VideoGameNews

December 3, 2008 – Legendary multi-platinum recording artists The Eagles, Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins, all featured in the on-disc set list of Activision Publishing, Inc.’s Guitar Hero World Tour, are returning in December with exclusive downloadable content for the game. Additionally, fans will be in for a treat just in time for Christmas with three free Reggae Rock tracks from Pepper, Slightly Stoopid and Expendables.

The Smashing Pumpkins, one of rock's defining and most acclaimed bands who have sold over 30 million albums, return to Guitar Hero World Tour, tomorrow December 4th, with a three-song track pack featuring the recently released single “G.L.O.W.,” “1979” and “Everlasting Gaze.”

Featuring the stylistic melodies of Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl, the pioneers of alternative rock, Nirvana, make their Guitar Hero downloadable content debut with the Nirvana Track Pack. Featuring the final single released by the band, “You Know You’re Right,” along with “Negative Creep,” off the band’s debut album Bleach, and the smash hit “Sliver,” the Nirvana Track Pack will be available for Guitar Hero World Tour on December 11th.

After delivering the timeless rock ballad “Hotel California” to the on-disc set list of Guitar Hero World Tour, The Eagles will thrill the Guitar Hero audience once again on December 18th with three chart topping hits. From the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees’ seventh studio album and first in 28 years, Long Road Out of Eden, “Frail Grasp on the Big Picture” is joined by two classic tracks that climbed to the top of the Billboard’s Hot 100, “One of These Nights” and “Life in the Fast Lane.” Read more

November 26, 2008--Disney Interactive Studios just released Ultimate Band, an all-new musical video game experience for fans of the Wii home video game system and Nintendo DS. Jamming alone or as a member of a band, aspiring rockers of all ages can advance from garage-band beginners to stadium-filling superstars. Disney has brought together a track list of popular favorites and combined it with accessible gameplay to deliver to fans video games with great value and hours of fun. Both games use only the Wii controllers or Nintendo DS stylus to rock making the purchase easy on the wallet this holiday season.

Available in time for the holidays, Ultimate Band invites players to jam to contemporary favorites like “Steady As She Goes” or “Fell In Love With a Girl” to hard rocking classics like “My Generation” or “Whip It.” There are no expensive single-purpose accessories to buy; Ultimate Band, developed by Fall Line Studio in Salt Lake City, Utah, players use Wii controllers and the Nintendo DS stylus. The Nintendo DS version even allows players to create their own musical masterpieces, laying down tracks for lead, rhythm and bass guitars as well as drums. Read more

November 24, 2008 – Kobian Inc., a leading supplier of gaming, iPod, digital audio accessories and lifestyle products, announces the Gene Simmons AXE guitar controller for PlayStation 2 and 3, Guitar Hero and Rock Band video games. This fully equipped, axe-shaped guitar controller is a replica of the KISS® bassist and vocalist’s signature bass guitar. Available now for pre-order, the AXE controller is personally certified by the Rock God himself, Gene Simmons, to give you that Rock Star experience.

“One look at this guitar will bring back memories of Gene Simmons to generations of KISS fans, as his AXE bass guitar is something his fans remember him by,” said Shawn Kapyur of Kobian Inc. “This is the first of its kind from Gene Simmons and the hottest accessory to hit guitar simulation gaming this year.” Read more

November 24, 2008 -- A new software title for Nintendo DS turns the world’s best-selling portable video game system into an interactive cooking coach, complete with tasty recipes and video demos. Personal Trainer: Cooking for Nintendo DS contains more than 240 dishes from dozens of countries around the world. The DS Chef, a friendly electronic cooking instructor, walks users through each step to make sure every dish comes out perfect and delicious. Personal Trainer: Cooking even includes videos of various cooking techniques, such as how to properly julienne vegetables. The touch screen interface helps budding chefs check ingredients on an electronic shopping list they can take to the grocery store. It also lets them search recipes based on ingredients, number of calories or cooking time. When a user’s hands are too covered in the business of cooking to use the touch screen, the voice-recognition feature comes in handy: Just tell the DS Chef to move on to the next step or repeat the last one. Read more

November 21, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Activision Publishing, Inc. announced today Big League Sports for the Wii has hit retail shelves in North America. Developed by Koolhaus Games exclusively for Wii, the game is all about putting players right into the action in the most thrilling situations in their favorite sports.

There are multiple disciplines to master within tennis, basketball, football, soccer, lacrosse and hockey. But unlike other games the focus is not on the team - it's on whether or not you can deliver in specific, adrenaline-pumping moments. Whether it's acing an opponent in tennis, hitting a basketball shot at the buzzer, or bending free kicks around a goalie in soccer, Big League Sports offers a fresh interpretation of what a sports game can be on Wii. Read more

November 19, 2008 –SEGA of America just announced that Sonic Unleashed for the Wii home video game system and the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system has officially shipped to stores across North America. Packed with stunning internationally-inspired locations and classic fast-paced gameplay, Sonic Unleashed promises an action-packed adventure for gamers of all ages featuring an extensive variety of missions and puzzle stages as well as unlockable content throughout the game for players to uncover.

Developed by Sonic Team in Japan, Sonic Unleashed is filled with classic 2D/3D gameplay and incredibly fast daytime action. Sonic has a series of new moves that make him even faster including the Sonic Drift (to corner quickly without losing speed), Ring Energy (faster speeds brings more ring energy), QuickStep (to move side to side without losing momentum), and Sonic Boost (uses Ring Energy to give Sonic a speed boost)-each move allows Sonic to reach unparalleled high speeds. Bringing a new twist on the Sonic series, Sonic Unleashed also introduces the Werehog – Sonic’s dark alter ego who comes out when the moon shines bright. Within the nightime levels, players can take advantage of the Werehog’s strong and flexible arms to fight tough enemies using his powerful punch and crazy combat moves. Gamers can also use the Werehog’s stretchy abilities to climb and swing reaching all new heights in the game. Read more

November 18, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Netflix, Inc., the world's largest online movie rental service, today announced that Netflix members can have thousands of movies and TV episodes instantly streamed to the TV via the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system when the New Xbox Experience premieres nationwide tomorrow. Adding to a growing number of Netflix-ready devices, the Xbox 360 is the only game and entertainment console that lets users instantly watch movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix to the TV. There is no additional monthly fee for Netflix members who are also Xbox LIVE Gold members.

Netflix members simply add movies and TV episodes from a growing library of more than 12,000 choices to their instant Queues at the Netflix Web site. Those choices are automatically displayed on the TV screen via the Xbox 360 and, once selected, will begin playing in as little as 30 seconds. Read more

November 17, 2008 -- Electronic Arts Inc. announced that NCAA Basketball 09 ships to retailers today in North America, delivering a college basketball experience that captures the emotion, intensity and atmosphere of a real college basketball game. Featuring former UCLA star Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves on its cover, NCAA Basketball 09 showcases a new, strategic college basketball gameplay experience that challenges gamers to replicate their school’s style of play and set the game tempo to win.

Experience the electricity of game night with the band playing fight songs, the student section leading the cheers and ESPN college basketball broadcasters Dick Vitale, Brad Nessler and Erin Andrews providing the commentary. Whether your school plays up tempo looking to push the ball in transition, runs a half-court offense that utilizes the clock and limits possessions or features a balanced attack that combines transition offense with set plays, NCAA Basketball 09 rewards the strategic gamer and emphasizes team specific styles of play. Read more

November 2008 -- Videogame publisher XS Games just announced that PopStar Guitar will launch on November 18, 2008 for Wii and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system in time for the holidays. With a blockbuster lineup of mastered music tracks from Miley Cyrus, Maroon 5, Rihanna, Jonas Brothers, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, Simple Plan, 3 Doors Down and Blink 182, gamers now have the chance to be a true Pop Star by starring as the lead guitarist in their very own band.

“We are thrilled to announce the official launch date for PopStar Guitar as it caters to the huge audience of pop music fans,” said Steve Grossman, chief executive officer of XS Games. “With the all-star roster of pop artists coupled with the innovative AirG peripheral, we are excited to put PopStar Guitar on store shelves, and into the hands of fans who have long dreamed of being a pop star.” Read more

November 14, 2008 – Following up Guitar Hero: On Tour the groundbreaking and best-selling Nintendo DS game, fans can once again become traveling rock gods as Activision Publishing, Inc. debuts Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades in European retail outlets today and in North American stores on Sunday, November 16, 2008. The game leverages the technology of its predecessor and expands the experience with a new progression taking players on a musical journey from classics of the 1970s through today’s greatest hits.

The game features a number of enhancements, including the ability to stream songs with the original Guitar Hero: On Tour to add yet another fun, social dimension to handheld gaming. Fans can play through any one of three different solo career paths, each with their own story: Lead Guitar, Bass Guitar, and Guitar Duel. Players can rock out to the largest set list in a handheld game to-date with 28 master tracks and more than 60 songs that can be streamed with owners of the original game. Read more