You can view the ‘Story’ Documentary here and the ‘Whip’ Documentary here.

In the not-too-distant future, vampires have come out of the coffin. Thanks to the invention of mass-produced synthetic blood, vampires no longer need humans for their fix and can walk freely, if not yet comfortably, among their living counterparts – though they can still come out only at night. 

Meanwhile, in the backwoods Louisiana town of Bon Temps, Sookie Stackhouse works as a waitress at the down-home bar Merlotte’s. Though outwardly normal, she has unusual qualities of her own: Sookie can read minds, which complicates her world in endless ways. But Sookie’s life becomes a lot more interesting when Merlotte’s gets its first vampire patron – the 173-year-old Bill Compton – and the two outsiders are immediately drawn to each other.

Mixing romance, suspense, mystery and humor, the new HBO series stars Anna Paquin (the “X-Men” films; Academy Award®-winner for “The Piano”) as Sookie and Stephen Moyer (“The Starter Wife,” “88 Minutes”) as Bill, the series is created and executive produced by Alan Ball (creator of the Emmy®-winning HBO series “Six Feet Under”), who also wrote the first three episodes and directs two episodes of the show, which is based on the popular Sookie Stackhouse novels of Charlaine Harris.

29th May 2009

Activision Blizzard, the world’s largest video games publisher, developer and distributor, has appointed Frank PR to help manage its vast roster of products. 

The team at Frank will be responsible for managing some of the gaming world’s biggest franchises, including Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Indiana Jones, Tony Hawk, Prototype and this year’s instalment of the Call of Duty franchise, Modern Warfare 2.  In addition, Frank will work closely with global entertainment brands Marvel and Dreamworks on a number of different projects and Lucas Arts on their range of games including the Star Wars franchise.

The agency’s role will be to support the internal PR and Marketing team at Activision by providing a press office function for Australian consumer and specialist media.  Frank PR will also be tasked with delivering creative campaigns that generate Talkability® and mainstream awareness for individual games releases.

Philip Earl, Activision’s Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific, said: “I’m delighted to be working with the team at Frank PR.  They have already proven themselves in the European market by providing a thorough press office function along with a great deal of creativity. I’m confident that they will be able to elevate Activision’s portfolio of releases to a whole new level.”

Myfanwy McGregor, Managing Director of Frank PR, said: “We are looking forward to working with what is undoubtedly the biggest name in the video games market.  Activision’s roster of products for 2009 is incredibly impressive and covers all genres, providing a real creative challenge, which we’re game on for.”

Frank PR has worked with Activision on a pan-European and UK level since 2008.

SYDNEY, Aust May 27, 2009 – Iomega, an EMC company and a global leader in data protection, today announced the worldwide availability of a new generation of the exciting Iomega® eGo™ Portable Hard Drive, featuring new look USB 2.0-powered models with superior ruggedness and the broadest suite of bundled data protection software in the industry, all backed with a three-year limited warranty.  Available in four different colours and up to 500GB* in capacity, the new Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive is the ultimate embodiment of style and function in portable drives today.

“The new Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drives are the perfect companions for home users and professionals who want to take their files anywhere with the assurance of a superior rugged portable drive that has style to spare and a compact form with flair,” said Jonathan Huberman, President of Iomega and the Consumer and Small Business Products Division of EMC.  “After two very successful years with the previous model, the new eGo drive sports a compact, sleek new aluminum enclosure in eye-catching colours and comes complete with a suite of backup and anti-virus software to protect your data and your laptop, netbook or personal computer. Top it all off with the best drop spec in the industry and the new eGo drive is the portable hard drive this summer for dads and grads and everyone else.”

A key element of the Iomega Protection Suite is McAfee® VirusScan Plus, the market-leading anti-virus, anti-spyware software.

“In today’s world of increasing attacks on consumers’ data by the bad guys, it’s as important to protect your external hard drive data as it is to protect your PC’s local data,” said Todd Gebhart, President, Consumer Products, McAfee, Inc.  “Iomega is the first to recognise this fact and we’re pleased to be partnering with them in this fight.”

Cool Hardware with Superior Functionality

The new USB 2.0-powered eGo Portable Hard Drive comes in variety of colours and capacities: the bright Ruby Red model is available in 320GB and 500GB capacities; the sparkling Silver model comes in 320GB; and the deep Midnight Blue model is available in 320GB.  (Color and capacity combinations vary in international markets.)

Inside an anodised aluminum shell little more than 16mm thick and weighing less than 200 grams is a state-of-the-art 63.5mm portable hard drive. Iomega’s Drop Guard™ protects data on the new eGo drive from drops of up to 1.29m, or 40% above the industry average!  The new 500GB Iomega® eGo™ BlackBelt Portable Hard Drive USB 2.0, available in June, comes complete with a black eGo Power Grip Belt and Iomega’s Drop Guard™ Xtreme, which provides unparalleled protection for the drive from drops of up to 2.13m  – over twice the industry average!  

All of the new USB 2.0 eGo Portable Hard Drives receive power from a laptop or computer’s USB port so there’s no power supply to carry around.  And unlike other portable hard drives, the new USB 2.0 eGo Portable Hard Drives ship with a “Y” cable which gives users the flexibility to use two USB ports to power the drive, if needed. With up to 500GB of capacity, the new eGo drive can store up to 2,000,000 photos, over 9,250 hours of music or 750 hours of video**. 

Most Powerful Software Package Bundle with a Portable Hard Drive Today

Bundled free of charge with the new USB-powered eGo Portable Hard Drives is the new Iomega Protection Suite, a one-stop portfolio of backup and anti-virus software giving users added protection for their photos, videos, music and other files. 

The Iomega Protection Suite includes:

·        McAfee® VirusScan Plus: a free six-month subscription to this market-leading software that protects your PC with anti-virus, anti-spyware, 2-way firewall, and web security protection (PC only).

·        Iomega QuikProtect: backup software for simple scheduled file-level backup of data to hard drives and network-attached storage devices (for Windows and Macintosh desktops and notebooks).

·        EMC® Retrospect® Express or Express HD: backup all data plus applications and settings (for Windows and Macintosh desktops and notebooks).

·        MozyHome™ Online Backup: Convenient online backup service with 2GB of online capacity for free (unlimited online storage for $4.95/month).  MozyHome Online service allows users to restore their most important data from any computer with internet access, at any location in the world.

All of the software elements in the Iomega Protection Suite are accessible via easy download to new eGo Portable Hard Drive owners.

Compatibility

The new Iomega® eGo Portable Hard Drive USB 2.0 models are compatible with Microsoft® Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP, and Windows Vista™, and Mac OS X 10.4 or above.  MozyHome software is available for Windows XP and Windows Vista, along with Mac OS X 10.4 and above.  EMC Retrospect software is available for both Windows and Mac OS X operating systems.

New eGo Portable Hard Drive Accessories

Available for purchase at www.iomega.com.au  are two new accessories for the new USB-powered eGo Portable Hard Drive: a durable black carry case, and the Iomega Power Grip Belt (like the one on the eGo BlackBelt Drive), available in black and translucent colors.

Pricing, Availability and Warranty

The Iomega® eGo™ Portable Hard Drive USB 2.0 family of drives are available today, except for the new Iomega® BlackBelt Portable Hard Drive 500GB USB 2.0, which will be available in June. 

Pricing beings at $120AU for the 320GB Ruby Red eGo model.  All of the new USB-powered eGo models include a 3-year limited warranty, and are available from online retailers, VARs, resellers and select retailers, as well as at www.iomega.com.au.

In June, Iomega will announce additional new eGo Portable Hard Drive models with multiple interface combinations.

Funtastic Interactive and Zushi Games are pleased to announce a distribution partnership that will see Funtastic Interactive distribute Zushi Games titles in Australia & New Zealand exclusively.

“Zushi Games offers us the right mix of quality causal game titles from well known & respected brands such as Jelly Belly & Love Is” said Gavin Wulfsohn – Business Manager for Funtastic Interactive. “Barry & his team bring a wealth of experience & commitment to the causal gaming sector that will undoubtedly benefit both parties in what is a very competitive, yet lucrative market.”
“zushi games is excited to be working with Funtastic Interactive in a deal to bring our catalogue and new release schedule of casual games to the Australian  market and beyond. This is a new era for zushi games and we are extremely confident that the experience and enthusiasm of the Funtastic team will be a superb platform for a long-term successful partnership” Barry Hatch-Managing Director of zushi games.
-ends-

ABOUT FUNTASTIC INTERACTIVE
Funtastic Interactive, a division of Funtastic Ltd was founded in 2005 & quickly established itself as a respected video games distributor throughout the media & retail industry. The rapid growth saw the division awarded the prestigious GFK award for Fastest Growing Distributor In Value for 2007.
Funtastic Interactive have recently partnered with a no. of new & exciting publishers that has seen an expansion not only in their range of titles, but also in personnel, a clear sign of Funtastic Ltd’s commitment to the division & industry as a whole.
ABOUT FUNTASTIC LTD
Funtastic Ltd was established in 1994 and is one of Australia’s and New Zealand’s leading distributors of children’s products. FUNTASTIC LTD IS:
* A dynamic leader in the licensed consumer goods industry with market dominance across many children’s product categories.

* Reputable and preferred partner to launch and drive new brands across numerous product categories in the Australian / New Zealand market.

* One stop shop’ for all licensors to drive cross category product launches and promotions.

* Preferred supplier of all key mass market retailers.

* The largest toy business in the Australian / New Zealand market place.

* The leading licensed footwear business in Australia.

* Number one independent distributor of anime, manga and Australian independent films through MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT

* A leading apparel manufacturer and distributor of retailer branded lines and licensed product.

* Largest licensee partner for key power brands such as Disney and Marvel

* A market leader in driving strategic and tactical marketing campaigns to ensure longevity and prosperity for pillar brands.

* Worldwide renown for our excellent distributor partnerships.
ABOUT Zushi Games
zushi games has been established in the video games industry since 2001, originally as part of the ZOO Digital Group plc.

In 2006 zushi games was bought out of the Group to become a privately owned, independent publisher with over 45 years of gaming experience at the helm.

zushi games has released games on the Nintendo, PC, Sony and Microsoft formats throughout this time and has an extensive back catalogue of titles on various platforms.

The company currently has a catalogue of over 100 titles/IP’s covering Nintendo Wii and DS, Sony PS2, PC. In 2009 we will be launching our first next gen titles on Xbox 360, PSN and Wiiware.

The cornerstones of the 2009 schedule include titles such Love Is…In Bloom, SmileyWorld Island Challenge, Yamaha Supercross, Chrysler Classic Racing, Army Men Soldiers of Misfortune, Garfield Gets Real, Jeep Thrills,

Super Pickups, Wordmaster, Skate City Heroes, Puzzle Kingdoms, Jelly Belly Ballistic Beans, Story Hour Adventures and Fairy Tales. zushi games also has significant plans to launch exciting new IPs into the market in

2009.

The Galaxy is Bigger Than Ever With Epic Multi-Level Fronts, Deep Original Story and Hugely Expansive Gameplay Features 

Sydney, Australia – May 27, 2009 – Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron presents an expanded new take on the classic Star Wars Battlefront® gameplay, resulting in new levels of interaction and excitement in handheld gaming. The massive, galactic campaign will ship this Spring for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and Nintendo DS™.

For the first time ever in the Star Wars Battlefront series, players will be able to fight on multi-level battlefronts, on the ground and in space. Players can start the fight on foot, commandeer a vehicle to battle on the ground or dogfight in space, and land their craft and fight on capital starships. The battles waged on each front are all directly affected by the player’s actions, creating a combat experience where every shot fired and every enemy defeated can affect the outcome of a battle on another front.

Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron features a deep and engrossing single player campaign that spans the entire Star Wars Saga – and beyond. Gamers assume the identity of X2, a clone trooper created from the DNA of a Jedi Master. Originally tasked with eliminating Jedi during Order 66, X2 decides to leave his blood-stained past behind and joins the Rebellion. X2 isn’t the only Force-sensitive clone, however. X1, his clone brother, chooses a much more sinister path, leading to a confrontation that could determine the fate of both the Empire and the Rebellion.

Additionally, players will have at their disposal massive amounts of pick-up and play action for seemingly endless replay value. The PSP provides the deepest customisation options ever seen in a Star Wars Battlefront title, allowing players to personalise and build their character with more weapons and items than ever before, including the weapons characters carry into battle, the armour they wear on their backs, their species, gender, appearance and physical strengths. Players can also unlock hundreds of other items and bonuses to help even the odds. On the Nintendo DS, players can experience a unique class-based gameplay experience that allows them to outfit their characters with pre-determined weapon armaments, including heavy weapons, blasters and even lightsabers.

Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron on the PSP supports 16-player multiplayer, complete with in-depth stat tracking, and intense 4-player skirmishes on the Nintendo DS across a wide number of modes, including the all-new “Heroes and Villains.” Take up arms as some of the most iconic Star Wars characters, including Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Kit Fisto, Darth Maul and other familiar faces from Star Wars Battlefront®: Renegade Squadron™ and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed™. And battle for the fate of the galaxy on some of the most memorable Star Wars planets of all time, including the forest-covered landscape of Endor, the frozen wastes of Hoth and even the mysterious Yavin 4.

More information about the game can be found at the official website, www.starwarsbattlefront.com

About LucasArts

LucasArts, a division of Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd., is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software worldwide for video game console systems, computers and the Internet. Based in San Francisco, Calif., as well as on the Internet at www.lucasarts.com, LucasArts was created in 1982 by George Lucas to provide an interactive element to his vision of a state-of-the-art, multifaceted entertainment company.  

LucasArts and the LucasArts logo are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd. Star Wars Battlefront is a trademark of Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. © 2004-2009 Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. or Lucasfilm Ltd. & ® or TM as indicated. All rights reserved.

Nintendo DS is a trademark of Nintendo.

“PlayStation”, “PLAYSTATION”, “PS” Family logo and “PSP” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. PSP(R) system – Memory Stick Duo(TM) may be required (sold separately). 

For more information and assets visit:

http://vip.lucasarts.com

G.I. JOE Set to Invade All Major Video Game Platforms in Winter 2009

May 26 2009, Australia – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) has announced that development is underway to bring Hasbro’s legendary G.I. JOE® brand to all major console and handheld gaming platforms in winter 2009 to coincide with the theatrical release of the G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA live-action movie from Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment, in association with Hasbro, which opens in theatres 6 August, 2009. 

“As Hasbro and Paramount Pictures reignite the G.I. JOE® property this year with an all-new toy line and film, EA is excited to play a major role in bringing this icon of pop culture history to a new generation of enthusiasts through interactive gaming,” said Chip Lange, General Manager and Vice President of EA Hasbro.  “G.I. JOE® offers exceptionally rich storylines and a cast of characters that lends itself incredibly well to creating an over-the-top action adventure video game that will thrill gamers as well as G.I. JOE® fans.”

For fans of all ages, 2009 is gearing up to become another watershed milestone in the timeless franchise by introducing even more new ways to engage, immerse and play within the G.I. JOE® universe.  The G.I. JOE® video game will feature an exclusive storyline that picks up where the live-action movie leaves off, allowing players to re-create and re-live the greatest moments from the film, cartoon series and action figure toy line.

The game will feature 12 G.I. JOE® characters, each with unique abilities and weapons.  Adding to the adrenaline rush will be an intense single-screen co-op mode allowing two players to easily unite as a team in a classic struggle between good and evil as they work together to defeat the powers of the COBRA organisation.  The G.I. JOE® video game is under development for Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Wii™, PlayStation®2, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), Nintendo DS™, and mobile devices.

“G.I. JOE® has been an icon of action for 45 years,” said Mark Blecher, General Manager of Digital Gaming and Media at Hasbro.  “EA has tapped the legacy of the G.I. JOE vs. COBRA saga to create an amazing interactive experience inspired by the movie, comic books, animated series and iconography that we hope will resonate with millions of fans.”     

For more than four decades, G.I. JOE® has been one of the premiere brands in the history of boys’ toys.  Originating the term “action figure” in 1964, Hasbro’s G.I. JOE® brand ushered in a new play pattern that forever changed the scope of the toy industry.  The G.I. JOE® brand made another revolutionary introduction in 1984 with the release of the G.I. JOE vs. COBRA toy line, which introduced a generation of boys to the heroic G.I. JOE® forces, led by Duke, and their epic struggle to defeat the evil COBRA organisation.  The G.I. JOE vs. COBRA saga featured a diverse cast of characters – both good and evil – that became a part of pop culture through Hasbro’s toy line, an animated television series and best-selling comic book franchise.

For more information about the G.I. JOE® video game and to sign up for updates, visit gijoe.ea.com.

Monday 26 May 2009

On Wednesday the 20th of May, Impulse Gamer was invited to Helensvale Queensland to get a sneak peak of some of the latest games by Australian distributor All Interactive Entertainment. Now the exclusive distributor for 505 Games, Black Bean, Nv3 Publishing and System 3, All Interactive Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of All Interactive Distribution, one of Australia’s largest distributors employing upwards of 160 people. Thanks to Senior Brand Manager Angela Spehr, we joined the media to get a hands on experience of the following games;

1. Fast Food Panic
2. Majesty II
3. ARMA II
4. Super Car Challenge
5. We Rock: Drum King
6. New U Fitness First
7. PT Boats: Knights of the Sea
8. SBK09

Fast Food Panic

The first game we had a chance to see was Fast Food Panic (N3V Publishing) on the Nintendo Wii which allows gamers to run their own restaurant. With anime inspired graphics, Fast Food Panic puts gamers in the role of chef as they greet customers, prepare food and ensure that their restaurant is running smoothly. With a target release of July 2009, Fast Food Panic is definitely aimed at the younger market, however casual gamers will also be able to appreciate the fast food antics as they prepare a variety of foods thanks to the innovative control system of the Wii.

Key Features

– 10 Exciting mini games to play along
– 4 types of meal to be cooked in several recipes: hamburgers, steak, pizza, pasta & pancakes
– Crazy special events randomly generated to break the routine and make your job even funnier: washing up, cleaning rubbish, cashing up…
– Multiplayer up to 4 (and 2 in coop)

Majesty II

Next on the list was Majesty II (N3V Publishing), a real-time strategy title with a twist. Majesty II goes beyond its predecessor as gamers control heroes who have their own goals and wills, however it’s up to the dungeon master-esq gamer to control them. Although these heroes have a mind of their own, the player has the ability of setting monetary awards for quests and depending on the difficulty of the task, a hero or more will join in the adventure. To make “money”, these heroes are taxed when they access your building in the town which allows you to upgrade. Although this was a BETA version that we saw, the potential of Majesty II is quite impressive and we’re eager for the final version. The expected release date is August 2009.

Key Features

– Real time strategy game with indirect control – your heroes will have a will of their own
– Play through a campaign with 16 missions divided into 4 chapters, as well as a few quick missions and a variety of multiplayer maps
– Build the fantasy city of your dreams and experience an engaging world, but beware: monsters are waiting to lay siege to your domain
– Defend your realm with noble warriors, spell-wielding wizards or wild barbarians
– Choose from more than 10 different classes to oversee the protection of your lands

ARMA II

From 505 Games comes ARMA II, the sequel to the popular and highly realistic ARMA which puts gamers into an elite squad of soldiers. Your task is simple, restore peace to the fictitious Soviet town of Chenarus which has been destroyed by civil war. Boasting both single-player and multiplayer modes, ARMA II is pure eye candy when it comes to graphics. Seeing it on the 60” screen was a true treat and at times, the graphics seemed real. The gameplay was quite realistic and unlike shooters where you can run in like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, ARMA II requires tact, especially in terms of subterfuge and strategy. With a release date of July 2009, ARMA II was definitely one of the most realistic first person shooters that we have seen in ages. Best of all, the game boasts online play of up to 50 players and over 80 playable vehicles. Unfortunately the title is a PC game only for console lovers. Might be the time to upgrade though?

Key Features

– Single player mode with emphasis on resource management and RPG elements, the player commands a squad through a story full of twists and surprises
– Cooperative multiplayer and team-based large scale multiplayer over entire map for 50 live players
– Built-in mission editor allowing player to expand the game beyond original content
– Complex weapons simulation based on technologies used in military training and real-world data: ballistics, deflection, material penetration, glowing tracer rounds
– Comprehensive library of over 80 full simulated modern firearms
– Over 80 playable vehicles

Super Car Challenge

For the PS3 comes Supercar Challenge by System 3 which is based on the Ferrari Challenge racing engine. Allowing gamers to race some of the world’s most advanced supercars on the planet, this is definitively the game for car lovers. Boasting next generation graphics, 40 different cars and a variety of different gameplay modes, Supercar Challenge has an August 2009 release date. Unfortunately we missed out in seeing this game, however press releases will be available soon.

Key Features

– Over 40 different cars ranging from the Lamborghini Murcielago RGT, to the Aston Martin DB9, to the McLaren F1, to our previous favourite the Ferrari FXX
– Over 20 tracks, from favourites such as Silverstone and Nurburgring to less well known greats such as Mugello Italy
– Trophy mode, Career mode (more details to be announced soon), Arcade mode, Quick Race and 16-player online/LAN multiplayer
– Dynamic AI: rival drivers will get better or worse depending on how you race so you’ll always have a decent challenge going on around you. Of course, should you wish to have consistent AI you can switch this mode off.

We Rock: Drum King

As the gaming world becomes flooded with music games, We Rock: Drum King by 505 Games is actually a different kettle of fish on the Nintendo Wii. Unlike the horrendous Wii Music, We Rock: Drum King doesn’t try to be too clever as it transforms the gamer into a drummer, thanks to the Wii controls. Whether you’re using a wiimote and nunchuck or two wiimotes, this game has the perfect control system and by raising your controllers and lowering them, they will in its essence create a drum sound. With a variety of world class bands, We Rock: Drum King is destined to become the next big party game on the Wii.

I must admit that we were quite impressed by this game, although not as in-depth as Rock Band or Guitar Hero World Tour, the simplicity of the game is what makes it work so well. The title does contain a variety of difficulty modes such as pushing buttons on the controller, ensuring that this can be played by gamers of all levels. Thankfully the songs in this game are quite mainstream, unlike Activision’s Metallica. Decent graphics and even better music, we for one cannot wait for We Rock: Drum King which has a release date of June 2009.

Key Features

– Wide range of drumming styles/music
– Ready to rock straight from box – no need for costly peripherals
– Create your own drumming legend
– Single and multiplayer modes
– Top quality tracks from 30 artists including Bloc Party, Queen, The Clash, Gorillaz, Biffy Clyro and more
– Difficulty scaled so beginners have fun but experts face a real rock challenge.

New U Fitness First

Apart from ARMA II and We Rock: Drum King, the next stand out attraction was “New U Fitness First” that when used in conjunction with a real-world fitness program, this is the perfect product for the home and your exercise regime. Created in conjunction with Fitness First, gamers use the Wii Balance Board and Wii controllers to assist in their fitness.

The best part of New U Fitness First was the impressive interface, unlike the childish Wii Fit that allows you to set your goals and even choose between 4 personal trainers and four different locations. Although this was an early BETA that we saw, the product looked quite impressive. Unfortunately we were not able to test this product due to the product being in the testing stage, however the variety of exercises available was truly impressive. It even boasted 130 different recipes to assist with your fitness plus the ability to connect online to monitor your fitness. This is one product that Impulse Gamer will be carefully keeping an eye on.

Key Features

– Slick, Modern Apple like interface
– Personalised workouts based on the goals you choose
– Over 130 recipes, all created by professional nutritionists built around your specific requirements i.e. no wheat / nuts etc
– 4 trainers, 2 male & 2 female (Real Fitness First personal trainers)
– Train in 4 locations, beach, mountain, forest & a gym

PT Boats: Knights of the Sea

NV3 Publishing’s next big naval game is PT Boats: Knights of the Sea which features state of the art graphics thanks to DirectX 10 and allows gamers to experience the turmoil of World War II as either the Allied Forces, Russians or the Germans. With historical accurate missions and crafts, the sneak peak that Impulse Gamer saw of this game left us wanting more. Although it’s a niche market, good naval games are hard to find, especially in terms of graphics. Thankfully PT Boats: Knights of the Sea appears to be delivering on both fronts, except for when all your crew falls into the water from a crash which should be fixed in the final version. It’s a BETA so don’t take the bugs too seriously 🙂 Needless to say, PT Boats: Knights of the Sea appeared like an extremely realistic naval simulation

Key Features

– Unique gameplay concept: Everything is under control! From a big fleet to any crew member of any ship
– Worldwide Hall of Fame: Web statistics sever to store multiplayer and single player achievements. 
–  Developed by an experienced casual games studio
– Stunning visuals: 3d graphics never seen before in naval games
– Historical accuracy: Naval battles of WWII brought back to life. Realistic physical and tactical parameters of every sea vessel in the game.

SBK09

The last title of the day was SBK09 from Black Bean and revolves around the Superbike World Championship. The first thing that we noticed with this game was the amazing graphics, especially the cool menu system which seemed quite interactive and would not look out of place on a race day. The in-game graphics were extremely impressive and best of all, the bikes handled quite well. Boasting a variety of different in-game options from weather and the tweaking of bikes, SBK09 is set to be released at the end of June 2009 and this is another game that is going to be HUGE!

Key Features

– Three game modes from the retail version
– Online Time Attack
– New 3D realistic environments
– Motorbike fairings and ride suits damage
– Terrain deformation – Overprints from the TV broadcast
– Tracks from real CAD data

After a long day at All Interactive Entertainment, Impulse Gamer is happy to report that this company has some wonderful upcoming releases. Whether you’re interested in real-time strategy, racing or if you are just a casual gamer, All Interactive Entertainment ensures that it caters for both the casual and hardcore gamer. Bring on the new year of Games!

Bravo!

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

Turn down the lights, crank up the amps and prepare to command centre stage as some of the most famous AND infamous tracks from Guitar Hero®, Guitar Hero II™, Guitar Hero® Encore: Rocks the 80s™ and Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock step into the spotlight in the most epic, full band jam session to-date — Guitar Hero® Greatest Hits. The #1 best-selling video game franchise of 2008 presents the best of the best to music video game aficionados so they can join together with guitar, bass, drums and vocals and rock to master tracks of their favourite Guitar Hero music.

Featuring 48 master recordings, Guitar Hero Greatest Hits delivers exciting online and offline gameplay modes including Band Career and 8-player “Battle of the Bands,” which allows two full bands to compete head-to-head online. In Guitar Hero Greatest Hits players’ rock n’ roll fantasies turn to realities as they create their rocker, compose their music and share it with the world through the innovative Music Studio, GHTunes^SM and robust Rock Star Creator gameplay modes first introduced in Guitar Hero World® Tour. 

KEY FEATURES:

Ø     Guitar Hero’s Greatest Hits – Play alone or as a full band and rock out to 48 of some of the hottest fan-favourite tracks from Guitar Hero’s original guitar-centric games: Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.  

Ø     I’m With the Band –Video game fanatics can expand to full band and for the first time ever strum, drum and belt out some of their favourite Guitar Hero songs as master tracks on all gaming systems as they jam along to updated note tracks and all-new gameplay for the drum controller and microphone. 

Ø     A Setlist that Guarantees “Nothin But A Good Time” – Guitar Hero Greatest Hits features the most memorable songs from Guitar Hero games together in one epic setlist, comprised of all master recordings including, “Them Bones” by Alice in Chains, Queen’s “Killer Queen,” “Nothin’ But A Good Time” by Poison, Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing in the Name,” “I Wanna Rock” by Twisted Sister, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts’ “I Love Rock N Roll,” Heart’s “Barracuda” and Guitar Hero III favourite Dragonforce’s “Through the Fire and Flames.”

Ø     Discover the Spirit of Rock, All Around the World – Rock through fantastic locations with Guitar Hero favourites and play at eight new venues based on wonders of the world, including the Amazon, Polar Ice Caps and the Grand Canyon.

Ø     Create, Customise and Share – Guitar Hero Greatest Hits features the Music Studio, GHTunes and the Rock Star Creator first made famous in Guitar Hero World Tour. Create your own hits in Music Studio, share them online with GHTunes and watch your created superstar shred and drum to your soon-to-be breakout hit. With difficulty levels ranging from “Beginner” mode, introduced in Guitar Hero World Tour to the difficult-to-master “Expert+” mode first seen in Guitar Hero® Metallica®, Guitar Hero Greatest Hits is accessible for all players.