EA - Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince given release date - Press Release

World Wide release for Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince From June 30th (UK Release July 3rd)

GUILDFORD, UK – 14th May 2009 – Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ:ERTS) and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today confirmed that the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™ video game will be in stores across the world from 30th June 2009*, just ahead of the Warner Bros. Pictures’ film based on J.K. Rowling’s sixth book in the Harry Potter series.

In the game of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, players will return to Hogwarts to help Harry survive a fraught sixth year. They will also have a chance to engage in exciting wizard duels, mix and brew magical ingredients in Potions class and take to the air to lead the Gryffindor Quidditch team to victory. Players may even get sidetracked by Ron’s romantic entanglements as they journey towards a dramatic climax and discover the identity of the Half-Blood Prince.

Developed by EA Bright Light in Guildford, England - the team behind the worldwide success of the Harry Potter library of games including the most recent game released in the summer of 2007, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is scheduled for release in the UK on 3rd July 2009 for the Wii™, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Nintendo DS™, Windows PC and mobile devices.

*Will be available in the UK from the 3rd July 2009.

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About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, 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 SPORTS Freestyle TM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.eagames.com.uk. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at www.electronicarts.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.
(s09)

EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Microsoft, Xbox and Xbox 360 are either trademarks or registered trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. “PLAYSTATION”, “PlayStation” and “PSP” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Nintendo DS and Wii are trademarks of Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

EA - NHL 10 Brings a new level of Physicality to the Franchise - Press Release

GUILDFORD, UK. – May 14, 2009 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that EA SPORTS™ has innovated a new, physical brand of hockey that includes first-person fighting in NHL® 10 to match the toughness and emotional intensity real-world NHL players endure in pursuit of a Stanley Cup™ Championship.

The franchise that has won 19 sports game of the year awards over the past two years begins a new era with gameplay innovations that deliver a new standard of toughness, the emotion of playoff hockey on the ice and in the arena, and over 200 gameplay refinements that replicate the skill and finesse that every fan sees throughout the NHL playoffs.

A new first-person fighting engine enables players to trade punches with an NHL tough guy. Feel what it’s like to be on the ice in the skates of an NHL player to throw and dodge punches. Grab and tug an opponent’s jersey to land a punch that ignites the fans and sparks your team to victory. Challenge a skill player and an opposing team tough guy will step in to settle the score.

On ice toughness and intimidation is taken to a new level in NHL 10 where winning one-on-one battles for possession of the puck along the boards becomes a test of will and skill. Utilizing an all-new board physics engine, players can use their body to shield the puck on the boards and then kick-pass it to teammates. Bigger, stronger players pin opponents to the boards while fanatical fans bang on the glass, just like real life. Fore-check defenders, pressure the puck and finish checks to intimidate your opponent into mistakes. Players fatigue, bobble passes, and avoid collisions under threat of constant physical pressure. Inspire teammates, ignite the fans and change the momentum of a game by instigating scrums, drawing penalties, and mixing it up — all after the referee blows the whistle!

“This is the most authentic simulation of hockey we have ever created,” said Producer David Littman, a former NHL and minor league goaltender now in his eighth year working on the NHL franchise. “The Stanley Cup is the most difficult trophy in all of sports to win and NHL 10 replicates the emotion, intensity and toughness players require to win the Cup.”

NHL 10 features more than 200 gameplay refinements that replicate the skill and finesse of hockey and deliver the most responsive and authentic action ever for the series. Players can one-time loose pucks, score from their knees, knock pucks out of the air and lift a leg to fake a shot on goal. A new 360° precision passing mechanic delivers control over the speed and direction of passes so players can bank passes off the boards or play the puck into space for teammates to skate on to it. Plus, all-new interactive crowds bring the emotion of playoff hockey to life with towel-waving fans, glass bangers and crowds that react to the action on the ice.

Prove you are tough enough to quiet the crowd, silence the opposition and survive a playoff run to lift the Stanley Cup in NHL 10.

NHL 10 will be available in stores this Autumn for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system. It is developed under the EA SPORTS brand by EA Canada in Burnaby, B.C. The game has not been rated.

EA SPORTS™ is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR®.

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About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, 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 SPORTS Freestyle TM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. 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 SPORTS Freestyle and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. NHL is a registered trademark of the National Hockey League. John Madden, NFL, FIFA, NBA, NCAA, and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR are trademarks of their respective owners and used with permission. Xbox and Xbox 360 are registered trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. “PLAYSTATION” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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NHL, the NHL Shield and the image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks and the word mark Stanley Cup is a trademark of the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.

NHL 10 is an Officially Licensed Product of the NHLPA. NHLPA, National Hockey League Players' Association and the NHLPA logo are trademarks of the NHLPA. © NHLPA.

Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest)

• PS3: Infamous could take between 15-25 hours to complete. http://tinyurl.com/ps32vn

• PSP: A remake of Sega CD RPG Lunar: Harmony Of Silver Star is coming to the PSP. http://tinyurl.com/ofxhk4

• 360: Star Trek D.A.C is now live for 800Ms Points. http://tinyurl.com/p6go54

• Kojima Ad appears in Famitsu. 1Up have a indepth look at it. expect announcement 18/5/2009. http://tinyurl.com/osy39f

• PS3: Sony Dismisses reports of a PS3 redesign. http://tinyurl.com/qdqtwz

• Ps3: Sony has detailed some Agency news. be a spy or mercenary. build your own agencies and much more. http://tinyurl.com/oqbhs6

• QTE Blog: PS3 - Zen Pinball UK Release Confirmed for Tomorrow. There Will Be A Demo Also. http://tinyurl.com/p4hnhq

• Call Of Duty 7 is already being worked on according to a CV for a designer at Treyarch http://tinyurl.com/oz6djw

• QTE Blog: Majesco Announces Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is out now on PC, 360, Wii, .. http://tinyurl.com/qgj9zo

• PS3: Voice and Video Chat could be coming to Zen Pinball. The website for the game has it listed as a feature. http://tinyurl.com/oc4t29

• Wii: it is rumored that Prototype could be getting a Wii Port. http://tinyurl.com/oo7bdy

• Wii: Monster Hunter 3 is set for a Japanese release on August 1st. http://tinyurl.com/oyyghl

• QTE Blog: [Update] PS3 - Zen Pinball UK Release Confirmed for Tomorrow. There Will Be A Demo Also. http://tinyurl.com/onzpj3

• PS3:Motorstorm 2 DLC out Thursday. For FREE you get a vehicle livery pack,in packs of 3 vehicles or all together. http://tinyurl.com/p6kab8

• Square Enix Trademark Vanguard Storm turns out to be a Crystal Defenders game. the link has a video. http://tinyurl.com/odp6cw

• Microsoft has said that the GTA IV episodes are exclusive to the 360. http://tinyurl.com/r3r7lr

• There is a rumor that Crystal Dynamics and Buzz Monkey are working on the next Tomb Raider game. http://tinyurl.com/o7tpz9

• PS3: Echochrome will be getting youtube video support and PSeye support(recording you play the game) update soon. http://tinyurl.com/qqmdwp

• QTE Blog: New Zero Punctuation: Valkyria Chronicles http://tinyurl.com/ppp4je

• Blizzard has confirmed that it's new MMO is a completely new Franchise. http://tinyurl.com/rcw64v

• 360: Star Trek D.A.C needs a cheat code to unlock a achievement. it is currently unknown. http://tinyurl.com/oh3u6w

• QTE Blog: Killzone 2 has outsold Halo Wars http://tinyurl.com/oldsce

• Square have shown merchandise for FF XIII. but, not from lightning, from Snow. Could he be the main character? http://tinyurl.com/o2l6de

• 360: a survey has hinted that Lord Of The Rings Online is coming to the 360 on a month by month subscription. http://tinyurl.com/rb88su

• Ubisoft has begun to tease Splinter Cell conviction with a new website. http://tinyurl.com/r52n9e

• Producer for Army Of Two said that the tone was not right in the first game. aim to get it right in the sequel. http://tinyurl.com/qykzhu

• PS3: Resistance 2 is receiving a patch on the 14th. expect fixes and Home launching. http://tinyurl.com/px2bxa

• PS3: PixleJunk 1-4 has been given a name. expect a announcement shortly. 10,000 entered the naming contest. http://tinyurl.com/od9uw4

• PS3: Firmware 2.76 is out soon. is going to improve playback quality of some PS3 titles. http://tinyurl.com/ojndyx

• Gametap is sitting on the publishing rights to Panzer Dragoon Saga. they want to know what the audience wants. http://tinyurl.com/qg4kex

• QTE Blog: New TV Advert For Free Realms. http://tinyurl.com/qvd4mg

• Wii: Activision have no plans to bring Prototype to the Wii. http://tinyurl.com/q83fry

New TV Advert For Free Realms.

Sony Online Entertainment have released this new Advert for Free Realms called "Ninja Prank".

Killzone 2 has outsold Halo Wars

I head on the 1up podcast, listen up [1], that Halo Wars had been outsold by Killzone 2.
this surprised me so i had a quick look at sales figures for both games.

Killzone 2 has sold around 1.57 Million units [2]
Halo Wars has sold around 1.18 Million [3]

Guess they were right, Halo Wars May have outsold Killzone 2 in America during it's First week, but for the rest of the world, Killzone 2 has outsold it. Subsequent week sales for Halo Wars have all been less than Killzone 2

[1] http://www.1up.com/do/minisite?cId=3172882
[2] http://www.vgchartz.com/games/game.php?id=12253&region=All
[3] http://www.vgchartz.com/games/game.php?id=7715&region=All

New Zero Punctuation: Valkyria Chronicles

Even though this is a old game, it is one of the PS3's most constant sellers across the world. and now, Zero Punctuation got it's hands on it.
a great quote has to be "he was so dense his gravitational pull sucked every passive bullet right into his face" ... Classic

[Update] PS3 - Zen Pinball UK Release Confirmed for Tomorrow. There Will Be A Demo Also.

[Update, now have a price for the game]

Zen Studios have just confirmed that the UK will get Zen Pinball Tomorrow and it's Demo. it will cost £6.29

"The title will be released in the UK tomorrow, and there will be a free demo from day one.
Thanks,"
"...it is 6,29GBP"

Here's a trailer for the game so you can see what it looks like.