Mar 9, 2010

Halo 3

Can’t wait to jump into the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta on May 3? You’re in luck, because a thrilling first look video of “Halo: Reach” multiplayer action is now available. The “March Multiplayer Madness” video was captured from the game’s alpha build and offers a glimpse of…well, we don’t want to give away all the surprises do we?

Rest assured that more info is coming down the line as the launch of the public multiplayer beta nears. As a reminder, players will be able to access the beta, which launches in just two months, through “Halo 3: ODST.” Developed by acclaimed studio Bungie, “Halo: Reach” is being published by Microsoft and launches in autumn 2010 exclusively on Xbox 360.

The “March Multiplayer Madness” video is available now on Halo.Xbox.com, Bungie.net and Xbox LIVE.

Mar 8, 2010

HOST: You

LOCATION: Your living room

WHEN: 3 – 24 March 2010

WHAT:

Microsoft Xbox LIVE 4000 Points Redeem Microsoft Points in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for unique content, including games, demos, trailers, and more; Use the Xbox LIVE Marketplace as a download center for game add-ons, demos, HD movies and TV shows, music videos, and more

Xbox LIVE presents the biggest, baddest bash in town: The Xbox LIVE Arcade House Party! Throughout March, Xbox LIVE will launch a new downloadable blockbuster game every Wednesday that is sure to ramp up the multiplayer action *. Today, Xbox LIVE is excited to announce the final details of the hottest party in town offering you some really great deals! Whether you’re sitting on the same couch, or on the other side of the globe… invite your friends because this is one party you don’t want to miss!

• Thank You Gift: Xbox LIVE would like to say thank you for coming to our party! Buy all three House Party titles and download the free “Game Room” app and receive 400 Microsoft Points back to your account**! And for Xbox LIVE Gold members, the deal gets even sweeter, by purchasing all three House Party titles and downloading the “Game Room” app for free, you will not only be credited with 400 Microsoft Points, but you’ll also get an extra month of Gold membership absolutely free**!
• Extra Tickets: We don’t want anyone to miss out on the great multiplayer action House Party will bring you and your friends! From 1700 GMT March 26 – 1700 GMT March 29, House Party is making it easy for you to play together with a special Xbox LIVE House Party Multiplayer Unlock weekend! For this weekend only, we’re unlocking the online multiplayer features of all House Party titles for Xbox LIVE Silver Members to play for free.
• Attire for your Avatar: Starting on March 3rd, stop by Xbox LIVEAvatar Marketplace to ensure your avatar is decked out in the best House Party attire! From cola hat dispensers and plaid shorts, to plastic jelly shoes, your Avatar will party in style this March. You can even pick-up a BBQ grill so your Avatar won’t go hungry over the course of the month-long party.
• Guests of Honour: Most parties only have one star of the show, but Xbox LIVE Arcade House Party has four blockbuster guests we’re celebrating them in style!

Get the lowdown on the featured titles below:

Mar 8, 2010

Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite System Premier Xbox 360 console comes packaged with a massive hard drive, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, and a premium black finish for the console; Also includes a black wireless controller and Xbox LIVE headset; Sleek black finish of the high-performance wireless controller matches the style of the console, it has a range of up to 30 feet and a battery life of 30 hours; Now available in black, the headset lets you strategize while playing together online or trade taunts with your opponents; Xbox LIVE Silver Membership: With this, gamers can chat with friends online, collect achievements and gamer scores, send and receive voice and text messages, and access Xbox LIVE Marketplace content such as game demos, HD movies, and TV; One-month subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold: An Xbox LIVE Gold Membership provides a complete online entertainment experience

For children, learning to program at an early age can open up a lifetime of creativity and opportunity. And with Kodu, a new game unveiled by Microsoft at the recent 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), they can learn the skill of programming while having fun creating and playing their own games.

Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division President Robbie Bach watches as 12-year-old Sparrow shows off her programming skills on the new Xbox Live Community game Kodu. Jan. 7, 2009, Las Vegas. Click for high-res version.

Kodu will be released this spring on the Xbox Live Community Games channel and will help people of all ages program their own games in addition to exercising their logic and problem-solving skills, says Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division. “It started as a way to help kids learn how to program, but what it’s turned into is a way to not only learn how to program, but to create your own games,” he says.

Kodu is built around a game-friendly programming language that is simple and icon-based. Players can choose from 20 different game characters – including flying saucers, submarines, and a Pac Man-like Kodu main character – then use an interactive terrain editor, a bridge and path builder, and other tools to create their own game world. Players also have the option of using pre-loaded worlds.

Kodu is a product of Microsoft Research, where it was developed over the past two years by principal program manger designer Matt MacLaurin. His goal: Create a game his four-year-old daughter could use to both have fun and learn something about programming.

MacLaurin said he and others on the project were fans of the Logo programming language, which was created for educational use, and believed there was something to be accomplished with it in the area of programming and gaming. In 2006, Microsoft Research teamed up with Girls Inc. and the University of Santa Barbara to create an after-school Kodu program to accurately measure the influence educational games have in the fields of math, science, and comprehension. The team logged hundreds of hours of Kodu research with creators from ages five to 45 to ensure that it is easy for beginners, but maintains a depth of content for those who are more advanced.

Players begin by choosing from a set of almost 200 visual building blocks and then use an image-based creator menu to build a world based on physical action and reaction – when a character performs an action, the game world reacts to it. Gamers have the ability to use hearing, vision and time to control their character’s behavior. Though the game is aimed at a younger demographic, people of all ages have played and enjoyed Kodu, MacLaurin said. “We wanted to share with kids the ways in which programming is fun,” he says. “We consider it a game and a creative tool, and I think one of the things that makes it magical is that it is both.”

Microsoft Xbox360 Live 12 month Messenger Gold Pack Xbox 360 with Project Gotham Racing Get the Xbox LIVE? party going strong with the Messenger Gold Pack. Play multiplayer games online and use the chatpad for easy texting or voice chat on the wired headset while you play. You can even share photos and slideshows and use your chatpad to instantly fill your friends in all the juicy details. The Xbox LIVE Messenger Gold Pack makes it easier than ever to connect with friends and family no matter where they are. 12-Month Gold Subscription lets you play online games with friends; Chatpad attaches to the Xbox 360 controller for easy texting; Use the wired headset for voice chat; Added bonus: full version of Project Gotham Racing 4 included

Kodu can be used and played on either a PC or an Xbox 360.

On stage at CES, Bach had help demonstrating the game from 12-year-old Sparrow, who tested the game during its development and is now a whiz at Kodu. She briefly showed a bemused Bach how to program aspects of a game she made up, and then they played it together.

“What I love about Kodu is that I can do everything myself,” said Sparrow as she rapidly and expertly programmed the game, making the keynote crowd chuckle at her speed and proficiency. “It’s fast to build and different from the other games I play. I can do cool, silly things in it!”

She and Bach then competed in the simple game she created, which involved gathering shiny rocks and taking them to a little house. She, as the kids say, “pwnd” Bach, beating him at her game in minutes.

MacLaurin said working in Microsoft Research, and the entire Kodu-creating experience, was “awesome.”

“It’s great. I’ve spent a lot of my career in research, incubations, and commercial projects,” he says. “So much of the time you have to choose (between) the thing that’s really cutting edge, or the thing that’s going to ship. This crosses over both.”

Kodu tested well with kids, educators, and parents, an impressive feat for a video game.

Kodu features a visually-based creation wheel, allowing users to create their own logic-based game.

“For kids, it’s super empowering. They spend so much time in these game worlds and don’t get to have any say in how the game looks or feels,” MacLaurin said. “Now they can build something that’s really new. That’s the most exciting thing for me – they really do appreciate the creative empowerment.”

Another benefit of the game, one its creators hadn’t fully considered, is how well it teaches problem solving skills. In testing, MacLaurin watched youngsters debug their own programming code. He realized they were creating and then solving their own problems.

“It’s exciting to watch,” he says of the process. And it can have big payoffs later. “The concept is that mental skills you use in programming are used in other aspects of life. (Building) brain skills that are actually as useful for writing a business plan as they are for writing code. There’s a growing appreciation there.”

Feb 25, 2010

Today at Mobile World Congress 2010, Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled the next generation of Windows^® Phones, Windows Phone 7 Series. With this new platform, Microsoft offers a fresh approach to phone software, distinguished by smart design and truly integrated experiences that bring to the surface the content people care about from the Web and applications. For the first time ever, Microsoft will bring together Xbox LIVE games and the Zune music and video experience on a mobile phone, exclusively on Windows Phone 7 Series. Partners have already started building phones; customers will be able to purchase the first phones in stores by holiday 2010.

“Today, I’m proud to introduce Windows Phone 7 Series, the next generation of Windows Phones,” said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft. “In a crowded market filled with phones that look the same and do the same things, I challenged the team to deliver a different kind of mobile experience. Windows Phone 7 Series marks a turning point toward phones that truly reflect the speed of people’s lives and their need to connect to other people and all kinds of seamless experiences.”

Designed for Life in Motion

With Windows Phone 7 Series, Microsoft takes a fundamentally different approach to phone software. Smart design begins with a new, holistic design system that informs every aspect of the phone, from its visually appealing layout and motion to its function and hardware integration. On the Start screen, dynamically updated “live tiles” show users real-time content directly, breaking the mold of static icons that serve as an intermediate step on the way to an application. Create a tile of a friend, and the user gains a readable, up-to-date view of a friend’s latest pictures and posts, just by glancing at Start.

Feb 24, 2010

Microsoft Zune HD 32 GB The new Zune HD gives you access to many local HD Radio stations for more sports, news, and music with crystal-clear digital sound at no extra cost; OLED touchscreen has a 3.3-inch size and vivid 16:9 display (480 x 272 resolution), so truer and brighter entertainment is at your fingertips; Browse the Internet, check e-mail, get traffic updates and news with a well-featured optimized Web browser, including a touchscreen QWERTY keyboard; Watch supported 720p HD movies, TV shows, and videos in high definition on your HDTV through the Zune HD AV Dock (sold separately); Buy, stream, and update your music and download free games wirelessly via a Wi-Fi connection - you can also wirelessly sync your Zune HD to your home PC via your home network****

Zune provides comprehensive music and video experience across mobile devices, PCs and the TV to give consumers anywhere access to the music and video they love.

DLO Action Jacket Armband (Black) The original all-in-one solution for protecting your Zune; The crystal-clear window protects your Zune screen against the elements while still giving you complete control; Perfect for the gym, running, or other activities-the slender armband adjusts to fit comfortably on arm sizes from toothpick to python; Action Jacket also features a removable clip that secures your Zune wherever you need to clip it-belt, waistband, pocket, backpack, or bagstrap; The sturdy clip rotates 360 degrees for easy positioning and quick access; When your workout is over, use the padded neoprene case as a great, stand-alone case for daily use

Zune, Microsoft Corp.’s end-to-end digital entertainment service and media player, today announced significant advancements for consumers. The new Zune HD touch-screen media player is now available at retail, and a powerful update to the Zune PC software is free for download. For the first time, standard- and high-definition (HD) movies can be purchased or rented¹ through the Zune Marketplace online store, and a new streaming music service on Zune.net lets Zune Pass subscribers listen to music from a Web browser. The updates to the Zune hardware, software and online services released today, combined with a new Zune video offering on Xbox LIVE coming later this fall, bring customers instant access to their favorite music and videos anywhere,² across their mobile device, PC and TV.

“With today’s announcement, the Zune business is growing into a comprehensive entertainment service that’s no longer tied to any one screen or device,” said Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the TV, Video and Music Business at Microsoft. “Zune lets consumers connect to their music, TV shows and movie content and enjoy it on the three screens they use every day.”

Zune HD: Next-Generation Digital Entertainment

Zune HD marks a significant step forward for portable media players, combining powerful hardware components such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) multitouch screen, an NVIDIA Tegra HD processor and HD Radio capabilities with software advancements such as the new Quickplay menu, a well-featured Web browser, and engaging music and video playback features to deliver a new portable listening and viewing experience. Quickplay is a new signature menu for Zune, putting customers one touch away from the content they love, such as favorites, last played items and media most recently added, eliminating the need to dig through menus to find the music, videos, pictures or podcasts they want.

Microsoft Zune Home AV Pack Pack includes: Zune Dock, three faceplates (one for each device type), Zune Wireless Remote, Zune AC Adapter, Zune AV Output Cable; The wireless remote gives you full access to your Zune device from anywhere in the room; Charge your Zune while you listen to music; Includes a longer cable to accommodate your home setup; AC Adapter easily fits into crowded power strips, and the cable plugs into the side so you can fit it behind dressers and tables; Display photos and video on your TV (with Zune 30 GB and Zune 80 GB); Zune 80GB owners can purchase component video cables to watch movies in DVD quality 480i using this kit

With Zune HD, consumers now have the ability to store and play back 720p HD video files to an HDTV using the new Zune HD AV dock accessory. Consumers can buy or rent HD content from the Zune Marketplace, sync that content to a Zune HD device, and take it with them to play back on a large-screen HDTV in the home or on the road.

Every Zune device currently includes a built-in FM tuner, and now the Zune HD device offers the first portable HD Radio receiver on a Wi-Fi-enabled device. With HD Radio, listeners experience crystal-clear sound on more than 2,000 stations in the U.S. and have access to more than 1,000 stations that simulcast content in a variety of formats, from adult contemporary to news talk. Zune HD users can also tag songs they hear on supported HD Radio stations for purchase immediately if in a Wi-Fi hot spot, or complete the purchase later when using the Zune PC software.

Zune HD also features new casual games and non-gaming functionality such as a c

alculator and an MSN Weather application. Later this year, Zune plans to release free applications such as Twitter for Zune and Facebook for Zune, in addition to fun 3-D games such as “Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition,” “Vans Sk8: Pool Service” and “Audiosurf™ Tilt.” Games can be added to Zune HD via Zune Marketplace over the Wi-Fi connection or when connected to the Zune PC software.

Zune HD is available from major retailers with a black 16GB version for $219.99 (estimated retail price) and a platinum 32GB version for $289.99 (ERP). Additional red, green and blue devices are available in both capacities from Zune Originals ( http://www.zuneoriginals.net ), where customers can also customize the back of the Zune HD device with art and text etchings to create a unique Zune.

“Our research indicates that there’s strong consumer demand for dedicated media players and Zune HD offers visible differentiation in this market,” said Michael Gartenberg, vice president of strategy and analysis at Interpret LLC. “Microsoft is also offering some compelling software and services with the Zune ecosystem that will help Zune HD stand out from other offerings.”

Feb 22, 2010

LifeBook P1000 notebook Touch screen notebook PC in the smallest available form factor. Efficient in design and on the budget.

Store will feature Ice-T merchandise plus custom apparel from celebrity wife Coco

IMVU Inc. (www.imvu.com), an avatar-based social network and virtual world where people meet and interact in 3D, today announced the

launch of a co-branded storefront featuring custom-designed 3D virtual goods from Grammy Award winning rapper, actor and author Ice-T, as well as a special selection of apparel and lingerie from his wife, celebrity model and actress Coco.

LifeBook N Series Notebook This all-in-one notebook is performance driven. Its unique MVA screen offers wide viewing angles and displays richly colored 3-D graphics that will immerse any gamer in the on-screen action. The LifeBook N Series notebook is built to handle anything, from the mundane to the mesmerizing.

The Ice-T and Coco store is located at http://www.imvu.com/shop/icet_coco. On the left side of the store IMVU members will find virtual goods that reflect the Ice-T urban lifestyle and brand, including Ice-T branded t-shirts, hats and even virtual weapons such as bazookas, rocket launchers, nunchakus and more. The right side of the store features a specialty line of women’s apparel products designed by Coco. IMVU members can buy these items for their avatars and wear them when interacting with other members in IMVU’s 3D animated scenes.

“We love Ice-T and Coco because they are fun and fearless entertainers. Their branded merchandise will be a great addition for IMVU members,” said Jeff Titterton, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at IMVU. “We are excited about this partnership and look forward to working with Ice-T and Coco to add more items to the store each month.”

“Coco and I are excited to be working with IMVU on this project,” said Ice-T. “It’s cool how the avatars can use or wear the 3D products we created in IMVU’s animated rooms. It’s a whole new way to interact with people.”

Feb 22, 2010

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, IMVU Inc., an avatar-based social network and virtual world where people meet and interact in 3D, today announced that the company has partnered with Zoosk, one of the world’s largest and fastest growing online dating services, to bring the popular dating service to IMVU. The two partners have integrated Zoosk into the IMVU Web site, making it easy for adult singles who are IMVU members to join Zoosk.

“The majority of IMVU members are over 18 – in fact, the average age is 22 – and we wanted to partner with a leading dating service to give them a way to meet people offline,” said Kevin Dasch, VP of Finance and Business Development. “Our partnership with Zoosk affords both companies the opportunity to grow our membership bases and to increase the range of service we provide to our adults; however, we will not expose the dating service to our teen members.”

To join the Zoosk service within IMVU, members age 18 and over will simply click the “Dating” link under the Community tab. From there, they will follow the step-by-step instructions to create an account.

“IMVU is an excellent candidate for us to partner with, given that IMVU members already socialize and get to know new people in a fun and entertaining setting,” said Jeff Titterton, VP of Marketing at Zoosk. “Zoosk gives IMVU adult members the opportunity to scan our online database of more than 50 million singles around the world to develop friendships and relationships.”

About IMVU

IMVU Inc. (www.imvu.com) is an avatar-based social network and virtual world where people meet and interact in 3D. IMVU has reached 40 million registered users, 6 million unique visitors per month and a $25 million revenue run rate. IMVU has the world’s largest virtual goods catalog of more than 3 million items, almost all of which are created by its own members. Founded in 2004, IMVU is backed by venture investors Menlo Ventures, Allegis Capital, Bridgescale Partners and Best Buy Capital and is located in Palo Alto, CA.

Feb 21, 2010

IMVU Inc., an avatar-based social network and virtual world where people meet and interact in 3D, today announced the launch of a virtual branded storefront for clothing retailer Charlotte Russe, a growing, mall-based specialty retailer of fashionable, value-priced apparel and accessories. Charlotte Russe has teamed up with IMVU to provide IMVU’s registered members with the ability to purchase virtual Charlotte Russe clothing and accessories that they can use to outfit their IMVU avatars. Members can also link directly to Charlotte Russe online product pages to buy real clothing items.

“This exciting partnership marks the first time Charlotte Russe has partnered with a virtual world to extend our brand beyond our online store and the walls of our retail locations,” said Craig Gillan, Director of eCommerce for Charlotte Russe. “IMVU’s largely female audience and fun environment matches perfectly with our target customer and we think of this partnership as a win-win for both brands.”

Charlotte Russe largely targets young women in their teens and twenties. Currently, 70% of IMVU customers are female and 75% of those women fit into the brand’s target age demographic. IMVU customers will be able to purchase and wear this season’s hottest skinny jeans, a glamorous sequined wallet, or one of a dozen other items from Charlotte Russe’s current catalog.

“As we continue to grow our audience base, IMVU is working to expand its catalog of digital goods with many of the leading brands in the fashion and entertainment worlds,” said Kevin Dasch, IMVU’s Vice President of Finance and Business Development. “Charlotte Russe is a terrific partner for IMVU.”

Feb 20, 2010

Learn about the Games the Big Publishers don’t want you to know about— check out the Indie Game Magazine, the only magazine dedicated to independent games. Tap between game reviews, previews, and more right on your iPhone. With advanced search functions, back issues, bookmarking, and interactive content, there’s a whole new world of games to discover.

The $0.99 Indie Game Mag App is Here

Wilmington, Delaware– February 15, 2010 — The Indie Game Magazine, the only print and digital magazine dedicated to the Indie Gaming Community, today announced the launch of its app for the iPhone™ and iPod® touch. Our magazine and all its indie gaming goodness has been specially designed for the iPhone and iPod touch– The IndieGameMag App is available immediately for $0.99 from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch, or at
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/indiegamemag/id352581473?mt=8.

Learn about the Games the Big Publishers don’t want you to know about— check out the Indie Game Magazine, the only magazine dedicated to independent games. Tap between game reviews, previews, and more right on your iPhone. With advanced search functions, back issues, bookmarking, and interactive content, there’s a whole new world of games to discover.

Feb 20, 2010

Melbourne, Victoria, AU – February 15th 2010 – Independent studio Pixelpickle Games finally got its – final, official website up for Lylian. An action side-scroller currently in development for PC, set in a mental asylum of sorts. The website will offer a fortnightly web comic page introducing characters of the game through Lylian’s (protagonist) interpretation, and minigames designed by the characters. Frequenting the website could prove useful in linking many of the story arcs within the game which has been confirmed to be episodic.

Get a glimpse of a dark world in a not so nice childrens’ ward. Lylian has help from friends, and her imagination as she learns many of Hackluster Hospital’s secrets.

Official website:
http://www.lyliangame.com

Information and Community, here:
http://pixelpicklegames.blogspot.com/
and
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lylian/16224211601

The Product

Get a glimpse of a dark world in a not so nice childrens’ ward. Lylian has help from friends, and her imagination as she learns many of Hackluster Hospital’s secrets.

In development by Pixelpickle Games, Lylian is a 2D side scroller action game initially for the PC. The player controls Lylian’s imagination which can change the world and its inhabitants. With unique attack abilities, humorous enemies and original bosses, the game is a mix of fast action set by a storyline with great pacing in stylised rendered environments – It brings something fresh to the genre. An Arcade style of play will also be available, with a cooperative mode of up to 4 players planned.

About Pixelpickle Games
Pixelpickle Games is an independent company focused on creating small yet fun and unusual games initially for the PC with an outlook to develop for multiple platforms including consoles and handheld devices.
Pixelpickle Games’ focus includes creating unique titles focused on fun game-play using simple mechanics, that everyone can grasp while still giving the more seasoned player a challenge.
For more information, please visit http://www.pixelpickle.com, or email info@pixelpickle.com .

Feb 16, 2010

London, Ontario (February 10, 2010) – Big Blue Bubble Inc. announced today that Fighting Fantasy: Deathtrap Dungeon is now available on iTunes!
Fighting Fantasy: Deathtrap Dungeon for iPhone and iPod Touch takes a different approach bringing Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson’s legendary game book to your favorite handheld device.

Down in the dark twisting labyrinth of Fang, unknown horrors await you. Devised by the devilish mind of Baron Sukumvit, the labyrinth is riddled with fiendish traps and bloodthirsty monsters, which will test your skills almost beyond the limit of endurance.

Countless adventurers before you have taken up the challenge of the Trial of Champions and walked through the carved mouth of the labyrinth, never to be seen again. Should you come out of the labyrinth alive, you will be wealthy beyond your dreams. Do YOU dare enter?
A fan favorite, Deathtrap Dungeon promises to build on the success of the first game in the series, Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, and brings many improvements and feature additions.
Fighting Fantasy fans will love the classic story and original illustrations with a technological twist. No more dice, pencils, or bookmarks. All the special features are built in!

Features

Deathtrap Dungeon now available on iTunes

• Tap the on screen buttons to flip pages (No papercuts!)
• Shake to roll the 3D dice using the accelerometer
• Inventory items selectable via touch-screen
• Game-save feature allows you to retrace your steps
• Includes both original illustrations by Ian McCaig and digitally re-mastered versions
• Integrated iPod music library access

iTunes link:

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/fighting-fantasy-deathtrap/id347056818?mt=8

Screenshots:

http://www.bbbarcade.com/press/DD1.png
http://www.bbbarcade.com/press/DD2.png
http://www.bbbarcade.com/press/DD3.png
http://www.bbbarcade.com/press/DD4.png
http://www.bbbarcade.com/press/DD5.png
http://www.bbbarcade.com/press/DD6.png

Remember to check iTunes for other Fighting Fantasy gamebooks!

• The Warlock of Firetop Mountain
• Citadel of Chaos (Coming Soon)
• Creatue of Havok (Coming Soon)
• City of Thieves (Coming Soon)

Deathtrap Dungeon now available on iTunes

About Fighting Fantasy
The Fighting Fantasy book series was born in 1982 when authors Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone created a revolutionary new idea for the fantasy genre with the first title, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain. The reader became the hero of his or her own fantasy adventure in a story that was part book, part game. After each paragraph a decision must be made; which way to turn, whether to fight or flee, which mysterious character to approach, and what risks to take. Each decision sent the reader to a different page to discover the consequences of their choice, with each read-through ending either in disaster, or with the discovery of the ultimate goal. To date, the series has seen more than 70 titles published and more than 14 million copies sold worldwide. For more details, visit www.fightingfantasy.com

About Big Blue Bubble:
With over 30 high profile games in its portfolio, Big Blue Bubble Inc. is one of Canada’s leading video game developers. Each of company’s three divisions (iPhone, Console and Casual) is dedicated to making the best possible games by combining innovative designers with top calibre artists and industry leading programmers. By maintaining a strong focus on the development of technology and showcasing it through award winning games, Big Blue Bubble will continue to lead the way in becoming a cornerstone of the casual gaming world.
For more information on Big Blue Bubble and its ongoing projects, please visit www.bigbluebubble.com.

Feb 10, 2010

The Legend of Zelda™: Spirit Tracks recently launched for the Nintendo DS™ and Nintendo DSi™ system, adding an extraordinary new chapter to one of the most beloved video game series of all time. To help celebrate the game’s release, Nintendo worked with Aardman Animations (the creators of Wallace & Gromit) to create three exclusive animations, each featuring scenarios inspired by the game and starring its iconic hero, Link™. These three animations were created with Flipnote Studio™, a zero Nintendo DSi Points™ downloadable application for the Nintendo DSi system. A wireless broadband Internet connection is required for access to the Nintendo DSi Shop.

With Flipnote Studio, anyone can draw a series of images using the Nintendo DSi touch screen to create their own custom animations, just like flipping through a series of drawings on a notepad. Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda video game series has captivated generations of video game fans, and these Flipnote Studio animations really show off the spirit of fun and adventure in the new game. Plus they’re just cool to watch, and serve as inspiration to non-expert animators who want to try their hands at creating their own animations with Flipnote Studio.

In The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, heroic Link teams with Princess Zelda™ for the first time in the 23 year history of the series, embarking on an original quest to save the land of Hyrule from ruin. This unforgettable saga allows players to navigate perilous dungeons, solve mind-bending puzzles and explore a massive world on Link’s customizable train. For additional information about The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks visit www.zelda.com/spirittracks. For additional information about Flipnote Studio visit www.nintendodsi.com/flipnotestudio.jsp. ©2010 Nintendo. The Legend of Zelda, Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi are trademarks of Nintendo. Available video includes three scenarios inspired by the game and images from The Legend of Zelda™: Spirit Tracks.