NBC Local Media and Lunar Tide Communication claim that 24,674 people attended the three-day video game fan gathering, marking the largest turnout for an East Coast video game-based event in the history of video game-based events.

“VGXPO is an event that caters to both core and casual gamers,” stated Steve Fallas, VGXPO Event Manager. “With our relationship with NBC we were able to market to both groups and bring together nearly 25,000 gamers to experience the rich diversity of gaming experiences. We are very pleased with both the industry and consumer turnout at this years VGXPO.”

About damned time too. Those of us on the East Coast are tired of seeing the West Coasties have all the fun. Now we just need one in Atlanta, preferably within walking distance of my apartment.

NBC Local Media in Philadelphia brings America's Video Game Expo (VGXPO) to the next level.

Record-breaking Attendance at America's Video Game – expo more the triples in size in comparison to 2007.

(For Immediate Release)

Philadelphia, PA – (November 25, 2008) – NBC Local Media and Lunar Tide Communications, Inc. announced today that the 2008 America’s Video Game Expo more then tripled its’ attendance versus 2007, with 24,674 people attending over a three day period. This is largest turnout, to date, for any video game-based event east of the Rockies.

The three-day turnout has put VGXPO on the game industry map, and made it one of the largest video game fan gatherings ever. The high attendee turnout suggests that Philadelphia, and its surrounding region, are a hot bed for gamers and strong market for exhibitors to showcase their latest products.

“VGXPO is an event that caters to both core and casual gamers,” stated Steve Fallas, VGXPO Event Manager. “With our relationship with NBC we were able to market to both groups and bring together nearly 25,000 gamers to experience the rich diversity of gaming experiences. We are very pleased with both the industry and consumer turnout at this years VGXPO.”

"VGXPO far exceeded my expectations with regards to the total number and profile of the attendees," said George Woo, Events Marketing Manager of Intel Corporation. "I am very happy to bring the Intel Extreme Masters to this event to allow attendees to watch Americas top e-Sport teams compete for prize money and qualification to the Global Finals in March '09 and the opportunity to play the latest game titles running on lntel latest gaming processor based PC's."

“VGXPO’s an amazing success story,” said Amber Dalton, founder of the all-girls game competition team, PMS Clan. “There is so much to be said for what VGXPO has become for the video game industry…the core gamers, plus the casual games audience, were here to play all the top games. Certainly, VGXPO 2009 can’t be missed by any company that markets games.”

VGXPO 2009 is currently scheduled to take place October 9-11, 2009 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

For more information about NBC Local Media go to www.nbclocalmedia.com. For more information about VGXPO please visit it’s website at www.videogame.net.

Covering both the Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game, PC players need only log in for some multiplayer action between noon Pacific on Friday, December 5th to 11:59pm on Friday the 12th to reap the benefits of their more expensive edition. On the Xbox 360, players will need to make sure they completely activated their copy of the LE, and will have to play in specially marked "Officer's Club" playlists.

All this, and a replica flask that doesn't open. Way to go, LE buyers!

Head over to the official event page for the full details on how you can get your hands on one of the new heavy fighter classes before everyone else does. You'll tank yourself for doing so. Sorry.

Live Event: Heavy Metal [Warhammer Online via Eurogamer]

Yes, I will be there for the better part of the day, so if you see a tall guy with Final Fantasy characters tattooed on his arms, that's probably me. The event kicks off at noon and runs til 5PM. It's a damn fine reason to get up off your ass for a good cause. Hit the jump for full details, and maybe I will see you there!

HI-REZ STUDIOS AND THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY ANNOUNCE DETAILS FOR MISSION: PWNING FOR A CURE
All-day charity event unites video gamers to defeat blood cancers.

("Pwn" is video gamer slang for defeating an opponent, a colloquialism based on the misspelling of "own," usually issued as a boast after a particularly heated and/or public virtual contest.)

ATLANTA, Georgia – October 28, 2008 - Hi-Rez Studios, an independent developer of online entertainment, today announced additional community partners and a full game-development seminar schedule for MISSION: Pwning for a Cure, Hi-Rez's upcoming charity event held in concert with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The event, co-sponsored by the Georgia Department of Economic Development's Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, will be held at the Computer Arena in Roswell, Ga., on Saturday, November 8th from noon to 5 p.m. The day, targeted toward the gaming enthusiast, includes seminars on video game development, a chance to play games with your friends, a silent auction, raffle, prizes, music and food. It also features the first public preview of Global Agenda, the upcoming debut title from Hi-Rez Studios. Attendees can play both solo and player-vs-player missions inside the virtual world of Global Agenda, being among the first to experience the game's fast-action, immersive play style. All-access admission into the event is free to the public. Donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society are encouraged and greatly appreciated.

Additional community sponsors of the event include the Art Institute of Atlanta, Rickwood Music, a provider of music for media, the Entertainment Consumer Association's (ECA) Atlanta Chapter, a non-profit membership advocacy organization for consumers of interactive entertainment, and Habif, Arogetti & Wynne, LLP, Certified Public Accountants and business advisers.

A charity raffle and auction will include limited 1st Edition Global Agenda collectibles, a Sony PlayStation Portable, iPod Nano, and more. Items have been donated by TotalTek/Hewlett Packard, Gamer Fitness Guide, and Digital Direct, an extreme data storage provider, among others. Global Agenda merchandise will also be on sale, with all merchandise proceeds benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The event will conclude with an All-Star battle featuring the games' best players. The All-Star battle will be broadcast through a live audio stream on Allgames.com with color commentary from Georgia's own Bobby Blackwolf. Hi-Fi Buys is contributing state-of-the-art high definition televisions through which attendees can be immersed in the battle.

For the media, a press conference featuring Todd Harris, Executive Producer of Global Agenda, and Asante Bradford from Georgia's Department of Economic Development's Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Office, will be held starting at 3:30 p.m.

Game Development Seminars

Hands-on game development seminars, taught by the developers of Global Agenda, will be held in dual sessions from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Seats will be made available on a first come, first served basis, so attendees are encouraged to come early to reserve a spot.

Eric Hartz, lead environment artist for Global Agenda, will lead a session on Environment Art Development using the Unreal 3 Engine. Eric will walk participants through the artistic development of a simple level all the way through the lighting process. The session will examine assets created in 3D Studio Max and textures made in Photoshop, showing how each element is assembled for the final assets seen in-game.

CHUK Vinson, Art Director, and Sean McBride, Senior Character Artist, will lead "Character Creation in Global Agenda". The session will discuss how to create engaging character concepts that capture the imagination and inspire the player while still conforming to the necessarily rigid constraints of game design. The presentation will cover the modeling techniques and speed enhancement tricks used at Hi-Rez to create high-fidelity multiple character ranks and sexes from one base model in weeks.

Lead animator Daniel Lilleberg and lead technical artist Mick Larkins will discuss the process, practices, and philosophies of the Global Agenda character animation pipeline. Their presentation demonstrates the specific tools and methods for creating character animations, rigid-body physics, skeletal controls, audio, and special effects. While the presentation revolves around the specific Global Agenda, 3D Studio Max, and Unreal Engine 3 procedures, the approaches can be applied to a variety of games.

About Hi-Rez Studios

Hi-Rez Studios, Inc. was established in 2005 to create exceptional online interactive entertainment and is located just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit www.hirezstudios.com.

GLOBAL AGENDA, Hi-Rez's debut title, is a fast-paced action massive multiplayer online game set in Earth's near future, a spy-fi world of advanced technology and player-driven conflict. To learn more, visit www.globalagendagame.com.

About Computer ArenA

Computer Arena, the Southeast's largest gaming facility, offers more than 50 PC and console LAN gaming stations, computer education classrooms, sales and services, and the Good Times Café. The ArenA is located at 10895 Alpharetta Highway in Roswell, GA, 30076, near the intersection of Route 9 and Mansell Road.

About Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society®, headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 68 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested more than $600 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, LLS made 6.3 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

For more information about blood cancer, visit www.LLS.org or call the LLS Information Resource Center (IRC), a call center staffed by master's level social workers, nurses and health educators who provide information, support and resources to patients and their families and caregivers. IRC information specialists are available at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

Need for Speed is all about the racing, however, and EA will be inviting the top drifters and time attack cars from all over the world to compete in an international race battle, along with a manufacturer time attack exhibition.

The event will be open to the public, and is penciled in for the Brands Hatch Circuit near London, though negotiiations are still underway. Hit the jump for more details, or visit www.needforspeedlive.com, where I am certain they will eventually catch up with the press release.

EA BRINGS NEED FOR SPEED TO LIFE IN NEXT SUMMER'S BIGGEST DRIFT AND TIME ATTACK RACING EVENT
London to Host Need for Speed Live 2009 International Race Event

GUILDFORD, UK – November 5, 2008 – Today at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) announced Need for Speed™ Live, a unique festival and competition that celebrates car culture. This first-time event will be open to the public and will be hosted next summer at the world famous Brands Hatch Circuit* located near London, England. The weekend-long experience will be a showcase of entertainment, videogames, music, car shows and displays designed to appeal to fans of racing games, proud owners of hot vehicles, fans of exotic cars and motorsports enthusiasts.

Need for Speed Live will invite some of the world’s top drifters and time attack cars from across Europe, North America and Japan to gather in one location to compete in a battle of the continents. Need for Speed Live will also include demonstrations by some of the world’s most famous race and exotic cars in a manufacturer time attack exhibition.

“For over 14 years, Need for Speed has been at the forefront of automotive culture and this Live race event brings the spirit of Need for Speed games to life with all of the energy, adrenaline and sexiness that the franchise represents,” said Rod Chong, Creative Director for Need for Speed Live. “Need for Speed Live will definitely push each driver and their cars to the limit as they contend with dramatic elevation changes and harrowing fourth-gear 100 mph drifts.”
For more information on Need for Speed Live, please visit www.needforspeedlive.com.

* To be confirmed; Negotiations in progress.

Even when I got there about an hour late (hey, it took close to 45 minutes by subway!), there was still a decent sized line waiting to get in. Turns out they were letting people in very slowly as members were forced to read a detailed rules sheet before they were granted entry. There was even this small, old TV setup running the SNES version of Street Fighter II at the registration table.

There were several Super Street Fighter Turbo HD Remix kiosks set up in the first floor room that were swarmed with people. The walls were decorated with a variety Street Fighter-related graffiti while a video projector aimed at the ceiling displayed a SF anime. I grabbed a slice of pizza (what was left of it, anyway) and a Pepsi while observing some matches. After about 10 minutes, though, I realized Street Fighter IV was noticeably absent in this room, along with about 100 other people. I noticed a stairway off to the side with the word “Murder” written above it. I figured either I’m going to die when I go down there, or that’s where the rest of the Street Fighter kids are.

Well, there wasn’t any death, just a hot, sweaty basement filled to the brim with people playing Street Fighter IV. It was shoulder-to-shoulder just about anywhere you tried to walk. Some brought their own sticks to use while others used ones that were already there. Both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions were made available, so no console bias here! After talking to some folks for a while, I decided I wanted to get at least one match in before I left. Despite the number of people, the wait to play wasn’t too bad. Everyone was respectful and friendly to each other when it came to allowing turns. I ended up playing someone who had won what seemed like eight or nine in a row. As usual, I got my ass kicked in two straight rounds.

On my way out I was given a gift bag full of all sorts of goodies. Besides an awesome, one-of-a-kind Street Fighter shirt by Meat Bun (co-owned by Michael McWhertor), I got a red headband, a bar of Street Fighter soap, a comic book, a can of soda, and some other stuff. Overall, it was a great night (free food is always a plus). My only real complaint was the location. Brooklyn? Really, Capcom? There's plenty of room right here in Manhattan! I should also mention on my way to the subway, I came across a fight taking place across the street between some guy without a shirt and a group of people passing by. Nice way to cap off the night! Check out the rest of the gallery below!

That means we should expect big crowds and big booths, possibly a return to form on par with E3 2006 and prior. According to Laurent Detoc, president of Ubisoft North America, we should also "get ready for some fireworks!" Oy!

What we shouldn't expect, however, is public access to the show. The official announcement from the ESA makes no mention of admission to anyone but industry types. That announcement is right after this.

Entertainment Software Association Announces 2009 E3 Expo

Los Angeles to Host Video Game Industry Event in June

Washington, DC – October 22, 2008 – The 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) will take place from June 2-4, 2009, at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today. The expanded E3 will welcome all qualified computer and video game industry audiences, including international and U.S.-based media, analysts, retailers, developers and business partners to preview the latest in interactive entertainment and technology.

“Video games are the fastest growing and most compelling sector of the entertainment industry. And, this upgraded event will reflect the growth, innovation and excitement of our industry,” said Michael D. Gallagher, CEO of the ESA, which represents US computer and video game publishers and organizes the annual event. “The breadth, scope and quality of the changes made to the show will make E3 the must-attend event of the year.”

“The E3 Expo will be the pre-eminent North American gaming show next year. The new, larger event is better for industry leaders and for serious gamers,” commented John Riccitiello, CEO of Electronic Arts.

After conducting both qualitative and quantitative research, ESA officials stated changes were necessary to better meet the needs of both exhibitors and attendees— these changes include increased booth sizes, increased qualified audiences, and an intensified focus on reinforcing the high-octane growth, innovation, and captivating entertainment that are driving the computer and video game industry.

"The video game business will be twice as big in 2009 as it was in 2006 when we had the last real E3 Expo - so get ready for some fireworks!" said Laurent Detoc, president of Ubisoft North America. "The changes made will ensure that the 2009 E3 Expo conveys the best of what makes us proud as entertainment leaders."

ESA also said IDG World Expo, whose principals have operated E3 since its inception in 1995, will produce the event with the ESA.

The event will be open to ESA members and non-members alike. Organizers noted they are expanding the list of companies eligible to participate. Companies involved in console, PC, online, and mobile game publishing and developing, qualified business partners, as well as makers of video game hardware and peripherals can exhibit.

Additional details, including registration, hotel and travel accommodations, and media credentialing, will be forthcoming in the next few weeks and will be available at www.e3expo.com.

The Entertainment Software Association is the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. The ESA offers services to interactive entertainment software publishers including a global anti-piracy program, owning the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), business and consumer research, federal and state government relations, First Amendment and intellectual property protection efforts. For more information, please visit www.theESA.com.

It would not only give publishers more time to spread out announcements between the show and, later in the year, Games Convention and Tokyo Game Show, it would give developers time to ready more polished demos without cutting into the critical development time of the approaching holidays.

The show is hoping to attract a crowd much bigger than the stripped down, dead in the water version seen this summer. Much bigger.

Sources tell us that while the crowd probably won't approach the 60,000-plus that showed up at the last BIG E3, it would be as much as ten times the size of this year's show, resulting in tens of thousands of industry types plaguing the show floor.

The show will remain at the Los Angeles Convention Center, we hear. However, the ESA may not have the pull to book the whole show, so it's possible gamers and attendees of National Retail Federation Loss Prevention Conference will be rubbing elbows between halls. The Los Angeles Convention Center is currently showing as unbooked for the first week of June, however, so the ESA may be able to squeeze its event in during that time frame.

While it was unclear whether we would be seeing a return to booth babes, booming speakers, armfuls of schwag and flaming show floors with the advent of the new new new E3, it is clear that the new show will once more open its doors to the most "enthusiastic" of press.

A bulk of those extra bodies packing next year's show will likely come from a broadening policy toward who is and isn't a legitimate media representative, with the invite-only policy potentially dropped.

We've heard that it could be as open as allowing anyone with a blog to attend the show. This may not be the full on, open-to-the-public show that E3 really needs to stay in the game, but it leaves enough in the gray to keep the ESA's annual show's head just above the water.

Hopefully, it's just one step in the direction of turning the show into the sort of event that would once more make it relevant by allowing the public to attend, something both Tokyo Game Show and Games Convention have done since their advent.

Join us in the morning for more from the floor as the convention kicks off with opening ceremonies at 11 AM PST.

It's not all about WoW though, of course! I'm expecting interesting news from both StarCraft II and Diablo III, so stay tuned over the next couple of days as I delve into this new, dark world. In the meantime, if you folks have any questions you'd like answered about Wrath of the Lich King, or the other two, non-WoW titles, drop them in the comments section! Who knows, I might be just lazy enough to skip coming up with my own questions in favor of yours!

“With more hall space, more attendees, and more attractions, this BlizzCon will be our biggest yet,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We’re working hard with our partners to make this an unforgettable experience, and we’re looking forward to meeting players at the show.”

Best of all, Kotaku will be there! Well, I will be there. Most of Kotaku will be in Japan. I suppose I could have gone to Japan too, but then I'd miss out on that sweet polar bear mount. Either way, coverage begins Friday, so stay tuned for more from the BlizzCon floor.

BlizzCon® 2008 Gaming Convention Begins This Week

IRVINE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.’s two-day gaming festival, BlizzCon® 2008, begins on Friday, October 10, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. The convention celebrates the communities of players surrounding Blizzard Entertainment®’s Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® game universes. Attendees of the sold-out show will be able to play the latest versions of Blizzard Entertainment games as well as speak with developers in special panels, participate in tournaments and contests, and meet with fellow gamers and friends.

Jay Mohr has returned to host the live contests this year, and the show will close on Saturday evening with an epic concert featuring comedian Patton Oswalt, Blizzard’s own Warcraft-themed metal band Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftain, and Video Games Live, who will be performing special orchestral arrangements of music from Blizzard games.

“With more hall space, more attendees, and more attractions, this BlizzCon will be our biggest yet,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We’re working hard with our partners to make this an unforgettable experience, and we’re looking forward to meeting players at the show.”

For those unable to attend, DIRECTV® will be broadcasting the convention live as a pay-per-view event. Visit www.blizzard.com/blizzcon/dtv for more information. In addition, up-to-date show coverage will be posted at the official BlizzCon website, www.blizzcon.com.

Anyone attending BlizzCon who is interested in pursuing career opportunities at Blizzard Entertainment should bring their resumes, demo reels, art portfolios, or business cards, as the global staffing team will be on hand to accept materials and discuss any job-related questions.

BlizzCon would not be possible without the enthusiasm of Blizzard gamers around the world and the generous support of AMD, Dell®, DIRECTV, Intel®, and other sponsors.

The festival takes place at Open Satellite in Bellevue, Washington. Hit the jump for more details on this much-deserved showcase for independent game developers.

IndieCade: the International Festival of Independent Games announces first stand-alone international independent gaming event in the US open to the public

LOS ANGELES, September 29, 2008 – IndieCade today announced its flagship festival, the culmination and celebration of its annual competition, IndieCade: the International Festival of Independent Games will take place at the Open Satellite contemporary gallery in Bellevue, Washington, October 10-17, 2008. This marks an important moment for independent games as it will be the first stand-alone international independent gaming event in the United States entirely open to the public.

IndieCade: the International Festival of Independent Games will open with an action-packed two-day preview event that will launch a weeklong interactive exhibition open to the general public. The opening events will include artist talks, salon discussions, master classes, celebration, entertainment, preview screenings, and an awards celebration where celebrity jurors will select the top five games from the more than two dozen top finalists on exhibition.

Speakers and topics include strategic game design by Geoff Zatkin, who will use the industry research conducted by his company Electronic Entertainment Design and Research to guide independent gamemakers to critical success; Jenova Chen (flOw) and Jeep Barnett (Portal) will lead a discussion on the road from Indie to Mainstream and the creative implications of traveling it; and on behalf of thatgamecompany, he will hold a special open screening of Flower. Other program highlights include a round-table discussion on the need for innovation with alternate reality game pioneer Elan Lee, as well as celebrity jurors and artist’s talks by the featured finalists.

A panel of internationally renowned jurors selected the 26 featured games named finalists for this year’s festival from among hundreds of submissions to IndieCade. These reflect the breadth and depth of the independent games field, including some that deliberately defy the conventions of mainstream gaming. IndieCade finalists will be announced on the website throughout the month leading up to the festival; previous announcements have included the U.S. premiere of Dark Room Sex Game, a two-player audio installation using the Wiimote to explore the metaphor and mechanic of sex; The Night Journey, by MacArthur-winning video and installation artist Bill Viola in collaboration with Tracy Fullerton, exploring themes of spiritual enlightenment; the rusty, metallic adventure game Machinarium, by the makers of Samarost; Jonathan Söderström’s multi-genre compilation Cactus Arcade; Julian Oliver’s wildly innovative reality spatial puzzler, levelHead, and Blast Theory’s Rider Spoke, where players head out into the streets armed with a handheld computer mounted on their bicycle handlebars. Divergent in form and subject, games will span the predictable, the unexpected, and more.

IndieCade @ Open Satellite follows IndieCade’s first Asian showcase in Hangzhou, China held earlier this year from April 28th through May 3rd, for the CICAF animation festival’s audience of almost 500,000 people; IndieCade’s successful showcase in July 2008 at the E3 Business & Media Summit for industry insiders; IndieCade’s showcase of live alternate reality and big games at Penny Arcade Expo, and an extensive upcoming showcase being planned for the public-facing E for All Expo in October. Other upcoming events this year include the focus on European games and gamemakers at IndieCade @ GameCity in the UK.

What: IndieCade International Festival of Independent Games

Where: Open Satellite, 989 112 Ave NE, Suite 102 Bellevue, WA 98004

When: October 10-17, 2008

Attendees: Open to gamemakers, industry, media, and the general public

About IndieCade

IndieCade supports independent game development and organizes a series of international festivals and showcase exhibitions for the future of independent games. It encourages, publicizes, and cultivates innovation and artistry in interactive media, helping to create a public perception of games as rich, diverse, artistic, and culturally significant. IndieCade’s events and related production and publication programs are designed to bring visibility to and facilitate the production of new works within the emerging independent game movement. Like the independent developer community itself, IndieCade’s focus is global; it includes producers in Asia, Europe, Australia, and wherever independent games are made and played. IndieCade was formed by Creative Media Collaborative, an alliance of industry producers and leaders founded in 2005. Advisors to IndieCade include Dave Perry, Will Wright, Eric Zimmerman, Neil Young, Tracy Fullerton, and Keita Takahashi, among many other storied industry veterans and rebels. http://www.indiecade.com

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“Wario Land: Shake It! is a game that everyone from veterans to newcomers can enjoy,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Partnering with Six Flags to bring the title to theme parks nationwide is a great opportunity for consumers to experience the game and rediscover the franchise at a place that is designed for fun.”

But wait, there's more! Six Flags Magic Mountain near LA and Six Flags St. Louis will be hosting speed contests on the 27th, with the fastest overall time winning a trip to New York to visit the Nintendo World Store, while the speediest at each part wins a DS, a copy of the game, and a gift certificate for Six Flags junk! I can barely stand the excitement! Press release, take us home.

Nintendo’s Famous Anti-Hero, Wario, Invades Six Flags This Summer

Theme Parks’ Guests to Experience Wario Land: Shake It!’s Game-Play Features and Compete for Prizes

REDMOND, Wash.—(BUSINESS WIRE)— Nintendo and its favorite antagonist, Wario™, have teamed up with Six Flags to take over 10 theme parks throughout the country this September. In celebration of the release of Wario Land™: Shake It!, the new game for the Wii™ console, Nintendo will be giving park guests the opportunity to check out the game and win prizes.

Wario Land: Shake It! plays like a classic side-scroller, but incorporates motion-controlled elements: Players shake the Wii Remote™ controller to help Wario shake down enemies for coins or tilt it to help him decide where to toss them. The game launches exclusively for Wii on Sept. 22.

“Wario Land: Shake It! is a game that everyone from veterans to newcomers can enjoy,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Partnering with Six Flags to bring the title to theme parks nationwide is a great opportunity for consumers to experience the game and rediscover the franchise at a place that is designed for fun.”

As part of the theme park takeover, Wario Land: Shake It! game-play interactives will be available at the 10 Six Flags parks’ Wii Experience areas to allow Wario fans and park guests the chance to experience the game first-hand and reconnect with the long-running Wario franchise.

In addition, on Sept. 27, Nintendo will host a competition at two Six Flags locations: Six Flags Magic Mountain near Los Angeles and Six Flags St. Louis. Running concurrently at both parks, competitors will play through a level in Wario Land: Shake It! as fast as they can, just as Wario must race through various levels in the game. At the end of the competition, the player with the best overall time will be Nintendo’s guest on a holiday trip to New York and a visit to the Nintendo World store. In addition, one person at each park with the best overall time will win a “Bottomless Coin Sack” containing:

* a Wii system and a copy of Wario Land: Shake It!
* a Nintendo DS™ system
* a gift certificate for Six Flags merchandise
* fun premium items

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com.

For more information about Wario Land: Shake It!, visit www.WarioLandShakeIt.com.

Participating Parks and dates include:

* Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, N.J.) – 9/27-28, 10/4-5, 10/11-12
* Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, Calif.) - 9/27-28, 10/4-5, 10/11-12
* Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, Ill.) - 10/4-5, 10/11-12
* Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington, Texas) - 9/27-28, 10/4-5, 10/11-12
* Six Flags Over Georgia (Austell, Ga.) - 9/27-28, 10/4-5, 10/11-12
* Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio, Texas) - 10/4-5, 10/11-12
* Six Flags New England (Agawam, Mass.) - 9/27-28, 10/4-5, 10/11-12
* Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, Calif.) - 9/27-28, 10/4-5, 10/11-12
* Six Flags America (Bowie, Md.) - 10/4-5, 10/11-12
* Six Flags St. Louis (Eureka, Mo.) - 9/27-28, 10/4-5, 10/11-12

Authorities at Nintendo are forecasting an extraordinary celestial event this season. Expected to be visible on Sept. 18, this eye-popping occurrence will be best viewed from a handful of specific U.S. locations (see below). Experts are still deliberating over the scientific significance of this rare phenomenon, but evidence points clearly to the reemergence of a luminous entity that citizens from all walks of life will appreciate.

Could it be the long-awaited official announcement of the Kirby Wii title that Hal Laboratories has been working on? Seeing as Kirby Super Star Ultra for the DS is scheduled for release four days later, I very much doubt it. Hit the jump to see if you live close enough to any of these places to find out for yourself!

One-of-a-Kind Celestial Event Expected in September

Spectacular, Star-Filled Display Will Be Visible From Earth at Select Locations

WHAT:
Authorities at Nintendo are forecasting an extraordinary celestial event this season. Expected to be visible on Sept. 18, this eye-popping occurrence will be best viewed from a handful of specific U.S. locations (see below). Experts are still deliberating over the scientific significance of this rare phenomenon, but evidence points clearly to the reemergence of a luminous entity that citizens from all walks of life will appreciate.

WHO:
Fun-seeking families and anyone who loves a spectacular event

WHEN:
Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008

Peak Viewing Hours:
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. C.D.T.
9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. E.D.T.

WHERE:
Optimum viewing locations are as follows and within a one-mile radius:

— Kirby Middle School - 1328 28th Street, Birmingham, AL 35234
— Kirby Historical Mill - 275 Church Road, Medford, NJ 08055
— Kirby Park - 301 Northampton Street, Kingston, PA 18704
— Kirby Gate Shopping Center - 6548 Quince, Memphis, TN 38119

“The American Red Cross does so much to help people in need and we are thrilled to be able to bring more attention to the importance of blood donation through our Dracula Blood Drive,” said Cal Morrell, president of Encore. “We look forward to a successful blood drive and hope people who have never donated blood take this opportunity to make a difference.”

Hit the jump for a list of participating locations, and remember...they take your human juices from you on-site. Showing up with your own blood-filled bags is considered very bad form indeed.

ENCORE ANNOUNCES RED CROSS DRACULA BLOOD DRIVE THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 3 & 4

LOS ANGELES – Sept. 8, 2008 – Encore, a wholly owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, announced today they will partner with the American Red Cross to hold a “Dracula” Blood Drive to celebrate the release of the first computer game in their Mystery Adventure Game line, Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon. The Dracula Blood Drive will take place October 3-4 at eight locations throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Each blood donor will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon for the PC as well as other give-aways.

“We are very excited to partner with Encore for the Dracula Blood Drive,” said Teresa Solorio of the American Red Cross. “We love having this opportunity to provide a fun environment for our donors, who are so generously giving of themselves to help others. If you have never donated before, now is a good time to start. If you have donated before, now is a fun time to donate again.”

“The American Red Cross does so much to help people in need and we are thrilled to be able to bring more attention to the importance of blood donation through our Dracula Blood Drive,” said Cal Morrell, president of Encore. “We look forward to a successful blood drive and hope people who have never donated blood take this opportunity to make a difference.”

The Dracula Blood Drive will take place at the following locations:

Pasadena Red Cross Donor Center
133 North Altadena Dr., Ste. 103
Pasadena, CA 91107
Friday and Saturday - 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

West Los Angeles Donor Center
11355 Ohio Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Saturday only - 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Encore Software Corporate Office
999 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
El Segundo, CA 90245
Friday only – 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Woodland Hills Donor Center
6338 Variel Ave.
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Friday and Saturday - 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Long Beach Donor Center
3150 E. 29th Street
Long Beach, CA 90806
Friday – 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday – 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Pomona Donor Center
100 Red Cross Circle
Pomona, CA 91768
Friday and Saturday - 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Fullerton Donor Center
1144 Rosecrans Ave.
Fullerton, CA 92833
Friday and Saturday - 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Laguna Hills Donor Center
22971 Mill Creek Drive
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Friday and Saturday - 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

For more information about the Dracula Blood Drive or to register to donate blood at the event, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon, a game produced by Microïds and developed by Kheops Studio, is the newest installment in the original Dracula series. Based on Bram Stoker’s universe, Dracula 3 takes players to Europe on a suspenseful quest to discover the reality of vampires and come face-to-face with Dracula. As Father Arno Moriani, players must travel to Transylvania to investigate a potential candidate for sainthood. Along the way players are submerged into a gripping storyline with numerous challenging and engaging puzzles to solve that leads to a final confrontation with Dracula! More information for the game can be found at www.mysteryadventuregames.com.

The party is open to everyone, but you have to be 21 (Samba De Amigo is pretty racy) and you have to RSVP at the website before heading out. They've still got slots open, so if you're in the Dallas area tonight or just a really big DJ Jazzy Jeff fan with airfare money to burn, hit the link below to sign up!

Gearbox Software Victory Party [Gearbox Software - Thanks Connor!]

The mystery party runs from noon until 2pm Saturday, after which parents can pretty much leave their children to wander about the Nintendo World Store unattended while they go grab a latte.

Arriving well after the suggested time — and half an hour after the show had officially opened to the public — we were met with an insurmountable crush of people. It wouldn't have been a surprise to learn that those who showed up when we did, sans press access, faced a two-hour wait to get in. And when they did, the vast majority of artwork on hand had already been sold to a collector.

Our favorite piece from the show, a moody Link versus Ganon painting, shown after the jump, was fortunately priced out of our range, so that particular sell-out didn't phase us.

Like previous showings, Nintendo characters dominated walls. The evening's soundtrack, courtesy of Computer Jay, DJ R-Rated and Leeni, was similarly Nintendo saturated, as chiptunes were interspersed with dance beats. This resulted in some of the evening's "over-served" patrons busting some awkward moves, in turn making for some unfortunate shirtlessness.

The crowd was a healthy mix, part nerd, part scenester, with reps from PR, the artistic side and the press making for an atypical gallery opening.

And they weren't just there for the Colt 45s, despite its promise of working every time. They were there for the art, which drew inspiration not just from Nintendo's stable of IP. Yes, Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid and The Legend of Zelda were more than well represented. I Am 8-Bit 2008's artistic set also drew from games like Tron, Street Fighter, Bionic Commando, Earthworm Jim, Chrono Trigger and more. We even spotted a few pieces based on Elevator Action and documentary The King of Kong.

As we ogled artwork and mingled with the crowd, the gallery did brisk business. Tracking down the curator and salespeople was no easy task. It took us a good portion of the evening to secure this set of Pac-Man ghosts for our personal collection of things we don't really need.

It's foolish to call the fourth I Am 8-Bit showing anything but an unqualified success. The show has continued to outgrow its venue, with security turning folks away at the door when the show met capacity and artwork being snapped up before almost anyone got to lay their eyes on it.

To be there, virtually, check out our gallery from the show. Be warned however that more than one shot is not safe for work. This episode of the show was certainly more sexually charged than the last, thanks to Bionic Commando fighting off naked Nazi vampiresses, some underclothed Nerdcore models and one skilled Princess Peach fetishist. You've been warned!

The shenanigans kick off at 8 PM and will feature musical performances from Computer Jay and DJ R-Rated, which means that the gallery opening will require those seventeen and under to be accompanied by a guardian. Colt 45 may very well be served.

The art appreciating thrills are happening at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery in Hollywood. If you can't make it tonight, things will be hanging on the walls until Sunday, September 7.

I Am 8-Bit

Meanwhile, back in the states, BioWare will be showing off the game at PAX, with promises of a special stage demo that provides the world's first look at a special feature of the game. So many surprises! Hit the jump for full details on the Dragon Age: Origins tiny world tour.

BioWare to Bring Dragon Age: Origins to the World’s Marquee Game Conventions
Dragon Age: Origins to Make First Public Appearance on August 14

EDMONTON, Alberta—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS), will be presenting their upcoming dark heroic fantasy Dragon Age™: Origins publicly for the first time ever to fans at Gen Con in Indianapolis, Indiana, the GC Developers Conference in Leipzig, Germany and the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle, Washington.

Coming from behind closed doors and onto the show floor, BioWare is thrilled to reveal the heart-pounding demo that wowed international media at E3 2008 to the eager fans at Gen Con Indy, August 14-17, 2008, at the Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. This marks the very first public appearance of Dragon Age: Origins ever, with fans able to get a first-hand look at some of the exciting combat, devastating magic and credible digital actors that make up this epic adventure.

Dragon Age: Origins will then cross the ocean to Leipzig, Germany, to reveal itself to eagerly awaiting European fans at the GC Developers Conference, held August 20-22, 2008, at the Leipzig Exhibition Center. Dragon Age: Origins project director and executive producer Dan Tudge will be conducting behind closed doors demos to the press, revealing new details about combat, exploration, dialogue, the game’s origin stories and a few other juicy surprises not to be missed! BioWare’s community team will also be there to demo Dragon Age: Origins in a special lounge for invited members, fans and leaders of international EA community sites, August 22-24.

Fans attending the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle, Washington, August 29-31, 2008, will get a close look at Dragon Age: Origins as the BioWare team shows off some of the exciting combat, gameplay and origin story features. Another special stage demo is also planned for PAX, providing the world’s first look at a major feature of Dragon Age: Origins.

For more information about Dragon Age: Origins, the latest updates, or to join BioWare’s Dragon Age community, visit www.dragonage.com.

Said award-winning composer Inon Zur, “CRYSIS is one of the most interesting and challenging games I have scored to date so I am thrilled that it is going to be featured in Video Games Live. I’m very proud and honored to have my music played in this groundbreaking concert series."

The concert is to be held at the 7,000 seat Leipzig arena on Wednesday, August 20th. Not sure if McWhertor or I will be stopping by at this point, but in any case we'll be there in spirit. Or nearby drinking the local spirits. One of those.

WORLD PREMIERE OF CRYSIS TO BE PERFORMED AT VIDEO GAMES LIVE IN LEIPZIG

Performance to be held at 7,000 seat Leipzig Arena during Games Convention

LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 11, 2008 — Video Games Live and German based developer Crytek are pleased to announce the music from the multiple award winning PC blockbuster CRYSIS will make its world premiere on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at the 7,000 seat Leipzig Arena in Leipzig, Germany during the world renowned Games Convention. Recently the “Video Games Live – Volume One” album debuted on the Billboard charts at #10 and in week 2 of the release has climbed to #8 (SOURCE: Billboard Top 10)

Video Games Live is proud to be the official game concert of one of the biggest video game conventions in the world which received over 185,000 people from around the globe in 2007. In celebration of this special concert event, a powerful arrangement of tracks from the modern cinematic score composed by Inon Zur, will be featured for the first time and synchronized to exclusive video footage and state-of-the-art lighting and special effects.

Said award-winning composer Inon Zur, “CRYSIS is one of the most interesting and challenging games I have scored to date so I am thrilled that it is going to be featured in Video Games Live. I’m very proud and honored to have my music played in this groundbreaking concert series." Co-Creator and conductor of Video Games Live, Jack Wall added, “"When we debut a new segment in Video Games Live, it's always a thrill to perform it for the first time in the place where the game was originally created. Playing the world premiere of CRYSIS in Germany is something I am really looking forward to!"

For CRYSIS Inon Zur wrote a modern cinematic score that heightens the impact of the dramatic storyline, realistic environments and highly-evolved gameplay. His CRYSIS compositions feature sweeping themes, immersive setup pieces, intense action music, and "otherworldly" instrumental soundscapes performed by the orchestra to invoke the alien influences in the game.

The Leipzig Games Convention is an annual video game event in Leipzig, Germany, first held in 2002. Its concept was created by the German Federal Association for Entertainment Software amongst others. With 185,000+ visitors, 2,600 journalists and 368 exhibitors from 25 countries in 2007, the Games Convention rivals the Tokyo Game Show as the biggest games event in the world. By comparison, both the Leipzig and Tokyo shows, where gamers of all ages can visit the show floor, were three times the size of the trade-only 2006 E3 show in Los Angeles. The conference takes place in a sprawling modern complex of exhibition halls in Leipzig, Germany.

"What a great honor to be asked by the Leipzig Games Convention to be a part of their incredible convention", said game composer and co-creator of Video Games Live Tommy Tallarico. "We've received so many e-mails and requests over the years to bring our show to Germany, and to finally perform there in such a prominent and prestigious way is very special to us. We're really looking forward to exposing German audiences to our very unique presentation which will include many special guests from around the world.”

Crytek GmbH ("Crytek") creators of the multi-award winning first person shooter Far Cry®, and the recent blockbuster hit Crysis®, awarded best PC Game of both E3 2007 and the 2007 Leipzig Games Convention, and awarded Best Technology at the 2008 Game Developers Choice Awards, is an interactive entertainment development company with its headquarters located in Frankfurt Main, Germany and additional studios in Kiev, Ukraine, Budapest, Hungary and Sofia in Bulgaria. Crytek is dedicated to creating exceptionally high quality video games for the PC and next-generation consoles, powered by their proprietary cutting edge 3D-Game-Technology CryENGINE®2.

The CRYSIS Original Soundtrack is available on CD from Sumthing Else Music Works and for digital download from iTunes and Sumthing Digital. VIDEO GAMES LIVE - VOLUME ONE is currently available wherever music is sold including retail outlets, iTunes, Amazon.com and Walmart.com.

For more information on the composer Inon Zur please visit his official website www.inonzur.com.

Platform Breakdown By Number Of Wins
Xbox 360: 8 (Down three from 2007)
PlayStation 3: 7 (Down one from 2007)
PC: 7 (Up three from 2007)
Wii: 1 (Same as 2007)
PSP: 2

But wait, that's just the tip of the iceberg. The Game Critics folks have also broken down wins by publisher. Electronic Arts took home the most wins, despite taking one less category this year than last year. Sony was in second with three total wins and Bethesda in third. Microsoft rounded up the list, while Nintendo didn't win a single award as a publisher.

5 Wins:
Electronic Arts (-1 from 2007, +2 from 2006)
For 2008, EA won 5 out of 21 nominations — 24%
In 2007, EA won 6 out of 14 nominations — 43%
In 2006, EA won 3 out of 11 nominations — 27%
In 2005, EA won 7 out of 16 nominations — 44%
In 2004, EA won 5 out of 11 nominations — 46%
In 2003, EA won 0 out of 6 nominations — 0%

3 Wins:
Sony (+1 from 2007, +2 from 2006)
For 2008, Sony won 3 out of 11 nominations — 27%
In 2007, Sony won 2 out of 7 nominations — 29%
In 2006, Sony won 1 out of 10 nominations — 10%
In 2005, Sony won 2 out of 8 nominations — 18%
In 2004, Sony won 2 out of 8 nominations — 18%
In 2003, Sony won 3 out of 6 nominations — 50%

2 Wins:
Bethesda (new)

1 Win:
Microsoft (-2 from 2007, -2 from 2006)
For 2008, Microsoft won 1 out of 7 nominations — 14%
For 2007, Microsoft won 3 out of 8 nominations — 38%
In 2006, Microsoft won 3 out of 9 nominations — 33%
In 2005, Microsoft won 0 out of 8 nominations — 0%
In 2004, Microsoft won 4 out of 9 nominations — 44%
In 2003, Microsoft won 2 out of 13 nominations — 15%

Granted day 2 is filled with press conferences from the likes of Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur Leipzig, which I know you are all dying to hear about, but it's still a pretty jam-packed show while I practice my German. Werden wir Litauen überfallen? I am so ready.

Press dates [Games Convention Website]

It doesn't sound like the PA team is planning on limiting it to just two shows, either, with Holkins writing that "Frankly, it should be global," teasing that "an East Coast show is only the beginning."

The anti-E3 enters its fifth year when it throws down at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center on August 29-31. We'll be there. Will you?

PAX East Coast: 2010 [Penny Arcade]

Also featured at the festival is The PlayStation “Take the Stage” Tent, which will give visitors an opportunity to strut their stuff in Rock Band and SingStar, with CSS, Jamie Lidell, Kid Sister, Krista and Tiny Master of Today stopping by off an on to challenge players with the highest scores. I can barely contain my own excitement, so I'll just leave it at that.

“Meeting and interacting with our players at BlizzCon is always a great experience for us,” stated Mike Morhaime, CEO and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We’re also pleased to be working with DIRECTV this year to bring the show, for the first time, to those players who are unable to attend.”

Yes, Blizzard and DirecTV are joining forces to broadcast highlights of the show via pay per view. Don't have DirecTV? New subscribers in August will get the BlizzCon pay per view for free with their order. I cannot think of a more ridiculous reason to change your cable television provider.

BlizzCon™ 2008 Tickets on Sale August 11
Unprecedented event coverage also available exclusively on DIRECTV

IRVINE, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that tickets for its third BlizzCon™ gaming convention will go on sale August 11 and that live coverage of the event will be available as an exclusive DIRECTV pay per view event. BlizzCon is a celebration of the global player communities surrounding Blizzard Entertainment®’s Warcraft®, Diablo®, and StarCraft® game universes. The event will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on October 10 and 11.

“Meeting and interacting with our players at BlizzCon is always a great experience for us,” stated Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We’re also pleased to be working with DIRECTV this year to bring the show, for the first time, to those players who are unable to attend.”

In addition to serving as a gathering place for the different Blizzard Entertainment gaming communities, BlizzCon will offer an array of activities, including discussion panels, hands-on playtime with upcoming games, tournaments, contests, and more. Tickets to the convention will be priced at $100 USD each, and will be available for purchase directly from the official BlizzCon website at www.blizzcon.com.

The pay per view event will deliver a minimum of eight hours of live HD coverage from the show floor on each day of the convention, including exclusive interviews, demos, and more. Beginning in August, DIRECTV will run a promotion offering the BlizzCon pay per view event free to new DIRECTV subscribers. Pricing for existing DIRECTV customers and programming details will be available in the coming weeks from Blizzard Entertainment and DIRECTV.

“BlizzCon is one of the most highly anticipated gaming conventions of the year, and we are excited to partner with Blizzard Entertainment to deliver coverage of the show to gamers nationwide,” said Steven Roberts, senior vice president, new media and business development, DIRECTV. “With our BlizzCon pay per view package, members of Blizzard’s gaming communities who are not attending the event can now experience it in crystal-clear HD.”

As the event draws closer, further details will be announced at www.blizzcon.com.

This year will include a chance to win a Corvette, Brawl chugging, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars tournaments, Guitar Hero contests and plenty more. The convention will give gamers a chance to check out id's new browser-based Quake Live, watch pro-gaming documentary FRAG and play a bit of tourney poker.

The highlight for the show for us non-attendees though will be John Carmack's keynote during the id press conference Thursday morning. Here's hoping we hear more about id Tech 5.

Don't worry, we've already got an interview set up and are plugged into whatever announcements maybe coming. In the meantime check out our interview with Carmack and company earlier this month to hear him talking about his new game engine, new publisher and the future of PC and Apple gaming.

QuakeCon

"We're definitely running into space issues this year" said Show Director Robert Khoo. "Despite adding another building for tabletop and an additional 120,000 square feet overall, our numbers right now say it's going to be pretty insane."

See? Insanity! You don't want to promote insanity, at least not until you have your badge. You can head over to the PAX registration page right now and get a three-day pass for $45. It's only $5 less than you'll pay at the door, but you really don't want to be in line at the door. Hit the jump for the freshly minted exhibit hall floor plan, jam-packed with over 70 companies.

Click for a larger version.

PAX 2008 PRE-REGISTRATION CLOSING THURSDAY

Further Content Details Revealed to Tempt Procrastinating Gamers

SEATTLE - July 28, 2008 - The organizers of the fifth annual Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) today issued a reminder that July 31 is the last chance to pre-register for the gaming festival at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center in Seattle Aug. 29-31. Based on current pre-registration numbers, attendance is expected to break 45,000, guaranteeing a packed house for this year's PAX.

The keynote speaker for 2008, respected screenwriter and developer Ken Levine, will kick off the festivities, including gamer-themed music concerts, an Exhibition Hall crammed full with over 70 companies, console and PC tournaments, the Omegathon competition and a wide variety of industry panels. Significant panels and presentations will include:

- History of Harmonix: THE ROCKENING
- How to Make the World Notice Your Video Game Blog
- The Mega64 'Panel! At The Expo'
- The Power of Gaming Communities
- GamerDad's "Gaming With Children"

"We're definitely running into space issues this year" said Show Director Robert Khoo. "Despite adding another building for tabletop and an additional 120,000 square feet overall, our numbers right now say it's going to be pretty insane."

The Comic-Con masses were just admitted, mere minutes ago, into the show floor. Take a look at the virginal booths, before they were violated by the collectible hunting horde.

We'll be checking in with everyone (and finally getting our hands on the new Prince of Persia!) throughout the week.

For even more Comic-Con coverage that goes beyond the game-o-sphere, check out io9 for your extended sci-fi nerd fix. For those attending, let us know in the comments what Sailor Moon character you'll be dressed as.

Tickets go on sale July 25th at Fandango.com at a price of $10 per day, which includes popcorn, a large soda, and a special Fallout 3 giveaway. Considering I would sell any one of you for parts for a chance to see Wizards on the big screen, the price seems pretty fair. Hit the jump for more details!

Bethesda Softworks®, The American Cinematheque, and Geek Monthly Sponsor ‘A Post-Apocalyptic Film Festival Presented by Fallout® 3’

Fallout® 3 Film Festival to Take Place at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, California on August 22 and 23, 2008

July 11, 2008 (Rockville, MD) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax Media company, announced today that it has partnered with the American Cinematheque and GEEK Monthly magazine to sponsor ‘A Post-Apocalyptic Film Festival Presented by Fallout® 3’ at Santa Monica’s Aero Theatre this August.

Fallout 3, the highly-anticipated video game from Bethesda Softworks, takes place in a post-apocalyptic Washington, D.C. where every minute is a fight for survival in the formidable wasteland and serves as the festival’s inspiration. The festival will feature six definitive post-apocalyptic movies that depict life or events that occur after a global catastrophe.

‘A Post-Apocalyptic Film Festival Presented by Fallout 3’ kicks off at 7:00pm on Friday, August 22nd with ‘Wizards’ (Directed by Ralph Bakshi) followed by ‘Damnation Alley’ (Directed by Jack Smight) and ‘A Boy and His Dog’ (Directed by L.Q. Jones). The festival resumes at 7:00pm on August 23rd with ‘The Last Man on Earth’ (Directed by Ubaldo Ragona), ‘The Omega Man’ (Directed by Boris Sagal) and ‘Twelve Monkeys’ (Directed by Terry Gilliam).

“We are very excited to sponsor this film festival with the American Cinematheque and GEEK Monthly magazine as this event brings together fans of film and video games like never before,” said Vlatko Andonov, president of Bethesda Softworks. “This is an exciting time for us and this film festival gives us a fun platform to give people further insight into Fallout 3.”

"Co-sponsoring this film festival just made perfect sense for us here at GEEK Monthly magazine,” said Michael Eisenberg, group publisher at Fusion Publishing. “The showing of post-apocalyptic films that have captivated movie goers’ imaginations over the last 40 years and showcasing the definitive post-apocalyptic video game will make for a truly enjoyable festival for fans of the genre.”

Tickets will be available on July 25, 2008 and can be purchased from Fandango.com. The general admission price of $10.00 includes three movies on the bill for that day as well as a complimentary bag of popcorn, a large soda and a special Fallout 3 giveaway. Senior and student tickets are available for $8.00 per day and American Cinematheque members can purchase daily tickets for $7.00.

For more information on ‘A Post-Apocalyptic Film Festival Presented by Fallout® 3’, the movies being shown during the festival or the Aero Theatre, please visit http://www.americancinematheque.com/.

Currently under development by the creators of award winning The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion®, the 2006 Game of the Year – Fallout 3 is one of the most anticipated games of 2008 and is slated for release this Fall on Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Games for Windows, and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.

Fallout® 3 has not yet been rated by the ESRB. For more information on Fallout 3, visit http://fallout.bethsoft.com.

As is expected with Blizzard events, company employees were handing out the much-prized (and instantly eBayable) Goody Bags. The swish mini backpack emblazoned with the WWI logo includes a host of loot, including an in-game pet (which we’ve not yet been able to redeem in Booty Bay), the Beta key, a programme, a figure from the Upper Deck miniature game, a notebook and a mousemat sporting the event’s banner featuring Arthas as well as characters from Diablo and Starcraft II.

We’ll let you know what the pet is as soon as Landro Longshot makes nice and starts talking about the WWI.

"We nearly doubled our exhibition hall and added another 80,000 square feet of content overall, so the show is going to be pretty amazing this year," says Penny Arcade's Robert Khoo. "You should come. I think you would like it."

I've a feeling he could be right. This year's show takes place August 29th through the 31st in sunny Seattle Washington. Hit the jump for a full list of exhibitors. Be prepared to scroll.

PENNY ARCADE REVEALS PAX 2008 EXHIBITORS AND FIRST PROGRAMMING DETAILS

Headliners include Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, EA, Activision and Ubisoft

SEATTLE - June 26, 2008 - The organizers of the fifth annual Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) today announced key details of the upcoming gaming festival, to be held Aug. 29-31, 2008 at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center in Seattle.

This year's exhibit floor will offer PAX attendees hands-on time with highly anticipated games and products from more exhibitors than ever, including Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, EA, Activision and Ubisoft (see below for a complete exhibitor list). In addition to seeing a massive number of pre-release games on its show floor, attendees can expect a bevy of panels, the Omegathon gaming competition, tournaments, and more. First details of PAX 2008 programming include:

- The ECTO-1, of Ghostbusters fame, will be on display for all three days of PAX

- The PAX 10 independent games showcase, to thrill and delight you

- Two nights of music that will almost certainly change your life

"We nearly doubled our exhibition hall and added another 80,000 square feet of content overall, so the show is going to be pretty amazing this year," says Penny Arcade's Robert Khoo. "You should come. I think you would like it."

Complete List of PAX 2008 Exhibitors:

- 1up.com
- 2K Games
- Activision
- Antec, Inc.
- Astro Gaming
-The Behemoth
- Bethesda
- Bioware
- Blizzard
- Brawndo
- Bungie
- CCP/Whitewolf
- CDV
- clubNAMCO.com
- Cogswell Polytechnical College
- Cryptic Studios
- D3P
- Destineer
- Dolby
- EA Mythic
- ECA (Entertainment Consumer's Association)
- Electronic Arts
- Fantasy Flight Games
- Flying Frog Productions
- Flying Lab Software
- Foundation 9 Entertainment
- Game Publishers Association
- Gamecock
- GameTrailers
- Garage Games
- Guildhall at SMU
- Harmonix
- Hothead Games
- Hudson
- Indiecade
- Intel
- ITT Tech
- Klei Entertainment
- Media-blasters NYC
- Mega64
- Meteor Games
- Microsoft XNA
- Microsoft
- Midway
- Namco Bandai
- NCsoft
- Nintendo
- Nokia
- Patriot Memory
- Pegasus Publishing
- Pink Godzilla
- Plantronics
- Privateer Press
- Razer
- Rockstar
- Roosterteeth.com
- Sierra/Vivendi
- Sony
- SouthPeak Games
- Stardock
- Sumo Lounge
- Telltale
- THQ
- Tinderbox Entertainment
- Tritton Technologies
- Turbine
- Ubisoft
- Udon Entertainment / Oni Press
- Upper Deck
- Vivox
- Wizards of the Coast
- Zenimax

[Pic]

“Microsoft’s presence at the 2008 event will help us build on the great success of last year’s inaugural E for All event, and will further our goal of building an exciting and cutting-edge event that brings the best and newest games to gamers of all types. We look forward to a terrific 2008 event, and to having the opportunity to bring even more great game products to the great gamers who attend E for All.”

Last year Microsoft passed on the first E For All, so this early sign of support casts a very encouraging light of hope on the event's second year. Dolaher promises more participants will be announced in the coming weeks.

Microsoft Corporation to Show Its Newest Games at the Second Annual E for All Expo
E for All 2008

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Entertainment for All Expo (E for All ) is kicking off its 2008 show with a bang, announcing today that Microsoft Corporation has signed on to exhibit at the 2nd annual E for All™ video game event, scheduled to take place October 3-5, 2008, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

“We are thrilled that Microsoft Corporation has decided to exhibit at this year’s E for All. The addition of Microsoft’s leading line of products at the event will be a huge benefit for attendees, from hardcore gamers to families, and everyone in between,” said Mary Dolaher, Chief Executive Officer at IDG World Expo, the leading producer of world-class tradeshows and events around the globe and owner of E for All. “Microsoft’s presence at the 2008 event will help us build on the great success of last year’s inaugural E for All event, and will further our goal of building an exciting and cutting-edge event that brings the best and newest games to gamers of all types. We look forward to a terrific 2008 event, and to having the opportunity to bring even more great game products to the great gamers who attend E for All.”

Dolaher said additional E for All participants and features will be announced in the coming weeks. For more about E for All, please visit www.EforAllExpo.com.

Guess who was first? This guy! And his girlfriend! Good news, eh? Well, unfortunately, he was robbed a few weeks prior to the launch and has no PlayStation 3 on which to play his coveted and signed Metal Gear Solid 4. We told them they should've gone to the GameStop just two doors down as they were having their own midnight launch event, raffling off a Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 bundle. Chances? One in seventy!

He didn't care. He was high on life!

Imaizumi, Hayter and Zimmerman braved silver ink Sharpie fumes and the excited stutters of Metal Gear superfans as the patient queue filed past, having one thing only(!) signed. They posed for photo ops, obliged in the impromptu voice over and were generally gentlemanly.

At one point, associate producer Payton even informed a fan that he did not work on Metal Gear Solid 2 and that his signature would make little sense on the game's poster. We're not sure how happy said fan was about that.

However, the talent didn't blink when crazy people started showing up in cardboard boxes. This one was fresh from a Dumpster diving adventure at the adjacent Target!

The autograph session was planned to wrap up at 1 AM—as was the VIP party that went down in the nearby courtyard. Needless to say, things ran a bit over as the monstrous line, still stretching around the length of the Hollywood Best Buy continued to demand things be signed.

Here's the start of the line, circa 1:15 AM Pacific Time...

...and the end. We really hope some of these kids got some sleep.

"What better way to celebrate Father’s Day than spend it with your loved ones in the greatest fantasy world ever created?" said David Solari Vice President of Codemasters Online. "We invite fathers to come and enjoy the festivities that will we be running all day to mark this special occasion.”

See? there's a man who knows you can't write about a special Father's Day event without using the phrase "What better way".

Players are encouraged to use the free trial at TryLotRO.com to get their dads online. Start downloading now so you can spend a lazy Sunday explaining the WASD keys to your father before giving up in frustration and taking him out to Chili's. Mmmm, Chili's.

Codemasters Online Celebrates Father's Day in The Lord of the Rings Online

Codemasters Online invite pl