‘Conquest’ Grants Players Freedom to Fight Epic ‘Rings’ Battles Any Way
> Desired
>
>
>
>
>
> LOS ANGELES, Calif., May 8, 2008 – Pandemic(tm) Studios, an
> award-winning developer of blockbuster video games, is proud to announce
> the development of The Lord of the Rings: Conquest(tm) for the Xbox
> 360(tm) video game and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION(r)3 computer
> entertainment system, PC and Nintendo DS(tm) platforms. Pandemic
> Studios is a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS).
>
>
>
> In a partnership with New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings: Conquest
> is an action-packed game created by the same Pandemic Studios team
> behind the best-selling Star Wars Battlefront(tm) and Star Wars
> Battlefront(tm) II titles. Set in “The Lord of the Rings” universe of
> J.R.R. Tolkien as depicted by the Academy Award(r)-winning films,
> players will finally fight the entirety of these epic battles any way
> they want. In addition to crusading as the heroic forces of good, for
> the first time ever in a ‘The Lord of the Rings’ action title they’ll
> conquer Middle-earth while playing as the legions of Sauron’s evil army,
> including Cave-trolls, Oliphaunts, the Balrog and Sauron himself. The
> game is set for a global release in fall 2008.
>
>
>
> “Our Pandemic Studios creative teams have years of expertise bringing
> giant battlefields to life,” says Andrew Goldman, Pandemic Studios
> co-founder and general manager. “We’ve always wanted to harness our
> experience in a fantasy universe with warriors, archers, mages and
> castle sieges. Of course, there is truly no better fantasy world to
> recreate than the enormity of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ realm.”
>
>
>
> “We’ll freely admit that we’re rabid fans of The Lord of the Rings
> fantasy,” says Josh Resnick, co-founder and general manager at Pandemic
> Studios. “Our experience creating massive, rich, action-packed games
> means that The Lord of the Rings: Conquest will give fans exactly what
> they want: full control of the blade, bow and magic to fight its epic
> battles any way they want – even if they choose to play from the evil
> side.”
>
>
>
> “We are thrilled to be working with Pandemic Studios on this game,”
> commented David Imhoff, Senior EVP of Worldwide Licensing &
> Merchandising for New Line Cinema. “They bring not only their
> incredible technical and creative abilities but also a great passion for
> The Lord of the Rings.”
>
>
>
> The world premiere of game footage and the first trailer for The Lord of
> the Rings: Conquest will premiere exclusively on Spike TV’s GameTrailers
> TV with Geoff Keighley on Friday, June 20.
>
>
>
> This announcement reveals the third blockbuster video game project in
> the works at Pandemic Studios’ Los Angeles-based headquarters alongside
> the upcoming Mercenaries 2: World in Flames(tm) and Saboteur(tm), both
> in development for the Xbox 360(tm), PLAYSTATION(r)3 and PC platforms.
> For more information on The Lord of the Rings: Conquest, please visit:
> http://www.pandemicstudios.com/conquest.
>
>
>
> About Pandemic Studios
>
> Pandemic Studios is one of the world’s premier developers of console and
> PC entertainment and a wholly owned division of Electronic Arts Inc.
> (NASDAQ: ERTS). Over its 10-year history, Pandemic Studios has
> established a reputation for producing top-selling, award-winning and
> cutting-edge original content and enhancing the value of existing
> intellectual properties. Recent hits include the record-selling Star
> Wars Battlefront(tm), Star Wars Battlefront(tm) II, and three original
> Pandemic Studios-created intellectual properties: Mercenaries(tm),
> Destroy All Humans(tm), and Full Spectrum Warrior(tm). Following the
> 2006 release of Destroy All Humans(r) 2, Pandemic Studios is developing
> a number of new, original titles for next-generation platforms including
> Mercenaries 2: World in Flames(tm) and Saboteur(tm) at its Los Angeles,
> California, and Brisbane, Australia, studio locations. For more
> information on Pandemic Studios and its games, please visit:
> http://www.pandemicstudios.com.
>
>
>
> About Electronic Arts
>
> Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is
> the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded
> in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive
> software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular
> handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under
> four brand names: EA SPORTS(tm), EA(tm), EA SPORTS Freestyle(tm) and
> POGO(tm). In fiscal 2007, EA posted revenue of $3.09 billion and had 24
> titles that sold more than one million copies. EA’s homepage and online
> game site is www.ea.com.

Posted using Meow

Nintendo Debuts Groundbreaking Fitness Program at Interactive
Release Party and American Heart Association Fundraiser in NYC



WHAT:
How will Wii Fit(TM) move you? Discover for yourself at New York’s
Central Park Merchants’ Gate on May 19, as Nintendo hosts a
spectacular all-day launch event for Wii Fit, the highly
anticipated new program for the popular Wii(TM) home video game
system that combines fun and fitness. The event doubles as a
celebration of May as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month,
putting all kinds of bodies — young and old, big and small — in
motion with live demonstrations of Wii Fit and the new Wii Balance
Board(TM).

For every attendee who “gets on board” for a Wii
Fit demo, Nintendo will make a donation of $5 (up to $25,000 total) to
the American Heart Association in support of its effort to help
Americans live healthier. Expect crowds of people throughout the day,
plus an appearance by celebrity trainer Ashley Borden.

Featuring more than 40 physical activities and the revolutionary Wii
Balance Board, Wii Fit makes fitness fun for the entire household.
Anyone can benefit from its mix of aerobic, yoga, strength training
and balancing exercises. Following the phenomenal success of
active-play titles such as Wii Sports(TM), Wii Fit gets everyone
active and playing together.
WHO: Hundreds of parents,
kids, fitness enthusiasts, American Heart Association supporters and
consumers of all ages. Executives from Nintendo and the American Heart
Association New York City volunteer leadership.
WHEN:
Monday, May 19, 2008
Event: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
WHERE: Central Park, Merchants’
Gate Located at the
intersection of Central Park West, Central Park South, Columbus Circle
and Broadway in Manhattan
VISUALS:
– Hundreds of consumers of all ages twisting and tilting
their bodies atop the innovative Wii Balance Board

– Celebrity trainer Ashley Borden providing personal Wii Fit
training session
– Wii Fit b-roll available

INTERVIEWS:

– Interviews will be available with Nintendo of America and
American Heart Association New York City volunteer leadership, as
well as celebrity trainer Ashley Borden

Posted using Meow

Since the invention of the automobile, kids have pantomimed driving with
pretend steering wheels. Since the dawn of the video game age, people of
all ages playing racing games have twisted and turned their controllers to
steer their vehicles, even though it had no effect on the action on the
screen. Now, Mario Kart

The award-winning multiplayer experience evolves with three new maps and
> expanded Forge options now available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace
>
>
>
> After launching in Sept. 2007, millions of fans the world over still log
> onto Xbox LIVE every day to experience the award-winning action of “Halo
> 3″ multiplayer. That experience expanded first in December with the
> release of the Heroic Map Pack, and today Microsoft and Bungie release
> the next evolution with the Legendary Map Pack.
>
>
>
> Available for 800 Microsoft Points exclusively on Xbox LIVE Marketplace,
> this second major downloadable content offering includes three new
> multiplayer maps, as well as a bevy of new Forge options.
>
>
>
> Avalanche and Blackout revive two fan-favorite maps from previous “Halo”
> games, while Ghost Town welcomes desolate jungle combat to the
> experience. And now, using new options in the Forge, players can create
> more detailed challenges and map variants than ever, while also
> utilizing a variety of visual effects to create new, unique screenshots
> and saved films.
>
>
>
> Avalanche is a throwback all the way to “Halo: Combat Evolved.” This
> snowy battlefield was inspired by the original Sidewinder, but the
> massive, vehicle-oriented objective map adds a twist to its classic
> predecessor with all new interiors, dramatically reshaped exteriors and
> brand new vehicle variants. Admire the view from above, as Avalanche
> also marks the arrival of the Hornet to “Halo 3″ multiplayer.
>
>
>
> In keeping with the theme of “fan-favorites,” Blackout will fill the
> void left by fans of “Halo 2’s” Lockout. Although fully re-visualized,
> this map adheres very faithfully to the tightly wound perfection of the
> original, but eschews Forerunner architecture in favor of industrial
> human design. Blackout is perfect for fans of small battleground Slayer
> matches.
>
>
>
> The Legendary Map Pack also packs a brand new punch, in addition to the
> two classics, with Ghost Town – a battle-scarred maze of narrow passages
> and dangerous ruins. Collapsed ceilings and shell-battered buildings
> provide both valuable cover and deadly traps, as catwalks and stairways
> take the fight from claustrophobic ground combat to dizzying rooftop
> battles. Ghost Town is a mid-sized map ideal for Team Slayer games and
> smaller, objective types.
>
>
>
> As an added bonus, for a limited time only, gamers who purchase the
> Legendary Map Pack will receive a four month subscription to “Bungie
> PRO” via Xbox LIVE. Bungie PRO greatly expands the Halo 3 experience by
> increasing the maximum number of file share storage slots from six to
> twenty-four while also increasing the total file storage size to 250MB.
> This will allow players to upload and share more films, maps,
> screenshots and game-types than ever before.
>
>
>
> After downloading the new maps, gamers can register on Xbox LIVE for the
> “Halo 3 Legendary Map Pack Play & Win Sweepstakes” for their chance to
> win great prizes including a “Halo 3″ Edition console, Halo ActionClix:
> Scarab Vehicle Pack, a complete set of “Halo 3″ Series 1 Action Figures
> from McFarlane Toys, nearly one million MS Points and much more. Visit
> www.xbox.com/legendaryplaywin for more details.
>
>
>
> The maps of the Legendary Map Pack are available in matchmaking today to
> those who have purchased the download. Additionally, fans that have yet
> to purchase the Heroic Map Pack, which released in December, can now
> download it for free on Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

Posted using Meow

In anticipation of the U.S. launch of Wii Fit

BATTLEFIELD: BAD COMPANY SHIPS ON June 23
>
>
>
> Special gold edition OFFERS FANS exclusive content at launch
>
>
>
> REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – April 15, 2008 – Prepare for the gold rush! This
> summer, the blockbuster action event of the season will not be in
> theatres. EA DICE, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today
> announced that Battlefield: Bad Company(tm) will ship to retail outlets
> on June 23. Action fans and gamers worldwide will get their chance to
> join the ‘B’ company on exciting, sometimes irreverent, missions that
> take them through deserts, cities and mountain terrain to capture the
> spoils of war. Players will experience the tactical, destructive power
> in the deep single player campaign or go online for intense multiplayer
> action that only the Battlefield team can deliver.
>
>
>
> For a limited time only, gamers will be able to purchase the Gold
> Edition of Battlefield: Bad Company. The Gold Edition pack features
> exclusive content with behind-the-scenes action and strategy videos
> giving Battlefield: Bad Company players tricks and tips on how to own
> the battlefield. The Gold Edition also gives gamers early access to five
> unique weapons that players can take into battle. These weapons can also
> be unlocked after the launch of the game by ranking up to the highest
> level in multiplayer mode.
>
>
>
> “Players can forget about using walls as cover as we’ve fundamentally
> changed the way to play shooters offline and online through the use of
> tactical destruction,” says Karl-Magnus Troedsson, Senior Producer for
> Battlefield: Bad Company. “Players will get the chance to reap the
> spoils of war this summer as they annihilate the enemy and search for
> gold in the dark, character-driven, single player storyline while
> returning Battlefield fans will love the intense and vehicle heavy
> multiplayer.”
>
>
>
> Developed by Sweden-based developer EA DICE (Digital Illusions Creative
> Entertainment, www.dice.se ), Battlefield: Bad
> Company will be available for the Xbox 360(r) video game and
> entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION(r)3 computer
> entertainment system. The game is rated “T” by the ESRB and “16+” by
> PEGI. For more information about the game, please visit
> http://www.battlefield.com

Posted using Meow

/Ignition Entertainment

El Segundo, Calif. – April 9, 2008 – OGPlanet, an innovative provider of
multiplayer online games, today announced a fundraiser to benefit cancer
research.

Beginning Thursday, April 10, fans of Albatross18, OGPlanet’s fantasy
role-playing golf game, will be able to purchase Pink Ribbon Face Paint
for their characters. This in-game item will cost $2.50, with $2 of each
purchase going to support Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC), a nonprofit
organization dedicated to raising health awareness and supporting cancer
research.

“We’re honored to be working with B4BC,” said Don Choi, COO of OGPlanet.
“It’s a truly remarkable organization, with its focus on raising cancer
awareness and promoting healthy, active lifestyles among young people.
We know the members of the OGPlanet community will rise to the occasion
to support this tremendously important cause.”

Pink Ribbon Face Paint will be available in the Albatross18 in-game
store from April 10 until April 30.

About B4BC

B4BC is a non-profit, youth-focused education, awareness and fundraising
foundation. Their mission is to increase awareness about breast cancer,
the importance of early detection and the value of an active lifestyle.

*About Albatross18*

Albatross18 incorporates fantasy role-playing game elements to bring an
entirely new spin to the timeless game of golf. This massively
multiplayer online game is set in the magical kingdom of Pangya, and
features colorful costumes, unique clubs, memorable characters and a
multitude of special shots and courses.

About OGPlanet

Based in El Segundo, California, OGPlanet is a leading publisher in
North American of free to play and downloadable games. OGPlanet offers
micro-transactions as a revenue source. Founded in 2005 by Sangchul
Park, President. For more information, visit www.ogplanet.com
.

Posted using Meow

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced that the
DUALSHOCK®3 wireless controller will be available at retailers nationwide
beginning this week for $54.99 (MSRP). DUALSHOCK 3 incorporates both the rumble
feature and motion sensing SIXAXIS™ technologies for a more realistic,
interactive and intuitive gaming experience on PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™)
system.



DUALSHOCK 3 will enhance the gameplay experience on future PS3 titles,
including the highly-anticipated Gran Turismo™ 5 Prologue, the next
installment of the billion-dollar selling racing franchise, launching in two
weeks in North America. DUALSHOCK 3 will also bring the rumble feature to a
lineup of nearly 30 PS3 titles as well as compatible PS one® classics
already available. Some titles may require a software update, and users will be
prompted to download any updates upon starting the specific games. A complete
list of current titles compatible with DUALSHOCK 3 is copied below. This list
will also be available soon at http://us.playstation.com/.



DUALSHOCK 3 maintains the award-winning design and precise, responsive features
of PlayStation controllers along with the highly sensitive motion-control
SIXAXIS system. In June, a limited edition bundle including METAL GEAR
SOLID®4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS, an 80GB PS3 system, and one DUALSHOCK 3
controller will be available for $499.99 (MSRP).






DUALSHOCK 3 Compatibility List

Formula One Championship Edition*

MotorStorm

PAIN

High Velocity Bowling

MLB®08: The Show

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune

Resistance: Fall of Man

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction

Go! Sports Ski*

Folklore*

Heavenly Sword*

Warhawk*

Super Stardust HD*

Snakeball

Toy Home

PSOne Emulation

Piyotama

PixelJunk Monsters

Blast Factor

Condemned 2: Bloodshot

Lost: Via Domus

Tom Clancys Rainbow Six Vegas 2*

Burnout Paradise

Dynasty Warriors 6

Devil May Cry 4

DragonBall Z Burst Limit

Turok

*Titles will be given rumble functionality through an update.

Posted using Meow

* *
* *
*Pendulum Lends Cinematic Spark to /Stuntman: Ignition/ *
*THQ-Paradigm calls upon on Pendulum for development of four HD
cinematic trailers*
* *
*San Diego**, Calif.*- *March 27, 2008* – Pendulum, a leading digital
animation studio for the advertising, video game and entertainment
industries, has announced its recent production of four HD cinematic
trailers for THQ’s /Stuntman: Ignition/. Developed by THQ’s Paradigm
Entertainment, /Stuntman: Ignition/ is the second installment in the
critically acclaimed, million-plus-unit selling /Stuntman/ franchise.
The game challenges players to pull off death-defying stunts with
precision driving by dropping them into the adrenaline-fueled role of a
Hollywood stuntman, where they help make “Night Avenger”, “Strike Force
Omega”, “Never Kill Me Again”, and “Whoopin’ and a Hollerin’ II”.
The trailers draw inspiration from iconic films throughout the
superhero, action, spy, and comedy film genres. THQ relied upon Pendulum
and the project’s creative directors, studio owners Michael McCormick
and Robert Taylor, for a turn-key solution that included not only full
3D production, but also look, style and script development,
full-performance motion-capture, voice and mo-cap talent casting &
direction, sound design, and the creation of original musical scores for
each trailer.
“When you combine Pendulum’s talented team and their ability to create
visually compelling content for games, with Paradigm’s desire to
replicate a true Hollywood style trailer, there was no doubt we would
get a stunning cinematic product for the title,” says Jim Galis,
Executive Producer for THQ-Paradigm. “Pendulum’s attention to detail,
their amazing facial animation software, all around competency from
storyboard to render and their dedication to a superior final piece went
above and beyond our expectations.”
Leaning on the intriguing character designs and genres provided by
Paradigm, Pendulum began by creating a story treatment for each movie.
Since the four trailers would exhibit out-of-context movie sequences, as
in the typical Hollywood-style movie trailer, the directors felt a solid
background story was necessary to motivate each shot and convey the
scope and depth of a full-length film. In mimicking the traditional
editorial style of movie trailers, each one would require a level of
scene diversity uncommon for such short 3D pieces. “To paint a
believable picture for each trailer we had to create environments
specific to each film’s genre and story, some of which were used for
only a single shot,” says Pendulum’s Director of Animation, Michael
McCormick. “Each film had a distinctive look and feel, which drove the
need for unique cinematography and lighting styles, as well as a huge
number of environments, matte paintings, characters, vehicles and props.
Building so many assets and maintaining stylistic consistency for each
trailer was a big challenge, requiring a great deal of organization and
planning.”
Faced with the creation of a large number of high-quality believable
characters, who needed to exhibit dynamic personalities, dramatic
actions and considerable amounts of dialogue, Pendulum employed their
well-honed character development pipeline and a uniquely powerful
full-performance motion-capture solution. The studio relied upon their
longstanding relationship with premiere motion-capture studio, Vicon
House of Moves, where they directed all of the project’s mocap. Vicon’s
leading-edge full-performance mocap technology allowed Pendulum to
capture multiple actors’ bodies, fingers, and facial motions, while
simultaneously recording their voices. This resulted in vast amounts of
high-quality data, especially for the characters’ faces. However,
transferring complex facial data onto digital characters, to create
emotive and realistic looking facial animation, is a well known and
difficult hurdle in 3D animation. To meet this challenge, Pendulum made
extensive use of their proprietary facial performance software,
AlterEgo, which allowed the studio to apply many minutes of facial
mo-cap data to the project’s large number of characters, creating
realistic and accurate facial animation in a short period of time. The
software also allowed the team to animate on top of the mocap data, to
enhance or modify facial expressions as needed. “It was critical to the
project that we were able to manipulate facial performances to achieve
the right amount of drama or intensity demanded by each scene,” says
Pendulum’s Exec Producer, Robert Taylor. “AlterEgo provided us the ideal
tool to achieve this flexibility, and at a speed and cost that I doubt
would have been possible with any other solution.”
Clothing for the trailers’ many characters presented its own challenges.
To increase efficiency, Pendulum built a library of reusable wardrobe
elements which, with a few texture and modeling tweaks, provide for a
flexible digital wardrobe department. However, some of the characters
required some very specific and creative outfits. For this and all of
the project’s production efforts, Pendulum relied upon a combination of
Pixologic ZBrush, Autodesk Maya, Syflex Cloth Simulator, Shave &
Haircut, the mental ray renderer, and eyeon’s Fusion compositing
software. Other critical tools used were Wondertouch’s particleIllusion,
Apple’s Final Cut, and the studio’s proprietary facial software, AlterEgo.
The game allows players to showcase their skills in a wide variety of
big-budget action films, commercial shoots and tournaments while
commanding more than 25 unique vehicles, including exotic sports cars,
motorcycles and hovercraft. Online multiplayer mode allows rival
stuntmen to battle it out on the film sets and custom built back-lot
arenas, or players can devise their own insane stunt runs and challenge
other stuntmen at their own game. /Stuntman: Ignition/ is available for
Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and PlayStation 2.
To see stills and video clips from the trailers go to:

http://www.studiopendulum.com/qt_images_stu.html

*Production Credits:*
Michael McCormick, Co-Director/3D Lead
Robert Taylor, Co-Director/Lead Compositor/Exec Producer
Wade Ammon, Producer
Matt Schiller, Character TD
Matt Chapman, Character TD
Reed Casey, Lead 3D Asset Artist
Bryn Murrow, 3D Character Artist
Gina Adamova, 3D Character Artist
Tyler Esselstrom, Shading & Lighting Artist
Stefan Minning, Shading & Lighting Artist
Emil Bidiuc, Animator
Kevin Jackson, Animator
Mark Tan, Animator
Jeff McNeil, 3D FX Artist
Scott Mitchell, Compositor
Brian Smallwood, Compositor
“Spooky” Dan Walker, Compositor
Alex Popov, Editor/Digital Media Artist
Ron Chan, Storyboard Artist
Siram Bhat, Digital Matte Painter
Daniel Sadowski, Original Music
Tracey Larvenz, Sound Design & Mix
Vicon House of Moves, Motion Capture Studio
*About Pendulum*
Pendulum Studios is a San Diego, CA based 3D animation and digital fx
studio focused on expressing the ideal fusion of art, cinema and
technology by specializing in dynamic character animation and compelling
storytelling. Owned and operated by directors, Michael McCormick and
Robert Taylor, the studio strives to produce the highest quality
animation for commercials, game cinematics, film, and their own animated
shorts.
For more information about the studio, please visit
www.studiopendulum.com
.
Pendulum and the Pendulum logo are registered trademarks of Pendulum.
All other company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their
respective owners. Copyright