BOOM BLOX by Steven Spielberg & EA

EA has announced that BOOM BLOX, the first game developed in collaboration between EA and director and producer Steven Spielberg, is set for a May 2008 release for Nintendo Wii. This high-energy game features more than 300 levels, a cast of more than thirty wacky characters, and an easy-to-use in-game editor that allows players to express their creativity.

“I am a gamer myself, and I really wanted to create a video game that I could play with my kids,” said Steven Spielberg. “BOOM BLOX features an enormous amount of fun challenges and cool scenarios for your kids to solve or for you to master together.”

Fun for kids and the entire family, BOOM BLOX offers action-packed interactive activities that takes Wii play to a new level of creativity and fun with single player, co-op, and versus gameplay. Players can experience the visceral gameplay - perfectly suited for the Wii’s interactive motion-sensitive controls - through brain-twisting challenges. They can interact with entertaining characters such as the block-laying chickens or baseball-throwing monkeys across four themed environments - Tiki, Medieval, Frontier, and Haunted.

ELF Online RPG

I can't believe we're even highlighting this press release to our female readership, but let's look at this as humorous, for numerous reasons shall we. Okay firstly there's the bad English in this press release, secondly there is the ridiculous notions it spouts. Here's a direct quote:

"According to a survey in game, most of girls do not choose the dated swords, huge axes and falchions. They prefered these creative weapons that are unique in Elf Online (http://elf.happymmo.com/) such clothes rack, fishing rod, ferule, strap and some other strange items that makes them special in game. To some extend, what girls compete in game is not only who gets the most powerful weapons but also who get the most peculiar one."

Fair enough, I know I'd rather do some damage with a clothes rack than a bastard sword *cough*, how about you guys?

Spandex Force - PC & Mac puzzle title

Spandex Force is a new title by KarjaSoft for the PC and Mac and if you like Puzzle Quest you might want to give it a look. Our friends over at LesbianGamers.com pointed this one out to us and highly recommended it, so we went and took a look and sure enough it was a load of fun.

Spandex Force is a puzzle game wehre you take on the role of a superhero at the beginning of her (or his) career. As with Puzzle Quest you play color matching puzzle sequences to build up your powers before smiting the enemy. We believe in supporting the smaller develoeprs out there, so get over to the Spandex Force website and download the demo.

GDAA - Australian Games Industry Event info

GDAA will be hosting a private invitation only Australian Games Industry Business Networking Event in conjunction with Austrade on 21st February during the GDC conference and expo in San Francisco. This will be a major marketing event for the export focused game developers in Australia.

“We are limiting the invitation to around 50 – 60 key CEOs and decision-makers (publishers, investors, game developers etc) to the event at which real business can be conducted in relaxed and corporate environment” said Greg Bondar, CEO of the GDAA.

Australian Game Developers will be showcasing their capabilities at the business session.

“GDC is a world class event and an important event on the Australian game developers’ calendar and GDAA will be making the point to all international investors, publishers and game developers that making games is a serious business in Australia” added Greg Bondar.

Tomb Raider Underworld - looks good

Tomb Raider Underworld is a new adventure for Lara Croft that will be available on the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP, PC, DS and PS2 Christmas 2008. Tomb Raider Evolution will be set around the mystery of an ancient Mayan calendar and rumor has it the story may involve Lara searching for her Mother, which would make sense given the storyline of the previous Tomb Raider title Tomb Raider Legend.

Developer Crystal Dynamics has stated Lara has now been done with full motion capture, lending a more fluid and realistic nature to her moves. The motion capture was done using a champion gymnast. The above image is one of the first screenshots to appear for the new game. We can't wait!

Silent Hill Origins headed for PS2

Konami Digital Entertainment has announced that its hugely popular Silent Hill Origins title is to be released for PlayStation 2 in May following its enormous success as a PSP title.

Due for release in May, Silent Hill Origins acts as a prequel to the popular horror series, and follows troubled truck driver, Travis Grady, who gets stuck in the terrifying town while making a routine delivery. He quickly discovers that all is not well in the fog-smothered town, and that its shrouded streets hide grotesque creatures and dark secrets. Moreover, as he explores the seemingly abandoned town, Grady is confronted by crippling memories from his troubled past and it becomes clear he must escape from Silent Hill while resolving the memories that have plagued him since childhood.

The PlayStation 2 version offers a visually enhanced version of the PSP game, with a host of elements that are new to the franchise and provide the player with an enhanced sensation of isolation. While the game retains the cinematic experience of the previous games, it also has an intuitive ‘Cineractive System’ that allows players to face down horrifying monsters while the control scheme changes intuitively for each situation.

Silent Hill Origins will be released for PlayStation 2 in May 2008.

Back after a break

Hey gamers,
we've been away, working on different projects, but now we're back and we'll be bringing you gaming news from now on. Anything related specifically to girl gaming or Australian gaming will appear here. This will include girl gamers Australia news, Female Gamer News in general, general news relating to video gaming in Australia and a few quirky posts we think might be of interest to you, be it a cool game store review, movie review you might want to pop in your PS3 or general geeky news.

We're part of the Female Gamer Network, which includes the very funky Lesbian Gamers .com and Lesbian Geek .com, both sites will be sharing relevant news with us here also, so thanks to them too.

Let's get to it shall we!