We Sing - PreviewPublisher – Nordic GamesDeveloper – Le CortexGenre – Music
With the popularity of Singstar and Lips on the PS3 and Xbox 360 respectively it was not going to be long until a title of equal popularity and excellence appeared on the Nintendo Wii and Nordic Games may just have come up with that title.
Of course there have been other attempts, notably Boogie, High School Musical etc but Nordic have introduced a host of new features which if live up to expectations and the demo we have seen should blow these out of the water.
For one thing the game will be the first one to support four microphones and four singers performing together making this an excellent party title. They can also sing together in any of the party modes featured within the game.
The game also comes with a customisable interface that the players can change to match their mood and also a very easy menu system that players of any age will find easy to use and understand.
Of course none of this will matter if the track list is wrong but the developers have chosen a host of songs designed to appeal to all age groups, from Tom Jones to Lily Allen, Kylie Minogue to the latest chart sensation – Lady Gaga!
As you would expect as well as the songs there are also the original videos to accompany them which will please the fans of all the different artists featured.
Overall this should be an excellent title and its released date of the 30th October means it will be an excellent choice for Christmas presents for any Wii music fans.
An in-depth view of Runes of Magic's crafting system
Berlin, Nov. 28th 2008: Besides exciting PvE and PvP adventures, Runes of Magic offers lots of activities for crafters and traders as well. Players can accept gathering professions already in the starting areas, to collect materials for the crafting of weapons, armor, potions or nourishing meals. Later on, the professions of carpenter, blacksmith, armor crafting, alchemist, tailor and even cook are available. Alchemists mix potions, cooks prepare strenghtening food, carpenters and blacksmiths produce the best weapons in the country, while armor crafters and tailors are catering for the protection needs. Having taken the first steps in their profession, players can hire out as apprentice. Just like in real life, they can learn more than one profession in the fantasy-world of Runes of Magic and specialize later, depending on their interest. A new web article on the official website explains many more details: http://www.runesofmagic.com/en/crafting.html.
At first, the apprentice artisan has moderate skills only, but they are rising with each of his creations. Altogether, there are four ranks to master: apprentice, craftsman, specialist and master. The gathered resources can be refined into valuable items near the tools of the crafters. In the cities all of those tools are marked by a green arrow and the appropriate symbol for the profession. Crafters who'd rather want to work in the safety of their own home can build their personal workshop there or work in their guild house.
The magical runes that grant the world of Taborea their power can be combined by skilled craftsmen in the most different ways, taken apart into their components and integrated into manufactured products. That way, players can equip themselves with valuable items or earn a little extra money selling their crafted goods. It is even possible to extract attributes from one item and transfer them onto other items. This way, the most inconspicuous weapon can adopt the might of a powerful artifact or a gorgeous evening gown can be furnished with the resistance of an unsightly piece of armor. When the personal requirements are met, it may be advisable to boost the economy. The auction house is the right place to dispose of the produced surplus or to supply yourself with cheap resources.
Runes of Magic is currently in closed beta. Interested players can still apply for access to the beta test on www.runesofmagic.com. The ambitious MMORPG project is scheduled to go into open beta with further polishing and completely localized in the course of December.
Runes of Magic – a world full of wizardry and adventure With an extensive range of features Runes of Magic prepares to redefine the standard of free-to-play MMO games. Right from the launch Runes of Magic will convey its absorbing story through more than 1.000 quests embedded in an atmospheric world. Players can choose between six main classes. Combined with a secondary class they dispose of 36 individual character classes over all. All characters possess unique skills with impressive combo attacks and can use mounts. A particularly attractive feature for guilds and players is the possibility to arrange their own virtual homes with individual furnishing. Thanks to an extensive crafting and reputation system, thrilling PVP as well as demanding dungeons and boss-monsters, no wishes remain unsatisfied. The Taiwanese developer Runewaker has developed Runes of Magic according to western MMO standards within a time frame of three years. The studio will provide new challenges for players every three to four months with free add-ons and updates. MMO fans can find more information, pictures and videos on the official website www.runesofmagic.com.
Runes of Magic features
• Free2play, no monthly fees, free download • Dual class system with switchable primary and secondary classes • Enthralling background story • Already over 1.000 quests and level comprehensive quest series on launch • Instanced and persistent dungeons • Individually developed skills and spells • Armor sets with special bonuses • Dynamic item system: Upgrades with hundreds of runes • PvP system, to be activated with a PvP flag (Player vs. Player duels, arena combat, ranking system) • Epic crafting system with the possibility to improve existing items • Individual coloring of clothes and armor • Housing: personalization with individual furniture for players and guilds • Special zones for guild houses • Reputation system • Scalable user interface based on the users preference (development of your own add-ons possible) • In-game map and radar system to easily find dealers, resources and quests • Auction house: auction and purchase items • Teleporting possibilities via runes, different and unique mounts • Controlling with mouse (Point & Click) and keyboard (WASD or arrow keys) possible
PopStar Guitar Ships Midway Games Ltd., a subsidiary of Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), today announced that the new music rhythm game, PopStar Guitar, from XS Games has shipped to stores in Europe.
Featuring songs from top pop music stars including 3 Doors Down, Simple Plan, Blink 182 and many more, PopStar Guitar allows players to unlock their inner pop celebrity and star as the lead guitarist in their very own band. PopStar Guitar will be available for Wii, featuring the AirG, an exciting new peripheral that turns the Wii Remote into an air guitar.
PopStar Guitar developed by Broadsword Interactive features a single player Career Mode, along with single player and multi-player mini-games. The game takes the player on a musical journey that starts with forming a garage band to playing at 25 unique venues and eventually performing in the worldwide "Battle of the Bands" contest. Twelve playable characters are featured in the game and can be customized to give the band its own unique look. PopStar Guitar features 60 pop songs, including several masters performed by the original artists.
NEW First Person Engine Features Video Footage Released
Poland, Warsaw, 28th November 2008. No Way Studios are pleased to unveil the latest video from their forthcoming debut game entitled C.O.R.E. focusing on the unique features that are contained within game and the engine.
“We wanted to show gamers the diverse yet classic features that C.O.R.E. contains, including the number of enemies, weapons and environments, and the many interactive objects that really add to the immersive experience” comments Krzysztof Murzyn Marketing Manager, NoWay Studio. “The C.O.R.E. engine really pushes the boundaries of what is possible on the Nintendo DS handset, and we believe that gamers will fully appreciate and enjoy the efforts that have been invested.”
C.O.R.E. is a dynamic fast paced action first-person shooter for Nintendo DS. The plot-line revolves around a meteor crash and its consequences. The footage is a mixture of the game intro movie and in-game footage.
For the last 11 months, the team have been stiriving to push the limits of the Nintendo DS with full 3D visuals. This “next generation” title is set to bring the gaming experience of the FPS on a handheld – previously only matched on a PC. In addition, they have created levels which are not linear, resulting in several possible scenarios to complete the quests (introduced by in-game movies, some of which will be presented in 3d).
As a marine, you are sent in with a secret mission into the lab complex built on the meteor crash site. You will travel through different locations – first on the ground, then deeper underground (security rooms, living sectors, offices, labs, stock rooms, headquarters), then even deeper into the meteor rock. Your aim: to discover mysteries about the meteor by solving quests. The final quest comes deep down underneath the earth, where the biggest secret is hidden. Only you can survive this task and protect mankind.
Features:
* Mysterious atmosphere intensified by heavy music and advanced graphic solutions * Complete 14 huge, shocking and breathtaking levels * 20 different enemies ranging from insane marines and mad scientist to big deadly mutants and discover secret rooms and special quests. * Choose among 8 types of guns, such as: blaster, shotgun, plasma gun or rocket launcher. Some of them will have alternative shooting options or optical zoom. * Enjoy an interactive world of our design: climb ladders, use vehicles and operate interactive tools like switches, controllers, access cards, open boxes and barrels, break windows, benches, barrels etc.
For more information please visit: www.corethegame.com
Discover How One of Gaming's Longest-Running Series Was Made Anew for Nintendo DSTM
November 24, 2008 As magical as the storied land of Ys is itself, the heritage of this original action RPG franchise spans over two decades and a number of different platforms. Definitive in design, story, and gameplay, the two introductory Books of Ys have long been etched in the memories of hardcore gamers. At a time when few other games attempted such grand scope and scale, Ys delivered on the promise of a sweeping narrative, fast-paced action, and a stunning musical score that to this day still rises to the top of all-time greatest lists.
In early 2008, Books I & II, completely remade for Nintendo DS™, were released in Japan. Separated into individual games, Ys I and Ys II for Nintendo DS introduced a number of new features and innovations to the series canon, including touch screen support and multiplayer for up to four. In bringing the titles to North America, Atlus worked closely with the developer to put both games on a single cartridge, rejoining the two first Books of Ys. Moreover, Atlus is endeavoring to add one more monumental enhancement to the release: an entirely new localization.
Sam Mullen, Project Lead: “Early on, it became clear to us that we had an opportunity to do something very special with this—only the second time in nearly two decades—that the series has come to North America.”
The only other version of Ys: Books I & II released in North America was for NEC’s TurboGrafx 16 (known as the PC-Engine in Japan and Europe). Brought to America in a very different era in gaming, the translation is elegant in its simplicity and directness. Still, with so many exciting new changes for the Nintendo DS version of the game, it became clear early in production that the North American release of this franchise revitalization needed an equal degree of attention.
Sam Mullen: “We understand how important this series is to some gamers, how for many it was their very first action RPG. We’re not taking this lightly, but we also see this as an opportunity to give the game a 21st-century localization, a new script to match the game’s remade features.” Legacy of Ys: Books I & II is currently scheduled for release on February 3, 2008, with an MSRP of $34.99. For more information on Legacy of Ys: Books I & II, please visit the official website.
