I met with Midway today and saw their holiday 2006 lineup.
Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar – This is a Turbine developed MMO for the PC that will ship “when it’s ready.” Beta testing begins around the end of August. They believe that they’ve created a state of the art MMO set in Tolkein’s world. It’s a large world where players have to act in groups and changes are persistent. Explore the world and fight monsters to unlock accomplishments and special skills. You can customize your character by developing different skills. It’s easy to play, the quest list is showing on the right side of the screen all the time with specific steps that you have to take. There are classes and professions. Bree town is a major gathering place that Turbine forsees as a bustling city full of player and nonplayer characters where you can train and participate in secure auctions. There are huge open areas like the Misty Mountains. Even though I was looking at an alpha build I thought it looked good. You can drag and drop to equip items. Quests encourage you to participate in group activities so there are some social aspects to it.
Mortal Kombat Armageddon In the seventh of the series for PS2 and Xbox, Midway brings back over 60 characters from the earlier versions. A huge feature is Kreate-A-Fighter where character creation is totally tweakable down to (or up to) breast size. If you add it all up there are millions of combos of different features that you can customize. You can also customize fighting style and button combos and write a bio for your character. Then you can take it all online and battle against other people’s characters. There’s also Kreate-A-Fatality where you enter a series of 3 button presses and can make your fatility as complex as you want. We’re talking about ripping out skulls, spines, beating hearts. There’s also a hidden mode that they’re releasing information about in August. Konquest mode is bigger and better with better graphics and more realistic melee fighting. It’s a single player story driven mode with boss battles that are the classic MK style. There are 20 plus backgrounds, some classics revisited now in 3D. This ships in October 2006 for PS2 and Xbox.
Mortal Kombat Unchained – This ships in October 2006 also and is for PSP. It’s got ad hoc WiFi multiplayer combat. There are 30 characters. Honestly, this looked fine but after seeing the Xbox version the PSP didn’t look so great.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., June 30, 2006 – With more NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers at the highest level of the sport gaming than ever before, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that its EA SPORTS™ branded NASCAR® videogame, NASCAR® 07, will feature NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Elliott Sadler on the cover. The longtime gamer has been heavily involved in all aspects of EA’s NASCAR franchise since he joined the Cup ranks in 1999, including taking home the championship trophy from last years’ EA SPORTS Drivers Gaming Competition in Bristol, TN, making him the perfect driver to showcase on the cover.
“I’m thrilled that EA has chosen me as their cover athlete for the game this year,” said Sadler, driver of the No. 38 M&M’s Ford Fusion for Robert Yates Racing. “I’ve been a big fan of this game for a while now and play it as often as I can whether I’m on the road or at home.”
“The changes for the game this year are really going to impress folks,” Sadler added. “They’ve brought the excitement and speed aspects of our sport to the forefront and put the control in the hands of the player. It’ll feel like you are right there in the car with me, feeling that adrenaline rush I get every time I’m out there on the track.”
Todd Sitrin, vice president of marketing, EA Tiburon, stated, “Over the years we have watched Elliott deal with some of the most exhilarating racing situations in the sport and come out on top. He represents what NASCAR 07 is all about, dealing with difficult situations and not letting it get to you, but instead focusing on the next opportunity and doing what you can to win.”
About Elliott Sadler
Elliott Sadler comes from a long line of racing history on the short tracks of Virginia, his home state. He spent two years in the NASCAR Busch Series before joining the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series ranks in 1998 with Wood Brothers Racing. After four seasons, Sadler and Wood Brothers parted ways and he secured a spot behind the wheel of the No. 38 M&M’s Ford at Robert Yates Racing.
2006 marks Sadler’s eighth season of competition on NASCAR’s premier circuit, where he has amassed three wins, a Gatorade Duel victory and six pole positions. Sadler has the distinction of being one of only four drivers to stay in the top-10 in points throughout the entire inaugural Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup in 2004.
About NASCAR 07
Get an inside look at the incredibly fast and dangerous world of NASCAR racing with NASCAR 07. The control is now in the hands of the player as they attempt to navigate through intense moments with drivers racing inches apart at 200 mph. Push your car to the limit and leave drivers in the dust as all-new effects from screen blurring to camera shaking highlight every detail of the action. Modify your car’s handling to your exact specification with a user-friendly sliding scale that makes for ultimate control behind the wheel. Get a NASCAR 101 racing education in a one-on-one tutorial from Kenny Wallace, then select your favorite driver and invest skill points to help him reach the pinnacle of the sport: The NEXTEL Cup Series championship.
NASCAR 07 will be on store shelves September 6th and is rated “E” for (Everyone) by the ESRB. The game will be available on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Xbox® video game system from Microsoft and NASCAR® will also be available on the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., – June 23, 2006 – Crank it up, gamers! The football pre-season kicks off with a bang as Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) reveals the 35 songs that will be featured in Madden NFL 07, becoming the de facto soundtrack of the 2007 football season. The bone-crunching action and heart-pounding adrenaline of the grid iron is intensified by the game’s one-of-a-kind mix of rock and hip hop.
“Year after year, the music selected for inclusion in EA’s smash hit football series invariably becomes the soundtrack of the football season, moving beyond the game to turn up in football stadiums and on live TV broadcasts,” said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Music Marketing at EA. “The Madden NFL Football franchise is recognized across North America as a driving force behind break-out bands… this year EA does it again.”
Players step onto the field in Madden NFL 07 with the thundering roar of the crowd in the background and the air filled with pounding rock anthems and energizing hip hop beats. Dr. Dre’s protégé who first appeared in NBA LIVE 06 and NFL STREET 2, Bishop LaMont now makes an appearance on Madden NFL 07 with a track featuring Chevy Jones, while Lupe Fiasco is on deck with Jonah Matranga. These hot tracks are included alongside new releases from fan favorites AFI, Audioslave, Dashboard Confessional and Taking Back Sunday. Also this year, game fans will be spellbound by new music debuts from Jared Leto’s 30 Seconds to Mars, Dave Navarro’s band The Panic Channel, and Rise Against whose sophomore record is anticipated to be one of the biggest rock albums of the year.
Again this year, the hip hop production team Da Riffs remixed nearly a dozen original NFL FILMS music pieces will be showcased throughout the menus and in gameplay.
The complete in-game soundtrack for Madden NFL 07 includes:
ARTIST
SONG
30 Seconds To Mars
Battle Of One
AFI
Summer Shudder
Al Fatz
Came Down
Anti-Flag
This Is The End (For You My Friend)
Atreyu
Ex’s And Oh’s
Audioslave **
Revelations
Bishop LaMont feat. Chevy Jones **
The Best
Cartel
Say Anything (Else)
Cord **
Go Either Way
Damone
Out Here All Night
Dashboard Confessional
Reason To Believe
Dynamite MC **
Bounce
Feezy 350
Playa What
Glasses Malone **
Right Now
Hit The Lights
Until We Get Caught
Keane
Is It Any Wonder?
Less Than Jake
Still Life Franchise
Lupe Fiasco feat. Jonah Matranga
The Instrumental
Matchbook Romance
Monsters
Omnisoul **
Not Giving Up
Rise Against
Drones
Riverboat Gamblers
On Again Off Again
Saves The Day
Head For The Hills
Shorty Da Kid **
Get Loose
Spank Rock
Backyard Betty
Sparta **
Future Needs
Taking Back Sunday
Spin
The Panic Channel**
Teahouse Of The Spirits
The Pink Spiders
Easy Way Out
The Rapture**
WAYUH
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
In Fates Hands
The Sleeping
Don’t Hold Back
Trae
Real Talk
Underoath
Ever So Inviting
Wolfmother
Woman
** Indicates song will debut in Madden NFL 07 before being released to retail
Redwood City, Calif. – June 22, 2006 – Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that Need for Speed™ Carbon is in development and will hit the streets this November. Developed by EA Black Box in Vancouver, British Columbia, Need for Speed Carbon delivers the next generation of adrenaline-filled street racing and will challenge players to face the ultimate test of driving skill on treacherous canyon roads.
“We pride ourselves on our ability to reinvent the franchise and continually uncover new and exciting trends in car culture. Canyon Racing is a real test of a driver’s skill and we think it provides a fantastic game play opportunity to lean into,” said Larry LaPierre, the game’s executive producer.
What starts in the city is settled in the canyons as Need for Speed Carbon immerses you into the world’s most dangerous and adrenaline-filled form of street racing. You and your crew must race in an all-out war for the city, risking everything to take over your rivals’ neighborhoods one block at a time. As the police turn up the heat, the battle ultimately shifts to Carbon Canyon, where territories and reputations can be lost on every perilous curve. Need for Speed Carbon delivers the next generation of customization giving you the power to design and tweak your crew’s cars in every way using the ground-breaking new Autosculpt™ technology. Represent your car class, your crew, and your turf in Need for Speed Carbon, the next revolution in racing games.
Redwood City, Calif. – Thursday, June 22, 2006 – Washington Capitals rookie phenom Alexander Ovechkin has signed with Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) to be the cover athlete and spokesman for its EA SPORTS™ branded NHL® 07 game. Drafted first overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Ovechkin lived up to his potential and put forth the third most prolific rookie campaign in NHL history. Exceeding his freshman status, Ovechkin made his presence known by finishing the season third overall in the League for points (106), tied for third in goals (52), and first in shots (425).
“To me, I feel like your accomplishments have been recognized when you make the cover of a videogame,” said Ovechkin. “I have been playing EA SPORTS games for years and am honored to be a part of the NHL® 07 team.”
Ovechkin exploded onto the scene in the 2005-06 season, playing with a level of intensity, passion, and talent that is causing many to label him the new face of the NHL. At the age of 20, he has already won the Valery Kharlamov Trophy as the best Russian player in the NHL and is a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy for outstanding rookie. More telling of his reputation around the League is his nomination for the Lester B. Pearson Award, an honor bestowed upon the outstanding player as voted by his peers in the NHL Players’ Association.
The golden age of console hockey will return when NHL 07 debuts with gameplay innovations that will allow players to feel like they are actually on the ice. Featuring an unmatched level of freedom and control, NHL 07 will represent a watershed moment in the history of the console hockey when it ships throughout Canada and the United States in September 2006. Hockey purists and casual fans alike will feel like they can play like a pro when they pick up NHL 07.
NEW YORK – June 22, 2006 – 2K Sports, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), announced today that NHL All-Star center Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks is the official spokesman and cover athlete for NHL 2K7. The 2005-06 NHL assist and points leader was the catalyst behind the San Jose Sharks’ 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs run, and has established himself as one of the best centers in the NHL.
The overall first pick of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, Thornton has achieved many awards in his successful career. Named an NHL All-Star three consecutive times, Thornton has been a valuable member of Team Canada in international play, winning a gold medal for Team Canada in the 2004 World Cup, and was named MVP in the 2005 World Championship. In his first year at San Jose, he helped lead the Sharks into the 2006 NHL Playoffs with his diligent work ethic, exceptional passing, and unselfish play. He is the 2006 recipient of the Art Ross Trophy, awarded to the League’s leader in points at the end of the regular season, as well as a nominee for this year’s Hart Memorial Trophy as the League MVP and the Lester B. Pearson Award.
“We’re very proud to have Joe Thornton represent NHL 2K7,” stated Erik Whiteford, vice president of marketing, 2K Sports. “Joe had an amazing season and it was through his leadership, team-first philosophy, and winning attitude that make him the ideal athlete to be the face of our finest NHL 2K title to date.”
“It’s a great distinction to have been selected as the cover athlete for NHL 2K7,” said Thornton. “The NHL 2K series has been recognized as the top rated and premiere NHL video game for several years and to be associated with such a great product is truly an honor.”
Available in Fall 2006 for the Xbox 360(TM) and Xbox(R) video game and entertainment systems from Microsoft, PlayStation(R)3 computer entertainment system and PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, NHL 2K7 features completely new and unique skating animations and delivers a fresh look and impeccable feel to each on-ice stride. NHL 2K7 also debuts a unique approach to viewing and experiencing virtual hockey with new dynamic cameras and an innovative presentation system that will immerse players into the intense drama of each hockey game. 2K Sports expects NHL 2K7 to continue the tradition as the best rated hockey game on any system.
For more information, log onto http://www.2ksports.com
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Wednesday, June 21, 2005 – Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS) announced today that Tracy McGrady, one of the most explosive and electrifying athletes over his nine-year NBA career, has been selected the new face of NBA LIVE 07, scheduled for release this fall under the EA SPORTS™ brand.
The Houston Rockets forward joins an exclusive list of NBA players to be selected to the cover of the best-selling EA SPORTS basketball franchise*. McGrady will serve as spokesperson and will be the center-piece of NBA LIVE 07 advertising, marketing and packaging in North America and several other countries around the world.
A two-time NBA scoring champion and six-time NBA All-Star, McGrady embodies athleticism and masterful skill, characteristics that the best-selling NBA LIVE 07 videogame brings to life. McGrady led the league in scoring by averaging 32.1 points per game in 2003, when he became the youngest NBA player to average 30-plus points per game since Bob McAdoo in 1974-75, and has remained one of the game’s most popular and entertaining players. McGrady finished 12th in NBA scoring (24.4 ppg) this year and averaged 6.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists. It was the sixth time in his career he has scored more than 24 points a game.
“I’ve always looked upon the EA SPORTS athletes as fan favorites so I’m honored to be named this year’s NBA LIVE 07 cover athlete and join the EA SPORTS family,” said McGrady. “Each year there is tremendous anticipation around the league as players wait to see themselves in NBA LIVE and I feel like this year my virtual self plays more like me than ever before. This is as close to playing in the NBA as you get.”
McGrady joins an exclusive list of superstar athletes previously featured on the cover of the best-selling NBA LIVE franchise, including Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat (2006), Carmelo Anthony (2005), Vince Carter (2004), and Jason Kidd (2003).
This year NBA LIVE 07 will play as good as it looks with gameplay advancements that build upon the depth and authenticity that the NBA LIVE franchise has delivered for more than a decade. Powered by next generation technology that EA showcased at Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), NBA LIVE 07 will introduce the next generation of basketball gameplay with EA SPORTS™ Total Freestyle Control, a new feature that gives users more control over athletes than they ever imagined. By introducing a ground-breaking next generation AI system that is both intuitive and intelligent, combined with advancements to fan-favorite features like All-Star Weekend and Dynasty Mode™, NBA LIVE 07 will continue to deliver its award-winning gameplay experience to fans worldwide.
This year NBA LIVE 07 will partner with the worldwide leader in sports to deliver more ESPN content in-game while you play than ever before. The most advanced ESPN integration package with never-before-seen features will be available only through NBA LIVE 07.
The official NBA LIVE 07 website will host news and information on this year’s game, behind the scenes looks at the TV commercial shoots and the making of the game, as well as contests, videos, screenshots and pod casts with some of the top 2006 NBA Draft picks. Go to www.nbalive07.com for the latest news and features for NBA LIVE 07.
Developed in Vancouver, B.C., by EA Canada, the studio which is also home to the popular NBA STREET and NCAA® March Madness® franchises, NBA LIVE 07 will be available on the Xbox 360™ and Xbox® video game systems from Microsoft, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) system, and PC.
NBA LIVE Cover Athletes – North America
NBA LIVE 07 – Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets
NBA LIVE 06 – Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
NBA LIVE 2005 – Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
NBA LIVE 2004 – Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors
NBA LIVE 2003 – Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets
NBA LIVE 2002 – Steve Francis, Houston Rockets
NBA LIVE 2001 – Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
NBA LIVE 2000 – Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
NBA LIVE 1999 – Antoine Walker, Boston Celtics
NBA LIVE 1998 – Tim Hardaway, Miami Heat
NBA LIVE 1997 – Mitch Richmond, Sacramento Kings
NBA LIVE 1996 – Shaquille O’Neal, Orlando Magic
NBA LIVE 1995 – New York Knicks vs Houston Rockets
* Based on total franchise sales according to NPD Data.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – June 21, 2006 – Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) brings to life the triumphs and travails of one of sports’ most gut wrenching jobs with NFL Head Coach¸ a new franchise from the EA SPORTS™ brand. The first 3-D sports strategy game, NFL Head Coach, is now in stores and challenges gamers to manage every aspect of a professional football team and build their franchise from the ground up into a perennial powerhouse as you try to become the greatest coach of all time.
You can manage every detail of a head coach’s job by calling the plays from the sidelines, conducting practice, scouting players and making draft day deals to land the league’s next superstar in detailed, interactive environments. In NFL Head Coach, it is your responsibility to make the right decisions, hire the best people and develop a game plan that will catch the opposition off guard. Find impact players and upgrade your roster via the draft, free agency and trades.
“NFL Head Coach is a completely unique football experience unlike any other football game EA SPORTS has ever created,” said Todd Sitrin, vice president of marketing, EA Tiburon, the studio famous for making the top-rated football games Madden NFL and NCAA Football. “Now the focus is on the six days leading up to game day and the strategy behind every coaching decision made. This is the game to decide if you really have what it takes to turn your team into a champion.”
NFL Head Coach includes voice-activated game play so you can use headsets to call plays on game day and receive audio play recommendations from coordinators. Steve Sabol, president of NFL Films, hosts scripted sequences as coaching career milestones are reached. The game also features ESPN integration with Mel Kiper Jr. and Trey Wingo.
Developed by EA Tiburon in Orlando, Fla. where Madden NFL Football, NCAA® Football, NASCAR® and Superman Returns™: The Videogame are developed, NFL Head Coach is available on PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox® videogame system from Microsoft and PC for $39.99 and is rated E by the ESRB. For more information log on to www.nflheadcoach.com.
San Francisco, CA June 8, 2005 – Today Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announced the availability of AND 1® Streetball in retail stores for a suggested price of $39.99. Developed by Black Ops for the PlayStationÒ2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, AND 1 Streetball is the ultimate basketball experience and features all the jaw-dropping moves of authentic streetball.
With unprecedented depth, freedom and control, AND 1 Streetball features the entire roster of sensational AND 1 MixTape Tour players such as AO, The Professor, Spyda and Pharmacist – each with their signature moves and look. AND 1 Streetball also gives you the power to create your own player and your own moves – so you can become the next streetball phenomenon.
The highly immersive Story mode puts you on the AND 1 MixTape Tour – the world’s premier streetball event, where originality and the ability to electrify the crowds will get your name mentioned alongside the streetball legends. But to become a legend in true AND 1 MixTape Tour fashion, you must continue to work on your skills and elevate your game every time you play.
Visit www.and1streetballgame.com for exclusive insider information.
Key features include:
· Experience real streetball
Step into the shoes of the AND 1 players to execute mesmerizing moves like Hot Sauce’s killer crossover, Helicopter’s rim-bending dunks, and The Professor’s no-look passes.
· A basketball game revolution
Build your own character and create your own signature moves using AND 1’s revolutionary Create-a-Move editor, loaded with custom showboating, scoring and celebration moves.
· Can you handle it?
School the competition with I Ballâ„¢ controls, an intuitive control system that gives you fluid and precise command over every offensive and defensive move. Not only will you do it, you will also feel it.
· Become the next AND 1 phenom
Story mode allows you to experience the trials and exhilarations of getting signed to the AND 1 MixTape Team, as seen on ESPN. Dominate the open run, survive the hazing and bring it home in the final game, as seen on ESPN.
· Run it how you want it
Play the game you want to play. Scale your teams anywhere from one-on-one to five-on-five. Run a full-court game, or do a half-court battle – the choice is yours.
· Heavy rotation – station identification
Just like the AND 1 MixTapes, the music soundtrack features a loaded library of unreleased songs. The eclectic mix of exclusive hip-hop tracks represents various styles, including West Coast, East Coast, and the Dirty South Crunk! Each court has its own sound and flavor.
· Online multiplayer
Put your skills to the test against other top players as you showcase your own creative moves and strive to gain a reputation as the best.
© 2006 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. AND 1®, Mix Tape®, and I BALL are trademarks of AND 1. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Developed by Black Ops Entertainment, LLC. “PlayStation†and the “PS†Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Online play requires internet connection and Memory Card (8MB)(for PlayStation 2) (each sold separately). The Online icon is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox Live, the Live logo and the Xbox logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or in other countries and are used under license from Microsoft.
BURBANK, Calif. – June 7, 2006 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will launch JUSTICE LEAGUE HEROESTM: THE FLASHTM for Game Boy® Advance system and JUSTICE LEAGUE HEROES for Nintendo DS™ system in Fall 2006. Distributed by Eidos Interactive, the games will release simultaneously with the JUSTICE LEAGUE HEROES games for PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) system.
JUSTICE LEAGUE HEROES: THE FLASH, developed by WayForward Technologies for the Game Boy Advance system, lets gamers play as DC Comics’ The Flash, wielding his Speed Force to strike enemies before they can strike back, unlock powerful combination attacks and slow-down time to defeat adversaries in slow motion. As the Fastest Man Alive, gamers also enlist the support of fellow Justice League members by calling in special attacks from Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and other DC Comics super heroes.
JUSTICE LEAGUE HEROES for the Nintendo DS system, developed by Sensory Sweep Studios as a prequel to the console title, lets gamers use the stylus to control and unleash the superpowers of Batman, Superman, The Flash and Wonder Woman. Gamers use objects within the destructible environment against enemies at will and also call in devastating attacks from other DC Comics super heroes, like Aquaman and Green Arrow, to help save the world from certain destruction.
About Sensory Sweep Studios
Sensory Sweep, well known for its cross platform technology, is one of the industry’s leading independent video game developers. Having worked with publishers such as Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, EA, Capcom, 2K, and D3, Sensory Sweep remains one of most sought after development studios and is among the largest independently owned and operated.
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