Archive for January, 2008

Tom Clancys Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 Xbox 360 DLC – Co-op Collection Available Now on Xbox LIVE Marketplace

Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, today announced release of the Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter® 2 Co-op Collection, a new downloadable content (DLC) package for Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. This new premium content package will enrich and extend the original game by allowing players to expand their LIVE experience with an all-new co-op campaign and a total of nine maps, seven of which are inspired by classic maps from Ghost Recon’s illustrious history and two that are totally brand new. This premium content package is available now via the Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for 800 Microsoft points.

Xbox LIVE Marketplace

Take a look below for an outline of the full contents of the Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 Co-op Collection:

OVERVIEW: The GRAW 2 Co-op Collection consists of five Co-op Campaign missions that continue the story from GRAW 2. In total there are nine maps, seven of which are inspired by classic maps from Ghost Recon’s illustrious history and two that are totally brand new. All nine maps (including adversarial versions of the Co-op Campaign maps) have exquisite visuals and support all of GRAW 2’s thousands of customizable game modes.

ACHIEVEMENTS:
The Co-op Collection offers nine new achievements for GRAW 2, totaling 125 achievement points.

CO-OP MAPS

New Co-op Campaign – Story: Manuel Suazo Azcona has emerged as the leader of a new rebel movement in El Salvador. Azcona’s plan seems to be an attempt to destabilize the governments of both El Salvador and neighboring Honduras. Once their respective governments are weakened, he will incite the people to try and overthrow both countries’ U.S.-backed leaders. The Ghosts are being sent in to quell this uprising before it starts. They must first stop the rebel incursions over the two nations’ shared border and then hunt down the rebel leaders one by one. If they fail, America’s efforts in the region could be set back by decades.

Caves – (Ghost Recon®)
Azcona’s squads are using the nearby caves as an operational base for raiding army convoys across the river. Detain and extract the rebel leader and recon the area for any hidden weapon caches.

Railroad Bridge – (Ghost Recon)
Intel reports the rebels are moving on a command post 60 clicks southeast of here. Protect the command post, recon the local rail line and hunt down the informant providing intel to the rebels.

Battlefield – (Ghost Recon)

The last rebel unit in the area is holed up in the village of Venta. An allied armor unit on the edge of town is pinned down by artillery. Ghosts, knock out the enemy comm transmitter, then escort the armor through the village.

Plantation – (Ghost Recon®: Island Thunder®)
Intel shows a rebel leader’s motorcade is moving through the farms south of here. Take out his convoy and destroy all of the surrounding ADATS before Sabre Seven arrives for extraction.

Swamp Airfield – (Ghost Recon: Island Thunder)
Azcona’s rebels have occupied a small island airfield. Recon the area for intel on this operation and destroy all aircraft to prevent any means of escape. The landing strip is targeted for an air strike so get out ASAP.

ADVERSARIAL MAPS

Business Park – (Brand New) / Suitable for 8 to 12 players
Narrow alleys connect open courtyards with overlooking balconies in this concrete corporate paradise.

Rooftop – (Brand New)
/ Suitable for 8 to 12 players
Sitting on top of the world, the rooftop structure of a skyscraper has lots of cover and vertical combat.

Caves – (Ghost Recon) / Suitable for 12 to 16 players
Rolling terrain, forest and a cave structure tucked into the side of the mountains.

Railroad Bridge – (Ghost Recon)
/ Suitable for 12 to 16 players
A deep valley with a rail bridge spanning overhead, hilly and wooded areas nearby.

Battlefield – (Ghost Recon) / Suitable for 8 to 12 players
Open terrain with pockets of war-torn buildings, under the limited visibility of black skies and pouring rain.

Plantation – (Ghost Recon: Island Thunder) / Suitable for 12 to 16 players
Wet, foggy airfield located in the heart of a murky swamp.

Swamp Airfield – (Ghost Recon: Island Thunder) / Suitable for 4 to 8 players
A bright, sunny day overlooks the plantation fields and nearby structures, including a large warehouse.

Prison – (Ghost Recon: Island Thunder)
/ Suitable for 4 to 8 players
This dilapidated structure has many paths in and out.

Castle – (Ghost Recon) / Suitable for 12 to 16 players
The mighty castle walls and excavation within provide lots of cover and CQB, while thick wooded countryside offers ample stealth and sniping opportunities.

*More Guns Pack – Free Weapons DLC!

The “more guns pack” is a free DLC that includes 7 additional weapons to be used in the Single Player Quick Mission mode in GRAW 2. These new weapon models are from all over the world, and give a new twist to the Ghost’s cutting edge arsenal. The GRAW 2 More Guns Pack is a FREE download DLC available now!

For more information on Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2, please visit www.ghostrecon.com.

Nyko Announces Cord-Free Wireless Adapter For Wii Nunchuk

New Adapter Offers Wireless Convenience for Wii Nunchuk Owners

Nyko Technologies ®, a premier peripherals manufacturer, today announced that they will release the Cord-Free wireless adapter for the Wii Nunchuk this February.

While the highly anticipated award winning Wireless Nunchuck for Wii is a brand-new standalone product, the Cord-Free wireless adapter for Wii Nunchuk differentiates from its sibling by converting your standard wired Nunchuk into a wireless peripheral. The adapter adds a convenient self-standing sleeve for the wired Nunchuk and a wireless signal dongle to the bottom of your Wii Remote. A small dongle provides lag-free wireless connection between your Wii Remote and Nunchuk and adds up to 15 feet of wireless range. The self-standing Nunchuk sleeve features a convenient compact cord management system keeping the existing Nunchuk cord organized and out of site. The Cord-Free wireless adapter for the Wii Nunchuk runs on two AAA batteries (included) and provides up to 60 hours of continuous gameplay.

Cord-Free Wireless Adapter For Wii Nunchuk

“Nyko is dedicated to providing outstanding wireless solutions for Wii gamers,” said Chris Arbogast, Marketing Director at Nyko Technologies. “We want to provide multiple options for those looking to untangle their Wii experience.”

Nyko’s Cord-Free wireless adapter for the Wii Nunchuk will be available at retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $19.99.

School Was Never This Much Fun

Persona 3Persona 3 stalks into Europe this February on the back of a 10/10 review in the Official PlayStation Magazine.

KOEI today announced the release of Persona 3 on PlayStation 2 this February. Widely renowned as one of the freshest and most captivating RPGs of recent years, European gamers finally get the chance to experience life in a Japanese high school plagued by creatures of the night. Already bestowed with numerous awards after its US release, Persona 3 has now been awarded the rare honour of a 10/10 review in this month’s Official PlayStation Magazine UK. Persona 3 is scheduled for release on PS2 across Europe on February 29.


About PERSONA 3

It’s gonna take a lot more than a fountain pen and a compass to survive a full year in Persona 3. Not only will players have to contend with the day to day challenges of life in a Japanese high school but there’s also the matter of the demons who lurk within the hidden hour that lies between one day and the next.

Although part of the Shin Megami Tensei series, Persona 3 is a standalone entry in the series requiring no previous knowledge of Shin Megami Tensei games and has no connection to previous scenarios or characters. Set in a completely new fictitious city Persona 3 recreates an authentic Japanese school setting right down to the relationships that the player can make and break throughout an entire school year.

During the day players get to experience high school life whilst also getting the chance to enhance their character’s abilities with the choices they make throughout the school day. By spending their time wisely during the day players will get the opportunity to enhance their abilities in battle and expand the variety of Personas which they can summon.

Personas come into play during the night when they can be summoned to fight the demons and protect you from an untimely death. As your relationships with fellow students grow so will your mastery over your Personas. Different Personas can even be combined to produce even more powerful creations that await your command.

Commenting on the release of Persona 3 on PS2, Naoki Katashima, Executive Vice President of KOEI Europe and KOEI US, said, “Persona 3 is one of the most highly regarded RPGs of recent times and we are delighted to be able to bring this renowned title to European gamers. We look forward to continuing to work with Atlus to bring the very best Japanese RPGs to Europe.”

Having already received widespread critical acclaim for releases such as Disgaea Afternoon of Darkness, Atelier Iris and Phantom Brave, KOEI have now bolstered their line up of RPGs even further with this latest release and are fast becoming one of the foremost European publishers of quality Japanese RPGs. Already renowned as the leading name in the tactical action arena with their Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors series having sold over 15 million worldwide, KOEI continues to look for opportunities to bring many more diverse titles to European gamers and add to the success of titles such as Colosseum: Road to Freedom, Devil Summoner and the hugely popular G1 Jockey series.

Persona 3 is the latest installment from Atlus in the Megami Tensei series that has entertained gamers in Japan for many years. The previous three Persona games have sold over 1 million units in Japan. The various games throughout the series have taken gamers from present day Japan to unique periods in history, and have given players incredible abilities and remarkable moments of excitement, shock and breathtaking entertainment.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA)
Developer: Polyphony Digital, Inc.
Platform: PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™)
Genre: Racing
Release: Spring 2008
Rating: “RP” for Rating Pending

With more than 47 million units shipped worldwide, the award-winning Gran Turismo™ franchise has raced far beyond a driving simulator experience; it is a global lifestyle. Setting the bar to unprecedented heights of realism, quality of design and physics technology with every product release, famed developer Polyphony Digital, Inc. continues to obscure the line between simulation and reality with the newest iteration of its blockbuster franchise, Gran Turismo™ 5 Prologue, exclusively for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™).

Available on Blu-ray Disc and as a download via PLAYSTATION®Network, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue showcases the automotive experience that is imminent with Gran Turismo 5. Featuring over 60 meticulously detailed cars – including vehicles by Ferrari, Audi and Nissan – for users to race on five beautifully rendered reversible tracks from around the globe, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue runs in stunning1080p High Definition. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will also introduce to the franchise an in-cockpit view, providing a unique perspective for racers and featuring real-time gauges and human animations that accurately represent the true performance and handling of each vehicle. Additionally, in conjunction with a robust offline experience, for the first time in the history of the franchise Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will support up to 16 players racing head-to-head online, complete with community events and leaderboards, to quell any question of who is the best driver in the “World of GT.”

Dedicated to expanding the user’s immersion in automotive culture, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will feature access to Gran Turismo™ TV, a dedicated online channel available exclusively from PLAYSTATION Network that delivers some of the greatest motorsport and manufacturer content that television has to offer.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue

KEY FEATURES
• A first for the franchise, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue supports online racing with up to 16 drivers racing simultaneously on a beautifully rendered race track.
• Race more than 60 high-performance and exhaustively detailed cars, including vehicles from Ferrari, Audi, Nissan and Mitsubishi.
• Race on five stunningly realistic tracks, including the Eiger Nordwand, the London City Track and Suzuka.
• A new physics engine delivers next-generation vehicle handling. True to the heritage of the Gran Turismo franshise, this new physics engine provides unprecedented realism and authentic handling specific to each car.
• A new in-cockpit view provides a unique perspective for racers and features a customized dashboard for each of the cars in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. Real-time gauges and human animations accurately represent the true performance and handling of each vehicle.
• All-new and improved opponent AI for a nail-biting and more strategic race racing experience.
• Access to Gran Turismo TV: a clearinghouse of great motoring TV (video) programming (both HD and SD – all broadcast quality) online through PLAYSTATION Network.
• To extend the realistic driving experience, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is also compatible with the new DUALSHOCK®3 controller, which has vibration functionality.
• Quick Tune facility allows you to adjust power, tires, suspension and more.
• Gran Turismo 5 Prologue runs in stunning High Definition at 1080p (race: 1080p-60fps, replay: 1080p-30fps)

Majesco Entertainment Announces In-Store DSTM Demo For Eco-Creatures: Save the Forest

Pre-Release Demo Now Available for Play at Retail Locations Nationwide

Providing Nintendo DS™ fans with the ability to try before they buy, Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: COOL), an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, today announced Eco-Creatures: Save the Forest will be featured in approximately 10,000 Nintendo DS™ Download Stations at major retail locations nationwide this January through May. Eco-Creatures is the only game of its kind that promotes environmental awareness by tasking players with defending the unspoiled forest against dangerous industrial encroachment.

“We are excited that Eco-Creatures now joins the ranks of Cooking Mama, Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends and Cake Mania as a phenomenal game launching with the support of a great demo available through the Nintendo kiosk program,” said Gui Karyo, Executive Vice President of Operations, Majesco. “We are confident that anyone who tries Eco-Creatures will be compelled to pick up the full version once it ships and help save the world from ecological disaster.”

Eco-Creatures: Save the Forest is a real-time strategy game in which players use the Touch Screen to control units of woodland creatures—named Ecolis, Ecoby and Ecomon—to protect the naturally beautiful Mana Woods and recover the polluted land. All creature types have unique skills that must be strategically managed. With proper nurturing, they can evolve to learn new abilities that help complete the game’s more than 40 environmental missions. As players grow their woodland army, they must plant new trees to revitalize the woodlands and prevent deforestation.

Eco-Creatures also includes a creative Land Make feature that lets players build and play their own maps. In addition, the game supports two-player play via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and up to four players via Wireless Single Card download play or Multi-Card play.

Eco-Creatures: Save the Forest will launch March 4 for the Nintendo DS at a suggested retail price of $29.99. For additional information, please visit www.majescoentertainment.com.