TechTV101.com

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

2009-08-21T19:44:00.001+01:00

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

2009-07-22T13:49:00.002+01:00

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

2009-07-22T13:45:00.002+01:00

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

2009-07-21T11:52:00.001+01:00

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

2009-07-20T17:06:00.001+01:00

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.

2009-07-03T12:38:00.004+01:00

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

2009-07-02T16:04:00.004+01:00

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!!

2009-07-02T10:12:00.003+01:00

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.

2009-06-27T02:26:00.002+01:00

“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

2009-06-25T13:21:00.003+01:00

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!!

2009-06-25T00:24:00.002+01:00

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

2009-06-23T21:39:00.003+01:00

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!!

2009-06-22T00:10:00.002+01:00

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!!

2009-06-18T11:35:00.002+01:00

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

2009-06-16T15:14:00.003+01:00

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!

2009-06-11T11:25:00.004+01:00

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

2009-06-10T16:04:00.000+01:00

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

2009-06-04T11:26:00.001+01:00

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

2009-06-04T11:23:00.000+01:00

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

2009-06-03T16:39:00.001+01:00

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!!!!

2009-06-03T12:19:00.003+01:00

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

2009-06-03T12:14:00.008+01:00

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!!

2009-06-02T23:45:00.002+01:00

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

2009-06-02T20:54:00.001+01:00

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.

Techtv101.com - E3 2009: Additional Avatar Gameplay Details Emerge

2009-06-02T12:37:00.002+01:00

James Cameron glossed over a lot (most?) of the details about Avatar: The Game at Ubi's press conference Last Night acoording to the reviews from the web. Now, however, a press release was sent around that delved a little more into this mysterious game.

The game will take you deep into the heart of Pandora, an alien planet that is beyond imagination. Gamers will encounter the Na’vi, Pandora’s indigenous people and discover creatures and other wildlife the likes of which have never been seen in the world of video games before. When conflict erupts between the RDA Corporation, a space-faring consortium in search of valuable resources, and the Na’vi, players will find themselves thrust into a fight for the heart of a planet and the fate of a civilization. “Technically, we have a lot in common with Ubisoft and the game world,” said Cameron during the press conference. “We utilized highly sophisticated technologies in creating Avatar so, when it came to choosing a game company, I wanted a partner that would not only be inspired creatively by the world of Avatar but would have the capacity to keep up with the challenging demands of its technological needs. Ubisoft was that company.” James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game will ship this December 2009 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, the Wii(TM) home video game system from Nintendo, the Nintendo DS(TM) system, the PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system and the PC.

Some of the key features in the game as per the release:

• Immerse yourself in James Cameron's world.
Peer deep into the heart of Pandora and see James Cameron's universe, from your own perspective.

• Engage in a massive conflict between two worlds.
Fight for you cause; RDA or Na'vi. Customize more than 60 RDA and Na'vi weapons, combined. Choose your skills: 20 for each clan. Drive all of the vehicles and ride the animals. Expand the battleground in online multiplayer.

• Create and develop your very own character and acquire skills as you progress through the game.

The press release also says the game is coming in December of 2009.

FACEBOOK ON XBOX!!!!

2009-06-02T10:19:00.004+01:00

Yep... you read right... FACEBOOK (and twitter) on XBOX360!!! What was AWESOME, just got even more AWESOMER!!! Oh, and 1080p Video Playback through the recently announced Zune Video Store!!

Ah... just so you believe me 100%, here's the press release!

Microsoft are really killing it at E3 this year! It's gonna be a good year for gamers!

The Best of the Internet, Custom-Made for Your TV

Xbox Unveils Entertainment Experiences That Put Everyone Center Stage

Microsoft rewrites the rules on fun with controller-free entertainment, Facebook for your TV, plus instant on 1080p HD streaming video.

Groove, party or connect with a friend. Xbox LIVE, the world’s largest social network on TV, today announced that Facebook and Last.fm would be tailor-made for your TV, only on Xbox 360. Microsoft also announced Xbox LIVE Party for movies, which allows movie experiences to be shared — on the couch or across the country over Xbox LIVE in supported movies.

“We are always asking ourselves how to make the TV more social,” said John Schappert, corporate vice president of Interactive Entertainment LIVE, Software and Studios at Microsoft. “By bringing Facebook, Last.fm and Xbox LIVE Party for movies and TV shows to Xbox LIVE, we’re not only extending the walls of your living room beyond your home to your friends in different corners of the world, we’re creating the definitive social network, uniting more than 200 million people to share status updates, pictures, thoughts on music and the world’s best online gaming experience.”

The addition of Facebook to Xbox LIVE means friends are always connected, anytime, anywhere — from virtually any couch. But updating your status and sharing photos won’t be the only things you can do. Using Facebook Connect, you can share your greatest moments in gaming by posting updates and screenshots from supported games directly to Facebook. Don’t let your moment of glory fade away — make sure everyone sees it with Facebook Connect, starting with the future version of the premier EA SPORTS golf franchise “Tiger Woods PGA TOUR^®.”

A first for TV, Last.fm,¹ part of the CBS Interactive Music Group, will give Xbox LIVE subscribers access to millions of songs streaming through Xbox 360 to the best speakers in the house. Xbox LIVE subscribers will be able to create their own free, personalized radio stations and listen to them with friends in the living room or across the country.

Xbox 360 also solidified its place as one of the leading social entertainment networks by announcing Xbox LIVE Party for movies. Go to the cinema with your friends whether you are sitting on the same couch or in living rooms across the country. Starting this year, you can share a virtual theater, see your avatar (a virtual you) on the screen, all while you listen to each other laugh and cry at the movie through voice chat on Xbox LIVE. With movie parties, the only thing you can’t share is the popcorn.

Xbox 360 Primes Every Passion With Games That Rock, Race and Sizzle

2009-06-02T10:05:00.002+01:00

Xbox 360 Primes Every Passion With Games That Rock, Race and Sizzle

Microsoft unveils “Forza Motorsport 3,” “Halo: Reach,” “Crackdown 2,” “Shadow Complex,” and “Alan Wake”on Xbox 360.

1 June, 2009 — Rock out. Duck and cover. Shift into overdrive. On the eve of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Microsoft Corp. today made it perfectly clear: No matter who you are or what games you crave, Xbox 360 is the only gaming and entertainment console for you.
At a time when, according to NPD Group Inc., nearly seven in 10 consumers plan to spend the same or more on video games compared with last year, Xbox 360 today unveiled a lineup that is sure to tip the scales in favor of more — more fun, more entertainment value and more games available only on Xbox 360.
A “who’s who” of hot games, the list of Xbox exclusives includes “Forza Motorsport 3,” “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction™,” “Left 4 Dead 2,” “Alan Wake,” “Shadow Complex,” “Crackdown 2,” blockbuster “Halo 3: ODST” and the surprise announce of Halo trilogy prequel “Halo: Reach.” Sharing the stage were blockbustersInfinity Ward’s “Modern Warfare 2” and the “The Beatles: Rock Band.”

“We know that your fun and our success boil down to one thing: our ability to make games that are creative, diverse and entertaining. Period. And this year, we deliver in spades with the biggest and best lineup in our history,” said Phil Spencer, general manager of the global Microsoft Game Studios business. “From the core first-person-shooter fans who’ve enjoyed Xbox since the first ‘Halo’ to new audiences who are discovering us today with genre-defining games like ‘1 vs 100,’ we have something for everyone with our best and broadest lineup ever.”
Xbox 360 has the most celebrated, most played, most coveted and most E-rated games in the industry — and with 1,000-plus titles to date, there’s more than one for you.
Heart-Thumping Entertainment, Exclusively on Xbox 360
Get behind the wheel of an Audi R8 V10 in “Forza Motorsport 3,” jump into the immersive movie-like action of “Alan Wake,” and download “Shadow Complex,” the newest Xbox LIVE Arcade game from the minds behind the blockbuster “Gears of War” franchise. Some of the most exciting games in 2009 and beyond are only on Xbox 360, including the following:
· “1 vs 100” (Microsoft Game Studios). Are you ready to win big? The “1 vs 100” U.S. and Canadian beta launches today, June 1, at 7:30 p.m. PDT. For the first time, “1 vs 100” on Xbox LIVE combines the best of TV gameshow experiences with social gaming to create the largest interactive game show in the world. Based on the hit TV game show of the same name, “1 vs 100 Live” is regularly scheduled and features a live studio host who provides comedic commentary throughout the show and fresh content from a team of trivia writers and experts. Players can play as “the one,” “the mob” or “the crowd,” for the chance to win real prizes. Check your local Xbox LIVE listings to join “1 vs 100 Live.”¹
· “Alan Wake” (Remedy/Microsoft Game Studios). “Alan Wake” is the all-new psychological action thriller from the renowned creators of the “Max Payne” franchise. Coming in spring 2010 and exclusive to Xbox 360, “Alan Wake” will immerse players in an intense cinematic thrill ride of dreams and reality, where light is the only ally.
· “Crackdown 2” (Ruffian Games/Microsoft Game Studios). The sequel to the award-winning “Crackdown,” “Crackdown 2” is the premier open-ended action experience that lets you be judge, jury and executioner for a vast city. Coming exclusively to Xbox 360 in 2010, “Crackdown 2” will take multiplayer² gaming to unprecedented levels for the ultimate cooperative and competitive multiplayer experience, providing you and your friends with the complete freedom to explore, destroy and play as you return to restore justice and peace to Pacific City — by any means necessary.
· “Forza Motorsport 3” (Turn 10/Microsoft Game Studios). Launching this October, “Forza Motorsport 3” is the definitive racing game for everyone from hardcore tuners to anyone who’s ever dreamed of driving at full-throttle. Backed by breathtaking HD graphics and bone-jarring physics, you’ll take the wheel of more than 400 of the most-beloved cars on over 100 renowned real-world tracks and exotic road courses from around the globe. “Forza Motorsport 3” includes driving assists and adjustable skill levels to make the game a gripping pick-up-and-play experience for audiences of all ages and skill levels, while new customization and sharing tools will further fuel the imaginations of the thriving “Forza Motorsport” community on Xbox LIVE.
· “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” (Epic Games Inc.). The “Gears of War 2: Dark Corners” Game Add-on includes seven brand new multiplayer maps and a new campaign chapter, “Road to Ruin.” “Dark Corners” launches on Xbox LIVE Marketplace on July 28. The entertainment blockbuster of 2008, “Gears of War 2” has now surpassed 5 million copies sold worldwide.
· “Halo 3: ODST” (Bungie). Launching Sept. 22, “Halo 3: ODST” is a new game in the landmark “Halo” saga that lets players experience the events leading up to the epic story told in “Halo 3” through the eyes of a special forces ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper). In addition to an all-new campaign, “ODST” includes three new “Halo 3” multiplayer maps and the complete, stand-alone “Halo 3” multiplayer experience.² The game also introduces Firefight, an exciting new cooperative multiplayer mode that pits up to four players against increasingly challenging waves of enemies. As a special bonus, “Halo 3: ODST” also includes an invitation to the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta on Xbox LIVE. Also, launching on the same date with “Halo 3: ODST” is the “Halo 3: ODST Collector’s Pack,” which offers “Halo” fans a new and exclusive wireless controller and the game title in one package at a great price.
· “Joy Ride” (Big Park/Microsoft Game Studios). Avatars, start your engines! Full of wild driving fun, “Joy Ride” will get your adrenaline pumping as you tear up the track with your friends, or jump, flip and trick your way through the Stunt Park as you work with the whole community to unlock rewards.“Joy Ride” is completely free to download and gives you all new ways to play, whether you’re looking for a quick game or a deep, custom social experience, all on Xbox LIVE.² Design your dream car or purchase new tracks, game modes and avatar items. You can share the racetracks and game modes with your friends so no one is ever left out.
· “Left 4 Dead 2” (Valve). “Left 4 Dead 2” is the sequel to the best-selling and critically acclaimed cooperative multiplayer smash from Valve, creators of “Half-Life,” “Portal,” “Team Fortress” and “Counter-Strike.” Introducing melee weapons and new enemies to the original’s award-winning gameplay, “L4D2” casts players as one of four new “Survivors” battling zombie hordes as they travel from Savannah, Ga., through New Orleans’ French Quarter.
· “Shadow Complex” (Epic Games Inc. and Chair Entertainment Group/Microsoft Game Studios). New from Epic Games and Chair Entertainment, “Shadow Complex” combines the best of old-school side-scroller design with modern, cutting-edge gameplay and incredible high-definition graphics. Collect power-ups, discover new abilities and evolve your character into a force of destruction as you explore an original story set in the world of Orson Scott Card’s best-selling novel, “Empire.” “Shadow Complex” marries the quality and depth of a full retail title with the accessibility you love, exclusively on Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE Arcade.
· “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction™” (Ubisoft). Coming exclusively to Xbox 360 this fall, unleash the ferocious skills of renegade agent Sam Fisher and uncover a deadly terrorist plot in “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction™.” Completely reinvented and revolutionized, “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction™” ushers in a new breed of action gameplay leaving players fully immersed in the life of the world’s most dangerous spy. Take full advantage of the 20 million member Xbox LIVE community in this latest installment of the award-winning “Splinter Cell” franchise.
Blockbusters Here, There, Everywhere on Xbox 360
It’s a simple truth: third-party games play better on Xbox 360. Why? Because only Xbox 360 can pair must-have titles like this year’s blockbuster from Infinity Ward, “Modern Warfare 2,” “The Beatles: Rock Band” and “Tony Hawk®: RIDE™” with Xbox LIVE, the world’s largest social network on your TV. The result? As the world’s largest online gaming network, Xbox LIVE gives you more friends to play with and its exclusive collection of Game Add-ons ensures the fun never ends. It leaves only one question: Why would you play these blockbusters anywhere else?
· “Final Fantasy® XIII” (Square Enix). The world-renowned “Final Fantasy” will continue making its home on Xbox 360 with the upcoming release of “Final Fantasy XIII,” the eagerly anticipated title from Square Enix. “Final Fantasy XIII” uses the power and cutting-edge technology of Xbox 360 to deliver seamless transitions between real-time gameplay and in-game cinematics as gamers summon the courage to execute powerful attacks with an evolved Active Time Battle system and ultimately fulfill their destiny.
· “Modern Warfare 2” (Infinity Ward/Activision). On Nov. 10, 2009, Infinity Ward will make its return with the release of “Modern Warfare 2” on Xbox 360, the most-anticipated game of the year and the sequel to the best-selling first-person action game of all time, “Call of Duty^® 4: Modern Warfare™.” “Modern Warfare 2” continues the gripping and heart-racing saga with an unprecedented level of action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse. Xbox LIVE gamers will also be the first to get their hands on two “Modern Warfare 2” map packs coming first to Xbox 360.
· “The Beatles: Rock Band” (Harmonix/MTV Games). On 09.09.09, “The Beatles: Rock Band” will allow fans all over the world to pick-up the guitar, bass, mic or drums and experience The Beatles’ extraordinary catalogue of music through gameplay that takes players on a journey through the legacy and evolution of the band’s legendary career. In addition, “The Beatles: Rock Band” offers Beatles fans the opportunity to rock out with new hardware replica controllers modeled after instruments used by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr throughout their careers. And, for the first time, players will be able to download music and make a change: Available only on Xbox 360, all Apple Corps, MTV Games and Microsoft proceeds from downloads of “All You Need is Love” will benefit Doctors without Borders.
· “Tony Hawk: RIDE” (Activision). “Tony Hawk: RIDE” redefines the sports genre by offering a dynamic hands-free gaming experience featuring an innovative skateboard controller. Using full motion sensing technology, players physically control the action by performing various movements and gestures on the board that directly translate into amazing tricks in the game. The skateboard controller provides an accessible and social gaming experience on Xbox 360 that allows players of all skill levels to battle for skateboard supremacy by challenging gamers worldwide over Xbox LIVE, the largest social gaming network.

Xbox Unveils Entertainment Experiences That Put Everyone Center Stage

2009-06-02T10:04:00.003+01:00

Xbox Unveils Entertainment Experiences That Put Everyone Center Stage
Microsoft rewrites the rules on fun with controller-free entertainment, Facebook for your TV, plus instant on 1080p HD streaming video.

1 June, 2009 — The future of home entertainment has a new name: Xbox 360. Today, Microsoft Corp. opened the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) with a historic Xbox 360 briefing that rocked, tweeted, revved and awakened the world to a new era of fun and entertainment. In addition to premiering 10 exclusive new games, revolutionizing the way we watch TV, and making it easier than ever to connect to friends, Xbox also welcomed visionary filmmaker Steven Spielberg to introduce “Project Natal” and controller-free gaming.

“Today with cultural visionaries at our side and controller-free gaming on our horizon, Xbox 360 authored a new page in home entertainment history,” said Don Mattrick, senior vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “For us, this E3 is about breaking down barriers — between generations, between games and entertainment, and most important, between video game players and everyone else — in a way that only Xbox 360 can.”

During its briefing, Microsoft showed why Xbox 360 continues to defy industry sales trends. First: A lineup of blockbuster games to ignite every passion, including “Forza Motorsport 3,” “Alan Wake,” “Halo 3: ODST,” and “The Beatles: Rock Band.” Next? A host of groundbreaking Xbox LIVE services, from instant on 1080p HD streaming movies and television to Facebook and Last.fm tailor-made for your TV. And rounding it all out, “Project Natal,” a whole new way to play, no controller required.
“Project Natal”: No Strings (or Controllers) Attached

Unveiled for the first time to the public was “Project Natal,” pronounced “nuh-tall” and a code name for a revolutionary new way to play, no controller required. See a ball? Kick it, hit it, trap it or catch it. If you know how to move your hands, shake your hips or speak, you and your friends can jump into the fun. The only experience needed is life experience.

Compatible with any Xbox 360 system, the “Project Natal” sensor is the world’s first to combine an RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone and custom processor running proprietary software all in one device. Unlike 2-D cameras and controllers, “Project Natal” tracks your full body movement in 3-D, while responding to commands, directions and even a shift of emotion in your voice.

In addition, unlike other devices, the “Project Natal” sensor is not light-dependent. It can recognize you just by looking at your face, and it doesn’t just react to key words but understands what you’re saying. Call a play in a football game, and players will actually respond. Want to log onto Xbox LIVE? Simply step in front of the sensor.

“The next step in interactive entertainment is to make the controller disappear,” said Steven Spielberg, visionary director and producer. “With ‘Project Natal,’ we’ll see games that bring everyone together through technology that actually recognizes us.”
The Best of the Internet, Custom-Made for Your TV
Groove, party or connect with a friend. Xbox LIVE, the world’s largest social network on TV, today announced Facebook and Last.fm would be tailor-made for your TV, only on Xbox 360. Microsoft also announced Xbox LIVE Party for movies, which allows movie experiences to be shared — on the couch or across the country over Xbox LIVE in supported movies.

“We are always asking ourselves how to make the TV more social,” said John Schappert, corporate vice president of Interactive Entertainment LIVE, Software and Studios at Microsoft. “By bringing Facebook, Last.fm and Xbox LIVE Party for movies and TV shows to Xbox LIVE, we’re not only extending the walls of your living room beyond your home to your friends in different corners of the world, we’re creating the definitive social network, uniting more than 200 million people to share status updates, pictures, thoughts on music and the world’s best online gaming experience.”

The addition of Facebook to Xbox LIVE means friends are always connected, anytime, anywhere — from virtually any couch. But updating your status and sharing photos won’t be the only things you can do. Using Facebook Connect, you can share your greatest moments in gaming by posting updates and screenshots from supported games directly to Facebook. Don’t let your moment of glory fade away — make sure everyone sees it with Facebook Connect, starting with the future version of the premier EA SPORTS golf franchise “Tiger Woods PGA TOUR^®.”

A first for TV, Last.fm¹, part of the CBS Interactive Music Group, will give Xbox LIVE subscribers access to millions of songs streaming through Xbox 360 to the best speakers in the house. Xbox LIVE subscribers will be able to create their own free, personalized radio stations and listen to them with friends in the living room or across the country.

Xbox 360 also solidified its place as one of the leading social entertainment networks by announcing Xbox LIVE Party for movies. Go to the cinema with your friends whether you are sitting on the same couch or in living rooms across the country. Starting this year, you can share a virtual theater, see your avatar (a virtual you) on the screen, all while you listen to each other laugh and cry at the movie through voice chat on Xbox LIVE. With movie parties, the only thing you can’t share is the popcorn.
1080p HD in an Instant
Continuing a pioneering effort that began with the introduction of the industry’s first video marketplace in November 2006 and broke new ground with the announcement of the first live TV straight from a gaming console last week in the U.K., Microsoft today announced that Xbox would deliver yet another first-to-the-world: instant on 1080p movies and TV with 5.1 surround sound — direct to consoles connected to compatible HD TVs through the Xbox LIVE social entertainment network.

Starting this fall, a broad selection of movies and TV shows from Zune video on Xbox 360 will be available to start and stream instantly, in the highest video quality and at the push of a button.² No discs, no waiting for downloads and no delays. Get the selection of a video megastore, the best video clarity available and the convenience of on-demand, only on Xbox 360.

In addition, Microsoft announced it will more than double the number of markets where Xbox LIVE offers its TV shows and movies, growing from eight to 18, by adding Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. Xbox LIVE members in these markets will have access to instant on 1080p video. New Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace advancements also came for the U.S., U.K. and Ireland specifically:
· More choices with Netflix. Watch movies instantly streamed from Netflix.³ Browse and add selections to your instant Queue — right on your TV with your Xbox 360. Plus now with Xbox LIVE Party, you can watch and share supported movies with up to seven friends on Xbox LIVE. Debating between comedy and horror? Recommend your favorites to friends and see your virtual you as an avatar on the silver screen.

The Xbox LIVE commitment to providing the best global entertainment gains momentum with its newest partner, Sky. Now, for the first time, watch live or on-demand TV from Sky on Xbox 360, including Sky Sports. Never miss a moment of your favorite live TV shows, sports, movies and family-friendly entertainment across the U.K. and Ireland on Xbox LIVE. You can even share your favorites with up to seven friends in an Xbox LIVE Party.

Games for Everyone
Get behind the steering wheel of the sleek Audi R8. Rock out with your friends to the latest music and party games. Discover a new chapter set in the iconic universe of “Halo.” Xbox 360 has the most celebrated, highly anticipated games and experiences in the industry. With more than 1,000 titles to date, there’s more than just one for you.
· Get behind the wheel. Hit the straightaway in more than 400 cars on the world’s most beautiful tracks in the definitive racing game for this console generation, “Forza Motorsport 3.” Or get your avatar in the driver’s seat as you tear up the track with your friends in “Joy Ride.”
· Adrenaline-rushing exclusives. Xbox 360 is your top destination for the biggest exclusives this year and beyond, including “Halo 3: ODST,” “Crackdown 2,” “Alan Wake,” “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction™” and “Left 4 Dead 2.”
· Tap into your inner musician. Xbox 360 continues to be the preferred venue for the music games you love. Discover the magic of music and The Beatles with “The Beatles: Rock Band” or start a spontaneous singing party with “Lips: Number One Hits.”
· The best blockbuster experiences. Third-party games play better on Xbox 360. Pairing must-have titles such as this year’s blockbuster from Infinity Ward, “Modern Warfare 2,” and “Final Fantasy XIII” with Xbox LIVE, Xbox 360 offers more friends to play with and an exclusive collection of Game Add-ons.

Splinter Cell: Conviction Trailer

2009-06-02T09:13:00.001+01:00

Ok... going by the trailer embedded below (Thanks to Joystiq), this is possibly the best looking game i have ever seen!! I honestly thought the first bit was a cut scene!! AMAZING... check it out and let us know what you think!

Red Faction: Guerrilla trailer

2009-06-02T09:09:00.002+01:00

Accordion Hero II

2009-05-30T23:44:00.001+01:00

In The states there has been a full page ad for Accordion Hero II. My curiosity lead me to the web site address listed on the ad, which was actually a very professional looking, well designed ad. Arriving at the site we quickly determined that this is all obviously a big joke, complete with very convincing 3D renders of the Accordion Hero II package, as well as a scary screen shot from the game. HeHe how cool would his be eh??

Share this Story:

Sky Player to hit XBOX360 this Autum!!!!! OMFG!

2009-05-29T22:08:00.003+01:00

Yep... you read it right, BSkyB's SkyPlayer will be merging with Xbox Live in a few months... THIS IS AWESOME!
i currently use the Sky Player.. the live stream is really handy during lunch in work, and the live streaming movies are great when there's nothing on the TV. It's been a bit of a hassle getting it on the TV (hooking up PC / Laptop to TV and all that jazz), but this is going to make it soo much easier!
There are not prices or exact launch date yet, but this is one to watch out for!!

TechRadar.co.uk had a Q&A Session and got some questions answered, you can see that HERE
PRESS RELEASE:
Xbox 360 Joins Forces with Sky to Offer First Ever Console-Based Live TV Service

LONDON & DUBLIN - 28 May 2009: Millions of entertainment fans will soon have the way they watch TV transformed, as Xbox 360 and Sky announce a ground-breaking partnership which will enable, for the first time ever, premium live television to be watched through a games console.

In a UK and Ireland first, Sky Player, Sky’s online TV service, will come to Xbox LIVE in the autumn, allowing Xbox owners to access a range of channels and programmes to either view live or on-demand.

Details of the full channel line-up will be revealed closer to launch, but it is anticipated that Xbox LIVE users will be able to access blockbuster movies, must-see entertainment shows, thought-provoking documentaries, programming dedicated to kids, music and the arts, as well as all the excitement of Premier League football, Test Match cricket and a wide variety of other sports through Sky Sports.

The news, officially unveiled today in Central London by Sky Sports News Georgie Thompson, reveals there will be a number of viewing options.

For a new customer joining Sky through their Xbox, Sky Player will offer a wide range of live channels and on-demand content via a number of different packages. These customers will also be able to access their favourite shows on a pay-per-view basis.

Existing Sky customers who already own an Xbox will benefit from another way to view their favourite shows, in addition to their Sky set-top box and PC or Mac

There will be a range of unique interactive services available to the Xbox LIVE / Sky Player offering. For Sky Sports, for example, this will mean that live coverage will be supported by range of applications to enhance the viewing experience further. As well as fans being able to communicate with one another in real time via their broadband connections, they will also be able to check news and access fixtures, league tables and other on-demand information. Interactive applications will also be developed across other programmes genres.

Stephen Nuttall, Director of Sky’s Commercial Group comments:” Our partnership with Xbox is a further example of our commitment to put choice and control in the hands of customers. Xbox owners now have a range of ways to access Sky content and can pick and choose the platform and packages that are right for them. We are extremely excited about the opportunity of reaching Xbox owners who are looking to experience Sky for the first time, as well as giving our existing customers yet another way to experience the content they love.”

Echoing this, Neil Thompson, Head of Xbox UK and Ireland, adds: “Our customers have told us that they want the opportunity to use their consoles as a way to access TV and once again Xbox has pulled off an entertainment first with amazing content and rich interactive experience. The combination of Sky’s leadership in content creation and aggregation and our own in creating a constantly evolving new generation of rich 360 entertainment experiences means we are one step closer to our goal of offering Xbox owners the best entertainment experiences out there, whether it’s movies, music, games, interactive experiences or high quality TV.”

Sky Player joins Xbox LIVE’s ever-expanding interactive online offering spanning on-demand films, music videos and games. It also enables users to communicate with each other via live video chat and MSN Messenger, beating console rivals to cement Xbox 360 as a true pioneer of home entertainment.

Sky Player currently provides access to a range of live TV channels – including Sky Sports – and a comprehensive on-demand library of thousands of programmes spanning entertainment, movies, documentaries, kids, culture, news and sport.

More DLC For GTA IV Announced!!

2009-05-28T12:00:00.001+01:00

Rockstar Games is proud to announce the fall release of both the second episode of Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony - exclusively for download on Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network, and Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, which will include both episode one The Lost and Damned, and episode two The Ballad of Gay Tony together on a single disc exclusively for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Grand Theft Auto IV's second downloadable episode, The Ballad of Gay Tony injects Liberty City with an overdose of guns, glitz, and grime. As Luis Lopez, part-time hoodlum and full-time assistant to legendary nightclub impresario Tony Prince (aka "Gay Tony"), players will struggle with the competing loyalties of family and friends, and with the uncertainty about who is real and who is fake in a world in which everyone has a price.

Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City delivers two games on one disc - the all-new episode The Ballad of Gay Tony and the first episode, The Lost and Damned - together on disc for the first time and will not require a copy of the original Grand Theft Auto IV to play(Interesting...)

The Ballad of Gay Tony will release on Xbox LIVE this fall for $19.99 or 1600 MS points and requires players to have Grand Theft Auto IV for Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE membership to download.

Much more information and media to come.

Blizzards Acoustic Gig Streamed online TONIGHT With Xbox Live!!

2009-05-27T14:47:00.001+01:00

Xbox have announced an exclusive, one off gig by one of Ireland’s hottest bands, The Blizzards, which will be streamed live on www.theblizzards.ie/xbox from 8pm on Wednesday, May 27^th. The multi-platinum selling band will take to the stage to play their first ever full acoustic set in the intimate surroundings of one of Dublin’s most select venues, Number 10, Ormond Quay ahead of Oxegen. Those attending on the night will also get an exclusive sneak preview of one of the summer’s biggest music events as both The Blizzards and Xbox Live Stage will be part of the line-up at this year’s Oxegen Festival.

Boasting a massive 46 sq metres, high-quality LED screen, the Xbox Live Stage will become a focal point for festival-goers as it will feature live performances of VJ and DJ sets from the likes of MTV’s Eclectic Method, Arveene, Mickey Dee, Spin’s Dave Davin and Mark Vity. Xbox are also giving one lucky competition winner the chance to have their own half hour DJ set at Oxegen on the Xbox LIVE Stage in front of thousands of screaming fans. Entrants should email a sample set to vjs@xboxlivestage.com to be in with their chance of performing at Ireland’s top music festival.

Speaking about their upcoming performance, Niall Breslin of The Blizzards said, “

It’s no secret we’re all keen gamers. Xbox Live offers bands such as ourselves the opportunity to reach out to the next generation of Xbox owners with music content and videos available for download 24/7. We are delighted to work with Xbox on an event like this as not only will we get to meet fans up close and personal but we will also be able to play a gig for those fans not lucky enough to make it on the night.”

A select audience comprising of competition winners and dedicated Blizzards fans will also be in with a chance of winning a set of dazzling Limited Edition Lips™ Mics made with CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Element. Each microphone is made with 520 delicately placed gems, with a pair totaling a blinging 1,040 Xilion Rose Flat Back crystals. The winner will also receive an Xbox 360 and a copy of Lips, the new karaoke game.

Tune into www.theblizzards.ie/xbox from 8pm on Wednesday 27^th May to watch this exclusive gig thanks to Xbox LIVE.

Techtv101.com - Pimp My Mobility Scooter!!!!!!

2009-05-27T14:37:00.002+01:00

72-year old video game junkie Harold Churchill takes his one-of-a-kind mobility scooter for a spin after it was customised around launch of the new Pimp My Ride Street Racing game.

Harold, who is officially Britain’s biggest ‘Grey Gamer’ won the chance to have a car customised after entering a video game competition organised to launch Activision’s Pimp My Ride Street Racing, but he opted to have his mobility scooter modified after retiring from driving 3-years ago.

Harold from Lewisham in South East London said: “Even though I am 72, I’m pretty young at heart. I absolutely love my new look scooter – even though a few of my friends at the day centre think I’m bonkers”.

Harold’s £400 scooter has been given a £2,500 make-over and is now fitted with a customised and hand painted body kit, a surround sound music system, under body neon lighting, LED lights, alloy rims, a carbon fibre racing seat and a Nintendo DS Lite in the dashboard.

Zune Video coming to Ireland and UK

2009-05-27T11:19:00.002+01:00

TechRadar.com is running a piece today where Microsoft's Chris Stephenson has spoken out in an interview about the upcoming Zune Video Marketplace. We'll have more on this as and when the official announcement happens next week at E3! (Also spoken about as the new ZuneHD player, but no mention of and Irish release yet!)

For now have a gander over the piece below (Thanks to TechRadar.com for this!)

"A service called Zune Video will be arriving on the Xbox 360 in key markets including the UK, with Microsoft confirming that it will pair two of its brands as it separately announced a new Zune media player for the US.

Zune Video, a 'revised' service to the current US Zune Marketplace, will arrive in the UK on Xbox Live, as well as in the US, France, Italy, Germany, Ireland and Spain.

In an interview with the Guardian, ahead of the official announcement later this week, Microsoft's Chris Stephenson explained the thinking behind moving Zune to Xbox.

"Xbox as a platform is broadening its audience, growing beyond games into living room entertainment," said Stephenson.

"That's what's driven the prioritisation of an enhanced Zune video service to Xbox… It's about changing the way people think about entertainment."

Not a Zune-gamer phone

The revelation falls far short of some predictions that a Zune mobile phone or portable games console was all set to be unveiled.

Meanwhile, confirmation of a new Zune player have been released, with Reuters posting up some of the details in a brief report.

The new Zune HD will, as the name suggests, incorporate high definition video, have a touch-screen and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The WiFi heralds the arrival of a web browser, and there will also apparently be an internet radio and the promise of better quality radio playback.

"Yes. We've got a tremendous device," added Stephenson. "This is a fantastic piece of hardware and absolutely it's going right up against iPod Touch; it's hyper competitive against that product.

Stephenson also talked more about the potential for gaming on the Zune, stating in the same Gurdian games blog article:

"Well, gaming on the handheld device is definitely a big opportunity for us, we have the DNA in our business.

"We're not talking specifically about the gaming aspect of our hardware platform at the moment, but it's definitely something that over time, we want to step up, and we'll have more announcements around that in the future."

TechTV101.com - NEW MODERN WARFARE TRAILER - IRISH EXCLUSIVE

2009-05-25T11:11:00.004+01:00

New IRISH EXCLUSIVE 2 min Trailer for Call Of Duty Series New Upcoming Release, Modern Warfare 2. ENJOY and let us know what you think!!!!

TechTV101 Chats with PS3's "inFamous" Producer and Game Director

2009-05-24T14:25:00.006+01:00

A massive explosion rips through six square blocks of Empire City!! annihilating everything and everyone in its path. Everyone, that is, except for one man: Cole MacGrath not only survived the blast, he’s been transformed by it.We asked the Producer Of The game Brian Fleming and also the Game Director Nate Fox, some questions that YOU Gamers wanted to know about the game! Here's what they said...

Brian Fleming

Producer & Co-Founder

Sucker Punch Productions

How has the make-up of Sucker Punch changed during development of inFamous?

The game has a much bigger scope, much more content, so much more detail than anything we’ve ever tried before… It’s borderline crazy for a team of sixty people to try to build a game like this, but we have always valued being a smaller sized team because it keeps us nimble. I never thought I’d say “nimble” about a sixty person team, but it still feels that way! So many new specialized positions for this title: high detail character artists, full-time lighting, a team of 2 guys just detailing out the climbing system across a city’s worth of buildings. But in the end, I think inFamous is very much going to be a game with similar strengths to our previous work… Excellent controller feel during gameplay, strong storyline, and incredibly detailed/interactive environments… It’s who we are!

Why just electricity? Was there a temptation to go full-on elemental, to include fire and water powers?

We never entertained fire and water powers for Cole, though we did entertain those for enemies at one brainstorming meeting—though we never could really work out how water or earth might really work out. At the beginning, we started off with a blank slate, and just prototyped… We tried all sorts of powers in the first year of the development cycle—always looking for things which gave us the feeling of being powerful, had cool impact on the environment, and which gave lots of good gameplay opportunities. Electricity had some very encouraging initial prototypes and that got us excited, so we started more focused brainstorming there. We found great relationships between the hero powers, and the city itself. And then things got rolling—you start simulating the power system of the city and you end up with a super model for influence and control on neighbourhoods. Healing peds like a defibrillator happens and things start to make even more sense. It just sort of snowballed from there. The constraint of “just electricity” ends up being hugely helpful to the brainstorming process, kind of opposite of what you might expect.

Can you name examples of the comics/movies/TV shows that inspired the premise of inFamous?

Egads, how long do you have? If you forced me to pick a few big ones, I’d say Batman Begins (early on) and the more recent Dark Knight movie certainly connected for a lot of us. For print, I’d point first at Brian Woods’ work, especially DMZ, as something we talked about a bunch when trying to imagine the world of Empire City. We’d already begun development of the title when the Heroes TV show started airing, and we constantly talked about how it portrayed ordinary people as heroes… You didn’t need a spandex suit to be a super-hero. That was encouraging and inspiring, too…

Can you tell me more about how the blackout in Seattle had some effect on the concept of the game – is this true? Can you relay that story for our readers?

On December 14^th, 2006 a huge rainstorm hit the Pacific Northwest, followed by 70+ MPH winds… Besides putting a serious dent in the Sucker Punch holiday party that year, the storm knocked out a huge amount of the electrical power infrastructure. Our offices were in one of the 5 square blocks that had power the whole time, but many employees had no electricity at home for days and days. The first day it’s sort of an adventure; you eat the ice cream melting in the freezer, and enjoy the candles. But then you see the police take over the only working gas station and turn away the public. Streetlights and signals are off for a week. Most folks don’t have a generator so they endure 40 degree nights, or bring their baby and wife to the office to stay warm.

So this all happens a year into the development of inFamous… We happen to be creating a fictional world which doesn’t just have a power outage; it has a law enforcement vacuum, and some actual destruction from a bomb blast. Now let it drag on for weeks and weeks. More than anything the blackout helped us imagine the world of Empire City much more vividly.

What are the real-world inspirations behind the city’s design?

Super hero comics and movies were the principal inspiration—and super heroes are so closely linked to city life, it seemed obvious from the beginning that we were talking big-city locales…. We looked to New York for some of the architecture and design elements, it’s kind of the god-father of super hero cities… But we certainly aren’t trying to make New York, we looked at a ton of international cities (Tokyo, Montreal come to mind), and always looked for cityscapes which had really excellent climbing related architecture as well—we knew from the beginning that Cole was going to use the city like a 3D jungle gym. I remember our game director, Nate, kept bringing in all these photo reference pieces from Kowloon, which were crazy complex and detailed—telling us all “This is what we gotta make!!”

Can you explain how the customisation of Cole works in the game? Every player, we assume, is imbued with electric powers – how, then, can one character differentiate from the next?

I’m going to have to pass on this one—I see our PR folks are about to electrocute me with their powers if I spill.

Has the release of GTA IV affected the way you create your open world? Did you see that title and go: ‘Okay, let’s add this so that we keep ahead of the times’?

Not especially. Clearly GTA IV is the big dog of open world games, and we’d be stupid if we didn’t play it, study it and learn. But the big differences in inFamous – the totally explorable, climbable, and detailed environment, the simulated city and crime ecology, discovering and mastering your powers, the decisions you make to save or destroy… Those were in place long before GTA IV shipped.

How long would it take a player to travel from one side of Empire City to the other?

Well that will depend on the method you use to traverse it! Is this the beginning of the game? If yes then it’s essentially impossible… Not only are bridges out but the power grid is down in most places and you’d never survive the journey -- even if you could make it across the bridges. By the end of the storyline, your journey will of course be possible… You’ll have acquired powers which enhance your navigation through the world, there’s trains running around the city you can hop rides on, etc.

Are there advantages to being under the Sony umbrella? Do you have an open dialogue with other developers within the PS3 community?

Without question there are advantages – the largest of which is the amazing team at Sony America who produces our titles. They’ve been amazing partners over the last 10 years and have always supported and challenged us to make our games better. We trust our publisher—something that seems quite rare.

We also have been fortunate to have a close and open relationship with the teams at Naughty Dog and Insomniac, two amazing teams whose ability to make excellent titles always inspires us. We trade tools, approaches and offer advice to each other. It’s another great part of our gig.

Can you talk a little bit about developing on the PS3 for inFamous? How can you build upon it in future?

We’ve enjoyed the PS3 development experience. As a PS3-only studio, we’ve had the chance to focus on and extract a lot of the power that the platform offers, which sort of feels like a luxury at times. I’ve said this in previous interviews but the SPUs are simply amazing. Of the things we could move onto the SPUs, we’ll get about half of them there in this generation of our technology—occlusion, rendering, particle systems, ect. But there’s much more we can move, it’s just a matter of time until we do so, and I can’t wait to make games with our next generation engine!

Have you cast any voice actors for the project?

As I write this we’re 24 hours from our second major recording session. Casting voice actors who capture the vibe of a character in the game is a surprisingly difficult part of the process. I know for one of the bosses on the game, who has a small-ish overall line count, we listened to between 70 and 100 auditions for that role. Actors from Seattle, Portland, LA and New York did readings for the part. We cast an actor, had them record the part, and then decided we didn’t like it, so pitched it and tried the process again. Hopefully the results will show up in the final game!

Additionally, we try very hard to schedule our recording sessions with multiple actors in the booth at once. So if Cole is talking to his friend Zeke about how much they miss pizza delivery ever since the blast – we put both those guys in the booth and record it as a conversation. If you listen to a lot of game audio, you can tell they recorded the halves of the conversation in isolation – and it has a subtle but very important effect on the quality of the performances.

The moral choices you make in the game – how much of an effect does it have on the outcome of the story, or indeed the tasks you’re handed by the game? Is it just a case of watching a different ending FMV, or have you tackled it in a new way?

(Answer redacted by a sharp-eyed marketing team member who points out that this is being revealed at a later date)

What types of tasks can players engage in outside of the main story?

Beyond the main story, we’ve built a sort of crime eco-system constantly running in Empire City. It’ll offer up lots of heroic and not-so-heroic opportunities to the player. Will you save those pedestrians being rounded up by the Reapers? Or will you blow the whole lot to smithereens? Want to help the few remaining cops retake their police station and try to establish some order? These choices are yours!

We’re almost sorry to ask, but have you played Crackdown on the 360? That game had quite a cool mechanic for scaling buildings – how do you feel inFamous compares with its equivalent system?

Don’t apologize, it’s a common connection. I think people hear superheroes in a modern setting and they connect the two. And for the record Crackdown was a fun if under-appreciated game that many of us played and liked!

Cole’s climbing and exploration abilities are one part scaling buildings athletically and gracefully, and one part vertical duck and cover combat. It’s empowering, fluid and works everywhere you think it should… Want to climb that drain pipe, leap to the windows and then off the building onto the nearby streetlight? That should be effortless…. We’re trying to give a complete sense of freedom to the player, while trying to make things feel believable and grounded enough that it seems entirely possible. And the fact that you can use your powers while climbing means you can use poles and structures for cover and to get better firing angles. All together you’re looking at the most core mechanics of the entire game—movement and using your powers—so things better work pretty well!

Nate Fox

Game Director

Sucker Punch Productions

Cole isn’t alone in the game; can you talk about his companions and their role?

Like any good superhero story Cole is surrounded by a supporting cast of bad-asses. Zeke’s the best friend who sometimes helps out in the field (AKA- the Sidekick). Trish is the love interest, she runs all around town helping out as a guerrilla medic. And finally there’s Moya, Cole’s mysterious source for Intel.

How hard has it been to give the player so much power but still provide a challenge in the game?

Since we’re trying to give Players the feeling of becoming a modern day superhero it sort of demands a full slate of amped-up powers. To provide a challenge we’ve crafted a large Rogue’s Gallery of equally gifted enemies. After all, powerful iconic villains are a must for any superhero experience.

If Cole can be good or evil how do you define the ‘bad’ guys?

Anyone trying to kill Cole or his buddies is the enemy. It’s pretty simple really, Cole’s on quest that allows him the flexibility to be either selfless or selfish, good or evil… and anyone that tries to keep him from his goal is gonna get a lightning bolt to the face.

Pitch your game to someone who’s never heard of it before in 50 words.

InFamous takes a realistic, modern-day look at super heroes -- it's not set in a fantasy world, it's set in our world. What would happen if you suddenly found yourself with super powers? How would your friends react? What would the public think of you? Those are the issues that inFamous explores, all while offering a dynamic, open-world environment.

What’s different about developing your game now compared to developing something when the PS3 launched?

It took a while to get our new streaming engine up and running, but now that it’s here “life is good”. It’s easy to create elaborate cinematic missions packed with a variety of enemies. And since it’s a sandbox game you end up getting all this spontaneous interaction between systems.

How is development coming along? When can we expect to see the finished product?

The game's coming along pretty well and we're right on target for a release in Spring 2009, and it's fun to play. I guess that's the big thing, isn't it?

What will set your title apart from other games of its genre?

Our hero, Cole, has powers that are designed from the ground up to work well in the context of a videogame. For example, he can shoot lighting bolts out of his hands -- why? Because shooting in videogames works really freaking well. Same with being able to climb everywhere in the world and jump between buildings -- it's fun to do! This is our core strategy in crafting our superhero -- we're building the world around his powers and his powers around what's fun to do in the world.

How have things panned out since we talked six months ago? When do you anticipate the game hitting the shelves?

You wouldn’t believe me if I told you how much has been built, changed, and improved over the last six months. Virtually every aspect of the game is better, runs faster, and of course there’s tons more to do in Empire City. Development cycles, especially for new projects like inFamous, are really strange… At least the first half of the project feels like total darkness, trying things which fail, working in a toolset that has bugs, and the game is always missing the feature you need. Then sometime, in our case about 8 months before the end – things start coming together. Each day is more fun, you get more work done, and the game starts to really get good. We are making the game better every single day, and will continue polishing and improving an awful lot before we finish! You should see inFamous on store shelves this Spring!

We understand that Cole’s powers will centre on electricity. Can you tell us what went into this decision and why electricity.

You know it was one of the strong candidates from the beginning for us… Clearly it wasn’t our only idea though, so we did what we always do—which is start trying things… We prototyped some electricity powers, and of course some other powers too… And started playing with them—in test worlds, in combat… After our first couple rounds of prototyping, electricity is visually strong, and playing strong, so we start doing focused brainstorming around that – and then the really good stuff starts coming up—hey, we can use it to revive dead guys on the street! Oh yeah, we can power up dead machinery… Hey, the entire city electric grid can be simulated, we can use that! And when you hit that stage—where brainstorming meetings are turning out great, usable ideas, that’s when you know you’re onto something.

It’s been a while since we heard about any of the enemy types. Can you describe any to us just to help add some colour to the feature?

Well, there’s all sorts of enemies, as you probably expect… You’ve seen the Reaper gang, but not their leader… You’ve probably also not seen all the different unit types in the Reaper gang either, so let me assure you that the grunts with guns, and the taller, teleporting elites, those are just two of four unit types of that one gang... And of course the boss of the reapers, we haven’t talked about her yet… We’ll talk more about the other gangs as we get a bit closer to launch too, so stay tuned!

Has Cole developed a surname yet?

MacGrath... We drew from his back story, and looked at lots of Irish Clan history, mottos, and crests and picked MacGrath because we liked the fit. The crest includes a Maltese Cross indicating the family was dedicated to healing, and also battle axes indicating the family was often involved in battles. It’s not like his crest is a part of the game, but there was a lot of care taken, even at this level. Salus in fide!

Can you give us two-line bio of each of his sidekick characters and briefly outline an example of how each will help you during gameplay?

I think helpers is probably the wrong way to look at the cast – they’re involved, important, but independent of Cole. Well so far, we’ve introduced Zeke, conspiracy theorist, survivalist and blood brother with Cole. He’ll fight alongside you at times, but you know, Zeke’s his own man, so don’t expect that to be super common. Trish is Cole’s on-again/off-again girlfriend, a med-student, and one who can really sharpen the point of some of Cole’s moral dilemmas in the game. Moya is the law, she’s outside the Quarantined parts of Empire City, but has decent intelligence reports, and strikes a deal with Cole to clear his name if he keeps his end of the bargain.

How do you make both the good and evil paths through the game rewarding? In Bioshock, it felt like there was a slight imbalance where it was more rewarding to do good than bad – is this something you’re addressing? Will you get different endings depending on your morals?

I think of it less of separate paths, more of appropriate experiences and responses… We try to give you a little taste of what it’s like to be famous, or infamous… It’s not like in one ending the city blows to smithereens and in the other it becomes a utopia… That “fork the story” is not what holds our interest as storytellers… What we like is the little stuff, the people passing you on the street and taking your picture, or ganging up on you to try to exact revenge… The endings can indeed be, but that’s not really the point we’re trying to make…

What’s the latest on multiplayer and online play? Co-op is really ‘in’ at the mo – will it be supported?

Nope, sorry…

Let us in on what a few of your Trophies will be awarded for...

Whatever our QA staff and design team deems as the most worthy! Got any suggestions?

Palm Pre on June 6th for $200 In USA.. It's official!

2009-05-20T10:50:00.000+01:00

The day you've been waiting for is here. Sprint just announced that the Pre will cost $199.99 after $100 mail-rebate and 2-year contract and will launch on June 6th as rumored this morning. The phone will go on sale nationwide (US-only for the moment) at Sprint stores, Best Buy, Radio Shack, and select Wal-Mart stores. The Pre will be available under Sprint's Everything Data or Business Essentials with Messaging and Data plans. Accessories include the optional $69.99 Touchstone charging dock kit that includes the $49.99 dock and $19.99 Pre back cover. June 6th, that's two days before the WWDC keynote. Poor Apple.

Note: Looking more info? Check out our giant Palm Pre hub!

From: ENGADGET.COM

The Dragonica Europe Closed Beta opens to everyone for a 4 days Stress Test

2009-05-20T10:28:00.002+01:00

The free arcade style 3D side-scrolling MMORPG Dragonica has been online for Europe during its Closed Beta for less than a week at the www.gpotato.eu gaming portal, with the official release planned for June 2009. In order to perform server tests and allow all users to take part in the CBT Community Events, the gPotato Team have decided to open the servers to all gPotato.eu users for a 4 days Stress Test beginning 19th of May.

For the first time in western countries, the highly anticipated action MMORPG Dragonica has been made available to a selected amount of players for the European Beta Test on the 13th of May. Since then, many events, such as Combo Challenge or Screenshot Contest, have been lead by the gPotato Community Team, and many more are planned for the coming days.

All gPotato.eu users will be able to participate in the upcoming events, as the gPotato Team opens Dragonica to the public for a 4 days Stress Test leading to the end of the beta test on Friday the 22nd. During these four days, users will be able to discover the colorful world of Dragotaka and the action-paced gameplay of Dragonica. All beta users who reach level 20 before the end of the tests will be able to reserve their character name and receive rewards at the official launch of the game next month.

In order to have access to the Dragonica Stress Test, just create a free account on the www.gpotato.eu gaming portal, download the game from the official Dragonica website, and play!

Sony Ericsson Announce National Smile Hunt

2009-05-17T14:00:00.001+01:00

Sony Ericsson launches challenge to capture millions of smiles around the world

Sony Ericsson and RTE 2FM’s Nikki Hayes have launched a nationwide “smile hunt” across Ireland today. As part of the global Sony Ericsson Smile Hunter campaign, to look for the best smile hunters from around the world, Sony Ericsson is offering two lucky people from Ireland the chance to become Sony Ericsson official Smile Hunters.

Sony Ericsson’s Smile Hunters will get to go to the most prestigious events, exclusive parties, meet new people and travel to exciting places as a Sony Ericsson VIP – for free. In return, the Smile Hunters will be challenged to capture as many smiles as possible on their mobile camera phones and to keep a blog about the stories they gather behind the smiles.

Nikki Hayes, who is one of Ireland’s most popular radio presenters, will be leading the search for smiles around the country by becoming Sony Ericsson’s official Smile Hunter Ambassador for Ireland, taking pictures on her Sony Ericsson C905 camera phone whenever she’s out and about. Nikki will then post her photos on the Sony Ericsson Smile Hunter website for everyone to see. Nikki said “I love taking photographs on my C905 camera phone so catching smiles will be easy for me plus most people know that I spend a lot of time blogging!”

Anyone who thinks they could be a Sony Ericsson Smile Hunter must first apply online at www.sonyericsson.com/smilehunter. A shortlist will be selected by a panel of judges who will decide who makes it through to the final experience. Once selected, Sony Ericsson Smile Hunters will be given ‘Smile Hunting Kits’ containing everything they need for an action-packed summer – including a new Sony Ericsson Cybershot™ C510 camera phone with innovative Smile Shutter™ technology - the ultimate tool for capturing smiles - gig tickets, VIP passes to exclusive events, trips for you and your friends, festival tickets and entrance to exclusive club nights.

Sony Ericsson’s clever Smile Shutter™ technology is the latest in camera phone sophistication. Available with both the Sony Ericsson C510 Cyber-shot™ and C905 Cyber-shot™ upgrade, the Smile Shutter™ detects a person’s smile and immediately takes the photograph - capturing the perfect smiling-shot every time. Missed smiles are a thing of the past with this revolutionary smile hunting tool.

Even if you don’t make it through to be an official Sony Ericsson Smile Hunter, there will be a chance to take part in an exciting global smile hunter competition, in which anyone can enter by simply uploading their best camera phone ‘smile’ photos to an interactive gallery on the official website www.sonyericsson.com/smilehunter.

A global judging panel comprising David Viggers, international photographer, Tony Briggs, celebrity portrait photographer, Martin Wezowski, design producer for Sony Ericsson, Liu Heung Shing, Time magazine’s first photojournalist (based in Beijing) and Angela Boatwright, the international photographer with rocker roots, will travel to London to vote for their favourite smile photos uploaded by the Smile Hunters and the general public.

However, it’s not just the judges who will choose the winners, the general public will be able to vote for their favourite smile photos in the interactive gallery on the Smile Hunter website, with the person with the most votes being crowned the ‘People’s Global Winner’. All entrants could be in with a chance of winning a range of amazing prizes, from a trip for two to visit the new youth culture wonders of the world, to having their images displayed in a local exhibition.

Russell Keating, Marketing Manager, Sony Ericsson Ireland said: “With Smile Shutter™ technology, taking great smile photos couldn’t be simpler. Mobile phone technology is evolving incredibly quickly and it’s amazing what can be achieved. The Smile Hunters have an exciting adventure ahead of them and we can’t wait to see the smiles they capture along the way.”

If you think that you have what it takes to be a great Sony Ericsson Smile Hunter, or want to find out how to take part, log onto www.sonyericsson.com/smilehunter for more information and deliver your pitch for why you should be picked.

About Sony Ericsson

Sony Ericsson is a top, global industry player with sales of around 97 million phones in 2008. Diversity is one of the core strengths of the company, with operations in over 80 countries including manufacturing in China and R&D sites in China, Europe, India, Japan and North America. Sony Ericsson was established as a 50:50 joint venture by Sony and Ericsson in October 2001, with global corporate functions located in London. For more information about Sony Ericsson please visit www.sonyericsson.com.

Sony Ericsson launches challenge to capture millions of smiles around the world

Dublin: Sunday, May 17th, 2009 – Sony Ericsson and RTE 2FM’s Nikki Hayes have launched a nationwide “smile hunt” across Ireland today. As part of the global Sony Ericsson Smile Hunter campaign, to look for the best smile hunters from around the world, Sony Ericsson is offering two lucky people from Ireland the chance to become Sony Ericsson official Smile Hunters.

About Sony Ericsson

Techtv101.com Rumor: PS3 Slim Photos Leaked

2009-05-16T14:03:00.001+01:00

Although Sony has categorically denied that a PlayStation 3 redesign, price drop, or reconfiguration would be in the future, rumors and "leaked details" keep popping up about PlayStation hardware revisions. This week's Sony hardware buzz comes in the form of new photos leaked to the internet by factory workers producing what looks to be a slimmed down variation of the console. The photos, which were first posted on a Japanese gaming blog, GameColumn, show components of a PlayStation 3 console with a much smaller overall clearance. Although the depth of the casing looks about the same, the comparatively shorter height of the device suggests a slim variation, similar to what we saw with PlayStation 2 Slim and the PSP Slim.

The PlayStation 3 Slim would fall into line with Sony's previous product trends, but this bout of "evidence" is highly suspect. For one, the device appears to feature a textured plastic finish, similar to the PS2, however, Sony's design trend with the PlayStation 3 and PSP product series has been focused on gloss or semi-gloss finishes. Additionally, the typeset on the device and packaging is oddly similar to that of the PS2-era, straying from the new PS3 font despite the fact that it is used in all of the console's branding and promotional materials since launch.

Still, the photos have caused quite a stir around the web. We'll just have to wait and see if Sony makes a move on the PS3 Slim.

Source:IGN.com

Hackers 'destroy' flight sim site AVSIM

2009-05-16T13:59:00.000+01:00

Avsim was one of the largest sites serving the flight sim community

Flight simulator site Avsim has been "destroyed" by malicious hackers.

The site, which launched in 1996, covered all aspects of flight simulation, although its main focus was on Microsoft's Flight Simulator.

The attack took down the site's two servers and the owners had not established an external backup system.

The site's founder, Tom Allensworth, said that the site would be down for the foreseeable future and was unsure if would ever go back up.

"The method of the hack makes recovery difficult, if not impossible, to recover from," Mr Allensworth said in a statement.

"AVSIM is totally offline at this time and we expect to be so for some time to come. We are not able to predict when we will be back online, if we can come back at all. "

Backlash

The attack has shocked the flight sim community, with hundreds of blogs, posts and tweets. One user on the simflight.com website said that "there's a special place in hell for hackers who pull stunts like this".

Speaking to the BBC, Derek Davis, editor of PC Pilot magazine, said: "It looks like 13 years of hard work on Tom's part could have been wiped out.

"Avsim is an important site, because it services the whole community as a source of community developed terrains, skins, and mods - its contribution has been immeasurable," he said.

Mr Allensworth has set up a temporary forum for Avsim users while the future of the site is decided.

On it, he explained the site's backing-up process, although he did not explain why the firm had no external media storage.

"Some have asked whether or not we had back-ups. Yes, we dutifully backed up our servers every day. Unfortunately, we backed up the servers between our two servers.

"The hacker took out both servers, destroying our ability to use one or the other back-up to remedy the situation."

Mr Davis said he thought the site still had a future: "I'm sure Avsim will rise like a phoenix from the ashes and will be bigger and better than before."

By Daniel Emery
Technology reporter, BBC News

OMG... 9min's of Bioshock 2 Footage

2009-05-14T16:41:00.000+01:00

Just Enjoy!

More Bioshock 2 Info

WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT UK PARTNERS WITH XBOX TO BRING OSCAR-WINNING PATHÉ MOVIES TO UK XBOX LIVE VIDEO STORE

2009-05-11T14:24:00.002+01:00

New partnership will deliver Slumdog Millionaire, The Duchess and many more to Xbox owners

Xbox™, Warner Bros. Entertainment UK and Pathé UK announce a partnership that will bring an extraordinary variety of cutting-edge and locally UK-produced films to Xbox LIVE consumers.

Pathé has been behind a variety of successful films, ranging from The Duchess and Hunger to recent Global smash Slumdog Millionaire. Pathé titles will be available via Xbox at the touch of a button[1], further adding to the wealth of high definition entertainment available on Xbox, directly in the comfort of the living room.

Benefiting from Warner Bros’ existing relationship with Xbox Live, Pathé joins fellow movie industry icons Paramount, MGM Studios and Universal Studios in providing High Definition film content for Xbox LIVE.

“We’re incredibly excited to be offering our Xbox LIVE consumers a number of fantastic Pathé titles ranging from critically-acclaimed indie hits to Oscar-winning smashes”, said Stephen McGill, Director, Xbox and Entertainment, Entertainment and Devices Division, Microsoft Ltd. “Xbox 360 is the ultimate entertainment console in your living room, and by adding the films from another powerhouse film studio to our Xbox LIVE Video Store offering, we have the largest catalogue of High Definition, on-demand entertainment available on any platform.”

Josh Berger, President and MD of Warner Bros. Entertainment UK, said:
“We’re delighted to be working on behalf of Pathé UK, to help bring their exceptional and critically acclaimed movies to ever more film fans around the UK through this partnership with Xbox LIVE.”

Star Wars® The Clone Wars™: Republic Heroes™ Comes to the Rescue This September

2009-05-11T12:48:00.002+01:00

Star Wars® The Clone Wars™: Republic Heroes™
Comes to the Rescue This September

London, UK – 11th May, 2009 – Fans of the popular Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ TV series can continue the battle for galactic peace this September in an all-new videogame from LucasArts and Krome Studios. Based on the Cartoon Network series and collaborating directly with Lucasfilm Animation, Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes allows players to take up arms on behalf of the noble Galactic Republic, while pursuing the mysterious bounty hunter Cad Bane and combating the all-new Skakoan super villain Kul Teska.

Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes allows players to fight as both Jedi Knights and Clone Troopers through over 30 unique missions, all created incorporating the same ground-breaking, stunning visual style from the TV series. Featuring a brand-new storyline, players will get the chance to take part in the key events that lead directly into the highly anticipated second season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Jedi characters can slice and dice their way through countless enemies, commandeer droids and show off their combat prowess on foot and in a variety of vehicles. Clone Troopers fire things up with a heavy weapons armament that includes rocket launchers, thermal detonators and even jet packs in levels built specifically to take run-and-gun gameplay to exciting levels.

In addition, the Lucasfilm Animation Singapore games team - in conjunction with The Clone Wars experts at Lucasfilm Animation - is developing an experience on the Nintendo DS™ that takes full advantage of the platform’s touch-screen technology. That version will include an expanded storyline that offers players the chance to take part in key events and battles from season one while also featuring intuitive touch-screen controls for movement, attacks and puzzle solving.

“The Clone Wars franchise has struck a chord with viewers and gamers around the world with its action-packed storyline and memorable heroes,” said Darrell Rodriguez, president of LucasArts. “With its Jedi and Clone Trooper gameplay and all-new storyline, Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes takes the franchise into a truly exciting and interactive direction.”

Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes will release this September for the Microsoft Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Wii™, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Nintendo DS™ and PC.

New Modern Warfare 2 Video

2009-05-11T09:37:00.001+01:00

Joystiq has a new video showing in game footage of the highly anticipated Modern Warfare 2.

Check it out!

When Movie Posters Meet Video Games

2009-05-09T15:34:00.001+01:00

Movie posters can be an art form. See anything ever done by Drew Struzan. But other times, they're not, and all they're doing is calling out for video game characters to make them better.

Least, that's what the folks at film mag Empire reckon, as they've got a long-running a contest to see how movie posters can be made better by adding characters/people from other mediums.

While there are plenty of great examples from cartoons and sports, it's the recent video game mash-ups we're interested in. Especially that Dhalsim one, because he looks like he's....having....the time of his liiiiifeee....

From - Empire

DJ Hero, Band Hero and Guitar Hero 5 Announced!

2009-05-07T15:45:00.003+01:00

Activision just announced a trio of Hero games, DJ, Band and Guitar (v.5)

Press Release:

Guitar Hero(R) Announces Fall Lineup Featuring Groundbreaking DJ Hero(TM) Title and New Guitar Hero(R) 5 and Band Hero(TM) Games

–Innovative DJ Hero Game Expected To Transform How Consumers Engage with Music –New Guitar Hero 5, DJ Hero and Band Hero Expand the Category with Fun-to-Play Experiences and Innovative New Technologies and Features –Fall Slate Delivers Largest Variety of Music and Hottest Artists

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 7, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) is set to once again revolutionize how consumers interact with music by releasing three new titles this fall - DJ Hero(TM), Guitar Hero(R) 5 and Band Hero(TM) - that will redefine the company’s popular music gaming platform. The slate will transform the way consumers enjoy and engage with music by offering the largest variety of music genres, innovative technologies and new social entertainment experiences for existing fans and millions of new consumers who previously have not joined Guitar Hero’s global community of fans.

– The company’s groundbreaking DJ Hero expands Guitar Hero’s
signature social gaming to all-new consumers with the addition of
diverse music genres including hip-hop, R&B, Motown, electronica and
dance. Introducing an all-new innovative turntable controller, DJ Hero
transforms players into DJs who rule the club scene by creating original
mixes of popular songs and music from the world’s most exciting
artists and DJs.
– Letting fans continue to fulfill their rock fantasies, Guitar Hero 5
features the hottest rock and roll artists today as well as classic rock
bands and gives players an unprecedented level of control over the way
they play the game with the ability to drop in and out of songs and
change band members, instruments and difficulty levels on the fly.

– The franchises’ first E10+ rated console game, Band Hero delivers
an exciting music collection featuring top-40 hits designed to expand
the appeal to a broad family audience who can play together on the
guitar, drums, bass and microphone and experience a new genre of music.
The game builds upon Guitar Hero’s easy-to-play,
difficult-to-master signature gameplay and allows novice players and
expert fans to join together on their favorite songs.

“Guitar Hero has made music social again and has become one of the most popular ways to experience music,” said Dan Rosensweig, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Guitar Hero franchise. “Today’s fans enjoy a variety of music and are looking for more ways to engage with their favorite songs, artists and fellow fans. These games will let them listen, participate and socialize with music in ways they have never been able to before.”

Amazon announces Kindle DX (Still no Ireland or UK release date!)

2009-05-06T16:04:00.005+01:00

Amazon.com just announced the latest addition to the Kindle Family, the Kindle DX. It boasts a 9.7inch eInk dispaly and up to 2 weeks of battery life (wireless disabled).

From Amazon.com

Kindle DX: Amazon's New Addition To The Kindle Family

Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines

Carry Your Library: Holds up to 3,500 books, periodicals, and documents

Beautiful Large Display: 9.7" diagonal e-ink screen reads like real paper; boasts 16 shades of gray for clear text and sharp images

Auto-Rotating Screen: Display auto-rotates from portrait to landscape as you turn the device so you can view full-width maps, graphs, tables, and Web pages

Built-In PDF Reader: Native PDF support allows you to carry and read all of your personal and professional documents on the go

Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle DX, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, no annual contracts, and no hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots

Books In Under 60 Seconds: You get free wireless delivery of books in less than 60 seconds; no PC required

Long Battery Life: Read for days without recharging

Read-to-Me: With the text-to-speech feature, Kindle DX can read newspapers, magazines, blogs, and books out loud to you, unless the book's rights holder made the feature unavailable

Big Selection, Low Prices: Over 275,000 books; New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases are only $9.99, unless marked otherwise

More Than Books: U.S. and international newspapers including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, magazines including The New Yorker and Time, plus popular blogs, all auto-delivered wirelessly

Ghostbusters in going to PS3, PS2 , PSP FIRST with Xbox 360, PC, Wii, and Nintendo DS to follow later in the year.

2009-05-06T15:37:00.009+01:00

Following on from our earlier post about the Ghostbusters Video Game, - Seems Ghostbusters in going to PS3, PS2 and PSP first Next month with Xbox 360, PC, Wii, following later in the year!!

When Manhattan is once again overrun by ghosts and other supernatural creatures, players will take on the role of a new recruit joining the famous Ghostbusters team. Developed by acclaimed studio Terminal Reality, Ghostbusters: The Video Game will make its debut on the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC. The PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system version and the Wii version are being developed by Red Fly Studios, and the Nintendo DS™ version, in which the player takes the role of one of the Ghostbusters themselves, is developed by Zen Studios. The PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PC versions of the game are developed using Terminal Reality’s phenomenal proprietary Infernal Engine technology.

SCEE Ireland Have just released this press release...

WHO YOU GONNA CALL? PLAYSTATION®!

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT EUROPE TO PUBLISH 'GHOSTBUSTERS: THE VIDEO GAME' ON PLAYSTATION® 3, PLAYSTATION® 2 AND PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) IN EUROPE AND PAL REGIONS

- Eagerly Anticipated Software Releasing Exclusively on Two PlayStation Platforms in June for the 25th Anniversary of Original Hit Movie –

- Original Cast of the Hit Movie Come Back Together to Do Battle With the Supernatural on the Streets of Manhattan -

- PSP Version Coming Autumn 2009 -

LONDON, UK – 6^th May 2009 – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) , Sony Pictures Consumer Products, and Atari Europe today announced that Ghostbusters: The Video Game for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) and PlayStation®2 is to be published in PAL territories by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe in June, meaning that owners of PS3 and PlayStation 2 will get their hands on the game that reunites the cast of the hit movies. To mark the 25th anniversary of the well-loved franchise, the game will launch in coordination with the Blu-ray™ release of the original hit movie and licensing programs from Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc. Ghostbusters: The Video Game will launch in Europe and PAL regions on June 19th 2009 exclusively for PS3 and PlayStation 2.

“We’re committed to bringing the PlayStation family the biggest and best gaming experiences first,” says Mark Hardy, European Product Marketing Director at SCEE, “and it doesn’t get any bigger and better than this blockbuster title. This summer, PlayStation owners will be the first to grab their proton packs and fight the spirit world. We’d like to wish them the best of luck in their ghostbusting endeavours and, of course, to remind them not to cross the streams!”

“With our colleagues at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe publishing Ghostbusters: The Video Game, we are thrilled by the dynamic new Ghostbusters game. We think it will have tremendous appeal to gamers and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of this beloved franchise.” said Mark Caplan, Vice President of Licensing-Interactive for Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc. “With this superb game launching alongside the Blu-ray release, we will reach existing fans and the next generation, bringing them all into the irresistible Ghostbusters universe.”

“Atari is committed to maximizing the launch of the Ghostbusters videogame across Europe,” Said Jim Wilson, VP Worldwide Marketing, Atari. “In partnership with both Sony Pictures Consumer Products, Inc and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, we have a unique opportunity to add new game products and expand marketing opportunities to reach Ghostbusters fans in Europe.”

In Ghostbusters: The Video Game, players can grab a proton pack and turn their ghostbusting fantasies into reality as the new recruit to the Ghostbusters team in a story set two years after the Ghostbusters 2 movie. Once again, the city of Manhattan has been overrun with ghouls, ghosts and all things foul – and it’s down to the Ghostbusters team to capture them all and regain control.

The game has been written by original Ghostbusters writers Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd and reunites members of the original cast for the first time in 20 years. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson lend their voices and in-game likenesses to the game, which also features performances from favourites including William Atherton (Walter Peck), Annie Potts (Janine) and Brian Doyle-Murray (Mayor Jock Mulligan).

Developed by Terminal Reality and Red Fly Studios Ghostbusters: The Video Game will arrive on PS3 and PS2 this June. PSP version of the game is scheduled for launch in autumn 2009. To find out more, visit eu.playstation.com

WIN THE CHANCE TO PERFORM AT OXEGEN!! IN 2009 XBOX LAUNCHES COMPETITION TO FIND IRELAND’S NEXT DJ or VJ

2009-05-06T13:44:00.003+01:00

Ever dreamed of playing at Oxegen? Want thousands of screaming fans bopping to your remix? Now, thanks to Xbox, this dream can become a reality. Xbox is calling on all aspiring DJs and VJs to create their own original music remix. The winner will be given a half hour gig at Oxegen on the Xbox LIVE Stage in front of thousands of screaming fans.

Boasting a massive 46 sq metres, high-quality LED screen, the Xbox Live Stage will become a focal point for festival-goers as it will feature live performances of VJ and DJ sets from the likes of MTV’s Eclectic Method, Arveene, Mickey Dee, Spin’s Dave Davin and Mark Vity with more to be announced. The winner will also receive an Xbox Live Stage VIP Pack, containing Oxegen VIP passes, an Xbox Elite, Rock Band kit and festival kit.

The perfect opportunity to play alongside some of Ireland’s hottest acts and in front of thousands of fans, this competition will see the next upcoming DJ or VJ play at one of Ireland’s largest festivals.

Sarah Devitt, Marketing Manager,Xbox 360, said, “We are delighted to give up coming DJs or VJs the opportunity to have their own slot live at Oxegen. This is a huge opportunity to find Ireland’s next great DJ or VJ to make a spectacular debut at Oxegen, Ireland’s best music festival this summer!”

Entrants need only email their remixes to vjs@xboxlivestage.com where it will be judged by a team of experts including Arveene – Ireland’s number one DJ; Eclectic Method , the UK mash up kings who helped pioneer the emerging art of audio-visual mixing and Mark Vity of Ghost Visuals.

The remix for this competition must be between 3 and 4 minutes for DJs and 60 to 90 seconds long for VJs. All elements of the remix must be an original creation or available in the public domain – including audio tracks. Accepted video and audio formats include: .avi, .mov, .mp4, wav and .mp3. The closing date for receipt of entrants if Friday, June 19^th. For more information about this competition please visit www.xboxlivestage.com

Ghostbusters: The Video Game now a PS3 Exclusive!

2009-05-06T12:47:00.002+01:00

Techradar is running a piece in with it states that SCEE (Sony Computer Entetainment Europe) has now got the exclusive rights to the upcoming Ghostbusters Video Game.
Check out the article HERE

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this. I'm looking forward to the game, but in this day and age can any developer afford to put all it's eggs in one basket? Only time will tell really!

Nokia Announces the E52!

2009-05-06T11:08:00.001+01:00

The stand out feature of this phone... the battery life - 8 hours talk and 23days standby!!

Have a look at the video below. Available in the second half of this year.

CALL OF DUTY®: WORLD AT WAR MAP PACK 1 CONTINUES TO DOMINATE WITH MORE THAN TWO MILLION DOWNLOADS

2009-05-06T00:18:00.003+01:00

London, UK – 6^th May, 2009 – The juggernaut that is Call of Duty®: World at War Map Pack 1 continues to roll, with Activision and developer Treyarch announcing today that worldwide sales for the downloadable map pack have cleared the two million download mark, on both Xbox LIVE and the PlayStation Network (combined).

"This is a huge milestone and we are so appreciative of our incredibly supportive community who continue to play and enjoy the game,” said Mark Lamia, Studio Head of Treyarch. “We’re hard at work on Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 2 and look forward to delivering that in June.”

Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 1 contains four maps (Nightfire, Station, Knee Deep and Verrückt) and is available on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 800 Microsoft Points and on the PlayStation®Store for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. 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.

Have your own Transformer Webcam Robot!!

2009-05-06T00:02:00.004+01:00

This palm-sized robot can wind its way between the cubicles at your office, snapping digital video of unsuspecting parties with a built in wireless video camera.

The Surveyor SRV-1 Mobile Robot cruises around on smooth and rough surfaces thanks to a pair of tank-like treads, and can be controlled anywhere your Wi-Fi connection can reach. An 802.11 b/g receiver on board the rechargeable ‘bot lets you drive the little guy from any computer on the network - even from across the globe.

Under the hood of the SRV-1 is a powerful 1000MIPS 500MHz Blackfin BF537 processor with 32MB of RAM and 4MB of Flash storage. The robot has a 1280×1024 (1.3 megapixel) color video camera, and can avoid obstacles such as walls thanks to a pair of built-in laser pointers. A 7.2V rechargeable battery pack should let you cruise around for up to 4 hours on a single charge.

And since the robot is powered by open-source code, you can customize the software to your own needs. Me? I’m building Skynet v1.0. Thanks to RoboRealm, I can control my robot army with C/C++, Python, Java, C#, Lisp, Visual Basic, WScript or COM. Of course, I always figured that Skynet would be written in Logo or Whitespace, so I guess I’ll have to rethink my evil plan.

You can get your hands on the SRV-1 robot over at www.thinkgeek.com for $474.99 (USD).

From www.technabob.com

Use TweetMyPC to Remote Control Your PC via Twitter!

2009-05-04T23:47:00.003+01:00

TweetMyPC uses the Twitter network instead of the SMS network to relay command messages to your PC. You install the tiny application, give it the credentials of a Twitter account you've set up for the purpose, and from there it checks the feed of the control account every minute. Anytime the feed account Twitters the following commands: Shutdown, Restart, or Logoff, then TweetMyPC performs the following command on your computer. TweetMyPC is freeware, Windows only and requires .NET 3.5 or higher.

Get it here..
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD TWEETMYPC

Saboteur Game Features Irish Voiced main Character!

2009-05-04T14:00:00.001+01:00

Check out the trailer for the Upcoming Pandemic Game - Saboteur featuring an Irish Voiced Main Character killing Nazi Germans.. Interesting

Batman: Arkham Asylum Officially Delayed

2009-05-04T13:47:00.001+01:00

EpicBattleAxe.com has now received confirmation of the delay via email from the PR firm associated with the title. The good news? It's being pushed back until the "end of summer 2009", and not all the way until Holiday 09' as some had believed.

Here's the email:

"Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment can today confirm that Batman: Arkham Asylum will be released at the end of summer 2009. This additional time will allow us to ensure Batman: Arkham Asylum is of the highest quality for gamers."

Well, as long as the "highest quality" part is true, I guess we can all live with the delay, right?

First Shot from Iron Man 2!

2009-05-01T16:10:00.001+01:00

Check it out... (love that monitor!)

New TRANSFORMERS 2 Trailer!

2009-05-01T14:38:00.000+01:00

OMG... This looks FRAKIN AWESOME!!

Tweakers.net gets Hands-on with the Philips 21:9!

2009-05-01T09:28:00.002+01:00

Pop over HERE and have a look at what 21:9 TV watching looks like!

Yeah or Neah... what says you?

PLAYSTATION 3 TAKES IT TO THE XTREME in Dublin

2009-04-30T23:14:00.002+01:00

PlayStation 3 has teamed up with Xtreme Internet and Gaming Centre, Liffey Street, by installing 20 PS3 consoles and 26" Sony Bravia HD TVs in Xtreme’s Games Room on the first floor.

PlayStation enthusiasts will now have the opportunity to enjoy all the latest PlayStation releases and other PlayStation favourites on brand new PS3 consoles in Dublin City Centre’s newest gaming centre.

PlayStation has agreed to partner with Xtreme Internet and Gaming Centre to co-host a number of PS3 events and tournaments throughout the year.

View Larger Map

TechTV101.com - THE RAW SESSIONS WITH SONY ERICSSON Launch Party

2009-04-30T02:01:00.005+01:00

Well Tonight Tony and Mick went along to the Launch Party for The RAW Sessions with Sony Ericsson. The Music was brilliant, the Pints of Erdinger were flowing and the nibbles were only deadly! This show is going to breath new life into Irish Music and it is a welcome addition! From the 12th of May on RTE2 each week we will see eight talented Irish music acts write, record and mix an original song in front of the cameras in 12 hours or less. Thanks to Nicola Watkins for inviting us along to yet another fantastic event and We wish the Show all the success over the coming weeks, even though we know it wont need it as its pure class. WATCH IT!!

RAW MUSIC - 8 IRISH ACTS - 12 Hours – 8 Weeks

Dublin, Wednesday, 29th April 2009: Lotus Media, Sony Ericsson and RTÉ are proud to announce the launch of The Raw Sessions with Sony Ericsson, a brand new eight-part interactive music series on television which will see eight talented Irish music acts write, record and mix an original song in front of the cameras in 12 hours or less. Viewers can vote for their favourite song and by downloading it can help the artists of the week into the Irish charts.

The Raw Sessions with Sony Ericsson, which will be presented by recording artist, actor and producer Dez Ryan and produced by Lotus Media, will be broadcast on RTÉ Two every Tuesday at 11.55pm from 12 May. Independent artists including Majella Murphy, Rarely Seen Above Ground (RSAG), Sickboy, Noise Control, Dirty Epics, Hoarsebox, Infomatics and Sweet Jane will take part in the series with the goal of becoming “Sony Ericsson Artist of the Year”.

Week 1 – Sweet Jane & RSAG
Week 2 – Dirty Epics & Sickboy
Week 3 – Infomatics & Noise Control
Week 4 – Majella Murphy & Hoarsebox
Week 5 – Celebrity recording of “Trouble With A Capital T'
Week 6 – Week 1 & Week 2 Artist Records at Grouse Lodge
Week 7 – Week 3 & Week 4 Artist Records at Grouse Lodge
Week 8 - The Raw Sessions Live Final Event

Each week The Raw Sessions viewers get the chance to vote for their favourite artist and original song that has been created in front of the cameras. The bands receiving the most votes move to the next round and a chance to record another new song at the exclusive Grouse Lodge recording studio in Westmeath. Voters will receive a code on their mobile phone and which enables them to download their song for free from The Raw Sessions website www.therawsessions.ie http://www.therawsessions.ie

All downloads count towards the Irish charts so it is important that viewers download the free song in order to help their favourite band into the charts!! The top three artists who record new songs in Grouse Lodge will perform at a live event where one of them will be named “Sony Ericsson Artist of The Year”.

The Raw Sessions with Sony Ericsson promises to be both entertaining and real, giving new depth to modern music programmes and opening the door for real independent artists across the country to create music and tell their stories.

The Raw Sessions with Sony Ericsson will air on RTÉ Two every Tuesday from 12th May at 11.55pm and will be repeated on Friday nights at midnight starting 15th May.

Watch out for more news, band info and series clips on The Raw Sessions with Sony Ericsson on www.therawsessions.ie http://www.therawsessions.ie

Delorentos Songs Available for download on Singstar for the PS3

2009-04-28T12:34:00.004+01:00

SingStar fans can now do karaoke versions of their favourite Delorentos tracks, as three of the band's songs have been made available to download for the game. Fans with a PlayStation3 can now download three of the band's songs to croon along to on SingStar.

The tracks, 'Basis Of Everything', 'The Rules' and 'Do You Realise', cost €1.49 each and come with the original videos.

The lads join The Undertones, Ash, The Divine Comedy and Cathy Davey, each of whom already has tracks available on SingStar.

Firefox 3.4 Beta 4 is OUT!

2009-04-28T12:30:00.004+01:00

Ok, first off a disclaimer... This version of FF is a beta, so is intended for "Testing Purposes".
NOW, with that out of the way, go check it out (especially if you have a Mac... the gesture support is just AWESOME!)
It also has the "TraceMonkey" Javascript Engine which speeds up things to no end...
Why not give it a go HERE

Canon Digital Video Contest - Techtv101.com

2009-04-28T11:22:00.003+01:00

To celebrate the launch of Canon’s new Legria High Definition range, Canon & Connector have teamed up to run a competition for Irish digital filmmakers. The competition judges will include Hollywood actor Liam Cunningham, star of ‘Hunger’ and ‘The Wind that Shakes The Barley’.

Contest
We’re looking for three minute long short movies based on freecording. Freecording, put simply, is capturing your world in your own unique fashion and from your own perspective.

Prizes
Prizes include a Canon XH A1 and runners up will receive €500 & €250 respectively. Plus, the short-listed top 10 entries will be showcased at a very special Connector event in June attended by Liam Cunningham.

Entry Details
Entrants can submit their admission by uploading their video to YouTube.com and register on Connector.ie. Closing date is 1st June 2009.

http://www.connector.ie/sponsors/canon/

Terms & Conditions >>

…. a concept that suits the creative being in all of us whether you’re looking to create your own little piece of art, make a statement or just film your friends mucking about.

When a video has been pre-planned, everything can seem a little bit stilted and staged. No one acts naturally and if you’re the one doing the filming, you’ve probably spent so long trying to capture the right shots, you’ve missed out on all the fun yourself. Not with freecording. Spontaneity is at the heart of this style of video making. You could be out and about doing anything and the moment takes you. You live it, you shoot it.

New Opening Sequence for Ghostbusters the Video Game!!

2009-04-26T02:28:00.001+01:00

Xbox Live Xtival '09

2009-04-24T11:56:00.002+01:00

Microsoft has announced that Xtival is back for 09. It's a 4 Day, "Live in your Living room" event.

As more details are annouced we'll be sure to keep you guys up to date.

Check out the Xbox site HERE for more info.

FUEL "GPS" Video

2009-04-24T09:49:00.002+01:00

This game looks pretty sweet! (Also, I want GPS like this for my travels!)

Honda Preview "Turn your Granny into Terminator" Device

2009-04-22T16:37:00.005+01:00

While Honda is known primarily for its cars and motorcycles, the company's engineering prowess extends into many other areas, as well. You may be aware that Honda also makes a jet and the ridiculously advanced robot known as Asimo. It appears that after reliably getting Asimo to walk on its own, Honda is phasing some of its robotics technology into other worthwhile endeavors, namely an experimental walking assist device for the aged. Honda's Fundamental Technology Research Center will be showcasing the device in Japan April 25 through Sunday, April 27, 2008. Available in three sizes, the device uses brushless DC motors powered by lithium ion batteries that allow up to two hours of walking assistance per charge.

Honda began research of a walking assist device in 1999 with a goal to provide more people with the joy of mobility. Currently, the device has entered into the feasibility stage.
The cooperative control technology utilized for this device is a unique Honda innovation achieved through the cumulative study of human walking just as the research and development of technologies was conducted for Honda’s advanced humanoid robot, ASIMO. Applying cooperative control based on the information obtained from hip angle sensors, the motors provide optimal assistance based on a command from the control CPU. With this assist, the user’s stride will be lengthened compared to the user’s normal stride without the device and therefore the ease of walking is achieved.

The compact design of the device was achieved with flat brushless motors and a control system developed by Honda. In addition, a simple design to be worn with a belt around the hip and thigh was employed to help achieve overall weight as light as approximately 2.8kg. As a result, the device reduces the user’s load and can be fit to different body shapes.

The research of this device is being conducted by the Fundamental Technology Research Center of Honda R&D Co., Ltd. in Wako, Saitama.

I'm just glad that my auld granny techtv101 will soon be able to throw her old fashioned walker in the air, and wave it like she just don't care.

RTE Launch RTE Player to catch up on Home Produced programmes you missed

2009-04-21T20:34:00.002+01:00

RTÉ player, a new catch-up web TV service on RTÉ.ie was today launched, giving Irish broadband users a chance to catch up on their favourite RTÉ television shows for up to 21 days after broadcast.

Soap fans can catch up with all the drama in Fair City, Eastenders and Home and Away for seven days after they have aired. Or if you have missed any of your favourite entertainment shows, the Late Late Show, Tubridy Tonight, Podge & Rodge, and Brides of Franc among others will be available for 21 days after broadcast.

When viewers visit www.rte.ie/player it is a "click and play" service, which requires no registration, installation or download. The player has been developed to deliver a new and improved service to reflect audience needs and offer viewers more choice in how they watch programmes.

More than 200 hours of programmes from all categories of the RTÉ broadcast schedule are available to view.

Commenting on the launch, Múirne Laffan, Executive Director of RTÉ Publishing, said: "This is an exciting new opportunity for Irish viewers to access their favourite programmes whenever they want to.

"RTÉ player will enhance our service to existing and new RTÉ audiences, extending the availability of our programmes and addressing the challenge to consumers viewing habits beyond traditional appointment to view."

Google Launches Similar Images

2009-04-21T20:09:00.000+01:00

Google Similar Images is an experimental service from Google Labs that lets you find images that are similar with an image you select.

"Similar Images allows you to search for images using pictures rather than words. Click the Similar images link under an image to find other images that look like it."

The interface doesn't perform real-time image analysis, so you can't upload images. Instead, Google lets you search the web for images, choose one of the results and click on "Similar images". The results are surprisingly good and this is probably the most impressive feature ever released by Google Image Search.

Terminator Salvation Vid

2009-04-21T10:23:00.001+01:00

Ok,

As Movie tie in games go, this one looks pretty freakin sweet. Take a look and let us know what you think!

Irish Based software Co Announces Dragonica roaring into life with the European Closed Beta Test starting in mid-May

2009-04-20T21:43:00.002+01:00

Irish Based Gala Networks Europe Ltd have just announced that Dragonica is the brand new arcade-style 3D side-scrolling MMORPG that is roaring into life across Europe during the Closed Beta Test (CBT) during mid-May 2009. It will be published in Europe as a free to play MMORPG in English, French and German at the www.gpotato.eu gaming portal.

With tens of thousands of players already pre-registered and growing by the day, there is growing anticipation for Dragonica’s combo-based combat that is ready to take netbooks, notebooks and desktops across Europe by storm. In play tests conducted in Ireland during March and April, players have applauded the precise combat which is a vast change from clicky mouse-based combat which dominates MMORPG’s. Dragonica has also lots of potential for competitive gaming with a strong competitive component in the multiplayer modes.

During the ten day Closed Beta test, the Dragonica team will be on hand to welcome players into the world and run a whole schedule of in-game events to keep players entertained. There will be lots of in-game prizes up for grabs, and the players will have the opportunity to ensure that their character names are kept for the Open Beta, following a few weeks after the Closed Beta in June.

Registration for the Closed Beta lottery, as well as information about partner sites running beta key competitions can be found at the official European Dragonica website at http://dragonica.gpotato.eu

Philips shows off Cinema 21:9 potential

2009-04-20T13:15:00.001+01:00

Philips has cranked up the anticipation of its new Cinema 21:9 TV by releasing a new website for the ultra-widescreen device.

The 21:9 is the first telly of its kind, which shows off movies the way the director intended – in 2.39:1 format.

The 56-inch set is out in June with a reported price of around 4200EURO. This may sound steep, but those of us who have seen the TV in action want one and want one now.

Clowning around

The website in question demos what movies will look like in 21:9. There's a short film playing which looks like a homage/rip-off of the 'clown' robbery scene in The Dark Knight. It also uses the Watchmen's trick of adding movement to tableaux-like images.

You can toggle between viewing the clip in 16:9 and 21:9 and Philips has even added Ambilight into the mix as well. Nice check it out!!

www.cinema.philips.com

UBISOFT(R) UNVEILS ASSASSIN'S CREED(R) II

2009-04-20T09:22:00.002+01:00

UBISOFT^® UNVEILS ASSASSIN'S CREED^® II

Ubisoft has announced that Ubisoft Montréal is developing Assassin's Creed II on all current-generation platforms for a scheduled Holiday 2009 launch. The initial installment of Assassin's Creed^® was released in November 2007 to popular and critical success, selling 8 million copies worldwide, and garnering awards such as Best Action Game 2007 from 1UP and Outstanding Achievement in Animation from the AIAS.

Assassin's Creed II is the product of over two years of intensive development by the original creative team behind the Assassin's Creed brand. In a vast open world environment, the game invites players to incarnate Ezio, a privileged young noble in Renaissance Italy who's been betrayed by the rival ruling families of Italy. Ezio's subsequent quest for vengeance plunges players into a captivating and epic story that offers more variety in missions, surprising and engaging new gameplay elements, diverse weapons and a profound character progression that will appeal to fans of the original Assassin's Creed as well as entice players new to the brand.

"Our creative team is working hard to top the experience of Assassin's Creed," said Patrice Desilets, creative director at Ubisoft. "We've made improvements to every aspect of the game. And we've plunged ourselves into the stunning history of the Italian Renaissance so that we can offer fans a unique, varied and innovative Assassin's Creed experience."

Check out the teaser video for Assassin's Creed II here http://uplay.uk.ubi.com/index.php?video=zaby37ru

Ubisoft® ANNOUNCES NEW INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, R.U.S.E.TM

2009-04-19T23:49:00.002+01:00

Ubisoft has announced the launch of R.U.S.E., a new intellectual property developed by Eugen Systems, creators of the critically acclaimed strategy title Act of War: Direct Action™. R.U.S.E. is scheduled for release on Windows PC, the Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system for fiscal year 2009/2010.

R.U.S.E.is optimized for Intel’s latest core processors, including the Intel® Core™i7 processor, and will be demonstrated for the first time in public at the Intel booth during the Game Developers Conference (GDC) at Moscone North Hall, booth #6006 at 5:00 PM Pacific on Wednesday March 25 in San Francisco.

R.U.S.E. is a one-of-a-kind real-time strategy game that allows players to bluff their enemies to lead their nation to victory, controlling the action using views that range seamlessly from the heart of the battlefield to the full theatre of war. Players will be plunged into the action thanks to the exclusive IRISZOOM^TM Engine which offers an intuitive interface that allows for smooth, rapid transitions from a birds-eye view of the entire conflict, down into the heat of the battle and vice versa.

“With R.U.S.E., Ubisoft is once again shaking up a genre, offering an RTS with a twist that will thrill gamers,” said John Parkes, EMEA marketing director at Ubisoft. “Ubisoft is known for innovation and R.U.S.E. continues that tradition, offering the most immense and detailed maps ever seen in an RTS. Players can explore the maps using IRISZOOM Engine, which provides an aerial, smooth interaction unlike anything ever seen before.”

Ubisoft and Intel are committed to working together to ensure R.U.S.E. takes full advantage of Intel technologies. “Ubisoft and Intel are demonstrating some of the benefits gamers will experience when playing R.U.S.E. on the Intel® Core™i7 processor based platforms,” said Elliot Garbus, vice president Intel Software and Services Group, general manager Visual Computing Software Division. “Gamers will experience more immersive game play with smooth zooming from satellite to ground view, superior AI delivering more complex unit movements and more realistic physics throughout the game.”

In R.U.S.E., players use their brain as the ultimate weapon, fighting a war of perception, where the ability to deceive and mislead the enemy determines success. A first in a strategy game, R.U.S.E. reinvigorates the genre by using deception to give new-found depth to the game play.

To learn more about R.U.S.E., visit www.rusegame.com

BBC breaks down the new DRM rules for Blu-ray recorders

2009-04-19T23:37:00.002+01:00

by Richard Lawler, - ENGADGET.com

The reason Blu-ray recorders have migrated from Japan to the UK recently -- and why you'll likely never see them in the U.S. -- is all about the copyright holders. Danielle Nagler, head of BBC HD, hit the blogs to break down the wheres and hows of the DRM changes associated with bringing FreeSat disc HD DVRs like the Panasonic DMR-BS850 and Humax FOXSAT-HDR to market, basically meaning users are allowed one HD copy of a show, which can be played back on protected devices and connections only (transfer to portable players is planned to the future.) Follow the flow chart for the details, and figure out if it'd be worth it to make your own BD-R DVR backups so easily.

[Via Pocket-Lint]

Chinese Firm Exhibits 'World's Smallest' Video Camera

2009-04-19T23:33:00.002+01:00

Shenzhen AEE Wireless Technology Co Ltd of China exhibited what it claims is the world's smallest video camera at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition).

The fair, which is organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, is taking place in Hong Kong from April 13 to 16, 2009.

The dimensions of the camera, "Mini DV," are 55 x 20 x 18mm. Its volume and weight are 20cm³ and 50g, respectively.

"Only an ultra-small camcorder like ours can enable people cycling or skiing, pet animals and radio control toys to shoot video," AEE said. "We developed this product to allow people to shoot a wider variety of scenes."

The company reduced the size by focusing on image recording function. The Mini DV is not equipped with a monitor for checking images, and recorded images can be viewed only after they are transferred to a PC.

The camcorder employs a 2-Mpixel CMOS sensor. It shoots 640 x 480-pixel images at 30fps, compresses the images with the JPEG format and stores them in the AVI format by using a microSD memory card of up to 8 Gbytes.

The interface for PC connection is USB 2.0. When the camcorder is connected to a PC, images can be output to a PC in real time. Its Li-ion secondary battery has a capacity of 260mAh, allowing two hours of continuous shooting.

The Mini DV is equipped with a clip for attaching the camera to clothing. And AEE offers a version including a mount that allows users to attach the camera to a helmet, etc, and is intended for shooting while playing sports.

Kenwood SP0001 speakers liven up our ears!!

2009-04-19T23:28:00.003+01:00

Kenwood is about to unleash some brilliant speakers upon the world... well if you live in Japan anyway. The Speakers have 10-watt, 2 channel speakers with 6-centimeter woofers and 2.5-centimeter tweeters, which isn't exactly super powerful, granted -- but they are transparent. Oh, and they have some awesome LED lighting effects to liven up yer home rave. No release yet but the weill be priced around 800 EURO when they are. Banging!

Techtv101 Competition Winners Announced April 2009

2009-04-17T14:25:00.001+01:00

Right everyone the winners of the Competitions this month on our Facebook page are

For the Tom Clancy Hawx Game for the Xbox360 - Simon Cumisky(Dublin)
For the Tom Clancy Hawx Game for PS3 - Derek Reilly(Mayo)
For Socom Confrontation for the PS3 - Dave Campbell(Dublin)
For the Xbox Live Avatar T-shirt Kit - Linda Foley(Arizona!!)
For the PSP Game Resistance Retribution - Thomas Brennan(Dublin)

Well Done everyone, please drop us a mail with your address and we will get the stuff out to you and also drop us post on the facebook page to let us know how you get on with games!!!

More Competitions Soon!!

Techtv101