Microsoft sent this letter to our inboxes yesterday and to be honest with you I never even gave it a second thought until this morning. What I found hilarious is that the letter states “In the last year, we have helped launch a wide range of stellar PC game titles”. Sure you have, because you have a monopoly with Windows…

Anyway, my hateful tone aside, I honestly have to agree with him. The console is huge right now, but as long as people are using PC’s and Laptops for work or home use, there will always be a demand for gaming on those systems. Unlike a lot of other nay-sayers, I personally do not see PC gaming going the way of the dinosaur anytime soon.

Read the letter:

Growth and Opportunities in PC Gaming

These are exciting times for the PC gaming industry. Over the past couple of years, Microsoft Corp. has increased its focus on investment in Windows gaming because we see the incredible growth and opportunities it represents not just for us, but for the industry at large.

Today I’m excited to report that Microsoft and a growing community of the gaming industry’s leading publishers, hardware manufacturers and retailers have made the Windows-based PC the largest gaming platform in the world. Every major region will see PC gaming continue to grow in audience, game revenue and hardware purchases for the foreseeable future. While the challenges we face as an industry are many, PC gaming has never been stronger, and we’re confident this trend will continue in the years to come.

The past year has seen exponential growth in online activity and sales, continued platform and hardware innovation, and continued success with the Games for Windows branding initiative, which adds prominence, a quality and technical bar, and a consistent look and feel to the retail PC gaming experience.

In the last year, we have helped launch a wide range of stellar PC game titles exclusive to Windows including “World in Conflict,” “Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar” and “Sins of a Solar Empire.” Other popular titles such as “Crysis” and “Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures” have sold and shipped more than 1 million copies, respectively. “Hellgate: London” now has more than 1 million active subscribers.

We are also dedicated to supporting the next generation of PC game developers with XNA Game Studio, a set of free, easy-to-use development tools for Windows-based PCs, Xbox 360 and Zune. Our goal is to assist a growing community of more than 1 million students, hobbyists and independent game developers realize their potential and enhance the Windows gaming ecosystem through their ingenuity.

Later today in San Francisco, Microsoft will be joined by our partners and select press at our Big Picture showcase event, where attendees will experience the PC gaming renaissance firsthand. Top game publisher Activision will premiere upcoming title “Call of Duty: World at War.” Attendees will also be among the first to experience AMD’s new Radeon HD 4800 Series DirectX 10 graphics card, NVIDIA’s new GeForce 9M notebook GPU and other stellar hardware from Dell Inc., HP, Gateway Inc. and Acer Inc.

Also today, 16 titles join the Games for Windows portfolio, including “Call of Duty: World at War” (Activision), “Ghostbusters: The Videogame” (Sierra Entertainment), “Crysis: Warhead,” (EA Partners), and “Zoo Tycoon 2: Ultimate Collection” (Microsoft Game Studios).

The Windows-based PC is the most connected gaming platform on the planet. Microsoft’s continued investments will enable game publishers to take advantage of that connectivity while delivering to consumers the kinds of gaming experiences they will love.

These are exciting times. We’re proud of how far we’ve come and excited for what the future holds.
Here’s to Windows gaming,

John Schappert
Corporate Vice President
LIVE, Software and Services
Microsoft

Sony is nothing but tease. The more they tease me over Afrika, the more pissed off I become. Is it coming to the States or is it not coming to the States? When will they release something in English? When will we know more about gameplay elements other than “take a pretty picture and unlock encyclopedia style info with videos”? Give me a bit more than than please. Oh yeah, and if it isn’t headed our way I don’t ever want to hear about the damn thing again.

Ok, now that I have punched my stuffed elephant in impatient rage (sorry Dingo) I feel a bit more calm. The reason I am frustrated is because the only animal games out there for people like me (huge animal nuts) are Zoo Tycoon or some silly little game for children that a grown woman would be ashamed to play. I like games where I can crack skulls with my massive hammer or shoot a rival gang member in the eye, but this looks like the only game coming out in the near future that includes pretty little critters that I would feel comfortable enough playing without feeling like a pansy or a thirteen year old girl.

GoNintendo has revealed a list on upcoming Nintendo games for 2008. Some of these have already been released, but if you look past those you will see many a title that has not. Granted, the majority of them have vague release dates and are for Europe, but at least you get an idea of what to expectThe good news though is that WiiWare and Super Smash Bros. Brawl have been dated for Europe. WiiWare – May 20th and SSBB June 27th.

You can get the full list of Nintendo titles headed our way (and ones that are already available) after the jump.

Thanks: Videogaming247

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Nintendo recently announced its DS and Wii line-up for the first half of 2008 and the respective months in which you can expect the games to hit stores. The gaming giant has promised consumers more than 80 DS and 65 Wii titles during the first half of the year, and 90% of these new games are third-party titles. Only 5 of the DS and 4 of the Wii titles are coming from Nintendo and I have posted the full list of upcoming titles below.

The following Nintendo titles are slated for the first half of the year, but have yet to have a release date or month announced: Mario Kart Wii is scheduled for a Spring release, and Wii Fit will be released sometime during Q2; Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers in Darkness for the DS during Q2.

The following third-party titles from LucasArts for both the DS and Wii are scheduled for a spring and summer release respectively: LEGO: Indiana Jones and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Wii Titles

January

• Endless Ocean (Nintendo)
• No More Heroes (Ubisoft)
• Samurai Warriors: Katana (KOEI)

February

• Baroque (Atlus USA)
• Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 (Ubisoft)
• Dream Pinball 3D (SouthPeak Games)
• Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore (Konami)
• London Taxi: Rush Hour (Destineer)
• MX vs. ATV Untamed (THQ)

March

• Alone in the Dark (Atari) —- UPDATE: Coming in May
• Destroy All Humans: Big Willy Unleashed (THQ)
• Ninja Reflex (EA)
• Nitro Bike (Ubisoft)
• Okami (Capcom)
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl
• Target: Terror (Konami)
• Worms: A Space Oddity (THQ)

April

• Pro Evolution Soccer (Konami)
• Wild Earth: African Safari (Majesco)

May

• King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga (SNK Playmore)
• Speed Racer (Warner Bros. Games)
• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Disney Interactive)
• THE DOG Island (Ubisoft)

June

• Catch of the Day (EA)
• Cooking Mama Cook Off 2 (Majesco)
• DeBlob (THQ)
• Rygar: The Battle of Argus (Tecmo)
• Wall-E (THQ)

DS titles are listed after the break.

Source: GamesInsudtry.biz

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The wait for Mass Effect is finally over. The SCI FI Channel will be celebrating today’s release with an exclusive half-hour special “Sci- vs. Fi: Mass Effect.” This special episode will be airing Nov. 20, at 11 p.m. EST and PST. Some of the topics that will be explored include the ways that technology and fictional creativity came together to create “Mass Effect”, which has been described as a “compelling experience for gamers and science fiction fans.” BioWare may have hit the jackpot with Mass Effect, considering the extremely high reviews it has been getting. I haven’t personally played the game in-depth yet, but have tinkered around with it a bit and can say it certainly looks like something I am going to get into big time.

Press Release follows the break.
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Recently I had the opportunity to set down at my uncomfortable computer desk and play the largest and latest expansion for Microsoft’s Zoo Tycoon 2. As someone who has played the game on and off for about two years now, I can say with authority that Extinct Animals is a decent game. Decent in the fact that it has more of the same animal husbandry elements that those who have played the game are used to. To me the only saving grace for this new expansion is that the banality of the game steps up a notch – not a huge notch, mind you, but a large enough step to warrant not getting tossed into a pile with the rest of the used games on the floor. Now, before you continue reading this with the mind set that I am going to give Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals a horrible review, let me clarify something for you – banality is not always a bad thing. Granted, I prefer and am used to games that require me to think in terms of stealth, magic, item collection, and “how in the heck am I going to destroy an ogre that is 40 times larger than me with just a sword? “ instead of games where I must build the ultimate in animal housing. That being said, the newest installment in the Zoo Tycoon 2 franchise is a fun little game, and what it lacks in the department of cerebral stimulation, it more than makes up for it in the curiosity department.

MORE AFTER THE BREAK

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The weekend is here, and if by some chance you find yourself without any plans why not check out some of the recent demos that have landed at FileFront in the past month? Girlfriend/boyfriend/significant other got plans for a night out with pals? Single and lonely with only a cat for company? Rigor mortis in the prime of life? Tired of watching the same crap the cable networks feed you with a dirty spork? Whatever your reasons for staying in this weekend, I am sure we have something that will help you pass the time before Monday hits and you have to go back to work/school – miserable and just counting the seconds to the weekend.Here is just a sampling of what we have to offer. Some may sound familiar, and some may not.

• Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties
• AGON: The Last Sword of Toledo
• Avencast: Rise of the Mage
• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
• Clive Barker’s Jericho
• Darkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder
• Ememy Territory: Quake Wars
• Escape from Paradise City
• F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate
• Hellgate: London
• Journeys of the Dragon Riders
• Lost Planet: Extreme Condition
• Painkiller: Overdose – Single and Multiplayer
• Path of Magic
• Plant Tycoon
• SEGA Rally Revo
• Steel Fury
• Stranglehold
• Tarr Chronicles
• The Aplocalyptic Game About Penguins
• The Chosen: Well of Souls
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08
• Time Shift
• Unreal Tournament 3
• Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals

These are just some of demos we have received since the middle of September, and we have many many more. Check out the list here.

Want to meet the dodo, the American mastodon, and a pair of dinosaurs? Sure you do, and you can with the new Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals demo. In the demo you will search for fossils, puzzle out the pieces as you assemble your finds, and then head to the Extinct Research Lab to bring your extinct animals to life.Take the lead to research and cure diseases, and face down danger as you wrangle rampaging dinosaurs. The sample campaign will give you an idea of what to expect in the the biggest Zoo expansion pack ever. Don’t wait for the next Ice Age—download the Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals demo now!

Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals, the largest expansion for the Zoo Tycoon 2 series, is now available for fans of the game looking for a slew of new animals for their game. Developed by Blue Fang Games, Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals introduces new challenges, more than 30 new animals, new ways to play and a new look with extinct-themed objects and buildings.I have played Zoo Tycoon 2 in the past, and this expansion sounds really cool but I think Microsoft and Blue Fang could have omitted the dinosaurs from this expansion. They have already introduced the Dino Danger Pack in the past, and if they wanted to include more noisy lizards they should have just made a huge Dinosaur expansion all on its own. There are many more extinct animals that could have been included without padding it with Dinosaurs. That being said, I will still probably purchase the latest expansion. I mean, how fun will it be for a pissed off T-Rex to go storming through your zoo attacking visitors and getting to shoot it with a tranq-gun and playing God in your cloning lab?

For more information, visit our previous posts and the official Zoo Tycoon 2 webiste which includes demos, downloads and more for all of your crazy animal collecting needs. If you would like to see a list of animals included in the newest expansion, check out more after the break.

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Everyone loves lists, and within this list is something everyone can love. Below you will find complied release dates for games coming out in October. The dates listed are as current as possible, so if a publisher changes the date we will try our best to update the list. We are well aware that September still has a couple of weeks left, give or take, but we just want to help plan your lives for the next month or two. Who loves you baby?

10/1/2007

Backyard Basketball 2007 —- GameCube
Field Ops —- PC
Heavy Rain (working title) —- PS3
Hot Shots Golf 5 —- PS3
MLB Power Pros —- PS2
Popx3 —- Wii
Race —- PC
RACE 07 – The WTCC Game — PC
The Chosen – Well of Souls —- PC
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass —– DS
Ultimate 3D Pinball —- PC, Wii

MORE AFTER THE BREAK

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