During a press conference today at the Tokyo Game Show, Blizzard Entertainment, a studio of the games division of Vivendi Universal Publishing, unveiled StarCraft: Ghost™, a tactical-action console game set in Blizzard’s epic StarCraft® universe. StarCraft: Ghost is currently under development and is scheduled for a worldwide release on multiple console systems. The game will be co-published by Capcom and Blizzard Entertainment in Japan; further announcements regarding platform/country specifics will be announced in the months to come.

In StarCraft: Ghost, players take the role of Nova, a lethal Ghost operative skilfully trained in the arts of espionage and tactical combat. Twenty years of ruthless physical conditioning and techno-psychological instruction have made Nova a being of terrifying potential. With the help of a determined group of allies, players follow a series of story-driven missions, engaging in a deadly mix of planetary battles and dangerous solo operations. To complete their mission objectives, players must execute intelligent tactical decisions while mastering an advanced arsenal of sophisticated weaponry.

“We’re very excited about returning to the StarCraft series,” stated Mike Morhaime, Blizzard Entertainment president and co-founder. “Our roots are based in console gaming, and we look forward to developing this universe for the next-generation console systems.”

Key features in StarCraft: Ghost include:

• Revolutionary new style of gameplay featuring enhanced physical and psionic abilities
• Hostile Environment Suit designed to magnify strength, agility, and speed
• Over-the-top special effects offer stunning visuals and unparalleled tactical realism
• Immersive 3D environments showcase rich textures and highly stylised character models
• Unique Calldown abilities allow players to target large-scale attacks from the ground
• A deeply evolving storyline set in Blizzard’s gritty sci-fi StarCraft universe

After several months of research and market analysis, The Themis Group is off and running with the first real Marketing Plan in the history of Underlight. Themis hopes to more than triple the player base of Underlight in the next 12 months with a series of focused ad campaigns and promotions.

“We currently have a small, but fiercely loyal player base, and I’m excited about the potential new personalities and role-plays that an increased player base will supply.” ~ Lyra-Dagger

“We have the best players in the industry, I’m convinced of that. Creativity simply oozes from them, and giving them more characters to interact with can only make it better.” ~ Lyra-Zephyr

iGames Centers were part of an exclusive beta test for Battlefield 1942 in July and the game was an instant hit, debuting last month at #4. The games shipped last week and will be featured in an iGames showcase launch at more than 80 iGames Center in September.

Beyond the Battlefield 1942’s rise there was virtually no change in our top six games this month.
Medal Of Honor dropped a notch to #4 but remains firmly in the Top 5 as iGames enters the last stages of our Summer Season of MOHAA Tournaments. Cash prizes totaling $3,000 are on the line in the National Finals of our MOHAA Season. MOHAA is also scheduled for league play in September.
Warcraft III was our top strategy games at #3. Everquest was our top massively multiplayer online game at #6.
Seventy-Five iGames Centers participated in this month’s survey. They reported on more than 40 games play at Interactive Gaming Centers across North America.

August 2002
1 Half-Life: Counter-Strike
2 Battlefield 1942
3 Warcraft III
4 Medal of Honor Allied Assault
5 Diablo II
6 EverQuest
7 Half-Life: Day of Defeat
8 Soldier of Fortune
9 Dark Age of Camelot
10 Halo (Xbox)
11 Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
12 Neverwinter Nights
13 Age of Empires
14 Starcraft
15 Unreal
16 Aliens vs Predator 2
17 Empire Earth
18 Command & Conquer: Renegade
19 Asheron's Call
20 Quake III

The Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest game is rated "T" for teen audiences by the Entertainment Software Rating Board, and carries a suggested retail price of $29.99. A retail copy of Empire Earth is required to run Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest. More information about the game can be found at http://www.empireearth.com/.

The Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest game includes three new single-player campaigns set in ancient Rome, the Pacific Theater of World War II, and Asia in the 22nd century. In addition, each of the 21 pre-designed civilizations in the game gains a unique special power, building, or unit. Examples include: the Kingdom of Italy's Metallurgy power, which allows them to pay building costs with gold or iron interchangeably; Great Britain's S.A.S. unit will be able to plant demolitions and swim across water; and the United States' market building will allow that civilization to trade abundant resources for scarce ones.

The Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest game will also feature significant new multiplayer functionality. The multiplayer improvements will further enhance Empire Earth's wide array of online game play options, and give more flexibility to gamers competing via the Internet. These enhancements will also be available as a free download to Empire Earth owners.

In the Empire Earth: The Art of Conquest game, gamers can become the greatest conqueror of all time by creating, building, and leading a civilization to transcend the ages - from the discovery of fire, to flight, to the next frontier: space.

“We are thrilled to be bringing this unique gaming experience to all those Mac gamers out there,” says Steve Milburn, Director of Marketing at Strategy First. “Now a whole new audience will be joining the virtual battlefield, adding even more excitement to the game.”

World War II Online Mac Edition is an online combined arms simulation set in a relentless, action-packed environment where players can command and crew a variety of accurately modeled vehicles and aircraft, sling weapons, and fight as foot soldiers with and against thousands of other gamers. Set in the early war years, it includes equipment and major battle points: strongholds, fortresses, forests, rivers and more – much as it was on the battlefields of Europe.

WWII Online is still the first and only massively multiplayer first-person virtual battlefield that covers a ½ scale map of Europe with accurate terrain modeling. It allows thousands of players to fight 24/7 in a persistent world in which character advancement and career paths provide a rich RPG layer, and strategic systems are driven by player missions and command structures. An extensive web-based player services package provided by www.playnet.com is integrated with gameplay. Players from around the world can take part in creating new history while fighting on the battlefields and in the skies of Europe.

“Our development team has worked to ensure that gameplay is identical across all platforms and we’re excited to welcome fresh recruits to the battle,” says Al Corey, Executive Producer at Playnet. “The response by the Mac community to our beta tests showed us that the Mac community has been waiting a long time for a MMOG like WWII Online and we’re ready for them”.

World War II Online Mac Edition also contains special bonus items, such as a large foldout wall map of the game world, the official music track, and 20 original illustrations and wallpapers inspired by the game.

“We are extremely pleased to bring the third installment of this highly successful series to the gaming community and fans will surely enjoy the game,” says Steve Milburn, Marketing Director for Strategy First.

The first two titles, Earth 2150: Escape from the Blue Planet and Earth 2150: The Moon Project were a huge success in the science fiction RTS realm and Earth 2150: Lost Souls brings players back to the same desolate, desperate setting for a new range of nail biting missions.

The latest chapter includes three new extensive campaigns with 30 missions, a map editor to create your own maps, over 25 multiplayer skirmishes for LAN and internet, stunning graphics that take you on a spectacular voyage through several different countries and environments and a built-in fan base that is eagerly waiting to get back to 2150.

³The Lord of the Rings TCG is one of the most incredible games Decipher has ever created. We are extremely excited about bringing this game to the expanded audience of players on the Internet," said Decipher's Chairman and CEO Warren Holland.

It is a 3D fast-action block-smashing game of the Arkanoid and Breakout family. The game features:
- furious gameplay;
- 4 worlds with breathtaking 32-bit graphics;
- 80 unique levels;
- 20+ different power-ups;
- advanced 3D engine;
- multiplayer mode;
- original soundtrack & sound effects;
- cheat mode;
- custom levels.
and much, much more.

Demo version of the game can be downloaded for free.

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We invade the demo of Digital Illusions' eagerly awaited game to help you know what kind of action to expect.