Archive for May, 2009

LEGO Indiana Jones Whips Up a New Adventure

LucasArts and TT Games Don Their Fedoras for the Next Great LEGO® Gaming Experience

LucasArts and TT Games announced that LEGO® Indiana Jones™ 2: The Adventure Continues will whip onto Wii™, Nintendo DS™, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows in the Fall of 2009. Developed by the same team at Traveller’s Tales that created the award-winning LEGO® Indiana Jones™: The Original Adventures and the LEGO® Star Wars™ series, LEGO Indiana Jones 2 presents a tongue-in-cheek take on all four cinematic adventures of pop culture’s most iconic archaeologist, including for the first time ever Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and will give players the ability to create levels of their own!

“LucasArts and TT Games continue to set the bar for next-generation family entertainment with the LEGO Indiana Jones franchise,” said Darrell Rodriguez, president of LucasArts. “LEGO Indiana Jones 2 delivers something a little different for everyone. Parents will enjoy the humorous take on the classic moments from their favorite movies, and their kids have an opportunity to experience the most authentic LEGO experience by building their own fun levels brick by brick.”

“It has been a real joy to work with LucasArts on such an iconic character. Indiana Jones embodies the adventurous spirit that perfectly suits the LEGO world,” said Tom Stone, director at TT Games. “Indy also presents us with wonderful and memorable cinematic moments.”

For more information on LEGO Indiana Jones, please visit www.legoindianajonesgame.com.

Madden NFL 10 Video Documentary Series Introduces Online Co-op Play

For the first time in franchise history, EA SPORTS introduces Online Co-op play in Madden NFL 10. The latest Madden NFL 10 Video Documentary series is now available, which includes details and perspectives on the latest innovation for award-winning football video game franchise – direct from the development team.

Team up with a friend online to work on game strategy, practice plays, and see the field from a unique point-of-view, thanks to position-specific camera angles. Change player positions after each play to experience the NFL from a completely different dynamic. Want to find out what it’s like to play as a wide receiver on one play, and the left offensive tackle on another? With Madden NFL 10 Online Co-op, the choice is yours.

Online Co-op play has you covered on defense too. Get the true feel of being on the defensive side of the ball, as the camera flips to the defense’s perspective. Become a shutdown cornerback, while your teammate blitzes the QB from his linebacker post.

There’s no ‘I’ in team or in Madden NFL 10 Online Co-op. It’s the perfect mode for NFL fans to jump online, join up with a teammate, and experience the Madden NFL franchise in an all-new way.

Online Co-op is just the beginning, as the Madden NFL 10 team will make another major announcement regarding a new online feature at the EA E3 2009 press conference on Monday, June 1st.

Additional video documentaries will follow in the coming weeks, leading to the August 14th release of Madden NFL 10.

For more information about Madden NFL 10, visit http://maddennfl.easports.com/

WOLFENSTEIN 3D coming to XBOX LIVE ARCADE and PLAYSTATION NETWORK

Classic title players to earn instant upgrades for use in id software®TMs upcoming, Wolfenstein, due 7th August

Activision Publishing and id Software announced the legendary first-person action title, the original Wolfenstein 3D® will be available for download on 3rd June on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and 4th June on PLAYSTATION®Network for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™).

The famed title that created an entire video game genre, Wolfenstein 3D offers players a chance to experience the intensity of escaping from Castle Wolfenstein all over again. Classic enemies like Hans Grosse and Mecha-Hitler await players in the six episodes that span 60 levels. Wolfenstein 3D is rated 18 by the BBFC.

wolfenstein

Gamers taking the challenge to defeat the twisted Nazi regime will also earn accolades and be awarded gold for customisable weapon upgrades in id Software’s all new, Wolfenstein™.

The newest addition to the famed blockbuster franchise, Wolfenstein is scheduled to be on store shelves on 7th August on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC and is rated 18 by the BBFC..

Xbox 360 joins forces with Sky to offer first ever console-based live TV service

Millions of entertainment fans will soon have the way they watch TV transformed, as Xbox 360 and Sky announce a ground-breaking partnership which will enable, for the first time ever, premium live television to be watched through a games console.

In a UK and Ireland first, Sky Player, Sky’s online TV service, will come to Xbox LIVE in the autumn, allowing Xbox owners to access a range of channels and programmes to either view live or on-demand.

Details of the full channel line-up will be revealed closer to launch, but it is anticipated that Xbox LIVE users will be able to access blockbuster movies, must-see entertainment shows, thought-provoking documentaries, programming dedicated to kids, music and the arts, as well as all the excitement of Premier League football, Test Match cricket and a wide variety of other sports through Sky Sports.

The news, officially unveiled today in Central London by Sky Sports News Georgie Thompson, reveals there will be a number of viewing options.

For a new customer joining Sky through their Xbox, Sky Player will offer a wide range of live channels and on-demand content via a number of different packages. These customers will also be able to access their favourite shows on a pay-per-view basis.

Existing Sky customers who already own an Xbox will benefit from another way to view their favourite shows, in addition to their Sky set-top box and PC or Mac

There will be a range of unique interactive services available to the Xbox LIVE / Sky Player offering. For Sky Sports, for example, this will mean that live coverage will be supported by range of applications to enhance the viewing experience further. As well as fans being able to communicate with one another in real time via their broadband connections, they will also be able to check news and access fixtures, league tables and other on-demand information. Interactive applications will also be developed across other programmes genres.

Stephen Nuttall, Director of Sky’s Commercial Group comments:” Our partnership with Xbox is a further example of our commitment to put choice and control in the hands of customers. Xbox owners now have a range of ways to access Sky content and can pick and choose the platform and packages that are right for them. We are extremely excited about the opportunity of reaching Xbox owners who are looking to experience Sky for the first time, as well as giving our existing customers yet another way to experience the content they love.”

Echoing this, Neil Thompson, Head of Xbox UK and Ireland, adds: “Our customers have told us that they want the opportunity to use their consoles as a way to access TV and once again Xbox has pulled off an entertainment first with amazing content and rich interactive experience. The combination of Sky’s leadership in content creation and aggregation and our own in creating a constantly evolving new generation of rich 360 entertainment experiences means we are one step closer to our goal of offering Xbox owners the best entertainment experiences out there, whether it’s movies, music, games, interactive experiences or high quality TV.”

Sky Player joins Xbox LIVE’s ever-expanding interactive online offering spanning on-demand films, music videos and games. It also enables users to communicate with each other via live video chat and MSN Messenger, beating console rivals to cement Xbox 360 as a true pioneer of home entertainment.

Sky Player currently provides access to a range of live TV channels – including Sky Sports – and a comprehensive on-demand library of thousands of programmes spanning entertainment, movies, documentaries, kids, culture, news and sport.

Data Design Interactive’s E3 line-up

Data Design Interactive – a successful video games publisher and games developer today revealed its product line-up for the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles from June 2 to 4 at booth 441. Featuring Wii games that offer fun for the entire family, the line-up reinforces DDI position as an innovative provider of video games for the mass market.

“DDI 2009 E3 line-up is filled with fun games that capitalize on the broad appeal and reach of casual games platforms like Wii,” said Stewart Green, CEO “We are showcasing the sequel to our best-selling Crazy Mini Golf, as well as featuring strong line up including: Battle Rage The Robot Wars 3D, Farmyard Party, Kids Sport – Crazy Mini Golf, Golf Training and Connie Talbot Over the Rainbow. In short, we have something for the entire family.”

Below is additional information on Data Design Interactive E3 2009 lineup:

BATTLE RAGE 3D: THE ROBOT WARS.
The media has been salivating about the future of 3D entertainment, and with 14 planned 3D film releases this year, 2009 is the year of 3D. Be prepared to be blown away by the first ‘REAL 3D’ console game. By using stereoscopic glasses on the Nintendo Wii, you can visualize the future of gaming. This third person shooter has elements of a beat’em’up game that allows a player to control giant robots with amazing 3D graphics. Every robot has its own personal weapons (for melee and distance combat), but these can be enhanced with additional and unique weapon types collected while in combat in the arena. The player can fight alone (versus one, two or even three opponents) or in a team against a common foe, on selected battlegrounds (10 arenas) in short, quick, brutal skirmishes

Farmyard Party
Want to get fit, but in a hilarious, funfilled, action packed sporting way? This game features eight sporting events which are divided into four categories: all-round, speed, power, and skill. Pigs compete in the Farmyard sports using a combination of the Wii Remote and Nunchuck for each event which requires speed, timing and more than a little sweat! The game includes party modes, themed around event styles, single event fun and some hilarious bonus games. Farmyard Party provides an entertaining multiplayer experience (4 player mode), which brings farmyard fun to the Nintendo Wii.

Connie Talbot Over the rainbow Sing-a-Long
The hugely popular UK based talent show ‘Britain’s got Talent’ creates the stars of tomorrow from humble plumbers and cleaners, but nothing shines more brightly than a 7 year old school girl who sings like an angel. Since coming second in the show last year, she has appeared on top entertainment shows Oprah and Ellen and her debut single in the USA knocked Cold Play on the top spot in the Billboard Charts. Her debut album ‘Over The Rainbow’ went gold in four countries, straight into the No1 in a number of Asian charts and she is currently breaking into the North American market with a US deal.

Now Connie is to appear in her very own console game, which will feature 12 fantastic tracks from her best selling debut album Over the Rainbow. In the game, the player will be able to sing along with Connie in the fantastic karaoke mode, or with other friends or family members in multiplayer fun.

Golf Training
The new Nintendo Wii™ MotionPlus™ controller extension for the Nintendo Wii™, gives players a realistic experience with a fresh approach to play, incorporating the Wii MotionPlus’ unique gyroscope-based, motion-sensing functionality. Golf training at home is set to become the new leisure past-time. Golf Training will be the first ever golf game which captures the players ACCURATE moves, enabling the player to adjust their techniques to become the next Golf Pro.

This product features a huge library of interactive golf training material, a variety of game modes, multiple game characters, and heaps of unlockable content providing endless hours of ‘putting heaven’. Players will use the controller to choose clubs, line up shots, swing and even add a touch fade or draw with a flick of the wrist, and just as on a real golf course, gauging wind conditions, correct club selection and careful reading of the greens are all essential for victory.

Kidz Sports – Crazy Mini Golf’
One of the first titles to take advantage of the new Wii MotionPlus™ Accessory, which enhances the fun with its highly accurate gyroscope based, controller extension. ‘Kidz Sports – Crazy Mini Golf’ already had the most accurate golf swing of any Wii title, and now with Wii MotionPlus™ it is even better. Unlike other golf games which turn any flick of the Wii Remote into a swing, ‘Kidz Sports – Crazy Mini Golf’ feels like the real thing. Every subtle movement is detected and shown immediately on-screen, giving you accurate and constant feedback.”

Play 72 crazy holes set over 4 wacky courses. Heaps of re-playable content with 18 hole or 9 hole, tournaments, challenge or single hole modes. Challenge the family or beat your best score. This is the biggest, best, most feature-packed and accurate Mini golf game ever – only available on the Wii.