WE HAVE MOVED!!!!!!! www.techtv101.com now new blog address

Hi Everyone, Just to let you know we have moved our blog posts to the snazzier settings of www.techtv101.com so please, please please come by and check it out. The blog here has been a huge sucess and now hopefully we can provide a better and moore uptodate service over at the main page! We look forward to seeing you over there:)

Thanks

Mick

Techtv101.com - RAIMI TO DIRECT UPCOMING WARCRAFT® MOVIE

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. and Legendary Pictures announced today that Sam Raimi has signed on to direct the eagerly-anticipated major motion picture based on Blizzard Entertainment®’s award-winning Warcraft® universe. Raimi has, in the course of his career, clearly demonstrated a genius for developing and adapting existing fictional universes for mainstream audiences while staying true to the spirit of the original content.
Raimi directed the Spider-Man trilogy, which has broken box-office records around the world and garnered five Academy Award® nominations. Known for his imaginative filmmaking style, richly drawn characters and offbeat humor, Raimi wrote and directed the cult classic, The Evil Dead and produced 30 Days Of Night. He most recently wrote and directed the supernatural thriller, Drag Me To Hell.

"At its core, Warcraft is a fantastic, action-packed story," said Raimi. "I am thrilled to work with such a dynamite production team to bring this project to the big screen."

Charles Roven’s producing talents were recently seen with last summer’s blockbuster The Dark Knight, which grossed in excess of $1 billion, was nominated for eight Academy Awards® and won two. His body of work also includes the widely acclaimed Batman Begins and the sci-fi classic 12 Monkeys. Roven, with Atlas producing partner Alex Gartner, will be producing with Legendary Pictures CEO Thomas Tull, Legendary’s Chief Creative Officer Jon Jashni, Raimi and Raimi’s producing partner Joshua Donen. Raimi’s partner, Robert Tapert, will be an Executive Producer and Blizzard Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Creative Development, Chris Metzen, a Co-Producer.

"Partnering with Sam Raimi exemplifies Legendary's mandate of marrying the highest quality intellectual property to world-class filmmakers" said Legendary’s Tull. "Sam's passion for 'Warcraft' is undeniable and we know that he will create an incredible film worthy of Blizzard's phenomenal franchise. We look forward to collaborating with our partners at Warner Bros. and continuing our successful relationship with Chuck in bringing this rich new world to the screen."

"Blizzard Entertainment and Legendary Pictures have a shared vision for this film and we searched at length to find the very best director to bring that vision to life," said Paul Sams, chief operating officer of Blizzard Entertainment. "From our first conversation with Sam, we could tell he was the perfect choice. Sam knows how to simultaneously satisfy the enthusiasts and the mainstream audience that might be experiencing that content for the first time. We're looking forward to working with him to achieve that here."

"Blizzard Entertainment’s Warcraft has become a second home for millions of players and Sam’s experience and talent make him the perfect director for this remarkable and action-packed world," said Atlas’ Roven. "Alex and I are proud to be working with Sam and re-teaming with our friends at Legendary and Warner Bros."

The film will fall under Legendary Pictures’ co-production and co-financing deal with Warner Bros. "Warcraft is emblematic of the kind of branded, event films for which our studio is best known. We have enjoyed great success with our partners at Legendary, and this is an incredible opportunity for us to work with Sam on a project that is so eagerly anticipated by so many," said Jeff Robinov, President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group.

Blizzard Entertainment’s Warcraft universe is a rich fantasy setting that revolves around the epic conflict between the opposing forces of the Horde and the Alliance. Since its debut in 1994, Warcraft has developed a loyal following across the globe, with several bestselling, award-winning PC games and a range of popular licensed products including novels, action figures, apparel, comic books, board games, and more. World of Warcraft®, Blizzard Entertainment’s subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in the Warcraft universe, is the most popular game of its kind in the world. Its most recent expansion, Wrath of the Lich King™, is the fastest-selling PC game of all time, with more than 2.8 million copies sold in its first 24 hours of availability and more than 4 million in its first month.

Further details about the upcoming Warcraft movie, including cast and targeted release date, will be revealed as development progresses.

STAN LEE TO APPEAR IN NEW MARVEL GAME

stan lee makes his first ever ONSCREEN videogame appearance in activision's marveL™: ultimate alliance 2

Activision Publishing, Inc. announced today that beloved comic book legend Stan Lee will make his first onscreen videogame cameo in the highly anticipated Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, slated for release this September. Lee lends his likeness and voice to a character whose role is pivotal to the game's storyline, which incorporates elements of the acclaimed Marvel Civil War comic book series.

"I am thrilled to be making my first onscreen videogame cameo in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2," said Stan Lee, Publisher Emeritus, Marvel Comics. "It's such a kick to see characters that I've helped create come to life in the game and now I'm a part of the Marvel videogame universe!"

"With Activision's long-standing history of bringing so many of Stan Lee's creations to life, it's great to be able to incorporate him into Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2," said Rob Kostich, head of marketing for licensed properties, Activision Publishing, Inc. "Stan is a legend in the comic world and his appearance is yet another special treat that fans can look forward to when we bring back the largest army of playable Super Heroes and Super Villains this Fall."

PRE ORDER ‘PRESTIGE EDITION’ OF MODERN WARFARE 2 EXCLUSIVELY FROM GAMESTOP IRELAND

PRE ORDER 'PRESTIGE EDITION' OF MODERN WARFARE 2 EXCLUSIVELY FROM GAMESTOP THIS THURSDAY

Tuesday, 21 July 2009: GameStop, Ireland's leading specialist games retailer has secured the Irish exclusive for the 'Prestige Edition' of the highly anticipated Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on Xbox 360 and PS3. As stocks of the Prestige Edition will be limited, GameStop will be taking pre-orders in stores across the country from this Thursday, 23 July. Modern Warfare 2 is due for worldwide release on 10 November, 2009. It is the sixth instalment of the Call of Duty series, and the direct sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, continuing along the same storyline. The Prestige Edition of Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 which is exclusive to GameStop in Ireland is the ultimate collector's item for any Call Of Duty fan. It will be presented in a premium, special-edition SteelBook case with custom artwork by Infinity Ward and will include: A Hardbound art book, "Behind The Lines" – Designed by artists at Infinity Ward, featuring the art of Modern Warfare 2. Call Of Duty Classic full downloadable game – For the first time ever Infinity Ward's 2003 award-winning game that launched a franchise comes to consoles. Fully-functional, wearable Night Vision Goggles See in absolute darkness up to 50 feet Ability to view in black and white or night vision green Custom-Designed and painted to replicate the in-game goggles which are wearable, adjustable and hands-free Individually-numbered and engraved collector's stand inspired by game character Captain "Soap" MacTavish, displays the goggles when not in use. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Prestige Edition will be available from GameStop from 10 November 2009 for an estimated retail price of €159.99. www.gamestop.ie

CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR > MAP PACK 3 AVAILABLE THIS AUGUST

CALL OF DUTY®: WORLD AT WAR MAP PACK 3

LOCKED AND LOADED TO RELEASE FOUR NEW MAPS THIS AUGUST

 

London, UK – 20^th July, 2009 – Reinforcements are scheduled to arrive for one of the most-played online multiplayer games, as Activision Publishing, Inc and developer Treyarch, confirmed plans today to deliver Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 3 in August. Map Pack 3 will feature three multiplayer maps ("Battery," "Revolution," and "Breach"), co-developed with partner Certain Affinity, and one new Zombie map ("Der Riese"), for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Visit www.CoDWaW.com for more details.

 

Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 3 follows the enormous success of its first two predecessors, which to date have sold more than four million copies on both Xbox LIVE and the PlayStation Network (combined) for a Call of Duty® game that has sold more than 11 million units to date across all platforms, according to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk.

 

Call of Duty: World at War is rated 15 by the BBFC.  For more information and exclusive updates about Call of Duty: World at War, visit www.callofduty.com.

 

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

 

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands and Australia. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.

Techtv101 Chats with "Wolfenstein" Music Composer Bill Brown about the upcoming release and its music.

Music Composer Bill Brown began his career composing powerful scores for triple-A game titles, including Tom Clancy's 'Rainbow Six' and 'Ghost Recon', Clive Barker's 'Undying', 'Return to Castle Wolfenstein', 'Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle' and 'Command & Conquer: Generals'. Bill also contributed additional music to the hit films 'Any Given Sunday', 'Ali', and 'Finding Forrester', and he is currently the composer for the hit CBS television series, CSI:NY.

Bill Chatted to Techtv101.com about the upcoming Activision release "Wolfenstein" which is due to be released this August and his input into the composition of the music for the game.


TECHTV101: Hi Bill Thanks for talking to us, do you think the growth of game scores in the last 10 years has helped out peoples attitude towards enjoying gaming as a whole (As in proper, orchestral compositions as opposed to the electronic dross of old)

BILL BROWN: Absolutely. Developers were generally already aware of the emotional power that live orchestral recording offered films; it was just a matter of the technology evolving to the point where full orchestral scores could be implemented. I think Playstation was the first platform to stream 16 bit stereo tracks directly from the game CD/DVD, and this opened up a whole new level of possibilities for game audio. Slowly, all platforms evolved and allowed for reactive and interactive use of live scores in multiple tracks and layers in Dolby 5.1, matching the audio spectrum allowed in films, and then making the score reactive to the player's experience, making the game experience truly cinematic and immersive - a pretty far cry from the mono computer bleeps and bloops from 30 years ago...

TECHTV101: Michael Giacchino was one of the leaders in this trend when he started to write scores for the Medal of Honour series for DreamWorks and EA, What do you look for in the game to guide you to the style of composition, and do your compositions sway the game producers much on the way they make the cut scenes etc?

BILL BROWN: Cut scenes are completed or are well under way by the time I get them. I try to get as much information about the game, as early on in the process as possible so the score is as connected and reflective of the game's content and narrative as is possible. I imagine there have been moments where editors have re-edited to my tempo, or have been inspired by something in the score and re-worked visual textures, etc. - but I rarely hear about it.

TECHTV101: How do you go about scoring for a game from start of game production to finish? Can you go through stages with us please?

BILL BROWN: With Wolfenstein, I actually started writing cues after some long conversations with the developers and before seeing anything substantial from the game.. We really kicked into high gear when the development team was able to send me QuickTime movies for every cue. That's when we really dug our feet in and got serious about the schedule and scope of work to be completed, not to mention it was a lot of fun to see the game in progress! It took more than a year off and on to complete and followed the production schedule for the levels of the game, which is generally not a blazingly fast process. I actually completed 95% of the score before we got into showcasing the score within the game for the producers at id, and luckily, they loved every cue. Then there were a few more last-minute additions to the scope of work, which I was happy to help with before the final milestone. The score was fully approved just a couple months ago after more than a year and a half of work (off and on).


TECHTV101: What is your favourite piece of music which has been used in a game to date?
BILL BROWN: The first thing that comes to mind is the theme for Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six. That is meaningful to me because it basically helped launch my career, and I got to live with it for so many years, reinventing it as the franchise evolved. My second fav might be the intro cinematic from Return to Castle Wolfenstein. I'm getting more nostalgic now where before it was always whatever I happened to be working on at the moment..


TECHTV101: Wolfenstein is a cult classic, have you tried to stay with the same style and tempo for your compositions as the original, or have you used any of the original sound samples in your compositions?

BILL BROWN: I've done something similar in that I've used some of the original themes from Return to Castle Wolfentein in the new Wolfenstein score, but sparingly as it was more important for me to explore a more classic 20th century orchestral sound for Wolfenstein, inspired more by composers like Bernard Herrmann, Stravinsky and Bartok.

TECHTV101: Finally, years ago game music was midi based, now large orchestras are being used along with well know artists providing music for games. What in your opinion is the future for game scores as a whole?

BILL BROWN: I would like to see the game genres open up a bit as generations of gamers mature. There will always be the first person shooter, and those can be fun. I'd be interested in working on the next generation of "indie" games and game narrative.. out of the box story-telling, surprising, cinematic and still immersive - where the score doesn't "have" to work a certain way to push the action forward - where there is more open-ended room for creativity, musically and otherwise..

http://www.billbrownmusic.com


Check Back Soon to see the Techtv101 review of the new game!

Techtv101.com - PS3 - GHOSTBUSTERS THE VIDEO GAME REVIEW

Genre: Action
Publisher: Atari
Developer: Terminal Reality
Platform: Playstation 3

If you are a child of the '80s, then it's inevitable that you know a great deal about the Ghostbusters. The movie franchise — starring Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis as the titular busters of ghosts — was a pop-culture phenomenon in the late '80s and early '90s, spawning not only the two films but also a Saturday morning cartoon, Ghostbusters cereal and tons of other merchandise. Now, 25 years after the bumbling New Yorkers made their big-screen debut, Atari and Terminal Reality have seen fit to bring us a brand-new Ghostbusters video game. While the game presents itself quite nicely, it's eventually crushed under the weight of its own sky-high expectations, and it ultimately turns out to be little more than an above-average adventure title.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game picks up six months after the events of the second Ghostbusters movie. Once again, spooks and specters are haunting the streets of New York, and the gang has reason to believe that their old nemeses Gozer and his acolyte Ivo Shandor are behind the mayhem. The boys then set out to shut off a series of conduits that seem to be funneling paranormal energy into one point and eliminate the threat of the ghost world invading our world.

Players join the crew as The Rookie, a new recruit who has been brought onboard to be Egon's "Experimental Weapons Tester." What this basically means is that players will have a proton pack strapped to their back, complete with all manner of attachments and upgrades that will either make the Ghostbusters' lives a lot easier or "blow you into somewhere in New Jersey." Obviously this is a sweet gig, one for which you should be extremely excited. Just be careful out there; the health insurance doesn't kick in for 90 days and giant holes in the abdomen aren't the type of wound that you can just take cold medicine for and wait out.

The story line is extremely competent, which makes sense since it was written by Aykroyd and Ramis. The two handled all the script work for the title, thus ensuring that the game can be relied on as part of the official Ghostbusters canon. The stars have called the game essentially the third movie, and for the most part, it does a great job of extending the franchise and delivering a well-paced, well-plotted and well-acted experience.

There are a few minor missteps, however, though none are completely game-wrecking. First off, while the main actors are still just as comfortable in their old Ghostbusters skins and hilarious as ever, Alyssa Milano utterly flops as the female lead. Her disinterest and detachment from the project is apparent from the first moment she opens her mouth, and never once in the game did I wish we could hear more from the girl I still think of as Sam from "Who's the Boss?" Secondly, the ending feels shoehorned and stilted, as though Aykroyd and Ramis ran out of pages and had to write an ending. While some might say the revelations at the end of the experience are unexpected and therefore entertaining, in actuality they are bizarre, out-of-left-field reveals that don't fit into the larger context. Most of the moments in the eight- to 10-hour tale are solid, but the last 30 minutes or so completely fall apart.

Since the game largely feels like a movie, you would hope that it would look like one too, and that's an area where the title doesn't disappoint. The character models are created with tender loving care, and the boys all look just as you remember them … a couple of decades ago. Perhaps more importantly, the equipment is amazing, and a special round of applause goes out to the proton pack. The entire piece looks strikingly similar to what one would notice in the movies, but with just enough embellishments and additions to allow for a nice transition into the game. The folks at Terminal Reality were given access to Sony's prop archive while they were crafting the digital re-creations of the equipment, and the long hours of study and attention to detail pay off in a huge way. The eye candy here is plentiful indeed.

While the story and larger mythos of the game are important, the business of busting ghosts won't handle itself, so you're probably wondering if it's any fun. The answer is mostly yes, but with some major reservations on a few key areas that make some aspects extremely frustrating.

The game really excels at the basics of fighting and trapping ghosts of various sizes, shapes and dispositions. You start out with the basic beam on your proton pack, but as the game progresses, you add some more firepower to your arsenal. There is a shotgun-like blast that can make short work of more minor baddies, as well as a nasty rapid-fire attachment that not only dishes out the pain but also has limited tracking capabilities. The most important weapon you'll unlock is the slime blower, which does double duty as a method for damaging baddies and an integral tool in solving puzzles. Some areas are covered in caustic black slime that must be neutralized by the slime blower, while others feature heavy, out-of-reach objects that must be pulled in using the slime tether. Ultimately, each weapon's primary and secondary fire modes have their uses, and the game does a great job of keeping you on your toes so you never get too comfortable with any one gun.

Of course, the most important part of any Ghostbuster's job is trapping the nefarious spirits and making sure they never cause havoc again. In the game, once you wear down a ghost's health enough, you can engage your capture beam and haul it toward a trap. After some wrangling and slamming, the baddies will end up stunned, and from there it's simply a matter of dragging them over to the cone of light above your deployed trap. There's a great feeling of satisfaction the first time you watch a ghost get sucked in and hear the ka-ching of coin you just earned (which can be used to buy upgrades for your weapons and traps), and that sense of accomplishment remains throughout the game. One thing you'll learn early on is that bustin' does indeed make you feel good.

Even though the basics of combat are solid, there are a ton of poor design decisions and head-scratching bad moves that cause the game to quickly devolve into tedium and frustration. First and most importantly, is teammate AI, which was harvested fresh from the idiot farm. Your fellow Ghostbusters are decent enough about attacking the ghosts that appear, but it's clear from the get-go that in any schoolyard fight these guys thought that the best way to defend oneself was to cover your eyes because hey, if you can't see the bully, then he obviously can't see you. They'll simply stand in place and allow themselves to be pounded by enemy attacks until they're put out of commission and you're forced to haul ass across the level to revive them. During tense enemy encounters and especially boss battles, you'll easily spend the majority of your time babysitting teammates rather than doing any actual damage. The only thing that keeps them from being completely worthless is the fact that they can actually make the ghost trapping process a bit easier, but only when they aren't being ripped to shreds by the baddies they are choosing to ignore.

There are some other problems with combat as well, including the fact that anytime an enemy manages to knock you into the air, your character goes into a ridiculous ragdoll animation and is rendered completely incapacitated for an inordinately long time, as well a camera so tight that you'll lose track of enemies entirely too frequently. Since there's no way to lock onto a bad guy or keep track of all your foes once the action gets hectic, you'll take a lot of cheap shots from behind on behalf of baddies you never saw coming. Also, given their ghostly nature, they'll likely teleport away before you manage to turn and face them, resulting in a hellish game of hide-and-seek that inevitably ends in tears.

The final gameplay failing is the title's extremely unbalanced difficulty, which spikes so severely in some spots that sections are nearly impossible for those without nerves of steel and the patience of a saint. I can recall three separate occasions in the game where I was beset by about a dozen ghosts at once, each of which seemed to have the skill to kill me and my teammates with two or three attacks. There is even one section I'm convinced I only passed because while I played it, the game glitched and didn't send in a wave of ghosts that it was supposed to. Not that I'm complaining, but if I only made it through a section due to a line of code not being read properly, then it would seem that there are some overarching problems here.

The best way to alleviate the frustration that accompanies the single-player campaign is to jump into multiplayer for a while and enjoy teaming up with real humans in quick, one-off scenarios that are quite entertaining both initially and over the long haul. Teams of up to four can run through three different scenarios that find you protecting artifacts, trapping as many ghosts as possible within a time limit and trying to stay alive through wave after wave of baddies. The multiplayer is fundamentally cooperative, but there are some competitive aspects as players square off to see who can earn the most cash in each scenario. There isn't enough depth here to satisfy hardcore online players, but it's a nice addition and gives the title plenty more replay value than if it had been a single-player-only experience.

If this hadn't been a Ghostbusters game, then we would likely be praising it for its successes and sweeping its deficiencies under the rug. The fact of the matter, though, is that Ghostbusters: The Video Game is a hugely anticipated game and unfortunately, it ultimately let us down. The script and acting are mostly great, but some blemishes keep them from ranking up there with the first film. The gameplay is mostly inspired, but insipid AI and some brutally difficult sections drain a large portion of the fun. Multiplayer is enjoyable for the most part, but the lack of substantial depth means that it'll be a distraction for a couple of weeks and then it'll be forgotten. Every aspect of the game tries to excel, only to be pulled back down by one or two major shortcomings. In the end, this is a decent, solid game, but if falls well short of being either the Keymaster or the Gatekeeper. Still Worth a look!

TechTV101.com - Pimp My Xbox 360 Irish Style!!

MeMods is a PC and Games console Case sustomization Company who take your bland, conformist PC or Xbox 360 and Mod the Flip out of its case until it is likened by others to be worthy of the gods!!

2 Irish Lads have just set up a company doing this modding full time and are offering you the oportunity to have your very own one of a kind design Xbox360 Case. In the near future you will be able to send the lads Almost any design and they can make it appear on the outer case like magic with coloured lights that will just amaze your friends at those 360 Lan Parties and Conferences! We will have a video look at the cases more and a chat with David Pepper about the whole operation very soon, along with some very cool prizes - WATCH THIS SPACE!!

In The Meantime the cases can be bought online here at the Ebay store..

CLICK HERE

SEGA releases statement following Michael Jacksons death.

“We here at SEGA were very sad to hear about the passing of Michael Jackson. He was a true music legend whose songs touched each of us at some point in our lives. We are proud to have worked with him and included his music in some of our most well-remembered games and are sure that his genius will live on through his great body of work. We have no doubt that future generations will be moonwalking to all his greatest hits.” - SEGA

TechTV101 - Review - Sam & Max: Hit The Road XBLA

Remember the days of the click n’ play adventure games? Well, if you do you are certain to remember Lucas Art’s classic hit Sam & Max: Hit The Road. That game came jam packed with all the goodness of a great adventure game – interesting puzzles, great story, amusing minigames, and it was funny as all hell. When I first read that Sam & Max: Save the World was coming to Xbox LIVE I pissed myself a little. I was as frightened as I was excited. I loved the idea of a new Sam & Max game, in high-def, and on the Xbox, but I was so worried they would butcher the game, and sully this wonderful franchise – but my instincts got the best of me and I jumped at the chance to download the demo first, then after seeing that - The full Game Was a Definite Purchase!!

I was quite surprised when Sam & Max: Save the World loaded, I sighed with relief when I noticed that they had decided to stick to the classics form of gameplay – finding a decent point and click adventure game these days is not easy. The only real difference is that instead of having several different click methods; ie. talk, insult, grab, and squeeze, you only have one pointer that does it all. You can, of course, access your inventory and grab whatever is in there and use that on your surroundings.

The story progresses through six episode. Each episode ties well into the next and at the end of each you will collect a souvenir that you will find stuffed away in the closet in your office. Each story takes a bare minimum of two hours to complete, but can take longer if you get enticed by the story and are dedicated to hearing as much spoken dialogue as you possibly can. If you are not rushing and just plan on enjoying the game each episode can easily last up to three or four hours. The only downfall in this method of story telling is that it is hard to pull away from the game because, like an enthralling TV series, you just want to see how the next episode plays out, and so on.

The magic and charm from the previous games is captured beautifully in this game. The characters are still as wacky as ever and are pumping out jokes left, right, and center – some that may even make you “ROFL” your pants off. The game also features the typical cartoonish lounge music which we all got used to in the previous game, and even after hours the music still hasn’t turned me insane. There is, though, a little problem with the sound levels. From time to time both music and sound effect elements can completely drown out the vocal track. There is an option to adjust these levels but even after you’ve dropped the volume right down it just doesn’t feel right – there is still a slight inbalance in the audio no matter how you set it up.

Unfortunately, a lot of people are probably going to be turned off by the fact that this is a point and click game since the main focus of this generation is first person shooters. Sam & Max is a Godsend – a fresh trip down memory-lane – a game with soul. You will be quick to fall in love with the story and it’s characters. The demented duo did it again. I’m sure everyone will want a friend like Max at the end of this wonderful experience.

Sam & Max: Save the World is a game that many old timers will appreciate, while the remainder will take it for granted. It is jam packed with wonderful moments and comic genius and It definitely lives up to it’s predecessor. The story is as compelling as it is funny that you may find it hard to stop after just one episode. Sam & Max: Save the World is definitely worth the 1600 Microsoft Points it costs, so go ahead and download it of the Xbox LIVE marketplace!

With The Success of how this has turned out, it would be almost inevitable that we will see features like Monkey Island, and even Leisure Suit Larry Coming to xbox live arcade in the near future...well we hope so anyway ;)

id Software acquired by Bethesda!!

Yep...you read right, id Software has been acquired Bethesda Softworks (parent company ZeniMax Max Media) for an undisclosed ammount. More on this as we hear it!

Press Release:
ZeniMax Media Acquires id Software
Brings together two of world’s best game studios
Library of powerhouse franchises will include DOOM, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, QUAKE, Wolfenstein and RAGE
June 24, 2009 (Rockville, MD) – ZeniMax Media Inc., parent company of noted game publisher Bethesda Softworks, today announced it has completed the acquisition of legendary game studio, id Software, creators of world-renowned games such as DOOM, QUAKE, Wolfenstein, and its upcoming title, RAGE. The acquisition by ZeniMax Media joins together two of the finest, most respected videogame developers in the world, combining the first person shooter (FPS) expertise of id Software with acclaimed role playing game (RPG) developer Bethesda Game Studios – creators of the 2008 Game of the Year, Fallout 3, and the 2006 Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Bethesda Softworks will publish the titles of id Software other than upcoming releases previously committed to other publishers.

Founded in 1991, id Software established itself as an industry leader with some of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed video games of all time. id Software created the original first-person shooter, Wolfenstein 3D, and subsequently set new standards in the genre with the blockbuster releases of its DOOM and QUAKE titles. In addition, id Software developed cutting edge, proprietary technology with the id Tech engine which powers many notable FPS titles, and continues to make great advances in game technology under the direction of John Carmack, one of the country’s technology leaders and a member of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) Hall of Fame.

Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software, commented on the transaction: “This was a unique opportunity to team with a smart, sophisticated publisher like Bethesda Softworks where the interests of the studio and the publisher will be fully aligned in the development and marketing of our titles. In addition, we will now have financial and business resources to support the future growth of id Software, a huge advantage which will result in more and even better games for our fans.”

id Software will continue to operate as a studio under the direction of its founder, John Carmack. No changes will be made in the operations of id Software in the development of its games. All the principals at id Software have signed long-term employment contracts, assuring they will continue in their roles developing games at the studio.

“This puts id Software in a wonderful position going forward,” said John Carmack, who will continue to serve in his current role as Technical Director. “We will now be able to grow and extend all of our franchises under one roof, leveraging our capabilities across multiple teams while enabling forward looking research to be done in the service of all of them. We will be bigger and stronger, as we recruit the best talent to help us build the landmark games of the future. As trite as it may be for me to say that I am extremely pleased and excited about this deal, I am."

Robert Altman, the founder, Chairman & CEO of ZeniMax Media stated, “We, along with many others, consider id Software to be among the finest game studios in the world, with extraordinary design, artistic and technical capabilities. They have demonstrated, repeatedly, that rare ability to create franchise properties that are critical and commercial successes. Our intention is to make sure id Software will continue to do what they do best – make AAA games. Our role will be to provide publisher support through Bethesda Softworks and give id Software the resources it needs to grow and expand.”

ZeniMax Media Inc, which is privately held, was founded in 1999 to create quality interactive entertainment products to meet the growing worldwide demand. The Company is headquartered in Rockville, MD and maintains offices in Hunt Valley, MD, London and Tokyo. Among its wholly owned subsidiaries are Bethesda Softworks, a premier publisher of video games, Vir2L Studios which develops games for the casual market, and ZeniMax Online Studios, a studio dedicated to massively multi-player online games (MMOG).

Bethesda Game Studios, the development group at ZeniMax Media, is one of the top video game studios in the world. Its most recent release, Fallout 3, was the 2008 winner of more than 60 Game of the Year awards, including The Associated Press, Official Xbox Magazine, Yahoo, PC Gamer, IGN, Game Critics Awards, Game Developer Choice Awards, and Gamespy. Bethesda also created the 2006 PC and Xbox 360® Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and the 2002 PC and Xbox® Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Bethesda Game Studios has created 2 of the 10 best games of all time, Fallout 3 and Oblivion, on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation® 3 platforms, as reported by the industry scoring system found at www.metacritic.com and www.gamerankings.com.

About ZeniMax Media Inc. ZeniMax Media is a preeminent media organization which has brought together a team of world class game developers, artists and designers, programmers, producers, and leading executives and talent from traditional media. ZeniMax Media creates and publishes original interactive entertainment content for consoles, the PC, and handheld/wireless devices. ZeniMax Media divisions include Bethesda Softworks, Vir2L Studios, ZeniMax Europe Ltd., and ZeniMax Online Studios. ZeniMax, Bethesda Softworks, Bethesda Game Studios, The Elder Scrolls, Oblivion, Morrowind and related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Fallout is a registered trademark or trademark of Bethesda Softworks LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. For more information on ZeniMax Media, visit www.zenimax.com.

About Bethesda SoftworksBethesda Softworks, part of the ZeniMax Media Inc. family of companies, is a premier developer and worldwide publisher of interactive entertainment software and has produced numerous award-winning titles, most recently with 2006 PC and Xbox 360® Game of the Year and RPG of the Year, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion®, and the 2002 PC and Xbox® Game of the Year and RPG of the Year, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind®. Among Bethesda’s more popular franchises are The Elder Scrolls® series and Fallout®. For more information on Bethesda Softworks’ products, visit www.bethsoft.com.

About id Software Founded in 1991, id Software has provided technical, design and artistic leadership as an independent game developer and technology innovator. id Software’s iconic brands such as Wolfenstein, DOOM, QUAKE and Enemy Territory have become staples of popular culture for generations of gamers. More information on id Software can be found at www.idsoftware.com. id Software, Wolfenstein, DOOM, QUAKE, RAGE and Enemy Territory and related logos are registered trademarks owned by ZeniMax Media Inc.

New Max Payne 3 Screens

So... here we have it, the first screen from RockStars up coming Max Payne 3.
I'm not sure how I feel after seeing these, it seems a long way off what I loved about the first 2. The dark, gritty, film noir style has been replaced by a jungle laden adventure. I don't know about you, but I'm getting a bit miffed about every new game (or sequel) being based in a bloody jungle (and if it's not a Jungle, it's New York - a bit of creativity wouldn't go astray!)

So anyways, here are the shots for you to make your own minds up!

TechTV101.com - SNES USB cartridge adapter should set eBay sales crazy!!

Sick of having to use your inconvenient mouse and keyboard to do "internet searches" for ROMs of your favorite retro games? Well a gentleman named Matthias might just have the answer to your prayers -- a USB SNES cartridge adapter.

The enterprising DIY'er has created a combo hardware and software solution that allows you to plug in your dusty carts directly to your rig, and see the ROMs appear as standalone files which you can then load into the emulator of your choice. Apparently there are still some kinks to work out (like getting data rates up for larger games), and Matthias already has plans underway for a multi-system solution. Still, this is impressive stuff, even if it means we'll have to repurchase any titles we're missing from reputable online auction houses.
Hey, at least it'll cut down our visits to "Russian porn sites." Check out the video of the whole thing in action after the break.

Techtv101.com - Iphone 3.0 Released To The Irish Masses!!

Since Apple first unveiled the iPhone OS 3.0 last March, we've been impatiently awaiting its full release. Yes, we did manage to get a beta version of the update on our iPhone but we prefer to wait for the real thing to give our official evaluation.

In total, Apple is promising that the update will bring 100 new features, but we've barely scratched the surface. Once we fully evaluate OS 3.0, we expect that we'll find more. We were hoping that OS 3.0 would also include video recording and voice dialing, but those features will be available only on the new iPhone 3G S.

Multimedia messaging
We've ranted endlessly about why it took so long for Apple to achieve multimedia messaging (MMS), so we're glad that it's finally on its way. Besides photos you'll also be able to send photos, contacts, audio files, and map locations. At long last the iPhone can do something that every other cell phone can do.

We don't know the real reason for the delay nor do we have a timetable for deployment--Forstall just said that AT&T in the states will support MMS "later this summer." Indeed, i was able to compose a multimedia message in a few quick steps on my iPhone, but the connection times out before we can send it.

Landscape keyboard
Formerly just available in the Safari browser, the landscape keyboard now works in e-mail, text messaging, and notes. We've used it quite a bit and love it, though we admit that the two-fingered typing took the smallest bit of acclimation after using one hand on a portrait keyboard for so long.

Cut, copy and paste

Cut, copy, and paste
Forstall said that this sorely-needed feature can work with all iPhone features and apps. When we first started using copy, cut, and paste back in March it was working only in Notes, but since then we've used it in e-mail and text messages. As I mentioned in my early OS 3.0 review, the process is very easy to use and the "shake to undo" feature is a nice touch. Developers will be able to use the feature in apps.

iTunes
The iPhone's iTunes store is updated in a few ways. Now you'll be able to rent and purchase movies, download TV shows and audiobooks, and access iTunes U. You'll also be able to redeem iTunes gift cards on the phone in the iTunes App store. Previously, you could only redeem in the iTunes music store.

Find my iPhone
If you're prone to losing your iPhone, OS 3.0 will give you some peace of mind. If your handset goes missing you can use a computer to find its position on a map. You can then send it a message that instructs anyone who finds your phone to call you. It plays a tone to get a passerby's attention, and it even plays the tone when the sound is off. Presumably, however, it won't play the tone when the phone is off.

It sounds like a great service, but there are a couple of caveats. Find my iPhone is only available to MobileMe users. Also, you'll need someone on the other end who is responsible enough to notify you that he or she found your phone. Luckily, if that doesn't hold true, you can use a remote wipe option to swipe your iPhone clean of data. This is the first time remote wipe is available to the average consumer.

Correction: The Find my iPhone can be estimated using GPS, Wi-Fi, or cell tower location technology.

The new search feature

(Credit: CNET)

Full search
We already knew about the search feature that allows you to search calendar entries, music, notes, contacts, and e-mail. Yet, Forstall also said that you'll be able to search e-mail messages stored only on your mail server.

In-app purchases
As expected, Apple now can take your money when you're using an app. For example, you can renew a magazine subscription and buy a new game pack without going through the iTunes App Store. It's convenient, sure, as long as you keep a limit on your impulse buying. But on a related note, free apps will always be free--you'll never have to shell out money for an update.

Safari browser
Forstall promised a faster browser. To demonstrate, he showed results from a SunSpider Javascript benchmark. Without iPhone OS 3.0 the benchmark result was 2 minutes, 10 seconds. In comparison, the OS 3.0 result was just 43 seconds. Exactly what that means to the user we'll have to see. Other Safari improvements include support for HTML 5 and autofill for fields on a Web page.

Peer-to-peer networking
With peer-to-peer network you can automatically find nearby iPhone users to pay games or use social applications. It works via Bluetooth and no pairing is required.

Tethering
In March we heard that tethering would be possible with OS 3.0, but that it would be completely carrier-dependent. At the WWDC keynote, Forstall gave us good and bad news. The good news is that several carriers will support tethering starting next week.

Google maps
With OS 3.0, developers will be able to embed Google maps right in their apps.

Parental controls
These were mentioned briefly in March, but we got more details here. Parents or guardians will be able to control movies and television shows according to their ratings, restrict apps that are age inappropriate, and limit use of the browser and YouTube app. The controls are accessible through the Settings menu.

Push notification
We knew about this as well, but Forstall gave a quick demo. Developers can use push notifications with sounds for text alerts and instant messages.

Languages
Multilingual users can use a small globe icon on the keyboard to access additional keyboards and a graffiti pad for symbols. Apple also added support for Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, Korean, and Thai.

What's left?

• Stereo Bluetooth


• The ability to forward text messages and delete individual messages in a thread


• Forward meeting invites and contacts


• A landscape stock chart with news stories and additional information in company profiles


• A voice memo recorder


• Syncing notes with your Mac


• A shake-to-shuffle feature like on the iPod Nano


• Antiphishing technology


• Wi-Fi auto log-in


• Http streaming audio and video

TechTV101 - Microsoft Explorer Mouse with BlueTrack Technology REVIEW

Specifications & Features

The mouse uses a rechargeable AA battery for power and has a snap in mini transceiver. The Explorer Mouse uses BlueTrack technology and can track on virtually any surface. The design of the mouse is ergonomic and design for right hand use. Connectivity is 2.4 GHz wireless offering 30-foot range and Microsoft says the mouse will go three weeks between charges.

Testing & Use

Power for the mouse comes from a removable and rechargeable AA battery. This is a great feature because in a pinch on the road you can plug in a normal AA battery and keep working. The BlueTrack technology uses a blue incoherent light beam and the mouse features blue lighting effects for visual appeal. The Microsoft Explorer Mouse is a full size mouse, but it is designed with mobile users in mind.

The shape of the mouse is much like any other traditional mouse for general PC work with a right handed ergonomic design and customizable buttons. The thick design of the mouse means that you end up palming the mouse, which is comfortable. However, if you prefer to use your fingers more than your wrist for mouse control the thick design makes that harder to do. Tracking capability is the main claim to fame for the Microsoft Explorer Mouse, and it tracks Excellently. If you have no mouse space at all, you can use your lap, arm, face, head, or even massage your neck and shoulders with the Explorer Mouse. It took some practice to adjust to surfing the Web with a back-scratcher, but it really can be done, We even Tried tracking on a 50 inch LCD Screen and On all surfaces, the Microsoft Explorer Mouse tracked flawlessly.

In short, we found Microsoft's claim to be true: The Explorer really does work on virtually any surface. The Explorer Mouse is an innovative peripheral with a stylish design. When the novelty of trying to make it work on every surface in your home or office wears off, chances are you'll still be pleased with the mouse -- it's comfortable to hold, it offers excellent tracking and scrolling, and it's easy on the wrist. Plus, that sexy blue light will match many desktop systems' tower LEDs. The fact that you can take it with you and use it on just about any surface is icing on the cake.The dual side buttons on the Microsoft Explorer Mouse are located well. You can reach them easily when you need them, but they are out of the way and don’t get hit accidentally when you are surfing the web or working.

Microsoft also gave the scroll wheel a left and right click function and the wheel can be pressed down for an additional click function as well. The scroll wheel is very similar in feel to the Logitech G9 scroll wheel.

Set Up / Installation

To get started, you'll need to install the (Windows XP or Vista or Mac OS X 10.2 and up) IntelliPoint 6.3 software found on the bundled CD. The easy-to-configure software lets you customize the mouse's five buttons -- left, right, wheel click, and front and rear thumb buttons. Options are provided for setting four-way scrolling with left and right wheel tilt for horizontal scrolling, a feature increasingly common in medium- to high-end mice. You can assign buttons to more common functions such as Copy, Paste, Shift, and custom macros, as well as for one-click access to popular Vista features like Flip 3D (which i have only started using because of the mouse!)

Our Verdict

The Microsoft Explorer Mouse deserves your attention for its BlueTrack sensor technology that lets you use it on surfaces where other mice fail. Laptop owners, or anyone else who uses a nondeskbound computer, will benefit from Microsoft's innovative new technology.

The Cost of the mouse is around €47.39 on www.elara.ie

Its Brilliant!
9/10

Techtv101 - BULL WHIPPING GUINNESS WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT – CRACKED!

Whippaaa!!!! Robert Dante, the internationally renowned bullwhip performer, today attempted to break the world record for the most bull whips in a minute to celebrate the launch of the Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings video game.

Robert Dante, a massive Indiana Jones fan, flew in from Minneapolis especially for the record breaking attempt and said: “ I’ve been training to break the current world record for over two months and what better reason to do it than for the launch of the latest Indiana Jones adventure”.

The public world record attempt took place in front of the Natural History Museum in London – a befitting backdrop for any whip wielding archaeologist.

Techtv101.com - Apple Iphone 3GS New Features and Walkthrough

Video: Sony's MotionPortrait turns photos into 3D animations

No One Really Understands the auld Japenese Humour, apart from that tv show where they try to hurt themselves, we usually just nod graciously and smile when they dazzle us with their consumer electronics and robots. But Sony's MotionPortrait is different. The technology creates 3D graphics from 2D stills of human faces. The 3D faces can then be animated semi-realistically using standard computer graphics. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised to find this tech in a CyberShot point-and-shoot in a few years out. Innocent enough until you see how it's demonstrated. Click through to see the results and feel free to laugh or scream at the end -- we did both in unison much to our surprise.

Nintendo DSi" and "Wii" to release a new color This Autumn

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Jedi vs Sith Cinematic Trailer

Forge your own Star Wars saga in a story-driven MMO from BioWare and LucasArts. Explore an age thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader when war between the Old Republic and the Sith Empire divides the galaxy.

Sony PSP go Is A GO!!!!

With an Ultra-Portable Design and Digital Content Focus, PSPgo to Hit the Worldwide Market This Fall, Further Enhancing the User Experience Along with PSP-3000

Tokyo, June 3, 2009 - Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today unveiled PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) go (PSP-N1000), a new evolution of PSP handheld 　　entertainment system, specifically designed to suit the digital lifestyle of consumers who enjoy downloadable content on the go. PSPgo will become available in stores on October 1, 2009, in North America, Europe/ PAL territories and Asian countries and regions at a recommended retail price (RRP) of US$249 and €249, and on November 1, 2009, in Japan at a RRP of 26,800 yen (including tax). With both the existing PSP-3000 and new PSPgo, the company will further enhance the ultimate gaming and entertainment experiences on the go while providing consumers with the opportunity to choose the PSP system that’s right for them.

PSPgo is ideal for today’s on-the move consumers who prefer not to carry around disc-based content and are looking for on-demand entertainment. With the steady expansion of broadband network infrastructure, the number of users who download and enjoy digital entertainment content has been increasing remarkably. To address this growing trend, PSPgo replaces the UMD drive*１ with 16GB of flash memory to store a variety of digital entertainment content, offering users unlimited possibilities of portable digital entertainment delivered through PlayStation®Network. PSPgo, smaller and lighter than ever with a sophisticated design featuring an easy sliding display panel, is truly pocket-sized and can be

2-2-2-2 PSP® go, PSP® (PLAYSTATION®PORTABLE) EVOLVES TO MATCH THE DIGITAL LIFESTYLE

taken everywhere. PSPgo will be available in Piano Black and Pearl White*2, two of the most popular colors since the launch of the PSP system in 2004. Along with PSP-3000, PSPgo will further enhance the unmatched portable gaming and entertainment experience by offering users more opportunity to enjoy their favorite entertainment content such as games, videos, music and photos anytime, anywhere.

In order to meet the needs of the growing number of PlayStation®Network users looking for digital entertainment content, SCE along with third party developers and publishers will continue to enhance the content line-up within PlayStation®Store for the launch of PSPgo, scheduled this fall. More and more new and attractive titles will become available for download from PlayStation®Store as well as on UMD. This broad content offering across all genres includes new games, free-demos, PS one® classics for PSP, add-on items for game titles, and trailers.

In addition to accessing PlayStation Store directly from PSP using the built-in wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) feature or through the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system, users will also be able to access and download a variety of entertainment content via their PCs using Media Go*3, a new software application. Media Go will enable users to access and download entertainment content on PlayStation Store via their PCs as well to easily manage PSP content on PCs, including games, videos, photos, and music. This easy to use software application will be available on a CD-ROM bundled with PSPgo.

Also this fall, a new music application specific to PSP that uses the “SensMe™ channels”*4 music recommendation feature, developed by Sony, also becomes available for download on PSP. With this music application, users will be able to enjoy their favorite music stored on their PSP through a rich user interface, designed exclusively for PSP. “SensMe channels” is a mood based music recommendation system that categorizes music content into channels such as “Relax,” “Dance” and “Upbeat,” and recommends music playlists for users.

3-3-3-3 PSP® go, PSP® (PLAYSTATION®PORTABLE) EVOLVES TO MATCH THE DIGITAL LIFESTYLE

Other features are:

Ø Easy Sliding Display Panel and Original Applications

PSPgo offers a variety of exciting entertainment options by taking advantage of the sliding panel. When the panel is open, users will be able to enjoy various entertainment content with the familiar button control as PSP-3000, when closed, original applications for PSPgo, such as a clock and calendar is displayed on the screen. Users can also enjoy video and music when the panel is closed.

Ø Game sleep function

PSPgo has unique features such as game sleep function which enables users to operate XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) while pausing gameplay temporarily.

Ø Bluetooth® function

Bluetooth function will also allow users to connect Bluetooth standard peripherals such as head-phones and head-set *5 as well as PS3 wireless controller (DUALSHOCK®3 and SIXAXIS®) *6 to be used when watching video content on TVs via PSP at home*7.

Ø Peripheral line-up

One of the products within PSPgo’s peripheral line-up is a new Cradle (PSP-N340) *7 that will become available in stores worldwide concurrently with the release of PSPgo. This new Cradle enables users to charge the PSPgo battery and also enjoy watching video and listening to music. Also included in the peripheral line-up are video-out port cables that enable users to enjoy games and videos on their TVs at home.

With the introduction of PSPgo, SCEI will continue to vigorously expand PlayStation Network’s digital content and services and build a stronger software line-up along with various marketing measures that match each region, while creating the world of computer entertainment only available on the PlayStation platforms.

*1 Content on UMD cannot be played back on PSPgo.

*2 Color variations may differ by countries and regions.

*3 Media Go also supports PSP-1000/2000/3000. For those PSP users, the software is available for download from PlayStation Store official site (http://store.playstation.com)., “Media Manager for PSP” will not support access to PlayStation Store, and it is required to use “Media Go” for accessing PlayStation Store.

4-4-4-4 PSP® go, PSP® (PLAYSTATION®PORTABLE) EVOLVES TO MATCH THE DIGITAL LIFESTYLE

*4 SensMe channels also supports PSP-1000/2000/3000. Details will be announced at a later timing.

*5 Head-phone and head-set supporting A2DP, HSP, AVRCP profile can be used. Some head-phones and head-sets may not be supported.

*6 PS3 wireless controller can be used. To register PS3 wireless controller on PSPgo, PS3 is needed. Some buttons and rumble feature will not be supported.

*7 Video-out cables and Cradle are sold separately in stores. Details will be announced at a later timing. Video-out cable and cradle for PSP-2000/3000 cannot be used on PSPgo.

Techtv101.com - E3 2009: Sony Announcements

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) cements its position as the innovative and creative computer entertainment company this June at the E3 expo in Los Angeles. At E3, the biggest electronic entertainment event, media will be treated to previews of PlayStation®’s new range of original and social entertainment experiences. Highlights include a rocking new line up from competitive singing phenomenon SingStar®, new ways to show off your brainpower to your mates with quiz maestro Buzz!™, as well as a new, ultra-portable hit of games, music, film and more in the form of a new light, compact, download-only PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) model PSP®go. Whether you’re into getting together with pals or looking for the biggest adventure and sports titles, PlayStation is always one step ahead in delivering great entertainment.

Be the life of the party...

SingStar®

For five years, it’s been the perfect centrepiece to every party and SingStar is still going from strength to strength. So grab a microphone, select a song and give a performance worthy of applause. SingStar fans are currently enjoying wireless mics and the constantly-expanding range of tracks and SongPacks available to download from the online SingStore™ for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™). Thousands of wannabe rockers are entertaining the world by uploading their stunning video performances to singstargame.com and My SingStar Online (PS3 only). This year, SingStars are in for a soulful treat with SingStar®Motown and there’s a lot more on the way.

Buzz!™: Quiz World for PS3 and PSP

Get together as the stars of your very own gameshow in the most customisable and personalized Buzz! quiz game yet. With more ways to play than ever before, both PS3 and PSP gamers are in for a general knowledge challenge like no other where your host Buzz! calls you by name and comments on how you’re doing. There’s improved online play, downloadable quiz packs, MyBuzz quizzes that you can write and share with the world, as well as great new characters and new rounds including a gunge tank. The PSP version features an enhanced single-player mode and Pass-Around mode where players compete together by passing PSP around the group– and, for the first time, online play – as well as downloadable question packs from PlayStation®Store.

Lose yourself in your own adventures

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves™ for PS3

Fortune hunter Nathan Drake returns in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves™, a blockbusting third person action adventure/shooter created by award-winning developers Naughty Dog. Blurring the lines between fact, fiction, religion, myth and our shared cultural heritage, Uncharted 2 gives you the chance to find out what happened to Marco Polo and what the Chintamani stone mystery is all about. Experience the thrill of uncovering unfinished history as your progress through your quest.

MAG for PS3

Find out if you’re man enough to command a 128 strong army into battle with this huge, online first person shooter for PS3. Experience a world of online warfare on an unprecedented scale, where 256 players take to the battlefield to win glory and the right to command their troops. Choose the force that reflects your fighting style and prove yourself to move through the chain of command to lead a squad, then a platoon, then an entire army. Exclusive to PS3, this action packed multiplayer madness is sure to sort the men from the boys. Are you officer material?

LittleBigPlanet™ for PSP

Imagine a whole world where you could play, explore and create whatever you like – and imagine that you could take that world with you wherever you go. That’s LittleBigPlanet for PSP – the portable version of last year’s iconic PS3 hit. Get inside the mind of the loveable Sackboy and explore, create and share - running, swinging and leaping through a universe where you can move everything you touch.

Get the adrenaline pumping and step up to the challenge...

Gran Turismo® for PSP

Not content with smashing records and raising standards in its previous PlayStation® (PS one®), PlayStation®2 and PS3 incarnations, legendary racer Gran Turismo® makes its PSP™ debut with all the style, speed and supercars you could ask for – plus a whole lot more besides. Buckle up and take a deep breath as you set out to trounce the opposition on amazing tracks across the globe. You’ll have your pick of over 800 jaw-droppingly realistic dream cars and 35 tracks, all lovingly recreated to rev, roll and roar just as they would in real life. Perfect physics and intelligent rivals make for an ultra-realistic driving experience – and one you can enjoy any time, anywhere on your own or head-to-head against friends.

More entertainment firsts from PlayStation…

PSP®go

Introducing this year’s must-have handheld entertainment system: PSPgo. It’s an evolution of the handheld PSP system with no UMD™ drive – instead, PSPgo lets you download games and content and save it to the 16GB flash memory. Featuring a sliding display panel for reduced size and weight, PSPgo will be arriving October 1 for Europe/ PAL territories – stay tuned for more details. With both the existing PSP-3000 and new PSPgo, SCEE will further enhance the ultimate gaming and entertainment experiences on the go while providing consumers with the opportunity to choose the PSP system that’s right for them.

PSP-3000 Colours

PSP-3000 – the handheld entertainment system that gives you gaming, music, photos, videos and Internet with a built-in microphone and enhanced screen - now comes in a brand-new range of colours to let express yourself even more when you’re out and about. Choose from Vibrant Blue, Mystic Silver, Pearl White, Radiant Red, Lilac Purple and Piano Black and remember to show it off!

VidZone™

Need the ultimate audio-visual entertainment for your party? Create your own music video playlists for every occasion and invite your friends over to enjoy your skills as a video-jockey with this free music video application to download from PlayStation®Store for PS3?. Arriving on June 11th, VidZone is the music video service that features thousands of up to the minute videos from your favourite artists for you to view on demand. Browse the catalogue at your leisure and pick and choose the music videos you want to watch. Play, pause, rewind, fast-forward – and take your favourites with you by accessing them with PSP via remote play.

TechTV101.com - E3 2009 - DJ Hero announced at last, along with Band Hero for the family and Guitar Hero 5!!

Activision just confirmed a whole lot of heroes: the long-teased DJ Hero being the most notable among them. Many trivial humans had conjectured what a "Hero"-style DJ controller would look like, and at last we have our first look (above, and there's another shot after the break). Sure, we have no idea how we're supposed to play it -- where's the whammy bar, for instance? -- but we're sure once we tape a couple of our mom's Perry Como records to the sides we'll start to get the picture. Music genres include "hip-hop, R&B, Motown, electronica and dance," and the game will allow turntablists to create "original mixes" of songs. Additionally, Activision is also prepping a family-friendly Band Hero game, and a Guitar Hero 5 followup to its flagship title, with all three new Hero games hitting sometime this 4th Quarter!!

TechTV101.com - E3 2009 - PS3 Exclusive Agent Announced Exclusively for PLAYSTATION®3 System Share

Rockstar Games is proud to announce Agent. Developed by the people behind Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar North, Agent will be available exclusively for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.

Agent takes players on a paranoid journey into the world of counter-intelligence, espionage and political assassinations during the height of the Cold War at the end of the 1970s.

For more information, log onto www.rockstargames.com.