The voters have spoken! Let their voices be heard! GameStop and Rockstar Games announced today the winning pre-order premium in the “Red Dead Referendum” is the Deadly Assassin

This exclusive unlockable outfit for the upcoming release of Red Dead Redemption beat out its worthy adversaries, the Savvy Merchant and the Expert Hunter, by a landslide in a public referendum that’s been underway since Jan. 25.

The Deadly Assassin outfit will allow players to regenerate the “Dead Eye” targeting feature twice as fast throughout gameplay. Pre-order customers will receive a unique code at launch. They will then need to complete the following in-game challenges to unlock this GameStop exclusive outfit:

Win a Duel in Armadillo – Travel to the town of Armadillo, and accept the challenge to fight a duel. Just make sure to win.
Capture or Kill Mo Van Barr – While in Armadillo, find the wanted poster for Mo Van Barr, accept the Bounty Hunting mission and bring this notorious member of the Walton Gang to justice, dead or alive.
Solve the Mystery of the Missing Townsfolk – People have been disappearing for weeks from the outskirts of Armadillo. Track down the clues, solve the mystery and live to tell the tale.
Search Coot’s Chapel – Find the ruins of Coot’s chapel in the wilds of Cholla Springs, and search it for treasure.
Complete the Twin Rocks Hideout – Find the legendary criminal hideout of Twin Rocks, located North of the town of Armadillo, to complete this final challenge.

Red Dead Redemption is available at GameStop stores nationwide on May 18, 2010.

Technorati Tags: Red Dead Redemption, Gamestop, Games, Video Games, Rockstar, Pre-Order, Premium, Rockstar

Based on the upcoming film from DreamWorks Animation, the How to Train Your Dragon™ video game launches gamers into a third-person action-adventure as a Viking hero where they must embark upon an epic quest to become the ultimate dragon trainer. Gamers can play as characters “Hiccup” or Astrid” on the vast Island of Berk, which features expanded locales from the film including Vikings’ Village, Wild Zone, Training Zone and Fight Arena.

In this truly larger-than-life adventure, players will train dragons, explore environments and battle in prestigious dragon tournaments as they battle for Viking victory. Plus, gamers can become the Dragon hero of their living room as they square-off with friends and family in endless head-to-head multi-player combat!

KEY FEATURES:

Create Your Very Own Dragon – The “Create Your Dragon” feature allows players to customize six different types of dragons, providing virtually unending combinations of ways to modify your dragon’s appearance.

Train your Dragon for Battle – “Level Up” your dragon’s speed, power, fire and other abilities through intense training to face the critical Viking challenge of becoming the ultimate dragon trainer. Then use your arsenal of trained dragons to battle friends in a variety of unique environments.

Pick up Where the Movie Left Off – Players enjoy an all-new post-movie adventure as they jump into battle as their favorite characters. Explore the picturesque Island of Berk as Hiccup or Astrid in Adventure Mode or experience fierce battle action in Arena Mode as you fight for your crown as ultimate dragon warrior.

Head-to-Head Multiplayer Mode – Arcade mode allows friends to select their dream team of four individually customized dragons or dragons chosen from the arcade roster, then jump in and battle against each other. In addition to Astrid and Hiccup, additional characters are playable in Multiplayer Mode including Tuffnut T., Ruffnut T., Fishlegs, and Snotlout.

Mini-Games – Mini games include Ice Sculpting, Looping Race, Flying Sheppard, Memory Torch, and Puzzle Dragon.  Excelling in Mini-Games earns players experience points toward leveling up your dragon, winning gold and other items to help care for dragons. 

Technorati Tags: How to Train Your Dragon, Screenshots, Activision, Dreamworks, Movie, Video Game, Xbox 360, PS3

GAMESTOP AND ROCKSTAR GAMES WANT YOUR VOTE IN THE RED DEAD REFERENDUM

The winning unlockable outfit will be the GameStop pre-order exclusive

GameStop and Rockstar Games present the “Red Dead Referendum,” a public vote to select the pre-order exclusive unlockable outfit for the upcoming title, Red Dead Redemption. Polls are open now through Feb. 15 to choose the outfit you like best for the game’s protagonist, John Marston. Receive the winning in-game outfit and its special gameplay benefits as a pre-order exclusive only through GameStop.

Anyone can vote up to once a day, but ballot box stuffing is encouraged since each vote counts as an entry in a sweepstakes to win a trip to tour the old west on the historic Grand Canyon Railway or daily prizes of $100 GameStop gift cards.

The three outfits to choose from include:

* The Savvy Merchant – buy guns and ammunition from any gunsmith for half the cost
* The Deadly Assassin – regenerate your “Dead Eye” targeting feature twice as fast
* The Expert Hunter – receive double skins and hides when you kill an animal

For more information or to vote, visit www.gamestop.com/RedDead.

Technorati Tags: Red Dead Referendum, Gamestop, Rockstar Games, Grand Canyon Railway, Gift Cards, Pre-Order, Vote

- 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

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

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

Larian Studios’ Divinity II: Ego Draconis, the sequel to the popular, action RPG game, Divine Divinity, is set for release on January 5, 2010. This video game will be available for PC and Xbox 360. Players of Divinity II will return to Rivellon, the world in which the first game is set. Rivellon, a once beautiful and peaceful land, has been ravaged by a series of devastating wars. You’ll fight as a Dragon Slayer, evolving into various character roles as you fight the forces of the evil Damian.

Players get to learn to read minds, travel to the various dungeons looking for and taking loot and eventually turn into a playable dragon that can be used as the player wishes. This is the first time that you’ll be able to play as both human and dragon. You decide how the story unfolds, based on the choices you make for your character. You also have the ability to make your own creature, to help in your battles, from body parts you collect between and during quests.

You’ll be able to explore interactive, dynamic environments and experience over 60 hours worth of gameplay!

With the upcoming release of Divinity II: Ego Draconis just a little over a month away, Gamestop is offering a special, pre-order gift. If you pre-order while supplies last, you can receive a Blood Echelon Armor and Weapon Set. This is the most elite armor and weapon offering from the game. The set is used by the high ranking Dragon Slayers.

The set includes:

-Blood Echelon Armor: Sturdy as granite and shaped to intimidate, Blood Echelon armors set new standards in the art of war.

-Blood Echelon Weapon: The Claymore, the Frontline Slayers’ mighty weapon of choice, cleaves armor like it was mere flesh.

For more information on Divinity II: Ego Draconis, please visit the game’s official website: http://www.divinity2.com/

To get the Blood Echelon Armor and Weapon Set at Gamestop:
For Xbox For PC

Technorati Tags: Divinity II: Ego Draconis, Larian Studios, Games, RPG, Xbox 360, PC, Action, Dragon, Pre-Order, Gamestop, Video Game

Now, players of Ubisoft games can look forward to Uplay(TM). Assassins Creed II and Splinter Cell: Conviction are the first two games to offer access to this new technology. The beta version of Uplay will be available for Assassin’s Creed II on PS3 and Xbox 360 by connecting directly through the Uplay in-game interface. PC users will also be able to make use of Uplay.

Ubisoft has announced that gamers will have the chance to take advantage of four, key gaming services. These are Uplay Win, Uplay Help, Uplay Share and Uplay Shop. Uplay Win is the primary service that will be released on Uplay Beta. The Uplay Win feature allows those playing games to get rewards through their actions throughout games enabled with Uplay. This is done by collecting units that can be cashed in for rewards.

These rewards include digital items and exclusive, downloadable game content. For example, in Assassin’s Creed II, you can exchange your units for an Altair costume or access to the Auditore Family Crypt. You can also use Uplay Win points in a cross-platform capacity (PS3, Xbox 360, PC). If you do not want to use your units right away, you can also save them up for future Ubisoft game releases.

Additionally, gamers will be able to access Uplay Share, Uplay Shop and Uplay Help from www.uplay.com.

For more information on this service, check out the video Ubisoft has made on Uplay features and functions:

Technorati Tags: Uplay, Ubisoft, Video, Video Games, Downloadable Content, Game Features, Shop, Win, In Game Interface, Rewards