The Path (PC)
After two years of intense work, the small team of Tale of Tales releases its biggest project to date: a highly original artistic horror game, entitled The Path.
Six sisters live with their mother in a city apartment. One by one, they are sent to their grandmother's house on an errand. Alone on the path, the temptation to explore the dark forest is too hard to resist. There's plenty of fun to be had in the woods. And even a friend to meet. But every forest contains a wolf. And though he may appear to be friendly or harmless, or even attractive, there should be no doubt about his evil intent. The question, however, is: wouldn't it be worth it? Even if it leads to a certain end, wouldn't the experience make up for that? Do we really have a choice?
"The title refers to the path to grandmother's house in the story of Little Red Ridinghood that inspired our design," directors Auriea Harvey (US) & Michael Samyn (BE) explain, "the path that you're not supposed to stray from for fear of meeting the wolf. But it also has another meaning. While most videogame designs encourage you to achieve your goals quickly and efficiently, The Path allows you to focus entirely on what happens in between start and finish. Much like life, our game ends with death. But despite the gloomy and sometimes unsettling atmosphere, The Path contains a positive message: enjoy life to the fullest, no matter how short it may be!"
The Path is a new type of game. It originates from the rapidly emerging field of independent game production. Ambitious independent creators are trying to do the same thing with videogames, as film makers of the Nouvelle Vague have done for cinema. They explore the artistic potential of the medium and establish a new, unique language to express things that could not be expressed before. In other words: to create a new artistic medium for a new century.
The Path is not another action adventure filled with guns and violence. Instead, it is a calm and introverted computer game that finds itself a cozy place in the dark corners of your soul. The Path is designed with accessibility in mind. There are no ticking clocks or monsters to defeat. No hard puzzles will ever halt your progress. Most activities in the game are entirely optional and voluntary. The player has all the freedom in the world to explore and experience. The Path is a Slow Game.
As of 18 March 2009, 9 pm PST, The Path is available as digital download for $9.99 (USD) from Direct2Drive, Steam and Tale of Tales' own website.
Scrabble (NDS/PSP)
The game is designed to be the secret training weapon for both accomplished and novice Scrabble players. The handheld versions offer classic and new ways to play the time-tested crossword game, as well as drills and exercises to improve strategy and performance.
“We are very excited to bring Scrabble to Nintendo DS and PSP for on-the-go play,” said Chip Lange, General Manager of EA’s Hasbro Division. “We’ve taken one of the most popular games and put it at the fingertips of millions of fans to play in both traditional and fresh, innovative ways. The challenging new training modes we’ve added will give players the chance to hone their Scrabble skills and become better, more strategic players anywhere, anytime.”
Scrabble for the NDS and PSP offers players three modes of play. Classic mode features traditional Scrabble game play while Speed mode pits players in a head-to-head race against the clock competing with friends or the device AI. The third mode, called Scrabble SLAM, is based on Hasbro’s new card game and challenges players to discard their virtual SLAM cards by making as many four letter words as possible within a two-minute time period.
The Scrabble handheld versions are loaded with additional features to heighten the interactive Scrabble play experience and transform the average player into a superior “wordie.” Scrabble Trainer allows players to strengthen their vocabulary and playing skills with six exercises at various difficulty levels designed to help improve strategy and performance. Word lovers will also appreciate the official Scrabble Players Dictionary and Scrabble Word Finder. For the more competitive player, the Nintendo DS offers Wi-Fi multiplayer capability for both single and multi-cart play, allowing up to four players to engage in a linguistic showdown.
“EA has done an outstanding job of extending the 60-year powerhouse Scrabble brand by honoring the heritage of how the game has been played by millions of fans over many generations while also injecting new, creative and challenging modes of play,” said Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro. “Wherever consumers decide to play on their digital playground, Scrabble will be there to entertain word fans.”
Scrabble, rated “E” for Everyon, carries a suggested retail price of $29.99 for the NDS and PSP.
FIFA 09 Ultimate Team (PS3/X360)
FIFA 09 Ultimate Team challenges gamers to collect the most talented players in the world, develop them into a dream team and then compete online. Feel the exhilaration as you take your carefully assembled squad into matches and tournaments online against the most formidably talented teams ever assembled—and out play them. Here is the ultimate test of your skills as a player and manager.
Collect bronze, silver and gold virtual cards, including Player, Staff, Contract, Formations, and Tactics, to create a fantasy team. Strategically collect and manage players and different types of cards, and then set the match strategy to win. Carefully select or trade for the right Manager, then choose the best Tactics and Formations that forge the team chemistry necessary to take your club to the top.
Write your own legend with FIFA 09 Ultimate Team. Create yourself in game, line up alongside your heroes and captain your squad to glory. Customize everything from players and stadiums to the kits and badges, creating the world’s next great soccer club. Compete offline and online to earn more valuable cards or trawl the market for the ones needed to complete a winning team. Climb the league table or compete in knockout tournaments for the most coveted trophies.
FIFA 09 Ultimate Team is available now as a download to FIFA Soccer 09 for 800 Microsoft points or $9.99. Fans are able to experience the new game mode by creating a team with a starter package of players and virtual cards and play a five game trial before deciding to purchase the FIFA 09 Ultimate Team mode. FIFA Soccer 09 is required.
FIFA 09 Ultimate Team, rated “E” for everyone, is scheduled for worldwide release on March 19.
Midnight Club: Los Angeles South Central Map/Premium Expansion (PS3/X360)
The South Central Map Expansion is free to all owners of Midnight Club: Los Angeles and adds four iconic neighborhoods equal to one third of the game’s original map. The South Central Premium Upgrade, which can be purchased for 800 MS points (Xbox LIVE) or $9.99 (PSN), gives players access to nine brand new cars ranging from SUVs to classic lowriders, complete with custom parts and body kits for each. Also included are 26 new races, 12 battle maps, 10 delivery missions, and over 100 red light races taking place in South Central. All of the races and events will expand the game’s story progression and are seamlessly integrated with the existing career elements.
Players can take to the streets of South Central during Rockstar’s “Game With Fame” weekend on March 22, and again with developers from Rockstar San Diego on Sunday, March 29. Jump on Xbox LIVE between 1pm and 5pm PST on March 22 and join Felli Fel, DJ Pooh, Glasses Malone and more from the Los Angeles Dub Show.
The South Central Map Expansion and South Central Premium Upgrade require players to have the full version of Midnight Club: Los Angeles for the Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE membership or a full version for the PS3 and a PSN account to download.
The South Central Map Expansion and South Central Premium Upgrade for Midnight Club: Los Angeles are rated T for Teen by the ESRB.