Crispy Gamer News

Well, if a company is going to make educational games, who better to do it than National Geographic? Earlier today, Ted Prince, chief operating officer of National Geographic Ventures and executive vice president of operations for National Geographic Global Media officially announced the formation of a new division, National Geographic Games, which will publish and develop games across major gaming console, handheld, online and mobile platforms.

National Geographic Games is led by a team of industry vets. Paul Levine, senior VP at National Geographic Ventures, will lead the new division. Chris Mate, formerly an executive at Take Two Interactive and Bethesda Softworks, has joined as vice president and general manager for NGG and will oversee and manage the group’s daily global operations.
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Namco Bandai is bringing balance to the Force, courtesy of new downloadable content for Soulcalibur IV. Due to overwhelming fan response, Namco Bandai revealed this morning that Darth Vader and Yoda will be available as downloadable characters for the game beginning on Thursday, October 23rd via the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and PlayStation Network.

When the game was first released, each sysem had characters which were console exclusive, with the Dark Lord of the Sith relegated to the PS3, while the Jedi Master was exiled to the 360. Now, PS3 owners will be able to pick up Yoda for $4.99, while 360 owners will be able to join the Dark Side for 400 Microsoft points, letting players decide once and for all which side of the Force is best.

Don’t call it a hand-out, call it a hand up. In a deal announced today, Namco Bandai Games Europe is buying a 34 percent stake in Infogrames, with Infogrames retaining 66 percent of its shares. With this buy-in, Namco’s European arm will gain some advantages in certain territories.

Namco Bandai will acquire 34 percent of Infogrames’ European and Asian distribution operations, which will be reorganized into a standalone entity. This new division will distribute both Namco’s and Infogrames’ products in those regions.

The deal is still subject to approval by regulatory powers in the appropriate terrritoies and shareholders of both companies.

If you hated the first game where the Gundam universe collided with KOEI’s popular Dynasty Warriors series, then you will be very displeased to learn that another one is on the way. KOEI’s Omega Force team will develop the new game, Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2, and Namco Bandai Games will publish it in North America.
Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2 managed to move 800, 000 units on the PS3 and Xbox 360, so KOEI’s working on an upgraded version of the fighting powered armor action game with new Gundams, upgraded graphics and better game mechanics.

I hope that they fix the problems the first game suffered from. Look for the game sometime in 2009 on Xbox 360 and PS3.

Namco Bandai Games today announced that Warhammer: Battle March for the Xbox 360 and Warhammer: Mark of Chaos - Battle March for the PC have shipped to retailers throughout North America. Set in the popular Warhammer universe, Battle March extends the fun of the tactics-based real-time strategy action game with new content and brings the expansion and original game to the Xbox 360.

Warhammer: Battle March on the Xbox 360 includes the original content from Warhammer: Mark of Chaos as well as more units and armies, new console-specific control schemes and support for online play via the Xbox LIVE. Eliminating the tedium of resource management and base building, this game puts the focus on combat.

If you enjoyed the original on the PC or want to experience it in a new way on a home console system, these games are probably worth checking out.

Namco Bandai’s second role-playing game to come to the Xbox 360, Tales of Vesperia, is now available in stores. Celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the Tales role-playing game series, Tales of Vesperia delivers an all new adventure set in the world of Terca Lumireis.

The game also marks the first high-definition installment of the Tales role-playing series, along with real-time battle system, and all-new battle features such as Fatal Strikes, Burst Artes and a multi-stage Over Limit. Series traditions such as cooking and skits also return with new twists to keep things fresh.

A Special Edition of the game is also available, packaged in a SteelBook case with a 10th anniversary soundtrack with music from a decade of Tales history for a suggested retail price of $69.99.

A playable demo is available now on Xbox Live Marketplace if you want to give it a spin before you consider buying it.

Digimon are the champions. Namco Bandai’s latest game based on the popular digital monster collection cartoon is on stores shelves today. Digimon World Championship for Nintendo DS lets players join in on a legendary tournament as a wet-behind-the-ears tamer. Using a variety of hunting gear players explore and hunt over 200 wild Digimon in their natural habitats, then tame them and use their powers in battle.

As you’d expect, this game is rated “E” for everyone - no killing hookers or smoking crack in this game, thank you very much.