Got Game Entertainment LLC today announced taking over the North American publishing reins for “Puzzle Scape” for the PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system. In this addictive block-busting puzzle game developed by Farmind Ltd, players will experience a hypnotic world of entrancing electronic music and brilliant, interactive evolutionary backgrounds, from cells to dreamlike landscapes. “Puzzle Scape” for the PSP system is scheduled for retail release May 2007 with a debut MSRP of $19.99 (USD). The game is rated “E” for Everyone by the ESRB.

In “Puzzle Scape”, players arrange blocks of different colors into chains that are exploded by 2x2 same-colored blocks. The world of “Puzzle Scape” pulsates with 40 scenes of brilliant backgrounds and an original soundtrack of more than 40 songs by rising electronic music artists. Level by addictive level, players will unlock new themes and scenes bursting with lush colors and luscious beats. The game features two single player game modes, four dual player modes, and the ability for up to eight people to play via the PSP system's wireless functionality.

"Entering our sixth year in business, Got Game Entertainment couldn’t be more excited to release ‘Puzzle Scape’ for the PSP system as our first console game,” said Got Game Entertainment President, Howard Horowitz. “With its mesmerizing look and sound and addictive gameplay, ‘Puzzle Scape’ is complete entertainment."

For the latest “Puzzle Scape” news and updates, visit the game’s official website at www.GotGamePS.com. ...

Ken Levine, Creative Director of Bioshock, talks exclusively to the free Xbox 360 magazine, 360Zine, about the game and the creative process behind it.

Issue 4 of 360Zine brings a 5 page exclusive extravaganza of one of 2007's most anticipated Xbox 360 games, Bioshock. Winning awards before it has even been released, the eagerly awaited follow up from the creator of System Shock is top of many gamers' most wanted list. The coverage includes a preview and a three page interview with Ken Levine, where he opens up about the impact he hopes the game will have.

"Violence is quite often necessary, but I think it's always important to remember what it means, whether it's necessary or not. It's important to remember the consequences and Bioshock brings people back to the consequences," says Ken Levine in the interview. He also covers the unique gameplay elements and the legacy of System Shock.

Also included in issue 4 are the full reviews of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 and Bullet Witch among others, plus previews of Frontlines: Fuel of War and Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway. This issue also introduces a new Community section in which Xbxo 360 gamers are encouraged to participate with clan news, podcasts and more.

360Zine is a Gamerzine, published in PDF format. Readers simply require a copy of the free Adobe Reader (version 6 or above) to read the magazines. Each Gamerzine includes more than 30 pages of professionally written games journalism and is enhanced with embedded video and multimedia.

360Zine can be downloaded now from: http://www.gamerzines.com/ ...

Press release from Nintendo:

Based on the upcoming feature film from Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Columbia Pictures, Spider-Man 3 allows players to experience the actions of heroic red suit Spider-Man, and for the first time ever, his darker, more mysterious black suit persona. Set in a 3D side scrolling world and delivering complete touch screen handling, players must draw upon Spider-Man’s vast array of moves, attacks and upgrades as they choose their path and embark on a wide variety of city-based missions and multiple movie-based and original story arcs. Additionally, Spider-Man 3 for the Nintendo DS features local wireless multiplayer gameplay featuring with a variety of modes enabling awesome two-player head-to-head challenges like Brawler, Hot Potato, Target Practice, and Combo Challenge.

KEY FEATURES:


Welcome to the dark side – For the first time ever, control the legendary symbiotic Black Suit, which magnifies Spider-Man’s strength, agility, durability and web powers, but the power comes at a price. The longer gamers play as black suited Spider-Man, the more they risk losing the good in him.
Relive the movie and go beyond as you choose – In a unique mixture of open-ended gameplay and linear story progression, players can traverse and protect massive, wide open sections of New York City, battle villains from the feature film, or embark on a variety of original story arcs in whatever order they choose when they choose.
Touching is good – Maximizing the capabilities of the Nintendo DS, players will experience Spider-Man’s unique abilities as never before by controlling both red-suited and black-suited Spider-Man’s movement and combat with a multitude of organic touch screen gestures and motions.
Become the Spider-Man of your dreams – Utilizing an in-depth “hero points” reward system, players can fully customize and upgrade Spider-Man maximizing his powers and abilities.
With liberty and multiplayer for all – A variety of local wireless multiplayer gameplay modes such as Brawler, Hot Potato, Target Practice, and Combo Challenge allow for two players to face off in head-to-head Spider-Man action.
I spy with my little eye – Within the game, various hidden collectibles are waiting to be discovered. Collecting items result in additional hero points and bonus materials.
Publisher: Activision, Inc.

Developer: Vicarious Visions

Release Date: May 2007

SRP: $29.99

ESRB Rating: “E10+” (“Everyone 10+” – Cartoon Violence)

Download Screens Via Comments ...

Microsoft is trying to "bump up the pipeline" on Xbox Live Arcade and wants to see more releases on the service, Casual Games general manager Bryan Trussel has told CVG.

Speaking at the Game Developers Conference last week, Trussel said that Microsoft is "trying to bump up the pipeline quite a bit".

"We have these Wednesdays where we release our games and they come out not every week but most weeks," he said. "We're increasing that pipeline. We want to do a couple of things; we want to have more games come out so that it becomes a new game every Wednesday, and occasionally more than one game coming out every week."

Trussel also talked to CVG about his desires to turn XBLA Wednesdays into an "actual destination time" for gamers to come for both new games, new download content, tournaments and competitions.

via cvg ...

We've got five more screens of the Wii remake of EA's Godfather, although it seems the game's not going to be pushing the Wii too hard in the graphical department.

But what it lacks in graphics is makes up for in controls because, unlike most of the many other cross platform ports that plague the Wii library at the moment, EA is making great use of the Remote to really enhance the gameplay.

The melee combat is what impresses us most. When engaging an opponent, swings of the Nunchuk controls your character's left arm, while jabs with the Wii Remote controls the right.

Grab your opponent by the scruff of his neck and you can shove them around as if they were actually in your hands. You pull them left and right with likewise sideways movements with the controllers, as well as shove them forward and even slam them against scenery, all with mimicking movements.

The brutal beating don;t stop there though. When they fall to the floor you can then reach down and drag them to their feet by lifting the remotes upwards.

The Godfather Blackhand Edition, as it will be known on Wii, is due out on 23 March.

Screens Here ...

Rockstar has joined forces with rapper and music producer Timbaland to bring a version of its web-based music maker Beaterator to Sony's PSP.

Beaterator, which has been developed by Rockstar's Leeds studio, is more music package than game. In addition to containing original rhythm games and challenge modes, there's a "powerful music mixer" with "robust beat-making features" - along with a collection of original music produced by Timbaland.

Timbaland, who admits he's "always been a huge fan of Rockstar" and loves "playing their games", has said he's "thrilled to be partnering with them and making music for Beaterator. I cannot wait to get this in the hands of our fans!"

Sam Houser, founder and executive producer of Rockstar Games, added, "Music has always been a hugely important part of everything we do here".

"Two years ago, we launched a web-based version of Beaterator on our own website and people really embraced it. That inspired us to build and create something very interactive and unique. Having Timbaland involved in the game is a real honor and only adds to our excitement about the title."

Beaterator is due out on PSP this summer.

via cvg ...

Transformers: The Game was presented to an underwhelmed crowed of journos yesterday, as the giant-robot action failed to meet high expectations set by the movie.

CVG attended the unveiling with high hopes, after having been impressed by the action-packed trailer of the live-action film. Giant robots, guns, rockets, explosions - it's perfect videogame fodder.

We were shown a city-based level that demonstrated destructible scenery by having robots smashing through buildings. We were also shown the combat system as two robots squared up to each other.

But the physics engine lacked impact during combat and failed to portray the extreme force you would imagine a punch from a 30-foot robot to have.

Two robots stood in-front of each other, throwing punches that seemed to have no physical effect until one eventually slowly fell to the floor.

Although the game's still in development, it also lacked the detail and polish we've come to expect from 360 games. The environment looked bland and there was a distinct lack of people and traffic. Fingers crossed this will change though.

As another sandbox-type game, it has a long way to go before it approaches the quality of Microsoft's Crackdown. And there's not long to go - the game is due out in summer.

Screens Here ...

We've been seeing a real lack of originality with Wii games so far with most being cross-platform ports. So the coming of Koei's Opoona, an intriguing space adventure, is a welcome revelation.

You play as Opoona whose family visit to the planet Landroll takes a turn for the worse when he finds his parents are admitted to hospital, and his brother and sister mysteriously disappear.

Your quest to find out what happened sees you travel to different colonies. You will need to earn licences to enter each colony, which entails you taking on various careers like becoming a rescuer, a detective or an "idol", according to 1up.

It sounds bizarre, but interesting. With players able to choose between careers on the fly, this could add some neat variety to the gameplay. We'd hope so, anyway.

Also intriguing is the control system, which uses the Nuchuk alone. All that's been revealed so far is the ability to launch projectiles at enemies by flicking the Nunchuk.

Art Here ...

Another Wednesday, another Xbox Live Arcade release, but this week's is one of our favourites; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1989 (!).

Konami's Turtles game is undoubtedly one of the biggest consumers of our circa-1991 pocket money, which was when we used to blitz the game at a random Haven holiday camp with 3 other hopelessly addicted ten-year-olds.

If you haven't had the pleasure to encounter the Turtle's at their finest we recommend you pick it up for the bargain price of 400 Microsoft points - though it's not quite the same without an over-iced coke and Rory the Tiger.

If that still doesn't convince you to part with the best par tof four quid, stay tuned for our review later this week.

via cvg ...