archives

Caravel Games, creator of the critically acclaimed and award-winning DROD series, is ambiguously happy and confused. By offering their game with a powerful in-game editor and online features for developing and publishing levels, the Caravel team has found themselves no longer the primary source of new content in their own game, although they are still as active in development as ever.

Atari and Turbine announced today that Keith Baker, the original creator of the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Eberron campaign setting, will pen additional storylines and works of fiction for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE: Stormreach. The game is the first massively multiplayer online (MMO) roleplaying game based upon the iconic world of D&D. Developed by Turbine, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE: Stormreach is published in Europe by Atari and operated by Codemasters Online Gaming. The property is under license from the Hasbro Properties Group, the intellectual property development arm of Hasbro.

German publisher dtp entertainment AG is expanding on a massive scale. The new position of COO has been filled with Markus Windelen, who joined dtp May 1. Windelen will bolster the leadership of the publisher as new member of the board. In his position of COO, Windelen will mainly be in charge of expanding the publishing activities especially in the games sector and boosting the international reach of dtp.

E3Insider, the official consumer news source for the 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3Expo), is now live and offering brand new exclusive features, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today. Game enthusiasts around the globe can visit E3Insider for unparalleled virtual behind-the-scenes access to the world's premiere interactive entertainment trade event kicking off May 10-12 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

As the release countdown to one of the most highly anticipated sequels, Dominions 3 - The Awakening, continues to tick down Shrapnel Games and developer Illwinter Game Design have just released four new screenshots to help fans soften the anticipation factor. Direct from Sweden, these shots are available on the Shrapnel Games website.

Vivendi Games has announced that indie music artist Kazy and his song "Choke" have won the Scarface: The World Is Yours Video Game Soundtrack Talent Search. More than 70,000 members of MySpace.com, the leading social networking and lifestyle portal, voted to include Kazy's song in the upcoming video game, Scarface: The World Is Yours, alongside some of today¹s hottest music artists.

Aspyr Media, Inc., today announced a Mac trailer for Activision, Inc.'s popular WWII first-person action game, Call of Duty 2 has been posted to Apple's Web site. Licensed from Activision and originally developed by Infinity Ward, the title is scheduled to be released for Macintosh later this month.

Matrix Games is pleased to announce that the next game in the PureSim series, PureSim Baseball 2006, will be published by Matrix Games. PureSim is noted to be one of the top baseball simulations on the market, with unparalleled accuracy and an extraordinary number of options.

Aspyr Media, Inc. announced this morning Sid Meier¹s Civilization IV is now available for preorder through their Website.

Codemasters has signed Overlord, an original next-generation title from developer Triumph Studios, whose pedigree includes the award-winning strategy series Age of Wonders. Overlord is a groundbreaking action adventure set in a twisted fantasy world. Scheduled for a summer 2007 release, Overlord will launch exclusively for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and PC.

Alawar Entertainment has released the downloadable version of Zak & Jack in Showdown at Monstertown, a casual arcade shooter starring a pair of heroic Hobsters. Famous for their clever inventions, Hobsters enjoy a paradise of paved streets and cozy houses. When word of their village spreads, the evil beasts of the monster world band together in an envious campaign against the goodhearted Hobsters. Luckily, Zak and Jack learn about the plot and prepare for the assault.

Unveiling one of the most diversified and high powered lineups in company history, Midway Games Inc., a leading interactive entertainment software publisher and developer, announced today its product portfolio to be shown at the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), May 10-12 in Los Angeles.

The 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3Expo), the world's premier interactive entertainment trade-only event, kicks off at the Los Angles Convention Center (LACC) May 10-12 for exhibits and May 9-11 for conference and workshop sessions conducted by a panel of more than 175 industry leaders. More than 400 exhibiting companies representing 90 countries will showcase thousands of the latest computer and video games and technologies within 540,000 net square feet of exhibit space, an area equal to 40 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

-- Almost two-thirds of E3Expo exhibitors (60 percent) will showcase games scheduled to hit store shelves by the 2006 holiday season.

Volatile Assembly is proud to announce their first hybrid of game and music is now available, Phony Ring Two:Five. Volatile Assembly has mixed a classic ‘falling block’ game with the rhythms and beats of a variety of music. The term “Two:Five” refers to blocks falling in pairs of two with the requirement of matching five colors to score points.

The savannah is heating up as Microsoft Game Studios today announced that the Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure expansion pack has gone gold. The newest addition to the award-winning Zoo Tycoon 2 franchise will make tracks to retail on May 16. Gamers of all ages will experience firsthand the biodiversity of the African continent and the animals that live there as they customize their African-inspired dream zoo.

Millions of people around the world already enjoy playing Nintendo DS, and the system's future looks even brighter. On June 11, Nintendo DS Lite joins Nintendo's video game family when it launches in the Americas. The lighter, brighter version of the hot-selling Nintendo DS is expected to be priced as low as $129.99 at retailers throughout the United States.

I-play, the mobile entertainment company, today announced the launch of Freestyle Moto-X II , the Motocross title described as ‘answering the prayers’ of mobile games enthusiasts by industry’s critics. FMX-II is launching across I-play’s global distribution network of over 100 carrier partners, to a potential subscriber base of one billion mobile gamers.

THQ Inc. today announced its upcoming videogame based on HBO's critically acclaimed series The Sopranos. Currently under development, the game will evoke the atmosphere, action and conflicts that are the cornerstone of the hit show, which has found worldwide success as one of HBO's premier original programs. The game is backed by key members of the all-star cast who will lend their voices and likenesses, including James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano. The Sopranos game is scheduled to release for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system this holiday season.

On Saturday, May 6, two key contributors to Microsoft's Xbox 360 Project Gotham Racing (PGR) franchise will climb behind the wheel of a Noble M400 supercar to compete in the 2006 Tire Rack Cannonball One Lap of America Presented by Car and Driver Magazine. PGR Art Director Kiki Wolfkill and Game Design Director Chris Novak will travel almost 5,000 miles in eight days, stopping off at nine of America's premier racetracks along the way for timed competitions.

Get ready. Tank commanders! The battle for survival on the once beautiful beaches in Northern Africa, this is no lazy-day of sitting in the sun and eating ice cream, dead bodies are pilling up everywhere, because bombs and shells now rule the deserts and shatter oases.