Social game developer Zattikka unveils The Ministry Of Silly Game

The UK-based social game developer, Zattikka, has announced The Ministry of Silly Games. A collaborative project with popular comedy group Monty Python. The Ministry of Silly Games will feature mini-games based on the troupe's sketches, gags and films such as King Arthur's Knight Fight, Camelot Smashout, Mr. Cresote, Glumby Flower Arranging, and more.

Launching the new initiative, at an event with Monty Python stars Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam, the gaming company revealed that The Ministry of Silly Games takes place "within the madcap Monty Python virtual world" and will launch as a free game on Facebook in the first quarter of 2011.

Dragon Age: Origins Ultimate Edition: confirms EA

Publisher Electronic Arts has announced that it will be publishing an Ultimate Edition box of Dragon Age: Origins, the role playing game created by BioWare, containing the initial game in the series, the Awakening expansion pack and all the downloadable content packs that have been delivered to the title.

The bundle will cost 59.99 dollars on the Xbox 360 and on the PlayStation 3; and 49.99 dollars on the PC platform, meaning that gamers who pick it up will probably save about 50 dollars over the overall price of the content at current price.

Players will be able to pick up the new package on October 12.

EA removes Taliban Name from 'Medal of Honor' Multiplayer

Now as a gamer, you will be either fighting for "American Forces" or for the “Opposition Forces”. In simple, fighting for or against Taliban in multiplayer version of EA's upcoming "Medal of Honor" game; will not be possible.

Electronic Arts has removed the name "Taliban" from the multiplayer version of its upcoming "Medal of Honor" game.Instead of Taliban, "Opposition Forces".

In recent times, the critics have questioned naming one of the two fighting entities in war game set in Afghanistan as Taliban.

The new "Medal of Honor" game is scheduled to be released on Oct. 12 in North America for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. The new version will be the first time that the series has been set in modern-day Afghanistan; it previously has been limited to scenarios during World War II.

EA Mobile brings EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 11 to iPhone and iPod touch

EA Mobile, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. and the world's leading mobile games publisher, have announced the availability of EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 11 in the App Store.

The popular soccer franchise features over 30 officially licensed leagues, 35 authentic stadiums, 500 licensed teams and more than 15,000 players from around the world for thunderous matches on the iPhone and iPod touch.

FIFA Soccer 11 is available today from the App Store for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch at www.itunes.com/appstore/. Assets and additional press information can be found at http://info.ea.com.

EA Mobile has a great reputation for its pioneering and market leadership in mobile gaming, and has been a definitive player with the rise of Apple devices as gaming platforms. Popular games include SCRABBLE, Tetris, MONOPOLY and BATTLESHIP, which have consistently ranked among top sellers and, in 2009, The Sims(R) 3 was the #1 best-selling game on the App Store.

Konami unveils 3D version of Road Fighters

Gaming giant Konami has released a 3D version of their Road Fighters games. The game is currently available in Japan only.

Archer and sorcerer gameplay VIDEOS unveiled

Frogster and TERA-Europe have just released a pair of new gameplay videos that show the PvE experience from the perspective of both an archer and a sorcerer. The trailers give players a first-hand look at ranged DPS in the world of TERA:

NBA Elite 11 launch delayed

EA Sports has announced that they have delayed NBA Elite 11. The game will no longer be released as scheduled on October 5th. There’s No word from EA when they will release the game or if they plan to release NBA Elite 11 at all, or will EA arrive with Elite 12.

Tying in with that NBA Jam, which had been planned to be packaged into NBA Elite with a code, will now be out separately for the 360 and PS3 before the end of the year.

Amazon launches Scrabble for Kindle

Every one is expanding themselves to fields that are new to them; then why should Amazon be an exception. Amazon continues to venture out of its image of a dedicated e-reader. The company has added another game to its very limited game library: Scrabble for Kindle from EA Mobile, available now for $4.99.

Scrabble for Kindle works on any Kindle from 2nd gen up, including the DX with its 9.7” screen.

Electronic Arts Signs Deals with Unity Engine

Though Electronic Arts has used the third-party middleware Unity engine before, namely in Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online, EA wants to make the association a long term one. The reason is, only one association so far proved good for both the parties.

EA and Unity Technologies announced a multi-year agreement earlier this week.

The basic premise of the deal is that unity's unparalleled platform support ensures EA to reach its fans quickly on any platforms they have. Unity engine has the ability to produce content for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PC, Mac, the web, iPhone, iPad, and Android.

The EA- Unity combine informed that a number of titles are in development.

Unity has been used in a long list of non-EA games, including Max and the Magic Marker on WiiWare.

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EA wants Dead Space 2 to make you emotional

EA wants to make you cry. Not with pre-owned charges or dodgy DRM, but by scaring the crap out of you in Dead Space 2. READ FULL STORY

THQ Wireless launches Star Wars Game for the iPhone and iPod Touch

Star Wars: Trench Run 2.0 Game

This in-app purchase allows gamers to play Star Wars: Trench Run 2.0 full-screen in their computer's web browser. This experience is perfect for Internet enabled televisions, large displays or for computers connected to a TV via HDMI. In addition to the Brass Monkey controller, the web version update includes new explosions, updated graphics, new 3D cockpits, and three new lighting features. To get started, players can visit http://www.starwars.com/games/playnow/trench_run/.

Full Story Here

CCP unveils EVE Online's latest expansion

At PAX Prime, we caught up with CCP's lead game designer Noah Ward, who paused helpfully between the roaring crowds on all sides of the booth to fill us in on the "secret sauce" to EVE Online's continued growth and success. Ward said it was simple: CCP's steadfast commitment to the...READ MORE

Sony Unveils new PlayStation 3 Models with added hard drive space

Sony has unveiled a pair of new PlayStation 3 models(those slimmed-down videogame consoles) with added hard-drive space.

A 120 GB PS3 Slim: Click on image for details

A new 160-GB PS3 ships as a standalone console, retails for $300 and is shipping to stores currently, as per company. A 320-GB model will come bundled with a PlayStation Move motion controller, PlayStation Eye camera and a copy of the motion-controlled game Sports Champions. The bundle will retail for $400 and will be available Sept. 19 with the launch of the PlayStation Move.

The new PlayStation 3 models retain all the changes and updates that came when the PlayStation Slim launched last year.

The 160-GB model gets you 40 GB more memory at the same price as last year’s 120-GB PS3 Slim. All the PlayStation Move gear that comes with the pricier bundle costs $100 at retail — so you’re getting the hard drive as a bonus for your choice spending.

Blizzard to release World of Warcraft: Cataclysm collectors edition

WoW Cataclysm: Click on Image for details

Blizzard Entertainment will release a collector's edition for the third expansion of World of Warcraft later this year.

The World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collector's Edition will be available for PCs and Macs for $79.99.

The special edition will include a Cataclysm art book, behind-the-scenes DVD, mouse pad and soundtrack. Consumers will also receive an exclusive pet for use in the game.
Cataclysm is the third expansion for World of Warcraft. The first, The Burning Crusade, debuted in 2007, while Wrath of the Lich King arrived in 2008. Among the new features debuting in Cataclysm are two new playable races, the Goblins and Worgen, and an increase in the level cap to 85.

Microsoft Unveils Age of Empires Online and Microsoft Flight

At the Gamescon 2010 conference in Cologne, Germany, Microsoft Corp. announced the newest addition to their famed “Age of Empires” franchise, “Age of Empires Online.” They also announced a new version of their “Microsoft Flight Simulator” franchise, entitled “Microsoft Flight.”

Talking of Age of Empires Online,” which is an extension of the historical strategy game “Age of Empires”, the premise of the game is for players to build their own civilizations and interact with other players and friends around the world. The first village that can be grown into an empire revolves around the bustling Greek culture. Greek setting, something quite hit with fans of “Age of Empires”.

Developed by Robot Entertainment, the game features a slew of both old and new features, which include cooperative multi-player quests, original storylines and of course, an ever-growing city that continues to prosper (or fail) even when the player is offline.

Game lovers can sign up for the beta version of the game.

Xbox LIVE Games for Windows Phone 7 Unveiled

At the on-going gamescon 2010 convention, Microsoft announced larger number of Xbox LIVE games for upcoming Windows Phone 7 mobile platform. With over 60 launch titles, this is just the first wave of XNA-based games that will be available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

So now, Windows Phone 7 devices will arrive with App Store and Xbox LIVE Marketplace both. The Games application on the Windows Phone 7 would let you login into your Xbox LIVE account and play games. The Xbox LIVE games on Windows Phone 7 bring several top titles Assassin's Creed, Halo Waypoint, Castlevania, Crackdown 2, Guitar Hero 5, Real Soccer 2, Bejeweled, Max and the Magic Marker, Uno, Star Wars: Battle for Hoth and many more.

The Xbox LIVE Marketplace will offer try-before-you-buy demos of the games and other features.

Gamers have to wait till the year-end for Xbox LIVE on Windows Phone 7 as many devices are slated for arrival during festive season.

Soulbit launches Look-Up Augmented Reality Alien Invasion Game for iPhone

Soulbit7, the Israel-based iOS application workshop, has launched the Look-Up Alien Invasion Game with a twist of augmented Reality for iPhone. The application became available immediately after the announcement.

In Look-Up, an augmented reality (AR) game, the player fights alien spaceships that enter the real environment that player is situated in. To effect augmented reality, Look-Up makes use of the iPhone camera and compass to create a unique alien invasion experience where the player fights UFOs that attack in the player's real surroundings.


Inducing difficulty with two modes:

The game can be played in two modes: 360 degree mode, where the player has to fight with alien spaceships from all directions (like planes coming from all points on the surface of a hollow sphere towards the center) by moving the device; and the 180 degree mode where the attack comes on a plane or two dimension.
No wonder the 360 mode will be hard to manage.

Adding social or multiplayer dimension to the game (social ??)

The game can have more than one player in a common physical space. In Multiplayer mode more than one player can fight a battle together in a given physical space, making a truly social (that’s why social :)) augmented reality gaming experience.

The app works on iPhone OS 3.1+ and iOS4.

iPod Touch and iPad are not supported as the in-built camera is required.

Look-Up is available from the AppStore at a special launch price of $0.99.

Call of Duty Black Ops: Collectors editions unveiled

On Xbox 360: Click image for details

Call of Duty fans can soon add a remote control recon vehicle alongside their night vision goggles. Activision and studio Treyarch unveiled the first details on collectors editions for the first-person shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops.

On Playstation 3: Click image for details

The highlight of the game's Prestige Edition, which will be available on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 is a collectible RC-XD surveillance vehicle. "With a range of up to 200 feet, the RC-XD Surveillance Vehicle has a fully-functioning remote camera that transmits both TFT color video and audio to its operator.

It also includes a Hardened Edition of Black Ops, which features a limited edition medal, avatar outfit and four playable cooperative maps. The Hardened Edition will also be sold separately.Both collectors editions, along with standard copies of Black Ops, will debut November 9, 2010.

Nothing is said about the pricing yet. For the release of last November's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the Prestige Edition cost $149, while the Hardened Edition sold for $80. So the gamers can expect the price around the same or below.

Microsoft to release $400 Halo Reach version of Xbox 360

According to Ars Technica, Microsoft is going to offer yet another flavor of its 360 hardware soon. There will be a Halo: Reach version of the newly slimmed-down Xbox 360. This hardware will be silver, not black, and feature Halo: Reach graphics.

The system will come with:

1) a copy of Halo: Reach
2) two wireless Halo controllers
3) and the 250GB hard drive

The price for this box will be $399.99, and it will be a limited-time deal.

Microsoft to sell Kinect from Nov 4 2010: Microsoft to compete with Sony

Kinect Sensor: Click on the image for details

Microsoft Corp will sell its new Kinect motion-sensing gaming system for about $150 and also offer it in a package with the Xbox 360 videogame console when sales of the hands-free device start in November, the company said on Tuesday.

The exact date of the commencement of sale is 4 November 2010, just the holiday season.

The price, omitted by Microsoft when it introduced Kinect at the E3 videogame conference in June, matches the preorder price that retailers such as Best Buy, GameStop and Amazon.com posted online weeks ago.

In addition to new customers (new and those stolen from the rival Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation 3), Microsoft surely aim its marketing message at the owners of the more than 40 million Xbox 360 models that have already been sold. The sensor will come with a family game called "Kinect Adventures."

What is Kinect? : Kinect is a motion sensing gaming system from Microsoft. Kinect's camera-based system lets players control games with body and hand gestures. It relies solely on voice, body and hand gestures -- and no buttons (something which some critics say may make precision game controls difficult).

Though Microsoft has high hopes on Kinect, what remains to be seen that if cost-conscious consumers and game fans, many of whom have already bought one or more of the consoles, will be willing to spending hundreds more on hardware, and Kinect-specific software costing about $50.

Several analysts expect Microsoft to initially sell some 3 million Kinect units, despite what is considered a steep price. But many among them doubt whether that will seriously challenge the market leader Wii; whose games still cost a $200 cheaper. So in place of Wii, a section of experts are seeing Microsoft competing against Sony.

Sony will launch "Move," its motion-controlled feature for the PlayStation 3 gaming system, on September 15, hoping to get the jump on Microsoft's Kinect. Like the Nintendo Wii, Move's motion system is based on a wireless remote control.

According to an analyst, the all-in cost of the PS3 plus a complete Move package is $479: $399 for the PS3, a game, Move and Eye camera, plus another $80 for an extra Move and a sub-controller. In contrast, according to Microsoft, a Kinect unit bundled with a version of the Xbox 360 that has 4 gigabytes of internal memory would sell for about $300. The current standard Xbox model comes with 250 gigabytes and is priced at $300.

So, the take of some experts on where the competition will be, assumes much ground.