Xbox 360

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

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 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

April 21, 2009 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games are joining forces with the LEGO Group, Harmonix and MTV Games, a part of Viacom's MTV Networks, to merge two of the most popular videogame franchises with the creation of LEGO Rock Band. The unique family-friendly music experience is currently in development by TT Games in partnership with Harmonix, and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game, which will allow families, tweens and teens to experience a wild journey to rock stardom where they can "Build a Band and Rock the Universe," will be available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Wii home videogame console. LEGO Rock Band for Nintendo DS will be co-developed by TT Games and Harmonix in partnership with Backbone Entertainment, a Foundation 9 Entertainment studio. All versions are scheduled for release holiday 2009.Read more

April 10, 2009 - Harmonix and MTV Games announced today that Chinese Democracy, the sixth and most recent album from Guns N' Roses, will be released in its entirety to the Rock Band Music Store catalog of downloadable content on April 14, 2009.

The highly anticipated November 2008 release of Chinese Democracy was Guns N' Roses' first official music release in 15 years. It debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart, at #2 on the UK Albums chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on February 3, 2009. Chinese Democracy has already sold nearly three million copies.

Formed in the early 80s in Los Angeles, Guns N' Roses has sold an estimated 100 million albums worldwide. The band’s 1987 major label debut Appetite for Destruction, featuring the hits "Welcome to the Jungle," "Paradise City" and "Sweet Child o' Mine," has sold in excess of 28 million copies and remains to this day the fastest-selling debut album in history. Read more

Act Like a Mobster and Think Like a Don in the Game that Scores a Perfect 5 out of 5 in GamePro Magazine

April 7, 2009--Electronic Arts Inc. and Paramount Digital Entertainment today announced the arrival of The Godfather II videogame in stores now in North America for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, and PC. The game will be available on April 10th in Europe.

The Godfather II is the sequel to the multi-platinum hit The Godfather The Game and has earned a perfect 5 out of 5 from GamePro magazine. GamePro calls the game "…criminally addictive" and "...the experience by which other crime games must be judged."

"The Godfather II offers players the ultimate fantasy of being a Don - of finally being the guy who calls all the shots for the family," says Executive Producer Hunter Smith. "By combining the strategic gameplay of thinking like a Don through the 'Don's View', with our intense, visceral 'Blackhand' combat, we are focusing on the game at the root of the Godfather franchise, the game of organized crime. In essence, we're creating a new niche in the open-world genre and are really excited to see how players will build their families and customize their own experience in both the single player campaign and multiplayer battles." Read more

It came as a rude shock to our son…he was no longer one of the most sought after people on the planet – the hardcore gamer. It dawned on him after watching his sister and Mom play their Wii musical instruments, exercise with the system and do a little Dancing With the Stars. While he and his comrades were busy shootin 'em up, bustin 'em up; the gaming industry had discovered there was a brave new market existed beyond teens…beyond boys! We sorta, kinda knew it back at the beginning when worked with the Tramiels to introduce the 7800 console and Lynx. We just didn't admit it. The game industry was in its infancy and only accounted for a few hundred million bucks. Today the market is huge and serious.

Despite (or perhaps because of) the anemic economy, the gaming industry appears to be hell-bent on fighting the tide again this holiday season with another record year!

In good and bad times the game industry has grown steadily. Read more