EA SPORTS, a label of Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Virgin Gaming today announced a new agreement whereby Virgin Gaming becomes the official worldwide provider of online tournaments for EA SPORTS. The agreement covers all head-to-head competitive play, pay-to-enter and sponsored tournaments for select EA SPORTS console video games. As part of the agreement, the Virgin Gaming tournament platform will integrate directly with select EA SPORTS titles offering seamless web functionality and enhanced community tools for competitive gaming across Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles. The first tournaments will begin early 2011, with details to be announced in the … Continue reading Virgin To Power EA Sports Tournaments →

Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX interactive entertainment products in North America, today unleashed MINDJACK, an innovative action (online) shooter that blurs the line between traditional single-player and multiplayer gameplay by thrusting real-world players into the roles of in-game enemies, allies and cybernetic creatures at any time. "We are really excited to introduce an entirely new way to play a shooter – in an environment where any character, machine, or even cybernetic creature can suddenly come under the control of another player via Xbox LIVE or PlayStationNetwork," said Mike Fischer, President and CEO, Square Enix, Inc. "By blending … Continue reading Square Releases Innovative Mindjack →

Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Half-Life and Counter-Strike) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced the Steam features shipping with the PlayStation 3 (PS3) version of Portal 2. Marking the debut of Steam functioning on any next generation console, the features shipping in the PS3 version of Portal 2 include cross platform play (PC/Mac vs. PS3) for multiplayer games, persistent cloud-based storage of PS3 saved games, and cross platform chat (PC/Mac and PS3). In addition, those who purchase Portal 2 for the PlayStation 3 may unlock a Steam Play (PC & Mac) copy of … Continue reading PS3’s Portal 2 Steam Features Revealed →

PopCap Games, the worldwide leader in casual games, today officially announced it is bringing the classic gameplay of Bejeweled Blitz to Xbox LIVE Arcade with availability in Quarter 1 2011. Bejeweled Blitz LIVE offers XBLA players the same fast paced 60-second action found in the popular Facebook variant of Bejeweled Blitz, but with all new modes, including 16-player simultaneous Party mode and head-to-head Battle mode over LIVE. Beyond crystal-sharp, high-definition graphics, Bejeweled Blitz LIVE for XBLA boasts two styles of play: classic and an all new twist. In addition to real-time leaderboards driving up-to-the-minute scores from you and your friends, … Continue reading Bejeweled Blitz Goes To Xbox Live →

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has announced that Bing Gordon, currently partner at Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers, will be the fifth AIAS Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes contributions of individuals to the interactive entertainment industry outside of game makers. Gordon has been instrumental in shaping the video game business during his long tenure at Electronic Arts, and continues to stay on the forefront of this evolving field through his contributions to the business of social gaming. The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented by Don Mattrick, President of Interactive Entertainment Business, Microsoft, … Continue reading Bing Gordon Earns AIAS Lifetime Achievement Award →

Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced that wholly owned development studio Beenox has been named the primary developer on upcoming Activision titles featuring Marvel’s famous web-slinger, Spider-Man. Beenox’s most recent breakout success was with Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, one of the most highly rated Spider-Man titles to date and Wizard Magazine’s 2010 Game of the Year. "Beenox’s creative vision reinvigorated the Spider-Man gaming experience among critics and fans in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions," said Patrick Kelly, Senior Vice President, Activision Studios. "We can’t wait to see where this talented studio will take this franchise in the future." "We are thrilled with … Continue reading Activision Puts Beenox In Charge Of New Spider-Man Games →

Paradox Interactive, purveryors of damn fine strategy games (as well as being a bit useful at word puzzles) are dancing a jig as their latest expansion for the Fantasy Real-Time Strategy game Majesty 2, Majesty 2: Monster Kingdom, has now released and is exclusively available via digital download for a suggested retail price of $14.99, €14.99 and £9.99. In this third installment, players continue the story from the land of Ardania. Only now the king has been overthrown and has fled the safety of his palace. With only his trusted advisor and his bedclothes to spare his blushes, the unseated … Continue reading Majesty 2: Monster Kingdom Released →

Faery: Legends of Avalon is available on PlayStation Network! After its release on Xbox LIVE in November, this unique role-playing game opens its doors to PlayStation 3 owners. This is a perfect opportunity to discover a new series of 6 exclusive images, featuring some of the characters, monsters and exotic locales from this unique RPG. Faery: Legends of Avalon is a Role-Playing Game available exclusively for download, packed with unique atmosphere and graphics. Magic, battles against fearsome monsters, original creatures, colorful characters, a great story to support the main quest and many side quests, for 10-15 hours of gameplay. Faery … Continue reading Faery Flies To PS3 Network →

SG Interactive, a publisher of high-quality online games, today announced the official launch of free-to-play online FPS Project Blackout. Players interested in taking up digital arms in the war-torn country of Korogese can sign up to join the fight at http://pb.sgiwest.com/. "The Open Beta which took place over the holidays was a definite success," said Chris Lee, CEO of SG Interactive. "We’d like to thank everyone who participated for the many bullets they fired over the last few weeks, and hope that many more players decide to start the year off with a bang in Project Blackout!" Project Blackout gives … Continue reading Project Blackout, Free MMO, Launches →

Casual games developer and publisher eGames, Inc. (Pink Sheets:EGAM) today announced the signing of Nightfall Mysteries: The Curse of the Opera and Nightfall Mysteries: Asylum Conspiracy from developer Vast Studios. "Nightfall Mysteries: The Curse of the Opera and Nightfall Mysteries: Asylum Conspiracy are a great addition to our line-up," said Rich Siporin, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at eGames. "These games have been top sellers on many of the portals and have an eerie excitement to them. We will be bundling these two highly acclaimed titles into a $19.99 box product at retail, which also includes 30 never-before-seen scenes, … Continue reading eGames Signs New Titles →