This month is much busier than January, and if you are a sci-fi fan this is the month for you, with titles like “Dead Space 3” and “Aliens: Colonial Marines.” If a fan of classics there are series like “Sly Cooper” and “Fire Emblem” for you. Odds are there will be some type of game for you to enjoy this month.

 Action

(2/5/Tuesday) Dead Space 3 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC)

(2/5/Tuesday) Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita)

(2/12/Tuesday) Aliens: Colonial Marines (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC)

(2/19/Tuesday) Crysis 3 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC)

(2/19/Tuesday) Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)

“Dead Space 3” is the third game in the Dead Space series. This new campaign will have a drop-in/drop-out function that will result in each player having different experiences, depending on which character he or she is playing as. Players will also be able to construct new weapons from parts found throughout the game.

“Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time” is the fourth game in the Sly Cooper series and the first game in the series to be released for the PlayStation 3. A new feature to the series is collecting costumes which, when on, will give Sly new abilities. Worlds in the game will be three times the size of those in the original games, and there will be local multiplayer in some sections of the game.

“Aliens: Colonial Marines” is a game based on the Alien film franchise. Players will be able to use iconic weapons from the movie, such as flamethrowers, pulse rifles, smartguns, shotguns, pistols, RPGs, and robotic sentry turrets. Collecting experience points by killing enemies, the gamer will be able to customize a player, get upgrades for weapons, and unlock skill sets. There will also be some new alien types designed solely for the game.

“Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance” is a game that takes place between “Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty” and “Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.” The game features a cutting system that players can use in melee combat. The system will also allow the player to cut through anything from enemies and vehicles, to the environment around. There is also a stealth mode called “Ninja Dash,” giving the player the choice to ambush enemies, or take them head to head.

 RPG

(2/4/Monday) Fire Emblem: Awakening (Nintendo 3DS)

(2/26/Tuesday) Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan (Nintendo 3DS)

“Fire Emblem: Awakening” is the fifth game in the main series to be released in the US. Some new features to the series will include an “Avatar” system that allows you to create and customize your character. There will be 40 different classes each, with a set of different skills which the player will be able to change. The game will also feature different difficulty settings such as “normal,” “hard,” “lunatic,” and “lunatic plus.” Two different modes will also be available “casual” and “classic,” with “classic” featuring permadeath, a state in which a character dies and is permanently dead, meaning the character cannot be revived after battle. 

“Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan” is the fourth game in the Etrian Odyssey series and the first of the series to be for the Nintendo 3DS. The game will feature new and improved 3D graphics and special effects. The game also allows the player to map out a path and the dangers to encounter. There will also be a “Casual Play” mode that is a little easier for newcomers or beginners.

 Multiplayers

(2/5/Tuesday) Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U)

(2/8/Friday) We Sing 80s (Wii)

(2/26/Tuesday) Rayman Legends (Wii U)

“Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2” is the sequel to “Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage.” This game will have enemies attacking in hordes. Movement and combat have also become faster and smoother. The game also features two modes “Legend Mode” and “Dream Mode.” “Legend Mode” is a streamlined campaign with several playable characters. “Dream Mode” shows the back stories of the playable characters, and has alternate paths for the characters to choose.

“We Sing 80s” is a karaoke game that has songs only from the 1980s. The player will sing along to the music, matching pitch and rhythm. It also includes “anti-cheat” technology so that tapping or humming will register, but no points will be received.

“Rayman Legends” is the fifth game in the main Rayman series, and the direct sequel to “Rayman Origins.” Up to four players will be able to play with a fifth player, helping the others using the Wii U Gamepad. This makes it imperative on several levels for players to cooperate in order to proceed ahead.

The article February Game Releases for 2013 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

In a press release Senior Producer, Kevin Leathers answered questions about developing Nordic Games’ latest serving of the ridiculously popular We Sing franchise, We Sing 80s.

Interviewer: So, how long have you been part of the team at Wired Productions? 

Kevin Leathers (KL): I have been part of the Wired Productions team, from the outset, for four years, and I have been in charge of We Sing development for the last year.

Interviewer: As Senior Producer, what is your role with regards to the We Sing games?

KL: As Producer, my role with the We Sing series is to make sure that we maintain the high levels of quality that the series is known for, as well as managing and maintaining our relationship with developer Le Cortex and publisher Nordic Games. Not only that, but also establishing and maintaining the relationships with the many record labels that we have regular contact with for licensing the songs that appear on the We Sing games.

Interviewer: What has been the biggest challenge with We Sing 80s and with the We Sing franchise as a whole?

KL: Choosing and licensing the songs can be the biggest challenge for a We Sing game. There are many songs that we think should be in a game, including personal favourites and generally songs that just plain rock. If we could, we would put them all in, but after all the “heated debates” about why Spandau Ballet are a better fit than Duran Duran, it eventually comes down to a few key factors, including, what can actually be licensed from our thoroughly researched list of songs, performance and global appeal. Music licensing can be challenging, but when you get a track list full of hits, and a really fun, appealing game, the rewards are very satisfying.

Interviewer: What is new about We Sing 80s? 

KL: Well, the big new thing is quite obvious in the title of the game. This time we are focusing on the great music of the 1980s. It was a decade very much defined by its own unique sounds and many flamboyant artist, we aim to do that justice with We Sing 80s celebrating one of music’s most iconic and well-loved decades.

Interviewer: Since the first game launched in 2009, the We Sing series of games have been ridiculously popular, what is it, do you think, that makes them so endearing to gamers?

KL: I believe We Sing’s popularity comes from both its simplicity and accessibility. While the aim of the game is to see how many points you can earn from how well you sing, it’s designed to allow even the more challenged singers to have a good time. Everything can be accessed straight away, and with the ability to have up to four singers at the same time, those that are a little shy when standing and singing in front of others have the pressure taken off of them. This makes it a much more fun and comfortable experience for everyone.

Interviewer: What game play feature would you love to add to the We Sing series of games?

KL: I would love to add DLC (Downloadable Content) to the We Sing series and we know it is one of the features that fans have been crying out for. We haven’t been able to do it up to now due to the limitations of the Wii, in terms of storage size and download limits, and also in getting the balance of quality to match. Though you never know what will happen in the future.

Interviewer: The 80s are such an iconic era; we can’t stop revisiting the fashion, the music, the culture! What do you think it is about the 80s that makes it such a memorable and iconic decade?

KL: The 80s was so unique in many ways, that I think it endears itself long in the memories of those that witnessed it first-hand. For the younger generation, as you say, there are so many 80s references in much of today’s music, fashion and culture. It’s a period that definitely lends itself to a party and we’re hoping We Sing 80s helps people relive the fun and flamboyance of that period.

Interviewer: What’s your favourite song on We Sing 80s?

KL: Do I have to choose one? It has to be Queen – I Want to Break Free. You can’t have a good karaoke session without a bit of Freddy Mercury.

Interviewer: What song do you wish could have made it onto We Sing 80s?

KL: If I could I would have had the 80’s classic, ‘Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors’ theme tune. (http://youtu.be/hLU1GfIIGLE). Oh you want an actual song? I would have loved to have some Guns ‘n’ Roses – Paradise City in We Sing 80s. This has to be one of the classic songs of the 80s and in rock as a whole.

Interviewer: We all know you’re far too young to have witnessed the 80s first-hand, but, who is your favourite 80s artist and what’s your favourite 80s song?

KL: Hey, some of the greatest kids TV comes from the 80s! There are some obvious ones like Duran Duran, The Human League, Frankie Goes to Hollywood that could be reeled off, but if I had to choose I would have to say Madness. They were a band that was never afraid to have fun with their music and also their videos. It is something that is genuinely missing in a lot of bands today. My favourite song has to be ‘Our House’, which again, was a fun, light-hearted song.

Interviewer: So, what’s next for We Sing and for Wired Productions? 

KL: Unfortunately I can’t go much into too much detail about what’s next for We Sing, we have to keep some surprises. What I can say, is that we are working hard on the future of the franchise and hope that what we have in store will delight and surprise everyone at the same time. For Wired Productions we are currently working on our first PlayStation Vita title Let’s Fish! Hooked On, that’s something I am very excited about.

We Sing 80s is out now, produced by Wired Productions.

The article We Sing 80s Q&A With Kevin Leathers appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

London, UK – Imagine if next month’s release of We Sing 80s wasn’t a glorious retrospective of the decade’s best tunes, but a contemporary release featuring current smash hits.

That’s the question posed by publisher Nordic Games, as it releases a video showing what We Sing 80s would have looked like had it been released on the most popular Nintendo console of the day.

The video shows a team of nostalgic fans that have been desperate to play singing games on their classic consoles crooning away to the most memorable 80s songs on the NES.  Complete with 8-bit graphics and glorious 8-bit mono sound, including hits from Queen, Lionel Richie and the Human League, fans of the We Sing series can now see how it would look to truly roll back the years.

You can check out 80s enthusiast Jennifer Regan and friends getting to grips with their NES version here:

“There are many nostalgic fans out there who would love to dust off their retro consoles and play singing games – this video gives them a taste of what it would be like,” says Nik Blower, Sales and Marketing Director, Nordic Games. “Music and videogame consoles were the decade’s most memorable exports so marrying the two together would be a match made in heaven.”

We Sing 80s – due for release on October 5, exclusively on Nintendo Wii – is the latest in the hugely successful series of singing games.

The game continues to support up to four players simultaneously with four separate microphones. Party mode includes We Sing, Versus, Group Battle, Pass The Mic, First to X, Marathon, Blind and Expert. There’s also Solo mode, which can also be played in Blind and Expert mode. Karaoke mode strips the track of vocals to really challenge players, or those that fancy an authentic karaoke experience.

Other features include Singing Lessons to help singers fine tune their voices and a Jukebox to queue up songs like their own personal music channel.

In-game awards can be achieved by either single or multiplayer modes, adding further depth and replay value to We Sing 80s. Plus, once a track has been sung, players can replay performances and add cool effects to their voice.

Players can score extra points from hitting hard notes and Player Statistics give a detailed breakdown on performance on notes hit and missed with a comment on your performance at the end.

We Sing 80s is set to be released on the October 5. For more information on We Sing 80s and other Nordic Games titles, please visit www.nordicgames.se.

The article What “We Sing 80s” Would Have Been Without Wii appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Nordic Games announced on September 10, 2012, the third group of tracks for the much anticipated We Sing 80s due for release on September 28.

The past two weeks have seen 14 of 30 tracks from the 1980s that will feature in the sing-along music sensation that is We Sing 80s. This week a further eight tracks are revealed via the Facebook Jukebox app and fans using the app will be given the chance to get their hands on a copy before anyone else.

The third batch of songs to be revealed is:

• Queen – I Want to Break Free
• Toto – Africa
• Frankie Goes to Hollywood – The Power of Love
• Starship – Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now
• The Human League – Don’t You Want Me
• Sade – Smooth Operator
• Lionel Ritchie – All Night Long (All Night)
• Cameo – Word Up!

One of the most famous rock bands in history, Queen, make their way on the tracklist for We Sing 80s with I Want To Break Free.  In April 1984, the song hit number three in the UK and featured in the top 10 of a number of European and Latin American countries.

Africa, sung by rock band Toto featured on their 1982 album Toto IV. It reached number three in the UK Singles Chart in February 1983 and in the same month Africa took the sates by storm and achieved the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Released by Frankie Goes to Hollywood in November 1984, The Power of Love had a slower melodic rhythm that stood out from other tracks. With the video’s decidedly festive theme, the track reached the top of the tree as the Christmas number one in the UK.

Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now, recorded by American rock band Starship hit number one in the Billboard Hot 100 on April 4, 1987. The song’s meteoric rise saw it reach number one in the UK Singles Chart for up to four weeks the following month and became the UK’s second biggest selling single of 1987.

One of the most memorable tracks of the 80s, Don’t You Want Me sung by The Human League had music lovers euphoric, with 1,400,000 copies sold in the UK, making it the 25th most successful single in UK Singles Chart history. In 1981, Don’t You Want Me hit was Christmas number 1 in the United Kingdom and later topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in the United States in July 1982.

Smooth Operator was the fourth and final single to be released from the group Sade from their debut album Diamond Life in 1984.The song lives up to its name with beautiful instrumental and smoothly sung lyrics. It peaked at number five in the US Billboard Hot 100 charts and was Sade’s most successful international hit.

The ever famous Lionel Ritchie raised his profile ever more with timeless classic All Night Long (All Night). Lionel Ritchie took a new dance approach, which proved popular and helped All Night Long reach number one on three Billboard charts (Pop, R&B and Adult Contemporary). It was also a huge success in the UK, remaining at number two on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks.

Cameo, the soul-influenced funk group from America focused on their funk dance tracks and the track Word Up! saw a continuation of that theme. The song was an immense success in the 80s making many chart appearances, with Cameo’s first US Top 40 hit peaking at number six. “Word Up!” also spent three weeks at number one on the US Hot Black Singles chart, one week at number one on the US Hot Dance Singles chart and reached number three in the United Kingdom.

We Sing 80s will be released on September 28. The remaining eight songs will be unveiled next week and you can check out the playlist to date on the Facebook app: http://www.facebook.com/WeSingGame.

The article “We Sing 80s” Release Their Latest Tracks appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The countdown continues as Nordic Games announced on September 3, 2012, the second group of tracks for the much anticipated “We Sing 80s.”

Last week, Nordic Games introduced the first seven of the 30 chart topping, sing along classics from the 80s, as the full list is gradually revealed over the course of four weeks. This week the next seven tracks are revealed via the Facebook Jukebox app and once again fans using the app will have a chance to win a copy of the game.

The second batch of songs to be revealed is:

• Cyndi Lauper – “True Colours”
• Tears for Fear – “Shout”
• Yazoo – “Only Uou”
• Lisa Stansfield – “All Around the World”
• Paula Abdul – “Straight Up”
• Simple Minds – “Alive and Kicking”
• Baltimora – “Tarzan Boy”

The hugely popular “True Colours” is known worldwide and rightfully fits on the tracklist for We Sing 80s. Performed by Cyndi Lauper, it spent two weeks in the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and the song received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

“Shout,” sung by the British band Tears for Fears, was released in 1984, the heart of the 80s. A synth-rock anthem, Shout would become one of the most successful pop songs of 1985 eventually reaching the Top Ten in 25 countries.

Yazoo released “Only You” in 1982, featuring its smooth synthesized melody beat that took the song as high as number two in the UK charts. The song’s popularity was further increased by being covered the Flying Pickets, which took it to the UK Christmas number one in 1983.

“All Around The World” was a relatively late release in the 80s, with the title being launched in November 1989. However Lisa Stansfield made this song a hit with “All Around The World” hitting the top spot for two weeks in a row in the UK and reaching number one in 11 other countries.

Paula Abdul is a woman of many talents: a singer-song writer, dancer, choreographer, actress and a mainstay in American television reality show “The X Factor USA”. Paula Abdul will always be remembered for her 1988 hit single “Straight Up,” which reached number one in the Billboard Hot 100.

Simple Minds were certainly “Alive and Kicking” in 1985 with the title making it to number seven in the UK singles chart and hitting the heights of number three in the US Billboard Hot 100, retaining a spot in the top five for four weeks. “Alive and Kicking” remains a classic today having been used on BSkyB’s FA Premier League trailers.

In 1985, Baltimora released its debut single “Tarzan Boy” and it became an instant hit with its smooth dance beat, dominating charts across Europe. Its great success was in France where it topped the charts for five consecutive weeks. “Tarzan Boy” was so successful it has been covered by many artists over the years.

“These next set of titles we’ve accumulated for ‘We Sing 80s’ truly does justice to the music from that era” says Nik Blower, Sales and Marketing Director, Nordic Games. “There are tracks in there everyone will know and love and we look forward to revealing further hits next week.”

‘We Sing 80s’ will be released on September 28. Eight more songs will be unveiled next week and you can check out the playlist to date on the Facebook app: http://www.facebook.com/WeSingGame.

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