Global Game Jam 2010 registration opens

Registration for the 2010 Global Game Jam will begin this Saturday, November 21, allowing those interested in securing their spot at one of more than 90 locations worldwide. The 2010 GGJ will take place January 29-31, 2010 and is expected to eclipse last year’s success which saw 1,650 participants across 23 countries and 54 venues.

Global Game Jam is an interesting competition where creative types team up to create games in a short amount of time and then share them with the community. It’s fun stuff and exciting to watch – let alone participate in.

Chances are there’s a location that is in your general vicinity if you want to participate or just stop by to see all the magic happen first-hand; for example, there’s one location in Albany, NY and another in Troy, Ny - both about an hour away from where I live - and another location in New York City, should any of the Crispy Gamer staff want to check it out.

Confirmed locations for Global Game Jam 2010 after the break.

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Champions Online Nemesis Event

If you have played Champions Online (I have, see my train wreck of a review for details) then chances are you inevitably created a nemesis to dog your every step. This arch enemy that you create yourself from scratch will prove to be even more difficult next week when Cryptic Studios launches the Nemesis Confrontation event.

The event gives players the chance to team up with other players to take down their nemesis, who is a bit more aggressive than usual. But the added twist is that your buddy’s nemesis will team up with your nemesis to provide double trouble. You most hated villains are apparently going to try to cause a rift in the fabric of reality to destroy the Champions universe. In addition to all the minions associated with your nemesis, you’ll have to deal with new enemy types in a new location.

The event begins on Tuesday, Nov. 24, and extends into the weekend after Thanksgiving. The weekend of Nov. 27 and 28th will also be a free play weekend, so those that have given up on the game can return for the fun. Watch your back, Pizza Delivery Dude - I might be coming for you next week.

Find out more at Champions-Online.com.

Dragon Age: Origins event: Wardens’ Quest

BioWare announced the Dragon Age: Origins Wardens’Quest, a 24 hour gaming event for Dragon Age: Origins. To celebrate the launch of the game, BioWare is inviting gamers and press from North America and across Europe to put their skills and endurance to the test. On October 28, at 10:00 AM GMT, ten teams of four players each will explore the game in their 24 hour quest to claim the grand prize. Each winning team member will receive $12,500. Official rules can be found at www.wardensquest.com.

There will be ten participating teams representing their countries: the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands and Belgium, Spain, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and a specially selected team comprised of BioWare fans from around the world. The competition will take place in the Debating Chamber at County Hall in London, England. BioWare staff and costumed actors will further make the event even more uncomfortable to watch or be a part of. I’m glad I am not one of those people. Just saying.

Dragon Age: Origins will be released on November 3 in North America on the PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360 and PC. The game will ship on November 6th in Europe on PC, the Xbox 360 and later in November on the PlayStation 3. Dragon Age: Origins is rated M by the ESRB and 18+ by PEGI.

2010 D.I.C.E. Summit speakers announced

The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences revealed its line-up of initial speakers for the 2010 D.I.C.E. Summit taking place at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, February 17-19, 2010. The speaker line-up is an interesting mix of legal professionals, entertainment industry luminaries and game developers at the forefront of the field.

The 2010 line-up includes Dr Susana Martinez-Conde and Dr. Stephen L. Macknik, Laboratory Directors at The Barrow Institute; Ken Doroshow, Senior Council, Electronic Software Association , former Senior VP, Litigation and Legal Affairs, Recording Industry Association of America, and senior counsel to the United States Department of Justice; Matias Myllrinne, President of Remedy Entertainment, makers of the upcoming Alan Wake; Steve Perlman, Founder, President and CEO, OnLive; and Professor Jesse Schell, Carnegie Mellon University, who teaches Entertainment Technology, specializing in Game Design - and formerly Director of the Walt Disney Imagineering VR Studio.

The D.I.C.E. Summit 2010 is also the home of the 13th annual Interactive Achievement Awards, which takes place on February 18th (and once again hosted by Jay Mohr). Immediately following D.I.C.E. this year, will be the Indie Games Challenge winners announcements and celebration.

Registration for the event is currently open and those that register by October 30th will get special 2009 early bird pricing. Find out more by visiting www.dicesummit.org.

Free Realms celebrates Halloween in style

Feel like dancing like that awful show on ABC? Well Sony Online Entertainment is hosting what it calls the Biggest Virtual Halloween Dance Party ever in its free to play MMO for all ages, Free Realms.

Everyone is encouraged to log on to Free Realms at 4pm PDT - 6pm PDT (11pm - 1am UTC) this Wednesday, October 21st to show off their new Halloween costumes and get down to with the “Chiller” Boom box dance. Scheduled to be certified by the Guinness Book of World Records, this celebration will be offset by well-known dance moves and a notable tune that promises for a thrilling good time.

If you’re interested in getting involved, check out www.FreeRealms.com for all the dirty little details. SOe will also introduce 14 new Halloween quests, spooky mini-games, trick-or-treating, 2 new trading card game Quest Packs and more than 35 costumes for pets and players.

2010 Game Business Law Summit registration opens

Registration for 2010 Game::Business::Law Summit is now via game-business-law.com for those interested in this legally focused game business conference hosted by SMU Dedman School of Law, The Guildhall at SMU, and The Center for American and International Law. Taking place January 27-28, 2010, at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX., 2010 Game::Business::Law Summit promises to bring top game industry leaders, developers, publishers, lawyers and members of the venture capital and financial industry from around the world to discuss current business trends and legal issues in the games industry.

The 2009 Game::Business::Law Summit, organizers also announced its initial slate of notable speakers:

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DECA SPORTS 2 released

DECA SPORTS 2 for Wii has been released at North American retail outlets today. The sequel brings 10 new sports, online multiplayer and the same gameplay that helped the original DECA SPORTS ship over two million copies worldwide. With the addition of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection online multiplayer, DECA SPORTS 2 allows players to remotely challenge other gamers across the country in tennis, ice hockey and dodge ball. The game also features diverse sports such as synchronized swimming, motorcycle road racing, speed skating, mogul skiing and darts, as well as lesser known international sports such as petanque and kendo. Gamers will also be able to design their own teams, customizing uniforms, athlete skills and their appearance.

And on a related note, Hudson Entertainment will sponsor complimentary tournaments featuring DECA SPORTS 2 at GameStop stores in San Jose, Boston and Denver. Each Deca League Challenge Event will be two separate days featuring a private weekday event exclusively for members of local Boys & Girls Clubs and a public weekend tournament where winners receive GameStop gift cards. Dates, times and locations of the events after the break:

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