BioShock (PS3)
“We are very excited to bring BioShock to an entirely new audience of gamers,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “With its new features and the PS3 exclusive downloadable content, we are confident that players will have even more reasons to fall in love with the unique and unforgettable world of Rapture.”
Developed by 2K Boston, 2K Australia, 2K Marin and Digital Extremes, BioShock for the PS3 contains all-new content that augments and extends the experience in exciting ways. BioShock for PS3 contains new features such as the inclusion of the Survivor difficulty mode, Trophy support and the addition of all-new Add-On Game Content that will be available for download shortly after launch. A free demo that allows gamers to play through the first portion of BioShock is currently available for download from the PlayStationNetwork.
BioShock is a narrative-driven action experience that allows players to do the impossible as they journey through an amazing, immersive and terrifying world. Caught between powerful forces and hunted down by genetically mutated citizens, the player will come to grips with the mysterious and fascinating world of Rapture, a distinct Art Deco underwater utopia gone mad. BioShock not only challenges players’ capacity to adapt and survive, but brings to question their values and relationships with the inhabitants of Rapture. With smart and adaptive AI, no encounter ever plays out the same way twice, while numerous customization options provide gamers with an experience that adapts to their playing style.
Already available on Xbox 360 and PC, BioShock, rated M for Mature, for PS3 will be available in North America starting October 21.
Wii Music (Wii)
“Music is a universal language that inspires and moves people,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Wii Music provides a fun way for people to play together and be entertained while building a fundamental understanding of musical themes and rhythms. Wii Music can motivate people to learn real instruments or enhance their appreciation of musical performances.”
Wii Music brings more than 60 instruments to your living room, where you’re free to experiment with them in a variety of different ways. Unlike other music video games, Wii Music lets you put your own spin on songs. It’s all about improvisation, creativity and fun. The goal is to explore your inner musician to find creative and interesting new blends of instruments, tempos and styles.
To play each instrument, you use the motion-sensing abilities of the Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™ controllers to mimic the real-life motions of instruments: bow a violin, strike a vibraphone or pluck a sitar. The controllers know if you’re playing fast or slow, hitting the notes gently or really jamming. Musical novices can understand how to play and start carrying a tune instantly, while people who are really into music will have fun creating mixes, rearranging tunes and sharing them with friends.
Songs in the Wii Music catalog can be rearranged with different instruments for a virtually endless variety of sounds. Imagine putting a reggae spin on Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” or turning pop favorites like “Every Breath You Take” or “Please Mr. Postman” into heavy metal tunes. The song list contains everything from American classics like “The Entertainer” to international favorites like “La Cucaracha.” Video game fans will find several Nintendo favorites, like the themes from Super Mario Bros. ™, The Legend of Zelda™ and even Wii Sports.
Wii Music builds on the social gaming trend that Nintendo has pioneered. Not only can up to four musicians jam together on the same song, but once you’ve created your masterpiece, you can send it electronically to friends and family members who have Wii Music so that they can bask in your musical mastery. After they’ve had a listen, they can take your arrangement and add their own flavor to it with new instruments or a different tempo and send it back to you. This allows you to jam together even if you are miles apart.
Finally, Wii Music includes a variety of mini-games that let players create music videos, conduct an orchestra, play in a handbell choir, test their musical ears or even rock out on a virtual drum set. Drum Mode lets you use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers as drumsticks to play like you have a real-life drum set. Drummers who purchase Wii Fit separately also can use the Wii Balance Board accessory as virtual pedals for the bass drum and the hi-hat cymbal. But the basic Wii Music experience does not require any extra accessories.
All 60+ instruments and 50+ songs are included at an MSRP of just $49.99.
X³: Terran Conflict (PC)
“Now that gamers can go and grab X3: Terran Conflict off Steam, we here at EGOSOFT couldn’t be more thrilled,” said Bernd Lehahn, managing director of EGOSOFT. “The vision we had for the X game series back in 1999 with X: Beyond the Frontier has been completely realized with X3:TC, and we’re confident that players will enjoy and appreciate all we’ve added to this final installment.”
As with the previous titles in the X series, X³: Terran Conflict is a combat and intergalactic space trading simulator set in the fictional X Universe, where different races compete against each other and travel to a wide variety of worlds and systems connected by jump-gates. This single-player science fiction experience features fast-paced first-person space combat, free-form, open exploration of a huge dynamic universe, and large-scale management of the player’s own intergalactic corporation, leading to the series’ phrase, “Trade. Fight. Build. Think.”
Key Features :
- A brand new user interface allow full control using only the mouse
- New and improved mouse flight controls
- Several new races and factions, including Earth’s primary military force, the Terran United Space Command
- Independent, non-player owned corporations, complete with unique ships and stations, offering new friends or foes to players
- New group management system allowing for better control of large numbers of ships in your fleet
- Over 100 new ships and several new ship classes
- Double the amount of distinct weapons
- The ability to board and capture huge capital ships with your own mercenaries and soldiers
X³: Terran Conflict is now available for purchase via Steam.
Carnival Games MiniGolf (Wii)
Carnival Games MiniGolf, developed by original Carnival Games creators Cat Daddy Games, was built from the ground up to take full advantage of the unique capabilities of the Wii Remote.
“Carnival Games connected with the Wii audience on three major counts: fun for all age groups, innovative use of the Wii Remote™ and the entire family made time to play together, “said Steve Lux, vice president of business development for 2K Play. “In Carnival Games MiniGolf we’ve expanded the franchise by combining familiar characters, traditional miniature golf fare and action-oriented gameplay, creating a brand-new family gaming experience.”
Carnival Games MiniGolf features over 25 larger-than-life holes spanning nine theme park style courses. While attempting to maintain par in Adventure, Challenge and Trick Shot modes, gamers should expect to be walking the plank in Pirate’s Delight, having a showdown in the Wild West, riding a pterodactyl in Prehistoria, shooting ghostly ghouls in Spook-O-Rama, jiving to jungle beats in the Amazeon or playing with wizard golf balls in Fairytella.
Additionally, Carnival Games MiniGolf is designed for up to four players and includes a “friendly diversions” feature that allows players to humorously distract their opponents, although loudly ringing a cow bell is unlikely to result in any sportsmanship awards. Players can win over 100 usable prizes, including custom clubs, wacky wearables and special golf balls. For the first time, they will be able to save their winnings, as well as the characters they create, to their Wii Remote and take it to a friend’s house to play and prize swap.
Carnival Games MiniGolf, rated E for Everyone, for Wii has a suggested retail price of $39.99.
Back at the Barnyard: Slop Bucket Games (NDS)
In Back at the Barnyard: Slop Bucket Games, the second installment in the franchise, players will be able to play as one of their favorite characters from the TV show and compete in a series of wild and wacky sporting events. In an attempt to become the Slop Bucket champion, players will earn points while performing flips and tricks mid-air in Cowapault, drive a watermelon-filled truck through dirt roads in Melon Race, smack raccoons and coyotes with a hammer in Whack-a-Rac, and pick up sheep in a hot-air balloon in Balloon Shepherd. The game features a farm-themed version of classic arcade style gameplay, in which players will have the ability to freely explore the zany Barnyard world like never before, customize their characters and personalize their very own game arena.
Back at the Barnyard: Slop Bucket Games, rated E for everyone, is available for the first time on NDS at the suggested retail price of $29.99, and is also scheduled to be released throughout Europe later this month.
SpongeBob SquarePants featuring Nicktoons: Globs of Doom (NDS/PS2/Wii)
SpongeBob SquarePants featuring Nicktoons: Globs of Doom will allow players to take on the role of their favorite hero and villain from several highly popular Nickelodeon animated television shows. The game features 10 playable characters: five heroes (SpongeBob SquarePants, Jimmy Neutron, Danny Phantom, Invader Zim and Tak) and five villains (Plankton, Professor Calamitous, Technus, Dib and Tlaloc). For the first time in Nicktoons history, these heroes and villains must work together to defeat the evil Globulous Maximus and his Morphoid Minions who pose a destructive threat to the universe. Each playable character must travel to iconic locales, such as Bikini Bottom and Amity Park, and is assigned a unique gadget to activate devastating combo attacks. The world’s only hope of being saved lies in the hands of this extraordinary alliance between good and evil.
SpongeBob SquarePants featuring Nicktoons: Globs of Doom, rated E for everyone, is available for $39.99 (Wii) and $29.99 (PS2 and NDS). In addition, the game is also scheduled to be available throughout Europe later this month.
Rock University Presents: The Naked Brothers Band The Video Game (NDS/PS2/Wii/PC)
Based on the hit Nickelodeon television series, the game features all of the main characters from the show and marks the first major console launch starring Nat Wolff and Alex Wolff and other band members from The Naked Brothers Band.
Rock University branded games are designed specifically for younger gamers, which sets them apart from other music-themed video games that target more mature players. The Naked Brothers Band version is an interactive music experience that provides kids and tweens with a platform to learn and become passionate about music in a fun, family-friendly setting. With multiplayer functionality available on Wii and PlayStation 2 system, as well as two player support on DS, parents will be able to play along and jam with their kids. The game also features a variety of modes – Tour, Jam Session and Party – that are designed to get the whole family involved in gameplay.
In Rock University Presents: The Naked Brothers Band The Video Game, players will assume the role of one of The Naked Brothers Band members Nat, Alex, Qaasim, David, Thomas or Rosalina, as they embark on a music tour across the country. Throughout the game, players will have the opportunity to utilize a microphone to sing along to up to 25 of their favorite Naked Brothers Band songs, or play all the instruments that appear on the TV show, including drums, guitar, bass guitar, keyboard and cello. For a limited time, special editions of the game will also include a Logitech Vantage microphone in-pack.
Rock University Presents: The Naked Brothers Band The Video Game is rated E for Everyone and is available at the suggested retail prices of $49.99 (Wii, includes Logitech microphone), $39.99 (PS2, includes Logitech microphone), $29.99 (NDS) and $19.99 ( PC).