Vacation Mogul
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Build Your Resort, Solve Mysteries and Learn the Tourism Trade in this New Real Estate Management Game
Take a trip to your uncle’s tropical islands this holiday season, as Alawar Entertainment, one of the world’s leading publishers of casual games, launches the latest addition to its widely popular building simulation series, Vacation Mogul. This engaging real estate management game is available for download immediately at http://www.alawar.com/game/vacation-mogul/ and is sure to draw in gaming sightseers and veteran players alike for the price of only $9.95.
In Vacation Mogul, your rich uncle has died and left everything to you and your sister. You immediately take possession of his estate and businesses, only to discover your sister missing and your uncle’s lawyer has stolen her part of the inheritance! Become one of the rich and powerful as you expertly buy and sell land, turn bungalows into ritzy hotels and erect specialty shops and other attractions to lure in tourists. Only by building your beach-front empire can you earn enough money to buy back your sister’s bequest and solve the mystery of her disappearance!
Key features include:
• 38 challenging and engaging levels on five idyllic islands
• 16 different building types, including karaoke bars and catamaran rentals, to draw in clients and rake in the cash!
• Over a dozen bonuses and mini-games to further your quest for clues
• Eye-popping graphics to sweep you into the seaside real estate management experience
Vacation Mogul is currently available exclusively at www.alawar.com and will launch on other major download portals, including Big Fish Games, RealNetworks, Boonty and PlayFirst®, in January 2010.
Download the trial version: http://www.alawar.com/game/vacation-mogul/download/
The Sims 3 free Create a World Tool now available for download
Robust Tool Available as Free Download Today Plus New Game Update for The Sims 3 Introducing Shop Mode Available Now
EA’s The Sims Studio is putting the power of world creation directly into The Sims 3 players’ hands!
Available today as a free download on www.TheSims3.com, The Sims™ 3 Create a World Tool – BETA allows players to create and share unique new worlds that they design. Registered The Sims 3 players will be able to step into the shoes of The Sims 3 development team by using the same robust world-building tools the team uses to create worlds and towns for The Sims 3.
This massive, creative tool allows players to design and build entire worlds for their Sims or begin their creations with pre-made Sunset Valley or Riverview terrains. Once players are satisfied with their brand new world, they can then share their creations online through The Sims 3 Exchange. The tool allows for endless creative possibilities and countless new stories to be told using a brand new world, designed by the players, as the canvas!
FEATURES
Design Entire Worlds – Players can choose terrain patterns, vegetation and neighborhood accents like water towers and lighthouses, then place lots and roads to create something totally unique.
Players Choice – Players can start with a blank canvas, or modify the terrains that formed the basis of Sunset Valley or Riverview.
For Advanced Designers – Those with design skills can bring creativity to life by creating and importing designs from Photoshop and other programs into their world.
Trees Galore! – Combine objects and items from The Sims 3 World Adventures expansion pack or items from The Sims 3 Store to create a one of a kind landscape.
Share with the World – Created worlds can be shared and downloaded through The Sims 3 Exchange. Sims players will now have additional worlds to choose from beyond the extra town of Riverview, which has been downloaded 2MM times.
The Sims 3 Create a World Tool – BETA is a robust tool for avid Sims players that want to expand their gameplay experience and create an entire world. Players can build anything from mesas, mountains, and waterfalls to their favorite The Sims 2 neighborhood, their own home town, or even the Moon! A walk-through guide is located here to help players get started creating their own worlds. Now The Sims 3 players can be game designers and take their creativity to a whole new level.
Also available for download today on www.TheSims3.com, players can update their copy of The Sims 3 and for the first time ever, shop from The Sims 3 Store right inside their game with Shop Mode. As items are purchased, they will be added to the player’s catalog, while the game is running. Players can browse the full The Sims 3 Store catalog directly from their game and purchase exclusive furniture, décor, hair, and clothing – without ever closing the game. The Game Update will also provide further updates to The Sims 3 and The Sims 3 World Adventures such as an uninstaller for the Mac, some support for recovering saved games and much more.
Double feature free add-on pack available for Ship Simulator 2008
Continuing its weekly release of free download packs for Ship Simulator 2008, game developer VSTEP announces a special double feature Pride of Rotterdam and Portoferraio Angel Super Pack, the fourth new free download pack for Ship Simulator 2008 now available at “The Shipyard”, the online vessel & environment shop for Ship Simulator 2008.
All Ship Simulator 2008 and Ship Simulator 2008: New Horizons users will be able to download this new add-on pack for free and sail the widely favoured Pride of Rotterdam Ferry as well as the Portoferraio Angel yacht (Portoferraio for New Horizons users only). The add-on brings new gameplay features and exciting new missions to the game. The Pride of Rotterdam and Portoferraio Angel Super Pack is created by the dedicated Ship Simulator Creator’s Forum.
VSTEP will continue to release new high quality free add-on packs for Ship Simulator 2008 at the Shipyard on a weekly basis leading up to the release of the new Ship Simulator Extremes game in 2010.
To download the free add-on pack, visit the Shipyard: http://www.shipsim.com/shipyard/shipyard.php
Ship Simulator 2008
Available in 20 countries and 7 languages and with over 450,000 copies sold to date, the Ship Simulator Series is the leading naval simulation series for pc users. In Ship Simulator 2008, players will need to perform a multitude of tasks, all set within stunning 3D environments and world renowned harbours like San Francisco, Rotterdam, New York and Marseille. Players will take control of a wide array of vessels – from massive cargo ships and ferries, to speedboats, yachts, water taxis, personal watercrafts, and even the mighty Titanic! Ship Simulator 2008 incredibly recreates real locations from around the world and presents players with the challenges of commanding the vessel of their choice on the open sea. For more information about Ship Simulator 2008, visit www.shipsim.com
Shakespeare enters Cities XL, stage left
Monte Cristo’s first content pack, Old England, arrives, including the Gherkin..
As you probably already know, the launch of the unique world-simulation Cities XL is only the beginning of the adventure! We are committed to providing subscribers of the Planet Offer with additional free content and we are thrilled to give you a glimpse of the first content pack which will be available this week – The Old England Pack.
This pack will include a set of medieval buildings inspired by Shakespearian England, along with a paved road and a medieval plaza, with which you will be able to create your very own historic town centres! As for the other buildings already available in the game, we have spent countless hours searching for references in England and have paid special attention to the limitless details of this type of architecture.
The ten Medieval residences are medium density buildings which your citizens will undoubtedly appreciate! As all other “Old England” buildings, these residences will be accessible via a specific button in the Construction menu so that you can place them wherever you wish. Moreover, a shop, a restaurant and a hotel, all in medieval style, will complete the set. Placed at the heart of your historic quarter, these buildings will be even more profitable!
A small peaceful plaza like this one will certainly add a picturesque note to your city! But without a doubt, the highlight of your new historic quarter will be its impressive medieval church, which will extend its influence to the whole city! We can already imagine players trying to recreate these charming areas in their metropolises or in small, remote towns with steep streets and a church at their centre.
Maps
This first content pack will also feature three new maps on which to build your cities, including Rio de Janeiro, the first realistic map offered in Cities XL.
Map: Rio de Janeiro
These realistic maps are terrains we have painstakingly created using official DEM (Digital Elevation Models) files for the most famous cities on the planet. We have added landmarks so that players can try to recreate the city as precisely as possible in Cities XL, or create an entirely new vision.
The Rio de Janeiro map therefore faithfully recreates the actual topography of the Brazilian city, around the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer, or “Christo Rei”.
Head off to the beaches of Copacabana!
Map: The Crater
“Aeons ago, a huge meteor crashed into this valley, creating a massive crater.”
The Crater is an arid landscape where nothing flourishes, but which features interesting oil resources. In the centre of the Crater, a small lake provides enough water to meet the needs of a small city.
This majestic landscape also offers a privileged setting for those looking for original holidays.
Map: The Cliffs
“These steep cliffs rise above the sea, creating overhanging areas where charming villages can settle.”
With soft, rolling hills and a mild climate, the inland areas are an ideal location for farming cities, as a small water table will easily meet the needs of intensive agriculture.
No doubt that the amateurs of fresh air and ecotourism will love spending a few days’ rest by these steep cliffs!
Additional Megastructures
This week, we have also introduced the Megastructures in Cities XL, with a first series of buildings which can be created by obtaining the corresponding Blueprint. The first content pack features 3 additional Megastructures, which will not only enable you to build unique cities but also significantly enhance different activity sectors. Of course, you will only benefit from these advantages if you manage to gather enough resources to build these Megastructures, but the effort is definitely worthwhile.
Megastructures: 30 St Mary Axe in London
Nicknamed the “Gherkin” by Londoners, this 180-meter skyscraper created by Norman Foster towers over the City financial district. This building is especially famous for the building techniques used and its qualities in terms of energy saving.
Placing this building in your city will definitely have a positive effect on your offices.
Megastructures: The Imperial Palace in Tokyo
Built on the exact location where the old Edo castle once stood, the Tokyo Imperial Palace has been the residence of the Japanese imperial family since the end of the 19th century. Bombed during WWII, it was completely restored in 1968.
Although only part of the palace is open to the public, its mere presence will considerably increase your city’s attractiveness.
Megastructures: Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco
Although it mostly welcomes tourists and pelicans nowadays, the Alcatraz military fort, nestled in the San Francisco Bay, is famous for having been a prison from 1909 to 1963, where some of the most dangerous criminals in the United States were held.
Placing “The Rock” in your city will significantly increase the fight against crime.
THE SIMS 3 World Adventures goes Gold
Grab Your Chopsticks, Jump on Your Scooter and Adventure Your Way Through Ancient Tombs in The Sims 3 World Adventures on November 17, 2009
EA’s The Sims Studio is pleased to announce that The Sims™ 3 World Adventures*, the first expansion pack to the #1 best-selling PC game of calendar 2009**, The Sims 3, has gone gold for the PC and Mac and will be available on November 17, 2009 in North America and will be in stores worldwide in 60 countries and in 22 languages the same week.
Sims can now go on the journey of a lifetime in The Sims 3 World Adventures. They can run from mummies in Al Simhara, Egypt, fill the sky with fireworks purchased from locals in Shang Simla, China and master the art of nectar-making in France. Along the way, they can capture the funny, scary and exciting moments while using the brand new photography skill. Once they have completed their quests players can bring their treasures home with them to reminisce and share. When players register their copy of the PC/Mac version of the game online, they will receive exclusive extra game content with the Explorer’s Loot Set and 1,000 SimPoints*** to be used in The Sims 3 Store to customize their game with additional in-game items.
The Sims fans around the world will be rockin’ out to new Simlish music in The Sims 3 World Adventures Expansion Pack. Over a dozen artists will lend their Simlish voice stylings to the game including GRAMMY Award-winners Nelly Furtado and LeAnn Rimes plus hot rising stars Matt + Kim, Fefe Dobson, Pixie Lott, Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head, Katie Melua, Esmee Denters, Young Punx!, Evan Taubenfeld, Madina Lake, and more.
The Sims 3 World Adventures will be available for purchase on November 17 at retail and online through digital distribution at http://eastore.ea.com/. To pre-order the game visit www.thesims3.com/game/ep1/order.
The Sims 3 World Adventures is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.
For those who haven’t already purchased The Sims 3 or need a good gift idea for friends or family, a special limited Holiday Collector’s Edition will also be available on November 17, 2009. The special edition will feature content from the original The Sims 3 Collector’s Edition along with new holiday content. For more information on The Sims 3, go to www.thesims3.com.
*Requires The Sims 3 or The Sims 3 Collector’s Edition for PC/Mac to play.
**According to NPD data.
***INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED, see product pack or digital distribution rules for details
Demo for EA Sports FIFA MANAGER 10 available
The new edition of popular football manager simulation will be released on October 30th, but for those that cannot wait a demo is available now. In the demo which is released today, virtual team managers can play half a season in one of the top leagues from England, Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Spain. The respective save games can be continued in the final version.
The demo of FIFA MANAGER 10 contains all the available game modes such as the 3D game, text mode, videotext and instant results. That means the players can try out, among other things the improved 3D match engine featuring your manager on the sideline and the new user interface with resolution up to 1920*1200.
In order to minimize the download size, FIFA MANAGER 10 demo waives 3D player faces, 3D commentary as well as the all free online mode which is included in FIFA MANAGER 10´s full game for the first time.
FIFA MANAGER 10´s extensive player database includes over 3.900 teams and more than 37.000 players, of which over 9.000 are in the game with their original pictures. Additional players can be added via the editor.
FIFA MANAGER 10 is developed by the developer studio Bright Future in Cologne for EA SPORTS. The game will be released October 30th in six languages for the PC platform.
The demo for FIFA MANAGER 10 is available for download on http://static.cdn.ea.com/fifa/u/f/Manager10Demo.exe.
Football Manager 2010
In a football first, Football Manager 2010, the most successful football management simulation, is delighted to reveal that the Glenn Hoddle Academy is the final, officially licensed club in Football Manager 2010.
In a massive coup for the both the Glenn Hoddle Academy and Sports Interactive, it now forms part of the huge database of licensed clubs and leagues featured in the game. Since its outset, Glenn has maintained his vision for the Academy and this is further proof of its existence as an alternative to the professional club system
Football Manager 2010 will feature all players at the Glenn Hoddle Academy Club, the world’s first fully independent, professional football development centre, designed to work with players released from topflight clubs, who would otherwise be lost to the game. The Academy gives talented players a second chance at becoming a professional in real life and you’ll also be able to sign them for your Football Manager 2010 club.
Glenn Hoddle commented, “To have the Glenn Hoddle Academy Club in Football Manager 2010 is fantastic. We have been working hard with the team at Football Manager to make this happen and we are delighted to be the first professional football development centre in the world to become part of the ever expanding game”
Glenn Hoddle further added that, “Our players are all talented professionals, released initially from senior clubs across Europe. They spend time developing their skills in Spain and they play regular fixtures against senior European opposition, including Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid, on a regular basis. To have our squad included in Football Manager 2010 alongside their peers in the professional game, as part of this season’s new features, will I am sure add a new dimension for the game.”
“We’re really excited to have the Glenn Hoddle Academy in Football Manager 2010”, said Miles Jacobson, studio director at Sports Interactive. “What he’s doing with the academy is fantastic for football, and anything that is good for football is good for our games”.
With Football Manager 2009 being voted the second best game of all time and clocking up 22 weeks at the No.1 spot in the UK PC charts, Football Manager 2010 promises to be the best one yet.
The game’s developer, Sports Interactive, has listened to the Football Manager community and fans to improve all aspects of the game. There are some big additions to improve the ease of use, navigation and feedback from the game with the brand new match tactics system, the debut of a Match Analysis tool, a completely new look and new User Interface among other features. And with improved in-game graphics, the 3D match view provides the most realistic match experience yet.
Football Manager™ 2010 for PC and Apple Macintosh will be released on October 30th.
For further information please go to www.sigames.com or www.footballmanager.com.
Freestyle Manager – Test server launched for online basketball management sim
Innovative mix of freestyle street basketball and strategic team management
Online PC game portal GameKiss launched its new game, Freestyle Manager, following the success of Freestyle Street Basketball.
Freestyle Manager, a new addition to the GameKiss Freestyle brand, reinterprets the entertainment qualities of the existing Freestyle Street Basketball and adds more fun to its current basketball teams. One gamer has a team to manage in Freestyle Manager while in Freestyle Street Basketball, one gamer controls one basketball player.
Players can train their own teams and players. Advanced team management systems including the trading of players enhance the game even further. The waiting time for a team match-up has also been significantly reduced because a match can start with one player and his opponent. The game’s artificial intelligence system has been improved, allowing the players to benefit from various game-play tactics and strategies.
“Freestyle Manager will contribute to the Freestyle brand, becoming a successful online sports games brand,” said Roman, Senior Game Master of Freestyle Street Basketball. He adds that the game will provide a whole new kind of entertainment value to the players.
Feedback and game data collected from users at the test server will be proactively reflected on the preparation and development of the game’s official service and release. The test server is available in English language, and can be accessed online and played anywhere in the world, free of charge.
GameKiss has now published four strong games: Freestyle Manager, Freestyle Street Basketball, NIDA online and Valkyrie Sky. The company plans to introduce more game titles, thereby providing more fun to the users. More details can be found at the official website, freestylemanager.gamekiss.com
MLB Dugout Heroes – Updated to mark what’s apparently the hottest month in baseball
New Enhancements To Include Console Style Menu, Enhanced Minor League And Bench System, Team Logo Bonuses And The All-New Dodger Stadium!
To celebrate the hottest month in baseball, GamesCampus will introduce tons of new content changes coinciding with the Fall Classic in its popular online baseball game – MLB Dugout Heroes. Among the new features are a new console style menu, a minor league system, an enhanced bench system, new team logo bonuses and a brand-new stadium.
Both new and current players can check out the new features at www.mlbdugoutheroes.com starting this Thursday, October 8th.
Dodger Stadium
The newest stadium in MLB Dugout Heroes is here! Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962. Dodger Stadium is currently the third oldest ballpark, and one of the biggest in Major League Baseball, behind Fenway Park in Boston and Wrigley Field in Chicago!
New Console Style Menu
The new Console Style Menu layout is more common to players who are familiar with console style presentation. Console sports games use this vertical style option with a portion of the screen dedicated to individuals who are great ambassadors for the respective sport.
Minor League System
The Minor League System makes a smooth transition from retirement to replacement. The new Minor League System allows players to groom their players of the future while using their present players. Players can assign up to nine pitchers in the Minor Leagues, up to three per concentration: Balanced, Flame Thrower (Increased Fastball Growth Rate) and Finesse Pitcher (Increased Breaking Ball Growth Rate).
Players may assign up to twelve Minor League Batters in the Minor Leagues, up to three per focus: Balanced, Power (Increased Power Growth Rate), Accuracy (Increased Bat Growth Rate), Run (Increased Run Growth Rate).
Enhanced Bench System
Players can ensure their bench players are doing more than just growing old on the bench. They can customize the way each player earns EXP and all Bench Pitchers have only one type of growth rate. All the Pitchers in the designated slots will receive 80% of pitchers’ default EXP.
Bench Batters have the option of selecting one of five growth types; Power, Bat, Run, Throw, or Defense. Batters in the designed slots will receive 80% EXP of the following positions; 4th Batter in Lineup (Power), 3rd Batter in Lineup (Bat), 1st Batter in Lineup (Run), Catcher (Throw), or Shortstop (Defense).
Team Logo Bonus
Using the Special Team Logo, players will receive a bonus for the amount of past players of a specific team they have in their lineup. User’s who recruit past players of their favorite teams – using the new Team Specific Draftcards – will receive bonus stats for having those players in their lineup.
More information can be found at: www.mlbdugoutheroes.com
Need for Speed SHIFT PC demo now available
Start your engines!
The PC demo of the highly-rated Need for Speed SHIFT is available for download at www.needforspeed.com.
Players will prove their racing prowess on the world-famous Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and gorgeous city circuit of London River using one of four unlocked cars. Collect enough stars in the demo based on the player’s racing performance, and they’ll unlock the ultimate racing machine; the Pagani Zonda F.
Jump into the cockpit of one of these five cars and find out why Need for Speed SHIFT is the highest rated Need for Speed game in years.
• BMW M3 (E46)
• 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10
• 2006 Lotus Elise 111R
• 2008 Nissan GT-R
• 2006 Pagani Zonda F (unlockable)
A PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 Need for Speed SHIFT demo is also scheduled to arrive in early October.
With a perfect score from GameSpy.com and G4TV.com, and 90+ scores from IGN.com, Official Xbox Magazine, PlayStation: The Official Magazine, Team Xbox.com, Game Daily.com, Gametrailers.com and more, Need for Speed SHIFT redefines the racing genre by combining real world physics with perception based G-forces. The game introduces a brutal first-person crash dynamic that creates an unparalleled immersive experience. The signature cockpit view delivers a true driver’s experience. Need for Speed SHIFT further personalizes the experience through the all-new driver profile – a unique persona based on the driving skill and style of each player. Need for Speed SHIFT is the most realistic and intensive authentic racing game ever.
Need for Speed SHIFT is now available on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, PC, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and coming soon on the iPhone™. More information can be found at www.needforspeed.com