Welcome to GamingTrend
Your Gaming Source
Top News
Splitfish Buys Glow GamingSplitfish has announced that they have acquired Glow Gaming. Here is a little bit about Glow Gaming.
Glow Gaming Inc. is a corporation in Ontario Canada, with "GottaGlow" branded Game controllers. A "Gotta Glow" Wii Product is scheduled for release in Q3. All Glow Gaming products feature "luminescent" glow in the dark materials, and are highly rated by gamers and reviewers. Unlike competitor "glow" controllers who use LED or mini light technology, Glow Gaming utilizes a custom injection process with a high quality impact resistant composite to make their products glow naturally. By adding the "GottaGlow" Nintendo Wii compatible products, including controllers and accessories, to its product lineup for distribution, SplitFish will gain access to the multi-billion Nintendo Wii market. Web URL: www.glowgaming.comSounds like these could make some interesting Wii controllers. Wii in the dark, anyone? We'll bring you more news of these peripherals as we hear about it.
Prince of Persia - Speed ArtPrince of Persia has been confirmed for Next-Gen platforms for an end-of-the-year appearance, but now we have a trailer that shows off some of the character art that the game will be using. It confirms the new cel shaded look of the game, and is simply impressive to watch.
The artist referred to only as "Patrick" in the trailer renders in 20 minutes what I wouldn't be able to render in 20 days. If you want a sneak peek at the end results, a few sites have leaked a few screenshots of the game in action.
Personally? I'm excited about the new direction.
Fight Night Round 4The rumors of the demise of the Fight Night franchise were grossly exaggagerated - EA Canada will be handling Fight Night Round 4 according to a recent announcement, and the game is slated for shelves in 2009. Here is what we know so far:
Featuring a re-written gameplay engine, EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 will add a variety of fighting styles and boxer differentiation to authentically emulate the greatest fighters of all time. Pressure your opponent with the brawling inside style of young Mike Tyson, bobbing and weaving to set up powerful hooks and uppercuts. Capitalize on Muhammad Ali’s reach, hand speed and fleetness of foot to bewilder your opponent with lightning fast jabs and straights from the outside. For the first time in history, EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 gives you the opportunity to pit these legendary heavyweights against one another and name a true champ.Mike Tyson? High dynamic range lighting to accent any ear biting for 2009 it seems. Look for more on the 360/PS3 slated title as we move towards E3.
No fight will be the same with an all-new physics-based animation system that recreates the full spectrum of true-to-life punch impacts, giving boxers a devastating arsenal of punches, blocks and ring movement. The new physics system allows for missed punches, glancing punches, knockout blows and for the first time ever, rough and tumble inside fighting. Fatigue, adrenaline, footwork and timing all come into play as you hammer away at your opponents.
Doom 4 AnnouncedGreat news for Doom fans!
id Software today announced that it has begun production on Doom 4, and is now in the process of expanding its internal team of developers to work on the shooter sequel.I cannot wait! Check out the complete Press Release here.
"Doom is part of the id Software DNA and demands the greatest talent and brightest minds in the industry to bring the next installment of our flagship franchise to Earth," said id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead in a release.
GTA IV Stats for Xbox 360Microsoft is reporting some interesting numbers about the just released Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV.
- In the first week, more than 2.3 million people played Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox LIVE
- GTA IV is now the number one played game on Xbox LIVE
- Over the weekend, we saw the Xbox LIVE service reach 1 million concurrent users
- Gamers have unlocked more than 12 million achievements worth over 100 million gamerscore points in GTA
- Grand Theft Auto IV set a new record for time played, with the average gamer spending more than four hours playing the game on LIVE in the first week alone
Mass Effect PC, Spore To Use Securom DRMAccording to a post on the official Mass Effect forums, the PC version released by EA will use SecuROM, as will EA's release of Spore later this year.
Mass Effect uses SecuROM and requires an online activation for the first time that you play it. Each copy of Mass Effect comes with a CD Key which is used for this activation and for registration here at the BioWare Community. Mass Effect does not require the DVD to be in the drive in order to play, it is only for installation.Well, at least they're not using StarForce...
After the first activation, SecuROM requires that it re-check with the server within ten days (in case the CD Key has become public/warez'd and gets banned). Just so that the 10 day thing doesn't become abrupt, SecuROM tries its first re-check with 5 days remaining in the 10 day window. If it can't contact the server before the 10 days are up, nothing bad happens and the game still runs. After 10 days a re-check is required before the game can run.
Another Lego Batman VideoFor all the admirers of LEGO games, the developers of Lego Batman have released another video for us gamers to enjoy. This trailer will portray two of the game's villains, the Scarecrow and Two-Face.
DOFUS 2.0 AnnouncedAnkama has announced the release of DOFUS 2.0, a web-based tactical MMORPG.
DOFUS, Ankama’s tactical MMORPG which has already attracted 7 million players worldwide, is on the way to being completely revamped, and is scheduled for launch in Fall 2008, with a beta version planned for September.Looks like the developers are revising a whole lot of code to make the game run more efficient. I personally haven't tried the game, but with a player base of over 7 million people, they must be doing something right. Lets hope the update will cause the game to grow even larger.
The code has been completely rewritten in Action Script 3 so now the leading Flash MMO will prove even faster and more responsive, while over 2,000 animations and 10,000 maps are being entirely redrawn.
With this complete revision, the game will be much more fluid, attractive and fun while keeping the same minimum system requirements, gameplay and features that have made it a worldwide success through the years.
Communication with the servers has been revised and optimised by the development team to deliver better performance and to allow future expansions to evolve more freely.
Fallout 3 Music & Inon ZurBethesda Softworks sends word that they have signed composer Inon Zur to create music for the upcoming Fallout 3.
“We’ve wanted to work with Inon for a long time,” said Todd Howard executive producer of Fallout 3. “He brings so much to the table, in terms of his talent, background, and the music that’s influenced him. He’s created a score that has epic sweep; from the lonely ambience of the wasteland to dramatic fights for survival.”For more information, take a look at the official press release.
Wii Fit New York City Launch EventTo celebrate the North American release of Wii Fit, Nintendo is holding an all-day event in New York City's Central Park.
How will Wii Fit move you? Discover for yourself at New York's Central Park Merchants' Gate on May 19, as Nintendo hosts a spectacular all-day launch event for Wii Fit, the highly anticipated new program for the popular Wii home video game system that combines fun and fitness. The event doubles as a celebration of May as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, putting all kinds of bodies -- young and old, big and small -- in motion with live demonstrations of Wii Fit and the new Wii Balance Board.As usual, the press release contains complete details.
Lord of the Rings Online Welcome Back WeekendTo celebrate the one-year anniversary of Lord of the Rings Online, Turbine is inviting previous account holders to reactivate their accounts for a free weekend.
Former subscribers can play their old characters, check out the LOTRO Anniversary celebration events, explore new areas, and tackle new quests. To take part in the Welcome Back Weekend, players can simply log into their LOTRO account from May 8-12, 2008.Take a look at the press release for more information.
Stride Gum vs. Uwe Boll
Opposition to Uwe Boll's terrible game-based movies is now coming from an unexpected source: Cadbury.
“Since gamers are one of our most supportive groups, we’ve been looking for ways to return the favor,” said Gary Osifchin, Stride North American Marketing Director. “And what better way is there to get gamers’ backs than by helping them rescue their cherished videogames from the clutches of Uwe Boll?”For more details about the chewing gum manufacturer's wacky antics, check out the press release.
More Siren This SummerAccording to a story at PS3 Fanboy, the further adventures of a haunted village in Japan will continue episodically with Siren Blood Curse.
SCEE has announced, via their PlayStation Day asset disc, that Siren Blood Curse will be made available this Summer in Europe. Blood Curse will be an episodic, downloadable experience via the PlayStation Network and promises to be "the most terrifying game in the Siren series to date." While the twelve episode series begins this Summer, there's no word on how often new episodes will be made available.You can read the full text of the story right here.
PS3 Y1 = FAILNext Generation reports that none other than Kaz Hirai himself declares openly that the first year of the Playstation 3 was underwhelming to say the least.
"I think it's fair to say that the first year of PlayStation 3 was somewhat a difficult one," said Hirai at Sony's PlayStation Day in London. "There were some teething problems, success from our competitors, and our customers were a little underwhelmed by the range of titles that were available.You can read the full story right here.
"This is something that we're very much aware of, and something we were always confident we could overcome."
THQ On Job CutsGamasutra reports that THQ, in a conference call, reported a plan to restore profitability to the company which includes layoffs.
These include a new greenlight process, testing the waters of microtransaction supported free to play games, and layoffs of some 200 employees -- though the company plans to grow its headcount by year-end.You can read the full text of the story right here.
Farrell said in the call that its performance was the "first time in many years" the company did not deliver profit, and noted a number of the challenges THQ faced in 2007.
M.A.D.D. vs GTAIVThe AP has a story which pits Mothers Against Drunk Drivers against Take Two and Grand Theft Auto IV because of the in-game opportunities to drink then drive... which is funny as all hell by the way and if you have the game and haven't tried this it is at once hysterical and frightening.
"Drunk driving is not a game, and it is not a joke," MADD said in a statement released Tuesday. "Drunk driving is a choice, a violent crime and it is also 100 percent preventable."Bear in mind, while trying this in the game you honestly cannot control yourself very well even though you think you can, which is about as accurate a description of drunkenness as one can find. You can read the full text of the story right here.
MADD is also calling on publisher Take-Two Interactive and developer Rockstar Games to consider stopping distribution of the game — which analysts expect to sell 9 million copies and make over $400 million at launch — "out of respect for the millions of victims/survivors of drunk driving."
10 Rules For Game HateDestructoid takes aim this week at the anti-video game lobby with 10 Golden Rules they just can't seem to make their point(s) without.
1: Exaggerate, twist, but above all ... LIE!:You can check out the rest of the spot-on list right here.
If you have a problem with videogames, there's every chance that you have a valid and sensible reason for doing so at heart. Let's face facts, though -- when has being sensible ever made the headlines? If you want your kids to stop playing Grand Theft Auto, then you're going to have to exercise your right as an American to make stuff up and invent things until you get a call from the local news network. This is for America!
New Portal MapsNext-Generation has the story on several new maps for the brilliant Portal finding their way online... again. As it turns out, the crew behind the equally brilliant Flash game based on Valve's brainbender have converted their Flash maps into the real deal.
Portal: The Flash Version map pack is now available. Those same guys over at We Create Stuff have turned their original 40 levels from the Flash version into actual Portal maps! Those old levels coupled with some extra levels and features will net Portal fans about three and a half additional hours of Portal gameplay.You can read the whole story and download the maps right here.
If you’re new to this version you can expect a little prequel action, with the We Create Stuff game taking place before the action of the official Valve Portal. Aperture Science just never rests, does it?
New Crash Bandicoot VideoLooks like Crash Bandicoot is returning with a vengeance. Check out this video showing off some...ehrm...family-jewel kicking action in Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant. Enjoy!
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Prequel AnnouncedWhatever your opinions of the game, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. was definitely a high-profile release last year, and it had some great ideas. For fans of the game, they've just announced a prequel, called S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky. The title sounds a little too optimistic for my taste. Presumably "STALKER: Puppies and Hugs" was taken. Here's some details:
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky is a survival FPS game for PC based on a 'what-if' scenario of the second Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. The game is created as a warning to mankind against mindless play with technologies.Clear Sky is expected to be available worldwide on August 29, 2008. You can read the full press release here, and take a gander at the game record right here.
Hope Springs EternalMerscom has announced that it is publishing Hope Springs Eternal, the next game in the Carol Reed adventure game series.
“Hope Springs Eternal is the perfect compliment to our previous adventure games, it is a beautiful point-and-click adventure that will really appeal to the casual gamer.” explained Lloyd Melnick, Chief Customer Officer at Merscom, “I really think the by-pass feature, which allows gamers to skip over complicated puzzles if they choose, is perfect for the casual gamer; it provides control over the game playing experience. I am confident this will be yet another hit for us.”If you're interested, you can find the details and digital download instructions in the official press release.
Rock BandGood news for Wii and PS2 owners
Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a division of MTV Networks, which is a division of Viacom), along with distribution partner Electronic Arts, Inc., today announced plans to release Rock Band Track Pack Volume 1 for the Wii home video game console from Nintendo and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. The 20-Track Pack features an electrifying mix of classic hits and current favorites, including songs by Boston, Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, and All American Rejects. The Rock Band Track Pack Volume 1 will be available on July 15th, 2008 for a MSRP of $29.99.For all the info and a complete track listing, check out our Press Release.
New Izuna 2 ScreenshotsThe developers of Izuna 2 have released some new screenshots of the game. Looks to be another awesome little rogue-like game with a cast of memorable characters. Who doesn't enjoy playing an unemployed ninja? Enjoy!
Wits & Wagers on XBLAThis Wednesday's XBLA offering will be Wits & Wagers.
Break out the Big Button pad controllers and invite friends over for an entertaining couch vs. couch multiplayer experience on Xbox LIVE, supporting 1-4 players offline and 2-6 players in online multiplayer mode. With 700 trivia questions, great character costumes and dance moves, catchy music, achievements, leaderboards, support for the Xbox LIVE Vision Camera, the Xbox Big Button Pad and more, “Wits & Wagers” is the fun party game you can play with your family and friends starting this Wednesday!Check out the press release for complete details.
Bus Driver Goes GoldPublisher Meridian4 has announced that the North American version of Bus Driver is gold and should be shipping later this month.
In Bus Driver, your job is to transport passengers around an attractive and realistic city. You must drive to a timetable on a planned route, while obeying traffic rules, and taking care not to upset or injure your passengers. This makes Bus Driver unlike any other driving game - the experience of driving a bus is very different from blazing through a racing circuit.Take a look at the press release for more information.
Crosswords DS ReleasedToday Nintendo announced they have released Crosswords DS to the masses.
Today's launch of Crosswords DS for the portable Nintendo DS video game system puts more than 1,000 crossword puzzles into the palm of your hand. Crosswords DS includes puzzles at multiple skill levels, so anyone from beginners to experts can give it a try. As you progress, the puzzles get bigger and more challenging. Because you write all your answers directly on the touch screen with your stylus, there's no need for erasers – just write your new answer over your old one. Crosswords DS also includes a sophisticated hint system if you get stuck. Just tap the Hint button with your stylus and choose to receive another clue, reveal a hidden letter or solve the whole word.Sounds like a fun casual game. Look for it now if you enjoy word games.
“Crosswords DS brings crossword puzzles into the 21st century in a way that's accessible to everyone,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “And because Nintendo DS is so light and portable, you can play it anywhere at any time.”
Wii-kly Update May 5, 2008Today Nintendo announced two new games for their Wii Virtual Console. Without further ado, here are the two games available:
Pokemon Puzzle League (Nintendo 64, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): Get ready for a new kind of Pokemon battle where the power and speed of your brain are just as important as the strength of your Pokemon. Join Ash, Brock, Misty and many more characters from the Pokemon animated series as they gather in Puzzle Village to compete for the title of Pokemon Puzzle Master. Just match three or more blocks of the same color in any direction. Sounds simple, right? But the actual game play is surprisingly addictive and deep (chains and combos anyone?), especially when you're facing off against a human opponent. Choose from six different modes offering a wide range of action, from story or puzzle modes to continuous play or timed play. If that's not enough, take on the challenge in 3-D and get ready for more blocks than ever before. Featuring animated cut scenes combined with bright, fun graphics, there's enough to satisfy any fan of Pokemon or puzzle games.I almost expected Renegade to be based on an old Lorenzo Lamas TV series. In any case, look for both of these in the Wii Shopping Channel today.
Renegade (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older – Mild Violence, 500 Wii Points): Renegade follows the story of a vigilante who fights his way through countless gangs in order to bring peace back to his city. Battle your way through subways, parks, alleyways and parking lots. For added fun, there's a wild motorcycle ride to challenge you. Use your arsenal of kicks, punches (including the infamous sit-on punch) and jump kicks, as well as a variety of throws to knock your opponents into submission. Along the way, pick up items like a hamburger that restores your life, a heart that increases your lives by one, a power-up to increase your attack strength, and a speed item that gives you a speed burst while on your motorcycle. You'll need all the help you can get to take out your aggression on street punks, thugs, outlaw bikers, killer kung-fu females and an array of bosses standing in your way. Take the law into your own hands to defeat countless scumbags and take your city back like the renegade you are.
We Ski Goes GoldNamco Bandai has announced that We Ski has gone gold.
Make every day a snow day as NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. today announced that We Ski™ has gone gold for WiiTM. Step onto the Wii Balance Board™ or grab your Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™ and hit the slopes for single or multi player downhill action! Up to four skiers can experience the sweetest mountain runs like never before, as they enjoy We Ski’s highly responsive and intuitive controls. We Ski will carve its way into stores on May 13.Soon I can take all of my Miis onto the slope and have a blast!
Weston Partners with WiiIf you are going to be staying at specific Weston Hotels, you'll soon be able to entertain yourself with a Wii in your room. That is what Nintendo recently announced in this Press Release.
Using the innovative motion-sensitive Wii Remote™ controller, WestinWORKOUT users can get both body and brain moving with a variety of interactive games, including Wii Sports (featuring tennis, golf, baseball, bowling and boxing activities), Big Brain Academy™: Wii Degree and Wii Play™ and others, all played with natural, intuitive movements of the Wii Remote. The special Wii system will be updated automatically with hot new Wii games as they become available and includes features to simplify system management for the hotel property. A simple new game menu makes it easy to jump in and play without inserting game discs, and each property can manage what games are offered and how game data is stored.Work out the body and the brain while out of town. Check out the Press Release for more details.
"We jumped at the chance to be the first hotel to partner with Nintendo and add interactive entertainment to our successful WestinWORKOUT program," said Sue Brush, Senior Vice President, Westin Hotels & Resorts. "We think our guests will be eager to make Wii a part of their workouts during their stay with us."
Worldwide Mario Kart TournamentsNintendo recently announced that they are going to be holding Mario Kart Wii tournaments on the Mario Kart Channel.
Nintendo has thrown down the gauntlet for Mario Kart Wii racers worldwide. Now it's time to see who's up to the challenge, as players take on the world in Mario Kart Wii Tournaments.Sounds like those could be a lot of fun. Look at the Mario Kart Channel for more information.
Every few weeks, a new tournament will appear on the Mario Kart Channel, an online feature that not only allows players to compete in tournaments, but also exchange race data with friends. Tournaments might take the form of a challenge for players to race a certain course as fast as they can with specific characters, or to collect a number of coins on a course using the Wii Wheel accessory or another control setup. They can feature unique rules or obstacles on the course.
Theatre of War GoldAre you looking for an ultra-realistic WW2 RTS? Well, look no further. CDV has announced that Theatre of War has gone gold.
Theatre of War, the WWII battlefield simulation/RTS title for PC, has gone gold today. Created by Battlefront.com, a leading developer of strategy games, Theatre of War offers an extensive real-time WWII experience. By combining the look, feel and historical elements of World War II, Theatre of War creates an unrivaled tactical battlefield recreation that spans major campaigns from the Battle of Moscow to Normandy. With more than 50 missions spread across multiple campaigns and a rich do-it-yourself mission and map editor included, Theatre of War rewards armchair generals with tremendous gaming and replay value.Look for the game to hit retail shelves on May 19th, 2008.
All rights reserved. Copyright 1999 - 2004 by GamingTrend All other logos, brand names, and product names listed are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.