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In Memory
Sean Pettibone

News | Headlines & Information

Happy New Year! Resolve to design games in 2008 

Gimme5games and Mochi Media announce the 2008 Casual Gameplay Design Competition 

Redwood City, Calif. -- Jan 18, 2008 -- Did you spend the holidays reading round-ups of 2007's best games and thinking you could do that? Would you like to design games in 2008? Well, here's your chance: Jay is Games (http://jayisgames.com) has launched the 5th Casual Gameplay Design Competition, sponsored by Gimme5games.

The aim is to design a Flash game based on the theme of "Upgrade." It doesn't have to be complex nor large in scope; in fact, since you will have only 8 weeks to complete your design, simple ideas are probably the way to go. You can use any version of Flash (6+).

Entrants are free to interpret the theme of Upgrade in any way they see fit; however, the extent to which the game addresses the theme is left up to the competition's judges to decide. Cash prizes for the best entries are up for grabs, and most importantly, those who impress with innovative game design, production skills and an imaginative interpretation of the theme will see their game and credits spread across the world's casual game sites and be given a thorough review of your work by the JIG Casual Gameplay staff. The closing date for entries is March 3rd 2008. For details and terms and conditions click here: http://jayisgames.com/archives/2008/01/game_design_competition_5.php Make a resolution to UPGRADE game design yourself for 2008.

About Eidos New Media

Eidos New Media is a division of Eidos Interactive Ltd, created in 2003 to focus on emerging platforms and technologies. The division has successfully launched award-winning mobile games based on a number of Eidos' intellectual properties including: Tomb Raider, Hitman, Championship Manager, and Thief along with a host of other licensed titles. Eidos New Media also distributes games through digital distribution via its own sites and partner channels as either individual consumer downloads or subscription services. In 2007 Eidos New Media acquired mobile development and content providers Rockpool Games, Ironstone Partners and SoGoPlay, online distribution specialist Bluefish Media and award-winning mobile and casual games developer Morpheme Game Studios to strengthen internal company resource and expertise.

About Eidos Interactive Ltd

Eidos Interactive Ltd is part of SCi Entertainment Group Plc (SEG) one of the world's leading publishers and developers of entertainment software. Eidos consists of publishing operations across Europe and the US and several development studios including Crystal Dynamics, IO Interactive, Beautiful Game Studios, Eidos Studios Hungary, Eidos Sweden and Pivotal Games. The Group has a valuable combined portfolio of intellectual property including: Tomb Raider, Hitman, Deus Ex, Championship Manager, Carmageddon, Battlestations Midway, the Conflict series and Just Cause.

Some of the titles currently in development include: Conflict:Denied Ops and Highlander.

ACTIVISION’S CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE AND GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK NOMINATED FOR TWELVE INTERACTIVE ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS®

Santa Monica, CA – January 18, 2008 – Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) is ushering in the New Year with 12 Interactive Achievement Award nominations for its blockbuster Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™ and Guitar Hero III®: Legends of Rock video games. Winners, as voted on by members of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences®, will be announced as part of the 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards ceremony on February 7, 2008 at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare nominations include Overall Game of the Year, Console Game of the Year, Computer Game of the Year, Action Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Animation, Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction, Outstanding Achievement in Game Design, Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay, Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design and Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is nominated for Family Game of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack.

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 $1.5 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.

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 World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.

GUITAR HERO® III: LEGENDS OF ROCK -- ROCK YOUR PARTY WEEKEND ON XBOX LIVE® ANNOUNCED

Fans Celebrate the Culmination of the Football Season as They Play for Prizes and Play with Game Developer Neversoft

SANTA MONICA, CA. – Jan. 18, 2008 – Gridiron fans get ready to rock out and win prizes on Xbox LIVE® with Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock! Activision announced today that Xbox LIVE will host the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock – Rock Your Party Weekend, a special event happening the weekend of the big game, February 1-3, 2008 for U.S. and Canada residents. The 72-hour event gives players the chance to prove their axe grinding skills and includes a Play & Win Sweepstakes that offers gamers who register and play, the chance to win a multitude of prizes. Before the big game, fans can test their talents against Neversoft, developers of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, from 12 – 4 p.m. PST on Sunday, February 3.

Some of the prizes up for grabs include Microsoft points, Guitar Hero® Gear and an Xbox 360® wireless guitar faceplate signed by Slash. One lucky grand prize winner will take home the Ultimate Home Gaming Center, which includes an LG 50" 1080p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV, an Xbox 360 Elite and a BoomChair - Wi-FX Wireless Gaming Chair.

Fans can register for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock – Rock Your Party Weekend on Xbox LIVE by downloading the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock GamerPics exclusively through Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Players can also register by visiting http://www.xbox.com/rockyourparty/, where they can get additional details regarding terms, conditions and official rules.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock offers the ultimate rock experience with new wireless guitars, freshly added content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer modes allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true rock status as they riff through a star-studded soundtrack including master tracks by legendary artists such as Aerosmith, Guns 'N' Roses, The Rolling Stones, Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine and Pearl Jam, as well as original songs by guitar icons Slash and Tom Morello. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is now available and is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB. For more information visit http://www.guitarhero.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 $1.5 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.

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 World Wide Web site, which is located at www.activision.com.

UBISOFT ANNOUNCES CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION(TM) HARD EVIDENCE IS AVAILABLE ON STORE SHELVES FOR THE Wii(TM) SYSTEM

SAN FRANCISCO – January 17, 2008 – Today, Ubisoft announced CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION(TM) Hard Evidence is available on store shelves for the Wii(TM) home video game system from Nintendo. This release marks the debut of the CSI franchise on the Wii system. Players will be able to use the Wii Remote(TM) to navigate through a crime scene and use an intuitive interface that has been completely redone with a console audience in mind, making the game more like the show than ever. CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION(TM) Hard Evidence is rated "M” for Mature and has a MSRP of $39.99.

About CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION(TM): Hard Evidence Developed by Telltale Games, CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION(TM) Hard Evidence will continue the crime-solving experience of Ubisoft's CSI video game series. Players will join Gil Grissom, Catherine Willows and the rest of the Las Vegas cast to help solve crimes using realistic techniques and lab equipment. The game features forensic reconstructions and atmospheric crime scenes taken directly from the television show, including an all-new garage lab for analyzing large pieces of evidence, improved evidence gathering, lab mini-games and more. There are more areas to explore and increased interaction with the CSI team, resulting in a longer play experience. Game features include:

• More Crime-Solving Action Break down the evidence and bring suspects to justice in five all-new, bizarre crimes. Unravel longer cases, search bigger crime scenes and uncover hidden evidence in unique locations like never before.

• Go Deeper into the Evidence Master new forensic tools and find more evidence than ever. Use the new garage lab to examine large pieces of evidence like cars and trucks. Recreate gunfights with ballistic lasers, uncover shocking secrets with video analysis and much more.

• The Ultimate CSI Experience Experience your very own CSI episodes as you piece together clues with the real CSI actors. Take part in dramatic interrogations, create grisly crime reenactments and explore atmospheric crime scenes inspired by the show.

CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION(TM) is consistently one of the top-rated shows on network television and won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Television Drama in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 and was a People's Choice Award nominee in 2007 as well. The CSI video game franchise, published by Ubisoft, has sold approximately 2.4 million units worldwide since the first CSI title was released in March 2003.

About CBS Consumer Products CBS Consumer Products, a unit of CBS Entertainment, manages worldwide licensing and merchandising for a diverse slate of television brands and series from CBS, CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution, as well as from the company's extensive library of titles. Additionally, the group oversees the CBS Retail Store and online sales of programming merchandise. For more information, visit www.CBS.com.

About Telltale, Inc. Telltale is a new breed of interactive entertainment company pioneering high-caliber episodic game publishing and development. Founded in 2004 by industry veterans with decades of experience, the company has quickly become a leader in episodic gaming by delivering award-winning interactive experiences that emphasize engaging stories, strong characters and rich worlds. To learn more about Telltale, please visit www.telltalegames.com.

About Ubisoft Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified lineup of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 21 countries and sales in more than 50 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. Ubisoft generated sales of 680 million Euros for the 2006-07 fiscal year. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION in USA is a trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. and outside USA is a trademark of Entertainment AB Funding LLC. CBS and the CBS Eye Design TM CBS Broadcasting Inc. ©2000 - 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. and Entertainment AB Funding LLC. All Rights Reserved. © 2007 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Company logos are trademarks of their respective owners. No celebrity endorsements implied. Wii and the Wii logo are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2006 Nintendo.

> January 16, 2008

Nintendo reveals 2008 schedule
EA's Spore heads for Macintosh

Strong Lineup Of Games Continues Nintendo's Momentum In 2008

REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 16, 2008 – With their focus on fun for everyone, Nintendo’s Wii and Nintendo DS systems are leading a new movement in the world of video games. Games based on brain exercises. … New experiences that surprise even core gamers. … Grandparents buying video game systems – for themselves! Surely, these are unprecedented times.

“The video game industry has never had so many new players, and they’ve never had so much fun,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of sales & marketing. “Our momentum is not limited to one system or one game. We’re going broad and bold in 2008, with something for every member of the family.”

Nintendo DS and Wii finished as the No. 1 and No. 2 best-selling systems of the year, respectively. Nintendo continues its momentum into 2008 with a strong lineup of games. In the first half of 2008 alone, more than 65 new Wii games will add to the current library of more than 195 and 80 new Nintendo DS games will add to the current library of nearly 500. Nintendo DS opens the first half of the year with games that demonstrate the breadth of the Nintendo DS library. Advance Wars: Days of Ruin is a treat aimed squarely at core gamers, while Crosswords DS is for all consumers, whether they currently play games or not.

Likewise, the first half of 2008 brings a diverse array of Wii games from Nintendo, including core games like Super Smash Bros. Brawl; games with universal appeal for gamers old and new with Mario Kart Wii, which uses the easy-to-pick-up Wii Wheel; and Wii Fit, which comes with the Wii Balance Board and has appeal for new consumers well beyond the traditional video game audience. On top of all that, new downloadable WiiWare games will make their debut. These unique games have much lower entry barriers for developers and let consumers enjoy an incredibly diverse selection of content.

Third-party publishers also continue their strong support for Wii and Nintendo DS. Some of the innovative Wii games for the first half of 2008 include Ninja Reflex from Electronic Arts, No More Heroes from Ubisoft, DeBlob from THQ, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from LucasArts and Okami from Capcom, in addition to compelling Nintendo DS games like FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Rings of Fate from Square Enix, Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword from Tecmo and Quick Yoga Training from Ubisoft.

The following is a partial list of Wii and Nintendo DS software for the first half of 2008. Note that details are subject to change.

Wii
Jan. 7: Kidz Sports Ice Hockey from Destineer
Jan. 8: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law from Capcom
Jan. 15: SAMURAI WARRIORS: KATANA from KOEI CORPORATION
Jan. 15: Furu Furu Park from Majesco Entertainment
Jan. 21: Endless Ocean from Nintendo
Jan. 22: One Piece: Unlimited Adventure from Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
Jan. 29: Bomberman Land from Hudson
January: No More Heroes from Ubisoft
January: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Hard Evidence from Ubisoft
Feb. 8: Kawasaki Jet Ski from Destineer
Feb. 11: Go Diego Go!: Safari Rescue from 2K Play
Feb. 12: WWII Aces from Destineer
Feb. 12: Dream Pinball 3D from SouthPeak Games
Feb. 18: MX vs. ATV Untamed from THQ
Feb. 25: Agatha Christie And Then There Were None from DreamCatcher Games
Feb. 26: Baroque from Atlus USA
Feb. 26: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors from Square Enix
Feb. 27: Kidz Sports Soccer from Destineer
Feb. 27: London Taxi: Rush Hour from Destineer
February: Garfield Gets Real from DSI Games
February: Yamaha Supercross from DSI Games
February: Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore from Konami
February: Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 from Ubisoft
February: BALLOON POP from UFO INTERACTIVE GAMES
March 3: Destroy All Humans: Big Willy Unleashed from THQ
March 9: Super Smash Bros. Brawl from Nintendo
March 10: Worms: A Space Oddity from THQ
March 25: Okami from Capcom
March 25: OPOONA from KOEI CORPORATION
March: MiniCopter: Adventure Flight from Aksys Games
March: Alone in the Dark from Atari
March: Ninja Reflex from Electronic Arts
March: Obscure: The Aftermath from Ignition Entertainment
March: Target: Terror from Konami
March: Nitro Bike from Ubisoft
March: Emergency Heroes from Ubisoft
March: HEAVENLY GUARDIAN from UFO INTERACTIVE GAMES
March: Rebel Raiders from XS Games
April 15: Castle of Shikigami III from Aksys Games
April: Pro Evolution Soccer from Konami
April: Wild Earth: African Safari from Majesco Entertainment
April: THE MONKEY KING-THE LEGEND BEGINS from UFO INTERACTIVE GAMES
April: Super Pick Ups from XS Games
May 6: Speed Racer from Warner Bros. Games
May 13: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian from Disney Interactive Studios
May: BlastWorks: Build, Trade, Destroy from Majesco Entertainment
May: King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga from SNK Playmore
May: THE DOG Island from Ubisoft
June 8: Wonderworld Amusement Park from Majesco Entertainment
June: Catch of the Day from Electronic Arts
June: Ford Racing Off Road from Empire Interactive
June: Cooking Mama Cook Off 2 from Majesco Entertainment
June: Rygar: The Battle of Argus from Tecmo, Inc.
June: DeBlob from THQ
June: Wall-E from THQ
Spring: Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel from Nintendo
Spring: Major League Baseball 2K8 from 2K Sports
Spring: Don King Presents: Prizefighter from 2K Sports
Spring: Top Spin 3 from 2K Sports
Spring: Kung Fu Panda from Activision
Spring: LEGO: Indiana Jones from LucasArts
Summer: Deca Sports from Hudson
Summer: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from LucasArts
Summer: Active Life: Outdoor Challenge from Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
Q2: Wii Fit from Nintendo

Nintendo DS

Jan. 21: Advance Wars: Days of Ruin from Nintendo/Intelligent Systems
Jan. 21: Mazes of Fate DS from Graffiti Entertainment, LLC
Jan. 22: Mega Brain Boost from Majesco Entertainment
Jan. 24: Aquarium by DS from Bold Games
Jan. 24: Fantasy Aquarium by DS from Bold Games
Jan. 29: Pet Pals: Animal Doctor from Majesco Entertainment
January: N+ from Atari
January: Barnyard Blast from DSI Games
January: Command & Destroy from DSI Games
January: Miami Nights: Singles in the City from Ubisoft
January: Brain Challenge from Ubisoft
Feb. 4: Paws & Claws: Pet Resort from THQ
Feb. 5: Homie Rollerz from Destineer
Feb. 5: Nanostray 2 from Majesco Entertainment
Feb. 10 (street date): Professor Layton and the Curious Village from Nintendo/LEVEL-5
Feb. 12: Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney from Capcom
Feb. 12: New Zealand Story Revolution from Ignition Entertainment
Feb. 12: Dream Pinball 3D from SouthPeak Games
Feb. 19: Spitfire Heroes: Tales of the RAF from Destineer
Feb. 19: Zoo Tycoon II from THQ
Feb. 25: Bratz: Super Babyz from THQ
Feb. 26: Bubble Bobble Double Shot from Ignition Entertainment
February: My Horse and Me from Atari
February: M&M’S Kart Racing from DSI Games
February: Garfield Gets Real from DSI Games
February: Yamaha Supercross from DSI Games
February: Insecticide from Gamecock Media Group
February: Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery from Ubisoft
February: Assassin’s Creed Altair’s Chronicles from Ubisoft
February: Petz Wild Animals: Tigerz from Ubisoft
February: Puppy Palace from Ubisoft
February: Real Soccer 2008 from Ubisoft
March 1: Project Exile from Graffiti Entertainment, LLC
March 3: Let’s Ride: Friends Forever from THQ
March 4: Diary Girl from Konami
March 4: Go Pets from Konami
March 4: Disney Friends from Disney Interactive Studios
March 4: Eco-Creatures: Save the Forest from Majesco Entertainment
March 8: Plushees from Destineer
March 8: River King: Mystic Valley from Natsume Inc.
March 8: Harvest Moon DS Cute from Natsume Inc.
March 11: FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Rings of Fate from Square Enix
March 11: Lost in Blue 3 from Konami
March 11: Pro Evolution Soccer from Konami
March 25: Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword from Tecmo, Inc.
March: Alone in the Dark from Atari
March: Drone Tactics from Atlus USA
March: Double Sequence from DSI Games
March: Ninja Reflex from Electronic Arts
March: Myst from Empire Interactive
March: Naruto: Ninja Destiny from Tomy Corporation
March: Petz Bunnyz from Ubisoft
March: Imagine Figure Skater from Ubisoft
March: Commando from XS Games
April 15: Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys from Ignition Entertainment
April: Super Dodgeball Brawlers from Aksys Games
April: Rondo of Swords from Atlus USA
April: Quick Yoga Training from Ubisoft
May 5: Crosswords DS from Nintendo
May 6: Speed Racer from Warner Bros. Games
May 8: Organize It from Summitsoft Corporation
May 13: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian from Disney Interactive Studios
May: Winx Club: Mission Enchantix from Konami
May: Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles from Aksys Games
May: Garfield Fun Fest from DSI Games
May: 1 vs. 100 from DSI Games
June 8: Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness from Natsume Inc.
June: Shining Stars from DSI Games
June: Catch of the Day from Electronic Arts
June: PipeMania from Empire Interactive
June: Wall-E from THQ
Spring: Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution from 2K Games
Spring: Don King Presents: Prizefighter from 2K Sports
Spring: Top Spin 3 from 2K Sports
Spring: Kung Fu Panda from Activision
Spring: LEGO: Indiana Jones from LucasArts
Spring: The World Ends with You from Square Enix
Summer: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from LucasArts
Summer: Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 3 from Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
Q2: Bangai-O Spirits from D3 Publisher of America
Q2: PREY THE STARS from KOEI CORPORATION
Q2: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time from Nintendo
Q2: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness from Nintendo

EA REVEALS SPORE™ FOR THE MAC

From the Tiniest Amoeba to the Entire Galaxy Gamers Create, Customize and Share their Personal Creations

Redwood City, CA - January 16, 2008 – At the Macworld Expo today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced that SPORE™ will be available for the Mac later this year. From Will Wright, creator of the mega-hit The Sims™ comes Spore, the only game that allows creative personalities to explore the depths of their own personal galaxy. A sneak peek of the game will be on display at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco, CA throughout this week. A PC version of the game will also be released later this year.

“We couldn’t be happier to bring Spore to the Mac at the same time as the PC version. Spore is a highly creative game and I look forward to seeing what the players come up with to fill the universe they design,” said Will Wright, Chief Designer of Spore.

Spore is your own personal universe in a box. In this universe you can create and evolve life, establish tribes, build civilizations and even sculpt entire worlds. In Spore you have a variety of creation tools at your disposal that allow you to customize nearly aspect of your universe: creatures, vehicles, buildings, and even spaceships. While Spore is a single player game, your creations and other players’ creations are automatically shared between your galaxy and theirs, providing a limitless number of worlds to explore and play.

“I am excited that we’ll be able to bring Spore directly to the Mac community. The intuitive Creature, Vehicle, and Building Creators in the game are so powerful that the possibilities are limitless. Players can create anything they can imagine and see them come to life in the game,” said Lucy Bradshaw, Executive Producer of Spore.

Spore is made up of five phases, each corresponding to a stage of evolution: cell, creature, tribe, civilization and space. Each phase presents different challenges and goals. You may choose to start with the cell phase and nurture one species from its humble aquatic origins to its evolution as a sentient species. Or you may decide to start building tribes or civilizations on multiple planets. What you do with your universe is up to you.

Both the PC and Macintosh versions of the game will feature the full experience of cell through to space with editors for designing creatures, buildings, and vehicles. Spore for the Mac will be made possible through TransGaming’s Cider Portability Engine, with experience gained from the past EA Mac titles.

###

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™, EA™, EA SPORTS BIG™ and POGO™. 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. EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. 


> January 15, 2008

Ubisoft's NitroBike heads for Wii
Ultizen Games buys Mo-Star
The Apprentice game on Facebook

NITROBIKE(TM) RACES ON TO STORE SHELVES

First Wii(TM) Game Featuring Nitro-Charged Dirt Bikes Available Soon

SAN FRANCISCO – January 15, 2008 – Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announced that Nitrobike(TM) for the Wii(TM) home video game system from Nintendo has shipped to store shelves. Developed by Left Field Productions, the creators of the classic Excitebike® 64 for the Nintendo® 64, Nitrobike allows players to navigate rocket-propelled dirt bikes in an exciting arcade-style game. They can choose to race against the clock or worthy opponents – Nitrobike features a multiplayer game mode as well as a unique online mode for up to six players.

Nitrobike features include: • Career mode with a total of 67 racing events for massive replayability • Customizable bikes and characters • A bowling mini-game for up to four players with king-sized pins • 20 unique levels with environments ranging from volcanic islands to a deserted airplane graveyard

Nitrobike for the Wii system is rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and older and has an MSRP of $49.99.

About Ubisoft Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified lineup of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 21 countries and sales in more than 50 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. Ubisoft generated sales of 680 million Euros for the 2006-07 fiscal year. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

About Left Field Productions: Left Field Productions is a leading developer of interactive entertainment products, with a long history of critically acclaimed titles. From Nintendo classics such as Excitebike 64 and NBA Courtside, to the recent World Series of Poker video-games, Left Field Productions has shown its ability to create quality products that please both consumers and our publishing partners. Left Field Productions is headquartered in Ventura, California. To learn more, please visit www.left.com. © 2007 Left Field Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved. Published and distributed by Ubisoft Entertainment. Nitrobike and Left Field Productions are trademarks of Left Field Productions Inc. and are used under license. Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Wii and the Wii logo are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2006 Nintendo.

Social-Networking Version of The ApprenticeGame Launches on Facebook

Legacy Interactive has launched a new social-networking version of the addictive game The Apprentice in which players vie for the top spot in the Trump organization as they serve up sushi in a busy restaurant.

The new Flash format of The Apprentice can be played online by Facebook members and is downloaded to their Facebook profile from http://apps.facebook.com/apprenticegame/. Players can view which of their friends on Facebook are currently playing the game and can challenge their friends to try to beat their score. Additionally the application will rank players' scores within their Facebook network of friends, with the top scorer being "hired" and others "fired." The Facebook version of The Apprentice is free.

Legacy Interactive is a developer and publisher of games with mass market appeal. Find out more at www.legacyinteractive.com.

Ultizen Games Acquires Mo-Star Mobile Game Developer 

SHANGHAI, China- January 15, 2008 - Ultizen Games Ltd., a leading game development and outsourcing company, announced today they recently completed an acquisition of Mo-Star, a mobile game development company based in Beijing that owns an extensive and growing catalog of over 200 mobile games.

"The mobile game industry in China is thriving and Mo-Star has established itself as a premiere vendor to China Mobile, the leading telecom company in China," said Ultizen Games CEO Mr. Lan Haiwen. "They are an amazingly efficient and productive studio that adds a significant addition to our development capacity. They can produce high quality mobile games for any market, localized to the taste and requirements of the region"

Mo-Star is the fourth full time studio that Ultizen owns and brings their total work forced to over 280, making them one of the ten largest game development companies based in China. In other news, Ultizen announced they will be sponsoring Information Table at the new Outsourcing Summit on February 18th at GDC 2008 in San Francisco. "The outsourcing model has become highly evolved, today's software publishers demand highly integrated partners that can act as a seamless extension of their own development," commented Michael Devine, Vice President of North American Business Development. Ultizen will be providing developers and publishers with advice and guidance on all aspects of game development outsourcing.

About Ultizen Games

Ultizen Games Ltd is a Shanghai-based game development outsourcer for North American, European and Japanese companies, and the creator of the U-Pal casual game platform for the Chinese market. The company was founded in 2005 by a group of industry experts from Ubi Soft China, Shanda and The 9. The company now has 4 studios in China and opened a business development office in Los Angeles and London in 2007.

Ultizen Games' 280-person studio provides game development services including game design, porting, programming and testing, art and sound effects, localization, and background environment development. More information about Ultizen can be found at their all new website; www.ultizen.com , featuring a new fast loading, mirrored site in North America.

> January 14, 2008

Boogie Bunnies on Xbox Live
CDV enters French market

Bust a Move Onto Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday with "Boogie Bunnies!" and Catch Up on Highlights from CES!

This week, players can achieve their dream of stardom with “Boogie Bunnies” when it shimmies its way onto Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday, January 16 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PST).

In “Boogie Bunnies,” an imaginative color matching 3D puzzle game from Sierra Online, players must use their wits to keep a herd of bunnies out of danger. “Boogie Bunnies” transports players to exotic locations where they complete extensive chain puzzles to trigger funky bunny dances. The game features Classic, Arcade or Endless game modes that players can join in for some furry fun either online or offline in two-player cooperative and competitive modes that the entire family will enjoy.

“Boogie Bunnies” will be available worldwide (with the exception of Japan and Korea) for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB. For more details on “Boogie Bunnies” please visit.

Highlights from CES

Coming hot off the heels of CES is the announcement that several electrifying titles will launch soon on Xbox LIVE Arcade, including “Poker Smash” from indie developer Void Star Creations. “Poker Smash” incorporates gameplay elements found in today’s most engrossing puzzle games and adds a poker twist to the mix. Combined with a stunning presentation, the “Poker Smash” puzzle package is a game not to be missed. Additionally, “Rez HD” from Q Entertainment will also be launching soon, which is the Xbox LIVE Arcade exclusive update to the classic shooter that has achieved almost mythical status among gamers for its truly unique entertainment experience. Also launching soon on Xbox LIVE Arcade is “Brain Challenge,” from Gameloft, which is Xbox LIVE Arcade’s first brain training game. “Brain Challenge” boosts brain activity and helps players develop stress-management skills in fun, innovative ways, thanks to a wide variety of games spanning across math, reasoning, memory, focus and logic. Finally, “Lode Runner” will be launching on Xbox LIVE Arcade later in 2008, and is a complete remake of the famous platform game. With free trial downloads for every game and over 100 games to choose from, Xbox LIVE Arcade offers something for every member of the family.

cdv Software Entertainment AG Continues Strategic Growth, Entering French Market Full -service provider to the interactive entertainment industry acquires majority stake in cdv Madrics Media S.A.S.

Bruchsal, Germany -- Jan 14, 2008 -- Continuing its successful expansion efforts, leading full-service interactive entertainment industry service provider, cdv Software Entertainment AG, today announced the acquisition of a 75% majority share of cdv Madrics Media S.A.S, a newly-founded firm, with options to acquire additional shares. Effective December 31, 2007, French-based cdv Madrics Media S.A.S. has successfully acquired all business operations of the highly successful Madrics Media France As part of the rapidly growing cdv Group; this newly acquired firm will be responsible for the marketing and distribution of games-related software and hardware, as well as accessories for France and the Benelux.

With this acquisition, cdv Software Entertainment AG is able to offer immediate access to another key European market, continuing its execution of strategic plans towards becoming a comprehensive, full-service distribution network for all of Europe and North America. cdv Madrics Media S.A.S. maintains excellent relationships with key retailers and partners in France and the Benelux, and is considered a leading distributor in the French-language interactive entertainment market. After additional recent acquisitions yielded significant expansion in Austria and Eastern Europe, the acquisition of this French firm represents a further step toward cdv's ability to successfully offer services within the Pan European, US and Canadian markets.

"The synergy and the complimentary product and service portfolios of the two firms will allow the cdv Group to significantly expand its presence and market share in the European interactive entertainment segment, as well as bolster the organization's credibility as a leading, independent full-service provider," said Christian Gloe, cdv Software Entertainment AG's CEO. "This is a significant milestone for cdv Software Entertainment AG, and we are making excellent progress towards our stated goal of expanding our existing business segments, as well as entering new and complimentary areas of focus." "We are excited to be working with cdv Software Entertainment AG, and likewise the opportunities that this presents for us, our customers and our partners," said cdv Madrics Media S.A.S.'s President, Michaela Steidel. "cdv Madrics Media S.A.S. will now be able to offer its customers an even more comprehensive product portfolio - including a full assortment of already well-established hardware, and a selection of top-notch software titles. We are confident that this will permit us to significantly strengthen our market share and position in France and the Benelux."

About cdv Software Entertainment AG cdv Software Entertainment AG is the only publicly traded, independent full service provider for the games sector in Germany. As a leading sales and service partner for the entire games and software industry, cdv is excellently positioned on the global market thanks to branches focused on Germany, Switzerland and Austria (GSA), North America, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia as well as noted international partners. Alongside its strong product placement and international distribution logistics, cdv offers its customers a wide range of sales-promoting methods and an extensive, professional marketing and promotion service from a single source. The company, which was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Bruchsal, Germany, has been on a steady growth course since its 2007 consolidation and is aiming in the medium term for a strong market position as one of the globally leading full service providers in the games sector. More information is available at http://www.cdv.de. About cdv Software Entertainment USA

cdv Software Entertainment USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of cdv Software Entertainment AG, is a leading publisher of third-party video games and interactive entertainment with offices in New Jersey and headquarters in Cary, North Carolina. cdv Software Entertainment USA has published critically acclaimed and commercially successful titles including Divine Divinity, Blitzkrieg, American Conquest, Codename: Panzers, City Life, DarkStar One, War Front: Turning Point and the acclaimed Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened. The company will continue to expand its offerings with upcoming titles including the highly anticipated AGEOD's American Civil War: 1861-1865 - The Blue and The Gray, Pacific Storm Allies and Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory. For more information, please visit http://www.cdvus.com.

About Madrics Media GmbH