Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), the world's leading interactive entertainment company, today celebrated the 10th anniversary of the classic massively-multiplayer online game (MMO), Ultima Online. Launched on September 25, 1997, Ultima Online broke new ground in the multiplayer game space and ushered in the modern MMO era. Anniversary celebrations include special in-game activities and rewards, plus a new amnesty program that invites former players back to experience the major game update, Ultima Online Kingdom Reborn, for free. "Ultima Online has thrived for 10 years and achieved the status of an MMO classic, thanks in large part to the devoted player … Continue reading Ultima Online Turns 10, Invites Back Former Players →

Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announced that The Settlers Rise of an Empire has shipped to retailers nationwide and is available exclusively for Games for Windows. The Settlers Rise of an Empire is the sixth game in the popular PC strategy franchise that was created by Ubisoft's Blue Byte studio and has sold more than six million copies worldwide. The Settlers Rise of an Empire is rated "E10+" for Everyone 10 and Older and has an MSRP of $49.99. In The Settlers Rise of an Empire, the player builds lively, bustling towns in a medieval … Continue reading The Settlers: Rise of an Empire Launches →

D3Publisher of America, Inc. (D3PA), a publisher and developer of interactive entertainment software, today announced that Dragon Blade: Wrath of Fire has shipped to retail stores across North America. Designed specifically for the Wii system, Dragon Blade is a 3rd person action-adventure game where players unleash the magical powers of a fierce dragon, creating a unique and visually stunning weapon through their sword and arms. Players will utilize an intuitively designed, two-handed Wii control scheme and use both arms simultaneously to emulate the dragon's arms, wings, tail, fire-breathing head and more as they embark on an epic fantasy adventure in … Continue reading Dragon Blade Ships For Wii →

Starting tonight "Halo 3," the final chapter of Microsoft Corp.'s epic video game trilogy, finally goes on sale around the world. By the end of the week, fans in 37 countries will be playing the game Wired magazine recently called "a cultural touchstone, a Star Wars for the thumb stick generation." In the United States, more than 10,000 retailers across the country are opening their doors at midnight tonight solely to sell copies of the game and accompanying Xbox 360 consoles and accessories. With nary a pirate, a spider or a wand in sight, day-one sales of the highly anticipated … Continue reading Halo 3 Finally Launches →

Team Fortress 2 (TF2), the successor to the granddaddy of class-based multiplayer action games and the multiplayer component of The Orange Box, is now available in beta to those who pre-purchase The Orange Box via Steam (www.steamgames.com). Pre-purchasers will find TF2 activated in their Steam account and available for immediate play. This year's most anticipated online action game, Team Fortress 2 delivers new gametypes, persistent player statistics, and the most advanced graphics of any Source-based game to date, featuring a signature art style powered by Valve's next generation animation technology. Players choose from a range of unique character classes–such as … Continue reading Team Fortress 2 Beta Opens →

Sports Mogul Inc. announced today that their award-winning product, Baseball Mogul 2008, has topped 115,000 units in sales in just six months, breaking their sales record for the entire year of 2006. According to data from NPD Research, this makes Baseball Mogul 2008 the number 1-selling PC baseball game for the second straight year. This year's Baseball Mogul was the first game ever to give the player full control of any baseball franchise while also adding the strategic option of playing each game one pitch at a time. To achieve this level of realism, Sports Mogul built a database tracking … Continue reading Baseball Mogul Sells 100,000+ →

SEGA of America, Inc. today announced that Sonic Rush Adventure, created exclusively for the Nintendo DS, has shipped to stores across North America. Sonic Rush Adventure takes Sonic fans on an exciting high-speed island-hopping adventure filled with action-packed gameplay and all-new vehicles. Taking full advantage of the DS Touch Screen, players can perform amazing tricks to avoid treacherous waters and dangerous enemies – all while keeping an eye on both screens thanks to the much-loved DS dual screen action. Sonic Rush Adventure delivers the fast-paced adrenaline rush that DS players crave. Players clash with ruthless pirates along irresistibly fun 2D … Continue reading Sonic Rush Speeds To Retail →

Today the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma issued a permanent injunction against that state's unconstitutional attempt at regulating computer and video games, ruling that video games are a form of creative expression entitled to protection under the First Amendment. In her decision, the Honorable Robin J. Cauthron also found that there is no support or "substantial evidence" that video games are harmful to minors. ""[T]here is a complete dearth of legislative findings, scientific studies, or other rationale to support passage of the Act," Judge Cauthron wrote. "We need to move past unconstitutional attempts to circumvent … Continue reading Oklahoma Court Strikes Down Game Law →

Affinitive (http://www.beaffinitive.com), a pioneer and leader in word-of-mouth (WOM) and social media marketing and technology solutions, announces the launch of a new, nontraditional and highly innovative marketing program that leverages social media and WOM tactics to support the release of the second and third installments of NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.'s .hack//G.U. trilogy. Part "game-within-a-game", part branded social network, "The World" (http://www.altimitcorp.com) empowers video game enthusiasts who have "pledged membership" to "The World" to turn their passion into evangelism and to virally spread brand awareness, enthusiasm and buzz among their peers in support the game's fall release. Drawing upon the … Continue reading Affinitive, Namco, Launch WOM .hack Campaign →

The rock gods have spoken, and gamers around the world will now be able to unleash their inner-rock star on two brand new platforms. Aspyr Media, in partnership with Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), today announced that the third iteration of the wildly popular Guitar Hero franchise, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, will be available to PC and Mac gamers for the first time ever this fall. Being developed and published exclusively by Aspyr, the PC and Mac versions will match their console counterparts with explosive new content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a … Continue reading Guitar Hero III To Release On PC And Mac →