It’s like The Sims meets Sim City in Kingdom form. Build your kingdom and help your settlers thrive in the new sequel to the ever-popular PC game, Settlers: Rise of an Empire. The game, Settlers 7: Path to a Kingdom looks adorable. I am more of the PC-gamer in the family and just by checking out the well made graphics and fun game premise,

Ubisoft has taken great strides to improve upon the gameplay provided in Settlers: Rise of an Empire. With better graphics, more interactivity and the ability to create a stunning kingdom with original characters and different construction scenarios, everything to hope for a sequel and more is available in Settlers 7.

One area that had to be explored when creating this game that I would never have considered was the economy created by your kingdom. The following video discusses how the developers made various ways for game players to develop a thriving community while playing Settlers 7. It is fascinating to hear what into the development process for this game. You can check out the video right here on Gamerrazzi.

To find out more about Settlers 7 and the original Settlers PC game, visit The Settlers Ubisoft website.

Settlers 7 is set to be released by Ubisoft sometime in early 2010.

Technorati Tags: Settlers 7, Path to a Kingdom, Ubisoft, Video, Economy, PC, Gaming, PC Game, Setters: Rise of the Empire

I am not usually one to write about Facebook games. I do have my own Facebook. I also play some of the games, but I am not so obsessed with them that they have become my life (like many other FB obsessed gamers I know).

I must admit that I am slightly intrigued by the newest game that is about the hit FB. The game is called Platinum Life and it is being described as, “the first hip hop social lifestyle game to hit Facebook.” Supposedly the game is also backed by some pretty big celebrity names in the Hip Hip world, but those have yet to be announced.

I was sent a teaser trailer and while it looks exciting it does not tell much about what to expect from the game. You can check out the trailer here, too:

The press release on the game that I received had this to say about it:

PLWE allows you to customize your avatar, build your entourage, then meet and interact with today’s real-life celebrity hip hop heavyweights. Beef up your brand while you battle your way from being an unsigned underground artist to a superstar celebrity livin’ large.

So, what do you think about Platinum Life? Is it the coolest new game on FB, or just another stupid app to clog up the system.

Technorati Tags: Platinum Life, Facebook, game, apps, trailer, hip hop, social life, entertainment, video

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

Second chapter with new regions, a new playable people, new classes, new instances, updated graphic engine and a new soundtrack to arrive in September

Under the name of ‘The Elven Prophecy’, Frogster is to turn over a new leaf with Chapter II of Runes of Magic scheduled for launch in September 2009. The publisher has announced this today at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) currently being held in Los Angeles. At the exhibition, Frogster is already showing some new content from Chapter II like the new game region “Weeping Coast”.

As the name already suggests, the core element of ‘Chapter II – The Elven Prophecy’ is the integration of the elven folk as a playable race. A widely branching background story entwines about the elves with lots of new challenges with the new pieces of lore being told by means of a multitude of new quests and epic quest series. Continuing ‘Chapter I – Rise of the Demon Lord’ the second chapter leads players into new game regions, steeped in elven history. It’s the eponymous elves who stand by mankind in their epic conflict against the demon’s menace.

An elven village from Chapter II

According to the legends, demons of human origin – having degenerated into underworld beings under the influence of the runes – forged an alliance with the nagas in ancient times. Together, these evil forces brought war and devastation to the world of Taborea. An alliance of elves and humans succeeded in banishing the demons into the void and drove back the nagas behind a magical wall. However, when elven prince Sig’aylas removed the holy sword ‘Arclight’ from the wall to defend his human truelove, the wall perished and the naga threat flared up once again.

Together with the elves, ‘Chapter II – The Elven Prophecy’ introduces two new character classes into the world of Runes of Magic. They complement the palette of selection possibilities within the tactically interesting dual class system, creating further combinations to choose from. Advanced players will look forward to new challenges in the form of new demanding dungeons, raid instances and new PvP modes. As a consequence of the copious new game content, ‘Chapter II – the Elven Prophecy’ raises the level cap for all characters in Runes of Magic to 55.

Along with the expansion Frogster is also integrating a new pet system in the Taborea game world. Players will then have the opportunity to actively train their companions, so that they can mature and fulfil valuable supporting roles in combat situations. On top of all this, the game atmosphere in Runes of Magic will receive a thorough general overhaul. The new game regions will really shine, thanks to improved graphics with new effects and hand-drawn textures. Moreover, the renowned sound-studio Dynamedion is recording a completely new soundtrack for the launch of Chapter II. Just as with the base version of Runes of Magic and all of the subsequent updates, Frogster will offer ‘Chapter II – The Elven Prophecy’ as a free download.

Already in August, Frogster is going to integrate first content packages of ‘The Elven Prophecy’ like the new region “Weeping Coast” and raise the level cap to 52. The climax of Chapter II will follow with the official launch in September. “With the comprehensive Chapter II we will seamlessly linking in with our previous policy of regular content expansions for the Runes of Magic game world. And we will still be implementing regular content updates right up until we launch The Elven Prophecy,” Daniel Ullrich, Frogster’s Director Product Management, commented discussing the expansion plans.

Technorati Tags: E3, Frogster, Chapter II, Runes of Magic, The Elven Prophecy, PC Games, Gaming

Playlogic Announces Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships for PC Hitting Retail Shelves May 12, 2009

Set out on the high seas as a raiding pirate or mission-seeking naval sailor in this adventure role playing game!

New York — April 20, 2009 – Playlogic Entertainment, Inc. (Nasdaq OTC: PLGC.OB), an independent worldwide publisher of entertainment software, announced today that Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships is coming to retail stores nationwide May 12, 2009. The action-packed pirate adventure role playing game (RPG) for PC features dozens of quests and infinite challenges, where players can sail the high seas as a swashbuckling dread pirate or assume the role of a dashing naval captain.

“This sequel to the popular Age of Pirates franchise reinvents itself with a larger playing field and exciting new content from a new combat system and trading options to numerous quests and character classes,” said Rogier Smit, executive vice president of Playlogic. “The game’s free-roaming options expand the storyline and challenge players with endless hours of adventure.”

Players courageous enough to delve into the dangerous world of Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships will discover treasure and adventure as they choose to go it alone and become the most feared pirate on the seven seas, or prove their loyalty and take the coin of one of four different navies; French, English, Spanish or Dutch. As players navigate their own route through the seas of the Caribbean they can explore strange new countries and undiscovered civilizations, plunder merchant ships and even raid fortified ports and cities – interacting with nearly every character and/or building along the way.

Game features include:

Ship-to-ship combat and toe-to-toe clashes
3 diverse characters and 3 classes: Merchant, Corsair and Adventurer
4 main campaigns
40+ quests and 40+ quest generators allowing for an infinite amount of quests
New combat system for faster fights
3 weapon classes: light, medium and heavy
Advanced trading system
Real-life historical characters such as Jamaican governors Colonel Thomas Lynch and Thomas Modyford

Almost everything can be adjusted to players’ wishes, making customization and resource management a key element to gameplay. Let this serve as a warning; in Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships the dead do not sleep easy, and both myth and reality frequently intertwine.

For more information about Age of Pirates 2: City of Abandoned Ships, please visit www.ageofpiratesthegame.com.

Technorati Tags: Age of Pirates II, City of Abandoned Ships, PC, Game, Gaming, Gamer, Online, Pirates, Gameplay

EGOSOFT’s final installment in critically acclaimed franchise now available

Parkville, Maryland – April 7, 2009 – EGOSOFT, renowned developer of the acclaimed X franchise of computer games for PC, Mac and Linux, announced today that the latest chapter of the X series, X³: Terran Conflict 2.0 – The Aldrin Missions, is now available at all major US retail outlets.

X³: Terran Conflict 2.0 – The Aldrin Missions features a host of new missions, new ships and much more – and is also available on Steam, a leading platform for the delivery and management of PC games and digital content with over 15 million accounts around the world. This updated version of X³: Terran Conflict is being published by IGS Interactive Inc.

“It’s been a long road, but it feels great to finally give US gamers a chance to go and purchase this fantastic final installment in the X series,” said Bernd Lehahn, managing director of EGOSOFT. “The critical response to X³: Terran Conflict has been nothing short of phenomenal, and we’re confident that X3: Terran Conflict 2.0 – The Aldrin Missions will only build on that success.”

As with the previous titles in the X series, X³: Terran Conflict 2.0 – The Aldrin Missions is a single-player space simulation featuring fast-paced first-person space combat, free-form open exploration of a huge dynamic universe, and large-scale management of the player’s own intergalactic corporation.

In X³: Terran Conflict (the predecessor to 2.0), the long-lost Terran colony of Aldrin was rediscovered. Now, after numerous years of isolation, the Terrans are keen to bring the Aldrans back into the fold as part of their massive effort to colonize areas of space thought lost or inaccessible. No colonization is easy, however, and you will be asked to not only help in the shaping of the new frontier, but will also be called upon to provide protection for the colonization effort against forces determined to oppose the Aldrin Expansion. New Terran stations and complexes, a new Terran ship and a host of other new features are introduced as you play a decisive role in the shaping of this new Terran frontier.

“As with X³: Terran Conflict, IGS Interactive is extremely proud to be publishing X3: Terran Conflict 2.0 – The Aldrin Missions,” said Paul Lombardi, CEO of IGS Interactive Inc. “This is an absolutely stellar title for both fans of the X franchise and newcomers alike. EGOSOFT has truly outdone themselves.”

X³: Terran Conflict was released in European retail outlets and on Steam on October 17, 2008. The reviews have been overwhelmingly positive and X³: Terran Conflict currently boasts a 78.2% ranking on Game Rankings. IGN, the largest and most influential videogame site in the world, said that “Clearly crafted by a design team on a mission and with a vision, X3: Terran Conflict is a pretty and impressively ambitious voyage into the heavens that should satiate the thirst of anyone who pines for life away from earthly confines.”

Technorati Tags: PC, MAC, Linux, Gaming, Games, X3, Terran Conflict, The Aldrin Missions, Now Available

Uniquely Designed for Each Platform, New Game Allows Players to Create Their Own Flourishing Empire

SAN FRANCISCO – February 26th, 2009 – Today Ubisoft announced Dawn of Discovery(TM), a real-time strategy and simulation game specifically designed for the Wii(TM) home video game system, the Nintendo DS(TM) hand held system and PC. Scheduled for release in summer 2009, Dawn of Discovery gives gamers the opportunity to explore new civilizations and build their own empire like never before through the immersive action of the Wii Remote(TM) and the DS stylus.

“Dawn of Discovery allows gamers to take the civilization-building experience to the next level of fun and interactivity,” said Adam Novickas, director of marketing for Ubisoft. “We’re pleased to be bringing the brand new, uniquely designed game to not only the PC and Nintendo DS, but also to Wii for the first time.”

Dawn of Discovery takes place in the year 1404, when King George’s land is suffering from severe droughts and brutal famine. Aware of his people’s distress, the king calls on his two sons, William and Edward, to acquire new territories in order to produce enough goods to satisfy the needs of his empire’s inhabitants. Whereas Edward suggests aggressive means to collect the precious resources, his brother William offers a peaceful solution, proposing to explore new and unsettled lands in the south of the kingdom. With his Father’s blessing, William heads south to the mysterious Orient and returns with valuable new technologies such as the water pump that allows dry lands to be cultivated in order to produce enough food for the people. But there are still many unmet needs within the king’s empire, and players are tasked with the mission of fulfilling those needs while both expanding and sustaining the vast society.

Game features include:
Build and sustain your own expansive empire
•Explore the beautifully detailed world and discover new places to create your civilization
•Set up trade posts in the spice mines of the Orient and explore new trade routes to keep your nation growing
•Learn from other nearby cultures to expand your horizons and master the challenges of establishing a prosperous society

Developed specifically for Wii, DS and PC audiences
•Unique art style and clever integration of the Wii Remote and DS stylus makes building your empire more fun and interactive than ever before
•All new scalable 3-D engine ensures unmatched visuals, optimized for all PC’s – from high-end to low-end desktops
•Seamless user interface delivers multiple gameplay modes and faster player rewards for both long or short play sessions

Exclusive multiplayer modes across platforms
•Build your civilization and make history along with a friend in the 2-player co-op mode for Wii
•Integration with Ubi.com allows PC players to track achievements, climb leaderboards and challenge others online

Accessible for everyone from beginners to pros
•Intelligent help system offers contextual hints for any situation
In-game encyclopedia includes illustrated tutorial filled with tips and strategies for building your civilization

Formerly known as ANNO 1404, Dawn of Discovery is the North American title of the game.

Technorati Tags: Anno 1404, Dawn Of Discovery, Wii, Nintendo DS, PC, Game

As of now, here is the latest list of games that are set to be released this January. While December was jam-packed with big name titles, the gaming companies seem to be taking it light this January, as consumers (and their pocketbooks), recover!

Jan 5, 2009

* Jumble Madness ( Nintendo DS)
* Fishing Master World Tour (Nintendo Wii)
* Ultimate Shooting Collection (Nintendo Wii)
* Scrabble Champion Edition JC (Windows Vista/98/2000/Me/XP)
* Saints Row 2 by THQ (Windows XP)
* Bigfoot: Collision Course by Zoo Games (Nintendo DS)
* Elebits: The Adventures of Kai and Zero by Konami (Nintendo DS)
* DJ Max Fever by PM Studios, Inc. (Sony PSP)
* Paws & Claws: Pet Resort by THQ (Nintendo Wii/DS)
* CID The Dummy by O-Games (Nintendo Wii/Vista/Playstation 2)

Jan 12, 2009

* Deal or No Deal (Nintendo Wii)
* Lord of the Rings: Conquest (Xbox 360)
* Lord of the Rings: Conquest (PLAYSTATION 3)
* Personal Trainer: Math (Nintendo DS)
* Neighborhood Games by THQ (Nintendo Wii)
* Mirror’s Edge by Electronic Arts (Windows Vista / XP)
* Stoked by Destineer Inc (Xbox 360)
* Wheel of Fortune Super Deluxe by Encore Software (Mac OS X, Windows Vista/XP)
* Moon by Mastiff (Nintendo DS)
* Dreamer: Horse Trainer by Dreamcatcher Interactive (Nintendo DS)
* Commander in Chief by IGS (Windows Vista / XP)
* Inkheart by Dreamcatcher Interactive (Nintendo DS)
* The Agency by Sony (PLAYSTATION 3)
* Dreamer: Puppy Trainer by Dreamcatcher Interactive (Nintendo DS)
* Jeopardy Super Deluxe by Encore Software (Mac OS X, Windows Vista / XP)
* Heist by Codemasters (Xbox 360/Playstation 3/Windows Vista/XP)
* Delta Force 10th Anniversary Collection by NovaLogic (Xbox 360)
* Adventure Compilation by Got Game (Windows Vista / XP)

Jan 19, 2009

* Learn Math (Nintendo DS)
* SKATE 2 (Xbox 360/Playstation 3)
* Imagine Fashion Party (Nintendo Wii)
* Star Ocean: Second Evolution (Sony PSP)
* AR Tonelico 2: Melody Of Metafalica Premium by KOEI Corp (PlayStation2)
* SimAnimals by Electronic Arts (Nintendo DS/Wii)
* Mana Khemia by NIS America (Sony PSP)
* PDC Championship Darts 2008 by O-Games (Nintendo Wii/Xbox 360/PSP/PS2)
* Drivers’ Ed Portable by Dreamcatcher Interactive (Nintendo DS)
* Big Bang Mini by South Peak Interactive (Nintendo DS)
* Johnny Bravo by Mumbo Jumbo (Nintendo DS)
* Cartoon Network Universe Fusion Fall by Majesco (Mac OS X Intel, Windows Vista / XP)
* Jagged Alliance by Atari Inc. (Nintendo DS)

Jan 26, 2009

* Tomb Raider: Underworld (PlayStation2)
* Math Blaster in the Prime Adventure (Nintendo DS)
* Escape The Museum (Nintendo Wii)
* MLB Front Office Manager (Xbox 360/Playstation 3/Windows Vista/XP)
* MotoGP 08 by Capcom (Nintendo Wii)
* Mystery P.I. Vegas Heist by PopCap Games (Windows 2000/ Vista/XP)
* This is Vegas by Midway Entertainment (PLAYSTATION 3/Xbox 360/Windows Vista/XP)
* Fashion Dash by Encore Software (Mac OS X, Mac OS X Intel, Windows Vista/XP)
*
Seasonal Snack Pack by Encore Software (Mac OS X, Mac OS X Intel, Windows Vista/XP)
* Afro Samurai by Namco (PLAYSTATION 3/Xbox 360)
* Coraline by D3 Publisher (Nintendo DS/Wii/Playstation 2)
* Disney Hannah Montana: Pop Star Exclusive by Disney (Nintendo DS)
* Wedding Dash 2 by Encore Software (Mac OS X, Mac OS X Intel, Windows Vista/XP)
* Nightshift Code by Encore Software (Mac OS X, Mac OS X Intel, Windows Vista/XP)
* Nobunaga’s Ambition: Iron Triangle by KOEI Corp (PlayStation2)
* Hasbro Classic Game Collection by Encore Software (Windows Vista/XP)
* Hoyle Casino 2008 by Encore Software (Windows 2000/Vista/XP)
* Rollin’ Rascals by Majesco Sales Inc. (Nintendo DS)
* My Secret Diary by O-Games (Nintendo DS)
* The Chase: Felix Meets Felicity by Atari Inc. (Nintendo DS)
* PowerBike by Majesco Sales Inc. (Nintendo DS)
* My Dress Up by O-Games (Nintendo DS)
* Puzzle Kingdom by Zoo Games (Nintendo DS/Wii)
* Indianapolis 500 Evolution by Destineer Inc (Xbox 360)
* Hoyle Puzzle Games 2008 by Encore Software (Windows 2000/ Vista/XP)
* Space Station Tycoon (Nintendo Wii) by Namco (Nintendo Wii)
* Monster Band by Dreamcatcher Interactive (Nintendo DS)

Note: Release dates may be subject to change by the developers of these games.

Technorati Tags: Video Games, January Releases, PC Games, Playstation 3, PSP, Playstation 2, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Windows, Mac

Spike TV’s Video Game Awards 2008 premiere on Sunday, December 14 (9:00- 11:00 PM, ET/ tape delay west coast), broadcasting LIVE from Sony Picture Studios in Culver City, CA. The nominees for the first 12 categories are listed below.

You can check out the first 12 categories in our other post about the Video Game Awards.

Best Wii Game
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Publisher: Nintendo Studio: Nintendo
No More Heroes Publisher: Ubisoft Studio: Grasshopper Manufacture
Wii Fit Publisher: Nintendo Studio: Nintendo
Boom Blox Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: EA Casual Studios

Best Xbox 360 Game
Fallout 3 Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Studio: Bethesda Game Studios
Grand Theft Auto IV Publisher: Rockstar Games Studio: Rockstar North
Gears of War 2 Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Studio: Epic Games
Fable II Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Studio: Lionhead

Best Soundtrack
Guitar Hero World Tour Publisher: RedOctane / Activision Publishing Studio: Neversoft Entertainment
Rock Band 2 Publisher: MTV Games Studio: Harmonix
Grand Theft Auto IV Publisher: Rockstar Games Studio: Rockstar North
LittleBigPlanet Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: Media Molecule

Best Action Adventure Game
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc Studio: Kojima Productions
Mirror’s Edge Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: DICE Sweden
Grand Theft Auto IV Publisher: Rockstar Games Studio: Rockstar North
Dead Space Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: EA Redwood Shores

Best Driving Game
Mario Kart Wii Publisher: Nintendo Studio: Nintendo
Midnight Club: Los Angeles Publisher: Rockstar Games Studio: Rockstar San Diego
PURE Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios Studio: Black Rock Studio
Burnout Paradise Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: Criterion Games

Best Music Game
SingStar Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: SCE Studios London
Wii Music Publisher: Nintendo Studio: Nintendo
Guitar Hero World Tour Publisher: RedOctane / Activision Publishing Studio: Neversoft Entertainment
Rock Band 2 Publisher: MTV Games Studio: Harmonix

Best Game Based On A Movie Or Tv Show
Naruto: The Broken Bond Publisher: Ubisoft Studio: Ubisoft Montreal
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Publisher: LucasArts Studio: LucasArts
Quantum of Solace Publisher: Activision Publishing Studio: Treyarch
LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures Publisher: LucasArts Studio: Traveler’s Tales Games

Best Graphics
LittleBigPlanet Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: Media Molecule
Gears of War 2 Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Studio: Epic Games
Fallout 3 Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Studio: Bethesda Game Studios
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc Studio: Kojima Productions

Best Handheld Game
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc Studio: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd
Patapon Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: Pyramid
Professor Layton and the Curious Village Publisher: Nintendo Studio: Level-5
God of War: Chains of Olympus Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: Ready at Dawn Studios

Best Individual Sports Game
Skate It Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: EA Montreal / Black Box
Wii Fit Publisher: Nintendo Studio: Nintendo
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: EA Tiburon
Shaun White Snowboarding Publisher: Ubisoft Studio: Ubisoft Montreal

Best Fighting Game
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit Publisher: Atari Studio: Dimps
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Publisher: Nintendo Studio: Nintendo
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Publisher: Midway Games Studio: Midway Games
Soul Calibur IV Publisher: NAMCO BANDAI Games Studio: Project Soul

Best RPG
Fallout 3 Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Studio: Bethesda Game Studios
The World Ends with You Publisher: Square Enix, Inc Studio: Square Enix Co., Ltd./Jupiter
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: Mythic Entertainment
Fable II Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Studio: Lionhead

Best Shooter
Gears of War 2 Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Studio: Epic Games
Left 4 Dead Publisher: VALVE Studio: VALVE
Resistance 2 Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Studio: Insomniac Games
Far Cry 2 Publisher: Ubisoft Studio: Ubisoft Montreal

Most Anticipated Game: Go to Spike TV to vote for your favorite!

Technorati Tags: Spike TV, Video Game Awards 2008, Video Game Console, Video Game Publisher, Most Anticipated Game, Grand Theft Auto IV, Madden 09, Far Cry 2, Left 4 Dead

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT ISSUES INDUSTRY-WIDE CALL TO ACTION TO EXPAND G.I.R.L. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Nov. 13, 2008 – Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in online gaming, invited all companies doing business in the video game industry to join SOE’s efforts to educate and recruit more women into the field of video game creation, design and production.

In a lunchtime keynote speech during the International Game Developers Association conference in San Francisco, Torrie Dorrell, senior vice president of Global Sales and Marketing for SOE, challenged companies in the video game industry to each make a $10,000 donation toward the G.I.R.L. – Gamers In Real Life – scholarship, with the goal of creating multiple scholarships and more opportunities for women.

“Today, I am challenging everyone to take action to help level the playing field for women pursuing a career in video games. By donating to the G.I.R.L. scholarship, we can encourage diversity in development and make a difference, hopefully creating more opportunities for women and ultimately making more video games women will want to play,” said Dorrell.

First awarded in 2008, the G.I.R.L. scholarship was created by SOE and encourages female students toward career paths in the creative and applied arts, with the ultimate goal of developing video games that are more interesting for women to play. In 2009, the program will be managed by Scholarship America®, a leading non-profit educational support program. SOE will offer students of undergraduate programs related to video games a chance to compete for the scholarship by submitting original artwork and essays to a panel of judges.

“SOE’s vision is commendable, and we fully endorse the G.I.R.L. scholarship program and look forward to the results of this initiative,” said Joseph Olin, president of The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. “Expanding the presence of women in video games reflects SOE’s foresight and acknowledges its contributions to the future of our dynamic entertainment medium.”

For more information about the G.I.R.L. scholarship program, please visit, www.girl.soe.com.

Technorati Tags: Sony Home Entertainment, SOE, Games, Gaming, Gamer, GIRL, Gamers In Real Life, Scholarship, College, University