Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed

Among the hallmarks of the Destroy All Humans franchise are weapons and Crypto’s mental powers. If you’ve played either (or both) of the previous games, you know the weapons in the games are exotic, over the top, and often just plain hilarious. And the second game offers a good number of weapons the first one didn’t. So when it came time for our team to begin designing Big Willy Unleashed, we wanted a whole new way to play the game and still remain true to the franchise.

What better way to do that than to offer even newer weapons.

Time-Tested Fundamentals

The first two games (taking place in the 50s and 60s respectively) have shown that when it comes to destroying all humans while simultaneously harvesting their DNA, it’s always the “right tool for the right job.” Even in the modern era of ‘70s, the flying saucer’s Death Ray is just about the best thing around to rain down pain and terror from above, just like it did in prior decades. The Sonic Boom is still the weapon of choice to send enemy tanks a message of “greetings from outer space.” And nothing still says “take me to your leader” like the Quantum Decontructor, the ultimate weapon for any Furon invasion for turning a thriving metropolis into a smoldering redevelopment zone.

But wait, that’s not all!

For Cryptosporidium-137 (affectionately know as Crypto), his Zap-O-Matic delivers gig-a-volts of tooth-rattling electro-shock goodness as it did in the first two games. His Ion Detonator continues to pack a plasmatic wallop that’ll break up any family picnic. The Anal Probe, a recurring favorite, remains the best instrument for both harvesting a brain stem AND eliminating a pesky combatant – all with a single shot! And the Disintegrator still turns matter to a mere memory.

Mental Powers

So let’s start with our hero, Crypto. Even without weaponry, his mental powers give him a devastating advantage over any pathetic human. Psychokinesis allows him to turn a propane tank into a concussion bomb, or to toss a dump truck into an angry mob – more fun than Bowling for Dollars. Crypto’s mental powers also allow him to hypnotize a person to carry out a specific command or even transform inanimate objects into ammunition. You gotta love those Furon genetics!

And for not extra cost, Big Willy Unleashed gives your a whole new collection of ways to slice and dice your target more effective than a Ronco Food Processor.

New Toys For Crypto

Among what’s new for Crypto in this new installment are a few side-arms. The Ball Lightning Gun is a fire and forget electrically charged ball of, er, lightning… that hovers like St. Elmo’s Fire over carefree masses, automatically discharging on nearby targets until nothing is left of its victims except perhaps their shoe-laces and a strange ionized smoky odor.

The Zombie Gun (or as it’s known by its technical name, the Reanimatron) hurls projectiles of green goo at a target, which transforms a human target into a zombie – a simple concept really. But the best thing about zombies is that other enemies will attack your zombie, effectively making a zombie a decoy – the perfect means for distracting a bouncer as you sneak into the disco.

The final “boom” stick in Crypto’s toy box is the Shrink Ray, ideal for transforming a hulking ballistic missile launcher into matchbox-sized action figure. The shrink ray is only awarded when you reach a particularly impressive level on the carnage-o-scope, so don’t expect to wield this wonder weapon very early in the game.

Improvements to the Saucer’s Armaments

The saucer has one new weapon this time round - the Electro-Cone, which clears out enemies directly beneath the flying saucer with shocking results. This is the only saucer weapon that is capable of destroying all humans while leaving structures in tact! Now that’s value!

Big Willy, The New Kid On The Block

In front of every Big Willy’s fast food restaurant stands a cheery rosy-cheeked irresistible mascot named Big Willy. It’s no wonder there are over ten million humans served! But Big Willy has few secrets of his own, not the least of which is the fact that this oversized marketing icon is really a devastating war machine armed up the wazoo with Furon weaponry, capable of wreaking havoc in an up close and personal way! And who doesn’t love all those wazoo armaments!

Never mind the fact that a twenty foot tall rampaging kid will send even the bravest among us fleeing with fear into the hills. And forget that when Big Willy jumps, he lands with concussion-inducing thud that’ll give everyone nearby an Excedrin headache number 27.

Big Willy is armed with three implements of devastation. First, is the Heat Beam Eyes – similar to the saucer’s death ray, but this system can be aimed freely at unsuspecting targets while Big Willy careens through the streets of an otherwise quiet neighborhood.

Often, Big Willy finds himself surrounded by cranky skirmishers. But with one quick discharge from the Regurg-a-tron, that well-armed militia is reduced to a chunky smoldering puddle that even seagulls won’t touch.

To round out his arsenal, Big Willy can also be upgraded to activate the WindBreaker, an odoriferous explosive blast that’s emitted from the south end of a north facing Willy.

Even though Big Willy is indestructible and has the most advanced weaponry imaginable, alas his power system is still Earth technology and prone to run down. Fortunately, DNA can replenish Big Willy’s charge; so it’s a simple matter of grabbing a nearby human, and harvesting his or her DNA by popping the heads open like a Pez dispenser and consuming the brainstem.

Shoot Halo’s Master Chief Your Way And Win A Trip To Tinseltown With Xbox 360^TM

Halo: Recut competition gives fans across Europe the chance to show their creativity and love for Halo^®

LONDON - 25th January 2008 –Microsoft® today announced the launch of a unique European competition looking for fans across the region to help create and show the unseen adventures of Master Chief. Whether its Master Chief’s “Meet the Parents”, a Spartan high school reunion, or even break dancing to MC Hammer, the “HALO: RECUT” contest is encouraging gamers and filmmakers alike to be as creative as possible, with the lucky winner scooping a once-in-a-lifetime master-class trip to Los Angeles.

Microsoft is looking for innovative movie makers to construct their own original video of Master Chief, which sees him taken away from the Halo universe and remixed into different scenarios. Whether created using a traditional video camera, gaming footage, old school animation or the latest video editing software, the point is just to be creative.

To enter the competition participants simply have to visit the following site www.xbox.com/en-GB/halorecut and upload their video from 31st January until 21st March 2008. The entries will then be judged by a panel of experts from the gaming industry to find the most creative concepts. One winner from each country will win themselves an Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and a copy of Halo 3. Terms and conditions apply, please visit www.xbox.com/en-GB/halorecut for details.

Each country’s winning video will then be put through to the European final which will be judged by the creators of the game, Bungie Studios. The overall European winner will win a trip to Los Angeles to study for one month at the New York Film Academy, where they will learn all they need to know about making movies. The prize includes return transatlantic flights, accommodation, car rental and $2,000 spending money.

Brian Jarrard, Bungie Studios added: “This competition is a great way to showcase the creativity and passion that drives the Halo fan community. We can’t wait to see how people infuse their own style and personality into Master Chief and deliver a whole new take on the Halo phenomenon. May the best Spartan win!”

For more information about the project please visit www.xbox.com/en-GB/halorecut

Event: MatchBox360 XL
Date: 21st – 23rd March 2008
Venue: NEC Toute Suite, Birmingham

MatchBox360 XL proudly presents the return of Europe’s premier Xbox 360 eSports tournaments in 2008!

Continuing the overwhelming success of the first 3 XL tournaments with sell out crowds of over 300 gamers at each event, MatchBox360 XL4 will take place on the Bank Holiday weekend 21st – 23rd March at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Toute Suite.

Enjoy the very best in Xbox 360 LAN gaming action spread over 3 rooms at one of the most prestigious venues in the UK, as MatchBox360 XL presents a 3 day eSports extravaganza featuring 80 Xbox 360 consoles hosting the very best in high definition gaming.

With cash prizes worth over £10,000, MatchBox360 XL continues to set the standard for competitive console tournaments including the largest Halo 3, Call of Duty 4 and Gears of War tournaments in Europe!!!
MatchBox360 XL will feature competitive tournaments and freeplay on a selection of the most popular Xbox 360 titles including:
Halo 3 – FFA and 4v4
Call of Duty 4 – FFA and 5v5
Gears of War – 4v4 Execution
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
FIFA08

MatchBox360 XL is being organised by event managers Chris Barnes and Graham Hoffman:

“Thanks to the support of the console gaming community, XL is now recognised as the premier console eSports tournament in Europe. We will continue to build upon the success of our first 3 events, and XL4 is just the start of things to come in 2008 as we look to the future with the first of many high definition Xbox 360 LAN tournaments for the European gaming community.” - Chris Barnes.

MatchBox360 XL is the perfect opportunity to showcase your skills, as XLEAGUE.TV will once again be there to capture all the gaming action and will be broadcasting a series of dedicated XL shows on Sky Channel 279.

Whether you’re a competitor or spectator, MatchBox360 XL provides the perfect opportunity for the Xbox Live community to meet, compete and socialise all under one roof for a marathon weekend of gaming.

Admission tickets and tournament entry fees are on sale now from the online MatchBox360 XL Ticket Office: http://tickets.matchbox360.co.uk/

Are you ready to XL?!…LET’S DO THIS!

Ex-Naughty Dogs Form Steel Penny Games, Become WiiWare Dev

AUSTIN, TX - Steel Penny Games, an independent Austin, TX-based game developer, announced their acceptance into the Nintendo WiiWare developer stable, and is busy at work on an original IP title set to release in mid-2008. Steel Penny Games states that the upcoming title blends a challenging puzzle game with dramatic fantasy environments and appealing characters for an exceptionally satisfying experience. Other details about the upcoming product are not available at this time.

The company, organized in early 2007 by former Naughty Dog veterans Jason Hughes and Andrew Gilmour, joins the ranks of studios initially focused on digital distribution. Steel Penny Games president Jason Hughes described their strategy as “the modern equivalent of the garage method for an independent to gain a foothold in the industry-a unique opportunity WiiWare presents that we appreciate.” At Naughty Dog, Hughes was a senior graphics tools engineer, and Gilmour was a senior background artist.

The team at Steel Penny Games have spent the past year building a proprietary engine geared toward the Wii platform’s capabilities, and creating a new intellectual property to span a series of games. Hughes elaborated, “I am impressed with the egalitarian approach Nintendo has taken toward WiiWare developers. It allows the risk burden to shift back onto the creative developers.”

Boston, Foreigner And Journey Hits Now Available In Guitar Hero^® III: Legends Of Rock Classic Rock Track Pack

SANTA MONICA, CA – January 24, 2008 – Master recordings from legendary rock bands Boston, Foreigner, and Journey are now available for download in Activision, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Classic Rock Track Pack. The downloadable track pack is offered on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION®Store for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.

The Classic Rock Track Pack includes master recordings of Boston’s “Piece of Mind,” Foreigner’s “Juke Box Hero” and Journey’s “Any Way You Want It.” After downloading the new tracks, Guitar Hero® fans can visit www.guitarhero.com for more information.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock offers the ultimate rock experience with new wireless guitars, freshly added content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer modes allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true rock status as they riff through a star-studded soundtrack including master tracks by legendary artists such as Aerosmith, Guns ‘N’ Roses, The Rolling Stones, Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine and Pearl Jam, as well as original songs by guitar icons Slash and Tom Morello. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is now available and is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.

About Activision, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $1.5 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.

MTV Games, Harmonix And EA Confirm Plans To Ship Standalone Rock Band^TM Instruments To U.S. Retail Stores

Music Fans and Gamers Prepare to Expand the Band, Rock the World

CAMBRIDGE, MA – January 24, 2008 – Harmonix, one of the world’s leading developers of music-based games, and MTV Games, part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), announced today that individual instrument peripherals for Rock Band™ will start shipping to U.S. store shelves beginning on February 12th.

“The release of standalone instruments allows Rock Band musicians to enjoy the full Rock Band experience, including drum, microphone and guitar head-to-head modes, creating a whole new level of competitive fun,” said Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder, Harmonix. “We’re also delivering a stand-alone wireless guitar solution for all versions of Rock Band as well as providing the opportunity for consumers to build their band one instrument at a time.”

With standalone instrument peripherals being made available, players have the opportunity to expand the full Rock Band experience by competing in challenging play modes such as Microphone vs. Microphone, Drum vs. Drum and Guitar vs. Guitar. With instrument “versus” modes, gamers can battle against each other in “Score Duel” mode for the high score or in the challenging “Tug-O-War” mode, where giving the best performance is key. These exciting “versus” modes can be played locally or online and work with all Rock Band downloaded song tracks. In order to play downloadable content for head-to-head matches all players must own the same downloadable track. In addition, gamers can buy a new wireless standalone guitar to round out their Rock Band Special Edition Bundle or choose to build their band piece by piece through the purchase of individual software and instruments.

Rock Band Instrument Release Dates/Pricing:

• Rock Band Drum Kit (Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system) $79.99 MSRP; February 12, 2008
• Rock Band Wireless Fender® Stratocaster Guitar Controller (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, PlayStation 2 system*) $59.99 MSRP; April 1, 2008

Standalone Rock Band game software is currently available, as well as the Rock Band Special Edition Bundle featuring a Fender Stratocaster guitar controller, an electronic drum kit, real drum sticks, a microphone and software. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2 system bundles also come with a USB hub for easy plug-in access for all instruments.

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

Electronic Arts is the exclusive distribution and marketing partner for Rock Band.

• Note: The Rock Band PlayStation guitar and drums work for both PlayStation 2 and PLAYSTATION 3 systems.

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

Inon Zur’s Original Music Score From Groundbreaking Video Game Available in Stores on CD and for Digital Download on January 29th

New York – January 24th, 2008 – Sumthing Else Music Works, Inc., through a licensing relationship with Crytek, proudly presents CRYSIS Original Soundtrack. The soundtrack from the next-generation PC first-person shooter is released on January 29th, 2008 to retail outlets worldwide through Nile Rodgers’ Sumthing Else Music Works record label www.sumthing.com, and for digital download at www.sumthingdigital.com and iTunes®.

The CRYSIS Original Soundtrack features over an hour of original orchestral music written and conducted by award-winning film, television and video game composer Inon Zur and performed by the Northwest Sinfonia Orchestra. Renowned for composing emotionally dynamic orchestral music, Inon Zur was commissioned by Crytek to produce a modern cinematic score that heightens the impact of the dramatic storyline, realistic environments and highly-evolved gameplay.

Inon Zur’s compositions feature sweeping themes, immersive setup pieces, intense action music, and “otherworldly” musical soundscapes performed by the orchestra to invoke the alien influences in the game.

Zur’s previous video game credits include Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, Men of Valor, Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest, SOCOM II, Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal. For more information on the composer please visit www.inonzur.com.

Sumthing Else Music Works and Sumthing Distribution logos are copyright of their respective companies. All other names of products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.