Trailer: Need for Speed Nitro ignites the engine

Need for Speed is going Nintendo-exclusive this year, with the new installment taking the shape of Need for Speed: Nitro. The game has got its debut trailer and things are looking quite good for the title that’ll hit Nintendo DS and Wii sometime in autumn 2009. In development at Electronic Arts Montreal, NFS: Nitro is supposed to bring a unique experience to this beloved car racing series. Need for Speed: Nitro is revamping the series with new control options, more gameplay elements and an art-style that puts gamers in control. For a title that’ll be using motion-controls, NFS: Nitro offers a lot of options to the gamers. It is also taking a route to racing that’s better identified with cartoon racing titles, a la Nitro Kart. The trailer, however, allays any fears of hardcore enthusiasts since there’s plenty for them as well. Stream and catch my drift.

Via: shacknews

Riddick’s DLC has maps and commentary

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is raking it up. And it’ll continue to keep gamers busy for some time to come courtesy new downloadable stuff that’s been made available. Among the DLC that Riddick is now offering for Xbox 360 version is a Premium Multiplayer Pack and a Commentary Mode DLC. The Premium MP Pack is adding as many as five new multiplayer maps. These are: Munity, Sneerock, Tracker, Viper Run, and The Tangle. Each of these works on different campaigns, with Munity and Viper Run on Butcher Bay Riot, Sneerock on Deathmatch, Tracker Star on Capture the Flag and The Tangle working on Pitch Black mode. The add-on is 371 MB and is available on XBLA here at 800 MS Points ($10). The Commentary Mode DLC is however completely free, weighs in at 192 MB, and adds about four and a half hours of developer commentary to the single-player Escape from Butcher Bay Campaign. Download to get an in-depth account of the making of this 2004 title from its developers.

Via: vg247

$33 million ‘stalking horse’ agreement between Midway and Warner

In the wake of current global crisis, gamers have at least got a glimpse of financial jargon. With the fate of Mortal Kombat franchise hanging in the balance, I’ve to tell you a little something about a stalking horse asset purchase agreement. In this type of agreement, debtor seeks to maximize the value of his assets by entering into an initial agreement with the bidder that it chooses. The company facing bankruptcy then offers bidding protection to the bidder in order to set an initial bid that’s profitable for the assets being sold. With that out of the way, I can get to the actual news. Midway Games has entered into a “stalking horse” asset purchase agreement with Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. that’s reportedly worth $33 million. Midway has also set the ball rolling by going to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. This paves way for other interested parties to make counter offers. The agreement between Midway and Warner provides for a takeover of Midway’s development studios in Chicago and Seattle, as also the MK franchise. Midway’s studio in San Diego, Newcastle and the TNA franchise games, however, are not a part of the proposed arrangement. What this may mean for Mortal Kombat I’m not too sure. But indications are that the series would, after all, be in good hands.

Via: gamepro

Hit the greens on XBL/PSN with Tiger Woods 10 demo

Slated for a release next month, we’ve already seen what Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 looks like. With screenshots and trailers available aplenty, a demo was the next logical step. And this EA has delivered for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. This demo is available for download on XBLA and PlayStation Store as you are reading this bit. You’ll be able to sample three golf courses in this demo: Bethpage Black, Turnberry and TPC Sawgrass. On Bethpage Black players get a couple of holes and witness the home of this year’s U.S. Open. Turnberry, on the other hand gives a taste of the site of 2009 British Open. The last of these courses, TPC Sawgrass, is the place where you get a first look at the all-new Tournament Challenge Mode. Also playable in the demo is the Practice Round Mode in which players are allowed to get their swings ready for real action. The real action, by the way, is headed your way on June 8.

Via: videogamer

Tetris soap is cut out for gamers

With hands busy with controllers all the time, merrily thumbing about, I wonder if gamers take time to wash them at all. But in the eventuality that they do decide to do so, why must they delve into a real world and use a normal soap? This simply won’t do. That’s why I personally recommend these cute little Tetris soaps. Block-shaped and multi-colored these pieces just beg to be fit in your cleanliness routine. The set weighs more than 8 ounces and brings the scent of berry fruit fragrance oil. Available for $10 a set from Digital Soaps, Tetris Soaps are perfect for gamers stuck in the virtual world of Nintendo. Or, if you are one for PlayStation, you’d do extremely well to lay hands on Playstation controller soap (pictured after jump). This blue one weighs 3.75-4 ounces and is available for $5.25.

Champions Online now in September

Think a MMO replete with superheroes begging to be picked up and taken on romantic quests. Think Champions Online. Think July 14th release. Now think again! Cryptic Studios knows much better than to deliver a half-hearted effort in the superhero genre. That’s why a post on its Champions Online official page states that the game would now be coming on September 1 instead of the originally slated date of July 14. Design Director and Executive Producer of the game Bill Rover wrote this:

Tomb Raider movie ‘rebooting Lara Croft’

Depending on your take on Angelina Jolie’s portrayal of Lara Croft, what I’m about to report may either please you or leave you devastated (with odds inclined towards the latter). So the news is that Lara Croft is set for a reboot in the next movie of the series. She will get younger and (hopefully) sexier. And finally, she will not be played by Angelina Jolie. Yeah, sigh! All this has been revealed by Terminator Salvation producer Dan Lin – who’s also producing forthcoming Tomb Raider film – in an interview on About.com. Lin said that the planned flick would be an “origin story” that will be more realistic and character-oriented. A bit like X-men Origins: Wolverine perhaps. The point to note of course is that Angelina will not be making a hat trick of appearances. Lin has, however, said that no actress has been cast as yet. Any guesses as to who’d take on the mantle?

Via: vg247

NES gaming is mobile!

In an on-the-go-scene dominated by the likes of PSP and DS, do we really have time for NES? Of course we do! Described as “Portable 8-Bit Gaming Dream Realized”, Thinkgeek has put up for sale a mini handheld system that plays retro NES cartridges. No emulation at work here, as this – 15cm x 9cm x 4cm – baby plays actual full-sized NES cartridges. Good thing that you treasured them all these years. Endowed with a 2.4” LCD TFT screen, this handheld guarantees nostalgia like no other gadget does. It works on 4 AA batteries and will run for 8 hours on them. With built in speakers and a headphone jack, those addictive soundtracks are played along. And for those who want to use this gizmo as just a console, the thing’s bundled with cables that hook it to a flat screen. Retro Mini is available for $49.99. Just make sure that you hunt down your old cartridges prior to hitting that buy now tab. Or maybe you’ll choose to buy some on ebay.

Two Worlds gets Curse of Souls, free and loaded

Tired of the various factions in the world of Antaloor? To spice things up Zuxxez Entertainment AG has brought a free add-on that will unleash more gaming hours on the much-played title Two Worlds. Curse of Souls v 1.7b is bringing as many as forty new quests to this PC RPG, in addition to four new multiplayer maps – Metrovis, Lakravin, Mazara, and The Hunt – with 8-player co-op support. The single player quests are spiced up with one of the new missions taking you to a town besieged by the Orcs. There you must search for a traitor and catch him red-handed, or search for a powerful Mage, which is hidden and is cooperating with a mysterious secret organization. Multiplayer action, on the other hand is spiced up with teams battling hard in collecting magical spheres and killing off their opponents simultaneously. Curse of Souls is available from the updates section of the official Two Worlds page. The free update would come in at 100 MB (provided you are already Version 1.6), while it would be a healthy 1.2 GB (if you are updating from Version 1.0).

Via: videogamer

VidZone on PS3 in summer

SCEE is bringing it to the PlayStation lobby this summer. This bringing is taking the form of a service that allows music videos to be viewed on demand. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has made good its announcement of last year (one made at Leipzig if you remember) and confirmed VidZone for PS3 in the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Australia. Despite the unimaginative name, the service seems quite exciting, since for one, it is free; ad-supported is the word actually. For two, it has, “several Major record labels as well as thousands of Independent labels” onboard. VidZone interactive music service requires PS3 owners to download the VidZone application from the PlayStation Store and voila, the videos come alive. This service will also allow users to create their own playlists, and save their own music video library. Featuring cross-functionality with PSP, VidZone will also allow its users to enjoy streamed videos on the move. Promising thousands of music videos and live concerts clips, VidZon’s arrival is awaited with baited breaths in our studio.

Via: vg247