PLATFORMS:                               Nintendo DS(tm), Wii(tm)
RELEASE DATE:                         9th May 2008 (DS(tm), Wii(tm)) PUBLISHER:                                Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
DEVELOPER:                              Sidhe Interactive (Wii(tm)) and Virtuous Games (Nintendo DS(tm))
PEGI RATING:                             3+
GENRE:                                      Arcade Action Racing 

GAME OVERVIEW:

Based on the upcoming Wachowski brothers film of the same name, Speed Racer will be released on the Wii(tm) and Nintendo DS(tm) in May 2008 with the film’s launch.  The PlayStation®2 system version will launch with the DVD in Autumn 2008. 

Set in a hyper-realistic world where car culture is the culture, players compete in the World Racing League (WRL) against up to 19 other racers across rollercoaster-like race tracks.  Players will enjoy a combative racing experience like no other when they take control of the T180 race car, achieving amazing speeds and mastering four independently turning wheels that allow drivers to engage in “car fu” to jump, flip, and outmaneuver their opponents. 

Speed Racer captures the action, look and feel of the high adrenaline arena racing developed for the movie in an accessible, fun-filled game that allows players to actually get behind the wheel and on incredible tracks straight out of the world of Speed Racer.

GAME FEATURES:

o         Go head to head against the fast-paced maneuvers and blazing speeds of the best drivers in the World Racing League

o         Master car-fu combat, using the T180 race car as a weapon to fight your way to the finish by smashing, jumping, flipping and spinning other cars off the track

o         Choose from over 20 different driver / race car combinations, including Speed Racer’s Mach 6 and Racer X’s Shooting Star

o         Game features the voices of Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch), Racer X (Matthew Fox) and Trixie (Christina Ricci) as playable characters

o         Trixie’s T180 race car is designed exclusively for the game by Speed Racer filmmakers

o         Experience gravity-defying tracks across five vibrant environments

o         Drive at blazing speeds in excess of 350 MPH across incredible tracks that have loops, corkscrews, jumps as well as other obstacles and challenges

o         Utilize “The Zone” to boost your speed up to 500 MPH and gain an advantage on the track

o         Create alliances with other racers to increase your chances of winning championships

From the screenshots it reminds me of Wipeout 2097 … in which case i will be getting this :) 

Its going to be released in May 2008 so not long to wait - I will get you peeps more information as i get it!!!

For the second year running Jagex has been awarded a place in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies list.

UK, Cambridge, 10th March, 2008 – Jagex Ltd, the online games developer, today announced it has been voted one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” for the second year in succession, and is the only games company to make the prestigious Sunday Times poll.

“I have never worked at a company with such an employee-friendly ethos and it is a great achievement to be the only games company to appear in the top 100 list. It has been a busy year for everyone at Jagex, developing RuneScape and launching our new games portal, FunOrb. Making the Times list is a great reward for everyone’s hard work over the past 12 months” said Geoff Iddison, CEO, Jagex Ltd.

About Jagex Ltd
Jagex Ltd is an independent games developer and publisher based in Cambridge, England, with over 350 employees. With proprietary graphics compression, game engine and network communication technologies, Jagex creates online games which are enjoyed by millions of players around the world.

New Multi-Platform Release of Best Selling Game Announced for 2008

 Empire Interactive PLC, an international publisher and developer of interactive entertainment software and a wholly owned subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSTR), announced 2008 will mark the return of the hugely successful puzzle phenomenon, Pipe Mania.

The frenetic, addictive game play of the original will be reborn on a variety of popular platforms, including Nintendo DS™ and Wii™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, PlayStation 2® computer entertainment system, Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, and PC.

The original version of Pipe Mania was published by Empire Interactive in 1989, with Pipe Dream released in the U.S. in 1991. It ranks as one of the most popular and ported puzzle games of all time. The title has achieved phenomenal sales of more than 4 million units worldwide, making it one the most successful puzzle games ever launched.

The simplicity of Pipe Mania makes it accessible to all ages. The player must lay down a pre-ordained set of pipes on a tiled grid in order to keep the constantly flowing Flooze moving for as long as possible without it spilling out. The game requires quick thinking, hand-eye co-ordination, forward thinking and keen spatial awareness.

This new version builds on the infectious playability of the original and adds expanded game modes, new themes, new play mechanics, and new pieces to challenge players of all skills and ages.

“We are very excited to bring back Pipe Mania,” said Ian Higgins, CEO of Empire Interactive. “Releasing this hugely popular puzzle title across these many formats will give gamers of all ages, particularly the newest generation, the opportunity to enjoy this exciting puzzle sensation.”

Clive Kabatznik, CEO of Silverstar holdings, stated, “The announcement of Pipe Mania sees us revisit one of Empire’s biggest brands. It’s difficult to put this one down and that makes it perfect for a broad demographic and a multitude of formats. We really keen to extend the reach of one of our most successful IPs.”