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Tuesday, September 12, 2006 Shipping Announcements

by Rainier on Sept. 12, 2006 @ 10:36 a.m. PDT

Another day, another batch of games shipped to stores. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are announcements for:

Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales (PC)

Developed by Russian developer Akella, the creators of Sea Dogs, Age of Sail II, and Pirates of the Caribbean, Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales delivers deep and challenging gameplay, daring gamers to become the mightiest and most dreaded pirate of the sea.

Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales gives players a rich pirate-based role-playing adventure with deep character development and open-ended quests in a beautiful 3D world. "We are incredibly excited to add Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales to our PC line-up," said Jeremiah Cohn, Product Manager, Atari, Inc. "In addition to intense combat the game offers players the opportunities to develop the captain, crew, ships and even towns, upgrade their fighting and naval abilities, and gain access to a wide range of weapons." Leading Internet videogame and entertainment enthusiast provider IGN.com noted that with Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales, "no matter what level of gamer you are, you're sure to find things to do."

Set in the 17th century, Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales players will live the life of a swashbuckling pirate in a visually stunning landscape, battle on land or sea, sword fight on the Caribbean shores, find treasures, trade goods, build fleets, conquer colonies and become the most feared and revered pirate of the seas.

Age of Pirates: Caribbean Tales is available in North America for a suggested retail price of $29.95 and is a T rated title.

Bomberman (PSP)

The newest addition to the Bomberman franchise features the series' trademark fast-paced strategic action and classic look and feel as players compete in an all-new single player story mode as well as frantic multiplayer battles for up to four players.

Bomberman for the PSP system offers timeless strategic gameplay with an all-new single player Normal Mode. Players embark on a new adventure as an ominous black shadow is creeping towards Bomberman's planet and sudden attacks by a mysterious robot army have brainwashed the inhabitants of the galaxy. Now Bomberman must venture out on a lighthearted intergalactic adventure to stop this evil menace and save his planet. Bomberman can now utilize a new item storage system that lets him use collected power-ups at any time to make the most of any situation that comes his way. The game also includes a Classic Mode that is based on the original Bomberman game and features over 50 different levels for players to experience with updated 3D graphics and sound.

Offering a classic selection of characters and environments in full 3D, Bomberman lets players enjoy frantic four player wireless battles across a variety of play modes. Players can customize the parameters of each match, choosing from more than 20 different environments and a wide variety of items to keep players on their toes. The game also features game sharing, allowing up to four players to enjoy the game's full multiplayer mode with just one UMD.

Developed by Hudson Soft, Bomberman carries a suggested retail price of $29.99 and is rated "E" for Everyone by the ESRB.

Bounty Hounds (PSP)

A sci-fi action game of stellar proportions, Bounty Hounds transports players hundreds of years into the future where the price of profits is paid for in battle.

"With its adaptive enemy AI, free-roaming architecture, and multitude of player choices, Bounty Hounds packs a powerful punch on the PSP system," said Yoshi Niki, Business Unit Director at NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. "What makes the game an ideal portable title is its ability to let players jump right into the action and start playing, whether they have 10 minutes or 10 hours of free time."

The world of Bounty Hounds is filled with interplanetary conquests and alien battles. Bands of ruthless mercenaries are hired to handle the "dirty work" and chief among them are the

Bounty Hounds. Led by Maximillian, the Bounty Hounds scout out planets fit for habitation and take out any hostile inhabitants. Battles rage but thanks to more than 500 weapons and armor, and the ability to wield two weapons simultaneously, players are locked and loaded as they take on more than 40 different alien species.

Using stylistic comic-book like graphics via 2-D and 3-D cut scenes, Bounty Hounds single player mission unveils a diabolical alliance between a ruthless corporation and an alien race, while the new Ad-Hoc mode allows for two players to go against each other using their customized characters from single player mode in an exciting action packed head-to-head battle. If only one copy of the game is available, Bounty Hounds also boasts a game-sharing mode, which allows players to go head-to-head using just a single UMD game. No game is the same, as variable contents such as changing enemy AI based on player health and weapon status and three difficulty levels ensures a different experience every time.

Company of Heroes (PC)

Company of Heroes is a World War II real-time strategy game that brings to life the brave men of Able Company in cinematic intensity as they fight across Europe in the greatest war mankind has ever known. Relic's proprietary next-generation Essence Engine provides unprecedented graphics and physics complete with the destruction of all terrain and buildings. Featuring two to eight players in multiplayer competition, via Lan or Internet, gamers will choose to play as either the Allies or Axis, each with their own unique weapons, vehicles and commander trees. Company of Heroes is also scheduled to ship for wireless devices in fall 2006.

Cooking Mama (NDS)

Hungry gamers everywhere are now satiated as Cooking Mama ships for the Nintendo DS, and will be available at retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $19.99. In Majesco's Cooking Mama, players assume the role of an up-and-coming chef who must earn Mama's approval in the kitchen. Using the stylus as a master kitchen tool, players will chop, slice, grate, peel, pan fry, knead and much more as they prepare, cook and present meals to Mama for evaluation. In all, Cooking Mama includes more than 200 individual Touch Screen mini-games across 76 real recipes. Players have the added ability to share recipes with friends via the DS wireless link.

Joint Task Force (PC)

Developed by Most Wanted Entertainment, Joint Task Force challenges players to confront the world's most volatile regions, complete with embedded media, political refugees, deadly insurgents and ruthless dictators.

Players choose their troops, build their skills and rank, and lead them through treacherous campaigns set in tomorrow's most hazardous war-zones.

Fully destructible 3D combat environments, officially licensed hardware from top defense contractors and missions based on real-world combat situations make Joint Task Force the most realistic and immediate strategy experience available.

Joint Task Force will be available in Europe September 22, 2006.

Lego Star Wars II (ALL)

Lego Star Wars II combines the fun and endless customization of Lego play with a hilarious, tongue-in-cheek take on the epic story, characters and action from the classic Star Wars: Episodes IV, V and VI films. In order to provide immediate fun and accessibility for all families, Lego Star Wars II is available on eight platforms, including the PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, PSP and Windows.

One of Lego Star Wars II's most amusing new features is the Character Customizer. More than 60 playable characters, and their assorted heads, torsos, midsections and legs, can be unlocked throughout the course of the game. These parts can then be mixed and matched like actual Lego minifigures to create the likes of Darth Threepio, Stormbacca or Ewok Organa -- there are literally millions of possibilities!

Also shipping today are the individual two-disc DVD sets of the original Star Wars film trilogy, Episode IV A New Hope, Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI Return of the Jedi.

Mega Man ZX (NDS)

A dynamic Biometal system plays the central role, offering players the ability to transform into different Model types, each with their own unique abilities and advantages. Utilizing new Models presents a variety of gameplay experiences, allowing players access to different powers and the ability to expand the game field, opening new and hidden areas for exploration. In addition, there is an option to play as either a male character or, for the first time ever in the Mega Man series, a female main character.

In Mega Man ZX, hundreds of years have passed since the battles between humans and Reploids (robots). After fierce wars between the two sides, peace was finally restored and the two groups were able to establish various cooperative nations within the "Inner" area of the universe. However, danger zones remained in the undeveloped "Outer" section where independently evolved robots called "Mavericks" began wreaking havoc. A group called the Serpent Company scours the Outer universe to provide energy created from otherwise unattainable items to the Inner population and also serves to protect these peaceful nations from Maverick attacks over the years. On an excursion to the Outer region, they discover relics of ancient technologies in the ruins. These relics, called Biometals, are living, conscious materials, with records of information and weapon data from history housed within.

Players assume the role of either a human male character named Vent or his female counterpart, Aile, who are employees of the Girouette Express, a courier service that takes jobs transporting anything to anywhere. On a job accompanying their boss, Girouette, to transport a package containing Model X and Model Z Biometals, they are attacked by a mysterious group of Mavericks who seeks to take the material for themselves. During the scuffle, the Model X Biometal is absorbed into the main character, causing a transformation into Model X form while the Model Z Biometal fuses with Girouette. Facing innumerable enemies, Girouette lends his newfound power to his employee and the two substances combine to form Model ZX. With powerful abilities at their disposal, they must discover who the menacing enemies are and what they are ultimately after.

In Mega Man ZX, players traverse an open map structure as they face various foes in order to acquire Biometals. The crystallized Biometal data collects at the weak points of bosses, so only by defeating them will players acquire the necessary substances to transform into different Models. The specific powers of each type will help access previously inaccessible areas and progress through the game. Each Model type offers distinct abilities including the ability to break walls, burn enemies with fire, dash through water and more.

Mega Man ZX includes the following features:

  • Two playable characters – play as either a male character named Vent, or as a female named Aile
    • This is the first time ever in the Mega Man series where a female is the main playable character
    • Vent is bigger and more powerful while Aile is smaller and more agile
    • Each character has their own specific cut scenes
  • Biometal is the key – in order to gain the best transformation possible, strategically attack bosses without damaging its Biometals, otherwise its effects may become downgraded and must be repaired to regain its full potential
  • Transformations offer a range of different abilities
    • In human form, speak with townspeople and perform basic movements like walking and jumping
    • Model X form features a long range buster shot, basic actions, dashing and wall kicks
    • Model ZX form also includes short range attacks in addition to the Model X abilities
    • Biometal allows transformation into additional Model X types with distinct abilities – Model HX, Model LX and more
  • Expanding environment – unlock additional areas of the map by using different Model X forms’ powers
  • Real time info system – engages both screens of the DS system
    • Not only do different Model X types offer powerful abilities for players as they battle on the top screen’s "real world," they can also trigger helpful Cyber Elves that display useful information on the bottom "Biometal screen" counterpart utilizing special abilities of Biometals
    • While the main action happens on top, beneficial data ranging from an enemy’s weak point, locations of hidden items and more are displayed on the bottom
    • The type of data displayed is different with each Model type
  • Overdrive invoke system – utilizing the Biometal Gauge, power up for a limited time to unleash devastating attacks; however once depleted, players revert to human form
  • Regenerating bosses – based on certain conditions, a boss that had been defeated will reappear again, allowing multiple opportunities to gain items from the repeated battles
  • Missions and Quests– progress the story by completing main missions while optional quests scattered throughout the map offer valuable information and items

Mega Man ZX is now available at retailers across North America and is rated "E" for everyone by the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board).

NHL 07 (PSP/PS2/Xbox/X360/PC)

Featuring an unmatched level of freedom and control, NHL 07 represents a watershed moment in the history of the console hockey. The revolutionary EA SPORTS Skill Stick gives users the power to play in the game as it is on the ice, without taking their thumbs off the analog sticks. The left analog functions as your skates and the right as your hockey stick to give you a skill-based execution with an intuitive feel.

Stunning new presentation, AI enhancements and animation overhauls create players who look, act and play like they would in the NHL. Gone are the days when a one-timer was the only way to score in a hockey videogame. Now look to your teammates and know how to best use their strengths with New Player-Specific Behaviors. Be the Playmaker and find your Sniper open in the slot, or let your Dangler make pylons out of the defense.

Off the ice, act as the General Manager in an enhanced Dynasty Mode. Do whatever it takes to meet an owner's expectations by properly managing rosters and using your creativity to fit player salaries under the new cap. Whether you're running the front office or dominating the rink, NHL 07 is the most realistic hockey video game ever created.

NHL 07 is being developed under the EA SPORTS brand by talented teams located in two of Canada's frenzied hockey hotbeds: EA Montreal and EA Canada in Vancouver, B.C. The game will be available for the PS2, the PSP, Xbox video game system from Microsoft and PC. The only place to play NHL 07 on a next generation console is the Xbox 360. NHL 07 will ship to retailers in Europe on September 15, 2006 on all platforms, with the exception of the PSP System, which ships on October 13, 2006.

NHL 2K7 (Xbox/X360)

NHL 2K7 brings all of the excitement and intensity of professional hockey with several new innovative and compelling features. Coupled with its high-quality visuals, NHL 2K7 introduces a completely new skating engine with silky smooth animations, adding a whole new look and feel to the game. Gamers can play in a whole new perspective with Cinemotion - an exclusive and revolutionary experience that brings the game a new dramatic dimension with unique camera angles and riveting orchestrated music. Cinemotion utilizes cut scenes captured from brand new perspectives to further heighten the drama and excitement of the game.

"I am extremely pleased with the strides that we have made with NHL 2K7," stated Greg Thomas, president of Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio. "We have truly taken the virtual hockey experience to the next level with Cinemotion. Coupled with an all-new skating engine, stunning graphics, enhanced ProControl movements, and unmatched online gameplay among other unparalleled features, we have created the most enthralling, authentic hockey video game to date."

The revolutionary ProControl has been completely revamped, giving players even more offensive and defensive tools to utilize on the ice. The all-new Pressure Control brings a tactical element to defensive hockey by allowing players to instruct CPU teammates to defend opposing players during gameplay.

With seamless online play and the most comprehensive online feature set anywhere including complete online stat tracking, buddy list management, and online leagues, 2K Sports continues to lead the online gaming revolution.

Featuring 2006 Hart Memorial Trophy recipient and San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton on the cover, NHL 2K7 is now available for the Xbox 360 for $59.99 and the Xbox for $19.99. NHL 2K7 for the PS2 will be available for $19.99 in early October, with the PS3 available this holiday season.

One Piece: Grand Carnival (NGC/PS2)

Luffy and the Strawhat crew usher in the new age of piracy with over 30 adventure-filled mini games, three game modes and outrageous antics that only the One Piece world can deliver. One Piece: Pirates' Carnival is based on the tremendously popular graphic novel published by VIZ Media and TV series of the same name airing on Cartoon Network.

Embark on a voyage with Luffy and the crew, as up-to-four players take command of their own vessel and prove their worth as captain. Duke it out in Board Game mode where players compete in mini games to take control of individual tile squares on board maps taken from their favorite One Piece areas. Gain territory in East Blue, or make a play for power over Grand Line as gamers struggle to become a dominating force on the sea. Collect cards from newly conquered stomping grounds and unearth hidden treasure to gain power and sail toward victory.

Gamers can replay their favorite mini-games at any time with the Mini-Game Collection mode. Have a blast in a hazardous bomb battle, shoot hoops in a game of pirate basketball, or get messy with a food fight. Potential pirates can also get a piece of the action in Versus mode, which offers four additional independent games for even more multiplayer mayhem.

Developed by Hand Co. Ltd., One Piece: Pirates' Carnival is rated "E" for Everyone by the ESRB and carries an MSRP of $29.99.

Rengoku 2 (PSP)

With an intense storyline and exciting game play, Rengoku 2, sequel to Rengoku: The Tower of Purgatory, parallels the events of Tower of Purgatory. Playing as A.D.A.M., a battle android trapped in a mysterious tower filled with fearsome enemies, gamers must purge this tower of the mechanical scourge hosted inside, complete with floors that correspond to original Seven Deadly Sins.

To successfully demolish this tower, players can utilize the game's high-tech arsenal of firearms, explosives and melee weapons to defeat the horde of enemies that oppose them. Players can customize A.D.A.M. with rare and unique items and weapons from fallen enemies, creating a fighting machine that best suits their style of play.

Rengoku 2 features breathtaking graphics and environments designed by renowned visualist Jun Suemi that take the player deep into the bleak, industrial world that A.D.A.M. has sworn to protect. While scouring the depths of the tower, visual clues keep gamers in the sweet spot of action while allowing them to progress to the next battle.

Boasting several new multiplayer modes, Rengoku 2 allows up to four players to engage in competitive combat through the PSP system's ad-hoc wireless functionality. Players can also wirelessly share portions of the game with other PSP systems in order to play with friends that do not own the game. Maps and weapons are available for download through the PSP system's infrastructure mode, letting players continue A.D.A.M.'s quest in new environments with additional equipment.

Developed by Hudson Soft, Rengoku 2 is rated "T" for teen by the ESRB, and carries a suggested retail price of $39.99.

Shot-Online (PC)

Shot-Online combines the social aspects of an MMO role-playing game with the physics and play mechanics of a serious golf simulator. Shot-Online has an MSRP of $29.99 and is rated E for Everyone.

Shot-Online allows players to customize their in-game characters and build up their RPG statistics while competing against other golfers. With over one million players already playing worldwide, Shot-Online delivers an unlimited level of gameplay and social interaction. With a realistic proprietary physics engine and golf swings motion captured from real KLPGA golfers, Shot-Online offers a real MMO golf experience without a subscription fee. Right out of the box, players get $20 of cybercash, entry into exclusive tournaments and a lottery ticket with a grand prize of a set of virtual golf clubs worth $100.

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