PRO CYCLING MANAGER – TOUR DE FRANCE 2008: SECOND OFFICIAL TRAILER RELEASED

TRACK RACING gameplay ELEMENT revealed

Pro Cycling Manager – Tour De France 2008 is the latest version of the popular racing management game for PC and PSP. Ascaron and 93 Games have released a second official trailer showcasing the track racing mode, one of the game’s many new features.

Watch the trailer here

http://www.cycling-manager.com/pcm2008/trailer2/

Track cycling offers a different type of gameplay to the other classic and stage races, allowing you to control and experience the intensity of the race as a single rider, rather than as a whole team.

You are required to manage a cycling team, handling finances, training and press relations. A new characteristic editor tool can be used to customise individual rider traits, such as names, nationalities and future potential, ensuring that your team is built the way you want it. A new scout recruitment system will search all over the world for potential talented riders, tracking their race results to ensure you don’t miss out on signing the next big star.

These new features, combined with engaging gameplay, ensure that Pro Cycling Manager – Tour de France 2008 is a highly realistic professional cycling experience.

Visit http://www.cycling-manager.com for more information.

Fast facts:

Publisher: Ascaron Entertainment / 93GAMES

Web: www.ascaron.com / www.cycling-manager.com

Developer: Cyanide

Release date: 27th June 2008

PEGI: 3+

Format: PC / PSP

Genre: Management / Racing

Hoffman Estates, IL – June 10, 2008 - High Voltage Software, Inc., one of the world’s largest independent developers, today officially announced The Conduit, a stunning first-person action shooter that promises to provide some of the best visuals seen to date on Nintendo’s Wii gaming console, for Q1 2009 release.

Using their proprietary Quantum 3 Game Engine technology, the team at High Voltage Software is fusing fast and fluid gameplay with an advanced set of visuals intended to squarely establish the Wii as a true next-generation gaming platform. The first-person shooter boasts a competitive online multiplayer component and a thrilling single-player campaign. Advanced graphical features include dynamic environment mapping, interactive water with real-time reflection, and four-stage texture composition including gloss, diffuse, and bump mapping.

“Too many Wii owners have been told that the Wii is a casual platform with no room for serious games or top-tier graphics,” said Eric Nofsinger, Chief Creative Officer at High Voltage Software. “With The Conduit, we intend to prove that theory wrong by providing gamers with the kind of title they imagined back when the platform was first announced.”

Featuring terrifying alien creatures, an advanced Artificial Intelligence System, and a rich, conspiracy-laden story, The Conduit has more than a pretty face. “The Wii has tremendous potential,” said Kerry J. Ganofsky, CEO and founder of High Voltage Software. “We’ve invested heavily in our technology to make certain that potential is realized with The Conduit.”

The Conduit’s control scheme was carefully designed from the ground up with the Wii in mind, as were each of the weapons in the extensive armory, providing gameplay not possible on other platforms. As Secret Service Agent Ford, you must learn to master each of these weapons as well as the special “All Seeing Eye” device to defeat enemies, solve puzzles, and unravel the game’s mysteries.

“Conduit was especially designed for the Nintendo Wii” states Matt Corso, Creative Director at High Voltage Software. “From the weapons to armory and graphics, we tailored everything to the Wii which sets this game play apart from anything else on the market right now.”

Publisher excitement and interest in The Conduit has been overwhelming. High Voltage Software will continue to search for the perfect partner to ensure The Conduit’s success.

The Conduit is tentatively scheduled for release in Q1 2009 exclusively for the Nintendo Wii.

Codemasters Online invite players to Celebrate Father’s Day together in Middle-earth.
June 11th, 2008 - Codemasters Online are inviting fathers from across the UK to celebrate this year’s Father’s Day in virtual style by taking part in the Father’s Day celebrations set to take place across Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings Online.

Taking place on June 15th, Codemasters Online will be running a series of in-game Father’s Day events designed to celebrate this special occasion including father and sons fishing, music and fireworks as well as ad hoc competitions and challenges taking place throughout the day. Fathers are invited to attend these events with their sons and daughters and take part in the online festivities with the thousands of other players in Middle-earth.

“What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than spend it with your loved ones in the greatest fantasy world ever created?” said David Solari Vice President of Codemasters Online. “We invite fathers to come and enjoy the festivities that will we be running all day to mark this special occasion.”

The celebrations are open to both existing and new players to The Lord of the Rings Online. New players can download the free trial now at www.trylotro.com to take part in the day’s festivities.

For more information on the Father’s Day celebrations visit the game’s official European community portal www.lotro-europe.com

Popular Disney Franchise Extends New Storylines and Adventures to Popular Gaming Platforms This Christmas

LONDON, England. – (June 10, 2008) – Disney Interactive Studios announced today the release of new video games this Christmas season for the globally successful “High School Musical” franchise. High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! for the Wii™ home video game console, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Windows-based PC allows players to “dance” along with favourite characters to familiar “High School Musical” songs from all three movies, as well as experience another memorable year as Wildcats at East High. High School Musical 3: Senior Year for Nintendo DS™ features all new songs from the upcoming theatrical release of “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” and lets fans play through the game as the Wildcat whose personality is most like theirs.

“We’re building on the success of last year’s line up of ‘High School Musical’ video games with new immersive extensions to the hit property,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. “We’ll continue to bring exciting and fresh interactive experiences to ‘High School Musical’ fans everywhere, delivering new storylines, characters and songs.”

High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! for Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 system and Windows-based PC lets players experience the music, familiar locations and popular characters from all three movies, including the upcoming “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” Players move to the rhythm of the hit songs using the controllers unique to each video game console, such as Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™, to classic “High School Musical” anthems, including “We’re All In This Together” and “What Time Is It.”

Players take the role of Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad or Taylor or can customise their own Wildcat, using a variety of outfits, shoes and hairstyles. In addition, the game features various multiplayer modes, including competitive and cooperative play. In competitive mode, users can earn power-ups to affect other players’ performances, while in cooperative mode players need to dance simultaneously and in sync to earn high scores. Fans can follow along to choreography from the stars and complete songs to earn points and unlock new songs, clothing and characters.

A unique rhythm-based dance game, High School Musical 3: Senior Year for Nintendo DS also allows players to experience the music, scenes and characters from the “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” film. The game features trivia-based personality quizzes that allow players to determine the Wildcat whose personality is most like theirs. This feature lets fans dance through the game as that specific character, performing songs and experiencing the fun themed to Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad or Taylor’s personalities. In addition, High School Musical 3: Senior Year utilises the DS stylus and D-pad to capture special photos to create a custom East High senior yearbook layout, to keep for years to come.

High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! for Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 system and Windows-based PC and High School Musical 3: Senior Year for Nintendo DS are scheduled for release this Christmas. All titles have an anticipated Pan European Game Information (PEGI) rating of 3+.

For more information on Disney Interactive Studios, please visit www.disneyinteractivestudios.com.