Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Reach beta is set to drop May 3rd.

PLUS A SPECIAL COMEDY CENTRAL^® SOUTH PARK VERSION OF “POKER FACE”
MTV NETWORKS CELEBRATING DEBUT ACROSS CHANNELS

Cambridge, Mass. – March 9, 2009 – Harmonix and MTV Games today announced that a four pack of songs from pop sensation Lady Gaga, as well as a special Lady Gaga cover byCOMEDY CENTRAL’s South Park’s own Eric Cartman will be added next week to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™.

Lady Gaga joins the more than 400 artists currently available through theRock Band platform. With more than 1,100 songs available,Rock Band is, without question, the industry leader in providing the best selection of interactive musical content, songs and artists.

“Lady Gaga Pack 01” will include “Bad Romance,” “Just Dance,” “Monster” and “Poker Face” and will be available for purchase as “Lady Gaga Pack 01” as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks only on Wii. Lady Gaga is touring Europe and the United States this spring and fall, as part of her successful Monster Ball tour. For more information on tour dates, please visit www.ladygaga.com.

Additionally, a special version of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face,” made famous bySouth Park’s Eric Cartman, will also be available in theRock Band Music Store next week. The track first appeared in the “Whale Whores” episode which will re-air on COMEDY CENTRAL March 16 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. The 14th season of COMEDY CENTRAL’s Emmy and Peabody Award-winning seriesSouth Park premieres Wednesday, March 17 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

MTV Networks is celebrating Lady Gaga’s debut inRock Band across its television channels, including the following:

· MTV: “Bad Romance” video rotation during music hours, 30-minute Lady Gaga video blocks on MTV Hits, the debut of Lady Gaga’s new video “Telephone,” a collaboration with Beyonce, and an airing of the Lady Gaga episode ofAmerica’s Best Dance Crew March 16 (also on MTV2)

· Palladia: Airings of Lady Gaga performance specials including,London Live (airing March 10, 13, 16, 21 and 24),VFest (March 20 and 26) and the2009 MTV Video Music Awards (March 19 and 20)

· Logo: An airing ofLondon Live andNewNowNext PopLab Lady Gaga Edition (March 16)

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **

Having the opportunity to participate in the Olympics and play in front of my home crowd was one of the best experiences of my life.  To now be chosen as the next cover athlete for NHL 2K11 is another dream come true. It was awesome to work with 2K Sports last year on the NHL 2K10 commercial shoot and the outdoor motion capture session on the Las Vegas strip was incredible to be a part of.  I’m looking forward to having just as much fun again, and helping them make another great hockey game this year

NHL 2k11 will be hitting stores this Fall.

Designed by Creative Director Stuart Black (co-creator and designer of Black, 2006), Bodycount is being created by an all-star development team using the EGO® Game Technology Platform, an evolution of Codemasters’ award-winning engine, for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and scheduled for release in Q1 of 2011.

“Our core focus for Bodycount is to deliver best-in-class gun play that places the gamer at the heart of the experience,” said Executive Producer Tom Gillo. “From the jaw-dropping devastation caused by firing into enemies or shredding the world around you in a hail of bullets, Bodycount will crystallise that moment of pulling the trigger into an exhilarating sensory overload of action.”

In Bodycount players become ensnared in a clandestine global power struggle as a powerful combat asset with a green-light to eliminate enemies known only as ‘Targets’ on behalf of the ‘Network’. Equipped with a mouth-watering selection of contemporary weapons, players and opponents tear through destructible cover to execute explosive kills in a shreddable world where operatives are encouraged to leave no witnesses. Complimented by online multiplayer and co-operative game modes, Bodycount will blast outrageous action and spectacular fire-fights from both barrels.

“We’re all massive FPS fans,” said Stuart Black, Creative Director on Bodycount “and believe that there’s room for a refresh of the shooter experience. If Race Driver: GRID™ was all about the purity of racing, then everything in Bodycount is absolutely centred on the bullet and its impact on the world. Our shredding tech enables us to create a different kind of gameplay, where players and AI can’t hide behind indestructible cover and rely on whack-a-mole mechanics. Here the environment is constantly changing as the game world is shot to hell; it’s going to be a huge amount of fun.”

Bodycount is being developed using the EGO Game Technology platform, evolved from the award winning EGO Engine. Enabling Codemasters development talent to share tools and technology across its Studios and Central Technology teams, the EGO Game Technology Platform empowers Codemasters game designers to realise their creative visions across multiple platforms featuring cutting edge graphics, powerful AI and advanced physics systems and integrated network play.

“By investing extensively in our people and tools, we have attracted an exciting team of development talent to Codemasters Studios Guildford, empowered with a mandate to create innovative, original games using award-winning technology,” said Gavin Cheshire, Vice President, Codemasters development. “As our first internally produced new IP for many years, Bodycount will deliver a fresh FPS experience powered by intense combat, compelling narrative, advanced AI and engaging online multiplayer game modes.”

In the UK, Bodycount debuts with a front cover of Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine, which heralds the game as ‘the ultimate shooter’; the magazine is on-sale March 11th. An extensive announcement feature is also running in PlayStation Official Magazine on-sale March 16th.

For all the latest on Bodycount follow @bodycountgame on Twitter (www.twitter.com/bodycountgame), become a fan on Facebook or visit www.codemasters.com/bodycount

VALVE TO DELIVER STEAM & SOURCE ON MAC

Leading Gaming Service Expands to Mac Platform

March 8, 2010 – Valve announced today it will bring Steam, Valve’s gaming service, and Source, Valve’s gaming engine, to the Mac.

Steam and Valve’s library of games including Left 4 Dead 2, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike, Portal, and the Half-Life series will be available in April.

“As we transition from entertainment as a product to entertainment as a service, customers and developers need open, high-quality Internet clients,” said Gabe Newell, President of Valve. ”The Mac is a great platform for entertainment services.”

“Our Steam partners, who are delivering over a thousand games to 25 million Steam clients, are very excited about adding support for the Mac,” said Jason Holtman, Director of Business Development at Valve. “Steamworks for the Mac supports all of the Steamworks APIs, and we have added a new feature, called Steam Play, which allows customers who purchase the product for the Mac or Windows to play on the other platform free of charge. For example, Steam Play, in combination with the Steam Cloud, allows a gamer playing on their work PC to go home and pick up playing the same game at the same point on their home Mac. We expect most developers and publishers to take advantage of Steam Play.”

“We looked at a variety of methods to get our games onto the Mac and in the end decided to go with native versions rather than emulation,” said John Cook, Director of Steam Development. ”The inclusion of WebKit into Steam, and of OpenGL into Source gives us a lot of flexibility in how we move these technologies forward. We are treating the Mac as a tier-1 platform so all of our future games will release simultaneously on Windows, Mac, and the Xbox 360. Updates for the Mac will be available simultaneously with the Windows updates. Furthermore, Mac and Windows players will be part of the same multiplayer universe, sharing servers, lobbies, and so forth. We fully support a heterogeneous mix of servers and clients. The first Mac Steam client will be the new generation currently in beta testing on Windows.”

Portal 2 will be Valve’s first simultaneous release for Mac and Windows. “Checking in code produces a PC build and Mac build at the same time, automatically, so the two platforms are perfectly in lock-step,” said Josh Weier, Portal 2 Project Lead. “We’re always playing a native version on the Mac right alongside the PC. This makes it very easy for us and for anyone using Source to do game development for the Mac.”

In partnering with Playboy, we are able to add a unique element of authenticity to the game by using vintage images from the magazine that illustrate the power of Playboy’s influence on the attitudes and culture of that generation.

3/9

(PS3/360)Final Fantasy XIII: Sort of ironic that a game with so many editions would be called “Final” Fantasy. Anyways I have heard that the PS3 version is better than the 360 for some reason and that you can pick this game up without having to know what you missed in the previous…I’d be lying if I told you what that roman numeral stood for.

(PS3)Yakuza 3

(Wii)Calling-Horror game for the Wii…interesting.

(PS3/360)Resident Evil 5:Gold Edition- If you have yet to pick this up I highly suggest you do so regardless of the system. This was my first Resident Evil game and I fell in love with it.

(PC)Assassin’s Creed II-My favorite original story for a video game. Also highly suggested to everyone who hasn’t had the pleasure to play one of Ubisoft’s most interesting stories.

3/10

(PSP)BlazBlue:Calamity Trigger

(PC)NEW Turtle Beach HPA2 Headset-I have a Turtle Beach I use for my 360 gaming and regardless of how great it is for shooters it adds so much to the experience even if you are playing a singleplayer game (i.e. Mass Effect). Also its worth mentioning because the previous models usually get a big price cut so you may want to give it a look.

3/11

(DS)Pokemon Soulsilver/Heartgold Edition-Although I am much older now I can not criticize the continued releases of these games because I guarantee if I was to play it I would be just as in love with this one as I was with the old ones. If Microsoft was to make a cheap remake of a pokemon type game for arcade where you can vs other trainers through Live and train your “whateverMon” I would be the first to spend the points.

The biggest new addition is the My Player Mode.  Gamers can create their own player and play out a career starting on a Double A team working their way up to the majors.  My Player offers up a varied experience depending on the position you choose.  Fielding positions get the most mix of play, as you’ll be fielding and batting.  While pitchers get a more exciting at times type of experience, but lack batting.  Catchers are by far the most tedious of positions to play in My Player mode, since you don;t actually call the pitches, and the only real action is pop flys or bunts.  As you play games you get skill points for various accomplishments, these points are then spent on increasing your players skills.  Skill points are one part of My Player done fairly well.  Instead of all points being lumped together and then being able to be spent on any training aspect, you get skill points for Batting, Fielding and Running.  However some might get frustrated as you might be good in one area and will find it hard to increase your skills in other spots, this issue is especially  apparent with the running section because that requires scoring runs and stolen bases, and you can’t score runs if your team mates stink, and with no speed your not going to rake up many steals.  However My Player mode does have occasional drills, which allow you pick drills from each area.  If you complete the goal in the drill you get extra skill pints and other skill bonuses, my suggestion is use these drills to work on base running.  While I applaud the development team for finally getting this mode into the game, it still needs lots of work.  After a few games the mode gets boring and quite repetitive (except for pitchers which is pretty fun),  also the mode lacks some realism, for instance you can just jump from team to team by requesting a trade.  My Player Mode is a good first step and I’m sure it will improve next season.

Like NHL and NBA 2k10 the “Today” modes (MLB Today, NBA Today, NHL Today) really make this game special and gives fans a quick and easy way to enjoy their favorite teams throughout the real world season.  As soon as the game launches you see a list of the days games, and can jump right into any of them.  And just like NBA and NHL 2k10, MLB 2k10 features the dynamic announcing and live stats.  So as the real world season unfolds you’ll experience the real stats in game and the announcing team will tie your virtual game into the real world.

This years big development focus was on Hitters vs. Pitchers.  The pitching and batting AI have been vastly improved and hitting that clutch hit, or getting that important K come with a real feeling of accomplishment.  These improvements lead to a game that plays more realistic, if you are a wild batter and swing at every pitch you’ll start getting thrown more pitches outside your range.  And many times you’ll run into high pitch counts on good hitters.  Also added is real world batter eye stats, now when at the plate you’ll get a hint at what’s coming at you, and the better the batter’s eye rating the better the information is.
Controls have at the core remained the same but there are improvements to the total control pitching and now there is total control batting.  Using the right thumbstick you can either attempt Power, Contact or Defensive swings.   Again these controls are quite rewarding and make for a more interesting experience since anyone can just press a single button.  Learning the pitches and getting down batting gives you a sense of an education.  Also new this year is pre-loading of throws, now you have control on how much power you put behind the ball while fielding.

Presentation remains very strong, just like this years NBA and NHL 2k titles.  The broadcast style graphics look great, and the pitch analysis and swing analysis are not only visually nice but also help you become a better player.  The various onscreen stats and counters look very close to what you’ll see during any real world game on your tv.  And the depth of statistical data will blow your mind.  During each pitch you’ll see batter stats for the current count.  However there is a quick fall off in the graphics department after the presentation.  Textures in the game are rather lackluster and seem behind the curve.  While the player models are improved over years past and they are the best part graphically, stadiums and especially the crowds are not that attractive.  What’s even stranger is the My Player mode texture wise looks worse then any other mode in the game.
MLB 2k10 offers up some great animations, but for all the good animation you witness there’s at least as many or more bad animation issues.  MLB 2k10 features many signature animations which at time look real good and transition real well, however the times they don’t transition correctly or our out of place they look real bad.  For instance playing as the Yankees, A Rod made a simple ground catch and instead of going to a simple throw to first he jumps and does a crazy in-air twist.  This would have  looked great if he was moving toward 3rd and throwing back across his body to first, but he wasn’t.  Running towards the plate usually triggers nice animations, especially if the catcher has the ball.  Players will charge the catcher and theres a chance they drop the ball and you get a run, but the transition to these charges is a bit silly as your player kinda pauses and then looks like a bull readying his charge, it’s just not smooth.  Also the extra animations like walking to the plate, or the coach coming to the mound are very stiff and robotic, and at times also witness players spinning in place with out moving a leg.  The animations seem to fall into two categories, either real great or bad no real middle ground.
Audio wise MLB 2k10 is top notch.  2K continues it’s great commentary and statistic discussion, just like in their other sports titles this season.

MLB 2k10 improves in many areas over last years outing but still needs some work.  My Player mode is a nice addition but it’s execution was off the mark.  Hopefully next year My Player mode gets some tender love and care like Hitters and Pitchers did this year.  Presentation and MLB Today are home runs.  Franchise and Season modes continue to be strong, but they are also the seasoned veterans for game modes.  I really enjoyed the control systems, pitching offers a challenge and the new Total Control hitting gives batters options.  Texture and player model wise MLB 2k10 is an improvement over seasons past, but compared to other titles it’s below the curve, hopefully next year graphics get a bump.  After a few years of miss steps MLB 2k10 seems to be getting the series back on track and I look forward to see how the new features are enhanced next season.

Gameplay
Presentation
Graphics
Sound
Replay Value
Overall Rating: 7.6/10

Certain highly populated places such as New York and London have seen a massive influx of turf being claimed in the past couple of months, and the numbers continue to grow on a daily basis

Turf Wars is a free app and can be downloaded from the App Store.

This year event is being held at eh Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas Texas from August 12th to the 15th.  QuakeCon is a free event and all gamers are welcomed to stop by and have some fun.

These are among the more than 400 artists currently available through the Rock Band platform. With more than 1,100 songs available, Rock Band is, without question, the industry leader in providing the best selection of interactive musical content, songs and artists.

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 System and Wii
Brother/sister duo The White Stripes will release a second three pack of some of their most loved songs on Rock Band next week. The band, composed of Jack White (of The Dead Weather and The Raconteurs, both featured in Rock Band) and Meg White, has sold more than 12 million albums worldwide and has won five Grammy Awards, including three for Best Alternative Music Album. “The White Stripes Pack 02” will feature “Fell in Love with a Girl,” from 2001’s White Blood Cells; “Seven Nation Army,” from 2002’s Grammy Award-winning Elephant; and “You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As Your Told),” from 2007’s Grammy Award-winning Icky Thump. A tour documentary titled “The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights” debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival September 2009 and is currently making the festival rounds to rave reviews.  The film, directed by Emmett Malloy, is a visual and emotional documentation of The White Stripes making their way through Canada where they played every province and territory, culminating with their 10th anniversary show in Nova Scotia. “The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights” is available to purchase as a standalone DVD/Blu-Ray or as part of a limited edition box set and will be released March 16. To pre-order either version and to find screenings of the film at a theater near you, please visit www.whitestripes.com.
Post-punk English rockers The Futureheads, who are currently touring England, make their Rock Band debut next week with “Decent Days & Nights” and “Hounds of Love,” both from the band’s debut, self-named album. Sixties rockers The James Gang offer up “Walk Away,” and “All of This” and “Tie You Down” from Shaimus, as well as Neil Peart’s “The Hockey Theme” will also be available next week in the Rock Band Music Store.

Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (March 9) and PlayStation 3 system (March 11):

• The Futureheads – “Decent Days & Nights” +
• The Futureheads – “Hounds of Love” +
• The James Gang – “Walk Away” +
• Neil Peart – “The Hockey Theme” + *
• Shaimus – “All of This” + *
• Shaimus – “Tie You Down” + *
• The White Stripes – “Fell in Love with a Girl” +
• The White Stripes – “Seven Nation Army”
• The White Stripes – “You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told)” +

(All tracks are original master recordings)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “The White Stripes Pack 02”as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks only on Wii. Tracks marked with “+” are also available for download in the family-friendly LEGO® Rock Band Music Store.

Price:

$1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$5.49, £2.49 UK, €3.99 EU (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “The White Stripes Pack 02”
$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per track
Tracks marked with “*” are 99 cents per track

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **

Players of the series will be able to jump right into the game as the controls are the same, but for newbies an all new skate school will help you learn the basics.  Unlike the prior games where you are shown the control moves you need to learn, Skate 3 uses a new teaching system.  For instance during the grind training once in the air the game freezes and allows you to see the required controls and control the skater mid-air, allowing the less experienced an easier understanding of what is need to complete tricks.  Beyond the skate school the next biggest change comes with the map editor.  Skate 2 allowed players to move objects around the map, but Skate 3 goes one step further and allows gamers to drop in any game object they desire.  This opens the game up to customization like never before.  Any object found int he game from cement slabs to soccer balls can be dropped in and all have their own unique physics.  But the customization doesn’t stop there.  The game offers creators a chance to create their own skate parks.  And once you have the ultimate skate park you can share it with your friends.  And to make your park even more custom, just like in NCAA Football you can go online and import your own logos and graphics to use on the various items within your park.  And don’t worry all this content you make and share will net you some in-game cash and experience!  Finally creators young and old can reap rewards for hours of hard work.  For those less artistic or with less time you can browse user upload skate parks via your console or on a PC(for later download) and have a fresh boarding experience months after the games release.

The game looks and plays real good.  Skate 2 seemed rather dull and dirty, but Skate 3 looks clean and polished.  The environments are lush and look great.  The controls remain solid and allow for gamers of all levels to enjoy the game.  Also the addition of teams will be great for you and your online friends, as you can create a team and take on other teams.  And what would skateboarding be without video clips.  After pulling off a sick trick with a button presses you can create a video highlight and share that online as well.

The skate series has grown and evolved with each release and this years game looks to be the best yet.  Skate 3 is slated to hit stores in May.

Fans of the prior years game will feel right at home, and be happy to know that Sony has listened to your calls and made some much welcomed additions.  The highly missed Home Run Derby is finally in the game.  Gamers can jump right into the Home Run Derby or as they play through season modes the Home Run Derby as well as Futures Game and All-Star Games will be played during the All-Star Week.  While it’s great having the Home Run Derby, I was a bit let down.  The Home Run Derby in real life has taken on a life of its own with different gimmicks, like special prize targets around the stadium, streaking ball tv graphics effects, and the golden charity ball.  None of these gimmicks are in the game and would have made the Home Run Derby a lot more exciting.
Most of the other new features are found within the gameplay itself.   For instance players can now play the game as the catcher, calling the pitches and become the ultimate field general.  The camera system has also been revamped with more true to life broadcast camera angles.  For pitchers there is a more robust pick-off system.  Instead of a single pick-off type players can now choose between three types of pick-offs., you can either use a casual, quick or deceptive pick-off.  Also the game has received some nice multiplayer updates both online and offline.  Season modes can now handle 1-30 players, so now you can run your ultimate league with friends at home, in the dorm of over the Playstation Network.  Rounding out some of the new additions is the inclusion of 11 new stadiums, all current MLB stadiums, plus 5 new Minor League stadiums and 6 classic ballparks.
My favorite mode of the series has been Road to The Show for many years.  And this years RTTS mode moves to version 4.0.  The first change gamers will see is how the game is presented.  You now have some choices you can play as normal, only when your player is involved, or you can watch various parts of the game when not involved.  Also new this year, instead of starting in Spring Training you will be drafted to a AA team where you need to earn a spot for the following years training.  To make the game even more realistic there are to new tracking systems.  The first is the mistake tracker, where throwing to the wrong base or not covering the correct base will have a negative impact on your playing time.  The second new system is the Green Light system.  This system focuses on base running, those who have good base stealing abilities will have a green light those who don’t will be penalized and have their green light status revoked.  Once your green light status is revoked you will need to work on speed and base running skills to gain it back.  Last year we saw the addition of batting practice and base running drills to RTTS mode.  This year we get the added fielding drills and pitching training.  While similar to last year these drills are only offered every few weeks and have only a slight effect on your skills.  There is also now the option to participate in pre-game batting practice, which adds to the realism of the game but would have been nice if it also helped your batting skills a bit.

While the gameplay additions are great, MLB 10: The Show really shines in the graphics department.  The players have never looked this good, and the new animations especially the facial animations are amazing and give these virtual players some emotion.  Strike out on a big play and your player will show disappointment.  Or when the ball just makes it over the wall, don’t be surprised when the outfielder slams the wall in anger with his fists.  And the graphical details have gone beyond the on-field players, the crowds look great as well.  Fans in the first row will lean over for foul balls, and even sometimes fall over onto the field.  You will now see people walking around the stadiums.
The lighting system has also received some work as well.  Games that start in the afternoon will transition to night all the while stadium shadows will shift across the field.
For the most part the graphics are top notch and are surprisingly better then last years amazing graphics, but there are some bugs and hiccups.  While there are thousands of animations in the game, their transitions aren’t always smooth.  There are times where batters start to run during foul balls just to pop magically back to the plate. Also fielders transitioning from catching ground balls to running can be shaky and sometimes lead to missed outs.  And lastly this year’s broadcast graphics are a bit on the dark side.  The on-screen graphics lack pop and are just bland.

The sounds of the game are still top notch, and those who enjoyed the customizations last year will be happy they are back.  Attach a usb mic or PS3 headset and you can record your own cheers and jeers.  The commentary team of Rex Hudler, Matt Vasgersion and Dave Campbell are also back, unfortunately they are still rather bland and get quickly repatative.  While the commentary transitions have been improved, for instance if they begin to talk about the keys to the game only to actually interrupt themselves due to a nice 2 base hit, it sounds real well.  But the real sound gems comes from the stadium, the crowds will become quite during slumps in the game but when you are at home knocking home runs the place will sound electric.

While I’m no where near a baseball fan, The Show has been and continues to be one of my favorite sports games.  This years attention to detail really makes the series shine.  Each time you play a game you pick-up on new little nuggets from the peanut guys walking the stands, to the crowds milling about in common areas.  The core gameplay remains solid and the tweaks to the various systems are very nice.  Road to The Show remains a fun experience and my favorite mode of all, and it’s great to finally have a true representation of All-Star week.  While the game does have a few hiccups, such as repetitive commentary, occasional animation transition issues and some rather bland broadcast graphics, these issues don’t really tarnish this great game.  For hardcore Baseball fans you’ll enjoy the franchise and RTTS modes, for the casual fan you’ll be hooked just like I was 4 years ago on RTTS and also spend hours with friends slugging it out in the Home Run Derby.  MLB 10: The Show continues to be an amazing Baseball experience for al levels of baseball fans.

Gameplay
Presentation
Graphics
Sound
Replay Value
Overall Rating: 9.2/10

In addition, it was announced today that T-Mobile has signed on as launch partner of the Rock Band Network to develop an “Artist-of-the-Month” feature beginning in April 2010 to help fans identify and connect with new talent in the Rock Band Network.

“The Rock Band Network Music Store gives artists at any level the opportunity to reach new fans through our deeply engaging interactive platform,” said Paul DeGooyer, senior vice president of Electronic Games and Music for MTV Networks Music Group. “This new pathway for discovery is a huge win for passionate music fans, as well as an opportunity for artists to promote themselves while positively impacting their bottom line.”

Artists who submit songs for the Rock Band Network Music Store are able to choose from multiple pricing tiers for individual tracks and receive a royalty of 30 percent of the retail selling price (excluding tax) for every track purchased through the RBN Store. There are currently more than 100 songs available for purchase in the Rock Band Network Music Store from artists including The Shins, The Hold Steady, The Main Drag, Bang Camaro, of Montreal, Jonathan Coulton, Skeleton Witch, 3 Inches of Blood, Lacuna Coil, Stroke 9, and Steve Vai*. There are more than 300 artists in the RBN pipeline, with additional tracks already on the way from Flight of the Conchords, The Smashing Pumpkins, Twin Atlantic, All That Remains, Clutch, Prong, The Gaslight Anthem and many more coming soon.

With more than 1,100 tracks available to date in the original Rock Band platform, the Rock Band Network Music Store will immediately boost the number of available songs, further securing MTV Games and Harmonix’s position as the leading provider of downloadable content for music-based video games.

“The response to and interest in the Rock Band Network has been even greater than we originally expected,” said Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder of Harmonix Music Systems. “We’re very excited about the number of bands and labels who have geared up to participate in the Rock Band Network, as well as the number of enthusiasts who have signed up to participate in the Peer Review and Playtest processes.”

Since launching the Rock Band Network open beta in January, more than 4,300 new users have registered as authors and peer reviewers on http://Creators.RockBand.com, the site where songs are submitted before they are approved to be sold. Authors create Rock Band song packages and submit them to the site to go through two processes: Playtest, where the community delivers feedback on a work in progress track, and Peer Review, where revised and final drafts are vetted and approved for sale. During Peer Review, songs are tested for playability, adherence to the authoring standards of Rock Band and checked to check for violations of XNA Creators Club Online community standards (vulgarity, adult content, original content, etc.).

Peer reviewers have the unique opportunity to play Rock Band Network content for free, well in advance of a track’s commercial release. These fans can help shape the track’s final versions, providing crucial feedback and flagging issues throughout Playtest and Peer Review that ensures songs are up to the high standards set by Harmonix. Any music fan with Rock Band 2 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and an internet connected PC can join the Playtest and Peer Review processes by purchasing an XNA Creators Club Online Premium membership through http://creators.xna.com/membership.

Once tracks are approved, they are transferred to the Rock Band Network Music Store, an in-game music marketplace where the millions of Rock Band fans will be able to explore this constantly growing set of new content. In an exciting turn of events, for the first time in the Rock Band franchise, users will be able to download sample gameplay of each track to try before they buy! Songs will debut exclusively on Xbox 360 for 30 days. A selection of standout tracks will then be made available on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system from Sony Computer Entertainment America and the Wii™ home videogame console from Nintendo.

**Update** It seems that this edition is NOT going to be release here in North America, those over on the other side of the pond will be able to pick this up.  Let’s hope this changes…..

Tecmo Bowl fans no longer have to reminisce about the old days as players can return to the first video game that emulated real football with new generation consoles, twenty years after its release. As a game that still holds a strong community following, online community tournaments can now be held nationwide at the comfort of home.

TECMO BOWL THROWBACK brings back the gameplay you loved, and stays true to the Tecmo Super Bowl legacy!

* Online Multiplayer: Find your old buddies online and challenge them to matches just like back in the day
* 2D + 3D Graphics: Experience all new 3D graphics with the ability to switch to the classic 2D style!
* Customizable Teams and Rosters: Play as any of the 32 teams with customizable team names and rosters in full seasons
* Online Leaderboards: Compare your stats in a wide array of online leaderboards
* Classic Game Modes: Battle it out with your friends and kick off a game in Preseason, Season or Pro Bowl modes

TECMO BOWL THROWBACK is rated E for Everyone with Mild Suggestive Themes by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB).

Click here to view the embedded video.

Rest assured that more info is coming down the line as the launch of the public multiplayer beta nears. As a reminder, players will be able to access the beta, which launches in just two months, through Halo 3: ODST. Developed by acclaimed studio Bungie, Halo: Reach is being published by Microsoft and launches in autumn 2010 exclusively on Xbox 360.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Now available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 800 Microsoft points, the “VIP Membership Car Pack” gives you exclusive access and visibility in the “Forza Motorsport” community. You’ll receive special recognition on scoreboards, in multiplayer lobbies, on ForzaMotorsport.net, in the “Forza Motorsport 3” Storefront, and it places your VIP auctions at the top of the “Forza Motorsport 3” Auction House. VIP membership also includes these five must-have VIP Cars: 2008 Aston Martin DBS, 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, 2007 Ferrari F430 Scuderia, 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, and 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997). (IMPORTANT NOTE: VIP Membership is also available for FREE with an Xbox LIVE token included in new Limited Collector’s Edition copies of “Forza Motorsport 3.”)

Additionally, starting today on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, you’ll find other great “Forza Motorsport 3” track and car packs, previously only available to those who purchased a copy of Limited Collector’s Edition of the game. These include:

• “Sidewinder Proving Grounds Track Pack” (400 Microsoft Points) – Download and race on the updated classic Sidewinder Proving Grounds from “Forza Motorsport 2.” This track pack includes 18 challenging courses, designed with various levels of difficulty and set to test your technical driving mettle. Think you can top the leaderboards on Sidewinder? Prove it! (Also available for FREE with an Xbox LIVE token included in Limited Collector’s Edition copies of “Forza Motorsport 3.”)
• “Benchmark High Speed Ring Track Pack” (400 Microsoft Points) – Download and race on the Benchmark High Speed Ring environment. This track pack is a veritable race day playground! Test and tune your favorite rides on the four-mile Benchmark Speedway oval or create epic Xbox LIVE multiplayer games of “Tag” and “Keep It Clean” on the massive wide-open Benchmark parking lot. (Also available for FREE with an Xbox LIVE token included in Limited Collector Edition copies of “Forza Motorsport 3.”)
• “Motorsport Legends Car Pack” (400 Microsoft Points) – Fans of classic cars will be able to collect, customize, and race 10 of the most revered roadsters: 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA Stradale, 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage, 1981 BMW Motorsport M1, 1960 Chevrolet Corvette, 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Hemi, 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, 1980 Fiat 131 Abarth, 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400, 1971 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R, and the 1965 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. (Also available for FREE with an Xbox LIVE token included in Limited Collector Edition copies of “Forza Motorsport 3.”)

And we have two other ways to win, for twitter users you need to tweet this(click it to go to twitter):

Test drive Blur, enter to win a multiplayer beta token from @vgrevolution go here for details http://bit.ly/blurbeta #xbox360 #xbox

And pretty much the same on Facebook; leave this messege on our Facebook Fan page wall:

Test drive Blur, enter to win a multiplayer beta token from VGrevolution go here for details http://bit.ly/blurbeta

In-order to win you MUST follow us on Twitter(this way we can DM you) and you must be a FAN of us on Facebook.
If you win you MUST go to  www.Blurgame.com/beta and enter the code we give you.  You will then receive a Xbox 360 token by email to enter into your dashboard and download the beta.  The beta begins on March 8th.  Good Luck and see you on the track!

No word on if gamers who accidentally corrupted their data from powering on the system need to take any actions.  And also no word if this might be an issue in the future, but I’m sure there will be some fix in an upcoming patch to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

With a game as big as Grand Theft Auto and such a big improvement from Grand Theft Auto:San Andreas to Grand Theft Auto IV, a graphical improvement won’t woo gamers or reviewers like GTA IV was able to do. Everyone will be expecting something that made GTA IV the award winning and critically acclaimed hit that it was then to transfer over to something great whenever the next one hits.

You can tell Rockstar is growing up, but growing up like a perverted old man where they know how to look and act respectable but if you have a conversation with this geezer you get more than you could have ever wanted. I think this is a good addition by Rockstar to act a little bit more mature on the surface but players who drive a car around for awhile listening to the radio in-game can tell its still the same old stuff.

I think it will only get better though because as Rockstar grows up so ares its long time GTA fans so its almost like a learning experience together. Which will only get better as time goes on.

Of course there will be graphical improvements but nothing out of the ordinary for a next-gen sequel. So I wouldn’t expect major improvements.

Then again one of the improvements that Rockstar can work on is its physics engine. I am not saying the physics aren’t good but with a game where players including myself love to just drive around the city causing mayhem improved physics can only make it better. Things like better car damage from collisions,bullets,and pedestrians would be great. The coolest thing in the expansion was an explosive shotgun that literally dented in the parts of the car you were hitting and showed realistic denting. So with racing game releases like GRID shows how well game developers have come since the release of GTA IV and other racing games in terms of how realistic the damage can be on real world objects.

Even though you can go into great detail over the physics in a sandbox game the results won’t be as noticeable to everyone who plays. That is why the real goal for Rockstar is offering a feature that will blow people away.

Although Rockstar added things like hanging out with friends, going out on dates, getting hammered, dancing mini-games, and an assortment of leisure games to boot. None of these really offer anything to the game. Those features offer you the ability to spend more time with the character and  get to know him and his world better.

Now Rockstar has shown they have the ability to allow 16 players simultaneously playing online to free roam all of Liberty City and they also allowed a 4 player co-op mode that let players participate in 3 missions.

What would it take for Rockstar to offer a truly unique experience to its franchise? Rockstar has been creating characters and personalities from all walks of life why not let the player create that wanna-be gangster?

Through a create-a-player tool and Rockstar putting the extra effort in voice-over work to allow players to have their name or a nickname said throughout the game in cutscenes and phone calls it will give the player an experience never had in a Grand Theft Auto title.

That is just the beginning though. Like I said, we know Rockstar is capable of having a complete 2-4 player co-op story so why don’t they? I know for myself the story doesn’t mean much to me except for laughs. So I don’t think that making the story co-opable will upset the masses of GTA fans and can even create a better game.

The story could follow either 2-4 brothers or 2-4 friends trying to make it into the criminal underworld. All of them with their unique appearance. Doing missions like bank robberies,car chases,hijacks, and shootouts throughout whatever city they may be in. Even 5 star wanted level escapes with players either jumping in one car or all four solo trying to make it to a safe house. All of this would be a first for Grand Theft Auto and can turn the currently ranked 6th game to the top game played on Xbox Live.

I am currently playing through the Lost and the Damned and except for 1 mission all the missions I have done so far I have done with my motorcycle gang of CPU players. Whether it be Gang Wars,races, or actual storyline missions I am never alone. Rockstar is creative enough to make it work and have shown that they have the ability and have even unknowingly created a story already that it could have worked with.

Now other features are possible but with co-op becoming a mainstream part of all games and Saints Row II offering a full co-op campaign it would be odd for Rockstar to look past this feature.

Here are some of the errors you might face if you power-up”

As you can see some of the errors surround various bits of data, and the side effects of them could lead to corrupted files. As of now no one really knows what the fix will do and what will happen if you did power on your PS3 and now have corrupt data on your hard drive.

As far as what caused this major bug is also up in the air, though some on the intertubes have a theory which sounds very plausible

Well the gist is that the ARM SYSCON CPU that is used to power up the front panel of the ps3, that is responsible for doing things like sleep mode, eject, RTC etc. Is an old batch that sony picked up from the shelf like other manufacturers that has that calendar year bug regarding feburary 29th on certain periods. Causing the ps3 system clock and the real time clock to desync, messing up security measures like Digital Rights management software and sometimes games that relies on clocks for whatever reason. As well as signing up to the playstation network… This CPU is always on even when your PS3 isn’t plugged
This problem is also happening with various of test Ps3 models, particulary the ones that has the emotion engine cpu/gpu for ps2 dev.

This is the one of the same type of CPUs that is powering up mobile devices like zune and blackberries, they have been affected with this bug, so they done some software patches. A syscon update can also fix this problem

The Slims ps3s aren’t affected because they use a newer up to date revision on the syscon cpu that fixes this bug.

A quick way to fix this is to remove the RTC battery for at least 5-10 min and plug it back in, you will see the date and time reset, and voila…

The reason the above theory seems plausible is because offline gameplay is also running into errors. Plus users of the slim including myself have no problems and can play both online and offline.
Obviously for most the quick fix above is out of the question as this will void your warranty and require you to open the console up. From the way the issue sounds, it seems very much like the Zune problems last year, when all Zunes went black due to the date change. I’d just wait maybe check out 24 or Chuck tonight and hopefully by this time tomorrow there will be a patch, keep checking here and on our twitter for updates.

The gameplay is very fun and addicting. As the toy commander you place different armed units on designated build spots. The game uses a cash money system and you get money for racking up kills. String multiple kills together and get a few extra dollars to spend. The money can be spent on more units, unit upgrades or to repair already placed units. That’s the tower defense and RTS portion of the game, but the real fun comes from the war action game portion. You have a few choices on how you play you can, just place units and watch them take out the waves of enemies, or you can jump into the action and take control of any of your units, from the machine gun nests, to the mortar cannons, or for some real fun jump into the provided fighter planes or bigger bomber planes.
As the levels progress you will face more difficult enemy units, and most levels end with a boss unit thats going to take all your power to destroy.
The game offers a single player campaign mode, or split-screen and Xbox Live multiplayer modes. The campaign is straight forward you progress through levels, and complete various objectives to unlock different rewards. These rewards are mainly for show, but once you complete a level you do unlock different units, or new upgrades for units.
The multiplayer action is surprisingly fun. Just like the single-player mode you place various units on build spots and have to protect your toy box from the opponent. However instead of just being on defense you also need to use some offensive strategy and launch various waves of units at your enemy. For once there is a solid offensive mode in a tower defense title.
Controls are very solid. Usually I’m not a fan of RTS and Tower Defense games with a controller and prefer a mouse, but I have yet to get annoyed. Also the controls of the flying units are easy to grasp.

The game itself looks very good. The WWI theme is carried throughout the game. Different environment items break apart from ammunition blasts, like wire fences and trees. And the ground will kick up dirt and look bombed out. Other neat video effects occur when your toy box’s health gets low, the screen will slowly have less color and begin to look scratchy like an old film. It’s amazing how far XBA games have come graphically and Toy Soldiers is one of the top. When flying around the battle field since these are toys in a diorama you can see the surrounding room which really makes the games uniqueness shine.

Overall this is an amazing game and really kicks off the Xbox Live Arcade Block Party with a bang. Toy Soldiers takes all the addicting parts of RTS, Tower Defense and Action games, and mixes them into a masterpiece. The game looks great, sounds great and plays great. I would have liked to see some more useful in-game unlocks, and even some more challenges other then the single challenge per level. But adding Xbox Live multiplayer action really ups the replay value. For a fan of Tower Defense games you’ll love Toy Soldiers, for a fan of RTS games you too will love this, and if you’ve played all the other WWI and WWII games this is another one you’ll enjoy. Finally big kids get to play like their toys do, Toy Soldiers should be a buy for all!

Gameplay
Presentation
Graphics
Sound
Replay Value
Overall Rating: 9.6/10

Get ready soldier it’s time for battle.  Starting March 3rd. the Xbox Live Block Party gets underway with the release of Toy Soldiers.  To kick off the party we have a couple of codes for Toy Soldiers to give away!  We have two codes to give away, we will give one away via Twitter and the other via Facebook.  You may enter and try to win both.  The drawing will take place at 12:01 am EST. on March 3rd.  You may enter as many times as you like, and here is how.

Twitter:  You must tweet this(click the phrase to be brought to twitter):

I want to win a free copy of Toy Soldiers from @vgrevolution go here to enter http://bit.ly/avYcVa #xbox360 #xbox #xbla

Facebook:  Leave this message on our wall on our facebook page:

I want to win a free copy of Toy Soldiers from @vgrevolution go here to enter http://bit.ly/avYcVa #xbox360 #xbox #xbla

For Twitter you must follow us to win(this way we can DM you) and on Facebook you must be a fan!
Contest ends at 12:01 am EST. March 3rd 2010, winners will be chosen at random.

Hunt down and assassinate one of the game’s 50 military colonels; devastate military bases, bio fuel chambers, government infrastructure and more; hijack tuk tuks, military 4×4s, armored vehicles, mopeds, helicopter gunships, light aircraft, mini vans and numerous other military and civilian vehicles; freefall from desert outcrops or from burning planes at 20,000 feet; and unlock one full, multi-stage mission, traversing the mountains to a heavily fortified government radar station and ending in an unforgettable desert car chase.

Harmonix and MTV Games today announced that a three pack of songs from American rockers Disturbed, as well as singles from Silversun Pickups, The Mother Hips and TRUSTcompany, will be added next week to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™.

These are among the more than 400 artists currently available through the Rock Band platform. With more than 1,100 songs available, Rock Band is, without question, the industry leader in providing the best selection of interactive musical content, songs and artists.

Also available in the Rock Band Music Store next week are two singles from alternative rockers Silversun Pickups, who are touring North American in March and April and are nominated for Best New Artist in the 52nd Grammy® Awards. “Panic Switch” and “Sort Of,” from the band’s second studio album, Swoon, will both be available next week. Additionally, “Third Floor Story” and “White Falcon Fuzz” from The Mother Hips’ new album, Pacific Dust, which was released in October 2009, will be available for download next week. The band is currently touring North America. “Downfall” from TRUSTcompany will also be available for download next week in the Rock Band Music Store.

Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (March 2) and PlayStation 3 system (March 4):

• Disturbed – “Meaning of Life”
• Disturbed – “The Game”
• Disturbed – “Voices”
• The Mother Hips – “Third Floor Story”
• The Mother Hips – “White Falcon Fuzz” + *
• Silversun Pickups – “Panic Switch”
• Silversun Pickups – “Sort Of” +
• TRUSTcompany – “Downfall” +

(All tracks are original master recordings)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “Disturbed Pack 02”as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks only on Wii. Tracks marked with “+” are also available for download in the family-friendly LEGO® Rock Band Music Store. Tracks marked with a “*” will come out in Europe only on March 11.

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **

All track packs will be available on the Xbox Live Marketplace and Playstation Store.  You’ll be able to purchase the packs or each song individually.

You can see the full details of the contest here

Greed Corp is an online multiplayer strategy game in which you battle for dominance over a world once rich in resources. In order to prevail, you must exhaust all remaining resources to build an army, and use the depleted collapsing terrain to your advantage. An extensive campaign mode and multiple unlockables prepare you to take the battle online.

Fret Nice is a 2D platformer that’ll rock your world. Control your character through funky-fresh stages to explore hidden areas, collect items, and clash note-for-note with outrageous, heavy metal bosses! Rock out by blasting enemies with riff combos and creating your own sounds with each “strum” of a chord!

Already receiving an Editor’s Choice Award and 8.8 score from IGN’s Daemon Hatfield, who said, “Watching Greed Corp’s tiles crumble into dust has been one of my favorite gaming moments of the year so far”, Greed Corp is the first in a series of games based in the rich Mistbound universe, a world of feudal warfare and environmental destruction. Wage war and battle for resources as one of four factions, each with its own campaign spanning 24 maps and 10+ hours of singleplayer gameplay. Take the battle to your friends with up to 4-player multiplayer (online, local and computer controlled) across 36 maps. Can you find the delicate balance between harvesting the land for resources and preserving it to stay alive? Will you defend your territory or sacrifice it to keep it out of enemy hands?

Featuring an innovative land collapsing mechanic which constantly alters the strategic landscape, you must destroy your enemies or the very land they stand on before they do it to you. Build Harvesters to reap your land for credits and spend them on armouries and cannons. Manufacture walkers to conquer enemy territory and order carriers to transport your troops across the map. Ultimately, defeat your enemies by eliminating their troops and destroying or capturing their structures.

For more on Greed Corp go to www.greedcorp.com

About ‘Mistbound’

A beautiful world, divided by greed…
Mistbound is the name of the original IP developed by W!Games. This rich fictional world was created as a platform for the studio’s multi-format downloadable games and other media. Greed Corp is the first in a series of games situated in this universe. Inspired by the industrial revolutions of the 19th century and its subsequent destructive effects on the environment, Mistbound tells stories of a beautiful world once rich in resources and now on the brink of collapse. Automated industry has brought great material wealth, but relentless harvesting and mining has forever altered the world and its inhabitants. The last unspoiled lands are at stake in new conflicts between four factions, while the stripped and barren earth around them slowly succumbs to a thick mist that creeps ever closer…

STF: Infected

Starfleet has lost contact with one of its star bases. More than 400 officers could be lost, including a key member of Starfleet’s Borg Task Force. Infiltrate the base and take the fight to the Borg!

Retake the Sibiran system and shut down a transwarp conduit being used by the Borg to establish a foothold in the Gamma Orionis Sector Block.
Investigate the strange new nanovirus the Borg are using to assimilate entire worlds at alarming speeds.
Retake Starbase 89 before its fully taken over by the Borg, and save what is left of the Starfleet personnel that are still there.
Locate Captain Ogen’s Strike Team and Rebecca Simmons, the lead Borg Task Force researcher working on a cure for the nanovirus. Both went deep into the Borg infected starbase and haven?t reported back in quite some time.
It’s a five-man mission. Players will not be able to complete it without teaming up with other players.
The mission spans space and ground gameplay.
Applies to level 43 +
Encounters are daunting. Lots of enemies. Designed to be challenging.
Releases this month.

STF: The Cure

The Klingon Defense Force has been conducting its own investigation into the Borg advance, and they believe that the Collective’s next target is the Vorn system. Enemies may have to unite when confronted by a greater foe.

Assist the I.K.S. Kang in a desperate battle with the Borg.
Explore a planet that has been completely assimilated. Can you rescue the warriors before they are taken over by the Borg?
Fight at the side of Ja’rod, son of Lursa.
Free Klingon ships from Borg control, and gain their assistance in a final battle with a Borg fleet.

STF: Khitomer Accord

Finally, the mysteries of the Borg attack on Vega Colony are revealed! Why did the Borg attack there, and how was an unprepared Starfleet able to defeat them?

Confront the Borg before they can use temporal anomalies to change the past of the Federation.
Warp back into your own past, in the hours before the attack on Vega Colony.
Discover a base where thousands of Borg drones are being held in stasis. What are the Borg’s plans for this hidden army?
Starfleet’s not ready for the Borg. A defeat here could mean that the entire Alpha Quadrant falls. Balance the scales and fight the Borg for the preservation of the quadrant.
Learn the fate of a missing Romulan empress.

STF: Into the Hive

The fate of the Alpha Quadrant hangs in the balance. Enter a unicomplex and confront the Borg Queen herself.

Rescue civilians trapped on an assimilated world.
Follow the trail to a unicomplex, and penetrate deep into the Borg stronghold.
Confront the Borg Queen, and fight for the fate of the galaxy.

STF: Children of Khan

Amar Singh escapes from Federation custody, and he and an underground group of Augments steal the U.S.S. Asgard and race toward the remains of the Mutara Nebula. Can you stop them before they start a new Eugenics War?

Fight a fleet assembled by Princep Khan and his followers.
Beam onto the Asgard, and battle through its corridors to save civilians and crew.
Confront the Princep. Can you deal with his transporter tricks?
Save the divided Asgard and give the saucer section a chance to escape!

SEGA’S ALPHA PROTOCOL, THE FIRST MODERN DAY ESPIONAGE RPG; TO HIT STORE SHELVES ON June 1st, 2010 IN NORTH AMERICA

SAN FRANCISCO (February 25, 2010) – SEGA® of America, Inc. is proud to announce that Obsidian Entertainment’s long awaited Alpha Protocol™ is hitting store shelves this summer. The espionage game, a fiercely original take on the role playing game genre, will launch in North America for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC on June 1st, 2010.

“The wait has been worth it. It is time for an RPG to go beyond fantasy and space,” said Sean Ratcliffe, Vice President of Marketing for SEGA of America. “The genre needs a shot in the arm, and renowned developer Obsidian has delivered. Alpha Protocol will be the absolute best it can be, and we look forward to revealing fresh aspects of it to the community in the upcoming months.”

With a plot torn from today’s headlines and more twists than a season of “24”, Alpha Protocol brings a new level of modern day realism to the world of RPGs. Tasked with uncovering the perpetrators behind a tragic missile attack on a passenger jetliner, players dive into a story rich with characters and locations to discover an international arms-dealing conspiracy. Through their actions and choices, players direct the outcome of the game as they ultimately decide who to befriend, trust or kill.

In Alpha Protocol, players assume the role of rookie spy Michael Thorton and are given unprecedented control over the development of his abilities and interactions with other characters. Customizable character skill-sets, attributes and weapons all play an important role in allowing gamers to tailor Thorton to their play-style.

Gamers that pre-order Alpha Protocol through GameStop will receive the Exclusive Assault Pack, containing exclusive weapons and ammo like the UC Regulator high damage shotgun and Rittergroupen Grizzly high accuracy rifle. For more details visit www.gamestop.com.

Alpha Protocol is set to release on June 1st, 2010 on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC. For more information visit http://www.alphaprotocol.com/us/main.php

About SEGA® Corporation:
SEGA®Corporation is a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home, encompassing consumer business, amusement machine sales and amusement center operations. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. SEGA® Corporation’s Web site is located at http://sega.jp.

About SEGA® of America, Inc.:
SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. SEGA of America’s Web site is located at www.sega.com.

About SEGA® Europe Ltd.:
SEGA® Europe Ltd. is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, and a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. SEGA Europe’s web site is located at www.sega-europe.com.

About OBSIDIAN ENTERTAINMENT:
Obsidian Entertainment is an entertainment software development company passionately dedicated to making high quality, next generation games for PC and console systems. Obsidian was founded in 2003 by five game development veterans who’ve produced, programmed, and/or designed award-winning role playing games for a variety of platforms over the last 15 years. The five founders are: Feargus Urquhart, Chris Parker, Darren Monahan, Chris Avellone and Chris Jones. Obsidian Entertainment’s Web site is located at www.obsidian.net.

“PlayStation”, “PLAYSTATION” and “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

© 2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft.

DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS ANNOUNCES ORIGINAL MYSTERY PARTY GAME – DISNEY GUILTY PARTY
Players will uncover clues to deduce the identity of the culprit in the family friendly whodunit video game exclusively for Wii

BURBANK, Calif. - (February 24, 2010) -There’s been a crime… can you follow the clues to find the Guilty Party? Disney Interactive Studios today announced Disney Guilty Party, a family-friendly mystery party game being developed exclusively for the WiiTM console. Created by Wideload Games, Disney Interactive Studios’ Chicago development studio, Guilty Party is scheduled for release in the second half of 2010.

Guilty Party tells the thrilling tale of the Dickens Detective Agency as they solve crimes set in motion by the master criminal known as Mr. Valentine. Up to four players can solve crimes in a variety of locations all over the world to unlock the secrets of Mr. Valentine’s grand scheme.

Guilty Party offers both cooperative and competitive gameplay for all ages. Players choose a detective and take turns exploring the environment to uncover clues to discover the culprit’s identity. When players have enough evidence, they can accuse their prime suspect and try to solve the case.

“Mysteries are one of the world’s most beloved forms of storytelling, and Guilty Party brings mysteries to Wii in a way that the whole family can play together,” said Tom Kang, studio head and general manager, Wideload Games. “Everyone loves a good mystery, especially when they get to be the detective.”

Players step into the shoes of the Dickens family and work together to explore crime scenes and play mini-games to collect clues and interrogate suspects. Guilty Party transforms the Wii RemoteTM into classic detective tools: a magnifying glass, a flashlight, a lock-pick, a fingerprint kit, and more. Players then discuss and piece together the clues in their detective notebooks to deduce the identity of the culprit.

The Dickens family tracks Mr. Valentine across the globe, from a high-speed train to a leaky aquarium to many other locations to solve new mysteries. Once the mysteries are solved, players can play again with a new set of clues, suspects and mini-games with a different experience every time. It takes more than quick reflexes to win, it also takes quick wits.

“We’re packing an amazing amount of play-time into a single game,” said Patrick Curry, game director, Wideload Games. “Guilty Party is a bit like a board game, since families can play each mystery over and over again and never have the same experience twice.”

Guilty Party is the first new franchise developed by Wideload Games for Disney Interactive Studios. The game’s characters and locations are inspired by classic detective lore, with the storytelling, unique humor and art style that have distinguished Wideload Games. Guilty Party will have players applying logic to solve the mysteries while laughing at the wacky cast of characters, situations and animated scenes.

“Wideload Games is a leader in unique creative games that keep players entertained and amused for hours,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “Guilty Party was a natural fit for Disney and the beneficial working relationship led to the highly creative studio joining our portfolio of talented studios.”

In September 2009, Disney Interactive Studios acquired Wideload Games and studio founder Alexander Seropian took on the role of vice president of creative at Disney Interactive Studios in Glendale, Calif.

Disney Guilty Party is Rating Pending by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).

About Wideload Games

Wideload Games, a development studio of Disney Interactive Studios, focuses on creating interactive entertainment with original intellectual property and humor as an underlying theme. Based in Chicago, Wideload Games was founded as an independent studio in 2003 and acquired by Disney Interactive Studios in 2009. Wideload’s first game published for Disney Interactive Studios is the original mystery party game, Disney Guilty Party. For more information, log on to http://www.wideload.com.

About Disney Interactive Studios

Disney Interactive Studios, part of Disney Interactive Media Group, is the interactive entertainment affiliate of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS). Disney Interactive Studios self publishes and distributes a broad portfolio of multi-platform video games, mobile games and interactive entertainment worldwide. The company also licenses properties and works directly with other interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages to market. Disney Interactive Studios is based in Glendale, California, and has internal development studios around the world. For more information, log on to http://www.disneyinteractivestudios.com.

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© Disney. Product name, release date and features may be subject to change.

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Monster Hunter Tri sees the introduction of an expansive story mode with players taking on the role of a hunter, who is tasked by the Village Chief to investigate the constant earthquakes that threaten the everyday life of Moga village. A bustling and vibrant town, Moga is home to the hunter and includes a Blacksmith for forging weapons and armor, a shop where items can be purchased and an expanded farm with Felynes acting as laborers and tending the crops. The incentive to complete quests is now no longer limited to the collection of items and money with which the hunter can create or upgrade armor and weapons. Successful hunts have a real and visible impact on the status of Moga Village as on returning home quest items are used to repair damage caused by the earthquakes resulting in happier and more active villagers.

Living the life of a hunter need never be a solitary experience with the option of split-screen mode where two players can hunt co-operatively on select quests or form a team of up to four hunters via the game’s custom online Wi-Fi mode. Even solo players do not have to face Monster Hunter Tri’s challenging quests alone as they will be accompanied by Cha-Cha, an AI hunting partner whose skills will prove invaluable.

Complementing the new creatures and quests that Monster Hunter Tri introduces to the series, hunters will also have the benefit of new weapons, armor sets and items. These include an all new weapon class, the Switch Axe and a Torch that not only illuminates the darkest caves but will fend off certain creatures to assist them as they embark on the most epic Monster Hunter adventure to date.

The Monster Hunter series has sold over 10 million units globally and has given rise to dedicated “Monster Hunter Summer Training Camps”, ”Monster Hunter Festivals” and an abundance of licensed merchandise.

Features:
• Graphics: Breathtaking graphics reveal one of the most beautiful games ever developed for Wii
• Environments: Introduction of gorgeous new environments, including underwater and volcano present new gameplay mechanics and the ability to fight the fantastic beasts above and below the water.
• Updated Ecosystem: A fully developed world finds man and monsters existing side by side in a living and breathing ecosystem where monsters not only interact with the hunter, but with each other as well.
• Controls: Choose between three different control configurations using either Wii Remote and Nunchuck or Wii Classic controller to determine which best suits your style of play.
• Online: Capcom’s proprietary online wi-fi mode allows up to four players to connect online with ease.
• Enhanced Single Player Mode: Monster Hunter Tri’s introduction of an enhanced single player mode which eases players into the world of Monster Hunter delivering a series of quests that introduce game mechanics slowly.
• Accessibility: Updated user interface makes it easy for players to select the right tool for the job via visual cues which aide in managing items for mining, gathering, carving, and more.

Also next month Blur will begin a multi-player Beta and the twitter integration will be active for gamers to test out.

“Off to voice a character in Halo:Reach tomorrow. Dreams really do come true!”

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