- Partnership with World-Renowned Fantasy Videogame Includes Visibility Throughout the Game and at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas –

NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2010 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Square Enix Inc. (Square Enix) today announced a promotional partnership that will make FINAL FANTASY® XIII – the latest in the world-renowned action-packed role-playing videogame series that has shipped more than 92 million units – the presenting partner of the 2010 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

As the presenting partner of the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, FINAL FANTASY XIII will have prominent exposure throughout Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas, where the game will be played. The role-playing videogame, which features futuristic characters and gameplay, will receive significant presence during the broadcast on ESPN, which will televise the NBA All-Star event for the sixth consecutive year. There will also be a dedicated FINAL FANTASY XIII area at NBA All-Star Jam Session where fans will be able to preview the videogame, which will be available for both PlayStation®3 and the Xbox 360® on March 9, 2010.

“FINAL FANTASY XIII ,the next evolution in videogame entertainment, will appeal to first time players and series fans alike,” said John Yamamoto, President and CEO of Square Enix, Inc., “We are delighted to be the presenting partner at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and give fans a chance to experience the most highly anticipated game of the year before it launches on March 9.”

“FINAL FANTASY is a storied brand in the videogame category and this partnership will bring an exciting new element to this year’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game,” said Mark Tatum, NBA Executive Vice President of Marketing Partnerships. “A good portion of our fanbase overlaps with the young, videogame-playing audience, so it is a natural fit for us to partner with a leading franchise like FINAL FANTASY around one of our marquee All-Star events.”

The 2010 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by FINAL FANTASY XIII will tip off on Friday, Feb. 12 at 7:00 p.m. EST/ 6:00 p.m. CST from NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas inside the Dallas Convention Center. This year’s celebrity participants will include a cast of players from film, TV, and music who will be outfitted in retro 1986 NBA All-Star uniforms paying tribute to NBA All-Star 1986 in Dallas. The game will also feature former NBA players and current WNBA players.

FINAL FANTASY XIII marks the dawning of a new era for the celebrated franchise, bringing the series to multiple high-definition consoles simultaneously for the first time in its history. The series is defined by a constant evolution, offering nothing less than the finest creative vision, graphical quality and gameplay system of its generation with every installment, and FINAL FANTASY XIII will be no exception to its legacy.

About Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Square Enix, Inc.
Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix), with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Asia, North America, and Europe. Square Enix® brings two of Japan’s best-selling franchises — FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 92 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 53 million units worldwide — under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

Square Enix, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. with offices in Los Angeles, California. It handles operations in North America, including development, localization, marketing and publishing of Square Enix titles. More information on Square Enix can be found on the Internet at http://www.square-enix.com.

About NBA All-Star 2010
NBA All-Star 2010 in Dallas will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. Among the many events that will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages are the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, NBA All-Star Celebrity Game presented by FINAL FANTASY® XIII, and NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas. American Airlines Center will host All-Star Saturday Night, featuring the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout, Taco Bell Skills Challenge, Haier Shooting Stars, and Sprite Slam Dunk. The 59th NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 14 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before an expected crowd of more than 80,000 – the largest group ever to witness a live basketball game. TNT will televise the All-Star Game for an eighth consecutive year, marking Turner Sports’ 25th season of All-Star coverage. This will be the second NBA All-Star in Dallas. The city also hosted the event in 1986.

Technorati Tags: Square Enix, Final Fantasy XIII, Video Games, Gamers, NBA, NBA Celebrity Game, Basketball

San Francisco – January 29, 2010 - Today Ubisoft announced Dawn of Discovery: Venice, the add-on for the PC version of Dawn of Discovery, the acclaimed real-time strategy and simulation game released earlier this year. Dawn of Discovery: Venice will combine the signature gameplay mechanics of the series and the richness of the Venetian culture with an all-new online multiplayer mode. In addition, Ubisoft announced Dawn of Discovery: Gold Edition, which will include the original Dawn of Discovery and the Dawn of Discovery: Venice add-on. Both the add-on and Gold Edition are due to release February 25, 2010 in North America via download only.

“With Dawn of Discovery: Venice, we are proud to bring a whole new dimension to gamers by letting them experience new multiplayer challenges online with their friends” said Adam Novickas, director of marketing for Ubisoft. “We are confident that this add-on will please long-time fans of the series as well as newcomers to the franchise.”

For more information, please visit http://dawnofdiscoverygame.com.

Key Features of Dawn of Discovery: Venice:
New Venetian setting:
The rich Dawn of Discovery environment is complemented with a new Venetian setting offering new possibilities of interaction:

Build two new Venetian ship types: the small and big tradesman cog
•
Develop secret cabinets, infiltrate your enemies and sabotage their expansion

Multiplayer:
Play Dawn of Discovery online in multiplayer mode:
Choose to play versus or co-op to defeat the AI by combining your techniques

Up to 8 players

New Challenges and Quests:
•Up to 60 new items and 300 new quests with two new types: trading race and ship boarding
•
Discover and exploit a new type of island, the Volcano island
•
New scenarios to face new challenges with new achievements, medals and crests

About Dawn of Discovery:
Experience the award-winning combination of city building, commerce, discovery, diplomacy and combat. Create your own nation with a unique blend of simulation and real-time strategy. Journey across the globe to explore, trade and learn technologies to expand your empire and to make your own history. With its extensive and immersive campaign, Dawn of Discovery guarantees never-ending gaming fun for novices and experts alike.

For more information about Ubisoft please visit www.ubi.com.

About Ubisoft:
Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft is present in 28 countries and has sales in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2008–09 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of 1.058 billion euros.

© 2009 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. Dawn of Discovery, Sunflowers and Sunflowers logo are trademarks of Sunflowers GmbH in the U.S. and/or other countries. Sunflowers GmbH is a Ubisoft Entertainment company.

Technorati Tags: Ubisoft, Dawn of Discovery, Venice, PC Game, Gaming, Computer, New Levels, Press Release

Players Must Use Brainpower to Unscramble Konami’s Latest Family-Friendly Word Puzzle Game

El Segundo, Calif. – Jan. 27, 2010 - Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced KrissX for Xbox LIVE® Arcade is now available. In this downloadable word puzzle game, players are tasked with deciphering challenging brainteasers and putting their trivia knowledge to the test.

In KrissX, gamers’ must help Wordsworth the Owl on his mission to solve jumbled word puzzles by switching around letters and following clues. If players are successful, they will be rewarded with badges and high scores. As players progress through the game, they can explore 150 vibrant stages while choosing to play at a leisurely pace or facing a timed challenge.

With over 3,500 words to unscramble and a variety of game styles including Quests, Time Attack Mode and Timeless Play, gamers can expand their daily vernacular as they discover secret puzzles that provide endless replay value. Addictive gameplay, uncomplicated controls and intuitive tutorials provide an interactive and fun gaming experience for players of all ages.

Developed by Regolith Games ltd, under the Blitz 1UP label, KrissX is now available on Xbox Live Arcade for 800 points. For the new trailer and assets, please visit www.konami.com/downloads.

About Konami
Konami is a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of electronic entertainment properties. Konami’s titles include the popular franchises Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill, DanceDanceRevolutionCastlevania, among other top sellers. The latest information about Konami can be found on the Web at www.konami.com. KONAMI CORPORATION is a publicly traded company based in Tokyo, Japan with subsidiary offices, Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, Japan, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. in the United States and Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH in Frankfurt, Germany. KONAMI CORPORATION is traded in the United States on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol KNM. Details of the products published by Konami can be found at www.konami.com.

Technorati Tags: Konami, KrissX, XBOX Live Arcade, Video Game, Gaming, Digital Entertainment, Wordsworth the Owl, Puzzle Game

THE ACADEMY OF INTERACTIVE ARTS & SCIENCES, GAMESTOP, THE GUILDHALL AT SMU ANNOUNCE JUDGING PANEL FOR INDIE GAME CHALLENGE ENTRIES

More than 40 Industry Influencers to Judge Inaugural Game Development Contest; Winner to Receive More Than $350,000 in Prizes

DALLAS – (Jan. 14, 2010) – Judging is underway for the first Indie Game Challenge SM sponsored by The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) and GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME). The 12 non-professional and professional finalists out of more than 250 submissions in this inaugural video game design competition are expected to be announced February 1, 2010.

The Indie Game Challenge offers more than $350,000 in prize monies and scholarships, as well as the tremendous opportunity for the finalists to present their game ideas in person to video game executives from top publishers such as Sony, Nintendo, Electronics Arts, Capcom, Microsoft, NAMCO/Bandai, THQ and Ubisoft at the D.I.C.E.™ (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit, an annual conference dedicated to exploring approaches to the creative process and artistic expression as they uniquely apply to the development of interactive entertainment, hosted by the AIAS. Five members from each of the 12 finalist teams will attend the awards reception Feb. 19, 2010, at the Red Rock Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. These meetings will allow competitors to receive valuable input and have the opportunity to explore commercial avenues for their games.

The volunteer judging panel is made up of gaming icons, veterans and up-and-coming professionals representing AIAS’s membership base, including such noteworthy individuals as:

Danny Bilson, executive vice president, Core Games, THQ, who has strong roots in the creative community as both a screenwriter and director for TV and film, and is responsible for THQ’s slate of games

Jenova Chen and Kellee Santiago, co-founders, thatgamecompany, creators of the unique and ethereal games Flow and Flower ,who along with their small team, are changing people’s perceptions of what makes a great game

Kyle Gabler, co-founder and creative director of 2D Boy, and part of the team that co-created the wildly successful World of Goo

Rod Ferguson, executive producer, Epic Games, who is part of the team of game-making heavyweights responsible for the Gear of War franchise

Alex Seropian, vice president creative development, Disney Interactive, co-founder of Bungie Studios and one of the fathers of Halo

Roger Hector, senior vice president product development, Namco Bandai, automotive design guru, responsible for launching 100-plus titles in his career within the interactive industry

Tina Kowalewski, director of external development, Sony Computer Entertainment America, responsible for finding new talent and new games for Sony

Representatives also include publishers and developers from Microsoft, Capcom, Harmonix, Volition, Insomniac, id Software, Zipper Interactive and Vigil Games

“We’re in our second round of evaluations, so we’re seeing the cream of the crop,” said Matthew Lee Johnston, senior producer, PopCap. “It’s amazing how polished some of the games are and the fun experiences they offer. The hardest part has been finding the time to play them all as much as I’d personally want, but I’ll definitely rectify that on my own time after the competition is completed.”

“We had no trouble finding highly qualified gaming professionals willing to donate their time to this unique challenge,” said Joseph Olin, president, AIAS. “Not only were we pleased with the total number of entries we received, the overall quality of the submissions far exceeded our expectations. Judges are currently pouring over each and every entry, and I don’t envy the task they face in culling the list down to 12 finalists by the end of the month.”

“We committed to each entrant that their game would be thoroughly evaluated and played by qualified judges from the world of gaming, and that’s what’s happening now,” said Mike Hogan, senior vice president of marketing, GameStop. “The 12 finalist games will be representative of some of the most innovative and creative ideas in gaming today as judged by the best in the business.”

For more information on the competition, visit www.IndieGameChallenge.com

Technorati Tags: Indie Gaming Challenge, Judges Panel, Xbox, GameStop, Playstation, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Games, Press Release

This is being called one of the must have games of the holiday season. I have to say I agree. This game looks absolutely awesome, but don’t take my word for it.

Check out the Modern Warfare 2 Infamy trailer.

What do you think about watching this trailer and other information you’ve read and seen about Modern Warfare 2? Is it truly going to be the #1 must have game of the holidays?

Technorati Tags: Trailer, Modern Warfare 2, Video Game, Mature Audiences, Video Games Trailer, Infamy

SAN FRANCISCO – September 24, 2009 -– Today Ubisoft announced that Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery(TM) for the Nintendo DSi(TM) and Nintendo DS(TM) systems will launch on November 17 for the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $29.99. The game is rated “T for Teen” by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB).

Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery takes players through an untold chapter from the Assassin’s Creed® II console storyline utilizing the unique strengths of the Nintendo DS platform. In this new adventure, Ezio travels to Spain to rescue fellow assassins being held under the guise of the Inquisition, only to uncover a Templar plot to sail west and discover the New World.

The game takes platforming into the next generation with an emphasis on exhilarating speed and breathtaking acrobatics. The in-game animations provide players with a true visceral experience and the intuitive controls enable players to easily execute assassinations and nimbly navigate obstacles reaching daredevil speeds. Nintendo DSi owners will be able to take pictures of themselves and put them directly into the game as “WANTED!” posters.

“Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery is a great way for fans to experience a new chapter of the Assassin’s Creed II storyline,” shared Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ubisoft. “We think Nintendo fans will be impressed with all the unique features in the game designed specifically for Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DS.”

Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery is being developed by Griptonite Games.

More details on Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery can be found at www.assassinscreed.com.

Technorati Tags: Nintendo DS, Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery, Ubisoft, Release, November, Video Games, Press Release

The greatest Super Hero action/RPG of all time is back with the world’s largest army of heroes and villains in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, the highly anticipated sequel to 2006’s award-winning Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. Incorporating elements of the acclaimed Marvel Civil War storyline, players must choose their side and team up to battle or interact with returning favorites and all-new characters, including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Iron Man, Deadpool, Venom, Green Goblin, Iron Fist and Captain America, whose powers can be combined to unleash astonishing new attacks.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 engages players in co-operative multiplayer through graphically rich and destructive real-world environments, and allows players to strengthen their ultimate Super Hero dream teams by teaming up to unleash astonishing fusions of super-powers.

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 ships to stores on September 15th for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP and DS.

Technorati Tags: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, Video Game, Video, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS

Time-traveling first-person shooter takes players on a wild ride through history

Cedar Falls, Iowa – September 8, 2009 – It’s here! Phantom EFX, the world’s leading developer and publisher of PC-based casual game titles, and independent game development studio 8monkey Labs announced today that their highly anticipated historically-based first person shooter, Darkest of Days, launches today for both Windows-based PC and the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Beginning today, Darkest of Days is available for purchase for $49.99 on the Xbox 360 and $39.99 on PC at most major retailers, including Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Gamestop. Darkest of Days will also be available for purchase online from www.phantomefx.com as well as larger online retailers such as Amazon.com. Digitally distributed copies will be available as well from Steam, Direct2Drive, Digital River and other outlets.

“For me and everyone else here at Phantom EFX and 8monkey Labs that have been working on Darkest of Days for the past three years, it’s almost hard to believe that launch day is already upon us,” said Aaron Schurman, CEO of Phantom EFX and lead writer for Darkest of Days. “We’ve put our blood, sweat and tears into this game, and we’re extremely proud of what we have accomplished. We feel that Darkest of Days is not only a fantastic game on its own merits, but that it will serve as a breath of fresh air into the somewhat crowded FPS genre and give players across the world a truly memorable, exciting gaming experience.”

Have you ever wondered what could happen if time travel was a reality? Have you ever thought about the possibility of going back in time to rewrite history for the better? That possibility is a reality in Darkest of Days, where players will travel back and forth through the annals of time to relive some of mankind’s most dire hours. By fighting through terrible events such as The Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest conflict of the Civil War, and both World War I and II, the player will attempt to save certain key individuals who were never meant to become involved in these truly monstrous events and save history from those who would attempt to change it.

Key features of Darkest of Days include:

· Wreak Havoc with Future Weapons in Antiquity: Something nearly every gamer that’s ever played a shooter based in the past has always wanted is the ability to bring a futuristic weapon back through history and kick some major butt. How differently would Custer’s last stand have turned out if the General was equipped with an M-16 assault rifle? You’ll be able to answer questions like this in Darkest of Days. While not every battle and situation will allow you to wield weapons from the future, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to unleash futuristic fury on your unsuspecting foes.

· Brand New Engine: The dedicated team at 8monkey Labs has created an all-new, groundbreaking game engine known as Marmoset. The Marmoset Engine not only breaks from the all-too present Unreal engine FPS clones flooding the market, but also allows for some amazing graphical capabilities. You’ll fight through epic battles filled with literally hundreds of NPCs on the screen at the same time, all with an advanced AI and all without a hint of graphical slowdown and all set against wide-open environments that are lushly detailed and dynamically lighted.

· Compelling Storyline: Darkest of Days is a compelling, action-packed first-person shooter to be sure, but it’s not just mindless run-and-gun, blow ‘em up gameplay. You’ll have to not only think about how to approach certain key battles and situations, but you’ll also have to take care when fighting – certain key people that were never meant to die will be marked with a special blue aura. If you kill them, you’ll face dire consequences…

Darkest of Days is rated M for Mature by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) for blood, strong language and violence. For more information about Darkest of Days, please visit www.darkestofdays.com.

Technorati Tags: Darkest of Days, Phantom EFX, 8monkey Labs, Xbox 360, PC, Video Game, Release, Time Travel, Future

Santa Monica, CA – August 4, 2009 – Taylor Swift, global music sensation and best selling artist of 2008, will ascend an all-new virtual stage this November in Band Hero™, the ultimate party game featuring a wide assortment of today’s popular hits and most recognizable pop anthems, created by Guitar Hero® and Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI). Budding music stars, their families and friends, will all live their musical fantasy on the Band Hero stage, playing as Taylor Swift or alongside the singer/songwriter and guitarist, as she performs her smash-hits “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me” from her latest album Fearless as well as “Picture to Burn” from her self-titled debut record.

“Anything that encourages people to pick up an instrument and play, I’m fully behind. And, I’m really excited about Band Hero, because not only are fans getting to play my songs, but I’m actually in the game,” said Swift. “There are so many awesome things that go into being in Band Hero, like getting to customize my band to look like my touring band, and it’s so cool for people to feel like they are experiencing one of my concerts. This is one of the closest things out there to going to see me perform!”

Taylor Swift and Band Hero will award 20 lucky fans the opportunity to see a Taylor Swift Concert and four of those fans will win the opportunity to meet Taylor Swift in person. Watch for more details on this sweepstakes this summer at www.bandhero.com.

“Taylor Swift’s impressive rise to the top of multiple music genres, along with the broad appeal of her songs, makes her a great example of the type of experience we are bringing to music fans with Band Hero,” said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Guitar Hero. “We’re thrilled to announce her as the very first of several playable in-game artists and showcase her many talents in our game.”

This November, family and friends will come together to ascend the virtual stage and rock their way to superstardom with Band Hero. Brought to you by the makers of Guitar Hero®, one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time, Band Hero features the hottest chart-topping hits from everyone’s favorite acts including Taylor Swift, No Doubt, Lily Allen, The All-American Rejects and Jackson 5. Headlined by some of the biggest names in music as in-game artists and playable characters, Band Hero is the ultimate party game where players of all ages will be able to experience the signature, easy-to-learn but difficult-to-master Guitar Hero gameplay. Band Hero allows fans to create the band they always dreamed of using any combination of guitar or drum controllers and vocals, providing rockers and performers of all ages the chance to experience and interact with their favorite music.

Published by Activision Publishing, Inc., Band Hero is being developed by Neversoft Entertainment for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, by Vicarious Visions for the Wii™ system from Nintendo and by Budcat for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The game is rated E10+ (mild lyrics, mild suggestive themes). For more information about Band Hero, please BandHero.com.

Technorati Tags: Band Hero, Activision, Taylor Swift, Video Game, Video, Announcement, Music Game, Family Fun, Band Game

If you’re a fan of casual gaming you might want to check out Alawar’s newest game, Hotel Mogul. The game, classified best as a business sim, is an addicting time-management game that includes plenty of levels and lots of action.

Alawar’s Game Description:

Lynette’s conniving husband has cheated her out of her family business! What can an enterprising young woman like her do? Get revenge! Use your business savvy to help Lynette repurchase her company and send her husband to the slammer. Buy, develop and sell commercial properties to make a profit; build attractions that increase your income; and keep your eye on the bottom line as you purchase materials and hire workers. The point-and-click fun of Hotel Mogul will have you laughing all the way to the bank!

Key Game Features

Five exotic settings
35 levels
Four mini-games
Six kinds of hotels
Vibrant graphics and sound

You can test the game out for an hour by visiting the Alawar Website and checking out more about Hotel Mogul and their other great games!

Technorati Tags: Hotel Mogul, Casual Game, Alawar, PC, Sim, Hotel, Time Management, Entertainment