The Video Game Review 
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WARNING: The following information has been released to the press by the "Video Game Industry." 
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TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 07 SHIPS TODAY

Swing like the Pros on the Nintendo Wii

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – March 13, 2007 – Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 07, the newest title from the best selling golf franchise, has shipped in North America for the Wii™.  The game will be available worldwide on March 16^th.

In Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07 the power and control of every swing are literally in your hands. Whether you tilt the Wii Remote to hook and slice the ball or swing away for a long straight drive, the Wii’s innovative game controller provides a realistic golfing experience. The Nunchuk can also be attached for the traditional analog swing.

“Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07 fits perfectly with the Wii and its innovative controller, so we’re very excited to bring our game to the platform,” said Todd Arnold, Executive Producer at EA Redwood Shores .  

The top-selling golf video game franchise is packed with content, including 18 championship courses and 35 pro and fantasy golfers, so take your aim and swing to the top. Use the Wii Remote’s point and click interface to move the new golf glove, grab the True-Aiming circle to position your shots with Grab and Drag True-Aiming, then hit away for true-to-life accuracy.

Developed by EA Red wood Shores, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07 is rated “E” for Everyone by the ESRB

Wild Piñatas Are Loose on Xbox LIVE Marketplace

If you haven’t escaped to Piñata Island yet, now is the time. The official Viva Piñata™ demo has arrived on Xbox LIVE^® Marketplace and is waiting for you! Now is the chance to meet many of the more than 60 species of Piñata featured in Viva Piñata, the Xbox 360™ game that everyone will enjoy. Head over to Xbox LIVE Marketplace today to meet these extraordinary creatures!

The playable demo will be available exclusively to Xbox LIVE Gold members for one week and then made available to all subscribers afterward. This demo will provide you with the opportunity to visit Piñata Island , where you’ll pick up a shovel and a watering can to transform a barren plot of land into a paradise to attract wild-roaming Piñata animals looking for a home.  Enjoy a vibrant world where you create and customize your own environment to attract and care for wild Piñatas. As your reputation and garden grows, you’ll attract new, more exotic Piñatas, each with their own unique style and personality. You can even buy houses for your Piñatas!

Created by world-renowned video game developer Rare Ltd, Viva Piñata is packed with hundreds of personalization options:  name your Piñatas, decide where to plant grass and flowers, hire helpers to help run your Piñata paradise and more. The colorful, fully customizable game takes you into a world with all kinds of possibilities. And no two games are ever the same.  From hardcore gamers to families looking for a fun time together, Viva Piñata is an experience not to be missed.

The playable demo provides a taste of what’s available in the Xbox 360 game, which is available at stores for a suggested retail price of $49.00. This demo will be available in the U.S. only on Tuesday, March 13. Localized versions of this demo will follow soon after in Japan , France , Germany , Italy , Spain and the U.K.  

Cowabunga! It’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” on Xbox LIVE Arcade  

Everyone’s favorite totally tubular turtles bring their radical ninja skills to Xbox LIVE Arcade . The 1989 arcade classic, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” will be available for download on Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 beginning Wednesday, March 14 at 0900 GMT (2 a.m. PDT).

True to the original arcade classic, gamers will be able to choose from one of four Ninja Turtles: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello or Raphael and master their unique ninja weapons and abilities.

Gamers will have the unique opportunity to play through the original seven levels alone, or with up to three others co-operatively via Xbox LIVE.

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” will be available worldwide for 400 Microsoft Points.

Game Features

• Enhanced for Xbox LIVE Arcade – includes voice support, cooperative multiplayer mode over Xbox LIVE and leaderboards

• Earn up to 12 Achievements and 200 Gamerscore points

Runaway: The Dream of the Turtle Ships to Retail

Adventure, fun and humor are all arriving in one package to retailers today, as CDV Software Entertainment USA has shipped Runaway: The Dream of the Turtle to North American retail. The game is a hilarious trip back to the glory days of graphical adventure gaming, and will have players scouring the world as the intrepid adventurer Brian Basco in his search for his lost girlfriend. A variety of unique friends, foes and puzzles are all part of the Runaway experience, and will offer adventure fans hours of entertainment. For more information, please visit http://www.gamespress.com/cdv.

Humor, hotties, hijinks and a hilarious plotline all combine to make a fantastically fun adventure in Runaway: The Dream of the Turtle, the sequel to 2003's smash-hit adventure, Runaway, A Road Adventure. In Runaway: The Dream of the Turtle, players will travel the world, from Alaska and Hawaii to the depths of the sea and the sky above. Become immersed in a tongue-in-cheek story where you’ll meet a crazy cast of miscreants in order to solve a mystery too weirdly entertaining for words in this title that pays homage to all that was great about the glory days of graphical adventure games.

March 12, 2007

Wii-kly Update: Three New Classic Games Announced for Wii Shop Channel

Today Nintendo adds three new classic games to the popular Wii(TM) video game system's Wii Shop Channel. The games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii owners with ahigh-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points(TM) to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

Tecmo Bowl(TM) (NES(R), 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Tecmo Bowl pits the player versus the computer in 11-game, single-elimination playoff action. Players also can go head-to-head with a human opponent in action or coach mode. The player can select from 12 teams. On offense there are usually two run and two pass plays to choose from. The player takes control of the quarterback before the snap and then either hands off to the running back or works through his receiver progression from the top to the bottom of the screen. Defense consists of trying to guess which offensive play the opponent will select and then taking control of one of the defensive players before the snap. A very simple power-meter system is used for kicking field goals, extra points and punts.

Sonic Spinball(TM) (Sega Genesis, 1-4 players, 800 Wii Points): Dr. Eggman (aka Dr. Robotnik) has taken over Mt. Mobius and turned it into a mechanical base. He is using energy from the magma flowing under the volcano to power his Veg-O-Fortress. He has the power to transform helpless animals into robots. Sonic the Hedgehog must take down this fortress to free the enslaved animals. The only way to make that happen is to trigger an eruption in the volcano it's built on. Sonic knows this can be done by removing the Chaos Emeralds that keep the volcano stable. Dr. Eggman, however, is also aware of the fragile relationship that exists between the emeralds and the mountain, and he's set up an elaborate Pinball Defense System to make sure the precious jewels don't go anywhere.

Double Dungeons (TurboGrafx16, 1-2 players, 600 Wii Points): Double Dungeons is a dungeon role-playing game that features smooth-scrolling 3-D game play. Two players can play at the same time, which makes this game truly stand out from the rest. There are 22 unique scenarios, spread out among six levels. The higher the level is, the harder the scenario. Because each scenario is independent, players can choose to start the game from any scenario other than the final one. Players defeat monsters in each dungeon to gain experience while searching for the "key" that opens the door to the room with the boss. They buy equipment at the shop, team up with characters and defeat the boss to clear a scenario. Players must conquer all 21 scenarios from levels 1 through 5 to obtain passwords. If they obtain all of them, they make their way to the final scenario!

NBA STREET Homecourt on PS3 Hits Stores Today!

The wait is over! Electronic Arts is pleased to announce that NBA STREET Homecourt for the PS3 will be available at retailers nationwide today. It’s worth a trip to the store as the title is presently one of the highest rated games for the PS3 console!

Boasting the playability of the original NBA STREET , the fun-factor of NBA STREET Vol. 2, and the refinement of 2005’s NBA STREET V3, fans of the series will find the core of the franchise intact, while platform-defining additions revolutionize the overall experience.  

NBA STREET Homecourt features amazing visuals and innovative gameplay. The all-new Trick Remixer lets you take control of your player’s rhythm by mixing quick tricks with elaborate moves, all with the simplicity of two trick buttons. Perform crossovers with an instantaneous response and string together the perfect blend of combinations for ultimate court dominance. Take your game to new heights with new flight controls and leap off the shoulders of a teammate for the leap off dunk, or pull off the ultimate double dunk to beat your opponent and electrify the crowd.

NBA STREET Homecourt was developed by EA Canada and is rated “E” by the ESRB.

March 8, 2007

Video Game Developers Honor Nintendo with Awards

A jury of Nintendo's industry peers has honored the video game company with Game Developers Choice Awards for innovation and game design for Wii Sports(TM), which comes packed with Nintendo's hot-selling new Wii(TM) home system. Nintendo also won an award for writing for The Legend of Zelda(R): Twilight Princess.

The awards were presented the evening of March 7 at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. They represent the peak of video game excellence, as voted on by game developers from around the world. The Game Developers Choice Awards Advisory Board also honored legendary Nintendo video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

"Wii Sports continues to resonate not only with consumers but also with the creative soul of the industry: the game developers themselves," says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "Wii is designed to allow creativity to triumph over technical and financial barriers, and Wii Sports is a perfect example of how a great idea can succeed on its own."

Wii Sports and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess were nominated for five awards in four categories.

GameTap Indie Award Winners ANNOUNCED AT

9^th ANNUAL INDEPENDENT GAMEs FESTIVAL

Everyday Shooter awarded $10,000 distribution deal for achievement in development

ATLANTA – March 8, 2007 - GameTap, the first-of-its-kind broadband entertainment network from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), announced the winners of the GameTap Indie Awards during a ceremony at the Game Developers Conference’s 9^th Annual Independent Games Festival (IGF) in San Francisco . Queasy Games’ “Everyday Shooter”, took home the $10,000 distribution deal, with runner-up distribution deals of $5,000 awarded to both “Roboblitz," an action game by Naked Sky Entertainment and Cryptic Sea ’s “Blast Miner” puzzle game.  Together, the three award winners will kick off GameTap’s online distribution program for independent games.

“The GameTap Indie Award winners represent creativity and passion for gameplay that in many ways is unique to games produced outside traditional publishing systems and will be exciting additions for subscribers of the GameTap network,” said Ricardo Sanchez, vice president of content, GameTap.  “We chose the winners of the first GameTap Indie Award after a careful evaluation of over a hundred independently developed games and now welcome them to the GameTap family.”

Grand prize winner, Everyday Shooter, is an album of games exploring the expressive power of abstract shooters. Dissolute sounds of destruction are replaced with guitar riffs harmonizing over an all-guitar soundtrack, while modulating shapes celebrate the flowing beauty of geometry. As the grand prize winner, Queasy Games will receive a $10,000 advance after signing a five year distribution deal for Everyday Shooter to be a part of the new GameTap Indies label.

Roboblitz and Blast Miner were both runners up for the GameTap Indies Award and will each receive a $5,000 advance after signing the same five year distribution deal to be part of the new GameTap Indies label.  Roboblitz is a physics-based action game full of inventive gizmos, weapons, characters, and environments. Players take on the role of Blitz, a multi-talented robot who must activate an aging Space Cannon to save his world from a band of maladjusted space pirates.  Blast Miner is a physics-based puzzle game where you use explosives to blast though the earth in search of gold. Taking the role of a crazed miner, the player must use TNT, gas cans and stones to set off chain reactions that rip through the ground exposing and collecting chunks of gold.

The GameTap Indies program will take effect immediately, serving as an added distribution channel for creative developers.  By enlisting in the program, GameTap assumes responsibility for the digital distribution of each selected game.  In addition to being promoted alongside popular GameTap Original titles, such as “Sam & Max: Season 1” and “Myst Online: Uru Live”, GameTap Indies will be showcased in a special Independent Games content area within the service.

In addition to GameTap Indies, GameTap provides subscribers with unlimited access to more than 800 games, along with over 600 original TV shows and videos that cater to fans of the video game lifestyle.

March 8, 2007

Fighting Robots Find a Home on Nintendo DS

Imagine a future where disputes are solved in a calm and rational manner. Opposing sides simply outfit their favorite robots in suits of armor, arm them with weapons and let them try to beat the snot out of each other. This is the future of Custom Robo(TM) Arena, launching exclusively for Nintendo DS(TM) on March 19.

In this future, all disputes are settled by robot warriors on holographic battlefields. Just like the robot-battle shows that used to populatelate-night cable TV, Custom Robo Arena lets players customize their robots with a nearly endless combination of torsos, legs and weapons. As players progress through the game, they power up their robos and explore a vast futuristic city.

Players can even battle each other in two-person multiplayer matches. This can be done wirelessly in the same room or around the world via Nintendo(R) Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo's wireless gaming service. With so many different possible combinations of robos and accessories, the replay possibilities are almost infinite.

Upcoming Pokemon Battle Revolution Named as First Wi-Fi Game for Wii

Nintendo Reveals Strong Second-Quarter Lineup for Wii, Nintendo DS

REDMOND, Wash., March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Wii(TM) owners of all ages have discovered the fun of playing with a group of friends in the same room. Now for the first time players can compete with one another near and far with Pokemon(R) Battle Revolution, a game of remarkable firsts:

* the first Wii game to include Nintendo(R) Wi-Fi Connection play
* the first Pokemon game for Wii
* the first game to link Wii and the hand-held Nintendo DS(TM)
* and the first Wii game that can be controlled using Nintendo DS

When Wii and Nintendo DS are linked, players can use their Nintendo DS units as controllers or import characters from the upcoming Nintendo DS games Pokemon(R) Diamond Version or Pokemon(R) Pearl Version. Pokemon Battle Revolution launches on June 25 exclusively for Wii and brings a dramatic new chapter to the Pokemon franchise, which has sold more than 155 million units worldwide. Pokemon Battle Revolution also serves as one of the standouts in Nintendo's second-quarter launch lineup, which the company revealed today in conjunction with the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.

Pokemon Battle Revolution will be joined by Super Paper Mario(TM), the first Mario(TM) game for Wii; Mario Party(R) 8, a multiplayer party game; and Big Brain Academy(TM), a brain-training game that builds on the phenomenal success of the Nintendo DS brain games. These will add to the ever-growing library of Wii games, which will total more than 50 by the end of June. Nintendo DS fans will see the arrival of Pokemon Diamond Version and Pokemon Pearl Version, two surefire smash-hits.

"With strong third-party support, Wii and Nintendo DS have games on the way for both casual and veteran gamers," says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "Our new ways to play have attracted millions of players around the world. This lineup demonstrates our commitment to leading the industry with the future of video gaming."

Third-party publishers also have stepped up their support of both Wii and Nintendo DS, recognizing these systems as the hottest things going in the video game industry. The list of games for April, May and June includes the following:

Wii
April 9 Super Paper Mario Nintendo
April Prince of Persia Rival Swords Ubisoft
April Bust-A-Move Bash Majesco
April Bioncle Heroes Eidos
May 15 Mortal Kombat: Armageddon Midway
May 29 Mario Party 8 Nintendo
May Tamagotchi Party On Namco Bandai
May Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean Disney Interactive
at World's End
May Escape from Bug Island Eidos
May Spider-Man The Movie 3 Activision
June 11 Big Brain Academy Nintendo
June 25 Pokemon Battle Revolution Nintendo
June Cosmic Family Ubisoft
Spring Heatseeker Codemasters
Q2 Legend of the Dragon American Game Factory
Summer Shrek the Third Activision
Summer Transformers the Game Activision

Nintendo DS
April 22 Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl Nintendo
May Pirates of the Caribbean 3 Buena Vista
May Dragon Ball Z: Harukanaru Densetsu Atari
May Pony Friends Eidos
May Diner Dash Eidos
May Touch the Dead Eidos
June 4 Nintendo DS browser Nintendo
June 4 Planet Puzzle League Nintendo
June 11 Touchmaster DS Midway
June Zendoku Eidos
Spring Naruto Ninja Council 3 Tomy
Spring Time Ace Konami
Spring Death Jr. and the Science Fair of Doom Konami
Q2 Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon Natsume
Summer Shrek the Third Activision
Summer Transformers: Autobots Activision
Summer Transformers: Decepticons Activision

Game Boy(R) Advance
Summer Shrek the Third Activision

EA ANNOUNCES THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE BATTLE FOR
MIDDLE-EARTH ANTHOLOGY FOR THE PC

The Complete Battle for Middle-earth PC Collection Shipping March 20, 2007.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 7, 2007 – Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that the complete collection of Middle-earth PC Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games will be available with The Lord of the Rings™, The Battle for Middle-earth™ Anthology*.

For the first time The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth Anthology offers fans the chance to bring together all the epic The Lord of the Rings™ battles with The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth™, The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II™ Collector’s Edition and The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II, The Rise of the Witch-King™ within a single compilation.

The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth puts players in command of good or evil heroes and armies of Middle-earth in epic battles from The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.  In The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II Collector’s Edition players wage war in the North and experience heroes and creatures that have never been seen in The Lord of the Rings films.  The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth Anthology is the exclusive place to purchase The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II Collector’s Edition, which grants players access to limited release features including ‘behind the scenes’ details of creating a blockbuster Lord of the Rings PC game, multiple exclusive maps, as well as an exclusive fire-breathing Dragon unit.  On the battlefield, this impressive unit can only be controlled by players who purchase the Collector’s Edition.  The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II, The Rise of the Witch-King, allows players to explore the evil side of Middle-earth through the Witch-King’s rise to power.  In this expansion pack, gamers experience a whole new depth of strategy and upgraded War of the Ring and Create-A-Hero features, allowing more freedom in customizing game play.

EA SAYS THAT HIT SONGS ARE ALWAYS IN SEASON FOR THE SIMS
The Sims™ 2 Seasons Soundtrack To Include Simlish Versions of Songs from Lily Allen, The Veronicas, The String Cheese Incident and More!

REDWOOD CITY , Calif. – March 7, 2007 – Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) today revealed the impressive soundtrack for The Sims™ 2 Seasons.  Fans of The Sims games will be thrilled to learn they can hear their favorite musical acts—artists like Lily Allen, The Veronicas and The String Cheese Incident—reinterpret favorite hits in Simlish, the native language of The Sims. The Sims is the blockbuster video game franchise that celebrates self-expression through virtual, everyday life.

“Recording “SMILE” was a great experience for me. Sometimes revenge can be fun,” said Lily Allen.  “But getting to sing it again—IN SIMLISH—came very naturally and it was hilarious to practice!   The silly language and whimsy of The Sims games are a perfect fit for the song.  I was laughing the entire time!”

“Being well-versed in improvisation, we felt up for the challenge of re-recording our song, ‘Close Your Eyes’ in Simlish. The Sims' language may be a bit unfamiliar, but musically it actually translates fairly smoothly; its cadence is quite musical,” said Kyle Hollingsworth of The String Cheese Incident.

"EA leads the industry in creating groundbreaking music for our  top-selling titles, and The  Sims is perhaps the most unique opportunity in the world today. It takes a special kind of artist to accept the challenge and have fun with the experience. Lily Allen, The Veronicas and String Cheese Incident all brought tremendous creativity and enthusiasm to their sessions, and the result is some of the most surprising songs yet in a Sims game. We're proud to have their hits in 'Simlish' for our worldwide audience of more than 85 million Sims fans," said Steve Schnur, Executive of Worldwide Music and Marketing at EA.

Fans are encouraged to check out Simlish tracks of The String Cheese Incident, The Veronicas, as well as a Sims-animated video for Lily Allen’s “Smile” by visiting http://sims2.com.

The Sims 2 Seasons will build on the celebrated The Sims 2 experience that allows players to create and control virtual characters throughout their lives while determining the outcome of their relationships and choosing their destiny. The Sims 2 Seasons allows players to enjoy all four seasons with their Sims – whether your Sims are making snow angels in the fresh winter snow, playing a game of Marco Polo on a hot summer day or jumping into leaf piles during a brisk autumn afternoon, the variety of seasonal activities are guaranteed to add a fresh, new layer of fun for your Sims! The stunning visual effects of winter, spring, summer and fall not only deliver unique benefits to The Sims 2 gameplay, but also impact your Sims relationships, moods, skills, wants and fears. The cure for winter blues can be found in building snowmen and ice skating, while summer sun provides a great excuse to hit the pool—just be careful not to get heat stroke! Because each season unfolds differently, players are guaranteed a fresh experience year after year!

EA will LEAD THE NEXT WAVE on Wii

SSX Blur, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR, The Godfather Blackhand Edition and Medal of Honor Vanguard, All Custom-Designed and Coming to the Wii This Spring As Well As Exciting News about  MySims

Redwood City, Calif., – March 7, 2007 – Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) plans to lead the next wave on the Wii™ from Nintendo with the release of SSX™ Blur, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 07, The Godfather® Blackhand Edition and Medal of Honor Vanguard™ this spring and share exciting news about MySims™, set to launch in fall of 2007. Each title remains true to the hallmarks of its franchise but is designed to take full advantage of the Wii from Nintendo’s one-of-a-kind controller and the other unique features of this revolutionary gaming platform. The games will be showcased tonight at EA’s press event in San Francisco , CA .

“The Nintendo Wii has allowed us to explore new and exciting game play possibilities and attract a whole new audience to EA games,“ said Paul Lee, President, Worldwide Studios, EA. “In the upcoming year, we will continue to custom-design our most popular franchises and develop new EA properties that take full advantage of this unique gaming platform.”

Building on the excitement surrounding the recent announcement that MySims is being developed especially for the Wii platform, The Sims Division is thrilled to unveil a new level in game. Just beyond Town Center lies the forest—a wild and wondrous world filled with giant trees and hidden nooks. Explorers can follow winding paths and search dark crannies, never knowing what surprise lies around the next bend. Perhaps it’s a mysterious new plant, ripe and ready for harvesting, or maybe they will encounter a hidden cave. By searching out every corner, players will expand their MySims world and greatly increase their creative space.  Expect this first game in a revolutionary new line from the developers of The Sims Division in fall 2007.

SSX Blur is everything you expect from the franchise, delivered in a totally unexpected way.  Revolutionary controls take full advantage of the potential of the Wii by putting you in total command of your skier or rider, on-the-ground and in-the-air, by translating every motion you make into skills that create mountain legends.  Tear down the mountain with one of your hands and unleash a virtually unlimited array of aerial maneuvers with the other one.  This is the soul of SSX, remixed, re-energized, and fully realized. 

Perfect your swing using the Wii Remote as you earn respect and climb the ranks in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07. The top-selling golf video game franchise is packed with new content, including 18 championship courses and 35 pro and fantasy golfers. The power and control of every swing are literally in your hands. Whether you tilt the Wii Remote to hook and slice the ball or swing away for a long straight drive, the innovative game controller provides the most realistic golfing experience that has ever been felt or seen. The Nunchuk can also be attached for the traditional analog swing.

The Godfather Blackhand Edition gives an enhanced experience with motion-based Blackhand Control by integrating Nintendo’s innovative Wii controller. The Godfather Blackhand Edition for the Wii offer brand new ways to go from Soldier to Don as you gain control of the streets of New York . Follow the path of an Enforcer or Operator; each with its own unique perks and abilities to earn. For improved, hyper-intuitive control in The Godfather Blackhand Edition, use gestures with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to perform true-to-life actions and accuracy.

Join the ranks of the elite 82nd Airborne Division as Corporal Frank Keegan in Medal of Honor Vanguard. From Operation Husky on the shores of Sicily to your Operation Varsity airdrop inside Nazi Germany, you’ll jump behind enemy lines to fight the epic WWII battles that turned America ’s first paratroopers into heroes of WWII. Choose from a variety of authentic, customizable weapons at your disposal, each with distinct characteristics.  Featuring spectacular graphics and all-out combat intensity, Medal of Honor Vanguard makes you the driving force in the struggle to liberate Europe .

SSX Blur, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07,The Godfather Blackhand Edition, and Medal of Honor Vanguard will all carry an MSRP of $49.99.

EA SLAMS ONTO RETAIL SHELVES WITH BURNOUT DOMINATOR

Award-Winning Series Delivers High-Speed Automotive Anarchy on PlayStation 2 and PSP

Redwood City , Calif. – March 6, 2007 – The king of speed and destruction is back!  Electronic Arts (NASAQ: ERTS) today announced that Burnout™ Dominator has shipped to North American retail outlets for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system.  Burnout Dominator has been rated E10+ by the ESRB, with descriptors of Violence.

Burnout Dominator is an all-new installment of the blockbuster Burnout™ series that challenges players to face off against a series of hot-blooded rivals in tests of reckless driving. The game features an all-new “Maniac Mode,” daring players to take down other drivers and string together massive combos of the wildest driving stunts without crashing.  Burnout Dominator also marks the return of Burnouts and Boost Chaining, where gamers store up supercharged boost and use it all in one go – before combo-ing into another Burnout – for truly irresponsible speed.

“Burnout Dominator celebrates the terrifying feeling of speeding down the wrong side of the road, slamming into the car next to you and teetering on the edge of control at 200 miles per hour,” said senior producer, Nick Channon. “It’s a return to the game’s essence – the fastest, most aggressive racing series out there, bar none.”

Burnout Dominator for PSP also features ad hoc multiplayer for up to six players, as well as “ScoreSync” functionality, which allows gamers to compare their best race times against their friends.

Burnout Dominator was developed by EA’s Criterion Games and UK Studio team in Guildford , UK .

EA SHIPS DEF JAM: ICON FOR XBOX 360 AND PLAYSTATION 3

Featuring a Roster of Top Hip Hop and Hollywood Talent as well as an Incomparable Soundtrack, DEF JAM: ICON Delivers the Most Authentic Hip Hop Lifestyle Videogame Experience

REDWOOD CITY , Calif. – March 6, 2007 – Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), in partnership with urban lifestyle powerhouse Def Jam Interactive, announced today that DEF JAM: ICON™ has shipped to stores nationwide. Infusing the hottest hip hop beats with an advanced, next generation fighting gameplay system, DEF JAM: ICON will be available for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system.

Use the music to your advantage to strike down your opponent with DEF JAM: ICON’s new Building’s with Bass fighting mechanic. The musically charged environments become alive to the beat, creating hazards that you can use to defeat your opponent. Players can even trigger the beats to set off the hazards at the right time with the game’s unique DJ Controls. Never before has music become an instrumental part in the actual gameplay of a videogame. 

With brand new tracks from hip hop’s greatest, DEF JAM: ICON delivers the ultimate soundtrack. Big Boi, Lil Jon, Ludacris, T.I., and Young Jeezy are just a few names featured on both the soundtrack and in the game. To keep the music fresh, players can load their own MP3’s into the game version for Xbox 360 and have their favorite beats drive the environment and gameplay. 

Become a hip hop icon and build your empire from the ground up in the all-new single-player story mode. Written by renowned Hollywood writers Virgil Williams and Cle “Bone” Sloan, DEF JAM: ICON delivers an intense storyline unrivaled in any other hip hop lifestyle/fighting game. Discover new talent, build a record label and do whatever it takes to make it to the top.

Produced by EA Chicago, the developers of the acclaimed EA SPORTS™ Fight Night franchise, the game is rated "M" (Mature) with descriptors Blood, Strong Lyrics, Violence, by the ESRB with a MSRP of $59.99. The official game website is http://www.defjamicon.com.

DEF JAM: ICON is also scheduled to ship in Europe on March 16 for the PLAYSTATION 3 system and Xbox 360 and has been rated 18+ by PEGI and the USK.

PHILIPS amBX BRINGS SECOND LIFE TO THE REAL WORLD

Dedicated amBX-enabled Environment will bring the Popular 3D Virtual World Out of the Screen and into the Real World

GDC 2007, San Francisco, CA – March 6, 2007 – Philips today announced the integration of amBX™, its revolutionary ‘ambient experiences’ technology, in Second Life®, the 3D virtual world from Linden Lab®. By licensing its technology to Rivers Run Red to produce dedicated amBX-enabled environments, Philips will offer Second Life users the opportunity to experience their virtual world through real world sensory surround effects such as lighting, air movement and rumble all tuned to events within the virtual world. The amBX agreement also extends to all-new commercially driven experiences for future brand marketing campaigns, and builds on a highly successful relationship between Philips and Rivers Run Red and their long-running involvement with the development of the ‘immersive spaces market’.

Since exploding on the Internet in 2003, Second Life has grown exponentially and today is inhabited by a total of 4,201,216 residents from around the globe, all of which will be able to now have a more enhanced real world experience of the Second Life world.

Comprising a scripting language, software engine and architecture, the amBX platform has been designed to empower interactive entertainment developers and providers with a palette to use light, color, heat, sound and even air flow in the real world during interactive entertainment, delivering all-new user experiences through enabled devices, including the Philips amBX PC Gaming Peripherals range of LED color-controlled lighting, rumble peripherals and desktop fans.

Philips will be creating a further big bang in Second Life’s ‘Grid’ through the development of solutions for open source Second Life client software and the creation of a software development kit (SDK), featuring user tools and props, to allow amBX experiences to be easily authored by existing Second Lifers, creating their own custom real-world effects.

“Second Life offers amBX an unparalleled opportunity to bring our revolutionary ambient intelligence technology to an expanding global market of many millions of tech and media savvy users who are not only hungry, but also open-minded for new online experiences,” commented Jo Cooke, Chief Marketing Officer, Philips amBX. “Not only will we be able to offer Second Lifers all kinds of new sensory experiences, but also ‘behind closed doors first looks’ at amBX effects in development and potential amBX-enabled peripherals, with the chance for some to exclusively trial sample them before commercial release. Second Life offers an entirely new market for amBX and we feel this is the start of a very special relationship.”

Philips amBX is the second Philips initiative in Second Life, as a result of the cooperation between Philips Electronics and Rivers Run Red. In November 2006, Philips Design announced its collaboration with Rivers Run Red and presence in Second Life to gain feedback on innovation concepts, engage residents in co-creation and gain a deeper understanding of potential opportunities in this virtual environment.

“The partnership between Rivers Run Red and Philips was originally generated in a Philips Design ‘immersive spaces’ workshop and the new launch means the immersive amBX experience can now be experienced beyond the screen. People will be literally able to reach out and fill their rooms with deep sensory experiences,” commented Justin Bovington, CEO, Rivers Run Red. “The in-world development kit will go beyond collaborative design, we’re also looking at the broader commercial immersive potential including showrooms, advertising and conferences.”

Philips has established a global standard by licensing the amBX technology to interactive entertainment developers, publishers and peripherals manufacturers. Rivers Run Red join a rapidly expanding following of partners supporting amBX-enabled entertainment, games and peripherals, including software developers and publishers Codemasters, THQ, Kuju, Introversion, Gas Powered Games, Revolution, and Sumo Digital, and hardware manufacturers Philips Peripherals & Accessories and SpectraVideo.

Xbox 360  |  Momentum Fact Sheet

Xbox 360

• More than 10 million Xbox 360s have hit store shelves since launch in November 2005, and more than 160 high definition games are now available, including Viva Piñata, Gears of War and Crackdown.

• Xbox 360 is available in 37 countries.

• The overall software attach rate for Xbox 360 is 4.6 titles per console in the United States with a record-breaking accessory attach rate of 2.9 units per console.

Xbox LIVE Connectivity & Usage:

• More than 6 million people are members of Xbox LIVE.

• Following the launch of the Xbox LIVE online gaming network in November 2002, gamers have spent over 2.3 billion hours on the network playing games online with their friends around the world.  This is equal to 95 million days of gaming or over 260,000 years.  With our top title, Halo 2, which is being played on both the Xbox and Xbox 360, gamers have spent over 710 million hours playing online with over a half a billion games played.

• Xbox LIVE on Xbox 360 continues to grow as a social community; we are seeing an average of over 2,000,000 text and voice messages sent every day between members on the service. 

·         The average Xbox LIVE Gold subscriber has 22 friends on their Xbox LIVE friends list.

·         To date, Xbox 360 owners have unlocked nearly 300 million Achievements. All of those unlocked Achievements have created a total combined Gamerscore of nearly 7.5 billion.

• Top WW Xbox LIVE Titles on Xbox 360 to date:

1                     Halo 2

2                     Gears of War

3                     Hexic HD

4                     Call of Duty 2

5                     Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

6                     Call Of Duty 3

7                     Oblivion

8                     PGR3

9                     Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six® Vegas

10                 Perfect Dark Zero

            (Based on the number of unique users)

Xbox LIVE Marketplace:   

• Consumers have quickly jumped to the Xbox LIVE Marketplace as their one-stop download center.  More than 70 percent of Xbox LIVE members are downloading content from Marketplace, driving more than 135 million downloads since the launch of Xbox 360.

• Xbox LIVE Marketplace is home to more than 7,000 pieces of individual gaming and entertainment content, downloadable at the click of a button.

• Gamers have also quickly adopted the new Microsoft Points stored value system, with more than 5 Billion points activated on Marketplace to date. 

• Online entertainment through Xbox LIVE is not just limited to games.  Xbox 360 is the only console offering movie and TV downloads, and the new Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace is packed with HD content from top partners such as Paramount , MTV Networks and CBS. As a result, nearly 50% of Xbox LIVE members in the U.S. log into Xbox LIVE Marketplace every time they turn on their console.

Xbox LIVE Arcade :

• Xbox LIVE Arcade has been an instant hit on the Xbox 360, with nearly 70% of all connected consoles already downloading and playing Xbox LIVE Arcade titles. 

• Xbox LIVE Arcade has now surpassed 25 million downloads from its diverse library of original development and classic titles from the world’s best independent and established developers and publishers.

• Top worldwide Xbox LIVE Arcade titles  on Xbox 360 to date (based on total number of full game downloads):

Microsoft Announces 512MB Memory Unit for Xbox 360 and Increased Xbox LIVE Arcade Game Size Limit

512MB Memory Unit enhances storage capabilities and choice for Xbox 360 gamers; increased Xbox LIVE Arcade size limit provides additional flexibility for game developers.

SAN FRANCISCO — March 4, 2007 — At the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2007, Microsoft Corp. today announced plans to launch a 512MB Memory Unit for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system and an increase in the official size limit of Xbox LIVE^® Arcade games from 50 MB to 150 MB.

The 512MB Memory Unit, available worldwide beginning April 3, 2007, will retail for an estimated retail price of $49.99 (U.S.) in North America.* The 512MB Memory Unit will be pre-loaded with the hit Xbox LIVE Arcade game “Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved” from developer Bizarre Creations Ltd. for a limited time. The original 64MB Memory Unit will simultaneously drop in price from $39.99 to $29.99 (ERP).*

Eight times larger than the 64MB Memory Unit, the 512MB Memory Unit will provide Xbox 360 owners with vastly expanded storage capabilities for gaming on the go, allowing gamers to easily store and transport their gamer profile and save game data, Xbox LIVE Arcade games and Xbox LIVE Marketplace content. The 512MB Memory Unit also gives Xbox 360 owners the ability to download exclusive content from any of the 45,000 Xbox 360 kiosks accessible at retail outlets worldwide.

Beginning today, the Xbox LIVE Arcade game size limit has increased from 50 MB to 150 MB, giving developers greater flexibility in game design and expanding the opportunity to add advanced game features while still keeping games compact.

“The new size limit offers developers increased flexibility and continued opportunities for innovative game development, while also ensuring that the millions of gamers on Xbox LIVE can continue to easily access, download and play all Xbox LIVE Arcade games on Xbox 360,” said Chris Early , product unit manager for Xbox LIVE Arcade and Microsoft Casual Games at Microsoft. “If you take a look at current games like ‘Roboblitz’ and ‘Small Arms,’ it’s clear that our developers deliver amazing game experiences within a compact size limit. Our focus is on continuing to provide developers with an environment that allows for the creation of cost-efficient games and that nurtures an artistic and creative approach to game development.”

“As we prepare to launch our first Xbox LIVE Arcade game, ‘Boom Boom Rocket,’ we’re able to see how dynamic and creative this platform is,” said Chip Lange, vice president of Online Commerce for Electronic Arts Inc. (EA). “Having ‘Wing Commander Arena’ on Xbox LIVE Arcade allows us to take full advantage of the online play and bring to life a 16-player online arcade experience that delivers unparalleled arcade action.”

This week at GDC, Microsoft will showcase forthcoming Xbox LIVE Arcade games from a cross-section of genres to the game development community:

·         “Boom Boom Rocket” (EA and Bizarre Creations). This eagerly anticipated title from EA and Bizarre Creations is a hypnotic rhythm music game that will launch on Xbox LIVE Arcade this spring, priced at 800 Microsoft Points.

·         “3D Ultra™ Minigolf Adventures” (Sierra Online and Wanako Games). The first outdoor sports game on Xbox LIVE Arcade , “3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures” lets players putt their way through 36 fun-filled holes on wild courses that include settings such as the Classic Carnival and the fantastical Outer Space.

·         “Eets: Chowdown” (Klei Entertainment Inc.). A completely revamped version of the popular PC title, “Eets: Chowdown” offers a fun puzzle game experience unlike anything else available on Xbox LIVE Arcade , and features new items and 120 new levels.

·         “Jetpac Refuelled” (Rare Ltd.). This is a new take on Rare/Ultimate’s 1983 classic space blaster with enhanced graphics and Xbox LIVE features; players must clear a path through hordes of aliens to refuel their ship and amass a fortune over the course of more than 100 high-definition levels.

·         “Pinball FX” (ZEN Studios Ltd.). “Pinball FX” offers an unparalleled pinball experience that will be fun for novices and experts alike, with realistic ball physics and stunning 3-D tables. “Pinball FX” also features real-time, head-to-head competition over Xbox LIVE and Xbox LIVE Vision camera support.

Microsoft Unlocks Game Development and Encourages Everyone to “Dream-Build-Play”

Microsoft challenges developers to bring ideas to life on the Xbox 360 and Windows platforms.

SAN FRANCISCO — March 4, 2007 — Providing the opportunity for game developers to create visions in a world where they make the rules, shape the characters and create the evolution of the story, Microsoft Corp. today kicked off the Dream-Build-Play game development contest, offering a $10,000 (U.S.) grand prize and the opportunity for a winner’s game to be published on Xbox LIVE^® Arcade, the premier destination for digitally distributed, high-definition original and classic games. Enabled by its XNA™ developer tools, the Dream-Build-Play contest was announced at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2007 in San Francisco .

Delivering on its commitment to offer the best and most accessible hardware, software and services for game developers on the Microsoft^® gaming platforms, Microsoft and its partners also showcased a suite of new products that will help developers of every level turn their dreams into reality. From the hobbyist to professional developers in the largest studios, Microsoft’s investments in game development technologies are helping to spark a new creative era while ensuring the best games are being built for Microsoft platforms.

Dream-Build-Play XNA Contest Offers $10,000 Grand Prize

Dream-Build-Play is a global contest that offers aspiring game developers the opportunity to showcase their innovation and talent to the world. More than 20 winners will be selected to win fantastic prizes with a total value of more than $40,000 from Microsoft, Alienware, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Inc., Autodesk Inc. and Softimage Co.

The contest will culminate in the extraordinary grand prize that includes an opportunity for the winner to receive an Xbox LIVE Arcade publishing contract, providing a chance to showcase the winner’s game on Xbox LIVE Arcade . Dream-Build-Play is open to any user of XNA Game Studio Express, including the GarageGames Torque X platform. No purchase is necessary to compete. The contest ends July 2, 2007, and winners will be announced Aug. 13 at Microsoft Gamefest 2007 in Seattle . Additional contest details, including detailed eligibility and entry requirements, are available at http://www.dreambuildplay.com.

Great Games by Great Storytellers Using Great Tools

Also at GDC this week, Microsoft will spotlight the ways that some of the most innovative game creators in the industry are bringing their visions to life on Microsoft gaming platforms. On Tuesday, March 6, Microsoft Game Studios will present “The Evolution of RPG Development,” a panel discussion hosted by journalist Geoff Keighley that will feature Hironobu Sakaguchi of Mistwalker, Peter Molyneux of Lionhead Studios and Ray Muzyka of BioWare Corp., the creators of the most highly anticipated role-playing games of the next generation.

In addition, to celebrate the launch of the Dream-Build-Play global contest, Microsoft will showcase a new era of game creators through the XNA Game Studio Express Challenge. GDC attendees will have a chance to see some of the brightest beacons in game development from around the world gathering at the XNA lobby bar at the Moscone Center in San Francisco to create four games in four days using XNA Game Studio Express tools.

The power of the XNA tools is demonstrated with today’s announcement of “Schizoid™” (Torpex Games LLC), an upcoming game that will be the first Xbox LIVE Arcade title built using XNA Game Studio Express. “Schizoid” is a co-op action game in which teamwork matters like never before, as gamers and their friend or AI ally protect each other from barrages of glowing enemies. The title is scheduled to launch on Xbox LIVE Arcade before the end of 2007.

New XNA Tools for Game Developers of All Levels

In December 2006, Microsoft launched XNA Game Studio Express, a set of free software tools for use on Windows^® that enables anyone to build, play and share their amazing game creations. Microsoft simultaneously launched the XNA Creators Club, enabling the development and playing of XNA Game Studio Express games on the Xbox 360™ system as well. Microsoft today announced new software tools that will work with XNA Game Studio Express to make game development for Windows and Xbox 360 even easier.

·        GarageGames Torque X Engine. Members of the XNA Creators Club will receive a license to the Torque X Engine, including the Torque Game Builder toolset for Torque X, as a free membership benefit.

·        SOFTIMAGE|XSI. Softimage is developing new 3-D solutions based on its XSI 3-D software for game creators and exclusive content for members of the XNA Creators Club to support the XNA platform scheduled for release later this year.

·        Allegorithmic ProFX. In addition to the free MapZone 2-D texture editor released today, Allegorithmic is developing an enhanced version exclusively for XNA Creators Club members that will offer support for procedural textures, additional texture libraries and custom content processors for use with the XNA Framework Content Pipeline. The enhanced version of MapZone will be made available to active members of the XNA Creators Club at no additional cost and will be available later this year.

The XNA Creators Club is available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for $49 for a four-month subscription or $99 for an annual subscription.

News Updated regularly

More coming soon!