Press Release – Page 10

Guitar Hero: On Tour for Nintendo DS Now Available

After playing to sold-out crowds in living rooms around the world, the blockbuster video game Guitar Hero is hitting the road with Guitar Hero: On Tour for Nintendo DS, Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced. Available now at retail outlets nationwide, Guitar Hero: On Tour brings a new dimension to handheld gaming and gives fans the ability to shred along to their favorite tunes with complete portability.

Packaged with the revolutionary Guitar Hero Guitar Grip peripheral that fits snugly into Nintendo DS, and a unique Guitar Hero pick-stylus, Guitar Hero: On Tour delivers a unique experience by challenging handheld gamers to rock out and prove their shredding skills on one of the most diverse set lists ever offered in a Guitar Hero game, including master track hits from Nirvana, OK Go, No Doubt, blink-182 and Bloc Party.

“Guitar Hero: On Tour offers handheld gamers an all-new Guitar Hero experience letting them unleash their inner rock star anywhere, anytime,” said Dusty Welch, Head of Publishing for RedOctane. “Utilizing the innovative Guitar Hero Guitar Grip peripheral and Guitar Hero pick-stylus, and taking full advantage of the unique voice and touch abilities of Nintendo DS, Guitar Hero: On Tour is going to again redefine how fans can experience music.”

Designed from the ground up specifically for Nintendo DS, the game continues to build on the franchise’s signature easy-to-play, yet difficult to master addictive gameplay, and now lets players take their experience wherever they go. Players use the Guitar Hero Guitar Grip, which mimics a guitar fret board, and the Guitar Hero pick-stylus on the touch screen to strum their favorite tunes and create their rock ‘n’ roll legacy in career mode. Fans can also join together to play co-op mode using a local wireless connection, or battle each other in a Guitar Duel using new Battle Items unique to Nintendo DS.

Guitar Hero: On Tour is developed by Vicarious Visions, is rated “E 10+” (Everyone 10 and older) by the ESRB and is available now at retailers nationwide. For more information about Guitar Hero: On Tour, visit www.GuitarHeroOnTour.com.

Tomb Raider: Underworld Portal launched

Eidos Interactive has officially launched the new Tomb Raider portal – a destination for fans of the series to find the latest news, art, and announcements regarding Lara Croft’s newest adventure, Tomb Raider: Underworld. Developed by Crystal Dynamics, this entry marks the first Tomb Raider title built specifically for next generation consoles, bringing Lara Croft and her world into life-like detail.

Continuing the thrilling legacy of Tomb Raider: Legend and Tomb Raider: Anniversary, Tomb Raider: Underworld represents an advancement in exploration-based gameplay, delivering an epic adventure that offers a new level of challenge and choice. Using every weapon in her arsenal – from her signature dual guns and expanded kit of archeological tools to her own physical prowess and the environment itself – Lara embarks on a quest that circles the globe to uncover the secrets of the Norse underworld and a forgotten power that, if unleashed, could lay waste to all civilization.

Visit www.tombraider.com to uncover exclusive developer podcasts and blogs, screenshots and other media, and all of the latest news.

Tomb Raider: Underworld launches November 2008 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, and Nintendo DS platforms.

Gamers Worldwide Prepare for Record-Breaking Marathon LAN Party

LAN Party gaming will reach a new level during a Guinness World Record-setting attempt at the NVISION 08 event on August 25 in San Jose, California. The aim of the event is to make history as the world’s “Longest Non-Stop LAN Party.”

“This will be one of the most exciting gaming record attempts of the year. I’ve been really impressed with the enthusiasm of the NVISION team and I look forward to being the official adjudicator for this great event,” commented Gaz Deaves, records manager, Guinness World Records.

“I have faith and confidence in the NVIDIA gaming community, one of the most loyal, energetic, and enthusiastic core audiences of NVIDIA since we were a startup, ”said Sheryl Huang, NVIDIA marketing director and veteran of countless LAN events. “At NVIDIA events in the past, these guys have been up all night anyway. Their energy is incredible. I’m looking forward to them setting this record and earning a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. It’s glory time.”

The goal for the Guinness World Record is for a dedicated team of gamers to play video games continuously for 36 hours (10 minute breaks are allowed for every 60 minutes of continuous gaming). If the record is achieved, the participating team members will receive numerous prizes, including a commemorative medal, custom gear, gift cards, and of course, world recognition. The attempt will take place in a special, reserved section of the NVISION 08 GeForce LAN Party.

A flagship event at NVISION 08, the Guinness World Record attempt is made possible by the support of EVGA, the Marquee Sponsor of the NVISION 08 LAN Party, as well as Patriot Memory, an official NVISION 08 Sponsor.

Gamers who are serious about the attempt and have what it takes to handle a LAN Party Guinness World Record seat at NVISION 08 should go to http://www.amireg.com/nvision08/intro.html.

Ghostbusters’ ECTO-1 Tour

Sierra Entertainment – a division of Vivendi Games, today announced that one of the most iconic cars in Hollywood history, the Ghostbusters’ ECTO-1, is back and will be busting ghosts in a town near you! In conjunction with Sony Pictures Consumer Products and the eagerly anticipated Ghostbusters: The Video Game, Sierra Entertainment is taking the classic caddy on the road to give fans of the franchise a chance to experience this one-of-a-kind machine and the game first hand.

“The ECTO-1 is one of the most memorable and loved vehicles of all-time,” says Al Simone, VP of Marketing, Sierra Entertainment. “Sony has been a fantastic partner to work with and we’re very excited to have a hand in taking ECTO off the screen and out on the road – this way fans can experience a true piece of ghost busting history first hand as they get a taste of Ghostbusters: The Video Game.”

ECTO-1 will be stopping at several destinations across the U.S. throughout the tour, five of which are in partnership with the Boost Mobile Nightshift and Hot Import Nights events. Additionally, fans will have the chance to get up close and personal with ECTO-1 at Knott’s Scary Farm and the L.A. Auto Show later this year.

ECTO-1 Tour Schedule:

June 21 – Nightshift New York (Belmont Raceway; New York, NY)
August 9 – Nightshift Pomona (Pomona Fairplex; Pomona, CA)
August 29-31 – Penny Arcade Expo (Seattle Conv. Ctr; Seattle, WA)
Sept. 20 – Nightshift Pleasanton (Alameda Fairgrounds; Pleasanton, CA)
Sept. 27 – Hot Import Nights (Minneapolis Conv. Ctr; Minneapolis, MN)
Oct. 11 – Hot Import Nights (Dallas Conv. Ctr; Dallas, TX)
Oct. 15 – Nov. 1 – Knott’s Scary Farm (Knott’s Berry Farm; Buena Park, CA)
Nov. 19-30 – L.A. Auto Show (L.A. Conv. Ctr; Los Angeles, CA)

In light of ECTO-1’s tour to some of the hottest car shows throughout the country, Sony has taken the liberty to update the Ghostbusters’ ride with the latest and greatest Sony Xplod mobile electronics. ECTO-1 now sports a Sony XAV-W1 double din touch screen A/V center, Xplod XS-GT1625A speakers and an Xplod XS-L10S slim subwoofer – all the essentials to keep ECTO-1’s sound system on par with the rest of the ghost catching equipment found on the Ghostbusters’ primary mode of transportation.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game is planned to release this Fall for the PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment systems, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Games for Windows, Wii home video game system and Nintendo DS, and is currently rated “RP” (Rating Pending) by the ESRB. For more information on Ghostbusters: The Video Game be sure to visit the official game web site located at: http://www.ghostbustersgame.com.

Crytek reveals Crysis: Warhead

Faithful readers will remember that we reported when Crytek registered the Crysis Warhead trademark. It looks like the name has been materialized into what appears to be a brand new game: not an expansion or a console port, a full-fledged title!

Warhead puts you in the eyes of one of the most loved characters in the game, Sergeant Sykes (a.k.a. Psycho). The game will take place parallel to the events of the original game, set through Sykes’ view of the other side of the island. Sykes will be armed with a larger arsenal of fully-customizable weapons, all new vehicles and stuff.

Crytek will be focussing on improving their storytelling (which is a noble move, IMO) and game performance. That means that Crytek will most likely not be raising the graphics bar to superhuman levels. But hell, better game performance at least means it will work on normal computers and not alien mainframes. And for once, we’ll have a sensible storyline.

Warhead is a PC exclusive and is being developed with a new and enhanced version of the classic CryENGINE 2, at Crytek’s Budapest Studio. That is where you go to capture the copies and ransom them. Or do something like that. Yeah.

Stay tuned for more info, most likely in the coming summer. Meanwhile, you can ogle over the official press release here.

Steam Cloud: save your savegames online forever!

Valve continues to impress with every one of its announcements! We heard of Steamworks a few months ago, which has made professional video game publishing within everyone’s free hands. Now Valve announces Steam Cloud, a revolutionary service that will allow you to store savegames and configuration files online; that is, forever.

Hit the jump to read more and become darn excited!

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