BT Gold

Fireglow Games finally decided on the release dates for Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory. It is fully localised in English, German and French. You will be able to find the game in stores on the following dates:
- 23 November 2007 – French-speaking territories;
- 30 November 2007 – German-speaking territories (Germany, Switzerland, Austria);
- 5 December 2007 – UK and Ireland.

Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory is the latest instalment in the Sudden Strike series. It features historically authentic models built to scale, fully interactive giant maps and full 3D state-of-the-art graphics in the Sudden Strike style. Only Sudden Strike plays like the ‘real thing’. WW2 gaming at its best: on land, at sea and in the air.

Features:
• Fully interactive landscape (all objects can be destroyed, all buildings and pillboxes can be used as shelter);
• Massive operations on big maps, strategic scale of the maps (front line can be a few kilometres long);
• Thousands of units fighting in the real time;
• More than 300 tanks, ships, soldiers, guns and planes with original weapons built to scale;
• Great sounds, 5.1 supported, nations speak native languages;
• New feature – advanced Micro AI-behaviour allows to your troops to act exactly as you plan;
• Joint naval and ground operations, air raids, artillery strikes etc.;
• State-of-the-art technology to render 3D landscape, realistic lines of sight and fire;
• Spectacular visual & lighting effects;
• Multiplayer mode: up to 8 players, GameSpy supported;
• Five campaigns playable for American, British, German, Japanese and Soviet sides.

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: Announced

Sony Computer Entertainment America celebrates the seven-year anniversary of its PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. Since its release in North America on October 26, 2000, more than 120 million hardware units and more than a billion units of PlayStation 2 software have sold worldwide, making it the best-selling gaming platform ever released. While other game systems have vanished from the market, PlayStation 2 continues to exhibit strong momentum, a testament to the design and technology at the core of the product and demonstrating SCEA’s commitment to a 10-year product lifecycle.

Since its inception, PlayStation 2 has had a tremendous impact on the industry, helping to establish the DVD format as well as giving gamers some of the most popular software titles in video game history, spanning all genres. Currently there are nearly 1,500 titles in PlayStation 2’s software library and this number will continue to grow with more than 160 new games expected in North America throughout the holidays and by the end of March 2008 including Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, High School Musical: Sing It, Madden NFL 08, Manhunt 2, NBA ‘08, Rock Band, and Buzz.

SCEA is also bringing a whole new look to PlayStation 2 this holiday with the release of a limited edition Ceramic White PlayStation 2 bundled with SingStar Pop and two high-quality USB microphones. The new PlayStation 2 bundle will be available in North America in early November for a suggested retail price of US $149.99/C$149.99 and features the same, ultra-sleek design and functions of the current PlayStation 2 including access to the large catalog of PlayStation 2 and PlayStation software titles as well as DVD and CD playback, digital surround sound, two memory card slots and an integrated Ethernet port for network gaming.

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: PlayStation 2

Hallowe’en is just around the corner, and it seems to be bringing out the worst in the citizens of RuneScape. The penguins have big plans for the world but don¡¯t seem too worried about what anyone else thinks, the Al Kharid guards are giving me the run around and the Grim Reaper is his usual morbid self. At least some things never change!

Want to find out more? Head over to the Postbag…if you dare!

Please don¡¯t let the fact that everyone seems a bit evil this month put you off writing them a letter. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be back to their usual chirpy selves next month – well, except for the Grim Reaper, maybe.

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: RS

Sierra Entertainment, a division of Vivendi Games, announces that Empire Earth III has gone gold and will be available on Windows PC November 6. The pre-order campaign has already kicked-off at select retailers nationwide and features three exclusive unlockable units. Empire Earth III is a real-time strategy videogame that places the entire globe at the touch of the fingertips making the earth a canvas for the strategy mind. Gamers will build and command an enduring global empire with the goal of World Domination. Empire Earth III is one of the few strategy games that offers players the scale and scope to take an empire from the ancient world to the far future.

Developed by Mad Doc Software, Empire Earth III is rated “T” for Teen

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: Empire Earth III

Rising Star Games announces that it will publish No More Heroes, an action game by Tokyo-based game designer, Goichi Suda, (Suda 51). The project has been developed by Suda 51’s development studio, Grasshopper Manufacture, and Rising Star Games’ parent company, Marvelous Entertainment. No More Heroes is set to arrive in Europe in February 2008 exclusively for Nintendo Wii.

No More Heroes tells the story of Travis Touchdown, an anim¨¦ fan who lives in the fictional town of Santa Destroy, California. After an unexpected turn of events, Travis finds himself being approached by the head hunter of an assassins’ organisation. Travis is challenged to prove himself worthy by defeating ten other bloodthirsty killers ¨C all with deep stories of their own ¨C to make his way to the top of the assassins’ league.

No More Heroes realises the dream of Wii players everywhere as they can wield the Wii Remote to swing the beam katana and perform spectacular wrestling moves. Suda 51’s creation features avant-garde graphics which will thrust players into a stylised world filled with edgier gameplay. Taking its lead from the silver screen, the storyline is riddled with laugh-out-loud violence, black humour and irony-filled dialogue.

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: Heroes for Wii

Harmonix and MTV Games, a division of Viacom’s MTV Networks, along with distribution partner Electronic Arts, announce the final song list for its music videogame Rock Band. Featuring the most master recordings of any music game ever by the world’s biggest rock artists, Rock Band includes 58 tracks and spans every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic rock to heavy metal and punk. With multiple instruments and an impressive selection of online and offline game modes to choose from to play as a band or individually, Rock Band offers players an infinite number of ways to play each song and live out their ultimate rock and roll fantasies.

In addition to the 45 tracks listed below, Rock Band will also feature 13 songs ranging from a variety of established bands to up-and-coming independent artists that can be unlocked as you play through the game.

1960s
- Rolling Stones “Gimme Shelter”.

1970s
- Aerosmith “Train Kept a Rollin’”*;
- The Who “Won’t Get Fooled Again”;
- Boston “Foreplay/Long Time”;
- Mountain “Mississippi Queen”*;
- The Police “Next to You”;
- David Bowie “Suffragette City”;
- Black Sabbath “Paranoid”*;
- Blue Oyster Cult “Don’t Fear the Reaper”;
- The Ramones “Blitzkrieg Bop”;
- Deep Purple “Highway Star”;
- KISS “Detroit Rock City”;
- Molly Hatchet “Flirtin’ With Disaster”;
- The Outlaws “Green Grass & High Tides”*;
- Sweet “Ballroom Blitz”*.

1980s
- Rush “Tom Sawyer”*;
- Bon Jovi “Wanted Dead or Alive”;
- The Clash “Should I Stay or Should I Go”;
- Faith No More “Epic”;
- R.E.M. “Orange Crush”;
- Iron Maiden “Run to the Hills”*.

1990s
- Foo Fighters “Learn to Fly”;
- Metallica “Enter Sandman”;
- Nirvana “In Bloom”;
- Stone Temple Pilots “Vasoline”;
- Weezer “Say It Ain’t So”;
- Smashing Pumpkins “Cherub Rock”;
- Radiohead “Creep”;
- Beastie Boys “Sabotage”;
- Hole “Celebrity Skin”;
- Garbage “I Think I’m Paranoid”;
- Soundgarden “Black Hole Sun”.

2000s
- The Hives “Main Offender”;
- Queens of the Stone Age “Go With the Flow”;
- The Strokes “Reptilia”;
- Jet “Are You Gonna Be My Girl”;
- OK Go “Here It Goes Again”;
- Nine Inch Nails “The Hand That Feeds”;
- Pixies “Wave of Mutilation”;
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Maps”;
- Red Hot Chili Peppers “Dani California”;
- Coheed & Cambria “Welcome Home”;
- Fallout Boy “Dead on Arrival”;
- The Killers “When You Were Young”;
- New Pornographers “Electric Version”.

* Indicates a cover song, all others songs are original master recordings

Rock Band is slated for release for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system in the first quarter of 2008 in Europe. Rock Band is rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, mild suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: Band Unveiled

Ojom has announced the launch of Manager Pro Football 2008 for mobile phones, the follow up to the 2006 edition. The game allows you to experience the highs and lows of being a football manager as you lead your team to glory.

As manager you control every aspect of your team from finance to training. You must create the right strategy for each match to get to the top of your regional league. As you advance through the league your main aim is to get to the top of the masters division and become league champions.

Manager Pro Football 2008 features many new additions to the original game including an experience points system, which you build on the more you play. As manager you also need to keep track of player’s health values, so as to avoid lengthy time out due to injury!

At the start of each game you pick the team, with the option to choose from a variety of tactics and formations. As the game progresses you put your managerial expertise on the line as you make substitutions or change tactics to maximise your team’s potential. Train your players to build a strong defence, a dynamic midfield and an attacking strike force, and add valuable talent points. You can keep track of your team’s league ranking via Live News bulletins and on TV highlights. But don’t become too side-tracked with the beautiful game, and keep track of your team’s finances, so you don’t go bankrupt.

It’s not just the team and matches that you control, you also control the stadium right down to the ticket prices and number of seats, through to buying, selling and borrowing players. A great new feature to the game is the extra finance possibilities for your team, through sponsorship and advertising, and you can even change the player’s names. Detailed instructions take you through the game, allowing even the newest of gamers to become a champion manager.

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: Mobile

THQ announces that Cars: Mater-National for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS and Windows PC has begun shipping to retailers throughout North America. Additional versions for the Wii video game console and Game Boy Advance are scheduled to release in November.

The Cars video game from THQ was the number one selling kids video game brand and the number two overall best selling video game in 2006. Following up on this success, Cars Mater-National will provide a brand new adventure in the world of Radiator Springs.

Cars: Mater-National, inspired by the Disney/Pixar animated feature, Cars, features an all-new international group of racers vying for their chance to compete against Lightning McQueen in the First Annual Mater-National Race Festival, hosted by Lightning’s best friend, Mater. Gamers will explore the new and improved open world of Radiator Springs, play in all-new Monster Mode, jump into the fast lane with five new international racing competitors and burn rubber on new tracks. Cars: Mater-National also includes over 20 challenging mini-games, as well as head-to-head competition with over 10 multiplayer games.

Development for Cars Mater-National was led by THQ’s Rainbow Studios with support from Incinerator Studios on the PlayStation 3 system and Wii versions.

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: Mater-National

After Nintendo raised its profit forecasts and Sony’s games division reported massive damage yesterday, it was Microsoft’s turn to report their earnings for the first quarter of the 2008 fiscal year. And though the company isn’t quite drowning in money like Nintendo, it’s at least dipping its feet in the pool.

The Entertainment and Devices Division reported a growth of 90% to tally up $1.9 billion, driven by the success of Halo 3 and the recent price drops. The company sold 1.8 million units in the quarter, for a total of 13.4 million worldwide.

The company also cited the NPD numbers to point out that software sales in September outsold all PS3 and Wii software combined — not a hard task when you launched the biggest day in entertainment history. Microsoft did taut their third-party success further; since November of last year, third-party software has hit the top ten in the NPD charts 27 times for the Xbox 360, compared to only twice for PS3 and once for Wii.

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: Halo, Microsoft Makes Money

Thursday’s PlayStation Store update has a little bit of everything (except for playable demos), but the focus here is solely on “little” — it doesn’t add up to a whole lot, making us pine for the thick offerings seen as recently as last month.

Heads up, The Eye of Judgment owners: Sony’s free EyeCreate software (9MB), which actually seeped out on Tuesday, allows PlayStation Eye users to capture audio and video, shoot photos, and create custom footage that can be viewed from the PlayStation 3 XMB.

PSone classic Spyro the Dragon, developed by Insomniac Games (Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction), is now available for $5.99 and can be played on PlayStation 3 or transferred to a PSP.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma received another update yesterday in the form of the “Rachel Master” pack ($2.99), which adds five survival missions with the titular character, who also picks up some new hair styles. Downloadable puzzler Piyotama does its best Lumines Live impression this week, adding a free Halloween Skin (37MB) that gives the game a festive makeover.

Also up in the latest update are trailers for Bionic Commando and Time Crisis 4, three new Eye of Judgment wallpapers, and a price drop for the Spider-Man 3 New Goblin add-on, which now sells for $2.99.

written by BTGold.com \\ tags: Spyro PSOne