When someone comes along and accepts your posted trade, the exchange happens automatically, even if you’re not online. Another thing that makes Legends of Norrath unique is the game itself. In a 1v1 game you play your avatar card against your opponent’s avatar card. Your avatar has health, attack, defense and damage bonus stats, plus special abilities. You’re goal is to complete four quest cards or destroy the other player’s avatar. To aid you, you have item cards that upgrade your avatar, tricks and ability cards that do any number of things, and units which you can send forth into battle or deploy as obstacles for your opponent. Legends of Norrath also features the unique ability for multiple players to take on a Raid challenge, where they team up to play against a highly tuned boss deck.  In our 4v1 Raid challenges, five different decks play in the same game!

6)   Do you receive any free content when you purchase Legends of Norrath?

Purchasing one booster pack unlocks all the features of the game, including Tournaments and Single-player campaigns. We’re running tons of free to enter tournaments with rewards, like our monthly Sprint and Tournament of the Gods events.  To date we have 80 single-player scenarios with rewards, and each month we release a new scenario for a limited time, with special promo and loot card rewards. With our eighth set, Travelers, we introduced loot cards that unlock quests in EverQuest and EverQuest II.

7)   How long do games usually last?

The average 1v1 game takes about 15 minutes. Single-player scenarios don’t have a time limit, so you can take your time if you like. Our challenging 4v1 raids, where you and three friends team up against a powerful AI-opponent, can take an hour or more.

8)   As a Digital Magic the gathering player myself what will draw from that game to Legends of Norrath?

If you’re familiar with trading card games at all then you’ll probably pick up LoN right away. There are some things they have in common, such as having different card types, with stats and gametext, and a cost to play them. Players build a deck from the cards in their collections and this makes each game different – and challenging.

9)   Do you have a message for our readers out there?

There’s always something new going on in Legends of Norrath, so check out the Event Calendar on our website, or better yet, jump in the game lobby to see what’s coming up.
We would like to thank the folks over at SOE Denver for giving up some of there time forus and answering our questions.

The game uses a classic 2D platform and Max’s imagination serves as the basis of the story line. Players navigate through a wacky version of Max’s neighborhood and an orange magic marker is the only tool used to solve an array of challenges. If Max cannot jump to reach a ledge, players can draw a basic line that translates to a bridge he can easily cross.  If a boulder needs to be pushed, players can draw a line to act as a lever. If Max needs to jump really high, players can draw a small triangle with a line over it to act as a see-saw. Of course a see-saw alone won’t propel Max up, players also need to draw a rock high above that will drop on the other side, launching Max into the air. All of these objects can be drawn in during the game-play, or the game could be paused in order to draw the objects uninterrupted.

Drawings can also be used to defeat enemies. The enemies in this game are Max’s imaginary friends called Gobos who have been turned evil (and purple) by a purple monster. The purple Gobos will make you lose a turn if you so much as touch them. Besides avoidance, players can kill these monsters by dropping heavy ink objects on them, or they can draw barriers to avoid them. It is also dynamic because of its use of physics. The more ink used, the heavier the object is and the game grows more challenging because the marker runs out of ink. Players are limited to smaller and lighter objects and have to make due with what they have.

I had a lot of fun playing this game. The concept itself was what really interested me. Throughout the levels players have complete freedom with what they could draw to complete a challenge. Sometimes I drew basic lines to get from point A to point B, other times I was able to draw more complex models. The  rating for this game will probably be E for everyone, but people of all ages really will have a blast with this game. I have been keeping up with their blog about Max and the Magic Marker: http://maxandthemagicmarker.com/, and it has been fun getting a behind the scenes look at the inspiration and the creation of this game.

Divineo has been sued in France, Spain and Hong Kong for its line of flash cards with mixed results of the outcome of each case. “A Paris criminal court recently ruled in favor of Divineo,” but in Hong Kong they are still owed damages for a suit in their favor according to Joystiq.com. The flash cards allow users to download DS ROMs and play any DS game free of charge.

However, Divineo does not only cater to DS fans but XBOX users, PS 3 users, Wii users and most other platforms. The products they solicit range from fancy controllers to modification chips for the XBOX 360, Wii and even the original XBOX. The descriptions of products are vague at best and after browsing through their inventory it is clear that their stock sells out quickly. One only has to check their chip/development site to see that Divineo is pushing more than a few flash cards.

“At Microsoft we’re pursuing three paths aimed at a more sustainable future. First, we see software as a tool that can make big strides in improving energy efficiency,”
according to a recent post on the Microsoft website. Their focus will be energy conservation and they want to start with making their operating system more energy efficient.

“[Microsoft sees] software as a tool that can make big strides in improving energy efficiency. One of our primary focuses, of course, begins with the energy efficiency of information technology itself. Windows 7, for example, has the most effective energy conservation features we’ve ever put into Windows; energy efficiency is designed into Windows 7.” Windows is only the beginning according to the post; Microsoft has already made an international effort to cut down on its energy use. “New datacenters in Dublin and Chicago are 50 percent more efficient than their predecessors. In Dublin, the 5.4-megawatt datacenter needs no chillers for cooling.”

Outside of energy conservation Microsoft is beginning projects that explore other environmental issues. According to the recent article “In one project, Microsoft Research shows how specific groups of trees interact with each other and the environment and whether and how tree species will need to migrate in a warming climate.”

According to her blog she loves to spend her weekends doing what thousands of WoW fans would love to imagine her doing.  She announced she was going to be “jumping into shower.going to spend my afternoon playing World Of Warcraft butt naked&stoned.Perfect Sunday!”

In this game, through five unique and epic quests, players will alternate exploration and turn-based puzzle battles to save the world of Ashan from demonic chaos. Might & Magic Clash of Heroes also adopts a brand new manga-style art design that is perfectly suited to Nintendo DS. In a world populated by knights, elves, wizards, necromancers and demons, gamers can manage their own hero, customize their army and lead campaigns in the mythic Might & Magic world.

“Our fans have always appreciated the depth and richness of the Might & Magic universe,” said Romain de Waubert de Genlis, senior producer at Ubisoft. “The teams at Ubisoft and Capybara were inspired to extend that universe in a unique way onto DS, creating an engaging new game experience.”

Created for Might & Magic fans while also attracting new audiences, Might & Magic Clash of Heroes can be played in solo mode or shared with a friend in two-player peer-versus-peer mode.

Divineo is an online producer of flash cards that allow users to play Rom’s of Nintendo DS games. Nintendo originally took the group to court over DS flash cards, but the judge has ruled against Nintendo and suggested that they are purposely locking out developers from their consoles.

The ramifications of this are huge, as it indicates that flash cards are actually legal. Moreover, it could have bigger implications for developers and the like because Nintendo is deemed to be ‘illegally’ protecting their system by locking users out. Therefore, developers should not actually require separate development kits and should just be able to develop applications as they wish on retail versions of Nintendo’s consoles.

This may be a globally relevant court case and seems likely to be relevant to the whole of Europe. Essentially, France has allowed a legal window for pirating on the Nintendo DS. According to their laws it is all fine because Nintendo has left them with little other choice.

Full court documents will be available soon.

“Like so many gamers worldwide, we love the Dead Space franchise and are very excited to announce a new game in the series,” said Nick Earl, Senior VP and Group General Manager at EA. “Visceral Games is quickly becoming known for delivering high-quality, action-packed games. Dead Space 2 is on target to deliver a jaw-dropping experience gamers won’t soon forget.”

“We’re thrilled to jump back into the series, making the next chapter in Isaac’s journey. The infection continues to spread throughout space and our hero Isaac Clarke is the only person able to contain it. There are still loads of necromorphs that need killing!” said Steve Papoutsis, Executive Producer of Dead Space 2. “In Dead Space 2, not everything is exactly as it seems. Expect plot twists that will surprise you and a huge cast of twisted, disgusting monsters that are sure to scare the daylights out of you.”

Originally launched in 2008, Dead Space quickly became one of EA’s top rated wholly-owned intellectual properties. With close to 100 industry awards and an average critic score of 89*, Dead Space became a hit with horror and videogame fans worldwide. In 2009, EA launched Dead Space Extraction, a prequel to the original Dead Space that expanded the fiction and brought the franchise to a new audience base.

Dead Space 2 is being developed for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and on PC. This product has not yet rated by ESRB or PEGI.

QUANTUM THEORY is Tecmo’s newest original IP and the company’s first attempt at the third-person shooter genre. Players take on the role of the massive, gun-wielding warrior Syd and will battle through intense action sequences in an unpredictable, shape-shifting battlefield. In addition to single player campaign, QUANTUM THEORY also supports four modes of online multiplayer, complete with voice chat for real-time communication.

STORY
Tecmo’s Sci-Fi, Action Third-Person Shooter Arrives
Spring 2010 on the PlayStation®3 system and Xbox 360®

Many years have passed since the world war inflicted catastrophic damage on the human race, leaving only a few survivors. In their new community “Cocoon,” life has been threatened by a black material called Erosion, creating a post-apocalyptic environment. Surviving humans recruit a militia to conquer the Erosion and set out to take down the evil, “Living Tower”. Arriving at the scene is the stalwart warrior Syd, whose only intentions are to destroy the Tower. He meets the beautiful and mysterious Filena as they both ascend to the top in their search for answers. The erosion of the Tower intensifies as the players climb up through the moving landform.

KEY FEATURES

* Shape-Shifting Battlefield: Navigate through a dark fantasy world where the intense battleground surprises you with new and challenging obstacles by changing its form in real-time
* Two-Character Combination Actions: Syd and Filena, an AI-controlled partner, perform actions as a pair-in some instances, that is the only way to overcome hurdles. Strategically perform combos for a more powerful, fierce attack against colossal enemies
* Online Play: Continue your adventure with others in four online modes
* Distinctive Art Nouveau Style Environment: Radiant colors and the mixture of organic elements complements both action and technology

QUANTUM THEORY is not yet rated by the Entertainment Ratings Software Board.

Getting Started with Turf Wars is easy:

· Go directly to the “Turf Map” and begin claiming unoccupied Turf (up to 1 mile from the device’s GPS location). Players continue to acquire Turf anywhere they travel, until their cap has been reached. This limit on total Turf is raised at each level-up.

· Players run a variety of criminal missions in order to gain cash and experience, leveling up their character and increasing their abilities in combat and Turf collection. Players use this cash to purchase over 30 weapons, tools, and Turf upgrades to help beat back other mobsters.

· As Turf is accumulated, players increase their “influence”. Influence is attached to Turf and determines how much a given piece of Turf will earn. The greater the population within a piece of Turf, the greater the influence. Players also bolster a property’s influence by making improvements or defensive upgrades.

· Players can choose to attack other players or simply attack a piece of their Turf. Higher level players will be difficult to defeat without creativity. Competitors will need to chip away at their Turf holdings slowly and methodically.

· Need a helping hand? Players can invite, and be invited by, anyone playing the game to join a mob and help take down the competition. They can also pay tribute to “The Don” to get a real leg up.

Turf Wars uses the scarcity of real territory within an interactive, world-wide map to create a multiplayer experience that is truly dynamic. It is one of the first games to fully utilize the Apple platform’s GPS capabilities and the first social crime game to use real physical territory as a major gameplay element. Ally with friends/ fellow mobsters or simply destroy them! Turf Wars is more fun when it’s personal.

“Turf Wars is unique because it uses player’s actual GPS locations and gives them an interactive, real-time Turf map to keep an eye on enemies and plot their next moves. In order to really succeed, players must build their empire in a way that makes sense geographically,” said Nick Baicoianu, CEO of MeanFreePath LLC. “Thousands of people have downloaded Turf Wars already, and our user feedback has been overwhelmingly positive!”

To download Turf Wars for FREE or for more information, please visit www.turfwarsapp.com or follow us on Facebook

**NOTE: iPhone/ iPod touch users must be running Apple’s GPS-enabled, OS 3.0 or higher in order to play Turf Wars**

This trailer highlights the environments of this fantastic sci-fi shooter headed to North American store shelves on January 19, 2010. At times it looks majestic, other times, treacherous. The Void is a realm of reality that will challenge gamers like they’ve never been challenged before!

In honor of this great charity event, the infamous band members of ‘Baby Dog Time’ will reunite one last time for a gig on the main stage at Ümloud!, and in preparation the band and Wired.com’s video production team have put together a hilarious video you have to check out!

Karen (token bass girl), Joe (post-rehab drummer), Seg (voted “most likely to break up the band”), and Chris (singer, egomaniac) have been through many trials and tribulations over the years, but are setting their differences aside for one last performance to benefit a great cause. And this is a great opportunity for you to reunite your band for the same reason! Come out to Ümloud!, hosted at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco, next Wednesday, December 9, 2009! Ümloud! will feature Rock Band all night long, raffles, a silent auction, prizes and more!

Sign up today at www.umloud.com. There are only 6 days left to buy a Standard Band pass and rock on the main stage for the reduced online price of $35 ($40 at the door!).

About Child’s Play Charity:

Since 2003, over 100,000 gamers worldwide have banded together through Child’s Play, a community based charity grown and nurtured from the game culture and industry. Over 5 million dollars in donations of toys, games, books and cash for sick kids in children’s hospitals across North America and the world have been collected since our inception.

This year, Child’s Play Charity has continued expanding across the country and the globe. With almost 70 partner hospitals and more arriving every month, you can be sure to find one from the map above that needs your help! You can choose to purchase requested items from their online retailer wish lists, or make a cash donation that helps out Child’s Play hospitals everywhere.  When gamers give back, it makes a difference!

About Ümloud!:

Ümloud! is an annual fundraiser held in San Francisco, California, with proceeds benefiting Child’s Play Charity.

Founded in 2003 by Penny Arcade, Child’s Play has provided over $3.5 million in donations of toys, games, books and cash for sick kids in children’s hospitals around the world.

The grand-prize winner, Dave Pullen of Billings, Mont., will be outfitted for his next fishing expedition in style, with more than $3,000 worth of prizes, including a Shimano Voltaeus 7-foot MH spinning rod with a Sonora 2500 spinning reel, a Hoyt AlphaMax bow, and a Muzzy Pro Extreme Bowfishing Kit, a Retriever Pro Combo Kit and Ghosted Fish hoody from AMS Bowfishing, and a copy of Shimano Xtreme Fishing for Wii™.

“This fishing package is a fisherman’s dream,” said Bill Swartz, Head Woof of Mastiff. “It’s everything our winner will need to have a ‘Shimano Xtreme Fishing’ like experience in the real world!”

Nine runners-up will also receive their own copies of Shimano Xtreme Fishing for Wii™, plus apparel from Hoyt and AMS Bowfishing.

More information can be found on the Shimano Xtreme Fishing Web site at www.sxf-game.com. A complete list of winners will be posted at the Web site next week.
About Shimano Xtreme Fishing
Shimano Xtreme Fishing invites players to go after the greatest catches of their lives with a traditional rod and reel, a bow and arrow or use SCUBA gear and a spear gun to get up close and personal with the fish. The game features cutting-edge gear like Shimano Voltaeus fishing rods, Hoyt bows, AMS Bowfishing reels and accessories, and Muzzy arrow points. Shimano Xtreme Fishing offers 65+ medals and awards to win and post to the leader board, 12 complete tournaments and over 50 varieties of fish. The game is for one to four players.

Always asking questions about how the world works and delightfully obstinate when things don’t go her way, Little Princess is like almost every kid. Full of energy and very curious, the princess will continue charming girls from all over the world with her new video game.

“As a developer specialized in virtual worlds for kids, Frima Studio knows how to bring a fantasy world into a video game. We are very happy to work with their team to bring this brand to console,” mentioned Daniel Torbjornsson from PAN Vision.

“Video game is the best way for children to interact with their favorite toy or fairytale character,” commented Frima’s CEO Steve Couture. “It is a pleasure to bring our expertise to PAN Vision for this beautiful project. Little Princess marks the beginning of a great relationship between our two companies.”

The game development will officially start on January 2010. In the meantime, you can discover the Little Princess Web kingdom at www.littleprincesskingdom.com.

Medal of Honor is being built with a best-in-class single-player campaign. The Medal of Honor development team at EALA has been hand-selected by the studio leadership of General Manager Sean Decker, Executive Producer Greg Goodrich and Senior Creative Director Rich Farrelly. To compliment the single-player experience, EALA has enlisted the multiplayer expertise at EA DICE. This team will develop the multiplayer experience of Medal of Honor. These two studios are coming together to deliver a world-class Medal of Honor that is poised to re-set the franchise for a new generation.

“When we first set out to reinvent Medal of Honor, we wanted to stay true to its roots of authenticity and respect for the soldier but bring it into today’s war. The Tier 1 Operator is the most disciplined, deliberate and prepared warrior on the battlefield. He is a living, breathing, precision instrument of war.” said Greg Goodrich, Executive Producer, Medal of Honor. “We are honored to have the rare opportunity to work closely with these men to create a game that shares their experience.”

“EA has always been an advocate for telling the soldiers’ story. The new Medal of Honor follows that tradition. We felt it was important to tell the story of today’s war and today’s elite soldiers via today’s most relevant medium – videogames,” said Sean Decker, VP and General Manager of EALA. “We are so proud to bring together two powerhouse development teams to make this game a reality; EA Los Angeles and EA DICE. Medal of Honor promises to be an unforgettable entry in the modern shooter genre.”

Released just two weeks ago, over 2 million retails copies of L4D2 have been sold worldwide and the game appears to be on target to become one of the top selling Xbox and PC titles for the month of November. Sales to date are more than double the original title, which was released exactly one year prior to L4D2. And “Black Friday” promotions during the title’s second week of availability in North American resulted in stronger than expected sales in L4D2’s bid to become one of this year’s best selling releases on both platforms.

“Left 4 Dead 2 is off to a great start with strong support at retail and great reviews from the press,” said Doug Lombardi, VP of marketing at Valve. “Meanwhile the title has already been played by over 1 million Xbox LIVE Gold account holders, and news regarding L4D2 DLC 1 is coming very soon.”

Exclusively available for the Xbox 360 and PC, L4D2 sets a new benchmark for co-operative action games. The title adds melee combat to enable deeper co-operative gameplay, with items such as a chainsaws, frying pans, axes, baseball bats, and more.

With the AI Director 2.0, L4D’s dynamic gameplay is taken to the next level by giving the Director the ability to procedurally change weather effects, world objects, and pathways in addition to tailoring the enemy population, effects, and sounds to match the players’ performance. The result is a unique game session custom fitted to provide a satisfying and uniquely challenging experience each time the game is played.

Finally, with new Survivors, boss zombies, weapons, and items, Left 4 Dead 2 offers a much larger game than the original, featuring more co-operative campaigns, more Versus campaigns, new Survival maps, and the new competitive game mode, Scavenge, all available at launch.

In the demo of Dante’s Inferno, players are introduced to Dante Alighieri’s re-imagined past as a crusader who returns home to Florence to discover his true love, Beatrice, murdered. As her soul escapes her body, she is kidnapped by the dark shadow form of Lucifer. Sworn to her rescue, Dante must journey to the Gates of Hell and beyond to battle undead monstrosities, unholy boss demons, and Death himself. Offering a glimpse into the vast world of Dante’s Inferno, the demo serves as a prelude to the player’s perilous journey to the inner bowels of hell.

“The world of Alighieri’s Dante’s Inferno is such a rich, detailed, and often alarming universe, that all of us at Visceral Games put our hearts, and dare I say souls, into creating something truly intense and exciting,” said executive producer Jonathan Knight. “We hope gamers enjoy this tease of hell, and come away from the experience lusting for more when the game comes out on February 9.”

Developed by Visceral Games™, the award-winning developers behind the critically-acclaimed Dead Space™ franchise, Dante’s Inferno is an epic descent through Dante Alighieri’s nine circles of hell – limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery. At a blazing-fast 60 frames per second, each circle features unique environments, all new creatures, terrifying demons, story elements and are scored distinctly to set a tone that fits each circle of sinners.

Gamers will get to go to hell in North America beginning February 9, 2010 and in Europe on February 12, 2010 for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system as well as the PlayStation® Portable (PSP®). The Gates of Hell demo will be available on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles.

The new service enables Xfire users to broadcast their game play to an unlimited number of viewers. Gamecasters and their audiences can interact using instant messaging, while viewers can watch the live gamecasts on PC’s and mobile phones. Live gamecasts are available at:

1. Xfire – www.xfire.com/live_video/

2. Livestream – www.livestream.com/guide/xfiregames, and

3. Social networks, blogs or websites where users can embed video players

The new service creates unique opportunities for Xfire’s community:

· Gamers can

o Share tricks and tips with their friends

o Get live feedback and help from viewers

o See live gameplay before making purchase decisions

· Pro-teams can

o Engage their fans through live practice or match broadcasts

o Practice with their team members for tournaments

· Publishers and developers can

o Build a marketing buzz for new releases and new content

o Engage with the community for various events, and

o Re-engage with gamers who stopped playing their games

“Live gamecasting is rapidly growing among our audience and reflects the growing trend of youth turning their attention to video games during traditional primetime TV viewing hours. We plan to use Xfire’s live video streaming service to build a marketing buzz with our community for a new content for Blood Bowl. It is one of the most cost effective marketing campaigns to reach out to our users” says Cedric Lagarrigue, CEO, Focus Home Interactive.

“As leaders in competitive video gaming, we’ve found that Xfire’s live broadcast service empowers us to broadcast live our online leagues and tournaments, while giving the opportunity to interact with fans who tune in to watch us practice and play. Furthermore, it provides a platform where our pros can offer live lessons and tips with audio and text commentary,” says Chris Lemley, President of Team Pandemic.

“The partnership expands Xfire’s offering to our vibrant community. It keeps our users involved, engaged and active. For Livestream, the partnership adds compelling gaming content to the linear and on-demand video content already available to millions of viewers and reinforces the power of the Livestream Platform” says Chris Kirmse, Xfire’s General Manger. “We integrated Livestream’s Platform within two weeks using their Platform APIs providing our users a 1-click solution to start a live broadcast”

“Xfire is a true leader in the gaming industry, and this partnership is an exciting opportunity for us to showcase the power of live streaming in the gaming category,” says Max Haot, CEO of Livestream. “Live gamecasting has been one of the top categories on Livestream.com and with this partnership, we provide the best solution available for gamers and ensure continuous leadership in this growing market segment.”

One of the problems Torres had with the game was the realism of events in the campaign. Although riding a helicopter through a hot combat zone might seem like a fun way to spend your Sunday afternoons, Torres has seen that situation go bad and it is not for the faint of heart, “I saw a helicopter crash and it was brutal. I want to say of 25 passengers… four might survive.” Even if you are one of the lucky survivors, permanent incapacitation and death are not far off after that. So it is safe to say that there is no way you could jump into a fire fight right after a helicopter crash.

Another interesting inaccuracy deals with night visions devices; in particular a device used by soldiers called Aviator mods. Torres said this about Infinity wards equipment choice: “rangers wouldn’t use aviator mods. We use PVS 14’s, night vision monocular. The reason is having one of your eyes adjusted to night vision gives you some kind of depth perception. [When using night vision] Things close to you look further away. Your night eye is adjusted to dept and your night vision eye lets you see what is around you. If it came to an emergency situation where you engaged in a [lit] room, you would still have your other eye.”

Although Torres took issue with the game scenarios and equipment choices he did not have much to say in terms of gameplay. However, one of the few gameplay gaff s that stuck out to Torres dealt with reloading. Spam reloading is rampant in MW2, and Torres would definitely agree that always having a ready weapon is a plus, but “in a real life scenario, you aren’t going to reload every three shots.” Soldiers are trained to be aware of how much ammo they have left and to conserve every round.

Many people will never know the feeling of being in a full-out war, and that is the reason MW2 has been so successful in bringing the desperation of real combat into the safety of our living rooms, but in reality death isn’t just a reason to use the restroom and crack another soda.

What attracted you to MW 2?

“I don’t play too many games but realism of [Modern Warfare 2] caught my eye.”

Do you think Infinity Ward did a good job constructing a realistic game in Modern Warfare 2?

“Rating it on a scale of one to ten I think it is pretty high up there, I’d give it an 8. One of the things I enjoyed is that it brings adrenaline and excitement, as far as the action goes.” Torres said the rush was smaller yet similar feeling of being in actual combat.

How realistic is MW 2 weaponry compared to actual weaponry used in warfare?

“A lot of what Modern Warfare brought to the table is pretty accurate. When you look down the sight it looks pretty realistic.” MW 2 also contained many weapons Torres has yet to get his hands on such as the SCAR-H.

How realistic is the environment displayed in MW 2 compared to environments you experienced?

Torres felt the snow covered terrains most reflected environments he experienced. “I know in Afghanistan, when it snows, it snows. Afghanistan is rough mountain terrain, sometimes when had to get flown in. A couple of time we had to suck it up and get out there on foot.”

What is your favorite MW 2 weapon?

Torre’s best loved MW 2 weapon is one he did not get a shot to test drive while he was still in the military, the SCAR-H.

Is there anything unrealistic about MW 2 that really sticks out to you?

“The corporal guy was wearing aviator mods, rangers wouldn’t use aviator mods. We use PVS 14’s, night vision monocular. The reason is having one of your eyes adjusted to night vision gives you some kind of depth perception. [When using night vision] Things close to you look further away. Your night eye is adjusted to dept and your night vision eye lets you see what is around you. If it came to an emergency situation where you engaged in a [lit] room, you would still have your other eye.”

What is your favorite weapon in real life?

Torres has a few favorites but he mentioned three weapons of different types to balance it out a bit: the M4 carbine, the USP 45 with LAM sight, and HK UMP 5. The M4 was his primary weapon as an Army Ranger.

What do you think of the scene in MW 2 where Russian Civilians were shot in the airport?

“Well, it is for the sake of entertainment. Politics aside I think they did a good job getting their point across. Any soldier would know its entertainment. No soldier would stand for [gunning down civilians.]”

What do you think of Obama sending 30,000-35,000 troops into Afghanistan?

“I think it’s a good idea. It is no secret; he said he was going to do it since his campaign. I see his logic. When Bush came up with the surge to invade Iraq we had it right, we just did it to the wrong country.”

Gamedibs will continue doing exclusive interviews with actual soldiers, asking their opinions on various subjects, touching on everything from gameplay to politics. We invite you to submit questions of your own to get answer from the men that have seen what many spend hours simulating. Feel free to add a question to the comment section.

James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game is the official video game based on the highly anticipated film James Cameron’s Avatar. The video game will take you deep into the heart of Pandora, an alien planet that is beyond imagination. Gamers will encounter the Na’vi, Pandora’s indigenous people and discover other life forms the likes of which have never been seen in the world of video games before. When conflict erupts between the RDA Corporation, a space-faring consortium in search of valuable resources, and the Na’vi, gamers will find themselves thrust into a fight for the heart of a planet and the fate of a civilization.

James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game will be released tomorrow on PS3, X360, PC, Wii, DS/DSi, and PSP in North America.

“Capcom fans now have the chance to take a trip down memory lane and experience these characters in their first appearance before playing them in the new Street Fighter game,” according to Capcom’s latest blog entry. The game will also include a remake of classic game Magic Sword.

“Final Fight: Double Impact is a dual release of two classic arcade side-scrolling beat-em-ups,” according to Capcom. Both games have been redone in GGPO coding but will still have the option of using the classic pixilated look if preferred. “Alternatively, purist pixel junkies can toggle back to a classic and arcade cabinet modes to render the game in its original form.”

Both games will be playable online with new soundtrack updates and enhanced game play. “Vault system will allow users to get extra game play out of the game by unlocking new content from both the original developers and fan artists.” There has been no word as to when the characters will be released for play on Street fighter IV but with Final Fight and Magic Sword coming early 2010 playing Cody and Guy may not be possible until later 2010.

Bottom line. It’s worth a rental, but that’s about it. That is, of course, if you want to enrage the folks over at PETA, for which i strongly encourage, and salute you. Until next time folks.

In a recent article, that can be seen at news.bbc.co.uk, a gamer calling himself Raz said this when his XBOX 360 was banned from XBOBX Live for having been modified to use pirated games, “To be honest, I’ve contemplated whether to move to Playstation 3 or buy another Xbox.” Many other disgruntled users are making the same threats but their behavior may not be tolerated any better on the Playstation Network.

An analysis of the terms of service and terms of use agreement of XBOX live and PSN show an amazing similarity in how both companies view piracy. “All use or access to such Property shall be subject to the terms of this Agreement…You may not sell, rent, sublicense, modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any portion of the Property,” according to Playstation Network’s terms of service agreement.

The feelings of PSN are echoed in XBOX Live’s agreement,” You may not copy, download, modify or create derivative works, publish, transmit, sell or attempt to sell or transfer, or otherwise use or exploit any software,” according to the XBOX Live terms of use agreement.

Although many users are making threats to leave the XBOX behind the truth is, changing platforms might not change anything. Purchasing another XBOX would be the same price as switching to Ps3, considering the slim version is now available. Not only is the price the same but what is more obvious is that the users agreements are pretty much the same.

It is understandable that users feel betrayed and angered by the permanent termination of their accounts. The solution to their problems may not be to satiate the lust for revenge but to stop pirating. But, if a gamer really thinks it is time for a change PSN does have much to offer and the avenue for the switch is always open. They only need to remember, the terms of use are there, they may change systems but the rules are set in stone.

1. Hello Kitty Party Nintendo DS

“Players can have fun in the kitchen-washing, slicing, frying and cooking party food before the guests arrive,” in the newest Hello Kitty game, Hello Kitty Party on Nintendo DS! Who needs fast paced action sequences when you can wash dishes!

2. Diner Dash Xbox 360

After a hard day at work there is no better way to unwind then hitting the Wii to live the glamorous life of a diner waitress! Join Flo “in her quest for customer satisfaction, which is reflected in a heart meter that empties as customers lose patience.”

3. Singstar Latino Ps3

Everyone wants to be a Latin popstar. There was, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, and now you! Hurry to the Playstation Network before the servers overload because of the tsunami of fans trying to get there hands on this gem…

4. Scene it? Twilight

As if staring into Edward Cullen’s big beautiful eyes didn’t send me into a daze already, a puzzle game for the Wii is now available with Twilight based puzzles! “Fans can learn more about Bella Swan, TWILIGHT’s heroine or test their memories on Edward Cullen, the dark and unlikely love of Bella’s life.”

5. Your Shape Wii

I don’t know about you but my thighs are feeling fat and sweaty after chowing down on all of that holiday junk food. Get back into shape with Your Shape and listen to Jenny Mc Carty’s hot voice guide the way.

6. Karaoke Revolution Xbox 360

“Get the party started with friends or perform solo and rise to the top of the charts.” Of course there is no better way to get the party started then screaming along into a scratchy mic to Baby One More Time. I know I am ready to get my copy.

7. Yoga Wii

After setting extra bags of on fire cash for kicks I thought of a better way to get rid of it. I went down to my local hardware store and bought 3 cans of paint. I then proceeded to my local electronics store and bought a Wii Yoga with fit plus balance Board ($89.99 + 35.99) After sniffing a salt shaker of blue paint I found myself doing Tadasana pose and hallucinating a feeling of enjoyment while playing Yoga Wii. 15 minutes later I tried to ride the board off a bridge like a magic carpet…best money I ever spent.

8. Learn Geography Nintendo DS

This one is for the kiddies. After a long day of school there is nothing more than little Timmy wants to do than hop on his DS and pretend to be back at school, learning about geography….

9. Salon Superstar Nintendo DS

“Become a Star Beautician! You can run your very own beauty salon. Master the art of hairstyling, cosmetics and massage… and above all, keep your customers happy!” With the economy bleeding from the face who wouldn’t want to learn some extra skills in beauty to make a couple bucks…oh wait, it doesn’t do that.

10. A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia Wii

Feed a pile of goo jelly beans from magic jelly bean trees. But be careful! Those corporate run bean trees are filled with high fructose corn syrup, you don’t want your blob getting type II diabetes and dying of a sugar induced coma….

Gamers can tackle these foes alone but those who feel it’s too steep a challenge should team up with other Dungeon Fighters in co-op mode.

Here are details on each of the bosses shown in the video:

Flaming Binoche

Deep in the heart of the great conflagration that consumes Garqarak Forest lives this terrifying queen of fire. Clad entirely in crimson, her trusted polished gold sorceress staff in her grip, Flaming Binoche makes herself known with a piercing shriek that strikes fear into the heart of even the most intrepid Dungeon Fighter. When she rises into the sky, beware of the blazing meteors she calls down from the heavens.

Ghoulguish

The walking dead have no feeling, they have no fear, they have only one thing, and that’s the irresistable urge to feed on you. And the most fearsome of the undead is Ghoulguish. He may be shrouded in the dark energy of the shadow, but the chill of his touch is ever-present as you try to defeat him. Even on the opposite end of the final Shadow Thunderland dungeon room, he can strike with a frosty blow that knocks you to the ground, where you may become the answer to his hunger.

Light Castellan Sieghart

In the darkest, innermost room in Sky Tower, the bright, searing light of Sieghart’s bolts of lightening illuminates Castellan’s Chamber. A thousand years ago he lead his army, hacking and slashing, into this mystical castle…and they remain today, violent echoes of a bygone time. When he finally reach Sieghart, he’ll call down his bolts of lightening to where ever you may be hiding, so keep moving.

Great He’etako

The He’etako’s hunt in packs, creeping through the folds an crevices of whatever terrain they infect, usually in great numbers. Of course, the one the Dungeon Fighters call the Great He’etako needs no pack, a giant, radial beast that can summon a wide variety of his slimy bretheren to rain down pain upon you. He is known to shroud his prey in a blinding muck of ink before devouring it whole. So when the lights go out, watch for his attack.

Gangling Lotus

The eighth strongest Apostle, Gangling Lotus is powerful enough to bring calamity effortlessly to Behemoth, using simply the power of his finely tuned mind. However, it is the task of the Dungeon Fighters to save the temple from this insidious mentalist, who transforms into He’etakos all that fall to his superior brain. You’ll have to resist or else live the rest of your life as an invertebrate.

Dungeon Fighter Online is currently in open beta but opened its Item Shop and has new Thanksgiving content and events. Players can learn more and download Dungeon Fighter Online for free at http://dungeonfighter.nexon.net.

The video will dive deep inside the void to the mysterious indigenous beings known as “the Watchers.”

The follow-up to one of 2009’s highest-rated titles, Super Street Fighter IV will be released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 during Spring 2010. With about 8 new characters, enhanced online play, the return of bonus stages and more, Super Street Fighter IV will deliver the ultimate vision of Street Fighter to fans all over the world.

“One of the most important elements of what makes Shiren the Wanderer a worthwhile RPG adventure on Wii is its intricate story,” commented Crystal Murray, PR Specialist at Atlus. “The stoic ronin Shiren and his ever-prattling sidekick Koppa set out on an epic millennium-spanning journey, steeped in Japanese mythology. Join them as they as they race to unlock the secrets of a mystical land. The newly launched official website and trailer will help make waiting for the game’s February release slightly more bearable, of course excluding fans who have access to a time machine and/or the ability to safely freeze themselves until said time, in which case they’re all set.”

When you’re done viewing and reviewing the trailer, head on over to the recently opened official game website (http://www.atlus.com/shiren), which will further verse you on everything Shiren, showering you with additional art, info, and more.

Exceptionally reviewed by famed Japanese gaming publication Famitsu (9/9/8/9), this latest entry in the legendary series stands as one of the most addictive, highly rewarding, and endlessly replayable games available on Wii, not to mention the most accessible Shiren game yet.

Shiren the Wanderer for Wii is currently scheduled for release on February 9, 2010.

On Thanksgiving Day, to give customers the most flexibility to get great fashion and gifts at great value, select Old Navy stores will be open to kick off their weekend-long Gobblepalooza promotion, featuring 3 days of rockin’ deals and special Rock Band product gifts with purchase. The holiday promotion begins on November 26.

Consumers will be treated to a rockin’ shopping experience when Old Navy unveils Rock Band game play kiosks in close to 700 stores in the United States and Canada. The kiosks will be featured throughout the holiday season, giving families a fun outlet during their busy holiday shopping trips.

In addition, six of the Old Navy flagship stores will install 10 x 10 fully equipped Rock Band entertainment stages providing consumers the chance to perform like rock stars. Families are invited to come down and play on Thanksgiving Thursday as part of the Gobblepalooza weekend. Customers will also get a chance to win a $200 shopping spree, Rock Band song tracks and other great prizes. Old Navy stores in Canada will join the promotion when they unveil their Rock Band kiosks on Friday, November 27th. For a full list of stores that feature the Rock Band game play kiosks and stages visit www.rockband.com/oldnavy or www.gobblepalooza.com.

“Rock Band offers families a wonderful activity to enjoy together and we’re excited to bring that experience to life in Old Navy stores this Holiday season,” said Christina Glorioso, Vice President of Marketing Sponsorships for MTV Games. “This will make shopping for the Holidays fun for everyone and give moms a great activity to keep kids (and dads) entertained.”

The Gobblepalooza weekend will also offer two different Rock Band product gift with purchase offers, while supplies last. On Thanksgiving Thursday, consumers who purchase Rock Band™2 software for the Xbox 360®, PlayStation®3 or Wii™ will receive a free Rock Band guitar. On Black Friday, the first consumers to purchase $20 or more of Old Navy merchandise will receive a very special free Rock Band gift with purchase for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, or Wii (a $49.99 value), while supplies last.

In addition, families nationwide will have the opportunity to expand their Rock Band music library collection in December when Old Navy rolls out “Wonderful Wednesdays” on December 9th and December 16th. People who purchase $25 or more of Old Navy merchandise will receive a free Rock Band track download code.

“Brain training games have been enormously popular on DS,” said Len Ciciretto, co-founder of Maximum Family Games. “But none of the current brain training-style games are aimed at kids and tweens – the primary users of the DS. Junior Brain Trainer has been developed specifically for children. Junior Classic Games continues to build skills while keeping kids entertained.”

Released eleven months ago in the UK, Junior Brain Trainer has remained one of the top ten bestselling titles for Nintendo DS. The second title in the Junior series, Junior Classic Games, has remained strong as well in its eight weeks on the shelves.

Junior Brain Trainer contains over 100 mind-boggling puzzles, games and activities designed to improve memory, spelling, reading, logic and problem-solving skills. Kids complete five activities each day to unlock new games, stories, quizzes and puzzles. With adjustable difficulty levels for ages 5 through 11, Junior Brain Trainer helps support kids’ classroom studies and build confidence.

With timeless favorites, including Memory, Wordsearch, Spot the Difference, and Hangman, Junior Classic Games challenges kids’ logic, memory, and problem-solving skills while providing hours of entertainment. The 30 games and puzzles are set in an engaging safari theme with adjustable difficulty levels for ages 4 through 9. A medal reward system keeps players continuously challenged and motivated.

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 System and Wii

Rock Band is delivering more Nirvana tracks next week, including the rock anthem, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” from the band’s best-selling 1991 album, Nevermind. “Nirvana Pack 02” also includes two live recordings – “Come As You Are,” from the band’s legendary MTV Unplugged performance, and “Lithium,” from the 1992 Reading Festival. The Live at Reading CD/DVD is also available for purchase in stores. Fans can also download “About a Girl,” “Blew” and “School,” from Bleach, already available in the Rock Band Music Store. Nirvana released their debut album, Bleach, in 1989 on Sub Pop Records, and to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this platinum-selling album, Sub Pop released a special edition of the album, in stores now, featuring a complete and previously unreleased live concert recorded in 1990 in Portland, Oregon.

San Francisco-formed hard rockers Night Ranger debuts in the Rock Band universe next week with a three pack of songs that includes “(You Can Still) Rock in America” and “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me,” both of which were re-recorded for Rock Band, and “You’re Gonna Hear It From Me,” from 2008’s Hole in the Sun. Night Ranger has sold more than 16 million albums worldwide and is still touring after almost 30 years. “Night Ranger Pack 01” will be available in both the Rock Band Music Store and the family-friendly LEGO® Rock Band Music Store.

Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (Dec. 1) and PlayStation 3 system (Dec. 3):

· Nirvana – “Come As You Are (Live from MTV Unplugged)” +

· Nirvana – “Lithium (Live at Reading)”

· Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

· Night Ranger – “(You Can Still) Rock in America” +

· Night Ranger – “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” +

· Night Ranger – “You’re Gonna Hear It From Me” +

(All tracks are original master recordings)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “Night Ranger Pack 01” or “Nirvana Pack 02” as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks on Wii. Tracks marked with a “+” are also available 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

$5.49, £3.99 UK, €2.49 EU (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Night Ranger Pack 01” or “Nirvana Pack 02”

$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per track

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

“When we launched Rock Band two years ago, we made a promise to create a music gaming experience that delivered on a weekly basis more songs and artists than ever imagined,” said Alex Rigopulos, co-founder and CEO of Harmonix Music Systems. “We’re extremely proud to pass this remarkable milestone of over 1,000 songs in Rock Band and will continue to innovate and bring more of the best music to Rock Band players all over the world.”

“The library of great songs available to players on the Rock Band platform is vast and continues to grow,” said Paul DeGooyer, Senior Vice President of Electronic Games and Music at MTV Networks Music Group. “This milestone reflects a tremendous amount of hard work from the world-class teams at Harmonix, MTV Games and at our artist, management, label and publishing partners.”

Rock Band delivers content in a variety of unique ways. Fans can access content included on the disc of Rock Band 2 and export other discs into their music library including Rock Band, LEGO® Rock Band, and a variety of track packs, which employ the disc export technology that Harmonix pioneered. Additionally, players can select from weekly downloadable content, now in its 105th consecutive week, all created by the dedicated Harmonix audio and art teams.

To date, Rock Band fans have downloaded more than 60 million songs from the Rock Band Music Store, and coming soon, Harmonix and MTV Games will be delivering new content via the Rock Band Network, a new suite of tools that allow bands and labels of all shapes and sizes to author their songs into downloadable, playable Rock Band tracks available for sale. With more than 1,000 tracks available to date in the standard Rock Band platform, the Rock Band Network Music Store will exponentially increase the number of songs available, further securing MTV Games and Harmonix’s position as the leading provider of downloadable content for music-based video games.

For a complete list of all 1,000 songs, please visit www.rockband.com/music or see the attached documents, which outline all songs to date, plus some fun Rock Band platform song stats.

Road Kill sets soldiers on a winding road, filled with dangerous sniper spots, abandoned trucks and deadly foes. Guerillas were attempting to flee a hideout and convoy men and supplies to a safer location. But the convoy was an easy target and destroyed by air strikes. Now, a Counter-Insurgency Team has been dispatched to the area to sweep for any survivors. Players must keep an eye out for snipers while trying to sneak through the convoy to eliminate the opposition while advancing along the devastated highway.

A new Napalm airstrike designator has been added to the Specialists arsenal. Some players might use this new weapon with the new Specialist, Hawk, who is a mysterious newcomer coming from an elite group of Specialists idolized for their outstanding military knowledge and ability on the battlefield.

Players can hitchhike to “Road Kill” with some great holiday gear. Players can provide themselves some humorous cover with the Turkey Balaclava head gear or bash foes in the noggin with the Turkey Leg melee weapon. And those looking to add some additional gear to their load out should sign up for the Turkey Backpack.

Of course, Nexon is also celebrating Thanksgiving with its popular Black Friday sale, which offers players a chance to purchase Black Market items at a discount. For more information, go to http://combatarms.nexon.net.

3536980
*Played on Very Hard difficulty*

If you think you can beat my score, send me a message or leave me a comment in this post. Just let me know you topped my score and i will check the leaderboards to confirm. Who knows, you might even win something from me personally. Check out the photo below for proof and to see my horrible paint skills. Let the games begin!!

]]> http://www.gamedibs.com/dibs/news/wii/resident-evil-the-darkside-chronicles-gamedibs-coms-own-koru-issues-a-challenge/feed 0 http://www.gamedibs.com/dibs/news/xbox360/scivelation-officially-slated-for-xbox-360-release http://www.gamedibs.com/dibs/news/xbox360/scivelation-officially-slated-for-xbox-360-release#comments Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:20:05 +0000 Koru http://www.gamedibs.com/dibs/news/xbox360/scivelation-officially-slated-for-xbox-360-release Scivelation is officially announced for release on the Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and is scheduled for a Q3 2010 release.

Scivelation, a cinematic gameplay experience set in a dystopian future that promises both high octane action and a powerful human story. Combining beautiful visuals rendered on the Unreal 3 Engine with an immersive plot informed by the works of Orwell, Milton and Dante, Scivelation features white-knuckled gameplay that stresses intelligent strategy while players run, gun, sneak, and drive through a diversity of post-Apocalyptic locations.

Human civilization as we know it has ended at the hands of religious zealots desperate to bring about the Apocalypse. What remains of society has been homogenized into a single culture, to be governed by the Regime – a theocratic, worldwide government intent to rob mankind of its most meaningful symbols. A scattered front of old believers, named heretics by the Regime, have resorted to violent mobilization in order to carve out a niche where they might survive unmolested, and in the midst of this turmoil are Dr. Elisha Amano, a disgruntled Regime scientist who helped develop a paradigm-shifting, post-human supervirus; and Mikhail Ivanov, a cyborg and former member of the Russian special forces who was divested of his humanity fighting in the End Times.

Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox LIVE are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

Two Worlds II returns players to the realms of Antaloor, the high fantasy world of mysticism and awe from the first title, released in 2007. Two Worlds II has been built from the ground up for Xbox 360 with a brand new engine and gameplay mechanics aimed at delivering both hardcore and casual gamers a refreshingly robust role-playing experience.

Rescued from prison by former enemies, the player once again assumes control of the unnamed hero, only to find the world of Antaloor has been forever changed in their absence.

Boasting a diverse, living world and a limitless open narrative, Two Worlds II could very well be the next sleeper hit of the genre. Antaloor is a mythic world of pristine savannahs and mordant swamps, celestial cities teeming with life that will rise or fall entirely depending of the player’s actions, as the reign of the implacable despot Gandohar threatens to throw the world into a state of irreversible decay.

Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox LIVE are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.