Press Releases

I just got this presser from D3:

Thrilling casual and hardcore gamers alike with the announcement, D3Publisher of America, Inc. and Infinite Interactive Pty. Ltd. today confirmed their partnership for the development of brand new videogame Puzzle Quest: Galactrix, a rich new addition to the beloved Puzzle Quest universe. The game incorporates a powerful blend of casual and hardcore gameplay elements, similar to those adored by fans of the critically acclaimed Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, into an all-new futuristic, science-fiction setting. Puzzle Quest: Galactrix is scheduled for release in Fall 2008.

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix is under development by Infinite Interactive Pty. Ltd., confirmed for Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC and the Nintendo DS handheld system. The game is currently rated "RP" (Rating Pending) by the ESRB.

I know it's another list (and there's more coming), but this one is kind of cool. It's from people who we'll soon be hearing about...

From the press release:

Students at The Guildhall at SMU, the country’s premier graduate video game development program, have released their suggested top 10 video game gift list for the 2007 holiday season. These are the selections from the men and women who will be designing the blockbuster games of the future:

1) Super Mario Galaxy
Platform: Wii
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

From the Activision press release... these new song are available today on Xbox Live and PlayStation store.

The Velvet Revolver Track Pack includes master recordings of "Messages," "She Builds Quick Machines" and the 2004 Grammy Award winner for Best Hard Rock Performance, "Slither." The Foo Fighters Track Pack includes master recordings of "The Pretender," "This Is a Call" and the 2002 Grammy Award winner for Best Rock Song, "All My Life."

Additionally, later in November, the Boss Battle anthems will be available, free of charge. Originally composed music by Slash and Tom Morello along with "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" can be downloaded to play outside of Career mode.

Sony really didn't exactly react to the 360's price drop (yet), but they officially announced the 80gig PS3 and added this:

The 80GB model joins the existing 60GB PS3 that has been available at retail since launch last November. The 60GB PS3 is currently enjoying a surge in sales following a price reduction in the US and Canada on July 9 of $100 to $499/$549 CND. Since that date, unit sales at the company's top five retailers have jumped 113% when compared to the average sales of four weeks prior to the price drop. SCEA will continue to sell the 60GB in the US and Canada at the new, reduced price until current inventory is depleted, which is predicted to be this fall based on current consumer demand.

Activision press-released us today with the deatils about the next iteration of 'Guitar Hero', check it...

ACTIVISION SHREDS NEW DETAILS ON NEXT GUITAR HERO™ GAME

The next iteration of Guitar Hero, published by RedOctane® and developed by Neversoft, is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information about Guitar Hero, please visit the dedicated community site www.guitarherogame.com.

Listen awl yawl, it's Sab-ah-tawaj!

Kotaku has new details on the limited "Cybertron" edition 'Transformers' game for the Xbox 360.

I really don't want to spend $70 on a paperweight. Fingers crossed it will be worth it, cuz you know I'm spendin' the cash. And so will 80 million other people.

The Details Here

Just got this release form our friends at Microsoft....

Halo 3” Multiplayer Beta Hits Xbox LIVE Worldwide on May 16

Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios offer gamers exclusive first experience of one of 2007’s most anticipated entertainment releases.

REDMOND, Wash. — April 10, 2007 — Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios today confirmed the multiplayer beta of “Halo® 3” will debut to audiences worldwide via Xbox LIVE® on May 16 at 5 a.m. PDT and run through June 6 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Coming exclusively to the Xbox 360™ console this fall, “Halo 3” is the highly anticipated third chapter in the groundbreaking “Halo” trilogy from legendary developers Bungie. “Halo 3” lets gamers experience Master Chief’s greatest battle as he launches an epic mission to stop the Covenant, destroy the impending Flood threat and ultimately save mankind.

Made possible through Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox LIVE gaming and entertainment network, which provides a robust online service for more than 6 million gamers worldwide, the multiplayer beta for “Halo 3” will give anxious Xbox 360 gamers their first opportunity to get their hands on the new levels, weapons, vehicles and game types, as well as a chance to provide valuable data that Bungie will use in continued development. Starting May 16, gamers who secured their admission to the multiplayer beta either through the “Rule of Three” promotion or by purchasing a specially marked copy of “Crackdown™” for Xbox 360 will be able to don their Spartan armor, download the beta on Xbox LIVE, and jump online using their Xbox LIVE Gold account* to battle other gamers from around the world.

When gamers gather online to play the multiplayer beta via Xbox LIVE in May, they will be treated to three richly detailed, action-oriented maps: Snowbound, High Ground and Valhalla, which represent a mixture of large- and medium-scale combat environments and are brand-new to “Halo 3.” Each map will test gamers’ mettle as they are placed behind the controls of new “Halo 3” vehicles such as the agile Mongoose all-terrain vehicle, and armed with deadly weapons such as the new and improved Assault Rifle, the ferocious Brute Spiker, the devastating Spartan Laser and the treacherous new Spike Grenades. This is just a taste of what gamers will experience later this fall when “Halo 3” goes on sale.

“‘Halo: Combat Evolved’ and ‘Halo 2’ changed the face of console gaming forever,” said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. “Gamers from around the world have logged more than 800 million hours on Xbox LIVE playing ‘Halo 2,’ and years after its launch it remains the No. 1 title on our Xbox LIVE network. Bringing an early look at the multiplayer elements of ‘Halo 3’ to our passionate fan base is tremendously exciting for us.”

Gamers worldwide who did not participate in the “Rule of Three” promotion but are interested in joining the multiplayer beta of “Halo 3” can still participate through the purchase of the critically acclaimed Xbox 360 title “Crackdown,” which was launched in February. “Crackdown” sets players loose in a free-form, persistent city for action-packed crime fighting that requires a bigger, faster and stronger hero that evolves as a more efficient weapon through continued gameplay. Each copy of “Crackdown” has been specially marked with a “Halo 3” beta sticker prior to the beta period, and starting May 16 the game will act as a key for gamers to download and participate in the “Halo 3” multiplayer beta.

In addition, gamers who can’t wait for the multiplayer beta this May can get an even earlier look at “Halo 3” with a new, behind-the-scenes video feature available at http://www.bungie.net and in high definition over Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Starting today, viewers can go behind the scenes at Bungie Studios to learn about the people, technology and process that are making “Halo 3” an unforgettable multiplayer experience, and to get a taste of what to expect from the upcoming “Halo 3” multiplayer beta. The latest multiplayer video documentary, titled “Is Quisnam Protero Damno!,” will offer a glimpse at how “Halo 3” multiplayer maps are being designed, built and architected, and how these amazing spaces are converted into fun places in which to play. Gamers can also catch the first-ever glimpse of brand-new “Halo 3” multiplayer levels in their early stages of evolution and construction.

Why does anyone need to be exicted about Microsoft releasing a 512meg memory card for the Xbox 360?

I can't think of any reason.

Read the press release HERE.

Fall asleep... now.

Victor note: Well, the one cool thing is that, with the bigger memory cards, Microsoft is also increasing the maximum potential size of Xbox Live Arcade games from 50 megabytes to 150. So hopefully we'll start to see some more complex games on Arcade, rather than just rehashes of older titles.

And not to get off on a rant here, but this artificial limit on Arcade file sizes is pretty much completely due to the fact that Microsoft chose not to make the hard drive a standard piece of equipment with all 360s. Instead, Microsoft has to accomodate the gamers who have only a memory card and no hard drive but who still want to be able to download and store Arcade games.

If Microsoft had, in fact, made the hard drive standard, Xbox Live Arcade would probably be a much more interesting venture right now. In fact, I bet we'd already be able to buy and download original Xbox games if the 20-gig drive had been standard.

And another thing (I'm really getting worked up for a Monday, but whatever): why are the prices on the memory cards so outrageous? $50 for what's basically a 512 MB thumb drive? That price would be steep for a 2 gigabyte memory card.

Read about it: HERE

Full instructions at orb.com: HERE

Just saw this release and thought I'd post since they're honorary Texans based out of Mesquite, Tx. Way to go guys!

Victor update: I actually just got off the phone with id CEO Todd Hollenshead, talking about the Emmys, id's next game, the Nintendo Wii, World of Warcraft, video game piracy and all sorts of other fun stuff. I'll be posting the details soon.

Continue reading "Texas based id Software nabs an Emmy" »

From the press release:

The rock gods have spoken, and are pleased to announce further details on Activision, Inc.’s Guitar Hero II™ on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, which will feature a variety of new exclusive downloadable content through Xbox Live Marketplace®, along with over 70 finger-melting tracks. The franchise that has rocked the video game industry is set to go on another highly-anticipated world tour this spring, and fans will now enjoy sharply remodeled HD visuals for the next-gen platform, and be able to shred their new Gibson-shaped X-Plorer axes to impressively pulsating audio sweetness on the Xbox 360.

Move to the top of my most wanted list!

According to Kotaku (and some press releases) Epic will offer two FREE 'Gears of War' maps for download on Xbox Live for the 360.

The descriptions of the maps are as follows:

"Raven Down: A Raven Helicopter has gone down in the middle of a large scale battle with the omnipresent Locust Horde. Gears have taken out the Seeder and gamers join Delta Forces moving into the crash site from all angles to search for survivors."

and

"Old Bones: In an attempt to eradicate any traces of human history and culture, the Locust Horde has emerged under Sera's Capitaline Museums and has begun to destroy them brick by brick. Each gamer's mission is to help the Delta Force recapture the museums before all remnants of humankind's existence are obliterated."

These freebies should be available for download on January 10th!

Microsoft just released some news about some other ways to get in on the HALO 3 Mulitplayer Beta this spring. Click on the link to read the official release.

Continue reading "More news about the Halo 3 Mulitplayer Beta" »

Microsoft just released some news about some other ways to get in on the HALO 3 Mulitplayer Beta this spring. Click on the link to read the official release.

Continue reading "More news about the Halo 3 Mulitplayer Beta" »

Midnight Gaming Championship finals are THIS SATURDAY! There's a chance to win a PS3, a Wii and a 360... not to mention a TON of other cool prizes.

GET OUT TO AMERIQUEST FIELD!

Here's the press release (more after the jump):

Playing games at midnight can get you great prizes if you know where to be. Gamers have the opportunity to win cash and prizes with the first ever Midnight Gaming Championship. This Saturday, November 18, 2006 marks the final championship tournament allowing gamers to play late into the night at The Diamond Club at Ameriquest Field in Arlington, TX. The doors open at 7 p.m. to be followed by the ultimate battle of gaming skills, culminating with the crowning of the Midnight Gaming Championship Champions.

Continue reading "Midnight Gaming Championship Finals (already!?)!" »

In case you didn't know:

This Thursday evening (CST), November 9, your opportunity to get in on the excitement arrives when the Wii Bundle becomes available for purchase online at GameStop.com. You'll get the best games, accessories and more in one convenient package delivered right to your door - all for under $699 plus tax and handling.

Good news for the weekend. The Tony Hawk’s Project 8 demo will be available on the Xbox Live marketplace this Friday (October 20).

Free fun is always good!

Activision sent over the track list from the Tony Hawk Project 8 soundtrack (The Dead Milkmen?!? YEA!)

Enjoy (continued after the jump):

76% Uncertain – "Radio"
Aurelius- "Hemlock"
Bad Religion - "Social Suicide"
Black Mountain – "Druganaut"
Charizma & PB Wolf – "Devotion"
Claus Grabke – "Cause"
Cryptic Slaughter – "Lowlife"
Damian Marley – "Move"
Dead Milkmen, The – "Punk Rock Girl"
Die Young (TX) – "Anthem of the Prodigal Son"
Eagles of Death Metal – "Chase The Devil"
Funk Face – "Zoo York City"
Gnarls Barkley – "Gone Daddy Gone"

Continue reading "Tony Hawk Project 8 Track List" »

Got this box-art from Atari today. Am I the only one that loves this cover??

From press release:

21 year-old Mannie Rodriguez, from Dallas, TX recently beat out over 40,000 others to qualify for Team USA in the World Cyber Games, the world's largest e-sports competition with over 2.5 million participants.

Rodriguez, who is a member of the elite professional gaming team 3-D, along with Dallas residents Russ Watson (23) and Ron Kim, will represent his country at the Grand Finals in Monza, Italy next month against 800 of the world's best video gamers from 70 countries for $430,000 in prizes, medals and national honor in eight game events. Interestingly enough, of the 12 members of Team USA, 5 are from Texas!

For more information on the Gaming competition, here are a few videos on the US Final:

Mannie - DOA4

Further information on the Team USA and the World Cyber Games can be
found below and at www.worldcybergames.com.

I just got this press release from Activision:

Turn back the clocks and crank-up the action, id Software’s DOOM® is available now for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system by download from Microsoft’s Xbox Live® Arcade. The game, which premiered today at X06 in Barcelona, brings legendary DOOM mayhem to gamers, who for the first time ever can relive the classic demon-blasting fragfest in both single-player and 2-4-player co-operative and Deathmatch modes over Xbox Live or splitscreen. DOOM for Xbox Live Arcade is available in most worldwide markets for 800 points and is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB.

I'm actually kind of excited about Deathmatch over Xbox Live!

Third Quarter Roster Delivers Some of the Industry’s Most Anticipated Video Games

SAN FRANCISCO – September 19, 2006 – Today Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announced that the third quarter of fiscal year 2006-2007 will feature an exceptional selection of titles across all platforms and genres.

Continue reading "Press Release: UBISOFT ANNOUNCES ALL-STAR Q3 FISCAL YEAR 2006-2007 LINEUP" »

- Unique Gameplay and Astonishing Visual Style Creates Immersive Experience --

SUNNYVALE, Calif, September 19, 2006 — Capcomâ, a powerhouse in the multi-billion dollar video game industry, today released Ōkami™, a new innovative action adventure game for the PlayStationâ2 computer entertainment system. Ōkami tells the story of a mythical sun god who sets out to restore a dismal world, decimating the forces of evil who stand in the way by commanding the elements and mythical abilities the deity possesses. Mixing Japanese folklore and a stunning traditional Japanese art style, players must utilize an inventive control scheme to overcome the challenges and evil that awaits. Ōkami is the brainchild of Capcom's Clover Studio which is renowned for such ground-breaking and critically acclaimed titles including the Steel Battalion and Viewtiful Joe series. Ōkami’s addictive and mesmerizing gameplay is now available at retailers across North America and carries an “T” rating for teen audiences by the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board).

Continue reading "Press Release: VANQUISH THE POWERS OF EVIL AS CAPCOM® RELEASES OKAMI FOR THE PLAYSTATION®2 COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM" »

San Francisco, Calif, (September 15, 2006) -- Eidos Interactive Ltd., one of the world’s leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, announces that the Reservoir Dogs video game will be available in stores everywhere on October 24, 2006 for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC in North America.

Continue reading "Press Release: Eidos Announces Street Date for Reservoir Dogs Video Game and Releases New Screenshots" »

Nintendo will reshape the home entertainment and video game landscape with the launch of its heralded Wii(TM) home video game console. The Americas will lead the worldwide launch on Nov. 19. Wii will be sold as an affordable, mass-consumer product at an MSRP of just $249.99. The price includes one wireless Wii Remote controller, one Nunchuk(TM) controller and the groundbreaking collection of five different Wii Sports games on one disc, which anyone can play using simple movements,experienced or not.

Continue reading "Press Release: Nintendo's Incomparable Wii Console Launches Nov. 19; MSRP $249.99" »

Onyx and Coral Pink Follow Sale of 1 Millionth New Super Mario Bros.

REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The only thing more fun than new
Nintendo(R) DS Lite hardware colors is trying to keep up with the breakneck
sales of the software to play on the popular little portable! On Sept. 13,
two new colors -- Onyx and Coral Pink -- join Polar White, which is enjoying
its own incredible sales peak and getting noticed everywhere.

Continue reading "Press Release: Nintendo Launches New DS Lite Colors Amid Record-Breaking Game Sales" »