Archive for October, 2009

Guitar Hero 5 – Details of November’s downloadable content

Disk Imports and Forward Compatibility Bring Even More Content to the Band Hero Party
The Guitar Hero® music library continues to evolve and expand as November brings a great collection of new and classic tracks from some of rock’s best-loved artists. Fans can download tracks from artists including Lenny Kravitz and KISS and – for the first time – they can import tracks directly from Guitar Hero 5® and Band Hero™ into their Guitar Hero music library.

On November 5, as a way to commemorate the release of Band Hero, Guitar Hero music aficionados can import 69 tracks from the highly acclaimed Guitar Hero 5 into Band Hero, or import 61 of Band Hero’s hits directly into Guitar Hero 5. Building the ultimate music set list is now easier then ever.

For a complete listing of forward compatible content, please visit http://hub.guitarhero.com/support/faq/song-import-information.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of his 1989 debut album, Let Love Rule, Lenny Kravitz will be returning to Guitar Hero on November 12 with a three song track pack that will set players’ fingers ablaze. The track pack features his debut single “Let Love Rule,” “Lady,” off his seventh studio album Baptism, and “Fly Away,” one of Lenny Kravitz most successful songs to date.

Back on the road again this fall to accompany the launch of their newest studio album Sonic Boom, KISS has decided to add one additional date to the tour. Look for KISS to headline the Guitar Hero stage on November 19 with a three song track pack that’s sure to satiate the KISS fan in everyone. The track pack will feature “Modern Day Delilah,” the first single off their new album, Sonic Boom, “Lick It Up” the title track on their similarly named 1983 album, Lick it Up, and “I Was Made for Loving You,” KISS’s second Gold single.

Guitar Hero wouldn’t be what it is today without the loyalty of its fans. As a thank you for all the years of support and encouragement, Neversoft proudly presents a free six song track pack of music from bands that feature Neversoft employees. The track pack, which will be available just before Thanksgiving on November 24 includes “Lemon Frosting” by Bunny Knutson, “RockNRola” by Nancy Fullforce, “From the Blue/Point of No Return/T.T.R.T.S” by An Endless Sporadic, “Love Holds It Down” by Dom Liberati, “You Really Like Me” by Davidicus and “Guilty Pleasures” by Tony Solis. The Neversoft Thanks the Fans track pack will only be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

Wii™ owners have spoken and Guitar Hero has heard you loud and clear. Starting November 24, Wii and Metallica fans looking to get their fix will be able to download 8 additional tracks off Metallica’s Death Magnetic album which were previously only available on Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The songs, which will be available only as downloadable singles, include “All Nightmare Long,” “That Was Just Your Life,” “The Day That Never Comes,” “The Judas Kiss,” “The End Of The Line,” “The Unforgiven III,” “Suicide & Redemption J.H.” and “Suicide & Redemption K.H.”

The Lenny Kravitz and KISS Track Packs will be available on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360 on the PlayStation®Store for the PlayStation 3 system and for Wii™. In addition, all songs in the Lenny Kravitz and KISS Track Packs will be released as downloadable singles for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii. The Guitar Hero 5 and Band Hero disc imports will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii. The remaining eight songs in Metallica’s Death Magnetic track pack will be released as downloadable singles for Wii for 200 Wii Points each.

Additionally, fans are now able to choose from more than 150 other downloadable songs or import select songs from Guitar Hero® World Tour and Guitar Hero® Greatest Hits to further customise their Guitar Hero 5 and Band Hero set list.

Rock out in the first platform game for guitar controllers

Japanese publisher Tecmo and Swedish developer Pieces Interactive are soon releasing Fret Nice – the first platform game played with a guitar controller, for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Fret Nice is a unique platform game with a distinct art style, a lot of great music and support for all guitars controllers out there. Fret Nice is the first platform game ever to be played with a guitar controller. The game will be available from Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation Network in early 2010.

- “We felt sorry for gamers who bought a guitar only to be used for pure music games, so we made a platform game for them! Fret Nice is the perfect blend of two worlds.” – says Pieces Interactive CEO Johan Hellberg.

Pieces is an up-and-coming Swedish developer that has quickly garnered attention to their titles. Their unique style and innovative game mechanics, blended with great music has become a signature trademark.

- “The game industry is under a lot of stress, we have to differentiate our products against the competition. Fret Nice looks and feels like nothing else!” says Johan.

This autumn Pieces and Tecmo also launches Puzzlegeddon, an action-filled online puzzle game, available from PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE Arcade. Puzzlegeddon was recently released for iPhone and the game has received global attention when released to PC in 2008.

Pieces is also hard at work on two brand new IPs, Walkie Tonky – a destructive walk ‘em up and Kindle – The kite in the sky, an aerobatic adventure with innovative character control and subject matter. The goal is to sign a publisher for the titles this year as well as showing prototypes of the games at Game Connection in Lyon, France in December.

“Pieces is always pushing forward and growing, and we are ready to take on bigger productions and new challenges. Kindle is an ambitious project that will take the company to a new level. Its bold concept, slick mechanics and original character design is something we are very proud of.”, says Calle Kyhlberg, Game Director for Kindle – The kite in the sky.

Follow Pieces on Twitter! www.twitter.com/PiecesInt

PowerStation get reviews makeover

New-look PowerStation to offer readers reviews, guides and cheats at an amazing new price

PowerStation, the UK’s only multiformat videogames tips magazine has been redesigned to offer readers 20 pages of in-depth PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 reviews to sit alongside its staggering assortment of full game guides – all at the new price point of £2.89.

Launched in 1996 to coincide with the early success of the Sony PlayStation, PowerStation has brought its readers unrivalled assistance in completing the very best games around to produce full guides featuring in-depth level walkthroughs and detailed maps. Now the magazine has made a bold move to become the definitive one-stop publication with the inclusion of full reviews for the latest PS3 and Xbox 360 games.

Ryan Butt, Editor of PowerStation commented, “I’m very excited about this development for the magazine. PowerStation has long been synonymous with hints and tips, but now we want to offer our readers more by providing detailed reviews for the latest games that sit alongside the full guides. As we here at PowerStation are used to fully completing every game we cover in the magazine, we are in a strong position of being the only magazine to be able to judge the game from start to finish and provide the most rounded critiques available – and all at a fraction of the cost of more conventional reviews magazines.”

Nick Jones, Editor in Chief said, “With this redesign we’ll be offering our readers unbeatable value for money, and with our skilled and dedicated team it’s something that no other PlayStation magazine or PlayStation magazine publisher can offer.”

Imagine Publishing is one of the UK’s fastest-growing consumer specialist publishers. Formed in May 2005, Imagine now publishes 20 regular magazines and 30 websites in the videogames, computing, entertainment, motoring and photography markets. An Imagine magazine is purchased every ten seconds.

Vidis announces universal induction charging station

Charger for portable consoles and controllers

Vidis GmbH, manufacturer of video game accessories and family entertainment products, announces a universal induction charging station. The so-called “Inductive PowerStation” (item no.: U8006) can, when harmonised to individual needs, be used with four different device types: in keeping with the “Inductive PowerStation”, Vidis will offer various Battery Packs for the following devices: Nintendo Wii™ Remote, Nintendo Wii Balance Board™, Xbox 360® Controller, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DS™ Lite. The charging station has three induction coils. In this way, depending upon the device type, up to three batteries can be charged simultaneously. The Inductive PowerStation also charges Wii™ Remotes with the silicone protective cover or the Wii MotionPlus™ attachment.

Induction technology: charge without cable or charging contacts
The “Inductive Power Station” works with induction technology – current is transmitted here via magnetic fields. The advantage of this technology, which, for example, is also used in kitchen stoves or electric toothbrushes: There is no cable or exposed charging contacts; the charging process starts as soon as the device to be charged is placed on the station. LEDs show the charging status of up to three devices independently of one another. In addition, specially shaped charging trays are no longer required, which is also a benefit for the design: The “Inductive Power Station” is available in the puristic-elegant look in the classic colour combination of black-silver and, with its compact dimensions of 16.5 x 12 x 1.5 cm, is only slightly larger than a DIN A6 sheet.

“We are convinced that we have a pioneering technology in our portfolio with the Inductive PowerStation – for us this is the highlight of the 2009/2010 season”, Morten-Stig Johansen, managing director of VIDIS GmbH, declares, pleased about another innovative addition to the product portfolio.

The Inductive PowerStation and the Battery Packs required for Nintendo DSi™, Nintendo DS™ Lite, Nintendo Wii™ Remote, Nintendo Wii™ Balance Board and Xbox 360® Controller will most likely be available as of November 2009.

Product information for Inductive PowerStation / Battery Packs:
Inductive PowerStation (item no.: U8006).
Recommended retail price: 29.99 Euro
Dimensions: 16.5 x 22 x 1.5 cm (W x D x H)

Battery pack for Nintendo DSi™ (item no.: DSi042)
Recommended retail price: 14.99 Euro
Rechargeable, induction-capable battery (li-ion/650mAh). The Battery Pack for Nintendo DSi™ is also suitable for use with a commercially available charging cable.

Battery pack for Nintendo DSi™ Lite (item no.: NDSL067)
Recommended retail price: 14.99 Euro
Rechargeable, induction-capable battery (li-ion/650mAh). The Battery Pack for Nintendo DSi™ Lite is also suitable for use with a commercially available charging cable.

Battery pack for Nintendo Wii™ Remote (item no.: W088)
Recommended retail price: 14.99 Euro
Rechargeable induction battery (li-ion/700mAh).

Battery pack for Nintendo Wii Balance Board™ (item no.: W089)
Recommended retail price: 14.99 Euro
Rechargeable induction battery (li-ion/700mAH). The Battery Pack for Nintendo Wii Balance Board™ can also be operated with a separate charging cable that is included in the delivery package.

Battery Pack for Xbox 360® Controller (item no.: X013)
Recommended retail price: 14.99 Euro
Rechargeable induction battery (li-ion/700mAh). The Battery Pack for Xbox 360® Controller is also suitable for use with a commercially available charging cable.

Dragon Age: Origins – Twenty-four hour competition announced with a $12,500 prize to trouser

24 Hour International Gaming Event In London Featuring A $12,500 Grand Prize For Each Winning Team Member

Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. announced the Dragon Age: Origins Wardens’ Quest, a 24 hour gaming event for the upcoming dark, epic fantasy Dragon Age: Origins. To celebrate the launch of this award winning new game, BioWare is inviting gamers and press from North America and across Europe to put their skills and endurance to the test as they embark on a tense, epic journey of discovery. On October 28, at 10:00 AM GMT, ten teams of four players each will live, fight and explore the game as the drama unfolds in their 24 hour quest to claim the grand prize. Each winning team member will receive $12,500. Official rules can be found at http://www.wardensquest.com

“We’re extremely excited about the Dragon Age: Origins Wardens’ Quest – it’s going to be an awesome chance for gamers to band together to prove they’re the best at navigating the world of Dragon Age,” said Mark Darrah, Executive Producer, Dragon Age: Origins. “In the game, putting together a strong team is essential to success – In the same way the overall strength of the competing teams will decide who walks away with the money.”

There will be ten participating teams representing their countries: the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands and Belgium, Spain, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and a specially selected team comprised of the most loyal BioWare fans from around the world. The competition will take place in the Debating Chamber at County Hall in London, England. This space will provide a grandiose setting for the competitors to play the game, discuss strategy and battle for the grand prize as teams are eliminated throughout the day. Around the chamber, screens will be used to display leader board stats and show highlights. BioWare staff and costumed actors will further enhance the environment, theatrics and dramatics of the day.

In Dragon Age: Origins, players take the role of a Grey Warden, one of the last of an ancient order of guardians. Now, as a rising evil threatens to destroy all life, it is up to players to unite the shattered lands and slay the corrupted dragon known as the Archdemon. To restore peace, players must make ruthless decisions and be willing to sacrifice their friends and loved ones for the greater good of mankind.

Dragon Age: Origins will be released on November 6 in the UK on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC. The PlayStation®3 version will follow later in November. Dragon Age: Origins is rated 18+ by PEGI.

www.getdragonage.com