Jam Sessions2 is a guitar-game that makes learning to play the electric guitar fun and rewarding. Each song in the gameplay mode serves a different role in advancing players’ guitar …
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WHAT:
When festival goers flock to this year’s 10,000 Lakes Festival, they’ll have a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with a remarkable newcomer in hand-held entertainment. Appearing July 22-25 at the festival’s scenic site on the Soo Pass Ranch in Detroit Lakes, Minn., the Nintendo DSi™ Mobile Tour invites consumers to board an interactive tour bus loaded with portable Nintendo DSi systems and software. Visitors and spectators can experience the unique features and creative fun of Nintendo DSi. With help from on-site Nintendo ambassadors, consumers can use Nintendo DSi to take and manipulate photos, tweak sound recordings and enjoy a wide variety of games. Visitors can print their original souvenir photos on the bus or store them online and download them from home.As the latest evolution in Nintendo’s popular line of hand-held video game devices, Nintendo DSi features two built-in cameras, audio recording and playback functions, and access to a wealth of downloadable games and applications from the online Nintendo DSi Shop™. Players can use 10 different interactive “lenses” to tweak photos in unusual ways and share them over a local wireless connection, or have fun with their favorite music by using different audio filters to alter recorded voices or change the tempo of a song. Since launching in April, Nintendo DSi has sold more than 1 million units in the United States.
Simulated Beach Vacation on Manhattan’s Military Island Gives Consumers a Dazzling Preview of Hotly Anticipated Game
WHAT:
Nintendo is transforming New York’s famed Military Island in Times Square into an urban island getaway to celebrate the launch of the Wii Sports Resort™ video game. On July 23, anyone who visits this Manhattan landmark will be treated to a mini-vacation, complete with a sandy beach, swimming pool and tropical lounge – all smack dab in the middle of the city – plus a chance to play Wii Sports Resort in advance of its U.S. July 26 release date. Based on the imaginative Wuhu Island locale featured in the game, this interactive oasis will also offer game demonstrations, giveaways (while supplies last) and a bar serving tropical non-alcoholic drinks. Adding to the excitement, actor Chace Crawford will be making an appearance.
LISBON, Portugal – July 21, 2009
GAMEINVEST, Portugal’s leading video game developer, today released a new trailer featuring new levels, characters and gameplay in their oceanic conservation-themed game Aquatic Tales. In development for the Nintendo DS™, Wii™ and PC, this adventure style game challenges players to guide and protect a family of endangered fish on a journey through several different marine landscapes to their final destination, the Amazon River. GAMEINVEST will be presenting the trailer and a technical demo of Aquatic Tales at the Casual Connect conference in Seattle, July 21-23.
New York, NY – July 21, 2009 – MTV Games and Harmonix, the world’s leading developer of music-based games and a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today revealed 15 more of the 45 on-disc tracks that will be featured in The Beatles™: Rock Band™. A gameplay trailer featuring eight of the 15 newly announced songs can be viewed by visiting www.thebeatlesrockband.com.
Following the world premiere of The Beatles: Rock Band at the Microsoft press briefing at the 2009 E3 Media & Business Summit last month, the newly announced 15 songs represent a cross-section of hits and favorites that span The Beatles’ storied career from Can’t Buy Me Love and Paperback Writer to With A Little Help From My Friends and Yellow Submarine, bringing the total number of announced songs to 25.
TUESDAY – 7/21
X-Play has your very first hands-on footage of GEARS OF WAR 2: DARK CORNERS’ ROAD TO RUIN deleted campaign chapter with Epic’s Cliff Bleszinski and Rod Fergusson. Plus, never-before-seen gameplay of SHADOW COMPLEX – including new bosses, new weapons and brand new levels from what could be the biggest Xbox Live game ever. Then X-Play reveals 15 tracks from THE BEATLES: ROCK BAND, unleashes an exclusive new trailer for WATCHMEN: THE END IS NIGH PART 2 and features a live hands-on demo with Shane Bettenhausen for MURAMASA: THE DEMON BLADE, X-Play’s pick for the best Wii game from E3 2009.WEDNESDAY – 7/22
X-Play continues this jam-packed week with an exclusive hands-on preview of RATCHET & CLANK: A CRACK IN TIME from Insomniac. Plus, we reveal a brand new level and never before seen weapons for LEFT 4 DEAD 2, and Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford joins us in the studio with the World Premiere hands on demo of co-op for BORDERLANDS.
Santa Monica, CA – July 20, 2009 – Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and 11-time Grammy Award winner, Carlos Santana, is set to appear as an exclusive in-game artist in the upcoming Guitar Hero® 5. Santana’s accomplishments span four decades and more than 40 albums including the self-titled album, Santana, that launched one of the most recognizable Latin-infused classic rock anthems, “No One to Depend On.” The live version of the song will be featured in Guitar Hero 5 with Carlos Santana jamming on stage as a playable character.
In addition to music from Santana, Guitar Hero 5 features a wide variety of today’s hottest rock ‘n’ roll bands mixed with classic tracks. Brand new game features let fans tailor their experience to meet the evolving ways consumers are interacting with their favorite music and allows them to challenge themselves as a solo act or band member, or kick back with friends and enjoy their personalized set list.
London – July 20, 2009 – In conjunction with the release of the highly anticipated feature film from director Spike Jonze, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Legendary Pictures announce the Where the Wild Things Are videogame will be available on Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS in November 2009. Where the Wild Things Are is a Warner Bros. theatrical release from Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures. The UK movie release is set for 11th December 2009.
In the videogame, players assume the role of the rambunctious young Max and can explore the island of the Wild Things, journey across its dangerous terrain, overcome hazardous obstacles and battle fierce creatures. After landing his boat on the mysterious island of the Wild Things – Max quickly befriends the fearsome but loveable creatures and becomes “King of All Wild Things.” He soon learns that the island is on the brink of destruction and that it’s up to him and the Wild Things to work together to find a way to escape to safety before it’s too late. Where the Wild Things Are is being developed for the Wii, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 by Amaze Entertainment, a Foundation 9 studio, and for the Nintendo DS by WayForward.
The Mystery of Whiterock Castle positions Playtainment as the first German publisher to release a game on WiiWare™. The classic “hidden object” game, developed by the Frankfurt studio Keen Games, transports players of all ages into a medieval fairytale adventure.
The Mystery of Whiterock Castle tells the story of a young knave who sets out on a thrilling quest to find his beloved playmate. The princess has mysteriously disappeared from the royal apartments, and hidden object game fans assume the role of the young knave who, armed only with a sword and a magnifying glass, must scour countless rooms and gloomy dungeons in the meticulously detailed settings, rendered with hand-painted 3D graphics.
OverClocked ReMix today released its 14th project album, Final Fantasy IV: Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption. The album consists of forty-six arrangements of composer Nobuo Uematsu’s original score to the Square Enix game Final Fantasy 1V.The album is available for free download at http://ff4.ocremix.org.
Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption is not affiliated with or endorsed by Square Enix. More than thirty-three artists participated in honoring Uematsu in this all-encompassing project which contains of over three hours of music. The three-disc project follows three acts; Betrayal, Strife, and Redemption.
In the United States in June, the Nintendo DS™ and Nintendo DSi™ systems combined to sell more than 766,000 units, more than all current-generation consoles combined, according to the NPD Group, which tracks video game sales in the United States. U.S. consumers purchased more than 424,000 Nintendo DSi systems and more than 342,000 Nintendo DS systems in June.
Wii™ marked its 21st consecutive month as the top-selling U.S. home console, with nearly 362,000 sold. Consumers also snapped up nearly 374,000 Wii MotionPlus™ accessories, including nearly 205,000 packaged with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 from Electronic Arts and 169,000 additional accessories sold on their own. The Wii Sports Resort™ game launches July 26 and comes packaged with Wii MotionPlus.
The Rock Band Network Gives Artists and Record Labels Tools to Author, Promote and Sell Music for Download via the Rock Band Platform
CAMBRIDGE, MA and NEW YORK, NY – July 17, 2009 – Harmonix Music Systems and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced the Rock Band Network, a ground-breaking initiative that gives musicians and record labels the ability to author their own original recordings into gameplay files and sell their music as playable Rock Band tracks through the newly-created Rock Band Network Music Store. The introduction of the Rock Band Network marks a fundamental shift in the exposure music games can give emerging and established artists through innovative technologies that will open new revenue streams and promotional avenues.
“Our goal with Rock Band has always been to go beyond making music games and create a true music platform,” said Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder of Harmonix. “With the Rock Band Network, we’ve evolved the platform to its next logical step, giving players access to an incredible amount of new music by putting the professional tools we use in the hands of the artists themselves.”
“The Rock Band Network enables songwriters and musicians – at any stage of their careers – to create their own paths through the interactive music realm,” said Paul DeGooyer, Senior Vice President, Electronic Games and Music, MTV Networks Music Group. “Our download store has been an extraordinary success, and it’s exciting for us to provide access to our platform through this uniquely elegant solution.”
WHAT:
When festival goers flock to this year’s Pitchfork Music Festival, they’ll have a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with a remarkable newcomer in hand-held entertainment. Appearing July 17-19 at the festival’s site at Union Park on Chicago’s Near West Side, the Nintendo DSi™ Mobile Tour invites consumers to board an interactive tour bus loaded with portable Nintendo DSi systems and software. Visitors and spectators can experience the unique features and creative fun of Nintendo DSi. With help from on-site Nintendo ambassadors, consumers can use Nintendo DSi to take and manipulate photos, tweak sound recordings and enjoy a wide variety of games. Visitors can print their original souvenir photos on the bus or store them online and download them from home.
This Year’s Fan-Favorite Award Show Features Twenty Categories Including Best Shooter, Best New Character And the highly coveted Game Of The Year
X-Play, the most watched video game show on television, gives gaming fans a voice this summer with the 2009 G-Phoria Awards. Beginning July 16 through July 31, gamers around the globe get complete control of which games are the biggest, baddest and most loved by players. Fans are encouraged to log on to g4tv.com/vote to vote for their favorites and check on the latest leaders in each category. “X-Play” hosts Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb will present the awards in this one-hour special airing Wednesday, August 5 at 6:00PM ET/PT only on G4.
X-Play’s G-Phoria is the most complete fan-picked videogame award show on television, and on the heels of one of the most exciting E3 expos in history, this year’s show stands to be an incredibly competitive one. Casual players and hard-core gamers alike have the chance to make their voices heard and be counted in a year that is one of the most richly diverse in games. This year’s categories feature 100 nominees in 20 separate categories ranging from Best Shooter to Best Sports Game, Best Handheld and Most Original and tops off with the coveted Game Of The Year award.
SANTA MONICA, CA – July 16, 2009 – Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), and Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana Enterprises announced today that the world premiere of Bakugan Battle Brawlers™ will be at San Diego Comic-Con. Attendees of the famed convention can get their hands on Bakugan Battle Brawlers on Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ for the first time ever when Comic-Con opens its doors to the public on July 23. Bakugan Battle Brawlers will be located in the Spin Master/Bakugan Booth SDCC #3712.
Playing with the concept of time travel, Chronos Twins, sees the player in the driving-seat, as Nec – the last best hope for his planet – not only battles to save his world but also to avenge the death of his brother.
To successfully complete levels, players must initially use both screens simultaneously as s/he plays across two temporal dimensions (past and present) in a bid to meet (and defeat) the nameless entity head-on when it first appears on Nec’s homeworld. Manoeuvring through side-scrolling areas, the aim is to control both the present-time hero whilst exploring the planet’s past to conquer the alien threats.
BLEACH: The 3rd Phantom (also at the Viz booth on Friday) – In this exclusive storyline, new details are revealed about the BLEACH universe stemming from before the start of the anime series. The story highlights the close partnership between two fraternal twin Soul Reapers, Matsuri Kudo and her brother Fujimaru. For the first time, players create and command their own team of eight Soul Reapers. In team-based battles, players decide where to place their team on the campaign map and also how to customize their character’s powers with the experience points they received through winning battles. With exciting revelations and a lot more choice and strategy, BLEACH: The 3rd Phantom will thrill fans and newcomers to the series alike.
SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 15, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) and Pro vs. GI Joe announced today a new partnership to host the “Activision Showdown,” a series of video game competitions bringing together active duty troops with some of the world’s most popular professional athletes for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Featuring blockbuster franchises, including Guitar Hero(R) and Call of Duty(R), the Showdown series offers service members a chance to not only square-off online in friendly exhibitions playing the hottest video games, but also have the chance to connect with families back home via video conference.
Activision’s Showdown kicks-off next week Friday, July 24, prior to the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with members of the Indiana National Guard, currently stationed in Kuwait and Iraq, facing-off in a match of Guitar Hero Smash Hits against NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 1 Guitar Hero Smash Hits Chevrolet for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. The troops’ families will also be in attendance to participate and spend time online with their loved ones abroad.