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Championship Gaming Series, Carolina Core grabbed the first victory!

Regular season play of the Championship Gaming Series’ (www.thecgs.com) Region 1 got underway last night at EA’s Los Angeles development studio in Los Angeles, CA.

Carolina Core grabbed the first victory in League history with a 28-25 overall score against NY.3D. While 3D’s legendary Counter-Strike squad prevailed over their counterparts, the Core persevered on the strength of its Project Gotham Racing team.

“The Carolina Core played amazing tonight in the first CGS match ever,” declared Carolina General Manager, Mark Dolven. “The standout performance of the match would have to be Brent “ReX” Dimapilis of the PGR team. Behind his strong racing, the PGR team brought home a clean sweep and helped enable the Core to the overall victory. Katherine “Mystik” Gunn also stepped up in the first of the evening with a comeback win over Coolsvilla.”

In other League action, Dallas edged out Los Angeles with a strong DOA performance.

San Francisco Optx had the most dominant performance of the night with a near sweep of Chicago.

On July 9, 2007, the first live broadcast will air on DIRECTV’s The 101.

Matches for 6/28/07
5:00 PST New York 3D vs. Los Angeles Complexity
7:00 PST Carolina Core vs. Chicago Chimera
9:00 PST San Francisco Optx vs. Dallas Venom

Overlord Game Play Video

SEGA Announces Universe at War: Earth Assault Windows – Live support

SEGA today announced that Universe at War: Earth Assault™ for the PC and Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system will support Microsoft’s Games for Windows – Live system, making it the first third-party title to support Games for Windows – Live and enable PC vs. Xbox 360 cross-platform gaming. Universe at War: Earth Assault is scheduled to ship for PC in North America and Europe this holiday 2007 and for the Xbox 360 in Q1 2008.

Universe at War: Earth Assault for the Xbox 360 will employ a control scheme built from the ground up to ensure smooth gameplay and ease of command for console gamers. To fully support fair and equal gameplay between PC and Xbox 360 gamers,

developer Petroglyph is working to implement a balanced gaming environment and multiple modes for PC vs. Xbox 360 multiplayer games ensuring the best possible experience for gamers on both platforms.

“Cross-platform play between PC and consoles has been a dream of gamers for many years,” said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. “Now that dream has become reality. We are very excited that Universe at War: Earth Assault is at the fore front of supporting Microsoft’s Games for Windows – Live initiative, bridging the PC and Xbox 360 gap.”

Incorporating innovative multiplayer modes inspired by popular massively multiplayer online games and competitive online titles, Universe at War: Earth Assault for the PC and Xbox 360 will give players achievement points, rewards, and medals to encourage players to progress in the game. Players from around the world will battle in the persistent-style “Conquer the World” mode across the PC and Xbox 360 for ultimate faction supremacy in a virtual representation of Earth.

Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution for Console systems

Take-Two Interactive Software announced today that it will publish Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution, the first next generation game designed by world famous game designer Sid Meier. Slated for a spring 2008 release for next generation consoles and handhelds, Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution is being developed by Firaxis Gamesâ„¢, 2K’s world-renowned development studio.

Sid Meier put computer gaming on the map when he delivered Civilization® to the gaming world, launching the “God Game” genre and creating one of the most award-winning and addictive strategy series of all time, including Sid Meier’s Civilization IV™, the Gamespy and GameSpot 2005 Game of the Year. Driven by sheer passion for the game concept, Meier is now handcrafting a brand-new Civilization experience designed and built from scratch for next gen consoles and handhelds.

“Civilization Revolution is the game I’ve always wanted to make!” said Sid Meier, Director of Creative Development at Firaxis Games. “We are excited to take advantage of the power of next generation consoles and the ingenuity of handhelds, to create a great and unique strategy game for newcomers to the series, as well as the millions of fans around the world who enjoy Civilization on the PC.”

In Civilization, players strive to become ruler of the world by establishing and leading a civilization from the dawn of man into the space age - waging war, conducting diplomacy, discovering technologies, going head-to-head with some of history’s greatest leaders, and building the most powerful empire the world has ever known.

Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution is a watershed game, offering players a chance to experience the epic empire-building world of Civilization in an all new accessible, visually immersive, and action-packed world specifically designed for the console and handheld gamer. Delivering Civilization’s renowned epic single-player campaigns featuring vast re-playability and unmatched addictive gameplay as well as revolutionary features like real-time interaction with leaders and advisors, extensive multiplayer capabilities and integrated video and voice chat, it will completely transport the Civilization series to a level of gameplay that fans have never seen before.

“Civilization is one of the world’s top selling PC game series with more than 8 million units sold, and continues to be recognized as one of the greatest franchises ever created,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “We are excited to have Sid Meier getting back to his roots as the game’s Lead Designer to carry on its legacy with Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution.”

Some of the key features that will resonate with fans of strategy games and the Civilization franchise include 16 civilizations to master and lead to victory, an array of famous historical leaders to play as or compete against, and accessible maps and streamlined time scale for quicker games, intense combat, and constant action. In online multiplayer mode, players will compete for world conquest and glory among their peers as they battle in teams, head-to-head or epic free-for-all matches. In addition, auto-matching, ranked games, leaderboards, achievements, downloadable extra content and integrated video and voice chat make the online play more versatile and fun than any previous version of Civilization and will allow players to see where they stand against the competition. Finally, the position of ruler of the world can be settled online.

Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution will be released in spring 2008 for next generation consoles and handhelds.

Red Vs. Blue is at the Shows End!

Wired.com discusses the last episode of the Red vs. Blue web series, which ends tonight 06/27/07 with its 100th episode. The long-running show has been one of the best and a ground breaker in the world of machinima. If you enjoyed RvB, their current project is set in the Shadowrun FPS entitled 1-800-MAGIC. Its will be a sad day when RvB ends for me. I have watched every episode at lest 5 times and loved it just as much the first day as the last.

Red vs. Blue, the cult hit, web-video series created from in-game Halo footage, concludes its genre-defining run as it airs its 100th and final episode Wednesday evening.

The comedy series, featuring two squads of hapless Halo heroes locked in an endless civil war prolonged mostly by their own ineptitude, took the emerging machinima medium — movies made with real-time video-game footage — mainstream.

Want to make a Game for the Wii?

Officials from Nintendo have confirmed plans to release original downloadable content on the Wii, with an announcement today at a private Nintendo developer conference.

The company describes WiiWare as a “game-creation service” that will allow developers of all sizes to create downloadable games content for sale by Nintendo through the Wii Shop Channel.

Currently over one hundred retro tiles are available for download via the Wii’s virtual console, with games paid for via redeemable Wii Points. Other content has so far been restricted to new interactive channels, all of which have been free (although the Internet Channel – featuring a re-purposed Opera Web browser - will incur a charge of 500 Wii Points ($5) from the beginning of July).

In a press statement Nintendo suggests that WiiWare will pave the way for “smaller, more creative games” at lower prices and without any inventory risk to developer. Despite the announcement today, though, the first WiiWare content will not be launched until early 2008.

“Independent developers armed with small budgets and big ideas will be able to get their original games into the marketplace to see if we can find the next smash hit,” said Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime. “WiiWare brings new levels of creativity and value to the ever-growing population of Wii owners.”

Championship Gaming Series League Season Starts Today

EA will be hosting the first matches of the 2007 season to be played between the newly-drafted CGS Region 1 teams: L.A. compLexity, New York 3D, Dallas Venom, Chicago Chimera, San Francisco Optx, and Carolina Core.

Matches will take place at EA between Wednesday, June 27 and Friday, July 6.

Tune in to www.thecgs.com to watch history being made as the top U.S. and Canadian players compete in LIVE BROADBAND MATCHES on July 2, 3, 5, and 6 at the following times:

8 p.m. (Eastern) / 5 p.m. (Pacific)
10 p.m. (Eastern) / 7 p.m. (Pacific)
12 a.m. (Eastern) / 9 p.m. (Pacific)

Official games for the CGS 2007 season are played on both the PC and Xbox 360 game platforms and include EA’s FIFA 2007 (PC), Valve’s Counter-Strike®: Source® (PC), Tecmo’s Dead or Alive®4 (“DOA4”) (Xbox 360) and Microsoft Game Studio’s Project Gotham Racing® 3 (“PGR3”) (Xbox 360).

The CGS regular season will then continue with its groundbreaking live TV coverage, exclusively on DIRECTV’s The 101 beginning July 9, 2007.

Free tickets are available to every night the CGS will be broadcasting. To get your tickets go here

You can see the entire CGS Region 1 regular-season schedule.

Players on CGS teams are vying for their piece of more than $5,000,000 in annual salaries and bonuses to be paid in 2007.

Black Powder Red Earth MMO FPS

Echelon Software announces Black Powder Red Earth, a multiplayer-only first-person shooter that combines highly stylized visuals and fast-moving tactical action with a persistent virtual marketplace and social network. Co-designed by former US Special Operations Forces members and private security contractors with operational experience in 32 countries on four continents, including Afghanistan and Iraq, BPRE captures the insane pace of high speed direct action missions.

“Rather than build an elaborate 3D world space, BPRE uses the same framework commonly found on the Web for social networking. Players are already used to creating and managing online identities on sites like Myspace and Orkut. They are also buying and selling real and virtual products on sites like Ebay, iTunes and Amazon. By using these familiar tools, BPRE keeps the learning curve as flat as possible,” says Jon Chang, president of Echelon. “Best of all, unbinding these activities from the game executable gives players access to the world of BPRE either from inside the game or from the outside via any Web-enabled device. Persistence is the real world, anytime the players want it.”

Set on Mars in 2043, Players act as mercenary soldiers executing contracts for warring corporations in a variety of urban/industrial sprawls, using bleeding edge weapons in hi-tech team based battles for virtual currency that can be used to purchase new weapons, upgrade existing weapons, buy armor and tactical enhancements to fine tune their in-game experience. As players rank up, they will also be able to open their own mercenary franchises. These franchises provide a base for recruiting other players into a clan, offer in- game advantages for members and allow the owners to open their own storefronts that compete against the game MSRPs and can generate “cash” from new players of the game.

“FPS games are ‘pick up and play’ games that provide instant gratification with short, fast rounds and specific limited goals,” Chang continues. “In BPRE we’ve extended that by rewarding players with in-game currency that can be used to customize the experience and set up their own in-game enterprises. Echelon has detached the social network and virtual marketplace from the game itself, so that it can be accessed from any Web-enabled device!”

Black Powder Red Earth Features:
Game features include:

• Multiplayer-only, allowing up to 16 players to battle online together
• Next-generation graphics powered by Unreal Engine 3
• 8 contract campaign plays out in a detailed near-future 3D environments
• Earn “virt cash” to collect more than 100 parts and accessories
• Customize weapons, browse for new items, and build a career in a familiar Web interface in- game or from any Web browser at any time!
• Build a franchise private military company (PMC) with other players or create a competing store front to sell arms and gear to other players
• Association with former PMC operatives ensures realistic game play

Collector’s Edition For World In Conflict

Today it was announced that a Collector’s Edition version of the upcoming action-strategy PC game, World in Conflict™, by Massive Entertainment. The World in Conflict Collector’s Edition will include limited edition extras for hardcore fans and Cold War enthusiasts, including an authentic piece of the Berlin Wall, a bonus DVD from The History Channel®, behind the scenes videos and special packaging. Additional pre-order bonuses for the Collector’s Edition and Standard Edition versions of World in Conflict are now available at participating retailers across North America.

World in Conflict will be available in September 2007.

World in Conflict is the highly anticipated action-strategy game from Sierra’s own Massive Entertainment that asks the terrifying question, what if the cold war didn’t end? The game represents the next-generation of strategy games, pitting Cold War-era superpowers against one another with completely destructible 3D battlefields, blistering visuals utilising DX10 technology, and an innovative gameplay mechanism, removing traditional resource-gathering and base-building in favor of non-stop combat, tactical decisions and an FPS-like addiction to intense action.

“The World in Conflict Collector’s Edition offers gamers the chance to grab a piece of history – an authentic piece of the Berlin Wall, a monument that once divided the Cold War superpowers right through the heart of Europe,” said Al Simone, senior vice president of global marketing, Sierra Entertainment.

“In World in Conflict, the Berlin Wall isn’t dismantled in the name of global peace, it is obliterated by the collateral damage of the opening salvos of World War III. We are excited to offer gamers this exclusive opportunity to grab this piece of history as well as the other amazing added content in the Collector’s Edition version.”

The World in Conflict Collector’s Edition will include:

• Authentic Piece of the Berlin Wall: An authentic piece of Cold War history, taken directly from remnants of the famed Berlin Wall that once divided Europe along the lines of Superpower control.
• “Modern Marvels©: The Berlin Wall” by The History Channel®: Learn the definitive tale of one of the most hated symbols of oppression in history and hear stories of those who braved the deadly No Man’s Land between East and West.
• Behind the Scenes Videos – Explore the making of World in Conflict through extensive behind the scenes videos, showing development secret, gameplay tips and more.
• Creative Headset HS-390 – Call out commands to your teammates using the limited edition of the World in Conflict Headset HS-390 of Creative Labs. It provides a comfortable fit through lightweight design, slim neckband and cushioned earpads. Top-quality sound is ensured by a noise-cancelling microphone and gold-plated plugs.
• Limited Edition Collector’s Packaging: The Cold War battle rages on the collectible World in Conflict packaging, showing Soviet and USA flags facing off on opposing sides of the game box

The Bourne Conspiracy For the PS3 and Xbox 360

Sierra Entertainment, today announced Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Conspiracy, the first title in its exclusive global partnership with Ludlum Entertainment. Being developed by High Moon Studios, one of Sierra’s internal developers, the game combines seminal moments from the best-selling novel and hit film The Bourne Identity with all-new content developed in conjunction with Ludlum Entertainment. Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Conspiracy makes the highly anticipated jump to PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Microsoft’s Xbox 360â„¢ videogame and entertainment system in summer 2008.

Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Conspiracy, will give players the experience of becoming a 30 million dollar elite agent, fusing an experience that delves deep into Jason Bourne’s character with gameplay and game presentation inspired by the aggressive filmmaking and frenetic action found in the films. Only by playing Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Conspiracy will players discover Bourne’s true identity and experience the very moment he became a malfunctioning weapon, first hunting targets around the world as a deadly government assassin then marking himself as his agency’s most wanted.

Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Conspiracy promises constant tension and action, with players adopting Jason Bourne’s piercing sense of survival, cunning nature, heightened target awareness and firearms training that allow him to engage and eliminate small armies. As a third-person espionage action game, players move from fistfights to firefights to experience sequences that, unlike any other game, seamlessly blend Bourne’s signature hand-to-hand combat with intense shooting and the ability to escape and evade deadly situations.

More details will be revealed about Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Conspiracy, with the title making an appearance at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) held July 11-13 in Santa Monica, CA, as well as in the cover story in the August issue of The Official Xbox Magazine hitting news stands July 3.