Game developer DC STUDIOS has today entered into an agreement to acquire the rights to State Of Emergency 2, the sequel to the chart topping, State Of Emergency. DC Studios has signed an agreement with Tom Maclennan and Kenny Craig of Tenon Recovery, joint administrators of VIS/SOED which will result in DC Studios completing the development of SOE2 and arranging a publishing deal for the game and any sequels. State of Emergency 2 takes place 10 years after the first game and takes the first title to an entirely new level, with more game modes, an entirely new game engine … Continue reading DC Studios Gets State Of Emergency 2 →

Microsoft Game Studios today announced that its critically-acclaimed Xbox driving simulator, Forza Motorsport, has shipped to retail stores and is now available wherever video games are sold for a suggested retail price of $49.99 (U.S.). One of the most highly anticipated game titles of 2005, Forza Motorsport offers gamers and car enthusiasts the ability to completely transform an ordinary factory car into a speed-drenched racing machine. The metamorphic process of creating of a fully-equipped racer begins with a choice of more than 230 different models from over 60 of the world's top car manufacturers including Ferrari, Porsche, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, … Continue reading Forza Motorsport Ships →

Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announced that Puzzle Pirates on CD-ROM for Windows, Mac and Linux is now available on store shelves. Puzzle Pirates is one of the first massively multiplayer pirate-themed online games, with addicting puzzles that earn players status and prestige. It includes exclusive in-game items, four offline and single-player versions of the most popular puzzle games and a free month of playing time. Puzzle Pirates, developed by Three Rings, is available for a suggested retail price of $19.99. After the first month, a monthly subscription fee of $9.95 will apply. Puzzle Pirates … Continue reading UbiSoft Releases Puzzle Pirates →

DreamCatcher Games, an award-winning publisher of PC and Console games, today announced D.W. Bradley's Combat RPG, Dungeon Lords, has shipped to retailers across North America. Dungeon Lords blends the depth of an epic Fantasy RPG with the flexibility of an FPS-style control system. Gamers journey through a hugely expansive land of wilderness, towns, dungeons and crypts and engage in real-time tactical combat with a variety of foes including snake women, deceitful goblins and mischievous skeletons. Players must carefully master Arcane, Celestial, Rune and Nether magic, as well as wield hundreds of powerful weapons, in order to defend the kingdom. "DreamCatcher … Continue reading DreamCatcher Ships Dungeon Lords →

Valve and Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) today announced the settlement of a pending federal court lawsuit filed by Valve in August 2002. The parties have resolved their differences, and the settlement provides for the dismissal of all claims and counterclaims. Under the settlement agreement, VU Games will cease distribution of retail packaged versions of Valve’s games, including Half-Life, Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero and Counter-Strike: Source, effective August 31, 2005. Additionally, VU Games has notified distributors and cyber cafes that were licensed by VU Games that only Valve is authorized to distribute Valve games to cyber cafés and … Continue reading Valve, Vivendi Settle Lawsuit →

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) called on the Malaysian government to increase its level of intellectual property protection after it was included in a "Watch List" of countries announced today by Peter Allgeier, the Acting United States Trade Representative (USTR). The ESA applauded the USTR's action in placing Malaysia and other countries involved in widespread game piracy on the list. "Malaysia is the primary source of pirated optical disc entertainment software in the world," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. "The prevalence of pirated products and their export from … Continue reading ESA Blasts Malaysian Piracy →

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that it is partnering with the University of Southern California – School of Cinema Television to offer game players and aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to participate in a cinema contest. The Sims 2 Student Life Movie Contest invites ambitious movie creators to use The Sims 2, the No.1 selling PC game of 2004, to create short films with its in-game movie making feature. With its award winning game play, The Sims 2 allows players to control their Sims from the cradle to the grave while fulfilling Sims' life goals and aspirations. This is the … Continue reading EA Hosts Sims 2 Cinema Contest →

Today iGames, North America’s leading game center organization, announced a Game Center License (GCL) agreement with Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest videogame publishers. Under the terms of the agreement, Ubisoft will license its games to iGames as part of its GCL program in North America. As part of the GCL program, iGames will negotiate licensing agreements exclusively for its rapidly expanding network of more than 600 game centers and provide guidelines to them throughout the execution process. Under this agreement, game centers will purchase legal game copies directly through iGames, allowing Ubisoft to ensure that their games are used … Continue reading IGames Partners With UbiSoft →

Topware Interactive Inc. has officially entered the North American market as both a publisher and distributor of PC and console entertainment software. All three principals of Topware Interactive Inc.: Alexandra Constandache -owner, Dirk Hassinger – CEO, and James Seaman – Managing Director, are part of the prominent European game producers, Zuxxez AG of Germany. Headquartered in Las Vegas, it is the mission of Topware Interactive Inc., to not only release new and back catalog Zuxxez titles, but to provide a well founded and ethical means of distribution for all third party developers. "We have thought about publishing in the United … Continue reading Topware Enters North America →

Board gaming has taken on monstrous proportions with the release of Monsters Menace America, the newest title from iconic strategy board game brand AVALON HILL, published by Seattle-based hobby game leader Wizards of the Coast (NYSE: HAS). In the game, players control campy, B-movie monsters who stomp, crush, burn, and battle their way across North America en route to becoming the biggest, baddest giant monster on the continent. The object of the game? Stomp cities, grow in power and infamy, defeat the National Guard and make yours the last monster standing! "Monsters Menace America lets players crush their least favorite … Continue reading Monsters Menace America Board Game Ships →