CAMBRIDGE, MA – November 20, 2007 – Harmonix, the worldwide leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with distribution partner Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced that the Rock Band™ Special Edition Bundle is now available at retail stores across America for the for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.

Rock Band is an all-new platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music like never before. The game challenges players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune – all while learning to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals. Featuring the most master recordings of any music game ever by the world’s biggest rock artists, Rock Band includes 58 tracks and spans every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic rock to heavy metal and punk. With multiple instruments and an impressive selection of online and offline game modes to choose from, with the ability to play as a band or individually, Rock Band offers an infinite number of ways to play each song and live out your ultimate rock and roll fantasies.

In addition to the 58 songs available on the game disc, Harmonix and MTV Games are offering a stellar first line-up of new downloadable content available at launch to satiate the desire for constantly refreshed Rock Band content and enable players to customize their game experience. The robust download calendar includes multi-song packs, full albums and individual tracks from some of rock and roll’s biggest artists.

The Rock Band Special Edition Bundle (Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system) features a Fender Stratocaster guitar controller, an electronic drum kit, real drum sticks, a microphone and software. The Xbox 360 bundle also comes with a USB hub for easy plug-in access for all instruments. Standalone Rock Band software is also available which supports a variety of 3rd-party instrument peripherals as well as enables owners to share peripherals with those who own the Special Edition bundle.

Rock Band is rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, mild suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

As previously announced, Rock Band is slated for release on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system on December 18, 2007 in North America. Rock Band will ship in Canada on December 17th for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation 2. Rock Band will ship in Europe for the Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system in the first quarter of 2008.

EA is the exclusive distribution and marketing partner for Rock Band, managing distribution for the game in US, Europe and Australia.

For more information on Rock Band™ and Harmonix Music Systems, please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to become the boss of a brand new television channel. TV Giant is looking for the right person to take on the important role.  Have you got what it takes?  

Job responsibilities will include:

Hiring and firing presenters, planning the program schedule, creating new programs, managing advertisements and improving viewing figures. Balance the books to ensure your channel’s success.  

The ideal candidate will:

Have a keen interest in broadcast media, a strict approach to poor quality programming and presenting, possess a wide knowledge of what the viewing public wants, and a competitive attitude to rival traditional television companies.    

Still interested? TV Giant is a PC game that allows you to be in charge of your own television channel. As the boss, you must make certain your channel is everyone’s favourite. Your choices must ensure that your audience is kept happy and your viewing figures high. Whatever you decide, make sure rival channels don’t steal your popularity and your audience. If you lose the ratings war you will lose your job: welcome to show business. If you think you’re up to the job, visit www.tvgiant-thegame.com to find out more.  

Fast facts:

Publisher: Ascaron Entertainment (UK) / Nobilis
Web: www.tvgiant-thegame.com
Developer: Nobilis
Release date: 8th February 2008
Price: £19.99
PEGI: 3+
Format: PC
Genre: Simulation

To celebrate the release of Cheggers’ Party Quiz for PC, PlayStation^®2 and Nintendo Wii^TM, TV icon Keith Chegwin launches his first-ever series of Podcasts

Tuesday 20th November/… Keith Chegwin today announced that he is launching a series of six exclusive podcasts to tie in with the release of his first video game, Cheggers’ Party Quiz. The loveable TV showman will be cheering up commuters with anecdotes on life, video gaming and his colourful career, all delivered in his own inimitable style.

Cheggers’ Party Quiz successfully launched on the 16th of this month, for PC and PlayStation®2, with families up and down the country pitting their wits against one and another to see who knows as much as Cheggers when it comes to the worlds of film, TV and music.

The first Cheggers podcast is out now and features around 10 minutes of cheeky chat recorded at Keith Chegwin’s recording studio HQ. All-new Cheggers podcasts will be released each week up until the launch of the Wii version of Cheggers’ Party Quiz on 7th December. The podcasts will be available as MP3 files through standard delivery feeds such as iTunes, and can be listened to on portable MP3 players and iPods on the way to work, or even through the home PC.

Keith Chegwin, podcaster and virtual star of Cheggers’ Party Quiz, says:

“It’s Cheggers here, coming to you almost live from my recording studio. With the winter drawing in, I’ve come up with perfect solution to brightening up your early morning commute… me! Well, me in my first ever podcast that is.”

With a broadcast career that spans five decades, Keith Chegwin rose to prominence in the mid-1970s, presenting slots on Multi-Coloured Swap Shop and Saturday Superstore, as well as hosting classic TV game shows such as Cheggers Plays Pop. More recently, Cheggers has appeared in Ricky Gervais’ critically-acclaimed Extras comedy show and has a regular outdoor segment on GMTV.

Cheggers’ Party Quiz is on sale now for PC and PlayStation®2, with the Wii version due for release on 7th December.

To listen to the Cheggers weekly podcast, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/cheggerspodcasts

Or, Directly:
http://cdn.libsyn.com/westie/Cheggers_Plays_Podcast_1.mp3

For an RSS feed for the podcast please use: http://westie.libsyn.com/rss

For more information about Cheggers Party Quiz, go to
www.oxygengames.net

Link returns from The Legend of Zelda®: TwilightPrincess to pick up the Wii Zapper and take aim at a host of targets in this shooting-gallery-style game.

NINTENDO Wii NOW A FULLY FLEDGED PERSONAL ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM USING BUILT IN WI-FI TO ACCESS DIGITAL MEDIA FILES ON PCX-OOM Software, part of bhv Software, a leading publisher of digital media software for media devices, will be releasing its X-OOM Media Centre for Wii in late October 2007. This ground breaking product turns your Nintendo Wii into a fully functional media centre, accessing all digital media on a PC via the Wii’s built-in Wi-Fi capability, allowing users to access their music, view photos and watch films on their Nintendo Wii.

NO CABLES, NO MEMORY CARDS, NO DISCS

X-OOM Media Centre for Wii will transfer media files to the Wii with a few clicks using the built in Wi-Fi connection, entirely eliminating the need for any cables, CDs or a memory card. This latest software for a PC will effectively transform a Nintendo Wii into a personal multimedia station for the sitting room in one, uncomplicated process.

With a PC at home usually located upstairs in a bedroom or a home office, and a Nintendo gaming console usually in the living room, X-OOM’s latest software will effectively bridge the gap between the two media devices. Now you will be able to access all digital media files normally stored on a PC directly on the Nintendo Wii in the living room.

Straight forward installation and a clear, accessible structure make this new innovative system really easy to use. X-OOM’s interface on the Wii is easily navigated using the Wii wireless remote control. Video and audio files are streamed direct to the Wii so users can watch or listen instantly. It will also provide access to more than 1000 TV channels and radio stations and caters for all your media files in one package.

Network connection through WLAN or LAN. Supports MP3, WMA, OGG, DivX, XviD, MPEG 2, MPEG 4, WMV, JPG, BMP.

X-OOM Media Centre for Wii is priced at GBP 29.99 and will be available from www.X-OOM.com and www.amazon.co.uk

Bratz Babyz Super Heroz are here to save the day! Aliens have landed on Earth at the Stylesville Adventure Planet. One of their alien devices, the “Matter Exchanger,” fell into the wrong hands and transformed the Babyz into Super Heroz! With their newfound Super Powers, the Babyz use their abilities to help the citizens of Stylesville and battle the evil invading aliens. Join the Super Heroz for a jammed packed action adventure that is out of this world!

Features:

• Relive all the excitement from the Bratz Babyz Super Heroz DVD Movie
• Explore thrilling amusement park mini-games: Haunted House Maze, Bumper Cars, Whack-A-Mole
• Go on Super Hero Missions: catching a purse snatcher, stopping a bully, finding a lost puppy
• Unlockable features: mini-games, multiplayer levels, new accessories and outfits, clips and stills from the movie
• Play as all four Bratz Babyz (Cloe, Jade, Sasha, and Yasmin) and utilize each of their individual super powers
• Use the DS Microphone to use Cloe’s Super Shout power

Xbox 360^TM owners rewarded with free Xbox Live^® Arcade titles for encouraging a friend to join the Together Experience

LONDON – 19th November 2007 –Microsoft® today announced it would reward Xbox 360™ console owners and one of their chosen friends with a selection of Xbox Live Arcade titles for free when they too join the Xbox 360 experience.

To take advantage of this fantastic offer, all Xbox 360 owners have to do is persuade a friend to purchase an Xbox 360 console (which shouldn’t be too hard considering the incredible festive line up of Halo® 3, Project Gotham Racing 4, Mass Effect, Scene It?® Lights, Camera, Action and many more), then visit http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/10gameseach/gameinformation.htm.

Participants simply fill out the form together, then send off as instructed to both receive an incredible ten Xbox Live Arcade titles, including Every Extend Extra Extreme, Sonic The Hedgehog, Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting, Bomberman Live, Marble Blast Ultra, Spyglass Boardgames, 3D Mini Golf Adventures, Small Arms, Assault Heroes and Zuma Deluxe.

“Going into this holiday period with one of the greatest line ups in video game history is certainly a compelling reason for a friend to jump into the world of Xbox 360” commented Stephen McGill, Head of Gaming and Entertainment, Entertainment and Devices Division, Microsoft UK. “However, this incredible offer also enforces the fact we’ve got an exceptional online service in Xbox Live, which truly does bring everyone together.”

Terms and Conditions apply – please see http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/10gameseach/gameinformation.htm for further information.

150 Member Centers Across North America to Celebrate the Release of 2007’s Most Anticipated PC Title

One-Day Launch Party, December 1; Two-Week Showcase, December 3-26

WHAT:

Leading game center organization iGames will host a series of special events to celebrate the release of Crysis®, Electronic Arts’ next-generation first-person shooter, developed by Crytek, which many are heralding as the most advanced videogame ever created and one of the most anticipated PC titles of 2007.

WHEN:

The first event will be a one-day launch party, Saturday, December 1, followed by an expanded showcase, December 3-26, allowing FPS fans of all stripes one free hour over a two-week period to sample the eagerly anticipated and critically acclaimed title, which is being heralded as the most advanced videogame ever created and the most anticipated PC game of 2007.

WHERE:

• Launch Party: 50 select iGames member centers across North America. Find a location near you and register for a seat at http://www.igames.org/events.asp?event=7628
• Showcase: 100 additional iGames member centers. Find a location near you at http://www.igames.org/events.asp?event=7629

ABOUT THE GAME:

Crysis® is a next-generation PC first-person shooter from Crytek, the award-winning developers of Far Cry. A stunning technical achievement, Crysis combines incredible visuals, cunning gameplay and an epic story that challenges gamers to adapt to survive.

Global tensions have reached boiling point as the U.S. and North Korea square off in the South China Sea. At stake: a mysterious artifact uncovered by a team of U.S. archeologists.

The North Korean government quickly seizes the area, prompting the U.S. to dispatch an elite team of Special Forces operatives on a rescue mission. During the siege the true nature of the artifact quickly emerges, pointing to the existence of an alien presence on Earth, and ultimately the trigger for a massive-scale alien invasion.

The battle to save Earth begins as the aliens’ flash freeze the tropics into a ghostly-white frozen landscape. As gamers take up arms against the aliens, they will be outfitted with customizable weapons and a high-tech Nanosuit, allowing them to adapt their tactics and abilities to a hostile, ever-changing environment and a mysterious enemy.

Powered by CryENGINE 2™, Crysis delivers the ultimate DirectX®10 gaming experience for the PC, including unparalleled graphics, special effects and artificial intelligence. The game is also scaleable to deliver a breath-taking FPS experience for older DirectX 9 PCs.

Features:
• Adapt to Survive – An epic story thrusts players into an ever-changing environment, forcing them to adapt their tactics and approach to conquer battlefields ranging from newly frozen jungle to zero-gravity alien environments.
• Suit up! – A high-tech Nanosuit allows gamers to augment their abilities in real time on the battlefield. Players can choose to enhance their speed, strength, armor and cloaking abilities to approach situations in creative tactical ways
• Customizable Weaponry – A huge arsenal of modular weaponry gives gamers unprecedented control over their play style. Blow the opposition away with experimental weapons, discover alien technology and utilize custom ammunition from incendiary-tipped rounds to tactical munitions that can silently put foes to sleep.
• Veni Vidi Vici – Lifelike enemy AI challenges players to assess a situation and approach it strategically. It isn’t about having the fastest trigger finger – players are challenged to be proactive in the fight, not reactive.
• Zero-G Gameplay – Battle a horrifying alien species in a true Zero-gravity environment, where physics change everything as players must adapt to moving in Zero-G and contending with the recoil from their weapons and more.
• Next-Generation Graphics – Built from the ground up using Crytek’s proprietary CryENGINE™ 2, Crysis’ visuals define “state of the art,” with full DirectX10 support and scalable options to deliver solid performance on older machines.
• Open, Physicalized World – Choose your own path through the open world of Crysis, destroying obstacles, driving vehicles from VTOL’s to boats and using the environment itself against your enemies.
• Bring it Online – Full-featured multiplayer for up to 32 players with real-time armor and weapons customization. For a pure adrenaline fix hit the Instant Action button, or prepare yourself for the all-new multiplayer PowerStruggle mode that combines economy and vehicle warfare, alien technology and ranking, all wrapped in a strategic objective-based experience.
Crysis® is rated “M” for “Mature” by the ESRB and carries a suggested retail price of $49.99 for the regular edition and $59.99 for the Limited Collector’s Edition. To learn more about the game, visit http://www.ea.com/crysis.

Plus, this Week “Undertow” Dives onto Xbox LIVE Arcade
LONDON - 19th November, 2007 — The internationally award-winning “Halo 3” multiplayer experience is about to get even better. After launching to incredible acclaim and fanaticism, “Halo 3” players will be able to enjoy three all new multiplayer maps on 11th December as part of the Heroic Map Pack, the first in a series of downloadable content from Bungie Studios to come via Xbox LIVE.

Available for 800 Microsoft Points exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, each map presents a totally different play style. Standoff’s symmetrical valley, with its entrenched bases and fields of boulders is ideal for mid-sized objective and Slayer game types, while Rat’s Nest’s vast, labyrinthine passages bring something new to the “Halo” multiplayer experience: an indoor vehicle paradise, strongly influenced by the Campaign mode, ideal for big team battles. Finally, Foundry is the ultimate Forge map – players can edit every single object in this voluminous industrial warehouse, place stairways, walls, bridges and tunnels to create an entirely new play space and build almost any kind of map they can think of.

All three maps will become available for free download via Xbox LIVE Marketplace in Spring 2008, just prior to the next wave of all new “Halo 3” multiplayer maps.

As if the legions of “Halo 3″ players needed more reasons to stay logged on and fragging, the Forge also allows players to edit and customise all three maps, keeping “Halo 3’s” multiplayer experience fresh, exciting and evolving. In addition, ongoing updates to “Halo 3’s” matchmaking playlists ensure that ranked and social gameplay remains dynamic and competitive.

While you wait for the “Halo 3” Heroic Map Pack, check out the 101st game to launch on Xbox LIVE Arcade as Chair Entertainment Group brings “Undertow” to the platform. The fast-paced, aquatic action game arrives this Wednesday, 21st November 2007 at 9:00.

“Undertow” redefines aquatic based shooters through a mix of high-definition graphics, intuitive controls and multiple modes of game play action. “Undertow” features a story driven single player campaign, on and offline co-op, and multiplayer for up to 16 players over Xbox LIVE. Players battle for control of the oceans as one of three selectable races, each with four unique, upgradeable units. “Undertow” will be available worldwide this Wednesday for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated 15 BBFC.

For more details on “Undertow,” please visit: http://www.xbox.com/enUS/games/u/undertowxboxlivearcade