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MTV On Your PC? Like Totally!

Mon, 14 August 2006
by: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | source: Joystiq | thanks: Valley girl accents

The 'real OC' coming soon

"Geez, I like wanted my $23 martini five minutes ago"

Fans of the hit MTV reality program 'Laguna Beach' will pleased to note that the show is currently being developed into a Sims style video game.

The game lets players live out the virtual life of a Californian teen and will closely follow the show's (*cough*) storyline. So if the LB crew is heading down to TJ to catch some gnarly waves and bitch about $23 Martinis, you can too!

Currently in the Alpha testing phase, Virtual Laguna Beach will allow you to:

- Create a character, chat with others
- Attend parties at your favorite Laguna Beach hot spots
- Watch all your favorite Laguna Beach episodes and listen to music
- Explore a world full of hidden surprises
- Play games and have fun!

- Virtual Laguna Beach

Like, you can totally check out the official site here.

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Sony Buys into Trading Card Game

Mon, 14 August 2006
by: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | source: Worlds Apart | thanks: booster packs

SOE acquires trading card game developer and forms new studio

Put your dwarf on my hobbit

Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) has announced its acquisition of key assets of online trading card game developer Worlds Apart Productions. Employees from Worlds Apart will form the new SOE-Denver studio.

Worlds Apart is a developer of online trading card games (TCGs), whose existing projects include a Lord of the Rings TCG (pictured) and a Star Trek customisable card game. It also has a TCG in development for the struggling Auto Assault MMORPG, which may not see the light of day given SOE's acquisition.

"This is a way to expand SOE's business into a very attractive market that is consistently growing at a fast rate," said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. "With this acquisition, we've expanded the range of online games that SOE can offer, as well as offering entirely new play mechanics and activities that could be built into both current and future titles."

- Worlds Apart

The acquisition will see Worlds Apart's Collect! Trade! Play! (CTP) platform integrated into some of SOE's current and future titles, which presumably means we'll see board and card games appearing in SOE's MMOGs. That should offer an interesting diversion from the usual fishing and killing, at least.

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Made Man Being Made, Man

Mon, 14 August 2006
by: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | source: Silverback Studios | thanks: Pinstripe suits

BYO Baseball bat

"I gotta find a new line of work..."

Rising out of the ashes of Acclaim Entertainment comes the next mafia experience for the PC, Made Man. Developed by Silverback Studios (made up of the core team behind the game's initial development at Acclaim), Made Man is a third-person action adventure that follows Joey Verola as he joins and progresses through the hierarchy of the New York Mafia.

What is most intriguing about this title is that its storyline has been created by famous Mafia author David Fisher ("The Good Guys") and real life former high-ranking captain of the infamous Bonnano crime family, Bill Bonnano. The storyline of Made Man spans three decades of Verola's life, from the deadly jungles of Vietnam in the 60s to the 80s urban jungle of Brooklyn.

Features:

- 'Jump To Cover' mechanic allows the player to utilise the environment and the objects within it to avoid enemy fire.
- PIP (Picture-in-Picture) gives the player the awareness of events going on elsewhere in the environment and enhances the player's experience with dramatic stylization
- Dual weapons! Joey can dual wield any of the weapons simultaneously for double the carnage!
- Melee weapons allow for bar room brawling style hand-to-hand combat, geared to downright thuggery. Using stealth, players can get up close and personal and perform 'Stealth Kills' on unsuspecting enemies.
- Proprietary physics and 'rag doll' system - Dynamic environments allow the player to destroy his surroundings and enemies with realistic and utterly believable results.

- Silverback Studios

These wise guys will be 'whacking' all who stand in their way this September.

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ESA Reacts to Proposed Game Law

Fri, 11 August 2006
by: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | source: FiringSquad | thanks: six hour games

Industry body says game law will not help consumers

Has anyone played Oblivion in its entirety?

FiringSquad has a statement from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) responding to the recently proposed "Truth in Video Game Rating Act" which has been introduced into the US congress.

The Act would require the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) to thoroughly play through games before rating them, rather than relying on publisher disclosure. The ESA's statement, which FiringSquad attributes to its president, Doug Lowenstein, says such a rule would be ineffective:

... the proposal that every video game be played through in its entirety before a rating is issued means that the only people rating games will be professional gamers with the skills necessary to play through games that can take more than 100 hours and who are not likely to be representative of the mainstream American parent.

- ESA

Playing all the way through games before assigning a rating is a nice idea in theory, but besides being impractical, it still would not have uncovered the "hidden" sexual content in GTA: San Andreas and Oblivion that has prompted all this renewed attention to game ratings. That content was only accessible with third party modifications released well after the games had been rated.

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David Suchet to Voice his Virtual Counterpart

Fri, 11 August 2006
by: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | source: Adventure Gamers | thanks: The deerstalker cap

Inks three game deal

This doesn't look like Myer...

The Adventure Company recently announced that acclaimed British actor David Suchet, who has portrayed eccentric Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in over fifty television appearances, will be lending his voice talents to bring the famous sleuth to life on the PC.

Suchet's deal to provide voiceovers for three Agatha Christie games begins with Murder on the Orient Express. Based on Christie's famous mystery novel, players collect clues to solve a baffling murder mystery that takes place aboard the renowned long-distance passenger train.

Features:

- An astonishing ending different from the original novel
- Experience the new and very creative built-in hint system as Hercule Poirot acts as your mentor and confidante
- Shadow and interact with over 20 different characters throughout your investigation to gain insight on each suspect
- 20+ hours of engrossing gameplay

- The Adventure Company

Murder on the Orient Express is due for release later this year.

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