Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Sony Online Entertainment Announce Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures

Sony Online Entertainment have announced they are developing Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, a Free to Play game based on the Star Wars: Clone Wars Animated TV Show. The game currently has a release date online and at retail for this fall. Whilst the game is free to play, gamers are able to buy additional items and accessories by using Station Cash.


Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures is designed to offer minigames, dynamic activities, and social events whilst letting players have a character that can grow and become a hero of the Republic. there will be space battles with starfighters, a tower defense style game against waves of battle droids, and puzzle games.

Environments/Locations


Mini-Games


Press Release

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. and SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. – June 1, 2010 – Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) today announced the development of Star Wars®: Clone Wars AdventuresTM, a free-to-play, action packed virtual world for fans of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated television series on Cartoon Network.

Developed and published by SOE, creators of the critically acclaimed kids’ game, Free RealmsTM, and licensed by LucasArts, in conjunction with Lucasfilm Ltd., Clone Wars Adventures will launch online and in retail stores this fall.

“We have a long running and extremely successful partnership with Sony Online Entertainment and look forward to working together on our next project, Clone Wars Adventures,” said Mary Bihr, Global VP of Publishing, LucasArts. “Working hand in hand with Lucasfilm, LucasArts and Sony Online Entertainment ensures that Clone Wars Adventures will be the most authentic and accessible Clone Wars experience for kids and families to play in their very own living room.”

Focused on creating a fun and safe online environment for kids and families, Clone Wars Adventuresoffers exciting minigames, dynamic activities, lively social events and thousands of customization options. Players can even battle it out with friends alongside iconic Star Wars characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Ahsoka Tano.

"Clone Wars Adventures is the ultimate destination for fans of The Clone Wars series and will bring the action and excitement of the show to players online so they can experience The Clone Wars universe firsthand” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “We’ve worked with LucasArts and Lucasfilm to create a virtual world that is seamlessly integrated with the TV series and a true extension of the show. It’s also just flat-out fun to play.”

With Clone Wars Adventures a new generation of Star Wars fans can become the next great hero of the Republic and take their rightful place alongside the Jedi, Padawan and Clone Troopers. Players can speed through space in a starfighter, take out waves of battle droids in Tower Defense or test their brains with challenging Droid Programming puzzles. Players can also purchase legendary Star Wars outfits, items and accessories through micro-transactions using Station Cash, SOE’s virtual currency.
FEATURES:

• Extend the Fantasy: Kids no longer have to wait until the next exciting episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated TV series to continue exploring and enjoying the Star Wars universe. With Clone Wars Adventures, kids can go online to experience exciting thrills as you duel iconic adversaries with your own custom lightsaber, speed through the galaxy in your starfighter, defeat enemies and take down starships. Adventure online to discover your destiny!

• Play Free or Upgrade: Clone Wars Adventures is a free-to-play game, but players who want to take the galactic action to the next level can purchase a monthly membership. Players can also buy cool Star Wars universe items from within the game through micro-transactions using Station Cash.

• Minigames & More: From Droid Programming to Speeder Bike Racing, Clone Wars Adventures puts you in the driver seat to experience epic action in immersive minigames that take you to your favorite locations in the galaxy. Become the proud owner of a tricked out Droid pet or throw a party in your player house - the fun is endless!
Fun With Friends: Whether you are on adventures with old friends or competing for leaderboard status with new ones, Clone Wars Adventures is a lively virtual world that connects players in fun and safe ways. Show off your achievements in your Trophy Room, use safe chat and emoticons to express yourself and celebrate in-world events with the entire galaxy!
Embedded Card Game: Clone Wars Adventures card battles lets players pit a variety of fun characters, creatures and vehicles from The Clone Wars television show against one another in a unique, fast-paced combat similar to the gameplay styles of traditional games such as War and Concentration.
Kid-Friendly: Parental controls allow for the customization of safety options, including pre-canned chat and playtime settings for younger players.

Coming this fall, Clone Wars Adventures is the ultimate virtual destination for a new generation of Star Wars fans. Clone Wars Adventures, the Force is in you.

About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online game console and wireless devices. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®,Untold LegendsTM, PlanetSide®, and Star Wars Galaxies, as well as the recent kids’ phenomenon Free RealmsTM, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on all entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, and Tucson, AZ, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development across various platforms and genres for audiences of all ages.

About LucasArts
LucasArts, a Lucasfilm Ltd. company, is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software worldwide for video game console systems, computers and the Internet. Based in San Francisco, Calif., as well as on the Internet at www.lucasarts.com, LucasArts was created in 1982 by George Lucas to provide an interactive element to his vision of a state-of-the-art, multifaceted entertainment company.

LucasArts and the LucasArts logo are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd. SOE and the SOE logo are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment LLC. © 2010 Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. or Lucasfilm Ltd. & ® or TM as indicated. All rights reserved.

The Second Episode Of The Crackdown 2 Animated Series Has Been Released

The Second episode of the Crackdown 2 Animated Series from Machinima has been released. This episode is titled "Evil Seed" and details how Catalina Thorne single handedly crippled the Agency and let loose a virus in the city. The ext epsode is set to come out on 4th June.



Press Release

LONDON – 1 June 2010 -  The riveting five-part animated mini-series for “Crackdown 2” continues today with the second episode, titled “Evil Seed.” In “Evil Seed,” fans will uncover the mystery that surrounds Catalina Thorne, the origins of the dangerous Freak virus, and how the Cell crippled the Agency to take control of Pacific City. Now’s your chance to peer beneath the surface and discover the secrets of Pacific City and the evil plot to take down the Agency before “Crackdown 2” launches on July 9th, 2010 in Europe.

Written by Ruffian Games Senior Designer Ed Campbell and animated by seasoned comic artist and illustrator Alex Ronald, the vibrant and perilous world of “Crackdown 2” comes to life in this telling mini-series that chronicles the events that have transpired between the Xbox 360 smash hit “Crackdown” and the highly anticipated sequel, “Crackdown 2.”

The first “Crackdown” took place in Pacific City, where the Agency and its genetically enhanced soldiers known as Agents were contracted to rid the city of three powerful crime syndicates. The saga continues 10 years later in “Crackdown 2,” with new enemies called the Cell, led by Catalina Thorne, and the Freaks, who are genetically mutated civilians ravaging the city. Players return as Agents in “Crackdown 2” to once again bring peace to Pacific City by any means necessary.

The animated mini-series will be viewable in five parts, with the conclusion of the series airing on June 21, 2010.
Stay tuned for each episode of the “Crackdown 2” miniseries at Youtube.com/machinima:

Episode
Airing Start Date
Episode 2
May 28, 2010
Episode 3
June 4, 2010
Episode 4
June 11, 2010
Episode 5
June 21, 2010

“Crackdown 2” is available exclusively on Xbox 360 on July 9 in Europe, but fans can prepare for the action early by pre-ordering now. At participating retailers, fans who pre-order will receive exclusive, in-game bonus armor in four new shades: Gold, Gun Metal, Black and Green.
-Ends-

Sony Announce New PSPgo Promotion Gives UK Gamers 10 Free Games


Sony have announced a New PSPgo Promotion. from the 9th June, anyone who has bought a PSPgo after 1st April will be able to download 10 games for free. All you need to do is connect to the PSN with your PSPgo, download the PSPgo Theme, and wait for an email with a code for your free 10 games. this offer will only be around for a limited time.

The 10 Free games are:
Assassins Creed: Bloodlines
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Gran Turismo
James Cameron’s AVATAR: The Game
LittleBigPlanet
MotorStorm Arctic Edge
NEED FOR SPEED SHIFT
Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
WipEout Pure

Press Release

City, Date: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) has kicked off a summer of pocket-sized entertainment with a new promotion1 for PSP™go (PlayStation®Portable). Starting on 9th June and for a limited time only, SCEE is giving new PSPgo owners (aged 18 and over) a head start on their game collection with ten games to download from PlayStation®Store, absolutely free! Offering a vast choice of entertainment, the sleek, slim-line PSPgo comes packed with 16GB of inbuilt storage space – so you can take all your favourite games, music, photos and more with you wherever you go. And with ten of the best PSP titles on offer, now you can get your hands on the hottest piece of kit for the summer at even better value.

You’ll be spoilt for choice with the ten pre-selected titles on offer:
Assassins Creed: Bloodlines™ (Ubisoft)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (Rockstar Games)
Gran Turismo™ (SCE WWS)
James Cameron’s AVATAR™: The Game (Ubisoft)
LittleBigPlanet™ (SCE WWS)
MotorStorm® Arctic Edge (SCE WWS)
NEED FOR SPEED SHIFT (EA)
Pursuit Force™: Extreme Justice (SCE WWS)
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ (EA)
WipEout® Pure (SCE WWS)

The process is simple. First, unwrap your shiny new PSPgo and connect to PlayStation®Network2. Then launch PlayStation Store to download the new PSPgo theme. We’ll then email you a voucher code so you can start downloading your ten free games and enjoy! And if you’ve recently purchased your PSPgo, don’t worry, you haven’t missed out - the offer is open to qualifying PSPgo owners who purchased their PSPgo after April 1 20103.

There’s never been a better time to get hold of a PSPgo. With an ever increasing range of services from Skype®, the Video Delivery Service to Digital Comics4, plus remote access to your PlayStation®3 (PS3™) content, PSPgo offers entertainment without barriers.

Be entertained this summer, wherever you are, with PSPgo.

To find out more, visit www.eu.playstation.com/pspgopromotion.

ENDS

About Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), based in London, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PlayStation®3, PlayStation®2, PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) and PlayStation®Network software and hardware in 99 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. SCEE also develops, publishes, markets and distributes entertainment software for these formats, and manages the third party licensing programs for the formats in these territories. Since the launch of PlayStation 3 in November 2006, over 35.7 million units have been sold globally and continue to be sold at a record level. Maintaining its position as one of the most successful consumer electronic products in history, PlayStation 2 has sold over 144.5 million systems worldwide. Since its launch at the end of 2004, over 61.5 million PSPs have been sold globally, highlighting the importance of the portable entertainment market. With the huge increase in interest and accessibility of network applications and network gaming, over 47 million accounts have registered to PlayStation Network, the free-to-access interactive environment, and over 980 million items have been downloaded.

More information about PlayStation products can be found at www.playstation.com.

PlayStation®Network, PlayStation®Store subject to terms of use and not available in all countries and languages (eu.playstation.com/terms). Broadband internet service required. Users are responsible for broadband access fees.

PlayStation, the PlayStation logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PS3 and PSP are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

EA Announce NHL Slapshot For The Nintendo Wii


EA Have announced NHL Slapshot for the Nintendo Wii. This is the first NHL Hockey game developed by EA for the Nintendo Wii. NHL Slaptshot will feature Wayne Gretzky as the cover athlete and it will also come with a hockey stick controller that the WiiMote and Knunchuck can fit into. NHL Slapshot is currently set for a September 2010 release. The screenshot that EA have released shows how a player can start in the "Pee Wee's" and work their way to being a pro.

Press Release

GUILDFORD, UK. – 1st June, 2010 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) revealed today that EA SPORTSTM is developing their first ever NHL® hockey title for the WiiTM Console, NHL®SLAPSHOT, and that NHL Hall of Famer , Wayne Gretzky, will grace the cover. NHL®SLAPSHOT introduces a revolutionary hockey stick controller that allows players to shoot, pass and body check just like the pros. In addition to having his likeness on the front of all packaging, Gretzky will be available as a playable character when NHL® SLAPSHOT is available in retail stores this September.

“EA SPORTSTM has been making great hockey games in Canada for 20 years now, and the team behind the game is really passionate about the sport,” said Gretzky. “Being on the cover of the new Wii version of the game is exciting and is probably going to make me a bit cooler in the eyes of my kids.”

Gretzky is an NHL legend who accumulated a long list of accomplishments and awards during his 21 year career as a player in the NHL. He currently holds 40 regular-season records, 15 playoff records, six All-Star records, and is the only NHL player to have ever recorded 200 points in a season. Since retiring as a player from the NHL, Gretzky has been very active in the hockey world, serving as Executive Director of the gold medal winning, 2002 Canadian men’s national ice hockey team, and acting as a special advisor to the gold medal winning, 2010 Canadian men’s national ice hockey team.

“Making our games as close to the real thing has always been our focus,” says Creative Director, David Littman. “Now we are giving them an actual plastic hockey stick that the Wii RemoteTM and NunchukTM controllers plug into. Players can then use the new NHL®SLAPSHOT Hockey Stick to do all the moves in the game.”

NHL® SLAPSHOT is currently in development at EA Canada in Vancouver, BC and will be available for the Wii system in September, 2010. The game has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI.

EA SPORTSTM is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, global videogame competitions and breakthrough digital experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football and NCAA Basketball, Fight Night boxing, EA SPORTS MMA and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, and EA SPORTS ActiveTM.

For more information about EA SPORTS, including news, video, blogs, forums and game apps, please visit www.easports.co.uk to connect, share and compete.

About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA MobileTMand POGOTM. In fiscal 2010, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million units. EA's homepage and online game site is www.easports.co.uk. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at www.easports.co.uk/press.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile and POGO are trademarks or a registered trademark of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. NHL is a registered trademark of the National Hockey League. John Madden, NFL, NBA, FIFA, NHL, NCAA, Tiger Woods and PGA TOUR are trademarks of their respective owners and used with permission. Wii is a trademark of Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. All Rights Reserved. NHL SLAPSHOT is an Officially Licensed Product of the NHL.

EA Announce 2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Videogames Are In Development

EA And Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment have announced that they are working on 2 videogames for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 videogame is set to be released this Autumn on the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PC, and Mobile Devices.

EA have also revealed details on the game, saying that Part 1 represents a shift in tone over previous Harry Potter videogames. in Part 1, you find yourself on the run from a horde of merciless enemies in unknown territory, away from the school, where you have to survive. A Whole new game engine was built to take advantage of HD Consoles and provide HD Graphics and intense combat.


Screenshots


Press Release

GUILDFORD, U.K., June 1, 2010 – Today the EA Play Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced that two Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsTM videogames are in development to coincide with the much-anticipated final adventure in the Harry Potter film series from Warner Bros. Pictures which will be told in two full-length parts. The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 videogame will be released this autumn on all major gaming platforms.

With all the action taking place outside of Hogwarts for the first time, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 represents a shift in tone for the Harry Potter games. On the run with a horde of merciless enemies on their tail, players will find themselves in unknown territory, far from the safety of the school grounds, fighting for survival at every turn.

“The final Harry Potter adventure has given us the opportunity to make a darker and more action-oriented game than we have before,” says Jonathan Bunney, VP, Head of Production at EA Bright Light. “We believe we are creating a Harry Potter game that the HD console gaming generation will appreciate and enjoy. We have built new technology specifically to allow us to prove that magic is a truly potent force and, in this game, players will need to use all their skills if they want to survive.”

“We have enjoyed a tremendous partnership with EA in collaborating on the Harry Potter videogames,” said David Heyman, Producer of the Harry Potter films series. “Over the years, the games have grown ever closer to the films in their art direction and in their spirit so it is exciting to know that the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 videogame will capture the action and suspense of the upcoming film.”

The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 videogame is packed from start to finish with action and combat. Players will be on the run, fighting for survival on a desperate and dangerous quest to locate and destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes, engaging with Death Eaters and Snatchers in epic battle sequences at every turn. To amplify the action, players will encounter ferocious creatures from the previous films in addition to the adversaries Harry faces in the seventh film. They will need to muster their most powerful magic against relentless assaults from all sides. There are no more lessons, no more training. This time the danger is real. It’s time for players to fight for their lives.

A new game engine built specifically to leverage the technology of HD consoles ensures high definition graphics and intense combat gameplay that will immerse players in the action like never before! Under development by EA Bright Light Studio, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 are being developed for the PLAYSTATION®3, Xbox 360TM, WiiTM, Nintendo DSTM, Windows PC, and mobile devices.

About the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 film
Part 1 begins as Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort’s immortality and destruction—the Horcruxes. On their own, without the guidance of their professors or the protection of Professor Dumbledore, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever. But there are Dark Forces in their midst that threaten to tear them apart.

Meanwhile, the wizarding world has become a dangerous place for all enemies of the Dark Lord. The long-feared war has begun and Voldemort’s Death Eaters seize control of the Ministry of Magic and even Hogwarts, terrorizing and arresting anyone who might oppose them. But the one prize they still seek is the one most valuable to Voldemort: Harry Potter. The Chosen One has become the hunted one as the Death Eaters search for Harry with orders to bring him to Voldemort…alive.

Harry’s only hope is to find the Horcruxes before Voldemort finds him. But as he searches for clues, he uncovers an old and almost forgotten tale—the legend of the Deathly Hallows. And if the legend turns out to be true, it could give Voldemort the ultimate power he seeks.

Little does Harry know that his future has already been decided by his past when, on that fateful day, he became “the Boy Who Lived.” No longer just a boy, Harry Potter is drawing ever closer to the task for which he has been preparing since the day he first stepped into Hogwarts: the ultimate battle with Voldemort.

About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA MobileTMand POGOTM. In fiscal 2010, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million units. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.co.uk. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at www.eagames.co.uk/press.

About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.

HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR.
(s10)

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1 Software © 2010 Electronic Arts Inc.
Electronic Arts, EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Microsoft, Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. “PlayStation” and “PSP” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Nintendo DS and Wii are trademarks of Nintendo.

Audio Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest)

Here is today's Audio Re-Cap of Yesterdays news.
Don't forget, you can subscribe to the Audio Re-Cap Podcast on iTunes. if you do, it would be great if you can review and rate the podcast.

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And on qtegamers.blogspot.com:
http://qtegamers.blogspot.com/search/label/Audio Re-Cap


Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest)

  • QTE Blog: Re-Cap of The Weekends News (oldest to newest) http://ht.ly/17yTz2

  • OnLive: people who pre-order early will now get 1 year free membership instead of 3 months free http://ht.ly/1S209

  • PS3: Its been revealed Sony Cambridge are working on Play TV 2 http://ht.ly/1S20S

  • PS3: Its reported that Pain is getting a 3D Bundle in the next week or so, it adds 3D and 2 new modes http://ht.ly/1S22L

  • PS3: Square Enix president Yoichi Wada says a Final Fantasy VII Remake would take 10 years longer than Final Fantasy XIII http://ht.ly/1S240

  • Its reported that Midway's Creditors have accepted a $1M payout, bankruptcy court will rule on it on 23rd June http://ht.ly/1S26p

  • PS3: Sony Japan say the 3D PS3 update is coming June 10, Super Stardust and Wipeout HD getting free 3D Update http://ht.ly/1S27Y

  • 360: Playdead say the ESRB is wrong, Limbo is not coming to PS3 or PC, its a XBLA Exlcusive http://ht.ly/1S4yR

  • PS3: Sony Japan announce there are over 5 million active PSN accounts in Japan. http://ht.ly/1S4zN

  • PS3: Home is getting a update on 1st June, it will also be down around 2AM PST/5AM EST http://ht.ly/1S4Bx

  • QTE Blog: Apple Announce 2 Million iPads Have Been Sold In Less Than 60 Days http://ht.ly/17z0Sw

  • Its been revealed by Ken Sugimori that the first pokemon ever created was Rhydon http://ht.ly/1S6VN

  • Wii: its been revealed that NHL Slapshot is coming from EA and it comes with a Hockey stick peripheral http://ht.ly/1S6Xi

  • QTE Blog: This Weeks WiiWare, DSiWare, And Virtual Console Releases http://ht.ly/17z57A