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News - Download Content

Deadly Viruses and Heroic Vegetables Make for a Memorable Week

From pulse-pounding action to mind-bending puzzles and beyond, this week’s lineup of new downloadable games offers a dizzying variety to satisfy players of all stripes. New additions for the WiiWare™ service include the sci-fi adventure of BLASTER MASTER™ OVERDRIVE and the speedy fun of Tomena Sanner, plus a pair of family-friendly games to help parents and their kids brighten up the dog days of winter. For the Nintendo DSiWare™ service, new attractions include the rocket-powered puzzles of Link ‘n’ Launch™ and the tower-defending thrills of Fieldrunners. And lest you should think cucumbers are only good for snacking, the Virtual Console™ debut of Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom lets Wii™ owners enjoy a quirky classic from the NES™ era.

WiiWare

BLASTER MASTER OVERDRIVE
Publisher: SUNSOFT
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: BLASTER MASTER OVERDRIVE is an action-adventure game that takes place on an Earth infected by an aggressive, polymorphic virus. Poor, defenseless animals worldwide have been turned into flesh-eating, hemoglobin-swilling terrors. Fortunately, the world has Alex, who happens to be one of the world’s foremost biologists and specializes in viral mutation profiles and genetic manipulation. Every studious biologist facing imminent global annihilation needs a sweet ride, and Alex is no exception. He has S.O.P.H.I.A., a shape-shifting, gas-guzzling, projectile-spewing paean to destruction on four wheels. Things look grim, but with Alex and S.O.P.H.I.A. on the case, the world just might have a chance.

Tomena Sanner
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Businessman Hitoshi Susumu is behind schedule and in quite a rush. In fact, once he starts running, he won’t stop! Dashing past samurais, T-Rexes, cowboys and all manner of wacky obstacles, Mr. Susumu must get to the goal as fast as he can for the ultimate 2-D dance party. Tomena Sanner is a high-speed side-scrolling action game with a unique timing-based control system that’s as challenging as it is fun. As they fly, jump and dance over the many zany obstacles, players need to time their moves to keep their speed up and perform awesome tricks. Using just one button on the Wii Remote™ controller, players of all ages and skill levels will be able to play and help Mr. Susumu get to his goal. Four players can compete to see who is the fastest at running through the bizarre and comical world of Tomena Sanner.

Bloons®
Publisher: Hands-On Mobile
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Bloons is an exciting puzzle game based on the simple fact that popping balloons is fun. Pop your way through dozens of puzzling levels in this exciting puzzle adventure. Each level will have a different arrangement of balloons. Using the darts you’re given, try to pop as many as you can. Look out for special balloons, blocks and darts, and have fun discovering what they do. You can pick up and play for a few minutes or spend hours working your way through the game’s 70 levels. As an added bonus, there’s also a level editor that allows you to create your own balloon puzzles.

Hubert The Teddy Bear Winter Games
Publisher: Teyon
Players: 1-16
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Comic Mischief
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Hubert The Teddy Bear is a party game in which players confront crafty bunnies. Outsmart them in eight winter activities including snow fight, sleigh ride, Christmas tree decoration, fishing, catching a bunny and more. Create a teddy bear and customize it to fit your own style. Choose its name and gender and dress it up by combining elements from plenty of clothes and accessories. Play solo or engage your family and friends by competing in one of the multiplayer modes. As many as 16 players can take part in one competition. Thanks to the balanced levels of difficulty – kid, youngster and adult – everyone can enjoy the game. This collection of casual winter sports provides a new experience for the whole family.

Nintendo DSiWare

Oscar in Movieland
Publisher: Virtual Playground
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Following his Oscar in Toyland escapades, Oscar now plays the leading actor in sensational worlds of hit movies and TV shows. From Sci-Fi to Cartoon, Western to War, Horror to Jurassic and more, this is a game not to be missed. Oscar in Movieland features eye-popping graphics, parallax scrolling backgrounds and fabulous game play. This jump-and-run game is easy to play and packed with hours of fun and nonstop action. Use Wings to Fly, Springy Boots to Jump, and Oscar’s secret weapon – his magical Yo-Yo – to swing on and zap enemies in some of the craziest platform levels you’ll ever play.

Link ‘n’ Launch
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Take your puzzle-solving skills to new heights in Link ‘n’ Launch, a puzzle game in which you must move tiles to create a path that connects fuel to your rocket, blasting it through space. Complete the basic training mode to learn how to play Link ‘n’ Launch, and then buckle in for the ride through the robust Missions and Puzzles modes. Missions mode has you propelling the rocket through space to reach the target planet within a three-minute time limit, while Puzzles mode challenges you to clear all fuel and pipe tiles from the screen. In both modes, not only do you need to create a path to keep your rocket fueled, but you’ll also have to account for immovable tiles and special tiles that upgrade your rocket or give you additional time to complete the level, all while keeping your rocket’s flight path within the established boundaries. The launch countdown has begun – are you prepared?

Fieldrunners
Publisher: Subatomic Studios
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Descend into the world of Fieldrunners, one of the most anticipated and visually stunning games in mobile tower defense history. Defend and control the field with a diverse selection of upgradeable towers, using a wide array of tactics and strategies against countless waves of unique land and air combatants. Enjoy hours of entertainment and replayable challenges. Do you have what it takes to dominate the fieldrunners and rise to the top as the ultimate tower defense master?

Sudoku 4Pockets
Publisher: 4Pockets.com
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Sudoku 4Pockets offers you 3,600 puzzles, and your assistant Kiku will be there to guide you through each of the Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced skill levels. The aim of sudoku is to complete a grid of nine-by-nine squares with the numbers 1 through 9 in each square, row and column. As you play, Kiku will guide you: She can tell you if you’ve entered an incorrect number, offer you hints and explain the moves and terms as you play. The simple-to-use number entry makes it easy to select numbers and add possible number candidates to aid your thought process. Whether you’re new to sudoku or an advanced player, you can have fun playing and learning on your quest to become a sudoku master.

Extreme Hangman
Publisher: Gamelion
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: There’s never been a Hangman game like this before! The world’s favorite time-killer game takes an absurdist twist of comical proportions. Taking place in various settings, the game challenges players to save the Hangman from his enemies by guessing hidden words correctly. When players guess incorrectly, he is put one step closer to being shot, strangled, erased or hanged by his enemies. Play a single-player game or challenge your friend to a duel. Extreme Hangman features seven different settings with fun animations, over 2000 words in various categories, and three difficulty levels.

Virtual Console

Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom
Original platform: NES
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence, Tobacco Reference
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Featuring a cast of cute characters and an endearing sense of humor, this unique title has gained a dedicated following since its release on the original NES system. The wicked Minister Pumpkin, a nobleman in the Salad Kingdom, has rebelled and kicked King Broccoli off the throne. Worse yet, he has kidnapped Princess Tomato and, with the help of the treacherous Farmies, proceeded to abolish all truth, justice, sweetness and light from the Salad Kingdom. Players take on the role of the brave Sir Cucumber, hero of the kingdom, and set out on a quest to rescue the princess and topple Minister Pumpkin. Progress through multiple locations using set commands (such as MOVE, LOOK and TALK) while winning bouts of Finger Wars (Rock-Paper-Scissors), collecting information and items and heeding helpful clues from your faithful companion, Percy (a persimmon). If you fail, the entire Salad Kingdom will be tossed into frenzy. Sir Cucumber, your princess awaits!

Nintendo adds new titles to the Nintendo DSi Shop and the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Mondays. Users with broadband Internet access can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Nintendo Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one Nintendo Points Card must be redeemed in either the Nintendo DSi Shop or the Wii Shop Channel. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that both Wii and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit www.Wii.com or www.NintendoDSi.com.

News - Demos

STOCKHOLM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio (NASDAQ:ERTS), today announced that the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system players in North America will now have access to the Battlefield: Bad Company™ 2 demo* on February 4. Available via the PlayStation®Network, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has been recognized by critics worldwide for its incredibly detailed, huge sandbox environments, vehicular warfare, destruction, and squad play. Its dedicated servers that allow for smooth, seamless online play help it stand above the competition.

The Battlefield: Bad Company 2 demo features Port Valdez, a new vehicle focused map where up to 24 players can compete against each other in the game’s Rush multiplayer mode. Players have access to five land and three air vehicles including Main Battle Tanks as well as the fast-moving Quad Bikes and Mobile Armored AA. The fight is also packed with plenty of infantry combat fought alongside the waterline towards a great oil industrial landscape in the Alaskan mountains.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be in stores on March 2, 2010 in North America and March 4, 2010 in Europe for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation 3 and the PC. The Limited Edition can be pre-ordered now on all platforms at no extra cost, with participating retailers worldwide (while supplies last).

For more information on DICE, please visit www.dice.se. For more information on the Battlefield franchise please visit: www.battlefield.com. Or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OfficialBFBC2.

* Internet connection required. Demo will end on February 25, 2010.

News - Press Release

EA SPORTS and Xbox 360 Kick Off Super Bowl Weekend With Exclusive Game With Fame and Madden NFL 10 Match With Cincinnati Bengals’ Chad Ochocinco

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Who Dat! The New Orleans Saints pull the upset and march to a victory over the Indianapolis Colts with a score of 35-31 at Super Bowl XLIV, according to the official Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) simulation run by the award-winning Madden NFL 10 on Xbox 360. The first three quarters display the offensive fireworks that both teams have become known for, with the Colts leading 24-21. A nail biting fourth quarter begins with a big play, courtesy of the Saints’ special teams, when Reggie Bush returns a punt for a 42-yard touchdown. However, with minutes left in the game the duo of Joseph Addai and Peyton Manning put the Colts back on top with a go-ahead touchdown pass. With the game hanging in the balance, Drew Brees hits David Thomas for an 11-yard touchdown and the game winning score. Drew Brees takes home MVP honors as the Saints earn their first Super Bowl Championship title in the franchise's 46 year history.

Utilizing each team’s current roster and the latest player statistics, Madden NFL 10 was able to accurately predict the outcome of both the NFC and AFC Championship games within a margin of three points for each game. EA SPORTS utilized this same simulation formula to predict the outcome of Super Bowl XLIII (Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals) with unprecedented accuracy – down to the final score and individual player statistics. EA SPORTS has correctly predicted the Super Bowl winner for five out of the last six years, since the official Madden NFL Super Bowl simulation began in 2004.

Super Bowl XLIV kicks off Sunday, February 7 in South Florida, and as a part of the Super Bowl week festivities, Xbox 360 and EA SPORTS will give Madden fans at home a rare opportunity to participate in the electrifying action. On Thursday, February 4 Cincinnati Bengals’ Chad Ochocinco, self- proclaimed King of Madden (gamertag: Ochocinco MBGwF) will face off against fans on Madden NFL 10 as part of the latest Xbox LIVE online entertainment network Game with Fame session. Be sure to keep an eye out for the session on Xbox LIVE at 6:00 p.m. EST (3:00 p.m. PST) for your chance to battle one of the biggest personalities in football to earn ultimate Madden NFL 10 bragging rights.

Following the Game with Fame matchup, Xbox 360 and EA SPORTS will host the 16th annual Madden Bowl, the only official Madden tournament featuring some of the NFL’s brightest stars. Chad Ochocinco (Cincinnati Bengals), Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans), Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars), Jared Allen (Minnesota Vikings), Andre Johnson (Houston Texans), Patrick Willis (San Francisco 49ers), Miles Austin (Dallas Cowboys) and more who will go head-to-head in Madden NFL 10 on Xbox 360 in an eight-player, single elimination tournament. Who will walk away with the coveted EA SPORTS Madden Bowl Cup? Stay tuned to Xbox LIVE for exclusive coverage from the event.

News - Release Dates

NinjaBee announces sequel to hugely popular XLA title, A Kingdom for Keflings

OREM, Utah – It’s official. Those oddly cute, yet addictively sweet Keflings are back… in a big way. Independent video games developer NinjaBee has confirmed that A World of Keflings, a sequel to the enormously popular A Kingdom for Keflings, is coming to Xbox LIVE® Arcade in 2010.

“A World of Keflings is much more than a sequel,” said Steve Taylor, President of NinjaBee. “It's a new game with a ton of new features, including some innovative ideas that stand out from both Live Arcade and full retail games.  A World of Keflings also has a new story focus, with new exotic lands, characters, quests, buildings, customization options, and a lot more.”

A World of Keflings is the bigger, more complete chronicle of the Kefling world where players can play as their Xbox LIVE® avatar and explore and build in the different Kefling lands. Each new kingdom has its own climate and Kefling culture. In addition, each kingdom contains its own unique resources, buildings and tech tree.

“When we set out to make a second Keflings game we decided that we were going to do it right and make it a whole new experience that clearly was bigger and better than the first,” said Brent Fox, NinjaBee’s Art Director. “A World of Keflings captures all the charm and casual-style of play of the first game, but adds more depth, humor and a ton of features players have requested.”

One of the most asked-for features included in the Keflings sequel is local multiplayer. Players will be able to build an entire world for the Keflings together with their spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, kids, friends or whomever on the same console.

NinjaBee has been teasing concept art for the new game each week this month. To see the revealed artwork visit www.NinjaBee.com/blog/.  NinjaBee plans to release A World of Keflings later this year, though a specific release date has not yet been established.

A World of Keflings is NinjaBee’s third XLA title to support playable avatars and is the second title NinjaBee has announced it is bringing to XLA in 2010. The other, Ancients of Ooga, was announced last fall.

News - Updates

10th Anniversary of NBA 2K franchise celebrates the new year with sales milestone

New York, NY - February 2, 2010 - 2K Sports announced today that the hugely popular and #1 selling basketball video game, NBA® 2K10, has sold over 2 million units worldwide, marking a phenomenal +60% increase in sales* over the same time period last year for NBA® 2K9.  With the all-new My Player career mode and critically acclaimed NBA Today feature, NBA 2K10 continues to be the #1 rated NBA simulation** for the ninth consecutive year. 

"We're proud of what we've accomplished this year with NBA 2K10, and this milestone is another fantastic reason to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the NBA 2K franchise," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K.  "We would like to thank all of our loyal fans for their dedicated support and look forward to the continued success of this title." 

"2K Sports has been a world-class organization to work with, and we are both really excited about the incredible success this season with NBA 2K10," said Kobe Bryant, 11-time NBA All-Star of the Los Angeles Lakers, and cover athlete for NBA 2K10. "2K's tireless attention to detail and dedication to giving fans the most authentic NBA simulation experience possible is what separates them from the competition, and it's been great to be a part of that."

In addition to the monumental success of NBA 2K10, the development team at Visual Concepts will receive an added boost this upcoming season by welcoming back longtime NBA 2K gameplay producer, Mike Wang.  Bringing a wealth of knowledge from his deep experience in successful basketball titles, Wang will join an already impressive group of developers working on the next iteration of the franchise.       

"It feels good to be back home with my 2K Sports family," said Wang.  "Being able to work on the greatest basketball game in the world has always been paramount for me, and now having that opportunity again is a blessing."

NBA 2K10 raises the bar this season with the most realistic, stylistic, and feature-rich simulation experience ever available in the NBA 2K franchise - from gameplay to graphics, presentation and online features.  Giving fans what they have long requested, the all-new My Player career mode allows fans to create their own ultimate NBA player and guide his every career move.  NBA Today offers real world matchups, news and stats automatically streamed right into the game, along with keeping commentary and overlays fresh and up to date based on what is really happening in the NBA.

Developed by 2K Sports' Visual Concepts studio, NBA 2K10 is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and is now available for $39.99 on Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and WiiTM system; for $19.99 on PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system; and $29.99 for Windows PC. For more information about NBA 2K10, please visit www.2ksports.com/games/nba2k10.

2K Sports is a division of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

* NBA 2K10 unit sales include titles for the Wii and PSP platforms, which were not available for NBA 2K9.

**  The NBA 2K series, published by 2K Sports, outranked competitors based on GameRankings.com average scores of 2001-2009 NBA video games published on equivalent platforms.