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Thursday, October 30, 2008 Shipping Announcements

by Rainier on Oct. 30, 2008 @ 5:02 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:

Shrek's Carnival Craze (NDS/PS2/Wii/PC)

"DreamWorks' Shrek is a top animated franchise and millions of gamers have proven they want to immerse themselves further into the land of Far Far Away," said Dave Oxford, Activision Publishing. "We set out to make a Shrek game that distinguishes itself from past titles while at the same time including everything that fans of the film franchise have grown to love."

Shrek's Carnival Craze combines the twisted fairytale humor of Shrek with the fun of the carnival midway in 28 action-packed party games. Featuring cast favorites from all three movies, including Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Puss In Boots, Prince Charming and Gingy, players will compete to become King or Queen of the carnival in games like Pinocchio's Ring Toss, Frog Fling, Rapunzel's Hair Climb, Milking Mayhem, Candy Keep Away and more.

Fans will feel like they are stepping inside Shrek's world as the game takes them into a variety of unique locations that are inspired by the films. Players will be able to compete in Gingyland, 3 Blind Mice Midway, Fiona's Funhouse, The Poison Apple, Pinocchio Park, and an unlockable area, Shrek's Swamp.

In Shrek's Carnival Craze, players can work together as a team or challenge each other in head-to-head or group challenges. Players who experience the game on Wii(TM) will be able to use intuitive controls that are designed to take full advantage of the system's motion sensing capabilities.

Shrek's Carnival Craze is available now for Wii, NDS, PS2, and PC.

SingStar Vol. 2 (PS3) / SingStar Country (PS2) / SingStar Legends (PS2)

SingStar makes an encore performance for the PS3 system with SingStar Vol. 2 featuring 30 hot new tracks from artists including The Bravery, Spoon, Paramore, Radiohead and more. SingStar Vol. 2 gives players access to a catalog of hundreds of downloadable songs featuring real artists and videos, via the PS3 online SingStore(TM). Players can choose songs across multiple genres to create their own personalized party playlists. Proving to be a top destination for SingStar fans with thousands of new videos uploaded on a weekly basis, My SingStar(R) Online lets players share their personal SingStar performance with the online worldwide SingStar community via captured video, audio and photo.

Later this year, SingStar fans with a robust PlayStation 2 collection will be able to enjoy their entire SingStar library on the PS3 system. For the first time ever, PS3 SingStar owners will be allowed to access content from all SingStar PlayStation 2 titles when using current and future SingStar PS3 discs via a free game update that provides users with backwards compatibility of PS3 and PlayStation 2 discs. Fans who have built up their PlayStation 2 SingStar library can continue to enjoy their collection on the PS3 system by hitting the select button in the song carousel and inserting the disc they'd like to sing along to. This new feature will work with all current PS3 systems and will not require a PS3 system software update.

A series of themed song packs will also be released for SingStar on the PS3 system in the coming months. The series will be led in North America by two ultimate Queen packs featuring hit songs, 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'We Are The Champions', 'Another One Bites the Dust' and many more.

The SingStar franchise continues to expand its growing music library for the PlayStation 2 system with the addition of two new SingStar titles, SingStar Country and SingStar Legends. SingStar Country brings one of the best-selling music genres to the PlayStation 2 system with over 30 hit songs from today's newest and hottest country artists including, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Faith Hill and more. Partnering with leading country music label group and sister company, Sony Music, SingStar Country represents the first title in the franchise to feature artists on the cover, including popular Sony Music country stars Brad Paisley, Gretchen Wilson and Alan Jackson.

SingStar Legends for the PlayStation 2 system brings top hits from the biggest bands and artists in history including Marvin Gaye, Patsy Cline and The Police. Featuring a legendary track list, SingStar Legends includes 30 chart-topping singles such as 'What's Goin On?', 'Crazy', 'Roxanne' and many more.

Coming December 2, SingStar(R) ABBA will be available to SingStar fans for both the PlayStation 2 and PS3 systems. Developed in full collaboration with ABBA and Universal Music Group in Sweden, which manages the rights to the ABBA brand, SingStar ABBA features top hits from ABBA's 1992 album, "Gold," including 'Mamma Mia', 'Gimme Gimme Gimme', 'Waterloo' and 'Dancing Queen'.

"With over 14 million units sold worldwide, the SingStar franchise continues to evolve the interactive singing experience, creating superior entertainment for the whole family," said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president of product marketing, SCEA. "With next-generation features like PS3's My SingStar Online and a PlayStation 2 library with hundreds of tracks from a mixture of genres, SingStar provides casual-friendly, social gameplay for every taste, lifestyle and budget. From SingStar Country to SingStar ABBA, the franchise will continue to build on its success with a diverse holiday catalogue offering something for all types of music fans."

All SingStar titles are available either as a stand-alone disc or packaged with two high-quality USB microphones. Fans who own microphones from the SingStar PlayStation 2 library can put them to use with SingStar Vol. 2 for PS3.

SingStar places family and friends center stage with SingStar Vol. 2 for the PS3 and SingStar Country and SingStar Legends for the PS2. SingStar ABBA also will be available to SingStar fans for both the PS2 and PS3 on December 2. All Singstar titles are rated "T" for Teen.

Travel Games / Brain Training / Poker for Dummies (NDS/PC)

Developed in collaboration with Beanbag Studios, under license from Wiley Publishing, Inc., the For Dummies titles enable players to learn, improve or find new ways to play the world's most popular games and activities.

"The For Dummies titles provide a fresh approach to playing your favorite games," said Robert Nashak, Vice President of EA Casual Studios. "Whether you're a poker buff, a Sudoku master, or a crosswords enthusiast, these games will provide you with hours of engaging game play, and teach you something new along the way."

Travel Games For Dummies is the first title for the Nintendo DS in EA's For Dummies series of games, and offers three exciting games in one. The game is packed with over 600 puzzles for Solitaire, Sudoku and Crosswords enthusiasts. In Solitaire, players can try their hand at 10 different Solitaire games from the classic Klondike, to more advanced versions like Pyramid and Scorpion. Sudoku fans will learn to play like pros as they choose from hundreds of puzzles, using the full-featured practice mode with optional hints to solve them in record time. Fans of Crosswords will be completing puzzles in no time, using hint options like clues and letter choices when they need help. Travel Games For Dummies arrives on store shelves today in the US and Canada. Travel Games For Dummies will also be available in select countries across Europe in early 2009 and will feature Solitaire, Sudoku and Chess.

Players can also learn, practice and play For Dummies titles on their PC with the release of Brain Training For Dummies and Poker For Dummies. Brain Training For Dummies gives players a mental workout as they tackle 15 fun and interactive brain games, including Shape Sense, Memory Math, and Lightning Letters, with more than 350 total puzzles to play. Poker For Dummies provides both novices and experts with the tools to master three popular Poker games: Texas Hold'Em, Omaha and Seven-Card Stud.

EA's series of For Dummies games make learning new ways to play easy and fun. Each title features an easy to navigate interface that enables players to progress at their own pace. Players can choose to begin reviewing the basics in a simple tutorial mode or they can quickly jump into a practice mode getting hints, tips and help as they play. Then, players put their new skills to use in a full game play mode that provides hours of challenging fun!

Travel Games For Dummies is rated "E" for Everyone by the ESRB and has a US MSRP of $29.99. Brain Training For Dummies, rated "E" for Everyone by the ESRB, and Poker For Dummies, rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB with a descriptor of Simulated Gambling, are available for the PC at retail stores now and have a US MSRP of $19.99.

Away: Shuffle Dungeon (NDS)

Developed by Mistwalker and Artoon, with the game scenario conceived by RPG creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, characters designed by Naoto Oshima, and the main theme song composed by Nobuo Uematsu, Away: Shuffle Dungeon lets players take control of the young hero "Sword" who must rescue kidnapped townsfolk from a strange unknown.

A mysterious force has plagued the people of Webb Village for the past century by routinely abducting its residents and destroying their homes. Two years ago, Sword came to the village to settle down, but it wasn't long before the occasional disappearances sparked his curiosity. When he suddenly becomes the lone remaining villager, he embarks on a quest to rescue its citizens, rebuild the town, and forever solve the enigma of AWAY.

As Sword, players must find the villagers' personal items left behind so he can access the 'shuffle dungeons' where they're held captive. Within these caverns, the floors randomly reconfigure at timed intervals; should Sword be caught in the shuffle, he will lose his life and the lives of any rescued villagers in his care. Fortunately, help can be found in the form of 'fupongs,' small dungeon creatures that follow Sword and provide powerful magic spells to help combat underground enemies and bosses. As citizens repopulate the town, they reconstruct Webb Village with a variety of stores the Sword can frequent to stock up on weapons, armor, health, food and other necessities that will aid him in his quest between the 2D shuffle dungeons and the 3D village.

Away: Shuffle Dungeon also lets players fight cooperatively in 2-player Raid Battle Mode. By defeating multiple bosses together, players can unlock special weapons and armor for use in the main single player mode.

Away: Shuffle Dungeon for NDS is available now at a suggested retail price of $29.99.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! (Wii)

Fans can be the first to experience the latest sensation as the games release just three days before “Disney’s High School Musical 3: Senior Year” leaps onto the big screen.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! allows players to experience the energy, fun and music of all three “High School Musical” movies. Players dance to the beat of their favorite “High School Musical” songs in well-known movie locations alongside their favorite characters. They can play as familiar characters including Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad, and Taylor, or create their own customized Wildcat. The game features various multiplayer modes, including competitive and cooperative play. Bundled versions with “High School Musical” branded dance pads will also be available for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2 system as an added bonus for players who truly want the complete dance party experience.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE!, rated E for Everyone, for the Wii is now available in stores. High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! for the Xbox 360, PS2 and PC will follow in the first week of November.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year (NDS)

Fans can be the first to experience the latest sensation as the games release just three days before “Disney’s High School Musical 3: Senior Year” leaps onto the big screen.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year for NDS is an all new rhythm-based game with brand new music from the theatrical release of “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” The latest game in the franchise features all songs from the new film and allows players to take “High School Musical” themed quizzes to find out which Wildcat they have the most in common with. Captured character photos are used to create memorable layouts for the East High yearbook. The game takes the fun into a whole new dimension with DGamer™, the online community exclusively for Disney gamers. Players can customize unique 3-D avatars, create persistent profiles, chat with friends in a "High School Musical" chat room, share "High School Musical" themed accessories, earn in-game honors and unlock exclusive Disney content.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year, rated E for Everyone, for NDS is now available in stores.

Disney Sing It (PS2/Wii/PS3/X360)

Disney Sing It is the only karaoke video game to feature a mix of popular songs and music videos from favorite Hollywood Records artists, Disney Channel Original Series and Disney Channel Original Movies including fan favorites from the first two “High School Musical” films. The game also includes hits from “Camp Rock,” Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus, Aly & AJ and more. The game’s 35-song set list is listed below.

“With the release of these new video games, we’re bringing singing and dancing fun to Disney fans of all ages this holiday season,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “Teens and tweens love playing games in a social environment, and we’re uniquely positioned to deliver that type of quality experience this holiday -- whether it’s belting out favorite songs for the highest score, hosting a living room dance party, competing in trivia games or taking the party online.”

Disney Sing It is a rocking video-based karaoke game that allows players to compete with and against friends in numerous multiplayer modes, including Duet, Versus and Team Play. With Xbox 360 Vision or to PlayStation Eye, players can see themselves on-screen replacing the video background. Kids can practice perfection as they get tips from vocal coach Olesya Rulin (Kelsi from “High School Musical”). Rulin guides players through various vocal exercises that the pros use to perfect their singing skills. In addition to personalizing the game experience with various digital themes, players can download new song packs via Xbox Live and PlayStation Network beginning in December.

The Disney Sing It set list includes:

Aly & AJ

  • “Like Whoa”
  • “Potential Breakup Song”
  • “Chemicals React”

Hannah Montana

  • “Best of Both Worlds”
  • “Life‘s What You Make It”
  • “Nobody’s Perfect”
  • “Rock Star”

Miley Cyrus

  • ”G.N.O” (Girl’s Night Out)
  • “See You Again”
  • “Start All Over”

Everlife/

  • “Find Yourself In You”
  • “Real Wild Child”

Jordan Pruitt

  • “Jump to the Rhythm”
  • “Outside Looking In”

Billy Ray Cyrus

  • “Ready, Set, Don’t Go”

Jesse McCartney

  • “She’s No You”

Corbin Bleu

  • “Push It to the Limit”

Vanessa Hudgens

  • “Say OK”

“The Cheetah Girls 2”

  • “Dance With Me”
  • “The Party’s Just Begun”

“The Cheetah Girls: One World”

  • “One World”

“High School Musical”

  • “Breaking Free”
  • “Get’cha Head in the Game”
  • “Start of Something New”

“High School Musical 2”

  • “Bet On It”
  • “Fabulous”
  • “What Time Is It”
  • “You Are the Music in Me”

“Camp Rock”

  • “We Rock”
  • “Start the Party”
  • “This Is Me”
  • “Gotta Find You”
  • “Play My Music”
  • “Hasta La Vista”
  • “Here I Am”

Disney Sing It, rated E for Everyone, is a new video-based karaoke game for the Wii, Xbox 360, PS2 and PS3 will be available on October 28.

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