Keith Chegwin spills the beans about what it’s like to work on his own videogame

November 22nd 2007: Northamptonshire, UK: In an exclusive interview, Keith Chegwin – star of Cheggers’ Party Quiz for PC, PlayStation®2 and Wii™ – talks to Oxygen Games™ about his latest entertainment venture.

OG: What made you decide to put your name and talents into a videogame?
KC: The idea of being an animated character on Playstation, Wii and PC is the best offer I’ve had in 40 years of being in the Bizz – so I leapt at it.

OG: What has it been like working with Oxygen?
KC: They’re mad – but it’s great working with a team with such adventurous creativity. Plus they were so keen to let me do my own thing and have a real input into the project. Loved it!

OG: What’s been the best/most fun aspect of making this game?
KC: The voice over session – we recorded over 900 voice-overs – It was such a laugh!! And I think the fun we had making it is apparent when you play the game. Plus the build up to the launch – I’m so proud of this game.

OG: Would you consider doing more videogames in the future?
KC: Yes!! Deffo – I’m in talks about Cheggers’ Alien Invasion – and more..

OG: How does voicing a game differ from television or radio voice-over work?
KC: The recording session was much more fun than the TV and radio stuff – this was ad-lib – off the cuff – and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

OG: Which is your favourite part or feature of the game?
KC: There are so many – but the interaction between me, the character, and the player works so well – Plus thousands of questions, tons of vids and more – makes it a real family game and ideal for getting your mates round for a few bevvies and a quiz night!!

OG: Would you recommend Cheggers’ Party Quiz to your friends and family?
KC: It will be compulsory that all my friends play Cheggers’ Party Quiz – I’ve already sent them all emails so as they can get their advance order in for Christmas!!

OG: Would you recommend it to strangers?! Why? What about it makes it so good?
KC: Yes – it’s a great game – never a dull moment – competitive and a great Chrissy pressie

OG: Have you played Alan Hansen’s Sports Challenge? If not, would you and do you think you’d be any good at it?
KC: I’m not a sport fan – and not played it as yet - but I hear it’s a great game although I would think it may lack comedy as you don’t get Alan cracking many gags on TV

OG: Who’d do better – you playing Hansen’s quiz or Hansen playing yours?
KC: Alan would do better playing mine – The only sport I play is on a gaming platform – Got real thin fingers now!! I guarantee you’d see Alan smile.

Cheggers’ Party Quiz, for PlayStation®2 and PC is in the shops now, with the Wii™ version following shortly.

Darmstadt/Geneva, November 22nd 2007 –10TACLE STUDIOS AG, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS); and First Star Software, Inc. today announced the Europe-wide release of “Boulder Dash®-ROCKS!™” for the Nintendo DS™  Jointly developed by 10TACLE STUDIOS MOBILE and co-publisher First Star Software, Inc., the modern remake of this cult classic guarantees both veteran “Boulder Dash®” fans and new-found Rockford™ friends exciting and challenging arcade-puzzle action.

This tricky puzzle and dexterity game first made its debut in the early 80s and continues to fascinate its large fan base making it a classic in the history of interactive entertainment. Now Boulder Dash® is back with a hot new look to take the Nintendo DS by storm this holiday. A version of the game for the PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) will follow in Spring 2008. The hit game’s principle remains: players have to collect sparkling diamonds whilst avoiding numerous traps and beating opponents to reach them, all the while watching out for falling boulders. 

The game contains four different gaming modes. In addition to the classic single-player mode, which takes players through 80 levels across four different game worlds, Boulder Dash®-ROCKS!™ now offers a new multi-player setting and two additional play modes. For the first time, Boulder Dash®-ROCKS!™ on the Nintendo DS also features ‘Route Race’ – an all new custom designed strategic game feature which allows the player to use the Stylus to first draw a path for Rockford to exit a level though, neither Rockford not any of the in-game elements move until after the player is ready to test the route they have recorded. While this may seem easy at first, the higher the level, the more challenging it becomes for the player to envision the best strategy as he weighs up which enemies to free or which stones to move to reach the exit, while trying to predict and remember how things will shift based on the route drawn.

Facts:

Title: Boulder Dash®-ROCKS!™
Platform: Nintendo DS™
Developer: 10TACLE STUDIOS MOBILE
Publisher: 10TACLE STUDIOS AG / First Star Software, Inc.
Distributor: Electronic Arts Inc.
Price: €39, 99
Release: November 22nd, 2007
PEGI: 7+
USK: 0+ (ohne Altersbeschränkung)
Localization: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish

Features:

• 4 amazing worlds: Jungle, Lava, Water and Netherworld. All different in game play and environments
• All-new graphic design which appeals to the modern player and more casual players alike
• Fascinating game modes: Planet Tour (Storymode), Time Trial and Double Dash (Multiplayer)
• Exclusive Nintendo DS mode: Route Race (Brain Teaser mode), is all about strategy and uses the stylus
• 130 challenging levels guarantee hours of fun and entertainment
• New opponents, new tools and all new, challenging puzzles
• Well proven gameplay, known throughout the world since 1984
• Beautifully produced cinematics and entertaining storyline
• High brand recognition, with millions of units already sold in the Boulder Dash®

Midway today announced that a new Xbox Live BlackSite demo is available today. The demo highlights two levels from the game’s single-player campaign, taking gamers through the Rachel, NV town square and courthouse, and placing players in the gunner’s seat during a helicopter escort mission through the desert canyons of Nevada.

The immersive and fast-paced action FPS title, which is available in stores on November 30th for Xbox 360 and PC in Europe, and will ship for PlayStation 3 in Europe in Q1 of 2008.

BlackSite gives gamers a chance to direct their living, breathing squad mates with a context-sensitive “One-Button Squad Command” control. Destructible environments can be reduced to rubble, creating interactive cover points that can be blown away with enough firepower.

Visit blacksitegame.com or midway.com for more information. Additional screens, videos and fact sheets can be found on Midway’s press site, login information below.

About BlackSite
Developed by Midway Studios - Austin using a fully-customized version of Unreal Engine 3.0, BlackSite: Area 51 combines cutting-edge technology and smart game design with an illuminating, politically-inspired storyline.

Featuring a powerful single-player campaign, along with numerous multiplayer modes including online-co-op, BlackSite: Area 51 delivers vicious combat action, next generation graphics and A.I., and a powerful arsenal of weapons and vehicles. Set in present day, players take the role of decorated military veteran, Aeran Pierce, charged by the government to lead a squad of secret soldiers, each with his/her own specialty skill set, into the Rachel, Nevada, area to fight off the invasion of unidentified enemy races.

A US soldier discovered his missus had been playing away at home after spotting a suspicious “Mii” on his Nintendo Wii, the Evening Standard reports.

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The man, known only as Tony, returned from a year in Iraq to reports from chums that his wife had been cheating on him. He’d had the Wii for company while on service in Iraq, but had mailed it back to the States prior to his return.

His other half claimed she’d only kissed the suspect, a professional bowler, once, but the Wii said otherwise. Tony emailed a Nintendo messageboard admitting he’d was “confused about his wife’s denials of any indiscretion”.

However, he continued: “All that changed when I plug in my Nintendo Wii for some Wii Sports. I flip through the Wii menu and visit the Mii channel so I can peruse the many friends that I have created with the guys that I played with in Iraq. As I go through the characters I see there is a Mii that I have not created.”

Tony concluded: “I went into the Wii message board and click on the calendar option. Through this menu I was able to identify the many nights my wife’s Mii and this other Mii character played Wii bowling.”

And for good measure, the offending Mii was apparently “strikingly similar” to the bowling philanderer.

The end result? “Tony has separated from his wife and filed for divorce,” the Standard notes. ®