“We would like to offer our condolences and solidarity to the families and friends of the victims of the recent earthquake in Turkey and in response to this, Joymax is supporting relief efforts to provide humanitarian and financial assistance to those affected by the disaster,” said Joymax CEO, Nam-chul Kim.  “It has been over ten years since Joymax first started conducting business in Turkey, and during that period we have been afforded many opportunities to see the strength and compassion of the Turkish people firsthand. It is this strength and compassion that we are confident will allow the people of Turkey to overcome during these difficult times.”

Jay Suk, Joymax CFO, also had the following to say, “I believe that a community that is united can accomplish great things. Although it has only been just a few days, we have received tremendous support from our community–our players.  This is just further proof of the bonds that do exist between players. These bonds transcend national borders, language, gender and race, and without the strong support of our community, none of these relief efforts would be possible.  Joymax will continue to do its part as the head of that community, providing support to its players whenever and wherever needed.”

A portion of the proceeds from all purchases made on Joymax.com from now through November 1,2011 will go towards the relief efforts.  For more information visit www.joymax.com.

“At Raptr we’re reinventing the way people stay connected and informed about the games they care about”, said Dennis Fong, CEO of Raptr.  “We’re excited by the launch of the new community-driven website because it builds upon the success of our existing service and provides a new way to discover and share content.”

Raptr now intelligently delivers the most relevant content based on the games and platforms you own, your recent gameplay, and what your friends are sharing.  Raptr also helps players discover additional content by determining your gaming preferences, such as gaming genres, developers, and publishers that interest you.  Users can submit and share a mix of content including news, videos, screenshots, status updates, and reviews.

Raptr’s full feature set includes:

• Personalized news feed

• Community-curated content

• Expanded topics to include all things related to gaming

• Suggestion engine to help you discover new games

• Automatic gameplay and achievements tracker on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3

• Centralized buddy list and friend tracker

• In-game chat and web browsing for PC games

More than eight million people already use Raptr to track their gameplay and connect with their friends across PC, console, and web games.  Raptr tracks more than 23 million gaming sessions and over a billion minutes of gameplay each month, providing users real-time insight into what’s hot in gaming.

For more information about Raptr, please visit the Raptr website.

Sony expects the PlayStation store to be back online tomorrow, according to a memo sent by Sony to developer and publishing partners.

When the PlayStation store returns, Sony will begin by resuming the scheduled releases that were interrupted by the PSN downtime.

Alongside the store’s relaunch will be content originally scheduled for 26th April and the first PlayStation update affected by PSN downtime. Three days later on 27th May, there will be another store update for games originally scheduled for 3rd May.

The following week, the PlayStation store will update twice on 31st May and 3rd June, covering content that was supposed to release during the past three weeks. At that point, the PlayStation store will be back on schedule and return to a single content update each week.

Though these are Sony’s stated plans for relaunching the PlayStation store, the memo says that the firm is willing to adjust content releases on a case-by-case basis.

Users will also be able to download their free games as part of Sony’s ‘Welcome Back‘ programme once the PlayStation store returns.

Nintendo 3DS logo

Launching at midnight on Thursday at HMV on Oxford Street, the new Nintendo 3DS is on track to be the biggest games console launch in history. Introducing portable entertainment in 3D, without the need for special glasses, the console is packed with unique features.

The UK retail launch will take place at midnight in HMV’s flagship London store with over 100 branches opening simultaneously to meet the unprecedented demand for this gorgeous new piece of kit.

Already creating twice the interest of the launch of the Wii, the Nintendo 3DS is set to revolutionise gaming with its 3D graphics that do not require the player to wear special 3D glasses.

With special guests at HMV for the launch, including BRITs winners Plan B, comedian Russell Kane, rock band Hadouken and hot new girl band Parade, the crowds will get VIP treatment with a complimentary game of their choice on offer, special launch night pack with exclusive Nintendo rewards, and the chance to take to the stage to demonstrate their skills on Street Fighter IV and Pro Evolution Soccer in live head-to-head battles.

With two screens and a 3D Depth Slider allowing players to select the level of 3D, the Nintendo 3DS also includes a Circle Pad which provides 360 degrees of direction and a built in motion sensor.

The StreetPass™ feature allows players to exchange game information, while the SpotPass™ feature can connect to compatible public hotspots and to wifi, allowing the system to be regularly updated with new content. Other features include three cameras and the Mii Maker™ application.

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is an epic original action adventure game inspired by an alternate telling of biblical mythology as narrated in the ‘heretical’ Book of Enoch, part of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The game has been developed by a ‘dream team’ internal Japanese studio whose former credits include iconic multi-million selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Resident Evil, and Okami.

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron features a disruptive next-generation combat system and stunning original direction from director Sawaki Takeyasu, previously the art director on Okami – considered by some media as ‘the most beautiful action game ever created.’

Since its first announcement at E3 in May 2010, El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron has been critically acclaimed for its originality both in Japan, where it won the Japan Game Awards 2010’s Future Division award, and internationally where it is has become one of the most eagerly anticipated original releases in 2011.

For further information about this game visit the El Shaddai game site.

Unity Technologies

Unity Technologies, provider of the Unity development platform for games and interactive 3D on the web, iOS, Android, consoles and beyond, today announced that it will showcase how it is advancing game development at the Unity Technologies to Take Centre Stage at Game Developers Conference (GDC).

Game Developers Conference, the world’s largest game industry event with more than 18,000 attendees, is taking place this year February 28 – March 4 in San Francisco.

Game Developers Conference

GDC, now in its 25th year, is an essential forum for learning, inspiration and networking for the creators of computer, console, handheld, mobile and online games. GDC is the primary forum where programmers, artists, producers, game designers, audio professionals, business decision-makers and others involved in the development of interactive games gather to exchange ideas and shape the future of the industry. To register, go to www.gdconf.com.

Unity Technologies is revolutionising the game industry with Unity, its award-winning breakthrough development platform. Unity Technologies has more than 350,000 registered users worldwide — including Bigpoint, Cartoon Network, Coca-Cola, Disney, Electronic Arts, LEGO, Microsoft, NASA, Ubisoft, Warner Bros., large and small studios, indies, students and hobbyists — all using Unity to create games and interactive 3D, like training simulations and medical and architectural visualizations, on the web, mobile, consoles and beyond. Unity Technologies is aggressively innovating to expand usability, power and platform reach along with its Asset Store digital content marketplace and Union game aggregator so that it can deliver on its vision of democratizing interactive 3D technology. Unity Technologies is headquartered in San Francisco and has development offices worldwide. For more information, visit: http://unity3d.com.

Unity is the #1 game platform on the market and in education, by far the leading game technology on mobile and the fastest growing game development platform in terms of developer mindshare. Unity’s next-generation capabilities will be featured in Unity Technologies’ booth #1416. In the booth’s Partner Pavilion, Aquiris Game Studio, Artificial Technology, Electrotank Inc., Exit Games, Mixamo, Nickelodeon, Noesis Interactive, NVIDIA, Qualcomm Inc. and Unity Studios will demonstrate the mind-blowing innovations they created using Unity.

So that attendees can get a crash course on Unity, GDC is holding the first ever Unity Track on March 1. The sessions include:

• How to Make Money with Union and Technical Introduction to Unity
• Shader Authoring in Unity
• Making the Unity Editor Do What YOU Want
• Building a Better Asset Pipeline
• How Electronic Arts uses Unity
• Optimizing for Mobile and Programming Workflow

Episode 6 Community

Vogster Entertainment premiered the latest episode in their Crimecraft: Bleedout campaign on February 5th, Episode 6. The Achilles Helix is illustrated by Gary Erskine.

Crimecraft: Bleedout combines the best of MMORPG gaming with the fast paced action and skill based gameplay of a shooter.

The game is set in Sun Rise City, a gang infested metropolis reeling from the total collapse of the world economy, somewhere in the not too distant future.

This newest update features the second volume of weekly episodes that will reveal back-stabbing conspiracies and world-shaking revelations.  The story of the collapse and the New Age of Ruin continues in Episode 6: THE ACHILLES HELIX, written by Mike Kennedy (Star Wars, Superman, Alien vs Predator) and featuring artwork by comic book veteran Gary Erskine (Dan Dare, Star Wars, Terminator, Transformers).

The Achilles Helix episode focuses on The Sons of Liberty, and the secret projects brewing in their military laboratories.  The Player will participate in experiments that could either result in Uber-soldier abilities or tragedy.  The mysterious disappearance of their former leader also starts to point towards dangerous secret agendas that could change the landscape of Sunrise City forever.

This newest major content update includes the following features:

• Episodic Conclusion – Players will witness the heart pounding conclusion of the Bleedout Campaign and learn the secret behind what caused the world’s collapse. Each week, a new episode of the gripping story will be released with 2½ hours of new story-based missions. Featuring art from comic book all-stars such as Howard Chaykin, Glenn Fabry, Trevor Hairsine, Gary Erskine, and Vince Proce, the second wave of Bleedout episodes will provide hours of top notch graphic game play.
• New Maps – New maps will emerge, including Deckard Harbor, a dense maze of walkways in the port district; Municipal Bank, a heavily guarded financial fortress for the ultimate PvP robbery; and a third, soon to be announced location.
• New Abilities – 6 new abilities will provide a wealth of tactical combat options, including Turrets and Flash Grenades.
• Reputation Phase 2 – Reputation Leaderboards go live in February, with unique player signatures, titles, and rewards.
• Player Requests – The CrimeCraft community drives development, and a multitude of player requests have been added, such as more character customization options, refinements to character professions and skills, new play modes, weapon modification kits, AUGs, and much more!

Join thousands of players online as you learn the rules of the street and the secrets to criminal success and survival.  Hustle and kill to build a Reputation while unfolding the mysteries behind the devastating Bleedout event.  Customize unique weapons and performance enhancing drugs for personal use or profit.  Form a gang with your friends or ally with trustworthy strangers to dominate the city.  Become the anti-hero at the top of everyone’s hit list.

Visit the Crimecraft website for further information.

Merging all of its publishing and development talent into one location, this new centralized facility was chosen to take advantage of the area’s thriving high-tech games industry, burgeoning interactive entertainment talent pool and to create synergies across both Companies.

UTV Ignition Entertainment has decided to consolidate its U.S. operations into one single location to better combine resources and become more efficient and streamlined.  The company’s highly-anticipated first-person-shooter, Reich, remains in development and is now being developed in Austin, where key personnel along with additional new hires will create a new internal development team.

“In the last few years Ignition Entertainment’s Operations have grown and spread out to the East and West Coast so we decided it was time to bring them under one roof.  With our publishing and development all now being handled in Austin we will be able to enhance team work and efficiency to create a stronger and more focused vision,” said Hassan Sadiq, group chairman of UTV Ignition.  With publishing and development under one roof, we will also continue  strategic outsourcing options in order to ensure flexibility and broader expertise to ensure titles of true excellence”.

UnderGarden new screens

Atari have announced the release of a series of new screens for its enchanting puzzle game The UnderGarden, developed by Vitamin-G the creators of Aces of the Galaxy.

The UnderGarden presents a wonderful exploration experience for gamers with an affinity for solving new style puzzles and will be unleashed this winter Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStationNetwork and Windows PC Download at Atari.com

UnderGarden new screens

The UnderGarden is a casual zen-like game that challenges players to explore beautiful underground caverns filled with strange life forms; physics based puzzles and plenty of hidden secrets.

The world comes alive and music evolves as players get deeper into the world of The UnderGarden. With local co-operative gameplay, players can chill out, work together to solve puzzles and explore the world. The UnderGarden offers 20 different levels of modern exploration filled with brain teasing physics and eco-friendly puzzles that evoke an emotional response to the beauty and calm of this underwater oasis.

UnderGarden new screens

1 Use different types of fruit to help solve brain-teasing physics-based puzzles.
2 Watch the world around you bloom and come to life.
3 Pick up musicians to enhance the soothing audio tracks.
4 Unlock new looks for your character as you progress through the UnderGarden.
5 Explore a variety of different levels.
6 Solve tricky puzzles.
7 Gather pollen to make your world blossom with plant life and colour.

For further information visit the Atari website

This new Mythos class trailer showcases the unique and powerful character skills from each of three character classes. In typical hack ‘n’ slash style, characters of all classes and creeds can hunt monsters in groups in the action-packed MMO world.

With the Pyromancer’s mighty fireballs, the long-range destruction of the Gadgeteer´s grenades, or the whirling blades of the Bloodletter, excitement is guaranteed even if you prefer to stalk the gloomy dungeons on your own.

For further information and to sign up for the upcoming closed beta phase visit the Mythos website.