Game On!

Guitar and Peripheral Skins Manufacturer, GHSkinz.com Launches Handheld
> Skins Line
>
> Decorative Skins for Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, iPhone and More Now
> Available at www.GHSkinz.com
>
> Macomb, Mich. May 28, 2008 - GHskinz.com, a designer and manufacturer
> of skins that replicate real life guitars for games like Guitar Hero
> and Rock Band, announced today that it has added skins for handheld
> gaming systems and the iPhone to its lineup. The new products, which
> are now available at www.GHSKinz.com for an estimated retail price of
> $4.49 each include over 20 different designs for each of the following
> systems: Nintendo DS Lite, Sony PSP, Apple iPod Touch MP3 Player and
> the Apple iPhone. Consumers who purchase an iPhone skin will also
> receive a link to download the matching Background image for their
> phone. Consumers who purchase a Sony PSP skin will receive a link to
> download a matching background image for their phone and also a Clear
> Screen Protector.
>
> "Handheld gaming systems and cell phones have become a big part of our
> everyday lives so it makes sense that people would want to customize
> something that they have with them at all times," said Matt Witek,
> Co-founder of GHskinz.com. "Our new skins for the DS, PSP, iPhone and
> more offer people a chance to give their accessories a bit of personal
> style and flair."
>
> The company also recently released its first home console skins for the
> Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 and offers several lines of real life rock
> star inspired guitar skins including a series called "ROCKIN WILD"
> which is based on guitars used by Zack Wylde, as well as a full line
> of classic American burst guitar skins including Sun, Blue, Cherry,
> Silver and more. GHskinz.com also offers a full line of drum skins for
> the Rock Band drums and a full line of Rockin' accessories including
> guitar stands, guitar straps, mic stands, mic covers & drum sticks.
> These products are all available at GHskinz.com.
>
> In addition to the GHskinz.com replica designs available on their web
> site, GHskinz.com also works with celebrities and rock bands on tour
> to design, manufacture and package customized products.
>
> For more information about GHskinz.com and its products visit
> www.GHskinz.com.

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CAL RIPKEN'S REAL BASEBALL ANNOUNCES SECOND TOURNAMENT FOR 2008 SEASON:
> Home-Run Derby Contest
>
> Free MMO Sports Game Tournament to Involve Teams From Around The World
> Competing Head to Head
>
> May 27, 2008--Diamond Bar, California - Cal Ripken's Real Baseball, the
> world's only massively multiplayer online sports game (MMOSG) for
> baseball, announced today they will host a Home-Run Derby Tournament
> scheduled to begin on June 2nd at 12:00 PM PST.
> The Home-Run Derby Tournament is a revolving two-week competition,
> meaning a new winner will arise from the competition every two weeks.
> In order to foster competition, each player will compete against
> players of his or her own skill level. Unlike most Free Agent
> Tournaments, formal registration for this event is not required. The
> only requirements to participate in this event are an active account
> and the ability to provide an accurate character profile with current
> contact and personal information.
> Players may participate in the Home-Run Derby Tournament at any time of
> the day during the set time parameters established by Cal Ripken's
> Real Baseball. Home-Runs are not accumulated during the two week
> term. The player with the most home-runs at the end of ten outs, at
> the end of two weeks, will be declared the winner. Winners of the
> Home-Run Derby will earn a spot in Cal Ripken's Real Baseball Hall of
> Fame! The winners will have the option to place a photograph of him
> or her in the list of honorees.
> "Cal Ripken's Real Baseball brings video gaming and baseball to a
> whole new level. Players can continue to enjoy the head to head
> competition with tournaments and other events we have to offer," said
> Andy Wang, founder and CEO of Netamin Communication Corporation.
> Regarding the nature of a new tournament like this, Andy went on to
> mention that "it is a single player tournament, and players will not
> just experience winning or losing but learn about playing the game of
> baseball as well. It will help players to have better experience when
> they start to play with real people!"
> Like baseball in real life, Real Baseball hosts different types of
> events throughout the year. These include tournaments, Homerun
> Derbies, and Rookie Challenges. Tournaments for Real Baseball are
> Level based tournaments and grouped into the following categories:
> Minor, Major, All Star and MVP, are either single elimination or
> double elimination. Rookie Challenges are fun and educational,
> intended for new players, and are designed to get them ready for the
> big leagues and the tournaments.
> About Real Baseball (www.PlayRealBaseball.com):
> In Real Baseball, baseball enthusiasts and gamers compete in 3D virtual
> stadiums. With stunning graphics and surround-sound audio reactions
> from the crowd, participants control customized characters for each
> position and compete together against other Real Baseball gamers.
> Players use an avatar to bat, pitch, field, run, steal and perform any
> baseball action. Participants can practice, play pick-up games, join
> or found their own teams, compete against rival teams, play in
> specialized tournaments, and win league championships in post-season
> play. Gamers create their own characters and build their skill level
> (player stats) through successful play on the field against other real
> human players. Unlike current video games that aim to simulate
> professional sports, Real Baseball delivers a first-person perspective
> of a character, created and developed by the player, interacting
> online in real-time with teammates and opponents.
> About Netamin (www.Netamin.com):
> Netamin Communication Corporation, a pioneer in Massively Multiplayer
> Online Sports Games (MMOSG), is headquartered in Diamond Bar,
> California with additional operations in Korea. The company has
> launched its first MMOSG title, Ultimate Baseball Online, with
> subsequent titles planned in the team sports genre. Founded in 1998,
> Netamin is a privately held corporation aiming to provide an online
> virtual playing field for all major sports. For more information,
> please visit www.Netamin.com.

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Log Onto www.easportsfootball.com To Track, Manage, Upload, and Discuss
> EA SPORTS Soccer Videogames
>
>
> REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - May 20, 2008 - Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:
> ERTS) announced today that UEFA EURO 2008(tm), the only officially
> licensed videogame of the real-world championship, is available in
> stores now throughout North America.
>
> UEFA EURO 2008 is a more accessible, faster paced, and more responsive
> version of the market-leading EA SPORTS(tm) soccer engine - with all of
> the teams and official stadiums that will be part of UEFA EURO 2008(tm).
> Take one of 52 European national teams to glory from qualification right
> through to a virtual reproduction of the championship tournament. A new
> game mode called Captain Your Country will enable gamers to put
> themselves on the pitch, earn the captaincy of their team, and truly
> inspire their country to glory. Gamers will be able to celebrate their
> success on-field through user-controlled celebrations that will add to
> the pageantry and atmosphere of the event.
>
> With UEFA EURO 2008 now available in stores throughout North America,
> gamers can log on at www.easportsfootball.com to track their results
> against rivals from around the world in the Battle of the Nations online
> game mode featured in UEFA EURO 2008. Battle of the Nations is a daily
> competition where users represent their country online against rival
> nations in a quest for continental supremacy. A groundbreaking points
> system means that, while linked to the EA servers, every performance in
> UEFA EURO 2008 is rated, recorded and uploaded and ratings all count
> towards player and nation Leaderboards. Gamers can play as any team
> against any opposition and still gain points for their selected country
> with bigger upsets netting increased status points.
>
> The new EA SPORTS soccer website www.easportsfootball.com is set to
> become the premier global destination for EA SPORTS soccer fans on the
> web where they can interact with and be a part of the world's leading
> soccer gaming community. Users will be able to track statistics, get
> insight into features on all EA SPORTS soccer games, upload videos, join
> groups, and participate in tournaments and online leagues with soccer
> fans from all over the world for all EA SPORTS soccer games. Developed
> in five different languages the soccer gaming destination will be
> updated with new content, videos and features regularly so fans are
> encouraged to visit often to keep up-to-date on their favorite EA SPORTS
> soccer videogames.
>
> UEFA EURO 2008 is developed by EA Canada in Burnaby, B.C. It is in
> stores now throughout North America on the Xbox 360(tm) video game and
> entertainment system, the PLAYSTATION(r)3 and PlayStation(r)2 computer
> entertainment systems, and the PSP(r) (PlayStation(r)Portable) system.
> UEFA EURO 2008 is rated "E" for everyone by the ESRB.
>
> ###
>
> About Electronic Arts
> Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is
> the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded
> in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive
> software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular
> handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under
> four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA SPORTS Freestyle TM and POGOTM.
> In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27
> titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online
> game site is www.ea.com.

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San Francisco, Calif. - May 27, 2008 - /Note to Editors: In Mastiff's
upcoming WiiWare(tm) release, /Major League Eating: The Game/ players
control professional eaters in epic one-on-one gurgitory battles. For
three weeks, we'll be releasing information about the eaters featured in
/Major League Eating: The Game/, including their real-life stats and
accomplishments, as well as their unique strengths and vulnerabilities
in the game. / / /

/Eater bios and art can be downloaded from the MMPR ftp site at
http://www.mmpr.com/MMPRFTP
,
inside the Mastiff folder./

Erik "The Red" Denmark
Seattle, WA
Age: 29
Weight: 208 pounds

Erik "the Red" Denmark, a golfer living in Seattle, embodies his
namesake's passionate hunger and also enjoys a similar respect - not
just from Greenlanders, but from all who have witnessed his tireless
determination at the competitive eating table. He boasts a tolerance for
hot and spicy fare, having performed in jalape�os, huevos rancheros, and
buffalo wings. In /Major League Eating: The Game/, Erik dominates the
competition when shrimp is involved, and is especially strong when it
comes to Spicy, a flaming belch of flames. He's most vulnerable to
Rotten Food.

*Records:*
Native American Fry Bread: 9.75 in 8 minutes
Shrimp: 4 lbs, 15 oz. Spot shrimp in 12 minutes
45 Krystal Burgers in 8 minutes
61 Hard-Boiled Eggs in 8 minutes

Richard "The Locust" LeFevre
Henderson, NV
Age: 63
Weight: 132

The Locust is known for a strong jaw, and stomach capacity that seems to
increase, not decrease, as a contest progresses. Previously considered
an outsider in the competitive eating community, LeFevre embraced the
formal eating circuit for the first time in 2002, participating in hot
dogs, all-you-can-eat buffet and chili. Since then his prowess and
reputation have grown. In /Major League Eating: The Game/, LeFevre
shines when confronted with Jalape�os or Spicy, but has difficulties
with Antacid.

*Records:*
Jalape�os: 247 in 8 minutes
Huevos Rancheros: 7.75 lbs in 10 minutes
SPAM: 6 lbs in 12 minutes
Chili: 1.5 Gallons in 10 minutes

Patrick "Deep Dish" Bertoletti
Chicago, IL
Age: 22
Weight: 190

Patrick Bertoletti is a gurgitating force of nature. He has beaten every
major eater, taking out two superstars at one chomp on October 9, 2007
with his victory over Takeru Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut in the Spike TV
televised Las Vegas chicken wing "Chowdown." Bertoletti considers
himself a sweet specialist but proven himself capable of claiming
victory regardless of food type. Some say the intimate knowledge of food
he carries as a recent culinary school graduate gives him an unfair
advantage. Others credit his habit of using the music of Irish punk band
Dropkick Murphys, channeled in via earphones, to maintain pace during
competitions. However, no one disputes his stature as true force of
nature in competitive eating and one of the greatest eaters of all time.
In /Major League Eating: The Game/, Bertoletti is strong in Pizza-eating
events and Mustard Gas, a dangerous gaseous cloud, but weak against
Invincible.

*Records:*
Grits: 21 lbs in 10 minutes
Waffles: 14.5 lbs in 10 minutes
Strawberry Shortcake: 15.25 lbs in 8 minutes
Ice Cream: 1.75 Gallons in 8 minutes

"El Toro" Jimenez
Las Vegas, NV
Age: 30
Weight: 187

El Toro has a big mouth, although it doesn't seem to serve him well in
competition. Fond of extravagant claims, personal attacks on other
eaters and all sorts of theatrics, he is usually at the bottom of the
pack at the end of any given contest. Other eaters see him as abrasive,
offensive, and void of talent. He does, however, contribute to the sport
by setting an example of what not do

*Records:*
6.66 lbs Cranberry Sauce in 8 minutes
10 Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs in 12 minutes
11 Bratwurst in 10 minutes
34 Hard-Boiled Eggs in 8 minutes

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Seasoned Executives from the Music and Entertainment Space Join Forces
to Launch Video Game Portal Focused on Casual Gamers and Music Fans

*

*El Segundo, California - May 27, 2008* � Today the formation of *Music
Video Games�* (MvG) was announced, a music-based game company focused on
delivering interactive entertainment experiences for both casual gamers
and music fans. *MvG* was founded by David Warhol, president of video
game studio Realtime Associates, Inc., and Vincent Bitetti, a video game
publishing executive and former CEO of TDK Mediactive, which was sold to
Take Two Interactive (NASDAQ:TTWO) in 2004.

�MvG has been created with the goal of bringing fun and easily
accessible music games to an audience that has largely remained
unnoticed to this point,� said Vincent Bitetti, CEO of MvG. �The music
video game market and the online casual games market both continue to
grow exponentially. MvG will provide games that will appeal to both
demographics.�

Mr. Bitetti will act as the company�s CEO while Mr. Warhol will be the
Chief Creative Officer. Acting as strategic advisors to the new company
are music industry veteran Mark Goldstein, former Senior Vice President
of Business and Legal Affairs at Warner Bros Records Inc. (NYSE:WMG),
and interactive entertainment guru Tim Walsh, formerly the Senior Vice
President of International Publishing, President of THQ Wireless, and a
Corporate Officer at THQ (NASDAQ:THQI).

According to Pacific Crest Securities the online casual games business
will grow to $725 million in 2008 from $375 million in 2006, with casual
games becoming a primary industry growth driver for 2008 and beyond.

To find out more about *MvG*, please visit www.musicvideogames.net

*

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This week�s Wii-kly Update pretty much covers the full spectrum.
Maybe you�ll want to blast away with an arsenal of old-school weapons. But
then again, three-day weekends are a good time to relax. So maybe you�ll
take a wild road trip or settle in for some table tennis. And if you
overdo it, we have a physician standing by.

Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m.
Pacific time every Monday. Wii� owners with a high-speed Internet
connection can redeem Wii Points� to download the games. Wii Points can be
purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week�s new
games are:

WiiWare�

Dr. Mario� Online Rx (Nintendo, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone,
1,000 Wii Points): The doctor is in! Mario� takes a break from his
adventuring ways and once again dons his stethoscope for a new generation
of germ-battling mayhem. In addition to the classic mode of using vitamins
to exterminate viruses, you�ll find two battle modes and an online
multiplayer mode where you can hone your skills against players from
around the world. Feel like challenging a friend who doesn�t have Dr.
Mario Online Rx? Then the WiiWare-exclusive Friend Battle Demo is just
what the doctor ordered. Or maybe you�d like some help taking on
those nasty viruses? Try out Virus Buster, where four players can
simultaneously move capsules simply by pointing at them with a Wii Remote�
controller. Any way you look at it, Dr. Mario Online Rx is a prescription
for fun that everyone can enjoy.

Family Table Tennis (Aksys Games, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone,
500 Wii Points): It�s time for some good old family fun, and what�s more
fun than table tennis? Just like a real family, choose your character from
a cast of four, which includes Daddy, Mommy, Sarah and Billy. There are
four table tennis-tastic stages where it doesn�t matter if you�re an
indoors or outdoors table-tennis player. Pick your poison from a
gymnasium, a forest park, a beach or even an amusement park. Choose from
Single or Versus mode, or select a minigame to play. In Versus mode, you
and a friend can play against each other to see who is the better
table-tennis player. And if Single and Versus modes aren�t enough, select
between three minigames, which include Target Table Tennis, Thrilling
Table Tennis and Matching Table Tennis. The appealing cell-shaded graphics
and endearing music, on top of the super-fun game play, will have you and
your family playing from morning till night. Get your paddles ready.

Virtual Console�

City Connection� (NES�, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone �
Comic Mischief, Tobacco Reference, 500 Wii Points): Based on the arcade
hit, a young man born in California sets out to tour famous sites and
cities around the world. As he drives the highways surrounding these
locations, the road is painted white as proof of his visit. Only once all
sections of the road have been painted will he move on to the next
location in his world tour. Not surprisingly, the local police will chase
the driver and do their best to stop him from completing his goal. In
addition, cats roam the highways and spikes lie in wait for unsuspecting
drivers. To combat these dangers, the driver�s customized car can
jump, fire cans of oil and collect balloons to warp to a new stage. It�s
the ultimate road trip.

Metal Slug (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen � Blood, Violence,
900 Wii Points): Released in 1996 by SNK, Metal Slug is a side-scrolling
military-action game. Players control Marco and Tarma, both members of the
special-ops force Team Peregrine Falcon (commonly known as Team PF), and
battle their way through stage after stage of intense action. The goal is
to try to overthrow General Morden and win back the stolen weapon, the
Metal Slug. Players must blast through waves of enemies and machines
(while also jumping over any obstacles in the way) to advance through the
stages. It�s not as hopeless as it might sound, though�weapons such
as heavy machine guns, shotguns, rocket launchers and flamethrowers, as
well as the Metal Slug itself (which appears frequently in the game), will
make the battle easier. Take on General Morden with a friend to lighten
your load and ramp up the excitement even more.

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New First-Person Shooter Invites Players to Fight the War, On Drugs

SAN FRANCISCO ? May 22, 2008 ? Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announced that Haze, the new first-person shooter set in a harsh future where war is never quite what it seems, is now available in stores nationwide. Developed by shooter experts Free Radical, creators of the critically acclaimed TimeSplitters� series, Haze is available exclusively on the PLAYSTATION�3 computer entertainment system with an MSRP of $59.99. Haze is rated "M? for Mature by the ESRB.

"We are excited to inject the marketplace with Haze and its Nectar-driven twist on the classic shooter genre,? stated Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ubisoft. "Today, gamers everywhere can fight the good fight as they get their hands on the next big PLAYSTATION 3 system exclusive shooter.?

About Haze:

Set in the year 2048 in a world where governments have outsourced military operations to private military corporations (PMCs), you play as Shane Carpenter, a newly enlisted soldier seeking fulfillment and thrills by fighting for a good cause. As the leading PMC, Mantel Global Industries offers an array of cutting-edge military equipment, including a high-tech arsenal of vehicles, deadly weaponry and the performance-enhancing drug Nectar.

Your conflict begins in a war-torn country where you have been sent to fight a vicious rebel faction, the Promise Hand. At first all is well, but things quickly begin to look a little strange?

Uncover the truth, switch sides and break away from Mantel's manipulative grip when you join your former enemies, the Promise Hand.

Key Features:

- Impeccable FPS credentials from the developers of the critically acclaimed TimeSplitters� series and the publishers of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter� and Far Cry�. Free Radical and Ubisoft have proved their ability to create innovative, platform-defining FPS titles.

- Play both sides of the same war: Evolve from a ruthless high-tech Mantel Trooper to a cunning Promise Hand rebel, each featuring distinct game systems, weaponry and abilities.

- Experience the power of a Mantel Trooper. You'll be equipped with the most advanced gear and deadliest weapons and empowered by Nectar, Mantel's battlefield-optimized performance-enhancing medication that lets you boost your fighting abilities and experience the highs and lows of drug-laden warfare. Perform fighting abilities such as Nectar Focus, Nectar Foresight and Melee Blast.

- Expose the truth, switch sides and break away from Mantel's control. Join up with your former enemies, and lead the rebels against the Mantel army. Use your knowledge of your former teammates' weaknesses and new abilities and techniques such as Play Dead, Weapon Stealing and the deadly Nectar Grenade.

- Cutting-edge gaming technology exclusively developed for the PLAYSTATION 3 system featuring the Disparity Rendering System(TM), which shapes players' views of the world on and off Nectar. Haze also features an entirely streaming experience and the groundbreaking Conspire(TM) AI System, in which all enemy behaviors are entirely dynamic ? nothing is scripted.

- State-of-the-art multiplayer modes. Fire up your console for online battles and choose from a variety of online modes, including furious four-player co-op action! Play as both Troopers and Rebels and unveil hidden secrets from the single-player campaign.

For more information on Haze, please visit www.hazegame.com.

Haze � 2008 Ubisoft Entertainment and Free Radical Design Limited. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter � 2006 Ubisoft Entertainment. Far Cry � 2004 Crytek. All Rights Reserved. Haze is a trademark of Ubisoft Entertainment and Free Radical Design. Free Radical Design and its associated logo are trademarks of Free Radical Design Limited. Ghost Recon, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, the Soldier Icon, Far Cry, Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are registered trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Haze developed by Free Radical Design Limited. Far Cry published by Ubisoft Entertainment. "PlayStation?, "PLAYSTATION? and "PS? Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

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 has offices in 24 countries and 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 2007-08 fiscal year Ubisoft forecasts generated sales of 920 million Euros. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

About Free Radical:
Founded in 1999, Free Radical Design is one of the UK's leading independent video game developers and is now wholly focused on next-generation development. It recently achieved its first listing in the Sunday Times Microsoft Tech Track 100, being one of the UK's fastest-growing technology companies. To learn more, please visit www.frd.co.uk.

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UBIDAYS Opening Conference to be Broadcast Live Via Uplay.com Wednesday
May 28

SAN FRANCISCO ? May 22, 2008 ? Today Ubisoft announced that the UBIDAYS� 2008 opening conference will be broadcast live on www.uplay.com on Wednesday May 28th at 7 p.m. Paris time. Taking place May 28th and 29th in the heart of Paris' world-famous Louvre museum, UBIDAYS is Ubisoft's unique yearly event which presents the company's upcoming line-up to press and business partners.

The opening conference of UBIDAYS, an innovative, customer-oriented event, will be dubbed simultaneously in four languages: French; German; Spanish and Italian, allowing gamers around the world to take part in this exceptional experience.

Gamers will also have the opportunity to watch all UBIDAYS 2008 videos on Uplay.com, Ubisoft's new video portal which launches May 29th. This new video portal will feature all of Ubisoft's videos, as well as additional interviews which will be released exclusively on Uplay.com.

Opening live conference schedule:
London: 6 p.m. May 28th
Los Angeles: 10 a.m. May 28th
New York: 1 p.m. May 28th
Paris: 7 p.m. May 28th
Shanghai: 1 a.m. May 29th
Sydney: 3 a.m. May 29th

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 has offices in 26 countries and sales in 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2007-08 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of ?928 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

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/Get ready to push your freehand drawing skills to the limit in a
variety //of //challenging, drawing-based multiplayer games/

**SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON **(May 22, 2008) � SEGA� of America, Inc. and
SEGA� Europe Ltd. today announced that //PictoImage�////, //a fun and
challenging party game that will sharpen wit and drawing skills// //is
coming to// //Nintendo DS�. //PictoImage// is a pick-up-and-play puzzle
game scheduled for release in August 2008. //

//PictoImage// enables up to eight players to take turns drawing the
image of a word generated from a large database while competitors race
against the clock to guess the word first. Featuring eight multi-player
game modes, players can compete against each other in a variety of party
games including Picture Pass, a mode where a subject will be passed from
player to player in an image and the last player has guess the subject
based on all the drawings. In multiplayer mode players can also create a
personal library of words to use when they square off against other players.

/PictoImage/ will also include a single-player and two-player mode where
players must guess an image from a library of 300 drawings created by
people of all ages. The tutorial mode teaches players how to draw a
variety of different images from four main categories (Animals, Objects,
Food, and Other).

*_ _*

*_About SEGA of America Inc.: _*

SEGA� of America, Inc. is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA
Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside
and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes
interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware
platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by
Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. SEGA of
America�s Web site is located at www.sega.com .

*_About SEGA Europe Ltd.:_*

SEGA� Europe Ltd. is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based
SEGA Corporation, and a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment
both inside and outside the home. The company develops and distributes
interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware
platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by
Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. SEGA
Europe�s web site is located at www.sega-europe.com
.

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/Newest expansion takes players to ancient city to save the present day/

* *

*AUSTIN, Texas, May 21, 2008*�NCsoft^� Corporation, the world�s leading
developer and publisher of online computer games, today announced the
release of /City of Heroes/^� �Issue 12: Midnight Hour.� The newest free
expansion for current subscribers, Issue 12 brings to life a special
covert group from the game�s lore, highly-anticipated Villain Epic
Archetypes, more powerset options and character slots for players, plus
a whole new Greek- and Roman-inspired zone to explore!

/City of Heroes/ Issue 12, developed and published by NCsoft, brings the
Midnight Squad out of the lore and into the game. The Midnight Squad is
the clandestine organization of mystics, scholars and mages who hold a
secret that could bring the alien group, the Rikti, to its knees.
Players are encouraged to help the Midnight Squad uncover the secret
that could help save Paragon City^� and the Rogue Isles from further
alien assaults.

Part of this secret will be revealed in a new zone called Cimerora,
which uses the Ouroboros time travel system introduced in Issue 11. This
zone, inspired by ancient Greece and Rome, is only accessible by working
with the Midnight Squad. Once the player has access, both villains and
heroes must face deadly creatures and defeat an unexpected threat. As a
reward for their accomplishments in Cimerora, players can unlock special
Greek- and Roman-inspired armor and costumes.

Another key feature in Issue 12 is Villain Epic Archetypes. Now,
villains who reach level 50 unlock two brand new epic archetypes; Wolf
Spiders and Blood Widows. Wolf Spiders can specialize into Bane Spiders
or Crab Spiders, and Blood Widows can develop into Night Widows or
Fortunatas. Each specialty enjoys a unique set of wickedly powerful attacks.

Issue 12 also introduces Powerset Proliferation
, which
vastly increases the variety of villain and hero characters that players
can create. Some powersets, previously only available to hero
archetypes, are now available to designated villain archetypes, and vice
versa. To help accommodate all of these new character options, the
development team has opened additional character slots. All current
subscribers receive two new character slots for use on the server of
their choice. Other slots may be acquired as a part of the Veteran
Rewards
program, or for purchase. Details can be found on the /City of Heroes/
web site
.

�With the introduction of Villain Epic Archetypes, new costume options
and Powerset Proliferation in Issue 12, we knew players would want to be
able to create new characters,� said Matt Miller, lead designer.
�Expanding the number of character slots in this way ensures that our
players can use all these new features. We think it�s a great solution
that adds value to the service.�

To join the adventures of the most successful comic-book themed game on
the market, players can purchase the /City of Heroes/ �Good Versus Evil
Edition� game pack at retailers across North America or through digital
download at the PlayNC Store
.
The �Good Versus Evil Edition� includes the complete /City of Heroes/
and /City of Villains/^� games, as well as a set of exclusive bonus
items. Customers receive the first month of play free and both games can
be played for the single monthly subscription price of $14.99.

For more information about /City of Heroes/, go to
http://www.cityofheroes.com .

*About NCsoft Corporation*

NCsoft North America is headquartered in Austin, Texas and is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Korea-based NCsoft Corporation. NCsoft, with
its own development and publishing offices in Texas and California, also
works with other NCsoft subsidiaries and third party developers
throughout North America to develop and publish innovative online
entertainment software products. The company has successfully launched
multiple online titles in the last three years and continues to support
its franchises, which include /Lineage/^� //Lineage II/, /City of
Heroes///City of Villains/, /Guild Wars/^� //Guild Wars Factions/^�
//Guild Wars Nightfall/^� //Guild Wars: Eye of the North/^� , /Richard
Garriott//�s Tabula Rasa/^� , /Dungeon Runners/^� , and /Exteel/^� More
information about NCsoft can be found at http://www.plaync.com
.

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Title: Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
Genre: Racing
Publisher: SCEA
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Release Date: April 15, 2008
ESRB: E
Rating: 8 out of 10

If it seems like a year is too long to wait for Gran Turismo 5, then Sony will satisfy your love of the road with this abridged and early version. I sort of think that $39.99 is a lot for a teaser, but now that I’ve played it non-stop for days I think it is worth it.

It’s sort of weird how the game starts and you have nothing. You have to buy your first car, and then the collecting starts. Part of the game is about collecting new cars and they’re all different so it is always cool. There are only 60 cars. This is more than enough for me, but still it would be better if there were more. They are sorted by brand such as Ferrari, Acura, Honda, Ford, Mitsubishi, Dodge, etc. There’s plenty of variety in terms of learning how each car handles and accelerates. I’m psyched that I can race using my car, and Acura Integra. There’s not much tuning, but then again, that’s not what GT is for.

The graphics and audio are amazing and enveloping once properly configured. Watching a full 1080p on my 65” HDTV and listening to 7.1 multi-channel sound makes me feel as much of a race car driver as I’ve ever felt if not more so. If anything, GT5 Prologue shows us that GT5 will look stellar. The details are all there. Shadows sweep across the track, water ripples on infield lakes, the steering wheels are leather wrapped. The only disappointment is that the crowd looks like some cardboard cutouts – Sony would have been better off leaving the crowd out completely rather than doing a half-assed job.

The graphics really shine when you start to change camera perspectives while driving. One view involves you sitting behind the wheel, steering left and right, shifting, and tilting your head from side to side. You’ve got side view and rear view mirrors. The details are noteworthy. I’ve never seen another racing game like this. Of course, I find that view hard to use for racing and opt to use one that is almost first person. I think, and I would for someone from Sony to give me a pixel count, that there are more pixels in the rear view mirror of GT5P than there were in the whole screen in my beloved GT on PSX.

So, I’ve lauded graphics, sound, car selection, but what’s missing? I’ll tell you what is missing – tracks. There are only six tracks in GT5P which means that you can learn them quickly and then get a little bored. Apparently it takes more time to make a track than to make a car, which makes sense. There is variety in the choice of tracks, from the straightaways of Daytona to the twisty mountain roads of Eiger. There’s an assist line, but it is more fun to pick your own line. My personal favorite typically involves passing on the grass.

The AI is good, definitely improved. Opponents now jockey for position and cut your off when you try to pass. But still, the AI isn’t that challenging. The game really shines online. After suffering through the required 3 system updates I was able to go online and compete against actual humans. Matching takes place very quickly and the races have close to no lag time. The only funkiness that I noticed was that in crowded races (up to 16 total cars), if there are collisions in the pack then the graphics drop down which sort of makes sense because 4 cars colliding at 125 mph is a lot of info to push all over the world.

Overall, GT5P is great, but short. It is, after all, a teaser of what is to come. And what a tease. Life should have more teases like this. I still think it should cost less, or maybe Sony should have released a version with less cars and less tracks that was completely free. It’s sort of like paying to be teased (I could of course talk about other things that are like paying to be teased but I’m trying to keep this clean). My guess is that I’m going to play the hell out of this for a week or two, then play once in a while, and finally stop playing it entirely when GT5 ships.

Posted by Matt Sarrel at 9:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Harmonix and MTV Games announced today their second complete album
addition to the Rock Band downloadable content catalog: The Cars’
1978 self-titled debut, which will be available Tuesday, May 27.
Hailed by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time,
The Cars was released 30 years ago this month by Elektra Records and
spawned new wave classic hits such as "Good Times Roll," “My Best
Friend's Girl,” “Just What I Needed," “You're All I've Got
Tonight” and pop-culture’s favorite bikini-top-removing theme song
"Moving in Stereo."

Each track will be available for $1.99 per track (160 Microsoft
Points for Xbox 360) or $14.99 (1200 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360)
for the album.

Release date: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 (Xbox LIVE® Marketplace)

Thursday, May 29, 2008 (PLAYSTATION®Store)

Tracks: The Cars The Cars album

"Good Times Roll"

"My Best Friend's Girl"

"Just What I Needed"

"I'm in Touch with Your World"

"Don't Cha Stop"

"You're All I've Got Tonight"

"Bye Bye Love"

"Moving in Stereo"

"All Mixed Up”

(All nine tracks utilize the original master recordings)

Price: $14.99 (1200 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for the Album
or

$1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track

Locations: Xbox LIVE Marketplace and PLAYSTATION®Network

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to
change **

With the addition of these tracks there are now more than 170 tracks
available to date via disc and download purchase. The complete list of
tracks available to date can are located at
http://www.rockband.com/dlc. Rock Band continues to fly off shelves
and satisfy music fans and gamers’ voracious appetite for rock as
more than 10 million downloads have been purchased since its launch on
November 20, 2007. The Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview
and purchase downloadable individual music tracks and packs from the
vast selection of offerings available to date without ever leaving the
game as they build their own custom Rock Band library.

Rock Band allows online play and features that expand the boundaries
of music gaming. Rock Band downloadable content is playable and
integrated into setlists in all game modes including: Solo Tour, Band
World Tour, head-to-head competition either locally or online, and
from any Quickplay mode. In order to play downloadable content for
head-to-head matches or multiplayer online, all players must own the
same downloadable track. Downloadable content for the Xbox®360 video
game and entertainment system from Microsoft will be available for
purchase via Xbox LIVE Marketplace using Microsoft Points and is
downloaded directly to the Xbox 360 hard drive. Downloadable content
for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system's version of Rock
Band will be available for purchase on the PLAYSTATION®Store through
the free PLAYSTATION Network and is downloaded directly to PLAYSTATION
3 system's built in hard drive.

Rock Band is rated "T" for Teen (lyrics, mild suggestive themes) by
the ESRB.

For more information on Rock Band and Harmonix Music Systems please
visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com.

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Cary, North Carolina � May 20, 2008 � Epic Games, Inc., creators of the
award-winning /Unreal /and /Gears of War/ video game franchises and the
industry leading Unreal Engine, today announced its acquisition of
Utah-based development studio, Chair Entertainment Group, LLC. Under the
terms of the agreement, Chair Entertainment Group has become a wholly
owned subsidiary of Epic Games and will continue to operate under the
same name while maintaining its focus on creating new original game
properties which utilize Epic's Unreal Engine technology.

"Chair's stylized approach to creating games is further enhanced by
their ability to stretch our technology in new directions that not only
help in creating amazing gaming experiences but also demonstrate the
power and versatility of the Unreal Engine," said Mark Rein, vice
president of Epic Games, Inc. "We are thrilled to bring the Chair team
into the Epic family, and look forward to working with them to create
original new games that continue to innovate and inspire."

"Our team has long admired Epic for its ability to shape the game
industry with its innovative technology and first-rate video game
offerings," said Ryan Holmes, Co-Founder and CEO of Chair Entertainment
Group. "We share Epic's passion for creating ground-breaking game play
experiences and are excited for the opportunity to partner with a truly
visionary company."

Founded in 2005, Chair Entertainment Group is jointly led by directors,
Donald and Geremy Mustard, and CEO Ryan Holmes. Best known for its
award-winning Xbox Live Arcade title, /Undertow/, Chair's previous
success includes the launch of its /Empire/ property which has produced
an Orson Scott Card-written New York Times bestselling novel and a
feature film currently in development with Warner Bros. In 2007, after
several years of building games with Unreal technology, Chair entered
into an agreement with Epic Games to make Unreal Engine 3 their
exclusive technology for game development. *//*

*/ /*

*/About Epic Games/*
Epic Games, Inc., based in Cary, NC and established in 1991, develops
cutting-edge games and cross-platform game engine technology. The
company has created multiple million-selling, award-winning titles in
its Unreal series, recently shipping Unreal Tournament 3 for PC and
PlayStation 3. Epic's breakthrough game, Gears of War, sold over 4.7
million copies and was awarded overall Game of the Year for 2006 by the
Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, Game Developers Choice Awards,
GameSpot, GamePro and many others. Epic is also responsible for the
Unreal Engine, which is the underlying technology for a wide range of
games including the Game Critics Awards' Best Console Game and Spike
TV's 2007 RPG of the Year Mass Effect by BioWare and the 2007 BAFTA Best
Game and Spike TV Game of the Year BioShock by 2K Games. Epic's Unreal
Engine 3 is the current holder, and three-time consecutive winner, of
Game Developer magazine's Front Line award for Best Engine. Epic was
also recognized as 2006 Studio of the Year by Spike TV, 2006 Developer
of the Year by Official Xbox Magazine and 2007 Large Company of the Year
by the North Carolina Technology Association. Additional information
about Epic can be obtained through the Epic Games Web site at
www.epicgames.com .

*/About Unreal Engine 3/*
The award-winning Unreal Engine is known for cutting-edge graphics and
its best-of-breed toolset. Unreal Engine 3 maintains those features
while adding massive world support, multi-processor support,
next-generation console optimizations, and one of the most mature tool
pipelines in the industry. Unreal Engine 3's advanced toolset is
designed specifically to accelerate developers' productivity for
ultra-complex, next-generation content. Additional information on Unreal
Engine can be obtained through the Unreal Technology Web site at
www.unrealtechnology.com .

*/About Chair Entertainment/*

Founded in 2005, Chair Entertainment Group is an independent video game
production company committed to creating blockbuster entertainment
franchises through development of its original intellectual properties.
In 2006, Chair launched its first original property, /Empire/, as a
best-selling novel written by Orson Scott Card. A feature film based on
/Empire/ is in development by Warner Bros. and Chair has future plans
for video games and comic books based on the property. In November 2007,
Chair launched /Undertow/, the award-winning underwater action shooter
which was named Xbox Live Arcade Game of the Year by Official Xbox
Magazine. Additional information and gamer forums can be found at:
_www.chairentertainment.com _.

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/Fourth Set, Oathbreaker, Release Precedes World Championship Event at
Gen Con Indy 2008 /

/ /

*DENVER, COLO. ? May 20, 2008* ? The first four-set block of the heroic
Norrathian storyline for the popular online strategy game /Legends of
Norrath^? (LoN/) is nearly complete!

Sony Online Entertainment LLC announced today that /Oathbreaker is
/currently in development and scheduled to launch on Thursday, June 19,
2008. Featuring hundreds of new cards and gameplay features,
/Oathbreaker/ not only completes the Inquisitor story arc which
originated with /LoN/?s first set, /Oathbound/ ? it?s also the last
/LoN/ release before the $100,000 World Championship event at Gen Con
Indy, August 14-17!

?/Oathbreaker/ has played a significant role in the sequence of /Legends
of Norrath /development both internally and with the player community,?
said Scott Martins, director of development, SOE Denver. ?With over 250
new cards to enhance your strategies,/ Oathbreaker/ is a perfect point
to jump into the game, just in time for the monthly /Legends of Norrath/
Championship Series, which is set to culminate in August in Indianapolis
at Gen Con Indy 2008. At that event, 32 players will compete for a total
prize pool of $100,000!? **

/Oathbreaker /continues to draw upon the influence of SOE?s
groundbreaking /EverQuest/^� franchise, adding fun and familiar
elements, items and characters illustrated with highly-stylized fantasy
flair.

/Oathbreaker /will enthrall with a tale of corruption from within and
redemption that comes at a terrible cost, providing unprecedented level
of drama in the ongoing saga, while also expanding upon traditional game
and raid-play functionality.

Developed at SOE?s Denver studio, /Legends of Norrath/ is the only
online strategy game based on and playable from SOE?s popular
/EverQuest^� /and /EverQuest^� II /MMOs/,/ as well as from a stand-alone
client using a free SOE Station Account (available at www.station.com).
Players can challenge opponents on their game server and across other
/EQ/ and /EQII/ servers./ /

/ //Oathbreaker /is the last /Legends of Norrath/ release before the
World Championship event at Gen Con Indy. Players will have two more
monthly $5,000 Championship Qualifiers after the release of
/Oathbreaker/ and two days of qualification heats at Gen Con Indy to
compete for spots on the final day of the Championship. *//*

*/ /*

*/Oathbreaker?s/** features include:*

* *

*New Cards* ? More than/ 2/50 new cards for your online arsenal! Collect
all 210 base set cards, four starter decks featuring 16 new quests and
three random rares, 10 scenario rewards, fantastic new loot cards for
/EverQuest/ and /EverQuest II/ and lots of new promotional cards.

*Play For Free* - SOE is providing all registered /LoN /users even more
complimentary content and bonus features in the game client, including
ten new scenarios that tell the tale of /Oathbreaker/ and a brand new
raid. Go to www.legendsofnorrath.com

for complete details.

*New Raid Play ? *In the Antechamber of Fate, up to four players can
face off against the powerful island guardian Chel?Drak, the dragon turtle!

*New Gameplay* ? ?Charge? is a new keyword that provides additional
bonuses to cards while players have, or get rid of, their charge tokens.
Re-linkable navigation offers greater flexibility in play by allowing
linked cards to be linked again to a new target.

*New Faces* - Explore new unit types, legends, keywords and abilities
for your favorite /EverQuest/ and /EverQuest II/ classes, with the
introduction of ?unarmed? Monks, Coercers, Templars and Beastlords (with
their warder pets)!

/Oathbreaker /cards/ /will be available via digital download from SOE?s
Station Store in both 58-card digital starter decks for $9.99 (plus any
applicable taxes), and 15-card digital booster packs for $2.99 (plus any
applicable taxes).

To get started, players can download the client for free, test their
skills 24 hours a day against AI and real opponents, and then head over
to the tournament lobby to compete. Tournament eligibility limited and
subject to Official Rules

.
Residents of certain territories are ineligible to participate in /LoN/
tournament play. Please see the


for details. For a schedule of events, rules and further details, see
the

or the

.

For more information on /Legends of Norrath/, visit the website at
www.legendsofnorrath.com .

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REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The path to fitness begins with a single
step.

Nintendo�s new Wii Fit�, launching today, combines fun and fitness
in ways that will have people getting up off their couches, moving around,
having fun and maybe even breaking a sweat. Wii Fit gets everyone pumped
up about making enjoyable physical activities a part of their daily
routines. Wii Fit even tracks users� progress, which lets people see
how they have improved while challenging them to better their scores and
stay motivated to keep going.

At an MSRP of $89.99, Wii Fit comes packaged with the Wii Balance
Board� accessory, a precisely engineered platform that senses both weight
and shifts in movement and balance. The Wii Balance Board connects
wirelessly to the Wii� console and serves as the centerpiece for more
than 40 fun activities that challenge users in areas like yoga, aerobics,
strength training and balance. Helpful virtual trainers in the game talk
users through the different activities and make suggestions for
improvement.

�Wii Fit will get you moving whether you�ve been playing video games
for years or this is your first time,� said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of
America�s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. �Wii Fit is
easy for anyone to try and is yet another example of how Nintendo
continues to expand the world of video games to new audiences.�

To celebrate the launch of Wii Fit, Nintendo is holding an
interactive release party today for the public in the southwest corner of
New York�s Central Park, near the Merchants� Gate. �We�re looking for
everyone to �get on board� and get excited about their fitness,� said
celebrity trainer Ashley Borden, who will be on hand to do personal Wii
Fit demos and training.

Wii Fit, which has sold more than 2 million in Japan, starts with a
simple measurement that calculates an adult user�s Body Mass Index, or
BMI. From there, the Wii Balance Board accessory can be used as a platform
for twirling a virtual Hula Hoop�, shredding on a virtual snowboard,
performing leg extensions or doing a downward-facing dog yoga pose. Wii
Fit contains a wide variety of fun games and physical activities that
target the body�s core.

Different people in the same household can use Wii Fit and track
their progress separately. Users� Mii� caricatures even reflect their
fitness levels and change as people become more proficient at the
activities.

Wii is the first video game system ever included in the President�s
Challenge, a program of the President�s Council on Physical Fitness and
Sports that encourages all Americans to make physical activity a part of
their daily lives. Wii Fit builds on that honor by encouraging people to
keep their bodies moving.

Wii Fit is available today exclusively at the Nintendo World store
in New York, and will be at retail stores across the country May 21.

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the
content their children can access. For more information about this and
other Wii features, visit Wii.com.

For more information about Wii Fit, visit WiiFit.com.

About Nintendo: The worldwide innovator in the creation of
interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan,
manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii�, Nintendo DS�,
Game Boy� Advance and Nintendo GameCube� systems. Since 1983,
Nintendo has sold nearly 2.7 billion video games and more than 460 million
hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Mario�,
Donkey Kong�, Metroid�, Zelda� and Pok�mon�. A wholly owned
subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as
headquarters for Nintendo�s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more
information about Nintendo, visit the company�s Web site at
www.nintendo.com.

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*Strong Growth Projected in Asian Online Gaming*

/SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 19 2008/ � Revenue for the online gaming market
in the Asia/Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly between 2008 and
2013, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). Key factors driving this
growth include growing household Internet penetration, increased content
development for online-specific games, and the unique experience that
online gaming offers, the high-tech market research firm says.

"The online gaming market in Asia/Pacific is growing in tandem with the
significant increase in consumer Internet use," says Stephanie Ethier,
In-Stat analyst. "In addition, the number of market players is rapidly
expanding; therefore, improved content and a greater variety of games
are keys to success in this market."

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

* Total revenue for the Asia/Pacific online gaming market is
expected to reach US$21.1 billion in 2013.
* MMORPGs remain the mainstream of Asia's online gaming market.
* China is the fastest-growing market for online gaming and is
expected to become the largest market in Asia in 2009.

The research, "Online Gaming in Asia: Strong Potential for Growth
"
(#IN0804025CM), covers the Asia/Pacific market for online gaming. It
provides forecasts for online gaming revenue and subscriber growth
through 2013, segmented by country. It also includes analysis of market
drivers and challenges, as well as profiles of popular game
developers/operators in the region.

For more information on this research or to purchase it online, please
visit:
http://email.in-stat.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/hBJBb0MY8KQ0K560E2ji0EP or
contact a sales representative:
http://email.in-stat.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/hBJBb0MY8KQ0K560EcTx0E6

The price is $3,495 (US).

This research is part of In-Stat's Consumer Media & Content service.
"Content is King," and as digital content evolves it drives a rapidly
shifting market place, which demands large investments in unproven
products and services. In-Stat too has made investments to cover the
consumer media and content markets, enlisting a half-dozen seasoned
In-Stat analysts who contribute to this service throughout the year,
leveraging In-Stat's wide breadth of research practices. Consumer Media
& Content (CMC) provides invaluable insights into how new delivery
methods and business models will influence the evolution of the media
value chain end-to- end. CMC also addresses the creation, acquisition,
distribution, and use of digital content (audio, imaging, video, and
voice), and how it fits into the evolving consumer's digital
entertainment lifestyle.

*Related In-Stat reports:*

Online Gaming: Worldwide Subscriber Growth Expected for Both Free and
Subscription-based Online Services

------------------------------------------------------------------------

About In-Stat

Technology vendors, service providers, technology professionals and
market specialists, worldwide, rely on In-Stat�s experienced staff and
in-depth research to support critical business, product and technology
decisions. In-Stat�s insights are derived from both a deep technology
understanding and comprehensive research, which examines each segment of
the value chain for each market. Regular and ongoing end-user demand and
primary research surveys underpin much of the analysis, enabling In-Stat
to provide incisive market knowledge and guidance on future market
opportunities via syndicated research products
, custom
consulting, and advisory services
.

In-Stat is a strategic segment of the $9 billion Reed Elsevier global
information network, with access to an expansive worldwide electronic
network, extensive technology databases and well-informed personnel. As
a member of Reed Business Information, In-Stat is a division of the
largest business-to-business publisher in the U.S.

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Hmmm. I wasn't good enough to invite to the event, but apparently I'm good
enough to run the story. - MDS

El Segundo, Calif. - May 15th, 2008 - Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
> announced
> last night new titles and additional details for its 2008 lineup.
> Highlighting
> this year's releases are all-new versions of blockbuster franchises such as
> Metal
> Gear Solid�, Castlevania�, DanceDanceRevolution�, Lost In Blue� and Silent
> Hill�.
> Additionally, the recognized industry leader in the music gaming category
> announced
> its latest IP - Rock Revolution for the Xbox 360� video game and
> entertainment system
> from Microsoft(TM), PLAYSTATION�3 computer entertainment system, Wii(TM) and
> Nintendo
> DS(TM). Below is additional information on the products that were showcased
> at Konami's
> 2008 Gamers Night:
> Critter Round-Up(TM)
> Release date: May 2008
> Genre: Puzzle/Action
> Platform: WiiWare(TM)
> As Konami's first WiiWare(TM) title, Critter Round-Up introduces a fun puzzle
> game
> where players are challenged with separating each different critter species
> into
> their own area by building fences. Avoid the predators and other
> mischievous animals
> as they will try and stop you from rounding them up. Test your skills and
> get more
> points by corralling all the same critters into just one area and by using
> less
> fence. Four player co-op and a great set of competitive mini-games will have
> you
> rounding up critters until the cows come home.
> Castlevania�: Order of Ecclesia
> Release date: Fall 2008
> Genre: Action
> Platform: Nintendo DS(TM)
> Following on the success of Dawn of Sorrow and Portrait of Ruin the legendary
> Castlevania�
> series is back in its 3rd installment on Nintendo DS(TM). This time you play
> as
> a member of the Ecclesia, an organization that has sworn to defeat the evil
> forces
> of Dracula. Use the brand new Glyph attack system which has more than 100
> different
> combinations to battle Dracula and his minions throughout 20 explorable areas
> inside
> and outside of the castle. Take part in side quests and collect items to
> power
> up your character in the next great Castlevania� game produced by Koji
> Igarashi.
> DanceDanceRevolution�X
> Release date: Fall 2008
> Genre: Music/Dance
> Platform: PlayStation�2 computer entertainment system
> Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the most popular dance video game!
> Continuing
> its evolution on the PlayStation�2 system, DanceDanceRevolution�X explodes
> onto
> the dance floor with enhanced graphics, fun interactive gameplay, an
> incredible
> song selection with 70 awesome music tracks and innovative new game modes.
> Brand
> new LAN Battle Mode will let up to 8 players battle simultaneously through
> the
> LAN connection on their PlayStation�2 system. Create your own workout and
> fitness
> program through an enhanced Workout Mode. Utilize the EyeToy USB Camera (for
> PlayStation�2)
> to implement yourself into the game.
> DanceDanceRevolution� Hottest Party(TM) 2
> Release date: Fall 2008
> Genre: Music/Dance
> Platform: Wii(TM)
> DanceDanceRevolution� celebrates its 10th anniversary with an all-new game
> for Wii(TM)!
> The best selling dance game returns, with an entirely new soundtrack, game
> modes
> and interactivity. DanceDanceRevolution� Hottest Party 2 enhances the series'
> trademark
> interactive gameplay by combining the physically engaging, innovative and
> easy-to-pick-up-and-play
> mechanics of the Wii(TM) console. DanceDanceRevolution� Hottest Party 2 is
> sure
> to be the life of the party with 4 player multiplayer, Wii Remote(TM) and
> Nunchuk
> support, smash hits taken from the last four decades of music, entirely new
> modes
> and more!
> DanceDanceRevolution� UNIVERSE3
> Release date: Fall 2008
> Genre: Music/Dance
> Platform: Xbox 360�
> DanceDanceRevolution� celebrates its 10th anniversary! DanceDanceRevolution�
> UNIVERSE3
> dances its way to you with an all new sleek enhanced interface, fun new modes
> and
> settings for players of all skill levels, cool smash-hit songs, robust online
> and
> offline support and exciting new exclusives! DJ Mode makes its debut on the
> Xbox
> 360�, allowing gamers to create their own tracks and song lists to dance to!
> Innovative
> City Mode lets you compete against bosses throughout the
> DanceDanceRevolution� city
> to become the ultimate champion.
> Deca Sports(TM)
> Release date: May 13, 2008
> Genre: Sports
> Platform: Wii(TM)
> It's the ultimate sports package! So fun to play and easy to master for
> casual
> and hardcore gamers alike! Experience fun filled sports competition across
> 10 different
> sporting events. With easy-to-pick up and play controls, Deca Sports(TM) will
> make
> a multi-sport athlete out of everyone in your entire family. Smash, spike
> and smoke
> the competition in events like Badminton, Beach Volleyball, and Kart Racing.
> The
> spirit of competition never felt this good. Deca Sports(TM) takes Wii(TM)
> play to
> the next level!
> Hellboy(TM): The Science of Evil
> Release date: June 24, 2008
> Genre: Action
> Platform: PSP� (PlayStation�Portable) system, Xbox 360�, PLAYSTATION�3 system
> Hellboy(TM): The Science of Evil will give players the opportunity to
> experience
> the epic adventures of the acclaimed comic book hero, fusing action,
> atmosphere
> and humor. In his latest quest, Hellboy must rush to defeat the crazed
> Hermann
> Von Klempt before he can exert his evil will upon earth. The game lets
> players
> unleash Hellboy's superhuman abilities and the Right Hand of Doom as they
> smash
> their way through hordes of enemies using their environment for added
> destructive
> power and strategy. Just another day for Hellboy.
> Lost in Blue�: Shipwrecked! (working title)
> Release date: Fall 2008
> Genre: Survival Adventure
> Platform: Wii(TM)
> The Lost in Blue� series makes its console debut with Lost in Blue�:
> Shipwrecked!
> (working title). Experience a survival adventure like never before through
> colorful
> 3D graphics and the uniquely interactive capabilities of Wii(TM). Players
> will find
> themselves stranded on a mysterious island filled with lush forests, ancient
> ruins,
> and an active volcano. With the help of a trusty pet and a new friend,
> you'll explore
> the mysteries of the island to find a way home or make a new life for
> yourselves
> there forever.
> Metal Gear Solid�4: Guns of the Patriots
> Release date: June 12, 2008
> Genre: Stealth Action
> Platform: PLAYSTATION�3 system
> Created by the legendary Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear Solid�4: Guns of the
> Patriots
> is the final chapter in the saga of Solid Snake, which sends him around the
> world
> in pursuit of his arch nemesis, Liquid Ocelot. Armed with new gadgets and
> abilities,
> Solid Snake must shift the tides of war into his favor, using the chaos of
> the battlefield
> to infiltrate deep into enemy territory. In his globetrotting final mission,
> Snake
> must sneak deep into enemy locations in the Middle East, South America, and
> other
> corners of the earth to foil Liquid Ocelot's plans for total world
> domination.
> Also included with Metal Gear Solid�4: Guns of the Patriots is Metal Gear�
> Online,
> the ultimate squad based, tactical shooter based on the Metal Gear Solid�
> Universe.
> Players can immerse themselves in this next-gen multiplayer experience with
> various
> maps, game play type and weapons to choose from.
> Rock Revolution(TM)
> Release date: Fall 2008
> Genre: Music/Dance
> Platform: Xbox 360�, PLAYSTATION�3 system, Wii(TM), Nintendo DS(TM)
> Konami's latest addition to the music category, Rock Revolution(TM) will let
> players
> release their inner rockstar! Featuring the most realistic drum peripheral
> available,
> players can enjoy an immersive and realistic drum experience while allowing
> friends
> to accompany them on guitar or bass to mind bending rock and roll tracks.
> Rock Revolution
> will also feature an extensive selection of music tracks (including
> downloadable
> songs for the Xbox 360� and PLAYSTATION�3 system), single-player and
> multiplayer
> co-op modes. This is the musical revolution the world has been waiting for!
> Silent Hill�: Homecoming
> Release date: September 2008
> Genre: Survival Horror
> Platform: Xbox 360�, PLAYSTATION�3 system
> Silent Hill�: Homecoming is the latest entry into the Silent Hill franchise.
> The
> story follows Alex Shepherd who returns to his hometown of Shepherd's Glen to
> investigate
> the sudden disappearance of his brother. From Shepherd's Glen to the foggy
> streets
> of Silent Hill, Alex must face the darkest of horrors in order to find his
> brother.
> Struggling with his own grip on reality, Alex must unravel the mystery behind
> his
> nightmares, discover the truth behind his brother's and father's
> disappearances,
> and confront the evil that has taken hold of his own flesh and blood.
> New International Track and Field(TM)
> Release date: July 2008
> Genre: Sports
> Platform: Nintendo DS(TM)
> The classic sporting game series of Track & Field celebrates its' 25th
> Anniversary
> by coming to Nintendo DS(TM). All the excitement and fun of the original
> titles
> is brought up to date with a bright and stylish new look, more events and
> online
> play.
> The hyper-addictive gameplay was developed to take full advantage of the
> touch screen
> and stylus, thus providing gamers with a unique experience on DS(TM). Players
> can
> either dip into single events or take on the challenge of the sporting career
> mode.
> Test your skills against the world via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and see if
> you
> have what it takes to become the best in the world. Going beyond mere online
> play
> New International Track and Field(TM) features online tournaments and
> worldwide
> rankings.
> For more information about Konami games visit: www.konami.com
> 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�, Dance Dance Revolution� and Castlevania�, 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.
> "PlayStation," "PLAYSTATION," "PS" Family logo and "PSP" are registered
> trademarks
> of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PSP� system - Memory Stick Duo(TM) may be
> required
> (sold separately).
> � 2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360,
> Xbox
> LIVE and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies
> and are
> used under license from Microsoft.
> Wii and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo. � 2006 Nintendo.

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Xbox LIVE tops 12 million members globally as Xbox 360 console sales hit
> more than 19 million worldwide
>
>
>
> REDMOND, Wash. - May 14, 2008 - Microsoft Corp. today announced that the
> Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system has sold over 10 million
> units in the U.S., making it the first current-generation gaming console
> to break the 10 million mark in the U.S. The U.S. install base
> contributes to global sales of over 19 million, more than any other
> current-generation console.
>
>
>
> "This year will be the largest in the history of the video game
> industry, with Xbox 360 leading the charge in the U.S. and abroad," said
> Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment
> Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft.
> "History has shown us that the first company to reach 10 million in
> console sales wins the generation battle. We are uniquely positioned to
> set a new benchmark for the industry."
>
>
>
> This announcement comes on the heels of one of the biggest entertainment
> launches in history, "Grand Theft Auto IV," on April 29, 2008. Gamers
> eager to experience "Grand Theft Auto IV" online helped boost Xbox LIVE
> global membership to over 12 million this month. Fueled by an
> unparalleled combination of access to friends and family, the best
> online gaming features, and the best entertainment content, the Xbox
> LIVE service has doubled in membership in only one year's time.
>
>
>
> "Reaching an installed base of 10 million consoles in the U.S. is a
> significant achievement and an essential milestone on the road to market
> leadership," said Billy Pidgeon, research manager at IDC. "Perhaps more
> important is the Xbox 360 worldwide online base - 12 million Xbox LIVE
> gamers is the largest community in the connected console games sector,
> which represents the greatest growth opportunity in the console market
> and where Microsoft has been the leader for two generations."
>
>
>
> Xbox 360 leads with the industry's highest software attach rate, more
> than any other console this generation, and is home to the best-selling
> games. With the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV in April, Xbox 360 is now
> the home to more than 16 platinum titles that have sold through one
> million units or more including hits like "Halo 3," "Madden NFL 07" and
> "Madden NFL 08," "Gears of War," "Guitar Hero II" and "Guitar Hero III:
> Legends of Rock" and "Call of Duty(r)2, Call of Duty(r)3 and Call of
> Duty(r)4: Modern Warfare(tm)," giving Xbox 360 two times more
> platinum-selling titles than the Wii and a 16:2 lead over the
> PlayStation 3 in game titles topping one million in sales.Games not only
> sell better on the Xbox 360, they play better, too: Xbox 360 has 91
> titles with a Metacritic review score of 80 or higher, compared with
> just 22 titles for Wii and 50 titles for PlayStation 3.
>
>
>
> About Xbox 360
>
>
>
> Xbox 360 is a superior video game and entertainment system delivering
> the best games, unique entertainment features and a unified online
> gaming network that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 has a portfolio of
> nearly 400 games in 37 countries. More information can be found online
> at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.
>
>
>
> About Xbox LIVE
>
>
>
> Xbox LIVE is the first and most comprehensive unified online
> entertainment network seamlessly integrated throughout the entire
> console experience, making it easy for people to find the friends, games
> and entertainment they want from the moment they power on their Xbox 360
> system. Xbox LIVE connects more than 12 million of members across 37
> countries to enjoy hundreds of multiplayer games, downloadable games via
> Xbox LIVE Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos, TV
> shows and movies in the United States as well as new game levels,
> characters and vehicles for all their favorite retail games. More
> information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live.
>
>
>
> About Microsoft
>
>
>
> Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
> software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize
> their full potential.

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/Results Show Quarterly Consolidated Sales of KRW 88.1 Billion,
Operating Income of KRW 19.7 Billion and Net Profit of KRW 8.1 Billion;
Operating Income is up 63% Quarter over Quarter and Increases 16% Year
over Year/

SEOUL, South Korea-- NCsoft^� Corporation (KSE: 036570.KS) today
announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. On a
consolidated basis, sales came to KRW (Korean Won) 88.1 billion (US
$84.3 million), operating income of KRW 19.7 billion (US $18.9 million),
and net profit of KRW 8.1 billion (US $7.7 million). Operating profit
showed significant improvements quarter over quarter (63%) and year over
year (16%).

Popularity of the /Lineage/^� series in Asia, sustained sales of /Guild
Wars/^� and /City of Heroes/^� in North America and Europe, and a
decrease in expenses such as advertising and other variable sales costs
were some of the primary reasons for the increase in operating income.
Of note in Q1 2008, /Lineage II/ reached record-high sales since its
2003 release.

In Q1 2008, NCsoft decided to take a one time write-off expense for the
advanced development costs associated with the Spacetime Studios
project, after determining the project did not fit into the company�s
core development plan. That left a net profit decrease of 22% quarter
over quarter and 43% year over year. However, excluding the write-off
expenses, net profit would be KRW 15.2 billion (US $14.5 million) an
increase of 48% quarter over quarter and 8% from the same quarter last
year.

By region, sales came to KRW 49.8 billion (US $47.7 million) in South
Korea, KRW 10.9 billion (US $10.4 million) in North America, KRW 8.9
billion (US $8.5 million) in Europe, KRW 9.6 billion (US $9.2 million)
in Japan, KRW 2.8 billion (US $2.7 million) in Taiwan, and KRW 6 billion
(US $5.7 million) in royalty income. The percentage breakdown of sales
by region shows 57% in Korea, 12% in North America, 10% in Europe, 11%
in Japan, 3% in Taiwan and 7% from royalty income.

By game title, sales came to KRW 29 billion (US $27.8 million) from
/Lineage/, KRW 35.7 billion (US $34.1 million) from /Lineage II/, KRW
5.4 billion (US $5.2 million) from /City of Heroes/City of Villains/^�
and KRW 9.5 billion (US $9.1 million) from /Guild Wars./ The percentage
breakdown of sales by game title shows 35% from /Lineage/, 43% from
/Lineage II/ , 7% from /City of Heroes/City of Villains/ and 12% from
/Guild Wars./

NCsoft CFO Jaeho Lee said, �As proven once again in the Q1 financial
results, we strongly believe our key franchise products, such as
/Lineage /and /Guild Wars/, will meet our sales target with a strong
customer base and continued content updates going forward.� And he
added, �We plan to ensure the smooth launch of many new products in the
next two to three years, which will strengthen our position as a global
leader in online games.�

This summer NCsoft plans to launch its third closed beta test of /Aion^�
/ before formally launching the much anticipated product later in the
year. Casual online games such as /Point Blank/^� /, Punch Monster/^� /,
Dragonica/^� /, /and/ Love Beat/^� are also scheduled for an official
service launch later in the year.

2008 Q1 Consolidated Earnings Summary (unit: KRW in millions)

Q1, 2008

Q4, 2007

Q1, 2007

QoQ

YoY

Sales

88,143

89,069

84,715

-1%

4%

Operating Income

19,732

12,078

17,067

63%

16%

Pre-tax Profit

11,160

14,057

19,773

-21%

-44%

Net Profit

8,074

10,289

14,121

-22%

-43%

NCsoft, the interlocking NC logo, /Lineage/, /Guild Wars/, /City of
Heroes/, /City of Villains/, /Aion/, /Point Blank/, /Punch Monster/,
/Dragonica/, /Love Beat/, PlayNC, PlayNC.com and all associated logos
and designs are trademarks or registered trademarks of NCsoft
Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.

*Note: 1$US = 1,045 KRW (Korean Won)*

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Redwood City, Calif. - May 12, 2008 - The temperature is rising this
> summer as the Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) Games Label gets ready
> to release eight action-packed titles from seven of the world's most
> critically acclaimed development studios including BioWare(tm),
> Criterion, DICE, EALA, Maxis(tm) and Pandemic(tm) as well as the revered
> EA partner Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., a company of MTV Networks.
> Between May and September, the EA Games Label will launch a stunning
> line-up of titles that rivals any independent game publisher, with
> offerings that appeal to the explorer, adventurer, action junkie,
> creator and rock star in all of us. This summer, whether playing on the
> Xbox 360(tm) videogame and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION(r) 3
> computer entertainment system (PS3(tm)), PlayStation(r)2 computer
> entertainment system, PC, Mac(r), Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS(tm) or
> mobile phone, players will fire up their gaming rigs and have some
> serious fun.
>
>
>
> Players looking for action will hunt for the spoils of war while
> delivering over-top destruction in Battlefield: Bad Company(tm) and go
> for revenge in Venezuela in Mercenaries 2: World in Flames(tm). Those
> looking for world domination will control epic armies in Command &
> Conquer(tm) 3: Kane's Wrath, or for those more interested in conquering
> worlds beyond earth, they can explore the depths of space in Mass
> Effect(tm). For the creative class looking to express their inner
> artist, the Spore(tm) Creature Creator will allow them to design
> individual species even before the launch of Spore(tm), where they can
> create an entire universe and share it with friends. Adrenaline junkies
> will put the pedal to the metal with new downloadable content for
> Burnout(tm) Paradise or feel the rush of super-stardom as they take to
> the stage with Rock Band(tm).
>
>
>
> Later in the year, gamers can look forward to more outstanding
> entertainment from the EA Games Label including Battlefield Heroes(tm),
> Battleforge(tm), Command & Conquer(tm) Red Alert(tm) 3, Dead Space(tm),
> Mirror's Edge(tm), Skate It, Warhammer(r) Online: Age of Reckoning(tm)
> and much, much more.
>
>
>
> Mike Quigley, Group VP of Global Marketing, EA Games Label said, "If you
> need a break from GTA IV, or if you're looking for more than just the
> one or two great summer movies on tap, the EA Games Label is stepping up
> with eight huge summer titles. The incredible diversity of the title
> line-up reflects the talent range of our studios and partners. Big FPS
> action, amazing adventures, epic sci-fi fantasy or rock star reality -
> these are the summer entertainment experiences people will love."
>
>
>
> Battlefield: Bad Company
>
> Go for the gold! Battlefield: Bad Company drops gamers behind enemy
> lines with a squad of renegade soldiers who risk it all on a personal
> quest for gold and revenge. Featuring intense multiplayer action as well
> as a deep, cinematic single-player experience loaded with adventure and
> humor, the game delivers the Battlefield series' trademark sandbox
> gameplay in a universe where nearly everything is destructible.
>
>
>
> - ESRB - T for Teen
>
> - Platforms - Xbox 360 and PS3
>
> - Ship Date - June 23, 2008
>
>
>
> Burnout Paradise
>
> The Year of Paradise Continues! Following the launch of Burnout Paradise
> for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360
> videogame and entertainment system in January, EA Criterion is
> continuing to support the game's players throughout the year by
> delivering significant, game-changing content and regular broadcast
> activities. The first game-changing content will be coming to the
> PLAYSTATION Store and Xbox LIVE(r) Marketplace in June free to download.
> This will include 3 all-new online game modes (Road Rage, Marked Man,
> and Stunt Run), 70 new multi-part, timed Freeburn challenges and 7 new
> cars, instantly adding many hours of additional gameplay. Also being
> introduced is a new "Live" Global Paradise news system where players
> will be able to receive the most up-to-date information on the game and
> a schedule of upcoming online events, and the much requested custom
> soundtrack support for the PLAYSTATION 3. This is to bring the
> community of Burnout players together with the makers of the game to
> create a social online gaming experience that evolves throughout the
> year. To meet the team and get more details, please visit
> criteriongames.com.
>
>
>
> - ESRB - Rating Pending
>
> - Platforms - PC, Xbox 360 and PS3
>
> - Download Date - June 2008
>
>
>
> Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath
>
> Command & Conquer is coming to the Xbox 360 this summer, with the
> revolutionary all-new CommandStick, a control system that simplifies the
> console RTS experience for new and hardcore RTS gamers alike. A follow
> up to last year's critically acclaimed Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium
> Wars(tm), Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath for Xbox 360 includes all
> the units, structures, and powers from Tiberium Wars, a deep storyline
> campaign told through the series' trademark HD video cinematics, six
> diverse new sub-factions, giving players no less than nine armies to
> choose from, and all-new game-changing Epic Units. The Xbox 360 version
> also includes over 50 multiplayer maps and the 360-exclusive Kane's
> Challenge mode, where players will battle through over 80 matches versus
> a gauntlet of deadly sub-faction leaders. Best of all for 360 gamers,
> Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath features a full complement of 1000
> achievement points - all for $39.99.
>
>
>
> - ESRB - T for Teen
>
> - Platforms - Xbox 360
>
> - Ship Date - June 2008
>
>
>
> Mass Effect
>
> As the first BioWare/Electronic Arts title, players take on the role of
> Commander Shepard as they set out to save the galaxy from imminent
> destruction. Wrought with treachery, heroism and difficult decisions,
> Mass Effect features a compelling storyline and a universe filled with
> unique creatures. Originally released for the Xbox 360 in 2007, Mass
> Effect has won over eighty awards globally including several 'Game of
> the Year' nods. Fully optimized for the PC, Mass Effect features higher
> resolution graphics, the ability to map biotic powers to 'hot keys', a
> new decryption mini-game, an enhanced inventory system and fast loading
> times. PC gamers are now able to control their individual squad mates
> with the new Tactical Heads-Up Display, allowing for deeper and more
> efficient control during combat.
>
>
>
> - ESRB - M for Mature
>
> - Platforms - PC
>
> - Ship Date - May 28, 2008
>
>
>
> Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
>
> The first rule for Mercenaries is: Everyone pays. But when sleazy
> Venezuelan Industrialist Ramon Solano breaks this simple rule, it is no
> longer about business; it is about payback, Mercs style. Mercenaries 2:
> World in Flames delivers over-the-top action, big explosions and
> world-class production values in a fully destructible, beautifully
> detailed Venezuela.
>
>
>
> - ESRB - Not yet rated
>
> - Platforms - PS3, Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 2
>
> - Ship Date - August 31st 2008 in North America; September 5th
> 2008 in UK and Europe
>
>
>
> Rock Band
>
> Rock Band is an all-new platform for music fans and gamers to interact
> with music like never before. The game challenges players to put
> together a band and tour for fame and fortune - all while learning to
> master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals. Featuring the most master
> recordings of any music game ever by the world's biggest rock artists,
> Rock Band includes tracks that span every genre of rock ranging from
> alternative and classic rock to heavy metal and punk. The Wii version
> will feature 63 songs including five bonus songs for the Wii. Rock Band
> is developed by Harmonix, published by MTV and distributed by EA.
>
>
>
> - ESRB - T for Teen
>
> - Platforms - Wii
>
> - Ship Date - June 22, 2008
>
>
>
> Spore Creature Creator
>
> In anticipation for the launch of Spore in September, the Spore Creature
> Creator gives Spore fans, and anyone who is creatively curious, a first
> hands-on opportunity to design their own species and share it with their
> friends. All creatures designed with the Spore Creature Creator can be
> imported into the full version of Spore. The free demo version of the
> Spore Creature Creator will be available worldwide via download from
> www.spore.com . The free demo lets players
> shape, paint and play with an unlimited number of creatures, using 25%
> of the creature-making parts from Spore. People can then share these
> creations with their friends, including seamless uploads to YouTube. The
> demo will also be included in the The SimCity(tm) Box, which ships on
> June 23.
>
>
>
> - ESRB - E
>
> - Platforms - PC, Macintosh
>
> - Ship Date - June 17, 2008
>
>
>
> Spore
>
> Get ready for the next Big Bang this fall! Spore, the highly anticipated
> game from the creators of The Sims(tm), gives players their own personal
> universe in a box. Create and evolve life, establish tribes, build
> civilizations, sculpt entire worlds and explore a universe created by
> other gamers. Spore gives players a wealth of creative tools to
> customize nearly every aspect of their universe: creatures, vehicles,
> buildings, and even UFOs. Players can then seamlessly share their
> creations with the world or explore infinite new galaxies created by
> other people.
>
>
>
> - ESRB - Not yet rated
>
> - Platforms - PC, Macintosh, Nintendo DS and mobile phones
>
> - (*NDS version is titled "Spore Creatures")
>
> - Ship Date - September 7, 2008

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Sandbox Summit

*SANDBOX SUMMIT™ ADVISORY BOARD ANNOUNCED*
Experts tapped to help reshape conversation about play and learning

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
*TIMONIUM, MD, May 13, 2008 * -- Sandbox Summit, the organization
created to explore how technology is affecting the ways kids play, learn
and connect in today’s digital world, has announced the formation of its
first Advisory Board. The announcement comes as summer, the unofficial
season of play, is about to begin. Drawing from a variety of fields, the
roster of accomplished professionals includes academics, educators,
policy makers and toy developers.

*The Sandbox Summit 2008 Advisory Board members include:*

* *Warren Buckleitner*, Ph.D., Editor, Children