Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest)

  • QTE Blog: Re-Cap of The Weekends News (oldest to newest) http://ow.ly/15XmKV

  • QTE Blog: Audio Re-Cap of The Weekends News (oldest to newest) http://ow.ly/15XnsU

  • Warren Spector has said that he would like to do a new Duck Tails game. Disney hasn't let him. http://ow.ly/wzFh

  • Its rumoured that Modern Warfare 2 will have a third person shooting mode. someone got the game early and recorded it. http://ow.ly/wzGV

  • PS3: Netflix is coming to the PS3. it will be a steaming service like the 360. it costs $8.99. requires a disc. http://ow.ly/wzIK

  • PSP: Tenchu Kurenai is coming out on the PSP in Japan on January 28th. it is a port of the PS2 game. http://ow.ly/wzJG

  • PSP: A Monster Hunter Spin off game featuring the Airu is coming. its called Monster Hunter Diary Poka Poka Airu Village http://ow.ly/wzL3

  • UK Game Charts, PES 2010, Forza 3, FIFA 10, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2010 http://ow.ly/wzLP

  • PC: Modern Warfare 2 will support Steam Cloud and Steam Achievements http://ow.ly/wzO8

  • Wii: its rumoured that GoldenEye 2010 is coming. an animators CV hints at it. but it could be a port of another Bond game http://ow.ly/wzPE

  • PS3: Ratchet and Clank: A Crack In Time requires the once optional firmware 3.01 http://ow.ly/wzQK

  • PS3: Actors have auditioned for voice acting and mo-cap for L.A. Noir. http://ow.ly/wCT1 Cole Phelps is main character. http://ow.ly/wCTc

  • PS3: PlayTv has received an update. 1.21 brings better SD Upscaling, support for HD Freeview+HD Audio + more http://ow.ly/wDJh

  • SNES: Quickdev 16 released, its a cartridge that is USB compatible, and supports SNES Hombrew, costs $120 http://ow.ly/wDLH

  • iPhone: devloper Smells Like Donkey says 80% of their game,Tap-Fu, downloads were illegal. not happy with how easy it is http://ow.ly/wDOf

  • Kalypso Media USA are going to try to release 10 games a year. http://ow.ly/wDRj

  • QTE Blog: Nintendo Have Released New Character Art For New Super Mario Bros. Wii http://ow.ly/15Xpxq

  • PS3: Media Molecule are releasing last years Little Big Planet Halloween pumpkinhead for Halloween this year. http://ow.ly/wDSc

  • Telltale say that they have something "that'll blow everybody's mind". hope it'll come out May-June 2010 http://ow.ly/wDVl

  • PS3: Left 4 Dead has been listed at play.com as coming soon but not currently in production. no word if this is official http://ow.ly/wDWM

  • PS3: Uncharted 2 came in 1st and 2nd in the French game charts. normal edition and special edition. http://ow.ly/wDYs

  • Wii: it appears the secret Nintendo game is Excitebike World Rally for WiiWare. it has a track editor, online play + more. http://ow.ly/wE0u

  • QTE Blog: Sega Have Released New Screenshots For Football Manager Handheld 2010 http://ow.ly/15XqWY

  • QTE Blog: SI Games Confirm That Football Manager Handheld 2010 Will Be Available As A Digital Download On The PSN http://ow.ly/15XqWZ

  • QTE Blog: EA Reveals The Boxart For FIFA Manager 10 http://ow.ly/15XqX0

  • Braid Developer, Jonathan Blow, is looking to hire a full-body motion tracking developer. most likely a Natal Game. http://ow.ly/wFYx

  • Infinity Ward's fourzerotwo believes that developers should be in control of how their game is marketed. http://ow.ly/wFZI

  • PS3: the first screenshot of the EU PS3 Video store has been released. there are a few differences to the USA store. http://ow.ly/wG0w

  • 360: Microsoft have said they currently have no plans to allow Silver Members access to Netflix http://ow.ly/wG20

  • QTE Blog: EA And Bioware Announce Dragon Age Origins Warden's Quest, A 24 Hour Gaming Event With A $12,500 Prize http://ow.ly/15XrBr

  • QTE Blog: Kongregate Have Teamed Up With Valve And EA To Launch Fury Month http://ow.ly/15XrBs

  • QTE Blog: The Consumer Electronics Association Announce That CES 2010 Will Have 50% More Gaming Content http://ow.ly/15XsgK

  • QTE Blog: EA Reveal EA Sports Active: More Workouts Boxart And Release New Trailer http://ow.ly/15XsgL

  • Infinity Ward have confirmed that Modern Warfare 2 does have a third person camera, but its limited to certain playlists http://ow.ly/wHWn

  • iPhone: the classic doom is coming to the App store. it will support wifi multiplayer, bluetooth could follow. http://ow.ly/wHZd

  • PS3: The boxart for God Of War III has been spotted on Amazon.com. however it maynot be the final boxart. http://ow.ly/wHZU

  • QTE Blog: Nintendo UK Have Announced That UNO Is Coming To WiiWare And DSiWare On 6th November http://ow.ly/15XsT8

  • DSi: its reported that a new DSi is coming to Japan with 4" screens, bigger than the current DSi, for a older audience http://ow.ly/wI1r

  • PS3: Warhawk has now apparently passed the 1 million user mark, 2 years after its launch. http://ow.ly/wI1S

  • Wii: its reported Capcom are bringing their MT Framework engine to the Wii, it powered Lost Plant 2 and Resident Evil 5. http://ow.ly/wI2w

  • QTE Blog: Futuremark Reveal Shattered Horizon Release Date, Price And Pre-Order Offer http://ow.ly/15XtpK

  • PS3: Netflix expected to be on XMB late 2010. does need disc everytime until then. same features as 360 version. http://ow.ly/wI4L

  • 360: All the Call Of Duty World At War Map Packs are now $5 until November 1st. http://ow.ly/wJ4u

  • WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2010 may have a bug which could leave a created wrestler pantless. it can make the game lock up http://ow.ly/wJ80

  • QTE Blog: This Weeks WiiWare, DSiWare, And Virtual Console Releases http://ow.ly/15XtLz




Monday, October 26, 2009

This Weeks WiiWare, DSiWare, And Virtual Console Releases

there are 6 WiiWare, DSiWare, And Virtual Console Releases this week. on the virtual console there is Zombies Ate My Nieghbours, which was a SNES game, and Golden Axe, the arcade version. on WiiWare there is Ghost Mansion Party and Tales Of Monkey Island Chapter 3. On DSiWare there is PictureBook Games: The Royal Bluff and Sudoku.

Virtual Console

Zombies Ate My Neighbors
This game is 1-2 players and costs 800 Wii points. there are 48 levels which you have to play through, either as Zeke or Julie. there are bonus levels and hidden 1-up bonuses also.


Golden Axe Arcade
This game is 1-2 players and costs 900 Wii Points. you play as either Ax Battler, Tyris Flare or Guilius Thunderhead, and try to take back the land from the evil Death Adder. you fight with weapons, magic and mounts.


WiiWare

Ghost Mansion Party
this is a 1-4 player game that costs 1,000 Wii Points. you have to get Fazzy, a ghost, back in his house which has been taken over by Evil spooks. this is a Board Game style game, where you can land on mini games, challenges, and reveal secrets.


Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 3
this is a 1 player game and costs 1,000 Wii Points. this is the third chapter in the Tale Of Monkey Island series and is called lair Of The Leviathan.


Nintendo DSiWare

PictureBook Games: The Royal Bluff
this is a 1-4 player game and costs 500 DSi Points. this is a game of strategy and deceit. you have to compete for points by adding or subtracting coloured ships from rows on the game board, whilst trying to guess your opponents chip colours. there are three game modes, Tournament, Free Play and DS Wireless Play.


SUDOKU
this game is 1 player only and costs 200 DSi Points. this Sudoku game offers hundreds of puzzles from 5 different difficulty levels. there are also error checking tools and hints as well as being able to add puzzles from a local paper.


Press Release

Boo! As the year's spookiest holiday draws near, this week's additions to the Wii™ Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi™ Shop are ready to put some extra chills and thrills into your Halloween week. The WiiWare™ service invites you to explore a ghostly mansion or face menacing foes in a new Tales of Monkey Island adventure. On the Virtual Console™, battle zombies and other supernatural creatures in a Super NES™ classic, or ward off evil forces in the legendary arcade game Golden Axe™. For Nintendo DSiWare™ users, a portablePictureBook Games™ title delivers nifty tricks, while sudoku solvers are in for a real treat. And speaking of treats, Wii owners who have their Wii consoles connected to the Internet should check out the Nintendo Week show on Nintendo Channel for an exclusive WiiWare announcement of a fresh take on an 8-bit classic.

WiiWare

Ghost Mansion Party
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Fazzy the ghost has been locked out of his mansion by some evil spooks, and he's willing to give his treasure to anyone who can chase them out. Work cooperatively and competitively with friends and family to defeat the ghosts and discover a huge hidden treasure. Travel around this wild mansion in board-game fashion, landing on mini-games that everyone can enjoy. You'll even engage in challenges on the board itself as you try to collect magic scrolls and hints to reveal the secret word that will open the doors to the treasure. Get your Wii Remote™ controllers ready - you're about to play with them in ways you've never imagined.

Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 3
Publisher: Telltale Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Comic Mischief, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: In the third Tales of Monkey Island chapter, Guybrush gets in deep - literally - as his quest for the voodoo exfoliating La Esponja Grande takes a scenic detour through the guts of a giant manatee. Our hero encounters a surprising band of castaways, including the long-lost explorer Coronado De Cava. Can the Mighty Pirate win the suspicious De Cava's trust? Will sexy pirate hunter Morgan LeFlay prove to be a ruthless enemy or an unlikely ally? Will the group find La Esponja Grande in time to save Elaine from the rampant Pox of LeChuck? And will the world be crushed by the gnashing teeth of a certain demonic skull?Tales of Monkey Island's moist and absorbing third episode, "Lair of the Leviathan," will answer some of these urgent questions and raise even more as the five-month adventure builds to its epic climax.

Virtual Console

Zombies Ate My Neighbors™
Publisher: LucasArts
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: You will play the game as one of two brave kids: Zeke or Julie. Both kids use the same control scheme and have the same characteristics. If you're playing in two-player mode, each player must pick a kid. You can't have two Zekes or two Julies. Each player starts with three lives. When your life bar runs out, you lose a life. There are hidden 1-Up bonuses in the game. You may also earn bonus lives if you have 10 victims left when you finish a level. Get ready to conquer 48 levels of giant ants, mad scientists and big babies. Find seven bonus levels (look for the question marks), earn points and stockpile your water pistols and other weapons.

Golden Axe
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Blood, Fantasy Violence
Price: 900 Wii Points
Description: In this original arcade game that launched the popular Golden Axe series, the evil Death Adder has invaded your land and taken the king and princess prisoner. Three mighty warriors step forward to bring the villain to justice: powerful fighter Ax Battler, Amazon warrior Tyris Flare and mighty dwarf Gilius Thunderhead. They will use their weapons and magic to fight their way through Death Adder's hordes. Along the way, they'll mount fearsome, fire-spitting beasts to help even the odds. Team up with a friend and enjoy two-player simultaneous game play for a better chance of survival.

Nintendo DSiWare

PictureBook Games: The Royal Bluff
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Aristocratic opponents square off in PictureBook Games: The Royal Bluff, a game of strategy and deceit. Compete for points by adding or subtracting colored chips from rows on the game board and trying to guess each of your opponent's secretly assigned chip colors. Once you're confident in your deduction, issue a Call Out attempt to earn bonus points - at the risk of giving your opponent an extra point if you're wrong. Three modes of play (Tournament, Free Play, DS Wireless Play) offer a variety of options, from facing off against an assortment of computer opponents to competing in a wireless match with up to four players. Throw Trick Cards into the mix and you've got a winning combination of tactics and trickery that's sure to score points.

SUDOKU
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: SUDOKU offers hundreds of number-crunching puzzles that will stretch your brain power to the limit. Take it even further by playing in the exclusive Newspaper Mode. Add a daily puzzle from your favorite paper and build your very own collection. From Easy to Insane, a total of five different levels are available for novices and masters alike. Enjoy a host of grid designs that will keep you coming back for more. This worldwide phenomenon delivers an exhilarating game of logic that's not only challenging, but also surprisingly relaxing. It's everything you want for a quick puzzle getaway. Make life easier by taking advantage of smart features like automatic annotation for effortless calculation of your achievements. Stumped? Get help with error-checking tools and friendly cell hints. Track your stats and test your reaction time with the in-game timer. This addictive brain game has been polished to perfection and renders a sleek design that's easy on the eyes.

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visitWii.com or NintendoDSi.com.

Futuremark Reveal Shattered Horizon Release Date, Price And Pre-Order Offer


Futuremark have revealed that Shattered Horizon has a suggested retail price of €19.95 / $19.95 / £14.95 from their website and Steam.
People who pre-order the game will get a 10% discount on the game, but will also be eligible to play and test new level packs before they go on general release. with this announcement of future DLC, Futuremark confirmed that the content packs will be free to all players.

Futuremark have also announced that Shattered Horizon will support dedicated servers, at launch Futuremark will run servers in North America, Europe and Australia and New Zealand with the server code being made available shortly afterwards.

Press Release

HELSINKI --(Business Wire)-- Oct 26, 2009 Futuremark® Games Studio today announced that Shattered Horizon™, their multiplayer first-person shooter for the PC, will be released on Wednesday 4 November, 2009. The game will be available as a digital download from Steam, or direct from the Shattered Horizon website at the suggested retail price of €19.95 / $19.95 / £14.95. Gamers who pre-order get a 10 percent discount and will be invited to help test new level packs before they become available to everyone else. http://www.shatteredhorizon.com/buynow

Shattered Horizon is a multiplayer first person shooter that immerses you in the cold reality of combat in space. Teams of players fight in zero gravity to control hollowed-out asteroids, huge fragments of Moon rock and the ruined remains of the International Space Station. Shattered Horizon is exclusive to the PC and is also one of the first games to require a DirectX 10 graphics card running under Windows Vista or the recently released Windows 7.

Pre-order Offer: 10 percent off
Gamers who pre-order Shattered Horizon not only get a 10 percent discount but will also be able to play and test new level packs before they become available to everyone else.

Antti Summala, lead designer at Futuremark Games Studio explained, “During our beta many game features, and even one whole level, were added as a direct result of beta tester feedback. The process worked so well that we have decided to continue it after launch. Gamers who pre-order Shattered Horizon will join an elite group who will get early access to help test and refine new levels to be released in future content updates.”

Post launch support
Futuremark Games Studio has confirmed that Shattered Horizon will be supported after launch with new levels and features being added to the game through downloadable content packs. These expansions will be free to all players.

Dedicated Servers
Shattered Horizon allows PC gamers to choose who and how they want to play through dedicated servers run by the community. Futuremark Games Studio will host dedicated servers for North America, Europe and Australia and New Zealand at launch with the server code being made available to everyone shortly afterwards.

Game server hosting companies, clan and e-sport communities, and tournament and LAN party organisers can contact Futuremark Games Studio for early access to server code via fgs [at] futuremark [dot] com.

About Shattered Horizon
Experience intense zero gravity combat and complete freedom of movement in this multiplayer first-person shooter set in near-Earth space 40 years from now.
Use your rocket pack to fly freely through space and then land on any surface. Engage enemies in furious firefights, or ambush them from unexpected angles.
Join your friends in action-packed 32 player battles fighting to control hollowed-out asteroids, huge fragments of Moon rock and the ruined remains of the International Space Station.
Familiar and intuitive FPS controls let you take full advantage of the zero gravity environments while astonishing graphics and advanced lighting effects immerse you in the cold reality of combat in space.
Coming November 4, 2009 exclusively for the PC at the suggested retail price of €19.95 / $19.95 / £14.95
Minimum Requirements
Shattered Horizon requires DirectX 10 on Windows Vista or Windows 7. There is no support for Windows XP or DirectX 9. Full requirements: http://www.shatteredhorizon.com/support/
Pre-order now and save 10 percent: http://www.shatteredhorizon.com/buynow

Information for Editors
A Shattered Horizon Press Kit is available from http://bit.ly/SH_PressKit. For original, non-watermarked trailers and high resolution images for print publications please contact fgs [at] futuremark [dot] com

Community
Facebook: http://bit.ly/FGSonFB
Twitter: http://twitter.com/FuturemarkGames
Steam: http://steamcommunity.com/games/shatteredhorizon
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/futuremarkTV

Keywords and Suggested Tags
Shattered Horizon, Futuremark, first-person shooter, FPS, pre-order, zero gravity, multiplayer, PC, video game, space, DirectX10, NVIDIA TWIMTBP

About Futuremark® Games Studio
Futuremark® Games Studio, wholly owned by Futuremark® Corporation, was formed in January 2008 to create original games with new and entertaining gameplay. Shattered Horizon™ is the studio’s first self-published game. Shattered Horizon is rated Teen by the ESRB. The game carries the NVIDIA®: The Way It's Meant To Be Played™ seal. Futuremark is based in Helsinki, Finland and maintains a sales office in Saratoga, California. For more information, please visit http://www.futuremark.com

© 2009 Futuremark® Corporation. Shattered Horizon™ and Futuremark® Games Studio trademarks and logos, Futuremark character names and distinctive likenesses, are the exclusive property of Futuremark Corporation. The names of other companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Nintendo UK Have Announced That UNO Is Coming To WiiWare And DSiWare On 6th November

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/42/Gameloft.PNG

Nintendo UK have announced that Gameloft is releasing UNO on both the Nintendo WiiWare and Nintendo DSiWare on 6th November. no price was given for either of them.

The game features a single player mode, a online mode where you can play with up to 6 friends, The Nintendo Wii version makes use of Mii's, and the Nintendo DSi version will use the DSi Camera and Microphone. Wii Speak can be used to talk to your opponents when playing the game online.

Press Release

26 October 2009 – UNO™ is one of the most popular card games of all time and for the first time it is available on the 6th of November to play on WiiWare and Nintendo DSiWare!

This classic card game has worldwide acclaim and is the perfect entertainment for all the family. UNO™ is being brought to WiiWare and Nintendo DSiWare by Gameloft, a leading developer and publisher of downloadable videogames. Keeping close to the original game style and identity, the rules are still easy enough for everyone to understand.

Play against the computer in Single Player mode or play with up to six friends in Online Multiplayer mode. Playing UNO™ is an immersive experience, as many key Nintendo DSi and Wii features are utilised. Using the Nintendo DSi cameras and Mii characters on Wii, you can fully customise your appearance in the game. Furthermore, you can use the Nintendo DSi microphone to shout "UNO" for real, and Wii Speak to talk to your opponents while playing online. Victory has never been so enjoyable!

To keep things fresh you can also choose between many backgrounds and card designs which become unlocked as you progress through the game.

What’s more, there are different rule variations to play the game your way, including 7-0 that lets players exchange their hands, and Jump-in, where you can even play cards when it’s not your turn. You can also customise penalties to make the challenge even spicier.

“UNO appeals to fans worldwide and we are excited to bring this classic title to Nintendo DSi and Wii,” said Gonzague de Vallois, senior vice president, Gameloft. “The customisation features and microphone support allow UNO fans to experience new and exciting gameplay with a modern twist.”

As the Wii Shop Channel is continually updated with exciting and refreshing games, make sure you keep checking the Nintendo Channel and www.WiiWare.co.uk for all the latest WiiWare news and releases. Downloaded games can be saved to Wii’s internal memory or an SD Card and added to the console’s Wii Menu or SD Card Menu for anytime easy access.

Following the launch of the Nintendo DSi earlier this year, the Nintendo DSiWare pipeline is also regularly being updated. Make sure you keep checking www.DSiWare.co.uk and the Nintendo Channel for all the latest Nintendo DSiWare news and releases.


EA Reveal EA Sports Active: More Workouts Boxart And Release New Trailer


EA Has revealed the boxart for their upcoming Nintendo Wii game, EA Sports Active: More Workouts. they have also released a new trailer for the game which highlights the new features in this game, showing some of the new fitness activities in the game, as well as aspects that have been expanded since the original game. the trailer reveals that there is a new 6 week challenge and the game is set for a November release.




The Consumer Electronics Association Announce That CES 2010 Will Have 50% More Gaming Content


The Consumer Electronics Association have announced that next years International CES will have 50% more gaming content. the gaming section will be located in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, and will feature new attendees the PC Gaming Alliance and Lego Universe. other exhibitors are D-Box, DDR (Dance, Dance Revolution), Guillemot, Iron Will Creations, Microsoft - Games for Windows and Tritton, Microsoft and Sony.

2010 International CES
January 7-10, 2010, Las Vegas, NV

Press Release

ARLINGTON, Va. --(Business Wire)-- Oct 26, 2009 The 2010 International CES®, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, will feature the latest in gaming hardware and software in the largest Gaming Showcase in CES history. The Gaming Showcase will feature advancements in online gaming and gaming-related product debuts all in one centralized location. The International CES returns to Las Vegas January 7-10, 2010.

The latest gaming technology will be prominently showcased across more than 13,000 square feet of exhibit space, up more than 50 percent over last year’s display. Located in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Gaming Showcase will feature gaming hardware and software – from online PC and HD gaming, plasma HDTV to surround sound and power conditioning hardware.

“We are thrilled to add the PC Gaming Alliance and Lego Universe to the 2010 Gaming Showcase, allowing 2010 CES attendees to experience cutting-edge products changing the gaming market,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, events and conferences, CEA. “CES is the global hub for the latest gaming trends.”

Major gaming exhibitors at CES include: D-Box, DDR (Dance, Dance Revolution), Guillemot, Iron Will Creations, Microsoft - Games for Windows and Tritton. Microsoft and Sony will also feature the latest gaming developments in their respective booths. The video game market will generate approximately $23 billion in revenue in 2009. Gaming software continues to lead the way, with projected revenue increasing 10 percent this year.

For more news about the 2010 International CES before, during and after the show, including the Gaming Showcase, exhibitor information, conference sessions and TechZones, visit www.CESweb.org. Journalists are encouraged to arrive in Las Vegas by Tuesday, January 5, to take advantage of all the CES press events, including CES Unveiled from 4-7 p.m. on January 5.

About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $172 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES – Where Entertainment, Technology and Business Converge. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org.


UPCOMING EVENTS
CES New York Press Preview featuring CES Unveiled @ NY
November 10, 2009, New York, NY
Future of Television East
November 18-19, 2009, New York, NY
2010 International CES
January 7-10, 2010, Las Vegas, NV

Kongregate Have Teamed Up With Valve And EA To Launch Fury Month


Kongregate have announced that on their website, they have teamed up with Valve and EA to launch the Fury Month in anticipation of the launch of left 4 Dead 2.
Fury Month will run for 4 weeks, October 23rd to November 20th, and members of Kongregate's website can participate and earn points whilst socialising and playing flash games from the site.

Kongregate will split its userbase into a large group of Zombies and a small group of survivors. points are earned by infecting, or training, other players during chat or visiting players' profile pages. a left 4 Dead 2 branded part of Kongregate will explain the game mechanics, provide situation updates and track the infection.

Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO --(Business Wire)-- Oct 26, 2009 Kongregate, the leading indie games site featuring 20,000 games set within an addictive social environment, today announced it will launch Infected Fury Month, an exclusive meta-game sponsored by Electronic Arts and featuring the anticipated blockbuster videogame from Valve, Left 4 Dead 2™. Infected Fury Month – available only on Kongregate – is a four-week-long program where players participate and earn points while socializing and playing popular Flash games on Kongregate. Infected Fury Month kicks off in the run-up to Halloween on Oct. 23 and runs through Nov. 20.

During Infected Fury Month, Kongregate will unleash a pandemic, able to turn all Kongregate players into infected zombies. One small group of Kongregate users will be turned into zombies while another group will be turned into survivors. Zombies will infect new zombies, and survivors will train others to become new survivors. Players will earn points by infecting, or training, other players during chat, or by visiting players’ profile pages on Kongregate and pushing a Left 4 Dead 2 button. When players become “infected,” both their avatar and profile page will get grayed out and spattered with red blood and gore. Survivor avatars will display a glowing silver shield.

From a Left 4 Dead 2 branded area on Kongregate, players will learn the basic game mechanics, so they can join in immediately. They will also have access to situation updates, track which chat rooms are overrun with infected zombies, and let them watch the spread of the pandemic. Kongregate users can also get into the fun by turning their avatars into characters right out of Left 4 Dead 2. They can either be one of the main four survivor characters or a “Special Infected” zombie, such as the Charger, or Wandering Witch.

“Infected Fury Month demonstrates the truly effective benefits of viral branding on Kongregate. We have over six million highly engaged gamers who will love getting involved with other players this way,” noted Lee Uniacke, chief revenue officer at Kongregate. “As Kongregate players experience yet another fun way to interact within the community, we’re building additional consumer excitement for next month’s launch of Left 4 Dead 2 on Xbox 360 and PC. Users on our site will be deeply enmeshed in the fiction of Left 4 Dead 2 by the time it hits store shelves."

Left 4 Dead has sold over 2.5 million retail copies since it was released in November of 2008. Left 4 Dead 2 is targeted for release on Xbox 360 and the PC on November 17, 2009, and will be launched worldwide with a $25 million dollar marketing campaign across TV, Outdoor, and Online
.
About Kongregate
Kongregate is a leading indie web game site, getting more than 1 million game plays a day and 1 thousand new games added a month. Its audience is over six million unique users worldwide according to ComScore. The audience is 93 percent young men who come to earn points and badges for their Kongregate profiles on an achievement system patterned after Xbox Live. The most popular games on Kongregate mirror those on the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and DS and are free to users. Kongregate shares ad revenue with the indie game makers themselves and its advertising base includes brands like Axe, Sony Pictures, EA, Sprint, Frito Lay, XBox 360, 2K Sports, Focus Features, Toyota, Stride Gum, Nokia, and Scion. Additionally, Kongregate has premium games on the site, where users can buy virtual goods using their micro transaction platform, Kongregate Kreds.

Based in San Francisco, CA, the company was founded in 2006 by brother-and-sister team Jim Greer, a game industry veteran, and Emily Greer, an interactive marketing executive. An award-winning company, Kongregate is the recipient of two Webby Awards and was included on Time Magazine’s list of the Top 50 Websites of 2008.