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.

Puzzle Quest: Revenge of the Plague Lord Released

D3Publisher has released Revenge of the Plague Lord, an expansion pack for Infinite Interactive’s popular RPG-themed puzzler Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (check out this editorial for our take on long, long subtitles). The new expansion includes four new hero professions (Bard, Rogue, Ranger and Warlock), new spells and items, new quests, monsters and bosses, and the introduction of a new archenemy. The game also promises three new Achievements, and a new character level cap of 60.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords - Revenge of the Plague Lord is available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 700 Microsoft Points now.

Puzzle Quest Expansion Announced

D3Publisher announced that an expansion pack is in the works for its RPG popular puzzler Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords. The new expansion, Revenge of the Plague Lord, will launch on Xbox LIVE Marketplace July 23, 2008. The expansion pack includes four new hero professions, new spells and items, new quests, monsters and bosses, and the introduction of a new archenemy.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords - Revenge of the Plague Lord will be available on Xbox LIVE marketplace for 700 Microsoft Points. The expansion was developed by Infinite Interactive Pty. Ltd.  The company is also working on another Puzzle Quest game called Puzzle Quest Galactrix.

D3 at E3

D3Publisher says that it will showcase titles for “gamers of all ages” at this year’s E3 Media & Business Summit. D3’s line-up includes the bloody-sexy third-person action game Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers for Wii, Puzzle Quest: Galactrix (Xbox Live Arcade, DS and PC) a new game based on the popular Ben 10 Alien Force cartoon (PS2, DS, PSP), TOMY’s NARUTO: Path of the Ninja 2 for the DS, Bangai-O Spirits for DS (based on the Dreamcast classic), and Shaun the Sheep for DS.

D3P’s E3 2008 game line-up will be on display in the West Meeting Room #511C.

AIAS Award Winners Announced

The recipients of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences” 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards were announced this week, with BioShock, Call of Duty 4 and The Orange Box picking up four awards each. The annual awards for developers by developers also inducted Blizzard’’s Mike Morhaime into the Hall of Fame and gave a Lifetime Achievement Award to former Sony Computer Entertainment boss Ken Kutaragi.

Mike Morhaime, president, CEO and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment, was inducted as the 11th member of the prestigious AIAS Hall of Fame for helping to create some of the world’s most popular franchises, including Diablo, Warcraft, StarCraft and World of Warcraft. Ken Kutaragi, former president and CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., received the Lifetime Achievement Award for this year.

As for the games, Call of Duty 4 won Overall Game of the Year, Console Game of the Year, Action Game of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Online Game Play; BioShock won Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction, Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design, Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition and Outstanding Achievement in Story Development; and The Orange Box won Outstanding Achievement in Game Design, Computer Game of the Year, Outstanding Character Performance, and Outstanding Achievement in Game Play Engineering. The big list of all of this year’’s winners can be found below:

Overall Game of the Year: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Console Game of the Year: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Computer Game of the Year: The Orange Box
Outstanding Innovation in Gaming: Rock Band
Handheld Game of the Year: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Multiplayer Game of the Year: World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade
Cellular Game of the Year: skate
Role-Playing Game of the Year: Mass Effect
Racing Game of the Year: MotorStorm
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design: The Orange Box: Portal
Adventure Game of the Year: Super Mario Galaxy
Sports Game of the Year: skate
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year:Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
Action Game of the Year: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Family Game of the Year: Rock Band
Outstanding Achievement in Animation: Assassin’’s Creed
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction: BioShock
Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering: Crysis
Outstanding Character Performance: The Orange Box: Portal (Ellen McLaw’’s voice work as GLADos)
Outstanding Achievement in Story Development: BioShock
Outstanding Achievement in Game Play Engineering: The Orange Box: Portal
Outstanding Achievement in Online Game Play:Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Downloadable Game of the Year: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition: BioShock
Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack: Rock Band
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design: BioShock

Congratulations to all of this year’s big winners.