This game is the followup to the critically acclaimed( http://www.linux.com/feature/119775 ) Alien Arena 2007, and features nearly all new game media, gameplay improvements, and a client that has been signifigantly upgraded for improved visual effects as well as major optimizations that greatly improve the fluidity and performance.

Alien Arena 2008 also offers a change to it’s overall theme, moving towards a slightler darker, more serious tone, while still retaining a good bit of it’s retro style, creating an interesting marriage between classic and modern sci-fi. This resulted in completely new player models, many new weapon models and textures, and seventeen, yes, seventeen new levels! The transformation is nothing short of remarkable.

There are major improvements in weapon effects, per-pixel lighting, texture resolution, and resource usage, as well as the addition of a cross platform server browser, FUSE. Weapons have been tweaked for better balance, and movement has been enhanced with the addition of dodging abilities. Alien Arena 2008 will run on Windows and Linux, and the OSX/Mac port will be released in one week.

To download the game, see new screenshots and videos, please visit http://red.planetarena.org today!”

Join Kirby in his first 3D adventure propelling him out of Dream Land and to the stars! First seen on Nintendo 64 in 2001, Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards™ sees Kirby enlisted to help a new friend trace all the pieces of a precious, shattered crystal. Taking him on a dynamic adventure across six worlds, resulting in a showdown with enemy Dark Matter, everyone’s favourite powerful, pink puffball must save his friends from this deadly new foe. As Kirby, players can utilise his unique copy ability, gulping down enemies to replicate their abilities, or mix and match them to discover dozens of new Kirby powers. As an added bonus, Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards™ features three exciting mini-games to enjoy with up to three other players! This cute, colourful title is available to download for 1000 Wii Points on this week’s Virtual Console!

Virtual Console offers users the ultimate retro gaming experience. This week’s title joins the list of 193 classic titles already available for Virtual Console in Europe.

Prepare to become champion of the courtroom, dazzling onlookers with persuasive wit and a keen sense of intuition as Apollo Justice™ Ace Attorney™ comes to the Nintendo DS. Succeeding the highly popular Phoenix Wright™ Ace Attorney™ series, this title sees brand new protagonist, Apollo Justice, assume the mantle of courtroom star, ensuring justice for those who deserve it most. Apollo Justice Ace Attorney, developed and published by Capcom and distributed by Nintendo, launches across Europe on 9th May 2008.

Opening a new chapter in the series, Apollo Justice Ace Attorney sees Apollo Justice and the mysterious magician Trucy, pick their way through investigations ahead of them. Take on the role of Apollo Justice and use instincts and a confident manner to unearth crucial clues at the scene of the crime, triumphing over genius prosecutor and part-time rockstar, Klavier Gavin.

Like the previous Phoenix Wright titles, the action is split into two distinct styles of gameplay. In the investigation part of the game, players must gather evidence and scour the surrounding area for clues, which will see them utilise the Nintendo DS’s Touch Screen to dust for fingerprints or take plaster casts of footprints. Whilst obtaining this essential evidence, players must also interview key witnesses to gain important information on the nature of the felony. Here presenting damning evidence can help to convince a witness to reveal their secrets that may prove vital to the case!

The second section of the game is based in the courtroom and sees Apollo skilfully arguing in defence of his client. Cross examine witnesses to reveal the truth and use the Nintendo DS microphone to halt proceedings with cries of ‘Objection!’ and ‘Hold it!”. When Apollo must back up his wild claims, the crime scene is recreated and the player must pinpoint the area that holds the key to the case. Players can also refer to court records at any point in proceedings to develop their case, touching the ‘profiles’ screen to reveal the characters’ information and uncover more vital clues!

Completely new to the series is Apollo’s unique ability to Perceive Habits. This allows him to focus in on subconscious twitches witnesses make, giving away that they are hiding the truth. When such an event occurs, the player can home in on the character using the Touch Screen and search for their nervous habit. If this is successfully located, the twitch can be exploited to further break through the lies in their testimony!

So make sure justice is executed as Apollo Justice Ace Attorney passes judgement across Europe on the Nintendo DS on 9th May 2008, for the estimated retail price of €29.99.

Modern Metal Pack to Feature Chart-Toppers from Avenged Sevenfold, Deftones and Thrice Dropkick Murphys On Tap for Free Download Available in Time for Dropkick Murphys On Tap for Free Download Available in Time for St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations

SANTA MONICA, CA – March 6, 2008 – New downloadable songs for Activision Inc.’s Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock are set to storm living rooms across the globe with the release of two new track packs.

Available today is the Modern Metal pack which let’s players jam to master recordings of Deftones’ “Hole in the Earth,” Avenged Sevenfold’s “Almost Easy” and Thrice’s “The Arsonist.” The track pack is now on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and will be available later today on PLAYSTATION®Store for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.

Additionally, Activision will be kicking off the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations with a special free track pack from the popular Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys that will be available mid March. Straight from the band’s sixth album, The Meanest of Times, the Dropkick Murphys pack will include master recordings of “Famous for Nothing,” “(F)lannigan’s Ball” and “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya.” The track pack will be available for free to download on Xbox LIVE Marketplace and PLAYSTATION®Store.

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. For more information visit www.guitarhero.com.