Star Wars: The Old Republic weekly update

This week’s update to the Star Wars: The Old Republic website includes a brand new trailer and a brand new issue of Threat of Peace. The new video deals with the The Making of Coruscant, the complex city-world filled with a majestic skyline. buildings that touch the sky, and a dark and seedy underground level. Developers discuss the creation of the Republic’s capital from the deepest basement to the tallest skyscraper.

In Threat of Peace #17 Lieutenant Tavus makes a not-so-subtle romantic pass at Jedi Knight Satele Shan. An awkward moment is averted as the pair arrives on Dantooine to deal with yet another Republic military outpost where the troops have not withdrawn. Even as discussions begin with the stubborn Republic major, news arrives of Master Zym’s death and the Senate Tower bombing

Finally, a reminder that you can now sign up for the open test for this MMO at www.swtor.com, if you haven’t already.

Players Only with Scott Steinberg examines game journalism

The latest episode of Players Only with Scott Steinberg attempts to tackle the tricky subject of video game journalism and the metamorphosis it is currently undergoing and how it is adapting to this brave new world of modern publishing via various interconnected platforms.

Topics covered in latest episode, Rewriting Game Journalism, include the field’s evolution and the struggle to gain widespread acceptance. Beyond examining the media’s supposed death through in-depth conversations with the industry’s most respected pundits, this episode further investigates how the lines between reporters and readers are increasingly blurring. Also scrutinized are the rise of citizen journalists and user-friendly tools for information sharing.

Check out the latest episode at www.digitaltrends.com/playersonly.

Spore Creature Creator goes 2-D

The Spore Creature Creator has officially become 2D. Maxis has released Spore Creature Creator 2-D, a new Flash application that lets users experience the creature builder in one less dimension. Available for free at www.spore2d.com, players can create a creature from scratch or import a creature from the Sporepedia. The 2-D creatures users create can also be embedded into social networking pages, and shared with friends via email.

The launch of Spore Creature Creator 2-D comes just weeks before the launch of Spore Hero for the Wii) and Spore Hero Arena for the Nintendo DS on Oct. 6.

One more web tale for Risen

Deep Silver today announced the third and final chapter of the official Risen Experience website at risen.deepsilver.com.

The stranded hero, the star of this new game from the makers of the Gothic series, has acquired a mighty weapon and is given a mission by island dweller Neil. He is supposed to obtain a treasure from a nearby temple. Naturally, this quest involves all kinds of danger. But once he has fulfilled this task, the road to HarbourCity will finally be open to him. This is how the latest story begins..

Risen will be released for the Xbox 360 and Windows PC. More information about Risen can be found at risen.deepsilver.com.

Flipnote Hatena: helping users flip out with Flipnote Studio

For those of you out there that own a DSi and picked up the recently released Flipnote Studio application, here’s a website that can help you share all your creations. It’s called Flipnote Hatena and what it does is allow users to upload and share their silly little flipnote animations with the world.

Visitors can view Flipnotes made by users, rate them, comment on the ones you like, and easily post Flipnotes you like to your blog or other websites.
To do all this, simply connect your Nintendo DSi to the Internet to access Flipnote Hatena where you can post your Flipnotes, view everyone’s Flipnotes and rate the Flipnotes that you like. Easy peasy.

Big Fish Games now on People.com

Big Fish Games announced a strategic partnership with People.com, the leading celebrity news site that manages to attract 10 million monthly users. Starting today, People.com’s main games page will feature select online and downloadable games in various categories. In addition, visitors will have access to Big Fish Games’ entire catalog of over 2,000 games through its own Web site. People.com will receive a share of the revenues on all game purchases its visitors make from Big Fish Games.

This partnership further illustrates the transition that is occurring with many print publications as they look to strategically partner with media companies to increase traffic to online content and engage their readers in new ways.

Demon’s Souls web site launches

Atlus U.S.A. has launched the full official web site for Demon’s Souls, the company’s upcoming action RPG experience for the PS3. The new site offers new content and game information, with updates planned from now until the game launches. Atlus promises that, over time, new details will be revealed about the various characters and demons players will encounter and weapons and spells at their disposal, as well as tips on character growth to aid players in quests.

Atlus also promises in-depth explanations on the groundbreaking online gameplay system, content from the official Demon’s Souls blog and Wiki pages, up-to-date news and coverage, and much more. Fans can also use a special banner code to let them “Drop a Soul Sign” on social networking sites they frequent, like Facebook.

Find the site at http://www.demons-souls.com. the game is set for launch on Oct. 6, 2009.