Blood Bowl: Dark Elves Edition dated

Blood Bowl: Dark Elves Edition will be released on Steam November 26, according to Focus Home Interactive. Blood Bowl is an ultra-violent team sport set in the Warhammer fantasy universe that lets players compose a team of Orcs, Elves, Humans, Dwarves and many other fantasy creatures before jumping into the bloodiest arenas in the realms. The sport game is both strategic and violent and requires tactics, and a lot of self-confidence.

Recently released in Europe where it reached first place on the PC charts, Blood Bowl will be launched in the United States on the Steam digital platform starting November 26. Preorders started on November 19th. A brand new version of the game will be available for American players via Steam. The new version features the original eight races and an additional playable race: the dreadful Dark Elves. The Dark Elves will have their own star player, cheerleaders, and play style.

More details, including a video of this new race , can be found at www.bloodbowl-game.com.

Gillette, EA SPORTS team up for Champions of Gaming

Gillette and EA SPORTS have teamed up for the Second Annual Gillette - EA SPORTS Champions of Gaming Tournament on Xbox 360, a multi-sport online gaming competition that pits gamers from around the globe against each other, and the winners against some of the biggest names in the world of sports, including Gillette Champion Tiger Woods.

Last year the tournament saw more than 350,000 gamers participate last year, and EA Sports expects the same turn out for this year’s event. The Tournament begins on November 18 and runs through February 14, 2010. Xbox 360 owners will be able to compete against others on Xbox LIVE within their geographical region on several EA SPORTS titles including - Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10, EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 10, Madden NFL 10, NHL 10 and Fight Night Round 4.

Winners who climb to the top of their region on each title will have the chance to be crowned a Gillette - EA SPORTS Champion of Gaming at the Final Event in March 2010. At the Tournament Finals, Gillette Champion Tiger Woods, as well as other sports superstars, are scheduled to take on one of the five Gillette - EA SPORTS Champions of Gaming participants in an EA SPORTS title.

To compete in the Gillette - EA SPORTS Champions of Gaming Tournament, gamers must have valid e-mail address, access to a Microsoft Xbox 360, the EA SPORTS video game in which the player is competing, a valid EA SPORTS account in good standing, a valid Xbox LIVE Gold Member account and a valid Windows Live ID with their Xbox LIVE Gamertag linked.

For more information on the event, check out www.gillette.com/easports2010.

Tecmo reveals NBA UNRIVALED

TECMO announced a partnership this week with developer A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. Games to release NBA UNRIVALED exclusively for download on Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation Network. Combining arcade fun and retro styling, this sports title will be available in time to kick off the 2009-2010 NBA basketball season with all 30 NBA teams and players from the latest rosters. From expressive cut scenes to exaggerated slams, the game will be reminiscent of arcade basketball favorites. At this time, no such game exists via digital download.

Game features include all 30 NBA teams and the top players from the 2009-2010 season, full 5-on-5 team arcade-style gameplay, various multiplayer modes ( Player vs. Player, or 2 Players vs. CPU), arcade style (spiffy effects, crazy dunks, and fast paced action), lots of Unlockables, HD graphics, and more.

The game will be released on both PSN and XBLA today. Find out more at www.nbaunrivaledgame.com.

Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage heads to retail

Ubisoft’s Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage is now available in stores across North America. Developed by Ubisoft Montréal in collaboration with Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White, the game is available exclusively for the Wii. Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage allows players to live the life of a professional snowboarder vicariously through a video game.

The game features various modes of extreme sports play in such locales as New York’s Times Square and competitions in France, Canada, Japan and more. The game promises lots of new events 75 new challenges, seamless co-op multiplayer options, compatibility with Wii MotionPlus and Wii Balance Board, the ability to create and name your own snowboarding tricks, customizable charcters and more.

For more information, visit www.shaunwhitegame.com. Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage is rated “E” for Everyone and available for an MSRP of $49.99

EA Sports MMA signs deal with STRIKEFORCE

Electronic Arts has signed the mixed martial arts fight promotion, STRIKEFORCE, as a premier league in the upcoming EA SPORTS MMA video game. In addition, Brett Rogers and Jake Shields, both of whom will be competing in the STRIKEFORCE and M-1 Global co-promoted fight on November 7 (broadcasted live by CBS), join the EA SPORTS MMA roster of fighters.

The partnership will see the STRIKEFORCE cage and the league’s commentary team of Frank Shamrock and Mauro Ranallo, as well as ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr., be incorporated into the game. Martial arts referee “Big John” McCarthy will preside over the in-ring action as well. Also slated to appear on the fighter roster for EA SPORTS MMA are STRIKEFORCE stars Jason “Mayhem” Miller and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal. Miller and Lawal were announced via a video last month during their visit to the development studio.

EA SPORTS MMA will be available on the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 in 2010.

Vancouver 2010 cover athletes revealed

SEGA of America is partnering with top American and Canadian gold medal contenders Lindsey Vonn (USA; alpine skiing), Seth Wescott (USA; snowboard cross), Kristina Groves (Canada; speed skating) and Matthew Morison (Canada; snowboard) to appear on the cover of the upcoming video game Vancouver 2010 - The Official Video Game of the Olympic Winter Games.

The game will be available for purchase at North American retailers on January 12th, 2010 for the Xbox 360, the PS3 and the PC via digital download.

The games are being developed by Eurocom Entertainment Software. Find out more at www.olympicvideogames.com.

It came from retail: what’s in stores this week

Tuesday is release day and there are plenty of new games to choose from including shooters, games based on movies heavy weight sports titles, games for girls,  games about apocalyptic wastelands, ports of games that should have sold better than they did,  games  involving dudes in spandex and more.

Come and take a tour of this week’s best and worst  releases after the break - you probably won’t regret it, but if you do i’ll give you a refund (let’s see, 0 - 0 = ?).

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