VideoGameNews

May 26, 2009 -- THQ Inc. today announced that the Up video game, based on the highly anticipated Disney•Pixar film, has shipped to retail outlets throughout North America for Wii, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, and Games for Windows and Mac. The Up video game is now available for the suggested retail prices of $39.99 (Wii, Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system), $29.99 (PSP and DS) and $19.99 (PlayStation 2 system and Games for Windows and Mac). The game is rated E for Everyone (PlayStation 2 system, PSP system, DS, Games for Windows and Mac) and E10+ for everyone 10 and older (Wii, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Xbox 360). Read more

New Nintendo DS Title Promotes the Fun of Walking for People – and Pets

May 20, 2009--It's no secret that the Nintendo DS system offers great ways to have fun while on the move. With the May 26 launch of the Personal Trainer: Walking game, Nintendo is inviting consumers to turn their most basic daily movements into an enriching, entertaining experience. Whether they walk for fitness or simply to get from place to place, people of all ages and backgrounds can use Personal Trainer: Walking to monitor and enhance their daily walking routines.

Personal Trainer: Walking is the latest entry in the popular software series that also includes Personal Trainer: Cooking and Personal Trainer: Math. After counting, measuring and recording users' steps throughout the day, Personal Trainer: Walking creates an engaging series of charts and activities to reveal interesting – or even surprising – "life rhythm" patterns. For instance, the readout might show that a user is most active in the evening, or that mealtimes are typically followed by sedentary periods. Knowing these patterns can help people keep an eye on their plans for the day and watch out for pitfalls of inactivity. People also can rate the kind of day they had or set daily walking goals to improve the quality of their lives. Whether it's used individually or with family and friends, Personal Trainer: Walking provides a fun, interactive way for people to monitor their walking lifestyle. Read more

May 19, 2009 -- Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom's MTV Networks, along with distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc., today announced the release of Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock. The standalone software is available now at retail stores nationwide for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and Wii system. The suggested retail price for Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock is $29.99.

Featuring an outstanding mix of favorite classic rock hits,Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock features 20-songs from mega artists such as The Who, Rush, Boston, Police, Steve Miller Band, George Thorogood and more!

Rock Band Track Pack: Classic Rock, like all Rock Band software, is compatible with all Rock Band instrument controllers, as well as most Guitar Hero and other music instrument controllers. Read more

May 19, 2009--It's time to throw, bash, and party, as the EA Play Label of Electronic Arts Inc. announces BOOM BLOX Bash Party for Wii has shipped to stores in North America today and will hit stores in Europe beginning May 28. EA and Steven Spielberg continue their collaboration to bring players this highly-anticipated sequel to last year's critically-acclaimed BOOM BLOX game for Wii, which earned more than a dozen awards and received recognition from parenting organizations, media outlets and the gaming industry. With more than 400 new levels, stunning new worlds, and twice as much multiplayer game play, BOOM BLOX Bash Party brings tons of action-packed fun for the whole family.

"The original BOOM BLOX really came from a need to bring families back into the same space playing games together," said Steven Spielberg. "We had so many more creative ideas that we wanted to put into the sequel, and BOOM BLOX Bash Party really takes the original concept to a whole new level of interactive family gaming."

BOOM BLOX Bash Party features nearly twice as many multiplayer challenges as the original BOOM BLOX making it the ultimate party game! Players will have a blast playing with or against friends in co-op, versus and new team-based challenges. Whether playing solo or with friends, BOOM BLOX Bash Party will have players off the couch, throwing, bashing and slinging blox like never before! Read more

Individualized Coaching and Self-Monitoring, in English and Spanish

May 19, 2009--SEGA of America, Inc. today announced Daisy Fuentes Pilates, the first Pilates workout program for the Wii. Set at a lush tropical resort and hosted by Daisy Fuentes, longtime Pilates icon and star of the entertainment industry, the title supports the Wii Balance Board. Created in partnership with Interactive Game Group, Daisy Fuentes Pilates features customizable workouts, fitness tracking, real-time coaching and interactive feedback.

Daisy Fuentes Pilates, the first self-titled Pilates endeavor, goes beyond the one-way, static workouts of traditional DVDs using the Wii's controls to monitor movements and offer instant feedback, ensuring proper body motion so players get the most from every Pilates session. Players stay on track following the integrated, on-screen "timing bar" as well as the real-time feedback from Daisy Fuentes herself, whose voice guides the exercises. Players will be able to choose between English and Spanish. Read more

May 18, 2009 – Guitar Hero continues to re-define the music and gaming experience this Fall with the release of Guitar Hero 5. Featuring the best variety and biggest rock stars of today combined with classic rock anthems, Guitar Hero 5 is the latest installment of the world’s most popular music game. For the first time ever, players can customize the make-up of their band by rocking with any combination of instruments in-game: whether it be two guitars and two drums, or three guitars and a microphone, any combination is possible, allowing players to experience music their own way. Brand new, innovative, easy-to-use gameplay modes like Party Play and RockFest put fun, competition and control at center stage as fans tailor the Guitar Hero experience to match their personal style and interests. For extended hours of entertainment, downloadable content from Guitar Hero® World Tour will be compatible with the game and will automatically be updated to include all of the upgrades and enhancements of Guitar Hero 5.*

Guitar Hero 5 features the strongest, most varied set list to-date comprised of master tracks from 85 of the hottest bands of today and the biggest classic acts including; Kings of Leon, The Rolling Stones, The White Stripes, Santana, Vampire Weekend, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, plus more than 25 artists from a variety of music genres that will be making their music video game debut. Read more

May 13, 2009 -- Playlogic Entertainment, Inc., an independent worldwide publisher of entertainment software, and Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising (Fox Licensing) announced today that Aliens in the Attic, the family friendly, action–adventure video game based on the Twentieth Century Fox movie, will be available in retail stores nationwide on July 28 — three days in advance of the film's nationwide release. The new game will be available for the Wii system, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.

The Aliens in the Attic video game will follow the storyline of the adventure-comedy film about a group of kids on a family vacation who must stave off an attack by knee-high alien invaders with world-conquering ambitions; all while trying to keep their parents from finding out! The video game will offer players two different gameplay perspectives depending upon which video game platform players choose.

"Aliens in the Attic provides endless hours of fun for the whole family," said Rogier Smit, executive vice president for Playlogic. "Fox has created a movie full of heart-pumping action, thrills, comedy and good old fashion entertainment and we’ve translated those features right into the gameplay."Read more

May 12, 2009 — Logitech today announced the Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller for PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment systems. Featuring authentic materials – including a wood neck and body, a rosewood fingerboard and metal frets – the Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller is for gamers who truly want to play like a rock star.

Following the introduction of the Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller, Premiere Edition (previously available only in select markets), the new black guitar controller is expected to be available worldwide later this month. The Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller is licensed by Activision Publishing, Inc. for the award-winning Guitar Hero franchise.

"Logitech's new guitar controller delivers the same unparalleled Guitar Hero experience offered by our previous premiere edition to an even broader group of gamers and at a great value," said Ruben Mookerjee, Logitech’s director of product marketing for gaming. "Everything about the Logitech Wireless Guitar Controller is premium – from the authentic wood material and flawless black finish, to the noise-dampening design of the strum bar and buttons, to the authentic accents provided by the metal frets." Read more

May 11, 2009 - Harmonix and MTV Games announced today a massive array of new tracks coming this week to the Rock Band Music Store catalogue of downloadable content for the Wii system, including 25 hit songs from artists like Silversun Pickups, Duran Duran, The Pretenders, Mötley Crüe and many more.

As previously announced, Wii Rock Band 2 owners will also gain access this week to three tracks from Social Distortion, two tracks from Disturbed, two tracks from Steely Dan and singles from Elvis Costello and The Replacements.

British post-punk pioneers Siouxsie & The Banshees offer three tracks to Wii music fans including "Hong Kong Garden," from Once Upon A Time: The Singles (1981), "Kiss Them for Me," the lead single from the band's tenth album, Superstition (1991) and "The Killing Jar," from Peepshow (1988). Read more

May 8, 2009 -- Disney Interactive Studios today announced that Disney Sing It: Pop Hits, the third game in the video-based karaoke video game franchise, will be released this fall. Disney Sing It: Pop Hits features 30 master recordings and popular music videos from fan favorites, including Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, Colbie Caillat, Demi Lovato, Hannah Montana, Jesse McCartney, Coldplay and One Republic. This instantly recognizable mix of Radio Disney and platinum-status talent allows players of all ages to connect with current artists right in their own living rooms.

"Great music, chart-topping artists and immersive gameplay are the key components in making this franchise popular with tweens and families around the world," said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios. "In addition to an exciting new collection of songs, the fun factor has been raised with new multiplayer elements that will bring hours of enjoyment to music fans of all ages."

In Disney Sing It: Pop Hits, fans will enjoy familiar single and multiplayer game modes such as singing solo, duet and head-to-head. Players will learn how to sing from a professional in the newly expanded "Sing It Pro" mode. Led by Disney Channel star Tiffany Thornton from "Sonny With A Chance," this series of voice exercises runs through the basics of pitch and breathing, all the way up to harmonizing in a duet and riffing. These exercises are designed to teach players how to sing so they can unlock special rewards based on vocal improvements as they play. Read more