Category: News

Halo 3 Release Date is…

Halo 3

In a year when Hollywood is launching its biggest blockbusters ever, a video game is set to conquer them all. “Halo 3,” the final chapter in the groundbreaking “Halo” trilogy, is set to shatter day-one entertainment sales records when it is released worldwide beginning Tuesday, Sept. 25. Created by legendary developer Bungie Studios and exclusive to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, “Halo 3” will set a new standard for interactive storytelling and social gaming by engaging consumers worldwide in Master Chief’s epic battle to save humankind. “Halo 3” will be available to audiences around the world starting Sept. 25 and will release in Europe on Sept. 26.

“‘Halo 3’ is much more than a video game release; it’s the biggest entertainment event of the year,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business. “On Sept. 25, we intend to deliver a finale that will go down in entertainment history and leave people around the world with an experience that will be shared and enjoyed for years to come.”

Fueling the early buzz around “Halo 3”, Microsoft unveiled the multiplayer beta on the eve of its release at a star-studded event in Hollywood. Beginning tomorrow, May 16, Microsoft Game Studios will kick off the “Halo 3” multiplayer beta, which provides audiences worldwide with an exclusive, early look at some of the multiplayer elements of “Halo 3” on Xbox LIVE. Adding to the excitement, Microsoft is also announcing a special edition Zune digital media player inspired by the hugely successful “Halo” franchise. On shelves next month, the Zune-Halo 3 edition comes loaded with a collection of “Halo” content, including videos, soundtracks, trailers, ads and artwork.

In November 2004, the world’s view of video games changed forever with the release of “Halo 2,” which generated a record-setting $125 million in sales within the first 24 hours and changed the way people think about interactive entertainment. Three years later, it remains the most-played game on Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE online gaming and entertainment network, with nearly 1 billion hours of online gaming logged to date.

The unveiling of the “Halo 3” launch date comes on the eve of the release of the “Halo 3” multiplayer beta, which will debut to audiences worldwide via Xbox LIVE on May 16 at 5 a.m. PDT and run through June 6 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.* The “Halo 3” multiplayer beta will provide audiences worldwide with an exclusive early look at some of the multiplayer elements of “Halo 3” on Xbox LIVE. Gamers who are interested in experiencing the multiplayer beta of “Halo 3” can still participate through the purchase of the critically acclaimed, Xbox 360-exclusive title “Crackdown™,” which was launched in February. Starting May 16, the specially marked copies of “Crackdown” will act as a key for gamers to participate in the “Halo 3” multiplayer beta. In addition to giving gamers their first opportunity to get their hands on the new levels, weapons, vehicles and game types, the multiplayer beta will also provide valuable data that Bungie will use in continued development.

The “Halo” franchise has expanded beyond video games into The New York Times’ best-selling books, graphic novels, collectible merchandise and now a new, special edition Zune digital media player. Encased in collectible packaging, the Zune-Halo 3 edition digital media player comes pre-loaded with artwork, trailers and music from all three “Halo” games, as well as an exclusive new episode of “Red vs. Blue” from the fan-adored machinima creator Rooster Teeth Productions LLC. The Zune-Halo 3 edition (estimated retail price $249) will be available exclusively at GameStop starting June 15.

ABC Online to Air Shows In HD

Lost

Dedicated to expanding its network and channel brands across multiple platforms and connecting viewers with their favorite shows anytime and anywhere, Disney-ABC Television Group announced today that it will begin to stream content in true high definition resolution this summer on its Emmy Award-winning ABC.com broadband video.

“We are excited to be the first in the industry to stream HD video available on the web, providing ABC.com users with an unprecedented online viewing experience,” said Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks, and president, Disney-ABC Television Group. “By continuing to listen to our audience and enhancing our digital offerings with the best technology available, we further strengthen their relationship to our brands.”

Launching as a beta test in early July, the full-episode broadband player’s HD channel will feature a limited amount of content in true high-definition 1280 X 720 resolution from such series as “Lost,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Ugly Betty.” In conjunction with the launch of the new season in September, a more robust HD programming lineup will be offered.

“This is all about innovating and creating ‘what’s next’ to give consumers the best experience as they watch our content, regardless of viewing platform,” said Albert Cheng, executive vice president, Digital Media, Disney-ABC Television Group. “With the advancements in display devices and the prevalence of hardware with the processing capabilities to handle this technology, offering true HD content online is a natural.”

Additionally, this fall the ABC.com’s full episode player will be expanded further to included national news and local content, in addition to primetime entertainment programming. This new player will be geo-targeted, offering the ability for local ads and content to be more relevant to each individual user.

ABC.com’s broadband player currently offers full-length episodes in high quality, standard definition resolution of over a dozen series, including “Desperate Housewives,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Lost,” “Ugly Betty,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “Notes from the Underbelly,” “Dancing with the Stars” and “According to Jim,” free to consumers on ABC’s website the day after their broadcast premieres.

In April the full-episode player began offering full-screen viewing as well as a small “mini” screen that users can position wherever they choose on their desktops, in addition to the two original standard viewing size viewing options. To date, ABC affiliates covering 80% of the country — including all major affiliate groups and the ten ABC owned stations — have launched or have committed to launching the player on their own websites and are taking advantage of the opportunity to incorporate local advertising into the programming.

Soulcaliber Legends

Soulcaliber Legends

The legendary weapon-based fighting game franchise has been reinvented as NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. today announced Soulcalibur Legends exclusively for the Nintendo Wii. Developed specifically for the innovative console, Soulcalibur Legends fully immerses players in a third person action adventure and takes a unique approach to the series by truly utilizing the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. An unparalleled experience awaits gamers when Soulcalibur Legends is released this winter. To date the Soul series has sold more than 9 million units worldwide.”Over the past ten years, since the release of the original Soulblade, the team behind the Soulcalibur series has pushed the envelope of technology and innovation with each iteration,” said Makoto Iwai, Executive Vice President and COO, NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. “With Soulcalibur Legends, they saw the opportunity to once again create an immersive experience that is unique to the franchise.”

In Soulcalibur Legends, follow the 16th century exploits of Siegfried and Soulcalibur characters, new and old as they find themselves on a quest for ultimate power in order to save an empire from destruction. Using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk as their weapons of choice, players perform moves and combos using orchestrated slashes and movements. Sword fighting capabilities are pushed to the limit as gamers unleash special attacks to crush scores of enemies and large bosses. Earn honored titles such as Knight or Soldier as you master special attacks acquired throughout the adventure while battling through diverse stages and environments. With multiple modes of play and the help of familiar faces, the Soulcalibur universe will be viewed in an entirely new light.

Lorenzo Carcaterra Scripts Alone in the Dark

Atari today announced that New York Times best-selling author Lorenzo Carcaterra has teamed up with the company as scriptwriter on Alone in the Dark. Poised to redefine action gaming, Alone in the Dark will deliver blockbuster-action on a cataclysmic scale set in New York City’s iconic Central Park. Alone in the Dark is being developed by Eden Games for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Windows platform.

With more than twenty years of writing experience, Carcaterra lends his creative pen to provide the most authentic NYC experience yet in a video game. Born and raised in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, Carcaterra has covered the city in both fact and fiction, beginning as a reporter for the NY Daily News in 1976, becoming a successful television consultant and writer for shows including Law and Order and achieving success as the best selling author of such books as Apaches, Gangster and Sleepers, the latter of which became the hit film starring Robert De Niro and Brad Pitt.

Carcaterra delivers riveting stories filled with graphic narrative that have earned him international acclaim,” said David Nadal, Studio Head, Eden Games. “Gripping, compelling storylines are the basis of what differentiates a good game from a blockbuster. With Alone in the Dark, Carcaterra has crafted a meticulously engaging storyline that will grab the player from the start and send them on a journey through Central Park they will never forget.”

“Alone in the Dark was a challenge which allowed me to bring a realistic feel to an apocalyptic situation facing New York City and really dig into the Central Park conspiracy idea,” said Lorenzo Carcaterra. “It also allowed me to write for hard-edged characters, some good, some bad, all forced to confront a force whose power they could never imagine. The story never stalls, always moves in overdrive and the characters zoom right along at warp speed, stopping long enough along the way to say a few lines that keep driving the plot forward. The end result is, I hope, a roller-coaster of a thrill ride that should be tons of fun to play.”

Taking inspiration from today’s globally popular TV action dramas, Alone in the Dark delivers a new level of gripping narrative intensity, presented as a complete season format of episodes each containing action, plot twists and cliff-hangers. With a script written by best-selling author Carcaterra, players take the role of Edward Carnby as over the course of one apocalyptic night he must uncover the earth-shattering secret behind Central Park.

With a dramatic, graphic and fast-paced storyline, unprecedented levels of real-world interaction and physics, advanced artificial intelligence, stunning visuals and uniquely immersive interface, all set in a meticulously detailed, wide-open environment, Alone in the Dark is set to break gaming clichés, fulfill the next gen-promise, and deliver a new kind of entertainment experience.

Myst Online: Uru Live Goes Episodic

Myst Online: Uru Live

GameTap is taking its exploration and puzzle-driven massively multiplayer online game “Myst Online: Uru Live” to the next level. Being a leader in episodic gaming, GameTap is applying this successful model to the dynamic world of Uru. This new gaming approach enables players to schedule each month around when the latest updates are going live, while also providing a solid window of time to delve into the existing content more deeply.Beginning on Saturday, May 19th, all of the future episodes’ content and story (e.g. new Ages, pages, clothing, character interaction, story revelations, artifacts and intrigue) will be released within a single week each month.

In “Scars,” the first of the new episodes, the D’ni Restoration Council (DRC) is preparing to grant Explorers access to the never-before-seen Age of Minkata, but calamity arrives when someone close to them dies. The effects of this tragedy will change the course of the restoration forever. Minkata features a vast landscape with hours of unique gameplay that can be enjoyed as a single player or multi-player experience.

To celebrate the launch of the new episodic content, Myst Online’s creator Rand Miller and various members of the Cyan Worlds development studio will be hosting an in-game event to interact with players and take part in a casual Q&A.

Details as follows:
What: Rand Miller In-Game Meet-&-Greet
Date: Thursday 5/24
Time: 6pm PST/9pm EST
Location: A Beginner’s Bevin

To keep up to date with the latest news and screen shots for “Myst Online: Uru Live,” visit www.mystonline.com.

Napoleon Dynamite The Game

Napoleon Dynamite

Wow. I didn’t know that there could even be a game based on this movie! It’s coming out to the PSP and DS. It is being developed by Crave Entertainment

Napoleon Dynamite quickly gained cult-classic status with its quirky look at life in rural Idaho. Teens and adults alike love the movie’s colorful characters and offbeat take on teenage awkwardness. Napoleon Dynamite catchphrases (Vote for Pedro!) have become pop-culture fixtures, with references to the movie popping up everywhere from T-shirts to ice- cream flavors.

Crave’s upcoming release will feature favorite Napoleon Dynamite characters including Kip, Uncle Rico, Pedro, Tina the llama, and of course, Napoleon himself.

“Napoleon Dynamite is one of the great cult classics of the past decade,” said Mark Burke, senior vice president of product planning and business development at Crave Entertainment. “It’s one of those films that has great memorable lines and characters, and we expect that fans of the movie will really like the game.”