Archive for March, 2009

505 Games Launches Discovery Kids Pet Simulation

March 31st, 2009 Console Digest

Ponies and Kittens and Dolphins, Oh My! Owning, Raising and Caring For a Pet Has Never Been More Fun

Discovery Communications and global videogame publisher 505 Games announced their line of Discovery Kids-branded pet simulation games have shipped to retail outlets nationwide. Exclusive for the Nintendo DS™, the new titles include Dolphin Discovery, Puppy Playtime, Pony Paradise and Kitten Corner. All four titles have an MSRP of $29.99 and rated “E” for Everyone.

”It is a privilege for 505 Games to work with such a prestigious brand as Discovery Kids,” said Adam Kline, president of 505 Games U.S. “Our new line of pet simulation games serves up the perfect combination of entertaining game play and pet-care problem solving skills that make this new series a great extension of the Discovery Kids experience.”

Dolphin Discovery invites kids to plunge into training and caring for one of the most awe-inspiring animals in the ocean.  Players need to earn the trust of their pet dolphin in order to teach them amazing tricks by using the DS Stylus. Mastering a wide selection of tricks will fully prepare their dolphin for performing in front of huge crowds of appreciative spectators. Players can gauge their success by the reaction of the audiences watching the shows at the aquatic park, and are rewarded with even more dolphins to train. The game features realistic scenery that changes with the time of day, offering clear blue skies, spectacular sunsets and dreamy night views.

The life of a rescue dog is much more than fun and games!  In Puppy Playtime, players raise and train their very own rescue dogs to eventually take on more than 30 missions alongside the police force, fire department and lifeguards.  Three of the most popular rescue dog breeds are featured in the game, including the Dalmatian, German Shepherd and beloved Labrador Retriever.  Players train their puppies from two months to one-year-old through a series of 20 mini-games, helping them become the best rescue dogs they can be!

Pony Paradise gives kids the unique chance to care for and train a pony from birth to adulthood. Players can choose from four realistic horse breads to groom, feed and take on rides in five different 3D environments, including the meadow, forest, circus, pony school and stables. More than 60 special items can be collected and used to customize the ponies, making them the most stylish in the stables.

In Kitten Corner, kids can own and raise their very own kitten.  Players can select from a variety of favorite feline breeds and through 35 unlockable features, customize their adorable new friend with distinctive coloring and markings.  Playtime begins as soon as the game begins, with 20 different mini-games, and 15 unique and challenging levels.  Players care for their kitten with trips to the veterinarian center for check-ups, making sure it is in good health for entering contests and competitions.

To learn more about each of the games, visit http://www.DiscoveryKidsGames.com for game overviews, video, and even downloadable activities.

Posted in DS, News, Nintendo No Comments »

EA And Starz Media Go To Hell Together With Animated Movie Based On Dante’s Inferno

March 30th, 2009 Console Digest

Feature to Complement EA’s Highly Anticipated Game, Taking Players into All Nine Circles of the Epic Poem’s Depiction of Hell

Electronic Arts Inc. and Starz Media’s Film Roman announced the start of production on an animated movie based on the immortal epic Dante’s Inferno™. The feature-length project will expand on the story in EA’s new, must-have game coming out for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system in 2010.

Just as the poem and game take players on a stunning journey through the nine circles of Hell, the “Dante’s Inferno” animated feature will also follow Dante as he travels through limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery in search of his true love, Beatrice. Both are based on part one of Dante Alighieri’s classic poem, “The Divine Comedy,” better known as “Dante’s Inferno.”

To give added distinction among each of the nine circles, EA and Film Roman (co-producers on the “Dante’s Inferno” project) are taking the innovative step of commissioning unique visions from multiple studios with experience creating some of the top anime in the industry to tell this classic story. Film Roman’s Joe Goyette (“Dead Space™: Downfall”) is the producer on the project, Victor Cook (“The Spectacular Spider-Man,” “Hellboy Animated: Blood & Iron”) is directing and Brandon Auman (“Iron Man: Armored Adventures”) is writing.

“This is like nothing else out in the marketplace right now – a visually stunning project based on one of the most powerful stories ever told,” notes Jay Fukuto, Head of Studio for Film Roman. “It could only happen with a partner with the vision and creativity of EA. They were great collaborators on ‘Dead Space: Downfall,’ and we expect another very rewarding experience with this new feature.”

“The animated feature will be a great companion piece to the game,” said Jonathan Knight, Executive Producer and Creative Director for Dante’s Inferno. “The feature will explore aspects of the poem that the game does not, and will provide more insight into the characters and the unique story adaptation that the game has established. It’s a very cool project, and we are having a blast collaborating with the talented team that Starz has assembled.”

“Dante’s Inferno” marks the second such collaboration between the leading video game company and the premier traditional animation studio. In 2008, Film Roman produced “Dead Space: Downfall,” an animated feature prequel to EA’s award-winning video game Dead Space, both of which were both worldwide successes.

Starz Media will introduce the “Dante’s Inferno” animated feature to the international television community as it continues global sales of “Dead Space: Downfall” at the MIP-TV market, March 30-April 3 in Cannes, France. Anchor Bay Entertainment will hold exclusive worldwide home entertainment distribution rights to “Dante’s Inferno,” while Starz Media’s Worldwide Distribution group will handle international television and domestic syndication sales and Starz Digital Media will be responsible for all digital distribution globally.

The Dante’s Inferno game is being developed at EA Redwood Shores. For more information about the game, please visit www.dantesinferno.com.

Posted in Microsoft, News, PlayStation 3, Sony, Xbox 360 Tags: , , , , , No Comments »

Feel the heat and pitch yourself against the best with PDC World Championship Darts 2009

March 29th, 2009 Console Digest

The Most Realistic Darts Game Yet!

“You’ll be throwing for the match!” Using real-life player averages and incorporating professional player character traits, playing against the top talent in PDC Darts Tournaments couldn’t feel more realistic.

Immerse yourself in the experience: You’ll be able to match or beat their stamina, anticipate their strategies, hit the doubles and the triples, then go in for the kill and check out when they’re close to the wire!

PDC World Championship Darts 2009 on Wii™ gives you the feel of the true darts physics, providing a more natural throwing experience, realistic dart collisions and bed bouncing sound FX – “It’s back to back maximum magic”!

With “player cam” zoom-ins and Wii Remote™ vibration feedback for those all important 180s & check outs, you’ll be feeling the oche heartbeat.

With over 4,000 lines of commentary using TV’s voice of darts, Sid Waddell and raspy voiced scorer Russ Bray, PDC World Championship Darts 2009 on Wii™ will prove to be a double top darts experience.

PDC World Championship Darts 2009 is released on 29th May 2009 on both Nintendo DS™ and Wii formats.

For more information on PDC Darts go to www.dartsvideogame.com now! Game On!

For more information about The Professional Darts Corporation: http://www.planetdarts.tv/

For more information about Oxygen Games: http://www.oxygengames.net

Posted in DS, News, Nintendo, Wii No Comments »

Wake Up And Smell The Dirt As Codemasters Releases Colin Mcrae: Dirt 2 Teaser Video

March 28th, 2009 Console Digest

Prepare for mud, sweat and gears – it’s race morning in the Colin McRae: DiRT 2 teaser video, now available at www.dirt2game.com

Get a taste of DiRT’s new flavour as Codemasters® unveiled the World Tour teaser video for Colin McRae: DiRT™2, the sequel to the award-winning off-road racer; the video is now live at www.dirt2game.com (video only available and for use outside of the US).

Colin McRae: DiRT 2 is set to deliver a thrilling new off-road racing experience with an extreme sports attitude that borrows from snowboarding and skateboarding culture. The heart of the game is the World Tour – a roster of contemporary off-road events held at stunning new locations, from canyon racing and jungle trails to city stadium-based races, complete with big event atmosphere.

Immersing the player in the World Tour, players will travel the globe in their own massive Recreational Vehicle (RV); the interior of which will form both the game’s front end and the gateway to new locations. At each location the RV will park up ahead of the race event, with the awaiting scene visible through the windows. The video opens as our bleary-eyed driver wakes to this scene one World Tour morning.

“Through the Colin McRae: DiRT 2 World Tour we’re creating a new career journey for players; one that will capture the spirit of contemporary off-road racing. It’s all about travelling the world in your RV, hitting off-road festivals, competing at major spectator events and building your rep as a driver,” said Gavin Raeburn, senior executive producer at Codemasters Studios. “As players progress through the World Tour, friendships will be formed with hero drivers from the off-roading world and these relationships will, in turn, help players accelerate their way up the rankings ladder. The more players impress and bond with the big names, the more invitations they’ll get to the cooler events and even receive offers to team up with the pros for major competitions.”

In addition to the World Tour, Colin McRae: DiRT 2 will come complete with full online functionality, with head-to-head competitive online play and new social features to engage the racing community. Prepare for mud, gravel, dust and dirt too in Colin McRae: DiRT 2, coming this September for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games For Windows® LIVE, Wii™, Nintendo DS™ and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system. Catch the video and more at www.dirt2game.com

Posted in DS, Microsoft, News, Nintendo, PSP, PlayStation 3, Sony, Wii, Xbox 360 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

Rock Band(R) Franchise Officially Surpasses $1 Billion in North American Retail Sales, According to the NPD Group

March 27th, 2009 Console Digest

Over 40 Million Paid Individual Songs Sold Via Download to Date on Rock Band(R) Platform

MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks, Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc., announced that the Rock Band(R) franchise has officially surpassed $1 billion dollars in North American retail sales in 15 months, according to the NPD Group. In addition, over 40 million paid individual songs have been sold via download through the Rock Band(R) platform furthering its position as the music video game leader in paid song sales and downloadable content with over 600 songs available to date in the Rock Band catalogue.

Originally launched on November 20, 2007, Rock Band is the multi-million unit selling, genre-defining music game platform that allowed music fans and gamers to interact with and discover music like never before by choosing guitar, drums, vocals, or bass to start a band and rock the world. Developed by Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game development company, and published by MTV Games, the Rock Band platform has had a positive impact on the overall promotion and sales of music, benefiting artists included in the game both directly through royalties associated with game sales and indirectly by causing the sale of more songs and albums.

Key Stats for the Rock Band Franchise

Sales

  • Rock Band(R) franchise has officially surpassed $1 billion dollars in North American retail sales in 15 months, according to the NPD Group
  • Rock Band was the #1 title of 2008 by revenue across all game genres (NPD)

Music / Downloadable Content

  • 614 songs offered via the Rock Band platform, both on-disc and in-game music store, as of March 24, 2009
  • 269 different artists / bands offered via Rock Band franchise as of March 24, 2009
  • Over 40 million paid songs have been sold via download since Rock Band launched on November 20, 2007
  • 11 albums released to date via the Rock Band platform including AC/DC Live, The Cars, Judas Priest, Pixies, Motley Crue, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Megadeth, Rush, No Doubt and Stevie Ray Vaughan, as well as special compilations from The Who, Nirvana, The Grateful Dead, Boston and more

Critical Acclaim

  • Average Metacritic score of 92(2) for both Rock Band and Rock Band 2
  • Rock Band and Rock Band 2 have garnered more than 50 industry awards including:
  • IGN’s “Best Music/Rhythm Game of 2008″
  • Gamespot.com’s Editor’s Choice Winner for “Best Rhythm / Music Game of 2008″
  • Spike TV’s 2008 Video Game Award Winner for “Best Music Game” and “Best Soundtrack in a Game”
  • Gametrailers.com “Best Music and Rhythm Game 2008″
  • PlayStation: The Official Magazine’s “Best Rhythm Game of 2008″
  • Yahoo’s “Best Party Game of the Year – 2008″ and named one of Yahoo’s “Best Tech Products of 2008″
  • G4 TV’s X-Play “Best Music Game of 2008″
  • Named as one of Entertainment Weekly’s “Entertainers of the Year 2008″
  • Called “Best party game of the year” by the Associated Press
  • Named as one of USA Today’s “Top Video Games of 2008″
  • Cited as one of MSNBC.com’s Top Video Games of 2008 and one of the Best Xbox 360 Games of 2008
  • Heralded as “hands down the best party game ever” by Time magazine and named as one of Time’s Top Video Games of 2008

Rock Band Franchise Innovations

  • First full band music video game to hit consoles
  • First music video game to offer export of content library from disc and cross compatibility of downloadable content (DLC) in sequel games.
  • First music video game to offer weekly downloadable content (averaging more than 3 songs per week since its launch on November 20, 2007)
  • Lead the way for full compatibility and interoperability between competing peripherals
  • First music video game to allow for export of avatars and other game data to create real life merchandise
  • First music video game to offer full albums as downloadable content: Judas Priest’s “Screaming for Vengeance,” released in June 2008
  • First music game to offer a new song day-and-date with its release to radio, with Motley Crue’s “Saints of Los Angeles”

For more information about Rock Band, please visit www.rockband.com

(1) Includes Video Games Software sales in the US and Canada and Video Game Accessory sales in the US

(2) Reflects average metacritic scores for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION3 versions of Rock Band and Rock Band 2

Source: MTV Games

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