GamersGate and Rockin’ Android in pact

GamersGate has inked a distribution deal with indie video game publisher Rockin’ Android that will see the digital download service carry the company’s first North American release, SUGURI. Additional titles from Rockin’ Android will follow. The Japanese fan-favorite hybrid, side-scrolling shoot’em up, fighter SUGURI, scheduled for availability at the end of June.

SUGURI is a hybrid shooter/fighter game created by Japan indie game developer Orange Juice. The game offers rendered designs, unique weaponry, rapid-fire combat gameplay action and a cool techno-trance soundtrack.

More details about this and many other games can be found at www.gamersgate.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.

Rockin’ Android Brings Doujin Games Stateside

Rockin’ Android announced plans to release five doujin (amateur self-published works, including but not limited to manga, novels, fan guides, art collections, music and video games, according to Wikipedia) titles it has acquired, marking the very first time that fan-created, anime-style games for the PC have ever been officially licensed and localized for commercial sale outside of Japan.

Among the five titles, SUGURI Perfect Edition and GUNDEMONIUM Collection will be released for direct retail sale, while Flying Red Barrel –A Diary of a Little Aviator–, Qualia and Miku Miku will be exclusively available as download-only titles. All five titles are side-scrolling, shooting/fighting action games slated for a summer 2009 release. These games will also be released on Steam and Direct2Drive at a date yet to be determined.

Rockin’ Android’s first PC game release will be the SUGURI Perfect Edition, set for release on June 30, 2009 and priced at $19.99 SRP. The DVD-rom release contains the two complete anime inspired shmup games (SUGURI, Acceleration of SUGURI), an expansion pack (Acceleration of SUGURI X-Edition) and two soundtrack albums (TRANCENATION of SUGURI original soundtrack and Acceleration of SUGURI Soundtrack). In addition to the DVD-rom release, downloadable versions of SUGURI, Acceleration of SUGURI and Acceleration of SUGURI X-Edition will be also be made available for purchase at a later date on the company website.

Further details on GUNDEMONIUM Collection, Flying Red Barrel –A Diary of a Little Aviator–, Qualia and Miku Miku, will be posted in the coming weeks.

Girls and Zombies Go Wild in 2009

Have you ever wanted to take part in frenzied, bloody, violent girl-on-zombie action? Bikini Zombie Slayers is just what the doctor ordered and something fans have been trying to get a prescription for for a very long time. The fix is in, as D3 Publisher of America makes a solemn vow to bring Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers to the Wii in early 2009.

In Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers, players take control of Aya and Saki as they slice and dice zombies in an incredibly violent third-person adventure using the Wii remote.Players use the Wii Remote as a sword, slashing, swinging and thrusting into zombie enemy hordes. Play as either sister Aya or Saki in single player or with a friend in co-op mode and utilize each of their fighting styles and move sets. Get too much blood on either sister and be driven into Rage Mode and gain more power and agility to destroy enemies faster.

Sounds like bloody fun. Developed by Tamsoft, Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers is currently rated “RP” (Rating Pending) by the ESRB. The game will be on display during E3 next week.