Press Release – The Sims label announces Steve Jablonsky as the mastermind behind the creative sound of The Sims 3
REDWOOD CITY, CA — October 23, 2008 — Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that award-winning composer Steve Jablonsky will score the theme music for the highly anticipated next-generation flagship PC game from The Sims Label, The Sims™ 3. Recently honored with a BMI Film Music Award for his work on The Transformers soundtrack, Jablonsky has been repeatedly recognized for his contributions to film, TV and videogames. Now, his talents will be used to infuse a rich, orchestral sound into The Sims 3 to reflect the game’s new seamless open neighborhood.
“We are very excited about the new direction of the music in The Sims 3. We really wanted to convey the significance of the seamless open neighborhood with each aspect of this game because it is a key innovation from the previous game and Steve has done that beautifully with the sound,” said Ben Bell, Executive Producer of The Sims 3.
In addition to the theme music, Jablonsky’s score is featured throughout key areas of the game. For instance, in Create A Sim, the music will reflect the creative nature of choosing from a selection of facial features, hairstyles and outfits. There will also be a unique sound to distinguish build and buy modes in which you can create your dream home and design the neighborhood. In The Sims 3, you are able to visit many areas of the town for the first time such as the beach, gym, bistro or even a friend’s home. The music will also follow suit. For instance, when you are walking by the beach, the sound will coordinate. You might hear seagulls, waves crashing and the music will reflect the breezy feeling of being near the ocean. The gym will also feature appropriate music suited for that specific environment such as fast paced disco tech.
The Sims 3 offers you unparalleled opportunities for customization with each aspect of the game including music. You have the freedom to choose the ambient sounds of your game. The stereo feature offers you a wide range of genres to choose from or you can load your own music! In addition, now you have the freedom to completely customise the sound of your Sims voice. You can choose from a wide variety of voices and then alter the pitch to create unique sounding Sims.
“It is extremely exciting to be involved in a blockbuster project like The Sims 3, where the music sets the tone for the entire user experience,” said Jablonsky. “Working on one of the most anticipated games in the world, not to mention the best selling PC franchise of all time, is quite an honor and I’ve had a blast getting to know The Sims 3 team of talented individuals.”
Jablonsky was first introduced to music at the age of twelve, when his grandfather bought him a clarinet as a birthday gift. He quickly developed a passion for music, performing in several orchestras during his teenage years and graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in Music Study. His interest in film music started at an early age, influenced in particular by film composers Ennio Morricone and Hans Zimmer. He went on to score, compose or direct the music for such films, TV shows and videogames as Transformers (2007), The Island (2005), Desperate Housewives (2004-2007) and Command and Conquer™ 3: Kane’s Wrath (2008).
“We are very excited about the innovations of The Sims 3, and even more thrilled to have a composer of Steve’s caliber crafting the sound of what is clearly the most globally anticipated game of the year,” said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Audio at EA. “We hold our games’ original music to the same creative standards as major movie studios, and Steve Jablonsky has both a remarkable talent for scoring blockbuster entertainment as well as an innate understanding of the interactive opportunities of the videogame medium. We are thrilled that he has now brought his unique expertise to the dramatic, energetic and playful world of The Sims.”
Press Release – MTV Games and Harmonix Announce 20 Free DLC Tracks Available to Rock Band® 2 Owners on November 4th
Emerging Artist Lineup Includes All Genres of Rock Including Underoath, Hollywood Undead, Opiate for the Masses, Lesley Roy, Between the Buried and Me and more!
CAMBRIDGE, MA – October 22, 2008 – Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game development company, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B) announced details today regarding 20 free DLC tracks that will be made available to Rock Band 2 [1] owners starting November 4, 2008. The lineup ranges across all genres of rock from up-and-coming artists that the industry has recognized as new to thriving rock bands with a quickly growing fan base.
“The Rock Band platform is an unparalleled destination for music discovery – offering a broad cross section of rock, from iconic rock artists to emerging bands,” stated Paul DeGooyer, MTV’s Senior Vice President of Electronic Games & Music. “With the addition of the 20 new songs we’re announcing today, owners of Rock Band 2 will have the ability to experience music from over 100 artists – ranging from the acts they already know and love to up-and-coming bands we think they will like.”
Featuring artists across the globe from the US, United Kingdom and Australia to Norway, Japan and Ireland, the 20 free DLC tracks are available exclusively to Rock Band 2 owners and can be accessed by using the DLC redemption code [2] located within the game’s retail packaging.
20 Free Rock Band 2 DLC Set List:
Artist Song
The 88 “Sons and Daughters”
Authority Zero “No Regrets”
Between the Buried and Me “Prequel To The Sequel”
The Cab “Bounce”
The Chevelles “Get It On”
The Cocktail Slippers “Give It To Me”
Dealership “Database Corrupted”
Endeverafter “I Wanna Be Your Man”
The Ghost Hounds “Ashes To Fire”
Hollywood Undead “Young”
Kutless “The Feeling”
The Len Price 3 “If I Ain’t Got You”
Lesley Roy “I’m Gone, I’m Going”
Opiate for the Masses “Burn You Down”
Semi-Precious Weapons “Magnetic Baby”
Shaimus “Like a Fool”
Thenewno2 “Crazy Tuesday”
Tickle Me Pink “The Time Is Wrong”
Underoath “Desperate Times, Desperate Measures”
X Japan “I.V.”
Rock Band 2 features the largest music catalogue of any music-based videogame to date. The 20 free tracks listed above combined with the 84 tracks already available on the game disc make for a total of 104 songs on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack, which features an unrivaled blend of classic and new artists including AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, Motörhead and more! With the addition of complete and immediate backwards compatibility for songs purchased from Rock Band’s ever-expanding online music store and the ability to export most songs from the original Rock Band disc, the Rock Band music library will feature more than 500 songs [3] by year’s end.
The Rock Band online music store recently surpassed 25 million paid downloads since the game’s launch in late November 2007. With more than 400 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at http://www.rockband.com/dlc), the massive Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks, packs and albums from the vast selection of offerings available as they build their own custom Rock Band library.
Downloadable content for Xbox® 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft is available for purchase via Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360 using Microsoft Points and is downloaded directly to the hard drive of Xbox 360. Downloadable content for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system’s version of Rock Band is available for purchase on the PlayStation®Store through the free PlayStation®Network and is downloaded directly to PLAYSTATION 3 system’s built in hard drive. Downloadable content for the Wii™ home videogame console from Nintendo is available for purchase through the in-game Rock Band music store using Wii points that can be purchased through the Wii Shop Channel. Additional storage in the form of an SD card may be necessary for Rock Band track downloads to the Wii system.
Rock Band 2 is rated “T” for Teen with descriptors of lyrics and suggestive themes by the ESRB.
Press Release – Expand your universe, 4 Add On packs coming for Sins of a Solar Empire!
Bracknell, October 2008
Kalypso Media have today announced they will be publishing 4 Add On packs for the hit space strategy PC game Sins of a Solar Empire. The first of these Add On packs will be published in Q4 2008 for £7.99 and available via download from Impulse.
Sins of a Solar Empire, which was brought to Europe by Kalypso Media has been a huge hit throughout Europe reaching second place in both the British and French PC game charts.
Sins of a Solar Empire has provided gamers with real-time strategy gaming in a new dimension. In Sins of a Solar Empire the future survival of the human race is at threat, with three mighty races fighting over control of the galaxy. Players have the opportunity to command one of these three races and attempt to survive and dominate the galaxy. Your success depends on your ability to govern your empire and to command your star-fleet. A finaly balanced combination of diplomacy, economics and military power are vital for gaining the upper hand and becoming Master of the Universe!
The first Add On will include:
- Star Bases, which can be customized and upgraded over time
- Race specific Star Bases which will have a unique variety of upgradable characteristics. The ability to upgrade your Star Bases is limited so players will have to think strategically and plan carefully!
- The number of Star Bases each gamer can control will now be limited by a new research feature.
- More Star Base goodies – both race specific and generic.
- Mine field designs specific to each race and essential for hindering and endangering enemy forces.
- More types of mines.
- More defence systems both race specific and generic.
- New artifacts and planet properties.
- And much more…
The first Sins of a Solar Empire Add On will be available via download at the online platform Impulse in Q4 2008.
Star Ocean: First Departure!
This is an enhanced remake of the first game of the Star Ocean series for the PSP. I have really high expectations on this game. It looks pretty awesome, just like Star Ocean: The Second Story did. Star Ocean: First Departure has some new playable characters too and better graphics. They never released the orginial Star Ocean outside of Japan when it first came, so now they want us to be a part of it as well, both North America and Europe! Thank you Square Enix!
Release dates:
North America – October 21st, 2008
Europe – October 24th, 2008
Here are some screenshots:
First impressions of Far Cry 2
Been playing Far Cry 2 for about 30 minutes now. The game looks great! Very beautiful terrains. Just love the intro while you ride in a car with a taxidriver and you can watch all around you while he drives the car – enjoying the view and happenings all around you.
I think this game will be a great journey!
Videos – Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria
Here are some teasers for the upcoming expansion Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria. (click the pictures to play)
Trailer
View of Moria
Rune-keeper
Warden
