News from the Net Collected by Sue Here's some news of upcoming games. www.gmxmedia.net ---------------- Martin Mystere -------------- Martin Mystere is a story based on Dorian Gray's recurring dreams: everlasting youth and immortality. Prof. Eulemberg and important researcher of M.I.T., was found murdered. Unknown to anybody somebody is working on an incredible machine, capable of changing the world's destiny...Somewhere, an old sick and cirrhosis tramp reveals he is "I'm Martin Mystere", but of course this is impossible! Time is running out and there isn't a rational explanation, this could be the most incredible and dangerous adventure for Martin Mystere! Features Strong storyline set in a real 3D Adventure; Backed by an international comic and TV cartoon series license; Amazing hi-quality 3D interactive worlds; Innovative 3D Real-Time and full motion video, comic style; A cinematographic direction, with exciting Dolby Digital surround music and effects; MARTIN MYSTERY is a dripping goo-fest of slime, thrills and comedy, starring Martin and Diana: two mismatched teenagers with hilariously opposite personalities on a mission to investigate the weirdest paranormal enigmas and the slimiest creatures from beyond. Commissioned by "THE CENTER" - an undercover bureau specializing in mysterious phenomena - and with the help of Java, a massive caveman lost in time, they leap from their average school duties to eerie slime-dripping caves and lairs. MARTIN MYSTERY is based on a popular Italian comic strip. We follow the adventures of Alfredo Castelli's well-loved character throughout forty half-hour episodes of explosive, outrageous comedy and the most inexplicable of paranormal investigations. The Eighth Wonder of the World ------------------------------ The Eighth Wonder of the World is the second part of the successful series from the Cultures World. You will experience an exciting blend of adventure strategy and a building sim and create a lovingly animated world, where every character has a role and requires your care and attention. A gripping plot, eventful missions and thrilling adventures guarantee many hours of entertainment and enjoyment. Uncover the secret of The Eighth Wonder of the World! The fate of humankind is in your hands... Story 8TH WONDER OF THE WORLD takes place some years after the end of "Northland". The renowned heroes around the Viking Bjarni retired after their last adventure and enjoyed their daily lives. But one day the powers of darkness and evil slowly began spreading all over the world. At the beginning, nobody noticed this or paid any attention, but people soon felt that suspicion, hate, war and harm were returning to humanity. More and more parts of the known world were attacked by the evil that nobody could grasp or fight against. When the end seemed close and the world stood on the brink of eternal chaos, the chiefs of all countries gathered in the Council of Nations. In long debates they tried to find a means to fight the evil. But nobody knew what could be done... The one of the wise men came across some old writings which mentioned a way to fight the evil. A long and dangerous way, because only if the Eight Wonders of the Would were built again could darkness be banished and the evil defeated. The greatest heroes of the past were summoned. The people addressed our friend Bjarni, who at once set out to save humanity from a fatal fortune again with his wife Cyra and their son Mani... Their destiny, and with it the destiny of all humanity, now lies in your hands. You must solve the mystery surrounding the Eight Wonder of the World with your heroes and banish darkness from the Earth! Features Simple game start, ideal for beginners 3 difficulty levels to choose from Eventful campaign Exciting single missions Detailed graphics, lovingly animated Extensive economic simulation Up to 6 players via LAN or the Internet Includes a level editor! www.earts.com ------------- Ultima Online Expansion Pack ---------------------------- REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--Feb. 25, 2004--Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS - News), the world's leading interactive entertainment software company, today announced the development of the next expansion pack for the massively multiplayer online game, Ultima Online (UO). Expanding the world and advancing the franchise, the new title will give consumers considerable player vs. player capabilities, two additional professions and a vast new land to explore. The UO expansion pack is scheduled for release in Fall 2004. The game name has not been announced. "We are constantly improving Ultima Online by paying attention to our players' wishes," said Anthony Castoro, Producer of UO Live. "Feedback from our large international player base helped us determine priorities for this expansion, including new world content and a unified player vs. player system." Exploring a mysterious Asian environment, players can strive to master two new professions; one focusing on physical combat abilities, and the other on magical combat and stealth. In addition, players will have new house customization themes and decorations to use in designing and building homes from scratch or modifying their existing homes. UO continues to be a leader in the online gaming space with 225,000 subscribers. The game is available in six languages and is played in over 100 countries located in every time zone. In addition to development on UO, the team continues to develop Ultima X: OdysseyT (UXO), a brand new next-generation massively multi-player online role-playing game (MMORPG). The game, scheduled to ship later this year, promises to take online adventuring to a whole new level. Armies of Exigo --------------- REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--Feb. 26, 2004--Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS), the world's leading interactive entertainment software company today announced that it has signed a publishing agreement with Black Hole Games, a development studio launched by Cinergi Interactive, a subsidiary of the award- winning motion picture production company Cinergi Pictures Entertainment. The new PC title, Armies of Exigo (working title) is a grand scale fantasy real-time strategy (RTS) that leverages the studio's cinematic expertise and ability to deliver captivating entertainment to a worldwide audience. Armies of Exigo is expected to ship in Fall 2004. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Worlds collide in Armies of Exigo, where the traditional boundaries of the battlefield are smashed and war is waged both above and below the ground. Armies of Exigo locks elves, beasts, knights, and creatures of the darkness in an epic battle for survival where armies can delve deep underground to advance undetected and then tunnel to the surface to unleash powerful attacks on their unsuspecting enemies. "The team at Black Hole Games is a talented group that has been busy creating industry leading visuals and writing next generation programming code," said Greg Richardson, Vice President of Business Development at Electronic Arts Partners. "We feel that a marriage of their great technology and art with our seasoned production team will result in a fantastic RTS experience." "We are thrilled to have partnered up with EA, because this union gives us the opportunity to focus on game development and channel our creative energy into producing a hit game," said Alex Rabb, Executive Vice President of Cinergi Interactive. "As an emergent development studio we look forward to the expertise that EA will offer our eager, talented team." www.legacyinteractive.com ------------------------- Law and Order: Dead on the Money -------------------------------- "Law & Order" viewers everywhere will now be able to partner with their favorite sleuths, Detective Lennie Briscoe and Lieutenant Anita Van Buren, to solve a murder -- right from their home computer. Aspyr Media, Inc. announced today that "Law & Order: Dead on the Money", published for the PC by Legacy Interactive* is now available for the Mac, with conversion done by Transgaming Technologies. Based on Wolf Films' hit NBC series "Law & Order" this interactive, 3D mystery game allows fans to realistically solve an original Wall Street murder case. Written by a freelance writer from the series, the "Law & Order: Dead on the Money" mystery game features the voices of "Law & Order" stars Jerry Orbach, S. Epatha Merkerson and Elisabeth Rohm. The compelling CD-ROM game is set in the realistic world of criminal investigation and legal prosecution, where crime and justice are viewed from a dual perspective. In the first half of the game, together with Detective Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach), players scour the crime scene for evidence, follow leads, interrogate witnesses and arrest one or more suspects before time runs out and Lieutenant Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson) threatens to take them off the case. Next, players team up with Assistant District Attorney Serena Southerlyn (Elisabeth R”hm) to prosecute the defendant. When the defense attorney undermines the case at the last minute, it's up to the players to track down additional evidence and make deals with reluctant witnesses to reveal the truth and convince the jury to return a guilty verdict. "Law & Order: Dead on the Money" is rated "T" (Teen) by the ESRB and is available at your local entertainment software outlet for a suggested retail price of $ 39.99. For more information about the game, log on to www.aspyr.com or www.LAWandORDERgame.com. ER -- Burbank, CA, September 22, 2003 - Warner Bros. Consumer Products has granted the license to its record-breaking television series "ER" to Hollywood-based Legacy Interactive, to create the first computer game based on the show. Legacy Interactive, known for its expertise in developing entertaining simulation games and the successful launch of the first "Law & Order" computer game, will allow fans of the series and gamers alike to experience first hand the excitement of life in the emergency room. The "ER" computer game will be co-published by Take 2 Interactive, and is scheduled to release in fall 2004 to coincide with the 10th season premiere of the television series. "The 'ER' property provides a wealth of rich content that will translate beautifully into an interactive game," said Ariella Lehrer, CEO of Legacy Interactive. "Players of the game will be able to problem solve with their favorite characters from the show, as they tackle the trials and tribulations of a trauma center." In the "ER" computer game, the player will take on the role of an intern whose goal is to grow his or her career while participating in the ongoing dramas that unfold in the emergency room. The game will focus on the thrills, ethical dilemmas, life and death decisions, and of course the romance that has driven the show's popularity for the past ten years. The game will feature the likeness and voice talent of popular stars from the weekly television drama. "We are excited to take 'ER,' with the depth of the characters and storylines that have entertained television audiences for nine award-winning seasons, to an interactive level," said Philippe Erwin, Vice President of Interactive for Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "This amazing entertainment property will be transformed into an interactive experience, where fans can experience the thrills of 'ER' on their home computer." Now in its ninth season, "ER," is currently ranked #4 this season in overall ratings, based on Nielsen media ratings. "ER" was created by best-selling author Michael Crichton ("Jurassic Park") and centers around the medical personnel in the emergency room of a Chicago hospital. A winner of the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award, the series has also earned 20 Emmy Awards and 108 nominations, and the People's Choice Award as Favorite Television Dramatic Series for its first eight seasons.. Also, the cast has won four Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Drama Series. www.strategyfirst.com --------------------- Jagged Alliance 2: Wildfire --------------------------- Montreal, Canada. Monday, March 8, 2004 -- PC publisher Strategy First and developer i Deal Games today announced that their turn-based strategy game Jagged Alliance 2: Wildfire has shipped to retail stores nationwide for $19.99 USD. With this retail release, not only do you get to continue your adventures in Arulco in Wildfire, but the original Jagged Alliance 2 retail release is included in the box with the source code so that modders can tweak the JA experience to their liking. For more information on Jagged Alliance 2: Wildfire please visit www.strategyfirst.com. Background Story Arulco's economy has completely collapsed and the country has now become a base for international drug cartels. Export of precious metals, which was the foundation of Arulco's economy, is now just a cover for the extensive export of drugs into North America. The North American Drug Agency has been unable to affect the export of drugs through regular diplomatic channels due to the cartels' influence and has been forced to take more specific action to stop the drug trade. You are sent in as a leader of a small band of hired guns, your mission: the elimination of all key personnel of the Arulcan Government and, if possible, the complete extermination of the drug cartels. If successful, you will be hailed as heroes. If you fail, the Agency will deny all knowledge of the operation. Wildfire includes modifications to all aspects of the original game. Changes were made to all weapons, landscapes, structures, missions, enemies and the AI. All elements within the game were altered to make it more realistic, bringing it closer to real-life. Real World, Real Weapons, Real Enemies... REAL TROUBLE! Features Improvements to all structures within the game to closer match real-life facilities. Added tall grass, bushes, stones, and trees to sections of the map which were barren, which allows for better coverage for units and changes combat tactics. All military facilities have increased their defensive capabilities. They have added mine fields, fences, watchtowers, perimeter lighting and alarms. All weapons have been rebalanced to better reflect real-life weapon characteristics. New weapons have been added: USP, Uzi, UMP, MP5A3, Mini- 30, HK33, G36, MP7, MSG90, AN-94, RPK, V-94, VAL, VSS. All existing weapons' graphics and sounds have been replaced to make them more realistic. The importance of sub-quests has been increased and now plays a major role in the game's overall flow. The Mafia has taken on a new role and is now part of the Arulcan order. The number of enemies has increased and they are a lot smarter and more ruthless this time around. Strategy First Teams With Trymedia to Expand Online Game Offerings ------------------------------------------------------------------ Montreal, Canada. Friday, March 5, 2004 -- PC Game publisher / developer Strategy First is pleased to announce it has entered into a partnership with Trymedia Systems to use their unique distribution technology; ActiveMARK to bring SFI titles to a larger market. "We were very impressed with Trymedia's technology and are thrilled to be able to offer our products using their distribution model to an ever-increasing online marketplace" says Steven Milburn, Director of Marketing at Strategy First. Trymedia Systems' digital delivery technology allows customers to download PC games online in a try-before-you-buy format and then purchase desired games without further download time. ActiveMARK game files may also be shared from person-to- person via e-mail, burning to CD/DVD, IM,etc, at which point the title reverts to trial mode. The initial Strategy First titles that can be downloaded from Trymedia through www.strategyfirst.com, www.trygames.com and the entire Trygames Network of affiliates are: Disciples II: Gallean's Return Disciples II: Dark Prophecy Disciples II: Rise of the Elves O.R.B Nexagon: Deathmatch "By working with Trymedia, Strategy First is choosing to give their fans more options gamers want by encouraging the downloading and even sharing of legitimate game files," remarked Gabe Zichermann, Trymedia's VP of Strategy and Communications. Traps of Darkness ----------------- Montreal, Quebec. February 19, 2004 -- Publisher Strategy First Inc. and developer Cinemax today announced a new action- adventure game, Traps of Darkness that will bring out an unknown dark side of PC gamers in April 2004. "Traps of Darkness is a twist on the classic action-adventure game," says Steve Milburn, Director of Marketing for Strategy First Inc. "Gamers have the chance to play the role of evil and use their wits and skills to declare victory and eternal doom for mankind." Driven to please a dark lord, the evil minions of Necromania scramble to collect the keys necessary to free their dark master from his supernatural bonds and win his favor forever. Each despicable servant possesses inherent magical powers to aid them on their wicked quest to unleash a horrifying evil into the world and doom mankind. Game features include: Seven unique minions of Ragnar to choose from; each equipped with deadly traps and unique powers. Players improve the skills of their hero as they complete levels and gain experience. Multiplayer mode brings new tactical options for players in fierce fights against 2-7 players over LAN or Internet. Players lay traps and take advantage of the terrain (labyrinths) to achieve victory against numerous opponents and vermin that populate every level. A powerful AI, diverse maps with random item spawning and combinations of dark competitors ensure long hours of diverse gameplay. Players race to collect power boosts that increase combat abilities or temporarily grant powers to aid them in collecting the three pieces of the skull key. The inherent randomness and frantic gameplay makes it impossible to win the same way twice. - o -