Village Gamer

Transgaming Inc. has launched a brand new web site for its game development studio. Transgaming Studio features information about its launched titles, In The Mix Featuring Armin van Buuren, G-G-Goal, and the recently released PuzzleQuest: Challenge of the WarLords for iOS. Also featured is news about its latest game in development, Garage Inc. for the Mac, PC, iPhone and GameTreeTV. Garage Inc., a time management game set in 1928 Chicago, is based on an original IP by Global Fun and is being produced through a partnership with Breakthrough Entertainment. Players will guide recent Italian immigrant, Angelo Marito, as he tries to manage and grow a car garage. Game play features include the ability to diagnose and fix cars, hire workers, and try to steer clear of the ever-present mob while pursuing the American dream.

Capcom has announced that the Dead Rising 2 Ninja Theme Pack is now available on Xbox Live, Games for Windows Live and the PlayStation Network. With the new ninja pack, Chuck gains a “stealth mode” that allows him to evade zombies by making it harder for them to detect Chuck’s presence. Sword-type weapons (broadswords, katanas, etc.) have their attack power increased and will allow Chuck to perform new special attacks. Stackable items and throwing items such as nails, plates, gems, etc. will also do more damage and Chuck’s throwing speed is increased. The Dead Rising 2 Ninja Theme Pack is available for 160 Microsoft points, or $1.99 on the PlayStation Network.

AudioKinetic’s Wwise 2010.1.2 platform has been nominated for a Game Developer magazine 2010 Front Line Award in the Audio Category. Also named as nominees in this category are FMOD Designer 4.32 (Firelight Technologies), Miles Sound System 8 (RAD Game Tools), ProRemote 2.0.1 (Far Out Labs) and ProTools 8.0.4 (Avid Technology).

For this year’s Front Line Awards, both Game Developer magazine subscribers and Gamasutra.com community members were surveyed to nominate the best game development-related products. Following consultation with Game Developer’s advisory board and editors, finalists were selected based on criteria such as utility, innovation, value, and ease of use.

“This year’s finalists represent a healthy mix of industry standards and intriguing new approaches, along with technologies of particular interest to social game developers,” said Jeffrey Fleming, production editor for Game Developer. “The editors of Game Developer extend our congratulations to all of this year’s Front Line Award finalists!”

The 2010 FLA finalists will be featured in December 2010’s issue of Game Developer magazine, and video game professionals are now invited to vote for the winners, with one randomly picked voter receiving an all-access pass to Game Developers Conference 2011 in San Francisco. Voting is open until Monday, November 8th.

The final winners for the prestigious awards, plus one inductee to the Front Line Awards Hall of Fame chosen for its outstanding contribution to the game development industry for five years or more, will be announced in the January 2011 issue of Game Developer magazine, available to subscribers in early January.

Ludia Games has announced the launch of the Family Fortunes game for iPhone® and iPod touch® on the UK App Store. Based on the popular UK Family Fortunes TV game show, produced by talkbackTHAMES for ITV, iPhone and iPod touch owners can now play anywhere, anytime as the leader of a ‘family’ in a contest to name the most popular answers to survey questions posed to 100 people. The game features all of the favorite elements of the show as played on television, including the scoreboard, lives, Single Money, Double Money and Big Money. Players also can enjoy Family Fortunes in multiplayer mode as they challenge family and friends head-to-head, or compete solo against the computer.

“We are excited to bring the highly popular Family Fortunes game to revolutionary products like the iPhone and iPod touch,” said Alex Thabet, Founder and CEO of Ludia Inc. “This release reinforces our strategy of delivering high quality, family-friendly game experiences on all the devices on which people like to play games.”

Family Fortunes for iPhone and iPod touch features:

· Two game modes: single and multiplayer. Authentic stage, theme music and sound effects create a true-to-show game experience.
· Predictive text input and auto spell checker make typing answers lightning fast.
· Fully customizable player avatars – choose hairstyles, clothing, accessories and more.
· Unlock bonus items as a reward for progress in the game.

“Family Fortunes is the perfect format for interactive game show fun on the go,” said Robert Marsh, Head of talkbackTHAMES digital. “We are pleased to extend the franchise to devices like the iPhone and iPod touch so that new and existing fans of the show can experience Family Fortunes in thrilling new ways.”