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Tuesday, May 8, 2007 Shipping Announcements

by Rainier on May 8, 2007 @ 5:04 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:

Penumbra: Overture (PC)

"Penumbra: Overture is a suspense-adventure game for the PC, combining the mechanics of a first-person shooter with the puzzles and story of an adventure game. The game places you in the role of Philip, who receives a letter from a dead man - his father. The letter insists he burn a particular book, but Philip studies it instead. Following clues in the book, he is led to a strange metal hatch in the piercing cold of Greenland's frozen wastelands. Below, in a maze of mines, Philip must use his wits to solve the secrets of the enigmatic inhabitants and unravel the mysteries of his father's death.

"Penumbra: Overture" features an immersive, spellbinding story, cutting-edge advanced physics system for maximum environment interaction, intricately detailed graphics, and clever, brain-teasing puzzles. When you step into the hatch, you step into the shadows of the unknown where your wits must unravel the mysteries of these cold catacombs.

"As the first game to successfully combine the FPS and adventure genres, 'Penumbra: Overture' blends the best of both worlds" said Got Game President Howard Horowitz. "With action thrills and story chills, this game defines the word 'adventure'."

"Penumbra: Overture" debuts at a suggested retail price of $19.99 (USD) and is rated "M" for Mature by the ESRB for Blood and Gore/Language/Violence.

Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (PS2)

Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam, which originally debuted on the Wii, combines signature Tony Hawk gameplay with the blinding velocity of downhill skateboarding and features four new single player events, three new multiplayer modes and three new playable characters.

In Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam players take on the role of Tony Hawk or one of 12 characters to compete in specific time-based challenges in one of three gameplay modes including race, trick and slalom. Gamers can also challenge friends in head-to-head competitions as they pull off a variety of high-velocity stunts and crashes in living, populated environments filled with cars, pedestrians and buildings.

Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam for the PS2 was developed by SuperVillain Studios and is rated "E10+" (Everyone 10 and older) and has a suggested retail price of $39.99.

Island War Deluxe (PC)

“We really didn’t want to steal Spiderman’s thunder on his big weekend, but the game was ready, so we put it up,” stated Mark H. Walker, founder and owner of Lock ‘n Load Publishing.

Island War Deluxe is Lock ‘n Load Publishing’s most ambitious downloadable project yet. A tactical game covering the battles in the South and Central Pacific in World War II, Island War deluxe places the player in the shoes of a Japanese or U.S. Marine company/ battalion commander. The system design is by Mark Walker, Mark and Bill Wilder (The Proud and the Few, numerous Steel Panthers campaigns and scenarios) designed the scenarios, and the art is by Nicolas Eskubi and David Julien.

Gamers direct squads, leaders, tanks, artillery, and air support across four lush, geomorphic maps as you recreate some of the most famous engagements of the era. They command Marines armed with BARs, M1919A6 and A4 machineguns, flamethrowers, and satchel charges. Order Sherman and Stuart tanks to blast tough cave and bunker emplacements or call on the Navy’s F4F to swoop on the Japanese from above.

As the Japanese players may lead their soldiers in a Banzai charge, infiltrate them behind enemy lines (without any lame hidden placement rules) and pin down the Americans with Type 96 and Type 92 machine guns. The Japanese also have light and medium tanks, in addition to Betty bombers, at their disposal.

The game ships with over 131 counters, four geomorphic maps, a simple, yet colorful rules system, and seven scenarios. This engaging game can be downloaded, printed, and ready to play in less time than it takes to watch the Yankees blow a three run lead.

But wait, that’s not all. If printing isn’t your style, use the complete VASSAL module that ships with the game. The module includes all the counters, charts, maps, and scenarios (with the counters already laid out) you’ll need to play right away. Better still, the module includes a tutorial that teaches the basics of VASSAL as it applies to Island War Deluxe.

Print and play on your kitchen table, or use your computer at work. You can’t miss. Lock ‘n Load Publishing… More Games, Less Guff.

Scenarios include:

  • Bloody Ridge: The 2/5 Marines try to fight off the Japanese 35th Infantry Brigade as they attack toward Henderson Field.
  • Nishi: A Sherman tank helps Marines clear a ridge, laced with caves, near the tip of Iwo Jima.
  • Taking the Wanna Ridge: Marines go cave busting near the southern edge of Okinawa. The Japanese play hide ‘n seek, moving from cave to cave.
  • In the Sun: A Marine patrol is ambushed. Can they escape massacre on the beaches of Guadalcanal?
  • Forerunner: Marines tighten the nose on Mt. Suribachi.
  • A Place Called Betio: The beaches of Tarawa. Hard fighting. Air support. Japanese and Marine tanks. Enough said.
  • Healing Under Fire: Navy Corpsmen try to save Marine lives, as the Marines try to save the Navy Corspmen.

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