By Sky News SkyNews - Wednesday, January 30 11:45 am

A man who played video games for hours each day has been convicted of killing his 17-month-old daughter when she pulled out his Xbox console.

Jurors rejected arguments that Tyrone Spellman had confessed to protect the child’s mother.

After a day of deliberation, they convicted Spellman of third-degree murder and child endangerment, for which he faces up to 47 years in prison.

Prosecutors in Philadelphia believe he pummelled Alayiah Turman, cracking her skull several times, while her pregnant mother slept in another room on September 7, 2006.

They argued that Spellman fled the house afterwards, and that the mother, Mia Turman, had no reason to go in the bedroom where the baby was found.

“He spent six to seven hours a day in there playing Xbox,” Assistant District Attorney James Berardinelli said.

Spellman, 27, of Philadelphia, confessed to police the next day, but defence lawyer Bobby Hoof said his statement had been coerced after 24 hours in custody.

“He’s not happy with the verdict. He does not agree with the verdict, but he respects the jury verdict,” Mr Hoof said of Spellman.

A post-mortem examination showed that Alayiah had suffered a broken arm about two weeks before she died - an injury that city social workers did not see on two visits to the house in late August, when they found the toddler well.

The city took custody of the couple’s second daughter, born after Alayiah’s death.

jeezuz… what a freak…. no need for that…

The snakebyte Riimote for Nintendo Wii^TM will be availabe Europe-wide on February 8, 2008 - snakebyte Nunchaku, Wireless Nunchaku, and Retro Controller shall follow in spring

Hemer/Germany, 30.1.2008. The video gaming accessory pros from sunflex Europe are ready to launch their snakebyte Riimote - a wireless controller for use with Nintendo Wii^TM on February 8, 2008. The Riimote will be available Europe-wide for 39,99€ (RRP) and comes in Glossy Black and Lipstick Pink (especially for girls) including security straps and matching non-slip rubber sleeves.

Furthermore, sunflex plans to complement the new controller range for use with Nintendo Wii^TM with the snakebyte Nunchaku, the Wireless Nunchaku, and the Retro Controller in spring. On top, additional colours are in the pipeline.

1C releases a free map editor for its popular turn-based strategy

MOSCOW, Russia - January 30, 2008 - Leading Eastern and Central European publisher 1C Company today announced that the long-awaited map editor for the critically-acclaimed strategy game is now available and is absolutely free. An easy-to-use tool will allow gamers to create stunning new battlefields. The map editor is available for download at the Fantasy Wars web page (http://www.1cpublishing.eu/game/fantasy-wars/downloads) or web site (http://fantasywars.1cpublishing.eu/index.php?page=editor).

Fantasy Wars is a turn-based strategy game set in a fantasy world. Combining both classic turn-based strategy gameplay and modern 3D graphics, players can experience epic battles like never before. Taking place in a fantasy world of Human kingdoms, Orc clans, Dwarfs’ citadels and Elven forests the player is thrust into a world of war and legend.

Players can participate in castle sieges and village defense, assault and reconnaissance operations and swift raids. The game consists of three story-connected campaigns. In each of them players will have to gather an army, upgrade units, find magic artifacts and learn new spells. With more than More than 70 units and 9 types of armies the original epic story line will engross players. The advanced army upgrade system will also carry over into the multiplayer modes allowing friends to combat each other with the full force of their armies’.

Publishing partnership prepares Easter edition of Girl Gamer for Bliss and Mizz readers

30/01/08– Future, the special-interest media group – has announced the second issue of Girl Gamer, the UK’s first games magazine for girls, produced in a unique publishing partnership with Panini.

The title is an extension of Future’s fast-growing Official Nintendo Magazine – and the second issue of Girl Gamer will be included FREE with Easter issues of Panini’s monthly title, Bliss – aimed at 12-16 year old girls and the fortnightly Mizz – targeted at 10-14 year old females.

With a print-run of 340,000 copies, the 32-page Girl Gamer will once again champion female focused product on the Nintendo DS and Wii consoles for girl gamers aged 10-16 years old.

Issue 02 will also be available in digital e-zine form via the Bliss, Mizz and Official Nintendo Magazine websites, with combined reach of over 500,000 readers.

The debut issue, which was distributed in November proved a fantastic success with readers and software publishers alike, garnering support and approval from Disney, Ubisoft, Atari, Empire, 505 Games, Koch Media, Eidos and Nintendo. The second issue of Girl Gamer will once again be headed by experienced Future Editor Kate Evans – who previously worked on Official magazines for kids – including Disney and the popular TV channel, Jetix.

Publisher of Girl Gamer and Official Nintendo Magazine, Lee Nutter said:

“The universal appeal and accessibility of Nintendo’s DS and Wii consoles means that more and more teenage girls are playing games. Our partnership with Panini’s Bliss and Mizz magazines gives us fantastic reach into this audience, delivering relevant game content to 840,000 readers of the print and digital e-zine edition of Girl Gamer.”

Jess Tadmor, Marketing Manager of Bliss and Mizz said, “ “We are delighted to partner with Future again on the second edition of Girl Gamer. The interest in gaming amongst teenage girls continues to grow and Girl Gamer provides our readers with varied content on some of the hottest games that are in the market.”

Issue 2 of Girl Gamer is scheduled to be included with Bliss, on sale 26 March and Mizz, on sale 20 March.

Eidos Interactive, one of the world’s leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, is pleased to announce MONSTER LAB, a brand new RPG action game for the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS.

MONSTER LAB is set in the eerie world of Uncanny Valley where the evil Baron Mharti rules with a cruel hand. The player takes on the role of an apprentice scientist who must perform a vast array of intricate experiments to create their very own monster from over 100 million possible monster part variations on offer. Taking control of your monster, the player can then explore the land; searching for ingredients to make more monster parts, hunting out other monsters to defeat in combat, uncovering quests to embark upon or simply competing in the numerous mini-games available.

“Monster Lab will offer a wealth of fresh ideas to both Wii and DS players,” said Fabien Rossini, Global Brand Controller, Eidos. “These include gesture based combat, a compelling on-line fighting and trading system and total customization of the player’s monster.”

As a 3rd party online Wii game, players can challenge and compete with their friends in fast-paced, ferocious monster to monster multiplayer combat – or even trade with friends to collect the items and monster parts needed to build the strongest monster.

The ultimate goal is to vanquish the evil Baron Mharti and liberate the villagers through mastering experiments, creating a powerful army of monsters and conquering all of the vast environments, only then will the player rise through the ranks and become a scientist worthy of defeating the Baron!

Developed by Backbone Vancouver, Monster Lab is set for release on Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS in 2008.

Wednesday 30th January/…SouthPeak Games has announced that it will be publishing Things On Wheels for Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®. Things On Wheels is an accessible, pure arcade racing title placing players at the helm of radio-controlled vehicles as they compete on tracks set within a gigantic house. Developed by experienced Xbox LIVE Arcade alumni Load Inc., Things On Wheels promises to deliver plenty of radio-controlled racing fun when released in summer 2008.

A key innovation for Things On Wheels is its non-linear track design. Moving from room to room within an expansive virtual house, courses are constructed from routes that incorporate everyday items as hazards and obstacles. It’s entirely possible that a championship could be won by taking the right path around a set of table legs, or cruelly lost by failing to avoid the searing heat of an electric heater. With huge scope for a variety of wildly entertaining courses, developers Load Inc. are promising to infuse Things On Wheels with as much radio-controlled racing mayhem as possible.

“We’ve been looking to move into Xbox LIVE Arcade titles and Load Inc. wanted to do something brand new with the racing genre. This really appealed to us,” said Melanie Mroz, CEO of SouthPeak Games. “Competing with real life remote control cars is great fun, so why not do it in a videogame? Things on Wheels will deliver the same reckless thrill and as such, is a perfect candidate for us to announce as our first Xbox LIVE Arcade game.”

Things On Wheels will be released for Xbox LIVE Arcade in summer 2008

REDWOOD CITY, California - January 29, 2008 - Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm of Hudson Soft, today announced Bomberman Land for the Wii and the PSP (PlayStationPortable) system, and Bomberman Land Touch! 2 for the Nintendo DS are now available at retail. Published by Hudson and distributed in North America by Konami Digital Entertainment Inc., all three versions are now available for a suggested retail price of $29.99 each.

Bomberman Land brings an exciting single player campaign element to the Bomberman property while holding true to the multiplayer mode that has made it so popular in the past. The series introduces a multitude of attractions, many of which can be played in multiplayer mode. Both the PSP system and Wii feature 50 attractions. While the Wii version is full of interactive games that use intuitive Wii Remote controls, all of the PSP system’s attractions can be played and shared in multiplayer. The Nintendo DS version features more than 40 types of attractions that either use the stylus or the microphone to play. In addition, the Bomberman Land series contains a robust single-player Story Mode, where adventurers explore a fantasy land, take on quests and solve puzzles to restore the peace and tranquility of the beleaguered Bomberman world.

The biggest feature on each platform is the classic multiplayer Bomberman experience that gamers know and love. The PSP system and Nintendo DS allow up to four players to compete globally. While both versions offer shared multiplay, the Nintendo DS title allows eight people to play locally. The Wii version, on the other hand, features six “Battle Modes”: Normal, Points, Stars, Crown, All-Out and a Wii exclusive mode designed specifically for the Wii Remote. Each “Battle Mode” includes 20 maps, making it the game to have for the ultimate party.

“As one of the most recognizable video game franchises in the industry, the Bomberman series has always been known for its fun and addictive gameplay, and these three new installments are no exception,” said John Greiner President and CEO of Hudson Entertainment. Packed with fun attractions, a compelling single-player mode and a competitive multiplayer experience, these new games will keep players coming back for more.”