The Guildhall at SMU Students score $30k in scholarships

Recently at a luncheon hosted by The Guildhall at SMU, ten students were awarded $30,000 in scholarship funding. Ten students were awarded scholarships on behalf of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS), D3Publisher and the Entertainment Software Association Foundation.

The $10,000 AIAS Academy Scholarship is awarded biannually to an incoming student who students who exemplify “the organization’s spirit and commitment to advancing the global interactive community.” The ESA Foundation Computer and Videogame Scholarship Program recognizes academic excellence of women and minorities pursuing a Master’s degree or graduate certificate at SMU with an annual scholarship of $10,000. D3Publisher honored students who have excelled academically by granting the $10,000 Shane Hensley Scholarship for Game Development Excellence this year.

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Wizard of Oz RPG coming to DS in Sept.

XSEED Games today announced that The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road will be shipping in North America exclusively for the Nintendo DS on September 2. Released as RIZ-ZOAWD by D3Publisher in Japan, THE WIZARD OF OZ: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road is an RPG inspired by the classic story of Dorothy and her magical journey through the Land of Oz, revealing a new perspective on what happened after reaching the end of the Yellow Brick Road.

XSEED Games partnered with D3Publisher to secure the North American rights to publish and distribute THE WIZARD OF OZ: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road in North America. The game is being developed by Media.Vision and will be available September 29 for a suggested retail price of $29.99. The game was licensed from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and is rated E for Everyone. Find out more by easing down the road to www.wizardofozds.com.

Astro Boy The Video Game gets star power

D3Publisher announced today that Astro Boy The Video Game, based on Imagi Studios’ upcoming CG-animated movie, will feature the voice talents of Freddie Highmore and Kristen Bell. Both actors will reprise their onscreen voiced roles of Astro Boy (Highmore), and Cora (Bell) in the video game that will take players on an adventure to save Metro City from the clutches of evil.

Astro Boy The Video Game will be available in North American retail stores for Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, and the PSP on October 20, 2009 to coincide with Summit Entertainment’s nationwide domestic release of the movie on October 23, 2009.

For more information on Astro Boy The Video Game, including game features, screenshots, and videos, visit www.AstroBoytheVideogame.com.

Astro Boy Game this Fall

D3Publisher will bring a video game based on Imagi Studios’ new CG-animated movie, Astro Boy, to Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, and the PSP this fall. The games are based on the upcoming feature film, which in turn is inspired by Japanese animated series and the comic books. The game will ship worldwide this fall to coincide with the North American and international release of the movie in October 2009 from Summit Entertainment.

The game lets players take on the role of Astro Boy, as he takes to the streets and skies on a never ending mission to save Metro City from the clutches of the evil President Stone and his robot army. An arsenal of weapons and abilities will be available to help you accomplish this task including Finger Lasers, Arm Cannon, Butt Machine Guns and Drill Attacks. Players will take on an endless supply of robots and the occasional boss using these weapons and rocket boosters to hover, avoid enemies and zip out of the way of danger when necessary.

Astro Boy: The Video Game for Wii, PlayStation 2 system and PSP system is under development by High Voltage Software and Nintendo DS by Art Co. Ltd.

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix now on PlayStation Network

D3Publisher passed along a reminder that Infinite Interactive’s Puzzle Quest: Galactrix is now available for immediate download for the PS3 via PlayStation Network. The PlayStation Network version of Puzzle Quest: Galactrix supports online multiplayer, matchmaking, leaderboards, voice chat and more for $19.99.

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix is a spaced themed action puzzle game that uses similar game mechanics found in Puzzle Quest. The game incorporates a blend of casual and hardcore gameplay elements, a hexagonal puzzle board, detailed storyline and ship building.

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix for PS3 joins previously released versions of the game on Xbox Live Arcade, the DS and Windows PC. Find out more at www.puzzle-quest.com.

The Great Puzzle Quest: Galactrix Code Rush

We are is giving away an undisclosed number of Xbox Live Arcade codes for Infinite Interactive ’s Puzzle Quest: Galactrix . To get a code - on a first come first serve basis - send an email to prizes@crispygamer.com with the subject line Puzzle Quest: Galactrix Code to claim one.

Published by D3 Publisher of America, Infinite Interactive’s Puzzle Quest: Galactrix takes the formula that worked so well with the original Puzzle Quest game and puts it in a new sci-fi setting where instead of battling wizards and knights you battle other races throughout the universe.

Players create a pilot who must gain skills, crafts items, political clout and upgrades to create the ultimate space fleet. Besides the new setting, the game uses an all new hexagonal puzzle board and brand new elements like hacking leapgates, negotiating with factions, trading commodities and collecting blueprints.

If you aren’t lucky enough to get a code, you can always buy the game on Xbox Live Marketplace as well as other platforms like PlayStation Network, Nintendo DS and Windows. Find out more by visiting www.d3publisher.us.

Namco Buyout of D3 a Done Deal

Last month, we reported the news that Namco Bandai had plans to acquire D3 Publisher, and now it’s all but a done deal. Early this morning, D3 and Namco Bandai announced that the two companies have reached agreements which will give Namco Bandai a 95 percent stake in D3, with plans in place for the remaining 5 percent to be picked up in the immediate future. The total cost so far to Namco Bandai for the acquisition of the Puzzle Quest: Galactrix publisher? Just over $12.5 million.

Aside from the obvious benefits of picking up more than a handful of unique titles, such as Puzzle Quest, Dead Head Fred, and Onechanbara, Namco Bandai will also benefit from the acquisition of a bigger piece of the Naruto franchise’s pie in the states. Something just as important to Namco Bandai, though, might be the included acquisition of Vicious Cycle and its cross-platform Vicious Engine technology, which can be used in game development on nearly every platform under the sun, from the PS3 and 360 to the DS and PSP.

While there are still a few i’s left to dot and t’s left to cross, it looks like everything will continue to move forward with all companies involved in the acquisition, and no changes are expected in the development cycles of any games currently in the works from either D3 or Namco Bandai.