Archive for the ‘GENERAL’ Category

Xbox Live’s Top 10: 3/3-3/9

Tuesday, March 11th, 2008

COD4 king of the hill again.

xbox-live.pngLet’s just call it the same ol’ same ol’. The top five games from last week remain unchanged. Once again COD 4 tops Halo 3. Two new entries, likely to climb the charts next week are Army of Two and Frontlines: Fuel of War. Surprisingly, N+ is the best-selling XBLA game for the third week running.

The Top Live Titles, as reported by Major Nelson, list ranks unique users playing Xbox games while connected to Live. The Top Arcade Titles list is based on the number of full versions sold in a given week.

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles

  1. Call of Duty 4
  2. Halo 3
  3. Guitar Hero III
  4. Gears of War
  5. Rock Band
  6. Army of Two
  7. FIFA 08
  8. Madden NFL 08
  9. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas
  10. Frontlines: Fuel of Wa

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World’s #1 Guitar Hero Player to Attempt Guinness World Record

Thursday, March 6th, 2008

Players convene in NYC for a record-breaking jam session to mark the launch of Guinness World Records: Gamer’s Edition 2008.

gh3-logo.jpgCome one, come all to a Guitar Hero III jam session for the record books. In celebration of the release of the inaugural Guinness World Records: Gamer’s Edition 2008 on March 11th, Guinness World Records will sponsor a record-setting Guitar Hero event in New York City that will witness the world’s #1 Guitar Hero player establish the record for Single Player High Score. Chris Chike, aka “iamchris4life,” will mesmerize crowds with his flying fingers as he attempts to establish a mind-blowing new high score. Other Guinness World Records that will be attempted include: Six Person Team High Score and Longest Multi-Player Marathon. Also on hand for the record-breaking display and interviews will be Guitar Hero creator, Kai Huang and members of the popular gaming clan, the Frag Dolls. This event is open to the public and if anyone would like the opportunity to challenge Chris Chike for the single player high score, please RSVP by 1:00pm on March 11th. Space is limited and entries will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.

When:
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (Record Attempts start at 7:00p.m.)

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EA and Nunchuck Games Ship Ninja Reflex to Stores in North America and Europe

Tuesday, March 4th, 2008

Players improve mental sharpness, hand-eye coordination and reaction times in the ultimate reflex trainer.

Through hard work and practice, you too can develop the lightning fast reflexes of a ninja! Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Nunchuck Games Inc. announced today that Ninja Reflex is now shipping to retail stores in North America and Europe. Featuring training activities focused on challenging the player’s core motor skills, Ninja Reflex takes full advantage of the innovative control systems of both the Wii and Nintendo DS to create a fun experience that also sharpens the mind and body.

“Nunchuck Games was founded on our desire as gamers to see fresh gameplay in the market, and Ninja Reflex represents that vision,” said David Luntz, President and CEO of Nunchuck Games. “Together with EA Partners and Sanzaru Games, we have created a martial arts game that focuses on skill and speed rather than button-mashing, on self-improvement rather than violence. EAP’s publishing expertise was invaluable to us on our first project and we could not be happier with the result.”

“We are thrilled to be able to help the talented teams at Nunchuck and Sanzaru create a fresh, fun and nonviolent martial arts game that takes full advantage of the easy-to-use controls and social gameplay features that have made the Wii and DS such huge hits,” said David DeMartini, Vice President and General Manager of EA Partners. “The release of Ninja Reflex is a perfect example of how flexible the EA Partners program can be, and how beneficial it can be for independent developers of all sizes and of all genres.”

Ninja Reflex uses a series of martial arts challenges to test players’ reflexes, hand-eye coordination and measure their reaction times with millisecond precision. Easy to learn, but hard to master, players can develop their ninja skills alone, rising from white belt all the way to 3rd degree black belt, or they can compete for ninja supremacy against their friends in fierce multiplayer battles with up to four players.

For more information on Ninja Reflex, including video testimonials from Olympic Taekwondo gold medalist and head of the USA Taekwondo Team for the 2008 Olympics Herb Perez and six-time Brazilian Ju-Jitsu champion Steve Maxwell, please visit www.ninjareflex.com.

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Guitar Hero III Mobile Available Today on AT&T

Monday, March 3rd, 2008

AT&T customers should get ready for their sound check as the wildly popular Guitar Hero III Mobile game is now available for download. The nation’s number one wireless and broadband provider, AT&T, has launched the game on a number of handsets.

Already rocking Verizon Wireless subscribers with enormous success, Guitar Hero III Mobile was the no. 3 selling game on the carrier’s deck for 2007. It has been the carrier’s top seller since.

Guitar Hero III Mobile

Guitar Hero III Mobile allows rockers to jam anytime, anywhere to the same stunning graphics, high-quality audio and addictive gameplay that fans of the wildly popular console series have come to expect. Featuring four authentic guitars and three venues, the game challenges players to hit number keys in sync with colored notes that appear on a scrolling fret board.

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GamersGate Open for German Publisher Crimson Cow

Monday, March 3rd, 2008

A Vampyre Story and other titles will be available for download.

Leading PC digital distribution platform GamersGate announced today that German publisher Crimson Cow has joined the growing list of publishers choosing the portal for their digital distribution.

The first titles to be released for download include The Abbey, scheduled for a March release, and eagerly awaited A Vampyre Story, scheduled for a May release.

“We are very pleased to welcome Crimson Cow to our network of more than 50 publishers, said Theodore Berquist, CEO of GamersGate. We know that many of our gamers have kept an eye out for A Vampyre Story in particular and will appreciate instant access to it on the day of its release”.

“We are thrilled about our partnership with GamersGate and it’s another crucial step forward for us as we continue to build an extensive international partner network, said Karsten Otto, Managing Director of Crimson Cow. GamersGate’s strong distribution platform will assure that our brands get worldwide exposure.

About A Vampyre Story

The classic adventure A Vampyre Story is penned by Bill Tiller, who was involved in the creation of such milestones of the genre as The Dig and The Curse of Monkey Island. Players use a point-and-click interface to direct Mona and Froderick through a richly detailed world consisting of more than 30 beautifully hand-painted locations that utilizes real time ‘Multiplane’ camera technology, that entice the viewer to examine and explore. On her puzzle-filled journey to Paris, Mona meets more than 20 3D-characters, ranging from the just plane silly to the very in over 15 hours of brain-teasing fun.
http://www.vampyrestory-game.com/cms/the_game.htm

About The Abbey

The ambitious project takes adventure fans to the gloomy world of the middle Ages. An old abbey is the scene of a series of mysterious murders, and only one man can put a stop to the slaughter. In the role of the Grand Inquisitor Leonardo and his assistant Bruno, the player’s task is to shed light on the mystery.

In addition to a gripping storyline with many an unexpected twist, The Abbey will feature a wealth of technological and graphic innovations. A special highlight will be the innovative presentation of cinematic proportions.

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LEGO Universe Gets Physical

Monday, March 3rd, 2008

Danish brickies to enter the MMO world.

lego_logo.pngLEGO has today announced that it is to enter the bustling massively multiplayer online market, using its manufacturing department in Denmark to distinguish itself from competitors by offering the option to create physical manifestations of characters created in game.

Dubbed Lego Universe, the game looks to, ahem, build upon the universal appeal of previous Lego games and consolidate the experience with sizable input from the Danish companies manufacturing department. Speaking to gamesindustry.biz, the game’s development director Mark Hansen revealed, “That’s what our supply chain is geared towards. It’s about the customisation. We have the LEGO factory in Denmark so we built the whole back-supply chain first before we built the game. From 1999 until now, we’ve been developing this concept.”

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Street Fighter IV Going Playable

Friday, January 18th, 2008

Come to Japan now!

Get the travel agent on the line, kids. Have your Lonely Planet Japan guide ready. Start eating sushi daily to get yourself into the proper culinary mode.

All this for the playable debut of Street Fighter IV. In an update at the game’s official Japanese blog, project manager Natsuki Shiozawa revealed that the game will be available for play at the AOU 2008 Amusement Expo, an arcade show that opens its doors to industry members on February 15th and regular folks the day after at the Makuhari Messe just outside Tokyo.

 

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Michael Rosenbaum Lends Voice Talent to Dark Sector

Thursday, January 17th, 2008

Smallville Actor to Add Star Power to D3PA’s Compelling Third-Person Action Game.

D3Publisher of America, Inc. (D3PA), today announced that Michael Rosenbaum, an award-winning Hollywood actor known best to audiences as Lex Luthor on television’s “Smallville,” will voice the main character in Dark Sector™, an original action-thriller offering heart-pounding action, incredible superpowers and a compelling story for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Rosenbaum will bring to life the character of Hayden Tenno, a cold-blooded, ruthless killer who awakens after an attack with an infection that has granted him inhuman abilities. Through the storyline and Rosenbaum’s voice over, players will experience Hayden’s transformation into something more than he was, his fight against the powers taking over his body and his evolution as he becomes a hero. Dark Sector is slated to ship to retail stores in North America this spring 2008.

“We are thrilled to work with Mr. Rosenbaum on Dark Sector,” said Peter Andrew, vice president of product development, D3PA. “His experience in portraying tormented characters on-screen translates incredibly well to the tortured character of Hayden Tenno in Dark Sector, a true anti-hero who makes no excuses for his actions. The combination of his voice talent and the compelling storyline of Dark Sector will offer a truly immersive experience for players.”

Developed by acclaimed developer Digital Extremes, co-creators behind the award-winning Epic Game’s Unreal franchise, Dark Sector thrusts players into the role of Hayden Tenno, an elite black-ops agent sent on a dangerous mission into a decaying Eastern European city that hides a deadly Cold War secret. Attacked by an unknown enemy, he awakens to find part of his body altered by an infection that has granted him inhuman abilities; now he must learn to evolve along with his powers, to survive and to become a hero. A dark, gritty experience packed with fast action, incredible superpowers and an engaging story; Dark Sector represents the next evolution of gaming.

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Gears of War turn to toys

Thursday, January 17th, 2008
NECA set to bring Epic Games’ Xbox 360 hit to life in action figure form; Marcus, Cole, and a Locust drone to make up first wave.

War is not a game, but apparently it makes for good playthings. NECA today announced marcusteaser2766_screen.jpgthat it is making a line of action figures based on Epic Games’ Xbox 360 shooter Gears of War.

Set to debut in late spring, the first wave of the series will feature three figures: Marcus Fenix, Augustus Cole, and a Locust drone. NECA has not fully detailed future plans for the Gears of War line of figures, but did say this was only the first collection in an ongoing series.

NECA released a pair of teaser images of the Marcus Fenix toy, and promised that the final versions of the toys will have plenty of articulation, detail, and game-accurate accessories.

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Ludia and Freemantle Enterprises Strike Exclusive Multiyear Agreement For American Idol Online Games

Thursday, January 17th, 2008

Interactive entertainment company Ludia Inc. will create online games based on the highly successful American Idol television series.

Interactive entertainment company Ludia Inc. will create online games based on the highly successful “American Idol”® television series, it was jointly announced today by Alex Thabet, Founder and CEO of Ludia Inc., and Jason Turner, Director, Interactive FremantleMedia Enterprises, licensor for “American Idol”. The exclusive multiyear deal will produce a gaming experience with multiple components including performance, online community and social networking.

“Creating games for ‘American Idol’, a genre-defining television franchise, is a key milestone for Ludia,” explained Thabet. “This deal reinforces our strategy of partnering powerhouse brands with our unique entertainment products.”

“We are pleased to be working with Ludia to deliver one-of-a-kind games for one of the most important entertainment brands in the world,” added Turner. “This game will offer an online destination to the millions of ‘American Idol’ fans out there of all ages, enabling them to actively participate in their own personal Idol experience.”

The “American Idol” online games experience is slated to coincide with the show’s 2009 season, and will be available on AmericanIdol.com and Ludia’s other major online destination partners.

About Ludia Inc.

Ludia creates and distributes cross-platform interactive entertainment with mass consumer appeal. Ludia seamlessly integrates product placement opportunities as part of the entertainment experience and enables effective connections between brands and their target audiences. Based in Montreal, Canada, Ludia has completed its first round of financing from private investors last year.
www.ludia.com.

About FremantleMedia Enterprises & FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia Enterprises is the content exploitation arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment. It is a division of FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 countries worldwide. FremantleMedia is a subsidiary of RTL Group, Europe’s largest television and radio broadcast company, which is 90% owned by Bertelsmann AG, an integrated media and entertainment company that commands leading positions in the world’s media markets. For further information, visit http://www.fremantlemedia.com.

About FremantleMedia North America
FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA produces entertaining and innovative television programs for network, cable and syndicated platforms, including the Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon “American Idol” (FOX), “The Next Great American Band” (FOX), “America’s Got Talent” (NBC), “American Inventor” (ABC), “Thank God You’re Here” (NBC), “The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency” (Oxygen), “Property Ladder” (TLC), “Family Feud” (syndicated), “Temptation” (syndicated), “Million Dollar Password” (CBS), and the longest-running game show in television history, “The Price Is Right” (CBS).

About American Idol

AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment, Ltd.; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Nigel Lythgoe, President, 19 Television; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.

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Video Games Live Announces 40 Shows For 2008 With More on the Way

Thursday, January 17th, 2008

Countries Include Taiwan, Brazil, Germany, France, England, Scotland, Mexico, China, U.S., Canada & More.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Having already performed to sold out audiences around the world since 2005, the most successful video game concert in the world – Video Games Live will continue its ground-breaking tour in 2008 with the announcement of 40 performances across the globe. Video Games Live is produced and created by veteran video game composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall. It features music from the most popular video games performed by top orchestras and choirs, combining exclusive video footage and music arrangements along with synchronized state-of-the-art lighting, solo performers, special fx, stage show production, electronic percussion, unique on-stage interactive segments with the audience and a pre-show festival.

Video Games Live is best described as utilizing the power & emotion of a symphony orchestra mixed with the energy and excitement of a rock concert combined with the cutting edge visuals, technology, interactivity and fun that video games provide. Video Games Live is not just a concert, but a celebration of the entire video game industry that people of all ages adore.

The highest and most prestigious level of symphony and venue quality continues with the announcement of some of the world’s most renowned orchestras and local theatres, halls, auditoriums and arenas. To further attract the biggest audience possible, Video Games Live also partners with pop-culture’s most important conferences and conventions.

SHOW ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Orlando, FL
January 24, 2008
Hard Rock Live
Otronicon

St. Louis, MO
January 26, 2008
Fox Theater

Montreal, QC
February 7, 2008
St. Denis Theatre

Montreal, QC
February 8, 2008
St. Denis Theatre

Toronto, ON
February 9, 2008
Massey Hall

FT. Wayne, IN
February 15, 2008
Embassy Theatre
Ft. Wayne Phil

Edmonton, AB
February 17, 2008
Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

San Francisco, CA
February 22, 2008
Nob Hill Masonic Center
GDC

Milwaukee, WI
March 1, 2008
Riverside Theater
Milwaukee Symphony

Phoenix, AZ
March 7, 2008
Maricopa Center
Phoenix Symphony

Mexicali, Mexico
March 15, 2008
Plaza Calafia Bullring

Ogden, UT
March 27, 2008
Browning Arts Center
Utah Symphony

Salt Lake City, UT
March 28, 2008
Abravanel Hall
Utah Symphony

Salt Lake City, UT
March 29, 2008
Abravanel Hall
Utah Symphony

New York City, NY
April 26, 2008
Beacon Theatre
MSG Entertainment

Full Article on This Link…

Nights and Ghost Squad Coming to UK Early

Friday, January 4th, 2008

According to SEGA’s new release schedule.

Sega has today released a rectified UK release schedule for the coming months and Ghost Squad and Nights have both been moved forward by a week. The pair were both initially penciled in for release on 25 January but in a fit of generosity SEGA has moved them forward to 18 January.

The release schedule also highlights an interesting amendment to the title of SEGA’s forthcoming Condemned sequel, with the ‘Bloodshot’ suffix removed from Condemned 2. We thought that with the ongoing saga with Manhunt 2 versus the BBFC, SEGA realised now was not the time for censor baiting, but we spoke to Sega who reassured us that the motives behind the change were nothing so sinister. Apparently it just sounds better without.

The full amended list is as follows –

18 January
NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (Wii)
Ghost Squad (Wii)

25 January
Phantasy Star Ambition of the Illuminus (PC, PS2)
Universe at War: Earth Assault (PC)

8 February
The Club (PS3, PC, Xbox 360)
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (DS)

22 February
Sonic Riders Zero Gravity (PS2, Wii)

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Gears of War novel on the way

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008
Prequel to the game will flesh out the characters and backstory for gamers while they wait for the next game.

Listings on Web sites including Amazon UK and Wal-Mart have revealed that a Gears of gearsnovel_screen001.jpgWar book is in the works. Titled Gears of War: The Pendulum Wars–The Battle of Aspho Fields, the novel is being written by Steve L. Kent. Kent has written several sci-fi novels and strategy guides.

According to Amazon UK, Gears of War: The Pendulum Wars–The Battle of Aspho Fields is due out in the region on February 26, 2008, weighing in with 352 pages and published by Del Rey Books. In the US, according to Wal-Mart, the book will be due in August and will cost $8.94.

The Battle of Aspho Fields took place before the game’s storyline, during the Locust-Human War. Gears of War main character Marcus Fenix fought and performed many heroic actions during the war.

Full Article on This Link…

EA Opens up The Orange Box for PS3

Friday, December 14th, 2007

The critically-acclaimed PC and Xbox 360 game is now available for PS3 in North America and Europe.

2007’s best reviewed PC and Xbox 360(TM) game is now available for the PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system. Praised by many publications as the best value in the history of the video game industry, The Orange Box was originally developed by Valve and gives players five innovative action games for the price of one. Now Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) brings this amazing collection to the PLAYSTATION 3 in North America and most of Europe, with French and German versions expected in early 2008.

The Orange Box was released earlier this year on the Xbox 360 and PC to wide critical acclaim - both versions have averaged a 96 based on Metacritic.com and are tied for the highest rated games on each respective platforms, including 17 perfect scores.

The five-games-in-one-package includes the highest-rated first person shooter of all time Half-Life(R) 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, and three all-new games:

– Half Life 2: Episode Two - Episode 2 is the latest chapter in the best-selling, highest-rated action game franchise of all time, taking gamers outside the walls of City 17 for the first time as Gordon and Alyx race across the White Forest in race to save mankind from the Combine.

– Portal(TM) - A groundbreaking new kind of action game that will forever change the way gamers interact with their environment, Portal gives players mastery over 3D space with the mind-bending new Portal gun.

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Morhaime guaranteed winner at D.I.C.E.

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

Earlier this week, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences laid out its lineup of speakers for this year’s D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) convention, morhaime535_screen.jpgwhich takes place February 6-8 at Las Vegas’ Red Rock Resort. Today, the AIAS said that one of those speakers, Blizzard Entertainment CEO Michael Morhaime, will pull double duty at the show, having also been named as this year’s inductee into the AIAS Hall of Fame.

Cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment in 1991–then known as Silicon & Synapse–Morhaime has had a hand in some of the biggest best-selling franchises in the industry, including Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo. The AIAS specifically noted Morhaime’s achievements in expanding the massively multiplayer online game space with World of Warcraft. As noted in Vivendi’s third-quarter financial outcome, WOW currently plays home to more than 9.3 million subscribers.

“This is a great honor, and I’m proud to receive it,” said Morhaime in a statement. “The success that Blizzard Entertainment has had over the years would not have been possible without the enthusiasm and support of players around the world, and the passion and dedication of our employees, so I thank all of them for contributing to this achievement.”

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Eidos trademarks Tomb Raider Underworld

Friday, November 30th, 2007
Publisher lays claim to seedy and/or subterranean sounding name for upcoming Lara Croft adventure.

Eidos Interactive’s digital starlet Lara Croft is no stranger to caverns or criminals, and those familiar trappings may play a large part in her next adventure, if a US trademark application is any indication. As reported by Trademork, earlier this month Eidos filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a trademark on the phrase “Tomb Raider Underworld.”

The trademark specifically notes that it covers games either on discs or digitally distributed. The most recent title in the series, Tomb Raider Anniversary, was released as a retail product on multiple platforms, and on the Xbox 360 was also offered as a downloadable add-on to Tomb Raider: Legend.

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The Top 100 Games of All Time!

Thursday, November 29th, 2007

Yes, friends, more than 30 editors located all over the world set aside their ages, allegiances and personal favorites to pick the hundred best videogames that the planet has ever seen! There was fighting, there was mayhem, and there was pizza — lots and lots of pizza.

Now, some of you may proclaim, “but your list is different from the rankings you guys did in 2005!” Well, of course it is people. Plenty of fantastic games have been released since then, and we have plenty of new folks in our ranks to throw in their couple of cents. We’re also not afraid to admit that our tastes change over time too.

Our criteria for creating this list of our picks for the Top 100 Games of All Time are as follows:

  • Eligible games had to have been released no later than December 31, 2006 (perspective is a good thing)
  • A number of factors were taken into consideration when selecting a winner: How good the game was compared to others of its time, its overall game design, how well it stands up over the years, how influential it has been in the realm of gaming and just plain how much fun we had playing it are all points for contention.
  • The list is comprised of single, stand-alone titles and doesn’t include compilations, expansion packs or add-ons.
  • Titles with multiple editions such as collector’s boxes, gold editions or direct re-releases have been consolidated into one single entry, with the edition deemed most deserving taking precedence.
  • Updated versions of original titles were only included on the list if they were significantly different from their predecessors.

100. Archon: The Light and the Dark

Why It Made Our Top 100 List

archon_pcbox_022005boxart_160w.jpg This gem for Atari’s 8-bit PCs (and a fistful of other contemporary platforms) is one of the first genre hybrids. Part board game and part action game, Archon mixes fast-paced combat with the slower pace of a turn-based strategy sim.

At first glance, it looks more or like chess. Two armies of pieces on a nine-by-nine grid duke it out to see who takes control of the board first. The difference, or the main one, is that you don’t just move to a space and take a piece. The pieces have to fight for that patch of territory, and each has different combat skills that keep the action interesting.

Individual fights may not always be very fair — the “pawns” are dead meat against most of the back-row pieces — but the game as a whole is neatly balanced. A smart player makes use of his spellcasters (the “kings”) and the layout of the board (each side has an advantage on its own color of square) to score the odd upset victory.

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99. Rayman 2: The Great Escape

Why It Made Our Top 100 List

rayman2greatescape_dcboxboxart_160w.jpgNowadays gamers are more likely to associate Ubisoft with acrobatic characters in exotic locales and cold-hearted soldiers doing their deadly duty on battlefields around the world. But the standout game for Ubisoft at the turn of the century was something very different, an altogether more vibrant and charming game that learned from the best of the past while adding enough visual flair to make you forget that this wasn’t the most original of concepts.

Rayman 2: The Great Escape debuted on the Nintendo 64 in 1999 and hit the Dreamcast the next year bearing even better graphics and sound. The game saw the limbless wonder scouring his world for four masks that, in true platformer fashion, would help to bring justice to a world overrun by pirates. The sheer thrill of playing the game was only matched by a sense of wonder evoked by the gorgeous levels and the fiendish puzzles. Rayman is no Mario, but that’s no reason to ignore what’s one of the best 3D platforming games is around.

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98. Quake II

Why It Made Our Top 100 List

Quake II starts off as a nifty single-player campaign to destroy Strogg aliens and their leader Makron beforequake2_pcboxboxart_160w.jpg they do the same to you. While the main attraction is fun with guns — machine guns, chainguns, railguns, rocket launchers, and more — there are other objectives as well. Of course, this game’s real staying power (and call to greatness) is the fact that it is one of the most awesome deathmatch extravaganza games ever — the Halo of its time. Twitch and shout, as they say.

When id opened up the source code in 1998 just a year after the game was released, modders were happy campers and the ton of user-created content floating around made the game even better. It didn’t hurt that Quake II had the best 3D engine of the time either.

There are still people out there who know the multiplayer maps better than the layout of their own houses, which says a lot about the game’s staying power. Whether you’re packing the BFG10K or one of its quicker (and certainly still deadly) little brothers, popping around a corner to blow your friend’s face off never gets old.

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97. Silent Hill 2

Why It Made Our Top 100 List

609323boxart_160w.jpgThe original Silent Hill eschewed the quick shock moments of survival horror pioneer Resident Evil in favor of a constant, never-ending sense of dread that played on the basic human fear of the unknown. The sequel maintained its predecessor’s almost debilitating feeling of fear, but injected a very real storyline of a man who has lost the love of his life yet somehow is called to the misty burg of Silent Hill from a voice beyond the grave.

It’s the storyline that sets Silent Hill 2 apart from both the earlier and especially the later games in the series, mostly because it’s so character-driven. SH2 really explores the concept of what Silent Hill really is and why it’s almost entirely different than what the protagonist of the first game explored introducing some truly gut-wrenching moments that carry major emotional weight. Of course, the biggest thing the game has going for it is scares — specifically the terrifying appearances of Pyramid Head and composer Akira Yamaoka’s score — both of which are indelibly linked to the franchise.

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96. Wave Race 64

Why It Made Our Top 100 List

What is it about water? With each new generation of hardware, one of the first things people want to know is 601712boxart_160w.jpghow the water looks. In part, you can thank Wave Race 64 for that.

When Nintendo put out the game in 1996 it thrust water to the forefront. Sure, you could just learn the courses and find the best possible routes to the checkered flag, but the unpredictable water and its impressively realistic physics always added an element of variability to every race. You never quite know how the rising swells and choppy surf will affect you and the best you can do is try to read the waves and intimately involve that information in your decisions on the course. Throw in mini-games and some funky unlockables and you’ve got a recipe for a game that made owning a Nintendo 64 from day one a joy.

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NVousPC Announces Britto Lappy

Thursday, November 29th, 2007

Pop artist Romero Britto uses computer as canvas.

NVousPC sent word today that the apparently renowned International Pop Artist Romero Britto has created a one-off laptop featuring his unique artistic styling. The machine in question is a 15.4-inch Ether notebook, pimped with a Core 2 Duo T7600 and 2-gigs of RAM.

Britto has covered almost every available surface of the lappy in his bright, semi-psychedelic caricatures of happy creatures. Britto comments on the project as such: “I like to use bright colors and shapes to show the positive side of life. This computer gives me another canvas to help spread my message of hope and happiness.”

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Mimobot StarWars Series 2 Preview

Wednesday, November 28th, 2007

Designer jump drives now in Leia, Luke, Han and Boba flavors.

We’ve shown plenty of Mimobot designer jump drives on the site in the past, and while the company’s usual fare of kawaii Japanese monsters are decently cute, our greatest enthusiasm tends to be roused by the company’s Star Wars line. Series 1 of the licensed issues featured Darth, Chewy, R2-D2 and Stormtroopers on Mimobot’s standard bear-like body molding. The newly announced Star Wars Series 2 expands on the theme significantly with even bigger characters and individually designed body moldings.

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Leia, Luke, Han, and Boba compose the second issuing, currently available for pre-order and scheduled to ship in January-February 2008. The new designs feature unique body molds, like the bumps for Leia’s hair, and customized protector caps, like the helmet that covers Boba Fett’s face when attached.

1-GB, 2-GB, and 4-GB sizes will be available, priced at $49.95, $69.95, and $109.95, respectively.

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Dubai fund engulfs Sony

Monday, November 26th, 2007
The PlayStation 3 maker becomes latest game company to receive “substantial” investment by emirate-based fund.

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In September, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced it had received $500 million in funding from a venture-capital firm based in the Persian Gulf sheikdom of Abu Dhabi. TimeWarner’s nascent game division quickly turned around and used the funds to acquire Lego Star Wars developer Traveller’s Tales for a reported £100 million ($206.8 million).

Now, another Gulf-based company has announced it, too, is spending major petrodollars for a stake in a game company. This morning, NewDawn GSE Asset Management Limited announced it has “acquire[d] a substantial stake” in Sony Corp. by making “a substantial investment” in the PlayStation 3 maker. NewDawn GSE Asset Management is a subsidiary of Dubai International Capital LLC (DIC), the international investment arm of Dubai Holdings, an investment firm almost entirely owned by Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

How substantial is “substantial”? Unfortunately, the investment announcement had no financial details whatsoever and, as of press time, Sony had not commented on the deal’s monetary minutiae. However, a Bloomberg news service report said DIC disclosed last week that it planned to invest $500 million in a Japanese company. Such investment would only yield DIC a 1 percent stake in Sony, which analysts expect to report net income of ¥327.6 billion ($3.03 billion) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008.

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