EL33TONLINE: News archive for December, 2006

SEGA recently announced the release date for its flagship fighting title for the PlayStation 3, Virtua Fighter 5. The game will be shipping on 20 February 2007 in North America, and will be an official launch title for the European launch of the console in early 2007.

The fifth instalment in SEGA’s highly acclaimed martial arts fighting series will introduce two new characters to the 15 already carried across from previous games in the series. El Blaze is a Mexican fighting champion who uses a Lucha Libre (not to be confused with Nacho Libre) fighting style, while Eileen uses a Monkey Kung Fu style she learned from her Kung Fu master grandfather. As always, various costumes and items will be unlockable in the game so you can customize your character’s outfit and accessories. SEGA claim that the depth of the game has been increased in the new version by the addition of an “Offensive Move” technique which allows a player to move around their opponent. Virtua Fighter is a fighting series famed for its sheer depth of play, and this edition looks to be a worthy addition to it.

Along with the updated DS schedule, Nintendo of Europe have kindly made known to the public what games will be being released on the Wii over the next few months, now that the launch rush (of game releases) is over. There are only three games coming from Nintendo themselves - Wario Ware: Smooth Moves (12 Jan), Excite Truck (16 Feb) and Mario Party 8 (March), but there is a large number of third party titles being released for the system. A lot of these are multi-platform though, a few of the notable exceptions being Kororinpa (23 Feb), Wing Island (23 Mar) and Sonic and the Secret Rings (March).

The updated release schedule:

Wario Ware: Smooth Moves (Nintendo) - 12 Jan 2007

Excite Truck (Nintendo) - 16 Feb 2007

Kororinpa (Hudson) - 23 Feb 2007

Baja Racing (Conspiracy) - Feb 2007

Disney’s Chicken Little: Ace in Action (Disney / Buena Vista Games) - Feb 2007

Wing Island (Hudson) - 23 March 2007

BIONICLE Heroes (Eidos) - 23 March 2007

SSX Blur (EA) - March 2007

Mario Party 8 (Nintendo) - March 2007

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® (EA) - March 2007

Bust a Move Wii (505Games) - March 2007

Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2 (Namco Bandai Games) - March 2007

Disney’s Meet the Robinsons (Disney / Buena Vista Games) - March 2007

Sonic and the Secret Rings (SEGA) - March 2007

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Ubisoft) - March 2007

Heatseaker (Codemasters) - Q1 2007

Metal Slug Anthology (Ignition) - Q1 2007

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon (Midway Games) - Q1 2007

Rampage Total Destruction (Midway Games) - Q1 2007

The Ant Bully (Movie License) (Midway Games) - Q1 2007

The Grim Adventure of Billy and Mandy (Midway Games) - Q1 2007

Impossible Mission (System 3) - Q1 2007

Leaderboard Golf (System 3) - Q1 2007

Puzzle Balls (System 3) - Q1 2007

Tennis Masters (System 3) - Q1 2007

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII (Ubisoft) - Q1 2007

Along with the games listed, Nintendo has promised to release games on the Virtual Consoles every week, so even if nothing strikes your fancy in the shops there should always be something new (or old) to play.

Nintendo of Europe have released an updated list of games that are due for release on the DS in the first three months of 2007 in the European territories. It seems to include all third party titles too, so it’s a really long list and to make it more readable I will list the titles that are likely to interest readers (in my estimation of course, there could be some gems I have left out) first :

Children of Mana (Nintendo) - 12th Jan 2007

Star Fox Command (Nintendo) - 26th Jan 2007

Actionloop (Nintendo) - 26th Jan 2007

Contact (Marvelous/Rising Star Games) - 2nd Feb 2007

Magical Starsign (Nintendo) - 9th Feb 2007

Mario Slam Basketball (Nintendo) - 16th Feb 2007

Guilty Gear Dust Strikers (Majesco/THQ) - 20th Feb 2007

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (Konami) - Feb 2007

Lunar Knights (Konami) - Feb 2007

Gunpey (Namco Bandai Games) - Feb 2007

Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (Nintendo) - 9th March 2007

Bubble Bobble Double Shot (Marvelous/Rising Star Games) - 16th Mar 2007

Pokémon Ranger (Nintendo) - 30th March 2007

The Settlers (Ubisoft) - Mar 2007

Theme Park (EA) - Spring 2007

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Justice For All (Capcom) - Q1 2007

Micro Machines V4 (Codemasters) - Q1 2007

And the rest:

Freedom Wings (ZOO Digital) - 26th Jan 2007

Guru Guru (505Games) - Jan 2007

Labyrinth (505Games) - Jan 2007

Monster Puzzle (505Games) - Jan 2007

Mystery Detective (505Games) - Jan 2007

The Professors Brain Trainer: Logic (505Games) - Jan 2007

The Professors Brain Trainer: Memory (505Games) - Jan 2007

Mech Assault Phantom War (Majesco) - Jan 2007

Flipper Critters (Conspiracy) - Jan 2007

New Zealand Story (Marvelous/Rising Star Games) - 2nd Feb 2007

Uno/Skipbo Compilation/Uno Freefall (ZOO Digital) - 2nd Feb 2007

Disney’s Kim Possible Global Gemini (Disney/Buena Vista Games) - 8th Feb 2006

Lionel Trains “On Track” (ZOO Digital) - 16th Feb 2007

Fossil League (D3Publisher of Europe) - 23rd Feb 2007

Bomberman Land (Marvelous/Rising Star Games) - 23rd Feb 2007

Uno 52 (ZOO Digital) - 23rd Feb 2007

Monster Bomber (505Games) - Feb 2007

Touch Party Game (505Games) - Feb 2007

Turn it Around (505Games) - Feb 2007

Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses (Activision) - Feb 2007

Shrek Smash ‘N Crash Racing (Activision) - Feb 2007

Party Carnival (D3Publisher of Europe) - Feb 2007

Death Jr. And The Science Fair of Doom (Konami) - Feb 2007

My Frogger Toy Trials (Konami) - Feb 2007

Xiaolin Showdown (Konami) - Feb 2007

Dino Master (Majesco) - Feb 2007

Super Black Bass Fishing (Majesco) - Feb 2007

Danny Phantom Urban Jungle (THQ) - 2nd Mar 2007

Actua Pool (ZOO Digital) - 2nd Mar 2007

Princess Natasha “Student-Secret Agent-Princess” (ZOO Digital) - 2nd Mar 2007

Spectrobes (Disney/Buena Vista Games) - 15th Mar 2007

Rayman Raving RabbidsTM (Ubisoft) - 15th Mar 2007

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (D3Publisher of Europe) - 16th Mar 2007

Schach (dtp) - 16th Mar 2007

Best Friends – Hunde & Katzen (dtp) - 23rd Mar 2007

Hello Kitty (Empire) - 23rd Mar 2007

Mein Gestüt (tentative name) - 30th Mar 2007

Kameleon DS (505Games) - Mar 2007

Touch Detective (505Games) – French version - Mar 2007

Disney’s Meet The Robinsons (Disney/Buena Vista Games) - Mar 2007

Diner Dash (Eidos) - Mar 2007

Zendoku (Eidos) - Mar 2007

SEGA Presents Touch Darts (working title) (SEGA) - Mar 2007

Petz Vet (Ubisoft) - Mar 2007

Teenage Mutant Minja Turtles (Ubisoft) - Mar 2007

Rafa Nadal Tennis (Codemasters) - Q1 2007

Garfield Nightmare (Classic) (Game Factory/K.E. Media) - Q1 2007

Harlem Globetrotters World Tour (ZOO Digital) - Q1 2007

March of the Penguins (ZOO Digital) - Q1 2007

Wiffle Ball Advance (ZOO Digital) - Q1 2007

The Final Fantasy series has sold over 70 million units worldwide since its debut in 1987. Final Fantasy XII is the latest title in Square Enix’s popular franchise and will release across all PAL territories exclusively on the PlayStation 2. It seems that it too is destined for great things - Edge magazine recently announced that Final Fantasy XII had won their Best Game award, describing it as “beautiful, engrossing and impeccably polished and as a work of progressive genius.”

As groundbreaking as ever

President and CEO of Square Enix Ltd, John Yamamoto, said “we are delighted Final Fantasy XII has received Best Game award from Edge magazine. The game will be released across Europe in early 2007, and to receive such a coveted award so early on in the campaign is a fantastic endorsement for us, and a great tribute to the development team behind the multi-million-selling game.”

“Final Fantasy XII is one of the greatest franchises ever created, and on the eve of the series’ 20th anniversary, it’s clear to see Final Fantasy is as groundbreaking as ever.”

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc today issued a reminder to parents and to anyone planning on giving video or computer games this holiday season to use the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating system. The ESRB contains age ratings as well as content descriptors and will help purchasers to choose age appropriate titles.

Supporting awareness of rating systems

“The holidays are a reminder for all of us to be aware of the ESRB rating when purchasing video games as gifts,” said Paul Eibeler, Take-Two President and Chief Executive Officer. “Just as some movies are rated R, some games are rated M because they are intended for ages 17 and older - gift givers need to keep this in mind.”

“At Take-Two, we strongly support efforts to keep games intended for an adult audience away from children and encourage anyone concerned about game content to support the awareness and enforcement of the rating system. I am encouraged by the efforts of the industry, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and our retail partners who are undertaking efforts to raise awareness about the changes in the video game industry and to promote a broader understanding of the ESRB rating system.”

Holiday lineup from Take-Two (including ESRB ratings)

Take-Two has released many titles just in time for the holiday season. These titles include Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories for PSP (rated M); Bully for PS2 (rated T); Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy for PS2 (rated M); NBA 2K7 for Xbox 360, Xbox, PS2 and PS3 (rated E); NHL 2K7 for the Xbox 360, Xbox, PS3 and PS2 (rated E10+); College Hoops 2K7 for Xbox 360, Xbox and PS2 (rated E); Family Guy for PS2, Xbox, and PSP (rated M); Sid Meier’s Railroads! for PC (rated E); Civilization Chronicles for PC (rated E-E10+); Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony for PSP (rated T); Stronghold Legends for PC (rated T); Deal or No Deal for PC (rated E); Family Feud for PS2, PC and GBA (rated E); and Dora the Explorer: Dora’s World Adventure! for GBA (rated E).

Information about the ESRB rating system

The ESRB ratings are designed to provide the purchaser with information about the video and computer game content. They have been set in place to help the purchaser make an informed decision before purchasing the game. The ratings have two parts – the rating symbols which suggest age appropriateness for the game as well as over 30 content descriptors which indicate elements in a game which may have led to a particular rating. Purchasers of games should be aware of both and should check the rating symbol, which is placed on the front of the game box, as well as the content descriptors, which are placed on the back of the box.

For more information about the ESRB rating system, visit www.esrb.com.

Summary of rating symbols

Below is a summary of the different rating symbols which Take-Two reiterated earlier today:

EARLY CHILDHOOD Titles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Titles in this category contain no material that parents would find inappropriate.

EVERYONE Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.

EVERYONE 10+ Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes.

TEEN Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.

MATURE Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.

ADULTS ONLY Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.

A nightmare from below. A hero from within.

With Gears of War being recently released for the Xbox 360, EL33TONLINE features a preview of this epic game along with some awesome screenshots of in-game action. We have also placed links to some interesting news articles which we have published on the game so far.

• Gears of War set to be a winner
• Gears of War becomes fastest-selling next-gen console game

Nintendo of US today released a fact sheet explaining proper usage of the Wii Remote. In it Nintendo continued to clarify how to use the motion-sensitive Wii Remote controller safely when playing Wii Sports. Nintendo has advised Wii owners to visit Wii.com for more information.

Below are the tips issued by Nintendo:

The following tips are advised for safe play:

• Always wear the wrist strap while playing.
• Keep a firm grip on the Wii Remote at all times.
• Make sure people and objects are out of the range of movement before play begins.

Other things to keep in mind include:

• Players should keep at least three feet from their televisions and should dry their hands if they become moist.
• Remember that the Wii Remote is responsive enough to detect minor movements – so excessive and forceful actions are not necessary.
• The motions made are similar to real-life sports games, but the force is not.

These tips complement efforts already underway:

• Nintendo has been replacing broken wrist straps for consumers who request them.
• Nintendo operates a toll-free number and a Web site for customers to request replacement wrist straps. Consumers can call 1-800-859-4519 or visit support.nintendo.com to get a replacement wrist strap.
• All new Wii hardware shipments include new wrist straps and a safety sheet.
• Links about Wii safety are available on various Nintendo Web sites, including multiple links on www.nintendo.com, wii.nintendo.com and the Nintendo World store website.

Nintendo sent an e-mail message to members of the MyNintendo customer-loyalty program about Wii Remote safety. A similar message will be sent each week to consumers who register their new Wii systems at MyNintendo.com.

• Games include on-screen advisories about proper wrist strap use.
• Nintendo includes an insert about Wii safety with all correspondence dealing with Wii product repairs and replacements.

In the coming weeks, Nintendo will:

• Send electronic messages to Internet-connected Wii systems to highlight key Wii safety points.
• Update the Wii operations manual and the manual for Wii Sports with additional wrist strap cautions and specific game advice.
• Update on-screen wrist strap advisories to include additional messaging.

Square Enix in Japan recently announced that Dragon Quest IX would be a Nintendo DS title. The title is due to be released in 2007. Series creator Yuji Horii has been known to say in the past that the Dragon Quest series will always go to the console with the largest install base in Japan.

The title is being developed by Level-5, who obviously have their fingers in many console pies as they are also developing White Knight Story for the PlayStation 3. Level-5 also developed Dragon Quest VIII for the PlayStation 2. This is the ninth in the Dragon Quest series and is subtitled “Hoshizora no Mamoribito,” which according to 1UP translates to something like “Defender of the Starry Skies.”

The game will be done in 3D and will feature action-oriented battles as well as the ability for up to four players to network. Development of the game is well under way and a playable demo was shown at the game’s unveiling in Japan.

The Game Factory recently announced that it would be publishing Legend of the Dragon, the forthcoming 3D fighting title, for the Nintendo Wii. The game is set to be released in the second quarter of 2007.

The game, based on a popular children’s TV show, will be the publisher’s first release for the Wii. “We are delighted to be publishing for the Nintendo Wii,” said Henrik Mathiasen, Game Factory’s President. “While the Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3 next-gen consoles have really captured the imagination of the more mature gamer, at Game Factory we’re really excited about the potential impact Nintendo’s Wii will have on the children’s market, as this is obviously our forte.”

Legend of the Dragon has enjoyed immense success, both on BBC and with the subsequent launch of the first thirteen episodes on DVD. The series has also enjoyed success across Europe with television partners across Germany, Italy and Spain also airing the series. Allen Bohbot of BKN Group CEO commented that

“the Game Factory have proved to be masters at translating the action, drama and excitement of Legend of the Dragon into brilliant videogames, and the Wii version will take this to the next level.”

A Golden Dragon is chosen

The story begins against the backdrop of China’s sacred temples as a new Golden Dragon is chosen. The Golden Dragon is the honourable title which is given to the warrior who is chosen to fight Woo Yin, the evil Zodiac Master. Each of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs has its own temple protected by a guardian. The guardians each have individual powers which are unique to their zodiac symbol in order to help them defend their temple. The Zodiac Master seeks to capture the powers because he knows that if he has them he will be unstoppable in his fight for the dark side to reign over China.

The new Golden Dragon is Ang Leung, who is chosen over his twin sister, Ling, who quickly defects to the dark side because of the shock and disgrace of this decision. She becomes the Shadow Dragon, fighting against her brother to take revenge.

Special powers

Players can play as one of nineteen characters, each of whom has unique fighting skills, powers and movements. The magical wristbands that characters wear enable them to transform into mystical warriors. Each character takes on the likeness and powers of the zodiac creature they represent once transformed.

The fighting arcade style of game play is enhanced by the real time spell casting system and RPG elements are blended through a variety of power-ups. The game features dramatic fighting scenes and the use of cell shading technology has captured the compelling story of the cartoon series. The game even mirrors various locations which were featured in the cartoon series (including Hong Kong Bay, The Dragon Dojo and The Great Wall of China), depicting them as destructible combat areas.

“The power is at your fingertips! Dominate or go home!”

Oxygen Games recently announced the release of a new extreme sports title, Snowcross 2: Featuring Blair Morgan.

According to the Press Release, “competitors must brace themselves for an amazing, adrenaline-filled racing experience and pilot their sled through over thirty stunning tracks on their way to racing glory. Contenders can engage in quick races to improve skills, race against friends for bragging rights or put their skills to the test in career mode and see if they have what it takes to master the sled, or build their own track to race on.”

Snowcross 2: Featuring Blair Morgan is set to be released on the PlayStation 2 in March 2007.

Sony released the PlayStation 2 in pink in early November. During the launch week, one in every two PS2 purchases was pink and now fans of the pink console are struggling to get their hands on one!

“The popularity of the Pink PlayStation 2 has been overwhelming,” said Anna Macario, Marketing Director for GAME. “In the autumn, a range of pink consoles were released, however, we’re seeing a real demand for the Pink PlayStation 2. We’re now back in stock of the pink console in stores, so we’re hoping to fully satisfy the demand in time for Christmas.”

Cashing in

The surge in technology sales this festive season has been blamed by some on the rising demands of technologically advanced children. eBay has recently been inundated with pink PS2’s at prices well over the retail price. It would appear as if consumer-savvy individuals are cashing in on the £118 million market in PlayStation 2 consoles.

With women accounting for 34% of spend in the market, it is no surprise that Sony and Nintendo have released their consoles in every girl’s favourite colour – pink of course! Currently the Nintendo DS as well as the Sony PSP and PS2 are available in pink.

Sega of America and Sega of Europe have announced the signing of Gearbox Studios to create a first-person shooter title based on the Alien film franchise for next-gen consoles, with license from Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising. This agreement complements the announcement of the Alien RPG title which is to be developed by Obsidian Entertainment for next-gen consoles.

Gearbox Software is no stranger to producing FPS games, having produced titles for the industry’s top franchises including Brothers in Arms, Halo and Half-Life. The Alien title is set to use the next-gen technology to create a new Alien experience but will retain the distinctive look and feel of the films.

Immersive and action-packed experience

“Gearbox Software has a storied history of bringing innovative and compelling design to the FPS category,” said Simon Jeffery, President and COO of Sega of America Inc. “Combining their design talents with the intense action of the Alien franchise ensures that gamers will have an immersive and action-packed experience.”

“The Alien series has been a tremendous influence for myself, the people at Gearbox Software and the video games industry in general,” said Randy Pitchford, President of Gearbox Software. “The opportunity to work with the amazing people at Sega and Fox to build a next generation video game in the Alien universe is one of those dream projects that is a perfect fit for our capability and our passion.”

Evolution Studios celebrated success as its MotorStorm title topped Japanese PS3 charts on Friday. The PS3 was launched in Japan last month and MotorStorm has proved to be the most successful game from the initial launch titles.

“It’s a real coup for Evolution,” says Martin Kenwright, CEO, Evolution Studios. “Developing MotorStorm has certainly not been easy – but the team here really delivered. Evolution has a reputation for delivering high quality racing titles, but we really needed to up the ante with Sony’s new hardware. We’re delighted that the public has agreed with the press, and made MotorStorm the current Japanese number one PlayStation 3 title. We can’t wait to see how it performs throughout the rest of the world.”

More about the game

Players can expect to be thrown into a series of relasitc races in MotorStorm. The off-road races are spread across Monument Valley, above, below and over the American desert. MotorStorm will see players battling for racing lines, discovering shortcuts and general no-holds-barred action. Courses are dynamically churned and deformed ensuring that no two races are the same.

MotorStorm is on sale in Japan for the PS3 now. Release dates for America and Europe have yet to be confirmed.

Microsoft Games Studios and Epic Games have announced that Gears of War has sold more than two million copies worldwide since its release six weeks ago. These figures mean that Gears of War has made history – the Xbox exclusive title has become the fastest-selling next-gen console game of 2006 and the fastest-selling exclusive Xbox game of all time.

Must-have game of the year

“Gears of War clearly has won the battle for the title of the must-have game of the year,” said Richard Teversham, Director of Platform & Marketing, Home and Entertainment Division EMEA. “Its phenomenal success is one of many reasons why Xbox 360 is the ultimate place to get together with friends to play this Christmas.”

“We’ve always held high hopes for Gears of War, but we never expected such an overwhelmingly positive response from critics and gamers all over the world,” said Michael Capps, President of Epic Games. “I can’t describe how stoked our team is right now. Our fans can absolutely count on Epic to keep delivering new game play through Xbox Live.”

Xbox Live

Gears of War continues to dominate the Xbox Live arena as well, being the number one title on Xbox Live with more than one million gamers engaging in ten million online game play sessions and unlocking seven million achievements. New members are joining Xbox Live and paid registrations per day have increased by more than fifty percent since Gears of War was launched.

Awards

Gears of War has been crowned the best next-gen game of the year by more than 80 publications worldwide. At the Spike TV Video Game Awards it won Best Multiplayer Game, Best Shooter, Studio of the Year (for Epic Games) and Best Graphics. Critics around the world have agreed that it is one of the best-reviewed games of all time.

Bethesda Softworks announced on Friday that STAR TREK: Legacy for the Xbox 360 is shipping to North American stores. The Windows version is currently on shelves as it was released two weeks ago.

The release of STAR TREK: Legacy has completed Bethesda’s current lineup of STAR TREK titles, including STAR TREK: Encounters for Sony’s PS2 and STAR TREK: Tactical Assault for Sony’s PSP and Nintendo’s DS.

Game play

Players can expect a strategic and tactical experience, battling through space as they command Federation, Romulan, Gorn or Borg fleets in this real-time combat game. STAR TREK: Legacy places players in the Admiral’s chair and puts them in command of a hand-selected fleet of starships. The game features space environments, detailed weapon effects and full damage modeling as well as two game modes. Players can either play the single player Federation campaign or the multiplayer mode which spans the entire STAR TREK universe including over 80 ships as well as four playable races.

The game features the voices of the five actors who portrayed the original STAR TREK captains: William Shatner, Patrick Stewart, Scott Bakula, Avery Brooks, and Kate Mulgrew. This is the first time that the five actors have participated in a STAR TREK project together. The storylines have been written by acclaimed STAR TREK writer Dorothy DC Fontana and her writing partner Derek Chester.

For more information on the title, visit the official website.