A simulation run by EA SPORTS™ NHL® 10 predicts that cover boy Patrick Kane will fall just short of claiming the Stanley Cup as the Pittsburgh Penguins repeat as Cup champions. Led by an outstanding performance by Conn Smythe Winner, Marc-Andre Fleury, the Penguins were able to withstand a relentless offensive assault by the young Chicago forwards. Hart Memorial Trophy winner Sidney Crosby and the Penguins take home the Stanley Cup for the second time in as many years with a 4 games to 2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Despite being considered one of the top teams in the league, the Detroit Red Wings barely made the playoffs, and were eliminated in a quick five games by the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago established that they are a team to watch by finishing first in the West on their road to the Stanley Cup Finals. Other notable teams in the simulation included the Carolina Hurricanes, who finished with the most points in the league and walked away with the President’s Trophy; the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks, who were the only Canadian teams to make the playoffs; and the Florida Panthers, who made the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
Several individual players also stood out in the NHL 10 simulation. The Penguins’ Sidney Crosby completes an injury-free season and captures the Hart Memorial trophy after posting 102 points during the regular season. The Chicago Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane has a breakout season and is one of the top ten point getters in the NHL. Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf takes the Art Ross trophy after leading the league with 107 points, while Ilya Kovalchuk walked away with the Maurice Richard trophy after leading the league with 57 goals, and NHL 09 cover boy, Dion Phaneuf caps a stellar year by leading the Calgary Flames to a NorthWest Division Championship and winning the Norris Trophy.
Final Regular Season Standings:
Western Conference
W
L
OTL
PTS
1
Chicago
54
26
2
110
2
San Jose
49
26
7
105
3
Calgary
47
30
5
99
4
Columbus
48
27
7
103
5
Los Angeles
46
30
6
98
6
Vancouver
43
29
10
96
7
Anaheim
43
30
9
95
8
Detroit
39
34
9
87
9
Nashville
39
35
8
86
10
St Louis
39
39
4
82
11
Phoenix
37
40
5
79
12
Edmonton
34
39
9
77
13
Minnesota
31
36
15
77
14
Dallas
33
43
6
72
15
Colorado
27
44
11
65
Eastern Conference
W
L
OTL
PTS
1
Carolina
54
23
5
113
2
Boston
49
25
8
106
3
Pittsburgh
47
28
7
101
4
New Jersey
46
29
7
99
5
Washington
47
31
6
98
6
New Rangers
45
31
6
96
7
Philadelphia
42
32
8
92
8
Florida
40
33
9
89
9
Tampa Bay
40
38
4
84
10
Montreal
37
36
9
83
11
Ottawa
39
39
4
82
12
Toronto
36
37
9
81
13
Buffalo
34
37
11
79
14
Atlanta
34
42
6
74
15
New York Islanders
31
41
10
72
June 19, 2009 – Madden NFL fans, start your season early with an in depth look at the teams of the NFL. Who will be the powerhouse teams this year? What players have improved? What players have seen better days? See how your favorite team and players will fair – according to the Madden NFL 10 Season Preview.
We continue our look at each team’s overall rating and individual player ratings with a focus on the NFC South division. In addition to the player ratings, a wealth of team-specific assets will be made available, for both the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, and Wii versions of Madden NFL 10.
Everything culminates on August 3rd, where Madden NFL 10 will predict the 2009 NFL division winners, season MVP, and more.
To view the overall team ratings for the Falcons, Buccaneers, Panthers and Saints, as well as download the complete team roster ratings, visit the official Madden NFL 10 website below:
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Developer: TT Games
ESRB: E 10+
Platforms: Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PS2, PS3, PSP
Score: 9 out of 10
Warner Bros. has the formula down pat: take a beloved story, convert all the characters to a bunch of LEGOs, and ship hours worth of fun out to gamers across the world. It all started with LEGO Star Wars and continues to LEGO Batman. This is fantastic fun that brings together to tinkering of LEGO with the adventure of Batman.
A stampede of notorious criminals have busted out of ARKHAM ASYLUM, where GOTHAM CITY houses only the shadiest of characters. It’s up to the famed CAPED CRUSADER to sweep Gotham clean of criminal activity using everything at his disposal, including crime-fighting vehicles as well as several baddie-bashing bat gadgets. LEGO Batman: The Videogame is a fast-paced action adventure title for fans of all ages. It is rated “E10+” and is available on the Xbox 360 Entertainment System, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Wii for $49.99. It is also available for the PlayStation 2, PSP system, Nintendo DS and PC, for $29.99.
The game revolves around Story Mode where your play as both Robin and Batman. You make your way through various levels, collecting LEGO studs and special LEGO bricks to unlock extra content and build different objects. These objects become parts of puzzles that you use to figure out your way through each level. The great part is that you fight with enemies who are made of LEGO and when you beat them you smash them into little LEGO pieces. This creates an environment of controlled violence, which I personally think teaches valuable lessons to child gamers, and is also rather adorable for older gamers.
It is a fully developed story that involves taking on enemy after enemy in your struggle to save Gotham City. Batman and Robin each have different capabilities so you use whichever one matches the task at hand. For example, Robin can walk up metal walls and Batman can shoot his little batarang and then pull himself up using it.
There is a huge cast of characters including The Joker, The Penguin, Catwoman, Scarecrow, Killer Crox, The Riddler, Mr. Freeze, Harley Quinn, Two Face, Bane, Clayface, Poison Ivy, Mad Hatter, Killer Moth and more. Each level involves different types of puzzles which are basically a combination of fighting, putting together LEGO pieces, and stepping on blocks or pulling levers.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 24, 2008 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that Madden NFL 09 will celebrate its launch with Maddenpalooza, a music, sports and gaming fan festival hosted at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on August 11. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the award-winning Madden NFL franchise and the release of Madden NFL 09, Maddenpalooza will run from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. the day before the official August 12 launch date. The event will feature live musical performances by bands from past and current Madden NFL soundtracks, including Good Charlotte who will headline the music stage. In addition to the music performances, Maddenpalooza attendees can enjoy a number of fan-friendly festivities including autograph signing stations with retired NFL legends, interactive NFL activities, 300 Xbox 360® gaming kiosks to play Madden NFL 09, and a Wal-mart pop-up store where customers can be among the first to purchase their copy of Madden NFL 09.
”Maddenpalooza will truly be a celebration of the 20th anniversary of one of the most popular video games in history,” said Director of Marketing Chris Erb. “The fan festival will provide an interactive experience for Madden fans to come together and experience Madden NFL 09 before its launch.”
Each summer, the launch of Madden NFL has emerged as a highly anticipated event that wins the attention of both consumers and media across the country. Past Madden NFL launches have centered around the concept of Maddenoliday, where thousands of Madden NFL fans flocked to stores and took the day off from work and school to immerse themselves in that year’s copy of Madden NFL. This year, with Maddenpalooza, EA SPORTS™ will take it to the next level for the 20th anniversary of Madden NFL. Hosted at the Rose Bowl, the stadium where John Madden and the 1976 Oakland Raiders won their first Super Bowl, Maddenpalooza brings together the impressive mix of elements from sports, entertainment and video games that have made the Madden NFL franchise an American pop culture icon.
In addition to Good Charlotte, whose song “The Anthem” first appeared on the Madden NFL 03 soundtrack, other music acts scheduled to perform include Busta Rhymes, Rev Theory, Airbourne, From First to Last and Young Dre The Truth. Each of these bands will perform throughout the day – leading up to the first sales of Madden NFL 09 which will begin at 9 p.m. PST at the Wal-mart pop-up store located within the Rose Bowl stadium.
Admission to Maddenpalooza is free, tickets will be distributed through the Los Angeles based radio station KIIS, as well as various other local radio stations and promotional partners. There will also be a limited amount of tickets available at the Rose Bowl on August 11 through a first-come-first-serve basis.
Madden NFL 09, the First Sports Game That Adapts To You, introduces over 85 new features and enhancements. Whether you are a seasoned veteran, or a franchise rookie, Madden NFL 09 will continuously asses your skills and adjust the gameplay to keep the experience both fun and challenging, all while training gamers to become better Madden players. Madden NFL 09 also includes a brand-new broadcast presentation package featuring Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond, online leagues, and the most realistic graphics in franchise history.
SANTA MONICA, CA – June 23, 2008 – After playing to sold-out crowds in living rooms around the world, the blockbuster video game Guitar Hero is hitting the road with Guitar Hero®: On Tour for Nintendo DS™, Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced. Available now at retail outlets nationwide, Guitar Hero: On Tour brings a new dimension to handheld gaming and gives fans the ability to shred along to their favorite tunes with complete portability.
Packaged with the revolutionary Guitar Hero™ Guitar Grip™ peripheral that fits snugly into Nintendo DS, and a unique Guitar Hero pick-stylus, Guitar Hero: On Tour delivers a unique experience by challenging handheld gamers to rock out and prove their shredding skills on one of the most diverse set lists ever offered in a Guitar Hero game, including master track hits from Nirvana, OK Go, No Doubt, blink-182 and Bloc Party.
“Guitar Hero: On Tour offers handheld gamers an all-new Guitar Hero experience letting them unleash their inner rock star anywhere, anytime,” said Dusty Welch, Head of Publishing for RedOctane. “Utilizing the innovative Guitar Hero Guitar Grip peripheral and Guitar Hero pick-stylus, and taking full advantage of the unique voice and touch abilities of Nintendo DS, Guitar Hero: On Tour is going to again redefine how fans can experience music.”
Designed from the ground up specifically for Nintendo DS, the game continues to build on the franchise’s signature easy-to-play, yet difficult to master addictive gameplay, and now lets players take their experience wherever they go. Players use the Guitar Hero Guitar Grip, which mimics a guitar fret board, and the Guitar Hero pick-stylus on the touch screen to strum their favorite tunes and create their rock ‘n’ roll legacy in career mode. Fans can also join together to play co-op mode using a local wireless connection, or battle each other in a Guitar Duel using new Battle Items unique to Nintendo DS.
Guitar Hero: On Tour is developed by Vicarious Visions, is rated “E 10+” (Everyone 10 and older) by the ESRB and is available now at retailers nationwide. For more information about Guitar Hero: On Tour, visit www.GuitarHeroOnTour.com.
About Activision, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $2.9 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 .
Activision maintains operations in the U.S. , Canada , the United Kingdom , France , Germany , Ireland , Italy , Sweden , Spain , the Netherlands , Australia , Japan and South Korea . More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.
LOS ANGELES (June 17, 2008) – TAITO Corporation (TAITO™), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Co., Ltd., announced that SPACE INVADERS EXTREME™ and ARKANOID™ DS were shipped to North American retailers today.
These highly anticipated releases are legendary titles reimagined for the 21st century. SPACE INVADERS®, a worldwide sensation since its original release in 1978, has been reborn as SPACE INVADERS EXTREME for Nintendo DS™ and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, SPACE INVADERS is as addictive as ever, with this new edition carrying on the classic gameplay experience while adding fast-paced new twists.
Meanwhile, the 1986 blockbuster hit ARKANOID comes exclusively to Nintendo DS with multiple modes and playful new backgrounds. With ARKANOID DS, players can test their skills against other DS users through the multiplayer option.
Loved around the globe for generations, these milestone titles in computer game history are simply timeless. Both SPACE INVADERS EXTREME and ARKANOID DS were developed to appeal to fans of the original titles and a new generation of players alike. The exhilarating arcade experience is now portable and available on store shelves today.
Features: SPACE INVADERS EXTREME
* New Look: The classic design of the original SPACE INVADERS, now with revamped graphics and new background movies that add to the game’s excitement.
* New Music: Get in the groove with upbeat techno tunes that are synched to gameplay.
* New Mini-Games: Experience varied gameplay with mini-games (Rounds) that are launched mid-game – they add to the fun, and are a good way to rack up points.
* New Twists: Discover exciting twists to the classic game that provide exciting, fast-paced game play.
* New Functionalities:
o DS Version
+ Worldwide (Japan, North America and Europe) two player competitive play and score ranking available via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
+ Two player wireless competitive play and game sharing available
+ Compatible with Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS™ Lite Rumble Pak
o PSP system Version
+ Two player competitive play available via ad hoc wireless connection
Features: ARKANOID DS
* Explore three game modes that offer varied gameplay designed for a wide range of users.
* Compete against two to four players via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, and enter high scores in the ranking system.
* Decorate ARKANOID DS with colorful designs by trading points gained through gameplay for fun backgrounds and icons.
* Rock to an irresistible soundtrack produced by Zuntata, TAITO’s award-winning sound team.
SPACE INVADERS EXTREME is rated E (Everyone). ARKANOID DS is rated E (Everyone). Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at www.esrb.org for more information about ratings.
SPACE INVADERS EXTREME will be available at North American retailers for the suggested retail price of $19.99 (USD). The official website can be found at http://www.taito.com/csm/title/2008/sie/index.html.
ARKANOID DS will be available at North American retailers for the suggested retail price of $19.99 (USD). The official website can be found at http://www.taito.com/csm/title/2008/arkanoid_ds/index.html.
About TAITO Corporation
TAITO Corp. (TAITO) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Co., Ltd. With headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, TAITO operates core businesses such as game arcade operations, coin-operated game machines, and mobile phone content services. A seminal part of gaming history, TAITO caused a worldwide sensation with its arcade legend, SPACE INVADERS, and developed such fan favorites as EXIT™ and ARKANOID. Today, TAITO continues to thrill game lovers of all generations by offering both classic and new family-oriented titles on the latest gaming platforms. TAITO delivers a wide range of entertainment experiences with the goal of providing consumers with fresh surprises and new discoveries. More information on TAITO can be found on the Internet at http://www.taito.co.jp/english.
I recently went out to Las Vegas for Midway’s Gamers Day at the Red Rock Resort. They showed a few games: NBA Ballers: Chosen One, Wheelman, TNA Impact, Unreal Tournament 3 Xbox 360, and This is Vegas were playable. They also announced a Mortal Kombat and DC Comics game, which looked like a MK fighter with Scorpion, Sub Zero, Superman, and Batman confirmed as characters. There was a lot of excitement in the crowd about that one. We wondered how the whole fatality thing would play out with the super heroes, for example, would DC want Superman to rip out his opponent’s skull and show it to him? They also announced sequels for Game Party and Touch Master as well as Blitz: The League.
There was a lot of talk, especially from Midway execs like Mark Booty, Interim President and CEO, about how Midway is reaping the benefits of centralization and standardization. The different studios share assets like game engines and design tools as well as knowledge. You could see how licensing the Unreal Engine and then using it to build every game is paying off in terms of how the games look, how complex the game play is, and how quickly they can come to market.
The big focus was on This is Vegas. The game is being made by Surreal Software in Seattle – they’ve been working on it for three plus years. It’s an open world of a likeness of Vegas where you gamble, party, race, and fight. It’s an ambitious project to create a world that big. This gives players the chance to live out “their Vegas fantasy.” It looked OK, nothing special in terms of graphics or audio. The focus has definitely been on game play. I did the dancing mini-game, the same that was shown during the press conference. I thought that it was fun. I wonder about it conceptually though. My concern is that by offering many types of game play it may end up asking players to play in ways that they don’t want to play, for example, the guy who wants to drive around and beat people up may not be the same guy who wants to enter a dance contest. But I talked to Darci Morales about this concern and she said that if you don’t want to play a particular mini-game you don’t have to. The point of all the mini-games is to build your buzz and gain experience and you could choose to do that however you want. I’m mainly interested in seeing how all of the different games and gaming mechanics translate into a holistic gaming experience. I think This Is Vegas is noteworthy because it looks like it’ll be a hell of an achievement for Surreal and Midway when it is done and it deserves merit if only for being a massive effort at establishing an open game play world with lots of variety. I’m not sure whether that translates into being a successful game in an overall sense. I’d get a better idea from a more in depth demo where I could see how the player goes from one mode to the other, how fluid that is, and how all of the different modes combine.
I had a really interesting talk about a month ago with some staff members from a maximum security facility for minors somewhere in the USA. I agreed to keep tany identifying information confidential and it is irrelevant anyway. They wanted to know what I thought about the security implications of residents (mostly teenagers) having Nintendo DS and Sony PSP in the facility. They had seen that I write a lot about network security for different magazines and sites and also seen this blog so they thought I would be a natural choice to speak about these issues. I thought it was an interesting exercise.
On the surface, what harm could there be from allowing some kids to play portable video games? It doesn’t seem like such a bad thing.
This is what I came up with. There are probably more things that can be done that I might have gotten to if I had some more time to brainstorm.
1. The Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP can physically be used as weapons. You could hold one in your hand and hit someone with it. You could sharpen a stylus and shank someone with it. You could break a UMD and use the sharp edge to attack someone. If you allow the kids to have the device then you have to allow the chargers and maybe the headphones; the cords of either could be used to strangle someone.
2. The Nintendo DS has a plastic blank filling the compartment where a GBA cartridge gets plugged in. The inside of that blank can be used to conceal contraband. Likewise with the UMD bay of the PSP, and maybe even the Memory Stick Slot of the PSP.
I met with Ubisoft the other day and talked to them about the games that they are working on for 2008. I saw a bunch of demos, and played some games. They even brewed a fresh pot of coffee for me.
Rainbow 6 Vegas 2 – It’s the 10 year anniversary of the franchise and it returns with a bigger (meaning more game play) story. Due out in March 2008. There’s a greater degree of character customization in equipment and experience points can be applied to better weapons. Enemy and squad AI is better. There’s been a huge expansion of co-op game play – friends can jump in and out of the game on the fly without restarting levels. It’s the same core game play as version 1 with simple team controls. They’ve worked hard to add verticality to the levels such as looking up and seeing an enemy through a skylight and then having to go outside and climb up onto the roof to get him. There’s destructible cover so you can’t sit in one spot and hide. You sort of have to think and plan rather than charge right in. There are 7 locations and each location has multiple scenarios.
Far Cry 2 – They set out to keep the best parts of the original. The intention is to keep it real yet exotic so this version takes place in Africa. There’s 50 square kilometers of open game world, mostly savanna with some jungle. All objects are coded meaning that nothing is just a stupid graphic so trees grow while you’re playing and everything can take damage. There’s wind and light from the sun that change as the day progresses. No mission will ever be exactly the same because there’s a randomness about how enemies are deployed; they’re not always in the same place at the same time. It’s fast paced and from what I saw there was a lot of fire which is always a good thing. One fascinating thing that Clint Hocking (Creative Director) brought up is that it is now cheaper in terms of utilizing system resources to create vegetation procedurally than it is to make it animated. The game is due out roughly around holiday 2008. It will be the same game on console as on PC with the PC version having higher resolution.
Petz Bunnyz – This cute little DS game is basically targeted at young girls who want to play with fluffy bunnies at Easter time. It’s not my kind of game, but if you have a daughter who wants to raise a virtual bunny and play with it then this would be a hit.
Pokemon Diamond or Pearl
Nintendo
Rated E for Everyone
Score: 5 out of 5
Players: 1-8 (1-4 in battle)
What can I say? I’m 37 and I love these pokemon games. I find them highly addictive. I played Ruby until I won, which took tens of hours. I’m well on my way towards logging that with Diamond. Today I noticed that I’ve played 10 hours to date. I don’t know what it is exactly, but the combination of exploration, puzzle solving, and turn based combat is fun. I also think that maybe the relationship between trainer and pokemon, in otherwords, my odd affection for my pokemon, is another thing that draws me in. I also love how everyone I battle says something like “prepare to lose” or “you’re so weak this isn’t even a challenge” and then I wipe the mat with them.
When you start your adventure in Sinnoh, you choose between 3 pokemon, Turtwig, Chimchar or Piplup. I chose a Turtwig and named him Turdwiggle. Today, he turned level 20 and between his Razor Leaf and Absorb he can beat the crap out of anyone. There are over 100 new pokemon such as Munchlax, Weavile, Lucario, Mime JR, Bonsly, and more. You pick whether you want your character to be a boy or a girl, then find and train pokemon, which really means you battle, earn experience, and teach new more effective moves to your pokemon. You travel from town to town and battle with Gym Leaders to advance. There’s also a storyline about Team Galactic who wants to control the universe.
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