Mercury Games announces Aquarium by DS and Fantasy Aquarium by DS as part of the Zen Games series

Two additions to the Zen Games series were announced today by growing UK games publisher, Mercury Games as part of their partnership with Japanese publisher Ertain BV. The games, “Aquarium by DS” and “Fantasy Aquarium by DS” both for the Nintendo DS are simulation games that allow the player to keep fish in a tank.

Just like keeping fish in real life, the fish need to be fed and have their tanks cleaned. “Aquarium by DS” allows the player to keep the usual types of fish that one would find in a fish tank including Clown Fish, Angelfish, Neon Tetra and Guppy.

While “Fantasy Aquarium by DS” allows the player to keep fish which could never be kept as pets in a tank such as Blue whales, dolphins, Seals and sharks.

There are five tanks of differing sizes to choose from, which can then be customised with different backgrounds, plants and accessories such as rocks and bridges.

There are more than 30 varieties of fish to choose from in both “Aquarium by DS” and “Fantasy Aquarium by DS” and more can be unlocked though good fish care. The player can also name their pet fish. Fish can also be swapped via WiFi with the player’s friends.

If the player doesn’t switch their DS on for a few days or if the environment is wrong and the fish are not cared for they die and disappear from the tank. And if the wrong combination of fish are added the consequences can be lethal; for example if the player puts a killer whale in the same tank as a penguin, the Killer whale will eat it.

Leo Zullo, President, Mercury Games said: “Aquarium by DS and Fantasy Aquarium by DS will provide players with the relaxation of having pet fish without the hassle. The game can be played by people of all ages.”

Aquarium by DS and Fantasy Aquarium by DS are due for release in December 2007. The SRP will be £19.99/ €24.99.

Feature List
• Create your own personalised fish tank
• Two versions available - Aquarium by DS and Fantasy Aquarium by DS
• Pick from more than 30 fishes to populate your tank
• Swap your fish with your friends using the DS Wi-Fi feature - allowing your fish to play in your friends aquarium
• Decorate the backdrops and features of your tank
• Unlock extra fish and props to use in the game
• Control all aspects of your aquarium, size, water temp and salinity to create the perfect environment for your fishes
• Care for your fish, make sure they are fed and that the tank is clean

SimBin Development Team is prouder than ever before to announce the official PC demo for RACE 07 - The WTCC Game. This multiplayer demo contains several of the new features and game modes that RACE 07 will offer.

The RACE 07 demo allows you to fully explore the two tracks of Anderstorp, Sweden and Brands Hatch, UK along with the BMW E90 and Seat Leon. All from the current FIA WTCC calendar of 2007. On top of this you will also find the Formula 3000 class included.

“This demo is the first on-line enabled demo we have released and it includes more content and features than any other demo previously released by SimBin” said Henrik Roos, CEO SimBin Studios AB.

New features included in the demo are:

• Alternative action camera for a greater sense of speed from cockpit
• Helmet cam view for open cockpit cars
• New driver animations with helmet visor Tear Off effects.
• New dynamic weather effects for helmet visors and windshields
• Customized skin support
• Multiplayer with up to 24 opponents, or fill up the field with AI cars.

Download now and try the exiting WTCC cars and get a taste of the new Formula cars and go online as much as you want to.

The demo can be downloaded from the download section of the official site; www.race-game.org

RACE 07 - The WTCC Game will be released worldwide on PC in Q3 2007.

RACE 07 -THE WTCC GAME

RACE 07 - The Official WTCC Game features the full FIA WTCC season of 2007 including all cars and tracks, as well as several new support classes and tracks from all over the world. The game also features the full WTCC season of 2006 which was included in the games predecessor RACE - The WTCC Game, released in 2006 on PC.

For the first time ever SimBin is also presenting single seater action with Formula cars. Race with the incredibly fast Formula 3000, Formula BMW and in addition also the Radical sports cars with the models SR3 and SR4.

To support these new race classes the player will be offered the choice between one- or two-race-format. The highly detailed damage system is also adapted to give the Formula cars the vulnerability they have in real life. RACE 07 comes with a score of new tracks and added track variations including several new city tracks, alternate track layouts and reversed track option. Several new community oriented features, game modes and online functionalities will also be announced later.

All in all RACE 07 features more than 300 cars in 9 different classes on 32 real life racing tracks and city circuits from all over the world.

About the SimBin GroupSimBin Development Team AB is a Swedish game developer founded in 2003 and is a subsidiary of SimBin Studios AB. SimBin Development Team AB handles all the game productions in the group and develops games for all leading platforms. SimBin Studios AB is the mother company, responsible for the publishing and IP rights for all productions developed within the SimBin group. SimBin Studios AB is also responsible for Business Development, Finances, Marketing, PR and administration.

The SimBin group is a privately owned group of Swedish companies that occupies a total staff of 70 people, consisting of 50 employees and 20 distributed consultant’s world wide. In the SimBin portfolio you will find award winning titles like “GTR - The FIA GT Racing Game”, “GT Legends”, “GTR 2 - The FIA GT Racing Game” and “RACE - The WTCC Game”. GTR and RACE are registered trademarks owned by the SimBin group.

For further information: http://www.simbin.com

About Eurosport
The Eurosport Group is today the leading multimedia platform in Europe with Eurosport, Eurosport 2, Eurosportnews eurosport.com and Eurosport Mobile. The pan-European channel Eurosport is available in 20 different languages, reaching 110 million homes and 240 million viewers across 59 countries.

Release Date: 14-Sep-2007
Developers: TBA
PEGI age ratings: 3+

In “My Best Friends: Cats & Dogs” for the Nintendo DS™ you have the unique opportunity to play with and cuddle Dalmatian, Husky, German Shepherd and Retriever puppies and Siamese, Maine Coon, British Blue and Domestic cats and to teach them lots of crazy tricks. Your tender loving care will ensure that a wonderful friendship develops between you and your four-legged protégés. You will form the team that will win prizes both in the beauty contests and the obstacle course competitions. Trained to perfection, you rise up to achieve true top form in the spotlight of the tournaments and really do become best friends! And if you look after your animals well, you can embark on new adventures! Lots of action in the catch games; cats will chase anything that moves. You’ll be winners in every show if the costumes and accessories look great! With your endless patience and a few treats, your new friend will learn to master every trick you teach it!

Fans get sneak peek, chance to sign up for beta at the teaser site launching today

El Segundo, Calif.- Sep 07, 2007  OGPlanet, an innovative provider of multiplayer online games, today announced that their hit fantasy role playing golf game Albatross18 will soon launch Season 3, entitled “Revolution.” Players can find tons of info as well as sign up for the closed beta at the teaser site, http://www.albatross18.com, launching today. Albatross18 Season 3 is expected to officially launch in October.

“We’re extremely excited about the new developments for Season 3,” said Jack Liu, Chief Creative Officer of OGPlanet. “Besides adding more robust community features, such as the ability for players to create their very own virtual trading squares, we are finally introducing the darker elements behind the story of Albatross18. The title of Revolution is quite appropriate.”

Albatross18 Season 3 will roll out all new community features that will make trading, selling, and socializing even better than before. In addition to an enhanced user interface, the new 3D virtual lobby PSquare facilitates trading and socializing, and Personal Shops allow players to create their own shops and sell goodies at prices they determine. Players will also be able to purchase mascots, each with its own specialty that boost your golf game.

Season 3 will also introduce some exciting new play elements:

• Kaz, a new character rumored to be the successor to the infamous Demon King. A master of the sword, Kaz is an enigmatic character struggling with his own internal conflict between good and evil.
• Deep Inferno, a new course covered with volcanoes, magma pits, and flowing rivers of lava. Deep Inferno provides a challenging setup to even the most experienced of Albatross18 players.
• The Spike Shot, a new special shot allowing for greater accuracy. If mastered, it gives the skilled player a definite advantage on certain holes.

For more information and screen shots, visit http://www.albatross18.com.

The Revolution Comes to UK’s Most Advanced Gaming Center

(Birmingham, UK) – September 10, 2007 – Gamers around the world continue to join the Global Gaming Revolution in droves. Today, KODE5 is pleased to announce the latest country to join in our cause. In association with Elysium Gaming, KODE5 UK welcomes Counter-Strike 1.6 and Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne gamers to UK’s most advanced gaming and digital entertainment center –Omega Sektor. While gamers from all over will be in attendance, only the best will earn the right to represent the UK at the KODE5 Global Finals. With Global Supporters Cooler Master, GIGABYTE, and Corsair Memory, the KODE5 Global Gaming Revolution brings competitive gaming to the forefront with events in 16 countries across the globe.

Details for the KODE5 UK event are as follows:

KODE5 UK National Qualifiers

From October 20th ~ 21st, Elysium Gaming will be hosting the KODE5 UK National Qualifiers at their Infinity-Gaming 4 event, and the venue will be none other than Omega Sektor. Located in Birmingham, Omega Sector is a state-of-the-art gaming facility with incredible equipment, décor, and amenities. Gamers lucky enough to attend KODE5 UK will be treated to a gaming environment that is second-to-none. Gamers can participate in this tournament by first registering for a free KODE5.com account, and then signing up on the Infinity-Gaming website (http://www.infinity-gaming.co.uk). The best Counter-Strike team and Warcraft III gamer from this two-day event will advance to the KODE5 Global Finals and represent the UK.

▲ Omega Sektor Lobby
Advanced gaming facilities ▲
Elysium Gaming offers consultancy plus event and project management facilities dedicated to online communities and hardcore gamers. With over 6 years experience working with and creating gaming communities in both the UK and overseas, they aim to open the doors into these portals and gaming environments for advertisers, game developers and game publishers.

“Elysium Gaming is proud to be a partner of KODE5 and to host their UK national qualifier at Omega Sektor in Birmingham,” said Philip Wride, Managing Director, Elysium Gaming Limited. “KODE5 has proved they care about gamers and this year’s tournament is no exception with some fantastic gamers taking part and what promises to be a spectacular Global Final to round it all off. Elysium Gaming will be utilising its Infinity-Gaming brand to run this tournament and with strong support from the UK community there should be some hard-fought battles to determine the winner.”

Featuring over 400 PCs and gaming consoles, 100+ of the best games on the planet, and friendly and knowledgeable staff, Omega Sektor is the ultimate destination for gamers in the UK. Omega Sector contains cafes, bars, lounges, and themed gaming areas dubbed “sektors”. It has numerous wi-fi zones as well as a cinema screen and stage area. With hundreds of PCs, numerous special events, and even a VIP lounge area, Omega Sektor redefines the gaming lifestyle.

▲ Multiple sectors… and this is just one floor!
Lock and load ▲

“Around the world, gaming is quickly moving from hobby to lifestyle,” said Lester Lau, KODE5 Revolutionary-in-Command. “Working with Elysium Gaming on KODE5 UK will show gamers just what this lifestyle can be like. I wish the best of luck to all attending KODE5 UK!”

In keeping with the event’s state-of-the-art theme, KODE5 Global Supporters Cooler Master, GIGABYTE, and Corsair Memory will be showing off their latest state-of-the-art gaming hardware at KODE5 UK.

“Hi Gamers, come and join the revolution at KODE5 UK. You will experience all the gaming weapons Cooler Master has prepared for you at Omega Sektor,” said Natalia Wu, Cooler Master UK Regional Manager. “We also have our flagship Cosmos PC case, energy-saving Real Power PRO PSU and the most powerful CM Hyper 212 Coolers waiting for you to take home.”
“GIGABYTE is looking forward to join the KODE5 UK event” said Tony Liao, Director of Marketing at GIGABYTE. “Gaming is always the most important market to us. With this KODE5 joint promotion, gamers will experience the features and benefits we designed particularly.”

Alten8 has agreed with Luc Bernard on the creation and publication of Nintendo DS and Wii versions of the Eternity’s Child game , bringing this delightful creation to an even wider audience. Luc will be working closely with Alten8 to bring his creations to life on these formats

The story of Eternitys Child and the orphan ‘Angel’ - the planet on which Eternity’s Child is set on. The planet was once filled with many living creatures and vast forests, however due to the pollution created by the habitants the icebergs melted and the whole planet was flooded and most of the creatures became extinct. The creatures without wings that were left became jealous of the ones with wings (that allowed them to survive the flooding), so the land creatures started murdering all the winged creatures until there was none left. To repopulate the world, many mechanical robots were created so that the world would not seem as empty as before, but most of those creatures got out of control and started attacking and destroying what was left.

Eternity’s Child Wii version details -

Angel was left at the door of a orphanage when he was a baby, to protect him from being murdered his wings were cut off. The years went by as he stayed in that orphanage, not accepted by the other children and being often tortured and picked on. Angel then escapes from the orphanage to try to find any remaining creatures of his species and hoping to be accepted by them despite him not having his wings.

Details about Wii version –

• The entire game is hand drawn
• the animations are done traditionally by hand frame by frame (like old disney films)
• the soundtrack is all orchestral
• the game is an Interactive Fairytale
• there will be songs in the game like old disney films
• 2 player co operative mode will be available

DS version –

• the game will be a 3D platform game
• will not have the same story as the Wii version

Regular updates and information will appear on the Alten8 and the Eternitys Child web site.

About Luc Bernard

Luc Bernard is a young 21 year old artist/dark fairytale creator, he is currently working with Alten8 on the Wii and DS versions of Eternity’s Child. Eternity’s Child is planned to be turned into a animated series, toys, and various merchandise. For each one of his tales he takes inspiration from his life. Apart from Eternity’s Child he is also working on various other dark fairytales such as The Rose Princess, Samuel, Manufactured Beauty.