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GameTap Losing EA, Interplay And Other Games

GameTap’s message boards have revealed that the service will be losing the rights to offer a number of down-loadable games from Electronic Arts, Interplay, Atari and other publishers beginning Dec. 11. The list of games totals around 70 titles and can be found here.

GameTap executive editor Doug Perry stated in the message boards that the reason for the pulling of the titles was apparently due to contracts that are all ending on Dec. 11. Is this the start of more game studios not renewing contracts with the GameTap service?

Now That’s a Home Arcade You Can Be Proud Of

Do you always have to have the Biggest and best toys and show them off to your friends? If yes, the “Dreamcade Vision 120” is the must have game system gift for you this Christmas.

The “Dreamcade Vision 120″ isn’t just a game system; it’s an arcade center. In fact, the Vision 120 comes complete and ready to play with more than 145 classic arcade games, including all of your favorite classic games from Atari, Midway, Namco, Digital Leisure, and Capcom as well more than 7,000 classic console games. What did you just say; you already have a Next-Gen game system? The Vision 120 also comes with Component and HDMI video inputs for your Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or Nintendo’s Wii console with a wireless sensor bar built right in. Play all of this in high definition with a 120-inch portable screen.

All this for the small retail price of $3,999, but can you really put a price on playing 145 classic arcade games on one system with a 120-inch screen?

Dreamcade Vision 120 Features:

• High powered projector – Bright enough for daytime use!
• 120-inch Portable projection screen – makes it simple to set up, move, and store
• Dreamcade 2.0 Gaming PC – modern PC games can be played using authentic arcade controls
• More than 145 classic arcade games including Ms. Pac-man, Centipede, Dig Dug, and many more.
• Free year’s subscription to more than 7,000 classic console games via Console Classix, including games for Atari, ColecoVision, NES, SuperNES, Sega Genesis, Sega Master System, Sega GameGear, and GameBoy.
• Component and HDMI video inputs for your Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii for the ultimate in modern gaming as well as classic arcade games.
• Arcade Control Panel Features:
• Lighted trackball – For authentic gaming action on games like Centipede and Missile Command
• Spinner – To play retro classics like Warlords, Breakout and Pong
• Full arcade control panel with additional side buttons allows playing nearly any game from Street fighter to MAME pinball as well as modern games and classic console games through Console Classix
• Removable control panel – Gives you the ultimate versatility

ATARI Stops Game Development

Atari CEO has resigned as the ailing publisher announces that they’ve ceased any game development. They will still publish titles apparently. Atari is only trying to put a positive spin on a really bad deal for us all.

Amidst concerns about the company’s lack of funds and ability to continue its business, Atari officials announced today that the publisher will “re-focus its operations on publishing and distribution in North America, completing its withdrawal from the production business.”

According to the release, Atari’s operations going forward “will involve title acquisition, sales and marketing, and physical distribution of products from [Infogrames] IESA, its 51% shareholder, and other selected partners.”

Atari has agreed in principle to terminate its Production Services Agreement with IESA in the near future. The company is planning to transfer certain employees and contract other staff on a project basis for a limited period of time. Unfortunately for Atari’s employees, this restructuring initiative will also reduce the company’s current workforce “in order to re-align the Company’s cost structure with its on-going business base.”

Along with the withdrawal from production, Atari CEO David Pierce has also announced his resignation. Curtis G. Solsvig III, Chief Restructuring Officer, has been appointed interim CEO and will assume Pierce’s responsibilities for now. Atari said that an executive search for a new CEO has already been started.

Alone in the Dark Coming to Wii and PS2

Atari announces today some good news for Wii and PS2 users. Their upcoming version of the Alone in the Dark game will have Wii and PS2 versions. Developer Hydravision will port the game to those platforms while Eden Studios will continue work on the previously announced PS3, Xbox 360 and PC versions.

Developed by Hydravision, Alone in the Dark for Wii and PS2 follows the same story as the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC version, where over the course of one apocalyptic night, hero Edward Carnby must uncover the earth-shattering secret hidden in New York’s iconic Central Park.

“Realizing the enormous ambition of Alone in the Dark is a huge technological challenge,” said Hudson Piehl, Vice President of Production, Atari, Inc. “Hydravision has risen to the occasion to ensure Wii and PlayStation 2 owners will be impressed by the gripping gameplay experience.”

The game still does not have a release date.

Alone In The Dark CentralPark Trailer

What a fitting day to release a new Alone In The Dark CentralPark trailer:

We have been requested to remove this until we can provide the age detection. 2007-11-01

BOO!!

Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer PreView and ScreenShots

Platform: Windows
Release Date: Autumn 2007
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment, Inc.
Publisher: Atari
Category: Role Playing Game
PEGI Rating: 12+

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
Following the climactic battle against the King of Shadows, you awaken alone and stranded deep beneath the earth. A dark hunger grows within you, threatening to devour your very soul. Will you fight against the hunger within or will you embrace it, reveling in your newfound power?

Set in harsh, spirit-rich Rashemen, near the powerful nation of Thay, Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer presents players with an exciting new 20-30+ hour campaign filled with meaningful choices, rich characters, and surprising outcomes. Continue the adventure of your Neverwinter Nights 2 character or create a completely new epic hero – no previous Neverwinter Nights experience required. Hundreds of new gameplay options include epic levels; feats, spells, races, and classes; powerful weapons, armor, and crafting options; and hordes of diverse creatures.

PRODUCT FEATURES:

• Major improvements to the Neverwinter Nights franchise: enhanced graphics, including extensive use of specularity, environment effects, and normal maps; improved performance; streamlined party control; and an easier to use and more powerful toolset. Experience Neverwinter Nights 2 at its best.
• Epic storyline provides the most riveting RPG experience since Planescape: Torment, with the compelling characters and plotlines for which Obsidian Entertainment is renowned. Play the official campaign either alone or online with your friends.
• Stunning new environments include the Astral Plane, sunken Imaskari ruins, a Thayan wizard academy, and the Shadow Plane. Immerse yourself in the Forgotten Realms as you’ve never seen it before.
• Explore an amazingly reactive world, where your decisions affect those around you and the passage of time realistically impacts gameplay.
• Switch seamlessly between exploration and tactical combat with the immersive, over the shoulder view of Character Mode and the top down perspective of Strategy Mode with its RTS-like controls.
• Combat and negotiate with dozens of new creatures including many D&D favourites such as blue dragons, treants, hags, solars, and the two-headed fell troll.
• Choose from over 20 classic and exotic D&D races, including the new genasi: planetouched humanoids hailing from the elemental planes of air, earth, fire, or water.
• Customize your character with over 60 epic feats including the monk’s Blazing Aura, the rogue’s Epic Precision, and the druid’s Dragon Shape.
• Master more than 50 new spells, including epic spells such as mass fowl, damnation, and vampiric feast.
• Play new D&D classes such as the Red Wizard of Thay, spirit shaman, and invisible blade.
• Collect souls from defeated foes to create mighty artifacts using an expanded item enchantment system.
• Create your own D&D adventures to play with friends online with enhanced modding tools.

Godzilla: Unleashed For The Wii

PLATFORM: Wii
RELEASE DATE: Holiday 2007
DEVELOPER: Pipeworks Software, Inc.
PUBLISHER: Atari, Inc.
CATEGORY: Monster Fighting
ESRB RATING: RP (Expecting T)

GAME DESCRIPTION:
Godzilla: Unleashed is a fighting game on a gigantic scale – players are thrust into a world in which monsters are larger than life and the mother of all giants reigns. Specially designed for the Wii, the intuitive wand motions allow you to unleash your inner monster; battle with the legendary Godzilla and a slew of the most renowned monsters in a challenge to ultimately save the planet from mayhem and complete annihilation. Godzilla: Unleashed provides an environment perfect for epic worldwide obliteration with interactive 3D cityscapes, an innovative non-linear storyline, big destructible buildings, soaring skyscrapers and towering alien crystal formations. No major city is safe from total destruction as players claw, kick, stomp, throw, and blast each other in order to claim the title: King of the Monsters.

GAME FEATURES:
• Multiplayer modes supporting up to four players;
• A completely redesigned massively destructive 3D fighting system;
• Innovative and re-playable non-linear storyline;
• 23 playable monsters including classic and new Toho (original creators of Godzilla) approved monsters;
• A minimum of eight intensely destructible environments featuring partial building pieces and updated physics;
• Inventive fighting mechanics including power-up upgrades, breath weapons, hand-to-hand combat, grappling moves, and more.

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